cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Novikoff Hepatoma Mrna Methylation and Heterogeneity in the Methylated 5′ Terminus

KOH digestion of methyl-labeled poly(A)+ mRNA purified by (dT)-cellulose chromatography produced mononucleotide and multiple peaks of a large oligonucleotide (-6 to -8 charge) when separated on the basis of charge by Pellionex-WAX high-speed liquid chromatography in 7 M urea. Heat denaturation of the RNA before application to (dT)-cellulose was required to release contaminants (mostly 18S rRNA) that persisted even after repeated binding to (dT)-cellulose at room temperature. Analysis of the purified poly(A)+ mRNA by enzyme digestion, acid hydrolysis, and a variety of chromatographic techniques has shown that the monucleotide (53%) is due entirely to N6-methyladenosine. The large oligonucleotides (47%) were found to contain 7-methylguanosine and the 2'-0-methyl derivatives of all four nucleosides. No radioactivity was found associated with the poly(A) segment. Periodate oxidation of the mRNA followed by beta elimination released only labeled 7-methylguanine consistent with a blocked 5' terminus containing an unusual 5'-5' bond. Alkaline phosphatase treatment of intact mRNA had no effect on the migration of the KOH produced oligonucleotides on Pellionex-WAX. When RNA from which 7-methylguanine was removed by beta elimination was used for the phosphatase treatment, distinct dinucleotides (NmpNp) and trinucleotides (NmpNmpNp) occurred after KOH hydrolysis and Pellionex-WAX chromatography. Thus Novikoff hepatoma poly(A)+ mRNA molecules can contain either one or two 2'-0-methylnucleotides linked by a 5'-5' bond to a terminal 7-methylguanosine and the 2'-0-methylation can occur with any of the four nucleotides. The 5' terminus may be represented by m7G5'ppp5' (Nmp)lor2Np, a general structure proposed earlier as a possible 5' terminus for all eucaryotic mRNA molecules (Rottman, F., Shatkin, A., and Perry, R. (1974), Cell 3, 197). The composition analyses indicate that there are 3.0 N6-methyladenosine residues, 1.0 7-methylguanosine residue, and 1.7 2'-0-methylnucleoside residues per average mRNA molecule.
A new auxiliary variable formulation of high-order local radiation boundary conditions: corner compatibility conditions and extensions to first-order systems

Abstract We present a new auxiliary variable formulation of high-order radiation boundary conditions for the numerical simulation of waves on unbounded domains. Retaining the flexibility of Higdon’s wave-product conditions, our approach allows arbitrary-order implementations. When applied to the scalar wave equation, the proposed method leads to balanced, symmetrizable systems of wave equations on the boundary. It can also be extended to first-order systems. Corner compatibility conditions are derived for the auxiliary variable equations. They are shown experimentally to lead to stable, accurate results.
A single-element all-optical approach to chemometric prediction

A single-element approach to multivariate optical computing is described. Data for mixtures of Crystal Violet and Bismarck Brown dyes are analyzed as an example application. Radiometric information is combined with transmission spectra of the samples to obtain representative system responses for the samples. Direct synthesis of a multivariate optical element (MOE) is compared to a novel new approach for synthesizing simpler MOEs. The results show that less complex spectral vectors can be designed that perform adequately in this example. Experimental results for fabrication of an MOE are shown.
Development and Evaluation of Relative Compaction Specifications Using Roller-Based Measurements

Earthwork quality control/quality assurance specifications are currently being developed and implemented with continuous compaction control (CCC) and intelligent compaction (IC) rollers. This paper presents and explores two methods of using CCC/IC data based on a relative compaction approach. The first method examines the relative change in roller-measured mean compaction level between passes while the second method examines relative changes spatially. The relative compaction methods were implemented on a test site. The relative compaction methods were found to provide improvement over current methods due to their ability to quantitatively assess 100% of the compacted area while decreasing time and cost during the construction process.
Performance verifiability and output sharing in collaborative ventures

This paper studies the problem of contracting between two firms when they try to exploit their complementary resources in a collaborative venture CV, but their performance in the CV cannot be precisely verified by the other party or by a third-party arbiter. Using a mathematical model that treats performance verifiability as a continuous variable, the paper first establishes that a party whose performance cannot be perfectly verified has an incentive to shirk if it is paid only a flat fee and that this shirking problem is more severe as its performance is less verifiable. Then, the paper shows in a general setting that a contract under which each party shares a fraction of the output is superior to a contract under which one of them is paid only a flat fee when performance verifiability is sufficiently low. In addition, with some specific assumptions about the forms of the revenue and cost functions, the paper also shows that a party's share of the venture's residual output in the equilibrium is an increasing function of its productivity and a decreasing function of its opportunity cost. Finally, the numerical examples constructed in the paper suggest that a contract which combines the self-enforcing mechanism of output sharing with the third-party enforcement mechanism of arbitration generally performs better than a contract that utilizes only one of these mechanisms.
Protection from lethal audiogenic seizures in mice by physical restraint of movement.

