cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical calculations in quantum field theories

Four lecture notes are included: (1) motivation for numerical calculations in Quantum Field Theory; (2) numerical simulation methods; (3) Monte Carlo studies of Quantum Chromo Dynamics; and (4) systems with fermions. 23 references. (WHK)
Keyboard acoustic emanations

We show that PC keyboards, notebook keyboards, telephone and ATM pads are vulnerable to attacks based on differentiating the sound emanated by different keys. Our attack employs a neural network to recognize the key being pressed. We also investigate why different keys produce different sounds and provide hints for the design of homophonic keyboards that would be resistant to this type of attack.
Behavioral Imaging and Autism

Behavioral imaging encompasses the use of computational sensing and modeling techniques to measure and analyze human behavior. This article discusses a research program focused on the study of dyadic social interactions between children and their caregivers and peers. The study has resulted in a dataset containing semi-structured play interactions between children and adults. Behavioral imaging could broadly affect the quality of care for individuals with a developmental or behavioral disorder.
Anticardiolipin antibodies in the sera of patients with diagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome.

Examination of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) in the sera of patients clinically diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using an enzyme-linked immunoassay procedure demonstrated the presence of immunoglobulin M isotypes in 95% of CFS serum samples tested. The presence of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A isotypes were also detected in a subset of the samples. Future studies will focus on elucidating whether alterations to mitochondrial inner membranes and/or metabolic functions play a possible role in the expression of ACAs. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:210–212, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Some current models of carcinogenesis

The various models of carcinogenesis related to the genetic dogma are reviewed: the virus model, the somatic mutation model, and the reading-error model. Also the electronic theory of cancer is discussed in this framework. It is emphasized that it is likely that cancer is a disease caused by a disturbance in the control of the cell differentiation, which may be different depending on whether the disturbance is caused by an external virus, radiation, or a chemical compound. Even some current models of aging are being briefly discussed in this connection.
Shortening of atrioventricular delay at increased atrial paced heart rates improves diastolic filling and functional class in patients with biventricular pacing

Use of rate adaptive atrioventricular (AV) delay remains controversial in patients with biventricular (Biv) pacing. We hypothesized that a shortened AV delay would provide optimal diastolic filling by allowing separation of early and late diastolic filling at increased heart rate (HR) in these patients. 34 patients (75 ± 11 yrs, 24 M, LVEF 34 ± 12%) with Biv and atrial pacing had optimal AV delay determined at baseline HR by Doppler echocardiography. Atrial pacing rate was then increased in 10 bpm increments to a maximum of 90 bpm. At each atrial pacing HR, optimal AV delay was determined by changing AV delay until best E and A wave separation was seen on mitral inflow pulsed wave (PW) Doppler (defined as increased atrial duration from baseline or prior pacemaker setting with minimal atrial truncation). Left ventricular (LV) systolic ejection time and velocity time integral (VTI) at fixed and optimal AV delay was also tested in 13 patients. Rate adaptive AV delay was then programmed according to the optimal AV delay at the highest HR tested and patients were followed for 1 month to assess change in NYHA class and Quality of Life Score as assessed by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. 81 AV delays were evaluated at different atrial pacing rates. Optimal AV delay decreased as atrial paced HR increased (201 ms at 60 bpm, 187 ms at 70 bpm, 146 ms at 80 bpm and 123 ms at 90 bpm (ANOVA F-statistic = 15, p = 0.0010). Diastolic filling time (P < 0.001 vs. fixed AV delay), mitral inflow VTI (p < 0.05 vs fixed AV delay) and systolic ejection time (p < 0.02 vs. fixed AV delay) improved by 14%, 5% and 4% respectively at optimal versus fixed AV delay at the same HR. NYHA improved from 2.6 ± 0.7 at baseline to 1.7 ± 0.8 (p < 0.01) 1 month post optimization. Physical component of Quality of Life Score improved from 32 ± 17 at baseline to 25 ± 12 (p < 0.05) at follow up. Increased heart rate by atrial pacing in patients with Biv pacing causes compromise in diastolic filling time which can be improved by AV delay shortening. Aggressive AV delay shortening was required at heart rates in physiologic range to achieve optimal diastolic filling and was associated with an increase in LV ejection time during optimization. Functional class improved at 1 month post optimization using aggressive AV delay shortening algorithm derived from echo-guidance at the time of Biv pacemaker optimization.
rTMS over the intraparietal sulcus disrupts numerosity processing

