cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
El ingenio visual de Miguel Noguera: el noveno arte vs la literatura en el cómic ‘Camilo José Cela’ (2010)

Este trabajo explora la produccion humoristica y visual de un artista multidisciplinar grancanario cuya popularidad no siempre ha sido acompanada por el reconocimiento critico que el merece. En sus publicaciones y en sus 'Ultrashows', Miguel Noguera presenta sus 'ideas'—combinaciones de palabras e imagenes cuyo contenido contiene matices criticas, al menos para los espectadores y lectores que esten listos para percibirlas. El comic titulado 'Camilo Jose Cela', publicado en Hervir un oso , ofrece la oportunidad para comentar su estilo vanguardista, trazar el desarrollo del comic iberico, y reivindicarlo frente al prestigio de la literatura como institucion social y cultura canonizada.
Medium and Long-Term Voltage Stability

Medium and long-term voltage stability is the stability of a power system that is influenced by slow-changing elements (such as: OEL, OLTC action, power recovery characteristics of loads and others) and the slow changing process of the power system (such as AGC, load growth, operation mode adjustment and others) after the transient stability is guaranteed. The object of medium and long-term voltage stability analysis is the voltage phenomenon after transient time frame, the time range can be tens of seconds to tens of minutes even several hours, it studies the ability that the system reaches the acceptable operating equilibrium point state after disturbance.
Generation of Reusable Synthetic Population and Social Networks for Agent-Based Modeling

Within agent-based models, agents interact with each other (e.g., social networks) and their environment, and it is through such interactions more aggregate patterns emerge (e.g., disease outbreaks, traffic jams). While the popularity of agent-based modeling has grown, one challenge remains, that of creating and sharing realistic synthetic populations which incorporate social networks. To overcome this challenge, this paper introduces a new approach that creates a reusable synthetic population using the New York Metro Area as a study area. Our method directly incorporates social networks (i.e., connections within a family or workplace) when creating a synthetic population. To demonstrate the utility and reusability of the synthetic population and to highlight the role of social networks, we show two example applications: traffic dynamics and the spread of a disease. These applications demonstrate how our synthetic population method can be easily utilized for different modeling problems.
When 1 + 1 > 2: Nanostructured composites for hard tissue engineering applications

Multicomponent, synergistic and multifunctional nanostructures have taken over the spotlight in the realm of biomedical nanotechnologies. The most prospective materials for bone regeneration today are almost exclusively composites comprising two or more components that compensate for the shortcomings of each one of them alone. This is quite natural in view of the fact that all hard tissues in the human body, except perhaps the tooth enamel, are composite nanostructures. This review article highlights some of the most prospective breakthroughs made in this research direction, with the hard tissues in main focus being those comprising bone, tooth cementum, dentin and enamel. The major obstacles to creating collagen/apatite composites modeled after the structure of bone are mentioned, including the immunogenicity of xenogeneic collagen and continuously failing attempts to replicate the biomineralization process in vitro. Composites comprising a polymeric component and calcium phosphate are discussed in light of their ability to emulate the soft/hard composite structure of bone. Hard tissue engineering composites created using hard material components other than calcium phosphates, including silica, metals and several types of nanotubes, are also discoursed on, alongside additional components deliverable using these materials, such as cells, growth factors, peptides, antibiotics, antiresorptive and anabolic agents, pharmacokinetic conjugates and various cell-specific targeting moieties. It is concluded that a variety of hard tissue structures in the body necessitates a similar variety of biomaterials for their regeneration. The ongoing development of nanocomposites for bone restoration will result in smart, theranostic materials, capable of acting therapeutically in direct feedback with the outcome of in situ disease monitoring at the cellular and subcellular scales. Progress in this research direction is expected to take us to the next generation of biomaterials, designed with the purpose of fulfilling Daedalus' dream - not restoring the tissues, but rather augmenting them.
Integration of singular braid invariants and graph cohomology

We prove necessary and sufficient conditions for an arbitrary in- variant of braids with m double points to be the "mth derivative" of a braid invariant. We show that the "primary obstruction to integration" i5 the only obstruction. This gives a slight generalization of the existence theorem for Vassiliev invariants of braids. We give a direct proof by induction on m which works for invariants with values in any abelian group. We Snd that to prove our theorem, we must show that every relation among four-term relations satisSes a certain geometric condition. To Snd the relations among relations we show that H1 of a variant of Kontsevich's graph complex vanishes. We discuss related open questions for invariants of links and other things.
Hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: risk factors, graft source and survival

Although hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT), its risk factors and effects on survival are not well known. We evaluated HC in a large cohort (n=1321, 2003-2012) receiving alloHCT from all graft sources, including umbilical cord blood (UCB). We compared HC patients with non-HC (control) patients and examined clinical variables at HC onset and resolution. Of these 1321 patients, 219 (16.6%) developed HC at a median of 22 days after alloHCT. BK viruria was detected in 90% of 109 tested HC patients. Median duration of HC was 27 days. At the time of HC diagnosis, acute GVHD, fever, severe thrombocytopenia and steroid use were more frequent than at the time of HC resolution. In univariate analysis, male sex, age <20 years, myeloablative conditioning with cyclophosphamide and acute GVHD were associated with HC. In multivariate analysis, HC was significantly more common in males and HLA-mismatched UCB graft recipients. Severe grade HC (grade III-IV) was associated with increased treatment-related mortality but not with overall survival at 1 year. HC remains hazardous and therefore better prophylaxis, and early interventions to limit its severity are still needed.
Engineering trypsin for inhibitor resistance.

