cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Moving Target Detection using Distributed MIMO Radar in Non-Homogeneous Clutter with Limited Training Data

This paper concerns detection of a moving target in compound-Gaussian clutter with inverse-Gamma distributed power using a distributed active MIMO radar network. Adaptive detection requires an estimate of the clutter covariance matrix from a finite set of, possibly non-homogeneous, target-free training data. If the number of available training data are limited, conventional covariance matrix estimators will fail to provide adequate detection performance. This motivates the use of structured estimators which do not rely upon large amounts of training data. In this paper, a clutter covariance matrix estimator based non-negative linear least-squares is applied to the problem of adaptive moving target detection in the context of distributed MIMO radar. For each transmit-receive pair of the distributed radar network, an improved estimate of the clutter covariance matrix is computed using the non-negative least-squares estimator. Then, we apply the improved estimates in conjunction with a detector derived using inverse-Gamma distributed clutter power. Simulation examples are used to demonstrate the performance improvement of the constrained least-squares method as compared to a conventional technique. As a baseline, we a compare the performance of both the conventional and constrained least-squares methods against the clairvoyant detector.
Leveraging Processor Modeling and Verification for General Hardware Modules

For processors, an instruction-set-architecture (ISA) provides a complete functional specification that can be used to formally verify an implementation. There has been recent work in specifying accelerators using formal instruction sets, referred to as Instruction-Level Abstractions (ILAs), and using them to formally verify their implementations by leveraging processor verification techniques. In this paper, we generalize ILAs for specification of general hardware modules and formal verification of their RTL implementations. This includes automated generation of a complete set of functional (not including timing) specification properties using the ILA instructions. We address the challenges posed by this generalization and provide several case studies to demonstrate the applicability of this technique, including all the modules in an open-source 8051 micro-controller. This verification identified three bugs and completed in reasonable time.
Using rheology to quantify the effects of localized collagenase treatments on uterine fibroid digestion.

Abstract Uterine fibroids are stiff, benign tumors containing excessive, disordered collagens that occur in 70-80% of women before age 50 and cause bleeding and pain. Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is a bacterial enzyme capable of digesting the collagens present in fibroids. By combining CCH with injectable drug delivery systems to enhance effectiveness, a new class of treatments could be developed to reduce the stiffness of fibroids, preventing the need for surgical removal and preserving fertility. In this work, we achieved localization of CCH via physical entrapment by co-injecting a thermoresponsive pNIPAM-based polymeric delivery system called LiquoGel (LQG), which undergoes a sol-gel transition upon heating. Toxicity study results for LQG injected subcutaneously into mice demonstrate that LQG does not induce lesions or other adverse effects. We then used rheology to quantify the effects of localized CCH injections on the modulus and viscoelasticity of uterine fibroids, which exhibit gel-like behavior, through ex vivo and in vivo digestion studies. Ex vivo CCH injections reduce the tissue modulus by over two orders of magnitude and co-injection of LQG enhances this effect. Rheological results from an in vivo digestion study in mice show a significant reduction in tissue modulus and increase in tissue viscoelasticity 7 days after a single injection of LQG+CCH. Parallel histological staining validates that the observed rheological changes correspond to an increase in collagen lysis after treatment by LQG+CCH. These results show promise for development of injectable and localized enzymatic therapies for uterine fibroids and other dense tumors. Statement of significance Uterine fibroids are stiff, benign tumors containing high collagen levels that cause bleeding and pain in women. Fertility-preserving and minimally-invasive treatments to soften fibroids are needed as an alternative to surgical removal via hysterectomy. We demonstrate through ex vivo and in vivo studies that co-injecting a thermoresponsive polymer delivery system (LQG) alongside a bacterial collagenase (CCH) enzyme significantly increases treatment effectiveness at softening fibroids through CCH localization. We use rheology to measure the modulus and viscoelasticity of fibroids and histology to show that fibroid softening corresponds to a decrease in collagen after treatment with LQG+CCH. These results highlight the utility of rheology at quantifying tissue properties and present a promising injectable therapy for fibroids and other dense tumors.
Electron Transport-Deficient Staphylococcus aureus Small-Colony Variants as Emerging Pathogens

A pathogenic organism can be seen as an ‘‘emerging’’ pathogen in several ways. It may be a newly discovered organism, an organism that has acquired new virulence factors or antibiotic resistance, or a well-known pathogen for which newly discovered subpopulations of the parent strain are able to produce disease. Staphylococcus aureus small-colony variants (SCVs) fall into the last category. In S. aureus SCVs, reversal of the SCV phenotype by adding compounds that can be utilized to repair the defect in electron transport simultaneously or by complementing the genetic defect in trans enhances alpha-toxin production. Well-characterized S. aureus hemin biosynthetic mutants demonstrate an SCV phenotype, including decreased coagulase activity, aminoglycoside resistance, decreased pigmentation, slow growth, and reduced hemolytic activity. Anaerobic growth downregulates menaquinone biosynthesis in S. aureus and electron transport. Taken together, these observations show that alpha-toxin production is dependent upon electron transport. Carotenoid pigments that give S. aureus SCV colonies their characteristic yellow color require ATP for their biosynthesis. Aminoglycoside uptake by S. aureus is an energy-dependent process that requires ATP and an electrochemical gradient, which is produced via the electron transport system.
Ozone treatment effects on microbial count on maize

