cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An event-synchronous signal processing system for connected-speech recognition

Speech-source models indicate that event-synchronous feature analysis for a standard real-time speech recognizer (speaker trained using dynamic programming) should provide a strong basis for improved performance. Among the problems which need to be addressed in implementing such a system are those of developing robust event (pitch, burst, etc.) detectors, synchronous-analysis methodologies, more meaningful feature sets, and algorithms for recognition, e.g. dynamic programming. Descriptions of current approaches to these problems for a left-to-right, connected-word recognizer are given. The event-synchronous system's performance, relative to standard asynchronous recognition methodologies, is presented for an easy and a difficult vocabulary. >
Social Indicators of Substance Abuse Prevention: A Need-Based Assessment

We combine a variety of census and archival data to assess the relationships between social area characteristics and substance use. We found a substantial association between social area characteristics and substance use. We focus on intra and inter community, family, school and individual domain correlations to produce a prevention need-based score to rank communities from high to low need areas. Our analyses support the general risk and protective factor model advocated by Hawkins et al. (1992). As an important outcome of this work we suggest an objective criterion for selecting variables for the final model of the social indicators; suggest a set of weights for the selected factors and validate the selected factors with regard to substance abuse by linking the social indicator database to substance abuse outcome measures from another independent database. The selection criterion was based on intra domain correlations and proved to be robust. The weights were proportional to the information conveyed by each extracted factor. Analyses of intra-domain correlations are useful in identifying the types of prevention programs needed for each municipal area. Analyses of inter-domain correlations resulted in producing an overall need score based on social area characteristics. Many of the domains revealed more than one dimension, especially the school and the community/environment domains. Our analysis supports the use of social area characteristics in predicting the need for substance abuse prevention and treatment. It also suggests cautious and well informed decisions in selecting the indicators for a need based model.
Functional significance of the subcortical vascular syndrome in the rehabilitative setting

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cortical versus subcortical and right versus left hemispheric vascular lesion site on rehabilitative functional status. Seventy patients were prospectively studied. A 2 × 2 ANOVA showed significant group differences with the cortical group being more impaired on both the initial admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores ( F = 14.2, p F = 12.2, p
Lignin Peroxidase Activity Is Not Important in Biological Bleaching and Delignification of Unbleached Kraft Pulp by Trametes versicolor

The discovery in 1983 of fungal lignin peroxidases able to catalyze the oxidation of nonphenolic aromatic lignin model compounds and release some CO(2) from lignin has been seen as a major advance in understanding how fungi degrade lignin. Recently, the fungus Trametes versicolor was shown to be capable of substantial decolorization and delignification of unbleached industrial kraft pulps over 2 to 5 days. The role, if any, of lignin peroxidase in this biobleaching was therefore examined. Several different assays indicated that T. versicolor can produce and secrete peroxidase proteins, but only under certain culture conditions. However, work employing a new lignin peroxidase inhibitor (metavanadate ions) and a new lignin peroxidase assay using the dye azure B indicated that secreted lignin peroxidases do not play a role in the T. versicolor pulp-bleaching system. Oxidative activity capable of degrading 2-keto-4-methiolbutyric acid (KMB) appeared unique to ligninolytic fungi and always accompanied pulp biobleaching.
How to get the most from microarray data: advice from reverse genomics

Whole-genome profiling of gene expression is a powerful tool for identifying cancer-associated genes. Genes differentially expressed between normal and tumorous tissues are usually considered to be cancer associated. We recently demonstrated that the analysis of interindividual variation in gene expression can be useful for identifying cancer associated genes. The goal of this study was to identify the best microarray data–derived predictor of known cancer associated genes. We found that the traditional approach of identifying cancer genes—identifying differentially expressed genes—is not very efficient. The analysis of interindividual variation of gene expression in tumor samples identifies cancer-associated genes more effectively. The results were consistent across 4 major types of cancer: breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate. We used recently reported cancer-associated genes (2011–2012) for validation and found that novel cancer-associated genes can be best identified by elevated variance of the gene expression in tumor samples. The observation that the high interindividual variation of gene expression in tumor tissues is the best predictor of cancer-associated genes is likely a result of tumor heterogeneity on gene level. Computer simulation demonstrates that in the case of heterogeneity, an assessment of variance in tumors provides a better identification of cancer genes than does the comparison of the expression in normal and tumor tissues. Our results thus challenge the current paradigm that comparing the mean expression between normal and tumorous tissues is the best approach to identifying cancer-associated genes; we found that the high interindividual variation in expression is a better approach, and that using variation would improve our chances of identifying cancer-associated genes.
Combating Corruption with Bargaining Disruption

This paper presents a theoretical model in which governments regulate economic activity and individuals bypass the regulations by paying bribes to the public officials who monitor their businesses; the amount of the bribe is the subject of bargaining. The paper then introduces a policy that disrupts the bribe-bargaining process by rewarding public officials beyond what they would expect to receive if they accepted a bribe. This policy is referred to as bargaining disruption. The results of the model suggest that such policies can effectively combat corruption.
Protein structure in anisotropic environments: development of orientational constraints

Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance has the potential to characterize membrane protein structures at very high resolution. This paper focuses on the use of ori- entational constraints for this purpose. These constraints are based on observing the orienta- tion dependence of nuclear spin interactions. The interpretation of these observations is based on accurate knowledge of the spin interaction tensors — the tensor element magnitudes and their orientation to the molecular frame. Numerous possibilities exist for developing these ori- entational constraints, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. This first of two papers focuses on the observation of these constraints and their inherent error, while the second pa- per demonstrates the utility, advantages, and disadvantages of these constraints for solving protein backbone structure. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson 12: 55-70, 2000.
Nucleus: Towards a unified dynamics solver for computer graphics

This paper presents a unified dynamics solver developed by the author which was first released in AutodeskTM MAYA 8.5. The solver however is a standalone library which could potentially be used in other applications. Current dynamics solvers are usually fine tuned for specific effects such as rigid bodies or cloth. Handling the interaction between these solvers is often problematic as one of them takes precedence over the others. In our Nucleus solver we model all matter as a simplicial complex: a generalization of a triangle mesh that also includes points, curves and solids. This allows interactions such as collisions between various elements of different dimensionality. The internal deformations such as stretch and bend are handled through constraints instead of springs. This makes the simulation more stable for stiff materials such as cloth. Through mutual interactions and constraints many interesting phenomena emerge automatically. The basic philosophy behind Nucleus is that complexity arises by combining simple constraints.
9-Hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-α] pyrimidin-4-one and its derivatives

2-Amino-3-(o-bromobenzyloxy)pyridine (1) and ethyl acetoacetate gave 9-(o-bromobenzyl-oxy)-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-α]pyrimidin-4-one (2) in 2% yield. When 1 and methyl β-amino-crotonate (3) were reacted, benzyl ether cleavage occurred and the products were 9-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-α]pyrimidin-4-one (4) and its ammonium salt (5). These observations led to an alternative synthesis in which 2-amino-3-pyridinol (6) and either 3 or methyl acetoacetate, (8) in diethylbenzene at 185° gave 4 in 86 and 87% yields, respectively, and the anion of 4 and o-bromobenzyl bromide gave 2 in 61% yield. Even in diethylbenzene at 185°, 1 and 8 gave only trace amounts of 2. Thus, o-bromobenzylation of the 3-hydroxyl group in 6 markedly decreased the reactivity of the amino group in 6 toward reactions with acetoacetic esters.
Measurement of laser beam divergence.

A simple technique is described that can determine the far-field laser beam divergence by the propagation of the beam through a birefringent crystal (KDP) and a polarizer-analyzer. This method is even applicable to single pulses from a pulsed laser. (AIP)
Leukocyte isolation by sedimentation: the effect of rouleau-promoting agents on leukocyte differential count.

Abstract The rouleau-promoting agents dextran and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were used to accelerate erythrocyte sedimentation in order to harvest the leukocyte rich plasma (LRP). The objective of the work was to determine if agent concentration or blood: agent ratio had any effect on the leukocyte differential count and if so at what agent concentration and agent:blood ratio did the LRP leukocyte differential count most closely match the whole blood leukocyte differential count. With both sedimentation agents the data clearly indicate that both parameters effect LRP differential counts and that low concentrations of sedimentation agents are most important in obtaining LRP differential counts which most closely match the whole blood differential counts. A number of methods have been used to isolate leukocytes from whole blood, including the selective destruction of erythrocytes, sedimentation, simple centrifugation, leukoad-hesion, use of phagocytic properties and density gradient methods2, 3. One of the ...
Attributional aspects of cognitive behavior modification: A theoretical approach and suggestions for techniques

Recent developments in the application of attributional models to motivational psychology were discussed and their relevance to questions of clinical psychology were examined. It is concluded that the area of cognitive behavior modification should incorporate attribution theory in its theoretical framework to enhance conceptual understanding and therapeutic efficacy concerning inappropriate emoting and maladaptive behaviors. Kelley's theory of attributional antecedents is presented and used to derive some clinical intervention strategies to change causal attributions when they are responsible for inappropriate emoting and/or maladaptive behaviors. Examples of misattributions are offered and a taxonomy for misattributions based on Weiner's dimensionalization is presented.
NASA Laser Intersatellite Communication Program

