cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-efficiency SPECT MPI: comparison of automated quantification, visual interpretation, and coronary angiography.

Recently introduced high-efficiency (HE) SPECT cameras with solid-state CZT detectors have been shown to decrease imaging time and reduce radiation exposure to patients. An automated, computer-derived quantification of HE MPI has been shown to correlate well with coronary angiography on one HE SPECT camera system (D-SPECT), but has not been compared to visual interpretation on any of the HE SPECT platforms. Patients undergoing a clinically indicated Tc-99m sestamibi HE SPECT (GE Discovery 530c with supine and prone imaging) study over a 1-year period followed by a coronary angiogram within 2 months were included. Only patients with a history of CABG surgery were excluded. Both MPI studies and coronary angiograms were reinterpreted by blinded readers. One hundred and twenty two very low (risk of CAD < 5%) or low (risk of CAD < 10%) likelihood subjects with normal myocardial perfusion were used to create normal reference limits. Computer-derived quantification of the total perfusion deficit at stress and rest was obtained with QPS software. The visual and automated MPI quantification were compared to coronary angiography (≥70% luminal stenosis) by receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Of the 3,111 patients who underwent HE SPECT over a 1-year period, 160 patients qualified for the correlation study (66% male, 52% with a history of CAD). The ROC area under the curve (AUC) was similar for both the automated and the visual interpretations using both supine only and combined supine and prone images (0.69-0.74). Using thresholds determined from sensitivity and specificity curves, the automated reads showed higher specificity (59%-67% vs 27%-60%) and lower sensitivity (71%-72% vs 79%-93%) than the visual reads. By including prone images sensitivity decreased slightly but specificity increased for both. By excluding patients with known CAD and cardiomyopathies, AUC and specificity increased for both techniques (0.72-0.82). The use of a difference score to evaluate ischemic burden resulted in lower sensitivities but higher specificities for both automated and visual quantification. There was good agreement between the visual interpretation and automated quantification in the entire cohort of 160 unselected consecutive patients (r = 0.70-0.81, P < .0001). Automated and visual quantification of high-efficiency SPECT MPI with the GE Discovery camera provides similar overall diagnostic accuracy when compared to coronary angiography. There was good correlation between the two methods of assessment. Combined supine and prone stress imaging provided the best diagnostic accuracy.
Some Formations Exposed in the Cuyama Gorge, Branch Mountain Quadrangle, California: ABSTRACT

The Cuyama Gorge is that part of the valley of the Cuyama River cut through the San Rafael Mountains northeast of Santa Maria, California for a distance of more than 30 miles. The area extending 3 or 4 miles on either side of the gorge and approximately 17 miles along the river from the western boundary of Branch Mountain Quadrangle to the Thirty-Five Mile bridge has been mapped during the past three summers by the field geology classes of the University of Southern California. Formations exposed in the area are: Franciscan, Knoxville, Chico, Sespe, Monterey, and Santa Margarita, although the last named is not found in the gorge proper. The Franciscan forms the core of a northwest-southeast anticlinal structure, with the Knoxville and Chico lapping up on both sides. Thick beds of the Sespe occur on the northeast flank, with only a small remnant on the southwest. Monterey is found only on the southwest flank, and patches of Santa Margarita occurring here and there on the higher ridges suggest that this formation formerly blanketed the whole area, thinning northwest. The northeastern part of the area is complicated by the Nacimiento Fault, which has caused repetition of the Sespe and Chico. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2378------------
Basal metabolic rate and energetics of reproduction in therian mammals

Traditionally, the fact that reproduction in eutherian (= placental) mammals tends towards prolonged intrauterine development and short lactation has been interpreted as an evolutionary advance over the metatherian (= marsupial) short gestation and prolonged lactation. However, it has recently been postulated that marsupial reproduction involves low initial energy investment and may be advantageous by minimizing energy loss if conditions necessitate early termination. Moreover, because marsupials have basal metabolic rates (BMRs) 30% lower than those of most eutherians, it has been suggested that daily and total energy expenditures during reproduction may also be lower. We have now tested the predictions that low BMR is maintained during reproduction and that initial investment is lower in marsupials. Using indirect calorimetry, we have made the first longitudinal measurements of energy expenditure during reproduction for a marsupial and for two eutherian species with low BMRs. We find that initial investment is lowest in a eutherian and total energetic expenditures were greatest for the marsupial. We also find that, relative to BMR, all three species have increased mean maternal resting metabolic rates (RMRs) during both gestation and lactation; this is the first evidence that mammals with low BMRs can substantially elevate metabolism for prolonged periods during gestation and lactation.
The Mating System of the Prairie Vole, Microtus-Ochrogaster - Field and Laboratory Evidence for Pair-Bonding

