cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acaricide residues on citrus foliage and fruits and their biological significance.

The unprecedented increase in the number and variety of pesticides developed during the past two decades has resulted in the availability of at least a dozen acaricides effective in the control of mites injurious to citrus. Although most of these acaricides effectively controlled the citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McG.), the resistance phenomenon together with the stringent requirements imposed by government regulations has virtually eliminated all of these as available effective acaricides for the control of citrus red mite in important citrus growing districts in California. This dearth of effective acaricides has stimulated interest in the development of new acaricides.
PROPERTIES OF CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES

Recent results on clusters are reviewed and discussed in relation to cooling flows. Mergers of subclusters are apparently common in clusters. Such mergers will tend to disrupt cooling flows. I suggest that the recently observed luminous arcs in clusters may be shocks generated by a subcluster merger in a cluster with a cooling flow. The peaked galaxy distributions and radial orbits suggested by recent studies of clusters will lead to a larger number of rapidly moving galaxies passing through the cooling flow region, and this may affect the cooling flow. Recent studies of the mass distributions in clusters suggest that the dark matter is centrally condensed; this may indicate that it is dissipative and baryonic. I suggest that this dark matter and the ultimate reservoir of the cooling gas in cooling flows may both be low mass star or planetary objects. Finally, I discuss various ways in which the cooling flow environment, which appears to be ubiquitous in the early-type galactic systems which form the hosts for strong radio sources, may affect the origin and structure of the radio emitting regions.
Glycogen Metabolism and Lafora Disease

Lafora disease is a juvenile-onset, fatal epilepsy that is characterized by the formation of Lafora bodies in many tissues, including skeletal muscle, heart, and neurons. Lafora bodies are insoluble deposits that contain polyglucosan, a poorly branched form of glycogen, and associated proteins. Evidence is mounting that Lafora bodies either cause or contribute to the pathology of the disease. It is a genetic disease caused by mutation in one of two genes, EPM2A and EPM2B, which encode, respectively, a phosphatase called laforin and an E3 ubiquitin ligase called malin. Laforin is a phosphatase of the atypical dual specificity phosphatase subfamily that, in vitro and in vivo, removes phosphate monoesters from glycogen. Normal glycogen contains trace amounts of phosphate introduced as a minor side reaction by the synthetic enzyme, glycogen synthase. In laforin knockout mice, glycogen becomes hyperphosphorylated and, as the mice age, acquires structural abnormalities and the tendency to come out of solution, consistent with Lafora body formation. Mutation of malin or laforin results in similar symptoms in patients and malin and laforin knockout mice exhibit phenotypic similarity in terms of neurological defects and abnormal glycogen metabolism, including hyperphosphorylation and Lafora body formation.
Managing Common Nutrition Problems After Bariatric Surgery

Managing common nutrition problems after bariatric surgery requires clear understanding of the anatomical changes that occur with each type of bariatric surgery, the nutritional implications of these changes after surgery, when to expect these complications to arise, and how to address them. The chapter describes the types of bariatric surgery, changes that may contribute to nutrition problems after surgery, and, finally, how to recognize and treat potential nutrition issues that arise after the surgery.
Play signals, play moves: a gorilla critique of play theory*

Play dates over a three-year study of two bachelor western lowland gorillas at the Philadelphia Zoo offer a critique of the idea of play as essentially a voluntary activity. Through video microanal...
Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the endometrium with metastasis to the clitoral glans after pelvic exenteration for radiation resistant vaginal cuff recurrence.

Abstract Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the endometrium (MACE) is a rare subtype of endometrial adenocarcinoma that often presents a significant diagnostic challenge due to its variation from the conventional morphologic appearance of endometrioid epithelium. This case report is of a woman who has survived 4 years after pelvic exenteration and subsequent vulvectomy for recurrent MACE.
The Development of Chronic Critical Illness Determines Physical Function, Quality of Life, and Long-Term Survival Among Early Survivors of Sepsis in Surgical ICUs*

Objectives:This study sought to examine mortality, health-related quality of life, and physical function among sepsis survivors who developed chronic critical illness.Design:Single-institution, prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study assessing 12-month outcomes.Setting:Two surgical/tra
Menu Descriptions and Nutrient Content of Food Items in U.S. Restaurants (FS02-01-19)

Objectives This study concerns how the description of foods on restaurant menus relates to their nutrient content as disclosed on company websites. We aimed to test halo effects, regarding how claims about some desirable features might be associated with the presence of other attributes.
Amitosis confers benefits of sex in the absence of sex to Tetrahymena

