cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hybrid iterative method for symmetric positive definite linear systems

A hybrid iterative scheme that combines the Conjugate Gradient (CG) method with Richardson iteration is presented. This scheme is designed for the solution of linear systems of equations with a large sparse symmetric positive definite matrix. The purpose of the CG iterations is to improve an available approximate solution, as well as to determine an interval that contains all, or at least most, of the eigenvalues of the matrix. This interval is used to compute iteration parameters for Richardson iteration. The attraction of the hybrid scheme is that most of the iterations are carried out by the Richardson method, the simplicity of which makes efficient implementation on modern computers possible. Moreover, the hybrid scheme yields, at no additional computational cost, accurate estimates of the extreme eigenvalues of the matrix. Knowledge of these eigenvalues is essential in some applications.
Fluorescent spectral types of selected Colorado bituminous coals

Abstract Fluorescent spectral types determined from quantitative spectral analysis provided detailed characterization of the liptinite macerals in selected Upper Cretaceous-Lower Tertiary coals from Colorado. The spectral type concept identifies submacerals of each individual liptinite maceral without significantly increasing existing maceral nomenclature. Upon comparison of rank-sensitive fluorescent properties, the Colorado coals display the same changes (with increasing rank) as in older Carboniferous coals but at lower vitrinite reflectances. Spectral analysis failed to reveal significant differences in the peak wavelengths of liptinite fluorescence between these two groups of coals. This comparison suggests that the Colorado and Carboniferous coals have responded differently to coalification.
Supravalvular mitral stenosis

Two children with suprawalvular mitra stenosis are reported. The first child, in addition to his cardiac malformation, had a perculiar facies, musculoskeletal deformities, and genitourinary anomalies. The clinical features were severe retardation of growth, microcytic hypochronic anemia, loud midsystolic ejection click over the pulmonary area, and electrocardiographic evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy. The second patient had intractable congestive heart failure, progressive cardiac enlargement, and severe right ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram. In both patient, the angiocardiograms were found to be diagnostic in that showed shelflike structure above the mitral valve.
A Microfabricated Nanocalorimeter: Design, Characterization, and Chemical Calibration

A microfabricated titration calorimeter having nanowatt sensitivity is presented. The device is achieved by modifying a commercial, suspended-membrane, thin-film thermopile infrared sensor. Chemical reactions are studied by placing a 50.0 nL droplet of one reagent directly on the sensor and injecting nanoliter droplets of a second reagent through a micropipette by means of a pressure-driven droplet injector with 1% reliability in volume delivery. External thermal noise is minimized by a two-layer thermal shielding system. Evaporation is prevented by positioning the micropipette through a tiny hole in a cover glass, sealed by a drop of oil. The device is calibrated using two acid−base reactions: H2SO4 + HEPES buffer, and NaOH + HCl. The measured power sensitivity is 2.90(4) V/W, giving a detection limit of 22 nW. The 1/e time constant for a single injection is 1.1 s. The day-to-day power sensitivity is reproducible to ∼2%. A computational model of the sensor reproduces the power sensitivity within 10% and...
The Cobweb of Life Revealed by Genome-Scale Estimates of Horizontal Gene Transfer

With the availability of increasing amounts of genomic sequences, it is becoming clear that genomes experience horizontal transfer and incorporation of genetic information. However, to what extent such horizontal gene transfer (HGT) affects the core genealogical history of organisms remains controversial. Based on initial analyses of complete genomic sequences, HGT has been suggested to be so widespread that it might be the “essence of phylogeny” and might leave the treelike form of genealogy in doubt. On the other hand, possible biased estimation of HGT extent and the findings of coherent phylogenetic patterns indicate that phylogeny of life is well represented by tree graphs. Here, we reexamine this question by assessing the extent of HGT among core orthologous genes using a novel statistical method based on statistical comparisons of tree topology. We apply the method to 40 microbial genomes in the Clusters of Orthologous Groups database over a curated set of 297 orthologous gene clusters, and we detect significant HGT events in 33 out of 297 clusters over a wide range of functional categories. Estimates of positions of HGT events suggest a low mean genome-specific rate of HGT (2.0%) among the orthologous genes, which is in general agreement with other quantitative of HGT. We propose that HGT events, even when relatively common, still leave the treelike history of phylogenies intact, much like cobwebs hanging from tree branches.
Effect of pituitary and ACTH on the maintenance of basal tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the rat adrenal gland.

Adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase in rats falls with a t½ of about 10 days after hypophysectomy. Adrenal denervation leads to a decline of this enzyme at a tm of about 21 days ACTH, but neither high doses of glucocorticoids nor thyroxine prevents the decrease in adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase resulting from hypophysectomy and denervation. High doses of ACTH do not produce an increase in adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase in normal rats. Low doses of metyrapone do not interfere with the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase by ACTH in hypophysectomized animals but large doses of this drug elevate adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase. The rise caused by metyrapone can be abolished by adrenal denervation. It is concluded that the normal maintenance of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase requires ACTH. (Endocrinology 86: 751, 1970)
A combinatorial spanning tree model for knot Floer homology

Abstract We iterate Manolescu’s unoriented skein exact triangle in knot Floer homology with coefficients in the field of rational functions over Z / 2 Z . The result is a spectral sequence which converges to a stabilized version of δ -graded knot Floer homology. The ( E 2 , d 2 ) page of this spectral sequence is an algorithmically computable chain complex expressed in terms of spanning trees, and we show that there are no higher differentials. This gives the first combinatorial spanning tree model for knot Floer homology.
An Amphoteric Substance in the Radula of the Whelk (Buccinum undatum)

THE experiments of J. Loeb (“Proteins and the Theory of Colloidal Behavior”, New York, 1922) have shown that the iso-electric point of amphoteric substances is readily determined by staining them with basic or acidic ions or dyes at known hydrogen-ion concentrations. The method has since been applied for the determination of the iso-electric point of the mycelium of Rhizopus (Robbins, W. J., 1924, Journ. Gen. Physiol., 6, 259) and of bacteria (Steam, E. W., and Stearn, A. E., 1924, Journ. Bacteriol., 9, 463) by staining with dyes.
Reaching the underserved: family planning for women with HIV.

This article focuses on increasing access to family planning among people living with HIV and discusses two key strategies - integrating family planning and HIV services and strengthening existing vertical family planning programs. It explains the rationale for the strategies and the different populations they reach.
Hybrid RZ to CSRZ format conversion

A hybrid scheme for return-to-zero (RZ) to carrier-suppressed RZ (CSRZ) format conversion is proposed and experimentally demonstrated at 40 Gbit/s. A self-pulsing gain-coupled two-section distributed feedback (GC-TSDFB) laser was used for all-optical CSRZ clock pulse generation. A receiver with a low-bandwidth electrical amplifier was used for data recovery and data coding. The converted CSRZ signal had a root-mean-squared timing jitter of 0.6 ps and an extinction ratio of 15 dB.
Serotonin modulates calcium-dependent plateau of action potentials recorded from bull frog A-type sensory neurons which is ω-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive, but dihydropyridine-insensitive

Tetraethylammonium-treated bull frog sensory neurons exhibit a calcium-dependent plateau on the falling limb of the action potential, which is reduced in duration by 5-HT. The portion of the calcium-dependent plateau which is reduced by 5-HT is blocked by ω-conotoxin GVIA but is not reduced by nifedipine or enhanced by Bay K 8644. The lack of effect of 5-HT, when retested after exposure of a previously 5-HT sensitive neuron to conotoxin favors the hypothesis that 5-HT reduces the duration of the calcium-dependent plateau by inactivating voltage-dependent calcium channels, rather than by increasing a voltage-dependent potassium current.
The Tariff Question in the Gilded Age: The Great Debate of 1888

Protective tariffs were part of American life long before the era of NAFTA and GATT. In the late nineteenth century, the "tariff question" was one of the most controversial issues of the day. As Joanne Reitano shows in this far-reaching study, the ensuing debate was anything but an empty exercise in political rhetoric occupying only politicians and lobbyists. The tariff was of central concern to a broad cross section of people because of its perceived relationship to immediate economic problems, such as wages, prices, and trusts. In fact, it became a means for many Americans to wrestle with the implications of the country's rapid growth and the impact of industrial capitalism on American life. Reitano focuses on the election year of 1888, when the tariff was adopted as a cause celebre by President Grover Cleveland, Congress, the two major parties, and the press. At the heart of the debate was the Mills Bill for tariff reduction. Although the bill failed to pass, Reitano finds in the rancorous public debate a barometer of changes in the American mind in the Gilded Age. She carefully blends intellectual, political, economic, and social issues through analyses of the Congressional Record, press coverage of the debate, academic and polemical literature, political cartoons, and the presidential campaign. Ultimately, Reitano contends that ideas about political economy have always been central to the American mind. They were so in the Gilded Age as they are today.
Probabilistic approach to radiative transfer in supersonic flows

The relationship J=(1 − β)S + α c I c common to most supersonic radiative transfer theories, is given a detailed interpretation in terms of atomic rates and probabilities. It is also generalized to cases whereI c depends on angle. The nature of the escape process and the expressions for the escape probability β are clarified.
Oxygen dependence of cellular metabolism: The effect of O2 tension on gluconeogenesis and urea synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes

The dependencies of gluconeogenesis and urea synthesis on oxygen concentration were measured in suspensions of isolated rat hepatocytes and compared with the O2 dependence of cellular energy supply (reduction of cytochrome c, respiratory rate, mitochondrial [NAD+]/[NADH], lactate production, and [ATP]/[ADP] [Pi]). As the oxygen concentration was decreased, production of both glucose and urea declined; the changes were observable at 20 microM oxygen and below, with the apparent Km values for both processes of near 5 microM. The similar dependence of gluconeogenesis and urea synthesis on oxygen concentration indicates that the two pathways have equal access to the cellular ATP supply, i.e., there is no evidence that either pathway is preferentially turned off to spare ATP for the other. The cellular energy state had an oxygen dependence similar to that of glucose and urea synthesis. It is suggested that the behavior of gluconeogenesis and urea production is a reflection of homeostatic regulation of cellular metabolism which is designed to respond to changes in [ATP]/[ADP][Pi].
Co-doped ZnO dilute magnetic semiconductor

