cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac output determination with radioactive 85krypton

Abstract 1. 1. Cardiac output was determined by continuously infusing a solution of radioactive 85Kr into a peripheral vein for several minutes while blood samples were obtained from the pulmonary artery. The output was calculated by measuring the dilution of the 85Kr indicator. 2. 2. Thirty 85Kr cardiac output determinations ranged from 87 to 125% of simultaneously performed Fick outputs, with a mean of 102% and a standard deviation of 10.5%. 3. 3. Ten pairs of duplicate Fick output determinations averaged 96.5% of each other with a standard deviation of 16%. Ten similar pairs of duplicate 85Kr determinations averaged 96.4% of each other, with a standard deviation of 5.4%. 4. 4. The advantages of the 85Kr method of cardiac output measurement are as follows: Continuous determinations are possible because of minimal recirculation, no arterial puncture is required, the results of each determination are available within 2 minutes, and the technical aspects of handling the indicator and counting the samples are quite simple.
Prolog versus kee: a case study

Abstract The selection of the software development tool for the development of an expert system is a difficult and often disputed decision. This paper describes a comparison of a knowledge engineering tool, Kee, and a general purpose language, Prolog, on concrete and real life example from AGATHA, an electronic circuit board diagnosis expert system. Prolog is a high-level programming language with flexible and powerful inference mechanisms. Kee is a big tool that supports a frame-based knowledge representation, an object-oriented programming style and a built-in rule system. It also offers a window environment suitable for rapid development of user-interface prototypes. Prolog's representation is more succinct, implicit and uses problem specific predicates and therefore leaves more room for personal programming styles. Kee is more verbose, explicit and uses standard templates. The maintainability of a Prolog implementation relies heavily on good documentation. In Kee, the unavoidable ‘escapes to Lisp’ require a maintainer to be fluent in Kee and Lisp. Both Prolog and Kee require a considerable investment in learning time.
Arthropod Molting Hormone: Radioimmune Assay

A radioimmune assay for the arthropod molting hormone, ecdysterone, has been developed. The sensitivity of the assay is 200 picograms or 25 times the maximum sensitivity of the bioassay. Closely related steroids also bind the anti-body, but with lower affinities.
Endocrine and neurophysiologic responses of the pituitary to insulin-induced hypoglycemia: a review.

Abstract Insulin-induced hypoglycemia normally evokes a physiologic hormonal response as the body attempts to maintain glucose homeostasis. Approximately 20 to 60 minutes following insulin administration, elevations in plasma concentrations of glucagon, epinephrine (Epi), norepinephrine (NEpi), cortisol, growth hormone (GH), and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) are usually observed in response to acute hypoglycemia in normal subjects. 1–75 Therefore, one may test for selected deficiencies of hormonal secretory capacity in subjects with suspected endocrine dysfunction by inducing hypoglycemia with insulin administration. The insulin hypoglycemia (IH) test may be utilized in the evalution of patients with a variety of clinical endocrine disorders (Table 1). A review of the literature has yielded a total of 6,052 reported IH tests. In addition, we have conducted a retrospective analysis of 528 such procedures done at our institution between the years 1974 and 1984, in part previously reported. 59 Of all these tests, 4,916 procedures were performed in adults and 1,664 in children. This article represents an attempt to integrate these data, identifying not only the clinical usefulness of the IH test but also the physiology involved.
Circulatory “Efficacy” during progressive aerobic exercise in children: insights from the Q: VO2 relationship

The relationship between circulatory flow (Q) and oxygen uptake ( \({V}{\text O}_{2} \)) may provide insights into performance of peripheral mechanisms which govern blood flow during exercise (circulatory efficacy). This study evaluated the response of Q relative to \({V}{\text O}_{2} \) during progressive upright cycle exercise in a group of 39 preadolescent boys (mean age 12.2 ± SD 0.5 years). The Q–\({V}{\text O}_{2} \) relationship was curvilinear, best described by the cubic equation Q = 3.60(\({V}{\text O}_{2} \))3 + 5.24(\({V}{\text O}_{2} \))2 + 2.40(\({V}{\text O}_{2} \)) − 0.94. Circulatory efficacy, defined as the %ΔQ/%Δ\({V}{\text O}_{2} \) × 100, fell from 70.4% between the first two workloads to 49.7% at peak exercise. This decline in circulatory efficacy is consistent with other published data suggesting a decline in skeletal muscle pump function at high intensity workloads. The pattern of change in relationship of Q and \({V}{\text O}_{2} \) during progressive exercise in these children is similar to that observed in studies of adults. This implies that performance of peripheral determinants of circulatory responses to exercise is not affected by biological maturation.
A Bleached Variant of Euglena gracilis showing a Doubling of the Content of Deoxyribonucleic Acid

