cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
De Novo Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Formation Following Asymptomatic Sinus Thrombosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of dural arteriovenous fistular (DAVF) formation but studies supporting a causal relationship are rare. We report a 15-year-old male who developed a brief syncopal episode that was felt to be secondary to dehydration. A non-contrast computerized tomography (CT) scan of the head showed hyperdensities of the posterior superior sagittal and bilateral transverse sinuses. Magnetic resonance venogram confirmed the presence of diffuse CVST without cerebral edema, infarction or hemorrhage. Dural sinuses were partially recanalized after a six-week anticoagulation treatment. At 14 months patient was found with a left sided DAVF that was embolized successfully without complications. The presence of asymptomatic, minimally symptomatic or partially treated CVST may be implicated in the pathogenesis of DAVF. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jnr195w
Computation of the mean-square response of a stationary time-discrete system

A machine computational procedure for evaluating the mean-square response of an uncorrelated sequence excited stationary time-discrete system is presented.
Post-beamforming second-order Volterra filter for nonlinear pulse-echo imaging

In this paper, we demonstrate that a second-order Volterra filter (SVF) can adequately model pulse-echo imaging data acquired from tissue media. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the coefficients of both the linear impulse response and the second-order kernel can be robustly estimated from imaging data using pseudorandom binary input sequences. The validation of the SVF as an appropriate model for ultrasonic imaging will allow for more intelligent use of post-beamforming signal processing for enhancing image contrast and producing quantitative imaging.
Reconceptualizing functional brain connectivity in autism from a developmental perspective

While there is almost universal agreement amongst researchers that autism is associated with alterations in brain connectivity, the precise nature of these alterations continues to be debated. Theoretical and empirical work is beginning to reveal that autism is associated with a complex functional phenotype characterized by both hypo- and hyper-connectivity of large-scale brain systems. It is not yet understood why such conflicting patterns of brain connectivity are observed across different studies, and the factors contributing to these heterogeneous findings have not been identified. Develoopmental changes in functional connectivity have received inadequate attention to date. We propose that discrepancies between findings of autism related hypo-connectivity and hyper-connectivity might be reconciled by taking developmental changes into account. We review neuroimaging studies of autism, with an emphasis on functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of intrinsic functional connectivity in children, adolescents and adults. The consistent pattern emerging across several studies is that while intrinsic functional connectivity in adolescents and adults with autism is generally reduced compared with age-matched controls, functional connectivity in younger children with the disorder appears to be increased. We suggest that by placing recent empirical findings within a developmental framework, and explicitly characterizing age and pubertal stage in future work, it may be possible to resolve conflicting findings of hypo- and hyper-connectivity in the extant literature and arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the neurobiology of autism.
Replacement of BF 4 - by PF 6 - makes Selectfluor greener

Abstract A combination of F-TEDA-PF 6 and CuBr (0.1 equiv.) provides a potent oxidant that readily oxidizes amides to provide imides at room temperature. Replacement of BF 4 − , the anion of Selectfluor (F-TEDA-BF 4 ), by PF 6 − , dramatically reduces CuBr loading in this oxidative reaction. A possible rationale for this dramatic counterion effect is provided.
Determinants of postacute care discharge destination after dysvascular lower limb amputation.

Objective To examine the factors affecting postacute care discharge decisions among persons undergoing major lower limb amputations as a result of dysvascular causes. Design A population-based, multicenter prospective study. Setting Eighteen participating hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, served as the referral base for this study. Patients The study population consisted of patients aged 21 years or older who underwent a major (foot or higher level) lower limb amputation as a result of dysvascular causes. Methods Patients were identified and recruited during their acute hospital admission at one of the participating hospitals. Data were drawn from (1) acute care medical chart reviews; (2) surveys administered shortly after patients underwent amputation, while they were receiving acute care, that assessed their function the month before amputation and other demographic and social information; and (3) a 6-month follow-up telephone interview. Main Outcome Measures The outcome of interest was the postacute discharge setting in which the initial rehabilitation services, if any, were delivered to the patient during the reference period of 6 months after index amputation surgery. Discharge to alternative postacute settings—inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), skilled nursing facility (SNF, reference category), and home—were contrasted with use of t - and χ 2 test statistics. A 3-category, multinominal logit model was used to examine the independent effects of sociodemographic, geographic, health, and amputation-related characteristics on the likelihood of discharge to alternative settings. Results A total of 348 patients consented to participate in the study, with an overall participation rate of 87.1%. One hundred ninety-two patients (55.2%) were discharged to an IRF, 73 (21%) were discharged to an SNF, and 83 (23.8%) were discharged directly home. The mean age of the sample was 63.7 years; the majority (59.2%) were men, and more than one quarter African Americans. More than half of those reporting were poor (income Conclusion Postacute care decisions largely appear to be made on the basis of medical and family support factors. The findings of this research provide a necessary first step in the challenging task of assessing and quantitatively modeling the long-term functional outcomes of persons who receive postacute care in alternative settings by allowing more optimal case mix adjustment for factors that simultaneously influence rehabilitation setting and outcomes.
Aromatase and 5β‐reductase activity in cultures of developing zebra finch brain: An investigation of sex and regional differences