Sex appears to be the most successful reproductive strategy in eukaryotes despite its many costs1–3. While a complete explanation for sex’s success remains elusive, several evolutionary benefits of sex have been identified4, 5, such as, the purging of deleterious mutations6, 7, the accumulation of beneficial mutations8, 9, and an advantage in biotic interactions3, 10, 11. It is predicted that, by forgoing these benefits, asexual lineages are evolutionary dead-ends2, 12 due to genetic deterioration and/or an inability to adapt to environmental changes. Consistent with this prediction, many asexual lineages show signs of accelerated accumulation of deleterious mutations compared to their sexual relatives13–18. Despite these low expectations, some asexual eukaryotic lineages appear to be successful, including the ciliate Tetrahymena19. Here, we show that the mechanism of somatic nuclear division in Tetrahymena, termed amitosis, provides benefits similar to sex, allowing for the long-term success of asexual lineages. We found that, when compared to mitosis, amitosis with chromosome copy number control reduces mutation load deterministically, slows the accumulation of deleterious mutations under genetic drift, and accelerates adaptation. These benefits arise because, like sex, amitosis can generate substantial genetic variation in fitness among (asexual) progeny. Our results indicate that the ability of Tetrahymena to persist in the absence of sex may depend on non-sexual genetic mechanisms conferring benefits typically provided by sex, as has been found in other asexual lineages20–23.
Open Repair of Giant Recurrent Popliteal Aneurysm

Large popliteal aneurysm was resected in a patient with a previous popliteal aneurysm repair with bypass. Non-reversed greater saphenous vein was used as an arterial conduit from mid-superficial artery to the remotely placed vein bypass graft.
Hyperthyroidism Symptoms, Management, and Outcomes in Children and Adults Seeking Definitive Surgical Treatment.

Objective To identify the difference in presentation, time to treatment, and outcomes between hyperthyroid adults and children referred to surgical evaluation. Background There is little data on differences in presenting symptoms, time to treatment, and outcomes between adults and children presenting for thyroidectomy for Graves' disease. Methods We retrospectively reviewed records of patients with hyperthyroidism referred for thyroidectomy between January 2016 and April 2017. We divided our cohort into 2 groups based on age, children (age ≤18 years), and adults (age >18), and evaluated the difference in prevalence of symptoms, time from diagnosis, and initiation of antithyroid medications to surgery, and outcomes. Results We identified 38 patients (27 adults and 11 children) with data on hyperthyroidism symptoms referred for thyroidectomy. Relative to hyperthyroid adults, children with hyperthyroidism were more likely to present with hoarseness (55% vs 15%, P = 0.01) and difficulty concentrating (45% vs 7%, P = 0.01) at initial presentation. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence of vision changes, exophthalmos, pretibial myxedema, palpitations, fatigue, temperature intolerance, dysphagia, tremors, or constitutional symptoms. A median of 15 months elapsed from diagnosis to thyroidectomy among adult and 6 months among pediatric patients. Adult and pediatric patients waited a median of 13 and 6 months from initiation of antithyroid medications to thyroidectomy, respectively. There was no significant difference in outcomes. Conclusions Children with hyperthyroidism were more likely to present with hoarseness and difficulty concentrating than adults. Concentration and communication are critical skills in developing children, and early intervention with definitive therapy may improve such symptoms.
Walking through the forests of the future: using data-driven virtual reality to visualize forests under climate change

Communicating and understanding climate induced environmental changes can be challenging, especially using traditional representations such as graphs, maps or photos. Immersive visualizations and e...
VLSI placement parameter optimization using deep reinforcement learning

The quality of placement is essential in the physical design flow. To achieve PPA goals, a human engineer typically spends a considerable amount of time tuning the multiple settings of a commercial placer (e.g. maximum density, congestion effort, etc.). This paper proposes a deep reinforcement learning (RL) framework to optimize the placement parameters of a commercial EDA tool. We build an autonomous agent that learns to tune parameters optimally without human intervention and domain knowledge, trained solely by RL from self-search. To generalize to unseen netlists, we use a mixture of handcrafted features from graph topology theory along with graph embeddings generated using unsupervised Graph Neural Networks. Our RL algorithms are chosen to overcome the sparsity of data and latency of placement runs. Our trained RL agent achieves up to 11% and 2.5% wirelength improvements on unseen netlists compared with a human engineer and a state-of-the-art tool auto-tuner, in just one placement iteration (20× and 50× less iterations).
The short QT syndrome

Abnormalities in myocyte repolarization have been implicated for more than a half century in syndromes of unstable atrial and ventricular rhythms. Among the most well described and common of these abnormalities are those associated with the long QT syndrome (LQTS). Long QT syndrome, which has both genetic and acquired etiologies, is manifested by prolonged myocyte repolarization, which increases the risk of unstable arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) induced by ventricular early after depolarizations. In 2000, Gussak et al. described a newly identified and very rare arrhythmogenic repolarization abnormality, characterized, conversely to the LQTS, by decreased time of repolarization and a shortened refractory period during the cardiac cycle. Given that the salient electrocardiographic feature of this abnormality is the short measured QT interval, the syndrome was named short QT syndrome (SQTS). Though initially associated with atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF) and palpitations, by 2004, SQTS was demonstrated to be associated with ventricular arrhythmias, including polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Clinical consequences of SQTS include syncope, cardiac arrest, and SCD, in addition to the propensity to develop AF [1]. In recent years, emerging research into SQTS has led to new insights into the prevalence, genetic causes, and biophysical properties of the syndrome. This article will review both the historical features and recent insights into this syndrome.
143 Incidence of soft tissue injury and hours of daily paddock turnout in non-elite performance horses

