cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the expression products of recombinant human choriogonadotropin and subunits.

Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) is a placental glycoprotein hormone composed of a 92-amino acid alpha subunit noncovalently linked to a 145-amino acid beta subunit. We report here the expression of biologically active hCG in mouse C127 cells transfected with expression vectors containing the DNA coding for both subunits. In addition, the same cell line was used to express the alpha subunit alone. The expression products were purified by affinity chromatography using specific monoclonal antibodies to hCG or its subunits. The system secreting biologically active hCG also produced a 10-fold or greater molar excess of free beta subunit. The dimeric hormone, as well as the excess beta subunit, resembles the standard urinary hCG and beta subunit by chemical and biological criteria. In contrast, when the vector encoding for the alpha subunit was expressed alone, the alpha subunit had a higher molecular weight than both standard alpha and the alpha found in the expressed dimeric hormone. The molecular weight difference between expressed alpha subunit and standard alpha was found to reside in the alpha peptide consisting of residues 52-91 which contained all of the carbohydrate of the alpha subunit. The N-asparagine-linked carbohydrate moieties in the recombinant alpha were found to be triantennary in contrast to biantennary in urinary alpha, and this hyperglycosylation was responsible for the higher molecular weight of the alpha subunit when it was expressed alone. We found no evidence of O-threonine glycosylation at position alpha 39 reported to be present in free forms of the alpha subunit; however, the companion paper (Corless, C.L., Bielinska, M., Ramabhadran, T. V., Daniels-McQueen, S. Otani, T., Reitz, B. A., Tiemeier, D. C., and Boime, I. (1987) J. Biol Chem. 262, 14197-14203) finds a small quantity of O-glycosylation. Since the excess beta subunit appears to be of normal size and contains the expected complement of sugars, only free alpha subunit seems to be a potential substrate for addition of extra sugar moieties. No large beta subunit forms have been found by others, while large alpha subunits have been described both clinically and in tissue culture systems. These observations imply that the conformation of the free alpha subunit, in the regions of the glycosylation recognition sites, allows easier access for glycosyltransferases than those same sites in the beta subunit. When alpha is combined with beta, the local structures around the alpha glycosylation sites are apparently altered so as to make the synthesis of triantennary chains less favorable.
Die Bürgerrechte IV: Die Vereinigungsfreiheit

Zwischen allen Burgerrechten besteht ein Sachzusammenhang; eines ergibt das andere, keines kann nur fur sich selbst bestehen. Auch die Gepflogenheit des in einer organisierten Gemeinschaft lebenden Menschen, sich mit anderen Gesellschaftsmitgliedern zu einer transindividuellen Gruppe zu verbinden, ist wie alle anderen Burgerrechte ein Ausflus des Rechts zur freien Entfaltung und Betatigung der Personlichkeit. Eine solche Gruppenbildung oder Vereinigung kann vorubergehend oder auf Dauer bestimmt sein; sie kann lose sein und lediglich auf einem nicht formalisierten Einverstandnis uber die Existenzbedingungen der Gruppe beruhen oder sie kann als rationalisierte Normenordnung die Gruppenmitglieder mit Hinsicht auf den Gruppenzweck mit bestimmten Rechten ausstatten oder bestimmten Bedingungen und Beschrankungen unterwerfen, wie Prufung der Mitgliedschaftsvoraussetzungen, Zahlung von Beitragen, Gewahrung von Teilnahmerechten an der Bildung des Gruppenwillens. Ebenso mannigfaltig wie die Formen kann der Zweck der Gruppenbildung sein: die Vereinigung kann rein gesellschaftliche Zwecke verfolgen: — Schachspiel —, kunstlerisch-kulturelle — die Forderung des Theaters —, wirtschaftliche — die Aufhebung eines Einfuhrzolls —, oder politische — die Einfuhrung des Verhaltniswahlrechts. Auser bei den Vereinigungen, die rein gesellschaftlichen Zielen nachleben — und sogar auch dann —, wird jede Art von Gruppenbildung gleichzeitig ein Ausdruck der alle Teilnehmer umfassenden kollektiven Meinungsfreiheit sein.
Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) alters histiotrophic nutrition pathways and epigenetic processes in the developing conceptus

