cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Block modal matrices and their applications to multivariable control systems

A left (right) block modal matrix is constructed to decompose a class of linear time-invariant MIMO state equations in arbitrary co-ordinates into a block diagonal canonical form which contains left (right) solvents of a characteristic polynomial matrix. The applications of block modal matrices to block partial fraction expansions, analytical time-response solutions, and model reductions of high-degree matrix fraction descriptions and high-order state equations are examined. Also, the relationship between a left (right) solvent of a matrix polynomial and the corresponding right (left)solvent is explored. The established block canonical forms in the time domain, and developed algebraic theories, provide additional mathematical tools for the analysis and synthesis of a class of MIMO control systems and matrix functions.
Simulation-based Testbed for Bio-Surveillance Systems

The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is funding multiple development efforts directed at enhanced platforms to support bio-surveillance analysts under their Bio-surveillance Ecosystem (BSVE) program. These efforts include well-integrated user interface systems and advanced algorithmic concepts to facilitate analysis of diverse, pertinent data sources including traditional bio-surveillance data sources as well as social media inputs. A central challenge in this development effort is a practical, effective, method to test these prototype systems. This presentation discusses a simulation-based testbed to allow quantitative evaluation of analytical methods through controlled injection of simulated outbreak-related information into test data streams.
Ethanol consumption alters trafficking of lysosomal enzymes and affects the processing of procathepsin L in rat liver

In order to determine whether ethanol consumption alters the targeting of hepatic lysosomal enzymes to their organelles, we examined the sedimentation properties of lysosomal hydrolases in ethanol-fed rats and their pair-fed controls. Rats were fed a liquid diet containing either ethanol (36% of calories) or isocaloric maltose dextrin for one to five wk. Liver extracts were fractionated by Percoll density gradient centrifugation and fractions obtained were analyzed for the distribution of lysosomal marker enzymes. Heavy lysosomes were further purified from these gradients and the activity of specific hydrolases was determined. Compared with those from controls, isolated lysosomes from ethanol-fed rats showed a 20-50% reduction in the activity of lysosomal acid phosphatase and beta-galactosidase. Decreased intralysosomal hydrolase activity in ethanol-fed rats was associated with a significant redistribution of these enzymes as well as those of cathepsins B and L to lighter fractions of Percoll density gradients. This indicated an ethanol-elicited shift of these enzymes to lower density cellular compartments. In order to determine whether ethanol administration affects the synthesis and proteolytic maturation of hepatic procathepsin L, we conducted immunoblot analyses to quantify the steady-state levels of precursor and mature forms of cathepsin L in hepatic post-nuclear fractions. Ethanol administration caused a significant elevation in the steady-state level of the 39 kDa cathepsin L precursor relative to its 30 kDa intermediate and 25 kDa mature product. These results were confirmed by pulse-chase experiments using isolated hepatocytes exposed to [35S]methionine. Hepatocytes from both control and ethanol-fed rats incorporated equal levels of radioactivity into procathepsin L. However, during the chase period, the ratios of the 39 kDa procathepsin L to its 30 kDa intermediate and 25 kDa mature product in cells from ethanol-fed rats were 1.5-3-fold higher than those in controls. These results demonstrate that ethanol consumption caused a marked impairment in the processing of procathepsin L to mature enzyme, without affecting its synthesis. Taken together, our findings suggest that chronic ethanol consumption caused a deficiency in intralysosomal enzyme content by altering the trafficking and processing of these hydrolases into lysosomes.
Quantification and control of the sulfur c (2 × 2) superstructure on {100}〈100〉 Ni for optimization of YSZ, CeO 2 , and SrTiO 3 seed layer texture

We investigated the influence of a chemisorbed S template with c(2 × 2) structure on the epitaxial growth of different oxide buffer layers on {100}〈100〉 Ni. The sulfur superstructure spontaneously forms on the Ni surface during the texturing anneal as a consequence of segregation. However, depending on the initial S bulk concentration and/or specific annealing conditions, the S layer can cover less than the entire substrate’s surface. We show that an incomplete c(2 × 2) coverage causes degradation of the seed buffer layer texture as compared to the substrate texture. A simple step consisting of an H2S predeposition anneal can be used to control the superstructure coverage and optimize the seed layer texture.
Surface Displacements in the 1906 San Francisco and 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquakes

The horizontal displacements accompanying the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake are computed from geodetic survey measurements. The 1906 earthquake displacement field is entirely consistent with right-lateral strike slip on the San Andreas fault. In contrast, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake exhibited subequal components of strike slip and reverse faulting. This result, together with other seismic and geologic data, may indicate that the two earthquakes occurred on two different fault planes.
A comparison of several analytical techniques for calculating Curves from load-displacement data and their relation to specimen geometry

Abstract Various methods to determine crack growth resistance curves have been compared. Ferritic ductile cast iron (grade 60-40-18) was machined into three different specimen geometries (compact tension, bend bar and Charpy V-notched) which were fatigue precracked and then tested under displacement control at room temperature. Crack resistance curves were generated using the current standard, ASTM E813-81, and a new J-R curve standard, ASTM E1152-87. It was found that R- curves calculated with these two approaches were similar up to approximately 1 to 3 mm of crack extension, at which point the R- curve calculated with ASTM E1152-87 began to drop off. A geometry dependence of the R- curves was observed between the different specimen geometries for both ASTM E813-81 and ASTM E1152-87. The modified J formulation of Ernst was also found to give a geometry dependent R- curve for the ferritic ductile iron.
The cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome.

