cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast collision-free path planning of tightly coordinated two planar robots

Abstract The coordinated operation of multiple robot arms has broad applications in manufacturing, hazardous material handling, undersea operation, and space exploration. One fundamental problem of the operation of tightly coordinated robots is automatic collision-free path planning. This paper describes a collision-free path planning algorithm for a tightly coordinated two planar robot arm system (TCTPR) with revolute joints. During path planning, a modified A∗ search algorithm is applied to the graph representation of a novel configuration subspace (C-subspace) model of the TCTPR. The evaluation functions of the A∗ algorithm are designed to increase the search speed and to preserve the maneuverability of the TCTPR. The significance of this path planning algorithm is that it can plan the path of the TCTPR in its entire configuration subspaces, and it can map the planned path uniquely to the world space.
A surface brightness study of the reflection nebula NGC 7023

New photoelectric surface brightness measurements of NGC 7023 at 3500, 4100, 4700, and 5500 A in 38 positions are reported. The systematic behavior in the changes of surface brightness and color with position has been examined, and conclusions are drawn concerning the nebular density, the geometry of the star's location, and the variation of the dust scattering properties with wavelength. Indications are found for the existence of a small H II region surrounding the illuminating star HD 200775.
Performance of laser-glazed zirconia thermal barrier coatings in cyclic oxidation and corrosion burner rig tests☆

Abstract The performance of laser-glazed zirconia (containing 8 wt.% Y 2 O 3 ) thermal barrier coatings was evaluated in cyclic oxidation and cyclic corrosion tests. Plasma-sprayed zirconia coatings of two thickness (0.02 and 0.04 cm) were partially melted with a CO 2 laser. The power density of the focused lasser beam was varied from 35 to 75W mm -2 , while the scanning speed was about 80 cm min -1 . In cyclic oxidation tests, the specimens were heated in a burner rig for 6 min and cooled for 3 min. The results obtained indicated that the laser-treated samples had the same life as the untreated samples. However, in corrosion tests, in which the burner rig flame contained 100 ppm Na fuel equivalent, the laser-treated samples exhibited a nearly fourfold life improvement over that of the reference samples. In both tests, the lives of the samples varied inversely with the thickness of the laser-melted layer of zirconia.
Eye-safe tracking of oil fog plumes by UV lidar

NOAA's Wave Propagation Laboratory operated a plume-tracking lidar during two field experiments investigating atmospheric dispersion in complex terrain. The lidar successfully acquired data on oil fog plume behavior by detecting the elastic backscatter of the pulsed output of a frequency-doubled ruby laser. This UV wavelength (0.3472 μm) met stringent eye safety restrictions. An analysis of signal and noise levels demonstrates that plume definition at a wavelength of 0.3472 μm is superior in many cases to that at 0.6943 μm when pulse energies are low enough to be eye-safe at the range to the plume. This is often true in spite of the high threshold set by the large molecular scatter from the ambient air at the UV wavelength. Backscatter coefficients of oil fog at the shorter wavelength were 1–4× larger than at the longer wavelength.
Sampling the Leaves of a Tree with Equal Probabilities

Abstract In the computer sciences, trees are among the most common data structures. Knuth proposed a method of sampling the leaves of a tree with known but unequal probabilities; he used the sample to estimate the behavior of backtrack algorithms. This article proposes two methods for sampling leaves with equal probabilities.
Effect of ligand structure on the pathways for iron release from human serum transferrin.

Rate constants for the removal of iron from N-terminal monoferric transferrin have been measured for a series of phosphate and phosphonocarboxylic acids in pH 7.4 0.1 M hepes buffer at 25 °C. The bidentate ligands pyrophosphate and phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) show a combination of saturation and first-order kinetics with respect to the ligand concentration. Similar results are observed following a single substitution at the 2-position of PAA to give 2-benzyl-PAA and phosphonosuccinic acid. In contrast, disubstitution at the 2-position to form 2,2-dibenzyl-PAA leads to a marked reduction in iron removal via the first-order pathway. Rate constants were also measured for tripolyphosphate and phosphonodiacetic acid, which are elongated versions of PPi and PAA. In both cases, this elongation completely eliminates the first-order component for iron release while having relatively little impact on the saturation pathway. The sensitivity of the first-order component to the structure of the ligand strongly indicate...
The right hemisphere and temporal processing of consonant transition durations: Electrophysiological correlates ☆

Auditory evoked responses (AER) were recorded from frontal, temporal, and parietal scalp regions to a series of consonant-vowel syllables which varied in the duration of the consonant transition. Multivariate analyses of the AER waveforms identified one component of the AERs occurring only over right hemisphere regions which discriminated between differences in transition durations. A second component detected over only left hemisphere areas discriminated differences in place of articulation. These data are consistent with previous behavioral and electrophysiological reports that the right hemisphere is sensitive to temporal discriminations.
Detrital zircon U–Pb reconnaissance of the Franciscan subduction complex in northwestern California

