cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental verification of the behavioral foundation of bacterial transport parameters using microfluidics.

We present novel microfluidic experiments to quantify population-scale transport parameters (chemotactic sensitivity x0 and random motility m) of a population of bacteria. Previously, transport parameters have been derived theoretically from single-cell swimming behavior using probabilistic models, yet the mechanistic foundations of this upscaling process have not been verified experimentally. We designed a microfluidic capillary assay to generate and accurately measure gradients of chemoattractant (a-methylaspartate) while simultaneously capturing the swimming trajectories of individual Escherichia coli bacteria using videomicroscopy and cell tracking. By measuring swimming speed and bias in the swimming direction of single cells for a range of chemoattractant concentrations and concentration gradients, we directly computed the chemotactic velocity VC and the associated chemotactic sensitivity x0. We then show how m can also be readily determined using microfluidics but that a population-scale microfluidic approach is experimentally more convenient than a single-cell analysis in this case. Measured values of both x0 ((12.4 6 2.0) 3 10 � 4 cm 2 s � 1 ) and m ((3.3 6 0.8) 3 10 � 6 cm 2 s � 1 ) are comparable to literature results. This microscale approach to bacterial chemotaxis lends experimental support to theoretical derivations of population-scale transport parameters from single-cell behavior. Furthermore, this study shows that microfluidic platforms can go beyond traditional chemotaxis assays and enable the quantification of bacterial transport parameters.
Human Cytomegalovirus DNA Replication Requires Transcriptional Activation via an IE2- and UL84-Responsive Bidirectional Promoter Element within oriLyt

Amplification of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) lytic origin (oriLyt) in human fibroblasts is dependent upon six core replication proteins and UL84, IE2, and UL36-38. Using a telomerase-immortalized human fibroblast cell line (T-HFs), oriLyt-dependent DNA replication no longer required the gene products of UL36-38. To determine the role of IE2 in DNA replication in human fibroblasts, we examined potential IE2-binding sites within HCMV oriLyt. We now show that a strong bidirectional promoter (oriLyt(PM)) (nucleotides 91754 to 92030) is located in the previously identified core region of the origin and is required for efficient amplification of oriLyt. It was determined that a 14-bp novel DNA motif (oriLyt promoter activation element), which was initially identified as a binding element for the immediate-early protein IE2, was essential for oriLyt(PM) activity. In Vero cells the oriLyt(PM) was constitutively active and strongly repressed by IE2, but it was reactivated by UL84. In contrast, transfection of the oriLyt(PM) into human fibroblasts resulted in a very low basal level of promoter activity that was dramatically up-regulated upon infection with HCMV. Cotransfection assays demonstrated that the transfection of UL84 along with IE2 transactivated the oriLyt(PM) in human fibroblasts. Further activation was observed upon cotransfection of the set of plasmids expressing the entire replication complex. Efficient oriLyt amplification in the absence of IE2 in human fibroblasts was observed by replacing the oriLyt(PM) with the simian virus 40 early promoter. Under these conditions, however, UL84 was still required for amplification of oriLyt. These results suggest that the mechanism of initiation of HCMV lytic replication in part involves transcriptional activation.
Supercooling of Water to -92°C Under Pressure

The temperature at which "clean" supercooled water freezes has been determined as a function of pressure up to 3 kilobars, using a differential thermal analysis technique on subdivided water samples. The supercooling limit of such samples, -38 degrees C at normal pressure, is lowered by initial increase of pressure, reaching a minimum value of -92 degrees C at 2.00 kilobars.
Cryopreservation of lymphocytes for use in in vitro assays of cellular immunity

Abstract Human lymphocytes can be cryopreserved for the purpose of performing in vitro tests of cellular immunity. A systematic study of the conditions for freezing and recovering cells has shown that there is wide flexibility in cell concentrations and serum concentrations. The concentrations of cryoprotective agent and the temperature and rate of dilution however, have definable optima. Cells frozen and thawed under optimal conditions retain their reactivity in MLC and can be used for sequential studies of immune responsiveness. Approximately 70% of viable and functional cells are recovered when the cells are frozen in 7.5–12.5% DMSO and no further cryoprotection is discernable when up to 50% serum is added to the freezing media. The temperature and rate of dilution are critical only in that cells diluted rapidly in the cold (10-fold in 2 min at 0°C) are less responsive in MLC than are cells diluted slowly (10-fold in 10 min) in the cold or slowly or rapidly at room temperature.
Effect of the spin-orbit potential on the magnetic moment of the deuteron

It is shown that at the present stage the contribution to the magnetic moment of the deuteron does not pose a serious dilemma for the spin-orbit potential explanation (in addition to the Gartenhaus potential) of the high energy nucleon-nucleon scattering (up to 150 MeV).
Positively Charged Dendron Micelles Display Negligible Cellular Interactions.

