cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of missing endmembers on the performance of the OSP detector for hyperspectral images

In evaluating the performance of the detectors such as the orthogonal subspace projection (OSP) detector, it is often assumed that the model under which the detector is constructed is the correct model. However, in practice, the ability to identify all background endmembers might be limited. Consequently, the OSP detector would use only a subset of all background endmembers. This clearly creates sub-optimality of such a detector. In this paper, we perform analytical calculations that allow us to assess how much of the detection power is lost due to the unidentified background endmembers. An analytical comparison is made between two OSP detectors-one using only the identified endmembers and the other one using even a smaller set of endmembers (in order to simulate the situation when only the smaller set of endmembers is identified).
Pixon‐based multiresolution image reconstruction and the quantification of picture information content

This article reviews pixon-based image reconstruction, which in its current formulation uses a multiresolution language to quantify an image's algorithmic information content (AIC) using Bayesian techniques. Each pixon (or its generalization, the information) represents a fundamental quanta of an image's AIC, and an image's pixon basis represents the minimum degrees of freedom necessary to describe the image within the accuracy of the noise. We demonstrate with a number of examples that pixon-based image reconstruction yields results consistently superior to popular competing methods, including maximum likelihood and maximum entropy methods. Typical improvements include higher spatial resolution, greater sensitivity to faint sources, and immunity to the production of spurious sources and signal correlated residuals. Finally, we show how the pixon provides a generalization of the Akaike information criterion, and how it relates to concepts of “coarse graining” and the role of the Heisenberg uncertainly principle in statistical mechanics, provides a mechanism for optimal data compression, and represents a more optimal basis for image compression or reconstruction than wavelets.
A two‐step experimental design for a sediment bioassay using growth of the amphipod Hyalella azteca for the test end point

We designed a sediment bioassay using 25% growth inhibition of Hyalella azteca as the end point. Hyalella azteca exhibits size-specific fecundity, so growth is a surrogate of reproductive production. We investigated density effects on growth to address whether crowding could affect test interpretation; amphipods in 14,000/m2 exposures were 16 to 20% smaller than those at 7,000/m2. Using power analysis, we found that 20 to 25 samples are required to determine significance when α = 0.10 and 1 − β = 0.90. To minimize the need for laboratory resources, we designed a two-step (screening and confirmatory) bioassay, which we tested with field-collected sediments. The screening bioassay compared 11 sediments to a reference. Three sediments were “toxic” (significant growth inhibition when 1 − β = 0.66 and n = 5), five sediments were “nontoxic” (>90% of reference), and three sediments were “possibly toxic” (growth inhibition was insignificant). In the confirmatory bioassay, three possibly toxic and two nontoxic samples were reevaluated. Two were toxic (1 − β = 0.91 and n = 20), and the remaining four samples were nontoxic. In summary, five sediments were toxic and six sediments were nontoxic. The two-step analysis used minimal laboratory resources but maximized statistical power, where needed, to discriminate growth effects.
Inhibition of DNA synthesis is not sufficient to cause mutagenesis in Chinese Hamster cells

Resume Des experiences ont ete mises au point afin de determiner si l'inhibition de la synthese du DNA dans des cellules de hamsters chinois V79 provoquerait une augmentation de mutagenese par un mecanisme similaire a celui de la « reparation SOSchez E. coli. Le traitement des cellules pendant 16 heures avec un exces des desoxynucleosides TdR, UdR, AdR et GdR se revele mutagene, alors qu'aucun effet mutagene ne peut etre demontre a la suite d'un traitement par l'hydroxyuree. La mutagenicite de TdR ne peut pas etre reversee par l'addition de CdR. Chez E. coli l'inhibition de la synthese du DNA par une courte exposition a l'hydroxyuree a pour resultat l'induction du prophage lambda et une mutagenese augmentee. Ces resultats montrent qu'alors que chez E. coli la presence d'une fourche de replication bloquee peut provoquer une mutagenese par l'induction du « systeme SOS , ce phenomene ne semble pas se produire dans les cellules de hamster chinois V79. Le mecanisme mutagenique de fortes concentrations de desoxynucleosides dans les cellules de hamster chinois V79 est vraisemblablement du a des erreurs de replication resultant d'alterations dans les « poolsde desoxynucleosides.
Robust finger tracking for wearable computer interfacing

Key to the design of human-machine gesture interface applications is the ability of the machine to quickly and efficiently identify and track the hand movements of its user. In a wearable computer system equipped with head-mounted cameras, this task is extremely difficult due to the uncertain camera motion caused by the user's head movement, the user standing still then randomly walking, and the user's hand or pointing finger abruptly changing directions at variable speeds. This paper presents a tracking methodology based on a robust state-space estimation algorithm, which attempts to control the influence of uncertain environment conditions on the system's performance by adapting the tracking model to compensate for the uncertainties inherent in the data. Our system tracks a user's pointing gesture from a single head mounted camera, to allow the user to encircle an object of interest, thereby coarsely segmenting the object. The snapshot of the object is then passed to a recognition engine for identification, and retrieval of any pre-stored information regarding the object. A comparison of our robust tracker against a plain Kalman tracker showed a 15% improvement in the estimated position error, and exhibited a faster response time.
Turnover of prolyl hydroxylase and an immunologically related protein in rabbit tissue.

