cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protocols for Microapplicator-assisted Infection of Lepidopteran Larvae with Baculovirus

Baculoviruses are widely used both as protein expression vectors and as insect pest control agents. . This video shows how lepidopteran larvae can be infected with microapplicator techniques in the gut with baculovirus polyhedra and in the hemolymph with budded virus. This accompanying Springer Protocols section provides an overview of the baculovirus lifecycle and use of baculoviruses as insecticidal agents. Formulation and application of baculoviruses for pest control purposes are described elsewhere.
Reduction of pain via platelet-rich plasma in split-thickness skin graft donor sites: a series of matched pairs.

In the past decade, autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has seen increasingly widespread integration into medical specialties. PRP application is known to accelerate wound epithelialization rates, and may also reduce postoperative wound site pain. Recently, we observed an increase in patient satisfaction following PRP gel (Angel, Cytomedix, Rockville, MD) application to split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites. We assessed all patients known to our university-based hospital service who underwent multiple STSGs up to the year 2014, with at least one treated with topical PRP. Based on these criteria, five patients aged 48.4±17.6 (80% male) were identified who could serve as their own control, with mean time of 4.4±5.1 years between operations. In both therapies, initial dressing changes occurred on postoperative day (POD) 7, with donor site pain measured by Likert visual pain scale. Paired t-tests compared the size and thickness of harvested skin graft and patient pain level, and STSG thickness and surface area were comparable between control and PRP interventions ( p> 0.05 for all). Donor site pain was reduced from an average of 7.2 (±2.6) to 3 (±3.7), an average reduction in pain of 4.2 (standard error 1.1, p= 0.0098) following PRP use. Based on these results, the authors suggest PRP as a beneficial adjunct for reducing donor site pain following STSG harvest. Keywords: skin grafts; platelet-rich plasma; diabetic foot; pain reduction (Published: 22 January 2015) Citation: Diabetic Foot & Ankle 2015, 6 : 24972 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/dfa.v6.24972
Statistical parameters for scattering from randomly oriented arrays, cylinders, and plates

The statistical distribution of backscattering S from some randomly oriented simple configurations is considered in terms of the log-normal distribution. The log-normal parameters (mean and variance of ln S ), for arrays, cylinders, and plates are obtained and shown to afford an accurate description of their backscattering statistics over a wide range, for sizes in excess of a few wavelengths. A reason for this correspondence is obtained by noting that the backscattering pattern of an array may be expressed as a product of factors which are uncorrelated with respect to random sampling. A product of independent factors leads to the log-normal distribution. Finally, results for some randomly sampled simple antenna patterns are given.
Charge violation by instantons in Chern-Simons theories

Abstract We study the effect of magnetic monopole instantons in abelian Chern-Simons gauge theories. An effective interaction induced by instantons is shown to break the global part if U(1) gauge symmetry into a finite cyclic subgroup. We present an understanding of the complex action and solution in euclidean space-time, boundary terms, and linear divergence of the instanton action.
Algorithms that exploit multi-interaction photon events in sub-millimeter resolution CZT detectors for PET

We are investigating a new cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector module with 0.5 mm3 reconstructed spatial resolution for small animal PET and plant imaging. Inter-pixel scatter will degrade the reconstructed spatial resolution and contrast resolution or, if the events are discarded, reduce the sensitivity. CZT also has poor time resolution leading to reduced contrast from random coincidences. We will use the kinematics of Compton scatter to estimate the position of inter-pixel scatter events so that these events can be used without degrading the spatial resolution. Further, we can estimate the incident photon direction from Compton kinematics to reject random coincidence photons. We evaluate the performance of our signal processing algorithms on a new split-layer design. The addition of Compton kinematics yielded up to a 50% improvement in contrast and CNR over processing without Compton kinematics.
Toward a better understanding of behavioral intention and system usage constructs

To understand user behavior, researchers have examined intention to use, and system usage through some common conceptualizations such as actual usage, reported usage, and assessed usage. Although t...
Expression of the Zymomonas mobilis alcohol dehydrogenase II ( adhB ) and pyruvate decarboxylase ( pdc ) genes in Bacillus

The genes encodingZymomonas mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase II (adhB) were expressed inBacillus subtilis YB886(pLOI500) under the control of aBacillus SPO2 phage promoter and caused a 50% reduction of growth rate compared with the unmodified vector. Expression was further confirmed by Western blots, activity stains of native gels, and in vitro measurements of alcohol dehydrogenase activity. Additional strains ofBacillus were also transformed, and all produced similar but low levels of these enzymes. Although higher specific activities will be required for efficient ethanol production, no fundamental barriers exist to the expression of theseZ. mobilis genes inBacillus. Two abundant new proteins (ca. mass 33,000 daltons and 14,000 daltons) were observed in Coomassie Blue-stained gels; they are similar in size to the proteins induced by recombinatn products inEscherichia coli.
Molecular characterization of malarial parasites in captive passerine birds.

