cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gestational trophoblastic diseases: 4. Presentation with persistent low positive human chorionic gonadotropin test results.

Abstract Objectives. A high proportion of women with persistent low levels of hCG, in the absence of pregnancy or any evidence of tumor, have received chemotherapy and hysterectomy for assumed malignancy. Such chemotherapy and surgery were ineffective and unwarranted. This study identifies the causes of persistent low level of hCG and provides guidelines for the management of these patients, preventing unnecessary treatment in the future. Methods. The USA hCG Reference Service has consulted on 170 women with low levels of hCG persisting for 3 months or longer. Serum total hCG was measured in the Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC) Immulite assay and hyperglycosylated hCG in the Nichols Advantage test. Results. Among these 170 patients, the average persistent hCG result was 102 ± 152 mIU/ml, with a range of 6.1–900 mIU/ml. Thirteen (7.6%) of the 170 patients had true malignancy, 5 had placental site trophoblastic tumor, 3 had other gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTN), and 5 had non-trophoblastic malignancies. The remaining 157 patients had false-positive hCG, quiescent gestational trophoblastic disease (quiescent GTD), or pituitary hCG (hCG of pituitary origin). Of 71 patients with false-positive hCG, 47 patients received chemotherapy and 9 had surgery that had no effect on the level of hCG. Five of these patients with false-positive hCG were being monitored for hydatidiform mole or GTN. The majority of these cases were first investigated following an incidental pregnancy test. Of 69 patients who had quiescent GTD, 41 received chemotherapy and 9 underwent hysterectomy. All these therapies were unnecessary and ineffective. While 21 patients with quiescent GTD followed incidental pregnancy tests, the majority were discovered while monitoring patients after treatment for hydatidiform mole or GTN/choriocarcinoma ( n = 48). Seventeen cases of pituitary hCG were found among those women who were peri- or post-menopause. Two patients also received chemotherapy for assumed malignancy which was not present. Conclusion. Clinicians frequently assume that an elevated hCG implies that a patient is pregnant or has GTD or recurrent GTN, even when apart from the pregnancy test, no clinical evidence was found to support such a diagnosis. In most of these cases of persistent low hCG etiologies, all therapies were found unnecessary and ineffective. Guidelines are proposed for managing these patients. It is essential to demonstrate a malignancy clinically and with readily available biochemical tests before initiating therapy. This applies whether the patient is identified by an incidental pregnancy test or is actively being monitored for gestational trophoblastic disease.
Consequences of Material Addition for a Beam Strip in a Thermal Environment

Aircraft structure subjected to elevated temperature presents a challenging design environment as damaging thermal stress can result. Thermal stress in a structural component is typically alleviated by accommodating the thermal expansion. However, very little work has been done that directly addresses the situation where such a prescription for expansion is not possible. When a structural component is failing due to tensile stresses which are thermally induced, the answer to the question of how best to stiffen the structure in this environment is far from trivial. This work demonstrates that conventional stiffening techniques, for example, thickness increase, may actually increase the rate of damage, as well as generate additional load that must be reacted by sub- and surrounding structure. Because flat plates represent a common structural element that is susceptible to developing tensile stresses due to thermally induced out-of-plane deformation, a simple strip model which represents cylindrical bending in a semi-infinite flat plate is chosen as the focus of this work.
Sensor Control And Data Annotation Gets On The Bus

Military aircraft being considered to fill the future Airborne Tactical Reconnaissance mission are equipped with the MIL-STD-1553 Digital Multiplex Bus. How is this bus different from previous interfaces? Does the bus enhance or complicate the interface of sensors to aircraft via the Sensor Control/Data Display Set (SC/DDS)? Dedicated reconnaissance aircraft like the RF-4, are fewer and far between; most new, single seat air-craft in dual role missions, use reconnaissance pallets or pods while retaining major fighter capabilities. Can the added function of sensor control and monitoring for a single pilot/controller be implemented over the bus? Which functions should be performed in the Mission Computer and which should be contained in the Remote Terminal (RT) known as the SC/DDS? Discussed herein are answers to these questions plus options and capabilities for future airborne reconnaissance design.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mural Nodules of Clear Cell Carcinoma in a Mucinous Borderline Tumor of the Ovary: A Case Report

Mural nodules of ovarian mucinous borderline tumors are rare. In this study, we report a case of mural nodules of clear cell carcinoma in an intestinal type mucinous borderline tumor of the ovary. The patient was a 54-years-old woman presented with back and pelvic pain for 3 months. A right-sided multiloculated ovarian mass approximately 20 cm was identified on the CT scan. CA-125 was moderately elevated. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Grossly, the right ovarian mass showed a multiloculated cystic mass with mucinous fluid. There were papillations in the internal surface and two mural nodules were seen. Microscopic examination revealed that the cystic mass was an intestinal type borderline mucinous tumor. The mural nodules showed a classic histology of clear cell carcinoma with tubulocystic and papillary growth patterns. This is an extremely rare case of mural nodules of clear cell carcinoma arising in a mucinous borderline tumor.
Rate of habituation and the law of initial values.

