cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Near-Optimal Cayley Expanders for Abelian Groups.

We give an efficient deterministic algorithm that outputs an expanding generating set for any finite abelian group. The size of the generating set is close to the randomized construction of Alon and Roichman (1994), improving upon various deterministic constructions in both the dependence on the dimension and the spectral gap. By obtaining optimal dependence on the dimension we resolve a conjecture of Azar, Motwani, and Naor (1998) in the affirmative. Our technique is an extension of the bias amplification technique of Ta-Shma (2017), who used random walks on expanders to obtain expanding generating sets over the additive group of n-bit strings. As a consequence, we obtain (i) randomness-efficient constructions of almost k-wise independent variables, (ii) a faster deterministic algorithm for the Remote Point Problem, (iii) randomness-efficient low-degree tests, and (iv) randomness-efficient verification of matrix multiplication.
Augmentations and link group representations

We construct the augmentation representation. It is a representation of the fundamental group of the link complement associated to an augmentation of the framed cord algebra. This construction connects representations of two link invariants of different types. We also study properties of the augmentation representation.
Communication-Efficient LDPC Code Design for Data Availability Oracle in Side Blockchains

A popular method of improving the throughput of blockchain systems is by running smaller side blockchains that push the hashes of their blocks onto a trusted blockchain. Side blockchains are vulnerable to stalling attacks where a side blockchain node pushes the hash of a block to the trusted blockchain but makes the block unavailable to other nodes in the side blockchain. Recently, Sheng et al. proposed a data availability oracle based on LDPC codes and a data dispersal protocol as a solution to the above problem. While showing great improvements, the codes and the dispersal protocol were designed disjointly from each other which may not be optimal in terms of the communication cost associated with the oracle. In this paper, we provide a tailored dispersal protocol and a specialized LDPC code construction based on the Progressive Edge Growth (PEG) algorithm called the dispersal-efficient PEG (DE-PEG) algorithm aimed to reduce the communication cost associated with the new dispersal protocol. Our new code construction reduces the communication cost, and additionally, is less restrictive in terms of system design.
Multiple element oscillators utilizing a new power combining technique

A new method to generate high microwave and millimeter-wave power by combining the output of many two- or three-terminal devices is presented. This method forms a single resonant structure from many active devices, and therefore the combiner is stable and does not suffer from simultaneous multimode difficulties. Also, due to the fact that the complete structure acts as a single resonator, wideband frequency tuning of such an oscillator is possible. Experimental results from several power combiners utilizing Gunn diodes are presented. >
The Autonomy of Science

The praise of the autonomy of science seems to be something so laudable it barely needs defense. This is the sign of rapidly changing times. for, it was only in the forties, as I well remember, that the defense of planned science, i.e. government regulated and controlled science, was no less in the vogue, and was taken for granted not only by left-wing scientists. Michael Polanyi is by now one of the best known philosophers of science. He began his philosophical career when he attacked the theory of planned science during World War II, when he was a well-known scientist. He began his defense of the autonomy of science arguing from the autonomy of the scientist, and he ended by denying this autonomy. I wish to argue that Polanyi’s progress is logical enough: you cannot have it both ways.
Serological prevalence of bovine babesiosis in Guyana

A serological survey of cattle in Mali was carried out to determine the prevalence of antibody activity toBabesia bovis andB. bigemina. It was found that the level ofB. bovis infection as indicated by antibody activities was too low to be of immediate concern. However, the serological prevalence ofB. bigemina was high and this may indicate a potential disease problem. It was also found that when zebu and N'Dama cattle grazed together the N'Dama were twice as likely to have positive titres toBabesia as were the zebus.
Osteitis deformans (Paget's disease of bones)

Abstract 1.1. Fifty-one cases of Paget's disease are presented, representing an incidence of one in 4,500 admissions. The proportion of males and females was in the ratio of 3:2. The average age of onset was about 58 years with a range of 40 to 77 years. 2.2. Pain is usually the first symptom to appear, is usually the most distressing feature of the disease and is largely confined to the lower extremities and back. 3.3. The skull, spine, pelvis, femur and tibia are the bones most frequently involved and in the order named. 4.4. The x-ray picture presents a hetero-geneous confluence of areas of osteoporosis and osteosclerosis with a predominence of the former in the earlier and of the latter in ChemistryNo. of CasesHighLowAverageN.P.N.2141.612.632.5Sugar221056574Uric acid53.772.823.17Urea416.410.713.7P.S.P.11682857Calcium2910.69.09.7Phosphorus294.521.723.5Glucose tolerance7Increased1Decreased5Normal1B.M.R.14Minus 10–151Plus-minus 108Plus 10–152Plus 30–403 the later stages with a tendency toward bone overgrowth and thickening. 5.5. A negative calcium and phosphorus balance is generally present in the earlier and more active stages of the disease and a positive calcium balance in the later and less active phases, but the blood calcium and phosphorus levels are normal throughout. 6.6. The plasma phosphatase is usually increased in Paget's disease. It may indicate the rate of development and is roughly proportional to the extent of involvement. 7.7. Fractures occur in about 15 per cent of cases, but tend to heal well and within normal time limits. 8.8. Calculi are not common, occurring in four of the present series. 9.9. Sarcomatous degeneration is not uncommon, may occur in multiple foci and is generally rapidly fatal. 10.10. The etiology remains obscure. There is little reason for implicating either the parathyroids, thyroid or pituitary. 11.11. The treatment is mainly symptomatic.
Three Things To Be Against ("Settlement" Not Included)

