cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE TRINUCLEON SYSTEM BOUND BY A ONE-BOSON-EXCHANGE FORCE*

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the trinucleon system bound by a one-boson-exchange force. It reviews the bound three-nucleon system when the N–N interaction is given by the one-boson-exchange (OBEP) of Holinde and co-workers. Two distinct versions of the potential are used. These differ in their description of the short range force. In the first case, a phenomenological monopole vertex function is used to secure convergence of the unitarizing two-body Lippmann–Schwinger equation. In the second case, the more realistic vertex function obtained by summing in an eikonal approximation the crossed ladder diagrams and vertex contributions (irreducible graphs) is used as a convergence generating form factor. Holinde et. al have fitted the parameters of both these descriptions by obtaining quantitative fits to the N–N scattering and bound state data. In the first case, the vertex function has not been normalized to the value unity at the point t = μ 2 while the vertex function of the second case has been so normalized. It is this normalization that introduces the explicit energy dependence into the potential. The chapter gives the potential parameters for the first case and the second case and also the trinucleon results for both the cases.
Serological Analysis of New York City COVID19 Convalescent Plasma Donors

Background: The development of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2, following infection or vaccination, is likely to be critical for the development of sufficient population immunity to drive cessation of the COVID19 pandemic. A large number of serologic tests, platforms and methodologies are being employed to determine seroprevalence in populations to select convalescent plasmas for therapeutic trials, and to guide policies about reopening. However, these tests have substantially variable sensitivity and specificity, and their ability to quantitatively predict levels of NAbs is unknown. Methods: We determined levels of antibodies in convalescent plasma using commercially available SARS-CoV-2 detection tests and in-house ELISA assays and correlated those measurements with neutralization activity measured using pseudotyped virus particles, which offer the most informative assessment of antiviral activity of patient sera against viral infection. Findings: Our data show that a large proportion of convalescent plasma samples have modest antibody levels and that commercially available tests have varying degrees of accuracy in predicting neutralizing activity. Nevertheless, we found particular commercially available tests are capable of accurately measuring levels of antibodies that strongly correlate with neutralization assays. Interpretation: Our findings imply that SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma donors have a wide range of antibody concentrations. At present it is unclear how antibody acquisition, particularly for low titer individuals, might afford future immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Further research will be required to determine the minimum threshold of antibody and neutralization activity necessary to accurately predict immunity. Correlation of clinical antibody tests with neutralization activity in this study could serve as a valuable roadmap to guide the choice and interpretation of serological tests for SARS-CoV-2.
Healthy lifestyles among military active duty service members, and associations with body-building and weight-loss supplement use.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize health behavior profiles among active duty service members and associate these profiles with body-building and weight-loss dietary supplement (DS) use. Methods Based on U.S. active duty service members who completed the 2011 Health-Related Behavior Survey (n = 39,877), we used latent class analysis to place respondents into latent classes (using healthy/unhealthy food consumption, aerobic activity, strength training, and sleep) and examined associations between latent class and DS use. Results We identified seven health behavior classes that could be classified by physical activity and diet. Three classes with high activity were further characterized by healthy diet (24%); few unhealthy foods (18%); and unrestricted diet (9%). Three classes with low activity were further characterized by restricted diet (15%), healthy diet (15%), and unhealthy diet (6%). The last class (13%) reported moderate levels of all behaviors. The classes did not vary by sleep. Participant characteristics across most classes were relatively homogenous along demographics and military branch. The active classes had relatively higher usage of body-building and weight-loss DSs. Conclusions Latent classes from health behavior indicators might be considered “market segments”, which can be targeted with distinct messaging. Service members appear to consume DSs as part of an otherwise healthy lifestyle.
Are giant clams (Tridacna maxima) distractible? A multi-modal study

To properly assess risk, an animal must focus its attention on relevant external stimuli; however, attention can be reallocated when distracting stimuli are present. This reallocation of attention may interfere with an individual's ability to effectively assess risk and may impede its response. Multiple stimuli presented together can have additive effects as distractors, and these include stimuli in different modalities. Although changes in noise and water flow are detectable by some bivalves, this has not been studied in the context of risk assessment or distraction. We experimentally exposed giant clams (Tridacna maxima) to changes in water particle movement through underwater sound (motorboat noise) and increased water flow to determine whether these stimuli, individually or together, modified risk assessment or caused distraction. We found that clams responded to sound, flow, and their combination by increasing frequency of mantle retractions (a potential anti-predator response) when exposed to a stimulus. Sound alone did not change risk assessment in either the latency to close or to reemerge following closure. However, when exposed to both stimuli simultaneously, clams increased their latency to close. We suggest that clams perceive sound and flow in an additive way, and are thus distracted. Interestingly, and uniquely, clams discriminate these multimodal stimuli through a single sensory modality. For sessile clams, anthropogenic noise is detectable, yet unavoidable, suggesting that they be especially vulnerable to marine noise pollution.
Approximating and bounding fractional Stieltjes constants