NASA's return to laser communications technology development was heralded by three timely events, the development of reliable, high performance semiconductor lasers by a number of research groups in the early 1980's, the TDAS study by Stanford Telecommunication Inc. which summarized NASA's future requirements for high data rate crosslink and leo-to-geo communications, and the advent of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite program (ACTS). As a result of these factors NASA, with the GSFC acting as lead center, has reestablished a vigorous program in laser intersatellite communications, through a strong Proof-of-Concept (POC) program funded by the Office of Space Sciences and Applications (OSSA) and an equally strong technology development program funded by the Office of Advanced Science and Technology (OAST). With this technology base it is now appropriate to initiate meaningful space experiments aimed at testing and demonstrating the maturity of industry as well as government developed laser communication technology and its ability to support NASA's communications requirements in the 1990's and beyond. This presentation will outline NASA's POC program, its component development program and outline and discuss in detail its ACTS Laser Intersatellite Communications Experiment scheduled for the 1990-1992 time frame.
A tRNA splicing operon: Archease endows RtcB with dual GTP/ATP cofactor specificity and accelerates RNA ligation

Archease is a 16-kDa protein that is conserved in all three domains of life. In diverse bacteria and archaea, the genes encoding Archease and the tRNA ligase RtcB are localized into an operon. Here we provide a rationale for this operon organization by showing that Archease and RtcB from Pyrococcus horikoshii function in tandem, with Archease altering the catalytic properties of the RNA ligase. RtcB catalyzes the GTP and Mn(II)-dependent joining of either 2',3'-cyclic phosphate or 3'-phosphate termini to 5'-hydroxyl termini. We find that catalytic concentrations of Archease are sufficient to activate RtcB, and that Archease accelerates both the RNA 3'-P guanylylation and ligation steps. In addition, we show that Archease can alter the NTP specificity of RtcB such that ATP, dGTP or ITP is used efficiently. Moreover, RtcB variants that have inactivating substitutions in the guanine-binding pocket can be rescued by the addition of Archease. We also present a 1.4 A-resolution crystal structure of P. horikoshii Archease that reveals a metal-binding site consisting of conserved carboxylates located at the protein tip. Substitution of the Archease metal-binding residues drastically reduced Archease-dependent activation of RtcB. Thus, evolution has sought to co-express archease and rtcB by creating a tRNA splicing operon.
Tselioudis receives 2004 Charles S. Falkenberg award

George Tselioudis received the Falkenberg Award at the 2004 Joint Assembly Honors Ceremony, which was held on 19 May 2004 in Montreal, Canada. The award honors “a scientist under 45 years of age who has contributed to the quality of life, economic opportunities, and stewardship of the planet through the use of Earth science information and to the public awareness of the importance of understanding our planet.”
The Effect of Privatization on Advocacy: Social Work State-Level Advocacy with the Executive Branch:

Third-party contracting has fundamentally changed the relationship clients and consumers of social services have with state government and its agencies. Because state legislatures have load-shed se...
URINARY ACYLCARNITINES IN VARIOUS ORGANIC ACIDEMIAS ANALYZED BY MASS SPECTROMETRY AND H-NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPE

URINARY ACYLCARNITINES IN VARIOUS ORGANIC ACIDEMIAS ANALYZED BY MASS SPECTROMETRY AND H-NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPE
Image processing by simulated annealing

It is shown that simulated annealing, a statistical mechanics method recently proposed as a tool in solving complex optimization problems, can be used in problems arising in image processing. The problems examined are the estimation of the parameters necessary to describe a geometrical pattern corrupted by noise, the smoothing of bi-level images, and the process of halftoning a continuous-level image. The analogy between the system to be optimized and an equivalent physical system, whose ground state is sought, is put forward by showing that some of these problems are formally equivalent to ground state problems for two-dimensional Ising spin systems. In the case of low signal-to-noise ratios (particularly in image smoothing), the methods proposed here give better results than those obtained with standard techniques.
Induction of endogenous lymphokine-activated killer activity by combined administration of lentinan and interleukin 2.

Lymphokine-activated killer activity in vivo (endogenous LAK activity) was found to be augmented by combined administration of lentinan, a β(1–3) glucan with β-1,6 branches, and interleukin 2 (IL-2). In contrast, addition of lentinan during culture in vitro did not augment LAK activity induced by IL-2. Surface marker analysis of endogenous LAK cells revealed that endogenous LAK cells induced by a combined administration of lentinan and IL-2 were all NK-type LAK cells, which express asialo-GM1 and lack T3, Thy-1 and Lyt2, whereas LAK cells generated in vitro were composed of both NK-type LAK and T-type LAK cells, which express T3 and Thy-1, and lack asialo-GM1. Furthermore, combined administration of lentinan and IL-2 was found to augment the endogenous LAK activity even in the tumor bearer, and show a substantial inhibition of tumor growth and a significant increase in survival rate in the C3H/HeN/MM46 system. Results of the present investigation offer a possible clinical application of a combination of lentinan and IL-2 for immunotherapy against cancer without detrimental side effects.
Postemergence Experience Affects Sex Ratio Allocation in a Gregarious Insect Parasitoid

