cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utility of the Movement Disorders Society Criteria for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in Clinical Practice

Objectives When the 2017 Movement Disorders Society Criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy is applied, patients may appear to have multiple phenotypes. The maximum allocation extinction rules were developed to provide a consistent method for applying the criteria and reaching a single diagnostic label. In this study, we apply both to a neuropathologic cohort of progressive supranuclear palsy and other parkinsonian conditions. Methods An autopsy cohort of 54 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and 56 patients with other neuropathologic diseases was selected. Clinical data were retrospectively abstracted, and the diagnostic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy were applied. All possible phenotypes applicable were listed and maximum allocation extinction rules were applied to assess reduction in the number of phenotypes ascribed per patient. Results In the progressive supranuclear palsy group, 52 patients met the criteria for multiple phenotypes, with an average of 7 phenotypes per patient. In the nonprogressive supranuclear palsy group, all 56 patients had features of more than one phenotype, up to 3 per patient. After application of maximum allocation extinction rules, the majority of the patients in both groups had a single predominant phenotype. Freezing of gait, supranuclear gaze palsy, and frontal behavioral syndrome were more common in the progressive supranuclear palsy group. Conclusions The diagnostic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy identify many clinical features, thereby leading to assignment of multiple phenotypes per patient. We demonstrate that the maximum allocation extinction rules can effectively lead to a single consensus phenotype, maintaining a uniform diagnostic label for clinical and research applications.
Pectoral and pelvic girdle rotations during walking and swimming in a semi-aquatic turtle: testing functional role and constraint

ABSTRACT Pectoral and pelvic girdle rotations play a substantial role in enhancing stride length across diverse tetrapod lineages. However, the pectoral and pelvic girdle attach the limbs to the body in different ways and may exhibit dissimilar functions, especially during locomotion in disparate environments. Here, we tested for functional differences between the forelimb and hindlimb of the freshwater turtle Pseudemys concinna during walking and swimming using X-ray reconstruction of moving morphology (XROMM). In doing so, we also tested the commonly held notion that the shell constrains girdle motion in turtles. We found that the pectoral girdle exhibited greater rotations than the pelvic girdle on land and in water. Additionally, pelvic girdle rotations were greater on land than in water, whereas pectoral girdle rotations were similar in the two environments. These results indicate that although the magnitude of pelvic girdle rotations depends primarily on whether the weight of the body must be supported against gravity, the magnitude of pectoral girdle rotations likely depends primarily on muscular activity associated with locomotion. Furthermore, the pectoral girdle of turtles rotated more than has been observed in other taxa with sprawling postures, showing an excursion similar to that of mammals (∼38 deg). These results suggest that a rigid axial skeleton and internally positioned pectoral girdle have not constrained turtle girdle function, but rather the lack of lateral undulations in turtles and mammals may contribute to a functional convergence whereby the girdle acts as an additional limb segment to increase stride length.
The Severity of Growth Hormone Deficiency Does Not Predict the Presence or Absence of Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities - A Retrospective Review.

Background The Growth Hormone Research Society recommends that all patients diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) should undergo brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is still a point of controversy in patients with mild GHD, as the level of peak growth-hormone (GH) as a predictor of brain MRI abnormality has not yet been established. The objective of this study was to determine if peak GH level, determined by stimulation tests, can predict the presence or absence of brain MRI abnormality. Methods This study was a retrospective chart review from 2008-2015. Patients were aged 2-18 years, and had growth failure and GHD as determined by stimulation test. Patients with history of brain tumour, chemotherapy and brain surgery, prior to the diagnosis of GHD, were excluded. Results A total of 386 patients were included. GH values (mild versus severe GHD) did not predict brain MRI abnormality with any agent (clonidine: p=0.07; arginine: p=0.17; glucagon: p=0.42). Abnormal MRI was apparent in 19.2% of the patients with mild GHD and 24.8% of the patients with severe GHD (p=0.17). Severe MRI abnormality was seen in 6.1% of the patients with mild GHD and 15.0% of the patients with severe GHD (p=0.009). Conclusions The severity of GHD based on peak GH levels on stimulation tests did not predict the presence or absence of brain MRI abnormalities in our study population; however, severe GHD was more strongly associated with severe brain MRI abnormalities. Based on these results we recommend obtaining brain MRI in all patients with GHD.
Fast Switched-Stub Impedance Tuner Reconfiguration for Frequency and Beam Agile Radar and Electronic Warfare Applications

Tunable matching networks using switched stubs show promise for real-time impedance matching in high-power radar and jamming applications based on the emerging developments of high-power switches. These self-tuning transmitter amplifiers will quickly maximize range upon changing operating frequency in a dynamically changing spectrum environment. In this paper, we present a fast tuning algorithm capable of maximizing the output power from a tuner with six switched stubs. The control of the tuner from a software-defined radio platform is demonstrated, and complete optimization for output power can be performed in under $35 \ \mu\mathrm{s}$ following a change in operating frequency or antenna impedance. The algorithm is expected to be applicable to emerging high-power switches with similar reconfiguration times.
Lanthanide Elements in Alteration Minerals as a Guide to Transport Phenomena in the Vadose Zones of Continental Tuffs

