cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of plasminogen with dipeptidyl peptidase IV and Na+-H+ exchanger isoform NHE3 regulates invasion of human 1-LN prostate tumor cells

Binding of plasminogen type II (Pg 2) to dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) on the surface of the highly invasive 1-LN human prostate tumor cell line induces an intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) signaling cascade accompanied by a rise in intracellular pH (pHi). In endothelial cells, Pg 2 regulates intracellular pH via Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) antiporters; however, this mechanism has not been demonstrated in any other cell type including prostate cancer cells. Because the Pg 2 receptor DPP IV is associated with NHE3 in kidney cell plasma membranes, we investigated a similar association in 1-LN human prostate cancer cells and a mechanistic explanation for changes in [Ca2+]i or pHi induced by Pg 2 in these cells. Our results suggest that the signaling cascade initiated by Pg 2 and its receptor proceeds via activation of phospholipase C, which promotes formation of inositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, an inducer of Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum stores. Furthermore, our results suggest that Pg 2 may regulate pHi via an association with NHE3 linked to DPP IV in these cells. These associations suggest that Pg has the potential to simultaneously regulate calcium signaling pathways and Na+/H+ exchanges necessary for tumor cell proliferation and invasiveness.
A Confirmatory Factoring of the California Psychological Inventory

Two matrices of intercorrelations among the scales of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) were subjected to oblique multiple group factor analysis. In contrast to previous studies, this approach allows a direct test of the factor structure implicit in its standard use. We found this structure to provide a satisfactory representation of the data as long as one realizes that the resulting six factors are correlated and contain one dependency and that Scales Wb and Cm fulfill their postulated roles somewhat more poorly than the remaining scales.
Reducing Plenoptic Camera Artifacts

The focused plenoptic camera differs from the traditional plenoptic camera in that its microlenses are focused on the photographed object rather than at infinity. The spatio-angular tradeoffs available with this approach enable rendering of final images that have significantly higher resolution than those from traditional plenoptic cameras. Unfortunately, this approach can result in visible artifacts when basic rendering is used. In this paper, we present two new methods that work together to minimize these artifacts. The first method is based on careful design of the optical system. The second method is computational and based on a new lightfield rendering algorithm that extracts the depth information of a scene directly from the lightfield and then uses that depth information in the final rendering. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches.
1998 Research Reports: NASA/Asee Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

This document is a collection of technical reports on research conducted by the participants in the 1997 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This was the 13th year that a NASA/ASEE program has been conducted at KSC. The 1997 program was administered by the University of Central Florida in cooperation with KSC. The program was operated under the auspices of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) with sponsorship and funding from the Education Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C., and KSC. The KSC Program was one of nine such Aeronautics and Space Research Programs funded by NASA in 1997. The NASA/ASEE Program is intended to be a two-year program to allow in-depth research by the university faculty member. The editors of this document were responsible for selecting appropriately qualified faculty to address some of the many problems of current interest to NASA/KSC.
Effects of sampling errors in statistical estimation

Abstract The time series analysis technique of multivariate linear regression is reviewed with special emphasis on application to real time series with only a limited number of sample observations. The finite length records introduce errors in the sample statistics that must be accounted for when examining cause and effect relationships from the linear regression models. Methods are presented for (1) quantitatively estimating the significance of a linear regression model, (2) determining approximate confidence regions about estimated regression coefficients, and (3) determining whether one statistical model is significantly better than another. The expressions quantifying the effects of sampling errors on statistical quantities are equivalent to the expressions used in large-sample-size classical statistics when all of the sample observations are statistically independent. However, this is not generally the case with real geophysical time series, which typically ‘oversample’ inherent low-frequency variability. The developed formalism is based on the effective number of independent observations in the cortex of linear regression models.
Pleuropulmonary infection due to Corynebacterium striatum

Summary Corynebacterium striatum , a saprophytic diphtheroid in man, caused a pleuropulmonary infection in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. This organism has not previously been described as a cause of human disease.
Method revealing bacterial cell-wall architecture by time-dependent isotope labeling and quantitative liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

The molecular details of the biosynthesis and resulting architecture of the bacterial cell wall remain unclear but are essential to understanding the activity of glycopeptide antibiotics, the recognition of pathogens by hosts, and the processes of bacterial growth and division. Here we report a new strategy to elucidate bacterial cell-wall architecture based on time-dependent isotope labeling of bacterial cells quantified by liquid chromatography/accurate mass measurement mass spectrometry. The results allow us to track the fate of cell-wall precursors (which contain the vancomycin-binding site) in Enterococcus faecium, a leading antibiotic-resistant pathogen. By comparing isotopic enrichments of postinsertionally modified cell-wall precursors, we find that tripeptides and species without aspartic acid/asparagine (Asp/Asn, Asx) bridges are specific to mature cell wall. Additionally, we find that the sequence of cell-wall maturation varies throughout a cell cycle. We suggest that actively dividing E. faeci...
Mullerian Inhibiting Substance in human testes after birth

