cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization and localization of Mox2, the gene encoding the murine homolog of the rat MRC OX-2 membrane glycoprotein

MRC OX-2 is a rat type I membrane glycoprotein and a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily that has recently been shown to be able to costimulate murine T cell proliferation (Borriello et al. J. Immunol. 158, 4548, 1997). We now report the genomic organization for the gene encoding the murine homolog of MRC OX-2 (Mox2). The gene is composed of 6 exons and 5 introns spanning a minimum of 13.7 kb. Exon 1 encodes the amino terminal four amino acids and is located in the center of a 500-bp CpG island, suggestive of the presence of a promoter. Analysis of the sequences immediately upstream of exon 1, however, do not reveal a TATA or CAAT box. We also demonstrate that in addition to the canonical transcript, composed of exons 1 through 6, this gene gives rise to an additional nonproductive transcript resulting from the absence of exon 2, which leads to a frameshift and premature translation termination. The ratio of these alternative transcripts is not regulated by mitogenic stimulation with ConA or LPS. The Mox2 gene maps to Chr 16, telomeric to the clustered T cell costimulatory molecules Cd80 and Cd86 (Reeves et al. Genomics in press).
Gyromagnetic Ratio of Nickel Ferrite

The gyromagnetic ratio of the ferrite NiO${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ was determined by measurements of the Einstein-de Haas effect. The ${g}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ value of 1.849\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002 indicates that the magnetization is largely due to the ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{++}$ ions as in the N\'eel model. Comparison with values of $g$ determined by ferromagnetic resonance investigations furnishes evidence as to the validity of the Kittel-Van Vleck relation for ferrites.
Obesity does not increase morbidity of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract Background Obesity has historically been a positive predictor of surgical morbidity, especially in the morbidly obese. The purpose of our study was to compare outcomes of obese patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods We reviewed 1382 consecutive patients retrospectively who underwent LC for various pathologies from January 2008 to August 2011. Patients were stratified based on the World Health Organization definitions of obesity: nonobese (body mass index [BMI] 2 ), obesity class I (BMI 30–34.9 kg/m 2 ), obesity class II (BMI 35–39.9 kg/m 2 ), and obesity class III (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ). The primary end points were conversion rates and surgical morbidity. The secondary end point was length of stay. Results There were significantly more females in the obesity II and III groups ( P = 0.0002). American Society of Anesthesiologists scores were significantly higher in the obesity I, II, and III groups compared with the nonobese ( P P P P = 0.01), acute cholecystitis ( P = 0.03), operative time ( P P P P = 0.009), white patients ( P = 0.009), previous surgery ( P = 0.001), operative time ( P P = 0.01). Independent predictors of postoperative complications on MVA included American Society of Anesthesiologists score ( P P P Conclusions This study demonstrates that overall conversion rates and surgical morbidity are relatively low following LC, even in obese and morbidly obese patients.
Glycolytic metabolites and co-factors in human cerebral cortex and white matter during complete ischemia

Abstract Human cerebral cortex and white matter obtained from patients with intracranial tumors were incubated ischemically for varying periods of time extending to 4 h in order to determine the order and rate of recruitment of energy reserves. An estimate of metabolic rate (∼P flux) was calculated on the basis of the disappearance rate of substrates with known energy potential ( P-creatine , ATP, glucose and glycogen). Extrapolation of this data to the in vivo status of anesthetized human brain gives predicted values for cerebral respiratory rate and glucose consumption which are in substantial agreement with that estimated by other techniques. No significant difference in the metabolic rate of human grey and white matter exposed to anesthetic agents could be detected. The order of recruitment of energy reserves in the ischemic cerebral tissue was P -creatine, ATP, glucose, with glycogen expended last at much slower rate. The rate of glycolysis increased by at least 10-fold in the ischemic tissue and appeared to be due primarily to facilitation at the phosphofructokinase and hexokinase steps of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway.
Chloride homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: high affinity influx, V-ATPase-dependent sequestration, and identification of a candidate Cl- sensor.

