cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hidden Semi-Markov Models in the Computerized Decoding of Microelectrode Recording Data for Deep Brain Stimulator Placement

Objective To describe an approach to the analysis of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) using a hidden semi-Markov model (HsMM) and early results of the analysis of microelectrode recordings for STN DBS. Methods The author simulated the anatomy and electrophysiology of STN DBS and built a seven-state model to compare Hidden Markov model (HMM) and HsMM approaches. Results Accuracy of these competing models was similar for correctly identifying brain nuclei; however, HsMMs showed superior specificity in detecting microelectrode passes traversing the STN. Conclusions Further clinical work must be done; however, based on these data, HsMMs may be best suited to computer-assisted anatomic delineation for DBS.
Spectroscopy of 123Cs: Configuration dependent crossing frequencies.

Several collective structures have been populated in the {ital Z}=55 nucleus {sup 123}Cs following the {sup 108}Pd({sup 19}F,4{ital n}) fusion-evaporation reaction at a beam energy of 76 MeV. The low-lying structure is found to be dominated by a decoupled rotational band built on the unique-parity {pi}{ital h}{sub 11/2} orbital. Rotational structures based on the normal-parity {ital g}{sub 7/2} proton and the {ital g}{sub 9/2} proton-hole orbitals are also observed. Rotational alignments occur in the {pi}{ital h}{sub 11/2} band at {h bar}{omega}{sub {ital c}}{approx}0.44 MeV, and in the {pi}{ital g}{sub 9/2}{sup {minus}1} band at {h bar}{omega}{sub {ital c}}=0.38 MeV, both attributed to the rotational alignment of a pair of {ital h}{sub 11/2} neutrons, despite the different crossing frequency. In addition, the {gamma}-vibrational band built on the {pi}{ital h}{sub 11/2} orbital has been observed feeding both signatures of the corresponding rotational cascade. These results are compared to cranked shell model calculations and to the systematics of the region.
Surgeons expect patients to buy-in to postoperative life support preoperatively: results of a national survey.

Objective Evidence suggests that surgeons implicitly negotiate with their patients preoperatively about the use of life supporting treatments postoperatively as a condition for performing surgery. We sought to examine whether this surgical buy-in behavior is present among a large, nationally representative sample of surgeons who routinely perform high risk operations.
Effects of substrate on the magnetic properties of epitaxial TbFe/sub 2/(111) films

The effects of substrate on the strains of epitaxial TbFe/sub 2/(111) films, and consequently on the magnetization orientation, have been studied. Thermal strain from differential thermal contraction between substrates and the TbFe/sub 2/ films is considered to be the dominant factor in determining the film strain. Therefore, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/(112~0), MgO(111), and CaF/sub 2/(111) substrates with an epitaxial W(110) buffer layer have been used to grow the TbFe/sub 2/ films. The magnetisation of the TbFe/sub 2/ films on the Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and MgO substrates with a tensile thermal strain is in the film plane, but that on the CaF/sub 2/ substrate with a compressive thermal strain is in the out-of-plane direction. An unknown soft magnetic material has been found at the interfacial region of the TbFe/sub 2/ film and the W buffer layer.
COMPUTING GREEN'S FUNCTIONS FOR FLOW IN HETEROGENEOUS COMPOSITE MEDIA

Green’s functions lie at the foundation of many uncertainty quantification and uncertainty reduction techniques (e.g., the moment differential equation approach, parameter and/or source identification, and data assimilation). We discuss an accurate and numerically efficient approach to compute Green’s functions for transport processes in heterogeneous composite media. We focus on elliptic partial differential equations with (random) discontinuous coefficients. The approach relies on a regularization technique to obtain an associated regular problem, which can be solved using standard finite element methods. We perform numerical experiments to assess the performance of the regularization approach and to evaluate the effects of strong coefficient discontinuities on the Green’s function behavior.
Stimulation of the Ferroxidase Activity of Ceruloplasmin during Iron Loading into Ferritin

Ceruloplasmin purified from horse serum was rapidly reduced upon addition of increasing equivalents of ferrous iron, generating an electronically and conformationally distinct form. This form of ceruloplasmin was characterized by significant (80%) loss of EPR detectable type I and type II copper(II), complete loss of visible absorbance at 610 nm, as well as decreased hydrophobic surface area. The reduced form of ceruloplasmin slowly reduced molecular oxygen to complete its catalytic cycle. The presence of varied concentrations of apoferritin, but not apotransferrin, significantly enhanced the rate of ceruloplasmin oxidation. The magnitude of this stimulatory effect increased as the molar ratio of ceruloplasmin to apoferritin approached 1.0, shown previously to be the optimum ratio for loading iron into ferritin. The rate of ferrous iron oxidation by ceruloplasmin was significantly stimulated by the presence of apoferritin; however, apotransferrin had no effect. The length of time required for ceruloplasmin to oxidize all the iron and return to the native form of the enzyme was also affected by the concentration of iron. In addition, the rate of iron loading into ferritin was dependent upon ferrous iron concentration. These results provide evidence for the formation of a specific complex between the reduced form of ceruloplasmin and apoferritin and that reduction of ceruloplasmin by ferrous iron may be the signal for complex formation.
Sharp well-posedness and ill-posedness results for a quadratic non-linear Schrödinger equation

