cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Specificity of the binding of antibodies to polysomes in hen oviduct

Abstract Experiments are presented that show the specificity of the binding of antibodies to polysomes. Polysomes engaged in the synthesis of two different proteins, conalbumin and ovalbumin, were identified by the binding of iodinated antibodies to hen oviduct polysomes. The binding sites can be saturated by preincubation of the polysomes with the specific unlabeled anti-body. Anti-conalbumin does not inhibit the binding of anti-ovalbumin and vice versa. The distribution of 125I-labeled anti-conalbumin and 131I-labeled anti-ovalbumin in the polysome profile shows that conalbumin-synthesizing polysomes are larger than polysomes involved in ovalbumin synthesis, as expected from the molecular weights of the proteins. Hen oviduct polysomal RNA can direct the synthesis of conalbumin in a cell-free system from rabbit reticulocytes. The product synthesized in vitro shows almost identical mobility with authentic [14C] conalbumin during electrophoresis in sodium dodecylsulfate—polyacrylamide gels. In sucrose gradients conalbumin mRNA activity is localized on the heavier side of 18 S rRNA while ovalbumin mRNA migrates more slowly, a finding that is consistent with the size of the proteins and their specific polysomes.
Electrical, Thermoelectric, and Structural Properties of La ( M x Fe1 − x ) O3 ( M = Mn , Ni , Cu )

Electrical, thermoelectric, and structural properties were studied in transition metal ion-substituted LaFeO 3 : La(Mn x Fe 1-x )O 3 , La(Ni x Fe 1-x )O 3 , and La(Cu x Fe 1-x )O 3 . Structural analysis showed that a continuous series of solid solutions with no intermediate phases are forming over a wide range (0 < x < 1) with substitutions of Mn and Ni, whereas the maximum Cu content is 30% from this study. The Ni-substituted LaFeO 3 specimens have substantially higher conductivity than those substituted with either Mn or Cu, measured in air from 100 to 1000°C. The Seebeck coefficient of La(Mn x Fe 1-x )O 3 and La(Cu x Fe 1-x )O 3 has a strong temperature dependence, indicating a thermally activated carrier formation. The activation energy for carrier formation in La(Cu x Fe 1-x )O 3 is greater than that in La(Mn x Fe 1-x )O 3 . Thermoelectric and electrical properties evidence conduction through polaron hopping in both Mn- and Cu-substituted LaFeO 3 , whereas the Ni-substituted LaFeO 3 shows metallic conductivity.
Liquid Helium as a Barrier to Electrons

An experiment is described that indicates that liquid helium appears as an energy barrier of more than one electron volt to electrons. (R.E.U.)
Three species of Hypocrea with stipitate stromata and Trichoderma anamorphs

Hypocrea brevipes, H. poronioidea and H. capitata, a new species, were grown in pure culture from individual part-ascospores. Each produced a Trichoderma anamorph, but none of the anamorphs were re...
Demographic and diagnostic characteristics of the first 1000 patients enrolled in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD).

Objectives: Bipolar disorder is a severe, recurrent, and often highly impairing psychiatric disorder. The Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) is a large-scale multicenter study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to examine the longitudinal course of the disorder and the effectiveness of current treatments. The current report provides a context for interpreting studies resulting from STEP-BD by summarizing the baseline demographic and diagnostic characteristics of the first 1000 enrolled. Methods: The majority of the sample met DSM-IV criteria for bipolar I disorder (71%). Mean age of patients was 40.6 (±12.7) years and mean duration of bipolar illness was 23.1 (±12.9) years. Among the first 1000 subjects enrolled, 58.6% are females and 92.6% Caucasian. This report compares the STEP-BD sample with other large cohorts of bipolar patients (treatment and community samples). Results: Compared with US population and community studies, the first 1000 STEP-BD patients were less racially diverse, more educated, had lower income, and a higher unemployment rate. Results are discussed in terms of the contributions of STEP-BD (and other large-scale treatment studies) in understanding the nature, treatments, and outcomes of bipolar disorder for patients seeking care at academic treatment centers. Conclusions: The current report provides a context for interpreting future studies resulting from STEP-BD. The comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics between the samples across clinic-based studies suggests broad similarities despite the substantial differences in geography, payer mix, and clinical entry point.
Error identification, disclosure, and reporting: practice patterns of three emergency medicine provider types.