Other chapters in this book focus primarily on direct analysis and interpretation of rareearth elements (REE) in groundwaters, or on the determination of factors relating groundwater REE data to correlative data from suspended sediments or host rock. In this chapter we address the interpretation of REE data from groundwater-deposited minerals in vadose-zone rocks where the REE compositions of the source waters are unknown. The goal here is to illustrate methods by which useful information can be extracted from such minerals on the transport of REE and related heavy metals by groundwater. Although disequilibrium processes and the lack of specific data on water/mineral partition coefficients for the REE prevent estimation of concentrations of these elements in groundwater from mineral data, REE patterns in vadose-zone minerals can be very useful. The data discussed in this chapter illustrate applications developed from common vadose-zone precipitates or products of groundwater alteration (calcite, Mn oxides, and clays) in a widespread continental volcanic lithology (tuff). This lithology provides a leachable or readily altered source material that in many instances presents a traceable REE signature, particularly when the tuff has cooled quickly and provides a glassy source material for groundwater leaching. Two localities are considered in this chapter (Figure 1). One is Yucca Mountain in Nevada, where there is a thick sequence of predominantly rhyolitic Miocene (12-13 Ma) tuffs with rarer quartzlatitic tuffs in a thick (~500 m) vadose zone. The other is at Pajarito Mesa, part of the Pajarito Plateau in New Mexico where the early Pleistocene Bandelier Tuff (1.2-1.6 Ma and ~250 m thick) is entirely within the vadose zone and overlies fanglomerates and basaltic lavas that place it ~100 m above the regional water table.
Laryngeal Adductor Reflex Movement Latency Following Tactile Stimulation.

ObjectiveTo measure the latency of laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) motion onset at 2 laryngopharyngeal subsites using calibrated aesthesiometers.Study DesignCross-sectional.SettingAcademic institut...
Wild gut microbiomes reveal individuals, species, and location as drivers of variation in two critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers.

Background The gut microbiome of animals is an important component that has strong influence on the health, fitness, and behavior of its host. Most research in the microbiome field has focused on human populations and commercially important species. However, researchers are now considering the link between endangered species conservation and the microbiome. In Hawai'i, several threats (e.g., avian malaria and habitat loss) have caused widespread population declines of Hawaiian honeycreepers (subfamily: Carduelinae). These threats can have a significant effect on the avian gut microbiome and may even lead to disruption of microbial function. However, the gut microbiome of honeycreeper in the wild has yet to be explored. Methods We collected 13 and 42 fecal samples, respectively, from two critically endangered honeycreeper species, the 'akikiki (Oreomystis bairdi) and the 'akeke'e (Loxops caeruleirostris). The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced and processed though a MOTHUR-based bioinformatics pipeline. Bacterial ASVs were identified using the DADA2 program and bacterial community analyses, including alpha and beta diversity measures, were conducted using R packages Phyloseq and vegan. Results A total of 8,958 bacterial ASVs were identified from the fecal samples. Intraspecific differences in the gut microbiome among individual birds explained most of the variation present in the dataset, however differences between species did exist. Both species had distinct microbiomes with minimal overlap in beta diversity. 'Akikiki had a more diverse microbiome compared to 'akeke'e. Additionally, small but stastically significant differences in beta diversity also exist between sampling location and sexes in 'akikiki. Conclusion 'Akikiki and 'akeke'e are currently the focus of captive breeding efforts and plans to translocate the two species to other islands are underway. This baseline knowledge will help inform management decisions for these honeycreeper species in their native habitats, on other islands, and in captivity.
Rethinking Attorney-Client Privilege

