cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laboratory and Clinical Assessment of Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is common in clinical practice. In this condition, there is excessive synthesis and/or secretion of thyroid hormones into the circulation. This excess in thyroid hormone levels is often accompanied by suppressed serum TSH concentrations and a wide variety of clinical manifestations that often involve many organ systems. Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States (80 % of cases), but various other conditions can result in a similar clinical picture, including toxic nodular thyroid disease, the very rare TSH-producing pituitary adenoma, thyroiditis, medication side effects, or exogenous thyrotoxicosis due to excessive ingestion of thyroid hormone (iatrogenic or factitious). This chapter focuses on the clinical, laboratory, and radiological evaluation of the patient presenting with hyperthyroidism, in order to determine its etiology and define an appropriate treatment plan.
APACHE III outcome prediction after esophagectomy

The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III prognostic system has not been validated in patients admitted to the ICU after esophagectomy.
Myths of the Archaic State: Evolution of the Earliest Cities, States, and Civilizations

In this ground-breaking work, Norman Yoffee shatters the prevailing myths underpinning our understanding of the evolution of early civilisations. He counters the emphasis in traditional scholarship on the rule of 'godly' and despotic male leaders and challenges the conventional view that early states were uniformly constituted bureaucratic and regional entities. Instead, by illuminating the role of slaves and soldiers, priests and priestesses, peasants and prostitutes, merchants and craftsmen, Yoffee depicts an evolutionary process centred on the concerns of everyday life. Drawing on evidence from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and Mesoamerica, the author explores the variety of trajectories followed by ancient states, from birth to collapse, and explores the social processes that shape any account of the human past. This book offers a bold new interpretation of social evolutionary theory, and as such it is essential reading for any student or scholar with an interest in the emergence of complex society.
Identification of yeastlike organisms isolated from the vaginal tracts of pregnant and nonpregnant women

Abstract Sixty-eight strains of yeastlike organisms have been isolated from the vaginal tracts of 52 pregnant (32 per cent) and 16 nonpregnant (14 per cent) women. These strains have been identified and compared with type species of Benham and Stovall by developing a technique which can be carried out in a routine bacteriologic laboratory and which does not require special mycologic training. The procedures necessary for identification are presented and discussed.
Kinetics and mechanism of the association of the bacteriophage T4 gene 32 (helix destabilizing) protein with single-stranded nucleic acids. Evidence for protein translocation.

Abstract We have investigated the association kinetics of the co-operatively binding T4-coded gene 32 (helix destabilizing) protein with a variety of single-stranded homopolynucleotides (both RNA and DNA). Stopped-flow mixing experiments were performed by monitoring the partial quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of the protein upon binding to the nucleic acid under conditions where the nucleic acid concentration is in great excess over the protein concentration. Investigations of the association rate (and rate constants) as a function of solution variables has demonstrated quite different behavior at the extremes of “low” and “high” salt concentration. Under low salt (high binding constant) conditions the non-co-operative association is rate-limiting and we measure a bimolecular rate constant of 3 × 10 6 to 4 × 10 6 m −1 (nucleotide)s −1 (0·1 m-NaCl, 25·0 °C). However, at higher salt concentrations (lower binding constant) a pre-equilibrium involving non-co-operatively bound protein is established, followed by the rate-limiting formation of co-operatively bound protein clusters. Based on these observations we have proposed a mechanism for the formation of co-operatively bound T4 gene 32 protein clusters, under conditions of low binding density, which consists of three steps: (1) pre-equilibrium formation of non-co-operatively bound protein (nucleation); followed by (2) association of free protein to the singly contiguous sites established in the nucleation step, hence forming the first co-operative interactions (growth step); and (3) a redistribution of the growing protein clusters to form the final equilibrium distribution. From comparisons of our experimental values of the forward rate constant for the second step (growth of clusters) with theoretical estimates based on the work of Berg & Blomberg (1976,1978) we infer that the T4 gene 32 protein is able to translocate along singlestranded polynucleotides. The implications of these results for the in vivo action of the T4 gene 32 protein are discussed.
Formation of Transgender Identities in Adolescence

There is little information about the formation of transgender identities in adolescence. Diagnosis and treatment of transgender adolescents is often surrounded by confusion and controversy on the part of clinicians and family. This paper identifies some of the issues that arise in these treatments and offers some guidelines. The importance of understanding and embracing the diversities of outcomes of gender variant children is stressed, as is the concept of affirmative and adaptive treatment approaches for these children and their families, in order to foster more positive self-esteem and identity formation as these children become adolescents.
Time-Resolved Emission and Absorption Studies of Exploding Wire Spectra

