cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Introduction of Systematic Genomic Testing for Patients With Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background: Genomic testing to identify driver mutations that enable targeted therapy is emerging for patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report the implementation of systematic prospective genotyping for somatic alterations in BRAF, PIK3CA, HER2 , and ALK , in addition to EGFR and KRAS , in NSCLC patients at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Methods: Patients with NSCLC were prospectively referred by their providers for clinical genotyping. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tumor samples were analyzed by Sanger sequencing for mutations in selected exons of EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA , and HER2 . ALK rearrangements were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry. Results: Between July 1, 2009 and August 1, 2010, 427 specimens from 419 patients were referred for genomic characterization; 344 (81%) specimens were successfully genotyped with a median turnaround time of 31 days (range, 9–155). Of the 344 specimens, 185 (54%) had at least one identifiable somatic alteration ( KRAS: 24%, EGFR : 17%, ALK : 5%, BRAF : 5%, HER2 : 4%, PIK3CA : 2%). As of August 1, 2011, 63 of 288 advanced NSCLC patients (22%) had received molecularly targeted therapy based on their genotypic results, including 34 of 42 patients (81%) with EGFR mutations, 12 of 15 (80%) with ALK rearrangements, and 17 of 95 (18%) with KRAS, BRAF , or HER2 mutations. Conclusions: Large-scale testing for somatic alterations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, HER2 , and ALK is feasible and impacts therapeutic decisions. As the repertoire for personalized therapies expands in lung cancer and other malignancies, there is a need to develop new genomics technologies that can generate a comprehensive genetic profile of tumor specimens in a time- and cost-effective manner.
Multicore-fiber Cable with Core Density of 6 cores/mm 2

An Ultra-high density cable with 12-core MCF was presented. A fabricated cable realized core density of 6 cores/mm 2 . The change of crosstalk behavior before and after cabling was moderate thanks to adequate cable design.
Modeling the safety impacts of driving hours and rest breaks on truck drivers considering time-dependent covariates

Abstract Introduction: Driving hours and rest breaks are closely related to driver fatigue, which is a major contributor to truck crashes. This study investigates the effects of driving hours and rest breaks on commercial truck driver safety. Method: A discrete-time logistic regression model is used to evaluate the crash odds ratios of driving hours and rest breaks. Driving time is divided into 11 one hour intervals. These intervals and rest breaks are modeled as dummy variables. In addition, a Cox proportional hazards regression model with time-dependent covariates is used to assess the transient effects of rest breaks, which consists of a fixed effect and a variable effect. Results: Data collected from two national truckload carriers in 2009 and 2010 are used. The discrete-time logistic regression result indicates that only the crash odds ratio of the 11th driving hour is statistically significant. Taking one, two, and three rest breaks can reduce drivers' crash odds by 68%, 83%, and 85%, respectively, compared to drivers who did not take any rest breaks. The Cox regression result shows clear transient effects for rest breaks. It also suggests that drivers may need some time to adjust themselves to normal driving tasks after a rest break. Overall, the third rest break's safety benefit is very limited based on the results of both models. Practical applications: The findings of this research can help policy makers better understand the impact of driving time and rest breaks and develop more effective rules to improve commercial truck safety.
Determination of site-occupancies in aluminide intermetallics by ALCHEMI

The site-distributions of Fe in four B2-ordered NiAl-based alloys with Fe concentrations of 10%, 2%, and 0.5% have been determined by ALCHEMI (atom-location by channeling-enhanced microanalysis). Site-distributions have been extracted with standard errors between {approximately} 1.5% (10% Fe concentration) and {approximately} 6% (0.5% Fe concentration). The results show that Fe has no strong site-preference in NiAl and tends to reside on the site of the stoichiometrically deficient host element. An improved ALCHEMI analysis procedure is outlined. The analysis explicitly addresses the phenomenon of ionization delocalization, which previously complicated the determination of site-distributions in aluminide intermetallics, leading to inaccurate and oftentimes nonphysical results. The improved ALCHEMI analysis also addresses the presence of anti-site defects. The data acquisition conditions have been optimized to minimize the sources of statistical and systematic error. This optimized procedure should be suitable for all analyses of B2-ordered alloys. Several analyses at different channeling orientations show that the extracted site-occupancies are robust as long as the data are acquired at orientations that are remote from any major pole of the crystal.
Nonlocal Model Based on Crack Interactions: A Localization Study

A micromechanically based enrichment of the nonlocal operator by a term taking into account the directional dependence of crack interactions (Bazant,1992) can be expected to improve the performance of the nonlocal model. The aim of this paper is to examine this new model in the context of a simple localization problem reducible to a one dimensional description. Strain localisation in an infinite layer under plaine stress is studied using both the old and the new nonlocal formulations. The importance of renormalization of the averaging function in the proximity of a boundary is demonstrate and the differences between the localization sensitivity of the old and new model are pointed out
Exercise for those with chronic heart failure matching programs to patients.

