cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevention of intracellular adenosine triphosphate depletion after sublethal oxidant injury to rat type II alveolar epithelial cells with exogenous glutathione and N-acetylcysteine

The alveolar epithelial cells of the lower respiratory tract are exposed continuously to injurious agents, including oxygen radicals. The type II alveolar epithelial cell is critically important to the normal function of the lung, because it is responsible for synthesis of surfactant and other essential duties. In the current investigation, the authors documented the loss of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) after exposure of the cells to sublethal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorous acid. Subsequent experiments attempted to alleviate or prevent this oxidant mediated loss of ATP by preincubating the cells with either glutathione or N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Initially, it was determined that exposure of the type II cells to 250 microM hypochlorous acid or 250 microM H2O2 for 1 hour each would cause significant loss of type II cell ATP. However, preincubation with glutathione (1,000 microM) inhibited the loss of ATP after both exposure to 250 microM H2O2 (24 +/- 3% loss of ATP without glutathione compared with 13 +/- 2% loss with glutathione, P < 0.05), and 250 microM hypochlorous acid (12 +/- 2% loss of ATP without glutathione compared with 1 +/- 1% increase of ATP with glutathione). Similar results were obtained using NAC (2 mg/mL) after exposure to 250 microM H2O2 (23 +/- 2% loss of ATP without NAC compared with a 4 +/- 3% loss of ATP with NAC). This study demonstrates that exogenous glutathione and NAC are able to protect type II cells from oxidant mediated sublethal injury and loss of intracellular ATP stores.
On the RS2 realization of unparticles

To facilitate the study of the unparticle scenario it is very desirable to have a treatable model realizing it in four dimensions. Motivated by the general idea of the AdS/CFT correspondence, we consider a simple construction: the Randall-Sundrum 2 (single brane) setup with the Standard Model fields on the brane and a massive vector field in the warped bulk. We show that in this model the known properties of vector unparticles – the nontrivial phase of the CFT propagator, the necessity and dominance of contact interactions, the unitarity constraint on the conformal dimension of the operator, and the tensor structure dictated by conformal symmetry – follow by simple inspection of the brane-to-brane propagator. The phase has a physical interpretation as controlling the rate of escape of unparticles into the extra dimension. Requiring the correct sign for the imaginary part of the longitudinal polarization of the propagator, we obtain the unitarity condition m 2 ≥ 0, which, unlike in the scalar case, is unchanged from flat space. This condition results in the unitarity bound dV ≥ 3, or, more generally, dV ≥ D − 1 for a vector unparticle in D-dimensional space. It is instructive to consider the RS 2 propagator in (Euclidean) position space: at large distances it behaves as a pure CFT propagator, while at short distances it turns into the 5d flat space propagator. The latter is softer than the former, thus regulating the would-be divergences of the spectral integral and turning the “contact” terms seen at low energies into finite-range interactions. Upon Fourier transforming to momentum space, one finds that at low momenta the CFT piece is subdominant to the “contact” interactions.
Estimation of Electron Transfer Distances from AM1 Calculations

We examine a simple approximate method for calculating the electron transfer (ET) distance suitable for extracting the off-diagonal electronic coupling element (Hab) of Marcus−Hush theory from the ...
Estramustine and vinblastine for patients with progressive androgen-independent adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

Abstract A phase II trial was performed to assess antitumor activity and toxicity of estramustine and vinblastine in 31 consecutive patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer. All patients presented with disease progression following castrate serum testosterone levels of less than 50 ng/dl and were treated for 6 consecutive weeks with three daily 140-mg doses of oral estramustine and vinblastine at 6 mg/m 2 weekly by intravenous bolus. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels decreased by greater than 50% from baseline in 13 (46%; 95% confidence intervals, 27%–66%) of 28 evaluable patients. Patients who demonstrated a greater than 50% reduction in PSA had a longer delay in time to disease progression. Nonhematologic toxicity was mild, predominantly gastrointestinal. Hematologic toxicity was apparent in 13 patients with grade III granulocytopenia and in 7 patients with grade IV granulocytopenia. No patient was admitted to the hospital for neutropenic fever. Estramustine and vinblastine is a well-tolerated combination. This combination and the clinical significance of this decline in PSA warrants further investigation.
Redefining Student Success: Applying Different Multinomial Regression Techniques for the Study of Student Graduation Across Institutions of Higher Education

Current definitions of retention and graduation rates distort the picture of student success by limiting it to completion of a degree at the institution of entry. By incorporating data from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), a clearer picture emerges. The NSC data captures retention and graduation at both entry and transfer institutions. To accommodate this polychotomous definition of success, more sophisticated methods of modeling limited dependent variables are needed. Though multinomial logit is often considered the most accessible method, the strict assumptions it imposes may be inappropriate. We therefore compare multinomial regression techniques to assess their utility in modeling multi-institutional student success.
Limited resource term detection for effective topic identification of speech

