cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytoplasmic microfilaments in streaming Nitella cells

The plant Nitella was selected for study with respect to the ultrastructural basis for rotational streaming. Much observational and experimental work locates the site of motive force for streaming in the interface between the moving endoplasm and stationary ectoplasm. Investigation of this interface reveals bundles, composed of 50–100 microfilaments, each 50 A in diameter and many microns long, oriented with their long axis parallel to the direction of streaming. The possible relationships of these bundles of microfilaments to the well documented moving fibrils seen with the light microscope in isolated droplets of Nitella cytoplasm is discussed, as is the suggestion that the moving fibrils are responsible for rotational streaming (Jarosch's hypothesis). Microtubules found beneath the plasma membrane are separated from the moving stream by the stationary chloroplast layer. They are thus not in position to directly generate motive force for streaming. The relationships of microfilaments in this material to similar structures in other materials is discussed.
Effects of feral horses in Great Basin landscapes on soils and ants: Direct and indirect mechanisms

We compared soil-surface penetration resistance and abundance of ant mounds at 12 western Great Basin sites (composed of 19 plots) either grazed by feral horses (Equus caballus) or having had horses removed for the last 10-14 years. Across this broad spatial domain (3.03 million ha), we minimized confounding due to abiotic factors by selecting horse-occupied and horse-removed sites with similar aspect, slope, fire history, grazing pressure by cattle (minimal to none), and dominant vegetation (Artemisia tridentata). During both 1997 and 1998, we found 2.2-8.4 times greater abundance of ant mounds and 3.0-15.4 times lower penetration resistance in soil surfaces at horse-removed sites. In 1998, thatched Formica ant mounds, which existed predominately at high elevations, were 3.3 times more abundant at horse-removed sites, although abundance varied widely among sites within treatments. Several types of analyses suggested that horses rather than environmental variability were the primary source of treatment differences we observed in ecosystem components. Tests of several predictions suggest that alterations occurred through not only direct effects, but also indirect effects and potentially feedback loops. Free-roaming horses as well as domestic grazers should be considered in conservation planning and land management in the Great Basin, an ecoregion that represents both an outstanding conservation opportunity and challenge.
Relative efficiencies of χ2 models of recombination for exclusion mapping and gene ordering

Abstract In multilocus linkage analysis, it is common to assume chiasma interference is absent. While this assumption provides mathematical tractability, there is substantial biological evidence contradicting it, particularly when the loci are closely spaced. The χ2 class of recombination models, recently described by Foss et al. (Genetics 133: 681-691, 1993), has a plausible biological basis and provides a dramatically improved fit over virtually all other models currently in use. Here, a simulation study is performed to assess the relative efficiency of a no interference model analysis to an analysis with a χ2 model which allows for interference. The results presented show that analysis with the no interference model is inefficient in the presence of interference.
ANALYTICAL MODEL FOR AUTO-IGNITION IN A THERMALLY STRATIFIED HCCI ENGINE

The characteristics of auto-ignition in HCCI engines in the presence of charge stratification is studied theoretically using activation energy asymptotics. The analysis accounts for the effects of pressure rise due to piston motion and heat release, and the consequent compression-heating of the charge. The chemical kinetics are approximated using a single reaction step with a large activation energy and the compression-heating effects are accounted for through an entropy variable. The resultant model is simple and suitable for extensive parametric studies of HCCI engine combustion. Some preliminary results on the effects of mixture and composition stratification on the duration of burning are presented using a presumed Gaussian PDF for the initial temperature distribution. The effects of mixture stratification on the feasible operating conditions is demonstrated using simple criteria to delineate the knocking and incomplete end-gas combustion regimes.
The “field plot”; model for instructional research in higher education 1

Abstract As means of providing bridges between the learning laboratory and the classroom “field plots”; have been established in art history, second language learning, poetry, hematology, ophthamology, pediatric cardiology and law school courses. Professors from each of these disciplines are joined by research specialists from the Consulting Group on Instructional Design and the Center for Research in Human Learning at the University of Minnesota to make up the particular task‐oriented groups. To be successful the subject matter specialist must see value in the various levels of concern which the basic researcher, evaluation specialist and instructional designer have for issues of subject matter structure, comprehension, competency, sequence and mode of instruction. Similarly, the researchers and developers must see value in the association with knowledgeable specialists and an ecologically valid research environment. These cooperative ventures have produced worthwhile practical results for particular cou...
Can redistributing teachers across schools raise educational attainment? Evidence from Operation Blackboard in India

Abstract I evaluate a reform in India which sought to provide a second teacher to all one-teacher primary schools. The central government paid for 140,000 teachers, which is 8% of the pre-reform stock of primary-level teachers. I find that less than half of these teachers were sent to the intended place. Additionally, teachers per school did not increase and class size did not decrease. The only effect on school inputs appears to have been the redistribution of teachers from larger schools to smaller schools. This nevertheless generated increases in the primary school completion rate, especially for girls and the poor.
A 2nź2 step algorithm for routing in ann ×n array with constant-size queues

In this paper we describe a deterministic algorithm for solving any 1---1 packet-routing problem on ann ×n mesh in 2nź2 steps using constant-size queues. The time bound is optimal in the worst case. The best previous deterministic algorithm for this problem required time 2n+ź(n/q) using queues of size ź(q) for any 1≤q≤n, and the best previous randomized algorithm required time 2n+ź(logn) using constant-size queues.
Antipsychotic drugs stimulate prolactin release.

