cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Central surface curvatures of postmortem- extracted intact human crystalline lenses: implications for understanding the mechanism of accommodation.

Abstract Purpose To measure the radii of curvature of postmortem, whole, encapsulated human crystalline lenses, free of all zonular attachments, and to calculate their corresponding optical powers. Design Experimental study. Participants Thirty human crystalline lenses from donors with a mean age of 33.6±14.4 years. Methods Intact clear human crystalline lenses were obtained within an average of 21 hours of death. The lenses were removed from the eye by the contributing eye bank and shipped in Optisol-GS, a physiologic preservative storage medium. These lenses, with intact capsules, were freed of all zonular attachments. The lenses were stored at 7° C and were maintained in the same storage medium during the period that they were held for evaluation. Using a portable Keratron Scout corneal topographer (Eyequip, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) fixed to an optical bench, the radii of curvatures of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the crystalline lens were measured daily for 10 days after receipt of the tissue. The capsules of the crystalline lenses remained intact, and the lenses were clear throughout the study. Measurements were made at room temperature after removing the lens from storage. Eight repetitions of the topography were made from each surface on each day to determine the accuracy and stability of the measurement. Profile photographs were taken daily to establish the central crystalline lens thickness. The corresponding optical power of each physiologically maintained crystalline lens was calculated. Main outcome measures The main outcome measures were the central anterior radius of curvature, the central posterior radius of curvature, the central thickness of each crystalline lens, and the amount of change in these parameters over 10 days. Results The means ± standard deviations of the central anterior and posterior radii of curvatures of the 30 adult lenses were 10.5±0.6 mm and 7.1±1.0 mm, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation of the central thickness, as measured from profile photographs, was 3.9±0.5 mm. These mean measurements remained stable for up to 5 days after receipt of the tissue. The mean and standard deviation of the calculated optical power of these postmortem, physiologically maintained, intact human crystalline lenses from donors with a mean age of 33.6 years was 19.8±1.7 diopters. Conclusions Lenses free of zonular tension are at an optical power that would be associated with optimal distance acuity.
Use of parathyroid hormone in hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is a disorder characterized by hypocalcemia, deficient PTH, and abnormal bone remodeling. Standard treatment of hypoparathyroidism consists of oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation. However, maintaining serum calcium levels can be a challenge. In addition, concerns exist regarding hypercalciuria and ectopic calcifications that can be associated with such treatment. Hypoparathyroidism is the only classic endocrine deficiency disease for which the missing hormone, PTH, is not yet an approved treatment. This review focuses on the use of PTH in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism, in the form of teriparatide [PTH(1-34)] and the full-length molecule, PTH(1-84). Studies in hypoparathyroid subjects demonstrate that PTH(1-34) and PTH(1-84) lower or abolish supplemental calcium and vitamin D requirements as well as increase markers of bone turnover. Densitometric and histomorphometric studies in some subjects treated with PTH(1- 34) and PTH(1-84) show an improvement in bone-remodeling dynamics and return of bone metabolism toward normal levels. Given the chronic nature of hypoparathyroidism, and the expectation that PTH will be used for extended periods of time in hypoparathyroidism, further studies are needed to determine the long-term safety of PTH therapy in this population.
A W-cycle algorithm for a weakly over-penalized interior penalty method

We study a W-cycle multigrid algorithm for a weakly over-penalized interior penalty method for the two-dimensional Poisson problem on convex polygonal domains.
Neglecting uncertainty behind Allee effect estimation may generate false predictions of population extinction risk

Estimation of extinction thresholds arising from Allee effects (Allee thresholds) and related probabilities of population extinction is notoriously difficult. One way is to analyze adequately parameterized population models. Traditionally, a point estimate is substituted for the Allee effect strength in such models. However, each point estimate entails an underlying uncertainty. We explore how accounting for this uncertainty affects the probability of population extinction, and show that this probability decreases sigmoidally with increasing population density, even in the absence of any stochasticity. Deviations from when only a point estimate of the Allee effect strength is used can be significant, unless stochasticity is added and the stochastic noise intensity is high. Significant deviations from when only a point estimate is used also occur when the Allee threshold and the environmental carrying capacity of the species are close enough one to another. We also show that the impact of the uncertainty in the Allee effect strength estimate increases as the Allee effect strength itself increases and decreases as the species recovery potential increases. This is not a good news, since we would like to preferentially and efficiently manage slowly recovering populations prone to strong Allee effects. Still, there is a way to come up with relatively good Allee threshold estimates. Besides an obvious option of collecting as many data as possible, the impact of the uncertainty can be mitigated by diversifying Allee effect experiments such that we put more emphasis on larger size groups. This is somewhat surprising, given that frequent complaints on the (im)possibility of detecting Allee effects concern difficulties in locating, observing and experimenting on rare populations. Our results extend current theory surrounding Allee effects and have broad ramifications for applied ecology.
Sensitive determination of dissolved sulfide in estuarine water by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography of methylene blue.

