cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Durability of Hemiarthroplasty for Pathologic Proximal Femur Fractures.

Abstract Background The hip is a common location for metastatic tumors. Due to the high loads placed through the proximal femur, surgery is often indicated to provide pain relief and restore function. Historically, these lesions are reconstructed with a hemiarthroplasty; however, there are few reports on the outcome of these reconstructions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of proximal femur metastatic disease, with a specific focus on the rates of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods One hundred ninety-nine patients (102 women, 97 men) were treated using a hemiarthroplasty to reconstruct the proximal femur for metastatic disease between 1992 and 2014. Mean age and body mass index were 62 years and 27.4 kg/m2, respectively. The most common site of primary disease was the breast (n = 63). The most common location for the metastatic disease was the femoral neck (n = 148). Mean follow-up for surviving patients was 4 years. Results Over the course of the study, 2 (1%) patients underwent conversion to a THA due to groin pain and degenerative changes. In addition, complications occurred in 12% of patients, most commonly a deep venous thrombosis (n = 5). Following the procedure, mean Harris Hip Score and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993 scores were 73 and 63%, respectively. Conclusion Reconstruction of the proximal femur with a hemiarthroplasty endoprosthesis provides a majority of patients with a durable means of reconstruction, with a low rate of conversion to THA.
A Comprehensive Battery Energy Storage Optimal Sizing Model for Microgrid Applications

Microgrids expansion problems with battery energy storage (BES) have gained great attention in recent years. To ensure reliable, resilient, and cost-effective operation of microgrids, the installed BES must be optimally sized. However, critical factors that have a great impact on the accuracy and practicality of the BES sizing results are normally overlooked. These factors include the wide range of characteristics for different technologies, the distributed deployment, the impact of depth of discharge and the number of charging/discharging cycles on the BES degradation, and the coordination of microgrid operation modes. Thus, this paper proposes a comprehensive BES sizing model for microgrid applications, which takes these critical factors into account when solving the microgrid expansion problem and accordingly returns the optimal BES size, technology, number, and maximum depth of discharge. The microgrid expansion problem is formulated using mixed integer linear programming. The nonlinear relationship between the BES depth of discharge and lifecycle is linearized using piecewise linearization technique and implemented to model the BES degradation. The proposed model is validated using a test microgrid. The conducted numerical simulation shows that the proposed model is able to determine the optimal BES size, technology, number, and maximum depth of discharge and further enhances the accuracy and practicality of the BES sizing solutions.
Arachidonic Acid Metabolism by Human Cardiovascular CYP2J2 Is Modulated by Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic that is used in the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. However, it causes cardiotoxicity partly because of the formation of reactive oxygen species. CYP2J2 is a human cytochrome P450 that is strongly expressed in cardiomyocytes. It converts arachidonic acid (AA) into four different regioisomers of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). Using kinetic analyses, we show that AA metabolism by CYP2J2 is modulated by DOX. We show that cytochrome P450 reductase, the redox partner of CYP2J2, metabolizes DOX to 7-deoxydoxorubicin aglycone (7-de-aDOX). This metabolite then binds to CYP2J2 and inhibits and alters the preferred site of metabolism of AA, leading to a change in the ratio of the EET regioisomers. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations indicate that 7-de-aDOX and AA can concurrently bind to the CYP2J2 active site to produce these changes in the site of AA metabolism. To determine if these observations are unique to DOX/7-de-aDOX, we use noncardiotoxic DOX anal...
Perceptions of Alcohol Advertising among High Risk Drinkers

ABSTRACTBackground: Individuals who are particularly vulnerable to the influence of alcohol advertising, such as youth, need special protections, yet little research has been done to determine if o...
Orai1 and STIM1 Mediate Capacitative Ca2+ Entry in Mouse Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells

Previous studies in mouse pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) showed that TRPC1 and STIM1 mediates the sustained component of capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) but the molecular candidate(s) that mediate the transient component of CCE remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to further examine if Orai1 mediates the transient component of CCE through activation of STIM1 protein in mouse PASMCs.In primary cultured mouse PASMCs loaded with fura-2, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) caused a transient followed by a sustained rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i).The transient but not the sustained rise in [Ca2+]i was partially inhibited by nifedipine. The nifedipine-insensitive transient rise in [Ca2+]i and the increase in Mn2+ quench of fura-2 fluorescence caused by CPA were both reduced in cells treated with Orai1 siRNA. These responses to CPA were further reduced in cells treated with Orai1 and STIM1 siRNA. Moreover, over-expression of STIM1 enhanced the rise in [Ca2+]i and the increase in Mn2+ quench of fura-2 fluorescence caused by CPA and these responses were reduced in cells treated with Orai1 siRNA. RT-PCR revealed Orai1 and STIM1 mRNAs, and Western blot analysis identified Orai1 and STIM1 proteins in mouse PASMCs. Furthermore, Orai1 was found to co-immunoprecipitate with STIM1 and immunostaining showed co-localization of Orai1 and STIM1 proteins. These data provide direct evidence that the transient component of CCE is mediated by Orai1 channel through activation of STIM1 in mouse PASMCs. [Supported by HL49254, NCRR P20RR15581 (JR Hume) and AHA Scientist Development Grant (LC Ng)]
Development and Comparison of Soil Water Release Curves for Three Soils in the Red River Valley