Chloride homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been characterized with the goal of identifying new Cl− transport and regulatory pathways. Steady-state cellular Cl− contents (∼0.2 mEq/liter cell water) differ by less than threefold in yeast grown in media containing 0.003–5 mM Cl−. Therefore, yeast have a potent mechanism for maintaining constant cellular Cl− over a wide range of extracellular Cl−. The cell water:medium [Cl−] ratio is >20 in media containing 0.01 mM Cl− and results in part from sequestration of Cl− in organelles, as shown by the effect of deleting genes involved in vacuolar acidification. Organellar sequestration cannot account entirely for the Cl− accumulation, however, because the cell water:medium [Cl−] ratio in low Cl− medium is ∼10 at extracellular pH 4.0 even in vma1 yeast, which lack the vacuolar H+-ATPase. Cellular Cl− accumulation is ATP dependent in both wild type and vma1 strains. The initial 36Cl− influx is a saturable function of extracellular [36Cl−] with K1/2 of 0.02 mM at pH 4.0 and >0.2 mM at pH 7, indicating the presence of a high affinity Cl− transporter in the plasma membrane. The transporter can exchange 36Cl− for either Cl− or Br− far more rapidly than SO4=, phosphate, formate, HCO3−, or NO3−. High affinity Cl− influx is not affected by deletion of any of several genes for possible Cl− transporters. The high affinity Cl− transporter is activated over a period of ∼45 min after shifting cells from high-Cl− to low-Cl− media. Deletion of ORF YHL008c (formate-nitrite transporter family) strongly reduces the rate of activation of the flux. Therefore, Yhl008cp may be part of a Cl−-sensing mechanism that activates the high affinity transporter in a low Cl− medium. This is the first example of a biological system that can regulate cellular Cl− at concentrations far below 1 mM.
Safety of the supraclavicular artery island flap in the setting of neck dissection and radiation therapy.

Background The supraclavicular artery island flap (SAIF) has recently been repopularized as a versatile and reliable option for reconstruction of oncological head and neck defects. Prior ipsilateral neck dissection or irradiation is considered a relative contraindication to its use. The aim of this study was to describe the safety and utility of the SAIF for head and neck reconstruction in the setting of neck dissection and radiation. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of consecutive SAIF reconstructions at two institutions between May 2011 and 2014. In addition to demographic data, comorbidities, indications, surgical characteristics, data about radiation treatment, and neck dissection were specifically recorded. Donor and recipient site complications were noted. Fisher exact test was performed to analyze if neck dissection or radiation were associated with complications. Results A total of 22 patients underwent SAIF reconstruction for an array of head and neck defects. Donor site infection was noted in one patient. Recipient site complications included, wound dehiscence ( n = 2), orocutaneous fistula ( n = 1), carotid blowout ( n = 1), and total flap loss ( n = 1). There was no association between prior neck dissection or radiation treatment and flap loss ( p = 1.00). Conclusion The SAIF is safe for use in patients who have had an ipsilateral neck dissection involving level IV or V lymph nodes and/or radiation treatment to the neck. It can be used alone or in combination with other flaps for closure of a variety of head and neck defects.
Labradors to Persians: Perceptions of pets in the workplace

AbstractThis article reports the findings of a study examining the effects of the presence of pets in an office on people's perceptions of the work environment, the company, and the people who work there. Participants were 482 college students from a medium-sized university in the Southeast who were randomly assigned to view a slide of an office that contained one of six breeds of dogs, one of four breeds of cats, or no animal at all, and then completed a survey. Results indicated that pets are perceived to improve the moods of both customers and employees, to increase social interaction, and to make the employees appear less busy. However, they do make an office appear less professional and less clean and safe. There were few differences in perceptions based upon the various breeds of cats and dogs, with the exception of shorthaired black cats, which were generally rated less favorably.
Direct perturbation theory for solitons of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation and the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation.

A direct perturbation theory for solitons of the derivative nonlinear Schrodinger (DNLS) equation is developed based on a closure of eigenfunctions of the linearized DNLS equation around a one-soliton solution. The slow evolution of soliton parameters and the perturbation-induced radiation are obtained. Under the known simple gaugelike transformation, these results are transformed into those for the perturbed modified nonlinear Schrodinger (MNLS) equation describing propagation of femtosecond pulses in optical fibers. A calculation of the perturbation-induced radiation fields for the perturbed DNLS and MNLS equations is also made. Our results for the perturbed MNLS equation can be reduced perfectly to those for the perturbed nonlinear Schrodinger equation in the small nonlinear-dispersion limit.
SU‐FF‐I‐109: Quantitative Breast Tomosynthesis: Development of An Estimation Performance Metric and Optimization Framework

Purpose: To develop performance metrics for estimation tasks and employ the framework to optimize breast tomosynthesis systems for quantitative imaging purposes. Method and Materials: A maximum likelihood (ML) estimator was derived in terms of the noise power spectrum (NPS), which yielded a figure of merit for quantitative imaging performance denoted the ML mean error (sML). The sML was computed for the estimation of lesion diameter, volume, and attenuation. Volumetric tomosynthesis reconstructions of a breast phantom, which incorporated electronic, quantum, and anatomical noise (1/fb) with embedded spherical lesions were simulated at tomosynthesis acquisition angles (tomo‐angle) varying from 4o to 200o and at constant total acquisition dose (1.5 mGy). The estimation task results were further compared with a more conventional lesion detection task. Results: Results reveals tradeoffs between electronic, quantum, and anatomical noise. For a 1.25 mm radius spherical lesion, the mean error (sML) as a function of tomo‐angle varied from 0.06 to 0.5 mm for the 2D disk radius estimation task and from 0.2 to 0.9 mm for the 3D sphere radius estimation task. Furthermore, for a given sML, the 3D size estimation task required a larger tomo‐angle than for the 2D size estimation task, highlighting the need for larger acquisition angles in 3D imaging tasks (i.e., volume estimation). Overall, size estimation performance was maximized at a tomo‐angle of ∼90o. Results also suggested that size estimation tasks generally required a larger tomo‐angle than conventional detection task. Conclusions:Analysis of quantitative imaging performance using Fourier metrics highlights the difference between 2D and 3D estimation tasks in breast tomosynthesis and provides a meaningful framework for optimizing the performance of volumetric imaging systems for quantitative imaging tasks.
The Fibrous Structure of the Nerve Axon in Relation to the Localization of "Neurotubules"