The galvanic skin response (GSR) data of two experiments were analyzed in an attempt to determine the effects of tonic shifts in baseline conductance on apparent rate of habituation. The results of the first experiment indicated that rate of habituation is exaggerated when response measures which are not base-independent are employed. The positive correlation found between habituation slope and an index of base-level change in conductance was significantly reduced when autonomic lability scores (ALSs) were used. Thus, base-corrected responses produced less steep habituation functions. The second experiment demonstrated that a tonic increase in conductance occurs to an intense auditory stimulus and that rate of habituation is consequently over-estimated in comparison to that associated with repeated presentation of a mild stimulus.
Reversibly Photoswitchable Dual-Color Fluorescent Nanoparticles as New Tools for Live-Cell Imaging

Optically switchable dual-color fluorescent nanoparticles that incorporate two classes of dyes into the polymeric chains have been synthesized using an emulsion polymerization method. The nanoparticles consist of an organic photoisomerizable dye, spiropyran, as an optically responsive component and another fluorescent dye, perylene diimide, as a high-energy emitter. Under UV irradiation, the colorless spiropyran undergoes photoisomerization to yield merocyanine, which absorbs at 588 nm and fluoresces strongly at 670 nm. The absorption band of the merocyanine matches well the fluorescence bands of perylene diimide (at 535 and 575 nm), and therefore fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) converts the high-energy green emission of the perylene into low-energy red emission when the merocyanine form is present. Upon exposure to alternating UV ( 420 nm) light, the nanoparticles cycle between red and green fluorescence as the spiro and mero forms of the optically responsive component...
Ascorbic acid reduction of active chlorine prior to determining Ames mutagenicity of chlorinated natural organic matter (NOM)

Many potable water disinfection byproducts (DBPs) that result from the reaction of natural organic matter (NOM) with oxidizing chlorine are known or suspected to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. The Ames assay is routinely used to assess an overall level of mutagenicity for all compounds in samples from potable water supplies or laboratory studies of DBP formation. Reduction of oxidizing disinfectants is required since these compounds can kill the bacteria or react with the agar, producing chlorinated byproducts. When mutagens are collected by passing potable water through adsorbing resins, active chlorine compounds react with the resin, producing undesirable mutagenic artifacts. The bioanalytical and chemoanalytical needs of drinking water DBP studies required a suitable reductant. Many of the candidate compounds failed to meet those needs, including 2,4-hexadienoic (sorbic) acid, 2,4-pentanedione (acetylacetone), 2-butenoic (crotonic) acid, 2-butenedioic (maleic and fumaric) acids and buten-2-ol (crotyl alcohol). Candidates were rejected if they (1) reacted too slowly with active chlorine, (2) formed mutagenic byproducts, or (3) interfered in the quantitation of known chlorination DBPs. L-Ascorbic acid reacts rapidly and stoichiometrically with active chlorine and has limited interactions with halogenated DBPs. In this work, we found no interference from L-ascorbic acid or its oxidation product (dehydroascorbic acid) in mutagenicity assays of chlorinated NOM using Salmonella typhimurium TA100, with or without metabolic activation (S9). This was demonstrated for both aqueous solutions of chlorinated NOM and concentrates derived from the involatile, ether-extractable chlorinated byproducts of those solutions.
Abstract LB-195: Penfluridol, an antipsychotic drug suppresses breast cancer metastasis to brain by inhibiting HER2/Akt/MMP signaling axis in a novel in vivo metastasis model

Breast tumor metastasis is primary cause of cancer-related deaths. Metastasis is a complex process involving cell migration and invasion of tumor cells to distant organs from primary sites. Brain metastasis is a frequent cause of reduced survival of breast cancer patients. In the current study, we evaluated the anti-metastatic effects of penfluridol, a first generation highly potent antipsychotic drug in a novel murine model of breast tumor metastasis to brain. 4T1 breast tumor cells with stable luciferase expression were injected into the left ventricle of mouse heart. The migration of cells to brain was monitored using a non-invasive IVIS bio-luminescent live animal imaging system. To evaluate the anti-metastatic effects, 10mg/kg penfluridol was administered orally to mice every day for 12 days after intra-cardiac injection of tumor cells. The growth rate of metastasized tumors cells in control and treated mice was determined by measuring the luminescence in the brain area in each mouse at different time points. Our results demonstrate that the growth of metastatic brain tumors was reduced by 82% in the mice treated with penfluridol. In addition, treatment of 4T1, MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 cells with 10µM Penfluridol for 24 hours resulted in the significantly reduced migration and 30-40% reduced invasion of cells, as evaluated by wound healing and Boyden9s transwell invasion assay respectively. Penfluridol treatment also reduced the expression of HER2, AKT and MMP-2, 9 in these cells. Interestingly, overexpression of HER2 led to the phosphorylation of Akt, which in turn is known to regulate MMPs. Taken together, our results indicate that the anti-metastatic effects of penfluridol were associated with down regulation of HER2, AKT and MMPs. To the best of our knowledge, our study for the first time demonstrates the anti-metastatic effects of penfluridol in vivo in a novel breast tumor metastasis model. Most importantly, penfluridol is already in clinical use with an established safety record; therefore any positive findings from our studies can be rapidly translated to the clinics for undertaking a clinical trial to treat advanced metastatic breast cancer patients. [Supported in part by R01 grant CA 129038 awarded by National Cancer Institute, NIH] Citation Format: Alok Ranjan, Parul Gupta, Sanjay K. Srivastava. Penfluridol, an antipsychotic drug suppresses breast cancer metastasis to brain by inhibiting HER2/Akt/MMP signaling axis in a novel in vivo metastasis model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-195. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-195
Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Monomers Form Ordered β-hairpins: A Possible Direct Amyloidogenic Precursor