Emission and absorption studies of the spectra produced by exploding wires in oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, or argon atmospheres are described. A drum camera and a rotating shutter are used for continuous and time-resolved recording of the explosion spectra. A high-intensity light source (a second exploding wire or Lyman flashtube), synchronized with the rotating shutter, is flashed through the explosion vapor for the absorption studies. Results from experiments performed under a variety of controlled conditions are presented. Effects of environment, pressure, and electrical energy on the spectrum are discussed, and conditions found conducive to production of selected features are indicated. The exploding wire is shown to be a rich source for study of the AlO molecule, and observation of a number of new bands (believed to be part of the B2Пi — X2Σ+ transition) is reported. Preliminary experiments with titanium wires exploded in oxygen suggest that the exploding wire may also be a desirable source for spectral studies of the TiO molecule. Some results from this work are included.
Testing Strategy with Multiple Performance Measures: Evidence from a Balanced Scorecard at Store24

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the idea that business strategies can be tested and validated based on statistical analysis of a firm's internal performance measures. The strategy literature describes business strategies using the concepts of formulation, implementation, and fit. The management accounting literature links these strategy concepts with the selection and use of performance measures. Building on these two streams we examine whether and how a multidimensional performance measurement system can be used to distinguish between strategic problems related to strategic inputs, customer-oriented strategic outputs, and financial performance. We use data from the performance measurement system of a field site that formulated, implemented, and subsequently abandoned an innovative operating strategy. Managers learned the strategy was ineffective over a two-year period. We find that the company's internal performance measures systematically reveal more timely information about problems with the strategy...
Histological Response and Biological Markers

The optimization of treatment strategies for patients with bony tumors has proven to be elusive. Though patients with localized disease have achieved increased survival rates with the most recent therapeutic revolutions of dose escalation and interval compression, prognosis continues to remain significantly poor for those patients with metastatic disease. Stratification of bone tumor patients into risk categories is one method to target more intensified treatment regimens for patients with historically worse outcomes, while sparing patients with lower-risk disease from toxicities associated with highly aggressive therapies. Strategies to risk stratify these patients must involve incorporation of their tumor biology, including the presence or absence of significant biological markers, and their interval responses to treatment. The prognostic implications of biological markers and the histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for bone tumors have been extensively studied. As further designations of risk groups for patients evolve, it has become apparent that these are crucial factors to consider.
Expedient synthetic routes to [3H]-D-3-azido-3-deoxy-myo-inositol and D-3-azido-3-deoxy-myo-inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate

Expedient routes to a tritiated derivative of the v-sis oncogene-transformed cell specific growth inhibitor 3-azido-3-deoxy-myo-inositol and the unlabelled 2,4,5-trisphosphate derivative are described together with the effects of the latter compound in binding to the IP3 receptor.
On the importance of geological heterogeneity for flow simulation

Abstract Geological heterogeneity is recognized as a major control on reservoir production and constraint on many aspects of quantitative hydrogeology. Hydrogeologists and reservoir geologists need to characterize groundwater flow through many different types of geological media for different purposes. In this introductory paper, an updated perspective is provided on the current status of the long effort to understand the effect of geological heterogeneity on flow using numerical simulations. A summary is given of continuum vs. discrete paradigms, and zonal vs. geostatistical approaches, all of which are used to structure model domains. Using these methods and modern simulation tools, flow modelers now have greater opportunities to account for the increasingly detailed understanding of heterogeneous aquifer and reservoir systems. One way of doing this would be to apply a broader interpretation of the idea of hydrofacies, long used by hydrogeologists. Simulating flow through heterogeneous geologic media requires that numerical models capture important aspects of the structure of the flow domain. Hydrofacies are reinterpreted here as scale-dependent hydrogeologic units with a particular representative elementary volume (REV) or structure of a specific size and shape. As such, they can be delineated in indurated sedimentary or even fractured aquifer systems, independently of lithofacies, as well as in the unlithified settings in which they have traditionally been used. This reconsideration of what constitutes hydrofacies, the building blocks for representing geological heterogeneity in flow models, may be of some use in the types of settings described in this special issue.
Malic dehydrogenase isoenzymes in green stem tissue of Opuntia: Isolation and characterization

