cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cu(II) bis(thiosemicarbazone) radiopharmaceutical binding to serum albumin: further definition of species dependence and associated substituent effects.

Abstract Introduction The pyruvaldehyde bis( N 4 -methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II) (Cu-PTSM) and diacetyl bis( N 4 -methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II) (Cu-ATSM) radiopharmaceuticals exhibit strong, species-dependent binding to the IIA site of human serum albumin (HSA), while the related ethylglyoxal bis(thiosemicarbazonato)copper(II) (Cu-ETS) radiopharmaceutical appears to exhibit only nonspecific binding to HSA and animal serum albumins. Methods To further probe the structural basis for the species dependence of this albumin binding interaction, we examined protein binding of these three radiopharmaceuticals in solutions of albumin and/or serum from a broader array of mammalian species (rat, sheep, donkey, rabbit, cow, pig, dog, baboon, mouse, cat and elephant). We also evaluated the albumin binding of several copper(II) bis(thiosemicarbazone) chelates offering more diverse substitution of the ligand backbone. Results Cu-PTSM and Cu-ATSM exhibit a strong interaction with HSA that is not apparent with the albumins of other species, while the binding of Cu-ETS to albumin is much less species dependent. The strong interaction of Cu-PTSM with HSA does not appear to simply correlate with variation, relative to the animal albumins, of a single amino acid lining HSA's IIA site. Those agents that selectively interact with HSA share the common feature of only methyl or hydrogen substitution at the carbon atoms of the diimine fragment of the ligand backbone. Conclusions The interspecies variations in albumin binding of Cu-PTSM and Cu-ATSM are not simply explained by unique amino acid substitutions in the IIA binding pocket of the serum albumins. However, the specific affinity for this region of HSA is disrupted when substituents bulkier than a methyl group appear on the imine carbons of the copper bis(thiosemicarbazone) chelate.
Neurospora glucamylase and a mutant affected in its regulation.

Neurospora glucamylase is a glucose-repressible extracellular enzyme. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity and found to have a molecular weight of 82,000 and to release glucose from either maltose or amylose. The rate of glucamylase synthesis increases more than 100-fold when cells are transferred from a glucose-containing medium to a glucose-free medium. Increased production of glucamylase begins within 30 min of the transfer. Glucamylase is rapidly secreted into the medium. A mutant affecting the ability of glucose to repress the synthesis of the glucose-repressible extracellular enzymes glucamylase and invertase has been isolated and studied. The mutant constitutively synthesizes and secretes a glucamylase which is indistinguishable from the wild-type enzyme.
Induction of resistance to x-ray inactivation in Saccharomyces by pre-exposure to 2537A ultraviolet radiation.

Ultraviolettbestrahlung von Hefekulturen bewirkt, dass nachher ein Teil der Zellen gegenuber der inaktivierenden Wirkung von Rontgenstrahlen vermehrte Resistenz besitzen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass dies durch Zellveranderungen bedingt ist. Da beiTradescantia undDrosophila ultraviolette Strahlen chromosomale Veranderungen unterdrucken, kann angenommen werden, dass bei der Hefe ein wesentlicher Teil der Zellinaktivierung infolge Rontgenbestrahlung auf chromosomalen Storungen beruht.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass attenuates the progression of cardiometabolic complications in obese diabetic rats via alteration in gastrointestinal hormones

Abstract Background Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) ameliorates type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity through alteration in gastrointestinal (GI) hormones. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of RYGB on GI hormones and cardiometabolic parameters in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rodents. Setting Winthrop University Hospital, Research and Academic Center Methods Animals were divided into 3 groups, pair-fed (n = 4), ad lib (n = 4), and RYGB (n = 5). This study was carried out for 4 weeks and all related parameters were measured pre- and postsurgery in fasted obese diabetic Zucker rodents. Results Postoperatively, RYGB significantly decreased fasting blood glucose by 32% compared with ad lib. Plasma insulin and leptin levels were also found to be significantly decreased, by 66% and 38%, respectively, after surgery. Moreover, both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY) were significantly increased after RYGB—by 300% and 51%, respectively. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels were also increased, but the increase was not statistically significant. Total cholesterol levels of the RYGB group remained unchanged for 4 weeks. However, total cholesterol in the ad lib and pair-fed groups increased by 25% and 34%, respectively, compared with initial levels. The cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio was decreased in the RYGB group by 14% and 30% compared with the ad lib and pair-fed group, respectively. The RYGB group had a significant decrease in aortic wall thickness of 25% compared with the ad lib and pair-fed groups. Similarly, the RYGB group had a 20-unit (mm Hg) decrease in systolic blood pressure compared with the presurgical value. Conclusion RYGB has beneficial cardiometabolic effects through alterations in GI hormones in a severely obese and diabetic rodent model.
Divergence rates for the number of rare numbers