We discuss evaluating fractional Stieltjes constants $\gamma_{\alpha}(a)$, arising naturally from the Laurent series expansions of the fractional derivatives of the Hurwitz zeta functions $\zeta^{(\alpha)}(s,a)$. We give an upper bound for the absolute value of $C_\alpha(a)=\gamma_\alpha(a)-\log^\alpha(a)/a$ and an asymptotic formula $\widetilde{C}_{\alpha}(a)$ for $C_{\alpha}(a)$ that yields a good approximation even for most small values of $\alpha$. We bound $|\widetilde{C}_{\alpha}(a)|$ and based on this we conjecture a tighter bound for $|C_\alpha(a)|$.
The Global Limb Anatomic Staging System is associated with outcomes of infrainguinal revascularization in chronic limb threatening ischemia.

Abstract Objective The Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) has been proposed to facilitate clinical decision-making regarding revascularization for chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). The purpose of the present study was to define its relationship to the treatment outcomes in CLTI. Methods Consecutive patients who had undergone peripheral angiography for rest pain or tissue loss from January 2017 to July 2019 at a tertiary referral center with a dedicated limb preservation program were reviewed. Subjects with significant aortoiliac disease, previous infrainguinal stenting or functioning bypass grafts, or GLASS stage 0 were excluded. The GLASS score was assigned from the preintervention angiography findings, and the treating surgeon determined the primary infrapopliteal target artery pathway for the limb at risk. The demographic data, procedural details, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results The study cohort included 167 patients and 194 limbs, of which 175 of 194 limbs (90%) had presented with tissue loss and 149 of 182 limbs (83%) with WIfI (Wound, Ischemia and foot Infection) stage 3 or 4. The GLASS stage was GLASS 1 in 14%, GLASS 2 in 18%, and GLASS 3 in 68%. GLASS 3 anatomy was present in 85% of 52 limbs treated by bypass and 55% of 108 limbs treated by endovascular intervention (EVI; P Conclusions GLASS stage 3 was strongly associated with major adverse clinical outcomes after revascularization in patients with CLTI.
Technological forms and ecological communication: a theoretical heuristic: by Piyush Mathur, Lanham, MD, Lexington Books, 2017, 316 pp., $118 (hardcover), 978498520478

For anyone familiar with the contemporary media's approach the subject of technology, one message is abundantly clear: technology has the power to “change the world”. Perhaps, but mass media rarely...
Fast virtual coiling algorithm for intracranial aneurysms using pre-shape path planning

Abstract To aid in predicting and improving treatment outcome of endovascular coiling of intracranial aneurysms, simulation of patient-specific coil deployment should be both accurate and fast. We developed a fast virtual coiling algorithm called Pre-shape Path Planning (P3). It captures the mechanical propensity of a released coil to restore its pre-shape for bending energy minimization, producing coils without unrealistic kinks and bends. A coil is discretized into finite-length segments and extruded from the delivery catheter segment-by-segment following a generic coil pre-shape. With the release of each segment, coil-wall and coil-coil collisions are detected and resolved. Modeling of each case took seconds to minutes. To test the algorithm, we evaluated its output against the literature, experiments, and patient angiograms. The periphery-to-core ratio of coils deployed by P3 decreased with increasing coil packing density, consistent with observations in the literature. Coils deployed by P3 compared well with in vitro experiments, free from unphysical kinks and loops that arose from previous virtual coiling algorithms. Simulations of coiling in four patient-specific aneurysms agreed well with the patient angiograms. To test the influence of coil pre-shape on P3, we performed hemodynamic simulations in aneurysms with coils deployed by P3 using the generic pre-shape, P3 using a coil-specific pre-shape, and full finite-element-method simulation. We found that the generic pre-shape was sufficient to produce results comparable to virtual coiling by finite element modeling. Based on these findings, P3 can rapidly simulate coiling in patient-specific aneurysms with good accuracy and is thus a potential candidate for clinical treatment planning.
Quantum Dot Gate (QDG) Quantum Dot Channel (QDC) Multistate Logic Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) with High-K Dielectric HfO2 Barriers

This paper presents the theory, fabrication and experimental testing results for a multiple state Non-Volatile Memory (NVM), comprised of hafnium oxide high-k dielectric tunnel and gate barriers as...
Fictional Surrogates

It is usually taken for granted, in discussions about fiction, that real things or events can occur as referents of fictional names (e.g. ‘Napoleon’ in War and Peace). In this paper, I take issue with this view, and provide several arguments to the effect that it is better to take the names in fiction to refer to fictional surrogates of real objects. Doing so allows us to solve a series of problems that arise on the reference-continuity view. I also show that the arguments philosophers usually rely on in order to ban surrogates are not as serious as they have been taken to be. In the first part of the paper, I describe the two conflicting views. In the second part, I discuss several specific arguments in favor of surrogates. In the third part I take up the kind of reasons ordinarily offered against them.
Estimation and selection in linear mixed models with missing data under compound symmetric structure

