cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
12 years on – Is the NLM medical text indexer still useful and relevant?

Facing a growing workload and dwindling resources, the US National Library of Medicine (NLM) created the Indexing Initiative project in 1996. This cross-library team’s mission is to explore indexing methodologies for ensuring quality and currency of NLM document collections. The NLM Medical Text Indexer (MTI) is the main product of this project and has been providing automated indexing recommendations since 2002. After all of this time, the questions arise whether MTI is still useful and relevant. To answer the question about MTI usefulness, we track a wide variety of statistics related to how frequently MEDLINE indexers refer to MTI recommendations, how well MTI performs against human indexing, and how often MTI is used. To answer the question of MTI relevancy compared to other available tools, we have participated in the 2013 and 2014 BioASQ Challenges. The BioASQ Challenges have provided us with an unbiased comparison between the MTI system and other systems performing the same task. Indexers have continually increased their use of MTI recommendations over the years from 15.75% of the articles they index in 2002 to 62.44% in 2014 showing that the indexers find MTI to be increasingly useful. The MTI performance statistics show significant improvement in Precision (+0.2992) and F1 (+0.1997) with modest gains in Recall (+0.0454) over the years. MTI consistency is comparable to the available indexer consistency studies. MTI performed well in both of the BioASQ Challenges ranking within the top tier teams. Based on our findings, yes, MTI is still relevant and useful, and needs to be improved and expanded. The BioASQ Challenge results have shown that we need to incorporate more machine learning into MTI while still retaining the indexing rules that have earned MTI the indexers’ trust over the years. We also need to expand MTI through the use of full text, when and where it is available, to provide coverage of indexing terms that are typically only found in the full text. The role of MTI at NLM is also expanding into new areas, further reinforcing the idea that MTI is increasingly useful and relevant.
Improving General Chemistry Course Performance through Online Homework-Based Metacognitive Training

In a first-semester general chemistry course, metacognitive training was implemented as part of an online homework system. Students completed weekly quizzes and multiple practice tests to regularly assess their abilities on the chemistry principles. Before taking these assessments, students predicted their score, receiving feedback after completing the assessment on their prediction accuracy. They also received detailed information regarding their ability for each assessment topic and used this information to create a future study plan. During this study plan, students indicated their general ability by chemistry topic and selected areas they would focus their studying upon. A control section completed the same assessments and received the same feedback of ability by topic, but students did not predict scores or create study plans. Results indicate identical initial assessment performance between the two chemistry course sections. However, metacognitive training resulted in improved assessment performance...
Standardized Effect Sizes for Preventive Mobile Health Interventions in Micro-randomized Trials

Mobile Health (mHealth) interventions are behavioral interventions that are accessible to individuals in their daily lives via a mobile device. Most mHealth interventions consist of multiple intervention components. Some of the components are "pull" components, which require individuals to access the component on their mobile device at moments when they decide they need help. Other intervention components are "push" components, which are initiated by the intervention, not the individual, and are delivered via notifications or text messages. Micro-randomized trials (MRTs) have been developed to provide data to assess the effects of push intervention components on subsequent emotions and behavior. In this paper, we review the micro-randomized trial design and provide an approach to computing a standardized effect size for these intervention components. This effect size can be used to compare different push intervention components that may be included in an mHealth intervention. In addition, a standardized effect size can be used to inform sample size calculations for future MRTs. Here, the standardized effect size is a function of time because the push notifications can occur repeatedly over time. We illustrate this methodology using data from an MRT involving HeartSteps, an mHealth intervention for physical activity as part of the secondary prevention of heart disease.
Protecting a low voltage DC microgrid during short-circuit using solid-state switching devices

In a DC microgrid, protection of the DC distribution line during a short-circuit, is an important issue that could undermine the reliability and dependability of the system. In this paper, a model of low-voltage DC microgrid protection during short circuit current is simulated; including calculation of short circuit current and details about its components. These components are a bipolar circuit model with Pi type similar circuit, solid state bi-directional switching devices accompanied by a snubber circuit and a freewheeling segment. The current of the circuit is then calculated during a short circuit fault in line to ground and line to line and the circuit reaction is studied before and after a voltage interruption by the solid-state switching devices with a mathematical expression. Finally, the accuracy of the calculation would be checked by simulating it using Matlab/ Simulink software.
Demonstrating the limitations on target detection (Pd) and false alarm control (Pfa) due to cross-correlated interference in a bistatic / multistatic radar

