cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Holding on to what might have been may loosen (or tighten) the ties that bind us: A counterfactual potency analysis of previous dating alternatives

Abstract Existing research shows that people who have good current alternatives to their romantic partner are less committed to the relationship. The present research indicates that relationship commitment also depends on perceptions of high quality forgone alternatives. The current research investigates the role of counterfactual potency (i.e., perceived likelihood of a mentally simulated alternative to reality) concerning potential dating partners from the past. Data from three studies revealed that as the perceived potency of a past romantic alternative increased, regret associated with forgone dating alternatives increased and commitment to the current partner decreased. Regret associated with forgone alternatives mediated the relationship between counterfactual potency and commitment. However, the link between counterfactual potency and commitment was further moderated by investment size; among the highly invested, as the perceived potency of a past romantic alternative increased, commitment to the current partner increased. Results are discussed in light of the investment model of relationship commitment.
Media effects on performance of anaerobic hybrid reactors

Abstract Effects of cross-flow media angle and depth on hybrid anaerobic upflow-sludge-blanket-filter (UBF) reactors treating a medium strength wastewater were investigated. Results showed that media angle, media depth and sludge bed height had a relatively minor effect on sludge retention and COD removal while hydraulic retention time (HRT) and concomitant volumetric organic loading rate (OLR) had the largest impact. Variations in sludge granulation were noted, with the proliferation of more settleable granules in the reactor containing random media and UBF reactor with the shallow packing slope. Although the settleability of the sludge in each UBF varied the sludge activity in all reactors was relatively constant.
Production of chromatid aberrations by diepoxybutane and an iron chelator.

RECENT investigations have shown that chromatid breaks produced by certain radiomimetic agents in combination do not interact to produce reunions1. Specifically, breaks produced by 8-ethoxycaffeine do not form exchanges with those produced by maleic hydrazide, nor do the breaks produced by potassium cyanide and β-propiolactone interact with each other. Conversely, breaks induced by X-rays will interact with those produced by potassium cyanide, β-propiolactone, 8-ethoxycaffeine and maleic hydrazide. The interpretation of these results was stated in terms of differences in the bonds broken by the chemical agents, such differences precluding interaction or rejoining of broken ends of chromosomes.
Effects of uncertainty magnitude and accuracy on assimilation of multiscale measurements for snowpack characterization

[1] Hydrologists regularly utilize data assimilation (DA) techniques to merge remote sensing measurements with physical models in order to characterize hydrologic reservoirs. DA methods generally require an estimate of the uncertainty of the various inputs to the models; in practice, however, the uncertainty of these quantities is often unknown. This paper explores the effects of the unknown uncertainty on the efficiency of a multifrequency, multiscale hydrologic DA scheme for snowpack characterization. Synthetic passive microwave (PM) measurements at 25 km and near-infrared (NIR) measurements at 1 km were assimilated, and both snow water equivalent (SWE) and grain size were estimated at 1 km resolution. It is found that the uncertainty magnitude had a significant effect on the efficiency of both SWE and grain size estimation, but that the uncertainty magnitude had very different effects on these two variables because of the different PM and NIR measurement scales. Secondly, it was found that the uncertainty accuracy had a very important role in this DA scheme and that the filter may degrade the estimate of SWE and grain size if key model inputs are misspecified. Finally, four metrics were used to assess the difference between the PM and NIR measurement innovations and their expected values. It was shown that these metrics could potentially be used in an adaptive filtering scheme to correct misspecified uncertainty. More investigation will be required before the feasibility of such an adaptive filtering scheme is established. These findings have important ramifications for snowpack estimation since it implies that in the context of DA schemes, better use will be made of remote sensing products when better physical characterization of the uncertainty of modeled estimates of snow states is available.
The effect of cimetidine on cyclophosphamide metabolism in rabbits.

Six female rabbits were given 20 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (containing 100 μCi [3H-chloroethyl]-cyclophosphamide) alone or 1 h following 100 mg/kg cimetidine. Serial plasma and urine specimens were collected and levels of cyclophosphamide and its metabolites (4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, 4-ketocyclophosphamide, phosphoramide mustard, and carboxyphosphamide) were measured. 4-Ketocyclophosphamide was the major metabolite present in rabbit plasma and urine, with lesser amounts of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, carboxyphosphamide, and phosphoramide mustard also being identified. Cimetidine pretreatment resulted in prolongation of cyclophosphamide's half-life from 24.3±7.3 to 33.5±9.5 min (mean ± SD;P=0.036) but did not significantly alter the AUC0–8 h for the latter drug. Cimetidine pretreatment resulted in a significantly greater AUC0–8 h for 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (189.4±77 vs 364.6±126.7 μmol min/l−1;P=0.016) as compared with control values. A higher AUC0–8 h value for phosphoramide mustard (53.7±69.2 vs 95.7±34.7 μmol min/l−1) was also observed after cimetidine dosing but the difference was not significant (P=0.21). Kinetics of 4-ketocyclophosphamide and carboxyphosphamide were not significantly affected by cimetidine treatment. Cimetidine was added to hepatic microsomes isolated from phenobarbital-treated rabbits; it did not inhibit cyclophosphamide's metabolism in vitro, suggesting that its in vivo effect may be mediated through mechanisms other than cytochrome P-450 inhibition. Cimetidine pretreatment increases exposure to cyclophosphamide and its major activated metabolite, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide. Potentiation rather than inhibition of cyclophosphamide's pharmacodynamic effect is to be predicted when cimetidine is given concomitantly with the former. Alterations in hepatic blood flow or mechanisms other than microsomal inhibition by cimetidine may explain this potentiation.
Metallic free clusters

