cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation and graphical interface for programming and visualization of sensor-based robot operation

The authors describe a simulation environment which can be of utility in the design, development, and operation of sensor-driven robotic systems. This environment incorporates the ability to simulate sensory inputs and their effects on the planning and control functions. A detailed design of the simulator is presented. The simulator is integrated within an entire robotic system, and is utilized for automatic robot programming. Alternatively, the simulated system operation flow can be controlled through either a teach mode or a program mode. Five sensing modalities can be simulated: proximity, point laser range, ultrasonic range, laser range depth imagery, and edge-based intensity imagery. The simulation and animation of a particular robot is described. The unique features of the simulator are that it simulates and utilizes sensory information feedback, it integrates planning and simulation, and it makes the switching between real and simulation mode in the robotic system transparent to the user. >
Suitability of the Iliac Crest as a Site for Harvest of Autogenous Bone Grafts

Abstract Many donor sites have been advocated for obtaining cancellous bone to be used for grafting alveolar defects. Recently, some authors have suggested that the iliac crest site produced an unacceptably high degree of postoperative morbidity. Because of this morbidity, the use of other donor areas, e.g., rib, cranium, and mandible, are advocated. The iliac crest donor site for alveolar bone grafting has been common practice in our institution for years under the assumption that little or no postoperative morbidity occurred. To investigate and document the accuracy of our assumption, the charts of the most recent 50 consecutive patients receiving alveolar bone grafts, all of which used the iliac crest as a donor site, were reviewed. Postoperative pain, numbness, infection, paralysis, or long-term disability were catalogued from the charts. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to the parents and patients requesting their perceptions of these parameters. In the cases reviewed, the average length of skin...
A peptide sequence confers retention and rapid degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum

A nonlysosomal pathway exists for the degradation of newly synthesized proteins retained within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This pathway is extremely selective: whereas some proteins are rapidly degraded, others survive for long periods in the ER. The question of whether this selectivity is due to the presence within the sensitive proteins of definable peptide sequences that are sufficient to target them for degradation has been addressed. Deletion of a carboxyl-terminal sequence, comprising the transmembrane domain and short cytoplasmic tail of the alpha chain of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR-alpha), prevented the rapid degradation of this polypeptide. Fusion of this carboxyl-terminal sequence to the extracellular domain of the Tac antigen, a protein that is normally transported to the cell surface where it survives long-term, resulted in the retention and rapid degradation of the chimeric protein in the ER. Additional mutagenesis revealed that the transmembrane domain of TCR-alpha alone was sufficient to cause degradation within the ER. This degradation was not a direct consequence of retention in the ER, as blocking transport of newly synthesized proteins out of the ER with brefeldin A did not lead to degradation of the normal Tac antigen. It is proposed that a 23-amino acid sequence, comprising the transmembrane domain of TCR-alpha, contains information that determines targeting for degradation within the ER system.
American Association for Health Education (AAHE) 2011 Membership Survey: Summary of Findings

The American Association for Health Education (AAHE), a national health education organization with the mission of advancing the profession of health education, launched the 2011 AAHE membership survey between October 13, 2011 and November 1, 2011, under the leadership of the AAHE Board of Directors and AAHE Staff. The primary objective of the survey was to provide insight into the perspectives of AAHE members on several important issues facing the organization including: AAHE exiting its parent organization, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), and the proposed "modified" merger with the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), another national health education organization. A total of 240 AAHE members completed the survey. A majority of respondents were university faculty members in health education, and results provide keen insight into AAHE members' perspectives on the AAHE-SOPHE modified merger.
MILLING PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION THROUGH A DISCRETE VARIABLE TRANSFORMATION

Abstract Although milling is one of the most common chip metal removal processes, little has been done to aid in identifying the optimum operational conditions for milling processes. In this paper, a mathematical model for milling operations is developed and the five primary control variables identified. The model is then decomposed and an efficient optimization procedure developed for control variable identification.
Quantitative Analysis of Asbestos Minerals by the Reference Intensity X-Ray Diffraction Procedure

X-ray diffraction analysis of asbestos-bearing materials has been completed using reference intensity ratios. The procedure includes a sample preparation method for suspension of a finely pulverized material and for deorienting the particles on a glass fiber filter. Diffraction intensifies are corrected for matrix and transparency. Reference intensity ratios have been determined in this study for chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and tremolite. Multicomponent analyses of prepared samples demonstrate that the lower limit of detection for most asbestos minerals falls in the range of 0.5% to 2% by weight of the sample. Analytical accuracy is verified in large measure by comparing calculated and observed mass absorption coefficients.
Renaturation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides after denaturation in 4 M guanidine hydrochloride: kinetics of aggregation and reactivation