1. Field and experimental evidence is provided for the existence of pair-bonding or monogamy in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). 2. Multiple-capture live-trap data indicated that male and female pairs of M. ochrogaster were repeatedly captured together. (A comparable analysis for data from M. pennsylvanicus revealed no indications of long-term male-female associations.) 3. Male-female pair captures of M. ochrogaster were equally likely during either the breeding or nonbreeding seasons, further suggesting a relative stability of pairs. 4. In laboratory dyadic encounters, both males and females from breeding pairs tended to show relatively high levels of aggression toward unfamiliar animals of the opposite sex. In contrast, aggression was rarely observed between members of established breeding pairs. Nonpaired animals of either sex infrequently initiated aggressive encounters. 5. When pairs were separated for 8 days (during which time the females lived with a new male) the apparent pair-bond with the original male was broken. These females became aggressive toward the male with which they had previously bred, and rarely fought with their new mate. This suggests that the pair-bonding process is reversible. 6. Females in postpartum estrus preferentially showed high levels of sexual receptivity and low levels of aggression toward familiar males and were less likely to mate with unfamiliar sexually experienced males. The presence of pups at the time of testing did not appear to influence female-initiated aggression.
Dynamic simulation of direct torque control of induction motors with FPGA based accelerators

We present an efficient FPGA based implementation of a dynamic simulation framework for Direct Torque Control (DTC) of induction motors. The merit of the proposed DTC emulation framework lies in that it is completely implemented within an FPGA, and therefore can be easily utilized for exploratory system optimizations. The high performance and low area foot-print of the proposed framework implemented on a Virtex-S FPGA is the result of several innovative design techniques based on hardware time-multiplexing and the utilization of built-in dedicated floating point IP cores. Our experimental results demonstrate that when FPGAs are utilized as computational cores, the DTC dynamic simulation speed can be improved by almost an order of magnitude compared to a software implementation run in Matlab on a personal computer.
The A326S Mutant of Giα1 as an Approximation of the Receptor-bound State

Agonist-bound heptahelical receptors activate heterotrimeric G proteins by catalyzing exchange of GDP for GTP on their α subunits. In search of an approximation of the receptor-α subunit complex, we have considered the properties of A326S Giα1, a mutation discovered originally in Gsα (Iiri, T., Herzmark, P., Nakamoto, J. M., Van Dop, C., and Bourne, H. R. (1994) Nature 371, 164–168) that mimics the effect of receptor on nucleotide exchange. The mutation accelerates dissociation of GDP from the αi1β1γ2 heterotrimer by 250-fold. Nevertheless, affinity of mutant Giα1 for GTPγS is high in the presence of Mg2+, and the mutation has no effect on the intrinsic GTPase activity of the α subunit. The mutation also uncouples two activities of βγ: stabilization of the GDP-bound α subunit (which is retained) and retardation of GDP dissociation from the heterotrimer (which is lost). For wild-type and mutant Giα1, βγ prevents irreversible inactivation of the α subunit at 30 °C. However, the mutation accelerates irreversible inactivation of α at 37 °C despite the presence of βγ. Structurally, the mutation weakens affinity for GTPγS by steric crowding: a 2-fold increase in the number of close contacts between the protein and the purine ring of the nucleotide. By contrast, we observe no differences in structure at the GDP binding site between wild-type heterotrimers and those containing A326S Giα1. However, the GDP binding site is only partially occupied in crystals of G protein heterotrimers containing A326S Giα1. In contrast to original speculations about the structural correlates of receptor-catalyzed nucleotide exchange, rapid dissociation of GDP can be observed in the absence of substantial structural alteration of a Gα subunit in the GDP-bound state.
Feasibility of extracting toxic metals from soil using anhydrous ammonia

Abstract Pure anhydrous liquid ammonia is a logical choice for extraction of metals from contaminated soil because it forms strong, soluble ammonia complexes with many toxic metals. Ammonia's low cost, availability, and routine use in farming make it even more attractive. Thus, it was the purpose of this research to establish the feasibility of using anhydrous ammonia alone and with enhancing ligands to extract common metal contaminants—lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)—from soil. To evaluate its effectiveness for soil extraction, three devices were used; a pressurized Soxhlet extractor, a plug flow extractor, and a pressurized stirred batch reactor. They all gave essentially the same performance, which suggests that the metal removed was readily extractable. Sixty to seventy percent removal of cadmium, copper, and zinc could be obtained from soils spiked and aged for four months to two years with 50,000 mg/kg of the metal nitrate. Lead and mercury removals were low (
Beliefs and arbitrage pricing

Abstract This paper investigates the necessary restriction on investor beliefs implied by a no-arbitrage price system. In addition, Stone's theorem is invoked to study the existence of equivalent probability measures, and to relate our approach to the existing literature.
Cytometric analysis of Fas and Bcl-2 expression in normal prostatic epithelium and prostate cancer

