cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endor Characterizaticn and D2O Exchange in the $${Z^{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\cdot}$}}{ + } }}/{D^{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\cdot}$}}{ + } }}$$ Radical in Photosystem II

The early suggestion by Lozier and Butler (Photochem. Photobiol. 17, 133–137 (1973)) that EPR Signal II arises from radicals associated with the water-splitting process in PSII has been confirmed and extended over the intervening years. Recent work has identified the Signal II radicals, \( {D^{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\cdot}$}}{ + } }}\) and \( {Z^{\underset{\raise0.3em\hbox{$\smash{\scriptscriptstyle\cdot}$}}{ + } }}\), with plastosemiquinone cation species. In the experiments presented here we have used ENDOR spectroscopy and D2O/H2O exchange to characterize these paramagnets in more detail. The ENDOR matrix region, which arises from protons which interact weakly with the unpaired electron spin, is well-resolved at 4 K and at least seven resonances are apparent. A number of hyperfine couplings in the 3-8 MHz range are observed and are suggested to arise from methyl or hydroxyl protons which occur as substituents on the plastosemiquinone cation ring or from amino acid protons hydrogen-bonded to the 1,4-hydroxyl groups. Orientation selection experiments are consistent with these possibilities. D2O/H2O exchange shows that the D+/Z+ site is accessible to solvent. However, the exchange occurs slowly and is not complete even after 72 hours which suggests that the free radicals are functionally isolated from solvent water.
Adherence to Clinical Trial Supported Evaluation of Optic Neuritis

ABSTRACTPurpose: The Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial showed that an MRI of the brain is a powerful predictor of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). However, surveys of practitioners suggest that the...
Infrared Nanoantenna-Coupled Rectenna for Energy Harvesting

Energy harvesting from relatively low-temperature heat sources is important in applications where long-term power sources are needed such as deep space radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). Current solutions exhibit low efficiency, require exotic materials and structures, and direct contact to the heat source. While the infrared rectenna is currently low efficiency, the path exists for high-efficiency solid state devices. We have made a scalable design using standard CMOS processes, allowing for large-area fabrication. This would allow devices to be made on the wafer scale using existing fabrication technology. The rectenna has the advantage of using radiated power, thus it does not require direct contact to the hot source, but instead must only view the source. This will simplify packaging requirements and make a more robust system. The devices are monolithic and thus robust to adverse operating environments. Here we will discuss the rectenna's physics of operation, particularly light coupling into the structure. Incoming light is coupled to a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) tunnel diode via a broad-area nanoantenna. The nanoantenna consists of a subwavelength metal patterning that concentrates the light into the tunnel diode where the optical signal is rectified. Both the nanoantenna and tunnel diode are distributed devices utilizing the entire area of the surface. The nanoantenna also serves as one contact of the tunnel diode. This direct integration of the nanoantenna and diode overcomes the resistive loss limitations found in prior IR rectenna concepts that resembled microwave rectenna designs scaled down to infrared sizes. We will show simulation and experimental results of fabricated devices. Simulations of the optical fields in the tunnel gap are illustrative of device operation and will be discussed. The measured infrared photocurrent is compared to simulated expectations. Far-field radiation power conversion is demonstrated using standard radiometric techniques and correlated with the rectified current response. We discuss thermal modelling of the localized heat generation within the rectenna structure to demonstrate the lack of a thermoelectric response. Lastly, we discuss future directions of work to improve power conversion efficiency.
Reducing Hallway Disruptions in Elementary Students Using a Modified Timely Transitions Game

Inappropriate behaviors are common during hallway transitions. Researchers have successfully reduced hallway transition times using the Timely Transitions Game, which involves applying interdepende...
Coded Placement for Systems with Shared Caches

In this work, we consider a cache-aided network where the users share the end-caches. In particular, a user has access to only one of the caches and the number of caches is less than the number of users. We propose a coded placement scheme that exploits the asymmetry in the number of users associated with each cache. Some of the signals sent to the overloaded caches facilitate the decoding of the coded subfiles stored at the underloaded caches. We present an explicit caching scheme and fully characterize the coded placement gain for two-cache systems. Then, we generalize our scheme to larger networks, where the optimal parameters are characterized by solving a linear program. We observe that, with the proposed scheme, as the asymmetry in the users' connectivity increases, the gain from coded placement is more evident.
A Community College HSI: The Effect of an HSI Designation on Organizational Identity.