This paper reports on recent findings in the Co-doped ZnO system where as-deposited samples with n-type semiconductor properties display magnetic ordering above room temperature. Detailed atomic scale structural characterization has eliminated clustering and second-phase formation as the source of the magnetic behavior. Upon high-temperature annealing in oxygen, the samples become insulating and the magnetization drops. This suggests that the observed magnetic behavior of the oxide is directly related to the presence of intrinsic defects, notably oxygen vacancies and Zn interstitials. These defects are believed to mediate exchange coupling of the Co spins through electron doping of the matrix, and perhaps also the formation of bound magnetic polarons.
Wheat Response to Row Spacing in Relay Intercropping Systems

Relay intercropping of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or cotton [Gossypium hirsutum L.] into standing wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] allows for earlier planting of the summer crop than with sequential doublecrop systems. Relay intercropping has been evaluated using modifications of standard planting and harvesting equipment as well as specifically designed equipment. In most relay intercropping systems, wheat is drilled in the fall in a row pattern that provides traffic-tire lanes as guides for planting the summer crop. Also, row spacing for wheat in relay intercropping is usually wider than for conventionally planted wheat. This field study, conducted during 1991-1992 and 1992-1993 near Blackville, SC, on a Varina loamy sand (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Paleudults), compared the yield and yield component response of soft red winter wheat produced with two different intercropping production schemes to the yield and yield component response of conventionally planted wheat. Yields of wheat planted in skip-row schemes designed to allow for relay intercropping of either soybean or cotton were not significantly different from yield of conventionally planted wheat under the given experimental conditions. For conventionally planted wheat, wheel traffic on certain rows reduced yields by as much as 50% compared with nontraffic rows. In the schemes designed to allow for relay intercropping, wheat grown with wider-spaced rows (0.31-0.61 m) compensated with respect to yield on an area basis compared with wheat grown with conventionally spaced rows (0.15-0.20 m).
Can One Hear the Shape of a Drum

(1966). Can One Hear the Shape of a Drum? The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 73, No. 4P2, pp. 1-23.
Short-term effects of lower oil dried distillers grains with solubles in laying hen rations

Abstract Extraction of oil from dried distillers grains has become a common practice among US ethanol producers. The valuable oil has been diverted to markets other than poultry feed, leaving new dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) products higher in fiber and purportedly lower in ME. This study compared 3 DDGS products with 10.3, 7.3, or 5.2% ether extract, respectively, with a corn-soy control ration in young Bovan laying hens for a feeding period from 20 to 33 wk of age. The DDGS was fed at the rate of 20% of the ration. Lower oil content of DDGS had no effect on short-term egg production parameters: feed intake, egg production, egg weight or mass, and hen weight gain. The diets containing lower fat DDGS (5.2%) did have reduced AME and kilocalories per day intake for laying hens. For each percent reduction in oil from a normal DDGS sample (10.3%) to medium oil (7.3%) DDGS, AME decreased 42.3 kcal/kg of diet. However, total kilocalories per day intake did sustain good egg production during this short trial.
Probing residue-level unfolding during lysozyme precipitation.

We have employed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of hydrogen exchange to identify residue-level conformational changes in hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) as induced by salt precipitation. Deuterated HEWL was dissolved into a phosphate (H2O) buffer and precipitated at pH 2.1 upon addition of solid KSCN or (ND4)2SO4, allowing isotope labeling of unfolded regions. After 1 h, each precipitate was then dissolved at pH 3.8 to initiate refolding and preserve labeling and subsequently purified for NMR analysis. HEWL precipitated by 1.0 M KSCN exhibited increased hydrogen exchange at 14 residues out of 42 normally well-protected in the native state. Of the affected residues, 9 were situated in the β-sheet/loop domain. A similar, though less extensive, effect was observed at 0.2 M KSCN. Precipitation by 1.2 M (ND4)2SO4 resulted in none of the changes detected with KSCN. The popularity of ammonium sulfate as a precipitant is thus supported by this observed preservation of structural integrity. KSCN, in comparison, produced partial unfolding of specific regions in HEWL due most likely to known preferential interactions between −SCN and proteins. The severity of unfolding increased with KSCN concentration such that, at 1.0 M KSCN, almost the entire β-sheet/loop domain of HEWL was disrupted. Even so, a portion of the HEWL core encompassed by three α-helices remained intact, possibly facilitating precipitate dissolution. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 59: 144–155, 1998.
Space Solar Power as an Enabler for a Human Mission to Mars