Abstract Tiny testicular biopsies from humans were assayed for Mullerian Inhibiting Substance using a graded organ culture technique. Mullerian Inhibiting Substance activity was high during the first year of life, declined during the second year of life, and then disappeared. Mullerian Inhibiting Substance activity is lower in boys with undescended testis than in children with normal or intersex testes at comparable ages under two years. It is possible that Mullerian Inhibiting Substance affects testicular descent as well as causing Mullerian duct regression.
Pulmonary Edema due to Upper Airway Obstruction in Adults

A report of pulmonary edema following acute upper airway obstruction in an adult is presented, and the literature involving 25 additional cases is reviewed. This form of pulmonary edema appears to be related to markedly negative intrathoracic pressure due to forced inspiration against a closed upper airway resulting in transudation of fluid from pulmonary capillaries to the interstitium. Postanesthetic laryngospasm is the most common cause of pulmonary edema in adults (11/26 cases). The edema usually clears rapidly with supportive care. Aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic interventions may be avoided if the syndrome is recognized. Maintenance of oxygenation and a patent airway are the mainstays of treatment.
The biosynthesis of phosphatides in several tissue-culture cell lines.

Summary HeLa (S3 clone) cells, bovine lymphosarcoma cells, monkey heart cells, and chick embryo endothelium cells were grown on Hanks' balanced Salt Solution supplemented with lactalbumin hydrolysate and bovine serum plus H32PO4 =. The various cell lines were labeled with inorganic 32P for varying periods of time. The phosphatides were extracted and deacylated with 0.1 N methanolic KOH at 37°C for 15 min. The deacylated phosphatides were separated by two-dimensional paper chromatography. The total phosphatide relative activity (cpm/wt protein/μg 32P applied) was determined at various times. The percent of the total phosphatide activity with time for each phosphatide was also determined. The phosphatide relative activity-time relationships demonstrated that each of the four cell lines studied varied in their phosphatide relative activities. This determination allows identification of these cell lines grown in culture. The ratio of relative activities of 32P-phosphatides to 32P-organic compounds indicated that phosphorus was utilized in the HeLa cell line preferentially for the synthesis of phosphorus compounds other than phosphatides. These other phosphorus compounds may be nucleic acids. Determinations of the per cent of total phosphatide activity for individual phosphatides in three cell lines presented evidence of a common biosynthetic pathway for phosphatides. Biosynthetic interrelationships of phosphatides were postulated to satisfy the sequential labeling of those phosphatides in both plants and animals. It was impossible to distinguish any basic difference between malignant and normal cells in culture by the procedures employed herein.
3375 Where do eus and mrcp fit in the management of the patient with acute biliary pancreatitis: a decision analytic model.

Background: In the absence of biliary sepsis, the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)in acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) is controversial. ERCP has not reliably decreased morbidity or mortality, and procedure-related complications may occur. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) are new modalities for CBD visualization that could lower costs and complications related to ERCP.We performed cost-effectiveness and Bayesian analyses of these modalities to define their potential role in ABP. Methods: A decision analytic model of the natural history of ABP was constructed (DATA 3.5, TreeAge Inc., Williamstown, MA). The transition probabilities between health states and test performance characteristics (sensitivity and specificity)were derived from the medical literature using Medline™. All costs(including the diagnostic procedures evaluated) were obtained from Medicare reimbursement rates and supplemented by the medical literature. The strategies evaluated were: 1)ERCP at 48 hours, 2)MRCP at 48 hours followed by ERCP if positive for CBD stone, 3)EUS at 48 hours followed by ERCP if positive for CBD stone and 4) Observation and endoscopic intervention only if biliary sepsis ensued. We compared costs and performed cost-effectiveness analysis between strategies. The outcome measures utilized were total costs, costs per ABP death prevented, costs per ERCP death prevented and costs per stone detected. Results: The total costs per patient with ABP were: Observation $8,821; EUS $9,828; ERCP $9,970; MRCP $10,253. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per ABP death prevented was equal for ERCP, EUS and MRCP ($900K). The ICER per ERCP-related death prevented was $70K for Observation, $92K for EUS and $95K for MRCP. At a pre-test probability of CBD stones between 0-40%, EUS was the most cost-effective strategy in terms of dollars per stone detected, whereas ERCP was preferable at probabilities >40%. Conclusions: In terms of preventing deaths due to ABP and ERCP, observation is the most cost-effective strategy. From a practical standpoint, if concern exists about retained stones, EUS is most cost-effective, at a pretest probability of stones between 0-40%. If the probability of retained CBD stones is greater than 40%, ERCP is the dominant strategy. Development and validation of clinical predictors of retained CBD stones will facilate cost-effective care in these patients.
The gray lady gets a new dress: a field study of the times news reader