A black infant with classical features of cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal (COFS) syndrome is reported. At autopsy the patient was also found to have partial agenesis of the corpus callosum and a missing left ovary.
Multiple Vortex Features in the Tornado Cyclone and the Occurrence of Tornado Families

Abstract Analyses are presented of the tornado tracks for four tornado families affecting Indiana and neighboring states on 3 April 1974. The study by Agee et al.(1975)on the occurrence of multiple suction vortices in the tornado has been used by further extending Ward's (1972) multiple vortex phenomenon to the scale of the tornado cyclone. This has allowed an interpretation of multiple tornado events by means of which consecutive tornado damage paths may be frequently recognized as segments of cycloidal tracks for multiple vortices occurring within the larger tornado cyclone. A tornado cyclone, most likely within the right rear quadrant of the severe thunderstorm, may contain two, three, or more smaller scale vortices (mini tornado cylones) that revolve cyclonically about the center of the. parent tornado cyclone as the entire system translates along with the thunderstorm. It is shown that these centers of action have cycloidal tracks that can be matched with the damage paths of tornado families. Tornado...
Population and poverty in dependent states: Latin America considered.

Malthusians maintain that rapid population growth aggravates poverty while Marxists contend that social formations determine its nature and extent. Each perspective is incomplete however since it ignores the insights of the other. Latin American states characterized by dependent capitalism formations and dominated by ruling elites are generally incapable of solving the problems of population and poverty. Since population growth under dependent capitalism weakens labors bargaining position against capital reduced population growth is emphasized as a labor empowerment strategy the poor can implement on their own to improve their socioeconomic conditions. (EXCERPT)
Infrared spectroscopy of supported lipid monolayer, bilayer, and multibilayer membranes

Abstract Cecropin A was examined in supported monolayer, bilayer, and multibilayer lipid membranes using attenuated total internal reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The spectral features provide an abundance of information about the conformation and orientation of the peptide, as well as about the effects of the peptide on lipid order. In this case, they serve to contrast results from the three preparations. The results of monolayer and bilayer studies are generally similar, although differences in the nature of the membranes appear to cause minor changes in the conformation and orientation of the peptide. The results of the multibilayer studies are different in many respects from those of the monolayer and bilayer studies, suggesting that fundamentally different peptide–lipid interactions occur in multibilayers.
Effects of Solar Particle Event Proton Radiation on Parameters Related to Ferret Emesis

The effectiveness of simulated solar particle event (SPE) proton radiation to induce retching and vomiting was evaluated in the ferret experimental animal model. The endpoints measured in the study included: (1) the fraction of animals that retched or vomited, (2) the number of retches or vomits observed, (3) the latency period before the first retch or vomit and (4) the duration between the first and last retching or vomiting events. The results demonstrated that γ ray and proton irradiation delivered at a high dose rate of 0.5 Gy/min induced dose-dependent changes in the endpoints related to retching and vomiting. The minimum radiation doses required to induce statistically significant changes in retching- and vomiting-related endpoints were 0.75 and 1.0 Gy, respectively, and the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of proton radiation at the high dose rate did not significantly differ from 1. Similar but less consistent and smaller changes in the retching- and vomiting-related endpoints were observe...
The quantification of crystallographic preferred orientation using magnetic anisotropy

Magnetic anisotropy analysis presents an alternative and fast method for obtaining and quantifying crystallographic preferred orientations in rocks, using relatively simple equipment. Two natural examples and numerical modeling demonstrate that magnetic anisotropy increases with increasing degree of crystallographic preferred orientation. The normalized magnetic parameters Mi = In (ki/(k~ax */qnt * kmin) I/3) (kmax ->/qnt -> kmin are the principal magnetic susceptibilities) correlate directly with March 'strains' obtained from X-ray texture goniometry. The additional advantage of our method is that the preferred fabrics are determined from large sample volumes (typically about 1 l cm 3) rather than the essentially two-dimensional slice used in optical and X-ray methods. Thus, magnetic anisotropy provides a reliable measure of bulk crystallographic preferred orientation in rocks.
Glutathione S-transferases M1/T1 gene polymorphisms and endometriosis: a meta-analysis of genetic association studies