Words matter. This is particularly true in the legal profession, where the common-law system dictates that from the opinions of judges, stems the edict of law. With the written word of judicial decisions carrying such weight, courts must take care to ensure their rulings are adequately justified and penned in a manner that provides sufficient notice as to what acts or omissions are legal. Nowhere is this more necessary than in cases where government and corporate officials, who often wield vast spheres of influence, attempt to invoke one of the oldest and most frequently discussed topics of legal scholarship—the attorney-client privilege. In spite of more than four-hundred years of judicial history and countless law-review articles establishing the privilege as part of the very foundation of the practice of law, courts continue to struggle with its application to corporate and government entities. The resulting opinions are inconsistent and often so void of reasoning that corporate executives, government officials, and their attorneys are without sufficient notice as to what communications are protected from disclosure. The current circuit split on this issue, combined with President Donald Trump’s recent invocations of the privilege, have only fueled the need for clarity on a law seemingly as well known to the general public as to members of the bar. This Article is the first to examine the perspectives employed by courts in entity-privilege cases to answer a question more than four-hundred years in the making: based upon the competing perspectives utilized by courts in entity- privilege cases, how should the attorney-client privilege apply to government agencies and corporations? I employ an interdisciplinary approach, using illustrative modeling to reveal the analytical perspectives developed by courts in these difficult cases. The result is data that upends a previously accepted legal doctrine characterizing the interactions among attorneys, agents, and entities as being triangular in nature. My analysis uncovers how judicial opinions in entity-privilege cases operate far differently in practice than theory, which has only fueled confusion as to what communications are protected from disclosure. Equipped with a better understanding of how judges arrive at their decisions in these cases, I “rethink” attorney-client privilege by drawing from established principles of agency law to develop a rule that furthers the privilege’s goal of fostering candid conversations between clients and their attorneys. Lastly, I apply the proposed rule in a test suite involving two of the most well-known entity-privilege cases to measure the rule’s practical applicability. After observing its effectiveness, I conclude by summarizing this rethinking of attorney-client privilege and noting the rule’s promise in light of current events and the divide amongst courts on this issue.
PREDICTING THE EFFECT OF TCAS II ON SAFETY.

The Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) is an airborne system, independent of ground Air Traffic Control, that uses range and altitude data to detect potential collision threats and suggest evasive vertical maneuvers. In the United States, TCAS II is installed and operating on all air carrier aircraft having more than 30 passenger seats. It is in use in many other countries, as well.Each new version of the collision-avoidance logic is tested to predict its incremental effect on safety. This paper describes the primary safety metric and how it is computed. Recent values for this metric are examined and discussed. It is found that, in both U.S. and international airspace, the risk of an air-to-air collision, involving two TCAS-equipped aircraft, is reduced by more than 97 percent when compared to non-equipped aircraft.
The S Matrix

In what we have done so far, we have essentially calculated matrix elements, or approximate expressions for matrix elements of the so-called S matrix. We have also assumed conservation of energy. Let us now show our approximations come from the S matrix formalism. We will also show the energy conservation follows automatically from this formalism.
Taylor dispersion in systems of sedimenting nonspherical Brownian particles

Abstract An Aris-type moment scheme is applied to calculate the Taylor-Aris dispersion tensor for the sedimentation of small homogeneous ellipsoidal (and other orthotropic) particles settling under the influence of gravity in a quiescent viscous fluid and undergoing rotational and translational Brownian motions. This generalizes to triaxial particles a prior dispersion result for centrally symmetric bodies of revolution, such as spheroids. An independent Langevin-type dispersivity calculation is shown to yield results identical to those obtained by the moment scheme. The components D | ∗ and D ⊥ ∗ of the transversely isotropic dispersion dyadic, parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the direction of the gravitational field, are shown to be given by the Taylor—Aris-type formulas D ∥ ∗ = D + γ U ∗2 15 d , D ⊥ ∗ = D + γ U ∗2 20d . Here, U ∗ is the mean settling velocity of the particle, and D = ( 1 3 )(D 1 + D 2 + D 3 ) and d = ( 1 3 ) × (d 1 + d 2 + d 3 ) are respectively the mean translational and rotational diffusivities of the Brownian particle, with (D 1 ,D 2 ,D 3 ) and (d 1 ,d 2 ,d 3 ) respectively the appropriate diffusivity components along the principal axes of the particle. The dimensionless coefficient γ, which is of order unity, is given by the formula γ= d[( D 1 D −1 ) 2 d 1 +( D 2 D −1 ) 2 d 2 +( D 3 D −1 ) 2 d 3 ] d 1 d 2 +d 2 d 3 +d 3 d 1 , This anisometric parameter vanishes identically for spherical particles and other hydrodynamically isotropic particles (e.g., cubes, tetrahedra, octahedra, etc.) whose translational and rotational hydrodynamic resistances are independent of the orientation of the particle relative to the directions of its linear and angular velocity vectors. Upon utilizing the translational and rotational Stokes-Einstein equations, explicit numerical values of D | ∗ and D ⊥ ∗ are furnished for ellipsoids of revolution of various aspect ratios and sizes when settling in water. Physical restrictions pertaining to sedimentation-vessel apparatus size and the requirement of reasonable sedimentation times greatly restrict the range of particle sizes whose anisometric properties may be experimentally investigated by this new particle-shape characterization technique.
Effect of d-Glucosamine Concentration on the Kinetics of Mucopolysaccharide Biosynthesis in Cultured Chick Embryo Vertebral Cartilage