Abstract The turnover rates of prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically related (cross reacting) protein were examined using labeled leucine as precursor or by measuring the decay of elevated prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein back to basal levels. Prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein were purified from neonatal rabbit skin at various times following the administration of [3H]leucine. Prolyl hydroxylase was purified by affinity chromatography. Immunologically cross-reacting protein was purified by antibody precipitation from the dialyzed 70% (NH4)SO4 supernatants and subsequent electrophoresis on 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gels. The radioactivity of the species isolated, which corresponded to the two major subunits of prolyl hydroxylase, was used in the turnover studies of immunologically cross-reacting protein. The peak incorporation of label into prolyl hydroxylase was found to be 12 h while for immunologically cross-reacting protein this occured within 2 h. The loss of radioactivity from these protein pools denotes an apparent t 1 2 for prolyl hydroxylase of 73 h and a 1 2 for immunologically cross-reacting protein of 53 h. From the specific activity of free skin leucine pools, the effect of reutilization could be corrected and a true t 1 2 for prolyl hydroxylase of 45 h was determined. The t 1 2 values of these proteins were determined by a second method in which prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein in the aorta and liver of adult male rabbits were elevated by daily epinephrine-thyroxine treatment for 12 days. The decline of prolyl hydroxylase and immunologically cross-reacting protein with termination of treatment in the aorta denotes values of 42 h for enzyme and 53 h for immunologically cross-reacting protein. Calculated enzyme κd values, by both methods, indicate that breakdown of enzyme does not account for tissue immunologically cross-reacting protein.
Inaccuracy of Doppler Echocardiographic Estimates of Pulmonary Artery Pressures in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension: Implications for Clinical Practice

Background Recent studies suggest that Doppler echocardiography (DE)-based estimates of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) may not be as accurate as previously believed. We sought to determine the accuracy of PASP measurements using DE compared with right-sided heart catheterization (RHC) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Methods We compared DE estimates of PASP to invasively measure PASP during RHC in 160 consecutive patients with PH (part one). To account for possible changes in hemodynamics between DE and RHC, we then prospectively determined PASP in an additional 23 consecutive patients undergoing simultaneous RHC and DE (part two). Bland-Altman analyses were performed to evaluate the agreement between RHC and DE measurements of PASP. Accuracy was predefined as 95% limits of agreement within ± 10 mm Hg for PASP estimates. Results In part one, there was moderate correlation between DE and RHC measurements of PASP (r = 0.68, P Conclusions DE estimates of PASP are inaccurate in patients with PH and should not be relied on to make the diagnosis of PH or to follow the efficacy of therapy.
Neutrino clustering around spherical dark matter halos

Cold dark matter halos form within a smoothly distributed background of relic neutrinos---at least some of which are massive and nonrelativistic at late times. We calculate the accumulation of massive neutrinos around spherically collapsing cold dark matter halos in a cosmological background. We identify the physical extent of the ``neutrino halo'' in the spherical collapse model, which is large in comparison with the virial radius of the dark matter, and conditions under which neutrinos reaching the cold dark matter halo will remain bound to the halo at late times. We calculate the total neutrino mass and bound neutrino mass associated with isolated spherical halos for several neutrino mass hierarchies and provide fitting formulas for these quantities in terms of the cold dark matter halo mass and the masses of the individual neutrino species.
Infection and AIDS in Adult Macaques After Nontraumatic Oral Exposure to Cell-Free SIV

Unprotected receptive anal intercourse is a well-recognized risk factor for infection with human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1). Isolated human case reports have implicated HIV-1 transmission by oral-genital exposure. Adult macaques exposed nontraumatically to cell-free simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) through the oral route became infected and developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The minimal virus dose needed to achieve systemic infection after oral exposure was 6000 times lower than the minimal dose required to achieve systemic infection after rectal exposure. Thus, unprotected receptive oral intercourse, even in the absence of mucosal lesions, should be added to the list of risk behaviors for HIV-1 transmission.
Effect of gas phase conditions on resultant matrix pyrocarbons in carbon/carbon composites

Abstract The various microstructures obtained by the low temperature ( C 2 H 2 C 6 H 6 molar ratio. The densities and crystallographic parameters of the heat-treated composites are significantly affected by the type of microstructure. The rough laminar material has by far the most graphitic characteristics and is followed by the smooth laminar and isotropic materials, in that order.
A longitudinal data analysis interpretation of credibility models

