cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Joint adaptive loss and l 2 /l 0 -norm minimization for unsupervised feature selection

Unsupervised feature selection is a useful tool for reducing the complexity and improving the generalization performance of data mining tasks. In this paper, we propose an Adaptive Unsupervised Feature Selection (AUFS) algorithm with explicit l 2 /l 0 -norm minimization. We use a joint adaptive loss for data fitting and a l 2 /l 0 minimization for feature selection. We solve the optimization problem with an efficient iterative algorithm and prove that all the expected properties of unsupervised feature selection can be preserved. We also show that the computational complexity and memory use is only linear to the number of instances and square to the number of clusters. Experiments show that our algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-arts on seven different benchmark data sets.
Cancer incidence among Minnesota taconite mining industry workers.

Purpose: To evaluate cancer incidence among Minnesota taconite mining workers. Methods: We evaluated cancer incidence between 1988 and 2010 in a cohort of 40,720 Minnesota taconite mining workers used between 1937 and 1983. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by comparing numbers of incident cancers with frequencies in the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System. SIRs for lung cancer by histologic subtypes were also estimated. We adjusted for out-of-state migration and conducted a probabilistic bias analysis for smokingrelated cancers. Results: A total of 5700 cancers were identified, including 51 mesotheliomas and 973 lung cancers. The SIRs for lung cancer and mesothelioma were 1.3 (95% CI ¼ 1.2e1.4) and 2.4 (95% CI ¼ 1.8e3.2), respectively. Stomach, laryngeal, and bladder cancers were also elevated. However, adjusting for potential confounding by smoking attenuated the estimates for lung (SIR ¼ 1.1, 95% CI ¼ 1.0e1.3), laryngeal (SIR ¼ 1.2, 95% CI ¼ 0.8e1.6), oral (SIR ¼ 0.9, 95% CI ¼ 0.7e1.2), and bladder cancers (SIR ¼ 1.0, 95% CI ¼
Routes to bicyclo [X.3.0] ring systems: stereoselective syntheses of and -8-methylhydrindans

Abstract Conjugate additions to 3-alkyl-2-methyl-1-acetylcyclopentenes via diethyl aluminum cyanide and via lithium divinylcuprate lead with good or essentially complete stereoselectivity, respectively, to cis 2-cyano-3-alkyl- and trans 2-vinyl-3-alkyl-1-acetyl-2methylcyclopentanes. The latter may be useful precursors of trans [X, 3, 0] bicyclic systems such as trans hydrindanes.
Eigenvector determination by iterative optical methods

Three power methods to compute the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a matrix on an iterative optical processor (IOP) are analyzed. Each is appropriate for a different eigenvalue and eigenvector application. When implementation on an IOP and the processing speed are considered, the second method is found to be preferable to others recently described.
Big boys don't cry: The values constraint in apologia

Apologia theory thus far includes definitions, strategies, explorations of motivations, and boundaries. If apologies are made to satisfy a hierarchy of needs, they are also constrained by a complex hierarchy of cultural and personal values. This essay provides a case study of Governor Ray Blanton's apologia by applying Bitzer's concept of functional communication, and extends Jamieson's concept of the constraint of antecedent genre upon the rhetorical situation by an examination of the impact of a speaker's antecedent rhetorical style upon later apologetic efforts.
Value of FDG PET in assessment of treatment response and surveillance in head-and-neck cancer patients after intensity modulated radiation treatment: A preliminary report

Purpose [ 18 F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) imaging has been shown to be valuable in early detection of persistent and recurrent head-and-neck cancer after treatment. Previous studies have reported its use in patients treated with conventional radiation. Many patients are now treated with intensity-modulated radiation treatment (IMRT). We evaluated the value of FDG PET in the assessment of treatment response and surveillance in head-and-neck cancer patients treated with IMRT. Methods and materials We performed a retrospective review of 85 head-and-neck cancer patients treated with IMRT at our institution between December 2000 and September 2003 who had FDG PET in their follow-up. Of these, 58 were treated with primary IMRT with or without chemotherapy, and 27 were treated with postoperative IMRT. Results Sixty-four patients had negative initial FDG PET after treatment. Forty of them, who had 6 to 24 months of follow-up after the imaging study, had no evidence of local or regional recurrence, although three of them developed distant disease. Twenty-one patients had a positive initial FDG PET after treatment, with 11 positive at the primary site, 9 positive in the neck, and 3 positive distantly. Six of 11 patients with a positive FDG PET at the primary site were true positive, and 3 had salvage surgery. Eight of 9 patients positive in the neck had a salvage neck dissection. One had fine needle aspiration of the lymph node with positive cytology but refused surgery later. For patients with follow-up of 6 months and longer, only 1 of 45 patients with a negative initial FDG PET at the primary site developed a local recurrence. None of 49 patients with a negative initial FDG PET in the neck developed a regional recurrence. Two cases are presented in which abnormal FDG PET preceded laryngoscopy or computed tomography in detection of tumor recurrences. Conclusions FDG PET is useful in the posttreatment management of head-and-neck cancer patients treated with IMRT. It is highly accurate in the detection of persistent and recurrent disease after treatment and allows salvage treatment to be initiated in a timely manner. It also provides prognostic information concerning the risk of recurrence after curative therapy.
Structures and stabilities of (MgO)n nanoclusters.