In squid, frog, rat, and human nerves examined in thin sections with the electron microscope the axon contains, in addition to certain other particulates, characteristic filaments. These filaments have diameters ranging from about 100 to 200 A and have indefinite length. They frequently have a nodose appearance due to the presence of discontinuities sometimes fairly regularly spaced along the filaments. This structure differs unmistakably from that of the dense-edged fibrils called "neurotubules" and it is clear that the latter are not axonic constituents. Though dense-edged fibrils can readily be demonstrated in fragmented formalin-fixed nerve preparations, they are seldom observed in thin sections. When such structures were seen in these experiments they were located in the connective tissue sheath. The present evidence offers no support for the view that "neurotubules" are structural entities of normal intact nerves.
Conceptual Influences on Category-Based Induction.

One important function of categories is to permit rich inductive inferences. Prior work shows that children use category labels to guide their inductive inferences. However, there are competing theories to explain this phenomenon, differing in the roles attributed to conceptual information vs. perceptual similarity. Seven experiments with 4- to 5-year-old children and adults (N=344) test these theories by teaching categories for which category membership and perceptual similarity are in conflict, and varying the conceptual basis of the novel categories. Results indicate that for non-natural kind categories that have little conceptual coherence, children make inferences based on perceptual similarity, whereas adults make inferences based on category membership. In contrast, for basic- and ontological-level categories that have a principled conceptual basis, children and adults alike make use of category membership more than perceptual similarity as the basis of their inferences. These findings provide evidence in favor of the role of conceptual information in preschoolers' inferences, and further demonstrate that labeled categories are not all equivalent; they differ in their inductive potential.
Plasma reduced and total ascorbic acid in healthy women: Effects of smoking and oral contraception

Abstract This is the first report of both reduced (RAA) and total (TAA) plasma ascorbic acid levels in women who smoke and are on oral contraception. 155 normal healthy subjects were investigated. A study questionnaire was completed including age, method of contraception, smoking status, and food intake at breakfast, prior to attending the clinic. Biochemical assays were promptly carried out without knowledge of subjects's clinical or dietary status. One-way analysis of variance revealed that oral contraception per se, barrier or IUD methods have no effect on plasma ascorbic acid levels. The mean values ( mg / dl ± SD ) for plasma RAA between smokers and nonsmokers were 0.512 ± 0.241 and 0.601 ± 0.263; and that for TAA were 0.565 ± 0.232 and 0.682 ± 0.231, respectively. Significant decreases in both plasma RAA (p
Deciding for Bigness

This essay draws upon the contractarian distinction between constitutional and operational levels of personal choice and an evolutionary analysis of the growth of firms to illuminate the complex of theoretical and historical issues surrounding the emergence of large-scale economic organization in the United States in the years since 1870. The evolutionary analysis suggests why the individual's economic autonomy must largely be sacrificed for the material wealth made possible by increasing scale in production, and a juxtaposition of the views of F. A. Hayek and Louis Brandeis on this question, seen in the light of the fundamental tenets of American antitrust and corporate law, offers a perspective on the operational and constitutional choices we have made with respect to “bigness” and on the values these choices have revealed.
Analysis of submicrogram samples by INAA

Abstract Procedures have been developed to increase the sensitivity of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) so that cosmic-dust samples weighing only 10−9–10−7 g are routinely analyzed for a sizable number of elements. The primary differences from standard techniques are: (1) irradiation of the samples is much more intense, (2) gamma ray assay of the samples is done using long counting times and large Ge detectors that are operated in an excellent low-background facility, (3) specially prepared glass standards are used, (4) samples are too small to be weighed routinely and concentrations must be obtained indirectly, (5) sample handling is much more difficult, and contamination of small samples with normally insignificant amounts of contaminants is difficult to prevent. In spite of the difficulties, INAA analyses have been done on 15 cosmic-dust particles and a larger number of other stratospheric particles. Two-sigma detection limits for some elements are in the range of femtograms (10−15 g), e.g. Co = 11, Sc = 0.9, Sm = 0.2. A particle weighing just 0.2 ng was analyzed, obtaining abundances with relative analytical uncertainties of less than 10% for four elements (Fe, Co, Ni and Sc), which were sufficient to allow indentification of the particle as chondritic interplanetary dust. Larger samples allow abundances of twenty or more elements to be obtained.
Wide genital hiatus is a risk factor for recurrence following anterior vaginal repair