Increasingly individuals are turning to online sources for their daily news. Traditional newspapers have developed significant web presences to compete with newer services such as news aggregators and emerging genres such as blogs and other forms of citizen journalism. This paper reports the results of a field study to investigate the use of a new RSS-driven, template-based presentation mechanism that delivers a daily newspaper to subscribers' laptops and desktops; the Times News Reader hybridizes elements of print newspapers with aspects of online news. We explore how this application compares with print and web-based news reading and evaluate functionality developed to draw in readers from both audiences. Finally we examine three general technological implications drawn from current use: how the news reader may adapt to different styles of reading; how the news reader's functionality may be extended to highlight the timeliness of the content and to personalize the application; and how long-term use of the news reader can result in a personal news archive.
When Does FDAMA Section 114 Apply? Ten Case Studies

Abstract Background Section 114 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 regulates the promotion of health economic information by pharmaceutical companies to US health plans. Greater clarity is important given demands by payers and other stakeholders for evidence of value. Objectives To develop hypothetical case studies of health economic promotions to examine legal and policy implications. Methods We constructed for pedagogical purposes 10 categories of potential health economic promotions. We generated hypothetical case studies for each category, including questions about whether each might be allowable under Section 114. The case studies were developed around the following categories: 1) costing out on-label clinical end points; 2) promotion of a costing exercise to physicians working in an accountable care organization setting; 3) burden-of-illness claims; 4) economic analysis of a formulary restriction policy; 5) extrapolations to doses, populations, or settings not covered in trials; 6) adherence claims; 7) “utilization of care” as a secondary end point in randomized clinical trials; 8) costing out a competitor drug’s adverse event; 9) economic analysis of comparative effectiveness claims using an indirect treatment comparison; and 10) extrapolating from surrogate to long-term outcomes in an economic model. Discussion Most cases seem to fall into a gray zone given haziness around what constitutes “competent and reliable evidence” and “directly relate[d]” to an approved indication. In practice, it is difficult to know what the section allows given the imprecision of the statute and lack of guidance about its scope. Conclusion Ideally, future guidance will provide clarity and flexibility.
A Novel Side-Chain Orientation Dependent Potential Derived from Random-Walk Reference State for Protein Fold Selection and Structure Prediction

Background: An accurate potential function is essential to attack protein folding and structure prediction problems. The key to developing efficient knowledge-based potential functions is to design reference states that can appropriately counteract generic interactions. The reference states of many knowledge-based distance-dependent atomic potential functions were derived from non-interacting particles such as ideal gas, however, which ignored the inherent sequence connectivity and entropic elasticity of proteins. Methodology: We developed a new pair-wise distance-dependent, atomic statistical potential function (RW), using an ideal random-walk chain as reference state, which was optimized on CASP models and then benchmarked on nine structural decoy sets. Second, we incorporated a new side-chain orientation-dependent energy term into RW (RWplus) and found that the side-chain packing orientation specificity can further improve the decoy recognition ability of the statistical potential. Significance: RW and RWplus demonstrate a significantly better ability than the best performing pair-wise distancedependent atomic potentialfunctions in both native and near-native modelselections. It has higherenergy-RMSD and energyTM-score correlations compared with other potentials of the same type in real-life structure assembly decoys. When benchmarked with a comprehensive list of publicly available potentials, RW and RWplus shows comparable performance to the state-of-the-art scoring functions, including those combining terms from multiple resources. These data demonstrate the usefulness of random-walk chain as reference states which correctly account for sequence connectivity and entropic elasticity of proteins. It shows potential usefulness in structure recognition and protein folding simulations. The RW and RWplus potentials, as well as the newly generated I-TASSER decoys, are freely available in http://zhanglab.ccmb.med.umich.edu/RW.
Finitely Structured Transfinite Graphs

One of the objectives of this book is to develop a theory for transfinite random walks. More specifically, we wish to construct a random walk that may wander over a conventional infinite graph, then “pass through infinity,” and wander over another conventional infinite graph, the “passage through infinity” occurring at a 1-node. This we do in Chapter 7 and in fact construct passages through nodes of higher ranks as well.
Review and meta‐analysis of the epidemiology of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