Histiotrophic nutrition pathways (HNPs) are processes by which the organogenesis-stage conceptus obtains nutrients, amino acids, vitamins and cofactors required for protein biosynthesis and metabolic activities. Nutrients are captured from the maternal milieu as whole proteins and cargoes via receptor-mediated endocytosis in the visceral yolk sac (VYS), degraded by lysosomal proteolysis and delivered to the developing embryo (EMB). Several nutrients obtained by HNPs are required substrates for one-carbon (C1) metabolism and supply methyl groups required for epigenetic processes, including DNA and histone methylation. Increased availability of methyl donors has been associated with reduced risk for neural tube defects (NTDs). Here, we show that mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) treatment (100 or 250μM) alters HNPs, C1 metabolism and epigenetic programming in the organogenesis-stage conceptus. Specifically, 3-h MEHP treatment of mouse EMBs in whole culture resulted in dose-dependent reduction of HNP activity in the conceptus. To observe nutrient consequences of decreased HNP function, C1 components and substrates and epigenetic outcomes were quantified at 24h. Treatment with 100-μM MEHP resulted in decreased dietary methyl donor concentrations, while treatment with 100- or 250-μM MEHP resulted in dose-dependent elevated C1 products and substrates. In MEHP-treated EMBs with NTDs, H3K4 methylation was significantly increased, while no effects were seen in treated VYS. DNA methylation was reduced in MEHP-treated EMB with and without NTDs. This research suggests that environmental toxicants such as MEHP decrease embryonic nutrition in a time-dependent manner and that epigenetic consequences of HNP disruption may be exacerbated in EMB with NTDs.
X-band horn antenna with integrated tunable notch filter

Electrically small resonant scatterers have gained enormous popularity in the field of electromagnetics recently due to their pivotal role in metamaterial design. One of the fundamental physical limitations restricting the application of metamaterials is the inherent narrow bandwidth of the resonators. This paper demonstrates the use of these narrowband scatterers to realize an X-band horn antenna with an integrated tunable notch filter capable of filtering over the entire band (8–12 GHz). It is generally known that the relative positions of the scatterers can be used to tune the response of a metamaterial. This knowledge is applied here along with theory that has been developed in recent years to predict the resonant frequency based upon the relative location of the scatterers.
Towards an XML-based Bytecode Level Transformation Framework

Virtual machines (VMs) facilitate the deployment of applications in heterogeneous environments. Popular VMs such as Sun Microsystem's Java VM or Microsoft's Common Language Runtime (CLR) use a stack-based machine architecture to execute bytecode instructions. The focus of this paper is to explore the ability of XML to serve as a generic framework to represent bytecode instructions from different VMs. With an XML representation, supporting technologies such as XSL stylesheets and XPath expressions can be used to provide various transformations of bytecode instructions. We demonstrate the flexibility and power of this approach by showing examples of cross-compilation for various CLR bytecode instructions to the JVM as well as API mappings of the underlying runtime libraries.
Reactor Applications of Two-Component Plasmas

The physics of two-energy-component toroidal plasmas (TCT) is reviewed. Energy "breakeven" using the TCT mode (deuteron beams on a triton-target plasma) can be attained at much smaller n? and temperature than in thermal plasma operation. This result reflects the fact that the fusion power density in a TCT can be much larger than in a thermal DT plasma of the same pressure. The large fusion power density (i. e., large neutron flux) of a TCT may find practical use in a number of applications.
Outcome of patients with cirrhosis requiring intensive care unit support: Prospective assessment of predictors of mortality

Determinants of outcome and the utility of the Child-Pugh score and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score as predictors of outcome were prospectively assessed in 54 consecutive patients with cirrhosis requiring intensive care unit (ICU) management. Overall mortality in the ICU was 43% (23/54). Child-Pugh scores did not differ between survivors or nonsurvivors (12.8 versus 12.3, P = 0.26), however APACHE II scores (P = 0.007), acute physiology scores (P = 0.006), and Karnofsky scores (P = 0.001) were significant predictors of outcome. By univariate analysis, requirement of mechanical ventilation analysis (P = 0.001), duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.001), pulmonary infiltrates (P = 0.0001), infections (P = 0.047), gastrointestinal bleeding (P = 0.005), and serum creatinine >1.5mg/dl (P = 0.0005) were significantly associated with mortality. By logistic regression analysis only pulmonary infiltrates (P = 0.0001) and renal dysfunction (P = 0.041) were independent predictors of mortality. When controlled for the severity of illness (APACHE II scores), the mortality in patients with cirrhosis caused by alcohol was significantly lower than that in patients with liver disease not caused by alcohol (P = 0.01). Our study not only identified predictors of poor outcome in patients with cirrhosis requiring ICU care but also provided data that may have implications for optimal timing for transplantation.
The Relationship of the Purpose in Life (PIL) Test to the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), the Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test Scores, and Grade Point Averages of High School Students

The purpose of the present project was to determine the degree of correlation between the PIL and (a) the Time Competency (TC) scale of the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), (b) the Inner-directed (I) scale of the POI, (c) IQ scores of high school students who took the Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test, Form L-M, and (d) grade point average (GPA) of the same high school students. Subjects employed in the endeavor were 24 high school Juniors and Seniors evenly divided as to sex. The coefficients of correlation between scores on the PIL and (a) POI-TC, (b) POI-I, (c) Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test and (d) GPA were, respectively, .71 (p < .01), .69 (p < .01), .55 (p < .01) and .42 (p < .05). It appears that a positive relationship exists between certain attributes of a self-actualizing person and the life style of the person who scores high on the PIL. One cannot, on the basis of this research, rule out the possibility that self-actualization and strong purpose in life are related secondarily through sepa...
On a non-holonomic problem proposed by Greenwood

