cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binding of YC-1 or BAY 41-2272 to Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase Induces a Geminate Phase in CO Photolysis

Soluble guanylyl/guanylate cyclase (sGC), a heme-containing heterodimeric protein of approximately 150 kDa, is the primary receptor for nitric oxide, an endogenous molecule of immense physiological importance to animals. Recent studies have identified compounds such as YC-1 and BAY 41-2272 that stimulate sGC independently of NO binding, properties of importance for the treatment of endothelial dysfunction and other diseases linked to malfunctioning NO signaling pathways. We have developed a novel expression system for sGC from Manduca sexta (the tobacco hornworm) that retains the N-terminal two-thirds of both subunits, including heme, but is missing the catalytic domain. Here, we show that binding of compounds YC-1 or BAY 41-2272 to the truncated protein leads to a change in the heme pocket such that photolyzed CO cannot readily escape from the protein matrix. Geminate recombination of the trapped CO molecules with heme takes place with a measured rate of 6 x 10(7) s(-1). These findings provide strong support for an allosteric regulatory model in which YC-1 and related compounds can alter the sGC heme pocket conformation to retain diatomic ligands and thus activate the enzyme alone or in synergy with either NO or CO.
Differential deposition technique for figure corrections in grazing-incidence x-ray optics

A differential deposition technique was investigated as a way to minimize axial figure errors in full-shell, grazing-incidence, reflective x-ray optics. These types of optics use a combination of off-axis conic segments-hyperbolic, parabolic, and/or elliptical, to reflect and image x-rays. Several such mirrors or "shells" of decreasing diameter are typically concentrically nested to form a single focusing unit. Individual mirrors are currently produced at Marshall Space Flight Center using an electroforming technique, in which the shells are replicated off figured and superpolished mandrels. Several factors in this fabrication process lead to low- and mid-spatial frequency deviations in the surface profile of the shell that degrade the imaging quality of the optics. A differential deposition technique, discussed in this paper, seeks to improve the achievable resolution of the optics by correcting the surface profile deviations of the shells after fabrication. As a proof of concept, the technique was implemented on small-animal radionuclide-imaging x-ray optics being considered for medical applications. This paper discusses the deposition technique, its implementation, and the experimental results obtained to date.
The high calcium content of retinal pigmented epithelium.

Abstract The concentration of calcium was measured in isolated retinal pigmented epithelial cells, erythrocytes, whole retina, and rod outer segments of bullfrogs. The tissues were solubilized in an organic base and calcium was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The buffer used in preparation of tissues contained 0·2 m -sucrose, sodium phosphates to give a pH of 6·5, and the calcium concentration was 2·5 μ m by analysis. The calcium concentration was found to be 15 mmol/kg wet weight in pigmented epithelial cells, 0·05 in the nucleated red cells, 0·7 in dark-adapted whole retina, and 0·6 in dark-adapted rod outer segments (equivalent to 0·25 mol Ca/mol rhodopsin). The calcium in the pigmented epithelium exceeds that in muscle and is as great as that in platelets, which have been considered to be high calcium cells in which calcium plays a role in several cell functions. Possible functions of calcium in pigmented epithelium were discussed.
Contact Angle Interpretation: Combining Rule for Solid−Liquid Intermolecular Potential

Recent contact angle studies provide an experimental foundation for theoretical developments of molecular interactions. These newly obtained contact angles are interpreted in terms of combining rules for solid−liquid intermolecular potential. Results suggest that existing combining rules do not describe adequately the experimental adhesion patternsthe calculated and experimental patterns differ considerably. It is shown that the combining rule originally proposed by Hudson and McCoubrey can be improved to advance our understanding for solid−liquid interactions from like pairs. Macroscopic contact angle measurements are used to infer relationships of unlike solid−liquid interactions at a molecular level. The resulting combining rule gives a good fit to experimental adhesion and contact angle patterns for the range studied. The thermodynamic property solid surface tension can also be obtained from this relation.
Analysis of Vegetation Within A Semi-Arid Urban Environment Using High Spatial Resolution Airborne Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Data

High spatial resolution (5 m) remote sensing data obtained using the airborne Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) sensor for daytime and nighttime have been used to measure thermal energy responses for 2 broad classes and 10 subclasses of vegetation typical of the Salt Lake City, Utah urban landscape. Polygons representing discrete areas corresponding to the 10 subclasses of vegetation types have been delineated from the remote sensing data and are used for analysis of upwelling thermal energy for day, night, and the change in response between day and night or flux, as measured by the TIMS. These data have been used to produce three-dimensional graphs of energy responses in W/ sq m for day, night, and flux, for each urban vegetation land cover as measured by each of the six channels of the TIMS sensor. Analysis of these graphs provides a unique perspective for both viewing and understanding thermal responses, as recorded by the TIMS, for selected vegetation types common to Salt Lake City. A descriptive interpretation is given for each of the day, night, and flux graphs along with an analysis of what the patterns mean in reference to the thermal properties of the vegetation types surveyed in this study. From analyses of these graphs, it is apparent that thermal responses for vegetation can be highly varied as a function of the biophysical properties of the vegetation itself, as well as other factors. Moreover, it is also seen where vegetation, particularly trees, has a significant influence on damping or mitigating the amount of thermal radiation upwelling into the atmosphere across the Salt Lake City urban landscape. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Infection of central nervous system endothelial cells by cell-associated EHV-1