Abstract To study the effects of physical restraint on audiogenic seizures, susceptible mice were restrained in various ways and compared with unrestrained controls for lethal seizures. Binding the front limbs together and/or the back limbs together, suspending subjects with harnesses, or restraining subjects in “body casts” were not effective in inhibiting lethal seizures, but binding subjects in “hogtied” fashion was quite effective in reducing the incidence of lethal seizures. Various hypotheses were evaluated in light of the present results. The most plausible hypothesis related protection from seizures to disruption of central neural activity normally evoked by bodily movements during audiogenic seizures.
A Grüneisen Relation on Constant‐Pressure Lines

Gruneisen's constant, γ, is ideally temperature-independent on constant-volume lines; a similar constant, λ, which is ideally temperature-independent on isobaric lines, has been found. The comparison between γ and λ shows that both expressions contain the ratio of the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient to the specific heat capacity; γ has an additional temperature dependence due to the thermal part of the compressibility, whereas λ has only a slight thermal component due to the volume per unit mass. λ has been chosen so that λ=γ at the point where the temperature and pressure are both zero. For most materials it is expected that λ≥γ with a different temperature dependence. It is shown empirically for a selection of ceramics that λ is nearly temperature-independent and has a value between 0.7 and 1.4.
On the stability of the A 15 structure

Abstract The pair potential model is applied to problems of thermodynamic stability involving the A 15 structure. Many such problems have been clarified and answered by this procedure. Among the problems considered are the stability of A 15V 3 Al and Nb 3 Si; the stability of Nb 3 ( M 1 , M 2 ) and V 3 ( M 1 , M 2 ) A 15 pseudobinary stability of stoichiometric A 15 phases; long range order of A 15 phases; the effect of pressure on the stability of the A 15 structure; the type of phase diagram that is stable in the vicinity of the A 15 phase.
Analysis of polymer blends and copolymers by coupled thermogravimetry and automatic titration

Abstract A technique coupling automatic titration to thermogravimetry is described. The amount of a selected component in the volatiles produced under precise heating conditions in a DuPont 951 thermogravimetric analyzer is quantitatively determined with a Radiometer recording titration system. With the combined information on temperature, weight loss and chemical compositional changes, the stability and degradation mechanism of a sample are conveniently studied. Of particular interest is the use of such a technique to analyze polymer blends and copolymers in complex systems. Examples will be given to illustrate the various features of this application.
A Computationally Efficient CFAR Algorithm Based on a Goodness-of-Fit Test for Piecewise Homogeneous Environments

A new constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection algorithm operating in nonhomogeneous clutter is proposed. The proposed CFAR algorithm, cell-under-test (CUT) inclusive (CI) CFAR, utilizes a goodness-of-fit test for determining and combining homogeneous windows, which results in a higher detection performance. The CI-CFAR algorithm layout and analytical properties for the ideal case are investigated. In comparison with the traditional cell-averaging (CA) CFAR and order-statistic (OS) CFAR, it is demonstrated that CI-CFAR outperforms both in most situations.
Temporal and spatial variability of ADCP backscatter on a continental slope

Abstract Previous research has shown that acoustic volume backscatter intensity (ABI) from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) can be a proxy for zooplankton and micronekton biomass over time or space. As part of NOAA's Sperm Whale and Acoustic Monitoring Program (SWAMP) and a follow-on ichthyoplankton survey (SEAMAP), a ship-mounted 300-kHz broadband ADCP collected current velocity and ABI data from July to September 2001 in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. The present study sought to compare/contrast the variability in ABI both spatially and temporally using the data obtained from the SWAMP and SEAMAP cruises. The ADCP data were averaged over 2 min and 4 m vertical bins from 16 to 56 m below sea surface. Usually, ABI in this epipelagic realm averaged 3 dB higher at night than during the day because of diel vertical migration of zooplankton and micronekton into these near surface waters, while in a region having cyclonic circulation along the continental margin of the northeast Gulf, ABI averaged 6 dB higher than in an anticyclonic warm filament there. Wet displacement volumes (WDV) were measured using Bongo net tows to estimate that a 6 dB increase in ABI was equivalent to an increase from 9 to 10.5 ml WDV of plankton+micronekton per 100 m 3 . Sperm whale abundance has been shown to be positively correlated with regions of locally high ABI, and sperm whale sightings during SWAMP were also compared to our ABI measurements. Spectral and Empirical Orthogonal Function analyses were performed on subsets of the ABI data for which 10–14 day time series were available and showed 2–3 day periodicity near-surface, corresponding to spatial scales of 10 1 –10 2 km. During summer 2001, the mesoscale circulation along the subtropical continental margin in the northeastern Gulf was found to be the principal forcing factor for low frequency ABI variation. Increased backscatter observations are also correlated with offshore flow from the continental margin to the deep ocean, particularly when the offshore flow is close to a river delta.
The hearing loss associated with exposure to toluene is not caused by a metabolite.

