cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of iliac crest bone marrow aspirate injection for the treatment of recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy

Achilles tendinopathy is a common cause of posterior ankle and heel pain in both active and sedentary patients. Though the majority of patients respond to first-line non-operative management including activity modification, immobilization, orthotics, and physical therapy with stretching and eccentric strengthening, there is no consensus for patients who fail these treatments. We evaluate the role of iliac crest bone marrow aspirate (BMA) injections as a treatment option for recalcitrant cases. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with refractory Achilles tendinopathy treated with iliac crest BMA concentrate injection. Symptoms were assessed using the numeric rating system (NRS) pain score at the pre-operative visit and at six, 12, 24, and 48 weeks postoperatively. Post-operative complications were recorded. A total of 15 patients (15 feet) with recalcitrant Achilles tendinopathy (5 insertional, 8 non-insertional, 2 combined) treated with iliac crest BMA concentrate injections were included in the study. Average age was 53.2 years (range, 25 to 64), average BMI was 27.1 kg/m2 (range, 18.4 to 34.4), and average duration of symptoms prior to BMA injection was 2.3 years (range, 1 to 7). Pre-operatively, average NRS was 6.26 (95% CI, 5.04 to 7.49), with significant improvement at six weeks (mean, 4.26; 95% CI, 2.94 to 5.59; p = 0.04), ten weeks (mean, 4.13; 95% CI, 2.91 to 5.35; p = 0.012), 24 weeks (mean, 3.40; 95% CI, 2.05 to 4.75; p = 0.03), and 48 weeks (mean, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.14 to 4.06; p = 0.007) post-operatively. Overall, there was trending improvement over the 48-week follow-up period, with a mean improvement in NRS of − 3.22 (95% CI, − 1.06 to − 5.38; p = 0.007) at final follow-up. There was no discernable difference between insertional and non-insertional tendinopathy, and there were no incidences of post-operative complications. Iliac crest BMA appears to be a safe, effective, and potentially lasting treatment option for patients with intractable, insertional and non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Patients demonstrated and maintained statistically significant decrease in NRS pain score post-operatively with no complications at the donor or injection site.
Specificity of Detection Is the Key Attribute of Selected Reaction Monitoring

Selected reaction monitoring uses tandem mass spectrometry to create instrumental conditions where only specific peptides can be detected. The two stages of the mass spectrometer are synchronized so that a signal is seen only when a molecular ion with a specific m/z is formed and that molecular ion fragments to a product ion with a specific m/z. The specificity of the analysis is increased by the unique amino acid sequence that defines a protein’s identity and the effects of that unique amino acid sequence on the other parts of the overall assay, including the protein digestion and liquid chromatography. The result is the ability to selectively measure, with confidence and accuracy, any protein in a complex mixture.
Comparison of Instruments for Recording Muscle Strength

Abstract This study compared the effectiveness of the following four instruments for recording muscle strength: cable tensiometer, Wakim-Porter strain gauge, spring scale, and Newman myometer. As reflected by objectivity coefficients, the cable tensiometer had the greatest precision for strength testing. It was the most stable and generally useful of the instruments; and was free of most of the faults of the other devices. The strain gauge had a satisfactory degree of precision; but was extremely sensitive to slight tensions, including changes in room temperature. Both the spring scale and the Newman myometer had deficiencies which limited their usefulness.
Commercialization of Plant Systemic Defense Activation: Theory, Problems and Successes

Crop protection can reduce losses by 10% to 60% depending on the disease, the locality and the crop (Crop Protection Compendium, 2002). An array of different strategies to reduce the consequences of pathogen pressure is available. Of these methods, the use of commercial products that stimulate defense reactions in the plant host to reduce plant pathogen success is in its infancy. Although the activation of systemic resistance has been demonstrated reproducibly in the laboratory for many plant species, utilizing a wide range of activating materials, it is not yet a proven technology widely accepted in commerce. A general view is that field results are too variable, and therefore risky, for many farmers when the alternative strategies for protection are perceived as more reliable. Systemic defense activation, however, offers attractive features:
The Forest and the Trees

Comments on the nature of cometary nuclei, some problems regarding cometary origin, and some correlations among cometary data are presented. Comparisons with an earlier report on cometary nuclei are noted, and most of the earlier advances in concept are substantiated. The mean density of the Halley nucleus may have been underestimated, while the nature of the rotation remains uncertain. The dust/gas ratio apparently needs to be increased by as much as two times, perhaps to unity or higher. CHON grains appear to be important sources of gas. Evidence is presented to support the thesis that aging among long-period comets increases statistically as the periods decrease. Data on the orientation of cometary axes with respect to the Galaxy and the properties of clusters defined by these axes are presented.
Maleylated bovine serum albumin triggers cytolytic function in selected populations of primed murine macrophages

