cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incentive Effects of Community Rating in Insurance Markets: Evidence from Massachusetts Automobile Insurance

Rate regulations in insurance markets often impose cross-subsidies in insurance premiums from low-risk consumers to high-risk consumers. This paper develops the hypothesis that premium cross-subsidies affect risk taking by insurance consumers, and tests this hypothesis by examining the marginal impact of premium subsidies and overcharges on future insurance costs. The empirical analysis uses 1990–2003 rating cell-level data from the Massachusetts automobile insurance market, in which regulation produced large cross-subsidies across cells. Consistent with the hypothesized effects, premium subsidies are found to be significantly related to higher future insurance costs, and the opposite effects are found for premium overcharges.
Elicitation of term relevance feedback: an investigation of term source and context

Term relevance feedback has had a long history in information retrieval. However, research on interactive term relevance feedback has yielded mixed results. In this paper, we investigate several aspects related to the elicitation of term relevance feedback: the display of document surrogates, the technique for identifying or selecting terms, and sources of expansion terms. We conduct a between subjects experiment (n=61) of three term relevance feedback interfaces using the 2005 TREC HARD collection, and evaluate each interface with respect to query length and retrieval performance. Results demonstrate that queries created with each experimental interface significantly outperformed corresponding baseline queries, even though there were no differences in performance between interface conditions. Results also demonstrate that pseudo-relevance feedback runs outperformed both baseline and experimental runs as assessed by recall-oriented measures, but that user-generated terms improved precision.
Estimating Early Exercise Premiums on Gold and Copper Options Using a Multifactor Model and Density Matched Lattices

We use the standard geometric Brownian motion augmented by jumps to describe the spot underlying and mean regressive models of interest rates and convenience yields as state variables for gold and copper prices. Estimates of parameters of the diffusion processes are obtained by the Kalman filter. Using these estimates, jump parameters are estimated in the second stage by least squares. Early exercise premia on puts and calls are computed using a lattice with probabilities assigned by the density matching technique. We find that while deep in the money options have greater absolute early exercise premiums, the early exercise premium is roughly constant as a percent of option price. Our findings also confirm that gold behaves like an investment asset and copper behaves like a commodity.
Collecting and incorporating user requirements into design solutions

Usability and design professionals know that user requirements gathering is critical to the development of quality products. However, development teams often skip formal user requirements gathering, fearing it will take too long. Certain techniques can be employed by design professionals that are easily learned and implemented with little overhead. They can help designers by providing insight into how users work and what they need to succeed at their task. Through lecture, case studies, and an emphasis on hands-on activities, participants will learn how to conduct three user requirements gathering techniques and incorporate the results into design solutions.
Completing the specificity swap: Single-stranded DNA recognition by F and R100 TraI relaxase domains.

During conjugative plasmid transfer, one plasmid strand is cleaved and transported to the recipient bacterium. For F and related plasmids, TraI contains the relaxase or nickase activity that cleaves the plasmid DNA strand. F TraI36, the F TraI relaxase domain, binds a single-stranded origin of transfer (oriT) DNA sequence with high affinity and sequence specificity. The TraI36 domain from plasmid R100 shares 91% amino acid sequence identity with F TraI36, but its oriT DNA binding site differs by two of eleven bases. Both proteins readily distinguish between F and R100 binding sites. In earlier work, two amino acid substitutions in the DNA binding cleft were shown to be sufficient to change the R100 TraI36 DNA-binding specificity to that of F TraI36. In contrast, three substitutions could make F TraI36 more “R100-like”, but failed to completely alter the specificity. Here we identify one additional amino acid substitution that completes the specificity swap from F to R100. To our surprise, adding further substitutions from R100 to the F background were detrimental to binding instead of being neutral, indicating that their effects were influenced by their structural context. These results underscore the complex and subtle nature of DNA recognition by relaxases and have implications for the evolution of relaxase binding sites and oriT sequences.
Common relationships among proximate composition components in fishes

Relationships between the various body proximate components and dry matter content were examined for five species of fishes, representing anadromous, marine and freshwater species: chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta, Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix and striped bass Morone saxatilis. The dry matter content or per cent dry mass of these fishes can be used to reliably predict the per cent composition of the other components. Therefore, with validation it is possible to estimate fat, protein and ash content of fishes from per cent dry mass information, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming laboratory proximate analysis. This approach coupled with new methods of non-lethal estimation of per cent dry mass, such as from bioelectrical impedance analysis, can provide non-destructive measurements of proximate composition of fishes.
A graphical investigation of error bounds for moment-based queueing approximations

Many approximations of queueing performance measures are based on moment matching. Empirical and theoretical results show that although approximations based on two moments are often accurate, two-moment approximations can be arbitrarily bad and sometimes three-moment approximations are far better. In this paper, we investigate graphically error bounds for two- and three-moment approximations of three performance measures forGI/M/ · type models. Our graphical analysis provides insight into the adequacy of two- and three-moment approximations as a function of standardized moments of the interarrival-time distribution. We also discuss how the behavior of these approximations varies with other model parameters and with the performance measure being approximated.
Metabolism of pyridine nucleotides in cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide.

