cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experience and technique of stapled mechanical cervical esophagogastric anastomosis

Abstract Background . Anastomotic leak from cervical esophagogastric anastomoses is a serious problem after esophagectomy. We explored the efficacy of partial or total mechanical anastomoses accomplished with the endoscopic linear cutting and stapling device as an alternative to hand-sewn anastomotic techniques. Methods . During a 42-month period, 93 patients undergoing either transhiatal esophagectomy or a three-incisional approach to esophagectomy underwent either hand-sewn (n = 43), partial mechanical (n = 16), or totally mechanical (n = 34) cervical esophagogastric anastomoses. The occurrence of postoperative anastomotic leak and the development of postoperative anastomotic stricturing requiring dilation therapy were analyzed between these groups using χ 2 . Results . All patients survived esophagectomy and were available for postoperative follow-up. Anastomotic leak developed in 10 patients (23%) with hand-sewn, 1 patient (6%) with partial mechanical, and 1 patient (3%) with total mechanical anastomoses ( p p Conclusions . These results suggest that partial or mechanical cervical esophagogastric anastomoses created with the endoscopic stapling device may be superior to hand-sewn anastomotic techniques.
Supernormal phase of intraventricular conduction.

Abstract A case of abnormal intraventricular conduction is reported, which is interpreted as being due to the phenomenon of a supernormal phase of conductivity.
OXYGEN RADICALS MEDIATE CELL INACTIVATION BY ACRIDINE DYES, FLUORESCEIN, and LUCIFER YELLOW CH

Acridine dyes, fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH are fluorescent photosensitizers used experimentally to selectively stain and photodynamically destroy eukaryotic cells and subcellular structures. We have determined that the mechanism of light- and oxygen-dependent inactivation of E. coli by these dyes involves oxygen radicals and hydrogen peroxide. All of the dyes oxidized NAD(P)H+ under illumination. Superoxide (O2), detected as the superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c, was a major product of the dye sensitized photooxidation. Cationic acridine dyes penetrated the membranes of E. coli and were photoreduced intracellularly. Reduced dyes diffused back into the medium and mediated the reduction of extracellular ferricytochrome c. The anionic dyes fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH were unable to mediate extracellular cytochrome c reduction, indicating that these dyes were impermeable to the E. coli membrane. Acridine dyes, when illuminated, inhibited the growth of E. coli in a rich medium, and induced the synthesis of SOD. Fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH did not inhibit growth or induce SOD synthesis because they were unable to enter the cells. Superoxide (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), generated by the enzyme xanthine oxidase were toxic to E. coli B. Inactivation by xanthine oxidase was partially inhibited by exogenous SOD and completely inhibited by exogenous catalase or SOD plus catalase. Similarly, exogenous SOD plus catalase protected against inactivation by acridines and fluorescein-NADH or lucifer yellow CH-NADH mixtures. Prior induction of superoxide dismutase and catalase in E. coli B significantly protected cells against a subsequent challenge by illuminated acridine dyes. SOD and catalases preinduction combined with additions of exogenous SOD and catalase completely protected E. coli B against photodynamic inactivation by acridine yellow. The hydroxyl radical scavengers, dimethyl sulfoxide, sodium benzoate and thiourea, protected E. coli B against photodynamic inactivation by acridine orange. The results implicate O2, H2O2, and the hydroxyl radical (OH) as underlying molecular agents of the phototoxicity mediated by acridine orange, acridine yellow, fluorescein and lucifer yellow CH.
Inhibition of glutamic dehydrogenase by o-phenanthroline and its analogs.

Abstract 1. 1. In addition to o -phenanthroline, the nonchelating o -phenanthroline analogs, m -phenanthroline, phenanthridine and phenanthrene-9-aldehyde, could inhibit the glumamic dehydrogenase reaction. In each instance the inhibition was prevented by ADP. 2. 2. Phenanthridine was also shown to disaggregate the glutamic dehydrogenase molecule and therefore stimulate the alanine dehydrogenase reaction.
The Influence of Moving Dent on Point EHL Contacts

A transient analysis for a dent passing through the conjunction of a point EHL contact was developed and solved numerically by using the multigrid method. Results show that the presence of sliding produces a noticeable pressure ridge and thus, a surface indentation at either leading side of the dent if the dent moves slower than the opposite surface, or at the trailing side if the dent moves faster than the opposite surface. The pressure ridge and surface indentation extend their lengths forward or backward from the dent in the sliding direction at a rate approximately half the sliding speed. The pressure fluctuation associated with the dent increases with increasing slide-to-roll ratio and dent depth, and decreases with increasing dent width in both x- and y-directions. The agreement between numerical simulation and experimental results obtained by Wedeven and Cusano (I) is remarkably close. Presented at the 48th Annual Meeting in Calgary, Alberta, Canada May 17–20, 1993
Atmospheric Transmission Models And Measurements