Abstract We establish that the quadratic non-linear Schrodinger equation iu t + u xx = u 2 , where u : R × R → C , is locally well-posed in H s ( R ) when s ⩾ - 1 and ill-posed when s - 1 . Previous work in [C. Kenig, G. Ponce, L. Vega, Quadratic forms for the 1-D semilinear Schrodinger equation, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 346 (1996) 3323–3353] had established local well-posedness for s > - 3 4 . The local well-posedness is achieved by an iteration using a modification of the standard X s , b spaces. The ill-posedness uses an abstract and general argument relying on the high-to-low frequency cascade present in the non-linearity, and a computation of the first non-linear iterate.
The inferior quality of Soviet machinery as reflected in export prices

Abstract Soviet machinery produced for domestic use is, in general, of substantially lower quality than machinery produced for export. Special export-price supplements compensate manufacturers for the higher costs incurred in meeting world-market quality standards. In the 1970s these supplements ranged from 6 to 95% of the domestic price, averaging about 40%. These price supplements can serve as a measure of the gap between Soviet domestic and world-market quality standards. The author suggests that this measure be used to adjust current Western estimates of ruble/dollar ratios for machinery and that an upward adjustment by a factor of about 1.4 would make these ratios more realistic.
The interaction of reinforcement sensitivity and life events in the prediction of anhedonic depression and mixed anxiety-depression symptoms

This study examined the relationship between reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST), life stress, and internalizing symptoms. Generally, low sensitivity of the behavioral approach system (BAS) predicts depression whereas high sensitivity of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) predicts anxiety and depression. However, few studies have examined how RST variables interact with life stress to predict these symptoms. It was hypothesized that higher BIS sensitivity would predict greater anxious arousal; lower BAS sensitivity and higher BIS sensitivity would predict greater anhedonic depression as predicted by the joint subsystems hypothesis (JSH); and low BAS, high BIS, and high life stress would interact to predict anhedonic depression symptoms whereas high BIS with high life stress would predict anxious symptoms. A sample of 285 undergraduates completed measures of RST, life stress, and internalizing symptoms. Greater BIS sensitivity predicted mixed anxiety–depression and anhedonic depressed symptoms, lower BAS predicted anhedonic depression symptoms, and life events predicted mixed anxiety–depression. Three-way interactions indicated that for high life stress, BIS predicted both types of symptoms. For low life stress, low BAS and high BIS predicted anhedonic depression whereas high BIS and high BAS predicted mixed anxiety–depression. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the JSH.
Food Preference Survey for School Food Service Directors to Assist in Menu Development

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To examine perceived preferences of school food service directors to determine school children's food preferences to develop an assisted nu-menu. In response to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Healthy School Meals Initiative the state of Connecticut is developing an Assisted Nu-Menu, i.e. a statewide menu cycle which reflects the state's school children's preferences and die new federal regulations. In order to accomplish this, a six page survey was developed to determine food preferences as perceived by school food service directors. One hundred forty eight surveys were mailed to public school food service directors. There was a 53% return after the first mailing and a 70% return following a second mailing. To accurately assess consumption as is indicated in the new USDA regulations for Nu-Menus, it is necessary to determine a "state" milk. This would be computed by measuring consumption of milk by school children in the state. Results indicated that milk consumption is as follows: 60% chocolate milk, 20% whole milk, 7% two percent milk, 5% one percent milk, 7% skim milk, and 1% other. The same principle is used for fruit juices. Preferences were also calculated for fruits, vegetables, and miscellaneous food items. Recipe sources were identified for entree items so that when writing the cycle menu appropriate food specifications would be provided. From the original survey a second survey was developed with the most popular entrees. This survey was distributed to fourth and seventh grade children to gain input in assessing their reactions to these entrees. The completed cycle menu will reflect input from both directors and students.
Interactive museum exhibits as tools for learning: explorations with light

The new generation of science museums is characterized by exhibits that allow the visitors to experiment freely with natural phenomena. This setting provides a unique type of research laboratory for studying how people learn. Using examples from our work with children at the site of exhibits on light and vision, we illustrate the preconceptions the children bring to the situation and how these notions shape their interpretation of the phenomena they manipulate and observe. Furthermore, we show how a conceptual analysis of the exhibit, when tied to the visitors’ interpretations, can be used to modify the exhibit in ways that enhance the user's understanding of the science involved. The study of learning in science museums is a field in its infancy. In this article we indicate its potential as well as some problems and questions it can fruitfully address.
Growth and laser-assisted liftoff of low dislocation density AlN thin films for deep-UV light-emitting diodes

