cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rate processes on fractals: Theory, simulations, and experiments

Heterogeneous kinetics are shown to differ drastically from homogeneous kinetics. For the elementary reaction A + A → products we show that the diffusion-limited reaction rate is proportional tot − h[A]2 or to [A]x, whereh=1- d s/2, X=1+2/d s =(h-2)(h-1), andd s is the effective spectral dimension. We note that ford = d s =1, h =1/2 andX = 3, for percolating clustersd s = 4/3,h = 1/3 andX = 5/2, while for “dust” ds h > 1/2 and ∞ >X > 3. Scaling arguments, supercomputer simulations and experiments give a consistent picture. The interplay of energetic and geometric heterogeneity results in fractal-like kinetics and is relevant to excitation fusion experiments in porous membranes, films, and polymeric glasses. However, in isotopic mixed crystals, the geometric fractal nature (percolation clusters) dominates.
Serine 380 (P14) → Glutamate Mutation Activates Antithrombin as an Inhibitor of Factor Xa

Heparin regulates the inhibitory activity of antithrombin. It has been proposed that residues P15 and P14 are expelled from β-sheet A of antithrombin by heparin binding, permitting better interaction of the reactive center loop with factor Xa. We have made a P14 antithrombin variant (S380E) to create an activated inhibitory form of antithrombin in which P14 is already expelled from β-sheet A. S380E antithrombin fluorescence is enhanced 35 ± 5% compared with control antithrombin. There is minimal further increase in antithrombin fluorescence upon heparin binding. The variant has a 5 °C lower Tm than control antithrombin. The variant is an inhibitor of proteinases and has a nearly 200-fold increased basal rate of inhibition of factor Xa, after correction for an increased stoichiometry of inhibition. This is comparable to that of antithrombin activated by high affinity heparin pentasaccharide. Full-length high affinity heparin causes only a 7-fold additional increase in rate and a large increase in stoichiometry of inhibition. In contrast, the basal rate of inhibition of thrombin is similar to that of control antithrombin but is increased 300-fold by heparin. These findings suggest that the native state of the S380E variant exists in a loop-expelled conformation that is consequently highly reactive toward factor Xa.
Deficient degradation of homotrimeric type I collagen,α1(I)3 glomerulopathy in oim mice

Col1a2-deficient (oim) mice synthesize homotrimeric type I collagen due to nonfunctional proα2(I) collagen chains. Our previous studies revealed a postnatal, progressive type I collagen glomerulopathy in this mouse model, but the mechanism of the sclerotic collagen accumulation within the renal mesangium remains unclear. The recent demonstration of the resistance of homotrimeric type I collagen to cleavage by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), led us to investigate the role of MMP-resistance in the glomerulosclerosis of Col1a2-deficient mice. We measured the pre- and post-translational expression of type I collagen and MMPs in glomeruli from heterozygous and homozygous animals. Both the heterotrimeric and homotrimeric isotypes of type I collagen were equally present in whole kidneys of heterozygous mice by immunohistochemistry and biochemical analysis, but the sclerotic glomerular collagen was at least 95-98% homotrimeric, suggesting homotrimeric type I collagen is the pathogenic isotype of type I collagen in glomerular disease. Although steady-state MMP and Col1a1 mRNA levels increased with the disease progression, we found these changes to be a secondary response to the deficient clearance of MMP-resistant homotrimers. Increased renal MMP expression was not sufficient to prevent homotrimeric type I collagen accumulation.
Insectivory of savanna chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) at Fongoli, Senegal

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Interdepartmental Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011KEY WORDS chimpanzee; insectivory; termite ﬁshing; ecology; evolutionABSTRACT Little is known about the behavior ofchimpanzees living in savanna-woodlands, although theyare of particular interest to anthropologists for theinsight they can provide regarding the ecological pres-sures affecting early hominins living in similar habitats.Fongoli, Senegal, is the ﬁrst site where savanna chim-panzees have been habituated for observational datacollection and is the hottest and driest site where suchobservation of chimpanzees occurs today. Previously,indirect evidence suggested these chimpanzees consumedtermites throughout the year, an unusual occurrence forwestern and eastern chimpanzees. Although meat eatingby chimpanzees continues to receive much attention,their use of invertebrate prey has received less emphasisin scenarios of hominin evolution. Here, we furtherexamine the invertebrate diet of Fongoli chimpanzeesusing direct observational methods and accounting forpotential environmental inﬂuences. Termite feedingpositively correlated with high temperatures. Fongolichimpanzees spend more time obtaining termites thanany other chimpanzee population studied, and thisextensive insectivory contributes to the list of distinctivebehaviors they display relative to chimpanzees livingin more forested habitats. We suggest that savannachimpanzees at Fongoli differ signiﬁcantly from chim-panzees elsewhere as a result of the selective pressurescharacterizing their harsh environment, and this con-trast provides an example of a viable referential modelfor better understanding human evolution. Speciﬁcally,our results support the hypotheses that invertebrateprey may have ﬁgured more prominently into the diet ofearly hominins in similar habitats, especially given thatinvertebrates are an important source of protein andother essential nutrients in a highly seasonal environ-ment. Am J Phys Anthropol 000:000–000, 2010.
Smooth and discontinuous signature type change in general relativity