In view of the controversies surrounding the glutathione S-transferases (GST) M1/T1-endometriosis association, a meta-analysis of the GSTM1/GSTT1 genetic association studies of endometriosis was performed. In this meta-analysis involving 14 GSTM1 studies with 1539 cases and 1805 controls and nine GSTT1 studies with 746 cases and 834 controls, respectively, substantial heterogeneities among studies were found. In addition, asymmetry in funnel plot was evident, which is likely to stem from publication bias, given no apparent indication of true heterogeneity. The bias appears to be prominent for GSTM1 studies, but is less so for GSTT1 studies. After correction for this bias, there is no evidence that women with GSTM1 null genotype have increased risk of developing endometriosis as compared with women with other genotypes. For GSTT1, the risk associated with the null genotype is 29% higher than other genotypes. However, even this estimate should be viewed with a large grain of salt, because the estimate could easily lose its statistical significance if there is a realistic 69-80% publication probability.
Squamous cell carcinoma at the site of a Prince Albert's piercing

ABSTRACT Introduction Medical practitioners should be aware of genital piercing and its potential complications. General piercings are associate with complications common to all piercings as well as some unique to urethral piercings. Specifically, the association between carcinoma and genital piercing is not well recognized. Aim The present study is a report of two cases describing squamous cell carcinoma associated with genital piercing. Methods Case reports of two men admitted to an academic medical center. Results A 60-year-old man with a history of HIV and hepatitis C as well as a Prince Albert piercing presented for treatment of a urethrocutaneous fistula. A biopsy of indurated granulation tissue surrounding the fistula revealed invasive, moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A 56-year-old man with a history of HIV, hepatitis C, and a Prince Albert piercing presented following a single episode of gross hematuria. He also reported splitting of his urinary stream. On physical examination, areas of necrosis were noted on the glans penis; biopsy revealed invasive, poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions The present study is the first to suggest a possible association between squamous cell carcinoma of the penis/urethra and genital piercing. Patients with genital piercings, especially those with concurrent risk factors such as HIV and HCV, should be counselled about this rare complication. Edlin RS, Aaronson DS, Wu AK, Blaschko SD, Yang G, Erickson BA, and McAninch JW. Squamous cell carcinoma at the site of a Prince Albert's piercing.
Cryptococcus neoformans I. Nonencapsulated Mutants

Seven nonencapsulated mutants of Cryptococcus neoformans were isolated from an encapsulated strain of human origin. Initially, the mutants were avirulent for mice. After several months of subculturing, six of the seven isolates reverted to the encapsulated state and possessed varying degrees of virulence. The results of these experiments suggest that a strong correlation exists between the presence of a capsule and the virulence of C. neoformans . Images
Direct Leukocyte Migration across Pulmonary Arterioles and Venules into the Perivascular Interstitium of Murine Lungs during Bleomycin Injury and Repair

During acute lung injury and repair, leukocytes are thought to enter the lung primarily across alveolar capillaries and postcapillary venules. We hypothesized that leukocytes also migrate across pulmonary arterioles and venules, which serve as alternative sites for leukocyte influx into the lung during acute lung injury and repair. Lung sections from C57BL/6J mice up to 14 days after intratracheal bleomycin (3.33 U/kg) or saline instillation were assessed by light, fluorescence, confocal, and transmission electron microscopy for evidence of inflammatory cell sequestration and transmigration at these sites. After bleomycin treatment, large numbers of leukocytes (including neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes) were present in the vascular lumina and in perivascular interstitia of pulmonary arterioles and venules, as well as within the vascular walls. Leukocytes were observed within well-defined pathways in arteriolar walls and much less structured pathways in venular walls, apparently in the process of transmigration. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were expressed at sites of leukocyte interaction with the luminal surface, especially in arterioles. Leukocytes appeared to exit from the vessels near collagen fibers into the perivascular interstitium. Results indicate that leukocytes can directly migrate across arteriolar and venular walls into the perivascular interstitium, which may represent an important but under-recognized pathway for leukocyte influx into the lung during injury and repair.
Comparison of survival patterns of northern and southern genotypes of the North American tick Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) under northern and southern conditions