Abstract The alterations in the metabolism of pyridine nucleotides, as well as the role such changes play in the genesis of lethal cell injury, were explored in cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The loss of NADPH, NADH, and NAD equalled the increase in NADP, with little if any change in the total content of pyridine nucleotides. Identical alterations occurred in the presence of N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, an antioxidant that prevented the death of the cells. Inhibition of glutathione reductase by l, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) reduced the extent of the increase in NADP and the decrease in NADPH. At the same time, BCNU increased the cell killing. Depletion of ATP with oligomycin reduced the loss of NAD and the accumulation of NADP. Treatment of the hepatocytes with the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide had no effect on the depletion of NAD. Thus, all of the alterations in pyridine nucleotides that accompany the exposure of cultured hepatocytes to TBHP can be dissociated from the development of lethal cell injury. The changes do suggest, however, a rapid interconversion of the respective species. The initial response reflects activation of glutathione reductase with the consequent oxidation of NADPH to NADP. The conversion of NADH to NAD and then NAD to NADP, the latter by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase, can account for the increase in NADP over that resulting from the oxidation of NADPH by glutathione reductase. Finally, there was no evidence in cultured hepatocytes treated with TBHP for changes in NAD that reflect the activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.
A theory of argumentative understanding: Relationships among position preference, judgments of goodness, memory and reasoning

Data are presented that focus on the nature and development of argumentative reasoning. In particular our study describes how support for or against an issue affects memory for critical parts of an argumentative interaction, judgments of argument goodness, and the content of the reasons given in support of one view versus another. Two other factors were examined: developmental differences in argumentation skill and the conditional nature of supporting one side of an argument across varying contexts. Our results show that even seven year old children can recognize, identify, and use the basic components of an argument to provide evidence for and make judgements about their favored position. Moreover, if position support is held constant across all age groups of students, seven year old children were found to give reasons and explanations that were highly similar in content and principle to college students. The same similarities held across age with respect to biases in memory and judgements of argument goodness. The primary difference between children's and college students' argument behavior lay in the side of an argument the students chose to support. Seven year old children and some eleven yearold children supported positions that impute more value to friendship and social consequences than to the maintenance and advancement of individual rights, as specified in a contract agreement. The similarities and differences across development are discussed with respect to a theory of argumentation that speaks to the importance of understanding the nature of goal conflict and a theory of intentionality in predicting how arguments will be represented and resolved.
Dickinson's Much Madness is Divinest Sense

(1978). Dickinson's Much Madness is Divinest Sense. The Explicator: Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 3-4.
Engineering a “Methionine Clamp” into Src Family Kinases Enhances Specificity toward Unnatural ATP Analogues†

A single alanine or glycine mutation in the ATP binding site of a protein kinase allows unique use of an unnatural analogue of ATP (N6-(benzyl) ATP) as a phosphodonor, which is not accepted by wild-type kinases. Addition of [γ32P] N6-(benzyl) ATP to a cell lysate containing an ATP analog-specific kinase allele (as1 allele) results in the exclusive radiolabeling of bona fide substrates of the mutant kinase. Here we report efforts to engineer kinase alleles that have enhanced selectivity for ATP analogues and decreased catalytic activity with ATP, thus increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of substrate labeling. Two conserved leucine residues that contact each face of the adenine ring of ATP were mutated to methionine. The introduction of this “methionine clamp” resulted in Src and Fyn kinase alleles that have markedly improved specificity for unnatural N6-substituted ATP analogues over the natural substrate, ATP. This preference for unnatural nucleotides is reflected in more efficient labeling of protein su...
Digital Libraries in the New Millennium

The concept of digital library is not a new one, although it is only recently that digital library is gaining prominence all over the world. This article provides a holistic understanding of digital libraries including its present context and future directions. Various technical issues ingrained in the concept of digital library also has been analysed in the article. Issues like interoperability, information retrieval, property and access control and usability also has been discussed in detail. Although digital library is a technical phenomenon, it has wider social and economic implications. The article casts a critical glance at these implications as well. In the end, ongoing international efforts in the arena of digital libraries also has been discussed. Bangladesh Journal of Library and Information Science Vol.2(1) July 2012 pp.92-102 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjlis.v2i1.12926
Protocols for simulating the thermal component of fever: Preclinical and clinical experience