The goal of this research is to develop a method that allows for processing of bistatic marine radar signals, in order to demonstrate an improvement in target detection (Pd) and false alarm control (Pfa) in systems limited by cross-correlated interference. In this work, a method is presented for coherent processing of signals from a bistatic magnetron oscillator based marine radar. The feasibility of this approach was previously demonstrated for a monostatic radar through a hardware modification that allowed for capture of data via a Xilinx ADC and processing in FPGAs. It is demonstrated here that operating two of radars in this manner and combining their resulting signals allows for an improvement in overall detection and track. Our approach works by sampling the transmitted and received signals at each radar. Cross-correlations between all four combinations of transmitted and received signals are used to demonstrate the limits due to mutual interference in a bistatic/multistatic system of radars. This processing is successfully demonstrated in software, showing the potential for coherency between two marine radars. In general, bistatic coherent radars are very expensive, and this work provides a method for achieving the equivalent coherent performance using a two modified non-coherent radar systems.
Doing Gender on Stage: Karaoke and Gender Presentation

This article investigates how karaoke participants “do gender”. An ethnographic analysis of a karaoke bar in the Northwestern U.S. demonstrates how individuals routinely accomplish gender presentation. Previous research has indicated that karaoke’s simulated character can provide a conduit for personal growth and interpersonal empathy. Each karaoke performance allows for several dimensions of gender presentation/identification (e.g. song choice, performance attitude, and clothing). In addition, audience participation and their reaction to the performer is observed to gauge the accountability of each performance. My findings indicate that men are more likely than are women to perform ironically, establishing that masculinity is reinforced by the efficaciousness of affecting the social environment through their use of humor. Additionally, the ironic male performance allows for the individual to avoid the risk of incompetence, a compromising component of masculinity that demands aptitude. In contrast, women are more likely than are men to perform mimetically, where an individual experiences a type of transcendence through the act of singing. Also, women performers tend to demonstrate the passive value of appearance in order to strengthen bonds with friends. Finally, I find that female performers tend to generate empathy from female audience members, reinforcing the traditional conception of femininity as nurturing.
Millionaires and the public in Czech politics

ABSTRACTThis article relies on a unique survey of Czech millionaires and the general public to probe the nature and extent of the differences in opinions between these two groups and their correspondence with public policy. Its main finding is that millionaires are substantially more right-wing than the public on economic issues and somewhat more internationalist on foreign affairs, though a number of areas of agreement can be found as well, particularly assessments of the problems facing the country. Most surprisingly, the opinions of the public appear more likely to correspond with policy than those of millionaires. These findings have important implications for the rise of populism and the quality of democracy in the Czech Republic.
Reduced-order modelling of stochastic processes with applications to estimation

The theory of canonical correlation analysis is used to develop a new algorithm for obtaining reduced-order continuous-time stochastic models. By establishing an explicit relationship between canonical correlation coefficient - canonical vector pair, and solutions to algebraic Riccati equations, a transformation approach for stochastic model reduction is developed. It is also established that the reduced-order model as well as its inverse are asymptotically stable. This result along with the relationship between canonical variables and the linear least-squares estimate of the state vector leads to the new algorithm for designing reduced-order Kalman-Bucy filters. Finally, the CCA approach is extended to the hierarchical estimation problem. Using oblique projections and the interaction between appropriately defined past and future residuals, a reduced-order hierarchical estimator is developed.
Engineering behind the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) (Conference Presentation)

In September 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) initiated the era of gravitational wave astronomy, a new window on the universe. In its first 4 months of operation, the Advanced LIGO instrument made the first, two direct detections of gravitational waves (ripples in the fabric of space-time). Each of these events were the result of merger of a pair of black holes into a single larger black hole. The first detected system consisted of two black holes of about 30 solar masses each which merged at a distance of 400 mega-parsecs or 1.4 billion years ago, revealing a new population of black holes. As of October 2017 five black hole mergers have been announced. In August 2017, after some further improvements and commissioning, the LIGO and VIRGO collaborations announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves associated with a gamma ray burst and the electromagnetic emission (visible, infrared, radio) of the afterglow of a kilonova -- the spectacular collision of two neutron stars at a distance of 40 mega-parsecs. This marks the beginning of multi-messenger astronomy. The discovery was made using the U.S.-based LIGO; the Europe-based Virgo detector; and some 70 ground- and space-based observatories. The Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors are second generation instruments designed and built for the two LIGO observatories in Hanford, WA and Livingston, LA. These two identically designed instruments employ coupled optical cavities in a specialized version of a Michelson interferometer with 4 kilometer long arms. Fabry-Perot cavities are used in the arms to increase the interaction time with a gravitational wave, power recycling is used to increase the effective laser power and signal recycling is used to improve the frequency response. In the most sensitive frequency region around 100 Hz, the displacement sensitivity is 10-22 meters rms, or about 10 million times smaller than a proton. In order to achieve this unsurpassed measurement sensitivity Advanced LIGO employs a wide range of cutting-edge, high performance technologies, including a ultra-high vacuum system; an extremely stable laser source; multiple stages of active vibration isolation; super-polished and ion milled, ultra-low loss, fused silica optics with high performance multi-layer dielectric coatings; wavefront sensing; active thermal compensation; very low noise analog and digital electronics; complex, nonlinear multi-input, multi-output control systems; and a custom, scalable and easily re-configurable data acquisition and state control system.
Clinical challenges in the ataxias

