cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The dielectric and reststrahlen parameters of MnO

Abstract Improved values of the static dielectric constant and refractive index of MnO derived from Kramers-Kronig analysis of reflectivity data are, at room temperature, ϵ 0 = 18.8 and n = 2.11.
Pancreatic stent placement for duct disruption

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of outcome after pancreatic duct stent placement for duct disruption. Methods: Patients were identified from endoscopy databases. Disruption was defined by extravasation of contrast from the pancreatic duct during endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. Data collected included demographic information, imaging studies, management before and outcome after stent placement. Success was defined as resolution of the disruption clinically, on radiologic imaging, and/or at endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. Results: Forty-three patients (23 women, 20 men; mean age 57 years, [SD] 15.2 years) were studied. The etiology of pancreatic duct disruption was acute pancreatitis in 24, chronic pancreatitis in 9, operative injury in 7, and trauma in 3 patients. In 25 patients there was resolution of the disruption, whereas stent therapy was unsuccessful in 16 and the outcome was indeterminate in 2 patients. On univariate analysis, stent positioned to bridge the disruption ( p = 0.04) and longer duration of stent therapy ( p = 0.002) were associated with a successful outcome. Female gender ( p = 0.05) and acute pancreatitis ( p = 0.05) were associated with a lack of success. On multivariate analysis, only the bridging stent position remained correlated to outcome. Complications occurred in 4 patients. Conclusions: A bridging stent is associated with a successful outcome after pancreatic duct stent placement for duct disruption. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;56:18-24.)
First Stereoselective Inverse Demand [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Novel Chiral Allenamides with Heterodienes. Preparation of Highly Functionalized 2-Arylpyranyl Heterocycles

The first stereoselective inverse demand [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of chiral allenamides with heterodienes are described here. These reactions lead to stereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized pyranyl heterocycles. A mechanistic model is also proposed here based on the stereochemical assignment and comparisons of stereoselectivities obtained from various chiral allenamides.
Streptolydigin Resistance Can Be Conferred by Alterations to Either the β or β′ Subunits of Bacillus subtilis RNA Polymerase

Rifampicin and streptolydigin are antibiotics which inhibit prokaryotic RNA polymerase at the initiation and elongation steps, respectively. In Escherichia coli, resistance to each antibiotic results from alterations in the β subunit of the core enzyme. However, in Bacillus subtilis, reconstitution studies found rifampicin resistance (RifR) associated with the β subunit and streptolydigin resistance (StlR) with β‘. To understand the basis of bacterial StlR, we isolated the B. subtilis rpoC gene, which encodes a 1,199-residue product that is 53% identical to E. coli β‘. Two spontaneous StlR mutants carried the same D796G substitution in rpoC, and this substitution alone was sufficient to confer StlRin vivo. D796 falls within Region F, which is conserved among the largest subunits of prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Among eukaryotes, alterations in Region F promote resistance to α-amanitin, a toxin which inhibits transcription elongation; among prokaryotes, alterations in Region F cause aberrant termination. To determine whether alterations in the β subunit of B. subtilis could also confer StlR, we made three StlR substitutions (A499V, G500R, and E502V) in the rif region of rpoB. Together these results suggest that β and β‘ interact to form an Stl binding site, and that this site is important for transcription elongation.
Alterations in taste thresholds in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract Objective Weight loss is a common occurrence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and efforts to increase energy intake are often unsuccessful. The objectives of this study were to determine if there were any taste threshold differences between normal-weight and underweight men with COPD, and to determine if there was any association between absolute and recognition taste thresholds and biochemical data associated with COPD. Design Cross-sectional comparative. Subjects/setting Potential subjects were identified by their physicians. Forty-six men were willing and eligible to participate. Subjects were given sets of triangle taste tests for 4 tastants: sweet, salty, bitter, and sour. Additional information collected included health history data and biochemical data. Subjects were classified as underweight or normal weight for comparison. Statistical analyses performed Independent t tests and one-way analysis of variance were used to determine differences between persons in the underweight (n=17) and normal-weight (n=29) groups, and the influence of confounding variables. Bivariate correlations were used to determine associations between tastant thresholds and biochemical indexes for the entire group (N=46). Stepwise regression analysis was used to determine significant variables in prediction of thresholds of the 4 tastants for the entire group (N=46). Results Underweight subjects had a significantly higher bitter taste threshold than normal-weight subjects (5.76 vs 5.10, P =.016). A significant negative correlation was found between absolute bitter and bicarbonate ( r =−.39, P =.01) and Pco 2 ( r = −.34, P =.02). A significant regression equation for absolute bitter taste threshold was determined ( P =.011) on the basis of bicarbonate values; and upon body mass index for bitter taste recognition threshold ( P =.031). Applications Recognition that patients with COPD may have alterations in taste that are associated with weight status and/or biochemical status can guide dietitians in their recommendations for meal plans targeting individual weight goals. J Am Diet Assoc. 1999;99:1536–1541 .
SLAVERY: ANNUAL BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT (2013)

For 2013, the bibliography continues its customary coverage of secondary writings published since 1900 in western European languages on slavery or the slave trade anywhere in the world: monographs,...
Stimulation of a myelinated nerve axon by electromagnetic induction.