In 4 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), the dimeric enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides (G6PD) dissociated to subunits and was extensively unfolded. Rapid dilution of this high GdnHCl concentration allowed G6PD to partially renature, as measured by enzyme reactivation, to a level which depended on the conditions employed. The fraction of the enzyme which did not renature aggregated and precipitated out of solution, a process which could not be substantially prevented by stabilizing additives. Based on the enzyme concentration dependence of the reactivation yield and on a comparison of the aggregation and reactivation rates, it was determined that aggregation and reactivation compete kinetically for a partially-folded intermediate only very early in the process, during the rapid GdnHCl-dilution step. The kinetics of G6PD reactivation were sigmoidal, indicating that this process involves more than one rate-limiting reaction. The kinetics depended on enzyme concentration in a higher than first-order manner, indicating that association of subunits is one of the rate-limiting reactions. A renaturation mechanism compatible with these observations is described, which involves a bi-unimolecular (subunit association-folding) reaction sequence, with rate constants equal to 2.19 microM-1 min-1 and 0.140 min-1, respectively. This mechanism involves an inactive, dimeric, G6PD-folding intermediate, a species whose existence has recently been established by equilibrium denaturation experiments (Plomer, J.J. and Gafni, A. (1992) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1122, 234-242).
Psychosocial stress increases inflammatory markers and alters cytokine production across pregnancy

Previous work has shown that psychosocial stress is related to increases in serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines late in pregnancy, and a growing body of research suggests that increased inflammatory activity during pregnancy, generally, may have a negative impact on outcome. The present study further addressed these issues by assessing relationships between psychosocial stress, social support and serum cytokines in early, mid, and late pregnancy, and the effects of stress and social support on the production of cytokines by stimulated lymphocytes in late pregnancy. In addition, we examined relationships between stress, support, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) during pregnancy. Elevated stress was not only related to higher serum IL-6 late in pregnancy as in our prior work, but this relationship was also evident during early pregnancy and elevated stress was also associated with lower IL-10 in early pregnancy. No relationships between stress and cytokines were apparent during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Elevated stress during the 2nd trimesters and low social support during the 3rd trimester were related to increased serum levels of CRP, further suggesting that psychosocial factors can contribute increased inflammation during pregnancy. Importantly, elevated stress levels across pregnancy were predictive of elevated production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1B and IL-6 by stimulated lymphocytes in the 3rd trimester, suggesting that stress during pregnancy affects the function of immune system cells. These findings further support the notion that prenatal stress alters maternal physiology and immune function in a manner consistent with increased risk of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and premature labor.
Scattering of electromagnetic waves from a half space of densely distributed dielectric scatterers

The scattering of a plane wave obliquely incident on a half space of densely distributed spherical dielectric scatterers is studied. The quasi-crystalline approximation is applied to truncate the hierarchy of multiple scattering equations, and the Percus-Yevick and the Verlet-Weis results are used to represent the pair distribution function. The coherent reflected wave is studied with these approximations. The incoherent scattered wave is calculated with the distorted Born approximation. In the low-frequency limit, closed-form expressions are obtained for the effective propagation constants, the coherent reflected wave, and the bistatic scattering coeficients. Results at higher frequencies are calculated numerically. The advantage of the present approach is that, in the low-frequency limit, it reproduces the effects of specular reflection, Fresnel reflection coefficient, Brewster angle, and Clausius-Mosotti relation. In addition to the classical results, the bistatic scattering coefficients are also calculated. The theory is also applied to match backscattering data from dry snow at microwave frequencies.
Expression of PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) is regulated by cell cycle-specific transcription factors E2F and CREB/ATF

Earlier we reported that a novel mitotic protein kinase, PDZ-binding kinase (PBK), is expressed in primary hematopoietic neoplasms. Recent reports have suggested a role for PBK in mitotic progression. In the present study, we demonstrate that PBK is down regulated during doxorubicin induced growth arrest of HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells at least partly due to cell cycle-specific transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, we show that transcriptional control is mostly due to binding of transcription factors E2F and CREB/ATF to two distinct binding sites within the PBK promoter. This was demonstrated by: (i) electrophoretic mobility shift assays showing transcription factor binding within the PBK promoter at the putative E2F (-146bp) and CREB/ATF (-312bp) binding sites; (ii) Western immunoblot analysis of knockdown extracts from siRNA inhibition of transcription factor expression showing that PBK protein expression is dependent upon the presence of these transcription factors; (iii) codistribution of CREB factor and PBK in cell lines of disparate tissue origin; and (iv) luciferase reporter assays showing that PBK promoter activity is dependent on factor binding at intact E2F and CREB/ATF sites. These findings may provide insight into the mechanisms that upregulate PBK expression in proliferative hematologic malignancies and down regulate its expression following growth arrest of leukemic cells.
Applying high-level language paradigms to distributed systems

