cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Picosecond Gain Kinetics of 1,4-Bis (2-Methylstyril) Benzene

The production of picosecond pulses in the blue region of the spectrum [1,2] has stimulated our interest in methods of amplifying such pulses. The photophysics and photochemistry of stil-bene laser dyes have not previously been studied by picosecond spectroscopy. We report the gain kinetics and spectra of all trans-1,4-Bis(2-methylstyryl)benzene (Bis-MSB). This laser dye apparently undergoes very little excited-state conversion to a cis-form. Indeed, in related molecules the all trans-form is favored by photoisomerization [3]. Recently, picosecond kinetics of photoisomerization in cis- and trans-stilbene were reported [4]. The gain kinetics reported in this paper are discussed in terms of the excited state conformation, vibrational level, orientation, and population.
General Approach to the Therapy of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Remarkable progress has been made in the treatment and outcome of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) over the past 3 decades. This progress is the result of an accumulation of a mosaic of knowledge and experience, which have led to a more profound understanding of the biology of the disease, and at the same time the development of new drugs and treatment strategies. Advances in the understanding of the biology has highlighted significant differences between childhood and adult ALL (e.g., high frequency of Philadelphia-positive ALL and low incidence of TEL-AML1-positive disease in adults) and thus explains at least partly the divergence of outcomes that is still observed between children and adults. Moreover, ALL is increasingly recognized as a group of heterogeneous disease entities with unique responses to therapy and prognosis. The combination of further cytogenetic-molecular dissection of ALL subtypes with the emergence of new and targeted therapies will thus continue to constitute the fundament upon which further progress will hopefully occur in adult ALL.
Experimental Analysis of Some Process Variables in Peer Tutorial Learning

Forty-eight students from a sixth-grade classroom participated in a month-long peer tutorial study. Following a Peer-Mediated Instruction approach, tutors instructed partners in spelling. Focus of study was on interpersonal processes during tutoring and their effects on outcomes. Analysis of the data on tutorial process factors revealed few predictors of outcome variables. Tutor-learner characteristics did predict several process factors.
Magnetic Particle Inspection Simulation Model

The Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) method is generally used to detect surface and near surface flaws. In a MPI test, a ferromagnetic specimen in unmagnetized state is sprayed with magnetic particles in an aerosol suspension. The particles are generally ferromagnetic oxides coated with fluorescent pigments and the suspension is a petroleum distillate of low viscosity. The specimen is then magnetized. In the presence of a flaw transverse to the direction of the applied magnetic field, leakage fields are established on the surface of the specimen. These fields exert a translational force on the ferromagnetic particles in addition to a rotational torque. These two in combination accelerate the particles toward the flaw increasing the density of particles in the vicinity of the flaw. When excited by ultraviolet light, the particles emit visible radiation indicating the location of the flaw. This paper attempts to model the physical principles underlying the MPI method including imaging techniques to recreate the dynamics of the particles prior to their reaching an equilibrium around the flaw. The proposed approach has the capability to predict the time to equilibrium of the magnetic particles and the efficiency of the method in terms of the fraction of the total number of particles in the MPI image.
Religious minorities and firm ownership in early twentieth‐century Egypt

This article examines the composition of firm ownership and entrepreneurship in Egypt between 1910 and 1949 by assembling a novel dataset on multi‐owned firms. The evidence supports two main results. First, Muslim participation remained disproportionately low in partnerships but was distinctly high in corporations relative to non‐Muslims. Second, Muslim‐owned firms were frailer and more likely to experience early exits. The findings are consistent with the view that the region's institutional legacy, such as disparities in physical or human capital, created obstacles for Muslims. When these implications are tested, the findings show that only small‐scale Muslim firms had restricted access to capital. The skewness in Muslim firms’ entry and start‐up size is probably the result of legal distortions introduced by the government, which entrenched a small class of political elites in large‐scale firms.
Harmonizing Diffusion MRI Data Across Magnetic Field Strengths

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) data is increasingly being acquired on multiple scanners as part of large multi-center neuroimaging studies. However, diffusion imaging is particularly sensitive to scanner-specific differences in coil sensitivity, reconstruction algorithms, acquisition parameters as well as the scanner magnetic field strength, which precludes joint analysis of such multi-site data. Earlier works on dMRI data harmonization were limited to data acquired on different scanners but with the same magnetic field strength (3T). In this work, we explore the possibility of harmonizing dMRI data acquired on scanners with different magnetic field strengths, i.e., 3T and 7T. We propose a linear and several machine learning based non-linear mapping algorithms that use rotation invariant spherical harmonic (RISH) features to map the dMRI data (the raw signal) between scanners without changing the fiber orientations. We extensively validate our algorithms on in-vivo data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) where we used data from 40 subjects with scans done on both 7T and 3T scanners (10 training + 30 test). Using several quantitative metrics such as the root mean squared error (RMSE) in the harmonized dMRI signal and diffusion measures as well as a fiber bundle overlap measure, our preliminary results on 30 test subjects shows that the convolutional neural network (CNN) based algorithm can reliably harmonize the raw dMRI signal across magnetic field strengths. The algorithms proposed are general and can be used for dMRI data harmonization in multi-site studies.
Financial literacy among high school students: Evidence from India:

Financial literacy is an important but oft ignored skill that is vital for young people. This study measured financial literacy levels among high school students (N = 608) in India and found low le...
A Feasibility Study to Promote Optimal Weight in First Time Pregnant Mothers and Their Babies: Lessons Learned in a US-Mexico Border Community

Introduction Obesity rates among US Hispanic women and children are high. Childhood obesity prevention beginning prenatally is desirable, but studies show mixed results. Methods We tested a pilot intervention to promote optimal gestational and infant weight with primigravid Hispanic women at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) on the U.S.-Mexico border. The intervention included promotora-led exercise, nutrition, breastfeeding activities (n = 23), supported by text/social media messaging (text messaging prenatally, private Facebook page postnatally). Measures included demographics, BMI, weight gain/retention, infant feeding, and attendance. Results Most women were U.S. born (73%), Spanish-language dominant (83%), with ≤ high school education (65%), and overweight/obese (56%). Retention rates were modest for the prenatal component (50%), supported by an SMS text-messaging program. Retention of the remaining postnatal sample, supported by a private Facebook® page, was 100%. Of women who regularly attended group sessions pre and postpartum, over 70% were within 5 lbs of pre-pregnancy weight at 6 months postpartum. A private Facebook® group was feasible for out-of-class support, including among women with regular cross-border mobility. Discussion While the intervention was well-received, almost 2/3 of the original participants did not follow up postpartum. Importantly, the findings indicate the use of social media (private Facebook® page) was more feasible than the SMS text-messaging program and may be a successful approach to reach and engage women living in mobile and transnational settings. Future studies should examine social media as an intervention tool to influence optimal weight and encourage healthy behaviors in primigravidas living near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Analysis of vitamin levels and deficiencies in bariatric surgery patients: a single-institutional analysis

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery patients are at risk for vitamin deficiencies. Objectives Investigate the prevalence of deficiencies of vitamins A, B1, B12, D, and folate in sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients in a single institution. Setting An academic medical center. Methods Retrospective chart reviews of 468 bariatric surgery patients (358 SG and 110 RYGB) were analyzed for vitamin levels, calcium, and parathyroid hormone. Both preoperative and postoperative measurements were obtained. Results Deficiency of vitamin D was the most common, seen in 27% preoperatively. Postoperatively, RYGB patients had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than SG patients (11.5% RYGB versus 5.2% SG within the first postoperative year, and 20.3% RYGB versus 13.4% SG after 1 year). Elevated parathyroid hormone was observed in 45% of RYGB patients after 1 year postoperatively. Vitamin A deficiency was uncommon preoperatively (2.7% SG versus 1.7% RYGB), but increased after surgery (9.4% SG versus 15.9% RYGB within 1 year postoperatively, and 5.2% SG versus 7.7% RYGB after 1 year). Vitamin B1 deficiency was observed in 8.1% SG versus 1.7% RYGB patients preoperatively and increased during the first year postoperatively (SG 10.5% and RYGB 13.7%), but improved after 1 year (7.2% SG versus 5.9% RYGB). Less than 2% of Vitamin B12 deficiencies and no folate deficiencies occurred in both SG and RYGB patients. Conclusions The highest prevalence of vitamin B1 and A deficiencies were seen in the first year postoperatively. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency were uncommon in our patients. Vitamin D deficiency improved after surgery, but elevated parathyroid hormone was common after RYGB.
Network Structure and Consolidation in the US Airline Industry, 1990-2015

We study the effect of consolidation on airline network connectivity using three measures of centrality from graph theory: Degree, Closeness, and Betweenness. Changes in these measures from 1990 to 2015 imply: i) the average airport services a greater proportion of possible routes, ii) the average origin airport is fewer stops away from any given destination, and iii) the average hub is less often along the shortest route between two other airports. Yet, we find the trend toward greater connectivity in the national network structure is largely unaffected by consolidation, in the form of mergers and codeshare agreements, during this period.
Epigenetic Conservation Is a Beacon of Function: An Analysis Using Methcon5 Software for Studying Gene Methylation.

