cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case-cohort design in hematopoietic cell transplant studies.

SERIES EDITORS- NOTE Imagine you and your colleagues have done 1000 transplants in persons with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in 1st remission. 5 percent of the 20 percent of recipients relapsing posttransplant have an isolated central nervous system relapse. You are curious and want to know whether there is anything special about this 5 percent, specifically whether this risk corelates with any pretransplant clinical and laboratory co-variates. You have extensive clinical data and some typical laboratory data on all 1000 but you suspect the culprit is mutation topography. What to do? Fortunately you have bio-banked DNA from the 1000. If resources and monies are not limiting you can do targeted or next generation sequencing on all 1000 DNA samples and off you go. However, most of us lack unlimited resources and monies. How can you sensibly and efficiently tackle this research problem? The answer is a case-cohort design study. In the typescript which follows Profs. Cai and Kim explain how to accomplish this. If you follow their advice you may need only to analyze samples from < 300 recipients rather than 1000 to test your hypothesis. They explain how to design such a study and provide references to estimate sample size.Sadly, their typescript will not tell you how to get funding for the study, whish poor devil who will have to write the protocol, worse, who will shepherd it though endless committees for approval and the like. Help on these issues is outside the scope of our statistics series. In this context we suggest advice from Woody Allen's article in the New Yorker: The Kugelmass Episode (April 24, 1977). When Prof. Kugelmass (English, City College) tells his analyst Dr. Mandel he has fallen in love with Emma Bovary who died of arsenic poisoning near Rouen, France 120 years earlier the analyst says: After all, I'm an analyst, not a magician. Kugelmass' reply: Then perhaps what I need is a magician and is off to Coney Island to find one. Good luck, the magician may still be there! (Note: This typescript is R-rated. It contains an equation.)Robert Peter Gale, Imperial College London, and Mei-Jie Zhang, Medical College of Wisconsin and CIBMTR.
Abstract 328: Patients with Left Ventricular Function Improvement After Biventricular ICD Implantation Have a Persistent Risk of Ventricular Tachycardia or Fibrillation

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias such as Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) or Fibrillation (VF) are the leading causes of mortality in patients with advanced heart failure. The biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (BiV- ICD) has evolved as a means of treating heart failure because it provides therapy for VT/VF as well as an improvement in left ventricular (LV) function by increasing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This study analyzed the risk of ventricular arrhythmias after BiV- ICD implantation in patients with improved LVEF versus those without improvement. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 168 patients who were divided into two groups based on whether the LVEF improved after device implantation. Therapy was defined as shock or antitachycardic pacing (ATP) that terminates the ventricular arrhythmia. We determined patients characteristics based on ischemic, non-ischemic heart failure groups. Results: Of all the patients with a BiV - ICD, 51% had improvement in their LVEF. Of the ischemic group, 41% had improved EF compared to 63% in the nonischemic group (p=0.005). A total of 29 patients received electrical therapy for VT/VF. Of the patients with improved LVEF, 14 (16%) were shocked compared to 15 patients (18%) in the group with no improvement in LVEF (P =0.730). At 1year, the difference in therapy was not significant between the ischemic (10%) and nonischemic (14%) groups (p=0.706). This same effect was observed up until 9.2 years (0.778). Patients on antiarrhythmic medications received more shocks (13.6% vs. 16.5%) compared to those not on any antiarrhythmic medications (p=0.039). There was no difference in mortality between the groups whether assessed according to ischemic, nonischemic (1.2% vs 6.9%) or improved, nonimproved EF status (1.2% vs. 7.3%) (P=0.095). Conclusion: Improved LVEF after BiV-ICD implantation was not associated with lower likelihood of receiving therapy for VT/VF. There was no difference in electrical therapies in ischemic compared to non-ischemic HF. There was no difference in mortality between the groups after BiV-ICD implantation.
Phase III Integrated Water Recovery Testing at MSFC: Single Loop Test Results and Lessons Learned

A series of tests has been conducted at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to evaluate the performance of the Space Station Freedom (SSF) water recovery system. Potable and urine reclamation processors were integrated with waste water generation equipment and sucessfully operated for a total of 144 days. This testing marked the first occasion in which the waste feed sources for the previous potable and hygiene loops were combined into a single loop and processed to potable water quality. Reclaimed potable water from the combined waste waters routinely met the SSF water quality specifications.In the last stage of testing, data was obtained that indicated that the water processor (WP) presterilizer may not be required to meet the potable water quality specification. The removal of the presterilizer from the Water Processor design would provide a significant power savings, though an increase in the residence time of the catalytic oxidation reactor may be required to meet the potable microbial and total Organic Carbon specifications. This paper summarizes the test objectives, system design, test activities/protocols, significant results/anomalies and major lessons learned.
Maritime Piracy and the Impunity Gap: Insufficient National Laws or a Lack of Political Will?

