cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-tier Bloom filter to achieve faster membership testing

Testing for element membership in a Bloom filter requires hashing of a test element (e.g. a string) and multiple lookups in memory. A design of a new two-tier Bloom filter with on-chip hash functions and cache is described. For elements with a heavy-tailed distribution for popularity, membership testing time can be significantly reduced.
A routing algorithm for dynamic multicast trees with end-to-end path length control

The new Path Length Control (PLC) algorithm establishes and maintains multicast trees which maximize the bandwidth to be shared by multiple receivers and which satisfy the maximum path length bounds for each receiver. The PLC algorithm can be implemented as a distributed algorithm, can tradeoff end-to-end delay and bandwidth consumption, and can be implemented for polynomial time execution. Analysis and simulation show that (a) the PLC algorithm generates multicast trees which consume less bandwidth than those generated by the SPT algorithm while guaranteeing the same shortest path length and (b) consume less bandwidth than trees generated by the Greedy algorithm with only a moderate increase in path length. The PLC algorithm is more flexible and has a lower cost than a combined SPT and Greedy algorithm.
Mystery Appeal: Effects of Uncertainty and Resolution on the Enjoyment of Mystery.

To investigate determinants of mystery enjoyment, a short story was manipulated to produce different levels of uncertainty regarding two suspects' criminal involvement (low vs. high uncertainty) and to create different resolution types (denouement, confirmation, and surprise). Participants' (N = 84) reactions and enjoyment were ascertained via questionnaires after reading the mystery development and after the mystery resolution. Moreover, personality assessments were administered. Results show that enjoyment of the mystery reception was greater when participants were highly uncertain regarding the culprit and experienced high levels of curiosity. As hypothesized, resolution enjoyment depended on type of resolution and self-esteem. A resolution that confirmed respondents' suspicion was disliked by persons with high self-esteem, whereas respondents with low self-esteem disliked a surprising resolution. Enjoyment of a general denouement, when participants had not held specific expectations, was not affected ...
What Technical Writing Students Should Know about Typeface Personality.

Typeface personality impacts the rhetorical effect of students' documents, yet it receives little attention in textbooks. Technical writing students should stand the definition of “appropriate” in ...
Measurement of extinction profiles with an aureole lidar

A lidar system, developed to map atmospheric extinction under the flight path of a P-3 aircraft, was tested during the Key 90 experiment. Using a modified Cassegrainian telescope, the return signals from both wide and narrow field of view are detected. Optical depth and extinction profiles are derived from these signals. The instrument design, data analysis, and measurements from Key 90 are discussed.
Modern Techniques in Hallux Rigidus Surgery

This article is a review of the history, etiology, and clinical and radiographic presentations of hallux rigidus. The focus is on current treatment options being offered for the treatment of hallux rigidus.
D-Xylose metabolism in Rhodosporidium toruloides

Hofer et al. (Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1971. 252:1-12) presented circumstantial evidence that suggested that Rhodosporidium toruloides produced a xylose isomerase. We were unable to detect this activity in cell-free extracts of this yeast, however, xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase activities were detected.
Distinct Regions of Allelic Loss on Chromosome 4 in Human Primary Bladder Carcinoma

Accumulating evidence implicates the presence of putative tumor suppressor genes on human chromosome 4 that are potentially inactivated in the genesis of several different neoplasms. To accurately determine the frequency of allelic loss on both arms of human chromosome 4, we screened 282 fresh-frozen human bladder carcinomas for allelic loss. Loss of heterozygosity of at least one marker for chromosome 4 was identified in 129 tumors (45.7%). Fine mapping was accomplished using up to 15 polymorphic markers on the p arm and 19 markers on the q arm. We identified a 3-cM minimal area of loss on the p arm between microsatellite markers D4S1608 and D4S404 deleted in 82 tumors (29%). A total of 68 tumors (24%) targeted a 14-cM critical region identified on the distal q arm between markers D4S426 and D4S408. Loss of these two regions correlated with advanced stage and grade of the lesions. These data identify distinct regions of loss on chromosome 4 potentially involved in the late progression of bladder carcinoma.
Commodifying and Banking Pollution Rights, Reducing Innovation

This Article represents an attempt to fill a gap in the existing environmental law and policy literature by exploring the interplay between the extent to which, and the conditions under which, polluting firms are allowed to bank excess pollution credits and the strength of the incentives for polluting firms to invest in the development of new pollution reduction and control technologies. The central argument in the Article is this: permitting the banking of pollution credits has both a pro-innovation and anti-innovation incentive effect, and the anti-innovation effect for each firm is a function both of how many credits that firm has in the bank and of how many credits it knows that its competitors have in their banks. Although my analysis does not point to any particular rule regarding banking, it does provide some support for limits on the banking of credits. The intuition behind the analysis is simple: once firms have banked pollution credits, they are in the position of both a prospective buyer and a prospective seller of pollution credits. As prospective buyers of credits, firms have an incentive to further the development of pollution reduction and control technology that will (in addition to other things) reduce the prevailing market price for credits. As prospective sellers of pollution credits, by contrast, firms have an incentive to deter, or at least not further, the development of pollution reduction and control technology that will reduce the prevailing price for credits.
Shelby's Folly: Jack Dempsey, Doc Kearns, and the Shakedown of a Montana Boomtown