Infection with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) causes respiratory disease, late-term abortions and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalitis (EHM). Our understanding of EHM pathogenesis is limited except for the knowledge that EHV-1 infected, circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) transport virus to the central nervous system vasculature causing endothelial cell infection leading to development of EHM. Our objective was to develop a model of CNS endothelial cell infection using EHV-1 infected, autologous PBMC. PBMCs, carotid artery and brain endothelial cells (EC) from 14 horses were harvested and grown to confluency. PBMC or ConA-stimulated PBMCs (ConA-PBMCs) were infected with EHV-1, and sedimented directly onto EC monolayers ('contact'), or placed in inserts on a porous membrane above the EC monolayer ('no contact'). Cells were cultured in medium with or without EHV-1 virus neutralizing antibody. Viral infection of ECs was detected by cytopathic effect. Both brain and carotid artery ECs became infected when cultured with EHV-1 infected PBMCs or ConA-PBMCs, either in direct contact or no contact: infection was higher in carotid artery than in brain ECs, and when using ConA-PBMCs compared to PBMCs. Virus neutralizing antibody eliminated infection of ECs in the no contact model only. This was consistent with cell-to-cell spread of EHV-1 infection from leucocytes to ECs, demonstrating the importance of this mode of infection in the presence of antibody, and the utility of this model for study of cellular interactions in EHV-1 infection of ECs.
Depression outcome in inpatients with congestive heart failure.

Background High rates of depression are found among hospitalized patients with congestive heart failure. Little is known about the outcome of depression in these patients or factors that influence that outcome. Methods To assess baseline patient characteristics as predictors of time to remission in depressed inpatients with congestive heart failure, consecutive patients older than 50 years admitted with congestive heart failure were screened for major and minor depression using a structured clinical interview. Patients with minor depression were reevaluated at 6 and 12 weeks, and those with major depression at 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks using the Longitudinal Interview Follow-up Evaluation. Results Of a total of 473 depressed patients, 404 (247 with minor depression and 157 with major depression) were identified and followed up. Patients with minor depression were followed up for an average of 11.3 weeks, during which 64.0% went into remission; those with major depression were followed up for 20.2 weeks, during which 47.8% went into remission. Baseline predictors of shorter time to remission for minor depression were less severe depression (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-0.98) and fewer comorbid illnesses (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98); patients who were younger and had better physical functioning and those not treated with antidepressants also tended to go into remission faster. For major depression, less severe depression was the primary predictor (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.88-0.96), although patients who were younger, male, without a history of depression, and with fewer comorbid medical disorders also tended to go into remission faster. Fewer than 50% of patients with major depression received treatment, and only 12% had psychiatric consultations. Conclusions The outcome of minor depression may be more dependent on physical stressors, whereas major depression seems more affected by intrinsic vulnerability. Many patients with major depression were not treated, and few had psychiatric consultations.
The influence of Mg in 7-irradiation induced changes in al alloys

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy studies of γ-irradiated Al and Al alloys indicate that precipitates may be dissolved and reprecipitated during irradiation of alloys containing Mg. During normal elevated temperature aging, Mg is known to accelerate nucleation and growth of precipitates. It therefore may act cooperatively with point defects created during γ-irradiation to bring about microstructural change. These changes are suppressed by severe cold work, perhaps because large dislocation densities may serve as sinks for radiation-induced point defects or perhaps because dislocation strain fields retard nucleation. The presence of Mg may be necessary for morphology changes to occur because Mg is susceptible to the ionization as well as the direct collision mechanisms of radiation change.
The emergence of the Indian National Congress