We tested the hypotheses that postemergence experience with plants (“early adult learning”) modifies sex ratio and clutch size allocations of Cotesia congregata (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a gregarious larval endoparasitoid of Manduca sexta L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Emerging wasps were exposed for 2–3 h to (a) one of two host plants (tomato or tobacco) or no plant, and (b) one of two novel plants (arugula or parsley) or no plant. Each female was permitted a single oviposition in a host offered with one of the two plant species 24 h later. Hosts were reared on laboratory diet before and after parasitization. Wasps exposed to either host plant allocated proportionately more females to hosts offered with the plant species experienced at emergence than wasps with the alternate species, but clutch sizes did not differ. Irrespective of plant species, wasps exposed to novel plants allocated proportionately more females to hosts than wasps without plant experience, and larger clutches to hosts offered with parsley than with arugula. Differential responses to host and novel plants suggest inherent recognition of host foodplants by C. congregata. Results demonstrate a direct effect of learning on reproductive potential.
A new data processing technique for noisy signals: application to measuring particle circulation times in a draft tube equipped fluidized bed

The interpretation of signals obtained from a magnetic tracer particle passing through a detector coil surrounding the draft tube in a fluidized bed is addressed. Due to the erratic motion of the particle as it passes through the coil, the signal obtained contains many peaks of differing magnitude and frequency. Using a phenomenological picture of the process and probability theory, a new technique to deconvolve signals of this type is presented. This new data analysis tool allows the discrimination between signals caused by the circulation of the tracer particle in the bed and by those caused by the unsteady motion of the particle in the detector coil. A simple cross-plot is presented to illustrate the technique.
A Legal Discourse Community: Text Centered and Interdisciplinary in Social and Political Context

This article reviews recent studies of legal discourse and nonacademic writing and presents the results of a historical case study of an environmental public policy. The author examined the rhetoric of public sector communication to show how an Indiana water quality standards administrative law was socially constructed as it was written collaboratively in two cycles by members of a text-centered legal discourse community. Key findings describe a dynamic discourse community with changing writing roles among government employees, lay members of the audience, and water pollution control board members. The social and political context surrounding this collaborative effort delayed formal adoption of the water quality standards in the public sector. Controversial provisions of the law stimulated social and political actions, including legislation, and in the process delayed rulemaking.
Rekindled HIV infection

Palpable disappointment accompanied the news last month of a child (the “Mississippi baby”) who was thought to be cured of HIV-1 infection by early antiretroviral treatment, but suddenly had detectable virus in the blood 2 years after the treatment was stopped. This setback followed the report of similar delayed viral rebounds 3 to 8 months after antiretroviral treatment was ended in two HIV-1–infected adults who had received bone marrow transplants ( 1 ). These findings have been viewed as a blow to HIV-1 eradication efforts. Although disappointing, the late rebounds are of enormous scientific importance. They reaffirm the concept that HIV-1 can persist by establishing latent infection and point to this challenge as the major hurdle in achieving a cure for HIV-1 infection.
TLR Agonists for Cancer Immunotherapy: Tipping the Balance between the Immune Stimulatory and Inhibitory Effects

The agonists of toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been actively pursued for their anti-tumor potentials, either as monotherapy or as adjuvants to vaccination or other therapeutic modalities (1). A search on ClinicalTrials.gov using the key words “TLR” and “cancer” returned 34 listings. The idea of using TLR agonist to provide a “danger signal” and break tolerance to tumor antigens has been well embraced by tumor immunologists. However, the promise of TLR agonists-based immunotherapy remains to be realized in the clinic, and only very few TLR agonists have been approved by the FDA. For example, bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) and imiquimod have been approved as standalone therapies, whereas monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) was approved as a vaccine component. A review of recently published literature on the use of TLR agonists in cancer setting revealed a common mechanism that might have explained the underperformance of TLR agonists as cancer therapeutics: induction of immune suppressive factors that put a break on the TLR agonists-induced inflammation. As shown in Figure ​Figure1,1, TLR agonists have immune stimulatory effects through the induction of costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, and CD40) on dendritic cells (DCs) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-12) that polarize Th1 immune response. On the other hand, TLR agonists have immune inhibitory effects as evidenced by the induction of several immune suppressive factors, including IL-10, T regulatory cells (Treg), and PD-L1, all of which could dampen anti-tumor immunity. The following is a brief summary on TLR agonists-induced self-regulatory feedback and the indication for cancer immunotherapy. Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing that PD-1/PD-L1 blockade may enhance TLR-based immunotherapy by tipping the balance between the immune stimulatory and inhibitory effects of TLR agonists. Treatment with TLR agonists in tumor-bearing host not only induces pro-inflammatory ...
Prophylaxis of Endophthalmitis with Topical Povidone-iodine