Several investigators have reported genetic differences between northern and southern populations of Ixodes scapularis in North America, as well as differences in patterns of disease transmission. Ecological and behavioral correlates of these genetic differences, which might have implications for disease transmission, have not been reported. We compared survival of northern with that of southern genotypes under both northern and southern environmental conditions in laboratory trials. Subadult I. scapularis from laboratory colonies that originated from adults collected from deer from several sites in the northeastern, north central, and southern U.S. were exposed to controlled conditions in environmental chambers. Northern and southern genotypes were exposed to light:dark and temperature conditions of northern and southern sites with controlled relative humidities, and mortality through time was recorded. Ticks from different geographical locations differed in survival patterns, with larvae from Wisconsin surviving longer than larvae from Massachusetts, South Carolina or Georgia, when held under the same conditions. In another experiment, larvae from Florida survived longer than larvae from Michigan. Therefore, survival patterns of regional genotypes did not follow a simple north–south gradient. The most consistent result was that larvae from all locations generally survived longer under northern conditions than under southern conditions. Our results suggest that conditions in southern North America are less hospitable than in the north to populations of I. scapularis. Southern conditions might have resulted in ecological or behavioral adaptations that contribute to the relative rarity of I. scapularis borne diseases, such as Lyme borreliosis, in the southern compared to the northern United States.
Evaluation of in situ smectite dehydration as a pore water freshening mechanism in the Nankai Trough, offshore southwest Japan

[1] Pore water freshening has been observed within sediments near the trench at numerous subduction zones. Constraining the relative contributions of long-distance updip flow of freshened fluids and in situ clay dehydration holds important implications for margin-scale fluid flow but remains unresolved because the evolution of pore water chemistry expected due to in situ clay dehydration and the budget of fresh water release have generally not been carefully quantified. Here, we address this problem at the well-studied Nankai Trough offshore SW Japan, where Deep Sea Drilling Project and Ocean Drilling Program drilling have sampled the sedimentary section along two transects: the Muroto transect and the Ashizuri transect, located ∼100 km southwest along strike. Broad low-chloride anomalies with minimum concentrations significantly below typical seawater values were documented along the Muroto transect at Sites 1173, 1174, and 808 and indicate progressive freshening with increasing burial. In contrast, freshening at Site 1177 along the Ashizuri transect (∼24 km seaward of the trench) is characterized by a series of sharp excursions from seawater values. We use a one-dimensional model to simulate sedimentation, thermal history, clay dehydration, and chemical diffusion, in order to quantify the component of pore water freshening attributable to in situ smectite dehydration. We find that simulated reaction progress is in close agreement with observations. The peak magnitude of pore water freshening is reasonably well predicted within the lowermost ∼150 m of the section but consistently underpredicted at intermediate depths. The residual pore water freshening profiles (not explained by smectite dehydration) reach peak magnitudes of ∼50–75 mM and approximately straddle the decollement at Sites 1174 and 808. We suggest that these residuals may reflect either an additional in situ dehydration process or a contribution from updip fluid migration along the fault. Our conclusion differs from that of previous studies, which have suggested that most of the observed geochemical anomaly could be generated by in situ smectite dehydration with as little as 15 wt% initial smectite. This substantial discrepancy is readily explained by the high sensitivity of pore water freshening to assumed porosity at the time of dehydration.
Relating pH and Ion Release from Ga2O3-Na2O-CaO-ZnO-SiO2 Bioactive Glasses

Three glasses were designed for this study, including one Ga-free glass (Control), and two Ga-containing glasses (TGa-1, TGa-2). In the Ga-containing glasses, Ga2O3 is included at the expense of ZnO. This study focuses on the relation between pH and ion concentration present in solution in which these bioactive glasses have been submerged for periods of 1, 7, and 14 days.
Flow-Induced Vascular Remodeling in the Mouse: A Model for Carotid Intima-Media Thickening

Objective— Vascular remodeling of the carotid artery with intima-media thickness (IMT) is an important predictive factor for human cardiovascular disease. We characterized a mouse model of vascular remodeling. Methods and Results— The left external and internal carotid branches were ligated so that left carotid blood flow was reduced to flow via the occipital artery. In response to partial ligation of the left carotid artery (LCA), blood flow significantly decreased (−90%) in the LCA and increased (+70%) in the right carotid artery (RCA). Morphometry showed that both RCA and LCA underwent outward remodeling that was maximal at one week. Remodeling was greater in the RCA with predominantly increased lumen and very little increase in media or adventitia. In the LCA there was a dramatic increase in media with adventitia growth and intima formation. Correlation analysis indicated that the outward remodeling was more likely due to primary changes in the vessel wall rather than to changes in the lumen, such as shear stress. Mechanistic studies suggested roles for macrophage infiltration, upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, extracellular matrix reorganization, and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in LCA remodeling. Conclusions— The mouse model described here may be useful to define genetic determinants of IMT and identify new targets for therapy based on vascular remodeling.
COMMON AND CONFLICTING INTERESTS IN TWO-SIDED MATCHING MARKETS

Abstract This paper reviews and synthesizes some of what is now known about what I will call two-sided matching markets . A number of such models, which arise naturally in the study of certain labor markets, have been shown to have surprising implications about the common and conflicting interests of the agents and about the incentives they face.
Evidence for coexistence of GABA and dopamine in neurons of the rat olfactory bulb

