cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementation and use of the PLT scheme Web server

The PLT Scheme Web Server uses continuations to enable a natural, console-like program development style. We describe the implementation of the server and its use in the development of an application for managing conference paper reviews. In the process of developing this application, we encountered subtle forms of interaction not directly addressed by using continuations. We discuss these subtleties and offer solutions that have been successfully deployed in our application. Finally, we present some details on the server's performance, which is comparable to that of the widely-used Apache Web server.
Pitching and clutch hitting in Major League Baseball: What 109 years of statistics reveal

Abstract Objectives Theory on performance under pressure in sport has proposed that an athlete may be disrupted psychologically when distracted, or when explicitly monitoring too much the skills involved ( Beilock & Carr, 2001 ; Masters, 1992 ). Research has also suggested that the extent to which an athlete allows pressure to impact performance may be greater for skills of increased complexity, such as hitting a baseball ( Kinrade, Jackson, Ashford, & Bishop, 2010 ; Masters, Polman, & Hammond, 1993 ). Accordingly, hypotheses for the current study were that baseball hitters would be more susceptible to pressure-induced performance changes than pitchers, whose skills are less based in hand-eye coordination. Design & method An archival design was employed, accounting for 109 years of historical baseball data at both the team and individual levels. Results In line with hypotheses, for players with a minimum of 10 postseason innings pitched in a single year (n = 835) pitching statistics were significantly correlated from regular season (less pressure) to postseason (more pressure). For those with a minimum of 20 postseason at bats in a year (n = 1731), hitting statistics were similarly correlated from season to postseason; overall, however, the weakest such relationship was batting average. For teams (n = 370), regular season pitching was expected to be the best predictor of postseason success rates; this hypothesis was supported, but only for the most recent era of baseball history (1995–2011). Conclusions The data imply that, while hitting should not be wholly neglected, a successful, clutch baseball team should be built primarily around pitching.
Identification of growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin neurons projecting to the median eminence in normal and growth hormone-deficient Ames dwarf mice.

In the spontaneous mutant Ames dwarf mouse, GH deficiency coincides with a dramatic increase in the expression of both mRNA and peptide for stimulatory GHRH and reduced expression of GH-inhibitory som
Florigen Coming of Age after 70 Years

The report that FT mRNA is the long-sought florigen, or at least part of it ([Huang et al., 2005][1]), has attracted much attention and was ranked the number three breakthrough of 2005 by the journal Science ([Anonymous, 2005][2]). This exciting discovery has brought to center stage one of the major
Noninvasive methods for the investigation of ancient Chinese jades: an integrated analytical approach

This paper reports on an integrated analytical approach for the noninvasive characterization of Chinese nephrite samples, encompassing both geological reference specimens and museum objects. Natural variations induced by cationic substitutions, as well as human-induced alterations such as heating, which both affect color, are the focus of this contribution. Totally noninvasive methods of analysis were used, including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman microspectroscopy, visible reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction; moreover, the feasibility of using a portable Raman spectrometer for the in-field identification of jades has been demonstrated. Fe/Fe+Mg (% p.f.u.) ratios of the jades have been calculated based on hydroxyl stretching Raman bands, which will provide an important addition to similar data that are being collected at major museums in the Western and Eastern hemispheres.
Interpretation of the Last Chance thrust, Death Valley region, California, as an Early Permian décollement in a previously undeformed shale basin

Abstract The Last Chance thrust, discontinuously exposed over an area of at least 2500 km2 near the south end of the Cordilleran foreland thrust belt in the Death Valley region of east-central California, is controversial because of its poorly constrained age and its uncertain original geometry and extent. We interpret this thrust to be Early Permian in age, to extend throughout a sedimentary basin in which deep-water Mississippian shale overlain by Pennsylvanian and earliest Permian limestone turbidites accumulated, to represent about 30 km of eastward displacement, and to be related to convergence on a northeast-trending segment of the Early Permian continental margin. Last Chance deformation occurred between the times of the Antler and Sonoma orogenies of Late Devonian–Early Mississippian and Late Permian ages, respectively, and followed Early to Middle Pennsylvanian truncation of the continental margin by transform faulting. In the western part of the Mississippian shale basin in east-central California, the originally recognized exposures of the Last Chance thrust show Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic strata above lower-plate Mississippian shale. Farther east, faults subparallel to bedding above, below, and within the Mississippian shale are interpreted to mark the thrust zone and to represent a regional decollement. At the eastern margin of the basin, upper-plate thrust slices of deep-water, late Paleozoic strata are interpreted to have piled up against the margin of the Mississippian carbonate shelf to form a large antiformal stack above the Lee Flat thrust, which we regard as the easternmost exposure of the Last Chance thrust. Thrust loading depressed the western part of the shelf, creating a new sedimentary basin in which about 3.5 km of younger Early Permian deep-water strata were deposited against the antiformal stack. Later, probably in the Late Permian, other thrusts, including the Inyo Crest thrust, which was subsequently overlapped by Early to Middle(?) Triassic marine strata, cut across the Last Chance thrust. We interpret the Last Chance thrust as similar in many ways to Appalachian-type decollements in which the zone of thrusting is localized along a shale interval. The Last Chance thrust, however, has been dismembered during later geologic events so that its original geometry has been obscured. Our model may have unrecognized analogs in other structurally complex shale basins in which the initial deformation was along a major shale unit.
Interpersonal communication: qualities and culture

