cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the structure of subsurface layers by means of coaxial time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS)

It is demonstrated that both surface and subsurface structural information can be obtained from Si{100}-(2 × 1) and Si{100}-(1 × 1)-H by coupling coaxial time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS) with three-dimensional trajectory simulations. Experimentally, backscattering intensity versus incident α angle scans at a scattering angle of ∼ 180° have been measured for 2 keV He+ incident on both the (2 × 1) and (1 × 1)-H surfaces. Computationally, an efficient three-dimensional version of the Monte Carlo computer code RECAD has been developed and applied to simulation of the TOF-SARS results. An R (reliability) factor has been introduced for quantitative evaluation of the agreement between experimental and simulated scans. For the case of 2 keV He+ scattering from Si{100}, scattering features can be observed and delineated from as many as 14 atomic layers (∼ 18 A) below the surface. The intradimer spacing D is determined as 2.2 A from the minimum in the R-factor versus D plot.
Schizophrenia: elevated cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine

Concentrations of norepinephrine in cerebrospinal fluid are higher in schizophrenic patients, particularly in those with paranoid features, than in normal volunteer subjects of the same age. This observation supports recent reports of elevated concentrations of norepinephrine in specific brain areas adjacent to the cerebral ventricles of paranoid schizophrenic patients. Overflow of the amine from periventricular regions into the cerebrospinal fluid may reflect abnormally high release or diminished enzymatic destruction of norepinephrine in patients with schizophrenia.
Resonant Field Enhancements from Metal Nanoparticle Arrays

Theoretical and semiempirical studies of two-dimensional (2D) metal nanoparticle arrays under periodic boundary conditions yield quantitative estimates of their electromagnetic (EM) field factors, revealing a critical relationship between particle size and interparticle spacing. A new theory based on the RLC circuit analogy has been developed to produce analytical values for EM field enhancements within the arrays. Numerical and analytical calculations suggest that the average EM enhancements for Raman scattering (Ḡ) can approach 2 × 1011 for Ag nanodisks (5 × 1010 for Au) and 2 × 109 for Ag nanosphere arrays (5 × 108 for Au). Radiative losses related to retardation or damping effects are less critical to the EM field enhancements from periodic arrays compared to that from other nanostructured metal substrates. These findings suggest a straightforward approach for engineering nanostructured arrays with direct application toward surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).
Development of an Advisory System Based on Bayesian Network to Minimize Corrosion Problems in Underbalanced Drilling

In underbalanced drilling the use of air as an injected gas sets up the potential for oxygen corrosion. Membrane nitrogen with about 5% oxygen eliminates the chance for fire or explosion, but does not solve the corrosion problem. Natural gas or cryogenic nitrogen eliminates the chance for oxygen corrosion, but does not always eliminate the chance of corrosion from other down hole acid gasses (Hydrogen Sulfide, H2S, Carbon Dioxide, and CO2). Any corrosion that occurs while drilling will be forced by some drilling fluid or drilling operational procedure such as KCl fluids, aerated mud, or floating mud cap operations. The objective of this study is to identify some of the practical elements of corrosion encountered with underbalanced drilling and their optimum solution by development of an advisory system based on field cases and expert opinions. This advisory system is intended to be a field guide for the drilling engineer or rig supervisor. Corrosion is a matter of concern to the drilling contractor because of pitting or loss of steel in the drill pipe. The advisory system is developed by proposing a set of guidelines for the optimal practices to minimize corrosion in underbalanced drilling operations. The optimum practices collected from data and experts' opinions, are integrated into a Bayesian Network BN to simulate likely scenarios of its use that will honor efficient practices when dictated by varying certain parameters. These parameters are measuring corrosion, identifying corrosion types, drill pipe and corrosion, treatment methods for H2S corrosion, CO2 sources and treatment, different methods to test for corrosion, general corrosion prevention and treatment, treatment methods for formation water and makeup water, and recommended practices to minimize corrosion in underbalanced drilling operations. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is the first study to develop an advisory system for minimizing corrosion problems. The developed software solutions on corrosion will be demonstrated such as using mechanical means to reduce O2 concentration and inhibitors for pipe coating. Finally, the advisory system list recommendations for all types of underbalanced drilling (flow, aerated, foam and mist) to minimize corrosion problems.
Altered Promoter Recycling Rates Contribute to Dominant-Negative Activity of Human Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Mutations Associated with Diabetes

The transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) plays an important role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism and improves insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients when activated by thiazolidinedione drugs. Several loss-of-function mutations in PPARgamma have been identified that cause lipodystrophy and diabetes in humans. Because affected individuals are heterozygotes and have one normal PPARgamma allele, it is of interest to know whether these mutations act in a dominant-negative fashion to inhibit the activity of the wild-type (WT) receptor. Here we compare the molecular phenotypes of two previously identified PPARgamma mutations: P467L, reported to be dominant negative; and F388L, reported to be devoid of dominant-negative activity. We developed a competitive chromatin immunoprecipitation assay to measure the relative ability of mutant PPARgamma to compete with WT receptor for binding to a PPAR regulatory element (PPRE)-containing promoter. By determining the ratio of mutant and WT receptors bound to a PPRE over time, we estimated the relative promoter turnover rate of each receptor. This assay demonstrated that PPARgamma bearing the P467L had a reduced promoter turnover rate compared with the F388L receptor, and over time out-competed the WT receptor for promoter binding sites. We propose that the P467L receptor is dominant negative because in a cell containing both WT and mutant receptors, the majority of the PPAR-regulated promoters will be occupied by the transcriptionally defective mutant receptor. In contrast, the F388L mutation lacks dominant-negative activity because its more rapid promoter turnover rate prevented it from out-competing the WT receptor for promoter binding sites.
Kinetics of Contact Wearout for Silicided (TiSi2) and Non-Silicided Contacts

The failure kinetics for both titanium silicided and non-silicided contacts are discussed for Al-Si (1%) metallization. The activation energies for accumulation of silicon in silicided and non-silicided contacts as well as the depletion of silicon from non-silicided contacts were found to correspond to diffusion of silicon in aluminum, 0.8 to 0.9 eV. The dependence of the reaction rate on current was found to vary with the level of applied stress. Depletion related leakage failures for TiSi2 contacts proceed at a much slower rate than the depletion of silicon from contacts to silicon and an activation energy of 1.5 eV was observed.
Feminist Coalitions: Historical Perspectives on Second-Wave Feminism in the United StatesRadical Sisters: Second-Wave Feminism and Black Liberation in Washington, DC

In recent years, the history of second-wave feminism has taken yet another new turn. Starting in the 1990s and early 2000s, frequently drawing on oral history, a second generation of feminist schol...
Best constants for some operators associated with the Fourier and Hilbert transforms

We determine the norm in L p (R+), 1 < p <1, of the operator I FsFc, whereFc andFs are respectively the cosine and sine Fourier transforms on the positive real axis, and I is the identity operator. This solves a problem posed in 1984 by M. S. Birman (Bir) which originated in scattering theory for unbounded obstacles in the plane. We also obtain the L p -norms of the operators aI +bH, where H is the Hilbert trans- form (conjugate function operator) on the circle or real line, for arbitrary real a;b. Best constants in other related inequalities are found. In a more general framework, we present an alternative proof of the important theorem of Cole relating best constant inequalities involving the Hilbert transform and the exis- tence of subharmonic minorants, which extends to several variables and plurisubharmonic minorants.
Blue-shift of surface plasmon resonance in a metal nanoslit array structure

The adsorption of a self-assembled monolayer of molecules on a metal surface commonly causes a red-shift in its surface plasmon resonance. We report that the anomalous dispersion of surface plasmons in a Au nanoslit array structure can cause a blue-shift of optical transmission upon adsorption of a non-absorbing self-assembled monolayer of molecules. We develop a simple model that explains the blue-shift observed in the transmission spectra with monolayer adsorption in terms of the interplay of anomalous dispersion and the cavity resonance of surface plasmons in the nanoslit array.
Multi-directional context sets with applications to universal denoising and compression

The classical framework of context-tree models used in sequential decision problems such as compression and prediction is generalized to a setting in which the observations are multi-tracked or multi-directional, and for which it may be beneficial to consider contexts comprised of possibly differing numbers of symbols from each track or direction. Context set definitions, tree representations, and pruning algorithms are all extended from the classical uni-directional setting to the m-directional setting, with an emphasis on the case of m = 2. We provide a simple example suggesting that determining (pruning) the best m-directional context set for m ges 3 is substantially more complex than in the case of m = 2. After briefly describing how the multi-directional framework can be applied to universal data compression, we focus on its application to universal denoising, where we pair the proposed framework with a new technique for estimating the loss of a denoising algorithm based only on noisy observations
Distribution of Major and Trace Elements in Sediments and Pore Water of Lake Erie

Abstract Concentration profiles of major and trace elements were determined in sediment cores from the Central Basin of Lake Erie. The concentrations of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the sediments were greatest at approximately 18 cm sediment depth, corresponding to the early 1960s. The concentrations of all elements in the sediments have considerably decreased in the last decade. However, the concentrations of Hg, Pb, and Cd are still about 10, 5, and 4 times greater, respec, than those in the pre-industrial sediments. The profiles of dissolved concentrations of the trace ele in pore water were characterized by maxima below the sediment-water interface, dropping off rapidly within the zone of reduced sediments. Concentrations of dissolved trace elements below the sediment-water interface are about one order of magnitude greater than those in the lake water. Conservative estimates of benthic fluxes ranged from 0.04 /μg/cm 2 .y to 194 /μg/cm 2 .y for Cd and Fe, respectively. Upward diffusive remobilization from sediments to lake water is a significant transport process in the Central Basin of Lake Erie and may play an important role in the transport of trace elements from the sediments.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTROL: AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE*