The ultimate goal of this research was to develop a semi-continuous flow grain treatment system and predictive model that will reduce microorganisms on grain kernel surfaces with ozone. The focus of this research was to determine the concentration-time product (CTP) of ozone required to eliminate various levels of microbial growth on grain kernels. To examine the effect of ozone on surface microbes, samples of freshly-harvested and stored maize were treated with ozone for 1 and 3 hours at average ozone concentrations of 1752 ppm, 915 ppm and 37 ppm. Microorganisms were significantly decreased by 28 to 57% after maize samples were ozonated for 1 h at 37 to 1752 ppm and 45 to 80% for 3 h at 37 to 1752 ppm. Linear regression analysis of the CTP data indicated that percent mold reduction increased at a rate of 0.0088 times the CTP. The modified Gompertz equation applied to the microbial inactivation data indicated that a 0.5 to ~1 log mold reduction on maize kernels was attained for ozone concentrations between 37 and 1752 ppm. When compared to preliminary field data from a semi-continuous flow grain treatment system, the laboratory data and the model-predicted values were reasonably close with respect to the microbial load reduction observed on maize samples taken from the system. Keywords : Ozone, Microorganisms, Treatment, Sterilization, Ozone concentration.
Abstract 20402: Exome Genotyping of Dallas Heart Study Reveals Putative Cardiac Disease-Causing Mutations: Disconnect Between Genotype and Phenotype

Next generation sequencing has increased the scope and availability of exome sequencing to clinical practice. A major challenge of using the new technology is handling incidental findings. The American Society of Medical Genetics (ACMG) recommends that mutations in 56 genes, including 20 genes that cause heart disease, be reported to patients, regardless of the indication for sequencing. The implications of applying these recommendations to clinical practice are unclear. Here we screened participants of the Dallas Heart Study (n=4928), with the Illumina HumanExome BeadChip array. A total of 46 sequence variants in 6 of the ACMG cardiac genes were identified. Six pathogenic variants were found in 36 participants (0.7% of the cohort). Those with the putative pathologic variants in cardiac genes were not more likely to have a positive family history for cardiac disease or sudden death (69% vs 65%; p=0.81) or an elevated serum cardiac troponin (33% vs 22%; p=0.41] when compared to carriers of benign or low frequency variants of unknown significance (VUS) in the same genes (25 variants in 78 participants). No difference in median (interquartile range) of BNP [7.1 pg/ml (0.7-47 pg/ml) vs 4.9 pg/ml (0-20 pg/ml); p=0.34), ejection fraction [70% (63-76%) vs 71% (69-77%); p=0.41] or LV mass [151 g (115-190 g) vs 143 g (99-176 g); p=0.52] were identified between the two groups who had variants in GLA, MYBPC3, and TNNT2. The QTc interval was similar in those with putative pathogenic KCNQ1 variants and benign/VUS variants [416 ms (406-437 ms) vs 410 ms (401-427ms)]. Our data indicate that cardiac incidental findings will be identified in >1% of the population and that a significant proportion of these individuals will not have clinically significant heart disease. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Nostalgia por la tierra, nostalgia por el dolar: Guatemalan transnational lives and ideology of return migration

This paper addresses the ideology of return among contemporary Guatemalan migrants living and working in the southwestern desert city of Phoenix in Arizona. In Phoenix’s metropolitan area, Guatemalans (both Ladino and Maya ethnic groups) add to the city’s cultural mosaic, and at the same time, are vital agents for change in Guatemalan society. Little is known about the processes and patterns behind Guatemalan migration despite the fact that over 10 percent of Guatemala’s population currently resides in the United States. Most Guatemalans in Phoenix, regardless of their length of residence in the United States, express longings for return to their homeland. In part, this strong notion of return prevails because the Guatemalan community in the Phoenix metropolitan area is not cohesive.
Intensive behavioral/psychoeducational treatments for autism: research needs and future directions.