Soft tissue injury, to any tendon or ligament, accounts for 13–18% of horses that require rest and time off and is responsible for 33% of training losses and wastage in sport horses of all disciplines. Among others, 2 contributing factors to soft tissue injury in horses are an increase in acute workload and fitness level. It has been suggested that baseline fitness is inversely related to soft tissue injury and that pasture turnout can help maintain fitness in the horse. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between paddock turnout hours and incidence of soft tissue injury in non-elite performance horses. This retrospective cohort study examined 146 riding horses with a median age of 17 years that were housed at the Centenary University Equestrian Center from 2014 to 2020. All soft tissue injuries were diagnosed by the resident veterinarian, confirmed by ultrasound (91.5%), MRI (1.7%), or as a diagnosis of elimination (6.8%). A comparison was made between the incidence of soft tissue injury in 2 groups of horses, one that consistently received more than 12 consecutive hours of turnout per 24-h period and the other that was turned out less than 12 h per 24-h period. Soft tissue injuries were only included after a horse had adjusted to any new turnout schedule or group for 30 d. The chi-squared test of homogeneity of proportions was used to compare the proportion of soft tissue injuries for the 2 groups of horses. Forty-five (50.6%) of the 89 horses that were turned out for less than 12 h experienced a soft tissue injury as compared with 14 (24.6%) of the 57 horses that were turned out for 12 or more hours. At the 0.05 significance level, the difference in these proportions, 0.26, was statistically significant (χ2(1) = 9.755, P = 0.002). This suggests that there is an inverse relationship between the length of paddock turnout and the risk of soft tissue injury in nonelite horses.
Chemoselective and Site-Selective Reductions Catalyzed by a Supramolecular Host and a Pyridine-Borane Cofactor.

Supramolecular catalysts emulate the mechanism of enzymes to achieve large rate accelerations and precise selectivity under mild and aqueous conditions. While significant strides have been made in the supramolecular host-promoted synthesis of small molecules, applications of this reactivity to chemoselective and site-selective modification of complex biomolecules remain virtually unexplored. We report here a supramolecular system where coencapsulation of pyridine-borane with a variety of molecules including enones, ketones, aldehydes, oximes, hydrazones, and imines effects efficient reductions under basic aqueous conditions. Upon subjecting unprotected lysine to the host-mediated reductive amination conditions, we observed excellent e-selectivity, indicating that differential guest binding within the same molecule is possible without sacrificing reactivity. Inspired by the post-translational modification of complex biomolecules by enzymatic systems, we then applied this supramolecular reaction to the site-selective labeling of a single lysine residue in an 11-amino acid peptide chain and human insulin.
Exercise 12: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)

Complex mixtures of proteins (heterogeneous population of proteins) can be separated and analyzed by a variety of methods. Individual proteins can then be purified or identified by specific antibodies. Electrophoresis is a routine procedure used for separating and analyzing complex mixtures of proteins in the laboratory. A semi-solid gel matrix consisting of either starch, agarose (polysaccharide) or polyacrylamide is used for separation. One of the most commonly used electrophoretic techniques is sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Acrylamide is a water soluble polymer that is used to prepare gels by polymerization with bis-acrylamide (N1,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide) in the presence of catalysts, TEMED (tetramethylethylenediamine) and ammonium persulfate. The resulting crosslinked gel polymer consists of a porous meshwork through which proteins of different molecular weights can migrate according to their size. The porosity i.e. the size of the meshwork in the matrix, depends on the concentration of acrylamide in the mixture. Polyacrylamide gels are electrophoresed vertically and are routinely poured or cast in between two glass plates and placed in gel chambers containing the appropriate buffers for electrophoresis. Depression wells are created at the top of the gel for sample loading. SDS-PAGE gels can be prepared from scratch or purchased as pre-made or pre-cast gels.
Matching thermal to visible face images using hidden factor analysis in a cascaded subspace learning framework