Without even reading the associated article, most readers are provoked into immediate sympathy or antipathy.2 I blame (or credit) the word “settlement.” “Settlement” has a Rorschach quality, conjuring different images and associations for different viewers. Perhaps we might even be able to derive some understanding of a person’s experiences and values based on the meaning he or she makes of the idea of “settlement.”
Examination of a recommended algorithm for eliminating nonsystematic delay discounting response sets.

Purpose To examine (1) whether use of a recommended algorithm (Johnson and Bickel, 2008) improves upon conventional statistical model fit (R2) for identifying nonsystematic response sets in delay discounting (DD) data, (2) whether removing such data meaningfully effects research outcomes, and (3) to identify participant characteristics associated with nonsystematic response sets.
Finite-Difference Time-Domain Methods

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods. During the 1970s and 1980s, a number of researchers realized the limitations of frequency-domain integral-equation solutions of Maxwell's equations. This led to early explorations of a novel alternative approach: direct time-domain solutions of Maxwell's differential (curl) equations on spatial grids or lattices. FDTD and related space-grid time-domain techniques are direct solution methods for Maxwell's curl equations. These methods employ no potentials. Rather, they are based upon volumetric sampling of the unknown electric and magnetic fields within and surrounding the structure of interest, and over a period of time. For simulations where the modeled region must extend to infinity, absorbing boundary conditions (ABCs) are employed at the outer lattice truncation planes, which ideally permit all outgoing wave analogs to exit the region with negligible reflection. Phenomena such as induction of surface currents, scattering and multiple scattering, aperture penetration, and cavity excitation are modeled time-step by time-step by the action of the numerical analog to the curl equations.
Implementing a family of high performance, micrograined architectures

This paper describes the design and implementation of high performance micrograined architectures. These architectures are capable of teraops performance. Each architecture is organized as a systolic array of processors. A prototyping system for the architectures is proposed. The prototyping system provides control, I/O, and an interface to a host system for each of the micro-grained architectures. The prototyping system has been designed with flexibility in mind to support a wide variety of these micro-grained architectures. Beyond the research outlined, the authors anticipate using the prototyping system as a 'test-bed' for various class/student VLSI design projects within the department. Three micro-grained architectures are described: an associative memory-based architecture, a Mux-based architecture and a RAM-based architecture. These architectures are useful for solving a number of important problems, such as: edge detection, locating connected components, two-dimensional signal and image processing, sorting elements, and performing element permutations. >
The Interaction of Radiation with Matter

This document is part of Part 1 'Principles and Methods' of Subvolume B 'Detectors for Particles and Radiation' of Volume 21 'Elementary Particles' of Landolt-Bornstein - Group I 'Elementary Particles, Nuclei and Atoms'. It contains the Chapter '2 The Interaction of Radiation with Matter' with the content:
Acute experimental canine ehrlichiosis. I. Sequential reaction of the hemic and lymphoreticular systems.

Dogs with acute Ehrlichia canis infection showed the established clinical features of acute ehrlichiosis and had thrombocytopenia, anemia, increased serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity, and decreased total serum protein and albumin concentrations during the first weeks after infection, and increasing gamma globulin concentrations after the third week.Gross lesions in hemic and lymphoreticular tissues were transient lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly, and increased red long-bone marrow. Lymphoreticular hyperplasia in the paracortical area of lymph nodes and in the splenic red pulp occurred during the second week of infection. Later, small lymphocytes were replaced by medium-sized lymphocytes and plasma cells. Activity of germinal centers increased initially, as shown by numerous mitotic figures and macrophages, but diminished later, and the follicles blended with interfollicular and paracortical tissue because of a decrease in small lymphocytes in the mantle layer. We saw splenic hemorrhages near the ...
A processor array with bounded I/O ports for computing transitive closures

Abstract In this paper, we present the design of a processor array (PA) with bounded number of input/output (I/O) ports ( L -by- N PEs with O ( L ) I/O ports, where 1 ≤ L ≤ N ) for computing transitive closures. Previous designs of PAs to solve this problem use either N -by- N PAs with O ( N ) I/O ports or linear PAs with O (1) I/O ports. These designs are restricted by their I/O bandwidth because designs using O ( N ) I/O ports are limited by the number of PEs that can be supported by these ports, whereas designs with O (1) ports are limited by the I/O time to load and drain data. In contrast, our proposed design uses O(L) I/O ports, where L is a technology-dependent design parameter. In our proposed architecture, we have used more powerful processing elements (PEs), each with a microprogram-driven ALU, a limited number of I/O buffers, and O ( N / L ) memory words. Our technique for mapping transitive-closure computations consists of four steps: (1) Starting from a mapping of a transitive-closure problem on an N -by- N PA, we map the computations into an L -by- N PA. (2) We then schedule the computations in the L -by- N PA in order to satisfy the dependencies. (3) Based on the new mapping, we derive speeds and directions of data flows and the number of buffers required in each PE. (4) Finally, we derive the microprogram in each PE for correct execution. We show that our design specializes to efficient designs in the boundary cases when L = 1 (linear PA) and L = N (square mesh).
Persistent outer retinal defect after successful macular hole repair