Objectives: To gather preliminary data on how the three major types of emergency medicine (EM) providers, physicians, nurses (RNs), and out-of-hospital personnel (EMTs), differ in error identification, disclosure, and reporting. Methods: A convenience sample of emergency department (ED) providers completed a brief survey designed to evaluate error frequency, disclosure, and reporting practices as well as error-based discussion and educational activities. Results: One hundred sixteen subjects participated: 41 EMTs (35%), 33 RNs (28%), and 42 physicians (36%). Forty-five percent of EMTs, 56% of RNs, and 21% of physicians identified no clinical errors during the preceding year. when errors were identified, physicians learned of them via dialogue with RNs (58%), patients (13%), pharmacy (35%), and attending physicians (35%). For known errors, all providers were equally unlikely to inform the team caring for the patient. Disclosure to patients was limited and varied by provider type (19% EMTs, 23% RNs, and 74% physicians). Disclosure education was rare, with ≤15% of any provider type receiving such instruction. Yet, 59% of physicians had observed another provider disclose an error to a patient. Error discussions are widespread, with all providers indicating they discussed their own as well as the errors of others. Conclusions: This study suggests that error identification, disclosure, and reporting challenge all members of the ED care delivery team. Provider-specific education and enhanced teamwork training will be required to further the transformation of the ED into a high-reliability organization.
Insulin and fructose regulate malic enzyme activity by different processes

A comparison of the regulatory processes controlling hepatic malic enzyme activity following treatment of diabetic rats with insulin or with a high fructose diet demonstrated several important differences. Insulin treatment caused a 50-fold increase in activity, due to a 12-fold increase in enzyme quantity and a 4-fold increase in specific activity(units/nmol). Dietary fructose caused a 3-fold increase in enzyme activity, due to a 3-fold increase in enzyme quantity, with no change in the specific activity of the enzyme. Thus, while fructose initiated a minor increase in malic enzyme activity, insulin was more effective, causing a substantially greater increase in enzyme activity and activating a hormone specific alteration in the catalytic activity of each enzyme molecule.
The analytic basis for an effective prime farmland landscape preservation scheme in the U.S.A.

Abstract In general, the scheme I devise and advocate is based on the best available econometric analysis of the interaction between urban, hobby farm and prime agricultural land-use activities under conditions of regional urban containment. Daniels claims that I am naive about the efficacy of the hobby farm ring around urban areas buffering prime agricultural districts from urban development. Yet, this is the very scheme used successfully in many places pursuing prime farmland preservation with success (Nelson, 1988a). My conceptual scheme has been, or is soon to be, used either unintentionally or as a matter of policy in Oregon, Florida, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, and (perhaps) Georgia. Ironically, Daniels' own work and the regulatory scheme he is devising for Lancaster County includes features that are founded mostly on the techniques I have demonstrated to be effective through the analysis I synthesized in this Journal. I suspect that even he will find the need to have hobby farm land-use designations buffering prime farmland from urban development. I am mostly sympathetic with all the points made by Daniels, although he has more faith than I in things like right-to-farm laws, property tax breaks for commercial farmers and minimum lot size agricultural districting. On the other hand, he is apparently crafting a regulatory scheme that achieves the central objectives of prime farmland preservation by using the techniques that I offer as successful, namely exclusive farm use designation, urban growth boundaries and special rural residential districts on lower-quality soils for hobby farmers (with no tax breaks). To this he is adding some carefully exercised purchase of development rights (where, I hope, the tax payer does not pay twice). I am sure he will be successful. I thank Tom Daniels for his many important contributions.
Meeting the gods: apotheoses and exchanges of the early encounter

ABSTRACTIn November 1519, Motēuczōma Xōcoyōtl, Marina/Malīntzin and Hernan Cortes met, conversed, and exchanged gifts. According to Cortes's letters to Charles V, Motēuczōma identified him as a returned ancestral chieftain (often considered to be the deity Quetzalcōātl). By reading the accounts of their gift exchange as mythohistorical texts presenting a uniquely contact perspective, we may gain insight into how both parties negotiated linguistic, cultural, and religious differences in order to shape the situation each in his best interest. The visual record of their exchange suggests that Motēuczōma gave Cortes the vestments of the gods in order to transform him into a tēīxīptla, a localized deity embodiment, as a precursor to possible sacrifice. Alphabetic accounts of their meeting describe Mesoamericans identifying Cortes and his companions as tēteoh (deities), a concept Cortes accepts insofar as it advances his military, political, and economic agendas. I argue that understanding these texts as mythoh...
Expert talent and the design of (professional services) firms

This paper discusses key issues with regard to an expert services firm (a professional firm whose primary product is the delivery of expert services). The increasing importance of expert talent in today's economy has significant theoretical implications for the nature of the employment relation within such a firm; and the nature (and theory) of professional service firms as a distinct organizational form. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.
The ion trap: a new approach to gaseous microstructure detectors

Abstract A new approach for building gas avalanche amplification structures, the ion trap, is proposed. This technique was devised to obtain a new class of gas amplification devices with a fast signal response due to rapid ion charge evacuation, low space charge build-up useful in high-rate applications, and low ion feedback. A design of the closed-geometry position-sensitive Ion Trap MicroStrip (ITMS) detector is proposed. The implementation of this novel microstructure detector design with 3D electrodes is based on new materials and micro-fabrication techniques recently developed in the field of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Extensive simulations have been made to study the performance of the ITMS detector. The modelled microstructure is shown to deliver the ion feedback below 4% with drift fields up to 4.5 kV/cm and fast signals induced by 95% of all ions reaching the cathodes in ∼30 ns in Ar/CO 2 (70/30) gas mixture. The use of the ITMS detector with a cascaded GEM preamplifier may prove to be a feasible solution to achieve the ion feedback suppression levels required in the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) applications and in operation with solid photon converters in the reflective mode.
Numerical modeling of isolated n-alkane droplet flames: initial comparisons with ground and space-based microgravity experiments