Much of the literature on organizational control processes has traditionally been based on concepts of cybernetics, power, and authority. This article explores an alternative way of looking at the control phenomenon by introducing the idea of an evolutionary ‘controlling’ cycle. This idea is derived by modifying the basic organizing cycle (enactment, selection, retention) to a hierarchical form, with two distinct components. The model is then applied to understand the basic control modes informing markets, bureaucracies and clans. The article concludes with some comments on the likely future directions of the bureaucratic mode of organizational control.
Robots in the Home: Qualitative and Quantitative Insights into Kitchen Organization

In the future, we envision domestic robots to play a large role in our everyday lives. This requires robots able to anticipate our needs and preferences and adapt their behavior. Since current robotics research takes place primarily in laboratory settings, it fails to take into account real users. In this work, we explore how organization occurs in the kitchen through a home study. Our analysis includes qualitative insights towards robot behavior during kitchenorganization, an open source dataset of real life kitchens, and a proof-of-concept applicationof this dataset to the problem of object return.Categories and Subject DescriptorsI.2.9 [Computing Methodologies]: Artificial Intelligence–-Robotics; J.4 [Computer Applications]: Social and Behavioral Science – Psychology
Investigating the role of knowledge in alliance performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that following from the premise that knowledge comprises the fundamental source of competitive advantage, this study provides results of a meta‐analysis that examines whether and how alliance performance is influenced by the role knowledge plays in a strategic alliance.Design/methodology/approach – Meta‐analysis is employed as the driving methodology in this study. The meta‐analysis approach permits the literature on interfirm knowledge management to be reviewed and synthesized such that the role of knowledge in the alliance, environmental risk, and alliance performance can be thoroughly and validly investigated.Findings – The findings suggest that the level of risk associated with the environment in which the alliance partners join forces does not moderate the relationship between the various “roles” of knowledge and alliance performance, whereas the magnitude and type of interfirm cohesiveness enjoyed or endured by the alliance participants does materially ...
Performance of Inconel Alloy 617 in Actual and Simulated Gas Turbine Environments

Abstract INCONEL® alloy 617 is a solid solution, nickel-chromium-cobalt-molybdenum alloy with an exceptional combination of high-temperature strength, oxidation and carburization resistance and thermal stability. In this paper, the performance of alloy 617 in actual and simulated gas turbine environments will be presented. In addition some mechanical property data will be included to show the stability of the alloy after exposure to high temperatures for an extended period of time. For comparison the data obtained on such alloys as INCO® alloy HX, Haynes alloys HS188®, 214® and 230® are also reported. (INCONEL and INCO are trademarks of the Inco family of companies. HS188, 214 and 230 trademarks of Haynes International).
Multiple Dynamic DNA Rearrangements are Tightly Coupled to Distinct Stages of Human Telomerase Catalysis

Telomerase is essential for telomere homeostasis in most rapidly dividing cells, including the majority of human cancers. Telomeres are specialized chromatin structures which distinguish the natural ends of eukaryotic chromosomes from sites of DNA damage. Catalytically active human telomerase is minimally comprised of the telomerase RNA (hTR) and the protein telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). DNA binding by telomerase is mediated by both hTR and hTERT, which align the 3' end of a single-stranded DNA substrate with a region of hTR that templates the reverse transcription reaction. After synthesis of a single telomere DNA repeat (GGTTAG in humans), the nascent DNA strand must dissociate from the RNA template and translocate to realign with the template for the next round of DNA repeat synthesis. Here, we present a novel single molecule assay that permits direct detection of individual human telomerase enzymes bound to a DNA substrate. Conformational dynamics within the enzyme-substrate complex are directly monitored as a distance-dependent change in the energy transfer efficiency between two dye molecules - a phenomenon known as Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). We have found that human telomerase, like other telomerases, actively manipulates the DNA:RNA hybrid length during DNA synthesis. When template synthesis nears completion, we observe structural dynamics throughout the entire primer that suggest concurrent manipulation of the hybrid and reorientation distal protein-DNA contacts. Through both FRET and a nuclease protection assays, we have shown that this rearrangement induces motion of the entire DNA primer, threading the 5' DNA out of the telomerase complex. Threading of the DNA allows telomerase to maintain contact with the DNA for processive repeat addition while simultaneously providing potential interaction sites for other telomeric binding proteins.
The determination of the true iodine numbers of oils containing conjugated double-bond systems

The modified Rosenmund-Kuhnhenn procedure, as described by Benham and Klee, has been applied to conjugated systems. The only difference is that the 1-minute reaction time is extended to 30–120 minutes depending upon sample weight and excess reagent. Such a procedure gives true iodine numbers and has been investigated for various tung oils, oiticica oil, isomerized fatty acids, and dehydrated castor oil.
Peak expiratory flow rate in normal pregnancy.

