cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of counting efficiency, possible container sorption and quenching characteristics in the liquid scintillation counting of 99Tc

Abstract 99 Tc, as aqueous NH 4 TcO 4 , may be assayed by liquid scintillation counting over a concentration range of 10 −4 to 10 −7 M with counting efficiency greater than 94%. This degree of efficiency leads to a “response factor” (defined here as count rate per picomole of 99 Tc) of 3.52 cpm/pmol 99 Tc, which is reproducible throughout this 1000-fold concentration range (relative standard deviation 99 TcO 4 − sorption by either glass or polypropylene containers was observed when samples were stored up to 3 months. Using a window with wide limits on the spectrometer, chemical quenching by CHCl 3 has only a slight effect on counting efficiency. Color quenching by K 2 Cr 2 O 7 has a more pronounced effect on efficiency, but quench corrections are readily made using an appropriate calibration curve.
The Fiction of Neutral Inflation

Though less frequent with the years, intermittent calls for ‘reflation’ to stimulate the economy can occasionally still be heard from Keynesian economists and politicians. Eli Schwartz, Professor of Economics at Leghigh University, Pennsylvania, examines the effects of inflation, anticipated and unanticipated, on participants in the economy. Professor Schwartz argues that, in spite of the short-term political benefits, the longer-term costs are so high that less myopic politicians may perceive the electoral advantages in tackling inflation.
Getting More from Diskette Storage

In today's world of microcomputing, there is one given: however much disk storage space you have today, you'll need much, much more tomorrow. Just four years ago Arthur Naiman wrote about microcomputer hard disk storage in Word Processing Buyer's Guide (BYTE/McGraw‐Hill, Peter‐borough, NH: 1983. p.235). He related that “An optional 8.4MB hard disk drive is available for S4500. In fact, you can connect up to three of them, although what you'd need 26 million characters worth of storage for is beyond me.” Today, 20MB of storage is available on an expansion card for under $500 and 20MB is considered to be the minimum acceptable hard disk capacity by most experts.
Elective stoma construction improves outcomes in medically intractable pressure ulcers.

PURPOSE: Perineal pressure ulcers are a common and devastating complication for paralyzed or chronically bedridden patients. Controversy exists on the benefit of fecal diversion for the treatment and prevention of these ulcers. This study compared outcomes in bed-bound patients with pressure ulcers who electively underwent fecal diversion with those who did not. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all disabled patients who underwent surgery for medically intractable pressure ulcer from 1993 to 2001. Charts were divided into the colostomy group or noncolostomy group. Recurrence rates, healing times, morbidity and mortality, and number of reoperations were calculated for each group. Additionally, stoma patients were interviewed for quality of life assessment. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were treated during the study period (colostomy, n = 41; noncolostomy, n = 26). The majority of colostomies were performed laparoscopically, with a 9.7 percent incidence of postoperative complications. The ulcer recurrence rate was lower in the treated colostomy group (43 percent) compared with the noncolostomy group (69 percent; P < 0.05). In addition, noncolostomy patients had longer healing times (7 vs. 3 months; P < 0.05), and this group required more ulcer operations than the stoma patients did. Quality of life and bowel care were much improved by the colostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Stoma construction is a safe procedure with low morbidity and mortality that helps heal pressure ulcers and decreases the incidence of recurrence. Additionally, laparoscopic stoma construction represents a technical advance that may reduce operative complications that have been previously reported with open fecal diversion.
Magnetic ordering of the intermetallic compound Gd2Au

Abstract Magnetization measurements on polycrystalline Gd 2 Au indicate that the magnetic ordering of the compound is extremely sensitive to the sample preparation, thus explaining the contradictory results reported in the literature.
End-to-End Communication Delay Analysis in Industrial Wireless Networks

WirelessHART is a new standard specifically designed for real-time and reliable communication between sensor and actuator devices for industrial process monitoring and control applications. End-to-end communication delay analysis for WirelessHART networks is required to determine the schedulability of real-time data flows from sensors to actuators for the purpose of acceptance test or workload adjustment in response to network dynamics. In this paper, we consider a network model based on WirelessHART, and map the scheduling of real-time periodic data flows in the network to real-time multiprocessor scheduling. We then exploit the response time analysis for multiprocessor scheduling and propose a novel method for the delay analysis that establishes an upper bound of the end-to-end communication delay of each real-time flow in the network. Simulation studies based on both random topologies and real network topologies of a $74$ -node physical wireless sensor network testbed demonstrate that our analysis provides safe and reasonably tight upper bounds of the end-to-end delays of real-time flows, and hence enables effective schedulability tests for WirelessHART networks.
Spin wave functions nanofabric update