Abstract A sensitive method involving solid-phase extraction and HPLC analysis of methylene blue has been developed to measure nanomolar levels of dissolved sulfide in oxic surface waters. The procedure included 1) a preconcentration step, in which methylene blue generated from sulfide reaction with n,n-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine in acidic conditions in the presence of ferric ion was absorbed onto Waters tC18 cartridge; and 2) a determination step, in which methylene blue was separated by HPLC in a gradient elution to minimize natural organic matter interference and detected by absorbance. The concentrations of the dissolved sulfide, quantified by standard addition, were about 2.1–4.7 nM in oxic surface waters from Galveston Bay, Texas.
Molecular dynamics study of the 13-cis form (bR548) of bacteriorhodopsin and its photocycle

The structure and the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) containing 13-cis,15-syn retinal, so-called bR548, has been studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations performed on the complete protein. The simulated structure of bR548 was obtained through isomerization of in situ retinal around both its C13-C14 and its C15-N bond starting from the simulated structure of bR568 described previously, containing all-trans,15-anti retinal. After a 50-ps equilibration, the resulting structure of bR548 was examined by replacing retinal by analogues with modified beta-ionone rings and comparing with respective observations. The photocycle of bR548 was simulated by inducing a rapid 13-cis,15-anti-->all-trans,15-syn isomerization through a 1-ps application of a potential that destabilizes the 13-cis isomer. The simulation resulted in structures consistent with the J, K, and L intermediates observed in the photocycle of bR548. The results offer an explanation of why an unprotonated retinal Schiff base intermediate, i.e., an M state, is not formed in the bR548 photocycle. The Schiff base nitrogen after photoisomerization of bR548 points to the intracellular rather than to the extracellular site. The simulations suggest also that leakage from the bR548 to the bR568 cycle arises due to an initial 13-cis,15-anti-->all-trans,15-anti photoisomerization.
Interactions of antimitotic peptides and depsipeptides with tubulin.

Tubulin is the target for an ever increasing number of structurally unusual peptides and depsipeptides isolated from a wide range of organisms. Since tubulin is the subunit protein of microtubules, the compounds are usually potently toxic to mammalian cells. Without exception, these (depsi)peptides disrupt cellular microtubules and prevent spindle formation. This causes cells to accumulate at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle through inhibition of mitosis. In biochemical assays, the compounds inhibit microtubule assembly from tubulin and suppress microtubule dynamics at low concentrations. Most of the (depsi)peptides inhibit the binding of Catharanthus alkaloids to tubulin in a noncompetitive manner, GTP hydrolysis by tubulin, and nucleotide turnover at the exchangeable GTP site on beta-tubulin. In general, the (depsi)peptides induce the formation of tubulin oligomers of aberrant morphology. In all cases tubulin rings appear to be formed, but these rings differ in diameter, depending on the (depsi)peptide present during their formation.
Distribution System Protection with Decentralized Generation Introduced into the System

Cogeneration from renewable energy sources has been universally proposed as a partial alternative to the solution of our nation's energy problems. New technical, safety, and operational problems are introduced when this generation is placed into a distribution grid. Addressed is the problem of distribution system protection with the introduction of cogeneration sources and the changes and modifications which may be required in the application of present-day protection devices. A sample system is considered, and system protection and coordination with and without cogeneration has been calculated through a digital fault and system protection coordination program. The results indicate through the study of several systems that additional coordination and protection considerations will be required when sizable cogeneration sources are introduced to maintain a high degree of reliability and service continuity.
Polarization-based non-staining cell detection

Polarization is an important characteristic of electromagnetic waves, which can not be detected by either the human visual system or traditional image sensors. Motivated by various animal species with polarization vision as well as by the prospect of improving the image quality of the imaging systems, we are exploring the potential of polarization for microscope imaging. The most powerful techniques for molecule monitoring requires complex preprocessing for labeling the sample with different dyes. In this paper, we propose a cell detection method using polarization imaging without any need for staining target cell samples with any chemical dye. The motivation for this work is to develop an optical imaging technique that is simple and that can be used on live cells. The polarization sensitivity of cell samples is studied in this paper. A definition for the quantity called “polarization deviation” is proposed in order to identify clearer the difference between target cells and the background. Based on the polarization deviation detection method, a three-parameter polarization imaging method is employed to further simplify the image capture procedure for the proposed label-free cell detection. A color imaging methodology based on the well-known color space is utilized in order to represent the captured polarization information using computer graphics.
Hopf bifurcation and solution multiplicity in a model for destabilized Bridgman crystal growth

Flow instabilities are analyzed within a destabilized vertical Bridgman crystal growth system, first studied experimentally by Kim et al. (J. Electrochem. Soc. 119(1972) 1218), using a distributed-parameter model consisting of balance equations for energy and momentum transport. Numerical solution of the governing equations via a Galerkin finite element method reveals multiple operating states and dynamic phenomena. Bifurcation analysis shows that the onset of time-periodic flows occurs in the model system via a supercritical Hopf bifurcation, consistent with prior experimental observations on the dynamics of flow in similar systems.
Rat ovarian insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3: a growth hormone-dependent theca-interstitial cell-derived antigonadotropin.

