cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metalloflavoenzyme Models THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF BIS(10-METHYLISOALLOXAZINE) COPPER(II) PERCHLORATE TETRAHYDRATE

Abstract A Cu(II) complex of the flavin model compound, 10-methylisoalloxazine, has been prepared and characterized by x-ray techniques. The Cu(II) ion binds to one of the same sites as Ag(I), N(5) and O(4), but unlike Ag(I), primarily to O(4). Cu ... O(4) is 2.040(2) A (figures in parentheses are standard derivations in the least significant digits cited) and Cu ... N(5) is 2.414(2) A. The copper is octahedral and centrosymmetric, bound to 2 flavins and 2 water molecules, the latter at distances of 1.926(2) A. The brownish orange crystals are monoclinic, P21/c, with a = 8.439(8), b = 12.208(12), c = 15.37(2) A, β = 111.08(5)°, ρobs = 1.79 g per cm3, ρcale = 1.78 g per cm3, and Z = 4 for C11H8N4O2·½Cu(ClO4)2·2H2O. The final R factor based on 3163 counter-measured data is 5.9%.
Modulation of immunoradiometric and bioactive follicle stimulating hormone secretion and clearance in young and elderly men during treatment with tamoxifen or flutamide

The secretion and clearance of immunoactive and bioactive follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in healthy young men (N = 10) and elderly men (N = 7) during blockade of endogenous sex steroid hormones with tamoxifen, an antiestrogen, and flutamide, an antiandrogen, was investigated. To this end, subjects underwent blood sampling basally every 10 minutes for 24 hours, and then received 2 consecutive intravenous pulses of synthetic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH; 10 micrograms and 100 micrograms) every 2 hours. This paradigm was repeated on two subsequent visits, in which subjects received either flutamide HCl, a specific nonsteroidal competitive antagonist of the androgen receptor (750 mg daily for 3 days), or tamoxifen, a selective antagonist of the estrogen receptor (20 mg daily for 9 days). Serum immunoactive FSH concentrations were measured in each sample by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Serum bioactive FSH concentrations were determined by an in vitro bioassay (rat granulosa cell aromatase system) on 24-hour serum pools. Deconvolution analysis was used to analyze both the FSH IRMA 24-hour time series and FSH release after GnRH. Comparisons between young and elderly men of the basal state showed significantly increased 24-hour mean serum immunoactive and bioactive FSH concentrations and significantly decreased free testosterone concentrations in elderly men. By deconvolution analysis, elderly men had a significant decrease in FSH secretory burst duration, and an increase in FSH half-life and FSH secretory burst amplitude compared with younger men. In response to sex steroid receptor blockade in young men, there was a significant increase in mean serum bioactive FSH concentrations during antiandrogen treatment, but not during antiestrogen treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Higher Plant Terpenoids

Plants are phenomenally adept at biosyntheses of complex and potentially useful terpenoids. A considerable number of species from plant families rich in terpenoids, such as the Compositae, have been used in primitive cancer treatment from a pre-Christian period of unknown length. The possibilities for isolation of anticancer agents from the Compositae—and, for example, the Euphorbiaceae159—were anticipated at least 20 years ago by Hartwell at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), as noted in Chapter 2. Subsequent investigations of Compositae, particularly by Hertz and Kupchan, have led to a number of new sesquiterpenes capable of substantially inhibiting (ed50 < 10 μg/ml) the KB cell line. The application of this in vitro screening technique for bioassay markedly enhanced the facility with which such cytotoxic substances can be isolated. Unfortunately, in a significant number of cases, the cytotoxicity has not been translated into in vivo activity against the NCI’s lymphocytic leukemia P388 (the PS system, significant activity ≧ 125 T/C), Walker carcinosarcoma 256 (the WA system, significant activity ≦ 42 T/C), or lymphoid leukemia L1210 (the LE system, significant activity ≧ 125 T/C).
Smashing: Folding Space to Tile through Time

Partial differential equation solvers spend most of their computation time performing nearest neighbor (stencil) computations on grids that model spatial domains. Tiling is an effective performance optimization for improving the data locality and enabling course-grain parallelization for such computations. However, when the domains are periodic, tiling through time is not directly applicable due to wrap-around dependencies. It is possible to tile within the spatial domain, but tiling across time (i.e. time skewing) is not legal since no constant skewing can render all loops fully permutable. We introduce a technique called smashing that maps a periodic domain to computer memory without creating any wrap-around dependencies. For a periodic cylinder domain where time skewing improves performance, the performance of smashing is comparable to another method, circular skewing, which also handles the periodicity of a cylinder. Unlike circular skewing, smashing can remove wrap-around dependencies for an icosahedron model of earth's atmosphere.
An NMDA Receptor ER Retention Signal Regulated by Phosphorylation and Alternative Splicing