Cascaded subspace learning scheme is used for matching visible against thermal faces.Whitening transform, factor analysis and common discriminant analysis are employed.Cross-database evaluation is adopted to convey the effectiveness of the approach. Matching thermal (THM) face images against visible (VIS) face images poses a significant challenge to automated face recognition systems. In this work, we introduce a Heterogeneous Face Recognition (HFR) matching framework, which uses multiple sets of subspaces generated by sampling patches from VIS and THM face images and subjecting them to a sequence of transformations. In the training phase of the proposed scheme, face images from VIS and THM are subjected to three different filters separately and then tessellated into patches. Each patch is represented by either a Pyramid Scale Invariant Feature Transform (PSIFT) or Histograms of Principal Oriented Gradients (HPOG). Then, a cascaded subspace learning process consisting of whitening transformation, factor analysis, and common discriminant analysis is used to construct multiple common subspaces between VIS and THM facial images. During the testing phase, the projected feature vectors from individual subspaces are concatenated to form a final feature vector. Nearest Neighbor (NN) classifier is used to compare feature vectors and the resulting scores corresponding to three filtered images are combined via the sum-rule. The proposed face matching algorithm is evaluated on two multispectral face datasets and is shown to achieve very promising results.
Acute Congestive Heart Failure: Pharmacologic Intervention

Acute CHF is a highly unstable condition that requires immediate pharmacologic intervention. Mechanisms that are normally used to control the release of neurohormones are impaired in CHF. Therapeutic interventions produce hemodynamic and clinical benefits in part by restoring a balance of the neurohormonal system. This balance is achieved by interfering with actions of vasoconstriction and potentiating the effects of vasodilation and contractility. To maintain an optimal healing atmosphere, the patient's individualized needs for social support and spiritual beliefs must be considered. How the patient perceives his or her illness may also impact patient hemodynamics and outcomes.
A FUTURE-ORIENTED ZEITRECHNUNG: NARRATING POST-COMMUNIST TEMPORALITY AND SUBJECTIVITY IN ZSUZSA BÁNK'S DER SCHWIMMER (2002)

Taking its cue from debates about post-communism in German-language literature after ‘the Eastern European turn’, this article analyses temporality and subjectivity in Zsuzsa Bank's novel Der Schwimmer (2002). Although some scholars claim the fall of European communist dictatorships at the end of the twentieth century marks the end of history and Utopia, others continue to debate the status of utopian thought, communist history, and future orientations in aesthetic productions concerned with subjective experience in formerly communist states. Drawing on narratology and Agnes Heller's theory of history, I argue that Bank's novel rewrites Cold-War history by using specific narratological forms to establish newly ethical chronologies. As the homodiegetic narrator of the novel positions herself in her family history and a Communist Hungary of the 1950s and 60s that bears only faint traces of major historical events (the Hungarian Revolution, the erection of the Berlin Wall, the Prague Spring), narrative focalisation and duration lend narrative significance to ‘non-canonical events’ that structure the story. Although the post-communist world is deemed by some to be devoid of collective experience, these narrative structures facilitate a future-oriented reconstruction of history in which utopia becomes the capacity to imagine alternative subjectivities and social temporalities. Ausgehend von aktuellen Debatten uber den Postkommunismus in der deutschsprachigen Literatur nach der ‘osteuropaischen Wende’, analysiert dieser Artikel Zeitlichkeit und Subjektivitat in Zsuzsa Banks Der Schwimmer (2002). Obwohl der Untergang kommunistischer Diktaturen am Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts als Ende der Geschichte oder der Utopie bezeichnet worden ist, wird die Darstellung von utopischen oder zukunftsorientierten Denkweisen und kommunistischer Geschichte in asthetischen Werken, die subjektive Erfahrung in ehemals kommunistischen Landern behandeln, noch erortert. Anhand (post-)klassischer narratologischer Begriffe und Agnes Hellers Geschichtstheorie zeige ich, wie Bank die Geschichte des kalten Krieges durch spezifische narratologische Formen umschreibt und dadurch eine erneute ethische Zeitrechnung schafft. Wahrend die homodiegetische Erzahlerin des Romans sich in ihrer Familiengeschichte und in einem kommunistischen Ungarn positioniert, das nur geringe Spuren wichtiger Ereignisse der 50er und 60er Jahre aufweist (die Ungarische Revolution, der Prager Fruhling, der Mauerbau), lassen die narratologische Fokalisierung und Dauer den ‘non-canonical events’ (Herman), die die Erzahlung strukturieren, eine besondere Bedeutung zukommen. Obwohl 1989 eine postkommunistische Welt ohne kollektive Erfahrung bezeichnen sollte, ermoglichen diese Erzahlstrukturen eine zukunftsorientierte Rekonstruktion der Geschichte, in der Utopie als die Fahigkeit verstanden wird, alternative Formen von Subjektivitat und sozialer Zeitlichkeit imaginieren zu konnen.
Efficient single photon generation using a fiber-integrated diamond micro-waveguide

We demonstrate the efficient coupling of a diamond micro-waveguide containing a single nitrogen-vacancy center to a single mode optical fiber. Strong photon anti-bunching is observed with a raw single-photon count rate exceeding 712,000 Hz.
An Explained Variation Measure for Ordinal Response Models With Comparisons to Other Ordinal R² Measures

