cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RÉSULTATS DE LA COLLABORATION SLAC-LBL A SPEAR

Les resultats de l'etude de la section efficace d'annihilation e+ e-, pour une energie dans le centre de masse allant de 2,5 a 7,5 GeV, sont presentes. Aucune nouvelle structure comparable au ψ(3 095) et ψ(3 684) n'a ete identifiee. La determination des nombres quantiques des ψ(3 095) et ψ(3 684) est rapportee ainsi que les principaux modes de desintegration tels qu'ils sont connus a ce jour.
Cardiovascular Near-Infrared Imaging:

This research uses near-infrared spectrometric imaging to nondestructively locate and determine Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol that may serve as an in vivo marker for vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Vulnerable plaques are plaques prone, in the presence of an appropriate trigger, to events such as ulceration, rupture, erosion, or thrombus that can lead to an acute syndrome. A Nd:YAG-pumped KTP/OPO tunable near-infrared (NIR) laser system is used as a light source for the fiber-optic catheters employed in this research. The BEST algorithm is used to construct chemical-composition images of the intima of the aorta in test subjects in vivo. The long-term goal of these studies is to use NIR laser spectrometric assays of plaque performed with cardiac catheters in vivo to facilitate assignment of patients to specific drug or surgical interventions selected to match their individual vulnerable plaque characteristics.
The Power of Secrecy and the Secrecy of Power: FACA and the National Energy Policy Development Group

One of President George W. Bush's first official acts was to charter an advisory committee that would make recommendations for a new American energy policy. While the National Energy Policy Development Group was officially made up only of government employees, journalists and watchdogs suspected that the committee was inappropriately meeting with representatives of energy firms. Two citizens' groups brought suit under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to unveil the secrecy surrounding the National Energy Policy Development Group and its policymaking processes. The ensuing court battle revealed the weaknesses of FACA and its paradoxical use by the Bush Administration in continuing the very same government secrecy that the act is intended to prevent. This article examines a particular case of secrecy in the Bush Administration—the formulation of energy policy by Dick Cheney's energy task force—with an analysis of the known activities of the group and the history of citizen challenges to its secrecy....
Diverticulum of the pericardium with observations on mode of development.

A diverticulum of the pericardium can often be confused with other lesions of the heart and great vessels as well as mediastinal cysts and other masses. Pericardial effusion, sometimes associated with heart lesions causing cardiac enlargement, is a frequent factor in producing diverticular formation. The mode of development of a pericardial diverticulum is better appreciated when certain features of the anatomic structure of the parietal pericardium are understood. Two cases of pericardial diverticulum that illustrate the etiologic, clinical, and roentgen features of the lesion are presented.
General data fusion for estimates with unknown cross covariances

In this paper we present a new theoretic framework for combining sensor measurements, state estimates, or any similar type of quantity given only their means and covariances. The key feature of the new framework is that it permits the optimal fusion of estimates that are correlated to an unknown degree. This framework yields a new filtering paradigm that avoids all of the restrictive independence assumptions required by the standard Kalman filter, though at the cost of reduced rates of convergence for cases in which independence can be established.
H ∞ control with bandwidth and H 2 constraints

This paper discusses some practical issues associated with H∞ controller design based on the results presented by Doyle, Glover, Khargonekar, and Francis (DGKF). First, the optimal H∞ controller based on these results is discussed from a practical applications point of view. Then, tradeoffs between the H∞ norm and other performance characteristics, specifically bandwidth and the H2 norm, are considered. It is shown through example that when the optimal HH∞ norm is relaxed by only 10-20 percent and the central controller of DGKF is used, significant benefits in both the controller bandwidth and the H2 norm of the closed-loop system can be achieved. Furthermore, it is shown that the results for the H2/H∞ tradeoff compare favorably to a controller designed using the mixed H2/H∞ method developed by Bernstein and Haddad, even for the case in which the controlled output associated with the H2 objective is different from that associated with the H∞ objective. Thus, it is demonstrated that other performance criteria, such as controller bandwidth and the H2 norm of the closed-loop system, can be easily used with the results of DGKF to select a desirable suboptimal H∞ controller.
Convulsive responses in rats with hippocampal and neocortical lesions.

Abstract Rats with hippocampal lesions, rats with neocortical lesions, and others with sham operations were tested for electroshock seizure threshold (EST) and for threshold to maximal electroshock seizure (MES) as measured by hind limb extension. The EST was significantly lower in animals with hippocampal and neocortical lesions than in those with sham operations. The rats with hippocampal lesions had not only a lower threshold to hind limb extension than either of the other two groups, but also a longer duration of clonus and longer duration of the total MES. These results suggest that neocortex and hippocampus both play inhibitory roles with regard to neural mechanisms underlying the EST, while only the hippocampus has an inhibitory influence upon neural mechanisms underlying threshold to hind limb extension and duration of clonus in the MES.
A carrier for non-covalent delivery of functional beta-galactosidase and antibodies against amyloid plaques and IgM to the brain.