To further the identification and characterization of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins at the level of the immature rat ovary, we have set out to study the ovarian expression, cellular localization, and hormonal regulation of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3. To this end, use was made of a solution hybridization/RNAse protection assay wherein ovarian total RNA from immature (21-23 days old) female rats was hybridized with a 343 bases-long [32P]-labeled rat IGFBP-3 riboprobe. As in liver, a single protected fragment (315 bases-long) corresponding to IGFBP-3 transcripts was identified in whole ovarian material. Cellular localization studies revealed the IGFBP-3 gene to be exclusively expressed in the theca-interstitial rather than the granulosa cell compartment. To confirm presence and cellular distribution of the IGFBP-3 protein, media conditioned by cultured granulosa cells, theca-interstitial cells, and whole ovarian dispersates were subjected to Western Ligand Blotting...
The geometrostatic lattice cell

The geometry of lattice universes in general is reviewed, and particular attention is given to the 3-geometry of a 5-black hole model universe at the momentarily static phase of maximum expansion as an illustration of the insights to be won by considering symmetries and reflections. Three models for the black holes in this lattice universe are compared and contrasted. Reasons are given for working with Misner's “flange backup” model. The geometry interior to the individual tetrahedral cell of this lattice is compared and contrasted with the electrostatic field produced by a point charge located in the center of a cavity of the same shape that has perfectly conducting walls.
Mortality remains high for outpatient transplant candidates with prolonged (>6 months) waiting list time.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The study aimed to determine the risk of death or urgent transplant for patients who survived an initial 6 months on the outpatient heart transplant waiting list when criteria emphasizing reduced peak oxygen consumption are used for transplant candidate selection. BACKGROUND Waiting time is a key criterion for heart donor allocation. A recent single-center investigation described decreasing survival benefit from transplant for patients who survived an initial 6 months on the outpatient waiting list. METHODS Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed for 80 patients from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) listed from July 1986 to January 1991, and 132 patients from Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (CPMC) listed from September 1993 to September 1995. Survival from the time of outpatient listing for the entire group (ALL) was compared to subsequent survival from 6 months onward for those patients who survived the initial 6 months after placement on the outpatient list (6M). Both urgent transplant and left ventricular assist device implantation were considered equivalent to death; elective transplant was censored. RESULTS Survival for 6M was not significantly better than ALL at HUP (subsequent 12 months: 60 ± 7 vs. 60 ± 6% [mean ± SD]; p = 0.89) nor at CPMC (subsequent 12 months: 60 ± 6 vs. 48 ± 5%; p = 0.35). Survival for 6M at both centers was substantially lower than survival following transplant from the outpatient list in the United States in 1995. CONCLUSIONS When high-risk patients are selected for nonurgent transplant listing, mortality remains high, even among those who survive the initial six months after listing. Time accrued on the waiting list remains an appropriate criterion for donor allocation.
Oral Phenytoin Toxicity Causing Sinus Arrest: A Case Report

We present a case of sinus node arrest leading to symptomatic junctional bradycardia from oral phenytoin toxicity, which is a rare presentation. Our patient had no prior cardiac history and was on phenytoin therapy for seizure disorder. Although bradycardia is more commonly associated with intravenous phenytoin and there were few case reports of bradycardia with oral phenytoin reported, the literature is limited. In this case report, we also reviewed the pathophysiology of phenytoin-induced cardiac toxicity.
Development status of the SP-100 power system

The SP-100 Program, whose goal is to develop 10 to 1000 kW electric space reactor power systems for use in civil and military space missions in the mid 1990s and beyond, is described. The major accomplishments of the SP-100 ground engineering system development project are: (1) completion of the preliminary design of the reactor test facility, and (2) completion of the generic flight system design which meets the technical specifications and is the basis for all the ground engineering system analytical and experimental tasks. The power conditioning, control, and distribution subsystem is indicated schematically.
Effects of vegetation and hydrologic load on sedimentation patterns in experimental wetland ecosystems

Vegetation and water velocity effects on patterns of sediment deposition were tested by monitoring sedimentation rates in dense cattail, open water, and transitional vegetation zones at distances of 5, 10, and 20 m from the inflows of two experimental wetland basins at the Des Plaines River Wetlands Demonstration Project, northeastern Illinois, USA. One basin received a high hydrologic load (up to 50 cm/wk) and one basin received a low load (up to 6 cm/wk). Sediment deposition rates within 20 m of the inflows reached 3300 g dry wt m−2 day−1 in the high-load basin and 700 g dry wt m−2 day−1 in the low-load basin. Vegetation patterns did not have a significant effect (P > 0.05) on sediment deposition rates in the high-load basin, whereas water velocity effects on rates of sedimentation were significant (P < 0.01) in three of four periods of monitoring. In the low-load basin, vegetation effects were significant (P < 0.01) during the entire period of investigation. Experimental research at this scale aids in the assessment of design criteria for constructed wetlands.
A Robust Classifier to Distinguish Noise from fMRI Independent Components