IN BRIEF: Exercise training increases functional capacity and improves symptoms in selected patients with chronic heart failure and moderate-to-severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Patients should be assessed before they start an exercise program. Initial programs should be supervised, and the duration increased as tolerated. The most consistent benefits occur with exercise done at least three times per week for 12 or more weeks. Aerobic sessions can vary from 20 to 40 minutes, at 50% to 85% of peak heart rate on graded exercise tests or 40% to 70% of peak oxygen consumption. Low-risk patients who have completed at least 6 to 12 weeks of exercise without adverse effects may incorporate light-to-moderate resistance training.
Demonstration of a shear‐based solid‐state phase transformation in a small molecular organic system: Chlorpropamide

Abstract Elucidation of the mechanisms for mechanically activated phase transformations of API are necessary for progress in materials and process understanding. The mechanically induced solid-state transformation between the A and C enantiotropes of the anti-diabetic drug chlorpropamide (C 10 H 13 ClN 2 O 3 S) was investigated. The structure of the high temperature stable phase (form C) was solved using powder X-ray data. Transmission powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Raman spectroscopy were used for in situ quantification and analysis of the phase interconversion that occurs as a function of applied pressure during compaction. Each polymorph was observed to undergo a solid-state transition, which increased with pressure to a maximum extent that corresponded with the consolidation limit of the respective bulk powder. Neither form was observed to convert under hydrostatic pressure, suggesting a shear dependence for interconversion at compaction pressures. Examination of the two crystallographic structures indicated that both forms have a common slip system and preserved molecular positions. It is suggested that the transformation of either form is allowed when resolved shear stresses initiate deformation, causing lattice distortion, which allows the simultaneous reconformation of molecules.
Multi-year effects of high densities of sockeye salmon spawners on juvenile salmon growth and survival: a case study from the Exxon Valdez oil spill

Abstract Reduced fishing after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, contributed to exceptionally large numbers of sockeye salmon spawners up to 860 km from the spill site. We measured annual scale growth of adult sockeye salmon from four affected populations, 1970–1997, in order to test the hypothesis that large spawner densities can have multi-year effects on juvenile size and subsequent adult abundances as a result of intraspecific competition among juveniles in the nursery lake. Sockeye salmon scale growth in fresh water was significantly reduced by the large 1989 spawner densities in the Kenai River system, Red Lake, Akalura Lake, but not Chignik Lake. Scale growth in the three affected systems recovered to previous levels 2–4 years after the oil spill, but subsequent moderately high spawner densities led to exceptionally low growth. Juvenile salmon growth was negatively related to parent spawners, spawners from the next brood year (second season in lake), and spawners from the previous brood year. Multi-variate time series analyses indicated adult sockeye salmon abundance increased with greater numbers of parent spawners, but decreased as a result of either large numbers of spawners in the previous year or small juvenile salmon size. These results indicate sockeye salmon spawners can affect juvenile growth and adult production of adjacent year classes. Implications for stock-recruitment modeling and spawner density management are discussed.
Architectures for polar BP decoders using folding

Capacity-achieving polar codes have received significant attention in past few years. These codes can be decoded using either the successive-cancellation (SC) approach or the belief propagation (BP) approach. Several VLSI architectures of SC polar decoders have been reported in the literature. However, SC decoders suffer from long latency and low throughput due to their sequential decoding nature. On the other hand, although the BP decoders can be operated in an inherently parallel manner with high throughput, the functional units in these decoders are underutilized. In this paper, we exploit various architecture transformation techniques to further improve hardware performance of polar BP decoders. First, we propose an overlapped-scheduling approach at iteration level to reduce the overall decoding latency. Second, we propose codeword-level overlap to further improve hardware utilization efficiency. Third, we show that the above two overlapping approaches can be unified into a general framework into a joint overlapping approach. Fourth, we exploit the folding technique to design low-complexity polar BP decoders, and present two types of folded architectures. Synthesis results show that the proposed two (1024, 512) polar BP decoder designs can achieve 1.50 and 2.43 times reduction in hardware complexity, respectively. In addition, the proposed two designs can also achieve 7.4 and 2.5 times improvement in hardware efficiency, respectively.
Multispectral Image Denoising With Optimized Vector Bilateral Filter