Shelby's Folly: Jack Dempsey, Doc Kearns, and the Shakedown of a Montana Boomtown, by Jason Kelly, Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, 2010, 214 pp., 23 photographs, $26.95, ISBN 978-0-8032-2655...
Review of Magnetic Field Observations

Detailed magnetic field observations are now routinely conducted on satellites mapping the magnetosphere and its boundaries. Sufficiently comprehensive spatial, temporal, and high time resolution observations have improved the morphological description of the structure of and fluctuations in the magnetosphere, magnetosheath, plasma sheet and bow shock. Large scale distortion of the magnetospheric structure is detectable in the magnetic field data during and following major geomagnetic and substorm disturbances. Recent observations in previously unexplored regions of the magnetosphere, particularly in the polar cusp region, compliment and reinforce emphasis on particle access to the plasma sheet via the polar neutral points. Significant distortions of the geomagnetic field in the polar cusp region suggest field aligned currents at large geocentric distances which can be related to low altitude polar cap phenomena. Studies of the microstructure of the field reversal region of the plasma sheet imbedded in the geomagnetic tail suggest a periodic structure of more complexity than earlier assumed simplified single neutral-line models. No significant solar cycle variation of magnetospheric structure has been detected. This review highlights the salient features of the more recent observations of the magnetic field in the magnetosphere and identifies critical experimental and data areas for further study and theoretical analysis and interpretation.
Medicating the mind: a Kantian analysis of overprescribing psychoactive drugs

Psychoactive drugs are being prescribed to millions of Americans at an increasing rate. In many cases these drugs are necessary in order to overcome debilitating emotional problems. Yet in other instances, these drugs are used to supplant, not supplement, interpersonal therapy. The process of overcoming emotional obstacles by introspection and the attainment of self knowledge is gradually being eroded via the gratuitous use of psychoactive medication in order to rapidly attain a release from the common problems that life inevitably presents us with. In this paper, I argue that Kant’s formula of humanity, which maintains that persons ought never to treat others or themselves soley as a means to an end, proscribes this. Moreover, Kant argues that we have an imperfect duty of self development, and I argue that we fail to adhere to such a duty whenever we seek to evade the process of introspection and self knowledge in favour of the expedient results that drugs may provide us with as we attempt to overcome the emotional hurdles in our lives.
SPAP2, an Ig family receptor containing both ITIMs and ITAMs

This study reports cloning and characterization of SPAP2, a novel transmembrane protein. The extracellular portion of SPAP2 contains six immunoglobulin-like domains and its intracellular segment has two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) and two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motifs (ITIMs). We also identified four alternatively spliced products. Sequence alignment with the genomic database revealed that the SPAP2 gene contains 16 exons and is localized at chromosome 1q21. PCR analyses demonstrated that SPAP2 mRNA is expressed in restricted human tissues including the kidney, salivary gland, adrenal gland, uterus, and bone marrow. Tyrosine-phosphorylated SPAP2 is specifically associated with SH2 domain-containing tyrosine kinases Syk and Zap70 and SH2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2. Site-specific mutagenesis studies revealed that tyrosyl residues 650 and 662 embedded in the ITIMs are responsible for the binding of Syk and Zap70 while tyrosyl residues 692 and 722 embedded in the ITIMs are involved in interactions with SHP-1 and SHP-2. Finally, recruitment of SHP-1 to the tyrosine-phosphorylated ITIMs led to a marked activation of the enzyme.
Divided Government, Fiscal Institutions, and Budget Deficits: Evidence from the States.

Does partisan control of American state government have systematic effects on state spending and taxing levels? Does divided control affect the government's ability to make hard decisions? Do institutional rules like legal deficit carryover restrictions matter? Using a formal model of fiscal policy to guide empirical analysis of data covering the American states from 1968 to 1987, we conclude that (1) aggregate state budget totals are driven by different factors under Democrats and Republicans, the net result being that Democrats target spending (and taxes) to higher shares of state-level personal income; (2) divided government is less able to react to revenue shocks that lead to budget deficits, particularly where different parties control each chamber of the legislature; and (3) unified party governments with restricted ability to carry deficits into the next fiscal year (outside the South) have sharper reactions to negative revenue shocks than those without restrictions.
Childhood and Adult Abuse among Women in Primary Health Care: Effects on Mental Health

The study looked at 557 women participating in an evaluation of a domestic violence screening intervention in a primary care setting. Depression and anxiety were investigated in relation to seven types of child and adult intimate partner abuse. At the bivariate level, both physical and sexual child abuse were associated with significantly increased risk for all five types of adult abuse as well as depression and anxiety. Multivariate analyses suggested that recent intimate partner violence and high-severity child abuse increased risk for depression, and both recent and past intimate partner violence as well as child abuse increased risk for anxiety. In addition, higher levels of cumulative abuse increased risk for depression and anxiety over the life span even after controlling for other risk factors.
Effect of microbial action on the corrosion potential of austenitic alloy containers for high-level nuclear waste

