cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuous positive airway pressure improves sleep and daytime sleepiness in patients with Parkinson disease and sleep apnea.

Author(s): Neikrug, Ariel B; Liu, Lianqi; Avanzino, Julie A; Maglione, Jeanne E; Natarajan, Loki; Bradley, Lenette; Maugeri, Alex; Corey-Bloom, Jody; Palmer, Barton W; Loredo, Jose S; Ancoli-Israel, Sonia | Abstract: Study objectivesObstructive sleep apnea (OSA), common in Parkinson disease (PD), contributes to sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness. We assessed the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on OSA, sleep, and daytime sleepiness in patients with PD.DesignThis was a randomized placebo-controlled, crossover design. Patients with PD and OSA were randomized into 6 w of therapeutic treatment or 3 w of placebo followed by 3 w of therapeutic treatment. Patients were evaluated by polysomnography (PSG) and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) pretreatment (baseline), after 3 w, and after 6 w of CPAP treatment. Analyses included mixed models, paired analysis, and within-group analyses comparing 3 w to 6 w of treatment.SettingSleep laboratory.ParticipantsThirty-eight patients with PD (mean age = 67.2 ± 9.2 y; 12 females).InterventionContinuous positive airway pressure.MeasurementsPSG OUTCOME MEASURES: sleep efficiency, %sleep stages (N1, N2, N3, R), arousal index, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and % time oxygen saturation l 90% (%time SaO2 l 90%). MSLT outcome measures: mean sleep-onset latency (MSL).ResultsThere were significant group-by-time interactions for AHI (P l 0.001), % time SaO2 l 90% (P = 0.02), %N2 (P = 0.015) and %N3 (P = 0.014). Subjects receiving therapeutic CPAP showed significant decrease in AHI, %time SaO2 l 90%, %N2, and significant increase in %N3 indicating effectiveness of CPAP in the treatment of OSA, improvement in nighttime oxygenation, and in deepening sleep. The paired sample analyses revealed that 3 w of therapeutic treatment resulted in significant decreases in arousal index (t = 3.4, P = 0.002). All improvements after 3 w were maintained at 6 w. Finally, 3 w of therapeutic CPAP also resulted in overall decreases in daytime sleepiness (P = 0.011).ConclusionsTherapeutic continuous positive airway pressure versus placebo was effective in reducing apnea events, improving oxygen saturation, and deepening sleep in patients with Parkinson disease and obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, arousal index was reduced and effects were maintained at 6 weeks. Finally, 3 weeks of continuous positive airway pressure treatment resulted in reduced daytime sleepiness measured by multiple sleep latency test. These results emphasize the importance of identifying and treating obstructive sleep apnea in patients with Parkinson disease.
Human preference for individual colors

Color preference is an important aspect of human behavior, but little is known about why people like some colors more than others. Recent results from the Berkeley Color Project (BCP) provide detailed measurements of preferences among 32 chromatic colors as well as other relevant aspects of color perception. We describe the fit of several color preference models, including ones based on cone outputs, color-emotion associations, and Palmer and Schloss's ecological valence theory. The ecological valence theory postulates that color serves an adaptive "steering' function, analogous to taste preferences, biasing organisms to approach advantageous objects and avoid disadvantageous ones. It predicts that people will tend to like colors to the extent that they like the objects that are characteristically that color, averaged over all such objects. The ecological valence theory predicts 80% of the variance in average color preference ratings from the Weighted Affective Valence Estimates (WAVEs) of correspondingly colored objects, much more variance than any of the other models. We also describe how hue preferences for single colors differ as a function of gender, expertise, culture, social institutions, and perceptual experience.
Special Feature: Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome Following “Crack” Cocaine Inhalation

The authors present a patient who experienced cocaine-related thrombotic microangiopathy and patchy renal cortical necrosis, associated with the clinical syndrome of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure, characteristics of the Hemolytic-Uremic syndrome. The proposed pathogenetic mechanisms include: (1) cocaine-induced vasoconstriction and endothelial damage and (2) procoagulant effects of cocaine.
The Radiant World of John Virgo

John Virgo gave generously of himself and expected nothing in return. He inspired the same in others. The world has sadness as well as joy, but while he was here, he made it radiant.
Iodine131 Uptake in the Gram Staining Technic

The Hucker modification of the Gram staining technic, in which NaI131 was incorporated with the Gram's iodine solution, was performed as the basic procedure. The Gram positive test-bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus megaterium; the Gram negative were Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The uptake of I131 was measured after the addition of the Gram's iodine solution (NaI131) to the test-bacteria dried on a glass slide, after the decolorization process and after counterstaining. Radiation was measured by placing the slide under a GM-TGC-2 end-window counting tube after each procedure. The Gram positive test-bacteria retained approximately twice as much I131 after decolorization and counterstaining as did the Gram negative bacteria. In this, the basic technic, the uptake of I131 by the test bacteria appeared to be directly related to the crystal violet concentration in the primary staining solution. The uptake of I131 was not significantly altered by the time of application of the Huck...
Influenza A Virus Uses Intercellular Connections To Spread to Neighboring Cells

