cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adding value to relative-value units

Many important physician activities are not measurable by means of the current relative-value unit system. But a reconfigured RVU system could evolve into the best method for accounting for physicians' services in new value-based delivery and payment systems.
ALU Architecture with Dynamic Precision Support

Exploiting computational precision can improve performance significantly without losing accuracy in many applications. To enable this, we propose an innovative arithmetic logic unit (ALU) architecture that supports true dynamic precision operations on the fly. The proposed architecture targets both fixed-point and floating-point ALUs, but in this paper we focus mainly on the precision-controlling mechanism and the corresponding implementations for fixed-point adders and multipliers. We implemented the architecture on Xilinx Virtex-5 XC5VLX110T FPGAs, and the results show that the area and latency overheads are 1% ~ 24% depending on the structure and configuration. This implies the overhead can be minimized if the ALU structure and configuration are chosen carefully for specific applications. As a case study, we apply this architecture to binary cascade iterative refinement (BCIR). 4X speedup is observed in this case study.
ANALYSIS OF TRYPTOPHAN AND ITS METABOLITES BY REVERSE‐PHASE HIGH‐PRESSURE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

New Phytol. (1981) 88, 621--626 ANALYSIS OF TRYPTOPHAN AND ITS METABOLITES BY REVERSE-PHASE HIGH-PRESSURE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY Bv JOHN B. TARR AND JOSEPH ARDITTI Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92717, U.S.A. (Accepted 24 November 1980) SUMMARY Rapid separation and determination of tryptophan, N-formylkynurenine, kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, trigonelline, kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid from pea seedling using reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography is described. Accuracy of the determinations was better than 5 % and Jess than 50 pmol of each metabolite could be measured reliably. INTRODUCTION Tryptophan is a precursor of niacin in animals and many micro-organisms. Therefore, its catabolism is of considerable interest as a pathway for the biosynthesis of the vitamin and its coenzymes. The role of tryptophan and that of other potential precursors in the biosynthesis of niacin in plants (especially angiosperms) is still unclear however (Arditti and Tarr, 1979), and requires further research . Therefore, a rapid and sensitive assay for the intermediates of tryptophan catabolism in plants, suitable for use with small samples, is highly desirable. Several methods for the analysis of tryptophan and its metabolites in biological materials have been developed. The most comprehensive procedure (Price, Brown and Yess, 1965) involves many steps of ion-exchange chromatography and spectrophotometric and colorimetric assays, and requires a great deal of effort, time and laboratory space. A variety of methods using ion-exchange (Chilcote and Mrochek, 1972; Chen and Gholson, 1972 ; Morris and Moon, 1974; Yeh and Brown, 1975), thin layer (Morris and Moon, 1974; Anderson, 1975 ; Baumann, 197 5), and gel permeation (Stratakis, 1976) chromatography, as well as spectroscopic (Hood and Winefordner, 1969; Buxto and Guilbault, 1974) and fluorometric (Nakken, 1963; Gaitonde, Evans and Hartmann, 1979) methods, have been described; these are difficult to use quantitatively, require large samples, or are applicable to only a few compounds. A separation of four compounds by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), suitable for deter- mination of tryptophan and kynurenine in urine samples, has been reported (Grushka, Kikta and Naylor, 1977), and a method for determination of nicotinic acid in urine by ion-pair reverse-phase HPLC has been developed (Hengen, Seiberth and Hengen, 1978). Quantitative analysis of tryptophan, kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine and kynuramine in rat brain by a combination of ion- exchange HPLC and electron-capture gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) has also been described (Gal and Sherman, 1978). This procedure requires two HPLC steps followed by derivatization and G LC of each effluent fraction. The present 0028-646X/81/080621 +06 $02.00/0 © 1981 The New Phytologist
A numerical investigation of louvered fin-and-tube heat exchangers having circular and oval tube configurations

A numerical investigation of the airside performance for fin-and-tube heat exchanger having circular and oval configuration is presented in this study. The geometrical parameters of louver angle, louver pitch, and louver length are examined. For a fixed louver length (6.25 mm) and louver angle (14°), a 10% decrease of heat transfer performance is observed and a 41% decrease of pressure drop is seen for oval tube configuration. The calculated results indicate that the pressure drops always with increase in louver angle. However, an optimal value of heat transfer performance is observed due to the difference in the development of thermal boundary layer on the upper and lower louver surface. Both the heat transfer and friction performance increase with louver length. However, the rate of the increase of heat transfer performance is about the same as the increase of pressure drops.
Temperature-compensated analogue multiplier

The letter describes a 4-quadrant analogue multiplier which uses a field-effect transistor as a voltage-variable conductance in a differential-amplifier circuit configuration. Feedback is applied to the gate of the f.e.t. to linearise the IDS/VDS characteristic. A second matched f.e.t. is used to compensate for the changes in temperature, resulting in an accuracy of within 1% over a 50 deg. C temperature range.
Evaluation of the slowing down tail enhanced, neoclassical alpha particle energy flux