We consider the task of identifying topics in recorded speech across many languages. We identify a statistically discriminative set of topic keywords, and examine the relationship between overall word error rate (WER), keyword-specific detection performance, and topic identification (Topic ID) performance on the Fisher Spanish corpus. Building increasingly constrained systems - from copious to limited training LVCSR to limited-vocabulary keyword spotting - we show that neither high WER (>60%) nor low-precision term detection (<;40%) are necessarily impediments to Topic ID. By using deep neural net acoustic models for keyword spotting, we can double recall and ranked retrieval performance over comparable PLP-based models and achieve Topic ID performance on par with well-trained LVCSR or human transcripts.
Structural and magnetic properties of the single-layer manganese oxide La 1 − x Sr 1 + x MnO 4

Using x-ray and neutron scattering, we have studied the structural and magnetic properties of the single-layer manganite La{sub 1-x}Sr{sub 1+x}MnO{sub 4}(0{ =}0.45) doping. LaSrMnO{sub 4}(x=0) is an antiferromagnetic Mott insulator, and its spin-wave spectrum is well described by linear spin-wave theory for the spin-2 square-lattice Heisenberg Hamiltonian with Ising anisotropy. Upon doping, as the e{sub g} electron concentration (1-x) decreases, both the two-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin correlations in the paramagnetic phase and the low-temperature ordered moment decrease due to an increase of frustrating interactions, and Neel order disappears above x{sub c}=0.115(10). The magnetic frustration is closely related to changes in the e{sub g} orbital occupancies and the associated Jahn-Teller distortions. In the intermediate region, there exists neither long-range magnetic nor superstructural order. Short-range-correlated structural 'nanopatches' begin to form above x{approx}0.25. At high doping (x{>=}0.45), the ground state of La{sub 1-x}Sr{sub 1+x}MnO{sub 4} exhibits long-range superstructural order and a complex antiferromagnetic order, which differs frommore » that at low doping. The superstructural order is thought to arise from charge and orbital ordering on the Mn sites, and for x=0.50 we conclude that it is of B2mm symmetry. For x>0.50, the superstructural order becomes incommensurate with the lattice, with a modulation wave vector {epsilon} that depends linearly on the e{sub g} electron concentration: {epsilon}=2(1-x). On the other hand, the magnetic order remains commensurate, but loses its long-range coherence upon doping beyond x=0.50.« less
A 3D Path-Following Approach for a Multirotor UAV on SO(3)

Abstract This paper presents a path-following control law that enables a multirotor, equipped with an autopilot tracking angular rates and thrust reference commands, to converge to and follow a three-dimensional path. The approach is based on the Special Orthogonal group SO(3) and allows for independent adjustment of the vehicle's speed profile in order to satisfy desired temporal specifications. Simulation results illustrate the efficacy of the proposed path-following control law.
Role of self‐carriers in the immune response and tolerance. Parameters of tolerance induced by haptenated lymphoid cells

The induction of tolerance to the 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) hapten has been studied in a system utilizing haptenated syngeneic lymphoid cells. Specific depression of the direct and indirect plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to TNP-protein conjugates was regularly achieved by pretreatment of Lewis rats with 1 X 10(7) trinitrophenylated spleen cells or TNP lymph node cells. Very low numbers of haptenated lymphocytes were active since tolerance could be induced in vivo with as few as 10(5)-10(6) TNP spleen cells (SC). SC exposed to as little as 10-100 mug of the reactive hapten, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, were effective tolerogens in this system. Tolerance induced with 10(7) haptenated spleen cells persisted for at least 4 weeks. Viable intact cells did not seem to be required in this system since the cell-free supernatants from TNP-SC cultured for 24 h were also active. In addition, significant depression of an ongoing immune response could also be imposed by haptenated isologous lymphoid cells. Moderate suppression of the "hapten-specific" delayed hypersensitivity response (measured by the accumulation of 51Cr-labeled bone marrow cells) was also achieved with TNP-SC. These results suggest that haptenated isologous lymphoid cells are potent tolerogenic conjugates capable of inducing tolerance affecting antibody formation and delayed hypersensitivity. However, since we and others have shown that TNP-SC do not adversely affect the generation of hapten-specific cytotoxic T cells, it is postulated that there is a differential recognition of, or response to, hapten-modified self-carriers by functionally distinct lymphocyte subpopulations.
The Effect of Handling and Immobilization on the Response to Acute Pain in Newborn Infants

