cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of complement sensitivity in Escherichia coli by citric acid and low pH.

Aims: The lytic functions of the complement system play an important role in the control of Gram-negative infections. Complement-resistant Escherichia coli LP1395 (O18) grown under normal conditions can survive the bactericidal action of complement present in human serum. Towards elucidating the mechanisms of complement resistance, the resistance of E. coli LP1395 grown under conditions of low pH and in the presence of citric acid was tested. Methods and Results: E. coli LP1395 becomes sensitive to complement after growth in the presence of citric acid at pH 5. Complement resistance could be restored when the cells were transferred to pH 7 media. However, this recovery was greatly impaired when the cells were transferred to pH 7 media with chloramphenicol. This implies that protein synthesis may be involved in complement resistance. The cells exposed to citric acid at pH 5 showed no indication of a generalized outer membrane (OM) permeability when compared with those grown under normal conditions in terms of sensitivity to lysozyme, uptake of lipophilic dye, or sensitivity to a number of antibiotics. Conclusions: Complement-resistant LP1395 may acquire a sensitivity to complement due not to a generalized disruption of the OM barrier, but possibly to the alteration of the activity of one or more normal complement resistance factors. Significance and Impact of the Study: The elucidation of the echanisms of complement resistance of Gram-negative pathogens would bring important information about bacterial infections. Complement resistance factors could also be potential targets in antimicrobial therapies.
Mechanical design methodology: implications on future developments of computer-aided design and knowledge-based systems

The Current Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS, expert systems) tools are changing mechanical engineering design. Future development and integration of these technologies is dependent on an understanding of the methodology of the mechanical design process, an area of little study and one that is poorly understood. This paper reports on the progress of an effort to understand how practicing engineers perform design. The approach is to record engineers' verbalization of their solution of carefully constructed design problems. The recordings are reduced to determine the intellectual tasks and problem-solving methods used. The results will determine what needed capabilities future intelligent CAD systems will need to aid design engineers.
Reactions of the η2- and η4-isomers of Cp*Ir(2,5-dimethylthiophene) with phosphines, CO and H2

Abstract The iridathiabenzene complex, Cp*Ir(η2-2,5-Me2T) (2), which may be formulated with a 16e− iridium centre, reacts with 2e− donor ligands (L = PMe3, PMe2Ph, PMePh2, PPh3, P(OPh)3, and CO) to give adducts 3–8; the structures of two of these derivatives were determined by X-ray crystallography, and the bonding in their six-membered ring is contrasted with that in 2. The η4-thiophene complex Cp*Ir(η4-2,5-Me2T) (1) also reacts with L to give the same adducts, 3–8; this reaction presumably involves 2 as an intermediate. Both 2 and 1 also undergo oxidative-addition with H2 to give Cp*Ir(η2-2,5-Me2T)(H)2 (9) which exists as the dihydride as determined by T1 measurements.
The limits of localization using RSS

We characterize the fundamental limits of localization using signal strength in indoor environments. Signal strength approaches are attractive because they are widely applicable to wireless sensor networks and do not require additional localization hardware. We show that although a broad spectrum of algorithms can trade accuracy for precision, none has a significant advantage in localization performance. We found that using commodity 802.11 technology over a range of algorithms, approaches and environments, one can expect a median localization error of 10ft and 97th percentile of 30ft. We present strong evidence that these limitations are fundamental and that they are unlikely to be transcended without fundamentally more complex environmental models or additional localization infrastructure.
Does image integration improve atrial fibrillation ablation outcomes, or are other aspects of the ablation the key to success?

Over the years, various imaging modalities have been used to guide ablation procedures. Technology has rapidly progressed from Two-dimensional fluoroscopic imaging to several different forms of 3D mapping systems using magnetic and impedance sensors, as well as automated imaging components derived from computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and rotational angiography. These have provided greater anatomic detail for accurate ablation. However, ablation outcomes rely not only on image guided proper lesion location, but also adequate catheter contact, power, duration of energy delivery, and overall ablation strategy. CT and MRI provide detailed 3D geometries of the chambers of the heart. Carto (Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) and EnSite NavX (St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN, USA) mapping systems have the capability for integration of 3D CT and MRI images with electroanatomic maps. Image registration is typically done by matching distinct landmarks or fiducial points on the electroanatomic map with the CT (or MRI) image. The registration process can be optimized by manual adjustment, or using a more global surface registration algorithm.1,2 The integrated image has an average accuracy of 1–3 mm.1–3 However, individual points can be inaccurate by more than 10–15 mm.1,4 Excessive catheter contact force applied during mapping can distort the map.5 Bertaglia et al. 6 … *Corresponding author. Tel: +1 507 538 1469, Fax: +1 507 266 9142, Email: powell.brian{at}mayo.edu
Reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions by energy efficiency measures and international trading: A bottom-up modeling for the U.S. iron and steel sector