Simple models and corresponding experimental results are presented concerning single particle and collective motion in metal clusters. Relative abundances, photo-electron spectra, ionization potentials, polarizabilities, and plasma resonances are discussed in relation to the shell model, and suggestions are made for future experiments.
Observation of Resonances near 11 eV in the Photodetachment Cross Section of the H − Ion

We have used a colliding-beam method to find two resonances in the photodetachment of electrons from H/sup -/. A nitrogen laser beam is directed at variable angle across the 800-meV H/sup -/ beam at the Clinton P. Anderson Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF), resulting in a center-of-mass photon beam wavelength which is continuously tunable from the visible to the vacuum ultraviolet. Our preliminary measurements of the two resonances observed near 11 eV agree well with theoretical predictions within our experimental resolution of 10 meV. (AIP)
Prefetching with multiple disks for external mergesort: simulation and analysis

The authors present a simulation study of multiple disk systems to improve the input/output (I/O) performance of multiway merging. With the increase in the size of main memory in computer systems, multiple disks and aggressive prefetching can be used to significantly reduce I/O time. Two prefetching strategies-intra-run and inter-run-for external merging using multiple disks were studied. Their performance was evaluated, and simple analytical expressions are derived to explain their asymptotic behavior. The results indicate that a combination of the strategies can result in a significant reduction in I/O time. >
A distinct type of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase with sn-2 preference and phosphatase activity producing 2-monoacylglycerol

The first step in assembly of membrane and storage glycerolipids is acylation of glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P). All previously characterized membrane-bound, eukaryotic G3P acyltransferases (GPATs) acylate the sn-1 position to produce lysophosphatidic acid (1-acyl-LPA). Cutin is a glycerolipid with omega-oxidized fatty acids and glycerol as integral components. It occurs as an extracellular polyester on the aerial surface of all plants, provides a barrier to pathogens and resistance to stress, and maintains organ identity. We have determined that Arabidopsis acyltransferases GPAT4 and GPAT6 required for cutin biosynthesis esterify acyl groups predominantly to the sn-2 position of G3P. In addition, these acyltransferases possess a phosphatase domain that results in sn-2 monoacylglycerol (2-MAG) rather than LPA as the major product. Such bifunctional activity has not been previously described in any organism. The possible roles of 2-MAGs as intermediates in cutin synthesis are discussed. GPAT5, which is essential for the accumulation of suberin aliphatics, also exhibits a strong preference for sn-2 acylation. However, phosphatase activity is absent and 2-acyl-LPA is the major product. Clearly, plant GPATs can catalyze more reactions than the sn-1 acylation by which they are currently categorized. Close homologs of GPAT4-6 are present in all land plants, but not in animals, fungi or microorganisms (including algae). Thus, these distinctive acyltransferases may have been important for evolution of extracellular glycerolipid polymers and adaptation of plants to a terrestrial environment. These results provide insight into the biosynthetic assembly of cutin and suberin, the two most abundant glycerolipid polymers in nature.
Cervical Spondylosis and Similar Disorders

Cervical Spondylosis and Similar Disorders. Edited by K. Ono, J. Dvooak, and E. Dunn. Language editor, J. Antinnes. River Edge, New Jersey, World Scientific, 1998. $147.00, 763 pp. This multiauthored monograph, compiled by editors from the United States, Switzerland, and Japan, provides an overview of a wide spectrum of topics concerning cervical spondylosis. The authors of the fifteen chapters are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, including orthopaedic and neurological surgery, radiology, and neurology, enhancing the …
Methods for determining linear synchronous machine parameters

A survey of methods for determining synchronous machine equivalent electrical circuit parameters is presented. These equivalent circuits are the basis for computer analysis and simulation. Circuit parameters developed for rotary synchronous machine (RSM) modeling are in wide use. Similar linear synchronous machine (LSM) parameters are not as well developed. This paper suggests methods for obtaining machine parameters appropriate to LSM modeling. >
Stochastic discrete optimization using a surrogate problem methodology

We consider stochastic discrete optimization problems where the decision variables are non-negative integers. We propose and analyze an online control scheme which transforms the problem into a "surrogate" continuous optimization problem and proceeds to solve the latter using standard gradient-based approaches while simultaneously updating both actual and surrogate system states. Convergence of the proposed algorithm is established and it is shown that the discrete state neighborhood of the optimal surrogate state contains the optimal solution of the original problem. Numerical results are included in the paper illustrating the fast convergence properties of this approach.
Development of V-band Integrated Front-Ends on Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) Technology