Antipsychotic drugs have been found to markedly stimulate prolactin secretion in male and female rats. The amount of prolactin released was greater in females than in males. Most non-antipsychotic phenothiazines failed to alter prolactin. These results imply that the dopamine receptor that inhibits prolactin release may be similar to the dopamine receptor involved in the action of antipsychotic drugs.
New Developments in Anesthesia Ventilators

Although the primary function ofmodern anesthesiamachines is similar to that of their predecessors, they are significantly more advanced. More properly termed workstations, these complex devices offer more features and greater flexibility, and integrate the gas delivery, ventilation, andmonitoring functions of an anesthesia machine to the point at which separating the various functions from each other is difficult. When amodern anesthesia delivery system is used, it is difficult to remember that, just 50 years ago, most anesthesia machines did not offer mechanical positive pressure ventilation, end-tidal gasmonitoring, or pulse oximetry and vaporizers compensated for temperature and gas flow. Although new anesthesia machines most commonly are evaluated for their advances in safety, convenience, gas delivery, or vital sign monitoring, dramatic improvements in the delivery of mechanical ventilation have also occurred. More precise monitoring of respiratory variables, a wider selection of ventilatory modes, and better flow delivery all represent aspects of anesthesia ventilator functions that differ between newer machines and older versions. Some of these changes (eg, advanced ventilatory modes and monitoring of airway pressures and gas flows) are relatively visible. Others, like improvements in the stability and precision of tidal volume delivery, exist largely “under the hood.” Because these advances have occurred so quickly, however, data to support their potential benefit are lacking. It is unclear, for example, how advanced ventilatory modes such as pressure support might improve anesthetic management. As a result, the role of advanced ventilatory modes and monitoring technology in anesthetic care remains undefined.
Expression of functional lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor in the baculovirus system

Abstract The LH CG receptor ( LH CG-R ) is a G protein-coupled receptor with a relatively large glycosylated extracellular domain. The complete 674 amino acid residue rat receptor was expressed in Sf9 insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. Optimal expression under the control of the polyhedrin promoter was obtained at 72 h post-infection and a multiplicity of infection of 0.1. The recombinant LH CG-R was expressed on the cell surface (ca. 4500 receptors/cell) and exhibited saturable, high affinity binding of human CG (hCG) with a Kd of 0.4 nM. There was no evidence of intracellular trapping of the receptor. The intracellular concentration of cAMP was increased in response to hCG binding. In contrast, baculovirus-expressed recombinant hCG only weakly stimulated intracellular cAMP levels at relatively high doses. Two forms of the receptor (∼ 75 and ∼ 200 kDa) were detected by Western blot analysis. There results demonstrate that the full length LH CG-R expressed in insect cells is functional in that it binds hormone with high affinity and is able to couple to adenylate cylase.
Kinetics of phenol oxidation in supercritical water

This paper reports tht aqueous solutions of phenol were oxidized in a flow reactor at temperatures between 300 and 420{degrees}C (0.89 {le} T{sub r} {le} 1.07) and pressures from 188 to 278 atm (0.86 {le} P, {le} 1.27). These conditions included oxidations in both near-critical and supercritical water. Reactor residence times ranged from 1.2 to 111 s. The initial phenol concentrations were between 50 and 330 ppm by mass, and the initial oxygen concentrations ranged from 0 to 1,100% excess. The oxidation experiments covered essentially the entire range of phenol conversions. Analysis of the kinetics data for phenol disappearance using a combination of the integral method and the method of excess revealed that the reaction was first order in phenol and 1/2 order in oxygen, and influenced by pressure. The global reaction order for water was taken to be nonzero, and the global rate constant was assumed to be independent of pressure so that the only effect of pressure was to alter the water concentration and hence the reaction rate.
A sampling-based strategy planner for nondeterministic hybrid systems