AbstractA summary of the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory Atmospheric Transmission Modelling Effort is presented.A description and status of the HITRAN and LOWTRAN models is provided with emphasis on recent developmentsand modifications. Several outstanding issues requiring additional work are also discussed.IntroductionThis paper is intended as a status report on our ability to model atmospheric transmission properties.As a basis of transmission modelling efforts there are a number of supporting measurement programs. Measure-ments are used both in the initial development of the models and in the validation of those models afterdevelopment. At the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, a major effort was initiated about 10 years ago to pulltogether existing information on the optical properties of atmospheric molecules and aerosols with the aimof developing a general transmission prediction capability. This effort resulted in the NITRAN and LOWTRANatmospheric transmission models currently in wide use in the scientific community. With the existence ofthese models there has developed a continuing effort to expand the applicability of these models to both ahigher accuracy and a wider range of atmospheric conditions. In addition interest has developed in extend-ing these codes to longer and shorter wavelengths. Some major improvements and extensions have been madein these codes during the past few years, and these improvements form the basis of this paper.The HITRAN Transmission ModelThe term, HITRAN, refers to a computational technique depending on a knowledge of the details of molecu-lar absorption lines occurring in the spectral region of interest. Therefore, it relates not only to acomputational technique (or techniques) but also to the molecular data base itself' Our objective in con-sidering such a model is to computationally represent a high resolution spectrum of atmospheric transmissionof the kind shown in Figure 1. When this spectrum was obtained (about 1968), it was not possible tosynthetically produce such a spectrum if given the atmospheric pressure, temperature and the abundances ofatmospheric molecules. Figure 2 shows a more recent high resolution spectrum obtained by Naught andDowling2 in the 4 micrometer region and compares a recent NITRAN calculation with the measurement.
Transforming growth factor-β: transforming plaque to stability

This editorial refers to ‘Abrogated transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGFβRII) signalling in dendritic cells promotes immune reactivity of T cells resulting in enhanced atherosclerosis’, by D. Lievens et al., doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs106 Lievens and colleagues report an important finding that helps to elucidate the role of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)β in atherosclerotic plaque formation.1 TGFβ is a widely expressed cytokine produced by smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, monocytes, macrophages, and T cells.2,3 Clinical studies suggest that TGFβ is antiatherosclerotic, citing a negative correlation between plasma TGFβ concentration and the extent of atherosclerosis.4⇓⇓–7 In mouse models of atherosclerosis, inhibition of TGFβ signalling causes the formation of unstable plaques. This plaque phenotype is probably caused by two consequences of inhibiting TGFβ: first, blockade of TGFβ's role in promoting plaque fibrosis would make the plaques less stable, and, secondly, the absence of TGFβ signalling results in increased numbers of pro-inflammatory T cells that populate atherosclerotic lesions.8–12 Because dendritic cells (DCs) express the TGFβ receptor (TGFβR) and have a central role in regulating immune responses, studying the potential role of the TGFβR in DCs and how it might influence T-cell activation and modulate atherosclerosis is an area of great interest. To study the effect of TGFβ signal inhibition on DCs and its eventual effect on atherosclerosis development, Lievens et al . backcrossed Apoe –/– mice with mice whose TGFβ-β signalling in DCs is disrupted by a dominant negative TGFβRII transgene (that encodes the extracellular and transmembrane, but not intracellular, regions of the TGFβ type II receptor) inserted into the CD11c promoter.1 CD11c is expressed on most mouse DCs and some macrophages, and the …
On friendly index sets of 2-regular graphs

Let G be a graph with vertex set V and edge set E, and let A be an abelian group. A labeling f:V->A induces an edge labeling f^*:E->A defined by f^*(xy)=f(x)+f(y). For [email protected]?A, let v"f(i)=card{[email protected]?V:f(v)=i} and e"f(i)=card{[email protected]?E:f^*(e)=i}. A labeling f is said to be A-friendly if |v"f(i)-v"f(j)|@?1 for all (i,j)@?AxA, and A-cordial if we also have |e"f(i)-e"f(j)|@?1 for all (i,j)@?AxA. When A=Z"2, the friendly index set of the graph G is defined as {|e"f(1)-e"f(0)|:the vertex labelingf is Z"2-friendly}. In this paper we completely determine the friendly index sets of 2-regular graphs. In particular, we show that a 2-regular graph of order n is cordial if and only if [email protected]?2 (mod 4).
Modernization and Conditions of Sustained Growth

The nature of modern society, the quality of the modern social, civil, and moral order, has been in the forefront of sociological thought and inquiry since the very beginning of sociology. This interest has been greatly reinforced by the growing preoccupation with the extension of the processes of modernization beyond their initial place of origin in Western Europe and the United States to Eastern Europe and later to Asian and African countries. The continuous processes of modernization in these societies have greatly added to the store of knowledge about the nature and variety of modern society, and they also have enabled us to reformulate many of the most crucial problems in this area.
Indexing amyloid peptide diffraction from serial femtosecond crystallography: new algorithms for sparse patterns