The apoptosis-inducer Fas and the apoptosis-suppresser Bcl-2 are members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor and Bcl-2 gene superfamilies, respectively. Bcl-2 is overexpressed in hormonally refractory prostate cancer. Fas is expressed in several prostatic carcinoma cell lines but its in vivo expression in normal prostate and in prostate cancer is poorly understood. Formalin-fixed tissue sections from 10 benign prostatic hyperplasias, 10 low-grade and 10 high-grade organ-confined prostate cancers, and 6 metastatic prostate cancers were evaluated for immunoreactivity with Fas and Bcl-2 monoclonal antibodies. In addition, Fas expression was quantitated by computerized cytometry. The results were compared by one-way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni tests. In benign prostate samples, Bcl-2 and Fas were expressed on basal cells and secretory cells, respectively. Bcl-2 was not expressed in any organ-confined tumors and only in one of six metastatic tumors (17%). Fas was expressed in all organ-confined tumors and in two of six metastatic tumors (33%). Fas expression was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in prostate cancer (0.20 pg/cell) compared with benign prostate (0.79 pg/cell). The decrease was inversely related to the malignant grade of the tumors (0.30 pg/cell in low-grade tumors, 0.19 pg/cell in high-grade tumors, and 0.003 pg/cell in metastatic tumors). Based on these preliminary data, decreased expression of Fas appears to be an early molecular event in prostate cancer. The decline begins in low-grade tumors. The lowest expression occurs in metastatic carcinomas, which are often Fas negative. Overexpression of Bcl-2 appears to be a later and unrelated molecular event. Both abnormalities may be implicated in tumor progression by prolonging tumor cell survival.
A time-dependent solution for the operation of ion chambers in a high-ionization background

We have derived a time-dependent solution describing the development of space charge inside an ion chamber, subjected to an externally caused ionization rate N. The solution enables the derivation of a formula that the operational parameters of the chamber must satisfy for saturation free operation. This formula contains a correction factor to account for the finite duration of the ionization rate N.
Awakening lineage potential by Ikaros-mediated transcriptional priming

Bioinformatic studies on a revised hierarchy of hematopoietic progenitors have provided a genome-wide view of lineage-affiliated transcriptional programs directing early hematopoiesis. Unexpectedly, lymphoid, myeloid, and erythroid gene expression programs were primed with similar frequency at the multipotent progenitor stage indicating a stochastic nature to this process. Multilineage transcriptional priming is quickly resolved upon erythroid lineage restriction with both lymphoid and myeloid transcriptional programs rapidly extinguished. However, expression of lymphoid and myeloid factors remains active past nominal lymphoid and myeloid lineage restrictions, revealing a common genetic network utilized by both pathways. Priming and resolution of multilineage potential is dependent on the activity of the DNA binding factor Ikaros. Ikaros primes the lymphoid transcriptional program in the HSC and represses the stem cell and other disparate transcriptional programs downstream of the HSC. Loss of Ikaros removes the lymphoid leg of the immune system and may confer aberrant self-renewing properties to myeloid progenitors.
Popular culture and criminal justice: A preliminary analysis

This article reviews criminal justice themes in various popular culture media–chiefly comics, TV, and movies. It sets up a preliminary scheme for classification of motifs, points to areas that are crucial for research, and makes some general observations about the significance of some of the trends observed for criminological researchers of differing viewpoints.
Significance of Tuning Bulk Viscoelasticity via Polymer Molecular Design on Wet Sliding Friction of Elastomer Compounds

We examine the correlation between wet sliding friction behavior at the sliding speed of order of 1 m/s and bulk hysteretic loss property for elastomer compounds. The compounds are prepared with two styrene–butadiene rubbers of similar microstructure but different macrostructure: one with non-functionalized linear molecules of lower molecular weight while the other with functionalized star-shaped molecules of higher molecular weight.
Economics and the future of process control

En se basant sur les observations reunies dans cet article, on peut en deduire que, tout en ne pouvant s'attendre a une importante modification du niveau du cout du systeme de reglage en tant que fraction du cout de l'ensemble de l'installation, on peut escompter une augmentation notable de l'application des techniques de reglage automatique perfectionnees en raison des depenses reduites, de la fiabilite accrue et de la capacite de calcul plus elevee procurees par les recents progres de l'electronique et des technique de calcul. De telles applications devraient avoir pour resultat un developpement important du domaine du reglage automatique des processus industriels dans les quelques annees a venir.
Lethal synergism between morphine or other narcotic analgesics and propranolol

Abstract Interactions of (±)-propranolol HCl with various narcotics were determined in albino rats. The 24-h intraperitoneal (i.p.) LD 50 of morphine sulfate + saline was 15–16 times greater than for morphine + propranolol in both sexes although morphine was nearly twice as toxic to males as to females. The potency ratios for LD 50 's with saline vs. with propranolol were: codeine, 1.9, (±)-methadone, 6.0; (−)-α-acetylmethadol, 2.8 (72 h). The toxicity of levorphanol also was greatly increased with propranolol, but the dose-effect relationship showed non-parallelism vs. levorphanol + saline. Albino mice and mongrel dogs also showed synergism between morphine and propranolol. Mortality after morphine and propranolol was antagonized by naloxone or naltrexone in rats and mice. The potency ratio in rats for morphine + saline vs. morphine + [ractolol was 3.5. However, the synergism between propranolol and the narcotics probably was unrelated to β-adrenergic blocking effects of propranolol because of the apparent equivalence of (+)-, (−)- and (±)-propranolol in rats for synergism with morphine.
Skeletonized bilateral internal mammary arteries for total arterial myocardial revascularization.