We provide a comprehensive progress update on the magnonic spin wave functions nanofabric. Spin wave propagation does not involve any physical movement of charge particles. Information is encoded in the phase of the wave and computation is based on the principle of superposition. This provides a fundamental advantage over conventional charge based electronics and opens new horizons for novel nano-scale architectures. The coupling mechanism between the spin and charge domain is enabled by the Magneto-Electric (ME) cells. Based on our experimental work we show that, an electric field of ∼1MV/m would be required to obtain 90 degree magnetization rotation. The paper also provides a methodology for estimating ME cell switching energy. In particular, we show that this energy can be as low as 10aJ. In addition, we discuss different topology options and circuit styles for 1-bit/2-bit magnonic adders. Our estimates on benefits vs. 45nm CMOS implementation show that, for a 1-bit adder, ∼40X reduction in area and ∼60X reduction in power is possible with the spin wave based implementation. For the 2-bit adder, results show that ∼33x area reduction and ∼40X reductions in power may be possible.
Doubly fed induction machine drive distance learning laboratory for wind power and electric ship propulsion applications

This paper presents a new remotely controlled hardware laboratory for distance learning education. The hardware includes a doubly fed induction machine with a bidirectional power source on the rotor to emulate the operation of a wind power generation system. The new laboratory is designed to reinforce the theory learned in class and to verify that modeling and simulations of the lab machine are accurate. The power conversion system is controlled by two FPGA based controllers which communicate with a web server PC through a USB interface so that the laboratory can be executed on campus as well as remotely. The remote students only need access to a PC with internet connection and a standard browser, without the need to install any software or modify its security settings.
Noninvasive blood flow measurement in expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for hemodialysis access.

Abstract Volume flow rates were measured in 31 expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (6 mm) of 26 patients undergoing hemodialysis. Flow was calculated from the known access graft diameter and by measurement of the mean Doppler shift frequency waveform. Overall flow rates were 750 ± 383 ml/min (range, 0 to 1921 ml/min). There was no difference in flow between grafts anastomosed to either antecubital or upper arm veins but there was a significant difference in flow rate between straight and loop grafts (652 and 914 ml/min) and between grafts anastomosed to the radial, distal brachial, and proximal brachial arteries (648, 876, and 1169 ml/min, respectively). Flow rates measured during a preocclusive 14-day period in five grafts were significantly lower than flow rates in grafts that remained patent for at least 2 weeks following examination (307 ± 172 vs. 849 ± 346 ml/min). This is a safe, repeatable noninvasive measure of access graft hemodynamics, which may be useful as a functional monitor and a warning of impending failure. (J VASC SURG 1986;3:635-42.)
Tackling the anxieties of the English: searching for the nation through football

‘Englishness’ can no longer be seen as equivalent to ‘Britishness’. This paper examines the role that sport, and especially conceptions of international football, has played in working out the anxieties of Englishness. Football can be seen as the negotiating tool par excellence for examining the English anomaly touching on ideas of nation, class, and race in the age of ‘after Empire’. England itself has changed and in recent years Football seems to have held a mirror up to the changing face of England. 1
Heritability of Oleic Acid Content in Soybean Seed Oil and Its Genetic Correlation with Fatty Acid and Agronomic Traits

Oleate content is important for the nutritional value and oxidative stability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed oil. Response to selection for higher oleate content depends on its heritability in breeding populations, and correlated responses of other fatty acid and agronomic traits to selection for oleate content depend on their genetic correlations with oleate. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of oleate content and to determine the correlation of oleate with other fatty acid and agronomic traits in three soybean populations segregating for major and minor oleate genes grown in multiple environments. One of the populations consisted of 721 lines, providing excellent precision for estimation of the genetic parameters. The results of this study indicated that heritability for oleate content was suffi ciently high that early generation selection can be effective when practiced on unreplicated lines grown at a single environment. Signifi cant negative correlations were observed between oleate and linoleate, oleate and linolenate, as well as oleate and palmitate in all three populations. Signifi cant positive correlations were detected between palmitate and stearate in one population segregating for oleate genes and fap nc and fap1 alleles, which reduce palmitate content. In the same population we also observed a signifi cant negative correlation between yield and oleate content, and positive correlations between yield and linoleate, and linolenate and palmitate contents.
An emergency department septic shock protocol and care guideline for children initiated at triage

BACKGROUND: Unrecognized and undertreated septic shock increases morbidity and mortality. Septic shock in children is defined as sepsis and cardiovascular organ dysfunction, not necessarily with hypotension. OBJECTIVE: Cases of unrecognized and undertreated septic shock in our emergency department (ED) were reviewed with a focus on (1) increased recognition at triage and (2) more aggressive treatment once recognized. We hypothesized that septic shock protocol and care guideline would expedite identification of septic shock, increase compliance with recommended therapy, and improve outcomes. METHODS: We developed an ED septic shock protocol and care guideline to improve recognition beginning at triage and evaluated all eligible ED patients from January 2005 to December 2009. RESULTS: We identified 345 pediatric ED patients (49% male, median age: 5.6 years), and 297 (86.1%) met septic shock criteria at triage. One hundred ninety-six (56.8%) had ≥1 chronic complex condition. Hypotension was present in 34% (n = 120); the most common findings were tachycardia (n = 251 [73%]) and skin-color changes (n = 269 [78%]). The median hospital length of stay declined over the study period (median: 181–140 hours; P CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an ED septic shock protocol and care guideline improved compliance in delivery of rapid, aggressive fluid resuscitation and early antibiotic and oxygen administration and was associated with decreased length of stay.
The Nature of (in) Cities