PURPOSEDifferent epigenetic configurations allow one genome to develop into multiple cell types. Although the rules governing what epigenetic features confer gene expression are increasingly being ...
Pharmacologic doses of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor affect cytokine production by lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo

Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation is successful in improving engraftment without increasing acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), despite much larger numbers of T cells in unmanipulated PBSCs than in bone marrow grafts. In mouse models and retrospective human studies, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy has been associated with less acute GVHD. We studied the effect of G-CSF on interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-4 expression in CD4+lymphocytes. CD4+ cells co-cultivated with G-CSF and stimulated with PHA or CD3 monoclonal antibodies showed significant decreases in IFN-γ and increases in IL-4 expression (n = 13; P < .01). G-CSF appeared to have a direct effect on CD4+ cells independent of monocytes present in the culture because purified CD4+ cells exposed to G-CSF, washed, and cocultivated with untreated monocytes demonstrated similar changes in IFN-γ and IL-4 expression, whereas untreated CD4+ cells cocultured with G-CSF–stimulated monocytes behaved as controls. We then studied peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from G-CSF–mobilized PBSC donors. When their PBMCs were cultured with PHA or CD3 monoclonal antibody, the percent of IFN-γ–expressing cells decreased by a mean of 55% and 42%, respectively, whereas the percent of IL-4–containing cells increased by a mean of 39% and 58%, respectively, following G-CSF stimulation. Increased apoptosis of IFN-γ–producing CD4+ cells was not responsible for the shift in TH1/TH2 subsets. G-CSF-R mRNA was present in both CD4+ and CD8+ cells. These results suggest that G-CSF decreases IFN-γ and increases IL-4 production in vitro and in vivo and likely modulates a balance between TH1 and TH2 cells, an effect that may be important in PBSC transplantation.
Emphysematous gastritis due to Sarcina ventriculi infection in a diabetic liver-kidney transplant recipient.

Emphysematous gastritis (EG) is a rare and potentially lethal process caused by invasive, gas-producing bacteria leading to inflammation and gas dissection of the stomach. The most common etiologic agents are Clostridium infections, but other organisms, including enterobacteria, staphylococcus, and fungi have also been identified. We report the first case of EG due to Sarcina ventriculi in a solid organ transplant recipient, who presented with epigastric pain and vomiting. The patient had a history of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) with recurrent episodes of ketoacidosis and systemic diabetic complications, including severe gastroparesis. CT scan studies demonstrated EG with venous air, and endoscopy showed severe gastritis and ulcerations. In the gastric biopsies, abundant Sarcina ventriculi were noted in areas of mucosal/submucosal necrosis. Antibiotic treatment was instituted at admission, and subsequent endoscopy demonstrated the disappearance of Sarcina, with some improvement of the gastric inflammation; however, the patient developed septic shock with multiorgan failure and expired. This case highlights the need to consider other infectious etiologies in transplant patients, in addition to the well-known opportunistic infections.
Hybrid Monte Carlo estimators for multilayer transport problems

Abstract This paper introduces a new family of hybrid estimators aimed at controlling the efficiency of Monte Carlo computations in particle transport problems. In this context, efficiency is usually measured by the figure of merit (FOM) given by the inverse product of the estimator variance Var [ ξ ] and the run time T: FOM : = ( Var [ ξ ] T ) − 1 . Previously, we developed a new family of transport-constrained unbiased radiance estimators (T-CURE) that generalize the conventional collision and track length estimators [1] and provide 1–2 orders of magnitude additional variance reduction. However, these gains in variance reduction are partly offset by increases in overhead time [2] , lowering their computational efficiency. Here we show that combining T-CURE estimation with conventional terminal estimation within each individual biography can moderate the efficiency of the resulting “hybrid” estimator without introducing bias in the computation. This is achieved by treating only the refractive interface crossings with the extended next event estimator, and all others by standard terminal estimators. This is because when there are index-mismatched interfaces between the collision location and the detector, the T-CURE computation rapidly becomes intractable due to the large number of refractions and reflections that can arise. We illustrate the gains in efficiency by comparing our hybrid strategy with more conventional estimation methods in a series of multi-layer numerical examples.
Joint Task Partitioning and User Association for Latency Minimization in Mobile Edge Computing Networks

Mobile edge computing (MEC) is a promising solution to support emerging delay-sensitive mobile applications, such as self-driving, augment/virtual reality, and various Internet of Things (IoT) applications. By deploying MEC servers at network edge, e.g., close to cellular base stations (BSs), the computational tasks generated by these applications can be offloaded to edge nodes (ENs) and be quickly executed there. At the same time, with the projected large number of IoT devices, the communication and computational resources allocated to each user can be quite limited, making it challenging to provide low-latency MEC services. In this paper, we investigate the problem of task partitioning and user association in an MEC system, aiming to minimize the average latency of all users. We assume that each task can be partitioned into multiple subtasks that can be executed on local devices (e.g., vehicles), MEC servers, and/or cloud servers; each user can be associated with one of the nearby ENs. The subtasks can be independent of or dependent on each other. For each case, we formulate the joint optimization of task partitioning ratios and user association as a mixed integer programming problem. Each problem is solved by decomposing it into two subproblems. The lower-level subproblem is task partitioning under a given user association, which can be solved optimally. The higher-level subproblem is user association, we propose a dual decomposition-based approach and a matching-based approach to derive near-optimal solutions. Simulation results show that compared to benchmark schemes, the proposed schemes reduce the average latency by about 50% and 40% for the cases of independent and dependent subtasks, respectively.
Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning for Decentralized Coalition Formation Games.

