cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of tetra-ortho-substituted, phosphorus-containing and carbonyl-containing biaryls utilizing a diels-alder approach

The application of the Diels−Alder approach to biaryls (DAB) is described for the synthesis of tetra-ortho-substituted biaryl compounds containing orthogonally functionalized substituents. The syntheses of phosphorus-containing, disubstituted alkynes and carbonyl-containing, disubstituted alkynes were accomplished in two to three steps from commercially available reagents. Subsequent Diels−Alder cycloadditions with a range of oxygenated dienes yielded the target biaryls. Further functionalization through palladium-couplings is demonstrated on the phosphorus-containing biaryls. In addition, selective manipulation of each of the remaining ortho substituents on the phosphorus-containing biaryls is demonstrated. One of these phosphorus-containing derivatives is utilized as a highly active catalyst for Suzuki coupling. For the carbonyl-containing series, a wide range of dienophile substituents were screened including esters, ketones, and amides. The key Diels−Alder cycloadditions proceeded smoothly with the co...
Acute toxicity of TCDD contaminated soil from an industrial site

Abstract Guinea pigs were treated by gavage with a single dose of either pure TCDD in corn oil, TCDD contaminated soil (ca. 2250 ppb TCDD), control soil, TCDD plus control soil, or corn oil. Doses of positive controls were ca. 6 ug TCDD/kg. Contaminated soil was given at 3, 6 a , and 12 ug TCDD/kg as 1:10 soil suspensions in gum acacia. Control soil was given as a 1:10 suspension in gum acacia. Animals were observed for 2 months following dosing and then necropsied. Five of eight animals treated with TCDD died between 9 and 31 days after dosing. Six of seven animals treated with TCDD on control soil died between 15 and 25 days after dosing. All of these dead animals showed the typical TCDD syndrome of weight loss, “wasting” and thymic atrophy. No animals died from corn oil, control soil, or TCDD contaminated soil treatments. Necropsy of the surviving animals treated with TCDD contaminated soil showed no pathological signs.
Experimental coronavirus retinopathy (ECOR): Retinal degeneration susceptible mice have an augmented interferon and chemokine (CXCL9, CXCL10) response early after virus infection

Mouse hepatitis virus induces a biphasic disease in BALB/c mice that consists of an acute retinitis followed by progression to a chronic retinal degeneration with autoimmune reactivity. Retinal degeneration resistant CD-1 mice do not develop the late phase. What host factors contribute to the distinct responses to the virus are unknown. Herein, we show that IFN-α, IFN-β and IFN-γ act in concert as part of the innate immune response to the retinal infection. At day 2, high serum levels of IFN-γ, CXCL9 and CXCL10, were detected in BALB/c mice. Moreover, elevated levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 gene expression were detected in retinal tissue. Although IFN-γ and the chemokines were detected in CD-1 mice, they were at significantly lower levels compared to BALB/c mice. These augmented innate responses observed correlated with the development of autoimmune reactivity and retinal degeneration and thus may contribute to the pathogenic processes.
A mobile robot for corridor navigation: a multi-agent approach

This project focuses on building an autonomous vehicle as the test bed for the future development of an intelligent wheelchair, by proposing a framework for designing and implementing a mobile robot control program that is easily expandable and portable to other robotic platforms. Using a robot equipped with a minimal set of sensors such as a camera and infrared sensors, our multi-agent based control system is built to tackle various problems encountered during corridor navigation. The control system consists of four agents: an agent responsible for handling sensor inputs, an agent which identifies a corridor using machine vision techniques, an agent which avoids collisions by applying fuzzy logic decision making to proximity data, and an agent responsible for locomotion. In the experiments, the robot's performance demonstrates the feasibility of a multi-agent approach.
Cre-mediated recombination in pituitary somatotropes

We report a transgenic line with highly penetrant cre recombinase activity in the somatotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Expression of the cre transgene is under the control of the locus control region of the human growth hormone gene cluster and the rat growth hormone promoter. Cre recombinase activity was assessed with two different lacZ reporter genes that require excision of a floxed stop sequence for expression: a chick beta-actin promoter with the CMV enhancer transgene and a ROSA26 knock-in. Cre activity is detectable in the developing pituitary after initiation of Gh transcription and persists through adulthood with high penetrance in Gh expressing cells and lower penetrance in lactotropes, a cell type that shares a common origin with somatotropes. This Gh-cre transgenic line is suitable for efficient, cell-specific deletion of floxed regions of genomic DNA in differentiated somatotropes and a subset of lactotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland.
Influence of structural properties and hazard level on seismic loss estimation for light-frame wood structures

The financial loss for residential light-frame wood structures during moderate to strong earthquakes has a substantial impact on society due to the large stock of this building type in the US. The sensitivity of financial losses as a function of structural properties and seismic hazard level is examined in this paper for a two-story residential woodframe structure representative of a North American floor plan. The strength and stiffness of the structure were correlated with the change in the nail schedule for the shearwalls as well as construction quality. The effect of these variants on the short and long term financial loss was then investigated through loss simulations which utilize assembly-based vulnerability (a method to estimate total loss for a structure due to a natural hazard based on individual component losses). The impact of seismic hazard level on financial loss estimation was also examined for three locations representing different seismic hazard levels. It was concluded that there exists an intensity sensitive region for strength and stiffness which limits the effectiveness of improvements for small or large earthquakes. In addition, it was shown that the effect of construction quality in high seismic zones was disproportionate compared to the effect in low seismic zones.
Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in adipose tissue lipid and serum of past and present transformer repair workers and a comparison group.