Objective: To determine whether peak expiratory flow rate changes with pregnancy and advancing gestation. Methods: We measured the peak expiratory flow rate in 57 women during each trimester of pregnancy and postpartum. During four visits, all subjects exhaled forcefully three times into a peak flow meter. For each visit, the best of three attempts defined their peak expiratory flow rate. Using accepted standard nomograms, we normalized peak expiratory flow rate with respect to height and age. Using analysis of variance, we compared the mean normalized peak expiratory flow rates in each of the trimesters and postpartum. Results: The subjects' peak expiratory flow rates did not change significantly during the three trimesters and postpartum ( P = .317). The mean peak expiratory flow rates for the three trimesters and postpartum were 434 ± 18,452 ± 16,444 ± 15, and 450 ± 16 (values in liters per minute ± 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). The mean normalized peak expiratory flow rates for the three trimesters and postpartum were 0.92 ± 0.036, 0.95 ± 0.032, 0.94 ± 0.030, and 0.95 ± 0.031 (values ± 95% CI). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that peak expiratory flow rate does not change with pregnancy and advancing gestation. Therefore, testing peak expiratory flow rate in pregnancy is valid, and physicians can use peak expiratory flow rate accurately and reliably in the management of pregnant women with asthma.
MULTISCALE AGENT-BASED SIMULATION FOR CHONDROGENIC PATTERN FORMATION IN VITRO

Mathematical and computational multiscale models are becoming increasingly important investigative tools in developmental biological research. During certain developmental processes cells that start out as independent entities interact to form multicellular structures. Cells of the embryonic vertebrate limb in high-density culture undergo chondrogenic pattern formation, which results in the formation of regularly-spaced "islands" of cartilage analogous to the cartilage primordia of the developing limb skeleton. In this article we describe a discrete, agent-based stochastic model for studying the behavior of limb bud precartilage mesenchymal cells in vitro. This model, like an earlier one, employs a biologically motivated reaction-diffusion process and cell-matrix adhesion as the basis of self-organizing pattern formation, but constitutes an improvement in biological fidelity over previous descriptions in that it is multiscale (i.e., cell and molecular dynamics occur on distinct scales), and the cells are represented as spatially extended objects. The improved model reproduces a broader set of results of the micromass culture system than the previous one and discloses multiple dynamical regimes that suggest new biological experiments.
Longitudinal response of three-body nuclei

The method of correlated basis functions is generalized to describe three-nucleon and deuteron-plus-nucleon continuum states. The correlated basis functions are obtained by incorporating short range correlations between the spectator nucleon and the two nucleons of the interacting pair. Correlated orthonormal wave functions for the continuum states are generated by orthogonalizing the correlated basis functions via a combination of Schmidt and L\"owdin transformations, designed so that the correlated orthonormal states have correct energies. The correlated orthonormal continuum states include the minimum interaction effects required to ensure orthogonality and reasonable short range behavior. The longitudinal response of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{3}\mathrm{H}$ at k=300 to 600 MeV/c is calculated with the variational ground state wave function and the correlated orthonormal final states. Both the short range correlations and the orthogonality corrections in the final states decrease the response in the quasi-free peak. The calculated response has the correct sum and energy-weighted sum within \ensuremath{\sim}5%, and that of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ is in reasonable agreement with the Saclay experimental data. We find that the response of $^{3}\mathrm{H}$ is broader than that of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$, and that it is relatively larger at energies greater than that of the quasi-free peak.
Achieving spectrum conservation for the minimum-span and minimum-order frequency assignment problems

Effective and efficient solutions of frequency assignment problems assumes increasing importance as the radiofrequency spectrum experiences ever increasing utilization by diverse communications services, requiring that the most efficient use of this resource be achieved. The research presented explores a general approach to the frequency assignment problem, in which such problems are categorized by the appropriate spectrum conserving objective function, and are each treated as an N-job, M-machine scheduling problem appropriate for the objective. Results obtained and presented illustrate that such an approach presents an effective means of achieving spectrum conserving frequency assignments for communications systems in a variety of environments.
Role of Potassium Currents on Cell Excitability in Cardiac Ventricular Myocytes

Potassium Currents and Cell Excitability. Ventricular cell excitability has been mostly associated with the ability of sodium currents to generate an action potential upstroke. However, even in the presence of normal sodium currents, a cell will not generate an active response if it is unable to depolarize from the resting potential to the activation threshold. This article summarizes recent data demonstrating that potassium currents can act as important modulators of cell excitability. In fact, potassium currents can play a major role in determining the dynamics of Wenckebach periodicity, hysteresis of excitability, and active facilitation in ventricular myocytes. The article discusses the specific roles that the inward rectifier, IKb the delayed rectifier, IK, and the ATP-sensitive, IK-ATP currents play on the dynamic modulation of cell excitation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 3, pp. 474–486. October 1992)
Performance of multiple horizontal well laterals in low- to medium-permeability reservoirs