Oligomerization of human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) has been increasingly considered a pathogenic process in type II diabetes. Here structural features of the IAPP monomer have been probed using a combination of ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) and all-atom replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations. Three distinct conformational families of human IAPP monomer are observed in IMS experiments, and two of them are identified as dehydrated solution structures on the basis of our simulation results: one is an extended beta-hairpin structural family, and the second is a compact helix-coil structural family. The extended beta-hairpin family is topologically similar to the peptide conformation in the solid-state NMR fibril structure published by Tycko and co-workers. It is absent in both experiments and simulations performed on the non-amyloidogenic rat IAPP, suggesting it may play an important role in the fibrillation pathway of human IAPP. In addition, pH dependence studies show that the relative abundance of the beta-hairpin structural family is significantly enhanced at pH 8.0. This observation is consistent with the increased rate of fibrillation at high pH in vitro and offers a possible explanation of the pH dependent fibrillation in vivo. This paper, to the best of our knowledge, presents the first experimental evidence of a significant population of beta-hairpin conformers for the IAPP peptide. It is consistent with a previous suggestion in the literature that beta-sheet-rich oligomers are assembled from ordered beta-hairpins rather than from coiled structures.
Isolated rat adrenal perfusion: a new method to study adrenal function.

To study the function of the rat adrenal glands directly, a method was developed whereby the adrenal glands are selectively isolated and perfused in situ. Under basal conditions the perfused adrenals synthesized 570 ± 68 (mean ± SEM) μg corticosterone per gram adrenal tissue in 90 min compared to 933 ± 132 μg/g adrenal tissue (P < 0.05) when the stimulus, ACTH, was added to the perfusate. Because nonperfused control adrenals contain only 25 ± 3 μg corticosterone per gram tissue, the perfused adrenals synthesized between 20 (basal) and 40 (stimulated) times (both P < 0.01) as much corticosterone as was present initially. Moreover, the amount synthesized was equal to that synthesized by the intact animal and considerably greater than that reported using other experimental methods. In addition, almost all of the corticosterone synthesized during perfusion was also secreted during perfusion.
Computationally efficient stochastic simulations of high stokes number particles in isotropic turbulence

Abstract In particle-laden turbulent flows, the statistics that are key to quantifying the turbulence-driven particle dispersion include the particle spatial number density, and the moments of particle velocity such as the mean velocity and the velocity covariance. These particle statistics could be obtained through rigorous computational approaches such as the direct numerical simulations (DNS) and large-eddy simulations (LES) of turbulent flows carrying disperse particles. However, DNS, and to some extent LES, of high Reynolds number, particle-laden turbulent flows are computationally too taxing to be of practical use. In the current study, a computationally efficient stochastic method is presented for tracking the velocities and positions of discrete particles in homogeneous, isotropic turbulent flow. The principal advantages of this approach when compared to DNS/LES are: (i) it provides reasonably accurate predictions of the particle statistics at a significantly reduced computational cost, and (ii) for a given particle Stokes number, there is no significant increase in computational expense with the flow Reynolds number. The stochastic method adopted in this study is rooted in the transport equation for the probability density function (PDF) of particle position and velocity, P(x,v;t). The PDF equation consists of an unclosed term representing particle–turbulence interactions. A rigorous closure is derived for this term for high Stokes number particles in isotropic turbulence. The closure leads to a diffusion-like term, thereby transforming the PDF equation into a Fokker–Planck equation. Using the closure theory, stochastic simulations were performed by solving the Langevin equations which are the Lagrangian equivalent of the Fokker–Planck equation. Particle velocity, acceleration and dispersion statistics obtained from these simulations show good agreement with the DNS results from three prior studies [1–3].
Turning Off the Heat: Impacts of Power Plant Decommissioning on Green Turtle Research in San Diego Bay

Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are among the most high profile species in San Diego Bay, California, and understanding impacts of coastal development and industry is essential to the management and conservation of this local population. Here we describe power plant changing energy production and its impact on turtle habitat use and our ability to research and manage this population. For over 20 years, green sea turtles have been captured, assessed, and tagged near the South Bay Power Plant (SBPP) in the San Diego Bay; from 2002–2011, 104 turtles were captured on 212 occasions. As the 50-year-old SBPP generates less energy, effluent patterns change and water temperatures decrease, presumably to more natural conditions. There has been a concurrent decrease in turtle-capture success, perhaps due to lesser visitation to the effluent site where nets are tended. Seasonal catch-per-unit-effort declined from a high of 4.14 turtles per monitoring day, to a nine-year low of 1.33 during the 2010–2011 season. It is a...
Characterization of U-series disequilibria at the Pena Blanca natural analogue site, Chihuahua, Mexico

The purpose of this study was to evaluate radionuclide migration from a uranium-mineralized breccia pipe. The site provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate radionuclide mobility in a geochemical environment similar to that around the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Samples represent fracture-infillings from both within and outside the breccia pipe. Mineral assemblages within the fractures include 1) pure kaolinite, 2) a mixture of ironoxyhydroxides (goethite and hematite) with associated alunite and jarosite, which we refer to as the Fe-mineral assemblage, and 3) carbonates. Uranophane, weeksite, soddyite, and boltwoodite are associated with samples from within the breccia zone. We obtain radionuclide activities from gamma-ray rather than alpha spectroscopy, and the methodology for these measurements is presented in detail. Plots of 230Th/238U vs. 226Ra/230Th show three distinct mobility trends. 1) The majority of the Fe-mineral samples from within the breccia pipe yield values between 1.0 and 1.1 for both ratios, 2) Fe-mineral samples from outside the ore zone and a kaolinite from within the ore zone have 230Th/238U of 0.58 to 0.83 and 226Ra/230Th of 1.09 to 1.42, and 3) some Fe-mineral samples from within the breccia pipe have values of 1.2 and 0.9 respectively. These data, combined with those from other studies at Pena Blanca suggest that U and Ra are sometimes mobile in the near-surface environment and that multiple episodes of enrichment and leaching are required to explain the trends.
THE EFFECT OF POSITION POWER AND PERCEIVED TASK COMPETENCE ON TRAINER EFFECTIVENESS: A PARTIAL UTILIZATION OF FIEDLER'S CONTINGENCY MODEL OF LEADERSHIP

This study investigates the effect of trainer position power and trainer perceived task competence on trainees' performance levels. Three classifications of position power are examined: (1) high position power; (2) moderate position power; and (3) low position power. Two conditions of perceived task competence are also investigated: (1) high competence trainer behavior and (2) low competence trainer behavior. The results indicate that trainees perform at a higher level when trained by a trainer with high position power and high task competence as compared to a trainer with low position power and low task competence. The results also show that the trainer's position power and trainer's task competence jointly affect trainee effectiveness. Based on the research results, changes in organizations' standard training programs are recommended.
Variational method for the distributed control of a vibrating beam

The problem of damping out the oscillations of a simply supported beam subject to viscous damping is solved analytically by employing a maximum principle. The basic control problem is to minimize the deflection and the velocity of displacements in a given period of time with the minimum possible expenditure of force. The multiobjective problem is scalarized by using a linear combination of the criteria. This problem is also solved by two heuristic approaches: a direct method and an integral equation approach.
Three Prenylated Isoflavones from Erythrina variegate

Two new prenylated isoflavones (erythrivarones A and B) were isolated from the stem bark of Erythrina variegata Linn, together with the known compound alpinumisoflavone (1). The structures of erythrivarones A and B were characterized as dihydroalpinumisoflavone (2) and 4′-hydroxy-[6″,6″-dimethyldihydropyrano(2″,3″:5,6)]-[6‴,6‴-dimethyldihydropyrano(2‴,3‴:7,8)]isoflavone (3), respectively, by means of spectroscopic analysis.
Antimicrobial effects of nanofiber poly(caprolactone) tissue scaffolds releasing rifampicin

This study quantified the antibiotic release kinetics and subsequent bactericidal efficacy of rifampicin (RIF) against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria under in vitro static conditions. Antibiotic-loaded scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning poly(caprolactone) (PCL) with 10% or 20% (w/w) RIF. Scaffold fiber diameter and RIF loading were characterized, and RIF release kinetics were measured. RIF-releasing and RIF-free scaffolds were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the suspended concentration live and dead bacteria were determined by fluorescent microscopy. Adherent bacteria and biofilm formation were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Mean fiber diameters were 557 ± 399 nm for RIF-free, 402 ± 225 nm for 10% RIF, and 665 ± 402 nm for 20% RIF scaffolds. RIF release kinetics exhibited a short-burst release during the first hour, followed by a 7 h, zero-order release during which both RIF scaffolds released ~50% of their initial RIF mass loading. P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis suspended cell populations proliferated in accordance with logarithmic growth models when exposed to control scaffolds; however both RIF-containing scaffolds completely inhibited bacterial growth in suspension and, subsequently, prevented biofilm formation within the scaffolds through the first 6 h.
An experimental investigation on the effect of subsonic inlet mach number on the performance of conical diffusers