It is widely acknowledged that, to date, the forms of treatment enjoying the broadest empirical validation for effectiveness with individuals with autism are those treatments based upon a behavioral model and that such treatments are best implemented intensively and early in the child's development. This paper describes several features important in the success of this model and presents remaining issues to be addressed for improving treatment effectiveness. While it is appreciated that there is no “one size fits all” treatment for children with autism, there is as yet no established protocol for relating specific child, family, target behavior, and treatment variables to individualized treatment regimens. Future research needs to include well-conceived and methodologically rigorous investigations allowing for the determination of these important variables.
Tools for PDE

This book develops three related tools that are useful in the analysis of partial differential equations, arising from the classical study of singular integral operators: pseudodifferential operators, paradifferential operators, and layer potentials. A theme running throughout the work is the treatment of PDE in the presence of relatively little regularity. The first chapter studies classes of pseudodifferential operators whose symbols have a limited degree of regularity; the second chapter shows how paradifferential operators yield sharp estimates on the action of various nonlinear operators on function spaces. The third chapter applies this material to an assortment of results in PDE, including regularity results for elliptic PDE with rough coefficients, planar fluid flows on rough domains, estimates on Riemannian manifolds given weak bounds on Ricci tensor, div-curl estimates, and results on propagation of singularities for wave equations with rough coefficients. The last chapter studies the method of layer potentials on Lipschitz domains, concentrating on applications to boundary problems for elliptic PDE with variable coefficients. Michael Taylor is the author of several well-known books on topics in PDEs and pseudodifferential operators. His Noncommutative Harmonic Analysis, Volume 22 in the Mathematical Surveys and Monographs series published by the AMS, is a good introduction to the use of Lie groups in linear analysis and PDEs. The present book, Tools for PDE, is suitable as a text for advanced graduate students preparing to concentrate in PDE and/or harmonic analysis.
Studies of plasma performance and transport in the advanced toroidal facility (ATF)

An overview of recent AFT (Advanced Toroidal Facility) experimental results and program plans is presented, with emphasis on the role of magnetic configuration controls in transport studies. The ATF operating space is bounded by a density limit that effectively sets a limit on the energy confinement time tau /sub E/. Although this limit is not solely due to impurities, it has recently been raised by improved cleanliness following titanium gettering. This has led to collapse-free neutral beam injection discharges with global tau /sub E/ approximately=16 ms. Preliminary experiments show that stored energy and bootstrap current are sensitive to details of the magnetic configuration. >
Small Bodies of the Solar System

Schmidt telescopes are ideal for many types of survey work, and this includes surveying the solar system. Schmidt cameras have the advantages of speed and wide fields for rapid coverage of large areas of the sky, and good image quality over the entire field. The small focal ratios also have the effect of enhancing low surface-brightness features. This is an advantage for studying cometary tails and comae.
Reconstruction of the Genomes

Advances in DNA sequencing and synthesis technologies are making it possible to read and write entire genomes.
Brain cell membrane function during hypoxia in hyperglycemic newborn piglets

To test the hypothesis that acute hyperglycemia reduces changes in cell membrane structure and function during cerebral hypoxia in the newborn, brain cell membrane Na+, K+-ATPase activity and levels of membrane lipid peroxidation products were measured in four groups of anesthetized, ventilated newborn piglets: normoglycemia/normoxia (control, group 1, n = 12), hyperglycemia/normoxia (group 2, n = 6), untreated hypoxia (group 3, n = 10), and hyperglycemia/hypoxia (group 4, n = 7). Hyperglycemia (blood glucose concentration 20 mmol/L) was induced using the glucose clamp technique. The hyperglycemic glucose clamp was maintained for 90 min before onset of hypoxia and throughout the period of hypoxia. Cerebral tissue hypoxia was induced in groups 3 and 4 by reducing fraction of inspired oxygen for 60 min and was documented by a decrease in the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate as measured using 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Blood glucose concentration during hypoxia in hyperglycemic hypoxic animals was 20.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L, compared with 10.3 ± 1.7 mmol/L in untreated hypoxic piglets (p < 0.05). Peak blood lactate concentrations were not significantly different between the two hypoxic groups (8.4 ± 2.8 mmol/L versus 7.8 ± 1.6 mmol/L). In cerebral cortical membranes prepared from the untreated animals, cerebral tissue hypoxia caused a 25% reduction in Na+,K+-ATPase activity compared with normoxic controls and an increase in conjugated dienes and fluorescent compounds, markers of lipid peroxidation. In contrast, Na+,K+-ATPase activity and levels of lipid peroxidation products in hyperglycemic hypoxic animals were not significantly different from the values in control normoxic animals. These data suggest that in the newborn piglet model acute hyperglycemia reduces hypoxia-induced brain cell membrane dysfunction.
Density of thermal vacancies in γ-Ti-Al-M, M=Si, Cr, Nb, Mo, Ta or W

Abstract Modifications to alloy chemistry are often used to tailor the intrinsic flow behavior of structural materials. Models of creep in intermetallic alloys must account for the influence of chemistry on the available intrinsic creep mechanisms. As in simple metals the presence of vacancies strongly influences bulk diffusion processes in these materials. Limiting the density of constitutional and thermal vacancies by alloying may produce materials with enhanced creep properties. The energy of intrinsic and substitutional point defects in L1 0 TiAl is calculated within a first principles, local density functional theory framework. Relaxed structures and energies for vacancies, antisites and solid solutions are calculated using a plane-wave-pseudopotential method. Calculated defect energies are used within a canonical ensemble formalism to estimate the point defect densities as a function of temperature and composition. The density of vacancies is found to be sensitive to the underlying stoichiometry of TiAl. The dependence of the vacancy concentration for solid solutions of Si, Cr, Nb, Mo, Ta and W is also predicted.
A comparative analysis of the community contributions and profits of Virginia's hospitals.