Purpose To report two cases of a persistent outer retinal defect evident by optical coherence tomography (OCT) after clinically successful macular hole surgery. Design Retrospective case series. Methods A retrospective case series of two patients who had a persistent outer retinal defect by OCT and excellent visual acuity after clinically successful macular hole surgery. Results Two patients with stage 2 macular holes and preoperative visual acuity of 20/70 and 20/60, respectively, underwent macular hole surgery. Although the macular holes were closed on clinical evaluation, a persistent outer retinal defect was identified by OCT in both patients. At 5 to 6 months postoperatively, the outer retinal defect became less prominent and the visual acuity remained at 20/20 in both patients. Conclusions An outer retinal defect by OCT may occur in the early postoperative period after macular hole surgery. Despite this defect, good visual acuity is possible.
Step-Induced Optical Anisotropy of Vicinal Si(001)

It is demonstrated, using reflectance difference spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and low-energy electron diffraction, combined with deliberate straining of the surface, that the presence of atomic steps dramatically changes the optical anisotropy of the Si(001) surface. The step-induced reflectance difference signal originates predominately from rebonded steps and is comparable in magnitude to that of the terrace signal.
Relationship of sociodemographic and drinking variables to differentiated subgroups of alcoholics

The results suggest that the sociodemographic variables of age, living arrangements, number of dependents, the drinking variable, and the client's perception of the type of drinker he is are the most strongly related to the derived typology. The exact relationship of these variables, as well as the variables that were moderately related to the typology, is not apparent. There is a pattern, however, that appears to run through the categories of the classification. The evidence suggests that for alcoholics to be in their prime earning years, living with their spouses, perceiving themselves as alcoholic, possessing marketable skills, and a recent history of abstinence seems to increase the likelihood of psychological need satisfaction. The antithesis--to be alcoholic, less than 30 or older than 50 years old, living by oneself or with parents, perceiving oneself as a social or problem drinker, and possessing a recent history of drinking--seems to decrease the likelihood of psychological need satisfaction. There seems to be a relationship between drinking behavior and psychological need satisfaction. As a group, the members of Clusters Two, Three, and Four are unable to abstain for longer than a week; Clusters Two and Three both possess physiological problems of adjustment. The members of Clusters One and Five tend to be able to abstain for longer periods. Cluster One is devoid of physiological difficulties, whereas Five has borderline problems. The physiological subscale of the Human Service Scale assesses the absence of symptoms associated with poor health (Realges & Butler, 1976). It appears that aberrant drinking does not necessarily result in self-perceived physiological-health complaints. These results are at variance with the belief that ethanol ingestion by an alcoholic and the resulting pathological complications are the predominant difficulties encountered by these persons. Thus it seems to us that a distraught life situation (that is, the lack of social and demographic assets--marriage, education, and so on) contributes to self-perceived severity of psychological need deprivation and not solely aberrant drinking. Therefore, in terms of recovery from alcoholism, these results argue against a unidimensional approach toward the treatment of alcoholism; that is, an approach that focuses solely on the drinking as "the" problem. A more strategic approach would include a thorough medical, psychiatric, psychological, social and vocational evaluation of the alcoholic's life situation, which in turn would permit mobilizing the efforts of a multidisciplinary team whose goal would be to maximize the resources and enhance the life situation of the alcoholic. It is hoped that the results of this study serve to increase our understanding of those factors that influence aberrant drinking.
Carotid artery compression from pituitary apoplexy.

A 54-year-old previously healthy man presented after a fall from a ladder with progressive vision loss and headache. Physical examination revealed poor visual acuity in both eyes with the ability to only differentiate between light and dark and partial third, fourth and sixth nerve palsies of …
Derivation and Biological Characterization of a Molecular Clone of SHIVKU-2 That Causes AIDS, Neurological Disease, and Renal Disease in Rhesus Macaques