Global minima for (MgO)n structures were optimized using a tree growth-hybrid genetic algorithm in conjunction with MNDO/MNDO/d semiempirical molecular orbital calculations followed by density functional theory geometry optimizations with the B3LYP functional. New lowest energy isomers were found for a number of (MgO)n clusters. The most stable isomers for (MgO)n (n > 3) are 3-dimensional. For n < 20, hexagonal tubular (MgO)n structures are more favored in energy than the cubic structures. The cubic structures and their variations dominate after n = 20. For the cubic isomers, increasing the size of the cluster in any dimension improves the stability. The effectiveness of increasing the size of the cluster in a specific dimension to improve stability diminishes as the size in that dimension increases. For cubic structures of the same size, the most compact cubic structure is expected to be the more stable cubic structure. The average Mg-O bond distance and coordination number both increase as n increases. The calculated average Mg-O bond distance is 2.055 A at n = 40, slightly smaller than the bulk value of 2.104 A. The average coordination number is predicted to be 4.6 for the lowest energy (MgO)40 as compared to the bulk value of 6. As n increases, the normalized clustering energy ΔE(n) for the (MgO)n increases and the slope of the ΔE(n) vs n curve decreases. The value of ΔE(40) is predicted to be 150 kcal/mol, as compared to the bulk value ΔE(∞) = 176 kcal/mol. The electronic properties of the clusters are presented and the reactive sites are predicted to be at the corners.
THE VARYING BLOOD LEVELS AFFORDED BY PENICILLINS F, G, K, AND X IN RABBITS AND MAN

1. In both man and rabbit, penicillin X provided higher and more sustained blood levels than did penicillins F or G similarly administered in equal dosage (0.6 mg. per kg.); while penicillin K gave lower and evanescent levels. (a) One hour after intramuscular injection, the blood levels in rabbits averaged 0.11, 0.18, 0.02, and 0.33 for F, G, K, and X, respectively; and levels of 0.1 mg. per kg. were sustained for 1, 1.4,0.5, and 2.1 hours, respectively. (b) In man, the blood levels of G, K, and X averaged 0.23, 0.16, and 0.37 mg. per kg. 1 hour after intramuscular injections at 0.6 mg. per kg., and 0.11, 0.02, and 0.15 mg. per kg. 1 hour after intravenous injection. (c) In man, a level of 0.1 microgram per cc. was sustained for 1.6, 1.2, and 2.3 hours after the intramuscular injection of G, K, and X, respectively, and for 1, 0.5, and 1.3 hours after their intravenous injection. 2. The total urinary recovery of penicillins F, G, and X varied between 68 and 100 per cent, averaging 61, 87, and 74 per cent, respectively, in rabbits. In man, the urinary recovery of G and X averaged 86 and 93 per cent, respectively. In sharp contrast, the urinary recovery of penicillin K averaged 33 per cent in seven rabbits and 28 per cent in six human volunteers. The major portion of the penicillin appeared in the first 30 to 60 minutes. This suggests a rapid inactivation of penicillin K in vivo. 3. The therapeutic significance of these data is discussed in the text, and in greater detail in the following paper.
A pH-Regulated Chemical Oscillator: The Homogeneous System of Hydrogen Peroxide-Sulfite-Carbonate-Sulfuric Acid in a CSTR1

Periodic oscillations in both pH and the potential of a platinum electrode have been observed in the H2O2−Na2SO3−Na2CO3−H2SO4 system using a continuous-flow stirred tank reactor. This homogeneous system was studied at 25 °C over a wide range of concentrations and flow rates. Phase diagrams delineating the behavior of the system under various conditions have been obtained. The main features of the experimental results have been duplicated by a computer simulation based on a proposed model. Positive feedback in H+ is provided mainly by the autocatalytic oxidation of HSO3- by H2O2. The main process for negative feedback in H+ is the dehydration of H2CO3 to CO2. Simulations predict a period-doubling route to chaos, which is also suggested by experimental results. The effects of carbonate and acid impurities in the Na2SO3 source and of atmospheric CO2 are both simulated and discussed.
Azithromycin and warfarin interaction

