cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scoping analysis of brine extraction/re-injection for enhanced CO2 storage

Brine extraction from the CO2 injection interval and re-injection into overlying shallower aquifers have been described as an active management tool at sequestration sites. They improve injectivity and reduce risks, and are a potential cost-saving measure. In this study, using analytical equations, we show that brine re-injection from the deep aquifer into a shallower saline aquifer increases CO2 storage capacity relative to direct CO2 injection into the two saline aquifers as a result of the CO2 density change. Using generic models, we compare three different scenarios for CO2 injection: (i) injection of CO2 into the deep aquifer without the re-injection program, (ii) injection of CO2 into both the shallow and deep aquifers, and (iii) injection of CO2 into the deep aquifer and extraction/re-injection of the brine into the shallow aquifer. Volumetric calculations at different pressure and temperature conditions provide a simple analytical tool for studying CO2 storage capacity in stacked saline aquifers. Numerical compositional simulations confirm results of the analytical derivations and prior assumptions. Depending on the size and depth of the shallower aquifer, brine re-injection can increase storage capacity by 30% or more, given a comparison of scenario 3 with scenario 1. However, when scenario 3 is compared with scenario 2, storage gain is generally less than 5%, although potential CO2 leakage risks are reduced. Results of a sensitivity analysis to shallow-aquifer pore volume and geothermal-temperature gradient are also presented. In addition, brine re-injection from geopressured saline aquifers, when compared with that of normally pressured reservoirs, is twice as efficient. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Multipolar complexes–II The self association of ‐NO2 ‐CN and ‐COCN polar groups

Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (F-NMR) has been used to determine dissociation constants for multipolar complexes formed by several p-substituted fluorobenzenes in CCl4 and cyclohexane at 25°. Data in CCl4 were also obtained at −20°. The results are interpreted in simplified terms as dipole-dipole interactions which lead to a complex of net zero dipole moment. Although the dissociation constants are not of high accuracy, the values obtained do indicate that both polarity and steric effects are important in the presumed multipolar complexes.
Collisions of Polar and Nonpolar Gases with Hydrogen Bonding and Hydrocarbon Self-Assembled Monolayers

Molecular beam scattering experiments are used to explore collisions of 60 kJ/mol Ne, CD4, ND3, and D2O with long-chain CH3-, NH2-, and OH-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) created via the chemisorption of alkanethiols on gold. Time-of-flight measurements for the scattered gases reveal the extent of energy exchange and the propensity for a gas to thermally accommodate with the surface during a collision. Of the four gases studied, Ne transfers the least amount of translational energy into the monolayers and D2O the most. Neon atoms recoil from the OH-SAM with an average of 14.4 kJ/mol of energy, while D2O retains only 6.4 kJ/mol of its 60 kJ/mol incident energy when scattering from the same surface. Overall, the trend in final translational energies follows the order Ne > CD4 > ND3 > D2O for scattering from all three SAMs. The observed trend in the energy exchange is correlated with the gas−surface attractive forces, as determined by ab initio calculations. The thermal accommodation efficiencies...
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering of a Cu/Pd Alloy Colloid Protected by Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)

A novel series of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-protected nanometer-sized Cu/Pd alloy colloids have been prepared by a polyol reduction method. These colloids, having high molar fractions of Cu (x = 0.99−0.80), show remarkable stability, as good as a Pd colloid. Transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses indicate that the Cu-rich particles spanning from 2−10 nm in size display an increase in the (111) lattice spacings compared to the bulk state. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis confirm the alloy phase nature in the Cu/Pd [Cu:Pd = 4:1 (mol/mol)] nanoparticles with Cu at the zero-oxidation state. The Raman scattering behavior of several types of molecules adsorbed on the Cu/Pd(4/1) colloids has been examined for the first time. Significant band shifts in the ring modes of p-aminobenzoic acid, thiophenol, and bis(3-carboxy-4-nitrophenyl) disulfide in the colloid surface spectra reveal their particul...
The Risk of an Unwanted Birth: The Changing Context of Contraceptive Sterilization in the U.S.

Life-table estimates indicate that one-quarter of U.S. women intend no more births by age 25, one-half by age 27, and three-quarters by age 30. The resulting long period at risk of unwanted fertility is argued to be an important underlying dimension of the revolution in attitudes to and practice of sterilization. Life-table estimates are then considered of the timing of sterilization after the last wanted birth. Almost one-quarter of all couples select sterilization within the first year after they have had the number of children they desire. Recent experience would imply that four-fifths of all couples will eventually use contraceptive sterilization. In order to examine the determinants of men's and women's sterilization, logistic regression is used with a polytomous dependent variable: sterilization of the woman, sterilization of the man, or no sterilization within four years of the last wanted birth. Covariates considered are age and parity at last wanted birth, year and duration of marriage at last wa...
Studies on host defenses enhanced by endotoxins: A brief review