We study the application of multi-agent reinforcement learning for game-theoretical problems. In particular, we are interested in coalition formation problems and their variants such as hedonic coalition formation games (also called hedonic games), matching (a common type of hedonic game), and coalition formation for task allocation. We consider decentralized multi-agent systems where autonomous agents inhabit an environment without any prior knowledge of other agents or the system. We also consider spatial formulations of these problems. Most of the literature for coalition formation problems does not consider these formulations of the problems because it increases computational complexity significantly. We propose novel decentralized heuristic learning and multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) approaches to train agents, and we use game-theoretic evaluation criteria such as optimality, stability, and indices like Shapley value.
Synergistic Interaction Between Anabaena and Zoogloea spp. in Carbon Dioxide-Limited Continuous Cultures

Flocs consisting of Anabaena and Zoogloea spp. were used as a model system for the study of planktonic phototroph-heterotroph interactions. In CO2-limited continuous culture (3.2 μmol of NaHCO3 liter−1 h−1, 1.5 μmol of glucose liter−1 h−1, pH 8.5, D = 0.026 h−1), the biomass of the phototroph increased 8.6-fold due to association. However, direct CO2 exchange accounted for only a 3.8-fold increase. When the glucose supply rate was increased to 7.5 μmol liter−1 h−1, there was a 26-fold increase in biomass. When CO2 was supplied in excess, there was no difference due to association. In batch culture, using the same medium, the specific growth rate was 0.029 h−1 for the phototroph alone and 0.047 h−1 for the phototroph in association with the heterotroph. The stimulatory effect of the heterotroph was found only under CO2-limiting conditions and was directly related to the concentration of organic matter supplied in the medium. Both the biomass and the growth rate of the Anabaena sp. were increased by association with the Zoogloea sp. Thus, dissolved organic matter may substitute for CO2 to maximize both growth rate and biomass production by phototrophs when heterotrophic bacteria are present.
Axonal regulation of myelin protein mRNA levels in actively myelinating Schwann cells

Upon transection of a peripheral nerve, axons distal to the transection degenerate. As a consequence of this axonal degeneration, myelin- forming Schwann cells cease biosynthesis of new myelin membrane, contribute to phagocytosis of previously formed myelin, and markedly down-regulate expression of myelin-specific markers. Among the most prominent of these down-regulated markers are the major structural proteins of peripheral myelin, Po and myelin basic protein (MBP). We have used slot blot and in situ hybridization techniques to demonstrate that for actively myelinating Schwann cells, down-regulation of the Po and MBP genes occurs primarily at the level of mRNA expression. Together with other recent data, these findings strongly argue for axonal modulation of Po and MBP gene transcription during active myelination.
Low-temperature heat capacities and thermodynamic properties of zinc ferrites—III: Effect of copper substitution

Abstract The heat capacities of annealed and quenched samples of Cu 0.05 Zn 0.90 Fe 2.05 O 4 have been determined over the range 5–350°K. The Neel temperature is the same as that previously reported for a similar lithium-substituted zinc ferrite. The result is discussed in terms of the sublattice- population and molecular-field coefficients.
High-Tc Superconducting Thin- and Thick-Film–Based Coated Conductors for Energy Applications

Although the first epitaxial films of YBCO with high T c were grown nearly 20 years ago, the understanding and control of the nanostructures responsible for the dissipation-free electrical current transport in high temperature superconductors (HTS) is quite recent. In the last 6–7 years, major advances have occurred in the fundamental investigation of low angle grain boundaries, flux-pinning phenomena, growth mode, and atomic-level defect structures of HTS epitaxial films. As a consequence, it has been possible to map and even engineer to some extent the performance of HTS coatings in large regions of the operating H, T, J phase space. With such progress, the future of high temperature superconducting wires looks increasingly promising despite the tremendous challenges offered by these brittle and anisotropic materials. Nevertheless, further performance improvements are necessary for the superconducting technology to become cost-competitive against copper wires and ultimately succeed in revolutionizing the transmission of electricity. This can be achieved by further diminishing the gap between theoretical and experimental values of the critical current density J c, and/or increasing the thickness of the superconductive layer as much as possible without degrading performance. In addition, further progress in controlling extrinsic and/or intrinsic nano-sized defects within the films is necessary to significantly reduce the anisotropic response of HTS and obtain a nearly constant dependence of the critical current on the magnetic field orientation, which is considered important for power applications. This chapter is a review of the challenges still present in the area of superconducting film processing for HTS wires and the approaches currently employed to address them.
Normalization by Leftmost Innermost Rewriting