Nations are not prosecuting piracy suspects with any regularity. One reason cited for this culture of impunity is the lack of domestic legislation to facilitate the prosecution of suspected pirates. But, what exactly is lacking: legislation or the political will to prosecute pirates? After all, universal jurisdiction over piracy has existed for more than 100 years. In addition, most nations are parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention), both of which authorize and encourage nations to cooperate in prosecuting acts of maritime piracy. Given this legal framework, should we not expect that nations would have domestic laws criminalizing piracy and would use those laws to try the pirates they have gone to such lengths to capture? This article explores these questions by examining the domestic anti-piracy laws in about fifty states for which information is available in English. The analysis supports a conclusion that on the whole states lack the political will to share in the burden of prosecuting pirates since relatively few states have enacted comprehensive anti-piracy laws that include a framework for exercising universal jurisdiction over pirate attacks. The analysis also shows that the laws states have enacted may not be sufficient to allow for a successful prosecution for today’s pirates. Although states may have many reasons to sit back and wait for others to prosecute maritime piracy offenses, this Article concludes that all states must embrace their duty to share in the burden of prosecuting pirates, which means that all states must first pass the necessary domestic laws criminalizing maritime piracy.
Dark-Recovery Processes in Escherichia coli Irradiated with Ultraviolet Light III. Effect of rec Mutations on Recovery of Excision-Deficient Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12

Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 unable to excise pyrimidine dimers from their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) because of a uvr mutation show a higher survival when plated on a minimal salts medium after exposure to ultraviolet radiation than when plated on a complex medium such as nutrient agar containing yeast extract. This response has been called minimal medium recovery (MMR). Recovery of uvr mutants can take place in liquid as well as on solid medium, but not in buffer or under conditions of amino acid starvation that do not permit cell growth and normal DNA replication. MMR can thus be distinguished from the recovery of recombination-deficient (rec(-)uvr(+)) derivatives of K-12 which can occur under conditions where growth is not possible. Because MMR is characteristic of excision-defective mutants, it evidently reflects a type of repair independent of excision. We have obtained genetic evidence that MMR is determined by the rec genes, which also control recombination in K-12. Cells carrying a uvr mutation together with recA13, recA56, recB21, or recC22 failed to show MMR and were more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation than either their rec(+)uvr(-) or rec(-)uvr(+) parents. The rec(+)uvr(-) derivatives obtained from recA uvr(-) strains by transduction or by reversion regained the capacity for MMR. Our results indicate that inactivation of any one of the three genes, recA, recB, or recC, prevents cells from showing MMR.
Time-domain reactive power concepts for nonlinear, nonsinusoidal or nonperiodic networks

Two methods for extending the definition of reactive power beyond the sinusoidal steady state are presented. Reactive power concepts are created that can be useful in the state-space analysis of nonlinear or nonperiodic systems. All definitions and results are given purely in the time domain without using Fourier analysis or other orthogonal function expansions. >
The Physical Properties of the Absorption Envelopes of Two QSOs

The wide absorption t roughs of certain resonance lines in the spectra of the QSOs PHL 5200 and RS 23 are produced by pure scattering and must therefore be compensated by an equal amount of emission. Analysis of the transfer of resonance-line radiation through a differentially expanding atmosphere shows that the absorption-emission profiles can be quantitatively understood on this basis.
TPC2 mediates new mechanisms of platelet dense granule membrane dynamics through regulation of Ca2+ release

TPC2 is a component of the platelet dense granule membrane and regulates the formation of perigranular Ca2+ nanodomains that correlate with “kiss-and-run” events and tubule connections. These membr...
Cognitive tuning and receptivity to novel information

Abstract An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that cognitive tuning would cause receivers to be more receptive to novel than to familiar information, compared to transmitters. The information receptivity of transmitters and receivers was contrasted against a control group. The influence of the source and audience, possible limits on the influence of the tuning set, was also explored. Finally, amount of variance controlled by cognitive tuning, personality variables and information utility were examined. While the results strongly support the prediction that transmitters prefer familiar information, receivers and control group subjects did not significantly differ in preferences for novel information. The anticipated expertise of source or audience had no influence on information receptivity. Among the three sets of variables used, the greatest amount of variance was explained by information utility, followed by cognitive tuning and personality measures, though all three variables controlled a significant amount of variance.
Impact of sample preparation on mineralogical analysis of zero-valent iron reactive barrier materials

Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) of zero-valent iron (Fe{sup 0}) are increasingly being used to remediate contaminated ground water. Corrosion of Fe{sup 0} filings and the formation of precipitates can occur when the PRB material comes in contact with ground water and may reduce the lifespan and effectiveness of the barrier. At present, there are no routine procedures for preparing and analyzing the mineral precipitates from Fe{sup 0} PRB material. These procedures are needed because mineralogical composition of corrosion products used to interpret the barrier processes can change with iron oxidation and sample preparation. The objectives of this study were (i) to investigate a method of preparing Fe{sup 0} reactive barrier material for mineralogical analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and (ii) to identify Fe mineral phases and rates of transformations induced by different mineralogical preparation techniques. Materials from an in situ Fe{sup 0} PRB were collected by undisturbed coring and processed for XRD analysis after different times since sampling for three size fractions and by various drying treatments. We found that whole-sample preparation for analysis was necessary because mineral precipitates occurred within the PRB material in different size fractions of the samples. Green rusts quickly disappeared from acetone-dried samples and weremore » not present in air-dried and oven-dried samples. Maghemite/magnetite content increased over time and in oven-dried samples, especially after heating to 105 C. We conclude that care must be taken during sample preparation of Fe{sup 0} PRB material, especially for detection of green rusts, to ensure accurate identification of minerals present within the barrier system.« less
Evidence that melatonin retention by the neonatal rat is greatly increased as compared to the adult: a novel biochemical mechanism

Melatonin, an anti-gonadotropic pineal hormone, is known to have a very short half-life in the adult animal. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the fate of melatonin in the neonate is different from that of the adult rat. Groups of 5-day-old rats were injected intraperitoneally with [3H]melatonin. The animals were killed at 10, 60 and 90 min intervals following the injections and the livers and brains immediately removed and homogenized. A high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of the liver and brain extracts revealed that in sharp contrast to the rapid disappearance of melatonin in the adult, melatonin disappearance in the neonate is greatly decreased.
Material dependence of total electron emission yields following slow highly charged ion impact

Abstract The total electron emission yields following the interaction of “Slow (⩽2 keV/a.u.) Highly Charged Ions” (SHCI) (O 3+⋯7+ , Xe 12+⋯52+ , Au 54+⋯69+ ) with different target surfaces (highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), Au and SiO2) have been measured. The emission yields increase with charge state, and is found to be highest for carbon, the HOPG target, and lowest for the SiO 2 target. An empirical formula for the electron emission is including recent results from investigations of plasmon excitation following SHCI impact are used to interpret the results.
PRICING OPTIONS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A TRADER

This paper is a contribution to the pricing and hedging of options in a market where the volatility is stochastic. The new concept of relative indifference pricing is further developed. This relative price is the price at which an option trader is indifferent to trade in an additional option, given that he is currently holding and dynamically hedging a portfolio of options. We find that the appropriate volatility risk premium depends on the trader's risk aversion coefficient and his portfolio position before selling or buying the additional option. We suggest two asymptotic expansions which relate the volatility risk premium to the Vega of the option portfolio. This approach provides a tool for traders to (i) integrate option pricing with risk management and (ii) quote competitive prices that depend on their aggregate risk exposure.
Cooperative Host−Guest Recognition in Crystalline Clathrates: Steric Guest Ordering by Molecular Gears

Supramolecular host frameworks consisting of guanidinium (G) and 4,4‘-biphenyldisulfonate (BPDS) ions include a diverse variety of aromatic guests to afford clathrates with the composition (G)2BPDS·(guest). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that these materials have a bilayer architecture in which the BPDS ions serve as pillars that connect opposing two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded networks of guanidinium and sulfonate ions, resulting in the formation of galleries with one-dimensional pores occupied by the guests. The solid-state structures of clathrates derived from various monosubstituted benzene guests (C6H5X; X = Cl, CH3, Br, I) and disubstituted isomers (o,m,p-YC6H5X; X, Y = Cl, CH3, Br) reveal cooperative host−guest and guest−guest interactions that affect the observed pore structure and molecular ordering in the two-dimensional galleries. The pore heights and corresponding pore sizes decrease with the introduction of halogenated guests relative to their hydrocarbon analogues, suggesting attra...
Cellular Conference Call: External Feedback Affects Cell-Fate Decisions

Cells often need to respond to multiple opposing signals simultaneously. In this issue of Cell, Janes et al. (2006) show that challenging cells with multiple extracellular signals induces an external feedback that involves the release of and response to additional secreted factors with antagonistic functions. These results suggest that an individual cell's decision to die or survive is not wholly independent but depends, at least in part, on feedback from its neighbors.
Lactate reduces liver and pancreatic injury in Toll-like receptor- and inflammasome-mediated inflammation via GPR81-mediated suppression of innate immunity.

