cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arno Schmidt's Zettel's Traum: An Analysis

Arno Schmidt (1914-1979) is considered one of the most daring and influential writers of postwar Germany; the Germanist Jeremy Adler has called him a 'giant of postwar German literature.' Schmidt was awarded the Fontane Prize in 1964 and the Goethe Prize in 1973, and his early fiction has been translated into English to high critical acclaim, but he is not a well-known figure in the English-speaking world, where his complex work remains at the margins of critical inquiry. Volker Langbehn's book introduces Schmidt to the English-speaking audience, with primary emphasis on his most famous novel, 'Zettel's Traum'. One reviewer called the book an 'elephantine monster' because of its unconventional size (folio format), length (1334 pages and over 10 million characters), and unique presentation of text in the form of notes, typewritten pages, parallel columns, and collages. The novel narrates the life of the main characters, Daniel Pagenstecher, Paul Jacobi and his wife Wilma, and their teenage daughter Franziska. In discussing the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe, the four engage in the problems connected with a translation of Poe. Langbehn's study investigates how literary language can mediate or account for the world of experiences and for concepts. Schmidt's use of unconventional presentation formats challenges us to analyze how we think about reading and writing literary texts. Instead of viewing such texts as a representation of reality, Schmidt's novel destabilizes this unquestioned mode of representation, posing a radical challenge to what contemporary literary criticism defines as literature. No comprehensive study of 'Zettel's Traum' exists in English. Volker Langbehn is associate professor of German at San Francisco State University.
Energy Supply Readiness Across Climate Change and Energy Demand Scenarios in the Columbia River Basin

The Columbia River Power system is the country’s largest renewable energy system, spanning several states and two countries. It provides one of the fastest growing regions in the continent with clean, reliable energy and protects thousands of square miles of land from flooding. The reservoirs on the Columbia River and its tributaries are responsible for many critical functions, such as flood prevention and mitigation, water quality and quantity assurance, and salmon reproduction. Despite these other objectives, the Columbia River Power system is the backbone of the region’s energy supply, providing baseload when other renewable energy sources, namely wind and to a smaller extent solar, are unavailable. When hydropower cannot fill the gap, natural gas must instead, increasing reliance on fossil fuels. The objective of our project is to analyze the energy output of the Columbia River Basin across multiple different climate change and energy demand scenarios to understand the impact that each of these possible futures has on the region’s ability to transition to a cleaner energy future while meeting potentially growing demands. By utilizing multiple scenarios, uncertainty around hydrometeorological and socioeconomic conditions can be quantified and addressed.In this study, we analyze outputs in the middle of the 21st century from the California and West Coast Power System (CAPOW) model, customized to reflect each climate change and energy demand combination. Energy demand scenarios are quantified by Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) and climate change scenarios by CMIP5 Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP), providing projected trends until the end of the century. By varying low, middle, and high pathways across both the SSPs and RCPs, we can gain insights into the Pacific Northwest’s energy health. This research has the potential to identify shortcomings in the current energy infrastructure, project the benefits and consequences of alternative development pathways, and increase understanding of the Columbia River Power system’s greatest sensitivities (climatic or socioeconomic). Future work can build off of this knowledge to design more robust reservoir operating policies in the Columbia River Basin.
The courts of the Deccan Sultanates: living well in the Persian Cosmopolis: by Emma J. Flatt, Cambridge, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2019, 336 pp., $99.99 (hardback), ISBN 9781108481939

A sixteenth-century incense burner in the form of a peacock riding on two elephants. When in use, fragrant smoke would gently curl out of the hollowed body of the bird while its fan-shaped tail, al...
Comparative genomics on cultivated and uncultivated, freshwater and marine Candidatus Manganitrophaceae species implies their worldwide reach in manganese chemolithoautotrophy

Chemolithoautotrophic manganese oxidation has long been theorized, but only recently demonstrated in a bacterial co-culture. The majority member of the co-culture, Candidatus Manganitrophus noduliformans, is a distinct but not yet isolated lineage in the phylum Nitrospirota (Nitrospirae). Here, we established two additional MnCO3-oxidizing cultures using inocula from Santa Barbara (USA) and Boetsap (South Africa). Both cultures were dominated by strains of a new species, designated Candidatus Manganitrophus morganii. The next abundant members differed in the available cultures, suggesting that while Ca. Manganitrophus species have not been isolated in pure culture, they may not require a specific syntrophic relationship with another species. Phylogeny of cultivated Ca. Manganitrophus and related metagenome-assembled genomes revealed a coherent taxonomic family, Candidatus Manganitrophaceae, from both freshwater and marine environments and distributed globally. Comparative genomic analyses support this family being Mn(II)-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophs. Among the 895 shared genes were a subset of those hypothesized for Mn(II) oxidation (Cyc2 and PCC_1) and oxygen reduction (TO_1 and TO_2) that could facilitate Mn(II) lithotrophy. An unusual, plausibly reverse Complex 1 containing 2 additional pumping subunits was also shared by the family, as were genes for the reverse TCA carbon fixation cycle, which could enable Mn(II) autotrophy. All members of the family lacked genes for nitrification found in Nitrospira species. The results suggest that Ca. Manganitrophaceae share a core set of candidate genes for the newly discovered manganese dependent chemolithoautotrophic lifestyle, and likely have a broad, global distribution.
Heparin-induced antiheparin-platelet antibody associated with retinal venous thrombosis.

