cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oral lichen planus: the clinical, historical, and therapeutic features of 100 cases

Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory epidermal and mucosal disease, the cause of which is poorly understood. We reviewed the clinical and historic features of 100 patients referred to our clinic for diagnosis and management of lichen planus. The age, gender, chief complaint, duration of the chief complaint, medical history, medications, and clinical findings were recorded. Past therapeutic modalities were reviewed. Of therapeutic significance, 25 patients with oral lichen planus had a secondary oral candidiasis. Management of symptomatic lichen planus with topical and systemic steroid is discussed. The pharmacology of topical and systemic steroid usage and the rationale for treatment are discussed.
Natural Endogenous Reverse Transcription of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract It has been demonstrated that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions are biochemically active particles, within which reverse transcription can take place even in physiological microenvironments. This process has been termed “natural endogenous reverse transcription” (NERT). In this report, we demonstrate that purified virions of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) also contain virus-specific DNA, which resulted from partial reverse transcription. Further, viral DNA synthesis could be initiated in SIV virions in the presence of polyamines and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs), at physiological concentrations. The viral infectivity upon initially quiescent cells was significantly increased, when the levels of intravirion reverse transcripts were modulated. These data suggest that NERT of SIV may play an important role for SIV pathogenesis and transmission. In contrast to HIV-1, these hypotheses may be further directly investigated by in vivo model systems.
A Bayesian hierarchical model to predict benthic oxygen demand from organic matter loading in estuaries and coastal zones

Ecological models that have a theoretical basis and yet are mathematically simple enough to be parameterized using available data are likely to be the most useful for environmental management and decision-making. Mechanistic foundations improve confidence in model predictions, while statistical methods provide empirical support for parameter selection and allow for estimates of predictive uncertainty. However, even models that are mechanistically simple can be overparameterized when system-specific data are limited. To overcome this problem, models are often fit to data sets composed of observations from multiple systems. The resulting parameter estimates are then used to predict changes within a single system, given changes in management variables. However, the assumption of common parameter values across all systems may not always be valid. This assumption can be relaxed by adopting a hierarchical approach. Under the hierarchical structure, each system has its own set of parameter values, but some commonality in values is assumed across systems. An underlying population distribution is employed to structure this commonality among parameters, thereby avoiding the problems of overfitting. The hierarchical approach is, therefore, a practical compromise between entirely site-specific and globally-common parameter estimates. We applied the hierarchical method to annual data on organic matter loading and benthic oxygen demand from 34 estuarine and coastal systems. Both global and system-specific parameters were estimated using Bayes Theorem. Compared to the global model, the hierarchical model results in predictions of oxygen demand that more accurately represent site-specific observation but are less precise than the global model. Lower precision occurs because, by allowing each system to have its own parameter values, we effectively reduce the amount of information we have to estimate those parameters. However, if, by permitting model parameters to differ by location, the hierarchical model is believed to be more realistic than the global model, then the lower precision represents a more proper translation of our knowledge into predictions. Appropriate representation of prediction precision can have important implications for management intended to reduce oxygen depletion. Depending on the predictive precision resulting from the availability and nature of site-specific data, the hierarchical model may suggest more or less stringent organic matter loading rates than a model assuming global parameter commonality. The generality of the hierarchical approach makes it suitable for a number of ecological modeling applications in which cross-system data are required for empirical parameter estimation, yet only partial commonality can be assumed across sampling units.
Effects of attentional demand, cue typicality, and priming on an event-based prospective memory task

The main purpose of this experiment was to examine the independent and interactive effects of three variables--attentional demand, cue typicality, and priming--on an event-based prospective memory task. High attentional demand was expected to lower performance, but cue typicality and priming were expected to improve performance. The prospective memory task entailed writing an 'X' after hearing items from four semantic categories (e.g. birds), while performing a free-association task. Results showed the predicted effects of attentional demand and typicality. Priming did not affect overall prospective memory performance but, as predicted, improved performance under conditions of high attentional demand with a typical cue. Overall, these results show the importance of cue and capacity variables, but they also support the value of examining how different variables in the prospective memory task can interact in affecting performance. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
Offshore Southern California: ABSTRACT

The total submarine area between the 9,000-foot contour of the continental slope and the shoreline is about 31,000 square statute miles. This area is broken into a checkerboard-like arrangement of fault blocks; the upthrown blocks form banks and the downthrown ones, basins. Indications are that the basins were initiated in late Miocene time and that thick post-Miocene sediments are restricted mostly to them. The great depth of sea water eliminates most of the submarine area from consideration as possible oil provinces in the foreseeable future. It is believed that the submarine areas of Pliocene-Miocene or possible Miocene outcrops at comparatively shallow depths are the most favorable future oil provinces because of the probability that these sediments are similar in lit ology, structure, and oil content to those in the Los Angeles and Ventura basins on land. Shallow areas are restricted to the near-shore zone of the mainland and island shores and to the tops of some offshore banks. No estimates of the total stratigraphic thickness nor of the volume of sediments are possible with the present state of knowledge. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2384------------
Plasma volume change during heavy-resistance weight lifting.