A generalized semianalytical productivity model, accounting for any well and reservoir configuration has been constructed and presented recently. The model allows for the production or injection prediction of any well (vertical, horizontal, deviated) and reservoir configurations in both isotropic and anisotropic media. Partially completed wells can also be simulated. A concern in modern reservoir management is the potential desirability of multiple horizontal laterals, frequently emanating from the same vertical well. Once pseudosteady state is reached, the productivity index differences among various well configurations are diminished. Thus, multiple laterals in higher-permeability formations, draining an assigned box, may not offer incremental benefits. However, at early time and under transient conditions in low- to medium-permeability reservoirs, the relative productivity improvements provided by multiple laterals may result in sufficient incremental benefits to warrant their drilling. This paper presents a series of parametric studies for a range of reservoir permeabilities and permeability anisotropies for various multiple well configurations. The desirability or lack thereof for these configurations is demonstrated.
Use of Gauss-Jordan matrix reduction in the reconstruction of a correct file copy from erroneous copies

We describe a scheme, based on Gauss-Jordan matrix reduction technique, for the efficient location of errors in multiple file copies in a distributed environment, given that all copies may be partially erroneous. The file is subdivided into pages. Each page is represented by a C-bit signature. The only checking memory retained for each file copy is a highly protected overall file signature of C bits, where C is of the order of about 40-100 bits, derived as the vector sum of page signatures. Disagreeing page signatures are found and their processing is used to determine the correct and erroneous pages at all sites. If there is at least one site that has a correct copy of each page, and the number of erroneous pages is somewhat less than C, the scheme will almost always succeed in reconstructing a correct copy with a polynomial growth of computation with the number of erroneous pages. >
Recursive solution methods for dynamic linear rational expectations models

Abstract This paper develops recursive solution methods for linear rational expectations models. The underlying structural model is transformed into a state–space representation, which can then be used to solve the model and to form the Gaussian likelihood function. The recursive solution method has several advantages over other approaches. First, the set of solutions to the model are summarized by a set of parameters that appear in the state–space representation but are unspecified by the structural model. Next, the likelihood function is formed as a byproduct of the solution to the model. Finally, modifications in the likelihood function necessary to incorporate complications arising from temporal aggregation, dynamic errors-in-variables, etc. are straightforward.
Incremental value of CT in PET/CT of patients with colorectal carcinoma

Background: We assessed the contribution of dedicated computed tomographic (CT) interpretation to the accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) plus CT in imaging patients with suspected primary or metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Methods: One hundred PET/CT scans in 90 consecutive patients were evaluated retrospectively. Imaging was performed on a GE Discovery LS PET/CT scanner. PET images were obtained from the skull base through the midthigh after intravenous administration of 15 to 20 mCi of [18F] fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose. Noncontrast axial CT images were obtained at the same anatomic locations, with 140 kV, 80 mA, 0.8 s/CT rotation, a pitch of 6, and a table speed of 22.5 mm/s. The CT component of the PET/CT study was reviewed independently by consensus of two blinded readers. Scans were evaluated for the presence of primary disease, local recurrence, and distant metastases. Results were compared with the PET/CT report. The gold standard was clinical and imaging follow-up for at least 6 months, surgery, or biopsy. Results: The study included 40 males and 50 females, with a mean age of 63 years (range, 31–92 years). The indications for the examination were to evaluate for recurrence of colorectal cancer in 83 cases, determine disease spread in 15 cases, and evaluate for possible primary malignancy in two cases with rising carcinoembryonic antigen. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the PET/CT report and of the combined PET/CT with dedicated CT interpretation were 0.914, 0.633, and 0.830 and 0.986, 1.000, and 0.980, respectively. The difference between PET/CT and the combined PET/CT with dedicated CT interpretation with respect to accuracy was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The CT portion of PET/CT provides valuable anatomic and pathologic information to the functional information provided by PET and helps improve the overall accuracy of the combined study.
Fasciculate Rugose Corals from Gzhelian and Lower Permian Strata, Pequop Mountains, Northeast Nevada

Abstract Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian shallow marine rocks in the Pequop Mountains of northeastern Nevada contain an abundance of fossils, especially fusulinids and fasciculate corals. As the composite stratigraphic section in this area represents the most nearly complete sequence of this type of corals anywhere in the Cordilleran miogeocline, this study was undertaken to document their occurrence sequentially. This information should be useful for comparison with other sections in the miogeocline containing similar corals. Only one species of Durhamina is present in the Gzhelian rocks. Durhamina, Heintzella, and Paraheritschioides occur in the Asselian rocks, and all of these genera plus Wilsonastraea are present in the Sakmarian part of the section. Corals in the Artinskian and Kungurian are represented by an advanced species of Durhamina and the very advanced durhaminid, Sandolasma. Newly described species are: Durhamina primitiva, D. snyderi, Sandolasma perplexa, Heintzella davydovi, Paraheri...
Paradoxical inhibition of fibrinogen binding and potentiation of α-granule release by specific types of inhibitors of glycoprotein IIb–IIIa