In northwestern California, the Franciscan subduction complex has been subdivided into seven major tectonostratigraphic units. We report U-Pb ages of ≈2400 detrital zircon grains from 26 sandstone samples from 5 of these units. Here, we tabulate each unit’s interpreted predominant sediment source areas and depositional age range, ordered from the oldest to the youngest unit. (1) Yolla Bolly terrane: nearby Sierra Nevada batholith (SNB); ca. 118 to 98 Ma. Rare fossils had indicated that this unit was mostly 151–137 Ma, but it is mostly much younger. (2) Central Belt: SNB; ca. 103 to 53 Ma (but poorly constrained), again mostly younger than previously thought. (3) Yager terrane: distant Idaho batholith (IB); ca. 52 to 50 Ma. Much of the Yager’s detritus was shed during major core complex extension and erosion in Idaho that started 53 Ma. An Eocene Princeton River–Princeton submarine canyon system transported this detritus to the Great Valley forearc basin and thence to the Franciscan trench. (4) Coastal ter...
Variability in the characteristics and quality of care for injured youth treated at trauma centers

Objective To survey US level I trauma centers to assess the characteristics of child and adolescent psychosocial service delivery. Study design Trauma program staff at US level I trauma centers were asked to complete a survey on the characteristics and quality of service delivery for youth. The presence of pediatric services and screening of injured youth for alcohol use problems and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were assessed. Results A total of 150 of 202 trauma centers (74%) responded to the survey. Substantial variability was observed in trauma center age cutoff points for pediatric and adolescent patients. Although most sites endorsed having specialized pediatric, intensive care unit, and surgical services, marked differences were found in the reported percentage of youth receiving psychosocial services. Although most sites screened injured youth for alcohol use problems, variability was observed in the actual percentage of children and adolescents screened. Only 20% of sites endorsed specialized posttraumatic stress disorder services. Conclusions Our investigation observed marked variability across trauma centers in the delivery of child and adolescent services. Future research could develop high-quality pediatric psychosocial services to inform trauma center standards nationwide.
Multimaterial fibers: a new concept in infrared fiber optics

Recent progress in combing multiple materials with distinct optical, electronic, and thermomechanical properties monolithically in a kilometer-long fiber drawn from a preform offers unique multifunctionality at a low cost. Here, we summarize the application of this nascent concept of multimaterial fibers to infrared fiber optics.
The phospholipid composition of bacteriophage φ6

Summary The enveloped bacteriophage φ6 appears to be similar in several ways to the enveloped mammalian viruses. 32 P-labelled stocks of φ6 and its host cell were produced and then subjected to phospholipid extraction and analyzation by thin layer chromatography. The results indicate that φ6 and its host cell contain three major phospholipids: cardiolipin, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol. φ6 contains a higher relative amount of phosphatidylglycerol (57%) than does its host cell (29%), suggesting that φ6 does not acquire its membrane directly from an unaltered cellular membrane.
Intelligence and family marital structure: the case of adolescents from monogamous and polygamous families among Bedouin Arabs in Israel.

Abstract The levels of intelligence among Bedouin Arab adolescents from monogamous and polygamous families living in the Negev region of Israel were examined. A shortened version of the Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) test (S. Elbedour, T. J. Bouchard, & Y. Hur, 1997; J. Raven, J. C. Raven, & J. H. Court, 1998) was used to assess intelligence. There were no significant test score differences between adolescents from monogamous families and adolescents from polygamous families. In addition, participants with 2 mothers tended to have lower RPM scores than those with 3 or 4 mothers, and participants with related parents tended to have lower RPM scores than participants with unrelated parents. One major finding of this study is that polygamous family marital structures tended not to have deleterious effects on the Bedouin Arab adolescents' RPM test scores.
DL-[2-14C]p-chlorophenylalanine as an inhibitor of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase.

— The distribution in vivo of dl-[2-14C]p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CP) in regions and subcellular fractions of the rat brain was determined. The half-lives of p-CP and its metabolite p-chlorophenylpyruvic acid (p-CPPA) in plasma and brain were correlated with the development of inhibition of cerebral tryptophan 5-hydroxylase (EC 1.99.1.4). There was active transamination in vivo of p-CP and p-CPPA in the brain. Transport of indolealkylamino acids into brain was impaired by p-CP. Inhibition of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase could not be reversed by administration of large doses of l-tryptophan, l-tyrosine, or l-phenylalanine. After administration of [2-14C]p-CP in vivo, appreciable radioactivity was bound to cerebral proteins, including those with tryptophan 5-hydroxylase activity, as well as to phenylalanine 4-hydroxylase (EC 1.99.1.2) purified from liver. Amino acid analysis of the acid hydrolysate of purified, radioactive hepatic phenylalanine 4-hydroxylase showed over 80 per cent of the radioactivity to be present as p-CP. Neither the inhibition in vivo nor in vitro of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase could be reversed by dialysis; in controls, dialysis resulted in marked loss of enzyme activity. After incubation for 5 min with p-CP in vitro, enzymic activity was inhibited 60 per cent. In vitro, p-CPPA labelled protein much more extensively than p-CP, yet inhibited the enzyme less. Some of the label from p-CPPA was removable by dialysis.
Tyre aggregate applications in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering

A Tyre Aggregate (TA) is made from scrap/waste rubber tyres. Four types of tyre aggregates are classified, namely the coarse-grained, fine-grained, random and composite tyre aggregates. Applications of these tyre aggregates are varied, but they are often used as geomaterial fills and highway-pavement components. More recently, TA has found application in geoenvironmental engineering. This paper briefly examines the conventional use of tyre aggregates in the construction of geomaterial fills, but focuses on TA interaction in the environment and on applications which include drainage filters, clay liners and slurry walls. The use of TA combined with Nanoscale Iron Particles (NIP) and homoionic modification of soil into a New Generation Material System for in situ environmental remediation is also discussed.
Influence of coronary heart disease on morbidity and mortality after lower extremity revascularization surgery: A population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota (1970–1987)

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term postoperative cardiac outcome of patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization surgery in a geographically defined patient group. Background. Among patients with peripheral vascular disease, cardiac events have an important effect on long-term outcome after peripheral vascular surgery. However, long-term outcome is poorly documented. Methods. We examined the entire community medical records of 173 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who underwent peripheral artery bypass surgery between 1970 and 1987 and were followed up to January 1, 1991. Patients were allocated to subgroups of 60 patients with and 106 patients without overt coronary artery disease. Results. There were no siginificant differences in perioperative death, myocardial infarction or stroke between subgroups at 30 days after operation. The 5- and 10-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate after operation was 77% and 51% in those without and 54% and 24% in those with overt coronary artery disease (p < 0.001), respectively. For both groups, survival was significantly poorer than that expected for an age- and gender-matched group. Patients undergoing aortoiliac surgery were more likely to be alive at 10 years than those undergoing femoropopliteal surgery (47% vs. 28%, p = 0.001). The 5-year cumulative incidence of cardiac events was greater in those with overt coronary artery disease (10% vs. 28%, p = 0.003). In multivariable analysis, age, coronary artery disease and diabetes were independent predictors of death. Conclusions. Coronary events are the most important cause of long-term morbidity and mortality after peripheral vascular surgery. Patients without overt coronary artery disease are at significant risk for long-term cardiac events.
Polysilicon resistor trimming by laser link making

A technique for laser trimming of polysilicon resistors has been developed. In this scheme an undoped polysilicon film is patterned lithographically, and then photoresist patterns are used to prevent doping of certain narrow areas of each resistor during the impurity implant; thus, the protected areas remain insulating after wafer processing. Subsequent laser scanning of the undoped regions can produce precise reductions in resistance by lateral diffusion of dopant impurities. Trimming can be accomplished by changing either the laser power or the position. Q-switched Nd:YAG (1.06- mu m wavelength) and second-harmonic (0.53- mu m wavelength) radiations have produced successful results. The process was applied to passivated resistors with negligible (perhaps zero) post-trim drift, and the temperature coefficients of resistivity (TCRs) of trimmed resistors can be matched to the TCRs of untrimmed resistors in the same film. >
Ramping requirements and operation cost in a power system with dispersed wind generation

Operation of power systems with high wind penetration is significantly influenced by wind variability and uncertainty. This paper examines the potential impact of distributed wind generation on ramping requirements in the IEEE 24-bus system. Wind generation and load are modeled probabilistically using actual data and curve fitting. Probabilistic unit commitment (UC) based on unit de-commitment method and two-point estimate method is used to determine the ramping required to compensate for the wind power fluctuations and load uncertainty. The proposed method considers stochastic factors and their affects on the dispatch results. Different scenarios are studied to evaluate dispersed wind generation and its potential to reduce the ramping requirement and system operation cost. Ramping requirements of the system are calculated for 24 hours day ahead scheduling period and different wind penetration levels. A brief analysis is also carried out regarding the system operation cost and the potential reduction of this cost due to dispersed wind generation.
Soluble protein electrophoretic patterns from two biotypes ofMyzus persicae (Sulzer), the green peach aphid

An SDS polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoretic study of the soluble hemolymph proteins from twoMyzus persicae (Sulzer) biotypes was conducted to determine if these biotypes could be distinguished from each other by their banding patterns. This study revealed that there were no differences between the two biotypes in terms of number and location of protein bands. Noticeable differences did occur between the biotypes in the intensity of specific bands. These differences could not be explained by proposed differences in the concentration of active enzymes regulating developmental rate in the biotypes.
X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of Heusler alloy Co 2 Cr 1 − x Fe x Al epitaxial thin films