Abstract Background. Bilateral internal mammary artery (IMA) grafting is associated with an improved long-term survival, low rates of recurrence of angina and late myocardial infarction. However, because of the inadequate length of the conduit, use of bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting occasionally is not suitable for complete revascularization. To overcome this limitation, extra length can be obtained by skeletonization of both IMAs. We decided to prospectively assess the safety of this technique. Methods. One hundred patients with a mean age of 52.5 ± 13.1 years underwent complete revascularization with skeletonized bilateral internal mammary arteries on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The right internal mammary artery (RIMA) was used as a free graft connected to the in situ left IMA (LIMA) in 88 patients. A free LIMA was attached to in situ RIMA in 12 patients. The average number of grafts was 3.2 per patient (range: 2–4 grafts per patient). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 60% (range: 25–80%). Results. No patient required reexploration for bleeding, and no patient died within 30 days after operation. On the basis of electrocardiographic changes, three patients sustained a perioperative myocardial infarction. One patient had a sternal wound infection. Mean follow-up was 24 months (range: 6–36 months). The actuarial survival rate was 99 ± 1% at 3 years. No myocardial infarctions were reported during the follow-up. Three patients had recurrent angina with conduit occlusion diagnosed on coronary angiography. Conclusion. Complete myocardial revascularization with skeletonized bilateral internal mammary arteries is a safe and reliable technique with excellent early and mid-term results.
SALINE LAKES … A LOGICAL STEP IN EXPLORING HABITABILITY OF “THE FINAL FRONTIER”

Studies of modern biota in Earth's extreme environments provide valuable insights about microbial life as preserved in the rock record since the Archean (e.g., Knoll 1985; Brocks et al. 1999; Xiong et al. 2000; Eigenbrode and Freeman 2006; Kaufmann et al. 2007; Brake and Hasiotis 2008). Paradigms of evolutionary biology on Earth extend to astrobiology, a field that studies the origin, evolution and distribution of extraterrestrial life forms. The goal of space exploration in its pursuit to find life is to “follow the water” (NASA 2008). As such, the presence of “the universal solvent”—water—is key to assessing the habitability of Mars and other planets (e.g., Rothschild 1990; Malin and Edgett 2003; Squyres et al. 2004; Lineweaver et al. 2004; Bullock 2005). Many recent publications present telescope and space probe data as evidence for the presence of watery biomes in our solar system, and beyond. Life possibly existed in the paleowater body at Endeavour Crater, Mars (Arvidson et al. 2014). Saltwater oceans hypothetically exist below the ice on the Saturn moon Enceladus (e.g., Postberg et al. 2009, 2011). On Europa, the innermost icy satellite of Jupiter, potential biomes include brines made of …
Evolving sea urchin histone genes--nucleotide polymorphisms in the H4 gene and spacers of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

We present a comparison of spacer and coding sequences of histone gene repeats from fourStronglycocentrotus purpuratus individuals. Sequences of two previously cloned units (pCO2 and pSp2) were compared with three new histone gene clones, two of them from a single individual. Within a 1.7-kb region, 59 polymorphic sites were found in spacers, in mRNA nontranslated stretches, and at silent sites in codons of the H4 gene. The permitted silent-site changes were as frequent as in any other region studied. The most abundant polymorphisms were single-base substitutions. The ratio of transitions: tranversions: single-base-pair insertions/deletions was 3∶2∶2. A number of larger insertions/deletions were found, as well as differences in the length of (CTA)n and (CT)n runs. Two of the five cloned repeats contained an insertion of a 195-bp element that is also present at many other sites in the genomes of everyS. purpuratus individual studied. Pairwise comparisons of the different clones indicate that the variation is not uniformly divergent, but ranges from a difference of 0.34% to 3.0% of all nucleotide sites. A parsimonious tree of ancestry constructed from the pariwise comparisons indicates that recombination between the most distantly related repeats has not occurred in the 1–2 million years necessary for accumulation of the variation. The level of sequence variation found within theS. purpuratus population, for both tandemly repeated and single-copy genes, is 25%–50% of that found betweenS. purpuratus andS. drobachiensis.
Identification of Alu transposition in human lung carcinoma cells

Abstract We have demonstrated genetic transposition in human cells. An experimental system was established in which the Ecogpt (gpt) gene was employed as a target for inactivation. The human lung carcinoma cell line A549 containing this target was fused to UV irradiated A549 cells that did not contain the target. From the fusion products, sublines carrying an inactivated gpt gene were analyzed. UV irradiation increased the frequency of inactivated gpt genes in the fusion cells by 100-fold. One subline was found to contain a complete Alu sequence in the coding region of the gpt gene. The inserted element differed from the Blur8 sequence by only 7 out of the 270 nucleotides. The insertion of this Alu element created a 5 by insertion site duplication.
An optimal service ordering for a world wide web server

