cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Distributed Algorithm for Sensor Network Localization with Limited Measurements of Relative Distance

Sensor network localization (SNL) is to determine physical coordinates of all sensors in a network given global coordinates of anchors and measurable distances among sensors and anchors. The SNL problem is generally NP-hard due to its nonconvex constraints. Many relaxation approaches have been proposed for solving SNL, among which semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation is commonly viewed as an efficient method. However, since the rank constraint is ignored, the SDP relaxation requires a stringent graph condition to obtain the exact solution to SNL. In this paper, by considering the rank constraint, we solve SNL under a milder graph condition. To capture high efficiency and robustness, a distributed algorithm is also presented. We start with the centralized algorithm in which the rank constraint is converted into a linear matrix inequality and solved iteratively. Next, the SNL problem is decomposed into a group of subproblems and each subproblem is solved iteratively in a distributed manner. Furthermore, synchronous and asynchronous properties are analyzed for the proposed methods. Finally, simulation cases are presented to validate the improved localization accuracy, efficiency, and robustness by comparing to the state-of-the-art SNL method.
Transient Brachial Plexopathy (Stingers/Burners)

Transient brachial plexopathies, also referred to as “stingers” and “burners,” are common athletic injuries, especially in collision athletes. There are multiple proposed etiologies of stingers, with trauma to the upper brachial plexus or cervical nerve roots being the most important causative factor. Athletes with a stinger typically present with unilateral weakness or inability to move the involved upper extremity after a forceful collision. Along with upper extremity weakness, the athlete often experiences intense ipsilateral paresthesias or “burning pain,” consistent with the name of “stinger” or “burner.” Management of a stinger is often supportive with minimal intervention required. Imaging of the cervical spine is recommended when symptoms persist for longer than 1 h or in the setting of a recurrent stinger. Return to play decisions are influenced by the athlete’s clinical examination, history of previous stingers, or other concomitant neurological injuries. Clearing an athlete for competition after numerous stingers can be controversial, and this decision is influenced by multiple factors, including severity of symptoms, number of previous stingers, and degree of cervical spine stenosis.
Large Vessel Occlusion in the Acute Stroke Patient: Identification, Treatment, and Management.

Acute ischemic stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Historically, acute stroke patients were treated with intravenous (IV) thrombolysis. Patients with large vessel occlusions (LVOs) should be offered mechanical thrombectomy, with or without IV thrombolysis, in an extended window up to 24 hours of last known well. Both treatment options are the standard of care for a patient with an LVO. It is critical that the intensive care unit nurse understand new treatment indications for LVO strokes, and the priorities of nursing care with medical and endovascular intervention.
Structural Functionality Scale for Light-Framed Wood Buildings with Indicators for Windstorm Damage

AbstractA new, broadly applicable scale for measuring the structural functionality of light-framed wood buildings provides a foundation for progress in disaster and resilience research. Existing sc...
Ampullary stenosis and choledocholithiasis post Roux-En-Y gastric bypass: challenges of biliary access and intervention.

Abstract Background Ampullary stenosis following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is increasingly encountered. We describe cases of biliary obstruction from ampullary stenosis and choledocholithiasis to illustrate the associated diagnostic and interventional challenges with this condition. Methods We reviewed medical records of patients with prior RYGB who underwent a biliary access procedure or surgery for non-malignant disease from January 2012–December 2018. Results We identified 15 patients (4 male, 11 female; mean age 53.7 years) who had RYGB on average 11.7 years (range 1–32) years before diagnosis of biliary obstruction. Fourteen patients reported abdominal pain, 5 had nausea/emesis, 12 had elevated liver function tests, and 6 had ascending cholangitis. Mean common bile duct (CBD) diameter at presentation was 16.9 mm (range 4.0–25.0 mm). Operations included 3 transduodenal ampullectomies (2 with biliary bypass), 2 CBD explorations with stone extraction, 1 laparoscopic cholecystectomy alone, 1 Whipple procedure, 1 balloon enteroscopy with sphincterotomy, and 7 transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. All ampulla pathology was benign in patients who underwent resection. At follow-up (mean 15.4 months; range 0.23–44.5 months), 12/15 (80%) reported symptom resolution or improvement. Discussion Ampullary stenosis after RYGB presents challenges for diagnostic evaluation and intervention, often requiring multi-disciplinary expertise. The underlying pathology remains to be elucidated.
Abstract 1242: RAB20 is a stress-induced regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis

Mitochondrial homeostasis is tightly regulated via a combination of biogenesis and elimination via a form of selective autophagy called mitophagy. Given the importance of mitochondria for energy production, cellular redox status, and apoptotic signaling, the mitophagy pathway is of particular interest in cancer. While mitophagy has been reported to both assist and hinder tumorigenesis in different studies, the emerging consensus is that mitophagy supports tumor growth. Intriguingly, only a subset of the canonical autophagy machinery is required for mitophagy. Upstream regulators including ULK1, the phosphatidyl-inositol-3-phosphate (PI3P) effectors and components of the omegaosome DFCP1 and WIPI, and ATG9 are recruited to mitochondria independent of LC3. How these components are recruited to mitochondria and the mechanisms involved in engulfment/creation/scaling of the autophagosome around the mitochondrion are unclear. Here we report a novel role for the small GTPase RAB20 in mitochondrial homeostasis. Rab GTPases are master regulators of vesicle trafficking, templating membrane identity, coordinating vesicle docking, fusion, and cargo selection in concert with SNAREs and membrane tethers. Rab20 is normally expressed at low levels but can be induced by in vitro simulated metabolic stress (1% oxygen, glucose deprivation) or secondary to the stress of an actively growing tumor in vivo. Surprisingly, we discovered that silencing RAB20 in multiple Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cell lines impairs ischemia-induced mitophagy without impacting autophagic flux measured by LC3 lipidation. This defect is accompanied by an increase in mitochondrial mass. RAB20 silencing is associated with increased Reactive Oxygen Species both under nutrient replete and ischemic conditions. Further, Rab20 appears to influence mitochondrial network organization, manifest as elevated numbers of fragmented mitochondria in the Rab20 silenced cells compared to non-targeting vector isogenic vector control cells. Finally, mitochondrial respiration is impaired in RAB20 silenced cells. Taken together, this work indicates an important role for RAB20 in maintaining mitochondrial fitness. We are actively assessing the functional consequences of Rab20 ablation on lung tumorigenesis in an established mouse model of lung cancer driven by BrafV600E; Trp53−/−. These studies will be important in determining the role of RAB20 and its involvement in mitophagy on tumor progression in vivo. Citation Format: Sunayana Govind Nayak, Samantha Shaw, Colin Stets, Anthony Dent, Anne Marie Strohecker. RAB20 is a stress-induced regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1242.
Compound heterozygous variants in GOSR2 associated with congenital muscular dystrophy: A case report.

Abstract The homozygous missense variant in the GOSR2 gene (c.430G > T) is known to be associated with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME). The clinical presentation of GOSR2-related PME involves the development of ataxia, seizures, scoliosis, areflexia, and mildly elevated creatine kinase. Recently, it has been suggested that some compound heterozygous variants in GOSR2 are associated with a predominant muscular dystrophy phenotype. Here we report a case of a now 22 month old female who presented with congenital hypotonia and persistently elevated creatine kinase levels. Whole exome sequencing showed pathogenic compound heterozygous variants in GOSR2 (c.430G > T and c.82C > T). This case contributes to the expanding clinical spectrum of GOSR2 variants with PME representing the milder end and congenital muscular dystrophy representing the more severe end of the spectrum.
A Digital Library for the Dissemination and Replication of Quantitative Social Science Research: The Virtual Data Center

The Virtual Data Center software is an open-source, digital library system for quantitative data. The authors discuss what the software does, how it provides an infrastructure for the management and dissemination of distributed collections of quantitative data, and the replication of results derived from these data.
Examination of Medication Use Patterns by Age Group, Comorbidity, and Month in COVID-19 Positive Patients in a Large State-wide Health System During the Pandemic in 2020

Abstract Objectives Main objective was to systematically determine most frequently used medications among COVID-19 patients overall and by hospitalization status. Secondary objective was to measure use patterns of medications considered potential therapeutic options Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting The five academic medical centers of University of California Health. Participants University of California COVID Research Data Set (UC CORDS) patients between March 10, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Exposure(s) Confirmed COVID-19 positive by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s) Main outcomes were percentages of patients prescribed medications, overall, by age group, and by comorbidity based on hospitalization status. Use percentage by month of COVID-19 diagnosis was measured. Cumulative count of potential therapeutic options was measured over time. Results Dataset included 22897 unique patients with COVID-19 (mean [SD] age, 42.4 [20.4] years; 12154 [53%] female). Among the sample, 6326 28%) were non-Hispanic White, 8475 (37%) were Hispanic, 1562 (7%) Asian, and 1313 (6%) Black. A COVID-related hospitalization occurred in 3546 patients. Of the hospitalized patients, more than 30% had baseline comorbidities of hypertension (48%), hyperlipidemia (37%), and type 2 diabetes (35%). Most frequently used medications in patients overall were acetaminophen (21.2%), albuterol (14.9%), ondansetron (13.9%), and enoxaparin (10.8%). Medications used were generally similar across ages and comorbidities. Prior to May, dexamethasone was rarely used, with well under 50 COVID-19 patients that had been hospitalized to that point receiving the medication. By mid-August, more than 500 patients to that point had received dexamethasone. Hydroxychloroquine use effectively halted in COVID-19 hospitalized patients after May. Throughout the period of March to December 2020, enoxaparin was used in the most patients to that point at any instance. By mid-December, more than 2000 in the analysis cohort of hospitalized patients had received enoxaparin. Conclusions and Relevance In this retrospective cohort study, across age and comorbidity groups, predominant utilization was for supportive care therapy. Dexamethasone and remdesivir experienced large increases in use. Conversely, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin use markedly dropped. Medication utilization rapidly shifted towards more evidence-concordant treatment of patients with COVID-19 as rigorous study findings emerged.
Monomial Sphere Maps