We apply the technique of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism in total electron yield mode to study the magnitudes of the magnetic moments of Cr, Fe, and Co in Heusler alloy ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}\mathrm{Al}$ epitaxial thin films, predicted to be half metallic for small values of $x$. We extract the moments by positing that the constant of proportionality between the resonant absorption intensity per atom and the number of $d$ holes is the same for Cr, Fe, and Co; this modified sum rule analysis removes the need to estimate values for the number of $d$ holes, the degree of x-ray circular polarization, and the angle between the x-ray wave vector and the applied magnetic field. We find the orbital moments of Fe and Co to have small values close to those of pure samples. Across samples of different compositions and processing temperatures the Co moment shows the largest variations and hence appears to be a good indicator of the atomic environment. In ${\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{0.6}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.4}\mathrm{Al}$, we find evidence for an annealing-induced reduction in magnetization, and find the magnetization to remain constant for thicknesses down to $50\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{\AA{}}$. In all of the samples containing Cr we find that the Cr spin moment is on average ferromagnetically aligned with Fe and Co but is $\ensuremath{\sim}(0.1\char21{}0.3){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$, far lower than predicted. However, the line shape of the Cr dichroism signal resembles that predicted by electronic structure calculations, indicating that only a fraction of the Cr atoms may be magnetic.
Invariant measures for transient reflected Brownian motion in a wedge: existence and uniqueness

Our main result is the existence and uniqueness of an invariant measure for reflected Brownian motion (RBM) in a wedge that is transient to ∞. We also consider this question for RBM that has been killed at the corner of the wedge.
A Secondary Structural Model of the 28S rRNA Expansion Segments D2 and D3 for Chalcidoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

We analyze the secondary structure of two expansion segments (D2, D3) of the 28S ribosomal (rRNA)-encoding gene region from 527 chalcidoid wasp taxa (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) representing 18 of the 19 extant families. The sequences are compared in a multiple sequence alignment, with secondary structure inferred primarily from the evidence of compensatory base changes in conserved helices of the rRNA molecules. This covariation analysis yielded 36 helices that are composed of base pairs exhibiting positional covariation. Several additional regions are also involved in hydrogen bonding, and they form highly variable base-pairing patterns across the alignment. These are identified as regions of expansion and contraction or regions of slipped-strand compensation. Additionally, 31 single-stranded locales are characterized as regions of ambiguous alignment based on the difficulty in assigning positional homology in the presence of multiple adjacent indels. Based on comparative analysis of these sequences, the largest genetic study on any hymenopteran group to date, we report an annotated secondary structural model for the D2, D3 expansion segments that will prove useful in assigning positional nucleotide homology for phylogeny reconstruction in these and closely related apocritan taxa.
The Little Things

The frail, elderly man had been admitted twice in 2 weeks for medication errors. While the paperwork for more home-care hours was processed, he was stuck in the hospital during a holiday week. All he really cared about, though, was his daily nutritional milkshake.
Computer Simulation of Pollutant Transport and Deposition Near Peace Bridge

ABSTRACT Using computer simulations, transport, dispersion, and deposition of particulate pollutants near the Peace Bridge in the city of Buffalo, New York, are studied. An unstructured computational grid of Peace Bridge and its vicinity is generated, and the wind flow in the area is simulated. The Reynolds stress transport (RST) and the k-ϵ models of FLUENT code are used for simulating the mean airflow condition. The instantaneous turbulence fluctuating velocity is simulated by a discrete random walk (DRW) model. A Lagrangian particle-tracking model is used, and dispersion and deposition of particulate emissions from the motor vehicle exhaust on the bridge and in the Peace Bridge Plaza (customs area) are analyzed. The pollutant transport model accounts for the drag and Brownian forces acting on the particles, in addition to the gravitational sedimentation effects. For the case of a northwesterly wind of 7.7 m/s and particulate emissions in the size range of 0.01 to 50 μm, the corresponding deposition rat...
Using Geographical Information Systems to Explore Disparities in Preterm Birth Rates Among Foreign‐born and U.S.‐born Black Mothers

ABSTRACT Objective To examine spatial patterns of neighborhood contextual factors of stress with preterm birth (PTB) and nativity (foreign‐born and U.S.‐born) among Black mothers. Design Descriptive geographic‐spatial research. Setting & Participants Births to Philadelphia residents during 2003‐2005 in the context of Philadelphia residential neighborhoods ( N = 350) were studied. Methods All data were aggregated to neighborhood levels (census tracts). Maps were created to assess geographic‐spatial patterns. A geographic information system (GIS) database was created that imported geo‐coded data on births, crime (assaults with guns and domestic abuse), poverty, race, and nativity (foreign‐born vs. U.S.‐born). Results Clear visual patterns of “bad” neighborhoods emerged and were significantly associated with higher prevalence of PTB for foreign‐born Black and U.S.‐born Black mothers ( p Conclusions This study demonstrated how GIS visually clarified important spatial patterns of adverse living conditions and PTB prevalence. Nurses can use GIS to better understand living environments of mothers and their families and to target interventions in geographical areas with the greatest service needs. Further research on individual and contextual factors is warranted to address the observed health disparities among the heterogeneous groups of foreign‐born Black mothers. Despite limitations of aggregate data, it is clear that where mothers live matters. This has important implications for nursing practice and policy.
Influence of Ion Size on Short-Range Repulsive Forces between Silica Surfaces

