cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ALLOSTERIC BINDING HEAT EFFECTS OF HbA AND HbM IWATE

Thermal titration of hemoglobin A and the α Mmet 2β2 species of the mutant hemoglobin M Iwate has been performed using CO gas and inositol hexaphosphate. A marked heat of IHP binding is noted for both CO ligated and unligated HbM Iwate, whereas a comparable heat is found only with unligated HbA. The observed heats of reaction show formation of a 1:1 complex and are highly dependent upon solution conditions. Specific ligand-linked heats of interaction, beyond proton ionization heats, are found for maleate, phosphate, sodium chloride, and sodium perchlorate solutions for HbA. Tris and bis-tris buffers give no indication of specific binding heats.
Spherical Nucleic Acid Architecture Can Improve the Efficacy of Polycation-Mediated siRNA Delivery

Clinical translation of small interfering RNA (siRNA) nanocarriers is hindered by limited knowledge regarding the parameters that regulate interactions between nanocarriers and biological systems. To address this, we investigated the influence of polycation-based nanocarrier architecture on intracellular siRNA delivery. We compared the cellular interactions of two polycation-based siRNA carriers that have similar size and surface charge but different siRNA orientation: (1) polyethylenimine-coated spherical nucleic acids (PEI-SNAs), in which polyethylenimine is wrapped around a spherical nucleic acid core containing radially oriented siRNA and (2) randomly assembled polyethylenimine-siRNA polyplexes that lack controlled architecture. We found that PEI-SNAs undergo enhanced and more rapid cellular uptake than polyplexes, suggesting a prominent role for architecture in cellular uptake. Confocal microscopy studies demonstrated that while PEI-SNAs and polyplexes exhibit similar intracellular stability, PEI-SNAs undergo decreased accumulation within lysosomes, identifying another advantage conferred by their architecture. Indeed, these advantageous cellular interactions enhanced the gene silencing potency of PEI-SNAs by 10-fold relative to polyplexes. Finally, cytocompatibility studies showed that PEI-SNAs exhibit decreased toxicity per PEI content relative to polyplexes, allowing the use of more polycation. Our studies provide critical insight into design considerations for engineering siRNA carriers and warrant future investigation of how nanocarrier architecture influences cellular-, organ-, and organism-level interactions.
Imperfections in Crystalline Solids

This textbook provides students with a complete working knowledge of the properties of imperfections in crystalline solids. Readers will learn how to apply the fundamental principles of mechanics and thermodynamics to defect properties in materials science, gaining all the knowledge and tools needed to put this into practice in their own research. Beginning with an introduction to defects and a brief review of basic elasticity theory and statistical thermodynamics, the authors go on to guide the reader in a step-by-step way through point, line, and planar defects, with an emphasis on their structural, thermodynamic, and kinetic properties. Numerous end-of-chapter exercises enable students to put their knowledge into practice, and with solutions for instructors and MATLAB® programs available online, this is an essential text for advanced undergraduate and introductory graduate courses in crystal defects, as well as being ideal for self-study.
Epistemology, Science, and Moral Practice

Two features of discussions on epistemology in the social sciences and education are examined. One is the depiction of science by its critics, the other is the separation of scientific inquiry and ethics. I describe science as very human and very fallible, but also very successful. Contrary to critics, science is not a search for eternal truth or an ultimate reality, rather it is tentative, self-corrective, and growing. Other anti-science arguments are also explored. The separation of ethics from the methods and subject matter of science by critics is seem as a fatal flaw. Ethical problems arise in concrete situations so that moral choices are contextual, requiring inquiry and reflection about options and their potential consequences. Here inquiry is directed toward the most desirable outcomes available.
Dynamic guidance for task-based exploratory learning

This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a new system to guide exploratory learning in arbitrary task-based domains. The system employs a knowledge representation borrowed from the field of automated planning to represent both the exploratory environment and the student's model of the tasks in the environment.
A Real-Time and Non-Cooperative Task Allocation Framework for Social Sensing Applications in Edge Computing Systems

Social sensing has emerged as a new sensing application paradigm where measurements about the physical world are collected from humans or devices on their behalf. A key limitation in the current social sensing solution space is that data processing and analytics are often done in a "backend" mode (e.g., on dedicated servers or commercial cloud platforms). Such mode ignores the rich processing capability of increasingly powerful edge devices (e.g., mobile phones and nodes in the Internet of Things). Exploiting such edge devices in the social sensing setting introduces new challenges to real-time resource management. In this work, we develop a Bottom-up Game-theoretic Task Allocation (BGTA) framework to solve the critical problem of allocating real-time social sensing tasks to self-aware and non-cooperative edge computing nodes. In particular, we address two important challenges in solving this problem. The first one is "conflicting interest" where the objectives of applications and edge nodes may be at odds with each other. The second challenge is "asymmetric and incomplete information" where the application is often unaware of the detailed status (e.g., energy profile, utilization, CPU frequency) and compliance level of the edge nodes. To address these challenges, we first design a non-cooperative task allocation game model to address the conflicting objectives of the applications and edge nodes. We then develop a decentralized Fictitious Play scheme to allow each edge node to make its own decision on which task to execute in a non-cooperative context. Finally, we design a dynamic incentive mechanism to ensure the decisions made by the edge nodes meet objectives of the application. We implement a system prototype deployed on Nvidia Jetson TX1 and Jetson TK1 boards and evaluate our task allocation framework using two real-world social sensing applications. The results show that our scheme can well satisfy Quality of Service (QoS) requirement of the applications while providing optimized payoffs to edge nodes compared to the state-of-the-art baselines.
Dynamic Mode II Fracture Response of PMMA Within an Aquatic Environment