SUMMARY We reviewed studies that reported results of systematic cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening on fetuses and/or liveborn infants. The overall birth prevalence of congenital CMV infection was 0.64%, but varied considerably among different study populations. About 11% of live-born infants with congenital CMV infection were symptomatic, but the inter-study differences in definitions of symptomatic cases limit the interpretation of these data. Non-white race, low socioeconomic status (SES), premature birth, and neonatal intensive care unit admittance were risk factors for congenital CMV infection. Birth prevalence increased with maternal CMV seroprevalence. Maternal seroprevalence accounted for 29% of the variance in birth prevalence between study populations. Maternal seroprevalence and birth prevalence were both higher in study populations that were ascertained at birth rather than in the prenatal period. Thus, timing of ascertainment should be considered when interpreting birth prevalence estimates. Birth prevalence was inversely correlated with mean maternal age, but this relationship was not significant when controlling for maternal seroprevalence. The rate of transmission to infants born to mothers who had a primary infection or a recurrent infection during pregnancy was 32% and 1.4%, respectively. Possible maternal primary infections (i.e. seropositive mother with CMV IgM) resulted in congenital infections about 20% of the time, but are likely to represent a mixture of primary and recurrent infections. In summary, CMV is a common congenital infection worldwide that can lead to permanent disabilities. There is an urgent need for interventions that can reduce the substantial burden of this often overlooked disease. Copyright # 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Utility of low-copy nuclear gene sequences in plant phylogenetics.

Low-copy nuclear genes in plants are a rich source of phylogenetic information. They hold a great potential to improve the robustness of phylogenetic reconstruction at all taxonomic levels, especially where universal markers such as cpDNA and nrDNA are unable to generate strong phylogenetic hypotheses. Low-copy nuclear genes, however, remain underused in plant phylogenetic studies due to practical and theoretical complications in unraveling the evolutionary dynamics of nuclear gene families. The lack of the universal markers or universal PCR primers of low-copy nuclear genes has also hampered their phylogenetic utility. It has recently become clear that low-copy nuclear genes are particularly helpful in resolving close interspecific relationships and in reconstructing allopolyploidization in plants. Gene markers that are widely, if not universally, useful have begun to emerge. Although utilizing low-copy nuclear genes usually requires extra lab work such as designing PCR primers, PCR-cloning, and/or South...
Active control based energy harvesting for battery-lesswireless traffic sensors: Theory and experiments

This paper presents a novel battery-less wireless sensor that can be embedded in the road and used to measure traffic flow rate, speed and vehicle weight. Compared to existing inductive loop based traffic sensors, the new sensor is expected to provide increased reliability, easy installation and low maintenance costs. The sensor uses power only for wireless transmission and has zero idle power loss. Hence the sensor is expected to be extremely energy efficient. Energy to power this sensor is harvested from the short duration vibrations that results when an automobile passes over the sensor. Since all of the earlier work in literature on vibration energy harvesting has focused on continuous sources of vibration, this paper focuses on short duration vibrations and on developing low power control algorithms that can be implemented on the sensor using an analog circuit. To this effect this paper develops and compares three control algorithms "fixed threshold switching", "maximum voltage switching" and "switched inductor" for maximizing this harvested energy. The "switched inductor" algorithm is shown to be the most effective at maximizing harvested energy. Experimental results are presented in the final section of the paper and show that adequate energy can be harvested from the passing of each axle of a vehicle to enable successful wireless transmission of data.
Warmer ambient temperatures depress liver function in a mammalian herbivore.

Diet selection in mammalian herbivores is thought to be mainly influenced by intrinsic factors such as nutrients and plant secondary compounds, yet extrin- sic factors like ambient temperature may also play a role. In particular, warmer ambient temperatures could enhance the toxicity of plant defence compounds through decreased liver metabolism of herbivores. Temperature-dependent toxicity has been documented in pharmacology and agriculture science but not in wild mammalian herbivores. Here, we investigated how ambient temp- erature affects liver metabolism in the desert woodrat, Neotoma lepida. Woodrats (n ¼ 21) were acclimated for 30 days to two ambient temperatures (cool ¼ 218C, warm ¼ 298C). In a second experiment, the temperature exposure was reduced to 3.5 h. After temperature treatments, animals were given a hypnotic agent and clearance time of the agent was estimated from the duration of the hypnotic state. The average clearance time of the agent in the long acclimation experiment was 45% longer for animals acclimated to 298C compared with 218C. Similarly, after the short exposure experiment, woodrats at 298C had clearance times 26% longer compared with 218C. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that liver function is reduced at warmer environmental temperatures and may provide a physiological mechanism through which climate change affects herbivorous mammals.
Talar neck fractures

Talus fractures are rare injuries that account for approximately 3% of all foot fractures; talar neck fractures account for almost 50% of all talus fractures. The appropriate diagnosis and treatment of these fractures play an important role in the patient's outcome. Treatment has evolved slowly throughout the years, from closed treatment to open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The treatment of type I and type II talar neck fractures is not uniform in the orthopedic community. The option of closed reduction versus ORIF is dependent upon the degree of injury, surgeon experience, and preference.
Enhanced degradation of atrazine under field conditions correlates with a loss of weed control in the glasshouse

