cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The librational spectra of water and heavy water in crystalline salt hydrates

Abstract Infrared spectra are reported of nine mono- and dihydrates of alkali halides and alkaline earth halides. These spectra in the 300–600 cm−1 region are interpreted as arising from the librational modes of the bound water molecules as shown unambiguously by the frequency changes on substitution of deuterium oxide. Potential constants for this motion are given. Samples were prepared by evaporation of salt films in situ, and the method is seen to be of value for studying the limits of phase stability of unknown hydrates and related compounds. The number of bands observed in this region indicates for all cases studied the number of water molecules with different crystalline environments.
ASSAY OF BREATH CARBON-14 DIOXIDE OF HUMANS USING IONIZATION CHAMBERS

SummaryAn apparatus for the physical separation and purification of CO2 from human breath is described. These CO2 samples have been measured in a series of ionization chambers varying from 100 to 1500 cc. The optimum sample size was found to be 1000 cc for these unshielded-atmospheric pressure ionization chambers. With such equipment it is possible to carry out experiments in humans with as little as one microcurie of car-bon-14.
Parallel Molecular Dynamics

Molecular dynamics simulation is a class of applications that require reducing the execution time of fixed-size problems. This reduction in execution time is important to drug design and protein interaction studies. Many implementations of parallel molecular dynamics have been developed, but very little work has addressed issues related to the use of machines with 50,000 processors for modest-sized problems in the range of 50,000 atoms. Current massively parallel machines present a major obstacle to achieving good performance:communication overhead. In this paper we quantify the communication latency and network bandwidth necessary to achieve 30?40% efficiency on future message-passing machines with sizes on the order of tens of thousands of processors, for executing molecular dynamics problems with the same order of atoms. We derive an analytical model of a benchmark application that simulates a system of helium atoms executing on the Intel Touchstone Delta using an interaction decomposition method. This model is validated and used to extrapolate information on the startup time and network bandwidth. The results indicate that for an MPP with a four-dimensional mesh topology using 400 MHz processors, the communication startup time must be at most 30 clock cycles and the network bandwidth at least 2.3 GB/s. This configuration results in 30?40% efficiency of the MPP for a problem with 50,000 atoms executing on 50,000 processors.
Atmospheric chemistry: Ethanol and ozone

Ethanol has been heralded as a cleaner fuel for cars than gasoline. An analysis of air quality data suggests that a switch from ethanol to gasoline use in Sao Paulo in response to changing prices led unexpectedly to lower local levels of ozone pollution.
Glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) protein is present in human myocardium

Glucose and fructose enter mammalian cells via facilitated diffusion, a process regulated by five glucose transporter isoforms (GLUT1-5) at the plasma membrane. The tissue-specific pattern of GLUT isoform expression likely reflects differing needs for glucose transport by various tissues. Myocytes must respond expeditiously to increased metabolic demand. A basal isoform, GLUT1, and the insulin-regulatable glucose transporter, GLUT4, have been demonstrated in human myocytes. GLUT3 has a high affinity for glucose, but its presence in human myocardium has not been clearly established. The purpose of this study was to determine whether GLUT3 protein is present in human cardiac myocytes. We examined rapidly frozen myocardial tissue from the explanted heart of seven patients undergoing cardiac transplantation, from the heart of a young, previously healthy male organ donor, from the heart of a 67-year-old woman without known cardiac disease who had a fatal stroke, and from the heart of six human fetuses. GLUT3 protein was detected by immunoblots and localized by light and electron microscopy immunohistochemistry. The presence of GLUT3 protein was verified in myocardial tissue by both immunoblots and immunohistochemistry. Light and electron microscopy confirmed that GLUT3 was in cardiac myocytes. GLUT3 was also demonstrated as a 48 kDa protein in fetal myocardium, which was present at 10 weeks, increased at 15 weeks, then decreased at 20 weeks of gestation. GLUT3 is present in human adult and fetal myocardium. Human myocardial GLUT3 regulation and its role in myocardial glucose uptake remain to be elucidated.
Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine-palmitic acid phase diagram studied by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance.

The phase diagram of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and palmitic acid mixtures in excess D2O was studied by 13C-NMR. Phase boundaries were determined from plots of apparent spin-spin relaxation time T2 (for both choline methyl and fatty acid chain carbons) versus temperature. A peritectic transition in the 1-10 mol% region, whose existence has been theoretically inferred from the Gibbs phase rule but which was undetectable by differential thermal analysis (DTA) (S.E. Schullery et al. Biochemistry, 20 (1981) 6818-6824), was located by NMR at 41.6 degrees C. A second, nearby peritectic line at 44 degrees C, which had been shown by DTA to extend from about 3-25 mol% palmitic acid, was seen by NMR only above 10 mol%. The palmitic acid/DPPC complex (2:1), with a sharp melting point at 64 degrees C, reported in earlier studies, was also seen by NMR. A phase diagram including both NMR and DTA results is presented. Important general conclusions from this study are: (i) NMR and scanning thermal analysis are complementary techniques for phase studies; each can see transitions that are invisible to the other. (ii) The case for the applicability of the Gibbs phase rule to lipid bilayer systems has been strengthened by the observance of two predicted, close-spaced boundaries. (iii) Low concentrations of fatty acids and related molecules can not be assumed to disperse as simple ideal solutes in the bilayer matrix.
A Multifaceted Approach to the Management of Plastic Bronchitis after Cavopulmonary Palliation