Sheets of Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA) 3 mm thick are lasercut into rectangles, and then subjected to a high-energy impact while submerged in distilled water, to investigate the effect that submersion may have on mode II fracture. The experiment has been carried out using a compressed air gun, which launches a delrin projectile towards the PMMA test specimen. A unique apparatus was constructed, which contains and allows the test specimen to be suspended in distilled water, while the projectile impacts a buffer adhered to the test specimen. The buffer transfers the impact onto the edge of the test specimen. Transparent walls in the apparatus allow the use of ultra-high-speed photography (up to 10Mfps), and digital image correlation (DIC) to measure dynamic response within the specimen throughout fracture. Data collected was used to calculate critical stress intensity factor. Results are compared to those from experiments in which test samples are not submerged.
Performance of Deep Learning Architectures and Transfer Learning for Detecting Glaucomatous Optic Neuropathy in Fundus Photographs

The ability of deep learning architectures to identify glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) in fundus photographs was evaluated. A large database of fundus photographs (n = 14,822) from a racially and ethnically diverse group of individuals (over 33% of African descent) was evaluated by expert reviewers and classified as GON or healthy. Several deep learning architectures and the impact of transfer learning were evaluated. The best performing model achieved an overall area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC) of 0.91 in distinguishing GON eyes from healthy eyes. It also achieved an AUC of 0.97 for identifying GON eyes with moderate-to-severe functional loss and 0.89 for GON eyes with mild functional loss. A sensitivity of 88% at a set 95% specificity was achieved in detecting moderate-to-severe GON. In all cases, transfer improved performance and reduced training time. Model visualizations indicate that these deep learning models relied on, in part, anatomical features in the inferior and superior regions of the optic disc, areas commonly used by clinicians to diagnose GON. The results suggest that deep learning-based assessment of fundus images could be useful in clinical decision support systems and in the automation of large-scale glaucoma detection and screening programs.
On-Site Corrosion Diagnosis and Its Control by Electrochemical Techniques in Contemporary Built Heritage

Corrosion prevention of Built Heritage represents an important discipline within Heritage Science. Many metal materials have been widely used in antiques and contemporary art pieces, as well as Buildings and Construction. Conservation of metallic building structures is crucial because of cultural value and historical significance. This chapter is devoted for studying the use of electrochemical techniques for on-site corrosion monitoring. There is an increased interest in the area of heritage conservation due to its significance i.e., a strong commitment to maintain and preserve the conditions of the structures, its cultural value and structural integrity. From a Heritage Science conservation standpoint there is a need to establish new conservation strategies and policies, thus allowing to preserve the culture as a whole and the heritage identity. Identifying the current state of corrosion damage on contemporary built heritages is a crucial task that needs to be executed. Non-destructive and quantitative techniques for measuring corrosion are needed to detect the deterioration of structures at an early stage (to predict their residual life), and thus to decide what prevention or repair systems need to be applied. Electrochemical techniques provide virtually the only viable procedure for assessing reinforcement corrosion without removing the concrete layer. Electrochemical corrosion techniques are valuable non-destructive diagnostic tools used for evaluating reinforced concrete heritage buildings and structures, which can supply information for the restoration repairs. The expected outcome of the on-site application of electrochemical technique, is to identify the type of corrosion processes and mechanisms, which will establish a corrosion control and management protocol of existing contemporary buildings in order to ensure and guarantee its preservation.
Effects of Improved DNA Integrity by Punch From Tissue Blocks as Compared to Pinpoint Extraction From Unstained Slides on Next-Generation Sequencing Quality Metrics.