In the extracellular environment, cell-free virions seek out naive host cells over long distances and between organisms. This is the primary mechanism of spread for most viruses. Here we provide evidence for an alternative pathway previously undescribed for orthomyxoviruses, whereby the spread of influenza A virus (IAV) infectious cores to neighboring cells can occur within intercellular connections. The formation of these connections requires actin dynamics and is enhanced by viral infection. Connected cells have contiguous membranes, and the core infectious viral machinery (RNP and polymerase) was present inside the intercellular connections. A live-cell movie of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged NS1 of IAV shows viral protein moving from one cell to another through an intercellular connection. The movement of tagged protein was saltatory but overall traveled only in one direction. Infectious virus cores can move from one cell to another without budding and release of cell-free virions, as evidenced by the finding that whereas a neuraminidase inhibitor alone did not inhibit the development of IAV microplaques, the presence of a neuraminidase inhibitor together with drugs inhibiting actin dynamics or the microtubule stabilizer paclitaxel (originally named taxol) precluded microplaque formation. Similar results were also observed with parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5), a paramyxovirus, when neutralizing antibody was used to block spread by cell-free virions. Intercellular spread of infectious core particles was unaffected or enhanced in the presence of nocodazole for IAV but inhibited for PIV5. The intercellular connections have a core of filamentous actin, which hints toward transport of virus particles through the use of a myosin motor. IMPORTANCE Here we describe a new method by which influenza A virus (IAV) spreads from cell to cell: IAV uses intracellular connections. The formation of these connections requires actin dynamics and is enhanced by viral infection and the absence of microtubules. Connected cells appeared to have contiguous membranes, and the core infectious viral machinery (RNP and polymerase) was present inside the intercellular connections. Infectious virus cores can move from one cell to another without budding and release of cell-free virions. Similar results were also observed with parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5).
Raman imaging as a probe of chemical and biomechanical properties of bone tissue

Raman microspectroscopy and imaging can be used to probe the chemical properties of newly mineralized bone tissue. In this study, our early mineralization models are neonatal murine cranial suture tissue and prostate cancer cell cultures. The murine cranial tissue was harvested from animals three weeks postnatal. On this time scale, remodeling does not corrupt the temporal record inherent in the spatial distribution of mineral species. When analyzing transects, line images, of the cranial tissue, multivariate data processing is required to generate chemical state plots from the hundreds of Raman spectra acquired during a single transect experiment. In most cranial tissue specimens more than one phosphate mineral environment is observed, allowing inferences on the relation between chemical structure and physiologically important properties. The prostate cancer cell cultures were cultured for up to nine days. Point microspectroscopy reveals the ratios of mineral species present and the amount of protein species in the cell cultures changes dramatically over the course of 9 days. Very low carbonation, typical of early-mineralized tissue, is observed in both of these models.
On the Formalism of Thermodynamic Fluctuation Theory

From the statistical mechanical occupation probability of microstates Einstein has inferred a distribution function for the macroscopic states of a canonical ensemble. The conventional theory of thermodynamic fluctuations proceeds by making certain series expansions in the Einstein function and by dropping all cubic and higher order terms. In this paper we establish that: (a) The correlation moments for the extensive thermodynamic parameter fluctuations may be computed directly from the distribution function for the microstates, without introducing an intermediate macroscopic distribution function. (b) These same moments can be evaluated from the Einstein function without making series expansions or invoking approximations. (c) All moments computed by methods (a) or (b) agree exactly. (This may be taken as an alternative derivation of the Einstein function.) (d) The second moments computed by the conventional method are correct, but all higher moments are incorrect.
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Nonclinical College Women Lessons From Foucault

This article presents a qualitative study that explored nonsuicidal self-injury among relatively psychologically healthy college women. It examines the phenomenon of self-injury through a social theoretical perspective using Foucault's concepts. Key arguments are that self-injury in women may be a reaction to an insidious form of social control and a reflection of the social pressures for productivity that are enacted on the body. Self-injury may regulate socially unacceptable affects and modify states of the ego so that women can regain their capacity to produce within a competitive and capitalist society. Implications for social work practice are discussed.
Some martingale inequalities with applications to harmonic analysis

Il est connu que la composition d'une fonction harmonique sur R n et d'un mouvement brownien donne une martingale (locale). Dans le cas d'une fonction suffisamment reguliere quelconque on obtient seulement une semimartingale, c'est-a-dire un processus stochastique qui est la somme de martingales et d'un processus a variation bornee. Ce dernier empeche, en general, l'application d'inegalites sur les martingales qui sont importantes en theorie des espaces H p . On montre ici que cette difficulte peut etre surmontee, en montrant qu'une composante de martingale donne le processus semi-martingale entier
Activity of selected neonicotinoids and dicrotophos on nontarget arthropods in cotton: implications in insect management.

