cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Thiopurine Drug Inhibits West Nile Virus Production in Cell Culture, but Not in Mice

Many viruses within the Flavivirus genus cause significant disease in humans; however, effective antivirals against these viruses are not currently available. We have previously shown that a thiopurine drug, 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside (6MMPr), inhibits replication of distantly related viruses within the Flaviviridae family in cell culture, including bovine viral diarrhea virus and hepatitis C virus replicon. Here we further examined the potential antiviral effect of 6MMPr on several diverse flaviviruses. In cell culture, 6MMPr inhibited virus production of yellow fever virus, dengue virus-2 (DENV-2) and West Nile virus (WNV) in a dose-dependent manner, and DENV-2 was significantly more sensitive to 6MMPr treatment than WNV. We then explored the use of 6MMPr as an antiviral against WNV in an immunocompetent mouse model. Once a day treatment of mice with 0.5 mg 6MMPr was just below the toxic dose in our mouse model, and this dose was used in subsequent studies. Mice were treated with 6MMPr immediately after subcutaneous inoculation with WNV for eight consecutive days. Treatment with 6MMPr exacerbated weight loss in WNV-inoculated mice and did not significantly affect mortality. We hypothesized that 6MMPr has low bioavailability in the central nervous system (CNS) and examined the effect of pre-treatment with 6MMPr on viral loads in the periphery and CNS. Pre-treatment with 6MMPr had no significant effect on viremia or viral titers in the periphery, but resulted in significantly higher viral loads in the brain, suggesting that the effect of 6MMPr is tissue-dependent. In conclusion, despite being a potent inhibitor of flaviviruses in cell culture, 6MMPr was not effective against West Nile disease in mice; however, further studies are warranted to reduce the toxicity and/or improve the bioavailability of this potential antiviral drug.
Stereoselectivity in acid-catalyzed heteronucleophilic substitution of enantiomeric 3-O-methyloxazepam and 3-O-ethyloxazepam

Kinetics of acid-catalyzed heteronucleophilic substitution and racemization of enantiomeric MeOX in ethanol and enantiomeric EtOX in methanol were studied by quenching reaction products at various times by neutralization. Enantiomeric contents of remaining substrate and reaction product were determined by chiral stationary phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The experimental procedure allowed the determination of the stereoselectivity (i.e., the enantiomeric ratio of a substitution product formed from an enantiomerically pure substrate) involved in the heteronucleophilic substitution reactions. The stereoselectivity was found to vary between 58:42 and 87:13, depending on the acid concentration, substrate, solvent, and temperature. The enantiomeric purity of remaining substrates was identical to that of the starting substrate, indicating that the enantiomeric substrates did not undergo a ring-opening reaction. The results provided additional evidence supporting the mechanism proposed earlier in acid-catalyzed stereoselective heteronucleophilic and homonucleophilic substitutions and the resulting racemization of enantiomeric 3-alkoxy-1,4-benzodiazepines in alcoholic solvents. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Calculated heating on the afterbody nozzle of a hypersonic aircraft concept

The present analysis was carried out to estimate the heating levels of the external nozzle of a scramjet/airframe-integrated research aircraft. A parametric examination of the effects of Mach number, reference length, and wall temperature showed that the heating rate distributions are independent of reference length and wall temperature. The initial heating rates obtained for a Mach 6 flight are in the (3 to 8) x 10 to the 5th power W/sq m range. Underlying the entire study is the question of nozzle boundary layer formation and growth, as well as the question of the reference length value that should be used in the computations. It is shown that the reference length is not the dominant factor setting the heating levels; an attempt to bound the actual length was made. A more detailed calculation of the rates requires further work to gain a better understanding of the combustor exit boundary layer.
Tumor size and axillary metastasis, a correlative occurrence in 1244 cases of breast cancer between 1980 and 1995

A review of 1244 breast cancer cases from the Tumor Registry of Northwest Community Hospital between 1980 and 1995 was carried out to investigate the incidence of axillary metastasis. There were 442 patients (35.45%) with positive nodes. The small lesions were graded to ascertain if size and grade of small tumors can be used to predict axillary metastasis. One hundred and seventy-nine cases of ⩽1.0 cm were retrospectively reviewed by one pathologist. Tumors
Functional evaluation of esophageal reconstructions.