Abstract Objective To report a case of a 33-year-old white woman in whom retinal venous thromboses developed secondary to heparin-induced antiheparin-platelet antibodies. Design Interventional case report. Methods The patient underwent complete ophthalmic and medical examinations. Laser Doppler measurement of retinal blood circulation also was performed. Intervention Prolonged anticoagulation with thrombin inhibitors and warfarin. Main outcome measures Visual symptoms, retinal appearance on clinical examination, and measurement of retinal blood flow by laser Doppler technique. Results The patient experienced a scotoma in the visual field of the left eye, left retinal venous thrombosis, decreased venous blood flow in the left eye, and heparin-induced antiheparin-platelet antibodies in serum. After intervention, the visual symptoms and retinal appearance improved, and retinal blood flow normalized. Conclusions Heparin-induced antiheparin-platelet antibody can lead to thrombosis of the ocular circulation. This index case, which is the first one ever reported in association with antiheparin-platelet antibodies, further illustrates the potential side effects of heparin and widens the spectrum of complications of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and HIT thrombosis syndrome (HITTS).
MRP4: A previously unidentified factor in resistance to nucleoside-based antiviral drugs.

Dideoxynucleosides, which are potent inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase and other viral DNA polymerases, are a common component of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) (ref. 1). Six reverse transcriptase inhibitors have been approved for human use: azidothymidine; 2'3'-dideoxycytidine; 2'3'-dideoxyinosine; 2',3'-didehydro-3'deoxythymidine; 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine; and 4-[2-amino-6-(cyclopropylamino) -9H-purin-9-yl]-2-cyclopentene-1-methanol. Although drug-resistant HIV strains resulting from genetic mutation have emerged in patients treated with HAART (ref. 1), some patients show signs of drug resistance in the absence of drug-resistant viruses2,3. In our study of alternative or additional mechanisms of resistance operating during antiviral therapy, overexpression and amplification of the MRP4 gene correlated with ATP-dependent efflux of PMEA (9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine) and azidothymidine monophosphate from cells and, thus, with resistance to these drugs. Overexpression of MRP4 mRNA and MRP4 protein severely impaired the antiviral efficacy of PMEA, azidothymidine and other nucleoside analogs. Increased resistance to PMEA and amplification of the MRP4 gene correlated with enhanced drug efflux; transfer of chromosome 13 containing the amplified MRP4 gene conferred resistance to PMEA. MRP4 is the first transporter, to our knowledge, directly linked to the efflux of nucleoside monophosphate analogs from mammalian cells.
Plasma sphingomyelins are associated with cognitive progression in Alzheimer's disease

Plasma sphingolipids have been shown to predict cognitive impairment and hippocampal volume loss, but there is little research in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study we sought to determine whether plasma ceramides, dihydroceramides (DHCer), sphingomyelins (SM), or dihydrosphingomyelin (DHSM) levels and ratios of SM/ceramide or DHSM/DHCer were predictive of progression in AD. Probable AD patients (n = 120) were enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center at Baylor College of Medicine. Plasma sphingolipids were assessed using ESI/MS/MS. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the relation between baseline plasma sphingolipid levels and cross-sectional and longitudinal performance on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), and Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-Sum). Participants were followed a mean of 4.2 visits and 2.3 years. There were no cross-sectional associations. In longitudinal analyses, high levels of DHCer and ceramide were associated with greater progression, but findings did not reach significance (p > 0.05). In contrast, higher plasma levels of SM, DHSM, SM/ceramide, and DHSM/DHCer ratios were associated with less progression on the MMSE and ADAS-Cog; the ratios were the strongest predictors of clinical progression. Compared to the lowest tertiles, the highest tertiles of DHSM/DHCer and SM/ceramide ratios declined 1.35 points (p = 0.001) and 1.19 (p = 0.004) points less per year on the MMSE and increased 3.18 (p = 0.001) and 2.42 (p = 0.016) points less per year on the ADAS-Cog. These results suggest that increased SM/ceramide and DHSM/DHCer ratios dose-dependently predict slower progression among AD patients and may be sensitive blood-based biomarkers for clinical progression.
From Tumor Targeting to Speech Monitoring: Accurate Respiratory Monitoring Using Medical Continuous-Wave Radar Sensors