Analyzing Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of resting brains to determine the spatial location and activity of intrinsic brain networks–a novel and burgeoning research field–is limited by the lack of ground truth and the tendency of analyses to overfit the data. Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is commonly used to separate the data into signal and Gaussian noise components, and then map these components on to spatial networks. Identifying noise from this data, however, is a tedious process that has proven hard to automate, particularly when data from different institutions, subjects, and scanners is used. Here we present an automated method to delineate noisy independent components in ICA using a data-driven infrastructure that queries a database of 246 spatial and temporal features to discover a computational signature of different types of noise. We evaluated the performance of our method to detect noisy components from healthy control fMRI (sensitivity = 0.91, specificity = 0.82, cross validation accuracy (CVA) = 0.87, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.93), and demonstrate its generalizability by showing equivalent performance on (1) an age- and scanner-matched cohort of schizophrenia patients from the same institution (sensitivity = 0.89, specificity = 0.83, CVA = 0.86), (2) an age-matched cohort on an equivalent scanner from a different institution (sensitivity = 0.88, specificity = 0.88, CVA = 0.88), and (3) an age-matched cohort on a different scanner from a different institution (sensitivity = 0.72, specificity = 0.92, CVA = 0.79). We additionally compare our approach with a recently published method [1]. Our results suggest that our method is robust to noise variations due to population as well as scanner differences, thereby making it well suited to the goal of automatically distinguishing noise from functional networks to enable investigation of human brain function.
Race is not independently associated with a positive prostate biopsy in men suspected of having prostate cancer

Abstract Objectives. To examine whether race is associated with the prostate biopsy result after controlling for other clinical factors in men undergoing ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy to evaluate an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE), or both. Methods. We reviewed the records of all men undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy at our facilities from January 1990 through March 1998. This included 1056 white men and 874 black men. Patient age, serum PSA, indication for prostate biopsy, and race were examined for association with the biopsy result. Results. Of the 1930 black and white men who underwent prostate biopsy, 639 (33%) had cancer, including 355 (41%) of 874 black men and 284 (27%) of 1056 white men. Serum PSA, abnormal DRE, and age were independent predictors of a prostate biopsy being positive for cancer. Race was not an independent predictor of cancer being identified in the prostate biopsy. Conclusions. After controlling for PSA, DRE, and age, black men were not at an increased risk of a positive prostate biopsy relative to white men. Our data do not support the need to consider race when estimating the probability that a man has prostate cancer.
HIV prevention before HAART in sub-Saharan Africa.

Summary Data on the cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa and on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) indicate that prevention is at least 28 times more cost effective than HAART. We aim to show that funding HAART at the expense of prevention means greater loss of life. To maximise health benefits, the next major increments of HIV funding in sub-Saharan Africa should be devoted mainly to prevention and to some non-HAART treatment and care. Funds should be allocated to HAART primarily for demonstration projects that will help prepare for scaled-up HAART provision following broad population coverage by prevention programmes. UNAIDS and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine recently estimated that at least US$9·2 billion annually is required to mount an appropriate response to the HIV pandemic, including substantial funding for HAART. To date, US$1·96 billion has been committed to the newly-established UN Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. It is a moral imperative that expanded programmes to control HIV be implemented without delay, and that the goal of US$9·2 billion or more in annual spending be attained as rapidly as possible. The findings and recommendations of this analysis pertain to the phasing in of additional HIV-related activities during the current period of improved but inadequate funding.
Server Engineering Insights for Large-Scale Online Services

The rapid growth of online services in the last decade has led to the development of large data centers to host these workloads. These large-scale online, user-facing services have unique engineering and capacity provisioning design requirements. The authors explore these requirements, focusing on system balancing, the impact of technology trends, and the challenges of online service workloads.
In vitro neurogenesis from neural progenitor cells isolated from the hippocampus region of the brain of adult rats exposed to ethanol during early development through their alcohol-drinking mothers.