Background & Aims The NACHT, LRR, and pyrin domain–containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome induces inflammation in response to organ injury, but little is known about its regulation. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) provide the first signal required for activation of the inflammasome and stimulate aerobic glycolysis to generate lactate. We examined whether lactate and the lactate receptor, G i -protein–coupled receptor 81 (GPR81), regulate TLR induction of signal 1 and limit inflammasome activation and organ injury. Methods Primary mouse macrophages and human monocytes were incubated with TLR4 agonists and lactate and assayed for levels of pro-interleukin (IL)1β, NLRP3, and caspase-1 (CASP1); release of IL1β; and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and caspase-1. Small interfering RNAs were used to reduce levels of GPR81 and arrestin β-2 (ARRB2), and an NF-κB luciferase reporter transgene was transfected in RAW 264.7 cells. Cell lysates were analyzed by immunoprecipitation with an antibody against GPR81. Acute hepatitis was induced in C56BL/6N mice by administration of lipopolysaccharide and D-galactosamine. Acute pancreatitis was induced by administration of lipopolysaccharide and cerulein. Some mice were given intraperitoneal injections of sodium lactate or small interfering RNA against Gpr81. Activation of NF-κB in tissue macrophages was assessed in mice that expressed a reporter transgene. Results In macrophages and monocytes, increasing concentrations of lactate reduced TLR4-mediated induction of Il1B , Nlrp3 , and Casp1 ; activation of NF-κB; release of IL1β; and cleavage of CASP1. GPR81 and ARRB2 physically interacted and were required for these effects. The administration of lactate reduced inflammation and organ injury in mice with immune hepatitis; this reduction required Gpr81 dependence in vivo. Lactate also prevented activation of NF-κB in macrophages of mice, and, when given after injury, reduced the severity of acute pancreatitis and acute liver injury. Conclusions Lactate negatively regulates TLR induction of the NLRP3 inflammasome and production of IL1β, via ARRB2 and GPR81. Lactate could be a promising immunomodulatory therapy for patients with acute organ injury.
Direct detection of ultrafast thermal transients by use of a chirped, supercontinuum white-light pulse.

An experimental technique is demonstrated that permits direct optical measurement of ultrafast material transients during a single excitation–relaxation cycle. Reflection of a linearly chirped, supercontinuum optical pulse from a gold film with changing surface temperature induced by an ultrafast pump pulse allows the thermal transients to be encoded onto the spectrum of the probe pulse. Calibrating the chirp of the probe pulse and the wavelength sensitivity of the sample permits mapping of the measured transient into the time domain. Measurements are completed over the course of 100 ps with subpicosecond time resolution. Results obtained with this technique are compared with similar measurements obtained with conventional pump–probe correlation techniques.
Damage assessment of smart composite plates using piezoceramic and acoustic emission sensors

An experimental study is conducted to develop a technique for detecting and assessing damage in laminated composite plates using piezoceramic (PZT) and acoustic emission (AE) sensors. Test specimens of glass/epoxy and graphite/epoxy composite plates are fabricated using a hot press cure technique. PZT patches and AE sensors are surface mounted on the composite plates to serve as sensors. Low velocity impact tests of plates with all four edges clamped are conducted using a drop weight testing frame with the composites in an undamaged state and again after the composites are damaged. Two test methods are used to assess the damage of the composite plates. The piezoceramic sensor output and the acoustic emission sensor signals are measured during the impact tests. Modal testing is performed to determine the frequencies and dampings of the structures from the frequency response function. The plate is then damaged by a high velocity impact and the results are correlated with the undamaged plate data. It is found that the piezoceramic sensor output is very sensitive to the composite damage and change in modal frequencies and dampings is observed.
A kinetic model of steady state phosphorus fixation in a batch reactor—IV. Details of surface kinetics

Abstract A model was developed which included adsorption, transformation, decomposition and reaction. Surface sites for adsorption and sites for transformation functioned in a catalytic manner. By combining heterogeneous and homogeneous processes, the model described steady state fixation as well as dependence of the maximum rate of fixation and of the rate factor on soil/solution ratio. (Soil mass/solution volume) Information from a related study with a packed-bed reactor made it possible to estimate indivual kinetic coefficients along with concentrations of sites for adsorption and of sites for transformation in a sandy soil.
Non-Equilibrium Physics of Fluctuations near QCD Critical Point

The non-equilibrium dynamics of fluctuations is studied in the vicinity of the QCD critical point. The fluctuations are described by a system of coupled Bolzmann and Langevin equations for a particle distribution function and a critical field, or “soft mode”, respectively. As an example, the formalism is applied to derive the relationship between the fluctuations observed at kinetic freezeout and the critical fluctuations at chemical freezeout in the vicinity of the QCD critical point.
Prospective for nanoplasmonic active devices: Critical assessment

The discussion will focus on compensating loss in Nanoplasmonic waveguides and assessed feasibility of developing subwavelength sources of coherent radiation (spasers). Large metal loss combined with reduction of spontaneous lifetime (Purcell effect) make these tasks exceedingly difficult.
Social Networks and Community-Based Natural Resource Management