The complex algal polysaccharide fucoidan has been reported as serving as a second signal for activation of macrophages primed in vivo by BCG. To assess the potential utility of this observation in analyzing biochemical mechanisms involved in macrophage activation, we examined the triggering effects of maleylated bovine serum albumin (maleylated-BSA), a defined molecule that clears via similar mechanisms. Cytolysis of P815 mastocytoma targets was triggered by maleylated-BSA, in a dose-dependent manner, in murine peritoneal macrophages primed in vivo by BCG. Unlike bacterial LPS, which triggered cytolysis when used to pretreat the macrophages, maleylated-BSA was only effective if present throughout the period of macrophage-target cytolytic interaction. Maleylated-BSA alone did not lyse the P815 targets and did not affect the binding of such targets by macrophages. Maleylated-BSA was equally effective in triggering cytolysis in BCG-primed macrophages from C3H/HeJ or C3H/HeN mice. Macrophages primed in vitro with IFN-gamma, however, could not be triggered by maleylated-BSA, even though these macrophages bound maleylated-BSA comparably to the BCG-primed macrophages. When responsive macrophages were fully activated in vitro by IFN-gamma and LPS and then allowed to decay to the primed state, maleylated-BSA was then as effective as LPS in triggering cytolysis. Taken together, the results indicate that maleylated-BSA can trigger cytolysis in certain populations of primed macrophages but not in others.
A Bargaining Power Theory of Gap-Filling

This article explores the merits of a new criterion for default rules in incomplete contracts: fill the gaps with terms that are favorable to the party with the greater bargaining power. It argues that some of the more common gaps in contracts involve purely distributive issues, such as the contract price, for which it is impossible to choose a unique, joint maximizing, "most efficient" term. Rather, the term that mimics the hypothetical bargain in these settings must be sensitive to the bargaining power of the parties - the term they would have chosen to divide the surplus in light of their relative bargaining strength. The article explores the justifications for such a bargain-mimicking principle, the ways it can be implemented by courts, and the subtle ways it is already in place.
Learning-based detection of flow diverters in cerebral images

We propose a machine learning-based method to automatically detect flow diverters in cerebral C-arm CT images. An appearance detector is learned to generate hypotheses of a flow diverter's location in a volumetric image. A probabilistic framework incorporating a local appearance and shape model is developed to trace the flow diverter. Promising results have been obtained on clinical data. The proposed method provides a potential solution to the automation of cerebral aneurysm treatment workflow and in particular the post-operative assessment of flow diverter placement.
The Community Context of Disaster and Traumatic Stress: An Ecological Perspective from Community Psychology

The present paper integrates an ecological perspective developed in community psychology with research and intervention following disasters and traumatic stress. I approach this topic as a community psychologist who has spent a professional life developing ways of understanding the interdependence of individuals and the community contexts in which they are embedded. The perspective I have found useful is an ecological one, called the “ecological analogy” or “ecological metaphor” by its originator, James Kelly and his colleagues (Kelly, 1968, 1979, 1986, Kelly, Azelton, Burzette, & Mock, 1994; Trickett, Kelly, and Todd, 1972; Trickett, 1984; Trickett and Birman, 1989). To understand the relevance of this metaphor to the area of disaster and traumatic stress, it may be useful to sketch the origins of the field of community psychology, since the substantive areas of community psychology and disaster and traumatic stress spring from different roots.
Pressure and Velocity Measurements

In this Section, we cover basic concepts related to taking pressure measurements in engineering systems, as well as to taking velocity measurements within systems with moving fluids. The Section begins with a discussion of pressure concepts and moves on to discussions of the pressure standards commonly used in the laboratory and pressure transducers used in general engineering practice. Treatment is given to pressure measurements in static and dynamic systems, as well as in moving fluid systems. The Section presents concepts useful in predicting the time response of a pressure system associated with dynamic measurements, including details of a lumped parameter model of the often encountered pressure transmission line that can be useful in planning a measuring system's design. The Section provides discussion on many of the common errors associated with pressure instruments and their associated measurement systems and suggests nominal values for pressure measurement uncertainties. The Section also discusses several techniques for measuring flow velocity, either at a point or for a full flow field, as pressure and velocity measurements are often carried out together in many applications. Pressure and thermal techniques for measuring velocity that are widely used both in the engineering practice and laboratory are included in the presentation along with a discussion on the advantages and uncertainties associated with each technique. Keywords: pressure; velocity; reference standards; sensors; transducers; time response; uncertainty; transmission line effects; velocimetry
Shareholder Activism and Implications for Corporate Governance

Shareholder activists have used multiple approaches to pressure corporate boards and managers to enhance firm value. Historically, traditional activists have included individuals, mutual funds, and pension funds, but in recent years hedge funds have come to play an ever increasing role. This paper will review recent academic literature on the topic of shareholder activism and address the different opportunities or constraints associated with each activist group. Additionally, the tactics employed by activist hedge funds and their effectiveness in pursuing value creation strategies and changes in board governance will be reviewed. Looking forward, the paper considers the implications associated with the enormous growth of hedge funds, particularly in light of current market conditions.
Kinematics of plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, and cod, Gadus morhua, swimming near the bottom.