A 57-year-old Caucasian woman came to the clinic with symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. She was treated with a 5-day course of oral azithromycin 500 mg on day 1, then 250 mg/day for 4 days. During this period, the patient decreased her cigarette smoking from 1 pack/day to 1 pack every 3 days. No additional confounding variables were present. Two days after the completion of therapy, her international normalized ratio (INR) was 8.32. Six case reports documented in the literature have suggested an azithromycin-warfarin interaction with a resultant increase in INR. Many confounding variables existed in each of these cases, such as hepatic dysfunction, poor appetite, and concomitant drugs that resulted in an increased anticoagulant response. We report a case that involved only one potential confounding variable. Continued documentation of azithromycin-warfarin interactions is valuable considering no mention of this drug interaction exists in most tertiary references and in the package insert for azithromycin, the demonstration that no drug interaction occurred in a retrospective review of 52 cases, and the widespread use of azithromycin in the community. Clinicians should be mindful when prescribing azithromycin in combination with warfarin, and INR values should be monitored.
Sperm membrane functional integrity and response of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa during the hypoosmotic swelling test incubation at varying temperatures.

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the sperm membrane integrity and permeability of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa, processed at varying temperatures during and after thawing, by exposing the spermatozoa to standardized hypoosmotic conditions. The hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test was employed to measure changes in sperm membrane functional status and permeability. Frozen specimens (from 5 bulls) were thawed at 37h °C for 10 sec and transferred to a water bath at 37 (Aliquot 1), 21 (Aliquot 2) or 5 °C (Aliquot 3) to complete thawing (1 to 2 min). The specimens were maintained and processed at these temperatures for additional 5 to 10 min. Specimens were slowly diluted 1:1 (v/v) and washed with Ham's F-10 media containing 3% (w/v) BSA. The HOS test was performed by adding 0.1 ml of the sperm specimen to 1.0 ml of a 100 mOsm/L HOS diluent. The following treatments were performed: 1) Aliquot 1 (control), specimens were incubated in HOS solutions at 37 °C for 5 min; 2) Aliquot 2, specimens were incubated in HOS solutions at 21 or 37 °C for 5 min; and 3) Aliquot 3, specimens were incubated in HOS solutions at 5 or 37 °C for 5 min. Samples were obtained from the sperm specimen-HOS diluent mixtures at 1 min intervals (during the 5 min incubation period), fixed and assessed for sperm swelling patterns. The sperm response to the HOS test for specimens processed at temperatures below 37 °C was higher when samples were incubated in HOS diluents at 37 °C. This finding indicates that the potential for sperm swelling (measurement of sperm membrane functional status) can be maintained when spermatozoa are processed at temperatures below 37 °C. The highest response to the HOS test was observed in spermatozoa processed at 21 °C and incubated in a HOS solution at 37 °C. The response to the HOS test was superior to the one observed in specimens maintained and processed at 37 °C throughout. Thawing of spermatozoa at 37 °C, followed by processing at 21 °C seems to reduce the negative effects associated with osmotic shock and results in the preservation of the sperm membrane functional status during the in vitro handling of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa.
Normal α-L-Fucosidase and Other Lysosomal Enzyme Activities in Progressive Cone Dystrophy

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 24 patients with cone dystrophy to investigate a possible link between this disease and deficient activity of α-L-fucosidase. We studied patients with several forms of cone dystrophy, including six with similar clinical characteristics to two patients previously reported to be α-L-fucosidase deficient. Activities for α-L-fucosidase and several other lysosomal enzymes (β-D-glucuronidase, β-D-hexosaminidase (A + B), and α-D-mannosidase) were determined in serum and leukocytes. None of our patients with cone dystrophy were deficient in α-L-fucosidase or any other lysosomal enzyme investigated. No relationship was found between α-L-fucosidase deficiency and any type of cone dystrophy studied.
Political Influence and TARP: An Analysis of Treasury's Disposition of CPP Warrants

I investigate one mechanism through which financial institutions could have used political influence to receive preferential treatment in the US Department of the Treasury-administered “bailout.” I find that neither proxies of political influence nor other political variables, such as public interest in specific deals, can explain variance in the sale price of warrants (a type of financial asset) Treasury acquired through TARP's Capital Purchase Program. Moreover, I find that the more politically active the firm is, the more likely Treasury is to auction its warrants (thereby receiving fair market value). This conclusion is not consistent with recent studies investigating the role of such variables in the initial administration of TARP and can be interpreted as good news for American taxpayers.
PET characteristics of a dedicated breast PET/CT scanner prototype