Objective: Most community colleges receiving the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation have no specific mission to serve Hispanic students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was t...
The effect of environmental enforcement on labor: environmental workers and production workers

This study examines the effects of environmental enforcement on labor employed by regulated facilities. The empirical analysis uses panel data from an original survey of chemical manufacturing facilities regulated under the Clean Water Act. This study contributes to the literature in two ways. First, we distinguish between two types of labor employed by regulated facilities: labor dedicated to regulatory compliance (“environmental labor”) and labor dedicated to production (“production labor”). Second, we estimate the effect of environmental enforcement on production labor. Environmental enforcement seeks to induce compliance with Clean Water Act restrictions, i.e., discharge limits, by prompting greater environmental management. However, environmental labor and production labor play different roles regarding environmental management. Consistent with this difference, our empirical analysis explores the two labor outcomes separately. Our study explores various forms of enforcement, interpreted broadly to include monitoring inspections and enforcement actions, e.g., fines (“government interventions”). In general, our empirical results reveal that government interventions do not affect environmental labor, yet negatively affect production labor.
Correlation effects in the neutral and ionized ground states of acetylene

Correlation energies were calculated by “Effective Pair Correlation Energy” (EPCE) and minimal basis set configuration interaction (CI) methods for pairs of electrons in the occupied molecular orbitals for the (π 4 ) neutral ground state, (π 3 ) ground state of the positive ion, and (π 4 π g ) ground state of the hypothetical negative ion of acetylene. The EPCE values allow detailed breakdown of the ionization potential and electron affinity (for the unstable negative ion). It is seen that the SCF values for the former can be modified by the EPCE values to give estimates close to the experimental quantity. The EPCE values are compared against the pair-wise correlation energies obtained by minimal basis set CI and the percentages of the latter as compared to the former are interpreted by considering the form of the available excited configurations used in constructing the correlated functions. The MBSCI calculation accounts for only 20–30 % of the EPCE correlation energy.
TRAF6-IRF5 kinetics, TRIF, and biophysical factors drive synergistic innate responses to particle-mediated MPLA-CpG co-presentation

Innate immune responses to pathogens are driven by co-presentation of multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). PAMPs and PAMP-analogs are also used as immune-adjuvants to enhance vaccine efficacy by activating various Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs), like Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Various combinations of PAMP adjuvants can trigger synergistic immune responses, but the underlying molecular mechanisms driving that synergy are poorly understood. Here, we used synthetic particulate carriers co-loaded with MPLA (TLR4-adjuvant) and CpG (TLR9-adjuvant) as pathogen-like particles (PLPs) to dissect the signaling pathways responsible for the integrated, dual-adjuvant immune response. PLP-based co-presentation of MPLA and CpG to mouse bone marrow derived antigen-presenting cells (BM-APCs) elicited synergistic Type-I Interferon (IFN-{beta}) and IL-12p70 responses, which were strongly influenced by the biophysical properties of PLPs. Mechanistically, we found that the adapter protein MyD88 and the Interferon-Regulatory-Factor-5 (IRF-5), but not the canonical factors IRF-3 or IRF-7, were necessary for production of both IFN-{beta} and IL12p70. TRIF signaling was required to elicit the synergistic response; the absence of TRIF abolished synergy. Importantly, both the kinetics and magnitude of downstream TRAF6 and IRF5 signaling (TRIF-TRAF-IRF5 pathway kinetics) drove the observed synergy. These results identify not only the key signaling mechanism that cooperates to generate a combinatorial response to MPLA-CpG dual engagement in BM-APCs, but they also underscore the critical role that signaling kinetics and biophysical presentation plays in integrated responses to combination adjuvants.
Overlapping Urological Surgeries at a Tertiary Academic Center.

Objective To evaluate whether the practice of procedure-time overlapping surgery (OS) is associated with inferior outcomes compared to nonoverlapping surgery (NOS) in urology, to address the paucity of data surrounding urologic surgeries to support or refute this practice. Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective review of all urological surgeries at a single tertiary-level academic center, Emory University Hospital, from July 2016 to July 2018. Patients who received OS were matched 1:2 to patients who had NOS. The primary outcomes were perioperative and postoperative complications and mortality. Results We reviewed 8535 urological surgeries. In-room time overlap was seen in 50.5% of cases and procedure-time overlap in 7.4%. Eleven out of the 13 attending urologists performed OS. The average time in the operating room was greater for OS by an average of 14 minutes. The average operative time was greater for OS than NOS by 11 minutes, but this did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference between the cohorts for rate of blood transfusions, ICU stay, need for postoperative invasive procedures, length of postoperative hospital stay, discharge location, Emergency Room visits, hospital readmission rate, 30 and 90-day rates of postoperative complications, and mortality. Conclusion Procedure-time overlapping surgeries constituted a minority of urological cases. OS were associated with greater in-room time. We found no increased risk of perioperative or postoperative adverse outcomes in OS compared to matched NOS.
Harnessing the musician advantage: Short-term musical training affects non-native cue weighting of linguistic pitch:

Lexical tone languages like Mandarin Chinese require listeners to discriminate among different pitch patterns. A syllable spoken with a rising pitch (e.g. bi ‘nose’) carries a different meaning tha...
Revealing teaching conceptions and methods through document elicitation of course syllabi and statements of teaching philosophy

