cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Dose Sotalol Is Safe and Effective in Neonates and Infants With Refractory Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias

Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of high-dose sotalol in neonates and infants with refractory supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). SVT in neonates and infants can be refractory to primary therapies; therefore, secondary agents, e.g., sotalol, are often required to obtain control of SVT. Age-factor nomogram dosing of sotalol is widely used; however, our institution uses greater doses based on body surface area (approximately 150-200 mg/m(2)/d). A retrospective review of 78 inpatients receiving sotalol, after failing another antiarrthymic medication, at our institution from 2001 to 2008 was performed. Corrected QT intervals (QTc), 24-h Holter-monitoring results, and outpatient records were reviewed to assess safety and efficacy for patients ≤ 2 years of age. Median patient age at the time of initiation of therapy was 24 days (range 3-728). Forty-eight patients (62%) were neonates, and 36 (46%) had congenital heart disease. The median sotalol dosage was 152 mg/m(2)/day (range 65-244). The SVT of 70 patients (90%) was controlled with sotalol. No patients experienced significant QTc prolongation or proarrhythmia. Mean duration of follow-up was 3.3 ± 0.24 years. High-dose sotalol allows for safe and rapid control of refractory tachyarrhythmias in this young age group.
First derivative of NIR light diffuse reflectance spectra as an approach to analyze muscle tissue chromophores and light pathlength

Diffuse reflectance was applied to the biomedical studies (muscles, cardiac tissues etc.) in a form of either a direct pseudo-optical spectrum or its second derivative. The first derivative adopts advantages of both direct spectrum (high signal-to-noise ratio) and its second derivative (simplifying the consideration of light scattering contribution, S). In contrast to spectrophotometry of solutions, diffuse reflectance application to the analysis of turbid medium chromophores leads to non-trivial problems of contribution of light scattering, the choice of reference, and light pathlength. Under certain conditions, the first approximation of the Taylor series of S results in the known linear dependence of S on wavelength in the 650-1050 nm wavelength range. Then the light scattering contribution to the first derivative becomes a wavelength-independent offset. In contrast to the second derivative, the information on light scattering inside the tissue is not lost. Effect of reference on the measured spectra becomes negligible. Application of the first derivative allowed (i) determination of NIR light pathlength in muscle tissue, and (ii) quantification of hemoglobin + myoglobin absolute concentration (in mM) in cardiac tissue during open-heart surgery. The first derivative approach may in general be applied to any chromophores in turbid (biological) media.
Effect of supply voltage asymmetry on IRP p-q-based switching compensator control

Results of a study on how the supply voltage asymmetry affects the reference signal for switching compensator control, in a situation when this signal is generated using the instantaneous reactive power (IRP) p-q theory are presented. According to the IRP p-q approach, the compensator should compensate IRP and the alternating component of the instantaneous active power of the load. However, that in the presence of the supply voltage asymmetry, even an ideal, unity power factor load has an instantaneous active power with a non-zero alternating component is demonstrated. According to IRP p-q theory-based approach, it should be compensated and this requires that a distorted current be injected into the distribution system. It means that in the presence of the supply voltage asymmetry, the algorithms based on the IRP p-q theory generate a non-sinusoidal reference signal for the compensator control, even when voltages and currents in the system are sinusoidal.
On the Sensitivity of Simultaneous-Equations Estimators to the Stochastic Assumptions of the Models

Abstract The paper reports the results of several sampling experiments investigating the sensitivity of various simultaneous-equations estimators to errors in the exogenous variables, stochastic coefficients, heteroskedastic disturbances and auto correlated disturbances. The estimates studied are direct least squares, two-stage least squares, Nagar's unbiased k-class estimator, limited-information maximum likelihood, three-stage least squares, and full-information maximum likelihood. Stochastic coefficients altered the ranking of the estimators and increased their dispersions greatly. The other conditions did not produce great changes in the rankings of the estimators, the central tendencies of their distributions or the usefulness of their standard errors.
ISOLATION OF A FACTOR STIMULATORY TO BRADYRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM IN BROTH CULTURE

Previous experiments indicated that water extracts of lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and green foxtail (Setaria viridis), among others, stimulated growth of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in broth culture. Water extracts of lambsquarters shoots collected before or after anthesis were equally stimulatory. The stimulatory effect of extracts of lambsquarters when heated to 100°C for 30 min or autoclaved for 15 min was reduced by about 20% compared to untreated extracts. Extracts of green foxtail were less affected by higher temperature under similar conditions. Extracts of both green foxtail and lambsquarters completely lost their stimulatory effect following exposure to aerial microflora for 120 h. Water extract of lambsquarters shoots was more stimulatory than methanol extract, and neither ether nor butanol extracts resulted in stimulation. Both shoots and roots of lambsquarters and green foxtail were sequentially extracted first by water followed by methanol and vice-versa. The bioassay of these extracts indicated that there could be two components of the growth factor-one, larger component is soluble in water, the other, smaller component is soluble in methanol. After fractionation of the crude aqueous extract of lambsquarters shoots by four organic solvents, the residual aqueous extract retained the growth factor. Dialysis of the residual aqueous extract of lambsquarters shoots through a membrane (MWCO 1000) indicated that the molecular weight of the growth factor was less than 1000. The fraction having molecular weight <1000 was separated by paper chromatography using 6% acetic acid as developer. The fraction with Rf 0.91 showed the highest stimulation of the bacterium.
Characterization of an entrained flow reactor for pyrolysis of coal and biomass at higher temperatures