There are two proposals for the classical implementation of signature type change in general relativity. We derive necessary and sufficient junction conditions for both proposals and investigate the extent to which they are equivalent. In the case of discontinuous signature type change there does not exist a non-flat vacuum solution of the Einstein equation. However, we show that in the case of smooth signature type change such solutions exist.
Multiparticle Production in High-Energy Collisions

The "incoherent-droplet" model proposed earlier is solved for the general case of multiparticle production in high-energy hadron collisions. For small transverse momenta the result is equivalent to taking the invariant square matrix element to be $C \mathrm{exp}[\ensuremath{-}(\frac{n}{Nk_{0}^{2}})\ensuremath{\Sigma}\stackrel{n}{i=1}q_{i}^{2}],$ where ${q}_{i}$ is the magnitude of the transverse momentum of the $i\mathrm{th}$ final particle, $n$ is the total number of particles in the final state, $N$ is an increasing function of energy, otherwise unspecified, and ${k}_{0}$ is a constant. Independent of the choice of parameters in the model, it is found that in the high-energy limit two of the heaviest final particles share equally almost all of the available energy. Parameters of the model can be so chosen as to reproduce the experimental constancy of the average transverse momentum and the total cross section. The simplest choice leads to the prediction that the average multiplicity increases logarithmically with the total c.m. energy. Illustrative examples of energy and angular distributions are given.
Decision-making capacity at the end of life

Medical decision-making capacity refers to the assessment of a patient's ability to make a specific clinical choice. Systematic evaluation of capacity includes a review of the core components of decision making, alongside consideration of potential outcomes associated with the choice. At the end of life, assessing capacity may be complicated by drastic shifts in the risk–benefit profile of acute medical interventions, along with changes to a patient's affect, behavior, and cognition. Maintaining an appreciation for the elements of capacity, the process of assessing capacity, and the associated challenges at the end of life can help palliative care clinicians to ensure provision of respectful, patient-centered care. This manuscript provides an overview of decision-making capacity in the palliative care population, while clarifying common barriers to capacity at the end of life, and offering considerations for appropriate involvement of psychiatric consultants in this process.
Primary writing tremor: Report of a case successfully treated with botulinum toxin A injections and discussion of underlying mechanism

Primary writing tremor (PWT) is a rare motor disorder of unknown etiology, where tremor is elicited primarily or exclusively with writing. We describe a patient with PWT, present a video before and after successful treatment with botulinum toxin type A injections, and discuss a possible underlying dystonic mechanism.
A PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATING THE CONDITIONAL STANDARD ERRORS OF MEASUREMENT FOR GRE GENERAL AND SUBJECT TESTS

A series of computer programs were written for computing the conditional standard errors of measurement (CSEM) for both rights-scored and formula-scored tests based on a method suggested in Lord (1984), commonly known as Lord's Method IV or the compound binomial method. These programs estimate the conditional standard errors of measurement for both raw and scaled scores, average results for two or more forms, and compute form-to-form difference statistics for pairs of forms. Conditional standard errors of measurement, averages, and differences have been computed for the verbal, quantitative, and analytical raw and converted scores for eight forms of the GRE General Test and for two forms each of 15 GRE Subject Tests. The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (Committee of AERA, APA, & NCME to Develop Standards, 1985) recommends that test publishers provide estimates of the standard error measurement at a number of widely spaced score levels. The CSEM data produced in this study have been made available to three programs which use GRE scores, along with other criteria, for awarding fellowships. These data also have been made available for use in GRE program publications and in correspondence.
Studies on the Effects of Selenium on Rumen Microbial Fermentation In Vitro

The effects of selenium (Se) on ruminant microbial fermentation were investigated in vitro using rumen microflora collected from a rumen-fistulated dairy cow. First, the effects ofl-selenomethionine (SeMet; at 0.2 or 2 ppm Se) in the presence or absence of wheat bran (WB, 500 mg per incubation flask) were evaluated. Second, the effects of several forms of Se (elemental Se: 50 ppm Se; sodium selenite: 2 ppm Se; SeMet: 2 ppm Se) were compared. Results showed that the amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) tended to be increased by SeMet treatment, whereas SeMet in the presence of WB transiently suppressed fermentation. The addition of SeMet tended to increase the production of acetate while reducing the production of butyrate with and without WB supplementation. Among the different Se compounds tested, the amounts of SCFAs were greater with SeMet treatment, which yielded a higher proportion of acetate compared to other treatments. Selenite did not influence the total SCFAs concentrations; however, it increased the relative proportion of butyrate at the expense of acetate. Elemental Se did not significantly affect fermentation. Higher bacterial Se concentrations were observed for selenite than for SeMet. It was concluded that Se supplementation can influence rumen microbial fermentation and that Se compounds differ in this regard.
On the Number of Divisions of the Euclidean Algorithm Applied to Gaussian Integers