A dedicated breast PET/CT system has been constructed at our institution, with the goal of having increased spatial resolution and sensitivity compared to whole-body systems. The purpose of this work is to describe the design and the performance characteristics of the PET component of this device. Average spatial resolution of a line source in warm background using maximum a posteriori (MAP) reconstruction was 2.5 mm, while the average spatial resolution of a phantom containing point sources using filtered back projection (FBP) was 3.27 mm. A sensitivity profile was computed with a point source translated across the axial field of view (FOV) and a peak sensitivity of 1.64% was measured at the center of the FOV. The average energy resolution determined on a per-crystal basis was 25%. The characteristic dead time for the front-end electronics and data acquisition (DAQ) was determined to be 145 ns and 3.6 µs, respectively. With no activity outside the FOV, a peak noise-equivalent count rate of 18.6 kcps was achieved at 318 µCi (11.766 MBq) in a cylindrical phantom of diameter 75 mm. After the effects of exposing PET detectors to x-ray flux were evaluated and ameliorated, a combined PET/CT scan was performed. The percentage standard deviations of uniformity along axial and transaxial directions were 3.7% and 2.8%, respectively. The impact of the increased reconstructed spatial resolution compared to typical whole-body PET scanners is currently being assessed in a clinical trial.
Monetary disequilibrium and bank reform proposals in Yugoslavia: Paternalism and the economy

(1987). Monetary disequilibrium and bank reform proposals in Yugoslavia: Paternalism and the economy. Soviet Studies: Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 281-291.
Changing Attitudes Toward Separation and Divorce: Causes and Consequences

This paper addresses several issues concerning separation and divorce attitudes and attitude change, using data from an intergenerational panel study of mothers and their children. A definite trend toward approval of marital dissolution is observed between 1962 and 1980. A theoretical model of the determinants of attitudes shows that affiliation with Catholicism or fundamentalist Protestantism tends to reduce approval of marital dissolution, but that between 1962 and 1980 the effect of Catholicism declined and the effect of fundamentalist religion increased. Church attendance also has an important traditional influence on marital dissolution attitudes. Older women had the most approving attitudes in 1962, but they experienced the smallest subsequent change. Age at marriage is also negatively related to approval of marital dissolution. Attitudes toward marital dissolution are shown to have little influence on subsequent marital dissolution, whereas a marital dissolution influences attitudes significantly. ...
Computing the inertias in symmetric matrix pencils

Abstract We define and study generalized pencil eigenvalues for a pencil P ( S, T ) of real symmetric matrices S and T . This allows us to find all occurring inertias among pencil members aS + bT theoretically and numerically. Computed examples based on a MATLAB code are included.
Drug or medicine? China's experience of Marx's opium thesis on religion

This paper tracks the changes in the influence of Marx's celebrated opium thesis in China. Marx's view that religion is “the opium of the people” was first introduced into China through propaganda associated with the Russian revolution. It became very influential among Chinese intellectuals and dominated the religious policy of the CCP for a long period. However, as the revolutionary party became the party in power after 1949, it was obvious that the opium thesis alone would be insufficient to deal with the religious situation in a socialist country. Although the “five natures” of religion thesis was proposed to explain the persistence of religion in socialist China, the opium thesis proved more powerful politically and resulted in a general attack on religion during the Cultural Revolution. Not until the era of reform and “opening up” was the opium thesis questioned. After the release of a major document entitled “The Basic Viewpoint and Policy on the Religious Question during our Country's Socialist Per...
The Role of the N-Terminus of Subunit III in Proton Uptake in Cytochrome C Oxidase of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The catalytic core of cytochrome c oxidase consists of three subunits that are conserved across species. The N-terminus of subunit III contains three histidine residues (3, 7, and 10) that are surface-exposed, have physiologically relevant pKa values, and are in close proximity of the mouth of the D-channel in subunit I. A triple-histidine mutation (to glutamine) was created in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The mutant enzyme retains 60% of wild-type activity. Absorbance during steady-state turnover indicates that electrons accumulate at heme a in the mutant, accompanied by accumulation of the oxoferryl intermediate. When reconstituted into liposomes, the mutant enzyme pumps protons with an efficiency that is half that of the wild type. Finally, the mutant exhibits a lower cytochrome c peroxidation rate. Our results indicate that the mutation lowers activity indirectly by slowing the uptake of protons through the D-channel and that the three histidine residues stabilize the interactions between subunit I and subunit III.
Subadditive approaches in integer programming

Linear programming duality is well understood and the reduced cost of a column is frequently used in various algorithms. On the other hand, for integer programs it is not clear how to define a dual function even though the subadditive dual theory has been developed a long time ago. In this work we propose a family of computationally tractable subadditive dual functions for integer programs. We develop a solution methodology that computes an optimal primal solution and an optimal subadditive dual function. We present computational experiments, which show that the new algorithm is tractable.
Genetic markers in depressive disorders.

Abstract 1. 1. Association or linkage between a known genetic marker and an illness with a presumed genetic etiology supports two conclusions: a) The genetic etiology would be considered definite, and b) the illness should be considered a homogeneous disease. 2. 2. After separating depressions on the basis of gross familial differences, a finding of linkage or association in any subgroup would indicate that that particular illness is autonomous. Data on association between bipolar and unipolar depression and subtypes of the ABO system are given. 3. 3. Methodological problems in association studies are discussed. 4. 4. Preliminary data suggest the possibility of linkage between the α-haptoglobin locus and third component of complement locus and depression spectrum disease, a depression which is familially defined by the presence of alcoholism in the first-degree family member.
Role for the subfornical organ in vasopressin release.