The authors conducted an open-label nonrandomized parallel trial to examine whether the preoperative application of povidone-iodine to the ocular surface reduces the incidence of endophthalmitis after intraocular surgery. During an 11-month period, topical 5% povidone-iodine was used to prepare the conjunctiva in 1 set of 5 operating rooms, while silver protein solution was used in another set of 5 rooms. In all cases, surgeons continued to use their customary prophylactic antibiotics. A significantly lower incidence of culture-positive endophthalmitis (P less than 0.03) was observed in the operating rooms using povidone-iodine (2 of 3489 or 0.06%) compared with those using silver protein solution (11 of 4594 or 0.24%). Use of topical povidone-iodine in over 3000 cases was not associated with any adverse reactions. In a majority of the observed cases of endophthalmitis, some form of intraoperative communication with the vitreous cavity existed.
Mechanistic understanding of microbial plugging for improved sweep efficiency

Microbial plugging has been proposed as an effective low cost method of permeability reduction. Yet there is a dearth of information on the fundamental processes of microbial growth in porous media, and there are no suitable data to model the process of microbial plugging as it relates to sweep efficiency. To optimize the field implementation, better mechanistic and volumetric understanding of biofilm growth within a porous medium is needed. In particular, the engineering design hinges upon a quantitative relationship between amount of nutrient consumption, amount of growth, and degree of permeability reduction. In this project experiments were conducted to obtain new data to elucidate this relationship. Experiments in heterogeneous (layered) beadpacks showed that microbes could grow preferentially in the high permeability layer. Ultimately this caused flow to be equally divided between high and low permeability layers, precisely the behavior needed for MEOR. Remarkably, classical models of microbial nutrient uptake in batch experiments do not explain the nutrient consumption by the same microbes in flow experiments. We propose a simple extension of classical kinetics to account for the self-limiting consumption of nutrient observed in our experiments, and we outline a modeling approach based on architecture and behavior of biofilms. Such amore » model would account for the changing trend of nutrient consumption by bacteria with the increasing biomass and the onset of biofilm formation. However no existing model can explain the microbial preference for growth in high permeability regions, nor is there any obvious extension of the model for this observation. An attractive conjecture is that quorum sensing is involved in the heterogeneous bead packs.« less
A root-mycocosm for growing ectomycorrhizal hyphae apart from host roots while maintaining symbiotic integrity

A culture system is described to grow mycorrhizal plants which allows experimental measurements to be made on mycorrhizae, and a portion of intact ectomycorrhizal fungi while in symbiosis, but growing apart from the rooting medium and host roots. A portion of the extramatrical hyphae is kept apart from the rooting medium by a restrictive passageway between the root and fungal chambers. The passageway is small enough to restrict coniferous fine roots to the root chamber, but large enough to allow fungal hyphae to grow out of the root chamber onto pre-weighed glass fiber filter paper situated in the fungal chambers. The pre-weighed filter paper allows for gravimetric estimation of the hyphal mass in the fungal chamber. The pieces of the modular Root-Mycocosm can be assembled in various configurations with one or two seedling chambers and one, two or three fungal chambers. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) seedlings were inoculated withHebeloma crustuliniforme (Bull.: St. Amans) Quel in either commercial-vermiculite inoculum or in plastic growth-pouches and grown in the Root-Mycocosm. Hyphae were allowed to grow into the fungal chambers and after four weeks, amounted to 5.5±0.81 SE and 6.4±1.5 SE mg for pouch and commercial inoculum techniques, respectively.
Algorithmic Renormalization for Network Dynamics

The aim of this work is to give a full, elementary exposition of a recently introduced algorithmic technique for renormalizing dynamic networks. The motivation is the analysis of time-varying graphs. We begin by showing how an arbitrary sequence of graphs over a fixed set of nodes can be parsed so as to capture hierarchically how information propagates across the nodes. Equipped with parse trees, we are then able to analyze the dynamics of averaging-based multiagent systems. We investigate the case of diffusive influence systems and build a renormalization framework to help resolve their long-term behavior. Introduced as a generalization of the Hegselmann-Krause model of multiagent consensus, these systems allow the agents to have their own, distinct communication rules. We formulate new criteria for the asymptotic periodicity of such systems.
A knowledge-guided active model method of cortical structure segmentation on pediatric MR images

Purpose: To develop an automated method for quantification of cortical structures on pediatric MR images.Materials and Methods: A knowledge-guided active model (KAM) approach was proposed with a novel object function similar to the Gibbs free energy function. Triangular mesh models were transformed to images of a given subject by maximizing entropy, and then actively slithered to boundaries of structures by minimizing enthalpy. Volumetric results and image similarities of 10 different cortical structures segmented by KAM were compared with those traced manually. Furthermore, the segmentation performances of KAM and SPM2, (statistical parametric mapping, a MATLAB software package) were compared.Results: The averaged volumetric agreements between. KAM- and manually-defined, structures (both 0.95 for structures in healthy children and children with medulloblastoma) were higher than the volumetric agreement for SPM2 (0.90 and 0.80, respectively). The similarity measurements (kappa) between KAM- and manually-defined structures (0.95 and 0.93, respectively) were higher than those for SPM2 (both 0.86).Conclusion: We have developed a novel automatic algorithm, KAM, for segmentation of cortical structures on MR images of pediatric patients. Our preliminary results indicated that, when segmenting cortical structures, KAM was in better agreement with manually-delineated structures than SPM. KAM can potentially be used to segment cortical structures for conformal radiation therapy planning and for quantitative evaluation of changes in disease or abnormality.
Hydrodynamic testing of a Vectored-Thruster Propelled UUV