This essay introduces a special issue of the Russian Journal of Communication on “New Directions in Russian Interpersonal Communication Research”. The essay includes a brief overview of the field of interpersonal communication and discussion of a component often absent from its conceptualization, culture. The authors offer a new way of treating interpersonal communication, focusing on the situated study of interactional forms, structures, their cultural functions and meanings. Synopses of the five articles in the special issue are given, with these used to illustrate distinctive features of Russian interpersonal communication in some scenes and how interpersonal communication is culturally patterned and shaped.
On Interpreting Inverse Demand Systems: A Primal Comparison of Scale Flexibilities and Income Elasticities

Scale flexibilities in inverse demand systems describe how marginal valuations change with expansions in the consumption bundle. Such effects clearly are related to income elasticities in direct demand systems. However, the connection is not so close as it first appears. We argue that the link between scale flexibilities and income elasticities is tight only if preferences are homothetic, a situation where neither measure is interesting, or if all elasticities of substitution are unitary. We make clear the relationship between the two measures in a coordinate system focusing on how marginal rates of substitution change with consumption scale and proportion.
Real Options in International Joint Ventures

This article empirically investigates the determinants of firms’ use of explicit call options to acquire equity in their international joint ventures (IJVs). Such options are an important contractual element of IJVs because they allow a firm to secure a claim on future expansion opportunities and to safeguard itself against various exchange hazards. The authors therefore draw on real options and transaction cost arguments, respectively, to develop hypotheses on the circumstances under which firms use such options. The article underscores the importance of studying the design of alliances in finer grained terms and helps refine the application of real options theory in the alliance context.
Quarterly GPPA earnings data: Time-series properties and predictive ability results in the airlines industry

This paper provides preliminary results regarding the impact of general purchasing power adjustments (GPPA) on quarterly earnings for 24 firms from the airlines industry. Findings indicated that GPPA transformations do not substantially alter the time-series properties of quarterly earnings data. Two Box-Jenkins models, (100) × (100) and (100) × (110) were identified as possible parsimonious models for the airlines industry. It is recommended that these structures be considered as viable candidates for earnings expectations models in market studies testing for informational content of GPPA earnings. The predictive findings demonstrated that predictions of historical cost quarterly earnings were significantly more accurate than GPPA predictions for four of the five horizons tested.
Differential resistance to extinction as a function of fixed-interval contrast in training*

Differential fixed-interval schedules were used to test the previously advanced motivational theory of extinction, which predicts positive or negative contrast effects in extinction as a function of acquisition experience. Rats trained on both FI 10-sec and FI 40-sec schedules of bar presentation and extinguished on FI 10 sec (all within a discrete-trial experimental design) were significantly more resistant to extinction than were control Ss both trained and extinguished on FI 10 sec. On the other hand, rats receiving mixed training and extinguished on FI 40 sec were significantly less resistant to extinction than were control Ss trained and extinguished on FI 40 sec. These findings are interpreted as lending additional support to the motivational theory of extinction.
A verifier for interactive, data-driven web applications

We present WAVE, a verifier for interactive, database-driven Web applications specified using high-level modeling tools such as WebML. WAVE is complete for a broad class of applications and temporal properties. For other applications, WAVE can be used as an incomplete verifier, as commonly done in software verification. Our experiments on four representative data-driven applications and a battery of common properties yielded surprisingly good verification times, on the order of seconds. This suggests that interactive applications controlled by database queries may be unusually well suited to automatic verification. They also show that the coupling of model checking with database optimization techniques used in the implementation of WAVE can be extremely effective. This is significant both to the database area and to automatic verification in general.
Energetics of interactions of aromatic hydrocarbons with water.

Abstract The thermodynamics of transfer of aromatic (benzene, toluene) and aliphatic (ethane, propane, butane) hydrocarbons from the gas phase into water in the temperature range 5–125°C have been analyzed in order to determine the net hydration effect of these compounds. In the case of the aromatic hydrocarbons the enthalpic contribution predominates over the entropic contribution to the Gibbs energy of hydration. This results in a negative value of the hydration Gibbs energy of aromatic hydrocarbons, in contrast to the positive Gibbs energy of hydration of aliphatic hydrocarbons. The different sign of the hydration Gibbs energies indicates that the mechanism causing hydrophobicity of aromatic hydrocarbons has different nature than that causing the hydrophobicity of aliphatic hydrocarbons. The comparison of hydration of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons leads to the following thermodynamic parameters for these additional interactions between the benzene ring and water at 25°C: enthalpy −5.4 kJ/mol, entropy 26.8 J/K mol and Gibbs energy −13.4 kJ/mol. The large enthalpic contribution to the Gibbs energy of hydration of aromatic hydrocarbons probably comes from the ability of the aromatic ring to accept hydrogens from water, forming hydrogen bonds.
Time-domain synthesis of optimal inputs for system identification