The influence of counterion size on short-range repulsive forces at high salt concentrations was investigated with silica slurries at various pHs. Ions from the lyotropic series of monovalent electrolytes (LiCl, NaCl, KCl, and CsCl) were used to coagulate dispersed slurries. Measurements of viscosity and sedimentation rate were performed. The results at high salt concentrations and volume fractions of silica clearly show that the extent of the short-range repulsive forces correlates with the size of the unhydrated ion. This trend is opposite to the ion-adsorption sequence on silica at low volume fractions of solids or lower ionic strength. Our results are also contrary to the widely accepted hydration force model but concur with the recently developed reference-hypernetted chain statistical mechanics models describing the interaction of ions with solvated surfaces.
Retinoic acid binding protein in normal and neoplastic rat prostate

Sucrose density gradient analysis of cytosol from normal and neoplastic rat prostatic tissues exhibited a peak of (3H) retinoic acid binding in the 2S region, corresponding to the cytoplasmic retinoic acid binding protein (cRABP). In the Fisher-Copenhagen F1 rat, cRABP was present in the lateral lobe, but could not be detected in the ventral nor in the dorsal prostatic lobes. Four sublines of the R-3327 rat prostatic tumor contained similar levels of this binding protein. The absence of cRABP in the normal tissue of origin of the R-3327 tumor, the rat dorsal prostate, and reappearance in the neoplastic tissues follows a pattern described in other human and animal tumors. The occurrence of cRABP in the well-differentiated as well as in the anaplastic R-3327 tumors in which markers which reflect a state of differentiation and hormonal regulation, such as androgen receptor, 5 alpha reductase, and secretory acid phosphatase are either markedly reduced or absent, points to cRABP as a marker of malignant transformation.
β1-Antitrypsin deficiency and chronic pancreatitis

α1-Antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder commonly associated with pulmonary and hepatic injury. Low serum levels of this glycoprotein result in an imbalance between circulating protease and protease inhibitors, which is thought to play a role in the development of emphysema. In recent studies, a protease-to-protease inhibitor imbalance in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency was thought to be a mechanism contributing to the development of chronic pancreatitis. The heterozygous phenotype and low levels of this glycoprotein have been reported to occur more frequently in patients with chronic pancreatitis than in healthy controls. We report a patient with Pi-SS phenotype α1-antitrypsin deficiency and chronic pancreatitis complicated by recurrent pancreatic pseudocysts and chronic abdominal pain. Our case supports the association between chronic pancreatitis and α1-antitrypsin deficiency. Furthermore, this case provides support for the use of pancreatic stent drainage in the management of intractable abdominal pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis and a dominant stricture.
Micropatterned surfaces to engineer focal adhesions for analysis of cell adhesion strengthening

Cell adhesion to extracellular matrices is critical to numerous biomedical and biotechnological applications. Cell adhesion involves integrin receptor−ligand binding and adhesion strengthening, which includes integrin clustering, interactions with cytoskeletal and signaling components to form specialized focal adhesion structures, and cell spreading. Because of the complex nature of the strengthening process, quantitative analyses of cell adhesion have been limited to initial events. In this study, we applied micropatterning methods to control focal adhesion size and position, and decouple integrin clustering and focal adhesion assembly from gross changes in cell morphology. This strategy allowed analysis of the evolution of adhesion strength independently of cell spreading and redistribution of adhesive structures. Microcontact printing was used to pattern alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers into arrays of circular adhesive islands (2, 5, and 10 μm diameter) within a nonadhesive background. Fibroblasts...
Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1984

Abstract A summary of the 1984 season is presented. Included are season statistics, storm tracks and comparisons with activity in recent years.
Predictive validity of a measure of treatment readiness for out-of-treatment drug users: enhancing prediction beyond demographic and drug history variables

The predictive validity of a treatment readiness measure designed for out-of-treatment drug users, tapping dimensions of perceived problem severity, perceived need for formal treatment, motivation for treatment, and negative attitudes toward treatment is examined using data from a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded HIV outreach intervention in San Antonio, Texas. Logistic regression is used to predict use of substance abuse treatment services three months after program intake on the basis of readiness scores, controlling for demographic and drug history variables. Analyses of data from 673 drug users in an HIV outreach intervention indicated that treatment readiness dimensions accounted for a 12% increase in variation in "use of any modality" and 14% for "use or attempted service use". Only Motivation to Quit was a significant predictor of "use of any modality" and both Perceived Need for Treatment and Motivation to Quit were significant predictors of "use or attempted use". Findings support the importance of the individual's perception of "readiness" to change their substance-abusing behavior and enter treatment.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Sensitizes Brain Tumors to c-MET Kinase Inhibition

