cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lack of effectiveness of lidocaine for sustained, wide QRS complex tachycardia

Records of 31 episodes of sustained, wide QRS complex tachycardia treated with IV boluses of lidocaine in 20 consecutive patients were reviewed. Most of the episodes were managed in the emergency department. Patient ages ranged from 18 to 91 years (mean ± SD, 64 ± 17), and 17 of 20 were men. All but three had coronary artery disease. Although 19 of 20 patients were admitted with a diagnosis of "rule out acute myocardial infarction", only two had this diagnosis confirmed. Seventeen patients had ventricular tachycardia, and three had wide QRS complex supraventricular tachycardia. Patients were given one to three boluses of lidocaine totaling 75 to 400 mg (127 ± 64 mg). Termination of the tachycardia was temporally related to lidocaine administration in only six of 31 episodes (19%) occurring in five of 20 patients. In three of these five patients, lidocaine was given again for a recurrence of the tachycardia and was ineffective. A similarly low efficacy was seen in 20 episodes initially managed in the hospital compared with 11 episodes initially managed by paramedics. Thus, although lidocaine is widely considered the drug therapy of first choice for sustained wide QRS complex tachycardia, it was not usually effective in our study. Patients presenting to the ED with this rhythm disturbance rarely prove to have acute myocardial infarction. Although this small retrospective study should not be the basis for a change in standard medical practice, the recommendation of lidocaine as initial therapy for such patients should be reexamined.
Perceived need for resources: Some differences among groups

Abstract Perceived need for interpersonal resources (status, love, services, goods, money and information) was examined in two studies. In the first study drug addicts, prostitutes, alcoholics and motorcycle racers were compared with a control group drawn from the general population. In the second investigation outpatients with medical complaints, alcoholic impatients and drug addict outpatients all treated at a VA hospital were compared with a control group of males drawn from the general population. After patialling out the effects of age and education, both studies showed significant differences among the groups in their expressed need for status, love, services and information. Conversely, no major differences were found in the need for goods and money. The prostitutes in the first study and the addicts of both studies showed the highest need level. The relevance of these findings to the treatment and prevention of social problems is discussed.
Transplantation: pediatric en bloc kidneys are suitable for adult recipients.

A number of concerns have prevented the widespread use of pediatric en bloc kidneys for transplantation in adults. New evidence suggests that some of these concerns could be unfounded and that en bloc pediatric kidneys might perform as well, or even better, than grafts from traditional donors.
Treating the chronic wound: A practical approach to the care of nonhealing wounds and wound care dressings

Chronic wounds are a major healthcare problem costing the United States billions of dollars a year. The American Academy of Dermatology has underscored the significance of wound care in dermatological practice. It is critical for all dermatologists to understand the elements of diagnosis and therapy. We emphasize major aspects of diagnosis and present a simple classification of wound dressings with guidelines for usage and relative cost data. Learning objective After completing this learning activity, participants should be able to diagnose common types of chronic wounds, formulate a therapeutic plan, and describe the major classes of topical therapies and dressings for the chronic wound.
Charge Delocalization in Persistent Benz[a]anthracenium Cations BAH+ and Related α-Carbocations/Carboxonium Ions: Modeling Epoxide Ring Opening in Potent Carcinogens

Parent BA 1 protonates at C-7/C-12 to give 1H+ and 1aH+ in 3:1 ratio which remains unaffected by variation in temperature and the superacid system. Increasing steric crowding at the bay-region by introduction of a methyl at C-1 (1-MBA) changes the ratio of C-7/C-12 protonated arenium ions 2H+/2aH+ to 10:1. The highly potent 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 7,12-DMBA, gives a 1:1 mixture of the two ipso-protonated cations 3aH+/3H+ whose composition changes to 50:1 overtime in favor of 3aH+ (ipso-attack at bay-region), showing it to be the thermodynamic cation. 3-Methylcholanthrene, 3MC, is exclusively protonated at C-6 (→4aH+). Cation 5+ (a simplified model for bay-region epoxide ring opening) is cleanly formed via its carbinol 5-OH with FSO3H/SO2ClF. Ketone 6 is O-protonated in TFAH and in TFAH/H2SO4 to give the bay-region carboxonium ion 6H+; its diprotonation in FSO3H·SbF5 (4:1)/SO2ClF gave the first example of the oxonium−arenium dication 6H22+. α-BA-substituted secondary carbocation 7+ and the carboxon...
Voltage-gated Potassium Channel Modulation of Neurotoxic Activity in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1(HIV-1)-Infected Macrophages

Macrophages play an important role in brain immune and inflammatory responses. They are also critical cells in mediating the pathology of neurodegenerative disorders such as HIV-associated dementia. This is largely through their capacity to secrete a variety of bioactive molecules such as cytokines, leading to neuronal dysfunction and/or death. Accumulating evidence indicates that voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels play a pivotal role in the modulation of macrophage proliferation, activation, and secretion. Blockade of Kv channels by specific antagonists decreases macrophage cytokine production and ameliorates macrophage-associated neuronal injury. These results suggest that Kv channels might become a potential target for the development of new therapeutic strategies for chronic inflammatory diseases.
The Persistence of Milpa Agriculture in Highland Guatemala1