Blood samples were obtained from six young men before, and over a 60-min period following a bout of heavy-resistance weight lifting to determine changes in plasma volume. Weight lifting consisted of three sets of four exercises (arm curl, bench press, bent-arm row, and squat) performed using 70% of one-repetition maximum for as many repetitions as possible. Plasma volume change was determined from haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration. During weight lifting, mean oxygen uptake and heart rate were 1.96 L · min−1 and 158 bt · min−1, respectively. Plasma volume was decreased −14.3% (p<0.05) immediately following exercise and −7.0% (p<0.05) at 15 min into recovery, but had returned to the resting level within 30 min. It was concluded that heavy-resistance weight lifting elicits a significant decrease in plasma volume, which is similar in magnitude to that observed during running and cycling at 80–95% of maximal oxygen uptake.
Fibrovascular proliferation and retinal detachment after intravitreal injection of activated macrophages in the rabbit eye.

Injection of activated macrophages into the posterior vitreous of the rabbit induced vigorous fibrovascular proliferation over the optic disk and medullary rays, as demontrated by 3 H-thymidine autoradiography. One week after injection, endothelial cells and pericytes of the capillaries near the inner surface of the optic disk and rays were labeled; fibroblast-like cells, which were also labeled, migrated and formed vitreous strands. By the second week after injection, the fibrovascular tissue proliferated most actively, and traction medullary ray detachment and peripapillary retinal fold formation were observed. The cellular proliferation was accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration. Glial cells within the optic disk, as well as retinal pigment epithelial cells beneath the detached retina, were labeled by 3 H-thymidine. These results demonstrate that the fibrovascular proliferation originates from the vessel complex of the optic disk and medullary rays in this experimental model of retinal detachment.
Prehospital seizure management: triage criteria for the advanced life support rescue team.

Abstract The present study was completed to establish advanced life support (ALS) versus non-ALS triage criteria for use by ALS prehospital personnel when faced with the seizure patient, in the hope of more efficient use of ALS rescue teams. Preselected triage criteria for acuity of care based on neurological condition, vital signs, and concomitant illness/injury were tested against retrospective data (paramedic run reports) collected on 230 patients. Triage criteria sensitivity (SENS), specificity (SPEC), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were determined with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Point estimate of use/need of care was noted. ALS interventions were instituted in 58 patients (25%). In 57 of these cases, indication for and ALS intervention, were established on initial patient assessment (SENS, 98.28; 95% CI, 90.76 to 99.96). Of 173 patients requiring no ALS intervention on initial assessment, only 1 (0.58%) developed complications warranting ALS therapy during the course of prehospital care (SPEC, 100.00; 95% CI, 100.00 to 99.99; PPV, 100.00; 95% CI, 100.00 to 94.63; NPV, 99.42; 95% CI, 96.82 to 99.99). No inappropriate use, point estimate (PE) [ (0) (172) (0.00% to 0.01%)] or unmet need, PE [ (0) (58) (0.00% to 5.16%)] of care was noted. The data presented in this study suggest that given similar field times, after initial patient assessment by ALS personnel, it is reasonable and safe to triage seizure patients who do not require ALS intervention to non-ALS rescue teams for continuation of care and transportation.
Cytoplasmic transfer of chloramphenicol resistance in a human cell line.

CAP-23, a chloramphenicol-resistant variant of the human cell line VA2-B, was enucleated by two different methods, and fused, using UV-inactivated Sendai virus, with a 6-thioguanine-resistant derivative (TG-6) of the same VA2-B cells. In selective medium containing 100 or 200 μg/ml chloramphenicol and 10 μg/ml 6-thioguanine, resistant clones appeared with a frequency of 10−5to 10−3in different experiments. Control fusion mixtures (CAP-23 × TG-6; enCAP-23 × CAP-23; enTG-6 × TG-6; CAP-23 × enTG-6) and the parental cells themselves produced few or no resistant clones, thus eliminating the possibility that spontaneous mutations or fusion products other than cytoplasmic hybrids of enCAP-23 and TG-6 were responsible for the high frequency of resistant clones observed in the enCAP-23 × TG-6 fusions. Fifteen individually isolated clones were subjected to karyotype analysis and found to contain a mean chromosome number very similar to that of the parental cells. The in vitro protein synthesis in mitochondria isolated from cytoplasmic hybrid clones showed a level of resistance to chloramphenicol similar to that found in mitochondria from the parental CAP-23 cells. Thus, the present experiments show that the chloramphenicol resistance of CAP-23 cells has been transferred by a cytoplasmic (presumably mitochondrial) gene into sensitive cells.
One-Dimensional Transport Code Modeling of the Divertor-Limiter Region in Tokamaks