In Chap. 5, we will associate groups to proper mappings between balls. We can characterize monomial sphere maps as those rational sphere maps f whose Hermitian-invariant group Γf contains the n-torus. We begin this chapter with a related computational simplification in the monomial case that has been used by the author and collaborators many times. The orthogonality relations (2.4) from Corollary 2.2 are automatically satisfied in the monomial case, and hence one must consider only equation (2.3). Doing so leads to a system of linear equations, depending on the source dimension and the degree, for unknown non-negative numbers.
A 3D Convolutional Neural Network for Denoising of Proton CT

Filtered back projection (FBP) is the traditional image reconstruction method in x-ray computed tomography (CT). To further improve the quality of FBP-based image reconstruction, often iterative methods are used. But these methods are slow and computationally expensive. In applications where fast and accurate images are needed, FBP may not be sufficient. We propose a very lightweight 3D convolutional neural network (3D CNN) to improve the image quality of the FBP method with minimal computational cost. 3D CNN can be used in time-sensitive situations where iterative methods are not ideal due to time constraints. The method takes advantage of the 3D-nature of the CT data. Popular denoising CNN-based algorithms have been applied to 2D images and were originally designed to correct the effects of 2D artifacts like jpg compression. These approaches fail to utilize the 3D geometry of the CT data and try to improve the 2D CT images individually. The focus of this work was on training and applying a time-saving method to proton CT head data. Proton CT (pCT) requires low-noise reconstruction of relative stopping power (RSP) for proton beam therapy planning and pretreatment verification, where time is of the essence. The proposed fast method successfully improved peak SNR (PSNR) of FBP pCT images and showed a numerical advantage of PSNR for 3D over 2D approaches. In future work, the implementation of existing popular 2D denoising methods in 3D CNN CT reconstruction will be investigated.
An Integrated Control and Protection Scheme for Microgrids

The increasing trend in integrating intermittent distributed energy resources (DERs) into AC microgrids presents operational challenges in stability and protection. In islanded microgrids with power electronic interfaces, protection poses a major challenge due to the level of short circuit currents resulting from inverter output capabilities. However, traditional protection schemes that are utilized in distribution systems are no longer appropriate to protect the microgrid in the presence of different levels of fault currents This paper develops an integrated control and protection framework based on state observer and fault current limiter (FCL) devices. A single state observer has been developed to detect and identify the faults that occur within multiple protection zones. In addition, controlled switches, consisting of FCLs have been utilized to limit the fault currents and provide rapid switching during the faults. An adaptive integration proposed in this paper has been applied to islanded microgrid configuration and is demonstrated to be an effective means to protect the system and maintain the voltage and frequency within acceptable range with the capability of power continuity during both transient and persistent faults.
Economic values of metro nature health benefits: A life course approach

The presence of metro nature enables daily environmental interactions, and a substantial body of evidence now demonstrates that nature contact generates extensive psychosocial, cognitive, and physical health and well-being benefits. Estimates of the economic values of such benefits have lagged similar valuation efforts for environmental services (such as improved air and water quality). In this article, using a life course approach, we estimate the potential annual value of six metro nature benefits, and cautiously extrapolate to a national scale, based on best available data and research. This is done by applying established economic values associated with epidemiology and public health to metro nature benefits estimates reported in prior peer-reviewed literature. The six situations of benefits valuation potential focused on: birth weight, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), school performance, crime, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. This benefits set demonstrates the importance of nature contact in urban areas over the course of the human lifespan. We estimate that the potential cost savings, avoided costs, and increased income range between $2.7 and $6.8 billion annually (2012 USD). Yet these values represent only a subset of benefits described in the current literature concerning urban nature experiences and health and well-being outcomes, pointing to the need for increased research concerning further valuations. We also point out challenges encountered in developing these estimates and limitations of their use. There is an urgent need to improve, expand, and integrate research methods and valuation strategies that link urban natural resources, public health, and economics. The resulting contributions to policy and programs can greatly improve urban quality of life.
A Comparison of Mixed Flask Culture and Standardized Laboratory Model Ecosystems for Toxicity Testing