Transient, spherically symmetric, combustion of single and multi-component liquid n-alkane droplets is numerically simulated with a model that includes gas phase detailed, multi-component molecular transport and complex chemical kinetics. A compact semi-detailed kinetic mechanism for n-heptane and n-hexadecane oxidation consisting of 51 species (including He, Ar, and N2) and 282 reactions is used to describe the gas phase. Non-luminous, gas phase radiative heat transfer and conservation of energy and species within the liquid droplet interior are also considered. Computed quasi-steady flame structure for pure n-heptane droplets is compared with that produced using the kinetic mechanism of Warnatz (frequently used in the past for modeling both premixed and diffusion flame properties). Transient calculations are also compared with the numerical results of King, which consider infinite rate chemical kinetics, but temperature dependent molecular diffusion. Modeling results are in reasonable agreement with small-diameter, drop tower experiments, though slow convective effects and droplet sooting effects exist in the experimental data. Comparisons with isolated large-diameter free droplet data (1 atm, He/O2 mixtures and air) from recent space experiments are reasonable for droplet gasification rate, flame position, and flame extinction. Very small extinction diameters are predicted for small initial diameter droplets (<1 mm). As droplet size is increased, or oxygen index is decreased, the model predicts decreasing gasification rates and for an appropriate range of parameters, radiative flame extinction. Bi-component droplet combustion of n-heptane and n-hexadecane is also considered. Modeling results qualitatively reproduce experimentally observed, multi-stage burning, resulting from the volatility differential and diffusional resistance of the liquid components. Internal liquid convection effects are examined by parametrically varying an effective liquid mass diffusivity. Flame extinction can occur either in the initial or the secondary droplet heating period, with subsequent, continuing vaporization of the more volatile component from the residual heat within the liquid phase.
Paleoenvironmental changes at the northern limit of the subantarctic Nothofagus forest, lat 37°S, Argentina

Paleoenvironmental changes dating back to before 10,000 yr B.P. at the northernmost occurrences of Nothofagus forests in Argentina at about latitude 37°S permit the reconstruction of past changes in the intensity of the winter rains, related to the southern westerlies that appear to determine the forest boundary. The paleoenvironmental interpretation is based on changes in the proportions of different Nothofagus species and changes in the ratio betwen forest and steppe taxa. The relatively most diverse and dense Nothofagus forest developed only during the last 4500 yr, prior to human impact during the last 300 yr. Before the middle Holocene, climatic conditions must have been different from the modern ones, with less overall precipitation judging from the overall lower amount of tree pollen and the reduction to primarily Nothfagus pumilio. An interval dated to older than 10,000 yr B.P. is characterized by co-occurrence of Prumnopitys andina, Nothofagus pumilio, and shrub-steppe taxa. Prumnopitys andina is known today only from scattered upper montane forest sites in Chile between 36° and 43°S lat and its ecological requirements are essentially unknown. The taxa combination, however, suggests that late-glacial climate must have been drier, and probably cooler than today. This implies that the winter rains and, consequently, the seasonal shift of the westerly circulation was reduced during the late Pleistocene and did not reach modern levels before 8500 yr B.P.
Self-focusing of laser beams in a non-circular fiber

Abstract This paper deals with self-focusing of a high-intensity laser beam in a non-circular fiber. Weak nonlinearity is assumed for the energy-dependent dielectric. It is assumed that the electric field lines form concentric loops about the longitudinal axis. Non-orthogonal cylindrical coordinates are introduced based on the assumtion that a fiber with circular cross-section has been deformed, while the cross-sectional area remained constant. Numerical examples are given for the particular case of an elliptic fiber.
Electrooptic Properties of InGaAsP Asymmetric Double Quantum Wells: Enhanced Slope Efficiency in Waveguide Electroabsorption Modulators

We present detailed theoretical estimates of the optical properties of InGaAsP quantum well (QW) electroabsorption modulators (EAMs) operating at ~1550 nm wavelength. Absorption coefficients of QWs are obtained from the linear optical susceptibility. Exciton states are calculated in momentum space, which includes valence-band mixing, mixing of excitons originating in different subband pairs, and exciton spin-related optical selection rules. Various line-broadening mechanisms relevant to InGaAsP-QWs are also included. Extending the study further to asymmetric double QWs (ADQWs) suggests that the small-signal modulation efficiency can be enhanced significantly at substantially lower operating bias voltage. Simple optimization of ADQW band structure results in a maximum slope efficiency ~3.8 times larger than that of SQW EAMs at a reduced operating bias field of 34 kV/cm compared with ~70 kV/cm for comparable SQWs.
Choroid plexus papillomas in childhood.