Background. Previous reports have suggested that healthy, full-term newborn infants who are in more aroused behavioral states tend to respond more robustly to painful events. Others have shown that acutely ill premature and full-term infants who undergo significant handling and immobilization as part of required nursery procedures respond less robustly to concurrent painful events. Purpose. To investigate, using an experimental manipulation, the effect of arousal associated with handling and immobilization on response to acute pain in generally healthy, premature and full-term newborn infants. Methods. Infants were randomly assigned to a group that underwent a series of handling and immobilization procedures before a heelstick or to a group that underwent the heelstick without previous handling and immobilization. Heart rate, behavioral state, and facial activity were compared between the handled (n = 21) and nonhandled (n = 27) infants during an undisturbed baseline, a preparatory, and a standard heelstick procedure. Results. In the handled group, heart rate increased over baseline levels in response to the handling but promptly returned to prehandling levels. There were no significant differences between handled and nonhandled groups in mean heart rate, behavioral state, or facial activity during the baseline or preparatory periods before the heelstick. However, in response to the heelstick, handled infants had a higher mean heart rate, greater behavioral arousal, and displayed more facial activity as compared with nonhandled infants. Conclusions. Healthy premature and full-term newborn infants who undergo common nursery experiences such as handling and immobilization as part of their routine care can exhibit greater physiologic and behavioral reactivity to subsequent painful procedures. The effects of the previous handling may be undetectable, using conventional indices of reactivity, until the painful event. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying reliable markers of previous stress, particularly for newborn infants who may become clinically compromised as a result of the physiologic instability associated with response to pain.
Operational Criteria for Automatic Missile Readiness Testing

One of the activities in which automatic testing plays a key role is missile readiness testing, which is that set of tests performed regularly for the purpose of detecting failures that have occurred in the missile and launch equipment. This is done in order to maintain a high state of operational readiness, measured in terms of readiness probability. An important adjunct to criteria for physical characteristics of readiness-testing techniques and equipment are statements derived from operational analyses that specify 1) what tests are done best by each testing method, 2) the best test frequencies, and 3) the preferred equipment locations for each test; these are operational design criteria and they depend greatly upon the obtainable readiness probability. Depending on the test techniques employed, different testing methods (check periodically, monitor continuously, leave alone) and equipment locations (van, silo, missile) could yield different readiness probabilities for each missile subsystem. These probabilities depend on the particular missile's characteristics (test-point availability, failure rates, modes of operation, etc.) and test technique and equipment characteristics (test completeness, accuracy, failure rates, etc.). In addition, missile system concepts or constraints such as fixed periods for some inspections and planned delays before repair must be accounted for in the readiness determination. Using probabilistic models to describe the system operation, computational forms are developed that account for each of the above physical and operational factors, and estimate the readiness probability of either an entire missile or each of its parts.
“Horny-Handed Sons of Toil”—R.I.P.

It is a credit to Charles Postel, as well as an indication of the significance and complexity of this nineteenth-century movement, that a new book on Populism can still inform and intrigue us. Post...
Harmonization of Texture and Friction Measurements on Florida's Open-Graded and Dense-Graded Pavements:

A study was initiated to harmonize the dynamic friction tester and a locked-wheel tester on Florida's typical open-graded and dense-graded surfaces under various speed conditions. In addition, two texture measuring devices, the circular track meter and a high-speed 64-kHz laser mounted to the locked-wheel tester, were evaluated. These devices were first harmonized at a standard test speed of 40 mph (65 km/h). Because of the increased level of macrotexture in the open-graded mixtures, the open- and dense-graded surfaces were assumed to show different frictional behavior under different speed conditions. As a consequence, the harmonization equations for the open- and dense-graded surfaces were developed separately. Harmonization of different test speeds was also performed for each given test method to allow for converting the friction measured at a range of speeds—30 mph (50 km/h) to 60 mph (95 km/h)—back to that of the standard speed. The flexibility provided by these harmonization efforts is of great prac...
Synthesis of DNA oligonucleotides in mesoporous silicon

In-situ oligonucleotide synthesis through an 8-base sequence is demonstrated within 30 nm silicon mesopores utilizing sequential phosphoramidite reactions. Stepwise attachment of each base is confirmed by monitoring the porous silicon effective refractive index via a waveguide resonance angle. A linear increase in the effective refractive index is observed after the addition of each base, and the detection of oligonucleotides containing only a single thymine is possible. It is estimated that 50% of the available internal pore surface is occupied by the 8-base oligonucleotides, which is a substantially greater coverage than obtained by using traditional methods of direct attachment of presynthesized DNA oligonucleotides. The greater surface coverage by DNA probes will enable more effective biosensing devices.
The AR-property in linear metric spaces