The findings reported here indicate that toxic reactions to endotoxin do not have to be part of the mechanisms leading to clinically improved status of patients or of experimental animals. It seems to be possible to mobilize the host defenses without the unwanted or dangerous side effects which were encountered during fever therapy. For the demonstration of activated host defenses, several experimental models are available. Non-specific resistance to bacterial infections, to lethal irradiation or to experimental challenge with viable tumors are clear manifestations of enhanced capacity of the endotoxin-treated host to compensate for the induced damage, or to cope with an otherwise overwhelming number of pathogenic cells. Immunopotentiation is obviously one of the contributing factors in some of the above parameters. How these results are applicable to human therapy remains to be seen. Such use of endotoxin derivatives, or better, the mediators of beneficial endotoxic effects, must wait until we learn more about the nature of the alternating positive and negative effects of endotoxin application. The importance of the proper timing of such a therapeutic modality cannot be overemphasized.
PID control in the presence of static friction: a comparison of algebraic and describing function analysis

PID position control in the presence minimal Coulomb friction and non-zero static friction is shown to lead to a frictional limit cycle for all stabilizing combinations of P, I and D parameters. An idealized Coulomb + static friction model, dimensional analysis and the study of all possible solutions of the equations of motion are used to achieve rigorous and general results for this nonlinear problem. The algebraic prediction of stick-slip for this system is contrasted with predictions of the describing function. The predictions of the describing function are shown to be unreliable for this problem of friction and control.
Posttranscriptional control of neuronal development by microRNA networks

The proper development of the nervous system requires precise spatial and temporal control of gene expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels. In different experimental model systems, microRNAs (miRNAs) – a class of small, endogenous, noncoding RNAs that control the translation and stability of many mRNAs – are emerging as important regulators of various aspects of neuronal development. Further dissection of the in vivo physiological functions of individual miRNAs promises to offer novel mechanistic insights into the gene regulatory networks that ensure the precise assembly of a functional nervous system.
Formation feedback control for multiple spacecraft via virtual structures

Formation control ideas for multiple spacecraft using the virtual structure approach are presented. If there is no formation feedback from the spacecraft to the virtual structure, the spacecraft will get out of formation when the virtual structure moves too fast for the spacecraft to track due to spacecraft control saturation or the total system must sacrifice convergence speed in order to keep the spacecraft in formation. The spacecraft may also get out of formation when the system is affected by internal or external disturbances. To overcome these drawbacks, an idea of introducing formation feedback from the spacecraft to the virtual structure is illustrated in detail. An application of these ideas to multiple spacecraft interferometers in deep space is given.
Retinoid‐responsive transcriptional changes in epidermal keratinocytes

Retinoids (RA) have been used as therapeutic agents for numerous skin diseases, from psoriasis to acne and wrinkles. While RA is known to inhibit keratinocyte differentiation, the molecular effects of RA in epidermis have not been comprehensively defined. To identify the transcriptional targets of RA in primary human epidermal keratinocytes, we compared the transcriptional profiles of cells grown in the presence or absence of all-trans retinoic acid for 1, 4, 24, 48, and 72 h, using large DNA microarrays. As expected, RA suppresses the protein markers of cornification; however the genes responsible for biosynthesis of epidermal lipids, long-chain fatty acids, cholesterol, and sphingolipids, are also suppressed. Importantly, the pathways of RA synthesis, esterification and metabolism are activated by RA; therefore, RA regulates its own bioavailability. Unexpectedly, RA regulates many genes associated with the cell cycle and programmed cell death. This led us to reveal novel effects of RA on keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis. The response to RA is very fast: 315 genes were regulated already after 1 h. More than one-third of RA-regulated genes function in signal transduction and regulation of transcription. Using in silico analysis, we identified a set of over-represented transcription factor binding sites in the RA-regulated genes. Many psoriasis-related genes are regulated by RA, some induced, others suppressed. These results comprehensively document the transcriptional changes caused by RA in keratinocytes, add new insights into the molecular mechanism influenced by RA in the epidermis and demonstrate the hypothesis-generating power of DNA microarray analysis.
Ligand binding by murine IgM antibodies: intramolecular heterogeneity exists in certain, but not all, cases.

Abstract The ligand binding properties of eight hybridoma-derived murine anti-DNP IgM(ϰ) antibodies were analysed by equilibrium dialysis. Four of these proteins exhibited the expected valances of ~ 10 and relatively low affinities (⩽2.2 × 10 5 M −1 ). The remaining four proteins exhibited valences of considerably less than 10 (⩽8) and relatively high affinities (> 10 6 M −1 ). When these proteins were subjected to two cycles of lyophilization, those of the former group were observed to still exhibit ~10 sites per molecule with homogeneous affinities similar to those of the respective untreated molecules. However, molecules in the latter group (valences of (⩽ 8) were observed to exhibit only five to six binding sites subsequent to lyophilization with no changes in affinities. When the reductive subunits from each of the IgM(κ) proteins were subjected to trypsinization, two different patterns were observed in terms of the yields of Fabμ fragments. Each of the proteins originally exhibiting ~10 binding sites yielded >90% of the expected Fabμ fragments. In contrast each of the proteins exhibiting ⩽8 binding sites yielded only ~50% of the expected Fabμ fragments. Collectively these results indicate the existence of at least two different forms of murine IgM molecules, those with ~ 10 homogeneous, relatively stable sites and those with only approx. five stable sites. It is suggested that these intramolecular functional differences may be attributable to intramolecular conformational differences.
Endoscopic clip application as an adjunct to closure of mature esophageal perforation with fistulae.