Abstract Objective To determine if a wide genital hiatus is a risk factor for recurrence of anterior vaginal wall prolapse following anterior vaginal repair. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who had undergone an anterior vaginal wall repair. Patients were placed into 1 of 2 groups: wide genital hiatus (≥ 5 cm) or normal genital hiatus ( Results There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in demographic data, additional operative procedures, or apical suspensions. The rate of postoperative anterior vaginal wall prolapse was greater in patients with a wide genital hiatus compared with those with a normal genital hiatus (34.3% vs 10% respectively; odds ratio 4.7 [95% confidence interval, 1.0–24.1]; P = 0.02). Conclusion The rate of recurrent anterior vaginal wall prolapse is higher in patients with a wide genital hiatus.
Chemical Properties of Syringomycin and Syringotoxin: Toxigenic Peptides Produced by Pseudomonas syringae

Syringomycin (SR) and syringotoxin (ST), wide spectrum antibiotics and phytotoxins isolated from ecotypic strains of Pseudomonas syringa, were purified to homogeneity and compared for their physicochemical properties. Acid hydrolysates of SR and ST were analysed for ninhydrin-reactive components by paper chromatography and the Durrum single-column method of amino acid analysis. Both active and base inactivated preparations of SR yielded substances tentatively identified as serine, phenylalanine, an unidentified basic amino acid, and arginine in a 2:1:2:1 mole ratio, respectively. Preparations of SR from ecotypic strains of P. syringae from pear, peach and millet hosts, had an identical amino acid composition which appeared to exclude a potential role of SR in the plant host specificity of P. syringae. ST isolated from a strain of P. syringae from a citrus host, contained substances tentatively identified as threonine, serine, glycine, ornithine, and the same unidentified basic amino acid found in SR in a 1:1:1:1:1 mole ratio. Although autoradiographs of paper chromatograms of acid hydrolysates of 14C-SR and various chromogenic reagents did not indicate the presence of substances other than amino acids, the nitrogen content of SR by combustion analyses was lower than expected which suggested the possible presence of another component.
Heart rates in fire fighters using light and heavy breathing equipment: similar near-maximal exertion in response to multiple work load conditions.

Intense exertion is an occupational hazard inherent to fire fighting. This study was designed to look at the exertion levels that fire fighters attain during a fire fighting exercise when using (1) no self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), (2) light SCBA, and (3) heavy SCBA. Exertion levels were measured as a function of the heart rate increase relative to the maximum predicted heart rate determined by a standard treadmill exercise test. Five fire fighters wore electrocardiographic monitors during a routine fire fighting exercise. Heart rates increased rapidly to 70% to 80% of maximum within the first minute and then plateaued at 90% to 100% until the attack on the fire was completed. There was no significant difference between exertion levels when using no SCBA, light SCBA, and heavy SCBA (split-plot analysis of variance, p greater than .25). These results suggest that fire fighters attain an intense level of physical activity quickly and maintain that level as long as they are actively engaged in fighting fire. These results also suggest that regardless of the weight of the SCBA, if employed, fire fighters exert themselves from 85% to 100% of their maximum and adjust their work output to maintain that near-maximal level.
Development of medications for alcohol use disorders: recent advances and ongoing challenges.

During the past decade, efforts to develop medications for alcoholism have burgeoned. Three agents, disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate, are now approved in a large number of countries. Although many patients have benefited from existing medications, their effects are moderate, and some alcoholics fail to respond to them. A host of new agents are currently under active investigation. Critical barriers must be overcome to ensure that future efforts in the development of medications for alcohol use disorders reach full fruition. These challenges include: establishing key targets for drug discovery; validating animal and human screening models; and developing biomarkers to help predict treatment success. In addition, it is important to formulate methodological and statistical strategies to efficiently conduct alcohol pharmacotherapy trials; to specify genetic and phenotypic patient characteristics associated with efficacy and safety for lead compounds; to forge productive alliances among governmental agen...
Diagnosis of pneumonia due to Pneumocystis by subsegmental pulmonary lavage via the fiberoptic bronchoscope.