We conducted case studies of three successful examples of collaborative, community-based natural resource conservation and development. Our purpose was to: (1) identify the functions served by interactions within the social networks of involved stakeholders; (2) describe key structural properties of these social networks; and (3) determine how these structural properties varied when the networks were serving different functions. The case studies relied on semi-structured, in-depth interviews of 8 to 11 key stakeholders at each site who had played a significant role in the collaborative projects. Interview questions focused on the roles played by key stakeholders and the functions of interactions between them. Interactions allowed the exchange of ideas, provided access to funding, and enabled some stakeholders to influence others. The exchange of ideas involved the largest number of stakeholders, the highest percentage of local stakeholders, and the highest density of interactions. Our findings demonstrated the value of tailoring strategies for involving stakeholders to meet different needs during a collaborative, community-based natural resource management project. Widespread involvement of local stakeholders may be most appropriate when ideas for a project are being developed. During efforts to exert influence to secure project approvals or funding, however, involving specific individuals with political connections or influence on possible sources of funds may be critical. Our findings are consistent with past work that has postulated that social networks may require specific characteristics to meet different needs in community-based environmental management.
Information impediments to innovation of on-line database vendors

Abstract Who decides to improve the information retrieval software for on-line bibliographic or full-text database searching? On what basis do the organizations that make these databases available decide? Are they familiar with known and relatively easy ways to improve retrieval (i.e., of program enhancements that allow for the present kinds of querying without requiring new data structures)? Do they study possible changes in retrieval software in depth or do they just pick some and try them? How important are financial considerations in their decisions to innovate or to wait? These questions are answered on the basis of a telephone survey of 37 on-line vendors.
Changes in biomass, aboveground net primary production, and peat accumulation following permafrost thaw in the boreal peatlands of Manitoba, Canada

Permafrost thaw resulting from climate warming may dramatically change the succession and carbon dynamics of northern ecosystems. To examine the joint effects of regional temperature and local species changes on peat accumulation following thaw, we studied peat accumulation across a regional gradient of mean annual temperature (MAT). We measured aboveground net primary production (AGNPP) and decomposition over 2 years for major functional groups and used these data to calculate a simple index of net annual aboveground peat accumulation. In addition, we collected cores from six adjacent frozen and thawed bog sites to document peat accumulation changes following thaw over the past 200 years. Aboveground biomass and decomposition were more strongly controlled by local succession than regional climate. AGNPP for some species differed between collapse scars and associated permafrost plateaus and was influenced by regional MAT. A few species, such as Picea mariana trees on frozen bogs and Sphagnum mosses in thawed bogs, sequestered a disproportionate amount of peat; in addition, changes in their abundance following thaw changed peat accumulation. 210Pb-dated cores indicated that peat accumulation doubles following thaw and that the accumulation rate is affected by historical changes in species during succession. Peat accumulation in boreal peatlands following thaw was controlled by a complex mix of local vegetation changes, regional climate, and history. These results suggest that northern ecosystems may show responses more complex than large releases of carbon during transient warming.
Effect of the mitral valve on diastolic flow patterns

The leaflets of the mitral valve interact with the mitral jet and significantly impact diastolic flow patterns, but the effect of mitral valve morphology and kinematics on diastolic flow and its implications for left ventricular function have not been clearly delineated. In the present study, we employ computational hemodynamic simulations to understand the effect of mitral valve leaflets on diastolic flow. A computational model of the left ventricle is constructed based on a high-resolution contrast computed-tomography scan, and a physiological inspired model of the mitral valve leaflets is synthesized from morphological and echocardiographic data. Simulations are performed with a diode type valve model as well as the physiological mitral valve model in order to delineate the effect of mitral-valve leaflets on the intraventricular flow. The study suggests that a normal physiological mitral valve promotes the formation of a circulatory (or “looped”) flow pattern in the ventricle. The mitral valve leaflets also increase the strength of the apical flow, thereby enhancing apical washout and mixing of ventricular blood. The implications of these findings on ventricular function as well as ventricular flow models are discussed.
Randomness and the “streaking” phenomenon: Attentional anomalies in performance on the Whitaker Index of Schizophrenic Thinking (WIST)

Examined in detail the performance of 36 hospitalized male schizophrenics on the Whitaker Index of Schizophrenic Thinking (WIST). Results indicated two interesting phenomena. First, the performance of patients with the highest level of cognitive deficit approached a random level of responding with respect to both the type of error made and the propensity to improve after an error. Second, a subgroup of these highly impaired Ss, identified as "streakers," displayed periods of virtually error-free responding, interspersed with periods of extremely impaired performance. The streaking phenomenon, as well as the tendency toward randomness, was discussed in terms of attentional anomalies.
A dual-memory information processing interpretation of sentence comprehension

A dual-memory, information-processing model for comprehension of sentences is developed for tasks where a person has to answer questions about sentences. In two experiments, subjects either read (Experiment I) or listened to (Experiment II) 32 paragraphs of four sentences each and answered a question about one sentence following each paragraph. The voices (active-passive) of the sentences and questions were varied orthogonally. Latency data, accounted for by the models, indicated that surface information was available in short-term store and that either surface or deep structure information was available in long-term store. Sentences and questions were stored in the format of case grammar, verb (agent, recipient).
A simple description of the JP = 1+K±π+π− system in the reactions K±p→K±π+π−p☆