Tests of an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) are conducted in a flume to determine the forces and torques on the vehicle at thruster angles of 0, 15 and 30 degrees. Particle image velocimetry measurements are made along the aft section upstream of the propeller to examine flow separation. Using force transducer measurements, the coefficients of moment and thrust are calculated for different thruster angles. The measurements show a reduction of the thrust coefficient and yaw moment coefficient as the thruster angle increases.
Thrombolysis with prourokinase versus urokinase: An in vitro comparison

Purpose: Despite advantages demonstrated in vitro, no single thrombolytic agent has been clearly shown to be superior to another in the clinical setting. Prourokinase has recently received attention as a new thrombolytic agent with higher fibrin specificity. The thrombolytic activity of prourokinase, however, remains ill defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate thrombolysis with prourokinase in comparison to urokinase in vitro. Methods: We used an in vitro parallel channel perfusion model that simulates catheter-directed thrombolysis in the peripheral arterial system. Radiolabeled thrombi were subjected to 90 minutes of endhole catheter-directed infusion with either prourokinase 5000 IU/ml, urokinase 5000 IU/ml; or 5% dextrose in water at 4 ml/hr. Results: Prourokinase and urokinase were found to be equivalent with respect to thrombolytic effect. Percent lysis was maximal at 90 minutes in both the urokinase and prourokinase groups. Prourokinase and urokinase were found to be equally effective in restoring flow through thrombosed graft segments. Conclusions: Prourokinase appears to offer little benefit over urokinase with respect to thrombolytic activity in an in vitro model that closely resembles the clinical setting. If prourokinase is to be accepted as an alternative to urokinase, advantages must relate to differences in fibrin specificity.
Septicemia in acute leukemia.

We have surveyed septicemic episodes occurring in individuals with acute leukemia and have found two factors favorably influencing survival, mainly granulocyte counts over 1,000 mm3 and gram-positive bacteremias. In contrast, blood cultures persistently positive for longer than 48 hours were a bad prognosticator. Significantly, patients with gram-positive bacteremia had received less antibiotics. in the week prior to septicemia than had patients with gram-negative bacteremia.
RESPONDING MAINTAINED BY INTERMITTENT REINFORCEMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE USE OF EXTINCTION WITH PROBLEM BEHAVIOR IN CLINICAL SETTINGS

Abstract Results of basic research have demonstrated that behavior maintained on an intermittent schedule of reinforcement (INT) will be extinguished more slowly than behavior maintained on a continuous schedule (CRF). Although these findings suggest that problem behaviors may be difficult to treat with extinction if they have been maintained on INT rather than on CRF schedules, few applied studies have examined this phenomenon with human behavior in clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to determine whether problem behavior maintained on CRF schedules would be extinguished more rapidly than behavior maintained on INT schedules. Three individuals diagnosed with profound mental retardation participated after results of pretreatment functional analyses had identified the sources of reinforcement that were maintaining their self-injury, aggression, or disruption. Subjects were exposed to extinction following baseline conditions with CRF or INT schedules alternated within reversal or multielement designs. Results suggested that problem behavior may not be more difficult to treat with extinction if they have been maintained on INT rather than CRF schedules. However, switching from an INT to a CRF schedule prior to extinction may lower the baseline response rate as well as the total number of responses exhibited during extinction.
The small sample properties of R2 in a misspecified regression model with stochastic regressors

Abstract In this paper we examine the small sample behavior of R 2 in a misspecified model with stochastic regressors. We present some numerical estimates of the bias and MSE of R 2 in the misspecified model. Our results show that, unlike the models with fixed regressors, there is no definite relationship between the moments of R 2 of the misspecified models and the true model.
Human Biochemistry of the Isoprostane Pathway

Free radicals derived primarily from molecular oxygen have been implicated in a variety of human disorders including atherosclerosis, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging (1). Damage to tissue biomolecules, including lipids, proteins, and DNA, by free radicals is postulated to contribute importantly to the pathophysiology of oxidative stress. Lipids are readily attacked by free radicals resulting in the formation of a number of peroxidation products. One class of oxidation products formed in abundance in vitro and in vivo is the isoprostanes (IsoPs),2 which were discovered by our laboratory in 1990. IsoPs are a series of prostaglandin (PG)-like compounds produced by the free radical-catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonic acid independent of the cyclooxygenase (2). Over the past 20 years, we and others have carried out a large number of studies defining the basic chemistry and biochemistry involved in the formation and metabolism of the IsoPs. In addition, we have shown that levels of IsoPs are increased in a number of human diseases, and it is currently recognized that measurement of these molecules is the most accurate analytical method to assess oxidative injury in vivo. Further, a number of IsoPs have been found to possess potent biological activity and thus are likely also mediators of oxidant injury (3). In recent years, additional related compounds, derived from various polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (4) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (5), have been discovered to be formed as products of the IsoP pathway. It is the purpose herein to summarize our current knowledge regarding the IsoPs including the chemistry and biochemistry of their formation, the utility of measuring these compounds as markers of in vivo oxidant stress, and their pharmacological properties.
Thermal behavior of silicon carbide valve blocks