The development of effective protease therapeutics requires that the proteases be more resistant to naturally occurring inhibitors while maintaining catalytic activity. A key step in developing inhibitor resistance is the identification of key residues in protease-inhibitor interaction. Given that majority of the protease therapeutics currently in use are trypsin-fold, trypsin itself serves as an ideal model for studying protease-inhibitor interaction. To test the importance of several trypsin-inhibitor interactions on the prime-side binding interface, we created four trypsin single variants Y39A, Y39F, K60A, and K60V and report biochemical sensitivity against bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and M84R ecotin. All variants retained catalytic activity against small, commercially available peptide substrates [kcat /KM = (1.2 ± 0.3) × 10(7) M(-1 ) s(-1) . Compared with wild-type, the K60A and K60V variants showed increased sensitivity to BPTI but less sensitivity to ecotin. The Y39A variant was less sensitive to BPTI and ecotin while the Y39F variant was more sensitive to both. The relative binding free energies between BPTI complexes with WT, Y39F, and Y39A were calculated based on 3.5 µs combined explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations. The BPTI:Y39F complex resulted in the lowest binding energy, while BPTI:Y39A resulted in the highest. Simulations of Y39F revealed increased conformational rearrangement of F39, which allowed formation of a new hydrogen bond between BPTI R17 and H40 of the variant. All together, these data suggest that positions 39 and 60 are key for inhibitor binding to trypsin, and likely more trypsin-fold proteases.
Expression of genes for metabolism of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate in somatic cells. II. Effects of prostaglandin E1 and theophylline on parental and hybrid cells.

Abstract Clonal differences in the response to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) were found when changes in the intracellular concentration of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) were measured following exposure to this agent in a variety of cell lines cultured in vitro. When PGE1 responses were present, the effect was nearly maximal after a 5-min exposure and was well maintained for 60 min. Dose-response curves for PGE1 were complex and also exhibited clonal variation. The relative potencies of prostaglandins were: PGE1 g PGE2 g PGA1. PGF1α and PGB1 were inactive at the concentration tested, indicating receptor specificity. When parental lines with no or small responses to PGE1 were fused to cells with larger responses to PGE1, the resulting hybrid cells expressed high levels of PGE1 responsiveness in the majority of cases. Clonal differences in potentiation by theophylline of peak PGE1 or catecholamine effects on intracellular cyclic AMP levels were also found. When theophylline-sensitive cells were fused to theophylline-insensitive cells, the resulting hybrids were responsive to theophylline. Thus, the inheritance of PGE and theophylline responses in somatic cell hybrids is distinctly different from that seen for β-adrenergic responses, suggesting fundamental differences in their genetic regulation. These data could indicate different types of receptor mechanisms for catecholamines and prostaglandins.
Initial Characterization of Hexose and Hexitol Phosphoenolpyruvate-Dependent Phosphotransferases of Staphylococcus aureus

The phosphoenolpyruvate sugar phosphotransferases of Staphylococcus aureus were surveyed biochemically to determine substrate range, inducibility and constitutivity, and requirements for soluble sugar-specific proteins. The substrate range is similar to that of the phosphotransferases of enteric bacteria, but the staphylococcal mannose and sorbitol systems are very inefficient. In addition, S. qureus has phosphotransferase activities for lactose and sucrose. The systems tested fell into two broad classes. Sugars for which there was substantial constitutive activity (fructose, mannose, sucrose, and glucose and its nonmetabolized analogues) did not require sugar-specific soluble factors for phosphorylation. Only in the case of fructose did growth in the presence of these constitutive sugars induce the corresponding phosphotransferase activity to higher levels. Kinetic experiments with each of these constitutive sugars yielded biphasic Hofstee plots; i.e., the kinetics were not characteristic of single enzymes. Preliminary experiments suggest that sucrose phosphorylation may involve the glucose and/or fructose systems. Truly inducible sugar phosphotransferase systems represent a second class; those for lactose and mannitol are the only members thus far identified. These systems are absent from uninduced cells, require soluble sugar-specific factors, and exhibit linear Hofstee plots. Sorbitol is apparently transported very poorly by intact cells but is an inducer of the mannitol system; it is phosphorylated efficiently in vitro by extracts of cells grown on either hexitol, but is taken up by intact cells at 0.1% of the mannitol rate.
A Generation Later: Household Strategies and Economic Change in the Rural Philippines: Raiding, Trading, and Feasting: The Political Economy of Philippine Chiefdoms

