cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multimedia exploratory data analysis for geospatial data mining: the case for augmented seriation

The amount of spatial data collected from satellites, aerial photography, and land-based stations continues to grow at astounding rates. In this article, the role of exploratory data analysis (EDA) for spatial data mining is reviewed and a case study addressing environmental risk assessments in New York State is presented to illustrate the feasibility and usability of augmenting seriation for spatial data analysis. For this project, seriation, a univariate EDA technique, is augmented with a class of multimedia tools including iconic matrices, choropleth mapping, graphic interactions, and sound to exploit spatial datasets to better understand the relationships among spatial, temporal, and human variables. Additional software enhancements such as three-dimensional matrices, multivariate choropleth mapping, and tonal sonification are proposed to further improve these user-based tools for spatial data analysis.
The determination of the proton-motive force during cyanide-insensitive respiration in plant mitochondria.

Abstract The magnitude of the components of the proton-motive force (Δ p ) generated in the presence of antimycin A has been determined for potato, mung bean, skunk cabbage, and Arum spadix mitochondria, Δ p was calculated from the distribution of rubidium, methylamine, and 5,5′-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolodine-dione. In the presence of antimycin A, the oxidation of succinate generates a Δ p of 40–50 mV, and this value is independent of the degree of antimycin A insensitivity of the various mitochondria. Under such conditions, the addition of ADP failed to either stimulate the respiratory rate or reduce Δ p . Although oxygen consumption via the alternative pathway was sensitive to hydroxamic acids, no change in the components of the proton motive force was detected. The addition of an uncoupler in the presence of antimycin A and succinate reduced Δ p to zero while respiration remained unaltered. The oxidation of malate in the presence of antimycin A generates a Δ p of 150 mV, which was reduced to 144 mV under State 3 conditions. The addition of salicylhydroxamic acid inhibited oxygen uptake and reduced Δ p to 40 mV. It is concluded that the oxidation of succinate by the alternative respiratory pathway does not generate a proton-motive force and is not coupled to ATP synthesis. The oxidation of malate by the alternative pathway, however, can conserve energy as ATP presumably via coupling Site I of the main respiratory chain.
Equivalent Characterizations of Input-to-State Stability for Stochastic Discrete-Time Systems

Input-to-state stability (ISS) for stochastic difference inclusions is studied. First, ISS in probability relative to a compact set is defined. Subsequently, several equivalent characterizations are given. For example, ISS in probability is shown to be equivalent to global asymptotic stability in probability when the disturbance takes values in a ball whose radius is determined by a sufficiently small, but unbounded, function of the distance of the state to the compact set. In turn, a recent converse Lyapunov theorem for global asymptotic stability in probability provides an equivalent Lyapunov characterization. Finally, robust ISS in probability is defined and is shown to give another equivalent characterization.
A specific deficiency in paraventricular vasopressin and oxytocin in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Abstract The objective of the present study was to define and localize the changes in hypothalamic vasopressin and oxytocin associated with genetic hypertension. Using a microdissection technique coupled with radioimmunoassay, results show that in the spontaneously hypertensive rat there was a decrease in the paraventricular concentration of both peptides, while the supraoptic was unchanged. This is noteworthy in light of recent studies which suggest that the paraventricular is involved in the control of autonomic function.
GREEN TEA POLYPHENOLS MEDIATED APOPTOSIS IN INTESTINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS BY A FADD-DEPENDENT PATHWAY.

Colorectal cancer is the most common malignant complication in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition, these patients are at risk for developing painful complications during chemotherapy due to cytotoxic effects of drugs currently in use. Past studies have suggested a protective effect of tea consumption on gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Green tea polyphenols (GrTP) inhibited carcinogen-induced GI tumors in rodents and induced apoptosis in various carcinoma cell lines. We hypothesized that GrTP and its polyphenolic compounds regulate apoptosis in the intestinal epithelia. In this study, the effects of GrTP and its polyphenolics on apoptosis was evaluated in intestinal epithelial, IEC-6, cells grown to 85% confluency. GrTP (400-800 mg/ml) induced DNA fragmentation in a dose dependent fashion. Higher concentrations (> 800 mg/ml) induced a mixed apoptosis and cytolysis. Epithelial cells exposed to GrTP and a major polyphenol, EGCG, but not EGC or EC, increased caspase activities in a time and dose dependent manner. The caspase inhibitors rescued cells from GrTP and EGCG-induced cell death. Concomitantly, GrTP resulted in activation of fatty acid synthase (Fas)-associated protein with death domain (FADD) and recruitment to Fas/CD95 domain 30 minutes following treatment. While GrTP also blocked NF-?B activation, an NF-?B inhibitor (MG132) only promoted cytolysis. In conclusion, these data demonstrated GrTP and EGCG induced apoptosis in intestinal epithelia mediated by caspase-8 through a FADD dependent pathway. Future investigation may warrant preventive as well as therapeutic strategies for GrTP in GI malignancy.
A structural narrative analysis of Nightline's “This week in the holy land”