Purpose: The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) c-MET and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are deregulated and promote malignancy in cancer and brain tumors. Consequently, clinically applicable c-MET inhibitors have been developed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the not-well-known molecular determinants that predict responsiveness to c-MET inhibitors and to explore new strategies for improving inhibitor efficacy in brain tumors. Experimental Design: We investigated the molecular factors and pathway activation signatures that determine sensitivity to c-MET inhibitors in a panel of glioblastoma and medulloblastoma cells, glioblastoma stem cells, and established cell line–derived xenografts using functional assays, reverse protein microarrays, and in vivo tumor volume measurements, but validation with animal survival analyses remains to be done. We also explored new approaches for improving the efficacy of the inhibitors in vitro and in vivo . Results: We found that HGF coexpression is a key predictor of response to c-MET inhibition among the examined factors and identified an ERK/JAK/p53 pathway activation signature that differentiates c-MET inhibition in responsive and nonresponsive cells. Surprisingly, we also found that short pretreatment of cells and tumors with exogenous HGF moderately but statistically significantly enhanced the antitumor effects of c-MET inhibition. We observed a similar ligand-induced sensitization effect to an EGF receptor small-molecule kinase inhibitor. Conclusions: These findings allow the identification of a subset of patients that will be responsive to c-MET inhibition and propose ligand pretreatment as a potential new strategy for improving the anticancer efficacy of RTK inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res; 19(6); 1433–44. ©2013 AACR .
Acquisition of image information from highly incomplete data

Modern tomographic imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used widely for non-invasively acquiring information within the subjects under study. In the last few years, there have been significant advances in tomographic imaging methods. In this presentation, author will discuss some of the recent algorithm developments for obtaining tomographic images of practical utility from data that are considered otherwise highly incomplete from the perspective of the conventional imaging theory. Emphasis will be placed on discussion of some newly developed ideas and algorithms for effective image reconstruction from highly sparse data in CT and MRI. These advances may allow opportunities for devising innovative tomographic imaging applications of highly significant practical merit in biomedical, industrial, security, and other fields. Various examples involving real, challenging CT and MRI imaging data will be used to illustrate and validate these new developments.
Monoclonal IgM Rheumatoid Factors Generated from Synovial B Cells of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients React with β2-Microglobulin Monoclonal RF React with β2m

Four of 15 monoclonal human IgM rheumatoid factors (RF) derived from synovial B cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed positive ELISA reactions with human beta 2-microglobulin. These findings were different from those previously noted using IgM RF derived from monoclonal Waldenstrom's paraproteins or the IgM components of mixed cryoglobulins, and resembled the anti-beta 2 microglobulin specificity of polyclonal IgM RF from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Reactions of monoclonal IgM synovial RF with overlapping 7-mers of beta 2m sequence indicated major regions of positive reactivity at positions 57-64 and 89-95 which were maintained in the presence of high salt (300 mM NaCl) conditions. Glycine substitution of each residue within RF-reactive beta 2m regions indicated that tryptophanes at position 60 and 95, lysine at 58, phenylalanine at 62, valine at 93 and arginine at 97 constituted important single amino acids for the reactive epitopes. These findings indicate that clonally restricted human IgM RF derived from diseased tissues of patients with RA show anti-beta 2m reactivity similar to polyclonal RF from the same patients. This particular fine specificity is not present in monoclonal RF derived from patients with Waldenstrom's or mixed cryoglobulins showing anti-gamma-globulin activity.
Cell-free synthesis and processing of an infectious dimeric transcript of potato spindle tuber viroid RNA

Abstract A full-length cloned cDNA insert containing the sequence of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) was dimerized and placed in the plasmid vector pSP65 adjacent to a promoter for bacteriophage SP6 RNA polymerase. In vitro transcription of this region yielded a single linear RNA chain 760 bases in length containing two copies of PSTV RNA with about 20 bases of vector sequence at each end. Bioassay on tomato plants revealed that this transcript has infectivity comparable to that of PSTV itself, yielding circular progeny RNAs indistinguishable from PSTV grown in vivo Comparative RNA fingerprinting analysis revealed that the viroid sequence in the dimeric transcript breeds true (compared to control viroid strains of different sequence grown in parallel) but loses the vector-specific sequences during growth in plants. Incubation of 32P-labeled dimeric PSTV RNA at neutral pH and 39° gave a 1–5% yield of three RNA segments, one comigrating with unit-length linear PSTV and two smaller fragments. Reaction of the unit-length cleavage product with wheat germ RNA ligase gave a high yield of circular molecules indistinguishable from PSTV circles arising in vivo, suggesting that the cleavage reaction yields 2′,3′ cyclic phosphate termini and could represent a part of the in vivo PSTV replication cycle.
Pharmacognostical studies of Brahmi: Stem and leaf characteristics of Herpestis monniera H. B. and K. and Hydrocotyle asiatica linn

This report includes new information on the pharmacognosy of the drug known in India as Brahmi. The results reported will serve to distinguish between the two plant species involved in connection with Brahmi.
Peptidase isozymes of the leopard frog Rana pipiens: properties and genetics.