An increase in body temperature in association with inflammation or infection has been evolutionarily conserved in all cold and warm-blooded vertebrates and even in several invertebrates thus far examined. This change in temperature is strongly correlated with survival from infection in many animal models. Although the means by which body temperature is increased and maintained differs between cold- versus warm-blooded species, there are strong similarities in terms of the magnitude of temperature change and its duration. Despite these intriguing observations and significant biological sequelae, temperature manipulation is rarely considered in the context of most experimental immunological investigations. We have hypothesized that the thermal microenvironment plays a critical role in regulating events in the immune response and that an increase in ambient temperature can serve as a natural trigger or "danger signal" to the immune system. To examine the direct effects of fever-like temperatures on immunological parameters, we have designed and characterized protocols for performing whole body heating of mice and humans in vivo, and heating of cultured cells in vitro. Our studies have now progressed to the development of therapeutic uses of fever-range hyperthermia in combination with other therapies. This chapter describes the experimental procedures that have been developed for these studies and summarizes several of the immunologically relevant effects that we have noticed following mild heat treatments in vivo and in vitro.
Thermodynamics of mucopolysaccharide–dye binding. III. Thermodynamic and cooperativity parameters of acridine orange–heparin system

Binding isotherms for acridine orange (AO)–heparin systems can be evaluated solely on the basis of quantitative fluorescence spectroscopic measurements. The evaluation of thermodynamic parameters indicates that the interactions of AO with heparins from several animal sources are similar to each other in magnitude. Binding is highly exothermic (ΔH = −6 kcal mol−1) and is stabilized by dye–polymer and dye–dye (coopertive) interactions, as well as by entropic factors (ΔS = +7 e.u.). The predominant stabilizing factor appears to be the electrostatic attraction between the AO cation and the heparin polyanion, although the other factors are important as well. At 24°C the value of the cooperative binding constants for the various heparins range from 8.8 to 11.3 × 105M−1, corresponding to a free energy of −8 kcal mol−1. The degree of cooperativity, which is a direct measure of dye–dye interaction, varies with polymer:dye ratio; the theoretical basis for this variation remains to be elucidated. Electrophoretic data indicate that each heparin sample consists of a mixture of species, each with its own charge density. This precludes definitive interpretation of observed small differences in the values of the thermodynamic parameters among the various samples until each sample can be resolved into its components.
Hysteroscopic Sterilization in the Office Setting

Hysteroscopic sterilization is growing in popularity. Nearly 500,000 women have been sterilized using this method, and an increasing number of physicians are now performing this procedure in the office setting. The office setting can provide a cost-effective, convenient, and safe environment for hysteroscopic sterilization. Patients may benefit from avoiding hospital preoperative visits, excessive laboratory evaluation, operating room wait times, and expense associated with hospital care. Physicians may improve productivity through remaining in their office or avoiding operating room delays. This article reviews office-hysteroscopic sterilization with the Essure microinsert system.
Biomechanical effects of trees on soil and regolith: beyond treethrow

Forest soils are profoundly influenced by the biomechanical as well as the chemical and biological effects of trees. Studies of biomechanical impacts have focused mainly on uprooting (treethrow), but this study shows that at least two other effects are significant: physical displacement of soil by root growth, and infilling of stump rot pits. Rocky soils in the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas were studied because they allow for the use of rock fragments as a tracer of displacement. Rock fragments displaced by tree growth (baumsteins) are ubiquitous here, and displacement shows characteristic differences between pines and hardwoods. Hardwoods promote primarily lateral displacement, with a higher probability of displaced rock fragments eventually falling into stump holes. Pine displacement has a significant vertical component associated with basal mounding, and a lower probability of baumstein deposition in stump holes. Obvious stump holes are relatively rare, but the high ratio of stumps and snags to uproot...
Dry-Milling and Fractionation of Transgenic Maize Seed Tissues with Green Fluorescent Protein as a Tissue Marker

ABSTRACT The efficiency of fractionating cereal grains (e.g., dry corn milling) can be evaluated and monitored by quantifying the proportions of seed tissues in each of the recovered fractions. The quantities of individual tissues are typically estimated using indirect methods such as quantifying fiber or ash to indicate pericarp and tip cap contents, and oil to indicate germ content. More direct and reliable methods are possible with tissue-specific markers. We used two transgenic maize lines, one containing the fluorescent protein green fluorescent protein (GFP) variant S65T expressed in endosperm, and the other containing GFP expressed in germ to determine the fate of each tissue in the dry-milling fractionation process. The two lines were dry-milled to produce three fractions (bran-, endosperm-, and germ-rich fractions) and GFP fluorescence was quantified in each fraction to estimate the tissue composition. Using a simplified laboratory dry-milling procedure and our GFP-containing grain, we determined...
Noninvasive Measurements of [1‐13C] Glycogen Concentrations and Metabolism in Rat Brain In Vivo