Two results about the Euclidean algorithm (EA) for Gaussian integers are proven in this paper: first, a general kind of division with remainder for Gaussian integers @x, @h is considered: @x = @c@h + @r, where we only require that @c is a Gaussian integer; N(@r), the norm of @r, need not be minimal or smaller than N(@h). This leads to a general version of the (EA), where an arbitrary remainder in this sense may be chosen at every division. We show that for every input the number of divisions is minimal, if a remainder of minimal norm is chosen at every step. We call such a version a minimal remainder-version of (EA). We also show that even the slightest deviation from a minimal remainder-version (in a sense to be defined) can lead to an increase in the number of divisions. Second, we establish a tight upper bound for the number of divisions of (EA) for an input of given size, and, equivalently, we determine the input values u, v with norm of u minimal, such that (EA) requires a given number of divisions. This is analogous to Lame's result for rational integers.
Discovery of the natural anti-Gal antibody and its past and future relevance to medicine

This is a personal account of the discovery of the natural anti-Gal antibody, the most abundant natural antibody in humans, the reciprocal distribution of this antibody and its ligand the α-gal epitope in mammals and the immunological barrier this antibody has formed in porcine to human xenotransplantation. This barrier has been overcome in the recent decade with the generation of α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout pigs. However, anti-Gal continues to be relevant in medicine as it can be harnessed for various therapeutic effects. Anti-Gal converts tumor lesions injected with α-gal glycolipids into vaccines that elicit a protective anti-tumor immune response by in situ targeting of tumor cells for uptake by antigen-presenting cells. This antibody further accelerates wound and burn healing by interaction with α-gal nanoparticles applied to injured areas and induction of rapid recruitment and activation of macrophages. Anti-Gal/α-gal nanoparticle immune complexes may further induce rapid recruitment and activation of macrophages in ischemic myocardium and injured nerves, thereby inducing tissue regeneration and prevention of fibrosis.
Keeping homeless families together: Examining their needs

Abstract Although professional literature documents many of the problems of homeless families, few investigations consider the needs and services that are requested by homeless parents in their pursuit to keep their families intact. This study of 178 homeless subjects (94 parents) evaluated the effect of parental status on needs and services of the homeless. Among the findings it was discovered that parents tended to be females, had longer periods of homelessness, had a greater need for child care and other services that would allow them to work than non-parents. In addition, low levels of requests for social service benefits raises suspicions that homeless parents avoid these services because of fears of losing their children to foster care.
The importance of trace elements in infant nutrition

SummaryAn increasing number of trace elements are being recognized as important in infant nutrition. Deficiency states have been identified for iron, iodine, copper, zinc and chromium. In general, nutritional requirements for the trace elements have not been well defined, and it is difficult at present to ensure that all infants receive optimal quantities in their diets. Trace deficiencies may result, for example, from otherwise desirable modifications of cow's milk in the production of infant milk formulae that may lead to an inadvertent loss of essential elements. Substantial progress in this field should be possible in the near future.
To screen or nor to screen: the prostate cancer dilemma.

The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate (ERSPC) has updated their previous seminal report on prostate cancer mortality comparing screened men to controls. Now with 13 years follow-up, the rate ratio of prostate cancer mortality was 0.79 favoring the screened population. The authors concluded that there was a substantial reduction in prostate cancer mortality attributable to testing with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) but they also stated that a quantification of harms needed to be addressed. The issue of harms was not addressed by the ERSPC (at least not in this report) and hence this additional statement most likely reflects the controversy currently surrounding the risks associated with over-diagnosis and treatment of indolent diseases inadvertently detected by a screening protocol. [1] In addition, the positive results from this trial conflict with those of the prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian (PLCO) [2] study and require further elaboration.
Abnormal pressure-natriuresis in hypertension: role of cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid

The pressure-natriuresis relationship is shifted to higher pressures in genetic and experimental models of hypertension; however, the factors responsible for altering kidney function remain to be determined. In spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Lyon hypertensive rats, the resetting of pressure-natriuresis results from increased preglomerular renal vascular tone, whereas sodium reabsorption is elevated in the thick ascending loop of Henle (TALH) of Dahl S rats. Recently, a new route for the renal metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) has been described, and there is evidence that this pathway contributes to the resetting of renal function in hypertension. In the kidney, cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes metabolize AA primarily to 20-HETE and EETs. 20-HETE is a potent constrictor of renal arterioles that has an important role in autoregulation of renal blood flow and tubuloglomerular feedback. 20-HETE and EETS also inhibit sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule and TALH. In the SHR, the renal production of 20-HETE is elevated and inhibitors of the formation of 20-HETE decrease arterial pressure. Blockade of 20-HETE formation also reduces blood pressure or improves renal function in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt, angiotensin II-infused, and Lyon hypertensive rats. In contrast, 20-HETE formation is reduced in the TALH of Dahl S rats and this contributes to elevated sodium reabsorption. Induction of 20-HETE synthesis improves pressure-natriuresis and lowers blood pressure in Dahl S rats, whereas inhibitors of the synthesis of 20-HETE promote the development of hypertension in Lewis rats. These findings indicate that the renal production of CYP metabolites of AA is altered in genetic and experimental models of hypertension and that this system contributes to the resetting of pressure-natriuresis and the development of hypertension in some models.
Maximum recovery of pesticides from alfalfa and related material

