cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvements in 3-node triangular shell elements

Low-order triangular finite shell elements are computationally economical and easy to implement, but often exhibit very slow convergence. Two new membrane formulations for triangular shell elements are examined which rectify these drawbacks. The first element is based on the Marguerre shallow shell theory and a strain projection method that eliminates spurious membrane strain energy. Resulting expressions are provided in an explicit form for easy implementation of the element. The second element is based on a linear membrane field governed by normal rotations and reduced quadrature. The difficulties with shell-normal rotations are analysed and a method for omitting these rotations while preserving rigid body motion is presented and tested. Finally, a set of test problems are examined which show the importance of mesh patterns and degrees-of-freedom per node on triangular element performance.
The Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial ATP synthase is developmentally regulated at the level of transcript stability

Abstract The mitochondrial ATP synthase is developmentally regulated throughout the life cycle of the Trypanosoma brucei . The α and β subunits of the F 1 moiety, and subunit 9 of the F 0 moiety of the T. brucei ATP synthase have been previously cloned and characterized. Here we have determined the chromosomal localization and developmental regulation of these three key subunits of the complex. Southern blot analysis indicates that all three of these genes are present as single copies in the T. brucei genome. Pulsed field gel analysis demonstrates that these genes are encoded in different chromosomes, and are thus not part of the same gene cluster. A comparison between the protein and steady state transcript levels for these subunits suggests that regulation of expression occurs predominantly posttranscriptionally. Comparison of mRNA stability for procyclic and bloodstream forms shows that the half life of the three transcripts is much shorter in bloodstream forms. The differences in transcript stability in the procyclic form for subunit 9 is greater than that for α and β subunits, while the differences at the protein levels are comparable. These results suggest that there may be further posttranscriptional regulation of subunit 9.
A Theorem for Deriving Majority-Logic Networks Within an Augmented Boolean Algebra

Recent developments in computer technology have produced devices (parametrons, Esaki diodes) that act logically as binary majority-decision elements. Conventional design techniques fail to utilize fully the logical properties of these devices. The resulting designs are extravagant with respect to the number of components used and the operating time required. This paper reviews the conventional technique briefly and proposes an alternative method that produces more nearly minimal designs.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Infant Mortality Attributable to Birth Defects by Gestational Age

OBJECTIVE: Birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. Previous reports have highlighted black-white differences in overall infant mortality and infant mortality attributable to birth defects (IMBD). We evaluated the impact of gestational age on US racial/ethnic differences in IMBD. METHODS: We estimated the rate of IMBD as the underlying cause of death using the period-linked birth/infant death data for US residents for January 2003 to December 2006. We excluded infants with missing gestational age, implausible values based on Alexander’s index of birth weight for gestational age norms, or gestational ages 44 weeks; we categorized gestational age into 3 groups: 20 to 33, 34 to 36, and 37 to 44 weeks. Using Poisson regression, we compared neonatal and postneonatal IMBD for infants of non-Hispanic black and Hispanic mothers with that for infants of non-Hispanic white mothers stratified by gestational age. RESULTS: IMBD occurred in 12.2 per 10 000 live births. Among infants delivered at 37 to 44 weeks, blacks (and Hispanics, to a lesser degree) had significantly higher neonatal and postneonatal IMBD than whites; however, among infants delivered at 20 to 33 or 34 to 36 weeks, neonatal (but not postneonatal) IMBD was significantly lower among blacks compared with whites. CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic differences in IMBD were not explained in these data by differences in gestational age. Further investigation should include an assessment of possible racial/ethnic differences in severity and/or access to timely diagnosis and management of birth defects.
Abstraction Refinement for Stability

The paper presents a CEGAR-based procedure for verifying stability (region stabillity) of CPS modeled as hybrid automata. It relies a characterization of the blocking property of hybrid automata in terms of well-foundedness of a relation that combines the discrete transitions and continuous trajectories and a key assumption about the switching speed of the system in terms of average dwell time, but does not require the individual modes to be stable. This characterization enables the adaptation of program analysis techniques in the domain of hybrid systems. It is shown that the procedure is complete for rectangular initialized hybrid automata. Several illustrative examples are verified using a prototype tool that implements the methodology.
A peer-to-peer infrastructure for distributing large scientific data sets over wide area high-performance networks: experimental studies using wide area layer 2 services

This paper presents Sector, a distributed environment that was created specifically to address the challenges inherent in accessing, exploring, analyzing and transporting extremely large scientific datasets over high performance wide area networks. To date, the effective utilization of such datasets has been limited because accessing and transporting large remote data sets in traditional distributed computing environments is often a challenge. Sector was designed and developed to eliminate these barriers. The Sector architecture incorporates specialized communications services and specialized data services that are designed for high volume data flows over wide area high performance optical networks. This design employs several innovative techniques to ensure that data flows are maximized at all times and at all locations required regardless of distances. This architectural design has been implemented on a prototype international experimental testbed. The results and implications of these preliminary tests are described.
Human transcriptome analysis of acute responses to glucose ingestion reveals the role of leukocytes in hyperglycemia-induced inflammation