Two microecosystem protocols, the Standardized Aquatic Microcosm (SAM) method developed by Dr. Frieda Taub and associates (1982) and the Mixed Flask Culture (MFC) method of Dr. John Leffler (1981), were compared on the basis of their response to copper sulfate. These protocols differed in microcosm structure, age, and the variables monitored. Although responses were similar with both systems, the SAM procedure provided considerably more insight into the changes in population densities and nutrient cycling responsible for the observed ecosystem level changes. The SAM protocol was much more labor intensive and required about six times more laboratory effort than did the MFC protocol.
The Open Calculus of Constructions (Part I): An Equational Type Theory with Dependent Types for Programming, Specification, and Interactive Theorem Proving

The open calculus of constructions integrates key features of Martin-Lof's type theory, the calculus of constructions, membership equational logic, and rewriting logic into a single uniform language. The two key ingredients are dependent function types and conditional rewriting modulo equational theories. We explore the open calculus of constructions as a uniform framework for programming, specification and interactive verification in an equational higher-order style. By having equational logic and rewriting logic as executable sublogics we preserve the advantages of a first-order semantic and logical framework and we provide a foundation for a broad spectrum of applications ranging from what could be called executable mathematics, involving symbolic computations and logical proofs, to software and system engineering applications, involving symbolic execution and analysis of nondeterministic and concurrent systems.
Hadron Spectroscopy and the New Particles

Hadron spectroscopy would be of interest to physicists if only because the manner of organization of matter falls within the definition of the subject of physics. More specifically, with hundreds of hadronic states it behooves us to find some order and degree of understanding of what is known to exist and to be able to predict particles yet to be found.
TGF-beta 1 causes increased endothelial ICAM-1 expression and lung injury.

Neutrophil adherence to vascular endothelium is partially mediated by adhesion molecules, including intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), on endothelial cells. We examined the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on the expression of ICAM-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). TGF-beta 1 (1 ng/ml) increased ICAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in HUVEC, as assessed by flow cytometry and Northern blot analysis, respectively. In addition, we investigated whether exogenous recombinant TGF-beta 1 can cause neutrophil-mediated lung injury in guinea pigs. The plasma half-life of 125I-labeled TGF-beta 1 in guinea pigs was 4.6 +/- 0.1 min, and the 125I activity was 2.8 +/- 0.2% 8 h after injection. The ratio of 125I-labeled albumin concentration in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid to that in plasma, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, numbers of neutrophils in BAL fluid, and numbers of neutrophils per alveolus in fixed lung sections increased in guinea pigs that received a high dose of TGF-beta 1 (25 micrograms i.v. followed by 2 micrograms/h for 8 h) compared with the control group. These results suggest that TGF-beta 1 causes neutrophil-mediated lung injury, possibly through upregulation of ICAM-1 on endothelial cells, and might be important in the pathogenesis of lung injury.
The future of molecular genetic testing.

The potential applications for genetic testing are immense, with most diseases having some aspect influenced by, if not directly caused by, changes in the genome of the patient. The translation of genetic information into medical applications will be influenced by our understanding of the human genome, technological advances, and social, ethical, and legal issues surrounding genetic testing. With time, new genetic information will be translated into clinical tests for the diagnosis of current illness and prediction of future disease risk, and will be used for the development of genetically directed therapies and preventive interventions. Most genetic testing will be highly automated, with only rare genetic disease tests performed manually. The challenge for the clinical genetic laboratory is to keep pace with this information explosion to provide state-of-the-art genetic testing and to ensure that the genetic test results are used in a morally, ethically, and socially responsible way.
The trinuclear osmium complex, Os3N7O9H21

Abstract The initial product of the interaction of osmium (VIII) oxide and ammonia, OsO 4 ·NH 3 , is shown to undergo dehydration to nitrido-osmic-(VIII) acid which in turn is converted to the trinuclear species Os 3 N 7 O 9 H 21 or its partially dehydrated analogue, Os 3 N 7 O 7 H 17 . Infra-red spectral, thermogravimetric analysis, and other data are used to elucidate the structure of Os 3 N 7 O 9 H 21 , including its conversion to a related complex Os 3 N 5 O 5 H 7 by dehydration and deammoniation.
Changes in the functioning of wetlands along environmental gradients