The substrate specificity of five peptidases in tissues of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens, corresponds to mammalian peptidases (Pep) A, B, C, D, and S. The inheritance of electrophoretic variants of Pep A, B, C, and D verifies the genetic basis of the variants and the control of the enzymes by separate genetic loci. Electrophoretic patterns of heterozygotes suggest that Pep A, B, and D are dimers, whereas Pep C has a monomer structure. The tissue distribution and developmental patterns suggest that frog peptidases are subject to cellular regulation. Tests of genetic linkage show independent assortment for Pep A and Pep C and for Pep C and Pep D. Pep C is closely linked to superoxide dismutase-1 (6.87% recommbination), and Pep B is linked to mannose phosphate isomerase (30.4% recommbination).
What should schools do about malaria

Roll Back Malaria (RBM) is a partnership, including WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank, which aims to halve the global malaria mortality burden by the year 2010. The World Bank is a partner in this initiative not only through its support to governments for implementation, but also through the World Bank’s experience in working across sectors. An intersectoral approach to rolling back malaria is likely to be more sustainable and cost-effective, and the RBM team at the World Bank is already working with the infrastructure and environment sectors to explore op
The 5-HT- and FMRFa-activated signaling pathways interact at the level of the Erk MAPK cascade: potential inhibitory constraints on memory formation.

The sensorimotor synapse of Aplysia exhibits long-term facilitation (LTF) and long-term depression (LTD) elicited by the neuromodulator serotonin (5-HT) and the peptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2, respectively. 5-HT-induced LTF engages extracellular-regulated kinase (Erk) and CREB1, whereas FMRFa-induced LTD engages p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and CREB2. The interaction of the 5-HT and FMRFa pathways was recently investigated in Aplysia at the level of gene expression. However, little is known about crosstalk of these pathways at the level of the second messenger cascades. We investigated the potential interaction of the 5-HT and FMRFa pathways at the level of the Erk cascade. We found that FMRFa inhibited basal Erk activity through p38 MAPK. FMRFa also inhibited 5-HT-induced phosphorylation of Erk and nuclear accumulation of phospho-ERK, suggesting that FMRFa may place inhibitory constraints on memory formation through regulation of the Erk MAPK cascade. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Study Abroad and Second Language Socialization

The purpose of the study was to investigate college Arabic students’ perceptions of their experience during a short-term summer study abroad program to Jordan. In particular, the study sought to examine how study abroad affected the participants’ academic and career choices as well as how they perceived their second language socialization and its influence on their competence in Arabic. Results revealed that the short term SA contributed to students’ perceptions of gains in their linguistic and cultural skills as well as to their openness to the world and to other cultures. The experience also contributed to students’ decisions to apply for SA scholarships, and to choose areas related to Arabic language in their future studies and careers. Learners experienced a sense of empowerment and satisfaction at their ability to steer their learning and flourished when they could make their own choices in a supportive setting.
Performance considerations in embedded DSP based system-on-a-chip designs

Embedded DSP applications require large amount of high performance memory. Today's DSP systems typically have more than a megabit of on-chip memory, as compared to less than a hundred kilo-bits a few years ago. Memory performance can easily become a bottleneck in the system performance. This problem is compounded by the increasing interconnect delay factor at sub-micron technology. A high performance DSP core cannot alone guarantee a high performance system. In this paper, we address the challenges encountered in a high performance embedded DSP based design. We describe performance enhancing techniques ranging from careful physical placement, and logic design to optimal repeater insertion and buffering schemes. A methodology that efficiently addresses the interconnect effects is presented.
Methanogenesis and methanogenic partnerships

The microbial formation of methane from organic compounds greater than C$\_2$ in chain length demands a mixture of methanogenic and chemoheterotrophic non-methanogenic bacteria. The chemoheterotrophic, non-methanogens initiate the reactions by well established pathways, hydrolysing complex polymers and fermenting the unit constituents to smaller end-product molecules, which are further metabolized by other chemoheterotrophs to acetic acid, H$\_2$ and CO$\_2$. The methanogens are essential physiological partners in the overall conversion of the initial substrates to this level because they oxidize H$\_2$ and reduce CO$\_2$ to form methane. The ultimate formation of acetate as the chief intermediate in this fermentation depends on the removal of H$\_2$ by the methanogens. Otherwise, these acetogenic reactions are not thermodynamically feasible. Acetate, the major precursor of CH$\_4$ in fermentation systems, is converted to CH$\_4$ and CO$_2$ via a unique aceticlastic reaction. Examples of microbial partnerships producing methane from the fermentation of organic compounds are described.
Insectary Production of Stethorus Species

