cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulsation tectonics as the control of continental breakup

Abstract New data from the recent IPOD drilling of DSDP Site 534 in the Blake-Bahama Basin give a definitive age for the spreading-center shift involved in the breakup of the North American Atlantic margin. A basal Callovian age (~155 m.y.) is determined for the Blake Spur anomaly marking this spreading-center shift that signals the birth of the modern North Atlantic Ocean. This is some 20 m.y. younger than previously thought. One implication of this result is that this spreading-center shift starting North Atlantic breakup is now of an age which could be assigned to the spreading-center shift needed to end the rifting in the Gulf of Mexico. It is suggested that this might be one and the same event. Another implication of this younger age for the Blake Spur event is that relatively high spreading rates are now required for the Jurassic outer magnetic quiet zone along the North American margin. This association of a relatively high spreading rate with a magnetic quiet zone is similar to that for the mid-Cretaceous and implies a link between the processes controlling plate spreading, which are in the upper mantle, and the processes controlling the magnetic field, which are in the outer core. The cycles of fast and slow spreading and quiet and reversing magnetic field have a period of 60–100 m.y. A theory of pulsation tectonics involving the cyclic eruption of plumes of hot mantle material from the lowermost D″ layer of the mantle could explain the correlation. Plumes carry heat away from the core/mantle boundary and later reach the asthenosphere and lithosphere to induce faster spreading. The pulse of fast spreading in the Jurassic apparently caused the breakup of the North Atlantic. Other pulses of fast spreading appear to correlate with major ocean openings on various parts of the globe, implying that this might be a prevalent process. I suggest rifting of passive margins may be controlled by the more fundamental global processes described by the theory of pulsation tectonics. The term pulsation tectonics is appropriate for this new unifying theory, explaining variations in the magnetic field, plate motions, and paleoenvironment. The word pulsation was used by Grabau (1934) for a long term rhythm, nearly the length of a geological time period, in which there were widespread transgressions and regressions of seas over whole continents. Thus, pulsations are just the long term cycles of Vail et al. (1977). Grabau's pulsation theory prophetically invoked large-scale tectonic changes in the ocean basins as a cause for eustatic changes, in contrast to local continental tectonics, although he offered no explanation of the ocean changes. The cyclic character of crustal movements called for in the theory of pulsation tectonics revives many ideas of these past advocates of non-steady state tectonics and provides modern mechanisms that explain the observations on plate motions and the magnetic fields, data which were totally unknown to these past authors.
Oxidative stress-mediated HMGB1 biology

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a widely-expressed and highly-abundant protein that acts as an extracellular signal upon active secretion by immune cells or passive release by dead, dying, and injured cells. Both intracellular and extracellular HMGB1 play pivotal roles in regulation of the cellular response to stress. Targeting the translocation, release, and activity of HMGB1 can limit inflammation and reduce tissue damage during infection and sterile inflammation. Although the mechanisms contributing to HMGB1 biology are still under investigation, it appears that oxidative stress is a central regulator of HMGB1's translocation, release, and activity in inflammation and cell death (e.g., necrosis, apoptosis, autophagic cell death, pyroptosis, and NETosis). Thus, targeting HMGB1 with antioxidant compounds may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for inflammation-associated diseases such as sepsis, ischemia and reperfusion injury, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
The Globe: Infection, Inflammation, and Systemic Disease

Infection, inflammation, and systemic diseases affecting the globe encompass a broad range of pathologies which may ultimately lead to progressive vision loss. Clinical symptomatology varies from the inexorably silent progressive visual loss to an acute presentation of ocular pain and/or red eye. Most are diagnosed by clinical ophthalmologic examination with selective use of ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging for confirmation of the diagnosis, assessment of disease extent, and signs of associated systemic disease. Knowledge of the differential diagnoses of vision loss, ocular pain, and redness makes imaging analysis of this diverse group of processes more precise.
802.11 "decrypted"

This short paper introduces wireless IEEE 802 standards and activities with a focus on explaining the purpose of the many 802.11 amendments.
Optical Multiplexer-Demultiplexer For The Photonic Streak Camera

We present the results of our investigation of the feasibility of using an optical multiplexer-demultiplexer with diffraction gratings for the photonic streak camera. We describe how gratings can be used in a demultiplexer for a crystal streak camera and evaluate the performance of two gratings in a streak camera. The linear dispersion equation, used to determine the number of channels that can be multiplexed and recovered, accounts for focusing and collimating optics but neglects grating anomalies. To study the performance of the grating in the demultiplexer design, we investigated the characteristics of the gratings. The model reveals that interference from individual, adjacent, diffracted orders is a major restriction when one is recovering a large number of individual wavelengths from a beam containing a large spectral range. We include in this paper the experimental results that verify the model used to describe the multiplexer-demultiplexer.
Need to Develop New Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Formulations