Certain neonicotinoids are used in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), to control various piercing–sucking pests. We conducted field studies using three neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid) and an organophosphate (dicrotophos) to assess the activity of these insecticides against nontarget arthropods, particularly predators, and to determine the potential economic consequences of such activity. Mortality among populations of the big-eyed bug, Geocoris punctipes (Say), and the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was highest after thiamethoxam and dicrotophos treatments. Numbers of arachnids were consistently lower after dicrotophos treatments, whereas none of the neonicotinoids caused appreciable mortality. Total predators in pooled data from five separate studies revealed that numbers, compared with untreated plots, were reduced by ≈75% in dicrotophos, 55–60% in thiamethoxam, and only 30% in both acetamiprid and imidacloprid plots. Acetamiprid and thiamethoxam exhibited significant mortality against field-deposited eggs of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Both thiamethoxam and dicrotophos plots exhibited bollworm numbers that were approximately three times higher than treatment thresholds (three per 100 plants), whereas numbers in untreated plots were below threshold levels. In one study on Bt cotton, a significant negative correlation was observed between numbers of predators and bollworm larvae. Results demonstrated that neonicotinoids differ in activity against predaceous arthropods and bollworm eggs and that high predator mortality can result in resurgence of bollworm larvae and additional insecticide costs.
Trends in the Quality of National Weather Service Forecasts

Abstract This paper describes the results of a study of trends in the quality of National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts from 1967 to 1985. Primary attention is focused on forecasts of precipitation probabilities, maximum temperatures, and minimum temperatures A skill score based on the Brier score is used to verify the precipitation probability forecasts, whereas the temperature forecasts are evaluated using the mean absolute error and percentage of errors greater than 10°F. For each element, trends are examined for objective forecasts produced by numerical-statistical models and for subjective forecasts formulated by NWS forecasters. In addition to weather element, type of forecast, and verification measure, results are stratified by season (cool and warm), lead time (three or four periods), and NWS region (four regions and all regions combined). At the national level, the forecasts for these three weather elements exhibit positive and highly significant trends in quality for almost all of the various ...
Structure of the Si(011)-(16 × 2) surface and hydrogen desorption kinetics investigated using temperature-programmed desorption

Abstract D 2 temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) was used to probe the structure of the Si(011)-(16 × 2) surface. Deuterium was adsorbed at 200°C to coverages θ D ranging up to complete saturation (approximately 1.1 ML) and the sample heated at 5°C s −1 . TPD spectra exhibited three second-order desorption peaks labelled β 2 , β∗ 1 and β 1 centered at 430, 520 and 550°C. Of the proposed models for the Si(011)-(16 × 2) reconstruction, the present TPD results as a function of θ D provide support for the adatom/dimer model with the β 2 peak assigned to D 2 desorption from the dihydride phase, while the β∗ 1 and β 1 peaks arise from adatom and surface-atom monohydride phases.
Two-photon induced fluorescence of linear alkanes; a possible intrinsic lipid probe

We measured the fluorescence emission spectra and intensity decays of the linear alkane tetradecane when excited at 300 nm by two-photon excitation. The unquenched lifetime of tetradecane in neat solution is near 4.4 ns. The emission of tetradecane centered at 210 nm is collisionally quenched by oxygen, n-propanol and water. These results suggest that aliphatic groups in non-polar environments can display good fluorescence, and that the aliphatic side chains of detergents and lipids may serve as an intrinsic fluorescent probe of micelles and bilayers.
Exploring children's emotional security as a mediator of the link between marital relations and child adjustment

Guided by the emotional security hypothesis, this study examined whether links between marital relations and children's adjustment were mediated by children's emotional security, as evidenced by their emotional reactivity (e.g., vigilance, distress), regulation of exposure to parent affect (avoidance, involvement), and internal representations in the context of interparental relations. Multiple methods and contexts were used to assess 6- to 9-year-olds' emotional security in response to standardized, simulated conflicts involving parents. Latent variable path analysis supported a theoretical pathway whereby marital dysfunction was linked with adjustment problems as mediated by response processes indicative of emotional insecurity in relation to parental conflicts. Emotional reactivity and internal representations were most closely linked with marital relations and child adjustment, especially with regard to internalizing symptoms. The importance of understanding children's emotional security in the context of the marital subsystem is discussed.
An assessment of the behaviors of overwintering manatees as influenced by interactions with tourists at two sites in central Florida