Abstract The relative rates of synthesis of chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, and hyaluronic acid by intact 8-day chick embryo vertebral cartilage are found to be influenced in a complex fashion by varying concentrations of d-glucosamine in the culture medium. At 0.17 mm d-glucosamine the intracellular pool of UDP-N-acetylhexosamine is less than 5 nmoles per mg of tissue protein and the rate of chondroitin 6-sulfate synthesis is approximately twice the rate of chondroitin 4-sulfate synthesis. When the concentration of d-glucosamine in the culture medium is increased to 2 mm, the UDP-N-acetylhexosamine level rapidly comes to a steady state level of 30 to 35 nmoles per mg of protein and the overall rate of mucopolysaccharide synthesis is approximately doubled over the rate observed at the lower d-glucosamine level. At 4 and 25 mm d-glucosamine, the pool size of UDP-N-acetylhexosamine remains at 30 to 35 nmoles per mg of protein, but the rate of synthesis of chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate is lowered, as is the rate of incorporation of l-[3H]leucine into protein. The rate of hyaluronic acid synthesis, on the other hand, increases progressively as the d-glucosamine concentration is raised to 25 mm. At 0.17 mm d-glucosamine, hyaluronic acid synthesis represents approximately 5 % of the total mucopolysaccharide synthesis; at 25 mm d-glucosamine, hyaluronic acid synthesis is 40 % of the total mucopolysaccharide synthesis. The incorporation of d-[14C]glucosamine into chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate proceeds with a lag. The lag is more pronounced for chondroitin 4-sulfate, and at all d-glucosamine concentrations chondroitin 6-sulfate is formed in excess of chondroitin 4-sulfate in the early stages of the incubation. However, at a time in the incubation which varies with the d-glucosamine concentrations, the rate of chondroitin 4-sulfate synthesis begins to exceed the rate of chondroitin 6-sulfate synthesis and after a 20-hour incubation, the total amount of chondroitin 4-sulfate that accumulates is in excess of the amount of chondroitin 6-sulfate. At all d-glucosamine concentrations, the sum of the rates of chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, and chondroitin synthesis is linear; thus, the change in rates of synthesis of individual mucopolysaccharides is not accompanied by a diminution in the over-all rate of mucopolysaccharide synthesis. d-Galactosamine is incorporated into chondroitin sulfate at approximately one-tenth the rate of d-glucosamine incorporation. Increasing concentrations of d-glucosamine in the culture medium have the same qualitative effects on mucopolysaccharide synthesis as corresponding levels of d-glucosamine.
Hypnosis, Voluntary Action, and the Law

The Model Penal Code identifies, "conduct during hypnosis or resulting from hypnotic suggestion," as an exception to a, "voluntary act," that is a requirement for responsibility for a crime, on the basis that such cases are involuntary and thus not the responsibility of the actor involved. This paper argues that this exception is not sufficiently well grounded in experimental evidence or known instances of criminal activity under the influence of hypnosis to justify such a general exception in the law, and that allowing such an exception has the potential to create a moral hazard by making hypnosis an excuse for criminal conduct. While such cases of coercive hypnosis may genuinely occur, the circumstances under which it may occur are narrower than the exception describes. This paper summarizes the empirical evidence from studies of hypnosis and past cases in the criminal law where hypnosis was alleged to have produced involuntary criminal actions and argues against the MPC's hypnosis exception to a voluntary act.
Fossil record reveals tropics as cradle and museum

Over the past 11 million years, most bivalves that originated in the tropics expanded their ranges out of the tropics, where they now dominate the living extratropical fauna.
Optimal load shedding methodologies in power systems

The current status of research on load shedding techniques is reviewed and the importance of relay setting is discussed. Alternatives for the future are also proposed. Future schemes should be able to precisely identify overload on a system and shed the necessary amount of load. The number of load-shedding steps and the amount of load shed each step should be computed online in the future; it will, therefore, be necessary to estimate, online, the average rate of frequency change and the system inertia, as well as a prediction of the frequency characteristic after each step. These suggestions should be useful in reducing overshooting phenomena of the normal 60-Hz operating frequency. >
On High-Order Radiation Boundary Conditions

In this paper we develop the theory of high-order radiation boundary conditions for wave propagation problems. In particular, we study the convergence of sequences of time-local approximate conditions to the exact boundary condition, and subsequently estimate the error in the solutions obtained using these approximations. We show that for finite times the Pade approximants proposed by Engquist and Majda lead to exponential convergence if the solution is smooth, but that good long-time error estimates cannot hold for spatially local conditions. Applications in fluid dynamics are also discussed.
Near-isotropic negative refraction simulation in metamaterials using geometrical optics and scattering matrix parameters

This paper presents a simulation of the negative refraction of a metamaterial structure that shows near-isotropic characteristics. The calculation of the negative refractive index is done using geometrical optics based on Snell's law, and using the constitutive parameters that are derived from scattering matrix simulation. The unit cell is a cross arrangement of two planes that contain a capacitively-loaded loop plus post (CLL-P) pattern in each of the planes. The agreement between the two computation methods and the incidence-angle-independent results show that the structure is nearly isotropic.
Enhancements to the world's fastest CPLD family give designers more flexibility