Using microwaves to detect small physiological movements such as respiration and heartbeat dates back to the 1970s [1]. It is realized by detecting the phase information in the received radar signals, which is caused by Doppler shift due to the moving chest wall. The principle is similar to the radar guns used by police officers to detect over-speed vehicles. Based on the form of the transmit signal, there are basically two types of radars: continuous-wave (CW) radar and ultrawideband (UWB) radar. The CW radar falls into three subcategories: single-tone, stepped frequency (SFCW), and frequency-modulated CW (FMCW). Each category of radars has its specific advantages. The singletone CW radar has a simple system architecture that allows high-level chip integration [2]?[4]. It also has high accuracy (submillimeter) in relative displacement measurement [5]?[6]. Unfortunately, because no instant bandwidth is transmitted, single-tone CW radars do not carry range (i.e., absolute distance between the radar and the subject) information. FMCW radars are able to detect range information [7]?[8] but normally require a very large bandwidth and more sophisticated signal processing to realize high-accuracy relative displacement measurement. Researchers also have successfully integrated the FMCW radar on silicon chips [9]?[11]. SFCW radars carry some advantages of both singletone CW radars and FMCW radars and thus have been successfully used in applications such as fall detection [23]. In addition, a hybrid radar system combining the advantages of the single-tone and FMCW radars was reported in [12]. UWB biomedical radars have veryhigh-range resolution due to its wideband nature [13]. The state of the art shows that UWB pulse radars have been efficiently implemented on silicon [74] and have been successfully applied to the accurate detection of respiratory rate and apnea in adults and infants [75].
Testicular scintigraphy in the evaluation of the acute scrotum

Testicular scintigraphy has been well validated in the evaluation of patients with suspected testicular torsion and provides an accurate evaluation of testicular perfusion at the lime of imaging. However, the presence of normal or increased perfusion to the testis does not definitively exclude the necessity for surgical intervention. A case of intermittent testicular torsion, with a review of testicular scintigraphy in the evaluation of the acute scrotum arc presented.
Dependence of the Excitability of Pituitary Cells on Cyclic Nucleotides

Cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate and cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate are intracellular (second) messengers that are produced from the nucleotide triphosphates by a family of enzymes consisting of adenylyl and guanylyl cyclases. These enzymes are involved in a broad array of signal transduction pathways mediated by the cyclic nucleotide monophosphates and their kinases, which control multiple aspects of cell function through the phosphorylation of protein substrates. We review the findings and working hypotheses on the role of the cyclic nucleotides and their kinases in the control of electrical activity of the endocrine pituitary cells and the plasma membrane channels involved in this process.
School-based interventions for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Research implications and prospects

(2007). School-Based Interventions for Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Research Implications and Prospects. School Psychology Review: Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 287-290.
Pitfalls in Archaeological Fieldwork: On Gender, Ethics, and Danger

Independent field work is considered a rite of passage towards advanced degrees in archaeology—particularly for the Ph.D. Through graduate coursework and mentoring from advisors, students prepare for fieldwork by their reviewing the literature, preparing grant proposals, and defending the thesis. Through a period of apprenticeship and/or field-schools archaeology students go on to learn various methods and techniques. However, little explicit guidance is provided to prepare students, particularly women, for the types of problems and issues that can be encountered in the field. Further, there is no published literature that directly addresses the challenges of fieldwork, especially outside one's home country. How is it, then, that archaeologists learn about the pitfalls of the field? It is largely via trial and error, which can be a costly and dangerous mode of learning.
Surface Deactivation in Glass Capillary Columns and Its Investigation by Auger Electron Spectroscopy

Abstract Surface deactivation in the preparation of glass capillary columns was studied using different acid leaching procedures. Surface analysis by Auger electron spectroscopy both before and after heat treatment of these capillaries provided information on the extent of leaching associated 1 Present address, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 with each procedure. Results suggest that Pyrex glass which has been leached with 19% HC1 solution at 100°C is essentially pure SiO2 except for a significant amount of surface carbon contamination. Furthermore, heat treatment of soda-lime glass with gaseous HC1 followed by formic acid leaching achieves nearly complete deactivation. Chromatographic results verify these observations.
Intelligent information agents: review and challenges for distributed information sources

Inexperienced users typically obtain one of three possible outcomes when they search for online information: They are buried under an information avalanche, they are unable to locate any useful information at all, or they find what they need in roughly the amount they need. Unfortunately, the latter outcome is the most rare. Unfamiliarity with search tactics creates difficulties for many users of online retrieval systems. When faced with poor results, even experienced searchers may use vocabulary incorrectly and often fail to reformulate their queries. Far from being the answer to everyone's information dreams, distributed sources of online information, i.e., the World Wide Web (WWW), compound the problem and may often turn into an information nightmare. To address this problem, intelligent online search assistants, or agents, are being developed for information retrieval applications. There are many approaches, both theoretical and implemented, to using intelligent software agents for information retrieval purposes. These approaches range from desktop agents specialized for a single user to networks of agents used to collect data from distributed information sources, including Web sites. This article presents an overview of intelligent software agents in information retrieval, including an explanation of agents and agent architectures, and presents several agent systems. We distinguish between agents as individual entities, whose properties and characteristics we describe separately, and agent systems as collections of agents utilized for information retrieval tasks, which we discuss in terms of individual implementations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Detection of a novel lymphocyte protein-tyrosine kinase by renaturation in polyacrylamide gels