We believe that grinding to less than 20 mesh and then refluxing in acetonitrile for an hour is the preferred method for extraction of pesticides in alfalfa and similar material.
An experimental study of the fornix and hypothalamo-tegmental tracts in the cat.

Single electrolytic lesions were placed at various levels of the hippocampus, septum, and amygdala to elicit fiber degeneration from these structures in order to determine their efferent pathways to the hypothalamus. The Nauta silver Impregnation method for degenerated axons was used in this study. Fornix fibers of hippocampal origin were traced to the preoptic, dorsomedial, and posterior hypothalamic areas. Fornix fibers of septal origin were traced to preoptic, paraventricular, and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei. Degenerated fibers from the baso-lateral amygdaloid nuclei were traced to the preoptic and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei through the stria terminalis. Lesions were also placed in the anterior hypothalamic area, the dorsal hypothalamic area, the dorsomedial nucleus, the ventromedial nucleus, the paraventricular nucleus, and the posterior hypothalamic area. Degenerated fibers were traced from these nuclei to the midbrain tegmentum through the hypothalamo-tegmental tracts. The hypothalamus, then can be considered a way station for impulses from the limbic lobe to lower brain stem centers.
Utilization of the emergency department by patients with minor complaints

Emergency departments (ED) are frequently utilized by patients with minor complaints. It has been a long-standing assumption in the medical community that this use was based on the inability of certain subgroups of the population to access primary care providers secondary to inability to pay. This study examines the use of the ED for minor complaints and the distribution of patients according to mode of payment. Our findings suggest that ED utilization for minor complaints is not, as previously believed, higher in patients with the inability to pay primary care providers. Rather, subsidized patients (Medicare/Medicaid) appear to use the ED equally for major and minor complaints, while there is an increased utilization by commercially insured patients for minor illnesses and injuries, and a lower rate in patients who are self-pay.
Carbohydrate Taste Preferences in Rats: Glucose, Sucrose, Maltose, Fructose and Polycose Compared

The taste preferences of adult female rats for solutions of five different carbohydrates were evaluated using brief (3-min) two-bottle preference tests. At the lowest concentration tested (0.03 molar) the order of preference was Polycose greater than maltose greater than sucrose greater than glucose = fructose. Whereas at the highest concentrations tested (0.5 or 1.0 molar) the preference order was sucrose greater than maltose greater than or equal to Polycose greater than glucose greater than fructose. Thus, at low concentrations starch-derived polysaccharides (Polycose) are more palatable to rats than are sugars. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that rats have separate taste receptors for sugars and for starch-derived polysaccharides. The fact that maltose is the most preferred sugar at low concentrations is attributed to its stimulation of "polysaccharide" taste receptors.
Secure interconnection protocol for integrated Internet and ad hoc networks

Integration of ad hoc networks with the Internet provides global Internet connectivity for ad hoc hosts through the coordination of mobile IP and ad hoc protocols. In a pure ad hoc network, it is difficult to establish trust relationship between two ad hoc hosts due to lack of infrastructure or centralized administration. In this paper, an infrastructure-supported and distributed authentication protocol is proposed to enhance trust relationships amongst ad hoc hosts. In addition, an effective secure routing protocol (SRP) is discussed to protect the multi-hop route for Internet and ad hoc communication. In the integrated ad hoc networks with Internet accessibility, the ad hoc routing security deployed with the help of infrastructure has a fundamental impact on ad hoc hosts in term of Internet access, integrity, and authentication. Both analysis and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed security protocol. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of oxygen partial pressure on the stability of Magneli phases in high temperature corrosive wear

Abstract Titanium carbide with the presence of the Magneli phases has been considered for corrosive wear at temperatures greater then 1000 K. To investigate the effects of the Magneli phases (or non-stoichiometric titanium oxides, TinO2n − 1) on the wear behavior of TlC or titanium oxides, experiments must be performed under known oxygen partial pressures under which the non-stoichiometric compounds are stable in a vacuum or flowing system. The TiOC stability diagram, which clearly shows the oxygen partial pressure dependence of the Magneli phases in high temperature investigations, has been developed for the temperature of 1673 K from the thermodynamic data available for the titanium oxides and TiC. The gaseous atmospheres needed for stabilizing the Magneli phases during material processing and in experimental wear research are briefly discussed.
Synthetic fluid inclusions: IX. Critical PVTX properties of NaCl-H2O solutions