With poor teaching quality being of concern in higher education in engineering, this Full Research Paper seeks to investigate an interview approach that aims to gain insight into an instructor’s teaching methods and conceptions. This interview approach is called document elicitation, a method based on the interviewing approach of photo elicitation. Understanding an instructor’s teaching conceptions and methods is useful in gaining insight into how and why people teach. Using document elicitation during an interview with two documents, 1) course syllabi, and 2) statements of teaching philosophy, this paper reports on the generative descriptions of teaching a syllabi and statements of teaching philosophy offer in a document elicitation setting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve assistant professors of engineering. The analysis focuses on the document elicitation portion of the interviews. Inductive-deductive thematic analysis was used to develop a codebook of teaching conceptions and methods. The paper reports on the teaching conceptions and methods that the participants describe, including active learning techniques, inclusive practices, and challenges. This paper may particularly interest people who conduct interviews for research and/or hiring purposes. Document elicitation as part of a hiring interview seems promising as a way to learn about a candidate’s teaching conceptions and methods.
Investment Analysis and Strategy for COVID-19

In this paper, we discusses the investment analysis and strategies of recommended industries during the COVID-19 outbreak period. We mainly focus on three markets: Health care industry, Luxury good industry and one of the most important investment instruments: silver and copper ratio. Firstly, the paper talks about the reasons for choosing the markets. Through the industry and company analysis in these three markets and according to their performance and stock price changes in this special period, the paper propose several investment strategies and suggestions.This study provides meaningful guidance and new insights for investors to manage money during COVID-19.
Engineering Technologies Overview for NASA Space Exploration

Contents include the following: 1. Swift Mission - Launched November 20,2004 2. James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - A future 2011 mission. 3. NASA Engineering Technologies. 4. Conclusion. 5. Q and A.
Formal Methods in the Wild: Trains, Planes, & Automobile

Why is it that carefully researched and well-formulated theoretical and methodological constructs don’t make their way into industrial applications? This keynote speech takes a look at my personal experiences in both the aviation and automotive fields to suggest what can be done about it. I will first try to explain why engineers (and even industry scientists) tend not to use the kind of methods and tools that emerge from academic settings while working on actual products, and then show some of the consequences of not using such methods. I will end with a few vignettes from my own trials and tribulations in applying formal methods in engineering design processes as well as some of the future prospects, for both academia and industry, as human-automation systems become more demanding and complex.
Laparoscopic hand-assisted versus robotic-assisted laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: experience of 103 consecutive cases

Abstract Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become a stand-alone procedure in the treatment of morbid obesity. There are very few reports on the use of robotic approach in sleeve gastrectomy. Objectives The purpose of this retrospective study is to report our early experience of robotic-assisted laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (RALSG) using a proctored training model with comparison to an institutional cohort of patients who underwent laparoscopic hand-assisted sleeve gastrectomy (LASG). Settings University hospital. Methods The study included 108 patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy either via the laparoscopic-assisted or robot-assisted approach during the study period. Of these 108 patients, 62 underwent LASG and 46 underwent RALSG. The console surgeon in the RALSG is a clinical year 4 (CY4) surgery resident. All CY4 surgery residents received targeted simulation training before their rotation. The console surgeon is proctored by the primary surgeon with assistance as needed by the second surgeon. Results The patients in the robotic and laparoscopic cohorts did not have a statistical difference in their demographic characteristics, preoperative co-morbidities, or complications. The mean operating time did not differ significantly between the 2 cohorts (121 min versus 110 min, P = .07). Patient follow-up in the LSG and RALSG were 91% and 90% at 3 months, 62% and 64% at 6 months, and 60% and 55% at 1 year, respectively. The mean percentage estimated weight loss (EWL%) at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year was greater in the robotic group but not statistically significant (27 versus 22 at 3 mo [P = .05] and 39 versus 34 at 6 mo [P = .025], 57 versus 48 at 1 yr [P = .09]). There was no mortality in either group. Conclusion Early results of our experience with RALSG indicate low perioperative complication rates and comparable weight loss with LASG. The concept of a stepwise education model needs further validation with larger studies.
Leary site revisited: Oneota and Central Plains tradition occupation along the lower Missouri

Archaeologists of the central Plains and prairie peninsula have known ofthe Leary site (25RH1) in extreme southeastern Nebraska for more than 85 years. Early archaeological visitors to the site con cluded that its remains were distinctly different than those from more common Central Plains tradition sites in the region. Instead, the Leary ceramics compare favorably with those from Oneota sites typically found to the east. The apparent anomalous position of this Oneota settlement in the central Plains indi cates trans-Missouri movement of Oneota peoples into the eastern Plains. Leary is significant for the clues it holds regarding overall Oneota expansion during the Late Prehistoric period, as well as possible cultural interaction with Plains populations. The latter is especially relevant due to the fact that archaeo logical remains of the Central Plains tradition are also present at the Leary site. Analysis of curated assemblages collected during 1935 and 1965 suggests multiple Central Plains tradition occupations bracketing or overlapping those associated with the Oneota tradition. This and other finds at the Leary site raise interesting research questions to be addressed through future archaeological studies.
Interpreting the ι(1440)