A model in which Q1 and Q2 resonance contributions add coherently to a Gaussian background is shown to reproduce the mass dependence of the JP = 1+K∗π and ϱK partial waves in K±p→K±π+π− at 13 GeV/c. Through a fit to the data, the mass and total width for Q1 are found to be m = 1289 ± 3 ± (25) MeV, Λ = 150 ± 9 (±70) MeV and for Q2, m = 1404 ± 3 (±10) MeV, Λ = 142 ± 4 (±15) MeV, where estimated systematic errors are given in parentheses. While a significant background is required for the 1+K∗π system, none is needed for the 1+ϱK system.
Role of gamma interferon in Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Toxoplasma gondii has emerged as an important pathogen in the ever increasing numbers of patients with disorders of the immune system. Better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance of the host against this protozoan is important for development of safe, effective alternative treatment regimens for toxoplasmosis. Gamma interferon is the cytokine that plays a central role in protection againstToxoplasma gondii. The purpose of this review is to highlight the current knowledge of the role of gamma interferon inToxoplasma gondii infection.
Biofouling of wastewater treatment plants by the freshwater bryozoan, Plumatella vaihiriae (Hastings, 1929)

Abstract We report large growths of a phylactolaemate bryozoan, Plumatella vaihiriae [Hastings, A. (1929) Notes on some little-known phylactolaematous polyzoa and description of a new species from Tahiti. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 10(3), 300–311], from three widely separated domestic wastewater treatment plants in the United States. This relatively uncommon species is previously known only from Tahiti, Hawaii, Utah, and Argentina. The bryozoan colonies are capable of plugging pipes and filters. Free statoblasts are suspected of interfering with ultraviolet disinfection of wastewater. Laboratory reared specimens exhibit rapid, aggressive growth and produce vast quantities of free statoblasts which either float or sink. Devising effective control methods is impeded by limited knowledge of bryozoan physiology. Given the widespread distribution of known wastewater treatment facilities affected by the bryozoan, the problem is probably a common one.
Sverdrup and Nonlinear Dynamics of the Pacific Equatorial Currents

Abstract The Sverdrup circulation in the tropical Pacific is constructed from satellite scatterometer winds, compared with measured ocean currents, and diagnosed in an ocean GCM. Previous depictions of the Sverdrup circulation near the equator have shown only weak vertically integrated flows; here it is shown that the actual transports are not weak. This discrepancy could be due either to inaccuracies in the wind forcing or to Sverdrup dynamics being too simple in this region. Scatterometer winds show a strip of positive curl along the SST front north of the equator in the eastern Pacific that is due to wind speed changes induced by the front. Including that additional element of curl forcing greatly improves the realism of the Sverdrup representation, but the magnitudes of the equatorial transport are still too small by a factor of about 2. Although the nonlinear (advective and friction) terms are small in the model momentum balance, they are O(1) in the vorticity balance, especially because their meridi...
A Reconsideration of Indirect Duties Regarding Non-Human Organisms

According to indirect duty views, human beings lack direct moral duties to non-human organisms, but our direct duties to ourselves and other humans give rise to indirect duties regarding non-humans. On the orthodox interpretation of Kant’s account of indirect duties, one should abstain from treating organisms in ways that render one more likely to violate direct duties to humans. This indirect duty view is subject to several damaging objections, such as that it misidentifies the moral reasons we have to treat non-humans in certain ways and that it sanctions only weak obligations vis-a-vis organisms. I develop an alternative indirect duty view: given a direct duty to oneself to cultivate virtuous dispositions, one has an indirect duty to abstain from treating organisms in ways that erode one’s virtues or develop vices. I argue that this indirect duty view strictly proscribes knowingly causing unnecessary harm to organisms, and I show that it is not subject to the damaging objections directed against the indirect duty view attributed to Kant by the orthodox interpretation. This suggests that indirect duty views are more worthy of consideration than is often supposed.
History and Evolution of Surgical Ethics: John Gregory to the Twenty-first Century

As surgery grew to become a respected medical profession in the eighteenth century, medical ethics emerged as a response to the growing need to protect patients and maintain the public's trust in physicians. The early influences of John Gregory and Thomas Percival were instrumental in the formulation of patient-centered medical ethics. In the late nineteenth century, the modern surgical advances of anesthesia and antisepsis created the need for a discipline of ethics specific to surgery in order to confront new and evolving ethical issues. One of the founding initiatives of the American College of Surgeons in 1913 was to eliminate unethical practices such as fee-splitting and itinerant surgery. As surgery continued to advance in the era of solid organ transplantation and minimally invasive surgery in the latter half of the twentieth century, surgical innovation and conflict of interest have emerged as important ethical issues moving forward into the twenty-first century. Surgical ethics has evolved into a distinct branch of medical ethics, and the core of surgical ethics is the surgeon-patient relationship and the surgeon's responsibility to advance and protect the well-being of the patient.
The biochemical and molecular basis for photosynthetic acclimation to elevated atmospheric CO2