Vector bilateral filtering has been shown to provide good tradeoff between noise removal and edge degradation when applied to multispectral/hyperspectral image denoising. It has also been demonstrated to provide dynamic range enhancement of bands that have impaired signal to noise ratios (SNRs). Typical vector bilateral filtering described in the literature does not use parameters satisfying optimality criteria. We introduce an approach for selection of the parameters of a vector bilateral filter through an optimization procedure rather than by ad hoc means. The approach is based on posing the filtering problem as one of nonlinear estimation and minimization of the Stein's unbiased risk estimate of this nonlinear estimator. Along the way, we provide a plausibility argument through an analytical example as to why vector bilateral filtering outperforms band-wise 2D bilateral filtering in enhancing SNR. Experimental results show that the optimized vector bilateral filter provides improved denoising performance on multispectral images when compared with several other approaches.
Synthesis and bioevaluation of [18F]4-fluoro-m-hydroxyphenethylguanidine ([18F]4F-MHPG): a novel radiotracer for quantitative PET studies of cardiac sympathetic innervation

A new cardiac sympathetic nerve imaging agent, [(18)F]4-fluoro-m-hydroxyphenethylguanidine ([(18)F]4F-MHPG), was synthesized and evaluated. The radiosynthetic intermediate [(18)F]4-fluoro-m-tyramine ([(18)F]4F-MTA) was prepared and then sequentially reacted with cyanogen bromide and NH4Br/NH4OH to afford [(18)F]4F-MHPG. Initial bioevaluations of [(18)F]4F-MHPG (biodistribution studies in rats and kinetic studies in the isolated rat heart) were similar to results previously reported for the carbon-11 labeled analog [(11)C]4F-MHPG. The neuronal uptake rate of [(18)F]4F-MHPG into the isolated rat heart was 0.68ml/min/g wet and its retention time in sympathetic neurons was very long (T1/2 >13h). A PET imaging study in a nonhuman primate with [(18)F]4F-MHPG provided high quality images of the heart, with heart-to-blood ratios at 80-90min after injection of 5-to-1. These initial kinetic and imaging studies of [(18)F]4F-MHPG suggest that this radiotracer may allow for more accurate quantification of regional cardiac sympathetic nerve density than is currently possible with existing neuronal imaging agents.
Fluorescence Studies of Metal-Humic Complexes with the Use of Lanthanide Ion Probe Spectroscopy:

The acidic functional groups of humic materials are an abundant source of metal binding sites in the natural environment. Studies of metal binding to humics are of great environmental interest because the biological and physicochemical properties of metals are often changed dramatically as a result of complexation with humics. In order to understand how these heterogeneous organic macromolecules bind metals with such a large range of binding energies, lanthanide ion probe spectroscopy (LIPS) has been used to study changes in the fluorescence lifetime of the europium probe metal as it binds to these substances. A method developed by Horrocks and Sudnick for the determination of the number of water molecules bound to Eu3+ was used to calculate the coordination number of humic-bound Eu3+ from the fluorescence data. The peak shift of the Eu3+ hypersensitive emission band (616 nm) was used to calculate the change in charge of the complex. Equations based on Horrocks and Sudnick's method were also developed to calculate the distribution of metal associated with the different types of binding sites on humic substances by computer modeling of the fluorescence life-time data.
Design of ultra-wide continuously tunable optical filter using sub-wavelength grating reflectors

We propose the design of a widely tunable optical filter consisting of two cascaded sub-wavelength grating mirrors with a variable air gap. The device is scalable to far-infrared wavelengths and requires a low actuation voltage.
Interparental Aggression and Antisocial Behavior among African American Youth: A Simultaneous Test of Competing Explanations.

Interparental aggression has long been implicated as a cause of child and adolescent antisocial behavior. Four theoretical explanations (viz., an aggressogenic cognition model, general strain theory, an emotional security model, and a spillover model) have been proposed to account for this deleterious effect. To gain a better understanding of the mechanism whereby interparental aggression promotes antisocial behavior, this study tests the competing explanations simultaneously using longitudinal data from a sample of 508 African American families with a child aged 12–14 (53.5% are girls). Using path analysis, the results support both the general strain theory and the emotional security model for girls. The results also show weak support for the spillover model. Whereas, for boys, all of the four explanations were supported, though the support for the spillover model is weak. Thus, the findings suggest that the mechanisms whereby interparental aggression fosters antisocial behavior may differ by gender. Implications and limitations of the current research are discussed.
Interfacial Bioorthogonal Cross-Linking.