Abstract The effect of subfornical organ (SFO) lesions on plasma vasopressin and drinking was tested in rats given either of two stimuli: subcutaneous injection of hypertonic saline or injection of a single dose of angiotensin II (AII) into the dorsal third cerebral ventricle. Drinking in response to hypertonicity was significantly attenuated, whereas All-induced drinking was unaffected by the lesions. In contrast, SFO lesions were associated with significantly reduced vasopressin responses following either of these potent stimuli to vasopressin secretion. Partial lesions that damaged structures adjoining the SFO (fornix or septum) had no significant effects. These results demonstrate that, in rats, the SFO is in some way necessary for vasopressin responses to both All and hypertonicity.
Thermo-ductile composites: new materials for 21st century manufacturing—micro-perforation symmetry

Abstract New thermo-ductile composite materials with highly aligned discontinuous fibre reinforcement are being developed for the manufacture of light weight structural parts. Their enhanced formability and high specific stiffness make them interesting candidates for metal substitution in the cost effective volume manufacturing of lightweight structural parts. These new discontinuous fibre materials are produced by laser micro-perforation of pre-impregnated unidirectional composite precursors. The process converts the composite into a mass of small aggregates made up of aligned discontinuous fibres, otherwise called fibre domains, which become the key micro-structural participants in subsequent deformation processes. Micro-perforation is an inherently flexible process, which can convert a single composite precursor into a wide range of products. The treatment may be overall or only applied to those parts of the structure that need to exhibit enhanced formability. The induced fibre length may be consistent throughout the material or may be varied between different parts of the structure. In this paper the symmetry considerations underlying the selection of the micro-perforation patterns are discussed.
The quadrupole triplet magnet as a momentum spectrometer

Abstract The numerical investigation of a particular quadrupole magnet arrangement has been undertaken to find the momentum dependence of the transmission solid angle and how it is affected by source and detector size. Use of the magnet in conjunction with an energy detector to provide mass identification is discussed.
Primary amoebic meningo-encephalitis in Southern Africa

Summary A fatal childhood case of confirmed primary amoebic meningo-encephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri is reported. This appears to be the first such case identified in southern Africa. The diagnosis and management of this unusual and lethal infection is discussed and attention is drawn to the possible danger of swimming in contaminated warm water.
Cloning of a unique human homologue of the Escherichia coli DNAJ heat shock protein

A human homologue of the bacterial DNAJ heatshock protein, HDJ-2, was isolated from a human umbilical vein endothelial cDNA library using a monoclonal antibody which reacts specifically to human endothelial cells and monocytes. This cDNA clone consists of 1469 nucleotides with an open reading frame of 1191 nucleotides. HDJ-2 shares significant homology with Escherichia coli heat shock protein DNAJ, as well as the yeast homologues Sec63, YDJ1, SCJ1 and SIS1. This homology suggests HDJ-2 may be involved in protein folding and/or transport.
Carl Becker on Progress and Power

A CRISIS of values confronted liberals in the mid-thirties. Of this Carl Becker was not unaware, when he wrote Progress and Power, for in that drear decade it would have been difficult for a political literate, who was not wholly irresponsible, to ignore the desperate challenge of totalitarianism to liberal democracy. So in answering the sardonic inquiry, which he had phrased in his own unmistakable way, what if anything could be said for the human race, Becker was rallying to the defense of the doctrine of progress against the attack of rival credos. What indeed was one to say, as the solid rationalist foundations laid in the eighteenth century and the massive edifice of democracy raised by nineteenth century liberals crumbled before one's eyes? What was the outlook in the years immediately ahead for the complex of forms, institutions, attitudes, and practices which made up the culture pattern of the Atlantic Community? To determine where man was headed, one had first to discover where he had started from and when. Hence one consulted the record-at least if one was a historian-for how, other than by scrutinizing the past, could one get his outlook for the future? Still the perspective of time alone did not suffice to place man in the necessary setting. A perspective of distance was also required, a distance sufficiently remote so that the reporter woulld not become emotionally involved in the activities he noted, yet not so far away that he could not report with accuracy the significant deeds that had taken place. In the interests of historical objectivity, Becker conjured up an impartial observer whom he stationed at a happy point of vantage along the cool Olympian heights. From there he looked down upon the human scene and, divesting himself of the ideas which fashioned man's judgment and the passions which marred it, simply noted memorable deeds and recorded the difference in character and extent between man's activities at the beginning of the long adventure and at the end. With a mock concern for scientific reckoning, Becker also made those calculations in terms of a time scale of 5o6,ooo years, the impressionistic 5oo,ooo allotted to precivilization rigorously checked
CAM01-5: Low-Jitter Scheduling Algorithms for Deadline-Aware Packet Switches

