cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory of deep inelastic neutron scattering. II. Application to normal and superfluid 4He.

The hard-core perturbation theory (HCPT) predictions for high-momentum-transfer neutron scattering from liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ are numerically evaluated. The input to the calculations are Monte Carlo and variational momentum distributions, the radial distribution function, and the Jeffreys-Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin phase shifts for the He potential. Consistent with the ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{2}$ sum rule, the Gaussian width of the dynamic structure function S(Q,\ensuremath{\omega}) is the same in HCPT and in the impulse approximation (IA). However, where the IA predicts structure in S(Q,\ensuremath{\omega}) below ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ due to the Bose condensate, HCPT predicts that S(Q,\ensuremath{\omega}) is smoothed by final-state broadening. The final-state effects are negligible for the normal fluid above ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$. The approach to the IA at high Q is shown to be O(logQ) for the He-He potential, which implies that S(Q,\ensuremath{\omega}) satisfies approximate Y scaling and that final-state broadening is significant for all feasible experiments. Extensions of HCPT to lower Q and to other systems are qualitatively discussed. The problem of extracting momentum distributions in quantum fluids and solids from high-Q neutron scattering is addressed.
Analysis, Synthesis, and Solutions of the Doodlebug Problem by Groups and Individuals:

The problem-solving behavior of groups was examined using the Lorge-Solomon pooling models. The Doodlebug problem was used to explore the analytic and synthesizing phases of problem solving by indi...
Molecular phylogeny of the western North American pebblesnails, genus Fluminicola (Rissooidea: Lithoglyphidae), with description of a new species

The northwestern North American freshwater gastropod genus Fluminicola (Caenogastropoda, Lithoglyphidae) was previously hypothesized to be paraphyletic based on morphologic data, with F. virens positioned outside the clade containing other congeners. We further evaluated the phylogenetic relationships of Fluminicola using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence data from 22 of 24 previously described congeners, a new congener (F. gustafsoni) that closely resembles F. virens morphologically, representatives of four other lithoglyphid genera, and several outgroups. A Bayesian analysis resolved two well supported Fluminicola clades, consistent with morphological heterogeneity. The clade composed of F. virens and F. gustafsoni was sister to the rest of the Lithoglyphidae; the clade containing the remaining congeners was sister to Somatogyrus. Our results confirm that Fluminicola is paraphyletic. However, this genus cannot be revised until the phylogenetic relationships of its possibly extinct type species are resolved. The new species described herein, F. gustafsoni, differs from F. virens in its smaller size, medium-convex and prominently shouldered teleoconch whorls, weakly angled shell aperture, presence of a well-developed rectangular wing on the outer marginal radular teeth, vertically oriented coiled oviduct, and in its COI sequences. Fluminicola gustafsoni is distributed in riverine habitats in the lower Snake River watershed.
Design of the Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (RAVE) Trial

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegener's) (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) share many clinical and pathological features, including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) directed against either proteinase 3 (PR3) or myeloperoxidase (MPO). These two "ANCA-associated" vasculitides (AAV) are associated with a high mortality in untreated patients, substantial morbidity from standard therapies, and a significant risk of disease relapse. The Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (RAVE) trial is a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active- controlled, non-inferiority trial of a new approach to the induction of remission. The RAVE trial represents the first chal- lenge of a biologic agent to CYC as the standard of care for remission induction in AAV. The primary outcome analysis, reported in 2010, compared conventional therapy (the combination of cyclophosphamide (CYC) and glucocorticoids) to the combination of rituximab (RTX) and glucocorticoids. Longer term outcomes to 18 months and beyond have not been reported. The trial aimed to determine if the combination of RTX plus glucocorticoids was non-inferior to the combination of CYC and glucocorticoids. To test this hypothesis, eight clinical centers planned to enroll 200 patients. The randomization was stratified by center and by ANCA subtype. Patients were assigned randomly to each treatment arm in an allocation ratio of 1:1. The primary outcome had two components: 1) the ability of the assigned regimen to induce disease remission by month 6; and, 2) successful discontinuation of prednisone by month 6. All primary analyses were performed on an inten- tion-to-treat basis. A major secondary outcome of interest was the restoration of immune tolerance, defined as disease quiescence and the absence of ANCA following the reconstitution of normal B cell numbers. To meet this definition, pa- tients were required to achieve and maintain disease remissions, complete the prednisone taper, and remain on no immu- nosuppressive medications after discontinuing prednisone. Patients were followed for 18 months after the final patient was enrolled to evaluate the impact of the two treatment regimens on tolerance restoration. In this paper, we describe the development and design of the RAVE trial as a pivotal trial in an orphan disease indication. We illuminate the unique challenges involved in comparing a new treatment approach against an entrenched standard of care in a double-blind, double-dummy trial of a biologic for the treatment of a rare disease.
Ig Light Chain Receptor Editing in Anergic B Cells