Generation Later: Household Strategies and Economic Change in the Rural Philippines. James F. Eder. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1999. 191 pp. Raiding, Trading, and Feasting: The Political Economy of Philippine Chiefdoms. Laura Lee Junker. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1999.477 pp.
WN-LEACH: A Weighted Residual Energy Based Cluster-Heads Selection Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Network

This article focused on the energy limit property of Wireless Sensor Network, and proposed a residual energy based algorithm WN-LEACH, with the classic network mode of LEACH routing algorithm. The algorithm combines the proportion of residual energy in the total energy with the cumulative number of the normal nodes supported by the cluster heads as a cluster selection reference. In order to balance the energy consumption of each cluster-head, the algorithm took both the different positions of the base station and the initial energy of the network into consideration, and weighted the two factors to balance the energy consumption between transmitting the signals and data fusion. Simulation results show that the algorithm can promote the lifetime of the uneven energy network and does not impair the effects of the LEACH algorithm.
Reactor scale modeling of multi-walled carbon nanotube growth

As the mechanisms of carbon nanotube (CNT) growth becomes known, it becomes important to understand how to implement this knowledge into reactor scale models to optimize CNT growth. In past work, we have reported fundamental mechanisms and competing deposition regimes that dictate single wall carbon nanotube growth. In this study, we will further explore the growth of carbon nanotubes with multiple walls. A tube flow chemical vapor deposition reactor is simulated using the commercial software package COMSOL, and considered the growth of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. It was found that the limiting reaction processes for multi-walled carbon nanotubes change at different temperatures than the single walled carbon nanotubes and it was shown that the reactions directly governing CNT growth are a limiting process over certain parameters. This work shows that the optimum conditions for CNT growth are dependent on temperature, chemical concentration, and the number of nanotube walls. Optimal reactor conditions have been identified as defined by (1) a critical inlet methane concentration that results in hydrogen abstraction limited versus hydrocarbon adsorption limited reaction kinetic regime, and (2) activation energy of reaction for a given reactor temperature and inlet methane concentration. Successful optimization of a CNT growth processes requires taking all of those variables into account.
Toward New Narratives of Twentieth-Century Medicine

Dans cet article, l'auteur effectue un retour sur l'oeuvre de Pressman, historien et specialiste de la psychiatrie americaine, et developpe une reflexion epistemologique entre differents domaines de la medecine, notamment psychiatrie et neurologie.
In vitro inhibition of compression-induced catabolic gene expression in meniscal explants following treatment with IL-1 receptor antagonist

Background Damage to the knee meniscus may result in tears that are difficult or unable to heal, and are often treated by partial removal of the damaged tissue. In vitro, 20% dynamic compressive strains on meniscal tissue explants have resulted in an increase in the release of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and nitric oxide (NO) from the tissue explants and increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and interleukin-1α (IL-1α). The objective of this study was to explore the efficacy of IL-1 blockade on the expression of a wide range of genes, as well as NO and GAG release, following dynamic compression of porcine meniscal explants.
Effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on a human tracheobronchial epithelial cell line

BEAS-2B cells, a human bronchial epithelial line immortalized by viral transformation, were exposed to sidestream tobacco smoke (STS) as a surrogate for environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) under biphasic culture conditions where the apical portion of the cells was in direct contact with the gas phase. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed. In addition, induction of an as yet uncharacterized protein of molecular weight 45 000 was associated with exposure to STS. This protein might be part of a protective response of exposed cells, which do not show a classical heat shock response when exposed to STS. We conclude that STS and ETS can be directly cytotoxic to human airway epithelial cells in biphasic culture at concentrations not unreasonable for smoky indoor atmospheres. The model system described in this paper should be useful for studying the detailed mechanisms of cytotoxicity of, and protection from, ETS exposure in the human cells most directly exposed to ETS in vivo.
Chloride Flux in Prestin-Expressing Cells

In prestin-expressing cells, intracellular Cl- ([Cl-]i) flux plays a preeminent role in promoting prestin activity, especially since the resulting Vh shift in prestin's state-probability function (inferred from nonlinear capacitance - NLC) along the Vm axis will effect a motile response. For example, with perforated patch clamp and local perfusion, changing extracellular Cl concentration from 1 mM to 140 mM using prestin's NLC as a measure of intracellular Cl indicates a several mM increase in intracellular Cl concentration. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying Cl- flux in prestin-expressing cells is not clear.To better define Cl- flux, the CFP-YFP-based ratiometric Cl indicator (Cl-sensor, J. Neurosci. Meth., 2008, 170, 67) was modified to reduce pH sensitivity by shifting the pKa away from the physiological pH range. Using excitation ratiometric imaging of fluorescence, [Cl]i was measured in either induced- or non-induced prestin-expressing HEK cell-lines transfected with our new Cl-sensor construct. Upon changing local extracellular perfusion from 0.2 mM to 140 mM Cl buffer, fluorescence measures indicate a significant difference between induced- and non-induced prestin cell-lines.We also evaluated [Cl]i flux using a Cl-sensor fusion product of prestin at the C-terminal to better gauge flux near prestin's intracellular binding site. Comparison of [Cl]i flux in HEK-293T cells transfected with a normal prestin-Cl-sensor or a prestin construct with a C-terminal deletion that eliminated NLC (P709-Cl-sensor) showed no statistical difference in flux. These data suggest that prestin's NLC is separable from Cl- movement induced by prestin, as we previously suggested (Bai et al., BJ, 3179, 2009). Further experiments are underway, including voltage dependence of flux by simultaneously monitoring fluorescence ratio signals and NLC using perforated patch.(Supported by NIDCD DC00273 and NIDCD DC 008130)
High expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the murine lacrimal gland.