BONDED resistors made of semiconducting silicon carbide are widely used as valve blocks in lightning arresters. During severe duty they may fall thermally; it is the purpose of this article to develop analytical means of studying the thermal behavior during transient duty.
Events preceding stable integration of SV40 genomes in a human cell line.

We have examined the organization of integrated SV40 sequences in an uncloned population of a transformed human fibroblast cell line. Somatic cell hybrids between mouse B82 cells and human GM847 cells were examined for SV40 T-antigen expression and individual human chromosome presence. This analysis revealed that a functional SV40 genome is located on human chromosome 7. Restriction endonuclease digestion followed by blot hybridization of the parental human cell line revealed that it contains mutliple normal and defective SV40 copies integrated into the host genome in tandem. A similar analysis of several T-ag+ hybrid cell lines indicated that the integrated viral sequences in different hybrid cell lines (thus in different cells of the original population) are very closely related but not always identical. Analysis of subclones of GM847 also revealed such differences. Based upon these results, we postulate that following the initial integration event, viral as well as the flanking host DNA sequences become unstable and are subject to deletions and rearrangements. This short-lived structural instability is followed by highly stable integration of SV40 which is maintained in these cells or their hybrid derivatives for at least hundreds of cell generations.
Predictors of smoking during and after pregnancy: a survey of mothers of newborns.

Background. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy represents a significant health risk to the fetus, but most women continue to smoke during pregnancy, and most who quit relapse postpartum. This study provides an assessment of psychosocial variables on women who quit, relapsed, cut down, or did not alter their smoking during pregnancy. Methods. Mothers of newborns in 49 pediatric practices (N = 13,495) were surveyed at the newborns′ first well-care office visit to a pediatrician, and 2,901 mothers who smoked in the month prior to pregnancy were identified. Predictive information was obtained by comparing mothers who quit smoking with those who continued to smoke, mothers who stayed quit with relapsers, and mothers who reduced tobacco consumption with those who did not. Results. Thirty-five percent of mothers reported quitting smoking during pregnancy, and 52% had cut down for pregnancy. Factors related to quitting smoking for pregnancy were younger age, higher level of education, lower smoking level, having a partner who did not smoke, and not consuming alcohol. Mothers who quit also reported allowing less smoking in the home. Relapse for quitters was highly correlated with partner′s smoking. For women who cut down but did not quit, smoking level and age were most significant.
Microscopic polyangiitis in an adolescent presenting as severe anemia and syncope

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is an autoimmune systemic vasculitis of small vessels. The condition has been best characterized in older adults and little is known of the natural history of this disease in children and adolescents. In this report, a case of an adolescent presenting with symptomatic anemia and syncopal episodes is described. An extensive evaluation ultimately led to the diagnosis of MPA. The unique findings in this case and review of the literature are presented, outlining the variable clinical presentations and challenge of diagnosing this condition in pediatric patients.
Evaluation of RAPD analysis for identification of polymorphisms in canine genomic DNA

Abstract Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was assessed as a method to identify polymorphic markers in dogs for potential use in linkage analysis of traits segregating in specific pedigrees. Three sets of primers were evaluated: 294 ten‐nucleotide long arbitrary primers from sets commonly used in RAPD analysis; 40 primers containing simple repeat elements; and 10 long random primers (19‐24 nucleotides). Of the 294 10‐mer RAPD primers, 220 (75%) amplified DNA segments from template DNA yielding primarily of 4‐5 DNA bands. Furthermore, only a few of the primers containing simple repeat elements produced discrete DNA fragments on amplification. On the other hand, all ten of the longer primers yielded amplification products with an average of 10 bands. Polymorphic bands were identified among the test DNA samples in 30% of reactions using 10‐mer RAPD primers, and in 50% of cases utilizing the long primers. RAPD primers with higher GC content amplified more polymorphic DNA fragments. Characterist...
The Cpx Stress Response Confers Resistance to Some, but Not All, Bactericidal Antibiotics