Experiments have been performed to determine the effect of subsonic inlet Mach number on diffuser performance and flow regimes for a wide range of conical diffuser geometries. For incompressible flow the line of first appreciable stall, line a-a, is essentially that found by McDonald and Fox. As the Mach number is increased, the flow tends more toward separation in all cases. Diffuser performance maps are presented for three different inlet Mach numbers (M1 = 0·25, 0·55, 0·70). There is no significant variation in the location of the line of maximum performance at constant length to inlet radius ratio, line α-α, with inlet Mach number.
Polyamidharz‐Epoxyharz‐Produkte als Bindemittel für Schutzanstriche

Bindemittel fur Schutzanstriche auf der Basis von Polyamidharz und Epoxyharz-Kombinationen haben bemerkenswerte Eigenschaften. Vff. beschreiben die Eigenschaften der Harze und geben zahlreiche Rezepturen fur verschiedene Zwecke. Die Eigenschaften der Bindemittel und daraus hergestellter Filme werden ausfuhrlich behandelt. Polyamide Resin-Epoxy Resin Blends as Vehicles for Protective Coatings Vehicles for protective coatings based on blends of polyamide resins and epoxy resins have outstanding features. Authors describe the properties of the resins and give numerous formulations for various purposes. The properties of the vehicles and resulting films are elaborately discussed.
Reaction-Diffusion in Nonsmooth and Closed Domains

We investigate the Dirichlet problem for the parabolic equation in a nonsmooth and closed domain possibly formed with irregular surfaces and having a characteristic vertex point. Existence, boundary regularity, uniqueness, and comparison results are established. The main objective of the paper is to express the criteria for the well-posedness in terms of the local modulus of lower semicontinuity of the boundary manifold. The two key problems in that context are the boundary regularity of the weak solution and the question whether any weak solution is at the same time a viscosity solution.
Rural Community and Human Development through Sustainable Information Technology Education: Empirical Evidence from Osun State in Nigeria

In developing countries, Information Technology education is associated with high cost and is not typically available outside urban areas. Seeking IT education might not be on the priority list of countries battling numerous problems related to healthcare, housing, nutrition and other basic needs of life, but globally, IT education is an increasingly important aspect of human resource development, as well as economic development. This article presents a case where the provision of IT education differs from the conventional emphasis on urban dwellers. The authors discuss the case of Summit Computers in a rural community in Nigeria. The analysis of the case suggests that for developing countries to benefit from advances in IT, awareness among the real users, convenience, affordability and consideration of how IT training can meet local needs and employment are important factors. Entrepreneurship, participation and empowerment of local users are also discussed as important factors that enhance the sustainability of IT education in rural communities.
Thermal analysis of a transparent, compressible gas flow through a heated channel

Abstract A quasi-one-dimensional heat transfer analysis of a transparent, compressible gas flow through a heated diverging channel of circular cross-section is presented. This note extends the so-called Rayleigh problem associated with compressible flow theory to include the effects of internal surface radiation confined within the enclosure. A unique integral formulation, motivated by the effect of thermal radiation, is detailed along with results obtained from several numerical simulations. Finally, the effect of thermal radiation on the establishment of the gas and wall temperature, pressure and Mach number distributions are highlighted.
Atrial Septal Defect Complicated by Constrictive Pericarditis

Abstract The case of a 65-year-old man with atrial septal defect and constrictive pericarditis is presented. Complete diagnosis was made after autopsy. The clinical diagnosis of constriction was made during life while that of the congenital defect was missed because of incomplete catheterization data. This unusual combination of lesion is reviewed.
The asymmetry of early death and late birth

I. In a previous paper, we argued that death's badness consists in the deprivation of pleasurable experiences which one would have had, had one died later rather than at the time of one's actual death.' Thus, we argued that death can be a bad thing for the individual who dies, even if it is an experiential blank. But there is a pressing objection to this view, for if the view is correct, then it seems that it should also be the case that it is a bad thing for a person that he is born when he actually is born, rather than earlier. That is, if the deprivation account is the correct account of death's badness, then it appears that one should have symmetric attitudes to prenatal and posthumous nonexistence. But clearly we do not in general have symmetric attitudes toward the period before our birth and the period after our death; in general, we do not think of our late births as a bad thing, but we can indeed consider our early deaths as bad for us. Thus, it appears that there is a problem for the deprivation account of death's badness.2 In our paper, we sketched a way of responding to this objection. We argued that it is plausible to think that it is rational for an individual to have asymmetric attitudes toward his own past and future pleasurable experiences: it is rational to care about and welcome the prospect of future pleasures while being relatively indifferent to past pleasures. Further, we argued that if this is so, then death can be a bad thing for an individual in a way in which prenatal nonexistence is not: death can
The Differential Method of Pricing

Looks at the differential method of pricing which arrives at a price by adding appropriate amounts to specific bases. Proposes that to realize the full benefits of such an approach price‐setters must have both intelligence and imagination as well as being aware of their industry's practices and traditions.
Time-domain analysis of the dynamics of Frenkel excitons in disordered systems