Using a specific 13C NMR localization method, 13C label incorporation into the glycogen C1 resonance was measured while infusing [1- 13C]glucose in intact rats. The maximal concentration of [1-13C]glycogen was 5.1 ± 0.6 μmol g-1 (mean ± SE, n = 8). During the first 60 rain of acute hyperglycemia, the rate of 13C label incorporation (synthase flux) was 2.3 ± 0.7 μmol g-1 h-1 (mean ± SE, n = 9 rats), which was higher (p 0.05 for correlation). The results implied that net glycogen synthesis of 3 μmol g-1 had occurred, similar to previous reports. When infusing unlabeled glucose before [1-13C]glucose in three studies, the rate of glycogen C1 accumulation was 0.46 ± 0.08 μmol g-1 h-1. The results suggest that steady-state glycogen turnover rates during hyperglycemia are 1% of glucose consumption.
WE‐E‐M100J‐02: Functional Imaging of the Lungs for Treatment Planning

Delivery of radiotherapy through hypoperfused pulmonary regions for lungcancer treatment has been shown to result in less pulmonary injury in a single prospective trial. This finding suggests a strategy for image‐guidedradiotherapy utilizing physiological images in radiotherapytreatment planning for image guidance to avoid the irradiation of highly functional regions and minimize the injury and/or function loss following thoracic radiotherapy. Patients may have inhomogeneous lung function distribution due to tumor invasion of the airway and vascular structures and/or preexisting pulmonary diseases. Imaging studies have found the prevalence of these hypoperfused regions adjacent to the primary tumor from 43 to 74% in non‐small cell lungcancer cases. However, the current thoracic treatment planning practice has been primarily based on using anatomical information from the treatment planningcomputed tomography(CT). Therefore, the non‐uniform distribution of regional function of normal lungtissue has not been considered in the process of treatment planning.Imaging modalities that have been reported in treatment planning studies to provide image guidance to identify the highly functional regions include single photon emission computed tomography perfusion, 3 He hyperpolarized gas magnetic resonance ventilation, and 4D CT derived ventilation imaging. No prospective studies demonstrating improvement in outcome using these modalities for functional image‐guidedradiotherapy have yet been reported. Strategies to incorporate functional image guidance include identification of highly functional regions by an expert for avoidance, automated segmentation of pulmonary regions with the highest function for avoidance, and optimization of functional metrics including the dose function histogram. This lecture will provide an overview of the physiologic origins of the functional imaging methods, post‐acquisition processing, and strategies to integrated functional imaging into thoracic treatment planning. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand clinical basis for the use of functional imaging for treatment planning. 2. Survey the functional imaging modalities which may be utilized for image‐guidance. 3. Review strategies to integrated functional imaging into thoracic treatment planning.
The Second Hydrophobic Domain Contributes to the Kinetic Properties of Epithelial Sodium Channels

Abstract The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is the prototype of a new class of ion channels known as the ENaC/Deg family. The hallmarks of ENaC are a high selectivity for Na+, block by amiloride, small conductance, and slow kinetics that are voltage-independent. We have investigated the contribution of the second hydrophobic domain of each of the homologous subunits α, β, and γ to the kinetic properties of ENaC. Chimeric subunits were constructed between α and β subunits (α-β) and between γ and β subunits (γ-β). Chimeric and wild-type subunits were expressed in various combinations in Xenopus oocytes. Analysis of whole-cell and unitary currents made it possible to correlate functional properties with specific sequences in the subunits. Functional channels were generated without the second transmembrane domain from α subunits, indicating that it is not essential to form functional pores. The open probability and kinetics varied with the different channels and were influenced by the second hydrophobic domains. Amiloride affinity, Li+/Na+selectivity, and single channel conductance were also affected by this segment.
020 Venous Leg Wounds Managed with Complex Extracellular Matrix

Although collagen wound dressings have been used clinically for many years, wound matrix materials comprising the full complement of extracellular matrix molecules have not. Oasis® Wound Matrix (Oasis), a complex, growth factor-containing matrix derived from the intestinal submucosa of pigs, has shown promise as a treatment to manage full-thickness, hard to heal wounds. A multi-center, prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of Oasis to a standard of care (SOC) regimen consisting of compression therapy, weekly dressing changes and debridement (as needed) for the treatment of venous leg ulcers. Incidence of healing within 12 weeks, as defined by full epithelialization without drainage, was the primary outcome measure. Significance was determined by the proportion of ulcers healed using Fisher’s Exact Test. This interim data included 84 evaluable patients (45 Oasis, 39 SOC). Incidence of healing at 12 weeks was 71% in the Oasis group versus 46% in the SOC group. Fisher’s Exact Test yields a significant p-value of 0.018. These results clearly demonstrate that the healing of these hard-to-heal wounds is markedly improved when Oasis wound matrix is used as part of the wound treatment program as compared to standard of care alone.
b-HiVE: a bit-level history-based error model with value correlation for voltage-scaled integer and floating point units