To assess the accuracy of pulmonary lavage in diagnosing pneumonia due to Pneumocystis, we used annuals as a model and then prospectively studied 33 immunosuppressed adults with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. In rats treated with cortisone, Pneumocystis organisms could be found in the effluent from lavage as early as in sections of pulmonary tissue, and the effluent from lavage remained diagnostic throughout the ten weeks of observation. Subsegmental lavage in adult patients was performed through the wedged fiberoptic bronchoscope. Pneumocystis organisms were demonstrated in seven patients by lavage, and no false-negative results were recorded. Pneumocystis organisms were readily identified among the sheets of alveolar macrophages seen in smears of the effluent from lavage that were stained with methenamine silver. Subsegmental lavage via the fiberoptic bronchoscope is an accurate and safe technique for establishing the diagnosis of pneumonia due to Pneumocystis in patients whose respiratory embarrassment or thrombocytopenia makes biopsy of the lung bazardous.
Generation of solution-adaptive computational grids using optimization

Abstract A new method for generating solution-adaptive computational grids is presented that builds on the requirement that the adapted grid retains maximum possible smoothness and local orthogonality. The approach taken is one of nonlinear optimization, where an objective function combining measures of grid smoothness, local orthogonality, and cell volume control is minimized using a fast iterative scheme. The method is multidimensional by construction, and accepts any arbitrary grid as input, even a grid that is initially overlapped. Several applications to published test problems allow comparisons with some of the existing adaptive grid generation methods. An example of dynamic adaptation to the solution of finite difference equations is also given that demonstrates the error reduction capabilities of the new adaptive grid generation and optimization method, and suggests further applications to practical engineering problems.
The use of kernel local Fisher discriminant analysis for the channelization of the Hotelling model observer

It is resource-intensive to conduct human studies for task-based assessment of medical image quality and system optimization. Thus, numerical model observers have been developed as a surrogate for human observers. The Hotelling observer (HO) is the optimal linear observer for signal-detection tasks, but the high dimensionality of imaging data results in a heavy computational burden. Channelization is often used to approximate the HO through a dimensionality reduction step, but how to produce channelized images without losing significant image information remains a key challenge. Kernel local Fisher discriminant analysis (KLFDA) uses kernel techniques to perform supervised dimensionality reduction, which finds an embedding transformation that maximizes betweenclass separability and preserves within-class local structure in the low-dimensional manifold. It is powerful for classification tasks, especially when the distribution of a class is multimodal. Such multimodality could be observed in many practical clinical tasks. For example, primary and metastatic lesions may both appear in medical imaging studies, but the distributions of their typical characteristics (e.g., size) may be very different. In this study, we propose to use KLFDA as a novel channelization method. The dimension of the embedded manifold (i.e., the result of KLFDA) is a counterpart to the number of channels in the state-of-art linear channelization. We present a simulation study to demonstrate the potential usefulness of KLFDA for building the channelized HOs (CHOs) and generating reliable decision statistics for clinical tasks. We show that the performance of the CHO with KLFDA channels is comparable to that of the benchmark CHOs.
On the effects of flight on jet engine exhaust noise

Recent flight data on jet engine exhaust noise do not agree with projections based on classical jet noise theories. This paper demonstrates that these flight effects can be explained on the basis of the combination of jet mixing noise and internally generated engine exhaust noise. The source strength of the internally generated noise is assumed to be unaffected by flight, as has been shown in small‐scale free‐jet experiments. The directivity of the internall generated noise is assumed to be the same statically as that given in the NASA interim prediction method for core engine noise. However, it is assumed that in flight the internally generated noise is subject to the convective amplification effect of a simple source. The absolute levels of the internally generated noise are obtained from an empirical fit of some typical engine data. The static and flight jet noise are predicted using the NASA interim prediction method for jet noise. It is shown that in many cases, although jet mixing may be the dominant noise source statically, much of the flyover noise signature is dominated by internally generated noise.
A comparison of the treatment of acute myocardial infarction between St. Petersburg, Russia and Seattle, Washington

Abstract This study compared the baseline demographics, time to treatment and types of treatment of patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction in St. Petersburg, Russia and Seattle, WA. The study included 63 consecutive patients admitted to City Hospital #1 in St. Petersburg in July 1993. Comparative data for Seattle patients was obtained from the multi-year Myocardial Infarction Triage and Intervention project, a registry of all acute myocardial infarction patients hospitalized in the Seattle area. The results show a significantly prolonged time from symptom onset to presentation in Russia (51.8 h vs. 8.0 h; P P = 0.40) while thrombolysis was used much more often in Seattle (22.5% vs. 6.3%; P = 0.002). There was also much less use of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (0% vs. 26.9%; P P P P
A collocation penalty least-squares finite element formulation for incompressible flows

Abstract We present a penalty least-squares finite element formulation for incompressible flows. The pressure degree of freedom is eliminated using the classical penalty approach and the least-squares model is formed in terms of velocity, vorticity, and dilatation. An iterative penalization is implemented, which allows the use of low penalty parameters and retains a manageable conditioning number of the global coefficient matrix. The h -convergence is verified using the exact solution of Kovasznay’s flow. Numerical results are presented for a number of benchmark problems, e.g. steady flow past a large circular cylinder in a channel, transient flow over a backward facing step, unsteady flow past a circular cylinder, and buoyancy driven natural convection in a square cavity. For all numerical examples, the effect of penalty parameter on the accuracy is investigated thoroughly and it is concluded that the present model produces accurate results for low penalty parameters (10–100). These problems are also solved on coarse meshes to show that good mass conservation is achieved.
Are Real GDP Levels Nonstationary? Evidence from Panel Data Tests

potential nonstationarity of important macroeconomic variables, and unit root tests are now a standard procedure in empirical analyses. While there are many findings of unit roots in macroeconomic variables using the popular augmented Dickey and Fuller (1979) test, this test has low power against near-unit-root alternatives. Recently, panel data procedures have been proposed as an avenue to increased power. This paper applies panel unit root tests to international real GDP and real GDP per capita data. The results overwhelmingly indicate that international real GDP and real GDP per capita levels are nonstationary.
Purification of silicone oils for fluid experiments