Abstract Background & Aims: Esophageal perforation is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Surgery and drainage are considered primary management. Conservative management is an option in a select group. Conservative treatment requires drainage, control of infection, nutritional support, and considerable patience. Methods: We describe 3 cases in which endoscopic metallic clips were placed to close mature perforations with associated fistulae. All 3 patients underwent mucosal approximation of the defects under direct endoscopic visualization. Results: A review of the literature revealed only 4 other reports of the use of endoclipping for esophageal perforation, one diagnosed immediately, a second within 24 hours, a third diagnosed after 2 days and endoclipped after prolonged mediastinal drainage, and a fourth believed to be chronic. The cases presented here represent well-established, mature defects. Conclusions: Endoscopic treatment of mature esophageal perforation with metallic clips can be performed to promote closure. In combination with other conservative medical efforts, this method can be used safely and effectively for selected patients. CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY 2003;1:44-50
Electrical properties of chloride transport across the necturus proximal tubule.

The chloride conductance of the basolateral cell membrane of theNecturus proximal tubule was studied using conventional and chloride-sensitive liquid ion exchange microelectrodes. Individual apical and basolateral cell membrane and shunt resistances, transepithelial and basolateral, cell membrane potential differences, and electromotive forces were determined in control and after reductions in extracellular Cl−. When extracellular Cl− activity is reduced in both apical and basolateral solutions the resistance of the shunt increases about 2.8 times over control without any significant change in cell membrane resistances. This suggests a high Cl− conductance of the paracellular shunt but a low Cl− conductance of the cell membranes. Reduction of Cl− in both bathing solutions or only on the basolateral side hyperpolarizes both the basolateral cell membrane potential difference and electromotive force. Hyperpolarization of the basolateral cell membrane potential difference after low Cl− perfusion was abolished by exposure to HCO 3 − -free solutions and SITS treatment. In control conditions, intracellular Cl− activity was significantly higher than predicted from the equilibrium distribution across both the apical and basolateral cell membranes. Reducing Cl− in only the basolateral solution caused a decrease in intracellular Cl−. From an estimate of the net Cl− flux across the basolateral cell membrane and the electrochemical driving force, a Cl− conductance of the basolateral cell membrane was predicted and compared to measured values. It was concluded that the Cl− conductance of the basolateral cell membrane was not large enough to account for the measured flux of Cl− by electrodiffusion alone. Therefore these results suggest the presence of an electroneutral mechanism for Cl− transport across the basolateral cell membrane of theNecturus proximal tubule cell.
Nomenclatural changes in Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae and Delphacidae (Homoptera)

New replacement names are proposed for seven species of the subfamily Typhlocybinae; one new synonym is recognized in the family Delphacidae. The following changes are proposed: Empoasca (Empoasca) angustata nom.nov. for Empoasca angusta Linnavuori & DeLong (not Dworakowska); Empoasca (Empoasca) chilensis nom.nov. for Empoasca diversa Linnavuori & DeLong (not Vilbaste); Austroasca verdensis nom.nov. for Empoasca artemisiae Lindberg (not Lethierry); Kropka vidanoi Dworakowska for Erythroneura unipunctata Dlabola (not Cerutti); Zyginella vietnamica nom. nov. for Zyginella melichari Dworakowska (not Kirkaldy); Eupteryx (Eupteryx) dlabolai nom. nov. for Eupteryx octonotata Dlabola (not Hardy); Baaora ahmedi nom. nov. for Baaora spinosa (Ahmed) (not Beamer); Paradelphacodes insolitus Dmitriev is synonymized with Paradelphacodes gvosdevi (Mitjaev), syn. nov.
Theoretical and practical aspects of differential partitioning of gases by clathrate hydrates in fluid inclusions

Abstract Clathrate hydrates may form in aqueous, gas-rich fluid inclusions during low-temperature microthermometric analysis. Gases are differentially partitioned between the clathrate and residual fluid as a function of temperature, pressure, and bulk composition. Of particular concern in multicomponent gas-bearing inclusions is the fact that the selective partitioning of individual gases into clathrate hydrate can strongly affect the interpretation of microthermometric data. The absolute extent of depletion of gases (consumed by clathrate) in the residual fluid is dependent upon both the composition of the gas and the relative proportions of H2O and gas-rich fluid. The equilibrium phase relations in clathrate systems may be modeled in order to correct for the presence of clathrates. Quantitative modeling of CO2CH4H2O, and consideration of CO2N2H2O, N2CH4H2O, and H2SCH4H2O indicates th and extent of differential partitioning of gases and the temperature-pressure-composition stabilities of clathrates. For instance, under a geologically reasonable range of pressure, H2S and CH4 will partition into clathrate more strongly than N2, whereas the direction of partitioning between CO2 and CH4 and between CO2 and N2 changes as a function of temperature, pressure, and the relative proportions of the components. Comparison of experimental data for unary- and binary-gas systems and the model of John et al. (1985) indicates that the model correctly predicts clathrate stabilities and is useful for fluid inclusion studies.
Terminal phosphide and dinitrogen molybdenum compounds obtained from pnictide-bridged precursors.