Abstract A non-holonomic problem proposed by Greenwood is solved by reducing it to a Caratheodory problem. The resulting equations of motion are formulated in terms of natural physical variables corresponding to quasi-velocities. A connection between the two available methods of integration of the equations of motion is established that closes an existing gap in the literature. The explicit analytical results obtained for the particular set of initial conditions are confirmed by the numerical integration of the equations of motion performed on a computer. Thus, the procedure developed can be easily extended to a different set of input data. The time histories and trajectories obtained on the computer also suggest the development of asymptotic solutions for short and long times. Such results are obtained analytically and displayed in closed form.
Impact of missing data, gene choice, and taxon sampling on phylogenetic reconstruction: the Caryophyllales (angiosperms)

Density of taxon sampling and number/kind of characters are central to achieving the ultimate goals in phylogenetic reconstruction: tree robustness and improved accuracy. In molecular phylogenetics, DNA sequence repositories such as GenBank are potential sources for expanding datasets in two dimensions, taxa and characters, to the level of “supermatrices.” However, the issue of missing characters/genomic regions is generally considered a major impediment to this endeavor. We used here the angiosperm order Caryophyllales to systematically address the impact of missing data when expanding taxon sampling and number of characters in phylogenetic reconstruction. Our analyses show that expansion of taxon sampling by ~13-fold resulted in improved phylogenetic assessment of the Caryophyllales despite up to 38% missing data. Expanding number of characters in the dataset by allowing for up to 100-fold increase in amount of missing data and inclusion of entries with about 40% missing genomic regions did not negatively impact tree structure or robustness, but to the contrary improved both. These results are timely regarding the ongoing efforts to achieve detailed assessment of the tree of life.
Summary of results of a recent analysis of the Earth's magnetic field for 1922

A new analysis of the Earth's magnetic field was made for 1922 by the writer, with the assistance of various members of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, as free as possible from assumptions as to the systems composing the entire magnetic field, and restricted, for the present, to the region of the Earth (86 per cent), from 60° North to 60° South. A spherical harmonic series to the sixth degree, and in some cases to the seventh, was established separately for each of the rectangular components, X (positive towards North), Y (positive towards East), and Z (positive towards nadir); the Earth was treated as a spheroid of revolution. Only some of the chief conclusions can be given here; for details, reference must be made to the full publication.
On the physics of droughts. I. A conceptual framework

Abstract A conceptual framework for the physics of droughts is provided by means of the omega equation of atmospheric dynamics. The duration and severity of droughts are dependent not only on the atmosphere but also on the hydrologic processes which feed moisture to the atmosphere. Once dry hydrologic conditions are established, the positive feedback mechanism of droughts sets in, where the moisture depletion from upper soil layers decreases the evapotranspiration rates, which, in turn, lessen the atmospheric relative humidity. The lesser the relative humidity the less probable the rainfall becomes, as it will be harder to reach saturation conditions for a regular low pressure system over the region. Only disturbances which carry enough moisture from outside the dry region will be able to produce sufficient rainfall to end the drought conditions.
Crack path bifurcation at a tear strap in a pressurized shell

Bifurcation of an initially longitudinal through crack in an internally pressurized cylindrical shell at a circumferential stiffener is investigated using a finite element analysis. The finite element model is developed from a fracture test of an aluminum shell having a 22.9 cm radius, a 1.02 mm wall thickness, and stiffened by two externally bonded circumferential straps spaced 40.6 cm apart. After initial stable crack growth in the longitudinal direction with increasing pressure, the crack propagated dynamically toward the strap, bifurcated near the strap into circumferential branches running parallel to the straps. Stable and unstable crack growth curves of pressure versus half-crack length are determined from the nonlinear analysis using a critical value of the crack tip opening angle as the criterion to predict crack growth. Although the crack growth curves are determined from a static analysis, they corroborate the test results for the location of crack path bifurcation. Also, the principal stress criterion for predicting crack turning is consistent with the test.
Benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl isocyanide, a new synthon for CHNC transfer. Syntheses of α-hydroxyaldehydes, 4-ethoxy-2-oxazolines and oxazoles

Abstract Readily prepared benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl isocyanide (BetMIC) reacts under mild conditions with ketones and aldehydes, to afford oxazolines (convertible into α-hydroxyaldehydes) and oxazoles, respectively.
A project-based pedagogy for first year college students in Imaging Science

The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science (CIS) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has completely abandoned its traditional lecture-based pedagogy for incoming freshmen, and in its place implemented a radically different project-based curriculum for all first year students. With this new approach, all first year students work together as a single integrated multidisciplinary team for a full academic year to design, develop, build, and test a unique, fully functional imaging system. The goal in implementing this approach is to provide the students with a foundational experience that is more relevant, more engaging, more challenging, and more motivating than the pedagogy that has been used to date. If successful, the impact of this approach on undergraduate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education could be transformational. It could change long-held perceptions about the abilities of first year students, and could lead to a new understanding of the role of faculty in technical undergraduate degree programs.
Computing relative plate velocities: A primer