Protein kinase activity, including activity specific for the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues, can be detected among particulate fraction proteins of T cell lymphomas after separation by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Putative protein kinases are detected by renaturation of enzyme activity directly within the gel following removal of detergent. LSTRA, a cell line that exhibits elevated levels of protein-tyrosine kinase activity, was found to express a predominant protein-tyrosine kinase of molecular weight 30,000. This same enzyme was present in T lymphocytes and other T lymphoid cell lines. Studies involving rapid preparation of protein fractions, limited proteolysis and one-dimensional peptide mapping did not demonstrate a direct relationship between the phosphorylated 30,000 dalton protein and the predominant 56,000 dalton phosphotyrosine containing protein that is observed following phosphorylation of LSTRA cell particulate fractions in vitro.
Antimalarial Activity of Prodigiosin

SINCE Babes in 1885 claimed the complete inhibition of cholera vibrio by an old culture of Micrococcus prodigiosus there have been numerous descriptions1–3 of antibiotic properties associated with the bacterium Chromobacterium prodigiosum (Serratia marcescens) and the bipyrrolylpyrrolylmethene prodigiosin (I), which occurs in the red bacterial pigment. The purity of the metabolite4,5 used in the earlier investigations is suspect and the earlier claims like those for the bacterium lack definition of the true causative factor. In this regard the prodigiosin used has been considered too toxic for therapeutic use, although it has evidently been used in the clinical treatment of some cases of disseminated coccidioidomycosis (San Joaquin Valley fever)6. Goble and Boyd7 examined a number of porphyrins, bilirubinoids, pyrroles and congeners against Trypanosoma congolese in mice and found chlorophyllins, containing either magnesium or copper, and haematoporphyrin to be effective in delaying death and curative with prolonged treatment. We have investigated the antimalarial properties of purified prodigiosin (I), the cyclotetradepsipeptide serratamolide (II)4,8,9, an ethyl alcoholic extract of Serratia marcescens (III) from which I, II and other metabolites can be derived4, and two dipyrrolylmethenes (IV a and b) against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Prodigiosin showed definite activity (Table 1) against the parasite, which took about twice as long to kill the mice as compared with untreated infections, whereas the other materials exhibited only weak activity at the same or comparable concentrations.
Parascope: a Parallel Programming Environment

The ParaScope programming environment, under de velopment at Rice University, has been designed to as sist in the formulation, implementation, and debugging of parallel Fortran programs. In its implementation, ParaScope merges the technologies of automatic paral lelism detection and integrated programming environ ments. This paper discusses the issues that underlie the design of ParaScope's editor, compiler, and debugger. The editor includes mechanisms for viewing and manip ulating the program's dependence structure. The compi lation system uses information from the various tools in the programming environment to optimize entire pro grams for specific parallel architectures. The debugging system includes facilities for remote debugging on par allel machines, using information from the editor and compiler to help isolate schedule-dependent errors.
The Guanosine-Adenosine Interaction Exists In Vivo

In cultured renal cells and isolated perfused kidneys, extracellular guanosine augments extracellular adenosine and inosine (the major renal metabolite of adenosine) levels by altering the extracellular disposition of these purines. The present study addressed whether this "guanosine-adenosine mechanism" exists in vivo. In rats (n = 15), intravenous infusions of adenosine (1 µmol/kg per minute) decreased mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) from 114 ± 4 to 83 ± 5 mm Hg, heart rate (HR) from 368 ± 11 to 323 ± 9 beats/min), and renal blood flow (RBF) from 6.2 ± 0.5 to 5.3 ± 0.6 ml/min). In rats (n = 15) pretreated with intravenous guanosine (10 µmol/kg per minute), intravenous adenosine (1 µmol/kg per minute) decreased MABP (from 109 ± 4 to 58 ± 5 mm Hg), HR (from 401 ± 10 to 264 ± 20 beats/min), and RBF (from 6.2 ± 0.7 to 1.7 ± 0.3). Two-factor analysis of variance (2F-ANOVA) revealed a significant interaction (P < 0.0001) between guanosine and adenosine for MABP, HR, and RBF. In control rats, the urinary excretion rate of endogenous inosine was 211 ± 103 ng/30 minutes (n = 9); however, in rats treated with intravenous guanosine (10 µmol/kg per minute), the excretion rate of inosine was 1995 ± 300 ng/30 minutes (n = 12; P < 0.0001 versus controls). Because adenosine inhibits inflammatory cytokine production, we also examined the effects of intravenous guanosine on endotoxemia-induced increases in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In control rats (n = 7), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli 026:B6 endotoxin; 30 mg/kg) increased plasma TNF-α from 164 ± 56 to 4082 ± 730 pg/ml, whereas in rats pretreated with intravenous guanosine (10 µmol/kg per minute; n = 6), LPS increased plasma TNF-α from 121 ± 45 to 1821 ± 413 pg/ml (2F-ANOVA interaction effect, P = 0.0022). We conclude that the guanosine-adenosine mechanism exists in vivo and that guanosine may be a useful therapeutic for reducing inflammation.
Risk Markers for Periodontal Pathology Over Time in the Third Molar and Non–Third Molar Regions in Young Adults