We consider alternative service policies in a web server with impatient users. User-perceived performance is modeled as an exponentially decaying function of the user's waiting time, reflecting the probability that the user aborts the download before the page is completely received. The web server is modeled as a single server queue, with Poisson arrivals and exponentially distributed file lengths. The server objective is to maximize average revenue per unit time, where each user is assumed to pay a reward proportional to the perceived performance. When file lengths are i.i.d., we prove that the optimal service policy is greedy, namely that the server should choose the job with the highest potential reward. However, when file lengths are independently drawn from a set of exponential distributions, we show the optimal policy need not be greedy; in fact, processor sharing policies sometimes outperform the best greedy policy in this case.
The use of probing tools by tufted capuchins (cebus apella): evidence for increased right-hand preference with age

We examined hand preference in the use of tools by tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). We presented a colony of monkeys with an enclosed container designed to accommodate the use of probing tools. Over an 8-month period, 13 monkeys used probes to extract sweet syrup from the narrow opening of the apparatus. Five monkeys exhibited bias toward use of their right hand and eight monkeys exhibited bias toward use of their left hand. Adult monkeys exhibited a greater percentage of right-hand preferent probing sequences than did juveniles. These results are consistent with hypotheses that in tasks that involve the use of tools, nonhuman primates exhibit strong lateral asymmetries at the individual level, a moderate left-hand bias at the population level, and increased bias with age toward use of the right hand.
Effects of intracerebral administration of neuropeptide-Y on secretion of luteinizing hormone in ovariectomized sheep.

Abstract Ovariectomized ewes received unilateral infusions of 20 μg neuropeptide-Y (NPY) at a total of 13 intracerebral sites. Episodic secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) was transiently suppressed on more than one occasion by daily infusions at a total of five intracerebral sites. Four of the effective sites were located within the third ventricle (two sites) and the rostral and ventral part of a lateral ventricle (two sites). The precise neural site of action of exogenous NPY cannot be determined from intraventricular administration, but it indicates a neural rather than pituitary site of NPY action to inhibit LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) in sheep. The only tissue infusion site (ventromedial nucleus) at which NPY also suppressed LH/LHRH also supports a neural action on LHRH, but this single result is insufficient to establish the neural area at which NPY acted. It is known from other work that the production of endogenous NPY in neural tissue of underfed animals is increased, and if endogenous NPY exerts effects on LH/LHRH similar to the suppression presently observed following exogenous NPY this neuropeptide might serve as one neuroendocrine factor that suppresses reproduction in underfed animals.
An optimum channel routing algorithm in the restricted wire overlap model

Abstract In this paper we study the channel routing problem in the knock-knee mode with restricted edge overlap. We present an optimal algorithm which achieves t = dm with an overlap of O(m) edges between any two nets, where t is the number of tracks, dm is the density, and m is the multiplicity of nets. The algorithm improves upon the previous results of Sarrafzadeh [24] and has the properties: (1) it uses only vertical edge overlap; (2) it does not use any columns outside the channel; and (3) it connects adjacent terminals of a net by shortest wires. Furthermore, our algorithm reduces the overlap between two nets from O(m2) to O(m). The running time of the algorithm is O(dmnm), where n is the number of nets.
Crohn's disease presenting as enterolithic intestinal obstruction

A 44-year-old woman who had 1-year history of intermittent mild abdominal pain was admitted to the emergency ward with a 1-day history of severe abdominal pain associated with obstipation, abdominal distension, and vomiting. She denied any history of fever, altered bowel function, exposure to tuberculosis, prior abdominal surgery, anorexia, and weight loss. On examination she was afebrile, hemodynamically stable, and had moderate abdominal distension with diffuse tenderness all over. Bowel sounds were exaggerated. Anorectal examination was normal. An abdominal radiograph revealed dilated small bowel with multiple airfluid levels and five large enteroliths in erect and supine films, respectively ( Fig. 1). Her hemoglobin was 11 g%, and her white blood cell count was 9,200/mm 3 (P 78%, L 22%). Serum electrolytes and renal and liver functions were within normal limits. She was operated on after 72 hours of failed conservative treatment. Exploration revealed diffuse jejunoileal disease with sparing of the distal 60 cm of ileum. Affected bowel was thick, edematous with increased vascularity, and had mesenteric fat creeping with multiple large lymph nodes in thickened mesentery. Stomach, duodenum, colon, and bowel between the diseased segments were normal looking. There were six partial small bowel strictures: one in the distal jejunum and five in the mid ileum lying 2 to 4 cm apart. Five enteroliths of 2 cm to 5 cm in size were found in the ileum, four of which were present between the last two strictures and could not be milked in either direction. A smaller enterolith was impacted in the lumen at the distal stricture producing complete obstruction. The jejunal stricture was treated by strictureplasty and 30 cm of ileum having strictures with contained enteroliths was resected with primary anastomosis of the bowel (Fig. 2). The remaining enterolith was milked out. Opened up bowel showed transverse areas of ulceration corresponding to the stricture sites, and mucosa between strictures appeared normal. Microscopic examination revealed mucosal ulceration, focal areas of hemorrhagic necrosis, and transmural infiltration of the chronic inflammatory cells. No well-defined
Effects of future climate change on regional air pollution episodes in the United States