The growth of AlN thin films on (0001) sapphire by metal-organic chemical vapor-phase epitaxy has been investigated to serve as the template layer of deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes. Delayed coalescence of AlN films resulted in a low threading dislocation density of 5 x 10 9 cm -2 for a 2.1 μm thick film compared to partially coalesced 1.05 μm films exhibiting a threading dislocation density of 1.1 x 10 10 cm -2 . The reduction in dislocation density results from a decrease in the number of edge character threading dislocations, while the screw character density remains virtually unchanged, as determined by X-ray rocking curve measurements of the AIN off-axis (2021) and on-axis (0002) reflections, respectively. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy indicates the presence of a number of inversion domains in the AlN films. Electrically injected, 317nm Al x Ga 1-x N LEDs were successfully fabricated, with a maximum output power of 17.7 μW tested on wafer at 160 mA DC. Using a 248 nm KrF excimer laser, a 2.8 μm thick AIN film was debonded from the sapphire substrate using a laser pulse power of 1 J/cm 2 . However, substrate debonding of an Al x Ga 1-x N/AlN LED layer could not be achieved.
Children and adolescents on Medicaid do not receive the same quality of care from commercial health plans as commercial enrolees

Abstract Question Is there disparity in the quality of healthcare provision to children and adolescents within commercial and Medicaid plans? Study design Outcomes analysis comparing performance indicators. Main results Managed Care Organisation (MCO) health plans with commercially enrolled children performed significantly better on all clinical quality, access and procedure indicators compared with plans with Medicaid-enrolled children (e.g. prenatal care performance score 83% and 57% respectively, p Authors’ conclusions Commercial health plans achieved higher performance indicator scores than those providing care for children and adolescents via Medicaid, including MCOs serving commercial and Medicaid populations.
Angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and bicarbonate as diagnostic biomarkers in children with severe sepsis.

Severe pediatric sepsis continues to be associated with high mortality rates in children. Thus, an important area of biomedical research is to identify biomarkers that can classify sepsis severity and outcomes. The complex and heterogeneous nature of sepsis makes the prospect of the classification of sepsis severity using a single biomarker less likely. Instead, we employ machine learning techniques to validate the use of a multiple biomarkers scoring system to determine the severity of sepsis in critically ill children. The study was based on clinical data and plasma samples provided by a tertiary care center's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) from a group of 45 patients with varying sepsis severity at the time of admission. Canonical Correlation Analysis with the Forward Selection and Random Forests methods identified a particular set of biomarkers that included Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), and Bicarbonate (HCO) as having the strongest correlations with sepsis severity. The robustness and effectiveness of these biomarkers for classifying sepsis severity were validated by constructing a linear Support Vector Machine diagnostic classifier. We also show that the concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2, and HCO enable predictions of the time dependence of sepsis severity in children.
Studies of group III cation reactions: consecutive association of methanol to Al+, Ga+, and In+

Abstract Quantitative forward rate constants are determined for the sequential clustering of methanol (3 steps) to the Group III cations, A1+, Ga+, at thermal energies using a high-pressure flow tube technique. Comparing these reactions with each other for different parent ions from the same group leads to insight about the trends in bond energy with regard to the unimolecular decay process. The pressure dependence of these reactions is reported (0.25-1.1 torr) and a transition from true termolecular to effective bimolecular behavior is evident, which is explainable in terms of the increase in degree of freedom of the complex as clustering proceeds and the probable trends in the dissociation energies. In the high-pressure limit, the large discrepancy between the effective bimolecular rate constants and the theoretical ion-molecule collision frequency for the third attachment of a methanol molecule suggests large structural hindrances to the formation of stable products, as well as fundamental limitations in treating the ion complex as a simple point charge.
Accelerated Subspace Iteration Method for Protein Normal Mode Analysis

Normal mode analysis is commonly employed to elucidate the conformational dynamics of proteins and related biological function. In typical applications, only a small subset of the complete set of frequencies and normal modes of proteins is sought, corresponding to the large-scale collective motions of atoms. Here, the subspace iteration method is applied to all-atom representations of proteins to demonstrate its suitability to protein normal mode analysis. Important properties are that computational cost increases linearly with the required number of lowest eigenpairs and the method is robust computationally. Additionally, the procedure is particularly well suited to cases where numerous analyses are performed for nearby conformational substates, such as in conformational pathway analysis. Finally, the method is amenable to parallel implementation.
Neural Networks Modeling of Stress Growth in Asphalt Overlays due to Load and Thermal Effects during Reflection Cracking