The development of integrated passive devices for V-band transceiver applications on low-lost liquid crystal polymer (LCP) technology is presented. Filters, matching networks, duplexers, and antenna arrays have been designed, implemented, and characterized. Measurement results for the individual components and for the integrated module are presented. The developed duplexer has an average passband insertion loss of -4 dB, while simultaneously exhibiting steep stopband attenuation to provide the necessary isolation between the two closely spaced transmit and receive channels. Slot-loaded patch antenna element and arrays have also been developed providing a low-profile solution, while still meeting the bandwidth specifications. The integrated module is compact, conformal, shows good matching and isolation characteristics, and is a good candidate for low-cost, short-range wireless applications.
Antenna angle error correction to radome curvature

For many tactical mobile ground based tracking phased-array radar applications, the antenna system must be covered by a radome to permit capability in all weather conditions. While this radome provides environmental protection for the tracking antenna, it will affect the accuracy in estimating target direction caused by radome curvature and radome seam scattering. The antenna designer must then evaluate angle error due to radome effect so as to completely characterize performance parameters that meet the requirements of angle accuracy on the overall tracking radar system. The author presents the analysis of an angle error correction algorithm for the phased array inside a curved sandwich radome. The array's dimension is 2 m/spl times/4.7 m (EL/spl times/AZ) and operates at X-band. The radome is assembled by three sandwich panels and has cylindrical shape with 4 m radius in elevation. Most angle error is contributed by radome curvature. The numerical radome simulation employs a ray tracing method to compute the transmission coefficients of the antenna's rays at different incident angles through the radome which are dependent on array scan. Due to the cylindrical geometry of the radome, no angle error is obtained in azimuth.
Atmospheric Rivers and Flooding over the Central United States

AbstractThis paper undertakes a hydrometeorological analysis of flood events in the central United States. Vertically integrated horizontal water vapor transport over 1979–2011 is calculated in the ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) and used in an algorithm to identify episodes of high moisture transport, or atmospheric rivers (ARs), over the central United States. The AR events are almost evenly divided among the seasons (143 during the winter, 144 during the spring, and 124 during the fall), with a minimum (40) during the summer. The annual maxima (AM) floods from 1105 basins over the period 1980–2011 are used as a measure of the hydrologic impact of the AR events. Of these basins, 470 (or 42.5%) had more than 50% of their AM floods linked to ARs. Furthermore, 660 of the 1105 basins (59.7%) had 5 or more of their top 10 AM floods related to ARs, indicating that ARs control the upper tail of the flood peak distribution over large portions of the study area. The seasonal composite average of mean sea...
Treatment and clinical results in childhood AML in Greece

The primary objective of our study is to describe the clinical results of children with AML, treated with BFM protocols, in two institutions in Greece. Between January 1997 and December 2011, 84 children with primary and secondary AML were treated with BFM AML 93, 98 and 2004 protocol and were eligible for evaluation. Median follow-up for survivors was 86.3 months. The most usual cytogenetic abnormalities t(8;21), t(15;17) and Myeloid/Lymphoid (MLL) rearrangement were detected in eight, six, and nine children respectively. Out of the 73 patients with primary AML, three died before completion of first induction. Only one has never responded to chemotherapy and eight patients had M2 or M3 bone marrow after induction and required more than one courses to achieve remission. On the whole, 46/70 (65.7 %) patients are alive, in remission. Out of 24 patients who suffered from relapse, only seven are alive in second remission. The event-free survival in standard and high risk group was 17/21 (80.9 %) and 31/52 (59.6 %), respectively, with the difference being statistically significant. The major cause of mortality in children with AML in our institutions was recurrence of disease. Supportive care, molecular features of the disease, and response to therapy are increasingly used to optimize treatment for all patients.
Trapping Fish Genes with Transposons

Several recent papers describe pilot screens establishing enhancer and gene trap methodologies for use in fish. They have proven these approaches by characterizing genes with novel and sometimes unexpected expression patterns. The resulting fish lines with tissue-specific GFP expression patterns are now being used in further developmental genetics experiments, enhancing the value of fish models for exploring novel biological phenomena. Both Tol2 and Sleeping Beauty transposon systems have been successfully adapted for the construction of enhancer and gene trap vectors. This review summarizes the results presented in these papers and compares this first generation of trap vectors. Future challenges and perspectives for wider use of these methodologies are also discussed.
Effects of methylphenidate on functional MRI blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast.