SUMMARY The kinematics of plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa, L =22.1 cm) and cod ( Gadus morhua, L =25.0 cm, where L is total fish length) swimming at various speeds at the bottom and lifted to heights, h , of 10, 50 and 100 mm by a thin-wire grid were measured. For cod, tailbeat frequency, amplitude, body and fin span and propulsive wavelength were unaffected by h and varied with speed as described for fusiform pelagic species. In contrast, the kinematics of plaice was affected by h . Body and fin spans and propulsive wavelength were independent of swimming speed and h . Tailbeat amplitude was independent of swimming speed, but averaged 1.5 cm at h =0 and 2.5 cm at h ≥10 mm. Plaice tailbeat frequency increased with swimming speed for fish at the bottom but was independent of swimming speed at h =10, 50 and 100 mm, averaging 4.6, 6.0 and 5.8 Hz respectively. Total mechanical power, P , produced by propulsive movements calculated from the bulk-momentum form of elongated slender-body theory was similar for cod and plaice swimming at the bottom but, at h ≥10 mm, P for plaice was larger than that for cod. Plaice support their weight in water by swimming at a small tilt angle. The small changes in swimming kinematics with swimming speed are attributed to decreasing induced power costs to support the weight as speed increases. The contribution of the tail to power output increased monotonically with the tail gap/span ratio, z/B , for z/B =0.23 ( h =0 mm) to z/B =1.1 ( h =50 mm). The smaller tailbeat amplitude of the tail decreased both z/B and the power output for plaice swimming at the bottom. For the maximum body and fin span of plaice, the contribution to power output increased for local z/B values of 0.044 ( h -0 mm) to 0.1 ( h =10 mm) and declined somewhat at larger values of z/B . The smaller effect of the bottom on power output of the largespan anterior body sections may result from the resorption of much of the upstream wake at the re-entrant downstream tail.
New acute treatments for headache

Although we have several acute care medications for the treatment of migraine, we are always looking for new medications to treat our patients. Patients often say that their headaches are not under optimal control and would be happy to try another medication. Patients look for faster onset of relief, more complete relief, no recurrent headache and no adverse events. This article will cover some new and some anticipated acute care products, CGRP antagonists, sumatriptan by iontophoretic patch, sumatriptan by needle-free injections, DHE by oral inhalation and diclofenac potassium in a sachet. Botulinum toxin therapy, although a preventive measure, will be mentioned at the end.
Deterioration of cellulose acetate by transition metal salts in aqueous chlorine

Abstract In pH 7 buffered hypochlorite solutions, a rapid deterioration of cellulose acetate occurs with certain transition metal salts. The determined average molecular weight ( M w ) value of polymer derived from size exclusion chromatography analysis was used to measure deterioration. The elements chromium, cobalt, ruthenium, palladium, silver, and osmium increased the rate of attack on the polymer. Twenty-two other elements had no effect. Because cellulose acetate is the polymer for many desalting membranes, this study should be of interest to the desalting industry. Elemental analyses of sediments expected to accumulate on cellulose acetate desalting membranes were performed. This information suggests that either chromium or cobalt salts on the membranes may be pernicious to service life. Chromium and cobalt salts may accumulate on membranes by the corrosion of stainless steel feed piping during shutdown periods.
Light-dark rhythms in rat eating and drinking behavior.

Abstract Following blinding there is a rapid and sustained increase in eating and drinking during the light portion of a light-dark (L-D) cycle. Group nocturnal rhythms in eating and drinking are retained in attenuated form for at least 10 days; sixty days after blinding these rhythms are absent. For sighted rats the food/water ratio is three times greater during the light than during the dark; this difference is greatly reduced almost immediately after blinding. Continuous illumination almost immediately suppresses water intake and abolishes group nocturnal rhythms in eating and drinking within 9–11 days. Nocturnal eating and drinking rhythms re-entrain within 7–9 days following an inversion of the L-D cycle. Animals blinded between 12 and 36 hr after such an inversion remain residually entrained to the original L-D cycle for at least 1 month, but animals blinded at 48–120 hr re-entrain to the new cycle. These differences persist for surprisingly long times and suggest that the initial period following a change in environmental illumination is most critical for re-entrainment of eating and drinking which may then proceed relatively normally in the absence of further visual stimulation. Nocturnal patterns of drinking are present in essentially adult form in rats 23 days old; blinding on Day 14 but not on Day 18 or later prevents the appearance of these rhythms. The early perinatal period is not critical for entrainment of eating and drinking rhythms since animals first exposed to alternating L-D patterns of illumination at 59 days of age display nocturnal behavior patterns shortly thereafter. The influence of daytime feeding schedules on nocturnal drinking patterns is described and the neural basis for rhythmic light-dependent behavior considered.
A one-step miniprep for the isolation of plasmid DNA and lambda phage particles.