Formation of mature excitatory synapses requires the assembly and delivery of NMDA receptors to the neuronal plasma membrane. A key step in the trafficking of NMDA receptors to synapses is the exit of newly assembled receptors from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here we report the identification of an RXR-type ER retention/retrieval motif in the C-terminal tail of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 that regulates receptor surface expression in heterologous cells and in neurons. In addition, we show that PKC phosphorylation and an alternatively spliced consensus type I PDZ-binding domain suppress ER retention. These results demonstrate a novel quality control function for alternatively spliced C-terminal domains of NR1 and implicate both phosphorylation and potential PDZ-mediated interactions in the trafficking of NMDA receptors through early stages of the secretory pathway.
Studying and Incorporating Efficiency into Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Centers

Efficiency is defined as the use of resources in such a way as to maximize the production of goods and services. Improving efficiency has been the focus of management in many industries; however, it has not been until recently that incorporating efficiency models into healthcare has occurred. In particular, the study and development of improvement projects aimed at enhancing efficiency in GI have been growing rapidly in recent years. This focus on improving efficiency in GI has been spurred by the dramatic rise in the demand for endoscopic procedures as well as the rising number of insured patients requiring GI care coupled at the same time with limited resources in terms of staffing and space in endoscopy centers. This paper will critically review the history of efficiency in endoscopy centers, first by looking at other healthcare industries that have extensively studied and improved efficiency in their fields, examine a number of proposed efficiency metrics and benchmarks in endoscopy centers, and finally discuss opportunities where endoscopy centers could improve their efficiency.
SULFATE METABOLISM DURING MAMMALIAN DEVELOPMENT.

The developmental pattern of activities of several enzymes in mammalian (mouse) liver concerned with sulfate cleavage and transfer is presented. Maximum arylsulfatase activity occurred at 14 days of age, while sulfokinase activity was greatest at 28 days of age. The similarity of the results for both enzymatic functions suggests a common regulatory factor.
Text-editing performance with partial-line, partial-page, and full-page displays.

Two experiments were conducted to examine how the amount and format of text shown on text editor displays affect text-editing performance. In the first experiment, 28 typists used both a partial-line display and a partial-page display. In the second experiment, 20 typists used both a partial-page and a full-page display. The displays in both experiments were connected to the same text-editing system. In each experiment, typists completed 384 editing tasks using each display. Each editing task required typists to make a revision, which was marked on a printed copy of a document. The results showed that text-editing performance was largely unaffected by the amount of text displayed; where differences occurred, they generally favored the displays showing more text.
A Review of: “Crafts and Creative Media in Therapy, 3rd edition (2007)”

The general purpose of this book Crafts and Creative Media in Therapy (2007) is to help students and practitioners value creative activities and restore them to their rightful place in occupational...
The Cell Cycle Governs the Onset of Spherulation of Xenopus Eggs Fused by an Electric Field

The mechanism of electric field-induced fusion has been studied in detail (Zimmermann, Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 694 (1982) 227), but little is known about the process by which the two fused cells become a single entity, a process we term spherulation. We observe a clear difference between activated and unactivated Xenopus eggs in the time after electic field (EF) application when spherulation starts, and in the time required for spherulation to be completed. In unactivated eggs, spherulation started 7 min after EF application and was completed within 5 1/2 min. In activated eggs, the lag between EF application and the start of spherulation increased with the cell cycle. At the end of the first cell cycle spherulation started 78 min after EF application and was competed 30 min later. The lag period is not due to delayed fusion, for electric coupling between activated eggs can be recorded before the start of spherulation. The morphology of the contact zone between paired eggs, as observed by light and electron microscopy, is also described. We suggest that the difference in the timing of spherulation reflects a difference in the lability of the cytoskeleton through the cell cycle.
Am I Disclosing Too Much? Student Perceptions of Teacher Credibility via Facebook

This study examined the effects of teacher self-disclosure via Facebook on perceived teacher credibility. Undergraduate students (N=92) were randomly assigned to view one of the eight versions of the Facebook webpage of a teacher (either male or female) that involved two types of self-disclosure: images of alcohol drinking, and a narrative with emotionally-loaded language. The credibility ratings of the teacher indicated that revealing information about alcohol consumption and emotional problems concerning a personal relationship negatively influence student perception of teacher credibility. However, several gender differences emerged, indicating that an inherent bias exists in perceptions of credibility and appropriate self-disclosure. Specifically, male teachers were perceived more credible than female teachers in general. Moreover, the emotionally-loaded self-disclosure did not influence the female teacher's credibility, but did reduce the male teacher’s credibility. Credibility was also influenced by the physical attractiveness of the teacher and the belief whether it is acceptable for a teacher to have Facebook profile.
Simulation Training to Improve Competency and Confidence at the University of California San Diego, Women and Infants Services