Abstract We used a combination of focal animal and scan samples over the course of two winter seasons to assess behavioral patterns of manatees as a function of the presence and activities of recreational swimmers and boats in and around Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida. The nature and outcome of human–manatee interactions and the frequency of harassment of manatees by swimmers (as defined by the US Fish and Wildlife Service) were also recorded. The use of protected (no-entry) sanctuaries by manatees was significantly greater when both the numbers of swimmers and boats increased, and when water temperatures were lower in surrounding areas. The time manatees spent bottom-resting and nursing decreased while the time spent milling and swimming increased when swimmers were present compared with when they were absent. Over half of the direct interactions recorded between swimmers and manatees constituted some form of harassment as defined by Refuge guidelines, and manatees were far more likely to terminate these interactions than were swimmers. We conclude that the existence of no-entry sanctuaries is very important for the conservation of manatees in the area and thought must be given to expanding the sanctuary network. Furthermore, additional efforts at enforcement and public education are needed. We address, qualitatively, several potential management options to better-secure manatees at this critical time of the year.
Production of quark matter via a conical shock wave

Abstract Exact solutions of the relativistic Taylor-Maccoll equations have been obtained for an idealized model for the flow of nuclear matter where the surface separating participant and spectator nucleons is a cone. Comparison of these solutions for baryonic matter and quark matter suggests that quark matter production will result in an increase in the deflection of nuclear matter for nearly head-on collisions of relativistic heavy ions.
Increased High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Defective Hepatic Catabolism of ApoA-I and ApoA-II, and Decreased ApoA-I mRNA inob/ob Mice POSSIBLE ROLE OF LEPTIN IN STIMULATION OF HDL TURNOVER

Abnormalities of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels commonly reflect altered metabolism of the major HDL apolipoproteins, apoA-I and apoA-II, but the regulation of apolipoprotein metabolism is poorly understood. Two mouse models of obesity, ob/ob and db/db, have markedly increased plasma HDL cholesterol levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate mechanisms responsible for increased HDL inob/ob mice and to assess potential reversibility by leptin administration. ob/ob mice were found to have increased HDL cholesterol (2-fold), apoA-I (1.3-fold), and apoA-II (4-fold). ApoA-I mRNA was markedly decreased (to 25% of wild-type) and apoA-II mRNA was unchanged, suggesting a defect in HDL catabolism. HDL apoprotein turnover studies using nondegradable radiolabels confirmed a decrease in catabolism of apoA-I and apoA-II and a 4-fold decrease in hepatic uptake in ob/ob mice compared with wild-type, but similar renal uptake. Low dose leptin treatment markedly lowered HDL cholesterol and apoA-II levels in both ob/ob mice and in lean wild-type mice, and it restored apoA-I mRNA to normal levels in ob/ob mice. These changes occurred without significant alteration in body weight. Moreover, ob/ob neuropeptide Y−/− mice, despite marked attenuation of diabetes and obesity phenotypes, showed no change in HDL cholesterol levels relative to ob/ob mice. Thus, increased HDL levels inob/ob mice reflect a marked hepatic catabolic defect for apoA-I and apoA-II. In the case of apoA-I, this is offset by decreased apoA-I mRNA, resulting in apoA-II-rich HDL particles. The studies reveal a specific HDL particle catabolic pathway that is down-regulated in ob/ob mice and suggest that HDL apolipoprotein turnover may be regulated by obesity and/or leptin signaling.
China's brain drain problem: Causes, consequences and policy options

Abstract The brain drain has become a growing problem for China's overseas education, especially after the Tiananmen Incident of June 1989. Brain drain is a symptom of a home country's social, economic, or political problems. In China, political alienation, low income, poor living conditions, insufficient research facilities, and mismanagement of high‐level manpower are the major factors pushing intellectuals to seek development opportunities abroad. Beijing has found it difficult to bring students back home. Restrictions often anger students abroad. Family members also discourage students from returning. Many students find it difficult to adjust to the home environment after years living abroad; some are afraid that they will be punished at home for their outspoken political opinions abroad. However, Beijing has limited control over students overseas. Also, after the 1989 June crackdown, most host governments have decided to allow Chinese students to stay. Concerned with the brain drain problem, Beijing ...
Turbulence-Induced Magnetic Flux Asymmetry at Nanoscale Junctions

It was recently predicted [J. Phys. Condens. Matter 18, 11059 (2006)] that turbulence of electron flow may develop at nonadiabatic nanoscale junctions under appropriate conditions. Here we show that such an effect leads to an asymmetric current-induced magnetic field on the two sides of an otherwise symmetric junction. We propose that measuring the fluxes ensuing from these fields across two surfaces placed at the two sides of the junction would provide direct and noninvasive evidence of the transition from laminar to turbulent electron flow. The flux asymmetry is predicted to first increase, reach a maximum, and then decrease with increasing current, i.e., with increasing amount of turbulence.
The Politics of Truth: On Sugarman's Legality, Ideology and the State

For the coercive measures taken by society in individual cases are often hard and brutally materialistic, but the strength of every society is in the last resort a spiritual strength. And from this we can only be liberated by knowledge. This knowledge cannot be of the abstract kind that remains in one's head-many "socialists" have possessed that sort of knowledge. It must be knowledge that has become flesh of one's flesh and blood of one's blood; to use Marx's phrase, it must be "practical critical activity." -Georg Lukics, "Legality and Illegality," History and Class Consciousness 262 (1971)
Optical design comparison of 60° eyepieces: one with a diffractive surface and one with aspherics