In southwestern Guatemala, within the western realms of the basin of Quezaltenango, peasants have maintained the traditional system of milpa agriculture in the face of repeated cultural intrusions. The Spanish conquest resulted in the adoption of a plethora of tools, crops and domesticated animals that modified, but did not alter the basic character of the milpa. The milpa system has evolved more recently to accommodate the production of cash crops, principally wheat and potatoes. Chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and improved varieties of seed have been accepted as necessary adjuncts in the production of these crops. In contradiction of the counsel of well-intentioned advisors, however, the Guatemalan peasants persist in their adherence to the traditional milpa. Many Westerners are inclined to regard this as irrational behavior. Although not capable of articulating fully all of the subtle advantages of milpa agriculture, the majority of the region's peasants perceive the milpa as an economical...
Silicon Carbide (SiC) Nanoelectromechanical Antifuse for Ultralow-Power One-Time-Programmable (OTP) FPGA Interconnects

We report a new nanoscale antifuse featuring low-power and high-programming speed, by employing silicon carbide (SiC) nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). We show that the SiC NEMS antifuses can enable ultralow-power one-time-programmable (OTP) field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) with characteristics promising for security-sensitive and harsh-environment applications. The SiC NEMS antifuses offer minimal leakage, low-programming voltage (down to $\sim 1.5$ V), ideally abrupt transient, high on/off ratios ( $>10^{7}$ ) and high-current carrying ability ( $>10^{6}$ A/cm $^{2}$ ), and very small footprints ( $\sim 1~\mu \text{m}^{2}$ to $\sim 0.1~\mu \text{m}^{2}$ per device). We further describe new designs of antifuses, simulate FPGA benchmarking circuits based on experimentally demonstrated practical NEMS antifuses, and compare their advantageous performance with state-of-the-art conventional antifuse FPGAs. We also demonstrate a SiC NEMS antifuse-based OTP memory cell with a read margin of $>10^{6}$ .
Handling the growth by definition of mechanical languages

It has for many years been my opinion that programming languages in particular, and mechanical languages in general, exhibit many phenomena generally thought to be characteristic of natural languages.
Correlation of Eggshell Quality with Tibia Status and Other Production Parameters in Commercial Leghorns at Oviposition and 10 Hour Postoviposition

Abstract The relationship of eggshell quality to tibia status and production parameters in laying hens was evaluated in three trials. Hens were fed commercial-type layer diets for 12 wk, and data were collected for evaluation during the last 2 wk of egg production. Hens were killed at oviposition and 10 h postoviposition, and tibiae were removed to determine tibia status, tibia weight, tibia strength, and percentage bone. Eggs collected were used to determine shell quality, shell weight, shell thickness, shell strength, percentage shell, and specific gravity. There was no relationship between shell quality and tibia weight or tibia strength at oviposition. Percentage bone, however, was negatively correlated with shell quality (specific gravity, −.308; shell weight, −.363; and percentage shell, −.265). At 10 h postoviposition, tibia strength was negatively correlated with shell quality (specific gravity, −.184; shell weight, −.195; percentage shell, −.187) for birds with a shell-less egg in the oviduct. This negative relationship was also seen when birds had no egg in the oviduct (tibia strength and specific gravity, −.501; tibia strength and shell weight, −.181; tibia strength and percentage shell, −.160). Results indicate a relationship between shell quality and tibia status during eggshell formation, suggesting possible resorption of the cortical bone of tibia in conjunction with the medullary bone during eggshell calcification.
The organocatalytic vinylogous aldol reaction: recent advances.

Over the past decade, organocatalysis has emerged as a powerful tool for stereoselective carbon–carbon bond formation under exceptionally mild conditions. The organocatalytic versions of a large number of traditional synthetic transformations are now well established and the quest for new applications of the basic concepts of organocatalysis continues. This review addresses the emergent interest in the organocatalytic vinylogous aldol reaction. While noteworthy progress has been made in this area, significant challenges lie ahead.
The mass balance of buprenorphine in humans

THE MASS BALANCE OF BUPRENORPHINE IN HUMANS E. Everhart;Polly Cheung;John Mendelson;Robert Upton;Reese Jones; Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Comparison of wedge to forceps videothoracoscopic lung biopsy. Gross and histologic findings.