WHEN certain strains of the green flagellate Euglena gracilis are grown at 34–35°, cultures devoid of chloroplasts are obtained1. These cells, which we term bleached, resemble the normal organisms cultivated in the dark (designated colourless), but they have lost a hereditary character necessary for the formation of the plastids2. In the course of a study of the chemical changes attending the loss of the photosynthetic apparatus in Euglena, a bleached culture (‘Bleached II’) derived from the normal strain z by thermal treatment, which had been carried through frequent liquid transfers for about three years, was found to contain twice the amount of deoxyribonucleic acid that is present in the original green or colourless cells. A comparison of the properties of this bleached variant with those of colourless cells showed the first to contain also more ribonucleic acid and protein and to have a slower rate of growth. Although the nuclei of these two cell types, when treated by the Feulgen method, appeared of equal size, those of the bleached organisms were coloured more intensely.
Visco-elastic characterisation of zeolite modified asphalt binder considering phase transformation and air void interaction

A recent warm mix asphalt technology uses zeolite powders as an additive to reduce production temperature and improve workability. With an increase in temperature, water is released from the zeolite crystalline structure and vaporised into bubbles within the binder, and thus gas, fluid, and solid phases simultaneously exist in the modified binders. The effective complex modulus of the modified binders is measured by dynamic shear rheometer tests at different temperatures and frequencies. A micromechanics-based visco-elastic model is developed to interpret the test results and reproduce the master curves of modified binders with different proportions of zeolite based on the master curve of the pure binder. The self-consistent method adopted considers the effect of zeolite powders. At higher temperatures, the distribution of vapour voids is approximated as a hexagonal distribution. The interaction between neighbouring spherical voids is considered and the effective visco-elastic properties are predicted. Th...
New tests for the detection of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract Most methods currently available to clinical microbiology laboratories for phenotypic detection of oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus , e.g., MIC and disk diffusion methods, perform well if the tests are inoculated and incubated properly. However, in rare circumstances, additional testing for confirmation of susceptibility or resistance may be needed. These circumstances include the occurrence of extremely heterogeneous mecA -determined resistance where conventional methods may categorize the strain as susceptible. In addition, confirmation of borderline resistance determined by mechanisms other than the presence of the mecA gene may need to be verified because treatment with oxacillin may be effective. Several new methods that detect either the mecA gene or the gene product (e.g., penicillin-binding protein 2a, or PBP 2a) have been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration and are now available. These methods, including an easy-to-perform latex agglutination test, may be considered for use by many clinical laboratories when more sophisticated molecular techniques (i.e., PCR assay) are not available.
On the statistical mechanics of rigid particles

In this paper, generalized functions are used in the configuration partition function for fluids composed of arbitrarily shaped, rigid particles. This leads to new expressions for the basic statistical thermodynamic functions and some equations that may be useful in developing approximate theories, such as the scaled particle theory, for such fluids. The results are applicable to a large class of arbitrarily shaped, rigid particles and reduce exactly to the usual hard-sphere expressions.
Synthesis of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (KDO) and its analogs based on KDO aldolase-catalyzed reactions

3-Deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (D-KDO) was synthesized from D-arabinose and pyruvate in 67% yield by using KDO aldolase (EC 4.1.2.21) from Aureobacterium barkerei strain KDO-37-2 (ATCC 49977). Studies on the substrate specificity of the enzyme with more than 20 natural and unnatural sugars indicate that this enzyme widely accepts trioses, tetroses, pentoses, and hexoses as substrates, especially the ones with the R configuration at the 1 position. The substituent on the 2 position had little effect on the aldol reaction
Modified Langmuir—Hinselwood kinetics for dynamic adsorption of surfactants at the air/water interface

Abstract The Langmuir—Hinselwood (L-H) equation is the simplest kinetic equation which is consistent with Langmuir's equilibrium isotherm. This kinetic equation cannot describe well the dynamic surface tension data for octanol, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and other surfactants. A new kinetic equation for the rate of adsorption from the subsurface (d l /d t = k a L c (θ, t )(1−θ) exp(− B θ)− k d L Γ exp(− B θ). where θ is the fractional surface coverage Γ/Γ m , c (θ, t ) is the subsurface concentration, and k a L , k d L , and B are constants) includes modification of the kinetics but not of the equilibrium isotherm. The new equation describes better the capture efficiency of the interfacial monolayer for additional surfactant, and can describe activation barriers for adsorption and desorption, or cooperative adsorption caused by primarily attractive interactions between the monolayer and the dissolved surfactant. This equation was used in a new model of mixed kinetics for one-dimensional diffusion/adsorption/desorption. For octanol and heptanol, the initial adsorption rate is controlled by intrinsic adsorption/desorption kinetics (slow adsorption/desorption). With increasing surface coverage, dynamic adsorption gets closer to the diffusion-controlled limit (fast adsorption/desorption relative to diffusion). This indicates attractive and cooperative interactions of alcohol molecules in the monolayer. For sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (DESS or AOT) and SDS, adsorption is much slower than predicted by diffusion-controlled models. The modified L-H equation in a mixed-kinetics model can fit the data well. The capture efficiency factor, k a L exp(− b θ), increases with increasing SDS concentration c SDS or NaCl concentration c s , indicating that adsorption is strongly affected by electrostatic barriers. For c s = 0 and c SDS = 1.7 to 5.9 m M (for θ c c > 0.4 and a high salt concentration, the parameter B may involve substantial steric or other interactions.
Enantioselective methylalumination of α-olefins

