cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF REALIZED INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE IN AREA OF UPPER DANUBE REGION

Special natural reserve „Upper Danube“ is protected natural area I category, which extends on the left bank of Danube river in Republic Serbia. The reserve is part of large marshland complex and represents one of the last large ﬂoodplains on the ground of the European continent. Getting into consideration the natural conditions, production resources, the structure of agricultural production and related activities, and environmental, infrastructural and social conditions in which these economic activities take place, formed the basis for research on the Upper Danube. For research purposes, this feld is viewed in the broader context of the administrative area includes the city of Sombor and Municipalities: Apatin, Bac and Backa Palanka. On the other hand, from the perspective of the enlargement process of the European Union (EU), derived for our country and the importance of capital investment for sustainable development imposed by the need to analyze the economic effciency of investment in agriculture. Accordingly, the research activity is conducted within the boundaries of the analysis of investments in agriculture in the Upper Danube.
Inflation and the Exchange Rate: The Role of Aggregate Demand Elasticity

This paper examines the effect of aggregate demand elasticity on the exchange rate when inflation occurs. We discover that both the source of the inflation, whether demand-pull or cost-push, and the elasticity of aggregate demand with respect to the price level, are of consequence for the exchange rate. We obtain two primary conclusions. First, the effect on the exchange rate of cost push inflation is ambiguous and is partially determined by the price level elasticity of aggregate demand. In particular, and assuming that the two examined countries have equivalent aggregate supply elasticities, we conclude that the nation with the less elastic aggregate demand function will see its currency appreciate relative to the other. Second, demand-pull inflation results in an unambiguous increase in the exchange rate but the size of that increase is partially a function of aggregate demand elasticity. Assuming again that two countries have equivalent aggregate supply elasticities, that country with the more elastic aggregate demand will experience currency appreciation.
Suppressors of the unc-73 Gene of Caenorhabditis elegans

The unc-73 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans is necessary for proper axon guidance. Animals mutant in this gene are severely uncoordinated and also exhibit defects in cell migration and cell lineages. We have isolated coordinated revertants of unc-73(e936). These fall into three classes: intragenic revertants, extragenic dominant suppressors (sup-39), and a single apparently intragenic mutation that is a dominant suppressor with a linked recessive lethal phenotype. sup-39 mutations cause early embryonic lethality, but escapers have a wild-type movement phenotype as larvae and adults. Gonads of sup-39 mutant animals show a novel defect: normal gonads have a single row of oocytes, but sup-39 gonads often have two rows of oocytes. This result suggests that the mutant gonad is defective in choosing on its surface only a single site from which nuclei will emerge to form oocytes. These results are interpreted in terms of an effect of unc-73 on determination of cell polarity.
Making antigen presentable.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a shift occurred in the focus of immunological research from Ab-dominated studies to ones involving cellular components of immunity such as T cells, B cells, and APCs. The Ig nature of the B cell Ag receptor greatly facilitated the elucidation of how B cells
A Rich Services Approach to CoCoME

Systems-of-systems integration projects present exquisite challenges for software and systems engineering researchers and practitioners. Traditional integration approaches involve time-consuming rework bearing major financial and technical risk. Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs) have emerged as a widely accepted solution to this challenge because they use standards-based infrastructure to forge large-scale systems out of loosely-coupled, interoperable services. SOAs can create systems-of-systems by mapping existing systems into services, then orchestrating communication between the services. New functionality can be created by either adding new services or modifying communication among existing services. Because of these features, SOA projects are particularly amenable to agile development processes. Consequently, well executed SOAs can drive down financial and technical risk by improving flexibility and reducing time to market.
Feasibility of Global E-business Projects

The global imperative calls for e-businesses to act globally. However, an Internet business must plan and develop appropriate strategies for its global markets. Not all global markets are equally attractive or suitable for e-business. Several factors are addressed for global e-businesses to use in assessing potential international markets. A discussion of the different ways in which e-business has grown in diverse regions provides a framework for understanding specific and regional markets. Finally, the strategies and tactics e-businesses should consider are discussed. While there continue to be barriers to e-business in many developing parts of the world, there are also many opportunities both there and especially in the more developed regions. The future for well-planned e-businesses using appropriate global strategies appears very bright indeed. Keywords: broadband; customer relationship management (CRM); e-business; global e-business strategies; infrastructure
Climate Change, Public Opinion, and the Military Security Complex

For social scientists conducting climate change research and collaborating with climate science experts from the natural sciences, the American public's persistent skepticism about the impending di...
Molecular genetics of androgen-inducible RP2 gene transcription in the mouse kidney