A model of electromagnetic stimulation predicts the transmembrane potential distribution along a myelinated nerve axon and the volume of stimulated tissue within a limb. Threshold stimulus stregth is shown to be inversely proportional to the square of the axon diameter. It is inversely proportional to pulse duration for short pulses and independent of pulse duration for long ones. These results are also predicted by dimensional analysis. Two dimensionless numbers, Sem, the ratio of the induced transmembrane potential to the axon's threshold potential, and Tc/T, the ratio of the pulse duration to the membrane time constant, summarise the dependence of threshold stimulus strength on pulse duration and axon diameter.
WE-E-141-08: Measurements of Secondary Neutron Spectrum and Dose Equivalent From a 250 MeV Passively Scattered Proton Beam Using An Extended Range Bonner Sphere Spectrometer

Purpose: Secondary neutrons from proton therapy have a wide energy range, from thermal to the maximum proton beam energy, which can be as high as ∼250 MeV. Most measurements reported in the literature to date have either not included spectral information or were obtained using detectors with limited response to neutrons above 10 MeV. Therefore, the primary objective of the present study was to measure a secondary neutron spectrum from proton therapy using a spectrometer that was sensitive to neutron energies over the entire energy spectrum. Methods: We performed measurements using an extended‐range Bonner sphere spectrometer (BSS) with high‐atomic‐number shells placed within polyethylene spheres to increase high‐energy response compared to a standard BSS. Measurements were performed for a 250‐MeV passively scattered proton beam with a medium snout and closed aperture. All measurements were performed in air 100 cm from isocenter. Data were unfolded using the MXD_FC33 unfolding algorithm. The a priori spectrum for neutron unfolding was determined using the Bayesian statistical estimator methodology. We used Monte Carlo N‐Particle Code to calculate a response matrix specifically for this measurement system. Results: Total measured fluence was 8.36 ncm2Gy‐1 and included a low energy tail from thermal energies to approximately 1 eV (16% fluence), an evaporation peak from 1 eV to 10 MeV (69% fluence), and a direct neutron peak from 10 MeV to 250 MeV (15% fluence). The total ambient dose equivalent was 2.03 mSvGy‐1 with neutrons in the evaporation peak contributing the highest dose equivalent and neutrons below 1 eV contributing essentially no dose. Conclusion: We report both neutron fluence and dose equivalent spectra for a 250 MeV passively scattered proton beam. These data were measured with a spectrometer that is sensitive over the entire measurable neutron energy spectrum (thermal to 250 MeV) and thus could be a valuable tool for benchmarking Monte Carlo simulations. This research was supported in part, by the National Cancer Institute award 1R01CA131463‐01A1 (W.D. Newhauser, P.I.) and a subcontract of that award (R.M. Howell, P.I).
Automatically repairing broken workflows for evolving GUI applications

A workflow is a sequence of UI actions to complete a specific task. In the course of a GUI application's evolution, changes ranging from a simple GUI refactoring to a complete rearchitecture can break an end-user's well-established workflow. It can be challenging to find a replacement workflow. To address this problem, we present a technique (and its tool implementation, called FlowFixer) that repairs a broken workflow. FlowFixer uses dynamic profiling, static analysis, and random testing to suggest a replacement UI action that fixes a broken workflow. We evaluated FlowFixer on 16 broken workflows from 5 realworld GUI applications written in Java. In 13 workflows, the correct replacement action was FlowFixer's first suggestion. In 2 workflows, the correct replacement action was FlowFixer's second suggestion. The remaining workflow was un-repairable. Overall, FlowFixer produced significantly better results than two alternative approaches.
An EM approach to multiple-access interference mitigation in asynchronous slow FHSS systems

In this paper, we apply the EM algorithm for mitigation of multi-access interference (MAI) in asynchronous slow frequency-hop spread spectrum (FHSS) systems that employ binary frequency-shift keying (BFSK) modulation. MAI occurs if the hopping patterns of the users are not orthogonal. We show that when FSK signals arrive asynchronously, the time offset exposes portions of the desired and interfering signals in a way that can be exploited to improve the decoder performance. We develop an iterative detection, estimation, and decoding scheme to recover the desired signal in the presence of MAI. We compare the performance of this algorithm with that of a conventional noncoherent BFSK transceiver and show that the EM-based algorithm is particularly effective in the presence of strong interfering signals and allows more users in a FHSS system.
Testing zooplankton food limitation across gradients of depth and productivity in small stratified lakes