Immunoreactivities for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the dopamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were localized ultrastructurally and colocalized at the light microscopic level in neurons of the rat main olfactory bulb. By means of a simultaneous indirect immunofluorescence technique, GABA and TH immunoreactivities were found to coexist in a large number of neurons in the glomerular and external plexiform layers. Virtually all the TH-immunoreactive periglomerular neurons also contained GABA immunoreactivity (GABA-I) while there was an additional number of GABA-immunoreactive periglomerular cells (27%) which did not contain TH immunoreactivity (TH-I). In contrast, the numerous tufted-type neurons in the glomerular and superficial external plexiform layers which contained TH-I did not contain GABA-I. In the external plexiform layer (EPL), 41% of the immunoreactive neurons contained GABA-I alone, 24% contained TH-I alone, and 35% contained both. EPL neurons containing GABA-I only or both GABA-I and TH-I never exhibited tufted cell morphological characteristics and were generally of the short-axon type. Electron microscopic examination of GABA-I and TH-I elements in the glomerular layer detected morphologically similar periglomerular perikarya and intraglomerular processes immunoreactive for each substance and other neurons and processes of the same type containing neither GABA-I or TH-I. These data indicate that the classical neurotransmitters GABA and dopamine coexist in large numbers of neurons in the rat main olfactory bulb including characteristic periglomerular cells and certain other local-circuit neuronal types.
Dynamic shifts of the contrast-response function

We recorded visual evoked potentials in response to square-wave contrast-reversal checkerboards undergoing a transition in the mean contrast level. Checkerboards were modulated at 4.22 Hz (8.45-Hz reversal rate). After each set of 16 cycles of reversals, stimulus contrast abruptly switched between a "high" contrast level (0.06 to 1.0) to a "low" contrast level (0.03 to 0.5). Higher contrasts attenuated responses to lower contrasts by up to a factor of 2 during the period immediately following the contrast change. Contrast-response functions derived from the initial second following a conditioning contrast shifted by a factor of 2-4 along the contrast axis. For low-contrast stimuli, response phase was an advancing function of the contrast level in the immediately preceding second. For high-contrast stimuli, response phase was independent of the prior contrast history. Steady stimulation for periods as long as 1 min produced only minor effects on response amplitude, and no detectable effects on response phase. These observations delineate the dynamics of a contrast gain control in human vision.
Managing VC Investments in Competing Technologies Using Exotic Options and Secondary Markets

This article demonstrates what could be done when a liquid, secondary market in venture-capital investments exists. It uses exotic options to manage VC investment in two competing technologies, only one of which will be the winner in a technology race. Without a secondary market, the VC has to either fully invest in both technologies to eliminate risk (the overkill strategy) or forecast which technology will win the race (the speculative strategy). The article offers an alternative explicitly recognizing that the VC needs only to introduce the (ex-post) winner of the technology race. The max option strategy meets this objective and has lower cost (risk) than the overkill (speculative) strategy. It takes a dynamic position (initially less than 100%) in each technology and adjusts the positions as new information about the relative value of each technology arrives. The cost savings of the max option strategy depend on the correlation between the benefit streams of the competing technologies, the money-ness of the two individual options, the ability to (dis)invest from each technology, and the number of times one adjusts the positions. The author presents a detailed application to competing electronic process technologies that demonstrates how to implement the new strategy.
Knowledge Spillover Entrepreneurship

Just as the economy has been besieged by a wave of technological change that has left virtually no sector of the economy untouched, scientific understanding of the innovative process—that is, the manner by which firms innovate, and the impact such technological change has on enterprises and markets—has also undergone a revolution, which, although somewhat quieter, has been no less fundamental. Well into the 1970s, a conventional wisdom about the nature of technological change generally pervaded. This conventional wisdom had been shaped largely by scholars such as Alfred Chandler (1977), Joseph Schumpeter (1942), and John Kenneth Galbraith (1956) who convinced a generation of scholars and policymakers that innovation and technological change lay in the domain of large corporations and that small business would fade away as the victim of its own inefficiencies.
INPUT, INTERACTION, AND THE SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNER. Susan M. Gass . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 1997. Pp. xi + 189. $45.00 cloth, $22.50 paper.

Input, interaction, and the second language learner is, as the title suggests, a view of the relationship among input, interaction, and second language development. Susan M. Gass has written an extremely readable book that explicates many of the most discussed issues in second language learning in the 1990s. Her intention, successfully achieved, is to demonstrate where theories and frameworks coincide, not just collide.
The effect of particulate SiC on fatigue crack growth in a cast-extruded aluminum alloy composite

Detailed micromechanical analyses of fatigue crack growth have been performed on a composite with 15 vol. pct particulate SiC in a peak-aged 2014 aluminum alloy matrix. This composite was manufactured by the Dural Aluminum Composites Company, San Diego, CA, by casting and extrusion. About 3 pct intermetallic particles were found in the matrix alloy in addition to those expected for this material. Fatigue cracks were grown from approximately threshold to rapid fracture. Analyses of the crack tips were performed by stereoimaging at low and intermediate stress intensities and just prior to the onset of rapid fracture. Detailed maps of strain were derived, and a considerable influence of SiC particles on strain was found. Analyses of microcracks near the main crack were made and found to have only a small influence on fracture. Fatigue threshold was explained on the basis of measured and calculated crack closure.
Expression profiling of plant development