OBJECTIVES To compare the effects of two methods of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue harvesting on DNA quality and next-generation sequencing (NGS) quality metrics. METHODS DNA integrity number (DIN) and NGS quality metrics resulting from DNA extraction and sequencing of 199 sequential samples harvested via the Pinpoint Slide DNA Isolation System and the punch method were compared. RESULTS DNA extracted from FFPE tissue punches had higher DIN than that extracted from Pinpoint samples (mean ± SD, 6.18 ± 0.83 vs 5.09 ± 0.91; P < .0001), indicating less degradation. Lower DIN correlated with lower-quality metrics of NGS, that is lower percentage of unique on-target reads, average depth of coverage, and percentage of positions with coverage depth greater than or equal to 100×, 400×, and 1,000×. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated methods to harvest tissue from FFPE blocks may affect quality of DNA, which in turn has an effect on other NGS quality metrics.
Dynamic fracture and local failure mechanisms in heterogeneous RDX-Estane energetic aggregates

Local failure initiation mechanisms, such as the nucleation and propagation of multiple cracks, have been investigated in energetic aggregates with a viscoelastic estane binder and crystalline RDX grains that have been subjected to dynamic thermo-mechanical loading conditions. A dislocation density-based crystalline plasticity, finite viscoelasticity, dynamic fracture nucleation and propagation, and non-linear finite-element formulations were used to study crack nucleation and propagation due to dynamic, tensile mechanical strain-rate loading conditions in RDX-Estane energetic aggregates. The interrelated effects of grain boundary (GB) misorientations, porosity, grain morphology, dislocation densities, polymer binder relaxation, and crystal-binder interactions were coupled with adiabatic plasticity heating, thermal decomposition, and viscous dissipation heating to fundamentally understand and predict aggregate behavior and local failure initiation mechanisms. The predictions indicate that local failure occurs when cracks nucleate at the peripheries of internal porosity and subsequently propagate toward the viscoelastic estane binder where crack arrest occurs at the interface, which results in large inelastic deformations and temperature accumulations at the interfaces.
Conditional Process Analysis: Concepts, Computation, and Advances in the Modeling of the Contingencies of Mechanisms:

Behavioral scientists use mediation analysis to understand the mechanism(s) by which an effect operates and moderation analysis to understand the contingencies or boundary conditions of effects. Ye...
Using the Comparative Agendas Project to examine interest group behavior

The rapid expansion of the Comparative Agendas Project (CAP) has drastically increased data availability on the policy agendas of government outputs. These data are coded using a system to allow for valid comparisons in policy agendas across issues, time, and systems. However, less data are available for interest groups outputs, and that data have mostly been limited to the USA. In this paper, we propose methods for measuring the policy agendas of interest groups using the CAP system. Scholars can estimate the policy content of interest group activities by linking them to existing CAP datasets. These data can be used to compare the distribution of policy attention of interest groups and the institutions they attempt to influence. Because the CAP datasets are highly detailed and widely available, researchers can examine interest group activities at low costs. Furthermore, we discuss higher-cost methods of coding interest group policy outputs that may be of interest to scholars.
Modular 4D Printing Assisted by Dynamic Chemical Bonds

Modular 4D printing is achieved by assembling and welding the modules of printed self-folding structures containing dynamic chemical bonds, enabling multifunctional shape-shifting structures and devices.
Self-Inclusion Complexes of Monofunctionalized Beta-Cyclodextrins as Host–Guest Interaction Model Systems and Simple and Sensitive Testbeds for Implicit Solvation Methods

The validation of biomolecular computational approaches represents a critical step to assess their general reliability and possible fields of application. However, it requires a combined selection of protocols and representative model systems which needs great attention, since both choices can bias the results, or alter the method sensitivity to the numerous parameters that describe the systems. Here we propose the use of self-included monofunctionalized \(\beta \)-cyclodextrins (mf-\(\beta \)-CDs) to evaluate and compare solvation methods. For that end, we characterized the self-inclusion processes of three mf-\(\beta \)-CDs by molecular dynamics simulations performed with both explicit solvent and three implicit solvent implementations based on the generalized Born approach. In particular, we monitored the sensitivity to the different solvation models of the resulting trajectories and of several structural and energetic parameters usually adopted to study cyclodextrins or solvation methods. Our results confirmed that mf-\(\beta \)-CD are useful testbeds to compare solvation approaches because their properties are particularly affected by the relative stabilities of hydrophobic versus polar interactions and by energy contributions implicitly or explicitly dependent on exposed molecular surfaces.
Linking Spatial Patterns of Adult and Seed Diversity Across the Depth Gradient in the Seagrass Zostera marina L.

Sexual reproduction is the primary source of genotypic diversity in seagrass meadows, with important implications for both the evolutionary potential and ecological function of these habitats. However, relatively little is known about seagrass pollination dynamics or how genetic diversity in life history stage may influence genetic diversity in another. We used microsatellite DNA markers to assess how genetic diversity of adult shoots and seeds covaried across the depth gradient in two Zostera marina L. (eelgrass) meadows in Massachusetts (USA). Despite strong spatial patterns in the density of reproductive shoots and genetic evidence for limited pollen dispersal, we found modest corresponding variation in outcrossing rates and paternal diversity. Across spatial scales from quadrats to sites, there was a positive association between the density of flowering shoots and clonal richness; however, other measures of diversity (e.g., allelic richness and heterozygosity) showed weak or opposing patterns with reproductive effort, and neither flowering effort nor local genotypic richness of adults were good proxies for seed diversity. Self-pollinated seeds were significantly smaller than their outcrossed half-siblings, and our data suggest that selection against selfed seeds varies spatially within and among meadows, possibly due to high competition with vegetative shoots in the dense shallow margin. Understanding the processes that shape genetic diversity in seagrass populations is key to their conservation and management; our study highlights the challenges of inferring the contribution of sexual reproduction to population structure using a single metric or life history stage.
Identification of a WD-repeat protein that binds and activates the deubiquitinase UBP3 from Arabidopsis thaliana