Receptor editing in the bone marrow (BM) serves to modify the Ag receptor specificity of immature self-reactive B cells, while anergy functionally silences self-reactive clones. Here, we demonstrate that anergic B cells in hen egg lysozyme Ig (HEL-Ig)/soluble HEL double transgenic mice show evidence of having undergone receptor editing in vivo, as demonstrated by the presence of elevated levels of endogenous κ light chain rearrangements in the BM and spleen. In an in vitro IL-7-driven BM culture system, HEL-Ig BM B cells grown in the presence of soluble HEL down-regulated surface IgM expression and also showed induction of new endogenous κ light chain rearrangements. Using a panel of soluble protein ligands with reduced affinity for the HEL-Ig receptor, the editing response was shown to correlate in a dose-dependent fashion with the strength of signaling through the B cell receptor. The finding that the level of B cell receptor cross-linking sufficient to induce anergy in B cells is also capable of engaging the machinery required for receptor editing suggests an intimate relationship between these two mechanisms in maintaining B cell tolerance.
Intraocular Pressure the Day of Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty in Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

Argon laser trabeculoplasty was performed in one eye of 57 phakic patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. The eyes received a mean of 78 +/- 7 treatments over 360 degrees to the anterior trabecular meshwork. The power was titrated to produce blanching without bubble formation. Increased intraocular pressure (range +1 to +22 mmHg) occurred in 30 of the 57 (53%) eyes 1 hour after treatment. Eight (14%) of these eyes had a clinically significant elevation defined by all of three criteria: (1) an intraocular pressure greater than 30 mmHg, (2) greater than a 30% increase over the mean prelaser intraocular pressure, and (3) greater than a 10 mmHg increase over the peak prelaser diurnal intraocular pressure curve. These eight patients received either oral glycerine or acetazolamide. A rebound increase in intraocular pressure requiring repeat medical treatment occurred in four of the eight eyes. Two additional eyes without a pressure elevation 1 hour after treatment showed a later elevation. This was first detected 4 hours postoperatively in one eye and 7 hours after treatment in another eye. The 1-hour postoperative measurement detected most patients with clinically significant increased intraocular pressure (8 of 10 eyes) but these required continued observation for rebound increases. Patients with advanced glaucomatous visual field loss should also be followed closely to detect late increases in intraocular pressure (2 of 10 eyes).
Visual Representation in the Wild: How Rhesus Monkeys Parse Objects

Visual object representation was studied in free-ranging rhesus monkeys. To facilitate comparison with humans, and to provide a new tool for neurophysiologists, we used a looking time procedure originally developed for studies of human infants. Monkeys' looking times were measured to displays with one or two distinct objects, separated or together, stationary or moving. Results indicate that rhesus monkeys used featural information to parse the displays into distinct objects, and they found events in which distinct objects moved together more novel or unnatural than events in which distinct objects moved separately. These findings show both commonalities and contrasts with those obtained from human infants. We discuss their implications for the development and neural mechanisms of higher-level vision.
The vibrational distribution of N2 + in the terrestrial ionosphere

The densities and vibrational distributions of N2(+) in the X2sigma g +, A2Pi u and B2sigma u + states in the daytime terrestrial ionosphere are computed for both low and high solar activity. Altitude profiles of the relative populations of the vibrational levels of N2(+) X2sigma g + are presented. The fraction of vibrationally excited N2(+) varies from 5 percent at 100 km to 50 percent at 450 km. Several models are examined in which loss of N2(+)(v) is enhanced for v greater than 0 and in which various assumptions are made about the vibrational distributions produced in charge transfer reactions. The N2(+) densities are significantly reduced if N2(+)(v) reacts with O at rates which are near gas-kinetic. Vibrational distributions of the A2pi u and B2sigma u + states are also presented, as well as volume emission rates and integrated overhead intensities of the major bands of the Meinel and first negative systems.
Tensioning of anterior cruciate ligament hamstring grafts: comparing equal tension versus equal stress.

Purpose A biomechanical study was undertaken to determine whether equal-stress or equal-tension tensioning of anterior cruciate ligament 4-stranded semitendinosus and gracilis grafts provides a stronger graft construct when testing to ultimate failure. Methods Eighteen fresh-frozen cadaveric semitendinosus and gracilis tendons were each positioned over a cylinder rod/cryo-clamp connected to an MTS machine (MTS Systems, Eden Prairie, MN) by another cryo-clamp. In the equal-tension group the 4 strands were equally tensioned by weights. In the equal-stress group a tensioning device applied equal stress based on the cross-sectional areas of the tendons. The tendons were preconditioned with 10 cycles and then tested to failure. Graft creep during the preconditioning cycle was determined by MTS measurement of the change in clamp distance. Results The maximum loads of 4-stranded semitendinosus and gracilis grafts tensioned by equal stress were found to be similar to those of the grafts tensioned by equal tension (2,803 ± 431 N and 2,772 ± 461 N, respectively). The loads at first failure were 2,640 ± 468 N and 2,452 ± 461 N, respectively ( P = .17). The preconditioning cycles showed that the equal-stress group resisted graft creep significantly better ( P = .0003). Conclusions The strength of the 4-stranded hamstring graft when equally tensioned or equally stressed was equivalent when tested to failure. After 10 preconditioning cycles, equal stress resisted graft creep significantly better. Equal-stress tensioning offers an alternative tensioning method for 4-stranded hamstring grafts. Clinical Relevance Equal-stress tensioning offers an alternative tensioning method for 4-stranded hamstring grafts.
Screening for Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Insulin resistance is common in adults with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Although recent data demonstrate that insulin resistance is present in the early stages of PCOS, the prevalence of insulin resistance in adolescents with PCOS has not been determined. Likewise, the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in adolescent cohorts has not been established. In this study we sought to obtain preliminary data regarding the prevalence of IGT and DM in adolescents with PCOS and to assess the ability of screening tests to predict these abnormalities within this population. Twenty-seven adolescents with PCOS underwent oral glucose tolerance tests. Plasma glucose and insulin levels were obtained at baseline, and glucose was measured 2 h after a 75-g glucose challenge. The 2-h plasma glucose level was used to categorize subjects as having IGT or the provisional diagnosis of DM. Eight of our 27 subjects had IGT, and 1 had previously undiagnosed DM. These abnormalities we...
Algorithms for matching 3D line sets