Using the ISEEM modeling framework, we analyzed the roles of energy efficiency measures, steel commodity and international carbon trading in achieving specific CO2 emission reduction targets in the U.S iron and steel sector from 2010 to 2050. We modeled how steel demand is balanced under three alternative emission reduction scenarios designed to include national energy efficiency measures, commodity trading, and international carbon trading as key instruments to meet a particular emission restriction target in the U.S. iron and steel sector; and how production, process structure, energy supply, and system costs change with those scenarios. The results advance our understanding of long-term impacts of different energy policy options designed to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions for U.S. iron and steel sector, and generate insight of policy implications for the sector’s environmentally and economically sustainable development. The alternative scenarios associated with 20% emission-reduction target are projected to result in approximately 11–19% annual energy reduction in the medium term (i.e., 2030) and 9–20% annual energy reduction in the long term (i.e., 2050) compared to the Base scenario.
Electrodeposition of poly(n‐methylpyrrole) coatings on steel from aqueous medium

Poly(N-methylpyrrole) coatings were formed on low carbon steel by an electrochemical method from aqueous oxalate solutions. The electrochemical reactions were performed in a wide range of pH of the reaction medium and applied current density. The formation of poly(N-methylpyrrole) on steel occurred in three stages: (i) dissolution of the steel, followed by (ii) passivation of the steel, and, finally, (iii) electropolymerization of N-methylpyrrole on the passivated steel. The time taken to form the passive interphase (induction time) is decreased by an increased applied current. Passivation occurred instantaneously at pH 8.4. Below pH 7, the shortest passivation time occurred at pH 2.6. The quantity of the charge consumed during passivation (passivation charge) remained independent of the applied current at pH 2.6 and decreased with the applied current at pH 4.1 and 5.7. The polymerization potential increased with the pH and the applied current. Polymerization potentials greater than 2.0 V resulted in film degradation. By controlling the electrochemical process parameters, good quality poly(N-methylpyrrole) was formed at a controlled induction time.
Testicular involution after optic enucleation: Ultrastructure and alkaline phosphatase cytochemistry of the peritubular tissue

Two months after blinding hamsters, the seminiferous epithelium had undergone pronounced involution. Spermatogonia were the only germ cells consistently present in the seminiferous tubules, although some tubules also contained primary spermatocytes. The peritubular tissue in the blinded hamster had undergone marked distortion. Irregular projections extended from the myoid cells and protruded toward the seminiferous epithelium. All layers of the peritubular tissue developed irregular contours and underwent thickening. The myoid cell nuclei were highly infolded, giving the nucleus a lobulated appearance. Golgi stacks often occupied recesses in the cytoplasm created by nuclear folding. Numerous vesicles were located at the poles of the Golgi stacks and were scattered between the Golgi stacks and the plasmalemma. Vesicles were also observed fusing with the plasmalemma. Alkaline phosphatase was localized cytochemically in the Golgi apparatus and the myoid cell vesicles. The appearance of the myoid cells in the involuting testes was similar to that of contracting smooth muscle; therefore, we postulate that the cytological alterations observed in the myoid cells may be a result of myoid cell contractions. Myoid cell vesicles have previously been thought to selectively take up substances at the interstitial surface of the myoid cell, transport the material across the cytoplasm and release their contents at the surface adjacent to the seminiferous epithelium. The findings reported in the present investigation indicate that some of these vesicles are involved in exocytosis of substances synthesized in the myoid cell. It appears that myoid cell exocytosis may be involved in formation of the alkaline phosphataserich basal laminae of the peritubular tissue.
Safety and Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Myocardial Revascularization Therapy for Refractory Angina Pectoris

Abstract Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave myocardial revascularization (ESMR) therapy in treating patients with refractory angina pectoris. Patients and Methods A single-arm multicenter prospective trial to assess safety and efficacy of the ESMR therapy in patients with refractory angina (class III/IV angina) was performed. Screening exercise treadmill tests and pharmacological single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed for all patients to assess exercise capacity and ischemic burden. Patients were treated with 9 sessions of ESMR to ischemic areas over 9 weeks. Efficacy end points were exercise capacity by using treadmill test as well as ischemic burden on pharmacological SPECT at 4 months after the last ESMR treatment. Safety measures included electrocardiography, echocardiography, troponin, creatine kinase, and brain natriuretic peptide testing, and pain questionnaires. Results Fifteen patients with medically refractory angina and no revascularization options were enrolled. There was a statistically significant mean increase of 122.3±156.9 seconds (38% increase compared with baseline; P=.01) in exercise treadmill time from baseline (319.8±157.2 seconds) to last follow-up after the ESMR treatment (422.1±183.3 seconds). There was no improvement in the summed stress perfusion scores after pharmacologically induced stress SPECT at 4 months after the last ESMR treatment in comparison to that at screening; however, SPECT summed stress score revealed that untreated areas had greater progression in ischemic burden vs treated areas (3.69±6.2 vs 0.31±4.5; P=.03). There was no significant change in the mean summed echo score from baseline to posttreatment (0.4±5.1; P=.70). The ESMR therapy was performed safely without any adverse events in electrocardiography, echocardiography, troponins, creatine kinase, or brain natriuretic peptide. Pain during the ESMR treatment was minimal (a score of 0.5±1.2 to 1.1±1.2 out of 10). Conclusion In this multicenter feasibility study, ESMR seems to be a safe and efficacious treatment for patients with refractory angina pectoris. However, larger sham-controlled trials will be required to confirm these findings.
National Ignition Facility frequency converter development