The syntheses of molybdenum terminal phosphide and dinitrogen complexes supported by N-iso-propylanilide ligands are not as straightforward as those previously reported for the analogous N-tert-butylanilide complexes. To arrive at these synthetic targets, facile, high-yielding syntheses of bridging pnictide precursors have been developed, and their reduction chemistry has been explored. Cleavage of the reduced μ-E1 compounds was undertaken using CO and N2, providing access to the target compounds.
The copper complex of alloxanic acid.

Abstract It seems unlikely that copper does complex with alloxan in view of the lability of alloxan with increase in pH and its transformation to alloxanic acid in alkaline solution. Hypsochromic and hyperchromic shifts in the spectrum of copper in the presence of alloxan and alloxanic acid are induced by increases in pH.
A tempest in a teapot is but a drop in the ocean: action-objects in analogical mathematical reasoning

We discuss a brief transcribed excerpt from a task-based interview with Li, an 11.5-year-old participant in a design-based research study of probabilistic cognition pertaining to the binomial. We investigate whether and how Li made sense of the behavior of an unfamiliar computer-based artifact---the diminishing proportional impact of successive random samples on the overall shape of a dynamically accumulating outcome distribution. Li constructed two informal analogical situations as multimodal discursive means of concretizing, elaborating, and communicating his emerging understanding of the artifact's behavior. These non-routine utterances shifted the discourse to an explicitly embodied, imagistic space bearing unique affordances for negotiated epistemic syntheses of phenomenological and technological constructions of quantitative relations. Microgenetic analysis suggests that Li's presymbolic notion was not a static magnitude but an intensive-quantity "action-object"; he subsequently unpacked this dynamical "a/b" qualia into its constitutive "a" and "b" elements. We reflect on implications of this counter-curricular sequence for educational design.
Optimal bit allocation and size-limited filter banks

It is demonstrated that by making a change to the dynamic bit allocation algorithm, the system performance of size-limited filter banks can be noticeably improved. These results appear to indicate that only small gains can be achieved using the new approaches. However, when such coders are used in a tree-structured subband decomposition (as is usually done in subband image coding), then the successive amplification of quantization noise near the image boundaries may have a more detrimental effect and more dramatic improvements in system performance are expected. >
Role of T Lymphocytes in Angiotensin II–Mediated Microvascular Thrombosis

Clinical trials and animal studies have revealed a role for the renin-angiotensin system in the enhanced thrombus development that is associated with hypertension. Because T lymphocytes have been implicated in the vascular dysfunction and blood pressure elevation associated with increased angiotensin II (Ang II) levels, we evaluated the role of the adaptive immune system in mediating the enhanced thrombosis during Ang II–induced hypertension. Light/dye-induced thrombosis was induced in cremaster arterioles of wild-type, immunodeficient Rag-1 −/− , CD8 + , or CD4 + lymphocyte-deficient and NADPH oxidase (gp91 phox )–deficient mice implanted with an Ang II–loaded pump for 2 weeks. Chronic Ang II infusion enhanced arteriolar thrombosis in wild-type mice but not in Rag-1 −/− , CD4 + T-cell–deficient, or gp91 phox−/− mice. CD8 + T-cell −/− mice exhibited partial protection. Adoptive transfer of T cells derived from wild-type or gp91 phox−/− mice into Rag-1 −/− restored the prothrombotic phenotype induced by Ang II. T lymphocytes (CD4 + and, to a lesser extent, CD8 + ) play a major role in mediating the accelerated microvascular thrombosis associated with Ang II–induced hypertension. NADPH oxidase–derived reactive oxygen species, produced by cells other than T lymphocytes, also appear critical for the Ang II–enhanced, T cell–dependent thrombosis response.
Virtual machine monitors: current technology and future trends

Developed more than 30 years ago to address mainframe computing problems, virtual machine monitors have resurfaced on commodity platforms, offering novel solutions to challenges in security, reliability, and administration. Stanford University researchers began to look at the potential of virtual machines to overcome difficulties that hardware and operating system limitations imposed: This time the problems stemmed from massively parallel processing (MPP) machines that were difficult to program and could not run existing operating systems. With virtual machines, researchers found they could make these unwieldy architectures look sufficiently similar to existing platforms to leverage the current operating systems. From this project came the people and ideas that underpinned VMware Inc., the original supplier of VMMs for commodity computing hardware. The implications of having a VMM for commodity platforms intrigued both researchers and entrepreneurs.
Wave Transformation and Runup on Dikes and Gentle Slopes