AIMS This study was aimed to determine whether ethanol exposure during early development altered neurogenesis in the brain of adult rats. METHODS Pregnant rats were given either ethanol-mixed or mannose-mixed (for control) rodent liquid diet ad libitum. Ethanol drinking continued during pregnancy and nursing. After weaning, the pups (AC(o): pups from control mothers, AE(o): pups from ethanol exposed mothers) received normal diet and water ad libitum for 11 weeks. Then the rats were anesthetized, their brains were collected and the hippocampal samples were processed for isolation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). AC(o) NPCs and AE(o) NPCs were sequentially grown in media containing different growth factors that induced proliferation and differentiation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Neuronal maturation was significantly delayed in ethanol-exposed rats. AC(o) NPCs, up to day 7 of culture, exhibited high beta-catenin-probe binding, an increase in Ca(2+) when exposed to gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and lack of response to glutamate (Glu) exposure. beta-Catenin-probe binding and the stimulatory effects of GABA declined thereafter. AC(o) NPCs, at culture day 29, exhibited high beta-catenin-probe binding, lack of response to GABA and elevated Glu-induced increase in Ca(2+i). Cultures of AE(o) NPCs showed an amplified stimulatory effects of GABA, attenuated stimulatory effects of Glu and attenuated the delayed (culture day 29) increase in the expression of Wnt proteins and beta-catenin-probe binding. This suggests a significant alteration in neurogenesis and synapse formation in adult rats exposed to ethanol at early development through their alcohol-drinking mothers.
Is Alaka Truly the Great Escape from Air Pollution?-Long Term Source Apportionment of Fine Particulate Matter in Fairbanks, Alaska

Alaska is generally considered to be a place that is one of the last great escapes from air pollution. However, they have not spent a winter in Fairbanks or the nearby village of North Pole, where the daily average PM_(2.5) concentration was 170 μg/m^3 in December 2012 according to the Alaska Deparbnent of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Air Monitoring Network. In this study, source apportionment using Positive Factorization Matrix (EPA PMF 5.0) has been conducted based on the 2005 to 2012 Fairbanks PM_(2.5) compositional data including elements, sulfate, nitrate, ammonia, elemental carbon (EC), and organic carbon (DC) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency speciation network. Seven sources were identified: soil, gasoline, sulfate, diesel, wood smoke, road salt, and nitrate. The average contributions to PM_(2.5) of these seven sources were 3.4%, 16.3%,19.5%, 14.3%, 40.5%, 1.5%, and 4.5%, respectively. Wood smoke provided the highest contributions to PM_(2.5). Its contributions were the lowest in 2007 (3.5 μg/m^3) and peaked in 2009 (5.7 μg/m^3) The winter contributions of sulfate, nitrate, diesel, road salt, and wood smoke were all substantiajly higher compared to other seasons. Wood smoke is the only source with weekend's contribution greater than the weekdays' corresponding to the times when residential wood combustion is more likely to occur. The contributions of diesel, wood smoke, and sulfate were approximately doubled on violation days (daily average PM_(2.5) higher than 35 μg/m^3) compared to all days. This finding indicates that winter heating is the most important factor affecting the air quality in Fairbanks. In the future, additional source apportionment using other receptor models and tracers will need to be conducted to confirm these results.
Hop-Distance Algorithm for Self-Localization of Wireless Sensor Networks

In wireless sensor networks, it is difficult yet important to locate the sensor nodes. Self-localization algorithm of sensor nodes can be used in both military and civil applications. A low-cost and practical approach is proposed in this paper. The hop-distance algorithm is based on RSSI (received signal strength indicator), geometry and most likelihood estimation. Simulations show that average position error is about 20% of the radio range of the nodes in a scenario where the average ranging error is 10% and 10% of the nodes are anchor nodes.
Renal response to acute neutral endopeptidase inhibition in mild and severe experimental heart failure.

Background—Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) is a metalloprotease that is localized in the greatest abundance in the kidney and degrades natriuretic peptides, such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Mild congestive heart failure (CHF) is characterized by increases in circulating ANP without activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) or sodium retention. In contrast, severe CHF is characterized by sodium retention and coactivation of both ANP and the RAAS. Methods and Results—We defined the acute cardiorenal actions of the NEP inhibitor candoxatrilat (8 μg · kg−1 · min−1) in 4 groups of anesthetized dogs (normal, n=8; mild CHF, n=6; severe CHF, n=5; and severe CHF with chronic AT1 receptor antagonism, n=5). Mild CHF was produced by rapid ventricular pacing at 180 bpm for 10 days and severe CHF at 245 bpm for 10 days. In mild CHF, urinary sodium excretion and glomerular filtration rate were greatest in response to acute NEP inhibition compared with the response in either control animals...
Network Coding and Packet-Erasure Broadcast Channel

We consider data-streaming from an access point to multiple receivers, which is modeled as packet erasure channel. A simple network coding is shown to achieve larger rate region than without network coding, using minimal control information. The performance is characterized exactly using state transition graph. The scheme is then mapped to an information theoretic formulation for broadcast channel with feedback. It exhibits a much simpler example showing feedback improves the broadcast capacity region, as compared to Ozarow's 1984 construction for Gaussian broadcast channel.
Continuous outcomes stochastically mismeasured as discrete random variables: a maximum likelihood approach

In an economic model of retirement behavior, a continuous dependent variable was required; the variable could only be estimated discretely with error, however. Parameter estimates using this dependent variable and ordinary least squares regression are inefficient. In th is paper, we develop a maximum likelihood procedure which adjusts for this heteroscedasticity.
Cost Analysis in Early Intervention

This study investigated the use of a resource cost methodology to obtain reliable and current estimates of the cost of early intervention services for children, aged birth through five, with disabi...
Interprocedural constant propagation