Over the last decade, Altera has maintained its leadership in the PLD market place by keeping in step with the constantly changing demands of users of programmable logic. This is clearly evident in Altera's release of the MAX 7000E family. This family provides fast set-up times for designs which require fast synchronization of input data. For those users who use multi-phase clocking, the family provides two global clocks with programmable polarity control. With the introduction of six output enable control signals, which can be generated from either internal logic or from I/O pins, designs have greater flexibility in interfacing with multiple buses such as those found in microprocessor applications. For designers who need control over the speed of which outputs transition, Altera has added programmable output slew rate control which can be selected on an I/O-pin-by-I/O pin basis. All of these enhancements provide designers greater flexibility to interface with system logic. >
Realizing a terrestrial reference frame using the Global Positioning System

We describe a terrestrial reference frame (TRF) realization based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data alone. Our approach rests on a highly dynamic, long-arc (9 day) estimation strategy and on GPS satellite antenna calibrations derived from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment and TOPEX/Poseidon low Earth orbit receiver GPS data. Based on nearly 17 years of data (1997–2013), our solution for scale rate agrees with International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF)2008 to 0.03 ppb yr−1, and our solution for 3-D origin rate agrees with ITRF2008 to 0.4 mm yr−1. Absolute scale differs by 1.1 ppb (7 mm at the Earth's surface) and 3-D origin by 8 mm. These differences lie within estimated error levels for the contemporary TRF.
NEW FUNCTIONAL CERAMIC DEPOSITION METHOD FOR MEMS

Abstract The PZT, NiZn-ferrite and TiO2 ceramic films with thickness range of 1 to 100 μm were deposited by focusing a jet flow of ultra-fine particles of these materials on a substrate. According to the XRD observation, the as-deposited films have randomly oriented polycrystalline structure, what is the same as the raw material crystal structure of the ultra-fine particles. Ferroelectricity of the as-deposited PZT film was obseved.
The effects of strychnine on the inhibition of interneurons by glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid

Abstract The effects of strychnine on the inhibition of spinal interneurons produced by glycine and GABA was studied by means of iontophoretic application from multibarrel electrodes. The actions of glycine were more effectively blocked by strychnine than were those of GABA. The data suggest that a non-competitive type of antagonism exists between strychnine and these inhibitory amino acids.
Rapid screening of anabolic steroids in urine by reactive desorption electrospray ionization.

Fast screening for anabolic steroids in whole urine is achieved by combining reactive desorption electrospray ionization (reactive DESI) and tandem mass spectrometry. Spray solutions containing hydroxylamine allow heterogeneous reactions of hydroxylamine with the carbonyl group of the steroids during the ionization process. Seven steroids, including a glycosteroid, were examined. The ion/molecule reaction adduct and the oxime formed via its dehydration were observed using reactive DESI; the protonated and sodiated forms of the ionized steroid were also observed both in reactive DESI and in DESI performed without the added hydroxylamine reagent. Paper, glass, and polytetrafluoroethylene were tested as sample substrates, but the glycosteroid was ionized intact without hydrolysis only from polytetrafluoroethylene. Limits of detection for the pure compounds were less than 1 ng, dynamic ranges were typically 2 orders of magnitude, and analysis times were just a few seconds. Concentration levels of ketosteroids...
Effect of fiber type and fabric moisture content on the hydration state of human stratum corneum

Abstract 1. 1. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of fiber type and fabric moisture content on SC hydration. 2. 2. Using three similarly constructed fabrics, six fabric type/moisture content combinations were selected. 3. 3. Fabric swatches were placed on both “normal” and “hydrated” volar forearm skin of five subjects for a specified period, then removed. 4. 4. Two minutes after removal, evaporative water loss (EWL) and skin temperature were measured. 5. 5. Data were analyzed using analyses of variance and Bonferroni t-tests. 6. 6. For normal skin, SC hydration generally increased as fabric moisture content increased. SC was significantly drier after being in contact with cotton swatches at regain than at the two moisture content levels above regain, and also under polyester swatches. 7. 7. For hydrated skin, hydration state was significantly lower under the cotton swatch at regain than at 38.6% moisture content or at saturation, but was not significantly different under the polyester swatch at regain or at saturation.
Discussion Based on the Survey Results of Authorities' Inquiries during NDA Review in Japan

We conducted a survey of inquiries from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) for the 13 New Drug Applications (NDAs) submitted by Pfizer Japan Inc. in order to investigate their impact on the NDA review period. The results showed that PMDA raised an average of 130 inquiries (103–180) for nine new chemical entities (NCEs) and an average of 39 inquiries (28–59) for four products with line extensions (PLEs) for the time before and after the first interview meeting. The total number of inquiries received during the period between NDA submission and approval was on average 300 (167–432) for seven NCEs and 82 (53–123) for four PLEs. It was recognized that the NDA review period correlated with the total number of inquiries, the total number of inquiries with potentially high impact on approval (inquiries with high impact), and the frequency of inquiries including those with high impact, which were received during the period between NDA submission and approval. The survey results suggested the possibility that the approval timeline would be affected by these factors related to inquiries from PMDA.
Relativized alternation and space-bounded computation