Still diffraction patterns from peptide nanocrystals with small unit cells are challenging to index using conventional methods owing to the limited number of spots and the lack of crystal orientation information for individual images. New indexing algorithms have been developed as part of the Computational Crystallography Toolbox (cctbx) to overcome these challenges. Accurate unit-cell information derived from an aggregate data set from thousands of diffraction patterns can be used to determine a crystal orientation matrix for individual images with as few as five reflections. These algorithms are potentially applicable not only to amyloid peptides but also to any set of diffraction patterns with sparse properties, such as low-resolution virus structures or high-throughput screening of still images captured by raster-scanning at synchrotron sources. As a proof of concept for this technique, successful integration of X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) data to 2.5 A resolution for the amyloid segment GNNQQNY from the Sup35 yeast prion is presented.
THE SURVIVAL OF OIL SLICKS ON THE OCEAN AS A FUNCTION OF SEA STATE LIMIT1

ABSTRACT A research program is underway to obtain a better understanding of the interaction between spilled oil and sea state in order to predict the dispersion and ultimate physical fate of oil spilled in rough water. In pursuit of this goal, a theoretical study and two laboratory experimental studies are now complete. As a consequence, the lower limit of sea state at which globular dispersion of oil can be effected by ocean turbulence is calculable. The formation of oil globules by breaking waves, the penetration of globules into the water column, and the distribution of oil under breaking wave generated turbulence can also be modeled. A possible mechanism by which a coherent oil slick breaks up into small patches of oil (“slicklets”), caused by breaking waves, is described, and a simplified one-dimensional model of this effect is proposed. Results indicate that a 3 meter (significant wave height) sea will tend to initiate globular vertical dispersion of oil, although this process would take place over ...
Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition Decreases Renin Content and Lowers Blood Pressure in a Model of Renovascular Hypertension

Abstract —It has been proposed that the macula densa participates in the regulation of increased renin expression in renovascular hypertension (RVH) and that prostaglandins may be among the mediators of macula densa function. We have previously shown that in renal cortex, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is localized to the macula densa and surrounding cortical thick ascending limb and increases in high-renin states, such as salt restriction and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. In the present studies, we examined the effect of the selective COX-2 inhibitor SC58236 on plasma renin activity (PRA) and renal renin expression in RVH in rats. The aorta was coarcted between right and left renal arteries, and animals received either SC58236 or vehicle for 1 week. At day 8, vehicle-treated coarcted rats were hypertensive (mean carotid arterial blood pressure: 138±3 versus 87±2 mm Hg in sham-operated controls; n=9 to 11; P <0.001) and exhibited a disparity of kidney size (ratio left/right kidney: 0.78±0.04 versus 1.02±0.02; n=9 to 10; P <0.001). PRA increased significantly (84.6±6.5 versus 9.0±1.4 ng angiotensin I [Ang I] per milliliter per hour; n=8 to 9; P <0.01). In the coarcted rats, neither renin mRNA expression nor renin activity of the right kidney was altered (renin/GAPDH mRNA: 1.12±0.05-fold levels in control rats; n=6; P =NS; renin activity: 23.4±1.8 versus 27.1±3.4 ng Ang I per hour per milligram protein; n=8 to 9; P =NS). However, the renin mRNA of the left kidney increased to 3.0±0.6-fold of control (n=6), and the renin activity increased to 189.0±28.6 ng Ang I per hour per milligram protein (n=8; P <0.01). Expression of COX-2 mRNA and immunoreactive protein increased in the affected left kidney but was not different from control in the unaffected right kidney. SC58236 treatment to coarcted rats did not affect kidney size (ratio left/right kidney: 0.79±0.06; n=9). However, PRA was significantly decreased compared with the vehicle-treated coarcted rats (19.8±2.8 ng Ang I per milliliter per hour; n=9; P <0.01). The left kidney renin mRNA and renin content were also decreased (1.7±0.3-fold control; n=6; P <0.05; and 45.7±7.6 ng Ang I per hour per milligram protein; n=9; P <0.01, respectively), while renin mRNA and renin content of the right kidney were not altered. SC58236 lowered mean arterial blood pressure (122±5 mm Hg; n=14; P <0.05 compared with vehicle). A significant correlation was observed between PRA and mean blood pressure ( r =0.75; P <0.01). In summary, these studies indicate that the selective COX-2 inhibitor SC58236 decreases renin production and release in RVH and suggest an important role for COX-2 regulation of the renin-angiotensin system.
Double recombination of a single immunoglobulin kappa-chain allele: implications for the mechanism of rearrangement