Estrogen treatment of hatchling female zebra finches causes the masculine development of singing behavior and of the telencephalic brain regions involved in the control of song. However, early estrogen treatment of males also blocks masculine development of copulatory behavior, presumably controlled by diencephalic regions. In an effort to determine whether the differences in estrogen action are related to sex and regional differences in androgen metabolism (estrogen synthesis or androgen inactivation), we measured aromatase and 5β-reductase activity in dissociated-cell cultures made separately from the telencephalon, diencephalon, and also cerebellum of hatching zebra finches under a variety of conditions. Cultures from all three brain regions express high levels of aromatase and 5β-reductase activity. Comparisons between telencephalic and diencephalic cultures of the activity and kinetics of aromatase suggest that the telencephalic cultures convert androgen to estrogen more efficiently than diencephalic cultures, which might be important in the differential action of estrogen in the two brain regions. However, the activity of neither aromatase nor 5β-reductase was significantly different between the sexes in either telencephalic or diencephalic cultures. Thus, comparisons between the sexes do not support the idea that differences in posthatching aromatase or 5β-reductase activity account for the pattern of sexual differentiation of the song and copulatory systems. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Enthalpies of formation of strontium dichloride and of the strontium ion (Sr2+) in water and in 1 mol·dm−3 HCl, and an assessment of enthalpies of formation of alkaline-earth dichlorides

Abstract Measurements of the enthalpy of solution of SrCl2 in water and in 1 mol·dm−3 HCl solution lead to ΔHfo(SrCl2, c, 298.15 K) = −(832.7±0.9) kJ·mol−1, and to ΔHfo(Sr2+, aq, 298.15 K) = −(549.7±0.9) kJ·mol−1. Literature data have been assessed to calculate corresponding enthalpies of formation for the other alkaline-earth ions as well as the enthalpies of formation of the alkaline-earth dichlorides in 1 mol·dm−3 HCl.
Sublimation‐driven erosion on Callisto: A landform simulation model test

[1] Callisto's landscape exhibits widespread erosion from some non-impact-induced process, which is characterized by smooth, undulating dark albedo surfaces with isolated high albedo knobs that are remnants of crater rims. We develop a landform simulation model that incorporates sublimation erosion of exposed bedrock on crater walls, composed of ice-cemented dust, with non-linear mass wasting of the released dust and redeposition of the ice on convex summits. The model reproduces the essential elements of landscapes on Callisto, and lends strong support to the 1999 hypothesis of Moore and his colleagues that volatile sublimation causes slope-forming bedrock disaggregation and subsequent mass wasting while reprecipitation caps and armors local crests with frost.
Bordetella bronchiseptica responses to physiological reactive nitrogen and oxygen stresses

Bordetella bronchiseptica can establish prolonged airway infection consistent with a highly developed ability to evade mammalian host immune responses. Upon initial interaction with the host upper respiratory tract mucosa, B. bronchiseptica are subjected to antimicrobial reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), effector molecules of the innate immune system. However, the responses of B. bronchiseptica to redox species at physiologically relevant concentrations (nM-microM) have not been investigated. Using predicted physiological concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on low numbers of CFU of B. bronchiseptica, all redox active species displayed dose-dependent antimicrobial activity. Susceptibility to individual redox active species was significantly increased upon introduction of a second species at subantimicrobial concentrations. An increased bacteriostatic activity of NO was observed relative to H2O2. The understanding of Bordetella responses to physiologically relevant levels of exogenous RNS and ROS will aid in defining the role of endogenous production of these molecules in host innate immunity against Bordetella and other respiratory pathogens.
Jesterone dimer, a synthetic derivative of the fungal metabolite jesterone, blocks activation of transcription factor nuclear factor κB by inhibiting the inhibitor of κB kinase

Rel/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factors control a variety of cellular processes, such as cell growth and apoptosis, and are continually activated in many human diseases, including chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. Jesterone dimer (JD) is a synthetic derivative of the natural fungal metabolite jesterone, and JD has previously been shown to be cytotoxic in select tumor cell lines. In this report, we demonstrate that JD is a potent inhibitor of the activation of transcription factor NF-κB. Namely, JD inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α–induced activation of NF-κB in mouse 3T3 and human HeLa cells. JD seems to block the induction of the NF-κB pathway by inhibiting the inhibitor of κB kinase (IKK); that is, treatment of cells with JD blocks phosphorylation of IκBα, inhibits the activity of a constitutively active form of the IKKβcatalytic subunit, and converts IKKβto stable high molecular mass forms. Like JD, a JD-related epoxyquinoid (isotorreyanic acid) inhibits activation of NF-κB at 20 μM, whereas several other epoxyquinoids that are related to JD, including its parent compound jesterone, do not block activation of NF-κB at this concentration. Finally, JD inhibits both proliferation and DNA binding by REL-containing complexes in the human lymphoma SUDHL-4 cell line, and JD activates caspase-3 activity in these cells. In summary, these results suggest that JD induces apoptosis in tumor cells through a mechanism that involves the inhibition of Rel/NF-κB activity and demonstrate the usefulness of assessing the bioactivity of synthetic derivatives of natural products.
Molecular isotopic and biochemical evidence of the origin and diagenesis of shell organic material