Purpose This study was conducted to analyze the clinical impact of risk markers for third molar and non–third molar periodontal pathology over time. Patients and Methods Data were obtained from healthy adults with 4 asymptomatic third molars in an institutional review board–approved trial. Full-mouth periodontal probing depth (PD) data were collected as clinical measures of possible periodontal pathology. The third molar region included the 6 third molar probing sites and the 2 second molar distal probing sites (maximum of 16 sites per jaw). The non–third molar region included all remaining probing sites (maximum of 80 sites per jaw). Periodontal PDs were considered indicator variables for clinically detected periodontal pathology or its absence at baseline and follow-up. Subjects were grouped based on all PD less than 4 mm (no disease), 1 to 3 PD ≥4 mm (incipient disease), or at least 4 PD ≥4 mm (early disease). Levels of periodontal pathogens and gingival crevicular fluid inflammatory mediators at baseline also were assayed as risk markers for periodontal pathology. Baseline risk markers and possible confounding variables were included in risk assessment models to derive odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for periodontal pathology in the third molar and non–third molar regions at follow-up. Results A total of 195 subjects had a median follow-up of 5.9 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 4.6 to 6.9 years). Median age at enrollment was 26.2 years (IQR = 22 to 34 years); 52% were female, 84% were Caucasian, and 10% were African-American. A significant association was found between baseline and follow-up third molar region and non–third molar region periodontal pathology indicators ( P Conclusions In young adults, the presence of periodontal pathology as indicated by periodontal PDs in the third molar region at baseline was predictive of detection of periodontal pathology in the third molar and non–third molar regions at follow-up.
Optimum design of reinforced concrete frames using interactive computer graphics

An integrated approach of the design and optimization problem of reinforced concrete frames, based on the use of interactive computer graphics is presented. The formulation of the optimization problem in terms of all the design variables and constraints is given. The size of the problem is greatly reduced if reinforcement areas are considered as dependent variables. A fully stressed design method is employed to optimize an automatically generated initial design. Analysis and design results plots, including complete reinforcement drawings, are available to designers, helping them to evaluate the current status of the design and allowing them to direct the entire computation process.
Engineering and Critical Communication: The Relevance of Philosophy to Engineering

This essay will argue for the specific relevance of the study of philosophy to the practice of engineering. As an activity, engineering requires a community of discourse in which critical communication can occur. By critical communication, I mean the process of rationally challenging and evaluating claims to truth of particular statements and theories; claims of sincerity by speakers; and justifications of the socially sanctioned power of persons who claim technical expertise in engineering. Part of the study of ethics and political philosophy is the description of the social and personal conditions which make possible the freedom essential to critical thinking. These conditions include both personal values and social norms, and center around the concepts of personal autonomy, communal responsibility and political freedom. This essay will conclude with a brief account of how these concepts, essential to the practice of engineering, can be communicated through the study of ethics and political philosophy.
PPPS-2013: Synchronization of the dust acoustic wave

Summary form only given. Synchronization is a nonlinear phenomenon where an oscillation adjusts its frequency in response to an external driving. We investigate waves in a dusty plasma consisting of micron-size particles of solid matter as well as electrons, ions and neutral gas atoms. The dust acoustic wave is a compressional wave analogous to an ion acoustic wave. Differently from previous experiments,1 in our experiment2 we vary not only frequency but also amplitude of the external driving to characterize synchronization. We introduce dust consisting of 4.83 micron polymer microspheres into an argon rf glow discharge plasma. The microspheres become negatively charged and are electrically levitated and confined. To help shape the dust cloud into a 3D volume, we insert a glass box into the plasma to enhance the natural horizontal dc electric fields that help confine the negatively-charged dust. Due to an ion streaming instability, a dust acoustic wave is self-excited with a natural frequency of 22 Hz. This low frequency is due to the inertia of the heavy dust particles. We observe the wave's propagation using a high-speed camera. To synchronize the wave, we apply an external drive by sinusoidally modulating the overall ion density using a frequency that is different from the wave's natural frequency. In the presence of this driving, we observe that the wave has a frequency of 1,2,3 or ½ times the driving frequency, and this indicates synchronization to the external drive. We find that synchronization of our wave has a threshold amplitude. We prepare an Arnold tongue diagram, which is a traditional method of characterizing synchronization. We find that this diagram has a branching feature. We also observe an unexpected nonharmonic state, which we find to be a nonlinear oscillation that is not in synchronization with the external drive2.
A direct non-buffer rate control algorithm for real time video compression

