cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catalytic and Immunochemical Properties of Homomeric and Heteromeric Combinations of Aldolase Subunits

Abstract The catalytic and immunochemical properties of homomeric and heteromeric rabbit fructose diphosphate aldolase tetramers are described. Heteromers composed of either A and C (A3C, A2C2, AC3) or B and C (B3C, B2C2, BC3) subunits have maximal velocities and Michaelis constants indistinguishable from those of an equivalent mixture of homomers. These results indicate the subunits act independently and also imply the existence of four catalytically active sites in the aldolase molecule (one active site per subunit). Specific noncross-reaction antibodies prepared against the homomeric aldolases A4, B4, and C4 react with heteromers containing one or more subunits to which the antibodies had been directed. This interaction results in essentially complete inhibition of the catalytic activity of the heteromer. The amount of antibody required is inversely proportional to the number of antigenic subunits in the heteromer. These results suggest that (a) interaction with antibody may alter subunit interactions that are required for catalytic activity, and (b) antigenic sites may be modified in homomeric and heteromeric combination.
A 1.2GS/s 15b DAC for precision signal generation

A 1.2GS/s 15b DAC achieves untrimmed SFDR of -70dBc to f/sub s//4 and -63dBc to Nyquist (with 10dB better results at 500MS/s). A per-element resampling scheme and dynamic element matching achieve DNL of 2LSB. In RZ output mode, ACPR for a 20MHz band at 900MHz is 69dB. The chip uses 40GHz-f/sub T/ NPN and is implemented in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS.
Mannitol Protects against Oxidation by Hydroxyl Radicals.

Hydroxyl radicals may be responsible for oxidative damage during drought or chilling stress. We have shown that the presence of mannitol in chloroplasts can protect plants against oxidative damage by hydroxyl radicals (B. Shen, R.G. Jensen, H.J. Bohnert [1997] Plant Physiol 113: 1177-1183). Here we identify one of the target enzymes that may be protected by mannitol. Isolated thylakoids in the presence of physiological concentrations of Fe2+ generated hydroxyl radicals that were detected by the conversion of phenylalanine into tyrosine. The activity of phosphoribulokinase (PRK), a thiol-regulated enzyme of the Calvin cycle, was reduced by 65% in illuminated thylakoids producing hydroxyl radicals. Mannitol (125 mM) and sodium formate (15 mM), both hydroxyl radical scavengers, and catalase (3000 units mL-1) prevented loss of PRK activity. In contrast, superoxide dismutase (300 units mL-1) and glycine betaine (125 mM) were not effective in protecting PRK against oxidative inactivation. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity was not affected by hydroxyl radicals. We suggest that the stress-protective role of mannitol may be to shield susceptible thiol-regulated enzymes like PRK plus thioredoxin, ferredoxin, and glutathione from inactivation by hydroxyl radicals in plants.
Lipid content of Chlorella “aerated” with a CO2—nitrogen versus a CO2—air mixture

Contrary to some earlier reports, substitution of nitrogen for air in the CO 2 -air mixture conventionally used to “aerate” cultures of Chlorella had little effect on dry weight or on protein and lipid content of C. pyrenoidosa harvested after 8 weeks, whether the cells were provided with a good nutrient solution or with one deficient in nitrogen. In a manganese-deficient medium, the yield of dry weight and the protein and lipid content of the cells produced was approximately the same whether a CO 2 -air or a CO 2 -nitrogen gas stream was used, but the dry weight and lipid content were markedly lower and the protein content was higher than in cultures developed in the standard complete medium.
Facial emotion recognition in childhood‐onset bipolar I disorder: an evaluation of developmental differences between youths and adults

Objectives Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness with high healthcare costs and poor outcomes. Increasing numbers of youths are diagnosed with BD, and many adults with BD report that their symptoms started in childhood, suggesting that BD can be a developmental disorder. Studies advancing our understanding of BD have shown alterations in facial emotion recognition both in children and adults with BD compared to healthy comparison (HC) participants, but none have evaluated the development of these deficits. To address this, we examined the effect of age on facial emotion recognition in a sample that included children and adults with confirmed childhood-onset type-I BD, with the adults having been diagnosed and followed since childhood by the Course and Outcome in Bipolar Youth study. Methods Using the Diagnostic Analysis of Non-Verbal Accuracy, we compared facial emotion recognition errors among participants with BD (n = 66; ages 7–26 years) and HC participants (n = 87; ages 7–25 years). Complementary analyses investigated errors for child and adult faces. Results A significant diagnosis-by-age interaction indicated that younger BD participants performed worse than expected relative to HC participants their own age. The deficits occurred both for child and adult faces and were particularly strong for angry child faces, which were most often mistaken as sad. Our results were not influenced by medications, comorbidities/substance use, or mood state/global functioning. Conclusions Younger individuals with BD are worse than their peers at this important social skill. This deficit may be an important developmentally salient treatment target – that is, for cognitive remediation to improve BD youths’ emotion recognition abilities.
Microbial degradation of high-molecular-weight alkanes.