Abstract The ability of various enantiopure zirconocenes to catalyze the asymmetric methylalumination of allylbenzene has been tested. The enantioselectivity of an ethylene(Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO system is the same as that of authentic methyl cation generated with Ph3C+ from ethylene(Ind)2ZrMe2, confirming that the methyl cation is the active catalyst from ethylene(Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO.
The future of medical marijuana.

The medical value of marijuana is becoming increasingly clear, as it proves to be a remarkably versatile, safe, and inexpensive drug. Arrangements now being proposed for making cannabis constituents medically available include quasi-legal buyers clubs, restrictive classification as a prescription drug, the isolation of individual cannabinoids, and the manufacture of synthetic analogs. Careful analysis potentially of this inexpensive drug shows that all these proposals are unworkable. Furthermore, cannabis has so many beneficial uses that the strictly medical ones should not be singled out for approval, and its medical potential cannot be fully realized as long as its use for any other purpose is prohibited. Therefore cannabis should be made available under laws similar to those now applied to alcohol.
Factors effecting adventitious bud formation of cotyledon culture of Douglas fir

Abstract Production of adventitious buds in culture of cotyledon explants derived from young seedlings of Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) required both cytokinin and auxin. A pronounced influence on morphogenetic responses by variations in physiological condition or genetic complement was observed using the natural auxins, IAA and IBA. However, this influence was nearly eliminated when appropriate concentrations of synthetic auxin, NAA and/or 2,4-D, were used. BAP was more effective in stimulation of organ formation than 2iP or kinetin. A high frequency of organ differentiation was obtained with 5 μM BAP plus either NAA or 2,4-D at 0.5–50 nM.
Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and ozone alter soybean diseases at SoyFACE

Human driven changes in the Earth’s atmospheric composition are likely to alter plant disease in the future. We evaluated the effects of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2 )a nd ozone (O3) on three economically important soybean diseases (downy mildew, Septoria brown spot and sudden death syndrome-SDS) under natural field conditions at the soybean free air concentration enrichment (SoyFACE) facility. Disease incidence and/or severity were quantified from 2005 to 2007 using visual surveys and digital image analysis, and changes were related to microclimatic variability and to structural and chemical changes in soybean host plants. Changes in atmospheric composition altered disease expression, but responses of the three pathosystems varied considerably. Elevated CO2 alone or in combination with O3 significantly reduced downy mildew disease severity (measured as area under the disease progress curve-AUDPC) by 39–66% across the 3 years of the study. In contrast, elevated CO2 alone or in combination with O3 significantly increased brown spot severity in all 3 years, but the increase was small in magnitude. When brown spot severity was assessed in relation to differences in canopy height induced by the atmospheric treatments, disease severity increased under combined elevated CO2 and O3 treatment in only one of the 3 years. The atmospheric treatments had no effect on the incidence of SDS or brown spot throughout the study. Higher precipitation during the 2006 growing season was associated with increased AUDPC severity across all treatments by 2.7 and 1.4 times for downy mildew and brown spot, respectively, compared with drought conditions in 2005. In the 2 years with similar precipitation, the higher daily temperatures in the late spring of 2007 were associated with increased severity of downy mildew and brown spot. Elevated CO2 and O3 induced changes in the soybean canopy density and leaf age likely contributed to the disease expression modifications.
The CenSSIS image database

The CenSSIS image database is a scientific database that enables effective data management and collaboration to accelerate fundamental research. This paper describes the design and use of a state-of-the-art relational image database management system, accessible through a standard Web-browser interface. The application utilizes a robust security architecture and is designed for efficient data submission. Our database query engine provides complex query capabilities to facilitate fast and efficient data retrieval. The system offers a highly extensible metadata schema, with the option of storing data within a hierarchical format.
Perspective projection aspect graphs of solids of revolution: an implementation

Over the past few years, a number of researchers have presented algorithms for computing the aspect graph representation for both polyhedra and curved-surface objects. Viewpoint space models have included the viewing sphere (orthographic projection) and all of 3-D space (perspective projection). The paper presents the first (only) complete implementation of an algorithm to compute the exact aspect graph for a class of curved-surface objects using all of 3-D space as the model of viewpoint space. The class of objects considered is solids of revolution defined as Right, Circular, Straight, Homogeneous Generalized Cylinders. An overview of the algorithm and its implementation is given, including a summary of results for a number of example objects, with one object analyzed in detail. >
A Homologous Radioimmunoassay for Rat Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin*