An optical design comparison is made between two 60° field-of-view long-eye-relief eyepieces used for viewing a flat image-intensifier P-43 phosphor screen output. One eyepiece contains both spherical glass elements and plastic aspheric elements. The other eyepiece consists of spherical glass elements and a diffractive surface. Both optical designs were optimized by use of identical system constraints for size and weight. The eyepiece containing the diffractive surface provided an improved modulation transfer function performance and has been fabricated and tested. The fabricated lens characteristics and modulation transfer function performance closely matched the design expectations.
Pattern of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -specific proteins synthesized during primary lytic infection of mouse lymphocytes by EBV

Normal mouse lymphocytes were implanted with EBV receptors and exposed to the virus of P3HR-1 strain. 5% of the cells expressed early (EA) and viral capsid (VCA) antigens as assayed by immunofluorescence 24 h after the infection. Only 0.1% of cells expressed nuclear-like antigen (EBNA) 48 h post-infection. When labelled metabolically with [35S]methionine, extracted, immunoprecipitated with EBV-positive sera, and analyzed by SDS-gel electrophoresis and autoradiography, about 20 EBV-determined proteins ranging from 19 to 165 kd were detected. Their pattern and relative quantitative expression differed from those in P3HR-1 virus superinfected Raji cells. Polypeptides of approximate molecular size 78, 72, 65, 48 and 26.5 kd were predominant in EBV-infected mouse lymphocytes. In contrast, 130, 98, 59, 50.5 and 36 kd proteins were predominant in the induced Raji cells. Our results demonstrate that rodent lymphocytes can be used for the direct biochemical analysis of EBV-translational products during primary lytic infection in normal cells.
Evaluation of Conditional Weight Approximations for Two-Level Models

This article evaluates two methods of approximating cluster-level and conditional sampling weights when only unconditional sampling weights are available. For estimation of a multilevel analysis that does not include all facets of a sampling design, conditional sampling weights at each stage of the model should be used, but typically only the unconditional sampling weight of the ultimate sampling unit is provided on federal publicly-released datasets. Methods of approximating these conditional weights have been suggested but there has been no study of their adequacy. This demonstration and simulation study examines the feasibility of using these weight approximations.
Nanosensors and biochips: frontiers in biomolecular diagnostics

Abstract In the past two decades, the biotechnology and medical fields have seen great advances in the development of novel technologies that open new horizons for identifying and quantifying biomolecules, and diagnosing diseases. This manuscript provides an overview of two of those important technologies, nanosensors and biochips. We describe various types of nanosensors and biochips that have been developed for biological and medical applications, along with significant advances achieved over the last several years in these technologies. Some applications of nanosensors, developed in our laboratory for single-cell analysis, and applications of biochips for biological sensing of pathogenic agents and medical diagnostics are described to illustrate the usefulness and potential of these technologies.
Gestalt Therapy and Feminist Therapy: A Proposed Integration

A proposal is offered for integrating the Gestalt goals of self-responsibility with a feminist perspective that places value on the web of relationships in women's lives and focuses attention on the environmental constraints and socialization that affect women's choices.
Comparison of four phosphorus extraction methods on three acid southeastern soils

Abstract Phosphorus extractants have not been tested extensively in the Southeast. An experiment was carried out to compare four P extractant methods using samples from a field P‐K factorial experiment with soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) at three locations in Georgia over four years. There were five P rates ranging from none to 80 kg ha‐1. Soils and plant tissue were sampled at mid‐summer and yields were recorded. The four P extractants compared were Olsen, Mehlich 1, Mehlich 2, and Bray 1. Quadratic regressions for soil P versus plant P and P rates were not significant compared to linear regressions. There were no significant yield responses to P. All extractants except Olsen were similar in their response to added fertilizer P as measured by linear r2 values. Olsen P gave lower linear r2 values both with P rate and with plant P. Mehlich 1 values were highly correlated with Mehlich 2 (0.94∗∗) and Bray 1 (0.96∗∗). Mehlich 2 and Bray 1 gave nearly the same soil P values with linear regressions of slope ...
Endogenous Levels of Auxin and Tumorigenesis in a Nicotiana Amphiploid

Young seedlings of the tumor-prone amphiploid Nicotiana suaveolens X N. langsdorffii were grown aseptically on nutrient medium in a controlled environment chamber. At regular intervals after the seeds had been sown, the incidence of tumor formation was scored and plants were harvested. Indole-3-acetic acid was extracted, purified, and assayed spectrofluorometrically. A close correlation in time between onset of tumor formation and decline in endogenous level of indole-3-acetic acid was demonstrated.
Reentrant Tachycardia Using Two Discrete Atrioventricular Nodes and a Concealed Atriofascicular Pathway