Exposure to toluene causes a marked hearing loss in rats, and this effect has been observed in some human solvent abusers. The issue of whether toluene or one of its metabolites is responsible for this effect has not been examined. To attempt to resolve this issue, we manipulated the metabolism, and thus the circulating levels, of toluene as follows. Two groups of rats were exposed to phenobarbital (PB) in their drinking water (0.1%) for seven days to induce detoxifying liver enzymes; two other groups had access to PB-free water. Then half of the rats exposed to PB or water were exposed to filtered air or a concentration of toluene expected to cause hearing loss. Levels of toluene in blood were markedly reduced by the PB and the excretion of hippuric acid was increased. All rats were tested for auditory sensitivity by brainstem auditory-evoked response (BAER) audiometry using a 16-kHz tone pip. The rats exposed to toluene alone showed a marked reduction in the integrated BAER waveform, indicative of the expected hearing deficit. None of the other treated rats showed any deviation from controls (i.e., water and air). These results provide strong evidence that toluene itself is responsible for the auditory dysfunction. Toluene also caused the rats to increase their fluid consumption and urine output; these effects were not altered by PB. Identification of toluene as the proximal ototoxicant should facilitate the search for the mechanism of this effect.
Year-end and quarter-end effects in the term structure of sterling repo and Eurepo rates

Abstract Griffiths and Winters [Griffiths, M., Winters, D., 1997. On a preferred habitat for liquidity at the turn-of-the-year: evidence from the term-repo market, Journal of Financial Services Research 12, 21–38] find a year-end preferred habitat for liquidity for US repo rates, and, later [Griffiths, M., Winters, D., 2005. The-turn-of-the-year in money markets: tests of the riskshifting window dressing and preferred habitat hypotheses, Journal of Business 78, 1337–1364] find a similar preferred habitat for US money market instruments. Kotomin et al. [Kotomin, V., Smith, S., Winters, D., 2008. Preferred habitat for liquidity in international shortterm interest rates, Journal of Banking and Finance 32, 240–250] document the preferred habitat in LIBOR for the major world currencies, excluding the British pound. We examine the robustness of these results using pound sterling and euro repo rates and find a year-end preferred habitat for liquidity in the euro repo rates. The British interest rates continue to behave differently, and we provide a possible explanation as to why this occurs.
Photochemical three-dimensional fabrication with nanopore membranes for biological applications

ABSTRACT To fabricate the more complex structures, developing simplified methods will create greater utility for researchers. Herein, we present a method to build three-dimensional structures through the optical method combined with photoactivation chemistry and Al 2 O 3 nanopore membrane. This phas e transition reaction in this material was initiated by the UV-light energy from the fluorescent microscope. This method merges an optical approach along with phase shifting chemical restructuring through the trans ition of the chemical from an aqueous to a solid phase. We also fabricated the square three-dimensional microstructure based on this method. This method has potential applications in a variety of fields, which include building three-dimensional complex structures such as microfluidics, lab-on-chip and small-scale scaffolds for tissue engineering. Keywords : photochemistry, nanopore membrane, scaffolds, biocompatibility 1. INTRODUCTION Developing new methods for chemically fabricating biocompati ble complex geometries through simple and reproducible techniques is essential to the development of the next genera tion of biologically integrated systems. Herein, we present a technique for building three-dimensional structures by combining photochemistry with optical methods and Al
Environment Has Little Effect on Biomass Biochemical Composition of Miscanthus × giganteus Across Soil Types, Nitrogen Fertilization, and Times of Harvest

Efficient conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to ethanol will benefit from a consistent composition of supplied biomass. While composition or quality for a given feedstock is known to vary, the influence of environment, rather than genotype, has rarely been separated for mature field-grown material. Replicated trials of a single sterile hybrid clone of Miscanthus × giganteus across Illinois provided a unique opportunity to test the influence of environmental, rather than genetic control over biomass composition, under US Midwest conditions. Given the interest in M. x giganteus cv. “Illinois” as a lignocellulosic feedstock, it is valuable to understand the variation in composition of this crop that would need to be dealt with by processors. This study examined the effect of seven sites spanning nearly 5° in latitude and contrasting soil types from sands to clays with land capability classes ranging from 1 to 4. Four levels of nitrogen fertilization (0, 67, 135, and 202 kg N ha−1) were applied on these mature, genetically identical, clonally propagated stands of M. × giganteus which were harvested both pre- and post-senescence. Despite the wide range of environmental differences, there was minimal variation in the composition across all locations, sampling times, and fertilization treatments. Composition varied from 39–45 % for cellulose, 19–24 % for hemicellulose, to 19–24 % for lignin. Nitrogen fertilization, while having a small effect, decreased the proportion of hemicellulose, acetyl groups, and ash and increased cellulose and lignin at statistically significant levels. Delaying harvest from October to December increased the proportion of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin and decreased the proportion of ash and extractables at statistically significant levels. The findings show that in the absence of genetic variation, composition varies minimally with environment or timing of harvest, which has important implications for costs of processing in a given location.
EEG-fMRI reciprocal functional neuroimaging