Suppose thatX1,X2, ... is a sequence of i.i.d. random variables taking value inZ+. Consider the random sequenceA(X)≡(X1,X2,...). LetY n be the number of integers which appear exactly once in the firstn terms ofA(X). We investigate the limit behavior ofY n /E[Y n ] and establish conditions under which we have almost sure convergence to 1. We also find conditions under which we dtermine the rate of growth ofE[Y n ]. These results extend earlier work by the author.
The effect of L1 orthography on the oral reading of adult English language learners

Abstract A descriptive study of the timed oral reading of 232 literate adult English language learners (ELLs) in a post-secondary academic program found a relationship between the proximity of their L1 orthography to English and their performance in a timed oral reading. The scores on the students' final exams and final listening exams, on the other hand, did not correlate with their first language orthography. The author concludes that for literate ELLs, L1 orthography exerts an influence on oral reading in English, and therefore should be factored in when designing assessments that employ such a method.
A study of type I polar stratospheric cloud formation

Mechanisms for the formation of Type I (nitric acid-based) polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are discussed. If the pre-existing sulfate aerosols are liquid prior to PSC formation, then nitric acid particles (Type Ib) form by HNO3 dissolution in aqueous H2SO4 solution droplets. This process does not require a nucleation step for the formation of HNO3 aerosols, so most pre-existing aerosols grow to become relatively small HNO3-containing particles. At significantly lower temperatures, the resulting supercooled solutions (Type Ib) may freeze to form HNO3 ice particles (Type Ia). If the pre-existing sulfate aerosols are initially solid before PSC formation, then HNO3 vapor can be deposited directly on the frozen sulfate particles. However, because an energy barrier to the condensation exists a nucleation mechanism is involved. Here, we suggest a unique nucleation mechanism that involves formation of HNO3/H20 solutions on the sulfate ice particles. These nucleation processes may be highly selective, resulting in the formation of relatively small number of large particles.
GE-11THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR BRAIN TUMOR RESEARCH (FCBTR): BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE TO FIND A CURE

INTRODUCTION: High quality tumor samples and DNA, coupled with annotated clinical data are the building blocks of basic, translational, and clinical research but are often difficult to obtain in a high-quality and standardized format and are expensive to maintain. In 2006, the legislature of the State of Florida appropriated funding for the Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research (FCBTR) to establish a coordinated biorepository and annotated clinical database among the state's public and private universities, hospitals, and biomedical industries. METHODS: Infrastructure for the collection, storage, and distribution of tumor and normal tissues and DNA is maintained by the FCBTR. Central coordination and annotated clinical database management is facilitated at the University of Florida. Samples are collected and distributed under institutional IRB approval. Participating member institutions (n = 8) are represented on the FCBTR Scientific Advisory Council through gubernatorial or state legislature appointed representatives that provide governing oversight of FCBTR operations. In collaboration with ABC2, peer-reviewed FCBTR pilot grants have been awarded to investigators throughout the state of Florida to support brain tumor research initiatives. RESULTS: To date, 8506 samples from 1100 patients have been collected under IRB approval by the FCBTR. Eight research awards to neuro-oncology investigators have been funded through the pilot award program. Distribution of FCBTR-maintained tissues has supported over thirty publications, submissions to The Cancer Genome Atlas, and several awarded and pending NIH grants. A NIH R24 (Resource-Related Research Project) grant to establish, characterize, and distribute primary glioma stem cell-like lines (GSCs) has been awarded to UF, with the FCBTR functioning as the coordinating center for deposition and distribution of GSC resources. CONCLUSIONS: State support for multi-institutional biorepositories is a model that should be considered by state legislatures for advancement of brain tumor research and other disease-related research initiatives.
Reversal of long-delay conditioned taste aversion learning in rats by sex hormone manipulation.

Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning is an adaptive, robust, well-established learning and memory paradigm. Strong taste, aversions develop to the conditioned stimulus (CS=saccharin) despite long delays between exposure to the CS and unconditioned stimulus (US=LiCl). Rats display a sexually dimorphic pattern of long-delay CTA learning (Foy et al., 1996). The present study examines whether this sex difference is a result of activational or organizational hormone action, because here we implanted gonadectomized rats with their normal hormone replacements, or with opposing hormones prior to testing in a 4-hr delayed CTA learning task. We found that gonadally intact male rats displayed a more robust CTA response than intact female rats. Gonadectomy essentially eliminated this sex difference; gonadectomized males and gonadectomized females displayed similar CTA responses. In gonadectomized rats, when their normal sex hormones were replaced with implanted hormone pellets, the sex difference in CTA learning was reinstated. In contrast, when gonadectomized rats were implanted with opposing hormones, the sex difference was reversed. Gonadectomized female rats implanted with 5α-DHT pellets (metabolite of testosterone) displayed a stronger CTA response compared to gonadectomized males implanted with 17β-estradiol pellets. Regardless of the original developmental hormonal environment, our study suggests that an activational manipulation of circulating hormones serves to significantly influence long-delay CTA learning in rats.
Mitochondrial thiol status in the liver is altered by exposure to hyperoxia