The non‐Maxwellian slowing down tail formed by the energetic alpha particles produced in a fusing tokamak is shown to substantially enhance the neoclassical radial energy loss of alphas. The retention of the pitch angle scattering of the energetic tail alphas by the background ions leads to a neoclassical energy flux that can easily become larger than that of the alpha ash. The enhanced flux can also act to prevent the fusion alpha power from being deposited in the background plasma unless the banana width is sufficiently small.
A peer-to-peer framework for Web service discovery with ranking

Current Web service discovery methods are based on centralized approaches where Web services are identified based on service functionality. Examples of service functionality include car rental, hotel booking and book selling. Since higher level Web services are increasingly composed in terms of lower level Web services, it is important that service discovery not only be based on service functionality but also be based on process behavior, i.e., how a service functionality is served. Furthermore, centralized approaches to service discovery suffer from problems such as high operational and maintenance cost, single point of failure, and scalability. Another issue that has not been considered in current Web service discovery paradigms is the issue of trust and quality of service of the service provider. We, therefore, propose a structured peer-to-peer framework for Web service discovery in which Web services are located based on both service functionality and process behavior. In addition, we integrate a scalable reputation model in this distributed peer-to-peer framework to rank Web services based on both trust and service quality.
Looking for trouble: understanding end-user security management

End users are often cast as the weak link in computer security; they fall victim to social engineering and tend to know very little about security technology and policies. This paper challenges this view as derogatory and unconstructive, arguing that users, as agents of organizations, often have sophisticated strategies regarding sensitive data, and are quite cautious. Existing work on user security practice has failed to consider how users view security; this paper provides content on and analysis of end user perspectives on security management. We suggest that properly designed systems would bridge the knowledge gap (where necessary) and mask levels of detail (where possible), allowing users to manage their security needs in synchrony with the needs of the organization. The evidence for our arguments comes from a set of in-depth interviews with users with no special training on, knowledge of, or interest in computer security. We conclude with guidelines for security and privacy tools that better leverage existing users knowledge.
Feeder level power loss reduction through reactive power control with presence of distributed generation

Distributed generation is one of the biggest changes that the power industry is facing with the mitigation of greenhouse gases and the smart grid initiative. With the presence of a communication infrastructure, it is expected that distributed generators could be more efficiently operated. This work focuses on developing a power loss minimization technique while allowing distributed resources to supply reactive power. The proposed technique is tested using IEEE 13- and 34-node test feeders, and results show that the proposed technique will minimize real power loss in radial distribution feeders.
A segmental genomic duplication generates a functional intron

An intron is an extended genomic feature whose function requires multiple constrained positions-donor and acceptor splice sites, a branch point, a polypyrimidine tract and suitable splicing enhancers-that may be distributed over hundreds or thousands of nucleotides. New introns are therefore unlikely to emerge by incremental accumulation of functional sub-elements. Here we demonstrate that a functional intron can be created de novo in a single step by a segmental genomic duplication. This experiment recapitulates in vivo the birth of an intron that arose in the ancestral jawed vertebrate lineage nearly half-a-billion years ago.
Physiologic responses during rest on a sleep system at varied degrees of firmness in a normal population.

This study explores the hypothesis that a high degree of sustained muscle activity associated with a sub-optimal spinal orientation may compromise an individual's ability to relax or initiate sleep. Data from 22 participants who were considered to be part of a normal, back-pain-free population were used in these studies. Participants laid down on a mattress in a foetal position (i.e. on their sides) at three varying bed pressures while EMG activities, heart rates, blood pressures, subjective comfort levels and spinal alignment data were recorded. Minor effects of mattress inflation pressures were associated with changes in EMG activity, heart rate, blood pressure and/or subjective comfort. In contrast, spinal alignment assessment revealed significant differences between the three different inflation pressures studied (827.4, 2413.2 and 3999.0 Pa). It was concluded that in a population of normal participants, although mattress inflation pressure induced significant changes in spinal alignment, these changes were of little physiological consequence. Nevertheless, this data provides baseline information needed to assess similar correlations in a symptomatic population (e.g. those with either acute or chronic neck or back pain).
Centroid based clustering of high throughput sequencing reads based on n -mer counts

Many problems in computational biology require alignment-free sequence comparisons. One of the common tasks involving sequence comparison is sequence clustering. Here we apply methods of alignment-free comparison (in particular, comparison using sequence composition) to the challenge of sequence clustering. We study several centroid based algorithms for clustering sequences based on word counts. Study of their performance shows that using k-means algorithm with or without the data whitening is efficient from the computational point of view. A higher clustering accuracy can be achieved using the soft expectation maximization method, whereby each sequence is attributed to each cluster with a specific probability. We implement an open source tool for alignment-free clustering. It is publicly available from github: https://github.com/luscinius/afcluster . We show the utility of alignment-free sequence clustering for high throughput sequencing analysis despite its limitations. In particular, it allows one to perform assembly with reduced resources and a minimal loss of quality. The major factor affecting performance of alignment-free read clustering is the length of the read.
362 CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF NALOXONE IN NEWBORN IN FANTS