Abstract By starch gel electrophoresis and DEAE-cellulose anion exchange column chromatography, three distinctly different malic dehydrogenase ( l -malate:NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37) isoenzymes were isolated from green stem tissue of Opuntia ficus indica. Chloroplasts isolated and purified by nonaqueous density gradient centrifugation techniques indicated that one isoenzyme was unique to the chloroplast fraction. Mitochondria isolated and purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation techniques revealed a mitochondrial-malic dehydrogenase. Another was apparently not associated with subcellular particles and was designated as a soluble-malic dehydrogenase. Hence, these data suggest that green stem tissue of this cactus has at least three malic dehydrogenase isoenzymes; a chloroplast-malic dehydrogenase, a mitochondrial-malic dehydrogenase, and a soluble-malic dehydrogenase. Although the physical properties of the three isoenzymes were distinctly different, kinetic properties such as Km values for oxaloacetate, malate, NAD, and NADH at pH's of 7.4 and 8.5 were quite similar. Similarities were demonstrated with NAD analogs such as thionicotinamide-NAD and 3-acetylpyridine-NAD. The chloroplast-malic dehydrogenase, however, was considerably more active in the presence of 3-acetylpyridinedeamino-NAD and deamino-NAD than were the mitochondrial or soluble forms. Hence, the latter analogs demonstrated kinetic differences. The thermostabilities of the three isoenzymes were distinctly different with the chloroplast-malic dehydrogenase being the most stable and the soluble-malic dehydrogenase being the least stable. Metabolites such as α-ketoglutarate, cis-aconitate, citrate, dl -isocitrate, succinate, fumarate, aspartate, glutamate, and maleate partially inhibited the isoenzymes. Kinetic data suggested that α-ketoglutarate was a partially competitive inhibitor with respect to both the substrates, NADH and oxaloacetate. In the presence of α-ketoglutarate and cis-aconitate, a “cumulative” type of inhibition was observed. It was concluded that α-ketoglutarate and cis-aconitate bind at sites distinct from each other and at a site distinct from the substrate binding site.
Thermocouple tube holders for the measurement of hot steel temperatures by immersion

A production process for thermocouple holders to be immersed into hot steel has been devised the characteristic of that process being the use of hydrostatic compression. A protecting magnesite coat is applied to the carborundum portion of thermocouple holders made for long-time immersion into steel and basic slag.
Copper(II) complexes of 6-methyl-2-formylpyridine 4N-substituted thiosemicarbazones

Copper(II) complexes of 6-methyl-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone, and its 4N-methyl-, 4N-ethyl-, 4N-phenyl-,4 N-dimethyl-, 4N-diethyl-, 4N-dipropyl-, 3-pyrrolidinyl, 3-piperidinyl- and 3-hexamethyleneiminylthiosemicarbazone derivatives were prepared and characterized. I.r., electronic and e.s.r. spectra of the complexes, as well as 1H and 13C n.m.r. spectra of the thiosemicarbazones, were obtained. The thiosemicarbazones and their copper(II) complexes show either modest or no growth inhibitory activity against Aspergillus niger, but the 4N-dialkyl- and 3-azacyclo-derivatives exhibit considerable activity against Paecilomyces variotii.
Effects of reduced oxygen and glucose levels on ocular cells in vitro: implications for tissue models.

An important goal of tissue engineering is the development of better in vitro tissue models for the study and treatment of diseases, especially those that are difficult to model in animals, such as glaucoma. In order to properly interpret experimental results designed to mimic in vivo conditions, it is necessary to characterize the metabolic state of the in vitro culture. The goal of this study was to determine how porcine lamina cribrosa cells (PLC), porcine scleral fibroblasts (PSC) and rat astrocytes (RAS) respond metabolically to reduced glucose and oxygen levels compared to normal in vitro culture conditions. Throughout the culture period, cell number and the levels of glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glutamate were characterized. Cell number in the PLC and PSC was more sensitive to glucose level than oxygen, while the RAS exhibited sensitivities to both variables. While the pyruvate and glutamate levels did not vary substantially between groups, glucose consumption and lactate production were dependent on culture condition. In addition, the ΔL/ΔG ratio was dependent on glucose and oxygen levels, but not cell type at early time points. By day 7, however, the RAS exhibited ratios consistently lower than the other cell types. The results of this study serve as a basis for future studies into the degenerative matrix remodeling in the glaucomatous optic nerve head, and may prove insightful for other tissue engineering applications.
Calcium‐induced calcium release from intracellular stores is developmentally regulated in primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons

The properties of depolarization-evoked calcium transients are known to change during the maturation of dissociated cerebellar granule neuron cultures. Here, we assessed the role of the calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) mechanism in granule neuron maturation. Both depletion of intracellular calcium stores and the pharmacological blockade of CICR significantly reduced depolarization stimulated calcium transients in young but not older (≥1 week) cultures. This functional decrease in the CICR signaling component was associated with the reduction of ryanodine receptor (RyR) immunoreactivity during granule neuron maturation both in culture and in the intact cerebellum. These observations are consistent with the idea that changes in RyR expression result in functional changes in calcium signaling transients during normal neuronal development in the intact mammalian cerebellum as well as in reduced neuronal cultures. Pharmacological disruption of CICR during neuron differentiation in vitro resulted in dose-dependent changes in survival, GAP-43 expression, and the acquisition of the glutamatergic neurotransmitter phenotype. Together, these results indicate that CICR function plays a physiologically relevant role in regulating early granule neuron differentiation in vitro and is likely to play a role in cerebellar maturation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 42: 134–147, 2000
A Q Factor Analysis of College Undergraduate Students' Study Behaviors