It has been widely argued that the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) is involved in tasks that evoke representations of numerical magnitude, among other cognitive functions. However, the causal role of this parietal region in processing symbolic and non-symbolic numerosity has not been established. The current study used repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) to the left and right IPS to investigate the effects of temporary deactivations of these regions on the capacity to represent symbolic (Arabic numbers) and non-symbolic (arrays of dots) numerosities. We found that comparisons of both symbolic and non-symbolic numerosities were impaired after rTMS to the left IPS but enhanced by rTMS to the right IPS. A signature effect of numerical distance was also found: greater impairment (or lesser facilitation) when comparing numerosities of similar magnitude. The reverse pattern of impairment and enhancement was found in a control task that required judging an analogue stimulus property (ellipse orientation) but no numerosity judgements. No rTMS effects for the numerosity tasks were found when stimulating an area adjacent but distinct from the IPS, the left and right angular gyrus. These data suggest that left IPS is critical for processing symbolic and non-symbolic numerosity; this processing may thus depend on common neural mechanisms, which are distinct from mechanisms supporting the processing of analogue stimulus properties.
Affordable Human Moon and Mars Exploration through Hardware Commonality

The Vision for Space Exploration calls for the safe, affordable, and sustainable human exploration of the Moon and Mars. In order to achieve exploration affordability and sustainability, the Mars -back approach was developed. The fundamental principle of the Mars -back approach is that the syste m elements used for lunar exploration are a subset (in terms of design) of those used for Mars exploration; thereby the lunar exploration hardware is directly relevant to the exploration of Mars. After systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis of ov er 1000 lunar and over 1000 Mars exploration architectures using a discrete event simulation tool, two architectures were chosen for further analysis based on overall mission mass, mission risk, and cost: a direct return architecture for lunar exploration, and an architecture similar in concept to the 1993 NASA Mars Design Reference Mission for conjunction -class Mars exploration. Employing the Mars -back approach, the Mars exploration hardware can enable a crewed lunar direct return architecture along with o ne way cargo -delivery capability, such as for a long -duration surface habitat, without the need for additional hardware development. Common system elements include the CEV for short term habitation and Earth entry, long -term in -space and planetary surface habitats, and propulsion stages for Earth departure, deep -space maneuvers, and planetary descent / ascent. Commonality was introduced through design for the most stressing case, typically Mars, when requirements were similar, and through modular, extensibl e solutions when requirements differed more widely. Based on the commonality concept, a hardware development roadmap was laid out for phased development of the hardware; each phase provides increasing mission capability. Hardware development with commonali ty eliminates the need for any significant “development gap” between lunar and Mars exploration missions. The development approach ensures that technology and hardware development for lunar missions is directly relevant to Mars exploration. Also, extensive testing of Mars hardware can be carried out during long -stay lunar missions, thereby increasing operational experience with the equipment to be used for Mars missions and reducing Mars mission risk. As identical hardware is used, lunar missions could stil l be executed during Mars exploration because the production and assembly lines would still be running. Most importantly, the overall lifecycle cost for exploration of the Moon and Mars is significantly reduced by limiting the amount of hardware that must be developed. The drawback of Mars -back commonality is a certain non -optimality in the common system design which leads to increased system dry and wet mass and therefore to a potential increase in recurring cost, mainly in launch and production. Quantitat ive analysis of this commonality penalty shows a modest growth of Initial Mass in LEO, which appears acceptable when set against the significant savings in overall lifecycle cost that would be achieved.
Bandwidth extension of low noise fractional-N synthesizers

This paper examines issues with extending the bandwidth of fractional-N synthesizers. Quantization noise is shown to be the limiting factor in state-of-the-art fractional-N synthesis. A re-framing of the noise model used to analyze synthesizer phase noise leads directly to a methodology to enable high bandwidth synthesis. We present measured results from a synthesizer based on the proposed methodology that demonstrates >25 dB broadband phase noise reduction compared to a state-of-the-art /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ synthesizer. Finally, we draw conclusions about the future direction of fractional-N synthesis.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE METANEPHRIC KIDNEY : Protein and Nucleic Acid Synthesis

The metanephric kidney was studied in fetal and older mice beginning at 16 days after mating of the parents. Polyribosomes from fetal kidneys labeled in vitro with 14C-labeled amino acids had 10–20 times more acid-precipitable radioactivity associated with them than polysomes from adult kidneys similarly labeled. Between 3 and 6 days after birth the rate incorporation of labeled amino acids by polyribosomes from neonatal kidneys declined sharply to only twice the value found for adult kidneys. There was no change in the shape of the polyribosome profile with increasing age, but before birth few, if any, ribosomes were bound to membranes compared with 20% 2 days after birth and between 20 and 30% in the adult. Total protein represented less than 10% of the wet weight in the fetal kidney but increased to 17% of the wet weight in the adult kidney. There was a steady decline in the concentration of RNA and DNA with respect to dry weight throughout kidney development. DNA concentration declined more rapidly than RNA concentration, so that the milligram to milligram ratio of RNA to DNA increased. In males the RNA/DNA ratio was stable at 1.3 at 40 days after birth; but in females the decline in DNA concentration was more protracted, and at 200 days after birth the RNA/DNA ratio was only 0.99. Thus, total nucleic acids show only gradual changes in concentration throughout development of the kidney, but a sharp change in the synthetic activity of the ribosomes and in their binding to membranes occurs in kidneys soon after birth.
Belief Propagation Driven Method for Facial Gestures Recognition in Presence of Occlusions