Purpose To report the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in murine lacrimal glands. Methods Six lacrimal glands from 3 female 8-week-old CBA/J mice were analyzed using a gene microarray method (Oligo GEArray mouse inflammatory cytokines and receptors, Catalog No. OMM-011, SuperArray Bioscience) and immunofluorescent staining for MIF. Nine lacrimal glands from 8-week-old CBA/J mice, 9 lacrimal glands from 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice, and 7 lacrimal glands from 8-week-old BALB/c mice were analyzed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Five spleens, 5 livers, and 5 serum samples from 5 female 8-week-old CBA/J mice were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Microarray analysis revealed that MIF is highly expressed in the murine lacrimal gland. Lacrimal acinar cells stain strongly with anti-MIF antibodies. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the MIF mRNA expression level is lower in lacrimal glands of CBA/J mice compared with C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice when normalized against the expression of beta-actin mRNA. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that MIF level was higher in lacrimal glands and spleens compared with livers and sera. Conclusion The murine lacrimal gland expresses high levels of macrophage MIF without any evidence of lacrimal gland inflammation.
Mediation of reocclusion by thromboxane A2 and serotonin after thrombolysis with tissue-type plasminogen activator in a canine preparation of coronary thrombosis.

Human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has been shown to be an effective and safe agent for coronary thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, thrombolysis is associated with a high rate of acute reocclusion after discontinuation of rt-PA. The goals of the present study were to assess whether reocclusion after thrombolysis is caused by intracoronary platelet aggregation and to determine the role of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and serotonin (5HT) in mediating this phenomenon. Accordingly, coronary thrombosis was induced in anesthetized, open-chest dogs by insertion of a copper coil into the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). LAD blood flow was monitored throughout the experiment by means of a Doppler flow probe placed proximally to the coil. Thrombolysis was achieved with rt-PA (0.05 mg/kg bolus + micrograms/kg/min infusion) in 23 +/- 3 min. rt-PA was then discontinued and each animal received a bolus of heparin (150 U/kg) every hour. Reperfusion was followed by repeated cycles of gradual occlusions followed by spontaneous restorations of blood flow (cyclic flow variations, CFVs) before a persistent occlusion recurred. In control dogs (n = 6), heparin alone did not prevent CFVs and reocclusion time was 25 +/- 4 min. Administration of an intravenous bolus of 0.2 +/- 0.06 mg/kg SQ29548, a TxA2/prostaglandin H2-receptor antagonist, and an intravenous bolus of 0.2 +/- 0.04 mg/kg ketanserin, a 5HT2-receptor antagonist, completely abolished CFVs in six of six dogs and reocclusion time was greater than 158 +/- 14 min (p less than .01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Equilibration-based preconcentrating minicolumn sensors for trace level monitoring of radionuclides and metal ions in water without consumable reagents.

A sensor technique is described that captures analyte species on a preconcentrating minicolumn containing a selective solid phase sorbent. In this approach, the sample is pumped through the column until the sorbent phase is fully equilibrated with the sample concentration, and the exit concentration equals the inlet concentration. On-column detection of the captured analytes using radiometric and spectroscopic methods are demonstrated. In trace level detection applications, this sensor provides a steady state signal that is proportional to sample analyte concentration and is reversible. The method is demonstrated for the detection of Tc-99 using anion exchange beads mixed with scintillating beads and light detection; Sr-90 using SuperLig 620 beads mixed with scintillating beads and light detection; and hexavalent chromium detection using anion exchange beads with spectroscopic detection. Theory has been developed to describe the signal at equilibration, and to describe analyte uptake as a function of volume and concentration, using parameters and concepts from frontal chromatography. It is shown that experimental sensor behavior closely matches theoretical predictions and that effective sensors can be prepared using low plate number columns. This sensor modality has many desirable characteristics for in situ sensors for trace-level contaminant long-term monitoring where the use of consumable reagentsmore » for sensor regeneration would be undesirable. Initial experiments in groundwater matrixes demonstrated the detection of Tc-99 at drinking water level standards (activity of 0.033 Bq/mL) and detection of hexavalent chromium to levels below drinking water standards of 50 ppb.« less
Enhanced Case Management to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Northern Plains Communities