This paper introduces a strategy planner for nondeterministic hybrid systems with complex continuous dy- namics. The planner uses sampling-based techniques and game- theoretic approaches to generate a series of plans and decision choices that increase the chances of success within a fixed time budget. The planning algorithm consists of two phases: explo- ration and strategy improvement. During the exploration phase, a search tree is grown in the hybrid state space by sampling state and control spaces for a fixed amount of time. An initial strategy is then computed over the search tree using a game- theoretic approach. To mitigate the effects of nondeterminism in the initial strategy, the strategy improvement phase extends new tree branches to the goal, using the data that is collected in the first phase. The efficacy of this planner is demonstrated on simulation of two hybrid and nondeterministic car-like robots in various environments. The results show significant increases in the likelihood of success for the strategies computed by the two-phase algorithm over a simple exploration planner. I. INTRODUCTION Robot motion planning is generally a difficult task and an active area of research. This is due to the large number of variations in the systems' dynamics, environments, task specifications, and possible existence of uncertainties in each category. There are a variety of techniques and algorithms available, each of which is tailored to a particular class of problems (1), (2). Notably, the problem of planning for complex and nondeterministic dynamical systems is of a great interest. These systems are good representatives of real world robots where complexity and uncertainty are unavoidable. In this study, the planning problem of a class of robots, whose dynamics are both complex and nondeterministic, is considered. Specifically, the model of the robot's evolution in the environment is assumed to be given as a hybrid system with nondeterministic discrete transitions (3). Examples of such robots include a car-like robot with faulty transmission (gearbox) causing nondeterministic switching between gears. Another example is a wheeled robot in a bumpy environment where moving over a bump could damage the wheels. The goal of this work is an algorithm that, given a finite planning time, computes a plan that is near-optimal with respect to chances of successfully completing a reachability task for such robots. Given our interest in motion planning for these robots, a planning method that is capable of dealing with complex dynamics needs to be employed. Among the existing planners, sampling-based techniques (e.g., (4)-(6)), are specifically
Some pharmacologic properties of pangamic acid (vitamin B-15).

SummaryPangamic acid (Vit. B-15) possesses definite pharmacologic properties. These include neuromuscular blocking activity in the rabbit and chicken as well as production of hypotension in anesthetized dogs. Neostigmine methylsulfate is an effective antagonist to the neuromuscular blockade produced in the rabbit. These effects appear to be qualitatively similar to those reported for thiamine hydrochloride.
Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of an empathy training program for couples in marriage and romantic relationships

Abstract Forty-two individuals in marital and cohabiting relationships volunteered to participate in a 10-hour empathy training program. The five session program was evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. The qualitative evaluation interviews with a subset of the 42 individuals were aimed at developing an evaluation of participants' experiences of the training. For the quantitative component of the study, couples were randomly assigned to either a treatment or wait listed comparison group. Both groups completed the five-week training program at different times. The change in empathy was assessed by several repeated measures analyses of variance. The quantitative assessment replicated the positive results of earlier findings and demonstrated the reliability of the training program to bring about increased empathic interaction with a partner. Scores on three empathy measures improved in both groups over the six month period. The qualitative assessment yielded clear indications of participants' mot...
The Digital Technology Revolution and Its Effect on the Market for Copyrighted Works: Is History Repeating Itself?

Recent changes in the technological environment have had a significant impact on the sale of copyrighted works. This article examines the effect of those changes in a historical context and compares the current issues facing copyright owners with previous challenges. The authors conclude that the present market environment bears a great deal of similarity to previous “crises,” although there are important differences that may dramatically alter the economic landscape for content owners. The ramifications of increased copyright control vis-a-vis the status quo are examined.
996-15 Adenovirus Mediated Inducible Heat Shock Protein 70 Gene Transfer Protects Against Simulated Ischemia in a Muscle Derived Cell Line

The inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70i) is a stress related factor that has been shown to have a protective effect against ischemia. In order to study further this protective effect we have constructed a recombinant replication deficient adenovirus that constitutively expresses HSP70i at high levels under the direction of the viral CMV promoter. Expression was verified in neonatal cardiomyocytes in cell culture infected at a multiplicity of infection of 2:1. The majority of cells stained strongly positive after 24 hours with immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against HSP70i. Neonatal cardiomyocytes infected similarly with a recombinant adenovirus encoding beta-galactosidase did not stain with the HSP70i antibody. C2C12 cells, a muscle cell line, were infected with either the HSP70i adenovirus or betagalactosidase encoding adenovirus as above. After 24 hours the cells were incubated with rhodamine, afluorescent marker retained by viable cells, and were then subjected to simulated ischemia (slightly hypotonic Hanks buffer in a GasPak hypoxic jar) for 6 hours. After a 1 hour non-hypoxic recovery period in isosmotic media the cells were examined with a fluorescent microscope. There was a readily apparent increase in survival of the HSP70i adenovirus infected cells relative to the beta-galactosidase infected cells based on rhodamine mediated fluorescence. These studies demonstrate the feasibilityof using adenoviral vectors to effect expression of HSP70i in cardiac myocytes and also demonstrate the efficacy of this approach for providing protection against simulated ischemia.
Increased ICAM-1 expression in transformed human oral epithelial cells: molecular mechanism and functional role in peripheral blood mononuclear cell adhesion and lymphokine-activated-killer cell cytotoxicity.