Background Plastic bronchitis is a rare, potentially life-threatening complication after Fontan operation. Hemodynamic alterations (elevated central venous pressure and low cardiac output) likely contribute to the formation of tracheobronchial casts composed of inflammatory debris, mucin, and fibrin. Pathologic studies of cast composition support medical treatment with fibrinolytics such as inhaled tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). Methods This was a retrospective case series of medical, surgical, and catheter-based treatment of patients with plastic bronchitis after cavopulmonary palliation. Results Included were 14 patients (86% male, 93% white). Median age at Fontan operation was 2.7 years (range, 1.2 to 4.1 years), with median interval to plastic bronchitis presentation of 1.5 years (range, 9 days to 15.4 years). Cast composition was available for 11 patients (79%) and included fibrin deposits in 7. All patients were treated with pulmonary vasodilators, and 13 (93%) were treated with inhaled t-PA. Hemodynamically significant lesions in the Fontan pathway were addressed by catheter-based (n = 9) and surgical (n = 3) interventions. Three patients (21%) underwent heart transplantation. Median follow-up was 2.7 years (range, 0.6 to 8.7 years). Symptoms improved, such that 6 of 13 patients (46%) were weaned off t-PA. Rare or episodic casts are successfully managed with outpatient t-PA in most of the other patients. Of the 3 patients who underwent heart transplant, 2 are asymptomatic and 1 has recurrent casts in the setting of elevated filling pressures and rejection. Conclusions A systematic step-wise algorithm that includes optimization of hemodynamics, aggressive pulmonary vasodilation, and inhaled t-PA is an effective treatment strategy for patients with plastic bronchitis after cavopulmonary connection.
Foil activation measurements of energy and flux of neutrons from D-T mixed beams driven into a target

Abstract Threshold foil activation analyses are presented for measuring the fusion neutron flux from D-T mixed beams driven into a solid target in a linear accelerator. Thin foils of Al, Ni, Cu, Zr, and Nb yielded fairly consistent neutron flux densities. The average energy of neutrons at the location of the foils was also determined by a method of cross section comparison, which showed good agreement with a theoretical prediction.
Effects of pentobarbital in mice selected for differential sensitivity to ethanol.

Abstract Two lines of mice have been genetically selected for differential sensitivity to ethanol. These lines have been designated long sleep (LS) and short sleep (SS) on the basis of their hypnotic response to the ethanol selection dose. Earlier studies of these mice suggested that this difference was limited to alcohols and did not extend to other classes of hypnotics. The present study examined hypnotic and hypothermic responses produced by pentobarbital in recent generations of these mice. Dose-dependent differences in sleep time and in hypothermia were found, with SS mice affected to a greater degree than LS mice. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that the half-life of pentobarbital disappearance from SS blood was twice that reported for SS mice of the 18th generation. The half-life in the LS line had not changed. The volumes of distribution and waking brain concentrations were identical in LS and SS mice. An altered rate of elimination (not differential CNS sensitivity) appeared to be the major factor responsible for the differences observed between these lines.
Taking care of the "good guys:" a trauma center-based model of medical support for tactical law enforcement.

The potential need for rapid medical intervention and access to a trauma center after major injury is crucial to the safety and success of SWAT team operations. This manuscript describes the genesis and development of a unique model for which advanced medical care is rendered by trained health care professionals within a regional trauma system in the support of a SWAT team. The model was developed jointly by the Newark, New Jersey, Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and The New Jersey Trauma Center-University Hospital, an academic, urban Level I trauma center. After the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies in 1995, the program became operational. The medical team is composed of physicians, nurses, and paramedics. Since inception, the medical team has provided medical support for 33 tactical missions and 99 training days. Ten patients were treated: 7 agents (syncope, fractured foot, blunt head/neck trauma, lacerations), 2 bystanders (chest pain, asthma), and 1 suspect (chest pain). The advantages of the Newark model in contrast to other programs of tactical medical support, are the operational activities of the team and the cost of the program was outlined. Language: en
Generalized Mathematical Homogenization: From theory to practice

A Generalized Mathematical Homogenization (GMH) theory for coupling atomistic and continuum descriptions at finite temperature has been extended to account for many-body potentials. GMH gives rise to the constitutive law-free coarse scale equations where coupled continuum thermo-mechanical equations are directly derived from molecular dynamics equations. An integrated computational approach, which seamlessly integrates ABAQUS for coarse scale (finite element method) computations with a molecular dynamics code, has been developed. The accuracy and efficiency of the method has been studied for crystal silicon structures including failure predictions of nanowires.
Altered glutamate receptor - transporter expression and spontaneous seizures in rats exposed to methylazoxymethanol in utero.