Described herein is interfacial bioorthogonal cross-linking, the use of bioorthogonal chemistry to create and pattern biomaterials through diffusion-controlled gelation at the liquid-gel interface. The basis is a rapid (k2 284000 M–1 s–1) reaction between strained trans-cyclooctene (TCO) and tetrazine (Tz) derivatives. Syringe delivery of Tz-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-Tz) to a bath of bis-TCO cross-linker instantly creates microspheres with a cross-linked shell through which bis-TCO diffuses freely to introduce further cross-linking at the interface. Tags can be introduced with 3D resolution without external triggers or templates. Water-filled hydrogel channels were prepared by simply reversing the order of addition. Prostate cancer cells encapsulated in the microspheres have 99% viability, proliferate readily, and form aggregated clusters. This process is projected to be useful in the fabrication of cell-instructive matrices for in vitro tissue models.
Determination of proteins by amperometric titration with 12-phosphotungstic acid at rotating gold electrodes.

Abstract Amperometric titration of various protein fractions and human serum with 12-phosphotungstic acid at the rotating gold electrode is described. The titrant is electroreducible and its concentration may be monitored by poising an amperometric indicator electrode at a potential of -0.25 V vs. SCE. In 1.0 M hydrochloric acid, well defined titration curves of proteins may be obtained in the presence of airsaturated solutions. The relative standard deviation of replicate samples is 0.2–0.3% in the range 2–4 g of protein per 1 in the sample solution. The technique is principally applicable to homogeneous mixtures of proteins.
Atomic-absorption determination of rhodium in chromite concentrates

Rhodium is determined in chromite concentrates by atomic absorption after concentration either by co-precipitation with tellurium formed by the reduction of tellurite with tin(II) chloride or by fire assay into a gold bead. Interelement interferences in the atomic-absorption determination are removed by buffering the solutions with lanthanum sulphate (lanthanum concentration 1%). Substantial amounts of Ag, Al, Au, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ho, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Te, Ti, V, Y, Zn and platinum metals can be tolerated. A lower limit of approximately 0.07 ppm Rh can be determined in a 3-g sample.
The responses of Central European avian predators to an allopatric aposematic true bug

A mimicry ring of red-and-black pentatomorph true bugs in Central Europe had been proposed to occur based on avoidance of its mutually non-relative members, which was confirmed based on responses of avian predators. We compared the responses of two species of European insectivorous passerines (great tit Parus major, blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus) to a typical member of the proposed ring (red firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus) and to a similarly coloured south Asian species of true bugs (red cotton bug Dysdercus cingulatus) to test if the allopatric species will be included in the proposed ring. Additionally, individuals of both bug species with colour signals artificially removed were offered to birds to assess the effect of chemical protection per se. Birds attacked the unmodified red cotton bugs more often than the red firebugs, which suggests that the birds did not include the red cotton bug in the proposed mimetic ring. Red cotton bugs were eaten by a greater number of birds than were the brown-painted red f...
Experimental Friction Coefficients for Bovine Cartilage Measured with a Pin-on-Disk Tribometer: Testing Configuration and Lubricant Effects

The friction coefficient between wet articular cartilage surfaces was measured using a pin-on-disk tribometer adopting different testing configurations: cartilage-on-pin vs. alumina-on-disk (CA); cartilage-on-pin vs. cartilage-on-disk (CC); and alumina-on-pin vs. cartilage-on-disk (AC). Several substances were dissolved in the phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution to act as lubricants: 10,000 molecular weight (MW) polyethylene glycol (PEG), 100,000 MW PEG, and chondroitin sulfate (CS), all at 100 mg/mL concentration. Scanning electron microscopy photographs of the cartilage specimens revealed limited wear due to the experiment. Conducting the experiments in PBS solutions we provide evidence according to which a commercial pin-on-disk tribometer allows us to assess different lubrication mechanisms active in cartilage. Specifically, we find that the measured friction coefficient strongly depends on the testing configuration. Our results show that the friction coefficient measured under CC and AC testing configurations remains very low as the sliding distance increases, probably because during the pin displacement the pores present in the cartilage replenish with PBS solution. Under such conditions the fluid phase supports a large load fraction for long times. By systematically altering the composition of the PBS solution we demonstrate the importance of solution viscosity in determining the measured friction coefficient. Although the friction coefficient remains low under the AC testing configuration in PBS, 100 mg/mL solutions of both CS and 100,000 MW PEG in PBS further reduce the friction coefficient by ~40%. Relating the measured friction coefficient to the Hersey number, our results are consistent with a Stribeck curve, confirming that the friction coefficient of cartilage under the AC testing configuration depends on a combination of hydrodynamic, boundary, and weep bearing lubrication mechanisms.
Mobile Multi-Robot Control in Target Search and Retrieval

In this paper, the design of a controller is proposed for a multi-robot target search and retrieval system. Inspired by research in insect foraging and swarm robotics, we developed a transition mechanism for the multi-robot system. Environmental information and task performance obtained by the robot system are used to adjust individual robot’s parameters and guide environment exploration. The proposed control system is applicable in the solution of multi-target problem also where several robots may be needed to cooperate together to retrieve a large target. Simulations show that the task performance improves significantly with the proposed method by sharing information in parameter learning and environment exploration.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Structural and functional imaging of engineered tissue development using an integrated OCT and multiphoton microscope