Enhanced degradation of atrazine has been reported in the literature, indicating the potential for reduced residual weed control with this herbicide. Experiments were conducted to determine the field dissipation of atrazine in three cropping systems: continuous Zea mays L. (CC) receiving atrazine applications each year, Gossypium hirsutum L.-Z. mays rotation (CCR) receiving applications of atrazine once every 2 years and a no atrazine history soil (NAH). Subsequent laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted with soil collected from these cropping systems to determine atrazine degradation, mineralization and residual weed control. Field dissipation of atrazine followed first-order kinetics, and calculated half-life values for atrazine combined over 2003 and 2005 increased in the order of CC (9 d) = CCR (10 d) < NAH (17 d). Greenhouse studies confirmed that the persistence of atrazine was approximately twofold greater in NAH soil than in CC or CCR soil. Biometer flask mineralization studies suggested that enhanced degradation of atrazine was due to rapid catabolism of the s-triazine ring. Glasshouse efficacy studies revealed a loss of residual weed control in CC and CCR soil compared with NAH soil. These data indicate that, under typical Mississippi Delta field conditions and agronomic practices, the persistence of atrazine may be reduced by at least 50% if the herbicide is applied more than once every 24 months. Glasshouse studies suggest that under these conditions a loss of residual weed control is possible.
Resource Allocation for Downlink Statistical Multiuser QoS Provisionings in Cellular Wireless Networks

We propose the adaptive resource allocation schemes for multiuser downlink quality-of-service (QoS) provisionings over broadcast fading channels in time-division (TD) based cellular wireless networks. Specifically, we apply the effective capacity theory to control the service rates with the diverse delay QoS requirements for different mobile users. Subject to the proportional- effective-capacity constraint and the diverse statistical delay-QoS requirements over different downlink users, we formulate the sum effective capacity maximization problem via channel-aware power and time-slot allocation. We decompose the above optimization problem into two sub-problems and then derive the optimal power and time-slot adaptation policy. We also develop a suboptimal scheme called the equal-length TD policy. Simulation results are presented to show the impact of QoS provisionings on the resource allocation across different users and on the network performance.
Active site tightness and substrate fit in DNA replication.

▪ Abstract Various physicochemical factors influence DNA replication fidelity. Since it is now known that Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds are not necessary for efficient and selective replication of a base pair by DNA polymerase enzymes, a number of alternative physical factors have been examined to explain the efficiency of these enzymes. Among these factors are minor groove hydrogen bonding, base stacking, solvation, and steric effects. We discuss the concept of active site tightness in DNA polymerases, and consider how it might influence steric (size and shape) effects of nucleotide selection in synthesis of a base pair. A high level of active site tightness is expected to lead to higher fidelity relative to proteins with looser active sites. We review the current data on what parts and dimensions of active sites are most affected by size and shape, based on data with modified nucleotides that have been examined as polymerase substrates. We also discuss recent data on nucleotide analogs displaying higher f...
The Determination of Impurities in Plutonium Metal by Anion Exchange and ICP/AES:

The determination of trace-metal impurities in plutonium metal was investigated with the use of anion exchange separation and analysis by inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry. Data on recoveries and independent measurements for some 30 elements show precisions and accuracies in the 1-10% range, values that are a significant improvement over those of traditional carrier distillation techniques. Americium can be determined on the same sample aliquot, with figures of merit rivaling those of nuclear counting procedures.
Dual role of interleukin-10 in murine Lyme disease: regulation of arthritis severity and host defense.

In the murine model of Lyme disease, C3H/He mice exhibit severe arthritis while C57BL/6N mice exhibit mild lesions when infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Joint tissues from these two strains of mice harbor similar concentrations of B. burgdorferi, suggesting that the difference in disease severity reflects differences in the magnitude of the inflammatory response to B. burgdorferi lipoproteins. Stimulation of bone marrow macrophages from C3H/HeN mice with the B. burgdorferi lipoprotein OspA resulted in higher-level production of the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor alpha, nitric oxide, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) than that of macrophages from C57BL/6N mice. In contrast, macrophages from C57BL/6N mice consistently produced larger amounts of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 than did C3H/HeN macrophages. Addition of recombinant IL-10 suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators by macrophages from both strains. IL-10 was found to modulate B. burgdorferi-induced inflammation in vivo, since C57BL/6J mice deficient in IL-10 (IL-10−/−) developed more severe arthritis than wild-type C57BL/6J mice. The increase in arthritis severity was associated with a 10-fold decrease in the number of B. burgdorferi organisms present in ankle tissues from IL-10−/− mice. These findings suggest that in C57BL/6 mice, IL-10-dependent regulation of arthritis severity occurs at the expense of effective control of bacterial numbers.
Studies on oxidized low density lipoproteins. Controlled oxidation and a prostaglandin artifact