Background The decreased morbidity and rapid recovery after thoracoscopic lung biopsy compared with open lung biopsy by thoracotomy is increasingly recognized, as is the ability to obtain satisfactory diagnostic material thoracoscopically. To our knowledge, however, there has been no systematic comparison of specimen quality using different thoracoscopic biopsy techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare histologic features of lung parenchyma obtained by videothoracoscopic forceps and wedge biopsy techniques. Methods Five adult swine were anesthetized, intubated, and ventilated. Sequential left and right videothoracoscopies were performed to obtain biopsy specimens of lung parenchyma using 5-mm endoscopic cupped forceps. Specimens were obtained from fully inflated lung and from partially atelectatic (deflated) lung. Electrosurgery was applied during forceps biopsy for airleak closure. Limited wedge biopsy specimens were obtained using an endoscopic stapler. One hundred thirteen forceps biopsy specimens (55 inflated, 58 deflated) and 24 sections from 8 wedge biopsy specimens were examined. Specimens were assessed for overall histologic quality and ease of microscopic interpretation. Specific histologic features were then evaluated including presence of artifact, congestion and hemorrhage, degree of alveolar inflation, and number of bronchioles and vessels per cross-sectional area. Whole lungs from two animals were examined for extent and depth of lung injury at the areas of biopsy. Results No major differences in overall microscopic specimen quality were detected among the different techniques nor were significant differences noted between lung inflated and lung deflated forceps biopsy technique. Wedge sections contained more vessels per unit area (p Conclusions Multiple 5-mm forceps biopsy specimens were of comparable quality to single wedge biopsy specimens obtained by endoscopic stapling. Although greater numbers of vessels were present in endoscopic stapled wedge biopsy specimens, multiple forceps biopsy specimens in fact, contain amply sufficient vessels for histologic analysis.
Influence of vasodilators upon function and metabolism of ischemic myocardium

Although the systemic hemodynamic effects of vasodilators such as nitroprusside, phentolamine and nitrates are well known, relatively little information is available regarding their effects upon the function and metabolism of ischemic myocardium. Experimental and clinical studies indicate that vasodilators improve the mechanical performance of regional ischemic myocardium, probably by simultaneous reduction of peripheral resistance and reduction of the degree of ischemia. The majority of evidence, although still controversial, seems to indicate that myocardial perfusion can also be increased, particularly when coronary collateral vessels are present. Concomitant reduction in preload contributes to reduced oxygen demand, as evidenced by findings of reduced oxygen extraction. Thus, the balance of the oxygen supply and demand may be improved as indicated by decreases in lactate production. In addition, limited evidence in experimental animals and man suggests that vasodilators may also reduce the extent of myocardial injury as measured by S-T segment mapping and the creatine phosphokinase (CPK) release technique. However, these effects are contingent upon the arterial pressure response, and directionally opposite results may be anticipated if hypotension occurs. Since the mechanism of action of vasodilators is reasonably well understood, vasodilator therapy can be administered safely in anticipation of both improvement in total cardiac performance and a decrease in severity of ischemia.
Tumoral calcinosis-like lesion of the proximal linea aspera.

Tumoral calcinosis is presently a poorly defined disease. In its classic form, it consists of multiple large foci of benign mineralization in the soft tissue adjacent to bone near large joints. Patients are generally of African descent and are adolescents or young adults at presentation. Both metabolic and traumatic etiologies have been proposed. We report six adult Caucasian patients with lesions that pathologically resembled tumoral calcinosis. All lesions were small (less than 3 × 3 cm) and were located along the proximal linea aspera of the femur. All patients presented with pain. Because of the atypical patient population and the unusual size and location of the lesions, we refer to this process as a “tumoral calcinosis-like lesion.” A typical radiographic appearance and location, together with appropriate clinical history, can strongly suggest this diagnosis.
Drug Encapsulation Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Emulsions

The current work was aimed at evaluating a new method, supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions (SFEE), for the production of composite (e.g., polymer-drug) micro- and nanoparticles, intended for application in sustained-release drug delivery formulations. Using the proposed method, composite particles were obtained, both in a continuous or batch manner by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions. Model drugs indomethacin and ketoprofen and biodegradable polymers poly(lactic/glycolic) acid and Eudragit RS were used in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SFEE process for producing these particles. Stable aqueous suspensions of composite micro and nanoparticles, having sizes ranging between 0.1 and 2 microm were consistently obtained. Emulsion droplet diameter was found to be the major size control parameter. Other parameters investigated included polymer and drug concentrations in solvent and emulsion solvent fraction. The residual solvent content in the particle suspension obtained was consistently below 50 ppm. Standard dissolution tests were used to observe the sustained release phenomenon of the composite particles. The dissolution profile was characterized in terms of the intrinsic dissolution kinetic coefficients taking into account the specific surface area and solubility of the particles. It was observed that the kinetic coefficient parameter for encapsulated drugs was reduced by 2-4 orders of magnitude when compared to the unprocessed drug particles.
Synthesis of 3H‐labelled indicine N‐oxide

Indicine N-oxide, an antitumor agent possessing an unusual type of potential alkylating capacity, was recently selected for clinical trial. Radioactive-labelled indicine N-oxide was sought for studies of its biological properties relating to antitumor activity and toxicity. Available indicine N-oxide was reduced to indicine, and the alkaloid ester was hydrolyzed to its component compounds, retronecine and (−)-trachelanthic acid. The radioactive label was then introduced into the hydroxymethyl grouping of retronecine by a previously reported procedure involving oxidation of retronecine to methyl 1,2-dehydro-7β-hydroxy-8α-pyrrolizidine-1-carboxylate followed by reduction of the methoxycarbonyl grouping with LiAl3H4. Recombination of the alcohol and the carboxylic acid, a heretofore challenging problem in syntheses of pyrrolizidine alkaloid esters, was achieved using an adaptation of the mild esterification procedure recently reported by Hassner and Alexanian. By this method, indicine was obtained following reaction of retronecine, the isopropylidene derivative of (−)-trachelanthic acid, and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine in toluene. Tritium-labelled indicine thus formed was then treated with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid to give labelled indicine N-oxide.
Fish Protein Concentrates