of the Proceedings of the Council of the Governor of Fort St. George for the Purpose of Making Laws and Regulations ... [1862-85]. Abstract of the Proceedings of the Council of the Governor General of India, Assembled for the Purpose of Making Laws and Regulations . . . [1862-85].of the Proceedings of the Council of the Governor General of India, Assembled for the Purpose of Making Laws and Regulations . . . [1862-85]. Annual Reports on the Administration of the Several Provinces. Various titles and dates. Croft, A. Review of Education in India 1886, with special reference to the Report of the Education Commission. Calcutta, 1888. Gazetteers: Imperial; Provincial; and District. Hansard's Parliamentary Debates. An Index to Events relating to India and the East referred to in 'The Times' between the Years 1850 and 1889 inclusive. Printed for official use only, 1893. India Office Library. Indian Education Commission, 1882-3: Report of the Commission; and Reports of the Several Provincial Committees. Calcutta, 1883-4. Indian Public Service Commission, 1886-7: Report; Proceedings; and Appendices. Calcutta, 1887-8. Parliamentary Papers: 1812, VII, 377. The Fifth Report from the Select Committee on the Affairs of the East India Company. 1812-13, VIII, 142. Papers relating to East India Affairs. 1812-13, VIII, 194. Papers relating to East India Affairs. 1812-13, IX, 264. Papers relating to East India Affairs. 1812-13, X, 148. Glossary to the Fifth Report from the Select Committee Appointed to Enquire into the Present State of the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1812-13, X, 282. Observations on the State of Society among the Asiatic Subjects of Great Britain, particularly with respect to Morals; and on the Means of Improving It.— Written chiefly in the Year 1792 [ by Charles Grant ]. 1830, VI, 646. Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords Appointed to Inquire into the Present State of the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1831, V, 65. Report from the Select Committee on the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1831, V, 320. A. Report from the Select Committee on the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1831-2, VIII, 734. Report from the Select Committee on the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1831-2, X, 735-11. Minutes of Evidence Taken before the Select Committee on the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1831-2, XI, 735-III. Minutes of Evidence Taken before the Select Committee on the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1831-2, XII, 735-IV. Minutes of Evidence Taken before the Select Committee on the Affairs of the East India Company .... 1837-8, XLI, 175. Copies of Memorials Presented to the East India Company, or Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, by Inhabitants of the Presidencies of Bengal and Madras, against Act No. XI of 1836 .... 1837-8, XLI, 275. Minutes of the Supreme Government of India, on the Subject of Act XI of 1836 ....
Awareness Space Characteristics in a Migration Context

The overall pattern of human movements is constrained and molded by the individual's knowledge of his environment. Thus, the migrant's awareness (or lack thereof) of alternative destinations affects the evaluation of these alternatives and the ultimate choice of a new place of residence. This paper focuses upon the characteristics of awareness spaces in an interurban migration context, employing a sample of recent migrants to Columbus, Ohio. The study indicates that the likelihood of a town being included in an individual's awareness space corresponds with gravity model predictions, so that model could be employed to effect an I approximate mapping of awareness spaces. The respondents' familiarity with a town was more important than its gravity model characteristics. The findings, I then, suggest the importance of more specific place characteristics (e.g., job I opportunities, entertainment, and kind of people) in explaining the detailed as opposed to the general attributes of awareness spaces.
Ion-pair extractions with 12-crown-4 and its analogues

The complexing abilities of 12-crown-4 and its analogues have been investigated by using ion-pair extractions. A relationship exists between the type of substitution on the 12-crown-4 and the complexing ability and selectivity. Additionally, the selectivities vary according to the reagent concentrations. The compound 12-crown-4 can be used to complex sodium selectively in the presence of other alkali-metal ions. A method for determining serum sodium-ion concentrations has been developed.
Significance of a Curled Central Venous Catheter Tip

A malpositioned central venous catheter can cause constant excessive pressure on one particular area of a central vein, thus leading to perforation and hydrothorax. The following is a case report of an iatrogenic hydrothorax caused by a malpositioned central venous catheter. The subtle sign of malposition is a slightly curled catheter tip.
State decay in finite and infinite discrete systems

