cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous coronary intervention versus medical therapy for coronary allograft vasculopathy: One center’s experience

Abstract Background Coronary allograft vasculopathy, a rapidly progressive form of atherosclerosis, remains the limiting factor in the long-term survival of heart transplant recipients. Some centers have attempted percutaneous coronary intervention to slow the disease process and thereby reduce mortality in these patients, but long-term follow-up data are scarce. We compared clinical outcomes in heart transplant recipients with coronary allograft vasculopathy who were treated either with percutaneous coronary intervention or with aggressive medical therapy alone. Methods A retrospective analysis of all heart transplant recipients at our institution who underwent surveillance coronary angiography for coronary allograft vasculopathy between 1995 and 2000 was performed. Patients with coronary allograft vasculopathy were stratified according to whether they received medical therapy or percutaneous coronary intervention. Baseline demographics, results of re-vascularization procedures and outcomes were analyzed. Results From 1995 to 2000, 301 patients underwent 602 coronary angiograms. Of the 79 patients who had angiographic evidence of coronary allograft vasculopathy, 53 were treated with aggressive medical therapy, while 26 underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in addition to aggressive medical therapy. At baseline, patients treated with aggressive medical therapy tended to be younger (54.6 ± 13.8 years) than patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (62.6 ± 7.6 years; p = 0.0079). Ejection fraction at time of diagnosis of coronary allograft vasculopathy was similar for both groups (medical therapy group, 44.4 ± 13.4% vs percutaneous coronary intervention group, 47.2 ± 12.7%; p = 0.38). In our cohort, heart transplant recipients with coronary allograft vasculopathy demonstrated greater mortality than heart transplant recipients without coronary allograft vasculopathy (p = 0.016). Patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention had a 60% re-stenosis rate at 6 months if they were treated with coronary angioplasty and an 18% re-stenosis rate if they received a coronary stent. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed no significant difference in survival in either treatment group at 1 year (80% for medical therapy group vs 95% for percutaneous coronary intervention group) or 3 years (68% for medical therapy group vs 79% for percutaneous coronary intervention group) after the angiographic diagnosis of coronary allograft vasculopathy. Conclusion In this non-randomized trial, heart transplant recipients with coronary allograft vasculopathy were less likely to survive than patients without it. In addition, we found no statistical difference in mortality in heart transplant recipients with coronary allograft vasculopathy, regardless of whether they received percutaneous coronary intervention or aggressive medical therapy alone. J Heart Lung Transplant 2002;21:000–000.
Ethnobotany of Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand. II. Lahu Medicinal Plants

The Lahu, the third largest of the 6 main tribes in northern Thailand, migrated into Thailand from Burma within the past 100 yr. Most still live in the hills above 1,200 m and practice swidden agriculture. Health is a main theme of the Lahu culture and they treat illness and injuries in a variety of ways. Traditional medicines derived from plants are usually employed first, although modern medical treatment is becoming more widespread. Because of this, it appears that they may be losing their knowledge of medicinal plants. Appendix 1 lists 68 different species and the medical use or uses of them by the Lahu. Appendix 2 lists 21 species not previously reported as having therapeutic value. Voucher specimens are deposited in ECON, WCW, JEPS.
Pigovian taxes which work in the small-number case

Abstract An appropriately conceived pollution tax can achieve a Pareto optimal equilibrium which is (1) stable in the presence of myopia, (2) not subject to strategic manipulation even in the small-number case, and (3) resistant to inefficient cost shifting by the participants when transaction costs are low. A considerable amount of confusion in the literature exists because different authors use different tax formulas (often implicitly) and different assumptions regarding conjectural behavior. Some of this confusion is cleared up by formally presenting various Pigovian tax formulas, explicitly considering whether there is Cournot or Stackleberg behavior, and comparing the properties of the various configurations.
Relationship between α-helical propensity and formation of the ribonuclease-S complex

Abstract Variant semisynthetic ribonuclease-S complexes were characterized in which the helical glutamic acid 9 residue was replaced by either leucine or glycine. The Leu-9 and Gly-9 synthetic peptides, corresponding otherwise to residues 1 through 15 of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease, were studied with respect to the ability to bind, and generate enzymic activity, with the complementary native protein fragment containing residues 21 through 124 of ribonuclease (RNAase-S-(21–124)). Both the Leu and Gly peptides bind to the RNAase-S-(21–124) to yield complexes with catalytic properties similar to those obtained with the Glu-9-containing peptide of residues 1 through 20 of ribonuclease (RNAase-S-(1–20)). However, whereas the binding affinity of Leu peptide to RNAase-S-(21–124) is only a factor of three less than that for RNAase-S-(1–20), that for Gly peptide is about 20-fold less than that for RNAase-S-(1–20). The stronger binding of Leu than Gly peptide corresponds to the observed propensity of leucine but not glycine for the α-helical conformation in globular proteins. In spite of the weakened affinity of the Gly peptide for RNAase-S-(21–124), it is essentially fully as capable as the Leu-9 and RNAase-S-(1–20) peptides in directing the re-formation of correct disulfide-containing conformation of RNAase-S-(21–124) after disulfide randomization of the latter.
Two analogies in solid continuum mechanics