Although several techniques have been introduced to reduce reflective cracking, one of the primary forms of distress in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlays of flexible and rigid pavements, the underlying mechanism and causes of reflective cracking are not yet well under- stood. Fracture mechanics is used to understand the stable and progressive crack growth that often occurs in engineering components under varying applied stress. The stress intensity factor (SIF) is its basis and describes the stress state at the crack tip. This can be used with the appropriate material properties to calculate the rate at which the crack will propagate in a linear elastic manner. Unfortunately, the SIF is difficult to compute or measure, particularly if the crack is situated in a complex three-dimensional (3D) geometry or subjected to a non- simple stress state. In this study, the neural networks (NN) methodology is successfully used to model the SIF as cracks grow upward through a HMA overlay as a result of both load and thermal effects with and without reinforcing interlayers. Nearly 100,000 runs of a finite-element program were conducted to calculate the SIFs at the tip of the reflection crack for a wide variety of crack lengths and pavement structures. The coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of all the developed NN models except one was above 0.99. Owing to the rapid prediction of SIFs using developed NN models, the overall computer run time for a 20-year reflection cracking prediction of a typical overlay was significantly reduced. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000153. © 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Cracking; Neural networks; Predictions; Models; Finite element method; Thermal factors. Author keywords: Reflective cracking; HMA overlay; Neural networks; Prediction model; Fracture mechanics; Finite element.
Ionic liquid-mediated sol–gel coatings for capillary microextraction

Abstract Ionic liquid (IL)-mediated sol–gel hybrid organic–inorganic materials present enormous potential for effective use in analytical microextraction. This opportunity, however, has not yet been explored. One obstacle to materializing this prospect arises from high viscosity of ILs significantly slowing down sol–gel reactions. In this work, we developed a method that overcomes this hurdle and provides IL-mediated advanced sol–gel materials for capillary microextraction (CME). We examined two different ILs: (a) a phosphonium-based IL, trihexyltetradecylphosphonium tetrafluoroborate, and (b) a pyridinium-based ionic liquid, N-butyl-4-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate. These ILs were evaluated in conjunction with two types of hydroxy-terminated polymers: (a) two Si–OH terminated polymers (PDMS and BMPO), and (b) two C–OH terminated polymers (PEG and polyTHF) that differ in their sol–gel reactivity. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrate that ILs can serve as porogenic agents in sol–gel reactions. The IL-mediated sol–gel coatings prepared with silanol-terminated polymers provided up to 28 times higher extractions in off-line CME-GC compared to analogous sol–gel coatings prepared without any IL in the sol solution. Contrary to this, the IL-mediated sol–gel coatings prepared with C–OH terminated polymers provided lower extraction efficiencies compared to their IL-free counterparts. These observations were explained by (a) lower sol–gel reactivity of C–OH groups in PEG and polyTHF compared to Si–OH groups in PDMS and in hydrolyzed alkoxysilane precursors and (b) extremely high viscosity of ionic liquids. This study shows that IL-generated porous morphology alone is not enough to provide effective extraction media: careful choice of the organic polymer and the precursor with close sol–gel reactivity must be made to ensure effective chemical bonding of the organic polymer to the created sol–gel material to be able to provide the desired sorbent characteristics. Additionally, IL-mediated sol–gel PDMS coatings provided run-to-run RSD values of 4.2–5.0% and detection limits ranging from 3.2 ng/L to 17.4 ng/L. PDMS sol–gels prepared without ILs provided RSD values of 2.8–14.1%, and detection limits ranging from 4.9 ng/L to 487.0 ng/L.
Modeling and control of a lightly damped T-beam using piezoceramic actuators and sensors

This paper addresses the issue of active vibration control using bonded and embedded piezoceramic actuators and sensors. Piezoceramic actuators and sensors are used to control the bending and torsional modes of a lightly damped T-beam. The modeling incorporates the effects of actuator and sensor dynamics. A linear quadratic Gaussian controller is used to effect coupled vibration control of the beam. The simulation results match the experimental results qualitatively and the closed loop settling times show good agreement.
Activities and structure of some borosilicate melts

Abstract The application of structural models to some calcium borosilicate melts was made to develop simple expressions of activities as functions of composition. Their applicability was tested with freezing point depression data from phase diagrams. The activity values obtained were compared with those computed from the calorimetric heat of fusion. Data from published phase diagrams for the systems Ca 2 B 2 O 5 − Ca ( BO 2 ) 2 , Ca 3 ( BO 3 ) 2 − Ca 2 SiO 4 , Ca ( BO 2 ) 2 − CaSiO 3 , and Ca 2 B 2 O 5 − CaSiO 3 were used. Simple ionic models seemed applicable to melts where isolated ions may be expected; in melts containing mixed ions in chains and rings, the so-called “group” model may be useful. The authors, are respectively, Professor of Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Director, Institute of Silicate Science, Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Peripheral tears of the meniscus The effect of open versus arthroscopic repair on intraarticular contact stresses in the human knee