We define a transformation of rewrite systems that allows one to compute the normal form of a term in the source system by leftmost innermost rewriting of a corresponding term in the target system. This transformation is the foundation of an implementation technique used in an application of rewriting to software development. We also show in an example how our transformation accommodates lazy, non-deterministic computations in an eager, deterministic programming language.
An in-vivo electrical property based health monitoring sensor

This paper introduces a new in-vivo method for continuous monitoring of deep human tissues. Specifically, a technique and an associated sensor is introduced to detect changes in the electrical properties of tissues deep into the human torso as an indicator to detect body irregularities such as lung fluid content. The method uses a set of electrodes that surround the torso. Data is collected from these electrodes at a single low frequency. An expression is also proposed that relates the collected raw signals (port scattering parameters) to the electrical properties of deep biological tissues. Of importance is that the developed relation includes constants that can be adjusted to remove interference from the skin, fat and muscle layers. Further, the constants can be calibrated to account for individual patient outer tissue layers. As such, the proposed lung monitoring sensor provides accurate dielectric constant data to assess the lung's fluid content in a continuous manner.
Abstract 19884: Determinants and Prognostic Value of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients Undergoing Trans-catheter or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Objectives: We evaluated the determinants and prognostic value of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing trans-catheter (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacements (SAVR). Methods: We evaluated 290 high-risk patients who underwent successful TAVR or SAVR at our institution from 2008-2012. Results: Patients with PASP ≥ 50mmHg (n = 86) vs. PASP In patients with PASP ≥ 50 mmHg vs. PASP Conclusions: Severe PH is associated with increased mortality after both TA-TAVR and SAVR. TF-TAVR is associated with lower mortality in patients with PH. Persistent PH after the procedure is associated with worsened mortality. MR is a major determinant of PH.
E-selectin-dependent signaling via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in vascular endothelial cells.

E-selectin, a cytokine-inducible adhesion molecule, supports rolling and stable arrest of leukocytes on activated vascular endothelium. Previous studies have suggested that this transmembrane protein can also transduce signals into the endothelial cell. We now demonstrate activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade in cultured HUVEC in response to E-selectin-dependent leukocyte adhesion and Ab-mediated cross-linking of cell surface E-selectin. Adhesion of increasing numbers of HL60 cells to IL-1β-activated HUVEC stimulated robust increases in MAPK activity that were abrogated by an E-selectin blocking Ab. Cross-linking of cell surface E-selectin with Abs, as a mimic of multivalent ligand engagement, strongly stimulated MAPK/extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK)-dependent MAPK activation and concomitant up-regulation of mRNA for c- fos , an immediate early response gene, whereas Ab cross-linking of HLA class I molecules (present at comparable density) failed to do so. Coimmunoprecipitation documented Ras, Raf-1 and, phospho-MEK complex formation. Unactivated HUVEC transduced with a full-length adenoviral E-selectin construct also exhibited cross-link-induced MAPK activation, macromolecular complex formation, and c- fos up-regulation, whereas HUVEC transduced with a cytoplasmic domain deletion mutant failed to respond. These observations indicate that E-selectin can transduce an activating stimulus via the MAPK cascade into the endothelial cell during leukocyte adhesion.
Laser switched power linac

Electrical studies of a switched power radial transmission line have been performed. Voltage is switched onto the structure through photoconductive switches activated by a short pulse laser. A voltage gain of a factor of four was measured, consistent with prediction.
Effects of mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA14, RNA15, and PAP1 genes on polyadenylation in vivo

The RNA14 and RNA15 gene products have been implicated in a variety of cellular processes. Mutations in these genes lead to faster decay of some mRNAs and yield extracts that are deficient in cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro. These results suggest that the RNA14 and RNA15 gene products may be involved in both adenylation and deadenylation in vivo. To explore the roles of these gene products in vivo, we examined the site of adenylation and the rate of deadenylation for individual mRNAs in rna14 and rna15 mutant strains. We observed that the rates of deadenylation are not affected by lesions in either the RNA14 or the RNA15 gene. This result suggests that the proteins encoded by these genes are not involved in regulation of the deadenylation rate. In contrast, we observed that the site of adenylation for the ACT1 transcript can be altered in these mutants. Interestingly, we also observed that mutation of the poly(A) polymerase gene altered the site of ACT1 polyadenylation. These observations suggest that the RNA14, RNA15, and PAP1 proteins are involved in poly(A) site choice. This alteration in poly(A) site choice in the rna14 mutant can be corrected by the ssm4 suppressor, indicating that this suppression acts at the level of polyadenylation and not by slowing mRNA degradation.
Variable-dimension vector quantization of speech spectra for low-rate vocoders