Abstract loaded thin plates which have small deflections are analogous to the equations of the two-dimensional linearized mathematical theory of isotropic elasticity. Because of the analogy, all solutions of two-dimensional plane-strain or plane-stress problems may be taken as solutions of a particular thin plate problem and vice versa. A three-dimensional generalization of the above is also developed.In this form the theory draws an analogy between solutions in three-dimensional elasticity and those of thin plates subjected to lateral and shear loads as well as moments and torques. The latter development is based on a tensoral generalization of the two-dimensional result to three dimensions. Because of this analogy all the known solutions for thin plates subjected to lateral loads represent possible solutions in a three-dimensional elastic structure,3 and vice versa. Examples of both analogies are given.
Psychological health in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease with no known effective treatment or cure. Clinicians often expect that ALS patients will experience depression following the diagnosis because ALS is a terminal disease. The objective of the current study was to examine the evidence from the literature on psychological health in ALS patients in order to determine the prevalence and severity of depression in this population. Twenty-eight studies of ALS patients, conducted over the past 20 years, were reviewed and evaluated. The cumulative evidence suggests that clinically significant depression is neither as prevalent nor as severe as might be expected. Methodological limitations that are inherent to the measurement of depression in ALS, including the lack of appropriate instruments, small sample sizes, and reliance on cross-sectional data, have contributed to the wide range of reported results. We conclude that ALS patients are more likely to present with hopelessness and end-of-life concerns than clinically significant depression. It is important to assess a broad range of potential psychological distress early in the course of ALS, rather than focus specifically on depression, because the manner in which patients cope with their disease can affect their longevity.
Ontogenetic changes in biochemical composition during larval and early postlarval development of Lepidophthalmus louisianensis, a ghost shrimp with abbreviated development.

Abstract Changes in growth and biochemical composition during the transition from egg through zoea to decapodid in the ghost shrimp, Lepidophthalmus louisianensis (Schmitt, 1935), were documented in terms of dry weight, lipid classes, fatty acid composition, and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratios. Larvae of the ghost shrimp were mass-reared in the laboratory (28°C; 20‰ S) from hatching to the decapodid stage. Iatroscan lipid class analysis revealed that major lipid classes in recently produced eggs were phospholipids (80.8±1.3%) and triglycerides (16.0±1.1%), which decreased during the incubation period. Polar lipids (zoea I: 77.4±1.7%; zoea II: 77.5±2.1%; decapodid: 80.0±1.7%) and neutral lipids, of which free fatty acids (zoea I: 10.5±2.7%; zoea II: 13.1±5.2%; decapodid: 7.8±2.1%) were dominant, represented the major lipid classes in the zoeal and decapodid stages. Triglycerides were present in small amounts. The predominant fatty acids of L . louisianensis eggs, zoeae and decapodids were palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), eicosapentaenoic (20:5ω3), oleic (18:1ω9), and arachidonic (20:4ω6). Elemental composition of eggs, larvae, and the decapodid stage revealed conspicuous changes in the C:N ratio, with N being relatively stable during larval development but C decreasing during the decapodid stage. These data suggest independence of newly hatched L . louisianensis on external energy resources. This combined with the ability to incorporate saturated fatty acids into polar lipids provides a selective advantage for fast development of new tissue and growth, characteristic of decapod crustacean larvae with lecithotrophic development.
Enhanced resolution of circular and linear molecular forms of viroid and viroid-like RNA by electrophoresis in a discontinuous-pH system.

Abstract A discontinuous-pH polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system is described. An increase in the pH differential between the gel and the running buffer enhances the separation of low molecular weight circular and linear RNA molecules. Highly purified preparations of the circular form of viroids can be obtained with this procedure. Since all the linear RNAs of similar molecular weight migrate with the front, a relatively clean background can be obtained even when crude extracts are used. This facilitates an improved separation and identification of similarly sized viroid-like RNAs. The conditions of electrophoresis in low salt and 8 m urea also permit the effective transfer of RNA molecules directly to nylon-based membranes without any additional denaturation treatment.
Adipose-Specific Disruption of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Increases Body Weight and Adiposity

To determine the role of STAT3 in adipose tissue, we used Cre-loxP DNA recombination to create mice with an adipocyte-specific disruption of the STAT3 gene (ASKO mice). aP2-Cre-driven disappearance of STAT3 expression occurred on d 6 of adipogenesis, a time point when preadipocytes have already undergone conversion to adipocytes. Thus, this knockout model examined the role of STAT3 in mature but not differentiating adipocytes. Beginning at 9 wk of age, ASKO mice weighed more than their littermate controls and had increased adipose tissue mass, associated with adipocyte hypertrophy, but not adipocyte hyperplasia, hyperphagia, or reduced energy expenditure. Leptin-induced, but not isoproterenol-induced, lipolysis was impaired in ASKO adipocytes, which may partially explain the increased cell size. Despite reduced adiponectin and increased liver triacylglycerol, ASKO mice displayed normal glucose tolerance. Overall, these findings demonstrate that adipocyte STAT3 regulates body weight homeostasis in part through direct effects of leptin on adipocytes.
Defining 10-2 Visual Field Progression Criteria: Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis Using Pointwise Linear Regression