Abstract A laboratory-scale entrained flow reactor for gasification/pyrolysis of coal and biomass has been designed and constructed at the Pennsylvania State University. The pre-experimental numerical simulations have been used as an aid in the design of the reactor as well as understanding and explaining the experimental results. Post experimental modeling of the reactor has been carried out using the CFD package ANSYS-Fluent. Results from experiments conducted with the reactor are here presented. These initial characterization activities of the entrained flow reactor are carried out at atmospheric pressure. Modeling and experiments are conducted at three different temperatures: 1573 K, 1673 K and 1773 K. The CFD models show some particle and gas recirculation at the inlet of the reactor. The calculated residence time in the reactor is 0.5 s for biomass and 0.4 s for coal when the particles traveling distance is 0.65 m. Tar and CO are the dominant species at 1573 K in both coal and biomass conversions, however while tar reduces as the temperature increases, the CO formation increases. Fuel conversion varies significantly between coal and biomass. The minimum conversions observed during experiments were 86.7% for biomass and 56.8% for coal at 1573 K. Conversion rates as high as 90.5% were observed for biomass at 1773 K, while the maximum coal conversion observed was 64.0% at 1773 K. The BET surface area of coal chars obtained at 1573 K and 1673 K was similar and higher than that of the char obtained at 1773 K. This drop of surface area at 1773 K has been attributed to pore coalescence, following observation of the SEM images. The surface area of biomass chars does not vary significantly. The reactivity studies conducted on the chars reveal some thermal annealing at higher temperature for coal; this occurrence is observed to be less pronounced for biomass chars.
Role of xylose transporters in xylitol production from engineered Escherichia coli

Abstract Escherichia coli W3110 was previously engineered to co-utilize glucose and xylose by replacing the wild-type crp gene with a crp* mutant encoding a cAMP-independent CRP variant (Cirino et al., 2006 [Cirino, P.C., Chin, J.W., Ingram, L.O., 2006. Engineering Escherichia coli for xylitol production from glucose–xylose mixtures. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 95, 1167–1176.]). Subsequent deletion of the xylB gene (encoding xylulokinase) and expression of xylose reductase from Candida boidinii (CbXR) resulted in a strain which produces xylitol from glucose–xylose mixtures. In this study we examine the contributions of the native E. coli xylose transporters (the d -xylose/proton symporter XylE and the d -xylose ABC transporter XylFGH) and CRP* to xylitol production in the presence of glucose and xylose. The final batch xylitol titer with strain PC09 (ΔxylB and crp*) is reduced by 40% upon deletion of xylG and by 60% upon deletion of both xyl transporters. Xylitol production by the wild-type strain (W3110) expressing CbXR is not reduced when xylE and xylG are deleted, demonstrating tight regulation of the xylose transporters by CRP and revealing significant secondary xylose transport. Finally, plasmid expression of XylE or XylFGH with CbXR in PC07 (ΔxylB and wild-type crp) growing on glucose results in xylitol titers similar to that achieved with PC09 and provides an alternative strategy to the use of CRP*.
Correlation between plasma steroids and chick visits by nonbreeding adult Nazca boobies

Nonbreeding adult Nazca boobies (Sula granti) often approach unattended chicks and perform parental and/or aggressive behaviors toward the chicks. Earlier descriptions of these encounters included sexual behaviors as well. We studied hormonal correlates of chick visits by such nonbreeding boobies during the breeding season. We compared the hormonal status of chick-visiting adults with that of nonvisiting adults in the colony. We determined levels of corticosterone (CORT), testosterone (T), androstendione, dihydrotestosterone, and estradiol as potential candidate hormones controlling parental, aggressive, or sexual behavior. Only T and CORT differed between chick-visiting and nonvisiting adults. Chick-visiting adults had higher CORT levels after the interaction than nonvisiting adults randomly caught in the colony. To the contrary. T levels after interactions were lower in chick-visiting compared to random nonvisiting adults. T levels, however, did not vary with level of aggression among chick-visiting adults. We suggest that chick-visiting behavior may be permitted by low T levels and activated by, or resulting in, high CORT levels.
Synthesis and transport properties of 12-silacrown-3, a new type of anion complexing agent

Abstract The synthesis of 1,1,5,5,9,9-hexamethyl-1,5,9-trisilacyclododecanone, 1 , a new anion complexing agent and its complexing ability for halide ions is described.
Surgical repair of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: Results and follow-up