Four and one half months into the intifadeh, the uprising in Israel and the occupied territories, Nightline presented a five‐part series which attempted to provide a context for the narratives surrounding and fueling the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. This paper analyzes how Nightline's structural choices privileged a particular reading of the conflict and belied their overt effort to let the participants tell their own story. Koppel took local narratives which gave shape to cross‐cultural conflict and forced a rereading of the events through his authoritative voice, interview interventions, and editing.
Verifying timing synchronization constraints in distributed embedded architectures

Correct functioning of automotive embedded controllers requires hard real-time constraints on a number of system parameters. To avoid costly design iterations, these timing constraints should be verified during the design stage itself. In this paper, we describe a formal verification technique for a class of timing constraints called timing synchronization constraints in the recent adaptation of AUTOSAR standard (WPII-1.2 Timing Subgroup, Release 4.0). These constraints require, unlike the well studied end-to-end latency constraint, simultaneous analysis of multiple task/message chains or multiple data items traversing through a task/message chain. We show that they can be analyzed by model-checking with finite-state monitors. We also demonstrate this method on a case-study from the automotive domain.
Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: An Alternate Target for Lipid-Lowering Therapy

Non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol level is determined by subtracting the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level from the total cholesterol level and thus encompasses not only low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but also the cholesterol contained in atherogenic, triglyceride-rich particles like remnants. This review summarizes data extracted from English-language publications accessible through MEDLINE on the population distribution of non-HDL cholesterol, its relationship to cardiovascular disease, and the potential benefits of treatment. Non-HDL cholesterol levels in the population vary by age, sex, and race and are closely linked to measures of obesity, especially visceral obesity. Several studies in populations with and without cardiovascular disease show that non-HDL cholesterol levels relate to atherosclerosis severity and subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Preliminary data also suggest that pharmacologically induced changes in non-HDL cholesterol levels relate to prognosis. In the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III report, non-HDL cholesterol has been designated a secondary target of therapy among patients with hypertriglyceridemia.
A study of direct cure kinetics characterization during liquid composite molding

In Liquid Composite Molding (LCM), resin impregnates the fiber preform and it subsequently cures to form the composite part. The curing phenomenon is an exothermic process, and it requires optimization of the mold heating profile to reduce the cure cycle time and the cure-induced thermal stress in the composite part. To optimize and control the cure cycle, it is necessary to obtain the resin cure kinetic parameters, which are usually measured offline by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) or Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These parameters measured from neat resin sometimes vary substantially due to the presence of fiber sizing or resin handling and, hence, curing of the LCM can be different from one batch cycle to another. In this paper, a model-based fitting technique is presented to characterize the cure kinetics during LCM and its accuracy is studied numerically and then is validated with experiments. A non-isothermal cure simulation of a composite part is performed based on a given set of cure kinetic parameters, which are the targets of the fitting model. The Genetic Algorithm is used to determine the cure kinetic parameters by matching the simulated temperature field based on the guessed cure parameters with the temperature history actually experienced by the composite part. An uncertainty in temperature reading, which usually happens in real temperature measurement and control, is introduced to evaluate the accuracy and stability of this characterization technique with respect to various fitting periods during curing stage. Since the mold heating cycle will affect the cure history and the cure kinetics characterization, the influence of the mold wall temperature on the characterization accuracy is also investigated. The numerical results show that, by appropriately choosing the mold heating cycle, one will be able to enhance the accuracy and stability of the cure kinetics characterization within a reduced characterization period. Hence, one may reserve more time for the subsequent online cure optimization and control during the cure cycle. An experimental study is also presented to validate this direct cure kinetics characterization method using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process.
A field store system with single 1-Mbit field memory

A field store system that stores 6-b NTSC video signals sampled at three times the scanning frequency (3 f/sub sc/) was developed using a single 1-Mb field memory is reported. The system uses four ICs: the single field memory, a controller, an analog-to-digital converter, and a digital-to-analog converter. The analog composite video signal is converted to 6-b digital with f/sub sc/ sampling by the analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Because the configuration used for the field memory is 4-b-wide*256 K words, a 6-4 converter converts 4-bit data read from the field memory to 6-b data for the digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The 6-b DAC converts the signal back to analog. The write/read access rate for the memory is 1.5 times faster than the ADC and DAC conversion rate. Special picture effects such as still, strobe, and search can be realized even from a video disk recorded in the constant linear velocity mode. >
Monolithic nickel(II)-based aerogels using an organic epoxide: the importance of the counterion