It is quite appealing to extend existing theories in classical linear models to correlated responses where linear mixed-effects models are utilized and the dependency in the data is modeled by rand...
Immune-related adverse events are associated with improved response, progression-free survival, and overall survival for patients with head and neck cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background The authors hypothesized that patients developing immune-related adverse events (irAEs) while receiving immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) for recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) would have improved oncologic outcomes. Methods Patients with recurrent/metastatic HNC received ICI at 2 centers. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier methods, and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to associate the irAE status with the overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in cohort 1 (n = 108). These outcomes were also analyzed in an independent cohort of patients receiving ICI (cohort 2; 47 evaluable for irAEs). Results The median follow-up was 8.4 months for patients treated in cohort 1. Sixty irAEs occurred in 49 of 108 patients with 5 grade 3 or higher irAEs (10.2%). ORR was higher for irAE+ patients (30.6%) in comparison with irAE- patients (12.3%; P = .02). The median PFS was 6.9 months for irAE+ patients and 2.1 months for irAE- patients (P = .0004), and the median OS was 12.5 and 6.8 months, respectively (P = .007). Experiencing 1 or more irAEs remained associated with ORR (P = .03), PFS (P = .003), and OS (P = .004) in multivariate analyses. The association between development of irAEs and prolonged OS persisted in a 22-week landmark analysis (P = .049). The association between development of irAEs and favorable outcomes was verified in cohort 2. Conclusions The development of irAEs was strongly associated with an ICI benefit, including overall response, PFS, and OS, in 2 separate cohorts of patients with recurrent/metastatic HNC.
Regulation of learned fear expression through the MgN-amygdala pathway.

Abstract Heightened fear responding is characteristic of fear- and anxiety-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Neural plasticity in the amygdala is essential for both initial fear learning and fear expression, and strengthening of synaptic connections between the medial geniculate nucleus (MgN) and amygdala is critical for auditory fear learning. However, very little is known about what happens in the MgN-amygdala pathway during fear recall and extinction, in which conditional fear decreases with repeated presentations of the auditory stimulus alone. In the present study, we found that optogenetic inhibition of activity in the MgN-amygdala pathway during fear retrieval and extinction reduced expression of conditional fear. While this effect persisted for at least two weeks following pathway inhibition, it was specific to the context in which optogenetic inhibition occurred, linking MgN-BLA inhibition to facilitation of extinction-like processes. Reduced fear expression through inhibition of the MgN-amygdala pathway was further characterized by similar synaptic expression of GluA1 and GluA2 AMPA receptor subunits compared to what was seen in controls. Inhibition also decreased CREB phosphorylation in the amygdala, similar to what has been reported following auditory fear extinction. We then demonstrated that this effect was reduced by inhibition of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors. These results demonstrate a new and important role for the MgN-amygdala pathway in extinction-like processes, and show that suppressing activity in this pathway results in a persistent decrease in fear behavior.
617 Trastuzumab and pertuzumab combination therapy activates complement-dependent cytotoxicity and phagocytosis against HER2+ breast cancer

Background Standard-of-care frontline treatment for HER2+ breast cancers (BC) is comprised of two HER2-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb), Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab with chemotherapy. This combination (T+P) has proven highly effective, however its synergistic mechanism of action is largely unknown. Initial studies demonstrated that Pertuzumab suppressed HER2 hetero-dimerization, thus the T+P mechanism of action (MOA) has been widely reported as due to Pertuzumab-mediated signaling suppression in combination with Trastuzumab-mediated induction of immunity. However, the therapeutic MOA for Pertuzumab remains unclear, especially combination with Trastuzumab. As the only solid cancer effectively treated by a mAb combination, unraveling this MOA may be critical in extending this strategy to other cancers, as well as to improving this treatment modality. Methods In this study, we used multiple mouse models of human HER2 expressing breast cancer, and an endogenous transgenic HER2+ BC model that is tolerant to human HER2, and by using both novel murine and human versions of Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab, we elucidated the synergistic antitumor immune mechanism of the two antibodies when used in combination. Results First, we demonstrated that Pertuzumab, just like Trastuzumab [1], can engage with Fc receptors and activate Antibody-Dependent-Cellular-Phagocytosis (ADCP) to elicit anti-tumor efficacy, as well as inhibit oncogenic signaling of HER2. More importantly, we identified that the combination of Pertuzumab with Trastuzumab synergistically and strongly induced classical pathway complement activation, enabling both direct complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) of tumor cells, as well as anti-tumor complement-dependent cellular phagocytosis (CDCP) by macrophages. Furthermore, tumor expression of C1q was positively associated with survival outcome in HER2+ BC patients, whereas expression of complement regulators CD55 and CD59 were inversely correlated. Accordingly, depletion of C1q in mice abolished the synergistic antitumor effect of T+P therapy, whereas knockdown of CD55 and CD59 expression enhanced T+P therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions Our study identifies complement activation as a potentially significant antitumor MOA for T+P therapies that may be clinically enabled by complement regulatory blockade to augment therapeutic efficacy. References Tsao L, et al. CD47 blockade augmentation of trastuzumab antitumor efficacy dependent on antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. JCI Insight. 2019; 4(24): e131882.
Changes of oxidant and antioxidant status in humans due to H.Pylori infection