Abstract DNA fragments containing immunoglobulin kappa-chain sequences from two different plasmacytomas (PC 3609 and PC 7043) were found by blot-hybridization studies to be dissociated from germ-line sequences on both the 3' and 5' ends. These fragments were cloned, sequenced, and found to contain the structural features of a product of two recombination events. Each contained a variable (V kappa) gene segment recombined with a joining (J kappa) gene segment followed by the characteristic kappa light chain V-J reciprocal structure, a 5' J kappa flanking sequence joined to a 3' V kappa flanking sequence. These segments of DNA represent double recombination products (DRPs) of the same kappa-chain allele. The DRP from PC 3609 contains a normal V-J1 recombination, while the DRP from PC 7043 contains an aberrant V-J2 recombination, resulting in a frameshift. The reciprocal structure in the PC 3609 DRP is the result of a V-J2 recombination; the reciprocal structure in the DRP of PC 7043 is the result of a V-J3 recombination and appears to have been derived directly from the productive kappa-chain gene recombination in that plasmacytoma. These products demonstrate the capacity of a single kappa light chain immunoglobulin allele to undergo multiple V-J recombinations. Furthermore, the presence of a V-J recombination and its reciprocal product in the same cell is inconsistent with a segregating mechanism, such as sister chromatid exchange, but is consistent with an inversion mechanism.
Modeling Waves in Surfzones and Around Islands

A semi-empirical model for surf zone wave height decay is adapted to the parabolic equation method in order to include the effect of depth-limited wave breaking in combined refraction/diffraction calculations. Several exam­ ples for plane beaches are presented in order to show correspondence between the empirical model, its numerical formulation, and previous laboratory data. The model is then applied to the study of wave breaking and diffraction around offshore islands of various planforms. An analytic method for constant depth, which can be used to extend computed solutions to the farfield downwave of the island, is provided, and several simple examples treating the island as a finite width breakwater are examined.
Infrared studies of star formation in Orion

The results of IR studies of the cluster of compact IR sources in the Orion Molecular Cloud are discussed in view of broad band and low spectral resolution measurements, and with attention to new measurements of the 8-12.5-micron color temperature, the 3.8-micron polarization of the IR emission from the vicinity of the cluster, and new 34-micron maps of the region which possess high spatial resolution. These measurements are found to be useful in the identification of the principal luminosity sources within the cluster. The propects for future star formation studies which have their basis in the use of space telescopes optimized for IR observation are also discussed.
Self-Diagnosis and Self-Regulation through Performance Monitoring and Tuning

Although often relegated behind other more critical qualities of service, performance has a number of characteristics that make it an ideal target for monitoring and assurance. First, there are a number of metrics easily accessible that are indicators of a decrease in performance. Second, a lack of availability is often preceded by a decrease in performance. Finally, many functional problems emerge only when resources are stressed and performance is low. These characteristics are the motivation we use to develop an approach by which web-service systems are able to detect problems before they occur, and take appropriate corrective actions without human intervention, or trigger alarm and notification processes to request human intervention.
Bioluminescent Detection of Endotoxin Effects on HIV-1 LTR-driven Transcription in Vivo:

We investigated the effects of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on luciferase expression in transgenic reporter mice in which luciferase expression is driven by the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-dependent portion of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (HIV-1 LTR). Using these mice, we dissected the sources of luciferase activity at the organ level by (a) assessing luciferase activity in organ homogenates, (b) bioluminescence imaging in vivo, and (c) bioluminescence imaging of individual organs ex vivo. Luciferin dosage was a critical determinant of the magnitude of photon emission from these reporter mice. Photon emission increased at doses from 0.5-6 mg of luciferin given by intraperitoneal (IP) injection. The differential between basal and LPS-induced bioluminescence was maximal at 3-6 mg of luciferin. Luciferase expression was highly inducible in lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys after a single IP injection of LPS, as assessed by luciferase activity measurements in organ homogenates. Luciferase activity was also induced in the forebrain by treatment with IP LPS. In contrast, aerosolized LPS produced a response localized to the lungs as assessed by both bioluminescence and ex vivo luciferase assay measurements. These studies demonstrate the utility of luciferase reporter mice for determining organ-specific gene expression in response to local and systemic stimuli.
The Gamma Interferon (IFN-γ) Mimetic Peptide IFN-γ(95-133) Prevents Encephalomyocarditis Virus Infection both in Tissue Culture and in Mice

We have demonstrated previously that the C-terminal gamma interferon (IFN-γ) mimetic peptide consisting of residues 95 to 133 [IFN-γ(95-133)], which contains the crucial IFN-γ nuclear localization sequence (NLS), has antiviral activity in tissue culture. Here we evaluate the efficacy of this peptide and its derivatives first in vitro and then in an animal model of lethal viral infection with the encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. Deletion of the NLS region from the IFN-γ mimetic peptide IFN-γ(95-133) resulted in loss of antiviral activity. However, the NLS region does not have antiviral activity in itself. Replacing the NLS region of IFN-γ(95-133) with the NLS region of the simian virus 40 large T antigen retains the antiviral activity in tissue culture. IFN-γ(95-133) prevented EMC virus-induced lethality in mice in a dose-dependent manner compared to controls. Mice treated with IFN-γ(95-133) had no or low EMC virus titers in their internal organs, whereas control mice had consistently high viral titers, especially in the heart tissues. Injection of B8R protein, which is encoded by poxviruses as a defense mechanism to neutralize host IFN-γ, did not inhibit IFN-γ(95-133) protection against a lethal dose of EMC virus, whereas mice treated with rat IFN-γ were not protected. The data presented here show that the IFN-γ mimetic peptide IFN-γ(95-133) prevents EMC virus infection in vivo and in vitro and may have potential against other lethal viruses, such as the smallpox virus, which encodes the B8R protein.
Transcription factor-dependent loading of the E1 initiator reveals modular assembly of the papillomavirus origin melting complex.