Seven of 28 passerine birds that died in captivity were positive for malarial parasites by polymerase chain reaction targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytB) and apicoplast ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Each bird was infected with a single parasite lineage having a unique genotype. Apicoplast rRNA sequences were present both in Haemoproteus spp. and Plasmodium spp. and had typically high adenosine + thymidine content. Phylogenies for cytB and apicoplast rRNA sequences were largely congruent and supported previous studies that suggest that Plasmodium–Haemoproteus spp. underwent synchronous speciation with their avian hosts, interrupted by sporadic episodes of host switching. Apicoplast phylogeny further indicated that Haemoproteus spp. are ancestral to Plasmodium spp. All the 7 infected passerine birds had histologic lesions of malaria, and malarial parasites may have contributed to the death of at least 4 animals. These findings provide new genetic data on passerine hematozoa, including initial seque...
Teaching fluid dynamics with the ball-in-tube device:

Engineering courses strive to equip students with the ability to tackle real-world problems. Often, a few simple experiments are used to illustrate the theoretical principles behind undergraduate-l...
Reaction products of W(CO)6 with formamidines; electronic structure of a W2(μ-CO)2 core with unsymmetric bridging carbonyls

Reactions of W(CO)6 with formamidines contrast with those of Mo(CO)6 and Cr(CO)6 in that the former do not yield quadruply bonded dimetal species. From the reaction of W(CO)6 with HDAniF (HDAniF = N,N‘-di-p-anisylformamidine), several new ditungsten carbonyl compounds (W2(μ-CO)2(μ-DAniF)2(η2-DAniF)2 (1), W2(μ-CO)2(μ-DAniF)2(η2-DAniF)(η2-CH2DAniF) (2), and W2(μ-CO)(μ-CNC6H4OCH3)(μ-DAniF)2(η2-DAniF)2 (3)) have been isolated and fully characterized. In 2, CH2DAniF represents a DAniF ligand in which a methylene group has been added to one of the nitrogen atoms. This ligand binds to the tungsten atom using a nitrogen and a carbon atom. Compound 1 has a tungsten−tungsten bond distance of 2.476(1) A and a planar W2(μ-CO)2 core structure which has C2h symmetry with short and long W−C bond distances (1.99(1) and 2.28(1) A, respectively). DFT calculations on a model of 1 indicate that (a) the C2h instead of D2h symmetry of the ditungsten core may be attributed to W → CO π* back-bonding interactions and (b) the bond...
Lignans of Myristica otoba

Abstract The neutral fraction of the oil of Myristica otoba fruits afforded a series of seven lignans ofthe aryltetralin type.
The stability of the biomimetic cation triaqua-μ-oxohexapropionatotrichromium(III) in vivo in rats

Abstract The synthetic biomimetic triaqua-μ-oxohexapropionatotrichromium(III) nitrate when given intravenously has been shown previously to lower fasting blood plasma triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations in rats; thus, the cation has the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent. Its ability to function in vivo presumably is dependent on its ability to mimic the action of the natural, bioactive, chromium-binding oligopeptide chromodulin in stimulating insulin receptor kinase activity. For this to happen, the cation presumably should be incorporated into insulin-sensitive cells intact. Examination of the distribution of 51 Cr and 14 C from 51 Cr- and [1- 14 C]-propionate labeled trinuclear cation in rats after injection with the trinuclear complex for 2 weeks suggests that the cation enters cells intact; however, the cation appears to degrade within 24 h after injection. Chromium from the complex is excreted in the urine as chromodulin.
Mitogen-induced modulation of CD3, CD4, and CD8

Abstract It is not clear whether CD3 contacts CD4 or CD8 directly, nor have the regulation and interregulation of expression of these three receptor molecules been determined. We explored these issues by first stimulating human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro with three well-characterized T-cell receptor–directed mitogens (phytohemagglutinin [ PHA ], concanavalin A [ ConA ], and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody [αCD3]) and then using multiparameter flow cytometric techniques to investigate modulation of surface ( sur ) and cytoplasmic ( c ) CD3, CD4, and CD8. Cultures with αCD3 had a rapid, large, and persistent decline in surCD3; the cCD3 median fluorescent intensity ( MFI ) declined gradually, over the entire culture period. With αCD3, surCD4 MFI and cCD4 MFI declined by days 4 to 8 (31% of ex vivo value, p p = 0.033), as did surCD8 MFI (58%, p = 0.010). PHA was associated with an increase in surCD8%, surCD8 MFI, and cCD8% at days 4 to 8 (178% of ex vivo, p = 0.003; 168%, p = 0.025; and 331%, p = 0.001). For PHA at days 4 to 8, cCD8 MFI was highly variable but always higher than in unstimulated cultures (5 of 5 experiments). With ConA, at 3 to 5 hours ex vivo , there was a decrease in surCD3 MFI relative to ex vivo (64%), surCD4% (83%), cCD4% (87%), surCD4 MFI (50%) and cCD4 MFI (48%), surCD8% (85%) and an increase in cCD8% (260%). As with PHA, at days 4 to 8, surCD8% was high relative to ex vivo (169%). Thus, we found that αCD3 had delayed effects on CD4 and CD8; PHA had delayed effects on CD8 only; and ConA had very rapid effects on CD3, CD4, and CD8, as well as a delayed effect on surface CD8. These effects involve both surface and cytoplasmic antigen expression and are more consistent with degradation or retention, rather than with shedding or increased production. They may reflect direct interactions between CD4 or CD8 and CD3 and/or interregulation of CD3 expression with expression of these coreceptor molecules.
Heat Transfer Augmentation of Parallel Flows by Means of Electric Conduction Phenomenon in Macro- and Micro-Scale