One of the prevalent gradients in wetlands is the continuum of depth and frequency of flooding. While much emphasis has been placed on the importance of hydrology as a driving force for wetlands, few other perspectives have emerged to demonstrate unifying patterns and principles. In contrast to the wetness continuum, the functioning of wetlands can be separated into two broad categories: (1) landscape-based transitions that occur within a wetland or group of similar wetland types and (2) resource-based transitions that allow comparisons of the flow of water and processing of nutrients among very different wetland types. Landscape-based continua include the transition from upstream to downstream in riverine wetlands and between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems within a wetland. Along the upstream-downstream continuum, sources of flood-water delivery change dominance from ground-water discharge and overland runoff, as in low order streams, to dominance by overbank flooding, as in high order streams. With increasing size, properties related to the aquatic-to-terrestrial transition are replaced by properties related to wetland-atmospheric exchanges and by landscape maintenance, the latter not normally acknowledged as a wetland function. Resource-based continua include the extremes of (1) sources of water to wetlands (precipitation, overland flow, and ground water) and (2) the variation in inflows and outflows of nutrients and sediments. Emphasis on water source forces consideration of controls beyond the wetland’s boundaries. A broader view of biogeochemical functioning is gained by categorizing wetlands into groups based on the exchange of nutrients and sediments among landscape units rather than on serving as a sink or source for a particular element. Based on this analysis, the less frequently flooded or saturated portions of wetlands are no less functionally active than wetter portions; the functions are simply different. Efforts to classify wetlands according to their hydroperiod do little to reveal their fundamental properties.
Number representation optimization for low-power multiplier design

Multipliers using different number representation systems have different power/area/delay characteristics. This paper studies the effects of number representations on power consumption and proposes optimization techniques for two's-complement multipliers. By examining existing radix-4 recoding design schemes, two power-improved designs are proposed for standard cell CMOS technology. With new recoding schemes, the power efficiency of radix-4 multipliers versus radix-2 multipliers are re-investigated. To utilize the power efficiency of sign-magnitude representation, number representation conversion schemes are proposed. For a typical data set from application djpeg , the conversion schemes consume less than 30% power of the baseline schemes.
A Comparison of Next Generation Sequencing Technologies for Transcriptome Assembly and Utility for RNA-Seq in a Non-Model Bird

De novo assembled transcriptomes, in combination with RNA-Seq, are powerful tools to explore gene sequence and expression level in organisms without reference genomes. Investigators must first choose which high throughput sequencing platforms will provide data most suitable for their experimental goals. In this study, we explore the utility of 454 and Illumina sequences for de novo transcriptome assembly and downstream RNA-Seq applications in a reproductive gland from a non-model bird species, the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Four transcriptomes composed of either pure 454 or Illumina reads or mixtures of read types were assembled and evaluated for the same cost. Illumina assemblies performed best for de novo transcriptome characterization in terms of contig length, transcriptome coverage, and complete assembly of gene transcripts. Improvements over the Hybrid assembly were marginal, with the exception that the addition of 454 data significantly increased the number of genes annotated. The Illumina assembly provided the best reference to align an independent set of RNA-Seq data as ∼84% of reads mapped to single genes in the transcriptome. Contigs constructed solely from 454 data may impose problems for RNA-Seq as our 454 transcriptome revealed a high number of indels and many ambiguously mapped reads. Correcting the 454 transcriptome with Illumina reads was an effective strategy to deal with indel and frameshift errors inherent to the 454 transcriptome, but at the cost of transcriptome coverage. In the absence of a reference genome, we find that Illumina reads alone produced a high quality transcriptome appropriate for RNA-Seq gene expression analyses.
Integrating control and scheduling of distributed energy resources over networks

Abstract This paper presents an integrated approach for the control and scheduling of distributed energy resources (DERs) that are managed by a central supervisor over a resource-constrained communication network. The objective of this approach is to enhance the performance and disturbance-handling capabilities of the DERs while keeping the communication requirements with the supervisor to a minimum in order to reduce the susceptibility of the DERs to communication outages. To this end, the rate of data transfer from the DERs to the supervisor is initially minimized by embedding in the supervisor a set of dynamic models that are used to generate the necessary control action when measurements are not transmitted over the network, and then updating the models' states at discrete time instances. Only a subset of the DERs are allowed to transmit their data at any given time to provide updates to their target models according to a certain scheduling strategy. By formulating the networked closed-loop system as a hybrid system, an explicit characterization of the interdependence between the performance of the DERs, the communication rate, the transmission schedule and times, and the plant-models mismatch is obtained. It is shown that by judicious selection of the transmission schedule and models, it is possible to optimize the performance of the DERs while simultaneously reducing network utilization beyond what is possible with concurrent transmission configurations. Finally, the results are demonstrated through an application to a collection of solid oxide fuel cells in a distributed power network.
Cat3, a third gene locus coding for a tissue-specific catalase in maize: Genetics, intracellular location, and some biochemical properties