Objective: To determine whether glycoprotein (GP) IIb–IIIa inhibitors can paradoxically augment activation of platelets, activation of GP IIb–IIIa, α-granule degranulation, and lysosome release were induced after exposure of platelets to GP IIb–IIIa inhibitors. Methods: ADP-induced platelet activation was assessed after exposure of platelets to Abciximab, or to a non-peptide ligand, the free acid of Orbofiban (Orbofibana). Activation of GP IIb–IIIa was detected based on binding of fluorochrome labeled fibrinogen or a labeled monoclonal antibody, PAC-1. α-Granule degranulation was detected based on surface expression of P-selectin and lysosome release was detected based on surface expression of CD63. Results: Despite significant inter-individual variability in inhibition of fibrinogen binding in response to each of the GP IIb–IIIa inhibitors used, a concentration dependent decrease in fibrinogen binding was seen with each agent in samples from each subject. Binding of PAC-1 was inhibited in a parallel manner. Abciximab increased ADP-induced P-selectin expression. Orbofibana did not alter ADP-induced P-selectin expression. Neither agent altered ADP-induced CD63 expression. When platelets were exposed to Abciximab and Orbofibana, both Abciximab and Orbofibana were found in the α-granules (by confocal microscopy), consistent with potentiation of agonist-induced release of α-granular products associated with uptake of proteins. Conclusions: Specific types of GP IIb–IIIa inhibitors can paradoxically augment agonist-induced release of α-granules despite inhibiting agonist-induced fibrinogen binding.
A Multi-Level Bayesian Analysis of Racial Bias in Police Shootings at the County-Level in the United States, 2011-2014

A geographically-resolved, multi-level Bayesian model is used to analyze the data presented in the U.S. Police-Shooting Database (USPSD) in order to investigate the extent of racial bias in the shooting of American civilians by police officers in recent years. In contrast to previous work that relied on the FBI’s Supplemental Homicide Reports that were constructed from self-reported cases of police-involved homicide, this data set is less likely to be biased by police reporting practices. County-specific relative risk outcomes of being shot by police are estimated as a function of the interaction of: 1) whether suspects/civilians were armed or unarmed, and 2) the race/ethnicity of the suspects/civilians. The results provide evidence of a significant bias in the killing of unarmed black Americans relative to unarmed white Americans, in that the probability of being {black, unarmed, and shot by police} is about 3.49 times the probability of being {white, unarmed, and shot by police} on average. Furthermore, the results of multi-level modeling show that there exists significant heterogeneity across counties in the extent of racial bias in police shootings, with some counties showing relative risk ratios of 20 to 1 or more. Finally, analysis of police shooting data as a function of county-level predictors suggests that racial bias in police shootings is most likely to emerge in police departments in larger metropolitan counties with low median incomes and a sizable portion of black residents, especially when there is high financial inequality in that county. There is no relationship between county-level racial bias in police shootings and crime rates (even race-specific crime rates), meaning that the racial bias observed in police shootings in this data set is not explainable as a response to local-level crime rates.
Optical systems for data centers

Building future data centers requires unprecedented internal bandwidth, at very high per-channel energy efficiency. Optics offers potential solutions for these challenges, especially if we rethink the construction of high-performance computers into compact systems-in-a-package. Here we discuss the drivers for optics in these large-scale systems.
Combinatorial curve reconstruction in Hilbert spaces: a new sampling theory and an old result revisited

The goals of this paper are twofold. The first is to present a new sampling theory for curves, based on a new notion of local feature size. The properties of this new feature size are investigated, and are compared with the standard feature size definitions. The second goal is to revisit an existing algorithm for combinatorial curve reconstruction in spaces of arbitrary dimension, the Nearest Neighbour Crust of Dey and Kumar [Proc. ACMSIAM Sympos. Discrete Algorithms, 1999, pp. 893-894], and to prove its validity under the new sampling conditions. Because the new sampling theory can imply less dense sampling, the new proof is, in some cases, stronger than that presented in [Proc. ACM-SIAM Sympos. Discrete Algorithms, 1999, pp. 893-894]. Also of interest are the techniques used to prove the theorem, as they are unlike those used used in the curve reconstruction literature to date.
Effects of Mammalian and Nonmammalian Gonadotropins on Androgen Production by Minced Rabbit Testis

Androgen production by minced testis from adult rabbits was measured in response to a variety of FSHs and LH5 from eutherian (sheep, rat, rabbit) and metatherian (kangaroo) mammals, a bird (turkey), reptiles (turtle, alligator) and an amphibian (frog). LHs from all three eutherian species were highly potent and produced clear stimulation at doses below 50 ng/ml; relative potencies in the rabbit were consistent with estimates from OAAD assay, but an anuran ovulation assay indicated considerable differences in potency among these three preparations. LH from the kangaroo had only about 4 percent the activity of the eutherian LHs in the rabbit testis. Potencies of mammalian (rat and ovine) FSHs were only a small fraction of the LHs (<1 percent); inactivation of ovine FSH by an LH-antiserum indicated that this low level of activity was due to residual LH contamination. Amphibian, reptilian and avian hormones were active in the rabbit testis, but a sharp dichotomy in potency was evident between these and all mammalian hormones. Nonmammalian hormones stimulated androgen production (with comparable ratios of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone), and maximal levels of androgen produced were the same or greater than obtained with mammalian preparations. However, nonmammalian hormones were consistently three to four orders of magnitude less potent than the eutherian LH5. Furthermore, in several tests, nonmammalian FSHs were also active in the minced rabbit testis at levels (20-110 percent of homologous LH) that could not be readily attributed to LH contamination. Comparisons with relative potencies for the same preparations in an anuran ovulation assay confirm that pronounced phylogenetic specificity underlies the differences in potencies between mammalian and nonmammalian gonadotropins.
Lactococcus garvieae endocarditis: report of a case and review of the literature