Women proven to be extremely high risk for drinking during pregnancy were provided case management (CM) enhanced with strategies derived from motivational interviewing (MI) as a part of a comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) epidemiology and prevention program in four American Indian communities in Northern Plains states. Data on the first women enrolled (n = 131) revealed that they have extreme issues with alcohol abuse to overcome. Sixty-five percent of these women have experienced extensive alcohol use within their immediate family. At intake, 24% of CM clients reported binge drinking one or more days in the preceding week. Heavy drinking resulted in estimated blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) as high as .576 using the BACCUS methodology. Project staff has attempted to actively engage each of these women in CM. Clients have been in CM an average of 17.2 months (SD = 16.6). The mean number of significant contacts (face-to-face or telephone MI sessions) was 19. Thirty-one percent of the women entered some type of formal alcohol or drug treatment while in CM. Data were collected at 6 month intervals from 6 to 72 months after enrollment. Consumption of alcohol, as measured by both quantity and frequency measures, was reduced at 6 months. Thirty-eight percent of enrolled women reported complete abstinence from alcohol use at 6 months, and the number of binges while drinking in CM declined significantly from 15 at baseline to 4.3 at 6 months. However, mean peak BACs for the heavy drinking sessions were still problematic for those who continued to drink. They ranged from .234 to .275 from baseline to 12 month follow-up, but the total number of binges was reduced substantially at 12 months as well. Furthermore, the most important outcomes are the status of the children born while in CM. One hundred and forty nine pregnancies have occurred among these women, and 76% of those pregnancies have resulted in normal deliveries, and only two children born in CM are suspected of having some form of severe FASD. At 6, 12, 18, and 24 month follow-up milestones, 70% of the women who were not currently pregnant were protected from having a child with FAS by not drinking, using birth control, or both. Other measures of CM success include enrolling in school, regaining custody of children, completing substance abuse treatment, probation from the criminal justice system, substantial periods of abstinence, enrolling in programs to improve life skills, and employment.
Fiber push-out testing apparatus for elevated temperatures

A newly developed apparatus has been designed for performing fiber push-out testing on continuous fiber-reinforced composites at elevated temperatures. This test measures the force at which a fiber resists being pushed by a flat-bottomed indenter moving at a constant speed. The applied load versus time curve characterizes the fiber debonding and sliding behavior. Extending measurements to elevated temperatures required incorporating sample/indenter heating in a nonoxidizing environment. With this new apparatus, fiber push-out tests have been performed up to 1100 δC in a vacuum of 10-6 Torr. A line-of-sight to the sample is maintained during the test which allows video monitoring of the push-out process. Results are shown for SCS-6 SiC fiber-reinforced Ti-24Al-llNb (at. %) and Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al (at. %) matrix composites. The results are discussed in terms of residual stresses, interfacial wear, matrix ductility, and changing modes of interfacial failure. The effect of temperature-dependent interfacial wear on the interfacial roughness contribution to frictional shear stresses during fiber sliding is examined.
A simple channel gain equalizer design using an arrayed waveguide gratings based demultiplexer

Using an arrayed waveguide gratings (AWG) based demultiplexer, a simple channel gain equalizer can be designed. The gain equalization and blocking functions are realized by the hybrid waveguide based variable optical attenuators fabricated on the output waveguides of the demultiplexer. This paper discusses the operation principle of the design and presents some simulation results.
Mid-IR type-II W and interband cascade lasers emitting high CW powers

The I-V characteristics, lasing thresholds, and wallplug efficiencies of type-II "W" mid-IR diode lasers from 16 different wafers were studied in order to determine the influence of various device parameters. At T = 90 K, the wallplug efficiency for a 1-mm-long gain-guided device was > 10% and the slope efficiency was 142 mW/A (38% external quantum efficiency). When a 22-μm-wide ridge was lithographically defined on a 5-period "W" laser with a p -GaSb etch stop layer, the maximum cw operating temperature increased to 230 K. We also investigated 5-stage and 10-stage interband cascade lasers containing "W" active quantum wells. For 10-stage devices, the low-temperature threshold current densities were somewhat higher than in the "W" diodes while at higher temperatures they were slightly lower. The threshold voltage was only ≈ 0.1 V larger than the photon energy multiplied by the number of stages, corresponding to a voltage efficiency of > 96%, while the differential series resistance-area product above threshold was as low as 0.21 mΩ . cm 2 at 100 K. At T = 78 K, the cw slope efficiency was 0.48 mW/A (126% external quantum efficiency), and a maximum cw power of 514 mW was produced by an epi-side-up-mounted 2-mm-long 10-stage laser cavity with uncoated facets. A 5-stage 2-mm-long interband cascade laser produced ≈ 700 mW of output power at 80 K, with a maximum wallplug efficiency of 20% per facet.
DNA polymerase switching: effects on spontaneous mutagenesis in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli possesses five known DNA polymerases (pols). Pol III holoenzyme is the cell's main replicase, while pol I is responsible for the maturation of Okazaki fragments and filling gaps generated during nucleotide excision repair. Pols II, IV and V are significantly upregulated as part of the cell's global SOS response to DNA damage and under these conditions, may alter the fidelity of DNA replication by potentially interfering with the ability of pols I and III to complete their cellular functions. To test this hypothesis, we determined the spectrum of rpoB mutations arising in an isogenic set of mutL strains differentially expressing the chromosomally encoded pols. Interestingly, mutagenic hot spots in rpoB were identified that are susceptible to the actions of pols I-V. For example, in a recA730 lexA(Def) mutL background most transversions were dependent upon pols IV and V. In contrast, transitions were largely dependent upon pol I and to a lesser extent, pol III. Furthermore, the extent of pol I-dependent mutagenesis at one particular site was modulated by pols II and IV. Our observations suggest that there is considerable interplay among all five E. coli polymerases that either reduces or enhances the mutagenic load on the E. coli chromosome.
Frictional properties of nonspherical multisubunit structures. Application to tubules and cylinders