In this paper new results are derived for the computation of D-optimal randomized input designs to identify unknown parameters in linear systems with process noise and in non-linear and distributed parameter systems without process noise. The Kiefer-Wolfowitz experimental design approach that was extended earlier by the author to frequency-domain synthesis of optimal inputs is generalized here to the computation of optimal probability measures on the space of time-domain inputs. Both discrete-time and continuous-time systems are considered and algorithms converging to the global optima are given. Extensions to other criteria and bounds for suboptimal designs are also derived.
The distribution of quinone pigments in echinoderms.

Das Vorkommen chinonoider Pigmente bei allen Echinodermen deutet auf eine Beziehung zwischen Seeigeln und Schlangensternen, ebenso zwischen Seesternen und Seewalzen hin. Die Verteilung der Sterine und der Saponine weisen in dieselbe Richtung. Die klassische embryologische Theorie stutzt diese Verwandtschaftsauffassung.
Electronic collimation and radiation protection in paediatric digital radiography: revival of the silver lining

In digital radiography we are now able to electronically collimate images after acquisition. This may seem convenient in paediatric imaging, but we have to be aware that electronic collimation has two major downsides. Electronic collimation implicates that the original field size should have been smaller and the child has been exposed to unnecessary radiation. Also, by use of electronic collimation, potentially important information may be lost. The “silver lining”, denoting the X-ray beam collimation, can serve as a useful radiation protection instrument to check for proper field size and detect unnecessary exposure. Furthermore, the silver lining confirms all exposed anatomy is shown in the final image, and thus may also serve as a quality assurance instrument as the patient has the right to all acquired information. Teaching Points • The ability to electronically collimate an image after acquisition may serve to enhance contrast in the region of interest. • The ability to electronically collimate an image after acquisition carries the risk of overexposure. • The ability to electronically collimate an image after acquisition carries the risk of losing important information. • The silver lining can serve as a quality control instrument for proper collimation. • The patient has the right to all information obtained during an X-ray examination.
Halothane and isoflurane preferentially depress a slowly inactivating component of Ca2+ channel current in guinea‐pig myocytes.

1. The effects of the inhalational anaesthetics halothane and isoflurane on the high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels were determined in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes using the patch-clamp technique. 2. Recording solutions were equilibrated with inhalational anaesthetic vapour delivered from a calibrated vaporizer set at clinically relevant ranges of partial pressure. Anaesthetic concentrations in solution were determined using gas chromatography. 3. Halothane (0.9 mM in solution) and isoflurane (0.8 mM in solution) decreased peak whole-cell CA2+ current (ICa) by approximately 40 and approximately 20%, respectively, while increasing the apparent rate of inactivation. 4. The sum of fast and slow exponential decay functions was required to fit the inactivation phase of ICa. The anaesthetics preferentially affected the slow component of inactivation while also increasing the rate of slow inactivation. The physiological significance of these effects was addressed by examining ICa evoked by a ventricular action potential waveform. 5. Measurement of the current carried by Ba2+ through Ca2+ channels (IBa) permitted the isolation of the slow component of inactivation. Halothane and isoflurane diminished peak IBa at 0 mV by approximately 45 and approximately 20% respectively, with similar changes in rate and magnitude of the slowly inactivating component as with ICa. 6. Cell-attached patch-clamp measurements of Ca2+ channel activity revealed that halothane did not alter single-channel conductance. Instead, the anaesthetic reduced channel open probability to the same extent as observed during the whole-cell recording, an effect partially due to an increase in null sweeps. In patches with a single channel present, the open-time distribution, fitted by a single exponential, showed a decrease in mean open time. The closed-time distribution, fitted by the sum of slow and fast exponential components, revealed an anaesthetic-induced increase in the duration of the slow component with no effect on the fast component. Results are presented in terms of a channel-gating model, and model predictions are examined with a computer simulation.
Meteoritic, lunar and Lonar impact chondrules.

Impact-generated silicate spherules from the Lonar Crater, India and from all Apollo sites are analogous to meteoritic chondrules (and some microtektites). Thus, the impact origin of chondrules, first proposed by Urey (1952) is a mechanism strongly supported by physical evidence from both the moon and the earth. Chondrites appear to be essentially impact breccias similar to lunar and Lonar microbreccias. The implications of this with regard to size and composition of the meteorite parent bodies are reviewed as well as the possible variations of element fractionation by volatilization-condensation.
Infant vaccinations and childhood asthma among full-term infants.