Abstract Patients with poorly functioning lungs often require treatment with high concentrations of supplemental oxygen, which, although often necessary to sustain life, can cause lung injury. The mechanisms responsible for hyperoxic lung injury have been investigated intensely and most probably involve oxidant stress responses, but the details are not well understood. In the present studies, we exposed adult male C57/Bl6 mice to >95% O 2 for up to 72 h and obtained lung and liver samples for assessment of lung injury, measurements of tissue concentrations of coenzyme A (CoASH) and the corresponding mixed disulfide with glutathione (CoASSG), as possible biomarkers of intramitochondrial thiol redox status. Subcellular fractions were prepared from both tissues for determination of glutathione reductase (GR) activities. Lung injury in the hyperoxic mice was demonstrated by increases in lung weight to body weight ratios at 48 h and by increases in bronchoalveolar lavage protein concentrations at 72 h. Lung CoASH concentrations declined in the hyperoxic mice, but CoASSG concentrations were not increased nor were CoASH/CoASSG ratios decreased, as would be expected for an oxidant shift in mitochondrial thiol–disulfide status. Interestingly, CoASSG concentrations increased (from 6.72±0.54 to 14.10±1.10 nmol/g of liver in air-breathing controls and 72 h of hyperoxia, respectively, P
The interactions between dislocations and dislocation dipoles

Abstract The actual movements of dislocations approaching a dislocation dipole under an applied stress were calculated numerically, assuming that the velocity of each dislocation involved is proportional to the total force exerted by the applied stress and the stresses produced by the other dislocations. The resultant end products for all starting conditions of various configurations containing up to four dislocations were determined. It was found that starting conditions resulting in equilibrium positions for all dislocations are much less numerous than previously assumed. In fact it was found that decomposition of the dipole occurs usually more often than trapping of the approaching dislocations. This results in a pronounced instability of dipoles under an applied stress against the injection of a few free dislocations. This fact may be used to explain experimentally observed indications of slip instabilities like coarse slip steps and strain bursts in cyclically deformed metals.
The maximum number of atoms of Bruhat intervals in the symmetric groups

We prove that the maximum number of (co)atoms of Bruhat intervals of the length n-1 in the symmetric group S"n is @?n^2/[email protected]?. We show how to construct such an interval, explicitly making use of the subexpression property among bigrassmannian permutations together with the result by Adin-Roichman that the maximum of the down degree (the number of elements covered by a given permutation) in S"n is @?n^2/[email protected]?.
Public Evaluation of Open Space in Illinois: Citizen Support for Natural Area Acquisition

Numerous studies have indicated a broad-based support for open space preservation and protection. Research also has characterized the public values and rationale that underlie the widespread support for open space. In recognition of the widespread public support for open space, various levels of government have implemented programs to provide public access to open space. There are many different types of open space, ranging from golf courses, ball parks, wildlife areas, and prairies, to name a few. This paper addresses questions related to the types of open space that should be prioritized by planners and natural resource managers. The results of this study are based on a stratified random sample of 5000 households in Illinois that were sent a questionnaire related to their support for various types of open space. Through a comparatively simple action grid analysis, the open space types that should be prioritized for public access include forest areas, stream corridors, wildlife habitat, and lakes/ponds. These were the open space types rated of the highest importance, yet were also the open space types rated the lowest in respondent satisfaction. This kind of analysis does not require the technical expertise of other options for land-use prioritizations (e.g., conjoint analysis, contingent valuation), yet provides important policy directives for planners. Although open space funds often allow for purchase of developed sites such as golf courses, ball parks, and community parks, this study indicates that undeveloped (or nature-based) open space lands are most needed in Illinois.
The SOX compliance journey at Trinity Industries

Process and information technology changes in organizations are not always voluntary and motivated by strategic goals. Instead, they may be imposed on organizations by regulatory bodies and certifying agencies. This teaching case focuses on one company's multi-year journey of making process and information technology changes so as to comply with a new set of regulations known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Even though SOX compliance work focuses on designing, implementing, and testing internal controls, these controls are nothing but activities designed to ensure that processes implicated in the production of financial information are completed correctly and that the financial representations they generate are reliable. Thus, despite its emphasis on internal controls, accounting and auditing, this teaching case provides students with insights into compliance-related process improvement and system integration in general.
Computational validation of the stereology principle applied to the microdosimetry of boron neutron capture therapy.