Summary: Purpose: Brain malformations are a common cause of intractable epilepsy and cognitive dysfunction in children. Prenatal exposure to the teratogen methylazoxymethanol (MAM) is a rodent model of brain malformation featuring loss of lamination, clusters of displaced hippocampal cells, and pharmaco-resistance to antiepileptic drugs. In a normotopic hippocampus, expression of postsynaptic glutamate receptors and the transporters regulating neurotransmitter reuptake are critical factors modulating excitation and synaptic communication. Alterations in this system can have profound effects on overall excitability, cognitive function, and seizure thresholds. Methods: Immunohistochemical techniques were used to analyze the expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5 methylisoxazole-4-proprionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunits in rats exposed to MAM in utero (25 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection). We also examined the expression of several glutamate transporters (EAAC1, vGLUT1, and vGLUT2). A video-electroencephalographic (video-EEG) system was used for long-term monitoring of adult MAM-exposed rats. Results: Heterotopic hippocampal neurons exhibited striking reductions in GluR1 and EAAC1 expression; vGlut2 expression was prominent in these regions. Spontaneous electrographic seizures were verified in two animals. Conclusions: We conclude that glutamate receptor subunit and transporter expression are altered in animals exposed to MAM in utero. Further studies in the MAM model may provide greater insight into the potential disruptions in excitatory synaptic neurotransmission that can occur in a malformed brain.
Influence maximization in multiple online social networks

We study the influence maximization problem (IMP) in multiple online social networks (OSNs). In contrast to most of the previous works on influence maximization which only focused on a single network, our work is the first one to evaluate the propagation of influence across multiple networks simultaneously. In this paper, we first propose a general representation for multiple networks using universal ids for the users. We next introduce a powerful coupling scheme which reduces the multiple networks into a single network without changing influencing properties, thereby allowing us to solve the problem in the reduced network. Moreover, the coupling scheme is also an efficient tool to investigate various aspects of the influence propagation on multiple OSNs. The extensive experiments on real-world and synthesized datasets not only confirm the quality of the solution but also reveal interesting insights into the behavior of influence propagation in and across the networks.
Segmentation of pulmonary nodules in computed tomography using a regression neural network approach and its application to the Lung Image Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative dataset

We present new pulmonary nodule segmentation algorithms for computed tomography (CT). These include a fully-automated (FA) system, a semi-automated (SA) system, and a hybrid system. Like most traditional systems, the new FA system requires only a single user-supplied cue point. On the other hand, the SA system represents a new algorithm class requiring 8 user-supplied control points. This does increase the burden on the user, but we show that the resulting system is highly robust and can handle a variety of challenging cases. The proposed hybrid system starts with the FA system. If improved segmentation results are needed, the SA system is then deployed. The FA segmentation engine has 2 free parameters, and the SA system has 3. These parameters are adaptively determined for each nodule in a search process guided by a regression neural network (RNN). The RNN uses a number of features computed for each candidate segmentation. We train and test our systems using the new Lung Image Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative (LIDC–IDRI) data. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first nodule-specific performance benchmarks using the new LIDC–IDRI dataset. We also compare the performance of the proposed methods with several previously reported results on the same data used by those other methods. Our results suggest that the proposed FA system improves upon the state-of-the-art, and the SA system offers a considerable boost over the FA system. 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
A "rough" journey to the sarcoplasmic reticulum--implications of altered calsequestrin trafficking for cardiac arrhythmia.

First identified almost 40 years ago as a low-affinity high capacity Ca buffering protein located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of muscle,[1] the story of calsequestrin continues to be full of surprises. Far from being only a “simple” Ca store that provides Ca necessary for muscle contraction, studies have implicated a role of calsequestrin in a variety of diseases ranging from ventricular arrhythmias[2] to autoimmune eye disorders.[3] The work by McFarland and colleagues on calsequestrin trafficking in adult cardiac muscle reported in the current issue sheds light on several puzzling aspects of calsequestrin biology. To determine calsequestrin trafficking in cardiac muscle, the authors used adenovirus mediated gene transfer and expressed calsequestrin fused with a fluorescent tag, DsRed, in adult rat ventricular mycoytes. DsRed is fluorescent only in its tetrameric form. Monomeric DsRed is non-fluorescent, but can be detected by anti-DsRed antibodies. Using these reagents, McFarland and coworkers determined that calsequestrin is first made in the perinuclear rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as a monomer. The calsequestrin monomer then traffics directly into its target cellular compartment, the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum. Cellular trafficking occurs only as calsequestrin monomer, since tetrameric calsequestrin is retained completely in the perinuclear cisternae, the rough ER compartment. Polymerization of native cardiac calsequestrin occurs first in the junctional SR, which may explain why calsequestrin is retained completely in this cellular compartment. Native calsequestrin apparently never reaches the free SR, suggesting that the free SR in cardiac muscle is analogous to ER-Golgi intermediate compartment of non-muscle cells. The intricate subcellular processing and trafficking of calsequestrin in cardiac muscle reported here by McFarland and coworkers may help explain several puzzling features of calsequestrin biology discussed next.
SU-GG-T-45: Using CT Scout Images for Fletcher-Suit Brachytherapy Treatment Planning