The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) serves as a counter-receptor for the β2-integrins, LFA-1 and Mac-1, which are expressed on leukocytes. Although expression of ICAM-1 on tumor cells has a role in tumor progression and development, information on ICAM-1 expression and its role in oral cancer has not been established. Normal human oral keratinocytes (NHOK), human papilloma virus (HPV)-immortalized human oral keratinocyte lines (HOK-16B, HOK-18A, and HOK-18C), and six human oral neoplastic cell lines (HOK-16B-BaP-T1, SCC-4, SCC-9, HEp-2, Tu-177 and 1483) were used to study ICAM-1 expression and its functional role in vitro. Our results demonstrated that NHOK express negligible levels of ICAM-1, whereas immortalized human oral keratinocytes and cancer cells express significantly higher levels of ICAM-1, except for HOK-16B-BaP-T1 and HEp-2. Altered mRNA half-lives did not fully account for the increased accumulation of ICAM-1 mRNA. Adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to epithelial cells correlated with cell surface ICAM-1 expression levels. This adhesion was inhibited by antibodies specific for either ICAM-1 or LFA-1/Mac-1, suggesting a role for these molecules in adhesion. In contrast, lymphokine-activated-killer (LAK) cell cytotoxic killing of epithelial cells did not correlate with ICAM-1 levels or with adhesion. Nonetheless, within each cell line, blocking of ICAM-1 or LFA-1/Mac-1 reduced LAK cells killing, suggesting that ICAM-1 is involved in mediating this killing.
Alterations in rabbit liver protein synthesis as a result of phenobarbital treatment.

Abstract Phenobarbital dramatically alters rabbit liver polysome and polysomal poly(A+)mRNA driven in vitro protein synthesis. These alterations are due to a movement of poly(A+)mRNA from the cytoplasmic pool into the polysomes, to a decrease in mRNA degradation and to de novo mRNA synthesis. Our observations suggest that a major portion of the effects attributable to phenobarbital occurs at steps other than transcription.
Parametric Statistical Generalization of Uniform-Hazard Earthquake Ground Motions

Sets of ground-motion records used for seismic hazard analyses typically have intensity measures corresponding to a particular hazard level for a site (perhaps conditioned on a particular intensity value and hazard). In many cases the number of available ground motions that match required spectral ordinates and other criteria (such as duration, fault rupture characteristics, and epicentral distance) may not be sufficient for high-resolution seismic hazard analysis. In such cases it is advantageous to generate additional ground motions using a parameterized statistical model calibrated to records of the smaller data set. This study presents a statistical parametric analysis of ground-motion data sets that are classified according to a seismic hazard level and a geographic region and that have been used extensively for structural response and seismic hazard analyses. Parameters represent near-fault effects such as pulse velocity and pulse period, far-field effects such as velocity amplitude and power-spectr...
The lithurgine bees of Australia (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), with a note on Megachile rotundipennis

Austrothurgus Gonzalez & Engel, new genus, is described and figured for three species of lithurgine bees (Megachilidae: Lithurginae: Lithurgini) from Australia. Austrothurgus is distinguished from other Lithurginae by the presence of arolia in males (absent in females), first flagellomere long in both sexes, female facial prominence mostly involving the base of clypeus, and male metabasitarsus with distinct, elevated carina on its inner surface. Austrothurgus malgaru Gonzalez, Engel, & Griswold, new species, from Western Australia is also described and figured. A neotype is designated for Lithurgus dentipes Smith and lectotypes for L . atratus Smith, L . cognatus Smith, and L . rubricatus Smith. The following two new combinations are established: A . cognatus (Smith) and A . rubricatus (Smith). An updated key to the genera of Lithurgini as well as diagnoses, illustrations, and a key to the species occurring in Australia are provided. Taxonomic notes and a new lectotype designation for the Indo-Pacific species Megachile ( Eutricharaea ) rotundipennis Kirby are also appended.
Potential Importance of Low-Sodium Bread and Breakfast Cereal to a Reduced Sodium Diet