The safe disposal of high-level nuclear waste (HLW) entails the ability to ensure the integrity of waste containers for prolonged time periods. It is generally accepted that under certain conditions, microbial action may change local benign environments to those in which localized corrosion can be actively promoted. The use of repassivation potential (E{sub rp}) in relation to the value of the corrosion potential (E{sub corr}) has been proposed as a means of assessing the propensity of a metallic material to localized corrosion. Microbial activity is known to influence E{sub corr} however, the precise mechanism is unresolved. Shewanella putrefaciens, a bacteria with many of the characteristics of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), are being grown under controlled conditions on 316L stainless steel (SS) surfaces to understand the relationship between E{sub corr} and metabolic activity. It has been observed that the growth of the bacteria under aerobic conditions, without the production of metabolic sulfide, leads to only minor variation in E{sub corr}. These changes possibly correlate to the periods of active bacterial growth.
Characterization of lipoxins by combined gas chromatography and electron-capture negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry: formation of lipoxin A4 by stimulated human whole blood.

The lipoxins are a recent addition to the family of bioactive products derived from arachidonic acid. Here, we have prepared pentafluorobenzyl ester, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of lipoxin A4, lipoxin B4 and pentadeuterolipoxin A4 and have characterized these products by electron-capture negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (NICI GC/MS). Lipoxin A4 (5S,6R,15S-trihydroxy-7,9,13-trans-11-cis-eicosa-tetra-enoic acid; LXA4) was quantified following extraction from whole blood by stable isotopic dilution utilizing deuterium-labeled LXA4 as internal standard and selected ion monitoring of the [M - pentafluorobenzyl] anions. Studies with a second tritiated internal standard (e.g. [11,12-3H]LXA4) also showed that the recovery of LXA4 was > 80% following solid-phase extraction from whole blood, and > 90% from isolated cells. In addition, neither isolated neutrophils nor platelets oxidatively metabolized [11,12-3H]LXA4 when incubated in the presence or absence of stimuli. Whole blood incubated with either the ionophore of divalent cations (A23187), thrombin, or thrombin plus the chemotactic peptide formylmethionyl-leucine-phenylalanine generated both LXA4 and thromboxane, which were quantified by stable isotope dilution. The ratio of thromboxane to LXA4 formed by stimulated whole blood ranged from ∼2:1 to 20:1. These results indicate that the lipoxins display suitable characteristics as their respective pentafluorobenzyl ester, trimethylsilyl ether derivatives for quantification by electron-capture NICI GC/MS. Moreover, they provide evidence that LXA4 can be generated from endogenous sources in whole blood following exposure to physiologically relevant stimuli.
An improved design procedure for small arrays of shunt slots

An earlier design procedure, valid for arrays of longitudinal slots fed by air-filled rectangular waveguide, is generalized to apply to the increasingly used practical case that the waveguide is dielectric-filled. This requires abandonment of the model of an equivalent array of loaded dipoles, which results in a surprisingly simpler and more direct derivation of the design equations. The new generalized procedure retains an important feature of the earlier approach in that it includes the effect of external mutual coupling.
Impact of advanced physics and technology on the attractiveness of tokamak fusion power plants

During the past ten years, the ARIES Team has studied a variety of tokamak power plants with different degrees of extrapolation in plasma physics and technology from present database. Continuation of research has allowed us to apply lessons learned from each ARIES design to the next. The results of ARIES tokamak power plant studies provide a large body of data that highlight the tradeoffs and relative leverage of advanced plasma physics and fusion technology directions. Our results indicate that for the same plasma physics (e.g., first-stability) and technology extrapolation, steady state operation is more attractive than pulsed-plasma operation. Dramatic improvement over first-stability operation can be obtained through either utilization of high-field magnets (e.g., high-temperature superconductors) or operation in advanced-tokamak modes (e.g., reversed-shear). In particular, if full benefits of reversed-shear operation are realized, as is assumed in ARIES-AT, tokamak power plants will have a cost of electricity competitive with other sources of electricity. In technology area, emerging technologies such as advanced Baryon cycle, high-temperature superconductor, and advanced manufacturing techniques can improve the cost and attractiveness of fusion plants. For blankets, liquid breeder/coolants are the most attractive because most of neutron power is directly deposited in the coolant. This property can be exploited to arrive at a blanket design with a coolant outlet temperature higher than the structure temperature in the radiation zone. The high coolant temperature leads to a high thermal conversion efficiency (as in ARIES-ST and ARIES-AT blankets). The dual-cooled (He and LiPb) ARIES-ST blanket using ferritic steel structural material represents a near-term option for fusion systems and achieves a thermal efficiency of 45%. Development of high-performance SIC composites leads to the high-performance ARIES-AT blanket (SiC composite/LiPb coolant) that achieves 59% thermal conversion efficiency as well as the full potential safety and environmental features of fusion power.
Impact of transgene expression on drug metabolism following systemic adenoviral vector administration.