Commercially produced silicone oils (polydimethylsiloxanes or PDMS) that are used in many fluid experiments typically contain a mixture of linear polymers with a distribution of molecular weights. This multicomponent constitution can cause undesirable effects in some experiments; we show one such effect in surface-tension-driven Benard convection. We describe a simple distillation protocol for obtaining low viscosity single-component silicone oils from commercially available mixtures. For polymers with molecular weights ∼ 1000, our method yields purities of better than 95 %.
Communities on the Verge: Unraveling the Phanariot Ascendancy in Ottoman Governance

Phanariots were an Ottoman Christian elite which, despite structural impediments, imperial ideology, and religious doctrine that would preclude their participation in Ottoman governance, ascended to power in multiple political arenas between the 1660s and 1821. Their rise came about just as the larger imperium was undergoing profound military and political crises precipitated by both internal threats and periodic invasions by the Russian and Habsburg Empires. While some Phanariots were stalwart servants of the sultan, others exacerbated these crises, allying with Russian officials and planning a secessionist uprising that would later unfold into the Greek War of Independence. Their ascendancy, however, is an Ottoman story—a specific outcome of Ottoman responses to the dilemmas of empire in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Extraordinary Activity in the BL Lacertae Object OJ 287

We use a continuous wavelet transform to analyze more than two decades of data for the BL Lac object OJ 287 acquired as part of the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (UMRAO) variability program. We find clear evidence for a persistent modulation of the total flux and polarization with period ~1.66 yr and for another signal that dominates activity in the 1980s with period ~1.12 yr. The relationship between these two variations can be understood in terms of a "shock-in-jet" model, in which the longer timescale periodicity is associated with an otherwise quiescent jet and the shorter timescale activity is associated with the passage of a shock. The different periodicities of these two components may reflect different internal conditions of the two flow domains leading to different wave speeds or different contractions of a single underlying periodicity due to the different Doppler factors of the two flow components. We suggest that the modulation arises from a wave driven by some asymmetric disturbance close to the central engine. The periodic behavior in polarization exhibits excursions in U that correspond to a direction ~45° from the VLBI jet axis. This behavior is not explained by the random walk in the Q-U plane that is expected from models in which a pattern of randomly aligned magnetic field elements propagate across the visible portion of the flow and suggests a small amplitude, cyclic variation in the flow direction in that part of the flow that dominates centimeter wavelength emission.
Calculation of the negative refractive index of a LHM slab by the free‐space mapping of the laterally shifted refracted beam

In this paper, we present a novel method to calculate the effective negative refractive index of a left-handed material (LHM)—a composite of split-ring resonators (SRRs) and thin wire structures. A LHM slab was first fabricated and then the measured transmission and reflection results were used to determine the LHM passband. To obtain the effective negative-refractive index, a microwave beam was obliquely launched to illuminate the slab for which a 2D spatial-field profile of the refracted beam outside the slab was obtained by scanning the lateral shifting of the field with respect to normal for a band of frequencies. A lateral shift of the refracted beam towards the same side of the incident beam for the LHM passband confirmed negative refraction in the LHM slab and the refractive index calculated for that frequency region was conclusively negative according to Snell's law. The presented method provides an alternate and efficient way to measure the effective refractive index of a LHM. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 593–596, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21417
The Role of Economic Reliance in Defense Procurement Contracting

This article examines how a defense sector presence in sparsely populated areas influences (a) House of Representatives defense committee assignments and (2) defense procurement allocations from 1999 to 2005. Although previous work had shown that prime contracts typically flow to headquarter locations, this article goes beyond existing research by tracking the distribution of defense expenditures to major subcontracting locations. In doing so, I find a conditional relationship between defense industry presence and rural geography: Defense funds disproportionately flow to congressional districts that are more economically reliant on the defense sector of the economy. Constituency dependence on the defense sector is one of the most important factors leading members of Congress to seek representation on defense committees and to procure defense benefits. Local dependence on the defense industry may reinforce political relationships that contribute to inefficiency and excess in weapons contracting.
Accurate and efficient loop selections by the DFIRE‐based all‐atom statistical potential