This study attempted to better understand the study behaviours of undergraduate students by categorizing students into distinctive typologies based on their self-reported study behaviours through an exploratory approach – Q factor analysis. A sample of 152 undergraduate students completed a survey instrument, the Study Behavior Inventory. The Q factor analysis yielded a 2-factor structure. Participants exhibiting the 1st behavioural type demonstrated reflective, well-organized study behaviours and favoured high-level thinking; thus were described as “Organized Holistic Learners”. Those exhibiting the 2nd behavioural type were found to manage time poorly and primarily focus on memorizing facts; thus were labelled “Disorganized Procrastinators”. Type 1 students had significantly higher grade point averages (GPAs) than Type 2 students. Student type was a significant predictor of academic achievement, as measured by self-reported GPA above and beyond students' attribute variables including sex, age, major, an...
Controlled layer-by-layer formation of ultrathin TiO2 on silver island films via a surface sol-gel method for surface-enhanced Raman scattering measurement.

A surface sol−gel process has been demonstrated to be an effective method for the surface modification of silver island films as unique SERS substrates for monitoring molecular adsorption on a dielectric titania surface. This layer-by-layer approach allows control of the thickness of the dielectric surface with a monolayer precision on silver surfaces. The enhancement of Raman scattering from adsorbed Rhodamine 6G molecules is inversely proportional to the thickness of the titania film, which is consistent with the decay of electromagnetic enhancement. Despite a reduction in the sensitivity of the film, a substantial improvement in the film was achieved as a result of the enhanced stability of this substrate compared to the silver island film without a TiO2 coating.
Multiphoton production at high energies in the standard model. II

We examine multiphoton production in the electroweak sector of the standard model in the high-energy limit using the equivalence theorem in combination with spinor helicity techniques. We utilize currents consisting of a charged scalar, spinor, or vector line that radiates [ital n] photons. Only one end of the charged line is off shell in these currents, which are known for the cases of like-helicity and one unlike-helicity photons. We obtain a wide variety of helicity amplitudes for processes involving two pairs of charged particles by considering combinations of four currents. We examine the situation with respect to currents which have both ends of the charged line off shell, and present solutions for the case of like-helicity photons. These new currents may be combined with two of the original currents to produce additional amplitudes involving Higgs bosons, longitudinal [ital Z], or neutrino pairs.
FOCUS: clustering crowdsourced videos by line-of-sight

We present a demonstration of FOCUS [1], a system to appear in the SenSys 2013 main conference. FOCUS is a video-clustering service for live user video streams, indexed automatically and in realtime by shared content. FOCUS uniquely leverages visual, 3D model reconstruction and multimodal sensing to decipher and continuously track a video's line-of-sight. Through spatial reasoning on the relative geometry of multiple video streams, FOCUS recognizes shared content even when viewed from diverse angles and distances. We believe FOCUS can enable a new family of applications, such as instant replay, augmented reality, citizen journalism, security breach detection, and disaster assessment.In the demonstration, we will show 325 video clips taken at Duke University Wallace Wade Stadium being processed in real-time via FOCUS pipeline. The recorded video clips contain one of three spots in the stadium: East Stand, Scoreboard, and West Stand. The demo shall be shown in the form of a web interface, first showing randomly clustered video clips. Later, on a button click, FOCUS shall process displayed videos in real-time, outputting clusters of videos, containing the common shared subject in each of them. For each successfully processed video clip in a cluster, we will further show similar clips from near, medium, and wide angle. To display performance and accuracy of FOCUS in indoor environments, a similar demonstration will be shown for an office space. FOCUS shall run on multi-node Hadoop cluster built on top of IBM SmartCloud platform.
Lionardo Salviati and the collection of Proverbi toscani: Philological issues with Codex Cl. I 394

This article offers an overview of my research conducted on Proverbi toscani, a collection of proverbs kept at the Biblioteca Ariostea in Ferrara and generally attributed to Lionardo Salviati. I attribute and date the five unidentified writers who transcribe proverbs in the codex, focusing on the question of authorship, and I aim to elucidate the different phases in which additions were made from the late 16th century to the second decade of the 17th century. First, by way of analyzing the different handwritings in the document and their characteristics, I demonstrate how the codex cannot be considered solely Lionardo Salviati’s manuscript, but rather the product of an entourage of copyists. Next, I resolve the still unclear issue of Salviati’s own handwriting, which, starting from Peter Brown’s study (1962), I intend to identify with strong evidence. As a result, I attribute only a small section of the collection to Lionardo Salviati himself. Finally, I argue against the attribution of a group of proverb...
Determining text readability over textured backgrounds in augmented reality systems