OBJECTIVE: The authors’ goal was to determine potential hemodynamic consequences of methylphenidate on functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast. METHOD: BOLD and perfusion changes were recorded from the motor cortex of six healthy subjects while they performed flexion-extension movements of the right index finger (finger tapping) at varying rates before and after oral methylphenidate administration. RESULTS: Functional MRI signals increased monotonically with faster movement rates. Subjects’ heart rates increased modestly after methylphenidate administration, but no changes in finger tapping performance or functional MRI signals were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Methylphenidate does not alter BOLD neural-hemodynamic coupling. Consequently, functional MRI can be used to map neural systems that subserve cognitive operations (e.g., attention and executive processes) in subjects taking methylphenidate.
Instantiating a Vision: Creating the New Pathology Department at Stanford Medical School

This review represents my best effort to recreate and memorialize events that occurred 44 years ago, when I was invited to join the Stanford University faculty to create, essentially de novo, what rapidly became and remains today one of the very best and most admired departments of pathology in the world. That I was able to accomplish this challenging task I attribute to my holding fast to a somewhat inchoate vision of where the science and practice of pathology would go in future decades, a little bit to my gut instincts and innate ability to spot up-and-coming talent, but a lot to circumstances and good fortune in leading me to a small nucleus of wonderful young professionals of outstanding promise who were willing to join me in “betting the house” that, working together, we could pull off this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—and we did.
From British Peasants to Colonial American Farmers . By Allan Kulikoff. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2000. Pp. xiii, 484. $59.95, cloth; $22.50, paper.

Based on a selective reading of over 2,500 secondary sources, From British Peasants is an encyclopedic description of early U.S. social history that attempts to describe the transformation of feudal rural folk from deferential â€œpeasantsâ€ into economically and politically independent â€œfarmersâ€ (p. 1). Allan Kulikoff analyzes the alleged transformation through the lens of materialist Marxism (pp. 293â€“98, where he cites Marx as an authority five times). References to problematic terms such as â€œclass relationsâ€ abound (pp. 2, 41, 289â€“92), and Kulikoff argues, among other things, that â€œgentlemenâ€ attempted to oppress farmers by refusing â€œto grant them freehold land,â€ by forcing â€œthem into permanent tenancy,â€ by â€œpassing high taxes,â€ and even by failing â€œto protect them from bandits or Indians.â€ Kulikoff further claims that â€œgentlemen and capitalists dominated legislatures,â€ engaged in an â€œorgy of development,â€ and â€œviolently suppressedâ€ rural rebellions (pp. 288â€“91). Yet somehow the mighty yeomen â€œstopped deferring to gentlemen and insisted on democratic decision makingâ€ (p. 291).
Onychophora (Velvet Worms)

The phylum Onychophora, also known as ‘peripatus’, ‘velvet worms’ or ‘walking worms’, comprises over 180 described species. Onychophorans are exclusively terrestrial, but are susceptible to desiccation and are restricted to humid microsites. The majority of species inhabit tropical forest litter. Their flexible trunk, retractile limbs and ability to squeeze through small interstices all make them excellently adapted for life in decomposing wood and leaf litter. The head appendages are modified for form sensory antennae, slicing mandibles and slime papillae. The last are a unique trait of onychophorans and eject a rapidly polymerising glue, which is used to entangle their animal prey. Both morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies place the Onychophora at the base of the phylum Arthropoda. Gas exchange via an invaginated tracheal system and water-conserving uricotely represent show convergent evolution with similar terrestrial adaptations in insects. Key Concepts: Onychophorans possess typical arthropod traits: a chitinous cuticle, metameric segmentation with paired segmental limbs and periodic moulting regulated by steroid ecdysones. Gas exchange in onychophorans is accomplished by spiracles scattered over the body surface and which open into fan-like clusters of tracheal tubules. The flexible trunk functions as a hydrostatic skeleton, deformed by antagonising circular and longitudinal muscle layers beneath the integument. Onychophorans possess little resistance to desiccation and are mostly confined to humid habitats in the tropics and sub-tropics. Some species are able to take up water by eversible coxal vesicles at the leg-bases. The anterior limbs are specialised as sensory antennae, slicing mandibles and slime papillae that eject a fast-polymerising glue to entangle prey. Most onychophorans possess separate sexes (gonochoristic) and fertilisation involves various mechanisms of spermatophore transfer, often during an elaborate courtship. Keywords: Arthropoda; cuticle; lobopodia; peripatus; phylogeny; slime papillae; velvet worms
Possible generation mechanisms of low-frequency waves (≲50 Hz) with application to the bow shock plasma

A review is presented of low-frequency wave phenomena associated with the Earth's bow shock. Emphasis is given to generation mechanisms of waves observed both in the shock itself and in adjacent regions.
Visualizations for self-reflection on mouse pointer performance for older adults

Aging causes physical and cognitive changes that influence how we interact with the world around us. As personal data becomes increasingly available from a variety of sources, older adults can use this information to better understand these changes and adapt. Our project explores information visualization as a tool to help older adults interpret and understand their own personal data. To test this concept, we created visualizations of user's pointer performance metrics to help demystify problems in real-world mouse use. In a user study conducted with older adults with a range of computing experience, we learned that visualizations such as these can be a highly engaging information medium for this population. This paper presents our value-driven design process and recommendations for visualizations for older adults.
Programming in VS Fortran on the IBM 3090 for maximum vector performance