Measurements of biological O2 demand showed that normal alkanes containing up to 44 carbon atoms were metabolized by microorganisms.
Collider Limits on Dark Matter

Dark matter pair production at high energy colliders may leave observable signatures in the energy and momentum spectra of the objects recoiling against the dark matter. We discuss signatures of Dark Matter in the jets + missing energy and photon + missing energy channels at the Tevatron and at LEP. Working in a largely model-independent effective theory framework, we can convert the collider bounds into constraints on the dark matter-nucleon scattering cross section and on the dark matter annihilation cross section. Our bounds are highly competitive with those from direct and indirect dark matter searches, especially for light WIMPs and for WIMPs with spin-dependent or leptophilic interactions. For example, we show that LEP rules out light (<~ 10 GeV) thermal relic dark matter if annihilation into electrons is among the dominant annihilation channels.
Fracture behavior of styrene-ethylene-propylene rubber-toughened polypropylene

The morphology and fracture behavior of isotactic polypropylene toughened by styrene-ethylene-propylene (PP/SEP) were investigated. The SEP rubber, having an average particle size of 0.2 µm, is found to be well dispersed in the PP matrix. The fracture toughness of SEP-modified PP is greatly improved. The toughening mechanism investigation shows that a widespread crazing zone is generated in the crack tip damage zone. An intense narrow damage band in the center of crazed zone is formed. Crazing and shear yielding are found to be the dominant toughening mechanisms in PP/SEP. The crazes are initiated only by large SEP particles in the blend. The small SEP particles (< 0.3 µm) can neither cavitate nor trigger crazing. As a result, large scale shear deformation is suppressed in this blend. These findings are consistent with the notion that the crack tip plane strain constraint has to be relieved in magnitude in order for the deviatoric stress to reach a critical value for widespread shear banding.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: A review

Compression of the median nerve in the crowded carpal tunnel is common and frequently incapacitating. Its causes and associated clinical conditions are multiple. Diagnosis is made by the typical history, three frequently positive physical signs at the wrist, and, if necessary by median nerve conduction velocity impairment. Most patients can be managed medically; when surgery is required it can be done usually without general anesthesia on an outpatient basis with gratifying results.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Physical Activity and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study”

Dr Mont and colleagues highlight prior papers suggesting that, in young and middle-aged adults, high-intensity endurance training is associated with higher risk of lone atrial fibrillation (AF). At first glance, such observations might appear inconsistent with our recent findings that greater habitual light-to-moderate physical activities are associated with significantly lower risk of new-onset AF in older adults.1 Several factors may explain these ostensibly divergent findings. First, AF is a common clinical manifestation of remarkably heterogeneous cardiac and noncardiac conditions, …
Progress towards tomographic wavefront reconstruction using dynamically refocused Rayleigh laser beacons

Simultaneous wavefront measurements are planned at the 6.5 m MMT telescope of five dynamically refocused Rayleigh laser beacons (RLGS) and a bright natural star to demonstrate tomographic wavefront reconstruction. In this paper, we summarize preliminary data recorded from the five laser beacons during the first telescope run at the MMT in June 2004. Beam projection is from behind the secondary of the MMT to form a regular pentagon of beacons on the sky with a radius of 60 arcseconds around the natural star. Beacon images are recorded over a range gate from 20 to 30 km, with dynamic refocus optics in the focal plane to remove perspective elongation (Stalcup, et. al., these proceedings). Separate externally synchronized Shack-Hartmann sensors record wavefront measurements of the beacons and the star, which will yield the first 33 Zernike modes from each wavefront measurement. A linear tomographic reconstructor, implemented as a matrix multiplication of the combined Zernike modal amplitudes from all five RLGS, has been computed to estimate contributions to the atmospheric aberration in two layers at 0 and 6 km. To validate the tomographic approach, the wavefront of the natural star will be predicted by computing the sum of the aberration in the direction of the star, and the prediction compared to simultaneous measurements recorded from the star directly.
Chopart's amputation for resection of clear cell sarcoma of the foot: a case report and review of the literature

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) is a subset of soft tissue sarcoma that occurs mainly in young Caucasians. Although on initial presentation these growths might not appear to be malignant, CCS has a tendency to disseminate to regional lymph nodes and ultimately develop distant metastasis. We report a case of CCS from our institution, discussing the radiological and pathological findings, surgical treatments, and survival prognoses. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of using a Chopart's amputation technique in the resection of CCS of the foot. Level of Clinical Evidence: 4
Polarization-dependent interference effects in grazing-angle Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy to determine the thickness of water-ice films.