The synthesis and characterization of nickel (II) oxide aerogel materials prepared using the epoxide addition method is described. The addition of the organic epoxide propylene oxide to an ethanolic solution of NiCl{sub 2} 6H{sub 2}O resulted in the formation of an opaque light green monolithic gel and subsequent drying with supercritical CO{sub 2} gave a monolithic aerogel material of the same color. This material has been characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. The results indicate that the nickel (II) oxide aerogel has very low bulk density (98 kg/m{sup 3} ({approx}98 %porous)), high surface area (413 m{sup 2}/g), and has a particulate-type aerogel microstructure made up of very fine spherical particles with an open porous network. By comparison, a precipitate of Ni{sub 3}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(OH){sub 4} is obtained when the same preparation is attempted with the common Ni(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} 6H{sub 2}O salt as the precursor. The implications of the difference of reactivity of the two different precursors are discussed in the context of the mechanism of gel formation via the epoxide addition method. The synthesis of nickel (II) oxide aerogel, using the epoxide addition method, is especially unique in our experience. It ismore » our first example of the successful preparation of a metal oxide aerogel using a metal divalent metal ion and may have implications for the application of this method to the preparation of aerogels or nanoparticles of other divalent metal oxides. To our knowledge this is the first report of a monolithic pure nickel (II) oxide aerogel materials.« less
Comparison of the omtA genes encoding O-methyltransferases involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis from Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus

Abstract O -methyltransferase (OMT) is one of the key enzymes in aflatoxin (AF) biosynthesis in the fungi, Aspergillus flavus (Af) and A. parasiticus (Ap) . Genomic DNA clones containing the omtA genes from Ap strain SRRC 143 and Afstrain CRA01-2B were sequenced. Comparison of the genomic DNA sequences with the cDNA of this Ap gene revealed the presence of four introns ranging from 52 to 60 bp in length in both species; the region encoding the putative Sadenosylmethionine-binding motif was located between the third and fourth introns. The coding sequence of omtA from Ap strain SRRC 143 demonstrated a greater than 97% sequence identity with that from Af strain CRA01-2B, within the coding region.
Cancer Prevention for the Next Generation

Given the continued growth in the number of persons with cancer in the United States, the primary prevention of cancer remains an urgent public health priority. As the field of cancer prevention continues to mature and scientific knowledge evolves, it is imperative to challenge the status quo and embrace new approaches to cancer prevention. In this commentary, we summarize recent trends and some of the scientific advances that have been made over the past few decades regarding the complex process of cancer development and the interaction of individual and social risk factors. We examine some of the assumptions and terminology that have characterized cancer prevention approaches for more than a quarter century and the impact of these assumptions and our use of terminology. We propose that it is possible for today's youth to experience lower cancer incidence rates as adults compared with previous generations. To accomplish this goal, a more transdisciplinary and multifaceted approach is needed, adapted as appropriate for different populations and stages of life. The greatest improvements in cancer prevention may occur as a result of innovative, multilevel interventions that build on the expanding scientific evidence base.
Band gap modulation of functionalized metal-organic frameworks.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been envisioned as alternatives to planar metallic catalysts for solar-to-fuel conversion. This is a direct result of their porous structure and the ability to tailor their optical absorption properties. This study investigates the band gap modulation of Zr-UiO-66 MOFs from both the computational and experimental points of view for three linker designs that include benzenedicarboxylate (BDC), BDC–NO2, and BDC–NH2. Emphasis in this study was aimed at understanding the influence of the bonding between the aromatic ring and the functional group. A ground state density functional theory (DFT) calculation was carried out to investigate the projected density of states and the origins of the modulation. A time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculation of the hydrogen terminated linkers confirmed the modulation and accounted for the electron charge transfer providing comparable optical band gap predictions to experimental results. Computational results confirmed the hybridization of the carbon–nitrogen bond in conjunction with the donor state resulting from the NH2 functionalization. The NO2 functionalization resulted in an acceptor configuration with marginal modification to the valence band maximum. The largest modulation was BDC–NH2 with a band gap of 2.75 eV, followed by BDC–NO2 with a band gap of 2.93 eV and BDC with a band gap of 3.76 eV. The electron effective mass was predicted from the band structure to be 8.9 me for all MOF designs.
A Tunable Cross-Layer Congestion Reducing Medium Access Control (CRMAC) Protocol for Wireless Networks

In recent years, development of a large variety of mobile computing devices have led to wide scale deployment and use of wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. Ad hoc Wireless LANs (WLANs) and sensor networks are prone to network congestion due to the bursty nature of data traffic. This results in an increase in the number of packets dropped due to buffer overflow, decrease in the overall network throughput and increase in packet delivery latency. In this paper, we propose a contention based, tunable cross-layer congestion reducing medium access control (CRMAC) protocol that uses buffer-status information from the network layer to reduce congestion and buffer overflows by giving prioritized medium access to congested nodes in the MAC layer. The performance of CRMAC has been compared with that of 802.11 and a generalized contention based fair medium access control protocol. Simulation results show that CRMAC can be easily tuned to meet the application-specific performance requirements and performs much better than the other two algorithms in terms of reducing the packet drops, increasing the network throughput and reducing the packet delivery delay or latency as needed by the application.
Micropatterned Polythiophene Nanofibers via Electrostatic Spinning and Photolithography