Naloxone (N) reduces the decrease in ventilation induced by hypoxia in healthy term infants. In addition, N by blocking endogenous opiates has a potential role in the therapy of hypotensive patients with septic shock and may allow the release of catechol-amines. However, serial measurements of the cardiopulmonary effects of N in normotensive infants are not available. During active sleep we studied 8 term infants (mean age 1.9 days) and 8 preterm infants (mean gestational age 34 wks, age 2.1 days) who had recovered from transient respiratory distress, prior to removal of their umbilical arterial line. Heart rate (HR), aortic blood pressure (BP), transcutaneous PO2 (PtcO2), transcutaneous PCO2 and respiratory frequency (RR) were measured before and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes after administration of N (0.1 mg/kg IV) or placebo. A Dinamap BP monitor was used in 3 preterm infants. Plasma levels of epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) were also determined before and 10 and 20 minutes after N administration. Interestingly, 5 preterm infants increased their PtcO2 and RR after N. However, there was no significant change in any cardiac or respiratory parameter measured in both groups of infants and levels of E and NE did not appreciably change following administration of N. There were no changes following placebo. Our findings indicate that in normotensive infants: 1)N does not have a major influence on BP, HR, oxygenation and ventilation; 2)levels of E and NE remain within normal range following administration of N.
Abstract 3164: Cancer cell adhesion and degradome interact to metastasize

Background: Adhesion molecules of cancer cells interact with the cancer cell degradome. This is evident from (i) co-localized expression of adhesion molecules such as integrins and degradative enzymes such matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), (ii) regulation of degradome activity by integrin signaling, (iii) key integrins and MMPs binding to the same extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and (iv) interaction between integrins and membrane-bound MMPs in cell-ECM communication in several types of cancer (1-8). Integrins and the degradome have both been implicated in breast cancer metastasis. We are testing for the first time the hypothesis that it is the interactome between these two molecular networks that is critical for breast tumor metastasis to occur. Experimental Design: We performed comparative studies with a panel of non-metastatic (BT-474, T47D, MCF7, SKBr3) versus metastatic (MDA-MB-231, SUM149, SUM159, MDA-MB-468) human breast cancer cell lines and xenografts. All cell lines stably expressed tdTomato fluorescent protein for optical tracking. Comparative immunoblotting, zymography, migration and invasion assays were performed. Enzymatically activatable optical imaging probes IntegriSense (integrins), MMPSense (MMP), and Angiosense (blood vessels) from PerkinElmer were used in our in vivo imaging studies. Primary tumor sizes of 200 mm3 and 600 mm3 were used to account for different stages of tumors growth. Results: Analysis of 1,144 genes from a panel of 28 human breast cancer cell lines from publicly available data bases (9) showed that metastatic breast cancer cells have significantly (p Conclusion: Our results show that elevated activity and expression levels of integrins and MMPs coincide in metastatic breast cancer cell lines and xenografts, which indicates that they may cooperate and interact to enable cancer cell escape from the primary tumor and metastasis. We will perform additional studies to further test our hypothesis by combining cancer cell and tumor studies. References: 1. Knoblauch et al, FASEB J 2007. 2. Friedl et al, Nat Rev Cancer 2003. 3. Birkedal et al, Biol Med 1993. 4. Deryugina et al, Exp Cell Res 2001. 5. Brooks et al, Cell 1996. 6. Mitchell et al, Cancer Res 2010. 7. Gonzalo et al, Biofactors 2008. 8. Chapman et al, Thromb Haemost 2001. 9. Hollestelle et al, Cancer Res Treat 2009. Citation Format: Asif Rizwan, Menglin Cheng, Balaji Krishnamachary, Lu Jiang, Zaver Bhujwalla, Glunde Kristine. Cancer cell adhesion and degradome interact to metastasize. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3164. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3164
Robust estimation and control of robotic manipulators

For the trajectory following problem of a robot manipulator, a robust estimation and control scheme which requires only position measurements is proposed to guarantee uniform ultimate bounded stability under significant uncertainties and disturbances in the robot dynamics. The scheme combines a class of robust control laws with a robust estimator where the robust control law can be chosen to be either a modification of the standard computed torque control law or simply a linear and decentralized “PD” control law. The proposed robust estimator is also linear and decentralized for easy implementation. Constructive choices of the gains in the control law and estimator are proposed which depend only on the coefficients of a polynomial bounding function of the unknown dynamics. The asymptotic stability of the tracking errors and the estimation error is also investigated. Experimentation results verify the theoretical analysis.
The relationships among consumer satisfaction, involvement, and product performance: A catastrophe theory application