Existing timing error models for voltage-scaled functional units ignore the effect of history and correlation among outputs, and the variation in the error behavior at different bit locations. We propose b-HiVE, a model for voltage-scaling-induced timing errors that incorporates these attributes and demonstrates their impact on the overall model accuracy. On average across several operations, b-HiVE's estimation is within 1--3% of comprehensive analog simulations, which corresponds to 5--17x higher accuracy (6--10x on average) than error models currently used in approximate computing research. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first bit-level error models of arithmetic units, and the first error models for voltage scaling of bitwise logic operations and floating-point units.
PEIRCE'S “ARCHITECTURE OF THEORIES” AND THE PROBLEM OF PRAGMATISM

The paper begins as a response to Tom Rockmore's thesis that contemporary pragmatism is a healthy “confusion” of disparate views. While Rockmore sees the need of some of today's pragmatists to provide a motivation for what he calls “epistemic optimism,” I contend that the crucial question of pragmatism, the problem of pragmatism, is the ontological status of pragmatic meaning. Thus rather than a mere “epistemic optimism,” I call upon pragmatists to assert a fallible yet unabashedly metaphysical optimism. The argument supporting this claim is made in the context of Peirce's “The Architecture of Theories.” In “The Architecture of Theories” Peirce opens the door to a pragmatic metaphysics while at the same time committing the error of subordinating truths and reality to “the long run of inquiry.” Rockmore suggest that the solution may lie in a return to Kant's notion of the “powers of the mind.” However, it is my contention that a solution to this problem cannot be found within Kant at all. I shall argue here that until contemporary pragmatism decisively extracts itself from the Kantian paradigm, the pragmatic philosophic value of pragmatic meaning will always be qualified, conditional and ontologically subordinated, having the same effect upon the standing of pragmatism as a philosophy as well. Moreover, I shall endeavor to show that when the Kantian paradigm is finally abandoned, pragmatism's classic difficulties with realism and what Peircc called “the long run” of scientific inquiry can also be resolved. Kantian “powers of the mind” and constructivist “epistemological optimism” would then be transformed into what I shall call unrestricted pragmatism. On the other hand if the Kantian impediment is not overcome, these difficulties will continue to form the basis of a more sceptical and traditionally restricted pragmatism, one which lacks the confidence desired by both Rockmore and myself.
Meta-analyses using information reweighting: An application to online advertising

Because technology-enabled marketing research has led to information arriving at a rapid pace, methods in marketing that allow for coherent, sequential and fast information integration are needed. We propose in this research a new approach to information integration: Information Reweighted Priors (IRPs). It is a sample reweighting approach which utilizes the output from a Bayesian model fit using Markov Chain Monte Carlo, with no restrictions on the likelihood, prior distributions, or data structure; hence a general purpose tool. We demonstrate the approach with simulated datasets and an online advertising dataset with external information obtained from i) previous advertising studies in the industry from a major online advertising portal, ii) past academic studies of online adverting and iii) out-of-sample summaries of the dataset.
The Benedictine Ethic and the Modern Spirit of Scheduling: on Schedules and Social Organization*

This paper examines the role of schedules in social life. It first explains why both the schedule and the clock were introduced to the West through the Benedictine monasteries. Then it brings into focus the main principle underlying the schedule, namely temporal regularity, which involves the standardization of the temporal locations of events and activities and of their rates of recurrence, as well as the rigidification of their durations and sequential structures. Following a discussion of the constraints as well as the conveniences involved in using the schedule, it also examines two other implications of its introduction to the West–an abstract conception and a utilitarian philosophy of time. It ends with a discussion of the role of the schedule in enhancing both mechanical and organic solidarity.
Vacuum Induced Photoresist Outgassing

In order to continue the trend toward smaller feature sizes in lithography, new methods of lithography will be needed. A likely method for printing features 32 nm and smaller is extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. EUV allows for features to be printed that are smaller than the current methods can achieve. However, outgassing of the photoresist is a concern for EUV lithography. The outgassed components can lead to contamination of the optics, degrading the reflectivity and hence lowering throughput of the exposure tools. Outgassing due to EUV exposure has been investigated by many groups. However, there were no complete investigations available of vacuum induced outgassing. In this paper, several methods were employed to investigate the outgassing due to vacuum. It was found that the vacuum induced outgassing outgassed a similar number of molecules as the outgassing due to EUV exposure. Furthermore, almost all of the outgassing was completed after about two minutes in vacuum. To mitigate the potential concern of outgassing due to vacuum causing contamination of optics, this work shows that photoresist coated silicon wafers only require about two minutes of pumping prior to insertion near the optics within EUV lithography tools.
Non-derivatization approach to high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection for aminoglycoside antibiotics based on a ligand displacement reaction.