Glucose ingestion-induced hyperglycemia has been known to induce inflammation, which is related to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. To examine acute gene expression responses to physiolo...
Doing damage in delirium: the hazards of antipsychotic treatment in elderly people

Delirium can be associated with behavioural manifestations such as agitation, inappropriate be haviours, delusions, and hallucinations, which can be distressing to patients and to their families. Moreover, these symptoms can make patients diffi cult to provide care for and are a source of burden and stress for both health-care workers and informal carers. Largely to address these behavioural symptoms, the fi eld of delirium prevention and treatment has come to focus on clinical trials of antipsychotic drugs. 2,3 A search of the PubMed database shows that the annual number of studies of antipsychotic drugs for prevention or treatment of delirium has grown substantially in the past 20 years, from two studies published in 1990 to more than 40 in 2013. This necessitates an urgent call for caution in the use of antipsychotic drugs for the management of patients with delirium. The use of antipsychotics might be regarded as counterintuitive because these drugs can all cause confusion or delirium as side-eff ects. However, powerful incentives in our health-care systems promote prescription of antipsychotics for patients with delirium, and have led to the frequent use of these drugs. Antipsychotics may have appeal as a potential quick fi x compared with non-pharmacological approaches, but clinicians might not fully realise that their attempt to make patients more manageable and less distressed can result in worsened clinical outcomes. In essence, these drugs can be regarded to be a form of chemical restraint, and concern exists that the use of drugs such as haloperidol and atypical antipsychotics for treatment of delirium might often be serving the interests of the providers rather than the patients. The marketing and promotion by the pharmaceutical industry of off -label use of antipsychotics for treatment of agitation in cognitively impaired patients 4
Children's Understanding of Funeral Ritual:

One hundred-twenty children who experienced the death of one of their parents were interviewed about their view of the funeral ritual. Ninety-five percent of them attended the funeral. Shortly after the death they recalled little about the funeral. Two years later, children reported that it was important to them that they had attended. Attendance helped them to acknowledge the death, provided an occasion for honoring their deceased parent, and made it possible for them to receive support and comfort.
GABAB receptor agonists for the treatment of drug addiction: a review of recent findings

A growing preclinical and clinical literature suggests that GABA(B) receptor agonists promote abstinence and reduce the use of cocaine, heroin, alcohol and nicotine. The purpose of this paper is to critically review these data. GABA(B) receptor agonists, such as baclofen, appear to reduce the reinforcing effects of abused drugs in animal models under multiple experimental procedures. This occurs at doses that have little effect on responding for other positive reinforcers such as food or water. We review evidence that these potential therapeutic effects may be mediated by modulation of mesolimbic dopamine neurons. This review also examines the preliminary clinical data from studies of the efficacy of baclofen for treatment of cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine dependence. We suggest that these preliminary data provide a rationale for conducting more systematic studies of the effects of GABA(B) receptor agonists as treatment for drug abuse. This line of research may also improve our understanding of the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the drug dependence process.
Therapeutic targeting of SPINK1-positive prostate cancer

Gene fusions involving ETS (erythroblastosis virus E26 transformation-specific) family transcription factors are found in ~50% of prostate cancers and as such can be used as a basis for the molecular subclassification of prostate cancer. Previously, we showed that marked overexpression of SPINK1 (serine peptidase inhibitor, Kazal type 1), which encodes a secreted serine protease inhibitor, defines an aggressive molecular subtype of ETS fusion-negative prostate cancers (SPINK1+/ETS⁻, ~10% of all prostate cancers). Here, we examined the potential of SPINK1 as an extracellular therapeutic target in prostate cancer. Recombinant SPINK1 protein (rSPINK1) stimulated cell proliferation in benign RWPE as well as cancerous prostate cells. Indeed, RWPE cells treated with either rSPINK1 or conditioned medium from 22RV1 prostate cancer cells (SPINK1+/ETS⁻) significantly increased cell invasion and intravasation when compared with untreated cells. In contrast, knockdown of SPINK1 in 22RV1 cells inhibited cell proliferation, cell invasion, and tumor growth in xenograft assays. 22RV1 cell proliferation, invasion, and intravasation were attenuated by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to SPINK1 as well. We also demonstrated that SPINK1 partially mediated its neoplastic effects through interaction with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Administration of antibodies to SPINK1 or EGFR (cetuximab) in mice bearing 22RV1 xenografts attenuated tumor growth by more than 60 and 40%, respectively, or ~75% when combined, without affecting PC3 xenograft (SPINK1⁻/ETS⁻) growth. Thus, this study suggests that SPINK1 may be a therapeutic target in a subset of patients with SPINK1+/ETS⁻ prostate cancer. Our results provide a rationale for both the development of humanized mAbs to SPINK1 and evaluation of EGFR inhibition in SPINK1+/ETS⁻ prostate cancers.
InACTIVatINg cancer cachexia