Attempts to model consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction (CS/D) responses rely on linear assumptions regarding the effect of various causes (e.g., attribute performance, expectancy discontinuation) on the consumer's reaction to a product or service. This assumption has been pervasive in the CS/D literature despite observations in the trade that consumers are sticky in their preferences or „dispreferences” for products. We present and operationalize a model which relaxes the linearity assumption and allows for lagged and threshold effects of performance increments on CS/D responses in product involvement. Our approach uses the cusp catastrophe model, which has been shown to be robust in a number of contexts, but has had only limited use in the marketing literature. We apply a catastrophe model to data on consumers' use of an appetite suppressant and show that, under high involvement conditions for this product, consumers do not shift preferences over a range of reported performance (e.g., weight loss). The catastrophe model is also shown to be superior to a linear (i.e., OLS) model of the same data.
Characterizing the resident, fermentative microbial consortium in the hindgut of the temperate-zone herbivorous fish, Hermosilla azurea (Teleostei: Kyphosidae)

The zebraperch, Hermosilla azurea Jenkins and Evermann, a warm-temperate marine fish species with a strictly macroalgal diet, has a relatively long digestive tract with an enlarged hindgut and an associated blind caecum (HC). In zebraperch sampled off Santa Catalina Island, California (33°19′42′′N; 118°18′37′′W) in years 1995 through 2001, direct cell counts, gut epithelium assessment of bacterial attachment, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analyses verified that the zebraperch HC possesses a dense and morphologically diverse, fermentative microbiota. Bacterial cell counts and morphological diversity were significantly higher in HC contents compared to anterior gut regions, suggesting that microbial populations were growing along the digestive tract. Similarly, electron micrographs of the HC epithelium revealed attached microbes, further supporting the possibility that these organisms constitute resident microbiota. Five different SCFAs were detected in all three regions of the digestive tract, but levels were up to three times greater in HC contents. Acetate was consistently the prevailing SCFA in all gut regions. Sequence analysis of bacterial 16S rDNA was used to identify predominant bacterial groups in HC contents. Of the seven main bacterial types identified, Enterovibrio spp. were the dominant bacteria in HC contents followed by species of Bacteroides,Faecalibacterium, and Desulfovibrio. Taken together, our findings show that the zebraperch HC harbors a consortium of microbes that appears to assist in the breakdown of algal polysaccharides in the herbivorous diet of the fish.
Conceptualizing and Measuring the Organizational Environment: A Multidimensional Approach:

Neither a single set of constructs nor a single set of measures of the organizational environment is widely accepted, making it difficult to build a comprehensive literature on the impact of the environment on thefirm. In this article we review three constructs-complexity, instability, and resource availability common to most environmental research. We identify theoretical omissions in Dess and Beard's (1984) measurement of these constructs, and present a revised set of constructs designed to build on their research. The new measures' construct validity is assessed using perceptual data from senior managers. We investigate the predictive validity of both our measures and Dess and Beard's by using them to predict industry performance. We also use our measures to predict two firm-level structural variables. We argue that the revised measures more accurately reflect our theoretical un-derstanding of environmental dimensions.
Phylogenetics of the Caprinae based on cytochrome b sequence

Relationships within the subfamily Caprinae have never been fully resolved. Phylogenies have been proposed based on morphological, behavioral, ecological, and some molecular comparisons. Because of the relatively poor fossil record of the Caprinae, paleontological evidence has not been extensively used in phylogenetic reconstruction for this group. Traditionally, four tribes: Saigini, Ovibovini, Rupicaprini, and Caprini, have been recognized. We investigated relationships within the Caprinae by comparing sequences of the cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA from 11 species of Caprinae and 1 Bovinae species. Our analyses suggest that revisions to previous phylogenies, including the dissolution of the Ovibovini, are warranted.
Newborn infant cry and nonhuman primate vocalization.

Cries were recorded from 20 normal newborn infants from birth to the fourth day of life. Sound spectrograms showed that these cries were similar to the vocalizations of nonhuman primates insofar as...
Radiation Effects in GaN-Based High Electron Mobility Transistors

GaN-based devices are more radiation hard than their Si and GaAs counterparts due to the high bond strength in III-nitride materials. In this paper, we review data on the radiation resistance of GaN-based transistors such as AlGaN/GaN and InAlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) to different types of ionizing radiation. The primary energy levels introduced by different forms of radiation, carrier removal rates and role of existing defects are discussed. The carrier removal rates are a function of initial carrier concentration, dose and dose rate but not of hydrogen concentration in the nitride material grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Proton and electron irradiation damage in HEMTs creates positive threshold voltage shifts due to a decrease in the two-dimensional electron gas concentration resulting from electron trapping at defect sites, as well as a decrease in carrier mobility and degradation of drain current and transconductance. Neutron irradiation created more extended damage regions and at high doses leads to Fermi level pinning, while 60Co γ-ray irradiation leads to much smaller changes in HEMT drain current relative to the other forms of radiation.
First 80-Gb/s and 160-Gb/s wavelength-converted data stream measurements in a silicon waveguide