In this paper, we present a framework for automatic facial gestures recognition in a highly interactive environment. We propose to use a region-based representation of the face, and model the interdependencies of these regions using a graphical model. A parametric modeling of the local facial deformations and the use of a graphical model facilitate the characterization of intra-region dynamic patterns and the inter-region dependencies. We augment this formalism with a belief propagation algorithm to infer missing data, as well as correcting for erroneous estimations of the local deformations. The resulting approach hence handles complete observation and partial occlusion cases in an unified way, and allows for the recognition of facial gestures in presence of head motion and partial occlusions of the face. Experimental results on recognizing facial expression in various real world situations, such as non-frontal views, moving head, and occlusions illustrate the proposed approach.
External radiotherapy and permanent prostate brachytherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Abstract We examined the difference in prostate-specific antigen (PSA)–freedom from recurrence (FFR) in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB) alone or external radiotherapy combined with PPB (RT-PPB). A total of 1476 patients with prostate cancer (T1/T2) were treated with PPB by following the American Brachytherapy Society criteria. Patient self-selection and preference allowed for an overlap of treatment methodologies and risk factors. Monotherapy consisted of 125I or 103Pd. RT-PPB consisted of RT followed by PPB. PSA-FFR was based on a published modification of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology definition. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the role of Gleason sum, pretreatment PSA value, clinical stage, RT-PPB, the addition of hormones, and the minimum dose covering 90% of the prostate volume (D90 dose). Monotherapy was used for 1016 patients (79%), and RT-PPB was used for 281 patients (21%), with an overall 6-year PSA-FFR of 83.2% (median follow-up of 34.7 months; range, 6–91 months). Multivariate Cox regression analysis to predict PSA-FFR identified the following highly significant variables: pretreatment PSA value, Gleason sum, and the addition of hormones. When the D90% (D90 dose relative to the prescribed dose) was included as a variable, Cox regression identified only the following significant variables: D90%, pretreatment PSA, and Gleason sum. Cox regression failed to identify an improvement in PSA-FFR with RT-PPB or the addition of hormones. Although these conclusions question the role for RT-PPB, only a comparative trial will be able to answer this question definitively.
RADIATIVE CORRECTIONS TO ATOMIC PARITY VIOLATION

Electroweak radiative corrections to the $\mathrm{SU}{(2)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{U}(1)$ parity-violating electron-quark interaction are presented, including axial-vector isoscalar effects induced at the one-loop level. Implications of our results for parity-violation searches in ordinary hydrogen, deuterium, and heavy atoms are discussed.
Mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) function is not essential for heme biosynthesis

Function of the mammalian translocator protein (TSPO; previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) remains unclear because its presumed role in steroidogenesis and mitochondrial permeability transition established using pharmacological methods has been refuted in recent genetic studies. Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is considered a conserved endogenous ligand for TSPO. In bacteria, TSPO was identified to regulate tetrapyrrole metabolism and chemical catalysis of PPIX in the presence of light, and in vertebrates, TSPO function has been linked to porphyrin transport and heme biosynthesis. Positive correlation between high TSPO expression in cancer cells and susceptibility to photodynamic therapy based on their increased ability to convert the precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to PPIX appeared to reinforce this mechanism. In this study, we used TSPO knock-out (Tspo(-/-)) mice, primary cells, and different tumor cell lines to examine the role of TSPO in erythropoiesis, heme levels, PPIX biosynthesis, phototoxic cell death, and mitochondrial bioenergetic homeostasis. In contrast to expectations, our results demonstrate that TSPO deficiency does not adversely affect erythropoiesis, heme biosynthesis, bioconversion of ALA to PPIX, and porphyrin-mediated phototoxic cell death. TSPO expression levels in cancer cells do not correlate with their ability to convert ALA to PPIX. In fibroblasts, we observed that TSPO deficiency decreased the oxygen consumption rate and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) indicative of a cellular metabolic shift, without a negative impact on porphyrin biosynthetic capability. Based on these findings, we conclude that mammalian TSPO does not have a critical physiological function related to PPIX and heme biosynthesis.
Leverage, Volatility, and Financial Risk