Background: Therapeutic intervention of numerous brain-associated disorders currently remains unrealized due to serious limitations imposed by the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). The BBB generally allows transport of small molecules, typically ,600 daltons with high octanol/water partition coefficients, but denies passage to most larger molecules. However, some receptors present on the BBB allow passage of cognate proteins to the brain. Utilizing such receptor-ligand systems, several investigators have developed methods for delivering proteins to the brain, a critical requirement of which involves covalent linking of the target protein to a carrier entity. Such covalent modifications involve extensive preparative and postpreparative chemistry that poses daunting limitations in the context of delivery to any organ. Here, we report creation of a 36-amino acid peptide transporter, which can transport a protein to the brain after routine intravenous injection of the transporter-protein mixture. No covalent linkage of the protein with the transporter is necessary. Approach: A peptide transporter comprising sixteen lysine residues and 20 amino acids corresponding to the LDLR-binding domain of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) was synthesized. Transport of beta-galactosidase, IgG, IgM, and antibodies against amyloid plques to the brain upon iv injection of the protein-transporter mixture was evaluated through staining for enzyme activity or micro single photon emission tomography (micro-SPECT) or immunostaining. Effect of the transporter on the integrity of the BBB was also investigated. Principal Findings: The transporter enabled delivery to the mouse brain of functional beta-galactosidase, human IgG and IgM, and two antibodies that labeled brain-associated amyloid beta plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Significance: The results suggest the transporter is able to transport most or all proteins to the brain without the need for chemically linking the transporter to a protein. Thus, the approach offers an avenue for rapid clinical evaluation of numerous candidate drugs against neurological diseases including cancer. (299 words).
Physiological Disposition of 2-Phenyl Quinoline-4-Carboxylic Acid (Ginchophen) in Man. Method for its Estimation in Biological Material:

SummaryA specific and sensitive method for the measurement of cinchophen in biological fluids and tissues is described. Cinchophen is essentially completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The drug is almost entirely metabolized in man, only about 2% being excreted in the urine. The rate of biotransformation of cinchophen is fairly uniform, among a number of subjects the average half-life being 4 hours. Cinchophen is localized in most organ tissues. The drug is largely distributed in extracellular fluid and at low concentrations is highly bound to plasma proteins.
Dual formulations of optimal control problems

First-order necessary conditions are obtained for a dual formulation, in terms of a class of direction fields, of an optimal control problem of Hestenes. The control functions do not appear. A maximum principle for a boundary arc of a class of admissible arcs is stated in a similar dual formulation.
Astrocytes protect neurons from ammonia toxicity.

Ammonia is a neurotoxin that is implicated in the CNS dysfunction associated with hepatic encephalopathy, urea cycle disorders, Reye’s syndrome and other neurological conditions. While in vivo studies suggest that astrocytes are the principal target of ammonia toxicity, recent in vitro investigations suggest that neurons may also be directly affected by ammonia. To further examine the issue of neural cell sensitivity to ammonia, pure rat cortical neuronal cultures, as well as co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes, were exposed to 5 mM NH4Cl for 48 h. Cultures were examined for morphological changes by light microscopy, measures of cell death, free radical production and changes in the mitochondrial inner membrane potential. Ammonia caused extensive degenerative changes in pure cultured neurons, while such neuronal changes were minor in the co-cultures. Similarly, processes of pure cultured neurons displayed a significant loss of the mitochondrial inner membrane potential, as compared to neurons in co-cultures. Cell death (LDH release) in ammonia-treated neuronal cultures was twice as great as untreated controls, while in co-cultures ammonia did not significantly increase cell death. Free radical production at 3 min was increased (69%, P<0.05) in pure neuronal cultures but not in co-cultures. The neuroprotective effects observed in co-cultures may have been mediated by the astrocyte’s ability to scavenge free radicals, by their detoxification of ammonia and/or by their neurotrophic actions. The neuroprotective action of astrocytes may explain the failure to detect significant pathological changes in neurons in ammonia toxicity in vivo.
Trifluoropropynyl as a Surrogate for the Cyano Ligand and Intense, Room-Temperature, Metal-Centered Emission from Its Rh(III) Complex

The trifluoropropynyl ligand -C≡CCF(3) was studied as a possible surrogate for the cyano ligand. Complexes of the type trans-[M(cyclam)(C≡CCF(3))(2)]OTf (where M = Cr(3+), Co(3+), and Rh(3+); OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) were prepared and then characterized by electronic spectroscopy and by cyclic voltammetry for the Co(3+) complex. The UV-vis spectra for all three bear a remarkable similarity to that of the trans-M(cyclam)(CN)(2)(+) cations. The trifluoropropynyl complex of Co(3+) shows electrochemical behavior nearly identical with that of its dicyano analogue. Metal-centered phosphorescence from the Rh(III) complex in room-temperature aqueous solution has a quantum yield of 0.12 and a lifetime of 73 μs, nearly 10 times higher than those of its dicyano analogue.
Sex-Linked period Genes in the Silkmoth, Antheraea pernyi: Implications for Circadian Clock Regulation and the Evolution of Sex Chromosomes

