cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF PREMATURE RUPTURE OF FETAL MEMBRANES

Data from 6613 pregnancies that ended before term were analysed to determine whether amniotic-fluid infections are a cause as well as a consequence of premature rupture of the fetal membranes. Amniotic-fluid infections seem to be a cause of such ruptures because the infections were 2-3 fold more common when the fetal membranes ruptured just before labour started than when they ruptured just after the onset of labour. There was no relation between the frequency of premature rupture and the number of coital acts in the month before delivery but at every gestational age the proportion of fetuses and neonates who died with amniotic-fluid infections was greater when coitus had occurred in the month before delivery. This was because the infections associated with coitus were more severe. Low Apgar scores and neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia were 60% more frequent when preterm delivery was due to premature rupture of the membranes than when it was due to other causes. This was mainly the result of the high frequency of amniotic-fluid infections associated with the premature membrane ruptures.
Empirical estimation of magnetite/liquid distribution coefficients for some transition elements

Magnetite/liquid distribution coefficients have been calculated that are consistent with observed variations in contents of V, Sc, Cr, and Ti in lavas from Craters of the Moon lava field, Idaho. In particular, our average distribution coefficient for V (27±8) is in close agreement with that determined experimentally at the temperature and oxygen fugacity appropriate for crystallization of these lavas. Although this value is not very precise, it shows that V contents of at least some calcalkaline series are consistent with generation of andesitic and related magmas from basaltic parental magmas by crystal fractionation, involving removal of appreciable amounts of magnetite.
Wavelet based electronic structure calculations

Ab initio electronic structure calculations have proven usefull in understanding nanostructure physics. The extension of current methods to large, localized systems remains an active area of research. A key difficulty can be found in the scaling properties associated with the basis sets used, therefore, it is worthwhile to consider alternatives to the conventional plane-wave and Gaussian bases. In our work we examine the use of a wavelet basis.
STUDIES ON INFLAMMATION : VIII. INHIBITION OF FIXATION BY UREA. A FURTHER STUDY ON THE MECHANISM OF FIXATION BY THE INFLAMMATORY REACTION.

A concentrated urea solution effectively dissolves fibrin. The injection into the peritoneal cavity of a urea solution (30 or 50 per cent) together with or after an inflammatory irritant (aleuronat) prevents wholly or in part the local fixation of graphite particles or ferric chloride introduced subsequently. The histologic picture in the retrosternal lymphatics explains how this comes about. When free dissemination of graphite to the retrosternal nodes occurs, the lumen of the lymphatic vessel is unobstructed, whereas partial dissemination is accompanied by small fibrinous thrombi occluding the lumen in part only. Trypan blue injected at the periphery of an inflamed skin area treated with a concentrated urea solution and bacteria (Staph. aureus) penetrates readily into the area, whereas it fails to do so when introduced around an inflamed area consequent on the injection of distilled water and bacteria (Staph. aureus). Concentrated urea per se is an inflammatory irritant. Graphite particles injected into a peritoneal cavity previously treated with concentrated urea penetrate freely to the retrostemal lymphatic nodes; the lymphatic vessel is relatively unobstructed. Trypan blue injected into the circulating blood accumulates rapidly in cutaneous areas almost immediately after the latter have been treated with concentrations of urea ranging from 50 per cent down to 20 per cent. The results of this study furnish evidence, in addition to that already provided, that fixation of foreign substances is primarily due to mechanical obstruction caused by a fibrin network and by thrombosed lymphatics at the site of inflammation. The significance of fixation in relation to immunity and its bearing upon some of the other processes involved in the inflammatory reaction have been stressed.
An Event-Related Potential Study of Attention Deficits in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder During Auditory and Visual Go/NoGo Continuous Performance Tasks

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by disturbances in attention, such as increased arousal and hypervigilance. This study examined the event-related potential (ERP) P3 component to target detection (Go), response inhibition (NoGo) and irrelevant nontarget stimuli during auditory and visual A-X continuous performance tasks. NoGo N2 amplitude effects were also analyzed. Participants were 23 Vietnam veterans with PTSD and 13 civilian controls. No group differences were present for N2 or P3 amplitude to Go and NoGo stimuli. The PTSD group, however, had longer P3 latency to NoGo stimuli than controls, regardless of modality. The PTSD group also had greater frontal P3 amplitude to irrelevant nontarget stimuli than controls. Significant P3 amplitude and latency findings were associated with higher hyperarousal and reexperiencing scores from the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. The findings suggest that attentional problems in PTSD are related to slowed central processing when response inhibition is required, and to an impaired ability to screen irrelevant information. This study provides further evidence that the attentional impairments in PTSD are not confined to trauma-related stimuli. Heightened arousal appears to enhance the attentional dysregulation seen in PTSD.
Basalt magma sources during the opening of the North Atlantic

The mantle that supplied basalts to the North Atlantic Tertiary province at the time of continental breakup was isotopically similar to the present-day sub-oceanic mantle. There is no evidence for undepleted source regions beneath the continent at this time.
Oxygen K near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of La2−xMxCuO4 (M = Ca, Sr and Ba) x-Dependence of hole state density