We examined the significance of vertical structure in lake plankton to grazer-resource coupling by quantifying how the intensity and mechanism of grazer food limitation varies with depth. We used Daphnia growth assays and also sampled resources (chlorophyll, particulate carbon, and phosphorus) and the day/night depth distributions of Daphnia spp. during summer in four depth strata of lakes that differ in trophic state. The growth assays included treatments with natural seston and seston supplemented with phosphate or Synechococcus, an energy- and P-rich cyanobacterium highly deficient in essential fatty acids and sterols. Results from growth assays and measurements of Daphnia P balance indicate strong energy limitation and weak and sporadic P limitation, despite seston C : P ratios in the upper depth strata above the predicted threshold for Daphnia P limitation. Growth improved with depth and was very high with resources collected from a deep layer of sulfur bacteria that was partially protected from grazing by low dissolved oxygen. Strong positive responses to Synechococcus supplements and high growth with resources from the sulfur bacteria layer are both contrary to limitation by essential lipids. The intensity of food limitation was independent of lake trophic state but was influenced by the quality of the deep-water refuge. Across depths and lakes, food limitation was dependent on Daphnia density; strong food limitation was associated with high Daphnia biomass ( .100 m gL 21 ) and Daphnia grazing .20% per day.
Using NLP to efficiently visualize text collections with SOMs

Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) are a good method to cluster and visualize large collections of text documents, but they are computationally expensive. In this paper, we investigate ways to use natural language parsing of the texts to remove unimportant terms from the usual bag-of-words representation, to improve efficiency. We find that reducing the document representation to just the heads of noun and verb phrases does indeed reduce the heavy computational cost without degrading the quality of the map, while more severe reductions which focus on subject and object noun phrases degrade map quality.
Preserved Coronary Flow Reserve Effectively Excludes High-Risk Coronary Artery Disease on Angiography

Myocardial perfusion imaging has limited sensitivity for the detection of high-risk coronary artery disease (CAD). We tested the hypothesis that a normal coronary flow reserve (CFR) would be helpful for excluding the presence of high-risk CAD on angiography. Methods: We studied 290 consecutive patients undergoing 82Rb PET within 180 d of invasive coronary angiography. High-risk CAD on angiography was defined as 2-vessel disease (≥70% stenosis), including the proximal left anterior descending artery; 3-vessel disease; or left main CAD (≥50% stenosis). Patients with prior Q wave myocardial infarction, elevated troponin levels between studies, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40%, or severe valvular heart disease were excluded. Results: Fifty-five patients (19%) had high-risk CAD on angiography. As expected, the trade-off between the sensitivity and the specificity of the CFR for identifying high-risk CAD varied substantially depending on the cutoff selected. In multivariable analysis, a binary CFR of less than or equal to 1.93 provided incremental diagnostic information for the identification of high-risk CAD beyond the model with the Duke clinical risk score (>25%), percentage of left ventricular ischemia (>10%), transient ischemic dilation index (>1.07), and change in the left ventricular ejection fraction during stress ( 1.93) excluded high-risk CAD with a high sensitivity (86%) and a high negative predictive value (97%). Conclusion: A normal CFR has a high negative predictive value for excluding high-risk CAD on angiography. Although an abnormal CFR increases the probability of significant obstructive CAD, it cannot reliably distinguish significant epicardial stenosis from nonobstructive, diffuse atherosclerosis or microvascular dysfunction.
Price-based unit commitment: a case of Lagrangian relaxation versus mixed integer programming

This paper formulates the price-based unit commitment (PBUC) problem based on the mixed integer programming (MIP) method. The proposed PBUC solution is for a generating company (GENCO) with thermal, combined-cycle, cascaded-hydro, and pumped-storage units. The PBUC solution by utilizing MIP is compared with that of Lagrangian relaxation (LR) method. Test results on the modified IEEE 118-bus system show the efficiency of our MIP formulation and advantages of the MIP method for solving PBUC. It is also shown that MIP could be applied to solve hydro-subproblems including cascaded-hydro and pumped-storage units in the LR-based framework of hydro-thermal coordination. Numerical experiments on large systems show that the MIP-based computation time and memory requirement would represent the major obstacles for applying MIP to large UC problems. It is noted that the solution of large UC problems could be accomplished by improving the MIP formulation, the utilization of specific structure of UC problems, and the use of parallel processing.
Towards Optimal Scheduling for Global Computing under Probabilistic, Interval, and Fuzzy Uncertainty, with Potential Applications to Bioinformatics

In many practical situations, in particular in many bioinformatics problems, the amount of required computations is so huge that the only way to perform these computations in reasonable time is to distribute them between multiple processors. The more processors we engage, the faster the resulting computations; thus, in addition to processor exclusively dedicated to this job, systems often use idle time on other processors. The use of these otherwise engaged processors adds additional uncertainty to computations. How should we schedule the computational tasks so as to achieve the best utilization of the computational resources? Because of the presence of uncertainty, this scheduling problem is very difficult not only to solve but even to formalize (i.e., to describe in precise terms). In this paper, we provide the first steps towards formalizing and solving this scheduling problem.
Miscible displacements in Hele-Shaw cells: Nonmonotonic viscosity profiles