The prototypical results of relativized complexity theory are the theorems of Baker, Gill, and Solovay that the answer to the relativized P=? NP question depends on the oracle. Such results are commonly taken as evidence of the difficulty of solving the unrelativized case, on the assumption that simple simulations and diagonalizations generalize to oracle machines. Many simple simulations, however, fail in the presence of an oracle. Most of these simulations, but not all, involve space-bounded machines, for which there is no agreement on the proper model. The failure of any unrelativized simulation in the relativized case is shown to be due to unequal oracle access. In order to determine the proper oracle access for space-bounded machines, alternating machines are considered. A model in which ALOGSPACE = P, AP = PSPACE, etc., hold relative to any oracle is given. The alternation model gives a new model for deterministic space-bounded oracle machines and also affects time-bounded oracle machines slightly. In the new model, nearly all known Turing machine simulations hold relative to any oracle.
Isolation and characterization of the 32.5 kDa protein from the venom of an endoparasitic wasp.

Abstract The major venom proteins from the endoparasitic wasp were analyzed for distribution in the venom gland. A 32.5 kDa protein was purified from the venom gland of the Chelonus near curvimaculatus wasp. The protein accounts for about 25% of the total protein content of the venom and each gland contains 3–6 pmol of this component. The protein is acidic in nature and anion-exchange chromatography facilitated the purification of the protein to apparent homogeneity. On testing the purified protein by in vivo bioassay, it was found to elicit an effect comparable with the complete venom. The protein does not appear to have any disulfide bonds of major structural importance exposed under SDS-denaturing conditions. Products of chemical partial digest of the purified protein at the methionyl residues by cyanogen bromide were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The 27.6 kDa fragment retained an epitope to an antibody raised against total Chelonus venom proteins, whereas no epitopes were detected for 4.9 and 0.6 kDa fragments.
Growth of cultured mammalian cells on secondary glucose sources.

Abstract Mammalian cells can grow in culture at very low glucose concentrations. They can also grow using starch or maltose as secondary sources of glucose if hydrolytic enzymes (amylase and/or maltase) are available to release the glucose. The serum supplement in the culture medium provides these enzymes in amount adequate to permit growth at as rapid a rate as when free glucose is added. Owing to the relatively slow liberation of glucose from the secondary sources, the cells produce less lactic acid, and the culture medium does not become acidic. If the amount of hydrolytic enzyme in the serum supplement is reduced by heat inactivation, the rate of glucose liberation is further reduced. As a result, glucose continues to be released into the medium even at high cell densities, when all glucose added directly to control cultures has been consumed at a time. For this reason, the cells survive longer at high density on secondary glucose sources than on free glucose. Use of such a culture system should have important practical advantages in maintaining dense cultures of any mammalian cell type. Medium containing secondary glucose sources and serum whose hydrolytic enzymes have been completely inactivated should be a selective medium for the corresponding cellular enzymes. Attempts to select for cell lines able to grow using their own amylase or maltase were not successful, but calculations based on embryonic pancreatic cells, known to synthesize amylase, showed that the amount of enzyme required should be quite low in comparison with that present in the differentiated state. The possibilities of selection for a differentiated function in cell culture have been very little explored, and such an approach may be fruitful if applied to the right cell types.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Brain Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Adults Over 80 Years of Age

A positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and white matter integrity has been consistently reported in older adults. However, it is unknown whether this association exists in adults over 80 with a range of chronic disease conditions and low physical activity participation, which can influence both CRF and brain health. This study examined whether higher CRF was associated with greater microstructural integrity of gray and white matter in areas related to memory and information processing in adults over 80 and examined moderating effects of chronic diseases and physical activity. CRF was measured as time to walk 400 m as quickly as possible with concurrent 3 T diffusion tensor imaging in 164 participants (57.1% female, 40.3% black). Fractional anisotropy (FA) was computed for cingulum, uncinate and superior longitudinal fasciculi. Mean diffusivity (MD) was computed for dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, parahippocampus, and entorhinal cortex. Moderating effects were tested using hierarchical regression models. Higher CRF was associated with higher FA in cingulum and lower MD in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (β, sex-adjusted p: � 0.182, 0.019; 0.165, 0.035; and 0.220, 0.006, respectively). Hypertension attenuated the association with MD in entorhinal cortex. Moderating effects of chronic diseases and physical activity in walking and climbing stairs on these associations were not significant. The association of higher CRF with greater microstructural integrity in selected subcortical areas appears robust, even among very old adults
Characterization theorems for constrained approximation problems via optimization theory