Critical PVTX properties of NaCl-H2O fluids having compositions of 0–30 wt% NaCl have been determined using the synthetic fluid inclusion technique. Critical temperatures and pressures increase from 374.1°C and 220 bars for pure H2O, to 820°C and 1574 bars for 30.0 wt% NaCl. Critical specific volumes decrease from 3.11 to 1.44 cm3/g over this same salinity range. Critical temperatures of NaCl-H2O fluids over the range 0–30 wt% NaCl are described by the equation T = 374.1 + 8.800φ + 0.1771φ2 − 0.02113φ3 + 7.334·10−4φ4 where T is the critical temperature in degrees Celsius (±4.0°C) and φ is fluid composition in weight percent NaCl. The critical pressure, determined from the intersection of the critical isochore with the critical temperature in P-T space, is expressed as a function of the critical temperature according to the relationship P = 2094 − 20.56T + 0.06896T2 − 8.903 × 10−5T3 + 4.214·10−8T4 where P is the critical pressure in bars (±21 bars) and T is the critical temperature in degrees Celsius. The critical specific volume is given as SV = 3.106 − 0.5967ψ − 0.01066ψ2 + 0.01267ψ3 where SV is the critical specific volume in cm3/g (± 0.02 cm3/g) and ψ is related to the salinity as ψ = ln (wt% NaCl + 1) The slopes (ΔPΔT) of P−T projections of the critical isochores increase regularly with increasing salinity, from ~2.8 bars/°C for pure H2O to ~6.8 bars/°C for a 30 wt% NaCl solution.
Choline: selective accumulation by central cholinergic neurons.

Abstract— Most of the cholinergic input to the hippocampus was destroyed by placement of lesions in the medial septal area. In animals with such lesions we found that hippocampal ChAc activity was reduced by 85–90% and endogenous acetylcholine levels were reduced by more than 80 %. When hippocampal synaptosomes from animals with lesions were incubated with [3H]choline at concentrations of 7.5 nm, 1 μm and 10 μm there was approximately a 60 % reduction in the uptake of [3H]choline, suggesting that cholinergic nerve endings were mainly responsible for [3H]choline uptake. At 0.1 mm concentrations of [3H]choline, there was only a 25 % reduction of choline uptake, suggesting that at higher concentrations of choline there was more nonspecific uptake. The uptake of radiolabelled tryptophan, glutamate and GABA were only slightly or not at all affected by the lesions. There was a significant reduction of uptake of radiolabelled serotonin and norepinephrine, since known monoaminergic tracts were disrupted. Choline uptake was reduced only in brain regions in which cholinergic input was interrupted (i.e. the cerebral cortex and hippocampus) and remained unchanged in other regions (i.e. the cerebellum and striatum). The time course of the reduction in choline uptake was similar to that of the reductions in ChAc activity and endogenous ACh levels; there was no decrease at 1 day, a significant decrease at 2 days, and the maximal decrease at 4 days postlesion. There was a close correlation among choline uptake, ChAc activity and ACh levels in the four brain regions examined (i.e. the striatum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum). Our results suggest that when hippocampal synaptosomes (and perhaps synaptosomes from other brain areas as well) are incubated in the presence of choline, at concentrations of 10 μm m or lower, then cholinergic nerve endings are responsible for the bulk of the choline accumulated by the tissue.
Heat fluxes at the Earth's surface and core–mantle boundary since Pangea formation and their implications for the geomagnetic superchrons

Abstract The Earth's surface and core–mantle boundary (CMB) heat fluxes are controlled by mantle convection and have important influences on Earth's thermal evolution and geodynamo processes in the core. However, the long-term variations of the surface and CMB heat fluxes remain poorly understood, particularly in response to the supercontinent Pangea — likely the most significant global tectonic event in the last 500 Ma. In this study, we reconstruct temporal evolution of the surface and CMB heat fluxes since the Paleozoic by formulating three-dimensional spherical models of mantle convection with plate motion history for the last 450 Ma that includes the assembly and break-up of supercontinent Pangea. Our models reproduce well present-day observations of the surface heat flux and seafloor age distribution. Our models show that the present-day CMB heat flux is low below the central Pacific and Africa but high elsewhere due to subducted slabs, particularly when chemically dense piles are present above the CMB. We show that while the surface heat flux may not change significantly in response to Pangea assembly, it increases by ~ 16% from 200 to 120 Ma ago as a result of Pangea breakup and then decreases for the last 120 Ma to approximately the pre-200 Ma value. As consequences of the assembly and breakup of Pangea, equatorial CMB heat flux reaches minimum at ~ 270 Ma and again at ~ 100 Ma ago, while global CMB heat flux is a maximum at ~ 100 Ma ago. These extrema in CMB heat fluxes coincide with the Kiaman (316–262 Ma) and Cretaceous (118–83 Ma) Superchrons, respectively, and may be responsible for the Superchrons.
Desingularizing soap-film-like surfaces