Using the Bixon–Jortner Hamiltonian as a model of a discrete system, we compare the decay of a prepared state into an infinite, discrete manifold with similar decays into large but finite systems. We find that the differences between these two types of systems are strongly related to the number of manifold states. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Geographic variation in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use and heart failure survival.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) have been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials to reduce mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.1, 2 Although clinical trials demonstrating the benefits of ICDs/CRT-Ds mostly enrolled patients younger than age 65,3 recent observational studies of ICD/CRT-D outcomes among clinically-eligible elderly HF patients have confirmed ICDs/CRT-Ds also improve survival among patients over age 65.4, 5 Guidelines have been jointly issued by the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and Heart Rhythm Society recommending “primary prevention” ICD/CRT-D implantation in all clinically eligible HF patients as a Class IA indication.6 In January of 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expanded coverage for ICDs to include device implantation for primary prevention, thereby reducing financial barriers to ICD/CRT-D receipt.7 Despite the published evidence, guidelines, and favorable coverage decisions supporting primary prevention ICDs, growth in ICD/CRT-D volume has not risen to a level commensurate with the estimated size of the ICD-eligible HF population,7, 8 suggesting a sizeable fraction of guidelines-eligible patients are not receiving devices.9 Quality-of-care initiatives for heart failure are increasingly focused on reducing the fraction of ICD-eligible HF patients who do not have an ICD.10 However, the public health impact of primary prevention ICDs/CRT-Ds among non-experimental HF patients nationwide is uncertain.11 If expanding ICD/CRT-D utilization among Medicare patients with HF during recent years has had relatively little impact on HF mortality, efforts to further increase the use of ICDs/CRT-Ds in this population would be questionable. The primary goal of this research was to determine whether growth in the numbers of Medicare beneficiaries with HF receiving ICDs/CRT-Ds in 2002–2007 was associated with improvement in survival among these patients, and to estimate the future public health impact of increasing ICD/CRT-D utilization in localities with persistently low ICD/CRT-D use.
Autoimmune, atopic, and mental health comorbid conditions associated with alopecia areata in the United States.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of comorbid conditions among patients with alopecia areata (AA) seen at tertiary care hospitals in Boston, Massachusetts, during an 11-year period. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting Tertiary care hospitals in Boston, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Participants We identified 3568 individuals with AA seen in the Partners health care system in Boston between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2011. We performed comprehensive searches of the Research Patient Data Repository using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code 704.01. We randomly selected 350 patients and manually reviewed their medical records to train and validate a novel artificial intelligence program. This program then used natural language processing to review free-text medical records and confirm a diagnosis of AA. To confirm the algorithm, we manually reviewed a subset of records and found 93.9% validity. Main Outcomes and Measures The prevalence of comorbid conditions was assessed. Results Common comorbid conditions included autoimmune diagnoses (thyroid disease in 14.6%, diabetes mellitus in 11.1%, inflammatory bowel disease in 2.0%, systemic lupus erythematosus in 4.3%, rheumatoid arthritis in 3.9%, and psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in 6.3%), atopy (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and/or eczema in 38.2% and contact dermatitis and other eczema in 35.9%), and mental health problems (depression or anxiety in 25.5%). We also found high prevalences of hyperlipidemia (24.5%), hypertension (21.9%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (17.3%). This profile was different from that seen in a comparison psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis group. Conclusions and Relevance We found a high prevalence of comorbid conditions among individuals with AA presenting to academic medical centers in Boston. Physicians caring for patients with AA should consider screening for comorbid conditions.
Polymorphisms in XPD exons 10 and 23 and bladder cancer risk.

Introduction: The nucleotide excision repair gene, xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D ( XPD ), has been hypothesized to have a role in cancer risk, but results from prior molecular epidemiologic studies and genotype-phenotype analyses are conflicting. Materials and Methods: We examined the frequency of the XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism in exon 10 and the XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism in exon 23 in 505 incident bladder cancer cases and 486 healthy controls. Results: Overall, the XPD exon 10 and 23 genotypes were not associated with bladder cancer risk, after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and smoking status. A gender-specific role was evident that showed an increased risk for women, but not for men, associated with the variant genotypes for both exons. For example, when the exon 23 variant allele genotypes were combined ( Lys/Gln + Gln/Gln ), there was an increased bladder cancer risk in women [odds ratio (OR), 1.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.12-2.58] but not in men (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.79-1.24; P interaction = 0.041; OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.02-2.58). There was also a gene-smoking interaction that showed the variant alleles for either exon or the combination of both increase the risk of bladder cancer for light and heavy smokers. For exon 23 ( P interaction = 0.057; OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.99-1.47), heavy smokers (≥20 pack-years) who carried the exon 23 variant allele genotypes had an OR of 4.13 (95% CI, 2.53-6.73), whereas heavy smokers with the wild-type genotypes were at lower risk (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 2.19-5.75). Moderate smokers (1-19 pack-years) with the variant allele genotypes had an OR of 1.54 (95% CI, 0.94-2.53), whereas moderate smokers with the wild-type genotypes had an OR of 1.12 (95% CI, 0.63-1.98). Conclusions: Although we did not observe main effects associated with the XPD genotypes, these results do suggest the variant allele genotypes were associated with increased bladder cancer risk in women and smokers with statistically significant interactions in the exon 23 polymorphism. Although there is biological plausibility, these novel findings for gender and smoking should be interpreted with caution upon confirmation in larger studies.
Nonintercepting diagnostic for the HIF neutralized transport experiment