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) conduction phenomenon takes advantage of the electrical Coulomb force exerted on a dielectric liquid generated by externally applied electric field. The conduction phenomenon can be applied to enhance or control mass transport and heat transfer in both terrestrial and microgravity environments with advantages of simplicity and no degradation of fluid properties for isothermal as well as non-isothermal liquids. This paper numerically studies the heat transfer augmentation of externally driven macro- and micro-scale parallel flows by means of electric conduction phenomenon. The electric conduction is generated via electrode pairs embedded against the channel wall to solely enhance the heat transfer; it is not utilized to pump the liquid. Two cases of Poiseuille and Couette parallel flows are considered where for the former, a constant external pressure gradient is applied along the channel and for the latter, the channel wall moves with a constant velocity. The electric field and electric body force distributions along with the resultant velocity fields are presented. The heat transfer enhancements are illustrated under various operating conditions for both scales.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Issue-Importance and Forced-Compliance Attitude Change Another Curvilinear Finding

An experiment was performed to determine the relationship between the importance of attitudes and the extent to which they are changed by the forced compliance procedure. Subjects freely consented to write a counterattitudinal essay concerning one of several political issues. The importance of the issue assigned to subjects was systematically varied across six conditions. As predicted by McGuire's information-processing theory (1968a, 1968b), importance affected attitude change in a quadratic manner, the greatest change occurring in the conditions of moderate importance. Further analysis suggests that this inverted-U effect was not due to variations in initial attitude extremity or essay quality. Linear and nonlinear relationships were discussed.
Hippocampal and cortical opioid receptor binding: Changes related to the hibernation state

In vitro opioid receptor binding in the dorsal hippocampal formation and parietal cortex was surveyed in ground squirrels (Citellus lateralis) in the contrasting physiological states of hibernation and euthermia (i.e. not hibernating). Computer-assisted autoradiographic analysis of coronal sections incubated with [3H]dihydromorphine (DMH; 4 nM) revealed statistically significant reductions in specific opioid binding associated with hibernation. In the dorsal hippocampal formation of hibernating animals, binding in the striatum radiatum of CA3, hilus of the dentate gyrus and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus exhibited decreases up to 34% compared to euthermic animals. The stratum radiatum of CA3 exhibited the smallest decrease overall. DHM binding in parietal cortex displayed significant hibernation-related reductions, although they were not uniformly observed across all lamine at the 3 different brain levels examined. These experiments present evidence of changes in brain opioid binding related to the mammalian state of hibernation. The results suggest that changes in opioid receptor binding during hibernation may contribute to the earlier reported5 apparent failure of morphine physical dependence to develop during hibernation.
Use of Nash Equilibrium in the Education and Use of Divorce Mediation

Abstract Each year, 50% of all marriages now end in divorce and one million children are exposed to a divorced family. Mediation is one intervention in place to put parents in control of the decision making regarding their divorce and children. What happens if they don't believe or trust the process when it's ordered? This article will discuss using the movie A Beautiful Mind, about Dr. John Nash, Jr., mathematician and Nobel Laureate in economics (1994), for discovering the Nash equilibrium. A working definition of the Nash equilibrium is as follows: If there is a set of strategies with the property that no player can benefit by changing strategy while the other players keep their strategies unchanged, then that set of strategies and the corresponding payoffs constitute the Nash Equilibrium. This article discusses using the film as a convincing mechanism and example of how one needs to change the way they approach negotiation and mediation to acquire what they truly what to accomplish.
A calculation of the relative biological effectiveness of 125I and 103Pd brachytherapy sources using the concept of proximity function.

The clinical application of encapsulated radioactive sources in brachytherapy plays an important role in the treatment of malignancy. 125I and 103Pd sources have been widely used in the permanent implant of prostate cancer. An important consideration for the choice of brachytherapy sources is their relative biological effectiveness (RBE). Previous calculations of this quantity have used the dose-averaged lineal energy, yD, as a measure of biological effectiveness. In this approach, however, the selection of a relevant site size remains an open question. Here we avoid this problem by using the generalized theory of dual radiation action to calculate the initial slope, alpha, of the dose-effect curves using the proximity function, t(x), and the biological response function, gamma(x). At low doses and/or low dose rates (e.g., prostate implants) the parameter alpha determines the RBE. Proximity function, t(x), is the probability distribution function of distances between pairs of sublesions; and the biological function, gamma(x), is the probability that two sublesions at a distance x apart results in a lesion. Functions t(x) have been calculated for each source using the Monte Carlo transport codes PHOEL and PROTON5. The function gamma(x) has been taken from a published analysis. The RBE values thus obtained are: 1.5 for 125I and 1.6 for 103Pd. The question of whether an "effective" site size exists where yD approximates best the variation of alpha with radiation quality is also addressed.
Collaborative position location with NLOS mitigation