Abstract In this paper, we develop links between credibility theory in actuarial science and longitudinal data models in statistics. Our primary contribution to actuarial science is to demonstrate that many additive credibility models can be expressed as special cases of the longitudinal data model. We, thereby, unify the many existing credibility models with this framework. In addition, a longitudinal data interpretation suggests additional models and techniques that actuaries can use in credibility ratemaking. We also apply standard statistical software, which has been developed to analyze longitudinal data models, to the private passenger automobile data of Hachemeister [Hachemeister, C.A., 1975. Credibility for regression models with applications to trend. In: Kahn, P.M. (Ed.), Credibility: Theory and Applications. Academic Press, New York, pp. 129–163].
Self-lensing of a singular isothermal sphere

Many astrophysical systems can be approximated as isothermal spheres. In an isothermal sphere, the ``foreground'' objects can act as lenses on ``background'' objects in the same distribution. We study gravitational lensing by a singular isothermal sphere analytically. Our results may have interesting applications.
An investigation of the effects of microstructure on dwell fatigue crack growth in Ti-6242

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and mechanistic modeling approach to the study of dwell fatigue in Ti-6242. Crack shape evolution, depth and surface crack growth rates are established using beachmarking, acoustic emission and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The underlying crack nucleation and fatigue fracture modes are elucidated for three microstructures: equiaxed (microstructure 1), elongated (microstructure 2) and colony (microstructure 3) of Ti-6242. The dominant crack nucleation mode is shown to involve a Stroh-type dislocation mechanism, where sub-surface cracks are characterized by prominent facetted fracture modes in the near-threshold regime. Subsequent fatigue crack growth occurs by fatigue striations and ductile dimples or cleavage-like static modes at higher stress intensity factor ranges. The long crack growth data are similar for both dwell and pure fatigue. However, the dwell fatigue crack growth rates are shown to be much greater than those due to pure fatigue in the short crack growth regime. The differences between the dwell crack growth rates and the pure fatigue crack growth rates in the short regime are attributed to possible creep effects that give rise to a mean stress effect in the case of dwell fatigue. Subsequently, the measured crack growth rates are incorporated into a fracture mechanics framework for the estimation of fatigue life in the three microstructures. The implications of the predictions are discussed for the modeling of dwell fatigue.
Reproductive Failure among Women: Pathology or Adaptation?

A wide variety of mammals suppress their reproduction in response to cues reflecting environmental harshness, or poor physical condition of themselves or their developing conceptus. Such reproductive suppression may take the form of delayed sexual maturation, ovulatory or implantational failure, spontaneous abortion, abandonment, neglect, abuse, or infanticide. The literature we review suggests that reproductive suppression is equally prevalent among humans. However, while such phenomena among non-human mammals are commonly viewed as an adaptive response to poor reproductive conditions, similar phenomena among humans are often viewed as pathological. This paper describes a model for the evolution of reproductive ‘failure' among female mammals, termed the Reproductive Suppresion Model (RSM). It then reviews the literature on psychosocial stress and reproductive outcome among women, showing where these data are consistent with expectations from the RSM. Some biomedical studies of reproductive failure among ...
Baseline matters: the importance of covariation for baseline severity in the analysis of clinical trials

Background: Clinical trials testing the effectiveness of interventions for addictions, HIV transmission risk, and other behavioral health problems are important to advancing evidence-based treatment. Such trials are expensive and time-consuming to conduct, but the underlying effect sizes tend to be modest, and often findings are disappointing, failing to show evidence of treatment effects. Objectives: To demonstrate how appropriate covariation for baseline severity can enhance detection of treatment effects. Methods: Explication and case example. Results: Baseline severity (the score of the outcome measure at baseline, prior to randomization) is often strongly associated with outcome in such studies. Covariation for baseline score may enhance detection of treatment effects, because the variance explained by the baseline score is removed from the error variance in the estimate of the difference in outcome between treatments. Alternatively, the effect of treatment may manifest in the form of a baseline-by-t...
Structural insight into the PTS sugar transporter EIIC.

Abstract Background The enzyme IIC (EIIC) component of the phosphotransferase system (PTS) is responsible for selectively transporting sugar molecules across the inner bacterial membrane. This is accomplished in parallel with phosphorylation of the sugar, which prevents efflux of the sugar back across the membrane. This process is a key part of an extensive signaling network that allows bacteria to efficiently utilize preferred carbohydrate sources. Scope of review The goal of this review is to examine the current understanding of the structural features of the EIIC and how it mediates concentrative, selective sugar transport. The crystal structure of an N,N′-diacetylchitobiose transporter is used as a structural template for the glucose superfamily of PTS transporters. Major conclusions Comparison of protein sequences in context with the known EIIC structure suggests that members of the glucose superfamily of PTS transporters may exhibit variations in topology. Despite these differences, a conserved histidine and glutamate appear to have roles shared across the superfamily in sugar binding and phosphorylation. In the proposed transport model, a rigid body motion between two structural domains and movement of an intracellular loop provide the substrate binding site with alternating access, and reveal a surface required for interaction with the phosphotransfer protein responsible for catalysis. General significance The structural and functional data discussed here give a preliminary understanding of how transport in EIIC is achieved. However, given the great sequence diversity between varying glucose-superfamily PTS transporters and lack of data on conformational changes needed for transport, additional structures of other members and conformations are still required. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Structural biochemistry and biophysics of membrane proteins.
Natural-abundance 15N cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance study of urea-formaldehyde resins