Herein we report the patterning of large conducting polymer nanofiber mats of the polyterthiophene precursor, into regular micron scale arrays of smaller mats each of which has the potential of being independently addressed. These fiber grids, micro mats of conducting polymer fibers, were prepared by the combined techniques of electrospinning, soft photolithography, and solid state electrochemical crosslinking. The micro size mats are shown to retain their electrochromic behavior, subject to expected degradation in air as reported in the literature. Our contribution to the investigation of conducting polymers in display technology is oriented towards processibility and preparation of regular conducting polymer structures.
Viral vectors as potential HIV-1 vaccines

Vaccine vectors based on recombinant viruses have great promise to play an important role in the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine. Within the last 10 years a wide range of viruses have been investigated for their ability to express protein(s) from foreign pathogens and to induce specific immunological responses against these antigen(s) in vivo. Each viral vector has its own unique biological characteristics and thus far none of them has proven to be an ideal candidate as a vaccine vehicle for HIV-1. This review focuses on both replication competent and non-replication competent viral vectors as a potential HIV-1 vaccine. Other approaches for the development of an HIV-1 vaccine are reviewed elsewhere and are beyond the scope of this review.
A perturbation method suitable for higher order calculations

Abstract A form of perturbation theory is described which is particularly useful for the calculation of the higher order corrections. In technique of application, the method is intermediate to the usual Rayleigh-Schrodinger method and the contact transformation technique of Van Vleck, but it appears to be more appropriate than either for a number of problems.
Genetic control of antibody response to bovine rhodopsin in mice: epitope mapping of rhodopsin structure.

Abstract Inbred strains of mice of independent haplotype were immunized with bovine rhodopsin. All mice tested except SJL developed significant titers of specific antibodies 21 days after a single immunization. Anti-rhodopsin antibody level differed among conventional inbred strains. Comparison of the immune response to rhodopsin of congenic mice on two different genetic backgrounds showed that animals with an A background typically produced higher levels of specific antibody than mice with a B10 background. Titer of specific antibodies in antisera of mice of the same H-2 haplotype but different Igh haplotype differed; e.g. for H-2 d haplotype, NZB (Igh n ) generated the highest level of antibody with BALB/c (Igh a ), DBA/2 (Igh c ), and B10.D2 (Igh b ) strains giving successively lower responses. The location of immunodominant regions of bovine rhodopsin was investigated in primary sera among strains of mice. Sera were tested for their binding of anti-rhodopsin antibodies to synthetic peptides covering the entire primary structure of rhodopsin. From direct binding studies with hydrophilic rhodopsin peptides, the majority of the antigenic binding sites were localized in the sequence of the amino terminus, the II-III loop and the carboxyl terminus. Binding to these antigenic peptides was not strain restricted. Application of the overlapping synthetic peptide strategy of Geysen enabled refinement of these epitopes and determination of an additional major epitope in the hydrophobic sequence 304–310.
Application of Bayesian decision networks to life cycle engineering in Green design and manufacturing

Abstract Environmental impact assessment of design and manufacturing decisions have received significant attention in the recent years. Researchers have not only focused on industrial waste minimization and chemical substitution in processes or products, but also on the effect of product design decisions on the environment during the manufacturing, in-use and end-of-life stages of the product. This research investigates the applicability of Bayesian decision networks to study the impact of design decisions on the life cycle performance, including environmental friendliness, of a product. Bayesian decision theory provides a normative framework for representing and reasoning about decision problems under uncertainty. A framework for integrated analysis of the product life cycle is presented. We discuss the specification of domain models for wide range of processes, such as manufacturing, recycling and disposal, an action model, and an utility model.
The Function of the p190 Rho GTPase-activating Protein Is Controlled by Its N-terminal GTP Binding Domain

p190 is a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for the Rho family of GTPases. The GAP domain of p190 is at the C terminus of the protein. At its N terminus, p190 contains a GTP binding domain of unknown significance. We have introduced a mutation (Ser36 → Asn) into this domain of p190 that decreased its ability to bind guanine nucleotide when expressed as a hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged protein in COS cells. In vitro,both the wild type and S36N mutant HA-p190 proteins showed similar GAP activities toward RhoA, but when expressed in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts only wild type p190 appeared able to function as a RhoGAP. Wild type HA-p190 induced a phenotype of rounded cells with long, beaded extensions similar to that seen when Rho function is disrupted by ADP-ribosylation. HA-p190(S36N), although expressed at a similar level to the wild type protein, had no discernible effect on the cells. The beaded extension phenotype induced by wild type HA-p190 required GAP function. A GAP-defective mutant, p190(R1283A), had no effect on cell morphology. Moreover, the beaded extension phenotype could be suppressed by co-expression of a gain-of-function Rho mutant, RhoA(G14V), or Rac mutant, Rac1(G12V). Activation of the Jun kinase (JNK) via muscarinic receptors was inhibited by wild type HA-p190, but JNK activity was enhanced by the S36N mutant. Co-expression of HA-p190 with a fragment containing only the mutated GTP binding domain partially inhibited the beaded extension phenotype, suggesting that it may sequester a factor required for p190 function. Taken together these data demonstrate that within the cell, the Rho/Rac GAP activity of p190 can be regulated by the N-terminal GTP binding domain.
A Numerical-Analytical Solution for Dynamics of Composite Delaminated Beam with Piezoelectric Actuator, with Account of Nonpenetration Constraint for the Delamination Crack Faces