Purchasing data suggest that bread and cereal products are responsible for approximately 18% of normal daily unrestricted sodium intake; this percentage may be substantially higher in subjects attempting to follow a reduced sodium diet by avoiding added salt and salty sauces and meats. Substituting with low-sodium bread would be expected to result in a sodium intake reduction of 0.6 g/day or higher, depending on the amount of bread normally eaten. Many cold breakfast cereals typically contain 0.2 to 0.3 g of sodium per serving. A number of zero-sodium or low-sodium cold cereal options are commercially available, and many hot cereals are available in forms that contain no sodium. Because bread and breakfast cereals are not commonly thought of as being salty foods, substituting these with low-sodium alternatives might help achieve additional substantial sodium intake reduction without much disruption of the diet.
Health problems and medical utilization associated with gambling disorders: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Objective Pathologic gambling is believed to be associated with adverse health consequences, but no prior studies have rigorously evaluated these relationships. We sought to examine medical disorders and health service utilization associated with problem and pathologic gambling. Method A total of 43,093 adults aged 18 years and older were evaluated in the 2001 to 2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Self-reported medical diagnoses and past-year medical services used were assessed. Results Pathologic gamblers were more likely than low-risk individuals to have been diagnosed with tachycardia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-2.97), angina (OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.33-4.15), cirrhosis (OR = 3.90; 95% CI = 1.11-13.72), and other liver disease (OR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.07-8.26). Gambling severity was also associated with higher rates of medical utilization with pathologic gamblers more likely than low-risk individuals to have been treated in the emergency room in the year before the survey (OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.27-3.09). Significant effects of gambling severity remained even after controlling for demographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, income, and region of the country) and behavioral risk factors such as body mass index, alcohol abuse and dependence, nicotine dependence, and mood and anxiety disorders. Conclusions A lifetime diagnosis of pathologic gambling is associated with several medical disorders and increased medical utilization, perhaps leading to a burden on healthcare costs in the United States.
Production and characterization of thirteen human type-I interferon-α subtypes

Thirteen human interferon-α (IFNα) subtypes were expressed in Escherichiacoli and purified using an N-terminal affinity tag from the prodomain of subtilisin. IFNα subtypes were expressed in soluble form and purified from cell lysates or refolded and purified from inclusion bodies. Proteins produced by either protocol exhibited biological activities equal to or greater than commercially prepared IFNα preparations. The IFNαs were used to produce an anti-IFNα16 antibody (MAb-1B12) that specifically neutralized the biological activity of IFNα16, but not the 12 other IFNαs. Using MAb-1B12, and a previously generated IFNAR1/IFNAR2-FChk heterodimer, an assay was developed to determine total type I IFN biological activity and IFNα16-derived biological activity in an unknown sample.
Satisfiability Analysis of Workflows with Control-Flow Patterns and Authorization Constraints

Workflow security has become increasingly important and challenging in today's open service world. While much research has been conducted on various security issues of workflow systems, the workflow satisfiability problem, which asks whether a set of users together can complete a workflow, is recently identified as an important research problem that needs more investigation. In this paper, we study the computational complexity of the problem along two directions: one is by considering either one path or all paths of a workflow, and the other is by considering the possible patterns in a workflow. We have shown that the general workflow satisfiability analysis problem is intractable. This result motivates us to consider restrictions on workflow control-flow patterns and access control policies, and to identify tractable cases of practical interest.
Seismological mapping of fine structure near the base of the Earth's mantle

THE Earth's core–mantle boundary (CMB) juxtaposes liquid iron and crystalline silicates, and is a region of large vertical thermal gradients. The D" region, which extends up to 200–300 km above the CMB, often has elevated shear-wave velocity and suggestions of lateral variations in structure1. Recent improvements in our ability to assemble and analyse records from regional seismic networks have allowed us to examine long profiles of travel times, amplitudes and waveforms from more than a thousand short-period seismometers2. We observe, across Canada and the United States, P waves that have grazed the CMB from the powerful nuclear test in Lop Nor, China, on 21 May 1992. First-arrival travel times and large secondary arrivals are consistent with a 1.5% compressional velocity increase with depth ∼ 130 km above the CMB—about half the thickness of D" in this locality3. Our observations, together with evidence for the absence of such a thin, fast layer in neighbouring regions, suggest the presence of lateral heterogeneity in composition or phase at the base of the mantle.
A sequential analytic Feynman integral of functionals in L 2(C 0[0, T])

In this paper, we define a sequential analytic Feynman integral of functionals on Wiener space. We then give the existence of the sequential analytic Feynman integral of functionals in L 2(C 0[0, T]). The expansion of functionals in L 2(C 0[0, T]) in terms of Fourier–Hermite functionals plays a key role in the study.
In-situ studies on deep-sea amphipods and their intestinal microflora

Amphipods, trapped at depths of 1 410 to 5 330 m and incubated in situ in the presence of a radiolabeled protein as a food source, were fractionated to measure the distribution of label in the major biochemical constituents: low molecular pools, ethanol and base soluble proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and nucleic acids. The results suggest lipid energy storage and enhanced microbial growth within the amphipod guts as compared to growth on the uningested food material. The merits and limitations of this general approach are critically evaluated.
Modeling cholesterol metabolism by gene expression profiling in the hippocampus