Abstract An indirect fluorescence detection method has been developed for detecting the aminoglycoside antibiotics following chromatographic separation. This approach to detection is based on a displacement reaction between the aminoglycosides and a copper(II)- l -tryptophan ( l -Trp) complex, Cu( l -Trp) 2 . The aminoglycosides, which contain multiple amino groups, have strong affinities for the Cu(II) ion and displace l -Trp from the Cu( l -Trp) 2 complex. The resulting increase in l -Trp fluorescence, which is quenched when coordinated to Cu(II), is indicative of the presence of the aminoglycoside. Fluorescence titration data indicate that there is a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 between the reaction of the aminoglycosides with Cu( l -Trp) 2 . This HPLC detection scheme is implemented postcolumn by mixing a buffered Cu( l -Trp) 2 solution with the column eluent prior to detection. The aminoglycosides were separated with the use of a column packed with a polymeric strong cation-exchanger. Separation and detection variables were optimized and are discussed. The detection limits for the aminoglycosides tested ranged from 4.2 to 14.5 ng injected ( S/N =3). A linear working curve was achieved for amikacin in the range of 29–586 ng for a six point linearity test. The developed separation and detection scheme was further tested by analyzing commercial pharmaceutical formulations of these antibiotics.
Guest-controlled self-sorting in assemblies driven by the hydrophobic effect

The extent of self-sorting in systems comprised of two different deep-cavity cavitands is investigated. The nature of the guest(s) encapsulated in the resulting assemblies is shown to profoundly influence the extent of self-sorting.
Chromosome polyploidization in human leukocyte cultures treated with streptonigrin and cyclophosphamide.

Treatment of cultured human peripheral blood leukocytes with streptonigrin or cyclophosphamide resulted in morphologic chromosomal changes, as well as polyploid and endoreduplicated mitoses. Polyploidy was present in 11% of cells treated with streptonigrin and in 15% of cells treated with cyclophosphamide. These findings, together with recent data showing polyploidization in normal human leukocytes induced in vivo and in vitro with chemotherapeutic agents and ionizing radiations, suggest that polyploidy and endoreduplication of chromosomes as reported in acute leukemia, might to a large extent be the result of concomitantly administered therapy.
Determination of optimal process for microwave curing of concrete

Operations such as precasting and repair of concrete can benefit significantly from rapid strength development. Previous investigations have shown that microwave curing is an effective means to develop high early strength in concrete. Moreover, with certain combinations of processing parameters (including microwave power, application time and duration of microwave), the later age strength (at 7 days) can be comparable to that of specimens cured at room temperature. The present investigation illustrates how optimal processes, which provide high strength at both the early and later stage, can be obtained with the help of feedback temperature control. Using 0.4 w/c ratio concrete as an example, the optimal power history (in terms of a continuously varying curve) is identified. To enable processing with low cost microwave generators (such as the ones in the domestic oven), the optimal power curve is approximated with discrete power levels. The discretized optimal power is found to give very good results for concrete with 0.4 w/c and below. Compared with the use of fixed power, the use of variable discrete power can provide better combinations of early age and long term strength with less energy consumption. As examples, at the early age of 4.5 hrs, compressive strength of 29.5 MPa and 35.4 MPa are achievable with w/c equal to 0.40 and 0.325 respectively. In both cases, the strength at 7 day shows no deterioration compared with specimens cured at room temperature.
Quest for optimum human population per nation

The world is being saturated with population to a point where its life‐support systems may be in danger of losing their ability to maintain environmental stability. Thus, there is an urgent need fo...
Atomistic calculation of internal stress in nanoscale polycrystalline materials

Internal stress in polycrystalline materials is an intrinsic attribute of the microstructure that affects a broad range of material properties. It is usually acquired through experiment in conjunction with continuum mechanics modelling, but its determination at nanometre and submicron scales is extremely difficult. Here, we report a bottom-up approach using atomistic calculation. We obtain the internal stress in polycrystalline copper with nanosized grains by first computing the stress associated with each atom and then sorting the stress into those associated with different self-equilibrating length scales, i.e. sample scale and grain cell, which gives type I, II and III residual stresses, respectively. The result shows highly non-uniform internal stress distribution; the internal stress depends sensitively on grain size and the grain shape anisotropy. Statistical distributions of the internal stresses, along with the means and variance, are calculated as a function of the mean grain size and temperature...
Critical behavior of impure superconductors in 4-epsilon dimensions

We show that, within the $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ expansion, the impure superconductor coupled to a gauge field exhibits a new stable fixed point, indicating that the system has a second-order transition for sufficiently large impurity concentration. The critical exponents at this transition are computed to $O(\ensuremath{\epsilon})$.
Ambient mass spectrometry with a handheld mass spectrometer at high pressure.