Abstract The fundic patch and colon interposition operations have been evaluated clinically and experimentally using manometric, pH reflux, acid clearing, and cinefluoroscopic techniques. The data indicate that the fundic patch operation is an adequate operation for the prevention of reflux only when combined with a Nissen fundoplication. Long-term results of leaving a diseased segment of esophagus have not been determined. Clinically and experimentally, colon interposition for benign esophageal stricture has proved an effective operation for the prevention of reflux and recurrent stricture. Rather than acting as a passive conduit for the passage of food into the stomach, the colon exhibits peristalsis that can be characterized as the Type II contraction previously described for the colon in normal position. The prevention of reflux and maintenance of neutral colonic pH seem to depend upon the ability of the colon periodically to evacuate its contents, respond vigorously to acid, and act as a valvular mechanism against reflux when an intraabdominal segment of colon is present.
General relativistic model for energy release of an unstable shell of charged matter in the presence of a dyon core

We construct a formula for the energy released when a spherical shell of charged matter disperses in the presence of a dyon core. Reasons for such a dyon-charged shell configuration on a macroscopic scale stem from the recent speculation concerning the existence of CHAMPS (charged massive particles) along with the possible existence of monopoles produced around the time of nucleosynthesis.
Metal-catalyzed ethylene hydrogenation : The method of interactive search for multiple working hypotheses

Recent research has led to the development of interactive computer programs that enable a comprehensive search for reaction mechanisms. These programs enable a new strategy of interactive mechanistic study which borrows heavily from the century-old method of multiple working hypotheses proposed by T. C. Chamberlin. We propose that mechanistic studies should follow the method of considering at the outset a complete set of plausible mechanisms, rather than just one or a small number, which has the drawbacks described well by Chamberlin. This general methodology has become much more practical with the development of interactive computer programs that search comprehensively while building on the experimenter's prior knowledge. This paper illustrates the methods in detail, using as a vehicle the hydrogenation of ethylene, which is among the most studied reactions in the history of heterogeneous catalysis.
Clinical and scientific advances in the philadelphia-chromosome negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders

The chronic myeloproliferative disorders are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders and include chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM). These diseases are characterized by clonal expansion of the myeloid compartment, increased marrow angiogenesis, and varying risks for blastic transformation. A clear molecular abnormality exists (t(9;22) leading to the fusion of BCR-Abl) only for CML, which led to effective targeted therapy (STI-571). Since no similar pathogenetic mechanism has been discovered for the t(9;22) negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders, their respective diagnosis is currently based on a variety of rather cumbersome diagnostic criteria. Polycythemia vera is distinguished from reactive erythrocytosis through erythropoietin independent growth of erythroid progenitorsin vitro, suppressed levels of endogenous erythropoietin, possible overexpression of PRV-1 (polycythemia rubra vera-1), decreased c-Mpl expression on megakaryocytes, as well as overexpression of bcl-xL, and potentially aberrant activity of the Jak-Stat pathway. ET is defined by thrombocytosis and is distinguished from reactive states by decreased megakaryocyte c-Mpl expression, and a propensity for thrombosis. AMM has been associated with a variety of observations including increased concentrations of pro-fibrotic cytokines, increased angiogenesis, and myeloid expansion. AMM is often indistinguishable clinically and prognostically from the advanced phases of other CMPD (specifically post-polycythemic and post-thrombocythemia myeloid metaplasia), all of which are subentities of a diagnosis of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). The management of CMPD patients is quite varied given the broad range of disease severity and survival observed. The role of stem cell transplantation is limited by the age and comorbidities encountered in CMPD patients. Since no broadly applicable therapy effects the mortality of the CMPD, management currently focuses on the prevention/palliation of disease morbidity (i.e. vascular complications, pruritus, organomegaly, constitutional symptoms). Palliative strategies which currently focus on non-specific myelosuppresion, will hopefully be soon replaced by targeted therapies as insight into pathogenetic mechanisms of these diseases evolves.
Some economic guidelines for design of a charter school district

Abstract As the number of charter schools has grown nationally, there is increasing discussion of the consolidation of such schools into charter districts in which all schools would be charter schools from which parents would have the freedom to choose the school that they wished their student to attend. A major question is how such a charter school district would be organized to support its schools and who would perform the different functions required. It is argued that three economic guidelines need to be an important determinant of the solution to this question: the presence of economies of scale; transaction costs; and externalities. The article describes the application of these guidelines to the formation of a charter school district and suggests the different possibilities for addressing a range of important roles by schools, their districts and intermediate organizations and markets.
Networkcentric healthcare and bioinformatics: Unified operations within three domains of knowledge

Bioinformatics is a rapidly developing field of quantitative biomedical research with the potential to transform the three principle domains within healthcare operations of research, clinical practice and administration. Presently, a significant part of bioinformatics research concentrates on genomics and proteomics. Despite growing clinical enthusiasm for the discoveries and creation of new information and knowledge that such research brings, current results are still outside the daily clinical reality. As a measure to close the gap and integrate bioinformatics into the rest of the healthcare domains, the authors propose a networkcentric approach. Based on operations within the unified space created by the overlap of three domains of knowledge, networkcentric healthcare operations support free information flow among all constituents (actors) within the healthcare space, rapid generation and exchange of pertinent knowledge, as well as enhanced awareness of the significance and practical implementation of new discoveries within specialized fields of biomedicine (e.g. bioinformatics). Healthcare networkcentricity will also facilitate conversion of information into readily accessible knowledge, accelerate translation of that knowledge into clinical practice, and reduce the stress of information overload. Changes in the use of Information/Computer/Communication Technologies (IC^2T) and enhanced efficiency of Decision/Executive Support Systems (DSS/ESS) are pivotal to the success of the networkcentric approach as discussed in the paper.
Distributed occupant-seat interactions as an objective measure of seating comfort