Ataxias are rare diseases and the etiologic heterogeneity make individual entities even rarer. There are still substantial numbers of patients who are still poorly understood. Available assessment techniques still point to large numbers of patients needed for clinical trials and the need for cooperative efforts, better assessment tools and novel trial designs. Better understanding of neural circuitry abnormalities may lead to more effective symptomatic therapy. Opportunities exist for targeting at risk individuals for effective therapies but how this can be done is not clear. Preventive strategies may become feasible in many ataxias.
The Iranian Reform Movement and the Iranian Reformist Press: Survival and Development

In spite of the crackdown on the independent press (the closure of more than 100 daily, weekly and monthly newspapers in 1999–2004), what we can call a reformist press still exists in Iran. This phenomenon could not and cannot be diminished, although there have been qualitative developments and changes after the worst days concerning freedom of expression in Iran, April 25–28, 2000. Press trials that ignore due process, the imprisonment of journalists, and the continuation of the judiciary’s pressure on the press are some aspects of the power struggle between political factions in Iran.
Partitioning Sets with Genetic Algorithms

We first revisit a problem in the literature of genetic algorithms: arranging numbers into groups whose summed weights are as nearly equal as possible. We provide a new genetic algorithm which very aggressively breeds new individuals which should be improved groupings of the numbers. Our results improve upon those in the literature. Then we extend and generalize our algorithm to a related class of problems, namely, partitioning a set in the presence of a fitness function that assesses the goodness of subsets participating in the partition. Experimental results of this second algorithm show that it, too, works very well.
Use of Simplified Surface Tension Measurements To Determine Surface Excess: An Undergraduate Experiment

The effect of surfactant adsorption on surface tension, as well as associated thermodynamic concepts are introduced in a laboratory experiment designed for undergraduate students. Using a reliable and accessible method, students measure the surface tension of aqueous solutions at different concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Students collect data to estimate the critical micelle concentration and quantitatively determine the maximum surface excess using the Gibbs adsorption equation. Students subsequently determine the surface area per molecule of this surfactant at the liquid–air interface and learn how to generate adsorption isotherm curves.
In Situ DNA Damaging Foci Analysis on Metaphase Chromosomes

DNA damage foci such as ionizing radiation-induced foci (IRIF) can visually distinguish the location and number of specific types of DNA damages. This method is widely used to detect DNA damage in interphase cells. These DNA damage foci can be also visualized on metaphase chromosomes. The technique has an advantage as it provides an easy method of quantifying chromosomal DNA damage. Radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks can be assessed for gamma-H2AX foci formation on metaphase chromosomes.Gamma-H2AX foci can be observed at the break point of chromosomes and can persist in newly repair chromosomes. Foci observation may be advantageous compared to classical cytogenetic analysis due to less time required for analysis. Metaphase DNA damage analysis can be also used for the estimation of DNA damage persistence in daughter cells and capacity of DNA repair. Not only DNA double strand breaks can be visualized, but also other types of DNA damage and modification such as oxidative damage, crosslinking, and methylation of DNA can be visualized with appropriate antibodies. This IRIF immunostaining technique can be combined with FISH analysis for the immunoFISH method.
Fluorescence-based Multiplexed Biomolecular Systems in mm-scale Optics-free CMOS Chip: Nanoplasmonics in Embedded Electronics

In this paper, we present a 96-sensor multiplexed fluorescence-based CMOS biosensor chip with integrated nanoplasmonic angle and scattering insensitive filters for the first time, miniaturizing the entire system into a pill-size form.
Metabolic models of mixed culture fermentation diagnose bottlenecks and predict strategies for improved medium-chain fatty acid production

Multi-species microbial communities determine the fate of materials in the environment and can be harnessed to produce beneficial products from renewable resources. In a recent example, fermentations by mixed microbial communities have produced medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Tools to predict, assess, and improve the performance of these communities, however, are limited. To provide such tools, we constructed two metabolic models of a MCFA-producing community fed a byproduct from a biofuel fermentation. The first model is a unicellular model (iFerment156) that contains a diverse set of fermentation pathways, including reverse β-oxidation for MCFA production while the second model (iFermGuilds564) separates fermentation activities into functional guilds. Both models predicted an energetic advantage for this community to produce octanoic acid as a major fermentation product. Simulations with iFermGuilds564 predicted that 6- and 8-carbon MCFA were largely produced by a sugar-consuming guild, while short-chain fatty acids were mainly produced by a guild consuming lactate. These models represent novel tools for exploring the role of mixed microbial communities on carbon recycling in the environment, as well as on beneficial reuse of organic residues.
Inference for marketing decisions