Space Solar Power (SSP), a technology based on the collection and aggregated transmission of light from the sun, offers an opportunity to create a deep space electrical infrastructure in order to provide the required level of power to a prospective Mars settlement. Several approaches to this challenge are presented and compared. Under the first approach, several Solar Powered Satellites (SPSs) are positioned in space between the Earth and Mars. These SPSs will capture large amounts of solar energy and transmit this energy in a focused beam via laser or microwave to relay SPSs until the energy finally reaches its Mars destination SPS. The Mars SPS will transmit the energy to a receiver and conversion station on the surface of Mars where it will be utilized for continuous operations. A second prospective approach is to place a constellation of SPSs in orbit of Mars which collect solar energy and transmit it (in aggregate form) to one or more ground stations, when they are overhead of them. Both of these prospective approaches are compared (in terms of cost, benefit and system reliability) to a technically simpler solution of placing a collection of solar panels on the surface of Mars for energy collection. This paper considers the logistical requirements for maintaining a deep space electrical infrastructure. It also determines the number of SPSs required for this infrastructure and the array sizes needed to output optimal return. A similar approach is taken to determine the ideal configuration of SPSs on Mars. The power requirements for the Martian colony will be estimated to facilitate evaluation of whether the SPS power technology is suitable for meeting them. The serviceability of the three approaches and associated maintenance and upkeep cost are also considered. Reliability of power for the Mars colony is absolutely essential necessitating redundancy and preventative maintenance of the SPSs as well as the maintenance of orbital alignment. From the foregoing, a characterization of conditions under which each approach is best suited is presented. A pathway to the implementation of this system is also discussed.
Diversity of axonal growth-promoting receptors and regulation of their function

Growth-promoting receptors for substrate-bound molecules are usually found to belong to the integrin, immunoglobulin, or cadherin families of glycoproteins. New members of each of these families have been identified in the past year, and advances have been made in our understanding of their functional regulation.
Computer-based evaluation forms

ACM Computing Week 1995 was evaluated using computer-based survey forms. The electronic evaluations were e-mailed to conference attendees who filled out the evaluation forms and e-mailed them to Nancy Wahl, the ACM Computing Week '95 Activities Evaluation Chairperson. The forms were processed by a computer program which extracted, tabulated, and formatted results. This was the first time that electronic evaluations were used to evaluate Computing Week. The design of the computer-based survey forms is compared to the design of paper-based survey forms. The difficulties encountered in developing a program that can parse survey forms looking for answers that were put in unexpected places are described and suggestions for improving the evaluation process are outlined.
SAM domains can utilize similar surfaces for the formation of polymers and closed oligomers.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Byr2 and its activator Ste4 are involved in the mating pheromone response pathway of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and interact via their SAM domains. SAM domains can self-associate to form higher-order structures, including dimers, polymers and closed oligomers. Ste4-SAM is adjacent to a trimeric leucine zipper domain and we have shown previously that the two domains together (Ste4-LZ-SAM) bind to a monomeric Byr2-SAM with high affinity (Kd ∼20 nM), forming a 3:1 complex. Here, we map the surfaces of Byr2-SAM and Ste4-SAM that is involved the interaction. A set of 38 mutants of Byr2-SAM and 33 mutants of Ste4-SAM were prepared, covering most of the protein surfaces. These mutants were purified and screened for binding, yielding a map of residues that are required for binding and a complementary map of residues that are not required. We find that the interface maps to regions of the SAM domains that are known to be important for the formation of SAM polymers. These results indicate that SAM domains can create a variety of oligomeric architectures utilizing common binding surfaces.
Coastal wetland stability maintained through counterbalancing accretionary responses to chronic nutrient enrichment

The link between anthropogenically modified nutrient loading and coastal wetland stability is not well understood due to limited data from long-term experiments and inconsistent findings from investigations thus far. In this study, we present results from a 13-year oligohaline marsh fertilization experiment aimed at determining whether eutrophic conditions compromise ecosystem stability, defined here as the capacity to keep pace with sea level rise and resist the erosive forces of high-energy meteorologic events. To accomplish this objective, we measured soil surface elevation change and soil shear strength, along with a suite of regulatory processes that included belowground standing crop, belowground decomposition, organic and mineral matter accumulation, soil accretion, and shallow subsidence. Our results identified an apparent compensatory effect of nutrient enrichment on accretionary processes whereby shallow subsidence, attributed to reduced live root standing crop, was balanced by enhanced accretio...
Microstructure of a Soda-Lime Glass Surface

Electron micrographs were made of replicas of a weathered soda-lime glass surface before and after various chemical and fire polishing treatments. These micrographs were compared with an electron micrograph of a replica of a fractured soda-lime glass surface which was used as a typically smooth surface. Using this comparison, the smoothest surfaces were formed by dilute hydrofluoric acid, dilute phosphoric acid, sodium citrate solution, a solution of the disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and a fire polish-water wash combination. On the other hand, alkaline solutions tended to roughen the glass surface and leave residues on it. Selected electron micrographs are shown to illustrate the effect of these treatments on soda-lime-type glass.
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for high-grade gliomas: Does IMRT increase the integral dose to normal brain?