Abstract The concentrations of individual PCB's were determined in both serum and adipose tissue lipid from 35 transformer repair workers currently exposed to PCBs, mainly Aroclor 1260, 17 previous transformer repair workers, and 56 comparison workers never occupationally exposed to PCBs. The analysis used fused-silica capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detector (FSCGC/ECD) and FSCGC with negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry to verify PCB congener levels. Eighty-nine PCB peaks were identified and confirmed. More congeners were detected in adipose tissue. In serum approximately 50% of peaks were below the level of detection. Statistical techniques to account for left and interval censoring allowed comparison of concentration distributions even where data were incomplete. We found that unquantifiable levels were unlikely to contribute substantially to the true values for total [PCBs] over and beyond the contribution of the measured values. However, the total serum [PCBs] determined by FSCGC/ECD greatly exceeded that from standard packed cell gas chromatography (PCGC/ECD). The underestimation was less marked for adipose samples. In serum the total [PCBs] was highest in currently exposed workers and lowest in unexposed workers, with past-exposed workers clearly intermediate. In adipose tissue [PCBs] in the currently exposed group was much higher than in the other two groups, in whom the distribution of results was broadly similar. In all worker groups hexachlorinated and heptachlorinated species predominated followed by octachlorinated and pentachlorinated. The relative distribution of individual PCB congeners in the three groups was similar although the amounts varied. The seven major peaks in serum and adipose tissue were 2,3,5,6,3′,4′,5′/2,3,4,5,2′,4′,5′ hepta-CB; 2,3,4,2′,3′,5′ hexa-CB; 2,4,6,3′,4′,5′/ 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′/2,3,4,5,2′,5′ hexa-CB; 2,3,4,5,2′,3′,4′ hepta-CB; 2,3,4,5,2′,3′,5′,6′/2,3,4,5,6,2′,3′,5′, octa-CB; 2,4,5,3′,4′,/3,4,5,2′,3′ penta-CB; and 2,3,4,2′,3′,4′/2,3,5,6,2′,4′,5′/2,3,4,5,2′,4′,6′ multi-CB. The distribution of PCB peaks in our populations differs from that in capacitor workers (exposed to less highly chlorinated PCBs) and from Yu-Cheng patients suggesting differing toxic potentials from PCBs in these three circumstances.
Increase in rem sleep following trauma exposure

Introduction Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in humans often presents with sleep abnormalities such as sleep fragmentation and increased nightmares. These sleep disturbances are generalized across populations of patients with PTSD, however, the electrophysiological properties of these disturbances are less well characterized. The mechanisms regulating the interactions of traumatic stress and sleep are poorly understood and it remains unclear if sleep is playing a role in the acquisition of PTSD. In an effort to clarify this, we have utilized the validated rodent model of PTSD called Single Prolonged Stress (SPS), to assess sleep alterations in response to stress. We hypothesize that stress exposure may induce changes in sleep physiology that enhances the acquisition of PTSD. Materials and methods Male, Sprague Dawley rats (∼300 g) were implanted with hippocampal and cortical EEG leads along with neck EMG electrodes for recording sleep behavior. After 10 days of recovery, all animals were acclimated to a recording apparatus. After acclimation, 24 h of baseline EEG/EMG activity was recorded. The following day, animals underwent SPS treatment beginning at ZT0. SPS consists of 2 h of physical restraint, 20 min forced swim, and ether exposure. Subsequent EEG/EMG activity was recorded for another 24 h. Sleep changes between the baseline day and the SPS day were compared. Home cage controls were analyzed similarly to ensure the sleep phenotypes observed were due to SPS and not an outside factor. Results On the SPS treatment day, time spent in REM sleep during the quiescent phase of the day (during the light) remained unchanged between the control (13.6%) and SPS (13.2%) treated animals. However, time spent in REM sleep during the active phase (during the dark) increased from 3.7% to 9.2% following SPS treatment (p = 0.04). Interestingly, neither waking nor slow wave sleep were altered over the combined 24 h period. Home cage controls did not exhibit any alteration in sleep between the two days of recording. Conclusion Exposure to uncontrolled stress alters electrophysiological properties of REM sleep which may account for the long term physiological and behavioral impairments that these animals display. Future study will determine how long such sleep abnormalities persist and whether manipulations that interrupt the increase in REM discussed here will protect against the long lasting alterations in PTSD. Acknowledgements We would like to thank everyone from the Liberzon lab for their support. This study was funded by NIH-MH60670 and by the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan.
Boundedness and periodicity of solutions of the generalized liénard equation