Matching two sets of lines is a basic tool that has applications in many computer vision problems such as scene registration, object recognition, motion estimation, and others. Line sets may be composed of infinitely long lines or finite length line segments. Depending on line lengths, three basic cases arise in matching sets of lines: 1) finite-finite, 2) finite-infinite, and 3) infinite-infinite. Case 2 has not been treated in the literature. For Cases 1 and 3, existing algorithms for matching 3D line sets are not completely satisfactory in that they either solve special situations, or give approximate solutions, or may not converge, or are not invariant with respect to coordinate system transforms. In this paper, we present new algorithms that solve exactly all three cases for the general situation. The algorithms are provably convergent and invariant to coordinate transforms. Experiments with synthetic and real 3D image data are reported.
Photoinduced charge transfer properties of bolaamphiphile membrane-gramicidrin diad composites

Ether-linked bolaform amphiphiles (Langmuir 1992 8, 637; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 9035) and novel gramicidin-porphyrin `diads' (MRS Symposium Series, Vol. 277, 1992, 93) have been synthesized. Protocols for vectorial insertion of the derivatized gramicidins into bolaform lipid vesicles have been developed and the photochemical behavior of these proteinaceous composite membranes probed in the presence of electron donors and acceptors. Photoinduced electron transfer properties of the gramicidin-porphyrin conjugates were compared in TRIS- buffered dihexadecyl-phosphate bilayer (DHP) and bolaform monolayer membrane vesicles containing dithiothreitol as sacrificial donor and methyl viologen as electron acceptor on both the inner and outer vesicle surfaces. Although the rates of methyl viologen photoreduction varied depending on the mode of diad orientation within DHP bilayer membranes, photoreduction rates were not orientation- dependent in bolaform membrane vesicles containing the gramicidin-porphyrin diad. The relevance of these results on vectorial electron transfer processes in lamellar systems and the design of integrated charge transfer components is discussed.
Digital audio mixer: A VLSI approach

Audio mixing panels have traditionally been implemented using analog circuits. The limitations of analog circuits, noise and flexibility, have been outweighed by the the power requirements and complexity of digital alternatives. The power consumption of digital processing circuits can be reduced by the use of VLSI circuits. The primary remaining limitation, circuit complexity, is minimized by using a simple self-framing serial data format for transmission of signals. Control circuitry is minimized by using the same serial data format for transmission of packetized control data. An attractive digital VLSI architecture for an audio mixing panel is proposed. The proposed digital interface standard is not limited to audio mixers; use of this interface standard will allow other speech or audio signal processing chips to be easily integrated into a system. A VLSI chip was built to prove the viability of the digital audio system concept. The chip accepts two streams of digitized audio samples, and selectively delays one stream to provide word synchronization with the other. The chip may be used in audio mixers and signal processors, or may be adapted as a subcomponent of larger chips.
Chain scission in polystyrene by impact fracture

The number of chain scissions ns per unit fracture area by impact in high-molecular weight polystyrene is determined to be approximately 3.3 × 1014/cm2 at room temperature. This is almost 20 times larger than would be expected if chain scissions took place only at, or very close to, fracture surfaces. This result was obtained by measuring the molecular weight decrease and the total fracture area of the impact fragments by using size exclusion chromatography and statistical particle size measurements, respectively. The large ns strongly indicates that significant chain breakage occurs during crazing before the propagation of cracks. An average craze thickness before breakdown under impact is estimated from ns to be around 2 μm. In a diluted polymer, ns is found to be significantly lower than the extrapolated value, assuming a linear dilution of entangled chain crossings at the fracture surface. This low chain scission density, however, can be explained by taking into account the reduction of craze breakdown strain in the diluted polymers. Finally, the broken chain ends of polystyrene appear to be stable under ambient conditions. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Approximate retrieval of XML data with ApproXPath