Purpose:CTimages of Fletcher‐Suit applicators contain artifacts that prevent accurate determination of reference points for treatment planning.CT scout‐views cannot be used directly because they have an anisotropic magnification. An algorithm was developed to calculate coordinates of required points from scout images.Method and Materials: A Styrofoam phantom was constructed containing 30 embedded ball bearings arranged in a pattern with adjacent balls 40 mm apart. Another phantom contained six ball bearings randomly distributed around a Fletcher‐Suit applicator. Scout and axial CTimages of the phantoms were obtained using a Philips Brilliance CT scanner. The phantoms were then scanned using Tomotherapy™ megavoltage‐CT (MVCT), and also imaged using a conventional simulator. A treatment planning system (TPS) was used for 3D image reconstruction from axial CT and MVCT slices to extract coordinates of the ball bearings. The TPS brachytherapy module was used to extract point coordinates from orthogonal simulator images. An in‐house software package was developed to reconstruct locations of the ball bearings from scout images. The resulting x‐y‐z coordinates were compared with those obtained from axial CT, MVCT, and simulator images.Results: The measured distance between 49 ball bearing pairs on the scout image was 39.95±0.59 mm with an expected distance of 40mm. Accuracy of the scout method compared favorably with the other imaging modalities. For randomly distributed ball bearings the differences between the measured distances were 0.78 ±0.82 mm, 0.29±0.75 mm and 0.81±0.70 mm for Scout vs. CT, Scout vs. MVCT, and Scout vs. Simulator respectively. Conclusion:CT scout images can be used to determine the coordinates of radiation sources and reference points for brachytherapytreatment planning. Our method is easy to implement and its accuracy is comparable to that of other imaging modalities available in a clinical setting. Research sponsored by Philips Medical Systems Corporation.
Improvement of the Adhesion of Silicone to Aluminum Using Plasma Polymerization

The adhesion-in-peel test was used to determine peel strength and adhesion characteristics of a cured-in-place silicone elastomeric joint sealant on aluminum substrates. The sealant used was a Dow Corning Type 3145 RTV Adhesive Sealant. The results showed that the silicone sealant had poor adhesive bonding to the untreated aluminum. Plasma polymerization of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS) onto the aluminum was seen to move the locus of adhesive failure to being between the plasma film and the silicone. Plasma polymerization of HMDS with oxygen carrier gas produced excellent adhesion and cohesive failure in the silicone was observed.
Dress, body and self: research in the social psychology of dress

The purpose of this research was to provide a critical review of key research areas within the social psychology of dress. The review addresses published research in two broad areas: (1) dress as a stimulus and its influence on (a) attributions by others, attributions about self, and on one's behavior and (2) relationships between dress, the body, and the self. We identify theoretical approaches used in conducting research in these areas, provide an abbreviated background of research in these areas highlighting key findings, and identify future research directions and possibilities. The subject matter presented features developing topics within the social psychology of dress and is useful for undergraduate students who want an overview of the content area. It is also useful for graduate students (1) who want to learn about the major scholars in these key areas of inquiry who have moved the field forward, or (2) who are looking for ideas for their own thesis or dissertation research. Finally, information in this paper is useful for professors who research or teach the social psychology of dress.
A simple method for the preparation of polyacrylamide gels containing thioglycoside ligands

Abstract A simple method was developed for the preparation of acrylamide derivatives containing thioglycosides. The synthetic scheme involves the preparation of an O -acetylated 1-thiosugar via a pseudothiourea derivative, the controlled addition of the thiosugar to N,N′ -bismethyleneacrylamide to form a monoaddition product in which one of the acrylamide groups remains unchanged, and finally de- O -acetylation. Similar reaction schemes using bisacrylamido derivatives of 1,2-diaminoethane and 1,6-diaminohexane lead to analogous compounds with longer aglycon chain lengths. The thioglycoside derivatives of acrylamide thus prepared could be copolymerized with acrylamide to form polymers or gels containing thioglycosides as ligands. These gels were successfully used as affinity materials for the purification of peanut lectin and in cell-adhesion studies.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma after albuterol nebulizer treatment

Abstract %PURPOSE: To report acute angle-closure glaucoma associated with albuterol nebulizer treatment. METHODS: Case report and review of the relevant literature. RESULTS: In a 75-year-old woman with asthma, acute angle-closure glaucoma in the right eye was probably caused by local absorption of albuterol after nebulizer administration. CONCLUSION: As albuterol is widely used in the management of patients with asthma, increased awareness by health care professionals of the potential for acute angle-closure glaucoma secondary to albuterol may decrease the incidence of this complication.
EFFECTS OF LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE IN FLORIDA SCRUB: A POPULATION PERSPECTIVE