Abstract Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been found to generate many oxygen-centered free radicals which are capable of producing lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation, on the other hand, induces deficiency of many important antioxidative micronutrients. Lipid peroxidations, in terms of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactions substances) were measured in a cohort of 10 adult male H. pylori infected human subjects before and after eradication of this bacterium by a triple therapy regimen using omeprazole (20 mg), amoxicillin (1g) and metronidazole (400 mg) twice a day for two weeks. Presence and absence of H. pylori were ascertained by the 13 C urea breath test (UBT). Total radical antioxidant parameters (TRAP) reflecting the antioxidative protection were also measured. The TBARS (μmol/l) were reduced from 2.99 ± 0.61 to 1.16 ± 0.19 with concomitant increase of TRAP values (mmol/l) from 1.1 + 0.4 to 1.9 + 0.4. after eradication of H. pylori . These significant (P H. pylori infection. Since oxidative stress is implicated in many life threatening diseases, results of this preliminary study strongly suggest prospective investigations of the association of H. pylori with human health disorders.
Resources and Infrastructure for Structural Bioinformatics

In the past decade, hundreds of computational tools and databases have been developed and deployed in support of protein structure prediction and modeling by the computational structural biology community. The majority of these tools and databases have been made freely available to the general public through the Internet. Many of the computational tools are accessible in the form of computational servers, supported by powerful high-performance computers, making them just fingertips away for protein researchers in any corner of the world. Other tools have been made freely downloadable so they can be run on users’ local computers. Some of the databases, such as Protein Data Bank (PDB; Bernstein et al., 1977; Deshpande et al., 2005) and SCOP (Murzin et al., 1995), as well as tools such as RasMol (Sayle and Milner-White, 1995), PHD (Rost et al., 1994) and CE (Shindyalov and Bourne, 1998), have made profound impacts on biological science in general, having become indispensable in the daily research and development activities in many biological research labs. As the field continues to attract researchers from other scientific disciplines, including computer science, mathematics, statistics, physics, and chemistry, we expect that more reliable, efficient, and easy-to-use tools and databases will be introduced at an even higher rate than in the past decade.
An update on the therapeutic orphan.

Thirty years ago, Dr Harry Shirkey recognized the serious dilemma of pediatric drug labeling, called therapeutic orphan, to capture its concept, and described remedial measures to minimize the dilemma. This review offers a brief exposition of the therapeutic orphan's arduous journey toward the goal of labeling of all drugs used for children. Aside from legal and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy requirements to secure new drug application approval to market a drug, some may question reasons for a pediatric drug label, especially if a label exists for adult use and pediatric use information is distributed in literature reports. Major pragmatic reasons for a pediatric label are presented in Table 1. A label testifies to carefully reviewed clinical trial data that offer substantial evidence to support pediatric indications for which the drug has approved use. Perhaps of unappreciated importance is availability of information on the label. Time-consuming literature review and analysis often are not necessary when a pediatric label exists. Label information is compiled for the pediatric drug formulation, and it is this formulation that is approved. Literature reports often contain one or more formulations prepared by the investigator, and good manufacturing procedures or bioavailability estimates may be less than desired. A formulation on the label frequently has been evaluated for characteristics acceptable to children and hence compliance is strengthened. The drug, having met pediatric labeling requirements, is available for children and obviates the awkward double standard—one for adults (label necessary for marketing) and one for children (pediatric label not necessary for marketing or use). To the lay public, this pediatric labeling allows third-party reimbursement of drug costs otherwise denied. This relieves young parents of a truly indefensible economic burden, which in some cases has denied drug treatment to children. Add to this the refusal of some malpractice … Address correspondence to John T. Wilson, MD, Section on Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport, LA 71130.
Cutting Edge: Clustered AU-Rich Elements Are the Target of IL-10-Mediated mRNA Destabilization in Mouse Macrophages

In the present study we show that IL-10-mediated inhibition of inflammatory gene expression can be mediated by an AU-rich element (ARE) cluster present in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of sensitive genes. A series of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene constructs were prepared in which different fragments from the IL-10-sensitive KC mRNA 3'UTR were placed downstream of the coding region of the reporter gene CAT. CAT mRNA containing the KC 3'UTR was markedly destabilized as compared with the control CAT mRNA, and the decay rate was further increased in cells stimulated with IL-10. The KC 3'UTR contains an ARE cluster and three isolated ARE motifs. The ARE cluster spanning nucleotides 378-399 appeared to be both necessary and sufficient to mediate sensitivity to IL-10 because a 116-nucleotide fragment that contains the cluster conferred sensitivity, while mutation of the sequence between positions 378 and 399 eliminated sensitivity. The destabilizing effect of IL-10 was relatively selective, as the stability of chimeric CAT mRNAs was not modulated in cells treated with IFN-gamma or IL-4.
Software Patents as a Barrier to Scientific Transparency: An Unexpected Consequence of Bayh-Dole