A rapid, specific, and sensitive RIA was developed for rat corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). Rat CBGwas purified by affinity chromatography and its precise concentration was determined by amino acid analysis. This rat CBG was injected into rabbits to raise antiserum and was used both as the assay standard and as the tracer after labeling with 125I.Antiserum to CBG was judged specific by immunoelectrophoresis and by the comparison of RIA values with steroid-binding assay values obtained following serum fractionation on ion exchange and sizing resins, The RIA was used to determine CBG levels in pregnant rats (2.65 μM on day 14 falling to 0.95 μM at parturition), their corresponding fetuses (0.24 μM on day 18 and 0.16 μM at parturition), and amniotic fluid (0.051 μM on day 13 rising to 0.21 μM on day 21).
Patient–Physician End-of-Life Discussions in the Routine Care of Medicare Beneficiaries

Objective: Medicare reimbursement for physicians who discussed end-of-life care and planning with a patient during an office visit was cut from the 2010 Affordable Care Act. We assessed the characteristics of patients who reported having had such discussions, and whether these discussions are associated with trust in one’s physicians and with rates of family advance care planning (FACP). Method: The sample consisted of 5,199 Medicare beneficiaries who reported having an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician. We estimated ordinal and multinomial logistic regressions that controlled for health care utilization, current health, and recent family deaths. Results: Less than 1% (n = 310) reported an end-of-life conversation with a physician during the course of routine care. However, conversations were associated with greater trust in one’s physician and higher rates of completion of FACP. Discussion: Findings support renewed efforts to reimburse physicians for discussing end of life with their Med...
Plasma Concentration of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine, an Endogenous Inhibitor of Nitric Oxide Synthase, Is Elevated in Monkeys With Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia or Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract —Hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Mechanisms responsible for endothelial dysfunction in hyperhomocyst(e)inemia may involve impaired bioavailability of endothelium-dependent nitric oxide. We tested the hypothesis that hyperhomocyst(e)inemia is associated with an elevated plasma concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. One group of adult cynomolgus monkeys was fed either a control or hyperhomocyst(e)inemic diet for 4 weeks in a randomized crossover design. The second group was fed an atherogenic diet that produces both hyperhomocyst(e)inemia and hypercholesterolemia for 17 months, followed by an atherogenic diet supplemented with B vitamins for 6 months to decrease plasma homocyst(e)ine concentration. Human endothelial cells were used to study the effects of methionine and homocysteine in the presence or absence of B vitamins or the methylation inhibitor S -adenosylhomocysteine on the formation of ADMA and its inactive stereoisomer, symmetric dimethylarginine. The hyperhomocyst(e)inemic diet produced 2- to 3-fold increases in plasma levels of homocyst(e)ine and ADMA (both P P S -adenosylhomocysteine but not by B vitamins. We conclude that plasma levels of ADMA are elevated in hyperhomocyst(e)inemia. Because ADMA acts as a competitive inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, these findings suggest a novel mechanism for impaired endothelial function in hyperhomocyst(e)inemia.
Pacing Strategic Change: The Case of a New Venture

Theorists debate whether organizations are inertial or adaptable, but mounting evidence shows they are both, provoking questions about how shifts occur between inertia and change. Research shows performance crises can trigger reactive change, but proactive revolutions in organizations are poorly understood. In project groups, temporal pacing triggers proactive change. This longitudinal study of a venture capital–backed start-up company explored whether temporal pacing could regulate momentum and change in an organization's strategy, as it does in groups. Two forms of pacing were discovered, one time-based, with reorientations initiated at temporal milestones, the other event-based, with actions initiated when the right event occurred. The two pacing types fostered systematically different patterns of momentum and change.
Field procedures in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)

The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS) is a multi-component epidemiological and neurobiological study of unprecedented size and complexity designed to generate actionable evidencebased recommendations to reduce US Army suicides and increase basic knowledge about determinants of suicidality by carrying out coordinated component studies. A number of major logistical challenges were faced in implementing these studies. The current report presents an overview of the approaches taken to meet these challenges, with a special focus on the field procedures used to implement the component studies. As detailed in the paper, these challenges were addressed at the onset of the initiative by establishing an Executive Committee, a Data Coordination Center (the Survey Research Center [SRC] at the University of Michigan), and study-specific design and analysis teams that worked with staff on instrumentation and field procedures. SRC staff, in turn, worked with the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army (ODUSA) and local Army Points of Contact (POCs) to address logistical issues and facilitate data collection. These structures, coupled with careful fieldworker training, supervision, and piloting, contributed to the major Army STARRS data collection efforts having higher response rates than previous large-scale studies of comparable military samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conjugated linoleic acid: a novel therapeutic nutrient?