Purpose: To determine whether intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment increases the total integral dose of nontarget tissue relative to the conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) technique for high-grade gliomas. Methods and Materials: Twenty patients treated with 3D-CRT for glioblastoma multiforme were selected for a comparative dosimetric evaluation with IMRT. Original target volumes, organs at risk (OAR), and dose–volume constraints were used for replanning with IMRT. Predicted isodose distributions, cumulative dose–volume histograms of target volumes and OAR, normal tissue integral dose, target coverage, dose conformity, and normal tissue sparing with 3D-CRT and IMRT planning were compared. Statistical analyses were performed to determine differences. Results: In all 20 patients, IMRT maintained equivalent target coverage, improved target conformity (conformity index [CI] 95% 1.52 vs. 1.38, p mean by 19.8% and D max by 10.7%), optic chiasm (D mean by 25.3% and D max by 22.6%), right optic nerve (D mean by 37.3% and D max by 28.5%), and left optic nerve (D mean by 40.6% and D max by 36.7%), p ≤ 0.01. This was achieved without increasing the total nontarget integral dose by greater than 0.5%. Overall, total integral dose was reduced by 7–10% with IMRT, p Conclusions: These results indicate that IMRT treatment for high-grade gliomas allows for improved target conformity, better critical tissue sparing, and importantly does so without increasing integral dose and the volume of normal tissue exposed to low doses of radiation.
A fast computation technique for the direct numerical simulation of rigid particulate flows

In this paper, we present a computation technique for the direct numerical simulation of freely moving rigid bodies in fluids. We solve three-dimensional laminar flow problems using a control volume approach. The key feature of this approach is that the computational overhead (relative to a pure fluid solver) to solve for the motion of rigid particle is very small. The formulation is convenient for handling irregular geometries. We present results for the sedimentation of particles of different shapes. Convergence tests are presented to assess the order of accuracy of the numerical scheme. Various test cases are considered and the numerical results are compared with experimental values to validate the code. Due to the ability to perform fast computations, this method has been used for animations and its application to the direct numerical simulation of turbulent particulate flows merits investigation. The technique is not restricted to any constitutive model of the suspending fluid. Hence, it may potentially be used in Large Eddy Simulations (LES) or Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) type simulations.
Separation of multiple antigenic components of measles virus by equilibrium sedimentation in cesium chloride.

Abstract Measles infectious tissue culture fluids prepared in HEp-2 cells were concentrated with Carbowax. The concentrates were ultracentrifuged in a cesium chloride density gradient formed during the centrifugation. Fractions collected through the bottom of the tube after centrifugation were dialyzed and assayed for infectivity and for complement-fixing activity with human measles convalescent serum. The studies revealed that measles infectious tissue culture fluid contains three serologically reactive particles differing with respect to infectivity and density. The apparent buoyant density of the infectious particles was approximated to be 1.29 g/cm 3 . The two noninfectious complement-fixing antigens have estimated densities of 1.24 g/cm 3 and ≦ 1.14 g/cm 3 .
Human Iron−Sulfur Cluster Assembly, Cellular Iron Homeostasis, and Disease

Iron−sulfur (Fe−S) proteins contain prosthetic groups consisting of two or more iron atoms bridged by sulfur ligands, which facilitate multiple functions, including redox activity, enzymatic function, and maintenance of structural integrity. More than 20 proteins are involved in the biosynthesis of iron−sulfur clusters in eukaryotes. Defective Fe−S cluster synthesis not only affects activities of many iron−sulfur enzymes, such as aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase, but also alters the regulation of cellular iron homeostasis, causing both mitochondrial iron overload and cytosolic iron deficiency. In this work, we review human Fe−S cluster biogenesis and human diseases that are caused by defective Fe−S cluster biogenesis. Fe−S cluster biogenesis takes place essentially in every tissue of humans, and products of human disease genes, including frataxin, GLRX5, ISCU, and ABCB7, have important roles in the process. However, the human diseases, Friedreich ataxia, glutaredoxin 5-deficient sideroblastic anemia,...
Stability of the Le Fort I osteotomy for maxillary advancement using rigid fixation and porous block hydroxyapatite grafting.