Interference fringes appeared between 6000 and 4095 cm-1 in the infrared spectra of thin water-ice films vapor deposited on an aluminum substrate and probed with grazing-angle Fourier transform infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy. At grazing incidence the position of the fringe under perpendicularly polarized light (Eσ) is 180° out of phase with the position of the fringe under parallel polarized light (Eπ). This shift in fringe position with polarization offers a convenient way to estimate the thickness (±5%) of water-ice films between 0.5 and 1.4 µm.
Treatment of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Swine Wastewater with Free Chlorine

Recent recognition of the occurrence of antibiotics in the environment has highlighted concerns regarding potential threats of antibiotics to humans and wildlife. Antibiotics are commonly applied to animals to prevent diseases and promote growth, making livestock agriculture a major source of antibiotic pollution. The purpose of our study was to examine chlorination technology as a method for preventing the release of antibiotics as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the environment from concentrated animal feeding operations. Wastewaters from various sites of two anaerobic lagoon systems, one aerated and the other not, on a swine facility were investigated. Each system consisted of a primary treatment lagoon and a subsequent polishing lagoon. Free chlorine (or monochloramine for comparison) was applied to oxidize antibiotics and to disinfect lagoon bacteria as well. Results indicate that aeration substantially improves lagoon functionality, thereby adding both organic and ammonia removal. Ammonia...
Influence of Cyclic Tangential Loads on Indentation Fracture

An indentation method was used to analyze the damage induced by the cyclic tangential loading of contacting elastic bodies. The degree of damage was ascertained from direct observations and from failure strength measurements. Cyclic crack propagation was demonstrated to occur and is attributed to the development of irreversible deformation at the contact.
Supplementing pasture to lactating Holsteins fed a total mixed ration diet.

Abstract Beginning in September 1997, a 6-week study was conducted to compare performance and income-over-feed cost of lactating Holsteins cows fed either a total mixed ration diet (TMR) only, compared to TMR in the afternoon and pasture in the morning, or TMR in the morning and pasture in the afternoon. Fifty-four Holstein cows in midlactation, averaging 28.1 kg/d of milk, were used in the study. Cows were on pasture for 8 h/d after either the p.m. or the a.m. milking. Predominantly orchardgrass with lesser amounts of white clover and Kentucky bluegrass were grazed. Pasture was sampled once per week, and weekly composites were analyzed. Compressed sward height and herbage dry matter (DM) yield were estimated once per week. Milk yield was electronically recorded and was sampled biweekly. Body condition score and body weight (BW) was recorded at the beginning and end of the study. Income-over-feed cost was calculated for each treatment. Compressed sward height and DM yield averaged 12.7cm and 1397kg/ha, respectively. Pasture crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber averaged 27.0, 55.7, and 26.9%, respectively, and net energy-lactation was 1.65 Mcal/kg of dry matter. Milk production was greater for cows on the TMR treatment (29.1 vs. 28.2 and 27.6). No significant difference occurred in percentage of milk fat (3.54, 3.42, and 3.46%), or protein (3.28, 3.20, and 3.22%) for the above respective treatments. The SNF content (8.77 vs. 8.67 and 8.63%) was higher in TMR cows. While BW change did not differ among treatments (23, 32, and 22kg), body condition score change was greater in cows fed TMR only (0.14 vs. –0.06 and 0.01). As expected, TMR intake was greatest for cows fed TMR only and lowest for cows grazing after the p.m. milking (26.6 vs. 20.3 vs. 17.5 kg/ d dry matter). Income-over-feed cost differed between treatments and was approximately 18.6 and 7.5% higher for cows grazing high quality pasture during the afternoon and the morning, respectively, compared with cows on the TMR treatment.
Quantitative interpretation of FDG PET/CT with myocardial perfusion imaging increases diagnostic information in the evaluation of cardiac sarcoidosis

FDG PET/CT with myocardial perfusion imaging is a useful method for evaluating cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), but interpretation is not standardized. We developed a method for quantification of cardiac FDG PET/CT and evaluated its relationship to conventional interpretation, perfusion defects, clinical events, and immunosuppressive treatment. FDG PET/CT with MPI studies performed for CS (n = 38) were retrospectively compared to negative control studies acquired for oncologic indications (n = 10). Quantitative measures of FDG volume-intensity (Cardiac Metabolic Activity, CMA) was performed using standardized uptake values (SUVs). CMA (477.7 ± 909 vs 0.55 ± 2.1 vs 0.3 ± 0.3 g glucose, P = .02) was significantly greater in visually FDG-positive studies compared to visually negative and oncologic negative studies. Among patients with CS, CMA was greater in studies with an EF < 50% (760.3 ± 1,148 vs 87.4 ± 161 g glucose, P = .03) and preceding an adverse clinical event (1,095 ± 1,253 vs 73 ± 144 g glucose, P = .006). CMA was the only independent predictor of events by multivariate analysis. In patients with repeat examinations (n = 7), CMA decreased with prednisone treatment in 5 of 6 patients. Quantification of FDG uptake in CS correlates with lower EFs, clinical events, and immunosuppression treatment.
Serine metabolism in the culture form of Trypanosoma cruzi: Synthesis of other amino acids

1. 1. The use of serine as a precursor of other amino acids by Trypanosoma cruzi has been studied. 2. 2. The distribution of 14C from uniformly labelled, 1-14C labelled and 3-14C labelled serine within amino acid-containing metabolic fractions demonstrates that T. cruzi is able to synthesize several amino acids (alanine, aspartate, glutamate, glycine, cysteine, threonine) with serine as a precursor.
Molt initiation in response to phytoecdysones and low doses of animal ecdysones in the chelicerate arthropod, Limulus polyphemus.