We demonstrate the benefits of applying high-level language paradigms to the design and implementation of communications software for distributed systems. We focus on a set of language mechanisms including modularity and first class functions. We discuss three case studies: a remote procedure call system, a distributed Linda system, and a protocol processing system. The qualitative and quantitative benefits of such a structured use of high-level language mechanisms are analyzed and applied as the basis of a programming methodology for distributed systems,
FLOATATION OF FRESH WATER ON SEA WATER, A HISTORICAL NOTE

Abstract. W. Badon Ghyben and A. Herzberg are commonly credited with the first scientific description of fresh ground water floating on deeper saline water along coastal areas of the world. As C. W. Carlston has pointed out, J. DuCommun should receive the credit for the first quantitative statement of the “Ghyben-Herzberg principle,” DuCommun's work having antedated publications by both Badon Ghyben and Herzberg by more than 60 years. Moreover, two well-known scholars, Pliny the Elder and Charles Darwin also wrote on the topic long before Badon Ghyben and Herzberg.
Rhizobium attachment to clover roots.

SUMMARY The adhesion of rhizobia to surfaces of clover roots was examined by an indirect plate-counting assay and phase-contrast microscopy. The number of Rhizobium trifolii cells attached to clover root segments increased in approximately linear fashion during the first hour of incubation, but did not change appreciably thereafter. The addition of 30 mm-2-deoxy-d-glucose, which effectively inhibits binding of clover root lectin, did not promote the release of previously attached bacteria nor inhibit subsequent attachment to either root segments or root hairs. Rhizobia of several heterologous species attached to clover roots in numbers comparable to those of strains of R. trifolii , the homologous species. These results indicate that rhizobia have effective mechanisms of adhesion to non-host roots and that clover lectin contributed little or nothing to attachment under the conditions examined.
The impact of parties in government on legislative output in Italy

Frequent government crisis and high legislative output have distinguished Italy for over forty years. Previous explanations of the Italian legislative process have focused on the institutions established since the Second World War. In particular, the ability of the parliamentary committees to pass legislation, and the ‘polarized’ nature of the Italian party system have received a great deal of attention. This type of structural analysis has proved unable to successfully explain the significant variations in legislative output which have occurred since the early 1950s. This paper attempts to add to previous structural models by demonstrating that much of the variation which has occurred can be linked to the number of parties participating in the governing coalition. Furthermore, the paper questions previous interpretations of leggine (small laws) and the role they play within the legislative process by demonstrating their positive relationship to regular legislation.
Metal-free oxidation of aromatic carbon-hydrogen bonds through a reverse-rebound mechanism

Methods for carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bond oxidation have a fundamental role in synthetic organic chemistry, providing functionality that is required in the final target molecule or facilitating subsequent chemical transformations. Several approaches to oxidizing aliphatic C-H bonds have been described, drastically simplifying the synthesis of complex molecules. However, the selective oxidation of aromatic C-H bonds under mild conditions, especially in the context of substituted arenes with diverse functional groups, remains a challenge. The direct hydroxylation of arenes was initially achieved through the use of strong Bronsted or Lewis acids to mediate electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions with super-stoichiometric equivalents of oxidants, significantly limiting the scope of the reaction. Because the products of these reactions are more reactive than the starting materials, over-oxidation is frequently a competitive process. Transition-metal-catalysed C-H oxidation of arenes with or without directing groups has been developed, improving on the acid-mediated process; however, precious metals are required. Here we demonstrate that phthaloyl peroxide functions as a selective oxidant for the transformation of arenes to phenols under mild conditions. Although the reaction proceeds through a radical mechanism, aromatic C-H bonds are selectively oxidized in preference to activated Csp3-H bonds. Notably, a wide array of functional groups are compatible with this reaction, and this method is therefore well suited for late-stage transformations of advanced synthetic intermediates. Quantum mechanical calculations indicate that this transformation proceeds through a novel addition-abstraction mechanism, a kind of 'reverse-rebound' mechanism as distinct from the common oxygen-rebound mechanism observed for metal-oxo oxidants. These calculations also identify the origins of the experimentally observed aryl selectivity.
Assessment of metastatic breast cancer response to chemoembolization with contrast agent enhanced and diffusion-weighted MR imaging.