Abstract Roberts constructed a linear metric space which contains a compact convex set without any extreme points. The space constructed by Roberts is complicated and special. We investigate the topological property of Roberts' example and demonstrate that the linear metric space constructed by Roberts is an AR , therefore is homeomorphic to Hilbert space.
Symptom differences in moderate to severe IBS patients based on predominant bowel habit.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients with different bowel habit predominance differ in self-reported viscerosensory symptoms related to the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, somatosensory symptoms, and constitutional functions. METHODS: Six hundred and twenty-five Rome criteria-positive IBS patients completed a bowel symptom questionnaire (BSQ), psychological symptom checklist (SCL-90), and health status (SF-36). Bowel habit predominance for IBS patients was determined using the Rome criteria for functional constipation (IBS-C; n = 140) and functional diarrhea (IBS-D; n = 216). The BSQ included questions about viscerosensory symptoms of the upper (chest pressure, bloating, fullness, early satiety, nausea) and lower GI tract (bloating, pain, incomplete evacuation), somatosensory symptoms related to the musculoskeletal system (pain in neck/shoulders, lower back/hip, muscles/joints), and constitutional functions (sleep, appetite, libido). Analysis was further conducted between the IBS-C and IBS-D patients, controlling for gender and quality of sleep, and using the Bonferroni correction to control for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Female gender was more prevalent among IBS-C than IBS-D (77% vs 56.1%, p vs 39.5 ± 1.0 yr) . Symptoms referred to the upper GI were more prevalent in IBS-C than IBS-D: early satiety (56.7% vs 33.9%, p vs 38.5%, p vs 62.6%). IBS-C patients reported higher severity ratings for lower GI bloating ( p vs 75.4%, p vs 17.5%, p vs 18.4%, p vs 33.1%, p CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the IBS-D group, the IBS-C patients show greater prevalence of a wide range of symptoms referred to the upper and lower abdomen, musculoskeletal, and constitutional functions. These findings may be related to differences in autonomic or perceptual responses to visceral and somatic stimuli, and are likely to have implications for treatment responses in the two subgroups.
Simulated annealing and morphology neural networks

Artificial neural networks have proven to be quite useful for a variety of different applications. A recent addition to the arena of neural networks, morphology neural networks use a morphology-like operation as their basic nodal calculation, instead of the usual linear operation. Several morphology neural nets have been developed, and lattice-type learning rules have been used to train these networks. In this paper, we present a different kind of learning rule for morphology neural nets that is based on the simulated annealing algorithm. Simulated annealing has been applied to many different areas involving optimization.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Employee evaluations of service quality at banks and credit unions

Service quality in the USA has become a frustrating and unsatisfying experience. Recent indicators suggest customer satisfaction with service has been steadily declining. The financial services sector is no exception. Existing research indicates credit union customers are more satisfied with service quality than bank customers. Current studies also suggest service quality and employee satisfaction are linked to customer satisfaction. Surveys were administered to bank and credit union employees about service quality they receive from their managers. The results did not support the study’s hypothesis that credit union managers would receive higher scores than bank managers. However, the results and implications are important for researchers and practitioners interested in improving service quality at banks and credit unions.
Types for units-of-measure in f#: invited talk

Bugs caused by units-of-measure errors can have catastrophic consequences, the most famous of which was the loss in September 1999 of NASA's Mars Climate Orbiter probe, caused by a confusion between newtons (the SI unit of force) and lbf (the Imperial unit of force).This talk will describe support for static checking and inference of units-of-measure in the F# programming language. From the programmer's perspective, the feature is not intrusive. Numeric constants are annotated with their units, user-defined types may be parameterized on units, and the compiler does the rest, flowing unit-of-measure information through to inferred types. Behind the scenes, there are a number of technical subtleties. The type inference algorithm achieves principal types through the use of (a) Abelian group unification and (b) a change-of-basis procedure when inferring polymorphic types for let-bound variables. Type schemes are presented to the programmer in a consistent style that is related to the Hermite normal form from linear algebra. In addition, there are a number of interesting interactions with F#'s support for object-oriented programming.The talk will of course include a demonstration, and also a selection of case studies in the domains of machine learning, games programming, physics simulation, and finance.
Antisocial Behavior and the Continuing “Tragedy of the Commons”

The influence of individuals' antisocial tendencies and risk perceptions on a simulated managerial decision are examined in the study. Subjects accepting and rejecting a hypothetical scenario were found to be significantly different in terms of aggression, lack of empathy, and degree of individualism. Situational influences were not significantly related to subjects' decision. Limitations and future research are discussed.
The Failure of Expected-Utility Theory as a Theory of Reason

Expected-utility (EU) theory has been a popular and influential theory in philosophy, law, and the social sciences. While its original developers, von Neumann and Morgenstern, presented it as a purely predictive theory useful to the practitioners of economic science, many subsequent theorists, particularly those outside of economics, have come to endorse EU theory as providing us with a representation of reason. But precisely in what sense does EU theory portray reason? And does it do so successfully?There are two strikingly different answers to these questions in the literature. On the one hand, there is the view of people such as David Gauthier that EU theory is an implementation of the idea that reason's only role is instrumental. On the other hand, there is the view suggested by Leonard Savage (1954/1972; and see Anderson, 1993) that the theory is a “formal” and noninstrumental characterization of our reasoning process.
Monochromatic Imaging Camera and Technique for Spatially Resolved Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Spectrally and spatially resolved optical emissions have been measured from argon plasmas in a GEC reference cell. The monochromatic imaging camera described herein records 2D images from a single ...
Double beta decay in 48Ca and the conservation of leptons