Several years ago an advertisement appeared in the real estate section of the Washington Post 1 promoting a new development: “The NICE THING about the city is that it eventually ENDS” (emphasis in original). The image juxtaposed sidewalks, a fire hydrant, and other essentially gray surfaces in the foreground (bad) with the bucolic images of forest and farm field in the distance (good). The implications were clear —if you want any meaningful ex posure to nature, quickly exit the city. Unfortunately, this reflects the popul ar attitude toward cities and nature.
Electrical and thermal analysis for system-in-a package (SiP) implementation platform

This paper presents an electrical and thermal performance analysis of system-in-a-package (SiP) memory/logic implementation platform based on chip-laminate-chip (CLC) technology. Internal IO interface inside CLC module has been modeled and compared with stack-chip (SC) implementation. Thermal analysis, including comparison against stack-chip and system-on- a-chip (SoC) is also presented. It is demonstrated that CLC technology provides significant performance advantage over conventional SiP technologies and has great impact on future system-level integration.
National Intervention and the Diffusion of Policy Innovations

Scholars have long recognized that national activity influences both the substance and the timing of state policymaking. This article examines whether the content of national legislation affects the state-level enactment of policy innovations even if it does not mandate their adoption or provide a financial incentive for state lawmakers to enact them. It uses event history analysis on pooled, cross-sectional data to examine the diffusion of three innovations in human services policy: individual development accounts, family caps, and medical savings accounts. Its results suggest that national intervention affects the likelihood that state lawmakers will adopt an innovation by altering the strength of the obstacles that prevent innovation or by providing resources to help overcome these obstacles. National intervention that does not affect these determinants of innovation seems to have no significant effect on state officials’ decisions.
The Impact of Anticoagulant Use on Clinical Outcomes in Men Treated With Definitive and Salvage Radiation Therapy

Purpose/Objective(s): Recent retrospective reviews have shown that anticoagulant (AC) use improves freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF), freedom from metastasis (FFM) and prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) in men with prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) and definitive radiation therapy (RT). Here we investigated whether AC use predicted clinical outcomes, while also assessing for follow-up bias and competing risk, in men treated with definitive RT and salvage radiation therapy (SRT) following RP. Materials/Methods: A retrospective analysis of 967 patients treated with either definitive external beam RT (645) or SRT (322) after RP from a single institution. The effect of AC use (aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel or enoxaparin) on FFBF, FFM and PCSS as well as subgroup analysis for risk groups were compared, using Log-rank analysis and Kaplan-Meier methods. Time to salvage ADT and SRT was analyzed for SRT patients, using Kaplan-Meier methods to account for potential follow-up bias. Fine and Gray risk model was completed to assess competing risks on PCSS. The independent impact of AC use on endpoints was analyzed in multivariate analysis using Cox-proportional hazards models. Results: Median follow-up was 73.5 months (interquartile range, 62-85 months). Three hundred sixty-nine (38%) patients were taking AC at time of SRT. On Log-rank analysis, AC use improved FFBF (p Z 0.0001, HR 0.6 [95% CI, 0.5-0.8]) but did not significantly impact FFM (p Z 0.7) or PCSS (p Z 0.3). Subgroup analysis by clinical risk group showed improved FFBF for intermediate (pZ 0.03, HR 0.6 [95% CI, 0.4-0.9]) and high (p Z 0.05, HR 0.7 [95% CI, 0.4-0.9]) risk groups but there was no association between other risk groups and clinical endpoints. For SRT patients, AC users experienced longer time to salvage RT (pZ 0.0002, HR 0.6 [95% CI, 0.5-0.8]) and time to salvage ADT (p Z 0.14, HR 0.4 [95% CI, 0.1-1.0]), although not significant, than non-AC users. Competing risk regression analysis performed with traditional risk factors and AC use showed no protective value of AC use on PCSS. Cox-proportional hazards models demonstrated that AC use was an independent predictor of FFBF (p Z 0.023, HR 0.7 [95% CI, 0.5-0.9]) but not for other clinical endpoints. Conclusions: In patients treated with definitive RT and SRT, AC use improved FFBF on univariate analysis and was an independent predictor of FFBF on multivariate analysis. The benefit of AC use on FFBF is greatest in high and intermediate risk groups. SRT patients using AC tend to have ADT and SRT delayed, further confounding the potential recurrence, metastasis and survival benefit. Prospective studies are needed to establish the true impact of AC use on FFM and PCSS for radiation. Author Disclosure: S. Johnson: None. W.C. Jackson: None. B. Foster: None. Y. Song: None. G.S. Palapattu: None. H.M. Sandler: None. D.A. Hamstra: None. F.Y. Feng: None.
Learning empathy: a data-driven framework for modeling empathetic companion agents