Abstract Background In the management of pain, primary care physicians are often the first to diagnose and treat acute or chronic painful conditions. This places them in an important intersection to manage pain, in which safe and effective therapeutic options are paramount for their patients. For decades, NSAIDs have been routinely prescribed for relief of mild to moderate acute and chronic pain. Yet, safety and tolerability concerns associated with the use of this class of drugs continue to be an issue for patients and clinicians. Objective The objective of this review was to discuss the unmet medical needs of patients in the management of pain and inflammation, review the dose-dependent safety data associated with use of NSAIDs, and discuss the need to develop new NSAID formulations to improve safety and tolerability while maintaining efficacy. Methods We performed literature searches of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases through December 2012 for articles in English that reported dose-dependent safety and tolerability data associated with use of NSAIDs. Results The risk of serious, dose-dependent adverse events involving the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, and kidneys is associated with use of NSAIDs. On the basis of these findings, the US Food and Drug Administration has requested that the package insert for all NSAIDs be revised to include a boxed warning highlighting the potential increased risk of cardiovascular events and the risk of serious, and potentially life-threatening, gastrointestinal tract bleeding. While using lower dosages of a particular NSAID may be associated with lower rates of adverse events, maintaining the clinical efficacy of standard NSAID dosages remains a challenge. Conclusions There is a need to develop new and effective NSAID formulations to minimize the safety and tolerability concerns associated with currently available NSAIDs, yet maintain efficacy in management of inflammation and pain.
In Vitro Pumping Performance Evaluation of the Ension Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Assist System for Venoarterial and Venovenous ECMO

The purpose of this study is to determine the pumping performance of Revision 7 of the Ension pediatric cardiopulmonary assist system (pCAS) when used with cannulae for venoarterial (VA) or venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). It was hypothesized that the pCAS could deliver flow rates within recommended ranges needed to provide adequate cardiopulmonary support for neonates and infants. Rev 7 pCAS pumping performance was evaluated with the pCAS incorporated into an ECMO circuit connected to an instrumented pediatric mock circulation with cannulae combinations commonly used clinically for VA ECMO or dual lumen cannulae for VV ECMO. The pCAS motor speed was operated from 0 to 4500 rpm while the pCAS pumped blood analog solutions representing a clinically relevant range of viscosity. Maximum flow rates were inversely related to viscosity and were directly proportional to cannulae size. At 4500 rpm, maximum pCAS flow for the VA ECMO configuration was 2.14 L/min for the lowest viscosity and largest cannula combination and 0.72 L/min for the highest viscosity and the smallest cannulae combination. At a flow of 0.5 L/min, the pressure drop across the pCAS ranged from 121 to 323 mmHg depending on viscosity and cannulae combination. For the VV ECMO configuration at 4500 rpm, the maximum pCAS flow was 1.21 L/min for the lowest viscosity and largest cannula and 0.58 L/min for the highest viscosity and smallest cannula. For a flow of 0.5 L/min, the pressure drop across the pCAS ranged from 82 to 407 mmHg depending on the viscosity and cannula. Possible transition to turbulent flow (Re > 2100 at cannula inlet) was found at the higher flow rates achieved with the lower viscosity test fluid for all cannulae tested. In conclusion, across the range of pump speeds and fluid viscosities evaluated, the pCAS can generate the flow rates recommended to provide adequate cardiopulmonary support for neonates and infants with commonly used clinical cannulae combinations, thus confirming the hypotheses.
Dynamics of Water Adsorption onto a Calcite Surface as a Function of Relative Humidity

We have developed a molecular dynamics scheme in order to understand the dynamics of water adsorption on calcite surfaces as a function of relative humidity. In contrast to previous studies where either a monolayer or bulk water was assumed to cover the surface, we observe the formation of two to three prominent layers of water depending on the relative humidity. Due to the fact that these simulations are at room temperature, the distribution of water molecules on the surface is inhomogeneous and nonuniform. Our simulation results agree well with recent grazing incidence X-ray diffraction studies. The free energy of adsorption of a single water molecule onto the bare calcite (1014) surface is predicted to be −10.6 kcal/mol at room temperature while the enthalpy for the same process is −21.3 kcal/mol. The time scale for the bare calcite surface to become in dynamic equilibrium with water vapor at 100% relative humidity is determined to be close to 6 ns, and the adsorption follows a BET (Brunauer−Emmet−Tel...
GABA- and glycine-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in neonatal rat rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons in vitro.