The NTX experiment at the Heavy Ion Fusion Virtual National Laboratory is exploring the performance of neutralized final focus systems for high perveance heavy ion beams. We are developing a nondestructive beam diagnostic system to characterize the ion beam during its operation. Ion beam space charge is sensed by measuring deflection of monoenergetic electron passing transversely through the ion beam. In this diagnostic system an electron beam of a submillimeter size with 1-5 /spl mu/A current and 5-8 kV energy will be injected perpendicularly through the ion beam. The position and intensity of the deflected e-beam would be registered on a scintillator for optical analysis to characterize the ion beam. An electron beam of negligible space charge will be deflected at an angle that depends on the charge density and energy distribution of the ion beam along its trajectory. The e-beam current and energy are chosen such that its trajectory will be significantly perturbed without perturbing the ion beam. We present a progress report on this diagnostic system including the characterization of the electron gun, the design of the e-beam transport system, and a study of the scintillator and its associate electronics and photonic components.
The Long and the Short of Long and Short Duration Ventricular Fibrillation

See related article, pages 1256–1264 The mechanisms behind the complex activation sequences during ventricular fibrillation (VF) have been the topic of intense research over many years. Experimental studies in animal models of VF, as well as clinical studies of human VF,1–8 have provided a wealth of data on the nature of electric activity in the fibrillating heart. Supplemented by computer simulations and a theoretical framework of wave propagation in excitable media,9,10 our community has amassed significant insights into the mechanisms that lead to the degradation of electric activity into VF and of VF maintenance. However, the majority of these studies have been devoted to VF mechanisms in the short time period after VF onset (short-duration VF, lasting less than 1 minute). In an episode of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, the median time to delivery of the first defibrillation shock is 4.4 minutes,11 with VF episodes often lasting as long as 10 minutes (long-duration VF); over this period, the heart becomes ischemic while being subjected to excessively high excitation rates. Changes in the electrophysiological properties of the myocardium take place over these long-duration VF episodes. This is reflected in the altered outcome of a defibrillation shock, with survival rates decreasing rapidly with the increase in minutes spent in VF.12 Similarly, the guidelines for optimal resuscitation therapy differ depending on VF duration: immediate defibrillation is prescribed if time from VF onset is less than 4 or …
Frequency response computation via rational interpolation

A simple rational interpolation method is given for estimating a frequency response matrix. The method is based on a generalization of the resolvent identity that avoids the potential inaccuracies introduced by the subtraction of nearly equal values in the calculation of the difference terms. When coupled with a pole cancellation method, the resulting interpolation algorithm is accurate and efficient. The error in this procedure has the form of a modified response matrix, which means that the interpolation algorithm can be used to approximate both the response matrix and the error. >
Reading Gramsci in an Era of Globalising Capitalism

Abstract It is possible to read Gramsci – and through him, the tradition of historical materialism – in such a way that we are enabled to realise a potentially transformative politics of solidarity in a world where capitalist relations are extending and deepening, but which is nonetheless plural. A Gramscian‐inflected historical materialism enables an understanding of globalising capitalism, its relations of power and structures of governance, as the product of struggles – at once material and ideological – among concretely situated social agents. When viewed in terms of a dialectical reading of Gramsci, these struggles may be seen as reassertions of situated knowledges and process‐based understandings of social reality, antithetical to the abstract individualism residing in capitalism’s core, and embodying possibilities for critical engagement, dialogue, and transformative politics in an era of globalising capitalism.
Mutualistic Polydnaviruses Share Essential Replication Gene Functions with Pathogenic Ancestors

Viruses are usually thought to form parasitic associations with hosts, but all members of the family Polydnaviridae are obligate mutualists of insects called parasitoid wasps. Phylogenetic data founded on sequence comparisons of viral genes indicate that polydnaviruses in the genus Bracovirus (BV) are closely related to pathogenic nudiviruses and baculoviruses. However, pronounced differences in the biology of BVs and baculoviruses together with high divergence of many shared genes make it unclear whether BV homologs still retain baculovirus-like functions. Here we report that virions from Microplitis demolitor bracovirus (MdBV) contain multiple baculovirus-like and nudivirus-like conserved gene products. We further show that RNA interference effectively and specifically knocks down MdBV gene expression. Coupling RNAi knockdown methods with functional assays, we examined the activity of six genes in the MdBV conserved gene set that are known to have essential roles in transcription (lef-4, lef-9), capsid assembly (vp39, vlf-1), and envelope formation (p74, pif-1) during baculovirus replication. Our results indicated that MdBV produces a baculovirus-like RNA polymerase that transcribes virus structural genes. Our results also supported a conserved role for vp39, vlf-1, p74, and pif-1 as structural components of MdBV virions. Additional experiments suggested that vlf-1 together with the nudivirus-like gene int-1 also have novel functions in regulating excision of MdBV proviral DNAs for packaging into virions. Overall, these data provide the first experimental insights into the function of BV genes in virion formation.
Third-generation megahertz-rate pulse burst laser system.