In a compiling system that attempts to improve code for a whole program by optimizing across procedures, the compiler can generate better code for a specific procedure if it knows which variables will have constant values, and what those values will be, when the procedure is invoked. This paper presents a general algorithm for determining for each procedure in a given program the set of inputs that will have known constant values at run time. The precision of the answers provided by this method are dependent on the precision of the local analysis of individual procedures in the program. Since the algorithm is intended for use in a sophisticated software development environment in which local analysis would be provided by the source editor, the quality of the answers will depend on the amount of work the editor performs. Several reasonable strategies for local analysis with different levels of complexity and precision are suggested and the results of a prototype implementation in a vectorizing Fortran compiler are presented.
Genetics, antisocial personality, and criminal responsibility

There is now substantial evidence that heritable biological factors play a role in the genesis of repetitive antisocial behavior. The differing conceptual frameworks of behavioral genetics and the law are described, and the implications that current research in behavioral genetics may have for assigning responsibility for unlawful behavior are discussed.
Photodynamic Therapy Generates a Matrix Barrier to Invasive Vascular Cell Migration

Abstract—Photodynamic therapy (PDT) inhibits experimental intimal hyperplasia. PDT results in complete vascular wall cell eradication with subsequent adventitia but minimal media repopulation. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PDT alters the vascular wall matrix thereby inhibiting invasive cell migration, and as such, provides an important barrier mechanism to favorably alter the vascular injury response. Untreated smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts were seeded on control and PDT-treated (100 J/cm2; photosensitizer was chloroaluminum-sulfonated phthalocyanine, 5 μg/mL) 3-dimensional collagen matrix gels. Invasive cell migration was temporally quantified by calibrated microscopy. Zymography and ELISA assessed SMC matrix metalloproteinase levels. Molecular changes of gel proteins and their susceptibility to collagenase were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Limited pepsin digestion and histology were used to assess the in vivo relevance of the model, using an established rat c...
High-frequency parametric excitation of electrohydrodynamic instabilities: applications to large-area ion sources

Recent experimental and theoretical work has shown that high-frequency microwave sources can excite electrohydrodynamic instabilities on liquid metal surfaces through parametric resonance. It is shown that parametric resonance may be useful in two-dimensional ion source experiments by reducing the value of the electric field required to produce instabilities leading to ion emission. >
Reflections on ethical concerns arising from the incorporation of results of randomized trials of antineoplastic therapy into routine clinical practice

There has been little discussion in the medical literature regarding the process whereby physicians elect to accept or reject the incorporation of results of randomized trials into their routine clinical practice. This decision-making process has the potential to result in serious ethical dilemmas.
Aldehydes from 2-Benzyl-4,4,6-Trimethyl-5,6-Dihydro-1,3(4H)-Oxazine: 1-Phenylcyclopentanecarboxaldehyde

Aldehydes from 2-benzyl-4,4,6-trimethyl-5,6-dihydro-1,3(4H)-oxazine: 1-phenylcyclopentanecarboxaldehyde reactant: 21.7 g. (0.100 mole) of 2-benzyl-4,4,6-trimethyl-5,6-dihydro-1,3(4H)-oxazine reactant: 1,4-Dibromobutane (23.8 g., 0.110 mole) intermediate: 2-(1-phenylcyclopentyl)-4,4,6-trimethyl-5,6-dihydro-1,3(4H)-oxazine intermediate: 2-(1-Phenylcyclopentyl)-4,4,6-trimethyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazine solvent: 150-ml. portions of petroleum ether product: 1-phenylcyclopentanecarboxaldehyde Keywords: alkylation, C-alkylation; annulation, carbocyclic-[5]; cyclization, condensation; hydrolysis, miscellaneous; reduction, miscellaneous; 2-benzyl-4,4,6-trimethyl-5,6-dihydro-1,3(4 h)-oxazine, preparation of; tetrahydrofuran
Structural comparison of bacterial and human iron-dependent phenylalanine hydroxylases: similar fold, different stability and reaction rates.

Abstract Structure determination of bacterial homologues of human disease-related proteins provides an efficient path to understanding the three-dimensional fold of proteins that are associated with human diseases. However, the precise locations of active-site residues are often quite different between bacterial and human versions of an enzyme, creating significant differences in the biological understanding of enzyme homologs. To study this hypothesis, phenylalanine hydroxylase from a bacterial source has been structurally characterized at high resolution and comparison is made to the human analog. The enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PheOH) catalyzes the hydroxylation of l -phenylalanine into l -tyrosine utilizing the cofactors (6 R )- l -erythro-5,6,7,8 tetrahydrobiopterin (BH 4 ) and molecular oxygen. Previously determined X-ray structures of human and rat PheOH, with a sequence identity of more than 93%, show that these two structures are practically identical. It is thus of interest to compare the structure of the divergent Chromobacterium violaceum phenylalanine hydroxylase (CvPheOH) (∼24% sequence identity overall) to the related human and rat PheOH structures. We have determined crystal structures of CvPheOH to high resolution in the apo-form (no Fe-added), Fe(III)-bound form, and 7,8-dihydro- l -biopterin (7,8-BH 2 ) plus Fe(III)-bound form. The bacterial enzyme displays higher activity and thermal melting temperature, and structurally, differences are observed in the N and C termini, and in a loop close to the active-site iron atom.
ASIM, an efficient simulation environment for cellular neural networks and analog arrays