Abstract The primary emphasis of quantitative marketing is on the evaluation of firm policies for determination of marketing variables as well as the optimization of these policies. Thus, our methods of inference must apply to decision problems and to policy evaluation. In addition, the data we have access to in marketing shapes the demands on inference in a qualitatively different manner than in economics. In marketing, we typically have data at a much lower level of product aggregation. This poses the challenge of creating demand systems for large numbers of products with an element of discrete demand. Traditionally, market researchers have used data at a very high level of geographic aggregation which raises real concerns regarding valid causal inferences. The availability of data at lower level of geographic aggregation, including consumer panel data, holds out the prospect for improved causal inferences even in the absence of experimentation. In addition, the highly targeted nature of some forms of advertising pose significant challenges for ad effect measurement. At the same time, heterogeneity in the effects of marketing variables create a profusion of model parameters placing further demands on the method of inference. In this chapter, we will review methods of inference as they apply specifically to the challenges posed in marketing applications.
Modeling Language Change in the St. Louis Corridor

The St. Louis Corridor extending from Chicago, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri has been described as a “breach” through the Midlands dialect region because of the presence of Inland North features there. Most notably, features associated with the Northern Cities Shift suddenly appeared in Corridor cities in the mid-twentieth century, but they have since largely retreated. Friedman's (2014) population study has uncovered complex relationships between the Corridor's geography and this pattern of advance and retreat, and this work elaborates on that investigation through computational simulations of the Corridor's population structure. Implementing a new network-analytic population model (Kodner & Cerezo Falco, 2018), I find support for Friedman's original hypothesis that migration into cities along Route 66 imported Inland North features into the Corridor first before it spread outward to communities farther away from the route and uncover questions about the Corridor's population that merit further study.
Science and the Eighth Amendment

As time hurtles forward, new science constantly emerges, and many scientific fields can shed light on whether a punishment is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual, or even on whether bail or fines are unconstitutionally excessive under the Eighth Amendment. In fact, in recent years, science has played an increasingly important role in the Court’s Eighth Amendment jurisprudence. From the development of an offender’s brain, to the composition of lethal injection drugs, even to measurements of pain, knowledge of various scientific fields is becoming central to understanding whether a punishment is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual. There are a number of limits to how the Court can weave science into its decisions, though. For example, relevant data are difficult to come by, as ethical limitations prevent a wide swath of focused research that could be useful in this arena. Further, the Justices’ understandings of the complicated science that can help inform their Eighth Amendment decisions are limited. This chapter examines the relevance and limitations of science—both physical and social—in Eighth Amendment analyses.
Uhambo — Twists and Turns on the Journey to an Efficacious HIV-1 Vaccine

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the first reported cases of AIDS, the need for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection remains imperative. The absence of natural immunity to HIV, coupled with its...
The complexity of p53-mediated metabolic regulation in tumor suppression

Although the classic activities of p53 including induction of cell-cycle arrest, senescence, and apoptosis are well accepted as critical barriers to cancer development, accumulating evidence suggests that loss of these classic activities is not sufficient to abrogate the tumor suppression activity of p53. Numerous studies suggest that metabolic regulation contributes to tumor suppression, but the mechanisms by which it does so are not completely understood. Cancer cells rewire cellular metabolism to meet the energetic and substrate demands of tumor development. It is well established that p53 suppresses glycolysis and promotes mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation through a number of downstream targets against the Warburg effect. The role of p53-mediated metabolic regulation in tumor suppression is complexed by its function to promote both cell survival and cell death under different physiological settings. Indeed, p53 can regulate both pro-oxidant and antioxidant target genes for complete opposite effects. In this review, we will summarize the roles of p53 in the regulation of glucose, lipid, amino acid, nucleotide, iron metabolism, and ROS production. We will highlight the mechanisms underlying p53-mediated ferroptosis, AKT/mTOR signaling as well as autophagy and discuss the complexity of p53-metabolic regulation in tumor development.
Channel Reciprocity Analysis and Feedback Mechanism Design for Mobile Beamforming Systems