The FPC's produced are, in general, bland t asting and vary in color from white to dark t an. They contain between 75 and 95 percent high -quality protein and they exhibit limited func tional properties according t o standards set by industry for high protein f oodstuffs. The c haracteristic oflimitedfunct i onal propertie s far from being a drawback, i s in many circumstances advantageous s ince FPC can be added to existing food products , markedly improving t he nutritional quality without significantly alte ring other charac t eristics, although in some instances the additi on appears to improve t he shelf life of final baked products .
Structural and Redox Properties of Novel Spirocyclic 1-Sila-3-ferracyclobutanes, [(η5-C5H4)Fe(L2)CH2SiMe2], L2 = P−P (diphosphine)

Photochemical treatment of the 1-dimethylsila-3-ferracyclobutane (1) with diphosphine ligands Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2, n = 1, 2, 3 (P−P), results in the formation of (3−5) spirocyclic complexes. The new 1-d...
Erythrocyte enzymes in experimental lead poisoning.

Intravenous administration of 6 mg per kg lead acetate to rabbits resulted in plumbism with elevated erythrocyte lead levels and marked depression of activity of erythrocyte δ-aminolevulmic acid dehydratase. By comparison other erythrocyte enzymes were insensitive to the effects of lead. Activities of anaerobic glycolysis and of the hexose monophosphate shunt were unaffected by lead administration as were erythrocyte methemoglobin reductase, acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase. The insensitivity of these erythrocyte enzymes to inhibition by lead excludes their usefulness for detection or diagnosis of plumbism.
Model-based clustering of DNA methylation array data: a recursive-partitioning algorithm for high-dimensional data arising as a mixture of beta distributions

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene function that cannot be explained by changes in DNA sequence. One of the most commonly studied epigenetic alterations is cytosine methylation, which is a well recognized mechanism of epigenetic gene silencing and often occurs at tumor suppressor gene loci in human cancer. Arrays are now being used to study DNA methylation at a large number of loci; for example, the Illumina GoldenGate platform assesses DNA methylation at 1505 loci associated with over 800 cancer-related genes. Model-based cluster analysis is often used to identify DNA methylation subgroups in data, but it is unclear how to cluster DNA methylation data from arrays in a scalable and reliable manner. We propose a novel model-based recursive-partitioning algorithm to navigate clusters in a beta mixture model. We present simulations that show that the method is more reliable than competing nonparametric clustering approaches, and is at least as reliable as conventional mixture model methods. We also show that our proposed method is more computationally efficient than conventional mixture model approaches. We demonstrate our method on the normal tissue samples and show that the clusters are associated with tissue type as well as age. Our proposed recursively-partitioned mixture model is an effective and computationally efficient method for clustering DNA methylation data.
Effect of Acute Physiological Elevations of Insulin on Circulating Androgen Levels in Nonobese Women

Extreme pharmacological elevation of the circulating insulin level acutely lowers dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels. To assess whether more physiological elevations in plasma insulin (due to exogenous infusion or endogenous secretion) would have similar effects, we examined the levels of DHEAS, androstenedione, testosterone, and free testosterone before and after euglycemic hyperinsulinemic and hyperglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. Studies were performed in women within 20% of ideal body weight after an overnight fast. Androgen levels were measured before and at the conclusion of studies in which either insulin was infused exogenously at 1 mU/kg·min or endogenous insulin secretion was stimulated for 2 h by elevation of the plasma glucose concentration by 125 mg/dL above basal levels by an exogenous glucose infusion. Basal plasma DHEAS (6.2 ± 0.5 μmol/L) declined to 5.2 ± 0.4 μmol/L (P < 0.001) during the euglycemic insulin clamp, without any significant change in testosterone, free tes...
Clinical Experience With Anti-EGFR Therapy

Objectives To review clinical experience and studies with anti-EGFR therapies in metastatic CRC, SCCHN, and NSCLC. Case studies in each tumor type will also be outlined. Data Sources Research articles and patient case histories. Conclusion Several phase II/III trials have shown the activity of anti-EGFR therapy in CRC, SCCHN, and NSCLC. Treatment confers substantial clinical benefit with improved symptoms, particularly in previously treated patients. Toxicity of anti-EGFR therapies is generally manageable and non-overlapping with other treatment options, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Implications for Nursing Practice It is important for nurses to further advance our understanding of anti-EGFR therapies and continue to encourage patient enrollment in ongoing trials of anti-EGFR therapy.
Quantum mechanics of pseudorotation in ring systems: An application of the MuMATH symbolic algebra system