Abstract There have been several attempts to develop a unified approach to the characterization of solutions of Lp approximation problems, for example [5] and [21]. However, the approaches developed in these papers do not readily lend themselves to handling problems where the satisfaction of additional constraints, such as interpolation or convexity conditions on the approximating function, is required. On the other hand, there have been many papers which have individually dealt with the characterization of solutions of special approximation problems with particular types of constraints, especially in the area of Chebyshev approximation. Examples of such special problems include interpolation by the approximating function [4], approximation by a monotone function [16], approximation from one side of the function to be approximated [14], [2, 6], approximation with a vector-valued norm [1, 11], simultaneous approximation of a function and its derivatives [18], and a series of papers by Taylor: [23–25]. The purpose of this paper is to develop a unified approach to the characterization of solutions of Chebyshev and L1 approximation problems with the various types of constraints mentioned above. In addition, it is recognized that many approximation problems with non-Lp norms can easily be handled in the same manner. In Section 1 the necessary results from optimization theory are outlined. The remaining sections of the paper are devoted to applications of these results to various approximation problems: Section 2 to constrained linear Chebyshev approximation, Section 3 to rational Chebyshev approximation, Section 4 to Chebyshev approximation with a vector-valued norm, Section 5 to Chebyshev approximation with nonstandard norms, and Section 6 to constrained L1 approximation.
Homogeneous chemiluminescent immunoassay based on complement mediated hemolysis

Human serum albumin (HSA) was determined by the homogeneous chemiluminescent immunoassay. The assay was performed by two methods, complement fixation method and competitive direct hemolysis method. After the complement mediated hemolysis of red blood cells, the chemiluminescence of luminol catalyzed by leaked hemoglobin was measured homogeneously. The sensitivities of HASA were 0.25 μg/ml and 0.1 μg/ml, respectively but the latter method was convenient for the assay
Optimization of the well locations and completions for vertical and horizontal wells using a derivative-free optimization algorithm

Abstract We introduce a new methodology for the estimation of the location of horizontal and vertical wells that maximizes the life-cycle net-present-value (NPV) of production from a given reservoir. Because of the way wells are commonly modeled in reservoir simulators, the optimal well placement is usually formulated as a discrete optimization problem, where the center point of the well is moved from the center of one gridblock to the center of another gridblock at each iteration of whatever optimization algorithm is used. However, in reality, the optimal well placement is a continuous optimization problem as the center point of the well can be located at any point within the reservoir and it does not have to be at the center of a gridblock. Here, the well-placement problem is formulated in terms of four continuous variables, the xw, yw and zw coordinates of the center point of the well and the length, lw, of the well. A procedure is developed to modify well-productivity indices in the reservoir simulator to account for the location of the centerline of a well within gridblocks and to define the life-cycle NPV of production as a function of these four continuous well parameters, (xw,yw,zw,lw). This NPV functional is maximized using a derivative-free optimization (DFO) algorithm, BOBYQA. This algorithm can conceptually be applied to maximize any cost function subject to bound constraints on the independent variables. However, for the straightforward formulation of the optimal well-placement problem, BOBYQA performs relatively poorly; we show that the performance can be improved by a transformation of the control variables. Because a DFO algorithm is applied, the technology present here can easily be applied using any reservoir simulator; a code for calculating the gradient of NPV by the adjoint method is not needed. The applicability of our methodology is illustrated for a set of synthetic problems.
The cross-over trial: a subtle knife

Cross-over trials are a sharp and useful tool. Byron Jones explains just how sharp they can be-and how not to cut yourself.
Implanted electrical devices and gastroesophageal reflux disease: An effective approach to treatment

.EndoStim™ lower esophageal sphinc-ter (LES) stimulation system (EndoStim, The Hague, The Netherlands) is an implantable electrical stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation therapy to the LES. It is similar to traditional neuro -stimulators with three components; a bipolar stimulation lead with two stitch electrodes, an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and an external programmer. The IPG and stimulation leads are implanted by conventional laparoscopy into the mus -cle of the lower esophageal body. The lead is delivered through the abdominal wall and secured to the IPG located in a sub-cutaneous pocket in the left upper quad-rant. Following implantation, a wireless programmer is used to interrogate and program the IPG.Electrical stimulation of the LES in ani -mal models has been shown to increase resting LES pressure
Thermal support for the very-low-birth-weight infant: Role of supplemental conductive heat

Heated water pads were placed underneath very-low-birth-weight preterm infants receiving care under overhead radiant warmers with plastic heat shields to evaluate the effects on their thermal environments. The electrical input (watts) to the overhead warmer was monitored and temperatures at various locations in the environment and on the infants were recorded. The electrical input to the radiant warmers decreased significantly (P = 0.0015) with the introduction of the heated water pads. Several of the temperatures recorded during the study also showed significant changes, including increased abdominal skin temperatures in these prone infants (P = 0.007) and decreased back-to-abdomen skin temperature gradients (P = 0.007). Less marked changes included higher mattress or pad temperatures (P = 0.019), lower ambient air temperatures within the plastic heat shields (P = 0.022), and increased infant foot temperatures (P = 0.036). We believe that conduction has a significant influence on the thermal environment of the VLBW infant cared for under an overhead radiant warmer and that the use of a heated water pad can markedly alter heat transfer. The impact of conduction appears to have been previously underestimated.
Temporal uncertainty reasoning networks for evidence fusion with applications to object detection and tracking