We describe a case of reentrant supraventricular tachycardia using two discrete atrioventricular (AV) nodes in the antegrade direction and a concealed atriofascicular pathway in the retrograde direction in a 21-year-old woman with superior-inferior ventricles and ventricular inversion. Using the Carto endocardial mapping system, two discrete AV nodes were identified as well as a separate decremental AV pathway located midway between the two nodes. Ablation of the separate pathway resulted in elimination of inducible tachycardia without loss of either AV node.
Quota‐Induced Cycles

We present a new framework to compare the dynamic effect of tariffs and quotas in the presence of oligopoly. Suppose that the domestic and the foreign firm play a quantity-setting game over time in a perfectly stationary economy. A Markov-perfect equilibrium has the foreign firm exporting at the constant rate under a tariff. In contrast, under the quota the rate of exports changes monotonically over the course of each year, causing seasonal fluctuations in domestic production. Quota-induced cycles can make dynamic market segmentation possible and raise profits for both the firms above what they earn under the equal-import tariff.
Robot design using Unity for computer games and robotic simulations

We present a new approach to robot design, using the Unity development environment as the primary authoring tool for a functional virtual robot. We also discuss the development of a collection of design assets in the form of Unity packages which we have found to greatly improve the workflow and accessibility of robot design for computer games and robotic simulations.
Extending statistics of extremes to distributions varying in position and scale and the implications for race models

Race models are characterized by the largest or smallest of samples from n distributions. The asymptotic theory of extremes has demonstrated that for identically distributed, independent, and lower-bounded random variables, whose left tail approximates a power function, the distribution of the minimum tends toward a Weibull distribution as n increases. In this article, we remove the restriction of identically distributed random variables by letting the lower bound or the scale of the random variables be random variables themselves. We prove that the Weibull distribution is still the asymptotic distribution of the minimum and relate its parameters to the parameters of the input distributions. We discuss the potential use of such findings in models of psychological processes.
New quantization matrices for JPEG steganography

Modern steganography is a secure communication of information by embedding a secret-message within a "cover" digital multimedia without any perceptual distortion to the cover media, so the presence of the hidden message is indiscernible. Recently, the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format attracted the attention of researchers as the main steganographic format due to the following reasons: It is the most common format for storing images, JPEG images are very abundant on the Internet bulletin boards and public Internet sites, and they are almost solely used for storing natural images. Well-known JPEG steganographic algorithms such as F5 and Model-based Steganography provide high message capacity with reasonable security. In this paper, we present a method to increase security using JPEG images as the cover medium. The key element of the method is using a new parametric key-dependent quantization matrix. This new quantization table has practically the same performance as the JPEG table as far as compression ratio and image statistics. The resulting image is indiscernible from an image that was created using the JPEG compression algorithm. This paper presents the key-dependent quantization table algorithm and then analyzes the new table performance.
Citizenship, Federalism and Powersharing: Nigeria's Federal Character and the Challenges of Institutional Design

AbstractIf, as a number of recent proponents have argued, ‘pluri-national’ federalism holds great promise as a means of democratization and conflict resolution in deeply divided societies, why has it so rarely been tried in sub-Saharan Africa, home to arguably the world's most ethnically diverse nations? Using Nigeria—Africa's largest and oldest federal system—as a case study, it is argued that the legacy of late colonial, indirect rule institutions on citizenship and the politics of belonging pose a serious challenge for designing successful consociational powersharing arrangements. In particular, Nigeria's dependence on a primordial notion of ethnic citizenship undermines the ability of its federal institutions to mediate and cross-cut ethnic conflicts, a problem most clearly reflected in the functioning of the nation's most important official powersharing institution, the Federal Character Commission (FCC). Although the quota systems for governmental employment operated by the FCC are officially tied t...
Hydrogen analysis in minerals by continuous-flow mass spectrometry

We present a method for on-line dehydration of small quantities of hydrous and nominally anhydrous minerals followed by measurement of the absolute abundance of hydrogen released from the sample by continuous-flow mass spectrometry. This method is appropriate for measuring water content between 18 ppm and 10 wt% H_2O and requires a minimum of ~2 × 10^(−8) of hydrogen per analysis. The hydrogen needed for an analysis corresponds to 10–200 μg of hydrous minerals or 5–40 mg of nominally anhydrous minerals. We develop measurement protocols for garnet and pyroxene, two nominally anhydrous minerals that are potentially major reservoirs of hydrogen in the mantle.
Thermodynamics of axial ligand addition and spectroscopic trends of a series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical derivatives of tetraphenylporphinatozinc(II) and -iron(III)