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification of proteins that plays an essential role in many cellular processes. Ubiquitination involves the attachment of the small polypeptide ubiquitin to target proteins to control their activity or stability. As a reversible modification, E3 ubiquitin-ligases attach ubiquitin to proteins while deubiquitinases (DUBs) remove ubiquitin from tagged proteins. Revealing the mechanisms that regulate ubiquitination/deubiquitination is important for understanding how cells fine-tune protein activity to control important processes and pathways. It is clear in animals and yeast that WD-repeat proteins (WDR) bind to and activate DUBs. In plants, however, no interactions between WDR proteins and DUBs have been reported. Here, we used BLAST searches to identify plant homolog proteins of a conserved animal DUB and its associated WDR proteins. Based on these homologies, we predicted that Arabidopsis UBP3, a DUB involved in pollen development and transmission, forms a complex with the WDR proteins At2g37160 and LRS1. Indeed, these three proteins could be co-immunoprecipitated when transiently co-expressed as epitope-tagged proteins in plant cells. At2g37160 also interacted with UBP3 in the yeast two-hybrid system and could enhance the DUB activity of UBP3 ten-fold in vitro. These results provide the first evidence that plant DUBs, like animal DUBs, are regulated by WDR proteins.
Calcium-Sensing Receptor Contributes to Hyperoxia Effects on Human Fetal Airway Smooth Muscle

Supplemental O2 (hyperoxia), necessary for maintenance of oxygenation in premature infants, contributes to neonatal and pediatric airway diseases including asthma. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) is a key resident cell type, responding to hyperoxia with increased contractility and remodeling [proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) production], making the mechanisms underlying hyperoxia effects on ASM significant. Recognizing that fetal lungs experience a higher extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) environment, we previously reported that the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is expressed and functional in human fetal ASM (fASM). In this study, using fASM cells from 18 to 22 week human fetal lungs, we tested the hypothesis that CaSR contributes to hyperoxia effects on developing ASM. Moderate hyperoxia (50% O2) increased fASM CaSR expression. Fluorescence [Ca2+]i imaging showed hyperoxia increased [Ca2+]i responses to histamine that was more sensitive to altered [Ca2+]o, and promoted IP3 induced intracellular Ca2+ release and store-operated Ca2+ entry: effects blunted by the calcilytic NPS2143. Hyperoxia did not significantly increase mitochondrial calcium which was regulated by CaSR irrespective of oxygen levels. Separately, fASM cell proliferation and ECM deposition (collagens but not fibronectin) showed sensitivity to [Ca2+]o that was enhanced by hyperoxia, but blunted by NPS2143. Effects of hyperoxia involved p42/44 ERK via CaSR and HIF1α. These results demonstrate functional CaSR in developing ASM that contributes to hyperoxia-induced contractility and remodeling that may be relevant to perinatal airway disease.
Heart Transplantation in Adriamycin-Associated Cardiomyopathy in the Contemporary Era of Advanced Heart Failure Therapies

Abstract Background Adriamycin-associated cardiomyopathy (ACM) can lead to end-stage heart failure requiring advanced heart failure therapies. Objectives This study sought to provide post–cardiac t...
ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS OF THE RISE OF TELEWORK AS AN ADAPTIVE RESPONSE TO A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

The use of remote working options has saved jobs and reduced health risks inherent to the rise of COVID-19. The opportunity to use telework has allowed organizations to engage in operational activities by leveraging virtual teams' potential. Organizations offering workers to work remotely have become financial salvation for many workers during the pandemic, significantly since the pandemic impacted the U.S. economy so severely that more than since more than 57 million American workers have filed for unemployment government benefits in just 2020. While having a telework option is an assurance of organizational sustainability or continual employment, it represents a unique opportunity for exploration for employees, supervisors, and organizations attempting to adapt to this evolving level of complex change. This paper uses applied qualitative focus group research from a process consulting to explore the values and barriers that telework for a real estate title organization called XRO.
Flow instability thresholds in a natural- circulation loop

Flow instability thresholds in closed natural circulation loops predicted in terms of dimensionless parameters
Criteria for the Diagnosis of Benign Melanocytic Nevus

This first section is dedicated to the illustration of the most important criteria for the diagnosis of a nevus and of other benign melanocytic lesions.
A monetary model of balance of payments: The case of Venezuela