An important part of the challenge of building models of biochemical reactions is determining reaction rate constants that transform substrates into products. We present a method to derive enzymatic kinetic values from mRNA expression levels for modeling biological networks without requiring further tuning. The core metabolic reactions of cholesterol in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus, were simulated. To build the model the baseline mRNA expression levels of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism were obtained from the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas. The model is capable of replicating the trends of relative cholesterol levels in Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases; and reliably simulated SLOS, desmosterolosis, and Dhcr14/Lbr knockout studies. A sensitivity analysis correctly uncovers the Hmgcr, Idi2 and Fdft1 sites that regulate cholesterol homeostasis. Overall, our model and methodology can be used to pinpoint key reactions, which, upon manipulation, may predict altered cholesterol levels and reveal insights into potential drug therapy targets under diseased conditions.
Comparison of Arctic clouds between European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts simulations and Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility long‐term observations at the North Slope of Alaska Barrow site

[1] This study evaluated the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model-simulated clouds and boundary layer (BL) properties based upon Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility observations at the North Slope of Alaska site during 1999–2007. The ECMWF model-simulated near-surface humidity had seasonal dependent biases as large as 20%, while also experiencing difficulty representing BL temperature inversion height and strength during the transition seasons. Although the ECMWF model captured the seasonal variation of surface heat fluxes, it had sensible heat flux biases over 20 W m−2 in most of the cold months. Furthermore, even though the model captured the general seasonal variations of low-level cloud fraction (LCF) and liquid water path (LWP), it still overestimated the LCF by 20% or more and underestimated the LWP over 50% in the cold season. On average, the ECMWF model underestimated LWP by ∼30 g m−2 but more accurately predicted ice water path for BL clouds. For BL mixed-phase clouds, the model predicted water-ice mass partition was significantly lower than the observations, largely due to the temperature dependence of water-ice mass partition used in the model. The ECMWF model captured the general response of cloud fraction and LWP on large-scale vertical motion changes but overpredicted the magnitude of the difference, especially for LWP. The new cloud and BL schemes of the ECMWF model that were implemented after 2003 only resulted in minor improvements in BL cloud simulations in summer. These results indicate that significant improvements in cold season BL and mixed-phase cloud processes in the model are needed.
Health policy: Upholding the Affordable Care Act--implications for oncology.

The Affordable Care Act—the Obama administration's signature legislation designed to insure over 30 million currently uninsured Americans—was recently declared constitutional by the US Supreme Court. Although not perfect, the law contains provisions that will benefit patients with cancer, those at risk of cancer and those in remission.
Forgiveness and Marriage: Preliminary Support for a Measure Based on A Model of Recovery From A Marital Betrayal

Forgiveness is an issue that recently has received increasing attention in the psychological literature, yet little empirical research has been conducted on this topic. This article presents initial support and validation of an inventory based upon Gordon and Baucom s (1998) three-stage synthesized model of forgiveness in marital relationships. This model places forgiveness in the framework of a reaction to a traumatic interpersonal event. One hundred seven community couples completed several measures of marital functioning, along with the new measure of forgiveness. The measure achieved internal reliability, and a confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the resulting subscales are a good fit with the data. Further results offered preliminary support for the inventory s validity and its relation to various aspect of marital functioning. Individuals placed into groups based upon their scores on this measure reported expected levels of global forgiveness, relationship power and closeness, and assumption...
Signalling by underpricing in the IPO market

Abstract Empirical evidence suggests the existence of ‘hot-issue’ markets for initial public offerings: in certain periods and in certain industries, new issues are underpriced and rationing occurs. This paper develops a model consistent with this observation, which assumes the firm itself best knows its prospects. In certain circumstances, firms with the most favorable prospects find it optimal to signal their type by underpricing their initial issue of shares, and investors know that only the best can recoup the cost of this signal from subsequent issues.
High temperature properties of heavily deformed Cu20%Nb and Cu20%Ta composites

Abstract The mechanical properties of Cu20%Nb and Cu20%Ta composites formed by extensive cold drawing were evaluated between 22 and 600 °C. The increased strength of Cu20%Ta over that of Cu20%Nb at the temperatures studied is attributed to the higher modulus and melting temperature of tantalum as compared with niobium. The decreases in strength of the composites up to 300 °C are relatively small and correlate with the decrease in the shear modulus of copper with temperature. Above 300 °C the decreases in strength are very pronounced and are primarily due to the coarsening of the individual filaments. The results show that the use of a filamentary metal with a high elastic modulus and melting temperature considerably improves the mechanical properties and the stability of these types of metal-metal composites at elevated temperatures.
Effects of metformin-diet intervention before and throughout pregnancy on obstetric and neonatal outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

AbstractObjective:Prospectively assess whether metformin/diet pre-conception and throughout pregnancy would safely reduce first trimester miscarriage and improve pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Research design and methods:In 76 PCOS women, first pregnancy miscarriage and live birth were compared before and on metformin/diet, started 6.8 months (median) before conception, continued throughout pregnancy. On metformin 2–2.55 g/day, low glycemic index diet, first pregnancy outcomes in PCOS were compared with 156 community obstetric practice women (controls).Main outcome measures:Live births, miscarriage, birth <37 weeks gestation, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, fetal macrosomia.Results:In 76 PCOS women before metformin-diet, there were 36 miscarriages (47%) and 40 live births vs. 14 (18%) miscarriages and 62 live births on metformin-diet 6.8 months before conception and throughout pregnancy, p = 0.0004, OR 3.99, 95% CI 1.91–8.31. On metformin-diet, PCOS women did not di...
An improved model equatorial electrojet with a meridional current system

Construction of model equatorial electrojet by spherical harmonic expansion for geomagnetic field
Cardiac deaths in epilepsy.