Abstract A new experimental investigation of double beta decay in 48Ca using apparatus of unique sensitivity and discrimination is reported. We obtain a lower limit of 1.6 × 1021 years at a statistical confidence level of 80% for the lifetime of the lepton-nonconserving neutrinoless mode, and of 3 × 1019 years for the lepton-conserving two-neutrino mode.
Position, Velocity, and Acceleration Synthesis of the RRSS Spatial Path-Generating Mechanism Using the Selective Precision Synthesis Method

utilisation de la methode de synthese a precision selective pour determiner les accelerations, vitesses et positions d'un mecanisme articule spatial generateur de trajectoire (mecanisme avec deux articulations de rotation et deux articulations spheriques)
Group VIA Phospholipase A2 Forms a Signaling Complex with the Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase IIβ Expressed in Pancreatic Islet β-Cells

Insulin-secreting pancreatic islet β-cells express a Group VIA Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β) that contains a calmodulin binding site and protein interaction domains. We identified Ca2+/calmodulindependent protein kinase IIβ (CaMKIIβ) as a potential iPLA2β-interacting protein by yeast two-hybrid screening of a cDNA library using iPLA2β cDNA as bait. Cloning CaMKIIβ cDNA from a rat islet library revealed that one dominant CaMKIIβ isoform mRNA is expressed by adult islets and is not observed in brain or neonatal islets and that there is high conservation of the isoform expressed by rat and human β-cells. Binary two-hybrid assays using DNA encoding this isoform as bait and iPLA2β DNA as prey confirmed interaction of the enzymes, as did assays with CaMKIIβ as prey and iPLA2β bait. His-tagged CaMKIIβ immobilized on metal affinity matrices bound iPLA2β, and this did not require exogenous calmodulin and was not prevented by a calmodulin antagonist or the Ca2+ chelator EGTA. Activities of both enzymes increased upon their association, and iPLA2β reaction products reduced CaMKIIβ activity. Both the iPLA2β inhibitor bromoenol lactone and the CaMKIIβ inhibitor KN93 reduced arachidonate release from INS-1 insulinoma cells, and both inhibit insulin secretion. CaMKIIβ and iPLA2β can be coimmunoprecipitated from INS-1 cells, and forskolin, which amplifies glucose-induced insulin secretion, increases the abundance of the immunoprecipitatable complex. These findings suggest that iPLA2β and CaMKIIβ form a signaling complex in β-cells, consistent with reports that both enzymes participate in insulin secretion and that their expression is coinduced upon differentiation of pancreatic progenitor to endocrine progenitor cells.
Molecular cloning and characterization of the human β-like globin gene cluster

The genes encoding human embryonic (epsilon), fetal (G gamma, A gamma) and adult (delta, beta) beta-like globin polypeptides were isolated as a set of overlapping cloned DNA fragments from bacteriophage lambda libraries of high molecular weight (15-20 kb) chromosomal DNA. The 65 kb of DNA represented in these overlapping clones contains the genes for all five beta-like polypeptides, including the embryonic epsilon-globin gene, for which the chromosomal location was previously unknown. All five genes are transcribed from the same DNA strand and are arranged in the order 5'-epsilon-(13.3 kb)-G gamma-(3.5 kb)-A gamma-(13.9 kb)-delta-(5.4 kb)-beta-3'. Thus the genes are positioned on the chromosome in the order of their expression during development. In addition to the five known beta-like globin genes, we have detected two other beta-like globin sequences which do not correspond to known polypeptides. One of these sequences has been mapped to the A gamma-delta intergenic region while the other is located 6-9 kb 5' to the epsilon gene. Cross hybridization experiments between the intergenic sequences of the gene cluster have revealed a nonglobin repeat sequence (*) which is interspersed with the globin genes in the following manner: 5'-**epsilon-*G gamma-A gamma*-**delta-beta*-3'. Fine structure mapping of the region located 5' to the delta-globin gene revealed two repeats with a maximum size of 400 bp, which are separated by approximately 700 bp of DNA not repeated within the cluster. Preliminary experiments indicate that this repeat family is also repeated many times in the human genome.
The Behavioral Effects of Welfare Time Limits