Abstract Eighteen patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries had open heart repair for intracardiac associated defects. Fourteen patients (78%) are alive during the follow-up period (mean 4.5 years). Seventeen (94%) of the 18 patients had ventricular septal defect closure, and 12 (66%) insertion of a pulmonary artery conduit. Surgical repair of the tricuspid valve was required in 6 patients (33%) during the first operation and in 3 additional patients during a second operation (total 50%). When hemodynamic overload or cardiac compromise was detected after surgery it was directly related to identifiable residual defects such as atrioventricular valvular insufficiency, residual ventricular septal defect, or pulmonary conduit stenosis. Repeat open heart operation for residual defects was common during the follow-up period (8 of 18 patients, 44%). No patient showed primary systemic or pulmonary ventricular dysfunction during the follow-up period. None of the last 11 patients developed complete heart block. Postoperative intraventricular conduction defects were common and are presumably caused by surgical injury of the bundle branches. Our observations suggest that surgical repair of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries can be currently achieved with acceptable risk. Improved knowledge of the precise location of the specialized conduction system resulted in a marked decrease in the Incidence of atrioventricular (A-V) block in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries undergoing intracardiac repair. In the absence of postoperative residual defects it can be expected that longevity and quality of life will improve considerably, but many of these patients may require a repeat operation.
Derivation of linear attenuation coefficients from CT numbers for low- energy photons

One can estimate photon attenuation properties from the CT number. In a standard method one assumes that the linear attenuation coefficient is proportional to electron density and ignores its nonlinear dependence on atomic number. When the photon energy is lower than about 50 keV, such as for brachytherapy applications, however, photoelectric absorption and Rayleigh scattering become important. Hence the atomic number must be explicitly considered in estimating the linear attenuation coefficient. In this study we propose a method to more accurately estimate the linear attenuation coefficient of low-energy photons from CT numbers. We formulate an equation that relates the CT number to the electron density and the effective atomic number. We use a CT calibration phantom to determine unknown coefficients in the equation. The equation with a given CT number is then solved for the effective atomic number, which in turn is used to calculate the linear attenuation coefficient for low-energy photons. We use the CT phantom to test the new method. The method significantly improves the standard method in estimating the attenuation coefficient at low photon energies (20 keV < or = E < or = 40 keV) for materials with high atomic numbers.
Human dural replacement with acellular dermis: clinical results and a review of the literature.

Background The search for the ideal dural replacement in the setting where autogenous tissues are unavailable or inadequate still persists. Because of the ability of acellular dermis (AlloDerm, LifeCell Corporation, The Woodlands, TX) to remodel itself into native tissue, this dynamic quality is hypothesized to occur when used as a dural replacement. Methods We report the long-term outcome of a small cohort of patients who, to our knowledge, were the first patients to receive AlloDerm for dural replacement. In addition, to put these current findings in a historical perspective, we present a review of the literature for dural replacement. Results Ten patients all successfully underwent duraplasty with AlloDerm with only one postoperative complication that was not related to the acellular dermal dural repair. Conclusions We contend that AlloDerm is a safe and viable option for dural replacement in cases in which autogenous tissues are either unavailable or insufficient for proper reconstruction. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 765–771, 2000.
Bi-Level Optimization Model for Public Transportation Network Redesign Problem: Accounting for Equity Issues

Spatial equity is an extremely important issue in both design of a new and redesign of an existing transit (and highway) network because it is concerned with the benefit distribution among transit (and highway) network users. This paper presents a bi-level optimization model—in which the spatial equity issue is explicitly considered for the first time—for solving the public transportation network redesign problem (PTNRP). The goal of the upper-level subprogram is to minimize total cost, including user cost, operator cost, and unsatisfied demand cost, for the studied bus transit network, subject to a variety of resource- and policy-related constraints. The lower-level subprogram is a user self-routing optimization problem in which all transit users try to find the transit route to minimize their own travel cost (or time) and number of transfers in the network. Then, a procedure for a genetic algorithm-based solution is developed to solve this PTNRP bi-level optimization model. Network experiments are condu...
Growing C-D-R (Cedar): Working the Intersections of Interest Convergence and Whiteness as Property in the Affirmative Action Legal Debate.