A new and unique catalase isozyme, CAT-3, has been found in Zea mays. It is encoded in the Cat3 nuclear structural gene which is distinct from the two previously described catalase structural genes, Cat1 and Cat2. The Cat3 gene is both tissue- and time-dependent in its expression, being expressed primarily in young leaves and in the pericarp of nearly mature kernels. Cell fractionation experiments, utilizing epicotyl (coleoptile+primary leaf) and mesocotyl cells, suggest that CAT-3 is associated with the mitochrondria where it may play a role in the alternate oxidase pathway. CAT-3 was purified and characterized with respect to some of its biochemical properties. While CAT-3 differs in some of its properties from CAT-1 and CAT-2, it is similar to these and to other catalases in most respects.
Critical structural elements of the VP16 transcriptional activation domain

Virion protein 16 (VP16) of herpes simplex virus type 1 contains an acidic transcriptional activation domain. Missense mutations within this domain have provided insights into the structural elements critical for its function. Net negative charge contributed to, but was not sufficient for, transcriptional activation by VP16. A putative amphipathic alpha helix did not appear to be an important structural component of the activation domain. A phenylalanine residue at position 442 was exquisitely sensitive to mutation. Transcriptional activators of several classes contain hydrophobic amino acids arranged in patterns resembling that of VP16. Therefore, the mechanism of transcriptional activation by VP16 and other proteins may involve both ionic and specific hydrophobic interactions with target molecules.
Office automation technology and functions: An overview

Office automation is the progeny of technological imperatives coupled with bureaucratic realities. Advances in computer, photographic, and telecommunication technologies have made it possible to collect, edit, store, distribute, and copy documentary information at ever decreasing cost. The need for training, acceptance, cooperation, and effective use of the technology has filtered out many proposed systems. This article describes the opportunities and limitations inherent in the technologies, focusing on media conversions and equipment compatibility. It also describes the differing needs of convenience users and dedicated users, document preparers, and archivists. The systems that are emerging for use within organizations are compared to systems for use in communication between organizations.
Photorearrangement of allyl diphenyl phosphate via possible type-II reaction and phosphoranyl 1,3-biradicals

Abstract A Norrish type-II reaction is proposed for the photorearrangement of allyl diphenyl phosphate to ortho -allylphenyl phenyl phosphate. In contrast to the type-II mechanism in carbonyl compounds, the reaction is postulated to proceed through a five-membered transition state to produce a phosphoranyl 1,3-biradical which subsequently rearranges to the observed product.
Finite difference simulation for heat conduction with phase change in an irregular food domain with volumetric change

Abstract A mathematical model including the volumetric changes for food freezing or thawing is obtained by modifying the general heat conduction parabolic partial differential equation. The shape of food is assumed to be a body of rotation with an irregular cross-sectional contour. Coordinates are fixed to the initial food volume through a proper coordinate transformation. Due to the highly temperature-dependent food properties during phase change, the nodal temperatures are solved numerically by a general implicit finite difference method while a heat balance method is applied to boundary nodes with any kind of boundary conditions. A computerized numerical simulation method is developed and verified experimentally for a general heat conduction phase change (solidification/melting) problem.
THE EFFECT OF THERMAL MASS ON THERMAL TRANSMISSION LOADS

A finite-difference model is used to simulate the effects of thermal mass on thermal load. A sinusoidal function is used to simulate the exterior air temperature. The interior air temperature set point remains constant. The mechanism by which thermal mass affects thermal load is described. Equations are given to calculate thermal load as a function of the exterior air temperature amplitude, the temperature above and below the mean temperature. Equations are given to calculate the minimum thermal load resulting from thermal mass and therefore the maximum thermal load reduction with thermal mass. Equations and methods are given to calculate the minimum thermal load resulting from thermal mass from weather data files, TMY or TMY2 files. A design equation is given as a guideline to determine the amount of thermal mass required to reduce the thermal load with given weather conditions.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Conversion of Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine abstract presentations to manuscript publications

Objective We sought to evaluate the rate of conversion of Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting abstract presentations to full manuscript publications over time. Study Design Full manuscript publications corresponding to all SMFM oral abstracts 2003 through 2010 inclusive, and SMFM poster abstracts in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 were manually searched in PubMed. An abstract was considered to "match" a full publication if the abstract and publication titles as well as main methods and results were similar and the abstract first author was a publication author. In cases of uncertainty, the abstract-publication match was reviewed by a second physician researcher. Time to publication, publication rates over time, and publication rates among US vs non-US authors were examined. PubMed identification numbers were also collected to determine if >1 abstract contributed to a manuscript. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum, analysis of variance, t test, and logistic regression. Results In all, 3281 abstracts presented at SMFM over the study period, including 629 orals (63 main plenary, 64 fellows plenary, 502 concurrent), were reviewed. Of 3281, 1780 (54.3%) were published, generating 1582 unique publications. Oral abstracts had a consistently higher rate of conversion to publications vs posters (77.1% vs 48.8%, P P American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (39.8%), Obstetrics and Gynecology (9.7%), and Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine (6.5%). Publication rates were higher if the abstract's first author was affiliated with a non-US institution (64.8% vs 51.1%, P P American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology SMFM special issue, and year of abstract presentation at SMFM were associated with full manuscript publication. Conclusion From 2003 through 2010, full manuscript publication rates of SMFM abstracts were high and consistent, and time to publication decreased/improved across the study period for oral presentations.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase: A Key Stress Signaling Pathway in the Heart