Optimal vector quantization of variable-dimension vectors in principle is feasible by using a set of fixed dimension VQ codebooks. However, for typical applications, such a multi-codebook approach demands a grossly excessive and impractical storage and computational complexity. Efficient quantization of such variable-dimension spectral shape vectors is the most challenging and difficult encoding task required in an important family of low bit-rate vocoders. The authors introduce a simple and effective formulation of variable-dimension vector quantization (VDVQ) which quantizes variable-dimension vectors using a single universal codebook having fixed dimension yet covering the entire range of input vector dimensions under consideration. This VDVQ technique is applied to quantize variable-dimension spectral shape vectors leading to a high quality speech coder at the low bit-rate of 2.5 kb/s. The combination of a universal spectral codebook and structured VQ reduces storage and computational complexity, yet delivers a high quantization efficiency and enhanced perceptual quality of the coded speech. >
Problem behaviour, caregiver reactions, and impact among caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease

Problem behaviour, caregiver reactions, and impact among caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease Background. Problem behaviours that occur during Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can have major impact on caregivers. How caregivers react to these behaviours may determine the total impact experienced from caregiving. Purpose. This study examined the relationships between problematic behaviours and caregiving impact in 30 primary caregivers of persons with AD. The first question explored the relationship between frequency of problem behaviour and impact; the second explored the relationship between caregiver reactions to problem behaviours and impact from caregiving. Methods. The frequency of problem behaviour and the caregiver reaction was measured using The Revised Memory and Behaviour Problem Checklist (Teri et al. 1992). The impact from caregiving was operationalized using the Cost of Care Index developed by Kosberg and Cairl (1986). Results. Significant associations were found for 11 of the 20 subscales that measured the association between the frequency of problem behaviour in the client and the impact from caregiving experienced by the caregiver. In comparison, the association between caregiver’s reaction to problem behaviours and impact from caregiving was even more significant in value with 15 subscales of 20 being significant. Female caregivers experienced a greater reaction to disruptive and depressive behaviour when compared with male caregivers even though both genders reported similar frequencies of problem behaviours. In regard to findings about the impact from caregiving, four of the six indicators were higher for women than for men. Conclusions. Caregiver reaction to problem behaviours was more highly associated with impact from caregiving than the actual frequency of the behaviours. These findings have great implications for intervention programs. Caregivers, especially females, need to receive individualized, specific education/training on how to understand and manage disruptive and depressive behaviour in persons with AD.
Extending circular dichroism spectra into the vacuum UV and its application to proteins.

Circular dichroism (CD) spectra measured into the vacuum UV region provide information necessary for this technique to fulfill its potential. In the case of proteins, CD spectra measured to 184 nm or below can be analyzed for secondary structure: generalized inverses make such analyses particularly simple. Generalized inverses for α-helix, anti-parallel β-sheet, parallel β-sheet, β-turn, and “other” structures are given in tabular form. When the dot product of each inverse is taken with the digitized spectrum of a protein, the amount of corresponding secondary structure is predicted. However, protein CD spectra truncated above 184 nm give too little information to give reliable analyses. Furthermore, adding constraints only complicates this problem because unreliable analyses now appear good.
Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor 1 (S1P1) Upregulation and Amelioration of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by an S1P1 Antagonist

Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) is a G protein–coupled receptor that is critical for proper lymphocyte development and recirculation. Agonists to S1P1 are currently in use clinically for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and these drugs may act on both S1P1 expressed on lymphocytes and S1P1 expressed within the central nervous system. Agonists to S1P1 and deficiency in S1P1 both cause lymphocyte sequestration in the lymph nodes. In the present study, we show that S1P1 antagonism induces lymphocyte sequestration in the lymph nodes similar to that observed with S1P1 agonists while upregulating S1P1 on lymphocytes and endothelial cells. Additionally, we show that S1P1 antagonism reverses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice without acting on S1P1 expressed within the central nervous system, demonstrating that lymphocyte sequestration via S1P1 antagonism is sufficient to alleviate autoimmune pathology.
SU‐GG‐T‐100: Optimal Field Splitting in IMRT

Purpose: Today one of the most advanced tools for delivering intensity maps in IMRT is the multileaf collimator(MLC), which is subject to a maximum leaf spread. Due to this constraint, a large field needs to be split into several sub‐fields each being delivered separately. Different from previous approaches in which the size of the sub‐fields is fixed, our method produces sub‐fields of flexible sizes subject to the maximum leaf spread constraint, which may potentially improve the delivery efficiency. In this work, we propose to optimally split an intensity map into sub‐fields while minimizing the total complexity of the sub‐fields. Method and Materials: The optimal field splitting problem is solved efficiently by using dynamic programming with an observation that the problem expresses the optimal substructure. To evaluate the performance of our method, we implemented our algorithm and experimented on 2000 randomly generated intensity maps with various field sizes and maximum intensity levels, and 21 sets of clinical intensity maps obtained from the Department of Radiation Oncology of the University of Iowa. Our results are compared with theoretical optimal lower bounds and those from the Pinnacle system. Results: Phantom experiment results showed that for all tested cases with various field sizes and intensity levels, our method yielded results close to the optimal bounds. For the clinical data, out of 21 intensity maps, both our method and Pinnacle system got optimal results in 14. For the 7 with room for improvement, our method outperformed Pinnacle in 3 cases and equally performed on the remaining 4 cases. Conclusion: We developed an optimal field splitting method literally with no constraint on the sub‐fields, which is proved to outperform current commercial software.
Damage of MEMS thermal actuators heated by laser irradiation.