Abstract Whole-cell patch recordings were made from rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons of two in vitro preparations: (i) brainstem–spinal cords of two- to five-day-old rats, and (ii) coronal brainstem slices of eight- to 12-day-old rats, and the inhibitory synaptic activities in these neurons have been studied. In brainstem–spinal cord preparations, Lucifer Yellow was diffused into the recording neurons at the end of experiments. Medullary neurons were characterized as: (i) spinally projecting by the appearance of an antidromic spike following electrical stimulation of the spinal tract between T2 and T3 segments, and (ii) adrenergic by the detection of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase immunoreactivity in Lucifer Yellow-filled neurons. Of the 13 spinally projecting and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase-positive medullary neurons, focal stimulation elicited in the presence of glutamate receptor antagonists an inhibitory postsynaptic potential in nine neurons. Inhibitory synaptic potentials were reversibly eliminated by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (10–20 μM) in six of nine neurons, by the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine (0.1–1 μM) in two and by a combination of bicuculline and strychnine in one neuron. In brainstem slice preparations, focal stimulation elicited three types of synaptic potential: (i) an excitatory postsynaptic potential, (ii) an inhibitory postsynaptic potential and (iii) a biphasic synaptic potential consisting of an excitatory synaptic potential followed by an inhibitory synaptic potential. Inhibitory synaptic potentials had a reversal potential between −70 and −80 mV, reversed their polarity in a low (6.7 mM) Cl−–Krebs' solution, and suppressed or blocked by either bicuculline or strychnine or both. Elimination of inhibitory synaptic potentials unmasked in some cells an excitatory synaptic potential or enhanced the excitatory synaptic potential component in medullary neurons with a biphasic response, indicating a marked convergence of excitatory and inhibitory inputs onto a single neuron. A population of medullary neurons appeared to be pacemaker neurons whereby they discharged spontaneously. When discharges were suppressed by membrane hyperpolarization, focal stimulation elicited inhibitory synaptic potentials in 8/23 neurons tested. Our results suggest that inhibitory synaptic potentials in medullary neurons are mediated by either GABA and/or glycine which open primarily Cl− channels. The prevalence of inhibitory synaptic potentials in medullary neurons indicates an essential role of inhibitory transmission in controlling the input and output ratio of these neurons.
Involving Undergraduate Students in SoS Engineering

Undergraduate Computer Science Department students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo participated in design, development, and deployment of a low-cost system of systems to collect and report near real-time field data from various sources including sensors linked by satellite or directly connected to the Internet. The project has been implemented as a working prototype for investigating an integrated model for environmental research, which concentrates on the application spatial, and temporal analysis techniques to large-scale ecological data sets and includes satellite imagery and ground-based sensor data. The design is extensible so that it can accommodate data sharing among diverse groups such as marine science, biological, geological, and climate control researchers. A Web interface is provided to visualize data collected from isolated geographical stations using satellite technology. Students experimented with alternative implementations of interface equipment using custom field programmable gate array circuits and stamp processors.
The effects of estrogen, progesterone and polypropylene mesh on vaginal smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Objective: To measure the effects of estrogen, progesterone and polypropylene mesh on vaginal smooth muscle cell proliferation. Methods: Primary smooth muscle cell (SMC) cultures were performed from vaginal biopsies which were then incubated with estradiol (0.1 μM, 1 μM, 10 μM), progesterone (5 nM, 50 nM, 0.5 μM), or polypropylene mesh to assess cell proliferation. Results: In vitro vaginal SMC proliferation was significantly increased by estradiol but not by progesterone or by polypropylene mesh (relative cell number, mean ± SD, control vs. estrogen 0.24 ± 0.02 vs. 0.28 ± 0.02, P=0.01; control vs. progesterone 0.24 ± 0.02 vs. 0.23 ± 0.02, P=NS and control vs. mesh, 0.24 ± 0.02 vs. 0.24 ± 0.01, P=NS). In addition, estradiol increased cell proliferation in a dose responsive fashion (estradiol dose: 0.1 μM, 1 μM, 10 μM) compared to control (P=0.01). Conclusion: Vaginal SMC proliferation is significantly increased by estrogen.
Effect of cortisone, related hormones, and adrenalectomy on susceptibility of mice to virus infections.

SummaryLarge doses of cortisone greatly increased the susceptibility of mice to lethal infection by West Nile, Ilheus, and Bunyam-wera viruses. ACTH in massive dosage produced the same effect with West Nile virus. Desoxycorticosterone, testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol in massive doses had no significant effect on these virus infections in mice. Anopheles B virus was not infective by intraperitoneal route even in cortisone treated mice. Adrenalectomy did not influence susceptibility to virus infection. The possible mechanisms of the cortisone effect are discussed and it is concluded that the effect of cortisone upon virus infection is probably due to a direct effect of cortisone upon the host.
Numerical simulation of the leading-edge separation vortex for a wing and strake-wing configuration

In the present investigation, the 'thin layer' Navier-Stokes equations are used to compute the flow about a delta wing and a strake-delta wing configuration. Both configurations possess blunt noses and rounded leading edges. The computational grid about these configurations is generated using a newly developed three-dimensional grid-generation code which solves a set of Poisson equations with spherical coordinate variables using an alternating direction implicit (ADI) scheme. Computational results are obtained for an isolated wing with 60 deg sweep and a strake-wing configuration with 80-60 deg sweep. Computations for angles of attack in the range from 6 to 30 deg are presented. Attention is given to the effect of the angle of attack, the Mach number, and the Reynolds number. Theoretical results are compared with experimental data.
Site of inhibition by dicoumarol of prothrombin biosynthesis: Carbohydrate content of prothrombin from dicoumarol-treated rats