Time limits are among the most fundamental of recent welfare reforms. Whereas welfare benefits were an entitlement under the old Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), which replaced AFDC with the Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program, restricts most families to 60 months of federally funded benefits. Although the states are free to extend benefits further using their own funds, almost all have incorporated some sort of time limit into their TANF programs. Time limits may affect welfare receipt in two distinct ways. The most obvious effect is mechanical, reducing welfare use once recipients exhaust their benefits. However, time limits may also reduce welfare receipt before recipients reach the limit. If families are forwardlooking, they may reduce their current welfare use in order to preserve their benefits for the future. The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence on such anticipatory, or behavioral, effects of time limits. I use data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to replicate my earlier estimates based on the Current Population Survey (CPS). I also exploit the SIPP to relax some of the restrictive assumptions that were implicit in my previous work.
1362 Intranasal Lidocaine and Midazolam for Procedural Sedation in Children

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a sedation protocol based on Lidocaine spray and Intranasal Midazolam (INM) administered by Mucosal Atomizer Device (MAD) in uncooperative children undergoing minor painful procedures or diagnostic investigations. Patients and design: Fourty-six children, aged 6-60 months, underwent INM (0.5 mg/kg) by MAD after delivering a puff of Lidocaine spray (10 mg per puff) before the execution of various procedures, such as peripheral line placements, venipunctures, intramuscular injections, heart ultrasound examinations, computed tomographic scans, auditory tests or dental manipulation. A questionnaire was designed to evaluate the effect of sedation in performing the procedures. Statistical analysis was performed to compare sedation times with age and weight of children tested. Results: The degree of sedation achieved by INM allowed all procedures to be completed without any additional drugs. Premedication with Lidocaine spray prevented any nasal discomfort or pain related to INM. The mean duration of sedation effect was 23.1 minutes. No significant side effects could be recorded in the cohort of children studied. The degree of appreciation for both medical staff and children's parents was good. A significant correlation of effect start and end time was found only with age. Conclusions: This study showed that the association of Lidocaine spray and atomized INM is safe and effective to obtain children's short-term sedation and to easily perform all the procedures.
Macrocyclic polyethers and their complexes.

The most important, and almost unique, property of the macrocyclic polyethers (“crown compounds”) is their tendency to form complexes with alkali metal salts and salts with similar cations. Such complexes are held together by electrostatic attraction between the cation and the negative end of the CO dipoles. The stability of the polyether complexes depends primarily upon how well the cation fits into the polyether ring; other factors are the charge density of the cation and—in solution—the solvating power of the medium. Cyclic polyethers have been successfully employed, inter alia, in experiments with ionic compounds in organic solvents and in studies of ion transport in biological systems.
3-D ICs: Motivation, performance analysis, technology and applications

Interconnect delays, bandwidth and power consumption are increasingly dominating IC performance due to increases in chip size and reduction in the minimum feature size, in spite of new materials like Cu with low-k dielectric. Thereby severely limiting chip performance unless a paradigm shift from present interconnect architecture is introduced. One such promising technique is three-dimensional (3-D) ICs with multiple active Si layers and vertical interconnects. This paper presents a comprehensive review of 3-D ICs with multiple semiconductor layers. It is shown that significant improvement in performance and reduction in wire-limited chip area can be achieved with 3-D ICs if some long horizontal interconnects can be replaced by short vertical inter-layer interconnects. We also address the thermal concerns due to increased power density for 3-D circuits. Finally, an overview of some of the processing techniques which can be used to fabricate these circuits, is reviewed.
π-Dimer Formation in an Oligothiophene Tweezer Molecule

An oligothiophene tweezer molecule, which has two quaterthiophene moieties connected to create an electrochemically activated hinge, has been synthesized. Two-electron oxidation of the tweezer molecule produces an intramolecular pi-dimer between the two oligothiophene moieties at room temperature as confirmed by UV-vis absorption, electrochemistry, and EPR experiments.
A global optimization algorithm for polynomial programming problems using a Reformulation-Linearization Technique

This paper is concerned with the development of an algorithm to solve continuous polynomial programming problems for which the objective function and the constraints are specified polynomials. A linear programming relaxation is derived for the problem based on a Reformulation Linearization Technique (RLT), which generates nonlinear (polynomial) implied constraints to be included in the original problem, and subsequently linearizes the resulting problem by defining new variables, one for each distinct polynomial term. This construct is then used to obtain lower bounds in the context of a proposed branch and bound scheme, which is proven to converge to a global optimal solution. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the proposed algorithm.
Occult thoracic intradural extramedullary spinal canal lesions discovered by extending cervical and lumbar myelography

We retrospectively reviewed the extended myelograms of 388 patients and identified two clinically occult intradural extramedullary lesions of the thoracic region of the spinal canal. Quality evaluation of the adjacent thoracic region can be quickly and simply performed at the time of lumbar or cervical myelography with the high volumes of relatively nontoxic water soluble intrathecal contrast agents allowed today. We recommend this screen to detect otherwise occult thoracic lesions.
Simulation of slow-motion CW EPR spectrum using stochastic Liouville equation for an electron spin coupled to two nuclei with arbitrary spins: Matrix elements of the Liouville superoperator