Purpose To determine if infant vaccinations are associated with childhood asthma among full-term infants. The secondary objective was to describe relationships between characteristics of infant wheezing and childhood asthma. Methods We used baseline data from a study of infant wheezing that selected full-term infants born into a health maintenance organization (HMO) during 1991–1994, continuously enrolled for at least 12 months and without perinatal pulmonary or other selected conditions. Information had been abstracted for infancy (0–18 months) regarding wheezing, vaccinations and asthma risk factors. Using automated data, we identified asthma cases in 1998 among those enrolled for at least 6 months during the year. Results A total of 1778 full-term infants met our study criterion and 9% had asthma in 1998. Childhood asthma was not significantly associated with having received Hepatitis B vaccine or age at first Hepatitis B vaccine; number of whole-cell pertussis, Haemophilis influenzae type b or oral polio vaccine doses; having received measles, mumps, rubella vaccine; or total number of vaccine doses combined. Childhood asthma was significantly associated with number of infant wheezing episodes. Conclusions Our findings do not support concerns that vaccines are associated with increased risk of asthma but confirm that frequency of infant wheezing is associated with childhood asthma. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abstract 5157: Ubiquitin-dependent regulation of AKT by NEDD4-1.

Several E3 ligases have been reported to regulate AKT stability and activation through ubiquitination. We found that NEDD4-1 is a novel E3 ligase involved in ubiquitin-dependent regulation of AKT. NEDD4-1 physically interacts with AKT and mediates AKT ubiquitination in vitro and in vivo. NEDD4-1 catalyzes K63-type polyubiquitin chain formation on AKT in an in vitro ubiquitination assay. AKT ubiquitination by NEDD4-1 in vivo requires plasma membrane binding but not phosphorylation of AKT. Ubiquitination of AKT or pAKT by NEDD4-1 promotes AKT nucleus-oriented translocation. IGF-1 signaling stimulates NEDD4-1-mediated ubiquitination of pAKT but not total AKT. A cancer-derived plasma membrane-philic mutant AKT(E17K) is more effectively ubiquitinated by NEDD4-1 and more efficiently trafficked into the nucleus compared with AKT. This study revealed a novel function of AKT ubiquitination by NEDD4-1 in its nuclear trafficking, a step that contributes to AKT activation process in IGF-1 response. Citation Format: Xinjiang Wang, Chuan-Dong Fan, Michelle A. Lum, Chao Xu, Jennifer D. Black. Ubiquitin-dependent regulation of AKT by NEDD4-1. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5157. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5157
Thermosensitive poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) hydrogels for multi-drug delivery

AbstractA current treatment strategy for peritoneal ovarian cancer is a combination of peritoneal surgery and multi-drug-based chemotherapy that often involves intraperitoneal (IP) injection. A thermosensitive poly-(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly-(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA) hydrogel platform (thermogels) enabled gel loading of poorly work-soluble paclitaxel (cytotoxic agent), 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG, heat shock protein inhibitor), and rapamycin (mammalian target of rapamycin protein inhibitor). PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA thermogels (15%) carrying paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin (named Triogel) made a successful transition from a free-flowing solution below ambient temperature to a gel depot at body temperature. Triogel gradually released paclitaxel, 17-AAG, and rapamycin at an equal release rate in response to the physical gel erosion. In an ES-2-luc ovarian cancer xenograft model, a single IP injection of Triogel (60, 60, and 30 mg/kg o...
Stability of Dilute Viscoelastic Flows

STEMMING from Toms'1 original observation, several investigators2 have observed the phenomenon that dilute concentrations of linear polymers of high molecular weight in water and other solvents will act to reduce greatly the hydraulic friction. Although the viscosity in solution of the effective polymers is higher than that of the base liquid, it has been shown that the frictional resistance is reduced even when the data are correlated on a solvent-based Reynolds number3.
Intercomparison and Interpretation of Satellite-Derived Directional Albedos over Deserts

Issues related to the dependence of planetary albedo upon solar zenith angle are studied using Nimbus-7, GOES, and Meteosat data over deserts. Geographical variations of the planetary albedo are isolated from the albedo's solar zenith angle dependence. An atmospheric solar radiation model is coupled with desert surface bidirectional reflectance measurements to test the consistency of satellite-derived directional planetary albedos. Consideration is given to the use of narrowband versus broadband instruments, the impact of desert aerosols on the directional planetary albedo, and potential differences in the directional planetary albedo associated with different types of deserts. The results show that the directional planetary albedo is dominated by the directional surface albedo, although surface brightness influences the atmospheric limb brightening and limb darkening processes.
Toxicity of polybrominated biphenyls (Firemaster BP-6) in rodents

Abstract Pregnant rodents were fed concentrations of a mixture of polybrominated biphenyls (Firemaster BP-6) during the pregnancy. The material appears to be weakly teratogenic, causing exencephaly and cleft palate in mice. Decreasing birth weight with increasing dosage of the material was seen in both mice and rats. Nonpregnant mice fed 1000 ppm Firemaster BP-6 for 11 days had a marked increase in liver size and weight.
Force dynamics in fixed-ratio schedules