Androgen control of the RP2 gene in the mouse kidney has been modified during evolution. In inbred mice (Mus domesticus), the concentrations of mRNAs encoded by RP2 undergo a 10- to 12-fold induction in response to testosterone; in other Mus species (e.g., Mus hortulanus and Mus caroli), induction ranges from none to about two- to fourfold. In this communication, we show that androgens induced RP2 transcription in M. domesticus, although this induction may not have fully accounted for the increase in mRNA levels. Reduced mRNA inducibility in M. hortulanus and in several other species was associated with an absence of transcriptional induction. Analysis of an interspecies backcross population indicated that the difference in RP2 inducibility between M. domesticus and M. hortulanus was due to a single Mendelian locus tightly linked (0 of 47 recombinants) to RP2. The RP2 gene was found to contain at least two promoters, only one of which was highly sensitive to testosterone. These results indicate that induction of the RP2 mRNAs, as well as interspecies variations in RP2 inducibility, are primarily a consequence of effects on this promoter.
Macroeconomics in Emerging Markets: Medium-Run Macroeconomic Equilibrium

In the model that we developed over the last four chapters, we described the economy's macroeconomic equilibrium as a short-run one. In Chapter 4, we distinguished between the short run and the long run based on the roles of the production technology and the capital stock. In the short run, we took the production technology and aggregate capital stock as given during the period of the analysis. Our reason for holding these variables constant was that they tend to change very slowly over time, relative to the other variables in our model. But as we further developed our model in the subsequent chapters, these were not the only variables that we took as given. When we analyzed the determination of aggregate supply in Chapter 5, for example, we focused on a situation in which wage inertia caused the nominal wage to change slowly, so that the current nominal wage was partly determined by its past history. Moreover, when describing the determination of equilibrium in domestic asset markets in Chapter 6, we introduced two important financial stocks: the economy's net international investment position and the domestic government's outstanding debt (which together sum to the financial net worth of the domestic private sector). In the short run, these financial stocks were also assumed to be constant because the changes that they undergo during any given year are likely to be very small compared to the accumulated stocks that are inherited from the economy's entire past history.
A zero‐one programming model for internal audit planning

One of the major components of an audit plan is risk assessment. Risk factors vary among organizations, and internal auditors must review their own organizational cultures to determine audit exposure. In order to minimize the risk, the internal audit department must develop an audit plan that ensures a maximum coverage of the areas to be audited. Presents the second phase of a study which aims to identify the relevant risk factors and rank the relevant auditable activities in terms of their riskiness. Develops a mathematical model that will ensure maximum audit coverage, using data from a local hospital. Suggests that the results of this research offer a practical alternative for audit managers.
Thoracic Surgery in the Aged

Patients 70 years of age and older tolerate limited pulmonary resection well but do not tolerate pneumonectomy well. Pulmonary resection in this age group should be as limited as is possible. Careful selection of patients, careful preoperative preparation and close postoperative supervision are necessary in handling aged patients whose reserves are limited.
Development of a parent training program for children with pervasive developmental disorders

Parent delivered interventions based on applied behavior analysis (ABA) for children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs) have been evaluated using primarily single-subject design methodology or small case series. While the results of these evaluations are encouraging, an important next step is to standardize the interventions to allow for replication across sites, in studies with large samples and measures of long-term, clinically meaningful outcomes such as improvements in children’s functioning and their relationships with parents. Accordingly, the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Psychosocial Interventions (RUPP Autism Network) assembled a detailed manual for a structured behavioral parent training (PT) program, developed treatment fidelity and training procedures, and conducted a pilot, feasibility study. The PT program is part of a large scale, multisite study intended to determine the efficacy of combined pharmacological treatment and behavioral intervention to improve behavior and adaptive functioning in children with PDD. This paper discusses the rationale for this project. A companion paper provides the results of our feasibility study on the PT program. Copyright # 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MODELING OF CHEMICAL AND MIXING EFFECTS ON METHANE AUTOIGNITION UNDER DIRECT-INJECTION, STRATIFIED CHARGED CONDITIONS

Fundamental experiments and direct numerical simulations indicate that reaction rates during the ignition delay of direct-injection, stratified charge mixtures are determined by both chemical reaction and mixing rates. Consequently, the commonly used, purely chemistry-dependent approach for predicting ignition is no longer valid when the mixing rate limits the reaction rates. This work proposes an improved approach for predicting the reaction rates during ignition delay which accounts for both chemistry and mixing. Initially, reaction rates are determined using only the chemical reaction rate. Subsequently, a transition is made to the use of a modified eddy dissipation concept in which reaction rates are determined based on interaction between chemical reaction rates and mixing rates. To illustrate and validate the model, compression ignition under stratified charged conditions is considered for methane/air mixtures with temperatures ranging from 1200 to 1500 K. The predictions agree well with the experimental results qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Furthermore, by comparing our approach against a chemistry-only model, conditions where mixing plays an important role in predicting reaction rates during the ignition period are identified.
Influence of Temperature on the Immune Response of Birds