Abstract The monetary approach to the balance of payments has gained considerable appeal in the literature and is viewed as being concerned with the long run since it does not analyze the adjustment process of the balance of payments. The model developed in this paper is concerned essentially with the short-run implications of this approach and the model is applied to the case of Venezuela. The results were very encouraging for the monetary approach as the model was able to explain a great part of the fluctuations in the balance of payments of Venezuela during the period of study.
Botrytis Disease of Tea in Turkey

Botrytis disease of tea was reported for the first time from Rize, Turkey. The causal agent was identified as Botrytis cinerea based on morphological and cultural characteristics. Also, the species-specific PCR assays confirmed the identification of all B. cinerea isolates. The pathogen caused blight of shoots, buds, flowers and young leaves, shoot canker and leaf spots. The disease was observed in Rize central district and Derepazari, Camlihemsin, Cayeli, Pazar, Hemsin, Ikizdere, Ardesen and Iyidere districts.
Microwave resonance studies on Tm 3 + ( 4 f 12 ) diluted into single-crystal monoclinic YCl 3 . 6 H 2 O and Y 2 ( S O 4 ) 3 . 8 H 2 O

Both electric-dipole and magnetic-dipole microwave transitions have been observed between the ground and first excited nondegenerate Stark levels of ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}(4{f}^{12})$ doped into diamagnetic monoclinic ${\mathrm{YCl}}_{3}$.${6\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O and ${\mathrm{Y}}_{2}$${(\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_{4})}_{3}$.${8\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O. The zero magnetic field separation between levels, $\ensuremath{\Delta}$, is small enough (1 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) that microwave data can be collected using both $K$-band (\ensuremath{\sim}24 GHz) and ${K}_{a}$-band (\ensuremath{\sim}35 GHz) spectrometers. Experiments were carried out at approximately 1.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Orientation-dependence measurements were made of line positions, relative line intensities, linewidths, and line shapes. In many cases the angular dependence agrees with that predicted. However, at large angles between ${g}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}cos\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and the magnetic field we observed splitting of the hyperfine lines which we cannot explain. Values of $\ensuremath{\Delta}$, ${g}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}cos\ensuremath{\alpha}$, $\frac{{A}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}}{cos}\ensuremath{\alpha}$, and ${G}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ (the "electric" $g$ value) are reported. The magnitude of ${G}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$, 115 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 35 cgs units, is very large in comparison to values reported for other rare-earth ions in similar salts, but can be understood in terms of the experimental values of $\ensuremath{\Delta}$, and ${g}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}cos\ensuremath{\alpha}$ reported.
An adaptive feedforward approach to robot control

Robots are used in industry to lessen the manufacturing cost. They operate under circumstances which are subject to variability and therefore must be robust. The mathematics modeling of robots incorporates (i) adaptive control, and (ii) real time path generation.
Calcium and Calcium Magnesium Carbonate Specimens Submitted as Urinary Tract Stones

Of 8,129 specimens submitted as urinary stones from 6,095 patients, 67 from 15 patients were predominantly calcium carbonate or calcium magnesium carbonate (dolomite) by infrared analysis. Detailed study of 1 man and 4 women who submitted 3 or more such specimens showed that all were of aragonite calcium carbonate crystal form in 2 women and all calcite in the man. All 3 patients had a long history of nephrolithiasis preceding submission of calcium carbonate stones. There was frequent and often painful spontaneous passage of many small stones. Medullary sponge kidney was reported in 2 patients. Specimens submitted by the other 2 women included dolomite and quartz artifacts. Of the other 10 patients 4 had calcite and 1 had aragonite (possibly true stones). Five patients had artifacts with dolomite in 3 and mixed specimens in 2. True calcium carbonate kidney stones and calcium carbonate artifacts may be difficult to distinguish, and dolomite and quartz artifacts may require x-ray diffraction for clear-cut diagnosis.
Total synthesis of (+)-hanegokedial

Abstract The first total synthesis of (+)-hanegokedial ( 1 ), one of a large class of seco -aromadendrane natural products is reported.
On-plate electrochemical detection for thin-layer chromatography

Abstract Voltammetric electrochemical detection (ECD) coupled with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was demonstrated for the quantification of trace organic compounds directly on a TLC plate. the electrochemical detection solvent was a thin layer of aqueous potassium chloride. For undeveloped plates, detection limits for p-anisidine and p-phenetidine were 10 ng and 13 ng, respectively. Linearity was demonstrated over nearly 2 orders of magnitude. After development, detection limits increased by approximately a factor of ten. Advantages of this method over other quantitative TLC methods include sensitivity, speed, simplicity, and cost. in addition, this method is selective for electrochemically active compounds. Major sources of experimental error include spot size reproducibility, working electrode placement, and supporting electrolyte film thickness.
An intermediate neglect of differential overlap model for second-row transition metal species

An intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) model for elements of the second transition series is described. Values of exponents for the radial portion of the Slater basis atomic orbitals, the orbital ionization energies, and the beta (or bonding) parameters for these elements are reported. Use of the model to investigate equilibrium geometries, relative energy ordering of geometric isomers, spectroscopic transition energies, energy ordering of state wave functions of different symmetry, trends in dipole moments, and equilibrium stretching frequencies is reported. The results indicate that the INDO method is capable of yielding quality results for species containing atoms of the second transition series.
Physiological prediction of muscle forces—II. Application to isokinetic exercise

The successful application of a physiological model of the musculoskeletal system capable of accounting for nonequilibrium dynamic loading and predicting individual muscle forces in the knee is presented. The model incorporates rigid-body mechanics and musculoskeletal physiology. Unknown muscle and joint contact forces outnumber the equilibrium equations resulting in an indeterminant problem. Mathematical optimization is utilized to resolve the indeterminacy. The model is used to estimate individual muscle forces during isokinetic exercise. Five subjects were tested at speeds of 60 degrees/s and 180 degrees/s. A newly proposed optimal criterion, minimizing muscular activation, results in muscle force predictions which have significantly higher correlations with myoelectric activity than other linear and nonlinear optimal criteria. The results demonstrate that properly constrained linear programming methods do not limit the number of active muscles and allow for uniform recruitment of the active muscles.
A Surgical Technique for Serial Blood Sampling or Continuous Infusion of Adult Turkey Hens

Abstract A technique for cannulating the jugular vein of turkey hens is described. The procedure is relatively easy to perform with no deleterious effects elicited by the procedure. Cannulae have remained patent for up to 1 month.
Reduced Ratio of Afferent to Total Vascular Density in Mesial Temporal Sclerosis

Mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is the most common cause of drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy in adults. Despite nearly 2 centuries since the first reports of MTS, relatively little is known about its etiology and pathogenesis. Increasing attention has been directed toward the potential role of vascular abnormalities in MTS. We evaluated the hippocampal microvasculature in 9 MTS cases and 3 non-MTS controls using celloidin tissue sections and markers for total (collagen type IV) and afferent (enzymatic alkaline phosphatase) vessels. Tissue sections were assessed by light microscopy and quantified by threshold analysis of digital images and stereological analysis using the Space Balls probe. Although consistent alterations in the total microvascular density were not found, there was a significant reduction in the density of afferent vessels using both methodologies; these reductions were in areas CA2 and CA3 by image threshold analysis and in area CA3 using stereological measures of the ratio of afferent to total vessels. Increased numbers of string vessels (i.e. remnants of regressing vasculature) were also observed in Ammon's horn, suggesting vascular degeneration in the MTS hippocampus. These findings may help further our understanding of the pathophysiology of MTS.
Iterative Approaches To Computer Generated Holography

The iterative alternating projections onto constraint sets (POCS) algorithm is applied to the design of computer-generated holograms (CGH's). The performance of the resulting CGH's is compared to those designed by the non-iterative error diffusion algorithm and direct binary search (DBS), which is another iterative technique. Both iterative methods are distinguished from earlier iterative methods for CGH design by their ability to simultaneously control the amplitude and phase of the reconstructed wavefront.
Science Committee changes name

With the start of the 100th Congress in January 1987, what had been the House Committee on Science and Technology changed its name to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (see box, this page).
Electrochemical boriding of molybdenum in molten borax

In this study, molybdenum plates (99·5% purity) were subjected to electrochemical boriding in a molten borax electrolyte in order to synthesise molybdenum boride phases on exposed surfaces. Electrochemical boriding was carried out at temperatures of 900, 950 and 1000°C for a duration of 30–180 min at a current density of 0·5 A cm−2. Cross-sectional microscopic examination of the plates indicated formation of 20 to 50 μm thick boride layers, depending on process temperature and duration. These layers consisted of two distinct boride phases: Mo2B4·027 and Mo2B5. The boride layer cross-sectional hardness was in the range of 1900–3250 HV with 50 g load. The adhesion of the boride coating to the molybdenum substrate was determined by a Rockwell C indentation adhesion test machine. The boride layers produced due to the electrochemical boriding technique were thick, hard, dense, and homogeneous.
N-magnons via the dressing method

We review the construction of the N-magnon solution via the dressing method. The presentation is given along the lines of [C. Kalousios, G. Papathanasiou and A. Volovich, JHEP 0808 (2008) 095].
Atypical soil carbon distribution across a tropical steepland forest catena