A model of the divertor-limiter scrapeoff region has been incorporated into the BALDUR one-dimensional tokamak transport code. Simulations of the proposed Toroidal Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR), and Poloidal Divertor (PDX) experiments and existing Alcator-A tokamak experiments have been carried out for ohmic and neutral beam heated cases. In particular, we have studied how the edge conditions and energy-loss mechanisms in PDX depend upon plasma density, and compared our results with analytic estimates. The sensitivity of the results to changes in the transport coefficients and scrapeoff model is discussed with particular reference to the power loading on the TFTR limiter.
Comparative performance of COBOL programs on mini vs. large computer systems

The comparative performance characteristics of COBOL programs in a small versus large computer systems are investigated. The vehicle consists of a set of synthetic benchmark COBOL programs, each measuring a particular aspects of COBOL programs; and in addition a large actual COBOL program. Measurement of the CPU execution time and the elapsed clock time for various COBOL computations, data manipulation, and input/output is made on both a large scale computer (IBM 370/158) and a minicomputer (Texas Instruments TI980). Results of a number of such experiments are presented and comparisons made between results gotten from the two systems.
An evaluation of xeroradiographs and radiographs in length determination in endodontics.

Twelve block sections of mandibles containing incisors, canines, premolars, and molars were dissected from human cadavers (total, 26 teeth). Endodontic access was achieved, and a No. 10 k-type endodontic file was inserted to a point approximately 1 to 2 mm short of the radiographic apex. By securing the mandible and Rinn instrument with plaster mounts, exposures were made from identical angles and film and jaw placement remained constant in both techniques. Conventional film images were recorded on Kodak Ultraspeed film with six to eight impulses. Xeroradiographic images were recorded with four to five impulses. Radiographs and xeroradiographs were evaluated with the use of light from a masked view☐. A magnifying glass was used to evaluate visualization of the following entities: the root apex; the periodontal ligament; the trabecular pattern; and the measuring instruments. The images were examined and categorized by three examiners, who used the following scores: 3, optimal for diagnostic information; 2, adequate for diagnostic information; 1, poor but providing diagnostic information; and 0, unacceptably poor. In all categories examined, the information provided by xeroradiographs was significantly greater than that provided by conventional radiographs (p < .05). In terms of diagnostic value and lower patient dose, xeroradiographs are preferred to conventional radiographs.
Differing psychosocial risk profiles of college freshmen waterpipe, cigar, and cigarette smokers.

Abstract Few studies have examined the psychosocial aspects of tobacco smoking in young adults, particularly among alternative forms such as waterpipe. To address this gap, we examined the association of psychosocial characteristics (i.e., sociodemographics, risk perception, social norms, and pluralistic ignorance) with waterpipe, cigar, and cigarette smoking in college freshmen. Data are from a cross-sectional internet survey conducted during spring semester 2004 at Johns Hopkins University, N = 411. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the association between psychosocial risk factors and waterpipe, cigar, and cigarette smoking. Results reveal that (1) psychosocial risk profiles of smokers differed by type of smoker and by type of tobacco product smoked, and (2) freshmen perceived the waterpipe as the most attractive product, out of the three products evaluated, to use among their peers. This study provides some of the first data on the association of psychosocial characteristics and various forms of tobacco smoking in young adults. This area of research is of increasing importance as a surge of waterpipe use among college students is becoming evident and interventions to reduce and prevent use are critically needed.
Cytokeratin expression and hyaluronic acid production in cultures of human synovial microvascular endothelial cells: influence of cytokines and growth factors.

Objectives: To isolate and characterize human synovial endothelial cells and to determine the effects of cytokines and fibroblast growth factor on human synovial endothelial (HSE) cell hyaluronic acid production.Methods: Endothelial cells were isolated from primary cultures of human synovial cells by fluorescent activated cell sorting based on the incorporation of a fluorescent derivative of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (DiI-Ac-LDL). Identity of endothelial cells was confirmed by positive immunostaining for von Willebrand factor (vWf), cytokeratins, endoglin, and reactivity with the lectin ulex europeaus agglutinin (UEA). Hyaluronic acid production was measured by a radioligand-binding assay.Results: HSE cells were isolated and maintained in long-term culture. The identity of the cultured cells as endothelial was based on uniform uptake of a (DiI-Ac-LDL), immunoreactivity for vWf, and endoglin and the binding of the lectin UEA. In addition, small blood vessels in the synovium were stained selectivel...
Seasonal alterations in park visitation, amenity use, and physical activity--Grand Forks, North Dakota, 2012-2013.