The object of this paper is to investigate, for large values of t, the solutions of Lienard type equations. A periodicity theorem is proved and several conditions which imply boundedness are discovered.
Democratic Peace, Domestic Audience Costs, and Political Communication

This article addresses a gap in the literature connecting the empirical observation of a democratic peace to a theoretical mechanism based on domestic audience costs. We argue that the link between these literatures lies in the way leaders reach the ultimate source of audience costs: the public. The audience cost argument implicitly requires a free press because, without it, the public has no reliable means of obtaining information about the success or failure of a leader's foreign policy. Hence, leaders can credibly commit through audience costs only when the media is an effective and independent actor. The implication is that while leaders might gain flexibility at home by controlling the media, they do so at the cost of their capacity to persuade foreign leaders that their “hands are tied.”
Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor in skeletal muscle: differential expression in myofibres

The role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate as a second messenger in signal transduction has been well established in many cell types. However, conflicting reports have led to a controversy regarding the role, if any, of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signalling in skeletal muscle. Indeed, expression of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor has not previously been demonstrated in skeletal muscle. In the present study we used in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and [3H]-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding to demonstrate that rat skeletal muscle fibres contain inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. RNAse protection and partial sequencing suggested that the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors expressed in skeletal muscle was most similar to the non-neuronal form of the type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. While in situ hybridization showed inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor mRNA in all types of skeletal myofibres, immunodetectable inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor protein and specific [3H]-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding sites were preferentially expressed in slow oxidative (type I) and fast oxidative-glycolytic (type IIA) fibres, but not in fast glycolytic (type IIB) fibres. These findings indicate that an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor is preferentially expressed in oxidative fibres of skeletal muscle.
Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of the genetic structure of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, in the Mississippi River

SUMMARY 1. We predicted that zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas), genetic structure in the Mississippi River would follow a model of invasive species genetics, which predicts low genetic structure among populations of recently established species. This prediction was upheld in our previous genetic study using allozymes, however, one locus yielded anomalous results. 2. We employed amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis as a neutral marker to assess the amount of genetic structure within and among populations, and as a test of expected population structure from both invasion genetic theory, and the results from our previous study. 3. There was greater spatial differentiation, as measured by Fst, observed using AFLP’s than for allozymes (P < 0.001). There was no evidence that AFLP variation conformed to an isolation by distance model, and genetic relationships of populations, as measured by AFLP markers, were not similar to those detected in our allozyme survey. 4. The lack of concordance between these two genetic marker systems probably reflects their differential responses to drift, migration, and selection occurring during this rapid invasion. Strong population structure is counter to predictions that populations of invasive species will not be differentiated, as with observations based on allozyme markers. Therefore, newly established species may require genetic surveys using multiple marker systems to evaluate population structure.
Multiple Levels of Regulation ofEscherichia coliSuccinyl-CoA Synthetase

Abstract Concentrations of GDP, which are expected to bind to the catalytic site and inhibit the autophosphorylation of succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) when NTP is used as a substrate, were found to increase the level of phosphoenzyme formed. The ability of GDP to do so is dependent upon the presence of a protein distinct from SCS. The effector protein could be separated from SCS by ammonium sulfate fractionation. Reconstitution experiments show that the protein inhibits SCS, that the inhibition is relieved by GDP, and that the inhibitor recognizes both Escherichia coli and eukaryotic forms of SCS. The inhibitor is itself regulated by the conditions used to grow the bacteria and in a manner that appears distinct from that of SCS.
Aerobic photoiysis of alkylcobalamins: Quantum yields and light-action spectra☆