Summary of and comment on a recent Cell paper entitled ‘Reversal of cancer cachexia and muscle wasting by ActRIIB antagonism leads to prolonged survival’ (Zhou et al., 2010).
Characterizations of furfuryl alcohol oligomer/polymerization catalyzed by homogeneous and heterogeneous acid catalysts

The liquid-phase oligomer/polymerization of furfuryl alcohol (FA) catalyzed by homogeneous and heterogeneous acid catalysts was investigated by Infrared (IR) spectroscopy. At room temperature and 100 °C, FA was not decomposed with metal oxide catalysts except for tungsten oxide, whereas amberlyst and sulfuric acid converted a furfuryl alcohol monomer into oligomer/polymer even at a room temperature. During FA oligomer/polymerization reaction, a strong C=O band observed in the IR spectra provided a diketone structure, which was not observed in the Raman spectroscopy. Based on the FA monomer color changings and IR spectra, tungsten oxide can be possibly applied as a heterogeneous catalyst for controlling the product distribution and avoiding a product separation issue from catalyst.
Molecular Aspects of Macrophage Activation and Proliferation

The importance of macrophages as effectors of cell-mediated immunity to a variety of microorganisms, particularly to facultative intracellular parasites, is well established. Recent evidence indicates that macrophages are important participants in the host’s reaction to engraftment and to spontaneous or induced neoplasia. The effectiveness of macrophages in these aspects of host resistance appears to depend on a process of activation by which monocyte-derived macrophages acquire a nonspecific enhancement of microbicidal and tumoricidal capacity. While this process of activation has been extensively analyzed in vivo, it is only recently that it has been examined in vitro and its mechanisms have been probed. This chapter, in attempting to develop what is known about this process, is admittedly premature in its presentation, since the specific mechanisms of macrophage activation have yet to be clarified.
System of systems: Power and paradox

Systems concepts and artifacts provide the basis for enumerable sources of power and wealth in our modern world. Culture, art and science all are based on established systems of behavior, values and thought. The current environment is densely populated with physical system artifacts that are used in every aspect of human life. The ubiquitous nature of existing systems has generated a strong interest in using an existing set of systems as the basis for a system of systems. Further interest in the system-of-systems approach is stimulated by rapid development, deployment and expansion of new and existing systems. While successful system and system-of-systems production provides the basis of great power, many system development activities result in failure. The paradox is that while many individual systems work well as a single system, they fail when incorporated as a component of a system of systems. Successful system-of-systems characteristics and attributes are explored in this paper.
Nonparathyroid hormone-mediated calcium resorption in a rat model of immune glomerulonephritis.

Skeletal demineralization is a frequent accompaniment of chronic renal disease and is likely multifactorial. We studied the role of inflammation in stimulating bone resorption in a rat model of glomerulonephritis (GN). Three-week-old Sprague–Dawley rats received either saline (n = 8) or horse spleen apoferritin and lipopolysaccharide (HSA/LPS, n = 8) by intraperitoneal injection, for 6 weeks; afterward, they were observed for either an additional 3 weeks (9 weeks total; n = 4 from each group) or 14 weeks (20 weeks total; n = 4 from each group). Kidneys were analyzed by histomorphometry, and blood and urine samples were obtained to assess bone resorption. Whole-body and isolated femur Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were performed at the end of each study. HSA/LPS-treated animals developed a proliferative GN by 9 weeks, which is associated with proteinuria but no change in renal function. Between 9 and 20 weeks, there was evidence of an increasing interstitial inflammation (1381 ± 67 interstitial cells/mm 2 at 9 weeks and 1818 ± 28 interstitial cells/mm 2 at 20 weeks.) There was also evidence of bone resorbing activity as assessed by experimental/control (E/C)
A sequence motif within trypanosome precursor tRNAs influences abundance and mitochondrial localization.

Trypanosoma brucei lacks mitochondrial genes encoding tRNAs and must import nuclearly encoded tRNAs from the cytosol. The mechanism and specificity of this process remain unclear. We have identified a unique sequence motif, YGG(C/A)RRC, upstream of the genes encoding mitochondrially localized tRNAs in T. brucei. Both in vitro import studies and in vivo transfection studies indicate that deletion of the YGG(C/A)RRC sequence alters mitochondrial localization of tRNALeu, and in vivo studies also show a decrease in the cellular abundance of tRNALeu. These studies provide direct evidence for cis-acting RNA motifs within precursor tRNAs that facilitate the selection of tRNAs for mitochondrial import in trypanosomes. Furthermore, we found that mutations to the YGG(C/A)RRC sequence also altered the intracellular distribution of other endogenous tRNAs, suggesting a general role for this sequence in tRNA trafficking in trypanosomes.
Marine sediment shear velocity structure from the ratio of displacement to pressure of Rayleigh waves at seafloor