Abstract Flourescence-yield oxygen K near-edge X-ray spectroscopy was utilized as a bulk-sensitive method to determine the hole state density of La2−xMxCuO4. Pre-edge features have been measured for M = Sr, 0≤x≤0.40, M = Ba, 0≤x≤0.25, and M = Ca, 0≤x≤0.10. These features occur just above the Fermi level at ∼ 530 and ∼ 528 eV, the 528 eV peak being assigned to holes in the oxygen 2p band. The intensities and energies of these peaks were determined as a function of composition x. Results are qualitatively similar among M = Sr, Ba and Ca. For x≤0.15 the magnitude of the 528 eV peak is linear in x. In the overdoped region, x>0.15, M = Sr, the magnitude begins to saturate.
An Analysis of Child Maltreatment Content in Introductory Psychology Textbooks

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which introductory psychology textbooks cover child maltreatment and to evaluate how appropriately the information was presented. We randomly selected 15 introductory psychology textbooks from Koenig et al.’s (2004) Compendium of Introductory Psychology Texts. Three analyses included a subject index review, a content review, and a content analysis review. Although all of the textbooks covered the topic of child maltreatment in some fashion, they varied considerably in the specific forms of child maltreatment that they addressed. Furthermore, content that addressed child maltreatment consistently lacked appropriate emphasis and clear definitions. The results are discussed to enhance understanding regarding the most appropriate information on child maltreatment to include in introductory psychology textbooks.
Spectroscopically Determined Molecular Mechanics Model for the Intermolecular Interactions in Hydrogen-Bonded Formic Acid Dimer Structures

A molecular mechanics (MM) energy function has been optimized for the seven ab initio hydrogen-bonded structures of the formic acid dimer (FAD). Intermolecular interactions are represented by atomi...
A theory of spatio-temporal aggregation for vision

A theory of spatio-temporal aggregation is proposed as an explanation for the visual process of grouping together elements in an image sequence whose motions and positions have consistent interpretations as the retinal projections of a coherent or isolated cluster of 'particles' in the physical world. Assumptions of confluence and adjacency are made in order to constrain the infinity of possible interpretations to a computationally more manageable domain of plausible interpretations. Confluence and adjacency lead to the derivation of specific rules for grouping which permit the appropriate aggregation of rigid and quasi-rigid objects in motion and at rest under a variety of conditions. The theory is reconciled with existing computational theories of vision so as to complement them, and to provide a useful link in the continual abstraction of visual information.
A Surface Trawl to Detect Migrating Juvenile Salmonids Tagged with Passive Integrated Transponder Tags

Abstract We developed a surface pair-trawl system to detect juvenile Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. marked with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags as they migrate through the upper Columbia River estuary. The trawl was fitted with a detection antenna in its cod end and was deployed by two vessels. Fish entering the trawl body exit after passing by the detection antenna. Detection data were recorded by electronic components housed in a small boat tethered to the trawl. The system was modified extensively after its first deployment in 1995 and by 2001 was performing reliably under a variety of weather conditions and river flows. From 1995 to 2001 the device detected 29,699 PIT-tagged juvenile salmon. During extended daily sampling periods, we detected nearly 2% of all PIT tags previously detected at Bonneville Dam, which is located 159 rkm upstream from the study area.
Interaction of High Temperature and Salmonella pullorum Antigen Concentration on Serum Agglutinin and Corticosteroid Responses in White Rock Chickens

Abstract In three experiments, 6- to 7-week-old chickens were exposed to one or two standard heating episodes and were injected immediately afterward with different concentrations of heat-killed Salmonella pullorum antigen (Ag) or phosphate-buffered saline. The standard heat episode consisted of three .5-hr exposures of 44 to 46 C with .5-hr periods of 22 C between exposures. Nonheated chickens were maintained at 22 C. When two heating episodes were used, there was a 12-hr interval between episodes. Sera from blood collected at 0 through 15 days postimmunization (PI) were titrated for total agglutinins and assayed for corticosteroids in all three experiments. Additionally, in Experiment 3, sera were titrated for 2-mercaptoethanol-resistant (2-MER) antibody. Total agglutinins were suppressed from 5 through 13 days PI by one heating episode in birds receiving lower doses of Ag but not in those receiving higher doses. When birds were exposed to two heat episodes, 12 hr apart, total agglutinin titers were suppressed in birds receiving the low Ag dose during the induction phase (4 to 5 days PI) only. During the declining phase (7 to 14 days PI), the effect was reversed, and titers were significantly lower in heated birds receiving the higher dosage. These results are similar to those previously obtained with ACTH (adrenocorticotropin). Determination of 2-MER antibody indicated that IgM was probably suppressed during the induction of the immune response but that IgG was suppressed during the declining phase of the response. Serum corticosteroid concentrations were significantly increased immediately after exposure to high temperature. There were also small, but significant, increases in serum corticosteroids 8 to 11 days after immunization in birds that received high Ag doses and were exposed to high temperature.
Changes in food consumption and body weight associated with smoking cessation across menstrual cycle phase