Abstract INTRODUCTION The influence that the environment exerts on the general health and productivity of poultry is a concern of long standing. Pasteur et al. (1878) demonstrated a relationship between body temperature and the resistance of the fowl to anthrax, even though the role of environmental temperature and body temperature was not understood at that time. Since Pasteur’s earliest observation, an extensive body of literature has evolved which indicates that the environment influences the chicken’s ability to withstand infectious diseases. Hutt (1958), in his excellent text, presented a clear picture of how the environment, as it is perceived genetically by birds, conditions resistance and/or susceptibility to common infectious diseases. Environmental factors other than temperature affect immunity in birds. Among such factors are: microbial toxins (Pier and Heddleston, 1970; Pier et al., 1971; Michael et al., 1973; Thaxton et al., 1974a), hypoxia (Tengerdy, 1970), heavy metals (Thaxton and Parkhurst, 1973; Morgan et al. . .
Polarographic determination of semicarbazones

Abstract Acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, cyclohexanone, butyraldehyde, crotonaldehyde, and acrolein semicarbazones all give polarographic waves suitable for quantitative analysis in an acetate buffer at pH 4.6 .The half-wave potentials are —1.3, —1.3, —1.16 —1.05, —1.2,—1.11, —1.06,–0.99 V vs. S.C.E., respectively, for the compounds listed above. The diffusion current constants of these compounds average approximately 7 in the concentration range of 10 -2 to 10 -1 m M , giving an extremely sensitive method of carbonyl compound analysis. A supporting electrolyte that is 0.1 M each in acetic acid, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, and semicarbazide, and 0.0016% in Triton X-100, is satisfactory both for polarograph analysis and for the quantitative absorption of acetone, acetaldehyde, cyclohexanone, and crotonaldehyde from air samples by means of a scrubber.
BITWISE ALGORITHM FOR FASTEST PATHS IN TIME-DEPENDENT NETWORKS

An algorithm operating on a new and compact representation of link exit times to solve the one-to-all fastest path problem in dynamic networks is presented. The new space-efficient representation that exploits the firstin, first-out property of link travel times in dynamic networks is developed. The algorithm is described, and its working on a simple network is presented. The algorithm directly operates on bit streams of data representing time-dependent link travel times and performs logical operations on 0 and 1 bits only. Computational results are presented for large dynamic networks. The ideas behind the development of this algorithm are extendable to the development of algorithms operating at the bit level to solve other variants of dynamic shortest path problems and other dynamic network flow problems. These developments then open new research possibilities in the development of solution algorithms for dynamic network problems.
Catalase protects HepG2 cells from apoptosis induced by DNA-damaging agents by accelerating the degradation of p53

Oxidants such as H2O2 play a role in the toxicity of certain DNA-damaging agents, a process that often involves the tumor suppressor p53. H2O2 is rapidly degraded by catalase, which protects cells against oxidant injury. To study the effect of catalase on apoptosis induced by DNA-damaging agents, HepG2 cells were infected with adenovirus containing the cDNA of catalase (Ad-Cat). Forty-eight hours after infection, catalase protein and activity was increased 7–10-fold compared with control cells infected with Ad-LacZ. After treatment with Vp16 or mitomycin C, control cells underwent apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner; however, overexpression of catalase inhibited this apoptosis. Basal levels as well as Vp16- or mitomycin C-stimulated levels of p53 and p21 protein were decreased in the catalase-overexpressing cells as compared with control cells; however, p53 mRNA levels were not decreased by catalase. There was no difference in p53 protein synthesis between catalase-overexpressing cells and control cells. However, pulse-chase experiments indicated that p53 protein degradation was enhanced in the catalase-overexpressing cells. Proteasome inhibitors but not calpeptin prevented the catalase-mediated decrease of p53 content. Whereas Vp16 increased, catalase overexpression decreased the phosphorylation of p53. The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid did not prevent the catalase-mediated down-regulation of p53 or phosphorylated p53. These results demonstrate that catalase protects HepG2 cells from apoptosis induced by DNA-damaging agents in association with decreasing p53 phosphorylation; the latter may lead to an acceleration in the degradation of p53 protein by the proteasome complex. This suggests that the level of catalase may play a critical role in cell-induced resistance to the effects of anti-cancer drugs which up-regulate p53.
Development of calcium channels in gastric smooth muscle.