The design and performance of a third-generation megahertz-rate pulse burst laser system is described. The third-generation system incorporates two distinct design changes that distinguish it from earlier-generation systems. The first is that pulse slicing is now achieved by using an economical acousto-optic modulator (AOM), and the second is the use of a variable pulse duration flashlamp driver that provides relatively uniform gain over a ~700 μs window. The use of an AOM for pulse slicing permits flexible operation such as pulse-on-demand operation with variable pulse durations ranging from 10 ns to DC. The laser described here is capable of producing a burst of laser pulses at repetition rates as high as 50 MHz and peak powers of 10 kW. Second-harmonic conversion efficiency using a type II KTP crystal is also demonstrated.
MEASUREMENT OF STATEMENTS MADE ABOUT EMOTION: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE AFFECT-COGNITION SCALE'

Summary.-For 40 male undergraduate students, rank-order correlations were calculated between scores on the Affect-Cognition Scale, a measure of the conceptualization and differentiation of statements about emotion, and scores on measures of cognitive complexity, dogmatism, field independence, originality, verbal intelligence, and social desirability. This research and Zimring, er al.'s (1970) suggest this scale also measures a process involving the apprehension and selection of incoming information and the ability to create meaning our of these stimuli. Because these properties are involved in many aspects of human functioning, the scale may have considerable utility. The Affect-Cognition Scale was recently developed to measure the conceptualization and elaboration of statements about emotion made in writing TAT stories (Rachman, 1965). Each story told in response to one of six TAT cards (1, 2, 3BM, 5, 6BM, 8BM) is rated along a four-point scale. This scale rates stories with little or no conceptual elaboration of affect (e.g., "This picture seems like a happy one.") as Category I. Stories with the mosc differentiated affective reaction ("He got so angry at her for embarrassing him that he hit her.") are rated Category IV. The writing of such stories requires S to create characters who can experience and conceptualize their emotional experience in response to TAT stimuli. Originally this scale was used co distinguish clients in successful and unsuccessful therapy (Rachman, 1965) in the belief that personal change is, in part, reflected in the incressed conceptual elaborations and differentiations of affective reactions. Subseqliently, the scale was used to predict differences in children's behav~or both in and out of the classroom (Gerber, 1968). A student's score pred~cced whether or not he was an active participator in the classroom as well as what kinds of activities he was involved in outside the classroom. In rhac snidy a successful attempt was made to expand the view of rhe functioning measured by the scale from a purely internal process to one that has links with observable behavioral patterns. Finally, a more recent research effort (Zimring, Nauman, & Balcombe, 1970) was successful in relating the scales to measures of selective attention. Given these varied and interesting findings, it seemed appropriate to explore further the properties of the scale to delineate the cognitive-emotional 'The author wishes to express his gratitude to James Boulger and Donald Leventhal for their comments and advice during the preparation of this manuscript.
Strategies for nursing faculty to promote a healthy work environment for nursing students

Following a brief review of the literature related to hostile work environments, this article offers suggestions for associate degree nursing faculty to effectively deal with the work environment issues affecting nursing students. Nurse educators can use the strategies suggested to create a better work environment and improve clinical experiences for nursing students.
Math on a sphere: using public displays to support children's creativity and computational thinking on 3D surfaces

Math on a Sphere (MoS) is a newly developed Web-based environment that enables children to imagine, program, and share creative designs on a public spherical display, the "Science on a Sphere" system created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The MoS software, similar in spirit to the Logo language, was installed at an exhibit located in the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley and at the Fiske Planetarium at University of Colorado, Boulder. Twenty-five children ages 8 to 13 in two cohorts tested the MoS software during a half-day workshop held at the Lawrence Hall. In addition to using the MoS software to create beautiful and original works of art, children also engaged in hands-on crafts and inquiry-based math activities to further promote learning of spherical geometry and computational thinking. MoS software workshop had a positive impact on children's engagement, but had mixed results about their understanding of geometry as evidenced by direct observations and results from pre/post-surveys, which are reported here.
Channel-aware weighted proportional fair medium access control in wireless LANs with MIMO links

MIMO techniques using multiple antennas for both transmitting and receiving have recently manifested themselves to be very promising for future broadband wireless networks. Aiming to leverage the impact of these MIMO techniques on network protocol design in wireless LANs (WLANs), we take a utility approach to study channel-aware weighted proportional fair medium access control (WPF MAC) for QoS provisioning. Simply put, in this utility based approach, every user in a WLAN attempts to maximize its own utility, and the optimization procedure takes place in two stages: a channel contention phase that arbitrates fair channel access across the users via combining adaptive persistence mechanism with random backoff, and a data transmission phase that determines the transmission duration based on the channel conditions in each transmission round. Furthermore, adaptive beamforming is carried out by using the training signals embedded in the RTS/CTS handshake to enhance the spectral efficiency of the MIMO links. Using a stochastic approximation method, together with the Lyapunov stability theorems, we establish the stability of the adaptive persistence mechanism in the proposed WPF MAC and analyze the fairness across the users therein
Radiation-induced Assembly of Rad51 and Rad52 Recombination Complex Requires ATM and c-Abl