A variety of quantum mechanical models have guided the interpretation of the far infrared (IR) spectrum of easily deformed ring systems, but an explicit guide to such modelling would ease further analysis. The coordinates introduced by Cremer and Pople provide a starting point for description of puckering, separate from other internal motions of a ring system. For a ring of N atoms there are N-3 puckering modes, composed of [N - (2)/2] pseudorotation “amplitudes” and [(N - 3)/2] “angles.” (The brackets [] mean “truncate to the integer.”) Separation of the Schroedinger equation is possible for the “free puckerer,” the “puckerer in a box,” and for puckering opposed by a separable harmonic potential; in this latter case the energy is determined and the state is labeled by a set of pseudorotation quantum numbers Mk and radial quantum numbers nk: Here vk is the harmonic frequency for the k-th mode, and h is Planck's constant. Since most ring systems are nonharmonic, and require a distinct “quartic-puckering” potential for each puckering mode, a perturbation treatment of the quartic terms is required. We provide formulas and a symbolic algebra computer program to generate expressions for integrals needed for the perturbation or linear variation modeling.
Quantitative characteristics of anesthetic induction with and recovery from isoflurane and sevoflurane in cats.

Isoflurane (ISO) is the most commonly administered feline inhalant anesthetic in North America. A newer agent, sevoflurane (SEVO), may provide faster induction and recovery from anesthesia based on its physical characteristics. Accordingly, we compared some induction and recovery characteristics of ISO and SEVO in healthy cats. Six female DSH cats (17.9 ± 9.0 (mean ± SD) months, 3.7 ± 0.3 kg) received four randomly assigned treatments: ISO for 1 hour (IS), SEVO for 1 hour (SS), ISO for 5 hours (IL), and SEVO for 5 hours (SL). Anesthesia was induced in a chamber into which ISO or SEVO was delivered at 2.7 times the individual's MAC (determined previously) in 6 L minute−1 O2. Measured (Rascal II, Ohmeda) anesthetic concentration was reported after correction using a multiple gas, standard-defined calibration curve. For induction, time (seconds) from introduction of inhalant to onset of incoordinated movement (IM), recumbency with movement (RM), recumbency without movement, loss of pedal reflex (PD), and intubation (ET) were recorded. Following intubation, anesthesia was maintained for the required time at 1.25 times the individual's MAC. For recovery, time (seconds) from discontinuation of the inhalant (with continuation of O2) to first movement, extubation (EXT), start of incoordinated movement, head-lift, sternal recumbency (SR), crawl, stand/walk with incoordination, and jump without incoordination were recorded. Esophageal normothermia was maintained. Data were analyzed by paired t-test (induction) or One-way Repeated Measures anova followed, when appropriate, by Tukey's test (recovery). p < 0.05 was regarded as significant. For induction, IM was not significantly different between ISO and SEVO (118 ± 28 seconds vs. 104 ± 28 seconds). All other induction times were significantly shorter with SEVO vs. ISO, e.g. RM (181 ± 31 seconds vs. 213 ± 31 seconds), PD (426 ± 68 seconds vs. 504 ± 70 seconds), and ET (434 ± 66 seconds vs. 515 ± 69 seconds). For recovery, there were no differences between ISO and SEVO for any stage of recovery, e.g. EXT (IS 588 ± 163 seconds vs. SS 425 ± 109 seconds), SR (IS 735 ± 215 seconds vs. SS 655 ± 337 seconds), and IL (710 ± 658 seconds vs. SL 807 ± 465 seconds). We concluded that quantitative recovery characteristics did not depend on whether cats are anesthetized with equipotent amounts of SEVO or ISO, but some induction end-points were reached more quickly with SEVO.
Improvement of prompt response from impulse radiating antennas by aperture trimming

Reflector impulse radiating antennas (IRA) traditionally have been constructed by terminating a self-reciprocal, transverse electromagnetic (TEM) transmission-line feed structure into a paraboloidal reflector. The section of the paraboloid used is usually circular in cross-section, with the outer boundary coinciding with the circle of symmetry of the TEM feed. The reflector converts the spherical TEM mode on the feed line into an approximate plane wave in the near field by geometric optics. The prompt radiated electric field in the direction of focus is given in the physical optics approximation in terms of the integral of the electric field of the TEM mode over the aperture plane inside the reflector boundary. Balanced feed structures have TEM modes that provide both positive and negative contributions to this integral in the aperture plane. Determination of the contour where the principal component of the electric field in the TEM mode is zero identifies portions of the aperture that contribute destructively to the integral. These portions are removed, thereby increasing the prompt radiated field without altering the feed structure or the applied voltage waveform. Furthermore, decreasing the size of the TEM feed relative to the aperture size, followed by appropriate aperture trimming, allows an even greater increase in radiated field. Results are presented that predict an increase in prompt radiated fields for all electrode configurations. Improvements are largest for electrode angles that are large (with respect to the vertical). The trends predicted by the numerical results are verified by an experiment conducted on a time-domain antenna range.
Modeling of a new ZVS bi-directional dc-dc converter