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program To improve nursing and health care provider staff competence and confidence in response to emergency events using simulation training events (STE). The initial data collected between 2011 and 2012 indicated that 70% of staff felt confident in participating in STEs; 62% demonstrated poor communication and slow response time in obstetric emergencies. No STEs were performed or offered, and no resident/intern/fellow and nursing staff participated in STEs. Proposed Change To increase physician/provider and nursing staff comprehension of simulation education and training along with demonstration of competency to improve patient safety in obstetrics (OB). Participant comprehension of simulation education and training will be demonstrated by a pretest and posttest. Participant competency will be demonstrated by improved response time and communication. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation This program was implemented by the labor and delivery (LD at least an annual 5% increase was demonstrated regarding improved communication and response time in obstetric emergencies; 20 STE drills were conducted over the course of the year; and 90% of faculty and staff participated in a simulation training session within a year of evaluation. Implications for Nursing Practice Perinatal patient safety initiatives are of national interest. Collaboration among multidisciplinary providers and nursing staff is necessary, and improving communication and practicing emergency responses has been shown to improve outcomes. STEs have been shown to be a successful method to improve the response time, competence, confidence, and communication of teams. Because nursing staff spends the most time at the bedside and plays a major role identifying mother/infant decompensation, it is essential to maintain competence in emergency response.
Are devaluations contractionary? The case of Turkey

This article studies the output effects of currency devaluation in Turkey using annual data from 1970 to 2004. An empirical model that incorporates monetary, fiscal and other external variables in addition to exchange rates is developed. Before estimating the model, time-series properties of the data are diagnosed. Two forms of the model, one with real exchange rate and the other with nominal exchange rate and relative price level (foreign-to-domestic price ratio) are estimated. The results suggest that devaluation is contractionary in the short run, expansionary in the medium run and neutral in the long run, and the effects emanate from nominal devaluation and not from the changes in relative price level.
Megatectonics of the Coast Ranges, California

The Coast Ranges are considered in the light of the “new global tectonics.” It is proposed that at the end of the Nevadan orogeny, a large prism of sediments, ranging in age from Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous, was deposited across the boundary of the oceanic and the steep-sided sialic crusts. Westward movement of North America, away from the mid-Atlantic rise, caused the oceanic block to underthrust the continental block, in the Coast Range orogeny. The thrust fault, here named the Coast Ranges thrust, passed through the post-Nevadan sediment prism at a gentle angle and separated it into two blocks. The hanging-wall block is relatively undisturbed, and its sediments are identified as the Great Valley sequence. The footwall block is greatly disturbed into a tectonic jumble of sediment and ocean crustal igneous rocks, collectively identified as the Franciscan. Rocks in the footwall block are subjected to various facies of high-pressure and low-temperature metamorphism. On approaching the steep-sided sialic crust, the footwall block folded the crust downward and backward and continued under it at a steepened angle. Peridotite from the oceanic crust or from the mantle, mobilized by serpentinization, worked up the thrust plane and was dispersed in the footwall melange. No batholithic instrusions and no mountain making accompanied the Coast Range orogeny. The tectonic event of the Coast Range orogeny terminated with the propagation of the right-lateral transcurrent San Andreas fault. This change is estimated to have taken place in Eocene time. The San Andreas fault has offset the Coast Ranges thrust fault approximately 310 mi since its inception. The relative pressure of the ocean basin toward the continent was partly alleviated by strike-slip of the ocean basin, relatively northwesterly with respect to the continent. The orientation of the San Andreas is not ideal for the relief of this strain and compressional folding has also occurred. No evidence of the formation of deep-ocean trenches or island arcs has been found.
Laparoscopic ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: a single-trocar technique

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement is an important therapeutic technique. Placement of the abdominal portion of VPS can be difficult in the setting of previous abdominal surgery, prior failure of VPS, or obesity. Even under ideal circumstances, standard mini-laparotomy does not allow precision in VPS positioning. We describe a single-port technique for VPS placement. While the neurosurgeon places a right frontal ventricular catheter and valve, an infraumbilical trocar is placed utilizing the open Hasson technique. A 12-mm operating laparoscope with an 8-mm channel is used to inspect the abdomen and identify the VPS entry site. Adhesions interfering with shunt placement can be lysed through the working channel of the laparoscope. Under laparoscopic visualization, an 18-gauge needle is introduced through a 5-mm incision in the right upper quadrant and the VPS tubing is tunneled to that site. A J-tipped guidewire is introduced, and the needle is exchanged for a dilator and peel-away sheath. The VPS is delivered through the sheath, which is sectioned and removed. An atraumatic grasper, placed through the laparoscope, directs the VPS to the desired intraabdominal location. Function of the VPS is assessed visually while compressing the valve. Suture closure of the trocar site and VPS entry site completes the procedure. We used this method successfully in a series of five patients with excellent outcome. A 14-month follow-up has revealed no failures or postoperative complications. This method is less invasive than mini-laparotomy, allows for precision placement of the abdominal portion of VPS, and confirms appropriate function.
Prognostics of Damage Accrual in SSL Luminaires and Drivers Subjected to HTSL Accelerated Aging