Cells from individuals with the recessive cancer-prone disorder ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation (I-R). ATM (mutated in A-T) is a protein kinase whose activity is stimulated by I-R. c-Abl, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, interacts with ATM and is activated by ATM following I-R. Rad51 is a homologue of bacterial RecA protein required for DNA recombination and repair. Here we demonstrate that there is an I-R-induced Rad51 tyrosine phosphorylation, and this induction is dependent on both ATM and c-Abl. ATM, c-Abl, and Rad51 can be co-immunoprecipitated from cell extracts. Consistent with the physical interaction, c-Abl phosphorylates Rad51 in vitro and in vivo. In assays using purified components, phosphorylation of Rad51 by c-Abl enhances complex formation between Rad51 and Rad52, which cooperates with Rad51 in recombination and repair. After I-R, an increase in association between Rad51 and Rad52 occurs in wild-type cells but not in cells with mutations that compromise ATM or c-Abl. Our data suggest signaling mediated through ATM, and c-Abl is required for the correct post-translational modification of Rad51, which is critical for the assembly of Rad51 repair protein complex following I-R.
Stuttered and fluent speakers' heart rate and skin conductance in response to fluent and stuttered speech

Background: Previous studies have found simultaneous increases in skin conductance response and decreases in heart rate when normally fluent speakers watched and listened to stuttered speech compared with fluent speech, suggesting that stuttering induces arousal and emotional unpleasantness in listeners. However, physiological responses of persons who stutter observing stuttering and fluent speech has not been measured. Research suggests that the mechanism responsible for listeners' reactions is the mirror neuron system. The mirror neuron system activates when perceiving and producing goal-directed actions and forms the link between action perception and action production.Aims: To compare physiological responses elicited via fluent and stuttered speech in fluent and persons who stutter groups.Methods & Procedures: Participants included 15 adult persons who stutter (mean age = 29.7 years) and 21 normally fluent controls (mean age = 23.7 years). Participants watched and listened to six speech samples read b...
Light-Response Characteristics of Amorphous Silicon Arrays for Megavoltage and Diagnostic Imaging

Light-sensitive hydrogenated amorphous silicon pixel arrays are now under development for real-time megavoltage and diagnostic fluoroscopic imaging. Such applications place stringent demands upon a variety of array properties including the uniformity of the light-response function of the pixels. It is desirable that the design and fabrication of these imaging arrays maximize such uniformity. The implications of uniformity for imaging are reviewed, and data obtained from small arrays are presented and discussed.
Thickness Effects in the Reaction of Cobalt with Slicon-Germanium Alloys

The thickness dependence of the reaction of cobalt with silicon and epitaxial silicongermanium alloys (SiGe) was studied. Cobalt layers 25 A and thicker deposited on Si(100) and annealed at 600°C formed CoSi 2 . When the thickness of the Co film was reduced to 10 A the Co/Si(100) reaction resulted in a mixture of CoSi and CoSi 2 even after annealing for 20 minutes at 800°C. The products of the reaction of Co with (100)-oriented Si 1−x Ge x after annealing at 800°C depended on the thickness of the Co film and the Ge concentration in the SiGe layer. When the thickness of the Co film was below a critical value, the only phase formed during the Co/SiGe reaction was CoSi. A mixture of CoSi and CoSi 2 was observed when the thickness of the Co film exceeded the critical value. The critical thickness for CoSi 2 nucleation increased superlinearly with Ge concentration in the range 0≤x≤0.25, and did not depend on the doping of the Si(100) substrate or the strain state of the SiGe film. XRD and EXAFS measurements indicated no measurable incorporation of Ge had occurred in either the CoSi or CoSi 2 . The amount of CoSi 2 formed above the critical thickness increased monotonically with the thickness of the as-deposited Co film. The observed thickness effect was attributed to preferential Co–Si bonding in the reaction zone, and was modeled in terms of the energy cost of Ge segregation, which accompanies the formation of CoSi and CoSi 2 during the reaction of Co with SiGe.
Postoperative management following sphincter pharyngoplasty