PEGylated dendron-based copolymers (PDCs) with different end-group functionalities (−NH2, −COOH, and −Ac) were synthesized and self-assembled into dendron micelles to investigate the effect of terminal surface charges on size, morphology, and cellular interactions of the micelles. All of the dendron micelles exhibited similar sizes (20–60 nm) and spherical morphologies, as measured using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The cellular interactions of dendron micelles were evaluated using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Surprisingly, although amine-terminated dendrimers are known to strongly interact with cells nonspecifically, all of the surface-modified dendron micelles exhibited charge-independent low levels of cellular interactions. The unexpected results, particularly from the amine-terminated dendron micelles, could be attributed to: (i) minimal end-group effects, as each PDC has an approximately 10-fold lower charge-number-to-molecular-weight ratio c...
From ruse to farce

More than two decades ago, philosopher of biology Michael Ruse testified as an expert witness for the plaintiffs in the Federal District Court case, McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education (529 F. Supp. ED Ark. 1982). The plaintiffs in that case challenged the constitutionality of an Arkansas law that had recently been passed by the state legislature. The law mandated that public (taxpayer-funded) schools that taught Darwin's theory of evolution would also be required to teach 'creation science' (a thinly secularized version of Fundamentalist Christian interpretations of Biblical Genesis). In his ruling against the defendants, Judge Overton relied heavily on Ruse's testimony when concluding that 'creation science' fell short of the following 'essential characteristics of science':
The State of Ophthalmology Medical Student Education in the United States and Canada, 2012 through 2013

Objective To characterize the state of ophthalmology medical student education in the United States and Canada. Design Survey of United States and Canadian medical schools. Participants One hundred thirty-five Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) member institutions were surveyed, along with 30 osteopathic medical schools in the United States and 40 non–AUPO-affiliated allopathic medical schools in the United States. Methods A survey characterizing preclinical, clinical, and extracurricular exposures to ophthalmology was used. Main Outcome Measures Response rate, presence of, and types of preclinical and clinical exposures. Results Response rates to the survey were lower from non-AUPO institutions. Preclinical exposures largely consisted of basic lectures and examination skills, and most responding institutions had some sort of required preclinical ophthalmology experience. Clinical exposures were more variable, with an overall rate of required clinical rotations diminishing. Conclusions There continues to be a gradual erosion of the role of ophthalmic medical education in the standard medical school curriculum. Clearly, there is room for improvement across all types of medical educational institutions.
Reprint of:In search of grid converged solutions☆

Abstract Assessing solution error continues to be a formidable task when numerically solving practical flow problems. Currently, grid refinement is the primary method used for error assessment. The minimum grid spacing requirements to achieve design order accuracy for a structured-grid scheme are determined for several simple examples using truncation error evaluations on a sequence of meshes. For certain methods and classes of problems, obtaining design order may not be sufficient to guarantee low error. Furthermore, some schemes can require much finer meshes to obtain design order than would be needed to reduce the error to acceptable levels. Results are then presented from realistic problems that further demonstrate the challenges associated with using grid refinement studies to assess solution accuracy.
Central adenosinergic system involvement in ethanol-induced motor incoordination in mice.

To clarify if the behavioral interaction between ethanol and adenosine reported previously occur centrally or due to a peripheral hemodynamic change, the effect of i.c.v. adenosine agonists, N6-(R-phenylisopropyl)adenosine (R-PIA), N6-(S-phenylisopropyl)adenosine, 5'-(N-cyclopropyl)-carboxamidoadenosine, antagonists, theophylline and 8-p-(sulfophenyl)theophylline as well as enprofylline on ethanol-(i.p.)-induced motor incoordination was evaluated by rotorod. Adenosine agonists and antagonists dose dependently accentuated and attenuated, respectively, ethanol-induced motor incoordination, thereby suggesting a central mechanism of adenosine modulation of this effect of ethanol and confirmed our previous reports in which adenosine agonists and antagonists were given i.p. Enprofylline, a weak adenosine antagonist but potent inhibitor of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, did not alter ethanol's motor incoordination, further supporting involvement of brain adenosine receptor mechanism(s) in ethanol-adenosine interactions. Results from R-PIA and N6-(S-phenylisopropyl)adenosine experiments showed nearly a 40-fold greater potency of R-vs. S-diastereoisomer, suggesting predominance of adenosine A1 subtype. However, 5'-(N-cyclopropyl)-carboxamidoadenosine data indicate complexity of the mechanism(s) and point toward an additional involvement of a yet unknown subtype of adenosine A2. No effect of ethanol on blood or brain levels of [3H]R-PIA was noted and sufficient amount of the latter entered the brain to suggest adenosine receptor activation adequate to produce behavioral interaction with ethanol. There was no escape of i.c.v.-administered [3H]R-PIA from brain to the peripheral circulation ruling out a peripheral and supporting a central mechanism of ethanol-adenosine interaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Architecture Support for Domain-Specific Accelerator-Rich CMPs