We used (3H)nitrendipine to characterize dihydropyridine sensitive calcium channels on cells isolated from neonatal (1 d) and weanling (11 wk) rabbit gastric fundic and antral smooth muscle. Incubating with and without nifedipine 20 pM, specific binding was 56 + 4% of total binding at 0.1 nM (3H)nitrendipine. Specific binding was saturable, reversible, achieved equilibrium by 10 min at 4"C, and was linearly related to cell concentration. The affinity constant for (3H)nitrendipine was higher in wean- ling fundus (kd = 243 f 121 pM) versus antrum (kd = 771 + 190 pM), p < 0.05. There were no age-related changes in affinity. In the antrum, the number of binding sites (B,,,) increased from 6 000 + 266/cell in neonates to 27 500 f 8 440/cell in weanlings (p < 0.05). In the fundus B,,, was 7 750 + 2 100/cell in neonates, and there was no age-related change. To assess function, we compared iso- metric stress in full thickness muscle strips oriented to the circular layer. Bethanechol stimulated dose-dependent tonic contractions in the fundus and phasic contractions in the antrum. Maximal stress increased with age from 305 + 54 mN/cm2 to 1140 + 73 mN/cmZ (p < 0.05) in the fundus and from 72 f 20 mN/cm2 to 154 f 30 mN/cm2 (p < 0.05) in the antrum. Preincubation and incubation with- out calcium resulted in reversible inhibition of contraction at both ages. Nifedipine 10-pM inhibited 100% of betha- nechol-stimulated contraction in the antrum, but only 25% in the fundus at both ages. In summary, in rabbit gastric smooth muscle: 1) 13H)nitrendipine identified functional calcium channels in neonates and weanlings, 2) there are age-related increases in calcium channels on antral, but not on fundic cells, 3) there are age-related increases in stress in strips from antrum and fundus, 4) the fundus utilizes intracellular calcium stores for bethanechol-stimulated contraction, whereas the antrum requires extracellular cal- cium. Age-related increases in dihydropyridine sensitive calcium channels are consistent with the requirement of the antrum for extracellular calcium to support contraction. (Pediatr Res 25:600-604, 1989)
Vibronic States in Single Molecule Electron Transport

A scanning tunneling microscope was used to study the electron transport through individual copper phthalocyanine molecules adsorbed on an ultrathin Al(2)O(3) film grown on a NiAl(110) surface. The differential conductance spectra display series of equally spaced features, which are attributed to vibronic states of individual molecules. The coupling of the electron current to the vibronic modes was observed to depend on the structures of the adsorbed molecules. Vibronic features were not observed for molecules adsorbed on the bare NiAl(110) surface due to spectral broadening.
Functional dissection of an innate immune response by a genome-wide RNAi screen.

The innate immune system is ancient and highly conserved. It is the first line of defense and the only recognizable immune system in the vast majority of metazoans. Signaling events that convert pathogen detection into a defense response are central to innate immunity. Drosophila has emerged as an invaluable model organism for studying this regulation. Activation of the NF-κB family member Relish by the caspase-8 homolog Dredd is a central, but still poorly understood, signaling module in the response to gram-negative bacteria. To identify the genes contributing to this regulation, we produced double-stranded RNAs corresponding to the conserved genes in the Drosophila genome and used this resource in genome-wide RNA interference screens. We identified numerous inhibitors and activators of immune reporters in a cell culture model. Epistatic interactions and phenotypes defined a hierarchy of gene action and demonstrated that the conserved gene sickie is required for activation of Relish. We also showed that a second gene, defense repressor 1, encodes a product with characteristics of an inhibitor of apoptosis protein that inhibits the Dredd caspase to maintain quiescence of the signaling pathway. Molecular analysis revealed that Defense repressor 1 is upregulated by Dredd in a feedback loop. We propose that interruption of this feedback loop contributes to signal transduction.
Prognostic value of intravenous dipyridamole thallium imaging in patients with diabetes mellitus considered for renal transplantation.

Abstract Patients with diabetes and end-stage renal failure are known to have a high risk for cardiac morbidity and mortality associated with renal transplantation. The most efficient method to determine preoperative cardiac risk has not been established. To determine the effectiveness of intravenous dipyridamole thallium imaging in predicting cardiac events, 40 diabetic renal transplant candidates were studied preoperatively in a prospective trial. The study group consisted of 40 patients whose average age was 42 years (range 27 to 64); 34 (85%) were hypertensive and 21 (53%) were cigarette smokers. Cardiac history included chest pain in 6 patients and prior myocardial infarction in 3 patients. Dipyridamole thallium imaging showed reversible defects in 9 patients, fixed defects in 8 patients and normal scans in 23 patients. Dlpyridamole thallium imaging was performed using 0.56 mg/kg of dipyridamole infused intravenously over 4 minutes. Cardiac events occurred only in patients with reversible thallium defects, of which there were 6. Of these 6 patients, 3 had cardiac events before transplantation and 3 had them in the early postopera tive phase (within 6 weeks of surgery). Of 21 patients who underwent renal transplantation, 3 had cardiac events within 6 weeks of transplantation. The average duration of follow-up was 11 months (range 1 to 21). Thus, dipyridamole thallium imaging is an effective method of identifying renal transplant candidates likely to develop cardiac complications. Routine coronary angiography may not be necessary to screen all renal transplant candidates for coronary artery disease before surgery.
Modality independence of word comprehension.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine the functional anatomy of word comprehension in the auditory and visual modalities of presentation. We asked our subjects to determine if word pairs were semantically associated (e.g., table, chair) and compared this to a reference task where they were asked to judge whether word pairs rhymed (e.g., bank, tank). This comparison showed task-specific and modality-independent activation for semantic processing in the heteromodal cortices of the left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 46, 47) and left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21). There were also modality-specific activations in the fusiform gyrus (BA 37) for written words and in the superior temporal gyrus (BA 22) for spoken words. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that word form recognition (lexical encoding) occurs in unimodal cortices and that heteromodal brain regions in the anterior as well as posterior components of the language network subserve word comprehension (semantic decoding).
Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor-mediated G Protein Activation Studied by Insertion Mutagenesis