In this work, a new approach is developed for the dynamic analysis of a composite beam with an interply crack, in which a physically impossible interpenetration of the crack faces is prevented by imposing a special constraint, leading to nonlinearity of the formulated boundary value problem and taking account of a contact interaction of the crack faces. A variational formulation of the problem and partial differential equations of motion with boundary conditions are developed, and solutions of example problems for a piezo-actuated cantilever beam are presented in the form of a series in terms of eigenfunctions of the associated nonself-adjoint eigenvalue problem. A noticeable difference of forced vibrations of the delaminated and undelaminated beams due to the contact interaction of the crack faces is predicted by the developed model.
A theory of covalent bonding in muscle contraction.

Abstract A theory is proposed which describes the contraction of striated muscle in terms of a cycle of three covalent reactions: (1) The ATP, Mg2+ activation of actin to form a covalent actin-ADP acyl derivative. (2) The formation of an isopeptide bond between actin and myosin by a Ca2+-activated acyl-transferase reaction. (3) The splitting of the isopeptide bond. This theory accounts for a number of observations which cannot be explained by the current assumption that energy transduction in muscle is the consequence of myosin-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis.
Constrained optimization over discrete sets via SPSA with application to non-separable resource allocation

This paper presents a version of the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) algorithm for optimizing non-separable functions over discrete sets under given constraints. The primary motivation for discrete SPSA is to solve a class of resource allocation problems wherein the goal is to distribute a finite number of discrete resources to finitely many users in such a way as to optimize a specified objective function. The basic algorithm and the application of the algorithm to the optimal resource allocation problem is discussed and simulation, results are presented which illustrate its performance.
Development of new miniaturised bandpass filter having ultrawide bandwidth

A new, compact, very-broadband bandpass filter, consisting of two-parallel-conductor short-circuited spurline resonators, a quarter-wavelength long, is described. Approximate design formulas for the filter are derived. The chain matrix of the resonators is also obtained and used in predicting the filter response. It is found that this filter possesses a very wide bandwidth, more than 5:1. A microstrip filter having a passband from 1.8 to 9.2 GHz has been designed and tested with less than 1 dB insertion loss. There is also a reasonably good agreement between the experimental and theoretical performances. The developed filter is very attractive for wideband microwave integrated circuits due to its compactness and very wide bandwidth.
Coupling Interval Variability Differentiates Ventricular Ectopic Complexes Arising in the Aortic Sinus of Valsalva and Great Cardiac Vein From Other Sources: Mechanistic And Arrhythmic Risk Implications

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine whether premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) arising from the aortic sinuses of Valsalva (SOV) and great cardiac vein (GCV) have coupling interval (CI) characteristics that differentiate them from other ectopic foci. Background PVCs occur at relatively fixed CI from the preceding normal QRS complex in most patients. However, we observed patients with PVCs originating in unusual areas (SOV and GCV) in whom the PVC CI was highly variable. We hypothesized that PVCs from these areas occur seemingly randomly because of the lack of electrotonic effects of the surrounding myocardium. Methods Seventy-three consecutive patients referred for PVC ablation were assessed. Twelve consecutive PVC CIs were recorded. The ΔCI (maximum − minimum CI) was measured. Results We studied 73 patients (age 50 ± 16 years, 47% male). The PVC origin was right ventricular (RV) in 29 (40%), left ventricular (LV) in 17 (23%), SOV in 21 (29%), and GCV in 6 (8%). There was a significant difference between the mean ΔCI of RV/LV PVCs compared with SOV/GCV PVCs (33 ± 15 ms vs. 116 ± 52 ms, p 60 ms demonstrated a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 94%. Cardiac events were more common in the SOV/GCV group versus the RV/LV group (7 of 27 [26%] vs. 2 of 46 [4%], p Conclusions ΔCI is more pronounced in PVCs originating from the SOV or GCV. A ΔCI of 60 ms helps discriminate the origin of PVCs before diagnostic electrophysiological study and may be associated with increased frequency of cardiac events.
Sub-National Institutional Contingencies, Network Positions, and IJV Partner Selection

The differences in sub-national institutions within large and complex emerging economies have been increasingly noted. Drawing on social network theory and the institution-based view, we argue that two network structural attributes of domestic firms – centrality and structural holes – have distinctive values in different sub-national regions where institutional contexts differ widely. In addition, these sub-national institutional contingencies influence the attractiveness of different network attributes to foreign entrants seeking international joint venture (IJV) partners. Specifically, in regions where the degree of marketization is high, centrally positioned domestic firms are more likely to be selected by foreign entrants as IJV partners. In regions where the degree of marketization is low, domestic broker firms are more attractive IJV partners. Results from the electrical and information technology industries in 18 provinces in China largely support our hypotheses.
Perspectives on technology and technology-driven CAD