Introduction Park amenities promote visitation and physical activity during summer. Physical activity declines during winter. Identifying park amenities that promote visitation during winter would increase year-round activity. The purpose of this study was to determine how park visitation, amenity choice, and physical activity intensity change across seasons.
Student affairs collaborations and partnerships

This chapter describes the evolution of student affairs over time and under varying forces of change and its capacity for creating collaborative partnerships as a means for improving higher education and serving students.
Tensile property changes of metals irradiated to low doses with fission, fusion and spallation neutrons

Abstract Radiation effects due to low doses of spallation neutrons are compared directly to those produced by fission and fusion neutrons. Yield stress changes of pure Cu, alumina dispersion strengthened Cu, and AISI 316 stainless steel irradiated at 36–55°C in the Los Alamos Spallation Radiation Effects Facility (LASREF) are compared with earlier results of irradiations at 90°C using 14 MeV D-T fusion neutrons at the Rotating Target Neutron Source and fission reactor neutrons in the Omega West Reactor. At doses up to 0.04 displacements per atom (dpa), the yield stress changes due to the three quite different neutron spectra correlate well on the basis of dpa in the stainless steel and the Cu alloy. However, in pure Cu, the measured yield stress changes due to spallation neutrons were anomalously small and should be verified by additional irradiations. With the exception of pure Cu, the low dose, low temperature experiments reveal no fundamental differences in radiation hardening by fission, fusion or spallation neutrons when compared on the basis of dpa.
Choice Reaction Time What Role in Ability Measurement

Three studies are described in which choice reac tion time (RT) was related to such psychometric ability measures as verbal comprehension, nu merical reasoning, hidden figures, and progressive matrices tests. Although fairly consistent negative correlations were found between these tests and choice RT when high school samples were used, differences from study to study highlight the need to develop more reliable measures for cognitive laboratory procedures and to study these in popu lations that are more broadly representative of hu man cognitive power.
Stroke volume variation in hepatic resection: a replacement for standard central venous pressure monitoring.

Background Central venous pressure (CVP) is the standard method of volume status evaluation during hepatic resection. CVP monitoring requires preoperative placement of a central venous catheter (CVC), which can be associated with increased time, cost, and adverse events. Stroke volume variation (SVV) is a preload index that can be used to predict an individual’s fluid responsiveness through an existing arterial line. The purpose of this study was to determine if SVV is as safe and effective as CVP in measuring volume status during hepatic resection.
Modeling aboveground biomass of Tamarix ramosissima in the Arkansas River Basin of southeastern Colorado, USA

Abstract Predictive models of aboveground biomass of nonnative Tamarix ramosissima of various sizes were developed using destructive sampling techniques on 50 individuals and four 100-m2 plots. Each sample was measured for average height (m) of stems and canopy area (m2) prior to cutting, drying, and weighing. Five competing regression models (P < 0.05) were developed to estimate aboveground biomass of T. ramosissima using average height and/or canopy area measurements and were evaluated using Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sample size (AICc). Our best model (AICc = −148.69, ΔAICc = 0) successfully predicted T. ramosissima aboveground biomass (R2 = 0.97) and used average height and canopy area as predictors. Our 2nd-best model, using the same predictors, was also successful in predicting aboveground biomass (R2 = 0.97, AICc = −131.71, ΔAICc = 16.98). A 3rd model demonstrated high correlation between only aboveground biomass and canopy area (R2 = 0.95), while 2 additional models found h...
Colloid osmotic homeostasis in humans I. theoretical aspects and background

The theoretical exploration of intravascular colloid osmotic pressureplasma volume relationships has been undertaken in an attempt to formulate meaningful physical parameters to describe the paths that may be taken when an individual has been subjected to colloid osmotic stress, i.e. changing colloid concentrations and/or total colloid mass within the vasculature. Colloid osmotic pressure-plasma volume diagrams have been constructed, and the formulae relating these two measurable quantities have been theoretically and semi-empirically derived. In addition to describing the path of oncotic adjustment, the P-V diagram has been utilized to visualize and calculate oncotic energy changes in traversing from an initial to a final P-V state. Thermodynamic analogy has allowed a comprehensive oncodynamic treatment of colloid osmotic pressure (P), colloid osmotic mass (M), and intravascular volume (V) in the derived relationship: P = AMV−1 + BM2V-−2 (A, B constants). Utilizing a three-dimensional P, V, M plot, an oncodynamic surface has been constructed, the curvature of which is a function of partial differentials of measurable quantities.
Potential of Laetisaria arvalis for the biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani

Abstract Bran preparations of the fungus Laetisaria arvalis isolates LA-1, OK-60, OK-160, OK-206 and ZH-4 reduced survival and saprophytic growth of Rhizoctonia solani (AG-4) in soil. They also prevented damping-off (R. solani) of cotton, sugar beet, lettuce and radish in the greenhouse. The six isolates of L. arvalis grown on sterile wheat bran moistened with water and incubated for 5–15 days before addition to soil at a rate of 0.5% (w/w), were equally effective in reducing R. solani inoculum. In general, 15 day old preparations were as effective as 5 day old preparations. 7 Day old bran preparations of various L. arvalis isolates added to pathogen-infested loamy sand soil at a rate of 0.5% (w/w), prevented post-emergence damping-off of cotton, sugar beet, radish and lettuce. Several treatments resulted in seedling emergence and survival similar to those in natural soils not supplemented with R. solani. Preparations of L. arvalis also prevented damping-off of cotton in three other soils.
Electron-capture cross-sections for some astrophysical processes