Programming techniques necessary for high performance on the 3090 Vector Facilities are illustrated, showing that VS Fortran programs can achieve near-maximum execution rates. Relevant features of the 3090 architecture are reviewed, stressing the need to make efficient use of a hierarchical storage system and take advantage of the compound vector instructions. The key programming techniques for managing the storage hierarchy are loop sectioning, loop distribution, and data compaction. Vector register, cache reuse, and virtual memory, storage format, and page reuse are shown to lead to efficient use of the vector registers, the high speed cache, and the virtual memory system, respectively. The multiply-and-add compound instruction is discussed. >
Outbreak of Multi-Drug-resistant Tuberculosis in a New York State Prison, 1991

In the summer of 1991, four inmates from prison A in Upstate New York died of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. To determine the extent of resistant tuberculosis at prison A and transmission patterns, the authors interviewed staff and reviewed medical records and inmate movement histories. Contact investigation results were examined to determine tuberculin skin test conversions and to estimate risk of infection and disease for inmates who were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Eight HIV-positive inmates and one HIV-negative guard, who was immunocompromised with cancer, had multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. Eight died, a median of 28 days after the first culture-positive specimen was collected. All isolates had identical seven-drug resistance and DNA fingerprint patterns. Of exposed inmates, 92 out of 306 (30%) had skin test conversions. HIV infection was not associated with becoming infected with drug-resistant tuberculosis (active disease or skin test conversion), but once infected, HIV-positive inmates were significantly more likely to develop disease than were HIV-negative inmates (p < 0.001). The source case transferred to prison A in February 1991, was ill with undiagnosed multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, refused medical care, and lived in the general prison population, where he transmitted the disease to other inmates. Lapses in infection control and laboratory delays contributed to this outbreak. Prisons should fully implement infection control guidelines to prevent tuberculosis transmission.
Effect of exogenous growth hormone and exercise on lean mass and muscle function in children with burns.

We tested the hypothesis that the administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) and exercise would increase lean body mass (LBM) and muscle strength in burned children to a greater exte...
Rent Control: A Case Study of British Columbia

Rent Control is a policy that still bedevils modern society. Tucker (1990) goes so far as to lay the blame for homelessness almost entirely on this policy. British Columbia is the only jurisdiction in the entire world in the last 30 years which has eliminated its rent control. It has done so, moreover, without suffering any deleterious effects. Because of its unhappy previous experiences with rent control, this enactment has long been viewed unfavorably by the majority of the citizenry of British Columbia.
Challenges in the diagnosis of cutaneous adnexal tumours

The diagnosis of cutaneous adnexal neoplasms, a heterogeneous group of entities, is often perceived by practising pathologists as challenging. A systematic approach to diagnosis is necessary for classification of these lesions, which establishes the tumour differentiation (follicular, sebaceous, sweat gland or apocrine) and evaluates histological features differentiating between benign and malignant entities. Consideration of clinical history is a necessary adjunct in evaluation of the adnexal neoplasm, as characteristic anatomical sites are described for many adnexal lesions. In some instances, immunohistochemical studies may also be employed to aid the diagnosis. The differential diagnosis between primary cutaneous adnexal neoplasms and cutaneous metastases from visceral tumours may also be difficult. Clinical, radiological, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics will be further discussed, considering that the correct diagnosis has a significant impact on the patient's management and prognosis.
Turbulence Measurements of a Two-Dimensional NACA 0036 Airfoil with Synthetic Jet Flow Control

An active ∞ow control experiment was conducted on a 2-ft chord NACA 0036 airfoil in a 3-ft by 4-ft Wind Tunnel at Re = 1:0 £ 10 6 . The model was equipped with oscillatory jet actuators at x/c = 0.30 and 0.65 that provided 120 Hz periodic excitation at a C„ = 0:86% through 0.06-in wide slots. Three difierent slot conflgurations were tested, including a baseline with no slots. Surface pressure data was collected to compare to previous tests and to combine with turbulence data to aid future CFD modeling efiorts. Turbulence data, measured by hotwire anemometry, was compared with and without ∞ow control. Pressure data corroborates previous test data and provides more points for CFD validation. Hotwire results showed ∞ow control reduced the separated wake size and brought the high Reynolds shear stress layer closer to the airfoil surface. The position of this layer to the surface was altered more signiflcantly than the magnitude of the peak shear stresses. Flow control was shown to increase turbulent energy in the attached boundary layer downstream of the slot but to have little efiect upstream. These results provide further justiflcation to continue assessing the potential of active ∞ow control to reduce separation drag of rotorcraft airframe components.
Developments in Strategies and Software Tools for Overset Structured Grid Generation and Connectivity

Recent developments in strategies and software tools for overset structured grid generation and domain connectivity are described. A scripting approach based on a library of grid generation script macros is adopted to speed up the grid generation process. Advances in this method involve the development of high level functions that encapsulate more complex grid generation tasks. Sample applications using the script library macros are given for several complex congurations. Advances towards automated and ecient domain connectivity is accomplished using a newly developed library of domain connectivity functions called Chimera Components Connectivity Library (C3LIB). The library contains standard interfaces to the various processes encountered in domain connectivity. Enhancement to the stencil search speed is accomplished via bounding boxes based on balanced index-space partitions, and replacement of global searches by local searches using space-lling curve segments. The performance of the parallel stencil search algorithm is illustrated via a set of test cases on practical complex congurations.
Synthesis and Biological Activity of Mono- and Di-N-acylated Aminoglycosides.