A soil water release curve (SWRC) describes the critical and soil-specific relationship between soil water content and matric potential. In this study, soil moisture and corresponding matric potentials were measured using (1) a new method by HYPROP and WP4 dewpoint potentiometer, and, (2) the traditional method by hanging water column, Tempe cell, and pressure plate. The SWRCs were developed for Fargo silty clay, Glyndon silty loam, and Hecla sandy loam soils by using the van Genuchten model. The goodness of fit between the fitted SWRC and the measured data agreed well with R² between 0.91 and 0.98. The comparison for the fitted SWRCs showed that the SWRCs for Hecla sandy loam soil provided the best agreement while Glyndon silty loam soil had the best match in terms of slope and shape. The SWRCs for Fargo silty clay soil did not provide a good match between the two methods. The difference in water content between the two fitted SWRCs was less than 2% for Glyndon silty loam and Hecla sandy loam soils. However, Fargo silty clay had a 4.5 to 5% difference for 66% of the measurements, possibly due to the different bulk densities caused by shrinkage and swelling nature of the clay soil. Since the best fitted van Genuchten parameters were within the reference range that was acceptable for the same type of soils, the HYPROP and WP4 can be used to develop SWRCs that are comparable to the traditional laboratory methods for the three soils in the Red River Valley.
EOS Thermal Failure Simulation for Integrated Circuits

In this chapter, a nonlinear thermal simulator, iTSIM, is introduced. New EOS/ESD thermal models have been developed and implemented in ?TSIM to overcome the limitations found in previous analytical thermal failure models. Section 4.2 gives an overview of iTSIM, its main features, and simulation results. An efficient mixed 2D-1D simulation approach is used in iTSIM to handle thermal failure conditions associated with EOS events for which the scale of the thermal problem is large (on the order of the wafer thickness). Appropriate boundary conditions are derived and implemented to support the mixed 2D-1D simulation capability. Simulation results for ICs in ceramic and plastic packages are presented in Section 4.3. Numerically derived power profiles are compared with experimental data [24, 23]. Finally, the conclusions are presented in Section 4.4.
Mercury Bioaccumulation in Two Species of Insectivorous Bats from Urban China: Influence of Species, Age, and Land Use Type.

Mercury (Hg) is a widespread, toxic pollutant, and China is the world’s largest emitter. We investigated Hg concentrations of fur in Japanese pipistrelles (Pipistrellus abramus) and Chinese noctules (Nyctalus plancyi) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in relation to degree of urbanization. Bats were mist-netted in June and July 2013, and the fur was analyzed via atomic absorption. Statistical comparisons were made between ages, species, and site types with unpaired t tests and between Hg concentration and body condition with Spearman’s rank correlations. Across sites, adult pipistrelles (n = 10) had significantly greater concentrations than adult noctules (n = 16). Adult N. plancyi (n = 16) had significantly greater concentrations than juvenile N. plancyi (n = 14). Contrary to our predictions, there was no significant difference in Hg values between urban (n = 3) and peri-urban (n = 6) locations for P. abramus. While small sample sizes precluded additional comparisons, the highest value (33 mg/kg) came from an adult female P. abramus in the agricultural area. The relationship between body condition and Hg concentration was insignificant. However, most pipistrelles (7/13) and no noctules (0/31) had concentrations > 10 mg/kg, a threshold associated with disruption of homeostatic control and mobility. All bats had concentrations > 0.2 mg/kg, which is associated with compromised immunity. These are the first published records of contaminant concentrations from bats in China. For future studies, we recommend P. abramus as a regional bioindicator, longer term assessments of pre- and post-exposure effects, and simultaneous assessment of blood and fur Hg concentrations.
NAD+-dependent synthesis of a 5'-phospho-ADP-ribosylated RNA/DNA cap by RNA 2'-phosphotransferase Tpt1.