An automotive seat must provide the occupant with a comfortable environment in which driving can be performed in a safe and comfortable manner. The characterisation of the interactions between the occupant and the seat under various conditions thus constitutes an important goal for enhancing the knowledge of essential design factors that could yield improved seating comfort. This paper investigates the occupant-seat interactions through measurements and analyses of the distributed contact force, contact area and peak and mean pressure responses at the body-seat-pan and body-backrest interfaces of three different automotive seats. User’s perceived comfort levels for various seating configurations were acquired through a survey and results were analysed through analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in order to derive a quantitative expression for the perceived comfort level. A strong correlation between perceived comfort and the peak and mean pressures on the seat-pan enabled us to derive an explicit formulation of seating comfort.
Severe post‐partum eclampsia: Response to plasma exchange

In their severest forms, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia may be life-threatening complications of pregnancy. We describe a patient with severe post-partum eclampsia characterized by seizures, deep coma, hypertension, renal insufficiency, coagulopathy, and microangiopathic hemolysis. The patient responded to treatment that included intensive plasma exchange, and she achieved full recovery. Our case supports the use of plasma exchange in patients with severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
Hypnosis as an "entree" for consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Abstract In addition to its indicated uses, hypnosis can play another important, more indirect role in consultation-liaison psychiatry. It can serve the consulting psychiatrist as an entree to physicians or patients who have not identified a problem as psychiatric or who have rejected traditional psychiatric help. Four case studies which illustrate this point are presented and discussed.
Chain confinement in electrospun nanocomposites: using thermal analysis to investigate polymer–filler interactions

Abstract We investigate the interaction of the polymer matrix and filler in electrospun nanofibers using advanced thermal analysis methods. In particular, we study the ability of silicon dioxide nanoparticles to affect the phase structure of poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET. SiO 2 nanoparticles (either unmodified or modified with silane) ranging from 0 to 2.0 wt% in PET were electrospun from hexafluoro-2-propanol solutions. The morphologies of both the electrospun (ES) nanofibers and the SiO 2 powders were observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, while the amorphous or crystalline nature of the fibers was determined by real-time wide-angle X-ray scattering. The fractions of the crystal, mobile amorphous, and rigid amorphous phases of the non-woven, nanofibrous composite mats were quantified by using heat capacity measurements. The amount of the immobilized polymer layer, the rigid amorphous fraction, was obtained from the specific reversing heat capacity for both as-spun amorphous fibers and isothermally crystallized fibers. Existence of the rigid amorphous phase in the absence of crystallinity was verified in nanocomposite fibers, and two origins for confinement of the rigid amorphous fraction are proposed. Thermal analysis of electrospun fibers, including quasi-isothermal methods, provides new insights to quantitatively characterize the polymer matrix phase structure and thermal transitions, such as devitrification of the rigid amorphous fraction.
The impact of resource flexibility and staffing decisions on cellular and departmental shop performance

Abstract Shop floor control researchers have begun to compare the shop performance advantages of varying forms of resource flexibility. Two major streams of shop floor control research, dual resource constrained shop scheduling (DRC) and group technology (GT), are converging as the literature documents that different forms of resource flexibility aid shop performance in different ways. For example, the DRC literature shows that a small amount of worker flexibility, in the form of cross-training, may be all that is required for superior shop performance. However, the GT literature demonstrates that restricting machines from processing individual part families reduces overall shop effectiveness. Not only does it appear that diverse forms of resource flexibility may be used to alter shop performance in different ways, it may also be that environmental characteristics play a role in arbitrating the performance-improving strength of different forms of flexibility. Studies that have jointly investigated machine and labor flexibility have generated very different conclusions. In this paper we examine the performance advantages of machine and labor flexibility over a wide and realistic set of assumptions and shop floor decisions. We evaluate shop floor control within three different shop configurations at four different levels of staffing. Results indicate that the conclusions of previous studies regarding the choice between labor and machine flexibility are relatively insensitive to a group of labor assignment rules, somewhat more sensitive to changes in demand variability, and very sensitive to staffing levels. Further, this study demonstrates that under several sets of conditions, promoting labor flexibility to the exclusion of machine flexibility provides excellent performance.
Reference use of state government information in public libraries