Abstract Using very general quark model properties, we show that the newly discovered pseudoscalar, ι(1440), does not appear to be a radial excitation of the η and η′. The most likely interpretation is that ι(1440) is a glueball.
Hepatitis Delta Virus RNA Editing

The genome of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is the smallest known to infect man. Encoding just one protein, hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg), HDV relies heavily on host functions and on structural features of the viral RNA. A good example of this reliance is found in the process known as HDV RNA editing, which requires particular structural features in the HDV antigenome, and a host RNA editing enzyme, ADARl. During replication, the adenos-ine in the amber stop codon in the viral gene for the short form of HDAg (HDAg-S) is edited to inosine. As a result, the amber stop codon in the HDAg-S open reading frame is changed to a tryptophan codon; the reading frame is thus extended by 19 or 20 codons and the longer form of HDAg, HDAg-L, is produced. This change serves a critical purpose in the HDV replication cycle because HDAg-S supports viral RNA replication, while HDAg-L is required for virion packaging but inhibits viral RNA replication. This review will cover the mechanisms of RNA editing in the HDV replication cycle and the regulatory mechanisms by which HDV controls editing.
Training people to live healthier lives and teach others to do the same

Diabetes education is the cornerstone of effective self-care. People with diabetes must understand the physiology of their disease, as well as the interrelated components of self-management in order to achieve optimum control and reduce the risk of acute and chronic complications. Unfortunately, health workers often do not have the time nor the training to provide diabetes education in a format that is accessible to all — including the elderly and those with limited literacy. Poor patient education has contributed to making diabetes the leading cause of death in Mexico. In response, Project HOPE (an international organisation specialising in health education) developed a 24-hour course in a game-based, interactive format for people diagnosed with diabetes and for those at risk. Grounded in the philosophy of empowerment, the ‘5 Steps to Self-Care’ course is imparted over 12 weeks, with weekly homework assignments that reinforce learning as participants share what they learn about diabetes with family and friends. With promising quantitative (A1c) and qualitative (‘well-being’) indicators, the ‘5 Steps’ course has been transferred via a ‘training of trainers’ model to multidisciplinary teams of health workers in 16 primary care clinics and three community groups serving a region of two million inhabitants outside Mexico City. In addition, the project has spurred a grass-roots ‘peer education’ initiative, with course graduates serving as role models and educating others in how to prevent, detect and better manage diabetes at the community level. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons.
Balance of drag between the middle and lower atmospheres in a global atmospheric forecast model

[1] A global atmospheric forecast model that includes the middle atmosphere is used to investigate systematic model biases. As in many other global atmospheric models, Northern Hemispheric winter simulations from the vertically extended Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System reveal an unrealistic vertical tilt of the polar-night jet associated with a temperature bias in the northern polar middle atmosphere. This bias has important implication for satellite data assimilation in that inaccurate model background field associated with the bias can cause a data assimilation system to reject useful observation data. Efforts are made to alleviate this bias using improved radiation and orographic gravity wave drag parameterizations, the latter of which can provide adequate amount of drag to greatly reduce the bias, but at the cost of overestimated surface polar pressure. To understand and fix this secondary bias, this study addresses the cause and effect of the bias in terms of the balance of model drag mechanisms between the middle and lower atmospheres as well as within the lower atmosphere. Disruption of these balances in the model is argued to lead to degradation of surface simulation by reasonable middle atmospheric gravity wave drag despite an improvement in the middle atmospheric circulation. An experimental treatment of limiting the parameterized gravity wave drag to the middle atmosphere, as similarly done with a spectral gravity wave drag parameterization, is shown to largely alleviate the bias. This study discusses results from a series of winter and multiyear simulations, schematically illustrates the drag balance in the model, and investigates conservation of atmospheric angular momentum.
Load Balancing on the Internet

This chapter gives a survey of state-of-the-art load-balancing strategies on the Internet. Internet services must be scalable, available, and responsive to handle large traffic volumes and support up to millions of concurrent clients. This scalability requirement goes beyond the capability of any single machine servers. Cluster server architecture is gaining momentum in support of scalable Internet services. The servers in a cluster can be either distributed locally at the same site or globally distributed in different geographical locations. Load balancing is a key integration technology at both layers for performance. This chapter presents a characterization of Web services and gives a classification of load balancing strategies according to their deployment locations (server, network, and client sides), information taken into account (state-blind, client-state aware, and server-state aware), and implementation levels (network and application layers). Representative load balancing strategies in each category are reviewed. Keywords: client load balancing; cluster server architecture; load-balancing strategies; scalability; virtual IP; web services
Structure and Magnetism of Dibridged Vanadium(IV) Hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate Dimers