This work discusses hardware architectural support for domain-specific accelerator-rich CMPs. First, we present a hardware resource management scheme for sharing of loosely coupled accelerators and arbitration of multiple requesting cores. Second, we present a mechanism for accelerator virtualization. This allows multiple accelerators to efficiently compose a larger virtual accelerator out of multiple smaller accelerators, as well as to collaborate as multiple copies of a simple accelerator. All of this work is supported by a fully automated simulation tool-chain for both accelerator generation and management. We present the applicability of our approach to four different application domains: medical imaging, commercial, computer vision, and navigation. Our results demonstrate large performance improvements and energy savings over a software implementation. We also show additional improvements that result from enhanced load balancing and simplification of the communication between the core and the arbitration mechanism.
Competitive Fertilization in the Fowl

Abstract ONE of the major economic losses in the field of poultry husbandry is the large numbers of infertile eggs among eggs produced for hatching purposes. Attempting to reduce this loss, numerous investigations have been directed toward a better understanding of the mechanism of fertility and the many factors affecting it. Limited investigational reports in the literature relating to selective fertilization in the domestic fowl present conflicting results. Dunn (1927) found that spermatozoa from males more nearly related to the females fertilized a significantly higher percentage of eggs than did spermatozoa from nonrelated males. Curtis and Lambert (1929) mated White Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red males to White Plymouth Rock females and found no evidence of selective fertilization. Using Rhode Island Red females, Bonnier and Trulsson (1939) found that the semen from a Rhode Island Red male was more effective in fertilizing the Rhode Island Red ova than was the …
Predictive Validity of the Graduate Record Examination for Grades in Graduate Chemistry Courses

This study was intended to investigate the predictive relationship between GRE scores and subsequent grade performance in graduate chemistry courses. Records were evaluated for 145 graduate students in a chemistry program. Higher GRE scores were significantly correlated with higher grades in several specific courses. These results indicate that, in some instances, GRE scores significantly predict the graduate course performance of chemistry students.
On the apparent source depth of planetary magnetic fields

Two simple assumptions regarding the ratios of the strengths of the field contributions of the multipole moments of the terrestrial magnetic field at its effective source depth are used to examine the consistency between the apparent source depths for the magnetic fields of Mercury and Jupiter and the present understanding of their interior structure. Both fields are consistent with the present understanding. However, the comparison would be facilitated by further measurements of the magnetic fields at both planets, especially at Mercury.
Planning, reasoning, and agents for non-visual navigation of tables and frames

In this paper we demonstrate how the DSL for Table navigation [16] can be reinterpreted in the context of an action theory [8]. We also show how this generalization provides the ability to carry out more complex tasks such as (i) allowing the user to describe the objective of his/her navigation as a goal and let automatic mechanisms (i.e., a planner) develop (part of) the navigation process; and (ii) allowing the semantic description to predefine not only complete navigation strategies (as in [16]) but also partial skeletons, making the remaining part of the navigation dependent on run-time factors, e.g., user's goals, specific aspects of the table's content, User's run-time decisions.
Power SiC DMOSFET model accounting for JFET region nonuniform current distribution

The main goal of this work is development of a new circuit-based SiC DMOSFET model which physically represents the mechanism of current saturation in power SiC DMOSFET. Finite element simulations show that current saturation for a typical device geometry is due to two-dimensional carrier distribution effects in the JFET region caused by the current spreading from the channel to the JFET region. For high drain-source voltages, most of the voltage-drop occurs in the current-spreading region located in the JFET region close to the channel.
Antiarrhythmic efficacy of encainide and quinidine: Validation of a model for drug assessment

The antiarrhythmic efficacy of encainide and quinidine was compared in 20 ambulatory men (mean age 56 ± 8 years) with a history of premature ventricular complexes. All but one patient had a history of chronic ischemic heart disease. A longitudinal crossover design was used to study the effects of encainide and quinidine on premature ventricular complexes recorded on treadmill excercise tests and on 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiograms. After a baseline evaluation, patients were randomized to one of two drug sequences consisting of 2 weeks of treatment with placebo followed by 2 weeks of treatment with the first drug, after which the same sequence was repeated for the second drug. Encainide was generally better tolerated than quinidine. The reduction in the average number of premature ventricular complexes/hour on ambulatory electrocardiograms and in the average number of premature ventricular complexes/min on treadmill exercise tests was greater With encainide than with quinidine (p <0.01 and <0.025, respectively). Encainide suppressed all premature ventricular complexes recorded on ambulatory electrocardiograms in 44 percent of patients, reduced them by at least 80 percent in 88 percent of patients and suppressed complex forms in 100 percent of patients. By contrast, no patient demonstrated total suppression of premature ventricular complexes with quinidine, only 44 percent demonstrated at least 80 percent reduction and only 53 percent demonstrated suppression of complex forms on 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiograms. Encainide Is safe and effective for the treatment of chronic ventricular ectopic activity. In this study, It appeared to be superior to average doses of quinidine.
DNA damage and repair in embryonic mouse limbs exposed to teratogenic doses of methylnitrosourea.