Data fidelity is inspected for the first time for wavelength-converted RZ TDM 80- and 160-Gb/s data using four-wave mixing in a silicon waveguide. Open eye diagrams and error-free operation is shown for demultiplexed 10-Gb/s tributaries.
Towards managed terabit/s scientific data flows

Scientific collaborations on a global scale, such as the LHC experiments at CERN [1], rely today on the presence of high performance, high availability networks. In this paper we review the developments performed over the last several years on high throughput applications, multilayer software-defined network path provisioning, path selection and load balancing methods, and the integration of these methods with the mainstream data transfer and management applications of CMS [2], one of the major LHC experiments. These developments are folded into a compact system capable of moving data among research sites at the 1 Terabit per second scale. Several aspects that went into the design and target different components of the system are presented, including: evaluation of the 40 and 100Gbps capable hardware on both network and server side, data movement applications, flow management and the network-application interface leveraging advanced network services. We report on comparative results between several multi-path algorithms, the performance increase obtained using this approach, and present results from the related SC'13 demonstration.
ACCUMULATION OF ADENINE BY ISOLATED RAT LIVER NUCLEI.

Abstract The uptake of adenine-8-C 14 into isolated nuclei of rat liver was studied. Maximal uptake occurs at 37.5 °–40 °C and at pH 6.5–7. Two processes can be distinguished for adenine uptake: diffusion, and a saturatable carrier process, the latter process resulting in a concentrative accumulation of adenine in the nucleus. At an extranuclear adenine concentration of 0.02 m M , the carrier process is predominant, and the distribution ratio (ratio of intranuclear adenine concentration to extranuclear adenine concentration) is found to be approximately 3.6. The carrier process is saturated at extranucler adenine concentrations of approximately 0.20 m M and higher. At adenine concentrations greater than 0.20 m M , diffusion becomes the predominant process. The uptake of adenine into isolated nuclei is inhibited by magnesium ion but is not appreciably affected by the presence of Na + ion, or by iodoacetamide or sodium cyanide.
The shielding of a fixed charge in a high-density electron gas☆

Abstract The shielding of a small fixed charge in a high-density electron gas is calculated by means of a technique similar to that used by Gell-Mann and Brueckner for calculating the correlation energy. A closed expression for the density of displaced electrons is derived and evaluated numerically for several densities of the electron gas. An asymptotic form is also given.
Effect of Asymmetric Manipulations in Autocatalytic Networks

In this paper, we show that heterogeneous networks can be configured and reconfigured to operate in flexible spatial patterns. The concept is demonstrated by using a square grid of continuous stirred tank reactors with nearest neighbor interactions and hosting multiple cubic autocatalytic species. Asymmetry is introduced in the system by allowing for different feed flow rates in the reactors. A heterogeneous system offers expanded phase space, improved stability, and coexistence characteristics. The advantages of asymmetry are studied using bifurcation diagrams, continuation studies, and dynamics.
Use of rodeo® and X-77® spreader to control smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) in a southwestern washington estuary: 2. Effects on benthic microflora and invertebrates

In August 1992, we conducted an intensive short-term (within 119 d) experiment in southern Willapa Bay, Washington, to evaluate the potential effects on mudflat benthic communities of herbicide control of smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora Loisel. A mixture of glyphosate (Rodeo® ; 4.7 L ha -1 ) and an associated surfactant, alkylarylpolyoxyethylene (AAPOE, X-77® Spreader ; 1 L ha -1 ) was applied aerially to three mudflat sites with invasive S. alterniflora. Sediment structure (grain size), edaphic microalgal biomass (chlorophyll a), and densities of benthic and epibenthic meiofauna and benthic macrofauna were sampled systematically in treated and adjacent control (untreated) plots I d before, immediately after, and 1, 14, 28 and 119 d after spraying. These mudflat biota showed no definitive differences in population trends that would indicate acute responses to the herbicide and surfactant applications over the 119-d duration of the experiment. Two-way ANOVA tests of differences in slope of linear regressions of mean plot microalgal biomass and invertebrate density of 19 taxa groups or species testing short-term (2 weeks) and long-term (17 weeks) trends in response to the experimental treatment tests indicated no significant (p < 0.1) treatment and only three site effects. Natural variability in the standing stocks (in the case of benthic microalgae) or densities (invertebrates) of most of the 19 indicator taxa prior to spray application was sufficiently high within and between treatment and control plots and among sites to preclude strong inferential tests of acute effects. Although differences in mudflat habitats (e.g., tidal elevation, sediment structure) inherent in the sites prior to treatment affect the power of our ability to test direct effects, there were no indications of either short- or long-term effects on the mudflat community of aerially applying this concentration of herbicide and surfactant. This study did not explicitly address either sublethal or indirect ecological effects, such as associated with an observed decrease in the exotic eelgrass Zostera japonica, which might appear as a longer-term, more subtle response by the mudflat community.
Can we predict rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)