Single low (5–10 μg/g) doses of cyasterone, ponasterone A, inokosterone, α-ecdysone, and ecdysterone are all capable of initiating molting in the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. Ecdysterone, when given daily over a long period, is active in concentrations as low as 0.01 μg/g, but not 0.001 μg/g. The injected animals do not complete the molting process. Attempts to discover the factor(s) preventing successful ecdysis are described and discussed; the nutritional status of the injected animal may be of major importance.
Understanding and predicting rare earth and actinide correlated electron magnetism

Abstract Magnetism in partially delocalized f electron cerium and light actinide materials exhibits extraordinarily large anisotropy, unusual magnetic structures and excitations, and giant magneto-optic effects. These can all be understood on the basis of correlated electron orbitally driven magnetic ordering. By including the band-f Coulomb exchange and the band-f hybridization on an equal ab initio footing, we obtain absolute evaluation of parameters in a model hamiltonian giving the correct absolute scale of energy for magnetic ordering. This means we can correctly predict the decrease in T N (or T c ) and ordered moment on approaching heavy fermion behavior in an isostructural system, where we have developed a technique to do this both for weakly delocalized cerium systems and for more strongly delocalized uranium systems.
Cell dynamics in the intestine of the mouse from late fetal life to maturity

A normal developmental pattern of the mitotic index, growth of villi and crypts, rate of cell extrusion, and number of villi per duodenal cross section is presented for mice ranging in age from the seventeenth day of gestation through 48 days after birth. These patterns are correlated with the normal increases in both length and weight of the intestine as a whole during this period. Two periods were observed during which there is a 25% reduction in the mitotic index. There is essentially no change in the mitotic index after the twenty-first postnatal day. Approximately 43% of the 48-day villus-crypt height is reached by birth, and approximately 83% of the 48-day level is reached by the twenty-first day. No extrusion zones were observed in mice before birth, and a threefold increase in the rate of extrusion was observed between the fifteenth and twenty-first postnatal day. Growth of the villus-crypt epithelial cell population appears to be a result of a rate of cell extrusion which is much lower in the young than in the adult animal.
Serial measurement of galectin‐3 in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the ProBNP Outpatient Tailored Chronic Heart Failure Therapy (PROTECT) study

Aims Galectin-3 is a prognostic heart failure (HF) biomarker that may mediate cardiac fibrosis. We examined the value of serial galectin-3 measurement for prognosis and response to therapy in chronic HF. Methods and results A total of 151 subjects with LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD) were followed through 908 visits over 10 ± 3 months. The amount of time spent with a galectin-3 level ≤ 20.0 ng/mL and changes between baseline and subsequent values were considered across visits, and used to assess risk for adverse cardiovascular (CV) events and associations with LV remodelling. Medication effects on galectin-3 were examined. Median galectin-3 values at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months were higher in patients with CV events (21.7 vs. 18.4 ng/mL, P = 0.03; 21.7 vs. 16.5 ng/mL, P = 0.03; 23.2 vs. 16.0 ng/mL, P = 0.007). Galectin-3 concentration changed in 35.2% of subjects during study procedures; time spent at ≤ 20.0 ng/mL was significantly associated with a lower rate of CV events, independently predicted fewer CV events even adjusted for relevant variables including study allocation, NT-proBNP, and renal function [odds ratio (OR) = 0.90; P = 0.05], and predicted increase in LV ejection fraction (OR = 1.20; P = 0.04). Serial galectin-3 measurement at 6 months added prognostic value beyond the baseline level (P = 0.02). There were no significant effects of medications on galectin-3 levels. Conclusion In chronic HF due to LVSD, serial galectin-3 measurement adds incremental prognostic information and predicts LV remodelling. In this study, HF therapies had no clear effects on galectin-3 levels.
Environmental Management Services Project Enhances Infection Control Program