The complex ratio of vertical displacement to pressure (D/P) at seafloor is a function of frequency. It is sensitive to the subsurface elastic properties, particularly the shear modulus, and therefore can be used to determine the shear velocity and thickness of marine sediments. Instead of using compliance in response to loading of long-period infragravity waves as in previous studies, we investigate the transfer function from pressure to displacement using Rayleigh waves generated by microseisms and earthquakes. We find that at frequencies between 0.1 and 0.2 Hz, the Rayleigh wave transfer function is very sensitive to marine sediments and can be reliably obtained from microseism noise. Using a surface wave mode method, we calculate synthetic D/P ratios and examine their sensitivity to water depth, shear wave speed, and thickness of sediments. We develop a method to invert the Rayleigh wave D/P ratio for a regional 1-D profile of sediment shear wave speed and associated sediment thickness beneath each ocean bottom seismograph (OBS). We apply our method to a group of deep water OBSs deployed in the Cascadia Initiative and obtain a well-resolved depth-dependent shear wave speed for sediments on the Juan de Fuca plate and shear wave traveltime delays caused by sediments at each station.
Digital RNA Allelotyping Reveals Tissue-Specific and Allele-Specific Gene Expression in Human

We developed a digital RNA allelotyping method for quantitatively interrogating allele-specific gene expression. This method involves ultra-deep sequencing of padlock captured SNPs from the transcriptome. We characterized four cell lines established from two human subjects in the Personal Genome Project. Approximately 11–22% of the heterozygous mRNA-associated SNPs show allele-specific expression in each cell line; and 4.3–8.5% are tissue-specific, suggesting the presence of tissue-specific cis-regulation. When applied to two pairs of sibling human embryonic stem cell lines, the sibling lines were more similar in allele-specific expression than were the genetically unrelated lines. We found that the variation of allelic ratios in gene expression among different cell lines is primarily explained by genetic variations, much more so than by specific tissue types or culturing conditions. Comparison of expressed SNPs on the sense and anti-sense transcripts suggested that allelic ratios are primarily determined by cis-regulatory mechanisms on the sense transcripts.
High performance visualization of time-varying volume data over a wide-area network status

This paper presents an end-to-end, low-cost solution for visualizing time-varying volume data rendered on a parallel computer located at a remote site. Pipelining and careful grouping of processors are used to hide I/O time and to maximize processor utilization. Compression is used to significantly cut down the cost of transferring output images from the parallel computer to a display device through a wide-area network. This complete rendering pipeline makes possible highly efficient rendering and remote viewing of high-resolution time-varying data sets in the absence of high-speed network and parallel I/O support. To study the performance of this rendering pipeline and to demonstrate high-performance remote visualization, tests were conducted on a PC cluster in Japan as well as an SGI Origin 2000 operated at the NASA Ames Research Center with the display located at UC Davis.
In vivo structure-function analyses of Caenorhabditis elegans MEC-4, a candidate mechanosensory ion channel subunit.

Mechanosensory signaling mediated by mechanically gated ion channels constitutes the basis for the senses of touch and hearing and contributes fundamentally to the development and homeostasis of all organisms. Despite this profound importance in biology, little is known of the molecular identities or functional requirements of mechanically gated ion channels. We report a genetically based structure–function analysis of the candidate mechanotransducing channel subunit MEC-4, a core component of a touch-sensing complex in Caenorhabditis elegans and a member of the DEG/ENaC superfamily. We identify molecular lesions in 40 EMS-induced mec-4 alleles and further probe residue and domain function using site-directed approaches. Our analysis highlights residues and subdomains critical for MEC-4 activity and suggests possible roles of these in channel assembly and/or function. We describe a class of substitutions that disrupt normal channel activity in touch transduction but remain permissive for neurotoxic channel hyperactivation, and we show that expression of an N-terminal MEC-4 fragment interferes with in vivo channel function. These data advance working models for the MEC-4 mechanotransducing channel and identify residues, unique to MEC-4 or the MEC-4 degenerin subfamily, that might be specifically required for mechanotransducing function. Because many other substitutions identified by our study affect residues conserved within the DEG/ENaC channel superfamily, this work also provides a broad view of structure–function relations in the superfamily as a whole. Because the C. elegans genome encodes representatives of a large number of eukaryotic channel classes, we suggest that similar genetic-based structure–activity studies might be generally applied to generate insight into the in vivo function of diverse channel types.
Cellular prion protein mediates impairment of synaptic plasticity by amyloid-β oligomers

A pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is an accumulation of insoluble plaque containing the amyloid-beta peptide of 40-42 amino acid residues. Prefibrillar, soluble oligomers of amyloid-beta have been recognized to be early and key intermediates in Alzheimer's-disease-related synaptic dysfunction. At nanomolar concentrations, soluble amyloid-beta oligomers block hippocampal long-term potentiation, cause dendritic spine retraction from pyramidal cells and impair rodent spatial memory. Soluble amyloid-beta oligomers have been prepared from chemical syntheses, transfected cell culture supernatants, transgenic mouse brain and human Alzheimer's disease brain. Together, these data imply a high-affinity cell-surface receptor for soluble amyloid-beta oligomers on neurons-one that is central to the pathophysiological process in Alzheimer's disease. Here we identify the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) as an amyloid-beta-oligomer receptor by expression cloning. Amyloid-beta oligomers bind with nanomolar affinity to PrP(C), but the interaction does not require the infectious PrP(Sc) conformation. Synaptic responsiveness in hippocampal slices from young adult PrP null mice is normal, but the amyloid-beta oligomer blockade of long-term potentiation is absent. Anti-PrP antibodies prevent amyloid-beta-oligomer binding to PrP(C) and rescue synaptic plasticity in hippocampal slices from oligomeric amyloid-beta. Thus, PrP(C) is a mediator of amyloid-beta-oligomer-induced synaptic dysfunction, and PrP(C)-specific pharmaceuticals may have therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease.
Ovalbumin mRNA and ovalbumin DNA and the molecular biology of steroid hormone action.

Certain steroid hormones, including estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone have profound effects on the development and function of the hen oviduct (Oka and Schimke, 1969a, b; O’Malley et al., 1969; Palmiter and Wrenn, 1971; Cox and Sauermein, 1970). Our attention has focused on hormonal regulation of ovalbumin synthesis, since this single polypeptide constitutes 50–60% of the protein synthesized in the fully differentiated oviduct, and its synthesis is under control by estrogens and progesterone. These features have allowed an analysis of the regulation at the molecular level, most specifically characterization and quantitation of the elements involved in specific protein synthesis, including polysomes, mRNA, and genes, in order to determine which of a myriad of potentially rate limiting steps is regulated by the hormones. We describe herein some of our more recent studies on the regulation of ovalbumin synthesis, including characterization of ovalbumin mRNA, and the use of nucleic acid hybridization techniques to analyze the mechanism of steroid hormone action.
Perceptions of hedonic and utilitarian values in consumer choice based on use and future adoption of technological products and innovations

This work studies the usability, acceptance and adoption of technological products which consumers choose for their hedonic value but which are justified by such consumers on utilitarian grounds. The principal objective of this article is to discuss the behaviour of users of netbooks for didactic purposes. In order to analyse this behaviour which in this case is concerned with the usage and value perceptions that define consumer preferences, a 'netnographic' analytic method is used, which, similar to an ethnographic approach, examines the behaviour of individuals through a (written) description of the needs and values of virtual communities and cyberculture. The authors argue that the utilitarian value of the product is not key in its position and acceptance in the market; when the product presents ambiguous values (both utilitarian and hedonic), consumers tend to base their preference on the product's hedonic values. It is also argued that technological products link satisfaction to social status, creating differentiation through the level of actualisation of the users' products and a utilitarian preference for integrated products, given practical applications of these integrated features.
Painting a Moving Train: Adding 'Postmodern' to the Taxonomy of Law

This article proposes that certain laws or forms of law can be characterized as "postmodern" because they, like their counterparts in literature or architecture, share similar attributes. Consistent with postmodernism's rejection of modernism, these laws appear to defy the modernist attributes of unitary core principles or singular meaning and stasis. Instead, these postmodern laws are: fragmentary, decentralized, uncertain and allow a multiplicity of interpretations; they reject master-narratives and embrace paradox; they are grounded or rooted in daily life; and are also connected to the internet, cyber-space and high technology. The identification and characterization of certain laws as "postmodern" have the paradoxical modernist effect of reducing or "normalizing" such otherwise uncertain law. More practically, however, this labeling, which is a modernist act, creates a normative tool for bridging the postmodern and modern. A shared dialogue can emerge where this new form of "postmodern law" can be identified, appreciated, critiqued, and placed in an historic context.The use of "postmodern" as a label also keeps the concept of postmodernism alive at a time when members of the academy have called it dead or passe. Far from being dead, postmodernism is deeply entrenched in the law's lexicon and culture, much in the same way it is widely used and embedded in popular culture. To pretend it is dead or insignificant restricts the legal academy's ability to acknowledge postmodernism's contribution to the academy and its usefulness as a tool in both practice and theory.In this article, the label "postmodern" is applied, as an example, to the privacy law that has emerged from the Safe Harbor Agreement between the United States and the European Union and which arose out of the EU Privacy Directive. By viewing the Agreement as a "postmodern law", the weaknesses of the law from a modernist perspective are exposed, but its strengths, from a postmodernist and pragmatic perspective, can be appreciated. This article also applies the label to computer code that is deemed a form of law by scholars such as Lawrence Lessig. The label "postmodern" applied to code, highlights this "law's" ontological uncertainty and allusiveness under more traditional and modern definitions of law. It is the paradox of these laws being flexible and adaptable while simultaneously being normative that makes the postmodernist aspect of these laws valuable. In this postmodern era of technology and cyberspace, a postmodern law such as the Safe Harbor Agreement, is likely to be the model for future legal regimes that can be flexible, dynamic, evolving, and multifaceted while still providing for the normative needs of regulation in the emerging global legal system.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Prognosis in Pyelonephritis: Promise or Progress?