Quantum yields (φ) for the aerobic photolysis of 5′-deoxyadenosylcobalamin (dAB12), methylcobalamin (MeB12), propylcobalamin (PrB12), and ethylcobalamin (EtB12) were determined as a function of the irradiation wavelength. φ Determinations were made for both the base-on and base-off forms of each compound (except base-off dAB12) at incident wavelengths from 250 nm to 570 nm. As a rule, the φs were high (0.1–0.5) and they varied significantly with respect to the irradiation wavelength. In general, each alkylcobalamin at pH 7.0 displayed a quantum yield spectrum distinct from its base-off form at pH 1.0. Across most of the spectrum, the φs of the base-off form were appreciably smaller than the base-on φs of the same compound. An exception to this generality was MeB12 for which the φs at pH 1.0 were about the same as, or slightly greater above 450 nm than those at pH 7.0. At pH 7.0 and in the visible region the trend of the φs was dAB12 < MeB12 < PrB12 < EtB12. Under neutral conditions each compound showed a broad quantum yield peak in the 450–470 nm region. From the quantum yield and absorption spectra, photolysis spectra were calculated for 5.0 × 10−5m solutions of each compound. The light-action spectra accurately give the relative rates/μ Einstein that these solutions photolyze at each wavelength. Thus, for example, MeB12 photolyzed faster at pH 7.0 versus pH 1.0 in 510 nm light, but it photolyzed slower at pH 7.0 versus pH 1.0 in 450 nm light. Solutions of each compound photolyzed faster in the ultraviolet region as opposed to the visible (e.g., 310 nm versus 510 nm). Our findings show that the previously reported photolysis rates estimated by others with tungsten lamps provide no valid information about the intrinsic photolability of various alkyl-cobalt bonds. This also applies to the relative white-light photolysis rates reported for the base-on versus the base-off form of MeB12. All such relative rates are artifacts which represent only the extent of overlap between the true action spectrum and the light emission spectrum of an incandescent lamp.
Pulling back the curtain on heritability studies: biosocial criminology in the postgenomic era

Unfortunately, the nature-versus-nurture debate continues in criminology. Over the past 5 years, the number of heritability studies in criminology has surged. These studies invariably report sizeable heritability estimates (∼50 percent) and minimal effects of the so-called shared environment for crime and related outcomes. Reports of such high heritabilities for such complex social behaviors are surprising, and findings indicating negligible shared environmental influences (usually interpreted to include parenting and community factors) seem implausible given extensive criminological research demonstrating their significance. Importantly, however, the models on which these estimates are based have fatal flaws for complex social behaviors such as crime. Moreover, the goal of heritability studies--partitioning the effects of nature and nurture--is misguided given the bidirectional, interactional relationship among genes, cells, organisms, and environments. This study provides a critique of heritability study methods and assumptions to illuminate the dubious foundations of heritability estimates and questions the rationale and utility of partitioning genetic and environmental effects. After critiquing the major models, we call for an end to heritability studies. We then present what we perceive to be a more useful biosocial research agenda that is consonant with and informed by recent advances in our understanding of gene function and developmental plasticity. Language: en
Facial nerve stimulation associated with cochlear implant use following temporal bone fractures

Abstract Objective To describe the incidence and management of patients with facial nerve stimulation (FNS) associated with cochlear implant (CI) use in the setting of a prior temporal bone fracture. Patients One adult CI recipient is reported who experienced implant associated FNS with a history of a temporal bone fracture. Additionally, a literature search was performed to identify similar patients from previous descriptions of CI related FNS. Main outcome measures Presence of FNS after implantation and ability to modify implant programming to avoid FNS. Results The patient in the present report experienced FNS for middle and basal electrodes during intraoperative neural response telemetry (NRT) in the absence of any surgical exposure or manipulation of the facial nerve. FNS was absent during device activation, but it recurred during follow-up programming sessions. However, additional programming has prevented further FNS during regular implant use. Four other patients with FNS after temporal bone fracture were identified from the literature, and the present case represents the one of two cases in which reprogramming allowed for implant use without FNS. Conclusions CI associated FNS is uncommon in patients with a history of a temporal bone fracture, but it is likely that fracture lines provide a lower impedance pathway to the adjacent facial nerve and thus reduce the threshold for FNS. The present report suggests that, in the setting of a prior temporal bone fracture, NRT is not always a reliable predictor of FNS during implant use, and programming changes can help to mitigate FNS when it occurs.
Marketing's limited role in new product development in one computer systems firm

The marketing literature has traditionally assumed that people in marketing and sales play a central role in product development activities. Though recent work has recognized that marketing may be ...
Proton NMR of H2O in single crystal Li β and mixed β″ aluminas

Abstract The proton NMR spectrum of absorbed water in Li β alumina single crystals consists of three lines, two separated equally about ω 0 and a smaller unshifted line. The angular variations of the Pake doublet splitting and linewidths indicate the H-H vectors of the water molecules are parallel to the crystal c-axis. The length of the H-H vector determined from the splitting is 1.65±.03 A , in agreement with other measurements. Line narrowing of the doublet due to chemical exchange of protons occurs above room temperature, the doublet peaks coalescing near 104°C. The unshifted line is attributed to an OH species, in agreement with infrared measurements. The water molecules in a mixed Ag-Li β″ crystal do not show a unique orientation.
Real-time automatic 3D scene generation from natural language voice and text descriptions

Automatic scene generation using voice and text offers a unique multimedia approach to classic storytelling and human computer interaction with 3D graphics. In this paper, we present a newly developed system that generates 3D scenes from voice and text natural language input. Our system is intended to benefit non-graphics domain users and applications by providing advanced scene production through an automatic system. Scene descriptions are constructed in real-time using a method for depicting spatial relationships between and among different objects. Only the polygon representations of the objects are required for object placement. In addition, our system is robust. The system supports different quality polygon models such as those widely available on the Internet.
Periodic solutions of autonomous equations