Purpose To test different visual field progression criteria using trend analysis in a glaucoma population followed with long sequences of 10-2 tests as a first attempt to understand and document rates of progression in the central field. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants We included 146 eyes of 146 patients with established glaucoma. Methods Pointwise linear regression analysis using the methods of ordinary least squares was performed on the 68 test locations of the 10-2 visual field sequences. Threshold sensitivities at each test location were plotted as the dependent variable against follow-up time as the independent variable. Statistically significant progression or improvement of a visual field test point was defined if its regression slope measured ≤−1.0 dB/year or ≥+1.0 dB/year, respectively, at P Main Outcome Measures The performance of different visual field progression criteria to detect fast rates of mean deviation (MD) change. Results Median baseline 10-2 MD value was −12.0 dB (interquartile range [IQR], −6.7 to −17.8 dB), and the median rate of 10-2 MD change over time was −0.38 dB/year (IQR, −0.07 to −0.77 dB/year). The highest PIR was obtained with the progression criterion requiring at least 3 test points located in the same LCA-derived 10-2 visual field sector progressing faster than −1.0 dB/year at P Conclusions This is the first study to investigate progression criteria for 10-2 visual fields using rates of change and to test their performance and validity. These findings may be useful to improve the monitoring of patients with glaucoma at different levels of functional loss and to develop new perimetric algorithms that scrutinize specific visual field locations for a more accurate detection of progression.
Obesity and decreased femoral anteversion in adolescence

The degree of femoral anteversion in a group of obese adolescent children and a group of adolescent children of normal weight was determined by either magnetic resonance imaging or computerized axial tomography. Compared with the children of normal weight, the obese children showed a significantly reduced angle of femoral anteversion. Increased biomechanical forces generated across the hip joint of obese children leads to increased remodeling of the femoral neck. This may account for the association of slipped capital femoral epiphysis, reduced femoral anteversion, and obesity in the adolescent population.
Stable estimate of primary OC/EC ratios in the EC tracer method

Abstract In fine particulate matter studies, the primary OC/EC ratio plays an important role in estimating the secondary organic aerosol contribution to PM2.5 concentrations using the EC tracer method. In this study, numerical experiments are carried out to test and compare various statistical techniques in the estimation of primary OC/EC ratios. The influence of random measurement errors in both primary OC and EC measurements on the estimation of the expected primary OC/EC ratios is examined. It is found that random measurement errors in EC generally create an underestimation of the slope and an overestimation of the intercept of the ordinary least-squares regression line. The Deming regression analysis performs much better than the ordinary regression, but it tends to overcorrect the problem by slightly overestimating the slope and underestimating the intercept. Averaging the ratios directly is usually undesirable because the average is strongly influenced by unrealistically high values of OC/EC ratios resulting from random measurement errors at low EC concentrations. The errors generally result in a skewed distribution of the OC/EC ratios even if the parent distributions of OC and EC are close to normal. When measured OC contains a significant amount of non-combustion OC Deming regression is a much better tool and should be used to estimate both the primary OC/EC ratio and the non-combustion OC. However, if the non-combustion OC is negligibly small the best and most robust estimator of the OC/EC ratio turns out to be the simple ratio of the OC and EC averages. It not only reduces random errors by averaging individual variables separately but also acts as a weighted average of ratios to minimize the influence of unrealistically high OC/EC ratios created by measurement errors at low EC concentrations. The median of OC/EC ratios ranks a close second, and the geometric mean of ratios ranks third. This is because their estimations are insensitive to questionable extreme values. A real world example is given using the ambient data collected from an Atlanta STN site during the winter of 2001–2002.
Disappearance and reappearance of magnetic ordering upon lanthanide substitution in ( Er 1 − x Dy x ) Al 2

Multiple magnetic ordering phenomena, when substituting Dy for Er in $({\mathrm{Er}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Dy}}_{x}){\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$ over a broad range of concentrations $0l~xl~0.85,$ observed in low-temperature heat capacity measurements have been explained theoretically. The Hamiltonian that describes the system includes crystalline electric field effects, exchange interaction, and second-order contributions such as quadrupolar and magnetoelastic effects. We show that the discontinuity in the heat capacity, which arises at certain concentrations of the alloying element Dy, is the result of the competition between the magnetoelastic coupling and quadrupolar effects. The existence of the disappearance and reappearance of the magnetic phases in other lanthanide-lanthanide systems is also discussed.
Retardation of Autoshaping: Control by Contextual Stimuli

Training pigeons with random presentations of a tone and food proactively interferes with the acquisition of autoshaped keypecking to a lighted key. The interference effect is context-specific (observed only when testing for autoshaping occurs in the initial training environment). An interpretation based on blocking by background cues is suggested by the data.
Androgen treatment prevents loss of cancellous bone in the orchidectomized rat.