We study low jitter-scheduler design for deadline-aware input-queued (IQ) packet switches. We consider scheduling of traffic streams associated with service profiles, which reflect the inter-packet deadlines between packets constituting the stream. To make the NP-hard problem of scheduling with strict deadlines tractable, we use soft deadlines as a modeling tool, and study the scheduling problem with soft deadlines in a dynamic programming (DP) framework. We establish the optimality of a myopic scheduling policy for the canonical 2times2 crossbar switch. For bigger switches, we develop low-complexity approximations to the myopic policy (which is near-optimal), one based on the notion of neighborhood search, and two others based on convex relaxations of an integer programming problem. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed policies via simulations, employing good put as a performance metric. A key feature of the proposed policies is that they do not require knowledge of traffic statistics (rate, periodicity etc.), rendering them robust and amenable to implementation.
Open and Closed Conformations of the Isolated Transmembrane Domain of Death Receptor 5 Support a New Model of Activation

It has long been presumed that activation of the apoptosis-initiating Death Receptor 5, as well as other structurally homologous members of the TNF-receptor superfamily, relies on ligand-stabilized trimerization of noninteracting receptor monomers. We and others have proposed an alternate model in which the TNF-receptor dimer—sitting at the vertices of a large supramolecular receptor network of ligand-bound receptor trimers—undergoes a closed-to-open transition, propagated through a scissorslike conformational change in a tightly bundled transmembrane (TM) domain dimer. Here we have combined electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and potential-of-mean force calculations on the isolated TM domain of the long isoform of DR5. The experiments and calculations both independently validate that the opening transition is intrinsic to the physical character of the TM domain dimer, with a significant energy barrier separating the open and closed states.
Metadiscourse in the classroom: A comparative analysis of EAP lessons and university lectures

Abstract This exploratory study investigates teachers' use of metadiscourse in EAP lessons and academic lectures. The analysis is based on two corpora of instructor contributions to classroom discourse: 18 EAP lessons from the L2CD corpus and 18 university lectures from the MICASE corpus. Based on Hyland's (2005) interpersonal model of metadiscourse, the two corpora were compared to examine the influence of pedagogical content and context on teachers' enactment of metadiscourse in the classroom. Findings of the comparative analysis suggest that these aspects of teaching and learning influence teachers' use of metadiscourse in significant ways. EAP teachers seem to be more concerned with explicitly framing the discourse primarily to set up classroom tasks and engendering greater student involvement and participation. On the other hand, university instructors' priority lies in establishing relationships between ideas in the unfolding arguments of lectures. Yet for some metadiscoursal features, the real-time spoken environment of the classroom appears to override pedagogical focus and approach. The paper concludes with a few pedagogical implications.
The Generalization of Paraproducts and the Full T1 Theorem for Sobolev and Triebel–Lizorkin Spaces☆

Abstract We study the boundedness of generalized Calderon–Zygmund operators acting on Sobolev and, more generally, Triebel–Lizorkin spaces of arbitrary order of smoothness. We are able to relax the assumptionsT(xγ) = 0 and/orT*(xγ) = 0, which have been required in earlier results by other authors. To do this, we consider generalized paraproduct operators. We obtain the sharpness of our assumptions for some special cases. Using the same technique, we also obtain some sharper results for “norming” and “molecular” families.
Hybridization and Stratification of Nuclear Genetic Variation in Macaca mulatta and M. fascicularis

We used genotypes for 13 short tandem repeats (STRs) to assess the genetic diversity within and differentiation among populations of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from mainland Asia and long-tailed macaques (M. fascicularis) from mainland and insular Southeast Asia. The subjects were either recently captured in the wild or derived from wild-caught founders maintained in captivity for biomedical research. A large number of alleles are shared between the 2 macaque species but a significant genetic division between them persists. The distinction is more clear-cut among populations that are not, or are unlikely to have recently been, geographically contiguous. Our results suggest there has been significant interspecific nuclear gene flow between rhesus macaques and long-tailed macaques on the mainland. Comparisons of mainland and island populations of long-tailed macaques reflect marked genetic subdivisions due to barriers to migration. Geographic isolation has restricted gene flow, allowing island populations to become subdivided and genetically differentiated. Indonesian long-tailed macaques show evidence of long-term separation and genetic isolation from the mainland populations, whereas long-tailed macaques from the Philippines and Mauritius both display evidence of founder effects and subsequent isolation, with the impact from genetic drift being more profound in the latter.
Effects of surface preparation on the friction and wear behaviour of silicon nitride/silicon carbide sliding pairs