No explained variation (R2) measure for ordinal response models enjoys wide use, and such measures have in fact received little specific attention or evaluation. To remedy this gap, the author presents and justifies R2O, an explained variation measure for ordinal response models, which is based on a recent ordinal dispersion measure. The use and function of R2O is illustrated, and the performance of it and other ordinal R2 measures is compared via a series of simulated sampling and variable selection experiments. The R2O and a bias-adjusted version of it perform well in the simulation experiments and have a number of other advantages that make them attractive as measures of fit for any ordinal response model.
To Upgrade a Telescope

The effectiveness of existing telescopes can often be greatly enhanced through upgrading. Two important questions which should be answered in the planning stage are discussed, based on recent experience in upgrading two Lowell Observatory telescopes.
The Supervision Approach of Insoo Kim Berg, MSSW

Insoo Kim Berg, MSSW (1934–2007) embodied the solution-focused (SF) approach. Her book with Peter De Jong (De Jong and Berg 2012) is one of the top-selling texts dedicated to solution-focused work, and few have traveled the globe providing training in this approach as much as she did over a nearly 30-year span. Videos of Insoo’s therapy with individuals, couples, and families continue to provide illustration and inspiration for the current and future generations of mental health professionals, supervisors, business professionals, and educators.
Amorphous Phase Formation and Recrystallization in Ion-Implanted Silicides

Ion implantation induced phase transformations and recrystallization during post-annealing in CoSi2, CrSi2, and Pd2Si are studied. All three silicides are found to reorder at about 1/3 the melting point of the silicide. We speculate that ion-implanted silicides recrystallize by the same mechanism and that amorphous phases produced by implantation are unstable rather than metastable.
Beyond the Binary: Rethinking the Social Model of Disabled Sexuality

While the social model of disabled sexuality offers a fundamental and vitally important critique of ableist assumptions concerning disabled people’s sexuality, it remains limited. This article offers a brief history and critical overview of the most recent scholarship emerging out of the social model of disabled sexuality; argues that the new scholarship, which is meant largely to challenge dominant ableist assumptions concerning disabled people’s sexuality, actually serves to reinforce the heterosexual matrix; and provides both theoretical and practical means of transforming the future landscape of (dis/abled) human sexualities.
Absorption difference spectroscopy of chlorophyll a in ethanol solution.

Abstract Absorption difference spectra between highly concentrated and dilute solutions of chlorophyll a have been measured in ethanol, maintaining the product of concentration and path length constant. A log-log plot of dimer versus monomer concentration, derived from the data, was linear with a slope of 2.0, which is consistent with the interpretation that dimers are present in this solvent. The absorption spectrum of the dimer in ethanol was calculated, and a value of 4.5 ± 0.8 M −1 was obtained for the equilibrium constant for dimerization.
Dioxin toxicology and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor: insights from fish and other non-traditional models.

Fish are established models in biology. Recent findings suggest that fish and other nontraditional species also may serve as valuable model systems for understanding receptor-dependent signaling pathways and their interactions with environmental chemicals. Because they are highly sensitive to chlorinated dioxins and related halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, fish are being used to elucidate the role of chemical signaling pathways in the developmental and molecular toxicology of dioxin-like compounds. Much of this work is focused on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated, bHLH-PAS transcription factor through which dioxins cause altered gene expression and toxicity. In contrast to mammals, which appear to express a single dioxin-binding AHR, many fish species possess at least two AHR genes. Studies of these two fish AHRs may help to reveal the multiple functions of the single mammalian ``AHR,'' its physiological ligand, and the molecular mechanisms involved in differential sensitivity to dioxin-like compounds. In addition, fish have great potential as models for understanding the in vivo functions and interactions of bHLH-PAS proteins, the evolutionary history of their diversification in vertebrates, and their role in human physiology and disease.
Cloning and Characterization of shk2, a Gene Encoding a Novel p21-activated Protein Kinase from Fission Yeast

We describe the characterization of a novel gene, shk2, encoding a second p21(cdc42/rac)-activated protein kinase (PAK) homolog in fission yeast. Like other known PAKs, Shk2 binds to Cdc42 in vivo and in vitro. While overexpression of either shk2 or cdc42 alone does not impair growth of wild type fission yeast cells, cooverexpression of the two genes is toxic and leads to highly aberrant cell morphology, providing evidence for functional interaction between Cdc42 and Shk2 proteins in vivo. Fission yeast shk2 null mutants are viable and exhibit no obvious phenotypic defects. Overexpression of shk2 restores viability and normal morphology but not full mating competence to fission yeast cells carrying a shk1 null mutation. Additional genetic data suggest that Shk2, like Cdc42 and Shk1, participates in Ras-dependent morphological control and mating response pathways in fission yeast. We also show that overexpression of byr2, a gene encoding a Ste11/MAPK kinase kinase homolog, suppresses the mating defect of cells partially defective for Shk1 function, providing evidence of a link between PAKs and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in fission yeast. Taken together, our results suggest that Shk2 is partially overlapping in function with Shk1, with Shk1 being the dominant protein in function.
On the application of perturbation to free-boundary problems in radial systems