Computer-aided design (CAD) techniques are absolutely essential to harness the ever-increasing complexity of the microsystem design. Similarly, the technology CAD (TCAD) tools played a key role in the development of new technology generations. Although there is a common belief that the TCAD tools have been trailing the technology development, the situation has been changing very significantly especially over the last decade. For the deep submicrometer (DSM) devices, these tools provide a better insight than any measurement techniques and they have become indispensable in the new device creation. Moreover, these tools after calibration to a relatively small number of experiments, exhibit very impressive predictive power, which is utilized to speed up the technology integration and transfer to volume manufacturing. This results in very manufacturable high-yielding products that can be ramped up much faster than in the past decade, which is absolutely necessary given the huge costs of integrated circuit fabrication lines, short product lifecycles and penalties for being late to the market place. In this paper, we present our perspective on the semiconductor technology development, and highlight the rapid growth of TCAD and its strategic use in the semiconductor industry.
Ultrafast Dynamics of the Itinerant Antiferromagnet UNiGa 5

Time-resolved photoinduced reflectivity data for the itinerant antiferromagnet UNiGa5 showed a divergence of the relaxation time near TN due to the opening of a spin gap, and at the lowest temperatures indicative of spin-fluctuation scattering.
MUTATION OF THE BACILLUS OF RABBIT SEPTICEMIA.

Type G microbes, discovered in pure cultures of the rabbit septicemia bacillus, have been demonstrated to arise from the parent D form by mutation. The D → G mutation takes place in broth cultures of pure-line strains of Microbe D, when these are kept for several days without transplant at 37°C., or at room temperature, or in the ice box. The mutation is greatly inhibited by filtrates from 6 and 24 hour cultures of Microbe D, and to some extent by filtrates from 48 hour cultures. The process of transformation takes place to a very slight extent or not at all in undiluted rabbit serum, but Type G colonies subcultured to this medium do not revert to the parent D form. The D → G change is strongly inhibited in cultures made in simple beef infusion, or in 5 per cent rabbit serum-beef infusion. Peptone would seem to be the constituent of plain broth which favors the process. In high concentrations of peptone, the mutation is rapid and may reach a degree of 90 per cent of the total organisms in 5 to 6 days. A distinct maximum of the relative number of Type G colonies as compared to the parent Type D is observable in plain broth and in some concentrations of peptone, when these are kept at 37°C. for some days without transplant. Subsequent tests show the concentration of Type G microbes to diminish. The change in acid agglutination optimum exhibited by the mutant G forms implies a distinct change in bacterial protoplasm and would seem to be one of the most fundamental mutations so far described.
Genetic algorithms for nondestructive testing in crack identification

A method to identify the nature of a crack on the surface of a region using nondestructive testing (NDT) and inverse problem methodology is presented. A genetic algorithm (GA) based approach, which involves a global search to avoid local minima, is presented and applied to solve the inverse problem of identifying the position, shape and the orientation of a surface crack. A fine tuning algorithm is combined with the GA to reach the optimum solution. >
Disposition and pharmacodynamics of dichloroacetate (DCA) and oxalate following oral DCA doses.

Healthy volunteers received intravenous and/or oral doses of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) in various single and multiple dose regimens. A crossover bioavailability study proved abortive because second and subsequent doses showed significantly longer terminal elimination half-lives (means 3.64 h and 9.9 h, respectively) than was the case for initial doses (1.58 h). A parallel bioavailability comparison failed to show that oral doses were significantly different from 100 per cent bioavailability (AUCoral, 604 micrograms h-1 ml-1; AUCi.v., 489 micrograms h-1 ml-1). The time required to elapse between individual doses, in order to prevent second doses having relatively long half-life values, varied in different individuals from 1 week to greater than 3 months. No cardiac or central nervous system effects were recorded by echocardiography and digit symbol substitution tests, respectively. The mean renal clearance of DCA was 42.9 ml h-1. No differences were observed in DCA kinetics between male and female subjects.
Protein Misfolding and Inclusion Body Formation in Recombinant Escherichia coli Cells Overexpressing Heat-shock Proteins

PreS2-S′-β-galactosidase, a three-domain fusion protein that aggregates extensively in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli, was used to systematically investigate the effects of heat-shock protein (hsp) overproduction on protein misfolding and inclusion body formation. While the co-overexpression of the DnaK and DnaJ molecular chaperones led to a 3-6-fold increase in the recovery of enzymatically active preS2-S′-β-galactosidase over a wide range of growth temperatures (30-42°C), an increase in the concentration of the GroEL and GroES chaperonins had a significant effect at 30°C only. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that preS2-S′-β-galactosidase formed a stable complex with DnaK, but not with GroEL, at 42°C. When the intracellular concentration of chromosomal heat-shock proteins was increased by overproduction of the heat-shock transcription factor σ32, or by addition of 3% ethanol (v/v) to the growth medium, a 2-3-fold higher recovery of active enzyme was observed at 30 and 42°C, but not at 37°C. The overexpression of all heat-shock proteins or specific chaperone operons did not significantly affect the synthesis rates or stability of preS2-S′-β-galactosidase and did not lead to the disaggregation of preformed inclusion bodies. Rather, the improvements in the recovery of soluble and active fusion protein resulted primarily from facilitated folding and assembly. Our findings suggest that titration of the DnaK-DnaJ early folding factors leads to the formation of preS2-S′-β-galactosidase inclusion bodies.
In Vivo Replication of an ICP34.5 Second-Site Suppressor Mutant following Corneal Infection Correlates with In Vitro Regulation of eIF2α Phosphorylation