ABSTRACT Kobayashi, N.; Pietropaolo, J.A., and Melby, J.A., 2013. Wave transformation and runup on dikes and gentle slopes. Coastal flood-risk mapping requires the prediction of wave runup and overtopping of dikes and beaches. The cross-shore numerical model CSHORE is adjusted to predict irregular wave runup on impermeable dikes. The model is compared with 137 wave runup tests and 97 wave overtopping tests. The seaward boundary of the computation is taken at the location where wave setup is negligible. The spectral period and peak period at this boundary location are specified as input. The model predicts the measured cross-shore variation of the spectral significant wave height on the barred and sloping beaches in front of the dikes. The measured 2% and 1% exceedence runup heights are predicted within errors of about 20% for the spectral period used as input to CSHORE. The model predicts the threshold of wave overtopping, but the minor wave overtopping rates can be predicted only within a factor of 10. T...
A Pyrrolysine Analogue for Protein Click Chemistry

Ignoring the STOP sign: A pyrrolysine analogue bearing a terminal alkyne was site-specifically incorporated into recombinant calmodulin (CaM) through a UAG codon. The resulting protein was labeled with an azide-containing dye using a copper(I)-catalyzed click reaction. Subsequent application of an orthogonal cysteine tagging method yielded a CaM labeled with two distinct fluorophores that enabled its study by FRET spectroscopy.
Polypoid esophageal adenocarcinoma--a clinicopathological variant of esophageal cancer?

Abstract Purpose: Neoplastic polyps are common in the colon, but not elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. They are rare at the gastroesophageal junction, especially associated with Barrett’s dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. We identify a subset of early esophageal adenocarcinomas that present as symptomatic polyps with gastrointestinal bleeding, reflux, and even dysphagia. Because little is known about polypoid esophageal adenocarcinomas, we examine the clinical presentation, pathological features, and postoperative outcomes of these lesions. Methods: We defined esophageal polyps as macroscopic, well-demarcated projections above the mucosa that project the greater percentage of their mass into the lumen without central ulceration. From a consecutive series of 400 patients who underwent esophagectomies for adenocarcinoma (1988 to 2000), 14 (4%) had polyps on presentation. Clinical records, pathology reports, photographs, and original slides of these resected specimens were reviewed. Results: All patients with polyps had early staged esophageal adenocarcinomas. Lymph node involvement was found in only 4 patients, and no patients with distant metastases were found. All but 1 patient (13 of 14; 93%) were symptomatic at diagnosis. Most presented either with gastrointestinal bleeding or gastroesophageal reflux (11 of 14; 79%). Only 2 patients complained of mild dysphagia, and mean weight loss of the series was minimal at 1.3 ± 4.0 kg (range, 0 to 15 kg). Barrett’s was present in 10 patients (71%), and in 80% of these cases, high-grade dysplasia was found. The polyps were small 3.4 ± 1.1 cm, and most contained poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. No postoperative mortalities occurred, and follow-up was complete at 100%. Actuarial 2-year survival was 88%, with a mean survival of 61.3 months. Recurrent disease was identified in 4 patients. Conclusions: Polypoid adenocarcinomas of the distal esophagus are a subset of esophageal cancer that produce clear symptoms at an early tumor stage, which allows prompt detection and favorable prognosis. Their pathological features and demographics suggest an origin via the Barrett’s esophagus-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence.
The modal gap : the objective problem of Lessing's ditch(es) and Kierkegaard's subjective reply

This essay expands upon the suggestion that Lessing's infamous 'ditch' is actually three ditches: temporal, metaphysical, and existential gaps. It examines the complex problems these ditches raise, and then proposes that Kierkegaard's Fragments and Postscript exhibit a similar triadic organizational structure, which may signal a deliberate attempt to engage and respond to Less- ing's three gaps. Viewing the Climacean project in this way o ers an enhanced understanding of the intricacies of Lessing's rationalist approach to both religion and historical truth, and illuminates Climacus's subjective response to Lessing.
Restitution Outcome and Probationers' Assessments of Restitution: The Effects of Moral Development

This article reports the impact of Kohlberg's moral development stages on probationers' receptivity to the intents of financial restitution. Effects of these perceptions and their interactions with moral development on restitution outcome are also presented. Indepth interviews furnished data needed to diagnose moral development and construct ratings of offenders' perceptions. Compliance data were extracted from probation records and interviews with probation officers. Results suggest that low maturity offenders were more likely to identify with deterrent and instrumental intents; high maturity offenders oriented to reparative and rehabilitative intents. Among the offenders as a whole, adherence to notions of reparation and concern for the victim facilitated compliance, whereas perceptions of restitution as lenient and a good deal had adverse impacts. Orientations distinguishing low maturity successes from failures were dysfunctional ones (e.g., restitution is a good deal, lenient, or an inconvenience). An...
Levetiracetam as Adjunctive Antiepileptic Therapy for Patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: A Retrospective Open-Label Trial