A study of heart disease mortality and morbidity in patients with epilepsy in Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.A., is presented. In a cohort of 725 incident cases of epilepsy followed for approximately 10,000 person-years, 237 deaths and 48 incident cases of ischemic heart disease were noted. Overall, the cohort mortality rate was 2.1 times that of the general population. For those with idiopathic epilepsy, the mortality rate was 1.6 times that of the general population. For ischemic heart disease, the epilepsy cohort experienced a standardized mortality rate (SMR) of 1.6, slightly higher for remote symptomatic than idiopathic epilepsy. For sudden death as the initial manifestation of heart disease, the SMR was 2.3. The ratio was not significantly higher for those with idiopathic epilepsy but was 3.9 for remote symptomatic epilepsy. The findings show much lower incidence rates and relative incidence of sudden death than all of the more recent sudden unexpected death in epilepsy studies. Reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
Error Curves for Lanczos' “Selected Points” Method

Maximum error curves for Lanczos selected point method of polynomial solution to ordinary differential equations, using Chebyshev and Legendre functions
VISUALIZATION OF SCALAR TRANSPORT IN NONREACTING AND REACTING JETS THROUGH A UNIFIED "HEATLINE" AND "MASSLINE" FORMULATION

A unified formulation for heatline and massline calculations is presented in terms of conserved scalars, such as the total enthalpy and elemental mass fractions. The formulation allows some special forms of nonhomogeneous terms in the conserved scalar transport equation. Expressions for heatlines and masslines in single-component and binary mixtures reported by previous studies are shown to be special cases of the general expressions derived herein. We illustrate the use of these visualization techniques with the help of planar and axisymmetric nonreacting jets of hot air in cold air, nonreacting methane and hydrogen jets in air, as well as nonpremixed reacting jets of methane and air. The results clearly demonstrate the applicability of the unified formulation as a useful visualization tool for both nonreacting and reacting flows.
A Single-Tilt TEM Stereomicroscopy Technique for Crystalline Materials

A new single-tilt technique for performing TEM stereomicroscopy of strain fields in crystalline materials has been developed. The technique is a weak beam technique that involves changing the value of g and/or s g while tilting across a set of Kikuchi bands. The primary benefit of the technique is it can be used with single-tilt TEM specimen holders including many specialty holders such as in situ straining, heating, and cooling holders. Standard stereo-TEM techniques are almost always limited to holders allowing two degrees of rotational freedom (i.e., double-tilt or tilt/rotation holders). An additional benefit of the new technique is that it eliminates the need to focus with the specimen height control. These advantages make it useful for stereo viewing or for quantitative stereomicroscopy provided necessary consideration is given to errors that may result from the technique.
Autoantibodies to tumor-associated antigens as biomarkers in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) recognized by cellular and/or humoral effectors of the immune system are attractive targets for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to human cancer. Different approaches can be used to comprehensively characterize and validate the identified TAA/anti-TAA systems, which are potential biomarkers in cancer immunodiagnosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The high fatality rate of HCC within one year after its detection might be partly attributed to a lack of diagnostic methods that enable the early detection. Our previous studies have shown that novel autoantibodies can appear which are not detected prior to pre-malignant conditions during transition from chronic liver disease to HCC. The hypothesis we advance is the transition to malignancy can be associated with autoantibody response to certain cellular proteins that might have some role in tumorigenesis. We propose that the information that the cancer patient’s immune system is conveying in the form of autoantibodies to tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) should be utilized to a greater extent in identifying early signs of tumorigenesis. In this review, we will focus on the important features of TAA and the possibility that autoantibodies to TAAs can be used as biomarkers in immunodiagnosis and prognosis of HCC.
Phonon spectroscopy with sub-meV resolution by femtosecond x-ray diffuse scattering

We present a reconstruction of the transverse acoustic phonon dispersion of germanium from femtosecond time-resolved x-ray diffuse scattering measurements at the Linac Coherent Light Source. We demonstrate an energy resolution of 0.3 meV with a momentum resolution of $0.01\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{nm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ using 10-keV x rays with a bandwidth of $\ensuremath{\sim}1\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. This high resolution was achieved simultaneously for a large section of reciprocal space including regions closely following three of the principal symmetry directions. The phonon dispersion was reconstructed with less than 3 h of measurement time, during which neither the x-ray energy, the sample orientation, nor the detector position were scanned. These results demonstrate how time-domain measurements can complement conventional frequency domain inelastic-scattering techniques.
Evaluation of prolonged epidural chloroprocaine for postoperative analgesia in infants.