This report describes histomorphometric evidence for an important role of androgens in maintaining cancellous bone balance at a remodeling site in vivo. Rats were orchiectomized (ORX) at 7 weeks of age and received either androgens or vehicle 1 week later (testosterone, 1-dehydrotestosterone, or 5-dihydrotestosterone) by subcutaneous pellet, producing controlled release of the drug for 3 weeks. Intact male rats and untreated ORX animals served as controls. After 4 weeks untreated ORX resulted in undetectable serum testosterone levels and marked atrophy of seminal vesicles compared with intact controls. Histomorphometry revealed severe cancellous osteopenia in the secondary spongiosa of the proximal tibial metaphysis. The length of bone surface lined by apparently “active” osteoblasts and number of osteoclasts per length of cancellous bone surface were increased following ORX. Testosterone treatment at 5 mg (per 21 days) produced subphysiologic serum testosterone levels. In contrast, 10 and 25 mg pellets resulted in serum testosterone levels comparable to those in intact rats. Testosterone treatment of ORX rats prevented the bone effects of ORX, and the degree of protection was dose dependent. 1-Dehydro- and 5-dihydrotestosterones displayed a bone-protective effect similar to that of testosterone. The results demonstrate that gonadal insufficiency results in a cancellous osteopenia that is preventable by testosterone treatment. Further, because a similar protective action was achieved using the nonaromatizable androgen 5-dihydrotestosterone, the results suggest that this bone-sparing effect is mediated by androgen rather than by metabolism of the androgen to an estrogen.
Resting and stimulated values of model parameters governing transmitter release at a synapse inAplysia californica

Transmitter release (R) at a synapse inAplysia californica can be analyzed in terms of a model with the following parameters: A, the available pool of transmitter; F, the fraction of available pool released by a presynaptic action potential; M, the rate of transmitter mobilization into the available pool; D, the rate constant of demobilization of transmitter from the available pool. In the present paper we show that: (1) beginning with an analysis of the recovery from depression of the second of a pair of isolated EPSPs separated by a series of intervals of about 10–60 sec, and assuming that the recovery is due to refilling of a depleted A, it is possible to estimate resting equilibrium values of these parameters; (2) changes in these parameters when a new equilibrium state is reached after prolonged stimulation (e.g., 300 stimuli at 1/sec) can then be quantitatively determined; (3) the increased rate of transmitter release observed during and after repetitive stimulation is the consequence of increases in F and M with changes in A passively following; and (4) there are significant correlations among certain resting parameters and between the values of certain resting parameters and these parameters upon stimulation. Preparations with a large resting F tend to have a relatively small resting A. Preparations with a large resting F or M tend to increase these less with stimulation than preparations with smaller resting values of these parameters. Preparations with large stimulus-dependent increases in F tend to have large stimulus-dependent increases in M.
Engineering of FRT-lacZ fusion constructs: induction of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa fadAB1 operon by medium and long chain-length fatty acids.

Abstract Without prior knowledge of the promoters of various genes in bacteria, it can be difficult to study gene regulation using reporter-gene fusions. Regulation studies of promoters are ideal at their native locus, which do not require prior knowledge of promoter regions. Based on a previous study with FRT–lacZ–KmR constructs, we constructed two novel FRT–lacZ–GmR plasmids. This allows easy engineering of Pseudomonas aeruginosa reporter-gene fusions, post-mutant construction, with the Flp–FRT system. We demonstrate the usefulness of one of these FRT–lacZ–GmR plasmids to study the regulation of the fadAB1 operon in P. aeruginosa at its native locus. The fadAB1 operon, involved in fatty acid (FA) degradation, was significantly induced in the presence of several medium chain-length fatty acids (MCFA) and, to a lesser degree, long chain-length fatty acids (LCFA). In addition to the previous work on the FRT–lacZ–KmR tools, these new constructs increase the repertoire of tools that can be applied to P. aeruginosa or other species and strains of bacteria where kanamycin resistance may not be appropriate.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: ETHNIC DIVERSITY, TIME AND PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

Research on links between ethnic diversity and performance frequently illustrates that organizational diversity leads to process-oriented problems and negative work-related outcomes. This can cause problems for public managers who are tasked to increase workforce diversity for normative purposes but are nonetheless required to focus on performance goals. In this study, we test the proposition that managers can improve work-related outcomes in diverse organizations by focusing on stability and allowing diverse groups to ‘get to know’ one another, a process that should improve communication and coordination difficulties inherent in ethnic diversity. Our results show that the negative relationship between ethnic diversity and organizational performance does indeed lessen with time and stability.
Keeping a Close Watch: A Cultural Philosophy of School Change:

Under new leadership, one school in Atlanta has moved in a positive direction to create an authentic community of learning and to become known as “technology aggressive.” Personal convictions about staff development and student achievement help support the school as the community undergoes demographic shifts.
Microsporidiosis of the mandible in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Patients afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) often present with gastrointestinal involvement and refractory diarrhea accompanied by progressive weight loss. Among the many causes, microsporidia has been increasingly identified as one of the responsible organisms.’ In patients with AIDS, microsporidia has been responsible for up to 50% of cases of unexplained chronic diarrhea.’ Microsporidia are obligate, intracellular, spore-forming, protozoa1 parasites. They are ubiquitous, and their host range is widespread, including all classes of vertebrates and most invertebrates.3 The term microsporidia is a nontaxonomic designation used to describe organisms belonging to the order Microsporidia of the phylum Microspora. More than 100 genera and nearly 1,000 species are contained in this phylum.3 Of these genera, five have been implicated in human infections, including Encephalitozoon, Enterocytozoon, Nosema, Pleistophora, and Septata.4 Intestinal microsporidiosis was first reported in a patient with AIDS in 1985. Since then, over 400 cases in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and 10 cases in non-HIV-infected patients have been documented.3X5 Multiple organ systems have been targeted, including the small intestine, conjunctiva, cornea, and sinonasal tissues.4 However, the spectrum of infection appears to be broadening and now includes bronchiolitis, nephritis, ureteritis, myositis, cystitis, hepatitis, and peritonitis.5’6 Skeletal involvement has remained virtually unreported, with only one case of a patient with fibrotic,
Adjunctive Intracardiac Echocardiography to Guide Slow Pathway Ablation in Human Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia Anatomic Insights

Background Because of the inability of fluoroscopy to image intracardiac structures, the precise anatomic location of successful slow pathway (SP) ablation is controversial. We hypothesized that adjunctive intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in concert with conventional fluoroscopy and electrogram guidance could identify the anatomic site of successful SP ablation. Methods and Results In 25 patients, radiofrequency ablation was performed in the triangle of Koch directed by biplane fluoroscopy and a 6.2F, 12.5-MHz ICE catheter positioned adjacent to the triangle of Koch. Persistent SP conduction, number of radiofrequency applications, presence of junctional tachycardia, and fluoroscopy times were evaluated. As demonstrated by ICE, anterograde SP ablation was achieved between 2 and 7 mm from the tricuspid valve in imaging planes containing the AV muscular septum in all cases. Radiofrequency energy applications applied at other sites within the triangle of Koch failed to interrupt SP conduction. A mean of th...
Development of Standardized Test Techniques for Materials that are Capable of Reducing Injuries during Stairway Falls

In this paper, research work leading to the development of standardized test techniques for energy absorbing material are discussed. The classification of energy absorbing material is related to the prevention of impact injuries resulting from stairway falls. Standardized tests and their usefulness to a stairway designer are discussed.
Preparation, single crystal growth, and characterization of PtSi and PtGe

Abstract Due to the highly exothermic reaction of platinum with molten silicon or germanium, a special self-regulating method was employed to produce large polycrystalline ingots of PtSi and PtGe. The equipment and techniques used for the syntheses of materials and the growth of large single crystal ingots are presented. Resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, molar susceptibility, and bulk density were measured and are reported. Both materials showed temperature independent diamagnetism from 4K to 300K.
Linear Wideband VHF/UHF Quad LINC Transmitter System

This paper presents the design, build and measurements of a wideband quadrature out-phased transmitter system based on Linear Amplification with Non-linear Components (LINC) that covers the 30 to 450 MHz VHF/UHF band with 185 Watts output power. The key in this transmitter design is the decomposition of the baseband signal into in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components that get digitally processed and up-converted, resulting in two constant-envelope signals each that can be amplified efficiently with non-linear class-D amplifiers. After amplification, the output signals get combined to reconstruct the amplified, original up-converted, non-constant envelope signal. The result is improved linearity of the transmitter system and reduced sensitivity to components mismatch as opposed to conventional LINC technique. This transmitter system has potential to enable Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) to use highest throughput "non-constant envelope" waveforms such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) to provide the warfighters access to higher data rates and greater communication range. The superior linearity and efficiency of the transmitter system is demonstrated in this paper for various complex varying envelope signals such as AM, 8-PSK, QAM and OFDM, and is compared with traditional LINC systems as well as legacy backed-off class AB power amplifiers.
A HEURISTIC MODEL FOR FREQUENCY PLANNING AND AIRCRAFT ROUTING IN SMALL SIZE AIRLINES

The flight schedule of an airline is the primary factor in finding the most effective and efficient deployment of the airline's resources. The flight schedule process aims at finding a set of routes with associated aircraft type, frequency of service and times of departures and arrivals in order to satisfy a specific objective such as profit maximization. In this paper, we develop a two‐phase heuristic model for airline frequency planning and aircraft routing for small size airlines. The first phase develops a frequency plan using an economic equilibrium model between passenger demand for flying a particular route and aircraft operating characteristics. The second phase uses a time‐of‐day model to develop an assignment algorithm for aircraft routing.
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunits and Associated Proteins in Human Sperm