Fixed-ratio schedules are widely used in behavioral research. Although fixed-ratio schedules often conjure up relationships to work and effort, little is known about effort-related measures in these schedules. Early research had shown that force and effort of operant behavior vary systematically during the execution of ratio schedules, and the goal of the present study was to revisit early research on force dynamics in fixed-ratio schedules. Four rats earned sucrose by pressing an isometric force transducer. Presses produced sucrose after ten or twenty responses. In general, the force of responses increased then decreased systematically across the ratio. The possibility that decreases in force during ratio execution was due to a trade-off with the differential reinforcement of short inter-response times (IRT) was investigated in an additional condition where sucrose was made available according to a tandem fixed-ratio 19 inter-response (IRT)> t schedule. The tandem IRT requirement did not eliminate decreasing trends in force across the ratio; unexpectedly, the tandem requirement did eliminate increases in force early in the ratio, which may reflect sequence-level organization operating in the control of force dynamics.
Directly administered antiretroviral therapy: Pilot study of a structural intervention in methadone maintenance

Devising interventions to provide integrated treatment for addiction and medical problems is an urgent issue. This study piloted a structural intervention, Directly Administered Antiretroviral Therapy (DAART), to assist methadone-maintenance patients in HIV medication adherence. Twenty-four participants received: (1) antiretroviral medications at the methadone clinic daily before receiving their methadone; (2) take-home antiretroviral medication for days they were not scheduled to attend the methadone clinic, and (3) brief adherence counseling to address adherence barriers. DAART lasted 24 weeks, with a planned step-down to twice-weekly administration in weeks 25-36, followed by self-administration in weeks 37-48. Retention rates at weeks 24, 36, and 48 were 83, 92, and 75% respectively. DAART was associated with improvement in the proportion of participants achieving viral suppression as well as with high medication adherence rates (clinic-verified; 85% and self-reported 97%) during the active intervention phase. DAART was effective as an intervention but did not promote transition to self-administration. This study demonstrates that DAART is adaptable and simple enough to be implemented into methadone treatment programs interested in providing HIV adherence services.
A Screw-Theoretic Analysis Framework for Musculoskeletal Systems

In this paper, we examine the development of a framework for musculoskeletal system analysis, leveraging screw-theoretic techniques traditionally employed for the analysis of articulated multi-body systems (MBS). The case study of analysis of bite-and muscle-forces in the jaws of members of the felid (cat) family is intended to highlight the critical aspects. The underlying articulated structure and superimposed musculature of the felid jaws permit modeling as a parallel articulated MBS. Specifically, such systems share many common features with the subclass of cable actuated parallel MBS, including redundancy in actuation and unidirectional nature of actuation forces. The screw-theoretic model formulation is intended to enable development of a computationally efficient scheme for resolving such redundancy while retaining explicit geometric meaning in terms of lines of action, motions, and forces. The resulting low-order computational model is well suited for iterative “what-if” force optimization and muscle location studies. A MATLAB based GUI was developed and validated to help the user implement such iterative simulation-based muscle location studies in simulation or on a Hardware-in-the-Loop test-bed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
A FINITE DIFFERENCE SOLUTION TO THE HELMHOLTZ EQUATION IN A RADIALLY SYMMETRIC WAVEGUIDE: APPLICATION TO NEAR-SOURCE SCATTERING IN OCEAN ACOUSTICS

A finite difference (FD) method is developed and analyzed for the Helmholtz equation in a radially symmetric waveguide. The resulting algorithm can be used to solve for sound intensities in complex models that may include high material contrasts and arbitrary bathymetry. An analysis of the effect of grid discretization on the results indicates that numerical dispersion is significant within one-third of a wavelength from a point source and decreases beyond that. Numerical results are presented and compared to wide-angle parabolic equation (PE) solutions and analytic solutions, where available. Comparison with analytic results indicates that the FD method accurately solves for the acoustic wave field at all propagation angles and is more accurate than the PE method near the source. Results are also shown for models in which mode coupling occurs near the source.
Characterizing interface dislocations by atomically informed Frank-Bilby theory

Semicoherent interfaces containing discrete dislocations are more energetically favorable than those containing continuous distributions because of lower chemical energy. The classical Frank-Bilby theory provided a way to determine the interface Burgers vectors content but could not effectively predict the characteristics of discrete dislocations. Atomistic simulations provide insights into analyzing the characteristics of discrete dislocations but the analysis is often disturbed by the reaction of interface dislocations. By combining the classical Frank-Bilby theory and atomistic simulations, an atomically informed Frank-Bilby theory proposed in this work can overcome shortcomings in both the classic Frank-Bilby theory and atomistic simulations, and enable quantitative analysis of interface dislocations. The proposed method has been demonstrated via studying two typical dissimilar metallic interfaces. The results showed that Burgers vectors of interface dislocations can be well defined in a Commensurate/Coherent Dichromatic Pattern (CDP) and the Rotation CDP (RCDP) lattices. Most importantly, the CDP and RCDP lattices are not simply a geometric average of the two natural lattices, that is the lattice misfit and the relative twist take the nonequal partition of the misfit strain and the twist angle.
Identification of small molecule and genetic modulators of AON-induced dystrophin exon skipping by high-throughput screening.