The influence of nonmonotonic viscosity–concentration relationships on viscous fingering of neutrally buoyant, miscible fluids in a Hele–Shaw cell has been investigated. In a first step, quasisteady base states are obtained by means of nonlinear Stokes simulations. The properties of these base states are analyzed as a function of the Peclet number, the viscosity ratio, and the profile parameters. Subsequently, the stability of these base states is investigated by means of a linear stability analysis. Overall, the nonmonotonicity of the viscosity–concentration relationship is seen to have a much smaller influence on Hele–Shaw displacements than on corresponding Darcy flows. The reason for this difference lies in the nature of the respective base states. For Darcy flows, the base state is characterized by constant velocity and a diffusively decaying concentration (and hence viscosity) profile. This base viscosity profile is strongly affected by the nonmonotonicity. On the other hand, for Hele–Shaw displacements the quasisteady base states are convectively dominated and characterized by sharp fronts, so that their shape depends only weakly on the details of the viscosity–concentration relationship. Hence, for Hele–Shaw displacements both the eigenfunctions and the associated growth rates are quite similar for monotonic and nonmonotonic profiles, in contrast to the findings by [O. Manickam, G.M. Homsy, Stability of miscible displacements in porous media with nonmonotonic viscosity profiles, Phys. Fluids A 5 (1993) 1356–1367] for Darcy flows.
Who I Am and How I Contract: The Effect of Contractors' Roles on the Evolution of Contract Structure in University-Industry Research Agreements

In this exploratory study of university-industry sponsored research agreements, we investigate how organizational roles direct the relational learning of contracting personnel, which subsequently influences contract evolution. Integrating theory with comments from field interviews, we posit that as scientists gain contracting experience with an exchange partner their focus of attention on knowledge creation supports the establishment of a relationship based on technical competence, behavioral experience, and operational routines that cause the enforcement terms of subsequent contracts to become less detailed. We also submit that contract administrators, because of their focus on knowledge protection mitigating opportunism and enforcement, primarily accumulate joint governance experience and establish administrative routines that cause the enforcement terms of subsequent contracts to become more detailed. Rich content analysis of monitoring and intellectual property terms of sponsored research agreements supports our theoretically grounded hypotheses.
An O(N) method for the rapid analysis of periodic problems using Accelerated Cartesian Expansions (ACE)

The rapid and accurate analysis of electromagnetic (EM) fields in periodic structures is of tremendous technological interest in numerous sub-disciplines of the electromagnetics community. A number of problems exist in which many subwavelength features are packed into a single unit cell and tesselated over a plane to form an infinite array, ranging from conventional frequency selective surfaces (FSS) to more exotic structures such as metamaterials or fractal arrays [1]. Boundary integral methods offer one modality for the solution of the EM field equations wherein the periodicity of the solution is exactly guaranteed through the incorporation of a periodic Green's function within a single unit cell. These methods spawn dense matrices, which become a significant computational burden for heavily discretized systems.
Prognostic Markers in Thrombolytic Therapy: Looking Beyond Mortality

In the era of multiple new therapies (e.g., aspirin, beta blockers, thrombolysis, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, etc.) with the potential to improve outcome, the utility of traditional methods for predicting risk for adverse outcome after acute myocardial infarction (MI) is being reevaluated. Recent data suggest that heart failure, male gender, older age, and ischemia on ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring are the best predictors for increased risk of death or nonfatal MI. Exercise stress testing and ejection fraction determination provide little, if any, additional prognostic information. A new, highly promising strategy is to assess the degree of resolution in ST-segment elevation on repeated ECG monitoring following thrombolytic therapy. Studies have shown that failure to achieve prespecified degrees of ST-segment resolution within the first few hours of thrombolytic therapy is a reliable indicator of risk for post-MI mortality. Emerging data are also raising the possibility that cardiac troponin-T levels can be utilized as an important prognostic marker for adverse outcome in patients who present with acute ischemic syndromes.
Proficiency Testing in Determinations of Antiepileptic Drugs

Significant improvement In the therapeutic monitoring of antieplleptlc drug concentrations In the laboratories partlclparing In the Antleplleptlc Drug Quality Control Program has been observed. In contrast to the 1974 blind survey results where over 50 percent of the laboratories were unsatisfactory, a recent assessment of performance based upon results from monthly proficiency samples demonstrates that 88 percent of the laboratories were performing satisfactory phenytoln assays. The performance on phenobarbital prlmldone, carbamazeplne and ethosuximide assays also demonstrates a marked Improvement. Proficiency testing has significantly improved the routine of
Postpartum contraception: needs vs. reality.