Low density lipoproteins (LDL), isolated by ultracentrifugal flotation, were oxidized (LDLOXID) slowly during dialysis against 0.15 M NaCl and subsequent incubation in 96% air-4% CO2 at 37 degrees C. Butylated hydroxytoluene prevented LDL oxidation. LDL preparations from different sera were oxidized at different rates and the degree of lipid peroxidation was controlled by varying the incubation time. Mild oxidation did not alter the electrophoretic mobility of the LDLOXID preparations. LDLOXID contained lipid peroxides in neutral lipids, had increased amounts of lysophosphatidylcholine, and contained a number of complex oxidation products that were generated from the oxidation of free fatty acids. These oxidation products included large amounts of soluble material that cross-reacted with antibodies to PGE2 but not 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. The amount of cross-reacting material was proportional to the degree of lipid peroxidation. Cross-reacting material in LDLOXID preparations was evidently formed from the oxidation of free fatty acids released from LDL, since cross-reacting material was also formed when a synthetic fat emulsion was oxidized in the presence of free arachidonic acid.
Tactical combat casualty care in the assault on Punta Paitilla Airfield.

ABSTRACT Casualties incurred during the assault on Punta Paitilla Airfield during Operation Just Cause were evaluated through reviews of records and interviews with the participants. There were eight initial casualties. One-half of all subsequent casualties were wounded trying to move to these men while still under effective hostile fire. Consistent with other studies, the most common cause of death was internal hemorrhage; the second most common was catastrophic brain injury. Rapid control of external exsanguination was the technique most likely to prevent death. Tourniquets were applied to three lower extremities for two casualties, without sequelae.
Aging of Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Monolayers.

Two-dimensional sheets of transition metal dichalcogenides are an emerging class of atomically thin semiconductors that are considered to be “air-stable”, similar to graphene. Here we report that, contrary to current understanding, chemical vapor deposited transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers exhibit poor long-term stability in air. After room-temperature exposure to the environment for several months, monolayers of molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide undergo dramatic aging effects including extensive cracking, changes in morphology, and severe quenching of the direct gap photoluminescence. X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopy reveal that this effect is related to gradual oxidation along the grain boundaries and the adsorption of organic contaminants. These results highlight important challenges associated with the utilization of transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers in electronic and optoelectronic devices. We also demonstrate a potential solution to this problem, featur...
The Settlement Between the SEC and Goldman Sachs of July 2010 and the Following Misplaced Proposal of Imposing a Fiduciary Duty on Broker-Dealers

This work is primarily focused on the settlement between the SEC and Goldman Sachs of July 2010 related to the structuring and marketing of a Collateralised Debt Obligation (CDO) known as Abacus 2007-AC1. A thorough discussion of this case leads to analyze the idea of a imposing a fiduciary duty on broker-dealers. This work explains why this proposal should be disregarded. Finally, it is given a glance to recent cases similar to the one between the SEC and Goldman Sachs.
Advancing Intelligent Systems in the Aerospace Domain

This paper advocates for a simple concept, that hierarchical intelligent systems for aerospace applications can be created by building on existing intelligent system technologies. The outcome would be an application suite that is easily adapted for multiple uses including real-time aerospace system health management prognostics and diagnostics. Our vision calls for higher-level hierarchical intelligent systems to mimic human problem solving that is easy to grasp for those inside and outside the intelligent systems community. The driving force for this proposed intelligent system capability is the desire to achieve higher levels of functionality than have been seen to date with intelligent systems in the aerospace industry. The authors believe this may lead to a business case where a hierarchical intelligent system may reduce the cost to operate/sustain aerospace systems. Moderate successes in the area of driving down aerospace system operating costs could lead to more widespread implementation of intelligent systems especially if we avoid the development of ad hoc, one-of-a-kind, stove-piped intelligent systems.
An examination of individuals' information processing in the formation of goal commitment judgments

ABSTRACT Commitment to performance goals is increasingly viewed as the result of an expectancy—valence process such as that which underlies motivational force judgments. Although some across-persons evidence exists regarding the relationships between commitment, expectancy and valence, and motivational force, this within-person study was an investigation of the psychological process underlying commitment judgments. Subjects performed a decision-making task that provided the data necessary for individual-level analyses. Results indicated that commitment judgments were indeed related to expectancy and valence, although individual differences in information processing were evident.
Laser Direct-Write Micro Dents Using Laser Shock Peening: Experimental Study and Numerical Simulations

Laser shock peening (LSP) is an innovative surface treatment developed to improve surface integrity. The primary purpose of LSP in the literature is to impart compressive residual stresses below the surface of a material. This study explores the feasibility using LSP to direct-write surface micro dents for lubricant retention. Micro dents have been successfully fabricated on the aluminum 6061-T6 surfaces. LSP is a highly transient process with a pulse duration of 10 – 100 ns. As a consequence, the real time in-situ measurements of laser/material interaction is challenging. Therefore, FEA simulations of LSP were performed via 3D spatial and temporal shock pressure using user material and load subroutines. The results suggested there is an optimal peening time that produces the deepest dent.© 2008 ASME
Design of GPS Adjustment Time System Based on Kalman Filtering