Microarrays have been used to study the response of plants to many signals, including light, hormones and transcription factors. The results in each case can give an overall view of the global response to the signal or identify direct targets of the signal, and can reveal new links between different signaling pathways.
“Bacteroides goldsteinii sp. nov.” Isolated from Clinical Specimens of Human Intestinal Origin

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on an unknown gram-negative, strictly anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from human clinical specimens. This organism was indole negative, resistant to 20% bile, produced acetic and a lesser amount of succinic acids as the major end products of glucose metabolism, and possessed a G+C content of approximately 43 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the unidentified bacterium was a member of the Cytophaga-Flavobacter-Bacteroides phylum of gram-negative bacteria and formed a close association (with an average sequence similarity of 93.6%) with the second subcluster of the Porphyromonas cluster in the Bacteroides subgroup. Phylogenetically and phenotypically it resembled Bacteroides merdae; however, a 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence of approximately 5.5% between the unknown bacterium and B. merdae, as well as distinguishable biochemical characteristics, demonstrate that the unknown bacterium is genotypically and phenotypically distinct and represents a previously unknown subline within the Porphyromonas phylogenetic cluster. Furthermore, a DNA-DNA reassociation value of 17.8% between isolates WAL 12034T (the type strain of this novel taxon) and ATCC 43184T (B. merdae type strain) also documented the separateness of the unknown species and B. merdae. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, a new species, “Bacteroides goldsteinii sp. nov,” is proposed. The G+C content of the DNA is 43 mol% for Bacteroides. The type strain of “B. goldsteinii” is WAL 12034T (= CCUG 48944T = ATCC BAA-1180T).
The economics of ecology journals

Over the past decade, scientific publishing has shifted from a paper-based distribution system to one largely built upon electronic access to journal articles. Despite this shift, the basic patterns of journal pricing have remained largely unchanged. The large commercial publishers charge dramatically higher prices to institutions than do professional societies and university presses. These price differences do not reflect differences in quality as measured by citation rate. We discuss the effect of price and citation rate of a journal on library subscriptions and offer an explanation for why competition has not been able to erode the price differences between commercial and non-profit journals.
Matrix protein regulation of PMN oxidative metabolism during ischemia

Matrix proteins upregulate polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) oxidative metabolism in a normoxic environment. We sought to investigate the relationship between matrix proteins and adherent PMN oxidative metabolism during acute ischemia. PMN adherent to buffer, fibronectin, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS), or laminin were placed in either normoxic or ischemic media. PMN adherence, superoxide anion production, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) formazan production, and surface receptor expression (CD64, CD32w, CD16, CD35, and CD11b/CD18) using monoclonal antibodies directed against these receptors were assayed. Ischemia increased PMN adherence unless the PMN were adhered to fibronectin or RGDS. Ischemia reduced PMN superoxide anion, MTT formazan, and H2O2 production unless the PMN were adhered to fibronectin or RGDS. Fibronectin and RGDS prevented ischemic-induced suppression of FcR expression. Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated capping and clustering of PMN Fc and complement receptors during ischemia while adhered on matrix proteins. These results demonstrate that 1) ischemia suppresses matrix protein upregulation of PMN oxidative metabolism, which is restored by fibronectin; 2) fibronectin-mediated restoration of PMN oxidative metabolism involves the binding epitope of fibronectin; and 3) fibronectin maintains PMN oxidative metabolism during ischemia in part by maintaining PMN FcR on the cell surface and by recruiting a new population of PMN capable of undergoing oxidative metabolism.
Functional Elements and POS Categories

We propose a bootstrapping algorithm which successfully resolves two fundamental tasks: morphology acquisition and the acquisition of a subset of functional words. Given the outputs of these fundamental tasks, we build a nearly state-of-art morphology analyzer performing with a F1-score of 80.94%; also, we can improve the baseline model for acquiring functional words by an absolute error reduction of 26%. Furthermore, with these acquisition outputs, a minimally supervised tagging system proposed before can be turned into a totally unsupervised one, achieving a tagging accuracy of 85.26% for openclass words.
Reading: Keeping Current

Reading is the primary source of physicians’ medical information. Print is not only the most highly developed and plentiful medium for medical information, but is also relatively economical, convenient, and easily accessible.
Named Entity Recognition from Financial Press Releases

This paper explores a previous model’s use of named entity recognition to predict the changes in stock prices from financial news. Detecting company mentions in the articles is crucial for this task, and we modified these methods to gain additional mentions. We first expanded upon the rules of the named entity recognition from the original model. We also incorporated coreference resolution and modified an existing toolkit to be compatible with our specific domain. After these two adjustments, the number of instances captured increased significantly. Although this did not necessarily improve the overall prediction performance, the results give us an opportunity to explore reasons why the scores stayed around the same, and a full analysis will allow us to achieve our goals.
The OPTN/UNOS Renal Transplant Registry 2003.