The synthesis and characterization of four dinuclear V(IV) complexes are described: 1, [LVO(μ-(Ph)2PO2)LVO]; 2, [LVO(μ-(Ph)HPO2)2LVO]; 3, [LVO(μ-OH)2LVO]; and 4, [LVO(μ-OH)(μ-OAc)LVO] (where L = h...
Open anterior acromioplasty

Abstract Anterior acromioplasty is known to be an effective surgical treatment for subacromial impingement syndrome in those patients who do not respond to nonoperative treatment. The operative procedure, consisting of enlarging the supraspinatus “outlet” through which the musculotendinous cuff must pass, has a proven track record and has a high degree of success in relieving pain, improving function, and restoring the patient to preoperative level of activity.In those patients undergoing open anterior acromioplasty, the goals of surgery continue to be preservation of deltoid origin, adequate exposure so that satisfactory decompression can be performed, and adequate access to the rotator cuff so that associated pathology can be identified and corrected.
Role of guidance, reflection, and interactivity in an agent-based multimedia game

The authors investigated whether guidance and reflection would facilitate science learning in an interactive multimedia game. College students learned how to design plants to survive in different weather conditions. In Experiment 1, they learned with an agent that either guided them with corrective and explanatory feedback or corrective feedback alone. Some students were asked to reflect by giving explanations about their problem-solving answers. Guidance in the form of explanatory feedback produced higher transfer scores, fewer incorrect answers, and greater reduction of misconceptions during problem solving. Reflection in the form of having students give explanations for their answers did not affect learning. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that reflection promotes retention and far transfer in noninteractive environments but not in interactive ones unless students are asked to reflect on correct program solutions rather than on their own solutions. Results support the appropriate use of guidance and reflection for interactive multimedia games.
Warning signal termination does not function as a feedback signal

Shuttle avoidance acquisition is most rapid when both warning signal termination (WST) and a feedback signal (FS) are made response contingent. A parsimonious interpretation, framed within attention theory, is that the presence of both response-contingent events increases the probability that the subject will attend to a reliable predictor of safety. This explanation was tested by eliminating WST and replacing it with either of two redundant FSs. Although these two experimental groups also contained two predictive events, this situation produced no facilitation over acquisition with a single FS. The combination of WST and an FS initially produced superior responding, but, as expected, the differences are attenuated later in training. These results were interpreted as indicating that WST and an FS serve different reinforcing functions.
Photodynamic therapy with cationic photosensitizers

We characterized sites of photodamage catalyzed by two cationic photosensitizers tetrabromo- rhodamine 123 (TBR), which is recognized by the multidrug transporter, and a monocationic porphyrin (MCP), which is not. The transporter is an outward transport system associated with examples of drug resistance. Irradiation of multidrug-resistant cells treated with TBR resulted in highly selective photodamage to the transporter site, while MCP catalyzed non- specific membrane damage to cells regardless of transporter expression.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A laboratory study of affectivity in schizotypy: Subjective and lexical analysis

Affective dysfunction is a defining schizotypy feature; yet the majority of studies examining affective dysfunction have largely relied on self-report of trait affect, which reflects only one dimension of emotional experience. Emerging research has explored a second dimension, state affect, using laboratory manipulation, with most finding that schizotypal participants report experiencing less positive/more negative affect than controls. This study expands upon this topic by examining patterns of state affect in psychometrically identified schizotypy through self-report and lexical expression in reaction to emotionally valenced photos. Overall, the schizotypy group reported less positive/more negative affect across affect induction conditions. Both schizotypy and control groups' affect ratings were similar following the unpleasant stimuli; but the schizotypy group's ratings remained significantly less positive/more negative than the control group following the pleasant stimuli. This pattern suggests that the schizotypy group experienced a deficit in emotional reactivity compared to controls in pleasant situations. The schizotypy group also used a higher percentage of negative words and a lower percentage of positive words in vocalized reactions during the pleasant, but not unpleasant, affect induction condition. These results reveal a specific pattern of "in-the-moment" affective dysfunction unique to pleasant situations that is consistent across both subjective experience and lexical expression.
Deposition of Liver Glycogen in Normal Mice and in Mice Bearing Sarcoma 180.