Abstract Replication of bovine papillomavirus type 1 DNA absolutely requires the viral transcription factor E2 as well as the initiator E1, although E1 alone has all the activities expected of an initiator protein. E1 assembles on the DNA in a stepwise fashion and undergoes a transition in activities from site-specific DNA-binding protein to mobile helicase. Complex assembly is assisted by the viral transcription factor E2 at two levels. E2 acts generally as a specificity factor, which through cooperative binding with E1 generates an initial E1 complex containing three E1 dimers bound toori on one face of the DNA, E1-ori. Furthermore, E2 can promote the transition to an orimelting complex by recruiting additional E1 molecules toori, effectively reducing the E1 concentration required forori melting. This reaction is dependent on an E2-binding site positioned distal to the precursor E1-ori complex. The final origin melting complex has two subunits that each encircle the DNA and function independently to melt ori. The assembly pathway we describe has implication for understanding DNA melting and unwinding reactions, which are generally poorly understood.
CMOS as a research platform

In order to facilitate research on a variety of new materials, device structures, and microelectromechanical systems, the Microelectronics Research Center of Georgia Tech has established silicon CMOS processing baselines. Together with a rigorous equipment and process training procedure, a research collaboration and service protocol, and a group of dedicated people, a research platform has been formed based on the silicon CMOS processing baselines. The platform provides a rigorous equipment and process training program for new cleanroom users, a quarterly CMOS processing run to meet the need of CMOS related research projects, and process module services as needed for general research communities. The platform also collaborates with a variety of groups to perform cutting-edge research such as novel CMOS devices, novel structures, electronics for MEMS, chemical sensor integrated optoelectronics, DNA chip array, new interconnection schemes, and sea of leads chip input/output interconnects. This paper describes the five basic components and their integration into the platform.
The Role of Differentiation Strategy in Local Telecommunication Entry and Market Evolution: 1999-2002

We examine the role of differentiation among competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) in nearly 1,200 U.S. cities in 1999 and 2002, before and after a valuation crash affecting communications firms. We test and reject the null hypothesis of homogeneous competitors. We also find strong evidence that differentiated CLECs account for both potential market demand and the business strategies of competitors when making their entry decisions. Finally, product heterogeneity in markets in 1999 helps predict how the structure of markets evolved through 2002. We conclude that the policy debate for local telecommunications regulation should account for differentiated behavior.
Determination of costs and charges for laboratory tests--a computer approach for the hospital blood bank.

This paper presents a computerized method for determining and maintaining a rational system of costs and charges for individual tests in a hospital laboratory blood bank. The program is designed to accommodate readily to change and to provide for ease of correction by the user. It permits a fair distribution of charges for tests relative to costs and provides a powerful tool for laboratory management. The principles involved and much of the computer programming are readily applicable to other units of the hospital laboratory. Indeed, this approach to laboratory management should not stand in isolation, but should be best implemented as part of an overall revision of all charges within the hospital.
Symptom assessment in elderly cancer patients receiving palliative care

ABSTRACT Background Elderly cancer patients (those over 60 or 65) have a disproportionate cancer incidence and mortality, and a multitude of symptoms from their cancer, other illnesses, and treatments. We reviewed the literature to find some practical advice for health care professionals to do symptom assessments in routine practice. Patients and methods Systematic and directed literature review. Results The available symptom assessment tools are useable, well validated, and in common use but not in the older patient population. Several studies show that if a symptom assessment tool is used, more symptoms will be uncovered and that these tools can be used in routine practice, comparative clinical trials, and to show clinical benefit for new drug approval. Data are not sufficient to choose one tool over another, but all of them work and can uncover symptoms that can be fixed. We believe that it is important to have predetermined best practices for preventing and fixing common symptoms. Conclusion Symptom assessments and geriatric assessments are useful tools in everyday practice.
Validation and verification of social processes within agent-based computational organization models