Despite issues with oto/nephrotoxicity and bacterial resistance, aminoglycosides (AGs) remain an effective and widely used class of antibacterial agents. For decades now, efforts toward the development of novel AGs with potential to overcome some of these problems have been major research focuses. 1-N-Acylation, especially γ-amino-β-hydroxybutyrate (AHB) derivatization, has proven to be one of the most successful strategies for improving the overall properties of AGs, including their ability to avoid certain resistance mechanisms. More recently, 6′-N-acylation arose as another possible strategy to improve the properties of these drugs. In this study, we report on the glycinyl, carboxybenzyl, and AHB mono- and diderivatization at the 1-, 6′-, and/or 4‴-amines of the AGs amikacin, kanamycin A, netilmicin, sisomicin, and tobramycin. We also present the antibacterial activities and the reduced reactivity of AG-modifying enzymes (AMEs) toward these new AG derivatives, and identify the AMEs present in the bacte...
Laryngeal Electromyographic findings in patients with vocal fold motion asymmetry.

Objectives/Hypothesis Vocal fold motion asymmetry (VFMA) is often attributed to vocal fold paresis or an anatomical variant. Although laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) may be used to evaluate patients with vocal fold paresis, electrodiagnostic findings in VFMA have not been well defined. Study Design Review of a case series Methods Twenty-five symptomatic patients with VFMA were examined by LEMG, and the findings were analyzed. Results Although all were thought to have unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis, LEMG showed only nine to have unilateral recurrent nerve paresis. There were nine with both ipsilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve and superior laryngeal nerve paresis, four with bilateral paresis, and three were normal. Reduced total number of units, reduced recruitment, motor units firing fast, and polyphasic units were more common, whereas fibrillation potentials, fasciculation, positive sharp waves, and complex repetitive discharges were uncommon. The LEMG findings are most consistent with old, healed neuropathy. McNemar's test for the acute versus chronic denervation potentials showed significant differences. Conclusions VFMA has a high incidence of vocal fold paresis that can be better defined by LEMG. The site and side of paresis is often wrong based on laryngoscopy findings alone. The LEMG findings of VFMA appear to be consistent with old, healed neuropathy Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2016
Dorsal root ganglion neurons and tyrosine hydroxylase--an intriguing association with implications for sensation and pain.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a rate-limiting enzyme broadly expressed in noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system [57,70]. TH is also expressed by peripheral sympathetic neurons [98] as well as by enteric neurons within the gut [81,84]. Over 30 years ago, TH was unexpectedly discovered in developing and adult rodent cranial and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Today, TH-expressing DRG neurons are being re-discovered as a relevant subpopulation. This review addresses the emerging importance of TH-expressing DRG neurons in sensation and pain mechanisms, focusing specifically on: 1) their nature as C-low threshold mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs); 2) their involvement in nociception/pain; and 3) their catecholaminergic phenotype.
Sequencing and analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Pituophis catenifer sayi (Squamata: Colubridae).

The complete DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is presented and analyzed in this study. The genome is 17,193 bp in length, and contains 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes and 2 control regions. The overall base composition of the H-strand is A (34.5%), T (26.2%), C (25.8%) and G (12.7%). The gene order and orientation of the mitogenome is consistent with other sequenced genomes from colubrid snakes. Phylogenetic analyses using the ML, NJ and MP methods for a set of colubrids, including every sequenced genus within the sub-family Colubrinae, produced identical trees. We show that Pituophis is most closely related to the American ratsnake genus Pantherophis.
CBE and FX Devaluation: Bitter Enemies or is it Just a Matter of Time? Analyzing the Impact of an EGP Devaluation on Egypt’s Trade Balance

After the 2011 revolution, Egypt’s central Bank (CBE) changed its stance from a managed floating exchange rate regime to stabilizing the EGP, even though the market kept pushing for a devaluation to adjust Egypt’s trade competitiveness given the deteriorating state of the economy in general and the external balance specifically. This paper tries to judge the behavior of the Central Bank by looking at the possible effects of a real devaluation on Egypt’s trade competitiveness. Using an ARDL model, we study both the 2003 devaluation and the 2013 partial devaluation, and conclude that the impact of a real devaluation on Egypt’s trade balance is statistically insignificant. We further show that a J-curve effect is not present given the stationary characteristic of the real exchange rate. In effect, we do not find any positive incentives regarding trade competitiveness, for the Central Bank to consider devaluation as a possible remedy to improving Egypt’s external balance of payments.
Worsening neurological symptoms in an older man with history of rectal cancer