Abstract The use of state government documents in public libraries for reference service is the topic of this article. The article consists of a brief review of previous research and a report of a study of state documents reference service by public libraries in 10 states. The study was limited to state depositories. Findings of the study include a report on the size of the populations served by state depository collections, the size and rate of acquisition of state documents collections, and a profile of the users of state documents. Also covered are the types of state documents found to be of most value to specific user groups and the perceived value of selected indexes and other means of access to state documents. In addition, the study reports on the use of online bibliographic retrieval of state documents and the provision of machine-readable, statistical data archives by public libraries. The major conclusion of the article is that there is a contradiction between the high level of committment to state document reference service, as espoused by public libraries, and the implementation of policies which support that committment.
Implications for Criminal Justice from the 2002 and 2006 Department of Defense Gender Relations and Sexual Harrasment Surveys

Sexual misconduct has emerged as a widespread problem throughout the criminal justice system as indicated by law enforcement officer sexual assault incidents in various cities and the findings of the recent National Prison Rape Elimination Act Research Commission. Through multivariate statistical analysis of data from two Department of Defense-wide surveys (2002 and 2006), this paper examines the indicators and cofounders of sexism, sexual harassment, and sexual assault with attention to change during the study period. Findings inform a suggested anticipatory model for prevention and intervention in military settings that, based on shared characteristics such as male dominance and authoritarian culture, provide an approximate reference context for criminal justice sexual misconduct best practices consideration.
SPINAL CORD BLOCK WITH A DESTRUCTIVE LESION OF THE DORSAL SPINE IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

Extensive destructive lesions in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) that involve an intervertebral disc space and adjoining vertebral bodies have been reported since 1937 (1,2). The cumulative experience was reviewed in 1972 (3). The roentgenographic appearance may closely simulate that of infective spondylitis, but the lesions are almost invariably bacteriologically sterile. Trauma may be the dominant or possibly the sole etiology of these lesions (3), which evolve from purported ununited fractures occurring most commonly at sites in the lower dorsal spine, the juncture of rigid segments of the lumbar and dorsal spine. By inference, a prerequisite for this mechanism is obvious AS at the stage of spinal ankylosis. A search of the literature disclosed evidence of spinal cord involvement accompanying the disc space lesion of ankylosing spondylitis in only a single case report (4). Our report concerns a patient admitted for progressive paraparesis who had an epidural mass at the site of an extensive destructive lesion at D8-9, mistakenly interpreted as infective. Since the spine was neither deformed nor rigid, the diagnosis of AS
Effect of water and paint coatings on the magnitude of laser-generated shocks☆

Abstract The radiation from Q -switched neodymium-glass lasers was used to generate high amplitude stress waves in thin metal targets. The experiments were conducted in air at ambient conditions and pressure measurements were made with commercially available X-cut quartz crystals. Peak pressures exceeding 2 GPa were obtained by use of water and paint coatings.
Phospholipase D and mTORC1: Nutrients Are What Bring Them Together

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) plays a central role in translating nutrient abundance into cell growth and proliferation. Although specific proteins have been described as mediators of this nutrient input, their mechanistic linkage remains incomplete. Two studies have added phospholipase D (PLD) as a mediator of nutrients to mTORC1. Furthermore, these studies link PLD and its product phosphatidic acid to previously identified activators of mTORC1 signaling, including the class III phosphoinositide-3 kinase, and provide evidence of the existence of two parallel nutrient-regulated pathways that converge on mTORC1 at late endosomes and/or lysosomes.
Ascaris suum infection in pigs sensitizes lymphocytes but suppresses their responsiveness to phytomitogens

The effect of Ascaris suum infection and treatment with fenbendazole on the blastogenic response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to A. suum antigens and to three phytomitogens was assayed by the lymphocyte transformation technique. Repeated infections with A. suum led to the development of sensitized lymphocytes primarily responding to egg hatching fluid antigen. Treatment with fenbendazole decreased the number of specific sensitized lymphocytes, but favorably increased the resistance of pigs to reinfection. Immunity to reinfection did not correlate with the strength of the blastogenic response to A. suum antigens. Repeated infection with A. suum negatively affected the development of the blastogenic response to phytomitogens in the pigs, leading to a partial depression of the responsiveness of lymphocytes and to the partial suppression by serum. Responses to pokeweed mitogen were affected more than the responses to concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin.
Effects of random measurements on the performance of target detection in hyperspectral imagery