High-quality natural-abundance 15N cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (c.p.-m.a.s.) spectra of urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins were obtained by employing a large-volume (2.5 cm3) magic-angle spinning (m.a.s.) rotor. 15N c.p.-m.a.s. nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy can clearly distinguish dimethylene ether linkages from methylol groups for UF resins prepared under neutral or basic conditions, a weak point in 13C c.p.-m.a.s. strategies because of 14N broadening effects, and can detect the existence of tertiary amides and unreacted primary amides in UF resins. 15N c.p.-m.a.s. n.m.r. also establishes the fact that there are methylol aggregates that are spatially separated from some other structural moieties in UF resins and that the domain size of methylol aggregates diminishes with the concentration of methylol groups in UF resins. 15N c.p.-m.a.s. results also indicate that the formation of dimethylene ether linkages is least favourable at pH 9 and most favourable at pH 12 among the three pH values 7, 9 and 12.
Symptomatic gastric sarcoidosis with celiac disease: an unusual entity with an uncommon association/?immune response

Symptomatic gastric sarcoidosis with celiac disease: an unusual entity with an uncommon association/?immune response
Nickel-doped Mn/TiO2 as an efficient catalyst for the low-temperature SCR of NO with NH3: Catalytic evaluation and characterizations

Abstract The Mn/TiO 2 and a series of Mn–Ni/TiO 2 catalysts were prepared by adopting incipient wetness technique and investigated for the low-temperature SCR of NO with NH 3 in the presence of excess oxygen. Our XPS results illustrated that the MnO 2 is the dominant phase with respect to the Mn 2 O 3 phase (Mn 4+ /Mn 3+ = 22.31, 96%), thus leading to a large number of Mn 4+ species (Mn 4+ /Ti) over the titania support for the Mn–Ni(0.4)/TiO 2 catalyst. It is remarkable to note that the SCR performance of all the nickel-doped Mn/TiO 2 catalysts is accurately associated with the surface Mn 4+ concentrations. The co-doping of nickel into the Mn/TiO 2 with 0.4 Ni/Mn atomic ratio promotes the formation of surface MnO 2 phase and inhibits the formation of surface Mn 2 O 3 sites. Our TPR results revealed that the addition of nickel oxide to titania-supported manganese results in the stabilization of the former in the form of MnO 2 rather than Mn 2 O 3 . Our TPR data results are in agreement with XPS results that the absence of the high-temperature (736 K) peak indicates that the dominant phase in the Mn–Ni/TiO 2 catalysts is MnO 2 . The low-temperature reduction peak is shifted to much lower temperatures in nickel-doped Mn/TiO 2 catalysts. This increase in reducibility and the extremely dominant MnO 2 phase seem to be the reason for the high SCR activity of the Mn–Ni/TiO 2 catalysts.
Molecular-quantum-electrodynamics calculation of multipolar optical harmonics generation from isotropic media in the presence of a surface

Using the method of molecular quantum electrodynamics, we investigate the polarization dependence of multipolar optical second-harmonic and third-harmonic generation including up to two multipolar interactions from an isotropic medium with a surface.
Hedyotis ouachitana (Rubiaceae): A new species from the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma

AHedyotis from the Ouachita Mountain region of Arkansas and Oklahoma is superficially similar toH. longifolia (Gaertn.) Hook., but differs consistently in pubescence of the inner corolla and pubescence of the lower stem. It occupies a different habitat and apparently does not hybridize withH. longifolia var.longifolia when the two occur in close proximity. It is described asH. ouachitana.
Challenges and lessons learned in teaching A graduate human factors course on A compressed schedule

There is a current tendency for industrial engineering departments to augment their Masters Degree programs with programs targeted for off-campus students who are employed full time. These programs are motivated primarily by the revenue that they can potentially generate for academic departments. In this paper we discuss one such program in which each course is compressed into three consecutive weekends, and discuss the challenges of teaching these students a course on human factors engineering under these curriculum design constraints. Examples of lessons learned in teaching this course are summarized and possible interventions in course design are discussed, with the understanding that teaching such a course affords the opportunity for achieving buy-in to the human factors and ergonomics discipline within these students' respective organizations.
Effect of cyclosporin A on the uptake of D3-selective PET radiotracers in rat brain

Introduction Four benzamide analogs having a high affinity and selectivity for D3 versus D2 receptors were radiolabeled with 11C or 18F for in vivo evaluation.
Magnetic Moment Determination of Site Selection of Additives (V, Cr, Mn) in γ -TiAl Alloys