Amax, maximum CO2 assimilation rate CAB, genes encoding chlorophyll a/b binding proteins Ci, intercellular CO2 concentration PGK, the gene encoding 3-phosphoglycerate kinase PRK, the gene encoding phosphoribulokinase PSAB, the gene encoding the 83 kDa apoprotein of the PSI reaction centre PSBA, the gene encoding the D1 protein of photosystem II RBCS, genes encoding the Rubisco small subunit protein RBCL, the gene encoding the Rubisco large subunit protein Rubisco, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase SBP, the gene encoding sedoheptulose-1,5-bisphosphatase There have been many recent exciting advances in our understanding of the cellular processes that underlie photosynthetic acclimation to rising atmospheric CO2 concentration. Of particular interest have been the molecular processes that modulate photosynthetic gene expression in response to elevated CO2 and the biochemical processes that link changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration to the production of a metabolic signal. Central to this acclimation response is a reduction in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) protein content. Studies indicate that this reduction results from species-dependent variation in the differential use and temporal control of molecular processes. We present a model for the control of Rubisco protein accumulation that emphasizes the role of subunit message translation as well as the abundance of subunit messages as components of the acclimation response. Many studies indicate that photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 results from adjustments in leaf carbohydrate signalling. The repression of photosynthetic gene expression is considered to occur primarily by hexokinase functioning as a hexose flux sensor that ultimately affects transcription. Leaf hexoses may be produced as potential sources of signals primarily by sucrose cycling and secondarily by starch hydrolysis. An increased rate of sucrose cycling is suggested to occur at elevated CO2 by enhanced provision of sucrose to leaf acid invertases. Additionally, sink limitations that accentuate photosynthetic acclimation may result from a relative decrease in the export of leaf sucrose and subsequent increase in cellular sucrose levels and sucrose cycling.
PERCUTANEOUS CRYOABLATION OF PORCINE KIDNEYS WITH MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MONITORING

Purpose: We determined the feasibility of a percutaneous approach using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for creating cryoablation lesions in the porcine kidney.Methods and Methods: Three domestic swine underwent renal cryoablation under MRI guidance with a total of 6 cryoablation lesions created in 5 kidneys. A 3 mm. cryoprobe was placed under MRI guidance using an interventional MRI unit. With a pressurized argon gas cooling unit the cryoablation lesion was created and monitored by MRI. Gross and histological examination of the kidneys was performed 1 week after the procedure.Results: All animals survived the procedure without difficulty. A total of 6 cryoablation lesions were produced in 5 kidneys. The lesions were 1.9 × 1.3 to 3.9 × 1.9 cm. on MRI. Histological examination 1 week after treatment showed that the lesions were 1.7 × 1.0 to 3.2 × 1.2 cm. There was an area of coagulation necrosis surrounded by a transition zone of inflammatory reaction a mean of 0.5 cm. in diameter with each lesion.Conclus...
Common good and private justice: letters of marque and the utilitas publica in fourteenth-century Marseilles

Political debate, even in medieval Europe, has often centred upon the relationship between individual liberties and the greater good. Fourteenth-century town councils had to think about protecting private property while ensuring the greater public good. The council registers of late medieval Marseilles offer the opportunity for insight into this public–private dichotomy through an examination of the council's decisions to suspend temporarily the execution of letters of marque. In fourteenth-century Marseilles, letters of marque helped citizens gain restitution from foreign debtors through a judicial authorisation to seize foreign assets. The suspensions, justified in the language of the utilitas publica, were declared for two reasons: to protect the integrity of the town's market by ensuring an ample supply of labourers and victuals, and to protect the town's honourable reputation when dignitaries visited. Study of these suspensions illustrates an overarching philosophy in urban government – that the publ...
Synthesis of a Biotin-Derived Alkyne for Pd-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions

An efficient synthesis of a terminal alkyne derived from d-biotin was developed to provide an alternative for carboxyl-based biotinylation. This approach was illustrated by the preparation of alkyne- and alkene-linked phenylalanine derivatives using palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira and Oh methodology. (Strept)avidin binding was observed using soluble and immobilized receptors. These results demonstrate the applicability of carbon-linked biotin derivatives for use in affinity-based purification and bioanalytical applications.
A reconstruction of Kant's Ether Deduction in Übergang 11

This paper is an attempt to reconstruct a valid and arguably sound version of Kant's Ether Deduction from Ubergang 11 of the Opus postumum (OP). I argue that Kant's Ether Deduction establishes the ...
Pistillate and staminate flower development in dioecious Pistacia vera (Anacardiaceae)