Recent advances in the field of tissue engineering have led to the development of complex three-dimensional tissue constructs. It has become clear, however, that the traditional tools used for studying standard cell cultures are not always adequate for diagnostically studying thick, highly-scattering cultured tissues. Furthermore, many techniques used for studying three-dimensional constructs are invasive or require exogenous fluorophores, which damage the tissue and prevent time-course studies of tissue development. An integrated optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multi-photon microscope (MPM) has been constructed for visualizing 3-D engineered tissues. OCT was used for imaging structure and cell organization, while MPM was used for assessing functional properties of cells. We demonstrate technical developments involved in the construction of this instrument and its use in the non-destructive investigation of cell movement and tissue organization in engineered tissues. Cells labeled with GFP and exogenous fluorescent probes have also been imaged with OCT and confocal microscopy. Studies indicate that an integrated microscope has the potential to be an enabling diagnostic tool for future studies in the growth and organization of engineering tissues and in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.
Cellular mechanisms of iris neovascularization secondary to retinal vein occlusion

• We developed an animal model that allows the early phases of iris neovascularization to be studied in detail. Three major retinal branch veins were occluded with the argon laser in five eyes of cynomolgus monkeys, after which the eyes were enucleated at various time intervals. We observed three phases of the neovascular process in the iris. The early phase was characterized by vessel dilation and intense uptake of tritiated thymidine in the vascular endothelial cells. In the intermediate phase, prominent new vessels, ectropion uveae, peripheral anterior synechiae, and elevated intraocular pressure developed. Also noted were a decrease in tritiated thymidine uptake of the endothelial cells, a remarkable increase in stromal cell tritiated thymidine activity, and the formation of a neovascular membrane in association with the anterior migration of stromal cells. The late phase was marked by a further reduction of tritiated thymidine uptake and regression of the neovascular membrane.
OTA-C biquad-based filter silicon compiler

An integrated software system that facilitates the design, and integrated-circuit layout of continuous-time OTA-C filter biaquad-based structures with typical cutoff frequenceis for a 3µmtechnology in the 500 kHz-8 MHz range is described. The proposed integrated software system consists of three separate software modules written in the C language for the Apollo workstation (DN3000). The first module is a general filter approximation package. This program can approximate conventional magnitude, arbitrary magnitude, arbitrary group delay equalizer, arbitrary magnitude with group delay specifications. The second module aides in the synthesis of the biquad-based OTA-C filter structures. This module is unique in that the C code has the rule-based language CLIPS embedded within the code, and takes into account OTA-C filter nonidealities. An expert system using CLIPS was developed to select an appropriate OTA-C filter structure based on the nonidealities of the structures. After the filter structure has been chosen, the program will guide the user in the calculation of the capacitor values. These calculations are based on the nonidealities of the OTAs included in the standard cell library for layout, in addition the design of special purpose OTA as another alternative is also considered. Furthermore, the program will develop the necessary input files for the layout generator. The final module is a modified version of AIDE2, a standard cell layout generator for switched-capacitor circuits. The input files to the modified AIDE2 is a C language program that describes the circuit (i.e., standard cells and their netlist). The output file is a CALTECH Intermediate Format (CIF) file that is required for fabrication.
Two-dimensional magnetotransport in AlAs quantum wells.

We have made magnetotransport measurements on two-dimensional electronic systems confined to AlAs by ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$As. We have determined the effective mass (${m}_{111}$=0.49${m}_{0}$), the effective g factor (3.1), and the relaxation time. Even though the lattice constants of GaAs and AlAs are nearly equal, the stress arising from this small mismatch strongly influences the electronic properties of AlAs. For [111]-oriented samples the valley degeneracy is one, and there is an anomalous phase shift in the Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations.
Sediment discharge into a subsiding Louisiana deltaic estuary through a Mississippi River diversion

Abstract Wetlands of the Mississippi River deltaic plain in southeast Louisiana have been hydrologically isolated from the Mississippi River by containment levees for nearly a century. The ensuing lack of fluvial sediment inputs, combined with natural submergence processes, has contributed to high coastal land loss rates. Controlled river diversions have since been constructed to reconnect the marshes of the deltaic plain with the river. This study examines the impact of a pulsed diversion management plan on sediment discharge into the Breton Sound estuary, in which duplicate 185 m3 s−1-diversions lasting two weeks each were conducted in the spring of 2002 and 2003. Sediment delivery during each pulse was highly variable (11,300–43,800 metric tons), and was greatest during rising limbs of Mississippi River flood events. Overland flow, a necessary transport mechanism for river sediments to reach the subsiding backmarsh regions, was induced only when diversion discharge exceeded 100 m3 s−1. These results indicate that timing and magnitude of diversion events are both important factors governing marsh sediment deposition in the receiving basins of river diversions. Though the diversion serves as the primary source of river sediments to the estuary, the inputs observed here were several orders of magnitude less than historical sediment discharge through crevasses and uncontrolled diversions in the region, and are insufficient to offset present rates of relative sea level rise.
Program slices as an abstraction for cohesion measurement