Abstract We investigated the carbohydrate content of higly purified prothrombin prepared from control and dicoumarol-treated rats to determine whether or not coagulant activity is related to carbohydrate content. The carbohydrate content of prothrombin including total hexose, galactose, mannose, hexosamine and sialic acid was not altered in prothrombin preparations from dicoumarol-treated rats compared to controls. Therefore, the decreased coagulant activity of prothrombin isolated from dicoumarol treated rats did not result from an altered carbohydrate content. It is concluded that the site of action of dicoumarol inhibition of prothrombin biosynthesis follows the synthesis of the core protein of prothrombin, and, furthermore, precedes its glycosylation.
El problema de la inflexión en el castellano antiguo y la teoría de la geometría de los rasgos

En este trabajo se estudia el proceso de inflexion que afecto a ciertas vocales del latin tardio en su evolucion al castellano antiguo, que ha sido ligado tradicionalmente a la presencia de la yod /j/ en el entorno. Se tienen en cuenta dos analisis diferenciados. Por un lado, siguiendo la explicacion de Clements (1991a) sobre la altura vocalica, asi como su formalizacion de las reglas escalares, podemos describir este proceso de inflexion de forma directa y muy economica. Por otro, si empleamos una teoria que incluya el sistema de rasgos estandar (en la cual la altura vocalica se caracteriza por medio de la utilizacion de diferentes rasgos, no relacionados formalmente), esta regla de cierre que supone la asimilacion de altura vocalica es mas dificil de formalizar, al aplicar cambios en tres rasgos diferenciados. De este modo, no cabe duda de que el primer analisis, siguiendo la geometria de los rasgos, proporciona una descripcion mas "limpia" y clara. El objetivo del trabajo se centra en la descripcion del proceso, no intenta explicar la irregularidad de su aplicacion, para lo cual se deberia tener en cuenta la interaccion de vocales y consonantes.
WATER AND ELECTROLYTE STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON HOMOTRANSPLANTED HEARTS.

SUMMARY Twelve young dog hearts were transplanted to the necks of healthy adult dogs for planned periods of time varying from three to 90 hours. All transplants were functioning at the time of sacrifice. After histochemical studies for water, chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, the following deductions were made: (1)In the host tissues (heart, serum, and blood cells) the values for water, chloride, sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium were normal with only small deviations. (2)In the transplanted heart when the tissue compartments are considered two factors were evident: (a) The concentration of the intracellular constituents of potassium, magnesium, non-collagenous nitrogen and water showed little change when compared to the normal or host heart; (b) the extracellular values for chloride, sodium, calcium and water were remarkably elevated. The increase in water was entirely in the ultrafiltrate volume. While the architecture of the myocardial fiber appears to remain normal during the considered periods of transplantation, acute edema occurred in the extracellular compartment of the tissue and there was an increase in tissue calcium. We are unable at this time to speculate on the effect of these findings on the eventual failure of the homograft.
A mathematical model of a ramp forced hot-wire thermal conductivity instrument

Abstract The fundamental model and model corrections for the absolute determination of fluid thermal conductivity using a transient hot-wire technique were studied. Analytical solutions for three heat generation functions (Dirac, step and ramp) are presented. The ramp heat generation function is shown to offer several advantages over the step function, which is currently used by experimenters. Expressions for the corrections to the idealized model of a ramp forced system are presented for: heat capacity effect, truncation error, nonuniform wire radius, bounded media, Knudsen effects, axial conduction, free convection and radiation.
The Collapse: Economic Considerations in Vote Choice in Iceland

AbstractThis paper examines the consequences of the collapse of the Icelandic banking system in the fall of 2008 on voters' support for the political parties. The literature on economic voting has demonstrated that voters hold governments accountable for past economic outcomes, and such concerns should be especially salient in times of large-scale economic crisis such as that experienced by Iceland. In such cases, where the cause is more likely to be seen as the consequence of policies having to do with organization of the economy and, in particular the banking sector, rather than a consequence of short term economic management, the question of who voters hold accountable is of particular interest.
AFFECT, CURIOSITY, AND SOCIALIZATION. RELATED LEARNING: A PATH ANALYSIS OF ANTECEDENTS TO JOB PERFORMANCE

This study examined the influence of affect, curiosity, and socialization-related learning on job performance, with 233 service industry employees from a diverse variety of occupations completing surveys at their places of work. Both state and trait curiosity and socialization-related learning (learning associated with employee socialization) were hypothesized to mediate the relationship between affect (operationalized as state and trait anxiety and anger) and job performance. Structural equation analyses indicate that the data are consistent with the theoretical models proposed. As expected, anxiety negatively influences curiosity, socialization-related learning, and job performance; conversely, anger positively influences curiosity, socialization-related learning, and job performance. Overall, the findings suggest that affects indeed predict perception of job performance, but through the mediation of curiosity and the learning associated with the socialization process. These results highlight the importance of the complex interplay between affect, curiosity, and learning when thinking about successful employee socialization and best possible job performance.
Acute Bloody Diarrhea: A Medical Emergency for Patients of All Ages