Plasmid DNA minipreps are fundamental techniques in molecular biology. Current plasmid DNA minipreps use alkali and the anionic detergent SDS in a three-solution format. In addition, alkali minipreps usually require additional column-based purification steps and cannot isolate other extra-chromosomal elements, such as bacteriophages. Non-ionic detergents (NIDs) have been used occasionally as components of multiple-solution plasmid DNA minipreps, but a one-step approach has not been developed. Here, we have established a one-tube, one-solution NID plasmid DNA miniprep, and we show that this approach also isolates bacteriophage lambda particles. NID minipreps are more time-efficient than alkali minipreps, and NID plasmid DNA performs better than alkali DNA in many downstream applications. In fact, NID crude lysate DNA is sufficiently pure to be used in digestion and sequencing reactions. Microscopic analysis showed that the NID procedure fragments E.coli cells into small protoplast-like components, which may, at least in part, explain the effectiveness of this approach. This work demonstrates that one-step NID minipreps are a robust method to generate high quality plasmid DNA, and NID approaches can also isolate bacteriophage lambda particles, outperforming current standard alkali-based minipreps.
Probabilistic Multibody Modeling of Gearboxes for Wind Turbines

Gearboxes have been prone to early failure rather than any mechanical part of modern wind turbines, much earlier than their predicted design life. Some studies indicated that gearboxes of wind turbines fail during the first 3 to 5 years of operation of the system as opposed to the total design life of the wind turbine, which usually is 20 years. Consequently, such failures cause the highest down time and extremely expensive replacement activities. Gearboxes are subjected to torsional, bending and axial wind loads which are yet not fully defined. The uncertainty in loading conditions and system design parameters has brought about the importance of considering probabilistic design and modeling approach than the traditional deterministic approach. Accordingly, the motivation of this study is to improve the reliability of gearboxes for wind turbine applications. A probabilistic multibody dynamic modeling of the gearbox, that fully integrates uncertainties in wind loading and design parameters, is sought. This paper presents previous studies and finally proposes the above mentioned approach as a potential way of improving, in general, the reliability of wind energy and, in particular, the gearboxes in wind turbines.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Two- and three-body bound state results for the Tamagaki nucleon-nucleon potential

Abstract A potential obtained by Tamagaki enables the two-body scattering data to be fitted reasonably well. In this paper we examine the predictions of that potential for the two- and three-body bound state properties. We also compare the results with those obtained using the Hamada-Johnston potential, which has been much tested and studied.
Ground-state grating echoes from Rb vapor at room temperature

We have used two sets of opposite circularly polarized traveling wave pulses separated in time to establish, and subsequently rephase, a spatially modulated coherence between the magnetic sublevels of the $F=3$ ground state in Doppler broadened ${}^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ vapor. The rephasing results in a magnetic grating echo whose duration is an accurate measure of the velocity distribution. We demonstrate that the time scale of the experiment is determined solely by the transit time of atoms across the laser beam. The shortening of the lifetime due to a perturber (Ar) allows us to infer the Rb-Ar velocity changing collision cross section.
The effect of dissolved carbon dioxide on penicillin production: Mycelial morphology

Abstract The effect of carbon dioxide on the morphology of Penicillium chrysogenum was examined. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study indicated that the morphology of P. chrysogenum was subject to change when exposed to various dissolved CO2 concentrations in the medium. At low influent carbon dioxide partial pressures between 0% and 8%, the predominant morphological form of P. chrysogenum was filamentous. At higher influent carbon dioxide partial pressures of 15% and 20%, the appearance of swollen and stunted hyphae predominated, and a significant quantity of spherical or yeast-like cells were observed. It was evident that for production subject to high dissolved CO2 concentrations the inhibition of cell growth and penicillin production related strongly to the concomitant morphological changes of P. chrysogenum.
Detection of Sulfur Dioxide in Bronchodilator Aerosols

Several bronchodilator drugs commonly used in respiratory therapy contain sodium metabisulfite as an antioxidant preservative. When aerosolized, these agents may release the irritant gas SO, as a result of bisulfite decomposition. We found that agents that contain bisulfites generated SO 2 concentrations of 2.0 ppm and greater, while bronchodilator solutions without bisulfite did not. Such levels are known to induce or to exacerbate asthmatic symptoms. Levels of SO, were higher when solutions were nebulized with compressed air from a tank or electric compressor than when they were nebulized from a hand-bulb nebulizer. No significant lot-to-lot variations were found in the solutions tested.
Chlorination Diversifies Cimicifuga racemosa Triterpene Glycosides

Extracts from roots and rhizomes of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) are widely used as dietary supplements to alleviate menopausal symptoms. State-of-the-art QC measures involve phytochemical fingerprinting of the triterpene glycosides for species identification and chemical standardization by HPLC. In the course of developing materials and methods for standardization procedures, the major C. racemosa triterpene glycoside (1) was isolated ans initially thought to be cimicifugoside (2). Detailed HR-LC-MS and 1/2D NMR analysis of 1 and 2 unambiguously revealed that 1 is its chlorine-containing derivative of 2, namely 25-chlorodeoxycimigenol-3-O-β-D-xyloside. Accordingly, HPLC profiles of black cohosh preparations require revision of the assignments of the chlorinated (1) and non-chlorinated (2) pair. Besides explaining the substantial shift in polarity (ΔtR[RP-18] ca 20 min), 25-deoxychlorination opens a new pathway of structural diversification in triterpene glycosides chemistry. As chemical conversion of 2 into 1 could be demonstrated, deoxychlorination may be interpreted as artifact formation. Simultaneously, however, it is a potentially significant pathway for the gastric in vivo conversion (“nature's pro drug”) of the relatively polar triterpene glycosides into significantly less polar chlorinated derivatives with altered pharmacological properties.
One-loop renormalization of QCD with Lorentz violation