Abstract A procedure is described for desingularizing soap-film-like surfaces with boundary, leaving a piecewise smooth manifold behind, by deleting certain prescribed extra faces. The criterion for deletion is the vanishing of a certain linking number, and the correctness of the procedure depends on the classification of the singular set into triple lines and tetrahedral points.
Derivation of the Ornstein-Zernike differential equation from the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy

The theory of inhomogeneous fluids is applied to a $d$-dimensional system near its critical point to derive the probability of finding a particle at a distance $r$ from a pair separated by a distance $s$, given that $r\ensuremath{\gg}\ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\gg}s$, where $\ensuremath{\xi}$ is the correlation length. When this result is used in the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy, an approximation-free equation is obtained, from which it follows that the pair correlations for $r\ensuremath{\gg}\ensuremath{\xi}$ satisfy the Ornstein-Zernike differential equation.
Effect of Cellular Phone and Radar Forensics on Search and Rescue Duration for General Aviation Aircraft Accidents in the Contiguous United States

Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) are generally the primary tool for locating distressed aircrews following an aircraft accident. In 2009, the International COSPAS-SARSAT organization ordered the cessation of 121.5 MHz ELT satellite monitoring to alleviate systemic false alarms and encourage pilots to upgrade ELTs to modern 406 MHz models. While most nations acquiesced to the mandate, the United States encountered severe resistance from pilot groups. As a result, 121.5 MHz ELTs are still in use in the U.S. but remain unmonitored by satellite systems. This study sought to assess the impact of alternative search methods such as radar and cellular phone forensic analysis on search and rescue duration. The study collected records from 365 search missions conducted between 2006 and 2011 to determine if there was a significant difference in mission search durations if forensic methods were utilized. Data was transformed and assessed using ANOVA and Brown-Forsythe F-testing. The study revealed that missions which employed either cellular phone or radar forensic search methods required significantly longer than missions which did not employ those techniques. Missions utilizing cellular phone forensics required a mean of 23.4 search hours, whereas missions which did not use cellular forensic methods only required 13.2 hours. Similarly, missions using radar forensics required a mean of 21.3 hours versus 10.0 hours for missions which did not use such forensics. This research provides valuable data to search and rescue agencies in determining the efficacy of using both cellular phone and radar forensic methods in search operations.
Electrocardiographic criteria for ventricular tachycardia in wide complex left bundle branch block morphology tachycardias

Four electrocardiographic criteria for ventricular tachycardia (VT) were proposed and evaluated. These included (1) an R wave in V1 or V2 of greater than 30-ms duration; (2) any Q wave in V6; (3) a duration of greater than 60 ms from the onset of the QRS to the nadir of the S wave in V1 or V2 and (4) notching on the downstroke of the S wave in V1 or V2. The data showed that all 4 criteria had high predictive accuracy (96 to 100%) and specificity (94 to 100%). The relatively low sensitivities of the 4 criteria alone (30 to 64%) might limit their efficacy. Grouped criteria, however, could differentiate VT from supraventricular tachycardias with high sensitivity, specificity and predictive accuracy. The amount of tracings having either electrocardiographic criteria (1) or (2) or (3) or (4) was determined. The proposed combined criteria had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 89% and a predictive accuracy of 96%. Left axis deviation alone was of no value in distinguishing VT from supraventricular tachycardia. Characteristic patterns were present for left bundle branch block pattern VT associated with anterior and inferior myocardial infarction. In conclusion, the 12-lead electrocardiogram alone, when systematically analyzed, can be used to accurately diagnose the origin of wide complex tachycardias with left bundle branch block pattern. Attention to these criteria may lead to more rapid and effective therapy.
Spreading depression induces tolerance of cortical neurons to ischemia in rat brain.

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) was induced in male Wistar rats by applying 2 M KCl to the frontal cortex of one hemisphere for 2 h. Saline was applied to the contralateral cortex in the same manner. Following recovery for 24 h, bilateral forebrain ischemia was induced for 6 min, and the animals were permitted to survive for 6 days for assessment of histopathology. The number of necrotic neurons was counted in the cerebral cortex, striatum, and hippocampus of both hemispheres. In separate sets of animals, the effects of KCl application on cortical direct current (DC) potential and regional expression of c-fos mRNA and 72-kDa heat shock protein (hsp72) mRNA were determined. Forebrain ischemia induced selective neuronal necrosis in both hemispheres, but the number of necrotic neurons in the cerebral cortex ipsilateral to the application of KCl was significantly smaller than that in the contralateral cortex (p < 0.02, Wilcoxon signed rank test, n = 7). In the striatum and hippocampus, there were no signi...
Functional imaging in treatment planning of brain lesions