The first coupling of atmospheric pressure ionization methods, electrospray ionization (ESI) and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), to a miniature hand-held mass spectrometer is reported. The instrument employs a rectilinear ion trap (RIT) mass analyzer and is battery-operated, hand-portable, and rugged (total system: 10 kg, 0.014 m3, 75 W power consumption). The mass spectrometer was fitted with an atmospheric inlet, consisting of a 10 cm × 127 μm inner diameter stainless steel capillary tube which was used to introduce gas into the vacuum chamber at 13 mL/min. The operating pressure was 15 mTorr. Ions, generated by the atmospheric pressure ion source, were directed by the inlet along the axis of the ion trap, entering through an aperture in the dc-biased end plate, which was also operated as an ion gate. ESI and DESI sources were used to generate ions; ESI-MS analysis of an aqueous mixture of drugs yielded detection limits in the low parts-per-billion range. Signal response was linear over more...
Efficacy of ultrasound elastography in detecting active myositis in children: can it replace MRI?

Juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy is a rare yet potentially debilitating condition. MRI is used both for diagnosis and to assess response to treatment. No study has evaluated the performance of US elastography in the diagnosis of this condition in children. To assess the performance of compression–strain US elastography in detecting active myositis in children with clinically confirmed juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and to compare its efficacy to MRI. Children with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy underwent non-contrast MR imaging as well as compression–strain US elastography of the quadriceps muscles. Imaging findings from both modalities were compared to each other as well as to the clinical determination of active disease based on physical examination and laboratory data. Active myositis on MR was defined as increased muscle signal on T2-weighted images. Elastography images were defined as normal or abnormal based on a previously published numerical scale of muscle elastography in normal children. Muscle echogenicity was graded as normal or abnormal based on gray-scale sonographic images. Twenty-one studies were conducted in 18 pediatric patients (15 female, 3 male; age range 3–19 years). Active myositis was present on MRI in ten cases. There was a significant association between abnormal MRI and clinically active disease (P = 0.012). US elastography was abnormal in 4 of 10 cases with abnormal MRI and in 4 of 11 cases with normal MRI. There was no association between abnormal elastography and either MRI (P > 0.999) or clinically active disease (P > 0.999). Muscle echogenicity was normal in 11 patients; all 11 had normal elastography. Of the ten patients with increased muscle echogenicity, eight had abnormal elastography. There was a significant association between muscle echogenicity and US elastography (P < 0.001). The positive and negative predictive values for elastography in the determination of active myositis were 75% and 31%, respectively, with a sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 67%. Compression–strain US elastography does not accurately detect active myositis in children with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and cannot replace MRI as the imaging standard for detecting myositis in these children. The association between abnormal US elastography and increased muscle echogenicity suggests that elastography is capable of detecting muscle derangement in patients with myositis; however further studies are required to determine the clinical significance of these findings.
ZEPHYRANTHES GRACILIS HERB. AND ZEPHYRANTHES MINIMA HERB.

PROBABLY NOT in the entire field of botanical taxonomy and plant nomenclature is greater confusion to be found than now exists around the plants represented by the names Zephyranthes gracilis Herb., Z. minima Herb., Z. Hieronymi Pax and Amaryllis parvula Seub. Several attempts have been made to straighten out the identity of these plants but so far the problem has not been elucidated. This may be because no one has gone back to original type material and compared the different forms. Errors have crept in and these have been repeated by subsequentwriters. Moreover, the study of this genus is difficult because much of the herbarium material is of extremely poor quality. Often it is prepared under difficult conditions, and unless there is a combination of knowledge and care in drying and pressing specimens of Zephyranthes, the results are not likely to be satisfactory. Much of the material in different herbaria today is worthless. In no group of plants is the study of freshly opened flowers more important or more necessary. Characters can be made out in fresh flowers that are difficult to find in dried ones, but when once seen in the fresh state they can be found in the herbarium specimens. Holmberg (1905), the most recent writer to publiA on certain of the species of Zephyranthes involved in the mix-up, pointed out the absurd confusion, although he made no attempt to elucidate the problem. He was writing on the Zephyranthes native to, or introduced into, Argentina and was not concerned with those growing elsewhere. He said,2 "Con las especies Z. gracilis y Z. minima se ha hecho un enredo. Walpers sefiala, como sinonimo probable de Z. gracilis, Z. parvula. Kunth presenta Z. parvula como sinonimo probable de Z. gracilis. Grisebach acepta esto como un hecho, y sefiala Z. parvula en vez de Z. gracilis, pasando este nombre previo a' ser sinonimo. Baker nos da Z. parvula, Seub., como sinonimo de Z. minima, n. 14, y, al tratar de Z. gracilis, n. 13, se lava las manos y no dice una palabra; indica como patria <<Peru? v deja Z. gracilis sin mas bibliografia que la cita de Herbert.
Cataract- and Dermatitis-Producing Nutritional Factors