ConclusionMale mice bearing sarcoma 180 implants exhibit an impairment in their ability to store liver glycogen after glucose administration. This is similar to the defect in patient with gastric cancer.
Effects of timolol and propranolol on inducible sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in dogs with subacute myocardial infarction

Timolol and propranolol reduce the incidence of cardiac death after myocardial infarction (MI). To explore possible mechanisms of this reduction in mortality, the antiarrhythmic effects of these 2 beta blockers were compared in a dog model of inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation (VF) 4 to 6 days after experimental closed-chest MI. Dogs with inducible VT or VF underwent drug studies with timolol and propranolol; the sequence of drug administration was randomized. Timolol doses were 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mg/kg; propranolol doses were 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg. Timolol and propranolol were equally effective in abolishing inducible VT or VF: 77% of instances of inducible VT or VF responded to 1 or both beta blockers. The VF threshold was significantly elevated by both timolol and propranolol; the elevation in the VF threshold was significantly greater in "responders," i.e., dogs in whom VT was prevented by beta blockade (15 +/- 9 vs 8 +/- 9 mA, p less than 0.05). The ventricular effective refractory period was prolonged by both drugs; again, more so in the responders than in the nonresponders (16 +/- 9 vs 8 +/- 14 mA, p less than 0.05). The QTc interval was not significantly affected by either beta blocker. Among the responders, no difference was detected between timolol and propranolol in the extent to which the effective refractory period was prolonged or the VF threshold elevated. However, the highest dose of propranolol decreased the mean blood pressure significantly more than the comparable dose of timolol. In conclusion, timolol and propranolol are equally effective in abolishing inducible VT or VF in the dog after subacute MI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Perturbation of Degeneracy of the Cope Rearrangement by the Crystal Lattice of the β-Form of 1,5-Dimethylsemibullvalene-2,6-dicarbonitrile As Studied by Variable-Temperature Solid-State Carbon-13 Spectroscopy and X-ray Crystallography at Cryogenic Temperatures

X-ray crystallographic structures of two polymorphs (α- and β-forms) of 1,5-dimethylsemibullvalene-2,6-dicarbonitrile, in which the molecules undergo rapid, nondegenerate Cope rearrangement, have been obtained over the temperature range 20−295 K. CP-MAS carbon-13 NMR spectra of the β-form have been observed over the temperature range 140−340 K. A generalized treatment for the perturbation of degeneracy has been developed and it is shown that the results of the X-ray and NMR methods are in excellent agreement. The thermodynamic parameters, ΔHP and ΔSP, for the perturbation of degeneracy in the β-form are reported. A possible explanation for the difference in the magnitudes of the perturbation of degeneracy in the two crystalline forms is suggested. It is noted that for equilibrating systems, for which the barriers for interconversion are of the order of 1−10 kJ mol-1, the transition between rapid and extremely slow equilibration occurs over a very narrow range at cryogenic temperatures, thus precluding dir...
Smart scanning and near real-time 3D surface modeling of dynamic construction equipment from a point cloud

Abstract This paper introduces a framework of automatic object recognition and rapid surface modeling to aid the heavy equipment operation in rapidly perceiving 3D working environment at dynamic construction sites. A custom-designed data acquisition system was employed in this study to rapidly recognize the selected target objects in a 3D space by dynamically separating target object’s point cloud data from a background scene for a quick computing process. A smart scanning method was also applied to only update the target object’s point cloud data while keeping the previously scanned static work environments. Then the target’s point cloud data were rapidly converted into a 3D surface model using the concave hull surface modeling algorithm after a process of data filtering and downsizing to increase the model accuracy and data processing speed. The performance of the proposed framework was tested with two different heavy equipment types at a steel frame building construction site. The generated surface model and the point cloud of static surroundings were wirelessly presented to a remote operator. The field test results show that the proposed rapid target surface modeling method would significantly improve productivity and safety in heavy construction equipment operations by distinguishing a dynamic target object from a surrounding static environment in 3D views in near real time.
The clinical utility of flow cytometry in the histocompatibility laboratory

Abstract Flow cytometry crossmatching has become a routine part of many HLA laboratories, and applications for flow in HLA continue to increase. The flow cytometric crossmatch has established itself as an efficient and cost effective crossmatch method that has clear clinical implications for many patients. Using transplant outcome as our barometer, many laboratories have reported improved graft survival using flow cytometry. However, modifications to the methodology in the areas of quantification and specificity are needed before flow cytometry can completely replace cytotoxicity. The use of flow cytometry will continue to grow as more laboratories use it as their primary crossmatch methodology. Coincident with this will be growth in the area of antibody screening by flow cytometry. However, both of these two areas will require assistance from manufacturers in the form of standardized reagents and better automation and supportive software. Newer applications for flow cytometry make use of the ability to detect single HLA antigens either in disease states or for engraftment testing. These newer applications can also increase the utility of the flow cytometer in the clinical HLA laboratory. Last, the combination of molecular techniques (PCR or FISH) and flow cytometry may prove to be the most useful tool for documenting early bone marrow engraftment, rejection, disease relapse or documenting chimerism following transplant.
Reliability of sexual behavior self‐reports in male couples of discordant HIV status