Abstract Background The postpartum time is a unique time to address patient's contraceptive needs and provide education. There are little data to suggest the best approach to provide information about contraception after delivery. Study Design Postpartum patients in an urban university hospital were asked to complete a written survey on postpartum contraception. Participants were asked about contraception counseling offered both antepartum and postpartum. Participants were also asked if they would have elected to have an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted immediately after delivery. Participants were contacted 4–6 months after delivery regarding ongoing contraceptive use. Results One hundred seventy-five surveys were completed; 77% (134) reported discussing contraception antepartum, and 87% (153), postpartum. Thirty percent of women reported discussing IUD insertion at an antepartum visit and 31% reported discussing it in the hospital prior to discharge. Twenty-three percent (39) of women would have elected immediate post-placental IUD placement if available. Of the 59 patients who were able to be contacted 4–6 months after delivery, 5% reported using an IUD. Twenty-two percent (13) of the participants contacted at follow-up still desired an IUD, of which 62% would have elected postplacental placement, if available. Twenty-nine percent of women reported using no contraceptive method and 32% reported using a method which is not highly effective. Conclusions Prenatal visits and postpartum contact with providers create an opportunity to discuss family planning and contraception and most patients report receiving counseling. However, significantly fewer reported continued contraceptive use at 4–6 months postpartum. Initiation of postplacental IUD placement would be acceptable and would increase contraceptive use at 6 months postpartum.
Polysoaps. III. Polysoaps and related materials prepared by chemical modification of polystyrene

A detailed description is given of the preparation of an anionic polysoap, poly[styrene co potassium styrylundecanoate], or poly-K-SSU, by the following route. Polystyrene is alkylated with methyl undercylenate in the presence of aluminum chloride; the polyester is then saponsified. Only about 50% of the phenyl groups are alkylated; thus, the structure may be written: Products of molecular weight from 60,000 to 1,760,000 have been prepared. Another anionic polysoap has been made by alkylation with methyl oleate; here, only about 35–39% of the phenyl groups are alkylated, apparently due to steric hindrance. Nonionic polysoaps have been prepared by ester interchange of the unsaponfied methyl esters with methoxy polyethylene glycol. A sulfate ester polysoaps has also been prepared. The properties of poly-K-SSU have been studied in some detail. The solubilizing power, and the viscosity of the aqueous solutions, are comparable to ordinary soaps; but the surface tension of the aqueous solution is very close to that of pure water. The nonionic polysoaps are also good solubilizing agents, e.g., for cholesterol; possible medical applications are considered.
Domestic violence: Victimization, police intervention, and disposition

The data presented here are consistent with prior research conclusions and indicate that wives have been victims in domestic dispute incidents in the United States more frequently than other family or household members. Further, in specific instances where criminal complaints were initiated, it is shown that in these instances, arrest under the Domestic Violence Program produced the strongest association when wives were the victims. The police were likely to arrest offenders (1) when criminal complaints were initiated and (2) when intimate family members, rather than strangers, were victims. The data indicate that victims who did not initiate criminal complaints did not receive adequate protection or services from the criminal justice system, and criminal complaints initiated by wives received significantly more arrest-and-referral activity than did complaints initiated by other family or household members.
Mutational evidence for competition between the P1 and the P10 helices of a mitochondrial group I intron

A guanosine to cytosine transversion at position 2 of the fifth intron of the mitochondrial gene COB blocks the ligation step of splicing. This mutation prevents the formation of a base pair within the P1 helix of this group I intron--the RNA duplex formed between the 3' end of the upstream exon and the internal guide sequence. The mutation also reduces the rate of the first step of splicing (guanosine addition at the 5' splice junction) while stimulating hydrolysis at the 3' intron-exon boundary. Consequently, the ligation of exons is blocked because the 3' exon is removed prior to cleavage at the 5' splice junction. The lesion can be suppressed by second-site mutations that preserve the potential for base-pairing at this position. Because the P1 duplex and the P10 duplex (between the guide sequence and the 3' exon) overlap at the affected pairings represent alternative structures that do not, indeed cannot, form simultaneously.
Sustainable Multiprocessor Scheduling of Sporadic Task Systems

A scheduling policy or a schedulability test is defined to be sustainable with respect to a particular workload model if any task system represented in that model that is determined to be schedulable remains so if it behaves "better" than mandated by its specifications. We investigate the sustainability properties of global scheduling algorithms when applied to systems represented using the sporadic task model. We show that Fixed-Priority (FP) scheduling of sporadic task sets is sustainable under a variety of scheduling parameter relaxations, including decreased execution requirements, later arrivals, and deadline relaxations. It follows that all sufficient tests of global FP schedulability are sustainable for sporadic task systems. We show that the Earliest Deadline First (EDF) and Earliest-Deadline with Zero Laxity scheduling policies are sustainable with respect to decreased execution requirements and later arrivals. We also introduce a notion of self-sustainability, and show that many widely-used EDF schedulability tests are not self-sustainable but one is.
Strain rate imaging: an in vitro "validation" study using a physiologic balloon model mimicking the left ventricle.