RNA 2′-phosphotransferase Tpt1 converts an internal RNA 2′-monophosphate to a 2′-OH via a two-step NAD+-dependent mechanism in which: (i) the 2′-phosphate attacks the C1″ of NAD+ to expel nicotinamide and form a 2′-phospho-ADP-ribosylated RNA intermediate; and (ii) the ADP-ribose O2″ attacks the phosphate of the RNA 2′-phospho-ADPR intermediate to expel the RNA 2′-OH and generate ADP-ribose 1″–2″ cyclic phosphate. Tpt1 is an essential component of the fungal tRNA splicing pathway that generates a unique 2′-PO4, 3′-5′ phosphodiester splice junction during tRNA ligation. The wide distribution of Tpt1 enzymes in taxa that have no fungal-type RNA ligase raises the prospect that Tpt1 might catalyze reactions other than RNA 2′-phosphate removal. A survey of Tpt1 enzymes from diverse sources reveals that whereas all of the Tpt1 enzymes are capable of NAD+-dependent conversion of an internal RNA 2′-PO4 to a 2′-OH (the canonical Tpt1 reaction), a subset of Tpt1 enzymes also catalyzed NAD+-dependent ADP-ribosylation of an RNA or DNA 5′-monophosphate terminus. Aeropyrum pernix Tpt1 (ApeTpt1) is particularly adept in this respect. One-step synthesis of a 5′-phospho-ADP-ribosylated cap structure by ApeTpt1 (with no subsequent 5′-phosphotransferase step) extends the repertoire of the Tpt1 enzyme family and the catalogue of ADP-ribosylation reactions involving nucleic acid acceptors.
Advances in High-Temperature Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 and H2O

Abstract Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) for electrochemical splitting of H2O and CO2 have attracted significant attention as a promising technology to efficiently store surplus renewable energy in the form of valuable chemicals and fuels. An SOEC does not only convert electrical energy into chemical energy but also offers a route to reduce CO2 emissions. Simultaneous electrolysis of H2O and CO2 is possible in an SOEC to form synthesis gas, which is a raw material for the production of chemicals via the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis process. Compared to low-temperature electrolysis, high-temperature electrolysis in a solid oxide cell is advantageous because of lower overpotential loss, easier activation of reactants, and usage of cheaper transition metal catalysts as electrode materials. Significant amount of research has been done on developing suitable electrode materials for such electrolysis operations. While initial works mostly involved the state-of-the-art Ni-YSZ cermet cathode, alternative materials such as perovskite oxides have gained importance in recent years. In this chapter, we will provide a review of various cathode materials studied for H2O, CO2, and CO2 + H2O coelectrolysis, and discuss the associated degradation issues. It is important to understand how CO2 and H2O interact with electrode surfaces to enable a rational design of cathode materials. A discussion is included about the previous studies performed on understanding the fundamental phenomena involved in such interactions, reaction mechanisms, and pathways. In addition, a perspective on possible future research directions in the realm of high-temperature electrolysis is provided.
NUMERICAL MODELS | Large-Eddy Simulation

Large-eddy simulation (LES) is a numerical technique for integrating spatially filtered equations of motion that describe high-Reynolds number time-evolving, three-dimensional turbulence. The spatial filtering cuts off the high frequency or small-scale part of the turbulence spectrum. Virtual turbulence generated by LES has been shown to be a surrogate for measurements of turbulent flow fields. LES is widely used for turbulence research and for applications. This article describes the LES technique, and reviews its contributions to and use in atmospheric sciences.
Effect of αvβ3 Integrin Expression and Activity on Intraocular Pressure.

Purpose To determine the effects of αvβ3 integrin expression and activation on intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods Cre+/-β3flox/flox mice were treated with topical tamoxifen eye drops for 5 days to activate Cre and excise the β3 integrin gene from the anterior segment. IOP was measured weekly for 11 weeks using rebound tonometry. Mice were then killed and changes in expression of the β3 integrin subunit in Cre+/- β3flox/flox mice were determined using Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy. To determine the effect of αvβ3 integrin activation on outflow facility, porcine organ culture anterior segments (POCAS) were perfused with the αvβ3 integrin-activating antibody AP5 or an isotype IgG control for 21 hours. The effect of αvβ3 integrin activation on IOP was measured over 7 days in C57BL/6J mice intracamerally infused with AP5, AP3, IgG, or PBS. Results Deletion of the β3 integrin subunit using the tamoxifen-inducible Cre-loxP system resulted in a decrease in expression of the β3 integrin subunit in the trabecular meshwork and ciliary muscle. Morphologically no gross changes in the anterior segment were detected. Deletion of the β3 integrin subunit resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) lower IOP in mice within 2 weeks following the tamoxifen treatment and persisted for 11 weeks. Activating the αvβ3 integrin with the AP5 antibody resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in IOP in C57BL/6J mice and a decrease in outflow facility in 42% of the POCAS. Conclusions These studies demonstrate a role for αvβ3 integrin signaling in the regulation of IOP.
IBUPROFEN LYSINE FOR NEONATAL PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS: EFFECT ON PLATELET PLUG FORMATION ASSESSED BY IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO MEASUREMENTS