We propose a simple yet effective non-line-of-sight (NLOS) mitigation method that is incorporated into our earlier-developed iterative parallel projection method (IPPM) for collaborative position location. The proposed method handles NLOS range estimates based on the available a priori knowledge about NLOS condition and is demonstrated to significantly improve the localization accuracy in NLOS-dense (e.g., indoor) environments. We show that even with NLOS identification error, our method is still able to provide notable performance improvement. Finally, our method has light computational load and can be easily implemented in large-scale wireless sensor networks.
Bounds on Stresses Caused in Sandwich Arches by Bounded Anelastic Strains

Abstract : Bounds are obtained on the bending moments and the resultant thrusts and shear forces that can be induced in a section of a sandwich arch by anelastic strains of unknown distributions but bounded magnitudes. The example of a parabolic sandwich arch is worked out in detail to illustrate the results. (Author)
Importance of channel erosion as a source of sediment

A specific statement is not possible as to the percentage of total erosion caused by channel erosion. Watersheds containing tight soil may be almost entirely free of gullies, streams may have deep and narrow channels with stable banks, and slopes may be small, resulting in Little bed movement. On the other hand, watersheds draining upland sandy areas may have many gullies with rapid headward movement; channels may be shallow and wide, with such widening actively increasing at the present time; and steep slopes may cause a considerable amount of bed movement. Combinations of these factors may occur in a single watershed. Absence of sediment measuring stations on gullies makes volumetric estimates based on rate of change in depth, width, and headward movement necessary. Establishment of valley and channel range profiles is helpful in estimating bank erosion. It is being found that aerial photographs taken some years apart indicate that bank erosion may cause a greater part of the erosion in a watershed than was previously supposed. Confirmation of this is indicated by relatively permanent shifts in discharge rating curves. For bed movement reliance must be placed on current research and established formulas.
The Development of Coping Resources in Adulthood

We examined three community samples to determine whether stressful episodes form a context for the development of coping resources in adulthood. The first study found that 81.9% of a sample of 845 older men reported drawing upon prior experiences in coping with a recent problem. Content analysis revealed that only 22.7% drew upon similar stressful episodes; the rest drew upon problems from work, the military, illnesses, deaths, etc. The second study replicated the earlier findings in 102 men and women, ages 24 to 84, who reported on a recent low point in semistructured interviews. In addition, 75% reported long-term effects, equally split between negative, positive, and mixed effects. Those individuals who perceived advantages from the low point were significantly more likely to report positive long-term effects. The third study replicated the findings from the first two studies in a sample of 941 men and women ages 23 to 62. Path analyses showed that coping strategies differentially predicted perceived positive or negative outcomes, which in turn predicted current mastery and depression levels. While the findings are cross-sectional and causality cannot be inferred, they are nonetheless supportive of the effects of stress and coping on personality.
Why meter-wide dikes at oceanic spreading centers?

Abstract Numerical models show that maximum dike width at oceanic spreading centers should scale with axial lithospheric thickness if the pre-diking horizontal stress is close to the Andersonian normal faulting stress and the stress is fully released in one dike intrusion. Dikes at slow-spreading ridges could be over 5 m wide and maximum dike width should decrease with increasing plate spreading rate. However, data from ophiolites and tectonic windows into recently active spreading ridges show that mean dike width ranges from 0.5 m to 1.5 m, and does not clearly correlate with plate spreading rate. Dike width is reduced if either the pre-diking horizontal stress difference is lower than the faulting stress or the stress is not fully released by a dike. Partial stress release during a dike intrusion is the more plausible explanation, and is also consistent with the fact that dikes intrude in episodes at Iceland and Afar. Partial stress release can result from limited magma supply when a crustal magma chamber acts as a closed source during dike intrusions. Limited magma supply sets the upper limit on the width of dikes, and multiple dike intrusions in an episode may be required to fully release the axial lithospheric tectonic stress. The observation of dikes that are wider than a few meters (such as the recent event in Afar) indicates that large tectonic stress and large magma supply sometimes exist.
Minimal Marriage: What Political Liberalism Implies for Marriage Law*

Recent defenses of same-sex marriage have invoked the liberal doctrines of neutrality and public reason, and similar reasoning has been extended to polygamy. Such reasoning is generally sound but does not go far enough in examining the implications of political liberalism for marriage. This article takes to their appropriate conclusion the implications of political liberalism’s commitment to excluding from the public forum arguments which depend on comprehensive doctrines. It might be thought that excluding arguments depending on com-
Faster screen/film combinations for cephalometric radiography