This paper will show an investigation of off-the-shelf luminaires with the focus on the LED electronic drivers, specifically the aluminum electrolytic capacitors (AECs), that have been aged using high temperature shelf life (HTSL) testing of 135°C in order to prognosticate the remaining useful life of the luminaires. Luminaires have the potential of seeing excessive temperatures when being transported across the country or being stored in non-climate controlled warehouses. They are also being used in outdoor applications in desert environments that see little or no humidity but will experience extremely high temperatures during the day. This makes it important to increase our understanding of what effects being stored at high temperatures for a prolonged period of time will have on the usability and survivability of these devices. The U.S. Department of Energy has made a long term commitment to advance the efficiency, understanding and development of solid-state lighting (SSL) and is making a strong push for the acceptance and use of SSL products. In this work, the four AECs of three different types inside each LED electronic driver were studied. The change in capacitance and the change in equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the AECs were measured and considered to be a leading indication of failure of the LED system. These indicators were used to make remaining useful life predictions to develop an algorithm to predict the end of life of the AECs. The luminous flux of a pristine downlight module was also monitored using each LED electronic driver that was subjected to HTSL through the progression of the testing to determine a correlation between the light output of the lamp and the failing components of the LED electronic driver. Prognostic and Health Management (PHM) is a useful tool for assessment of the remaining life of electrical components and is demonstrated for AECs in this work.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The impact of gas-surface reactions on mass spectrometric measurements of atomic nitrogen

The paper presents a simplified model of the ion source chemistry, explains several details of the data reduction method used in obtaining atomic-nitrogen (N) densities from OSS data, and discusses implications of gas-surface reactions for the design of future satellite-borne mass spectrometers. Because of various surface reactions, N appears in three different forms in the ion source, as N, NO, and NO2. Considering the rather small spin modulation of NO and NO2 in the semi-open ionization chamber used in the OSS instrument, it is not surprising that these reaction products have not been previously identified in closed source instruments as a measure of the presence of atomic nitrogen. Warmup and/or outgassing of the ion source are shown to drastically reduce the NO2 concentration, thereby making possible reliable measurement of ambient N densities.
Intriguing Case: Atypical Tumor of the Mediastinum: Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma Containing Metaplastic Bone and Osteoclastlike Giant Cells

A 66-year-old woman presented with a superior-anterior mediastinal mass that contained considerable calcification by computed tomography. Initial biopsy interpretation was inconclusive but suggested a giant cell sarcoma of soft parts because the tumor contained atypical epithelioid cells and osteoclastlike giant cells. After radiation and chemotherapy, the tumor was removed. It contained large epithelioid cells, pale chondroid areas, metaplastic bone, and osteoclastlike giant cells. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies revealed the epithelioid cells to be factor VIII positive and to contain abundant intermediate filaments, micropinocytotic vesicles, Weibel-Palade bodies, basal lamina, and primitive cell-cell junctions. These epithelioid cells also stained for muscle-specific actin (HHF-35), yet were negative for desmin and cytokeratins (CAM 5.2 and AE1/3). The findings were most consistent with those reported to occur in epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.
What if Labor Were Not White and Male? Recentering Working-Class History and Reconstructing Debate on the Unions and Race

During World War Two Alexander Saxton, the great historian of race and class, was a young activist working in the railroad industry. In a lengthy article for the Daily Worker he caught the complexity of racial discrimination among railway unions. The brotherhoods which organized railroad labor inculded several unions which had historically established the worst records of attempting to enforce what one commentator called the “Nordic closed shop” in their crafts. By the time Saxton wrote, however, the railwayunions had joined in campaigns against the poll tax and against lynching. What they avoided was agitation against “alleged” racism in their own workplaces. When the Fair Employment Practices Committee canceled hearings inquiring into discrimination in railroad employment, the unions rejoiced. Their newspaper observed that in any case such hearings would be illegitimate if African Americans joined in the deliberations. “Thereshould be on the Committee,” according to Labor, “no representative of any race or special interest.” Saxton added, “Apparently white men belongto no race.”
Sporting event ridership: The forgotten public transit market

Abstract Planned consumer usage of public transit as a means of transportation to and from sporting events with the focal sporting event being professional football is examined. By developing dichotomous segments of riders and nonriders, a demographic profile of planned users and nonusers is presented. A probit analysis of these same data is presented in order to measure the joint contribution of all of the variables on the probability of use. The profiles and analysis are then discussed with regard to their policy relevance for the marketing strategies of public transit authorities. These strategies are aimed at satisfying the consuming public and thus increasing transit ridership.
The Relative Contributions to the Near-Infrared Emission in Short-Period Cataclysmic Variables