The purpose of this chapter is to give a procedure for determining periodic solutions of some classes of autonomous RFDEs.
A Survey of EGRET Sources for Pulsed Radio Emission

We have made deep searches for pulsed radio signals toward gamma-ray sources detected by the EGRET instrument of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Our observations targeted 19 sources in the second EGRET source catalog (2EG), primarily sources along the Galactic plane without identified counterparts. Our observations also covered eight locations listed in earlier catalogs but not in 2EG. Data were collected at 370, 770, and 1390 MHz with the Green Bank 140 foot telescope. Flux density limits were 0.5-1.0 mJy for slow pulsars, with somewhat less sensitivity at short pulse periods. We discovered no new pulsars. We detected two previously known pulsars, PSR B0611+22 and PSR B1758-23, which are apparently not associated with cataloged gamma-ray sources. Our nondetection of radio pulsars associated with the EGRET sources weakly constrains models of the gamma-ray source population. In particular, we rule out a model in which all the Galactic gamma-ray sources are pulsars with a 50% beaming fraction.
Utilization of Existing Blast Analysis Software Packages for the Back-Calculation of Blast Loads

AbstractRecent increases in the number of terrorist bombings and explosions have led to increased need for postblast investigators. Numerous advances have been made in the area of chemical analysis of explosive residues, but little work has been done to aid postblast investigators in the determination of explosive charge weight using postblast structural damage. This technical note discusses the results of a review of existing blast analysis software packages for their ability to be used as a forensic tool supporting postblast investigations. The recurring limitations of the software found in this review are discussed. It is determined that individually the software packages do not show much promise as such a tool, but that when used concurrently, they may have some value to the postblast investigator. However limited knowledge about the built-in safety factors as well as the ability to specify and modify boundary conditions in the software packages have left the authors to pursue other avenues.
Critical film properties for epitaxy

Abstract The conditions for overlayer coherency were investigated, by means of molecular dynamic simulations, for two-dimensional triangular Lennard-Jones solids. Up to a certain critical misfit, i.e. difference in the film-substrate lattice parameters, the film remains coherent and in a state of homogeneous strain parallel to the interface, in agreement with continuum calculations based on energy criteria. However, contrary to the predictions of such theories, the critical misfit quickly saturates as a function of film thickness. Further, the generation of misfit dislocations was favored by reducing the film-substrate bonding parameter but inhibited by an increase in this parameter. These factors indicate that in our overlayer-substrate system the occurrence of misfit dislocations is better described by a critical local force rather than a critical energy criterion.
Tumor necrosis factor promotes differential trafficking of bladder mast cells in neurogenic cystitis.

Purpose: IC is often considered neurogenic cystitis, in which mast cells are involved in a positive feedback loop that results in sustained urothelial inflammation. To characterize these processes we developed a murine model of neurogenic cystitis using Bartha’s strain of PRV based on a similar model in the rat.Materials and Methods: Female C57BL/6 mice (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland) were used in the study. Neurogenic cystitis was induced by the injection of Bartha’s strain of PRV (2.2 × 106 pfu) into the abductor caudalis dorsalis tail base muscle. Bladder inflammation was assessed by leukocyte influx and Evans blue dye extravasation. Mast cells were visualized in bladder tissue by staining with 0.1% toluidine blue.Results: Inoculation with PRV in the abductor caudalis dorsalis resulted in cystitis within 3 days. Coincident with the induction of cystitis mast cells accumulated in the lamina propria due to mast cell trafficking from the proximal detrusor (relative to the lumen), whereas m...
A component analysis of natural language mediators obtained in paired-associate learning

The structural relationships between paired-associate components and natural language mediators (NLMs) were analyzed by using forward and backward recall paradigms. Ss were required to give the NLM and the appropriate to-be-recalled component for pairs learned by natural language mediation. An insignificant difference was found in the ability of “stimulus” and “response” components to elicit NLMs, but a significant difference was obtained in the ability to decode the NLM into the correct response, with the forward recall procedure resulting in more efficient response recall. The results were discussed in terms of differential elaboration of stimulus and response components and in terms of Adams’s (Adams & Bray, 1970) theory of paired-associate learning.
Chromatography, physical characteristics, and disulfide bonds of euglobulin plasminogen