It has recently been suggested that bactericidal antibiotics, including aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGAs), and toxic small molecules, such as hydroxyurea (HU), kill bacteria the same way, namely, by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) via a process requiring activation of the Cpx stress response. We suggest an opposite, protective role for Cpx. We have confirmed the initial finding that cpxA null mutations confer resistance to HU. However, the two-component sensor CpxA is both a kinase and a phosphatase, and previous work from our lab has shown that removing CpxA can activate the stress response owing to buildup of the phosphorylated response regulator (CpxR∼P) that occurs in the absence of the phosphatase activity. We show that a dominant cpxA* mutation that constitutively activates the Cpx stress response confers a high level of resistance to both HU and AGAs in a CpxR-dependent manner. In contrast, inactivating the CpxR response regulator by mutating the phosphorylation site (D51A) or the putative DNA-binding motif (M199A) does not increase resistance to HU or AGAs. Taken together, these results demonstrate that activation of the Cpx stress response can protect cells from HU and AGAs. However, the Cpx response does not increase resistance to all classes of bactericidal antibiotics, as the cpxA* mutants are not significantly more resistant to fluoroquinolones or β-lactams than wild-type cells. Thus, it seems unlikely that all bactericidal antibiotics kill by the same mechanism.
Structural, compositional, and optoelectronic properties of thin-film CdS on p-GaAs prepared by pulsed-laser deposition

Abstract Thin-film CdS (300–400 nm) was deposited onto p- GaAs with low-temperature pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) using 532 nm emission of a Nd:YAG laser (6 ns, 10 Hz). The ablation threshold takes place at a fluence of 0.64 J/cm 2 and the deposition rate reaches its maximum at 2.68 J/cm 2 , while further fluence increase caused a deposition rate drop due to plume shielding. X-ray investigations illustrated that the CdS film texture is composed of nano-sized crystallites (10–30 nm) embedded in an amorphous matrix. Energy dispersive analysis of X-ray and electron probe microanalysis revealed almost stoichiometric composition. Alternating photocurrent spectroscopy showed that the CdS/GaAs sample exhibits intrinsic room-temperature responsivity, which might be useful for specific optoelectronic interconnects. The work emphasizes versatility and straightforwardness of PLD to form operative devices based on hetero-pairing.
Cellular immunity in species with variable rejection of vascularized grafts.

Abstract We studied the in vitro and in vivo cellular response in three distinctly different xenograft models, using C57BL/6 mice as responders and Lewis rats (LR), Golden Syrian hamsters (GSH), and Strain 2 guinea pigs (GP) as stimulators. Previous work has shown that cardiac grafts from rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs are rejected by C57BL/6 mice in 7 days, 4 days, and 10 min., respectively. In xenogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture, response was in general greatest to GSH splenocytes: stimulation index (S.I.) = 11.4 ± 3.6 followed by the response to LR cells, S.I. = 3.5 ± .09, which was less than that of an allogeneic control C57BL/6 anti-DBA, S.I. = 8.4 ± 1.7. GP stimulator splenocytes produced inhibition of response (S.I. = 0.23 ± .07) with all counts being below baseline and remaining low despite addition of IL-1, IL-2, or both. In fact, these cells were inhibitory to other allo or xeno mixed lymphocyte cultures in a dose-dependent manner. Cytotoxicity studies revealed maximal killing of ConA blasts in the allogeneic control followed by killing of GSH blasts and LR blasts and no killing of GP blasts. There was also a moderate degree of nonspecific killing between allo and xeno systems. In vivo analysis of cell-mediated cytotoxicity was done using a sponge matrix allograft model. The sponge was injected with donor cells and implanted into C57BL/6 mice. The response to donor cells was tested using cells accumulating in the sponge. There was maximal response to GSH cells > DBA > LR > GP. Both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate a more intense cellular reaction to GSH tissue; this may explain the previously observed rapid cellular rejection. Also, the complete lack of response to guinea pig cells may indicate an inability of cellular recognition between these widely discordant (as measured by rejection times) species or perhaps an as-yet-unknown inhibitory mechanism.
Nuclear morphometry predicts disease-free interval for clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with definitive radiation therapy.

Men treated for prostate cancer often have unexpected outcomes despite predictive models based on stage, grade and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Previous results have indicated that nuclear morphometry can predict patient outcome in urologic malignancies. Application of this analytical method in prostate cancer treated with radiation therapy is limited. We have evaluated the predictive ability of nuclear morphometry in such patients. Histologic sections from 23 men with clinically localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with radiation therapy were studied. Nuclear morphometric parameters were assessed using a previously described and validated system. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess the ability of nuclear morphometric parameters to predict recurrence and disease-free interval. Ten patients had no recurrence with median follow-up of 47.5 months, while 13 had recurrence. Gleason grade was not predictive of treatment outcome. Pre-treatment PSA data, available for only 11 patients, were predictive of treatment outcome. Several nuclear morphometric parameters predicted recurrence, including upper quartile of suboptimal circle fit and upper quartile of feret-diameter ratio. A prognostic factor score incorporating these 2 parameters was derived, which predicted disease-free interval (p = 0.0014). Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 84:594–597, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Saturation dips in optical transient signals

Optical nutation and free induction decay (FID) signals are reduced when the molecules producing them are in resonance with counterpropagating laser beams. Dips in the transient signals can be identified which correspond to transitions separated by less than their Doppler widths, and the dephasing and decay of the individual levels investigated.