Hyperspectral pixels are acquired in hundreds of narrow and continuous spectral bands, and the hyperspectral data cubes typically contain hundreds of megabytes. Analysis and processing of the high-dimensional hyperspectral data are computationally expensive and memory inefficient. However, there is a large amount of redundancy between neighboring spectral bands and the hyperspectral pixels lie in a much lower dimensional subspace. Therefore, numerous techniques can be applied to reduce the dimensionality while maintaining the structure of the data. This would lead to a significant reduction of the complexity of the imaging system, as well as an improvement of the computational efficiency of the detection algorithms. In this paper, we explore the use of several dimensionality reduction techniques that can be easily integrated into the imaging sensors. We also investigate their effect on the performance of classical target detection techniques for hyperspectral images, including spectral matched filters (SMF), matched subspace detectors (MSD), support vector machines (SVM), and RX anomaly detection algorithm. Specifically, each N-dimensional spectral pixel is embedded to an M-dimensional measurement space with M « N by a linear transformation (e.g., random measurement matrices, uniform downsampling, PCA). The SMF, MSD, SVM, and RX detectors are then applied to the M-dimensional measurement vectors to detect the targets of interests and their detection performances are compared to those obtained from the entire N-dimensional spectrum by the receiver operating characteristics curves. Through extensive experiments on several HSI datasets, we demonstrate that only 1/5 to 1/3 measurements (i.e., the compression ratio M/N is 1/5 ~ 1/3 ) are necessary to achieve detection performance comparable to that obtained by exploiting the full N-dimensional pixels.
An isotopic study of a fluvial-lacustrine sequence: The Plio-Pleistocene koobi fora sequence, East Africa

Stable isotopic analyses of Plio-Pleistocene and modern sediments in the fluvial-lacustrine system occupying the Turkana Basin, East Africa provide constraints on the paleoenvironmental and diagenetic histories of the Pliocene through the Recent sediments in the basin. The δ13C values for carbonates in lacustrine sediments range from −15 to +22‰ relative to PDB, depending on the varying proportions of CO2 from the atmospheric reservoir and from various metabolic sources. The δ18O values of carbonates in lacustrine sediments indicate that the isotopic composition of paleolake water varied by over 10‰ from the Pliocene to the present. The δ13C values for pedogenic carbonates record paleoccologic variations and suggest that C4 plants did not become well established in the preserved depositional parts of the basin until about 1.8 myr ago. The δ18O values pedogenic carbonates suggest a range of over 10‰ for the isotopic composition of soil water during this interval. They also suggest a period of major climatic instability from about 3.4 to 3.1 myr and at about 1.8 myr. Together, the δ13C and δ18O values of pedogenic carbonates indicate that the present conditions are as arid and hot as any that had prevailed during deposition of these Plio-Pleistocene sediments.
Human immunodeficiency virus and the cardiac surgeon: A survey of attitudes

The decision to operate on carriers of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who need an urgent cardiac operation is difficult. There is a lack of knowledge about the effect of the presence of HIV on operative risk, about the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on the progression of HIV infection to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and about the risk to the cardiac surgical team of operating on 1 or more HIV carriers. This lack of knowledge is exacerbated by the strict regulations surrounding testing. We polled the board-certified cardiac surgeons in the United States on their willingness to perform open cardiac procedures on HIV carriers and AIDS patients. Fifty-three percent of the surgeons responded. Two thirds of them will operate on HIV carriers who need an urgent cardiac operation but regard the presence of AIDS as a contraindication to cardiopulmonary bypass. This is presumably a medical judgment. Those who will not operate on HIV carriers are apparently motivated by fear rather than moral judgments concerning the patients. Virtually all surgeons want to be able to test "high-risk" patients, and a substantial majority would test all patients.
Effect of cutting speed and tool rake angle on the fatigue life of 2024-T351 aluminium alloy

Abstract Ring-shaped specimens of 2054-T351 aluminium alloy were machined orthogonally on a lathe equipped with a quick-stop device at cutting speeds of 0.5–1.5 m s−1 with tools having positive rake angles in the range 10–30°. The machined specimens were then fatigued at a selected stress and the resulting fatigue lives were compared with that of the virgin material. The surfaces of the specimens were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The fatigue life of the machined specimens was found to increase with increasing cutting speed or tool rake angle. The fatigue life of the specimens machined at higher cutting speeds was higher than that of the virgin material, due to the presence of compressive residual stresses in the surface layers. At lower cutting speeds the surface damage was so severe that, in spite of the presence of compressive residual stresses in the surface layers, the fatigue life of the machined specimens was lower than that of the virgin material.
Blow-up formulas and smooth birational invariants

We prove that the blow-up formula for the singular homology of a complex smooth projective variety with a smooth center respects two natural filtrations, namely the topological and the geometric filtrations. This then enables us to establish some smooth birational invariants.
Erythropoietic Stimulating Factor (ESF) Associated with an Oncogenic Virus-Host System in vitro.