Background Systemic administration of a first-generation adenovirus expressing E. coli beta-galactosidase (AdlacZ) alters expression and function of two hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A2 and 2C11, for 14 days. The objective of these studies was to determine how the transgene cassette influences CYP expression and function. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were given 5.7 × 1012 viral particles (vp)/kg of either: AdlacZ, Ad expressing murine erythropoietin (Epo), Ad without a transgene (Null), or phosphate-buffered saline (Vehicle). Hepatic CYP protein expression, activity, mRNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were analyzed 0.25, 1, 4, and 14 days following a single intravenous injection. Results Administration of Epo did not alter CYP3A2 activity, but induced RNA levels by a factor of 2 at 4 and 14 days (P⩽0.01). This vector suppressed CYP2C11 activity levels by 45% at 1 day (P⩽0.05) and RNA levels throughout the study period (P⩽0.05). The Null vector suppressed CYP3A2 activity by 36, 63, 34, and 45% at 0.25, 1, 4 and 14 days, respectively (P⩽0.05). CYP2C11 activity was suppressed 1 day after administration (41%) and RNA levels were suppressed at 6 h (53%) and 1 day (36%, P⩽0.05). In contrast, AdlacZ suppressed both CYP3A2 and 2C11 at all time points. Conclusions The immunogenic and biological nature of the transgene cassette can influence changes in CYP3A2, but not the 2C11 isoform. The shift in transcription and translation of protein for maintenance of physiologic homeostasis to production of viral proteins and transgene product and their associated toxicity during viral infection may explain our observations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Translocation of 14C-glyphosate in johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L. Pers.) as affected by growth stage and rhizome length

Summary: Resume: Zusammenfassung Studies were conducted in the green house on 14C-methyllabelled glyphosate translocation in johnsongrass as affected by rhizome length and growth stage. The amount of 14C measured by the liquid scintillation technique in the rhizomes (2-8%) increased with rhizome length (10, 20 or 30 cm) and tended to increase with growth stage (15-30 cm tall, 45-60 cm tall, or at seedhead), but the amount of 14C per g fresh rhizome weight was almost similar in all cases. Of the total amount applied per plant (0·2 μCi) about 1/3 or less remained on the treated leaf area, while another 1/3 was a absorbed into the treated leaves. Autoradiographs showed that the 14C label moved to all plant parts, basipetally and acropetally. Migration du glyphosate 14 C chez le sorgho d'Alep (Sorghum halepense L. Pers.) en relation avec le stage de croissance et la longueur du rhizome Des recherches ont ete effectuees en serru sur la migration du glyphosate marque au 14C sur le methyle, chez le sorgho d'Alep, en relation avec la longueur du rhizome et le stade de croissance. La quantite de 14C mesuree par la technique de scintillation liquide dans les rhizomes (2 a 8%) s'est accrue avec la longueur du rhizome (10, 20 ou 30 cm) et elle a eu tendance a augmenter avec le stade de croissance (Hauteur 15-30 cm, hauteur 45-60 cm ou epiaison), mais la quantite de 14C par gramme de poids frais de rhizome est restee Presque identique dans tous les cas. Environ 1/3, ou moins, de la quantitea la surface des feuilles traitees par plante (0,2 μCi), est restea la surface des feuilles traitees cependant qu'un autre 1/3 a ete absorbe dans less feuilles traitees Les autoradiographies ont montre que le 14C marqueur a migre dans toutes les parties de la plante, dans le sens basipete et dans le sens acropete. Translokation von 14C-Glyphosat in Johnsongras (Sorghum halepense L. Pers.) in Abhangigkeit vom Wachstumsstadium der Pflanzen und der Rhizomlange Im Gewachshaus wurden Versuche uber die Translokation von 14C-Glyphosat in Johnsongras (Sorghum halepense L. Pers.) in Abhangigkeit vom Wachstumsstadium der Pflanzen und der Rhizomlange durchgefuhrt. An den Rhizomen stieg der Gehalt von 14C(2–8%), gemessen mit der Flussig-Szintillationstechnik, mit zunehmender Rhizomlange (10, 20 oder 30 cm) an und nahm tendenziell auch mit fortschreitendem Pflanzenwachstum zu (15–30 cm und 45–60 cm Sprosslange oder nach dem Rispenschieben); jedoch blieb die Menge pro g Rhizomfrischgewicht beinahe konstant. Von der insgesamt ausgebrachten Menge pro Pflanze (0.2 μCi) blieben bis zu 1/3 auf der behandelten Blattern absorbiert wurde. Die Autoradiographie zeigte, dass der 14C markierte Teil in alle Pflanzenteile sowohl basipetal wie auch akropetal transportiert wurde.
HIV type 2 in New York City, 2000-2008.