Molecular data from shell matrix proteins provide new possibilities for delineating biomolecular changes in information-rich fossils. Protein separations for ancient and modern Polinices duplicatus and Mercenaria campechiensis suggest degradation of the hydrophilic fractioo and an increase in the charge of the hydrophobic fraction with time. A comparison of aspartic acid concentrations between the fossil and modern shells indicates a decrease (17.8 nmol/mg) in the hydrophilic fraction and an increase (0.5 nmol/mg) in the hydrophobic fraction. Consideration of this trend and the observation that δ 13 C values of amino acids from the hydrophobic fraction of the modern shell are higher than those of the fossil may indicate that some of the 13 C-depleted material from the hydrophilic fraction was reincorporated into the hydrophobic fraction during diagenesis. Loss of isotopically depleted products from the modern hydrophobic fraction is also likely to have taken place. Large differences (8‰ or more) in δ 13 C values of corresponding amino acids between hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions of the modern shell likely reflect variations in the extent of fractionation within unique pathways of synthesis. The ability to address long-standing questions regarding the history and origins of ancient organic material from fossils will require new or unique combinations of approaches such as those presented here.
Nonlinear Frequency Dependent Transformer Model for Electromagnetic Transient Studies in Power Systems

Transformer models for system studies derived without taking into account the frequency dependency of its magnetizing branch are not adequate for representing the transformer performance over a wide range of frequencies and operating conditions. This paper describes a procedure for taking into account the frequency dependent characteristics of the transformer based on an analysis of the electromagnetic field distribution within the laminations of the transformer core. A one dimension linear diffusion problem is analyzed. A simple linear equivalent circuit of the Norton type is synthetized. This circuit is an exact representation of the transformer at any frequency and for any type of excitation.
North American, Asian, and Indian haze: Similar regional impacts on climate?

[1] Pollution plumes recur seasonally downwind of the Indian subcontinent and Asian continent due to industrial and vehicular emissions, biomass burning, and wind-blown dust. These plumes have been well documented by field campaigns and satellite observations and the environmental implications of the “Asian Brown Cloud” have been widely publicized in a recently released UNEP report [UNEP and C4, 2002]. Recent field experiments, however, demonstrate that the U.S. pollution plume can be as intense (in terms of aerosol mass concentration, aerosol optical depth, and ozone mixing ratio) as those downwind of India and Asia affecting regional climate along the U.S. East Coast. The use of identical sampling protocols in these experiments has been key in eliminating sampling biases and making the data directly comparable.
Quantitative measurement of size and three-dimensional position of fast-moving bubbles in air-water mixture flows using digital holography

We present a digital in-line holographic imaging system for measuring the size and three-dimensional position of fast-moving bubbles in air-water mixture flows. The captured holograms are numerically processed by performing a two-dimensional projection followed by local depth estimation to quickly and efficiently obtain the size and position information of multiple bubbles simultaneously. Statistical analysis on measured bubble size distributions shows that they follow lognormal or gamma distributions.
An ultrastructural study of glomeruli associated with vomeronasal organs transplanted into the rat CNS.

Rat neonate vomeronasal organs were transplanted into the parietal cortex of littermates to examine their survival and the behavior of axon growth into the surrounding host brain parenchyma. After survival times of 10–100 days the brains were processed for ultrastructural examination. The transplanted vomeronasal organs (VNO) formed several vesicles lined with a sensory epithelium. From these sensory epithelia, VNO neurons leave the epithelium and enter the host brain. Transplant neurons grew axons that fasciculated into bundles surrounded by sheath cell processes and formed one or more fiber plexuses containing distinct globose or spherical-shaped glomeralar-like structures. The glomeruli consisted of nerve terminals between which existed asymmetric synaptic contacts. Rarely did we observe clear reciprocal synapses. The glomeruli also contained terminals that showed signs of degeneration, such as increased density of the terminals, clumping of mitochondria and multivesicular bodies. The glomeruli were not partitioned or subdivided by glial septa; however, glial profiles were interspersed among the sensory terminals. Transplant glomeruli also lacked periglomerular cells and had no definitive glial envelope. These results suggest that glomerular formation is not dependent on dendrite contribution of second order neurons or glial support, but rather on a complementary population of receptor neurons.
Thermal microactuator performance as a function of mechanical stress