The explicit one-loop renormalizability of the gluon sector of QCD with Lorentz violation is demonstrated. The result is consistent with multiplicative renormalization, as the required counterterms are consistent with a single rescaling of the Lorentz-violation parameters. In addition, the resulting beta functions indicate that the CPT-even Lorentz-violating terms increase with energy scale in opposition to the asymptotically free gauge coupling and CPT-odd terms. The calculations are performed at lowest order in the Lorentz-violating terms, as they are assumed small.
Introduction to Excavating Culture, Special Issue of Applied Developmental Science

In the 1990s, the clarion call sounded for increased sensitivity to culture and ethnicity as processes associated with family dynamics and child development. As is the case with many advances in th...
Grammar characterization of flowgraphs

An extension of the scheme grammar concept given by Urschler is formalized. It is also shown that, in the usual hierarchy of the theory of formal languages, the language generated by the scheme grummar is regular (type 3). The last section gives the description of a system for the automatic structuring of programs, which applies these concepts to the Mills algorithm with some modifications.
The effects of competent behavior on interpersonal attraction and task leadership

Past research relating to competence and the status of sex-role stereotypes has produced highly divergent and confusing results, while research into their effects on leadership choices has been scarce. With these issues in mind, the current study varied subject sex, competence, and confederate sex to evaluate their influence on attraction, leadership choice, and sex-role stereotyping on a number of bipolar items. Results revealed that competent womenw ere found to be as attractive as competent men, while incompetent women were found to be more attractive than incompetent men. Leadership remained a masculine trait; women assumed much less responsibility for leadership than did men. Thus, while women may be viewed as being as attractive as men when both are competent, they are not given, nor do they assume equivalent amounts of responsibility for leadership. There was generally a lack of sex-role stereotyping on bipolar items.
Reinforcement: the road not taken

Reinforcement, a process whereby natural selection strengthens prezygotic isolation between sympatric taxa, has gained increasing attention from evolutionary biologists over the past decade. This resurgence of interest is remarkable given that, in the 1980s, most evolutionary biologists considered reinforcement to be, at best, a process that rarely occurred in nature. Although studies of reinforcement are now an important component of speciation research, we still lack a clear understanding of when reinforcement should occur. Theoretical models have suggested that genetic architecture, population structure and the type of selection influence the action of reinforcement. Still to be considered are the consequences of variation in mating system and patterns of sperm or pollen utilization on the likelihood of reinforcement. We argue that traveling down The Road Not Taken (apologies to Frost), that is, taking into consideration mating system and patterns of gamete utilization, leads to novel and more precise predictions of the circumstances under which reinforcement should occur.
The first putative transmembrane segment of subunit c" (Vma16p) of the yeast V-ATPase is not necessary for function.

Abstract The yeast vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) contains three proteolipid subunits: c (Vma3p), c′ (Vma11p), and c" (Vma16p). Each subunit contains a buried glutamate residue that is essential for function, and these subunits are not able to substitute for each other in supporting activity. Subunits c and c′ each contain four putative transmembrane segments (TM1–4), whereas subunit c" is predicted to contain five. To determine whether TM1 of subunit c" serves an essential function, a deletion mutant of Vma16p was constructed lacking TM1 (Vma16p-ΔTM1). Although this construct does not complement the loss of Vma3p or Vma11p, it does complement the loss of full-length Vma16p. Vacuoles isolated from the strain expressing Vma16p-ΔTM1 showed V-ATPase activity and proton transport greater than 80% relative to wild type and displayed wild type levels of subunits A and a, suggesting normal assembly of the V-ATPase complex. These results suggest that TM1 of Vma16p is dispensable for both activity and assembly of the V-ATPase. To obtain information about the topology of Vma16p, labeling of single cysteine-containing mutants using the membrane-permeable reagent 3-(N-maleimidylpropionyl)biocytin (MPB) and the -impermeable reagent 4-acetamido-4′-maleimidylstilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (AMS) was tested. Both the Cys-less form of Vma16p and eight single cysteine-containing mutants retained greater than 80% of wild type levels of activity. Of the eight mutants tested, two (S5C and S178C) were labeled by MPB. MPB-labeling of S5C was blocked by AMS in intact vacuoles, whereas S178C was blocked by AMS only in the presence of permeabilizing concentrations of detergent. In addition, a hemagglutinin epitope tag introduced into the C terminus of Vma16p was recognized by an anti-hemagglutinin antibody in intact vacuolar membranes, suggesting a cytoplasmic orientation for the C terminus. These results suggest that subunit c" contains four rather than five transmembrane segments with both the N and C terminus on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.
How good are supply function equilibrium models: an empirical analysis of the ERCOT balancing market