Bacterial endocarditis due to Lactococcus garvieae is extremely unusual, and may actually be underreported due to its morphologic and biochemical similarities with enterococci. Only three cases have been reported in the medical literature, and all involved prosthetic valves. We report a case of native valve bacterial endocarditis caused by L. garvieae.
On the Theory of Isotropic Turbulence

The theory of isotropic turbulence is investigated. In particular it is established that, for self-similar turbulence, energy transfer occurs in two distinct invariant modes. Implications of this result are discussed. The related decay of turbulence intensity is determined.
Applications of the Crescentic Advancement Flap

Repair of defects of the lateral nose, perialar, and nasolabial region are often challenging. Maintaining the normal anatomic boundary lines and if possible placing the sutures within these lines are important considerations when designing a closure. The crescentic advancement flap has proved to be a versatile closure for skin cancer defects in these regions. A brief historic perspective on this flap along with important concepts in its utilization for defects of the lateral nose, perialar region, and nasolabial fold are discussed.
Expectations in the context of gallbladder and hernia surgery: a descriptive report.

Objective Patients' expectations predict important health outcomes. The goal of this study is to describe the types of expectations that hernia and gallbladder patients have for the outcomes of their surgery and to identify relationships between these expectations and both patient- and surgeon-reported variables. Design Patients (N = 143) at an out-patient surgery clinic completed self-report questionnaires before and after a pre-surgical consultation in which they learned they would be scheduled for surgery. After indicating their general expectations for their surgical outcomes (positive or negative), patients reported specific outcome expectations, which were coded into eight categories: functional improvement, symptom relief, quality-of-life improvement, emotional improvement, general health, no effect expected, no response (or unsure) and negative expectations. Results Functional improvement and symptom relief were the most common types of expectations mentioned by patients. A key finding was a significant difference in the pattern of expectations provided by Hispanic versus non-Hispanic patients, as well as between patients across the range of health literacy. Conclusions Patients undergoing hernia and gallbladder surgery have a variety of expectations, and these expectations vary across demographic groups. Patients who are particularly vulnerable to poor physician communication have positive but diffuse expectations.
Na/K Pump Current in Aggregates of Cultured Chick Cardiac Myocytes

Spontaneously beating aggregates of cultured embryonic chick cardiac myocytes, maintained at 37 degrees C, were voltage clamped using a single microelectrode switching clamp to measure the current generated by the Na/K pump (Ip). In resting, steady-state preparations an ouabain-sensitive current of 0.46 +/- 0.03 microA/cm2 (n = 22) was identified. This current was not affected by 1 mM Ba, which was used to reduce inward rectifier current (IK1) and linearize the current-voltage relationship. When K-free solution was used to block Ip, subsequent addition of Ko reactivated the Na/K pump, generating an outward reactivation current that was also ouabain sensitive. The reactivation current magnitude was a saturating function of Ko with a Hill coefficient of 1.7 and K0.5 of 1.9 mM in the presence of 144 mM Nao. The reactivation current was increased in magnitude when Nai was increased by lengthening the period of time that the preparation was exposed to K-free solution prior to reactivation. When Nai was raised by 3 microM monensin, steady-state Ip was increased more than threefold above the resting value to 1.74 +/- 0.09 microA/cm2 (n = 11). From these measurements and other published data we calculate that in a resting myocyte: (a) the steady-state Ip should hyperpolarize the membrane by 6.5 mV, (b) the turnover rate of the Na/K pump is 29 s-1, and (c) the Na influx is 14.3 pmol/cm2.s. We conclude that in cultured embryonic chick cardiac myocytes, the Na/K pump generates a measurable current which, under certain conditions, can be isolated from other membrane currents and has properties similar to those reported for adult cardiac cells.
Design for a second-generation proton storage ring at LAMPF

A conceptual design is presented for a second-generation proton storage ring (PSR) complex at LAMPF (Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility). The facility would consist of two stacked racetrack-shaped machines that would deliver a 1.2-mA beam of 1.6-GeV protons at 48 Hz. The pulse length would be 1.75 mu s, which represents a time compression of 570. Beam transfers, collimation, results of longitudinal simulations, and beam stability are discussed. If constructed, the machines would supply 12 times more beam power for producing spallation neutrons than the current PSR design. The present H/sup -/ source would have to be upgraded by a factor of 2. >
Alterations in plasma and tissue prostaglandin levels in rabbits during luteal regression.