Affective reasoning plays an increasingly important role in cognitive accounts of social interaction. Humans continuously assess one another's situational context, modify their own affective state accordingly, and then respond to these outcomes by expressing empathetic behaviors. Synthetic agents serving as companions should respond similarly. However, empathetic reasoning is riddled with the complexities stemming from the myriad factors bearing upon situational assessment. A key challenge posed by affective reasoning in synthetic agents is devising empirically informed models of empathy that accurately respond in social situations. This paper presents Care, a data-driven affective architecture and methodology for learning models of empathy by observing human-human social interactions. First, in CARE training sessions, one trainer directs synthetic agents to perform a sequence of tasks while another trainer manipulates companion agents' affective states to produce empathetic behaviors (spoken language, gesture, posture). Care tracks situational data including locational, intentional, and temporal information to induce a model of empathy. At runtime, CARE uses the model of empathy to drive situation-appropriate empathetic behaviors. CARE has been used in a virtual environment testbed, and an evaluation suggests that the CARE paradigm can provide the basis for effective empathetic behavior control for companion agents.
Robot Trajectory Tracking with Self-Tuning Predicted Control

A controller that combines self-tuning prediction and control is proposed as a new approach to robot trajectory traking. The controller has two feedback loops: One is used to minimize the prediction error and the other is designed to make the system output track the set point input. Because the velocity and position along the desired trajectory are given and the future output of the system is predictable, a feedforward loop can be designed for robot trajectory tracking with self-tuning predicted control (STPC). Parameters are estimated on-line to account for the model uncertainty and the time-varying property of the system. We have described the principle of STPC, analyzed the system performance. and discussed the simplification of the robot dynamic equations. To demonstrate its utility and power, the controller is simulated for a Stanford arm.
Modeling of microwave ring resonators using the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD)

Scattering parameters of microstrip ring resonators (with and without slits) that are either edge or side coupled to the feedlines are simulated by the FDTD method. The strip conductors on the device can either be infinitely thin or finite in thickness. The simulations predict the occurrence of resonance peak splitting due to the simultaneous existence of magnetic and electric field coupling mechanisms. Excellent agreement was obtained between the simulation results and the measured data for a ring resonator. We have also shown that it is possible to use finite-difference time-domain simulations to determine the dielectric constant of substrate materials. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 24: 392–396, 2000.
Type 1 Phosphatase, a Negative Regulator of Cardiac Function

Increases in type 1 phosphatase (PP1) activity have been observed in end stage human heart failure, but the role of this enzyme in cardiac function is unknown. To elucidate the functional significance of increased PP1 activity, we generated models with (i) overexpression of the catalytic subunit of PP1 in murine hearts and (ii) ablation of the PP1-specific inhibitor. Overexpression of PP1 (threefold) was associated with depressed cardiac function, dilated cardiomyopathy, and premature mortality, consistent with heart failure. Ablation of the inhibitor was associated with moderate increases in PP1 activity (23%) and impaired β-adrenergic contractile responses. Extension of these findings to human heart failure indicated that the increased PP1 activity may be partially due to dephosphorylation or inactivation of its inhibitor. Indeed, expression of a constitutively active inhibitor was associated with rescue of β-adrenergic responsiveness in failing human myocytes. Thus, PP1 is an important regulator of cardiac function, and inhibition of its activity may represent a novel therapeutic target in heart failure.
Black Collectivities: An Introduction

“Black Collectivities” selectively reproduces and expands on the proceedings of a conference held in Chicago in May 2013 that brought together an international roster of artists, art historians, cultural critics, and curators invested in the histories and futures of collaborative practice in Africa and its diasporas. In this article, conference organizers Huey Copeland and Naomi Beckwith introduce the aesthetic, conceptual, and political stakes animating the conference and the issue emerging from it with an eye toward both critiquing mainstream artistic discourses around collectivity and articulating the centrality of black cultural practices to them.
Elastic Dislocation Theory for a Self‐Gravitating Elastic Configuration with an Initial Static Stress Field

Summary The linearized equations of motion and linearized boundary and continuity conditions governing small elastic-gravitational disturbances away from equilibrium of an arbitrary, uniformly rotating, self-gravitating, perfectly elastic Earth model with an arbitrary initial static stress field are derived. The appropriate form of Rayleigh's variational principle and of the Betti reciprocal theorem and the Volterra dislocation relation for such a configuration are given. The latter is then used to derive an explicit expression for the equivalent body forces to be applied in the absence of a seismic dislocation in order to produce a dynamical response of the Earth model equivalent to that produced by the dislocation. It is found that if the initial static stress in the vicinity of the dislocation is purely hydrostatic, then a point tangential displacement dislocation has as an exactly equivalent body force the familiar double couple of moment 0, A0s0. If however the hypocentral static stress field has a deviatoric part, then additional equivalent body forces must be used properly to model a seismic dislocation. The necessary additional equivalent forces are explicitly exhibited; theoretically their existence provides a method of estimating hypocentral stresses, but the application of any such method is probably premature.
An architecture for applying social networking to business