Rate control (RC) is crucial in controlling compression bitrates and encoding qualities for networked video applications. In this paper, we propose a direct non-buffer real-time rate control algorithm for video encoding, which has two unique features. First, unlike traditional algorithms which adopt buffers in rate control, the proposed algorithm does not use a buffer in rate regulation which can reduce the delay and improve real-time response. Second, we propose a new Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) bit controller to directly control encoding bitrates. In addition, we also develop a simple but effective method for real-time target bit allocation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that conducts video rate control without using a buffer. Our extensive experimental results have demonstrated that the proposed algorithm outperforms the MPEG-4 rate control algorithm by achieving more accurate rate regulation and improving overall coding quality.
Wood distribution in neotropical forested headwater streams of La Selva, Costa Rica

Surveys of wood along 30 forested headwater stream reaches in La Selva Biological Station in north-eastern Costa Rica represent the first systematic data reported on wood loads in neotropical streams. For streams with drainage areas of 0·1–8·5 km2 and gradients of 0·2–8%, wood load ranged from 3 to 34·7 m3 wood/100 m channel and 41–612 m3 wood/ha channel. These values are within the range reported for temperate streams. The variables wood diameter/flow depth, stream power, the presence of backflooding, and channel width/depth are consistently selected as significant predictors by statistical models for wood load. These variables explain half to two-thirds of the variability in wood load. These results, along with the spatial distribution of wood with respect to the thalweg, suggest that transport processes exert a greater influence on wood loads than recruitment processes. Wood appears to be more geomorphically effective in altering bed elevations in gravel-bed reaches than in reaches with coarser or finer substrate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Processing of the Escherichia coli leuX tRNA transcript, encoding tRNALeu5, requires either the 3′→5′ exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase or RNase P to remove the Rho-independent transcription terminator

Here we report a unique processing pathway in Escherichia coli for tRNALeu5 in which the exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) removes the Rho-independent transcription terminator from the leuX transcript without requiring the RhlB RNA helicase. Our data demonstrate for the first time that PNPase can efficiently degrade an RNA substrate containing secondary structures in vivo. Furthermore, RNase P, an endoribonuclease that normally generates the mature 5′-ends of tRNAs, removes the leuX terminator inefficiently independent of PNPase activity. RNase P cleaves 4–7 nt downstream of the CCA determinant generating a substrate for RNase II, which removes an additional 3–4 nt. Subsequently, RNase T completes the 3′ maturation process by removing the remaining 1–3 nt downstream of the CCA determinant. RNase E, G and Z are not involved in terminator removal. These results provide further evidence that the E. coli tRNA processing machinery is far more diverse than previously envisioned.
A slip system-based kinematic hardening model application to in situ neutron diffraction of cyclic deformation of austenitic stainless steel

Abstract Accurate prediction of the Bauschinger effect is considered a litmus test for the validity of strengthening theories. The effect is known to arise from ‘backstresses’ having intergranular and intragranular sources. Polycrystal plasticity models inherently capture intergranular effects but typically neglect intragranular (dislocation-based) sources of backstress. The negative impact of this omission is made apparent by comparisons of model predictions with in situ neutron diffraction measurements of the hystereses and internal stresses within a sample subjected to fully-reversed tension–compression cyclic deformation. An elasto-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) model is modified to include a Voce-type non-linear kinematic hardening rule, similar to the phenomenological Armstrong–Frederick–Chaboche model, but implemented at the slip system level. This additional physically-based hardening evolution enables the polycrystal model to account for hardening due to reversible, geometrically necessary dislocation structures, such as pile-ups, as well as the more isotropic hardening effect due to forest dislocations. The model accurately predicts the macroscopic hysteresis loops and internal strains observed during the aforementioned in situ low cycle fatigue tests.
Comparisons of Cubed Ice, Crushed Ice, and Wetted Ice on Intramuscular and Surface Temperature Changes

Abstract Context: Many researchers have investigated the effectiveness of different types of cold application, including cold whirlpools, ice packs, and chemical packs. However, few have investigat...
Serious aortic complications in a patient with Turner syndrome

An asymptomatic young woman was discovered to have life-threatening aneurysms and dissection of the thoracic aorta during routine evaluation in a Turner syndrome (TS) study. The presence of a heart murmur and hypertension had led to diagnosis and surgical repair of an atrial septal defect at age 5 and of aortic coarctation at age 12. The diagnosis of TS was made at 16 years of age due to short stature and delayed pubertal development. She was treated with growth hormone from age 16 to 18 and with atenolol, thyroid hormone, and estrogen. She discontinued her medications and was lost to medical follow-up at age 20. Upon presenting here at age 26, she reported a very active lifestyle, including vigorous exercise and an acting career, with no symptoms of chest or back pain or shortness of breath. Cardiovascular imaging revealed aortic regurgitation, an unsuspected dissection of a severely dilated ascending aorta, and a large descending aortic aneurysm. She required surgical replacement of her aortic valve and ascending aorta, followed by endovascular repair of the descending aortic aneurysm. This patient illustrates the importance of considering the diagnosis of TS in girls with congenital aortic defects and the absolute necessity for close, expert follow-up of these patients who are at high risk for complications after surgical repair due to an underlying aortopathy, hypertension, and metabolic disorders. This patient also emphasizes the need to publicize and follow screening guidelines as there is an increasing number of patients with congenital defects who need transition to adult care.
Differences in Racially Disproportionate Reporting of Child Maltreatment Across Report Sources