Computing has taken a central role in the practice of science. From the ability to capture data, methods, create simulations, and provide dissemination mechanisms, science has gone digital. In this paper we examine the interaction between the digitization of science and Intellectual Property Law, specifically the incentives created by the Bayh-Dole Act to patent inventions associated with university-based research. We show that the number of software patents granted to faculty researchers has more than doubled over the last ten years among top patenting universities and colleges. In a traditional scientific setting methods are usually openly shared in the methods section of a scientific publication, but due to increased levels of complexity and detail deep intellectual contributions to science are now being captured only in the software and codes that generate published computational results. In computational science reproducibility of results can typically only be effected with knowledge of the underlying code and data – the traditional methods section is insufficient for computational science. Because of the ability to patent software, incentives to patent academic code are potentially at odds with scientific norms of transparency and reproducibility.We collect a novel dataset to understand the rise in academic software patenting and its potential for occluding reproducible research – where the code and data underlying published results is openly shared. We implement a predictive model and find preliminary evidence that the increasing number of academic software patents is associated with increasing levels of industry collaboration (defined as at least one industry-based patent author) in patentable research, but there a weakly negative association with published articles (defined as those cited in the patent application). This extends a result in the literature to software patents: that patents arise more frequently from collaborations with industry, but does not confirm a second result, that positive reinforcement effect on publication by faculty who seek patents. From the perspective of reproducible computational research, this indicates that prior publications are either not be made if there is an intent to patent, or not be listed on the patent application. These findings indicate that the question of whether code needed to reproducible computational results is being patented and licensed is still an open one.
Effects of variable sedimentation rates and age errors on the resolution of sedimentary paleointensity records

[1] Synthetic, u-channel records of relative paleointensity have been generated with a numerical model simulating the recording process in sediments, variable quality age control and variable sedimentation rates, over a time interval of 500 ky. Simulation results indicate that paleointensity records with mean sedimentation rates up to 15 cm/ky can reflect geomagnetic dipole intensity fluctuations, with some amplitude differences between individual records of nongeomagnetic origin. This study confirms that relative paleointensity records have great potential as a stratigraphic tool and that a stratigraphic precision of a few thousand years can be achieved with records characterized by high sedimentation rates. Spectral analyses suggest that caution should be used when interpreting the power spectra of individual records and that stacked records should be favored. Stacked u-channel records with mean sedimentation rates of 1 cm/ky do not provide reliable spectral information on the dipole intensity for wavelengths shorter than 25–50 ky, and their utility is limited to long-term trends in paleointensity. For higher sedimentation rates, the range of spectral information depends on the stack resolution (sedimentation rates) and the age model. The best results are, predictably, obtained with high sedimentation rates and excellent age control. In these cases, the power spectra are reliable for wavelengths as short as 4 ky.
A Generalized Secret Sharing Scheme With Cheater Detection

A new secret sharing scheme is presented in this paper to realize the generalized secret sharing policy. Different from most of previous works, it is computationally secure and each participant holds only one single shadow. Any honest participant in this scheme can detect and identify who is cheating even when all of the other participants corrupt together. An extended algorithm is also proposed to protect the secret form dishonest participant without the assumption of simultaneous release of the shadows. With (x,x)-homomorphism property, it can also be used to protect individual secrets while revealing the product of these secrets.
Averaging Inhomogeneous Universes: Volume, Angle, Line of Sight

Cosmologies that match in a volume averaged sense need not generally have the same light propagation behaviors. In particular a universe with inhomogeneity may not demonstrate the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker distance-redshift relation even after volume averaging to FRW spacetime. Even the Dyer-Roeder prescription for incorporating inhomogeneity within a universe equivalent to FRW in an angle averaged sense does not guarantee FRW behavior in general. To legitimately use the FRW distance-redshift relation to interpret observations, the physical conditions must match in a line of sight sense (defined herein: most observations do), since light probes the mass distribution or geometry on all length scales.
Design of flying eye remotely operated vehicle for deep water surveillance