Background Antibody cross-reactivity complicates differential diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 (HIV-2) using standard serologic screening and confirmatory tests for HIV. HIV type 1 (HIV-1) viral load testing does not detect HIV-2. Although HIV-2 is, in general, less pathogenic than HIV-1, it can lead to immunosuppression and clinical AIDS, and there are important differences in the selection of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-2-related immunosuppression that make it imperative to differentiate between the 2 viruses. The New York City Department of Health (New York, NY) seeks to facilitate accurate diagnosis and surveillance of HIV-2 infection in the city. Methods We used routine HIV-1-2+O screening and a comprehensive algorithm to differentiate between HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection, universal HIV-related laboratory test reporting, population-based surveillance of HIV infection, and active communication with clinicians. Results Between 1 June 2000 and 31 December 2008, 62 persons received a diagnosis of confirmed or probable HIV-2 infection. The majority (60 [96.8%] of 62 individuals) were foreign-born (96.7% were born in Africa) and of black race/ethnicity (93.5%). At the time of initial diagnosis, 17.7% of patients with HIV-2 infection had AIDS. Forty (64.5%) of the patients received an initial diagnosis of HIV-1 infection. Among these patients, the median lag between initial diagnosis of HIV-1 infection and identification of HIV-2 as the infecting organism was 487.5 days. Conclusion HIV-2 should be ruled out in persons presenting for HIV testing who originate in or travel to West Africa and other areas in which HIV-2 is endemic, particularly those who have negative or indeterminate results on HIV-1 Western blot testing or have atypical banding patterns and/or present with clinical signs of HIV infection or unexplained immunosuppression.
Compaction properties of microcrystalline cellulose using tableting indices

AbstractThe compaction properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from 6 different sources were investigated and compared using tableting indices. The 50-μm and 100-μm grades were studied in order to determine lot-to-lot variability within a source, variability between sources, and the influence of storage conditions on the compaction properties of MCC. Two lots of each grade of MCC were obtained from each source and tested as received. It was found that the Avicel and Emcocel products demonstrated the most similarities based on tableting indices. Significant lot-to-lot differences in the tableting indices were observed for Fibrocel, Omnicel, and Spectrum MCC products. The brittle fracture index was low for all products tested and not significant. Storage of compacts at elevated humidity conditions prior to determining the tableting indices decreased the magnitude of the tensile strength, dynamic indentation hardness, and bonding index. Particle size analysis revealed differences between the labeled m...
Acetyl transport mechanisms. Involvement of N-Acetyl aspartic acid in de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in the developing rat brain

The incorporation into fatty acids of N-acetyl aspartic acid, labeled in the acetyl group, was investigated during brain growth and development. Parasagittal injection of the acetyl amino acid into rats of various ages resulted in maximum incorporation just before and during myelination, a period in which the endogenous N-acetyl aspartic acid increases rapidly. The results indicate that the only barrier to the uptake of this compound is at the blood-brain barrier. Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the fatty acid methyl esters isolated by mild base hydrolysis showed that the labeled fatty acids were primarily the C16 and C18 long-chain acids. These results indicate that N-acetyl aspartic acid is actively involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis throughout growth and development of the brain. It is suggested that, in the brain, N-acetyl aspartic acid is a constituent of the acetyl transport system for extra-mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis.
Low-latency indoor localization using bluetooth beacons

Indoor localization refers to the task of determining the location of a traveler in spaces (such as large building complexes or airport terminals) using coordinates appropriate to those spaces (such as floor and room number or airport terminal and gate). Indoor localization using Bluetooth beacons is attractive because of the low cost and high spatial selectivity of Bluetooth devices. However, a significant drawback of the Bluetooth protocol for this application is the large delay incurred in the discovery phase of the protocol, which is the phase used for detecting beacons. These delays, of approximately 20 seconds, hamper the use of this localization method because typical walking speeds are likely to change the set of potentially visible beacons part-way through the discovery phase. We study the causes of these delays and propose methods for alleviating them for indoor localization applications. We formalize the key problem of finding a minimum-cost complete beacon-probing plan and present an algorithm for generating such plans.
High-performance exact algorithms for motif search.

Objective. The human genome project has resulted in the generation of voluminous biological data. Novel computational techniques are called for to extract useful information from this data. One such technique is that of finding patterns that are repeated over many sequences (and possibly over many species). In this paper we study the problem of identifying meaningful patterns (i.e., motifs) from biological data, the motif search problem. Methods. The general version of the motif search problem is NP-hard. Numerous algorithms have been proposed in the literature to solve this problem. Many of these algorithms fall under the category of heuristics. We concentrate on exact algorithms in this paper. In particular, we concentrate on two different versions of the motif search problem and offer exact algorithms for them. Results. In this paper we present algorithms for two versions of the motif search problem. All of our algorithms are elegant and use only such simple data structures as arrays. For the first version of the problem described as Problem 1 in the paper, we present a simple sorting based algorithm, SMS (Simple Motif Search). This algorithm has been coded and experimental results have been obtained. For the second version of the problem (described in the paper as Problem 2), we present two different algorithms – a deterministic algorithm (called DMS) and a randomized algorithm (Monte Carlo algorithm). We also show how these algorithms can be parallelized.Conclusions. All the algorithms proposed in this paper are improvements over existing algorithms for these versions of motif search in biological sequence data. The algorithms presented have the potential of performing well in practice.
A service with bounded degradation in quality-of-service networks