Abstract The alkaline elution assay was used to monitor DNA single-strand breaks in embryonic tissue following exposure to the DNA-damaging tetratogen N -methyl- N -nitrosourea (MNU, CAS No. 694-93-5). An animal model was developed in whic nearly every fetus exposed to the highest dose of MNU had malformations of the hindlimbs while the fetuses exposed to the lowest dose of MNU had none. Hindlimbs pooled within litters were analyzed for DNA single-strand breaks by alkaline elution conducted at rapid (0.35 ml/min) and slow (0.35 ml/min) speeds. Breaks in the DNA of hindlimbs exposed to teratogenic doses of MNU were readily detected by alkaline elution only if slower speeds were used in the assay. Using the more sensitive procedure, DNA breakage was monitored over a 24-h period. DNA breakage peaked in the MNU-exposed hindlimbs in a dose-dependent manner 4 h after injection. While the elution profiles of hindlimbs exposed to the lower doses of MNU returned to control levels 8 h after injection, single-strand breaks persisted in the hindlimbs exposed to the highest dose of MNU for at least 20 h. These latter data suggest that the highly teratogenic dose of MNU induced DNA damage that was more slowly repaired than that produced at lower doses, possibly by saturation of DNA repair systems. Although some necrosis did occur in hindlimbs exposed at teratogenic dose levels, it was not severe and it did not appear to influence the alkaline elution results. These experimental show that alkaline elution is a sensitive assay for the detection of DNA damaga in embryonic tissue.
Parity and incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract purpose: To examine prospectively the association between parity and subsequent incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Most previous studies have not controlled for potential confounding by age and obesity. patients and methods: In a prospective cohort study, 113,606 United States registered nurses aged 30 to 55 years and free of diagnosed diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer at baseline were followed for 12 years. Endpoint was incidence of confirmed NIDDM. results: During 1,278,188 person-years of follow-up, we confirmed 2,310 incident cases of NIDDM. An apparent association between parity and diabetes was observed in unadjusted analyses (relative risk=1.56 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27 to 1.91] among women with six or more births compared with that in nulliparous women) (p, trend conclusions: Despite a temporary diabetogenic effect of pregnancy, parity is not associated with an increased risk of subsequent clinical NIDDM. These data underscore the importance of control for confounding by age and obesity in evaluating these associations.
Retrograde endocannabinoid signaling in the cerebellar cortex.

The regulation of Purkinje cell activity is important for motor behavior and motor learning. As the sole output cell of the cerebellar cortex, Purkinje cell firing is controlled by parallel fibers and climbing fiber synapses, and by inhibitory interneurons. Depolarization of Purkinje cells evokes endocannabinoid release that activates cannabinoid CB1 receptors expressed on boutons of its synaptic inputs to transiently decrease neurotransmitter release. In addition, associative activation of the excitatory inputs can liberate endocannabinoids to decrease synaptic strength for a prolonged duration. Here we review the different mechanisms of evoking endocannabinoid release and discuss the physiological role of endocannabinoids in mediating global modulation of synaptic strength, localized short-term associative plasticity and cerebellar long term depression
The problems of organizational maintenance and the League of United Latin American Citizens

Abstract Literature on interest group politics has reflected both economic and non-economic motivations for engaging in concerted political action. This article explores the assertion that economic incentives are necessary for the long term survival of any interest group through an analysis of the development of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) from 1945–1985. LULAC is a significant organization for Mexican Americans and represents historical, ideological, and material dynamics associated with diverse types of incentives. This article supports the argument of incentive theorists in regard to the ongoing maintenance of the organization. By the mid 1980's LULAC had evolved into an elite dominated group which was heavily dependent upon outside funding for its day to day activities.
Trimeric Transmembrane Domain Interactions in Paramyxovirus Fusion Proteins ROLES IN PROTEIN FOLDING, STABILITY, AND FUNCTION

Paramyxovirus fusion (F) proteins promote membrane fusion between the viral envelope and host cell membranes, a critical early step in viral infection. Although mutational analyses have indicated that transmembrane (TM) domain residues can affect folding or function of viral fusion proteins, direct analysis of TM-TM interactions has proved challenging. To directly assess TM interactions, the oligomeric state of purified chimeric proteins containing the Staphylococcal nuclease (SN) protein linked to the TM segments from three paramyxovirus F proteins was analyzed by sedimentation equilibrium analysis in detergent and buffer conditions that allowed density matching. A monomer-trimer equilibrium best fit was found for all three SN-TM constructs tested, and similar fits were obtained with peptides corresponding to just the TM region of two different paramyxovirus F proteins. These findings demonstrate for the first time that class I viral fusion protein TM domains can self-associate as trimeric complexes in the absence of the rest of the protein. Glycine residues have been implicated in TM helix interactions, so the effect of mutations at Hendra F Gly-508 was assessed in the context of the whole F protein. Mutations G508I or G508L resulted in decreased cell surface expression of the fusogenic form, consistent with decreased stability of the prefusion form of the protein. Sedimentation equilibrium analysis of TM domains containing these mutations gave higher relative association constants, suggesting altered TM-TM interactions. Overall, these results suggest that trimeric TM interactions are important driving forces for protein folding, stability and membrane fusion promotion.
EFFECT OF SHEAR STRESS ON PLATELET-PMN LEUKOCYTE INTERACTIONS