Prognosis in pyelonephritis, or upper urinary tract infection, is provided. This infection is not responsible for progressive renal disease in young or elderly patients but accounts for frequent febrile episodes in women of all ages and men after the age of 50. Vigorous local immune response develops with the infection, which never succeeds in eradicating bacteria but does limit the infection and provides a diagnostic test: the antibody-coated bacteria test. Emphasis is placed on the need for a localization test for upper tract infection because studies based exclusively on clinical criteria are invalid. Appropriate therapy for mildly ill patients is given with recommendations of combination therapy for severely ill persons. Long-term follow-up is critical because most patients with recurrent infections can be given preventive therapy without subjecting them to needless urologic evaluation.
Balanced partitioning

We consider the problem of bipartitioning a circuit into two balanced components that minimizes the number of crossing nets. Previously, Kernighan and Lin type (K&L) heuristics, simulated annealing approach, and analytical methods were given to solve the problem. However, network flow (max-flow min-cut) techniques were overlooked as viable heuristics to min-cut balanced bipartition due to their high complexity. In this paper we propose a balanced bipartition heuristic based on repeated max-flow min-cut techniques, and give an efficient implementation that has the same asymptotic time complexity as that of one max-flow computation. We implemented our heuristic algorithm in a package called FBB. The experimental results demonstrate that FBB outperforms K&L heuristics and analytical methods in terms of the number of crossing nets, and our efficient implementation makes it possible to partition large circuit netlists with reasonable runtime. For example, the average elapsed time for bipartitioning a circuit S35932 of almost 20 K gates is less than 20 min on a SPARC10 with 32 MB memory.
Development of an NADPH-Dependent Homophenylalanine Dehydrogenase by Protein Engineering

l-Homophenylalanine is a nonproteinogenic amino acid and can be used as a versatile pharmaceutical intermediate. Production of l-homophenylalanine involves amination of the keto acid precursor 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid (2-OPBA), which can be accomplished by bioenzymatic processes. Current biocatalysts for this reaction include transaminases and NADH-dependent phenylalanine dehydrogenases, which are not optimal for metabolic engineering of whole-cell biocatalysis. Here, we report the development of an NADPH-dependent homophenylalanine dehydrogenase by engineering the NADPH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Escherichia coli, which provides a new tool for in vitro catalysis and in vivo metabolic engineering. We took a stepwise substrate walking strategy: the first round directed evolution switched GDH's substrate specificity from its natural substrate 2-ketoglutarate to the intermediate target phenylpyruvate, which has similar structure as 2-OPBA; and the second round further improved the enzyme's catalytic efficiency toward the final target 2-OPBA. Compared to wild type GDH, the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of the final mutant was ∼100 fold higher for 2-OPBA and ∼3000 fold lower for the original substrate 2-ketoglutarate. When overexpressed in E. coli, the engineered GDH aminated 2-OPBA to l-homophenylalanine more effectively than the transaminases and NADH-dependent phenylalanine dehydrogenase, possibly because it utilizes the strong anabolic driving force NADPH under aerobic condition.
Experiments on Effect of Jet Impingement on Heat Transfer in Annular Channels With Parallel and Counter Flows

This experimental research examines, for turbulent parallel and counter flows of air through an annular channel, the effects of varying the geometries of the channel and the array of holes along the inner tube on the heat transfer distribution on the inner surface of the outer tube. Each hole array has 5 or 6 inline or staggered circular holes around the circumference of the inner tube at 10 axial stations along the inner tube. Heat transfer experiments are performed for three inner tube diameters, two hole diameters, and Reynolds numbers of 5,000, 12,250 and 30,000, to determine the distribution of the regional average Nusselt numbers along the outer tube, as a result of the jets impinging on its inner surface. Pressure measurements give the overall pressure drops, and the pressure distributions along the inner tube and the annular channel between the inner and outer tubes. The pressure data is needed to determine the mass flow rates of the impinging jets along the inner tube. The jets along the inner tube enhance the regional heat transfer on the inner surface of the outer tube by up to eight times when compared with the heat transfer for fully developed turbulent flow through an annular channel. Heat transfer enhancement is higher for a smaller inner tube and a lower Reynolds number. In the parallel flow case, the heat transfer coefficient on the outer wall of the annular channel is higher near the downstream end of the annular channel, while in the counter flow case, the heat transfer coefficient is higher near the upstream end of the annular channel. For both parallel and counter flows, the heat transfer coefficient is higher in a channel with a larger inner tube. With smaller holes along the inner tube, the heat transfer coefficient along the outer tube is higher and more uniform. Smaller holes, however, cause a higher overall pressure drop across the annular channel, resulting in a lower thermal performance. Increasing the total number of holes lowers the heat transfer, and causes a lower overall pressure drop. The hole mass flow rate increases along the main flow direction in the annular channel for parallel flow, and decreases for counter flow. The variation of the hole mass transfer is smaller for a larger inner tube diameter.© 2002 ASME
Dynamic Performance of Vibrometer Steering System for Dynamic In-ight Tracking and Measurement