In this paper, we present a temporal uncertainty-based inferencing paradigm for sensor networks. Multiple sensors observe a phenomenon and then exchange their probability estimates (for the occurrence of an event) with each other. Each node in the network fuses the evidence in such received messages, and computes the probability of occurrence of the relevant event. We develop and apply a temporal relevance decay model that accounts for the possibility that some observations lose their relevance or importance with the passage of time. As an illustrative example, this model is applied to the problems of object detection and tracking using multiple sensors with varying degrees of reliability.
α-Actinin-4/FSGS1 is required for Arp2/3-dependent actin assembly at the adherens junction

We have developed an in vitro assay to study actin assembly at cadherin-enriched cell junctions. Using this assay, we demonstrate that cadherin-enriched junctions can polymerize new actin filaments but cannot capture preexisting filaments, suggesting a mechanism involving de novo synthesis. In agreement with this hypothesis, inhibition of Arp2/3-dependent nucleation abolished actin assembly at cell–cell junctions. Reconstitution biochemistry using the in vitro actin assembly assay identified α-actinin-4/focal segmental glomerulosclerosis 1 (FSGS1) as an essential factor. α-Actinin-4 specifically localized to sites of actin incorporation on purified membranes and at apical junctions in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. Knockdown of α-actinin-4 decreased total junctional actin and inhibited actin assembly at the apical junction. Furthermore, a point mutation of α-actinin-4 (K255E) associated with FSGS failed to support actin assembly and acted as a dominant negative to disrupt actin dynamics at junctional complexes. These findings demonstrate that α-actinin-4 plays an important role in coupling actin nucleation to assembly at cadherin-based cell–cell adhesive contacts.
Adenovirus type 3 epidemic associated with intermittent chlorination of a swimming pool.

A sharp outbreak of pharyngoconjunctival fever due to adenovirus type 3 occurred in two swimming teams shortly alter exposure to unchlorinated water. Children swimming in the chlorinated water suffered no similar illness. The attack rate was 65% and 67% for each team, Attempts to isolate the virus from the water after the outbreak failed. In ten of 19 affected families, transmission to other family members was demonstrated; the secondary attack rate for children was 63%, for adults 19%. The majority of infected children suffered fever, pharyngitis, and conjunctivitis; symptoms in adults were milder, with conjunctivitis predominating. Diarrhea was more common among children infected at home. The median incubation period for swimmers was estimated at seven days; the median case-to-case interval in the families was 11 days.
Policy Assignments for Central Bank Activities

This paper contrasts different policy assignments for central bank operations. Two types of asset market transactions (domestic, foreign) and two policy targets (interest rate, exchange rate) are examined within a portfolio-balance model. It is demonstrated that assigning domestic asset transactions to the internal target, and foreign asset transactions to the external target, produces stable policy paths, while the opposite assignment does not. [310]
Multilayer thermal desorption

Abstract The detection and identification of condensable impurities in a high pressure helium stream as applicable to the Isabelle liquid helium refrigeration system has motivated a study of multilayer desorption of condensed layers from a metal substrate. In this paper, the multilayer desorption analysis which is necessary for such a technique is developed. The result is that from a measurement of the peak temperature T m and peak temperature width ΔW of a single desorption transient the heat of vaporization E of the substance can be determined from the relation: E/KT m = ln 2/(ΔW/T m . Hence an identification of the condensed material can be made. In addition, the peak temperature of the desorption transient of a known substance is calculated for a multilayer film and for a particular layer thickness ( 100 layers) is plotted for a number of common substances.
Graphite particles with a “puffed” structure and enhancement in mechanical performance of their epoxy composites

Abstract A kind of graphite particle (GP) with a novel “puffed” structure and combined with the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups, were developed in our lab. In this paper, the structure and properties of the “puffed” GPs are analyzed, and the reinforcing effects of the GPs on the mechanical properties of an epoxy resin are investigated. Nanoindentation tests showed that the elastic modulus and hardness of the GPs were reduced as compared to the graphite flakes. The effects of the GPs on the properties of the epoxy with 0.5–5.0 wt% of the GPs were investigated by three-point-bending test, fracture toughness and dynamic mechanical analysis. Microstructure of the GPs and fracture surfaces of the composites were examined by microscopy techniques. Results showed that flexural modulus, flexural strength and fracture toughness of the epoxy system with 5 wt% GPs were increased by 13%, 43%, and 28%, respectively, over the pure epoxy. Composite specimens with 5 wt% GPs also showed an apparent increase in storage modulus with respect to that of pure epoxy from DMA. Both linear elastic fracture mechanics and non-linear fracture mechanics were applied to analyze the results.