We present phase-resolved near-infrared broadband photometry of four short-period cataclysmic variables (HU Aqr, WZ Sge, TY Psc, and V592 Cas). Coupled with ultraviolet and optical data obtained from the literature, we have modeled the spectral energy distributions of these four cataclysmic variables, as well as that of the twin of WZ Sge, AL Com. The secondary stars contribute no more than 20%-50% of the near-infrared flux except for the polar HU Aqr, where the secondary contributes ~75% of the near-infrared flux. For the systems located above the orbital period minimum, the temperatures of the secondary stars match those for the expected main-sequence secondary stars. However, our modeling places WZ Sge below the orbital period minimum and shows it containing a secondary star of less than 1700 K—the coldest "star" yet identified.
Upper bounds for density matrices using path integrals

We discuss upper bounds for density matrices for a particle, that occur in potential theory, and as a result of averaging over other degrees of freedom. The Weiner path integral representation is used. A basic technique of Symanzik is generalized in a variety of ways to a series of sharper upper bounds. There are distinct ways of applying the technique to the two-parameter integrals that describe averaged density matrices. A single-parameter application of the Symanzik technique leads to a temperature-dependent potential problem. The nature of the bounds is illustrated for two-parameter integrals by studying a soluble quadratic action, a one-dimensional delta correlation function action and shell correlation functions. The dependence on dimension is studied in the latter case.
Quid Sit Deus: The Clouds, Euthyphro, and the Meaning of Political Philosophy An Essay in Honor of Harry Neumann

Leo Strauss famously wrote that political philosophy seeks to answer the question quid sit deus. Philosophers and theologians believe they know the means to answer this question, and this puts them in tension. Despite this tension, Harry Neumann has argued philosophy is theological. Through an analysis of Aristophanes' Clouds and Euthyphro we find that the philosopher takes his theology from the city even while he questions the adequacy of the city's knowledge of the good. In the end, philosophy's primary function in the modern world is to combat the destructive nature of atheism, radical individualism, and what Neumann calls pseudoatheism. The philosopher should persuade citizens that a good exists. For Americans, this means recognizing the eternal truth of the Declaration of Independence.
Mechanism of activation of choline acetyltransferase in a human neuroblastoma cell line

In our previous report we have shown that the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), responsible for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, can be regulated in response to treatment by either retinoic acid or sodium butyrate. These responses were dose and time dependent, but the mechanism by which these agents were acting was not understood. We now report the results of studies aimed at elucidating the level at which both sodium butyrate and retinoic acid are able to increase ChAT activity. The effects of these agents on macromolecular synthesis appeared to be limited to small but statistically significant increases in the rate of RNA synthesis. However, inhibition of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in these cells had no effect on the stimulation of ChAT activity by either sodium butyrate or retinoic acid. Several experiments appeared to rule out a role for cyclic AMP or protein kinase C in the regulation of ChAT activity, even though retinoic acid treatment could increase endogenous levels of cyclic AMP 3- to 4-fold over the time course of ChAT activity stimulation. Experiments performed to determine kinetic parameters of this enzyme demonstrated changes only in the Vmax, but not the Km of ChAT, suggesting that the affinity of enzyme for either of its substrates was not responsible for the increase in specific activity. Taken together, this evidence suggests that the activation of choline acetyltransferase in this human neuroblastoma cell line occurs at the post-translational level.
A fully integrated monolithic microchip electrospray device for mass spectrometry

A novel microfabricated nozzle has been developed for the electrospray of liquids from microfluidic devices for analysis by mass spectrometry. The electrospray device was fabricated from a monolithic silicon substrate using deep reactive ion etching and other standard semiconductor techniques to etch nozzles from the planar surface of a silicon wafer. A channel extends through the wafer from the tip of the nozzle to a reservoir etched into the opposite planar surface of the wafer. Nozzle diameters as small as 15 μm have been fabricated using this method. The microfabricated electrospray device provides a reproducible, controllable, and robust means of producing nanoelectrospray of a liquid sample. The electrospray device was interfaced to an atmospheric pressure ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer using continuous infusion of test compounds at low nanoliter-per-minute flow rates. Nozzle-to-nozzle signal intensity reproducibility using 10 nozzles was demonstrated to be 12% with single-nozzle signal...
An evaluation of residency training in interviewing skills and the psychosocial domain of medical practice

Competent use of interviewing skills is important for the care of all patients but is especially critical, and frequently deficient, in meeting the needs of patients experiencing emotional distress. This study presents an evaluation of a curriculum in communication and psychosocial skills taught to first-year medical residents. A randomized experimental design compared trained and untrained residents’ (n=48) performances with a simulated patient presenting with atypical cbest pain and psychosocial distress. Evaluation was based on analysis of videotapes, simulated patient report of residents’ behaviors, and cbart notation. Trained compared with untrained residents asked more open-ended questions and fewer leading questions, summarized main points more frequently, did more psychosocial counseling, and were rated as baving better communication skills by the simulated patient. The use of more focused and psychosocially directed questions, and fewer leading and grab-bag questions, was associated with more accurate diagnoses and management recorded in the medical chart. However, no significant difference was found in the charting practices of trained versus untrained residents.
Search for short-lived particles produced in an electron beam dump.