[1] We examine the impact of future climate change on regional air pollution meteorology in the United States by conducting a transient climate change (1950–2052) simulation in a general circulation model (GCM) of the Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS). We include in the GCM two tracers of anthropogenic pollution, combustion carbon monoxide (COt) and black carbon (BCt). Sources of both tracers and the loss frequency of COt are held constant in time, while wet deposition of BCt responds to the changing climate. Results show that the severity and duration of summertime regional pollution episodes in the midwestern and northeastern United States increase significantly relative to present. Pollutant concentrations during these episodes increase by 5–10% and the mean episode duration increases from 2 to 3–4 days. These increases appear to be driven by a decline in the frequency of mid-latitude cyclones tracking across southern Canada. The cold fronts associated with these cyclones are known to provide the main mechanism for ventilation of the midwestern and northeastern United States. Mid-latitude cyclone frequency is expected to decrease in a warmer climate; such a decrease is already apparent in long-term observations. Mixing depths over the midwest and northeast increase by 100–240 m in our future-climate simulation, not enough to compensate for the increased stagnation resulting from reduced cyclone frequency.
Gender differences in the sexual behavior of latino adolescents: an exploratory study in a public high school in the san francisco bay area.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with sexual behavior among urban, first-generation Latino adolescents. Methods Data were collected with self-administered questionnaires on 176 (98 girls and 78 boys) Latino high school students between the ages of Fifteen and nineteen years, of whom 76 percent were born in Latin America and 34 percent had lived in the United States for two years or less. The outcome variables measured three levels of sexual activity, defined as: sexual abstinence, "making out" (kissing passionately, or kissing "using one's tongue"), and sexual intercourse. The key predictors were gender and acculturation. Other variables included information on socio-demographics, self and body-image, college aspirations, and family structure/relationships. Stratified analysis was conducted for each gender. Results Twenty percent of boys and 27 percent of girls were abstainers. Whereas girls were more likely than boys to "make out" only (47% vs. 26%), boys were more likely to engage in sexual intercourse (54% vs. 26%). For girls, there was a negative association between making out and maternal punishment, feeling close to both parents and paternal love. Sexual intercourse was inversely associated with having educational goals beyond high school and presence of parental love, and positively correlated with age and maternal communication about sex. In boys, the predictors of "making out" were feeling close to both parents and Spanish language spoken with friends, and for sexual intercourse the significant predictors were feeling close to both parents, presence of an older sister, and body-image. Conclusions The results indicate that family structure and relationships, personal characteristics, and acculturation play important but different roles in the sexual development of Latino adolescent girls and boys. Sex education curricula should take these gender and family influences into account.
AFM studies of the nucleation and growth mechanisms of macromolecular crystals

Abstract Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to visualize events arising from the formation of intervening metastable phases at the surfaces of macromolecular crystals growing from solution. Crystals investigated were of the proteins canavalin, thaumatin, lipase, xylanase, and catalase, crystals of transfer RNA, and crystals of satellite tobacco mosaic virus. The appearance of aggregates on crystal surfaces was observed. The aggregates we infer to originate from liquid-protein droplets. These were particularly evident in freshly mixed mother liquor solutions. Droplets, upon sedimentation, have two possible fates. In some cases they immediately restructured as crystalline, multilayer stacks whose development was guided by, and contiguous with the underlying lattice. These contributed to the ordered growth of the crystal by serving as sources of growth steps. In other cases, liquid-protein droplets formed distinct microcrystals, somehow discontinuous with the underlying lattice, and these were subsequently incorporated into the growing substrate crystal. Scarring experiments with the AFM tip indicated that, detached from the crystal, molecules do not dissolve in the fluid phase but form metastable liquid-protein droplets with a potential to rapidly crystallize on the crystal surface. The molecular structure of the growth steps for thaumatin and lipase protein crystals were deduced. There is no step roughness due to thermal fluctuations, and each protein molecule which incorporated into the step edge remained. Growth steps propagate by addition of individual molecules which form subkinks of different size on the step edge.
Ubiquitous Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Assimilation by Marine Bacteria in the Pacific Northwest Coastal Ocean as Determined by Stable Isotope Probing