A preliminary error budget for the third harmonic converter for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser driver has been developed using a root-sum-square-accumulation of error sources. Such a budget sets an upper bound on the allowable magnitude of the various effects that reduce conversion efficiency. Development efforts on crystal mounting technology and crystal quality studies are discussed.
Advanced embedded control and data acquisition systems for laser-based quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy

This work describes the development of low-power embedded systems for miniature quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) laser based trace gas sensors. Such sensors must address the following functions simultaneously: 1) laser current control, 2) laser temperature control, 3) multi-harmonic quadrature lock-in amplification, and 4) digital data processing. Currently used methods for control and acquisition result in shoebox sized sensors requiring ~3 to 4 W of electrical power consumption, which is too high for portable energy harvesting powered monitoring. In order to improve sensors to meet required size and cost demands of portable health monitors and environmental sensor networks, we have consolidated and minimized the necessary processing resources for QEPAS sensors. Our processing system has been reduced to a single 10 cm times 6.5 cm circuit board constructed entirely from low-cost off-the-shelf components, and achieves power consumption of ~0.2 W.
Designing a facilitator's cockpit for an idea management system

We present the design of a dashboard for facilitators in Idea Management Systems (IMS). IMS are an emerging class of collaborative software tools aimed at business organizations or local geographic communities. Through these systems users can generate, share, judge, refine, and select ideas as part of a grassroots process. However, a class of users that is lacking adequate support in current IMS are the facilitators. Their role is to help the best ideas to emerge and grow, while balancing the judgments of the crowd with those of the managers or the community leaders. In this paper we point to the unmet needs of these users, describe the design of a system prototype, and the evaluation of a first version of this prototype to test our design.
Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels in Mice Bearing Human Prostate LNCaP Tumors Are Determined by Tumor Volume and Endocrine and Growth Factors

The ability of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to predict tumor volume and stage in patients with prostate cancer would be improved if factors regulating its production and clearance were better defined. A thorough understanding of the pharmacokinetics (regulation of production, metabolism, and excretion) of PSA has been precluded, however, by the absence of an in vivo animal model. The purposes of this study are to develop a murine model for evaluating PSA pharmacokinetics in vivo and to assess factors that influence PSA production in vitro. The human prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, was chosen because it is androgen sensitive and PSA positive. Although LNCaP cells are usually nontumorigenic when inoculated s.c. in athymic mice, coinoculation of 1 x 10(6) LNCaP cells with 1 x 10(6) human bone fibroblasts reliably produces PSA-secreting carcinomas. This LNCaP model provides accurate correlation between tumor volume and serum PSA levels (r = 0.94) and demonstrates that tumor volume and androgens are codeterminants of circulating PSA levels. Following castration, serum PSA levels decrease rapidly up to 8-fold and increase up to 20-fold following androgen supplementation, without detectable castration-induced tumor cell death or concomitant changes in tumor volume. Serum PSA levels increase 0.24 ng/ml/mm3 of tumor, which is approximately 5-fold less than that estimated for humans. Most likely this reduced PSA index (PSA:tumor volume ratio) results from a 7-fold faster clearance of PSA in athymic mice than in humans; other than this shorter half-life, PSA elimination in the murine model appears similar to that in humans, with both following first-order kinetics characteristic of a two-compartment model. Interestingly, following prolonged growth (greater than 21 days) in castrate hosts, LNCaP tumors are capable of adapting to an androgen-deprived environment whereby LNCaP tumors regain the ability to secrete PSA in amounts similar to the precastrate state. In LNCaP cells, androgens increase PSA mRNA levels 4-fold in vivo and in vitro. PSA mRNA expression is also altered by various growth factors. Changes in PSA production induced by androgens and growth factors do not always parallel changes in LNCaP cell growth rate induced by these factors, suggesting that PSA production occurs independently of cell growth rate and may be influenced by various interrelated factors, including hormonal and stromal milieu. Observations from this murine model suggest that androgens and tumor volume are independent determinants of serum PSA levels and imply that decreases in circulating PSA following antiandrogen therapy may not always reflect a corresponding reduction in tumor volume.
Antimicrobial resistance in the nasopharyngeal flora of children with acute otitis media and otitis media recurring after amoxicillin therapy