We have recently shown that a four-amino acid epitope (VTIL) on the m2 muscarinic receptor (corresponding to Val385, Thr386, Ile389, and Leu390) is essential for Gi/o coupling specificity and Gi/o activation (Liu, J., Conklin, B. R., Blin, N., Yun, J., and Wess, J. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 11642-11646). Because this sequence element is thought to be located at the junction between the third intracellular loop and the sixth transmembrane helix (TM VI), we speculated that agonist binding to the m2 receptor protein results in conformational changes that enable the VTIL motif to interact with Gi/o proteins. To test the hypothesis that such structural changes might involve a relative movement of TM VI toward the cytoplasm, we created a series of mutant m2 muscarinic receptors in which one to four extra Ala residues were inserted into TM VI immediately after Leu390. Based on the geometry of an alpha-helix, such mutations are predicted to "push" the VTIL sequence away from the lipid bilayer. Consistent with our working hypothesis, second messenger assays with transfected COS-7 cells showed that all mutant m2 receptors containing extra Ala residues C-terminal of Leu390 could activate the proper G proteins even in the absence of agonist. However, replacement of the VTIL motif in such constitutively active m2 receptors with the corresponding m3 muscarinic receptor sequence (AALS) or deletion of Ala391 from the wild type m2 receptor completely abolished G protein coupling. Interestingly, introduction of extra Ala residues C-terminal of the AALS motif in the m3 muscarinic receptor completely abolished functional activity. Mutant m2 and m3 receptors that contained extra Ala residues immediately N-terminal of the VTIL and AALS motif, respectively, displayed wild type-like coupling properties. Our data are consistent with a model in which agonist binding to the m2 muscarinic receptor leads to a relative movement of TM VI toward the cytoplasm, thus enabling the adjacent VTIL sequence to interact with the C terminus of Galpha(i/o) subunits.
Gap Equation and Current Density for a Superconductor in a Slowly Varying Static Magnetic Field

The energy gap equation and the current density expression for a superconductor in a slowly varying static magnetic field are derived on the basis of a generalization of Nambu's Green's function formalism to finite temperatures. In the integral equation for the quasiparticle Green's function ${G}^{A}(\mathrm{R}; \mathrm{r})$, expansions of ${G}^{A}$, the self-energy part $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$, and the vector potential A, about the center-of-mass coordinates R, are introduced. The integral equation is solved by iteration, and the contributions of all orders in the gap $\ensuremath{\varphi}(\mathrm{R})$ are summed up. With the help of ${G}^{A}$, the generalized Ginzburg-Landau-Gor'kov (GLG) equations, valid at all temperatures for slowly varying A(R) and $\ensuremath{\varphi}(\mathrm{R})$, are derived. For temperatures near ${T}_{c}$, correction terms to the coefficients of the GLG equations occur which are proportional to powers of ${|\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\varphi}|}^{2}$. For temperatures near 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the function multiplying the term ${(\ensuremath{\nabla}+2\mathrm{ie}\mathrm{A})}^{2}\ensuremath{\varphi}$ behaves like $\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}|\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\varphi}|)$. The first-order correction to the term proportional to ${A}^{2}$ is found to be proportional to ${{\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}}^{2}{H}^{2}$, for $T$ near ${T}_{c}$ and near 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K (H=magnetic field strength, ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{0}=\mathrm{coherence}\mathrm{length}$). Our results are consistent with the formula of Nambu and Tuan for the reduction of the gap at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in the London region.
Fluid flow and transfer behavior of a drop translating in an electric field at intermediate Reynolds numbers

Abstract Approximate solutions for fluid motion in and around a drop translating in an electric field at an intermediate Reynolds number are obtained using the Galerkin method. Separation angles, wake lengths and drag coefficients all vary as a function of the applied field strength. Continuous-phase mass transfer rates for the case of high Peclet numbers are obtained for various values of Reynolds number, viscosity ratio, and a dimensionless parameter W1, characterizing the relative importance of electrical and gravitational effects. It is found that only when W1 is substantially greater than unity is Iherateof transport enhanced significantly by the imposed electric field.
Ultrashort-pulse retrieval using frequency-resolved optical gating and an artificial neural network

Frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) is a technique that allows the determination of the intensity and phase of ultrashort laser pulses. In FROG, a spectrogram of the pulse, the so- called FROG trace, is produced, from which the intensity and phase is then retrieved using an iterative algorithm. This algorithm performs well for all types of pulses, but it sometimes requires more than a minute to converge, and more rapid retrieval is important for many applications. It is therefore desirable to have a non-iterative computational method capable of inverting the function that relates the pulse intensity and phase to its FROG trace. In previous work, we showed that a neural network can retrieve simple pulses rapidly and directly. This original approach involved feature extraction by computing the lowest-order integral moments of the FROG trace, making it particularly sensitive to the presence of additive noise. Using parallel-processing hardware, we are now able to use FROG traces of limited size (32 X 32 pixel) without any feature extraction as input for a neural net. In addition, FROG traces of 64 X 64 pixel size, typical for experimental data, can be used in conjunction with a more noise-insensitive feature extraction method.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A cross-scale model for 3D baroclinic circulation in estuary-plume-shelf systems: I. Formulation and skill assessment

Abstract Challenges posed by the Columbia River estuary–plume–shelf system have led to the development of ELCIRC, a model designed for the effective simulation of 3D baroclinic circulation across river-to-ocean scales. ELCIRC uses a finite-volume/finite-difference Eulerian–Lagrangian algorithm to solve the shallow water equations, written to realistically address a wide range of physical processes and of atmospheric, ocean and river forcings. The numerical algorithm is volume conservative, stable and computationally efficient, and it naturally incorporates wetting and drying of tidal flats. ELCIRC has been subject to systematic benchmarking, and applied to the description of the Columbia River circulation. This paper motivates and describes the formulation, presents and critically analyzes the results of selected benchmarks, and introduces ELCIRC as an open-source code available for community use and enhancement. A companion paper describes the application of ELCIRC to the Columbia River.
Material and fabrication-related limitations to high-power operation of GaAs/AlGaAs and InGaAs/AlGaAs laser diodes

Abstract This paper discusses material/device and fabrication problems related to the high-power performance of fundamental-mode GaAs/AlGaAs and InGaAs/AlGaAs laser diodes. Various views on the stability of these devices and their degradation are presented. Bulk-, mirror- and ohmic-contact-related issues, including the physics/chemistry of defect formation, are discussed.
Surfing in the air: a grounded theory of the dynamics of street life and its policy implications

Nearly 20 years after the emergence of a specialised literature dealing with homeless children and youth, best practices are still rare and a divide remains between our understanding of street life, and the policy and programmes that are promoted to reach out to street-living children: a persisting dichotomy between theory and practice. While much of the literature available is still entrapped in a sort of ‘pathology of case studies’ unable to provide systematic information to policy makers and practitioners, this paper claims originality in presenting an inter-disciplinary understanding of the processes of street adaptation followed by children. In doing so, the paper presents a grounded theory to predict the consequences of street life and to plan interventions accordingly. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MODELING SEMANTIC CONCEPTS AND USER PREFERENCES IN CONTENT-BASED VIDEO RETRIEVAL

In this paper, a user-centered framework is proposed for video database modeling and retrieval to provide appealing multimedia experiences on the content-based video queries. By incorporating the Hierarchical Markov Model Mediator (HMMM) mechanism, the source videos, segmented video shots, visual/audio features, semantic events, and high-level user perceptions are seamlessly integrated in a video database. With the hierarchical and stochastic design for video databases and semantic concept modeling, the proposed framework supports the retrieval for not only single events but also temporal sequences with multiple events. Additionally, an innovative method is proposed to capture the individual user's preferences by considering both the low-level features and the semantic concepts. The retrieval and ranking of video events and the temporal patterns can be updated dynamically online to satisfy individual user's interest and information requirements. Moreover, the users' feedbacks are efficiently accumulated for the offline system training process such that the overall retrieval performance can be enhanced periodically and continuously. For the evaluation of the proposed approach, a soccer video retrieval system is developed, presented, and tested to demonstrate the overall retrieval performance improvement achieved by modeling and capturing the user preferences.
Developing and implementing a computer simulation of a large health care delivery system

Analysis of large, complex systems is difficult. Short-cuts or approximations often are needed to reduce the problem 'to size.' As a result, critical detail is lost or emphasis is placed on too few of the factors involved. The Los Alamos HealthValue Simulation generates and assembles the details of health care delivery for an integrated health care system. There are two key features: following individual patients, and providing a time history of events. Methods for doing this in computer simulations are well developed, having been used for decades by physicists and engineers. Today's supercomputers have the speed and memory capacity which make it affordable to apply the same methods to problems like health care delivery.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A taxonomy for goal setting in the care of persons with dementia.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a taxonomy for understanding and classifying goals in the care of persons with dementia. DESIGN: Qualitative study using open-ended interviews with key informants and the constant comparative method of qualitative data analysis. SETTING: The geriatric assessment center at a large academic medical center in Connecticut. PARTICIPANTS: Key informant interviews with 36 subjects: consecutive patients receiving geriatric assessment at the center and their primary family caregivers, case managers, and physicians of patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Goals, or desired outcomes, for the patient’s care as described by patients, primary family caregivers, case managers, and physicians were the main measurements. Participant interviews were conducted until the point of theoretical saturation, i.e., until further interviews no longer provided new concepts. All participants articulated at least one goal. Specific goals were characterized by a limited number of goal attributes resulting in a taxonomy, or consistent classification system, for reported goals. These attributes include domain (or content), specificity, time frame, and level of challenge. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that patients, primary family caregivers, and clinicians can articulate goals of care and may bring differing perspectives to the goal-setting process. The research identified a taxonomy that may facilitate negotiation of goals by revealing important, and perhaps overlooked, aspects of goals and the goal-setting process.
Vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) but Not VAMP3 mediates cAMP-stimulated trafficking of the renal Na+-K+-2Cl- co-transporter NKCC2 in thick ascending limbs.