Several XML query languages have been proposed that use XPath expressions to locate data. But XPath expressions might miss some data because of irregularities in the data and schema of an XML data collection. In this paper we propose ApproXPath, which supports approximate path expressions. Approximate path expressions have the same syntax as XPath expressions, but allow content and structural errors. An error is a string or tree edit operation that creates a (virtual) data collection in which the data can be located. ApproXPath extends XPath's axes, node tests and predicates to utilize the string/tree edit distance. We show that the complexity of ApproXPath is reasonable. For many queries, the inexact matching (with no errors) is as fast as exact matching, and the cost increases linearly with the number of errors allowed.
The lac Z gene of Escherichia coli

The Z gene is a structural gene which specifies the polypeptide monomer of β-galactosidase. This enzyme normally exists as a polymer of four identical chains with a molecular weight for the complete, native pro-tein of 540,000 (cf. Zabin and Fowler, 1970). In Figure 1, the double line represents the gene and the single line represents the corresponding polypeptide chain. Above the gene terminator mutant strains are listed. Polypeptide fragments produced by each of these have been detected by immunological and complementation tests. Molecular weights have been determined in sucrose or urea-sucrose gradients and in several cases by sedimentation equilibrium (Fowler and Zabin, 1966; Brown et al., 1967; Berg et al., 1970; Morrison and Zipser, 1970). The approximate number of residues in the polypeptide chain corresponding to the mutated site is shown below the single line; this was calculated based on an average amino acid residue weight of 115. The amino acid sequences of the first thirteen and the last ten residues have been reported (Zabin and Fowler, 1972).
Testing or Fault-Finding for Reliability Growth: A Missile Destructive-Test Example

A new piece of equipment has been purchased in a lot of size m. Some of the items can be used in destructive testing before the item is put into use. Testing uncovers faults which can be removed from the remaining pieces of equipment in the lot. If t o m pieces of equipment are tested, then those that remain, mt A m 0 t , have reduced fault incidence and are more reliable than initially, but mt may be too small to be useful, or than is desirable. In this paper models are studied to address this question: given the lot size m, how to optimize by choice of t the effectiveness of the pieces of equipment remaining after the test. The models used are simplistic and illustrative; they can be straightforwardly improved. q 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.* Naval Research Logistics 44: 623 - 637, 1997 1. PROBLEM SETTING A new piece of equipment has been produced, and is to be tested before being put into use. An example is a military missile. Ultimate testing is done destructively by firing shots. The objective is to send equipment to the field with as few ( design ) faults as possible, so testing is focused on finding faults and removing them; it will be assumed here that once a fault is discovered it can be removed by change of design or componentry, and hence that a mode of failure has been permanently removed from all remaining missiles. The problem: If missiles are bought in lots of m, and t o m are tested, then those that remain, mt A m 0 t , have reduced fault incidence and are more reliable ( the lot or design has experienced ''reliability growth'' ) , but mt may be too small to be useful, or than is desirable. We address two problems. ( a ) Given the lot size, m, how to optimize the effectiveness or lethality of the missiles remaining after t (om) are tested by choice of t .
Does Prospective Payment Encourage Nursing Home Efficiency

The health-care field is increasingly sensitive to the effect of third-party reimbursement policies on health-care organization performance. The ability to attain low costs and high net income, for example, is particularly affected by prospective reimbursement. Theoretically, prospective payments should provide an incentive to health-care organizations to implement better control overperformance. These ideas are examined in a study of nursing homes. Results of this analysis indicate that management controlpractices contribute to efficient performance. The association of thisfinding with prospective reimbursement is discussedfrom theperspective of implicationsfor health-care organizations.
Pathways to understanding the extended phenotype of parasites in their hosts

Summary The study of the adaptive manipulation of animal behavior by parasites is entering very exciting times. Collectively the field has moved from its important and instructional natural history phase into proximate-level studies aiming to elucidate the mechanisms by which one organism controls another. Because many cases studies involve cross-kingdom control of behaviour, the findings are sure to be exciting. In this review I examine what possible pathways we can take to understanding the controlling behavior of parasites and how host behavior has become an extended phenotype of the parasites that is often hidden from view.
Functioning of the Hsp90 machine in chaperoning checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) and the progesterone receptor (PR)

Hsp90 is an abundant and highly conserved chaperone that functions at later stages of protein folding to maintain and regulate the activity of client proteins. Using a recently described in vitro system to fold a functional model kinase Chk1, we performed a side-by-side comparison of the Hsp90-dependent chaperoning of Chk1 to that of the progesterone receptor (PR) and show that these distinct types of clients have different chaperoning requirements. The less stable PR required more total chaperone protein(s) and p23, whereas Chk1 folding was critically dependent on Cdc37. When the 2 clients were reconstituted under identical conditions, each client folding was dose dependent for Hsp90 protein levels and was inhibited by geldanamycin. Using this tractable system, we found that Chk1 kinase folding was more effective if we used a type II Hsp40 cochaperone, whereas PR is chaperoned equally well with a type I or type II Hsp40. Additional dissection of Chk1-chaperone complexes and the resulting kinase activity suggests that kinase folding, like that previously shown for PR, is a dynamic, multistep process. Importantly, the cochaperones Hop and Cdc37 cooperate as the kinase transitions from immature Hsp70- to mature Hsp90-predominant complexes.
Reanalysis of the rat proestrous LH surge by deconvolution analysis