Offshore petroleum reserves have been discovered in depths approaching 3050 m (10000 ft) in the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, there is a need for the design of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and a launch and recovery system for the vehicle that is capable of working in this water depth. The ROV is an observational vehicle used to observe underwater systems and operations. The design criteria is 3050 m (10000 ft) depth, Gulf of Mexico, free swimming, tethered, able to cut 0.64 cm (0.25 in) steel cable, capable of lifting 22.7 kg (50 lb), and a 1.04 m/s (2 kt) forward speed, 5.2 m/s (1 kt) lateral speed, 5.2 m/s (1 kt) vertical speed. The ROV must be capable of being launched in a sea state 4, recovered in a sea state 5, shipped on one truck without permit, and the launch system must provide a 2.4 m (8 ft) clearance from the ROV to the side of the support ship.
Augmentative and alternative communication interventions for persons with developmental disabilities: narrative review of comparative single-subject experimental studies

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) as an area of clinical and educational practice involves a myriad of decisions related to the symbols, devices, and strategies from which each client must choose. These decision-making points can be productively informed through evidence from comparative intervention studies. The purpose of this review was to synthesize comparative AAC intervention studies using single-subject experimental designs involving participants with developmental disabilities. Following a systematic search, each qualifying study was reviewed in terms of a priori determined appraisal criteria, and summarized in tabular format. Studies were divided into three groups according to their study of aided approaches, unaided approaches, or a combination of both. Results are discussed in terms of methodological adequacy of the studies and their implications for future research and practice.
OpenCL GPU 100× acceleration of physical optics

The application of the graphics processor to computing antenna radiation patterns provides a substantial acceleration in speed. The same brute force physical optics (PO) code; e.g., a symmetric single reflector of two hundred forty wavelengths diameter, that runs single-threaded C/C++ on an Intel Core 2 Q8200 CPU and compiled to be optimized for speed, runs one hundred times faster when ported to OpenCL and run on an AMD HD5850 GPU hosted by the CPU system. Porting the code to OpenCL involves opening the processing loops to be run in parallel and some additional code to host the GPU in the CPU system. The ability to accelerate antenna pattern computations by a factor of one hundred provides real substantial benefits when many patterns need to be computed repeatedly, such as when optimizing a reflector system.
"Too Much of a Good Thing? Equity Market Reform, Investment, and New Venture Performance"

We examine how institutional changes that lower the barriers to successful exit influence the rate of IPO, the initial capitalization, and performance of subsequent ventures. Such IPO market reform...
ICU care associated with symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among family members of patients who die in the ICU.

Background Psychologic symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are relatively common among family members of patients who die in the ICU. The patient-level risk factors for these family symptoms are not well understood but may help to target future interventions. Methods We performed a cohort study of family members of patients who died in the ICU or within 30 h of ICU transfer. Outcomes included self-reported symptoms of PTSD and depression. Predictors included patient demographics and elements of palliative care. Results Two hundred twenty-six patients had chart abstraction and family questionnaire data. Family members of older patients had lower scores for PTSD (P = .026). Family members that were present at the time of death (P = .021) and family members of patients with early family conferences (P = .012) reported higher symptoms of PTSD. When withdrawal of a ventilator was ordered, family members reported lower symptoms of depression (P = .033). There were no other patient characteristics or elements of palliative care associated with family symptoms. Conclusions Family members of younger patients and those for whom mechanical ventilation is not withdrawn are at increased risk of psychologic symptoms and may represent an important group for intervention. Increased PTSD symptoms among family members present at the time of death may reflect a closer relationship with the patient or more involvement with the patient's ICU care but also suggests that family should be offered the option of not being present.
Metabolic response to focal penicillin seizures in rat: spike discharge vs. afterdischarge.

– The correlations among clinical events, electrocorticogram, histology, size of focus, and biochemical changes were examined in a model of focal penicillin seizures in rats. Ten units of penicillin injected into the motor cortex were found to be the threshold dose for producing repetitive spike discharges. These were associated with synchronous contralateral muscle jerks which reached a peak intensity in 10 min and fell off rapidly in 45–90 min. The half-life of penicillin in the cortex was 15 min, with little diffusion from the site of injection. The size of the metabolic focus was determined by autoradiography with [2-14C]deoxyglucose and was 6.5 times larger than the diffusion of penicillin. Increased glucose utilization appeared in the focus and in cortical columns in the contralateral homo-typic cortex. Thirty times more penicillin (>300 units) was required to produce spikes with afterdischarge than to product spikes alone. Afterdischarges correlated with contralateral tonic-clonic seizures and occurred only after 1 h of exposure to penicillin. These lasted 10-45 s each and recurred over 3 to 4h. The size of the metabolic focus determined by [2-14C]deoxyglucose during afterdischarges was 4.6 times larger than the focus exhibiting spike discharges alone. Tissue substrates were measured in the seizure focus, homotypic ‘mirror’ cortex, and cortex remote from the focus in paralyzed ventilated animals. During repetitive spike discharge there was a fall in high energy compounds in the focus (phosphocreatine, 4.91 4.24 mmol/kg; ATP, 2.62 2.17 mmol/kg) and a rise in lactate (1.41 2.79 mmol/kg). Changes were similar but less intense in ‘mirror’ and remote cortex. During spikes with afterdischarge, changes in high energy compounds in the focus were of a similar magnitude (phosphocreatine, 4.91 3.86 mmol/kg; ATP, 2.62 2.46 mmol/kg) but there was a greater rise in lactate (1.41 6.32 mmol/kg) and a fall in glucose (2.38 1.81 mmol/kg). In contrast, changes in ‘mirror’ and remote cortex during afterdischarges showed an increase in high-energy compounds.
Mutation spectra of N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-nitrosourea in Escherichia coli.