Forty women smokers were randomly assigned to smoking cessation for a 10-day period of time, either during the follicular or the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Measurements of dietary intake and body weight were collected during the same phase the previous (smoking as usual) month and during the cessation phase. Physical activity was controlled across the 2 months. Comparisons between the smoking and cessation months indicated that both groups increased their dietary intake during the cessation month, but no interaction occurred between phase and month. That is, women in both groups increased dietary intake to the same degree. All energy nutrients tested (fat, complex carbohydrates, and sugar) increased significantly from baseline to cessation. Conversely, body weight increased by 1.8 kg (4 lb) in the Luteal group, while weight remained stable (0.1 kg change) in the Follicular group.
The vertical farm: controlled environment agriculture carried out in tall buildings would create greater food safety and security for large urban populations

Over the next 50 years, rapid climate change issues will play a major role in agriculture. It is estimated for every 1° of increase in atmospheric temperature, 10 % of the land where we now grow food crops will be lost. The ability of governments to provide essential services for its citizens, and in particular to maintain systems that provide a reliable and safe food and water supply becomes more and more problematic. In less developed countries, other problems also exist that will become magnified because of global warming. For example, diseases transmitted by fecal contamination, such as cholera, typhoid fever and a plethora of parasitic infections, are commonplace where human excrement is used as fertilizer (an estimated 50 % of all farming on the planet). These infections are in large part responsible for widespread poverty and illiteracy. Geo-helminths, alone, cripple enormous numbers of children and adults alike. Heavy infections with ascaris, hookworm and whipworm can permanently reduce a child’s capacity for learning, and the diarrheal diseases they cause routinely keep them out of school. Illiteracy, malnutrition, and poverty are the result. Today, even in more developed countries where many of these kinds of infectious diseases have been either eradicated or are under control, food safety and security issues dominate the headlines. Over the last 5 years, in the United States alone, food recalls due to bacterial infectious diseases have resulted in billions of dollars of lost income. In traditional farming, a plethora of plant pathogens (e.g., rice blast, wheat rust) and insect pests (e.g., locusts) account for staggering losses of crops worldwide, further pushing the yields of most grain and vegetable crops towards lower and lower limits. Soil erosion due to floods and droughts completes the picture of climate change issues that have already significantly reduced where we can grow our food. The majority of environmental experts agree that farming as we know it will become marginalized over the next 50 years, as climate changes accelerate even more due to deforestation. This is because forests are being sacrificed for farmland. The consequence of this activity is that the carbon cycle is out of balance and will only get worse if nothing is done on a global scale. Controlled environment agriculture is one answer to reversing this situation. Greenhouse technologies are well-established and guarantee a safer, more reliable food supply that can be produced year round, and they can be located close to urban centers. By “stacking” these buildings on top of each other in an integrated well-engineered fashion, we can greatly reduce our agricultural footprint, and the vertical farm concept can then be applied to every urban center, regardless of location.
Organochlorine exposure, immune gene variation, and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Organochlorine exposure was linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk. To determine whether this relation is modified by immune gene variation, we genotyped 61 polymorphisms in 36 immune genes in 1172 NHL cases and 982 controls from the National Cancer Institute–Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (NCI-SEER) study. We examined 3 exposures with elevated risk in this study: PCB180 (plasma, dust measurements), the toxic equivalency quotient (an integrated functional measure of several organochlorines) in plasma, and α-chlordane (dust measurements, self-reported termiticide use). Plasma (100 cases, 100 controls) and dust (682 cases, 513 controls) levels were treated as natural log-transformed continuous variables. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate β coefficients and odds ratios, stratified by genotype. Associations between all 3 exposures and NHL risk were limited to the same genotypes for IFNG (C−1615T) TT and IL4 (5′-UTR, Ex1-168C>T) CC. Associations between PCB180 in plasma and dust and NHL risk were limited to the same genotypes for IL16 (3′-UTR, Ex22+871A>G) AA, IL8 (T−251A) TT, and IL10 (A−1082G) AG/GG. This shows that the relation between organochlorine exposure and NHL risk may be modified by particular variants in immune genes and provides one of the first examples of a potential gene-environment interaction for NHL.
Post-prior Symmetrical First-order T matrix for Charge Transfer

The Fock-Tani Hamiltonian is found for systems containing two protons and one electron. It is shown that a post-prior symmetrical {ital T}-matrix element for {ital a}{sup +}+(b{sup +}c{sup {minus}}){r arrow}(a{sup +}c{sup {minus}})+b{sup +} may be found from that of the simpler proton-proton-electron system if {ital a} and {ital b} are treated as isospin projections of a single type of nucleon. The Coulomb-exchange contribution to the inelastic (isospin flip) scattering of this system gives a first-order {ital T} matrix that is completely symmetrical with respect to post and prior interactions and orthogonalizations, a symmetry of the exact {ital T} matrix.
Technologies and the Hermitage: New Opportunities

(2003). Technologies and the Hermitage: New Opportunities. Museum International: Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 27-32.
The analysis of subclasses of high-density lipoprotein by equilibrium centrifugation.