Abstract The electronic spectra and equilibrium constants for addition of 3-picoline to a series of symmetrically and unsymmetrically phenyl-substituted ZnTPP derivatives have been measured. It is found that the α band energy varies slightly nonlinearly, yet systematically, with the sum of the Hammett sigma constants of the substituents within the series (p-Cl)x(p-NEt2)yTPPZn(II) and related complexes, while the smaller variation in the β band appears to be linear. The log of the intensity ratio of the α and β bands, log Aβ/Aα, however, varies linearly with the band energies of both the α and β bands for both 4- to 5-coordinate complexes of unsymmetrical ZnTPP derivatives. Likewise, log Keq for 3-picoline addition to this series of ZnTPPs varies linearly with the sum of the Hammett sigma constants for all complexes investigated, irrespective of the symmetry of placement of phenyl substituents. Thus the electronic effects of unsymmetrically placed substituents are averaged by the metal Zn to yield a Lewis acid strength toward 3-picoline which is dependent only on the sum of the electronic effects and not on the identity of the substituents or the symmetry of their distribution. In contrast to the results for Zn(II), the same series of TPPFe(III) complexes do not exhibit spectroscopic trends independent of the symmetry of placement of the substituents in either the high-spin chloroiron(III) or low-spin bis-N-methylimidazoleiron(III) forms. Likewise, logβ2 for N-methylimidazole addition does not vary linearly with the sum of the Hammett sigma constants for unsymmetrically substituted TPPFe(III) derivatives. Rather, unsymmetrically substituted TPPFe(III) derivatives deviate from the linear relationship shown by the symmetrical complexes [1] in either a negative direction (log β2 smaller expected, based on Σσ), as is found for p-Cl, p-NEt2 mixed substituent complexes, or in a positive direction (log β2 larger than expected on the basis of Σσ), as is found for p-NO2, p-H or m-NO2, m-CH3, or m- or p-NHCOCH3, H mixed substituent combinations. The reason for the difference in thermodynamic and electronic spectral behavior of the unsymmetrically phenyl substituted TPP derivatives of Zn(II) and Fe(III) must be due to the difference in electron configuration of the two metals (d10vs. d5), and the change in spin state of Fe(III) upon bis-N-methylimidazole complex formation. In the case of Fe(III), the unsymmetrical electron configuration of the low-spin Fe(III) product apparently makes the metal sensitive to both the symmetry and the nature of the substituents, probably due to extensive mixing of metal and porphyrin π-symmetry orbitals (the dxz, dyz, e-symmetry metal orbitals are unsymmetrically filled). The results imply that the nature and pattern of porphyrin substituents in naturally-occurring heme proteins (i.e., cytochromes b, c, a, hemoglobin, etc.) are carefully chosen to maximize the stability of metal-ligand bonds, in addition to controlling other physical properties.
Human choriogonadotropin-induced coupling of receptor and Gs protein and the effect of hormone deglycosylation

Abstract The detergent-soluble extract of rat ovary plasma membranes contained a Gs protein of about 100 kDa as shown by its elution behavior on a Bio Gel A-1.5m column. However, the cell membranes exposed to hCG (37° C, 15 min) contained in addition a higher molecular weight Gs protein complex of 300 kDa comprised of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptor (hCGR) and Gs. The complex bound with an affinity column of GTP-Sepharose and could be released with Gpp(NH)p and GTP inhibited this binding. The presence of the hCGR in the complex was shown by its binding to 125 I-hCG. Furthermore, GTP inhibited the binding of hCG to the complex. These results indicate the presence of hCGR and Gs protein complex in the hCG-treated membranes. hCGR and Gs protein were individually purified and reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. The protein-phospholipid vesicles showed saturation kinetics of binding of 125 I-hCG and 3 H-Gpp(NH)p. Incubation of phospholipid vesicles with hCG resulted in a 2–3-fold increase in the binding of 3 H-Gpp(NH)p and GTPase activity. Activation of Gs protein was dependent on the length of incubation and the hormone concentration. Deglycosylated hCG was about 10 times less potent than hCG suggesting a role of carbohydrates of hCG in inducing hCG-Gs protein interactions. The data with the in vitro reconstitution system rule out the involvement of a carbohydrate-binding lectin in the function of the hormone.
Comparison of Estimators of Heteroscedastic Variances in Linear Models

Abstract Four methods for estimating heteroscedastic variances are discussed in this article: the MINQUE introduced by C.R. Rao [7], the AUE introduced by S.D. Horn, R.A. Horn, and D.B. Duncan [4], the average of the squared residuals, and the sample variance. Properties of these estimators, including translation invariance, existence, bias, consistency, existence of negative estimates, and mean square error (MSE) are compared. In particular, it is shown that the AUE has smaller MSE than either the MINQUE or the sample variance in a wide range of situations.
The National Spiritual Transformation Study

The first nationally representative study of spiritual transformations documents that spiritual/religious change is a common and powerful experience in America. About half of all adult Americans report having had such an experience. Such change is strongly related to current religious beliefs and behaviors, but shows little relationship to most nonreligious demographics. A series of open-ended items indicates that the leading causes of spiritual! religious change are normal religious activity and having had a serious personal problem, most often an illness or accident to oneself or someone close or the death of someone close. A strengthening of faith is the most common consequence of this experience. This is followed by changes in character (e.g., being more understanding, helpful) and the stopping of perceived bad habits (e.g., drinking, partying). The lasting importance of such spiritual/religious change is also shown by closed-ended measures and the predictive power that the variable has in explaining various beliefs and behaviors even when controlling for other religious variables.
Particle tribocharging characteristics relating to electrostatic dry coal cleaning