Cataract has been produced experimentally by parathyroidectomy, pancreatectomy, vitamin G-low diets,1 lactose-rich2 and galactose-containing3 diets. In human subjects dinitrophenol has been reported as likewise cataract-producing. The difficulty of reconciling these diverse precipitating conditions is great, and in fact may not be possible. However, it is interesting to speculate upon the possible interrelation of the 2 obviously nutritional factors, vitamin G (B2) and lactose.The delay in, or interference with, complete absorption accompanying the presence of large amounts of lactose or galactose in the intestine and the frequent gastro-intestinal absorption difficulties in clinical conditions associated with vitamin G deficiency, for example pellagra, pernicious anemia and sprue, offer a possible common avenue of attack upon the problem. The present study was planned to test the bearing of such absorption-disturbances upon the production of cataract, of dermatitis and of growth-abnormality.The diets use...
Factors affecting the viability of lyophilized algae.

Summary Three species of blue-green algae ( Nostoc muscorum, Gloeocapsa alpicola , and G. membranina ) and four cultures of green algae (two cultures of Chlorella sp. from the Antarctic, and Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Stichococcos bacillaris ) have been successfully lyophilized and the viability studied as a function of temperature during the drying period, length of the drying period, and length of the storage period. N. muscorum was equally viable in all experiments and showed no decline in viability during 5 years of storage at +25°C. All the green algae showed a significant decline in viability during the same period of storage. This decline in viability could not be correlated with the conditions existing during the drying period. C. pyrenoidosa did not survive freeze-drying when the cells were maintained below −25°C throughout the drying period, whereas, it showed good survival in samples dried in a desiceator at room temperature with suspensions remaining in the frozen state only through removal of heat by sublimation of ice. Lyophilized samples of algae can survive elevated temperatures which are lethal to the hydrated cells. The viability of lyophilized samples of N. muscorum was unaffected by heating at 100°C for 10 min. The ability of Chlorella sp. to survive heating at 100°C was correlated with the length of the drying period. Samples dried for 12 to 46 hrs did not survive after heating, whereas those dried from 59 to 101 hrs did survive, with the greatest viability being recorded in those dried for 101 hrs. Evidence is presented to show that the decline of viability in freeze-dried algae is temperature-dependent and that storage in unsealed tubes exposed to dry air results in a rapid decline in viability.
Mechanism of altered patterns of left ventricular filling during the development of congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUNDThe mechanism of the alterations in the pattern of left ventricular (LV) filling during the development of congestive heart failure (CHF) is not fully understood.METHODS AND RESULTSWe studied six conscious dogs instrumented to measure LV and left atrial (LA) pressures and LV volume as CHF was induced by rapid pacing. Diastolic filling dynamics were serially measured over 4 weeks during normal sinus rhythm. Four days after we initiated pacing, the peak early diastolic filing rate decreased from 108 +/- 24 to 88 +/- 27 mL/s (P < .05) as the maximal early diastolic LA-LV pressure gradient decreased associated with a slowing of the rate of LV relaxation. Subsequently, the peak early filling rate progressively increased, returning to control at 1 week, and by the fourth week, it had increased to 168 +/- 39 mL/s (P < .05). These changes in early filling rates occurred as the maximal early diastolic LA-LV pressure gradient increased in association with a progressive increase in LV pressure despite furt...
Photon Energy and Photon Intermittence Effects on the Quantum Efficiency of Photoinduced Oxidations in Crystalline and Metastable TiO2 Colloidal Nanoparticles

We report quantum yields φ-NP for the photocatalytic oxidation of 3-nitrophenol (NP) in clear, aerated, aqueous colloids of crystalline or metastable TiO2 nanoparticles as a function of photon wavelength (254 ≤ λ/nm ≤ 366) and photon absorption intermittence Iap (0.002 ≤ Iap/photons particle-1 s-1 ≤ 2). φ-NP's vary as φ-NP ∝ Iap-0.21±0.05 at all λ's in metastable TiO2 sols and are ∼20 times smaller than the Iap-independent φ-NP's determined in crystalline suspensions. Higher energy photons are always more efficient. We infer that (1) hyperthermal holes are able to capture electrons from NP while being deactivated in both types of particles, (2) thermalized electrons and holes are trapped in metastable particles within nanoseconds and persist as such for minutes, and (3) shallower traps become populated at larger Iap's. The similar action spectra of φ-NP and φ-S for nonchelating NP and bidentate salicylate (S) [E0(NP/NP+•) ≈ E0(S-/S•) ≈ 2.8 V vs NHE], in the presence or absence of phosphate as a competing ...
Facilitating participatory decision-making: what happens in real-world community practice?

Background.Participatory decision-making (PDM), a widely held ideal, depends on physician facilitation of patient participation. However, little is known about how PDM facilitation is actualized in outpatient primary care.Objectives.The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of physi