Standard models of present-day plate motions are framed in terms of rates and poles of rotation, in accordance with the well-known theorem due to Euler. This article shows how computation of relative plate velocities from such models can be viewed as a simple problem in spherical trigonometry. A FORTRAN subroutine is provided to perform the necessary computations.
Everyday illness behavior: A situational approach to health status deviations

Abstract Individuals who seek medical care clearly represent only the tip of the illness iceberg. To explain how individuals cope with medically unreported health status, deviations, a situational conception of everyday illness behavior is proposed. The primary assumption of this conceptualization is that illness and pathology may not be reported because persons are able to contain signs and symptoms of illness within socially defined situations. Several factors influence this process, namely: (a) commitment to and engrossment in situations; (b) tolerance quotient and idiosyncrasy credit given by others; (c) power relationships among participants; (d) coping resources of the situations; (e) symptom meaning; (f) the presence of normal processes and chronic diseases; and (g) age and sex as circumstances. Definitions of illness emerge when there is a cumulative decline in the individual's ability to contain sign and symptoms over a significant proportion of his “situation set”. How illness emerges and is contained within daily social situations in the absence of medical care is a significant issue in the development of health care policy.
Constrained spectral clustering for image segmentation

Constrained spectral clustering with affinity propagation in its original form is not practical for large scale problems like image segmentation. In this paper we employ novelty selection sub-sampling strategy, besides using efficient numerical eigen-decomposition methods to make this algorithm work efficiently for images. In addition, entropy-based active learning is also employed to select the queries posed to the user more wisely in an interactive image segmentation framework. We evaluate the algorithm on general and medical images to show that the segmentation results will improve using constrained clustering even if one works with a subset of pixels. Furthermore, this happens more efficiently when pixels to be labeled are selected actively.
N2-Ar-He compositions in fluid inclusions: Indicators of fluid source

Abstract A quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to measure bulk samples of conservative gas species N2, Ar, and He in fluid inclusions from a variety of hydrothermal systems. Analyses of these tracer elements help determine 1. (1) if gases extracted by bulk inclusion analyses can provide accurate measurement of N2-Ar-He in active and fossil geothermal systems, 2. (2) if hydrothermal fluids associated with paleogeothermal systems in a continental setting follow N2ArHe systematics similar to th the western Pacific Rim active geothermal systems, specifically New Zealand, and 3. (3) whether different deposit types systematically vary with regard to N2ArHe. The N2ArHe ratios of fluid inclusion volatiles released from recently deposited minerals from the Valles system are similar to those of present day Valles thermal waters. Those inclusion samples from deep within the Valles system, below a regional aquitard, increase in N2. Compositions for inclusions from the Questa and Copper Flat-porphyry deposits are N2-rich, similar to those of arc-related volcanic gases, whereas those from Taylor Creek Sn deposit appear to be mixtures of magmatic and crustal components. N2-Ar-He ratios of the Precambrian Tribag deposit suggest a basalt source, but significant levels of self-generated He from U and Th in the inclusion fluids are also possible. Inclusions from two epithermal deposits with low-salinity inclusions have N2-Ar-He ratios trending towards air-saturated meteoric waters (ASW), and those inclusions with higher salinities indicate minor to no ASW component. The N2-Ar-He ratios in Fresnillo and Cochiti inclusions, which have magmatic helium isotopic ratios, indicate additions of magmatic gases to meteoric fluids. Inclusions from sediment-hosted deposits that contain hydrocarbon-bearing brines are He-rich, as are meteoric waters with a long residence time in the crust. At relevant pressure-temperature-composition conditions, Henry's Law constants of N2, Ar, and He are similar, and thus, the relative amounts of these species trapped under boiling conditions will not vary appreciably from solubility-controlled amounts in coexisting liquid. Furthermore, there is no evidence of He loss or gain in inclusions by diffusion process. Data from the various systems that were examined indicate that fluid inclusion N2-Ar-He compositions may be related to magmatic fluid, sedimentary brine, deep circulating meteoric fluid, and shallow circulating meteoric fluid sources, which we modified from those proposed by Giggenbach (1986). Relationships between the N2-Ar-He tracer gases and other measurable quantities in fluid inclusions are indicated to be helpful in understanding fluid mixing processes in paleogeothermal systems.
TRANSACTION COSTS AND DAY‐OF‐THE‐WEEK EFFECTS IN THE OTC/NASDAQ EQUITY MARKET

A potential explanation is examined here for the observed day-of-the-week effect in equity returns—systematic daily patterns in percentage bid-ask spreads. Using OTC/NASDAQ data over 1973–1985, strong return day-of-the-week effects are documented while mean dealer percentage spreads are essentially unchanged over the week. These results provide evidence that systematic percentage spread changes do not contribute to the observed return anomaly.
Distribution of helium in metal tritides