Abstract Four lateral cephalometric radiographs of a skull phantom, each made with a different screen/film combination, were compared for usefulness in making orthodontic measurements of the skull and jaws. The four screen/film combinations ranged in speed from 1 to 4. One combination was used with a grid. One of the screens incorporated “rare earth” phosphors. Seven orthodontists separately viewed the radiographs, identified eight selected landmarks, and determined the adequacy of their radiographic images. They also evaluated each radiograph taken as a whole. The results showed that, either for landmark visualization or for over-all value, there was little difference in ratings. All were found to be adequate. It was concluded that cephalometric radiographs made with the faster screen/film combinations, including those incorporating rare earth screens, were both usable and useful for orthodontic measurements of the skull.
Probing and Fault Injection of Dependable Distributed Protocols

Ensuring that a distributed system with strict dependability constraints meets its prescribed specification is a growing challenge that confronts software developers and system engineers. This paper presents a technique for probing and fault injection of fault-tolerant distributed protocols. The proposed technique, called script-driven probing and fault injection, can be used for studying the behaviour of distributed systems and for detecting design and implementation errors of fault-tolerant protocols. The focus of this work is on fault injection techniques that can be used to demonstrate three aspects of a target protocol : detection of design or implementation errors ; identification of violations of protocol specifications ; and insight into design decisions made by the implementers. The emphasis of our approach is on experimental techniques intended to identify specific problems in a protocol or its implementation rather than the evaluation of system dependability through statistical metrics such as fault coverage. To demonstrate the capabilities of this technique, the paper describes a probing and fault injection tool, called the PFI tool (probe/fault injection tool), and a summary of several extensive experiments that studied the behaviour of two protocols : the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and a group membership protocol (GMP).
Involvement of free radicals in the aqueous-phase catalytic oxidation of phenol over copper oxide

Abstract Aqueous-phase oxidation of phenol over copper oxide was studied between 369–393 °K and 1–17 atm oxygen pressure in batchwise mode. The reaction involves an induction period and a steady-state activity regime. The initial rate is first order in phenol and oxygen, but the rate is one-half order in oxygen in the steady-state activity regime. Heterogeneously catalyzed aqueous-phase phenol oxidation occurs by a free-radical mechanism which involves initiation on the catalyst surface, homogeneous propagation and either predominantly homogeneous or heterogeneous termination depending on catalyst concentration. That a free-radical mechanism is involved is indicated by the induction period, by the observed reaction kinetics, by free-radical inhibitor studies which show the same inhibitor efficiencies as observed in free-radical oxidation and by pH studies. The involvement of a heterogeneous-homogeneous reaction mechanism is indicated by dependence of the reaction rate on catalyst concentration.
Thermally induced damage in composite laminates: Predictive methodology and experimental investigation

Abstract A general analysis method is presented to predict matrix cracks in a composite laminate, together with the resulting degradations of laminate properties, as functions of temperature or thermal cycles. All plies except the surface plies are considered. A shear-lag solution for the stresses in the vicinity of cracks and a fracture mechanics crack formation criterion are used to predict cracks. Damage is modeled incrementally, which allows the inclusion of the effects of temperature-dependent material properties and softening of the laminate due to previous cracking. The analysis is incorporated into an easy-to-use computer program. Experimentally, crack densities are measured in a variety of laminates exposed to decreasing temperatures. Crack densities are measured at the edges of specimens by microscopic inspection, and throughout the specimen volumes by X-radiography and sanding down of the edges. In specimens with thick ply groups (several plies of the same angle stacked together), cracks behave ‘classically’, running the width of the specimens. In specimens with single ply groups, smaller, discontinuous cracks developed. Correlation between the analytical results and the edge crack densities were reasonable for those specimens which behaved classically. Crack densities measured at specimen edges do not agree with internal crack densities (or analyses) in specimens with non-classical cracks. A free-edge stress analysis clarifies the reasons for these discrepancies.
Influence of spatial symmetry on the dynamics of strong-field ionization

The effect of spatial symmetry on strong-field ionization is investigated with one-dimensional two-electron ab initio quantum-mechanical calculations. Numerical results clearly show that the nonsequential double-ionization rate in atoms with spatially symmetric wave functions is higher than in atoms with antisymmetric wave functions. Moreover, single ionization is demonstrated to be correlated with double ionization, indicating that strong-field ionization is in fact a highly dynamic process.
Applying Quality Improvement Principles and Techniques in Public Mental Health Systems

Public mental health administrators are increasingly being held accountable for outcomes in mental health systems characterized by longstanding, complex, and seemingly intractable problems. To meet demands for accountability and to satisfy accreditation requirements, the principles and techniques of quality improvement are especially useful. The author draws on his experience as a surveyor for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to show the potential applicability of quality improvement in public mental health systems. He presents illustrations of quality improvement principles in the areas of patient advocacy, monitoring hospital admissions, and monitoring use of restraints.
FabH selectivity for anteiso branched-chain fatty acid precursors in low-temperature adaptation in Listeria monocytogenes.