The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of the organisms isolated from the nasopharynx of children who presented with acute otitis media (AOM) or otitis media that recurred after amoxicillin therapy. Nasopharyngeal cultures obtained from 72 patients, 40 with AOM and 32 with recurrent otitis media (ROM), were analysed. Thirty-six potentially pathogenic organisms were recovered in 34 (85 %) of the children from the AOM group, and 42 were isolated from 29 (91 %) of the children from the ROM group. The organisms isolated were Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 26), Haemophilus influenzae non-type b (n = 22), Moraxella catarrhalis (n = 13), Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 8) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 9). Resistance to the eight antimicrobial agents used was found in 37 instances in the AOM group as compared to 99 instances in the ROM group (P < 0.005). The difference between AOM and ROM was significant with Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance to amoxicillin (P < 0.005), to amoxicillin/clavulanate (P < 0.005), to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (P < 0.01), to cefixime (P < 0.01) and to azithromycin (P < 0.01), and for H. influenzae resistance to amoxicillin (P < 0.025). These data illustrate the higher recovery rate of antimicrobial-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and H. influenzae from the nasopharynx of children who had otitis media that recurred after amoxicillin therapy than those with AOM.
The Impedance of a Wire Grid Parallel to a Dielectric Interface

Analysis is given for the problem of reflection of a plane wave at oblique incidence on a wire grid which is parallel to a plane interface between two homogeneous dielectrics. It is assumed that the wire grid is a periodic structure and consists of thin cylindrical wires of homogeneous material. The equivalent circuit is derived where it is shown that the space on either side of the interface can by a transmission line, and the grid itself is represented by a pure shunt element across one of the lines.
Carbon and Nitrogen Chemical Shifts of Solid State Enzymes

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Chemical Shifts: Overview and Referencing 3 Linewidths and General Considerations for Sample Preparation 4 Covalent Adducts at the Active Site 5 Conformational Analysis and Protein Structure 6 Ionization and Hydrogen Bonding 7 Conclusions 8 Biographical Sketches Related Articles
Optical pumping of stored atomic ions (

Optical pumping experiments on atomic ions which are stored in ekG tromagnetic (( traps )) are discussed. Weak relaxation and extremely small energy shifts of the stored ions lead to very high resolution and accuracy in optical pumping- double resonance experiments. In the same spirit of Kastler's proposal for (( lumino refrigeration )) (1950), the kinetic energy levels of stored ions can be optically pumped. This technique, which has been called laser cooling significantly reduces Doppler frequency shifts in the spectra.
Hotel management and marketing on the Internet: an analysis of sites and features.

Abstract There are many practical, profitable, and creative business uses of the internet and its worldwide web that are valuable and affordable, and that go far beyond simply pitching products to consumers.
Why Do They Do It?–A Brief Inquiry into the Real Motives of Some of the Participants in the Recording, Transcribing, Translating, Editing, and Publishing of Aboriginal Oral Narrative

This article inquires into the motives of the participants in the recording, transcribing, translating, editing and publishing of Aboriginal narrative. The motivation of Aboriginal communicators, at the outset simple altruism, has evolved onto a pressing need to bear witness to past and present wrongs perpetrated against them by various agents of the dominant society. Social scientists’ motivations are equally complex. Most of the social sciences, and particularly anthropology, practice translation. Anthropology has elaborated translation theories that betray a general unease with how and why anthropologists translate. Anthropological translation differs from that of other disciplines in that when anthropologists translate oral and written “texts,” their ultimate aim is in fact the “translation” of the cultures that produced them. Keywords: anthropology, translation, Aboriginal, oral narrative, cultures.
Obedience in Retrospect

Milgram's original paradigm for studying obedience to authority is briefly described, and the main results are summarized. Personal observations of the conduct of the initial studies give added context for interpreting the results. Psychologists' reactions to the Milgram experiments are discussed in terms of(1) rejecting the research on ethical grounds, (2) explaining away the results as expressions of trivial phenomena, (3) subsuming obedience to destructive authority under other explanatory rubrics, and (4) endorsing or rejecting the results in terms of their perceived social relevance or irrelevance.
Technology Integration Barriers: Urban School Mathematics Teachers Perspectives

Despite the promise of technology in education, many practicing teachers face several challenges when trying to effectively integrate technology into their classroom instruction. Additionally, while national statistics cite a remarkable improvement in access to computer technology tools in schools, teacher surveys show consistent declines in the use and integration of computer technology to enhance student learning. This article reports on primary technology integration barriers that mathematics teachers identified when using technology in their classrooms. Suggestions to overcome some of these barriers are also provided.
Improved Method for Selecting RNA-Binding Activities in vivo