Abstract Chroid plexus papillomas account for only 0.4–0.6% of intracranial tumours at all ages and less than 5% in childhood. Two paediatric cases are reported to demonstrate the variability in clinical presentation, location and neurological outcome of this benign tumour. One case has been followed for 13 years.
Efficacy and safety of tanezumab in the treatment of chronic low back pain

Increased nerve growth factor levels are associated with chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain (LBP). This study examined safety and analgesic efficacy of tanezumab, a humanized anti-nerve growth factor antibody, in adults with chronic LBP. Patients received intravenous tanezumab 200 μg/kg plus oral placebo (n=88), intravenous placebo plus oral naproxen 500 mg twice a day (n=88), or intravenous placebo plus oral placebo (n=41). Primary outcome was average LBP intensity (aLBPI) at Week 6. Secondary outcomes were proportion of patients with ≥30% or ≥50% reduction in aLBPI, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and Brief Pain Inventory-short form scores, Patients' Global Assessment of LBP, Patients' Global Evaluation of study medication, and rescue medication use. Mean aLBPI change from baseline to Week 6 was greater with tanezumab vs naproxen (P=0.004) and placebo (P<0.001). Greater proportions of patients reported ≥30% and ≥50% reduction in aLBPI with tanezumab vs naproxen (P≤0.013) and placebo (P<0.001), and greater improvements in Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (P<0.001) and other secondary outcomes except rescue medication use. Tanezumab was associated with adverse events (AEs) of abnormal peripheral sensation that were generally mild and resolved before study completion; however, there were no serious AEs. Nine patients (4 of whom were tanezumab-treated) discontinued due to AEs. In conclusion, tanezumab resulted in analgesic efficacy that was clinically and statistically superior to placebo and naproxen in patients with chronic LBP. Tanezumab clinical development is on regulatory hold due to AEs in osteoarthritis patients.
An automated pipeline for cortical surface generation and registration of the cerebral cortex

The human cerebral cortex is one of the most complicated structures in the body. It has a highly convoluted structure with much of the cortical sheet buried in sulci. Based on cytoarchitectural and functional imaging studies, it is possible to segment the cerebral cortex into several subregions. While it is only possible to differentiate the true anatomical subregions based on cytoarchitecture, the surface morphometry aligns closely with the underlying cytoarchitecture and provides features that allow the surface of the cortex to be parcellated based on the sulcal and gyral patterns that are readily visible on the MR images. We have developed a fully automated pipeline for the generation and registration of cortical surfaces in the spherical domain. The pipeline initiates with the BRAINS AutoWorkup pipeline. Subsequently, topology correction and surface generation is performed to generate a genus zero surface and mapped to a sphere. Several surface features are then calculated to drive the registration between the atlas surface and other datasets. A spherical diffeomorphic demons algorithm is used to co-register an atlas surface onto a subject surface. A lobar based atlas of the cerebral cortex was created from a manual parcellation of the cortex. The atlas surface was then co-registered to five additional subjects using a spherical diffeomorphic demons algorithm. The labels from the atlas surface were warped on the subject surface and compared to the manual raters. The average Dice overlap index was 0.89 across all regions.
Background modeling and subtraction of dynamic scenes

Background modeling and subtraction is a core component in motion analysis. The central idea behind such module is to create a probabilistic representation of the static scene that is compared with the current input to perform subtraction. Such approach is efficient when the scene to be modeled refers to a static structure with limited perturbation. In this paper, we address the problem of modeling dynamic scenes where the assumption of a static background is not valid. Waving trees, beaches, escalators, natural scenes with rain or snow are examples. Inspired by the work proposed by Doretto et al. (2003), we propose an on-line auto-regressive model to capture and predict the behavior of such scenes. Towards detection of events we introduce a new metric that is based on a state-driven comparison between the prediction and the actual frame. Promising results demonstrate the potentials of the proposed framework.
Occult injuries to the diaphragm: prospective evaluation of laparoscopy in penetrating injuries to the left lower chest

Abstract Background: To evaluate the incidence of occult diaphragmatic injuries and investigate the role of laparoscopy in patients with penetrating trauma to the left lower chest who lack indications for exploratory celiotomy other than the potential for a diaphragm injury. Study Design: Patients with penetrating injuries to the left lower chest who were hemodynamically stable and without indications for a celiotomy were prospectively evaluated with diagnostic laparoscopy to determine the presence of an injury to the left hemidiaphragm. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. Results: One-hundred-ten patients (94 stab wounds, 16 gunshot wounds) were evaluated with laparoscopy. Twenty-six (24%) diaphragmatic injuries were identified (26% for stab wounds and 13% for gunshot wounds). Comparison of patients with diaphragmatic injuries with those without diaphragmatic injuries demonstrated a slightly greater incidence of hemo/pneumothoraces (35% versus 24%, NS). The incidence of diaphragmatic injuries in patients with a normal chest x-ray was 21% versus 31% for patients with a hemo/pneumothorax. An elevated left hemidiaphragm was associated with a diaphragmatic injuries in only 1 of 7 patients (14%). The incidence of diaphragmatic injuries was similar for anterior, lateral, and posterior injuries (22%, 27%, and 22% respectively). Conclusions: The incidence of occult diaphragmatic injuries in penetrating trauma to the left lower chest is high, 24%. These injuries are associated with a lack of clinical and radiographic findings, and would have been missed had laparoscopy not been performed. Patients with penetrating trauma to the left lower chest who do not have any other indication for a celiotomy should undergo videoscopic evaluation of the left hemidiaphragm to exclude an occult injury.
Responding to patient safety incidents: the “seven pillars”