We discuss our experiments and coordinated computational modeling that show the value of magnetic moment measurements for helping to identify the site selection of an additive to an intermetallic compound. Magnetic susceptibility measurements (5K-300K) were used to determine additive (V, Cr, Mn) moments; and the site distribution was determined experimentally by measuring the relative variations of the (001) and (110) x-ray diffraction superlattice lines and comparing to the expected behavior for occupation of either site, or a distribution between sites. This gives us a predicted relationship of measured additive moment to site distribution which was then further validated by comparison to our ab initio calculation of the moments for Ti site occupation (as expected at low additive concentrations from total energy considerations). The moments (calculated using the cluster discrete variational (LCAO) method with isolated impurities) of 1.21, 2.36 and 2.52 μB for V, Cr and Mn, respectively compare favorably to the lowest-concentration experimental values of 1.01 and 2.3 μB for V and Mn, respectively; while the disagreement for Cr with low-concentration experimental moment of 0.55 μB may be due to additive clustering effects not included in the single-additive-atom cluster calculations or to multivalent behavior of Cr. The experimental decrease of V and Cr moment with concentration indicates a shift from Ti site occupancy toward increasing Al site occupancy with increase in V and Cr concentration.
“A Tempest in a Cocktail Glass”: Mothers, Alcohol, and Television, 1977–1996

This article examines the portrayal of pregnancy and alcohol in thirty-six national network evening news broadcasts (ABC, CBS, NBC). Early coverage focused on white, middle-class women, as scientific authorities and government officials warned against drinking during pregnancy. After 1987, however, women who drank during pregnancy were depicted as members of minority groups and as a danger to society. The thematic transition began before warning labels appeared on alcoholic beverages and gained strength from official government efforts to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome. The greatest impetus for the revised discourse, however, was the eruption of a "moral panic" over crack cocaine use. By linking fetal harm to substance abuse, the panic suggested it was in the public's interest to control the behavior of pregnant women.
Properties of KCo 2 As 2 and alloys with Fe and Ru: Density functional calculations

Electronic-structure calculations are presented for ${\text{KCo}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ and alloys with ${\text{KFe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ and ${\text{KRu}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$. These materials show electronic structures characteristic of coherent alloys with a similar Fermi surface structure to that of the Fe-based superconductors when the $d$-electron count is near 6 per transition metal. However, they are less magnetic than the corresponding Fe compounds. These results are discussed in relation to superconductivity.
Thrombocytopenia Associated with Octreotide

ABSTRACT: A 42-year-old woman with a history of hepatitis C-induced cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and alcohol abuse presented to the hospital with hematemesis and melena. Based on our previous experience, octreotide (Sandostatin) therapy was started at 50 mg/hr and continued for 5 days. Platelet count on admission (122 × 10 9 /L) dropped immediately after octreotide therapy was started; upon discontinuation, platelet count began trending up from 72 × 10 9 /L. However, octreotide was not suspected at this point as the cause of thrombocytopenia. In a subsequent admission, octreotide was again administered with a resultant prompt decrease in platelet count. To our knowledge, this is only the second case report of octreotide-induced thrombocytopenia, and the first case of this adverse effect demonstrated by inadvertent rechallenge.
Tactics used by sports organizations in the United States to increase ticket sales

Four prominent tactics used by sports organizations in the United States to increase ticket sales are discussed. Each of them is underpinned by the concepts of either price discrimination or social exchange theory. Differential pricing is usually based on quality of the opposing team, time or place. Flexible season ticket packaging enables fans to select from an array of mini-season packages instead of being required to purchase a season ticket for all the games. Money-back guarantees are a promise to refund the purchase price to dissatisfied patrons. Web-based ticketing facilitates both the pre-purchasing of tickets and the creation of a secondary market for the resale of already purchased tickets.
Conformational analyses of cyclic hexapeptide analogs of somatostatin containing arylalkyl peptoid and naphthylalanine residues.

We report the conformational analysis by 1H-NMR in DMSO and computer simulations involving distance geometry and molecular dynamics simulations of peptoid analogs of the cyclic hexapeptide c-[Phe11-Pro6-Phe7-d-Trp8-Lys9-Thr10] L-363,301 (the numbering refers to the positions in native somatostatin). The compounds c-[Phe11-Nphe6-Nal7-d-Trp8-Lys9-Thr10] (Nphe6-Nal7 analog 1), c-[Nal11-Nphe6-Phe7-d-Trp8-Lys9-Thr10] (Nal11-Nphe6 analog 2) and c-[Phe11-Nnal6-Phe7-d-Trp8-Lys9-Thr10] (Nnal6 analog 3), where Nphe denotes N-benzylglycine and Nnal denotes N-(1-naphthylmethyl)glycine, are subjected to SAR studies in order to investigate the influence of the bulky naphthyl aromatic ring on the conformation. The Nal11-Nphe6 and Nphe6-Nal7 analogs exhibit potent binding to the hsst2, hsst3 and hsst5 receptors, whereas the Nnal6 analog has decreased binding affinity to all receptors but is more selective towards the hsst2 than the other two analogs and L-363,301. The conformational search employing distance geometry, energy minimization and molecular dynamic simulations gives insight into the conformational flexibility of these analogs. The molecules adopt both cis and trans orientations of the peptide bond between residues 11 and 6. The cis isomers of these analogs adopt type II′ β-turns with d-Trp in the i+1 position and type VIa β-turns with the cis peptide bond between residues 6 and 11. The results of free and distance restrained molecular dynamics simulations at 300 K indicate that the Nphe6-Nal7 and Nal11-Nphe6 compounds adopt a preferred backbone conformation which can be described as ‘folded’ about residues 7 and 10. The Nnal6 analog, which binds less effectively to the hsst receptors, has a more flexible backbone structure than the Nal11-Nphe6 and Nphe6-Nal7 analogs and prefers a ‘flat’ structure with regard to the orientations about Phe7 and Thr10 during molecular dynamics simulations. Copyright © 1999 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transatrial closure of high-pressure, high-resistance ventricular septal defects