We demonstrated previously the involvement of a nicotinic acetylcholinereceptor containing an α7 subunit in the human sperm acrosome reaction(a modified exocytotic event essential to fertilization). Here we report thepresence in human sperm of α7, α9, α3, α5, and β4nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits and the following proteins known tobe associated with the receptor in the somatic cell: rapsyn and the tyrosinekinases c-SRC and FYN. The α7 subunit appears to exist as a homomer inthe posterior post-acrosomal and neck regions of sperm and is probably linkedto the cytoskeleton via rapsyn. The α3, α5, and β4 subunitsare present in the sperm flagellar mid-piece of sperm and possibly exist asα3α5β4 and/or α3β4 channels. The α9 subunitis present in the sperm mid-piece. We detected the FYN and c-SRC tyrosinekinases in the flagellar mid-piece region. Both co-precipitated only with thenicotinic acetylcholine receptor β4 subunit. Immunolocalization with aC-terminal SRC kinase antibody, which recognizes several members of SRC kinasefamily, detected a SRC kinase co-localized with the α7 subunit in theneck region of sperm. Immunoprecipitation studies with that antibodydemonstrated that the α7 subunit is associated with a SRC kinase.Antagonists of tyrosine phosphorylation inhibited the acetylcholine-initiatedacrosome reaction, suggesting the involvement of a SRC kinase in the acrosomereaction.
A theory and a simulation capability for the growth of a solid electrolyte interphase layer at an anode particle in a Li-ion battery

Abstract A major mechanism for electrochemical aging of Li-ion batteries is the growth of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the surface of anode particles, which leads to capacity fade and also results in a rise in cell resistance. We have formulated a continuum theory for the growth of an SEI layer—a theory which accounts for the generation of the attendant growth stresses. The theory has been numerically implemented in a finite-element program. This simulation capability for SEI growth is coupled with our previously published chemo-mechanical simulation capability for intercalation of Li-ions in electrode particles. Using this new combined capability we have simulated the formation and growth of an SEI layer during cyclic lithiation and delithiation of an anode particle, and predicted the evolution of the growth stresses in the SEI layer. The evolution of the stress state within the SEI layer and at the SEI/anode-particle interface for spherical- and spheroidal-shaped graphite particles is studied. This knowledge of the local interfacial stresses provides a good estimate for the propensity of potential delamination of an SEI layer from an anode particle.
The association of major, minor and trace inorganic elements with lignites. II. Minerals, and major and minor element profiles, in four seams

Abstract Inorganic elements in lignites may be present in carboxylate salts and organic coordination complexes as well as in discrete mineral phases. Moreover, organic matter can alter mineral phases in peats. The objectives of this study are to investigate how a number of important elements are held in some typical lignites and hence to document organic inorganic interactions of various kinds. Accordingly, detailed profiles of the distribution of 10 major and minor elements through four lignite seams have been made, including roof and floor rocks and any mineral partings. Elements extractable by 1.0 N ammonium acetate and by 1.0 N HCl and in the insoluble residue have been analyzed by plasma arc emission and atomic absorption spectrometry. Mineral phases were analyzed by x-ray diffraction and infrared spectrometry. Substanial proportions (40–90%) of the Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Na and Mn were extractable from the organic zones, but not the inorganic, by ammonium acetate, and were inferred to have been present in the organic matter as carboxylate salts. Much of the K and some Mg were present in clay minerals, but K-containing clays were depleted in the coal layers relative to roof and floor, probably because organic acids in the peat had leached the K out of illite, thus altering the clays. Part of the Mn was in the organic matter either complexed or dispersed as acid-soluble mineral (e.g. MnS, MnCO3). Acid-soluble Al and Ti were found to be quite abundant in the organic layers but not in the roof and floor; they probably are complexed with the organic matter. The principal conclusion is that the organic matter in peat and lignites has a profound influence, in many ways, on the suite of inorganic materials with which it becomes associated.
Pressure swing adsorption: An experimental study of diffusion-induced separation

Gas separation based on differences in intraparticle diffusion rates was achieved by four-step pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process. The application studied was the separation of nitrogen from air using molecular sieve type RS-10. Systematic PSA experiments were conducted in bench-scale equipment to study several variables, including duration of steps of the cycle, flow rates, pressure ratio, subatmospheric blowdown and purge, and column geometry. The test results were compared with predictions of a mathematical model (Shin and Knaebel, 1987). In all cases, the trends of product purity and net recovery of both theory and experiment were in close agreement. Since the theory accurately portrays the overall behavior of the process, the transport mechanisms embodied in the theory may provide insight into diffusion-induced separation by PSA. In addition, by reviewing the results of the parametric studies of the variables, it has been possible to gain an intuitive understanding of the relations between factors that affect each step, and hence overall performance.
Direct allosteric regulation between the GAF domain and catalytic domain of photoreceptor phosphodiesterase PDE6.

Photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6) is the central enzyme in the visual transduction cascade. The PDE6 catalytic subunit contains a catalytic domain and regulatory GAF domains. Unlike most GAF domain-containing cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, little is known about direct allosteric communication of PDE6. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time direct, inter-domain allosteric communication between the GAF and catalytic domains in PDE6. The binding affinity of PDE6 for pharmacological inhibitors or for the C-terminal region of the inhibitory γ subunit (Pγ), known to directly inhibit PDE6 catalysis, was increased ∼2-fold by ligands binding to the GAF domain. Binding of the N-terminal half of Pγ to the GAF domains suffices to induce this allosteric effect. Allosteric communication between GAF and catalytic domains is reciprocal, in that drug binding to the catalytic domain slowed cGMP dissociation from the GAF domain. Although cGMP hydrolysis was not affected by binding of Pγ1–60, Pγ lacking its last seven amino acids decreased the Michaelis constant of PDE6 by 2.5-fold. Pγ1–60 binding to the GAF domain increased vardenafil but not cGMP affinity, indicating that substrate- and inhibitor-binding sites do not totally overlap. In addition, prolonged incubation of PDE6 with vardenafil or sildenafil (but not 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and zaprinast) induced a distinct conformational change in the catalytic domain without affecting the binding properties of the GAF domains. We conclude that although Pγ-mediated regulation plays the dominant role in visual excitation, the direct, inter-domain allosteric regulation described in this study may play a feedback role in light adaptational processes during phototransduction.
A note on Hájek projections and the influence curve

Abstract Hajek projections and influence curves are two different means of obtaining a linear approximation to a functional statistic. We show that the Hajek projection leads to the definition of a function converging pointwise to the influence curve.
Starch-gel investigations of the relationships between dehydrogenase proteins.

Abstract A band which migrates, during starch-gel electrophoresis, to a far cathodal position, and catalyzes the reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium without the addition of substrate, has previously been found to also be associated with alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol:NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.1) and steroid activity. It is shown in the present report to be converted into an anodal glutamate dehydrogenase band ( l -glutamate: NAD (P) oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.1.3) during storage of liver tissue. The intensity of the cathodal band increases when the concentration of the starch gel is increased, and is not seen after electrophoresis in agarose. Chemical examinations indicate that glutamate is present in the cathodal band. The liberation of glutamate dehydrogenase from the cathodal band is influenced by allosteric effectors. Conformational changes in the glutamate dehydrogenase, caused by these effectors, appear to correlate with the electrophoretic patterns obtained. Evidence is presented which suggests that the cathodal band can also liberate mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase bands ( l -malate:NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37). The possible significance of these results is discussed.
Neurectoderm markers retained in phenotypical skeletal muscle cells arising from a glial cell line.

Differentiation in vitro of striated muscle from apparently non-muscle precursor cells has been reported in thymus reticulum1, a fibroblast-like mouse embryo line2 and in a neuronelike cell line derived from a rat brain tumour3. Also Tomozawa and Sueko reported the differentiation of a peripheral neurotumour clonal stem cell line into separate neuronal and glial cell types4. We report here the reproducible and stable phenotypic change of a well characterised rat glial cell line, B9 (refs 5–7), into multinucleate contractile skeletal muscle. The B9 line was derived from a nitrosoethylurea-induced brain tumour, contains S-100 and 14-3-2 proteins, is electrically non-excitable5 and has a putative glial-specific surface antigen, G2 (ref. 6). It has been phenotypically stable in its laboratory of origin at Salk Institute since 1973. After being transported to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota the cells began to change from cuboidal to elongate shape, fuse into contractile multinucleate fibres and express nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR) on their plasma membranes. Striated myofibrils appeared in their cytoplasm. The first sign of mesectodermal differentiation in B9 was the transitory appearance on its surface of Thy-1 which, in the rat, is a marker of thymocytes8, certain brain cell lines7, immature skeletal muscle9,10, mammary myoepithelial lines11 and fibro-blasts12. This antigen was not detected in previous studies at Salk Institute7. The inductive influence is not yet known. We propose that transformation of a neurectodermal line into muscle may be evidence of the capacity of mammalian neurectoderm to give rise to skeletal tissues. The concept that skeletal muscle in different anatomical regions might have different embryonic origins could be relevant to the distribution of muscles affected by certain diseases in man.
Use of Minority and 50–50 Joint Ventures by United States Multinationals During the 1970s: The Interaction of Host Country Policies Corporate Strategies

This article examines geographical, sectoral, and corporate trends in the use of minority and 50-50 joint ventures by U.S. multinational manufacturing and mining firms in less developed countries (LDCs) during the 1970s. It is based primarily on data found in the Harvard Multinational Enterprise Data Base, as updated through the mid-1970s, and supplemented with corporate performance data for the 1975-1980 period from a new international Competitive Analysis (ICA) database developed with support from the General Electric Foundation.
Elastase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from oxygen-exposed, Pseudomonas-infected baboons.