Abstract The velocity, number density and size of representative coal mineral matter particles were measured using laser phase Doppler velocimetry subsequent to their triboelectrification and while flowing through a constant electric field. For 60 μm diameter silica particles, the accumulated negative charge, q, could be represented by a normal distribution having an average value which was linearly dependent on the gas velocity in the tribocharger, V, and represented by qSi = [2.6V + 4] × 10−14C. The width of the distribution increased with increasing gas velocity. Physical mixtures of similar sized silica and glassy carbon, and coal, were also subjected to electrostatic separation while being monitored by the non-intrusive laser optical technique. The purity of the carbon separated from silica was >90%, and dependent on the accumulation of either positive charge or no charge on the silica. For a high volatile A, Elswick seam, Pike County, Kentucky coal, the removal of mineral matter was comparable to that obtainable by wet processes, decreasing mineral matter content from 6.4% to 3.7% at a 72% combustible recovery.
Dispersive fluxes between the coastal ocean and a semienclosed estuarine basin

Scalar exchange between San Francisco Bay and the coastal ocean is examined using shipboard observations made across the Golden Gate Channel. The study consists of experiments during each of the following three “seasons”: winter/spring runoff (March 2002), summer upwelling (July 2003), and autumn relaxation (October 2002). Within each experiment, transects across the channel were repeated approximately every 12 min for 25 h during both spring and neap tides. Velocity was measured from a boatmounted ADCP. Scalar concentrations were measured at the surface and from a tow-yoed SeaSciences Acrobat. Net salinity exchange rates for each season are quantified with harmonic analysis. Accuracy of the net fluxes is confirmed by comparison with independently measured values. Harmonic results are then decomposed into flux mechanisms using temporal and spatial correlations. In this study, the temporal correlation of cross-sectionally averaged salinity and velocity (tidal pumping flux) is the largest part of the dispersive flux of salinity into the bay. From the tidal pumping flux portion of the dispersive flux, it is shown that there is less exchange than was found in earlier studies. Furthermore, tidal pumping flux scales strongly with freshwater flow resulting from the density-driven movement of a tidally trapped eddy and stratification-induced increases in ebb–flood frictional phasing. Complex bathymetry makes salinity exchange scale differently with flow than would be expected from simple tidal asymmetry and gravitational circulation models.
Ultrasonic Characterization of the Aortic Architecture in Marfan Patients

Components found within the media of the aortic wall allow the aorta to withstand the mechanical stresses it is subjected to throughout life. Elastic fibers and collagen found in the aortic media form the stress-distributing and stress-bearing systems, respectively, whereas smooth muscle cells provide an active contractile component. These structural components are arranged in a highly ordered manner within the media, with circumferential smooth muscle cell layers alternating with interposing elastic laminae.1 2 3 Elastic fibers consist of two morphologically distinct components: an amorphous core of elastin and a peripheral mantle of microfibrils.4 Elastin is the predominant protein component of the core of the elastic fiber and endows the fiber with the characteristic property of elastic recoil. Microfibrils are fine extracellular filaments that are visible only by electron microscopy. The microfibrils in the elastic fiber are typically 10 to 12 nm in diameter and are composed primarily of fibrillin proteins. These proteins are coded for by two closely related genes, FBN1 and FBN2, and are characterized by a repeated domain structure.5 6 7 The molecular interactions involved in the polymerization of fibrillin to form the microscopically visible microfibrils remain to be defined. All the proteins involved in the formation of microfibrils have not yet been identified, nor is it known how these proteins interact at the molecular level to form microfibrils. It appears that fibrillin-containing microfibrils are crucial for proper elastic fiber system development. Studies of the developing aorta show that microfibrils appear initially in the aortic media, followed by the deposition of elastin within the microfibril bundles.3 These observations suggest that microfibrils serve as the scaffold for elastin deposition and appear to direct and orient elastin in the developing aorta. Extensive research in the past few years has established that mutations in one of the …
Multicolored Electrochromism in Polymers: Structures and Devices

A review of electrochromic (EC) polymers and their applications in absorption/transmission, reflective, and patterned electrochromic devices (ECDs) is presented. Fundamental properties of EC materials such as optical contrast, coloration efficiency, switching speed, and stability are described along with the commonly used characterization methods. The origin of electrochromism in conjugated polymers is explained in terms of the electronic structure changes in the backbone upon doping/dedoping. The ability to tailor the EC properties of conjugated polymers and tune their color states via modification of the polymer structure is demonstrated. Multicolor electrochromic materials can be obtained by substitution of a parent polymer and controlled polymerization of comonomers and with blends and laminates of homopolymers. Absorption/transmission-type ECDs from complementarily colored polymers and reflective-type ECDs on metalized substrates are illustrated with several examples from the literature. Finally, sev...