Abstract ISSUE: In 2003, the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) initiated a “Goalsharing” employee incentive program. This program was designed to improve performance and communication, enhance teamwork, increase quality, and promote pride in work. Teams were asked to identify a process improvement goal consistent with one of the objectives of VA Region 10, the local division, or VA national. PROJECT: The Environmental Management Services (EMS) team set its goal to establish a VA standard by having the most effective and efficiently trained housekeeping aides in the nation. Their goal was consistent with the overall goal to “provide easy access to medical knowledge, expertise and care.” The team created individual flipcharts that attached to each housekeeping cart and outlined the six most common procedures that housekeeping aides encountered. Topics included universal precautions, cleaning procedures for pediculosis and scabies, tuberculosis (TB) control program, terminal vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) cleaning procedure, terminal cleaning of the Clostridium difficile unit, and terminal cleaning methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) procedure. Cards described the medical center policy, daily and terminal cleaning procedures, special detergent/disinfectants, if required, and the personal protective equipment (PPE) required to safely perform each procedure. Cards were placed on all housekeeping carts after an inservice program was conducted to explain the team project and introduce the cards to all members of EMS. RESULTS: Implementation of the cards as a “ready reference” standardized practice throughout the department. This, in turn, increased the effectiveness of the nursing staff by minimizing the time required to get a room ready for the next patient, a decrease of about 30 minutes per room. Use of the reference cards decreased the number of infection control or EMS supervisor man-hours required to rectify incorrect, unproductive, or inappropriate procedures. EMS-related calls to infection control or incidents requiring infection control intervention decreased from approximately one a week to one a month. Infection Control has also observed a decrease in the overall number of confirmed Clostridium difficile– infected patients since implementation of these reference cards. Whether this is a result of the new procedure remains to be determined. A master log of policies has since been created and can be used to customize the reference card set required for specific housekeeping aides depending on their working locations.
A NEW MANEUVER FOR ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE INSERTION DURING DIFFICULT GLIDESCOPE INTUBATION

Background: The GlideScope® Video Laryngoscope (Verathon, Bothell, WA) is a video laryngoscopy system that can be used for routine intubation, but is also commonly used as an alternative for difficult or failed airways. Previous reports have identified a very high incidence of grade 1 and grade 2 Cormack-Lehane glottic views, but despite these high-grade views, intubation is sometimes difficult due to the angle of insertion and shape of the endotracheal tube. Several maneuvers have been reported to increase the likelihood of successful endotracheal tube placement in these uncommon cases of failure. Case Report: We report the case of a patient who could not be intubated with the GlideScope® despite an easily obtained grade 1 laryngoscopic view. The impediment to intubation was identified as a sharp angulation of the trachea with respect to the larynx, such that the trachea formed a steep posterior angle with the laryngeal/glottic axis. Intubation was achieved using a previously unreported maneuver, in which the endotracheal tube with a sharply curved malleable stylet was inserted through the glottis, and then rotated 180° to permit passage down the trachea. Discussion and Conclusion: We believe that this maneuver may be useful in other cases of failed GlideScope® intubation, when a high-grade laryngeal view is obtained but tube passage is not possible due to a sharp posterior angulation of the trachea.
Adhesion mechanisms of arc-sprayed zinc on concrete

Arc-sprayed zinc coatings can provide cathodic protection against corrosion to steel reinforcement in concrete. Because the adhesion of sprayed zinc on concrete is of major concern, the parameters related to zinc deposition and concrete preparation that affect the adhesion have been previously investigated. However, little attention has been devoted to determining which basic mechanisms are responsible for the adhesion of molten zinc on concrete. Because the interaction of molten zinc droplets with the concrete surface is considered physical, this paper is focused on the influence of surface patterns on the adhesion of arc-sprayed zinc coatings. Concrete surfaces were characterized by image analysis and profilometry techniques to ascertain which surface pattern or components could affect the adhesion of zinc. A modified root mean square (RMS) surface roughness was derived to take into account the different surface mor-phologies seen by sprayed zinc droplets. This modified RMS surface roughness was found to be directly related to the measured bond strength of arc-sprayed zinc on concrete. After the surface profile on con-crete is measured and the surface constituents are considered, the bond strength of arc-sprayed metals on concrete can be forecasted for given deposition parameters.
Modeling the effects of plants on the bioremediation of contaminated soil and ground water

Plants have the potential for aiding in situ remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater by promoting microbial growth in the rhizosphere. Microbial populations vary in response to the presence of oxygen, water and metabolizable carbon sources. Plants are able to provide a favorable environment for microbe growth by providing a plant pathway for oxygen transfer to the soil, transferring water from saturated to unsaturated soil, and supplying supplemental substrate in the form of root exudates and decaying root hairs. Models of the physical, chemical, and biological relationships in the rhizosphere are reported. Simulation results are presented for a hypothetical vegetative buffer zone over a shallow aquifer. The fate of atrazine is simulated in order to investigate the effects of rainfall, evapotranspiration, atrazine uptake by plants, and atrazine adsorption to root surfaces on atrazine concentration at the downstream edge of the vegetative buffer zone.
MRI features in de Quervain’s tenosynovitis of the wrist

De Quervain’s stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal extensor component is traditionally diagnosed clinically but may be encountered when performing MRI of the wrist. A retrospective review of wrist MR images was performed in cases where the diagnosis of de Quervain’s synovitis was sugggested (n=5). Imaging findings were correlated with clinical findings in four cases and with wrist arthroscopy in one case. Increased thickness of the extensor pollicus brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons was the most reliable finding on MRI, being present in all cases. Peritendinous edema was also a reliable finding. Surrounding subcutaneous edema and increased intratendinous signal were less reliable findings in confirmed cases of de Quervain’s disease. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis may be encountered when performing MRI of the wrist. Increased tendon thickness and peritendinous edema are the most reliable imaging findings.
Cost allocation in networks: The bulk supplier problem

We consider the cost allocation problem faced by a large scale supplier (the telephone company) who rents telephone circuits to its customers. A number of possible allocation rate structures are analyzed, as are some of the criteria that they may be measured by. Finally, we draw conclusions and make recommendations for cost allocation in these circumstances.
Water balance in Monodelphis domestica (Didelphidae) from the semiarid Caatinga of Brazil.