Methods are described for numerical calculation of the anisotropic components of the translational and rotational friction coefficient tensors and of the intrinsic viscosity for rigid multisubunit structures in dilute solution. The methods apply to assemblies of any shape, provided that translation–rotation coupling is negligible. Application is made to short cylindrical and tubular structures. Anomalous results arise when the Oseen tensor is used to describe the hydrodynamic interaction of the subunits, but these are corrected by use of a modified tensor. Transport coefficients for hollow tubules with typical supramolecular dimensions are found to be nearly the same as those for the corresponding solid cylinders. The Scheraga–Mandelkern equation is found to be useful for the determination of the molecular weights of such structures. For long hollow structures such as microtubules, use of the corresponding solid cylinder or wormlike chain equations should be adequate for interpreting hydrodynamic studies.
Assessment of the Buffer-Induced Setback Effects on Riparian Scenic Quality by Digital Tools

Under a typical riparian landscape structure where a vegetated buffer is sandwiched between a greenway trail and the river bank or lake shore, a trail user's perceptions about riparian scenic quality are influenced by, among other factors, buffer-induced setback effects. As a trail is set back to leave enough space for the vegetated linear area, both the subject and the composition of a trail user's viewshed can change significantly. This may in turn affect his or her perceptions of the lakescape or riverscape. For greenway trail planners, the buffer-induced setback effects become most relevant when they have the option of allocating trails behind either a legislature-regulated buffer with constant width or a scientifically recommended buffer of variable width. In North Carolina's Piedmont region, the discrepancy in width between constant and variable buffers may range from 10 to 200 m, large enough to cause significant visual variances. In this paper a method to investigate these setback effects is prese...
Importance Sampling Based Intelligent Test Set Generation for Validating Operating Rules Used in Power System Operational Planning

Decision tree based machine learning methods find a great deal of application in power system reliability assessment studies, wherein essential knowledge in the form of operating rules or guidelines are produced that help operators maneuver the system away from insecurity. Independent test sets are generally used to validate these rules, with the motivation of estimating their classification accuracy and error rates, apart from checking their performance against some interesting situations. This paper proposes an importance sampling based method to generate intelligent test set for validating operating rules. The method is applied for testing decision tree rules derived against voltage collapse problems in western regions of the French power system, and is seen to produce test sets at lesser computation that estimates the rule's classification errors with good accuracy. For a given computation, it also provides richer information on critical operating conditions for which the rule is vulnerable, which helps in further improving the rules.
Interpersonal utility in principles of social choice

This paper summarizes and rebuts the three standard objections made by social choice theorists against interpersonal utility. The first objection argues that interpersonal utility is measningless. I show that this objection either focuses on irrelevant kinds of meaning or else uses implausible criteria of meaningfulness. The second objection argues that interpersonal utility has no role to play in social choice theory. I show that on the contrary interpersonal utility is useful in formulating goals for social choice. The third objection argues that interpersonal utility in social choice theory can be replaced by clearer notions. I show that the replacements proposed are unsatisfactory in either interpersonal utility's descriptive or explanatory role. My conclusion is that interpersonal utility has a legitimate place in social choice theory.
Reversible Magnetization of Irradiated High-Tc Superconductors.