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) refers to a group of fatty acid isomers of linoleic acid. Recent research shows that CLA affects body composition, lipoprotein metabolism, inflammation and carcinogenesis. Therefore, CLA may have potential as a therapeutic nutrient with respect to many common diseases, including obesity, atherosclerosis, chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. Animal studies show that CLA is a potent anti-adipogenic nutrient, reducing adipose tissue mass and increasing lean mass. However, the effect of CLA on body composition in human subjects has been less spectacular. Several studies have demonstrated that CLA significantly improves plasma cholesterol and triacylglycerol metabolism in a number of animal models. These studies also showed that CLA inhibits the progression and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Whilst CLA has also been shown to improve triacylglycerol metabolism in human subjects, it has not been determined whether CLA affects atherogenesis. Animal models show that CLA-rich diets modulate the inflammatory response and preliminary trials with human subjects show that CLA affects the cell-mediated immune response. The molecular basis of the health effects of CLA has not been elucidated, but it is probable that CLA mediates its effect in a number of ways including altered eicosanoid or cytokine metabolism and/or by a direct effect of dietary fats on gene transcription. Most of our knowledge is based on in vitro and animal studies; the challenge is to define the nature and molecular basis of any health effects of CLA in human subjects.
Effects of prenatal alcohol and cigarette exposure on offspring substance use in multiplex, alcohol-dependent families.

Background Prenatal exposures to alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs of abuse are associated with numerous adverse consequences for affected offspring, including increased risk for substance use and abuse. However, maternal substance use during pregnancy appears to occur more often in those with a family history of alcohol dependence. Utilizing a sample that is enriched for familial alcohol dependence and includes controls selected for virtual absence of familial alcohol dependence could provide important information on the relative contribution of familial risk and prenatal exposures to offspring substance use. Methods A sample of multigenerational families specifically ascertained to be at either high or low risk for developing alcohol dependence (AD) provided biological offspring for a longitudinal prospective study. High-risk families were selected based on the presence of 2 alcohol-dependent sisters. Low-risk families were selected on the basis of minimal first and second-degree relatives with AD. High-risk (HR = 99) and Low-risk offspring (LR = 110) were assessed annually during childhood and biennially in young adulthood regarding their alcohol, drug, and cigarette use. At the first childhood visit, mothers were interviewed concerning their prenatal use of substances. Results High-risk mothers were more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs during pregnancy than low-risk control mothers, and to consume these substances in greater quantities. Across the sample, prenatal exposure to alcohol was associated with increased risk for both offspring cigarette use and substance use disorders (SUD), and prenatal cigarette exposure was associated with increased risk for offspring cigarette use. Controlling for risk status by examining patterns within the HR sample, prenatal cigarette exposure remained a specific predictor of offspring cigarette use, and prenatal alcohol exposure was specifically associated with increased risk for offspring SUD. Conclusions Women with a family history of SUD are at increased risk for substance use during pregnancy. Both familial loading for alcohol dependence and prenatal exposure to alcohol or cigarettes are important risk factors in the development of offspring substance use. An inadequate assessment of family history may obscure important interactions between familial risk and prenatal exposures on offspring outcomes.
A student reflects: Sarah's story of nursing artistry.

This short response to research performed on the art of nursing was written by an undergraduate nursing student at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. In it, the author uses an original article, “Sarah’s Story” (also in this issue) and an accompanying poem, “Sarah’s Insight,” to explore her own interpretation of the art of nursing. The art of nursing is “a feeling, a privilege, heartache, a passion, a love, and an art.” Sarah, who was interviewed by the researcher, feels that, during her hospital stay, her nurses found joy in caring for her. Firsthand experience shadowing an experienced nurse showed a similar expression of nursing’s art. Nursing is an art form not taught in the classroom.
High-resolution fine mapping and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of sun, a locus controlling tomato fruit shape, reveals a region of the tomato genome prone to DNA rearrangements.

The locus sun on the short arm of tomato chromosome 7 controls morphology of the fruit. Alleles from wild relatives impart a round shape, while alleles from certain cultivated varieties impart an oval shape typical of roma-type tomatoes. We fine mapped the locus in two populations and investigated the genome organization of the region spanning and flanking sun. The first high-resolution genetic map of the sun locus was constructed using a nearly isogenic F2 population derived from a cross between Lycopersicon pennellii introgression line IL7-4 and L. esculentum cv Sun1642. The mapping combined with results from pachytene FISH experiments demonstrated that the top of chromosome 7 is inverted in L. pennellii accession LA716. sun was located close to the chromosomal breakpoint and within the inversion, thereby precluding map-based cloning of the gene using this population. The fruit-shape locus was subsequently fine mapped in a population derived from a cross between L. esculentum Sun1642 and L. pimpinellifolium LA1589. Chromosome walking using clones identified from several large genomic insert libraries resulted in two noncontiguous contigs flanking sun. Fiber-FISH analysis showed that distance between the two contigs measured 68 kb in L. esculentum Sun1642 and 38 kb in L. pimpinellifolium LA1589, respectively. The sun locus mapped between the two contigs, suggesting that allelic variation at this locus may be due to an insertion/deletion event. The results demonstrate that sun is located in a highly dynamic region of the tomato genome.
A duality relation for busy cycles in GI/G/1 queues