Abstract High-pressure, high-resistance ventricular septal defects were closed in 55 patients. Pulmonary arterial bands had been placed in infancy in 20. For the 55 patients, the hospital mortality was 7.2%, 5.6% in patients with primary closure of VSD and 10% in patients with additional banding procedures. In two patients, operative mortality was directly related to significant associated congenital intracardiac lesions. In 22 patients catheterized 1 yr following primary closure of ventricular septal defects, PVR decreased from an average of 1475 to 480 dynes/sec/cm −5 . In six of eight patients operated upon within the first 4 yr of life, total PVR decreased to normal levels. Pulmonary artery mean pressure decreased in the total group from 74 mm Hg preoperatively to 31 mm Hg postoperatively. In patients with previous pulmonary arterial banding, mean PVR decreased from 1920 to 700 dynes/sec/cm −5 following banding. PVR decreased further to 470 dynes/sec/cm −5 following closure of the ventricular septal defect and removal of the pulmonary artery band. Because of the presence of residual outflow gradients found at either the band site, pulmonary valve, or right ventricular infundibulum, the results of the two-stage approach are considered suboptimal. We advocate primary closure of ventricular septal defects in symptomatic infants and elective closure within the first 3 yr of life in patients with large defects.
Illegal hazardous-waste disposal and enforcement in the United States: A preliminary assessment

Abstract Regulations that affect hazardous-waste treatment, storage, and disposal have become increasingly stringent in recent years, leading to dramatic increa
And Behind the Plate … Muddy Ruel of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar

On May 27, 1929, Herold D. Ruel “was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.”1 The next day, the visiting New York Yankees beat the Washington Senators 12–7. Ruel walked, singled, and drove in two runs for the home team.
Photophysical properties of MM quadruply bonded complexes (M = Mo, W) supported by carboxylate ligands: charge delocalization and dynamics in S1 and T1 states.

Quadruply bonded dinuclear metal complexes of molybdenum and tungsten have the MM configuration σ2π4δ2 and a considerable degree of attention has been devoted to studies of the δ → δ* transition. For compounds of the type M2(O2CR)4, the CO2 π* orbitals introduce a M2 δ to ligand π* transition, a 1MLCT absorption which may be lower in energy than the δ → δ* and is more intense, thus obscuring the observation of the latter. When the R group is a conjugated organic system such as an aryl group, the 1MLCT shifts to even lower energy and emission is seen from this S1 state in addition to phosphorescence from the T1 state which may be either 3MLCT or 3MMδδ*. The latter typically occurs around 1100 nm with a lifetime that ranges from ∼1 μs (M = W) to 100 μs (M = Mo). The S11MLCT states have lifetimes of ∼1–20 ps, allowing for fs and ns studies of the charge distribution/localization with time in both the S1 and T1 states, which is quite rare for transition metal coordination complexes. Of particular interest and focus have been complexes of the type trans-M2L2L′2 where L and L′ are carboxylate or amidinate groups for which only one set of ligands allows for expansive Lπ–M2δ–Lπ conjugation and has a low energy 1MLCT. Compounds of this type have excited states that may be considered as mixed valence (MV) ions [L–M2+–L−] ↔ [L−–M2+–L] where the hole resides on the M2 unit and the electron is either localized on one ligand, a class I or II MV ion, or is fully delocalized over both ligands, a class III ion in the Robin and Day scheme. Examples of these systems will be described along with the newly prepared complexes trans-M2(TiPB)2(O2CCC-9-anthracene)2, M = Mo, W, that have the IR-active reporter groups CO2 and CC.
Energy harvesting communications with energy and data storage limitations

In this paper, a single user channel is considered with an energy harvesting transmitter that receives its energy and data intermittently. The transmitter is equipped with a finite battery as well as a finite data buffer. The throughput maximization problem with a deadline is solved and the optimal transmission policy is obtained. The optimization problem is shown to yield a directional waterfilling solution with energy pumps. An alternative algorithmic solution is also presented that utilizes the recursive shortest path solution that was shown to be optimal for infinite data buffers in earlier work. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the throughput performance of optimal policies as well as to assess the impact of the finite buffer on the throughput.
The compression of morbidity hypothesis : A review of research and prospects for the future