A dual half-bridge (DHB) bidirectional dc-dc converter is a new proposed topology that has the advantages of decreased number of devices, soft-switching implementation, low cost, and high efficiency. Typical applications of this converter are the auxiliary power supply in fuel cell vehicles and battery charging and discharging systems where the power density, cost, weight, and reliability are critical factors. A switching-frequency-dependent state-space averaged model of the converter is developed here for either direction of power flow. This averaged model can be used to derive the steady-state characteristics and small signal dynamics of the proposed topology. It also provides a fast simulation tool to investigate the transient response of the converter. The simulated waveforms of the mathematical model are compared with the detailed circuit simulation to verify the accuracy of the modeling.
On the performance of Kalman filtering with intermittent observations: A geometric approach with fractals

This paper describes the stationary distribution of the a-posteriori covariance matrix of a Kalman filter when the availability of measurements is subject to random phenomena such as lossy network links. If a certain non-overlapping condition is satisfied, the distribution has a fractal nature, and there exists a closed-form expression for the cdf, which is a singular function. If the condition is not satisfied, deciding whether the cdf is singular or not, even in the scalar case, is at least as hard as some open problems in measure and number theory.
Stigma and Settling Up: An Integrated Approach to the Consequences of Organizational Misconduct for Organizational Elites

In this article, I address the question of the apportionment of the consequences of organizational misconduct to individual members of the organizational elite. I argue that this process can be best understood by marrying the behavioral aspects of stigma theory to the economic mechanisms of ex post settling up. Viewed in conjunction with stigmatization, ex post settling up following organizational misconduct can be seen as the result of attempts to avoid stigma by association. Efforts at stigma avoidance on the parts of various stakeholders produce the diminished social interaction associated with ex post settling up: departure from the focal firm, and loss of seats on other boards. This also suggests that the process of stigmatization, and hence ex post settling up, can be influenced by characteristics of social interaction unrelated to the misconduct itself.
Patient weight as a predictor of pain response to morphine in the emergency department.

Study Objectives: There is little evidence that patient weight is associated with pain response to morphine in the emergency department (ED). The primary outcome of this study is to identify demogr...
Doped Semiconductors in an Inhomogeneous Magnetic Field.

Abstract We show that a potential difference is generated across a semiconductor sample containing free carriers when the sample is in a magnetic field gradient in the direction of the field. A measurement of the potential difference can give direct information concerning the effective mass and effective g -factor of the free carriers.
Parental Warmth Amplifies the Negative Effect of Parental Hostility on Dating Violence

Past research has documented the positive association between parental hostility and offspring involvement in intimate partner violence. Researchers, practitioners, and parents typically adopt the standpoint that parental warmth may counter these negative lessons. However, Straus and colleagues argue that parents foster IPV to the extent that they teach their child that verbal and physical aggression are a normal and legitimate component of loving relationships. A strict interpretation of social learning theory would suggest that these lessons are more, not less, likely to occur when parental hostility is interspersed with displays of affection. The present study tests this idea using data from 2,088 undergraduate students from a large university in the Southeast. Consistent with Straus’ arguments, findings suggest that, rather than attenuating the negative effects of hostility, supportive interactions seem to amplify the probability that offspring will emulate aggressive behaviors in their own romantic r...
Marriage and Genetic Variation across the Lifespan: Not a Steady Relationship?

The prevalence of marriage varies across the lifespan, as does its importance to reproduction and the nurturance of children. We examined genetic and environmental influences on self-reported marriage at each decade from 20 through 70 years of age, using data collected for the Duke Dementia Study, a followed-up subset of the World War II Veteran Twin Registry. Genetic influences best fit a common factor model, supplemented by another, age-specific, genetic factor at age 30. Broad heritability increased from age 20 through 40, and then decreased to zero by ages 60 and 70. A longitudinal Cholesky model best described environmental influences on marriage across the lifespan. Shared environmental factors showed their greatest influence at age 20, no influence at 30 or 40 years, and then, reappeared with influence at 60 and 70. Variance due to error and unique environmental influences increased steadily to age 50 years and then declined slightly.
Intrinsic Disorder Drives N-terminal Ubiquitination by Ube2w

An NMR structure reveals that the C terminus of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ube2w is disordered, leading to specific pairings with disordered substrates; loss of this sequence causes decreased substrate binding and ubiquitin transfer activity.
Patronage and Public-Sector Wages in 1896