To evaluate the temporal mechanisms that give rise to the spontaneous proestrous surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the rat, we have applied deconvolution analysis to earlier immunoreactive LH concentration vs. time profiles obtained by sampling blood in proestrus at 2- to 3-min intervals in 10 animals over a span of 160-300 min. Six other animals were bled in 6-min intervals on day 1 of diestrus. Deconvolution analysis permitted us to calculate the number, duration, amplitude (maximal release rates), and mass of underlying LH secretory bursts and to simultaneously estimate basal secretion and the half-life of endogenous LH in each animal. Proestrus rats exhibited a significant increase in the number of computer-identified LH secretory bursts per hour (1.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.01 on diestrus, P < 0.01), with a corresponding reduction in the LH intersecretory burst interval from 61 +/- 6.4 min (diestrus) to 25 +/- 2.7 min (proestrus, P < 0.01). There was a remarkable 16-fold increase in the mass of LH secreted per burst, which rose from 72 +/- 5.2 to 1,230 +/- 200 ng/ml (P < 0.01). This resulted from a sixfold increase in LH secretory burst amplitude and a doubling of burst duration. The total amount of LH released in a burstlike fashion during the proestrous LH surge rose 20-fold, and calculated basal LH secretion increased to approximately 25% of this value. Of interest, the computed half-life of endogenous LH also increased from 10 +/- 1.1 to 19 +/- 3.7 min (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Well-Posed Models of Porous Buildings for Macroscopic Ventilation Analysis>

AbstractMacroscopic methods of building ventilation analysis developed in the past fifty years have proven to be accurate and thus useful for purposes of single-and multi-zone building infiltration, air quality, smoke spread, thermal comfort, and integrated HVAC/building ventilation system analysis. These methods fail, however, to provide the same level of accuracy when applied to the analysis of wind-driven airflow through porous buildings. While it may be unreasonable to rely solely on macroscopic methods to model the complex three-dimensional phenomena associated with airflow through porous buildings, the accuracy of these methods may be improved if the analyst poses the airflow problem in a physically consistent and complete manner with the numerical consequences of the formulation in mind. This paper considers a number of strategies to achieve these objectives including: a) the coupled use of mass and mechanical energy conservation principles, b) the application of total pressure boundary conditions,...
Abstract 616: Diminished K Channel Inhibition Impairs Serotonin-Mediated Vasoconstriction in the Middle Cerebral Arteries From the Fawn Hooded Hypertensive Rat

Fawn Hooded Hypertensive (FHH) rat exhibit impaired pressure-mediated myogenic response (MR) in the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) that is associated with an increase in large conductance potassium (BK) channel function. Introgression of 2.4 Mbp region of BN (Brown Norway) chromosome 1 into FHH rats (FHH.1BN) restored MR and BK channel function. The present study assessed the hypothesis that FHH rats also exhibit impaired serotonin (5-HT)-mediated vasoconstriction due to diminished BK channel inhibition compared to FHH.1BN rats. We used pressure myography and patch-clamp to measure vessel response and K channel function respectively and Fluo 4 method to measure cytosolic calcium. Basal myogenic tone of MCAs as measured by change in diameter from 22oC to 37oC temperature was ~2.6 fold lower in FHH rats compared to FHH.1BN rats (FHH, 8.1 ± 2% and FHH.1BN, 21.7 ± 3%, n = 4; p<0.05). Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of FHH rats have significantly more negative membrane potentials (Em) (–32 ± 1 mV; n=9) compared to FHH.1BN rats (-16 ± 2mV; n=10). 5-HT-mediated vasoconstriction was lower in MCAs isolated from FHH rats compared to FHH.1BN rats (5-HT: 1μM; FHH, 36 ± 5%; FHH.1BN rats, 58 ± 9%; n = 4; p<0.05). 5-HT-mediated BK channel inhibition was less in FHH rats (3μM 5-HT: FHH, 8 ± 3%; FHH.1BN, 39 ± 4%; n = 4; p<0.05). 5-HT did not affect VSMC membrane potential in FHH rats compared to FHH.1BN rats (delta change in Em: FHH, -2 ± 2mV; n = 4; FHH.1BN, -9 ± 1 mV; n = 5; p<0.05). 5-HT-mediated increase in calcium fluorescence (F/Fo) during plateau phase was blunted in the VSMCs isolated from FHH rats compared to FHH.1BN rats (FHH: 1 + 0.01% Vs 1.22 + 0.02% in FHH.1BN (3 rats)). Finally, inhibition of BK channel restored 5-HT-mediated vasoconstriction in MCAs of FHH rats but did not affect FHH.1BN vessels (5-HT + Paxilline; FHH, 2.6 ± 0.6 fold; FHH.1BN, 1.4 ± 0.4 fold; n = 5; p<0.05). In conclusion, mutation in the genes located in 2.4 Mbp region of FHH rats disrupts 5-HT-mediated BK channel inhibition that prevents the raise in [Ca2+]i and this may contribute to impaired 5HT-mediated vasoconstriction.
Using asymmetry in the spectral clustering of trajectories