THE first generation of fusion reactors will utilise the reaction between deuterium and tritium nuclei. Various metal tritides, therefore, have potential applications for the transport, storage, purification, isotope enrichment and gettering of tritium. Although many properties of the metal tritides can be estimated1 from the corresponding hydrides and deuterides, the effects of the radioactive triton decay into a β-particle and 3He atom with a half life of 12.3 yr can only be determined by direct observation. Considering the expected2 insolubility of inert 3He atoms in metal lattices, it is surprising that many metal tritides1,3,4 contain 3He/T atom ratios in excess of 0.10. The physical state of the retained 3He in these tritides is a very interesting and unresolved problem. Weaver and Camp5,6 suggest the 3He atoms are trapped in the octahedral interstitial sites for tritides with fluorite crystal structures while Bowman, et al.1 believe the 3He atoms primarily reside in microscopic gas bubbles with dimensions < 1,000A. Here we describe nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of the relaxation times for 3He nuclei in LiT, TiT1.9, and UT3, which are representative of ionic, transition metal, and actinide tritides. These NMR measurements support the 3He bubble concept and further indicate an increase in the mean bubble dimensions as the samples age.
A Bayesian approach to CO2 leakage detection at saline sequestration sites using pressure measurements

Abstract Diffusive leakage of CO 2 through the sealing caprock is likely to occur at saline sequestration sites if the permeability of the caprock is too high. Pressure monitoring is a widely used technique for CO 2 leakage detection. This study aims to characterize the CO 2 leakage level in an idealized CO 2 storage site through an assessment of the integrity and permeability of the caprock inferred from pressure measurements in the injection zone. Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis is conducted, allowing the detection power of pressure measurements to be estimated. Based on Bayesian classification theory, the probability of each caprock permeability class given pressure measurements with measurement error can be inferred. The influence of time and location of measurements, the relative magnitude of the measurement error, the CO 2 injection rate, and the assumed uncertainty in reservoir properties on the inferred caprock permeability class and the detection power of the pressure monitoring is also evaluated. Pressure monitoring alone is not sufficient to detect a permeable caprock for the system considered in this study, unless the caprock permeability is very high. A significant improvement in the statistical detection power is evident in the case where the uncertainty in reservoir properties is reduced through further site characterization. Complementary monitoring techniques will likely be needed to improve the power of pressure-based CO 2 leakage detection to acceptable levels.
Ocean science: Links between surface and abyss

The global ocean overturning circulation relies on dense deep waters being mixed back up to the surface. An observational analysis shows that turbulent mixing in the abyss around Antarctica varies with the strength of surface eddies and thus probably also wind speeds.
The symbolic politics of ballistic missile defense: seeking the perfect defense in an imperfect world

Ballistic missile defense (BMD) politics present an interesting evolution in how the USA, especially Congress, has come to think about BMD both as operational reality and as a symbolic policy. The argument here is that BMD's operational reality is increasingly overshadowed by its symbolic aspects. Such a status arose from rapidly changing international and domestic politics. The end result is a situation in which BMD policy in a sense floats above the question of its actual combat effectiveness. Its primary mission in part is sustaining US capacity to remain a global power and support its allies.
Stoichiometric and Catalytic H/D Incorporation by Cationic Iridium Complexes: A Common Monohydrido-Iridium Intermediate

A mechanistic study of the stoichiometric and catalytic H/D exchange reactions involving cationic iridium complexes is presented. Strong evidence suggests that both stoichiometric and catalytic reactions proceed via a monohydrido-iridium species. Stoichiometric deuterium incorporation reactions introduce multiple deuterium atoms into the organic products when aryliridium compounds Cp*PMe3Ir(C6H4X)(OTf) (X = H, o-CH3, m-CH3, p-CH3) react with D2. Multiple deuteration occurs at the unhindered positions (para and meta) of toluene, when X = CH3. The multiple-deuteration pathway is suppressed in the presence of an excess of the coordinating ligand, CH3CN. The compound Cp*PMe3IrH(OTf) (1-OTf) is observed in low-temperature, stoichiometric experiments to support a monohydrido-iridium intermediate that is responsible for catalyzing multiple deuteration in the stoichiometric system. When paired with acetone-d6, [Cp*PMe3IrH3][OTf] (4) catalytically deuterates a wide range of substrates with a variety of functional ...
The causes of never events in hospitals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to posit that it is possible to identify contributing factors for “never events,” preventable adverse events in the healthcare setting, and to develop “best practices” to prevent them.Design/methodology/approach – This paper focuses on three specific never events: patient falls, pressure ulcers, and hospital acquired pneumonia. A model is suggested to identify “gold standard best practice” protocols to be used to prevent these events. A literature review identifies two categories of factors: uncontrollable patient‐related factors and controllable environmental related factors. The methodology is to use the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Breakthrough Series Collaborative Model to develop best practice protocols for controllable environmental factors.Findings – Controllable environmental variables may be positively impacted by using Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, 5S technique, Reduction of Complexity, Total Product...
Non-invasive in vivo measurement of the tear film using spatial autocorrelation in a live mammal model