A s p t r r e i c T G o a h t p s s t o h o i s t b j v p Improvements in intensive care and wide availability of endovascular treatment have resulted in better outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The morality rate of aneurysmal SAH has decreased by 17% during the ast three decades and overall survival rates are now around 5% (1, 9). These improvements have been the result of early neurysm treatment, better understanding of the pathophysiolgy of vasospasm, more aggressive and earlier treatment of ydrocephalus, and prevention/treatment of systemic medical omplications. Because little can be done about the primary ffects of the hemorrhage once bleeding occurs, further imrovements in outcome can only be the consequence of prevenion and treatment of potentially “modifiable” factors. In this espect, early rebleeding before the aneurysm is secured contines to be a dramatic and devastating complication. Patients with n originally minor SAH continue to succumb or be permanently ffected because of rebleeding. In tertiary care centers, rebleedng is now one of the main causes of poor outcome after the rimary effect of the initial bleed (10, 11). Traditional teaching has een that the incidence of rebleeding is approximately 4% during he first 24 hours and then decreases to approximately 1.5%/day or the first 2 weeks (5). However, these data, extrapolated from he International Study on Timing of Aneurysm Surgery, refer to he incidence of rebleeding once patients have reached specialzed referral centers (5). The actual incidence of rebleeding during he first 24 hours is much higher and these ultra early rebleedings ccur in the first few hours after the presenting event as patients re being transported to the hospital, during evaluation in the mergency department, and during transfer to specialized ceners (2, 7).
The kinetics and mechanism of pyrite thermal decomposition

Pyrite (FeS 2 ) decomposition in He, N 2 , CO 2 -CO-SO 2 , O 2 -CO 2 and H 2 S-H 2 gas mixtures was studied from 400-590°C using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe analyses, and gas chromatography. The rate constants were determined from the weight loss and the thickness change of pyrite in reacted samples. The temperature dependent composition of the product, pyrrhotite (Fe 1-x S), was measured by electron microprobe analysis and X-ray diffraction. Pyrite decomposition to pyrrhotite and sulfur vapor (dominantly S 2 ) was observed in all gases and follows linear kinetics. The apparent activation energy of pyrite thermal decomposition is 297 ± 34 kJ mol -1 in inert gases (e.g. He, N 2 ), and 275 ± 20 kJ mol -1 in purified CO 2 and in low concentration CO-SO 2 gas mixtures with CO 2 . The rate constants are the same regardless of gas composition at a given temperature. In oxidizing (O 2 -CO 2 ) or reducing (H 2 S-H 2 ) gas mixtures, the rate constants are larger than that in inert gases because additional reactions between pyrite and oxidizing/reducing gases accelerate the overall process while reducing the apparent activation energies. A mechanism of pyrite decomposition, which explains our experimental results, as well as the discordant activation energy data in the literature, is proposed.
Latino Elected Officials in the 1990s

Thirty years ago, political activity in the Latino community was relatively unknown at the national level. While there were Hispanic elected officials (HEOs) and Latino community activism, no one spoke of “Latino” politics or the “Hispanic” vote in national politics (Moore and Pachon 1985, chap. 10; Jennings and Rivera 1984). When analysts examined Latino politics, study was confined to the Southwestern states, New York City and perhaps Dade County, Florida. Now, however, Hispanics are one of this country's largest ethnic groups. Hispanics will be the largest ethnic minority group in the nation early in the 21st century (Edmonston and Passel 1991). Consequently, the political life of this community is coming under increasing attention. As examples, see May 1987; Didion 1987. This overview examines one facet of the increasing Latino political presence—the growing number of Hispanics elected to office at all levels of government. Because the reapportionment and redistricting that will take place in the next two years will increase the number of districts containing a majority Latino population, this discussion is particularly timely. Many newly apportioned districts will elect Latinos to office for the first time. Thus, this overview may be used to assess Latino office holding in 1990 and will serve as a baseline for measuring the impact of post-1990 redistricting on Latino public-officeholding.
Comparison of mean-field theories for a model ferroelectric

The equilibrium properties of a model ferroelectric have been investigated in classical approximation. For the displacive limit and $Tl{T}_{c}$ strong indications are given that even for short-range interaction the self-consistent-phonon mean-field approximation describes the exact temperature behavior outside a region $\frac{|T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}|}{{T}_{c}}$ which tends to zero in the very displacive limit. In the order-disorder limit, high-and low-temperature expansions as well as a comparison of free energies show that a Curie-Weiss (independent-site) mean-field approximation, though not being exact, is to be preferred over a self-consistent-phonon approach.
Biosensors based on polymer networks formed by gamma irradiation crosslinking