Abstract Purpose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of maxillary advancement using bone plates for skeletal stabilization and porous block hydroxyapatite (PBHA) as a bone graft substitute for interpositional grafting. Patients and Methods. The records of 78 patients (55 female, 23 male) with a diagnosis of anteroposterior maxillary hypoplasia were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent greater than 5 mm Le Fort I maxillary advancement with rigid fixation and PBHA interpositional grafting. The study sample was divided into 3 groups on the basis of the concurrent superior or inferior positioning of the maxillary incisors. Presurgery (T1), immediately postsurgery (T2), and longest follow-up (T3) lateral cephalometric tracings were superimposed to analyze for horizontal and vertical changes at the following landmarks: (1) point A, (2) incisal edge of the maxillary incisor, and (3) mesial cusp tip of maxillary first molar. Results. The maxilla was inferiorly repositioned in 27 patients, superiorly repositioned in 21 patients, and advanced horizontally without a significant vertical change in 30 patients. All groups showed 0.5 mm or less horizontal and vertical relapse. There was no statistically significant difference between the 3 groups. Conclusions. Maxillary advancement with Le Fort 1 osteotomies by using rigid fixation and interpositional PBHA grafting is a stable and predictable procedure regardless of the direction of vertical maxillary movement. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;94:18-23)
Conotoxins and the posttranslational modification of secreted gene products.

The venoms of predatory cone snails (genus Conus) have yielded a complex library of about 50–100,000 bioactive peptides, each believed to have a specific physiological target (although peptides from different species may overlap in their target specificity). Conus has evolved the equivalent of a drug development strategy that combines the accelerated evolution of toxin sequences with an unprecedented degree of posttranslational modification. Some Conus venom peptide families are the most highly posttranslationally modified classes of gene products known. We review the variety and complexity of posttranslational modifications documented in Conus peptides so far, and explore the potential of Conus venom peptides as a model system for a more general understanding of which secreted gene products may have modified amino acids. Although the database of modified conotoxins is growing rapidly, there are far more questions raised than answers provided about possible mechanisms and functions of posttranslational modifications in Conus.
Preparation of a Useful Synthon for Clerodane Antifeedant Synthesis

Abstract In connection with synthetic approaches to the clerodane anti-feedant ajugarin-I, 1 1, we required tricyclic lactone intermediates of general structure 2. We wish to report here the preparation of the bicyclic β-ketolactone 3, and its conversion to the Robinson annulation product 4 as well as to the two alkylated products 13 and 14. Ketolactone 3 shows promise as a useful intermediate in the synthesis of a variety of carbocyclic systems.
Dissociation between peak exercise oxygen consumption and hemodynamic dysfunction in potential heart transplant candidates.

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine how often peak exercise oxygen consumption (Vo2) misclassifies the severity of cardiac dysfunction in potential heart transplant candidates. Background. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is being used to help select heart transplant candidates on the basis of the assumption that a low peak exercise Vo2indicates severe hemodynamic dysfunction and a poor prognosis. However, noncardiac factors, such as muscle deconditioning, can also influence exercise capacity. Therefore, peak exercise Vo2may overestimate the severity of cardiac dysfunction in some patients. Methods. Hemodynamic and respiratory responses to maximal treadmill exercise were measured in 64 sequential patientsundergoing evaluation for heart transplantation, all of whom had an ejection fraction Results. Twenty-eight (44%) of 64 patients exhibited a reduced cardiac output response to exercise and pulmonary wedge pressure >20 mm Hg at peak exercise, consistent with severe hemodynamic dysfunction. Twenty-three patients (36%) exhibited a normal cardiac output response to exercise but a wedge pressure >20 mm Hg at peak exercise, suggesting moderate hemodynamic dysfunction. Thirteen patients (20%) exhibited a normal cardiac output and wedge pressure 14 ml/min per kg. Conclusions. More than 50% of potential heart transplant candidates with a reduced peak exercise Vo2level exhibit only mild or moderate hemodynamic dysfunction during exercise. Hemodynamic responses to exercise should be directly measured in potential transplant candidates to confirm severe circulatory dysfunction.
Drive-train simulator for a fuel cell hybrid vehicle

Abstract The model formulation, development process, and experimental validation of a new vehicle powertrain simulator called LFM (Light, Fast, and Modifiable) are presented. The existing powertrain simulators were reviewed and it was concluded that there is a need for a new, easily modifiable simulation platform that will be flexible and sufficiently robust to address a variety of hybrid vehicle platforms. First, the structure and operating principle of the LFM simulator are presented, followed by a discussion of the subsystems and input/output parameters. Finally, a validation exercise is presented in which the simulator's inputs were specified to represent the University of Delaware's fuel cell hybrid transit vehicle and “driven” using an actual drive cycle acquired from it. Good agreement between the output of the simulator and the physical data acquired by the vehicle's on-board sensors indicates that the simulator constitutes a powerful and reliable design tool.
Determinants of Store-Level Price Elasticity

Using weekly scanner data representing 18 product categories, the authors estimated store-specific price elasticities for a chain of 83 supermarkets. They related these price sensitivities to a com...
Polymer Nanoneedle‐Mediated Intracellular Drug Delivery

Delivery of drugs into the cellular cytoplasm of target cells represents a major hurdle in treating various diseases. This challenge can be addressed by encapsulation of drugs onto or within nanoparticles, which can then be targeted to diseased cells. Here, needle-shaped particles are shown to exhibit substantially higher cytoplasmic delivery of drugs such as siRNA compared to their spherical counterparts. Furthermore, these needles are designed to lose their sharp tips over time and can render themselves ineffective over time, thereby offering control over their duration of activity and toxicity. Such polymer nanoneedles open new avenues for delivering drug molecules directly into the cytoplasm with low toxicity.
Looking past yesterday's tomorrow: using futures studies methods to extend the research horizon