Financial risk is, in good measure, related to the uncertainty of profit coverage of interest payments and principal repayments. This note examines the effects of cyclical changes in volume on financial safety and on stockholder income and illustrates the factors that have more profound effects on income/risk considerations in a financial decision. The note is divided into three parts. The first section considers the impacts of leverage (both operating and financial), sales volatility, and growth on profits after taxes (a step away from shareholder income). The next part traces the relationship of these variables to burden coverage. These terms will be defined as appropriate. A final section illustrates financial risk from the equity shareholder's point of view. Excerpt UVA-F-0276 Leverage, Volatility, and Financial Risk Financial risk is, in good measure, related to the uncertainty of profit coverage of interest payments and principal repayments. This note examines the effects of cyclical changes in volume on financial safety and on stockholder income and illustrates the factors that have more profound effects on income/risk considerations in a financial decision. The note is divided into three parts. The first section considers the impacts of leverage (both operating and financial), sales volatility, and growth on profits after taxes (a step away from shareholder income). The next part traces the relationship of these variables to burden coverage. These terms will be defined as appropriate. A final section illustrates financial risk from the equity shareholder's point of view. Leverage, Volatility, and Profit Vulnerability Anyone familiar with the physical laws of leverage should have no trouble grasping the laws of financial leverage. However, the laws of financial leverage are rather loosely understood in practice. Most businesspeople are aware that financial leverage implies that a change in an input variable, such as sales, causes a magnified change in an output variable, such as earnings per share or market price. They also know that, when sales rise, leverage is beneficial, but it is damaging when sales decline. Finally, they know that the addition of fixed-income securities, such as debt, tends to increase leverage. Beyond these aspects, the leverage process tends to be mysterious. Most financial executives cannot describe very accurately the cause/effect properties of leverage as they affect financial decision making in their firms. Moreover, several prevailing concepts are not only erroneous, they are dangerous. Inasmuch as a clear understanding of the implications of the properties of leverage is important in working out proper debt policies for particular firms in their unique circumstances, this note will now set forth the principles of leverage. . . .
Does the Federal-Unitary Dichotomy Make Any Difference?: One Answer Derived from Macrocomparative Analysis

The paper explores answers to the question "what difference does it seem to make whether the distribution of power follows the federal or unitary formula?" Relationships between national and sub-national governments in seven federal countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, India, Switzerland, USA) are contrasted with intergovernmental relationships in ten unitary nations (Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Romania, Sweden, UK). The time span covers the period 1870 to 1970. The presence or absence of variation in center versus local policy control is traced over time and serial correlation analysis is used to plot longitudinal associations between structural changes and development policy performance. The results reveal that federal and unitary nations often exhibit considerable change in their institutional arrangements. This variation in turn is reflected in different policy areas. An unexpected finding is that nations with different constitutional arrangements but similar evolutionary patterns of public sector organization appear to develop in similar fashion in certain policy areas.
Ionic conductivities of Bi4V2−xMxO11−x/2 (M = Ti, Zr, Sn, Pb) solid solutions

Abstract Bi 4 V 2−x M x O 11− x 2 (M = Ti, Zr, Sn, Pb) was prepared by solid state reactions. All the substituted phases retain the α-phase structure for x x > 0.20, the high-oxygen-ionic conducting γ-phase is stabilized at room temperature. The highest ionic conductivity was observed in Bi 4 V 1.70 Ti 0.30 O 10.85 with σ 500 k = 4 × 10 −4 S/cm. The higher conductivity of substituted phases compared with the parent compound Bi 4 V 2 O 11 is correlated with increased oxygen vacancies generated by aliovalent substitutions. The highest ionic conductivity in Ti substituted system is attributed to its lower activation energy.
Oral adaptation of the Trail Making Test: A practical review

Despite being one of the most widely used measures in clinical neuropsychology, the Trail Making Test is highly reliant on intact vision and motor functioning. Given that these capacities are often compromised in patients requiring neuropsychological evaluation, various authors have proposed methods for adapting the Trail Making Test for oral administration. To date, a number of administration and score transformation methods have been proposed. We reviewed the existing literature on oral adaptation of the Trail Making Test in order to provide recommendations for practicing clinicians wishing to use the measure, and to highlight directions for future research.
Structural Coordination of the Myosin Powerstroke

Myosins drive actin-based motility required for important cellular functions and are model systems for enzyme based mechanochemical coupling. We are investigating the structural dynamics of myosins to determine how the movements of key structural elements are coordinated with the actin-activated ATPase cycling. We used FRET to investigate how the myosin powerstroke coordinates with actin-induced phosphate release in skeletal and cardiac myosins, two important myosin isoforms with disease relevance. In skeletal myosin, we find that weak actin binding triggers the myosin powerstroke before hydrolyzed phosphate dissociates from the myosin catalytic domain. We also find that the free energy change for the actin-induced light-chain domain rotation is small before phosphate is released, but large after it is released. This is consistent with a thermal diffusion model where the initiation of the myosin powerstroke is constrained by rapid diffusion of the light-chain domain between pre and post powerstroke orientations. In cardiac myosin, the kinetics of light-chain domain rotation and phosphate release are slower and not clearly resolved from each other. Interestingly, we find that addition of the cardiac myosin modulator omecamtiv mecarbil, accelerates actin-induced phosphate release, but slows the powerstroke. These results suggest that coordination of phosphate release and the myosin powerstroke is flexible, and that changing this coordination will change the force generating properties of myosin isoforms. Supported by: Graduate Excellence Fellowship-University of MN (JAR), NIH AR032961 & AR057220 (DDT), the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center and American Heart Association (JMM).
Speculations — Present and Future