Abstract Euglobulin plasminogen was chromatographed on diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE) with a 6 M urea-tris solvent system. Specific activity was increased from 86 to 140 casein units and α-, β1c-, β1a-, and γ-globulin impurities were removed. Euglobulin plasminogen was then chromatographed on DEAE with tris solvent only. Specific activity did not increase, and a slow diffusing β2-globulin accompanied the β2-plasminogen band upon immunoelectrophoresis of the eluate containing plasminogen. The appearance of this slow diffusing β2-globulin was attributed to aggregation at 4 ° on the evidence of increasing opalescence and viscosity, and the appearance of a quickly sedimenting component on ultracentrifugation coincident with the appearance of the slow diffusing β2-globulin on immunoelectrophoresis. This aggregate was dispersed by 6 M urea but not by ϵ-amino caproic acid. We also compared some of the physical characteristics of this euglobulin plasminogen and pseudoglobulin plasminogen. Titration of unreduced plasminogen with parahydroxy mercuribenzoate (CMB) revealed no free sulfhydryl groups. Plasminogen reduced by 6 M urea and 0.2 M MEA had an average of 11:42 titratable SH groups or an equivalent of 6 disulfide linkages. Reduction of the first five of these bonds resulted in a simultaneous loss of both the activator and plasmin activities of plasminogen. This reduction also increased the specific viscosity (0.2 – 0.35), decreased the specific optical rotation ([α]58925−90 to −110 °), and decreased the absolute sedimentation coefficient (1.55 × 10−13 to 1.00 × 10−13) of plasminogen. Chromatography of reduced plasminogen on Sephadex G75 gave an initial single homogenous peak. These data suggest that both the tertiary structure and the two enzymic activities of plasminogen are changed simultaneously by reduction of its disulfide bonds. Since this comprehensive effort at chromatography and an enzymic and physical study of plasminogen did not result in a physical delineation of activator from plasminogen moieties, and since the activities of both activator and plasmin are similarly affected by diisopropylfluorophosphate and disulfide bond reducing agents, we have concluded that these two activities reside either in the same molecule or in two very similar molecules.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Ion Channel Kinetics from Macroscopic Currents

We describe a maximum likelihood method for direct estimation of rate constants from macroscopic ion channel data for kinetic models of arbitrary size and topology. The number of channels in the preparation, and the mean and standard deviation of the unitary current can be estimated, and a priori constraints can be imposed on rate constants. The method allows for arbitrary stimulation protocols, including stimuli with finite rise time, trains of ligand or voltage steps, and global fitting across different experimental conditions. The initial state occupancies can be optimized from the fit kinetics. Utilizing arbitrary stimulation protocols and using the mean and the variance of the current reduce or eliminate problems of model identifiability (Kienker, 1989). The algorithm is faster than a recent method that uses the full autocovariance matrix (Celentano and Hawkes, 2004), in part due to the analytical calculation of the likelihood gradients. We tested the method with simulated data and with real macroscopic currents from acetylcholine receptors, elicited in response to brief pulses of carbachol. Given appropriate stimulation protocols, our method chose a reasonable model size and topology.
Monitoring Changes in Continental Water Storage with GRACE

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, GRACE, will enable the recovery of monthly estimates of changes in water storage, on land and in the ocean, avenged over arbitrary regions having length scales of a few hundred km and larger. These data will allow the examination of changes in the distribution of water in the ocean, in snow and ice on polar ice sheets, and in coniinental waler and snow storage. Extracting changes in waler storage from the GRACE dataset requires the use of averaging kernels which can isolate a particular region. To estimate the accuracy to which continental water storage changes in a few representative regions may be recovered, we construct a synthetic GRACE dataset from global, gridded models of surface-mass variability. We find that regional changes in water storage can be recovered with rms error less than 1 cm of equivalent water thickness, for regions having areas of 4 × l05 km2 and larger. Signals in smaller regions may also be recovered; however, interpretations of such results require a careful consideration of model resolution, as well as the nature of the averaging kernel.
Quadtree traversal algorithms for pointer-based and depth-first representations

Simple top-down pointer-based quadtree traversal algorithms for four-neighbor traversal, eight-neighbor traversal, and connected-component labeling are proposed. It is shown that for this class of algorithms there exist efficient pointer-based representations that can require as little as 2N bytes, where N is total number of nodes in the tree. The algorithms can also be implemented using a depth-first quadtree representation, at the cost of additional nonrecursive walks over the data structure to locate the arbitrary sons of interior nodes. >
Healing of Glass in Humid Environments

Chill checks of controlled depth were produced in soda-lime-silica glass, and an optimum humidity of 30 kPa (300 mbar) water vapor pressure was found to heal these checks in an annealing cycle. Critical factors were found to be a fluxing effect, having a direct dependence on moisture, followed by a drying operation at the annealing temperature. A four-step model is proposed for crack healing: (1) exposure of the crack surface to moisture at temperatures below Tg, (2) formation of a gel layer, (3) closure of the crack resulting from the relief of stress (a minimum of 10 to 20 MPa applied compressive stress was determined to be necessary for complete closure), and (4) drying in the presence of a controlled atmosphere.
Study of the physical properties of type IV gypsum, resin-containing, and epoxy die materials