Regulation of the period (per) gene is a critical feature of circadian clock function in insects. Here, we show that per is sex-linked in the silkmoth, Antheraea per-nyi. The previously described silkmoth per gene is found on the Z chromosome. Silkmoth per is not dosage compensated at either the RNA or the protein level. Although earlier studies showed the presence of an oscillating endogenous antisense per transcript, we show that this transcript comes from a locus on the female-specific W chromosome. We further demonstrate the presence of a homolog of per on W that encodes a truncated protein. Rhythmicity of male (ZZ) moths demonstrates that neither of the W-linked per-like genes is essential for clock function. The presence of a per allele with duplications on W provides insight into the evolution of the sex chromosomes.
Immunology of methanogenic bacteria

Abstract The purpose of this brief review is to highlight some of the findings made in the authors' laboratories using immunologic methods and antibody probes developed for analysis of methanogens directly in samples from bioreactors, avoiding culture isolation. A considerable diversity of methanogens was revealed by antigenic fingerprinting in bioreactors, larger than previously suspected. It was also found that the number and immunologic characteristics of the methanogenic subpopulations form a pattern distinctive of bioreactor type, feedstock and operating conditions. This pattern changed in response to perturbations and to temperature shifts. Time course quantitative measurements of methanogenic subpopulations demonstrated that these subpopulations undergo sequential changes during bioreactor operation. Parallel microbiologic, physiologic, and chemical determinations demonstrated the reliability of the immunologic methods and their potential for bioreactor monitoring and for manipulating microbes (e.g. to exclude a strain from a bioreactor). These immunologic methods were used to elucidate and monitor the methanogenic flora of a granular consortium over a period of several months. Each methanogenic subpopulation examined responded to a shift in temperature with changes in cell numbers and in its topography within the consortium.
Experimental Investigation of the Hydrodynamics in a Liquid-Solid Riser

Liquid–solid fluid dynamics has been investigated in a 6-in. (0.15 m) “cold-flow” circulating fluidized bed riser using non-invasive flow monitoring methods. Gamma-ray computed tomography (CT) was used to measure the time-averaged cross-sectional solids volume fraction distributions at several elevations. The time-averaged mean and “fluctuating” solids velocity fields were quantified using the computer-automated radioactive particle tracking (CARPT) technique. The experimental equipment, protocol of implementation, and data analysis have been discussed briefly, with particular emphasis on the specific features in the use of these techniques for studying high-density turbulent flows as in a liquid–solid riser. The experimental study examines nine operating conditions, that is, three liquid superficial velocities and three solids flow rates. The solids holdup profile is found to be relatively uniform across the cross section of the riser, with marginal segregation near the walls. The time-averaged solids velocity profiles are found to have a negative component at the walls, indicating significant solids backmixing. Detailed characterization of the solids velocity fields in terms of RMS velocities, kinetic energies, Hurst exponents, residence time distributions, trajectory length distributions, dispersion coefficients, and so forth are presented. Comparative and symbiotic analyses of the results were used to develop a coherent picture of the solids flow field. In addition, the work also serves to demonstrate the power and versatility of these flow-imaging techniques in studying highly turbulent and opaque multiphase systems. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 51: 802– 835, 2005
Imaging of diffuse liver disease

Although the diagnosis of diffuse hepatic disease has traditionally been made by laboratory examination or liver biopsy, cross-sectional image can aid in the diagnosis and characterization of diffuse diseases. Imaging can be used to determine the cause of diffuse hepatocellular disease in many instances, and in others can be used to assess the extent of cirrhosis and associated secondary changes of portal hypertension. In patients with end-stage liver disease, imaging is essential in evaluating for development of complications of cirrhosis, such as portal vein thrombosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Diffuse hepatocellular diseases that can be further evaluated with CT scan and MR imaging include cirrhosis; iron overload; Wilson's disease; Budd-Chiari syndrome; fatty change; neoplastic diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, metastases, and lymphoma; sarcoidosis; amyloidosis; and schistosomiasis. In certain instances, the specificity of findings on CT scan or MR imaging is sufficient to obviate the need for histologic examination.
Increased vessel depiction of the carotid bifurcation with a specialized 16-channel phased array coil at 3T.