Spatial trajectories, for example those of vehicles passing through a traffic intersection, are of interest in many data collection applications since they capture a lot of semantic information in a fairly compact representation. Data mining, or unsupervised learning from sets of trajectories can be challenging since intuitive notions of trajectory similarity are hard to encode rigorously. Many similarity measures for trajectories that are needed for tasks such as clustering fail to satisfy basic metric properties like the triangle inequality, or even symmetry. While in some simple practical applications such measures have been quite successful, the violation of basic properties poses unique challenges for more advanced methods such as spectral clustering. We show how the asymmetry of a trajectory similarity measure can be exploited when clustering a set of trajectories. The asymmetry is used both indirectly, in a traditional spectral clustering method, and directly, by developing a spectral clustering method that can handle asymmetric affinity matrices natively without requiring an artificial symmetrization step to be performed, thus avoiding the attendant loss of information entailed by that process. We propose a modification of the Hausdorff distance for comparing trajectories, which we first symmetrize in a non-standard fashion inspired by a local scaling approach, and then further show that the distance can be used directly without prior symmetrization. We perform a variety of experiments, with a focus on vehicle trajectories. A novel automated tracking method is developed to provide experimental data.
Multidisciplinary optimization of a natural laminar flow supersonic aircraft

This paper describes a process for large-scale multidisciplinary optimization of a supersonic aircraft that exploits natural laminar flow. Analysis methods for estimation of aerodynamic performance, boundary layer transition, structural weights and deformations, and mission performance have been developed, including industry-standard codes for inviscid aerodynamics and finite element structural analysis. Optimization results for conventional and natural laminar flow supersonic aircraft are presented, demonstrating the how the optimization framework successfully enforces interdisciplinary compatibility while reducing reduced take-off gross weight. The results also illustrate the potential for the natural iaminar flow concept to achieve improved performance.
Experimental porphyria. II. Type produced by lead, phenylhydrazine and light.

Summary and ConclusionsTreatment of rabbits with phenylhydrazine, lead, and light has been found to produce a temporary condition which is chemically similar to porphyria in humans. The following features are similar to those observed in human porphyria erythropoietica. a. Uroporphyrin I is excreted in the urine. Values of up to 3466 μg per day have been observed, b. The major portion of the urinary porphyrin is excreted as the free form rather than as the zinc complex, c. Bone marrow uro- and coproporphyrin values were elevated to 1500-2000 μg% as compared to normal values of approximately 0 and 5-10 μg% respectively, d. Liver porphyrin concentrations are generally normal.The following chemical features are characteristic of porphyria hepatica. a. The urinary porphobilinogen reaction is positive. This porphobilinogen has been fractionated by aluminum oxide chromatography into 2 components. The aldehyde of only one of them is extractable by N butyl alcohol, b. The increased excretion of urinary coproporph...
Research Article: Racial and Socioeconomic Assessments of Neighborhoods Adjacent to Small-Scale Brownfield Sites in the Detroit Region

Although many environmental justice studies have examined disproportionate environmental burdens imposed on impoverished and minority neighborhoods, locational disparities of brownfields in terms o...
Water and Electrolyte Balance Studies of Birds Showing “Wet Droppings”

SUMMARY Water and electrolyte excretion was studied in (a) normal hens; (b) hens producing “wet droppings”; (c) caecectomized birds; (d) male birds given Stilbestrol injections; (e) males and females given Compound 33828 orally. Compound 33828 increased water output and significantly increased calcium excretion. Effects of limiting water intake while “33828” was fed were compatible, as the vasotocin was suppressed or inhibited. Within 25 days after caecectomy, water and electrolyte metabolism had returned to normal: immediately after caecectomy, when birds were not eating, water output increased. With normal hens and hens treated with Pitressin and with normal and Stilbestrol-treated cocks, faecal and water output was related to food intake. Increased water output resulted from increased intake to satisfy post-prandial thirst. Pitressin or Stilbestrol had no effect on sodium or potassium excretion.
Platelet arachidonic acid metabolism and platelet function in ten patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia

We have compared the pathways of arachidonic acid (C 20:4) metabolism in platelets from ten patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML with those of seven normal subjects. Platelets were incubated with 3H-arachidonic acid, gel-filtered, and treated with thrombin (5 U/ml). The cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase-derived products and free arachidonic acid released from the platelets were separated by high pressure liquid chromatography and their radioactivity determined. The total uptake of 3H-C 20:4 by platelets from CML patients did not differ from controls, but the release of radioactivity in response to thrombin was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in CML patients (32.3% +/- 4.9% of total radioactivity was released from control platelets; 19.0% +/- 7.4% from CML platelets). Both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase-derived products were reduced, but there was no specific pattern of abnormality. Although there was no direct correlation between either the WBC or platelet count and impairment of platelet C 20:4 metabolism, the platelets from three patients with accelerated disease released the lowest total amount of 3H-C 20:4 metabolites. In a single patient, studied before and after successful chemotherapy (hydroxyurea), severe abnormalities in platelet arachidonic acid metabolism returned to normal after treatment.
Understanding DDoS cyber-attacks using social media analytics