RNA challenge phages are modified versions of bacteriophage P22 that allow one to select directly for a specific RNA-protein interaction in vivo. The original construction method for generating a bacteriophage that encodes a specific RNA target requires two homologous recombination reactions between plasmids and phages in bacteria. An improved method is described that enables one to readily construct RNA challenge phages through a single homologous recombination reaction in vivo. We have applied the new method to construct a derivative of P22R17, an RNA challenge phage that undergoes lysogenic development in bacterial cells that express the bacteriophage R17/MS2 coat protein.
Comparing costs and emissions of northern New England space heating fuel options

Practical considerations of the environmental and economic costs and pollutant emissions of different fuel choices are not always well-outlined in the literature and thus are not always considered or understood by consumers and planners. In this paper, we analyze data to compare various fuels used for heating in the northern New England region of the USA, an area heavily dependent on heating oil. Our results suggest that (1) current rural households using fossil fuels or electricity for heating could lower energy costs and contribute less fossil carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by switching to wood as a heat energy source and (2) in newly built rural schools and other comparable complexes, heating with woodchips can be more cost effective and less environmentally damaging than heating with fossil fuels or electricity.
Treatment of Hypertension in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Blood Pressure Goals, Choice of Agents, and Setting Priorities in Diabetes Care

Data Extraction: Studies were identified by using the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, meta-analyses, review articles, and expert recommendation. The searches of the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE were performed in May 2000 and updated in April 2002. Data were abstracted to standardized forms by a single reviewer and were confirmed by a second reviewer. Data Synthesis: Treatment of hypertension in type 2 diabetes provides dramatic benefit. Target diastolic blood pressures of less than 80 mm Hg appear optimal; systolic targets have not been as rigorously evaluated, but targets of 135 mm Hg or less are reasonable. Studies that compare drug classes do not suggest obviously superior agents. However, it is reasonable to conclude that thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, and perhaps angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may be the preferred first-line agents for treatment of hypertension in diabetes. -Blockers and calcium-channel blockers are more effective than placebo, but they may not be as effective as diuretics, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, or ACE inhibitors; however, study results are inconsistent in this regard. Conclusions: Treatment of hypertension in type 2 diabetes, with blood pressure goals of 135/80 mm Hg, provides dramatic benefits. Thiazide diuretics, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and ACE inhibitors may be the best first-line treatments, although other agents are usually necessary and goals may not be achieved even with three or four agents. Aggressive blood pressure control may be the most important factor in preventing adverse outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.
A Low Power, Microvalve-Regulated Drug Delivery System using a SI Micro-Spring Pressurized Balloon Reservoir

This paper reports on a drug delivery system that provides modulated delivery of liquid-phase chemicals. The device uses silicon torsion springs on a 2times3 cm2 chip to pressurize a soft polymeric reservoir and regulate flow with a piezoelectricaly actuated silicon microvalve that is 1.5times1.5times1 cm3. Using the finished device, regulated diffusion of a fluorescent dye into agar gel was demonstrated. Fluid flow out of the 500 muL reservoir could be regulated from 10-500 muL/min with up to 80 kPa of delivery pressure. Typical regulation consumes 0.136 muW of power. Analysis of the valve, reservoir springs, and a model based on pressure-enhanced diffusion are presented and are validated by experimental data.
Stabilization of the promoter nucleosomes in nucleosome-free regions by the yeast Cyc8–Tup1 corepressor

The yeast Cyc8 (also known as Ssn6)–Tup1 complex regulates gene expression through a variety of mechanisms, including positioning of nucleosomes over promoters of some target genes to limit accessibility to the transcription machinery. To further define the functions of Cyc8–Tup1 in gene regulation and chromatin remodeling, we performed genome-wide profiling of changes in nucleosome organization and gene expression that occur upon loss of CYC8 or TUP1 and observed extensive nucleosome alterations in both promoters and gene bodies of derepressed genes. Our improved nucleosome profiling and analysis approaches revealed low-occupancy promoter nucleosomes (P nucleosomes) at locations previously defined as nucleosome-free regions. In the absence of CYC8 or TUP1, this P nucleosome is frequently lost, whereas nucleosomes are gained at −1 and +1 positions, accompanying up-regulation of downstream genes. Our analysis of public ChIP-seq data revealed that Cyc8 and Tup1 preferentially bind TATA-containing promoters, which are also enriched in genes derepressed upon loss of CYC8 or TUP1. These results suggest that stabilization of the P nucleosome on TATA-containing promoters may be a central feature of the repressive chromatin architecture created by the Cyc8–Tup1 corepressor, and that releasing the P nucleosome contributes to gene activation.
Response of skeletal muscle protein synthesis to insulin in suckling pigs decreases with development