Purpose To assess the value of functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the evaluation of early tumor response after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for metastatic breast cancer and to compare tumor response based on functional MR imaging versus traditional assessment based on iodized oil deposition, tumor size, and tumor enhancement. Materials and Methods For 14 patients with metastatic breast cancer, MR imaging studies before and after TACE were evaluated. Diffusion and contrast medium–enhanced MR imaging was performed on a 1.5-T unit. Parameters evaluated included change in tumor size, enhancement, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Median survival was also calculated in the entire cohort. Results A total number of 27 lesions were evaluated, with a mean diameter of 5.5 cm. Although mean tumor size decreased by 18% after treatment, no tumors met the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) for complete response (ie, complete disappearance of target lesions) and only seven of 27 met RECIST for partial response (ie, >30% decrease in target lesion size). After treatment, decrease of tumor enhancement in the arterial (32%) and portal venous (39%) phases was statistically significant ( P P Conclusion In patients with breast cancer and liver metastases who were treated with TACE, although changes in tumor size were small, significant early changes in the treated lesions occurred on contrast medium–enhanced and functional MR imaging. These include decrease in tumor enhancement and increase in tumor ADC value, which suggest increasing tumor necrosis and cell death.
A phase-stabilized local-oscillator system for a synthesis radio telescope

A system is described which delivers signals of precisely controllable frequency and phase to remote points. The system is used to provide local-oscillator signals at widely separated antennas in a synthesis radio telescope operating at 1.4 GHz. Phase accuracy is 1.1° rms. The system is a closed-loop phase-control circuit employing phase-locked loops. A reference signal is supplied to the system, and the phase of an oscillator at the remote location is tied to this reference. A single coaxial cable joins the central and remote components of the system. Feedback is employed to render the phase of the remote oscillator independent of the length of this cable. A detailed analysis of the sideband generators used in the system is presented. Analysis of overall system dynamics shows that stability is easily achieved and is not impaired by the time delay of the transmission path to the remote unit.
Portfolio Assessment of Instructional Technology.

This article addresses one specific method of authentic assessment, portfolio assessment, by applying this method in two case studies assessing learning of instructional technology. Suggestions for practitioners who wish to use this method are provided at the conclusion of the article.
V1559 LAPAROSCOPIC ROBOT-ASSISTED PYELOLITHOTOMY IN EMPHYSEMATOUS PYELONEPHRITIS

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Emphysematous pyelonephritis is an acute severe necrotizing infection of the renal parenchyma and its surrounding tissues that results in the presence of gas in the renal parenchyma. The pathogenesis is poorly understood. The cause for mortality in emphysematous pyelonephritis is primarily due to septic complications. Up to 95% of the cases with emphysematous pyelonephritis have underlying uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. A 59 year old female patient presented in our clinic with symptoms of a right pyelonephritis and a history of recurring pyelonephritis and severe sepsis. The computer tomography showed an emphysematic pyelonephritis with an amorphous stone in the right renal pelvis and multiple calculi in the calyces. An exigent ureteral stent was inserted. Proteus mirabilis was demonstrated in the urine culture. Because of the persistent infection with gas formation we decided upon a laparoscopic, robot-assisted pyelolithotomy. This video demonstrates the technique of transperitoneal laparoscopic robot-assisted pyelolithotomy in emphysematous pyelonephritis. METHODS: A transperitoneal access was established and four working trocars and a camera trocar were inserted. After mobilisation of the descending colon, the right colonic flexure und the duodenum as well as identification of the vena cava, the right ureter was identified and the kidney surface denuded. Following its identification the uretero-pyelon junction is incised longitudinally. Now white necrotic masses are to be seen. These are removed piece for piece with the bipolar forceps until, with rinsing and suction the renal pelvis is completely cleared. The existing ureteral stent is removed via the pelvic incision and a new French 7 stent is inserted antegrade into the ureter. The renal pelvis is closed with 3-0 continuous sutures and the corpus adiposum of the renal sinus is re-adapted. A French 6 wound drain is positioned. RESULTS: No results to this instructional video. CONCLUSIONS: The histology shows partially calcified amorphous material imbebbed with coccoand rod-bacteria. The operation was uneventful and the patient could be released on post-op day 8. Four weeks after the procedure the patient was complicationand infection-free so that the ureteral stent could be removed. The laparoscopic, robot-assisted pyelolithotomy is an effective and minimal invasive therapy option for emphysematous pyelonephritis.
Direct neurobehavioral comparisons within the septohippocampal system

Rats sustaining total fornix transections, septal lesions, or hippocampal lesions were directly compared on two exploratory measures, nose-poke and rearing, and two avoidance measures, Sidman avoidance and passive avoidance. Total fornix cuts and hippocampal lesions resulted in an increase in rearing activity, but only fornix cuts resulted in an increase in exploratory nose-poke. Rats with damage to the septum were homogeneous to control on both tasks. All experimental groups were superior to control on the Sidman task, while both septal and fornix rats were severely impaired on passive avoidance. These results indicate a need for direct within-experiment assessment of behavioral alterations that involve anatomical manipulations.
Still Standing By: Why America and the International Community Fail to Prevent Genocide and Mass Killing