Optical actuation of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is advantageous for applications for which electrical isolation is desired. Thirty-two polycrystalline silicon opto-thermal actuators, optically-powered MEMS thermal actuators, were designed, fabricated, and tested. The design of the opto-thermal actuators consists of a target for laser illumination suspended between angled legs that expand when heated, providing the displacement and force output. While the amount of displacement observed for the opto-thermal actuators was fairly uniform for the actuators, the amount of damage resulting from the laser heating ranged from essentially no damage to significant amounts of damage on the target. The likelihood of damage depended on the target design with two of the four target designs being more susceptible to damage. Failure analysis of damaged targets revealed the extent and depth of the damage.
A Preliminary Study on Antimicrobial Edible Films from Pectin and Other Food Hydrocolloids by Extrusion Method

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial edible films were prepared from natural fiber of pectin and other food hydrocolloids for food packaging or wrapping by extrusion followed by compression or blown film method. Microscopic analysis revealed a well-mixed integrated structure of extruded pellets and an even distribution of the synthetic hydrocolloid in the biopolymers. The resultant composite films possess mechanical properties that are comparable to films cast from most natural hydrocolloids that are consumed as foods or components in processed foods. The inclusion of poly(ethylene oxide) alters the textures of the resultant composite films and therefore demonstrates a new technique for the modification of film properties. The composite films were produced in mild processing conditions, thus the films are able to protect the bioactivity of the incorporated nisin, as shown by the inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes bacterial growth by a liquid incubation method.
Neurobiological mechanisms underlying relapse to cocaine use: contributions of CRF and noradrenergic systems and regulation by glucocorticoids

AbstractConsidering its pervasive and uncontrollable influence in drug addicts, understanding the neurobiological processes through which stress contributes to drug use is a critical goal for addiction researchers and will likely be important for the development of effective medications aimed at relapse prevention. In this paper, we review work from our laboratory and others focused on determining the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie and contribute to stress-induced relapse of cocaine use with an emphasis on the actions of corticotropin-releasing factor in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and a key pathway from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis to the VTA that is regulated by norepinephrine and beta adrenergic receptors. Additionally, we discuss work suggesting that the influence of stress in cocaine addiction changes and intensifies with repeated cocaine use in an intake-dependent manner and examine the potential role of glucocorticoid hormones in the underlying drug-induced neuroadaptation...
Landownership Under Colonial Rule: Korea's Japanese Experience, 1900-1935

Challenges the current notion that Japanese people acquired land in colonial Korea through official appropriation, and argues that the transfers were the result of market forces. Quantifying records from the period, shows that there were almost no land transfers to the Japanese before the 1930s, and
Coating of Ultrathin Polymer Films on Carbon Nanotubes by a Plasma Treatment

Ultrathin polymer films have been deposited on both single- and multi-wall carbon nanotubes using a plasma polymerization treatment. HRTEM experiments showed that an extremely thin film of the pyrrole layer (2–7 nm) was uniformly deposited on the surfaces of the nanotubes including inner wall surfaces of the multi-wall nanotubes. Time-of-Flight Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOFSIMS) experiments confirmed the nanosurface deposition of polymer thin films on the nanotubes. The deposition mechanisms and the effects of plasma treatment parameters are discussed.
Carcinogen binding to DNA

A key initiating event in the induction of neoplasia by a chemical carcinogen is believed to be the covalent reaction of the carcinogen with the DNA of the target cell. Most carcinogens are not biologically active as such, but require metabolic conversion to a chemically reactive form (ultimate carcinogen). Chemical carcinogens undergo an extremely complex set of metabolic reactions, leading for the most part to inactive detoxification products as well as reactive electrophilic species. Direct structural identification of the carcinogen-DNA adduct will (1) immediately confirm that the chemical is acting as a potential carcinogen under a given set of circumstances; and (2) directly identify those critical metabolic pathways which are involved in the metabolism of the chemical to a carcinogenic form rather than an inactive detoxification product. The direct structural identification of carcinogen-DNA adducts represents a formidable analytical challenge, since only picomolar quantities can be isolated. The advent of newer ionization techniques, such as field desorption and mass spectrometric-based separation techniques capable of handling mixtures, are proving to be essential for the characterization of such structures. Examples of nucleic acid-carcinogen adduct structure characterizations that have led to fundamental insights into the mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis will be discussed, and future trends in mass spectrometry that have a direct bearing on these difficult problems will be pointed out.
Synthesis and applications of heterobifunctional poly(ethylene oxide) oligomers