Doing research is, in part, an act of foresight. Even though it is not explicit in many projects, we especially value research that is still relevant five, ten or more years after it is completed. However, published research in the field of interactive computing (and technology research in general) often lacks evidence of systematic thinking about the long-term impacts of current trends. For example, trends on an exponential curve change much more rapidly than intuition predicts. As a result, research may accidentally emphasize near-term thinking. When thinking about the future is approached systematically, we can critically examine multiple potential futures, expand the set of externalities under consideration, and address both negative and positive forecasts of the future. The field of Futures Studies provides methods that can support analysis of long-term trends, support the identification of new research areas and guide design and evaluation. We survey methods for futuristic thinking and discuss their relationship to Human Computer Interaction. Using the sustainability domain an example, we present a case study of a Futures Studies approach - the Delphi Method. We show how Futures Studies can be incorporated into Human Computer Interaction and highlight future work such as rethinking the role of externalities in the validation process.
Interspecific competition and predation in American carnivore families

Intraguild interactions play a prominent role in shaping ecological communities, so over evolutionary time one might expect that species that co-occur with a large number of competitors would evolve morphological and behavioural adaptations to ameliorate risks of intraguild competition and predation. In four different sets of analyses that took account of habitat stratum, habitat type and activity pattern on competition and predation pressure, significant differences were found in the extent to which Ameri can carnivore families potentially encounter other carnivores. Members of largely omnivorous families, Canidae and Ursidae, co-occur with a greater proportion of potential competitors than members of families with more specialized diets. We found that members of the Mustelidae family may reduce competition by being arboreal or aquatic, and that members of the Procyonidae and Mephitidae are potentially under great predation pressure but the former reduce this threat by being arboreal whereas Mephitidae likely reduce predation through advertising noxious secretions. In one analysis, conspicuous species with both contrasting facial and body colouration co-occurred with more potential predators than other less striking species of carnivore suggesting that intraguild predation is an evolutionary driver of contrasting coat colouration in carnivores. These quantitative analyses suggest that several facets of carnivore niche occupation and morphology have evolved in response to intraguild pressures.
Pressure on the face while in the prone position: ProneView versus Prone Positioner.

Abstract Study objective To measure the surface pressure on the face of a patient placed in the prone position with the most commonly used prone positioning devices, a non-face-contoured positioner (PP) and a new face-contoured device (PV). Design Prospective, randomized comparison. Setting Operating room in an American academic medical center. Subjects 35 randomly recruited adult volunteers. Interventions Surface pressure on the face was measured in awake subjects placed in the prone position, with the head and neck in the position of most comfort, using both the PP and PV devices. Measurements Surface pressure was obtained using an array of small transducers imbedded in a thin cushion that was interfaced between the face and positioning device. The amount of extension or flexion of the head on the neck was estimated using an angular measurement of eye-ear line and horizontal line. Main results The average surface pressure on the face was less with the PV than with the PP (21 ± 3 mmHg vs. 27 ± 5 mmHg; p vs. 19 ± 7.2 areas > 30 mmHg; p vs. 9.0 ± 5.0 areas > 50 mmHg; p p Conclusions Surface pressure on the face in the prone position is 29% higher with the non-face-contoured PP than with the face-contoured PV. The number of areas on the face where the surface pressure is greater than 50 mmHg is 80% higher with the PP than the PV. Small degrees of head extension increases pressure on the chin. Both devices produce areas of pressure, typically over the chin, which may be associated with local skin damage. Keeping the head and neck in a non-flexed, non-extended position may minimize pressures.
Use of "N-in-One" dosing to create an in vivo pharmacokinetics database for use in developing structure-pharmacokinetic relationships.

The purpose of this work was (1) to determine if useful in vivo pharmacokinetic data could be obtained after simultaneous administration of 5–22 compounds of a chemically congeneric series to dogs and (2) to determine if structure–pharmacokinetic relationships could be derived from such studies. Mixtures of structurally related α-1 antagonist compounds (5–22) were administered intravenously to conscious dogs. Blood samples were taken over the next 24 h and analyzed by LC/MS to determine plasma levels and pharmaco-kinetics of each compound. The pharmacokinetics of 17 of these compounds were also determined after individual administration. Results obtained in the N-in-One format for 17 compounds correlated well with results obtained when these same compounds were administered individually. The N-in-One method is a useful method for obtaining pharmacokinetic data on 5–20 molecules in a single animal at one time. The increased throughput in obtaining important pharmacokinetic information should enhance the drug discovery process. In addition, it was possible to determine the extent to which various chemical substitutions did or did not affect pharmacokinetic parameters.
Understanding the Impact of Leadership in Nigeria: Its Reality, Challenges, and Perspectives