A first-order perturbation solution is obtained to a circular free-boundary problem associated with phase transformation. The solution describes the growth and decay of a solid layer during thermal interaction with a non-melting cylinder at sub-freezing temperature. The cylinder, which is initially at T0, is suddenly immersed in an infinite bath of liquid at temperature Ti with a freezing temperature Tf. The perturbation solution is compared with experimental data.
Lack of dependence of amine or prostaglandin biosynthesis on absolute cerebral level of pteridine cofactor

Abstract Using 2-amino-6-(5'-2'-deoxyphosphoribosyl)-amino-5- or -6-formamido-6-hydroxypyrimidine (dFPyd-P3), a specific inhibitor of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) synthesis, cerebral pools of BH4 were reduced to half of that of controls; while, simultaneously, the biosynthesis de novo of L-erythrodihydroniopterin (BH2) from GTP was inhibited by about 98%. Nevertheless, there was no effect on the cerebral levels of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine or on the biosynthesis of prostaglandin E2 or F1. The data are presented in evidence that the absolute level of the cofactor (BH4) is not regulatory of amine or protaglandin biosynthesis in vivo . Amine and prostaglandin biosynthesis proceeded even at cofactor concentrations of 9×107 M nsuggesting that their biosynthesis is dependent on the rate of H+ + e shuttle between BH2 and BH4.
Attendance and promotions in minor league baseball: the Carolina League

This empirical study investigates determinants of attendance at minor league baseball games in the Carolina League in 2006. The focus of the analysis is on the effect of a wide variety of game-day promotions on attendance on a game-by-game basis, rather than aggregate attendance during the season. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) results imply that attendance is positively a function of per capita income in the city or county hosting the team, runs scored by the home team, Friday and Saturday games, and promotions that provide cost-reduced food or beverages, low- and high-value merchandise and post-game fireworks. Attendance is negatively a function of home team errors, Monday games and possibly rainy conditions during the game. An unusual finding with respect to minor league baseball is that team performance variables affect attendance. However, home team runs scored and home team errors contribute to the overall entertainment experience for the home team fans, and thus yield plausible effects on attendance.
Exchange reactions of diazirines: 3-X-3-methyldiazirines and derived carbenes

Abstract 3-Bromo-3-methyldiazirine readily undergoes exchange reactions with F − , MeO − , CN − , or N 3 − . New carbene precursors can thus be prepared.
Relative canine size

It is argued that neither canine nor molar size can be scaled to body size in fossil hominids without using a model drived drom living hominoids. No appropriate or applicable models have been developed. When the allometric relation of canine size to molar size is considered, it is shown that living hominoids as well as fossil hominids with larger molars tend to have relatively smaller canines. This relationship has no bearing on taxonomic considerations except insofar as it indicates that relatively smaller canines can be expected in individuals or groups with larger molars.
Cell transfer of delayed hypersensitivity to ragweed from atopic subjects treated with emulsified ragweed extracts

Abstract 1.1. Four of 10 spontaneously ragweed-sensitive subjects who received an injection of emulsified ragweed extract and who failed to show delayed skin reactivity were capable of transferring delayed reactivity by their peripheral blood leukocytes. 2.2. Twenty ragweed-sensitive subjects, 6 of whom had never been treated and 14 who had had long-term conventional treatment with aqueous ragweed, failed to show a cellular transfer. 3.3. Nonspecific inflammation from a wheal and erythema reaction due to Compound 4880 or an unrelated immediate antigen-antibody reaction resulted in only moderate diminution in the delayed response to a delayed reacting antigen. 4.4. Skin tests in nonatopic persons possessing delayed skin reactivity to ragweed, who were passively sensitized with ragweed reaginic serum and subsequently injected with ragweed antigen, failed completely to give a delayed reaction. 5.5. Although the findings suggest a mechanism of consumption or modification of the antigen by the immediate antigen-antibody reaction, thus removing its availability for the production of a delayed reaction, other observations suggest that such a mechanism may not be present under all circumstances.
Theoretical study of nuclear spin polarization and depolarization in self-assembled quantum dots

We investigate how the strain-induced nuclear quadrupole interaction influences the degree of nuclear spin polarization driven by optical pumping in self-assembled quantum dots. Our calculation shows that the achievable nuclear spin polarization in ${\text{In}}_{x}{\text{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\text{As}$ quantum dots is related to the concentration of indium and the resulting strain distribution in the dots. The interplay between the nuclear quadrupole interaction and Zeeman splitting leads to interesting features in the magnetic field dependence of the nuclear spin polarization. Our results are in qualitative agreement with measured nuclear spin polarization by various experimental groups.
Physical Sciences: Cracking of Lunar Mare Soil