Seventy‐five male couples, where one member was HIV‐positive and his partner was HIV‐negative, were assessed concerning anal sexual‐risk behavior. Subsequently, the reliability of their self‐reports was determined by two methods: (a) by comparing the separate reports of each member of the couple and (b) by a one week test‐retest of 27 individuals. Both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods were used. Approximately half of the men had practiced anal sex with their serodiscordant partners during the year prior to the interview, and between half and one quarter of those men reported not using protection consistently. After careful analyses of the discrepancies found in the self‐report of the members of some couples, it was established that, for the most part, primary partners confirmed the report of index respondents concerning their sexual behavior with each other. The most frequent reasons for interpartner discrepancies were poor recall of isolated incidents, inaccuracy in limiting responses to t...
Design of an active suspension to suppress the horizontal vibrations of a spray boom

Abstract Spray-boom vibrations are one of the main causes of a non-homogeneous distribution of agro-chemicals. Yawing and jolting motions of the boom are most critical. A horizontal active suspension, reducing yawing and jolting is designed. The use of special and consequently expensive equipment hampers the breakthrough of active suspensions. Therefore the proposed active suspension is built from standard hydraulic equipment, suited for mobile applications. Coulomb friction and asymmetric behaviour introduces considerable non-linearities, complicating the derivation of a linear model and controller design. It is explained how to identify a model, approximating in the best-possible way the general linear behaviour of the system. By the H ∞ methodology and an iterative procedure, introduced in this paper, non-linearities are taken into account in the controller design without increasing the controller dimensions. The resulting controller is stable and shows good performance.
Research on Web-Based Virtual Grinding Machine Tool

With the development of Virtual Manufacturing (VM), Virtual Machine Tool (VMT) is presented as a new field of study, which can partially or completely achieve the main functions of the machine tool. As a result, it can improve the product design quality, short the product development cycles, and reduce the development costs. This paper presents a web-based virtual grinding machine tool system. Using the Internet 3D modeling language VRML 2.0, 3D graphic modeling of the machine tool is modeled. Combined with JavaScript language, the motion simulation, virtual assembly and machining process simulation are carried out. The system is based on VRML and B/S structure. Users only need to install a free plug-in, and operate the system with IE browser. Compared with the expensive CAD/CAM software, the system can be transferred on the Internet conveniently, and has free installation, low cost, portability and low requirements for the users.
Graph invariants for periodic systems: towards predicting physical properties from the hydrogen bond topology of ice.

Ice-Ih consists of a disordered hydrogen-bonded network. The degree of disorder in ice-Ih, and possible phase transitions to an ordered phase have been debated in recent years. The dependence of energy, free energy, and other scalar physical properties on H-bond topology is needed to understand these phenomena. Graph invariants provide a means of linking physical properties to the topology of the H-bond network. We have previously shown the effectiveness of graph invariants for finite water clusters [J.-L. Kuo, J. V. Coe, S. J. Singer, Y. B. Band, and L. Ojamae, J. Chem. Phys., 114, 2527 (2001)]. In this work, we develop a formalism for the graph invariants of periodic systems. We demonstrate that graph invariants for small unit cells are a subset of the graph invariants of larger unit cells, providing a hierarchy of approximations by which detailed calculations for small unit cells, such as periodic ab initio calculations as they become available, can be used to parametrize the energy of the astronomical number of H-bond arrangements present in large unit cells. We also present graph enumeration results for ice-Ih, analyzing conflicting results that have appeared previously in the literature and furnishing information on the statistical properties of the H-bond network of ice-Ih in the large system limit.
Merging regular and special education teacher preparation programs: The integrated special education-english project (ISEP)

Abstract The Integrated Special Education-English Project (ISEP) was designed to facilitate the gradual integration of special education and English teacher preparation programs. In the ISEP, special education and English faculty cooperatively teach methods courses that prepare student teachers to implement English instruction with handicapped and nonhandicapped students. A description of the ISEP model is included and a case study is used to illustrate its implementation. Results from the case study indicate that the student teachers who participated in the ISEP improved their special education and English teaching skills. Participating faculty reacted positively to the cooperative processes inherent in the ISEP. Education departments benefit from the ISEP, as well as the handicapped and nonhandicapped students who are the recipients of the integrated English instruction. The ISEP is a helpful tool in assisting academic departments in the gradual merging of regular and special education teacher preparation programs.
Enteral Feeding during Indomethacin and Ibuprofen Treatment of a Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Objective To test the hypothesis that infants who are just being introduced to enteral feedings will advance to full enteral nutrition at a faster rate if they receive "trophic" (15 mL/kg/d) enteral feedings while receiving indomethacin or ibuprofen treatment for patent ductus arteriosus. Study design Infants were eligible for the study if they were 23 1/7 -30 6/7 weeks' gestation, weighed 401-1250 g at birth, received maximum enteral volumes ≤60 mL/kg/d, and were about to be treated with indomethacin or ibuprofen. A standardized "feeding advance regimen" and guidelines for managing feeding intolerance were followed at each site (N = 13). Results Infants (N = 177, 26.3 ± 1.9 weeks' mean ± SD gestation) were randomized at 6.5 ± 3.9 days to receive "trophic" feeds ("feeding" group, n=81: indomethacin 80%, ibuprofen 20%) or no feeds ("fasting [ nil per os ]" group, n=96: indomethacin 75%, ibuprofen 25%) during the drug administration period. Maximum daily enteral volumes before study entry were 14 ± 15 mL/kg/d. After drug treatment, infants randomized to the "feeding" arm required fewer days to reach the study's feeding volume end point (120 mL/kg/d). Although the enteral feeding end point was reached at an earlier postnatal age, the age at which central venous lines were removed did not differ between the 2 groups. There were no differences between the 2 groups in the incidence of infection, necrotizing enterocolitis, spontaneous intestinal perforation, or other neonatal morbidities. Conclusion Infants required less time to reach the feeding volume end point if they were given "trophic" enteral feedings when they received indomethacin or ibuprofen treatments.
The heterogeneity of serum amino acid naphthylamidase in liver metastases.