Recent attention on disproportionate representation of African-American children in the child welfare system highlights the phenomenon in foster care, with less emphasis placed on the reporting stage. This study examines racial disproportionality and disparity in reports of suspected child maltreatment, across report source, and comparing state experiences. Geographic information systems (GIS) technology is used to report findings through maps. This study's findings highlight that racial disproportionality and disparity in reporting is not a universal phenomenon across the United States, nor across report sources. Efforts to address these phenomena should take notice of differences between states, and trends across report sources.
Judging the Effectiveness of Analgesia for Children and Adolescents During Vaso-Occlusive Events of Sickle Cell Disease

The effectiveness of analgesia during sickle cell crisis was examined in this descriptive, exploratory study. Pain scores (using the African-American Oucher and the Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool) and analgesics administered were examined during a 2-hour observation/interview in the hospital while children/adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) experienced a vaso-occlusive episode (VOE). A convenience sample of twenty-one 6- to 16-year olds with SCD was included. Evidence indicated that 15 of the 21 children in the sample were in moderate to severe pain during their interviews, indicating that the analgesics did not effectively control their pain. Most participants (17) had received nalbuphine as the primary analgesic by intravenous infusion drip and/or patient-controlled analgesia pump. Many reasons were identified for the inadequate analgesia. The results suggested that the pain of SCD is very complex, requiring continuous adjustment of comfort measures, especially analgesics. More research is needed to examine pain control in children with SCD.
Illuminating Dynamic Regions Associated with the Heterotropic Allosteric Communication In Bacillus Stearothermophilus Phosphofructokinase

Van't Hoff analysis has revealed that the positive sign of the coupling free energy between the allosteric inhibitor, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and the substrate, fructose 6-phosphate (F6P), of Bacillus stearothermophilus phosphofructokinase (BsPFK) is determined by the large entropy component of the system. BsPFK can exist in four different ligation states: BsPFK-F6P, PEP-BsPFK, PEP-BsPFK-F6P, and apo-BsPFK. The coupling free energy derives from the standard free energy associated with the equilibrium between the first 2 and the last 2 species, respectively. However the entropic properties of these species are poorly understood. The dynamic character of these four species can be expected to contribute to the coupling entropy which we have investigated using intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence anisotropy to report on the local restrictions to side-chain motion. Hybrid forms of BsPFK containing a single tryptophan that report on a single heterotropic interaction have been constructed. Tryptophan was positioned by constructing conservative tryptophan-shift modifications in which one of the sixteen native phenylalanine or tyrosine residues in one subunit was substituted with tryptophan, and the native tryptophan was changed to a tyrosine. Six positions dispersed throughout the monomer were initially targeted for this modification. Steady-state anisotropy measurements combined with time-resolved experiments were used to detect significant changes in the rotational correlation times of each ligated species of the BsPFK hybrid that isolates the strongest single heterotropic interaction. The dynamic changes observed in this manner suggest that specific regions are involved in the heterotropic allosteric coupling. Of the dynamics measured between the enzyme forms relevant to the coupling, F139 and F240 exhibit the largest difference in dynamics suggesting these residues identify regions particularly important for the allosteric communication of the dominant heterotropic interaction in BsPFK. Supported by NIH Grant GM33216 and Welch Foundation Grant A1548.
From Contagion to Incoherence towards a Model of the Unfolding Eurozone Crisis

Based on an account of the macroeconomic foundations and political economy underpinning European Monetary Union, this paper presents a simple dynamic model of the mutual reinforcement feedback between (a) the Eurozone's contagion dynamic and (b) the policy responses of the European Union, including the creation of new institutions (e.g. the EFSF and ESM), the signing of new treaties (e.g. the Fiscal Past) and, of course, the novel' policies of existing institutions (e.g. the ECB). Acknowledgments: I wish to thank James K. Galbraith as well as participants at the 2013 Ayres Scholar Lecture, organised by the Association for Evolutionary Economics in the context of the 2013 ASSA Conference, San Diego, where an earlier version of this paper was presented.
A generalization of continued fractions

We investigate a generalization of classical continued fractions, where the “numerator” 1 is replaced by an arbitrary positive integer N. We find both similarities to and surprising differences from the classical case.
IgE predicts future nonfatal myocardial infarction in men