Abstract Purpose: Explore the use of functional imaging data in radiation treatment planning of brain lesions. Methods and Materials: Compare the treatment-planning process with and without the use of functional brain imaging for clinical cases where functional studies using either single photon emission computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging are available. Results: A method to register functional image data with planning image studies is needed for functional treatment planning. Functional volumes are not simply connected regions. One activation study may produce many isolated functional areas. After finding the functional volumes and registering the functional information with the planning imaging data, the tools used for conventional three-dimensional treatment planning are sufficient for functional treatment planning. However, the planning system must provide dose-volume histograms for volumes of interest that consist of isolated pieces. Treatment plans that spare functional brain while providing identical target coverage can be constructed for lesions situated near the functional volume. However, the dose to other areas of the brain may be increased. Conclusions: Functional imaging will make determination of dose response of eloquent areas of the brain possible when combined with volumetric dose information and neuropsychological prior to and after radiation therapy. Realizing the full potential of functional imaging studies will require improved delineation of activated volumes and determination of the uncertainties in functional volume delineation. Optimization of treatment plans by minimizing dose to volumes activated during functional imaging studies should be used cautiously, because the dose to "silent," but possibly eloquent, brain may be increased.
Bidirectional object layout for separate compilation

Existing schemes for object layout and dispatch in the presence of multiple inheritance and separate compilation waste space and are slower than systems with single inheritance. This paper describes the bidirectional object layout, a new scheme for object layout that produces smaller objects and faster method invocations than existing schemes by automatically optimizing particular uses of multiple inheritance. The bidirectional object layout is used for the programming language Theta, and is applicable to languages like C++. This paper also demonstrates how to efficiently implement method dispatch when method signatures are allowed to change in subclasses. Most current statically compiled languages require identical signatures for efficiency.
The Arabidopsis SOS5 Locus Encodes a Putative Cell Surface Adhesion Protein and Is Required for Normal Cell Expansion

Cell surface proteoglycans have been implicated in many aspects of plant growth and development, but genetic evidence supporting their function has been lacking. Here, we report that the Salt Overly Sensitive5 (SOS5) gene encodes a putative cell surface adhesion protein and is required for normal cell expansion. The sos5 mutant was isolated in a screen for Arabidopsis salt-hypersensitive mutants. Under salt stress, the root tips of sos5 mutant plants swell and root growth is arrested. The root-swelling phenotype is caused by abnormal expansion of epidermal, cortical, and endodermal cells. The SOS5 gene was isolated through map-based cloning. The predicted SOS5 protein contains an N-terminal signal sequence for plasma membrane localization, two arabinogalactan protein–like domains, two fasciclin-like domains, and a C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol lipid anchor signal sequence. The presence of fasciclin-like domains, which typically are found in animal cell adhesion proteins, suggests a role for SOS5 in cell-to-cell adhesion in plants. The SOS5 protein was present at the outer surface of the plasma membrane. The cell walls are thinner in the sos5 mutant, and those between neighboring epidermal and cortical cells in sos5 roots appear less organized. SOS5 is expressed ubiquitously in all plant organs and tissues, including guard cells in the leaf.
Flexible data analysis and evaluations of the SFP 10-14.

A debate recently occurred in this journal concerning the interpretation of the null findings from an evaluation of a Swedish version of the Strengthening Families Programme 10-14 (SFP 10-14).1,2 Specifically, Segrott et al.1 proposed that the null findings of the evaluation, which are at odds with those of evaluations conducted by Iowa State University (ISU) in the USA, are likely the result of significant alterations to the content of the SFP 10-14 that occurred when it was adapted for use in Sweden. The evaluators of the Swedish program acknowledged that the challenges of adapting the …
Bayesian inference, Gibbs' sampler and uncertainty estimation in geophysical inversion

The posterior probability density function (PPD), σ(m|d obs ), of earth model m, where d obs are the measured data, describes the solution of a geophysical inverse problem, when a Bayesian inference model is used to describe the problem. In many applications, the PPD is neither analytically tractable nor easily approximated and simple analytic expressions for the mean and variance of the PPD are not available. Since the complete description of the PPD is impossible in the highly multi-dimensional model space of many geophysical applications, several measures such as the highest posterior density regions, marginal PPD and several orders of moments are often used to describe the solutions. Calculation of such quantities requires evaluation of multidimensional integrals. A faster alternative to enumeration and blind Monte-Carlo integration is importance sampling which may be useful in several applications. Thus how to draw samples of m from the PPD becomes an important aspect of geophysical inversion such that importance sampling can be used in the evaluation of these multi-dimensional integrals. Importance sampling can be carried out most efficiently by a Gibbs' sampler (GS). We also introduce a method which we called parallel Gibbs' sampler (PGS) based on genetic algorithms (GA) and show numerically that the results from the two samplers are nearly identical. We first investigate the performance of enumeration and several sampling based techniques such as a GS, PGS and several multiple maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithms for a simple geophysical problem of inversion of resistivity sounding data. Several non-linear optimization methods based on simulated annealing (SA), GA and some of their variants can be devised which can be made to reach very close to the maximum of the PPD. Such MAP estimation algorithms also sample different points in the model space. By repeating these MAP inversions several times, it is possible to sample adequately the most significant portion(s) of the PPD and all these models can be used to construct the marginal PPD, mean) covariance, etc. We observe that the GS and PGS results are identical and indistinguishable from the enumeration scheme. Multiple MAP algorithms slightly underestimate the posterior variances although the correlation values obtained by all the methods agree very well. Multiple MAP estimation required 0.3% of the computational effort of enumeration and 40% of the effort of a GS or PGS for this problem. Next, we apply GS to the inversion of a marine seismic data set to quantify uncertainties in the derived model, given the prior distribution determined from several common midpoint gathers.
A High-Temperature, High-Throughput Method for Monitoring Residual Formaldehyde in Vaccine Formulations