Abstract 1. 1. Water conservation and energy metabolism in a semiarid-area, neotropical marsupial ( Monodelphis domestica ) were studied in the laboratory. 2. 2. The rate of energy consumption in this species is low, corresponding with results reported for Australian and other neotropical marsupials. 3. 3. Evaporative water loss rate is low and comparable to that of several desert small rodents, when body size differences are taken into account; however, the ratio of metabolic water production-to-evaporative water loss is lower than in the rodents. 4. 4. Urine osmotic, urea, and chloride concentrations in water-stressed animals are within the range of values reported for some arid-area granivorous rodents, for insectivorous/carnivorous Australian marsupials, and for a North American insectivorous desert rodent. 5. 5. Water-balance computations indicate that this species should be able to maintain water balance at 25°C on a high-protein diet with a water content of about 60% without access to drinking water; this water requirement is comparable to that of ecologically similar marsupials and placentals in arid areas of other continents.
Daptomycin Therapy for Osteomyelitis: A Retrospective Study

Daptomycin is a rapidly bactericidal agent with broad coverage against Gram-positive organisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, the most frequent cause of osteomyelitis. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical outcome of patients with non-hardware associated osteomyelitis, and the safety profile of daptomycin in the treatment of these infections. All patients with osteomyelitis, excluding concurrent orthopedic foreign body infections, treated with daptomycin and identified between 2007–2008 in a retrospective, multicenter, observational registry, were included. Investigators assessed patient outcome (cured, improved, failed, non-evaluable) at the end of daptomycin therapy. Patients with a successful outcome at the end of daptomycin therapy were reassessed in 2009. All patients were included in the safety analysis; evaluable patients were included in the efficacy analysis. Data was assessed using descriptive statistics. A Kaplan Meier analysis was used to assess time to clinical failure. Two-hundred and nine osteomyelitis patients successfully completed daptomycin therapy in 2007–2008, 71 of which (34%) had a follow-up visit in 2009 and had an evaluable clinical outcome. The median (min, max) daptomycin dose and duration were 6 mg/kg (4, 10) and 42 days (1, 88), respectively. Of the 52 patients with a documented pathogen, S. aureus was the most common (42%); primarily methicillin-resistant S. aureus. All patients were included in the safety analysis; evaluable patients were included in the efficacy analysis. Clinical resolution was reported in 94% (CI - 86.2%, 98.44%) of patients. A Kaplan Meier analysis of time to clinical failure showed that approximately 85% (CI – 64%, 95%) of patients had a continued successful outcome at the time of re-evaluation. Eighteen patients (25%) in the safety population experienced an adverse event; 13 patients (18%) had an adverse event that was possibly-related to daptomycin treatment. Daptomycin appears to be an effective therapeutic choice with an acceptable safety profile in the management of osteomyelitis that does not involve hardware.
Closing the NPT loophole on exports of naval propulsion reactors

James Clay Moltz is Research Professor and Assistant Director of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. He also directs the Newly Independent States Nonproliferation Project at CNS. From 1993-98 (Vols. 1-5), Dr. Moltz was Editor of this journal. When the authors of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) crafted their landmark document in the mid-1960s, the “bargain” they reached with the non-nuclear weapon states required them to leave a number of nuclear activities in the category of “acceptable” uses. This grouping covered a broad range because the nonnuclear weapon states wanted to maintain the widest possible options in return for giving up their right to nuclear weapons. Beyond nuclear research and power reactors, these allowed uses included so-called “peaceful nuclear explosions” (or PNEs) for industrial purposes and the operation of naval propulsion reactors (NPRs) for commercial shipping.
Natural Virtue versus Book Learning: Rousseau and the great Enlightenment battle over education

Although Rousseau was certainly the towering figure in educational theory in the later Enlightenment, his educational theories proved more serviceable to the Counter-Enlightenment. The moral order on which society depends rests in his view on a natural sentiment which education should cultivate in the child and allow to develop uncorrupted by society. From this emerged a view of education, strongly espoused during the French Revolution by Robespierre and Saint Just, which believed it more important for children to remain ordinary and “natural” than to learn things. This view clashed directly with the ideas of Radical Enlightenment thinkers (Diderot, d'Holbach, Helvetius and Condorcet), and carried further during the Revolution, before Robespierre's rise, that the republic needs compulsory universal education that instils into children (and parents) the elements of a secular morality based on equality and the principles of the Rights of Man. The resulting clash of educational policies reflected the wider i...
Do not roll the videotape: effects of the health insurance portability and accountability act and the law on trauma videotaping practices