A 65-year-old man, who was lost to follow-up after abdominal-perineal resection for rectal adenocarcinoma 9 months earlier, presents with progressively worsening neurological symptoms, including bilateral hearing loss, dizziness, gait disturbance, ataxia, and blindness in the right eye.
Quantification of Protein Biomarkers Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

LC-MS/MS, particularly when linked with immunoaffinity enrichment, has emerged as a highly capable bioanalytical technique for the quantitative measurement of protein biomarkers and therapeutic proteins, thus impacting translational pharmacology. A key advantage of a protein LC-MS/MS assay over other bioanalytical techniques is the high measurement specificity that can be achieved. Immunoaffinity enrichment techniques using anti-protein or anti-peptide antibodies, or both in a sequential manner, extend LC-MS/MS assay sensitivity for protein biomarkers into the pg/mL range. Assay translation between species can be facilitated by selecting proteotypic peptides that are conserved in the same protein across species, if available, to allow the same MS detection method, the same SIL standard peptide and the same anti-peptide antibody can be used. Practical challenges to routine implementation in clinical assays are being overcome by the use of standardized workflows, liquid handling robotics, and robust LC-MS/MS configurations.
The Effects of Physical and Chemical Properties of Cellulosic Fibers on Anaerobic Deterioration by Pure Cultures1

Decomposition of cellulosic fibers by thirteen strains including three species of the obligately anaerobic genus Ruminococcus has been investigated with regard to the effects of the chemical composition and physical state of the fiber. Of the thirteen strains only six were actively cellulolytic. In test systems containing 50 mg of fiber in 10 ml of medium, nearly complete solubilization of substrate was observed in 11 to 14 days. The substrates were jute, cotton, alfalfa, filter paper, and varous materials derived from these. As with other cellulolytic systems, crystalline celluloses and coarse particles were resistant to attack. Gravimetric assays indicated that lignification reduced digestibility more than could be predicted from the lignin content alone, suggesting that in part the resistance of lignified fibers results from masking of the cellulose. The protective effect of lignification in jute is further supported by the fact that alfalfa stems having the same lignin content as jute were about five ...
Remedial actions to enhance stability of low-inertia systems

Increased penetration of renewable generation is expected to replace conventional generators and reduce system inertia. Future low-inertia systems are expected to include additional power sources to enhance stability by mimicking inertia and damping of conventional generators. This paper introduces such remedial actions in the formulation of direct methods for transient stability assessment. We extend our previous work on robust stability and resiliency certificates to include optimal tuning of inertia and damping coefficients for transient stability enhancement. The goal is to limit the fault-on trajectory in order to maintain the system inside its stability region. The advantage of this approach is the ability to guarantee system stability for a wider range of faults eliminating the need to carry out time-consuming simulations. An additional contribution of this paper is a novel formulation of the robust stability and resiliency certificates, which relaxes our optimization problem and allows to obtain significantly better results.
Long-Term Outcome of Encephalopathy with Status Epilepticus During Sleep Syndrome (ESESS)

Researchers from the Epilepsy Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland, prospectively evaluated the efficacy of antiepileptic drug treatment and long-term (5 years or longer) cognitive outcome in 32 children with ESESS.
Aging of Antioxidant Inducibility in Human Lung Epithelial Cells Partially Mimics Aging in Animal Studies

The antioxidant/inflammatory steady state shifts downward in aging. Based on previous reports of a decreased ability to activate the Nrf2 pathway in animal studies, we hypothesized that the ability to activate Nrf2 would decline in primary human cells with age, but that the basal expression of NF-κB-regulated genes would be greater with age. Six batches of Primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells were obtained from 6 different subjects of age 29, 28, 67 and 69 (male, non-smoker) and were randomly paired into 3 groups. Cells of low passage were treated with or without 2 μM sulforaphane for 12 hours, and the mRNAs of Nrf2-regulated antioxidant (phase II) genes were measured. Unstimulated expression of GCLC, GCLM, HO1 and NQO1 genes were the same in the young and old HBE. In contrast, sulforaphane-induced phase II gene expression of the older HBE cells decreased compared with that in the younger cells supporting our hypothesis. Young cells also produced an increased expression in luciferase-green fluorescent protein after EpRE-luciferase transfection followed by 12 hours’ stimulation with sulforaphane compared to the cells from the elderly, which indicates enhanced Nrf2 activation. This result further suggests stronger detoxification response in younger HBE cells to electrophiles. Western blot analysis showed an increase in Nrf2 accumulation within 1 hour in cell nucleus after stimulation with sulforaphane in both young and old cells. Bach-1 and c-myc which are Nrf2 suppressors were subsequently quantified at baseline and after stimulation. This mimics what has been observed in several previously reported studies of animal organs. Supported by NIH grant ES023864.
Evaluation of Urinary KIM-1 for Prediction of Polymyxin B-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