This paper concerns the application of pattern classification techniques to the domain of augmented reality. In many augmented reality applications, one of the ways in which information is presented to the user is to place a text label over the area of interest. However, if this information is placed over very busy and textured backgrounds, this can affect the readability of the text. The goal of this work was to identify methods of quantitatively describing conditions under which such text would be readable or unreadable. We used texture properties and other visual features to predict if a text placed on a particular background would be readable or not. Based on these features, a supervised classifier was built that was trained using data collected from human subjects judgement of text readability. Using a rather small training set of about 400 human evaluations over 50 heterogeneous textures the system is able to achieve a correct classification rate of over 85%.
A comparison of alkylated phenols as antioxidants for lard

Tests with 24 substituted phenols showed that position was more important than the nature of the alkyl group in influencing antioxidant potency for lard. The most active compound tested was 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol.
Gel centrifugation chromatography for macromolecular separations

Abstract A method for chromatographic separation of macromolecules by the use of centrifugation through gel filtration materials is described. The liquid excluded from the gel material is removed by centrifugation; thus, this method offers rapid separation and minimal dilution of samples. Because of the rapid separations obtained, this method is particularly suitable for study of enzyme reactions, ligand binding and formation of intermolecular complexes in general. Within the limitations of the short columns which were employed in the centrifuge, the resolution of macromolecules is equivalent on columns eluted conventionally and columns eluted with the assistance of centrifugation.
Acute, avulsion fractures of the medial epicondyle while throwing in youth baseball players: A variant of Little League elbow

Hypothesis The young throwing athlete is susceptible to medial elbow injury due to valgus overload. We hypothesized that this injury can occur during the throwing motion with an acute episode of medial elbow pain resulting in an inability to effectively participate in throwing activities. In addition, appropriate treatment of acute, medial epicondyle avulsion fractures in baseball players can result in an asymptomatic elbow with subsequent return to play within a year of injury. Materials and methods A case series of all youth baseball players with medial epicondyle avulsion fractures that occurred while throwing were identified. We studied several variables, including demographics, adherence to USA Baseball youth pitching recommendations, clinical history, radiographic findings, treatment, and outcome. Results Eight skeletally immature baseball players, who were a mean age of 13 years (range, 11-15 years), presented with medial epicondyle fractures that occurred while throwing. All 8 players experienced sudden pain during throwing, and all 5 players with appropriate age and position qualifications did not conform to the USA Baseball youth pitching recommendations. Anteroposterior radiographs documented average fracture displacement of 5.1 mm (range, 2.5-10 mm). Five of 8 players had 5 mm or less of displacement and were selected for nonoperative treatment. Three of 8 players had more than 5 mm of displacement and underwent open reduction and internal fixation. All players were able to return to play at an average of 7.6 months (range, 4-10 months). Discussion Medial epicondyle avulsion fractures can occur with a characteristic acute presentation while throwing in youth baseball players. Prevention may be possible when conforming to established USA Baseball youth pitching recommendations. Once an acute medial epicondyle avulsion fracture occurs, these injuries may be managed using published treatment algorithms, with successful return to play in less than 1 year.
The relationship between intensity, hedonic and relative-to-ideal ratings

Forty five subjects rated soup samples varying in salt concentration on three types of ratings, intensity, hedonic and relative-to-ideal. Estimates of the most preferred concentration for individual subjects from the hedonic and relative-to-ideal ratings correlated at r = 0.76 (P < 0.001). The estimates were not found to differ by t-test. The slope of the relative-to-ideal function correlated with the intensity slope at r = 0.31 (P < 0.05) but was more closely associated with the slope of a function derived from unfolding the hedonic ratings about the break point for individual subjects. These relationships were confirmed comparing the Weber ratios derived from the intensity ratings and tolerance discrimination ratios derived from the relative-to-ideal and unfolded hedonic ratings. Group data showed good agreement between intensity and relative-to-ideal ratings, since both are linearly related to the logarithm of concentration. These results suggest that relative-to-ideal ratings provide a more informative measure of most preferred concentration similar to that derived from hedonic ratings. The slope of the relative-to-ideal function reflects, in part, how concerned the subject is about deviations from ideal rather than being simply ratings of intensity in relation to the person's ideal. © 1989 Longman Group UK Limited.
Normal ordering and quantum groups

The irreducible R-matrices associated with the quantum Liouville and sine-Gordon equations were classified by the su(2) index l, 2l integer. We find that the associated quantum field theories must have the following equal time operator product expansions in the lattice approximation $${\text{e}}^{ + \eta \phi } \phi _{\text{r}} = \pm /(\eta /\Delta ){\text{ e}}^{ + \eta \phi } {\text{ + nonsingular operator}}$$ . The lattice L-operator is found to have the form exp ΦΔ, where Δ is the lattice interval and Φ is the obvious quantum analogue of the L-matrix of classical Liouville or sine-Gordon field theory.
The function of the N-terminal region of ribosomal protein S4.