In this article we extend Bell’s work on interest convergence by using Harris’ work on whiteness as property to articulate a cycle of interest convergence, interest divergence, and imperialistic reclamation, or convergence-divergence-reclamation (C-D-R, pronounced ‘cedar’). We then apply the C-D-R cycle lens to the evolution of federal race-conscious affirmative action legal cases in higher education and state anti-affirmative action policies that have emerged since the implementation of Civil Rights Act of 1964, and how these legal cases and policies are emblematic of the convergence, divergence, or reclamation periods. We also explore the incessant legal and political debate regarding race-conscious admissions policies.
GIS-based Economic Cost Estimation of Traffic Accidents in St. Louis, Missouri

The economic loss due to total traffic accidents in St. Louis remains high every year. This paper presents an effective approach to spatially identifying potential casualty areas and their economic losses. In this study, five years of traffic accident data, from 2007 to 2011, collected in the City of St. Louis and the adjacent counties, is used. Using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based techniques, e.g. Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), two maps are generated and compared: 1) traffic accident rate map based on the number of traffic accidents per year and 2) the economic costs map. The locations with high economic costs but with low accident rates are identified and shown in a 3-D visualization format. The results can be used as a foundation for the traffic accident cost estimation related research and serves as a guideline for practitioners to investigate the areas with high traffic accident severity levels.
External beam irradiation of craniopharyngiomas: long-term analysis of tumor control and morbidity.

Abstract Purpose: To delineate the long-term control and morbidity with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) of craniopharyngiomas. Methods and Materials: Between 1971 and 1992, 24 craniopharyngioma patients underwent EBRT at the University of Pittsburgh. Most (19 of 24) were treated within 1–3 months after subtotal resection. The other prior surgical procedures were biopsy ( n = 2) and gross total resection ( n = 1); 2 patients did not undergo any surgical procedure. The median follow-up was 12.1 years. The median patient age was 29 years (range 5–69). The total radiation doses varied from 36 to 70 Gy (median 59.75). The normalized total dose (NTD, biologically equivalent dose given in 2 Gy/fraction [α/β ratio=2]) varied from 28 to 83 Gy (median 55.35). Results: The actuarial survival rate at 10 and 20 years was 100% and 92.3%, respectively. The actuarial local control rate at 10 and 20 years was 89.1% and 54.0%, respectively. No local failures occurred with doses ≥60 Gy ( n = 12) or NTDs ≥55 Gy. The complication-free survival rate at 10 and 20 years was 80.1% and 72.1%, respectively. No complications were noted with an NTD of ≤55 Gy. The actuarial survival free from any adverse outcome (recurrence or complication) was 70.1% and 31.8% at 10 and 20 years, respectively. The adverse outcome-free survival appeared optimized (at 73%) with an NTD of 55–63 Gy. Multivariate analysis found that tumor control correlated significantly with the total dose ( p = 0.02), treatment complications with NTD ( p = 0.008), and adverse outcome with hypopituitarism on presentation ( p = 0.03). Conclusion: We recommend treating craniopharyngioma with 1.6–1.7-Gy dose fractions to 60 Gy to optimize outcome from EBRT.
Small Business in the Face of Crisis: Identifying Barriers to Recovery from a Natural Disaster1

The crisis management literature has not dealt in depth with small business response to disasters. This study takes a qualitative approach to consider how small businesses respond to and recover from a large disaster, by interviewing stakeholders in five different communities in the Gulf Coast of the United States. Events that are considered to be crises in nature are usually characterized by high consequence, low probability, ambiguity, and decision making time pressure. Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath caused small business owners in the U.S. Gulf region to experience each of these. Findings include lack of planning by small business; vulnerability to cash flow interruption; lack of access to capital for recovery; problems caused by federal assistance; and serious infrastructure problems impeding recovery.
Response to Bartlett and Lytwak (1995): population and immigration policy in the United States.

The authors critically examine an article by Albert A. Bartlett and Edward P. Lytwak in which those authors "present a series of alternatives for reaching ZPG [zero populatin growth] in the U.S. immediately." The focus is on which kind of population and immigration policy the United States should have. A response from Lytwak and Bartlett is included (pp. 527-37). (ANNOTATION)
Worldwide contributors to the literature of library and information science: top authors, 2007---2012

This study identifies the top individual contributors to 31 LIS journals from 2007 to 2012, both worldwide (all disciplines) and among four groups: LIS faculty in the US and Canada, LIS faculty in the UK, LIS faculty in other countries, and librarians worldwide. The distribution of authorship is highly skewed. Although more than 9,800 authors (86.4 %) each contributed no more than a single article over the six-year period, the top 50 authors (0.4 %) each contributed eight or more articles, with an average of 13.0. Together, the top 50 authors account for nearly 8 % of the LIS literature. Moreover, the most productive LIS faculty are concentrated in relatively few universities. Faculty in the natural sciences and LIS are more likely to be found among the top 50 authors than their overall contributions would suggest, while librarians, computer scientists and non-academic authors are underrepresented. Top authors are especially likely to publish in the Journal of Informetrics and Scientometrics. Among American LIS faculty, the list of the most prolific authors has changed substantially over time. Only three of the top 21 authors of the 1999---2004 period can be found on the current top-20 list.
Characterization and partial purification of a neuronal factor which increases acetylcholine receptor aggregation on cultured muscle cells