BACKGROUND In return for receiving favorable treatment from the government, U.S. general hospitals are expected to provide contributions to their community consisting of charity care, bad debt, and taxes paid. Recently, the Government Accountability Office proposed that an analysis that compares what for-profit and nonprofit hospitals contribute be conducted. PURPOSE For 72 Virginia hospitals, it is determined whether (a) for-profit hospitals' community contributions exceed their profits and (b) nonprofit hospitals' community contributions exceed the for-profits' contributions in addition to the nonprofits' forgone taxes. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH Based on audited fiscal year 2004 financial statements, six null hypotheses were tested for significant differences between the two independent variables, namely, hospital charter and size, and the three dependent variables, including (a) operating income, (b) the ratio of community contributions to net patient revenues, and (c) the ratio of community contributions to operating income. FINDINGS No significant differences were found to exist between (a) hospital charter and operating income, (b) hospital charter and the percentage of community contributions to net patient revenues, and (c) hospital charter and the percentage of community contributions to operating income. The community contributions of nonprofits exceeded their taxes forgone by a wide margin, but they fell short of exceeding the for-profits' community contributions plus the taxes forgone by a very slight margin. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Hospital management, in conjunction with health care policy planners, needs to develop mutually acceptable standards regarding the required level of hospitals' community contributions. It is proposed that the most equitable standard is "quartile comparisons" for a given hospital's financial performance and its level of community contributions. Furthermore, to reduce charity care, it is imperative that high-cost hospital treatment of primary health care for indigent patients be shifted to lower cost delivery systems.
Seasonal and diurnal characteristics of surface level O3 and its precursors in the north-central part of India

Surface measurements of ozone and its precursor gases NO2 and CO have been made over an urban site of Agra (semi-arid region) for year 2005. O3, NO2 and CO show diurnal variations during all seasons. Overall increased concentration of O3 is majority attributed to increase in concentrations of NO2 and CO. The highest average concentration of O3 was observed in winters, followed by summers and monsoon. Similar trends were observed for NO2 and CO. Significant correlation was found for O3 with temperature and solar radiation whereas its correlation with relative humidity was not significant.
On uniform covers and t-designs

A collection of r -subsets of an n -set A is called a uniform cover with parameters n, q, r , λ if every q -subset of A contains λ of the elements of . The collection of all r -subsets of is a trivial uniform cover. It is known that for q>r >1 fixed, there is an upper bound N(q,r) on the integers n for which there exists a nontrivial uniform cover with parameters n, q, r , λ. Our main result is an improvement of the bound: Theorem . For fixed q>r>1, no nontrivial uniform cover exists for n≥q+r The method of proof is to exploit a very strong connection between uniform covers and a certain kind of tactical configuration called a design (here only; elsewhere, it is called a t -design).
Novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of brain cancer

Brain cancer encompasses both primary and metastatic brain tumours and accounts for over 120,000 new patients each year. Despite aggressive therapy, the majority of patients with brain cancer have poor prognosis and have brief survival intervals. Current chemotherapy drugs, used alone or in combination, have minimal or only modest activity. Novel agents that have recently been applied to brain cancer include temozolomide, irinotecan and paclitaxel. Temozolomide is a DNA alkylating agent, irinotecan inhibits DNA topoisomerase I and paclitaxel binds to microtubules and induces polymerisation. Neoplastic angiogenesis and brain tumour invasion are also targets for therapeutic intervention with new agents such as thalidomide, suramin and marimastat. All of these agents have demonstrated activity against brain cancer in vitro. Several of the drugs, in particular temozolomide, paclitaxel and irinotecan, have entered preliminary clinical trials and have demonstrated some efficacy. However, chemotherapy for primar...
Tensión Antitética: Estilo y Contenido en el Teatro de Antonio Gala

Las obras dramdticas de Gala manifiestan una concepci6n filos6fica de la realidad como una combinaci6n de fuerzas antag6nicas. Estas oposiciones conceptuales se trasladan al ambito textual a trav6s de un lenguaje contrastivo que combina estilos antit6ticos y que confiere a la palabra un significado polis6mico y binario. La duplicidad del lenguaje se convierte, en las ocho obras estudiadas aqui, en una manifestaci6n de la dial6ctica presente en la realidad social y de la paradoja inherente al ser humano.
Second European Stroke Prevention Study.

Prof Armand Lowenthal, the Principal Investigator and Chairman of the European Stroke Prevention Study-2 (ESPS-2), presented the findings of this large trial at the Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies in Marseille, France, on September 11, 1995. In ESPS-2, 6602 patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack were randomized to one of four groups: aspirin alone …
Education for self-treatment by adult asthmatics.