On April 22, 1993, President Bill Clinton addressed a crowd of 10,000 people gathered for the dedication of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM). He reminded the audience that “this museum is not for the dead alone…. [I]t is perhaps most of all for those of us who were not there at all: to learn the lessons, to deepen our memories and our humanity, and to transmit these lessons from generation to generation.” One of the principal lessons of the Holocaust, he suggested, was that the United States and other countries should have done more to prevent it or to rescue more victims from the Nazi killing machine: Even as our fragmentary awareness of crimes grew into indisputable facts, far too little was done. Before the war even started, doors to liberty were shut. And even after the United States and the Allies attacked Germany, rail lines to the camps within miles of militarily significant targets were left undisturbed…. The evil represented in this museum is incontestable. But as we are its witness, so must we remain its adversary in the world in which we live, so we must stop the fabricators of history and the bullies as well. Left unchallenged, they would still prey upon the powerless; and we must not permit that to happen again.Bureau of Public Affairs 1993, 322.
Glioblastoma survival in the United States before and during the temozolomide era.

The standard-of-care treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma changed in 2005, when radiation therapy plus temozolomide chemotherapy replaced radiation therapy alone. It is not yet clear how this change in treatment has influenced patient survival in routine clinical practice, or if a survival benefit extends to patients older than those enrolled in the trial. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program was analyzed to compare survival of adult glioblastoma patients diagnosed from 2000–2003 to patients diagnosed from 2005–2008, in order to evaluate pre-temozolomide and post-temozolomide periods. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used. 6,673 patients with glioblastoma diagnosed from 2000–2003 and 7,259 patients diagnosed from 2005–2008 were identified. Median survival times of all patients diagnosed in the 2000–2003 and 2005–2008 periods were 8.1 and 9.7 months, respectively. Amongst patients treated with surgery and a radiation-containing regimen, median survival was 12.0 months in 2000–2003 and 14.2 months in 2005–2008. In the temozolomide era, median survival times ranged from a high of 31.9 months in patients age 20–29 to a low of 5.6 months in patients age 80 and older. The survival of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma improved from 2000–2003 to 2005–2008, likely due to temozolomide use. However, median survival time after glioblastoma diagnosis in the SEER population remains well under one year, largely driven by poor prognosis in elderly patients.
N-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization for control of acute arterial hemorrhage.

PURPOSE To report the initial clinical experience with the use of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for embolization of acute arterial hemorrhage from varied etiologies and at varied anatomic sites. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixteen patients who demonstrated active extravasation of contrast material and/or arterial abnormality underwent NBCA embolization. Sites of embolization included the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, liver, uterus, adrenal gland, extremity, and chest wall. Standard coil or particulate embolization had previously failed in 10 patients. NBCA was used as the initial embolic agent in the remaining six patients. After treatment, serial hematocrit levels, transfusion requirements, and clinical signs and symptoms were monitored for stabilization. Patients were evaluated for signs and symptoms of end-organ damage. RESULTS NBCA embolization was successful in 12 of 16 patients (75%), who exhibited complete cessation of bleeding. In four patients (25%), NBCA embolization was of no benefit. Embolization failed in two of 16 patients (12.5%), who showed evidence of recurrent bleeding after use of NBCA. The remaining two patients (12.5%) died within 24 hours of the procedure. None of the 16 patients developed clinical signs of end-organ damage or iatrogenic ischemia attributable to NBCA. CONCLUSIONS In this initial limited series, NBCA embolization was shown to be a feasible and effective method to control acute arterial hemorrhage. NBCA embolization was able to stop arterial bleeding even when previous coil or particulate embolization had failed.
SELF-CONSISTENT ELIASHBERG THEORY AND THE GAP FUNCTION IN ELECTRON-DOPED CUPRATES

We consider normal-state properties, the pairing instability temperature, and the structure of the pairing gap in electron-doped cuprates. We assume that the pairing is mediated by collective spin excitations, with antiferromagnetism emerging with the appearance of hot spots. We use a low-energy spin-fermion model and the Eliashberg theory up to two-loop order. We justify ignoring vertex corrections by extending the model to $N\ensuremath{\gg}1$ fermionic flavors, with $1/N$ playing the role of a small Eliashberg parameter. We argue, however, that it is still necessary to solve coupled integral equations for the frequency-dependent fermionic and bosonic self-energies in both the normal and the superconducting states. Using the solution of the coupled equations, we find an onset of $d$-wave pairing at ${T}_{c}~30$ K, roughly three times larger than the one obtained previously [P. Krotkov and A. Chubukov, Phys. Rev. B 74, 014509 (2006)], where it was assumed that the equations for fermionic and bosonic self-energies decouple in the normal state. To obtain the momentum and frequency-dependent $d$-wave superconducting gap, $\ensuremath{\Delta}({\mathrm{kP\vec}}_{F},{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{n})$, we derive and solve the nonlinear gap equation together with the modified equation for the bosonic self-energy which below ${T}_{c}$ also depends on $\ensuremath{\Delta}({\mathrm{kP\vec}}_{F},{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{n})$. We find that $\ensuremath{\Delta}({\mathrm{kP\vec}}_{F},{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{n})$ is a nonmonotonic function of momentum along the Fermi surface, with its node along the zone diagonal and its maximum some distance away from it. We obtain $2{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{max}}(T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0)/{T}_{c}~4$. We argue that the value of ${T}_{c}$, the nonmonotonicity of the gap, and the $2{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\text{max}}/{T}_{c}$ ratio are all in good agreement with the experimental data on electron-doped cuprates.
An Early Disease Activity Composite Can Predict Long-Term Disease Outcome in CHAMPIONS (PD5.010)