The purpose of this work was to design and construct a multi-channel receive-only RF coil for 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging of the human carotid artery and bifurcation with optimized signal to noise ratio in the carotid vessels along the full extent of the neck. A neck phantom designed to match the anatomy of a subject with a neck representing the body habitus often seen in subjects with carotid arterial disease, was constructed. Sixteen circular coil elements were arranged on a semi-rigid fiberglass former that closely fit the shape of the phantom, resulting in a 16-channel bilateral phased array coil. Comparisons were made between this coil and a typical 4-channel carotid coil in a study of 10 carotid vessels in 5 healthy volunteers. The 16-channel carotid coil showed a 73% average improvement in signal to noise ratio (SNR) at the carotid bifurcation. This coil also maintained an SNR greater than the peak SNR of the 4-channel coil over a vessel length of 10 cm. The resulting increase in SNR improved vessel depiction of the carotid arteries over an extended field of view, and demonstrated better image quality for higher parallel imaging reduction factors compared to the 4-channel coil.
Expression of a recombination gene on transforming DNA in a recombination-defective Haemophilus influenzae recipient cell☆

Abstract The rec 1 − mutation in Haemophilus influenzae causes ultraviolet sensitivity as well as defective recombination. A rec 1 − strain was exposed to DNA extracted from rec 1 + or rec 1 − cells and then irradiated with u.v. After large u.v. doses, the survival of cells exposed to rec 1 + DNA was higher than that of cells exposed to rec 1 − DNA and approached the survival of wild-type cells. Since the fraction of the population with a wild-type response to u.v. was much greater than the fraction of rec 1 − cells transformed to rec 1 + , we conclude that transcription of the rec 1 + gene in the rec 1 − cell can occur without integration.
Water loss in three species of tiger beetles (Cicindela): Correlations with epicuticular hydrocarbons

Abstract Water loss rates in dry air at 30°C and cuticular lipid/hydrocarbon composition were determined for three species (eight populations) of tiger beetles (Cicindela oregona, C. tranquebarica and C. obsoleta). The highest water loss rates were found in C. oregona (0.049 to 0.052 mg cm−2h−1 mmHg−1), a species active in spring and fall along water courses in Arizona, while the lowest rates were exhibited by C. obsoleta (0.022 to 0.028 mg cm−2h−1 mmHg−1), a summer-active species that inhabits dry grasslands. Water loss rates for C. tranquebarica were closer to those of C. obsoleta even though C. tranquebarica often coexists with C. oregona. Hydrocarbons were an important constituent of the cuticular lipids of all three species; smaller quantities of wax and cholesterol esters, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, alcohols, and cholesterol were also detected. C. obsoleta contained the greatest amount of hydrocarbon per surface area. All of its hydrocarbon molecules were saturated, with branched components accounting for about 60% of the total fraction. Saturated (primarily n-alkanes) and unsaturated (n-alkenes) molecules were present in both C. oregona, which contained the lowest hydrocarbon surface density, and C. tranquebarica. The hydrocarbon composition of the three species is discussed in terms of its contribution to the epicuticular waterproofing barrier and its potential use as a chemotaxonomic tool.
A student-directed computing community

We describe a computing facility created, supported, maintained, and used entirely by undergraduate students. This facility exists outside of the instructional support system, so the usual constraints of reliability are relaxed, allowing relatively unrestricted installation of software and hardware. An active community has developed around this facility, providing broad technical experiences and enabling mentoring relationships.
Predictors of readmission in orthopaedic trauma surgery

Objectives:This study of patients who had operative treatment of skeletal trauma addresses (1) the association between readmission within 30 days of discharge and comorbidities and (2) differences in factors associated with all-cause readmissions and those because of a surgical adverse event.Design:
Secondary RF plasma system for mitigation of EUV source debris and advanced fuels

A 52 MHz RF system has been installed and tested on the IDEAL chamber. The secondary plasma source will be used in conjunction with other methods to mitigate debris from an EUV source. The plasmas are produced by a quarter-wavelength helical resonator antenna contained within a faraday shield. Argon and helium gases have both been tested in the system and have been shown to produce plasmas with densities as high as 8 × 1011 cm-3 with input powers up to 800 W. Input power to the system is limited by internal geometry and connections to the antenna housing.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
V.—USES OF SIMILARITY OF STRUCTURE IN CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY

I AM concerned here both to describe one of the main technical concepts employed by Russell throughout most of his philosophy, namely, his concept of similarity of structure, and to judge its alleged usefulness for solving a number of important problems in philosophy. Russell's system, however, is but one of many which are systematically permeated with the concept of similarity of structure. Both the concept of isomorphism defined and used by Weyl and by Cohen and Nagel and Carnap's much trusted concept of intentional isomorphism appear to be closely similar to Russell's concept of similarity of. structure. In Eddington, Wittgenstein, and Schlick twin concepts are also employed confidently. We may indeed say that systematic use of the concept of similarity of structure in one guise or another for dealing with problems of epistemology and metaphysics especially characterizes philosophy during the first half of our century. I find it a convenient expository device to develop my critical evaluation of this concept by reference to Russell's especially conspicuous formulation and use of it throughout his writings. However, I would like it remembered that my larger concern here is to judge the philosophical importance of this piece of technical apparatus itself, not merely as it appears in Russell's system making but also as it is used in much of the system building characteristic of recent philosophy of analysis. Russell's uses of it will be taken simply as a paradigm of this recent innovation in technical philosophy. If Russell's applications of his concept of similarity of structure are to be responsibly judged, his formulation of it must first be carefully expounded.
Injection Dependence of Transient Annealing in Neutron-Irradiated Silicon Devices