Objective Integration of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been pursued in an effort to achieve greater spatio-temporal resolution of imaging dynamic brain activity. We report a data-driven approach to image spatio-temporal features of neural oscillatory activity and event-related activity from continuously recorded EEG and fMRI signals.
Reflecting on the Latest Drug War Fronts

A criminal justice response to drug use in the United States has a long and dynamic history, and many advocates for significant reform of current drugs laws reasonably suggest that today's criminal laws are comparable to alcohol Prohibition a century ago. The modern era of federal drug prohibition arguably began when President Richard Nixon in the early 1970s first embraced war metaphors and rhetoric to describe and justify domestic policies to combat drug use and abuse. Despite persistent concerns and criticisms about the tone and tactics used in the so-called war on drugs, Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and William Clinton all continued, and often escalated, the national drug war campaign through repeated emphasis on social problems created by drug use and through persistent support for extensive criminal justice responses to these problems. The most tangible and consequential federal facets of the modern drug war find expression in the modern federal sentencing structure for drug crimes. Congress greatly increased the criminal penalties for drug trafficking through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and subsequent legislation; these statutes created severe mandatory minimum drug sentences triggered by the quantity of drugs involved in an offense, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission has built even more severe guideline sentencing provi- sions atop these statutory minimum prison terms. As a result of these statutory and guideline provi- sions, the average prison term for every federal drug crime, as well as the total number of federal prisoners incarcerated for drug offenses, increased dramatically. By at the start of the 21st century, after decades of drug war rhetoric and lengthened prison terms for drug offenses, local and national politicians starting voicing some of the social and economic concerns
RNA Signals in Entero- and Rhinovirus Genome Replication☆

Abstract The VPg-linked, plus-stranded RNA genomes of entero- and rhinoviruses contain very different 5′ and 3′ terminal regions which harbor signals for RNA replication. The terminal cloverleaf-like structure of the 5′-nontranslated region (5′NTR) is known to be required for plus-strand RNA synthesis. Genetic evidence suggest that two stem-loop structures and the poly(A) tail of the 3′NTR have a function in minus-strand synthesis. All of the nonstructural viral proteins, and possibly also some cellular polypeptides, are believed to be involved in RNA replication. RNA synthesis is initiated on a poly(A) template and involves uridylylation of VPg to yield VPgpU(pU). This precursor is likely to serve as primer for the RNA polymerase 3D pol during both minus- and plus-strand RNA synthesis.
Limits of positive flat bivariate moment matrices

The bivariate moment problem for a sequence β ≡ β(6) of degree 6 remains unsolved, but we prove that if the associated 10×10 moment matrix M3(β) satisfies M3 0 and rank M3 ≤ 6, then β admits a sequence of approximate representing measures, and β(5) has a representing measure. More generally, let Fd denote the closure of the positive flat moment matrices of degree 2d in n variables. Each matrix in Fd admits computable approximate representing measures, and in 2013, Jiawang Nie and the author began to study concrete conditions for membership in this class. Let β ≡ β(2d) = {βi}i∈Zn+,|i|≤2d, β0 > 0, denote a real n-dimensional sequence of degree 2d. If the corresponding moment matrix Md ≡ Md(β) is the limit of a sequence of positive flat moment matrices {M (k) d }, i.e., M (k) d 0 and rank M (k) d = rank M (k) d−1, then i) Md 0, ii) rank Md ≤ ρd−1 ≡ dim R[x1, . . . , xn]d−1, and iii) β(2d−1) admits a representing measure. We extend our earlier results by proving, conversely, that for n = 2, if Md satisfies certain positivity and rank conditions related to i)-iii), then Md is the limit of positive flat moment matrices.
Wavelet feature extraction for reliable discrimination between high explosive and chemical/biological artillery

Feature extraction methods based on the discrete wavelet transform and multiresolution analysis are used to develop a robust classification algorithm that reliably discriminates between conventional and simulated chemical/biological artillery rounds via acoustic signals produced during detonation. Distinct characteristics arise within the different airburst signatures because high explosive warheads emphasize concussive and shrapnel effects, while chemical/biological warheads are designed to disperse their contents over large areas, therefore employing a slower burning, less intense explosive to mix and spread their contents. The ensuing blast waves are readily characterized by variations in the corresponding peak pressure and rise time of the blast, differences in the ratio of positive pressure amplitude to the negative amplitude, and variations in the overall duration of the resulting waveform. Unique attributes can also be identified that depend upon the properties of the gun tube, projectile speed at the muzzle, and the explosive burn rates of the warhead. In this work, the discrete wavelet transform is used to extract the predominant components of these characteristics from air burst signatures at ranges exceeding 2km. Highly reliable discrimination is achieved with a feedforward neural network classifier trained on a feature space derived from the distribution of wavelet coefficients and higher frequency details found within different levels of the multiresolution decomposition.
Defect analysis of epitaxial Ag films on silicon by MeV ion channeling