Understanding how patchy landscapes affect the distribution and abundance of species is a central issue in applied ecology. We examined the effects of landscape structure on the distribution of the Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) in naturally fragmented habitat. Scrub lizards were absent from 89 of 132 patches, and their distribution was explained in multifactor models by two landscape variables: patch size and patch isolation. Mark–recapture studies of S. woodi and experimental displacement trials indicate that this species exhibits low vagility within a patch and that movement through dense habitat, which often characterizes the landscape matrix, is restricted. Poor dispersal ability relative to the degree of isolation of patches in this landscape may account for large gaps in its distribution. To examine the applicability of the scrub lizard model to other species, we applied the model to a sympatric lizard, the six-lined racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus), which is similar in body size, fo...
The CHRNA5/A3/B4 Gene Cluster Variability as an Important Determinant of Early Alcohol and Tobacco Initiation in Young Adults

Background One potential site of convergence of the nicotine and alcohol actions is the family of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Our study examines the genetic association between variations in the genomic region containing the CHRNA5, A3, and B4 gene cluster (A5A3B4) and several phenotypes of alcohol and tobacco use in an ethnically diverse young adult sample. Significant results were then replicated in a separate adult population-representative sample. Methods In a selected sample, nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested for association with various nicotine and alcohol phenotypes, including age of initiation and measures of frequency, quantity, and subjective responses to the substances. Analysis was conducted with the statistical genetics program WHAP in the full sample (1075 subjects) including ethnicities as covariates and within each ethnic group sub-sample. Replication of the significant results in a separate population-based sample was carried out with the PBAT statistical genetics program. Results Two linked SNPs (rs8023462 and rs1948) located in a conserved region of the A5A3B4 gene cluster significantly predicted early age of initiation for tobacco with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.35 (95% confidence interval [CI]1.08–1.70) for the TT genotype of rs8023462 and a HR of 1.29 (95% CI 1.01–1.63) for the CC genotype of rs1948. These findings were then replicated in a separate population-representative sample, showing rs1948 and rs8023462 to be associated with age of initiation for both tobacco and alcohol use ( p p Conclusions Variations in A5A3B4 genes might influence behaviors that promote early age of experimentation with drugs.
Narcotic Use and Postoperative Doctor Shopping in the Orthopaedic Trauma Population.

Background: The negative consequences of narcotic use and diversion for nonmedical use are on the rise. A growing number of narcotic abusers obtain narcotic prescriptions from multiple providers (“doctor shopping”). This study sought to determine the effects of multiple postoperative narcotic providers on the number of narcotic prescriptions, duration of narcotics, and morphine equivalent dose per day in the orthopaedic trauma population. Methods: Our prospective cohort study used the state-controlled substance monitoring database to identify all narcotic prescriptions filled three months prior to admission and six months following discharge for enrolled patients. Patients were assigned into two groups: a single narcotic provider group with prescriptions only from the treating surgeon (or extenders) or a multiple narcotic provider group with prescriptions from both the treating surgeon and an additional provider or providers. Results: Complete data were available for 130 of 151 eligible patients. Preoperative narcotic use, defined by three or more narcotic prescriptions within three months of admission, was noted in 8.5% of patients. Overall, 20.8% of patients sought multiple narcotic providers postoperatively. There were significant increases in postoperative narcotic prescriptions (p < 0.001) between the single narcotic provider group (two prescriptions) and the multiple narcotic provider group (seven prescriptions), in duration of postoperative narcotic use (p < 0.001) between the single narcotic provider group (twenty-eight days) and the multiple narcotic provider group (110 days), and in morphine equivalent dose per day (p = 0.002) between the single narcotic provider group (26 mg) and the multiple narcotic provider group (43 mg). Patients with a high school education or less were 3.2 times more likely to seek multiple providers (p = 0.02), and patients with a history of preoperative narcotic use were 4.5 times more likely to seek multiple providers (p < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a 20.8% prevalence of postoperative doctor shopping in the orthopaedic trauma population. Patients with multiple postoperative narcotic providers had a significant increase in postoperative narcotic prescriptions, duration of narcotics, and morphine equivalent dose per day.
Peroxynitrite-mediated DNA strand breakage activates poly-adenosine diphosphate ribosyl synthetase and causes cellular energy depletion in macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide

The inducible isoform of nitric oxide (NO) synthase produces large quantities of NO, a cytotoxic free radical. Recent studies show that treatment with exogenous NO produces DNA strand breaks, activating the nuclear repair enzyme poly(ADP)ribosyltransferase (PARS), which results in ADP ribosylation, NAD+ consumption, and exhaustion of intracellular energy stores. Here we have characterized the cytotoxic effect of endogenous NO and peroxynitrite, a reactive oxidant formed from NO and superoxide. Immunostimulation of J774.2 macrophages with endotoxin resulted in the generation of superoxide (within 1 h) and NO (after 8 h). NO production paralleled an increase in peroxynitrite formation and DNA strand breakage, and a decrease in intracellular NAD+ content and mitochondrial respiration. Inhibition of NO synthase by NG-methyl-L-arginine or S-methyl-isothiourea or inhibition of PARS activity by 3-aminobenzamide or nicotinamide prevented the decrease in mitochondrial respiration and the depletion of NAD+. A similar pattern of free radical formation and cytotoxicity was observed in peritoneal macrophages from endotoxemic rats (formation of NO, superoxide, peroxynitrite, and DNA strand breaks). In vivo treatment with 3-aminobenzamide preserved mitochondrial respiration, NAD+, and ATP. Our data suggest that inflammatory cell injury involved DNA strand breakage and PARS, triggering an energy-consuming, futile repair cycle leading to cellular energy depletion. The active species responsible for the development of DNA strand breaks is peroxynitrite, rather than NO, since exogenous peroxynitrite, but not NO, induces DNA strand breaks. Inhibition of PARS may improve cellular energy homeostasis in patho-physiologic conditions associated with peroxynitrite generation.
Casual collaboration [visual interface]

As computers are increasingly used to mediate social interaction, tools are needed not only to support direct communication, but also to create a richer social environment for the networked group. These include tools that provide information about the presence of others and that give the user a sense of the ongoing activities. This paper describes two ongoing research projects in this area. Collaboration-at-a-Glance is a visual interface to an electronic group. It creates an animated image of a remote meeting by compositing pictures of the participants so as to represent their actions. Visual Who is window onto a larger community. Like a window onto a street, it shows the comings and goings of the community members. >
Osmotic regulation in the Sheepshead Minnow Cyprinodon variegatus Lacépède

Plasma osmotic regulation was evaluated in Cyprinodon variegatus acclimated to salinities from fresh water to 120%. These fish showed roughly stable regulation in the range from 0.3% to 70%. Fish acclimated to fresh water showed an increased plasma concentration over those in 0.3%, thought to result from a higher Ca++ level in fresh water. Plasma concentrations rose abruptly at salinities above 70%. Osmotic regulatory characteristics of C. variegatus were compared with data for other extremely euryhaline species with expectation of a graded series of responses, species showing greatest fresh water tolerance demonstrating widest ranges of regulation and with lowest plasma concentrations. Results were not consistent with expectations. The range of ambient salinities over which good regulation of plasma concentration was shown was found to be directly correlated with the magnitude of the salinity tolerance range of all of the species compared. Forms with greater fresh water affinity generally, but not uniformly, showed the lowest plasma concentrations in the region of hyperosmotic regulation.
K-Ar and Rb-Sr Data on Detrital and Postdepositional History of Pennsylvanian Clay from Ohio and Pennsylvania

K-Ar and Rb-Sr measurements on whole rocks and on separated size fractions of Pennsylvanian underclays were made in an attempt to relate the apparent ages to the degree of metamorphism, by analogy with the fixed carbon content of the associated coals. Five whole-rock samples (fixed-carbon contents ranging from 50 to 90 percent) give fairly uniform K-Ar ages between 355 and 383 m.y. The apparent ages of two samples deviate significantly from the average with values of 416 m.y. (fixed carbon, 75 percent) and 327 m.y. (fixed carbon, 95 percent). No systematic relation between coal rank and whole-rock K-Ar age is apparent. Individual size fractions of two samples show nearly concordant but systematically decreasing K-Ar and Rb-Sr model ages (510 to 320 m.y.) with decreasing grain size. This effect cannot be explained by any simple volume diffusion model; it is most likely due to crystallization or reconstitution of 1Md-type illite. The diffusion coefficient for continuous argon diffusion is D ⩽10 −28 cm 2 sec −1 . Although the whole-rock ages are dominated by detrital illite, the sediments appear to contain a fine-grained fraction that consists of 1Md illite and mixed-layer clay and gives K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages close to the age of deposition.
Hypothesis Testing and Categorical Data

Most statistical geneticists are frequentists, and fairly traditional ones at that. In testing statistical hypotheses, they prefer pure significance tests or likelihood ratio tests based on large sample theory. Although one could easily dismiss this conservatism as undue reverence for Karl Pearson and R. A. Fisher, it is grounded in the humble reality of geneticists’ inability to describe precise alternative hypotheses and to impose convincing priors. In the first part of this chapter, we will review by way of example the large sample methods summarized so admirably by Cavalli-Sforza and Bodmer [4] and Elandt-Johnson [8]. Then we will move on to modern elaborations of frequentist tests for contingency tables. The novelty here lies not in geneticists’ inference philosophy, but in designing tests sensitive to certain types of departures from randomness and in computing p-values. Good algorithms permit exact or nearly exact computation of p-values and consequently relieve our anxieties about large sample approximations.
FACTORS AFFECTING PROGNOSIS IN EMPHYSEMA.