Silicon carbide and silicon nitride specimens were fabricated to provide three different surface finishes. They were subjected to sphere-on-flat (pin-on-disc) testing in order to determine the interaction of load, velocity, disc surface finish, and material effects on unlubricated friction and wear. Tests were conducted in air using applied loads of 1 and 10N, velocities of 0.1 and 0.5 ms−1, and surface preparations of 150-grit grinding, 220-grit grinding and fine polishing. The test duration was kept constant at 1000m of sliding distance for the pin specimen. In half the tests silicon nitride was the pin material and silicon carbide was the disc material. For the other half, the pin and slider materials were reversed. There was a much greater effect of normal force on steady-state friction coefficient than of either surface finish or material pairing. Increasing the sliding velocity raised the friction coefficient for both material pairings and for all surface roughnesses. Higher wear resulted when the velocity increased, but the effect of surface finish on wear ranged from none in some cases to about a factor of 10 in other cases. A trend of increasing run-in period duration with increasing smoothness was observed. The results are interpreted in terms of material properties, the Lim and Ashby model, and the friction force-velocity product.
Assessing the importance of host-derived polysaccharides as carbon sources for bacteria growing in the human colon

Abstract Although dietary polysaccharides undoubtedly serve as an important source of carbon and energy for bacteria that reside in the human colon, polysaccharides of host origin also enter the colon and might serve as carbon sources for some bacteria that can utilize them. In this paper, we review what is known about the characteristics of the polysaccharide utilization systems of Bacteroides , a genus of obligate anaerobes which is probably responsible for most of the polysaccharide fermentation that occurs in the colon. We then describe two approaches, based on this information, which are being used to determine which polysaccharides are actually being fermented by Bacteroides in the human colon. The first approach involves detecting and characterizing enzyme activities in extracts of a bacterial fraction from human feces. The results of these studies indicate that polygalacturonic acid and starch, two readily fermented dietary polysaccharides, are probably not major sources of carbon and energy for Bacteroides in the colon. A second approach involves assessing the ability of mutants that are deficient in their utilization of particular polysaccharides to colonize the intestinal tracts of germ-free mice. The results of these studies indicate that although host polysaccharides may serve as carbon sources in vivo, they are not major ones. Thus, neither of these approaches provides evidence for a single primary source of carbohydrate in vivo. It appears likely that human colonic Bacteroides may be using a variety of polysaccharides rather than relying on a single source of carbohydrate.
Acquiring, storing and utilizing process planning knowledge using neural networks

An approach is formulated for the automated acquisition of process selection and within-feature process sequencing knowledge from examples using neural networks. Network architecture, problem representation and performance issues are discussed.
Sex peptide and the sperm effect in Drosophila melanogaster

On mating, Drosophila females undergo dramatic alterations in their reproductive physiology and behavior (Fig. 1) (1). Egg production and egg laying are significantly increased, and the female's propensity to remate is drastically reduced. These changes in the female have been shown to be initially induced by seminal fluids transferred from the male to the female during mating and to persist because of the presence of stored sperm in the female (referred to as the “sperm effect”). The male seminal fluid proteins are synthesized in paired secretory organs of the male reproductive tract called accessory glands, the products of which are referred to as accessory gland proteins (Acps). Acps have been studied because of their importance for reproduction as well as their interesting evolutionary dynamics. Two articles in this issue of PNAS provide additional insights into Acp function and the sperm effect by characterizing a null mutant (2) and RNA interference knockdowns (3) for one of the most interesting Acps, the Sex Peptide (SP) [Acp70A (4)]. Fig. 1. Image of Drosophila mating. The female decreases her remating rate and increases her egg-laying rate after mating due, in part, to the transfer of SP from the male to the female. (Photograph courtesy of Avis C. James and Gary Wolsieffer.) Mating-induced changes in female Drosophila have been described as occurring in two phases, short- and long-term stages. The short-term effect is attributed largely to the rapid action of several Acps, some acting before and during the storage of sperm. Through the use of males lacking Acps, sperm, or both, it was determined that the actions of Acps on their own last no longer than 1 day after mating (5, 6). The functions of the Acps have been studied by several methods, the two most robust using genetics to either ectopically express the Acp …
Studies on folic acid nutrition in chicks and poults

Synopsis Experiments were undertaken to explain recent field cases of a folic acid deficiency among poultry in the United States and to determine whether folic acid supplementation of practical poultry rations, as advocated by some (Bechtel, 1964), was necessary. Assays for folic acid using the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (A.O.A.C., 1960) method, which measures only the “ free “ folic acid, showed that many poultry rations had sub‐optimal amounts of folic acid (Bechtel, 1964). However, results of assays for folic acid using a modified A.O.A.C. (1955) method showed that the folic acid in most of the common foodstuffs for poultry is present largely in “ bound “ or “ conjugated “ form and hence not detected using the 1960 A.O.A.C. method. It was subsequently found that the “ bound “ or “ conjugated “ folic acid in brewers’ dried yeast was fully utilised by the young chick and poult whether or not the dietary regimes of ascorbic acid supplementation, vitamin E or manganese deficiency were su...
An L-type calcium channel in renal epithelial cells.