Abstract The basis for measuring many attributes in the physical world, such as size and mass, is fairly obvious when compared to the measurement of software attributes. Software has a very complex structure, and this makes it difficult to define meaningful measures that actually quantify attributes of interest. Program slices provide an abstraction that can be used to define important software attributes that can serve as a basis for measurement. We have successfully used program slices to define objective, meaningful, and valid measures of cohesion. Previously, cohesion was viewed as an attribute that could not be objectively measured; cohesion assessment relied on subjective evaluations. In this paper we review the original slice-based cohesion measures defined to measure functional cohesion in the procedural paradigm as well as the derivative work aimed at measuring cohesion in other paradigms and situations. By viewing software products at differing levels of abstraction or granularity, it is possible to define measures which are available at different points in the software life cycle and/or suitable for varying purposes.
An Evolutionarily Conserved Binding Site for Serine Proteinase Inhibitors in Large Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels † , ‡

Complementary DNA coding for the channel-forming alpha-subunit of a large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (maxi Kca channel) was cloned from bovine aortic smooth muscle cells. This cloned mammalian KCa channel (Bslo) and its homolog from Drosophila (Dslo) were expressed in the HEK293 human embryonic kidney cell line. Both Bslo and Dslo KCa channels were sensitive to inhibition by the internally applied serine proteinase inhibitors: bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI, KD = 7.0 microM for Bslo and 2.6 microM for Dslo) and chicken ovoinhibitor (OI, KD = 1.5 microM for Bslo and 11.4 microM for Dslo). BPTI and OI are members of the Kunitz and Kazal families of proteinase inhibitors, respectively. The approximately 60-residue inhibitory domains of these proteins have a different tertiary structure except in the region of a loop formed by approximately 6 residues, in which the peptide backbone adopts a similar conformation complementary to the active site cleft of many serine proteinases. At the single-channel level, BPTI and OI were found to inhibit KCa channels by a similar mechanism involving the production of discrete low-conductance events. These two inhibitors also exhibited competitive behavior, suggesting that they bind to an overlapping site. Kinetic characterization revealed that the dissociation rate of BPTI from the bovine KCa channel is fast (k(off) = 0.41 s-1), whereas that from the Drosophila KCa channel is slow (k(off) = 9.0 x 10(-4) s-1) and indicative of a strong molecular interaction. The stable complex of BPTI and trypsin was inactive as a KCa channel inhibitor, further supporting the idea that the trypsin inhibitory loop of BPTI recognizes a specific site on the channel protein. These results lead to the conclusion that the alpha-subunit of maxi KCa channels contains a conserved proteinase inhibitor binding site. We hypothesize that this site corresponds to a C-terminal domain of the channel protein that structurally resembles serine proteinases.
Collagen crosslinking and cartilage glycosaminoglycan composition in normal and scoliotic chickens.

Abstract The amounts of lysine-derived crosslinks in collagens from tendon, intervertebral, disc, and bone and changes in the composition of sternal cartilage glycosaminoglycans were estimated in two lines of chickens, a control-isogenic line and a line that develops scoliosis. In the scoliotic line, scoliosis first appears at 3–4 weeks and progressively increases in severity and incidence so that 90% of the birds experss the lesion by week 10. We have reported previously that cartilage, tendon, and bone collagens from scoliotic birds are more soluble than corresponding collagens from normal birds. Herein, collagen crosslinking and altered proteoglycan metabolism are examined as possible mechanisms for the differences in collagen solubility. At 1 week of age there were fewer reducible crosslinking amino acids (hydroxylysinonorleucine, dihydroxylysinonorleucine, and lysinonorleucine) in collagens from sternal vartilage and tendon in the scoliotic line than in the isogenic line. However, by week 3 and at weeks 5 or 7 values were similar in both groups. The amounts of hydroxypyridinium in vertebral bone and intervertebral disc collagen were also similar in both groups of birds. Consequently, differences in collagen crosslinking do not appear to be a persistent developmental effect underlying the expression of scoliosis in the model. However, differences were observed in cartilage proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans from the scoliotic line that were not present in cartilage from the isogenic line. The average molecular weight of the uronide-containing glycosaminoglycans was 30% less in the scoliotic line than in the isogenic line, i.e., 12000 compared to 18000. The size distribution of cartilage proteoglycans from the scoliotic line also differed from that of proteglycans from the isogenic line. An overly sulfated chondroitin also appeared to be a minor component of the glycosaminoglycans in cartilage from the scoliotic line. This chondroitin was not observed in cartilage from the isogenic line of chickens.
L band SAR ocean wave observations during Marsen