Abstract Background We hypothesized that trauma video practices would be affected as a result of Health Insurance Portability and Accountabilty Act (HIPAA) enactment. Methods A survey was distributed electronically to coordinators and/or directors of level 1 trauma centers. Centers were queried on demographics, trauma video use, and reasons for changes, if any, in their video practice patterns. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were employed. Results Survey response rate was 75%. Prior to HIPAA, 58% of responding trauma centers used video compared to 18% now. On a Likert scale of 1–5, video analysis rated 3.80. For those using video currently, the most common purposes are education (91%) and quality assurance (83%). HIPAA has affected the way video is used at one third of these centers. Ten percent receive institutional review board approval for videotaping, 35% get patient consent, and more than half report capturing a poor patient outcome on tape. The most commonly cited reasons for stopping video use were HIPAA and legal concerns about patient privacy, consent, and discoverability (79%). Scarce resources were, in part, to blame at 70% of centers, while video technology was found to be ineffective at only 32%. Conclusions A minority of level I trauma centers currently use video, although it is effective according to users. HIPAA and medicolegal concerns have affected its use at some centers and contributed to its abandonment at others.
Electrolysis of water at strontium titanate (SrTiO3) photoelectrodes: distinguishing between the statistical and stochastic formalisms for electron-transfer processes in fuel-forming photoelectrochemical systems

Conventional photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic theory predicts a light intensity threshold for sustaining the net electrolysis of water using semiconductor electrodes, but a stochastic charge-transfer formalism for photoelectrolysis reactions does not predict such threshold behavior.
Robust stability of convex and compact sets of complex polynomials

Abstract A necessary and sufficient condition for a convex and compact set of complex polynomials to be strictly Hurwitz is given. The result implies and generalizes several results on strict Hurwitz property of polynomials. In particular, our result covers the “edge theorem” for polytopes of strictly Hurwitz polynomials and requires weaker conditions than the “edge theorem”. It is also shown that previously established results on the robust strict Hurwitzness of diamond polynomials can be implied by our result. Finally, applying the result, we derive a new result on the robust positivity of a complex diamond rational function.
Observations of Nepheloid Layers Made With an Autonomous Vertical Profiler

Abstract An autonomous vertical profiler was deployed at a site in 55 m of water in southern Lake Michigan during the late summer of 2001. Profiles of temperature and water transparency were made hourly between 1 and 40 meters above the bottom for about 23 days (568 profiles). The temperature observations show that the depth of the thermocline changed in response to both near-inertial internal waves and to upwelling and downwelling events. The transparency measurements show the presence of both an intermediate nepheloid layer located near the base of the thermocline and a benthic nepheloid layer at the bottom. The layers were usually separated by a region of clearer water, but during one upwelling event they merged together. Changes in both the intermediate nepheloid layer and the benthic nepheloid layer occurred in response to changes in the thermocline depth. The total amount of material suspended in both the bottom 40 m and in the benthic nepheloid layer varied by over 50%. The source of the additional material appears to be local resuspension events caused either directly or indirectly by near-inertial internal waves.
Sarcolipin overexpression improves muscle energetics and reduces fatigue

Sarcolipin (SLN) is a regulator of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase in skeletal muscle. Recent studies using SLN-null mice have identified SLN as a key player in muscle thermogenesis and m...
Simplified radioimmunoassay for aldosterone using antisera to aldosterone-γ-lactone

Abstract A simplified, non-chromatographic method for aldosterone-γ-lactone (2) radioimmunoassay is described, using a high titer aldosterone-γ-lactone antibody. This method takes six working hours for completion; the blanks are below the sensitivity of the assay (0–10 pg), and the intra and interassay coefficient of variation is 4.9% and 8.2% respectively. There is no significant variation with different plasma volumes assayed and the plot of added and assayed aldosterone gives a slope of 0.983. The negligible cross reactivity with other steroids and lactones eliminates the problem of interference by these substances.
Nanoelectronic and Nanophotonic Interconnect

A significant performance limitation in integrated circuits has become the metal interconnect, which is responsible for depressing the on-chip data bandwidth while consuming an increasing percentage of power. These problems will grow as wire diameters scale down and the resistance-capacitance product of the interconnect wires increases hyperbolically, which threatens to choke off the computational performance increases of chips that we have come to expect over time. We examine some of the quantitative implications of these trends by analyzing the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. We compare the potential of replacing the global electronic interconnect of future chips with a photonic interconnect and see that there is in principle a four order of magnitude bandwidth-to-power ratio advantage for the latter. This indicates that it could be possible to dramatically improve chip performance without scaling transistors but rather utilize the capability of existing transistors much more efficiently. However, at this time it is not clear if these advantages can be realized. We discuss various issues related to the architecture and components necessary to implement on-chip photonic interconnect.
Multimodal sensing in mobile and cyber-physical systems