One therapeutic approach to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) recently entering clinical trials aims to convert DMD phenotypes to that of a milder disease variant, Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD), by employing antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) targeting splice sites, to induce exon skipping and restore partial dystrophin function. In order to search for small molecule and genetic modulators of AON-dependent and independent exon skipping, we screened ∼10,000 known small molecule drugs, >17,000 cDNA clones, and >2,000 kinase- targeted siRNAs against a 5.6 kb luciferase minigene construct, encompassing exon 71 to exon 73 of human dystrophin. As a result, we identified several enhancers of exon skipping, acting on both the reporter construct as well as endogenous dystrophin in mdx cells. Multiple mechanisms of action were identified, including histone deacetylase inhibition, tubulin modulation and pre-mRNA processing. Among others, the nucleolar protein NOL8 and staufen RNA binding protein homolog 2 (Stau2) were found to induce endogenous exon skipping in mdx cells in an AON-dependent fashion. An unexpected but recurrent theme observed in our screening efforts was the apparent link between the inhibition of cell cycle progression and the induction of exon skipping.
Microwave Synthesis of Nanoporous Materials

Studies in the last decade suggest that microwave energy may have a unique ability to influence chemical processes. These include chemical and materials syntheses as well as separations. Specifically, recent studies have documented a significantly reduced time for fabricating zeolites, mixed oxide and mesoporous molecular sieves by employing microwave energy. In many cases, microwave syntheses have proven to synthesize new nanoporous structures. By reducing the times by over an order of magnitude, continuous production would be possible to replace batch synthesis. This lowering of the cost would make more nanoporous materials readily available for many chemical, environmental, and biological applications. Further, microwave syntheses have often proven to create more uniform (defect-free) products than from conventional hydrothermal synthesis. However, the mechanism and engineering for the enhanced rates of syntheses are unknown. We review the many studies that have demonstrated the enhanced syntheses of nanoporous oxides and analyze the proposals to explain differences in microwave reactions. Finally, the microwave reactor engineering is discussed, as it explains the discrepancies between many microwave studies.
Sodium Extrusion by Internally Dialyzed Squid Axons

A method has been developed which allows a length of electrically excitable squid axon to be internally dialyzed against a continuously flowing solution of defined composition. Tests showed that diffusional exchange of small molecules in the axoplasm surrounding the dialysis tube occurred with a half-time of 2–5 min, and that protein does not cross the wall of the dialysis tube. The composition of the dialysis medium was (mM): K isethionate 151, K aspartate 151, taurine 275, MgCI2 4–10, NaCl 80, KCN 2, EDTA 0.1, ATP 5–10, and phosphoarginine 0–10. The following measurements were made: resting Na influx 57 pmole/cm2sec (n = 8); resting potassium efflux 59 pmole/ cm2sec (n = 4); stimulated Na efflux 3.1 pmole/cm2imp (n = 9); stimulated K efflux 2.9 pmole/cm2imp (n = 3); resting Na efflux 48 pmole/cm2sec (n = 18); Q10 Na efflux 2.2 (n = 5). Removal of ATP and phosphoarginine from the dialysis medium (n = 4) or external application of strophanthidin (n = 1) reversibly reduced Na efflux to 10–13 pmole/cm2sec. A general conclusion from the study is that dialyzed squid axons have relatively normal passive permeability properties and that a substantial fraction of the Na efflux is under metabolic control although the Na extrusion mechanism may not be working perfectly.
Rapid Swelling of a CHO-K1 Aspartate-Glutamate Transport Mutant in Hypo-Osmotic Medium

Two Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO-K1) mutants selected for defective glutamate transport via system X−AG are also highly permeable to small neutral molecules. Light microscopy demonstrated that exposure of one of these mutants, Ed-A1, to hypo-osmotic medium led to extremely rapid swelling, presumably due to increased water flux. When placed in 20% saline, Ed-A1 cells swelled to three times their original volume within 15 sec, a sixfold larger increase than parental CHO-K1. In spite of this rapid volume increase, mutant and wild-type cells remained viable for 20 min in dilute saline. A regulatory volume decrease in Ed-A1, and the continual swelling of CHO-K1, resulted in the two cells achieving equal size after 5 min in 20% saline.
Electronic Availability Lists for U.S. Federal Document Depository Libraries: Opportunities and Realities.

Abstract Throughout the United States, selective depository libraries withdraw and dispose of older materials. By law, these materials must be made available to other libraries, as they are still federal property. Lists are drawn up of withdrawn materials and shared with the regional depository and other depositories in the region. This paper explores the issues that arise when an electronic list of available materials is planned. When considering an electronic forum, the format of the records and the method of searching those records must be chosen. A prototype network is examined and a survey is conducted to address some of the problems that attend such plans.
Statistically based sequential detection of buried mines from array ground-penetrating radar data