Gram-positive bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, adjust membrane fluidity by shortening the fatty acid chain length and increasing the proportional production of anteiso fatty acids at lower growth temperatures. The first condensation reaction in fatty acid biosynthesis is carried out by β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III (FabH), which determines the type of fatty acid produced in bacteria. Here, we measured the initial rates of FabH-catalyzed condensation of malonyl-acyl carrier protein and alternate branched-chain precursor acyl-CoAs utilizing affinity-purified His-tagged L. monocytogenes FabH heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Listeria monocytogenes FabH showed a preference for 2-methylbutyryl-CoA, the precursor of odd-numbered anteiso fatty acids, at 30 °C, which was further increased at a low temperature (10 °C), suggesting that temperature-dependent substrate selectivity of FabH underlies the increased formation of anteiso branched-chain fatty acids during low-temperature adaptation. The increased FabH preferential condensation of 2-methylbutyryl-CoA could not be attributed to a significantly higher availability of this fatty acid precursor as acyl-CoA pool levels were reduced similarly for all fatty acid precursors at low temperatures.
Inversion of aerosol size distribution data

Abstract A comprehensive analysis of the problem of determining aerosol size distributions on the basis of data from convnetional measuring instruments is presented. An inversion algorithm based on regularization is developed that enables one to find size distributions that are both smooth and faithful to a set of data generated by a combination of instruments. The algorithm includes consideration of the dependent nature of errors in the data. Several numerical examples are presented that compare the present technique with previously available methods.
The circadian rhythm of temperature during light treatment for winter depression

Circadian rhythm abnormalities have been implicated in winter seasonal affective disorder. We examined the circadian temperature rhythm of 22 patients with winter depression and 10 normal controls who had participated in various high-intensity light treatment experiments. We did not find abnormalities in the baseline phase or amplitude of the temperature rhythm in patients compared to controls. Nor did we find abnormalities in the phase-shifting response to morning light. There was some evidence that the "phase-delayed" half of the patients responded poorly to phase advances produced by morning light, whereas the "phase-advanced" half of the patients responded poorly when their rhythms delayed. However, the antidepressant responses during the best week (week of lowest depression score) were unrelated to temperature rhythm phase shifts. In general, there was not strong support for a relationship between circadian rhythms changes and antidepressant response.
An Approximation Theory of Optimal Control for Trainable Manipulators

A theoretical procedure is developed for comparing the performance of arbitrarily selected admissible controls among themselves and with the optimal solution of a nonlinear optimal control problem. A recursive algorithm is proposed for sequential improvement of the control law which converges to the optimal. It is based on the monotonicity between the changes of the Hamiltonian and the value functions proposed by Rekasius, and may provide a procedure for selecting effective controls for nonlinear systems. The approach has been applied to the approximately optimal control of a trainable manipulator with seven degrees of freedom, where the controller is used for motion coordination and optimal execution of object-handling tasks.
Further tests with systemic insecticides in rabbits as toxicants for body lice and new tests for yellow-fever mosquitoes.

Nineteen compounds administered orally to rabbits were effective insecticides against the human body louse. Pediculus humanus humanus L. Thirty-nine were effective against the yellow-fever mosquito. Aedes acgypti (L.). Tandearil®; (4-butyl-1-( p -hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione), in dosages as low as 10 mg kg caused complete mortality to all stages and both sexes of lice. Shell 52-RL-71 (3,4,5,6,9,9-hexachloro-1,2,2a,3,6,6a,7,7a-octahydro-2,7-epoxy-3,6-methanooxireno-[blnaphthakne) at a rate of 100 mg/kg caused complete mortality to female lice for 42 days and at a rat of 50 mg/kg caused complete mortality to mosquitoes for 21 days. General Chemical GC-8266 ( N -(1,1a,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2 H -cyclobuta[ cd ]pentaclen-2-yl) ethyl N -carboxyglycinate) at 100 mg/kg caused complete mortality to female lice for 21 days and to mosquitoes for 42 days. General Chemical GG-9160 (ethyl 1,1a13,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-decachlorooctahydro-2-hydroxy-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalene-2-lcvulinate) at a rate of 100 mg/kg caused complete mortality to female lice for 14 days and to mosquitoes for 42 days. The minimum lethal dosage (MLI) of 15 other compounds to body lice and of 36 compounds to mosquitoes is also given. Azodrin® (3-hydroxy-N-methyl- cis -crotonamide dimethyl phosphate) had the lowest MLD in lice (2.5 mg/kg); American Cyanamide CL-28865 (dimethyl phosphate ester with p -hydroxybenzenesulfonamide) had the lowest MLD in mosquitoes (0.5 mg/kg).
Appropriate and Inappropriate Use of Dronedarone in 2013