Abstract A procedure is described in which the subclasses of human serum high-density lipoproteins are separated by equilibrium centrifugation, permitting an estimation of the relative amounts of each on the basis of their ultraviolet absorption. The cesium sulfate gradients used are sufficiently steep at 60.000 rpm in the analytical ultracentrifuge to cover a density range from 1.05 to 1.22 g/ml in a single experiment. Two major components are apparent in this density range, the total and relative amounts of which vary widely among sera from different individuals. In these high-density lipoprotein patterns for the sera from females, a component of banding density of 1.07 g/ml is predominant. In the sera from males, this component is usually small, while the major component has a density of 1.10 g/ml. These two components appear to correspond to high-density lipoproteins 2 and 3 but with different densities due to the use of cesium sulfate.
Light At The End Of The Channel: Photochromic Blockers For Optical Control Of Ion Channels In Individual Cells

The ability to turn rapidly proteins on and off with light is emerging as a way to manipulate cellular functions with unprecedented precision. Because most proteins are not naturally photosensitive, different strategies have come out to render them light-responsive. Here we present a novel approach to photosensitize proteins that does not require protein engineering or gene delivery. Instead, this method uses the photochromic blocker QAQ to control native K+ and Na+ channels in single cells using light. QAQ is a soluble molecule made of an azobenzene chromophore (A) flanked by two quaternary ammoniums channel blockers (Q). In the dark, QAQ binds to the internal quaternary ammonium binding site on Na+ and K+ channels and blocks both channels. Light can be used to toggle the azobenzene between its trans to cis configurations, altering the QAQ/channel interaction and thereby controlling ion conduction. Thus, QAQ functions as a reversibly caged blocker. QAQ is membrane impermeant and therefore has to be applied intracellularly to mediate channel block. Application of QAQ through the patch pipette affords optical control of action potential firing in individual dissociated hippocampal neurons. More importantly, light can be delivered with high precision to control channels in sub-cellular regions, potentially allowing local control of excitability and mapping of synaptic inputs.
SU‐FF‐J‐118: Respiration Phase‐Based Cone‐Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Reconstruction

Purpose: To develop a method to reconstructCBCT data based on projection data acquired at a specific respiration phase. Methods and Materials: The original projection data were acquired using an on‐board imager (OBI) (Varian Medical Systems) over scanning angles from 0° to 360° with 0.5° interval. During the retrospective process, the diaphragm location on each projection image was identified by contrasting the surrounding anatomies. Based on the location of the diaphragm in different respiration phases, the projection data were categorized into respective subsets. Subsequently, the CBCT was reconstructed from the projection data in each subset, using a Feldkamp CBCTreconstruction algorithm. Results: The CBCT was reconstructed based on a subset of projection data (single sampling) acquired at the end point of exhalation, which shows the least motion of the diaphragm. In addition, as an extension, the neighboring 1 or 2 projections were also included in the reconstruction scheme (multiple sampling). The preliminary results show that with a single sampling scheme, the reconstructedCBCTimage quality is coarse but the implanted staple and bony structures are clearer. When multiple sampling schemes were used, the image quality is better but with increased blurring effect and motion artifact. Conclusion: Compared with CBCT conventionally reconstructed for full scan images, the phase‐based CBCT provided a sub‐optimal option for clinical use. Although the image were imperfectly reconstructed due to the substantially decreased number of projections, a significant reduction of radiation exposure, improvement on blurring and motion artifacts is achieved. In the future, the synchronized respiratory signal (such as RPM signal) could be used to sort the projections for this purpose. This study is partially supported by Varian research grant.
Modeling the excitation wavelengths (λex) of boronic acids

The quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) method was used to model the fluorescence excitation wavelengths (λex) of 42 boronic acid-based fluorescent biosensors (30 in the training set and 12 in the test set). In this QSPR study, unsupervised forward selection (UFS), stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR), partial least squares regression (PLS) and associative neural networks (ASNN) were employed to simulate linear and nonlinear models. All models were validated by a test set and Tropsha’s validation model. The resulting ASNN nonlinear model demonstrates significant improvement on the predictive ability of the neural network compared to the SMLR and PLS linear models. The descriptors used in the models are discussed in detail. These QSPR models are useful tools for the prediction of fluorescence excitation wavelengths of arylboronic acids.
SECRETION OF A BONE-INDUCING AGENT (BIA) BY CULTURED SAOS-2 HUMAN OSTEOSARCOMA CELLS