This concluding chapter in truth concludes nothing. Peter Shaffer is still actively writing, and at the end of 1990 has several intriguing projects nearing completion. Artistically, his powers are at a peak, as the crystalline ideas and tight dialogue of Lettice & Lovage bear witness. His popularity in theatre circles is in general remarkably high. Few playwrights today can claim to have won as many prestigious awards as he has, including Tonys and an Oscar. Moreover, he is not only a serious dramatist, but has enjoyed considerable commercial success, so that he is welcomed in the West End and Broadway as promptly as at the subsidised National Theatre, where many of his foremost hits were premiered. In fact, this success has spawned resentment among some critics, who seem to equate popularity with artistic poverty.
Epistemic Game Theory: Incomplete Information

A game of incomplete information is a game in which at least some of the players possess private information which may be relevant to the strategic interaction. The private information of a player may be about the payoff functions in the game, as well as about some exogenous, payoff-irrelevant events. The player may also form beliefs about other players’ beliefs about payoffs and exogenous events, about their beliefs about the beliefs of others, and so forth.
The Future of Public Administration

Public administration finds itself in a difficult position. On one hand, effective administration of governmental programs has become even more central to restoring trust in government and improvin...
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EARTHWORM TRANSMISSION OF HETERAKIS AND HISTOMONAS

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the significance of earthworm transmission of Heterakis and Histomonas . Lumbricus terrestris from premises occupied by pheasants or turkeys harboring Histomonas meleagridis and Heterakis gallinarum were fed to chickens and turkeys. The majority developed infections of both parasites. To ascertain the location of Heterakis and Histomonas in the annelids, some earthworms were washed in water and then maintained in several changes of clean soil or filter paper; this procedure was to remove parasites from the surface and gut. Each earthworm was then fed to a poult; comparable infections of Histomonas and Heterakis developed in all of them. It was observed that Heterakis ova can embryonate and survive several weeks in these fluids; hatched larvae die. The results show that the recognition of the earthworm as a vector in the transmission of Heterakis and Histomonas permits to understand better the transmission and control of these infections and gives a convenient way of testing the contamination of soil used for range.
An Empirical Exploration of Five Software Fault Detection Methods 1

Abstract This paper presents data from an experiment comparing software fault tolerance and software fault elimination. Results are presented demonstrating the inadvisability of reducing fault elimination to obtain resources for fault tolerance and showing the degree of synergy between some of the detection methods associated with software fault tolerance and software fault elimination.
Introduction: Flashpoints-the breakthrough of sociocultural difference

In the introduction to this volume, Kraehe and Lewis provide a phenomenological framework for understanding the embodied experience of flashpoints. They describe flashpoints as moments of radical disruption wherein the implicit sociocultural dimensions of the body flare up and become conscious and unavoidable facets of experience. Such flashpoints are breakdowns of the suturing of self and world but also powerful breakthroughs that can teach lessons concerning how difference is experienced. Drawing from a host of phenomenologists and critical theorists, including Merleau-Ponty, Hortense Spillers, Antonia Darder, and Alexander Weheliye, Kraehe and Lewis articulate a pedagogy of and through flashpoints. They also make a powerful case for the centrality of phenomenological methods for capturing the ambiguous affective lessons of flashpoints.
Spherical Body Protein 2 truncated copy 11 as a specific Babesia bovis attenuation marker.

Bovine babesiosis caused by Babesia bovis is a tick-borne hemoparasitic disease of global impact, and improved control is needed. In B. bovis, spherical body protein 2 (SBP-2) truncated copies 7, 9 and 11 (sbp2t7, sbp2t9 and sbp2t11) gene transcripts were recently reported to be significantly upregulated in two geographically distinct attenuated B. bovis strains. In the present work, additional virulent and attenuated B. bovis strain pairs were compared in order to corroborate this finding. Sequences of the sbp2t7, sbp2t9 and sbp2t11 genes were not fully conserved among geographically distinct B. bovis strains, and varied between 70.6–93.3% sequence identity in all three genes. Comparisons among transcript levels of the three sbp2t genes of distinct virulent-attenuated B. bovis strain pairs confirmed that upregulation of the sbp2t11 gene was exclusively associated with an attenuated phenotype in the studied strain pairs. This rejects sbp2t7 and sbp2t9 as reliable attenuation markers. In addition, SBP2t11 protein was found to be significantly overexpressed in Texas attenuated B. bovis in comparison to the Texas virulent strain. Finally, sbp2t11 was differentially expressed in blood stages of the parasite but undetectable in Texas strain kinetes. Sbp2t11 is a strong candidate as a reliable attenuation marker for B. bovis, based on its consistent pattern of upregulation in four distinct attenuated strains when compared to their virulent parental strains. Sbp2t11 may only have functional roles associated with erythrocyte infection. Identification of attenuation markers will lead to future research focused on the production of novel and safer subunit and genetically defined vaccines against B. bovis.
QUASI-STATIC AND DYNAMIC TORSION TESTING OF CERAMIC MICRO AND NANO-STRUCTURED COATINGS USING SPECKLE PHOTOGRAPHY