THE tendency of lunar soil to break into clods when disturbed was recognized from Surveyor 1 photographs1,2. Pictures of disturbances produced in bearing tests with the Surveyor 3 soil mechanics surface sampler3 suggested to some observers that the soil layer in Oceanus Procellarum tends to crack into thin flat “tiles” (Figs, 1a and 2a) and, therefore, that it consists of a thin, rather rigid crust over a softer substrate. Pictures of areas disturbed by the Apollo 11 closeup camera in Mare Tranquillitatis (Fig. 3a) and by the Apollo 12 lunar module descent engine in Oceanus Procellarum conveyed a similar impression4,5. None of the authors of these works were misled, and, indeed, they warned against this interpretation3–5. Nevertheless, photographs made by the Apollo 12 astronauts of the areas disturbed by Surveyor 3 help to clarify the matter.
Designing for self-configuration and self-adaptation in the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm comprises a heterogenous mix of connected devices connected to the Internet. This promises a a wealth of opportunity for a large collection of distributed applications and services. However, the IoT introduces significant changes to the Internet model, largely in the form of billions to trillions of embedded devices that most likely will not be able to be managed centrally by cloud services due to lack of scalability. We suggest that the natural direction for IoT devices is to manage themselves, both in terms of their software/hardware configuration and their resource utilization. In this work, we describe the underlying framework for self-managing devices, comprising measurement-based learning and adaptation to changing system context and application demands. In addition, we describe several upcoming research challenges in order to realize this self-management vision.
QoS routing across multiple autonomous systems using the path computation element architecture

We examine various algorithms for calculating quality of service (QoS)-enabled paths spanning multiple autonomous systems (ASs) using the path computation element (PCE) architecture. The problem is divided into two parts. We first calculate an AS path, then the node-by-node path. Using extensive simulation, we compared various AS-path calculation algorithms based on border gateway protocol (BGP) and various AS-aggregation procedures, such as mesh, star and nodal aggregation. For node-to-node path calculation, we employed the per-domain backward algorithm and the per-domain backward tree algorithm (also known as backward recursive PCE-based computation). Results point to the fact that complex AS-path calculation algorithms do not perform significantly better than BGP. However, if the service quality provided by ASs varies greatly, either in time or space, then we expect a QoS-aware AS-path computation algorithm, e.g., static nodal aggregation, to outperform BGP. Although the per-domain backward tree algorithm generally performs better than the per-domain backward algorithm, using a persistent variant of the latter makes it outperform the per-domain backward tree algorithm. The cost is a negligible increase in computational complexity and a slightly increased connection setup delay.
Magnetic resonance imaging in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Objectives: This study was undertaken to examine the role of magneticresonance imaging (MRI) in the management of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Methods: A Medline search was performed to identify all publications pertainingto MRI in JRA. Further searches and identification of articles from bibliographies identified articles pertaining to plain radiograph imaging in JRA and MRI in adult rheumatoid arthritis. Results: Studies in both children and adults have shown superiority of MRI toplain radiography in detecting synovial hypertrophy and articular cartilage abnormalities. Several studies in adults have shown a good correlation of MR images with gross anatomic as well as histological findings at arthroscopy. Biochemical changes that occur before structural changes within the joint may even be detectable with magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Conclusions: MRI holds promise for the assessment of disease progression inJRA and may be useful in serial evaluation, as in clinical trials.
Dynamic Surface Tension Measurement with a Dynamic Wilhelmy Plate Technique

Abstract An experimental method called dynamic Wilhelmy plate technique (DWPT) for studying dynamic surface tension was designed in this study. A diffusion-controlled model corresponding to the initial and boundary conditions of this method was proposed. Dynamic surface tension of Triton X-100 and SDS was measured with this technique and analyzed with the proposed model. The calculated diffusion coefficients for the short- and long-time approximations are 3.7 × 10−6 and 0.97 × 10−6 cm2/s for Triton X-100 and 4.6 × 10−6 and 0.79 × 10−6 cm2/s for SDS, respectively. The predicted dynamic surface tension with these diffusion coefficients for the simultaneously generated aqueous/air interfaces is in good agreement with the drop mass technique. Another diffusion controlled model that considers the energy barrier at the aqueous/air interface was also proposed in this study. The calculated energy barriers are in the range of 4.1–5.7 RT for Triton X-100 and 6.5–8.0 RT for SDS.
The effect of anterior chordal replacement on mitral valve function and stresses. A finite element study