BACKGROUND Strain rate imaging (SRI) can be implemented from digital ultrasound loops of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) data and is performed as an autocorrelation solution of the distance between intramyocardial targets. As such, it should have better resolution along longer distances of wall segments that are imaged at the length of individual ultrasound scan lines. METHODS We used a new left ventricular double-balloon phantom with a tissue-mimicking gel between the walls. Mounted in a water bath and connected to a pulsatile flow pump at four-stroke volume (30-50 ml/beat), the high frame rate, digital, multiple two-dimensional/tissue/TDI loops of balloon wall motion were recorded using a GE VingMed system FiVe (3.5 MHz phased array transducer), with the model scanned longitudinally from the apex. The strain rate (SR) values were measured at the apex and the lateral wall using an offline measurement program, and mean SR values for every 100 msec were calculated by averaging three determinations at each point. The excursions of the apex and lateral wall also were measured directly by high speed digital video imaging, and consecutive velocity profiles were calculated every 100 msec. A total of 40 data points for four-stroke volumes were analyzed. RESULTS While our balloon model had enough gel targets between the walls to produce a good mimic of myocardial speckle with walls that thickened and thinned, samples immediately across the apex and apex SR values (Hz) varied substantially. In contrast, systematic signals could be obtained from lines imaged >15 degrees from the true apex and crossing a longer length of myocardium. At the lateral wall, there was a close correlation between the video velocities and SR values, as well as a close overlap of the phasic patterns. CONCLUSIONS SRI produces more reliable data from wall segments parallel to scan lines.
Proton exchange membrane electrolysis sustained by water vapor

The current–voltage characteristics of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer constructed with an IrRuOx water oxidation catalyst and a Pt black water reduction catalyst, under operation with water vapor from a humidified carrier gas, have been investigated as a function of the gas flow rate, the relative humidity, and the presence of oxygen. The performance of the system with water vapor was also compared to the performance when the device was immersed in liquid water. With a humidified Ar(g) input stream at 20 °C, an electrolysis current density of 10 mA cm−2 was sustained at an applied voltage of ∼1.6 V, with a current density of 20 mA cm−2 observed at ∼1.7 V. In the system evaluated, at current densities >40 mA cm−2 the electrolysis of water vapor was limited by the mass flux of water to the PEM. At <40 mA cm−2, the electrolysis of water vapor supported a given current density at a lower applied bias than did the electrolysis of liquid water. The relative humidity of the input carrier gas strongly affected the current–voltage behavior, with lower electrolysis current density attributed to dehydration of the PEM at reduced humidity values. The results provide a proof-of-concept that, with sufficiently active catalysts, an efficient solar photoelectrolyzer could be operated only with water vapor as the feedstock, even at the low operating temperatures that may result in the absence of active heating. This approach therefore offers a route to avoid the light attenuation and mass transport limitations that are associated with bubble formation in these systems.
Ll-filters-a new class of order statistic filters

The Ll-filters are introduced to generate the order statistic filters (L-filters) and the nonrecursive linear, or finite-duration impulse-response (FIR), filters. Such estimators are particularly effective filtering signals that do not necessarily follow Gaussian distributions. They can be designed to restore one-dimensional or multidimensional signals corrupted by noise of impulsive type. Such filters are appealing since they are suitable for being made robust against the presence of spurious outliers in the data. >
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Serial Biomarker Measurements in Ambulatory Patients With Chronic Heart Failure: The Importance of Change Over Time”

We thank Drs Ballo, Bocelli, and Mondillo for their interest in our recent article.1 They raise an interesting issue relating to the finding in our study cohort that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was associated with adverse effects. They point out correctly that in several reports, CRT and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are associated with clinical benefit and that over time, as in our longitudinal study, a reduction in BNP levels occurs (CARE-HF).2 Thus, they express a concern that this known …
A Mutant Form of Human Protein Farnesyltransferase Exhibits Increased Resistance to Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors

Abstract Protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) is a key enzyme responsible for the lipid modification of a large and important number of proteins including Ras. Recent demonstrations that inhibitors of this enzyme block the growth of a variety of human tumors point to the importance of this enzyme in human tumor formation. In this paper, we report that a mutant form of human FTase, Y361L, exhibits increased resistance to farnesyltransferase inhibitors, particularly a tricyclic compound, SCH56582, which is a competitive inhibitor of FTase with respect to the CAAX (where C is cysteine, A is an aliphatic amino acid, and X is the C-terminal residue that is preferentially serine, cysteine, methionine, glutamine or alanine) substrates. The Y361L mutant maintains FTase activity toward substrates ending with CIIS. However, the mutant also exhibits an increased affinity for peptides terminating with CIIL, a motif that is recognized by geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I). The Y361L mutant also demonstrates activity with Ha-Ras and Cdc42Hs proteins, substrates of FTase and GGTase I, respectively. In addition, the Y361L mutant shows a marked sensitivity to a zinc chelator HPH-5 suggesting that the mutant has altered zinc coordination. These results demonstrate that a single amino acid change at a residue at the active site can lead to the generation of a mutant resistant to FTase inhibitors. Such a mutant may be valuable for the study of the effects of FTase inhibitors on tumor cells.
Cross-Layer Quality of Service Support for UWB Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks

Wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSNs) are networks of wirelessly interconnected devices that allow retrieving video and audio streams, still images, and scalar sensor data. WMSN require the sensor network paradigm to be rethought in view of the need for mechanisms to deliver multimedia content with a pre-defined level of quality of service (QoS). In this paper, a new cross-layer communication architecture based on the time-hopping impulse radio ultra wide band technology is described, designed to reliably and flexibly deliver QoS to heterogeneous applications in WMSNs, by leveraging and controlling interactions among different layers of the protocol stack according to applications requirements. Simulations show that the proposed system achieves the performance objectives of WMSNs without sacrificing on design modularity.
Ethnic Conflict and Civil Society: India and Beyond

Scholars have worked either on civil society or on ethnic conflict, but no systematic attempt has yet been made to connect the two. In an attempt to explore the possible links, this article makes two interconnected arguments. First, interethnic and intraethnic networks of civic engagement play very different roles in ethnic conflict. Because they build bridges and manage tensions, interethnic networks are agents of peace. But if communities are organized only along intraethnic lines and the interconnections with other communities are very weak (or do not exist), ethnic violence is then quite likely. Second, civic networks, both intra- and interethnic, can also be broken down into two other types: associational forms of engagement and everyday forms of engagement. This distinction is based on whether civic interaction is formal or not. Both forms of engagement, if robust, promote peace: contrariwise, their absence or weakness opens up space for ethnic violence. Of the two, however, the associational forms turn out to be sturdier than everyday engagement, especially when confronted with attempts by politicians to polarize the people along ethnic lines. Both arguments have significance for theories of ethnic conflict and social capital.
Baculovirus-mediated expression of recombinant rat phosphatidylcholine transfer protein.

Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein catalyzes in- termembrane transfer of phosphatidylcholines exclusive of all other phospholipid classes. Although postulated to par- ticipate in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and biliary traf- ficking in liver, the molecular basis underlying the substrate specificity of phosphatidylcholine transfer protein remains to be elucidated. Having demonstrated the inability of Es- cherichia coli to express recombinant phosphatidylcholine transfer protein, we infected Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells with recombinant baculovirus. When assayed in vitro, cytosol of recombinant but not control infected cells dem- onstrated high levels of intermembrane phosphatidylcho- line transfer activity and no transfer activity for phosphati- dylethanolamine. A two-step purification protocol in which 10 mg of cytosolic protein was subjected to anion exchange chromatography followed by hydroxylapatite chromatogra- phy yielded 0.1 mg active protein which was . 92% pure. The identity of purified protein was confirmed by matrix-as- sisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry and by amino acid sequencing. Based on the recovery of 30% of PC transfer activity after purification, we estimate that re- combinant rat phosphatidylcholine transfer protein ac- counted for , 3-6% of cytosolic protein mass of infected cells. These results demonstrate the utility of baculovirus for expressing recombinant phosphatidylcholine transfer protein and should facilitate studies designed to elucidate the structural biology and physiological functions of this uniquely specific phospholipid transfer protein.— Feng, L., and D. E. Cohen. Baculovirus-mediated expression of re- combinant rat phosphatidylcholine transfer protein. J. Lipid Res. 1998. 39: 1862-1869.
Acquiring Books on the Far East for a College Library

The following observations are based upon eleven and a half years of active participation in the building of the Oriental Library, now some 16,000 volumes, at Claremont. This activity was preceded by ten years of miscellaneous collecting and of discussion with faculty members and friends of the institution. The proverb about hindsight applies: the principles which guided us can be stated much easier now than when we began.
Vibration Learning and Control towards Vibration Actuated Robotic Systems

This paper presents in-process research and details vibration analysis of a single actuator that can be used for robotic navigation and locomotion. The key steps to potential success of this works are (1) static and dynamic vibration analysis of generalized shapes for robots, (2) studies on solid mechanics based vibration propagation into the structure of the robot, (3) development of active control schemes of vibration isolation for the robot's navigation and locomotion purposes, and (4) analysis, simulation and design of passive leg mechanism for vibration driven robotic systems. Here, the author introduces state-of-the-art vibration driven robotic systems in the field, basic equations for a simple off-centered rotation mechanism, model and simulation/test bed for vibration excitement, and introduction of active vibration control to one of control schemes for effective vibration isolation as preliminary work.
Afatinib Activity in Platinum-Refractory Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma in Patients With ERBB Alterations