Studies have been performed to explore accurately the injection level and temperature dependence of transient annealing in neutron-irradiated P- and N-type silicon. In P-type material, the annealing factor in the 0 to 0.1 second time interval is very sensitive to the minority carrier injection level. For example, by varying the injection level from 10-5 to 10-1 the annealing factor at 0.001 second can be reduced from 10 to approximately 2. In contrast to the P-type results, the injection dependence observed in N-type silicon is very small and, furthermore, is in the opposite sense; i.e., an increase in the injection level causes an increase in the annealing factor. However, this study shows that this seemingly different behavior can be correlated on the basis of the hole-to-electron ratios of the different material types and resistivities. Annealing measurements performed in the temperature range from 180°to 300°K reaffirm the 0.3 eV activation energy previously found in P-type silicon and establish a value of 0.17 eV for N-type silicon.
Correspondence-free Structure from Motion

We present a novel approach for the estimation of 3D-motion directly from two images using the Radon transform. The feasibility of any camera motion is computed by integrating over all feature pairs that satisfy the epipolar constraint. This integration is equivalent to taking the inner product of a similarity function on feature pairs with a Dirac function embedding the epipolar constraint. The maxima in this five dimensional motion space will correspond to compatible rigid motions. The main novelty is in the realization that the Radon transform is a filtering operator: If we assume that the similarity and Dirac functions are defined on spheres and the epipolar constraint is a group action of rotations on spheres, then the Radon transform is a correlation integral. We propose a new algorithm to compute this integral from the spherical Fourier transform of the similarity and Dirac functions. Generating the similarity function now becomes a preprocessing step which reduces the complexity of the Radon computation by a factor equal to the number of feature pairs processed. The strength of the algorithm is in avoiding a commitment to correspondences, thus being robust to erroneous feature detection, outliers, and multiple motions.
Distribution of local void ratio in porous media systems from 3D X-ray microtomography images

We present in this paper a methodology to calculate the distribution of local void ratio in porous media systems from high-resolution three-dimensional images. We introduce an algorithm to calculate the distribution of local void ratio from 3D images based on distance and watershed transforms. The watershed transform is used to segment touched or overlapped particles in an efficient way and the distance transform is used to calculate the boundaries of local void regions. The algorithm is validated using computer simulated 3D images of regular packing, irregular (non-spherical particles) packing, and random uniform spherical packing. Results show that the algorithm is robust, accurate and can be used to calculate local void ratio distribution of 3D systems regardless of irregularity in shapes, sizes, or arrangement of particles. X-ray microtomography images of different glass bead systems are used to calculate distributions of local void ratio. Parameters of distributions are function of porosity and particle-size distribution. The maximum local void ratio in each system is less than 3.0 and the minimum is greater than 0.2.
Thwarting β-Hydride Elimination: Capture of the Alkylpalladium Intermediate of an Asymmetric Intramolecular Heck Reaction

In spite of containing three conformationally accessible β-H atoms, palladacycle 1 a is an isolable intermediate in the asymmetric Heck cyclization of 2 a. Although 1 a is stable in the presence of the hydrotriflate salt of 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine, it is converted into the oxindole Heck product when exposed to the more acidic hydrotriflate salt of 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine. Heck cyclization of 2 b is also believed to proceed by way of a palladacyclic intermediate 1 b, which in this case undergoes β-methoxide elimination. Bn=benzyl.
Speech intelligibility in hospitals

In hospitals, background noise has been shown to be problematic, not only for the patients but also for the staff. With respect to staff members, perceived stress and psychosocial factors can be affected negatively by noise. One particular factor that noise can inhibit is effective speech communication. Speech communication is essential for functions such as evaluation, admittance and treatment of patients. This paper will discuss results from measurements made in several different hospital units where traditional speech intelligibility metrics were analyzed. Additionally, newer analysis techniques such as Noise Occurrence Rates were investigated for their potential usefulness in speech intelligibility applications. Preliminary results show that in general, the hospital units show “poor” to “marginal” Speech Intelligibility (SII) qualitative scores. The results of this study help to better explain how speech is understood in various locations within the hospitals and can aid in hospital designs that support speech communication.
Analysis of an estuarine striped bass population: Effects of environmental conditions during early life