Cyber-attacks are cheap, easy to conduct and often pose little risk in terms of attribution, but their impact could be lasting. The low attribution is because tracing cyber-attacks is primitive in the current network architecture. Moreover, even when attribution is known, the absence of enforcement provisions in international law makes cyber attacks tough to litigate, and hence attribution is hardly a deterrent. Rather than attributing attacks, we can re-look at cyber-attacks as societal events associated with social, political, economic and cultural (SPEC) motivations. Because it is possible to observe SPEC motives on the internet, social media data could be valuable in understanding cyber attacks. In this research, we use sentiment in Twitter posts to observe country-to-country perceptions, and Arbor Networks data to build ground truth of country-to-country DDoS cyber-attacks. Using this dataset, this research makes three important contributions: a) We evaluate the impact of heightened sentiments towards a country on the trend of cyber-attacks received by the country. We find that, for some countries, the probability of attacks increases by up to 27% while experiencing negative sentiments from other nations. b) Using cyber-attacks trend and sentiments trend, we build a decision tree model to find attacks that could be related to extreme sentiments. c) To verify our model, we describe three examples in which cyber-attacks follow increased tension between nations, as perceived in social media.
The Good Behavior Game

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a classroom behavior management strategy with origins in the field of applied behavior analysis that has been shown to not only reduce disruptive classroom behavior but also prevent more serious problems in adolescence (e.g., initiation of smoking, aggressive behavior). In this chapter, we discuss the origins and conceptual foundation of the GBG, review research demonstrating its immediate and long-term effects, describe various ways in which the GBG has been modified and combined with other interventions, and provide best practice guidelines on implementing the GBG.
Long-term Outcomes After Bladder-preserving Tri-modality Therapy for Patients with Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: An Updated Analysis of the Massachusetts General Hospital Experience

Abstract Background Tri-modality therapy (TMT) is a recognized treatment strategy for selected patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Objective Report long-term outcomes of patients with MIBC treated by TMT. Design, setting, and participants Four hundred and seventy-five patients with cT2–T4a MIBC were enrolled on protocols or treated as per protocol at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1986 and 2013. Intervention Patients underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor followed by concurrent radiation and chemotherapy. Patients with less than a complete response (CR) to chemoradiation or with an invasive recurrence were recommended to undergo salvage radical cystectomy. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results and limitations Median follow-up for surviving patients was 7.21 yr. Five- and 10-yr DSS rates were 66% and 59%, respectively. Five- and 10-yr OS rates were 57% and 39%, respectively. The risk of salvage cystectomy at 5 yr was 29%. In multivariate analyses, T2 disease (OS hazard ratio [HR]: 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44–0.75, DSS HR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.36–0.73), CR to chemoradiation (OS HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.46–0.81, DSS HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.34–0.71), and presence of tumor-associated carcinoma in situ (OS HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.17–2.08, DSS HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.03–2.17) were significant predictors for OS and DSS. When evaluating our cohort over treatment eras, rates of CR improved from 66% to 88% and 5-yr DSS improved from 60% to 84% during the eras of 1986–1995 to 2005–2013, while the 5-yr risk of salvage radical cystectomy rate decreased from 42% to 16%. Conclusions These data demonstrate high rates of CR and bladder preservation in patients receiving TMT, and confirm DSS rates similar to modern cystectomy series. Contemporary results are particularly encouraging, and therefore TMT should be discussed and offered as a treatment option for selected patients. Patient summary Tri-modality therapy is an alternative to radical cystectomy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and is associated with comparable long-term survival and high rates of bladder preservation.
A Non-Myeloablative Regimen of Fludarabine and Melphalan Is Safe and Well Tolerated for Allogeneic Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Background: Allogeneic transplantation is a potentially curative approach in patients with myeloma. The potential benefit is offset by a higher risk of transplant-related mortality (TRM), graft-vs.host disease (GVHD) and opportunistic infections. The success of reduced intensity conditioning approaches has renewed interest in allogeneic transplantation. In this randomized phase II trial we evaluated whether lowering the dose of melphalan in a nonablative preparative regimen can lower the toxicity and TRM. Two reduced intensity regimens: a. fludarabine + melphalan 140 mg/m2 (FM 140) and b. fludarabine + melphalan 100 mg/m2 (FM 100) were compared in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Methods: We enrolled 22 patients, 11 in each arm, who were 70 years of age or younger and had an HLA-identical sibling donor. Patients underwent allogeneic transplantation between April 2002 and January 2007. Median age was 52.5 years (Range: 32–63). GVHD prophylaxis consisted of tacrolimus and methotrexate 5mg/m2 on days 1, 3, 6 and 11. Median interval between diagnosis and transplant was 28 months (9–232). Only 6 patients (27%) received transplant for the consolidation of first remission, the rest had relapsed or refractory disease (73%). Twenty-one patients had a prior autotransplant; 3 of these had 2 prior autotransplants. Median number of prior treatment regimens was 5 (1–10). Cytogenetic abnormalities were observed in 8/22 patients (36%). Results: The 2 groups were comparable in terms of age, disease status, prior therapy and other prognostic factors. Median time to neutrophil engraftment in both arms was 12 days. TRM in the first 100 days was zero in both arms. Response rate (CR 18% + PR 64%) was 82%, with no significant difference between the 2 arms. After a median follow up of 25 months (26 months in FM 100, 21 months in FM 140), Kaplan-Meier estimates of 2-year PFS in FM 100 vs. FM 140 were 41% vs. 42%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates of 2-year OS in FM 100 vs. FM 140 were 60 vs. 36%, (p=0.4), respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (27 vs. 36%) or chronic GVHD (50 vs. 43%) between the 2 arms. There was a decrease in overall grade II-IV toxicity in the FM 100 arm (45% vs. 73%) that did not reach statistical significance (p=0.2) Patients transplanted in relapse had shorter PFS (0.09). Conclusions: The dose of melphalan in preparative regimen can be safely reduced without adversely impacting the engraftment in this heavily pretreated patient population. There was a trend towards lower grade II-IV toxicity and prolonged OS in the FM 100 arm. This approach may be more beneficial when used early in the course of treatment.
Tricuspid Valve Stenosis