Water-soluble polymers immobilized by gamma radiation have been investigated as a means of developing electrochemical sensors. Enzyme-based sensors for glucose and lactate have been made by immobilizing glucose oxidase and lactate oxidase, respectively, on platinized graphite electrodes. The enzyme is entrapped in a polymeric network of poly(vinyl alcohol) that is formed by gamma radiation crosslinking. Electrodes coated with poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) and its corresponding monomer and then crosslinked with gamma radiation show an extraction of catecholamines into the polymer film that enhances the analytical signal for their detection by electrochemical oxidation. Poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) spin-coated on a screen-printed electrochemical cell provides sufficient ionic conductivity for the cell to function as a gas sensor for oxygen, which is detected by reduction at a platinum working electrode.
Screening and point-like structure. zero-charge problem reexamined

Abstract We study the effect of magnetic interactions on screening in abelian theories. By solving the coupled Schwinger-Dyson equations for the gauge-field propagator and the vertex function in the high momentum region, we find a nonperturbative solution whose existence implies that the screening in these theories is suppressed and the zero-charge problem may be absent. We speculate about the possible realization of this scenario in strongly coupled QED.
Lasing-pixel PDLC light valves for projection applications

A novel approach to projection systems in the form of an optically pumped, voltage-addressable lasing-pixel light-valve array is discussed. The lasing pixel is created from a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal light-valve sandwiched within a high-Fresnel-number optical-laser cavity. The device configuration, energy output, and pixel efficiency will be presented, and the positive attributes of lasing-pixel light valves in the context of projection applications will be discussed.
Cost-performance evaluation of memory hierarchies

The stack processing method is used to compare the cost-performance ($/access) between the following: 1) two-level and three-level hierarchies; and 2) hierarchies using random access and serial access memories as a backing store. It was found that busswidth between levels in the hierarchy strongly affects the system cost-performance, and the access time ratio between the backing store and buffer somewhat less. With the technology cost assumptions used in this study, the three-level hierarchy does not have as good a figure of merit ($/access) as the two-level hierarchy unless the access time ratio exceeds about fifty. Also, random access devices are advantageous over serial access devices for backing store applications only when the memory capacity is less than 1 Mbyte. For capacities of 4 Mbyte and 16 Mbyte serial access stores with shift register lengths of 256 bit and 1024 bit, respectively, look favorable.
A2B adenosine receptor blockade inhibits growth of prostate cancer cells

The role of the A2B adenosine receptor (AR) in prostate cell death and growth was studied. The A2B AR gene expression quantified by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis was the highest among four AR subtypes (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) in all three commonly used prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3, DU145, and LNCaP. We explored the function of the A2B AR using PC-3 cells as a model. The A2B AR was visualized in PC-3 cells by laser confocal microscopy. The nonselective A2B AR agonist NECA and the selective A2B AR agonist BAY60-6583, but not the A2A AR agonist CGS21680, concentration-dependently induced adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation. NECA diminished lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, TNF-α-induced increase of caspase-3 activity, and cycloheximide (CHX)-induced morphological changes typical of apoptosis in PC-3 cells, which were blocked by a selective A2B AR antagonist PSB603. NECA-induced proliferation of PC-3 cells was diminished by siRNA specific for the A2B AR. The selective A2B AR antagonist PSB603 was shown to inhibit cell growth in all three cell lines. Thus, A2B AR blockade inhibits growth of prostate cancer cells, suggesting selective A2B AR antagonists as potential novel therapeutics.
An evaluation of software-based release consistent protocols

This paper presents an evaluation of three software implementations of release consistency. Release consistent protocols allow data communication to be aggregated and allow multiple writers to simultaneously modify a single page. We evaluated an eager invalidate protocol that enforces consistency when synchronization variables are released, a lazy invalidate protocol that enforces consistency when synchronization variables are acquired, and a lazy hybrid protocol that selectively uses update to reduce access misses. Our evaluation is based on implementations running on DECstation-5000/240s connected by an ATM LAN and on an execution-driven simulator that allows us to vary network parameters. Our results show that the lazy protocols consistently outperform the eager protocol for all but one application and that the lazy hybrid performs the best overall. However, the relative performance of the implementations is highly dependent on the relative speeds of the network, processor, and communication software. Lower bandwidths and high per-byte software communication costs favor the lazy invalidate protocol, while high bandwidths and low per-byte costs favor the hybrid. Performance of the eager protocol approaches that of the lazy protocols only when communication becomes essentially free.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Behaviors Related to Nicotine Addiction