Accurate channel state information (CSI) is essential to increasing throughput in multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) systems with digital beamforming. CSI can be acquired by channel estimation and reported via feedback mechanisms. While the training and feedback overhead are typically proportional to the number of antennas, uplink measurements can be utilized to predict downlink CSI assuming perfect channel reciprocity in a time division duplex (TDD) mode. However, many works make the assumption that channels are perfectly reciprocal, which is often not the case in practice due to poor channel estimation and physical channel asymmetry. In this work, we investigate the key challenges in channel feedback performance, including TX-RX imbalance, channel coherence, and interference for mobile systems. We evaluate IEEE 802.11ac-based implicit and explicit feedback schemes with both emulated and in-field MIMO channels, particularly in regards to drone-based transmissions. Our analysis with channel emulation shows that implicit feedback is susceptible to channel reciprocity errors, while explicit feedback is more sensitive to Doppler effects. We propose a hybrid feedback mechanism that increases the throughput by 32% over conventional feedback methods. We additionally evaluate the impact of frequency offset asymmetry on the performance of distributed mobile systems. Our in-field experiments demonstrate that explicit feedback can provide better throughput improvement than implicit feedback in highly-mobile air-to-ground channels. Since our study spans many critical frequency bands, these results serve as a fundamental step towards understanding the impacts of asymmetric factors of channel reciprocity for drone-based beamforming systems.
Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility preferences in the United States: an exploratory study.

Objective To explore early disparate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility preferences Design Cross-sectional study Setting Online survey questionnaire Patient(s) A total of 440 female participants who were trying to conceive (TTC) in the past year or currently are TTC. Intervention(s) No interventions administered. Main Outcome Measure(s) Change in fertility preference Result(s) Approximately 1 in 3 participants reported changing their fertility preferences because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of those that reported changing their fertility preferences, 23.9% reported TTC earlier and 61.6% reported TTC later. Preliminary findings show the odds of changing fertility preferences in black or African American women were 5.45 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50–19.90) times that of white women and in nonheterosexual women were 2.76 (95% CI, 1.41–5.42) times that of heterosexual women. Furthermore, every 1 unit increase in state anxiety and depressive symptoms was associated with a 26% (95% CI, 3%–54%) or 17% (95% CI, 5%–31%) increase in odds of pushing back TTC, respectively. Conclusion(s) This exploratory study highlights how the fertility preferences of racial and ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, and those experiencing mental health issues may be disparately influenced by the pandemic. Research is needed to examine further the disparate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility preferences.
An early burst in brachiopod evolution corresponding with significant climatic shifts during the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event.

We employ modified tip-dating methods to date divergence times within the Strophomenoidea, one of the most abundant and species-rich brachiopod clades to radiate during the Great Ordovician Biodive...
The Impact of Disparities in Social Determinants of Health on Hospitalization Rates for Patients with COVID-19 in Michigan (USA).

Importance The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the health-care system in the United States and has brought further light on health disparities within it. However, only a few studies have examined hospitalization risk with regard to social determinants of health. Objective We aimed to identify how health disparities affect hospitalization rates among patients with COVID-19. Design This observational study included all individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 from February 25, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Uni- and multivariate analyses were utilized to evaluate associations between demographic data and inpatient versus outpatient status for patients with COVID-19. Setting Multicenter (8 hospitals), largest size health system in Southeast Michigan, a region highly impacted by the pandemic. Participants All outpatients and inpatients with a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab were included. Exclusion criteria included missing demographic data or status as a non-permanent Michigan resident. Exposure Patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were divided in 2 groups: outpatients and inpatients. Main outcome and measures We described the comparative demographics and known disparities associated with hospitalization status. Results Of 30,292 individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 34.01% were admitted to the hospital. White or Caucasian race was most prevalent (57.49%), and 23.35% were African-American. The most common ethnicity was non-Hispanic or Latino (70.48%). English was the primary language for the majority of patients (91.60%). Private insurance holders made up 71.11% of the sample. Within the hospitalized patients, lower socioeconomic status, African-American race and Hispanic and Latino ethnicity, non-English speaking status, and Medicare and Medicaid were more likely to be admitted to the hospital. Conclusions and relevance Several health disparities were associated with greater rates of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Addressing these inequalities from an individual to system level may improve health-care outcomes for those with health disparities and COVID-19.
Climate of the Critical Zone

Abstract Climate variability, both in space and in time, has a significant impact on nearly every aspect of the Critical Zone. The primary focus of this chapter is on soil moisture because it is an important component of the water balance in the Critical Zone and it is a key parameter that influences land–atmosphere interactions in the climate system by modifying energy and water fluxes in the boundary layer. Soil moisture plays an integrative role because it directly influences atmospheric, geomorphic, hydrologic, and biologic processes. This chapter describes how, and why, the coupling between land and atmosphere varies over time and space. An improved understanding of land–atmosphere interactions enhances our ability to explain and predict climate variability at local to global scales.
The role of the adrenals in the regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase of rat adipose tissue.