Abstract Medium conditioned by NG108-15 neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid cells contains a factor which increases the number of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregates on cultured myotubes. Protease digestion indicates that the AChR aggregation factor is a protein, and the molecular weight is from 150,000 to 250,000 daltons as estimated by ultrafiltration and gel filtration. Preparative isoelectrofocusing indicates that the aggregation factor has a pI of about 4.7. The factor is found in the soluble cytoplasmic fraction but not in the plasma membrane fraction of NG108-15 cells. Aggregation activity is not detected in the cytoplasm of liver cells or in the cytoplasm of C6BU-1 glioma cells. A possible developmental role for the aggregation factor is suggested by its presence in embryonic rat brain but not in adult rat brain. AChR aggregation factors found in the cytoplasm or conditioned medium of NG108-15 cells or in the cytoplasmic fraction of fetal brain have similar molecular weights and isoelectric points.
Organizational Control Strategies and the Emergence of Trust

The purpose of this study was to examine the relutionsliip of the control structure in selected public educational systems as perceived by teachers and the expressed willingness of teachers to adopt trusting attitudes. This relationship was examined by testing for the independence of the two variables using the chi square statistic. In this study, control structure was defined in two ways: first, as the perceived structure of decision‐making and second, as the perceived influence or control which teachers feel they exert over daily activities. Trust was defined as the mutual expectations and predictability persons have toward one another as they are developed through the social exchange process. The findings revealed that (I) perceived participation in decision‐making and trust were not independent; (IT) perceived control of influence over daily activities was independent of the willingness of teachers to adopt trusting attitudes; and (III) background variables did not affect the independence of the relationship between either perceived participation or perceived control and trust.
Current status and future direction of computer-aided diagnosis in chest CT

Abstract The vast amount of image data acquired during a thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan makes lung nodule detection a burdensome task. Moreover, the expanding role of CT as a diagnostic imaging modality and the growing acceptance of low-dose CT protocols for lung cancer screening promise to further impact radiologists' workloads. This increase in the number of CT studies being performed combined with multi-slice scanners that yield a greater number of images per study makes computerized analysis of CT images a practical necessity. Computer-aided detection of lesions is already a clinical reality in mammographic breast cancer screening, and such methods are expected to achieve similar success in CT lung cancer screening programs due to the potential for oversight errors on the part of human observers. This paper presents the rationale for computerized analysis of thoracic CT images, reviews the current state of automated lung nodule detection methods for CT, identifies issues that investigators must address, and speculates on future advances.
Incorporation of anthranilate-d4 into DIMBOA in maize

Abstract 2,4-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA) is synthesized in maize from anthranilic acid-d 4 with high retention of deuterium. Retention of deuterium is only consistent with a mechanism of oxidative decarboxylation of o-carboxyanilinoribulose-5-phosphate or other anthranilate derivative via an intermediate in which oxygenation occurs at the carboxyl-bearing ortho carbon before decarboxylation.
Surgery needs HPC, Really!

Summary form only given. Neurosurgery is a very complex procedure and the surgeon has to integrate multi-modal data to produce an optimum surgical plan. Many times the region of interest is surrounded by vital structures (such as motor cortex, temporal cortex, vision and audio sensors, etc.) and has irregular configurations. Slight damage to such eloquent brain structures can severely impair the patient. CASMIL, an image guided neurosurgery toolkit is being developed at Wayne State University to produce optimum plans resulting in minimally invasive surgeries. This system has many innovative features needed by neurosurgeons that are not available in other academic and commercial systems. CASMIL is an integration of various vital modules, such as rigid and non-rigid co-registration (image-image, image-atlas, and image-patient), 3D segmentation, brain shift predictor (BSP), knowledge based query tools, intelligent planning, and augmented reality. The above modules, though necessary for improved surgical outcomes, require tremendous amount of computing typically requiring a large cluster. In this paper, the author identifies the opportunities of HPC in computer assisted surgery (CAS) and the challenges specific to CAS.
A hybrid SVM-GLM approach for fMRI data analysis.

Abstract The hypothesis-driven fMRI data analysis methods, represented by the conventional general linear model (GLM), have a strictly defined statistical framework for assessing regionally specific activations but require prior brain response modeling that is usually hard to be accurate. On the contrary, exploratory methods, like the support vector machine (SVM), are independent of prior hemodynamic response function (HRF), but generally lack a statistical inference framework. To take the advantages of both kinds of methods, this paper presents a composite approach through combining conventional GLM with SVM. This hybrid SVM–GLM concept is to use the power of SVM to obtain a data-derived reference function and enter it into the conventional GLM for statistical inference. The data-derived reference function was extracted from the SVM classifier using a new temporal profile extraction method. In simulations with synthetic fMRI data, SVM–GLM demonstrated a better sensitivity and specificity performance for detecting the synthetic activations, as compared to the conventional GLM. With real fMRI data, SVM–GLM showed better sensitivity than regular GLM for detecting the sensorimotor activations.
Thermodynamic profile for urea photo-release from a N-(2-nitrobenzyl) caged urea compound