DNA sequencing was used to determine the specific types of DNA base changes induced following in vivo exposure of Escherichia coli to the ethylating agent N-ethyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG) and the hydroxyethylating agent 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-nitrosourea (HENU) using the xanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (gpt) gene as the genetic target. We observed that 22/30 of the ENNG-induced mutations were GC→AT transitions, 4/30 were AT→GC transitions, 3/30 were AT→TA transversions, and 1/30 was an AT→CG transversion. We observed that 37/40 HENU-induced mutations were GC→AT transitions and that the remaining 3/40 were AT→GC transitions. A majority of the GC→AT transitions induced by ENNG and HENU (68% and 73%, respectively) occurred at the second guanine of the sequence 5′-GG(A or T)-3′; this sequence specificity was similar to that previously seen with the alkylating agents N-methyl- and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU and ENU) and N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). A DNA strand preference for the G→A changes (antisense strand), previously noted for MNU, ENU, and MNNG, was observed following exposure to HENU and ENNG. The AT→GC transitions induced by ENNG, HENU, and ENU also exhibit a sequence specificity with 13/13 mutations occurring at the T of the sequence 5′-NTC-3′. A strand preference was not apparent for these mutations.
A Differential Incidence Analysis of a Tax Reform From an Income Tax to a Consumption Tax in the Presence of Bequests

This article studies the properties of a switch from an income tax to a consumption tax in the presence of bequests. The author shows that the consumption tax will distort the bequest decision if bequests are taxed at the consumption tax rate but not when bequests are exempt. It is possible that including bequests in the tax base under the consumption tax may reduce the incentive to save. The main benefit from reforming the tax system may arise from the switch away from the income tax and not in the move toward the consumption tax if bequests are taxed.
Ultrastructure of the Atrial, Ventricular, and Purkinje Cell, with Special Reference to the Genesis of Arrhythmias

An examination of the anatomy of the atrial, ventricular, and Purkinje cells reveals that the internal composition of all cardiac myofibers is qualitatively the same: all have a single nucleus, sarcomeric and mitochondrial units, and a well-developed sarcoplasmic reticulum. There are important differences, however, in the extent and distribution of the cell membrane and its derivatives in the myofiber. The presence or absence of a transverse tubular system and the variation in the number and type of intercellular linkages explain at least some of the characteristic electrical and functional properties of individual types of cells. The overall pattern of cellular organization in working atrial, ventricular, and conducting tissue is reviewed, and possible anatomic bases for current theories of normal and abnormal impulse generation and conduction in the heart are discussed.
SATISFACTION WITH RELIEF AGENCIES DURING HURRICANES ERIN AND OPAL

From a larger study, ratings of satisfaction with disaster relief agencies in the aftermath of Hurricanes Erin and Opal showed high satisfaction from services provided by the American Red Cross/Salvation Army and somewhat lower ratings for the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 167 residents and business owners in the Florida Panhandle.
Optical beam forming techniques for phased array antennas

Three optical beam forming techniques are identified as applicable to large spaceborne phased array antennas. They are 1) the fiber replacement of conventional RF phased array distribution and control components, 2) spatial beam forming, and 3) optical beam splitting techniques. Two novel optical beam forming approaches, i.e., the spatial beam forming with a “smart pixel” spatial light modulator (SLM) and the optical beam splitting approaches are conceived with integrated quasi-optical components. Also presented are the transmit and receive array architectures with the new SLM.
Control of purine biosynthesis de novo by orotic acid in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract The mechanism by which orotic acid decreases the concentration of adenine nucleotides in the livers of animals fed this pyrimidine precursor is presented. Orotic acid caused a marked inhibition of the incorporation of [1- 14 C]glycine into acid-soluble adenine nucleotides in the liver of albino rats in vivo and in vitro . This inhibition of the synthesis of adenine nucleotides in vitro was prevented by excess glutamine. The mechanism of the inhibition of biosynthesis of adenine nucleotides was attributable to an extensive depletion of pyrophosphorylribose 5-phosphate. This effect was not associated with a reduction of the activity of the enzymes responsible for the incorporation of glycine into purine. After the disappearance of orotic acid from the livers of animals previously fed a diet containing orotic acid, stimulation of the synthesis of adenine nucleotides was observed. This result appears to reflect a release of feedback inhibition of the biosynthetic pathway for purines by the reduced level of purine nucleotides and a compensatory increase in the synthesis of pyrophosphorylribose 5-phosphate. The studies suggest that the availability of pyrophosphorylribose 5-phosphate is a controlling factor in the biosynthesis of purine nucleotides de novo .
The V project manager tools