Abstract Fasting, as well as adrenalectomy, induced an increased rate of glyceride-glycerol synthesis from pyruvate in rat adipose tissue. When both treatments were combined, the elevation in the rate of glycerogenesis was more than additive. The activity of cytosol pyruvate carboxylase rose in tissues of adrenalectomized rats but not in those of fasted rats. P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase activity, on the other hand, was elevated by both treatments, and reached maximum values in adrenalectomized, fasted rats. The results suggest that the increase in glycerogenesis in fasted, adrenalectomized rats was due to increases in the activities of both pyruvate carboxylase and P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase. The effects of fasting and of adrenalectomy on P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase were both counteracted by corticosteroids and by actinomycin D. Corticosteroids were more effective than actinomycin, causing a faster decline and depressing enzyme activity to lower levels. This effect of corticosteroids on P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase was prevented by simultaneous administration of actinomycin. Liver P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase was not elevated by adrenalectomy, but liver from the fasted, adrenalectomized animals had a higher activity of this enzyme than did liver from the fasted rats. Contrary to the activity of the adipose tissue enzyme, the liver enzyme activity increased after short time intervals (2½ hours) following corticosteroid treatment.
Regulatory reform and market opening in Japan

In dieser Studie werden Konzept und Realisierung der japanischen Regulationspraxis analysiert sowie ihre Auswirkungen auf den internationalen Handel und die Ursachen fur den langsamen Fortschritt bei der Deregulation. Dabeiwird die Meinung vertreten, das als Folge der informellen Macht der japanischenBurokratie mit ihrem grosen Ermessensspielraum, kombiniert mit der fortdauernden protektionistischen, Unternehmer- und Insiderfreundlichen Grundeinstellung zur Beeinflussung des regulatorischen Systems, sowohl hohe Preise als auch die Abschottung der japanischen Markte vor Importen aufrechterhalten werden.Auserdem ist zu berucksichtigen, das die nur schwach entwickelte japanische Anti-Trust-Politik den Kartellen die Moglichkeit gibt, eine einflusreiche Rolle bei derRegulierung der Markte zu spielen, vor allem in der Stahl- und Chemiebranche. Auchwenn einige Liberalisierungsinitiativen durchaus erkennbare regulatorische Reformen gebracht haben, so haben sie doch nicht das japanische regulatorische System in seiner prinzipiellen Wirkungsweise verandert. Weder die Unternehmen noch die Burokratie wollen eine wirklich durchgreifende Reform oder freie Markte. Liberale Reformmasnahmen in Japan sind wichtig als Korrektiv und Erganzung der merkantilistischen Politik, aber es ist unwahrscheinlich, das sie Japans politikokonomisches System verandern.
Radiation Damage in Single Crystal CsI(Tl) and Polycrystal CsI

CsI is a material that can be used for infrared detector windows and for making scintillators for high energy physics experiments (it is then doped with Thallium). This crystal may have to work in a harsh radiation environment which can cause an undesired signal to be sent to the detector or modify its calibration. It is therefore important to measure the response of this crystal to a flux of neutrons and gamma rays and to study the effects of dose accumulation. Such a study was conducted at the TRIGA nuclear reactor of the University of Illinois.
Bacterial Population Genetics and Disease

Why is it that most strains of Staphylococcal aureus bacteria live harmlessly on the skin or in the nose of humans whereas a few strains become invasive and cause serious disease? In his Perspective, [Lipsitch][1] discusses new findings ([ Day et al .][2]) suggesting that the very characteristics that make bacteria efficient at colonizing their hosts also render them better at invading host tissue and causing disease. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/292/5514/59 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/292/5514/114
Biochemical characterization of chitin synthase activity and inhibition in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae.

Chitin synthase (CHS) is an important enzyme catalyzing the formation of chitin polymers in all chitin containing organisms and a potential target site for insect pest control. However, our understanding of biochemical properties of insect chitin synthases has been very limited. We here report enzymatic and inhibitory properties of chitin synthase prepared from the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Our study, which represents the first time to use a nonradioactive method to assay chitin synthase activity in an insect species, determined the optimal conditions for measuring the enzyme activity, including pH, temperature, and concentrations of the substrate UDP–N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and Mg++. The optimal pH was about 6.5–7.0, and the highest activity was detected at temperatures between 37 and 44°C. Dithithreitol is required to prevent melanization of the enzyme extract. CHS activity was enhanced at low concentration of GlcNAc, but inhibited at high concentrations. Proteolytic activation of the activity is significant both in the 500×g supernatant and the 40,000×g pellet. Our study revealed only slight in vitro inhibition of An. gambiae CHS activity by diflubenzuron and nikkomycin Z at the highest concentration (2.5 μmol/L) examined. There was no in vitro inhibition by polyoxin D at any concentration examined. Furthermore, we did not observe any in vivo inhibition of chitin synthase activity by any of these chemicals at any concentration examined. Our results suggest that the inhibition of chitin synthesis by these chemicals is not due to direct inhibition of chitin synthase in An. gambiae.
Industrial implementation of a controlled sensorless synchronous drive with hard start conditions