Tear film stability and its interaction with the corneal surface play an important role in maintaining ocular surface integrity and quality of vision. We present a non-invasive technique to quantify the pre-corneal tear film thickness. A cMOS camera is used to record the interference pattern produced by the reflections from multiple layers of the tear film Principles of spatial autocorrelation are applied to extract the frequency of the periodic patterns in the images. A mathematical model is developed to obtain the thickness of the tear film from the spatial autocorrelation image. The technique is validated using micro-fabricated thin parylene films. We obtained repeatable and precise measurement on a live rabbit model (N = 6). We obtained an average value of 10.2µm and standard deviation of, SD = 0.3 (N = 4). We measured one rabbit infected with HSV-1 virus that had a baseline tear film thickness of 4.7µm.
Delinquency and the desire for money

Perhaps the central argument of classic strain theory is that delinquency is more likely when individuals are unable to achieve monetary success through legitimate channels. This argument, however, has never been tested adequately. This paper uses data from the Youth in Transition survey to examine whether delinquency is related to the gap between monetary goals and achievements. The gap is measured in relative and in absolute terms; separate analyses are conducted for lower-class respondents and for those who are weakly attached to legitimate norms. The data suggest that the gap between monetary goals and achievements has only a weak relationship to delinquency at best. The desire for large sums of money, however, is related positively to both theft/vandalism and aggression.
To What Ends: Educational Reform Around the World

Many “reforms”—such as those related to welfare programs in the United States—can be actually seen as “deforms.” These so-called “reforms” have led to increasing impoverishment and lives of misery for many instead of improving the lives of individuals and their communities. In examining educational initiatives that are purported to contribute to improvements in educational equity, quality, and efficiency—the three major challenges facing educational systems around the world—it is useful to examine who is instituting the changes, based on what assumptions and values (i.e., what ideologies), with what ends in mind, and with what outcomes. In basic policy analysis, a leading question is who pays and who benefits from efforts to change or reinforce the status quo. In attempting to provide a conceptual framework that would simplify and provide coherence to an enormous amount of material at issue, I have decided to adopt a model suggested by Rolland Paulston and Gregory LeRoy to examine nonformal educational programs. The framework consists of two principal axes–a vertical one, concerning where reform is initiated (whether at the top in international and national bureaucracies or at the bottom in grassroots movements), and a horizontal axis, concerning the goals of educational changes —varying between principal economic instrumental goals or sociocultural and political change (often associated with identity
THE RENAL CLEARANCE OF PLASMA CORTISOL

ABSTRACT Renal clearance of plasma cortisol was studied by measuring total and ultrafiltrable plasma cortisol simultaneously with glomerular filtration rate and urinary cortisol excretion. The findings were consistent with the interpretation that at normal plasma levels, 80–90 per cent of the filtered cortisol is reabsorbed by the renal tubules.
Estuarine habitats protect hybrid mussels from selection

The marine mussels, Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis, form an extensive hybrid zone in Europe where F2 hybrids and mussels of mixed genetic ancestry are often locally abundant. Hybrid zones are maintained by the interplay of dispersal and selection on hybrid genotypes but there has been vigorous debate on the form of selection that may occur in these systems. Tension zone models argue that selection is against hybrids because of developmental misregulation and is independent of the external environment. Exogenous selection models argue that selection is habitat-dependent and the structure of the hybrid zone is due to the distribution of habitat patches that vary in selection intensity. We test this prediction by comparing the genetic structure of mussel populations in open-coast habitats, where selection on hybrids is strong, to those within two independent estuaries. We show that mussels within these estuaries are protected from selection and thus selection is strongly dependent on habitat, which supports the exogenous selection hypothesis. Hybrid mussel populations on the open-coast experience strong selection against M. edulis-like genotypes, which has been postulated to be the result of differential dislodgment by waves. This hypothesis is supported by our results since mussels within sheltered habitats are protected from selection. There was, despite previous suggestions, no evidence of selection in favor of M. edulis-like mussels within either estuary.
Model-Based Fitting of Single-Channel Dwell-Time Distributions

Single-channel recordings provide unprecedented resolutions on kinetics of conformational changes of ion channels. Several approaches exist for analysis of the data, including the dwell-time histogram fittings and the full maximal-likelihood approaches that fit either the idealized dwell-time sequence or more ambitiously the noisy data directly using hidden Markov modeling. Although the full maximum likelihood approaches are statistically advantageous, they can be time-consuming especially for large datasets and/or complex models. We present here an alternative approach for model-based fitting of one-dimensional and two-dimensional dwell-time histograms. To improve performance, we derived analytical expressions for the derivatives of one-dimensional and two-dimensional dwell-time distribution functions and employed the gradient-based variable metric method for fast search of optimal rate constants in a model. The algorithm also has the ability to allow for a first-order correction for the effects of missed events, global fitting across different experimental conditions, and imposition of typical constraints on rate constants including microscopic reversibility. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the performance of the algorithm, and comparisons with the full maximum likelihood fitting are discussed.
Endocrine hormone abnormalities in Amanita poisoning.