Noncontact dynamic measurements of lightweight exible aerospace structures in motion present several challenges. Achieving high frequency and high resolution measurements requires multiple registered metrology systems. Many noncontact measurement methods are based on the object staying aligned with the sensor. Yet sometimes the desired loading is a result of the motion interacting with structural dynamics as is the case with aeroelasticity. Triangulation of video data can capture large scale motion, but limits the speed and resolution of the measurement. Laser vibrometry can capture minute structural vibrations but assumes vibrations about an equilibrium point. This paper presents a method of registering a laser vibrometer steering system to a motion capture system to produce dynamic in-ight tracking measurements (DITM). The basis of the calibration lies with determining the location of the laser steering system through the videogrammetry capture volume for DITM. A method for using video capture of the laser is presented to determine 3-D lines through the capture volume that are used to determine origin of laser with respect to the video system. Results of the calibration are sucient to have the laser track within half a
A new 6-node shear-deformable triangular plate/shell element for the analysis of spinning composite pretwisted plates

A six-node triangular element is developed for the analysis of spinning laminated composite structures. The element is based on a first-order shear deformable laminated plate theory. Complete cubic polynomials are used to represent the transverse deflections and complete quadratic polynomials are used to model the rotations and the in-plane displacements. Linear transformation relations are developed to move four nodes associated with transverse deflections to the interior of the element and these nodes are then eliminated by using static and dynamic condensation to obtain a six-node element. The element is shown to be free of shear-locking and superior to existing commercially available triangular elements. Numerical results are presented for the analysis of spinning laminated composite plates.
Direct Measurement of the Rate Constant for the CH2(X̃3B1) + CH3 Reaction at 300 K

The kinetics of the reaction of ground-state methylene radicals (X3B1, 3CH2) with methyl radicals (CH3) has been investigated. Both radicals were produced by the photolysis of acetone (CH3C(O)CH3) at 193 nm. Using time-resolved time-of-flight mass spectrometry, the temporal evolution of the concentration of reactants as well as products could be observed simultaneously. Rate coefficients at T = (300 ± 3) K with a bath gas (He) pressure of P = 133 Pa (1 Torr) for 3CH2 + CH3 (1) and CH3 + CH3 (2) have been determined to be: k1 = (2.1 ± 0.7) × 10-10 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and k2 = (4.6 ± 1.0) × 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively.
Enabling wide-field illumination and detection in mesh-based Monte Carlo simulations

We propose a generalized mesh-based Monte Carlo approach that supports various wide-field sources and free-space detectors. Simulations and phantom studies are performed to demonstrate the flexibility, efficiency and accuracy of our algorithm.
Musicogenic Seizures and Temporal Lobe Foci

Medically intractable musicogenic epilepsy in 3 adults, with onset at age 5 years in 2 and 18 years in 1, was investigated with ictal magnetoencephalography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and presurgical intracranial EEG monitoring, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
Recent developments in terahertz sensing technology

Terahertz technology has found numerous applications for the detection of biological and chemical hazardous agents, medical diagnostics, detection of explosives, providing security in buildings, airports, and other public spaces, shortrange covert communications (in the THz and sub-THz windows), and applications in radio astronomy and space research. The expansion of these applications will depend on the development of efficient electronic terahertz sources and sensitive low-noise terahertz detectors. Schottky diode frequency multipliers have emerged as a viable THz source technology reaching a few THz. High speed three terminal electronic devices (FETs and HBTs) have entered the THz range (with cutoff frequencies and maximum frequencies of operation above 1 THz). A new approach called plasma wave electronics recently demonstrated an efficient terahertz detection in GaAs-based and GaN-based HEMTs and in Si MOS, SOI, FINFETs and in FET arrays. This progress in THz electronic technology has promise for a significant expansion of THz applications.
Erklärungsmodell und Forschungshypothesen

Auf Basis der theoretischen Ausfiihrungen zu Brfulgsfak.toren internationaler Mark.tbearbeitungsstrategien liisst sich ein theoretischer Bezugsrahm.en entwickeln, den es durch die Ableitung von Hypothesen weiter zu konkretisieren gilt. Bin theoretischer Bezugsrahmen beansprucht, im Gegensatz zu einer in sich geschlossenen Theorie, nicht das Kriterinm der Vollstandigkeit. Br dient in erster Linie der Strukturierung und dem Verstii.ndnis des zu untersuchenden Bereichs sowie der K.ommunikation des Untersuchungsprozesses und den daraus erziehen Brgebnissen (siehe Abb. 41 ).
Visual Description: Using a New Technology to Build Literacy