We consider the problem of detecting and localizing buried landmines from a ground penetrating radar (GPR) array. A simplified, ray-optics-based physical mode for time domain GPR returns is presented. Under this model in the absence of an object from the field of view of the array, there exist well defined symmetries in the structure of the radar returns. In particular, for a bistatic system composed of one length M transmit array and a second length M array of receivers, we identify M subsets of signals from the M2 transmit array and a second length M array of receivers, we identify M subsets of signals from the M2 total transmitter/receiver paris such that the mean value of the signals within each subset should be the same when no object is present. This relationship then forms the basis for a modified Hotelling's T2-test to detect the presence of objects when there is noise in the signal. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of these methods.
749-2 Autonomic Imbalance in Patients with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia

Mechanisms responsible for inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) may include an intrinsic defect in the sinus node, autonomic imbalances, or both. To disclose the existence of spontaneous autonomic abnormalities, we analyzed heart rate variability (HRV) in 24-hour ECG recordings in 6 ambulatory adult pts with IST (defined as 24-hr average heart rate ≥ 95 bpm) and in 6 ageand sex-matched normal controls. All subjects were free of heart disease, diabetes, and autonomic disfunction. Mean average HR was 98 ± 2.6 bpm in pts with IST and 69.6 ± 7 bpm in controls. Percent of difference between adjacent RR intervals greater than 50 msec (pNN50) was 2.63 in pts and 23.9 in controls (p l 0.001). Standard deviation of RR intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and standard deviation of 5-minute RR intervals (SDANN)forthe 24 hour period were significantly lower in pts than in controls for both day- and night-times (table). SDNN RMSSD SDANN Day Night Day Night Day Night Patients 47.59 51.22 19.04 23.4 62.3 30.7 Controls 98.1 97.78 41.9 58.55 50.55 29.9 P value l 0.001 l 0.001 l 0.001 l 0.001 l 0.001 0.01 Hourly variation for RMSDDs is plotted in the figure. Low and high frequency (freq) power were estimated at 10-min intervals throughout the 24 hour-period. Average Ln of low freq power was 10.26 in pts with IST and 11.27 in controls (p = 0.09). Average Ln of high freq power was 9.81 in pts and 11.31 in controls (p = 0.002). Conclusions 1) HRV is markedly decreased in pts with IST; 2) This seems to be related to an abnormally low parasympathetic tone; 3) The long-term prognosis of pts with IST deserves further investigation.
Challenges in cryopreservation of clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) spermatozoa.

The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is an endangered species that is difficult to breed in captivity. Species management could benefit from the use of artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed spermatozoa, but there have been no detailed studies of sperm cryosensitivity. The purposes of this study were to: (1) re-characterize seminal characteristics in the clouded leopard 20 years after the first descriptive studies Wildt et al., [Wildt DE, Howard JG, Hall LL, Bush M. Reproductive physiology of the clouded leopard. I. Electroejaculates contain high proportions of pleiomorphic spermatozoa throughout the year. Biol Reprod 1986; 34: 937-947]; and (2) conduct a comparative cryopreservation study on the feasibility of sperm from this species surviving a freeze-thawing stress. Ejaculates were collected from five adult males and subjected to standard analysis, followed by a two-step straw freezing protocol that evaluated the impact of thawing, dilution, centrifugation and in vitro culture (through 4 h) on sperm motility and acrosomal integrity. Additionally, we assessed the impact of both a traditional permeating cryoprotectant (glycerol at a final dilution of 4%) and an unconventional nonpermeating trisaccharide; raffinose (R) at a final dilution of 4% or 8%, with or without 4% glycerol on sperm cryosurvival. The clouded leopard produced an extremely poor quality ejaculate; although approximately 70% of fresh sperm were motile, >80% were malformed. Phase contrast microscopy revealed that 40% of all sperm had abnormal acrosomes, but Coomassie blue staining indicated that acrosomal abnormalities existed in almost 70% of spermatozoa. Upon freeze-thawing, sperm motility declined markedly (P < 0.05) by an average of 40%, regardless of diluent used. Interestingly, raffinose was as effective as glycerol in protecting both sperm motility and acrosomal integrity. Although no acrosomal damage was seen immediately after thawing, <6% morphologically normal intact acrosomes were present by the last measured time point. In conclusion, the clouded leopard is a rare felid that (at least in North American zoos) is producing extraordinarily poor quality ejaculates. There are so many sperm with unexplained deranged acrosomes that it will be particularly challenging to use traditional AI with thawed sperm as an adjunct management tool.
Hospital Peer Review and the National Practitioner Data Bank: Clinical Privileges Action Reports