Background Due to haemorrhagic risks, ibuprofen lysine may have advantages over indomethacin, when used to effect closure of a neonate’s patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Platelet plug formation is impaired after the administration of indomethacin, but it is unclear whether this occurs with ibuprofen. Methods We performed template bleeding times and platelet function analyser (PFA)-100 tests on 20 neonates at intervals before and after ibuprofen. Bleeding times were done per our previous reports, using the Surgicutt Newborn (International Technidyne). Our haematology laboratory performed the PFA-100 tests (Dade Schering). Results Patients ranged from 23 to 40 weeks gestation and weighed 511–2566 g. The first dose of ibuprofen was administered at 72 (18–363) h after birth (median, range). No bleeding problems were noted during ibuprofen dosing. Bleeding times before dosing ranged from 135 to 450 s. Repeat tests were done in groups of four, at 2, 4–6, 12–18, 24 h after the first dose and 2 h after the third dose of ibuprofen. No change in bleeding times was detected (p = 0.299). The 10 patients weighing 1000 g tended to have a prolongation in bleeding time (mean of 41 s longer). Before ibuprofen, PFA-100 times ranged from 52 to 300 s. A paired t test showed slight but statistically significant lengthening in PFA-100 time after the ibuprofen administration (p = 0.019). Conclusions We found ibuprofen lysine administered to neonates with a PDA according to the manufacturer’s recommendations has little adverse effect on platelet plug formation and might be a factor when choosing between indomethacin and ibuprofen.
Italian-Americans and Psychoanalysis

In this paper we address the under-representation of Italian-Americans in psychoanalysis in the United States, both as psychoanalysts and analysands. We suggest that this under-representation has arisen from a confluence of cultural biases in traditional criteria for analyzability and pejorative stereotypes about Italian-Americans that have discouraged their participation to the detriment of the field. The paper suggests that contemporary developments across various schools of psychoanalysis open up new opportunities for rethinking the cultural location of psychoanalysis.
“You might as well just all agree with each other:”An initial study of cyberbullying victims’ social presence in online discussions

Abstract Cyberbullying affects the majority of undergraduate women, contributing to withdrawal from social media and chilling their participation in the growing world of collaborative online discussions. This pilot mixed-methods study integrates surveys, observations, and interviews of nine undergraduate women at a Mid-Atlantic research university to investigate how the chilling effect of cyberbullying may extend into peer interactions within an increasingly common online instructional practice: online discussion boards. It is observed that, in comparison to their non-victimized peers, participating women with prior cyberbullying experiences enact lower social presence and adopt self-silencing and conflict avoidant coping strategies. In particular, these women avoid ever disagreeing with peers out of fear of starting “drama.” Findings challenge educators to consider the potential unintended consequences of instructional design choices and contributes to our understanding of how to design more equitable online learning environments for today's socially networked learners.
The Fate of Morbidly Obese Patients With Joint Pain: A Retrospective Study of Patient Outcomes.

Abstract Background The number of obese patients seeking a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) continues to increase. Weight loss is often recommended to treat joint pain and reduce risks associated with TJA. We sought to determine the effectiveness of an orthopedic surgeon’s recommendation to lose weight. Methods We identified morbidly obese (body mass index (BMI) 40-49.9 kg/m2) and super obese (BMI ≥50 kg/m2) patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Patients with less than 3-month follow-up were excluded. Patient characteristics (age, gender, BMI, comorbidities), disease characteristics (joint affected, radiographic osteoarthritis grading), and treatments were recorded. Clinically meaningful weight loss was defined as weight loss greater than 5%. Results Two hundred thirty morbid and 50 super obese patients were identified. Super obese patients were more likely to be referred to weight management (52.0% vs 21.7%, P Conclusion In morbid and super obese patients, increasing BMI reduces the likelihood that a patient will receive TJA, and when counseled by their orthopedic surgeon, few patients participate in weight-loss programs or are otherwise able to lose weight. Weight loss is an inconsistently modifiable risk factor for joint replacement surgery.
A long-term field study of the ability to predict thermal cracking of asphalt mixtures tested by the Bending Beam Rheometer

If an asphalt mixture's low-temperature performance is evaluated before its application on a pavement, the costs and carbon footprint of materials in pavement maintenance and rehabilitation during ...
Opsin Evolution in Flower-Visiting Beetles

Flowers have evolved signals that exploit the sensory systems of insect visitors. In the case of visual cues, color signals are thought to have been shaped in large part by the spectral sensitivity of key pollinators, such as hymenopterans. Beetles were some of the first plant pollinators, pre-dating the angiosperm radiation but with the exception of a few well-studied species, the evolution of flower-visiting beetle visual systems is poorly understood. Thus, the ability of beetles to detect and distinguish flower color signals and perhaps their potential role in shaping flower coloration is not well understood. Traditional models of pollinator visual systems often assume a putative tri- or tetrachromatic flower-visitor, as is found in bees, flies and butterflies. Beetles are unique among modern pollinators as ancestrally they did not possess the machinery for trichromatic vision, lacking the blue-sensitive photoreceptor class. Research on the evolution of visual genes responsible for wavelength sensitivity (opsins) has revealed that beetles with putative tri- and tetrachromatic visual systems have evolved independently, along multiple lineages. We explore the evolution of beetle visual genes using newly generated and publicly available RNA-seq data from 25 species with flower associations, including previously unexplored key flower-visitor groups and 20 non-flower visiting relatives. Our findings serve as a resource to inform and guide future studies on beetle-flower interactions, where insight from both signal and receiver is needed to better understand these poorly explored systems.
Inbreeding Calculated with Runs of Homozygosity Suggests Chromosome-Specific Inbreeding Depression Regions in Line 1 Hereford.