Abstract Previously, we described the derivation of a pathogenic strain of simian–human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV KU-2 ) consisting of the tat, rev, vpu, and env genes of HIV-1 (strain HXB2) in a genetic background of SIV mac 239 that causes AIDS and productive infection of the CNS in rhesus macaques ( Macca mulatta ) (Raghavan et al., 1997, Brain Pathol. 7, 851–861). We report here on the characterization of a molecular clone of SHIV KU-2 , designated SHIV KU-2MC4 , that caused CD4 + T cell loss as well as neurological and renal disease in macaques. DNA sequence analysis of selected SIV regions of SHIV KU-2MC4 revealed 10 nucleotide changes in the LTR, whereas Gag, Vif, Vpr, Vpx, and Nef had 1, 1, 1, 2, and 13 predicted amino acid substitutions, respectively, compared to SIV mac 239. DNA sequence analysis of HIV-1 derived regions of SHIV KU-2MC4 revealed 2, 1, 2, and 18 predicted amino acid substitutions in the Tat, Rev, Vpu, and Env proteins, respectively, when compared to SHIV-4. Unlike the parental SHIV-4, which is not tropic for macrophages, SHIV KU-2MC4 replicated efficiently in macrophage cultures as determined by p27 assays. However, despite the numerous changes in the Env protein and newly acquired tropism for macrophages, SHIV KU-2MC4 , like the parental SHIV-4, used CXCR4 exclusively as its coreceptor for entry into susceptible cells. Inoculation of SHIV KU-2MC4 into two rhesus macaques resulted in severe infection in which the numbers of circulating CD4 + T cells in the blood declined rapidly by 2 weeks postinoculation and virus producing cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were identified throughout the course of infection. At the time of euthanasia (20 and 22 weeks), both macaques had lost a significant amount of weight and had no circulating CD4 + T cells. In addition, one macaque developed intension tremors and uncoordinated movements. Virological examination of tissues at necropsy revealed active virus replication in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues such as the lung and brain. Histological examination revealed that the induced immunodeficiency was associated with lymphoid depletion of the lymph nodes and spleen, opportunistic infections, lentiviral encephalitis, and severe glomerulosclerosis of the kidney. This molecular clone will serve as the basis for analyzing the molecular determinants through which SHIV KU-2 causes severe CD4 + T cell loss, neurological disease, and SHIV nephropathy in rhesus macaques.
Ion Chromatography on a New Moderate Capacity Anion Exchange Column

The mechanisms of retention of anions on a new solvent-compatible, moderate capacity (170 microequivalent per column) anion-exchange column are described. Retention based on anion exchange is shown using both sodium hydroxide and 4-cyanophenolate eluants. Plots of the log k' vs. log C, (where k' is the capacity factor and C is the eluant concentration) are shown to be linear with slopes approximating the charge of the eluant as predicted by the standard anion-exchange equation. Sodium hydroxide is shown to be a relatively weak eluant, capable of separating monovalent anions that are difficult to separate on other columns. Sodium 4-cyanophenolate is shown to be a strong eluant, capable of eluting polyvalent anions. The retention of nonionic alkylphenones is also described. In plots of log k' vs. percentage acetonitrile in the eluant, these compounds were found not to follow the solvophobic mechanism typical of reverse-phase HPLC columns. Results are compared with other anion exchange columns. Applications include the determination of lysophosphatidyl inositol in brain microsomes and methacrylic acid in esterase-treated samples.
Impaired hepatocyte binding, uptake and degradation of glucosylated low-density lipoproteins

Abstract The catabolism of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the major cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins in plasma, is mediated in part via a high-affinity uptake pathway in the liver. Non-enzymatic glucosylation of lysine residues of apolipoprotein B, the major protein of LDL, blocks receptor-mediated uptake of LDL by fibroblasts and endothelial cells. We investigated the effect of the degree of glucosylation on the binding, uptake and degradation of radioiodinated LDL by the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Human LDL was glucosylated with 250 mM glucose and 30 mM cyanoborohydride at 37 °C. Incubations ranging from 3 to 48 h in duration resulted in the formation of 6–27% of glucitol-lysine adducts as demonstrated by coincubation with [ 14 C]glucose. The degree of glucose incorporation corresponded to the extent of inhibition of binding, uptake and degradation of LDL (10–90%). The data are consistent with the view that glucosylation of LDL markedly impairs their catabolism. This phenomenon may be related to the pathophysiology of the premature atherosclerosis observed in diabetes mellitus.
Domains of differential cell proliferation suggest hinged folding in avian gut endoderm.

A profile of proliferative growth assessed with tritium autoradiograms from White Leghorn embryo stages Hamburger–Hamilton 6–21 labeled in ovo presents evidence of hinged folding driven by localized differential cell proliferation in endoderm. There is a significant, bilateral pattern, and differences are most pronounced in axial levels that are folding and rotating. Highest proliferation is in cells producing folds; lowest proliferation is in median cells. Localized changes in cell shape are lacking, as are TUNEL markers and cell morphology that would suggest involvement of apoptosis. Folding endoderm to form gut tube appears to be a process that is driven by domains of high cell proliferation flanking a domain of significantly lower proliferation. When considered in the context of an epithelium attached to subjacent mesoderm, these differentials could produce a forced and directed buckling of endoderm into lateral folds that join and enclose a tube. Patterns suggest that endoderm folds about a median hinge. In the light of this new information, we suggest it is more precise to refine the term, median hinge point (MHP), to neural hinge point (NHP) and gut hinge point (GHP). Dev Dyn 1999;216:398–410. ©1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
BRI3 Inhibits Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing in a Mechanistically Distinct Manner from Its Homologue Dementia Gene BRI2

Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by senile plaques, which are mainly composed of β amyloid (Aβ) peptides. Aβ is cleaved off from amyloid precursor protein (APP) with consecutive proteolytic processing: β-secretase, followed by γ-secretase. Here, we show that BRI3, a member of the BRI gene family that includes the familial British and Danish dementia gene BRI2, interacts with APP and serves as an endogenous negative regulator of Aβ production. BRI3 colocalizes with APP along neuritis in differentiated N2a cells; endogenous BRI3-APP complexes are readily detectable in mouse brain extract; reducing endogenous BRI3 levels by RNA interference results in increased Aβ secretion. BRI3 resembles BRI2, because BRI3 overexpression reduces both α- and β-APP cleavage. We propose that BRI3 inhibits the various processing of APP by blocking the access of α- and β-secretases to APP. However, unlike BRI2, the binding of BRI3 to the β-secretase cleaved APP C-terminal fragment is negligible and BRI3 does not cause the massive accumulation of this APP fragment, suggesting that, unlike BRI2, BRI3 is a poor γ-cleavage inhibitor. Competitive inhibition of APP processing by BRI3 may provide a new approach to AD therapy and prevention.
John Bunyan's soteriology during his pre-prison period (1656–1659): Amyraldian or high-Calvinist?

Several historians and theologians have concluded that John Bunyan was a high-Calvinist. However, this conclusion has been challenged with the assertion that Bunyan held to a more mediate view of the atonement, often called Amyraldianism. This study seeks to evaluate Bunyan's place on the theological spectrum by evaluating his writings during his pre-prison ministry (1656–59). It sets forth the argument that, during this period, Bunyan demonstrated the Amyraldian penchant for combining real particularism with hypothetical universalism.
Basis sets for ab initio periodic Hartree—Fock studies of zeolite/adsorbate interactions: He, Ne, and Ar in silica sodalite

Silica sodalite is an ideal model system to establish base-line computer requirements of ab initio periodic Hartree-Fock (PHF) calculations of zeolites. In this article, the authors investigate the effect of various basis sets on the structural and electronic properties of bulk silica sodalite. They also study the interaction of He, Ne, and Ar with the sodalite cage. This work shows that basis-set superposition errors (BSSE) in calculations using STO-3G and 6-21G(*) basis sets are as large as the interaction energies, leading to poor confidence in the results. To cure this problem, the authors present high-quality basis sets for si, O, He, Ne, and Ar, optimized for use with PHF methods, and demonstrate that the new basis set greatly reduces BSSE. The theoretical barriers for transfer of the rare gases between sodalite cages are 5.6, 13.2, and 62.1 kcal/mol for He, Ne, and Ar. 27 refs., 6 figs., 8 tabs.
Nationality and differences in auditor risk assessment: A research note with experimental evidence

This study examines whether auditors from different countries come to different conclusions when they perform analytical procedures to assess the risk of misstatement in accounts. During a laboratory experiment, auditors who worked for the same firm in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States performed analytical procedures on identical case materials. Although auditors from all three countries came to similar conclusions about the overall risk of misstatement, they attributed risk differently across the individual financial statement accounts they evaluated.
Convection in underground oil caverns:the role of double diffusion.

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) stores oil in large underground salt caverns. This oil has compositional and thermal gradients induced by geothermal heating from both the bottom surface and side walls. Temperature layering has been recorded in SPR oil caverns, which is hypothesized to be predominantly due to double-diffusive layering that occurs when a stable compositional gradient is heated from below. Initial results of a laboratory experimental program aimed at studying dynamics of such double-diffusive layers in the context of SPR are described in this paper. Of particular interest are the thickness of convecting layers, layer evolution (migration/merging) and conditions for the formation/non-formation of double-diffusive layers.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Alterations of amino acid transmitter systems in spinal cords of chronic paraplegic dogs.

: The high-affinity uptake of [3H]serotonin, [3H]glutamate, and [3H]-γ-aminobutyric acid (3H]GABA) and the Na+-independent binding of [3H]glutamate and [3H]GABA were studied using spinal cord preparations obtained from normal mongrel dogs and from dogs made paraplegic by midthoracic spinal cord crush. Lumbosa-cral regions of the spinal cord were removed either before (1 week) or after (3 to 8 weeks) onset of spasticity. A myelin-free synaptosomal fraction was obtained by cen-trifugation and used for studying high-affinity uptake and for preparing synaptic plasma membranes for Na+-inde-pendent binding experiments. For the paraplegic groups, the uptake of 30 nM [3H]serotonin was 66 and 18% of control values after 1 and 3 weeks, respectively. Eadie-Hofstee analysis of [3H]serotonin uptake showed a 90% reduction in Vmax for the paraplegic group relative to control values, thereby indicating the expected loss of descending serotonergic pathways. The high-affinity uptakes of 1 μM [3H]glutamate and [3H]GABA were the same in both the control and nonspastic paraplegic groups after 1 week. However, after 3 weeks, the uptakes of [3H]glutamate and [3H]GABA were 60-70% higher for the spastic group than for the control animals. For both amino acids, Eadie-Hofstee plots revealed no difference in Km and higher Vmax for the spastic group relative to control values. After 1 and 3 weeks, the Na+ -independent binding of 5 nM [3H]glutamate was 40-85% higher and the binding of 10 nM [3H]GABA was 40-60% lower for the paraplegic groups relative to the values for the control animals. Scatchard analysis revealed significant changes in Bmax values for both amino acids. Overall, the data indicate an increase in segmental amino acid excitatory influence which occurred when signs of spasticity were evident.
Mycobacterium chelonei keratitis.