Nephrotoxicity associated with the polymyxins has been a significant barrier to their use. The conventional approach of monitoring renal function by measuring serum creatinine is relatively insensitive in acute kidney injury (AKI), and more sensitive biomarkers are needed to detect early AKI ([1][1
Utilization of cytocentrifugation slides in flow cytometry laboratory: a tool for correlation of morphology and immunonophenotype

Cytocentrifuge slide (“cytospin”) is a simple and rapid technique that is mainly used in the cytology laboratory. We have routinely used the technique in flow cytometry (FCM) laboratory at Montefiore Medical Center for more than 15 years. Our aim is to illustrate the contribution of cytospin in direct cellular morphologic visualization in FCM immunophenotyping, in result interpretation, and additionally as a quality control tool. Four thousand two hundred forty-eight cases sent to our FCM Laboratory in the past 21 months were studied retrospectively. The clinical history, cytospins, immunophenotyping panels, FCM contour plots, final FCM reports, and pathology reports were reviewed. Morphologic examination of the cytospin is a cost-effective tool for sample quality screening. Of the 4248 immunophenotyping cases, 359 (8.4%) cases were canceled, according to laboratory protocol based on cytospin review. Morphologic analysis of the cytospin provides extra information that guides both selection of the FCM immunophenotype panel and gating the cells of interest. Additionally, morphologic analysis of cytospin can yield early diagnosis when cohesive benign or malignant non-hematologic cells are present or even infectious organisms such as parasites are identified. Finally, the cytospin is a convenient tool for morphology-phenotype correlation. Cytospin is cost-effective and provides important morphologic information that facilitates FCM immunophenotyping panel selection and result interpretation.
Harnessing Energy Markets to Conserve Natural Resources? The Case of Southern U.S. Forests

Wood pellet plants have expanded rapidly across the southeastern United States over the last decade. Wood pellet markets have been driven largely by electricity generators in Europe converting from coal-fired to wood pellet-fired boilers. This has raised concerns that southern U.S. forests may be cut over, that natural forests will be further converted into monoculture plantations, that biodiversity and water quality in the forest will be lessened, and that CO2 emissions from burning carbon-based products will continue to exacerbate climate change. One element left out of the analysis regarding whether wood pellet market development is positive or negative, however, is what happens when southern landowners do not have markets into which to place their timber? Southerners rely heavily on forest products industries for economic well-being. Yet these markets have contracted in recent years, with pulp and paper industries divesting their land holdings and moving overseas. Much of this land has been purchased by real estate investment trusts, which often seek to convert the land from forest uses. With fewer markets to turn to, individual southern forest owners are also divesting forestland or converting it to other uses. Indeed, the U.S. Forest Service projects that southern states could lose up to 13% of their forestland over the next few decades, largely due to urbanization and other land development. This project seeks to undertake a policy analysis of wood pellet markets in the South, to ascertain what policy responses are needed to curb conversion of forests to other uses, and to assess the role of wood pellet markets in keeping forests forested. The project will also introduce an additional key element into the assessment of whether wood pellet energy generation is a net positive or negative for the environment — namely, that not having such markets may cause forest conversions that will otherwise leave society worse off than using southern forests as an energy source.
Compact cm-Wave and mm-Wave integrated receivers

We will review the latest advances in compact, integrated analog-digital-photonic receivers for radio astronomy. Utilizing a number of novel architectural techniques, such as numerically calibrated digital sideband separation and polarization synthesis, amplitude- and phase-stabilizing reflectionless filters, and unformatted serial data links, these units are ideal for focal plane arrays and phasedarray feeds (PAFs) at any frequency, as well as cost-efficient field-replaceable front-end modules on large-M/small-D interferometers. These techniques are illustrated in this summary paper via practical examples ranging from L-Band (1.2–1.7 GHz) to W-band (75–110 GHz).
Shelf–Open Ocean Exchange Forced by Wind Jets

AbstractThe general problem of exchange from a shallow shelf across sharp topography to the deep ocean forced by narrow, cross-shelf wind jets is studied using quasigeostrophic theory and an idealized primitive equation numerical model. Interest is motivated by katabatic winds that emanate from narrow fjords in southeast Greenland, although similar topographically constrained wind jets are found throughout the world’s oceans. Because there is no net vorticity input by the wind, the circulation is largely confined to the region near the forcing. Circulation over the shelf is limited by bottom friction for weakly stratified flows, but stratification allows for much stronger upper-layer flows that are regulated by weak coupling to the lower layer. Over the sloping topography, the topographic beta effect limits the deep flow, while, for sufficient stratification, the upper-layer flow can cross the topography to connect the shelf to the open ocean. This can be an effective transport mechanism even for short, s...
Disability-disclosure preferences and practices in online dating communities

Based on a cooperative research project, this article explores the experience of dating online with a disability, contextualized with an overview of the historical connection between disability and asexuality. It concludes with ideas for decoupling this inaccurate association through online dating platforms.