Background Although acknowledged to be an ethical imperative for providers, disclosure following patient safety incidents remains the exception. The appropriate response to a patient safety incident and the disclosure of medical errors are neither easy nor obvious. An inadequate response to patient harm or an inappropriate disclosure may frustrate practitioners, dent their professional reputation, and alienate patients. Methods The authors have presented a descriptive study on the comprehensive process for responding to patient safety incidents, including the disclosure of medical errors adopted at a large, urban tertiary care centre in the United States. Results In the first two years post-implementation, the "seven pillars" process has led to more than 2,000 incident reports annually, prompted more than 100 investigations with root cause analysis, translated into close to 200 system improvements and served as the foundation of almost 106 disclosure conversations and 20 full disclosures of inappropriate or unreasonable care causing harm to patients. Conclusions Adopting a policy of transparency represents a major shift in organisational focus and may take several years to implement. In our experience, the ability to rapidly learn from, respond to, and modify practices based on investigation to improve the safety and quality of patient care is grounded in transparency.
Histological Patterns of Muscle in Infants with Developmental Brain Abnormalities

The histology of muscle obtained from 23 hypotonic infants without neuromuscular disease is presented. Long-term follow-up neurological examinations were carried out to determine the site of the lesion. 18 cases have strong evidence of cerebral dysfunction, 12 of whom have histologial abnormalities of fiber-type distribution and diameter. Of the remaining five patients without obvious cerebral abnormality, four also had histological changes, but individual circumstances partially explain the cause of the abnormal histological patterns in these four. No single histological abnormality could be identified, but the results indicate that histological abnormalities of muscle in hypotonic infants without clinical or microscopic evidence of neuromuscular disease may be useful in predicting a cerebral cause for the hypotonia.
Role for Lyn Tyrosine Kinase as a Regulator of Stress-Activated Protein Kinase Activity in Response to DNA Damage

The cellular response to DNA damage includes activation of the nuclear Lyn protein tyrosine kinase. Using cells deficient in Lyn expression, the present studies demonstrate that Lyn is required in part for induction of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) in the response to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) and other genotoxic agents. By contrast, exposure of Lyn-deficient cells to ara-C, ionizing radiation, or cisplatin had no effect on activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Similar findings were obtained in cells stably expressing a kinase-inactive, dominant-negative Lyn(K-R) mutant. Coexpression studies demonstrate that Lyn, but not Lyn(K-R), induces SAPK activity. In addition, the results demonstrate that Lyn activates SAPK by an MKK7-dependent, SEK1-independent mechanism. As MEKK1 functions upstream to MKK7 and SAPK, the finding that a dominant-negative MEKK1(K-M) mutant blocks Lyn-induced SAPK activity supports involvement of the MEKK1-->MKK7 pathway. The results also demonstrate that inhibition of Lyn-induced SAPK activity abrogates the apoptotic response of cells to genotoxic stress. These findings indicate that activation of SAPK by DNA damage is mediated in part by Lyn and that the Lyn-->MEKK1-->MKK7-->SAPK pathway is functional in the induction of apoptosis by genotoxic agents.
What does airway resistance tell us about lung function

Spirometry is considered the primary method to detect the air flow limitation associated with obstructive lung disease. However, air flow limitation is the end-result of many factors that contribute to obstructive lung disease. One of these factors is increased airway resistance. Airway resistance is traditionally measured by relating air flow and driving pressure using body plethysmography, thus deriving airway resistance (Raw), specific airway resistance (sRaw), and specific airway conductance (sGaw). Other methods to measure airway resistance include the forced oscillation technique (FOT), which allows calculation of respiratory system resistance (RRS) and reactance (XRS), and the interrupter technique, which allows calculation of interrupter resistance (Rint). An advantage of these other methods is that they may be easier to perform than spirometry, making them particularly suited to patients who cannot perform spirometry, such as young children, patients with neuromuscular disorders, or patients on mechanical ventilation. Since spirometry also requires a deep inhalation, which can alter airway resistance, these alternative methods may provide more sensitive measures of airway resistance. Furthermore, the FOT provides unique information about lung mechanics that is not available from analysis using spirometry, body plethysmography, or the interrupter technique. However, it is unclear whether any of these measures of airway resistance contribute clinically important information to the traditional measures derived from spirometry (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC). The purpose of this paper is to review the physiology and methodology of these measures of airway resistance, and then focus on their clinical utility in relation to each other and to spirometry.
Aerodynamic Design Optimization on Unstructured Meshes Using the Navier-Stokes Equations