Formaldehyde has long been used in the chemical inactivation of viral material during vaccine production. Viral inactivation is required so that the vaccine does not infect the patient. Formaldehyde is diluted during the vaccine manufacturing process, but residual quantities of formaldehyde are still present in some current vaccines. Although formaldehyde is considered safe for use in vaccines by the Food and Drug Administration, excessive exposure to this chemical may lead to cancer or other health-related issues. An assay was developed that is capable of detecting levels of residual formaldehyde in influenza vaccine samples. The assay employs incubation of dosage formulation suspensions with hydralazine hydrochloride under mildly acidic conditions and elevated temperatures, where formaldehyde is derivatized to yield fluorescent s-triazolo-[3,4-a]-phthalazine. The assay has been traditionally run by high-performance liquid chromatography, where runtimes of 15 minutes per sample can be expected. Our laboratory has developed a plate-based version that drastically improved the throughput to a runtime of 96 samples per minute. The assay was characterized and validated with respect to reaction temperature, evaporation, stability, and selectivity to monitor residual formaldehyde in various influenza vaccine samples, including in-process samples. Heat transfer and evaporation will be especially considered in this work. Since the assay is plate based, it is automation friendly. The new assay format has attained detection limits of 0.01 µg/mL residual formaldehyde, which is easily able to detect and quantify formaldehyde at levels used in many current vaccine formulations (<5 µg/0.5-mL dose).
Dexamethasone and bronchiolitis: A new look at an old therapy?

In this issue of The Journal, Schuh et al 1 challenge the widely, but not universally, held view that corticosteroids have no role in the treatment of previously well children with bronchiolitis. Few aspects of the treatment of infants with bronchiolitis have been studied as often or as well. First, corticosteroids are of unquestioned benefit for infants and young children with asthma and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, clinically similar wheezing illnesses. Second, while bronchiolitis, like asthma, is a common and apparently growing problem, 2 the pediatrician’s therapeutic armamentarium is remarkably thin. Ribavirin is available as specific treatment for infants with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) infection, but its high cost and the absence of studies that address contentious issues of indications, environmental exposure of health care workers, potential side effects, and even efficacy, remain problematic. Some bronchodilators are of benefit to certain children with bronchiolitis, but they do not have a major effect on the overall course of the illness. The remaining treatments for infants with bronchiolitis are supportive. Physicians treating children with bronchiolitis and investigators studying its management need to recognize that an important subset of children with viral bronchiolitis, those with underlying airway diseases, benefit predictably from corticosteroid therapy. This is important because infants with underlying diseases like bronchopulmonary dysplasia or asthma may be at higher risk than previously well infants of developing respiratory failure with respiratory viral infections. A physician treating a child with bronchiolitis and respiratory compromise who also has underlying airway disease should strongly consider corticosteroid therapy regardless of the questionable efficacy of corticosteroids in previously well children with viral-associated wheezing. This issue may have influenced the conclusions of some studies of the efficacy of corticosteroids in bronchiolitis, including that of a recent meta-analysis by Garrison et al. 3 Several studies included in the meta-analysis that suggested that corticosteroid treatment is beneficial did not exclude children with previous episodes of wheezing. This problem, however, is not pertinent to the study of Schuh et al 1 , who did exclude such children.
High-resolution modeling of LIDAR data Mechanisms governing surface water vapor variability during SALSA

An integrated tool that consists of a volume scanning high-resolution Raman water vapor LIDAR and a turbulence-resolving hydrodynamic model, called HIGRAD, is used to support the semi-arid land-surface‐atmosphere (SALSA) program. The water vapor measurements collected during SALSA have been simulated by the HIGRAD code with a resolution comparable with that of the LIDAR data. The LIDAR provides the required “ground truth” of coherent water vapor eddies and the model allows for interpretation of the underlying physics of such measurements and characterizes the relationships between surface conditions, boundary layer dynamics, and measured quantities. The model results compare well with the measurements, including the overall structure and evolution of water vapor plumes, the contrast of plume variabilities over the cottonwoods and the grass land, and the mid-day suppression of turbulent activities over the canopy. The current study demonstrates an example that such an integration between modeling and LIDAR measurements can advance our understanding of the structure of fine-scale turbulent motions that govern evaporative exchange above a heterogeneous surface. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.