Objective: To compare long-term outcomes in groups categorized based on a composite of short-term disease activity parameters in the CHAMPIONS 5-year cohort. Background The ability to use short-term parameters to identify individuals at risk for poor long-term outcomes would help clinicians select optimal treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Design/Methods: CHAMPIONS 5-year was an open-label extension study enrolling 203 (53%) of the patients from CHAMPS. In CHAMPS, patients received immediate treatment (IT) or delayed treatment (DT) with intramuscular interferon beta-1a (IM IFNβ-1a). Progression to clinically definite MS (CDMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity within the first 6 months of CHAMPS formed composites that defined "therapeutic target achieved" (TTA) ( Results: In the IT group, patients who met TTA criteria had better outcomes compared to TTNA patients. Mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) change from month 6 to year 5 was -0.17 in TTA patients and 0.80 in TTNA patients (P=0.0009). Mean brain parenchymal fraction change was -0.010 in TTA patients and -0.017 in TTNA patients (P Conclusions: Use of clinical and imaging measures to monitor disease activity early in the disease course may help predict long-term outcomes for patients. Supported by: Biogen Idec Inc. Disclosure: Dr. Kinkel has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Inc, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, and Teva Neuroscience as a consultant. Dr. Kinkel has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Neurological Diseases. Dr. Kinkel has received research support from Biogen Idec. Dr. Simon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Waubant has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Actelion, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Roche Diagnostics Corporation and Biogen Idec as a speaker and/or consultant. Dr. Waubant has received research support from Biogen Idec and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Fisher has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec. Dr. Fisher has received research support from Biogen Idec and Genzyme. Dr. You has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec as an employee.
The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on coronary blood flow and hemodynamics in patients without coronary artery disease

Abstract We examined the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the regulation of systemic and coronary vascular tone by studying the effect of converting enzyme inhibition by teprotide on systemic and coronary hemodynamic parameters in 14 normal patients undergoing routine cardiac catheterization. Serial hemodynamic measurements were made before and up to 30 minutes after 1 mg/kg of intravenous teprotide. A significant rise in cardiac index and stroke volume index occurred with a fall in systemic vascular resistance. The increase in cardiac index was related to the level of resting plasma renin activity. Blood pressure, pulmonary artery and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures remained unchanged. Coronary sinus thermodilution blood flow also showed no significant change; however, some patients demonstrated dramatic increase in flow. The change in blood flow was highly correlated with the resting plasma renin activity ( r = 0.939 P Converting enzyme inhibition produces significant systemic hemodynamic changes in normal patients which implies that the renin-angiotensin system is important in normal cardiovascular homeostasis. The direct relationship between plasma renin activity and coronary blood flow suggests that the renin-angiotensin system may play an important role in coronary vasomotor regulation.
Coalition-Proof Nash Equilibria II. Applications

Abstract In Bernheim, Peleg, and Whinston (“Coalition-Proof Equilibria. I. Concepts,” J. Econ. Theory 42 (1987), 1–12), we proposed the notion of Coalition-Proof Nash equilibrium and Perfectly Coalition-Proof Nash equilibrium as solution concepts for strategic environments in which players can freely discuss their strategies, but cannot make binding commitments. This paper undertakes applications to several economic problems, including the behavior of Cournot oligopolists, oligopolistic entry deterrence, cooperation in finite horizon games, and social choice rule implementation.
interactive Potential of Omega-3 Fatty Acids with Clofibrate or DEHP on Hepatic Peroxisome Prolifieration in Male Wistar Rats:

The interactive potential of three known peroxisome proliferators, omega-3 fatty acids, clofibrate and di(2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), was evaluated in male weanling Wistar rats for the effect on peroxisomal beta-oxidation. Omega-3 fatty acids were supplied by menhaden oil which was fed in six regimens: low fat (5% w/w), low fat and clofibrate (0.3% w/w) or DEHP (0.25% w/w), high fat (20% w/w), high fat and clofibrate or DEHP in the aforementioned concentrations. Induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation was measured by changes in liver-to-body weight ratio, fatty acyl-CoA oxidase (FAO) activity, and peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme (PBE) quantity. Analysis of transformed data indicated a less than additive response in FAO activity with no deviation from additivity seen with liver-to-body ratios and PBE.
DNA hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for identification of Gaeumannomyces, Phialophora and Magnaporthe isolates

DNA hybridization and PCR tests for Gaeumannomyces graminis and related fungi were developed to aid in their identification and classification. Hybridizations with a Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici mitochondrial DNA probe to restriction fragments from other Gaeumannomyces, Phialophora or Magnaporthe isolates demonstrated that almost all of the tested Gaeumannomyces and Phialophora isolates, including Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus and Gaeumannomyces incrustans , had sequences homologous to the probe. In addition, M. poae had strong homology with the probe. Most isolates of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici , the causative agent of take-all disease of cereals, had identical Eco R I and Msp I hybridization patterns, whereas sizes of hybridizing restriction fragments of Phialophora and Magnaporthe isolates showed more variation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests with primers developed for G. graminis var. tritici were positive for all G. graminis isolates. PCR tests for G. incrustans, G. cylindrosporus, Phialophora and Magnaporthe were positive, but test conditions in which positive results were obtained were more limited than PCR conditions which amplified G. graminis DNA.
Spectrophotometric determination of yttrium in aluminium base alloys with 1-[(5-Methyl-2-pyridyl)azo]-2-naphthol

A highly sensitive and selective Spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of yttrium in aluminium base alloys. The method is based on the red water-insoluble complex formed when yttrium and 1-[(5-methyl-2-pyridyl)azo]-2-naphthol (5-Me-β-PAN) react in a pH 9.5–11.2 solution. This complex could be extracted into ether (absorption maximum, 530 nm). Beer's law is obeyed up to 1 p. p. m. of yttrium and the molar absorptivity is 6.4 · 104 l · mole−1 · cm−1 at 530 nm.
Korean mothers' psychosocial adjustment to their children's cancer.

Background. During the course of adjustment to their child's illness and medical treatment, parents of children with cancer may experience numerous challenges and difficulties. Although parental adjustment has been a research topic for many years, little research has been conducted among families in different cultures and countries. Aim. To identify factors that influence maternal psychosocial adjustment to childhood cancer using a new cultural group: Korean. Methods. A sample of 200 Korean mothers of children with cancer was included in the study. Guided by the double ABCX model of family adjustment and adaptation, a series of variables (i.e. maternal stress, coping, social support and selected illness-related and demographic questions) were examined for their relationships with maternal psychosocial adjustment to childhood cancer. Results. Using a hierarchical multiple regression, we found perceived level of stress, coping, social support, and time since diagnosis to be significant correlates of maternal psychosocial adjustment. Stress accounted for most (50%) of the total variance explained (56%) in maternal adjustment. Conclusion. The results suggest that the stress-coping framework may be appropriate in explaining maternal responses to childhood cancer across cultures.
Taming massive distributed datasets: data sampling using bitmap indices

With growing computational capabilities of parallel machines, scientific simulations are being performed at finer spatial and temporal scales, leading to a data explosion. The growing sizes are making it extremely hard to store, manage, disseminate, analyze, and visualize these datasets, especially as neither the memory capacity of parallel machines, memory access speeds, nor disk bandwidths are increasing at the same rate as the computing power. Sampling can be an effective technique to address the above challenges, but it is extremely important to ensure that dataset characteristics are preserved, and the loss of accuracy is within acceptable levels. In this paper, we address the data explosion problems by developing a novel sampling approach, and implementing it in a flexible system that supports server-side sampling and data subsetting. We observe that to allow subsetting over scientific datasets, data repositories are likely to use an indexing technique. Among these techniques, we see that bitmap indexing can not only effectively support subsetting over scientific datasets, but can also help create samples that preserve both value and spatial distributions over scientific datasets. We have developed algorithms for using bitmap indices to sample datasets. We have also shown how only a small amount of additional metadata stored with bitvectors can help assess loss of accuracy with a particular subsampling level. Some of the other properties of this novel approach include: 1) sampling can be flexibly applied to a subset of the original dataset, which may be specified using a value-based and/or a dimension-based subsetting predicate, and 2) no data reorganization is needed, once bitmap indices have been generated. We have extensively evaluated our method with different types of datasets and applications, and demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach.
EPR and optical study of oxygen and zinc vacancies in electron-irradiated ZnO