Few systematic studies of the effects of patronage on public-sector employees' wages and working conditions exist. Exploiting a sample ofnearly 90,000 workers, this article provides systematic evidence: Where patronage was widespread, state and local employees earned 40 percent more per hour; worked 16 to 17 percent fewer hours; and earned 22 percent more per week than comparable private-sector workers. Public-sector wage premia varied; low-skilled workers, and workers in Baltimore and New York, enjoyed relatively large wage premia. Wages were less dispersed in the public sector than in the private, suggesting that pay scales reflected politics, not marginal products. T 'hroughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century, patronage flourI ished in American cities. By the late nineteenth century, patronage had become such a serious problem that reform groups, and voters in general, began to demand that lawmakers take steps to limit the number of political appointees in public-sectorjobs. Critics and reformers argued that patronage undermined the quality of public-sector services and drove up the cost of delivering those services. In Boston, for example, one reform group lamented the use of patronage workers as day laborers for the city. According to the reformers, between 1895 and 1907, employment of day laborers grew twice as fast as the population of the city, and wages "were swollen for political purposes." Over the same period, productivity fell "to a point where the work done per [person] was half as much as it had been before 1895."l Of course, patronage has not been limited to the nineteenth and earlytwentieth-century United States; it continues to dominate public-sector payrolls in lesser developed countries.2 Perhaps because of its historical salience, scholars have theorized extensively about patronage.3 Yet for all of the theorizing, we have very little
Bacteriophage φ29 scaffolding protein gp7 before and after prohead assembly

Three-dimensional structures of the double-stranded DNA bacteriophage φ29 scaffolding protein (gp7) before and after prohead assembly have been determined at resolutions of 2.2 and 2.8 A, respectively. Both structures are dimers that resemble arrows, with a four-helix bundle composing the arrowhead and a coiled coil forming the tail. The structural resemblance of gp7 to the yeast transcription factor GCN4 suggests a DNA-binding function that was confirmed by native gel electrophoresis. DNA binding to gp7 may have a role in mediating the structural transition from prohead to mature virus and scaffold release. A cryo-EM analysis indicates that gp7 is arranged inside the capsid as a series of concentric shells. The position of the higher density features in these shells correlates with the positions of hexamers in the equatorial region of the capsid, suggesting that gp7 may regulate formation of the prolate head through interactions with these hexamers.
Polymer Floods: A Case Study of Nonlinear Wave Analysis and of Instability Control in Tertiary Oil Recovery

Polymer flooding in oil reservoir simulation is considered in two space dimensions. The wave structures associated with such a process give rise to interesting phenomena in the nonlinear regime which have direct bearing on the efficiency of oil recovery. These waves influence and can prevent surface instabilities of the fingering mode. In this paper we resolve these waves by a front tracking method. We consider the fingering problem and the issue of oil recovery for the polymer flood. The details of these two phenomena depend on the separation between the waves and upon the viscosity contrast between the oil, water and polymer. We identify a nonlinear transfer of instability between adjacent waves and a nonlinear enhancement of recovery due to successive waves. The conclusions produced by this work are also pertinent to tracer flooding.One interesting conclusion applies to polymer injection followed by pure water injection. In this case the instability is transferred to the polymer-water interface, and th...
Principles of Chaperone-Mediated Protein Folding

The recent discovery of molecular chaperones and their functions has changed dramatically our view of the processes underlying the folding of proteins in vivo. Rather than folding spontaneously, most newly synthesized polypeptide chains seem to acquire their native conformations in a reaction mediated by chaperone proteins. Different classes of molecular chaperones, such as the members of the Hsp70 and Hsp60 families of heat-shock proteins, cooperate in a coordinated pathway of cellular protein folding.
Quantitative performance analysis of the SPEC OMPM2001 benchmarks

The state of modern computer systems has evolved to allow easy access to multiprocessor systems by supporting multiple processors on a single physical package. As the multiprocessor hardware evolves, new ways of programming it are also developed. Some inventions may merely be adopting and standardizing the older paradigms. One such evolving standard for programming shared-memory parallel computers is the OpenMP API. The Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC) has created a suite of parallel programs called SPEC OMP to compare and evaluate modern shared-memory multiprocessor systems using the OpenMP standard. We have studied these benchmarks in detail to understand their performance on a modern architecture. In this paper, we present detailed measurements of the benchmarks. We organize, summarize, and display our measurements using a Quantitative Model. We present a detailed discussion and derivation of the model. Also, we discuss the important loops in the SPEC OMPM2001 benchmarks and the reasons for less than ideal speedup on our platform.
Credible Interval Temperature Forecasting: Some Experimental Results

Abstract This paper describes the results of an experiment involving credible interval temperature forecasts. A credible interval is an interval of values of the variable of concern, in this case maximum or minimum temperature, accompanied by a probability which expresses a forecaster's “degree of belief” that the temperature will fall in the given interval. The experiment was designed to investigate the ability of fore-casters to express the uncertainty inherent in their temperature forecasts in probabilistic terms and to compare two approaches (variable-width and flied-width intervals) to credible interval temperature forecasting. Four experienced weather forecasters participated in the experiment, which was conducted at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Denver, Colorado. Two forecasters made variable-width, fixed-probability forecasts using 50% and 75% intervals, while the other two forecasters made fixed-width, variable-probability forecasts using 5°F and 9°F intervals. On each occasion ...
Structure in the Northeastern United States From Inversion of Rayleigh Wave Phase and Group Velocities