We calculate the free energy and equilibrium magnetization in highly anisotropic layered superconductors with strong defects produced by irradiation. We account for the entropy associated with different configurations of pancakes inside and outside of strong defects. We show how magnetization measurements provide information on pinning energy and how they determine the magnetic fields and temperatures at which pancake vortices are trapped inside strong defects. We discuss also the behavior of magnetization which may signal about decoupling of pancakes inside columnar defects. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Analyzing specific cases of an operator inequality

Abstract Let H and K be Hilbert spaces, and suppose A e B ( H ) and B e B ( K ) are self-adjoint operators with dist(σ( A ), σ( B ))≥ δ > 0. In 1983 Bhatia, Davis, and McIntosh showed that for any Q e B ( K , H ) we must have ( π ;2 )‖AQ−QB‖≥δ‖Q‖ . In this paper we specialize their inequality to the case where A , Q , and B are 2 × 2 or 3 × 3 matrices, and give sharp estimates. Doing so, we illustrate one way that bounds on the norm of the Schur product of two matrices have applications to perturbation theory. By specializing the Fourier transform used in the proof of the theorem above, we also obtain sharp estimates in two Fourier interpolation problems.
PtCl42−: A methionine-specific label for protein crystallography

Abstract PtCl42− has been found in six crystalline proteins to bind selectively to methionine side groups. X-ray evidence in horse heart ferricytochrome c suggests that the square-planar PtII is oxidized to octahedral PtIV with the methionine sulfur acting as a fifth ligand by donating either one or the other of its lone electron pairs in two mutually exclusive Pt binding positions. Evolutionary criteria are proposed for choosing proteins with a high probability of specific heavy-atom labeling at Met, Cys and His.
Manufactured Home Parks: NORCs Awaiting Discovery

This article examines manufactured home parks as a type of naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) and considers the potential for adding social service programs (SSP) to enable further aging in place. An analysis of six focus group interviews with 48 residents found that the physical and social environment promoted a sense of safety and community, and that this housing option was an intentional lifestyle choice. Risks included the possibility of bad management and park closure. Manufactured home parks were found to offer an attractive option for exploring a NORC-SSP model that builds on residents’ assets and community capacity.
An absence of CCR5 on donor cells results in acceleration of acute graft-vs-host disease

Abstract Objective Chemokines have been postulated to play a role in the pathogenesis of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation. Recent reports have indicated that the absence of donor expression of CCR5 on T cells ameliorates GVHD in models using no conditioning of the recipient. We therefore assessed the role of CCR5 on donor cells in models where intensive conditioning of the recipient occurs, thus more appropriately mirroring the clinical experience. Methods Lethally irradiated mice received allogeneic bone marrow transplants. Recipients were given full MHC-mismatched donor bone marrow and splenocytes from CCR5 knockout (KO) mice vs wild-type (WT) control donors. Results Recipients of CCR5 KO donor cells succumbed to acute GVHD at an accelerated rate compared to mice receiving WT cells. Donor CD8 + T cells expanded to a significantly greater extent in recipients of CCR5 KO vs WT control cells. T cells recovered from recipients of CCR5 KO cells produced more IFN-γ and TNF-α and proliferated to a T-cell mitogen at a significantly greater level then T cells from recipients of WT cells, indicating that CCR5 plays a role in downregulating donor alloreactive CD8 + T-cell expansion. Histological assessment of the mice indicated pathological lesions in the kidneys and a greater degree of liver pathological changes in mice that received CCR5 KO donor grafts. Conclusions These results indicate that the role of CCR5 in allogeneic bone marrow transplants and GVHD is more complex than initially thought. In a murine transplant model with intensive conditioning, the overall effect of absent CCR5 expression on donor cells results in greater GVHD and donor T-cell expansion.
Thromboresistant surfaces with low-dose anticoagulation alleviate clopidogrel-related complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Objective Numerous studies have shown that, when using conventional perfusion methodology, patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting within 7 days of receiving clopidogrel are at increased risk of bleeding, re-exploration, and blood transfusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of clopidogrel administration before coronary artery bypass grafting on patients using thromboresistant surfaces with low-dose heparin during surgical intervention. Methods Patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between 2005 and 2009 were incorporated in this retrospective study. Of these, 52 (22.2%) received clopidogrel within 5 days before the operation, and 182 (77.8%) did not. Regression models determined the effect of clopidogrel on the rate of chest re-exploration because of bleeding, 24-hour chest tube output, perioperative blood product transfusion, length of stay, morbidity, and perioperative mortality. Hemorrhage-related preoperative risk factors, as well as those found to be significant in univariate models, were included in the multivariate model. Results Chest tube drainage was significantly increased during the first 24 hours after the operation in the clopidogrel group (679.7 ± 305.8 vs 516.6 ± 209.8 mL, P = .0007). The need for intraoperative blood product transfusion was similar; nevertheless, more patients receiving clopidogrel required fresh frozen plasma postoperatively (7.7% vs 1.1%, P = .0232). However, risk-adjusted logistic regression showed that exposure to clopidogrel was not a predictor of intraoperative or postoperative blood product transfusion. Lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital were shorter in patients receiving clopidogrel. Conclusions Hemostatic complications related to clopidogrel exposure within 5 days before an isolated coronary artery bypass grafting operation can be alleviated by the application of a biocompatible perfusion strategy using low-dose heparin in conjunction with a closed thromboresistant circuit.
The impact of Campath 1H induction in adult liver allotransplantation.