An extractable bone-inducing agent has recently been identified in freeze-dried preparations of Saos-2 cultured human osteosarcoma cells. Although not all osteoinductive components of Saos-2 cell extracts have been identified, we have shown that Saos-2 cells express high levels of mRNA for bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)-1,2,3,4 and 6. Any or all of these BMPs (plus possible unknown factors) may be involved in ectopic bone induction, and may act as paracrine agents, conveying morphogenetic information to juxtaposed osteoprogenitor cells. Our objectives in this study were: 1) to determine whether Saos-2 cells secrete BIA into their culture medium; and 2) if secreted, to determine whether released bone-inducing agent is soluble and/or particulate and contains BMPs. Saos-2 cells were grown to confluence, and then overlaid with serum-free DMEM culture medium for 48 hours. The serum-free conditioned medium was then decanted and filtered through 0.45μ pore-size filters to retain any vesicles or other particulates released by the cells. Particulate protein retained on the 0.45μ filter (designated "retentate") was extracted into 6M urea and bioassayed for bone-inducing activity in Nu/Nu mice, along with soluble media protein that had passed through the 0.45μ filter (designated "filtrate") plus freeze-dried Saos-2 cells from which conditioned the culture medium was obtained. Results indicate that the bone-inducing agent of Saos-2 cells is not only retained by the cells, but is also secreted in both soluble and particulate forms into serum-free conditioned medium. Bone-inducing activity (per mg protein) is more concentrated in the particulate fraction, which is shown by electron microscopy to contain a mixture of vesicles (similar to matrix vesicles) plus electron dense granules (resembling ribosomes) and 10 mM microfilaments (of possible collagenous or cytoskeletal origin). BMP-1,2,3,4,6 and 7 were detected by western blots in both the soluble and particulate fractions of conditioned medium. Thus, it is indicated that Saos-2 cells secrete an osteoinductive factor which may function in vivo as a paracrine morphogenetic agent.
Rapid screening of organosulfur agents for potential chemopreventive activity using the murine NA assay.

Abstract The chemopreventive efficacy of 11 organosulfur compounds was assessed using the murine nuclear aberration (NA) assay in C57BL/6J mice. The sulfur compounds were introduced by stomach gavage. Benzo[a]pyrene (BP), which is a carcinogen known to a) undergo biotransformation bypath ways mediated by P‐450 and b) induce NA in the intestine, was used as the challenge. All animals were killed 48 hours after BP injection, and NA per crypt were scored. The results indicated that several agents were active in inhibiting BP nucleotoxicity to the colon, most notably, allyl mercaptan, benzyl mercaptan, and phenylethyl mercaptan. The NA assay was useful in effectively prescreening certain compounds for potential interactions with chemical carcinogens, thus serving as one indicator of chemopreventive activity.
Arabidopsis NPH1: A Flavoprotein with the Properties of a Photoreceptor for Phototropism

The NPH1 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a 120-kilodalton serine-threonine protein kinase hypothesized to function as a photoreceptor for phototropism. When expressed in insect cells, the NPH1 protein is phosphorylated in response to blue light irradiation. The biochemical and photochemical properties of the photosensitive protein reflect those of the native protein in microsomal membranes. Recombinant NPH1 noncovalently binds flavin mononucleotide, a likely chromophore for light-dependent autophosphorylation. The fluorescence excitation spectrum of the recombinant protein is similar to the action spectrum for phototropism, consistent with the conclusion that NPH1 is an autophosphorylating flavoprotein photoreceptor mediating phototropic responses in higher plants.
Optic nerve protection, regeneration, and repair in the 21st century: LVIII Edward Jackson Memorial lecture.

Abstract PURPOSE: To present the current status and clinical implications of optic nerve protection, repair, and regeneration after experimental injury in mammals, including nonhuman primates. DESIGN: Optic nerve and neuro-ophthalmology experimental study review. METHOD: Synthesis of experimental data regarding experimental studies of optic nerve protection, repair, and regeneration. RESULTS: Under certain conditions, mammalian retinal ganglion cells can be prevented from dying despite injury to the cell bodies or their axons, injured mammalian retinal ganglion cells whose axons have degenerated can be induced to extend new axons, and regenerating axons can reach their correct targets in the central nervous system. In addition, stem cells can be induced to become retinal ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS: It may soon be possible to preserve and restore vision in persons whose sight is threatened or has been lost from disease or damage to the optic nerve.
Software management as an information technology knowledge area

It can be argued that one of the distinguishing features of an IT graduate is that he or she is able to manage the IT resources of an organization, and to provide technical support for the use of those resources. While this perspective has certainly influenced the design of data management courses and is, to a growing extent, starting to influence the design of courses in the area of networking, we argue that it has, thus far, had very little influence on the design of software related courses.In this paper we argue that, courses in the areas of software engineering, systems analysis and design, and programming are insufficient to prepare IT graduates to take on positions as managers of the software resources of an organization. In particular, we argue that there are important skills that a software manager must possess that are not, or at best minimally, covered in these courses. In particular, coverage is weak in the areas of software acquisition and software integration.We therefore propose the inclusion of Software Management as a knowledge area in any model curriculum for baccalaureate programs in Information Technology. In this paper, we also sketch what such a knowledge area might contain and give an example of a course that would be needed over and above traditional software engineering, systems analysis and design, and programming courses to give students an adequate coverage of the entire field of software management.
Tidally Induced Residual Currents in Estuaries of Variable Breadth and Depth