Seizures are a common neurologic symptom of tuberous sclerosis complex. The use of levetiracetam as adjunctive antiepileptic therapy was assessed in 20 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex aged 2 to 19 years. In this retrospective evaluation, 40% of patients treated with levetiracetam achieved a seizure reduction of more than 50%. Levetiracetam was generally well tolerated, and adverse events were relatively uncommon in patients who responded to treatment. The most commonly reported adverse events were behavioral problems. Unstable gait, insomnia, poor appetite, and increased seizure frequency were also reported. Based on these results, the use of levetiracetam as adjunctive antiepileptic therapy can reduce seizure frequency in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. (J Child Neurol 2006;21:53-57).
Railroads in their Corporate Relations

Causes of railroad amalgamation, 34.—Corporate control of railroads defined, 36.—Control through lease, 38.—Control through ownership of securities, 39.—Joint control, 41.—Virtual control, 44.— Inactive corporations, 45.—Minority holdings of railroad securities, 46.—Holding companies: trust companies, intermediate holding companies, land and improvement companies, 50.—Entanglements of the intercorporate relationship, 54.—Holding companies at the head of systems: Atlantic Coast Line Company, Reading Company, Rock Island Company, 58.—Purpose of the holding company and reasons for public opposition, 61.—Suggested remedies, 64.
Using cluster computing to support automatic and dynamic database clustering

Query response time is the number one metrics when it comes to database performance. Because of data proliferation, efficient access methods and data storage techniques have become increasingly critical to maintain an acceptable query response time. Retrieving data from disk is several orders of magnitude slower than retrieving it from memory, it is easy to see the direct correlation between query response time and the number of disk I/Os. One of the common ways to reduce disk I/Os and therefore improve query response time is database clustering, which is a process that partitions the database vertically (attribute clustering) and/or horizontally (record clustering). A clustering is optimized for a given set of queries. However in dynamic systems the queries change with time, the clustering in place becomes obsolete, and the database needs to be re-clustered dynamically. This paper presents an efficient algorithm for attribute clustering that dynamically and automatically generates attribute clusters based on closed item sets mined from the attributes sets found in the queries running against the database. The paper then discusses how this algorithm can be implemented using the cluster computing paradigm to reduce query response time even further through parallelism and data redundancy.
Temporal decorrelation: a theory of lagged and nonlagged responses in the lateral geniculate nucleus

Natural time-varying images possess significant temporal correlations when sampled frame by frame by the photoreceptors. These correlations persist even after retinal processing and hence, under natural activation conditions, the signal sent to the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) is temporally redundant or inefficient. We explore the hypothesis that the LGN is concerned, among other things, with improving efficiency of visual representation through active temporal decorrelation of the retinal signal much in the same way that the retina improves efficiency by spatially decorrelating incoming images. Using some recently measured statistical properties of time-varying images, we predict the spatio-temporal receptive fields that achieve this decorrelation. It is shown that, because of neuronal nonlinearities, temporal decorrelation requires two response types, the lagged and nonlagged, just as spatial decorrelation requires on and off response types. The tuning and response properties of the predicted LGN ce...
Ultra-high bit rate fiber designs

A benchmark for a future generation of terrestrial optical fiber systems is about 1 Tb/s with bit rate-distance products of about 2000 Tb-km/s. This paper reviews research at Corning to define the properties of transport fibers that allow systems to meet this performance benchmark, while at the same time being manufacturable in the volumes required for terrestrial needs.
Double-Diffusive Convection in a Stochastic Shear

AbstractAn attempt is made to quantify the impact of stochastic wave–induced shears on salt fingers associated with internal waves in the ocean. The wave environment is represented by the superposition of Fourier components conforming to the Garrett–Munk (GM) spectrum with random initial phase distribution. The resulting time series of vertical shear are incorporated into a finger-resolving numerical model, and the latter is used to evaluate the equilibrium diapycnal fluxes of heat and salt. The proposed procedure makes it possible to simulate salt fingers in shears that are representative of typical oceanic conditions. This study finds that the shear-induced modification of salt fingers is largely caused by near-inertial motions. These relatively slow waves act to align salt fingers in the direction of shear, thereby rendering the double-diffusive dynamics effectively two-dimensional. Internal waves reduce the equilibrium vertical fluxes of heat and salt by a factor of 2 relative to those in the unsheare...
An Adaptive Energy-Conserving Strategy for Parallel Disk Systems

In the past decade parallel disk systems have been highly scalable and able to alleviate the problem of disk I/O bottleneck, thereby being widely used to support a wide range of data-intensive applications. Optimizing energy consumption in parallel disk systems has strong impacts on the cost of backup power-generation and cooling equipment, because a significant fraction of the operation cost of data centres is due to energy consumption and cooling. Although a variety of parallel disk systems were developed to achieve high performance and energy efficiency, most existing parallel disk systems lack an adaptive way to conserve energy in dynamically changing workload conditions. To solve this problem, we develop an adaptive energy-conserving algorithm, or DCAPS, for parallel disk systems using the dynamic voltage scaling technique that dynamically choose the most appropriate voltage supplies for parallel disks while guaranteeing specified performance (i.e., desired response times) for disk requests. We conduct extensive experiments to quantitatively evaluate the performance of the proposed energy-conserving strategy. Experimental results consistently show that DCAPS significantly reduces energy consumption of parallel disk systems in a dynamic environment over the same disk systems without using the DCAPS strategy.
Improvements in numerical techniques for conformal transformation with particular reference to electromagnetic fields