Electron-capture cross sections are calculated and compared with existing experimental data. It is noted that the good agreement of the results with experimental data for the oxygen process suggests that the method given here can be successfully used for multielectron shell capture processes for intermediate and large incident energies. An explanation is given for the departure of the calculated cross sections from the experimental results for one of the processes at low relative energies. The theoretical results are seen as providing reasonably accurate cross sections for detailed modeling of Io's atmosphere.
A hybrid recommender system for finding relevant users in open source forums

Open source projects rely heavily on online forums as a key input to the requirements process. These forums are valuable sources for information about the users and their needs. Part of the success of open source projects depends on the collaboration and synergy of community members as they engage in active and productive discussions through posting comments, questions, and advice to online forums. However, the lack of feedback which occurs when initial posts go unanswered can negatively affect the users' perception of the project, and can subsequently impede adoption, create frustration, and lead to loss of opportunities from not understanding and satisfying the users' needs. This problem is quite common in open source forums. Our recent analysis of seven open source projects found that anywhere from 14% to 37% of user posts never get a reply. This paper directly addresses the problem of unanswered posts by presenting a hybrid recommender system that can be used to identify potential users who might be capable of responding to unanswered posts. The proposed system was evaluated using a statistical cross validation, and results show that it significantly outperformed a benchmark random recommender in terms of precision and recall. In addition, an informal analysis of the relationships between the users and the threads is presented to provide further evidence for the potential of recommender systems in this area.
Anharmonicity in rotational and vibrational excitation of H2 by Li+ collisions

Abstract Integral cross sections for pure rotational and vibrational-rotational excitation of H 2 (X 1 Σ + g ) by Li + ( 1 S) impact are computed by close-coupling methods at 0.2, 0.6, and 1.2 eV in the c.m. system using vibrational functions that are numerical solutions of the one-dimensional radial Schrodinger equation for harmonic, Morse, and adiabatically corrected Kolos-Wolniewicz (KW) potential functions. Comparison of results employing KW and Morse functions shows excellent agreement for all transitions studied. Findings using harmonic oscillator functions, however, differ noticeably from KW and Morse values for vibrational (0 → 1) and very large rotational (Δ j = 10) transitions, but are satisfactory for lower order (0 → 2, 4, 6, 8) rotational transitions.
A Three-Dimensional Numerical Model of an Isolated Thunderstorm: Part I. Comparative Experiments for Variable Ambient Wind Shear

Abstract The mature stage of an isolated convective storm in sheared surroundings is studied by means of an anelastic three-dimensional numerical model. Liquid precipitation and turbulence are included in parameterized form. Three comparative experiments are run with different vertical profiles of ambient wind: no ambient wind, uni-directional shear, and multi-directional shear dominated by strong low-level veering, the first shear profile being the west-east projection of the second. The cases are compared in regard to airflow, pressure, potential temperature and liquid water. The results were as follows: Both sheared storms exhibit a quasi-erect high-speed updraft, a deep cyclonic-anticylonic vortex couplet aloft, middle-level barrier flow around the updraft, and gradual splitting into cyclonic and anti-cyclonic cells moving to the right and left of the mean winds. The model storms show a slightly weaker growing stage with shear than without, but the mature stage is stronger and more persistent. Without...
Development and validation of a gradient HPLC method for the determination of clindamycin and related compounds in a novel tablet formulation

Abstract A gradient reversed-phase HPLC method was developed and validated for potency, content uniformity, and impurity determinations for a novel tablet formulation containing clindamycin. The assay utilized UV detection at 214 nm and a Waters Xterra RP18 column (4.6 mm × 100 mm, 3.5 μm). The mobile phases were comprised of pH 10.5, 10 mM carbonate buffer and acetonitrile. Validation experiments were performed to demonstrate specificity, linearity, accuracy (i.e., average recovery from the formulation), precision (i.e., repeatability), limit of quantitation (LOQ), and robustness (i.e., sample solution stability and buffer pH effects on specificity). The assay was shown to be specific for clindamycin, several impurities, and triethyl citrate, a retained excipient that was present in the dosage form. The assay was proved linear (concentration versus peak area) for clindamycin and several select impurities over the ranges of 70–130% and 0.1–5%, respectively. UV relative response factors were determined for the impurities from the linearity data. The accuracy of clindamycin at the targeted assay concentration was 99.2% (n = 3; precision = 0.12%, R.S.D.); accuracy for lincomycin, a structurally related impurity, was 97.4% (n = 3; precision = 3.5%, R.S.D.) at 0.1% of the targeted assay concentration. By demonstrating an acceptable degree of precision for lincomycin at this level, the LOQ was shown to be no higher than 0.1%. The chromatography was virtually unaffected over a mobile phase buffer pH range spanning 0.4 pH units. Sample solutions were stable for 72 h under ambient conditions.
Interface Specificity of Phospholipase Activity using a Novel Surface Dilution Kinetic Assay