Using a generalization of the classical ballot theorem, Niu and Cooper [7] established a duality relation between the joint distribution of several variables associated with the busy cycle inM/G/1 (with a modified first service) and the corresponding joint distribution of several related variables in its dualGI/M/1. In this note, we generalize this duality relation toGI/G/1 queues with modified first services; this clarifies the original result, and shows that the generalized ballot theorem is superfluous for the duality relation.
New Diagnostic Tests for Tuberculosis: Bench, Bedside, and Beyond

Current tools and strategies for diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) are inadequate, particularly in settings with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Several promising new tools are at advanced stages of development and evaluation. This review describes some of those promising new technologies and the key barriers to their effective implementation.
Role of antibiotic ligand in nascent peptide-dependent ribosome stalling

Specific nascent peptides in the ribosome exit tunnel can elicit translation arrest. Such ribosome stalling is used for regulation of expression of some bacterial and eukaryotic genes. The stalling is sensitive to additional cellular cues, most commonly the binding of specific small-molecular-weight cofactors to the ribosome. The role of cofactors in programmed translation arrest is unknown. By analyzing nascent peptide- and antibiotic-dependent ribosome stalling that controls inducible expression of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria, we have found that the antibiotic is directly recognized as a part of the translation modulating signal. Even minute structural alterations preclude it from assisting in ribosome stalling, indicating the importance of precise molecular interactions of the drug with the ribosome. One of the sensors that monitor the structure of the antibiotic is the 23S rRNA residue C2610, whose mutation reduces the efficiency of nascent peptide- and antibiotic-dependent ribosome stalling. These findings establish a new paradigm of the role of the cofactor in programmed translation arrest in which a small molecule is recognized along with specific nascent peptide sequences as a composite structure that provokes arrest of translation. A similar mechanism could be used by the ribosome to sense a variety of cellular metabolites.
Safety and efficacy of 1020 consecutive laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies performed as a primary treatment modality for morbid obesity. A single-center experience from the metabolic and bariatric surgical accreditation quality and improvement program

LSG is widely accepted as a definitive treatment for obesity. Due to lack of large series with long-term follow-up, disagreement remains regarding its safety and efficacy. We present a series of 1020 consecutive LSGs performed with long-term follow-up. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was conducted on patients who underwent LSG from January 2005 to February 2014. Data included weight, height, BMI, ideal body weight, comorbid conditions, intraoperative complications, mean length of hospital stay (LOS), early ( 30 days) postoperative complications, and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL). Of the 1020 patients, 66.6 % (n = 679) were female, with a mean age of 38.4 ± 16.5 years. Mean BMI at the time of first visit was 43.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2. The most common comorbid conditions identified were diabetes mellitus (89.4 %), sleep apnea (86.4 %), hypertension (80.3 %), and hyperlipidemia (70 %). Over the entire follow-up period, 57 % of diabetic patients experienced significant improvement or remission. There was no mortality in this series. Early postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery included leak in 0.1 % (n = 1), stricture in 0.1 % (n = 1), emesis in 23 % (n = 234), dehydration in 19 % (n = 194), prolonged ileus in 18 % (183), and self-limited bleeding in 3 % (n = 30). Mean LOS was of 3.4 ± 2.1 days, with a 3.8 % overall rate of early readmissions. Long-term morbidity was found in 3.9 % of patients (n = 40) and included stricture in 0.49 % (n = 5) and GERD in 6 % (n = 61). The overall 30-day mortality rate was 0 %. Mean %EWL at 3 months to 1, 3, 5, and 8 years was 72 ± 16.8, 86 ± 22.3, 63 ± 19, 61 ± 11, and 52 ± 9.2, respectively. This study confirms that LSG is safe and has very low rates of early and long-term complications when compared to other well-established procedures. Additionally, LSG that appears results in significant improvement of obesity-related comorbid conditions.
Rights consciousness in criminal procedure: A theoretical and empirical inquiry