Social networking services that enhance communications at the personal level have recently proliferated to the point of explosive use. Individuals in all society and cultural settings naturally and routinely use Web 2.0 tools such as wikis, blogs and social networking services such as Facebook or LinkedIn, for personal purposes. The penetration of these technologies into the popular culture has been pervasive and very successful and leads by far their use at the professional or business levels. These personal networking services are starting to penetrate the workplace and are being applied to business purposes, which have become a major concern to CIOs. Chief technology executives in organizations are hard pressed to be proactive and deploy these technologies to improve business processes, increase productivity and maintain business competiveness. The executives are also concerned in regulating the use of these services from a security and an IT governance perspective. In this paper we develop an architecture of social networking services applied to business purposes as well developed a process of analysis to help CIOs understand how to engineer the application of these technologies to their business environments in a rational manner and in a way that produces economic value while safeguarding security. The architecture of the social networking space applied to business needs consists of categorizing business communication modes based on the distinct characteristics of communication needs. To date we have identified four major modes of business use of these communication technologies: professional networking, professional communication, professional knowledge bases and professional collaboration. This paper will describe the resulting taxonomy and the attributes of the four basic groups. Major social networking service and tools in each of the four spaces are compared and rated against the characteristics of each business use mode and to each other. We will describe the process by which we assist the CIO in justifying, implementing and virally diffusing the necessary technologies once a need is identified. The diffusion process makes use of a unique process of identifying “killer uses” and “killer apps”. Additionally, considerations are presented to handle the important issue of security when using social networking tools for business purposes.
Coprecipitation of Proteins with Matrix Ligands: Scaleable Protein Isolation

Matrix ligands are agents for isolating proteins out of dilute crudes by coprecipitating proteins. The ligands have a strong anion sulfonate head which initiates binding to proteins having a positive net charge, ZH+ approximately 5-20. Initial binding tightens protein conformation and starts to squeeze water from conformationally motile proteins. The tails are stackable hydrophobic organic groups, azoaromatic dyes which draw protein-ligand complexes together. Proteins coprecipitate as guests, in the ligand host matrix. In addition to stacking, ligand tails displace water because of their bulk, and lower the average dielectric constant near charged groups, which reinforces the electrostatic component of binding. Matrix ligands protect proteins, scavenge them from dilute crudes (0.01-0.1 per cent protein), and densify coprecipitates. Detergent ions in low concentrations, 10(-4)-10(-5) M also sometimes serve as coprecipitating agents, entangling their tails but probably not stacking. Divalent metal ions, Zn++, sometimes are useful auxiliary agents. Preparative scaleability from crudes is demonstrated starting from 100-200 g of raw peanuts and raw pineapple to coprecipitate a lectin and bromelain enzyme respectively in 1-2 h with 80-90 per cent activity yields. Ligands are released from coprecipitates by shifting the pH and trapping the ligands with exchange resins. Protein conformation tightening in solution is seen by viscosity measurements.
Densification and state transition across the Missouri Ozarks landscape

World-wide, some biomes are densifying, or increasing in dense woody vegetation, and shifting to alternative stable states. We quantified densification and state transition between forests ecosystems in historical (ca. 1815‐1850) and current (2004‐2008) surveys of the Missouri Ozark Highlands, a 5-million ha landscape in southern Missouri, USA. To estimate density of historical forests, we used the Morisita plotless density estimator and applied corrections for surveyor bias. For contemporary forests, we used known densities at plots to predict continuous densities with random forests, an ensemble regression tree method. We also calculated basal area and percent stocking to determine changes in wood volume. Historical forests had densities ranging from about 75 to 320 trees/ ha. Current forest densities were about 2.3 times greater and more uniform, at about 300‐400 trees/ ha (DBH ‡ 12.7 cm). Not all forests have increased in basal area and percent stocking because trees in contemporary forests are smaller in diameter than historical forests. Although oak species still are dominant (as defined by ‡10% composition), oak dominance is being replaced by many fire-sensitive species, of which only eastern redcedar and maples have become dominant. Densification and community changes in functional traits have produced a state transition from open oak forest ecosystems to predominantly closed eastern broadleaf forests in the Missouri Ozarks. This shift is not at equilibrium, as fire-sensitive species are continuing to increase and turnover in long-lived oaks is slow.
Interdependent Construal of Self and the Endorsement of Conflict Resolution Strategies in Interpersonal, Intergroup, and International Disputes

Intergroup relations are more competitive and discordant than relations between interacting individuals. Social identity theory suggests that this discontinuity should be greatest among individuals who identify strongly with their in-group. To test this prediction, students from countries with collectivistic and individualistic cultures completed a measure of self-construal. They were then asked to identify how they would respond to a conflict, either with another individual, between their group and another group or between their country and another country. Participants responded more negatively to intergroup and international conflicts than to interpersonal conflicts. Self-construal, however, moderated this effect. Controlling for country of origin, students who were high in interdependence endorsed threat more and acceptance of the others’ demands less in an international conflict versus an interpersonal conflict. Those low in interdependence differed less in their endorsement of conflict resolution st...
Metabolism of glutathione in the lens.