Photoactivable bioactive molecules, often termed “caged” compounds, have attracted significant attention as useful tools for photo-regulating enzymatic activity. Here we examine the mechanism associated with photo-release of urea from a caged urea compound, N-(2-nitrobenzyl)urea, using photothermal beam deflection and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. Photodissociation of the caged urea results in the prompt formation of an aci-nitro intermediate that decays to nitrosobenzaldehyde by releasing urea with the rate constant of 4.5 × 103 s−1. Appearance of the aci-nitro intermediate is associated with a volume contraction of −13 ± 1 mL mol−1 and a negligible change in enthalpy (ΔH = 6 ± 4 kcal mol−1). On the microsecond time-scale, the conversion of the aci-nitro intermediate and concomitant release of urea result in a volume expansion of 6 ± 2 mL mol−1 and a negative enthalpy change of −25 ± 5 kcal mol−1. No additional processes were observed on the timescale up to 100 ms suggesting that the breakdown of the aci-nitro intermediate is the rate-limiting step for urea photo-release. These results suggest a similar mechanism for caged urea photo release as determined previously for the caged ATP compound.
Lagrange Stability and Boundedness of Discrete Event Systems

Recently it has been shown that the conventional notions of stability in the sense of Lyapunov and asymptotic stability can be used to characterize the stability properties of a class of “logical” discrete event systems (DES). Moreover, it has been shown that stability analysis via the choice of appropriate Lyapunov functions can be used for DES and can be applied to several DES applications including manufacturing systems and computer networks (Passino et al. 1994, Burgess and Passino 1994). In this paper we extend the conventional notions and analysis of uniform boundedness, uniform ultimate boundedness, practical stability, finite time stability, and Lagrange stability so that they apply to the class of logical DES that can be defined on a metric space. Within this stability-theoretic framework we show that the standard Petri net-theoretic notions of boundedness are special cases of Lagrange stability and uniform boundedness. In addition we show that the Petri ent-theoretic approach to boundedness analysis is actually a Lyapunov approach in that the net-theoretic analysis actually produces an appropriate Lyapunov function. Moreover, via the Lyapunov approach we provide a sufficient condition for the uniform ultimate boundedness of General Petri nets. To illustrate the Petri net results, we study the boundedness properties of a rate synchronization network for manufacturing systems. In addition, we provide a detailed analysis of the Lagrange stability of a single-machine manufacturing system that uses a priority-based part servicing policy.
THE RATIONALE FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN SELLER-CONSUMER RELATIONSHIPS

Government intervention in the form of consumer protection is appropriate where consumers have less than the required amount of information to protect themselves, where transaction costs act to reduce consumer self-protection below acceptable levels, where consumer welfare is not sufficiently considered in oligopolistic markets, where private costs and social costs diverge due to externalities, where a certain level of quality assurance is necessary if markets are to function and where riskier products removal from the market lowers firms' insurance premiums as well as serves the interest of public health and safety. Consumer protection is a public good which will not be available in optimal quantities without government intervention.
Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Determines Anandamide-induced Cell Death in the Liver

Abstract The endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) induces cell death in many cell types, but determinants of AEA-induced cell death remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of the AEA-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in AEA-induced cell death in the liver. Primary hepatocytes expressed high levels of FAAH and were completely resistant to AEA-induced cell death, whereas primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) expressed low levels of FAAH and were highly sensitive to AEA-induced cell death. Hepatocytes that were pretreated or with the FAAH inhibitor URB597 isolated from FAAH-/- mice displayed increased AEA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and were susceptible to AEA-mediated death. Conversely, overexpression of FAAH in HSCs prevented AEA-induced death. Since FAAH inhibition conferred only partial AEA sensitivity in hepatocytes, we analyzed additional factors that might regulate AEA-induced death. Hepatocytes contained significantly higher levels of glutathione (GSH) than HSCs. Glutathione depletion by dl-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine rendered hepatocytes susceptible to AEA-mediated ROS production and cell death, whereas GSH ethyl ester prevented ROS production and cell death in HSCs. FAAH inhibition and GSH depletion had additive effects on AEA-mediated hepatocyte cell death resulting in almost 70% death after 24 h at 50 μm AEA and lowering the threshold for cell death to 500 nm. Following bile duct ligation, FAAH-/- mice displayed increased hepatocellular injury, suggesting that FAAH protects hepatocytes from AEA-induced cell death in vivo. In conclusion, FAAH and GSH are determinants of AEA-mediated cell death in the liver.
The conceptual evolution and practice of community-based natural resource management in southern Africa: past, present and future.