This article's overarching purpose is to serve as an initial theoretical and empirical step in applying rights consciousness inquiry to the criminal procedure context. First, building on previous work within the legal consciousness and rights consciousness traditions, I discuss the ways in which attention to criminal procedure can inform our understanding of rights consciousness and enumerate differences between the way rights consciousness approaches civil law and the ways it might approach criminal law. Additionally, I suggest that understanding the relationship between people's subjective impressions of procedures and procedures’ legal and moral validity offers a novel means of studying procedure that I term “procedural rights consciousness.” In the second part of the article, I report results of two studies designed as first empirical steps in applying rights consciousness as the first part suggests. My findings indicate that not only do people lack knowledge about their rights in criminal investigations but they also think about these rights in patterned ways that reflect a method of understanding law characterized by “lay jurisprudence” reasoning, in which culturally prevalent “tenets” are applied to specific situations. This mechanism often leads people to erroneous conclusions about the rights they possess. The final part of the article sets out an agenda for further rights consciousness research.
Myocardial Ischemia and Its Complications

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of both men and women in industrialized countries. Occlusion of the arteries to the heart, the coronary arteries, leads to myocardial ischemia, an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand in the heart muscle. If the ischemia is of sufficient severity and duration, death of myocardium, myocardial infarction (MI), occurs. This can lead to failure of the heart as a pump, or to electrical system failure leading to arrhythmias and sudden death. Other complications in individuals who survive, include aneurysms, ruptures, and/or valvular dysfunction of the heart. The only effective early treatment to date is to reperfuse the ischemic muscle. Myocardial conditioning can have a temporizing and partially protective effect on evolving MI. As more is learned about the molecular biology of the ischemic myocardium, there is optimism regarding the potential for novel methods of myocardial preservation and regeneration for those who suffer from this disease. This chapter focuses on the morphologic features of the coronary arteries and the heart in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Throughput maximization over frequency-selective communication networks

We consider a network of pairs of nodes that perform simultaneous communications over frequency-selective channels. We assume that the whole frequency band is divided into a number of subbands, and each transmitter can only use one subband. Assuming that the network is geometrically infinite, we use the throughput as a measure of network performance. We consider the problem of allocating the nodes to the subbands so that the total throughput is maximized, under the constraint of fixed total spatial node density. The optimization problem turns out to be nonconvex. We investigate the detailed structure of the functions involved in the optimization and identify a set of properties of the optimal transmitters densities over the subbands. An iterative resource allocation algorithm with low complexity is derived. From the simulations, it is shown that the optimal solution obtained through the theoretical analysis is consistent with the one obtained through exhaustive search.
Behavior of Peter's Tent-Making Bat, Uroderma bilobatum, at Maternity Roosts in Costa Rica

This study examined behaviors associated with the formation of maternity groups by tent-making bats ( Uroderma bilobatum ). Both male and female bats arrived at the roost area in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, in June, coincident with the early rainy season. Although 21 tents were occupied during the 6-week study, 60% of the bats roosted in one of two tents. All females captured during the study were pregnant, and parturition occurred fairly synchronously in early July. The maternity groups lack complete sexual segregation and seem to lack strong bonds between roostmates. Grouping apparently provides thermoregulatory benefits to the bats.
Gas phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange of arginine and arginine dipeptides complexed with alkali metals.

The hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange of protonated and alkali-metal cationized Arg-Gly and Gly-Arg peptides with D2O in the gas phase was studied using electrospray ionization quadropole ion trap mass spectrometry. The Arg-Gly and Gly-Arg alkali metal complexes exchange significantly more hydrogens than protonated Arg-Gly and Gly-Arg. We propose a mechanism where the peptide shifts between a zwitterionic salt bridge and nonzwitterionic charge solvated conformations. The increased rate of H/D exchange of the alkali metal complexes is attributed to the peptide metal complexes’ small energy difference between the salt-bridge conformation and the nonzwitterionic charge-solvated conformation. Implications for the applicability of this mechanism to other zwitterionic systems are discussed.
Ontogeny of Hyalopsora Polypodii Haustoria

The chronological sequence of events of haustorial ontogeny by the fern rust Hyalopsora polypodii in the epidermal and parenchyma cells of Cystopteris fragilis is presented.
Over-voltage and Lightning Protection for 500 kV Compact Transmission Line in High Altitude Area

In accordance with the project of 500 kV AC Dehong-Boshang compact transmission line,the correction method of insulation level was studied.By comparing many mainly used altitude or meteorology correction methods,the proper method was recommended.The least air gaps and phase spacing of the transmission line which was near the tower or in the span centrality of the compact transmission line were given.The results show that the lightning trip-out rate is 0.102time/(100 km · a) when the impulse grounding resistor is 10 Ω,which is lower than the average lightning trip-out rate.The insulation flashover rate under the switching voltage can be controlled in the admitted range by installing circuit breaker closing resistors.
The Performance Evaluation of TEV PD Testing Equipments for High Voltage Switchgear with Analog Signal Injection Method