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate postoperative airway-associated outcomes following sphincter pharyngoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Academic tertiary care medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Postoperative management of sphincter pharyngoplasty (SP) conventionally includes overnight observation to monitor for upper airway obstruction. To evaluate for postoperative airway-related outcomes, 36 patients who underwent SP between April 2003 and January 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 8.1 (SD 4.3) years. Mean follow-up was 6.5 (SD 10.7) months. Cleft palate (36.1%), velocardio-facial syndrome (22.2%), and post-adenoidectomy (16.7%) were the most common causes of velopharyngeal insufficiency. All patients underwent overnight observation postoperatively. Mean hospital stay was 1.2 (SD 0.5) days. Five patients remained inpatient two or three days owing to fever (2 patients), bleeding ear after concurrent otoplasty (1 patient), minimal oropharyngeal bleeding with spontaneous resolution (1 patient), and medication allergy (1 patient). No patient had a documented apneic event or desaturation below 95 percent. Although no desaturations were documented, four patients received supplemental oxygen: three for less than two hours, and one for 12 hours. All patients had adequate oral intake and pain control on oral medications prior to discharge; nine patients required one to three doses of intravenous narcotic medication for pain on postoperative day zero. CONCLUSION: Upper airway obstruction requiring overnight observation following SP is uncommon. In otherwise healthy patients, performing SP in an outpatient setting, given appropriate recovery room evaluation for airway concerns, oral intake, and pain control, should be considered.
Strategies for Survival in the Microcomputer Industry 1985-1989:

Investigation of the population of microcomputer firms that competed in the turbulent period of 1985 to 1989 raises questions about population ecologists' assumption of strategic inertia and calls into question the assumption of strategic interdependence advocated by strategic-management theorists and industrial-organization economists. Classification of the firms in the microcomputer industry indicates consolidation from six to four strategic groups, with a consequent reduction in strategic diversity. Many survivors changed strategies; however, firms with broader-scope strategies were more likely to be successful.
Physical layer identification of embedded devices using RF-DNA fingerprinting

RF distinct native attribute (RF-DNA) fingerprinting is introduced as a means to uniquely identify embedded processors and other integrated circuit devices by passively monitoring and exploiting unintentional RF emissions. Device discrimination is accomplished using RF-DNA fingerprints comprised of higher-order statistical features based on instantaneous amplitude and frequency responses as a device executes a sequence of operations. The resultant fingerprints are input to a Multiple Discriminant Analysis/Maximum Likelihood (MDA/ML) processor for subsequent device discrimination. Using devices from a given manufacturer and experimentally collected side channel signals, 90–100% identification accuracy is achieved for SNR ≥ 12 dB for devices with identical part numbers from the same production lot. Depending on the level of required classification accuracy, RF-DNA fingerprinting is well-suited for realistic environments and practical operating distances. Applications of device RF-DNA fingerprints include supplementary physical layer authentication of secure tokens (e.g. smart cards), detection of counterfeit electronic devices or unauthorized modification, and forensic attribution of a device's unique identity in criminal or other investigations.
Me vs. We: The Effect of Incomplete Team Member Feedback on Cooperation of Self-Regarding Individuals

We examine the effect that feedback of team member contributions to team production has on individuals’ subsequent contributions to team production, specifically for self-regarding individuals (proselfs). Prior literature outlines the adverse effects of free riding, a behavior in which self-regarding individuals often engage. We evaluate how proselfs respond differentially to the type of feedback about team member contributions; input (i.e., time contributed) compared to output (i.e., production units contributed), and whether feedback type can mitigate free riding. We predict that when proselfs view low team member contributions, they will respond more negatively following input feedback than output feedback. Input feedback can provide a stronger signal of effort choice, so low input feedback will be interpreted as intentional. Further, we predict that proselfs’ positive responses will be lower following input feedback, as proselfs are more likely to interpret input feedback in a self-serving manner, which tempers their positive responses. We provide experimental evidence that following input feedback, proselfs respond more negatively to low team contributions and less positively to high team contributions. These responses to input feedback adversely affect team performance. Our findings outline that providing output feedback has the potential to mitigate proselfs’ free riding.
Algorithms, models and tools for parallel computing on heterogeneous platforms (heteropar 2011)

Heterogeneity is emerging as one of the most profound and challenging characteristics of today's parallel environments. From the macro level, where networks of distributed computers, composed by diverse node architectures, are interconnected with potentially heterogeneous networks, to the micro level, where deeper memory hierarchies and various accelerator architectures are increasingly common, the impact of heterogeneity on all computing tasks is increasing rapidly. Traditional parallel algorithms, programming environments and tools, designed for legacy homogeneous multiprocessors, can at best achieve on a small fraction of the efficiency and potential performance we should expect from parallel computing in tomorrow's highly diversified and mixed environments. New ideas, innovative algorithms, and specialized programming environments and tools are needed to efficiently use these new and multifarious parallel architectures. The workshop is intended to be a forum for researchers working on algorithms, programming languages, tools, and theoretical models aimed at efficiently solving problems on heterogeneous networks. This volume contains the papers presented at HeteroPar'11:Workshop on Algorithms, Models and Tools for Parallel Computing on Heterogeneous Platforms held on August 28, 2011 in Bordeaux.