The five-sided flight pattern made it possible to view the same ocean surface patch from five different directions. The results obtained from analyzing radar and in situ measurements indicate that the focus dependence for optimum imaging is that for a surface moving with a speed that is approximately equal to the wave phase velocity. The finding also suggest that azimuthally traveling waves can be visible as range traveling waves when the necessary focus adjustments are made in the SAR processor and that the visibility of azimuthally travelling waves does not improve with decreasing integration time. What is more, the spectra and images of azimuthally traveling waves do not show observable distortions compared with those for range traveling waves.
Evaluation of the QRS complex on the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram in normal subjects 70 to 79 years of age.

Abstract Electrocardiograms that are abnormal due to latent ischemic heart disease pose a dilemma when compared with similarly appearing "normal" electrocardiograms that are influenced by physiologic trends occurring with advanced age. 1–4 The effects of age on electrocardiographic interpretation are further confounded by body habitus, race, sex, chest configuration and some noncardiac diseases. 5–7 Because many current invasive therapies rely on information readily available from the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram and because of the increasingly older ages of persons likely to receive such therapies, elucidation of this difference is clinically important. The present study was performed to address this difference by examining 2 established sets of quantitative criteria for myocardial infarct detection in a population of carefully screened, uniformly defined normal subjects ages 70 to 79 years.
Self-efficacy expectancies versus outcome expectancies as determinants of performance deficits and depressive affect

To compare the depression etiologies specified by self-efficacy theory versus the revised learned helplessness theory, 108 male and female undergraduates were assigned randomly to either high, low, or no self → response expectancy manipulations and high, low, or no response → outcome expectancy manipulations. Expectancies were modified by combinations of easy or difficult anagrams and graphs showing that most or few students solved the anagrams. Males exhibited performance deficits and depressed affect following manipulations only if self → response expectancy had been set low and other → response expectancy had been set high. Contrary to revised learned helplessness theory, no performance deficit or depressive affect occurred when both self → response and response → outcome expectancies were low. Females' performance and affect were not changed by combined low self → response and high response → outcome manipulations. Repeated subject ratings of self → response and response → outcome expectancies during manipulations suggest that females set their self → response expectancies low before manipulations to avoid depression. Expectancy ratings also showed that self → response expectancies correlated more strongly with performance than did response → outcome expectancies.
Predictive Filtering for Attitude Estimation Without Rate Sensors

A real-time predictive e lter is derived for spacecraft attitude estimation without the utilization of angular rate measurements from gyros. The formulation is shown using only attitude sensors (three-axis magnetometers, sun sensors,startrackers, etc. ).Thenew real-timenonlineare lter predicts the requiredtorquemodeling errorinput in ordertopropagatethespacecraftdynamicmodel,sothatmodelresponsesmatchthemeasuredvectorobservations. The real-time predictive e lter is used to estimate the attitude of the Solar, Anomalous, Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) spacecraft. Results using this new algorithm indicate that the real-time predictive e lter accurately estimates the attitude of an actual spacecraft with the sole use of magnetometer sensor measurements.
Chain-Growth Polymerization of 2-Chlorothiophenes Promoted by Lewis Acids

Lewis acids promote the polymerization of several 2-chloroalkylenedioxythiophenes, providing high-molecular-weight conjugated polymers. The proposed mechanism is a cationic chain-growth polymerization, as confirmed by end-capping reactions and a linear correlation of molecular weight with percent conversion. The “living” character of this process was used to prepare new block copolymers.
Real-Time Automated Survey System of Pavement Cracking in Parallel Environment

As a part of the digital highway data vehicle (DHDV), the automated survey system developed at the University of Arkansas is the implementation of a real-time system for pavement surface cracking survey. The researchers faced tremendous tasks in optimizing imaging algorithms to speed up the processing at the same time without sacrificing accuracy in identifying and classifying cracks. This paper introduces the automated real-time system and summarizes the experiences in developing parallel algorithms in imaging processing used in the real-time system. The hardware system for processing images is based on the ubiquitous multiple Central Processing Unit (CPU) ×86 platform that has the capability of two levels of parallel processing at multiple CPU level and within each CPU level. The former is commonly called Symmetrical Processing (SMP) and the latter is called Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD). The paper also presents results of a network level survey with the DHDV and the distress analyzer on a net...
Children's Closeness to Father as Reported by Mothers, Sons and Daughters: Evaluating Subjective Assessments With the Rasch Model