A 35-year-old man developed an indolent corneal ulcer after removal of a metallic foreign body. Acid-fast bacteria were found on corneal scrapings and Mycobacterium chelonei was isolated on culture. Although initially responding to treatment with subconjunctival and topical amikacin, the patient had a relapse that necessitated a penetrating keratoplasty. Pathologic studies disclosed acid-fast organisms in the midcorneal stroma with an intact overlying epithelium.
"Friending Facebook?" A Minicourse on the Use of Social Media by Health Professionals

Introduction: Health professionals are working in an era of social technologies that empower users to generate content in real time. This article describes a 3-part continuing education minicourse called “Friending Facebook?” undertaken at Penn State Hershey Medical Center that aimed to model the functionality of current technologies in health care and encourage discussion about how health professionals might responsibly utilize social media. Methods: Fifteen health professionals participated in the course and provided written evaluation at its conclusion. The course instructor took field notes during each of the 3 classes to document emergent themes. Results: The course received uniformly positive evaluations, and participants identified several current tools perceived as being potentially useful in their professional lives, including news aggregators, Google Alerts, and—if used responsibly—social networking sites such as Facebook. Discussion: Developing innovative and appropriate programming that teaches to emerging social media technologies and ideologies will be crucial to helping the health professions adapt to a new, networked era. Medical institutions would do well to foster interprofessional—and perhaps even intergenerational—conversations to share not only the dangers and risks of social media, but also the opportunities that are emerging out of a rapidly evolving online world.
Electrostatic characteristics of hydrated lime powder during transport

Electrostatic charging of fine hydrated lime with an average primary particle size of 2.5 μm under various transport conditions is studied. The charging tendency is evaluated in terms of charge-to-mass ratio, which is defined as the ratio of the accumulated charges to the powder weight. The charge-to-mass ratio of the hydrated lime is investigated at various gas velocities and powder mass flow rates. The effects of transport tube materials and surfactants are studied. In addition, the bipolar charging phenomenon that is commonly observed during silo filling is examined. The parameter of the powder mass flow rate is not generally considered in the theoretical formulation of charge transfer; however, this study shows that the powder mass flow rate has significant effects on the charge accumulation on powder. An empirical correlation of charge-to-mass ratio as a function of the gas velocity and powder mass flow rate is presented. The bipolar charging appears to occur during powder transport. Surfactant-modif...
Frontier Estimation of Changes in Workers' Labor Market Information

This paper uses search theory to analyze the association between worker characteristics and changes in workers' labor market information across time. A number of hypotheses concerning who will invest in more information over time are derived from search theory and tested. Stochastic frontier estimation techniques are used to estimate the workers' information at different points in time. Workers who are searching for a new job, who currently have less information, experience, and tenure, but more education, or who live in counties with low levels of unemployment will have a greater increase in information across time.
Cowpox Virus Expresses a Novel Ankyrin Repeat NF-κB Inhibitor That Controls Inflammatory Cell Influx into Virus-Infected Tissues and Is Critical for Virus Pathogenesis

Many pathogenic orthopoxviruses like variola virus, monkeypox virus, and cowpox virus (CPXV), but not vaccinia virus, encode a unique family of ankyrin (ANK) repeat-containing proteins that interact directly with NF-kappaB1/p105 and inhibit the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. Here, we present the in vitro and in vivo characterization of the targeted gene knockout of this novel NF-kappaB inhibitor in CPXV. Our results demonstrate that the vCpx-006KO uniquely induces a variety of NF-kappaB-controlled proinflammatory cytokines from infected myeloid cells, accompanied by a rapid phosphorylation of the IkappaB kinase complex and subsequent degradation of the NF-kappaB cellular inhibitors IkappaBalpha and NF-kappaB1/p105. Moreover, the vCpx-006KO virus was attenuated for virulence in mice and induced a significantly elevated cellular inflammatory process at tissue sites of virus replication in the lung. These results indicate that members of this ANK repeat family are utilized specifically by pathogenic orthopoxviruses to repress the NF-kappaB signaling pathway at tissue sites of virus replication in situ.
Seed-setting in potatoes as affected by spraying with a-naphthaleneacetamide and by light

Spraying potato plants with dilute concentrations of a-naphthal-eneacetamide was not effective in increasing flower or seed ball production in the greenhouse at Beltsville Maryland, or Greeley, Colorado. Higher concentrations reduced flower production at Presque Isle, Maine.
Sleep and circadian schedule disorders