The dynamics of Frenkel excitons in disordered systems is studied in the time domain. Particular emphasis is placed on the evolution of the integrated fluorescence in the forward direction following pulsed, broadband excitation. Methods for calculating the fluorescence by integrating the coupled equations of motion for the dipole-moment correlation functions are outlined. In a system without traps, the integrated fluorescence is related to the sine and cosine transforms of the line-shape function. Numerical results are presented for the case of a Gaussian distribution of transition frequencies. The effects of traps on the fluorescence are investigated for a three-dimensional periodic array of ions with a random distribution of trapping centers. The asymptotic decay rates are calculated numerically and compared with lowest-order perturbation theory and a theory based on the coherent-potential approximation. The failure of the perturbation-theoretic calculation when the single-ion trapping rate is comparable to the exciton bandwidth is pointed out. The coherent-potential approximation gives reasonable results at all trap concentrations over a wide range of the ratio of trapping rate to bandwidth.
Reconstructing equations of motion from experimental data with unobserved variables

We have developed a method for reconstructing equations of motion for systems where all the necessary variables have not been observed. This technique can be applied to systems with one or several such hidden variables, and can be used to reconstruct maps or differential equations. The effects of experimental noise are discussed through specific examples. The control of nonlinear systems containing hidden variables is also discussed.
A Flexible Theory of Price Momentum

This article attempts to integrate complex and perhaps irrational investor reaction to price change into a formal model encompassing observed worldwide variations in price momentum. We review the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of price momentum in the U.S. and worldwide, observing that efforts to link or explain price momentum using other factors or risk measures generally fail, leaving an unexplained but statistically real phenomenon. Unlike value concepts which are found to work worldwide in the obvious high-relative-value-implies-excess-return way, price momentum seems to vary from country to country, seemingly defying any logical explanation. Worldwide, we observe that price momentum differs from country to country with regional themes suggesting that it is a cultural phenomenon. Using a collection of stylized outlier behaviors, we develop a story and simple model linking price momentum to perceived future attractiveness, based on traditional value ideas. A number of testable hypotheses, most confirmed by empirical work, flow from this model.
Elemental allelopathy: processes, progress, and pitfalls

Allelopathic interference between plants has generally been discussed in terms of the production of toxic complex biochemicals; however, complex biochemicals may not be the only substances plants use to interfere with one another. It has also been suggested that inorganic elements may be used in an allelopathic manner. If, through phytoenrichment or root exudates, a plant is able to increase the bioavailable levels of a particular element and tolerate the levels better than its neighbors, it can produce an allelopathic effect. Elemental allelopathy has been implicated as the cause for the success of a number of invasive weeds, including Acroptilon repens, Tamarix spp., Halogeton glomeratus, Salsola iberica, and Mesambryenthemum crystallinum. Phytoenrichment of elements can occur through hyperaccumulation and litter deposition and by altering rhizosphere chemistry. Reported cases of elemental allelopathy have involved three types of elements: heavy metals and soluble salts in terrestrial systems and elemental S in aquatic systems. For the most part, studies that have reported elemental allelopathy have been inconclusive. In order to prevent overreaching conclusions in the study of biochemical allelopathy, criteria were set that can be adapted to the study of elemental allelopathy. Of the studies reviewed, the most common criteria left uninvestigated were whether the plant was actually responsible for changing the concentration of the element and whether the increased levels of an element negatively affected other species. If the study of elemental allelopathy is to avoid the same problems often associated with the study of biochemical allelopathy, these criteria should be included in investigations of elemental allelopathy.
Profiling Energy Consumption of Smartphone Users for Environmentally Efficient Business Decisions

The recent proliferation of electronic products has led to a strong unmet need for understanding environmental implications of new technologies. According to Nielsen, 66% of Americans ages 24–35 own a smartphone, providing strong evidence that this technology can be considered ubiquitous. However, a majority of users and service providers are not sensitive to energy implications of data usage. As parameters affecting data delivery and usage are primarily driven by user behavior, this study is focused on using empirical data to investigate its correspondence to energy footprint. A large cohort of smartphone users (n = 21,853) and the means for which data is accessed, i.e. via 3G/LTE or WiFi, is examined to develop a model for estimating the energy cost of the various modes of data usage. Finally, alternate business scenarios are developed through simulating behavior change in cohorts based on existing data and then assessed with regards to economic and environmental efficiencies.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Genomic evidence for rod monochromacy in sloths and armadillos suggests early subterranean history for Xenarthra.