Abstract Study Objective To describe the use and adverse effects of chloroprocaine for epidural analgesia in young infants for infusion durations greater than 3.5 hours. Design A retrospective cohort review of the electronic medical record over a 14-month period. Setting The level IV neonatal intensive care unit of a 414-bed free-standing children's hospital. Patients Eighteen infants (mean age, 1.7 ± 1.8 months [0.03-6.3]; mean weight, 3.8 ± 1.3 kg [1.56-6.9]; n=10 [55%] males) received 1% chloroprocaine for epidural analgesia postoperatively for up to 96-hour duration and met criteria for inclusion. Measurements Dosing requirements, placement of epidural catheter, supplementary analgesic therapy, respiratory support, vital signs, and incidence of adverse events associated with local anesthetics were collected. Main Results Epidural catheter placement was caudal (n = 8), lumbar (n = 6), or thoracic (n = 4). Mean operative time was 2.48 ± 1 hour (1-5). Initial chloroprocaine dose was 1.3 ± 0.5 mL/h (0.4-2.5) (3.5 ± 1 mg/kg per hour [1.4-5]) with a maximum dose of 1.5 ± 0.6 mL/h (0.4-3) (4.2 ± 1.1 mg/kg per hour [2.2-6.1]). Duration of epidural analgesia was 48.3 ± 21.5 hours (10-96). Duration of epidural infusion did not influence dosing requirement, suggesting the absence of drug tachyphylaxis. All patients received intermittent doses of opioid and nonopioid pain medications while receiving chloroprocaine. Two mechanically ventilated patients required continuous infusion of opioids. No adverse events were directly attributed to chloroprocaine use. Conclusion Epidural 1% chloroprocaine, in doses of 0.4-3 mL/h (1.5-6.1 mg/kg per hour), was well tolerated in both mechanically ventilated and spontaneously breathing infants for up to 96 hours with no identified adverse effects or tachyphylaxis.
Surgery for the Dysfunctional Nasal Valve: Cadaveric Analysis and Clinical Outcomes

Objectives To quantify changes in the cross-sectional area of the nasal valve after placement of spreader grafts and flaring sutures and to review clinical outcomes after nasal valve surgery. Desig...
Construction of a Bayesian network for mammographic diagnosis of breast cancer

Bayesian networks use the techniques of probability theory to reason under uncertainty, and have become an important formalism for medical decision support systems. We describe the development and validation of a Bayesian network (MammoNet) to assist in mammographic diagnosis of breast cancer. MammoNet integrates five patient-history features, two physical findings, and 15 mammographic features extracted by experienced radiologists to determine the probability of malignancy. We outline the methods and issues in the system's design, implementation, and evaluation. Bayesian networks provide a potentially useful tool for mammographic decision support.
Exact inference on stratified two-state Markov chain models

Abstract The field of exact analysis of independent discrete outcomes data with covariates has come of age in the recent years. Development of efficient numerical algorithms has been the prime factor fueling the growth. Exact inference on correlated or time-varying discrete data, on the other hand, has garnered little attention. In this paper, we lay the foundation for exact analysis for one class of longitudinal data problems – Markov chain models with covariates. In particular, we focus on a two-state first-order stationary Markov chain model with a multi-level stratification factor and a binary covariate of interest. We show that exact distributions for such models derive from conditional convolutions of elemental Bose–Einstein distributions. We develop a recursive polynomial multiplication algorithm with checks for infeasibility to compute such distributions, and empirically demonstrate its efficiency. We utilize the algorithm to compare exact inference on Markov chain data with the traditional large sample method. Given the transition counts, the latter method is insensitive as to whether the data are generated from a few long chains or many short chains. The exact method takes this feature into account. Our findings point towards a potential problem with large sample inference, namely the use of observed instead of expected information in finite samples. This issue needs further study. It is also seen that with Markov chain data, inferences drawn from the exact method may differ from that from the asymptotic method at transition count values that may not be deemed small.
Evaluation of Dynamic Fleet Management Systems: Simulation Framework:

The problem of dynamic fleet management for truckload carrier fleet operations is introduced, and the principal elements of a simulation framework for the evaluation of dynamic fleet management systems are described. The application of the simulated framework to the investigation of the performance of a family of real-time fleet operational strategies, which include load acceptance, assignment, and reassignment strategies, also is described. The simulation framework described is an example of a first-generation tool for the evaluation of dynamic fleet management systems. Selected experimental results are highlighted. These are intended to illustrate some of the issues encountered in real-time fleet management and the role of the simulation modeling environment in investigating them.