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated during exercise and ischemia and is emerging as an important regulatory mechanism in the heart. AMPK promotes adenosine triphosphate-generating pathways, including glucose transport, glycolysis, and fatty acid oxidation, while inhibiting energy-consuming anabolic pathways. After ischemia–reperfusion, AMPK-deficient hearts from transgenic mice have severe left ventricular contractile dysfunction with increased apoptosis and necrosis. Mutations in the AMPKγ2 subunit lead to cardiac glycogen overload, Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, arrhythmias, and heart failure. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of activation and cardiovascular actions of AMPK in the heart.
Competition for zinc among serum albumin and amino acids.

Abstract A stability constant at pH 7.4 for the 1:1 zinc-human serum albumin complex was determined. The effectiveness with which amino acids compete with human serum albumin for zinc was shown to depend upon the relevant metal complex stability constants. Studies by gel chromatography of model systems and computations involving stability constants indicate that cysteine and histidine are the only important amino acid ligands of zinc in plasma. The amount of amino acid-complexed zinc in normal human serum is calculated to be 1 μg zinc per 100 ml. The small ligand-complexed fraction in plasma may be of importance in zinc transport and probably accounts for most urinary zinc excreted in normal and pathological conditions.
Noninvasive measurement of aortic aneurysm sac tension with vibrometry.

Objective Currently, the risk of aneurysm sac rupture after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is estimated by using a group of anatomic variables. Available techniques for pressure monitoring include either direct measurement using catheter-based techniques or indirect measurement requiring implantation of a pressure sensor during aneurysm repair. None of these methods is without limitations. Radiation pressure, such as that generated by a modulated ultrasound (US) beam, can induce surface vibration at a distance. The velocity of the resulting surface waves depends on the tensile stress of the vibrated surface. By measuring the change in wave velocity, it is possible to detect the change in tensile stress and calculate the pressure through the vibrated surface. We tested this concept in an in vitro aneurysm model. Methods Rubber tubes and explanted porcine abdominal aortas were used to model an aneurysm sac. The surface of the model was vibrated with an amplitude-modulated US beam. The resulting motion was detected either by reflected laser light or by Doppler US. The phase of the propagating wave was measured to assess changes in velocity with different pressures. Results Increasing hydrostatic pressure in the rubber model correlated well with the cumulative phase shift ( R 2 = 0.96-0.99; P R 2 = 0.92; P r = 0.38; P r = 0.94-0.99; P r = 0.96-0.99; P Conclusions Application of vibrometry for noninvasive measurement of aortic aneurysm sac tension is feasible in an in vitro setting. The concept of vibrometry may be used to detect endotension noninvasively after EVAR. Vibrometry may also be used to estimate wall stress in native aneurysms, and it may predict the risk of aneurysm rupture. Clinical Relevance Vibrometry may offer a technique for completely noninvasive monitoring of aneurysm sac pressure after EVAR. Vibrometry is based on the following principles: radiation pressure, such as that generated by modulated US, can induce surface vibration at a distance; by measuring the change in wave velocity of vibration, it is possible to detect changes in tensile stress and calculate the pressure through the vibrated surface. We tested this concept in an in vitro model and found that application of vibrometry for noninvasive measurement of aortic aneurysm sac tension is feasible. Vibrometry may also be used to estimate wall stress in native aneurysms.
Constituents of human meconium—III. Identification of 3,20-dihydroxypregnan-21-oic acids