A cone and plate viscometer, Coulter counter, and spectrophotometer were used to study platelet modulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) function caused by controlled shear stress. Aggregation and release of the enzymes β-glucuronidase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were observed. PMNL suspensions in buffer (1.0 × 107 cells/ml, final concentration) did not show any aggregate formation or enzyme release at shear stresses below 150 dynes/cm2 for an exposure time of 1 minute. However, supernatant plasma from sheared platelets initiated PMNL aggregation and β-glucuronidase release at moderate shear stresses (150 dynes/cm2 for 1 minute). These stress-induced alterations were compared with chemotactic factor and calcium ionophore A23187 induced functional changes. LDH release was less than 3% in all the experiments indicating little overt lysis. The shear-induced enzyme release was enhanced by cytochalasin B and heparinized samples showed greater effects than citrated samples. The use of a cyclooxygena...
Processing character of MgO-partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) in size grading prepared by injection molding

Abstract The effects of the mixture of coarse/fine ZrO 2 powders in various ratios on the properties of injection-molding feedstocks, the degree of debinding, dimension reproducibility, sintering and phase formation of the Mg-partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) were studied. The feedstocks and injection molded pieces with 3·5 wt% MgO were tested by capillary rheometry, thermal analysis (DSC), and the injection-molded pieces were analyzed by mercury porosimetry, Archimedes’ method. After sintered, the density and m-phase were analyzed by SEM and quantitative XRD techniques. Experimental results show when the feedstocks contained ≥50 vol% of coarse powder, the viscosity is lower and the activation energies of the feedstocks are in the same range as that of pure binder admixture. The flowing properties are controlled by the ratio of fine to coarse as the concentration of fine powder was over 50 vol%. In addition, the formulations with a higher content in fine powder would enhance the de-polymerization of PP, improve the dimensional reproducibility, homogeneity, and degree of debinding. With the appropriate controls on the ratio of fine to coarse powders, Mg–PSZ with 60 to 93% theoretical density and uniform microstructure can be produced.
A DKT shell element for dynamic large deformation analysis

The 3-node triangular discrete Kirchhoff theory (DKT) element is studied in the context of explicit software for crash analysis. The element uses linear interpolation for the in-plane displacement, quadratic interpolation for the normal rotations. The transverse displacement has a Hermite cubic interpolation along element sides. Discrete Kirchhoff conditions are imposed at the corner nodes and the sides. The element is condensed to five degrees-of-freedom per node and can be used with other 3-node and 4-node elements. For benchmark example, the DKT element gives good accuracy whereas the 3-node C0 element is too stiff. Examples of high-speed component impact analysis demonstrate that DKT element performs as good as Belytschko–Tsay quadrilateral element, which has been the main element used for crashworthiness analyses. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heterogeneity of clinical presentation among obese individuals seeking treatment

This study provides a test for the assumption of psychological homogeneity among 60 individuals who sought treatment for obesity and were referred for cognitive-behavioral group treatment. Subjects were divided along the dimension of severity of psychopathology and were assessed on subjective distress, binge eating, coping ability, and a variety of historical and demographic dimensions. Twenty-three percent of the sample scored in a range indicative of significant personality disturbance on the Borderline Syndrome Index. This distressed group did not differ from the less distressed cohort in weight, but reported more extensive symptoms of psychopathology, more chaotic eating patterns, more binge eating, and evidenced less effective coping skills. These findings provide support for the importance of a thorough assessment prior to initiating treatment for obesity.
Theoretical study of the magnetic field in the lunar wake

When the solar wind interacts with the moon, the plasma shadow region on the dark side of the moon forms a long lunar wake. In the plasma umbra a detectable plasma flow is absent and in the penumbra the plasma flux increases from the void condition in the umbra to the interplanetary condition outside. A theoretical model for perturbations of the magnetic field in the plasma shadow is studied by directly solving Maxwell's equations for steady‐state solutions. The perturbation of the field is assumed to be due to the magnetization current, the gradient drift current, and the curvature drift current. Numerical solutions are obtained to describe the variations of the magnetic field, and the results are in good agreement with experimental observations from the Explorer 35 satellite.
The impact of extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy on the management of ureteric calculi: an audit.