We report on the effects of mechanical stress on thermal microactuator performance. Packaging processes such as die attach and lid sealing usually result in stresses on the die containing microsystems devices. While this phenomenon is known, quantifying the effects systematically is difficult due to challenges in controlling the resultant stress resulting from packaging. In this study, we use a four-point bending stage to apply loads of 12 lbf (53.4 N) in tension and compression to 11.5 mm by 2.9 mm samples. Thermal microactuators and stress gauges were fabricated using the Sandia 5-layer SUMMiT surface micromaching process and diced to fit in the bending stage. At each stress level, the vernier scales on the thermal microactuator were imaged in order to determine the displacements. Thermal microactuator displacements are reported as a function of applied current up to 35 mA at varying stress levels. Increasing tensile stress decreases the initial displacement and flattens the thermal microactuator displacement versus applied current curve. Raman spectroscopy and stress gauge measurements indicate that the stress range for the fourpoint bending stage experiments extends from 200 MPa tensile to -250 MPa compressive. Numerical model predictions of thermal microactuator displacement versus current are in qualitative agreement with the experimental results. Quantitative information on the reduction in thermal microactuator performance as a function of stress provides validation data for MEMS models and can guide future designs so that they will be more robust to stresses resulting from packaging processes.
S9, a 19 S Proteasome Subunit Interacting with Ubiquitinated NF-κB2/p100

Proteasome-mediated processing of thenfκb2 gene product p100 is a regulated event that generates the NF-κB subunit p52. This event can be induced through p100 phosphorylation by a signaling pathway involving the nuclear factor-κB-inducing kinase (NIK). The C-terminal region of p100, which contains its phosphorylation site and a death domain, plays a pivotal role in regulating the processing of p100. To understand the biochemical mechanism of p100 processing, we searched for cellular factors interacting with the C-terminal regulatory region of p100 using the yeast two-hybrid system. This led to the identification of S9, a non-ATPase subunit of the 19 S proteasome with no known functions. Interestingly, the S9/p100 interaction could be induced by NIK but not by a catalytically inactive NIK mutant. This inducible molecular interaction required p100 ubiquitination and was dependent on the intact death domain. We further demonstrated that the death domain is essential for NIK-induced post-translational processing of p100, thus providing a functional link between the S9 binding and the processing of p100. Finally, we provide genetic evidence for the essential role of S9 in the inducible processing of p100.
Nerves and genes

Work with single-gene mutations in a variety of organisms is yielding insights on how genes build nerve cells and specify the neural circuits which underlie behaviour.
A note on the effects of abnormally low temperature on the Carolina Marsh Clam

Populations of the Carolina Marsh Clam,Polymesoda caroliniana, suffered high mortality in southeastern North Carolina during the winters of 1983–84 and 1984–85. Adult populations in brackish marshes in the Cape Fear estuary suffered 33% mortality in 1983 and 38% in 1985. Some data suggest that more flooded areas suffered less mortality. A laboratory experiment found that some clams died after only 4 h exposure to 0 to −1°C. LT50 occurred after only 6.3 h and no individuals survived 24 h exposure. Cold intolerance is suggested as the primary limiting factor in its northern distribution.
Hemodynamic effects of experimental iron poisoning

The hemodynamic effects of severe iron poisoning were studied in five mongrel dogs. Anesthetized animals were instrumented with arterial, venous, and pulmonary artery thermodilution catheters. Iron intoxication was induced by orogastric administration of ferrous sulfate (600 mg/kg elemental iron). Pulmonary artery wedge pressure values were maintained near preintoxication values by saline infusion, and sodium bicarbonate (1.5 mEq/kg/dose) was given for pH less than 7.25. Hourly hemodynamic measurements were obtained for five hours. Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, pH, and heart rate decreased significantly ( P
“Information work” and chronic illness: Interpreting results from a nationwide survey of people living with HIV/AIDS

While there is a substantial body of research which describes how the HIV-positive community seeks and uses information, much of that work fails to consider these activities in relationship to the experience of living with long-term chronic illnesses. In this paper, we present results from our survey study on the information preferences and practices of the HIV-positive community. We compare our results to previous findings on the HIV-positive community and people living with another chronic condition, multiple sclerosis (MS). Applying the chronic illness trajectory model developed by Juliet Corbin and Anselm Strauss, we examine what this body of research tells us about the management of “information work.” We identify the information sources that are most important, the attributes of information that influence its use, and the tensions inherent in managing information in the day-to-day lives of the chronically ill. By extending Corbin and Strauss’s model to the aspects of information emphasized across studies, we begin to articulate the fundamental nature of information work in living with chronic illnesses and how information services can be more responsive to the needs of the chronically ill.
Telephone Triage: A Challenge for Practicing Midwives

Telephone triage is the process by which a health care provider communicates with a client via the telephone and, thereby, assesses the presenting concerns, develops a working diagnosis, and determines a suitable plan of management. Determination of the seriousness of the situation will dictate whether a client can be cared for at a distance or whether a more comprehensive in-person evaluation is in order. The process of telephone triage is fraught with potential problems, including difficulty in establishing a reliable database, environmental distractions, cost concerns, liability issues, and, frequently, inadequate documentation. This article will describe an approach to these concerns by discussing the use of appropriate communication techniques, the development of a working diagnosis, the establishment of a plan of intervention, and the appropriate documentation of care. Such steps will go far toward diminishing the growing legal threats that arise to midwives who utilize this technology to render care to their patients.
Suppression of bile acid synthesis by thyroid hormone in primary human hepatocytes.