The use of simulation modeling in computational analysis of organizations is becoming a prominent approach in social science research. However, relying on simulations to gain intuition about social phenomena has significant implications. While simulations may give rise to interesting macro-level phenomena, and sometimes even mimic empirical data, the underlying micro and macro level processes may be far from realistic. Yet, this realism may be important to infer results that are relevant to existing theories of social systems and to policy making. Therefore, it is important to assess not only predictive capability but also explanation accuracy of formal models in terms of the degree of realism reflected by the embedded processes. This paper presents a process-centric perspective for the validation and verification (V&V) of agent-based computational organization models. Following an overview of the role of V&V within the life cycle of a simulation study, emergent issues in agent-based organization model V&V are outlined. The notion of social contract that facilitates capturing micro level processes among agents is introduced to enable reasoning about the integrity and consistency of agent-based organization designs. Social contracts are shown to enable modular compositional verification of interaction dynamics among peer agents. Two types of consistency are introduced: horizontal and vertical consistency. It is argued that such local consistency analysis is necessary, but insufficient to validate emergent macro processes within multi-agent organizations. As such, new formal validation metrics are introduced to substantiate the operational validity of emergent macro-level behavior.
Smart grid communication requirements for the high voltage power system

The vision of a smarter grid very much depends on a fast communication infrastructure that can provide near realtime data delivery and can handle security issues. These issues become more and more critical when we imagine having phasor measurement units everywhere in the power grid. The latency and bandwidth requirements for smart grid are two very critical issues among these. This paper attempts to provide a simulation approach to understand these issues. A possible communication structure is then presented with the results on the latency and bandwidth for IEEE 14 bus, 30 bus, and 57 bus systems.
Nasdaq's Closing Cross Has its new call auction given Nasdaq better closing prices? Early Findings

On March 29, 2004, Nasdaq significantly expanded its hybrid market structure by introducing the Closing Cross, an electronic price discovery call auction that sets closing trades and establishes official closing prices. Three months later, on June 25, the efficiency of the new facility was stress tested by the Russell 2000 rebalancing, an event that involved almost 1,700 Nasdaq stocks. We analyze the efficiency of the Closing Cross by contrasting price dislocations experienced at the 2004 rebalancing with those observed at the 2003 rebalancing. By and large, the findings suggest that the closing procedure was effective, especially for smaller cap stocks in the Russell 2000 index. Nasdaq’s Closing Cross: Early Findings On March 29, 2004, the Nasdaq Stock Market expanded its hybrid market structure by introducing a price discovery call auction into its trading system. The call is run daily at 4:00 pm to close Nasdaq’s normal trading day. Nasdaq refers to it as “Closing Cross,” but the facility is in fact a call auction because it provides price discovery. In this paper, we assess the impact that the call has had on Nasdaq’s official closing prices. The assessment should be considered preliminary because relatively little time has passed since the call has been instituted. Time is required for participants to learn how best to use any new system, and for sufficient data to be generated for a more complete analysis. Nevertheless, we have undertaken this early assessment in view of the importance of the innovation. A call auction differs from continuous trading in the following way. In a continuous market, a trade is made whenever a bid and offer match or cross each other in price. In a call auction, the buy and sell orders are cumulated for each stock for simultaneous execution in a multilateral, batched trade, at a single price, at a predetermined time. By consolidating liquidity at specific times, a call auction is intended to reduce execution costs for individual participants, and to sharpen the accuracy of price discovery for the broad market. Closing call auctions were introduced in Europe (including London, Paris, and Germany) specifically because of customer demands for improved price discovery at 1 We are grateful to Frank Hatheway and Tim McCormick for their insights and factual information that they have provided us. We also thank Yakov Amihud, Corinne Bronfman, Lin Peng, George Sofianos, and Steve Wunsch for their very helpful comments. 2 In contrast, crossing networks such as ITG’s Posit and Instinet’s after hours cross, do not provide price discovery. Rather, they match crossing buy and sell orders at a price (either the mid-point of a stock’s bidask spread or a stock’s closing transaction price) that is set in a major market center. 3 For additional discussion and further references, see Economides and Schwartz (1995), and Schwartz and Francioni (2004).
An intensive local application of lensen's isallo stress theory to the sturgeon lake south area of alberta

ABSTRACT Isallo Stress maps of an area 24 by 24 miles in Central Alberta, Canada, were drawn to test Lensen's theory. Two types of maps were drawn: one without and one with the a priori assumption of a principal horizontal stress (PHS) direction. It is shown that in either case, regions with incipient transcurrent faulting are preponderant over all others, a result which is in conformity with results from recent seismological investigations. The faulting patterns found are in full conformity with those that could be produced by the tectonic stresses which created the Rocky Mountains.
Immunotherapy and Biological Therapy of Cancer

The major modalities of modem cancer therapy are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. A role in the cancer treatment armamentarium is being established for immunotherapy and biological therapy. Biological therapy of cancer can be defined as the modification and exploitation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of host defense and of the regulation of tissue proliferation, tissue differentiation, and tissue survival for use in the treatment of cancer. Cancer immunotherapy was first conceived in 1900 by Paul Erlich (1906), who postulated that antibodies could be used for targeting drugs and toxins to tumor cells. As we shall discuss, the production of highly specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) using the hybridoma methodology of Kohier and Milstein (1975) has led to a present-day reappraisal of Erlich’s hypothesis.
Indirect Enforcement of the Intellectual Property Clause