According to the requirements of 2011 preventive testing procedures of China Southern Power Grid for the partial discharge(PD) detection in the operation of high voltage switchgear,and to the evaluation testing difficulties during purchase of transient earthing voltage(TEV) PD testing equipment,a testing method based on the analog signal injection is proposed and applied on the testing of the technical parameters of TEV PD detect equipments and positioning equipments,including the frequency bandwidth characteristics,the pulse number,the frequency bandwidth continuity,and the positioning accuracy.The test results show obvious technical differences of the products from different manufacturers.The paper suggests that this method can be used in laboratory tests of high voltage switchgear to cope with field tests,and provide technical support in performance testings during purchase of similar equipments.
P-wave travel times from deep earthquakes

A study of teleseismic P -wave travel times has been made using data from deep (450 to 650 km) earthquakes exclusively, for which the effect of near-source upper mantle heterogeneity is expected to be small and location parameters are considered reliable. About 3,300 arrival times selected from bulletins and winnowed to remove discrepant data were used. The shape of the travel-time curve and the average station anomalies found are in general agreement with the results of other works (e.g. Herrin et al. , 1968) but the scatter of the data is only about half as large (∼0.6 sec), verifying that deep earthquakes are indeed more suitable than shallow ones for travel-time studies. The shape of the travel-time curve is determined within 0.1 to 0.2 sec out to epicentral distances of 70°, but the absolute level of the curve remains uncertain within about ± 1 sec. This “base-line correction” has been estimated from Nevada Test Site explosion data, for which the upper mantle velocity structure near the source is known and could be corrected for. The results of this procedure indicate that the Jeffreys-Bullen (1940) times are about 1.5 sec late but the model of Herrin et al. (1968) has approximately the correct base line of P travel times at least for focal depth of 550 km. The station anomalies of this study, represented by constants, correlate very well with large-scale tectonic features and also give a better fit to the travel-time data than has been achieved in other studies which included azimuthal station terms. Systematic regional variations in travel time of 1 sec or more occur beyond 70°, and indicate that significant lateral variation occurs in the lower mantle (depth > 2000 km). A conservative lower bound of about 1 per cent can be placed on the magnitude of these variations in compressional velocity.
Music-Based Respiratory Biofeedback in Visually-Demanding Tasks

Biofeedback tools generally use visualizations to display physiological information to the user. As such, these tools are incompatible with visually demanding tasks such as driving. While auditory or haptic biofeedback may be used in these cases, the additional sensory channels can increase workload or act as a nuisance to the user. A number of studies, however, have shown that music can improve mood and concentration, while also reduce aggression and boredom. Here, we propose an intervention that combines the benefits of biofeedback and music to help users regulate their stress response while performing a visual task (driving a car simulator). Our approach encourages slow breathing by adjusting the quality of the music in response to the user's breathing rate. We evaluate the intervention on a 2 X 2 design with music and auditory biofeedback as independent variables. Our results indicate that our music-biofeedback intervention leads to lower arousal (reduced electrodermal activity and increased heart rate variability) than music alone, auditory biofeedback alone and a control condition.
Range-wide connectivity of priority areas for Greater Sage-Grouse: Implications for long-term conservation from graph theory

ABSTRACT The delineation of priority areas in western North America for managing Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) represents a broad-scale experiment in conservation biology. The strategy of limiting spatial disturbance and focusing conservation actions within delineated areas may benefit the greatest proportion of Greater Sage-Grouse. However, land use under normal restrictions outside priority areas potentially limits dispersal and gene flow, which can isolate priority areas and lead to spatially disjunct populations. We used graph theory, representing priority areas as spatially distributed nodes interconnected by movement corridors, to understand the capacity of priority areas to function as connected networks in the Bi-State, Central, and Washington regions of the Greater Sage-Grouse range. The Bi-State and Central networks were highly centralized; the dominant pathways and shortest linkages primarily connected a small number of large and centrally located priority areas. These priorit...
Reliability analysis of adhesively bonded CFRP-to-steel double lap shear joint with thin outer adherends

Abstract This paper presents the details of a reliability-based analysis of bonded double-lap shear (DLS) joints between steel and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. A comprehensive database of experimental results of CFRP-to-steel DLS joints is compiled and a probabilistic analysis of the data is conducted. The compiled experimental results are compared with the bond strengths predicted by the Hart-Smith model for thin adherends and the model uncertainty is characterized, for five popular structural epoxy adhesives and two types of surface preparation techniques. Considering the mechanical and geometrical uncertainties of constituent materials, two reliability-based approaches, First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) and Monte-Carlo Simulation (MCS), are used to calculate the resistance factor at a target reliability index of 3.5. It is found that these two approaches agree well and the resistance factor varies with adhesives, surface preparation techniques, and CFRP types. The importance vector of random variables reveals that the adhesive shear ductility is the most influential material property in determining the reliability index of the bonded joints.