The development of staminate and pistillate flowers in the dioecious tree species Pistacia vera L. (Anacardiaceae) was studied by scanning electron microscopy with the objective of determining organogenetic patterns and phenology of floral differentiation. Flower primordia are initiated similarly in trees of both sexes. Stamen and carpel primordia are initiated in both male and female flowers, and the phenology of organ initiation is essentially identical for flowers of both sexes. Vestigial stamen primordia arise at the flanks of pistillate flower apices at the same time functional stamens are initiated in the staminate flowers. Similarly, a vestigial carpel is initiated in staminate flowers at the same time the primary, functional carpel is initiated in pistillate flower primordia. Differences between the two sexes become apparent early in development as, in both cases, development of organs of the opposite sex becomes arrested at the primordial stage. Male flowers produce between four and six mature functional stamens and female flowers produce a gynoecium with one functional and two sterile carpels.
INVENTORY MODELS WITH A MIXTURE OF BACKORDERS AND LOST SALES.

This article presents several single-echelon, single-item, static demand inventory models for situations in which, during the stockout period, a fraction b of the demand is backordered and the remaining fraction 1 - b is lost forever. Both deterministic and stochastic demand are considered. although the case of stochastic demand is treated heuristically. In each situation, a mathematical model representing the average annual cost of operating the inventory system is developed. and an optimum operating policy derived. At the extremes b=1 and b=0 the models presented reduce to the usual backorders and lost sales cases, respectively.
A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF PYRIDOXINE AND PANTOTHENIC ACID DEFICIENCIES ON THE NERVOUS TISSUES OF SWINE

1. When pigs were fed diets deficient in pyridoxine or pantothenic acid, ataxia developed and lesions were found in the sensory neuron. 2. The morphological pattern of the lesions differed in the early stages of the two deficient states. Degeneration of the peripheral process of the sensory neuron was the initial and most prominent feature in pyridoxine deficiency. Chromatolysis was the first evidence of damage to the afferent neuron in pantothenic acid-deficient animals. 3. The possible significance of this evidence of damage to different portions of the sensory neuron is discussed.
Tumor size and depth predict rate of lymph node metastasis and utilization of lymph node sampling in surgically managed gastric carcinoids.

Radical resection with regional lymphadenectomy is recommended for all sporadic gastric carcinoids. Local resection, however, is accepted for some carcinoids from other gastrointestinal sites (i.e., appendix and rectum). We sought to examine the relation of tumor size and depth to lymph node metastasis to determine whether gastric carcinoids can be selected for endoscopic resection. We also sought to quantify the utilization of lymph node sampling. 984 patients with localized gastric carcinoids who underwent cancer-directed surgery between 1983 and 2005 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry database. Tumor size and depth predicted probability of lymph node metastasis. Lymph node metastasis was not seen in intraepithelial (IE) tumors <2 cm. Of tumors <1 cm invading into the lamina propria or submucosa (LP/SM), 3.4% had lymph node metastasis. Excluding IE tumors <2 cm and LP/SM tumors <1 cm, all other subgroups based on size and depth had rates of lymph node metastasis ≥ 8%. Tumor size and depth predicted probability of lymph node sampling. Overall, only 21% of tumors had lymph node sampling. Excluding IE tumors <2 cm and LP/SM tumors <1 cm, only 43% of tumors had lymph node sampling. Tumor size and depth predict lymph node metastasis for gastric carcinoids. Endoscopic resection may be appropriate for intraepithelial (IE) tumors <2 cm and perhaps tumors <1 cm invading into the lamina propria or submucosa. Lymph node sampling is underused for gastric carcinoids at high risk for lymph node metastasis.
The Relationship Between Firm Resources and Joint Ventures: Revisited

Purpose – This study is a replication of Wolff and Reed’s (2000) work. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the combination of resources brought to joint ventures influence parent-firm performance. This study is also interested in whether or not the exposure of immobile resources through the semi-transparent membrane of the joint venture can have negative effects on parent-firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – The sample consists of two-parent joint ventures formed by publicly traded US firms between 1997 and 2013. The event-study methodology is used to calculate each parent-firm’s abnormal returns. This work also uses content analysis to analyze parent-firms’ annual reports (10-K). Findings – While Wolff and Reed’s results on resource allocation within joint ventures were not statistically significant, this replication study provided strong support to the resource allocation hypothesis. It was found that intangible resource heterogeneity within a joint venture creates higher performance ...
Formation of “Black” Lipid Membranes by Oxidation Products of Cholesterol

THE so-called bimolecular lipid leaflet1, postulated as a basic structural component of natural membranes, has only recently become available for direct experimental investigation2. The formation and properties of bilayer lipid and proteolipid membranes, separating two aqueous phases, have been investigated3–7. The thickness of these membranes in aqueous solution is of the order of 70 A, and they appear “black” when viewed by reflected light8. For this reason they are called “black” lipid membranes (or films) to distinguish them from the well known black soap films in air9.