A search for short-lived neutral particles which decay to electron-positron pairs has been carried out using a beam of 275-GeV electrons incident on an instrumental tungsten beam dump. The experiment was sensitive to particles up to 10 MeV/${\mathit{c}}^{2}$ in mass and down to 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}16}$ sec in lifetime.
Stochastic Modeling of Flow-Structure Interactions Using Generalized Polynomial Chaos

We present a generalized polynomial chaos algorithm to model the input uncertainty and its propagation in flow-structure interactions. The stochastic input is represented spectrally by employing orthogonal polynomial functionals from the Askey scheme as the trial basis in the random space. A standard Galerkin projection is applied in the random dimension to obtain the equations in the weak form. The resulting system of deterministic equations is then solved with standard methods to obtain the solution for each random mode. This approach is a generalization of the original polynomial chaos expansion, which was first introduced by N. Wiener and employs the Hermite polynomials (a subset of the Askey scheme) as the basis in random space. The algorithm is first applied to second-order oscillators to demonstrate convergence, and subsequently is coupled to incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Error bars are obtained, similar to laboratory experiments, for the pressure distribution on the surface of a cylinder subject to vortex-induced vibrations
Whole blood RNA offers a rapid, comprehensive approach to genetic diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases

Purpose: Long QT Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy are caused by mutations in large, multi-exon genes that are principally expressed in cardiovascular tissues. Genetic testing for these disorders is labor-intensive and expensive. We sought to develop a more rapid, comprehensive, and cost-effective approach. Methods: Paired whole blood samples were collected into tubes with or without an RNA-preserving solution, and harvested for whole blood RNA or leukocyte DNA, respectively. Large overlapping cDNA fragments from KCNQ1 and KCNH2 (Long QT Syndrome), MYBPC3 (hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy), or FBN1 (Marfan Syndrome) were amplified from RNA and directly sequenced. Variants were confirmed in leukocyte DNA. Results: All 4 transcripts were amplified and sequenced from whole blood mRNA. Six known and 2 novel mutations were first identified from RNA of 10 probands, and later confirmed in genomic DNA, at considerable savings in time and cost. In one patient with MFS, RNA sequencing directly identified a splicing mutation. Results from RNA and DNA were concordant for single nucleotide polymorphisms at the same loci. Conclusion: Taking advantage of new whole blood RNA stabilization methods, we have designed a cost-effective, comprehensive method for mutation detection that should significantly facilitate clinical genetic testing in four lethal cardiovascular disorders.
Determination of the Age of Bruises in Chicken Broilers

Abstract THE loss to the commercial broiler industry due to bruising accounts for many millions of dollars annually. If the age of these bruises could be easily ascertained, a means would then be available for assigning the responsibility for the losses involved and possibly developing incentives for minimizing such losses. At present, the determination of the age of poultry bruises is based on gross observations of the characteristic progression of color alterations in the damaged area. These color changes have been shown to vary considerably due to many physical and physiological factors (Hamdy et al., 1960). It has been reported (Hamdy et al., 1957) that a chemical test based on the presence of bilirubin, a bile pigment resulting from the hemoglobin degradation in bruised tissues, can be used to estimate the age of livestock bruises. The present work was carried out to examine the possible use of this color test for…
Computation of the medial axis skeleton at multiple complexities

The medial axis skeleton is a thin line graph that preserves the topology of a simply connected region. The skeleton has often been cited as a useful representation for shape description, region interpretation, and object recognition. Unfortunately, the computation of the skeleton is extremely sensitive to variations in the bounding contour. Tiny perturbations in the contour often lead to spurious branches of the skeleton. In this paper, we consider a robust method for computing the medial axis skeleton across a variety of scales. The scale-space is parametric with the complexity of the bounding contour. The complexity is defined as the number of extrema of curvature in the contour. A set of curves is computed to represent the bounding contour across a variety of complexity measures. The curves possessing larger complexity measures represent greater detail than curves with smaller measures. A medial axis skeleton is computed directly from each contour. The result is a set of skeletons that represent only the gross structure of the region at coarse scales (low complexity), but represent more of the detail at fine scales (high complexity).© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
NUTRITIONAL STUDIES OF ASCOBOLUS IMMERSUS