High resolution quantitative autoradiography (HRQAR) is a novel technique that has been developed in our laboratory and applied to the microdosimetry of boronneutron capture therapy (BNCT). High resolution quantitative autoradiography is employed to define the microdistribution of boron-10 atoms within a 1–2 μm frozen tissue section. This microdistribution is used as input to a novel two-dimensional Monte Carlo charged particle transport calculation that computes various microdosimetric parameters, such as the number of nuclear “hits,” energy absorbed in the nuclei, etc., within the environment of actual tissue morphology (i.e., cell nuclei, cytoplasm, and intracellular space). Stereological transformation is then implemented to transform the two-dimensional calculations into effectively three-dimensional results. In the present study no seek to demonstrate the validity of the surrogate two-dimensional 2-D computation as being quantitatively equivalent to a hypothetical full 3-D calculation. The results show that within the limitations of the test parameters used the surrogate 2-D and 3-D results are completely equivalent within the statistical constraints of the Monte Carlo calculations. Limitations of this approach also are evaluated, including a Monte Carlo calculation of the influence of the thickness of the histological tissue section and the track detector and the influence of 4 He and 7 Li particle lateral and range straggling.
Low-energy helium implantation of aluminum

A series of 20 keV He/sup +/ implantations was conducted on well-annealed MARZ grade aluminum at fluxes of 6 x 10/sup 14/ and 6 x 10/sup 13/ He/sup +//cm/sup 2/ sec. Three distinct, temperature dependent He release mechanisms were found by He re-emission measurements during implantation, and by subsequent SEM and TEM investigations. At 0.08 of the melting temperature (T/sub m/) gas re-emission rose smoothly after a critical dose of 3 x 10/sup 17/ He/sup +//cm/sup 2/, with extensive blistering. The intermediate temperature range (approximately 0.3 T/sub m/) was characterized by repeated flake exfoliation and bursts of He after a dose of 3 x 10/sup 17/ He/sup +//cm/sup 2/. Rapid He evolution, with hole formation was found above 0.7 T/sub m/. No significant differences in either gas re-emission or surface deformation were found between the two fluxes employed.
Phenotypic drift of metastatic and cell‐surface properties of mammary adenocarcinoma cell clones during growth in vitro

We have examined cell clones obtained from a 13762 mammary adenocarcinoma tumor and its spontaneous lung metastasis for phenotypic stability during serial culture passage in vitro. Two clones that varied markedly in their metastatic properties were chosen for further examination. One of these clones (MTC) obtained from the parental transplanted tumor initially failed to metastasize within 23 days post-injection s.c. but gained the ability to form spontaneous pulmonary metastases after several serial passages in vitro. Another clone (MTLn3) derived from a spontaneous lung metastasis was initially highly metastatic after short-term culture, but lost the potential to form large numbers of spontaneous lung metastases with long-term culture. In contrast to MTA, clone MTLn3 displayed lymph-node metastasis, and the frequency of lymph-node involvement increased when late-passage cultures of MTLn3 cells were assayed in vivo. Both clones from late-passage cultures produced larger tumor sizes at the primary (mammary fat pad) injection sites compared to early passage cells. The morphologies of MTC cells changed with serial tissue culture passage, while the morphologies of MTLn3 cells did not change. The display of fibronectin on MTC cells by immunofluorescence did not change with culture passage; fibronectin was not detected in cultures of clone MTLn3. Fibronectin was also found on MTC cells by cell surface labelling using lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination-sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-autoradio-graphy. lodination of fibronectin on MTC cells did not vary with culture passage, and as in immunofluorescence experiments it was not detected on MTLn3 cells. There was a decrease in exposure of certain cell surface proteins on MTC cells with culture passage, but we did not detect modifications with this procedure that correlated with culture passage of MTLn3 cells. We conclude that prolonged culture in vitro can result in modifications of metastatic and cell-surface properties of tumor cell clones.
Circum-arctic plate accretion - Isolating part of a pacific plate to form the nucleus of the Arctic Basin

Abstract A mosaic of large lithospheric plates rims the Arctic Ocean Basin, and foldbelts between these plates contain numerous allochthonous microplates. A new model for continental drift and microplate accretion proposes that prior to the late Mesozoic the Kula plate extended from the Pacific into the Arctic. By a process of circumpolar drift and microplate accretion, fragments of the Pacific basin, including parts of the Kula plate, were cut off and isolated in the Arctic Ocean, the Yukon-Koyukuk basin in Alaska, and the Bering Sea.
Why do customers switch? More satiated or less satisfied.

Abstract This study investigated whether restaurant customers switch to other restaurants due to satiation or diminished satisfaction. To achieve its objectives, this study extended well-known relationships among perceived quality, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions by including satiation and further examined the role of satiation on switching intentions. The results of this study showed that satiation was negatively associated with satisfaction but differed from diminished satisfaction. Further, the study results endorsed that satiation significantly influenced switching intentions, whereas satisfaction did not. This supports that customers switch to other restaurants not because they are less satisfied but because they are satiated. Regarding the relationship between perceived quality and satiation, service quality and food quality considerably reduced satiation levels, whereas physical surroundings were associated with an increase in satiation. In addition, satiation fully mediated the relationship between perceived quality and switching intentions, which emphasizes the importance of satiation in customer switching intentions. Findings and implications are provided in the main body of this paper.
Hematotoxicity of inhaled benzene to sprague- dawley rats and akr mice at 300 ppm.