Abstract The defect density of 2500 A thick Ag films grown on Si(111) and Si(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy have been studied using MeV ion channeling and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). Ion channeling measurements indicate that despite the large lattice mismatch between Ag and Si (~ 25%), the Ag films showed excellent epitaxy (χ min = 6–20%). In the best cases, the minimum yield was close to that expected for a perfect Ag crystal. Dechanneling was observed due to defects, predominantly dislocations which were distributed throughout the Ag film. Near the Ag/Si interface, the dislocation density was an order of magnitude higher than that found for the bulk of the Ag(111) film and produced an interface peak in the channeling spectra. These results show that high quality epitaxy can be achieved for even large mismatched heteroepitaxial systems such as Ag on Si and illustrate the power of the ion channeling technique for studying defects in crystalline films.
Unusual coarsening during phase separation in polymer systems

We introduce a kinetic model of coarsening of transient polymer networks during the intermediate stages of phase separation in polymer systems. The model explicitly takes into account the effect of the connectivity of polymer chains. We show that during the intermediate stages the size of the droplet grows according to an unusual coarsening law $R\ensuremath{\sim}{t}^{1/(d+3)}$. When the network structure breaks up, the coarsening law may cross over to $R\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{ln}{t}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, until only at very late stages the Lifshitz-Slyozov coarsening law $R\ensuremath{\sim}{t}^{1/3}$ is recovered.
Geochemical diagnostics of metasedimentary dark enclaves: a case study from the Peninsular Ranges Batholith, southern California

Dark enclaves rich in amphibole and biotite are ubiquitous in granitoid rocks and typically represent fragments of mafic magmas, cumulates, restites, or country rocks. To develop criteria for identifying dark enclaves of non-magmatic origin, we investigated dark enclaves from a complete spectrum of light (carbonate- or feldspar-rich) to dark (amphibole-rich, biotite-rich, or composite) enclaves, reflecting progressive thermal and chemical equilibration with the host tonalite, the Domenigoni Valley pluton in the Peninsular Ranges Batholith, California. Metasedimentary dark enclaves have geochemical characteristics that overlap those of literature-compiled igneous dark enclaves. When compared with modelled igneous differentiation paths, metasedimentary enclaves can have anomalous CaO and K2O contents for a given SiO2, but other major-element systematics may not deviate noticeably from igneous differentiation trends. In addition, the fact that literature-compiled mafic enclaves trend towards high K2O + CaO s...
Assessing the comparative economics of a biotechnology: Artificial insemination dairy sires

Much opportunity exists to increase economic returns from the artificial insemination, dairy sire selection decision. This article measures potential returns to producers with alternative objective functions, management and financial characteristics. The costs of wrong decisions from incorrect information are measured by differences between alternative sets of top-20 Holstein sires selected from more than 400 available. Correct specification of the objective function is most important. Determination of planning horizon and conception rate also merits allocation of some scarce management resources. Correct information about length of calving interval, female mortality rate, and opportunity cost of capital, however, is economically inconsequential.
Progressive image decoding based on the inverse discrete cosine transform

A new architecture is presented for incremental computation of the two-dimensional inverse discrete cosine transform (2D-IDCT) in the context of progressive image decoding. This architecture offers advantages over existing DCT inversion techniques for systems used in conjunction with progressive image coding schemes or those that must operate in environments with severe and/or time-varying resource constraints (e.g. real-time and low-power systems). The use of a bit-serial distributed arithmetic approach comprised of parallel input-pruned 2D-IDCT processing elements enables low- quality image reconstructions to be quickly and efficiently obtained using only a subset of the DCT coefficient bit stream. Initial approximate reconstructions can be improved in subsequent stages of incremental refinement according to the availability of processing resources or DCT coefficient data. Analysis is presented of image degradation at successive stages, illustrating uniform improvement according to quantitative and perceptual criteria.
D96N mutant bacteriorhodopsin immobilized in sol-gel glass characterization

The D96N mutant form of bacteriorhodopsin (BR) purple membrane fragments isolated from the bacteriumHalobacterium salinarium has been immobilized by entrapment in sol-gel glass. The protein was characterized for M state decay rate at different temperatures and pH values. Bleaching efficiency and absorbance maxima vs pH were also determined. The kinetic effects of triethanolamine and diethanolamine were also examined. Results indicated that the immobilized BR was affected in a manner similar to the mutant BR in aqueous suspension. Addition of guanidine, however, caused the immobilized BR to show kinetic parameters more closely related to the wild-type protein than the D96N mutant control. Samples of the aqueous suspension were characterized for particle size and particle size distribution. Dried samples of the immobilized BR were analyzed by field emission microscopy and BET to characterize both the purple membrane fragments and the sol-gel pore characteristics.
Some aerodynamic and operational problems of stol aircraft with boundary-layer control