We present an empirical analysis of a supply function equilibrium model in the Texas spot electricity market. We derive conditions for optimal bidding behavior in a spot market with ex ante bilaterally contracted sales. By estimating costs, we are able to derive a set of ex post-and ex ante-optimal supply functions and use a non-parametric behavioral model to compare our theoretically optimal supply functions to actual offers made. Our results show that with the exception of the largest generators, firms make offers with markups and markdowns far in excess of what a model of profit-maximizing behavior suggests.
Fine-structure analysis of the chromosome recombinational patterns at the base of the X-chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract Recombinational behavior of the most proximal 34 complementation units of the Drosophila X-chromosome was studied. The studied region is divided into two equal-sized subsegments, the more proximal of which is thought to be part of the proximal heterochromatin. Recombination per complementation unit is homogenous along the 17 units of the distal segment with the rate being about twice that in the proximal segment. Deficiencies in the proximal segment have little effect on crossing-over in adjacent regions of the distal segment. If such deficiencies include the heterochromatin spanning the su(ƒ)-bb region, their efficiency in reducing crossing-over is sharply increased. It is shown that heterozygosity for bb deficiency is not the cause of this effect and a heterochromatic segment, associated with recombinational pairing in females, is postulated. In light of this preceding studies of the same region, the genetic organization of the eu-heterochromatin junction is discussed. To account for the relation between the number of complementation units and the number of salivary chromosome bands, as well as the types of mutations recovered, DNA content and sequence pattern, a supergenic functional unit named the “service unit” is postulated and its features are discussed.
Distributed dynamic channel assignment in wireless networks

This paper studies the online channel assignment problem arising in dynamic wireless networks. The goal is to assign channels to communication links such that interference (or the number of conflicts) in the network is minimized. We model the problem as an online edge coloring problem. This problem is NP-hard by a reduction from EDGE COLORING. We present an online distributed greedy algorithm that gives a solution with at most 2(1 - 1/k)|E| more conflicts than the optimal solution, which implies a (2 - 1/k)-approximation. We then show that this ratio is tight by proving a lower bound that matches the above ratio.
The use of an amino acid analyzer for the rapid identification and quantitative determination of chitosan ollgosaccharides

Abstract The oligosaccharides of chitosan, glucosamine through chitohexaose, were separated and quantitated with the use of an amino acid analyzer. The oligosaccharides can be satisfactorilly resolved with a step gradient using two buffers, but resolution is improved with a linear buffer gradient. Using experimentally determined color factors, the method permits the rapid quantitation and identification of small amounts of chitosan oligosaccharides.
Impact of Early Versus Late Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Diagnosis on Clinical and Economic Outcomes

Background and Objectives Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem complex autoimmune disease that often mimics symptoms of other illnesses, which complicates the ability of healthcare providers to make the diagnosis. The objective of this study was to assess clinical outcomes, resource utilization, and costs between patients with earlier versus later SLE diagnosis.
An HPLC method forin vivo quantitation of oxygen free radicals using spin and chemical traps in biological systems

We describe here anin vivo method for direct and simultaneous determination and quantitation of the oxygen free radicals (OFR) superoxide (O2−) and hydroxy (OH) radicals in biological tissue and blood of 2 week-old swine. Our method utilizes OFR trapping techniques, a spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-n-oxide (DMPO), 50 mg/kg, for O2− and a chemical trap, Na salicylate, (SA, 100 mg/kg) for OH, was infused into the right atrium or pulmonary artery of two-week old swine (n=12). The OFR contents of coronary sinus (CS) blood and left ventricular (LV) tissue (quick frozen at 77°K) were measured by an HPLC method developed by us (Waters 590 solvent delivery system, using Waters electrochemical 460 EC detector, and 740 data module) at +0.6V. The DMPO-O2− (measured as DMPO-OH) adduct assay was performed with a mobile phase consisting of 0.03 M citric acid, 0.05 M NaOH and 8.5% acetonitrile (Ph 5.1) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min through a Waters Resolve 5 μ C18 column. The salicylate-OH products (2,5 and 2,3 dihydroxy benzoic acids, DHBA) were assayed using mobile phase of 0.03 M Na citrate, 0.03 M Na acetate, with N2 bubbled (pH 3.6) at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min through a 5μ Resolve C18 column. The detected peak for DMPO-O2− adduct (9.5 min) was standardized with a hypoxanthine (HX) and xanthine oxidase (XO) mixture and the salicylate-OH products (11.5 min) were standardized with HX, XO and FeCl3. Forin vitro experiments, the blood/tissue samples were immediately (<30 sec) incubated directly with 100 mM DMPO and/or 200 mM salicylate for 1 min, vortexed and injected for HPLC analysis. Superoxide dismutase (1 μM) and DMSO (10 mM) scavenged O2− and OH adduct peaks by 77 and 80% respectively. The coefficient of variation for DMPO-O2− adduct was ±12.6% and for salicylate-OH adduct was ±10.9% (n=12). The normal LV tissue levels determined for O2− and OH were 0.41 and 0.32 nm/g wet weight, respectively. (In blood, the OFR contents were very small: 0.09 and 0.06 nm/ml, respectively.) This method is very specific and sensitive, 50 pm for O2− and 0.2 pm for OH radicals.
STRUCTURE, DYNAMICS, AND FORMATION OF CARBON AND ALUMINUM CLUSTERS