Factors influencing prognosis in emphysema were investigated in 61 patients. Twenty died and the survivors were followed an average of 36 months. Of the clinical findings on the first visit, only cor pulmonale and weight loss were present significantly more often in the 20 patients who died than in the 41 survivors. Of the pulmonary function studies, only a low diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (below 59 per cent of normal) and a low maximum breathing capacity (below 30 per cent of normal) were associated with a poor prognosis. The maximum breathing capacity, we feel, has prognostic value because it measures the patient's strength and cooperation in addition to airway obstruction. Diffusing capacity has prognostic value because it reflects destruction of pulmonary tissue. In our data, diffusing capacity is not related to the presence of or development of cor pulmonale, nor is it invariably low in those dying. The effect of uneven ventilation on the measurement of diffusing capacity may explain the conflict between our work and other studies on this relation.
POTASH–SODA–LIME FELDSPAR EUTECTIC STUDY*

An investigation was made of the fusion behavior of the potash feldspar, soda feldspar, and soda-lime feldspar system, all materials being of commercial grade. The potash feldspar had a pyrometric cone equivalent of cone 9 1/2, the soda feldspar, cone 6 1/2, and the soda-lime feldspar deformed at cone 11 l/2. Mixtures varying according to the triaxial diagram were made in the form of pyrometric cones. These were fired in groups along with standard Orton cones. The 30% commercial potash fcldspar-70% commercial soda feldspar mixture reached 6 o'clock deformation when standard Orton cone 6 showed 2 o'clock deformation. The mixture of 62 l/2% commercial potash feldspar with 37 1/2% soda-lime feldspar reached 6 o'clock deformation when cone 7 showed 1 o'clock deformation, the deformation of the cone 9 1/2 potash feldspar being reduced 3 cones by the addition of the proper percentage of the cone ll 1/2% soda-lime feldspar. There was an increase in deformation temperatures (no indication of eutectic) in the plagioclase series, soda feldspar to soda-lime feldspar. The mixture of 30% commercial potash feldspar, 60% commercial soda feldspar, 10% soda-lime feldspar showed 6 o'clock deformation when cone 6 showed 1 o'clock deformation, this being the lowest temperature at which any member of the system showed 6 o'clock deformation.
Is cystic fibrosis lung disease caused by abnormal ion composition or abnormal volume

The most common lethal genetic disease in the Caucasian population is cystic fibrosis (CF). In 1970, the median life expectancy was 8 yr; today, with the concerted effort of scientists and clinicians, the median survival age has risen to 30 yr. About 1 in 23 people carry a single defective copy of
Kinetics of Growth and Recovery of Light-Induced Defects Under High-Intensity Illumination

We report a study of the rates of generation and of annealing of the light-induced defects in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). The rates of generation are found to be sensitive to temperature when the light intensity is high. This increased sensitivity to temperature at high rates suggests that a temperature-activated process such as hydrogen motion controls the rates of generation more when they are high. The rate of annealing at 130°C is strongly accelerated by illumination, and depends strongly on the light intensity. This may be explained by the diffusion of hydrogen, accelerated by excess carriers.
Completeness and stability of partial dyadic wavelet domain signal representations

The authors present a necessary and sufficient condition for the completeness of any partial dyadic wavelet transform domain representation (PDWTDR) of discrete finite data length signals (including dyadic wavelet transform extrema and zero-crossing representations). It is shown that completeness depends only on the locations of the retained samples of the dyadic wavelet transform. The present completeness test is more convenient and easier to verify than previously derived tests. It is also shown how to ensure the completeness of the representation by adding additional information in those cases where the PDWTDR is incomplete. The numerical stability of such a representation is also discussed. A fast-Fourier-transform (FFT)-based reconstruction algorithm from such a signal representation is also described. >
Magnetic characterization of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) ferrite materials for high frequency power converters

Low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) ferrite materials are promising candidates for magnetic substrate of high frequency converters. The inductors can be fabricated into the magnetic substrate so the power density of the converter can be dramatically increased. There are three types of LTCC ferrite tape materials from ESL Electro Science®: 40010, 40011 and 40012. To utilize these materials for suitable applications, their permeability and core loss characteristics under different pre-magnetization conditions should be measured in order to estimate the inductance and core loss of the inductor in high frequency integrated converters. The measurement uses a new high frequency measurement setup, which can provide permeability and core loss density information under DC pre-magnetization condition. Finally, three LTCC ferrite materials' characteristics are compared and discussed.
DPlace2.0: a stable and efficient analytical placement based on diffusion