AIM: It is known that thyroid hormones alter the bile acid metabolism in humans, however the effect on individual enzymes has been difficult to elucidate. This is mainly due to the lack of human liver cell lines producing bile acids. We used cultures of primary human hepatocytes to study the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) on bile acid synthesis. METHODS: Primary hepatocytes were isolated from liver tissue obtained from three different patients undergoing liver resection due to underlying malignancy. The hepatocytes were cultured under serum-free conditions and treated from d 1 to d 5 with culture containing 0.1 1000 nmol/L of T3. Bile acid formation and mRNA levels of key enzymes were analysed. RESULTS: The lowest concentration of T3 decreased cholic acid (CA) formation to 43%-53% of controls and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) to 52%-75% of controls on d 5. The highest dose further decreased CA formation to 16%-48% of controls while CDCA formation remained at 50%-117% of controls. Expression of mRNA levels of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and sterol 12α-hydroxylase (CYP8B1) dose-dependently decreased. Sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) levels also decreased, but not to the same extent. CONCLUSION: T3 dose-dependently decreased total bile acid formation in parallel with decreased expression of CYP7A1 and CYP8B1. CA formation is inhibited to a higher degree than CDCA, resulting in a marked decrease in the CA /CDCA ratio.
What Builds System Troubleshooter Trust the Best: Experiential or Non-Experiential Factors?

System troubleshooters keep important organizational systems operating. This study examines factors influencing system troubleshooter trust in their supervisors, contrasting experiential and non-experiential factors. Traditional research suggests that trust forms through interactional experience. Recent research indicates that initial interpersonal trust develops through non-experiential factors that are dispositional individual differences-related or institutional structural/situational. We found that both institutional and dispositional factors affected troubleshooter trust in the supervisor even after parties gained experience with each other. Quality of experience with the supervisor affected interpersonal trust, while quantity of experience did not. Surprisingly, institutional trust predicted trusting beliefs as strongly as did quality of experience. The study shows that both experiential and non-experiential factors are important to troubleshooter trust when parties know each other well.
Alkaline-Fermented Foods: A Review with Emphasis on Pidan Fermentation

Alkaline-fermented foods constitute a group of less-known food products that are widely consumed in Southeast Asia and African countries. They can be made from different raw ingredients. For instance, Japanese natto, Thai thua-nao, and kinema are made from cooked soybeans, dawadawa from African locust beans, ogiri from melon seeds, ugba from African oil beans, kawal from fresh legale leaves, owoh from cotton seeds, and pidan from fresh poultry eggs. In alkaline-fermented foods, the protein of the raw materials is broken down into amino acids and peptides; ammonia is released during the fermentation, raising the pH of the final products and giving the food a strong ammoniacal smell. Most alkaline fermentations are achieved spontaneously by mixed bacteria cultures, principally dominated by Bacillus subtilis. In other cases, pure cultures can be used. For example, Japanese natto is inoculated with a pure culture of B. subtilis var natto. Pidan is a special example of alkaline fermentation. Instead of using microorganisms, pidan is made using an alkali-treated fermentation. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is produced from the reaction of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), water (H2O), and calcium oxide (CaO) of pickle or coating mud. NaOH penetrates into the eggs, causing the physicochemical changes, color changes, and gelation. The appearance of pidan differs from fresh eggs in that the white becomes a semitransparent tea-brown color, and the yolk is solid or semisolid with a dark-green color. The nutritional value of pidan is slightly decreased compared with fresh eggs, but pidan has an extremely long shelf life and a pleasant, fragrant taste that is preferred by most people in Southeast Asian countries. In a small-scale laboratory study conducted by the authors, B. subtilis was not found in pidan. Four Staphylococcus spp. (S. cohnii, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, and S. warneri) and two strains of Bacillus spp. (B. cereus and B. macerans) were isolated from pidan. Staphylococcus spp. did not contribute to the fermentation and were considered contaminants.
High Frequency Combustion Instabilities with Radial V-Gutter Flameholders

tested over a range of overall equivalence ratios. The temperature and velocity profiles were mapped at varying locations downstream of the V-gutter system with and without secondary combustion. Dynamic pressure measurements were performed downstream of the V-gutter to characterize the amplitude and frequency of the instabilities and high speed imaging was performed to identify flame structure during the instability cycle. An overall equivalence ratio of 0.5 was found to have the strongest screech instability at 425 Hz at an inlet Mach number of 0.20 and inlet temperature of 750 o F for continuous V-gutter configuration. It was shown that the strongest screech instability occurs when vortex shedding from the V-gutter tips occurs at the same frequency as acoustic modes in the facility. Nomenclature M = Mach number p = pressure T = temperature φ = equivalence ratio D,L = V-gutter width f = frequency c = sonic velocity m,n = lateral acoustic mode number
Influence of atmospheric variations on photovoltaic performance and modeling their effects for days with clear skies