Dronedarone is a multichannel blocking antiarrhythmic agent that has been shown to prevent atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFl) recurrences in several multi-center trials. In the ANDROMEDA trial, dronedarone treatment increased mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations patients with decompensated heart failure. In the ATHENA trial, dronedarone was used in elderly high risk patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF/AFl, excluding those with advanced heart failure, cardiovascular hospitalizations were significantly reduced. Dronedarone increased mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations in a different patient group with permanent AF/AFl. Although organic toxicity from the drug is very rare, post-marketing data has reported rare hepatic toxicity associated with dronedarone use. Current guidelines position dronedarone as a front-line antiarrhythmic in many patients with AF/Fl. However, dronedarone should not be used in patients with advanced heart failure or in permanent AF. Clinical trial results have helped us define appropriate and inappropriate candidates for dronedarone.
Industry structure modeling for competitive analysis: an integrated AI and systems approach

This paper describes a ‘new’ approach to model the industry structure that will determine the market share equilibrium in a competitive environment. This approach takes advantage of certain developments in the Expert Systems area in the field of Artificial Intelligence to organize qualitative knowledge of industry structure, and combines such a knowledge base with mathematical systems modeling techniques to develop a market share equilibrium model. The rich structural information embedded in the model makes it potentially a very powerful tool for use in industry assessment and competitive strategy development. One version of the model is implemented in SRI International. The system is fully interactive and is currently used to assess the competitive environment for the polyolefins industry.
Electro-thermal stress effect on InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar low-noise amplifier performance

Abstract This paper investigates the electro-thermal stress-induced performance degradation of a cascode low-noise amplifier built using advanced InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors. Changes in device characteristics due to the electro-thermal stress are examined experimentally. SPICE Gummel-Poon model parameters extracted from the pre- and post-stress HBT measurement data are then used in Cadence SpectreRF simulator to study the impact of the electro-thermal stress on the InGaP/GaAs LNA’s RF performance.
Fluctuations in Northern Hemisphere 700 mb Height Field Associated with the Southern Oscillation

Abstract Variations in the mid-troposphere circulation associated with the Southern Oscillation (SO) are investigated and documented using mean monthly 700 mb height data for the period 1951–79. The SO was defined by a Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) consisting of the difference in normalized mean monthly sea-level pressures at Tahiti and Darwin. Results for all four seasons are presented in the form of lagged, as well as contemporaneous, correlations and composites of height anomalies obtained separately for high and low SOI values. Different SO teleconnection patterns are observed for each season. Strongest SO signals appear in the winter with SOI leading the height field by one to two seasons. The time lead may he useful in prognostic applications. The correlation in the summer is negligible. The winter teleconnection pattern over the North Pacific-North America-North Atlantic sector is similar to that shown by Bjerknes and others. Patterns for other seasons are also presented. The statistical signifi...
Carbon isotopic constraints on the contribution of plant material to the natural precursors of trihalomethanes

The d 13 C values of individual trihalomethanes (THM) formed on reaction of chlorine with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leached from maize (corn; Zea maize L.) and Scirpus acutus (an aquatic bulrush), and with DOC extracted from agricultural drainage waters were determined using purge and trap introduction into a gas chromatograph-combustion-isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometer. We observed a 16.8- diAerence between the d 13 C values of THM produced from the maize and Scirpus leachates, similar to the isotopic diAerence between the whole plant materials. Both maize and Scirpus formed THM 12- lower in 13 C than whole plant material. We suggest that the low value of the THM relative to the whole plant material is evidence of distinct pools of THMforming DOC, representing diAerent biochemical types or chemical structures, and possessing diAerent environmental reactivity. Humic extracts of waters draining an agricultural field containing Scirpus peat soils and planted with maize formed THM with isotopic values intermediate between those of maize and Scirpus leachates, indicating maize may contribute significantly to the THM-forming DOC. The diAerence between the d 13 C values of the whole isolate and that of the THM it yielded was 3.9-, however, suggesting diagenesis plays a role in determining the d 13 C value of THM-forming DOC in the drainage waters, and precluding the direct use of isotopic mixing models to quantitatively attribute sources. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Benefit of intracoronary ultrasound in the deployment of Palmaz-Schatz stents

Objectives. This study was designed to evaluate the changes in intrastent and angiographic dimensions when intravascular ultrasound imaging is used to direct the deployment of balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stents in coronary arteries and saphenous vein grafts. Background. Intravascular ultrasound provides more information than angiography in the imaging of intravascular structures. Previous studies have shown that obtaining a larger lumen (greater “acute gain”) with coronary interventions such as stenting leads to less restenosis and subacute thrombosis. It is not clear whether the information obtained by intravascular ultrasound can be used to obtain a greater acute gain in lumen dimensions. Methods. Forty consecutive patients undergoing Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation had intravascular ultrasound imaging performed after a good angiographic appearance was obtained. If the stent did not appear adequately expanded by intravascular ultrasound, or if the struts were poorly opposed to the arterial wall, further stent dilation with larger balloons or higher pressure inflations were performed. Twenty-nine patients had subsequent intravascular ultrasound imaging. Intrastent diameters and areas were compared from the initial to the final intravascular ultrasound studies. Results. Of the 40 patients studied, only 5 (13%) had an adequate result by intravascular ultrasound despite an acceptable angiographic appearance in all patients. Six additional patients did not undergo subsequent intravascular ultrasound imaging. The other 29 patients all demonstrated a significant increase in intrastent minimal diameter (mean 19%), major diameter (11%) and cross-sectional area (34%) (p < 0.001 for all measurements). Conclusions. The use of intravascular ultrasound imaging in the deployment of balloon-expandable Palmaz-Schatz stents leads to a significant increase in intrastent dimensions (greater “acute gain”).
Earliness-Tardiness Scheduling Problems, I: Weighted Deviation of Completion Times About a Common Due Date