Cross-national evidence for the validity of the compression of morbidity hypothesis originally proposed by Fries is generally accepted. Generational improvements in education and the increased availability of adaptive technologies and even medical treatments that enhance quality of life have facilitated continued independence of older persons in the industrialized world. Whether this trend continues may depend upon the effect of the obesity epidemic on the next generation of older people.
The creation and conduct of the Guatemalan Commission for Historical Clarification

Abstract As in other Latin American nations, Guatemala established a truth commission as a part of a negotiated transition from war to peace. The establishment of a particular truth commission arises out of the unique circumstances of that nation’s conflict and its negotiated resolution. As with other examples of truth commissions, the Guatemalan experience demonstrates the dilemmas of answering the demands for accountability, within the precarious context of a negotiated transition. Once established, a truth commission is subjected to the struggles within sectors of society striving to control the truth commission, and make it respond to certain interests. These struggles influence the practices, powers, and potential of the truth commissions. This article analyses the context in which the Guatemalan Commission for Historical Clarification emerged, the conditions in which it operated, and the potential consequences of the truth-seeking process. I argue that the Guatemalan truth commission became a site of struggle in which battles concerning impunity versus accountability occurred. This article first traces the phenomenon of truth commissions in Latin America, and locates the Guatemalan case within this regional context. Next, the negotiations that led to the formation of the truth commission are examined, in order to highlight the particular powers and interests at stake. Finally, I describe the operations of the Guatemalan truth commission in practice (1997–1999), and discuss the ways in which the commission developed a life of its own, despite the politics of its birth.
Ultra High Resolution Science Data Extraction For The Gravity Probe-B Gyro And Telescope

In 1960, Leonard Schiff predicted, using Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, that a gyroscope in orbit about the Earth would experience a precession of its spin axis relative to the "fixed stars". Two relativistic precessions are predicted: a "geodetic" precession associated with the orbital motion of the gyro about the Earth, and a "motional" precession due to the Earth's rotation. For a gyro in a 650 km altitude polar orbit with its spin axis initially pointed towards an inertial reference, in this case the star Rigel, and lying in the orbital plane, the geodetic precession is 6.6 arcsec/yr north , and the motional precession is 0.042 arcsec/yr east. This scenario is illustrated in Figure 1. To detect these relativistic drifts, a gyro is currently being developed whose absolute Newtonian drift rates are less than 10 -3 arcsec/yr. Even with such a "perfect" gyro, however, the question arises: Can the relativistic drifts be detected in the presence of random measurement noise, and other error sources such as satellite attitude control system errors, Rigel proper motion uncertainty, drifts due to gyro suspension forces, drift of electronic parameters such as instrument scale factors due to thermal effects, etc.? This paper describes an all-digital data flow simulation that demonstrates the Kalman Filter data reduction process for detection of the relativistic drifts. The simulation demonstrates successful optimal estimation of the relativity effects in the presence of the expected measurement noise and consistent with the experiment lifetime, and the other above-mentioned effects.
Prolonged Excursion of a Single Protein into a Synthetic Nanopore

Nanopores drilled into silicon nitride were used as stochastic sensors to inspect protein analytes at the single molecule level. Measurements on the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) revealed both short-lived current spikes, in the range of tens of microsends, and long-lived current blockades, in the range of seconds. The presence of long-lived current blockades suggests a strong interaction between BSA molecules and the nitride surface of the nanopore interior. The nature of these long duration interactions was explored under a variety of conditions. Single-channel current analysis indicated that this interaction does not follow a simple bimolecular kinetic pathway. We hypothesize that BSA enters the nanopore in a non-equilibrium state in order for such interactions to occur.
Higgs boson discovery through top-partners decays using jet substructure

Top partners---vectorlike quarks which mix predominantly with the top quark, are simple extensions of the standard model present in many theories of new physics such as little Higgs models, topcolor models, and extra dimensions. Through renormalizable mixing with the top quark, these top partners inherit couplings to the Higgs boson. Higgs bosons produced from the decay of top partners are often highly boosted and ideal candidates for analyses based on jet substructure. Using substructure methods, we show that light Higgs bosons decaying to $\overline{b}b$ can be discovered at the 14 TeV LHC with less than $10\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for top-partner masses up to 1 TeV.
The Use of Meaning Making in Expressive Writing: When Meaning is Beneficial

In the current paper I examined whether engagement in the meaning making process during an expressive writing intervention is associated with better outcomes. Meaning making was operationalized in two ways—judges' ratings of meaning making and use of cognitive words. Better outcomes were operationalized as fewer intrusive thoughts associated with the event participants wrote about. The study was a re-analysis of a previously published set of expressive writing studies. A total of 84 participants nominated a negative event and completed three sessions of expressive writing. The results revealed that the relationship between meaning making and changes in intrusive thoughts depended on initial distress levels of the event. For participants who wrote about a highly distressing event, increases in meaning making were associated with greater decreases in intrusive thoughts. In stark contrast, for participants who wrote about less distressing events, increases in meaning making were related to increases in intru...
Innovation and the economic sectors