A unified master station system in power grid consists of cesium clock source,GPS time adjustment system, clock frequency and the frequency standard The master station of Grad Time System is composed of clock source,GPS phase compare unit,frequency distribution clock,frequency amplifier as well as phase amplifier.GPS phase compare unit measure the difference of GPS second phase and FDCU(frequency distribution clock)second phase and use Kalman filtering algorithm to smooth the time difference,and adjust the FDCU to make two second phases signal alignment.This paper presents the design scheme,the time difference measurement and the calculation.
Regulation of Environmental Chemicals and Damage Assessment

There are several layers of organization that regulate and monitor environmental contaminants. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the European Union’s Directorate for the Environment are two international agencies. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the chief watchdog and enforcer of contaminant issues. It administers several laws that have been established by Congress. One extensive program overseen by the EPA is Superfund, which is responsible for cleaning up and monitoring significantly polluted sites across the country.
Three Case Studies

We have, so far, given an account of the philosophical and psychological commitments of truce makers, defended truce thinking from accusations of cynicism and appeasement, traced an intellectual genealogy for truces, and situated them vis- -vis the related concepts of modus vivendi, reconciliation, and containment. Having completed the theoretical part of this study, I close with a consideration of some historical examples. The case studies in this chapter illustrate how truce thinking operates in practice, highlight its potential for economizing on conflict, and point to the risk it carries for political stagnation. They also shed further light on the nature of truce thinking, illuminating the relationship of its different facets. I begin by considering Edmund Burke’s exhortation to Britain (1775) to refrain from going to war with its American colonies. Next, I take up the intractable tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, specifically in the context of the 2014 summer war in Gaza. I conclude with considering Spain’s Pact of Forgetting after Franco’s death. The first two episodes represent missed opportunities for truce thinking. The third is a case in which truce thinking helped facilitate a transition to democracy under difficult circumstances.
Teaching the RSA algorithm using spreadsheets

The RSA algorithm is a very important algorithm in Computer Science. Due to cumbersome calculations, it is difficult to demonstrate a non-trivial RSA example in the classroom. In this paper, the RSA algorithm is taught using spreadsheets. A spreadsheet template has been designed to carry out the calculations of a non-trivial RSA example easily and clearly.
An Anatomical Analysis of the Supratrochlear Artery: Considerations in Facial Filler Injections and Preventing Vision Loss

Background Embolia cutis medicamentosa (ECM) is a rare phenomenon attributed to intra-arterial drug injection. Glabellar filler injections can result in potentially devastating visual loss from inadvertent retrograde arteriolar embolization due to the extensive vasculature within the upper face. The minimum amount of filler necessary to potentiate this complication has not yet been reported. Objectives We aim to determine the volume of filler necessary to occupy the supratrochlear artery from the glabella to the bifurcation of the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries. We specifically examine the volume of the supratrochlear artery from the glabella to orbital apex. Methods The study was approved by Duke University Institutional Review Board and involved surgical dissection of six fresh tissue cadaver heads (12 hemifaces). The arterial system in each cadaver head was injected with latex for visualization. The supratrochlear arteries were isolated anteriorly from the glabella to the orbital apex posteriorly. Intra-orbital vessel radius and length were measured. The vessel volume was calculated by water displacement of the intra-arterial latex. Results The vessel volumes ranged from 0.04 to 0.12 mL. The average vessel volume was calculated as 0.085 mL, the average length as 51.75 mm, and the average radius as 0.72 mm. Conclusions Vascular occlusion from filler injections can lead to devastating visual consequences due to inadvertent retrograde intra-arterial embolization. Our findings indicate that the average entire volume of the supratrochlear artery from the glabella to the orbital apex is 0.085 mL. Injectors should be aware that a bolus of this critical volume may lead to a significant adverse outcome.
Housing Quality and Health: An Evaluation of Slum Rehabilitation in India:

Slum rehabilitation programs in economically developing countries are designed to improve housing and enhance residents’ health and well-being. Yet no empirical research has directly investigated t...
Error Correction Coding Performance Bounds for Spread Spectrum Systems

This study was motivated by a desire to minimize the required input signal-to-noise ratio at the receiver as a first step in optimizing the anti-intercept (AI) performance of a spread spectrum system. In the absence of error correction coding, specification of the message bit rate, the transmitted signal bandwidth, and the required bit error probability can yield a required signal-to-noise ratio for each type of SS system. Error correction coding can be used to reduce the required signal-to-noise ratio. When coding is employed, lower and upper bounds on the reduction of required signal-to-noise ratio can be determined in terms of the required bit error probability and code complexity. These performance bounds are evaluated as functions of the restricted code complexity.
Role of vibrational and configurational excitations in stabilizing the L 1 2 structure in Co-rich Co-Al-W alloys