Single ribosomal protein-16 S RNA complexes were examined for their sensitivity to trypsin digestion under conditions which maintain specific protein-RNA interactions. Proteins S7 and S13 are completely digested and removed from the complex while proteins S8, S15, S17 and S20 are protected from trypsin attack by the 16 S RNA. Protein S4 is partially protected yielding a fragment of a molecular weight of about 17,700. These results are in agreement with similar experiments done with different digestion conditions by Schulte et al. (1975). We have determined that the portion of protein S4 removed by the trypsin is the N-terminus up to residues 43 to 46. This conclusion is based on the following experimental results: (1) the tryptophan residue at position 167 remains a part of the S4 fragment after trypsin digestion; (2) the cysteine residue at position 31 is removed by trypsin digestion; (3) tryptide fingerprints indicate that the tyrosine at position 50 is not lost by trypsin digestion; (4) the loss of 4800 daltons is equivalent to approximately 44 amino acid residues. The role the N-terminus of protein S4 plays in ribosome assembly and function was investigated. Protein S4 fragment was mixed with 20 purified 30 S ribosomal proteins excluding protein S4 and reconstituted with 16 S RNA. An incomplete particle was produced. The proteins completely missing are S2, S10, S18 or S19 and S21. We postulate that these proteins interact either directly or indirectly with the N-terminal region of S4. Correlating this hypothesis with the electron microscopic results of Tischendorf et al. (1975), we also suggest that the N-terminus of protein S4 resides in the “head” region of the electron microscope model.
Cholinergic, noradrenergic, and serotonergic inhibition of fast synaptic transmission in spinal lumbar dorsal horn of rat.

Abstract It is known that spinal nociceptive sensory transmission receives descending inhibitory and facilitatory modulation from supraspinal structures. Glutamate is the major fast excitatory transmitter between primary afferent fibers and spinal dorsal horn neurons. In whole-cell patch clamp recordings from dorsal horn neurons in spinal slices, we investigated synaptic mechanisms for inhibitory modulation at the lumbar level of the spinal cord. Application of the cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol produced a dose-dependent inhibition of glutamate-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) (IC 50 13 μM). Postsynaptic injection of two different types of G-protein inhibitors, guanosine 5′-O-2-thiophosphate or guanosine 5′-O-3-thiotriphosphate, blocked the inhibition produced by carbachol. Clonidine, a selective α-adrenergic receptor agonist, also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of EPSCs (IC 50 7 μM) that was reduced by postsynaptic inhibition of G-proteins. The inhibitory effect of serotonin was likewise mediated by postsynaptic G-proteins. Our results suggest that activation of postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptors plays a critical role in inhibition of glutamate mediated sensory responses by acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Our results support the hypothesis that descending sensory modulation may be mediated by multiple neurotransmitter receptors in the spinal cord.
ESTIMATING THE ERROR IN SIMULATION PREDICTION OVER THE DESIGN SPACE

This study addresses the assessrnent of accuracy of simulation predictions. A procedure is developed to validate a simple non-linear model defined to capture the hardening behavior of a foam material subjected to a short-duration transient impact. Validation means that the predictive accuracy of the model must be established, not just in the vicinity of a single testing condition, but for all settings or configurations of the system. The notion of validation domain is introduced to designate the design region where the model's predictive accuracy is appropriate for the application of interest. Techniques brought to bear to assess the model's predictive accuracy include test-analysis coi-relation, calibration, bootstrapping and sampling for uncertainty propagation and metamodeling. The model's predictive accuracy is established by training a metalnodel of prediction error. The prediction error is not assumed to be systcmatic. Instead, it depends on which configuration of the system is analyzed. Finally, the prediction error's confidence bounds are estimated by propagating the uncertainty associated with specific modeling assumptions.
Metal Depletion and Warm H2 in the Brown Dwarf 2M1207 Accretion Disk

We present new far-ultraviolet observations of the young M8 brown dwarf 2MASS J12073346- 3932539, which is surrounded by an accretion disk. The data were obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope-Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Moderate resolution spectra (R � 17,000 - 18,000) obtained in the 1150 - 1750 u and 2770 - 2830 u bandpasses reveal H2 emission excited by H I Lyphotons, several ionization states of carbon (C I - C IV), and hot gas emission lines of He II and N V (T � 10 4 - 10 5 K). Emission from some species that would be found in a typical thermal plasma at this temperature (Si II, Si III, Si IV, and Mg II) are not detected. The non-detections indicate that these refractory elements are depleted into grains, and that accretion shocks dominate the production of the hot gas observed on 2MASS J12073346-3932539. We use the observed C IV luminosity to constrain the mass accretion rate in this system. We use the kinematically broadened H2 profile to confirm that the majority of the molecular emission arises in the disk, measure the radius of the inner hole of the disk (Rhole � 3R∗), and constrain the physical conditions of the warm molecular phase of the disk (T(H2) � 2500 - 4000 K). A second, most likely unresolved H2 component is identified. This feature is either near the stellar surface in the region of the accretion shock or in a molecular outflow, although the possibility that this Jovian-like emission arises on the day-side disk of a 6 MJ companion (2M1207b) cannot be conclusively ruled out. In general, we find that this young brown dwarf disk system is a low-mass analog to classical T Tauri stars that are observed to produce H2 emission from a warm layer in their disks, such as the well studied TW Hya and DF Tau systems. Subject headings: stars: brown dwarfs (2MASS J12073346-3932539) — accretion disks — ultraviolet: stars
Characterizing Cross-track Error Distributions for Continental Jet Routes