Rod monochromacy is a rare condition in vertebrates characterized by the absence of cone photoreceptor cells. The resulting phenotype is colourblindness and low acuity vision in dim-light and blindness in bright-light conditions. Early reports of xenarthrans (armadillos, sloths and anteaters) suggest that they are rod monochromats, but this has not been tested with genomic data. We searched the genomes of Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo), Choloepus hoffmanni (Hoffmann9s two-toed sloth) and Mylodon darwinii (extinct ground sloth) for retinal photoreceptor genes and examined them for inactivating mutations. We performed PCR and Sanger sequencing on cone phototransduction genes of 10 additional xenarthrans to test for shared inactivating mutations and estimated the timing of inactivation for photoreceptor pseudogenes. We concluded that a stem xenarthran became an long-wavelength sensitive-cone monochromat following a missense mutation at a critical residue in SWS1 , and a stem cingulate (armadillos, glyptodonts and pampatheres) and stem pilosan (sloths and anteaters) independently acquired rod monochromacy early in their evolutionary history following the inactivation of LWS and PDE6C , respectively. We hypothesize that rod monochromacy in armadillos and pilosans evolved as an adaptation to a subterranean habitat in the early history of Xenarthra. The presence of rod monochromacy has major implications for understanding xenarthran behavioural ecology and evolution.
Land cover change detection: a case study

The study of land cover change is an important problem in the Earth Science domain because of its impacts on local climate, radiation balance, biogeochemistry, hydrology, and the diversity and abundance of terrestrial species. Most well-known change detection techniques from statistics, signal processing and control theory are not well-suited for the massive high-dimensional spatio-temporal data sets from Earth Science due to limitations such as high computational complexity and the inability to take advantage of seasonality and spatio-temporal autocorrelation inherent in Earth Science data. In our work, we seek to address these challenges with new change detection techniques that are based on data mining approaches. Specifically, in this paper we have performed a case study for a new change detection technique for the land cover change detection problem. We study land cover change in the state of California, focusing on the San Francisco Bay Area and perform an extended study on the entire state. We also perform a comparative evaluation on forests in the entire state. These results demonstrate the utility of data mining techniques for the land cover change detection problem.
Is the tender point concept valid

The finding of multiple tender points is essential to the diagnosis of the fibrositis/fibromyalgia syndrome. Recent studies have shown that the tender point count seems to correlate with the presence of fibrositis symptoms, and can distinguish fibrositic from normal subjects. Although tender points are present in normal subjects, fibrositis patients have far more tender points that are much more tender. Further work is necessary to establish the reliability of tender point measurement, and to investigate and monitor changes in the tender point count with time or therapy.
The determination of nitrite ion in the presence of large quantities of azide ion

Abstract The azide ion reacts with the nitrite ion when in solution. In order to determine the nitrite ion quantitatively in the presence of azides, the azide ion is immediately precipitated by dissolving the salt(s) in a saturated solution of silver sulphate, then filtered. A fraction of the filtrate treated with N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride and sulphanilic acid reagent produces a stable colour and is the basis for the spectrophotometric procedure.
Sulfite Residues in Maraschino Cherries

A survey of 53 samples of maraschino cherries from 14 different processors revealed that total sulfite residues averaged 52.3 ± 44.7 ppm. However, 58.5% of the samples had less than 40 ppm total SO2, while only 7.6% had greater than 120 ppm total SO2 indicating that the distribution was skewed in the direction of lower residue levels. Free sulfite residues in the 53 samples were considerably lower averaging 14.2 ± 7.1 ppm. With free SO2 levels, 35.8% of the samples had less than 10 ppm free SO2, while only 5.7% had greater than 30 ppm free SO2. With an average serving size of one cherry (3 - 7g), maraschino cherries would contribute only 0.16 – 0.37 mg per serving of total sulfites as SO2.
Headspace gas chromatography of volatile lipid peroxidation products from human red blood cell membranes.

An improved headspace capillary gas chromatographic (GC) method was developed to measure the oxidative susceptibility of human red blood cell (RBC) membranes. This method analyzed volatile peroxidation products of both n−6 (hexanal and pentane) and n−3 (propanal) polyunsaturated fatty acids. Oxidative susceptibility tests were standardized by incubating in a sealed 10-mL headspace bottle 0.25 or 1 mL of human RBC membrane in 40 mM phosphate buffer for 1 hr at 37°C with a mixture of Fe++, ascorbic acid and H2O2. Sodium dodecyl sulfate increased significantly the amount of hexanal measured by headspace GC. By this standard headspace method, in one series of red blood cell membranes (RBCM) samples a four-fold variation in oxidative susceptibility was observed in RBCM from blood freshly drawn from six healthy subjects. In another series of RBCM samples a sixteen-fold variation in oxidative susceptibility was noted in frozen RBCM from blood freshly drawn from five healthy subjects. Correlation between hexanal formation and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) depletion provided good evidence that under these standard conditions hexanal is exclusively derived from the oxidation of arachidonic acid. Hydroperoxides of arachidonic acid are more readily formed and decomposed than those of linoleic acid in the presence of Fe++, ascorbic acid and H2O2 to produce hexanal as the main product that can be readily analyzed by headspace GC. This method may provide a useful tool to study susceptibility toward lipid peroxidative damage in human RBC membranes.
Phosphorylation of the 20,000-Da myosin light chain isoforms of arterial smooth muscle by myosin light chain kinase and protein kinase C.