This paper proposes a simple set of tools for managing the concurrent development of a given project by many developers. These tools may be added to most programming environments while not hiding the files from other tools which the developer may wish to use.
Chemical Defenses in the Tiger Beetle PSEUDOXYCHEILA TARSALIS Bates (Carabidae: Cicindelinae)

Abstract When handled, adult Pseudoxycheila tarsalis Bates were observed to release a secretion from their pygidium that was distasteful to human subjects. Chemical analysis indicated that the secretion contained substituted benzene compounds that are known chemical defenses in tiger beetles. These findings support the hypothesis that P. tarsalis is aposematic and a potential Mullerian mimic of stinging mutillid wasps.
Minority-carrier injection(dark) metal-polycrystalline silicon contacts

The dependence of minority-carrier injection current J p on applied forward-bias voltage of metalpolysilicon contacts has been calculated within a general treatment of the recombination at grain boundaries. A uniform distribution of interface states in energy at the grain boundaries is assumed throughout. It is found approximately that J p ∼ exp (q V/KT) for (grain-boundary) recombination limited by the supply of minority carriers, J p ∼ exp (q V/KT) or exp (q V/2KT) for high and low grain-boundary interface state densities for recombination limited by the supply of majority carriers, and J p ∼ exp (3q V/4KT) for intrinsic recombination (limited equally by holes and electrons). Electrostatic effects of grain-boundary interface states, resulting in a bias dependence of grain-boundary barrier height og, are significant for interface state densities N is > 10 10 - 10 11 cm -2 V -1 . depending upon the doping within the grains. The effective diffusion length for the injected minority carriers also shows an appreciable bias dependence, especially for intrinsic recombination, and for majority-carrier limited recombination at high og and low Nis.Minority-carrier injection dominates the dark current (as it does in a p-n junction) for Schottky-barrier height ob > 0.8 V, for typical grain size d ≃ 10 -3 cm, interface state densities N is ≃ 10 13 cm -2 V -1 , and relatively low doping N d ≃ 1014cm-3.
Banking in the Middle East

ODERN BANKING in the Middle East dates from the second half of the last century. The Ottoman Bank in Turkey, established in 1863, is, perhaps, the oldest modern banking institution in the area. Banking has made slow but steady progress ever since, the progress depending upon the pace of economic development in various countries and of the transition from predominantly barter to semimarket economies. More recently, with the emphasis placed on economic development in a number of countries, there have been definite efforts to extend banking services and diversify banking institutions. However, the improvement has by no means been uniform. In some countries, for example, a nomadic way of life still survives, and there is no regularly organized banking system or paper currency. Thus, while progress in recent years has been steady, the banking structure of the Middle East still reflects, on the whole, the economic backwardness of the area and the limitations of domestic banking. Various causes have retarded progress in the development of banking. The basic cause has been the primitive, underdeveloped, and, until comparatively recently, the almost self-contained nature of the economy in many countries of the region. Nearly 80 per cent of the people live upon agriculture and practice primitive methods of cultivation that yield extremely low crops.1 Much of the agricultural produce does not enter the market but is consumed by the producers or bartered for services and other necessities. The monetization of the economy is thus, in varying degrees, incomplete.2 The majority of the countries export primary commodities and are dependent upon imports for most of the finished consumer goods that they need. Industrial development is in its early stages. Average per capita income is low and the margin for savings limited.
Role of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in coronary microvascular autoregulatory responses

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that ATP-sensitive potassium channels mediate autoregulatory vasodilatation of coronary arterioles in vivo. Experiments were performed in 23 open-chest anesthetized dogs. Coronary arterial microvascular diameters were directly measured with fluorescence microangiography using an intravital microscope and stroboscopic epi-illumination synchronized to the cardiac cycle. A mild coronary stenosis (perfusion pressure = 60 mm Hg), a critical coronary stenosis (perfusion pressure = 40 mm Hg), and complete coronary artery occlusion were produced with an occluder around the left anterior descending coronary artery in the presence or absence of glibenclamide (10(-5) M, topically), which inhibits ATP-sensitive potassium channels, or of vehicle. During topical application of vehicle (0.01% dimethyl sulfoxide), there was dilatation of small (less than 100 microns diameter) arterioles during reductions in perfusion pressure (percent change in diameter: 6.7 +/- 1.5%, 11.7 +/- 3.5%, and 10.4 +/- 5.1% during mild stenosis, critical stenosis, and complete occlusion, respectively). In the presence of glibenclamide, arteriolar dilatations during coronary stenoses and occlusions were abolished. Glibenclamide did not affect responses of arterioles greater than 100 microns. Glibenclamide did not alter microvascular responses to nitroprusside. These data suggest that ATP-sensitive potassium channels play an important role in determining the coronary microvascular response to reductions in perfusion pressure.