Sprague-Dawley rats and AKR/J mice were exposed to 300 ppm benzene vapor for 6 h/d, 5 d/wk, for life. Rats exhibited lymphocytopenia, mild anemia, and moderately decreased survival. Mice showed severe lymphocytopenia and anemia accompanied by granulocytosis and reticulocytosis. Treated mice also showed significantly decreased survival and weight gain. No indications of a leukemic or preleukemic response were observed in either species.
The development of linear syllogistic reasoning

Abstract Between 24 and 26 children in each of grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 (with mean ages of 8.5, 10.2, 13.0, 15.0, and 16.6 years, respectively) were tested in their ability to solve linear syllogisms, problems such as “John is taller than Mary. Mary is taller than Pete. Who is tallest? John, Mary, Pete.” Response latencies and error rates decreased across grade levels and sessions. Component latencies also generally decreased with increasing age. Four alternative information-processing models were fit to the group latency data at each grade level. These models were (a) a spatial model, according to which people represent the terms of a linear syllogism in the form of a linear spatial array; (b) a linguistic model, according to which linear syllogisms are solved via inferences on functional relations represented by linguistic deep structures; (c) an algorithmic model, according to which people solve linear syllogisms by applying a series of simple, essentially mechanical steps, and (d) a mixed model, which combines selected features of the spatial and linguistic models, and adds new features of its own. The latency data supported the mixed model at each grade level, although in grade 9 the model was not the preferred one until the second session of testing.
Shape-preserving approximation of multiscale univariate data by cubic L 1 spline fits

Spline fits are calculated by minimizing a data fitting functional over a manifold of splines. Smoothing splines are calculated by minimizing a linear combination of a data fitting functional and an interpolating spline functional. For multiscale data, that is, data with abrupt changes in magnitude and/or spacing, currently available spline fits and smoothing splines typically have extraneous oscillation. In this paper, we introduce a class of cubic L1 spline fits that do not have extraneous oscillation. In contrast to conventional cubic spline fits, which are based on L2 functionals (that is, on quadratic functionals, which consist of sums and integrals of squares), cubic L1 splines are based on minimizing L1 functionals (sums and integrals of absolute values). Cubic L1 spline fits are calculated by a Lagrange-multiplier-based primal affine (interior point) algorithm. Cubic L1 spline fits are compared with conventional L2 cubic spline fits and with cubic L1 and L2 smoothing splines. Computational results indicate that L1 spline fits preserve shape well, nearly as well as L1 smoothing splines with good balance parameters and better than conventional L2 spline fits and L2 smoothing splines. L1 spline fits are computationally more expensive than L1 smoothing splines and considerably more expensive than L2 spline fits and L2 smoothing splines. However, L1 spline fits require only half the storage required by smoothing splines and do not involve a balance parameter that is required by smoothing splines.
Phase Transitions of Soluble Surfactants at a Liquid−Vapor Interface

Although medium chain length insoluble amphiphiles are well-known to form gaseous and liquid expanded phases on an air/water interface, the situation for the soluble case is controversial. We perform molecular dynamics simulations of model surfactant molecules dissolved in a bulk liquid solvent in coexistence with its vapor. Our results indicate a transition in both soluble and insoluble surfactants: a plateau in surface tension versus surface coverage, whose instantaneous configurations display two-phase coexistence, along with correlation functions indicating a transition from gaseous to liquidlike behavior.
A Moment of Unconditional Validity? Schutz and the Habermas/Rorty Debate

Richard Rorty challenges Jurgen Habermas's belief that validity-claims raised within context-bound discussions contain a moment of universality validity. Rorty argues that immersion within contingent languages prohibits any neutral, context-independent ground, that one cannot predict the defense of one's assertions before any audience, and that philosophy can no more escape its contextual limitations than strategic counterparts. Alfred Schutz's phenomenological account of motivation, the reciprocity of perspectives, and the theoretical province of meaning can articulate Habermas's intuitions. Since any claim can be analyzed from an observer's perspective for its because-motives, it can always be shown to be context-related; but to the participant involved in the in-order-to project of establishing a claim's validity, the claim appears objectively valid until counter-evidence surfaces. Rorty, even when explaining what it is to “make a truth claim,” resorts to the observer perspective and omits reference to the in-order-to perspective, within which alone unconditional validity becomes visible. Furthermore, the expectation that one's claim is universally valid depends not on an empirical prediction that one's claim can survive hypothesized future possible audiences. Rather, because of the reciprocity of perspectives, making possible communication and a common life, theoreticians assume that others will recognize what they take to be objective or valid, independently of diverse biographical circumstances. Finally, within the theoretical province requiring relevances different from those of everyday life, philosophy articulates claims with a greater potential to arrive at universal validity than projects that aim less universally, in spite of the fact that its theoretical context is always susceptible to because motive analysis.
Further results on almost sure convergence of the stochastic gradient algorithm