In order to identify bacteria that assimilate dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the northeast Pacific Ocean, stable isotope probing (SIP) experiments were conducted on water collected from 3 different sites off the Oregon and Washington coasts in May 2010, and one site off the Oregon Coast in September 2008 and March 2009. Samples were incubated in the dark with 2 mM 13C-NaHCO3, doubling the average concentration of DIC typically found in the ocean. Our results revealed a surprising diversity of marine bacteria actively assimilating DIC in the dark within the Pacific Northwest coastal waters, indicating that DIC fixation is relevant for the metabolism of different marine bacterial lineages, including putatively heterotrophic taxa. Furthermore, dark DIC-assimilating assemblages were widespread among diverse bacterial classes. Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes dominated the active DIC-assimilating communities across the samples. Actinobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia were also implicated in DIC assimilation. Alteromonadales and Oceanospirillales contributed significantly to the DIC-assimilating Gammaproteobacteria within May 2010 clone libraries. 16S rRNA gene sequences related to the sulfur-oxidizing symbionts Arctic96BD-19 were observed in all active DIC assimilating clone libraries. Among the Alphaproteobacteria, clones related to the ubiquitous SAR11 clade were found actively assimilating DIC in all samples. Although not a dominant contributor to our active clone libraries, Betaproteobacteria, when identified, were predominantly comprised of Burkholderia. DIC-assimilating bacteria among Deltaproteobacteria included members of the SAR324 cluster. Our research suggests that DIC assimilation is ubiquitous among many bacterial groups in the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest marine environment and may represent a significant metabolic process.
Bile duct ligation induced acute inflammation up-regulates cyclooxygenase-2 content and PGE2 release in guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle cell cultures

Abstract Introduction : This study examines hypotheses that BDL induces increased guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle PGE 2 release by up-regulation of COX-2. Methods : BDL, Sham and Control Hartley guinea pig gallbladders were placed in cell culture, grown to confluence and underwent Western Blot analysis for smooth muscle cell content of COX-1, COX-2, Prostacylin Synthase, actin, caldesmon, vinculin, meta-vinculin and tropomyosin and were assayed for basal release of 6-keto- PGF 1 α , PGE 2 and TxB 2 by EIA. Results : BDL did not alter content of smooth muscle cytoskeletal proteins. BDL for 48 h increased smooth muscle cell release of PGE 2 and 6-keto- PGF 1 α by 3-fold or more when compared to the Control and Sham groups. Western Blot analysis showed increased content of COX-2 in the BDL group. Conclusions : BDL for 48 h markedly increased endogenous guinea pig smooth muscle cell PG release, which was due to increased COX-2 synthesis.
Generalization Bounds and Consistency for Latent Structural Probit and Ramp Loss

We consider latent structural versions of probit loss and ramp loss. We show that these surrogate loss functions are consistent in the strong sense that for any feature map (finite or infinite dimensional) they yield predictors approaching the infimum task loss achievable by any linear predictor over the given features. We also give finite sample generalization bounds (convergence rates) for these loss functions. These bounds suggest that probit loss converges more rapidly. However, ramp loss is more easily optimized on a given sample.
Crisis resource management among strangers: principles of organizing a multidisciplinary group for crisis resource management

Patient safety depends on the skills, vigilance, and judgment of trained individuals working as members of a clinical team that includes anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, and technicians. Now, as never before, safe outcome depends both on better knowledge and better management. This requires organization of caregivers, who may be strangers from diverse disciplines, into teams. One can drill an individual to work safely alone. One can rehearse a series of scenarios with small groups (who regularly work together) to improve performance. But what does one do with an unrehearsed group, called together in an emergency from several different disciplines, usually including Anesthesia. These people may not know each other, their roles, their special skills, and may even be hazy about each other's goals. Rapid organization of such an ad hoc team becomes a critical priority where patient safety is at stake. The way by which such an ad hoc team from several disciplines can rapidly be helped to function effectively together is by teaching all the "strangers" the principles of Crisis Resource Management. These principles are not as well-presented in a written text or lecture format, as one cannot introduce the sense of urgency that emotionally charges and changes the impact. We believe the best teacher is experience gained in a realistic simulated environment using a model driven, full human simulator. This simulated environment is safe for both patient and trainee.
A Generic Model of Enterprise Service-Oriented Architecture

Modern enterprise consists of complicate business systems. The enterprise service-oriented architecture (ESOA) becomes more and more mainstream for designing and implementing enterprise business systems. The purpose of this paper is to build a generic and abstract model of enterprise service-oriented architecture. The model consists of seven sets: services, service consumers, service data, service infrastructure, service processes, service management and service quality attributes. We formally define each set as well as relationships in ESOA and discuss their roles. Finally we conclude by comparing related models of ESOA and presenting the benefits of our model for both researchers and practitioners in ESOA.
An investigation of salt marsh dieback in georgia using field transplants