Summary form only given. Traditional circuit-based simulation of cellular neural networks and analog arrays is very slow and cumbersome. Much of the computation and memory space involved could be reduced if the data and computational structures of the program could mirror the architecture of the analog array. The authors present the details of such a simulator, named ASIM. The computations performed by ASIM are derived directly from the nonlinear differential equations describing the processing at each node and the internal data representation mirrors the architecture of analog arrays. ASIM is a graphical environment for simulating continuous-time continuous-variable computational arrays which have a regular structure, whose connectivity is nearest-neighbor, and whose nodal processing can be described by a set of nonlinear differential equations. The user need specify only the equations for nodal processing and the connectivity to neighboring processors. Input and output are graphical and show the state of all variables in the array as a function of time. The user may incorporate iteration of any internal variable to find optimal processing strategies or neighborhood organization. To aid the evaluation of algorithms which are to be fabricated in VLSI, the use can specify variances in any computational variable to simulate the effect of fabrication tolerances and may specify that certain variables have associated noise components. Both of these features make ASIM an ideal aid in developing analog array and cellular neural network algorithms which are more robust to implementation variability. The ASIM program runs on 80386 based IBM PC/AT computers using the MS-DOS operating system. It requires 2 Mbytes of extended memory and a VGA compatible graphics card. >
An experimental investigation of primary and secondary velocity for turbulent flow in eccentric annuli

Velocity profiles for the turbulent flow of air in annuli of high eccentricities were determined. Unusual isovel curvature suggestive of secondary flow was found, but hot-wire measurements did not detect secondary flow within experimental accuracy. Evidence suggests that most of the observed isovel structure is due to developing flow and the remainder is a normal pattern of primary velocity. The use of irrelevant velocity correlations and not the assumption of negligible secondary flow is suggested as the reason for lack of agreement between recent flow hypotheses and measured velocities. On a determine les profils de velocite dans le cas de l'ecoulement turbulent de l'air dans des anneaux fortement excentriques. On a trouve une courbature anormale qui indiquerait la presence d'un ecoulement secondaire, mais on n'a pu, en faisant des mesures avec fil metallique chaud, deceler un ecoulement secondaire dans les limites de la precision experimentale. Il apparait donc que la plus grande partie de la structure anormale qu'on a observee est due a l'ecoulement qui progresse et que le reste est un modele normal de velocite primaire. Il semblerait que l'emploi de correlations non-pertinentes de velocite, et non pas l'hypothese d'un ecoulement secondaire negligeable, soit la cause du manque de similitude entre les hypotheses recentes d'ecoulement et les velocites mesurees.
Synthesis, Morphology, and Optical Characterization of Nanocrystalline Er3+:Y2O3

We describe a methodology to synthesize trivalent-erbium (Er3+)-doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticles. An in-depth morphology analysis indicates that the average diameter of the individual nanoparticles is about 25 nm. To optically characterize the nanocrystalline material, the room-temperature absorption spectrum has been obtained between 400 and 900 nm. The spectrum consists of six absorption bands, including 2G(1)9/2, 4F3/2 + 4F5/2, 4F7/2, 2H(2)11/2 + 4S3/2, 4F9/2, and 4I9/2. The room-temperature fluorescence spectra of the Er3+ (4f11) 2H(2)11/2 + 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions were analyzed for the crystal-field splitting of the energy levels of these states of erbium. We have measured the lifetimes for the 2H(2)11/2 + 4S3/2 and 4F9/2 metastable states and have investigated the effects of Er3+ concentrations and particle size on the emission intensity and decay times. The experimental energies (Stark levels) agree well within the experimental error with the theoretical values reporte...
Regulation and Function of Cyclin D2 in B Lymphocyte Subsets

Abs produced by B lymphocytes play an essential role in humoral immunity against pathogens. This response is dependent upon the extent of genome replication, which in turn allows clonal expansion of Ag-specific B cell precursors. Thus, there is considerable interest in understanding how naive B cells commit to genome replication following Ag challenge. The BCR is a key regulator of B cell growth responses in the bone marrow and the periphery. The importance of identifying BCR-coupled signaling networks and their cell cycle targets is underscored by the recognition that aberrant cell cycle control can lead to lymphoproliferative disorders or lymphoid malignancies. This review focuses on recent progress toward understanding the function of cyclin D2 in cell cycle control, and in the development of murine B lymphocytes.
Thermal versus photochemical pathways of a manganese 10-vertex metalladecaborane: [Nido-6-Mn(CO)3B9H13][NMe4]