Abstract Analytic solutions are derived for the longitudinal and cross-channel Eulerian and Lagrangian residual currents induced in narrow tidal channels of variable breadth and depth, but rectangular cross section, by the nonlinear interactions of the first-order tides. The solutions are shown to be valid as long as the system is weakly nonlinear such that gη0σ−2Δx−2 ≪ 1, and as long as breadth variations are sufficiently gradual that fb0σ−1Δx−1 ≪ η0 is a typical tidal amplitude. g is the acceleration of gravity, σ the tidal frequency, Δx the length scale over which the breadth changes, f the Coriolis parameter and b0 the channel width. Results are given for channels with exponentially decreasing breadth and depth profiles and for a channel with a constriction in the breadth profile. These results indicate that significant differences from the residual currents in constant breadth and depth channels occur for all three types, but especially for the constricted channel. For this channel a strong two-layer...
Effects of an inconstant blood volume on apparent erythrocyte survival

Abstract During erythrocyte-survival studies the assumption is usually made that the erythrocyte volume is not changing (that new erthrocytes are entering the circulation to replace those destroyed). When this is not valid, artificially altered survival curves will result. Possible approaches to correcting for such alterations are discussed, and an analogue-computer simulation of one case is presented. Пpи иэyчeиии выж ивaния эpocит oв oбычнo пpeдпoлaгaeтcя oбьeм эp итpocитoв нe пдвepгaeтcя иэмeнeнeию (чto н нввяe эpиpocиты вcтпaюt в oбpaщe ;ниe, чtoбя эaмэнитв yничтoжeнныч). Ecy;e Coбпюдaeтcя, п oлyчaюoтcя иcкyccтвeннo иэмeнe нныe кpивыe выждaютcг. Oбcyждaютcг вo эмoжныe к пoпaвкe этич иэмe;нэннй и в oднoм cлyчae пeдcтaвляeтcя мдл;и пoвaииe ччeтнoгo yчтpoйcтвa нeп epывнoгo дeйcтвия.
Temporal sensitivity of Alternaria solani to foliar fungicides

Alternaria solani Sorauer (Ellis) is a causal agent of early blight of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Sensitivity to chlorothalonil, triphenyl tin hydroxide (TPTH), and mancozeb was determined for field isolatesof A. solani in 1998 and 1999. Specifically, the relative sensitivity ofA. solani to foliar fungicides in field populations collected from several commercial fields was evaluated over the course of two growing seasons. Sensitivity to these foliar fungicides was determined with anin vitro spore-germination assay method. The fungicide concentration that inhibited conidial germination by 50% (EC50) was estimated for each isolate. Sensitivity ofA. solani isolates to TPTH and mancozeb varied little during the growing season, possibly because there were few TPTH and mancozeb applications made to the fields studied. At several locations, however, repeated exposure ofA. solani populations to chlorothalonil resulted in considerable variability in sensitivity, frequently causing isolates to have decreased sensitivity to this fungicide at the end of the growing season. In five of seven fields, isolates of A.solani collected at the end of the season were significantly less sensitive to chlorothalonil than isolates collected at the beginning of the season.
Comparison of three techniques for concentrating positive BACTEC 13A bottles for mycobacterial DNA probe analysis.

Abstract Three methods of concentrating 1 ml aliquots from BACTEC 13A bottles containing patient blood samples were evaluated for testing with the Gen-Probe Rapid Diagnostic System for Mycobacteria avium complex: 1. using no reagents, 2. using both lysing and wash reagents; and 3. using lysing reagent only. Aliquots from 13As containing human blood and seeded with eight mycobacterial species were also concentrated directly and using both regents. Results for samples containing M. avium were as follows: 1. using the direct concentration technique 34 of 47 samples (72%) gave unequivocally positive results; 2. 43 of 47 samples (92%) concentrated using both reagents gave positive results; 3. the technique using lysing reagent only was not found useful. There were no false positives with any of the seeded specimens. We were also able to define the minimum Growth Index necessary to ensure unequivocally positive results for each concentration technique. For those samples containing M. avium these values were 42 for the technique using both reagents and 86 for the direct technique. Direct or reagent concentration of 13A aliquots for testing with Gen-Probe DNA probes provides a rapid, sensitive, and specific means for the identification of M. avium complex bacteremia.
Asymptotic properties for combined L1 and concave regularization

SUMMARY Two important goals of high-dimensional modelling are prediction and variable selection. In this article, we consider regularization with combined L1 and concave penalties, and study the samplingpropertiesoftheglobaloptimumofthesuggestedmethodinultrahigh-dimensionalsettings. The L1 penalty provides the minimum regularization needed for removing noise variables in order to achieve oracle prediction risk, while a concave penalty imposes additional regularizationtocontrolmodelsparsity.Inthelinearmodelsetting,weprovethattheglobaloptimumofour method enjoys the same oracle inequalities as the lasso estimator and admits an explicit bound on the false sign rate, which can be asymptotically vanishing. Moreover, we establish oracle risk inequalities for the method and the sampling properties of computable solutions. Numerical studies suggest that our method yields more stable estimates than using a concave penalty alone.
Direct detection of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor binding with an enzyme-based surface plasmon resonance sensor.