Abstract Using acrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephadex chromatography, multimolecular forms of amino acid naphthylamidase were clearly demonstrated in sera from patients with liver metastases. The molecular weights of these new forms of the enzyme appear to be somewhat greater than that of the component present in normal serum.
O VI and Multicomponent H I Absorption Associated with a Galaxy Group in the Direction of PG 0953+415: Physical Conditions and Baryonic Content

We report the discovery of an O VI absorption system at zabs = 0.14232 in a high-resolution FUV spectrum of PG 0953+415 obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). Both lines of the O VI ??1032, 1038 doublet and multicomponent H I Ly? absorption are detected, but the N V doublet and the strong lines of C II and Si III are not apparent. We examine the ionization mechanism of the O VI absorber and find that while theoretical considerations favor collisional ionization, it is difficult to observationally rule out photoionization. If the absorber is collisionally ionized, it may not be in equilibrium due to the rapid cooling of gas in the appropriate temperature range. Nonequilibrium collisionally ionized models are shown to be consistent with the observations. A WIYN survey of galaxy redshifts near the sight line has revealed a galaxy at a projected distance of 395 kpc separated by ~130 km s-1 from this absorber, and three additional galaxies are found within 130 km s-1 of this redshift with projected separations ranging from 1.0 Mpc to 3.0 Mpc. All of these galaxies are luminous (0.6-4.0 L*), and two of them show the [O II] ?3727 emission line indicative of active star formation. The galaxies with [O II] emission are probably normal spirals. Combining the STIS observations of PG 0953+415 with previous high signal-to-noise observations of H1821+643 with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS), we find two O VI systems with Wr > 60 m? and z 50 m? is 102 ? 16. We use this sample to obtain a first estimate of the cosmological mass density of the O VI systems at z ? 0. If further observations confirm the large dN/dz derived for the O VI systems, then these absorbers trace a significant reservoir of baryonic matter at low redshift.
Environmental Effects on Nitrogen Dynamics in Soybean under Conservation and Clean Tillage Systems

(…) Soybean growth and N uptake characteristics were similar in both tillage systems, except during a 14-d drought period, which caused water stress in the CT system, but not the NT system. Nitrogen fixation decreased in the CT system to less than half that of the NT system fixation rate, resulting in a seasonal reduction of 29% in the CT system (…)
Reliability and Validity of Abbreviated Surveys Derived from the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire: The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

Purpose To test the reliability and validity of questionnaires shortened from the National Eye Institute 25-item Vision Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25). Design Cross-sectional, multicenter cohort study. Methods Reliability was assessed by Cronbach α coefficients. Validity was evaluated by studying the association of vision-targeted quality-of-life composite scores with objective visual function measurements. A total of 5482 women between the ages of 65 and 100 years participated in the year-10 clinic visit in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF). A total of 3631 women with complete data were included in the visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) analyses of the 9-item NEI VFQ (NEI VFQ-9), which is defined for those who care to drive, and a total of 5311 women with complete data were included in the VA and VF in the analyses of the 8-item NEI VFQ (NEI VFQ-8). To assess differences in prevalent eye diseases, which were ascertained for a random sample of SOF participants, 853 and 1237 women were included in the NEI VFQ-9 and the NEI VFQ-8 analyses, respectively. Results The Cronbach α coefficient for the NEI VFQ-9 scale was 0.83, and that of the NEI VFQ-8 was 0.84. Using both questionnaires, women with VA worse than 20/40 had lower composite scores compared with those with VA of 20/40 or better (P Conclusions Both questionnaires showed high reliability across items and validity with respect to clinical markers of eye disease. Future research should compare the properties of these shortened surveys with those of the NEI VFQ-25.