In the kidney, epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb (TAL) reabsorb NaCl via the apical Na+/K+/2Cl− co-transporter NKCC2. Steady-state surface NKCC2 levels in the apical membrane are maintained by a balance between exocytic delivery, endocytosis, and recycling. cAMP is the second messenger of hormones that enhance NaCl absorption. cAMP stimulates NKCC2 exocytic delivery via protein kinase A (PKA), increasing steady-state surface NKCC2. However, the molecular mechanism involved has not been studied. We found that several members of the SNARE family of membrane fusion proteins are expressed in TALs. Here we report that NKCC2 co-immunoprecipitates with VAMP2 in rat TALs, and they co-localize in discrete domains at the apical surface. cAMP stimulation enhanced VAMP2 exocytic delivery to the plasma membrane of renal cells, and stimulation of PKA enhanced VAMP2-NKCC2 co-immunoprecipitation in TALs. In vivo silencing of VAMP2 but not VAMP3 in TALs blunted cAMP-stimulated steady-state surface NKCC2 expression and completely blocked cAMP-stimulated NKCC2 exocytic delivery. VAMP2 was not involved in constitutive NKCC2 delivery. We concluded that VAMP2 but not VAMP3 selectively mediates cAMP-stimulated NKCC2 exocytic delivery and surface expression in TALs. We also demonstrated that cAMP stimulation enhances VAMP2 exocytosis and promotes VAMP2 interaction with NKCC2.
An active role for splicing in 3′‐end formation

When intron-defined splicing was replaced by exon-defined splicing in the evolution of higher eukaryotes, the splicing apparatus had to rely on the cleavage/polyadenylation (CP) apparatus for help in defining the 3'-terminal exon. The 3'-terminal exon-definition complex that resulted consists of splicing factors on the upstream 3' splice site (ss) interacting with CP factors on the downstream poly(A) signal. A speculative model for assembly of this processing complex proposes several discrete steps. First, the splicing factor, U2AF65, interacts with the CP factor, CFI(m). Then, CFI(m) is displaced from U2AF65 by the poly(A) polymerase during a remodeling step. Finally, the U2 snRNP interacts with CPSF in a step resembling spliceosomal A-complex formation. The result is mutual enhancement of both splicing and CP for the exon. In contrast, when the poly(A) signal is preceded by a 5' rather than a 3' ss, competition replaces cooperation. Thus, a poly(A) site in an intron must compete with the upstream 5' ss for pairing with the 3' ss further upstream, across the presumptive exon. If the poly(A) site wins the competition, a terminal exon is defined. But if the 5' ss wins (by defining the upstream exon as internal, followed by pairing with a 3' ss across the downstream intron), then the poly(A) site is suppressed. The U1 snRNP obviously participates in this competition through its role in splice site pairing. However, the U1 snRNP can also bind elsewhere in the transcript, apart from splice sites, to regulate CP by direct interaction with the CP factors.
Efficacy of Protocol Implementation on Incidence of Wound Infection in Colorectal Operations

Background We reported previously a 26% incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing elective colorectal resection. Multiple risk factors have been identified, including obesity, improper administration of prophylactic antibiotics, hypothermia, and poor glycemic control. We hypothesized that implementation of a multidisciplinary wound management protocol targeting these risk factors would reduce the incidence of SSI. Study Design Previously reported baseline data were collected from February 2000 to January 2002. Beginning September 2004, the protocol was implemented, including appropriate administration of prophylactic antibiotics 0 to 60 minutes before incision, continued antibiotic administration for ≤ 24 hours postoperatively, maintenance of intraoperative normothermia (> 36°C), improved glycemic control (goal Results One hundred seventy-five and 132 patients during the baseline and study periods, respectively, met criteria for inclusion. Compliance with administration of prophylactic antibiotics increased from 68% to 91% (p ≤ 0.0001), and compliance with cessation within 24 hours increased from 71% to 93% (p ≤ 0.0001). Compliance with normothermia increased from 64% to 71% (p = 0.25). Incidence of SSI fell from 25.6% to 15.9% (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions After implementation of a multidisciplinary wound-management protocol, incidence of SSI improved 39%. These results demonstrate that compliance with a prospectively designed protocol for perioperative care can effectively reduce operative morbidity in patients undergoing colorectal operations.
Current speaker initiation of two‐party shared laughter

(1991). Current speaker initiation of two‐party shared laughter. Research on Language and Social Interaction: Vol. 25, No. 1-4, pp. 139-162.
The habituation of sexual arousal