This paper offers a model for the indirect judicial enforcement of the Intellectual Property Clause. What do I mean by indirect enforcement? Courts directly enforce the Intellectual Property Clause when they interpret some text in that provision, determine how it limits Congress's lawmaking power and then apply that limitation to judge the validity of one of Congress's intellectual property enactments. This is what the Court did in Eldred v. Ashcroft, albeit with very little constraining effect. In contrast, courts indirectly enforce the Intellectual Property Clause when they use constitutional text - or perhaps more accurately their purposive understanding of constitutional text - as a guidepost in interpreting an IP statute, preferring interpretations that respect the court's understanding of the limitations imposed by the Constitution on legislation in this field over those that do not. Rulings made in the context of indirect enforcement need not be adhered to as constitutional rulings that bind the legislature. Rather, they are ordinary rulings on the interpretation of statutes, subject to reversal or modification by Congress's ordinary lawmaking. Unlike in the case of direct enforcement, in which courts make binding statements about the scope of congressional power under the Intellectual Property Clause, indirect enforcement allows courts to make, in effect, constitutional proffers. Congress may, in its future lawmaking, accept such a proffer, accept it in part or reject it.Indirect application respects Congress's lawmaking primacy and its lead role in elucidating the boundaries of its power under the Intellectual Property Clause. But it preserves an important - albeit ultimately not decisive - role for courts in determining what those boundaries are. And most importantly, it allows both courts and Congress to do what they do well. Courts to read and interpret constitutional text, and then announce (or, more precisely, to proffer) those interpretations in judicial decisions. Congress to legislate, based on its own understanding of its constitutional power, but reinforced by courts' contributions. We have grounds to hope that the outcome of this dialogue may, as a consequence of the differences between the legislative and adjudicatory process and the cultures of legislatures and courts, produce outcomes that are more fully theorized relative to what we would likely obtain from a one-way model of deference in which legislatures act and courts submit.
Increasing J-Tip Utilization for IV Placement-Related Pain Management in the ED: A Quality Improvement Project

Venipuncture, including peripheral intravenous catheter (IV) placement, is the leading cause of procedural pain in pediatric hospitals and emergency departments (EDs). Needle-free Jet Injection of Lidocaine Device (NJILD; J-Tip) has been demonstrated to be superior to other topical anesthetics in controlling IV-related pain. The rapid action and cost-effectiveness make it suitable for ED use. However, J-Tip was used with only 11% of IV placements at our ED. Our objectives were to: 1) use a quality improvement (QI) intervention to increase …
A New Gymnosporangial Connection

The genus Gymnosporangium, according to Kern,l is represented in North America by some 32 species. Of these, all but one are heteroecious, the aecial stages being found on members of the Hydrangeaceae, Rosaceae, and Malaceae families, while the telial stages are restricted to the family Juniperaceae. The single autoecious species, Gymnosporangium bermudianum, bears all its spore forms on species of Juniperus. Because of this limited selection of hosts, as well as their unique morphological characters, the members of this genus have been classed among the most restricted and isolated of the rusts. Until recently, no aecial stages were known on other than pomaceous hosts and it had been assumed that they were restricted to the family Malaceae. The first exeception to this rule was established by Arthur2 in I9o8 when Gymnosporangium exterum on Juniperus virginiana was successfully cultured on Porteranthus stipulatus, thus adding the family Rosaceae to the list of aecial hosts. The further addition of the family Hydrangeaceae was made by Arthur3 in I9II when Gymnosporangium gracilens was shown to have its aecial stage on Philadelphus and related genera. These three families are evidently closely related and are all included under the order Rosales. As a result of a series of observations, followed by successful inoculation tests, the writer is now able to extend the list to include a fourth family, the Myricaceae, and to establish the identity of Aecidium myricatum Schw. and Gymnosporangium Ellisii (Berk.) Farl. This work is a part of the series of "Cultures of Uredineae" that have been in progress at the Purdue Experiment Station under the direction of Dr. J. C. Arthur since I899, and is published by permission in advance of the 1914 report. The establishment of the connection between Aec. myricatum
Optimal Program-Size Complexity for Self-Assembled Squares at Temperature 1 in 3D

Working in a three-dimensional variant of Winfree's abstract Tile Assembly Model, we show that, for all $$N \in \mathbb {N}$$N?N, there is a tile set that uniquely self-assembles into an $$N \times N$$N×N square shape at temperature 1 with program-size complexity of $$O\left( \frac{\log N}{\log \log N}\right) $$OlogNloglogN (the program-size complexity, also known as tile complexity, of a shape is the minimum number of unique tile types required to uniquely self-assemble it). Note that this tile complexity is optimal for all algorithmically random values of N. Moreover, our construction is "just barely" 3D in the sense that it works even when the placement of tiles is restricted to the $$z = 0$$z=0 and $$z = 1$$z=1 planes. This result affirmatively answers an open question from Cook et al. (SODA 2011). To achieve this result, we develop a general 3D temperature 1 optimal encoding construction, reminiscent of the 2D temperature 2 optimal encoding construction of Soloveichik and Winfree (SIAM J Comput 36(6):1544---1569, 2007), and perhaps of independent interest. We also develop a more sophisticated 3D temperature 1 optimal encoding construction that places asymptotically fewer tiles than our original optimal encoding construction. We use the method of conditional determinism of Lutz and Shutters (Theory Comput Syst 51(3):372---400, 2012) to prove the correctness of our constructions.
Experimental Study of Initial Diameter Effects on Convection-free Droplet Combustion in the Standard Atmosphere for n-Heptane, n-Octane, and n-Decane: International Space Station and Ground-based Experiments