In this paper, we consider the rate of convergence of the parameter estimation error and the cost function for the stochastic gradient-type algorithm. The problem is solved in the case of the minimum-variance stochastic adaptive control. It is proven that the cost function has the rate of convergence, comparable with the one established for the least-squares algorithm. Comparison of the two algorithms is made under the same conditions related to the process noise and the structure of the system model. In addition it is shown, that the convergence rate for the parameter estimation error, is of the same order as in the case of extended least-squares algorithm.
Nucleotide sequence analysis of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E epitope coding regions

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein E [gE] contains 623 amino acid residues. Fifty percent of the gE gene, codons 39 to 344 that encompasses two epitope coding regions e1 and c1, was sequenced and analyzed for variation among the 30 VZV isolates. A total of eleven isolates showed variance when compared with Dumas VZV strain sequence through base substitutions, with two isolates showing an amino acid change of tryptophan to arginine outside the coding regions of the epitopes e1 and c1 that are recognized by monoclonal antibodies 4F9 and c1, respectively. The results suggest that these epitopes were stable in the various VZV isolates. Thus, VZV glycoproteins with conserved epitopes are suitable candidates for both primary and booster vaccines.
Distribution-Free Two-Sample Tests Based on Rank Spacings

Abstract For the two-sample problem, rank spacings of one sample are the positive integer distances between combined-sample ordered ranks from that sample. Elementary mathematical development yields distribution-free orthogonal components analogous to L statistics used by Kaigh for assessing one-sample uniformity. Rank spacings components are linear combinations of ordered ranks with Hahn polynomial vector weight functions. The first four rank spacings components provide nonparametric measures of location, scale, skewness, and kurtosis. Asymptotically normal rank spacings components are related to linear rank statistic components obtained by Pettitt. Aggregates of squared rank spacings components yield a component decomposition of the Dixon statistic and provide omnibus chi-squared statistics analogous to those of Pettitt and Boos.
Multiple mode-locking of the Q-switched Nd : YAG laser with a coupled resonant cavity

Abstract Utilizing a coupled three-mirror cavity design with a fractional subcavity-length ratio, the pulse repetition rate of a mode-locked laser can be increased by an integer-multiple of the fundamental mode-locking frequency, δ 0 , which is determined by the master cavity length. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated with a BDN dye-sheet Q -switched Nd: YAG laser using a coupled cavity having a variable subcavity-length ratio. A tripled mode-locking frequency, 3δ 0 , has been observed for a given master cavity length. The temporal characteristics of the output pulse trains are consistent with the theoretical consideration.
Research issues in outlier detection for data streams

In applications, such as sensor networks and power usage monitoring, data are in the form of streams, each of which is an infinite sequence of data points with explicit or implicit timestamps and has special characteristics, such as transiency, uncertainty, dynamic data distribution, multidimensionality, and dynamic relationship. These characteristics introduce new research issues that make outlier detection for stream data more challenging than that for regular (non-stream) data. This paper discusses those research issues for applications where data come from a single stream as well as multiple streams.
Computer architecture education at the University of Illinois: current status and some thoughts

The University of Illinois has traditionally been a major center for computer architecture education and research in the nation. This short paper briefly describes the computer architecture curriculum at the University of Illinois and discusses a few ideas for improving the computer architecture education of our students. In particular, to improve the education of undergraduates, we suggest a higher emphasis on parallel architectures and programming, and the provision of practical experiences. For graduate students, we argue about the need to develop close links with industry and educate graduate students from other scientific and engineering disciplines.
Structural and biochemical features of fractionated spermatid manchettes and sperm axonemes of the azh/azh mutant mouse.