The subject of this paper is a synchronous drive of grinding ball mills 4 MW, 150 rpm, 6 kV, 50 Hz on the base of PWM CSI. The system is installed at the concentrating plant of Norilsknickel in Russia. Specific to this drive is large stalling torque-up to 125% of rated torque. This is a sensorless drive. Another specific feature is the necessity of synchronization with power system and switching to power system. The converting-regulating device of this drive isn't designed for hard work conditions. It uses simplified control algorithms. This caused the main difficulties of implementation. Simulation was performed before drive commissioning. It provided reliance in successful results of the project and expedient values for most programmable parameters. The main result was that it is possible to choose such acceleration of current vector in infra-low speed zone that provides necessary torque with suitable speed oscillations. Results of simulation were used while commissioning the drive. The drive operates successfully with settings of parameters that were defined by simulation. The main features of the drive are presented in paper.
Efficient network-flow based techniques for dynamic fault reconfiguration in FPGAs

In this paper we consider a "dynamic" node covering frameworks for incorporating fault tolerance in SRAM-based segmented array FPGAs with spare row(s) and/or column(s) of cells. Two types of designs are considered: one that can support only node-disjoint (and hence nonintersecting) rectilinear reconfiguration paths, and the other that can support edge-disjoint (and hence possibly intersecting) rectilinear reconfiguration paths. The advantage of this approach is that reconfiguration paths are determined dynamically depending upon the actual set of faults and track segments are used as required, thus resulting in higher reconfigurability and lower track overheads compared to previously proposed "static" approaches. We provide optimal network flow based reconfiguration algorithms for both of our designs and present and analyze a technique for speeding up these algorithms, depending upon the fault size, by as much as 20 times. Finally, we present reconfigurability results for our FPGA designs that show much better fault tolerance for them compared to previous approaches-the reconfigurability of the edge-disjoint design is 90% or better and 100% most of the time, which implies near-optimal spare-cell utilization.
Preoperative Evaluation of Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Role of High-Resolution Ultrasound†

Unilateral parathyroid exploration with adenoma removal and identification of a normal parathyroid gland is an accepted surgical approach for the treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. This study prospectively evaluated the ability of high-resolution sonography to localize adenomas preoperatively and the effect of this localization on operative time and cost in 37 previously untreated patients undergoing surgical treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of the sonographic examination were 84% and 90%, respectively. A true positive sonographic examination decreased surgical time by an average of 40 minutes and reduced operative charges by $564, including the cost of the test ($156). In experienced hands high-resolution sonography can be a cost-effective means of localizing parathyroid adenomas where unilateral exploration is considered an accepted surgical approach.
Effects of cyclosporin A and FK506 on ischemia/reperfusion-induced neutrophil infiltration in the cat.

Isolated segments of cat small intestine were subjected to 3 hr of ischemia followed by 1 hr reperfusion (I/R). Mucosal biopsies were obtained for measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and index of tissue neutrophil count, and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production. Animals were pretreated with either cyclosporin A (CsA) or FK506, which are potent immunosuppressants. Both agents significantly attenuated the neutrophil infiltration induced by I/R. FK506, but not CsA, reduced the elevated mucosal LTB4 production normally observed following reperfusion. The results of this study suggest that FK506 and CsA may be important agents in modulating neutrophil infiltration in acute inflammatory conditions.
Impact of Rifampin on Serum Amiodarone Concentrations in a Patient with Congenital Heart Disease

A 33-year-old woman with congenital heart disease and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, managed over the long term with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, epicardial pacing system, and amiodarone, experienced an increase in palpitations and a shock from her defibrillator. Evaluation revealed decreases in amiodarone and desethylamiodarone serum concentrations from previous levels. Rifampin had been added to her therapy 5 weeks earlier. Increases in amiodarone and desethylamiodarone concentrations were observed after an increase in the amiodarone dosage and discontinuation of rifampin. The time course suggested that the addition of rifampin led to reductions in serum concentrations of both the drug and metabolite.
Quasicircular orbits for spinning binary black holes