The mechanisms by which high levels of reduced glutathione are maintained in the lens and the possible function of the tripeptide are discussed in this paper. It is clearly established that glutathione and its analogue, ophthalmic acid, are synthesized in situ by an analogous sequence of reactions involving at least one enzyme in common. The constituent amino acids required for their synthesis are derived to a large extent from the aqueous humor. Lens appears to be relatively impermeable to glutathione and contains a very low activity of the enzymes responsible for its breakdown. While the possibility that glutathione may be present in a bound form cannot be entirely excluded, the capsule and epithelium may serve as a barrier to the diffusion of this compound since the efflux of glutathione is much more rapid from decapsulated lens. It appears that in the lens, the level of glutathione is dependent upon glutathione reductase reaction in which oxidized glutathione is enzymatically reduced by NADPH. Glutathione may function as a protective agent for sulfhydryl enzymes and for maintaining protein sulfhydryls in the reduced state in addition to its participation as a coenzyme and in several oxidation-reduction reactions in the lens. The reduction in the level of glutathione that is observed during all types of cataract formation may be brought about by such factors as a decrease in the biosynthesis of this peptide, increase in permeability of lens membranes, and a relative deficiency in glutathione reductase as well as an increase in mixed disulfide formation with protein sulfhydryls. The diversion of NADPH from glutathione reductase to aldose reductase system may be an additional factor in the depletion of glutathione in cases of sugar cataracts.
Using Commercial Activity Monitors to Measure Gait in Patients with Suspected iNPH: Implications for Ambulatory Monitoring.

Objectives: This study seeks to validate the use of activity monitors to detect and record gait abnormalities, potentially identifying patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) prior to the onset of cognitive or urinary symptoms. Methods: This study compared the step counts of four common activity monitors (Omron Step Counter HJ-113, New Lifestyles 2000, Nike Fuelband, and Fitbit Ultra) to an observed step count in 17 patients with confirmed iNPH. Results: Of the four devices, the Fitbit Ultra (Fitbit, Inc., San Francisco, CA) provided the most accurate step count. The correlation with the observed step count was significantly higher (p<0.009) for the Fitbit Ultra than for any of the other three devices. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that existing activity monitors have variable efficacy in the iNPH patient population and that the MEMS tri-axial accelerometer and algorithm of the Fitbit Ultra provides the most accurate gait measurements of the four devices tested.
Measuring Brand Equity: An Evaluation of a Consumer-Based Brand Equity Scale

This research reports an independent assessment of a recently developed set of consumer-based brand equity measures. Yoo and Donthu (1997) developed a multidimensional, consumer-based brand equity scale comprised of four theoretically defined constructs and a separate multiple-item overall brand equity measure. The present research employed slightly modified items in a different context in an attempt to examine the robustness of the proposed scale. Subjects (n=272) responded to the brand equity scale for different brands and combinations of brands in a co-branding context. The results suggest that, while the Yoo and Donthu scale represents an adequate first step, further scale development is needed. Nevertheless, this scale development has brought us closer to a universally accepted measure of consumer-based brand equity.
Abductive Reasoning: How Innovators Navigate in the Labyrinth of Complex Product Innovation

Complex innovation processes such as drug discovery present challenges to innovators because they must proceed with limited feedback but face a system that involves enormous amounts of information and unknown interdependencies. Organizational scholars suggest that abductive reasoning fits complex situations and may address many of the challenges of complexity. Abductive reasoning is a form of reasoning that generates and evaluates hypotheses in order to make sense of puzzling facts. Existing research on abductive reasoning makes a number of important contributions, but does not explain how innovators can use abductive reasoning to formulate hypotheses for possible new products and then use these hypotheses to navigate in the labyrinth of complex product innovation. We interviewed 85 scientists and managers working in the biopharmaceutical industry and use grounded theory building to develop a new framework. Our framework identifies three social mechanisms that explain how innovators use abductive reasonin...
The Historic Gap