Although variation in photovoltaic (PV) performance is predominantly influenced by clouds, performance variations also exist for days with clear skies with different amounts of atmospheric constituents that absorb and reflect different amounts of radiation as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere. The extent of the attenuation is determined by the mass of air and the amounts of water vapor, aerosols, and ozone that constitute the atmosphere for a particular day and location. Because these constituents selectively absorb radiation of particular wavelengths, their impact on PV performance is sensitive to the spectral response of the PV device. The impact may be assessed by calculating the spectral mismatch correction. This approach was validated using PV module performance data at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for summer, fall, and winter days with clear skies. The standard deviations of daily efficiencies for single-crystal Si, a-Si/a-Si/a-Si:Ge, CdTe, and CIGS PV modules were reduced to 0.4% to 1.0% (relative) by correcting for spectral mismatch, temperature, and angle-of-incidence effects.
Inversion Medians Outperform Breakpoint Medians in Phylogeny Reconstruction from Gene-Order Data

Phylogeny reconstruction from gene-order data has attracted much attention over the last few years. The two software packages used for that purpose, BPAnalysis and GRAPPA, both use so-called breakpoint medians in their computations. Some of our past results indicate that using inversion scores rather than breakpoint scores in evaluating trees leads to the selection of better trees. On that basis, we conjectured that phylogeny reconstructions could be improved by using inversion medians, which minimize evolutionary distance under an inversions-only model of genome rearrangement. Recent algorithmic developments have made it possible to compute inversion medians for problems of realistic size.Our experimental studies unequivocally show that inversion medians are strongly preferable to breakpoint medians in the context of phylogenetic reconstruction from gene-order data. Improvements are most pronounced in the reconstruction of ancestral genomes, but are also evident in the topological accuracy of the reconstruction as well as, surprisingly, in the overall running time. Improvements are strongest for small average distances along tree edges and for evolutionary scenarios with a preponderance of inversion events, but occur in all cases, including evolutionary scenarios with high proportions of transpositions.All of our tests were run using our GRAPPA package, available (under GPL) at www.cs.unm.edu/~moret/GRAPPA; the next release will include the inversion median software we used in this study. The software used includes RevMed, developed by the authors and available at www.cs.unm.edu/~acs, and A. Caprara's inversion median code, generously made available for testing.
Central Roles for Potassium and Sucrose in Guard-Cell Osmoregulation

Osmoregulation in guard cells of intact, attached Vicia faba leaves grown under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions was studied over a daily light cycle of stomatal movements. Under both growth conditions guard cells had two distinct osmoregulatory phases. In the first (morning) phase, opening was correlated with K+ uptake and, to a lesser extent, sucrose accumulation. In the second (afternoon) phase, in which apertures were maximal, K+ content declined and sucrose became the dominant osmoticum. Reopening of the stomata after a CO2-induced closure was accompanied by accumulation of either K+ or sucrose, depending on the time of day, indicating that a single environmental signal may use multiple osmoregulatory pathways. Malate accumulation, correlated with K+ uptake, was detected under growth chamber but not greenhouse conditions, whereas Cl- was the main K+ counterion in the greenhouse. These results indicate that guard-cell osmoregulation in the intact leaf depends on at least two different osmoregulatory pathways, K+ transport and sucrose metabolism. Furthermore, the relative importance of the K+ counterions malate and Cl- appears to be environment-dependent.
The origins of sequence specificity of ethidium nucleic acid intercalation

The specificity of the intercalating dye ethidium for pyrimidine (3'-5') purine sequences in nucleic acid is studied. The known crystal structure of a complex of Iodo UpA with intercalated ethidium is utilized as a model for the binding. The energetics of the conformation changes from DNA-B to the intercalation geometry are examined for all possible dinucleotide pairs which could comprise the intercalation site. It is shown that differences in base-backbone interactions lead to sequence-dependent energetics of these conformational changes. Moreover, the calculated order of “unwinding” energies for different sites corresponds to the observed sequence isomer specificity for binding of ethidium to helical segments of nucleic acids. Thus the specificity appears to be largely a consequence of the different energetics of conformational changes within the nucleic acid sites. It is proposed that other intercalating molecules which require the same unwinding changes as ethidium will exhibit similar specificity.
Co-administration of the mTORC1/TORC2 inhibitor INK128 and the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL antagonist ABT-737 kills human myeloid leukemia cells through Mcl-1 down-regulation and AKT inactivation.