The tubulin-containing axoneme and manchette develop consecutively during mammalian spermiogenesis. The nature of their molecular components and developmental sequence are not completely known. The azh/azh (for abnormal sperm headshape) mouse mutant is an ideal model for analyzing tubulin isotypes and microtubule-associated proteins of the manchette and axoneme in light of a potential role of the manchette in the shaping of the sperm head and formation of the tail. We have searched for possible differences in tubulin isotype variants in fractionated manchettes and axonemes of wildtype and azh/azh mutant mice using isotypespecific tubulin antibodies as immunoprobes. Manchettes from wild-type and azh/azh mutant mouse spermatids were fractionated from spermatogenic stage-specific seminiferous tubules and axonemes were isolated from epididymal sperm. We have found that: (1) Fractionated manchettes of azh/azh mutants are longer than in wild-type mice; (2) Manchette and sperm tail axonemes display a remarkable variety of posttranslationally modified tubulins (acetylated, glutamylated, tyrosinated, α-3/7 tubulins). Acetylated tubulin was more abundant in manchette than in axonemes; (3) An acidic 62 kDa protein was identified as the main component of the perinuclear ring of the manchette in wild-type and azh/azh mice; (4) Bending and looping of the mid piece of the tail of azh/azh sperm, accompanied by a dislocation of the connecting piece from head attachment sites, were visualized by phase-contrast, immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy in about 35% of spermatids/sperm; and (5) A lasso-like tail configuration was predominant in epididymal sperm of azh/azh mutants. We speculate that spermatid and sperm tail abnormalities in the azh/azh mutant could reflect structural and/or assembly deficiencies of peri-axonemal proteins responsible for maintaining a stiffened tail during spermiogenesis and sperm maturation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 52:434–444, 1999 © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Optimal combinatoric auctions with single-minded bidders

Combinatoric auctions sell K objects to N people who have preferences defined on subsets of the items. The optimal auction satisfies incentive compatibility (it is a dominant strategy to report true values), voluntary participation (bidders are not worse off through participation) and maximizes the expected revenue of the auctioneer among such auctions. In this paper, the optmal auction is characterized for the special case of single-minded bidders. It is shown that the optimal auction is not a Vickrey-Clarke-Groves mechanism. The optimal auction uses pivot prices, as in VCG, but it also uses bidder preferences. An example is provided showing improvement over the VCG mechanism can be large. The example also illustrates that auctions that are efficient or in the core are not optimal.
Nutrition and Student Performance at School.

This article reviews research from published studies on the association between nutrition among school-aged children and their performance in school and on tests of cognitive functioning. Each reviewed article is accompanied by a brief description of its research methodology and outcomes. Articles are separated into 4 categories: food insufficiency, iron deficiency and supplementation, deficiency and supplementation of micronutrients, and the importance of breakfast. Research shows that children with iron deficiencies sufficient to cause anemia are at a disadvantage academically. Their cognitive performance seems to improve with iron therapy. A similar association and improvement with therapy is not found with either zinc or iodine deficiency, according to the reviewed articles. There is no evidence that population-wide vitamin and mineral supplementation will lead to improved academic performance. Food insufficiency is a serious problem affecting children's ability to learn, but its relevance to US populations needs to be better understood. Research indicates that school breakfast programs seem to improve attendance rates and decrease tardiness. Among severely undernourished populations, school breakfast programs seem to improve academic performance and cognitive functioning.
Experimental investigation of the flowfield behind grid models

Etude experimentale du champ d'ecoulement de modeles de grilles planes et courbes simulant des segments d'un parachute en ruban. Visualisation de l'ecoulement et mesures de pression
Innate defense evicts bacterial squatters

Biofilms offer cover for many pathogenic bacteria. A recent paper in Nature reveals that lactoferrin is an innate tool that inhibits biofilm formation.
The impact of inadequately controlled asthma in urban children on quality of life and productivity.

Background The burden of inadequately controlled pediatric asthma on education and other daily activities is not well described. Objective To evaluate asthma-related activity limitations and productivity losses among children and caregivers. Methods Surveys were mailed to caregivers of children with asthma. Caregivers provided demographics, health-related quality of life (HRQL), workplace productivity, and asthma-related costs. Adolescents (aged 12-18 years) provided HRQL, asthma control, and school-based productivity, and young children (aged 4-11 years) completed an asthma control questionnaire with help from a caregiver. Results Among the 239 respondents, the mean age was 10.1 years; 49% were girls. More than half were inadequately controlled as measured using the Asthma Control Test. Both HRQL and productivity were significantly lower in patients with inadequately controlled asthma compared with those with controlled asthma. In the previous year, caregivers reported missing 1.4 days of work due to their child's asthma, with the child missing an average of 4.1 school days. Fewer adolescents with controlled asthma reported missing 1 or more school days in the previous week compared with adolescents with inadequately controlled asthma (3.5% vs 34.0%; P Conclusions Inadequately controlled asthma has a significant impact on asthma-specific HRQL, school productivity and attendance, and work productivity of children and their caregivers.
Haplotype blocks and linkage disequilibrium in the human genome

There is great interest in the patterns and extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in humans and other species. Characterizing LD is of central importance for gene-mapping studies and can provide insights into the biology of recombination and human demographic history. Here, we review recent developments in this field, including the recently proposed 'haplotype-block' model of LD. We describe some of the recent data in detail and compare the observed patterns to those seen in simulations.
110 Herculis: A Possible Prototype for Simultaneous Lithium and Beryllium Depletion, and Implications for Stellar Interiors