Many network applications that require quality-of-service (QoS) support, such as transmission of digital voice and video, tolerate a certain level of service degradation. In this study, a novel network service, referred to as service with bounded degradation (BD service), is presented that can take advantage of the delay tolerance of applications. Different from previous proposals for similar services, the BD service can guarantee hard lower bounds of the service degradation. This is achieved by strictly limiting the amount of traffic that is subject to service degradation. To implement a BD service, network traffic is partitioned into components with different delay requirements. Policing of the traffic components is achieved by multi-level leaky buckets. A novel scheduler, referred to as EDD-BD (earliest deadline due-bounded degradation) scheduler, performs switching of packets. Properties of the EDD-BD scheduler are presented and analyzed.
Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of N-acetylcysteine in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background and objectives: ESRD is associated with systemic oxidative stress, an important nontraditional risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Since interventions aimed at reducing oxidative stress may be beneficial, we examined the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the widely used antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) after oral administration in patients with ESRD. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Twenty-four ESRD patients were randomly assigned to receive 600 or 1200 mg of sustained-release NAC orally every 12 hours for 14 days. Seven healthy control subjects received NAC 600 mg in the same manner. Blood samples were obtained on days 1 and 15 for determination of NAC pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Results: Significant dose-related increases in NAC plasma concentrations were observed in ESRD patients with no change in total clearance; a doubling of the dose resulted in a 2-fold increase in NAC area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). However, NAC clearance was reduced by 90% in ESRD, leading to a 7-fold larger AUC and 13-fold longer half-life compared with healthy control subjects. NAC administration resulted in a significant reduction in total homocysteine plasma concentrations in ESRD and healthy subjects, but had no effect on several other oxidative stress markers. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the total clearance of oral NAC is significantly reduced in ESRD patients, leading to marked increases in systemic exposure, and suggest that NAC may have a limited role in the chronic treatment of oxidative stress-related illness.
Synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 is translationally downregulated in the absence of functional F1F0-ATP synthase.

Abstract The mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase or ATPase is a key enzyme for aerobic energy production in eukaryotic cells. Mutations in ATPase structural and assembly genes are the primary cause of severe human encephalomyopathies, frequently associated with a pleiotropic decrease in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity. We have studied the structural and functional constraints underlying the COX defect using Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetic and pharmacological models of ATPase deficiency. In both yeast Δatp10 and oligomycin-treated wild type cells, COX assembly is selectively impaired in the absence of functional ATPase. The COX biogenesis defect does not involve a primary alteration in the expression of the COX subunits as previously suggested but in their maturation and/or assembly. Expression of COX subunit 1, however, is translationally regulated as in most bona fide COX assembly mutants. Additionally, the COX defect in oligomycin-inhibited ATPase-deficient yeast cells, but not in atp10 cells could be partially prevented by partially dissipating the mitochondrial membrane potential using the uncoupler CCCP. Similar results were obtained with oligomycin-treated and ATP12-deficient human fibroblasts respectively. Our findings imply that fully assembled ATPase and its proton pumping function are both required for COX biogenesis in yeast and mammalian cells through a mechanism independent of Cox1p synthesis.
The Perception Versus The Reality Of Retirement: Are You Ready To Retire?

This study explored the perceptions and the reality of retirement of two groups in northwest Ohio: those planning to retire within five years and those who are currently retired. A survey was constructed to capture the thoughts on retirement, living arrangements in retirement, travel plans, work and volunteer plans, concerns about retirement, philanthropy, working with advisors, and retirement income and debt. Obtaining information pertaining to these areas will assist financial advisors/planners in better serving their clients’ financial future as well as provide “retirement readiness” information for those considering retirement in the near future.
Are Gender Differences in Spatial Ability Real or an Artifact? Evaluation of Measurement Invariance on the Revised PSVT:R.

We investigated the extent to which the observed gender differences in mental rotation ability among the 2,468 freshmen studying engineering at a Midwest public university attributed to the gender bias of a test. The Revised Purdue Spatial Visualization Tests: Visualization of Rotations (Revised PSVT:R) is a spatial test frequently used to measure students’ spatial visualization ability in three-dimensional mental rotation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. With two major approaches for evaluating measurement invariance, we found that five items in the Revised PSVT:R showed a difference in the response pattern by gender, but the impact of these biased items was marginal on the total scores on the scale. Our findings support the equitable use of the Revised PSVT:R by gender for educational research and practices.
rac-18-Meth­oxy­coronaridine hydro­chloride

In the crystal structure of the racemic title compound, C22H29N2O3+·Cl−, both NH groups form N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds with the chloride counter-ion, forming translational chains along the a axis.
Sodium chlorate reduces the presence of Escherichia coli in feces of lambs and ewes managed in shed-lambing systems