A program of mass production and periodic release of imported Stethorus sp., a predator of tetranychid mites, is being conducted by the University of California Department of Biological Control. Large numbers of the Pacific spider mite ( Tetranychus pacificus McG.) are reared on linted oranges, under controlled conditions. The mite-infested fruit is used to mass-produce the Stethorus sp. in specially designed rearing units. The Stethorus adults are collected from the units and released on mite-infested plants.
Safety and Efficacy of High-Dose Daily Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Children and Young Adults Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Suboptimal vitamin D (vitD) status is common in individuals infected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1–4], and it is associated with increased risk of HIV disease severity and death [5–7]. Contributing factors may include inadequate sunlight exposure, low vitD intake, skin pigmentation, specific drug therapies, malabsorption, or unknown HIV-associated factors. Mechanisms are poorly understood; however, a role for vitD in immunomodulation of lymphocytes and monocytes is suggested [2, 8]. Studies have demonstrated an association between better vitD status and higher CD4+ cell counts [3, 5, 9] and lower RNA viral load [6, 10] in subjects infected with HIV. The supplemental dose needed to optimize vitD status is unknown. Safety and efficacy of 2 oral daily doses (4000 vs 7000 IU) of cholecalciferol (D3) over a 12-week period were assessed in children and young adults infected with HIV. Safety was determined by serum calcium and 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations, and efficacy was determined by attaining 25(OH)D ≥32 ng/mL. We hypothesized the following: (1) both D3 doses were safe, with 160 ng/mL); and (2) daily D3 supplementation for 12 weeks would result in the study-defined target of 25(OH)D ≥32 ng/mL in >80% of subjects in both dose groups.
Schizophrenia and nicotinic receptors.

Patients with schizophrenia often cannot respond to important features of their environment and filter out irrelevant stimuli. This dysfunction could be related to an underlying defect in inhibition--i.e., the brain's ability to alter its sensitivity to repeated stimuli. One of the neuronal mechanisms responsible for such inhibitory gating involves the activation of cholinergic nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus. These receptors are diminished in many specimens of hippocampal brain tissue obtained postmortem from schizophrenic patients. In living schizophrenic patients, stimulation of cholinergic receptors by nicotine transiently restores inhibitory gating of evoked responses to sensory stimuli. Many people with schizophrenia are heavy smokers, but the properties of the nicotinic receptor favor only short-term activation, which may explain why cigarette smoking is only a transient symptomatic remedy. This paper reviews the clinical phenomenology of inhibitory gating deficits in people with schizophrenia, the neurobiology of such gating mechanisms, and the evidence that some individuals with the disorder may have a heritable deficit in the nicotinic cholinergic receptors involved in this neurobiological function. Inhibitory gating deficits are only partly normalized by neuroleptic drugs and are thus a target for new therapeutic strategies for schizophrenia.
A 100+ meter 12Gb/s/lane copper cable link based on clock-forwarding

This paper presents a clock-forwarding link architecture for 12Gbps 100+ meters copper cable. The delivery of a low jitter forward clock along the entire cable is enabled by an FIR filtering technique, a low-jitter configurable PLL/MDLL and the proper choice of forwarded frequency Total jitter at the end of the cable is 4.4ps RMS. The data signal is repeated every 8m. The link at each repeater occupies 0.095mm2 of area in a 65nm technology dissipating 48mW.
VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Venous thromboembolic disease has emerged as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, especially those who are critically ill. Although techniques for preventing, diagnosing, and treating this disorder are readily available, they are underutilized by health care professionals. This article reviews the salient features of venous thromboembolism, as they pertain to the critically ill. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), both being manifestations of the same disease process, are considered together in this discussion of venous thromboembolism.
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF THE ADRIATIC BASIN, OFFSHORE CROATIA

Offshore Croatia is a relatively underexplored area with no oilfields currently on production. Exploration commenced in 1970 and several biogenic gas fields were subsequently discovered producing from shallow Plio-Pleistocene reservoir rocks in the northern Adriatic area; however, exploration wells drilled for oil in Mesozoic carbonates have failed, although several wells encountered oil shows. Using data from the Croatian and Italian Adriatic, we provide in this paper some new insights into the Mesozoic palaeogeography and hydrocarbon plays of offshore Croatia. Offshore Croatia has been divided into three areas – north, central and south – with distinctive geological characteristics and hydrocarbon systems. The effects and importance of halokinesis in the eastern Adriatic is described and its influence on the petroleum systems is discussed. The evaluation of a modern, regional, high-resolution dataset has enhanced our understanding of the Adriatic Basin and supports the presence of petroleum systems with potential mature source rocks in shales from the Triassic succession, supplying reservoir rocks in Jurassic and Cretaceous carbonate platform margins/slope talus plays, and Cenozoic siliciclastic plays.
Search Result Clustering via Randomized Partitioning of Query-Induced Subgraphs

� Abstract— In this paper, we present an approach to search result clustering, using partitioning of underlying link graph. We define the notion of "query-induced subgraph" and formulate the problem of search result clustering as a problem of efficient partitioning of a given subgraph into topic-related clusters. Also, we propose a novel algorithm for approximative partitioning of such a graph, which results in a cluster quality comparable to the one obtained by deterministic algorithms, while operating in a more efficient computation time, suitable for practical implementations. Finally, we present a practical clustering search engine developed as a part of this research and use it to get results about real-world performance of proposed concepts.