Abstract Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are potentially lethal but also have applications as therapeutic drugs for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Enzyme inhibitor binding are difficult to be detected directly by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) due to their small molecular weight. In this article, we describe the detection of AChE inhibitor binding by SPR without the use of competitive binding or antibodies. AChE was immobilized on the gold surface of an SPR sensor through covalent attachment to a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a COOH-terminated alkanethiol. The activity of the immobilized protein and the surface density were determined by using a standard photometric assay. Binding of two reversible inhibitors, which are used as therapeutic drugs, was detectable by SPR without the need to further modify the surface or the use of other reagents. The binding affinities (KA) obtained from the fits were 3.8 × 103 M−1 for neostigmine and 1.7 × 103 M−1 for eserine, showing a higher affinity of the sensor for neostigmine. We believe that the SPR sensor’s ability to detect these inhibitors is due to conformational changes of the enzyme structure on inhibitor binding.
Effect of exercise on bone: permissive influence of estrogen and calcium.

ABSTRACT Estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women is associated with low lumbar bone mineral density and an increased incidence of fractures of the vertebrae and proximal femur. Estrogen deficiency in premenopausal women with secondary amenorrhea related to athletic training or anorexia nervosa is also associated with decreased lumbar bone mineral density. The purpose of this review is to present four concepts related to the adaptations of bone to physical exercise, as a basis to explain the loss of bone mass in women with athletic amenorrhea. These concepts are based on Lanyon's theory of a Minimum Effective Strain-Related Stimulus. The bone remodeling response to estrogen deficiency is an increase in the rate of bone remodeling activity and in the rate of bone resorption relative to formation, resulting in a net loss of bone mass. In the presence of estrogen deficiency, the stimulus of physical activity is thought first to decrease the rate of turnover and secondly to increase bone formation. Endurance exercise training appears to be an insufficient stimulus to accomplish both tasks, which may explain why these athletes often have low lumbar bone mineral density.
Oddity and the ‘confusion effect’ in predation

Abstract We report on two sets of experiments designed to clarify the roles of sensory ‘confusion’ and prey ‘oddity’ as they interact to influence the hunting success of a pursuit predator, the largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ), on silvery minnows ( Hybognathus nuchalis ). Bass quickly captured solitary minnows, but performed many unsuccessful attacks and took much longer to make a capture as prey school size was increased. At school sizes of eight and above, bass were effectively stymied, demonstrating the ‘confusion effect’. The inclusion of one or two ‘odd’ (blue-dyed) minnows in a school of eight greatly increased the ability of bass to capture both normal and odd prey, but this effect of oddity disappeared at a school size of 15. The implications of these results for understanding the adaptive basis of mixed species flocks, herds and schools is discussed.
Integration of machine organization and control program design: review and direction

This paper discusses the relationship between machine organization and control program design in high-end commercial computer systems. The criterion is cost/performance, subject to achieving an acceptable performance level. A brief discussion of the environment expected for the design and operation of high-end commercial computer systems is outlined, followed by a discussion of machine organization techniques which are classified and reviewed to permit a qualitative evaluation of the degree to which control program intent is exploited in machine organization. The thesis is developed next, using a hierarchical model which illustrates the contention that architecture has acted as a barrier to communication between the control program and machine organization. Examples of techniques that exploit knowledge of the intent of the control program and comments on the methodology that might be used to investigate such techniques follow. Directions for further research are then proposed.
Fate of perfused iodothyronines in rat thyroid

Abstract The intrathyroidal fate of labeled free thyroxine (T 4 ) and triiodothyronine (T 3 ) was studied with the single pass in situ perfusion of the rat thyroid gland. 131 I-T 4 or 131 I-T 3 were added to the entering perfusate. Both iodoamino acids entered the thyroid tissue equally and were partially deiodinated therein; T 4 to a greater extent than T 3 . Both methimazole-blocked glands and glands in which organic binding of iodine was permitted deiodinated these iodothyronines. Free labeled T 3 was found in some of the methimazoleblocked glands perfused with T 4 . The use of separate labels, 125 I for newly entering iodide and 131 I for thyroxine and triiodothyronine, allowed comparison of the intrathyroidal fate of newly entering iodide and iodide derived by deiodination of iodothyronines. Iodide from either source was utilized equally in the synthesis of iodotyrosines. It is concluded that iodothyronines can be deiodinated within the thyroid and that the intrathyroidal iodide originating from iodothyronines is utilized for synthesis of new iodoamino acids or can be secreted in the same manner as newly entering iodide. Some of the free T 3 in the thyroid gland may originate from free T 4 .
Measurement of Volume and Resistivity Changes in High-Pressure Experiments by an A-C Inductive Technique