Acute bloody diarrhea should be considered a medical emergency. Its causes are frequently serious or actionable or both and are usually identified. However, acute bloody diarrhea as a stand-alone clinical presentation has received little scholarly attention in the past several decades. Although the range of possible causes of acute bloody diarrhea is broad, infectious considerations are paramount and should always be prioritized in the evaluation of such patients. History, examination, and laboratory testing should be focused on minimizing time to diagnosis (and, by extension, to implementing appropriate therapy). Strategically chosen tests and imaging, avoidance of extraneous diagnostic pursuits, and provision of supportive care while awaiting diagnostic clarity are central to the adroit management of patients with acute bloody diarrhea. Diagnostic considerations differ somewhat between adults and children but have many elements in common, including the need for vigilance in detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection. In this review, we discuss diagnostic approaches (emphasizing the importance of rapid, accurate, and thorough microbiologic investigation) and measures that can be taken to support patients while awaiting information that determines the cause of their disease. These topics are discussed in the context of the medical care that is available to children and adults with bloody diarrhea in most institutions in developed nations.
An American View on CLERP

Problems of interpretation and acceptability do not appear to have deflected the Australian government from its determination to impose international accounting standards as the basis of the country's accounting practice. This analysis finds no persuasive explanation for the government's approach.
Complications of intertrochanteric rotational osteotomy

Intertrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy is a recently developed surgical procedure to treat osteonecrosis of the femoral head. We reviewed the radiographic findings in four cases to acquaint radiologists with the usual appearance of the procedure and to assess surgical complications. In all cases, immediate postoperative radiographs showed rotation of the necrotic portion of the femoral head anteriorly so that it was no longer weight-bearing. Clinical and radiologic follow-up ranged from 12 to 30 months. In this time, three patients developed complications, including nonunion of the osteotomy, further osteonecrosis with collapse of the femoral head, and worsening pain in the absence of progressive radiologic change.
Evidence for Trans splicing in trypanosomes

The 5' ends of trypanosome mRNAs consist of an identical sequence of 35 nucleotides. This "mini-exon" sequence is derived from the 5' end of a 137 nucleotide RNA (medRNA). The remainder of each mRNA is derived from a protein-coding exon that is not linked to the mini-exon. We propose that medRNA is spliced in trans to de-novo-initiated transcripts of protein-coding genes. This trans splicing model predicts that the downstream portion of medRNA will be part of a branched structure and then be released as a free product (minRNA). We demonstrate that significant levels of minRNA exist in trypanosome RNA. Furthermore, minRNA can be released from high molecular weight RNA by a HeLa cell S100 "debranching" extract. We conclude that trans splicing is the physiological process by which mature mRNA molecules are synthesized in trypanosomes.
Efficient implementation of neural networks on Hypercube SIMD arrays

Summary form only given, as follows. An efficient parallel implementation of neural networks on Hypercube SIMD arrays is presented. The authors show a mapping of a neural network having n nodes and e connections onto a Hypercube array having (n+e) processing elements such that each update step of the neural network can be performed in 8 log/sub 2/ (n+e)-3 steps by preprocessing the weight matrix. The technique is simple and efficient and can be used on current parallel machines such as the Connection Machine. >
Debris-flow benches: Dune-contact deposits record paleo-sand dune positions in north Panamint Valley, Inyo County, California

Debris flows debouching onto the alluvial fan at the north end of Panamint Valley, California, have been episodically impounded behind sand dunes, resulting in boulder-strewn, nearly flat topped deposits in irregular basins upslope of the dunes, whose upper surface is higher than the adjacent fan surface. Upslope migration of the dune field over and beyond these deposits eventually leaves them as debris-flow benches rising above the general fan surface. These features are therefore dune-contact forms, analogous to ice-contact forms such as kame terraces, in that both involve deposition against ephemeral barriers. Benches punctuate the alluvial-fan surface for 5 km downfan from the modern dune field. Clast seismic velocities of boulders on these benches indicate that bench ages increase monotonically with distance from the present dunes, implying that the dune field has migrated up the fan. Because the oldest bench is below the altitude of the highest pluvial lake shoreline in Panamint Valley (Gale Stage, ca. 50 ka) and slightly above the latest lakeshore (I Stage, ca. 14 ka), it seems likely that the dunes originated near the shore of the latest lake and have moved upfan at an average rate of 0.8 m/yr.
A Stochastic Skeleton Model for the MJO

AbstractThe Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the dominant mode of variability in the tropical atmosphere on intraseasonal time scales and planetary spatial scales. Despite the primary importance of the MJO and the decades of research progress since its original discovery, a generally accepted theory for its essential mechanisms has remained elusive. In recent work by two of the authors, a minimal dynamical model has been proposed that recovers robustly the most fundamental MJO features of (i) a slow eastward speed of roughly 5 m s−1, (ii) a peculiar dispersion relation with dω/dk ≈ 0, and (iii) a horizontal quadrupole vortex structure. This model, the skeleton model, depicts the MJO as a neutrally stable atmospheric wave that involves a simple multiscale interaction between planetary dry dynamics, planetary lower-tropospheric moisture, and the planetary envelope of synoptic-scale activity. In this article, it is shown that the skeleton model can further account for (iv) the intermittent generation of MJ...
Kinetic reactions of alpha and beta lactose. II. Crystallization.