Established risk factors cannot explain all the variance in coronary heart disease (CHD). Immunoglobin E (IgE), a mediator of allergy, can affect platelets and arterial smooth muscle. We previously demonstrated a cross-sectional association between IgE and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men. The present study evaluated this relationship prospectively in 278 men and 343 women followed for a mean of 8.9 years. There was an association between IgE and coronary disease in men, but not in women. There was no association for CVD, stroke, or all-cause mortality. The age-adjusted relative risk (RR) for coronary mortality in men with baseline IgE > or = 200 kU/L was 1.66 (p < or = 0.66), but for nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) it was 6.46 (p < or = 0.01). This association was independent of smoking and other risk factors, and unrelated to allergy. Thus, elevated IgE was a strong independent prospective risk factor for nonfatal, but not fatal, MI in men.
Hemolytic differences among artificial cardiac valves used in a ventricular assist pump.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) required for cardiac support may produce clinically significant hemolysis. VAD valves differ in both mechanics and hemodynamics. Therefore, we examined a ball valve, a modified tilting disc (MTD) valve, a polyurethane trileaflet valve, and a Bjork-Shiley monostrut valve to determine their degrees of hemolysis. The valves were tested in a Pierce-Donachy VAD which pumped fresh bovine blood through a mock loop. Blood samples were analyzed for hematocrit and plasma hemoglobin, from which the indices of hemolysis were calculated. A one-way analysis of variance indicated significant differences between certain valves. The MTD was the most hemolytic. No significant hemolytic difference was found between the trileaflet and monostrut valves despite their different designs. The monostrut valve and the MTD valve were hemolytically very different despite their similar design. This study suggests that the valve type significantly affects the hemolysis produced by the VAD.
Finite element method for conserved phase fields: Stress-mediated diffusional phase transformation

Phase-field models with conserved phase-field variables result in a 4th order evolution partial differential equation (PDE). When coupled with the usual 2nd order thermo-mechanics equations, such problems require special treatment. In the past, the finite element method (FEM) has been successfully applied to non-conserved phase fields, governed by a 2nd order PDE. For higher order equations, the convergence of the standard Galerkin FEM requires that the interpolation functions belong to a higher continuity class. We consider the Cahn-Hilliard phase-field model for diffusion-controlled solid state phase transformation in binary alloys, coupled with elasticity of the solid phases. A Galerkin finite element formulation is developed, with mixed-order interpolation: C^0 interpolation functions for displacements, and C^1 interpolation functions for the phase-field variable. To demonstrate convergence of the mixed interpolation scheme, we first study a one-dimensional problem - nucleation and growth of the intermediate phase in a thin-film diffusion couple with elasticity effects. Then, we study the effects of completeness of C^1 interpolation on parabolic problems in two space dimensions by considering the growth of the intermediate phase in a binary system. Quadratic convergence, expected for conforming elements, is achieved for both one- and two-dimensional systems.
DEFECTIVE G PROTEIN ACTIVATION OF THE CAMP PATHWAY IN RAT KIDNEY DURING GENETIC HYPERTENSION

Abstract The development of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is associated with renal dysfunction and vasoconstriction. The kidneys of young SHRs exhibit exaggerated reactivity to angiotensin II (Ang-II) and attenuated responses to vasodilators that normally activate the cAMP signal to buffer hormone-induced vasoconstriction. The present study investigates the mechanism(s) responsible for this abnormality in activation of the cAMP second-messenger pathway in hypertensive animals. Renal vascular reactivity was assessed in 7-week-old anesthetized SHRs and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. The animals were pretreated with indomethacin to block prostanoid production throughout an experiment. Ang-II was injected into the renal artery either alone or mixed with the vasodilator fenoldopam, a dopamine-receptor agonist. These two opposing vasoactive agents were administered before and during intrarenal infusion of NaF or cholera toxin, two activators of G proteins that stimulate cAMP production. The results show that Ang-II reduced renal blood flow by 45% in both strains. In Wistar-Kyoto rats, fenoldopam reduced the Ang-II-induced decrease in renal blood flow from -45% to -30%. This protective effect of fenoldopam was increased further during infusion of NaF or cholera toxin (-18% or -19% decrease in renal blood flow). In SHRs, fenoldopam failed to attenuate Ang II-mediated vasoconstriction (-45% vs. -44%). In contrast, fenoldopam effectively blunted the Ang-II-induced vasoconstriction when it was given concurrently with NaF or cholera toxin (-27 or -31% decrease in renal blood flow). These findings provide evidence for defective interaction between receptor coupling and activation of guanine nucleotide stimulatory factor proteins in the renal microcirculation of 7-week-old SHRs. Such a deficiency could play an important role in renal dysfunction associated with the development of genetic hypertension.
The role of gastroesophageal reflux disease in asthma.

Purpose: To emphasize the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma symptoms or exacerbations. Data sources: Selective review of the scientific literature. Conclusions: Although studies in recent years have offered insight into the relationship between GERD and asthma symptoms, many nurse practitioners (NPs) fail to recognize atypical GERD symptoms, which may explain difficult-to-treat asthma and exacerbation. It has become evident that patients suffering from persistent asthma display an increased prevalence of GERD. Implications for practice: While there are increasing constraints that limit the provider–patient interaction time, it is imperative that NPs develop keen assessment skills to effectively diagnose and treat asthma symptoms that are a product of GERD. Awareness of the asthma–GERD relationship allows NPs to quickly obtain pertinent information and successfully determine how to efficiently treat symptomatic asthmatic patients.