During the past 10 years chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) suture has become an acceptable mitral valve repair technique. Unfortunately, its effect on the mechanical function of the valve is unclear. The purpose of this study was to test whether replacement of ruptured anterior leaflet chordae with ePTFE suture restores mitral valve function and stresses to normal ranges. To answer this question, the authors' existing finite element model of the mitral valve was modified to simulate six different valve conditions: 1) normal, 2) rupture of anterior chordae, 3) replacement using two 4-0 ePTFE sutures, 4) replacement using four 4-0 ePTFE sutures, 5) replacement using two 5-0 ePTFE sutures, and 6) replacement using four 5-0 ePTFE sutures. Physiologic pressures representing ventricular systole from the onset of isovolumic contraction to peak left ventricular pressure were applied to each model. It was found that after rupture, coaptation was impaired and stresses increased dramatically in chordae adjacent to the rupture site. Replacement with two ePTFE sutures restored proper coaptation and lowered stresses to near normal. Using four sutures also restored coaptation and lowered stresses even further. There was minimal difference between 4-0 and 5-0 suture. In conclusion, the replacement of ruptured anterior leaflet chordae with ePTFE suture restores both mitral valve function and stresses to normal ranges.
Primary aldosteronism: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Recent evaluations indicate that primary aldosteronism (PA) is common in patients with hypertension. In patients with mild to moderate hypertension the prevalence of PA is 5% to 10%, whereas in subjects with resistant hypertension the prevalence is approximately 20%. As such, PA has become the most common secondary cause of hypertension. Such high prevalence rates are distinctly different from earlier assessments in which PA was found to be rare, with a prevalence of generally less than 1% of hypertensive patients. Why PA is seemingly so much more common now than when first described remains unknown. Accurate identification of PA allows for specific therapy with aldosterone antagonists or with surgical resection of aldosteroneproducing adenomas. Determination of the plasma aldosterone to plasma renin activity ratio is an effective screen for PA in that it has a high negative predictive value even in the setting of ongoing antihypertensive therapy. Its specificity, however, is low such that a high ratio is suggestive of PA but must be confirmed by demonstration of high and autonomous secretion of aldosterone.
Electrodeposition of high-surface area platinum in a well adherent nafion film on glassy carbon

Abstract Platinum was electrochemically deposited within a Nafion film coated on glassy carbon (GC) to form a well adherent and high-platinum utilization electrode. Two potential-control procedures were evaluated to form a deposit: a cyclic potential scan and a constant potential, with Pt loadings ranging for each from 60–750 μg Pt cm −2 GC obtained by varying the coulombs discharged. The Pt/Nafion/GC electrodes were annealed at 170 °C before use. Transmission electron microscopy studies revealed that Pt grows as a dispersed, three-dimensional deposit within the film for both techniques. The average particle size for a loading of 60 μg cm −2 is 7.3 nm, which is in good agreement with that (7.1 nm) estimated from electrochemical formation of adsorbed hydrogen. With a Pt loading an order-of-magnitude greater, the particle number density increased, and the observed average particle is larger at 9.8 nm which is smaller than that (19.0 nm) evaluated from electrochemical hydrogen adsorption. The deposit thickness increased with loading and, for a given Pt loading, was less thick when using the steady-potential method; the latter technique, however, yielded a deposit which covered more of the GC-Nafion interface. The mass specific surface area of Pt decreased with loading and ranged from 32-8 m 2 g −1 as the loading varied from 60–640 μg cm −2 . The Pt/Nafion/GC structure is robust in that the electrode can be used to evolve hydrogen or oxygen without damaging the film. In contrast, a Nafion film on smooth Pt is lifted off the surface under similar gas-evolution conditions.
A Cumulus Parameterization Including Mass Fluxes, Vertical Momentum Dynamics, and Mesoscale Effects

Abstract A formulation for parameterizing cumulus convection, which treats cumulus vertical momentum dynamics and mass fluxes consistently, is presented. This approach predicts the penetrative extent of cumulus updrafts on the basis of their vertical momentum and provides a basis for treating cumulus microphysics using formulations that depend on vertical velocity. Treatments for cumulus microphysics are essential if the water budgets of convective systems are to be evaluated for treating mesoscale stratiform processes associated with convection, which are important for radiative interactions influencing climate. The water budget (both condensed and vapor) of the cumulus updrafts is used to drive a semi-empirical parameterization for the large-scale effects of the mesoscale circulations associated with deep convection. The parameterization for mesoscale effects invokes mesoscale ascent to redistribute vertically water detrained at the tops of the cumulus updrafts. The local cooling associated with this me...
Methodological Challenges in Observational Research: A Pharmacoepidemiological Perspective

Pharm acoepidemiology is the science of studying the effects of utilizing pharmaceutical and biological products in the population, and in most cases this science is conducted in observational epidemiological designs, including retrospective database analysis. Observational pharmacoepidemiology is associated with a myriad of methodological challenges that affect study conclusions and related causal inferences. However, if these challenges are addressed and effectively dealt with, observational studies can have important and impactful clinical, regulatory, and public health outcomes. This article examines common challenges in retrospective database analysis and serves as an introductory text to important methodological concepts in research involving medication use, including confounding by indication, time -dependent confounding, informative censoring, depletion of susceptibles, and immortal time bias .