Abstract Studies were conducted on rates of mutarotation and crystallization of lactose. Mutarotation occurred at the same rate in a supersaturated solution as in solutions with lower concentrations. Crystallization always occurred at a lower rate than mutarotation and, hence, the latter is not a limiting factor. Furthermore, crystallization differed when the solution was agitated: The relationship was logarithmic with agitation, and linear without. This is shown to be due to factors active at the surface during crystallization rather than to diffusion. Crystallization studies in concentrated whey showed, again, a logarithmic relationship, and occurred at approximately the same rate as in water, which shows that the increased viscosity did not have a retarding influence.
Helium Detonations on Neutron Stars

We present the results of a numerical study of helium detonations on the surfaces of neutron stars. We describe two-dimensional simulations of the evolution of a detonation as it breaks through the accreted envelope of the neutron star and propagates laterally through the accreted material. The detonation front propagates laterally at nearly the Chapman-Jouguet velocity, v = 1.3 × 109 cm s-1. A series of surface waves propagate across the pool of hot ash behind the detonation front with the same speed, matching the speed expected from shallow water wave theory. The entire envelope oscillates in the gravitational potential well of the neutron star with a period of ~50 μs. The photosphere reaches an estimated height of 10 km above the surface of the neutron star. Our study confirms that such a detonation can insure the spread of burning over the entire neutron star surface on a timescale consistent with burst rise times. We analyze the sensitivity of the results to the spatial resolution and the assumed initial conditions. We conclude by presenting a comparison of this model to type I X-ray bursts.
Primary cerebral neuroblastoma (neurocytoma) in adults.

We report a case of a third ventricular neuroblastoma (neurocytoma) in a 66 year old man. A stereotactic needly biopsy was performed to obtain a tissue diagnosis and was followed by total resection. We elected not to give radiation or chemotherapy and to follow the patient closely with serial CT scans. Presently, 48 months postoperatively, the patient is free of tumor by head CT scan and able to live independently. We reviewed the literature of primary cerebral neuroblastomas/neurocytomas occurring in adults (≥15 years of age) and found 32 cases. Our patient is the oldest of this group with a mean age of 32 ± 14 years (S.D.). The location of the 33 neoplasms was intraventricular in 17 cases (52%) and intraparenchymal in 16 cases. The male to female ratio was 2: 1. Of the 17 patients having a minimal follow-up period of 5 months (mean 51 months), five developed recurrences after 5 to 144 months (mean 50 months) compared to 12 patients without recurrence after a 6- to 72-month follow-up period (mean 52 months). Recurrences occurred statistically significantly more often in parenchymal neuroblastomas/neurocytomas than in intraventricular tumor locations.
Allozymic variability of Riftia pachyptila populations from the Galapagos Rift and 21°N hydrothermal vents

Species endemic to hydrothermal vent environments face difficult ecological and evolutionary conditions, especially since vent sites are irregularly distributed in space and ephemeral. Theoretical predictions for an optimal life history for an endemic organism may not be matched by one of the vent community's prominent species, the vestimentiferan Riftia pachyptila. Population samples were collected by submersible from vent sites along the Galapagos Rift and at 21°N along the East Pacific Rise. Allozymes were used to examine the population genetics of R. pachyptila, including the estimation of genetic variability of the species and differentiation of populations at different vent sites. For the 13 enzyme loci assayed by starch-gel electrophoresis, 31% were polymorphic. Heterozygosity was low: 1.5%. Genetic divergence between samples from the two regions was small but significant: genetic distance, Nei's D, was 0.008 and Wright's measure of variance partitioning, FST = 0.025 (p < 0.05) after correction for small sample sizes. Genotypic frequencies also provided evidence of the differentiation of populations: there was a deficiency of one class of heterozygotes (Pgm-1 98/100) in the pooled samples. The slight genetic differentiation may result from low genetic variability, which may prevent the use of allozymes as markers of gene flow. Endemic vent species may experience bottlenecks during colonization of new vent sites and extinction as vents become inactive. Low variability is a predictable outcome of repeated bouts of colonization and extinction, during which the effects of random genetic drift may rapidly decrease genetic variability.
Remote sensing for detection of oil in the marine environment: An evaluation of the United States coast guard ‘Aireye’ surveillance system

Abstract In the United States, the U.S. Coast Guard has a primary responsibility for monitoring petrochemical pollution of U.S. coastal waters and has developed the ‘Aireye’ airborne surveillance system to assist in this task. Carried aboard a Dessault Falcon fanjet aircraft, Aireye is a multisensor, real-time, all weather day/night remote sensing system used to detect sea-surface oil pollutants and identify source vessels. The system includes a thermal infrared/ultraviolet line scanner, real aperature side-looking radar and an active-gated television. The Aireye system was field evaluated in a series of test flights over a portion the Santa Barbara Channel, California, during September and October, 1984, and May, 1985. This paper describes the Aireye system and presents the results of these tests. In addition, some general oil pollution detection concepts are summarized and problems in remote detection of sea-surface oil are discussed.
Chain elongation during thermolysis of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene: Modeling of mechanistic hypotheses and elucidation of data needs☆