A number of human biological rhythms such as body temperature, sleep, melatonin, cortisol, and growth hormone fluctuate with a 24-hour periodicity and are largely synchronized to the daily rotation of the earth. These 24-hour or circadian rhythms maintain synchronous relationships internally with one another and externally with environmental time cues [1]. Maintaining these synchronous relationships is critical to health and well-being. Situations that disrupt this balance between internal rhythms and the environment can and often do lead to circadian schedule disturbances. Sudden changes in environmental time cues, such as those that occur with transmeridian jet travel and shiftwork, often lead to a ‘‘transient’’ disturbance in rhythm synchrony. Both situations necessitate resynchronization of internal biological timing to a new time schedule. This transient rhythm desynchronization is typically characterized by delayed sleep onset, sleep fragmentation, changes in sleep quality and length, early morning awakening, excessive daytime sleepiness, and fatigue [2]. In most cases, these transient circadian disturbances are resolved once the individual resynchronizes to the new time schedule and environmental time cues. In some individuals, however, such transient disturbances can precipitate or trigger the development of chronic circadian schedule disorders, such as delayed sleep phase syndrome, advanced sleep phase syndrome, irregular sleep–wake patterns, and non–24-hour sleep–wake disorder. The focus of this article is to describe these chronic circadian schedule disorders and to discuss interventions that can be used by health care professionals to assist individuals who develop these disturbances. These schedule disorders are thought to stem from underlying disturbances in an individual’s circadian physiology. To gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms that may account for such disturbances, we will begin with a discussion of rhythms in human sleepiness and human circadian timing.
Evaluation of the Influence of the Composition of Natural Gas in the Ultrasonic Measurement of Flow in Flare-type Pressure Relief Systems

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the composition of the natural gas on flow rate measurements in pressure relief flare systems, which is a legal requirement imposed by the Brazilian Regulator. The historical technical difficulties associated with collecting gas samples from flare systems, and the constant questions about the representativeness of the collected samples, are the main drivers motivating this study. The study indicated (i) a maximum error of 0.04% associated with ultrasonic measurement of gas flow rate when the actual gas composition was unknown; (ii) collected gas samples directly extracted from the flare systems do not necessarily represent the actual measured gas and (iii) the estimated maximum error associated with the totalization of the gas volume proved to be negligible when compared either to the total documented gas volume given by historical measurements or to the acceptable random errors that is inherent to this type of measurement system.
Targeting of systemically-delivered magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia using a noninvasive, static, external magnetic field

One of the greatest challenges of nanoparticle cancer therapy is the delivery of adequate numbers of nanoparticles to the tumor site. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have many favorable qualities, including their nontoxic composition, the wide range of diameters in which they can be produced, the cell-specific cytotoxic heating that results from their absorption of energy from a nontoxic, external alternating magnetic field (AMF), and the wide variety of functional coatings that can be applied. Although IONPs can be delivered via an intra-tumoral injection to some tumors, the resulting tumor IONP distribution is generally inadequate; additionally, local tumor injections do not allow for the treatment of systemic or multifocal disease. Consequently, the ultimate success of nanoparticle based cancer therapy likely rests with successful systemic, tumor-targeted IONP delivery. In this study, we used a surface-based, bilateral, noninvasive static magnetic field gradient produced by neodymiumboron- iron magnets (80 T/m to 130 T/m in central plane between magnets), a rabbit ear model, and systemicallydelivered starch-coated 100 nm magnetic (iron oxide) nanoparticles to demonstrate a spatially-defined increase in the local tissue accumulation of IONPs. In this non-tumor model, the IONPs remained within the local vascular space. It is anticipated that this technique can be used to enhance IONP delivery significantly to the tumor parenchyma/cells.
β-cell failure as a complication of diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex disease characterized by beta-cell failure in the setting of insulin resistance. In early stages of the disease, pancreatic beta-cells adapt to insulin resistance by increasing mass and function. As nutrient excess persists, hyperglycemia and elevated free fatty acids negatively impact beta-cell function. This happens by numerous mechanisms, including the generation of reactive oxygen species, alterations in metabolic pathways, increases in intracellular calcium and the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress. These processes adversely affect beta-cells by impairing insulin secretion, decreasing insulin gene expression and ultimately causing apoptosis. In this review, we will first discuss the regulation of beta-cell mass during normal conditions. Then, we will discuss the mechanisms of beta-cell failure, including glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Further research into mechanisms will reveal the key modulators of beta-cell failure and thus identify possible novel therapeutic targets. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease that has greatly risen in prevalence in part due to the obesity and inactivity that characterize the modern Western lifestyle. Pancreatic beta-cells possess the potential to greatly expand their function and mass in both physiologic and pathologic states of nutrient excess and increased insulin demand. beta-cell response to nutrient excess occurs by several mechanisms, including hypertrophy and proliferation of existing beta-cells, increased insulin production and secretion, and formation of new beta-cells from progenitor cells [1, 2]. Failure of pancreatic beta-cells to adequately expand in settings of increased insulin demand results in hyperglycemia and diabetes. In this review, we will first discuss the factors involved in beta-cell growth and then discuss the mechanisms by which beta-cell expansion fails and leads to beta-cell failure and diabetes (Fig. 1).
Factors affecting waterfowl use of constructed wetlands in northwestern Minnesota