Standard stellar evolution predicts that late F stars should have retained their initial surface lithium abundance because their convection zones are too shallow to destroy it at their base. Yet observations reveal Li depletions, sometimes quite severe (the "Boesgaard Li gap"). Several physical mechanisms, which are not usually included in stellar evolution calculations, have been proposed to account for the Li depletions. These mechanisms include mass loss, microscopic diffusion, and various types of slow mixing driven by either waves or rotation. Identifying which of these (if any) might really be at work not only is of vital interest to advancing our knowledge of stellar interiors but also may have serious implications in other contexts, such as cosmology. We bring attention to beryllium (Be) observations in late F stars, and propose that they are crucial for discriminating between scenarios. Particularly important is the star 110 Her, which is depleted in surface Be by about a factor of 5-10, and yet enough surface Li has survived to be detected. The Li depletion is stronger than that of Be, about a factor of 100-200. Depleting surface Be without having depleted all of the surface Li (and depleting Li more strongly than Be) requires specific circumstances; we discuss how this Li/Be depletion pattern, if representative, would severely constrain or eliminate most of the proposed mechanisms. One mechanism, rotationally induced mixing, predicts relative Li and Be depletions that agree well with what is observed. It is important to establish whether or not the Li/Be depletion pattern observed in 110 Her is representative.
Dependence of Nano-Aluminum and Water Propellant Combustion on pH and Rheology

Over the past few years, the combustion of nano-aluminum/water (nAl/H2O) propellants has been widely reported, but further progress has been slowed for the following reason: the loosely correlated trends in combustion data are insufficient in guiding further research efforts, and they cannot be used to significantly improve the Isp observed in static rocket motor tests. It was previously found that different mixing techniques (hand, planetary and resonant mixers, duration and temperature), or equivalence ratio gave rise to different burning rates, but the influence of pH and rheology on nAl/H2O propellants was not considered. We find that the effects of pH on nAl/H2O propellants are profound, and correlate well with viscosity, low pressure deflagration limits, burning rate exponents, and rocket motor performance. Our findings suggest that coagulation can influence the pressure exponent over a wide range of values (0.34–0.68). For particle diameters <1 µm, dispersion during mixing is affected more by elect...
Quality-assured measurements of animal building emissions: particulate matter concentrations.

Abstract Federally funded, multistate field studies were initiated in 2002 to measure emissions of particulate matter (PM) <10 μm (PM10) and total suspended particulate (TSP), ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, and odor from swine and poultry production buildings in the United States. This paper describes the use of a continuous PM analyzer based on the tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM). In these studies, the TEOM was used to measure PM emissions at identical locations in paired barns. Measuring PM concentrations in swine and poultry barns, compared with measuring PM in ambient air, required more frequent maintenance of the TEOM. External screens were used to prevent rapid plugging of the insect screen in the PM10 preseparator inlet. Minute means of mass concentrations exhibited a sinusoidal pattern that followed the variation of relative humidity, indicating that mass concentration measurements were affected by water vapor condensation onto and eva...
Influence of spousal opinions on residency selection.

Abstract Fourth-year medical students face the difficult task of choosing a residency consistent with their career goals. Our study investigates the input of the spouse on the residency selection. From July 1, 1988, to July 1, 1990, questionnaires were sent to all 69 spouses of fourth-year medical students at the University of Arizona Medical Center. Fifty-six were returned for a response rate of 81%. Of the 16 women and 40 men who responded (mean age: 27 years), 55 (98%) spouses stated that there had been family discussions on the choice of a residency program, and 41 (73%) respondents thought that they had significant input. When asked to rank the items that most influenced their support for a particular training program, career goals of the medical student (68%) and lifestyle (21%) were most important, whereas prestige, earning capacity, and program length were ranked lowest. Specific concerns expressed by spouses on the selection of a surgical residency included time commitment as the most commonly cited (79%), followed by fatigue (48%). A statistically significant correlation existed between those spouses actively discouraging the choice of general surgery and those objecting to the time commitment during residency (p We conclude that spouses have significant preferences regarding the choice of a training program following medical school. Career goals and lifestyle appear to be the most important factors; however, despite concern about the time commitment, the majority of spouses are supportive of the selection of a surgical residency.
Unintentional Filtration after Cataract Surgery

The eyes of an 81-year-old man were obtained three and ten days after intracapsular extractions had been made through limbal incisions under limbal-based flaps of conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule. The wounds were closed with 7-0 chromic collagen. Before death from bronchopneumonia, the patient developed bilateral filtrations in association with violent coughing spells. In both specimens, the healing processes of the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule were advanced, confining the escaping aqueous humor to the subepithelial tissues of the flap. In contrast, the stromal wounds were still inert in accordance with our earlier observations that these wounds are precariously weak during the first two weeks after surgery. In cataract surgery, flaps including both conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule should be prepared and closed to support the slower healing stromal wound. Prevention of filtrations is not a simple matter of using many sutures. This patient's eyes demonstrated that improperly placed or too tightly tied sutures may be directly responsible for leaking wounds.