Suspect this diagnosis in patients with MS who do not have symptoms of pulmonary congestion
Effects of the shareholder base on firm behavior and firm value in China

Contrary to the evidence based on US firms, we find that a large shareholder base does not benefit firms in China. Our results suggest that a large shareholder base in China implies elevated agency conflicts between individual investors and the controlling shareholders. We find that a larger shareholder base is associated with lower levels of capital expenditures, a lower standard deviation of return on assets, a lower standard deviation of return on equity, and no reduction in dividend payout. Our results imply that insiders increase the expropriation of outsiders as agency conflicts escalate. The shareholder base is associated with a decrease in firm value in China.
Quantitative texture prediction of epitaxial columnar grains in additive manufacturing using selective laser melting

Abstract Metal additive manufacturing (AM) such as selective laser melting (SLM) has the powerful capability to produce very different microstructural features, hence different mechanical properties in metals using the same feedstock material but different values of process parameters. However, the relation between processing-microstructure is mostly investigated by experiments, which is expensive and time-consuming since the parameter space is quite large. The lack of a reliable theoretical model of the processing-microstructure relationship of AM material is preventing AM technology from being widely adopted by the manufacturing community. Hence, the goal of this work is to establish the link between the microstructure (texture) and the process parameters (laser power, scanning speed, preheat and scanning strategy) of a metal SLM process. To achieve the above goal, a quantitative semi-empirical method is proposed to predict the texture of the epitaxial columnar grains grown from polycrystal substrates. Combined with the melt pool prediction by the Rosenthal solution, the processing and microstructure were linked together quantitatively. The proposed method is used to estimate the texture evolution with the number of layers for EOS-DMLS-processed AlSi10Mg (unidirectional scanning direction in one layer and no rotation of scanning direction between layers). The texture reaches a steady state after five layers, and the steady state texture has similar pattern and intensity to that obtained from the experiment using the same process parameter values and scanning strategy.
Local Construction of Bounded-Degree Network Topologies Using Only Neighborhood Information

We consider ad-hoc networks consisting of $n$ wireless nodes that are located on the plane. Any two given nodes are called neighbors if they are located within a certain distance (communication range) from one another. A given node can be directly connected to any one of its neighbors and picks its connections according to a unique topology control algorithm that is available at every node. Given that each node knows only the indices (unique identification numbers) of its one- and two-hop neighbors, we identify an algorithm that preserves connectivity and can operate without the need of any synchronization among nodes. Moreover, the algorithm results in a sparse graph with at most $5n$ edges and a maximum node degree of $10$. Existing algorithms with the same promises further require neighbor distance and#x002F;or direction information at each node. We also evaluate the performance of our algorithm for random networks. In this case, our algorithm provides an asymptotically connected network with $n(1#x002B;o(1))$ edges with a degree less than or equal to $6$ for $1-o(1)$ fraction of the nodes. Numerical results confirm our analytical findings.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Physiological Outcomes of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Achalasia

Abstract Background: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has gained acceptance as a treatment for achalasia. The aim of this study was to assess symptomatic, quality of life (QoL), and physiological outcomes of POEM using standardized methods. Materials and Methods: Patients who were planned to undergo POEM were evaluated pre- and postoperatively with timed barium esophagogram (TBE), high-resolution manometry (HRM), the achalasia symptom questionnaire (ASQ) (best score 10, worst score 31), and the short form (SF)-36 (best score 100, worst score 0). Nine patients completed postoperative HRM, TBE, and 48 hours esophageal pH monitoring. A P-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 34 of 37 patients completed the POEM procedure. There was improvement in the ASQ scores and in QoL. HRM integrated relaxation pressures (IRPs) improved from 31.4 ± 10.8 mmHg preoperatively to 12.3 ± 6.7 mmHg postoperatively, and lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) improved from 49.1 ± 16.9 mm...