Waterfowl pair and brood use of constructed wetlands was evaluated during 1980–81 on 4 Wildlife Management Areas in northwestern Minnesota. Weekly ground counts of waterfowl were made at each of 109 wetlands during the April to mid-July nesting season and correlated with physical, vegetative, and limnological characteristics. The number of pairs of the 10 most common waterfowl species using the wetlands was 338 in 1980 and 239 in 1981, of which blue-winged teal (Anas discors) made up nearly half. Ducks used the constructed wetlands primarily during late May and early June. Eighteen habitat components were significantly correlated with pair numbers of 1 or more duck species. Wetlands with larger surface area and longer shoreline length had greater pair use, by every duck species except gadwall (Anas strepera). Other physical parameters correlated with duck use included distance to nearby large impoundments, wetland density, and distance to nearest constructed wetland.
A kinematics-based GIS methodology to represent and analyze spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation change in IPCC A2 scenario

A kinematics-based GIS methodology is applied to represent and analyze spatiotemporal patterns and pattern transitions in very large data sets. The study demonstrates that the kinematics approach is able to discern transitional patterns from a continuous field of geographic properties over time by defining objects through thresholds and analyzing the object's internal and external movement patterns in space and time. The kinematics approach quantifies divergence, rotation, and deformation about changes to precipitation patterns and enables the search for precipitation regions influenced primarily by local conditions or by general circulation patterns of water vapour transport.A use case is built from two precipitation data products projected for the A2 scenario by the International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). The study takes a predefined threshold to delineate regions of interest, calculates shifts of the regions between years, and characterizes the pattern change. The study uses precipitation over 213 cm/year in 2001 and 2048 to illustrate the kinematics approach to comparing precipitation patterns predicted from the CCSM3 and CM3. Even though the precipitation data in 2001 and 2048 cannot be considered temporally continuous, the differential used here was to identify the patterns of precipitation shifts between the two years under the assumption that changes to spatial patterns of precipitation for 213 cm/year were gradual from 2001 to 2048. The 213 cm/year precipitation threshold is only met by a large number of precipitation events during the years of interest. Hence, this threshold appears stable from year to year although lesser thresholds would be discontinuous.
The modeling of multi-layer structures and the impact of emitter-base coupling on the determination of base recombination parameters

Abstract A method is presented to analyze minority carrier decay in multi-layer semiconductors structures. Open circuit voltage decay measurements analyzed using the junction open circuit boundary condition are used to measure the recombination parameters of base layers of semiconductor pn junction devices. The junction open circuit boundary condition assumes the independence of the minority carrier decay in the base and emitter layers. With the multi-layer decay analysis a theoretical investigation of the experimentally achievable device open circuit continuity condition, which includes the coupling of the base and emitter minority carrier decays, is possible. The analysis shows that the device open circuit continuity condition yields different decay constant than would be calculated using the junction open circuit boundary condition, due to the influence of the emitter recombination parameters. Carrier decay under short circuit conditions is much less influenced by the emitter. Therefore, as the emitter recombination parameters are usually unknown, the most accurate measurement of the base recombination parameters will be obtained using measurements made under short circuit rather than open circuit conditions.
New device for gross biopsy of the rectosigmoid mucosa.

A device is described for obtaining large (60 mg) tissue samples from the rectosigmoid mucosa through a sigmoidoscope.
SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF A NEW Ca URANYL OXIDE HYDRATE, Ca[(UO2)4O3(OH)4](H2O)2, AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO BECQUERELITE

A new Ca uranyl oxide hydrate, Ca[(UO2)4O3(OH)4](H2O)2, has been synthesized by hydrothermal reaction of a solution of 0.03 M UO3 with calcite crystals. Fifteen hydrothermal synthesis experiments at 140, 180 and 220°C, with starting solution pH in the range 2 to 6, resulted in Ca[(UO2)4O3(OH)4](H2O)2. The structure, space group P 1, a 8.0556(8), b 8.4214(8), c 10.958(1) A, α 78.878(2), β 87.922(2), γ 72.277(2)°, V 649.6(2) A3, Z = 2, has been solved and refined on the basis of F 2 for all unique data collected with monochromatic Mo K α X-radiation and a CCD-based detector to an agreement factor ( R 1) of 3.47%, calculated using 2523 unique observed reflections ( F o ≥ 4σ F ). The structure contains four symmetrically distinct U6+ cations, each of which is part of a nearly linear (UO2)2+ uranyl ion. Three of the uranyl ions are coordinated by five ligands arranged at the equatorial vertices of pentagonal bipyramids, and the other is coordinated by four ligands at the equatorial vertices of a square bipyramid. Polymerization of the uranyl polyhedra by the sharing of vertices and edges results in a novel sheet. The single unique Ca2+ cation is located in the interlayer, together with two H2O groups, one of which is bonded to the Ca2+ cation, whereas the other is held in the structure by hydrogen bonding only. The phase Ca[(UO2)4O3(OH)4](H2O)2 contains more Ca than becquerelite, Ca[(UO2)6O4(OH)6](H2O)8, and polymerization of Ca polyhedra occurs in the interlayer, whereas in becquerelite, the Ca polyhedra do not share polyhedron elements.