A B S T R A C T A synthetic medium for vegetative growth and apothecial formation of 2 compatible strains of A. immersus has been formulated as follows: KH2PO4, 0.5 g; K2HPO4, 0.6 g; MgSO4- 7H20, 0.5 g; micronutrients, 0.1 ml (Vogel's); asparagine, 5 g (for vegetative growth), or urea, 1 g (for apothecial formation); dextrin (Merck), 20 g; biotin, 5 Mg; thiamine, 100,ug; and distilled water, 1 liter. This medium had a pH of 6.2 to 6.7 without adjustment and was satisfactory. For apothecial formation, 20 g Noble agar (Difco) and 2 g cellulose powder (Whatman) were added to the above medium. Apothecial formation was better at 23-24 than at 25-26 C. Light was necessary for apothecial formation. Dextrin, soluble starch, glucose and mannose were satisfactory carbon sources for both vegetative growth and apothecial formation. This fungus could not use lactose, sucrose, sorbose, mannitol, sorbitol or inulin as carbon sources. It could assimilate nitrate in the form of KNO3. Optimum yields were obtained with asparagine, aspartic acid, or glutamic acid as the source of nitrogen. The optimum nitrogen-carbon ratio for apothecial formation was about 2% dextrin and 0.1% urea. This ratio was given the highest apothecial rating 10. Ascobolus immersus was deficient in the ability to synthesize biotin and thiamine. ASCOBOLUS IMMERSUS Pers. is a heterothallic
Alfalfa fiber as a feedstock for ethanol and organic acids

Valuable co-products derived from fractionation of alfalfa herbage give the resulting fibrous fraction an economic advantage as a feedstock for ethanol or other organic products. Alfalfa fiber was saccharified and fermented with or without a liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment. The LHW pretreatment hydrolyzed approximately 60% of the original fiber, yielding a high cellulose residue and a liquid extract. These yielded predominantly hexoses and pentoses, respectively, after enzymatic saccharification. Yields of ethanol and lactic acid resulting from fermentations are given.
Arteriovenous fistula construction in the thigh with transposed superficial femoral vein: Our initial experience

Abstract Purpose: The National Kidney Foundation–Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines favor autogenous vein for arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). This report describes our experience constructing AVFs in the lower extremities of selected patients with the superficial femoral vein (SFV). Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 25 patients who had AVF construction with SFV from March 1998 to July 2000. In all patients upper extremity access had been exhausted. Eighteen (72%) patients were female, 15 (60%) had diabetes, and 14 (56%) were obese (body mass index > 30 kg/m 2 ). The SFV was freed from the supragenicular popliteal level to the profunda femoris vein and divided distally. Eighteen (72%) patients had SFV transposition and distal superficial femoral artery reimplantation; 10 veins were banded to reduce the incidence of postoperative steal syndrome. In seven patients (28%) a composite loop fistula was constructed with a deeply buried 4- to 7-mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft proximally and with superficially transposed SFV distally. One of these seven patients had a PTFE above-knee femoral-popliteal bypass graft with banding of the vein at its takeoff from the distal PTFE graft. Results: Mean follow-up was 9.1 months. One patient died before the fistula could be used. Seven patients (28%) experienced major wound complications. Mean ankle/brachial index before operation was 1.03, and after operation it was 0.81 (paired difference [n = 16] = –0.26.) Mean ankle circumference before operation was 19.5 cm, and after operation it was 20.7 cm (paired difference [n = 17] = +0.87.) Cumulative primary fistula patency at 6 and 12 months was 78% and 73%, respectively. Cumulative secondary fistula patency at 6 and 12 months was 91% and 86%, respectively. There were no fistula infections. One patient eventually had an above-knee amputation after experiencing an acute compartment syndrome. Eight patients required a second operation to alleviate a symptomatic steal syndrome. Conclusions: The SFV is an excellent conduit for vascular access, whether it is transposed or is part of a composite PTFE-SFV fistula. In this series, fistula infection was nonexistent, thrombosis rates were low, and clinical evidence of venous hypertension was minimal. The major impediment to unrestricted use of SFV in constructing AVFs is a high incidence of clinically significant postoperative ischemia requiring reoperation. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:968-75.)
State Medicaid Budgeting in Hard Times: Implications for Long‐Term Care

This qualitative analysis compares the annual Medicaid budgeting processes in Utah and Illinois from the late 1970s until 1985, explaining why Utah cut the proportion spent on nursing homes and Illinois did not. It posits rational, organizational, and political process interpretations of each state's choices. The states implemented Medicaid rationing (through preadmission screening, rate freezes and adjustments, and expansion of alternatives) in significantly different ways. Utah reduced utilization of nursing homes while Illinois contained rates. Such diverse policy choices have aggravated disparities among the states in access to and quality of long-term care. Rational planning for our aging society will have to overcome these growing disparities among state policies.
PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS /PDA/ COMPLICATING THE “RESPIRYTORY DISTRESS SYNDROME” /RDS/

The role of PDA in the pathogenesis and course of RDS has been debated for many years. As more intensive pulmonary care is given to preterm infants, heart failure from PDA has been increasingly recognized. In 50 preterm infants with RDS /B.W.600–2100 gms, and G. A. 25–34 wks/ the patency of ductus arteriosus was established by single film aortography or by clinical signs and confirmation at surgery. In 14 infants, cardiomegaly and heart failure with massive left-to-right ductal shunt occurred before the appearance of heart murmur. Fourteen infants had severe and 36 mild to moderate RDS. Massive cardiomegaly occurred, significantly earlier in infants with severe RDS. /2.5±0.6 vs 10.8±2.3 days/ and hence, ligation of ductus performed sooner in the severe RDS group /8.1±1.7 vs 15.40±2.5 days/. It is suggested that ductal ligation is indicated when an infant with severe RDS and cardiomegaly requires intermittent positive pressure ventilation and whose retrograde aortogram shows massive left-to-right shunt. In infants with mild to moderate RDS and PDA surgery is indicated only when respirator assistance is required to control apnea and pulmonary edema.
Vascular disease in psoriasis.