A prospective experimental design evaluated the ability of a series of educational and motivational interventions to enhance self-treatment by adult asthmatics and to reduce use of emergency department services for asthma attacks. After treatment for an asthma attack, subjects were randomly assigned to the following sequential interventions: (1) reinforcement by interpersonal similarity at the time of the emergency visit, (2) receipt of positive written appeals, and (3) follow-up telephone reinforcement. The asthmatic nurse educator was generally more effective in achieving short-term reduction of emergency department visits. Although the usefulness of the positive written appeal increased when employed by the asthmatic nurse, there were no substantive independent effects of the written message on emergency department use. ( JAMA 241:1919-1922, 1979)
Regulatory gene mutations affecting arginine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli.

Mutants of Escherichia coli with altered regulation of arginine biosynthesis were isolated. The alterations in all of the mutants with increased levels of the biosynthetic enzymes were found to map in the argR locus. The mutants were grouped into three classes based on their effect on the regulatory behavior. Complementation studies with stable merodiploid strains demonstrated that the derepressed synthesis in the mutants was recessive to wild-type regulation.
Ferrocenyl-derived face-capping ligands: syntheses and molecular structures of [(FcTt)Cu]4 and [FcTt]2M (M = Fe, Co, Ni; FcTt− = ferrocenyltris((methylthio)methyl)borate)

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of a ferrocenyl-derived tridentate ligand, ferrocenyltris((methylthio)methyl)borate (FcTtP−), and its representative metal complexes, [(FcTt)Cu]4 and [FcTt]2M (M = Fe, Co and Ni), are reported. The M = Fe complex exhibits spin-crossover behavior with a μeff = 1.19 μB at 25°C. The low-spin Co(II) derivative (1.88 μB) exhibits a characteristic axial electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum, gav = 2.13, A⊥ = 53 G and A¦ = 43 G. The [FcTt]2M complexes display reversible two-electron redox processes assigned to ligand-centered events about 200 mV negative of the ferrocene-ferrocenium couple. [(FcTt)Cu]4 and [FcTt]2Ni have been characterized by X-ray diffraction. X-ray data for [(FcTt)Cu]4: monoclinic space group C2/c, with a = 24.3747(3) A, b = 20.0857(2) A, c = 17.2747(4) A, β = 95.843(1)°, V = 8413.5(3) A3, and Z = 4; [FcTt]2Ni: monoclinic space group C2/c, with a = 12.6220(3) A, b = 11.6002(3) A, c = 25.0125(7) A, β = 94.067(1)°, V = 3653.1(2) A3, and Z = 4.
Dynamic Strain Aging of Various Steels

The dynamic strain aging characteristics of two dual phase steels, a high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel, a 1008 steel and an interstitial free (IF) steel were determined from tensile properties at temperatures in the range 295 to 460 K (22 to 187 °C) and strain rates between 6 × 10-6 to 10-2s-1. All except the IF steel were found to be susceptible to dynamic strain aging, as evidenced by increases in tensile strength. The largest positive change was observed in the 1008 steel while the dual phase and HSLA steels showed much smaller increases. Also, large decreases (up to 75 pct) in uniform elongation were noted for the 1008 steel while the decreases were minimal for the dual phase and HSLA steels. The IF steel did not strain age and showed a slight increase in uniform elongation with increasing temperature. Based upon uniform elongation as an indicator of formability, formability might be improved in dual phase or HSLA steels by reducing the concentration of free interstitials in the ferrites through chemistry control.
Reactions of coordinated molecules XI. The reaction of the rhenium tetracarbonyl metallo-acetylacetone complex with hydrazines

The reaction of the rhenium tetracarbonyl metallo-acetylacetone molecule, cis -(OC) 4 Re[C(CH 3 )O⋰H⋰O(CH 3 )C], with hydrazine, methylhydrazine and phenylhydrazine affords the corresponding acetyl-amine complexes, cis -(OC) 4 - Re(COCH 3 )(NH 2 R), where R = H, CH 3 , or C 6 H 5 , and acetonitrile. The reactions were followed by proton NMR at 36°C. The half-lilfe of the reaction with phenylhydrazine was 8.67 minutes while the other two hydrazines gave complete reaction within 30 seconds. The X-ray molecular structure determination of the acetyl-aniline complex is reported.
Changes in gene expression during chemical-induced nephrocarcinogenicity in the Eker rat.