The effects of two levels of stimulus intensity (medium and high) and two levels of stimulus variability (varied stimuli and constant stimuli) on the habituation of subjective and physiological sexual arousal were investigated in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Forty male volunteers served as subjects. It was hypothesized that, as compared to constant stimuli, varied stimuli would produce higher rates of response attenuation on indices of sexual arousal. This hypothesis was confirmed for both penile response and a subjective measure of sexual arousal. Second, it was hypothesized that stimuli of medium intensity would produce higher rates of response of attentuation on subjective and physiological indices of sexual arousal than would stimuli of high intensity. This hypothesis was partially confirmed for subjective arousal but was not confirmed for the physiological measure of sexual arousal. These results were interpreted as supporting the notions that sexual arousal to erotic stimuli decreases with repeated stimulus presentations and, since the experimental design properly controlled for physiological fatigue, that a habituation process is involved in this observed decrement. The implications of habituation for sex research are discussed.
Signal processing methods and hardware-structure for on-line characterization of thermal gradients in many-core processors

In this paper we propose a hardware-structure based on signal processing methods for on-line extraction of on-chip spatial and temporal thermal gradients in many-core chips. The proposed method uses digital filters to compute the magnitude of high-frequency variations in thermal fields and correlate that to thermal gradients. The functionality of the system is demonstrated using full-chip thermal simulation of a predictive 1024 core systems in 11nm nodes. The power and area of the structure is evaluated using post-layout simulations in predictive 45nm technology.
Mouse limb skeletal growth and synovial joint development are coordinately enhanced by Kartogenin

Limb development requires the coordinated growth of several tissues and structures including long bones, joints and tendons, but the underlying mechanisms are not wholly clear. Recently, we identified a small drug-like molecule - we named Kartogenin (KGN) - that greatly stimulates chondrogenesis in marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and enhances cartilage repair in mouse osteoarthritis (OA) models. To determine whether limb developmental processes are regulated by KGN, we tested its activity on committed preskeletal mesenchymal cells from mouse embryo limb buds and whole limb explants. KGN did stimulate cartilage nodule formation and more strikingly, boosted digit cartilaginous anlaga elongation, synovial joint formation and interzone compaction, tendon maturation as monitored by ScxGFP, and interdigit invagination. To identify mechanisms, we carried out gene expression analyses and found that several genes, including those encoding key signaling proteins, were up-regulated by KGN. Amongst highly up-regulated genes were those encoding hedgehog and TGFβ superfamily members, particularly TFGβ1. The former response was verified by increases in Gli1-LacZ activity and Gli1 mRNA expression. Exogenous TGFβ1 stimulated cartilage nodule formation to levels similar to KGN, and KGN and TGFβ1 both greatly enhanced expression of lubricin/Prg4 in articular superficial zone cells. KGN also strongly increased the cellular levels of phospho-Smads that mediate canonical TGFβ and BMP signaling. Thus, limb development is potently and harmoniously stimulated by KGN. The growth effects of KGN appear to result from its ability to boost several key signaling pathways and in particular TGFβ signaling, working in addition to and/or in concert with the filamin A/CBFβ/RUNX1 pathway we identified previously to orchestrate overall limb development. KGN may thus represent a very powerful tool not only for OA therapy, but also limb regeneration and tissue repair strategies.
The GM1 ganglioside hastens the reduction of hyperemotionality after septal lesions.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of ganglioside treatment on changes in emotional, activity, and avoidance behaviors following septal brain damage. Rats were treated with GM 1 —gangliosides either before and after septal lesions, or only after septal lesions and tested for emotionality on 10 consecutive days beginning on the second day after surgery. The ganglioside treatment decreased the emotionality of rats with septal damage on the first test day, and enhanced their rate of recovery to control levels of emotionality. Septal rats treated with gangliosides had activity, rearing, and avoidance behaviors equivalent to nontreated septal rats; however, lesioned rats treated with GM 1 showed reduced intertrial crossings during avoidance conditioning. These results suggest that the changes in emotional behavior of septal rats treated with GM 1 occur shortly after the lesion.
Developing a Philosophy about Bullying and Sexual Harassment: Cognitive Coping Strategies Among High School Students

ABSTRACT Bullying or harassment are a part of the everyday experience of many school children in the U.S. Bullying can take many forms and, while not acceptable, is considered almost inevitable. Despite exposure to various anti-bullying programs instituted in the schools, bullying persists and students must figure out how to deal with this phenomenon. This exploratory study investigated the views of secondary school students on bullying and harassment as well as their strategies for handling this form of peer interaction. One hundred twenty-two students (N = 122) from three rural high schools participated in this action research inquiry. The data were gathered from five focus groups and 52 individual interviews. The study found that students in these schools used cognitive coping mechanisms and strategies to manage the impact of bullying when it was directed toward them. The article describes students' reactions to being victimized as well as their interpretations of their peers' actions. Findings inform ...