AbstractMushroom poisoning from the genus Amanita is being reported with increasing frequency in the United States. Endocrine hormone abnormalities were investigated in four patients who ingested mushrooms of the Amanita genus (“death cap”, “destroying angel”). Marked abnormalities were found in the hormones controlling glucose, calcium, and thyroid homeostasis. Insulin and C-peptide concentrations were elevated at admission, indicating that the hypoglycemia associated with Amanita poisoning may not be solely secondary to hepatic failure. Serum calcitonin concentrations were elevated in conjunction with hypocalcemia. Parathyroid hormone concentrations (both the carboxyl- and amino-terminal assays) increased with time, but began returning to baseline as the hypocalcemia disappeared. The thyroxine concentrations were depressed in all four patients, and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were undetectable in three patients. Thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were never elevated, reflecting an unres...
Prevalence, sociodemography, and quality of life of older versus younger patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based study.

We studied the prevalence as well as the sociodemographic characteristics and QOL of older adults (> 50 years) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among the population at large and compared it to their younger counterparts’. We hypothesized that IBS is less prevalent among older persons and they suffer poorer QOL compared to younger IBS patients. A total of 1000 adults fnine sites, including a medical center, churches, and a blood bank in our metropolitan area (670 African Americans, 320 Caucasians, and 10 others), completed self-administered questionnaires providing sociodemographic information and details regarding bowel habits and associated symptoms for diagnosing the IBS based on Rome II criteria. QOL was assessed by the SF-12 questionnaire. The study database was divided into two groups, younger (< 50 years) and older (≥50 years). The two age groups were similar with respect to gender and household income. Ninety-five of the 1000 participants had IBS, giving a total sample prevalence of 9.5% (< 50 years, 9.9%, vs ≥50 years, 7.6%). The prevalence of IBS was similar in the two groups irrespective of race, sex, marital status, size of household, location of residence (rural versus urban), level of educational status, and household income. Compared to the older group, there was a trend toward a higher prevalence of IBS among divorced subjects (12.7% vs 0%; P = 0.1) and those below poverty level of income (15.3% vs 7.5%; P = 0.09) in the younger subjects. In contrast, older IBS patients were more likely to attend church regularly (32.5% vs 58.8%; P < 0.05). There were no differences in histortraveler’s diarrhea, food intolerance, and drug allergies between the two groups. Health care utilization was similar between the two IBS groups in terms of number of physician visits, use of prescription and alternative medications, and being disabled due to IBS. There was no difference in the overall QOL score means (27.8 vs 29.5; P = NS) or in its general health and physical functioning components. However, older IBS patients had better social functioning (9.1 vs 9.8; P < 0.05). Although in our study IBS occurred less frequently among older adults than among younger patients, the difference is not statistically significant. While IBS affects QOL at all ages, social functioning was actually better on average among older compared to younger IBS patients.
Toward a Theory of Law in Society

Abstract Interest group conflict, power, and values have been prominent in recent attempts to analyze law as social control. The role of fact beliefs in creating, interpreting and administering legal norms has been relatively neglected, especially in the few efforts toward theories of law in society. Both fact beliefs and value beliefs are here related to legal norms, and also to group interests, power and conflict. Law is conceived of as the formal social control of the political state, a definition that does not at all require acceptance of Austin's view of law as commands of the sovereign. The forced choice between power elite and structural-functional theories is avoided, since law operates in a wide variety of power situations. The subjective meanings of interest group actions directed toward legal norms are seen as consisting of value and fact beliefs, an approach of particular promise in analyzing law and social change.
A rare terminal dinitrogen complex of chromium.

Cis and trans-Cr–N2 complexes supported by the diphosphine ligand PPh2NBn2 have been prepared. Positioned pendant amines in the second coordination sphere influence the thermodynamically preferred geometric isomer. Electronic structure calculations indicate negligible Cr–N2 back-bonding; rather, electronic polarization of N2 ligand is thought to stabilize Cr–N2 binding.
Numerical investigation of electron trajectories in the Columbia Non-neutral Torus

The confinement of pure electron plasmas in the Columbia Non-neutral Torus (CNT) [T. Sunn Pedersen et al., Fusion Sci. Technol. 50, 372 (2006)] can be enhanced by the large radial electric field due to space charge. However the benefits are limited by two effects: (1) The E×B precession can, at low B-fields, resonate with the particle motion along the magnetic field lines, which gives large excursions in the trajectories. (2) Variations in the electric potential on magnetic surfaces, inherent to CNT equilibrium, add to the complexity of the trajectories and can also lead to large excursions. The second effect is sensitive to the conductive structures outside the plasma boundary. Results from a new code to investigate electron trajectories in the magnetic and electric field expected in CNT are presented.
Inward solid-liquid phase-change heat transfer in a rectangular cavity with conducting vertical walls