PurposeSomatic mutations and copy number variation in the ERBB family are frequent in urothelial carcinoma (UC) and may represent viable therapeutic targets. We studied whether afatinib (an oral, irreversible inhibitor of the ErbB family) has activity in UC and if specific ERBB molecular alterations are associated with clinical response.Patients and MethodsIn this phase II trial, patients with metastatic platinum-refractory UC received afatinib 40 mg/day continuously until progression or intolerance. The primary end point was 3-month progression-free survival (PFS3). Prespecified tumor analysis for alterations in EGFR, HER2, ERBB3, and ERBB4 was conducted.ResultsThe first-stage enrollment goal of 23 patients was met. Patient demographic data included: 78% male, median age 67 years (range, 36 to 82 years), hemoglobin < 10 g/dL in 17%, liver metastases in 30%, median time from prior chemotherapy of 3.6 months, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 1 in 100%. No unexpected toxicities we...
Comparative Research on Winning Points Strength between Chinese and Oversea Elite Women Beach Volleyball Teams

By using the method of documentary,logical analysis and mathematical statistics,through the 2012London Olympic Games and the 2013national games in Liaoning women's beach volleyball match score data contrast analysis.The result shows that Chinese women's beach volleyball teams serve and attack scoring ability has reached the world level.To further improve block and defense technology is one of the most important.
Studies in porphyria V. Drug oxidation rates in hereditary hepatic porphyria

The mean plasma half-life (T1/2) of antipyrine was prolonged (21.69 +/- 1.92 hr) in a group of 10 patients with hereditary hepatic porphyria, 8 of whom had acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) confirmed by decreased erythrocyte uroporphyrinogen-1-synthetase (URO-S) activities and 2 of whom had mixed hepatic porphyria, in comparison to the mean of 20 normal control subjects (12.65 +/- 0.86 hr, p less than 0.01). Antipyrine T1/2 was especially prolonged in patients with a history of more severe symptoms, but there was no correlation with the degree of elevation in urinary excretion of the porphyrin precursors delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG). In 7 completely latent carriers of the AIP gene defect who had normal urinary ALA and PBG levels, the elimination rates of antipyrine from plasma were entirely normal. Phenylbutazone T1/2s were normal in 10 porphyric patients tested. These results demonstrate that the cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme system for oxidizing antipyrine, but not that for phenylbutazone, is impaired in some AIP individuals in whom the gene defect for the disorder is clinically expressed and that this impairment may be related to the severity of the disease. The partial decrease in URO-S activity characteristic of AIP does not result in a profound or generalized decrease in hepatic cytochrome P-450 function, however, even when there is sufficient derangement in the hepatic heme biosynthetic pathway to lead to excessive excretion of chemical intermediates in the pathway.
Resource Abundance and Social Spending: a Comparison of Democracies and Autocracies

While the democratization literature has argued that democracies are better at redistributing wealth than authoritarian regimes, the resource curse literature has proposed that autocracies manage to stay in power because of their ability to distribute resource rents. In this paper, I reexamine this question by asking whether resource rich democracies or autocracies are better at distributing rents derived from resource wealth through social spending. I find that while the level of rents from extractible resources has an effect on public spending on health, it has no effect on public spending on education.
Slender-Body Hydrodynamics

A most important topic beyond calm water hydrostatics is steady planing in calm water. If the hull lines are typically boatlike and slender, any boat section can be modeled approximately for hydrodynamic analysis as that of a two-dimensional cylinder of the boat local cross-section shape impacting the water surface in time. This is indeed a useful analogy, since cylinder impact theory is well developed and usually quite applicable to planing boat geometry.
Effects of drought and high temperature during maturation on preharvest sprouting of hard white winter wheat

Preharvest sprouting of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is affected greatly by conditions after ripening, but effects of conditions during maturation are not clear. The objective of this research was to ascertain the effects of drought and high temperature during maturation on susceptibility of wheat to preharvest sprouting after ripening. ‘Betty’ hard white winter wheat was grown at 25/20 °C day/night until anthesis, when plants were subjected to no drought (field moisture capacity) and drought (−1.7 MPa leaf water potential) at 15/10, 22.5/17.5, and 30/25 °C until physiological maturity. Drought had little effect, but high temperature reduced all yield components. Neither stress affected α-amylase enzyme, but high temperature increased polyphenol oxidase enzyme, probably by increasing the proportion of bran in kernels. Grain protein percentage and SDS sedimentation were highest at the intermediate temperature. The germination promptness index of the grain, a measure of the rate and magnitude of sprouting, was increased by drought and unaffected by temperature. We concluded that drought during maturation increased susceptibility of wheat to preharvest sprouting, and high temperature reduced yield and might reduce quality of grain for noodles by increasing activity of polyphenol oxidase enzyme.