A discrete adjoint method is developed and demonstrated for aerodynamic design optimization on unstructured grids. The governing equations are the three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations coupled with a one-equation turbulence model. A discussion of the numerical implementation of the flow and adjoint equations is presented. Both compressible and incompressible solvers are differentiated and the accuracy of the sensitivity derivatives is verified by comparing with gradients obtained using finite differences. Several simplyfying approximations to the complete linearization of the residual are also presented, and the resulting accuracy of the derivatives is examined. Demonstration optimizations for both compressible and incompressible flows are given.
Functional and comparative genomics of pathogenic bacteria

Microarray expression profiling and the development of data-mining tools and new statistical instruments affords an unprecedented opportunity for the genome-scale study of bacterial pathogenicity. Expression profiles obtained from bacteria grown in media simulating host microenvironments yield a portrait of interacting metabolic pathways and multistage developmental programs and disclose regulatory networks. The analysis of closely related strains and species by microarray-based comparative genomics provides a measure of genetic variability within natural populations and identifies crucial differences between pathogen and commensal. In the near future, the combined use of bacterial and host microarrays to study the same infected tissue will reveal the host-pathogen dialogue in a gene-by-gene and site- and time-specific manner. This review discusses the use of microarray-based expression profiling to identify genes of pathogenic bacteria that are differentially regulated in response to host-specific signals. Additionally, the review describes the application of microarray methods to disclose differences in gene content between taxonomically related strains that vary with respect to pathogenic phenotype.
How regular is regular? An analysis of menstrual cycle regularity

We performed a retrospective analysis to ascertain how accurately women who believe that they have regular menstrual cycles estimate the length of their actual cycles. Data were extracted from a chart review of subjects from three different studies of barrier contraceptives. Subjects were between 18 and 40 years of age and reported "regular" prestudy menstrual cycles with a consistent cycle length between 21 and 35 days. Participants prospectively recorded their menses for the up to 30 weeks. Each subject's estimated cycle length was compared to the average of her actual cycle lengths and the range and variability in each individual's cycle length was calculated. A total of 786 cycles from 130 women who recorded 4 or more cycles were analyzed. The averages of the participants' estimated cycle lengths was similar to the prospective averages of their actual cycle lengths (29.0 +/- 2.7 days vs. 29.1 +/- 3.5 days, respectively, p = 0.8). Forty-six percent of all subjects had a cycle range of 7 days or more, and 20% had a cycle range of 14 days or more. The average length of menses was 5.2 +/- 1.0 days. When evaluating only women with cycle lengths from 21 to 35 days, the average length of menses was positively associated with the average actual cycle length (p = 0.04). Although the average of a woman's menstrual cycles compares favorably to her impression of her cycle length, the variability in menstrual cycle lengths is significant. This variation may have clinical impact on contraceptive practice, contraceptive research studies and pregnancy-related care.
About Three Old Men: An Inquiry Into How Cerebral Arteriosclerosis Has Altered World Politics A Neurologist'S View

In the recent past three men were disabled by cerebral arteriosclerosis: Wilson, Hindenburg and Lenin. The illness of these particular people altered the course of history. The thesis is offered that this was so not just because these individuals were ill but because of the specific qualities of their disease, cerebral arteriosclerosis.
A Framework for Eigen and Singular Component Analysis

A framework that involves an unconstrained optimization of a polynomial type cost function weighted with a diagonal matrix is utilized to develop learning rules for principal and minor component analyzers. With some modifications, this cost function is also used to derive generalized principal and minor component analyzers, and principal singular component analyzers. Global and asymptotic stability of the proposed systems are analyzed via Liapunov theory and the Lasalle invariance principle.
Separation Anxiety: The Impact of CEO Divorce on Shareholders

There are at least three potential ways in which a CEO divorce might impact a corporation and its shareholders. First, it might reduce the executive’s control or influence over the organization. Second, it might affect his or her productivity, concentration, and energy levels. Third, it can influence attitudes toward risk.We examine these in detail, and ask: Should shareholders and boards be concerned when a CEO and spouse separate? Should the board make the CEO “whole” in order to restore equity incentives to where they were prior to divorce? Is divorce a private matter, or should companies disclose this information to shareholders?Topics, Issues and Controversies in Corporate Governance and Leadership: The Closer Look series is a collection of short case studies through which we explore topics, issues, and controversies in corporate governance. In each study, we take a targeted look at a specific issue that is relevant to the current debate on governance and explain why it is so important. Larcker and Tayan are co-authors of the books Corporate Governance Matters and A Real Look at Real World Corporate Governance.
The influence of dissolved organic carbon on bacterial phosphorus uptake and bacteria-phytoplankton dynamics in two Minnesota lakes