A voltage-activated Ca++ channel has been identified in the apical membranes of cultured rabbit proximal tubule cells using the patch-clamp technique. With 105 mm CaCl2 solution in the pipette and 180 NaAsp in the bath, the channel had a conductance of 10.4 ± 1.0 pS (n= 8) in on-cell patches, and 9.8 ± 1.1 pS (n= 8) in inside-out patches. In both on-cell and inside-out patches, the channel is active by membrane depolarization. For this channel, the permeation to Ba++ and Ca++ is highly selective over Na+ and K+ (PCa(Ba):PNa(K) >200:1). The sensitivity to dihydropyridines is similar to that for L-type channels where the channel was blocked by nifedipine (10 μm), and activated by Bay K 8644 (5 μm). When activated by Bay K 8644, the channel showed subconductance levels. Treatment with forskolin (12.5 μm), phorbol ester (1 μm), or stretching (40 cm water) did not activate this channel. These results indicate that this Ca++ channel is mostly regulated by membrane voltage, and appears to be an epithelial class of L-type Ca++ channel. As such, it may participate in calcium reabsorption during periods of enhanced sodium reabsorption, or calcium signaling in volume regulation, where membrane depolarization occurs for prolonged periods.
Dose efficiency consideration for volume-of-interest breast imaging using x-ray differential phase-contrast CT

The newly developed differential phase-contrast (DPC) imaging technique has attracted increasing interest among researchers. In a DPC system, the self-imaging effect and the phase-stepping method are implemented through three gratings to manifest phase contrast, and differentiated phase images can be obtained. An important advantage of this technique is that hospital-grade x-ray tubes can be used, allowing much higher x-ray output power and faster image processing than with micro-focus in-line phase-contrast imaging. A DPC-CT system can acquire images from different view angles along a circular orbit, and tomographic images can be reconstructed. However, the principle of DPC imaging requires multiple exposures to compute any differentiated phase image at each view angle, which raises concerns about radiation exposure via x-ray dose. Computer simulations are carried out to study the dose efficiency for DPC-CT for volume-of-interest breast imaging. A conceptual CBCT/DPC-CT hybrid imaging system and a numerical breast phantom are designed for this study. A FBP-type reconstruction algorithm is optimized for the VOI reconstruction. Factors including the x-ray flux and detector pixel size are considered and their effects on reconstruction image quality in terms of noise level and contrast-to-noise ratio are investigated. The results indicate that with a pixel size of 20 microns and a dose level of 5.7mGy, which is equivalent to the patient dose of a two-view mammography screening or a dedicated CBCT breast imaging scan, much better tissue contrast and spatial resolution can be achieved using the DPC-CT technique. It is very promising for possible application at pathology-level in vivo study for human breasts.
MetaTree: augmented reality narrative explorations of urban forests

As cities world-wide adopt and implement reforestation initiatives to plant millions of trees in urban areas, they are engaging in what is essentially a massive ecological and social experiment. Existing air-borne, space-borne, and fieldbased imaging and inventory mechanisms fail to provide key information on urban tree ecology that is crucial to informing management, policy, and supporting citizen initiatives for the planting and stewardship of trees. The shortcomings of the current approaches include: spatial and temporal resolution, poor vantage point, cost constraints and biological metric limitations. Collectively, this limits their effectiveness as real-time inventory and monitoring tools. Novel methods for imaging and monitoring the status of these emerging urban forests and encouraging their ongoing stewardship by the public are required to ensure their success. This art-science collaboration proposes to re-envision citizens' relationship with urban spaces by foregrounding urban trees in relation to local architectural features and simultaneously creating new methods for urban forest monitoring. We explore creating a shift from overhead imaging or field-based tree survey data acquisition methods to continuous, ongoing monitoring by citizen scientists as part of a mobile augmented reality experience. We consider the possibilities of this experience as a medium for interacting with and visualizing urban forestry data and for creating cultural engagement with urban ecology.
Measuring the degree of modularity in gene regulatory networks from the relaxation of finite perturbations

In gene regulatory networks, transcription factors regulate downstream sites by binding or unbinding to specific promoter regions. It is known that the binding-unbinding process can affect factor life times, and thus response times. This change in the dynamical properties depends on the number of sites that the transcription factor binds to as well as the factor concentration level. To estimate how the dynamics of a given transcription factor will be affected by the number of binding sites, we previously devised a measure called the fan-out - complimentary measure to retroactivity - that indicates the maximum number of the binding sites before the dynamic response is significantly affected. We provided an efficient method to measure the fan-out and retroactivity experimentally by exploiting gene expression noise. In this presentation, we provide another efficient measurement method for retroactivity and fan-out at the population level. The method resorts to finite-size perturbations in system parameters or concentrations. The equivalent analysis method at the single cell level that is based on gene expression noise is also presented.