The conformations of loops are determined by the water-mediated interactions between amino acid residues. Energy functions that describe the interactions can be derived either from physical principles (physical-based energy function) or statistical analysis of known protein structures (knowledge-based statistical potentials). It is commonly believed that statistical potentials are appropriate for coarse-grained representation of proteins but are not as accurate as physical-based potentials when atomic resolution is required. Several recent applications of physical-based energy functions to loop selections appear to support this view. In this article, we apply a recently developed DFIRE-based statistical potential to three different loop decoy sets (RAPPER, Jacobson, and Forrest-Woolf sets). Together with a rotamer library for side-chain optimization, the performance of DFIRE-based potential in the RAPPER decoy set (385 loop targets) is comparable to that of AMBER/GBSA for short loops (two to eight residues). The DFIRE is more accurate for longer loops (9 to 12 residues). Similar trend is observed when comparing DFIRE with another physical-based OPLS/SGB-NP energy function in the large Jacobson decoy set (788 loop targets). In the Forrest-Woolf decoy set for the loops of membrane proteins, the DFIRE potential performs substantially better than the combination of the CHARMM force field with several solvation models. The results suggest that a single-term DFIRE-statistical energy function can provide an accurate loop prediction at a fraction of computing cost required for more complicate physical-based energy functions. A Web server for academic users is established for loop selection at the softwares/services section of the Web site http://theory.med.buffalo.edu/.
Comparison of the Magill forceps and the Boedeker (curved) intubation forceps for removal of a foreign body in a Manikin.

Abstract Study Objective To compare the straight Magill and the curved Boedeker Intubation Forceps in foreign body removal in a manikin with a difficult airway using the videolaryngoscope. Design Prospective comparative study. Setting University Medical Center. Subjects 17 medical providers, 16 anesthesia staff, and one respiratory therapist. Measurements The observed Cormack-Lehane (CL) glottic view and success/failure of the removal attempts were recorded. Main Results The CL scores obtained using the Magill and Boedeker forceps were not significantly different ( P = 0.3984). However, the differences in success rates for removal of the foreign object using standard (0 = success, 17=failure) and Boedeker forceps (0 = failure, 17=success) were strongly significant ( P Conclusion The curve of the Boedeker Intubation Forceps allows both the tip of the forceps and the glottic opening to be simultaneously visible in the field of view during videolaryngoscopy, making removal of glottic foreign bodies easier.
Perspectives on quality coordination and assurance in global supply chains

The 2007 recall of Berko Electric Toe-Space Heaters made in the US, the recall of backpack blowers made in Japan, the recalls of toys and pet food produced in China have exposed the potential of gl...
Tellurium-loaded zeolites: I. A novel dehydrocyclization catalyst

Abstract Selective dehydrocyclization catalysts are prepared by the high-temperature treatment of physical mixtures of a tellurium source and support material. An exploratory study of preparation variables—tellurium source, content and method of addition, type of support, and pretreatment conditions—has shown the most effective catalysts are produced from milled mixtures of elemental tellurium and an alkali-metal faujasite of low silica-alumina ratio, heated in a flowing hydrogen atmosphere. The catalyst is interpreted as being a highly dispersed tellurium phase coordinated to the cations of the support under the action of the reducing atmosphere.
INVENTORY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WETLAND HABITAT ON THE WINNEBAGO UPPER POOL LAKES, WISCONSIN, USA: AN INTEGRATED MULTIMEDIA-GIS APPROACH

An integrated, multimedia-geographic information system (GIS) approach to inventorying and characterizing thirty-nine wetland sites identified on the Winnebago Upper Pool Lakes in Wisconsin, USA was developed. Available black-and-white aerial photogrpahs recorded in 1937, 1957, and 1981 and color digital orthophotos of 2000 were employed as primary data sources to develop a spatio-temporal GIS database using a combination of digital image processing, GIS, Global Positioning System (GPS), and field survey techniques. Ten representative sites were selected to investigate the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the wetland habitat in the study area further. Multimedia information as text, graphics, ground photogrpahs, and digital video was then developed to highlight the ecosystem function and structure of those representative wetlands. A computer-based interactive multimedia system, consisting of a graphical user interface and a GIS application module, was constructed to allow easy access to both the spatial data sets and the multimedia information. Given the increased concern over environmental preservation, expansion of urban development, and agricultural land use, it is anticipated that the database will prove valuable for a series of management tasks. The integrated approach provides an innovative way for integrating, analyzing, and presenting wetland information, thus enabling truly interactive collaborations among resource managers, policy makers, reserachers, and stakeholders.
Re-visioning the past: Neuromedievalism and the neural circuits of vision

This article argues that contemporary neuroscientific theories of visual perception provide an important body of concepts through which medievalists can explore the intuitive insights exemplified in medieval visual theory and visual culture.
Estrogenic effect of phenol red in MCF-7 cells is achieved through activation of estrogen receptor by interacting with a site distinct from the steroid binding site.