Abstract Thermolysis of tetrafluoroethylene at ≤500 °C is well-known to lead to equilibration with octafluorocyclobutane; at ≈600 °C this mixture forms hexafluoropropylene; and at slightly more forcing conditions the latter is converted to octafluoroisobutylene (and/or octafluoro-2-butene). This chain-elongation behavior contrasts with the familiar cracking of non-fluorinated olefins and the thermodynamic rationale is provided herein. Several mechanisms have been proposed in the literature without a clear choice. Kinetic modeling herein of available product/kinetic data with use of current thermochemical and kinetic parameters supports a key role for difluorocarbene formed from dissociation of tetrafluoroethylene. Arbitrary selection between unfortunately inconsistent available measurements and/or computations of elementary rate constants, with modest adjustments, allowed data matches with either a direct insertion into an olefinic C–F bond or an addition to the olefin to give a 1,3-biradical followed by a 1,2-fluorine shift. In contrast, a 1,2-fluorine shift in the starting olefin to generate a carbene, followed by carbene combination, seems unlikely. However, the modeling was only partially successful, especially for hexafluoropropylene as feed which seems a comparatively inefficient source of difluorocarbene. This highlights the need for improved experimental thermolysis data at low conversion, independent elementary rate constants for key steps, and enthalpies of formation of fluorocarbons and their reactive intermediates, especially C3F6.
Assessment of ritonavir effects on hepatic and first‐pass CYP3A activity and methadone disposition using noninvasive pupillometry

Purpose Ritonavir (RIT) decreases methadone (M) conc. & causes withdrawal. M metabolism is attributed mainly to CYP3A. Acute & chronic RIT are said to cause CYP3A inhibition & induction, respectively. We tested whether acute & chronic RIT would inhibit & induce M elimination, due to commensurate changes in CYP3A. Alfentanil (ALF) was the CYP3A probe. Methods Volunteers (12) were studied in a nonrandomized crossover. On 3 consecutive days they received ALF 15 ig/kg IV, ALF 43 μg/kg PO, & M-HCl (11 mg PO + 6 mg IV). They then took RIT, 200 mg po TID × 1d, 300 mg BID x 6d, then 400 mg BID x 13d. Subjects received ALF 4.3 μg/kg PO on RIT day 2, M (11 mg PO + 6 mg IV) on RIT day 3, & ALF 4.3 μg/kg PO, ALF 5 μg/kg IV, & M on RIT days 15,16, 17. Dark-adapted pupil diameters were measured after opioid dosing. Results Average dose-normalized AUC for IV ALF miosis was increased from 6 to 24 mm-hr/mg by acute RIT. Average dose-normalized AUC for PO ALF miosis was increased from 2.1 to 37 and 19 mm-hr/mg by acute and chronic RIT, respectively. Average AUC for M miosis was increased from 89 to 115 mm-hr by acute RIT, but returned to 78 after chronic RIT. Conclusions Miosis was a utilitarian method to measure M & ALF disposition. RIT was a profound (first-pass≫ hepatic) CYP3A inhibitor. Acute & chronic RIT inhibited & mildly increased M elimination, but the latter was not due to CYP3A induction. M may be metabolized by P450s in addition to CYP3A, which are induced by RIT. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P96–P96; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.368
Fluctuations and scaling in aggregation phenomena

We introduce a method which enables us to isolate different sources of fluctuations during a typical aggregation process. As an example, we focus on the evolution of islands during irreversible submonolayer epitaxy. We show that only spatial fluctuations in island nucleation are required to produce the scaling of their size distribution as determined by Monte Carlo simulations. In particular, once the islands are seeded, their growth can be described in a purely deterministic manner.
Magnetic field dependence of solvent proton relaxation in aqueous solutions of Fe3+ complexes.

It might appear that the Fe3+ ion would be particularly useful as an agent for enhancing contrast in NMR images since it has a relatively large magnetic moment and occurs in vivo in a variety of forms. Moreover, the concentration of Fe3+ changes locally in certain disease states (e.g., beta-thalassemia) and in trauma (formation of methemoglobin), and can be altered in the gastrointestinal tract by the ingestion of readily available dietary supplements. However, the Fe3+ ion is insoluble above pH approximately 4, and soluble chelate and protein complexes of Fe3+ tend to sequester the ions from solvent; hence, the efficacy of Fe3+ ions for relaxing water protons ought to be low under typical physiological conditions. We report the magnetic field dependence of the relaxation rate of solvent protons (NMRD profiles) for solutions of a variety of Fe3+ complexes to demonstrate the phenomenology relevant to NMR imaging. From these data we make some estimates to show that, despite the low relaxation rates of solvent protons in solutions of Fe3+ complexes, certain observed changes in image contrast are consistent, quantitatively, with inferences that can be drawn from solution data.
Classification of infinite-dimensional simple groups of supersymmetries and quantum field theory