The mechanical properties of the repaired meniscus may affect its ability to heal and to protect the articular surface against degenerative changes. We compared the immediate biomechanical consequences of open versus arthroscopic repair in the human cadaver knee. Additionally, having measured postoperative stresses at various degrees of knee flexion, we have addressed the effect of tethering of the meniscus, a question relevant to both meniscus repair and replacement. Peak stresses were measured by the Pressensor system. Fresh human cadaver knees were subjected to loading in an Instron unit, on an unconstrained base. Instanta neous loads were applied with the knee in 0°, 30°, or 60° of flexion, and stress distributions were measured after repair of a 2 cm peripheral tear, by an open or arthroscopic approach. The results of loading experi ments on five knees revealed no statistically significant differences between stresses after the two repairs. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference...
A numerical study of secondary flows over continental shelf edges

Abstract The circulation over the shelf edge of a homogeneous, wind-driven coastal ocean is examined. A two-dimensional finite element model in the plane perpendicular to the coast is used allowing a detailed examination of the thin horizontal and vertical frictional boundary layers characteristic to the continental shelf. After spinning-up the flow from an initial state of rest, it is found that frictional effects cause the alongshore current to develop a horizontal shear over the continental slope and shelf break, as well as a recirculation cell seaward of the break. At the shelf edge, bottom Ekman layers over the shelf and the deep ocean are disrupted and, in contrast to very gently sloping topographies, no bottom layer (in the classical Ekman sense) develops over the continental slope. Instead a thicker upwelling layer, similar to the one present next to the coastal wall, develops next to the continental slope. In the cases considered herein, the results indicate that the dynamics of the circulation over realistic continental shelf edges are closely related to the dynamics of slopes modeled as a vertical wall. Further, during upwelling favorable winds, the onshore flow in the region seaward of the shelf break is drawn from depths on the order of the shelf break (∼200 m) and is, in turn, fed by the upwelling layer on the continental slope. Existing analytic studies and laboratory experiments have shown the occurrence of free vertical shear layers in rotating fluids in the presence of abrupt changes of the azimuthal velocity field. Similarities between the conditions at the shelf edge and these studies suggest that the secondary motions predicted by the model solution may be explained by analogy to Stewartson layer dynamics.
Activated carbons prepared from phosphoric acid activation of grain sorghum

The production of activated carbons from grain sorghum with phosphoric acid activation has been studied by means of two processes, i.e., one-stage and two-stage. The former comprises simultaneous carbonization and activation after impregnation; the latter, the carbonization of the precursor at 300 degrees C for 15 min, followed by the activation of the resultant char after impregnation with phosphoric acid. The preparation conditions, e.g., activation duration, phosphoric acid concentration, and activation temperature, have been varied to determine the optimal processing conditions. The optimal activation conditions for the highest surface areas have been determined to be 600 and 500 degrees C with a phosphoric acid concentration of 35% for the one-stage and two-stage processes, respectively. The two-stage process has been found to greatly enhance the porosity development, especially the microporosity.
Hand-eye coordination with an active camera head

Hand-eye coordination is the coupling between vision and manipulation. Visual servoing is the term applied to hand-eye coordination in robots. In recent years, research has demonstrated that active vision -- active control of camera position and camera parameters -- facilitates a robot's interaction with the world. One aspect of active vision is centering an object in an image. This is known as gaze stabilization or fixation. This paper presents a new algorithm that applies target fixation to image-based visual servoing. This algorithm, called fixation point servoing (FPS), uses target fixation to eliminate the need for Jacobian computation Additionally, FPS reburies only the rotation relationship between the camera head and the gripper frames and does not require accurate tracking of the gripper. FPS was tested on a robotics system called ISAC and experimental results are shown. FPS was also compared to a classical Jacobian-based technique using simulations of both algorithms.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Recent glacier variations and volcanic eruptions

The injection of volcanic dust and gases into the atmosphere during major eruptions has been advanced to explain short-term variations of climate1–4. A calculated global cooling of ∼1K during episodes of intense volcanic activity3 could lead to a snowline depression sufficient to cause glacier advances equivalent to those of the last several centuries. The hypothesis would therefore be strengthened if a close relationship could be demonstrated between global volcanicity and the pattern of recent glacier variations. Glacier activity in the Northern Hemisphere during much of the past 100 yr shows a lack of synchrony with that in the Southern Hemisphere, but in each hemisphere the sequence of glacier variations matches the acidity record in polar ice cores and the frequency of volcanic eruptions in successive latitude belts. This suggests that glaciers fluctuate in response to atmospheric build-up of volcanic aerosols produced during large eruptions and that explosive volcanism may therefore be a major factor in modulating climate on the decadal scale.
Impure Kondo insulators

Abstract A Kondo hole is the charge neutral substitution of a rare earth ion by a nonmagnetic analog. We consider an arbitrary cluster of Kondo holes in a Kondo insulator described by the nondegenerate symmetric Anderson lattice with a nearest-neighbor tight-binding conduction band on a simple cubic lattice. Each Kondo hole introduces a bound state in the gap. Quantum interference in the scattering off the impurities gives rise to interactions among the Kondo holes. The interaction is strong if the impurities are nearest neighbors, but weak if they are further apart. The wave function of the bound states is predominantly localized on the sites neighboring the Kondo holes. Clusters of impurities separated by more than two hoppings are disconnected for bound states at the Fermi level, i.e. the wave functions do not overlap. The possibility of a metal-insulator transition can then be reduced to a site percolation of Kondo holes.
Molecular analysis of human repetitive sequence family and its use as genetic marker.