1 Home, W. B. and Leland, T. J. W., "Influence of tire tread pattern and runway surface condition on braking friction and rolling resistance of a modern aircraft tire," NASA TN D-1376 (1962). 2 Home, W. B. and Leland, T. J. W., "Runway slipperiness and slush," J. Roy. Aeron. Soc. 67, 559-571 (1963). 3 Home, W. B., Joyner, U. T., and Leland, T. J. W., "Studies of the retardation force developed on an aircraft tire rolling in slush or water," NASA TN D-552 (1960). 4 Home, W. B. and Dreher, R. C., "Phenomena of pneumatic tire hydroplaning," NASA TN D-2056 (1963).
A sequential text search algorithm is superior to adminstratively coded data in estimating wound dehiscence as a surgical patient safety indicator

Abstract Introduction: The federal government has defined 20 Patient Safety Indicators by administrative discharge coding, including postoperative wound dehiscence. This project demonstrates the shortcomings of this method and utilizes an alternative technique to identify events. Methods: From 1998–2004, all coded discharge summaries at our institution were electronically screened for 362 codes to indicate an abdominopelvic procedure, comprising the denominator-at-risk. Screening of this subset for the code "reclosure of postoperative disruption of abdominal wall" (54.61) was compared with Boolean sequential text searching for "dehiscence" or "evisceration." Results were de-identified by an honest broker using proprietary HIPAA compliant software and reviewed. Results: 14,862 unique patients had 18,319 visits containing 28,532 matching discharge codes. 91 events were identified using the coded definition of dehiscence, but only 47 were true positives (52%). False positives resulted from diagnostic miscoding of patients whose wounds were intentionally left open at the initial operation or who had delayed primary wound closures. Sequential text searching identified 535 possible events of which 98 (p Conclusions: Nearly half of the cases identified by the administrative definition of dehiscence were miscoded, thus estimation of the cost and quality burden of this complication by screening discharge codes is flawed. If the goal is to identify actual adverse events, sequential text search detects more true cases and is superior.
An alpha-particle model for some light nuclei

The alpha -particle model is generalized to include the effects of rotational-particle coupling that mixes bands and a procedure to take into account the effect of the exclusion principle between the nucleons In the alpha particles and those outside the alpha particles. The latter nucleous are taken to interact with the alpha particles by a potertial which is derived from scattering data. In the case of Be/sup 9/ most of the levels below 11 Mev are described as belonging to either a band that has an angular momentum projection 3/ 2- on the alpha - alpha axis or a band that has a projection of 1/2-. The model predicts the presence of low-lying positive parity levels as found experimentally. The ground-state magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments and the cross sections for inelastic scattering are calculated and compared with experiment. The model is applied to Be/sup 10/, and the (p, gamma ) angular correlation is computed for the reaction Be/sup 9/(d,P) Be/sup 10*/( gamma )Be/sup 10/. (auth)
Metabolic effects of bretylium and phentolamine in euthyroid and thyrotoxic rats

Abstract In rats chronic administration of thyroid hormone produced an increase in cardiac phosphorylase a activity. Intravenous injection of bretylium or phentolamine into normal and thyrotoxic rats caused an acute elevation of heart phosphorylase a ; the increase in enzyme activity greater when bretylium was administered to thyrotoxic animals. When propranolol was given prior to bretylium, the increase in phosphorylase a was completely prevented. Reserpine alone did not alter cardiac phosphorylase a but prevented the rise in enzyme activity observed after injection of bretylium or phentolamine. In adrenal demedullated rats hearts phosphorylase a was below control levels but the metabolic response to bretylium and phentolamine could still be elicited. Stimulation of cardiac phosphorylase a activity by thyroxine was diminished in adrenal demedullated rats and was completely absent in demedullated rats with adrenergic blockade.
Purification and characterization of a recombinant human thyroid peroxidase expressed in insect cells

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is an essential enzyme for thyroid hormone biosynthesis and is an autoantigen against which antibodies are found in a number of autoimmune thyroid disorders. Large quantities of pure TPO are essential for understanding its structure and role in normal thyroid function and thyroid diseases. In this study, we describe the production of human TPO (hTPO) using a baculovirus expression vector in insect cells. TPO was sequentially extracted from insect cells using various buffers and the protein was purified to homogeneity on a C4 reversed-phase semipreparative column using high-performance liquid chromatography. The purified protein was identified as hTPO by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, and amino acid sequence analyses. Carbohydrate analysis of the recombinant hTPO showed that the protein is glycosylated and mannose is the major oligosaccharide. We have extended the carbohydrate analysis by establishing the occurrence of N-acetyl galactosamine which suggested that the recombinant hTPO might contain O-glycosyl moieties. Purified hTPO reacted specifically with sera from patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Crude as well as purified hTPO did not show any enzymatic activity when produced in Sf9 insect cells grown in serum free medium. In contrast, hTPO produced in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum containing 1 microgram/ml of haematin was enzymatically active. However, the enzymatic activity of the recombinant hTPO was lower than that often found with hTPO purified from thyroid tissue. Availability of purified hTPO in relatively large quantities should allow further structural and immunological studies.
Thermodynamics of mobile order theory: comparison of experimental and predicted anthracene and pyrene solubilities in binary alkane+alcohol solvent mixtures