A novel assay using D-enantiomers of phospholipids as diluents for characterizing surface kinetics of lipid hydrolysis by phospholipases was employed to investigate interfacial phospholipase activity. The rationale of the method, verified in previous work, are: (i) D-enantiomers resist hydrolysis because of the stereoselectivity of the enzymes toward L-enantiomers and (ii) mixtures of L+D-lipids at various L:D ratios but constant L+D-lipid concentrations yield a surface dilution series of variable L-lipid concentration with constant medium properties. Kinetic characterization of bee-venom phospholipase A2 activity at various types of interfaces including mixed (L+D)-lipid vesicles and bile salt + phospholipid aggregate-water interfaces was performed. The data were fit to a kinetic model and interface kinetic parameters were obtained. Activity was measured by fluorescence as well as pH-Stat methods. In the fluorescence method, the free fatty acid (FFA) binding protein, ADIFAB, was used. FFA is produced upon lipid hydrolytic breakdown. The fluorescence emission from the bound FFA-ADIFAB complex occurs at a longer wavelength than that from the unbound ADIFAB. The rate of hydrolysis is determined from the rate of increase of FFA bound ADIFAB fluorescence and decrease of unbound ADIFAB fluorescence. Activity data show excellent agreement with a kinetic model derived with D-enantiomers as diluents. Interface kinetic parameters show clear differences between different interfaces. The significant outcomes are (i) the novel assay itself; (ii) its ability to determine interface specific kinetic parameters and thereby (iii) characterization of interface specificity of lipolytic enzymes.
The surface reactivity of Ti_Cu and Ti_Al alloys and the ion chemistry of their oxide overlayers

Abstract The surface chemistry of Ti 36 Cu 64 and Ti 36 Al 64 alloys has been examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) after: (a) preparation by co-condensation at room temperature, (b) vacuum annealing to pre-selected temperatures, and (c) thermal oxidation in 0.67 Pa(5×10 −3 Torr) O 2 . The respective alloys are compared to one another with respect to their surface segregation and oxide formation properties. Particular attention is given to the nature of the surface film that develops at the various conditions and to the ionic reactions and ion movements that are involved.
Assessment of pronator quadratus repair integrity following volar plate fixation for distal radius fractures: a prospective clinical cohort study.

Purpose To assess prospectively the integrity of pronator quadratus (PQ) muscle repair following volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures and to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of durable versus failed repairs in 24 subjects. In addition, by grading the degree of PQ injury, an attempt was made to correlate failure of repair with the PQ injury severity. Methods The extent of PQ injury was graded for each fracture. After fracture fixation, the PQ muscle was repaired along its radial and distal borders. Radiopaque hemoclips were attached to each side of the PQ repair, 2 radially and 2 distally. The distance between these markers at time 0 versus x-rays taken at approximately 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months was recorded. Clip displacement of 1 cm or more compared to time 0 indicated repair failure. Results One of 24 repairs (4%) failed at 3 months. No statistical difference was noted between the type of PQ injury and wrist flexion/extension, pronation/supination, and grip strength. Conclusions Pronator quadratus repairs after volar plate fracture fixation are generally durable. They withstand forces that occur at the distal radius during the healing process with a 4% failure rate. No correlation was shown between type of PQ injury and radiographic failure of the repair. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic II.
Estimation of capillary pressure and relative permeability from formation-tester measurements using Design of Experiment and data-weighing inversion: Synthetic and field examples

Abstract Laboratory measurements of relative permeability and capillary pressure are seldom performed on core samples retrieved from petroleum-production wells. Reservoir engineers rely on a limited number of small core samples to characterize many of the large-scale multiphase flow petrophysical properties affecting the production and recovery of hydrocarbon fields. The question also remains whether laboratory measurements are truly representative of in-situ rock properties. Non-linear regression methods were recently proposed to estimate saturation-dependent petrophysical properties from fractional flow-rate measurements acquired with formation testers. However, such procedures are still unclear to many practicing analysts and to date have not been fully explored with either synthetic or field data. This paper presents the development and field test of a new method to estimate saturation-dependent rock properties. The two data sets considered in our examples use in-house and commercial reservoir simulators to model the processes of mud-filtrate invasion, acquisition of borehole resistivity measurements, and subsequent fluid withdrawal during formation tester sampling. Capillary pressure and relative permeability are described using the Brooks–Corey model comprised of 6 independent unknown parameters. The iterative procedure repeats itself until measurements are all honored within prescribed error bounds. As a result, the estimation method satisfactorily reconstructs the relative permeability and capillary pressure curves with minimal a-priori information. Whereas relative permeability end-points of water and oil can be readily estimated in a couple of non-linear iterations (assuming that the remaining parameters are fixed), residual and irreducible saturations add complexity to the inversion. We also investigate the use of Design of Experiment (DoE) tools to secure a reliable initial guess for nonlinear inversion and to understand the separate contributions of the various measurements to specific inversion parameters. Such information is fundamental in the design of a data-weighing scheme that selectively enhances the sensitivity of the measurements to unknown parameters during progressive steps of nonlinear inversion.
An integrated modeling approach to estimating Gunnison sage-grouse population dynamics: combining index and demographic data.