The goal of this study was to evaluate inbreeding in a closed beef cattle population and assess phenotype prediction accuracy using inbreeding information. Effects of inbreeding on average daily gain phenotype in the Line 1 Hereford cattle population were assessed in this study. Genomic data were used to calculate inbreeding based on runs of homozygosity (ROH), and pedigree information was used to calculate the probability of an allele being identical by descent. Prediction ability of phenotypes using inbreeding coefficients calculated based on pedigree information and runs of homozygosity over the whole genome was close to 0, even in the case of significant inbreeding coefficient effects. On the other hand, inbreeding calculated per individual chromosomes’ ROH yielded higher accuracies of prediction. Additionally, including only ROH from chromosomes with higher predicting ability further increased prediction accuracy. Phenotype prediction accuracy, inbreeding depression, and the effects of chromosome-specific ROHs varied widely across the genome. The results of this study suggest that inbreeding should be evaluated per individual regions of the genome. Moreover, mating schemes to avoid inbreeding depression should focus more on specific ROH with negative effects. Finally, using ROH as added information may increase prediction of the genetic merit of animals in a genomic selection program.
Electroencephalogram Effects of Armodafinil: Comparison With Behavioral Alertness

Development of central nervous system-acting drugs would be enhanced by suitable biomarkers that reflect the targeted pathophysiologic brain state. The electroencephalogram (EEG) has several characteristics of an ideal biomarker and can be promptly adapted to pre-clinical and clinical testing. The aim of this study was to evaluate EEG as a measure of the wakefulness-promoting effect of armodafinil in sleep deprived healthy subjects. Armodafinil pharmacodynamics were simultaneously assessed by EEG- and behavioral-based measures including a well-established measure of alertness. Using two quantitative EEG-based measures-power spectral and event-related brain activity analyses-we observed that armodafinil mitigated the slowing of brain activity and the decrease of the event-related brain activity caused by sleep deprivation. Armodafinil-induced changes in EEG are in agreement and explain up to 73.1% of the armodafinil-induced changes in alertness. Our findings suggest that EEG can serve as a marker of the wakefulness-promoting drug effect.
Arctic-scale assessment of satellite passive microwave-derived snow depth on sea ice using Operation IceBridge airborne data

[1] Snow depth on sea ice (SD) is a key geophysical variable, knowledge of which is critical for calculating the energy and mass balance budgets. Moreover, accurate knowledge of the SD distribution is important to retrieve sea-ice thicknesses from altimetry data. So far, only space-based microwave radiometers (e.g., Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System; AMSR-E) provide operational SD on seasonal sea-ice retrievals. A thorough assessment of these retrievals is needed on a large scale and on a variety of sea-ice types. Our study presents such an assessment on Arctic sea ice using NASA's airborne Operation IceBridge (OIB) SDs, retrieved from radar measurements. Between 2009 and 2011, ∼610 12.5 km satellite grid cells were covered by seasonal sea ice where both satellite SD retrievals and OIB data were available. Using all the available data, the difference between the AMSR-E product and the averaged OIB snow-radar-derived SD is 0.00±0.07 m. Satellite-derived SD was accurate in the Beaufort Sea and the Canadian Archipelago but underestimated (∼0.07 m) in the Nares Strait. The RMSE between the two products ranges between 0.03 and 0.15 m. The RMSE is less than 0.06 m over a shallow snow cover ( 0.10 m) have been identified and related to the presence of either low ice concentration or significant fraction of multiyear ice within the grid cell that has not been flagged.
Broadband calibration of the R/V Marcus G. Langseth four‐string seismic sources

[1] The R/V Marcus G. Langseth is the first 3-D seismic vessel operated by the U.S. academic community. With up to a four-string, 36-element source and four 6-km-long solid state hydrophone arrays, this vessel promises significant new insights into Earth science processes. The potential impact of anthropogenic sound sources on marine life is an important topic to the marine seismic community. To ensure that operations fully comply with existing and future marine mammal permitting requirements, a calibration experiment was conducted in the Gulf of Mexico in 2007–2008. Results are presented from deep (∼1.6 km) and shallow (∼50 m) water sites, obtained using the full 36-element (6600 cubic inches) seismic source. This array configuration will require the largest safety radii, and the deep and shallow sites provide two contrasting operational environments. Results show that safety radii and the offset between root-mean-square and sound exposure level measurements were highly dependent on water depth.
Modernization of the Tax Administration of the Russian Federation