Estuarine fish populations are exposed to a variety of environmental conditions that cause both short-term variability and long-term trends in abundance. We analyzed an extensive data set for striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the San Francisco Estuary to refine our understanding of how environmental variability influences recruitment. We examined the effects of environmental variability during early life stages on subsequent recruitment (age 3 yr), and the degree to which conditions in early life may have contributed to a long-term decline in abundance of adult striped bass in the San Francisco Estuary. Survival from egg to young-of-the-year varied strongly with freshwater flow; this effect apparently occurred within the first week or two of life, a time period that encompasses transport of eggs and larvae from the rivers to rearing areas and the onset of feeding. The rate of freshwater flow to pumping facilities that export freshwater from the system had small or sporadic effects on survival during the first month or two of life. Although many young striped bass between ages 2 and 8 mo were entrained in export pumping facilities, the resulting high mortality was unrelated to total mortality rates determined from field data on young striped bass. This lack of effect was apparently due to strong density-dependent mortality occurring between ages 1 mo and 3 yr (Kimmerer et al. 2000). The available data do not support previously suggested relationships between recruitment and freshwater flow during early life, or between gross estimates of pesticide input and survival of early life stages. We used a simple life-cycle model to show that various combined factors could have led to a decline in adult abundance, particularly a large and increasing adult mortality, but that events early in life probably did not contribute substantially to the decline. These results demonstrate that several decades of monitoring data from numerous life stages are needed to distinguish among alternative hypotheses about environmental influences on populations of estuarine fish.
Adjuvant gemcitabine plus docetaxel for completely resected stages I-IV high grade uterine leiomyosarcoma : Results of a prospective study

Abstract Objective Patients with completely resected stages I–IV high grade uterine leiomyosarcoma are at high risk for recurrence. No adjuvant treatment has been shown to improve survival, although prospective data are limited. We sought to determine whether adjuvant gemcitabine-docetaxel would yield a 2-year progression-free survival of at least 50% in this leiomyosarcoma population. Methods Eligible patients were treated with gemcitabine 900 mg/m 2 over 90 min days 1 and 8 plus docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 day 8, every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. CT imaging was performed at baseline, after cycle 4, and every 3 months. Progression was defined as evidence of new disease on CT. Results Twenty-five patients (median age 49; range, 37–73) enrolled; 23 were evaluable (1-never treated, 1-ineligible). With median follow-up of 49 months for all patients, 10 (45%) of the 23 evaluable patients remained progression free at 2 years, with a median progression-free survival of 13 months. The median overall survival is not yet reached. Among the 18 patients with stages I or II uterine leiomyosarcoma, 59% remain progression-free at 2 years, with a median progression-free survival of 39 months. Median overall survival for stages I and II patients is not yet reached with median follow-up duration of 49 months. Sites of first recurrence were: lung only — 3/23 (13%); pelvis only — 5/23 (22%); both — 5 (22%). Conclusions Post-resection gemcitabine-docetaxel for stages I–IV high-grade uterine leiomyosarcoma yields 2-year progression-free survival rates that appear superior to historical rates. Gemcitabine-docetaxel merits further study as part of an adjuvant strategy for patients with completely resected, early-stage uterine leiomyosarcoma.
SDOF Demand Index Relationships for Performance-Based Seismic Design

Abstract This paper investigates design relationships to estimate the following four seismic demand indices for single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems: (1) the peak displacement ductility demand, μ; (2) the cumulative plastic displacement ductility demand, μp; (3) the residual displacement ductility demand, μr; and (4) the number of yield events, ny. The main objectives of the study are (1) to develop relatively simple regression relationships that can be used to estimate mean values of these demand indices; and (2) to investigate the effects of structure yield strength, hysteretic behavior, fundamental period, site soil characteristics, seismic demand level, site seismicity, and epicentral distance on these relationships. It is shown that the correlation between μ and the other demand indices is usually relatively strong. In some cases, the cross-correlations between the demand indices are weak, indicating that these indices carry independent measures of seismic demand.
p21CDKN1A allows the repair of replication-mediated DNA double-strand breaks induced by topoisomerase I and is inactivated by the checkpoint kinase inhibitor 7-hydroxystaurosporine

This study provides evidence for the importance of p21CDKN1A for the repair of replication-mediated DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by topoisomerase I. We report that defects of p21CDKN1A and p53 enhance camptothecin-induced histone H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX), a marker for DNA DSBs. In human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells with wild-type (wt) p53, γH2AX reverses after camptothecin removal. By contrast, γH2AX increases after camptothecin removal in HCT116 cells deficient for p53 (p53−/−) or p21CDKN1A (p21−/−) as the cells reach the late-S and G2 phases. Since p21−/− cells exhibit similar S-phase arrest as wt cells in response to camptothecin and aphidicolin does not abrogate the enhanced γH2AX formation in p21−/− cells, we conclude that enhanced γH2AX formation in p21−/− cells is not due to re-replication. The cell cycle checkpoint abrogator and Chk1/Chk2 inhibitor 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) also increases camptothecin-induced γH2AX formation and inhibits camptothecin-induced p21CDKN1A upregulation in HCT116 wt cells. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) assays demonstrate that γH2AX formation in late S and G2 cells following CPT treatment corresponds to DNA breaks. However, these breaks are not related to apoptotic DNA fragmentation. We propose that p21CDKN1A prevents the collapse of replication forks damaged by stabilized topoisomerase I cleavage complexes.
Involvement of a High-Mobility-Group Protein in the Transcriptional Activity of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency-Active Promoter 2