An experimental methodology for the quasi-static and dynamic testing of Al2O3/TiO2 and WC/Co coatings on aluminum substrates is presented. A stored energy Kolsky bar apparatus was used for both quasi-static and dynamic loading. Acquisition of speckle images at different loading stages allowed the determination of the shear strains in the gage region of the specimen and the identification of deformation mechanisms as a function of coating grain size. The interaction between coating and substrate is investigated by correlating damage to measured stress-strain curves. It was identified that as cracks develop in the coating, they are bridged by the underlying ductile substrate. Optical and SEM interrogation of the coating fracture surface also show a low percentage of porosity and severe damage created by residual stresses. These residual stresses arise during the coating manufacturing process. The pre-existing damage is believed to be the cause of the low shear moduli and strengths exhibited by the coatings. A comparison between quasi-static and dynamic response is carried out, to assess strain-rate effects, as well as micro versus nano grain size coatings of the same composition.
Understanding the influence of text complexity and question type on reading outcomes

In the current study, we examined how student characteristics and cognitive skills, differing levels of text complexity (cohesion, decoding, vocabulary, and syntax), and reading comprehension question types (literal, inferential, critical analysis, and reading strategy) affected different types of reading outcomes (multiple-choice reading comprehension questions, free recall, and oral reading fluency) in a sample of 181 native English-speaking adolescents (9 to 14.83 years). Results from item response theory one-parameter models and multilevel models suggested that different cognitive skills predicted performance across the three reading outcomes. After controlling for student characteristics and cognitive skills, text complexity negatively impacted reading outcomes, particularly oral reading fluency and free recall. Critical analysis and inferential questions emerged as the most difficult types of comprehension questions. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Metabolic Interactions of 4-Hydroxynonenal, Acetaldehyde and Glutathione in Isolated Liver Mitochondria

It is well documented that the metabolism of ethanol occurs through a series of pyridine nucleotide-linked enzymatic reactions resulting in the production of acetaldehyde and acetate. The factors regulating hepatic acetaldehyde oxidation are of critical importance, since ethanol-derived acetaldehyde has been implicated in hepatic lipid peroxidation. Isolated hepatocytes incubated in high concentrations of acetaldehyde exhibit significant increases in lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde formation (Stege, 1982); and the infusion of acetaldehyde to perfused rat liver also stimulates lipid peroxidation as measured by an increased formation of ethane (Muller and Sies, 1983). Recently an alternative pathway of ethanol metabolism has been identified which may also contribute to initiation of hepatic lipid peroxidation (Reinke, et al., 1991; and Knecht et al. 1990). Occurring independent of the pyridine nucleotide-linked dehydrogenase enzymes, this enzymatic pathway involves a P-450 mediated, one electron oxidation of ethanol resulting in the production of an ethanol-derived free radical which could serve as an initiator of lipid peroxidation.
Exposure to Family and Friend Homicide in a Nationally Representative Sample of Youth

This study examines the lifetime prevalence and distribution of family/friend homicide exposure among children and adolescents age 2 to 17 in the United States, and assesses the impact of family/friend homicide on emotional and behavioral outcomes, while controlling for potential co-occurring factors. Data were collected by telephone about the experiences of youth in 2008, 2011, or 2014, as part of the National Surveys of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV). Analyses are based on a pooled sample (n =11,771) from these three surveys. Approximately 8% of all children and youth ages 2 to 17 were exposed to a family/friend homicide. Older adolescents, Black youth, those living in single parent and nonparent family households, those from lower socioeconomic status households, and youth living in large cities were overrepresented among youth experiencing family or friend homicide. Exposed youth were also substantially more likely to be poly-victims, experience other major adversities, and live in neighborhoods with more community disorder. Exposure to family/friend homicide was significantly related to trauma symptoms. However, when other co-occurring factors were taken into account, only family/friend homicide that occurred within the last 2 years remained significant. With respect to delinquency, only nonfamily homicide exposure remained significant with these other factors controlled. Findings suggest that family/friend homicide represents a powerful marker for a broad level of victimization risk and adversity, demonstrating that family/friend murder is often just one relatively small part of a more complicated life of adversity. Although recent exposure is certainly distressing to youth, it is the wider, co-occurring context of poly-victimization and other types of adversity that appears most impactful in the longer term.
A Further Study of the so-Called Mutation at the Bar Locus of Drosophila.