A first-principles study of the $L{1}_{2}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\text{Co}}_{3}(\text{Al},\text{W})$ phase was performed to assess phase stability at elevated temperature. Configurational degrees of freedom were treated with a cluster expansion and Monte Carlo simulations, while contributions to the free energy from vibrational excitations were determined within the quasiharmonic approximation accounting for effects of thermal expansion. It was found that while contributions from configurational degrees of freedom are important, vibrational entropy is crucial in making $L{1}_{2}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\text{Co}}_{3}(\text{Al},\text{W})$ stable at high temperature in the Co-rich portion of the Co-Al-W ternary. The emergence of $L{1}_{2}$ at high temperature can be attributed to a large difference in vibrational entropy between the close packed fcc-based $L{1}_{2}$ phases and the energetically stable, yet vibrationally stiff $B2$ CoAl compound.
La fundación de Lucus Augusti: nuevas perspectivas

This preliminary approach aims to clarify the pos­sibility of identifying the precise time and author­ship of the founding of Lugo, as part of the north­ern and north-western organization undertaken by Augustus after the wars against the Asturian and Cantabrian peoples. A close examination of the evidence shows the importance of relating the foundation of Lugo with the other chief conventual cities, as there seems to be a chronological hori­zon after 15 B.C. We believe, however, that there is no solid basis for attributing Lugo’s foundation to Paulus Fabius Maximus. During the years when Augustus reorganised the peninsula as part of his stay in the West between 16 and 13 B.C., Paulus Fabius Maximus appears to be active in the terri­tories of the Greek East, and although we do not know about his political career that culminated in the consulate in year 11 A.D., we can be sure of his presence in the Northwest during his tenure as legacy in the PHC Tarraconense in years 3-1 B.C.
The political ecology of 'ethnic' agricultural biodiversity maintenance in Atlantic Nicaragua

Correlations between farmer ethnic identity and the agrobiodiversity they maintain have been identified globally. This has been maintained even as small-scale farmers are increasingly connected to extra-local political economic systems, which are cited as the driver of global agrobiodiversity erosion. Yet, how ethnicity influences the maintenance of biodiverse farming systems is poorly understood. Employing a political ecology framework that integrated qualitative, demographic, and agroecological methods in Caribbean Nicaragua's Pearl Lagoon Basin, this research revealed patterns indicating that farmers who identify with the area's indigenous (Miskito) and afro-descendant (Creole and Garifuna) 'minority' groups tend to maintain more diverse farms than nearby farmers who identify as mestizo, particularly those who are recent migrants to the region. In contrast to previous studies, however, the most connected farmers in the Basin tend to have the highest levels of agrobiodiversity within their farming systems. Qualitative and regression analyses reveal that ethnic patterns in the maintenance of agrobiodiversity are explained in part by the historical farming practices that characterize land use in the Basin and the agroecological knowledge that farmers develop over a lifetime farming in this socio-ecological context. Further, by acknowledging the plastic nature of ethnic identity, this research highlights the importance of ethnic-based land rights in the Nicaragua's South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region as a critical factor that directly and indirectly influences the ethnic identities of farmers in the Pearl Lagoon Basin and their abilities to participate in agricultural development projects whose extension activities promote agrobiodiversity conservation. Key Words: Agrobiodiversity, ethnicity, land use and land use change, development, Nicaragua, Pearl Lagoon Basin
Entrepreneurship and the Crowd: Review and Research Agenda

In this paper, we provide an extensive review of Crowd entrepreneurship literature. This term denotes the emerging phenomenon of collaboration among the crowd, large groups of individuals, to share...
Surface heat assessment for developed environments: Probabilistic urban temperature modeling

Abstract Extreme heat waves, exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, have major impacts on the lives and health of city residents. Projected future temperature increases for many urban areas of the United States will further exacerbate these impacts. Accurate predictions of the spatial and temporal distribution of risk associated with such heat waves can support the optimal implementation of strategies to mitigate these risks, such as the issuance of heat advisories and the activation of cooling centers. In this paper, we describe how fine resolution simulations of historic extreme heat events are generated and used to train a probabilistic spatio-temporal model of the temperature distribution in an urban area. We further demonstrate how this model can be used to combine temperature data from various sources and downscale regional predictions in order to provide accurate fine resolution temperature forecasts. Applications of this model are presented for two urban areas: New York City, NY and Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Based on simulated temperature data from fine resolution forecasting models, we find that this probabilistic method can improve the prediction accuracies of urban temperatures, locally and especially in the short-term, with respect to other temperature forecasting and interpolation methods, such as the use of average city-wide temperature predictions and estimates at discrete weather stations.