Abstract Experimental solubilities are reported for pyrene in ten binary alkane+alcohol solvent mixtures containing either 1-butanol or 2-methyl-1-propanol with hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane. Results of these measurements, along with published anthracene and pyrene solubility data, are used to test predictive expressions based upon the mobile order theory. For the 59 systems studied, the best predictive equation was found to predict the observed solubility data to within an overall average deviation of about 3% using numerical values of 125 cm 3 mol −1 and 175 cm 3 mol −1 for the anthracene–alcohol and pyrene–alcohol stability constants, respectively. Alcohol self-association constants and binary interaction parameters were obtained by regressing vapor–liquid equilibria (VLE) data for alkane+alcohol mixtures.
Adverse events during rotary-wing transport of mechanically ventilated patients: a retrospective cohort study

Patients triaged to tertiary care centers frequently undergo rotary-wing transport and may be exposed to additional risk for adverse events. The incidence of physiologic adverse events and their predisposing factors in mechanically ventilated patients undergoing aeromedical transport are unknown. We performed a retrospective review of flight records of all interfacility, rotary-wing transports to a tertiary care, university hospital during 2001 to 2003. All patients receiving mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube or tracheostomy were included; trauma, scene flights, and fixed transports were excluded. Data were abstracted from patient flight and hospital records. Adverse events were classified as either major (death, arrest, pneumothorax, or seizure) or minor (physiologic decompensation, new arrhythmia, or requirement for new sedation/paralysis). Bivariate associations between hospital and flight characteristics and the presence of adverse events were examined. Six hundred eighty-two interfacility flights occurred during the period of review, with 191 patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Fifty-eight different hospitals transferred patients, with diagnoses that were primarily cardiopulmonary (45%) and neurologic (37%). Median flight distance and time were 42 (31 to 83) km and 13 (8 to 22) minutes, respectively. No major adverse events occurred during flight. Forty patients (22%) experienced a minor physiologic adverse event. Vasopressor requirement prior to flight and flight distance were associated with the presence of adverse events in-flight (P < 0.05). Patient demographics, time of day, season, transferring hospital characteristics, and ventilator settings before and during flight were not associated with adverse events. Major adverse events are rare during interfacility, rotary-wing transfer of critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. Patients transferred over a longer distance or transferred on vasopressors may be at greater risk for minor adverse events during flight.
Pathogenesis of subacute bacterial endocarditis

Summary Subacute bacterial endocarditis is a distinet pathologic and clinical entity. The vegetative endocarditis that characterizes this disease, with its exudation of fibrin, blood platelets, and enmeshed bacteria, represents a state of high local and general tissue immunity to bacterial invasion, rather than lowered resistance; the immunity resides in the local endothelial structures, as well as in the general reticuloendothelial system. Since the reaction to this bacterial invasion is largely endothelial, the disease can rightfully be termed infectious endotheliosis . Subacute bacterial endocarditis occurs typically in patients who have valvular disease, usually rheumatic, but who have acquired a high degree of immunity, so that reinfection, recurrent endocarditis or pancarditis, and congestive heart failure do not occur. This increased immunity is responsible for the fact that the patient is not heart-conscious even during the attack of acute valvular infection. Then a transient bacteremia, caused by an upper respiratory infection, tonsillectomy, the extraction of an infected tooth, or pyelitis, permits secondary invasion and implantation of bacteria (usually the ubiquitous Streptococcus viridans ) on the damaged valve. A careful history will reveal that some infection which lowered the general body resistance is usually the beginning of an illness that later develops into subacute bacterial endocarditis. Although the bacteria are able to implant themselves on the damaged valves, they find in the valve an altered tissue reactivity which does not permit much local damage, such as ulceration or extension into the myocardium or pericardium. A more favorable outcome would be likely if the bacteria were not localized in a focus that communicates directly with the blood stream. If embolism does not cut the disease short, death occurs when the local and systemic endothelial systems become exhausted. Subacute bacterial endocarditis is a true endocardial sepsis, for the valve acts as the primary distributing focus of the infection. As such, if the focus can be removed surgically (as in some cases of patency of the ductus arteriosus) or chemotherapeutically before complications set in, there is some hope for a cure of this dreaded disease.
Split Band Edge Structures and Negative Index

Highly anisotropic periodic waveguide structures show gigantic field enhancements near a split band-edge due to low group velocities. An effective negative index regime is observed, leading to strong but localized field emission around the waveguide.
Agreement of the vector dominance model in a complete transversality system with polarized and unpolarized photoproduction data