PAC;]: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTRODUCTION.. 431 Time of occurrence of bar mutation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Relative numbers of reversions and double-bars 403 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Positim effect. 424 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Facet counts of derived types. 435 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reverted infrabar and crossing over. 437 Is a wild-type allelomorph of bar normally present?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S U ~ A R Y 4 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LITERATURE CITED.. 4 3
Distributed Representation of Compositional Structure

AI models are often categorized in terms of the connectionist vs. symbolic distinction. In addition to being descriptively unhelpful, these terms are also typically conflated with a host of issues that may have nothing to do with the commitments entailed by a particular model. A more useful distinction among cognitive representations asks whether they are local or distributed (van Gelder 1999). Traditional symbol systems (grammar, predicate calculus) use local representations: a given symbol has no internal content and is located at a particular address in memory. Although well understood and successful in a number of domains, traditional representations suffer from brittleness. The number of possible items to be represented is fixed at some arbitrary hard limit, and a single corrupt memory location or broken pointer can wreck an entire structure. In a distributed representation, on the other hand, each entity is represented by a pattern of activity distributed over many computing elements, and each computing element is involved in representing many different entities (Hinton 1984). Such representations have a number of properties that make them attractive for knowledge representation (McClelland, Rumelhart, & Hinton 1986): they are robust to noise, degrade gracefully, and support graded comparison through distance metrics. These properties enable fast associative memory and efficient comparison of entire structures without unpacking the structures into their component parts. This article provides an overview of distributed representations, setting the approach in its historical context. The two essential operations necessary for building distributed representation of structures – binding and bundling – are described. We present example applications of each model, and conclude by discussing the current state of the art. BACKGROUND
Purification Of A New High Mw Single Chain Form Of Urokinase (UK) From Urine

Purified UK exists in 2 forms, a high MW (55,000 daltons) and a low MW (33,000 daltons) enzyme. The former is composed of 2 chains held together by disulfide bonds and is believed to be a precursor of the latter. Little affinity for fibrin has been ascribed to either form. We have purified a third form of UK using affinity chromatography on fibrin-celite, a method which we developed to purify the major plasminogen activator from blood. When freshly voided urine was exposed to fibrin-celite, approximately 20% of the UK present was tightly bound to the fibrin. This high affinity UK (HAUK) was eluted in a sharp peak with arginine (0.2 M). Purification was achieved by gel filtration (Sephadex G-200) of the activator peak. SDS gel electrophoresis showed a single band (56,000 daltons) which remained intact after exposure to reducing agents, indicating that HAUK has a single chain structure and may be the native form of UK. The specific activity of HAUK is relatively low (40,000-50,000 CTA u/mg) suggesting that it may be a proactivator. Freshly voided urine and a rapid isolation procedure are necessary if degradation of HAUK is to be avoided. The unique high fibrin affinity of HAUK, which is not shared by the other 2 forms of UK, may make it a more specific and efficient fibrinolytic agent by confining and concentrating the enzymatic activity to the fibrin surface. The attachment of a suitable radiolabel to HAUK may also provide a useful tool for the detection of intravascular fibrin thrombi.
A greedy approach for carpool scheduling optimisation in smart cities

Nowadays, large cities face numerous problems caused by the rapidly increasing number of vehicles on road. Carpooling has been shown as an efficient solution to ease the traffic pressure. The objec...
Quantitation of apo-, mono-, and diferric transferrin by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis in patients with disorders of iron metabolism

We have developed a polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoretic method to quantitate apo-, mono-, and diferric transferrin based upon differences in their molecular size. Purified transferrin saturated to different extents (3% to 98%) with iron showed proportions of the three forms as predicted from an approximately random distribution of iron between the two metal-binding sites. The iron distributions in sera of 14 normal individuals similarly correlated with the predicted values. In contrast, 22 of 43 patients with diseases associated with abnormalities in iron or transferrin metabolism had a disproportionate increase in monoferric transferrin. This abnormality occurred in seven of nine patients who had received bone marrow transplants, seven of 14 with chronic liver disease, and eight of nine menstruating women with probable iron deficiency anemia. Interestingly, 11 patients with malabsorption or chronic renal disease had normal iron distributions. The finding of abnormal distributions of iron on transferrin suggests that gradient gel analysis may be a useful tool for studying the physiologic mechanisms controlling iron utilization.
Toughening of a brittle thermosetting polymer: Effects of reinforcement particle size and volume fraction