Rapid advancements in embedded systems, wireless networking and sensor technologies have led to the development of cyber-physical systems, pervasive computing and smart environments with important applications in civilian, military, industry, and government sectors. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a significant role in such systems, as they can effectively act as the human-physical world interface with the digital world through sensing and actuation. However, the inherent characteristics of WSNs typified by extremely scarce resources (e.g., bandwidth, CPU, memory and battery power), high degree of uncertainty, distributed control and operations pose significant challenges in providing the desired information quality, assurance, and reliability for information fusion and intelligent decision-making. This is particularly important for such critical applications as smart grids, smart health care or pervasive security, to name a few.It is also clear that multimodal sensors offer better information quality and hence more accurate decision-making capability in complex cyber-physical systems. Additionally, in contrast with traditional WSN architectures consisting of static nodes deployed densely over a sensing area, recent research emphasis is on the development of sparse WSN architectures, algorithms and protocols that exploit mobility of sensor nodes, thus enhancing the performance of the system.This talk will examine the uncertainty-driven unique challenges in multimodal sensing in mobile and cyber-physical systems. After reviewing the state of the art, novel solutions will be proposed for fusion-driven routing, coverage and connectivity, security and privacy with improved quality in multimedia wireless sensor networks. The talk will be concluded with open issues and future directions of research.
From Cellular Automata to Urban Models: New Principles for Model Development and Implementation:

Integration with geographic information systems (GIS) has helped move cellular automata (CA)-based urban and regional models from the realm of instructive metaphors to that of potentially useful qualitative forecasting tools. Such models can now be fully interactive for exploratory purposes and they can be based on actual data. New problems, however, arise as the formal integrity of the original CA framework is lost through successive relaxations of the assumptions and as the resulting complicated models become increasingly difficult to implement and understand. In this paper I propose that the theoretical problem can find a satisfactory answer in the notion of proximal space and the practical one can be handled successfully within the formalism of geo-algebra, a mathematical expression of proximal space which builds a bridge between GIS data and operations, on the one hand, and traditional robust classes of urban and regional models, on the other.
Beyond Simon's Slice: Five Fundamental Trade-Offs that Bound the Performance of Macrocognitive Work Systems

Articulating the laws of cognitive work has been a continuing theme in this department. A number of the articles represent an effort to move toward a unified theory of "macrocognitive work systems." These are complex adaptive systems designed to support near-continuous interdependencies among humans and intelligent machines to carry out functions such as sensemaking, replanning, mental projection to the future, and coordination. The effort to identify empirical generalizations and use them to construct a formal theory has led us to the identification of a number of fundamental trade-offs that place boundary conditions on all macrocognitive work systems. This article presents five trade-offs identified to date that define these boundary conditions. It also illustrates how the known empirical generalizations about the performance of human work systems can be systematically organized by the trade-offs.
Activation and oligomerization of immobilized biodegradative l-threonine dehydrase

Abstract Biodegradative l -threonine dehydrase of Escherichia coli (radio labeled with [ 3 H ]pyridoxine) was immobilized on CNBr-activated Cl-Sepharose. The specific catalytic activity and S0.5 values of the matrix-bound dehydrase in the presence of AMP were similar to those of the soluble oligomeric enzyme in the presence of AMP (matrix-bound, associated dehydrase). When the bound dehydrase was washed with AMP-free buffer, about 50% of the bound dehydrase was removed and about 50% remained attached, as measured by radioactivity. The resulting matrix-bound, dissociated dehydrase possessed activity in the absence of AMP as is characteristic of soluble, unactivated dehydrase. The bound, dissociated dehydrase was capable of binding nearly an equal amount of soluble dehydrase in the presence of AMP; this treatment raised the specific enzyme activity of the bound dehydrase to 83% of that of the original matrix-bound, associated dehydrase. These observations correlate with the effects of AMP on the activity and quaternary structure of soluble dehydrase. When AMP was added to the matrix-bound, dissociated dehydrase, the activation observed was only a small fraction of that obtained with soluble dehydrase plus AMP. The failure of AMP to activate the major fraction of immobilized dehydrase monomer strongly suggests that dimerization is required in the activation by AMP.
Integrating brain data spatially: spatial data infrastructure and atlas environment for online federation and analysis of brain images

Numerous digital atlases of the brain have been developed for different species through the efforts of researchers around the world. For a comprehensive picture of brain morphology and function, it is important to discover and bring together various images, segmentations and markup, generated within different projects, and juxtapose them within a single federated atlas interface. This paper describes strategies and tools for integrating distributed sources of brain data spatially. We focus on the organization of Web-enabled spatial data sources, which include ArcIMS feature and image services and distributed grid sources, and on the Smart Atlas, a GIS-based atlas environment enabling users to discover, access, visualize and query heterogeneous images and image markup. We demonstrate construction of spatial databases from unorganized vector and raster brain data based on ontological relationships between anatomical features from the unified medical language system, spatial registration mechanisms, and tools and user interfaces for federated brain data visualization and analysis.