Summary— The presentation and management of 153 patients with ureteric calculi requiring active treatment over a 12-month period were reviewed; 74% of patients had primary ureteric calculi and 26% had ureteric calculi composed of fragments resulting from extracorporeal piezoelectric Shockwave lithotripsy (EPL) to renal calculi; 32 patients (21%) had more than 1 calculus or a steinstrasse. The primary procedures included were in situ EPL (n = 54), push-bang (44), retrograde ureteroscopy (40), Dormia basket extraction (6), push-pull (1), antegrade ureteroscopy (1) and combinations of these (7). The success of the primary procedure could not be predicted from stone size, site or duration in the ureter, but upper tract dilatation was significantly less (p<0.01) in the successful group. The overall success rate for complete stone extraction was 97%, but 54 patients (35%) required more than 1 procedure to achieve this. In situ EPL and push-bang, as either primary or secondary procedures, were successful in treating 79 patients (52%); 2 patients required ureterolithotomy (1.3%). The overall complication rate was 18%. Since EPL is only successful in treating approximately half of ureteric calculi, a range of other treatments should be available to maintain a low rate of open surgery.
Reconfigurable processing for satellite on-board automatic cloud cover assessment

Clouds have a critical role in many studies such as weather- and climate-related investigations. However, they represent a source of errors in many applications, and the presence of cloud contamination can hinder the use of satellite data. In addition, sending cloudy data to ground stations can result in an inefficient utilization of the communication bandwidth. This requires satellite on-board cloud detection capability to mask out cloudy pixels from further processing. Remote sensing satellite missions have always required smaller size, lower cost, more flexibility, and higher computational power. Reconfigurable Computers (RCs) combine the flexibility of traditional microprocessors with the power of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Therefore, RCs are a promising candidate for on-board preprocessing. This paper presents the design and implementation of an RC-based real-time cloud detection system. We investigate the potential of using RCs for on-board preprocessing by prototyping the Landsat 7 ETM+ ACCA algorithm on one of the state-of-the-art reconfigurable platforms, SRC-6. It will be shown that our work provides higher detection accuracy and over one order of magnitude improvement in performance when compared to previously reported investigations.
LISA source confusion

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna will detect thousands of gravitational wave sources. Many of these sources will be overlapping in the sense that their signals will have a nonzero cross correlation. Such overlaps lead to source confusion, which adversely affects how well we can extract information about the individual sources. Here we study how source confusion impacts parameter estimation for galactic compact binaries, with emphasis on the effects of the number of overlaping sources, the time of observation, the gravitational wave frequencies of the sources, and the degree of the signal correlations. Our main findings are that the parameter resolution decays exponentially with the number of overlapping sources and superexponentially with the degree of cross correlation. We also find that an extended mission lifetime is key to disentangling the source confusion as the parameter resolution for overlapping sources improves much faster than the usual square root of the observation time.
Natural Convection/Radiation Heat Transfer Simulations of an Enclosed Array of Vertical Rods

Experiments performed by others measured the temperature of twelve heated vertical rods within a constant temperature, internally finned cylindrical enclosure. Measurements were performed for a range of air and helium pressures and a range of rod heat generation rates. In the current work, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations of natural convection and radiation heat transfer within this domain were conducted to benchmark the simulation techniques. These calculations accurately reproduced the local and average temperatures when the heat generation rate was sufficiently low that the velocity field is steady. Future simulations will be used to design experiments that model spent nuclear fuel within non-isothermal cells of storage packages.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
PRIOR ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION OF SATIRICAL THESES

From 90 students 54 student researchers obtained responses on attitudes about two statements involving labor unions and government power. Their prior attitudes were not independent of recognition of the thesis of the work rule satirical statement, but those who agreed in advance with the power structure thesis tended to show related attitudes. Different factors may interact in various ways.
Testing Cointegration and Market Power in the American Crude Oil Industry

I hypothesize that the merger activities, in the American crude oil industry, in the period 1990–1999 explains the highly concentrated industry in the period 2000–2012. The resulting structural change raises concern about the competitive aspects of the industry. In this study we attempt to capture the extent of market power in the industry using the Steen and Salvanes (1997) dynamic reformulation of the Bresnahan–Lau (1982) oligopoly model in an Error correction Framework. This model solves the inference problems emanating from use of non-stationary time series data, and incorporates dynamic factors inherent in the market such as habit formation and repeated interactions. The results suggest that the industry exercised market power both in the short run and in the long run in the period 2000–2012.
Opioid overdose with gluteal compartment syndrome and acute peripheral neuropathy

Patient: Male, 42 Final Diagnosis: Gluteal compartment syndrome • acute peripheral nauropathy Symptoms: — Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Critical Care Medicine Objective: Management of emergency care
Lipopolysaccharide, Toll-Like Receptors, and the Immune Contribution to Atherosclerosis