Fundamental mode Rayleigh wave phase and group velocities between 15 and 50 seconds are measured along different paths in the northeastern United States (NEUS). Interstation paths are selected that lie mainly in the Precambrian Grenville province or the Appalachian orogenic belt. Although the differences between the two paths are not significant under consideration of measurement errors, separate inversions yield velocity models that are consistent with previous travel-time studies. The Appalachians appear to have a slightly thicker crust with higher velocities in the lower crust relative to the Grenville province. Also, the phase and group velocities in the NEUS appear to lie between those of the Canadian Shield and the central United States. Phase and group velocities between 15 and 40 seconds are also measured across the M.I.T. short-period seismic network in southeastern New England for two large events using frequency-wavenumber analysis. Beamforming indicates that the sporter period Rayleigh waves (T∼15 sec) can arrive as much as 15 degrees off-azimuth. The Rayleigh wave phase and group velocities in this region suggest relatively high shear velocities in the mid to lower crust.
The Place of Sociology in Education

a philosophical setting and orientation for those which follow. It indicates the general frame of reference in which the Commission has worked. More concretely, Dr. Hayes discusses the status of education in general, the objectives of sociological instruction, and the relation of sociology to the social sciences. The critique is written by Dr. E. A. Waters. The second paper, by Dr. Robert I. Kutak, discusses the sociological curriculum and faculty of colleges and universities in the states east of the Mississippi River and south of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers, as described in the catalogues of these agencies. A questionnaire provided data for a study of enrollment, organization and objectives of curriculum, methods of instruction, and philosophv underlying instruction. The critique is by Dr. Ira De A. Reid. The third paper, by Dr. Belle Boone Beard, reports concerning the testing experiment of the Committee on Standards and Measurements. The immediate purpose of the experiment was to determine whether there is a conceptual framework and a basic core of sociological knowledge which might constitute a standard course in Introductory Sociology (i.e. that which all students in Introductory Sociology might be expected to learn) and which might be tested objectively. The procedure employed in constructing the test, the reliability and validity of the test as determined by its use as a preand end-sociology examination and the results are discussed in detail. The critique was prepared by Dr. C. Horace Hamilton. The final paper "Some Regional Implications of Sociological Instruction" was written by Dr. Lee M. Brooks. It sets forth a sociological emphasis in education for the southern region, indicating the fields and topics which need definite consideration. The critique is by Dr. Carl C. Taylor. No attempt has been made to integrate the papers and critiques. They are presented in the order indicated above, under the names of the respective writers and stand as the work of the individual authors. It is regrettable that the Commission is denied the benefit of the critical examination and discussion which would follow direct presentation of these and other papers to the Society in seminar procedure, as in the last annual meeting. This detracts in no way, however, from the appreciation the Commission holds for the editors of SOCIAL FORCES for making available this medium of presentation of these individual papers and this partial report of the Commission to the members of the Southern Sociological Society. W. B. JONES, JR.
Study Travel Time Variability from Probe Vehicle Data

The variability of travel times on a given route for a particular journey is known to be an important factor in influencing the choice of mode and route for trips, particularly for those trip types where constraints may exist on arrival time at the destination. Previous work in this area has concentrated on long-term variability, such as daily and seasonal variability. This paper describes some results obtained from a study of short-term travel time variability. Data generated by simulation permits the study of the distributions of short-term travel times and the correlation among link/route travel times. It was found, for instance, that strong evidence of significant correlation between link travel times and between link travel time and arrival time, and that conditional link travel time distributions could be represented by normal distributions. Some possible extensions are suggested.
EDTA (ETHYLENE DIAMINE TETRAACETIC ACID) POTENTIATION OF INSULIN ACTIVITY AS ASSAYED BY THE EPIDIDYMAL ADIPOSE TISSUE TECHNIQUE.

SummaryHigh concentrations of EDTA (10-2 M) when added to the incubation medium produced a several-fold increase in glucose oxidation, by epididymal fat pads. Thus 10-2 M EDTA has an “insulin-like” activity. By contrast lower concentrations of EDTA (10-3 to l0-5 M) did not significantly affect glucose oxidation. However, lower concentrations of EDTA (10-3 M) produced a 2-fold potentiation of the effect of insulin on the epididymal fat pad; this potentiation was observed with crystalline bovine insulin, low zinc amorphous insulin, acid-alcohol pancreatic extracts (rat), and preparations of microdissected rat islet tissue. With a goosefish islet insulin preparation the EDTA potentiation was over 3-fold. By contrast EDTA did not potentiate the “insulin-like” activity of rat plasma acid-alcohol extracts.
Dynamical Behavior of the Subsurface Region in Alloys under Ion Bombardment at High Temperatures

Modifications of subsurface alloy composition by bombardment with ions of several keV energy were investigated theoretically, using a phenomenologlcal model which includes the effects of various processes, such as preferential sputtering, displacement mixing, Gibbsian adsorption, radiation-enhanced diffusion, and radiation-induced segregation. The nonuniformity of damage rates, resulting from slow-down of the incoming ions, was also taken into account. The alloy composition evolution in time and space was calculated numerically for different temperatures, using concentrated Ni-Cu as a model alloy system. A good qualitative agreement between the present model calculations and recent experimental measurements was obtained.