The elevated rate of muscle protein deposition in the neonate is largely due to an enhanced stimulation of skeletal muscle protein synthesis by feeding. To examine the role of insulin in this respo...
Infrared spectra of dicyanodiazomethane [(CN)2CNN] and the dicyanomethylene free radical [:C(CN)2]

Abstract Infrared spectra have been obtained for (CN)2CNN in the solid state and isolated in inert matrices. The vibrational analysis has been performed on the basis of C2v symmetry and correlated with the spectra of a number of related molecules. Photolysis of matrix isolated (CN)2CNN yields sufficient :C(CN)2 [dicyanomethylene], stabilized in situ, to permit observation of the infrared spectrum. The observed bands are consistent with the predictions of a vibrational analysis which assumes a linear structure (D∞h) for the diradical and utilizes force constants transferred from other molecules.
Microbial mats in terminal Proterozoic siliciclastics; Ediacaran death masks

A variety of sedimentary structures and patterns in Proterozoic siliciclastic sedimentary rocks cannot be explained by known inorganic processes. In particular, certain bed-surface textures, and domed and disrupted sand lamination, are demonstrably the mechanical products of microbially bound sediment and microbial mats. In all but the most wave and current active marine environments of the terminal Proterozoic, the absence of effective grazing and burrowing allowed mat-communities of cyanobacteria to colonize sedimentary surfaces. The resultant microbial mats inhibited sediment erosion, formed partings when buried between sand beds, and restricted vertical migration of pore fluid and gas in both exposed and subaqueous environments. Distinctive "petee" laminations, known from modern mat-bound, tidal-flat sediments, are recorded for the first time in the rock record from the terminal Proterozoic Rawnsley Quartzite of South Australia. The preservation of external molds of soft-bodied Ediacaran organisms is interpreted as a function of the early diagenesis of a sole veneer. A form of "death mask" resulted from bacterial precipitation of iron minerals in the sand that smothered decaying microbial mats and megascopic benthic organisms. The appearance of three-dimensional trace fossils in Early Cambrian strata signaled a behavioral revolution; the evolution of efficient grazing reduced the development of benthic mat communities in all but the most extreme environments, while bioturbation disrupted buried mats and closed a taphonomic window of preservation for soft-bodied organisms.
Extension of a soft-computing framework for activity analysis from linguistic summarizations of video

Video cameras are a relatively low-cost, rich source of information that can be used for ldquowell-beingrdquo assessment and abnormal event detection for the goal of allowing elders to live longer and healthier independent lives. We previously reported a soft-computing fall detection system, based on two levels from a hierarchy of fuzzy inference using linguistic summarizations of activity acquired temporally from a three dimensional voxel representation of the human found by back projecting silhouettes acquired from multiple cameras. This framework is extremely flexible and rules can be modified, added, or removed, allowing for per-resident customization based on knowledge about their cognitive and physical ability. In this paper, we show the flexibility of our activity analysis framework by extending it to additional common elderly activities and contextual awareness is added for reasoning based on location or static objects in the apartment.
A Numerical Study of a Single Bubble Sliding on a Downward Facing Heating Surface

In this study, a complete 3D numerical simulation of single bubble sliding on a downward facing heater surface is carried out. The continuity, momentum and energy equations are solved using finite difference method and the level-set method is used to capture the liquid-vapor interface. The shape of sliding bubble changes from initially spheroids, to ellipsoids and finally to bubble-cap. The temperature gradient downstream the sliding bubble is much larger than that upstream the bubble. This indicates the sliding bubble enhances the heat transfer significantly. The bubble shape and sliding distance predicted from numerical analysis is compared with the experimental data.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Continuous Snow and Rain Data at 500 to 4400 m Altitude near Annapurna, Nepal, 1999–2001

Abstract Knowledge of spatial and altitudinal variations in precipitation in high mountains is integral to quantifying alpine climates and to calibrating interactions between climate and surface processes. To date, however, few meteorological networks exist in alpine settings. A network of 14 meteorological stations was installed across the Annapurna Range in central Nepal in 1999 and expanded in subsequent years to 19 stations. In order to measure snow depths and water equivalents in high-altitude sites, a combination of look-down distance rangers and gamma-ray loggers was installed at 5 sites. The data from this network delineate a strong south-to-north gradient in monsoonal precipitation. Precipitation peaks at 5032 mm yr−1 at about 3000 m altitude on the southern side, which is also approximately the lowest altitude of winter snow in the area. Annual precipitation decreases to ∼1100 mm yr−1 in the rain shadow to the north of the Himalayan crest. Although snow depth and snow water equivalent content ar...
Assimilation Time As A Factor Of Performance: Impact On A New Generation Of Students

This paper explores the issue of whether assimilation time has any bearing on the performance of students. Assimilation time is defined as the number of times during the week that a class meets. This study examined whether students would perform better in a 50-minute class that met three days a week versus a 75-minute class that met just two days a week. Assimilation time did make a difference (t-test, p = . 0693) . High-attending students, that is students that attend class more that ninety percent of the time, performed better with more assimilation time that high-attending students in sections with less assimilation time However, for “medium-attending” students there was no difference whether students attended class in a 50-minute class that met three days a week or a 75-minute class that met just two days a week .
Molecular Programming of Immunological Memory in Natural Killer Cells.