This critical ethnographic study focused on identifying the leadership practices of past and present leaders involved in the operation of the Nigerian government, with emphasis on the Eastern Regio...
Stability of adaptive FIR filters

Svoboda's matrix inversion algorithm is used to analyze the adaptive FIR (finite-impulse response) filter. To get stable response, conditions of convergence and solvability have to be met. They determine the maximum correction step of the adaptive loop, the lower bound of the norm of output signal vector and the statistical properties of the reference signal. Methods of signal decorrelation are discussed and the upper bounds of resolution of a digital filter are derived. The long-term instability caused by parasitic DC voltages in the correction loop is analyzed and stabilization methods are suggested. >
The vir Gene of Bacteriophage MAV1 Confers Resistance to Phage Infection on Mycoplasma arthritidis

Lysogenization of Mycoplasma arthritidis with the MAV1 bacteriophage increases the virulence of the mycoplasma in rats. The MAV1 vir gene is one of only two constitutively transcribed phage genes in the lysogen. We show here that Vir is a lipoprotein and is located on the outer surface of the cell membrane. To investigate whether Vir is a virulence factor, the vir gene was cloned into the transposon vector Tn4001T and inserted in the genome of the nonlysogen strain 158. The virulence of the resulting transformants was no different from that of the parent strain. Interestingly, all vir-containing transformants were resistant to infection by MAV1. Vir had no effect on MAV1 adsorption. We conclude that Vir is not a virulence factor but functions to exclude superinfecting phage, possibly by blocking the injection of phage DNA into the bacterial cytoplasm.
Advance care planning for patients with ALS: Feasibility of an interactive computer program

This pilot study examined whether an interactive, computer based decision aid can help patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) engage in effective advance care planning. Individuals being treated for ALS ( 18 years old, English speaking, and without dementia) were recruited to use a decision aid and complete pre-/post-intervention measures. Seventeen individuals completed the pre-intervention questionnaires and decision aid; 16/17 (94%) completed the postintervention measures, and none reported any burden from the intervention. ‘ Overall satisfaction ’ with the decision aid was very high (mean 8.5 0.27: 1 not at all satisfi ed, 10 extremely satisfi ed), as was ‘ perceived accuracy ’ of the computer generated advance directive in refl ecting patients ’ wishes (mean 8.6 0.27: 1 not at all accurate, 10 extremely accurate). Participants judged the ‘ amount of information ’ provided by the intervention appropriate (mean 6.8 0.38: 1 too little, 5 about right, 10 too much), and on a detailed, 12-item assessment judged the decision aid very positively (mean 4.16 0.16: 1 very dissatisfi ed, 5 very satisfi ed). The intervention prompted many participants to discuss advance care planning with loved ones and to share their computer generated advance directive with their physician. This study demonstrates that individuals with ALS can successfully complete a computer based decision aid for advance care planning, and suggests that this intervention can help promote effective advance care planning.
Biologic and Immunologic Similarities Between Rat and Human Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)

Several studies were performed with stressed rat plasma, human ACTH and antisera to human ACTH to determine whether rat ACTH is biologically and immunologically similar to human ACTH. Dose-response curves for stressed rat plasma ACTH and αh-ACTH (Li) were parallel. Stressed rat plasma ACTH was as labile as au-ACTH (Li) in hypophysectomized rat plasma and was completely inactivated after 30 min incubation with fibrinolysin or trypsin and after 10 min treatment with sodiummetaperiodate. Antisera to human ACTH neutralized the biologic activity of both stressed rat plasma ACTH and αh-ACTH (Li) but was ineffective against a synthetic 24 amino acid ACTH preparation. Furthermore, graded dilutions of stressed rat plasma ACTH showed excellent cross-reaction with human ACTH antisera. It would appear, therefore, that rat ACTH is biologically and immunologically very similar to human ACTH. By employing a radioimmunoassay for rat ACTH using human ACTH antisera and human ACTH for iodination and standardization, a mean ...
Winbook: a social networking based framework for collaborative requirements elicitation and WinWin negotiations

Easy-to-use groupware for diverse stakeholder negotiation has been a continuing challenge [7, 8, 9]. USC’s fifth-generation wiki-based win-win negotiation support tool [1] was not as successful in improving over the previous four generations [2] as hoped - it encountered problems with non-technical stakeholder usage. The popularity of Facebook and Gmail ushered in a new era of widely-used social networking capabilities that I have been using to develop and experiment with a new way for collaborative requirements elicitation and management – marrying the way people collaborate on Facebook and organize their emails on Gmail to come up with a social networking-like platform to help achieve better usage of the WinWin negotiation framework [4]. Initial usage results on 14 small projects involving non-technical stakeholders have shown profound implications on the way requirements are negotiated and used, through the system and software definition and development processes. Subsequently, Winbook has also been adopted as a part of a project to bridge requirements and architecting for a major US government organization. Keywords – collaborative requirements elicitation; WinWin negotiations; social networking