article i nfo Soil organic carbon (SOC) in a humid subtropical forest in Puerto Rico is higher at ridge locations compared to valleys, and therefore opposite to what is commonly observed in other forested hillslope catenas. To better understand the spatial distribution of SOC in this system, plots previously characterized by topographic position, vegetation type and stand age were related to soil depth and SOC. Additional factors were also investigated, including topographically-related differences in litter dynamics and soil chemistry. To investigate the influence of litter dynamics, the Century soil organic model was parameterized to simulate the effect of substituting valley species for ridge species. Soil chemical controls on C concentrations were investigated with multiple linear regression models using iron, aluminum and clay variables. Deeper soils were associated with indicators of higher landscape stability (older tabonuco stands established on ridges and slopes), while shallower soils persisted in more disturbed areas (younger non-tabonuco stands in valleys and on slopes). Soil depth alone accounted for 77% of the observed difference in the mean 0 to 60 cm SOC between ridge soils (deeper) and valley soils (shallower). The remaining differences in SOC were due to additional factors that lowered C concentrations at valley locations in the 0 to 10 cm pool. Model simulations showed a slight decrease in SOC when lower litter C:N was substituted for higher litter C:N, but the effects of different woody inputs on SOC were unclear. Multiple linear regression models with ammonium oxalate extractable iron and aluminum, dithionite-citrate-extractable iron and aluminum, and clay contents explained as much as 74% of the variation in C concentrations, and indicated that organo-mineral complexation may be more limited in poorly developed valley soils. Thus, topography both directly and indirectly affects SOC pools through a variety of inter-related processes that are often not quantified or captured in terrestrial carbon models.
Review of nasal therapy: Update☆☆☆

The nasal mucosa can react in only one way to a variety of stimuli, i.e., with hyperemia, swelling, and hypersecretion. For that reason, there is little about the appearance of the mucosa in rhinitis to provide a clue as to the cause of the condition. Although we tend to divide rhinitis into allergic and nonallergic rhinitis arbitrarily, in most people it is unlikely to be all one or the other. Many clinicians have observed that patients with undoubted allergy problems affecting the nose react more strongly than normal people to a variety of nonspecific stimuli such as cooking odors, smokes, perfumes, chemicals,. newsprint, and the like. On the other hand, a number of people have chronically malfunctioning noses, with evidence from history, skin tests, or IgE studies of no more than minor specific allergy. At the extreme, the most thorough investigation fails to reveal any evidence of allergic problems. Whether we call such a condition chronic, nonallergic rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis makes little difference; treatment by specific measures for allergic rhinitis, such as immunotherapy, is unlikely to be helpful. On the other hand, there is a plentiful armamentarium of drugs that may be helpful , although unlikely to be curative.
Rapid electronic autofluorography of labeled macromolecules on two-dimensional gels

The feasibility of electronically locating and measuring tritium-labeled macromolecules directly on dried electrophoretic gels has been demonstrated. This new procedure eliminates the usual long film exposure in autofluorography and the attendant delay in processing and data reduction. An image intensifier and electronic camera tube are used to integrate the light produced by the tritium interaction with a scintillator incorporated in the gel. Preliminary results show that, compared to film, the exposure is reduced 100 to 1000 times. The response to low activity levels is improved, and spatial resolution is maintained. A proposed instrument could be used for measuring other isotopes as well as fluorescent and visible stains.
Hydration of Biological Macromolecules: From Small Solutes to Proteins and Nucleic Acids

A method that uses two- and three-particle correlation functions between solute atoms and water molecules to approximate the density profile of water surrounding biomolecules. The method is based on a potential of mean force expansion and uses X-ray crystallography, NMR, or modeling structural input information on the biomolecule. For small, hydrophobic solutes, we have calculated entropies of hydration using the predicted water densities that are in good agreement with experimental results., We have also predicted the hydration of the catabolite activator protein-DNA complex. The method is extremely efficient and makes possible the study if hydration of large molecules with CPU minutes.
Outline of forecast theory using generalized cost functions

The cost functions used to form forecasts in practice may be quite different than the squared costs that is often assumed in forecast theory. The impact on evaluation procedures is determined and simple properties for the derivate of the cost function of the errors are found to provide simple tests of optimality. For a very limited class of situations are forecasts based on conditional means optimal, generally, the econometricians needs to provide the whole conditional predicted distribution. Implications for multi-step forecasts and the combination of forecasts are briefly considered.
Purification and properties of aortic cholesteryl ester hydrolase.

The enzyme(s) present in acetonedried powder of rat and rabbit aortas, which catalyzes the synthesis and hydrolysis of cholesteryl ester, was purified partially by acid precipitation, acetone fractionation, 0-(diethylaminoethyl) cellulose chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 filtration. The synthetic activity was purified by 120-fold (rat) and 140-fold (rabbit). Purification of hydrolytic activity was 90-fold (rat) and 103-fold (rabbit). Cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity was separated from nonspecific, esterase by column chromatography. Both synthetic and the hydrolytic activities are apprently the functions of one enzyme. The mol wt of the enzyme was estimated to be 140,000 dalton as determined by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The extracts of the acetone-dired powders of aortas of both species contained an inhibitor of synthetic activity. The inhibitor was nondialyzable and was precipitated at pH 5.7 Both activities were found to be fairly nonspecific with regard to sterol and fatty acids. With oleic acid, the relative rates of sterol ester synthesis were: cholesterol, 100; cholestanol, 94; desmosterol, 35; corprostanol, 24; ergosterol, 20; and β-sitosterol, 19. Epicholesterol was not esterified. Oleic acid was most active in cholesteryl ester synthesis, the relative rates being: oleic>linoleic>arachidonic>palmitic>stearic>butyric. The rate of hydrolysis was maximum with cholesteryl linoleate followed by oleate, linolenate, palmitate, stearate and laurate in decreasing order.
Appalachian versus non-Appalachian U.S. traffic fatalities, 2008-2010.