This work was motivated by two seemingly unrelated problems: 1. Lie’s problem of classification of “local continuous transformation groups of a finite-dimensional manifold”. 2. The problem of classification of operator product expansions (OPE) of chiral fields in 2-dimensional conformal field theory.
Ortnit, or the Failure of Patriarchy

Ortnit, a poem of almost 600 four-line strophes, precedes and is attached to the heroic epic Wolfdietrich A. A young king of Lombardy, Ortnit embarks on a bride-quest, wins the daughter of a Levantine sultan, but falls victim to his revenge when he is killed by dragons sent by the sultan to his palace in Garte (Garda). This article treats only one of the several versions of this story, i.e., the AW version, so called after the two Vienna manuscripts in which it has been preserved, the Ambras and the Windhagen manuscripts. In this version, a matriarchal social structure has been superimposed on the original patriarchal structure in an earlier, less detailed account found in another work, Dietrichs Flucht. At the beginning, Ortnit accepts his new role in the matriarchal structure, but once the bride is won, he resumes his patriarchal position as king. When one of the dragons attacks his capital, he is unable to defeat it on his own. His appeal for help to Alberich, the representative of the matriarchal structure, is rejected, and he is killed by the dragon.
A study of non-operational dynamic responses of disk in 3.5 in. hard disk drive to impact load

Hard disk drives have to be designed to sustain operational and non-operational shock. There are many analytical models and numerical schemes proposed and many experiments conducted for analyzing the transient impact responses of hard disk drives. The existing researches have been focused on the slider-suspension responses at the head-disk interface in which the linear models have been used and the effects of spindle motor have been ignored. In this study, the complex vibrations of disk of 3.5 in. hard disk drive (HDD) under shock are experimentally investigated. The hammer impact test and linear drop test are conducted for the HDD to study the effect of shock on the disk responses. The results show that the nonlinear rock modes substantially contribute to the vibrations of disk when HDD is under shock impact. The nonlinear properties of the disk responses and the mode damping ratio are evaluated by using empirical mode decomposition approach.
Methadone safety guidelines: a new care delivery paradigm.

To the Editor: We applaud the recently published Methadone Safety Guidelines by Chou and colleagues for its comprehensive approachtoensuringpatientsafetyduringbothinitiation and maintenance phases of methadone treatment. 2 This guideline mirrors a previously published cardiac safety guideline inmethadonetreatment 5 focusedonprolongation of the QTc intervalandextendsits focus tomitigation oftherisksofrespiratorydepressionandopioidmisusevia routine urine drug testing. This is increasingly relevant since the distinction between opioid treatment for chronic pain and opioid dependency is not always clear in clinical practice. Most importantly, the directive to ‘‘start low and go slow’’ with regard to dose titration has the potential to limit the growing number of unintentional fatalities associated with methadone. A few issues specific to arrhythmia risk reduction in this guidelinemaybeusefultohighlighttoreaders.Thisguide
Evaluation of a Multiple-Cycle, Recombinant Virus, Growth Competition Assay That Uses Flow Cytometry To Measure Replication Efficiency of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Cell Culture

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication efficiency or fitness, as measured in cell culture, has been postulated to correlate with clinical outcome of HIV infection, although this is still controversial. One limitation is the lack of high-throughput assays that can measure replication efficiency over multiple rounds of replication. We have developed a multiple-cycle growth competition assay to measure HIV-1 replication efficiency that uses flow cytometry to determine the relative proportions of test and reference viruses, each of which expresses a different reporter gene in place of nef. The reporter genes are expressed on the surface of infected cells and are detected by commercially available fluorescence-labeled antibodies. This method is less labor-intensive than those that require isolation and amplification of nucleic acids. The two reporter gene products are detected with similar specificity and sensitivity, and the proportion of infected cells in culture correlates with the amount of viral p24 antigen produced in the culture supernatant. HIV replication efficiencies of six different drug-resistant site-directed mutants were reproducibly quantified and were similar to those obtained with a growth competition assay in which the relative proportion of each variant was measured by sequence analysis, indicating that recombination between the pol and reporter genes was negligible. This assay also reproducibly quantified the relative fitness conferred by protease and reverse transcriptase sequences containing multiple drug resistance mutations, amplified from patient plasma. This flow cytometry-based growth competition assay offers advantages over current assays for HIV replication efficiency and should prove useful for the evaluation of patient samples in clinical trials.
Impact of resident work-hour restrictions on trauma care.

Background: In July 2003, the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) required residency programs to significantly restrict resident work hours. The effect of these regulations on trauma services has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the ACGME regulations on the care of injured patients and resident education. Methods: A 24-question instrument was mailed to a sample of senior trauma surgeons. Results: Shift work has become significantly more common among trauma residents since July 2003 (14% vs. 53.4%, (P <.001)). Fifty-four percent of respondents believed that trauma education has worsened and 45% believed that patient care has worsened as a result of the work-hour restrictions. Conclusions; The ACGME-mandated work-hour restrictions have had a dramatic effect on resident and staff surgeons involved in the care of injured patients. Appropriate methods of responding to these challenges must be developed to improve trauma care and enhance resident education.