SummaryThe possibility that erythropoietic stimulating factor (ESF) might be involved in the relationship between tumor and virus was tested in vitro. Four experimental situations were studied: (A) Adenovirus, type 12 inoculated into hamster cell culture, (B) Adenovirus, type 4 into hamster cell culture, (C) Adenovirus, type 12 into monkey cell culture and (D) Adenovirus, type 4 into monkey cell culture. Each of these cultures was extracted and assayed for ESF. In addition, other cultures containing only virus or cells in medium or medium alone were extracted and assayed.Extracts of cultures of hamster cells inoculated with human adenovirus, type 12, were found to contain an ESF. This material was found only in small amounts in the other experimental situations. The occurrence of this ESF primarily in the experimental situation in vitro analogous to that in vivo which results in tumor formation suggests that an ESF-like material may be associated with the process of cell division in both situations.
Evans functions for periodic waves on infinite cylindrical domains

Abstract Using Galerkin approximations, an Evans function for spatially periodic waves on infinite cylindrical domains is constructed. It is also shown that the Evans function can be used to define a parity index for periodic waves that detects whether the wave admits an odd number of real unstable eigenvalues. This parity index depends only on local information for the existence problem of the wave: in particular, it uses information about the linear dispersion relation near zero and the orientability of the unstable and stable manifolds along the nonlinear wave. The results are applied to small-amplitude wave trains for a scalar equation on an infinite strip.
Surface periodicity of Ir(110) from time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS)

Abstract The surface periodicity of the Ir(110) surface in both the clean reconstructed (1×3) and oxygen stabilized unreconstructed (1×1) phases have been investigated using time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS). A pulsed 4 keV Ar + ion beam is directed at a grazing incident angle to the surface and the scattered neutral plus ion flux is monitored as a function of beam exit angle and crystal azimuthal angle. It is demonstrated that either maxima or minima are obtained in the scattered flux along the low-index crystallographic directions depending on whether near-specular or off-specular scattering conditions, respectively, are used. These scattering intensity patterns as a function of crystal azimuthal angle provide a direct measure of the surface periodicity. These intensity variations are explained in terms of the Lindhard critical angle, semichannel focusing effects, and trajectory simulations.
A Rational Distributed Lag Model of Quarterly Live Cattle Prices

Quarterly U.S. feeder cattle and fed cattle prices were estimated within a rational distributed lag framework, utilizing nonstochastic difference equations to minimize problems with specification errors in the disturbance structure. The behavior of certain input and output variables in the beef market explained the price variation in each reduced form equation. The results revealed dynamic stability, with a geometric rational lag structure describing fed cattle prices and a polynomial rational lag structure characterizing feeder cattle prices. These dynamics were found to be better than both static-serial correlation and purely autoregressive specifications.
EEG alpha-hypnotizability correlations: a review.

Experimental investigations of the relationships between EEG alpha indices and hypnotic susceptibility are reviewed. The literature is characterized as indicating that the simple alpha-hypnotizability correlation does not exist in the general population. When such correlations are found, they are usually due to complex patterns which result in non-representative subject pools when subjects are non-naive volunteers. When subjects are invited to participate in experiments, significant correlations are not found. The implications of these conclusions are threefold: 1) The research on the relationship between EEG alpha and hypnotizability can now center on describing the mechanisms by which volunteer samples yield such correlations. 2) Researchers should be aware that subject selection methods can be the primary determinants of significant results. 3) Experiments based on the assumption that there is no alpha-hypnotizability correlation in the population can yield information on the differences in cognitive ability between high and low hypnotizables.
Synthesis of Glycolate from Pyruvate via Isocitrate Lyase by Tobacco Leaves in Light.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var Havana Seed) leaf discs were supplied tracer quantities of [2-14C]- and [3-14C]pyruvate for 60 minutes in steady state photosynthesis with 21% or 1% O2, and the glycolate oxidase inhibitor α-hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulfonic acid was then added for 5 or 10 minutes to cause glycolate to accumulate. The [3-14C]pyruvate was converted directly to glycolate as shown by a 50% greater than equallabeled 14C in C-2 of glycolate, and the fraction of 14C in C-2 increased in 1% O2 to 80% greater than equal-labeled. This suggests the pathway using pyruvate is less O2-dependent than the oxygenase reaction producing glycolate from the Calvin cycle. The formation of glycolate from pyruvate in the leaf discs was time-dependent and with [2-14C]- and [3-14C]pyruvate supplied leaf discs the C-2 of glyoxylate derived from C-2 of isocitrate was labeled asymmetrically in a manner similar to the asymmetrical labeling of C-2 of glycolate under a number of conditions. Thus glycolate was probably formed by the reduction of glyoxylate. Isocitric lyase activity of tobacco leaves was associated with leaf mitochondria, though most of the activity was in the supernatant fraction after differential centrifugation of leaf homogenates. The total enzyme activity was at least 35 micromoles per gram fresh weight per hour. The relative contribution of the pathway to the glycolate pool is unknown, but the results support the existence of a sequence of reactions leading to glycolate synthesis during photosynthesis with pyruvate, isocitrate, and glyoxylate as intermediates.
Parton recombination at all pT