Hydroquinone (HQ) is a rodent carcinogen and a potential human carcinogen. Glutathione conjugation of HQ enhances its biological reactivity, and 2,3,5-tris-(glutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone (TGHQ) is a potent nephrotoxicant and nephrocarcinogen in the Eker rat. Moreover, a single exposure of primary epithelial cells derived from Eker rat kidneys to TGHQ transforms these cells into an immortalized phenotype (quinol-thioether transformed rat renal epithelial (QT-RRE) cells). The Eker rat bears a mutation in one allele of the tuberous sclerosis-2 (Tsc-2) tumor suppressor gene, which predisposes the animals to the development of spontaneous and chemical-induced renal cell carcinoma. Thus, the Eker rat provides a unique model for elucidating the mechanisms of renal tubular epithelial carcinogeneisis. cDNA microarray analysis of QT-RRE3 cells and of tumor tissue derived from the kidneys of Eker rats treated with TGHQ revealed alterations (by threefold or greater) in the expression of a total of 80 genes. Fifteen percent of these genes exhibited similar expression patterns in both QT-RRE cells and tumor tissue. The differentially expressed genes primarily participate in three major areas: (1) signal transduction or in the regulation of signal transduction (extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (ERK2); protein kinase CK2; protein kinase B; c-jun; NF-κB; ras-related GTPases; annexins), (2) stress response, tissue remodeling, and DNA repair (glutathione-S-transferases; procollagen c proteinase enhancer; plasminogen activator; tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease 3; apurinic/apyrimidic endonuclease), and (3) electron transport and energy homeostasis (cytochrome c oxidase subunits). The changes in the expression of many of these genes was confirmed by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using primers specific for the differentially expressed genes. As an example, the annexin I and II genes, implicated in signal transduction, were highly induced in tumor tissue and also in dysplastic lesions isolated from the kidneys of rats treated chronically with TGHQ. The annexin I and II proteins were also upregulated in tumor tissue, which probably play an important role in TGHQ-induced nephrocarcinogenesis. Moreover, in the present study, a tumorigenicity assay using athymic nude mice revealed that QT-RRE cell lines formed tumors when injected in the subcutis of nude mice, providing evidence that the cells are malignantly transformed. Histopathological analysis further indicated that the tumors were composed of neoplastic cells, resembling renal carcinoma cells with varying degrees of atypia, with the presence of apoptotic and mitotic figures. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Solution of the Schrödinger equation containing a Perey–Buck nonlocality

Abstract The solution of a radial Schrodinger equation for ψ ( r ) containing a nonlocal potential of the form ∫ K ( r , r ′ ) ψ ( r ′ ) d r ′ is obtained to high accuracy by means of two methods. An application to the Perey–Buck nonlocality is presented, without using a local equivalent representation. The first method consists in expanding ψ in a set of Chebyshev polynomials, and solving the matrix equation for the expansion coefficients numerically. An accuracy of between 1 : 10 − 5 and 1 : 10 − 11 is obtained, depending on the number of polynomials employed. The second method consists in expanding ψ into a set of N S Sturmian functions of positive energy, supplemented by an iteration procedure. For N S = 15 an accuracy of 1 : 10 − 4 is obtained without iterations. After one iteration the accuracy is increased to 1 : 10 − 6 . Both methods are applicable to a general nonlocality K . The spectral method is less complex (requires less computing time) than the Sturmian method, but the latter can be very useful for certain applications.
Input-Indistinguishable Computation

We put forward a first definition of general secure computation that, without any trusted set-up, --handles an arbitrary number of concurrent executions; and --is implementable based on standard complexity assumptions. In contrast to previous definitions of secure computation, ours is not simulation-based.
The influence of partner-specific memory associations on language production: Evidence from picture naming

In typical interactions, speakers frequently produce utterances that appear to reflect beliefs about the common ground shared with particular addressees. Horton and Gerrig (2005a) proposed that one important basis for audience design is the manner in which conversational partners serve as cues for the automatic retrieval of associated information from memory. This paper reports the results of two experiments demonstrating the influence of partner-specific memory associations on language production. Following an initial task designed to establish associations between specific words (Experiment 1) or object categories (Experiment 2) and each of two partners, participants named a series of pictures in the context of the same two individuals. Naming latencies were shortest for responses associated with the current partner, and were not significantly correlated with explicit recall of partner-item associations. Such partner-driven memory retrieval may constrain the information accessible to speakers as they produce utterances for particular addressees.
Plasmablastic lymphoma presenting in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient: a case report

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL), an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that carries a poor prognosis, previously has been identified almost exclusively in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We present a case of a 42-year-old HIV-negative patient presenting with an isolated nasal cavity mass, the typical presentation for PBL. The patient was given systemic chemotherapy, central nervous system prophylaxis, and consolidative locoregional radiotherapy and achieved a complete clinical response. This case suggests PBL should be considered in HIV-negative patients with characteristic findings.
Mechanical spallation of charring ablators in hyperthermal environments