Abstract Phosphorylation of myosin light chain (LC) isoforms in arterial actomyosin can be induced by endogenous kinases upon addition of Mg 2+ and ATP. The extent of phosphorylation in the presence of 2 m m ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)- N,N′ -tetraacetic acid (EGTA), 0.2 m m Ca 2+ , or 0.2 m m Ca 2+ plus calmodulin is 1.6, 2.1, and 2.3 mol phosphate/mol LC, respectively. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of actomyosin shows that the LC isoforms may be mono-, di-, and triphosphorylated. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping of LC indicates that the radioactive phosphate is distributed to six peptides referred to as A through F. Phosphoamino acid analyses and the phosphopeptide maps of isolated LC, phosphorylated by either purified myosin light chain kinase or protein kinase C, reveal that myosin light chain kinase phosphorylates a serine residue in peptides A and B, and threonine plus serine residues in peptides C and D. Peptides E and F are phosphorylated by protein kinase C in serine and threonine residues, respectively. In actomyosin, with EGTA, phosphorylation of peptides E and F proceeds while phosphorylation of peptides A, B, C, and D is inhibited. Ca 2+ and calmodulin enhance the phosphorylation of peptides A, B, C, and D, while phosphorylation of peptides E and F is decreased. In isolated LC, myosin light chain kinase preferentially phosphorylates the peptides A and B over C and D. Phosphorylation of peptides E and F in LC by protein kinase C promotes additional phosphorylation of peptides C and D by myosin light chain kinase, whereas phosphorylation of peptides A and B is diminished. The present data suggest that the phosphorylation of distinct sites in arterial myosin light chain by myosin light chain kinase and protein kinase C is interrelated.
Majorana flat bands in s -wave gapless topological superconductors

We demonstrate how the nontrivial interplay between spin-orbit coupling and nodeless $s$-wave superconductivity can drive a fully gapped two-band topological insulator into a time-reversal invariant gapless topological superconductor supporting symmetry-protected Majorana flat bands. We characterize topological phase diagrams by a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ partial Berry-phase invariant, and show that, despite the trivial crystal geometry, no unique bulk-boundary correspondence exists. We trace this behavior to the anisotropic quasiparticle bulk gap closing, linear vs quadratic, and argue that this provides a unifying principle for gapless topological superconductivity. Experimental implications for tunneling conductance measurements are addressed, relevant for lead chalcogenide materials.
Twenty‐Four‐Hour Fluid Intake and Renal Handling of Electrolytes after Various Doses of Ethanol

The effects of single ethanol doses on fluid and electrolyte metabolism were studied in 31 male mongrel dogs. The animals were given either 0.75 g/kg. 1.50 g/kg. or 2.25 g/kg of a 25% (v/v) ethanol solution or isovolumetric quantities of water. Fluid intake, urine output, and electrolyte {Na, K, CI, Mg) excretions were measured at 0–3, 3–8, and 8–24 hr. During the ascending portion of the plasma ethanol curve (0–3 hr) there was a diuresis and renal magnesium loss in the two highest dosage ethanol groups. During the initial portion of the descending plasma ethanol curve (3–8 hr), each ethanol group had a significant elevation in voluntary intake. At 8–24 hr, renal retention of sodium, potassium, and chloride was found in the 1.5 and 2.25 g/kg groups, and magnesium excretion was also reduced in the 2.25 g/kg group. Over the 0–24 hr, none of the ethanol groups showed fluid loss, while the 2.25 g/kg ethanol group had significant retention of water. The administration of the 2.25 g/kg ethanol dose also resulted in 24–hr retention of sodium and potassium.
Critical factors and performance measures of TQM

The aim of this study is to identify and interpret the critical factors and performance measures of TQM. Based on extensive review of prescriptive, conceptual, practitioner, and empirical literature; we were able to identify seven critical factors and more than 45 performance measures of TQM. A possible sequence for implementation of these factors is then presented.
p53 mutations in human lymphoid malignancies: association with Burkitt lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract We have investigated the frequency of p53 mutations in B- and T-cell human lymphoid malignancies, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the major subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. p53 exons 5-9 were studied by using genomic DNA from 197 primary tumors and 27 cell lines by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified fragments. Mutations were found associated with (i) Burkitt lymphoma (9/27 biopsies; 17/27 cell lines) and its leukemic counterpart L3-type B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (5/9), both of which also carry activated c-myc oncogenes, and (ii) B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (6/40) and, in particular, its stage of progression known as Richter's transformation (3/7). Mutations were not found at any significant frequency in other types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In many cases, only the mutated allele was detectable, implying loss of the normal allele. These results suggest that (i) significant differences in the frequency of p53 mutations are present among subtypes of neoplasms derived from the same tissue; (ii) p53 may play a role in tumor progression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia; (iii) the presence of both p53 loss/inactivation and c-myc oncogene activation may be important in the pathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma and its leukemic form L3-type B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.