Abstract Statement of problem: Little published information is available comparing the properties of recently developed resin-modified gypsum and epoxy resin die materials, which are claimed to be superior to conventional type IV gypsum die materials. Purpose: This study compared the properties of 3 new die materials and 2 conventional type IV gypsum products. Methods and material: The linear dimensional change, detail reproduction, surface hardness, abrasion resistance, and transverse strength of 2 recently introduced, resin-modified gypsum die materials (Resinrock and Milestone), a new epoxy resin die material (Epoxy-Die), and 2 conventional type IV gypsum die materials (Silky-Rock and Die-Stone) were studied. Results: All gypsum products expanded, whereas the epoxy resin material contracted during setting. The epoxy resin exhibited much better detail reproduction, abrasion resistance, and transverse strength than the gypsum materials, which were similar in these properties. A conventional type IV gypsum exhibited the highest surface hardness, whereas the epoxy resin had the lowest value. Conclusion: The resin-modified gypsum products were not significantly superior to the conventional type IV gypsum die materials. In general, the epoxy resin exhibited the best properties of the materials studied; however, its setting shrinkage may necessitate alterations in technique to achieve well-adapted castings. (J Prosthet Dent 2000;83:466-73.)
A Model for Contaminant Transport, Aggregation and Deposition in Lubricated Contact of Rough Surfaces

Effective prediction of lubricated contact poses an especially challenging problem. On the one hand surfaces are non-smooth at micron-scale while, on the other hand, a lubricant contains varying degrees of impurities in form of particle contaminants. An accurate model for lubricated contact, therefore, must be able to account for the various interactions that include particle-fluid, particle-particle, fluid-rough surface, particle-rough surface and rough surface-rough surface interactions. In the current study we propose the use of Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) and JKR theory for elasto-adhesive contact to simulate the particle transport processes in a lubricant flow between two rough surfaces. A particle dynamics simulation method is proposed to predict the interaction of a group of particles. The particle-particle and particle-boundary interactions are modeled by an extension of the JKR theory in which viscoelastic interactions are included through the implementation of the Kelvin-Voigt stress-strain relations. The particle-fluid interaction is calculated from the LBM simulation. Time scale relations between LBM and particle dynamics are characterized. Simulation results show the effects of particle density and surface roughness on frequencies of particle-particle and particle-boundary impacts, particle deposition rate, particle cluster forming and fluid boundary pressure changes due to particle deposition. A parametric study is performed to elucidate the effect of rough surface geometry and the relative velocity of the surfaces on friction and lift. The results provide fundamental insight on the contamination effects on wear and life of lubricated surfaces.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Indomethacin-responsive headaches in children and adolescents*

Headache is a common symptom in childhood and adolescence. Effective therapy for this symptom is based on the specific headache syndrome. This article presents examples of the four recognized Indomethacin-responsive headache syndromes encountered in pediatrics including exertional headache, cyclic-cluster migraine, chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, and hemicrania continua. Although uncommon conditions, successful treatment depends on recognition of these indomethacin-responsive headache syndromes.
Connexin37: a potential modifier gene of inflammatory disease

There is an increasing appreciation of the importance of gap junction proteins (connexins) in modulating the severity of inflammatory diseases. Multiple epidemiological gene association studies have detected a link between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the human connexin37 (Cx37) gene and coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction in various populations. This C1019T polymorphism causes a proline-to-serine substitution (P319S) in the regulatory C terminal tail of Cx37, a protein that is expressed in the vascular endothelium as well as in monocytes and macrophages. Indeed, these three cell types are key players in atherogenesis. In the early phases of atherosclerosis, blood monocytes are recruited to the sites of injury in response to chemotactic factors. Monocytes adhere to the dysfunctional endothelium and transmigrate across endothelial cells to penetrate the arterial intima. In the intima, monocytes proliferate, mature, and accumulate lipids to progress into macrophage foam cells. This review focuses on Cx37 and its impact on the cellular and molecular events underlying tissue function, with particular emphasis of the contribution of the C1019T polymorphism in atherosclerosis. We will also discuss evidence for a potential mechanism by which allelic variants of Cx37 are differentially predictive of increased risk for inflammatory diseases.
Rate-distortion-complexity modeling for network and receiver aware adaptation

Existing research on Universal Multimedia Access has mainly focused on adapting multimedia to the network characteristics while overlooking the receiver capabilities. Alternatively, part 7 of the MPEG-21 standard entitled Digital Item Adaptation (DIA) defines description tools to guide the multimedia adaptation process based on both the network conditions and the available receiver resources. In this paper, we propose a new and generic rate-distortion-complexity model that can generate such DIA descriptions for image and video decoding algorithms running on various hardware architectures. The novelty of our approach is in virtualizing complexity, i.e., we explicitly model the complexity involved in decoding a bitstream by a generic receiver. This generic complexity is translated dynamically into "real" complexity, which is architecture-specific. The receivers can then negotiate with the media server/proxy the transmission of a bitstream having a desired complexity level based on their resource constraints. Hence, unlike in previous streaming systems, multimedia transmission can be optimized in an integrated rate-distortion-complexity setting by minimizing the incurred distortion under joint rate-complexity constraints.
AP-S turnstile [Northpoint Technologies]