The results of recent ab initio molecular dynamics studies of C and Al clusters are presented. The simulations have shown that C60 molecular structure is well preserved in the solid and that the individual C60 molecules start to rotate at relatively low temperatures. Our results are in very good agreement with NMR, photoemission, and neutron scattering data. At high temperatures C60 undergoes large amplitude soccerball-rugbyball oscillations, but the cage structure is still preserved. The C60 isomer containing two pairs of adjacent pentagons has a binding energy only 1.6 eV smaller than that of perfect C60, but high temperatures and long annealing times are required for the transformation between these two structures. Its activation energy is 5.4 eV. We have also studied the various isomers of C20, since it could form the smallest possible fullerene. At T=0, the lowest energy isomer is indeed a dodecohedral structure. However, high temperatures favor the corannulene structure, which is a perfect precursor...
Solvent deuteration enhancement of hydrophobicity: DSC study of the inverse temperature transition of elastin-based polypeptides

As previously shown, the polypentapeptide of elastin, (Val{sup 1}-Pro{sup 2}-Gly{sup 3}-Val{sup 4}-Gly{sup 5}){sub n} or simply poly(VPGVG), undergoes an inverse temperature transition which is seen macroscopically as a phase separation with a dense viscoelastic phase of about 60% water, 40% peptide by weight and which is characterized molecularly by increase in intra- and intermolecular order as evidenced by formation of specific hydrophobic contacts. Furthermore, from an extensive study of polypentapeptides of the composition poly(f{sub x}(VPGXG), f{sub v}(VPGVG)), where f{sub x} + f{sub v} = 1 and X is any of the amino acid residues with apolar (hydrophobic) side chains, it has been shown that the temperature of the transition decreases and the heat of the transition increases with increased hydrophobicity. In the present paper differential scanning calorimetry has been utilized to determine the effect of D{sub 2}O on the temperature and heats of the inverse temperature transitions for poly(VPGVG), poly(IPGVG), poly(LPGVG), and poly(VPAVG) and in the latter case in the presence of 0.5 and 1.0 N NaCl and of 1,2, and 3 M urea. In all cases, the effect of D{sub 2}O as compared to H{sub 2}O is to lower the transition temperature about 2 C and to increase themore » heat of the transition about 10%, and this occurs also in the presence of NaCl, which itself lowers the temperature and increases the heat, and in the presence of urea, which itself raises the temperature and decreases the heat of the transition. It is concluded that the effect of replacement of H{sub 2}O by D{sub 2}O by D{sub 2}O in these polypeptides is to effect a small but consistent increase in the expression of hydrophobicity.« less
Equivalent σ-finite invariant measures

Abstract Given a non-singular transformation T on a σ -finite measure space ( X , β , m ) , we describe a new ratio condition that is necessary and sufficient for the existence of a T -invariant σ -finite measure equivalent to m .
Dehydrogenation of ketones by pincer-ligated iridium: Formation and reactivity of novel enone complexes

Abstract The transfer dehydrogenation of several ketones by (PCP)IrH2 (PCP = κ3-C6H3-2,6-(CH2PtBu2)2) (1) has been observed. Catalytic turnover was inhibited in most cases by the formation of stable metallacycles or the O–H oxidative addition of phenolic products. Catalytic transfer dehydrogenation of 3,3-dimethylcyclohexanone was achieved, giving the corresponding α,β-enone. The transfer dehydrogenation reaction of cycloheptanone with 1 was found to generate a surprisingly stable PCP-iridium troponyl hydride (9), which is stabilized by conjugation and possibly represents an unusual bicyclo[5.2.0]troponyliridium metalloaromatic structure. Complex 9 was found to catalyze the dimerization of tropone to give a fused tricyclic dihydrodicycloheptafuranol. A mechanism for this reaction is proposed wherein the coordinated troponyl group nucleophilically attacks a free tropone molecule.
Silsesquioxane-based Photopatternable Porous Low- k Dielectric Materials