It has been known for over 15 years that the human genome consists of roughly 65% single or low-copy-number DNA sequences and 35% repeated sequences (1). Since then, the discovery of restriction endonucleases and the development of molecular cloning and DNA sequencing techniques have made it possible to study these sequences at the molecular level. Most gene sequences are represented by single-copy DNA, and the cloning and nucleotide sequencing of these genes have proven to be very rewarding and highly informative. Similar studies involving repetitive sequences have also been carried out in many laboratories; however, much of the information gathered to date has been structural, leaving the functions of repetitive sequences a matter of speculation. Repetitive sequences are usually categorized into two major classes, the highly repetitive sequences and the moderately repetitive sequences. The highly repetitive sequences have over 106 copies per haploid genome, some of which are dispersed while most are clustered at centromeres and telomeres. This group of clustered sequences is often known as satellite DNA, and its function remains unknown (2). For the most part, satellite DNA is not transcribed into RNA, and in those rare instances where it is, it might be the result of readthrough from the transcription of legitimate genes, such as histones, which are embedded in repeated sequences (3, 4). The second class, the middle or moderately repetitive sequences, is much more complex than the first class. It ranges from a few hundred copies to hundreds of thousands of copies in the genome. These sequences are usually scattered throughout the genome next to unique or other repetitive sequences (5) and sometimes even interrupting satellite DNA sequences (6). Most of the progress made in the study of this complex class of DNA has resulted from the application of modern techniques in molecular genetics. One distinction that can be made when looking at these dispersed repetitive sequences as a whole is the length of the repeat unit. Singer (7) suggested the notation SINES for short interspersed repeated segments, usually 500 bp or less in length and present in as many as hundreds of thousands of copies in the mammalian genome, and the notat ion L I N E S for long interspersed repeated segments, usually several kilobases (kb) in length and repeated perhaps 104 times or less in the genome. The best character ized mammalian SINE family is the human Alu family (8, 9) which has 3 • 105 copies in the haploid genome. Although the structure of this family has been well characterized, its function remains elusive. The finding that the Alu sequences share homology with a low-molecular-weight RNA species, 7S RNA, suggests that this repeat family may play a role in protein secretion, because 7S RNA is a component of the 11S signal recognition particle
An expanded Eulerian model of phytoplankton environmental response

An Eulerian approach to modeling plankton physiological responses to environmental factors is developed wherein the time history of cell exposure to two external environmental fields over specified time intervals are utilized as independent variables along with position and time to help characterize the cell population. We seek to find the concentration of cells per unit volume as a function of depth, time, and the time histories of exposure to PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) as it influences internal cellular carbon through phototsynthesis and to nitrate as it influences internal cellular nitrogen through nutrient assimilation. The response under consideration here, vertical swimming, is taken to depend on historical exposure to the external PAR and nitrate fields. The model can be readily extended to other external fields and to more than the one historical time scale here associated with each external field. This type of model joins Lagrangian models as most beneficial when phytoplankton physiology responds to environmental factors in a nonlinear fashion, i.e. when the mean response does not depend on the mean exposure. A simple example is discussed and the impact of wind-driven mixing is explored.
Automated case creation and management for diagnostic CBR systems

With the rapid development of case-based reasoning (CBR) techniques such as case retrieval and case adaptation, CBR has been widely applied to various real-world applications. A successful case-based reasoning system requires a high-quality case base, which provides rich and efficient solutions for solving real-world problems. How to automatically create and manage such a case base is a vital but unsolved problem. This paper tackles this important problem. We proposed a methodology for creating cases from readily available large-sized databases, which were collected in the routine operations. Building on techniques from case-based reasoning and natural language processing, we present a methodology for automatically creating cases at initial stage of a CBR system development. After the detailed description of the methodology, we introduce a case study for validating the usefulness of the methodology. The experimental results show that the proposed methodology significantly reduces the human effort required for authoring cases, and we are able to automatically create the high-quality cases for diagnostic CBR systems from historic maintenance and operational data at the initial stage of system development.
Improving the Profitability of Retail Merchandising Decisions- Revisited

Despite the importance of managing retail profitability, little work was been reported in recent years that evaluates the effectiveness of various retail profitability performance measures. In this article the authors use regression analysis to evaluate the usefulness of Gross Margin Return on Inventory Investment (GMROI). The results suggest that GMROI warrants serious consideration for use in retail control and planning activities.
Effects of α-fluoromethylhistidine (FMH), an irreversible inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, on development of brain histamine and catecholamine systems in the neonatal rat