The establishment of standards for lateral separation between adjacent jet routes depends in large part on an adequate description of aircraft path-keeping ability. While it has been accepted for many years that deviations from route centreline follow a distribution which is more peaked in the core and longer tailed than the gaussian distribution which was initially assumed, the selection of an alternative distribution is still moot. Early studies of oceanic data suggested that a double exponential distribution gave a much better description of the core data. However, this distribution still appeared to underestimate the frequency of occurrence of very large errors, so that a double-double exponential distribution was proposed and is currently used for establishment of MNPS (Minimum Navigational Performance Specification) criteria for the North Atlantic organized track system. A physical rationale for the occurrence of the double-double exponential distribution has recently been derived, with suggestions for consideration of alternative formulations.
LTO: A better format for mid-range tape

In the last two years, Linear Tape-OpenÂ® (LTOÂ®) tape drives have become clear leaders in the mid-range tape marketplace. Tape drives designed to the LTO UltriumÂ® format were the first of the super drives to be shipped to mid-range tape customers. This paper describes some of the eclectic features designed into the LTO format. The technical emphasis is on aspects of the logical format that are new or different from preceding drives, though some aspects of the LTO roadmap and physical format are also discussed. The logical format comprises all of the data manipulations and organization involved in writing customer data to tape. This includes data compression to compact the data, appending of error-correction codes (ECCs) to protect the data, run-length-limited encoding of the ECC-encoded data, prepending headers to the encoded data to make it self-identifying on read-back, and storing of information about the data and the way it is stored in a cartridge memory module. Physical format aspects that are discussed include encoding data into the servo pattern and write shingling. Also discussed are the format-enabled aspects of drive functionality that have been improved over previous tape drive products, including enabling backward writing, elimination of problematic failure mechanisms, dynamic rewrite of defective data, handling servo errors without stopping tape, and enabling robust reading. Contrasts are made with previous products and competing products based on other format choices. Also discussed throughout is the way in which an eclectic format can be created by cooperation among three format-development companies.
Latent class models to infer market structure: A comparative analysis

Abstract Grover and Srinivasan (1987) proposed a latent class model to infer market structure from brand switching data. Jain, Bass and Chen (1990) show that, despite different assumptions, it is difficult to empirically distinguish the two models for the switching data on the instant coffee market. Both the models seem to fit the data equally well. In this paper, simulation procedures are used to compare the two models to see how well they recover the true underlying market structure and the parameter values and also to identify situations, if any, under which one model fits the data better than the other. Further, the robustness of the factor analytic approach for determining the number of segments in a latent class model is also examined. The results indicate that both the models fit the simulated data adequately well and yield the true overall market structure. However, the recovery of the parameter values is different under the two models, making one procedure more preferable than the other under certain conditions. The results also confirm the appropriateness of the factor analytic approach for determining the number of segments in a latent glass model.
General data structure expansion for multi-threading

Among techniques for parallelizing sequential codes, privatization is a common and significant transformation performed by both compilers and runtime parallelizing systems. Without privatization, repetitive updates to the same data structures often introduce spurious data dependencies that hide the inherent parallelism. Unfortunately, it remains a significant challenge to compilers to automatically privatize dynamic and recursive data structures which appear frequently in real applications written in languages such as C/C++. This is because such languages lack a naming mechanism to define the address range of a pointer-based data structure, in contrast to arrays with explicitly declared bounds. In this paper we present a novel solution to this difficult problem by expanding general data structures such that memory accesses issued from different threads to contentious data structures are directed to different data fields. Based on compile-time type checking and a data dependence graph, this aggressive extension to the traditional scalar and array expansion isolates the address ranges among different threads, without struggling with privatization based on thread-private stacks, such that the targeted loop can be effectively parallelized. With this method fully implemented in GCC, experiments are conducted on a set of programs from well-known benchmark suites such as Mibench, MediaBench II and SPECint. Results show that the new approach can lead to a high speedup when executing the transformed code on multiple cores.
Role of Distributed Bragg Reflection in Photonic-Crystal Optical Waveguides

We show that the properties of the confined modes of a photonic band-gap (PBG) waveguide can be calculated with good accuracy by replacing it with an effective corrugated waveguide that represents only the structure in the vicinity of the middle slab. Such a replacement is helpful in the design of the PBG waveguides as well as in the understanding and analysis of the coupling of different waveguides.
Non-Regge Terms in the Vector-Spinor Theory