Hadron production at all pT in heavy-ion collisions in the framework of parton recombination is reviewed. It is shown that the recombination of thermal and shower partons dominates the hadron spectra in the intermediate pT region. In d + Au collisions, the physics of particle production at any $\eta$ is basically the same as at $\eta = 0$ . The Cronin effect is described as a result of the final-state instead of the initial-state interaction. The suppression of R CP at high $\eta$ is due to the reduction of the soft parton density on the deuteron side, thus resulting in less pions being produced by recombination, an explanation that requires no new physics. In Au + Au collisions a large $p/\pi$ ratio is obtained because the thermal partons can contribute to the formation of a proton more than they do to the pion.
Spherical indentation of a membrane on an elastic half-space

A number of physiological systems involve contact or indentation of solids with tensed surface layers. In this paper the contact problem of spherical indentation of a linear elastic solid, covered with a tensed membrane is addressed. Semianalytical solutions are obtained relating indentation force to contact radius, as well as contact radius to depth. Good agreement is found between derived equations and results from finite element method (FEM) simulations. In addition, effect of membrane on subsurface stresses is shown quantitatively and compared favorably to FEM results. This work is applicable to mechanical property assessment of a number of biological systems.
An acute phase reaction in diabetic patients with foot ulcers.

Abstract The acute phase reaction is a molecular response to noxious stimuli. Over 50 glycoproteins have been identified as reactants. While this is likely a protective response, some of the changes could be detrimental to body homeostasis. The objective of this study was to examine whether an acute phase reaction occurs in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. In age- and sex-matched populations, measurements of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, albumin, hematocrit, whole blood viscosity and protein C were performed on: (i) 24 diabetic patients with a foot ulcer (group A); (ii) eight diabetic patients without foot ulcer (group B); and (iii) seven patients without diabetes (group C). Analysis of variance was used to compare means of each respective group (mean (s.d.)). Group A demonstrated an increase in C-reactive protein (5.6 (5.4) mg/dl) compared with group B (0.78 (0.46) mg/dl; P = 0.013) and group C (0.71 (0.26) mg/dl; P = 0.026). Fibrinogen was also increased in group A (619 (205) mg/dl) compared with group B (310 (58) mg/dl; P = 0.005) and group C (370 (88) mg/dl; P = 0.04). Hematocrit (37 (6)%) and albumin (3.5 (0.5) g/dl) were decreased in group A compared with group B (hematocrit 46 (4)%; P
FLUORIDE ION‐INDUCED RING ENLARGEMENT OF SILICON TRICYCLES

Abstract Ring enlargement of tricyclic silicon heterocycles which contain an exocyclic chloromethyl group on silicon occurs in the presence of KF in refluxing CH 3 CN.
Controller design for bilinear systems

This note presents an extension of a well-known synthesis technique for linear systems to bilinear plants. A classical quadratic Lyapunov function candidate is first selected. Then the controller is designed so as to make the derivative of that function along the trajectories of the bilinear system as negative as possible. This leads to a bang-bang feedback control law using a nonlinear switching function. It is shown that the closed-loop system is guaranteed to be globally asymptotically stable.
Assessing basic HIV transmission risks and the contextual factors associated with HIV risk behavior in men who have sex with men

HIV/AIDS remains a substantial health threat to men who have sex with men. Although new HIV medications have provided great benefits for many HIV-positive individuals, they have done little to protect HIV-negative men. Consequently, changing one's sexual practices remains the most effective way to reduce risk for HIV. However, to develop an effective intervention for reducing HIV risk, it is important to fully understand risk behavior. In this article, we detail the essential elements for conducting an HIV risk assessment as well as those contextual factors that may support risk behaviors. Further, we discuss the importance of procuring an HIV test and the critical issues that may arise because of testing for HIV as well as the critical issues that may result from testing HIV-positive. Finally, we illustrate how we integrate an HIV health risk assessment into a clinical interview.
Sparse sufficient dimension reduction

Existing sufficient dimension reduction methods suffer from the fact that each dimension reduction component is a linear combination of all the original predictors, so that it is difficult to interpret the resulting estimates. We propose a unified estimation strategy, which combines a regression-type formulation of sufficient dimension reduction methods and shrinkage estimation, to produce sparse and accurate solutions. The method can be applied to most existing sufficient dimension reduction methods such as sliced inverse regression, sliced average variance estimation and principal Hessian directions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method by both simulations and real data analysis.
On Choice of Subjects and Replicates in Estimating Among and Within Subject Variation

We consider the problem of choosing the number of replicates and number of subjects in a components of variance problem which optimizes various criteria. The case study here involves patients suffering from systemic sclerosis (Scleroderma), a form of rheumatic disease that is potentially disabling. Under the physical constraints imposed on the study, we find that using 2 or 3 replicates with as many patients as possible is the optimal strategy for several criteria.
Statistics of contractive cracking patterns