Micron- and nanometer-sized aluminum particles were used as reinforcements to enhance the fracture toughness of a highly-crosslinked, nominally brittle, thermosetting unsaturated polyester resin. Both particle size and particle volume fraction were systematically varied to investigate their effects on the fracture behavior and the fracture toughness. It was observed that, in general, the overall fracture toughness increased monotonically with the volume fraction of aluminum particles, for a given particle size, provided particle dispersion and deagglomeration was maintained. The fracture toughness of the composite was also strongly influenced by the size of the reinforcement particles. Smaller particles led to a greater increase in fracture toughness for a given particle volume fraction. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces was employed to establish crack front trapping as the primary extrinsic toughening mechanism. Finally, the effects of particle volume fraction and size on the tensile properties of the polyester-aluminum composite were also investigated. The measured elastic modulus was in accordance with the rule-of-mixtures. Meanwhile, the tensile strength was slightly reduced upon the inclusion of aluminum particles in the polyester matrix.
Naturally, Occurring Neurotrophic Factor from Mu Bie Zi (Momordica cochinchinensis) seeds

The discovery of nerve growth factor (NGF) mimetics could have the potential application for Alzheimer’s disease prevention and therapy. Previously, we have conducted a high-throughput (HTP) screen...
Insertional Mutagenesis Identifies Genes That Promote the Immortalization/Self-Renewal of Primary Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells.

Retroviruses can induce hematopoietic disease via insertional mutagenesis of cancer genes and provide valuable molecular tags for cancer gene discovery. Here we show that insertional mutagenesis can also identify genes that promote the immortalization of primary mouse bone marrow progenitor cells, which normally have only limited self-renewal. Transduction of bone marrow cells with replication-incompetent murine stem cell virus (MSCV) expressing only a neo marker gene, followed by serial passage in liquid culture containing SCF and IL-3, produced immortalized immature myeloid cell lines with neutrophil and macrophage differentiation potential in about 50% of the infected cultures. More than half of the lines have MSCV insertions at Evi1 or Prdm16 . These loci encode transcription factor homologues and are validated human myeloid leukemia genes. Integrations are located in intron 1 or 2 where they promote expression of truncated proteins lacking the PR domain, similar to what is observed in human leukemias with EVI1 or PRDM16 mutations. Evi1 overexpression alone appears sufficient to immortalize immature myeloid cells and does not seem to require any other cooperating mutations. Similarly, immortalized cells that are blocked at a very early hematopoietic progenitor stage can be produced by serially passaging the infected cells in SCF and FLT3L. In this case, viral integration deregulates the expression of Setbp1 , a gene that is thought to regulate the activity of SET , which is mutated in acute human undifferentiated leukemia. Interestingly, recurrent retroviral vector integrations at the Evi1 locus have also been recently identified in blood cells of rhesus monkeys transplanted up to 7 years earlier with retrovirally infected CD34+ bone marrow cells (Calmels et al, Blood. in press), and similar results have also been reported for mice (Kustikova et al, Science 2005 308:1171-4). Our results suggest that these cells were selected in transplant recipients due to their increased self-renewal or engraftment potential, which resulted from insertional mutations at Evi1. These studies highlight a new potential problem for human gene therapy, the selection of immortalized cells in transplant recipients that carry activating mutations in human leukemia oncogenes and a possible concomitant increased propensity for developing hematopoietic cancer as the patients age. Based on these studies, it will be important to assay the safety of other retroviral vectors, such as SIN vectors, that may be less apt to activate the expression of an oncogene following viral integration. The immortalization assay we describe here provides a means for assessing this safety.
Efficacy of stem cell allograft in maxillary sinus bone regeneration: a randomized controlled clinical and blinded histomorphometric study

This study aimed to evaluate the quality and quantity of newly generated bone in the maxillary sinus grafted with stem cell-based allograft material. This study was a single site, prospective, blinded, randomized, and controlled clinical trial. Eleven subjects with 18 edentulous posterior maxillary sites requiring sinus augmentation for delayed implant placement using a lateral window approach were enrolled. At the time of sinus augmentation, test sinus was grafted with stem cell-based allograft (Osteocel Plus; NuVasive Therapeutics), while the control sinus was grafted with conventional cortico-cancellous allograft (alloOss; ACE Surgical). Cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scan was taken before and 14 weeks post-sinus augmentation procedure, i.e., 2 weeks before implant placement. Thirty-six trephined core bone biopsies were harvested from the anterior and posterior grafted lateral-window osteotomy sites at the time of implant placement. The results showed a statistically significant difference in the vital bone percentage between the test and the control groups at the posterior grafted sites (p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in the percentage of vital bone between the anterior and posterior grafted sites within the test and control groups (p > .05). The CBCT analysis showed that the maxillary sinuses at the posterior grafted sites were statistically wider than those at the anterior grafted sites in both groups (p < .05). Different allograft bone materials can be used in the maxillary sinus augmentation procedures. Stem cell allograft has more osteogenic potential with a better outcome in the wide posterior sinus.