An algorithm is developed that extends the well known nitroxide slow-motional continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) simulation technique developed originally by Meirovitch et al. [E. Meirovitch, D. Inger, E. Inger, G. Moro, J.H. Freed, J. Chem. Phys. 77 (1982) 3915-3938], and implemented by Schneider and Freed [D.J. Schneider, J.H. Freed, Calculating slow motional magnetic resonance spectra: a user's guide, in: Biological Magnetic Resonance, vol. 6, Plenum Publishing Corporation, 1989]. This paper deals with the more general case of coupling of one electron spin to two nuclear spins. A complete listing of the matrix elements of the Liouville superoperator for this extension has been included. This advance has been successfully tested by reproducing the observed spectral lineshapes of a solution of the novel radical Mes(*)(CH(3))P-PMes(*) [Mes(*)=2,4,6 (tBu)(3)C(2)H(2)] in tetrahydrofuran (THF), in which the radical is undergoing slow tumbling, with the coupling of one electron spin to two physically and magnetically inequivalent phosphorus ((31)P) nuclei.
An ecumenical nonlinear von Neumann equation: fluctuations, dissipation, and bifurcations

Abstract An evolution equation is presented to describe the transport of a quantum mechanical quasiparticle such as an electron, or electronic or vibrational excitation, interacting strongly with lattice vibrations. A generalization of the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation to incorporate dissipation and fluctuation effects arising from interactions with a thermal reservoir, the equation predicts a multitude of interesting phenomena including bifurcations.
Distinct effects of interferon-γ and MHC class I surface antigen levels on resistance of the K562 tumor cell line to natural killer-mediated lysis

Abstract Various investigators have examined the relationship between tumor cell susceptibility to natural killer (NK) cell lysis and the expression of HLA class I antigens on the tumor cell. There is controversy as to whether or not an inverse relationship exists, and if so, the basis of the relationship between these two phenomena remains undefined. To address these questions, the genomic clones for two HLA antigens were transfected into the erythroleukemia cell line K562, a cell line that is used as the standard to assess human NK and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) nonrestricted cytolysis. Susceptibility to NK lysis was not affected by the de novo expression of HLA antigens on the K562 after DNA mediated gene transfer. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) treatment of K562 induced levels of MHC class I antigen surface expression comparable to those found on the transfected cells; however, the IFN-γ-treated cells were resistant to NK lysis. When very high levels of surface HLA antigens were induced on the transfectants, a potential effect of class I MHC expression on K562 lysis could be discerned that was distinct from the resistance to NK lysis induced by IFN-γ treatment.
Political shirking and the last term problem: Evidence for a party-administered pension system

Studies of political shirking have disagreed both over whether the voting behavior of Members of Congress changes in their last term, and over the manner in which last term shirking can be controlled: through electoral sorting, or through a pension system. This paper presents evidence that Members of Congress who leave the House to run for statewide office do alter their voting behavior between the two sessions of their last House term, and that this change includes an ideological shift toward their state party delegations. The results suggest that a party-driven pension system influences the voting of House members who aspire to higher office, but that the pension system is not sufficient to control the last term shirking likely to occur if term limitations were imposed on House members.
Simple numerical algorithms for the mode superposition analysis of linear structural systems with non-proportional damping

Abstract For linear structural systems it is possible to use the undamped eigenvectors or load-dependent Ritz vectors to produce a set of modal response equations. When arbitrary viscous damping exists the modal equations are coupled with the modal damping matrix. A robust and efficient numerical algorithm is presented, which solves the coupled modal equations by iteration. It is shown that the numerical integration algorithm always converges. The method produces an exact solution for proportional damping and for loading that varies linearly within an arbitrary time interval. In addition, the algorithm has been modified to incorporate automatically the mode acceleration method and periodic loading. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the practical application of the algorithm. A FORTRAN listing of a subroutine is given to facilitate easy implementation of the method in existing computer programs for dynamic response analysis.
Augustine’s De Musica in the 21st Century Music Classroom

Augustine's De musica is all that remains of his ambitious plan to write a cycle of works describing each of the liberal arts in terms of Christian faith and is actually unfinished; whereas the six books extant today primarily examine rhythm, Augustine intended to write about melody also. The sixth book of De musica was better known in late Antiquity and the Middle Ages than the first five, and it takes up philosophical questions of aesthetics related to the proportionate ordering discernable throughout creation. After a brief introduction summarizing De musica's content and its importance in subsequent Christian writings, my presentation outlines and explains how I have used this document in my own music classes. For example, my students learn that a vital notion in Augustine's writings, and in Neoplatonism more broadly, is the spiritual benefit of academic study. That is, through study of music, one gains insight into the created order, but, more importantly, one's soul is strengthened and trained to perceive higher realities of the cosmos such as the ordering of the planetary spheres and the progression of celestial hierarchies, which span the spiritual distance from God to humanity.
A Rapid Coarse Residue-Based Computational Method for X-Ray Solution Scattering Characterization of Protein Folds and Multiple Conformational States of Large Protein Complexes