Analytical results are presented for the transient ablation performance of a high-performance castable ablation resin for which spallation is responsible for the char removal. The mechanism for the spallation process is assumed to depend upon the internal stress due to the gas pressure drop through the char and a critical char thickness that is related to the surface shear stress. The environmental conditions considered are representative of a ballistic reentry trajectory. Detailed calculations of the temperature, gas pressure, material density, porosity, and stress distribution through the material are presented. The effect of the char porosity on the internal stress is shown. In addition, results that demonstrate the effects of increased heating on the char removal and over-all ablation performance are presented. Nomenclature A = frequency factor Bit B2 = constants in Eq. (7) Cp = specific heat E = activation energy / = porosity HR = heat of degradation k = thermal conductivity K = permeability L = initial thickness m = mass flux M = molecular weight n = order of degradation reaction p = pressure q — heat flux R = universal gas constant t — time T = temperature WP = rate of plastic degradation x = distance normal to surface 5 = char thickness p = density T = gasification ratio (T = normal stress T «= shear stress
A MODIFIED DECOMPOSITION ALGORITHM FOR SCHEDULING PROBLEMS

A decomposition approach developed by the author is modified to reduce the computational effort involved. The modified algorithm is discussed. Computational experiments have been conducted for comparative evaluation of both original and modified decomposition algorithms. Significant results are reported.
Are the Stages of Internationalization Empirically Supportable

How firms progress through internationalization has been of great interest to many scholars attempting to develop a theory internationalization of business firms. This paper attempts ro identify different stages internationlization and to empirically validate some of the earlier findings with extensions and implications to management and theory development.
A Role for Myosin 1e in Cortical Granule Exocytosis in Xenopus Oocytes

Xenopus oocytes undergo dynamic structural changes during maturation and fertilization. Among these, cortical granule exocytosis and compensatory endocytosis provide effective models to study membrane trafficking. This study documents an important role for myosin1e in cortical granule exocytosis. Myosin1e is expressed at the earliest stage that cortical granule exocytosis can be detected in oocytes. Prior to exocytosis, myosin1e relocates to the surface of cortical granules. Overexpression of myosin1e augments the kinetics of cortical granule exocytosis, whereas tail-derived fragments of myosin1e inhibit this secretory event (but not constitutive exocytosis). Finally, intracellular injection of myosin1e antibody inhibits cortical granule exocytosis. Further experiments identified cysteine string proteins as interacting partners for myosin1e. As constituents of the membrane of cortical granules, cysteine string proteins are also essential for cortical granule exocytosis. Future investigation of the link between myosin1e and cysteine string proteins should help to clarify basic mechanisms of regulated exocytosis.
Defining and predicting short-term alcohol use changes during a smoking cessation attempt.

Abstract Introduction Alcohol and nicotine are commonly used substances in the U.S., with significant impacts on health. Using both substances concurrently impacts quit attempts. While studies have sought to examine changes in alcohol use co-occurring with tobacco cessation, results have not been consistent. Understanding these changes has clinical implications. The objective of this study is to identify changes in alcohol consumption that occur following tobacco cessation, as well as predictors of alcohol use patterns following a smoking cessation attempt. Methods A secondary analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of five tobacco cessation pharmacotherapies. Participants ( N = 1301) reported their smoking and alcohol consumption daily for two weeks prior to, and two weeks after, the target quit date (TQD). Results Generally, alcohol use decreased post-TQD. Smokers who reported less pre-quit alcohol use, as well as smokers who were female, non-white, and had a history of alcohol dependence tended to use less alcohol post-quit. Pre- and post-quit alcohol use were more strongly related among men and among those without a history of alcohol dependence. Conclusions For most smokers alcohol use decreased following smoking cessation. These results suggest that the expectation should be of decreased alcohol use post cessation. However, attention may be warranted for those who drink higher amounts of alcohol pre-cessation because they may be more likely to drink more in the post-quit period which may influence smoking cessation success.
The use of intranasal anticholinergic agents in the treatment of nonallergic perennial rhinitis

Nonallergic perennial rhinitis is a heterogenous disorder. Although the underlying cause is unknown, there is evidence of an autonomic imbalance with parasympathetic hyperreactivity in affected persons. We review this evidence and the role of ipratropium bromide, an anticholinergic drug with topical activity, in the management of nonallergic perennial rhinitis. The pharmacologic features, safety, and efficacy of ipratropium bromide are reviewed.
The primary structure of bovine adrenodoxin

Abstract The amino acid sequence of bovine adrenodoxin has been detemined except for the assignment of a few acid or amide groups. The protein contains 118 amino acids in the form of a single polypeptide chain. The five cysteine residues, most of which are involved in iron binding, are located at position 46, 52, 55, 95 and 98. The molecular weight of the protein from the amino acid content and the labile sulfide and the iron content is about 13,094.
We Value Teaching despite—and because of—Its Low Status