Our objective was to establish doses of orally administered NaClO(3) that reduced the presence of generic Escherichia coli in intestines of ewes and neonatal lambs managed in a shed-lambing system. Neonatal lambs (n = 32; age = 7.1 ± 1.2 d; BW = 6.8 ± 1.0 kg) and yearling ewes (n = 44; BW = 74.8 ± 5.6 kg) were used in 2 experiments. In both experiments, lambs and ewes were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups, and groups were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments. In Exp. 1, neonatal lambs were given single, aqueous, oral doses of saline (control; NaCl, 30 mg·kg of BW(-1)) or 30, 60, or 90 mg of NaClO(3)·kg(-1) of BW. At 25.9 ± 1.3 h after treatment, lambs were euthanized, and intestinal contents were collected aseptically. In Exp. 2, ewes were given single, aqueous, oral doses of saline (NaCl, 150 mg·kg of BW(-1)) or 150, 300, or 450 mg of NaClO(3)·kg(-1) of BW. At 24.0 ± 0.8 h after treatment, fecal samples were collected aseptically from the rectum of each ewe. For both experiments, generic E. coli were enumerated from intestinal contents and feces within 4 to 12 h after collection. In Exp. 1, the effect (P = 0.08) of NaClO(3) on the presence of generic E. coli in colon contents was dose-dependent. This effect was linear (P < 0.01) and negative, which indicated that as NaClO(3) dose increased, generic E. coli that could be isolated from colon contents decreased. Specifically, lambs dosed with 60 and 90 mg of NaClO(3)·kg(-1) of BW had fewer E. coli cfu·g(-1) of content than control lambs (P < 0.06). Lambs dosed with 90 mg of NaClO(3)·kg(-1) of BW had fewer E. coli cfu·g(-1) of content than lambs dosed with 30 mg of NaClO(3)·kg(-1) of BW (P = 0.09). Sodium chlorate dose did not influence (P = 0.58) the presence of generic E. coli in contents collected from the cecum. In Exp. 2, the effect (P < 0.0001) of NaClO(3) on the presence of E. coli in fecal contents from ewes was dose-dependent. This effect was quadratic (P < 0.0001) and negative; ewes dosed with 150, 300, and 450 mg of NaClO(3)·kg(-1) of BW had fewer E. coli cfu·g(-1) of feces than control ewes. No differences in E. coli cfu·g(-1) of feces were detected between NaClO(3) treatments (P = 0.88 to 0.97). Based on these results, a single oral dose of at least 60 and 150 mg of NaClO(3)·kg(-1) of BW in neonatal lambs and yearling ewes, respectively, significantly decreased the presence of generic E. coli in contents from the lower intestine.
Dephosphorylation of Psilocybin to Psilocin by Alkaline Phosphatase

SummaryIncubation of psilocybin with purified intestinal phosphatase resulted in liberation of psilocin and inorganic phosphate. Psilocin formed was determined both quantitatively by a specific col...
Biology and laboratory development of Trirhabda geminata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on the composite, Encelia farinosa

The life history of Trirhabda geminata Horn was determined at 30°C in the laboratory on its hos: plant, Encelia farinosa Gray (Compositae: Asteraceae). Adult longevity averaged 35.5 d. AdiJt females lived longer than males (43.1 versus 27.5 d). Mean fecundity was 6.5 batches of ejgs per female with an average of 19.1 eggs per batch. Mean time from oviposition to egg eclosion was 44.8 d, and the earliest egg hatch occurred 5 d after oviposition. When eggs were held under constant moist conditions (100% RH), 80% of all eggs hatched. However, eggs held cry and not moistened failed to hatch. Mean development times for first instar, second instar, third instar, prepupa, and pupa were 3.9, 3.3, 7.9, 5.2, and 6.1 d, respectively.
Cultivating Success: Youth Achievement, Capital and Civic Engagement in the Contemporary United States

Amidst current research on the positive impact of rising rates of youth civic participation, but also indications of a shift in the underlying forms of civic life and increasing socioeconomic disparities in levels of participation, the authors investigate the meaning of civic engagement from the perspective of high-school-aged youth. The authors inductively develop a typology of engagement based on in-depth interviews with a purposive stratified sample of eighty-nine high school students in a Midwestern city. The authors find that youth link civic engagement with ambition and achievement as a means to build capital in a Bourdieuian field of youth achievement. While civic engagement is informed by structural position, youth are actively involved in navigating their positions and choices. Civic engagement emerges primarily through volunteerism as youth struggle to assemble and deploy capital in the achievement field and thus compound class-based disparities in civic involvement.
Simulation of Phonon Transmission at Semiconductor Interfaces Using an Atomistic Green’s Function Method

An atomistic Green’s function method is applied to study phonon transport across interfaces between two semi-infinite semiconductors. We investigate the dependence of phonon transmission function on interface atomic configuration, roughness layer thickness and phonon frequency. The transmission function is obtained for a number of interface configurations, including Si/Ge/Si confined structures and a single Si/Ge interface. An interface with a regularly-patterned roughness is investigated to illustrate how the rough interface influences phonon transmission. The results show that the cutoff frequency and the local density of states are modified due to the rough interface. The transmission function is found to strongly dependent on the presence of atomic-scale roughness.© 2008 ASME
Advancing prosthodontic education.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA) Survey of Dental Education, approximately 772 predoctoral curriculum hours are spent on fixed and removable prosthodontics, accounting for some 15 percent of the formal educational time. Much of it is spent in didactic, laboratory, and pre-patient
Physicians’ Reactions to Patients Taking a Position: Sequence Analysis of Admission Interviews in Orthopedic Rehabilitation