This report has been prepared in response to a general request by the State Tax Service (STS) to Georgia State University (GSU) Russian Federation Fiscal Reform project (sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development) for assistance in carrying out of a series of studies required in support of the modernization of the STS, and more in particular, as a condition of continuation of the World Bank loan for computerization, including the review EDP systems being developed by RNIVTS from a tax administration perspective, to ensure their adequacy, responsiveness to needs of the STS and effectiveness. The inescapable conclusion of this report is that the current status of the TAMP software and the ancillary reforms in procedures, tax returns forms, and organizational structures are less than complete, making the roll-out of the TAMP to other Oblasts premature. The short-term actions recommended are aimed at enabling the STS to make some minimum improvements in the organizational structures of the pilot offices and in moving the software into an operational mode so that its benefits can be realized. For the medium term the software developed by RNIVTS must be largely redesigned. The revised software should take full advantage of the capabilities of computers to take over most of the routine work of the tax inspectors. A self-assessment system, in which taxpayers fully complete their tax declarations without intervention by tax inspectors, must be introduced and the functional organization fully implemented in the pilot regions to complement the changes in the computer system. In other words, modernization of the STS goes beyond computerization. It will require reliance on a self-assessment system and the reorganization of the STS along functional lines. It should be noted that the team was not given access to the necessary statistical data, therefore the recommendations for the medium term are of a general nature only. In any case, specific recommendations are premature. The recommendations made in the report aim to improve the organizational structure and the decision-making process at the STS level. The recommendations focus on developing the necessary tools and conditions that will allow the STS to modernize its computer systems, procedures and field organization.
Nonexclusivity, Linear Pricing, and Annuity Market Screening

I develop a graphical approach for studying two-type adverse-selection insurance markets with (1) compulsory contracting, (2) linear pricing, (3) nonexclusive contracting, and (4) multiple indemnity states. The UK compulsory annuity market is a natural application. Despite fully linear pricing and nonexclusivity, screening of different types into distinct contracts—using the pattern of insurance payments across distinct indemnity states rather than quantity restrictions—is possible. Efficient screening involves distorting both types’ contracts away from first best contracts, for example, via front-loaded annuities. These distortions are attributable to convexification constraints that I identify as the nonexclusive, linear-pricing analog of canonical incentive compatibility constraints.
Hardware acceleration for thermodynamic constrained DNA code generation

Reliable DNA computing requires a large pool of oligonucleotides that do not cross-hybridize. In this paper, we present a transformed algorithm to calculate the maximum weight of the 2-stem common subsequence of two DNA oligonucleotides. The result is the key part of the Gibbs free energy of the DNA cross-hybridized duplexes based on the nearest-neighbor model. The transformed algorithm preserves the physical data locality and hence is suitable for implementation using a systolic array. A novel hybrid architecture that consists of a general purpose microprocessor and a hardware accelerator for accelerating the discovery of DNA under thermodynamic constraints is designed, implemented and tested. Experimental results show that the hardware system provides more than 250X speed-up compared to a software only implementation.
Fluorescent Staining of Subcellular Organelles: ER, Golgi Complex, and Mitochondria

The ability to distinguish and identify specific subcellular compartments is essential to understanding organelle function, biogenesis, and maintenance within cells and to defining protein trafficking pathways. Fluorescent dyes and/or fluorescently labeled lipid derivatives can be used to identify ER, Golgi complex, and mitochondria. Specific conditions for labeling each of these compartments are described.
Optimization of rotor performance in hover using a free wake analysis

The aim of this research was to demonstrate that a free wake hover performance prediction code could be coupled to a numerical optimization algorithm. The hover code, dubbed EHPIC (evaluation of hover performance using influence coefficients), uses a quasilinear wake relaxation to solve for the rotor performance and is well suited to optimization applications
Statistical inference of selection and divergence from a time-dependent Poisson random field model.

We apply a recently developed time-dependent Poisson random field model to aligned DNA sequences from two related biological species to estimate selection coefficients and divergence time. We use Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to estimate species divergence time and selection coefficients for each locus. The model assumes that the selective effects of non-synonymous mutations are normally distributed across genetic loci but constant within loci, and synonymous mutations are selectively neutral. In contrast with previous models, we do not assume that the individual species are at population equilibrium after divergence. Using a data set of 91 genes in two Drosophila species, D. melanogaster and D. simulans, we estimate the species divergence time (or 1.68 million years, assuming the haploid effective population size years) and a mean selection coefficient per generation . Although the average selection coefficient is positive, the magnitude of the selection is quite small. Results from numerical simulations are also presented as an accuracy check for the time-dependent model.
Effect of Operation for Ebstein Anomaly on Left Ventricular Function