This paper reviews the concept and practice of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) as it has evolved in southern Africa, with a particular focus on Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and, to a lesser extent, Zambia. It recognizes that, like democracy, CBNRM is both an imperfect process and a conceptual goal. The governance of economic processes, property rights and local political organization lie at the heart of CBNRM. The first challenge is to replace fiscal centralization, fees and bureaucracy (and the subsidization of alternative land uses) that have historically undervalued wild resources, so that CBNRM's comparative economic advantage is reflected in landholder and community incentives. Second, devolving property rights to communities shifts resource governance, responsibility and benefit appropriately to the local level. This necessitates accountable, transparent and equitable micro-governance, which in turn is linked to effective meso-level support and monitoring and cross-scale linkages between central government and local communities. This paper outlines the evolution of current models of CBNRM in the region and suggests core strategies for the next generation of CBNRM.
The economics of energy crop production

Abstract This paper presents 1989 and 2010 cost estimates for growing and supplying biomass for five combinations of major cropping strategies and regions. Four of the dedicated feedstock supply systems (DFSS) use herbaceous energy crop (HEC) technologies, and one uses short-rotation woody crops (SRWC. The costs of producing systems for hybrid poplar, sorghum, switchgrass and energy cane are determined through the examination of such factors as cultivation systems, species, treatments, regions and site variability. The Midwest and South are the areas of focus, because they have the best potential for high yields and for contributing large quantities of land to the production of dedicated energy crops. At the assumed yields, sorghum in the Midwest and energy cane in the Southeast, appear to be the low-cost DFSS. Energy cane, susceptible to frost damage, is restricted to the Deep South. Sorghum should be restricted to cropland with low erosion potential. To be competitive with corn in the Midwest (not taking into account the benefits of government farm programs) and soybeans in the Southeast, dedicated energy crops must sell at between $43 and $60/dry Mg in 1989 and $30 and $43/dry Mg in 2010.
Theoretical estimation of the acidities of alcohols and azoles in gas phase, DMSO, and water

Most acidities and basicities of chemical compounds are measured in aqueous solution since this solvent is most important for biochemical and environmental applications, but the acidities of compounds in the gas phase and in other solvents can also be of interest. As a polar, aprotic solvent, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) presents a unique environment for acid dissociation, and this solvent offers informative comparisons with both the vacuum and aqueous environments. Here, quantum chemical approaches previously used for the estimation of aqueous pKa values are applied to the estimation of DMSO, aqueous, and gas-phase acidities for two representative series of compounds: alcohols/phenols and azoles. Calculations were performed using both the semiempirical RM1 method and density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31+G**). The effectiveness of the SM5.4 and SM8 solvent models in estimating the solution-phase acidities was also examined. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of ionic group incorporation into model polypeptide, poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG)

Abstract Effects of incorporation of ionic groups and ionic interactions to a model polypeptide, poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG), are studied. Partial conversion of γ-benzyl-L-glutamate residues to glutamic acid residues does not change molecular conformation (α-helix) and shows little change in properties. By contrast, partial conversion to sodium glutamates (ionic groups) leads to conversion from a rigid rod to a semi-flexible rod at low ion contents and causes significant changes in thermal stability and birefringence. In solution, lyotropic liquid crystalline behavior of PBLG is lost at ion content as low as 3.2 mol %. In solid, birefringence is still observed at this ion content, suggesting thermotropic liquid crystallinity of this ionic PBLG. Molecular composites made of ionic PBLG as a reinforcer and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP) as a matrix polymer show significant enhancement in strength and toughness as a result of ion-dipole interactions between the component polymers.
Mapping of two loci conferring resistance to wheat stem rust pathogen races TTKSK (Ug99) and TRTTF in the elite hard red spring wheat line SD4279

Since its identification in the late 1990s, the stem rust pathogen (Puccinia graminis. f. sp. tritici (Pgt)) strain Ug99 (race TTKSK) has represented a worldwide wheat production threat due to its ability to overcome most of the resistance genes present in commercial cultivars. In order to address this challenge, resistance genes in wheat cultivars as well as in wild relatives have been identified. However, stem rust resistance breeding is facing a new challenge with the recent discovery in Ethiopia of a new race of Pgt (TRTTF) capable of defeating Sr13, SrTmp, and Sr1R Amigo genes that conferred resistance to the Ug99 race group. As part of an ongoing screening process at USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory, SD4279, an elite line from the hard red spring wheat breeding program at South Dakota State University, was found to be resistant to both races TTKSK and TRTTF. The objectives posed in this research were (1) to characterize the genetics of resistance to stem rust in SD4279 and (2) to identify molecular markers linked to race TTKSK (Ug99) and TRTTF resistance in SD4279. A mapping population composed of 92 F2:3 families was evaluated for resistance to TTKSK and TRTTF. A single-gene conferring resistance to TTKSK, likely Sr9h, was mapped on chromosome arm 2BL. Also, a single gene was located on chromosome arm 6AS conferring resistance to TRTTF. Based on the type of reaction and map location, we postulate that the 6AS resistance gene is Sr8a which has not been mapped previously using DNA markers.
Intrinsic Nano-Ductility of Glasses: The Critical Role of Composition