Effects of concurrent inhibition of mTORC1/2 and Bcl-2/Bcl-xL in human acute myeloid leukemia cells were examined. Tetracycline-inducible Bcl-2/Bcl-xL dual knockdown markedly sensitized acute myeloid leukemia cells to the dual TORC1/2 inhibitor INK128 in vitro as well as in vivo. Moreover, INK128 co-administered with the Bcl-2/xL antagonist ABT-737 sharply induced cell death in multiple acute myeloid leukemia cell lines, including TKI-resistant FLT3-ITD mutants and primary acute myeloid leukemia blasts carrying various genetic aberrations e.g., FLT3, IDH2, NPM1, and Kras, while exerting minimal toxicity toward normal hematopoietic CD34+ cells. Combined treatment was particularly active against CD34+/CD38−/CD123+ primitive leukemic progenitor cells. The INK128/ABT-737 regimen was also effective in the presence of a protective stromal microenvironment. Notably, INK128 was more potent than the TORC1 inhibitor rapamycin in down-regulating Mcl-1, diminishing AKT and 4EBP1 phosphorylation, and potentiating ABT-737 activity. Mcl-1 ectopic expression dramatically attenuated INK128/ABT-737 lethality, indicating an important functional role for Mcl-1 down-regulation in INK128/ABT-737 actions. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that combined treatment markedly diminished Bax, Bak, and Bim binding to all major anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 members (Bcl-2/Bcl-xL/Mcl-1), while Bax/Bak knockdown reduced cell death. Finally, INK128/ABT-737 co-administration sharply attenuated leukemia growth and significantly prolonged survival in a systemic acute myeloid leukemia xenograft model. Analysis of subcutaneous acute myeloid leukemia-derived tumors revealed significant decrease in 4EBP1 phosphorylation and Mcl-1 protein level, consistent with results obtained in vitro. These findings demonstrate that co-administration of dual mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitors and BH3-mimetics exhibits potent anti-leukemic activity in vitro and in vivo, arguing that this strategy warrants attention in acute myeloid leukemia.
Psychological consultation with substance abusers.

Previous work has documented that compliance rates of substance abus ers undergoing inpatient detoxification could be influenced by profes sional psychological consultation. The administrative structure has been previously described as well as a clinical/humanistic component within the administrative structure. This report describes the individualized psychological consultation. This consultative intervention is in accord with (1) the tripartite model of mental health which views the assess ment of pathology from the perspectives of the mental health prac titioner, the patient, and the culture; and (2) the recent advances with in self-psychology. A self-psychological model is suggested to under stand the detoxifying substance abuser, from a stage of loss of cohesive ness to one of personality stabilization. The hospital environment and persons within the environment provide both a framework and self-object functions (mirroring, idealizing, and alter ego) during detoxification. Research recommendations are...
Conceptualizing “War”: Consequences for Theory and Research

The purpose of this discussion is to focus on two problems that appear to have hindered the development of a solution to what Zinnes (1978, 1980) has termed the “puzzle” regarding the war proneness...
Comparing three methods for teaching Newton's third law

Although guided-inquiry methods for teaching introductory physics have been individually shown to be more effective at improving conceptual understanding than traditional lecture-style instruction, researchers in physics education have not studied differences among reform-based curricula in much detail. Several researchers have developed University of Washington--style tutorial materials, but the different curricula have not been compared against each other. Our study examines three tutorials designed to improve student understanding of Newton's third law: the University of Washington's Tutorials in Introductory Physics (TIP), the University of Maryland's Activity-Based Tutorials (ABT), and the Open Source Tutorials (OST) also developed at the University of Maryland. Each tutorial was designed with different goals and agendas, and each employs different methods to help students understand the physics. We analyzed pretest and post-test data, including course examinations and data from the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation (FMCE). Using both FMCE and course data, we find that students using the OST version of the tutorial perform better than students using either of the other two.
Turbo coded continuous phase modulation

Continuous phase modulation (CPM) provides an attractive option for spectrally efficient communications systems. Turbo-coding combined with CPM has the potential to result in a spectrally efficient scheme that is also energy efficient in that it yields low error rates at low signal-to-noise ratios. In this paper we consider the concatenation of a turbo encoder and a CPM modulator which can be decoded and demodulated iteratively. For demodulation of the CPM signal we consider a design based on the Walsh signal space. Multiple iterations of the turbo decoder, feedback of a priori CPM symbol probabilities from the turbo-decoder to the CPM demodulator and multiple iterations of this turbo-decoder/CPM demodulator operation enhances the performance of the system.
Penetrating knee injuries: The nail gun