Latency-active promoter 2 (LAP 2) is a TATA-less promoter in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) that can expressgenesduringvirallatency.FourregionsofLAP2areprotectedfromDNaseIdigestioninvitrobyeither HeLa cell nuclear extracts or purified Sp1. Transient gene expression assays of LAP2 substitution mutants demonstrate that two of the regions protected by Sp1 and three other regions protected by nuclear extract are important for promoter function. The mutation causing the most significant reduction in expression alters a stretch of 23 thymidine residues (T23) that binds a protein with several properties common to high-mobilitygroup (HMG) proteins. The T23binding activity is heat stable, can be inhibited by poly(dA-dT) zpoly(dA-dT), and is inhibited by minor-groove-binding drugs. Antiserum directed against HMG I(Y) blocked the formation of one of the DNA-protein complexes on the T23oligonucleotide, suggesting that a protein antigenically related to HMG I(Y) binds to LAP2 in vitro. Direct evidence of HMG I(Y) involvement in LAP2 function is provided bythefindingsthatrecombinantHMGI(Y)proteinfacilitatesSp1bindingtoLAP2inmobilityshiftassaysand that antisense HMG I(Y) RNA specifically inhibits LAP2 function in vivo. These results suggest that DNA structure may be an important determinant of the activity of a promoter that is capable of escaping the global shutoff of transcription that occurs during viral latency.
Drag reduction of a circular cylinder at high Reynolds numbers

The flow past a circular cylinder has been examined over the Reynolds number range 10 exp 4 to 6 x 10 exp 5 in the presence of a small control cylinder/airfoil placed immediately outside of the wake shear layer. The tests were conducted with both smooth and rough cylinders. Simulation of the supercritical Reynolds number was achieved by means of surface roughness. A significant drag reduction was observed at all Reynolds numbers with the exception of those in the critical flow regime. Results show that the control cylinder/airfoil periodically diverts the high speed free-stream into innermost part of the vortex formation region. Consequently, a reduction in size of the recirculation region is observed, which is accompanied by a significant reduction in the base pressure fluctuation. At critical Reynolds numbers where there is no organized vortex shedding, the control airfoil was found to be ineffective as a drag reduction device. (Author)
The prognostic value of the mitral diastolic filling velocity ratio for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in African Americans: the atherosclerotic Risks in Communities (ARIC) study

Background Although recent data suggest that the mitral diastolic early-to-late (E/A) ratio may be prognostic in selected population-based cohorts, its predictive value for morbidity and mortality in African Americans has not yet been well studied. Methods The study population consisted of African American participants from the Jackson cohort of the Atherosclerotic Risks in Community Study. Three subgroups of E/A ratios were defined: E/A 1.5, using the middle group as reference. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between the E/A ratio and both all-cause mortality and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). The mean follow-up period was 6.8 ± 1.3 years. Results Of the 2211 participants in the study population (mean age 62 years, 65.1% women), 8.2% had an E/A ratio 1.5. An E/A >1.5 was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-4.03) in the multivariable model. An E/A .05). Conclusions In a population-based cohort of middle-aged African Americans, an E/A >1.5 independently predicts all-cause mortality. An E/A >1.5 and an E/A
A new framework for static timing analysis, incremental timing refinement, and timing simulation

In this paper we present a framework that enables the computation of tight ranges of signal arrival, transition, and required times for rising and falling transitions at each circuit line, given an input sequence consisting of two partially specified vectors. At one extreme, when the vectors are completely unspecified, this framework becomes identical to static timing analysis (STA). At the other extreme, when the vectors are completely specified, this framework performs timing simulation (TS). Our key motivation for developing this framework was to reduce the amount of search required by a test generator that uses timing information. During test generation for a target fault, values are specified incrementally and this framework enables refinement of timing windows. We demonstrate that this approach significantly improves test generation efficiency. In this mode, the ATPG is said to be performing incremental timing refinement (ITR).
Distal hindlimb kinematics of galloping Thoroughbred racehorses on dirt and synthetic racetrack surfaces.