Immunological memory is a hallmark of the adaptive immune system. Although natural killer (NK) cells have traditionally been classified as a component of the innate immune system, they have recently been shown in mice and humans to exhibit certain features of immunological memory, including an ability to undergo a clonal-like expansion during virus infection, generate long-lived progeny (i.e. memory cells), and mediate recall responses against previously encountered pathogens—all characteristics previously ascribed only to adaptive immune responses by B and T cells in mammals. To date, the molecular events that govern the generation of NK cell memory are not completely understood. Using a mouse model of cytomegalovirus infection, we demonstrate that individual pro-inflammatory IL-12, IL-18, and type I-IFN signaling pathways are indispensible and play non-redundant roles in the generation of virus-specific NK cell memory. Furthermore, we discovered that antigen-specific proliferation and protection by NK cells is mediated by the transcription factor Zbtb32, which is induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines and promotes a cell cycle program in activated NK cells. A greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling NK cell responses will provide novel strategies for tailoring vaccines to target infectious disease.
The More Religiosity, the Less Creativity Across US Counties

It is not an overstatement to say that creativity is the single most important ingredient for broadly understood progress (technological, economic, social, academic, and so forth). Rapid automation makes creativity increasingly important, because non-creative tasks can and will be automated. It is striking that there are hardly any studies about the link between religiosity and creativity. Religion is a powerful and persistent force shaping human society. This study investigated the relationship between religiosity and creativity across counties in the United States. Religiosity was measured as adherence and church density. Creativity was measured as a proportion of people in occupations classified as creative and patents per capita. Results indicate that religious counties are less creative, even controlling for education, income, political orientation, urban-rural continuum, and prevalent industry. Directions for future research are discussed.
Economic Consequences of Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation: An Analysis of Investor Perceptions and Corporate Lobbing Behavior

This study investigates the economic consequences of the FASB's 1993 Exposure Draft requiring the expensing of employee stock options. We examine (i) a sample of firms in industries that are intensive users of employee stock options; (ii) a sample of firms in an emerging 'high-tech' industry (biotechnology); and (iii) a sample of firms submitting comment letters to the FASB opposing the expensing of employee stock options. Our results indicate that investors do not share corporate America's concerns that expensing employee stock options would have negative economic consequences. Additional tests show that corporate America's opposition to expensing is concentrated in firms that use options extensively for top executives rather than in firms with high overall levels of option usage.
Porous metal metaphyseal cones for severe bone loss: when only metal will do

Metaphyseal bone loss is common with revision total knee replacement (RTKR). Using the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute (AORI) classification, type 2-B and type 3 defects usually require large metal blocks, bulk structural allograft or highly porous metal cones. Tibial and femoral trabecular metal metaphyseal cones are a unique solution for large bone defects. These cones substitute for bone loss, improve metaphyseal fixation, help correct malalignment, restore the joint line and may permit use of a shorter stem. The technique for insertion involves sculpturing of the remaining bone with a high speed burr and rasp, followed by press-fit of the cone into the metaphysis. The fixation and osteoconductive properties of the porous cone outer surface allow ingrowth and encourage long-term biological fixation. The revision knee component is then cemented into the porous cone inner surface, which provides superior fixation compared with cementing into native but deficient metaphyseal bone. The advantages of the cone compared with allograft include: technical ease, biological fixation, no resorption, and possibly a lower risk of infection. The disadvantages include: difficult extraction and relatively short-term follow-up. Several studies using cones report promising short-term results for the reconstruction of large bone defects in RTKR.
The Prediction of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Do We Just Stop Here