ContextThe National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is believed to be an important source of information for peer review activities by the majority of those who use it. However, concern has been raised that hospitals may be underreporting physicians with performance problems to the NPDB.ObjectiveTo examine variation in clinical privileges action reporting by hospitals to the NPDB, changes in reporting over time, and the association of hospital characteristics with reporting.DesignRetrospective cohort study of privileges action reports to the NPDB between 1991 and 1995, linked with the 1992 and 1995 databases from the Annual Survey of Hospitals conducted by the American Hospital Association.Setting and ParticipantsA total of 4743 short-term, nonfederal, general medical/surgical hospitals throughout the United States that were continuously open between 1991-1995 and registered with the NPDB.Main Outcome Measures(1) Reporting of 1 or more privileges actions during the 5-year study period and (2) privileges action reporting rates (numbers of actions reported per 100,000 admissions).ResultsStudy hospitals reported 3328 privileges actions between 1991 and 1995; 34.2% reported 1 or more actions during the period. The range of privileges action reporting rates for these hospitals was 0.40 to 52.27 per 100,000 admissions, with an overall rate of 2.36 per 100,000 admissions. The proportion of hospitals reporting an action decreased from 11.6% in 1991 to 10.0% in 1995 (P=.008). After adjustment for other factors, urban hospitals had significantly higher reporting than rural hospitals (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.21 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.02-1.43]), while members of the Council of Teaching Hospitals of the Association of American Medical Colleges had significantly lower reporting than nonmembers (adjusted OR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.40-0.73]). There were notable regional differences in reporting, with the east south Central region having the lowest rate per 100,000 admissions (1.49 [95% CI, 1.33-1.65]).ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate a low and declining level of hospital privileges action reporting to the NPDB. Several potential explanations exist, 1 of which is that the information reported to the NPDB is incomplete.
A Survey regarding the Reporting of Simulation Studies

Abstract Hoaglin and Andrews (1975) proposed standards for computational practice and the reporting of computation-based studies. They observed that “statisticians … often pay too little attention to their own principles of design.” To see if the design and reporting had improved, we surveyed five major statistical journals for 1975, 1978, and 1981 to ascertain whether reported simulation studies involved a specified design, justified the choice of the number of iterations, and specified the random number generator(s) used. Eighteen percent of the 1,198 papers surveyed included results based on simulation. We found that 9% of the papers including a simulation study justified the choice of the number of iterations and 44% at least partially specified the random number generator. Hoaglin and Andrews's observation appears still to be true.
DECAPITATION‐INITIATED OVIPOSITION IN CRANE FLIES1

Decapitation of gravid females initiated oviposition in three species of crane-flies, Nephrotoma ferruginea, Tipula abdominalis, and Tipula sp. near ultima. Decapitated females of N. jerruginea laid, on the average, 309 eggs of which 82.9% hatched. Zusammenfassung DURCH DEKAPITATION HERVORGERUFENE EIABLAGE BEI SCHNAKEN Dekapitation bewirkte bei drei Schnaken-Arten: Nephrotoma ferruginea, Tipula abdominalis und einer ultima nahestehenden Tipula-Art spontan Eiablagen. 17 enthauptete Weibchen von N. ferruginea legten, nach weniger als einer Minute beginnend, durchschnittlich 309 (216–367) Eier auf Fliespapier in Petrischalen ab und lebten bis zu 3 Tagen. Normale Weibchen begannen unter den gleichen Bedingungen erst 4–5 Tage nach der Copula mit Eiablagen, legten aber oft viel weniger und haufig gar keine Eier ab. 309 Eier dekapitierter Weibchen schlupften zu 82,9%, die von normalen zu nur 58,0%. Es wird vermutet, das das Subosophagialganglion die Eiablage hemmt und nur unter gunstigen Umwelt-Bedin-gungen freigibt.
Confusion Due to Similar LDH Isoenzyme Patterns in Myocardial Infarction and Prosthetic Valve Hemolytic Anemia

Abstract Three patients with malfunctioning intracardiac prosthetic valves and traumatic hemolytic anemia with elevation of the alpha-1 and alpha-2 isoenzymes of LDH are presented. Two of these patients had three episodes of chest pain which were diagnosed initially as myocardial infarction because the isoenzyme pattern was thought to be diagnostic. The persistent elevation of total LDH, the normal SGOT and CPK, and documentation of the hemolytic anemia eventually led to the correct diagnosis of LDH and isoenzyme elevation due to hemolysis. While the relationship of traumatic hemolytic anemia and LDH is well known, in the patient with a prosthetic valve and chest pain there may be serious confusion and life-threatening delay.
Akira Kurosawa's Reflection on Becoming a Genius

In Akira Kurosawa's Yume (Dreams), the segment "Crows" depicts the filmmaker as a young artist on a mythic quest, attempting to obtain the key to genius. He enters one of Vincent van Gogh's paintings and meets the artist. After Van Gogh reveals his secret, the young man returns through other Van Gogh paintings, ultimately finding his own way.
Psychophysiological Responsiveness to Auditory Stimulation during Transcendental Meditation

The Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique has been reported to produce cortical states of both steady responsiveness and lack of responsiveness to external stimulation during meditation. The present study examined alpha blocking, skin conductance, and phasic heart rate response to 80dB tones in 17 TM meditators and 17 controls. There were no significant differences between groups in rate of habituation of alpha blocking or skin conductance response, and neither group showed habituation of heart rate responding. Controls displayed a more labile and accelerative cardiac response. Results suggest the possible usefulness of cardiac waveform activity in the study of meditation.
Turing machines and computational complexity

(1994). Turing Machines and Computational Complexity. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 101, No. 1, pp. 61-65.