Evaluation of population dynamics for rare and declining species is often limited to data that are sparse and/or of poor quality. Frequently, the best data available for rare bird species are based on large-scale, population count data. These data are commonly based on sampling methods that lack consistent sampling effort, do not account for detectability, and are complicated by observer bias. For some species, short-term studies of demographic rates have been conducted as well, but the data from such studies are typically analyzed separately. To utilize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of these two data types, we developed a novel Bayesian integrated model that links population count data and population demographic data through population growth rate (λ) for Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus). The long-term population index data available for Gunnison sage-grouse are annual (years 1953–2012) male lek counts. An intensive demographic study was also conducted from years 2005 to 2010. We were able to reduce the variability in expected population growth rates across time, while correcting for potential small sample size bias in the demographic data. We found the population of Gunnison sage-grouse to be variable and slightly declining over the past 16 years.
Technical Note-Exact Solutions of Inexact Linear Programs

We address the problem of solving a linear program whose objective function coefficients are known only to lie in a given convex set. We seek a solution that is optimal against the worst possible realization of the objective function, i.e., a max-min solution. We present optimality criteria that characterize the desired solution and strengthen earlier results due to Soyster. The conditions are computationally implementable.
GABAergic System in β-Cells: From Autoimmunity Target to Regeneration Tool

The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a product of decarboxylation of the amino acid glutamate mediated by the synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) (1–3). Although GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain, it is produced at high levels in pancreatic islets (4). β-Cells store GABA in synaptic-like microvesicles, and upon its secretion, GABA exerts many paracrine functions in pancreatic islets (4). While the total function of GABA in β-cells is incompletely understood (4), its synthesizing enzyme GAD is possibly one of the most significant pancreatic islet β-cell autoantigens (5). GAD is a primary target of autoantibodies, and anti-GAD antibodies are associated with the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) (5). GABA activates three types of membrane receptors: GABAA and GABAC, which are ligand-gated Cl− channels, and GABAB, a ligand-gated Ca2+ or K+ channel (6). It has been demonstrated that β-cells mainly express the GABAB receptor (GABABR) and the GABAA receptor (GABAAR) and produce GABA through GAD (Fig. 1) (4); GABA colocalizes with insulin as shown by confocal microscopy (4,7). Activation of GABA receptors in islet β-cells increases insulin release (8), exerts protective and regenerative effects on islet β-cells (9), and reduces apoptosis in cultured islets (9). GABA has also been shown to increase DNA synthesis in the pancreatic cell line INS-1, and when injected in vivo it increased the number of Ki67+ islet β-cells (Fig. 1). Thus, GABA increases β-cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro, protects INS-1 cells from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced apoptosis, and prevents hyperglycemia in murine models of diabetes (9). FIG. 1. Regenerative and immunological abilities of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Extracellular glutamate, the precursor of …
Hierarchy of Iron Uptake Systems: Yfu and Yiu Are Functional in Yersinia pestis

In addition to the yersiniabactin (Ybt) siderophore-dependent system, two inorganic iron ABC transport systems of Yersinia pestis, Yfe and Yfu, have been characterized. Here we show that the Yfu system functions in Y. pestis: a Ybt− Yfe− Yfu− mutant exhibited a greater growth defect under iron-deficient conditions than its Ybt− Yfe− parental strain. We also demonstrate that another putative Y. pestis iron uptake system, Yiu, which potentially encodes an outer membrane receptor, YiuR, and an ABC iron transport cassette, YiuABC, is functional. The cloned yiuABC operon restored growth of an enterobactin-deficient mutant Escherichia coli strain, 1017, under iron-chelated conditions. Iron uptake by the Yiu system in Y. pestis was demonstrated only when the Ybt, Yfe, and Yfu systems were mutated. Using a yiuA::lacZ fusion, we show that the yiuABC promoter is repressed by iron through Fur. A mouse model of bubonic plague failed to show a significant role for the Yiu system in the disease process. These results demonstrate that two additional iron transporters are functional in Y. pestis and indicate that there is a hierarchy of iron transporters, with Ybt being most effective and Yiu being the least effective of those systems which have been characterized.
On the transfer function of the zero dynamics for a boundary controlled heat problem in two dimensions