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is well recognized to be associated with a higher incidence and prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).1 However, randomized clinical trials in which risk factors for ASCVD (blood pressure, lipids, glycemia) have been modified are nonexistent for T1D patients. Thus, any model that is developed must be based on observational data only. The Steno Risk Engine, as described in this issue of Circulation ,2 is the second attempt at estimating ASCVD risk in T1D patients and differs somewhat in design and application from that previously created from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR).3 Article, see p 1058 The Swedish NDR study was based on a model derived from 3661 T1D patients, with >90% having no history of ASCVD over a 5-year interval wherein 197 fatal/nonfatal ASCVD events (myocardial infarction or stroke) occurred. Nonfatal coronary heart disease was defined as nonfatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, percutaneous coronary intervention, and/or coronary artery bypass grafting, whereas stroke was defined as fatal or nonfatal cerebral infarction or subarachnoid hemorrhage, or was unspecified. In the Swedish study, the hazard ratios for significant predictors of an ASCVD event were previous cardiovascular disease, 3.51; diabetes duration, 2.76; smoking, 1.76; macroalbuminuria (>200 μg/min), 1.52; age of onset of T1D, 1.47; log ratio total cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 1.26; log hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), 1.19; and log systolic blood pressure, 1.17. With the use of all 8 variables, the predicted 5-year risk was 5.4±7.9% with a C-statistic of 0.83. In contrast, the Steno Risk Engine was entirely a primary prevention model of first fatal/nonfatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events that included ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease from 4306 T1D patients, and it included ASCVD risk factors similar to the Swedish study + lifestyle. Over a median follow-up of …
Posterior cranial vault distraction osteogenesis: Evolution of technique

The rapid growth of the brain in the first few years of life drives the expansion of the cranial vault. This expansion occurs primarily at the cranial sutures; premature fusion of these results in growth restriction perpendicular to the axis of the suture. The result of this is physical deformation of the cranial and facial skeleton, as well as the distortion of the underling brain and its physiology. These patients can present with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure, neurodevelopmental delay, as well as the morphological features of craniosynostosis. Acquired conditions such as the slit ventricle syndrome may also result in cephalocranial disproportion with these clinical features. Traditional vault remodeling surgery is able to correct the physical abnormalities as well as correcting cephalocranial disproportion. Its limitations include the degree of scalp expansion achievable as well as resulting defects in the bone. The use of distraction osteogenesis of the cranial vault permits a controlled expansion in a predetermined vector in a gradual manner. When used in the calvarium, this combines the benefits of tissue expansion on the scalp, as well as stimulating the production of new bone, reducing the defects resulting from expansion. In this review, the authors describe some of the surgical considerations important to the use of this technique. This includes the relevant anatomy and technical aspects illustrated with the use of clinical cases. Finally, they present a summary of their experience and discuss the complications associated with cranial vault distraction osteogenesis.
What caused the recent “Warm Arctic, Cold Continents” trend pattern in winter temperatures?

The emergence of rapid Arctic warming in recent decades has coincided with unusually cold winters over Northern Hemisphere continents. It has been speculated that this “Warm Arctic, Cold Continents” trend pattern is due to sea ice loss. Here we use multiple models to examine whether such a pattern is indeed forced by sea ice loss specifically and by anthropogenic forcing in general. While we show much of Arctic amplification in surface warming to result from sea ice loss, we find that neither sea ice loss nor anthropogenic forcing overall yield trends toward colder continental temperatures. An alternate explanation of the cooling is that it represents a strong articulation of internal atmospheric variability, evidence for which is derived from model data, and physical considerations. Sea ice loss impact on weather variability over the high-latitude continents is found, however, to be characterized by reduced daily temperature variability and fewer cold extremes.
Towards an Integrated Marketing Strategy for Developing Markets

The world has, during the past three decades, witnessed dramatic changes in the geopolitical landscape that have expanded international trade. Much of academic research during this period focused on such issues as whether global companies should standardize, adapt, and/or the degree to which they should adapt their marketing strategies to international markets. This study takes a different approach; instead of adapting firm-specific factors to the environment that firms encounter in developing markets, it focuses on how global companies can improve the infrastructure, the level of education, and the legal systems in order to improve the standard of living in developing countries while expanding markets.
Substance Abuse and Trauma

There is a strong, bidirectional link between substance abuse and traumatic experiences. Teens with cooccurring substance use disorders (SUDs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have significant functional and psychosocial impairment. Common neurobiological foundations point to the reinforcing cycle of trauma symptoms, substance withdrawal, and substance use. Treatment of teens with these issues should include a systemic and integrated approach to both the SUD and the PTSD.
Forecasting the post-bifurcation dynamics of large-dimensional slow-oscillatory systems using critical slowing down and center space reduction

This paper presents a method for forecasting Hopf bifurcations and the post-bifurcation dynamics in complex large-dimensional nonlinear systems. This method is based on the phenomenon of critical slowing down and the projection of the system dynamics on the center space. The approach does not require a model of the system because forecasting is based only on time-series measurements of the system response to perturbations (only) in the pre-bifurcation regime. Techniques are introduced to increase forecasting accuracy and to enable the use of data from recoveries after large perturbations. In contrast to other existing methods, the proposed technique solves the problem of insufficient data due to low-frequency system oscillations. The proposed approach is applied to a nonlinear aeroelastic system which is exposed to gust loads. Numerical simulations show that the method accurately predicts the bifurcation point, the bifurcation type, and the post-bifurcation dynamics in both supercritical and subcritical cases despite the fact that it uses only pre-bifurcation regime data and it does not use a model of the system.