Seven 3,20-dihydroxypregnan-21-oic acids (C21) were detected by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the acid fraction isolated from human meconium after solvolysis and mild alkaline hydrolysis. The two major acids were isolated and identified by nmr as 3 alpha, 20 alpha-dihydroxy-5 alpha-and 3 alpha, 20 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-21-oic acids. Two minor C21 components were identified as 3 alpha, 20 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-21-oic and 3 beta, 20 alpha-dihydroxypregn-5-en-21-oic acids. A trace amount of 3 alpha, 20 beta-dihydroxy-5 alpha-, 3 beta, 20 alpha-dihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-21-oic, and 3 beta, 20 beta-dihydroxypregn-5-en-21-oic acids were also detected. The identification of these C21 acids was confirmed by mass spectral and chromatographic comparison with standards of eight saturated and two 5-unsaturated 3, 20-dihydroxylated C21 acids. The decisive predominance of 20 alpha isomers confirmed the native presence of C21 acids in meconium. Six acids, with an exception of 3 beta, 20 beta-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-21-oic acid, were detected in the extract of meconium prepared in the presence of large excess of sodium borohydride; this minor acid, together with a part of its 20-epimer, was evidently formed as result of the artefactual oxidation of 21-hydroxypregnenolone, the known constituent of meconium. The co-occurrence of relatively high concentrations of C21 acids and monohydroxylated C20 acids, previously detected in human meconium, pointed to the significance of the oxidative catabolism of neutral C21 steroids in the case of feto-placental-maternal unit.
Collaborative watershed partnerships in urban and rural areas: Different pathways to success?

Abstract This study addresses the impact of biophysical characteristics, institutional rules-in-use, and community attributes on the actors and actions of 2 collaborative watershed partnerships with different land use patterns: one in an urban environment, and the other rural. The Institutional Analysis and Development framework is employed to investigate the institutional performance of each partnership by evaluating the transaction costs and environmental, social, and policy outputs of the two different groups. Results suggest that the nature of environmental problems in the two watersheds, combined with unique cultural attributes, and varying institutional frameworks, lead to different partnership goals, processes, and outputs. In the urban setting, watershed practitioners have taken advantage of the “thick” institutional framework to establish stormwater institutions, remediate impairments, and strengthen local policies. In the rural watershed, partnership members have sought to combat threats associated with land conversion and incompatible development with comprehensive planning and by building relationships with landowners in an attempt to encourage the adoption of conservation easements and BMPs. Thus, different sets of variables are critical for success across the two types of settings.
Natural resources prices, export policies, and deforestation: The case of sudan

Abstract Environmental destruction is often the result of price policies for primary commodities that determine how individuals will use—and abuse—natural resources. In this paper, we analyze how domestic policies under colonial and independent governments in Sudan contributed to Acacia senegal deforestation and the demise of the international gum arabic trade. When primary commodities are produced from environmentally beneficial species, such as Acacia senegal trees, the impact of a declining market for the primary commodity will have economic and ecological repercussions on other sectors in the economy. Poverty and risk are central to this process.
Radiation effects on grain boundary chemistry relevant to stress corrosion cracking of stainless steels

Abstract Calculated grain boundary microchemistries are related to the potential for irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) for the proposed International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) conditions of irradiation temperature and dose. Radiation-induced segregation predictions are calibrated to measured segregation at temperatures above 250°C and are then used to extrapolate to expected segregation behavior for ITER temperatures of 50 to 100°C. Chromium depletion and impurity enrichment is predicted to occur for ITER conditions. Although the predicted segregation is less than that observed for light-water reactor conditions (LWR) experience with cracking in nonirradiation environments suggest that cracking may still occur because of possible differences in stress and environment. Experiments are required to verify the predicted ITER microchemistries and to demonstrate that the microchemistries will not promote cracking for specific ITER conditions.
Experiments on kinematic modelocking of a ring dye laser

Abstract We report new experimental results on a coupled cavity moving mirror ring dye laser operating with a repetition rate of 250 MHz. Existing models for the modelocking mechanism are analyzed in light of the results of various experiments performed in this study. We find that thresholds exist for the onset and instability of kinematic modelocking (KML) as a function of pump power. The pulse length dependence on mirror velocity and cavity detuning was determined, and asymmetries in the mirror velocity were found. In addition we found that the width of the cavity beatnote at 250 MHz is not in fact correlated with the required mirror velocities for modelocking as some models have conjectured. It is shown that the Doppler shift required to achieve KML is approximately equal to the peak frequency pulling induced by the gain medium. A prism pair is added to the external cavity for group velocity dispersion compensation which with proper adjustments can also tune the laser over the entire rhodamine 6G bandwidth. With the inclusion of prisms in the external cavity, the modelocking is found to be more stable with pulses shorter than 3 ps being produced by the KML mechanism.
Short-term economic incentives in new product development

This study investigates the use of variable compensation to motivate new product development managers and its impact upon the performance of new product development projects. Using data from 56 projects, the paper examines how technology-intensive firms compensate their product development managers. The study finds a positive and significant relationship between the use of short-term economic incentives and project performance; however, the slope of this relationship is not linear and its intensity (slope) decreases as the percentage of variable compensation increases; furthermore, the relationship is contingent on the level of project uncertainty. The results also indicate that higher project uncertainty is associated with a lower level of variable compensation. Moreover, organizational structure, through its effect upon the allocation of uncertainty among organizational participants, also affects the level of variable compensation.