A comprehensive investigation is reported on varying the initial droplet diameter (Do) over a wide range on the burning characteristics of three normal alkane fuels that are representative of components found in practical fuel systems. The droplet burning characteristics of n-heptane, n-octane and n-decane, were studied experimentally in a low gravity ambience to minimize the influence of convection and promote spherical droplet flames as well as formation of a shell-like structure of soot aggregates that reside between the droplet and flame. Initial droplet diameters ranged from about 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, and the experiments were carried out in the standard atmosphere (room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure) in a ground-based (drop tower) and a spaced-based (the International Space Station) facility. The range of Do investigated influences mechanisms related to radiative transport and sooting dynamics on the droplet burning process that determine the droplet burning rate, sooting dynamics and flame extinction mechanisms. The results show that the burning rate monotonically decreases with increasing Do. Varying Do over the range investigated promotes a transition from a soot-dominated process, with a minimal influence of luminous radiative affects, for small droplets to increased radiative losses for larger droplets that reduce heat transfer to the droplet surface. At a given time after ignition, the relative position of the flame to the droplet decreased with increasing Do. A rather abrupt increase in flame diameter was noted for Do ~ 1 mm followed by a monotonic decrease with further increases of Do for all of the fuels examined. The relative position of the soot shell to the droplet increased with time, while it also increased with Do for a given time after ignition. A three-staged burning process was found for Do > 3 mm suggesting several extinction modes. An early extinction mechanism is speculated to be the result of radiation losses from the flame rather than more diffusively controlled processes. Evaporation continues after the first extinction until reaching a second limit with a rather abrupt decrease in the droplet burning rate – which is speculated to be a “cool-flame” extinction. The morphology of the extinction process showed an oscillatory dynamic in which the flame would peel away from the droplet then re-appear before completely disappearing.
Size and Composition Control of Pt–In Nanoparticles Prepared by Seed-Mediated Growth Using Bimetallic Seeds

A two-step method has been developed for precise size and composition control of bimetallic Pt–In nanoparticles. Very small (1.62 nm) PtIn seed nanoparticles with 1:1 metal ratio were prepared in the absence of capping agents followed by growth of Pt on their surface in the presence of oleyl amine as reducing and stabilizing agent. Nanoparticles with bulk compositions of Pt4In, Pt3In, and Pt2In could be synthesized with average diameter smaller than 3 nm. TEM, EDX, and XPS provided evidence for homogeneous growth without separate nucleation of pure platinum nanoparticles in the reaction solution. Pt3In nanoparticles were deposited onto SiO2 surface by incipient wetness impregnation. Temperature-induced changes in the particle surface were monitored by in situ IR spectroscopy and CO adsorption. It was found that surface alloy composition of the particles could be tuned by using oxidizing or reducing atmospheres.
Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), its complex pathophysiology, and the suboptimal adherence rates with positive pressure therapy, necessitate alternative treatment strategies in many OSA patients. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) represents a novel and unique therapeutic approach that combines a surgical implant procedure with a titratable medical device to provide multilevel upper airway improvement via neuromodulation of the hypoglossal nerve. A recent multicenter prospective trial reported significant reduction in polysomnographic measures of disease severity and significant improvement in patient-reported quality of life measures that were maintained at 3-year follow-up, with overall low morbidity and good patient acceptance and adherence. HNS therapy has established itself as a key component of the OSA treatment armamentarium, although further work is needed to advance the technology, determine the most appropriate patient phenotypes, refine the implant procedure, and optimize stimulation parameters and titration protocols.
Status of Impaired Fasting Glycaemia among Community Residents

[Objective]To understand and master the prevalence rate of impaired fasting glycaemia ( IFG) and its major risk factors among community residents. [Methods]Cluster sampling method was adopted to investigate community residents aged at least 20 years. The morning fasting glycaemia was determined,and the prevalence rate of IFG and its major risk factors were analyzed.[Results]The prevalence of IFG among residents over 20 years old was 2. 53% . After age-standardization,the prevalence of IFG was 1. 85% ,with no significant difference between genders( P 0. 05) . The major risk factors of IFG were age,education level,BMI, hypertension,hyperlipidemia,and moderate ( heavy) physical labor. [Conclusion]IFG among community residents should attract more attention. The monitoring strengthening of IFG in diabetes prevention and control work can improve the effectiveness of diabetes control.