Many historians find primary satisfaction in teaching (and similar conversational activities), despite the low value placed on it in our profession's systems of training, scholarship, and status. Why is an activity that is highly prized by individuals so devalued by the profession collectively? TheJAH survey itself illustrates teaching's uneasy place in our profession. Among the thirty-nine questions requiring numerical answers, few even mention teaching; none asks the respondent to assign a value to it. The respondents were asked to identify their "allegiances or identities," but none of the options printed on the form touches on teaching. None of the eighteen questions seeking descriptive answers explicitly invites comment on teaching (unless one counts questions about "training"). If the survey mirrors what our profession emphasizes, teaching is the activity that cannot be named. Name it respondents nonetheless did, even though they had to take the initiative to do so -which is all the more reason to attend to their responses. When asked "What value or worth do you experience in doing history?" about one-third of the respondents cited teaching. It was cited more often than any other dimension of the historian's work, and many of the other satisfactions mentioned ("communicating with the public," "presentness of the past") overlap with or become manifest in teaching. The emphasis on teaching is even more striking given that perhaps 30 percent of the respondents -those recorded as "graduate student," "retired," "nonacademic" have little or no current experience teaching.' Teaching covers an immense range of activities and opportunities. It offers "a form of social activism," shapes "the next generation," provides the chance to "share insights and great books with students," and "shows students that the past is made of real people like themselves." "I am bold enough to say that I believe in the importance of history," wrote one respondent, "and because I do I am convinced that what I do as a teacher is invaluable." Many speak simply of "making a valuable contribu-
DYNAMIC DISPLAY OF PERSONALIZED SOFTWARE FUNCTIONS

Generalized software packages endowed with a large spectrum of functionalities are often underutilized because users are not always aware of all the functionalities. It is hence desirable to display personalized information about the package. Though popular in web-based applications, personalization as a field of research in the design of generalized software packages is rare. This article develops a semi-Markov model of user navigation and an adaptive dynamic programming formulation to select high-utility software functions states for dynamically displaying them to a user. The personalization algorithm considers the interests of the software designers, the past users, and the current user. Frequency of visit to a state and the holding time in the state together determines the utility of the state. The personalization algorithm considers the interests of the software designers, the past users, and the current user. The algorithm is built in a demo package of ActiveX Servers and Controls. Graduate students tested the package. Pareto analysis and tests of hypothesis conducted on the test results indicate that the users did utilize the information on the displayed personalized software functions.
Favorable Outcome After Aggressive Treatment of Infection in a Diabetic Patient With MRSA-Related IgA Nephropathy

IgA immune complex deposition is not commonly seen with acute postinfectious glomerulonephritis secondary to staphylococcal infections. Its deposition is usually indicative of IgA nephropathy or Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis. We describe a patient with a history of diabetes mellitus who was admitted with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and subsequent demonstration on renal biopsy of crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with codominant IgA and C3 immune deposits and early changes of diabetic nephropathy. After aggressive treatment of infection, which included bilateral metatarsal amputation and subsequent left below-the-knee amputation as well as antibiotic administration for persistent osteomyelitis, the patient's renal function progressively improved with a reduction in serum creatinine concentration from 6.1 mg/dL (539 micromol/L) to 2.7 mg/dL (239 micromol/L). On a 3-year follow-up evaluation, his serum creatinine concentration was 1.7 mg/dL (150 micromol/L) and urine was negative for protein and blood.
Development of Reliable Electronic Packaging Solutions for Spacecraft Avionics Miniaturization Using Embedded Passive Devices

Miniaturization of electronic packages will play a key role in future space avionics systems. Smaller avionics packages will reduce payloads while providing greater functionality for information processing and mission instrumentation. Current surface mount technology discrete passive devices not only take up significant space but also add weight. To that end, the use of embedded passive devices, such as capacitors, inductors and resistors will be instrumental in allowing electronics to be made smaller and lighter. Embedded passive devices fabricated on silicon or like substrates using thin film technology, promise great savings in circuit volume, as well as potentially improving electrical performance by decreasing parasitic losses. These devices exhibit a low physical profile and allow the circuit footprint to be reduced by stacking passive elements within a substrate. Thin film technologies used to deposit embedded passive devices are improving and costs associated with the process are decreasing. There are still many challenges with regard to this approach that must be overcome. In order to become a viable approach these devices need to work in conjunction with other active devices such as bumped die (flip chip) that share the same substrate area. This dictates that the embedded passive devices are resistant to the subsequent assembly processes associated with die attach (temperature, pressure). Bare die will need to be mounted directly on top of one or more layers of embedded passive devices. Currently there is not an abundant amount of information available on the reliability of these devices when subjected to the high temperatures of die attach or environmental thermal cycling for space environments. Device performance must be consistent over time and temperature with minimal parasitic loss. Pretested and assembled silicon substrates with layers of embedded capacitors made with two different dielectric materials, Ta2 O5 (Tantalum Oxide) and benzocyclobutene (BCB), were subjected to the die attach process and tested for performance in an ambient environment. These assemblies were subjected to environmental thermal cycling from −55°C to 100°C. Preliminary results indicate embedded passive capacitors and resistors can fulfill the performance and reliability requirements of space flight on future missions. Testing results are encouraging for continued development of integrating embedded passive devices to replace conventional electronic packaging methods.© 2003 ASME