Understanding, predicting and eventually improving the resistance to fracture for silicate materials is of primary importance to design tougher new glasses suitable for advanced applications. However, the fracture mechanism at the atomic level in amorphous silicate materials is still a topic of debate. In particular, there are some controversies about the existence of ductility at the nanoscale during crack propagation. Here, we present simulations of fracture of three archetypical silicate glasses, using molecular dynamics. The simulations clearly show that, depending on their composition, silicate glasses can exhibit different degrees of ductility at the nanoscale. Additionally, we show that the methodology used in the present work can provide realistic predictions of fracture energy and toughness.
Decoherence of one-dimensional flying qubits due to their cross-talk and imperfections

We study decoherence of propagating spin-$1∕2$ excitations in generic (nonintegrable and∕or disordered) spin chains. We find that the corresponding decoherence times become shorter in both the near-critical and diffusive regimes, a fact which has important implications for the recently proposed spin chain-based implementations of quantum information processing where such excitations can be utilized in the capacity of ``all-spin'' flying qubits.
Language design for the Ironman requirement: reference manual

Tartan is an experiment in language design. The goal was to determine whether a "simple" language could meet substantially all of the Ironman requirement for a common high-order programming language.We undertook this experiment because we believed that all the designs done in the first phase of the DOD effort were too large and too complex. We saw that complexity as a serious failure of the designs: excess complexity in a programming language can interiere with its use, even to the extent that any beneficial properties are of little consequence. We wanted to find out whether the requirements inherently lead to such complexity or whether a substantially simpler language would suffice.Three ground rules drove the experiment. First, no more than two months -- April 1 to May 31 -- would be devoted to the project. Second, the language would meet all the Ironman requirements except for a few points at which it would anticipate Steelman requirements. Further, the language would contain no extra features unless they resulted in a simpler language. Third, simplicity would be the overriding objective.The resulting language, Tartan, is based on all available information, including the designs already produced. The language definition is presented here; a companion report provides an overview of the language, a number of examples, and more expository explanations of some of the language features.We believe that Tartan is a substantial improvement over the earlier designs, particularly in its simplicity. There is, of course, no objective measure of simplicity, but the syntax, the size of the definition, and the number of concepts required are all smaller in Tartan.Moreover, Tartan substantially meets all of the Ironman requirement. (The exceptions lie in a few places where we anticipated Steelman requirements and where details are still missing from this report.) Thus, we believe that a simple language can meet the Ironman requirement. Tartan is an existence proof of that.We must emphasize again that this effort is an experiment, not an attempt to compete with DOD contractors. Tartan is, however, an open challenge to the Phase II contractors: The language can be at least this simple! Can you do better?
Turkey's strategic options

(1999). Turkey's strategic options. The International Spectator: Vol. 34, Turkey in the Spotlight, pp. 79-88.
Surgical considerations in bypassing coronary arteries with 100% proximal occlusion

Objective data on the ability of cineangiography to predict the size of reconstituted totally occluded coronary arteries, as well as the clinical outcome of such revascularization, are sparse. Accordingly, we reviewed 200 consecutive cases of coronary revascularization to determine the answers to these questions. Group I patients (n = 57, with 86 totally occluded coronary arteries) had at least one coronary artery with a 100% proximal occlusion that reconstituted distally. Group II patients (n = 143, with 205 subtotally occluded coronary arteries) had 50% to 99% proximal stenosis of at least one coronary artery. Cineangiograms were blindly reviewed to measure the size of the coronary arteries, which were compared with the actual vessel size at operation. In group I, the totally occluded coronary arteries had a cineangiographic size of 1.9 +/- 0.7 mm and an actual size of 1.6 +/- 0.4 mm (p = 0.00004). In group II, the subtotally occluded coronary arteries had a cineangiographic size of 1.8 +/- 0.4 mm compared with an actual size of 1.8 +/- 0.3 mm (p = not significant). The site of bypass grafting was significantly smaller in group I (1.6 +/- 0.4 mm versus 1.8 +/- 0.3 mm; p = 0.00008). The two groups were similar with respect to preoperative and intraoperative parameters. Operative mortalities were similar (group I, 1.8%; group II, 3.5%; p = 0.68). Creatine kinase isoenzyme profiles and electrocardiographic changes were similar, except for a significant late rise of creatine kinase-MB in group I (56.1 +/- 14.7 versus 30.7 +/- 33.7 MIU/mL; p < 0.001). In conclusion, cineangiography significantly overestimates the size of totally occluded coronary arteries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Oxidation state of marine manganese nodules

Analyses of the bulk oxidation state of marine manganese nodules indicates that more than 98% of the Mn in deep ocean nodules is present as Mn(IV). The samples were collected from three quite different areas: the hemipelagic environment of the Guatemala Basin, the pelagic area of the North Pacific, and seamounts in the central Pacific. Results of the study suggest that todorokite in marine nodules is fully oxidized and has the following stoichiometry: (K, Na, Ca, Ba).33(Mg, Cu, Ni).76Mn5O22(H2O)3.2.