The statistics of convective soil patterns are analyzed using statistical crystallography. An underlying hierarchy of order is found to span four orders of magnitude in characteristic pattern length. Strict mathematical requirements determine the two-dimensional (2D) topology, such that random partitioning of space yields a predictable statistical geometry for polygons. For all lengths, Aboav's and Lewis's laws are verified; this result is consistent both with the need to fill 2D space and most significantly with energy carried not by the patterns' interior, but by the boundaries. Together, this suggests a common mechanism of formation for both micro- and macro-freezing patterns.
Distribution of the density of states of bonded hydrogen in amorphous hydrogenated silicon

Abstract Hydrogen-induced metastability is analysed by a density of states distribution for bonded hydrogen, which described the alternative hydrogen sites and the effects of disorder. The metastability is explained by the redistribution of hydrogen following illumination, annealing or a shift of the Fermi energy. Hydrogen and defect equilibria are related to the hydrogen diffusion and the chemical potential. An estimate of the hydrogen density of states distribution, based on the weak bond model, is shown to be consistent with the measured defect density. Irreversible metastable changes are related to structural reconstructions which change the shape of the distribution, while the reversible changes correspond to a redistribution of hydrogen within an approximately constant density of states.
HIV-associated nephropathy in African Americans1

HIV-associated nephropathy in African Americans. Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection is associated with several glomerular syndromes, the most prevalent of which is HIV-associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). At present, HIV-associated FSGS may account for up to 30% of patients in the United States entering end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as a consequence of FSGS. The mechanisms responsible for HIV-associated FSGS are not well defined, but evidence has been presented in favor of direct infection of renal parenchymal cells and toxicity of HIV-1 accessory proteins. HIV-associated FSGS has a striking predilection for patients of African descent. This likely has a genetic basis, although the gene or genes responsible have not yet been identified. One approach is to examine candidate genes for polymorphisms that are associated with disease. Another approach uses a genome-wide scan, relying upon linkage disequilibrium between DNA markers and the disease gene, to identify the causal gene or genes. African Americans are an admixed population, with genetic contributions from African, European, and Native American populations. In admixed populations, linkage disequilibrium between disease genes and marker genes can be exploited to identify disease genes, using an approach termed mapping by admixture linkage disequilibrium (MALD).
Desirable Masculinity/Femininity and Nostalgia of the “Anti-Modern”: Bab el-Hara Television Series as a Site of Production

The following essay analyzes the kinds of desires and commentaries on masculinity, social issues, and family ties that Bab el-Hara, a Syrian television series, evokes. It addresses the relationship between the national and popular media in the region, family relations and notions of femininity, and masculinity. Through content analysis and group discussion, the paper concludes that the series promotes a notion of antimodern masculinity. This anti-modern masculinity is coupled or promoted through nostalgic notions of ideal systems of justice, family, and masculinity/manhood that are in direct contrast to the failures of the nation/state to deliver in the pre-Arab Spring context. In other words, the paper argues that through evoking a sense of nostalgia for a “mythic” past, it links between a nationalist desirable masculine ‘antimodernity’ and particular desires around family relations, femininity, and women, which find broad appeal in the political context of the Arab world today, thus fostering commentary on the difficult current positions of women’s rights struggles in the contemporary gender politics of the region. I argue that the show’s promotion of an ‘anti-modern’ masculinity capable of delivering justice on the national front erodes the possibility of a gender justice future particularly in the context of the aftermath of the Arab Spring.
Effect of head flexion on airway resistance measured in a body plethysmograph

Abstract We measured the effects of partial (21°) and full (43°) flexion of the head on airway resistance (Raw) and specific conductance (SGaw) in eight normal subjects and two patients with mild obstructive lung disease. With partial head flexion, mean Raw increased by 32% and SGaw decreased by 26% compared to control. With full head flexion Raw increased 75% and SGaw decreased 42%. All values are significantly different from control ( P
Did unusually sunny skies help drive the record sea ice minimum of 2007

[1] We conduct experiments with an ice-ocean model to answer the question whether and to what degree unusually clear skies during the summer of 2007 contributed to the record sea ice extent minimum in the Arctic Ocean during September of 2007. Anomalously high pressure over the Beaufort Sea during summer 2007 appears associated with a strong negative cloud anomaly. This anomaly is two standard deviations below the 1980–2007 average established from a combination of two different satellite-based records. Cloud anomalies from the MODIS sensor are compared with anomalies from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and are found in good agreement in spatial patterns and magnitude. However, these experiments establish that the negative cloud anomaly and increased downwelling shortwave flux from June through August did not contribute substantially to the record sea ice extent minimum. This finding eliminates one aspect of the unusual weather that may have contributed to the record minimum.