Abstract A ZnO crystal, grown by the seeded chemical vapor transport method, was irradiated near room temperature with 1.5 MeV electrons. The resulting oxygen and zinc vacancies were characterized using optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). A broad absorption band peaking near 409 nm gives the irradiated crystal a yellow color and is assigned to neutral oxygen vacancies. A broad emission band peaking near 700 nm in the irradiated crystal is assigned to donor–acceptor pair recombination involving zinc-vacancy acceptors. EPR spectra from Fe3+ ions and singly ionized nonaxial zinc vacancies are observed at 30 K after the irradiation, but before illumination. Illumination with 325 nm light at low temperature eliminates the Fe3+ signal while producing spectra from singly ionized oxygen vacancies, neutral zinc vacancies, and singly ionized axial zinc vacancies. The light also produces EPR spectra from zinc vacancies with an OH− ion occupying an adjacent oxygen site. No correlation was found between the green emission and the presence of oxygen and/or zinc vacancies.
Electrochemical Deposition of Silver Nanocrystallites on the Atomically Smooth Graphite Basal Plane

A potentiostatic pulse method has been employed to electrochemically deposit silver nanocrystallites on the atomically smooth graphite basal plane surface. Voltage pulses having amplitudes of 100, 250, and 500 mV vs Ag0 and durations of 10 or 50 ms were applied to graphite surfaces immersed in dilute (≈1.0 mM) aqueous silver nitrate. During the deposition pulse, the current increased in approximate proportion to (time)1/2 as expected for an instantaneous nucleation and three-dimensional growth mode of deposition. Consistent with this growth mode, noncontact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) examination of graphite surfaces following silver deposition revealed the existence of silver particles at a coverage of near 1010 cm-2 which were well-separated from one another on atomically smooth regions of the graphite basal plane surface. These particles were disk-shaped having a height of 15−50 A and an apparent diameter which varied from 200 to 600 A; particle dimensions increased smoothly with the coulometric l...
Mice: postpartum aggression elicited by the presence of an intruder.

Abstract Lactating mice, in contrast to the passivity exhibited by nonparturient animals, displayed immediate and intense aggressive behavior toward male and female mouse intruders. However, lactating mice exhibited no aggression when tested either on Days 14–20 of the lactation period or 5 hr after their pups had been removed.
Predicting blade stress levels directly from reduced-order vibration models of mistuned bladed disks

The forced vibration response of bladed disks can increase dramatically due to blade mistuning, which can cause major durability and reliability problems in turbine engines. To predict the mistuned forced response efficiently, several reduced-order modeling techniques have been developed. However, for mistuned bladed disks, increases in blade amplitude levels do not always correlate well with increases in blade stress levels. The stress levels may be computed by postprocessing the reduced-order model results with finite element analysis, but this is cumbersome and expensive. In this work, three indicators that can be calculated directly from reduced-order models are proposed as a way to estimate blade stress levels in a straightforward, systematic, and inexpensive manner. It is shown that these indicators can be used to predict stress values with good accuracy relative to finite element results, even for a case in which the displacement and stress levels show different frequency response trends.
Correlates of forearm bone mass among women during maximal bone mineralization

Abstract The distribution and correlates of bone mass among women ages 20–35 were studied. During young adulthood, bone mass reaches its maximum level and appears to stabilize. Factors that establish the individual's relative position in this plateau period may influence the ultimate expression of bone loss with aging. Mid-distal radial bone mass was measured in a geographically defined population of 86 women in two rural, demographically similar communities in Iowa. The water supplies provided 55 and 375 mg/liter of elemental calcium, generating significantly different mean community dietary calcium intakes of 871 and 1,233 mg/day, respectively. Bone mass was measured by single-beam photon densitometry and correlated with data from physical measurements, medical history, and reported nutritional intake. In evaluating the joint effect of variables in a multiple regression procedure, forearm bone mass was negatively and significantly associated with alcohol consumption ( P = 0.0327) and with a first pregnancy prior to age 20 ( P = 0.0250). There was a trend for current calcium intake estimated from 24-hr recall to be positively associated with bone mass ( P = 0.0816). Because the 24-hr recall is characterized by significant error due to daily variability of an individual's intakes, a more general calcium intake was estimated from food frequency. Women whose estimated intake of calcium from food frequency was greater than 800 mg/day, the Recommended Daily Allowance, had significantly greater bone mass than women whose intake was estimated to be less than 800 mg/day ( P = 0.0053). No relationship was observed with oral contraceptive use, parity, breastfeeding practices, smoking behavior, or measures of physical activity.
SVD-based computation of zeros of polynomial matrices

We present an algorithm for determining the zeros of polynomial matrices of arbitrary order, normal rank, and dimension. Specifically, we use the singular value decomposition to reduce the problem to an eigenvalue problem.