Nowadays a placement problem often involves multi-million objects and excessive fixed blockages. We present a new global placement algorithm that scales well to the modern large-scale circuit placement problems. We simulate the natural diffusion process to spread cells smoothly over the placement region, and use both analytical and discrete techniques to improve the wire length. Although any analytical wire length technique can be used in our new framework, by using the quadratic wire length model, the hessian of our formulation is extremely sparse compared with conventional formulations, which brings 24x speed up on quadratic solver. We also propose a wire linearization technique that transform quadratic star model into HPWL exactly. The overall runtime of our tool is close to the fastest placement tool in existing literature and significantly better than others. And meanwhile, we obtain competitive wire length results to the best known ones. The average total wire length is 2.2% higher than mPL6, 0.2%, 3.1%, and 9.1% better than FastPlace3.0, APlace2.0, and Capo10.2 respectively.
Decadal Variability and Predictability in the Midlatitude Ocean–Atmosphere System

Abstract The coupled ocean–atmosphere interaction and predictability associated with the tropical El Nino phenomenon has motivated researchers to seek analogous phenomena in the midlatitudes as well. Are there midlatitude coupled ocean–atmosphere modes? Is there significant predictability in the midlatitudes? The authors address these questions in the broader context of trying to understand the mechanisms behind midlatitude variability, using an idealized model of the ocean–atmosphere system. The atmosphere is represented using a global two-level eddy-resolving primitive equation model with simplified physical parameterizations. The ocean is represented using a state-of-the-art ocean general circulation model, but configured in a simple Atlantic-like sector geometry. In addition to a coupled integration using this model, uncoupled integrations of the component oceanic and atmospheric models are also carried out to elucidate the mechanisms behind midlatitude variability. The sea surface temperature in the ...
Using Proposition Votes to Estimate District Preferences on Issues

Scholars routinely use the 2-party presidential vote in a given legislative district as a proxy for the ideology of that district's constituents. Scholars also freely admit that this measure is imperfect, but works well as a proxy for the 2-party balance and is very easy to obtain. This paper proposes an alternative set of measures, that while only useful for some states, actually measure relevant opinions of the voters of a district on various issues: proposition votes. In states that actively use the proposition process, voter opinions are measured on numerous issues routinely. This paper seeks to advance the use of proposition votes as a measure in two ways. First, proposition votes allow for a cleaner test of representation on an issue-by-issue basis. Secondly, factor analysis of proposition votes allows for a more nuanced measure of overall district ideology, allowing us to separate economically conservative districts from socially conservative districts, for example.
Fiscal Centralization in the American States: Increasing Similarity and Persisting Diversity

This study examines the hypothesis that the states are generally becoming more similar in the area of state-local fiscal centralization. The results support this argument, but the evidence indicates little change in recent eras. This greater similarity is generally a result of the decentralized states becoming more like the centralized states. This convergence is taking place around increasing levels of centralization. Amidst these patterns, individual states are still exhibiting diverse patterns of change, often quite diferent from the general patterns found.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTIGATION USING LATENT CLASS CLUSTER ANALYSIS

Highway bridges across the United States constitute an infrastructure component that represents an enormous investment at the federal, state, and lo cal levels. Although the poor condition of bridge structures has been identified, monetary constraints due to decreased and competing budgets prevent the complete rehabilitation and/or replacement of these structures. It is becoming increasingly important to use available funds in the optimal way. This requires the best strategies to identify, monitor, and ultimately repair, rehabilitat e, and reduce degradation. This study provides an analysis aimed at identifying distinct and important subgroups of bridges. Stratified samples that represent these subgroups of general bridge types can then be studied in depth, and the findings would apply to the corresponding subpopulation of bridges of similar construction. In particular, such a representative sample of bridge structures could be used for long-term monitoring in order to learn more about the degradation processes and how these processes interact with different bridge structures, material types, and other variables that are associated with bridge perfor mance. A latent class cluster analysis is used to identify similar groups of bridges based on a comprehensive set of variables that are found in the National Bridge Inventory database. Although computationally complex, the analysis provides a comprehensive decomposition of a selected portion of the bridge inventory into groups that are defined in terms of the multivariate relationship of attributes for bridges of the same material and structural type.
Unmet and undermet need for activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living assistance among adults with disabilities: estimates from the 1994 and 1995 disability follow-back surveys.

Background. Accurate assessments of need for disability assistance are essential for effective planning of disability support services, but there is little national data on type and acuity of need.Objective. To more fully delineate the type and magnitude of disability assistance needs across the US
Combined, Selective Chemoprophylaxis of Early Onset Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Disease (GBS EOD)

The initial approach to prevention of GBS EOD was selective intrapartum chemoprophylaxis (SIC), limiting the risk of penicillin reactions to a small number of colonized women with risk factors who had a higher probability of delivering infants with established infection at birth with the highest risk of mortality and severe morbidity1, 2. Other clinicians selected women with obstetrical risk factors, but without knowledge of colonization status for SIC3. This strategy would prevent the same number of cases of GBS EOD, but exposes five times the number of women to penicillin reactions. Both strategies ignored infants born to the 80% of pregnant women without risk factors who contribute about 40% of cases of GBS EOD.