Abstract This paper reports basic solid-liquid interface and heat transfer data obtained during solid-liquid phase change (melting and solidification) of n-octadecane in a two-dimensional rectangular cavity with conducting vertical walls. The shadowgraph technique was used to measure local heat transfer coefficients at the heat source surface. The solid-liquid interface motion during phase change was recorded photo-graphically. During melting, a development of vortex motion at the bottom melt zone was observed to be quite similar to that in a rectangular cavity with isothermal walls. In both melting and solidification experiments the conducting walls acted as isothermal walls at the late times during the processes. Natural convection was found to control the melt shape, the melting rate and heat transfer during melting. The effect of the initial subcooling of the solid was also investigated and the results clearly showed that heat conduction was the dominant mode of energy transport during the inward solidification. For solid-liquid phase-change heat transfer short extended surfaces are more effective than longer ones.
Abnormal magnesium metabolism in etiology of salt-sensitive hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus

A previously unknown genetic defect in magnesium metabolism (i.e., the magnesium-binding defect [MgBD]) was found to be associated with the cause of “salt-sensitive” essential hypertension in humans and rats. It inhibits the entrance of Mg2+ into the cell so that the intracellular concentrations of Mg2+ and MgATP2− are decreased. Consequently, the 300 enzyme reactions in the cell, especially the 100 that either use or produce MgATP2−, are inhibited. Thus, because the extrusion of intracellular Na+ requires MgATP2−, hypertension results when the involved MgATP2− requiring enzyme is inhibited. The MgBD is corrected by the tachykinin substance P, which occurs in normal blood plasma, and by the pentapeptide and its contained tetrapeptide, which are released from the C-terminal region of substance P by plasma aminopeptidases. In vivo, the intravenous administration of the tetrapeptide corrects the hypertension and the MgBD as well. The MgBD also occurs in type 2 diabetes mellitus and, thus, the decreased intracellular concentrations of Mg2+ and MgATP2− ions appear to be involved also in the cause of this disease, which is reputed to be the fifth most deadly disease in the world.
Time-domain computations for floating bodies

Abstract A review of the research carried out at the University of Michigan and elsewhere on the use of time-domain panel methods to compute the hydrodynamic forces acting on floating bodies is presented. Both linear and fully nonlinear computational techniques are presented. The linear problem is solved using a time-domain Green function approach. The fully nonlinear computations are done using an Euler-Lagrange method. At each time step the resulting mixed boundary value problem is solved using a desingularized isolated source. Results are presented for simplified bodies.
Endocrine applications of the somatostatin analogue octreotide (Sandostatin

S OMATOSTATIN (SRIF) was discovered nearly two decades ago during the course of efforts to isolate growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH).’ Human pre-proSRIF is encoded by a single copy gene consisting of two exons separated by an 877-bp intronic sequence.2 This hypothalamic peptide was initially characterized as possessing a potent inhibitory effect on the secretion of pituitary growth hormone (GH).3 However, cloning, sequencing, and purification of the native prohormone (SRIF-28) and hormone (SRIF-14) has subsequently led to the discovery of the ubiquitous distribution and multifunctional properties of this peptide. However, the native SRIF hormones are rapidly degraded, with a half-life of less than 2 minutes in the circulation. Thus, to apply the physiologic activities of SRIF to clinical applications, it was necessary to develop longer-acting SRIF analogues. SMS 20 l-995, octreotide acetate (Sandostatin@), is an 8-amino acid cyclic derivative with a disulfide bond bridge that is relatively resistant to in vivo degradation. This analogue has an extended half-life of up to 1 I7 minutes in man4 and has been studied in multiple areas of clinical research and pharmacotherapy. This report will provide an overview of proven and potential endocrine applications of Sandostatin@, with particular emphasis on pituitary disorders, ectopic hormone production. diabetes mellitus, and endocrine manipulation of neoplastic conditions. Detailed results, risks, and benefits of these studies are fully described in subsequent reports.
Optimum sensor placement for localization in three dimensional under log normal shadowing

In scenarios of wireless source localization using sensor networks, the geometry of the sensor nodes in the network heavily influences the accuracy of the source location estimate. This paper thus considers the optimal sensor placement in three dimensions so that a source can be localized optimally from the Received Signal Strength (RSS) at various non-coplanar sensors, under Lognormal Shadowing. We assume that the source is uniformly distributed in a sphere and the sensors must be placed outside a larger concentric sphere to avoid proximity to the hazards posed by the source. The mathematical problem becomes one of maximizing the smallest eigenvalue or the determinant of the expectation of an underlying Fisher Information Matrix (FIM), or minimizing the trace of the inverse of this matrix, subject to the above constraint. We show that the optimality is achieved if and only if the expectation of the underlying FIM is a scaled diagonal, and provide methods for achieving this condition.
Power Bases for 2-Power Cyclotomic Fields☆

Abstract Let ζ be a primitive 2 m th root of unity. We prove that Z [ α ]= Z [ ζ ] if and only if α = n ± ζ i for some n , i ∈ Z , i odd. This is the first example of number fields of arbitrarily large degree for which all power bases for the ring of integers are known.