In animal models of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, ICP34.5-null viruses are avirulent and also fail to grow in a variety of cultured cells due to their inability to prevent RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR)-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis. We show here that the inability of ICP34.5 mutants to grow in vitro is due specifically to the accumulation of phosphorylated eIF2α. Mutations suppressing the in vitro phenotype of ICP34.5-null mutants have been described which map to the unique short region of the HSV-1 genome, resulting in dysregulated expression of the US11 gene. Despite the inability of the suppressor mutation to suppress the avirulent phenotype of the ICP34.5-null parental virus following intracranial inoculation, the suppressor mutation enhanced virus growth in the cornea, trigeminal ganglia, and periocular skin following corneal infection compared to that with the ICP34.5-null virus. The phosphorylation state of eIF2α following in vitro infection with the suppressor virus was examined to determine if in vivo differences could be attributed to differential regulation of eIF2α phosphorylation. The suppressor virus prevented accumulation of phosphorylated eIF2α, while the wild-type virus substantially reduced eIF2α phosphorylation levels. These data suggest that US11 functions as a PKR antagonist in vivo, although its activity may be modulated by tissue-specific differences in translation regulation.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx Treated with radical irradiation: analysis of Treatment parameters and results

Abstract Eighty-one patients were treated with radical radiation therapy, with or without immediate neck dissection(s), for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx from October 1964 through May 1981. There is a 2-year minimum follow-up on all patients; 75/81 (93%) have a minimum 3-year follow-up, and 58/81 (72%) have at least a 5-year follow-up. Patients were staged according to the 1983 AJCC staging system. Patients were excluded from the local control analysis if they died less than 2 years from treatment with the primary site controlled. The initial local control rates and ultimate local control rates after surgical salvage of irradiation failures were as follows: TI, 1112 (92%) and 1212 (100%); T2, 2026 (77%) and 23/26 (88%); T3, 914 (64%) and 1114 (79%); and T4, 211 (18%) and 511 (45%). The incidence of severe complications was 381 (3.7%). The 5-year absolute and determinate survival rates by AJCC stage were as follows: I, 612 (50%) and 66 (100%); II, 56 (83%) and 55 (100%); III, 48 (50%) and 45 (80%); and IV, 632 (19%) and 626 (23%).
The three-dimensional structure of 3, 3', 5'-trichloro-4-methoxybiphenyl, a "coplanar" polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) derivative.

The crystal structure of a ‘‘coplanar’’ polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)derivative, 4-methoxy-3 ; 3 0 ; 5 0 -trichlorobiphenyl ðC13H9Cl3OÞ, is described. The torsion angle of the title compound is 41.31(07), which is in good agreement with the calculated torsion angle of 38.2 in aqueous solution. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Concurrent and subsequent tumors in the same host—A model to evaluate the host tumor interaction

Abstract There is evidence which demonstrates an immune rejection response (IRR) directed against tumor cells in some experimental and human tumors. In the case of FSa-1, a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma of the C 3 Hf/Sed mouse, the IRR is manifested by a decrease in the dose of radiation expected to control half of the treated tumors (TCD 50 ) and an increase in the number of tumor cells expected to transplant the tumor in half of the transplanted recipients (TD 50 ) in immunized hosts. FSaI was transplanted simultaneously in the right and left legs of male and female C 3 Hf/Sed mice and each tumor was given 3750 rad when it measured 8 mm. in diameter (viz the TCD 50 value for 8 mm FSaI growing as one isotransplant per animal). The two tumors in any one animal usually responded similarly with either permanent regression or local recurrence after irradiation. In a second experiment, a group of animals received also concurrent tumors. This time an immunogenic FSaI was transplanted in one side and a non immunogenic mammary carcinoma (MDAH-MCaIV) on the opposite side. The tumors were irradiated with TCD 50 doses (3750 rad for FSaI and 6500 for the less radioresponsive MCa). The distribution of local control and recurrence was probabilistic; 50% of the animals exhibited one tumor destroyed and one recurring. In a third experimental group mice were subsequently transplanted with FSaI Mice who showed no recurrence after irradiation of their first FSaI showed a stronger tendency to reject the second implantation than those who previously had local recurrence and subsequent amputation. Retransplants were controlled more easily by irradiation in the group that had been successfully treated for the first transplant. These data indicate that within the inbred population of C 3 Hf/Sed mice there is a relatively broad distribution of capacities to react effectively against the FSaI challenge. This was not predicted by the delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction (DHSR) to the FSaI antigen.
High-Dose Oral Tamoxifen, a Potential Multidrug-Resistance-Reversal Agent: Phase I Trial in Combination With Vinblastine