Abstract The number of living donor kidney transplants reported to the OPTN/UNOS Registry more than doubled during the decade from 1992-2002, from 2,535 to 6,236, with the largest increases in transplants from offspring to their parents and from spouses and other genetically unrelated donors. Despite the rise in more HLA-incompatible living donors, 5-year graft survival rates among recipients transplanted between 1998-2002 were 78.5% and 77.5% for spouse and other unrelated donor grafts, respectively, and were comparable to that for one-haplotype-matched sibling transplants (80.7%). The number of deceased donor kidneys transplanted has remained static at less than 7,000 per year including about 850 (12%) from expanded criteria donors. The 5-year graft survival rate for ECD kidneys was 52.2% compared with 69.9% for standard criteria donor kidneys transplanted between 1998-2002. More than 1,000 patients aged 70-75 were transplanted during this period with 5-year graft survival rates of 50% or less when they received a deceased donor kidney. Nearly 40% of graft losses in this older group were due to death with a functioning graft, however, 25% reportedly died when their graft failed, suggesting a high rate of problems among older recipients. Early acute rejection episodes reduced both short- (10%+ at one year) and long-term (20-30% reduction in graft half-life) survival among first transplant recipients. However, when the serum creatinine level at discharge was <2.5 mg/dl, the early rejection had little if any effect on short- or long-term outcome. Time on dialysis before transplantation was an important determinant of first graft survival, with 5-year graft survival differences of about 10% comparing those transplanted within the first year with those who were on dialysis 4 or more years, regardless of the type of donor kidney. More than 60% of living donor kidney recipients were transplanted within 2 years of starting dialysis, compared with fewer than 20% of those who received a deceased donor kidney. Efforts to reduce cold ischemia times for ECD kidneys have been modestly successful, even before implementation of the new allocation system in November 2002. The percentage of ECD kidneys transplanted within 12 hours increased from 18% in 2001 to 25% in 2003 and the percentage with more than 24 hours of cold ischemia fell from 28% in 2001 to 20% in 2003. Prolonged ischemia of 42 hours was associated with a 5% lower 4-year survival rate of ECD kidneys compared with those transplanted within 12 hours.
A Novel Approach to Life Prediction Analysis of a Turbine Engine Blade to Disk Attachment

Fretting fatigue raises many challenges in modeling and predicting of a turbine engine blade disk attachment response. It occurs when the blade and disk are pressed together in contact and experience a small oscillating relative displacement due to variations in engine speed and vibratory loading. Fretting causes a very high local stress near the edge of contact resulting in wear, nucleation of cracks, and their growth, which can result in significant reduction in the life of the material. Fretting depends on geometry, loading conditions, residual stresses, nonlinear response, and surface roughness, among other factors. These complexities make fretting a significant driver of fatigue damage and failure risk of disks. That is, fretting is often the root cause of the nucleation of cracks at attachments of structural components, and the cyclic plastic cumulative deformation and damage occur within depths of only several grains. Hence, resolving the deformation at the scale of individual grains, in order to understand the crystallographic orientation dependence of plasticity driven fretting fatigue and its relation to surface contact conditions, is important. In this study, a finite strain computational crystal plasticity constitutive law will be implemented to simulate and investigate time dependent response of turbine engine blade to disk attachment. This effort provided a high fidelity approach to capture the life of the material at the blade to disk attachment and to simulate the realistic mechanism associated with fretting.
Twentieth-century developments in American psychiatry.

This article traces the development of psychiatric services from their institutional base at the turn of the century to the enactment of the Community Mental Health Center Act of 1963. Many perceived this legislation, which brought about community based but federally funded psychiatric care, as a radical departure from existing trends; indeed, President John F. Kennedy introduced it as a "bold new approach." In fact, it represented the culmination of a slow, gradual evolutionary development. This article identifies the concepts underlying community psychiatric services and their programmatic elements and specifies their time of origin. The author concludes that while the current federal initiative in community psychiatric care (e.g., CHHCs) may be in jeopardy, its evolutionary nature ensures its continuance in one manner or another.
A novel application of the water exchange method in the treatment of sigmoid volvulus: a report of two cases