We recently introduced a new approach, zero dynamics inverse (ZDI) design, for designing a feedback compensation scheme achieving asymptotic regulation, i.e., asymptotic tracking and/or disturbance rejection, for a linear or nonlinear distributed parameter system (DPS) in the case when only the value of the signal w(t) to be tracked or rejected are known are known at any instant of time. In analogy with the non-equilibrium formulation of output regulation the control objective is to achieve zero steady-state error together with ultimate boundedness of the state of the system and the controller(s), with a bound determined by bounds on the norms of the initial data and w. In particular, a controller solving this problem depends only on a bound on the norm of w not on the particular choice of w, which is used only as an input to the controller. ZDI design consists of the interconnection of a stabilizing feedback compensator and a cascade controller, designed in a universal way from the zero dynamics of the closed-loop feedback system. This methodology has evolved over a series of papers for asymptotic regulation for specific linear boundary control systems and for set-point control of linear and nonlinear boundary control systems in one spatial dimension, in which case the input and output spaces for the transfer functions were finite dimensional. In this paper, we formulate the main ingredients of the zero dynamics inverse design methodology for a class of abstract linear boundary control systems for problems with infinite dimensional input and output space. We conclude by illustrating the design for a boundary controlled heat equation on a two dimensional rectangle.
Dynamic signature verification using discriminative training

In this paper we describe a new approach to dynamic signature verification using the discriminative training framework. The authentic and forgery samples are represented by two separate Gaussian Mixture models and discriminative training is used to achieve optimal separation between the two models. An enrollment sample clustering and screening procedure is described which improves the robustness of the system. We also introduce a method to estimate and apply subject norms representing the "typical" variation of the subject's signatures. The subject norm functions are parameterized, and the parameters are trained as an integral part of the discriminative training. The system was evaluated using 480 authentic signature samples and 260 skilled forgery samples from 44 accounts and achieved an equal error rate of 2.25%.
Video-based event recognition: activity representation and probabilistic recognition methods

We present a new representation and recognition method for human activities. An activity is considered to be composed of action threads, each thread being executed by a single actor. A single-thread action is represented by a stochastic finite automaton of event states, which are recognized from the characteristics of the trajectory and shape of moving blob of the actor using Bayesian methods. A multi-agent event is composed of several action threads related by temporal constraints. Multi-agent events are recognized by propagating the constraints and likelihood of event threads in a temporal logic network. We present results on real-world data and performance characterization on perturbed data.
Changes in the distribution of house prices over time: Structural characteristics, neighborhood, or coefficients?

Quantile hedonic house price function estimates imply that appreciation rates were higher between 1995 and 2005 for high-priced homes in Chicago. Decompositions of temporal changes in the house price distribution suggest that the types of homes sold and their location do not account for the change in the price distribution. Rather, higher appreciation rates for high-priced homes are explained by differences in the quantile regression coefficients over time.
Cistromics of Hormone-Dependent Cancer

Alterations in transcription programs are a fundamental feature of cancer. Nuclear receptors, such as the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and androgen receptors (ARs), are central in this process as they can directly impact gene expression through interaction with the chromatin and subsequent association with coregulators and the transcriptional machinery. Unbiased genome-wide investigations have demonstrated the predominant recruitment of both ERalpha and AR to distant (non-promoter)-regulatory elements. Furthermore, these studies revealed a clear relationship between sites of transcription factor recruitment and gene regulation. Indeed, expression profiles from AR-positive primary prostate tumors and cell lines directly relate to the AR cistrome in prostate cancer cells, while the ERalpha cistrome in breast cancer cells relates to expression profiles from ERalpha-positive primary breast tumors. Additionally, cell-type-specific ERalpha cistromes are linked to lineage-specific estrogen-induced expression profiles in different cell types, for example osteosarcoma and breast cancer cells. The pioneer factor forkhead box A1 (FoxA1/HNF3alpha) plays a central role in AR and ERalpha signaling. It is recruited in a lineage-specific manner translating the epigenetic signature consisting of mono- and dimethylated histone H3 on lysine 4 (H3K4me1/me2) into functional regulatory elements. Hence, through the interplay between the pioneer factor, namely FoxA1, and epigenetic events, the transcriptional potential of a given cell lineage is predefined. Since this directly impacts signaling through nuclear receptors, these discoveries should significantly impact the development of novel therapeutic strategies directed against multiple types of cancer.
Magnetic transitions in disordered GdAl 2

The role of disorder in magnetic ordering transitions is investigated using mechanically milled ${\mathrm{GdAl}}_{2}.$ Crystalline ${\mathrm{GdAl}}_{2}$ is a ferromagnet while amorphous ${\mathrm{GdAl}}_{2}$ is a spin glass. Nanostructured ${\mathrm{GdAl}}_{2}$ shows a paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition and glassy behavior, with the temperature and magnitude of each transition dependent on the degree and type of disorder. Disorder is parametrized by a Gaussian distribution of Curie temperatures ${T}_{C}$ with mean ${T}_{C}$ and breadth $\ensuremath{\Delta}{T}_{C}.$ A nonzero coercivity is observed at temperatures more than 20 K above the highest ${T}_{C}$ of any known Gd-Al phase; however, the coercivity decreases with decreasing temperature over the same temperature range where the ${\mathrm{GdAl}}_{2}$ grains ferromagnetically order. Models for the anomalous coercivity behavior are proposed and evaluated for their ability to explain the origin of the low-temperature glassy magnetization peak.