AbstractVisual description (also known as video description) is a technology that was developed to help individuals with visual impairments enjoy television, movies, videotapes, and DVDs. This service provides narration so that individuals with visual impairments can understand what is happening in a program. The authors believe that visual description can also be used to improve the comprehension ability of children and adults with average vision. This article introduces the readers to visual description and its availability throughout the world. The authors share their experiences in using visually described programs and offer their thoughts on the potential of this medium.
Genetically defined human in mouse (HIM) model: A novel breast cancer model system that progresses in vivo and exhibits phenotypic variation

A96 Although human cancer cell line-derived xenografts have traditionally been the in vivo models of cancer, they typically have limited utility for predicting clinical response. Cell culture conditions for maintaining cancer cell lines impart strong selection pressures that are different from those experienced in vivo. Here, we sought to generate an in vivo model of human in mouse (HIM) by employing a unique tissue reconstitution system comprised of human breast stromal cells and epithelial organoids engineered with defined genetic elements. >In this HIM model, human breast epithelial organoids were isolated from mammoplasty specimen, engineered with defined genetic elements by lenti-viral infection, and reconstituted with human breast fibroblasts in cleared mouse mammary fat pads. >Depending on genetic elements introduced, the tissue reconstitutes gave rise to human breast tissue outgrowths ranging from hyperplasia to DCIS to invasive carcinomas. In striking contrast to the requirement of hTERT transduction for culture-based transformation assay using human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs), these primary HIM tumors exhibited spontaneous activation of endogenous telomerase. As seen in human, tumors in the HIM model system go through the multi-step tumor genesis process ranging from normal/hyperplasia, to DCIS-like, to invasive carcinoma. Consistent with the critical role of the microenvironment in human breast cancer pathobiology, HIM tumor development was highly dependent on specialized stromal fibroblasts. In addition, significant variation in histology was observed among tumors generated with the same set of genetic alterations. Preliminary clinical drug testing studies were initiated on this HIM model, and immediate response was observed upon treating HER2-driven tissue transgenic tumors with HER2 antagonist, such as Transtuzumab. >The HIM model provides a defined genetic and biological system in which to explore the molecular genetics of human breast cancer.
Habits, Awareness, and Autonomy

The word consciousness is, if anything, even more ambiguous than habit and more or less closely allied terms or expressions (e.g., disposition, practice, routine, ritual, convention, and pattern of action). The pragmatist consensus regarding habit change (and it is the change of habits, not simply habits, that is at the center of this consensus) encompasses an account of consciousness or awareness in one or more of its most central senses. According to the pragmatists, the arrest of habits intensifies or heightens awareness; and such an alteration of consciousness aids agents in exercising control over both environing circumstances and their somatically rooted habits. That is, consciousness is not a mere epiphenomenon: “it seems to me,” Peirce claims, “that it exercises a real function in self-control” (c. 1906, CP 5.493). In addition to the intimate connection between arrested action and heightened awareness, however, we must also consider the integration of habits and the emergent, precarious, and yet quite effective form of autonomy characteristic of human agents. While the consensus in question involves a shift in perspective, one from consciousness to habituation and hence the alteration of habits, it does not simply jettison the concept of consciousness. It rather tries to explain consciousness in reference to the operation, dissolution, and modification of habits.
Kinetics of color development of peanuts during dry roasting using a batch roaster

The kinetics of color development during peanut roasting were investigated at roasting temperatures from 149 to 204°C which produced Hunter L color values of 25–65. Preliminary and equivalent roasting trials were conducted using a batch roaster simulating the parameters of an industrial continuous belt roaster. Hunter L and b values of the roasted peanuts were fitted well to first-order models (mean R2 > 0.93). The activation energy calculated from the first-order model of the L and b values ranged from 1.0 to 1.1 × 108 J/kg mol. High-temperature roasting decreased the uniformity of color development from seed to seed and throughout of the kernel. A zc value of 37.6°C was calculated using the first-order model of the L values. The cook values were 11.5–23.6, 24.5–31.6, and 41.5–57.5 min for light, medium, and dark roasting, respectively.
Microfabrication Process for High-density Micro Pipette Array and Matching Multi-Well Plate with Mixers

In this paper, we present an efficient and robust microfabrication process for realizing high-density micropipette arrays, as a fluid interface to integrated lab-on-a-chip. The developed fabrication process is simple and high yield over existing methods [1,2]. We have also developed micro multi-well plate that spatially matches the micropipette array. Magnetic micro-stir-bar mixers are integrated with each well reactor. The resultant high-density micro-well/micro-pipette instrument can function as a high throughput platform for combinatorial chemistry analysis.