Summary Reasons for performing study The effect of racetrack surface (dirt or synthetic) on distal hindlimb kinematics of racehorses running at competition speeds is not known. Objectives To compare distal hindlimb and hoof kinematics during stance of breezing (unrestrained gallop) racehorses between dirt and synthetic surfaces. Study design Two-dimensional kinematic video analysis of 5 Thoroughbred racehorses galloping at high speeds (12–17 m/s) on a dirt racetrack and a synthetic racetrack. Methods The positions of kinematic markers applied to the left hindlimb were recorded at 500 Hz. Position, velocity and acceleration of joint angles and hoof translation during stance were calculated in the sagittal plane. Peak translational and angular kinematic values were compared between the dirt and synthetic race surfaces using mixed model analyses of covariance. Results Maximum and heel-strike metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) angles were greater (P<0.05) on the dirt surface than on the synthetic surface. Maximum fetlock angle occurred earlier during stance on the dirt surface (P<0.05). Greater horizontal displacement of the heel during slide occurred on the dirt surface (P<0.05). Conclusions During high-speed gallop, hindlimb fetlock hyperextension and horizontal hoof slide are greater on a dirt surface than on a synthetic surface. Synthetic race surfaces may mitigate risk of injury to hindlimb fetlock structures by reducing fetlock hyperextension and associated strains in fetlock support structures. Differences in hoof slide may contribute to different distal hindlimb kinematics between surfaces.
Multi-level Conceptual Modeling for Biomedical Data and Ontologies Integration

In biomedical/biological research fields, some semantic data (experiments, evidence, annotation, etc.) can be classified into different levels (from the DNA/RNA level to higher levels such as cells, tissues, organs, and biological systems) based on different degrees of abstraction. Hence, it is important to represent and integrate them across different levels. The purpose of this paper is to address the characteristics of biological data and develop a multi-level conceptual model. Our approach facilitates more accurate modeling of biomedical ontologies, and a better understanding of the data stored in various biological data sources. Furthermore, we propose intra-level and inter-level relationships and give formal definitions illustrated with examples in order to precisely describe relation/behavior among concepts at multiple levels. Our work can be used as the building block for biomedical data or ontologies integration.
Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Epoxies by the use of Fillers

To predict the effect of fillers on the thermal conductivity of epoxies, a model has been proposed which consists of a right circular cylinder of epoxy with a hemisphere of a thermally conductive material imbedded in each end. The laws of heat conduction are then applied to this model to obtain a composite thermal conductivity. The effect of packing density of the spheres is considered, then modified, to accommodate the highly nonspherical nature of the filler particle aggregates. A projection is made to show the effect of filler thermal conductivity and filler concentration on the expected thermal conductivity of an epoxy-base composite. A graphical comparison of these two effects is presented.
Performance Evaluation of WLAN/Cellular Media Access for Mobile Voice Users under Random Mobility Models

With the proliferation of a diverse array of networks in the recent past, the heterogeneous environment is foreseen to serve mobile terminals (MT) in a complementary fashion at large. Multimodal MTs can now switch interfaces between Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) and the cellular media. In order to exploit the heterogeneity of the wireless environment, MTs require not only to have efficient medium access schemes but also smart medium selection methods. This paper aims at evaluating the performance of such schemes analytically. A practical yet tractable method of evaluating vertical handover (VH) algorithms was developed in the authors' prior work yet a simplistic system scenario was addressed. In this paper, that framework is extended further to facilitate analyzing more realistic scenarios. Specifically, several random user mobility models are addressed here, and the prior assumptions of cellular ubiquity and stationarity of WLAN characteristics are relaxed. The performance of a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) based VH algorithm is evaluated in computing the WLAN usage efficiency and deriving the required signal strength thresholds for handover decisions that meet given target outage probabilities. An additional WLAN lifetime-based algorithm is also evaluated. Analytical results are validated by comparing them to simulation results.
Mesenchymal gene program-expressing ovarian cancer spheroids exhibit enhanced mesothelial clearance

Metastatic dissemination of ovarian tumors involves the invasion of tumor cell clusters into the mesothelial cell lining of peritoneal cavity organs; however, the tumor-specific factors that allow ovarian cancer cells to spread are unclear. We used an in vitro assay that models the initial step of ovarian cancer metastasis, clearance of the mesothelial cell layer, to examine the clearance ability of a large panel of both established and primary ovarian tumor cells. Comparison of the gene and protein expression profiles of clearance-competent and clearance-incompetent cells revealed that mesenchymal genes are enriched in tumor populations that display strong clearance activity, while epithelial genes are enriched in those with weak or undetectable activity. Overexpression of transcription factors SNAI1, TWIST1, and ZEB1, which regulate the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), promoted mesothelial clearance in cell lines with weak activity, while knockdown of the EMT-regulatory transcription factors TWIST1 and ZEB1 attenuated mesothelial clearance in ovarian cancer cell lines with strong activity. These findings provide important insights into the mechanisms associated with metastatic progression of ovarian cancer and suggest that inhibiting pathways that drive mesenchymal programs may suppress tumor cell invasion of peritoneal tissues.