The vector-spinor theory is examined to find whether there are any Kronecker-delta terms in the angularmomentum plane or, in other words, to find whether all particles are on Regge trajectories. It had previously been shown in lowest-order perturbation theory that a remarkable cancellation resulted in the vanishing of the Kronecker-delta term from the spinor channel. This conclusion is re-established by general reasoning which is independent of perturbation theory. The channel with the quantum numbers of the vector particle is examined, and here there is no cancellation. The vector particle is not on a Regge trajectory. It is concluded that the absence of Kronecker-delta terms in the $j$ plane may still be used as a criterion for a "bootstrap" system.
Factors that enhance the likelihood of successful stereotactic treatment of brain abscesses

Successful clinical outcomes are not achieved in all patients who undergo image-guided stereotactic surgery as the initial procedure in the management of brain abscess. We sought to define those factors related to management failure, so that the initial surgical approach could be selected using preoperative clinical or imaging criteria. We reviewed our twelve-year experience in 29 consecutive patients. Twenty-two (76%) patients had drainage of abscesses with purulent centers. Seven (24%) underwent lesion biopsy for diagnosis. Twelve patients (with abscesses >3 cm in average diameter) underwent stereotactic insertion of drainage catheters. Ten patients (34%) had adverse risk factors including immunologic suppression after prior organ transplantation, chronic steroid therapy, prior antineoplastic chemotherapy, or retained foreign body. Microbiological identification of the causative organism was obtained in 22 patients; 6 patients had positive Gram stains without growth in culture (bacteriological diagnosis=97%). Long-term clinical evaluation (up to 8.5 years, median 3 years) confirmed disease resolution after initial single-procedure stereotactic management in 21 patients (72%). Eventual abscess resolution occurred in an additional 6 patients (21%), all of whom required multiple procedures. Five patients died of complications of their systemic disease during the follow-up period. Fifteen of the 18 (83%) surviving patients who had no associated risk factors returned to their premorbid functional capacity. Factors associated with initial treatment failure included inadequate aspiration, lack of catheter drainage of larger abscesses, chronic immunosuppression, and insufficient antibiotic therapy.
Scheduling elective surgeries with sequence-dependent setup times to multiple operating rooms using constraint programming

Abstract The problem studied in this paper is to schedule elective surgeries (in contrast to urgent surgeries) to multiple operating rooms (ORs) in ambulatory surgical settings. We focus on three aspects of the daily scheduling decisions, including the number of ORs to open, the allocation of surgery-to-OR, and the sequence of surgeries in each OR. All the surgeries to be scheduled are known in advance, which is a common assumption for elective surgery scheduling problems. The surgeries belong to different types, and each OR can only allow certain types of surgeries to be performed. Before a surgery starts, some setup work needs to be done, such as sterilization and preparing required equipment. The setup times are assumed sequence-dependent, and both setup times and surgery durations are deterministic. The fixed costs of running the ORs are high; while sometimes overtime costs, which are even higher than the fixed costs, may occur when the surgeries cannot be done within the normal operating period of the ORs. We build a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model and a Constraint Programming (CP) model to solve this problem. The performance of these two models is tested on numerical examples, and the results show that the CP model is more efficient than the MINLP model in terms of the computational time and solution quality. We also examine the sensitivity of the solutions to the variation of surgery durations, and the analysis shows that the total costs do not change much when the variations of surgery durations are small.
Glucose balance of porcine liver allograft is an important predictor of outcome.

Background The role of glucose metabolism in predicting postoperative liver graft function after transplantation is unclear. We investigated the relation between intraoperative glucose balance of the liver allograft and the postoperative graft function and survival in a porcine partial liver transplant model. Materials and Methods Experiments follow Guiding Principles in the Care and Use of Animals. Fourteen female pigs received liver allografts of 17%–39% recipient liver volume. Recipients were classified into two groups based on positive glucose balance: the mean intraoperative blood glucose of the graft outflow was greater than the blood glucose of inflow, negative glucose balance: the mean blood glucose of graft outflow was less than blood glucose of inflow. Perioperative data and survival were studied. Results In the positive group (n = 9) intraoperative hepatic artery flow was significantly higher (P = 0.028), and oxygen consumption was lower (P = 0.018) than the negative group (n = 5). Postoperatively, maximal serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.028), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = 0.028), and total bilirubin (P = 0.027) of the positive group were significantly lower than the negative group. In survival analysis, the positive group had significantly better survival rate than the negative group (P = 0.034). Using Periodic acid-Schiff staining, glycogen content of the allograft in the positive group at 10 min post-reperfusion was significantly decreased in comparison with the baseline value in the normal liver (P = 0.005), however not statistically different in the negative group (P = 0.175). Conclusion Intraoperative glucose balance can be used as an early predictor of the graft function following transplantation of partial liver allografts.