The adult respiratory distress syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critical care patients. Lung injury in this syndrome is frequently associated with lung infection. The combined insults result in an influx of neutrophils and damage to the pulmonary epithelium. We investigated whether active neutrophil elastolytic activity was present in the bronchoalveolar fluid in baboons with mild or moderate hyperoxic lung injury and infection. Group A (N=7) was exposed for 6 days to FIO2=0.8 and then inoculated by intratracheal bolus withPseudomonas aeruginosa strain DGI-R130 (PA); the FIO2 was reduced to 0.5. Group B (N=6) was exposed to similar concentrations of inspired oxygen but inoculated with buffered saline. Antibiotics included parenteral penicillin and topical gentamicin and polymyxin B. All 3 were given continuously in group B but stopped 24 h prior to PA inoculation in group A. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected 1 week before oxygen administration, when the FIO2 was reduced (day 6 or 7) and prior to necropsy (day 11). Hemodynamic, pulmonary function, microbiological, and biochemical variables were studied. Injured, infected animals (group A) had significant elevations of mean pulmonary artery pressure and decreases in total lung capacity and PaO2 compared both to baseline and to group B at day 11. At autopsy, group A had significant increases of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) neutrophils and bacterial pathogens. Elastase levels in BALF (equal to 0 at baseline) rose to 136±98 ng/ml in group A vs. 6±14 ng/ml in group B. The elastase was inhibited by inhibitors of serine proteases including ones specific for neutrophil elastase. On Sephacryl S-300 chromatography the elastase activity eluted near humanα2-macroglobulin and separated from other proteolytic activity. These studies demonstrate a significant level of elastase in BALF from injured, infected baboons compared to injured, uninfected animals.
Experience with distributed Smalltalk

Distributed Smalltalk (DS) is an implementation of Smalltalk that supports the interaction of many Smalltalk users on many machines. It provides communication and interaction among remote Smalltalk users, direct access to remote objects, and a degree of object sharing among users. The distributed aspects of the system are largely user transparent. Many of the major design issues and implementation decisions associated with Distributed Smalltalk have previously been reported. This paper concentrates on the impact of those decisions and describes how DS is used to build distributed applications. Three example applications are described: remote file access, animated distributed objects, and offloading a compute-intensive task to a non-Smalltalk host. Based on our experience with DS, we present an evaluation of its design and implementation.
Regulation of nucleosome stability as a mediator of chromatin function

Interactions among regulatory proteins, enzymes and DNA are required to use the information encoded in genomes. In eukaryotes, the location and timing of interactions between these proteins and DNA is determined in large part by whether DNA at a given locus is packaged into a nucleosome. Given the central role of nucleosome formation in regulating genome function, many mechanisms have evolved to control nucleosome stability at loci across the genome. New conclusions about the role of the DNA sequence itself in the regulation of nucleosome stability have come from two new types of experiment: high-resolution mapping of in vivo nucleosome occupancy on a genomic scale; and in vivo versus in vitro comparisons of nucleosome stability on natural DNA templates. These new types of data raise intriguing questions about the evolutionary constraints on DNA sequence with regard to nucleosome formation, and at long last might enable the derivation of DNA sequence-based rules that produce reliable predictions of nucleosome behavior.
Recognizing Heterogeneous Responses to Policy

Depending on their attributes and on the particular social context, different microlevel actors typically respond differently to a given policy measure. Nonlinear single-equation models that recognize and incorporate microlevel response heterogeneity are appearing more frequently in the sociological literature. However, because nonlinear models resist analytic manipulation when embedded within multiequation systems, it becomes more difficult to assess their population-level policy implications. Policy analysts need to generalize single-equation policy responses to whole populations, to trace indirect and cumulative effects, to calculate distributional implications, and to assess the sensitivity of their estimates to different contexts. Based on numerical rather than analytic solution methods, the micromodeling strategy is designed to take full account of response heterogeneity while addressing each of these policy research tasks.
Interaction of Ca2+ with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase: properties of the Ca2+-stimulated phosphatase activity.

Abstract Ca 2+ inhibited the Mg 2+ -dependent and K + -stimulated p -nitrophenylphosphatase activity of a highly purified preparation of dog kidney (Na + + K + )-ATPase. In the absence of K + , however, a Mg 2+ -dependent and Ca 2+ -stimulated phosphatase was observed, the maximal velocity of which, at pH 7.2, was about 20% of that of the K + -stimulated phosphatase. The Ca 2+ -stimulated phosphatase, like the K + -stimulated activity, was inhibited by either ouabain or Na + or ATP. Ouabain sensitivity was decreased with increase in Ca 2+ , but the K 0.5 values of the inhibitory effects of Na + and ATP were independent of Ca 2+ concentration. Optimal pH was 7.0 for Ca 2+ -stimulated activity, and 7.8–8.2 for the K + -stimulated activity. The ratio of the two activities was the same in several enzyme preparations in different states of purity. The data indicate that (a) Ca 2+ -stimulated phosphatase is catalyzed by (Na + + K + )-ATPase; (b) there is a site of Ca 2+ action different from the site at which Ca 2+ inhibits in competition with Mg 2+ ; and (c) Ca 2+ stimulation can not be explained easily by the action of Ca 2+ at either the Na + site or the K + site.