Water immersion for colonoscopy was originally developed as an adjunct to air insufflation. It facilitated passage through the sigmoid colon and decreased cecal intubation time. From this technique evolved the water exchange method for screening and diagnostic colonoscopies. Water exchange uses cycles of warm water infusion and suction during insertion in lieu of air insufflation to avoid over-distension of the colon. In this report, we describe a novel application of the water exchange method in the effective and safe treatment of sigmoid volvulus in two patients. In both cases, the patients tolerated the procedure well and did not require sedation. controlled water exchange allowed for mucosal visualization without exacerbating the trapped air proximal to the volvulus, potentially decreasing the risk of perforation. Our findings suggest that the water exchange method is an effective and safe practice for endoscopic detorsion of acute, nonstrangulated sigmoid volvulus.
Theoretical and Empiriical Modeling of the Rheology of Fresh Cement Pastes

The most important property of cements and concretes after strength is the workability, which is controlled by the rheological characteristics of the mix. Theoretical modeling having proved complicated and in some cases mathematically untractable, cement specialists have concentrated on empirical based models for the last two decades. The major theoretical contributions to date on the properties of colloidal and concentrated suspensions are summarized and a general framework for theoretical modeling of cement viscosity is established. The empirical modeling and the experimental investigation of the rheological properties of fresh cements are reviewed and discussed. A semi-empirical model is proposed and its validity tested in the interpretation of some published experimental results.
Gender Relations, Foreign Relations: The United States and South Asia, 1947-1964

Saheb, who is advised by the courageous British officer Mordaunt. During the battle the raja placed his son, Prince Zamine, under the protection of another Englishman, Jack Robinson, a roguish but loyal adventurer who emulates Robinson Crusoe.' The Hindus are successful in battle, and Jam Saheb pursues his retreating foe. While he is away on this campaign, he leaves the affairs of state in the hands of a brahmin - a member of the highest Hindu caste and, in this case, a priest - named Mokarra. This is a bad choice. Seizing the opportunity provided byJam Saheb's absence, Mokarra secretly agrees to hand the province over to Akbar, on two conditions. First, Zamine is to marry Akbar's daughter, thus cementing the alliance between Muslims and Hindus; and, second, Mokarra himself is to be named viceroy of the province. Akbar consents. Fortunately, Jack Robinson finds a way to alertJam Saheb, who returns from the field just in time to prevent the marriage and void the deal. To do so, Jam Saheb must reveal the truth: Zamine is not a prince, but a princess. Jam Saheb, whose wife died giving birth to Zamine, has concealed the truth all these years because under the law all girl babies born in the province were to be killed. The raja could not bear to dispatch his daughter, who, he claims, looks just like his deceased wife.
Magneto-thermal reconnection of significance to space and astrophysics

Magnetic reconnection processes that can be excited in collisionless plasma regimes are of interest to space and astrophysics to the extent that the layers in which reconnection takes place are not rendered unrealistically small by their unfavorable dependence on relevant macroscopic distances. The equations describing new modes producing magnetic reconnection over relatively small but significant distances, unlike tearing types of mode, even when dealing with large macroscopic scale lengths, are given. The considered modes are associated with a finite electron temperature gradient and have a phase velocity in the direction of the electron diamagnetic velocity that can reverse to the opposite direction as relevant parameters are varied over a relatively wide range. The electron temperature perturbation has a primary role in the relevant theory. In particular, when referring to regimes in which the longitudinal (to the magnetic field) electron thermal conductivity is relatively large, the electron temperature perturbation becomes singular if the ratio of the transverse to the longitudinal electron thermal conductivity becomes negligible.
Force distribution in closed kinematic chains

The problem of force distribution in systems involving multiple frictional contacts between actively coordinated mechanisms and passive objects is examined. The special case in which the contact interaction can be modeled by three components of forces (zero moments) is particularly interesting. The Moore-Penrose generalized inverse solution for such a model (point contact) is shown to yield a solution vector such that the difference between the forces at any two contact points projected along the line joining the two points vanishes. Such a system of contact forces is described by a helicoidal vector field which is geometrically similar to the velocity field in a rigid body twisting about an instantaneous screw axis. A method to determine this force system is presented. The possibility of superposing another force field which constitutes the null system is also investigated. >
Mandibular Cartilage Collagen Network Nanostructure: Insights for Regeneration.

BackgroundMandibular condyle cartilage (MCC) has a unique structure among articular cartilages; however, little is known about its nanoscale collagen network architecture, hampering design of regeneration therapies and rigorous evaluation of regeneration experiment outcomes in preclinical research. Helium ion microscopy is a novel technology with a long depth of field that is uniquely suited to imaging open 3D collagen networks at multiple scales without obscuring conductive coatings.ObjectiveThe objective of this research was to image, at the micro- and nanoscales, the depth-dependent MCC collagen network architecture.DesignMCC was collected from New Zealand white rabbits. Images of MCC zones were acquired using helium ion, transmission electron, and light microscopy. Network fibril and canal diameters were measured.ResultsFor the first time, the MCC was visualized as a 3D collagen fibril structure at the nanoscale, the length scale of network assembly. Fibril diameters ranged from 7 to 110 nm and varied...