Daily administration of FMH to neonatal rats produced long-lasting inhibition of histidine decarboxylase in hypothalamus and cerebral cortex and led to depletion of histamine in both brain regions. The onset of depletion was more rapid in cerebral cortex, a region in which non-neurotransmitter pools of histamine predominate in early postnatal life, appearing as early as postnatal day 3; depletion in the hypothalamus, a region rich in histaminergic neuronal projections, appeared later. No effects were seen on body or brain growth, nor was development of other biogenic amine systems affected. FMH thus provides a selective probe for examining the role of histamine in brain development.
Expression of PRMT5 correlates with malignant grade in gliomas and plays a pivotal role in tumor growth in vitro

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) catalyzes the formation of ω-NG,N'G-symmetric dimethylarginine residues on histones as well as other proteins. These modifications play an important role in cell differentiation and tumor cell growth. However, the role of PRMT5 in human glioma cells has not been characterized. In this study, we assessed protein expression profiles of PRMT5 in control brain, WHO grade II astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by immunohistochemistry. PRMT5 was low in glial cells in control brain tissues and low grade astrocytomas. Its expression increased in parallel with malignant progression, and was highly expressed in GBM. Knockdown of PRMT5 by small hairpin RNA caused alterations of p-ERK1/2 and significantly repressed the clonogenic potential and viability of glioma cells. These findings indicate that PRMT5 is a marker of malignant progression in glioma tumors and plays a pivotal role in tumor growth.
Multiple Myeloma Proteins: Evaluation of Laboratory Methods as AIDS for Diagnosis

Twenty-four clinically confirmed multiple myeloma patients (20 IgG and 4 IgA classes) were evaluated by six laboratory methods. The detection rates of paraproteins were: 55% of patients positive for Bence-Jones proteins in urine; 63% suggestive by electrophoresis; 50% positive by immuno-electrophoresis; 54% suggestive by Laurell's two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis; 50% suggestive by single radial immuno-diffusion; and 88% positive by micro-double immuno-diffusion technique. Micro-double immuno-diffusion had advantages over other procedures for increasing the detection rate of para-proteins from 88% to 100% by using specific antisera for heavy and light chains. Routine immunoglobulin assays by micro-double immuno-diffusion technique manifested 22 additional patients with paraproteins, alerting clinicians to potential multiple myeloma diagnosis.
Cerebral Cortical Folding Analysis with Multivariate Modeling and Testing: Studies on Gender Differences and Neonatal Development

article i nfo Cerebral cortical folding Statistical shape analysis Gender differences Neonatal development This paper presents a novel statistical framework for human cortical folding pattern analysis that relies on a rich multivariate descriptor of folding patterns in a region of interest (ROI). The ROI-based approach avoids problems faced by spatial normalization-based approaches stemming from the deficiency of homologous features between typical human cerebral cortices. Unlike typical ROI-based methods that summarize folding by a single number, the proposed descriptor unifies multiple characteristics of surface geometry in a high- dimensional space (hundreds/thousands of dimensions). In this way, the proposed framework couples the reliability of ROI-based analysis with the richness of the novel cortical folding pattern descriptor. This paper presents new mathematical insights into the relationship of cortical complexity with intra-cranial volume (ICV). It shows that conventional complexity descriptors implicitly handle ICV differences in different ways, thereby lending different meanings to "complexity". The paper proposes a new application of a nonparametric permutation-based approach for rigorous statistical hypothesis testing with multivariate cortical descriptors. The paper presents two cross-sectional studies applying the proposed framework to study folding differences between genders and in neonates with complex congenital heart disease. Both studies lead to novel interesting results.
Light Sensing in Aspergillus fumigatus Highlights the Case for Establishing New Models for Fungal Photobiology

Microbes inhabit diverse environmental locations, and many species need to shift their physiology between different niches. To do this effectively requires the accurate sensing of and response to the environment. For pathogens, exposure to light is one major change between a free-living saprophyte lifestyle and causation of disease within the host. However, how light may act as a signal to influence pathogenesis, on the side of either the host or the pathogen, is poorly understood. Research during the last 2 decades has uncovered aspects about the machinery for light sensing in a small number of fungi. Now, Fuller et al. have initiated studies into the role that light and two photosensor homologs play in the behavior of the ubiquitous fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus [K. K. Fuller, C. S. Ringelberg, J. J. Loros, and J. C. Dunlap, mBio 4(2):e00142-13, 2013, doi:10.1128/mBio.00142-13]. Light represses the germination of A. fumigatus spores and enhances resistance to ultraviolet light, oxidative stresses, and cell wall perturbations. The phenotypes of the strains with mutations in the LreA and FphA homologs revealed that these sensors control some, but not all, responses to light. Furthermore, interactions occur between blue and red light signaling pathways, as has been described for a related saprophytic species, Aspergillus nidulans. Genome-wide transcript analyses found that about 2.6% of genes increase or decrease their transcript levels in response to light. This use of A. fumigatus establishes common elements between model filamentous species and pathogenic species, underscoring the benefits of extending photobiology to new species of fungi.
Clonidine-specific antisera recognize an endogenous clonidine-displacing substance in brain.