To the Editor: Stoll and colleagues present an intriguing and timely review on the potential contribution of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to development of atherosclerotic plaque.1 Recent studies have now provided important new insights into how LPS and other pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) might directly contribute to atherosclerosis and suggest that the contribution of immune mechanisms to atherogenesis may be more important that presently realized. Walton et al reported that modified but not native low-density lipoproteins (LDL) upregulate TLR4 in endothelial cells, are recognized by TLR4 in a CD14-independent fashion, and cause increased endothelial cell expression of IL-8.2 Studies from Witztum’s laboratory indicate that modified LDL signals mediated by TLR4 cause actin polymerization and spreading of macrophages that results in decreased phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and enhanced uptake of modified LDL.3 Recent in vivo studies provide more direct insights in the role of TLR signaling events in atherosclerosis. Bjorkbacka et al reported that genetic deficiency of CD14 in apolipoprotein E (apoE)-null mice had no effect on early lesion development.4 Because CD14 seems to be important for LPS-induced TLR4 signaling, this might at first imply that TLR4 signaling is not involved in atherosclerosis. However, results from our laboratory showed that TLR4−/−apoE−/− mice demonstrated reduced atherosclerosis.5 These findings collectively are most consistent with the interpretation that TLR4 signaling contributes to atherosclerosis, and either LPS is not the …
Systemic leptin produces a long-lasting increase in respiratory motor output in rats

Leptin decreases food intake and increases energy expenditure. Leptin administration into the CNS of mice or rats increases alveolar ventilation and dysfunction in leptin signaling has been implicated in the hypoventilation that can accompany obesity. An increase in CO2 chemosensitivity has been implicated in this response but it is unclear whether ventilation is augmented when PCO2 is maintained constant. We examined the effects of intravenous leptin to test the hypothesis that systemic leptin administration in isoflurane anesthetized, mechanically ventilated and vagotomized rats would lead to a sustained increase in respiratory motor output that was independent of changes in end-tidal PCO2, body temperature or lung inflation pressure (an indicator of overall lung and chest wall compliance). In anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats with end-tidal PCO2, lung compliance and rectal temperature maintained constant, injection of a bolus of leptin (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg/ml, i.v.), followed over the next 1 hour by the intravenous infusion of an additional 0.25 mg, elicited a progressive increase in the peak amplitude of integrated phrenic nerve discharge lasting at least 1 hr beyond the end of the infusion. The increase peaked at 90 min at 58.3 ± 5.7% above baseline. There was an associated increase in the slope of the phrenic response to increasing inspired CO2.. There was also a moderate and sustained decrease in arterial pressure 9 ± 1.3 mmHg at 120 min, with no associated change in heart rate. These data indicate that leptin elicits a sustained increase in respiratory motor output that outlasts the administration leptin via a mechanism that does not require alterations in arterial PCO2, body temperature or systemic afferent feedback via the vagus nerves. Leptin may play an important role in matching alveolar ventilation to metabolism.
A systolic accelerator for the iterative solution of sparse linear systems

The idea of grouping the nonzero elements of a sparse matrix into a few stripes that are almost parallel is applied to the design of a systolic accelerator for sparse matrix operations. This accelerator is then integrated into a complete systolic system for the solution of large sparse linear systems of equations. The design demonstrates that the application of systolic arrays is not limited to regular computations, and that computationally irregular problems can be solved on systolic networks if local storage is provided in each systolic cell for buffering the irregularity in the data movement and for absorbing the irregularity in the computation. >
SAMPLING AS A SOLUTION METHODOLOGY

This paper examines the use of sampling procedures as a solution methodology for large combinatorial problems. Three sampling strategies are investigated: random sampling (each alternative is equally likely), biased sampling (alternatives' probabilities are biased by specified criteria), and improvement sampling (alternatives' probabilities are dynamically changed based upon new information). These three methodologies are illustrated and compared on the basis of solution quality and computer time requirements.
Fragmentation barriers of toroidal and bubble nuclei.

With an improved Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model, the deformation energy surfaces in reactions leading to the formation of toroidal and bubble nuclei are examined for central [sup 92][ital Mo]+[sup 92][ital Mo] collisions. We found that the potential maximum, or the fragmentation barrier, occurs at times close to the times when these exotic shapes are formed. However, due to the dynamics of large amplitude compression and expansion, the fragmentation barriers are significantly higher than those estimated from the liquid-drop models.
An age-dependent branching process model for the analysis of CFSE-labeling experiments