Abstract Agreement with the Vector Dominance Model predictions are obtained in a system where the pion produced vector mesons are described in the Donohue-Hogaasen frame. generalized to account for the presence of s-wave contributions. In this system the admixture of polarizations from the element ϱ 10 V are suppressed by a dynamical unitary transformation on the helicity frame spin density matrix. The tests are applied to pion photoproduction data by polarized and unpolarized photons; also an independent search is made for the γ-ϱ coupling constant at q 2 = 0, yielding a value of γ ϱ 2 /4 π = 0.40 ± 0.03.
Optimal Management of Acute Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury During Thyroidectomy

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is commonly encountered by thyroid surgeons and may carry with it great morbidity. Whether the injury is accidental or due to deliberate resection for oncologic soundness, the surgeon must be prepared to offer the best available treatment to patients, either at the time of injury or early in the recovery process. We review advances in treatment that allow optimal management of an acute RLN injury: ansa cervicalis–RLN reinnervation, in-office unsedated vocal fold injection augmentation, and electromyographic prognostication. The benefits and advantages of each procedure as well as relevant anatomy and techniques are delineated.
Direct and Indirect Pulp Capping with Two New Products

The clinical experiment reported in this article attempts to determine whether two new Dycal compounds are acceptable as pulp capping agents for primary and young permanent teeth.
Erythropoietin promotes neurovascular remodeling and long-term functional recovery in rats following traumatic brain injury

Erythropoietin (EPO) improves functional recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study was designed to investigate long-term (3 months) effects of EPO on brain remodeling and functional recovery in rats after TBI. Young male Wistar rats were subjected to unilateral controlled cortical impact injury. TBI rats were divided into the following groups: (1) saline group (n=7); (2) EPO-6h group (n=8); and (3) EPO-24h group (n=8). EPO (5000 U/kg in saline) was administered intraperitoneally at 6h, and 1 and 2 days (EPO-6h group) or at 1, 2, and 3 days (EPO-24h group) postinjury. Neurological function was assessed using a modified neurological severity score, footfault and Morris water maze tests. Animals were sacrificed at 3 months after injury and brain sections were stained for immunohistochemical analyses. Compared to the saline, EPO-6h treatment significantly reduced cortical lesion volume, while EPO-24h therapy did not affect the lesion volume (P<0.05). Both the EPO-6h and EPO-24h treatments significantly reduced hippocampal cell loss (P<0.05), promoted angiogenesis (P<0.05) and increased endogenous cellular proliferation (BrdU-positive cells) in the injury boundary zone and hippocampus (P<0.05) compared to saline controls. Significantly enhanced neurogenesis (BrdU/NeuN-positive cells) was seen in the dentate gyrus of both EPO groups compared to the saline group. Both EPO treatments significantly improved long-term sensorimotor and cognitive functional recovery after TBI. In conclusion, the beneficial effects of posttraumatic EPO treatment on injured brain persisted for at least 3 months. The long-term improvement in functional outcome may in part be related to the neurovascular remodeling induced by EPO.
Global Scope at the National Level: The ITU's Contributions to Telecommunications Development

The International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) work that is oriented towards the needs of developing countries is described. This work is explained as one of two kinds of technical cooperation; the other kind corresponds to the ITU's traditional function as coordinator and standards-maker for international working of telecommunication services. It is shown how these two kinds of technical cooperation both aid each other and compete with each other for funds, top-level organizational attention, and provision of expert manpower. The growth and diversity of cooperative activities for the benefit of developing countries is reviewed in some detail. Numerous examples of handbook-writing and special national or regional projects are given. It is concluded that the ITU exhibits two faces, one directed toward the highly developed country, another toward the developing country in need of help. Maintaining a judicious balance in support of these two personalities represents a challenge to the ITU as a whole, and to its Permanent Organs in particular.
Photonic Crystal Back Reflectors for Enhanced Absorption in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

Photonic crystal back reflectors offer enhanced optical absorption in thin-film solar cells, without undesirable losses. Rigorous simulations of photonic crystal back reflectors predicted maximized light absorption in amorphous silicon solar cells for a pitch of 700-800 nm. Simulations also predict that for typical 250 nm i-layer cells, the periodic photonic crystal back reflector can improve absorption over the ideal randomly roughened back reflector (or the ‘4n2 classical limit’) at wavelengths near the band edge. The PC back reflector provides even higher enhancement than roughened back reflectors for cells with even thinner i-layers. Using these simulated designs, we fabricated metallic photonic crystal back reflectors with different etch depths and i-layer thicknesses. The photonic crystals had a pitch of 760 nm and triangular lattice symmetry. The average light absorption increased with the PC back reflectors, but the greatest improvement (7-8%) in short circuit current was found for thinner i-layers. We have studied the dependence of cell performance on the etch depth of the photonic crystal. The photonic crystal back reflector strongly diffracts light and increases optical path lengths of solar photons.