Tobacco smoking results in more than 5 million deaths each year and accounts for almost 90% of all deaths from lung cancer. Nicotine, the major reinforcing component of tobacco smoke, acts in the brain through the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The nAChRs are allosterically regulated, ligand-gated ion channels consisting of five membrane-spanning subunits. Twelve mammalian α subunits (α2-α10) and β subunits (β2-β4) have been cloned. The predominant nAChR subtypes in mammalian brain are those containing α4 and β2 subunits (denoted as α4β2* nAChRs). The α4β2* nAChRs mediate many behaviors related to nicotine addiction and are the primary targets for currently approved smoking cessation agents. Considering the large number of nAChR subunits in the brain, it is likely that nAChRs containing subunits in addition to α4 and β2 also play a role in tobacco smoking. Indeed, genetic variation in the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 gene cluster, encoding the α5, α3, and β4 nAChR subunits, respectively, has been shown to increase vulnerability to tobacco dependence and smoking-associated diseases including lung cancer. Moreover, mice in which expression of α5 or β4 subunits has been genetically modified have profoundly altered patterns of nicotine consumption. In addition to the reinforcing properties of nicotine, the effects of nicotine on appetite, attention, and mood are also thought to contribute to establishment and maintenance of the tobacco smoking habit. Here we review recent insights into the behavioral actions of nicotine and the nAChRs subtypes involved, which likely contribute to the development of tobacco dependence in smokers.
Structure of the Flavivirus Helicase: Implications for Catalytic Activity, Protein Interactions, and Proteolytic Processing

Yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the Flavivirus genus, has a plus-sense RNA genome encoding a single polyprotein. Viral protein NS3 includes a protease and a helicase that are essential to virus replication and to RNA capping. The 1.8-A crystal structure of the helicase region of the YFV NS3 protein includes residues 187 to 623. Two familiar helicase domains bind nucleotide in a triphosphate pocket without base recognition, providing a site for nonspecific hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates and RNA triphosphate. The third, C-terminal domain has a unique structure and is proposed to function in RNA and protein recognition. The organization of the three domains indicates that cleavage of the viral polyprotein NS3-NS4A junction occurs in trans.
Somatic ERCC2 Mutations Correlate with Cisplatin Sensitivity in Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Pathologic downstaging to pT0/pTis after neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy is associated with improved survival, although molecular determinants of cisplatin response are incompletely understood. We performed whole-exome sequencing on pretreatment tumor and germline DNA from 50 patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma who received neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by cystectomy (25 pT0/pTis “responders,” 25 pT2+ “nonresponders”) to identify somatic mutations that occurred preferentially in responders. ERCC2 , a nucleotide excision repair gene, was the only significantly mutated gene enriched in the cisplatin responders compared with nonresponders ( q < 0.01). Expression of representative ERCC2 mutants in an ERCC2 -deficient cell line failed to rescue cisplatin and UV sensitivity compared with wild-type ERCC2. The lack of normal ERCC2 function may contribute to cisplatin sensitivity in urothelial cancer, and somatic ERCC2 mutation status may inform cisplatin-containing regimen usage in muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Significance: Somatic ERCC2 mutations correlate with complete response to cisplatin-based chemosensitivity in muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma, and clinically identified mutations lead to cisplatin sensitivity in vitro . Nucleotide excision repair pathway defects may drive exceptional response to conventional chemotherapy. Cancer Discov; 4(10); 1140–53. ©2014 AACR . See related commentary by Turchi et al., [p. 1118][1] This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, [p. 1103][2] [1]: /lookup/volpage/4/1118?iss=10 [2]: /lookup/volpage/4/1103?iss=10
Functional status and health-related quality of life of elderly osteoarthritic patients treated with celecoxib

Background. This study evaluates the impact of celecoxib on functional status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and safety of elderly patients ( $ 70 years) with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and/or hip. Methods. Data were pooled from three prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel group trials, each having a 12-week treatment period. Multicenter studies were conducted in the United States and Canada. Data for patients diagnosed with active OA of the knee and/or hip in a flare state who were 70 years of age and older were included in the comparison of therapeutic doses of celecoxib or naproxen versus placebo ( N 5 768). Elderly patients from each of the three trials who were randomly assigned to groups treated with a placebo, 200 mg/day of celecoxib, 400 mg/ day of celecoxib, or 1000 mg/day of naproxen were included in this analysis. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was used to measure functional status. The Short Form-36 was used as a general measure of HRQOL. Safety was assessed according to the incidence and type of adverse reactions as reported by the patients and the rate of withdrawal due to adverse events. Results. At the end of the treatment period, patients in the celecoxib groups had significant improvement in both functional status and HRQOL in comparison with the placebo group. The effects of total daily doses of 200 mg of celecoxib, 400 mg of celecoxib, and 1000 mg of naproxen on functioning and HRQOL were not found to be significantly different from each other. The incidence of serious adverse events and withdrawal from the studies due to adverse events were similar in the celecoxib groups as they were in the placebo group. Overall, the naproxen group reported a significantly higher incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events than did the placebo and the 200-mg-daily celecoxib groups. Conclusions. This study showed that celecoxib and naproxen significantly improved functional status and HRQOL in elderly patients compared with those treated with a placebo. Celecoxib-treated patients were also found to experience safety and tolerability similar to that of the placebo-treated patients.