Abstract The relationship between the thermal and photochemical reaction pathways of the 10-vertex metalladecaborane complex, [nido-6-Mn(CO)3B9H13][NMe4] (1), has been investigated. The reaction types observed included a nido-6 to nido-5 cage isomerization process and a nido-6 to hypercloso-metallaborane conversion through hydrogen loss and cage closure reactions. The particular reaction pathway observed was found to depend upon the reaction conditions employed. UV photochemical irradiation of 1 resulted in the formation of the hypercloso-[Mn(CO3)B9H9][NMe4] structure while the thermal reaction effected an isomerization process to form the nido-5-[Mn(CO)3B9H13][NMe4] complex. Varying the solvent, under certain conditions, also yielded cage degradation reactions. The spectroscopic and structural characterization of the products of these reactions included multi-nuclear NMR, including 11B and 2D 11B–11B COSY NMR, FTIR, and UV–Visible methods. The X-ray crystallographic structures of the complexes [nido-6-Mn(CO)3B9H13][NMe4] (1) and [nido-5-Mn(CO)3B9H13][NMe4] (2) are also reported in this work.
Designed Mobilization: The Political Elite of Palestine During the Mandate Period

Palestinian society, in the years before the creation of Israel, has relatively been understudied. This paper explores the connections between the Palestinian political elite through the use of family papers and newspapers covering the interwar period. Exploring socio-economic and political events that took place in Palestinian society during the time period, yields new findings about the Palestinian political elite and their role in building and changing the course of the Palestinian Nationalist Movement. Specifically, Akram Zu'aiter emerges as one of the most influential leaders, both politically and intellectually, who changed the course of the Nationalist Movement in the mid-1930s to bring about a new form of political mobilization for the first time in Palestinian political history.
The Dynamics of a Family of One-Dimensional Maps

It is not hard to see that any interesting dynamics of any map from [0, 1] to [0, 1] whose graph consists of two, joined line segments ends up (after scaling and reflecting as necessary) in a square region in which the graph meets the left edge, has its peak on the top edge, and descends to the lower right corner, as illustrated in Figure 1. Despite the simplicity of its maps, this family exhibits a surprising variety of dynamics. In Section 2 we see non-chaotic maps with attracting and non-attracting periodic behavior. In Section 3 we show that every map in the family with a
Methane Hydrates : An Abundance of Clean Energy?

The discovery that gas hydrates (also called clathrate hydrates) can crystallize (Figure 1) as a solid by the combination of water and several types of gases exposed to low temperatures and elevated pressure goes back to the 1800s. French researchers were the frst to report the formation of methane, ethane, and propane hydrates.1 Results of these studies remained as scientifc novelties until the mid-1930s, when it was discovered in Germany that gas hydrates forming as solids above 0°C in gas pipelines blocked the fow of natural gas.2 This observation initiated a furry of activities both in Europe and in the United States to fnd various inhibitors to prevent hydrate formation in gas transmission lines. During the mid-1960s, it was recognized that nature, over millions of years, has deposited vast amounts of methane hydrates along most of the continental margins in the ocean sediments, as well as along the permafrost regions in Alaska, Canada, and Russia.3 Figure 2 shows the presence of methane hydrate deposits in the ocean sediments and in the permafrost regions of the world. These deposits are byproducts of microbial decomposition of organic matter or of Earth’s geothermal heating distributed worldwide where temperature and pressure are suitable for hydrate formation. The distribution of organic carbon in Earth’s crust as methane
Evolution of Dust Clouds in Afterglow Plasmas

The observations of the evolution of dust clouds in afterglow plasmas at various neutral pressures are presented. Four cases were studied which showed a large variation in the cloud dynamics. In two cases, the clouds responded by rapidly shedding an outer layer of dust. In another case, the entire cloud exhibited a nearly uniform expansion—Coulomb explosion. In perhaps the most exotic case, the cloud splits into two clouds—Coulomb fission. The results for the case of the Coulomb expansion were compared with a theoretical model that included the effects of neutral drag.
Risk factors related to the recurrence of cerebrovascular disease

Objective To explore the relationship between hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipoidemia and the recurrence of cerebrovascular disease(CVD).Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 686 cases of CVD aged 60 years and above was conducted,including 221 cases of recurrence.The blood pressure,glycosylated hemoglobin and presence or absence of hyperlipoidemia in these 221 cases were compared with those in patients who were admitted for first attack of CVD,in order to identify the influence of above factors on the secondary prevention of CVD.Results The recurrent patients had significantly worse blood pressure((OR=)5.37) and blood sugar(OR=7.96) conditions compared with those in first attack patients,but high blood lipid was not the main risk factor of the recurrence of CVD.Conclusion High blood pressure and diabetes are the main risk factors of the recurrence of CVD,and should be highlighted in the secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease.Meanwhile,high blood lipid cannot be neglected.