Our objective was to examine the outcomes of patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction who underwent operation for Ebstein anomaly. From April 1, 1972 to January 1, 2006, 539 patients with Ebstein anomaly underwent operation at Mayo Clinic. LV function was determined by echocardiography. Of the 495 patients with preoperative echocardiographic assessment of LV function, 50 had moderate or severe LV systolic dysfunction. In patients with LV dysfunction, the tricuspid valve (TV) was repaired in 12 patients and replaced in 36 patients; 1 patient had a 1.5 ventricle repair, and 1 patient had cardiac transplantation. There were 5 early deaths (10%). LV function improved in all but 4 patients after operation. In no patient did LV function worsen after operation. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival was 86%, 77%, and 67%, respectively. On univariate analysis, absence of sinus rhythm at dismissal (p = 0.003) was associated with greater overall mortality. For the entire cohort of 539 patients, LV dysfunction was independently predictive of late mortality (hazard ratio 3.76, p <0.001). At late follow-up (mean 6.9 years), 86% of patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II. In conclusion, LV systolic dysfunction occurs infrequently in patients with Ebstein anomaly and is a risk factor for increased late mortality. Although early mortality is greater in patients with LV dysfunction, the late results are favorable. Decreasing LV function should be an indication to promptly restore TV competence rather than a contraindication to TV operation.
Reproduction in Physa pomilia and Helisoma duryi

Abstract On the basis of available information, the Lymnaeidae and Physidae are capable of reproducing through self-fertilisation; the Planorbidae are less successful. Although the first two lamilies mentioned can reproduce in this manner the data indicate that this is not likely to be the general mode of reproduction since cross-copulation and hence cross-fertilisation is of benefit to the population.
Modulation and thermal properties of tunnel-coupled InAs QD 1.13μm VCSELs

Quantum dot (QD) -based vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) are predicted to have faster modulation response and better thermal stability as compared with quantum well (QW) VCSELs. QD size distribution, limited carrier capture and thermalization rates affect the maximum saturated gain of QD-based lasers. To address these problems, structures of tunnel coupled pairs consisting of InGaAs QW grown on top of self-assembled InAs QDs (QWon- QDs) were employed as a gain medium for VCSELs. Photoluminescence and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the properties of the "well-on-dots" active medium. We have developed a triple-pair tunnel QW-on-QDs structure with a QD transition which is red-shifted ~ 32 meV relative to QW ground state (GS). This optimized energy separation uE = E QW - E QDs was found to be close to the energy of the LO phonon. All-epitaxial tunnel-coupled QD VCSELs demonstrated continuous wave (CW) mode lasing in a wide temperature range from T = - 20°C to above 150°C. The room temperature lasing wavelength λ = 1131 nm corresponds to the QD GS transition. A minimum threshold current value I th = 0.7 mA was measured in a 9 μm oxide aperture VCSEL. The maximum power from a single device was 2.5 mW and maximum differential efficiency was 0.16 W/A. Small signal modulation responses of these VCSELs showed a maximum resonance frequency of about 9 GHz. The damping-limited cut-off frequency for these tunnel QW-on-QDs VCSELs was estimated at 34 GHz from the dependence of damping factor and resonance frequency on driving current.
Ultrastructural changes associated with the accumulation and secretion of sanguinarine in Papaver bracteatum suspension cultures treated with fungal elicitor.

Suspension cultures of Papaver bracteatum Arya II Lindl., grown without hormone in the presence of conidial extracts of Verticillium dahliae Kleb., accumulate millimolar quantities of the benzophenanthridine alkaloid, sanguinarine. Under the fluorescence microscope, the elicitor-treated cells display an orange-yellow fluorescence characteristic of sanguinarine, primarily near the periphery of the cells. Electron-microscopic inspection showed the presence of slightly dilated endoplasmic reticulum and of electron-dense protuberances on the tonoplast of large central vacuoles. These osmiophilic aggregates lining the tonoplast bud into spherical bodies, appear to become detached from the membrane and are released into the vacuole. Upon subcellular fractionation of elicited cells on Renografin step gradients, sanguinarine was found to be distributed in all bands but with 86% concentrated in the gradient pellet. Analysis of the pellet by electron microscopy showed that it contained electron-dense fragments similar to the osmiophilic bodies observed on the tonoplast of intact elicited cells. In elicited cell cultures, most of the sanguinarine was recovered from medium in a 100·g sedimenting, cell-free, particulate fraction accounting for as much as 85% of the media sanguinarine and 62% of the total sanguinarine. The sanguinarine-rich 100·g media pellet was determined to be two-thirds protein, one-third RNA and was essentially devoid of phenolics, phospholipid and DNA. The pellet consisted of electrondense material and cytoplasmic remnants resembling those found in the Renografin pellet and tonoplast aggregates of intact cells. When placed under hypotonic conditions or extracted with aqueous buffer, pH 3–11, the pellet did not release sanguinarine. These observations provide evidence for storage of sanguinarine at electron-dense deposits which occur on the tonoplast and as freely floating bodies in vacuoles.
Release of Thy-1 from human and murine T-cell lines by a specific phospholipase.