Mothers' and children's reports of closeness to father are examined using an approach for reconciling discrepant survey responses. This approach is based on a model for the measurement of latent traits. When both mothers and children are asked to report on the closeness of the child to his or her father, tabulations of survey responses show substantial disagreement in the reported evaluation. We adopt a model that explains this disagreement in terms of (a) constant differences between mothers and children, and (b) variability within the sampling population in the actual closeness of father to child. Closeness appears to have an entirely different meaning when fathers are resident than when they are nonresident. But the meaning does not seem to vary (even if feelings do) when the resident father is a stepfather or whether the focal child is a son or a daughter.
Urban Politics in the Local Kingdoms of India: A View from the Princely Capitals of Saurashtra under British Rule

A Substantial body of literature argues persuasively that Indian towns were often founded by local political-military rulers to serve as fortress-headquarters. In order to enhance their personal prestige, improve the efficiency of their administration, and provide market facilities for their small kingdoms, the rulers later invited merchants, artisans, administrators, and professionals to the fortress capitals. These invited, non-landed groups then formed courts, markets, and temple establishments which were dependent on the ruler for protection in an often violent atmosphere. The headquarters towns have been seen as the geographical locus and political nexus, or hinge, at which village levels of polity were linked with regional or state levels of government in a predominantly agrarian society. The most explicit and sophisticated presentation of this ‘hinge’ view is in Richard Fox's ‘Rajput “Clans” and Rurban Settlements in Northern India.'
Aerosolized recombinant human lysozyme ameliorates pseudomonas aeruginosa–induced pneumonia in hamsters

ABSTRACTAs an alternative to conventional antibiotics, aerosolized recombinant human lysozyme (rhLZ) was used to treat experimentally induced pneumonia. Syrian hamsters were inoculated intratracheally with a nonmucoid strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), then exposed to a 1.0%% solution of rhLZ in water for 2 hours per day for 3 consecutive days (controls were treated with aerosolized water alone). Compared to controls, the rhLZ-treated group showed statistically significant reductions in the following parameters: (1) lung histopathological changes, (2) bacterial colony-forming units in whole lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), (3) total BALF leukocytes, (4) percent BALF neutrophils, and (5) alveolar septal apoptosis. Exposure to aerosolized rhLZ also resulted in a large increase in BALF lysozyme activity. These findings indicate that aerosolized rhLZ may be potentially useful in reducing the level of bacterial colonization and inflammation in the lungs of patients with PA pneumonia.
B2B E-COMMERCE REVISITED: LEADING PERSPECTIVES ON THE KEY ISSUES AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

The application of Internet technologies for the conduct of interfirm business transactions has given rise to a boom in business-to-business (B2B) electronic commerce. Yet, although there are many success stories that have been reported over the past several years, the progress of B2B e-commerce has been hindered by unanticipated technical, organizational, economic and legal challenges that diminish value. In this article, we report on a series of interviews with leading academic researchers and industry senior managers who are in a unique position to make sense of key issues and offer useful insights. The respondents provide their views on the efficacy of different business models in B2B e-commerce, the problems associated with B2B technology platform adoption and implementation, new ways of thinking about interorganizational information sharing and e-procurement business process design, investment decision making and financial returns for e-business infrastructure, international and regional issues, and...
Endothelial expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) is unaffected by marrow aplasia-inducing chemotherapy

Sequential skin biopsies were obtained from five patients receiving chemotherapy for acute myelocytic leukemia. The first specimen was taken on the fourth day of initial chemotherapy and subsequent specimens were obtained at weekly intervals thereafter, until discharge. In all cases, clinically normal skin was selected as the biopsy site. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was applied to frozen tissue sections, including anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), anti-lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), and anti-HLA-DR. Bound antibody was detected using the avidin-biotin complex method. Endothelial cell expression of ICAM-1 and lymphocyte expression of LFA-1 were unaffected over the course of the ensuing, profound marrow aplasia. This finding suggests that this mechanism of lymphocyte trafficking in the skin remains operational despite the administration of antileukemic agents.
In a Subset of Subjects on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA in Plasma Decays from 50 to <5 Copies per Milliliter, with a Half-Life of 6 Months

Three of five virally suppressed human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1)-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy and followed intensively with a supersensitive reverse transcriptase PCR assay with a lower limit of quantitation of 5 copies/ml showed statistically significant viral load decays below 50 copies/ml, with half-lives of 5 to 8 months and a mean of 6 months. This range of half-lives is consistent with the estimated half-life of the latent HIV-1 reservoir in the peripheral blood. Those patients without decay of viral load in plasma may have significant cryptic HIV-1 residual replication.