The future resolution requirements for the semiconductor industry demand advanced lithographic techniques, such as immersion and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technologies, which will increase the cost of microelectronics manufacturing. Currently, low-k dielectric materials, which are used as insulating layers between the copper wiring, are indirectly patterned using a set of sacrificial layers and etch processes. The sacrificial layers include a photoresist polymer that must first be imaged prior to transferring the pattern to the underlying layers, including the dielectric layer. In order to reduce the number of processing steps required for semiconductor manufacturing, we have developed a novel photo-patternable low-k dielectric material that (1) eliminates the need for sacrificial layers and (2) reduces the number of wafer processing steps. Silsesquioxane copolymers that undergo acid-catalyzed crosslinking when exposed to 193nm wavelength were synthesized. In addition to the direct photo-patternability, the patterned structures are suitable as a dielectric material with a dielectric constant as low as 2.4, and an appreciable elastic modulus (E > 4.0 GPa). These photo-patternable low-k materials represent a ‘greener’ approach to semiconductor manufacturing which has the ability to reduce cost, waste materials, and energy consumption.
Predicting physical and verbal aggression on a brain trauma unit

Brain injury often results in cognitive impairments and neurobehavioral deficits that effect recovery, rehabilitation, and general adjustment. Aggressive behaviors and agitation, well-known consequences of cerebral damage, are the most difficult for caregivers to evaluate and manage and the most stressful for patients and families. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of an observational protocol (Cognitive Behavioral Rating Scale, CBRS) in evaluating cognition and its usefulness with demographic, medical, and psychological information in predicting aggressive behaviors of cerebrally damaged patients. Twenty-eight brain-injured patients consecutively admitted to a brain injury unit were evaluated by nurses who used the CBRS after first establishing interrater reliability in using the instrument. Relationships were determined between results of the CBRS, demographic information, medical and psychological information; the variable in each category that was most highly correlated with aggressive behaviors was then used in a multiple linear regression to predict the frequency of aggressive behaviors. Discussion focused on disorientation to place and time as the most significant predictors of aggressive behaviors, as well as the prescriptive use of antiseizure medications and the number of medical comorbidities.
Are fault growth and linkage models consistent with power-law distributions of fault lengths?

Abstract It has recently been recognized that fault lengths ( L ) in natural populations follow power-law scaling. Such power-law scaling is observed in a wide range of tectonic settings in regions that have experienced differing amounts of total strain, and exhibit faults over a very large range of dimensions. In this paper we explore possible constraints on fault growth and linkage required to maintain power-law length scaling during progressive deformation. We first consider a fault growth model in which individual faults in a population grow by an amount Δ L ∝ L F during slip increments (earthquakes), which have a recurrence interval τ ∝ L E . If an initial power-law length distribution is assumed for the population, it is found that the growth model exponents must be related by F − E = 1 in order to continually maintain the same scaling. If the requirement of constant moment release rate through time is also imposed, this implies that for large faults E = 2, which leads to a loss of power-law scaling with increasing strain, unless F = 3. Current mechanical models for growth of single faults by tip propagation propose E ≥ 1 and F = 1. Thus single-fault models are not consistent with observed power-law scaling. In a second model, fault lengths increase by growth specified by the first model, unless a nearby fault is encountered, in which case the two faults link. With this model, it is possible to produce a power-law distribution from a fault or flaw population that initially does not have a power-law distribution. Once a power-law distribution is developed, fault linkage causes the power-law exponent ( C ) to decrease as fault strain increases.
Characterization of functional mannose receptor in a continuous hybridoma cell line

The mannose receptor is the best described member of the type I transmembrane C-type lectins; however much remains unanswered about the biology of the receptor. One difficulty has been the inability to consistently express high levels of a functional full length mannose receptor cDNA in mammalian cells. Another difficulty has been the lack of a human macrophage cell line expressing a fully functional receptor. Commonly used human macrophage cell lines such as U937, THP-1, Mono-Mac and HL60 do not express the mannose receptor. We have developed a macrophage hybridoma cell line (43MR cells) created by fusion of U937 cells with primary human monocyte-derived macrophages, resulting in a non-adherent cell line expressing several properties of primary macrophages. The purpose of this study was to identify and select mannose receptor-expressing cells using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and to characterize the expression and function of the receptor. In the current study we show that the mannose receptor found on this novel cell has endocytic characteristics consistent with and similar to the mannose receptor found on the surface of monocyte-derived human macrophages and rat bone marrow-derived macrophages. In addition, we demonstrate that these cells engage and internalize pathogen particles such as S. aureus and C. albicans. We further establish the transfectability of these cells via the introduction of a plasmid expressing influenza A hemagglutinin. The 43MR cell line represents the first naturally expressed MR-positive cell line derived from a human macrophage background. This cell line provides an important cell model for other researchers for the study of human MR biology and host-pathogen interactions.
Understanding first-day returns of hospitality initial public offerings

Excerpt] The decision for a company to issue shares publicly for the first time is not to be taken lightly. The manager-owner of a private firm must carefully weigh the benefits of an initial public offering (IPO) against the costs. Potential benefits include the ability to raise capital in the public markets on more attractive terms than in private circles; increased liquidity for managers and other insiders who wish to sell ownership stakes; and increased recognition and credibility with customers, employees, and suppliers. These benefits, however, come at considerable direct and indirect costs. For U.S. firms, the direct costs, such as investment banking commissions, average about 11 percent of IPO proceeds.1 Less obvious, but sometimes more painful for issuing firms, is an additional indirect cost commonly referred to as “IPO underpricing.”