We present a coarse residue-based computational method to rapidly compute the solution scattering profile from a protein with dynamical fluctuations. The method is built upon a coarse-grained (CG) representation of the protein. This CG representation takes advantage of the intrinsic low-resolution and CG nature of solution scattering data. It allows rapid scattering determination from a large number of conformations that can be extracted from CG simulations to obtain scattering characterization of protein conformations. The method includes several important elements, effective residue structure factors derived from the Protein Data Bank, explicit treatment of water molecules in the hydration layer at the surface of the protein, and an ensemble average of scattering from a variety of appropriate conformations to account for macromolecular flexibility. This simplified method is calibrated and illustrated to accurately reproduce the experimental scattering curve of Hen egg white lysozyme. We then illustrated the applications of this CG method by computing the solution scattering patterns of several representative protein folds and multiple conformational states. The results suggest that solution scattering data, when combined with the reliable computational method that we developed, show great potential for a better structural description of multidomain complexes in different functional states, and for recognizing structural folds when sequence similarity to a protein of known structure is low.
A general theorem of symmetries and local controllability

We state a general sufficient condition for local controllability of a nonlinear system at an equilibrium point. Earlier results of Brunovsky, Hermes, Jurdjevic, Crouch and Byrnes, Sussmann, Grossman, turn out to be particular cases of this result. Also, a number of new sufficient conditions can be derived. All these results are consequences of one simple general principle, namely, that local controllability follows whenever brackets with certain symmetries can be "neutralized", in a suitable way, by writing them as linear combinations of brackets of a lower degree. Both the class of symmetries and the definition of "degree" can be chosen to suit the problem.
Potassium and blood vessels.

Abstract Intraarterial infusion of potassium causes vasodilation whereas reduction of the potassium concentration in the inflowing blood causes vasoconstriction. These responses have always been puzzling since the predicted effects from the Nernst equation are just the reverse. Recent evidence suggests that they result form effects on the activity of sarcolemmal Na, K ATPase in the vascular smooth muscle cell which influence the electrogenic NaK pump. The possible relevance of these findings is discussed.
Collisional excitation of formaldehyde in 'hot' interstellar molecular regions

Earlier calculations for rotational excitation of formaldehyde by collisions with He atoms are extended to include the lowest 81 rotational levels and kinetic temperatures to 300 K. Calculations are generally based on Green et al. (1978) but coupled differential equations are solved via a modified log-derivative propagator at low energies (Manolopoulos, 1986) and an R-matrix propagator at higher energies (Stechel, Walker, and Light, 1978). Consideration is given to the expected accuracy of the rates for excitation of formaldehyde by collisions with He atoms which are calculated in the present paper and to the expected differences between these rates and those for excitation by H2 molecules which comprise a larger fraction of the interstellar gas. The comparisons performed indicate that, for excitation by He, calculated state-to-state rates are likely to be 50 percent accurate, and total excitation rates, better than 20 percent. For excitation by H2, the rates should be increased by a factor of 2.2.
TU-FF-A1-02: Estimating Dose to ICD Outside the Treatment Fields Using Skin QED Diode

Purpose: To determine calibration factors for several diodes and TLD as a function of distance from the field edge. These can then be applied to measure dose at any out‐of‐field point. Method and Materials:SkinQED Diode has been used to estimate the radiation dose to patient's ICD outside the treatment fields. The ICDs from three major manufacturers have an outer case made of Titanium (Ti) ranging from 0.4– 0.6 mm thickness. With the correction of mass attenuation coefficients of Ti and tissue at 6‐MeV, it is estimated that 0.5‐ mm Ti is equivalent to 2.4‐mm tissue. The manufacturers recommend that the ICD be implanted subcutaneously underneath skin at 3–4 mm depth. Therefore, a 5‐mm bolus with skin diode 1‐mm inherent buildup is close to the true depth of the electronic device. The responses of the skin diode with and without bolus, an ISORAD photon diode, and TLD were measured per unit dose to water at off‐axis distances up to 10‐cm from the field edge. Dose at each point was measured by an ionization chamber located at 0.5‐cm and 1.5‐cm depth. Results: The calibration factor as a function of distance from the field edge, relative to its central axis value, changed very little for TLD and for the QEDskin diode with 0.5‐cm bolus; decreased by a factor as large as 2 for the photon diode; increased by a factor as large as 3.4 for the QED diode without bolus. Conclusions: The use of diodes for out‐of‐field dose measurements requires knowing the calibration factor as a function of off‐axis distance. This can be readily done at each institution or the manufacturer can provide the pertinent relative response data. The skinQED diode is easy to use as an in‐vivo dosimeter, and, with 5‐mm bolus, its behavior is similar to TLD.