Over the past decade, flow cytometric CFSE-labeling experiments have gained considerable popularity among experimentalists, especially immunologists and hematologists, for studying the processes of cell proliferation and cell death. Several mathematical models have been presented in the literature to describe cell kinetics during these experiments. We propose a multi-type age-dependent branching process to model the temporal development of populations of cells subject to division and death during CFSE-labeling experiments. We discuss practical implementation of the proposed model; we investigate a competing risk version of the process; and we identify the classes of cellular dependencies that may influence the expectation of the process and those that do not. An application is presented where we study the proliferation of human CD8+ T lymphocytes using our model and a competing risk branching process. The proposed model offers a widely applicable approach to the analysis of CFSE-labeling experiments. The model fitted very well our experimental data. It provided reasonable estimates of cell kinetics parameters as well as meaningful insights into the processes of cell division and cell death. In contrast, the competing risk branching process could not describe the kinetics of CD8+ T cells. This suggested that the decision of cell division or cell death may be made early in the cell cycle if not in preceding generations. Also, we show that analyses based on the proposed model are robust with respect to cross-sectional dependencies and to dependencies between fates of linearly filiated cells. This article was reviewed by Marek Kimmel, Wai-Yuan Tan and Peter Olofsson.
Old kingdom community organization in the Western Egyptian Delta

Old Kingdom Egypt has traditionally been regarded as distinctive among early civilizations in such characteristics as its largely non‐urban settlement patterns, extreme centralization of wealth and power in elites, and massive stability in its administrative institutions. But these characterizations are based almost entirely on documentary sources. Few Old Kingdom sites except those associated with mortuary cults have been excavated. Excavations at Kom el‐Hisn, in the western Egyptian Delta, have produced evidence about the economic organization and functioning of a rural Old Kingdom settlement that can be related to various hypotheses about the nature of Old Kingdom economic institutions.
Focal adhesion kinase modulates cell adhesion strengthening via integrin activation.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an essential nonreceptor tyrosine kinase regulating cell migration, adhesive signaling, and mechanosensing. Using FAK-null cells expressing FAK under an inducible pro...
Systemic Therapies in Managing Sinonasal Inflammation

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a condition characterized by persistent inflammation due to intrinsic mucosal hypersensitivity or persistent infection. Proper medical treatment with antibiotic, leukotriene modifiers, oral corticosteroids, or even aspirin desensitization for the sinus inflammation can prevent the need for surgical intervention. The key to delineating the specific medical application is to determine the cause of the sinus mucosa dysfunction and its specific inflammatory pathway. Such targeted antiinflammatory medical therapy will lead to improved efficacy in the management of CRS. Even if surgical intervention is required, postoperative medical treatment is essential to minimizing the intrinsic mucosal inflammation and therefore preventing revision endoscopic procedures.
Lithium bis(2‐phenylphosphidoethyl)phenyl‐phosphine: A reactive phosphorus intermediate

Bis(2-phenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine, PhP(CH2CH2PPh2)2, reacts with lithium in tetrahydrofuran to give the corresponding lithium bis(2-diphenylphosphidoethyl)phenylphosphine, Li2[PhP(CH2CH2PPh)2]. The lithium diphosphide is identified by NMR spectroscopy and further characterized through arylation with excess brombenzene to reform the starting phosphine, PhP(CH2CH2PPh2)2. Initial reactivity studies of the diphosphide, PhP(CH2CH2PPh), with some alkylhalides are also described. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:675–678, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20351
Testing Contaminated Insulators at Project UHV for Voltage Levels of the Future

The facilities of Project UHV for performing tests on contaminated insulators are presented. Included are discussions on the indoor and outdoor testing capabilities ties and limitations; problems that have been encountered in the early phases of dc testing; and attempts at developing alternate methods for contaminating. The discussions contained in this paper are directed to testing levels of the future: 1200kV rms or higher, and +(or-) 600, +(or-) 800kV dc or higher.
On some parallel banded system solvers

This paper describes algorithms for solving narrow banded systems and the Helmholtz difference equations that are suitable for multiprocessing systems. The organization of the algorithms highlight the large grain parallelism inherent in the problems.
Primary Aldosteronism in a Patient With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) AP) frequently have extracolonic manifestations of their disease. Prior reports have indicated an increased prevalence of adrenal lesions in patients with FAP. Although most of the adrenal lesions represent nonfunctioning adenomas, some patients have had hypercortisolism due to adrenocortical carcinoma or bilateral nodular hyperplasia. We present acase of a patient with FAP who had mineralocorticoid excess due to an aldosterone-producing adrenocortical adenoma.
THE SURVIVAL OF VARIETIES OF TYPHUS VIRUS IN MOUSE PASSAGE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE VIRUS OF BRILL'S DISEASE

The experiments above described have confirmed the observations of Laigret and Jadin that the European human typhus virus cannot be maintained for more than two generations in mice by brain-peritoneum passage; whereas the murine Mexican variety can be carried on by this method in mice through at least eleven passage generations. The fact that within eleven passages there is no attenuation of the murine virus renders it likely that this agent can continue in mice, in an inapparent form, without material modification. Brill's disease virus from three different isolations has behaved like the European type, a fact which strengthens the opinion previously expressed from this laboratory that Brill's disease represents an imported European strain of the classical European infection.