Abstract Purpose Although myriad health disparities exist in Appalachia, limited research has examined traffic fatalities in the region. This study compared traffic fatality rates in Appalachia and the non-Appalachian United States. Methods Fatality Analysis Reporting System and Census data from 2008 through 2010 were used to calculate traffic fatality rates. Poisson models were used to estimate unadjusted (rate ratio [RR]) and adjusted rate ratios, controlling for age, gender, and county-specific population density levels. Results The Appalachian traffic fatality rate was 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–1.47) higher than the non-Appalachian rate. Although only 29% of fatalities occur in rural counties in non-Appalachia versus 48% in Appalachia, rates in rural counties were similar (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95–1.00). However, the rate for urban, Appalachian counties was 42% (95% CI, 1.38–1.45) higher than among urban, non-Appalachian counties. Appalachian rates were higher for passenger vehicle drivers, motorcyclists, and all terrain vehicle riders, regardless of rurality, as well as for passenger vehicle passengers overall and for urban counties. Conversely, Appalachia experienced lower rates among pedestrians and bicyclists, regardless of rurality. Conclusions Disparities in traffic fatality rates exist in Appalachia. Although elevated rates are partially explained by the proportion of residents living in rural settings, overall rates in urban Appalachia were consistently higher than in urban non-Appalachia.
A Nucleoprotein Complex containing CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein β Interacts with an Insulin Response Sequence in the Insulin-like Growth Factor-binding Protein-1 Gene and Contributes to Insulin-regulated Gene Expression

Highly related insulin response sequences (IRSs) mediate effects of insulin on the expression of multiple genes in the liver, including insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Gel shift studies reveal that oligonucleotide probes containing an IRS from the IGFBP-1 or PEPCK gene form a similar complex with hepatic nuclear proteins. Unlabeled competitors containing the IGFBP-1 or PEPCK IRS or a binding site for C/EBP proteins inhibit the formation of this complex. Antibody against C/EBPβ (but not other C/EBP proteins) supershifts this complex, and Western blotting of affinity purified proteins confirms that C/EBPβ is present in this complex. Studies with affinity purified and recombinant protein indicate that C/EBPβ does not interact directly with the IRS, but that other factors are required. Gel shift assays and reporter gene studies with constructs containing point mutations within the IRS reveal that the ability to interact with factors required for the formation of this complex correlates well with the ability of insulin to regulate promoter activity via this IRS (r = 0.849,p
Involvement of endogenous gibberellins in potato tuber dormancy and early sprout growth: a critical assessment.

The role of endogenous gibberellins (GAs) in the regulation of potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber dormancy was examined by determining: 1. changes in endogenous GA levels during natural dormancy progression, 2. the effects of GA biosynthesis inhibitors on tuber dormancy duration and 3. the dormancy status and tuber GA levels in a dwarf mutant of potato. The tubers (cv. Russet Burbank) used in these studies were still completely dormant after 98 days of storage. Between 98 and 134 days of storage, dormancy began to end and tubers exhibited limited ( GA19. Kaurene, GA12, and GA8 were inactive. Continuous exposure of developing tubers to inhibitors of GA biosynthesis (AMO-1618, ancymidol, or tetcyclasis) did not extend tuber dormancy but rather hastened dormancy release. Comparison of tuber dormancy and GA1 content in tubers of a wild-type and dwarf mutant of S. tuberosum ssp. andigena revealed a near-identical pattern of dormancy progression in spite of the absence of detectable levels of GA1 in tubers of the dwarf sibling at any time during dormancy progression. Collectively, these results do not support a role for endogenous GA in potato tuber dormancy release but are consistent with a role for GAs in the regulation of subsequent sprout growth.
Slider/disk interaction during the landing process

In rigid disk drives, slider/disk interface (SDI) wear should ideally occur only during the start/stop (S/S) process. Good S/S wear performance is crucial, but often difficult to achieve. This is due in part to a lack of understanding of slider/disk interaction during the S/S process. The intent of this study is to provide a thorough theoretical model to aid in our understanding of the slider/disk interaction during the landing process. In contrast to assessments in the literature, this model includes more rigorous surface characterization, the statistical nature of summit interaction, and the nonlinear rarefaction effects in the modified Reynolds equation. In this paper, we present results of a baseline slider/disk configuration, together with a crown sensitivity study
Irreversibility, reduction, and entropy increase in quantum measurements

Abstract Using the strong subadditivity property of entropy, it is shown that the interaction of the measuring device with the environment brings about the reduction process characteristic of a quantum measurement. This entails an entropy increase which has an inviolable lower limit. This limit is found and explicitly calculated for illustrative examples.