The balance of production in any ecosystem is dependent on the flow of limiting nutrients into either the autotrophic or heterotrophic components of the food web. To understand one of the important controls on the flow of inorganic nutrients between phytoplankton and bacterioplankton in lakes, we manipulated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in two lakes of different trophic status. We hypothesized that labile DOC additions would increase bacterial phosphorus (P) uptake and decrease the response of phytoplankton to nutrient additions. Supplemental nutrients and carbon (C), nitrogen (N, 1.6 mmol NH4Cl L21 d21), P (0.1 mmol KH2PO4 L21 d21), and DOC (glucose, 15 mmol C L21 d21) were added twice daily to 8-liter experimental units. We tested the effect of added DOC on chlorophyll concentration, bacterial production, biomass, and P uptake using size-fractionated 33P-PO4 uptake. In the oligotrophic lake, DOC additions stimulated bacterial production and increased bacterial biomass-specific P uptake. Bacteria consumed added DOC, and chlorophyll concentrations were significantly lower in carboys receiving DOC additions. In the eutrophic lake, DOC additions had less of a stimulatory effect on bacterial production and biomass-specific P uptake. DOC accumulated over the time period, and there was little evidence for a DOC-induced decrease in phytoplankton biomass. Bacterial growth approached the calculated mmax and yet did not accumulate biomass, indicating significant biomass losses, which may have constrained bacterial DOC consumption. Excess bacterial DOC consumption in oligotrophic lakes may result in greater bacterial P affinity and enhanced nutrient uptake by the heterotrophic compartment of the food web. On the other hand, constraints on bacterial biomass accumulation in eutrophic lakes, from either viral lysis or bacterial grazing, can allow labile DOC to accumulate, thereby negating the effect of excess DOC on the planktonic food web.
Finding correlated heavy-hitters over data streams

We consider online mining of correlated heavy-hitters (CHH) from network data streams. Given a multi-dimensional dataset, a correlated aggregate query first filters a subset by applying a predicate along a primary dimension, and then computes aggregates along a secondary dimension of that subset data.
The Acute Impact of Ethanol on Cognitive Performance in Rhesus Macaques

Decreased cognitive control over prepotent responses has been hypothesized to contribute to ethanol-induced behavioral disinhibition. However, the effects of ethanol on specific cognitive domains associated with decision making have not been extensively studied. We examined the impact of acute ethanol administration on cognitive performance of nonhuman primates. Studies were conducted using 0.2, 0.5, and 1 g/kg intravenous ethanol in rhesus macaques performing touch screen–based tasks examining stimulus discrimination, stimulus reversal, and stimulus response performance. The impact on attentional processing was also evaluated. Ethanol reduced the accuracy of reversal performance marginally at 0.2 g/kg and significantly at 0.5 g/kg. This effect was selective given an absence of impairment on the stimulus discrimination and stimulus response tasks at these doses. Performance on stimulus discrimination was impaired at 1.0 g/kg, which prevented determination of reversal performance. Analysis of post-error response times demonstrated that error processing was impaired at both 0.2 and 0.5 g/kg. Ethanol also increased the number of omissions and delayed responses on an attentional task, suggesting more frequent attentional lapses. These data demonstrate that cognitive function mediated by specific prefrontal cortical brain regions is particularly sensitive to ethanol and suggest specific cognitive mechanisms that may underlie harmful decisions made at low doses of ethanol.
Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate allergenicity: potential haptenation mechanisms.

Background: Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC) and its disulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide (TETD), are rubber accelerators and contact allergens that cross-react in some individuals. Objective: This study explored potential protein haptenation mechanisms of ZDEC and its oxidation products. Methods: ZDEC oxidation/reduction products and sites of protein binding were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) was employed to probe haptenation mechanisms of ZDEC by examining its allergenicity along with its oxidation products and through elimination of oxidation and chelation mechanisms by substituting cobalt for zinc [cobalt (II) dithiocarbamate, CoDEC]. Results: Oxidation of ZDEC by hypochlorous acid (bleach, HOCl), iodine, or hydrogen peroxide resulted in production of TETD, tetraethylthiocarbamoyl disulfide, and tetraethyldicarbamoyl disulfide (TEDCD). Albumin thiols reduced TETD with subsequent mixed disulfide formation/haptenation. ZDEC directly chelated the copper ion on the active site of the superoxide dismutase, whereas CoDEC did not bind to Cu proteins or form mixed disulfides with free thiols. ZDEC, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, TEDCD, and TETD were all positive in the LLNA except CoDEC, which was non-allergenic. Conclusion: The thiol is the critical functional group in ZDEC’s allergenicity, and haptenation is predominantly through chelation of metalloproteins and formation of mixed disulfides.
Relative strengths of axial and equatorial bonds and site preferences for ligand substitution on σ-bonded Y-shaped EL3 complexes

An analytical LCAO MO perturbation approach has been developed for treating the electronic structure and some properties of Y-shaped EL3 compounds where E is a main group element A or a transition metal M. Three problems have been considered: (i) the relative strengths of E-L(1,2) (1 and 2 stand for the paired ligands) and E-L(3) (3 stands for the unique ligand) bonds; (ii) the mutual influence of ligands in substituted complexes EL2L′; (iii) the site preference of the stronger donor (or acceptor) of substituents L′, L″. Ratios of overlap populations T=N E-L(3)/N E-L(1) were estimated for ns, np and (n−1)d contributions. For 6–10 valence electron AL3 we found T (s)>1, T (p)>1. These contributions all reinforce to make the A-L(3) bond relatively stronger than A-L(1,2) bonds. The ML3 d0–d8 case was also examined and it was found that T (s+p+d)>1, while the T (p) contribution dominates in ML3 (d10) complexes to make M-L(3)>M-L(1,2). The perturbing influence on ligand σ orbital energies δα′=α(L′)−α(L), where ...
Kidney-Specific Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Prevents Angiotensin II Hypertension