In 2001 and 2002, Georgia salt marshes experienced a dieback event that, affected more than 800 ha throughout the coastal zone. The dieback event was unprecedented in the state and affected bothSpartina alterniflora andJuncus roemerianus. A transplant study was conducted from May to October 2003 to determine if healthy plants could survive in dieback areas. Transplants were carried out at two locations on the Georgia coast in areas ofS. alterniflora dieback along the banks of tidal creeks, an area ofS. alterniflora dieback in the mid marsh, and aJ. roemerianus dieback, area in the mid marsh. Transplant survival was nearly 100% and growth (measured as increases in the height of the 5 tallest stems and the number of stems per experimental pot) was observed in both healthy (control) and dieback areas.J. roemerianus grew more slowly thanS. alterniflora, with no, observed increase in stem height and an average 38% increase in stem density as compared to an average 57% increase in stem height and 137% increase in stem density inS. alterniflora. Differences in growth were inconsistent but in most cases no significant differences were observed between healthy and dieback areas. Soil characteristics measured over the course of the experiment were generally comparable between healthy and dieback areas (redox potential averaged 69±123 [SD] across all observations at all sites, pH averaged 6.7 ± 0.3 and salinity averaged 24.9±4.4), but porewater ammonium (NH4) concentration was often higher in dieback areas (overall mean NH4 concentration, was 138±127 μM in dieback areas versus 33±40 μM in healthy areas). These results suggest that the cause of dieback was no, longer present at the time of this study and that transplants are a possibility for restoring affected areas.
GENETIC CONTROL OF BONE MARROW GRAFT REJECTION : I. DETERMINANT-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCE OF REACTIVITY IN TWO PAIRS OF INBRED MOUSE STRAINS

Transplantation of 5 x 105 DBA/2 ( H-2d ) bone marrow cells into irradiated B10 and 129-strain mice (both H-2b ) resulted in graft failure in the first recipient strain and in graft take in the second. Transplantation of B10 ( H-2b ) cells into irradiated B10.BR and C3H mice (both H-2k ) also resulted in failure in the congenic B10.BR recipients and take in the C3H mice. Resistance and susceptibility of B10 and 129-strain animals were specific for given H-2 alleles of donor cells. Transplantation of DBA/2 marrow into (B10 x 129)F2 mice and of B10 marrow into (B10.BR x C3H)F1 x C3H backcross mice revealed definite genetic control of the graft-rejection process, presumably at the level of alloantigen recognition. Resistance to allografts, or responder status, was conferred upon segregating mice by dominant alleles of two major independent autosomal loci. The effects of the loci were additive. Conversely, susceptibility to allografts, or nonresponder status, was due to the apparently recessive alleles of both loci. None of the genes was closely linked with the markers tf (tufted) and T (brachyury) of linkage group IX, Aw (white-bellied agouti) of linkage group V, Sl (steel) of linkage group IV, and cch (chinchilla) and p (pink eye, dilute) of linkage group I. There were suggestions, however, that the regulator genes of marrow graft rejection are either non- H-2 histocompatibility genes or other genetic factors closely linked with them.
Fungal and bacterial responses to phenolic compounds and amino acids in high altitude barren soils

Abstract The total, fungal and bacterial biomass of functional groups capable of growth on specific phenolic compounds and amino acids was determined for a high altitude (3750 m) unvegetated talus soil from the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Soils were incubated with 14 C-labeled carbon substrates (salicylate, phenol, glutamate, or alanine) and either fungal inhibitors (cyclohexamide plus nystatin), bacterial inhibitors (ampicillin plus streptomycin), all four inhibitors or no inhibitors. The assays were carried out at 22 °C for soil collected in August 1998, and 10 °C for soils collected in July 1999 under snow, to determine if trends were consistent seasonally. Two important trends emerged. First, fungi and bacteria grew on different phenolic compounds. Growth on salicylate was entirely fungal, whereas growth on phenol was entirely bacterial. However growth on amino acids was by both bacteria and fungi. Second, the fungi appear to dominate labile C mineralization in spring, and bacteria dominate in summer. Glutamate-mineralizing fungi had a higher biomass than glutamate-mineralizing bacteria (600 vs. 200 ng C g −1 ) in spring, but lower biomass than bacteria in summer (2 vs. 26 μg C g −1 ). Salicylate-mineralizing fungi had higher biomass in spring than in summer (100 vs. 50 ng C g −1 ). These results suggest that fungi and bacteria are partitioning labile-C mineralization both by substrate (in the case of phenolic compounds) and seasonally.
An analytical model for snapback in n-channel SOI MOSFET's

An analytical snapback model for n-channel silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors with body either tied to the source or floating is been presented. The snapback is modeled as a nonlinear feedback system leading to negative transconductances from which the jump in current can occur at the point of instability. The crux of this model is based on the strong dependence of the transistor threshold voltage on the body potential when the body potential is above the transistor surface potential at strong inversion. No parasitic bipolar action is invoked to account for the snapback phenomena. The model correctly predicts the occurrence of hysteresis/latch phenomena and the conditions under which the current jump occurs despite some gross approximations in the electric field and the injection level. Results obtained from this model show good agreement with experimental data measured from SIMOX devices fabricated on 0.3- mu m epi film. >
Decision Making within the Household

Existing research on household decision making is reviewed in terms of three questions: (1) Which family members are involved in economic decisions? (2) What is the nature of family decision processes? and (3) Are decision outcomes affected by differences in family role structure and decision strategies? Problem areas related to each of these questions are discussed, including an overemphasis on decision roles rather than processes and outcomes, noncomparable and insufficient measures of purchase influence, and marketing's preference for individual-based models of consumer behavior.