To determine if ovarian as well as uterine prostaglandin production was associated with luteal regression, tissue and plasma concentrations of prostaglandin F (PGF), prostaglandin E (PGE), 6-keto-PGF, ,� (6-keto-PGF), and thromboxane B2 (TxB) were measured by radioimmunoassay in uterus, corpora lutea, nonluteal tissue, uterine venous plasma and ovarian venous plasma on Days 8, 12 and 15 of pseudopregnancy in the rabbit. Total prostaglandin levels (PGF + PGE + 6-keto-PGF + TxB) were 4-fold greater in the uterus compared to nonluteal tissue and 8-fold greater than in corpora lutea. Both PGF and PGE levels were increased in uterine tissue on Day 15 compared to Days 8 or 12 (P<0.01). The ratio of PGF:PGE was also elevated on Day 15 compared to Days 8 or 12 (P<0.05) which suggests that the luteolytic effect of PGF predominates over the possible luteotropic effect of PGE. There were no significant changes in the concentration of TxB or 6-keto-PGF or the ratio of TxB;6-keto-PGF in uterine tissue on any day studied. In nonluteal tissue, PGE was the only PG to vary significantly; PGE levels were elevated (P<0.05) on Day 8 of pseudopregnancy compared to Days 12 or 15. Although corpora lutea contain significant quantities of PGF, PGE, TxB and 6-keto-PGF, no alterations in the levels of any of these substances were observed between Days 8, 12 or 15 of pseudopregnancy. In addition, there were no significant alterations in the levels of any PG in ovarian venous plasma or in the ratio of either PGF:PGE or TxB:6-keto-PGF in luteal and nonluteal tissue or the ovarian venous plasma. In summary, the only PG which was observed to increase with luteal regression in the rabbit was PGF in uterine tissue. These data do not support the concept that intraluteal production of PGF, PGE, TxB or 6-keto-PGF plays a predominant role in regulating luteal function during pseudopregnancy in the rabbit.
A relaxation method for calculating transonic flows with detached bow shocks

The use of Murman and Krupp's (1971) method for calculating steady, inviscid, transonic flows with imbedded shock waves is discussed in application to two-dimensional problems for transonic flows past sharp and moderately blunt nosed geometries. A relaxation algorithm is used to solve the equations.
Schizophrenic illness in the families of schizophrenic adoptees: findings from the Danish national sample

The prevalence of schizophrenic illness in the biological and adoptive relatives of schizophrenic adoptees has been examined in a total sample of adoptees in Denmark. The sample was studied in two stages, beginning with the Copenhagen sample of adoptions granted by the courts in the city and county of Copenhagen, and the results have been reported previously. The adoptions granted by the courts in the remainder of Denmark made up the Provincial sample, the preliminary results of which appear to confirm those obtained earlier. Chronic schizophrenia and milder syndromes described as latent, borderline, or uncertain schizophrenia, and in DSM-III as schizotypal personality disorder, were found in both samples to concentrate significantly in the biological relatives of schizophrenic adoptees as compared to their controls, but not in their adoptive relatives. These milder and marginal syndromes resembling schizophrenia occurring in the families of schizophrenic patients confirm the observations of Bleuler and others who succeeded him. Their presence in the biological families of schizophrenic adoptees indicates not only their familial, but also their genetic relationship to schizophrenia, although the specificity of that relationship has not been established.
Synthetic lac Operator Substitutions for Studying the Nitrate- and Nitrite-Responsive NarX-NarL and NarQ-NarP Two-Component Regulatory Systems of Escherichia coli K-12

The NarX and NarQ sensor-histidine kinases control phosphorylation of the NarL and NarP response regulators in response to the respiratory oxidants nitrate and nitrite. Target operon transcription is activated by the Fnr protein in response to anaerobiosis, and it is further activated and/or repressed by the phospho-NarL and phospho-NarP proteins, which bind to heptamer DNA sequences. The location and arrangement of heptamers vary widely among different target operon control regions. We have constructed a series of monocopy lac operon control region constructs in which the primary operator O1-lac has been replaced by 7-2-7 heptamer pairs from the nrfA, nirB, napF, and fdnG operon control regions. These constructs provide tools for dissecting various aspects of ligand interactions with sensor-kinases, sensor interactions with response regulators, and phospho-response regulator interactions with DNA targets. Expression of the lacZ gene from these constructs was repressed to various degrees by nitrate and nitrite. In response to nitrate, the nrfA and nirB operon 7-2-7 heptamer pairs at operator O1 each mediated greater than 100-fold repression of lacZ gene expression, whereas the napF operon 7-2-7 heptamer pair mediated approximately tenfold repression. Introduction of narL, narP, narX, and narQ null alleles in various combinations allowed the in vivo interactions between different sensor-regulator pairs to be evaluated and compared.