The main goal of this study was to determine whether kidney-specific induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can prevent the development of angiotensin (Ang) II–dependent hypertension. To test this hypothesis, intrarenal medullary interstitial catheters were implanted into the left kidney of uninephrectomized mice. Infusion of cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP; 250 μg/mL; at 50 μL/h for 48 hours) resulted in significant induction of HO-1 in the renal medulla when examined 2 weeks after the infusion with no induction observed in other organs, such as the heart or liver. Next, we examined the effect of renal-specific induction of HO-1 on the development of Ang II–dependent hypertension. CoPP or vehicle (0.1 mol/L NaOH [pH 8.3]) was infused as indicated above 2 days before implantation of an osmotic minipump, which delivered Ang II or saline vehicle at a rate of 1 μg/kg per minute. Mean arterial pressure was measured in conscious, unrestrained mice for 3 consecutive days starting on day 7 after implantation of the minipumps. Mean arterial pressure averaged 114±5, 122±4, 162±2, and 125±6 mm Hg in vehicle-, intrarenal medullary interstitial CoPP–, Ang II-, and Ang II + intrarenal medullary interstitial CoPP–treated mice, respectively (n=6 or 7). These results demonstrate that kidney-specific induction of HO-1 prevents the development of Ang II–dependent hypertension and that induction of HO-1 in the kidney may be the mechanism by which systemic delivery of CoPP lowers blood pressure in Ang II–dependent hypertension.
Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Properties for Horticultural Applications

Polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels are commonly employed to ensure soil hydration in horticulture, but studies have shown that they have a minimal effect on crop life and quality. The reasons for this poor performance are not understood since the commercial hydrogels have not been adequately characterized. PAAm hydrogels were synthesized and their properties were measured along with those of commercial hydrogels. Hydrogel swelling, density, and SEM analyses showed that the commercial hydrogels were most likely a derivative of PAAm with ionic groups and they were able to retain moisture for only a few hours.
Querying continuous functions in a database system

Many scientific, financial, data mining and sensor network applications need to work with continuous, rather than discrete data e.g., temperature as a function of location, or stock prices or vehicle trajectories as a function of time. Querying raw or discrete data is unsatisfactory for these applications -- e.g., in a sensor network, it is necessary to interpolate sensor readings to predict values at locations where sensors are not deployed. In other situations, raw data can be inaccurate owing to measurement errors, and it is useful to fit continuous functions to raw data and query the functions, rather than raw data itself -- e.g., fitting a smooth curve to noisy sensor readings, or a smooth trajectory to GPS data containing gaps or outliers. Existing databases do not support storing or querying continuous functions, short of brute-force discretization of functions into a collection of tuples. We present FunctionDB, a novel database system that treats mathematical functions as first-class citizens that can be queried like traditional relations. The key contribution of FunctionDB is an efficient and accurate algebraic query processor - for the broad class of multi-variable polynomial functions, FunctionDB executes queries directly on the algebraic representation of functions without materializing them into discrete points, using symbolic operations: zero finding, variable substitution, and integration. Even when closed form solutions are intractable, FunctionDB leverages symbolic approximation operations to improve performance. We evaluate FunctionDB on real data sets from a temperature sensor network, and on traffic traces from Boston roads. We show that operating in the functional domain has substantial advantages in terms of accuracy (15-30%) and up to order of magnitude (10x-100x) performance wins over existing approaches that represent models as discrete collections of points.
Genetic influence of the kidneys on blood pressure. Evidence from chronic renal homografts in rats with opposite predispositions to hypertension

In two strains of rats with opposite genetic propensities for hypertension, interstrain renal transplants chronically modified the blood pressure of the recipients. The blood pressure of rats with these renal homografts was largely determined by the genotype of the donor kidney rather than by the genotype of the recipient. Kidneys from the hypertension-resistant (R) rats generally had an antihypertensive effect, and kidneys from the hypertension-prone (S) rats had a prohypertensive effect. These effects on blood pressure were most clear-cut in rats maintained on a low-sodium diet, but they were still evident in a modified form in rats on a high-sodium diet. Results from this study and from earlier studies suggest that kidneys from S rats have a greater hypertensinogenic and a smaller antihypertensive capacity than do kidneys from R rats. Therefore the influence of the kidney on blood pressure appears to have genetic determinants. If this finding is applicable to man, it would help to explain the well-established but anomalous observation that one of two individuals who apparently have similar renal disorders can have hypertension when the other does not.
What are we waiting for? An argument for early surgery for spinal epidural abscesses.

Background: In the article: Timing and prognosis of surgery for spinal epidural abscess (SEA): A review, Epstein raises one major point; it is imperative that spinal surgeons “take back decision-making” from our medical cohorts and reinstitute early surgery (<24 h) to better treat SEAs.