This paper and its companion Part II concern the scheduling of jobs with cost penalties for both early and late completion. In Part I, we consider the problem of minimizing the weighted sum of earliness and tardiness of jobs scheduled on a single processor around a common due date, d. We assume that d is not early enough to constrain the scheduling decision. The weight of a job does not depend on whether the job is early or late, but weights may vary between jobs. We prove that the recognition version of this problem is NP-complete in the ordinary sense. We describe optimality conditions, and present a computationally efficient dynamic programming algorithm. When the weights are bounded by a polynomial function of the number of jobs, a fully polynomial approximation scheme is given. We also describe four special cases for which the problem is polynomially solvable. Part II provides similar results for the unweighted version of this problem, where d is arbitrary.
Vertical plane pattern calculations for shaped beam reflectors with multiple feeds

The calculation of approximating vertical plane radiation patterns for doubly curved shaped beam antenna reflectors illuminated by a multiple feed is discussed. Separability of the vertical and horizontal plane patterns is assumed. A calculated example for a two-element feed is compared with measured pattern data. Farfield pattern shaping behavior with multiple feed excitation is described in terms of vector superposition of the patterns due to the individual feed elements.
Incidence of negative hematuria in patients with acute urinary lithiasis presenting to the emergency room with flank pain

Abstract Objectives To determine the incidence of negative hematuria in patients with acute urinary lithiasis presenting to the emergency room with flank pain. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all 140 patients who presented with flank pain to the Long Island Jewish Medical Center emergency department from January 1, 1992 through December 31, 1992, and underwent intravenous urogram (IVU). We then caculated the incidence of negative hematuria in patients with acute urinary lithiasis (AUL) diagnosed by IVU based on the complete urinalysis alone or in combination with the urine dipstick test for blood. Results We found a 14.5% incidence of negative hematuria in patients with AUL when looking at the urinalysis alone. To our knowledge, this has never been reported in the literature. We also found that by considering a negative combination (urinalysis plus urine dipstick test) as a new definition of negative hematuria, the incidence of neative hematuria in patients with AUL was only 5.5% ( P Conclusions This is the first report in the literature documenting the incidence of native hematuria in patients with AUL to be 14.5%. With the addition of the combintion of urinalysis and urine dipstick test for hematuria, the incidence is only 5.5% and therefore, represents a low yield when evaluated by IVU
Comparison of Rigiscan and Sleep Laboratory Nocturnal Penile Tumescence in the Diagnosis of Organic Impotence

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the relative use of RigiScan* *Dacomed, Minneapolis, Minnesota. measurement of radial rigidity compared to sleep laboratory measurement of axial rigidity and trained observer determination of erectile function in the diagnosis of organic impotence.Materials and Methods: A total of 28 patients underwent simultaneous 2-night formal sleep laboratory nocturnal penile tumescence and RigiScan monitoring. Standard normal values for radial rigidity and axial rigidity were tested for accuracy in predicting normal nocturnal penile tumescence compared to trained observer determination of the adequacy of an erection for penetration.Results: RigiScan tip measurements correlated poorly with buckling pressure, while base measurements strongly correlated (p = 0.0005). Observer determination of a functional erection was strongly associated with tip (p = 0.002), base (p = 0.0005) and buckling pressure measurements (p = 0.0005). Using observer determination as the gold standard receiver operati...
Strategies of adult hearing aid selection

There is little doubt that the most helpful treatment for persons with hearing impairment are personal amplification instruments – better known as hearing aids. For more than 40 years I have marveled at the evolution of hearing aids and the concurrent development of various fitting procedures. The advances in personal amplification to help those with hearing loss have been nothing less than amazing. During these four decades, we have moved from simple basic analog hearing aids fit through subjective behavioral assessments to fitting today’s advanced digital devices through computerized and automated protocols. Reflective of those early years, there were substantial differences between the various manufacturers’ hearing aid products and it was, accordingly, necessary for patients to listen and judge between a number of hearing aid choices to select the device that sounded best to them. In more recent years, however, all digital hearing aids generally provide appropriate output, gain and frequency responses to fit nearly any person’s hearing loss regardless of degree or threshold configuration. In fact, the numerous specialized features of today’s modern hearing aids have expanded utilization of personal amplification far beyond anyone’s expectations. Unfortunately, the technologies of new hearing aids always arrive far earlier and faster than our abilities to develop accurate fitting methods for our patients – a statement that is true even today...