Proteins on the outer surface of cultured human and murine lymphoblastoid T cells were labelled with 125I. The labelled cells were incubated with the enzyme phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). Proteins cleaved from the cell membrane by the enzyme were immunoprecipitated with anti-Thy-1 antibodies, separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and identified by autoradiography. A doublet of Thy-1 bands of approximately 16,000 daltons were detected. The result suggests that: (a) Thy-1 is present on the human and murine T cells which we tested, and (b) Thy-1 is attached to the cell membrane via a phosphatidylinositol domain.
RNA fingerprinting using a small horizontal agarose gel electrophoresis apparatus

Abstract The electrophoresis step in the RNA fingerprinting procedure has been modified by replacing the large and expensive electrophoresis tank with a horizontal agarose gel electrophoresis box, a common piece of laboratory equipment. Two RNA molecules (67 and 298 nucleotides long) transcribed in vitro from a truncated human β-globin gene have been fingerprinted and analyzed by the modified technique. The resolution of the oligonucleotides in this procedure is comparable to that seen using the tank and is sufficient to separate relatively large oligonucleotides with similar base composition.
Current treatment options for management of anal intraepithelial neoplasia

Anal squamous cell cancer is an uncommon malignancy caused by infection with oncogenic strains of Human papilloma virus. Anal cancer is much more common in immunocompromised persons, including those infected with Human immunodeficiency virus. High-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (HGAIN), the precursor of anal cancer, is identified by clinicians providing care for patients with anorectal disease, and is increasingly being identified during screening of immunosuppressed patients for anal dysplasia. The traditional treatment for HGAIN has been excision of macroscopic disease with margins. This approach is effective for patients with small unifocal HGAIN lesions. Patients with extensive multifocal HGAIN frequently have recurrence of HGAIN after excision, and may have postoperative complications of anal stenosis or fecal incontinence. This led to the suggestion by some that treatment for HGAIN should be delayed until patients developed anal cancer. Alternative approaches in identification and treatment have been developed to treat patients with multifocal or extensive HGAIN lesions. High-resolution anoscopy combines magnification with anoscopy and is being used to identify HGAIN and determine treatment margins. HGAIN can then be ablated with a number of modalities, including infrared coagulation, CO2 laser, and electrocautery. These methods for HGAIN ablation can be performed with local anesthesia on outpatients and are relatively well tolerated. High-resolution anoscopy-directed HGAIN ablation is evolving into a standard approach for initial treatment and then subsequent monitoring of a disease which should be expected to be recurrent. Another treatment approach for HGAIN is topical treatment, principally with 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod. Topical therapies have the advantage of being nonsurgical and are well suited for treating widespread multifocal disease. Topical treatments have the disadvantage of requiring extended treatment courses and causing a symptomatic inflammatory response. Successful treatment requires adherence to a regime that is uncomfortable at best and at worst painful. Topical treatments can be successful in motivated adherent patients willing to accept these side effects.
The upper bound on the entropy of self-gravitating radiation systems

The entropy of a self-gravitating radiation system (sgrs) confined to a spherical box with a central black hole is calculated by using the equation of state of radiation near a black-hole horizon, which was derived by Li and Liu. The upper bound on the total entropy of the system including the central black hole is exactly equal to the entropy of the black hole with the same mass. A reasonable mode of the gravitational collapse of ansgrs is given, and a possible explanation for the origin of black-hole entropy is provided.
The artful use of national power: Portuguese Angola (1961–1974)

In its colony of Angola, Portugal during its colonial wars (1961–1974) was able to exploit the economic dependence and divided population loyalties of its hostile neighbours the Congo and Zambia as well as the cleavages within the nationalist movements to prevent a crippling insurgency. The rulers of both countries were largely dependent on Angola for trade, and were eager to have the side effects of the robust Angolan economy with its 11% annual growth brush off on their own moribund ones. While relationships were never comfortable, the sponsors of revolution were forced to reign in their ‘freedom fighters’ in order to maintain the functioning of their export-dependent economies. Portuguese leadership also played a vital role, as it was able to bring together diverse elements of national power in a concerted policy for dealing with these enemies, whether they were insurgents or their sanctuary countries. This policy of leveraging national power and playing on the vulnerabilities of its opponents worked w...
A Proposed Design For A Real-Time Signal Processor

A proposed architecture for real-time signal processing is discussed. The architecture consists of 2n microcomputers connected through a switching network that makes the entire array into what we call the "indirect binary n-cube array." By a microcomputer we mean a microprocessor together with memory, some of which can be read-only or write-occasionally. The microcomputers are operated in lockstep under broadcast macroinstructions from a central controller which can also be a microcomputer. The macroinstructions are locally interpreted in a programmable way as a sequence of microinstructions. The central controller also manages the switching array, as well as handling I/O to and from the array. It is shown that this design can make full use of the 2n-fold parallelism for most signal processing algorithms including, for example, the radix-2 FFT in one or two dimensions, windowing, doppler filtering, and the like. Furthermore, the design is such that the array, and hence the available degree of parallelism, can be halved or doubled without requiring redesign; it can therefore be adapted to changing requirements.