Some significant improvements achieved in numerical methods for conformal transformation applicable to electromagnetic field analysis are reported. It is shown that the basic Schwarz-Christoffel equation, which at each of the vertices always results in either a pole or a zero, can be accurately and efficiently integrated by employing a combination of quadrature methods and simple variable transformations. Other transformations are also described to constrain the t -plane constants as required during the direct-search minimization. The complete procedure developed applies to almost any geometry and is found to be computationally faster and more reliable than previous methods. The procedure is illustrated with the aid of an electrical-machine example specifically to which pertain the numerical results and some of the equations.
ScaffoldScaffolder: Solving Contig Orientation via Bidirected to Directed Graph Reduction

MOTIVATION The contig orientation problem, which we formally define as the MAX-DIR problem, has at times been addressed cursorily and at times using various heuristics. In setting forth a linear-time reduction from the MAX-CUT problem to the MAX-DIR problem, we prove the latter is NP-complete. We compare the relative performance of a novel greedy approach with several other heuristic solutions. RESULTS Our results suggest that our greedy heuristic algorithm not only works well but also outperforms the other algorithms due to the nature of scaffold graphs. Our results also demonstrate a novel method for identifying inverted repeats and inversion variants, both of which contradict the basic single-orientation assumption. Such inversions have previously been noted as being difficult to detect and are directly involved in the genetic mechanisms of several diseases. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION http://bioresearch.byu.edu/scaffoldscaffolder. CONTACT paulmbodily@gmail.com SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
PUF60: a prominent new target of the autoimmune response in dermatomyositis and Sjögren's syndrome

Objectives Autoantibodies are used clinically to phenotype and subset patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. We detected a novel 60 kDa autoantibody specificity by immunoblotting using a dermatomyositis (DM) patient9s serum. Our objective was to identify the targeted autoantigen and to evaluate disease specificity and clinical significance of this new autoantibody. Methods A new 60 kDa specificity was detected by immunoblotting HeLa cell lysates. The targeted autoantigen was identified as poly(U)-binding-splicing factor 60 kDa (PUF60) using (i) a human protein array and (ii) two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry peptide sequencing. Anti-PUF60 antibodies were assayed by ELISA using sera from patients with primary Sjogren9s syndrome (SS; n=84), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; n=71), DM (n=267), polymyositis (n=45), inclusion body myositis (n=45) and healthy controls (n=38). Results PUF60 was identified as a new autoantigen. Anti-PUF60 antibodies were present in 25/84 (30%) patients with SS, 6/71 (8.5%) patients with SLE and 2/38 (5.0%) control subjects (SS vs controls, p=0.002; SLE vs controls, p=0.711). Anti-PUF60 antibodies were present in 48/267 (18.0%) patients with DM versus 4/45 (8.9%) and 5/45 (11.1%) patients with inclusion body myositis and polymyositis, respectively. The antibody was significantly associated with anti-Ro52 antibodies, rheumatoid factor and hyperglobulinemia in the patients with primary SS. In patients with DM, the antibody was associated with anti-transcription intermediary factor 1 gamma seropositivity and Caucasian race. Conclusions PUF60 represents a novel autoantigen in patients with SS and DM. PUF60 antibodies are associated with distinct clinical features and different immune responses in different diseases.
Analytical Characteristics of Packed Capillary Columns

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the analytical characteristics of packed capillary columns. The geometrical characteristics of a chromatographic column primarily determine its performance. While an increased inlet pressure is the "technological price" that is paid for an increase in the number of theoretical plates obtained in LC, chromatographic columns having a variety of characteristics can meet the analytical task of component resolution with a variable degree of difficulty. The development of miniaturized LC systems has generated a great deal of interest during recent years. Some micro-column types having decreased column inner diameters and increased column lengths, were shown to exhibit considerably higher chromatographic efficiency than their conventional counterparts. The flow-rates typical of such columns are quite low, which results in significantly reduced consumption of both sample and mobile phase.
An Evaluation of the Adequacy and Structure of Current U.S. Voluntary Retirement Plans, with Special Emphasis on 401(K) Plans

This paper reviews the results of many empirical and simulation studies EBRI has undertaken to determine whether future cohorts of retirees in the US are likely to have retirement income adequacy and the extent to which the voluntary retirement system is contributing to this objective in its current form as well as possible modifications that may increase its efficiency.
General element shapes within a tensor-product higher-order space-time discontinuous-Galerkin formulation