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) oligomers are employed extensively in pharmaceutical and biomedical arenas mainly due to their excellent physical and biological properties, including solubility in water and organic solvents, lack of toxicity, and absence of immunogenicity. PEO can be chemically modified and reacted with, or adsorbed onto, other molecules and surfaces. Sophisticated applications for PEO have increased the demand for PEO oligomers with tailored functionalities, and heterobifunctional PEOs are often needed. This review discusses the synthesis and applications of heterobifunctional PEO oligomers possessing amine, carboxylate, thiol, and maleimide functional groups.
Controlling the rate and direction of electroosmotic flow in template-prepared carbon nanotube membranes

Abstract We describe here carbon nanotube membranes (CNMs) prepared by doing chemical vapor deposition of graphitic carbon into the pores of microporous alumina template membranes. This approach yields a freestanding membrane containing a parallel array of carbon nanotubes (outside diameter ∼200 nm, wall thickness ∼40 nm) that spans the complete thickness of the membrane (60 μm). The electroosmotic flow (EOF) can be driven across these CNMs by allowing the membrane to separate two electrolyte solutions and using an electrode in each solution to pass a constant ionic current through the nanotubes. The as-synthesized CNM has anionic surface charge and as a result, the EOF is in the direction of cation migration across the membrane. In addition to this result, the key findings of this correspondence are: (1) that by using an electrochemical derivatization method, carboxylate groups can be covalently attached to the carbon nanotube walls; this enhances the anionic surface charge density, resulting in a corresponding increase in the EOF rate; (2) that electrochemical derivatization can also be used to attach cationic ammonium sites to the nanotube walls to yield CNMs that show EOF in the opposite direction of the as-synthesized or carboxylated membranes.
Fiber optic picosecond laser pulse transmission line for hydrogen ion beam longitudinal profile measurement

We present a fiber optic laser pulse transmission line for nonintrusive longitudinal profile measurement of the hydrogen ion (H(-)) beam at the front-end of the Spallation Neutron Source accelerator. The 80.5 MHz, 2.5 ps, multikilowatt optical pulses are delivered to the accelerator beam line through a large-mode-area polarization-maintaining optical fiber to ensure high measurement stability. The transmission efficiency, output laser beam quality, pulse jitter, and pulse width broadening over a 30 m long fiber line are experimentally investigated. A successful measurement of the H(-) beam microbunch (~130 ps) profile is obtained. The experiment is the first demonstration to our knowledge of particle beam profile diagnostics using a fiber optic laser pulse transmission line.
Termination of early gestation with intramuscular (15S)-15 methyl prostaglandin F2α

Abstract An investigation of the abortifacient activity of intramuscular administration of (15S)-15 methyl prostaglandin F 2α was performed in ten pregnant women of less than 7 weeks gestation. Serum levels of HCG, estradiol (E 2 ), progesterone (P) and 17 α -hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) were measured by radioimmunoassay prior to starting therapy and at frequent intervals thereafter for 48 hours. All patients had significant side effects, mainly vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Bleeding and contractions were induced in all women, but only six passed tissue. Of the 10 patients, 9 had definitely aborted by one week after treatment. A significant fall in HCG levels accompanied by a fall in progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and serum estradiol was noted in these nine patients. The tenth patient also had a sharp fall in HCG levels, with only a mild decline in estradiol levels. However, since a positive pregnancy test was still present one week after treatment, she was considered to be a treatment failure. This prostaglandin analogue, when given intramuscularly, is an effective abortifacient in early gestation but, like the natural compound, also has a high Incidence of side effects.
The effect of sodium chloride acidosis on parathyroid function in the rat as studied by peritoneal lavage

Abstract Parathyroid control of processes by which calcium is returned from bone to body fluids against a concentration gradient is described as the “calcium replacement” mechanism of parathyroid action. Included in this hypothesis is the suggestion that in parathyroidectomized animals, ionic calcium of body fluids is maintained primarily by a physico-chemical equilibration between fluid and bone surfaces. The present studies were carried out to determine if this basic level could be altered by a condition of acidosis brought about by peritoneal lavage with isotonic saline. These studies indicated that as a result of the acidosis there was a significant increase in the amount of calcium removed per hour by the lavage procedures in the parathyroidectomized animals. This was borne out by similar results with radiocalcium. Normal animals showed some increase of questionable significance. The suggestion that the acidosis increased the basic equilibration level was reinforced by quantitative osteoclast counts in the femurs of the animals studied. Acidosis decreased the number of osteoclasts in the normal animals, thereby indicating a reduction in endogenous parathyroid hormone production. On the basis of these and earlier studies, a diagrammatic presentation of parathyroid control of calcium homeostasis is presented.