Background P-glycoprotein mediates resistance to natural-product anti-neoplastic agents like vinblastine through an active transport process resulting in reduced intracellular concentration of these agents. The triphenylethylene antiestrogen tamoxifen and its major metabolite N-desmethyltamoxifen at concentrations of 4-6 microM enhance the intracellular concentration of natural-product antineoplastics and augment the cytotoxicity of such drugs three-fold to 10-fold in a variety of human and murine cell lines. Purpose On the basis of these preclinical findings, we conducted a phase I clinical trial of high-dose, oral tamoxifen administered in conjunction with a 5-day continuous infusion of vinblastine. Methods We studied 53 patients with advanced epithelial tumors. Tamoxifen was given orally as a loading dose on day 1, followed by two doses a day on days 2-13. Vinblastine was given as a 120-hour continuous infusion (1.5 mg/m2 per day) on days 9-13 of each tamoxifen course. The starting dose of tamoxifen was 40 mg/m2 administered twice a day following a loading dose of 150 mg/m2. The maximum dose was 260 mg/m2 twice a day following a loading dose of 680 mg/m2. Treatment cycles were repeated every 28 days. Results The dose-limiting toxic effects of tamoxifen were neurologic and began within 3-5 days after the start of treatment. They consisted of tremor, hyperreflexia, dysmetria, unsteady gait, and dizziness. One patient experienced a grand mal seizure 24 hours after the last tamoxifen dose. Toxic effects were rapidly reversible. Asymptomatic prolongation of the QT interval on electrocardiogram occurred at doses of tamoxifen of 80 mg/m2 or higher given twice a day. No coagulation or ophthalmologic abnormalities occurred. Tamoxifen did not enhance the toxicity of vinblastine. Mean plasma concentrations of tamoxifen or N-desmethyltamoxifen at 260 mg/m2 tamoxifen given twice a day for 13 days were 6.04 and 6.56 microM, respectively. There was no relationship between plasma antiestrogen content and the development of neurotoxic effects. Conclusions Tamoxifen at 150 mg/m2 given twice a day following a loading dose of 400 mg/m2 results in plasma levels of tamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen of 4 and 6 microM, respectively, without dose-limiting toxicity. We recommend this dose for phase II trials of tamoxifen to modulate P-glycoprotein-mediated drug resistance. Implications Our study demonstrates that high-dose tamoxifen can be safely administered and that plasma concentrations that may inhibit P-glycoprotein function can be achieved.
RIP bounds for naively subsampled Scrambled Fourier sensing matrices

We present an analysis concerning the RIP of naively (deterministically) subsampled DFT and Scrambled DFT (SDFT) matrices. First, we show that for an s-sparse vector of length K, O(s logK) or O (sℚK) measurements suffice for a SDFT sensing matrix to satisfy the RIP-ds with constant but arbitrarily high probability (with the latter bound holding with greater probability than the former, for the same multiplicative constant). Second, we show that the same RIP bounds hold for any deterministically subsampled DFT matrix, assuming an equiprobable sparsity pattern model for the set of the regression vectors of interest. To the best of our knowledge, the results presented in this work are the first to demonstrate logarithmic dependence of the required number of measurements on the dimension of the sparse vectors of interest, K, for deterministically subsampled Fourier and Scrambled Fourier matrices.
Inmate Self-Government and Attitude Change An Assessment of Participation Effects

This study examines the impact of participation in an inmate self-government program at the Washington State maximum security prison on changes in the following atti tudinal dimensions of social responsibility: self-esteem, self-competence, acceptance of others, and acceptance of law and authority. The evaluation utilizes a pretest-post- test design involving a stratified random sample of 173 male inmates. The data reveal that participation consistently fostered a more positive sense of social responsibility while such attitudes deteriorate among the nonparticipant group, especially acceptance of law and authority Controls for demographic and sentence characteristic variables did not alter the original relationship between participation and attitude change.
Single-threshold detection of a random signal in noise with multiple independent observations. 1: Discrete case with application to optical communications.

A single-threshold processor is derived for a wide class of classical binary decision problems involving the likelihood-ratio detection of a signal embedded in noise. The class of problems we consider encompasses the case of multiple independent (but not necessarily identically distributed) observations of a nonnegative (nonpositive) signal, embedded in additive, independent, and noninterfering noise, where the range of the signal and noise is discrete. We show that a comparison of the sum of the observations with a unique threshold comprises optimum processing, if a weak condition on the noise is satisfied, independent of the signal. Examples of noise densities that satisfy and violate our condition are presented. The results are applied to a generalized photocounting optical communication system, and it is shown that most components of the system can be incorporated into our model. The continuous case is treated elsewhere [ IEEE Trans. Inf. TheoryIT-25, (March, 1979)].