Describes the efforts of Northpoint Technologies to use its patented spatial diversity system to allow terrestrial and satellite broadcasts to occur simultaneously using the same frequencies.
Learning Coverage Control of Mobile Sensing Agents in One-Dimensional Stochastic Environments

This technical note presents learning coverage control of mobile sensing agents without a priori statistical information regarding random signal locations in a one-dimensional space. In particular, the proposed algorithm controls the usage probability of each agent in a network while simultaneously satisfying an overall network formation topology. The proposed control algorithm is rather direct, not involving any identification of an unknown probability density function associated to random signal locations. Our approach builds on diffeomorphic function learning with kernels. The almost sure convergence properties of the proposed control algorithm are analyzed using the ODE approach. Numerical simulations for different scenarios demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Treatment of otitis media with observation and a safety-net antibiotic prescription.

Objective. Several studies have demonstrated that acute otitis media (AOM) in children can be managed without antibiotics. Because children with AOM have traditionally been treated with antibiotics in the United States, there are concerns that parents may not be comfortable with their children being treated with pain control alone. Recently, Cates in England showed that antibiotic usage for AOM could be decreased by prescribing a safety-net antibiotic prescription (SNAP) to be filled if symptoms do not resolve with observation after 48 hours. It is not clear whether a SNAP will be acceptable to parents in other settings such as the United States. The objective of our study was to determine whether parents in the United States find a SNAP for AOM acceptable and whether antibiotic usage could be decreased by its use. Methods. A pediatric practice-based research network in a midwestern community of 1.8 million was the setting for this study. The Cincinnati Pediatric Research Group (CPRG) includes practices in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Children who were between 1 and 12 years of age and presented to the offices of the CPRG with uncomplicated AOM were eligible for the study. Children were excluded when they had temperature >101.5°F, had an ear infection in the past 3 months, showed signs of another bacterial infection, or were toxic appearing. Families were given acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or topical otic anesthetic drops for pain control. They were also given a prescription for an antibiotic and instructed not to fill it unless symptoms either increased or did not resolve after 48 hours. The data were entered directly by investigators via an Internet site. Results. A total of 194 children were enrolled in 11 offices over 12 months; 175 (90%) completed the follow-up interview. The average child’s age was 5.0 years. Only 55 (31%) of the 175 who were contacted for follow-up had filled their antibiotic prescription. Compared with their previous experience, parents were overwhelmingly willing to treat AOM with pain medication alone (χ2 = 111). Seventy-eight percent (95% confidence interval: 71%–84%) of parents reported that the pain medication was effective. Sixty-three percent (95% confidence interval: 55%–70%) of parents reported that they would be willing to treat future AOM episodes without antibiotics and with pain medication alone. Conclusions. A subset of parents find a safety-net prescription and pain control acceptable in the treatment of AOM, and antibiotic usage can be lowered with this strategy.
A network security monitor

This study concentrates on the security-related issues in a single broadcast LAN (local area network) such as Ethernet. The authors formalize various possible network attacks. Their basic strategy is to develop profiles of usage of network resources and then compare current usage patterns with the historical profile to determine possible security violations. Thus, the work is similar to the host-based intrusion-detection systems. Different from such systems, however, is the use of a hierarchical model to refine the focus of the intrusion-detection mechanism. The authors also report on the development of an experimental LAN monitor currently under implementation. Several network attacks have been simulated, and results on how the monitor has been able to detect these attacks are analyzed. Initial results demonstrate that many network attacks are detectable with the authors' monitor, although it can be defeated. >
Collapse of point vortex lattices

CIM-OSA (Computer Integrated Manufacturing - Open Systems Architecture) is the result of a joint European initiative by nineteen industrial and academic organizations to define an architecture for a CIM system. This architecture permits CIM users and vendors to evolve toward well-defined structures for CIM systems. Moreover, this architecture permits an integrated decision support system implementing simulation. We define integration criteria for this decision support system, and an architecture in response to these criteria. One of the features of this architecture is the ability to emulate the CIM control logic to perform "what-if" and "try-for-fit" analyses. We define a potential problem with simulation when emulating CIM control logic.
Plateau Emission from Orion in the CO J=17−16 Line

High-resolution spectra of the J=17−16 CO line (1956 GHz) in the BN-KL region of Orion have been obtained with a heterodyne spectrometer. The profiles show a broad component with 30 km s−1 (FWHM) linewidth and a narrower 8 km s-1 component. The broader plateau emission detected over a range of transitions from J=1–0 to J=17−16 is analyzed under the assumptions of thermal equilibrium and optically thin wings to deduce an excitation temperature of 180 ± 50 K and minimum column density of 1 X 1018 cm−2 for CO in this component.