An endogenous substance in brain, clonidine-displacing substance, binds to the same receptor populations as clonidine and is biologically active. Since receptor binding sites can be modeled by using specific antiligand antibodies, we tested the hypothesis that polyclonal antibodies raised in rat and rabbit against the clonidine analog p-aminoclonidine coupled to hemocyanin would recognize compounds structurally related to clonidine, including clonidine-displacing substance. Binding to anti-p-aminoclonidine antibodies was examined by using a competitive radioimmunoassay with tritiated p-aminoclonidine as the radioligand. Central vasodepressor agents that, like clonidine, are known to bind with high affinity to both imidazole sites and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in brain inhibited radioligand binding to anti-p-aminoclonidine antibodies. All of these agents contain imidazol(in)e and phenyl ring moieties as part of their chemical structures (e.g., oxymetazoline); a number of other compounds without one or both of these rings failed to cross-react with the antisera. Clonidine-displacing substance, partially purified from bovine brain, also inhibited specific radioligand binding to anti-p-aminoclonidine antibodies. The inhibition was dose dependent and high affinity (IC50, 4 Units). The endogenous substance had no effect on the apparent affinity of the antibodies for the radioligand, but blocked a specific number of binding sites. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that authentic clonidine-displacing substance, that which displaces tritiated p-aminoclonidine binding to membrane receptors, is recognized by anti-p-aminoclonidine antibodies. We conclude that a unique subset of structural determinants required for ligand interaction with both imidazole and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors is critical for binding to anti-p-aminoclonidine antibodies, and that since clonidine-displacing substance is recognized by highly clonidine-specific antisera, it may also contain these determinants within its structure, namely the imidazol(in)e and phenyl ring systems.
Management of Children With Sickle Cell Disease: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects 70 000 to 100 000 people in the United States, and 2000 infants are born with the disease each year. The purpose of this study was to review the quality of the litera- ture for preventive interventions and treatment of complications for children with SCD to facilitate the use of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice and identify areas in need of additional research. METHODS: We searched the Ovid Medline database and the Cochrane Library for articles published between January 1995 and April 2010 for English-language abstracts on 28 topics thought to be important for the care of children with SCD. We also added pertinent references cited by studies identified in our search. Each abstract was reviewed inde- pendently by 2 authors. Data from articles retrieved for full review were abstracted by using a common form. RESULTS: There were 3188 abstracts screened, and 321 articles un- derwent full review. Twenty-six articles (1% of abstracts initially screened), which consisted of 25 randomized controlled trials and 1 meta-analysis, were rated as having level I evidence. Eighteen of the 28 topics selected for this review did not have level I evidence studies published. The management and prevention of pain episodes ac- counted for more than one-third of the level I studies. CONCLUSIONS: Although significant strides have been made in the care of children with SCD in the past 2 decades, more research needs to be performed, especially for acute events associated with SCD, to ensure that the health and well-being of children with SCD continues to improve. Pediatrics 2011;128:e1552-e1574
Safe virtual execution using software dynamic translation

Safe virtual execution (SVE) allows a host computer system to reduce the risks associated with running untrusted programs. SVE prevents untrusted programs from directly accessing system resources, thereby giving the host the ability to control how individual resources may be used. SVE is used in a variety, of safety-conscious software systems, including the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), software fault isolation (SFI), system call interposition layers, and execution monitors. While SVE is the conceptual foundation for these systems, each uses a different implementation technology. The lack of a unifying framework for building SVE systems results in a variety of problems: many useful SVE systems are not portable and therefore are usable only on a limited number of platforms; code reuse among different SVE systems is often difficult or impossible; and building SVE systems from scratch can be both time consuming and error prone. To address these concerns, we have developed a portable, extensible framework for constructing SVE systems. Our framework, called Strata, is based on software dynamic translation (SDT), a technique for modifying binary programs as they execute. Strata is designed to be ported easily to new platforms and to date has been targeted to SPARC/Solaris, x86/Linux, and MIPS/IRIX. This portability ensures that SVE applications implemented in Strata are available to a wide variety of host systems. Strata also affords the opportunity for code reuse among different SVE applications by establishing a common implementation framework. Strata implements a basic safe virtual execution engine using SDT The base functionality supplied by this engine is easily extended to implement specific SVE systems. In this paper we describe the organization of Strata and demonstrate its extension by building two SVE systems: system call interposition and stack-smashing prevention. To illustrate the use of the system call interposition extensions, the paper presents implementations of several useful security policies.