Abstract MCF-7 cells serially subcultured in media containing phenol red show poor stimulation of progesterone receptor (PR) synthesis in response to estradiol compared to cells grown in phenol red-free media. Phenol red, when added to cytosol, did not compete with [3H]estradiol for estrogen binding sites in concentrations ranging from 2 μM – 1 mM. However 25 μM of the dye was sufficient to increase nuclear translocation of estrogen receptor (ER) in the intact cell. Phenol red activates cytoplasmic ER as indicated by DNA-cellulose binding studies. When cells grown in phenol red-free medium were exposed to phenol red for 48 h, PR levels increased in a dose dependent manner. From these data, it may be concluded that phenol red causes estrogenic effect in MCF-7 cells through activation of cytoplasmic receptor by interacting at a site distinct from the steroid binding site.
Vertical tail buffeting of fighter aircraft

Abstract Vertical tail buffeting at high angles of attack is a phenomenon associated with the impact of vortical flows generated by the aircraft on the fins. This poses a serious problem for both single- and twin-tail fighter aircraft from the point of view of combat maneuverability and structural integrity. The research activities to understand the flow physics with an aim to alleviate buffet loads were quite intense during the period from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. Most of the investigations were carried out on the F/A-18 mainly because of two international programs involving countries that operate the F/A-18 in their air force. This review begins with a description of the water tunnel experiments showing some flow visualization results of the leading-edge extension (LEX) burst vortical flows. Wind tunnel studies on a 1/9 scale F/A-18 model in Australia, a 1/6.65 scale model in the United Kingdom, a 6% scale model in Canada, 12%, 16% and full-scale models in the United States are summarized. Scale effects can be deduced from the various sub- and full-scale models tested. Flight test results conducted on the High Alpha Research Vehicle in the United States and on an instrumented CF-18 test aircraft in Canada are presented. The accuracy of analytical methods utilizing wind tunnel data to predict buffet loads at flight conditions is discussed. The use of CFD to compute vertical fin buffeting is challenging and requires a large amount of computing power. A brief exposure to the methodology is given and results from the only available computational case study carried out by NASA Ames are compared with wind tunnel and flight test data. A short introduction to statistical non-stationary effects is given. Hysteresis effect of the LEX vortex burst on the buffet loads is discussed, and a statistical non-stationary buffet prediction method is outlined. This review provides a useful reference to the results collected from the High Alpha Technology Program, The Technical Cooperation Program and the International Follow-On Structural Test Project which together form an extremely valuable data base for vertical tail buffeting studies.
Pediatric Trauma Systems in the United States: Do They Make a Difference?

In this review, we briefly discuss the general epidemiology of trauma to young children with respect to injury mechanism, followed by a discussion of trauma systems, including an evaluation of trauma outcome. Pediatric emergency care exists within trauma systems, yet its effect on the reduction of morbidity and mortality remains unclear. We discuss the consequences of acute management of injured children in a nonpediatric trauma center and evaluate how children fare in the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma pediatric-verified trauma centers.
A Study of Fat Splitting and Casein Digesting Bacteria Isolated from Butter

Abstract A study has been made of 486 cultures of bacteria isolated from butter made and held under known and controlled conditions. Only those organisms capable of hydrolyzing milkfat, or splitting tributyrin, or digesting casein have been included. Of the cultures studied, 39 per cent (188) were gram negative rods; 31 per cent (151) were gram positive cocci; 15 per cent (74) were gram positive, aerobic, sporeproducing rods; 8 per cent (40) were gram negative micrococci; 5 per cent (23) were gram positive sarcina; and 2 per cent (10) were gram positive nonsporeproducing rods. Those groups occurring in numbers large enough to be of probable significance in the spoilage of butter were gram negative rods, gram negative micrococci, gram positive sarcina, and gram positive nonsporeproducing rods. In the butters supporting the growth of large numbers of bacteria, only the gram negative rods were regularly present in large enough numbers to be of importance in the spoilage of all of the butters tested. New names have been suggested for five species of bacteria: Micrococcus intermedius, Micrococcus lipolyticus, Micrococcus magnus, Micrococcus tributyrus , and Sarcina caseolytica . Data have been presented to show the importance of the use of milk agar as an indication of the keeping quality of butter.
Electroencephalogram and somatosensory evoked potential changes after administration of six convulsant drugs

Abstract Electrophysiological effects of convulsant drugs in mammalian brain have been reported, but it has not been clear whether the changes described were indicative of general increases in neuronal excitability or whether they varied as a function of the different modes of convulsant action. Cats with chronically implanted electrodes were administered intraperitoneal injections of six convulsant drugs: allylglycine, bemegride, bicuculline, picrotoxin, pentylenetetrazol, and strychnine. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was monitored continuously and somatosensory evoked potentials were elicited during the period to seizure onset. Enhancement of the primary response of the evoked potentials recorded at the cortex paralleled the increases in EEG paroxysmal activity. Both EEG and evoked potential changes were regarded as indicating general preseizure excitability rather than varying with the presumed mechanisms of the individual drugs.