A tensor-product higher-order space-time discontinuous-Galerkin method is extended to unstructured element shapes. The use of a tensor-product formulation is key to maintaining eciency at high polynomial orders. The discrete system of equations arising at each space-time slab is solved using a Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov scheme. An alternatingdirection-implicit (ADI) preconditioner for hexahedra is extended to prisms, pyramids and tetrahedra by solving on the tensor-product space corresponding to the quadrature points on the reference cube. Numerical results demonstrate the ADI preconditioner is able to reduce the stiness associated with high polynomial orders for a scalar advection problem. A diagonalized variant of the ADI preconditioner for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations is used to perform simulations of the Taylor-Green vortex problem. Numerical results demonstrate the eciency of higher-order methods for the simulation of compressible turbulent ows.
Effects of Situation-Specific Reliability on Trust and Usage of Automated Air Traffic Control Decision Aids

Automation trust was explored in a human-in-the-loop Air Traffic Control simulation. Controllers were asked to detect closely approaching aircraft pairs, assisted by an automated tool whose reliability varied according to whether the scenario contained Free Flight (aircraft deviating from flight plans at will). Training on the causes of variable reliability, given to half the controllers, enabled them to appropriately trust the automation less (assessed subjectively) during Free Flight. The trained group also had higher Hit and False Alarm rates than the other group, and were more likely overall to unquestioningly accept the tool's judgments; this behavior sometimes aided task performance, but the training did not affect overall performance. A new System Confidence rating scale showed promise as a supplement to established Trust and Self Confidence ratings, as did a scale enabling participant reports of the degree of automation information use in making each decision. Implications for decision support des...
Total synthesis and biological evaluation of an antifungal tricyclic o-hydroxy-p-quinone methide diterpenoid.

A convergent route has been developed to synthesize an antifungal tricyclic o-hydroxy-p-quinone methide diterpenoid and analogues. A Li/naphthalene-mediated reductive alkylation was employed for coupling β-cyclocitral and the corresponding benzyl chloride, while a BBr3-mediated one-pot bis-demethylation and intramolecular Friedel–Crafts alkylation was used to assemble the tricyclic molecular skeleton. The structure–activity relationship of the diterpenoid was assessed on the basis of antiproliferation assays of the natural product and analogues against strains of pathogenic yeasts and filamentous fungi.
Differences between serum and plasma osmolalities and their relationship to lactic acid values.

SummarySignificant unspecific increases in osmolality can be observed when blood samples are allowed to remain from 1 to 4 hr at room temperature before serum is separated from the corpuscular blood elements. The increase is related to production of lactic acid caused by the persistent glycolytic activity of erythrocytes and leukocytes. This error can be reduced by immediate cooling of the samples or by using plasma which has been separated from the blood cells within 20 min after collection of the sample.
Educaid: what if the US systems of education and health care were more alike?

Amidst discussions about how to reform the US health care system, I often hear analogies made between health care and education. What if access to health care and access to education were more similar for our children? Hypothetically, let’s imagine a future system of education transformed to include many of the parallels of health care today. While the scenario is fictional, the quotes are real comments from parents who have shared their time and thoughts to help us better understand the experience of families in the current health care system.1–3 Most quotes have been altered slightly for relevance to the hypothetical education examples (eg, “clinic” has been changed to “school,” “doctor” has been changed to “teacher,” and “Medicaid” has been changed to “Educaid”). Fast forward into the future.
Uncertainty and Stigma in the Experiences of Prostate Cancer Survivors A Thematic Analysis of Narrative Elements

This study examines stigma and identity changes in prostate cancer survivors’ illness accounts. Noteworthy events included diagnosis, the consequent search for information, the treatment decision, and posttreatment changes. Although their stories lacked the before/after identity shift of most illness narratives, survivors characterized themselves as uncertain upon diagnosis, then as information seekers. Narrators described physicians as information sources and social support groups as sources of information and emotional support. Survivors acknowledged the permanent, stigmatizing “cancer” label. These observations suggest implications related to stigma, identity, creating positive meanings in illness narratives, changing roles of physicians, and alternative means of generating support.
Abstract IA23: Targeting nuclear noncoding RNAs

RNA interference (RNAi) is well known as a mechanism for controlling mammalian mRNA translation in the cytoplasm, but what would be the consequences if it also functioned in cell nuclei? Although RNAi has also been found in nuclei of plants, yeast, and other organisms, there has been relatively little progress towards understanding the potential involvement of mammalian RNAi factors in nuclear processes including transcription and splicing. When RNAi factors bind small RNAs, they form ribonucleoprotein complexes that can be selective for target sequences within different classes of nuclear RNA substrates. The versatility of nuclear RNAi may supply a previously underappreciated layer of regulation to transcription, splicing, and other nuclear processes. This talk focuses on recent work targeting noncoding RNA at the frataxin and C9orf72 loci as examples for how nuclear RNAi can be used to control gene expression. Citation Format: David Corey. Targeting nuclear noncoding RNAs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer: Mechanisms to Medicines ; 2015 Dec 4-7; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA23.