The past decade has been a roller-coaster ride for patients with psoriasis. Excitement surrounding the advent of biologic agents for the treatment of psoriasis has been displaced by sobering reports that patients with psoriasis are at increased risk for severe vascular disease (Shelling et al., 2008). This increased risk is imparted by both a predilection for patients with psoriasis to have traditional vascular disease risk factors (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia) (Federman et al., 2009) and the recent recognition that psoriasis itself is an independent risk factor for vascular disease (Gelfand et al., 2006). The latter is probably mediated by systemic inflammation associated with psoriasis, similar to that observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients whose psoriasis develops at a young age and those with more severe disease are at the greatest risk (Gelfand et al., 2006).
Averaging and sampling for magnetic-observatory hourly data

A time and frequency-domain analysis is made of the effects of averaging and sampling methods used for constructing magnetic-observatory hourly data values. Using 1-min data as a proxy for continuous, geomagnetic variation, we construct synthetic hourly values of two standard types: instantaneous "spot" measurements and simple 1-h "boxcar" averages. We compare these average-sample types with others: 2-h average, Gaussian, and "brick-wall" low-frequency-pass. Hourly spot measurements provide a statistically unbiased representation of the amplitude range of geomagnetic-field variation, but as a representation of continuous field variation over time, they are significantly affected by aliasing, especially at high latitudes. The 1-h, 2-h, and Gaussian average-samples are affected by a combination of amplitude distortion and aliasing. Brick-wall values are not affected by either amplitude distortion or aliasing, but constructing them is, in an operational setting, relatively more difficult than it is for other average-sample types. It is noteworthy that 1-h average-samples, the present standard for observatory hourly data, have properties similar to Gaussian average-samples that have been optimized for a minimum residual sum of amplitude distortion and aliasing. For 1-h average-samples from medium and low-latitude observatories, the average of the combination of amplitude distortion and aliasing is less than the 5.0 nT accuracy standard established by Intermagnet for modern 1-min data. For medium and low-latitude observatories, average differences between monthly means constructed from 1-min data and monthly means constructed from any of the hourly average-sample types considered here are less than the 1.0 nT resolution of standard databases. We recommend that observatories and World Data Centers continue the standard practice of reporting simple 1-h-average hourly values.
Optimization of radiosurgery treatment planning via mixed integer programming.

An automated optimization algorithm based on mixed integer programming techniques is presented for generating high-quality treatment plans for LINACradiosurgerytreatment. The physical planning in radiosurgerytreatment involves selecting among a large collection of beams with different physical parameters an optimal beam configuration (geometries and intensities) to deliver the clinically prescribed radiationdose to the tumor volume while sparing the nearby critical structure and normal tissue. The proposed mixed integer programming models incorporate strict dose restrictions on tumor volume, and constraints on the desired number of beams, isocenters, couch angles, and gantry angles. The model seeks to deliver full prescription dose coverage and uniform radiationdose to the tumor volume while minimizing the excess radiation to the periphery normal tissue. In particular, it ensures that proximal normal tissues receive minimal dose via rapid dose fall-off. Preliminary numerical tests on a single patient case indicate that this approach can produce exceptionally high-quality plans in a fraction of the time required using the procedure currently employed by clinicians. The resulting plans provide highly uniform prescription dose to the tumor volume while drastically reducing the irradiation received by the proximal critical normal tissue.
Self-diffusion coefficient of nematic liquid crystals from diffusion concentration gradient

Abstract A dynamic study of the mass transport by optical methods provides a new approach to evaluate the nematic self-diffusion coefficient. This value is obtained by extrapolation to C = 0 in an empirical relation D C = D 0 exp (- βC ), where D C is the mass-corrected impurity diffusion coefficient and C is the local concentration of the diffusion profile.
A model of dilute polymer solutions with hydrodynamic interaction and finite extensibility. I. Basic equations and series expansions

A bead-spring chain model is used to describe dilute polymer solutions. Two important effects, the hydrodynamic interaction between the beads of a single chain and the finite extensibility of the springs connecting the beads, are treated in a self-consistently averaged form. For the resulting model, a rheological equation of state, a third-order retarded-motion expansion, and a second-order codeformational memory-integral expansion are derived. Furthermore, the parameters characterizing the model and the limit of infinitely long chains are discussed in great detail.