Figure. The same arrows are all there: but all pointing in opposite directions! The currents of history have flowed in opposite directionsthough never in opposition-and now they meet, and the union of destinies may be counted on to produce a fruitful and happy marriage. It is the responisibility of scientists concerned with social geo-strategy to bring home to politicoeconomic planners the fact that this is a marriage not of nations but of NATURAL REALMS in the patterning of Earth. As a philosopher-geographer has recently written,35 "Man may artificially erect regionalisms, but their test of endurance is environmental. The earth has time on its side, and conquers in the long run.... The continuity in the long story of man is the environmental scene... if the next peace is to last more than ten years it must make sound geographic sense."
Near Infrared Photochemistry of Pyruvic Acid in Aqueous Solution

Recent experimental and theoretical results have suggested that organic acids such as pyruvic acid, can be photolyzed in the ground electronic state by the excitation of the OH stretch vibrational overtone. These overtones absorb in the near-infrared and visible regions of the spectrum where the solar photons are plentiful and could provide a reaction pathway for the organic acids and alcohols that are abundant in the earth’s atmosphere. In this paper the overtone initiated photochemistry of aqueous pyruvic acid is investigated by monitoring the evolution of carbon dioxide. In these experiments CO2 is being produced by excitation in the near-infrared, between 850 nm and ∼1150 nm (11 765–8696 cm–1), where the second OH vibrational overtone (Δν = 3) of pyruvic acid is expected to absorb. These findings show not only that the overtone initiated photochemical decarboxylation reaction occurs but also that in the aqueous phase it occurs at a lower energy than was predicted for the overtone initiated reaction of...
Inside the Black Box Presentation

This presentation was given to the Haas Alumni Network of Orange County and the Merage School of Business Center for Investment and Wealth Management. The goal was to deliver an educational presentation to demystify the world of hedge funds and quantitative investing. We briefly described what quants do, how they do it, and issues that surround quant trading. The talk included real-world examples and anecdotes.
Oral Corticosterone Administration Reduces Insulitis but Promotes Insulin Resistance and Hyperglycemia in Male Non-obese Diabetic Mice

Steroid-induced diabetes via oral delivery of glucocorticoids is the most common form of drug-induced hyperglycemia in adults and children. Because a variety of pathological situations require a ch...
Acute and long-term outcomes in a Drosophila melanogaster model of classic galactosemia occur independently of galactose-1-phosphate accumulation

ABSTRACT Classic galactosemia (CG) is a potentially lethal inborn error of metabolism that results from the profound loss of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT), the second enzyme in the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism. Neonatal detection and dietary restriction of galactose minimizes or resolves the acute sequelae of CG, but fails to prevent the long-term complications experienced by a majority of patients. One of the substrates of GALT, galactose-1-phosphate (Gal-1P), accumulates to high levels in affected infants, especially following milk exposure, and has been proposed as the key mediator of acute and long-term pathophysiology in CG. However, studies of treated patients demonstrate no association between red blood cell Gal-1P level and long-term outcome severity. Here, we used genetic, epigenetic and environmental manipulations of a Drosophila melanogaster model of CG to test the role of Gal-1P as a candidate mediator of outcome in GALT deficiency. Specifically, we both deleted and knocked down the gene encoding galactokinase (GALK) in control and GALT-null Drosophila, and assessed the acute and long-term outcomes of the resulting animals in the presence and absence of dietary galactose. GALK is the first enzyme in the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism and is responsible for generating Gal-1P in humans and Drosophila. Our data confirmed that, as expected, loss of GALK lowered or eliminated Gal-1P accumulation in GALT-null animals. However, we saw no concomitant rescue of larval survival or adult climbing or fecundity phenotypes. Instead, we saw that loss of GALK itself was not benign and in some cases phenocopied or exacerbated the outcome seen in GALT-null animals. These findings strongly contradict the long-standing hypothesis that Gal-1P alone underlies pathophysiology of acute and long-term outcomes in GALT-null Drosophila and suggests that other metabolite(s) of galactose, and/or other pathogenic factors, might be involved.
ESD protection using grounded gate, gate non-silicided (GG-GNS) ESD NFETs in 45nm SOI technology

A non-self protection ESD scheme using grounded-gate, gate non-silicided (GG-GNS) drain/source silicide blocked (SBLK) ESD NFET offered in 45 nm SOI CMOS technology is presented based on a comprehensive study using the high current pulse characteristics. The results show that with a minimum SBLK width over drain/source, GG-GNS NFET can handle ~3.4 mA/mum current.
Emotional Abuse History and Migraine Among Young Adults: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Add Health Dataset.