Since the development of the nail gun in the 1950s, various reports cite injuries to the head, chest, abdomen, and extremities. Few of these reports mention any nail gun injuries to the knee joint. A total of 33 patients with penetrating injuries to the knee was identified. Of these, 13 had penetrating wounds caused by power nail guns or staplers. The average age was 25 years (range, 17-40). In 10 of the 13 patients, bone involvement (femur in 6, patella in 2, tibia in 1, and both femur and patella in 1) occurred. Treatment consisted of arthroscopy with irrigation of the knee and nail removal in 10 patients. The other 3 patients underwent arthrotomy in conjunction with nail removal and irrigation. No drains were used postoperatively. I.v. cephalosporin antibiotics were given initially in all cases and were continued orally after hospital discharge. Immediate post injury follow-up varied from a few days to 3 months. Six of the 13 patients were found for follow-up 10-33 months (average 19 months) post injury. All of these returned to full duty in the home construction industry. None developed an infection or needed additional surgery. Based on this series, power nail gun knee joint wounds should have tetanus prophylaxis, arthroscopic evaluation, and irrigation of the knee joint in conjunction with nail removal, i.v. antibiotics for 12-48 h, followed by a 10-day course of oral antibiotics. Unless cultures indicate differently, a first-generation cephalosporin is recommended.
Public beliefs about the preventability of unintentional injury deaths.

Abstract This report is based upon the results of a national random digit dialed telephone survey in which 943 adults were queried. Subjects reported the proportion of deaths due to motor vehicle crashes, falls, fires/burns, drowning and poisoning that they felt were preventable. On average, respondents believed that 56% of ‘fatal accidents’ were preventable; as were 62% of motor vehicle crash deaths, 53% of fall deaths, 67% of drownings, 62% of fire/burn fatalities and 70% of accidental poisonings. Logistic regression models predicting preventability beliefs differed according to the type of injury event in question, but socio-economic status and perceived alcohol involvement were positive predictors of beliefs related to all of the injuries under study. The ramifications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.
Kinetin Improves IKBKAP mRNA Splicing in Patients With Familial Dysautonomia

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is caused by an intronic splice mutation in the IKBKAP gene that leads to partial skipping of exon 20 and tissue-specific reduction in I-κ-B kinase complex-associated protein/elongation protein 1 (IKAP/ELP-1) expression. Kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine) has been shown to improve splicing and increase WT IKBKAP mRNA and IKAP protein expression in FD cell lines and carriers. To determine whether oral kinetin treatment could alter mRNA splicing in FD subjects and was tolerable, we administered kinetin to eight FD individuals homozygous for the splice mutation. Subjects received 23.5 mg/Kg/d for 28 d. An increase in WT IKBKAP mRNA expression in leukocytes was noted after 8 d in six of eight individuals; after 28 d, the mean increase compared with baseline was significant (p = 0.002). We have demonstrated that kinetin is tolerable in this medically fragile population. Not only did kinetin produce the desired effect on splicing in FD patients but also that effect seems to improve with time despite lack of dose change. This is the first report of a drug that produces in vivo mRNA splicing changes in individuals with FD and supports future long-term trials to determine whether kinetin will prove therapeutic in FD patients.
Stopping spyware at the gate: a user study of privacy, notice and spyware

Spyware is a significant problem for most computer users. The term "spyware" loosely describes a new class of computer software. This type of software may track user activities online and offline, provide targeted advertising and/or engage in other types of activities that users describe as invasive or undesirable.While the magnitude of the spyware problem is well documented, recent studies have had only limited success in explaining the broad range of user behaviors that contribute to the proliferation of spyware. As opposed to viruses and other malicious code, users themselves often have a choice whether they want to install these programs.In this paper, we discuss an ecological study of users installing five real world applications. In particular, we seek to understand the influence of the form and content of notices (e.g., EULAs) on user's installation decisions.Our study indicates that while notice is important, notice alone may not be enough to affect users' decisions to install an application. We found that users have limited understanding of EULA content and little desire to read lengthy notices. Users found short, concise notices more useful, and noticed them more often, yet they did not have a significant effect on installation for our population. When users were informed of the actual contents of the EULAs to which they agreed, we found that users often regret their installation decisions.We discovered that regardless of the bundled content, users will often install an application if they believe the utility is high enough. However, we discovered that privacy and security become important factors when choosing between two applications with similar functionality. Given two similar programs (e.g. KaZaA and Edonkey), consumers will choose the one they believe to be less invasive and more stable. We also found that providing vague information in EULAs and short notices can create an unwarranted impression of increased security. In these cases, it may be helpful to have a standardized format for assessing the possible options and trade-offs between applications.
Interstitial laser coagulation of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a minimally invasive treatment alternative

The use of minimally invasive treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have been introduced into the medical community. Over the last decade several minimally invasive treatment techniques have been approved for use. In particular, interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) has shown pomise as an alternative to the current gold standard, transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). Studies show ILC to have equal efficacy as TURP while causing less side effects. Future technical advances as well as increased physician experience with ILC could lead to the replacement of TURP as the gold standard in trestment of BPH.