Abstract Background We report our experience with Campath 1H in adult liver allotransplantation. Methods Between December 2001 and February 2004, 77 patients underwent liver transplantation using Campath 1H induction and low-dose maintenance tacrolimus immunosuppression. The control group consisted of 50 patients with similar baseline characteristics and the same eligibility criteria, transplanted under our standard Tacrolimus/steroids regimen. Hepatitis C patients were excluded from the study. Results. Patient and graft survival were similar for both groups. The incidence of rejection was significantly lower in the Campath vs the control group (51% vs 65% at 12 months, P = .009). Tacrolimus trough levels and conversion from Tacrolimus or the addition of other immunosuppressive drugs due to nephrotoxicity were also significantly lower in the Campath 1H group. Conclusion Campath 1H induction with low-dose Tacrolimus maintenance immunosuppression is an effective regimen in reducing acute rejection in adult liver transplantation, while maintaining lower tacrolimus levels and less nephrotoxicity than our conventional immunosuppressive regimen.
Asbestos induces tissue factor in Beas-2B human lung bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.

Asbestos has been implicated in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases including asbestosis. Tissue factor (TF) initiates blood coagulation in vivo contributing to inflammation and tissue remodeling via extravascular fibrin deposition and signaling for profibrogenic mediators. We hypothesized that asbestos could induce TF expression by lung epithelial cells. We found that TF mRNA and TF-dependent procoagulant activity were induced in asbestos-treated Beas-2B human airway epithelial cells, which we used as a model system. The effect was increased by crocidolite and chrysotile versus control particulates, including titanium dioxide (TiO2) and Wollastonite (W). Transcription factors that bind the TF gene promoter, including NF-κB, AP1 and Sp1, were induced by asbestos while TF mRNA was unstable. TF mRNA was inhibited by mithramycin in asbestos-treated as well as control cells suggesting that Sp1 contributes to TF maintenance in Beas-2B cells. Sp1 knockdown with specific siRNA decreased TF antigen, which is consistent with Sp1-mediated control of TF in Beas-2B cells. The results demonstrate that asbestos induces TF expression in lung epithelial cells in vitro, representing a newly recognized potential mechanism by which asbestos may modulate epithelial cell responses germane to lung remodeling. The mechanism involves alterations in steady-state TF mRNA that do not involve posttranscriptional regulation, implicating control of TF gene expression at the transcriptional level through Sp1 or other transcription factors.
Successful femtosecond LASIK flap creation despite multiple suction losses

We present a case of successful completion of a laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedure despite 5 episodes of suction loss during femtosecond flap creation in a 30-year-old man with no risk factors. The patient had an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes at his 2-month follow-up visit. Our experience in this case shows that multiple suction losses during femtosecond LASIK flap creation do not preclude completion of a successful procedure with excellent visual outcomes. Caution and technique modification are advised if multiple laser passes are applied to avoid creating multiplanar flaps.
The structure of an aminosilane coupling agent in aqueous solutions and partially cured solids

The molecular structures of partially cured polyaminopropylsilsesquioxane and aminopropyltriethoxysilane in water have been studied using Fourier-transform infrared, laser Raman, and quasielastic laser light-scattering spectroscopy. A multiply hydrogen-bonded structure is proposed for the intramolecularly interacting amine and silanol groups on the basis of isotope exchange experiment and conformational energy calculations. Conformational restrictions are rather low for the proposed structure, which is thus suitable for the partially cured solid where there are slight perturbations by the surrounding amine and silanol groups. The O.…N distance was experimentally determined to be in the range 2.70–2.67 A and estimated theoretically as 2.49–2.45 A. The aminosilane in very dilute solution is found to be mostly monomeric. The isolated monomer-oligomer transition lies around 0.15% by weight and this transition influences the amount of silane uptake by glass fibers. It is also proposed that this phenomenon may be general for surface treatments by silane coupling agents. Hydrolyzed aminosilane oligomers exist in part as submicron aggregates which can be broken up by the addition of an alcohol. The neutralized aminosilane hydrolyzes very slowly although it dissolves in water instantaneously. Micelle formation is also proposed.
Dynamic elasto‐plastic response of shells in an acoustic medium—EPSA code

A nonlinear, large deflection, elasto-plastic finite element code (EPSA) has been developed for the analysis of shells in an acoustic medium subjected to dynamic loadings. The nonlinear equations of shells are discretized with the aid of a finite difference/finite element method based upon the principle of virtual work. The resulting system of equations contains the nodal displacements as the generalized co-ordinates of the problem. The integration in time of the equations of motion is done explicitly via a central difference scheme. Shell strain-displacement relations are established by a two-dimensional finite difference scheme. The shell constitutive equations are formulated in terms of the shell stress resultants and the shell strains and curvatures. The fluid-structure interaction is accounted for by means of the doubly asymptotic approximation (DAA) expressed in terms of orthogonal fluid expansion functions. The analytically produced results satisfactorily reproduce available experimental data for dynamically loaded shells.