Objectives To define and examine the relationship between self-reported childhood abuse and migraine among young adults. Background Headache and migraine have been linked to childhood abuse in numerous studies, but there is incomplete characterization of headache types, and limited assessment of abuse types and frequency. Only one population-based study has examined the relationship between emotional abuse and migraine. None have investigated the temporal relationship between onset of abuse and of migraine. Methods We analyzed data from 14,356 adults aged 24–32 years in Wave 4, which is a cross-sectional subset of the longitudinal Add Health study. Participants were queried regarding abuse (emotional, physical and sexual) during childhood, diagnosis of migraine, depression and anxiety by healthcare providers, and symptoms of current depression. We used logistic regression to estimate the association between childhood abuse and migraine, controlling for socio-demographic factors, current depression, and lifetime diagnosis of anxiety and depression. Results About 14% (n = 2040) of respondents reported migraine. Participants with migraine (vs no migraine) reported significantly higher rates of childhood abuse overall (60.6% vs 48.9%), including emotional (57.8% vs 45.4%), sexual (8.4% vs 4.6%) and physical (22.4% vs 17.9%) abuse. Emotional abuse had a stronger association with migraine (odds ratio [OR] 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43–1.85) when compared with physical (OR 1.06; 95% CI 0.89–1.68) and sexual abuse (OR 1.06; 95% CI 0.93–1.68), adjusting for socio-demographic factors. The emotional abuse-migraine association remained even when controlling for lifetime diagnosis of depression and anxiety (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.19–1.57) and for current depression (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.30–1.67). The odds of migraine increased with increasing number of abuse types reported. There was a U-shaped distribution of odds of migraine associated with frequency of occurrences of emotional abuse, peaking at one time (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.34–2.03) and ≥ six times (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.49–2.10). Conclusions Emotional abuse during childhood contributed more than physical or sexual abuse to the development of migraine. There is a dose–response relationship with increasing number of abuse types associated with rising odds of migraine. In addition, the relationship between the frequency of emotional abuse and the odds of migraine follows a U-shape pattern.
Variations in Proteasome Enzymatic Activities in Plasma of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Their Value in Predicting Clinical Behavior.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is responsible for multiple pathways in cancer cells; proteasome inhibition causes rapid apoptosis of tumor cells. Three different types of peptidase activities have been reported for proteasomes: chymotrypsin-like (Ch-L), trypsin-like (Tr-L), and caspase-like (Cas-L) (postglutamyl peptide hydrolytic-like). Various proteasome inhibitors affect each of the 3 activities differently and at different concentrations. For example, NPI-0052 inhibits Ch-L and Tr-L activities at lower concentrations than does bortezomib, while bortezomib inhibits Cas-L at lower concentrations than does NPI-0052. These enzymatic activities are usually measured in normal or tumor cells to monitor therapy with proteasome inhibitors. Because rapidly proliferating leukemic cells pour their proteins, DNA, and RNA into the circulation, we developed fluorogenic kinetic assays using peripheral blood plasma. The assays used peptide-AMC (7-amino 4-methylcoumoran) substrates to measure Ch-L, Tr-L, and Cas-L activities. We measured proteasome activities in plasma from 188 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 58 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and assessed their correlations with clinical behavior. Significantly ( P P P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). Cas-L correlated strongly with survival in AML patients when used as an activity-dependent variable ( P P = 0.004). This was independent of cytogenetic abnormalities, age, and performance status. Patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetic abnormalities and Cas-L activity >3 pmol AMC/sec/mL had significantly shorter survival ( P = 0.04). Ch-L activity was also predictive of survival in AML independent of age and cytogenetic and performance status, but not independent of Cas-L. In MDS, higher levels of Cas-L, but not Ch-L, correlated with shorter survival and this was independent of cytogenetic abnormalities. The increased cell-free circulating proteasome activities most likely reflect the leukemic cells and may be a marker not only for disease, but also potentially for monitoring therapy. These data also suggest that patients with AML may benefit differentially from proteasome inhibitors depending on the specific therapeutic effect of the inhibitor.
Circulation of Grains During Ingot Casting

A novel method based on the use of a turbulent jet has recently been proposed to minimize the degree of centerline segregation in Direct-Chill (DC) casting of aluminum ingots. The functionality of this method relies on the ability of the jet to re-suspend solute poor grains which have settled to the bottom of the molten pool. To date, the presence of these grains has mostly been acknowledged by theory and post-mortem observations. Herein are reported results of a series of experiments designed to allow the sampling of grains in DC cast ingots with and without the use of a turbulent jet. Analysis of the shape and chemical composition of the samples are reported.
Currency Substitution and Price Endings: Right Digit Effect

ABSTRACTThe strategic manipulation of prices. rightmost digits has been a tactic used by retailers in the western world for decades. By studying the internationalization of pricing tactics in a global economy, our research adds a much needed contribution to the literature of price endings and pricing tactics in global markets. We find that at lower price levels, consumers exposed to a 99 ending price in a currency substitution market are more likely to purchase the product compared to consumers in the US market. At higher price levels, on the other hand, consumers in either market situation exhibit no change in purchase intentions. Thus, the 99 ending tactic has no effect on consumers when the product is expensive. The use of the right digit effect by managers in a currency substitution/ dollarized economy as a way of persuading consumers to buy is still likely to be more successful compared to the USA market. As such, firms in a dollarized economy should structure their pricing strategies while taking in...