An analysis of the contribution of research and development and concomitant innovation to corporate market valuation was reported by Fluke and Kump. The data were further analyzed to ascertain the relative RD it was found that 97% of these companies are in the goods sector. All ten of the companies that have generated the most U.S. patents in the last five years are in the goods sector. Of the ten companies that made the largest investment in R&D, 90% are in the goods sector. Inferences related to the nature of the service sector are discussed.
Gestational Weight Gain in Adolescents: A Comparison to the New Institute of Medicine Recommendations

Study Objective To examine the gestational weight gain distributions of healthy adolescents with optimal birth outcomes and compare them to the current 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations.
Computational modeling of domain wall interactions with dislocations in ferroelectric crystals

This paper provides a theoretical and numerical framework to investigate the interactions between domain walls and arrays of dislocations in ferroelectric single crystals. A phase-field approach is implemented in a non-linear finite element method to determine equilibrium solutions for the coupled electromechanical interactions between a domain wall and a dislocation array. The numerical simulations demonstrate the effect of the relative size and orientation of dislocations on 180° and 90° domain wall configurations. In addition, results for the pinning strength of dislocations in the case that domain walls move due the application of external electric field and shear stress are computed. The presented numerical results are compared with the findings reported for charged defects and it is shown that non-charged defects, such as dislocations, can also interact strongly with domain walls, and therefore affect the ferroelectric material behavior.
Synoptic-Scale Air–Sea Flux Forcing in the Western North Pacific: Observations and Their Impact on SST and the Mixed Layer

Abstract Decade-long surface meteorological measurements from a Japan Meteorological Agency buoy at 29°N, 135°E are analyzed to elucidate the surface air–sea flux forcing in the western North Pacific Ocean. Besides the well-defined annual cycles, the observed heat and momentum fluxes are dominated by signals related to synoptic-scale weather disturbances. The synoptic-scale heat flux signals have a dominant time scale of 3–14 days, whereas the wind stress signals have a scale of 2–8 days. A comparison between the heat fluxes estimated using the buoy measurements and those from the NCEP reanalysis reveals that the daily NCEP product overestimates both the incoming solar radiation at sea surface and the turbulent heat flux amplitude associated with the individual weather events. The rms amplitude of the synoptic-scale net heat flux of the NCEP product is found to be positively biased by 23%. Despite this amplitude bias, the NCEP product captures the timing and relative strength of the synoptic-scale net hea...
Flaxseed Oil Increases the Plasma Concentrations of Cardioprotective (n-3) Fatty Acids in Humans

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a major dietary (n-3) fatty acid. ALA is converted to longer-chain (n-3) PUFA, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and possibly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are fish-based (n-3) fatty acids that have proven cardioprotective properties. We studied the effect of daily supplementation with 3 g of ALA on the plasma concentration of long-chain (n-3) fatty acids in a predominantly African-American population with chronic illness. In a randomized, double-blind trial, 56 participants were given 3 g ALA/d from flaxseed oil capsules (n = 31) or olive oil placebo capsules (n = 25). Plasma EPA levels at 12 wk in the flaxseed oil group increased by 60%, from 24.09 +/- 16.71 to 38.56 +/- 28.92 micromol/L (P = 0.004), whereas no change occurred in the olive oil group. Plasma docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) levels in the flaxseed oil group increased by 25% from 19.94 +/- 9.22 to 27.03 +/- 17.17 micromol/L (P = 0.03) with no change in the olive oil group. Plasma DHA levels did not change in either group. This study demonstrates the efficacy of the conversion of ALA to EPA and DPA in a minority population with chronic disease. ALA may be an alternative to fish oil; however, additional clinical trials with ALA are warranted.
Diagonalized Lagrangian robot dynamics

A diagonal equation for robot dynamics is developed by combining mass matrix factorization results with classical Lagrangian mechanics. Diagonalization implies that at each fixed time instant the equation at each joint is decoupled from all of the other joint equations. The equation involves two important variables: a vector of total joint rotational rates and a corresponding vector of working joint moments. The nonlinear Coriolis term depends on the joint angles and the rates. The total joint rates are related to the relative joint-angle rates by a linear spatial operator. The total rate at a given joint k reflects the total rotational velocity about the joint, and includes the combined effects from all the links between joint k and the base. Similarly, the working moments are related to the applied moments by the spatial operator . The working moment at a given joint is that part of the applied moment which does actual mechanical work. The diagonal equations are obtained by using the mass matrix factorization in the system Lagrangian. >
An Integrated Framework for At-Speed and ATE-Driven Delay Test of Contract-Manufactured ASICs

In contract manufacturing, the circuit netlist is owned by the ASIC customer. The manufacturer is required to work strictly within the design structure established by the customer. To manufacture high-quality components in this environment, it is critical to meet the customer's mandated quality and performance criteria, while minimizing hardware overhead and introducing little or no design change. In this paper, the authors present a test framework for contract-manufactured ASICs using low-cost testers. Key aspects of the framework are low hardware overhead, significant savings in test data volume and test cost, and tight integration of the at-speed and ATE-driven test components to the design and manufacturing process.