A coil wound on a sample core subjected to high pressures may be used to measure compressibility and electrical resistivity of the core. In a first approximation, the coil reactance reflects core volume, and the resistance reflects core resistivity. The exact impedance of the coil in the general case depends on the ratio of skin depth to sample size. With large skin depths, the sensitivity to volume changes is high, and with small skin depths, sensitivity to resistivity is high. Operation in these two cases was demonstrated for four materials of widely different hardness: barium, bismuth, titanium, and tungsten. In addition, operation was demonstrated at high temperatures by detection of the alteration of pyrophyllite to coesite plus kyanite. Permeability as a function of pressure was shown for an iron-nickel alloy. The chief advantage of the coil method is the remote, nonmechanical measurement of volume changes. In addition, it offers greater versatility to favor many different types of sample material.
NDY1/KDM2B Functions as a Master Regulator of Polycomb Complexes and Controls Self-Renewal of Breast Cancer Stem Cells

The JmjC domain histone H3K36me2/me1 demethylase NDY1/KDM2B is overexpressed in various types of cancer. Here we show that knocking down NDY1 in a set of ten cell lines derived from a broad range of human tumors inhibited their anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth by inducing senescence and/or apoptosis in some and by inhibiting G1 progression in all. We further show that the knockdown of NDY1 in mammary adenocarcinoma cell lines decreased the number, size and replating efficiency of mammospheres and downregulated the stem cell markers ALDH and CD44, while upregulating CD24. These findings combined, suggest that NDY1 is required for the self-renewal of cancer stem cells and are in agreement with additional findings showing that, tumor cells in which NDY1 was knocked down undergo differentiation and a higher number of them is required to induce mammary adenocarcinomas, upon orthotopic injection in animals. Mechanistically, NDY1 functions as a master regulator of a set of microRNAs that target several members of the polycomb complexes PRC1 and PRC2 and its knockdown results in the de-repression of these microRNAs and the downregulation of their polycomb targets. Consistent with these observations, NDY1/KDM2B is expressed at higher levels in basal-like triple negative breast cancers and its overexpression is associated with higher rates of relapse after treatment. In addition, NDY1-regulated microRNAs are downregulated in both normal and cancer mammary stem cells. Finally, in primary human breast cancer, NDY1/KDM2B expression correlates negatively with the expression of the NDY1-regulated microRNAs, and positively with the expression of their PRC targets.
Grouping and Optimization of XPath Expressions in System RX

Several XML DBMS support XQuery and/or SQL/XML languages, which are based on navigational primitives in the form of XPath expressions. Typically, these systems either model each XPath step as a separate query plan operator, or employ holistic approaches that can evaluate multiple steps of a single XPath expression. There have also been proposals to execute as many XPath expressions as possible within a single FLWOR block simultaneously in a data streaming context. We observe in our System-RX prototype that blindly combining all possible XPath expressions for concurrent execution can result in significant performance degradation. We identify two main problems. First, the simple strategy of grouping all XPath expressions on a single document does not always work if the query involves more than one data source or has nested query blocks. Second, merging XPath expressions may result in unnecessary execution of branches that can be filtered by predicates in other branches or elsewhere in the query. To rectify these problems, we develop a combination of heuristic- based rewrite transformations, to decide which XPath expressions should be grouped for concurrent evaluation, and cost-based optimization to globally order the groups within the query execution plan, and locally order the branches within individual groups. Experimental evaluation confirms that selectively grouping multiple XPath expressions allows for better query evaluation performance and reduces the query optimization complexity.
High Frequency Oscillations in Ultra-high Q Silicon Microresonators

We report the experimental observation of long-sustained GHz electronic oscillations resulting from coupled electron-photon dynamics in ultra-high-Q Si microdisk resonators with CW pumping.
Compressibility effects on waves in stratified two-phase flow

Abstract Ardron (1980) presented both one-dimensional and two-dimensional analyses of wave propagation in horizontal stratified two-phase flow. He compared the two approaches and concluded that the comparison helped to improve confidence in the use of one-dimensional approximations for the analysis of complex systems such as nuclear reactors. There are several assumptions in Ardron's developments. When alternative assumptions are made the results change. By examining the consequences of several possible assumptions we have learned from this example that considerable care may be necessary in the reduction of a multi-dimensional two-phase flow problem to a simpler form. This paper presents a more complete two-dimensional solution of this problem and discusses the limitations of the approximate solutions.
Transform domain communication system as an ultra-wideband radar

Traditionally, ultra-wideband radars increase bandwidth by using shorter pulses. However, by decreasing the pulse width, the power on target decreases and radar detection probabilities decrease. Therefore, new approaches to increase bandwidth are needed that still have adequate power on target. One radical new approach is to use a Transform Domain Communication System (TDCS) as an ultra-wideband radar. The primary advantage of this technique is that it has properties similar to Gaussian noise meaning that the radar would improve bandwidth similar to pseudo-noise (PN) sequences. Also, based on the number of carriers used to generate the TDCS code, multiple pulses can be made mutually orthogonal. This orthogonality can be exploited to effectively increase the maximum unambiguous range for pulse-Doppler radars up to the range of the horizon. In essence, TDCS radar possesses a high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for velocity estimation and large unambiguous range.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.