Using an effective potential method we examine binary black holes where the individual holes carry spin. We trace out sequences of quasi-circular orbits and locate the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) as a function of spin. At large separations, the sequences of quasi-circular orbits match well with post-Newtonian expansions, although a clear signature of the simplifying assumption of conformal flatness is seen. The position of the ISCO is found to be strongly dependent on the magnitude of the spin on each black hole. At close separations of the holes, the effective potential method breaks down. In all cases where an ISCO could be determined, we found that an apparent horizon encompassing both holes forms for separations well inside the ISCO. Nevertheless, we argue that the formation of a common horizon is still associated with the breakdown of the effective potential method.
Electron-photon polarization correlation studies in neon and argon

We studied the electron impact excitation of the (2P1/2) ns [1/2]J=1 states in Ne (n=3) and Ar (n=4) using the electron-photon polarization correlation technique. The two linear Stokes' parametersP1 andP2 have been measured in Ne at an impact energy of 50 eV and in Ar at 30 eV and 40 eV for electron scattering angles up to 40° (up to 50° in Ar at 40 eV). In addition, previous measurements in Ar at 50 eV have been extended to scattering angles of 40° in an effort to facilitate a more meaningful and broader comparison of the Ar results obtained at different impact energies. Two of the four independent parameters required for a complete description of the excitation process, the alignment angle γ and the linear polarizationPlin+ of the angular part of the collisionally induced excited state charge cloud were extracted from theP1 andP2 measurements. A comparison with theoretical predictions from first-order perturbative theories such as a distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) and a first-order many-body theory (FOMBT) revealed a generally good agreement between experiment and theory in Ne and Ar at 50 eV except for some discrepancies at scattering angles above 30°, whereas the agreement between experiment and theory was much less satisfactory in Ar at 30 eV and at 40 eV over the entire range of scattering angles studies in this work. We found that the measured coherence parameters appear to be shifted systematically towards larger scattering angles compared to the theoretical predictions as the impact energy is decreased.
Ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in biofilm reactors

Biofilms are natural forms of cell immobilization in which microorganisms attach to solid supports. At ISU, we have developed plastic composite-supports (PCS) (agricultural material (soybean hulls or oat hulls), complex nutrients, and polypropylene) which stimulate biofilm formation and which supply nutrients to the attached microorganisms. Various PCS blends were initially evaluated in repeated-batch culture-tube fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 24859) in low organic nitrogen medium. The selected PCS (40% soybean hull, 5% soybean flour, 5% yeast extract-salt and 50% polypropylene) was then used in continuous and repeated-batch fermentation in various media containing lowered nitrogen content with selected PCS. During continuous fermentation, S. cerevisiae demonstrated two to 10 times higher ethanol production in PCS bioreactors than polypropylene-alone support (PPS) control. S. cerevisiae produced 30 g L-1 ethanol on PCS with ammonium sulfate medium in repeated batch fermentation, whereas PPS-control produced 5 g L-1 ethanol. Overall, increased productivity in low cost medium can be achieved beyond conventional fermentations using this novel bioreactor design.
The marxian rhetoric of angelica balabanoff

Rhetorics are usually written by members of the establishment, but Angelica Balabanoff, a life‐long European socialist speaker and agitator, composed an authentic radical rhetoric consistent with the Marxian social critique and traditional democratic ethics. Her rhetoric foresees some contemporary psychological developments in rhetorical theory and includes an unconventional approach to the enthymeme.
Impact of frequency of COPD exacerbations on pulmonary function, health status and clinical outcomes.

Background COPD exacerbations are responsible for the morbidity and mortality of this disease. The relationship between exacerbations and patient-related clinical outcomes is not clearly understood.
Anomalous(?) Early Jurassic deformation in the western U.S. Cordillera

New data from the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada indicate that Paleozoic and early Mesozoic magmatic arc rocks in this area were affected by regional shortening deformation and metamorphism in the Early Jurassic (ongoing at ∼ 201 Ma). This is ∼ 30–50 m.y. prior to the time at which significant Jurassic shortening deformation is thought to have begun in the western U.S. Cordillera and is further anomalous because the Early Jurassic time frame in most other arc assemblages of the Cordillera is characterized by accumulation of strata and neutral to extensional tectonism. These conflicting relations support the following conclusions. (1) The Black Rock Desert is probably separated from other arc assemblages to the west and south (in the Klamath Mountains and Sierra Nevada) by a younger strike-slip fault boundary that juxtaposes arc elements with different Early Jurassic structural histories. (2) Tectonic conditions varied along the Early Jurassic plate margin such that shortening occurred to the north but not to the south, an aspect of the Mesozoic evolution of the Cordillera that has not been previously appreciated. At present, regional Early Jurassic deformation is documented only in the Black Rock Desert, but it may have impacted a much larger area in this part of the Cordillera, based on relations in the Blue Mountain province of Oregon and the Luning-Fencemaker fold-and-thrust belt of central Nevada.