Little is known about how patients influence health care providers' communication behavior, although this knowledge may contribute to the understanding of the reciprocal influence of patient and provider communication and the pathways between communication and health care outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore patients' active communication behaviors and how this affects the immediate communication behavior of physicians. We coded 27 admission interviews from three German orthopedic rehabilitation centers with an adapted version of the Roter Interaction Analysis System. The data were analyzed using correlations and sequence analysis, specifically lag analysis. In this article, we report findings in relation to patients taking a position and physicians' reactions. The analysis showed that while all patients took up a position during their consultation, they very rarely contradicted the physician. Moreover, many instances of patients' expression of opinion were strongly determined by physicians' behavior. When physicians asked patients for their opinions they often used alternative questions or closed questions that limited patients' answering possibilities. While the lag analyses showed that patient communication behavior can influence physician communication, in the majority of instances patients' expression of opinions did not lead to a discussion or shared decision making.
A Network-Based Approach to Understanding and Predicting Diseases

Pursuit of preventive healthcare relies on fundamental knowledge of the complex relationships between diseases and individuals. We take a step towards understanding these connections by employing a network-based approach to explore a large medical database. Here we report on two distinct tasks. First, we characterize networks of diseases in terms of their physical properties and emergent behavior over time. Our analysis reveals important insights with implications for modeling and prediction. Second, we immediately apply this knowledge to construct patient networks and build a predictive model to assess disease risk for individuals based on medical history. We evaluate the ability of our model to identify conditions a person is likely to develop in the future and study the bene_ts of demographic data partitioning.We discuss strengths and limitations of our method as well as the data itself to provide direction for future work.
Research on the Thermo-Physical Properties of Corncob Residues as Gasification Feedstock and Assessment for Characterization of Corncob Ash from Gasification

Harnessing energy from biomass is environmentally friendly because of the essentially zero net CO2 impact. As a common agricultural byproduct, corncobs are abundant in quantity. This study was carried out to examine the thermo-physical properties of corncobs and characterize the properties of corncob ash produced from gasification, in order to provide a basis for transforming it into value-added products. The results showed that the pyrolysis of corncobs followed a three-step, stepwise mechanism. Activation energies calculated by the Coats-Redfern method at heating rates of 5, 10, and 20 °C/min were 79.08, 76.73, and 75.78 kJ·mol-1, respectively, implying that the corncobs could be decomposed easily at high heating rates. The emissions of CO, CO2, CH4, H2, H2O, and O2 during pyrolysis corresponded well with thermal curves. Corncob ash could be a good fertilizer because of its high contents of K, P, and Ca. The high SiO2 content makes the corncob ash suitable for ceramics and blended cement concrete. Sylvite (KCl) and quartz (SiO2) were the two major crystal phases in the corncob ash. Relatively large particles of unburnt carbon residues in the ash indicated that low-cost adsorbent could be developed from these carbon residues.
Parasitism and Predation on Sentinel Egg Masses of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Three Vegetable Crops: Importance of Dissections for Evaluating the Impact of Native Parasitoids on an Exotic Pest.

We conducted a survey to examine parasitism, predation, and the species composition of native parasitoids attacking sentinel egg masses of the invasive pest, the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal), in bell pepper, squash, and tomato. A 2-yr survey was conducted for each crop. The species composition of parasitoids was determined for parasitoids that successfully emerged from eggs, parasitoids that were identified from dissections, and parasitoids that were found attending egg masses at the time of collection. The overall rate of brown marmorated stink bug nymphal emergence was 82.7% from laboratory-reared control egg masses compared with only 23.4% from sentinel egg masses due to a combination of predation, parasitism, and unknown mortality causes. Overall, 12.4% of sentinel eggs were parasitized. Parasitoids emerged successfully from only 2.3% of eggs, but they were dissected from an additional 10.1% of eggs. Telenomus podisi Ashmead was the predominant species identified from emerged parasitoids (57.4%), dissected parasitoids (90.2%), and parasitoids attending egg masses (77%). This study provides further evidence that the impact of native parasitoids on brown marmorated stink bug egg mortality may be greatly underestimated based solely on parasitoid emergence rates alone.
Magnetic Susceptibility of Mn F 2 near T N and Fisher's Relation

Measurements of the parallel magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}$ of Mn${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ are reported for $60lTl80$\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in temperature intervals of about 0.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. A check on Fisher's relation, viz., ${C}_{m}\ensuremath{\simeq}A\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}(\ensuremath{\chi}T)}{\ensuremath{\partial}T}$, is made near the N\'eel temperature ${T}_{N}$ using Teaney's measurements of the magnetic specific heat ${C}_{m}$. General features of Fisher's relation are found to be valid, except $A$ is found to have considerable temperature dependence in the temperature range $\frac{|(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{N})}{{T}_{N}}|l0.03$. It is shown that for $Tg{T}_{N}$ the observed temperature dependence of $A$ can in part be explained by including the effect of the uniaxial anisotropy on the temperature dependence of the transverse correlation function.