cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Block-processing adaptive filter for human eye movements

Abstract Adaptive processing techniques can be divided into two categories: block processing and recursive methods. With block processing methods, incoming data are divided into blocks, and each block is processed as a whole to estimate predictor coefficients. With recursive methods, predictor parameters are updated as each new data point becomes available and computed thorugh a set of recursive algorithms. In this paper, five block processing adaptive filters are used in the prediction of the human eye movements. They are two-point-linear predictor (TPLP), five-point-quadratic predictor (FPQP), nine-point-cubic predictor (NPCP), polynomial-filter predictor 1 (PFP1), which is a linear convex combination of a TPLP and an FPQP, and polynomial-filter predictor 2 (PFP2), which is a linear convex combination of a TPLP, as FPQP, and an NPCP. These predictors were tested with various signals such as saccadic eye movements, sinusoidal, cubic, triangular, and parabolic signals. The results show that the TPLP is the best predictor for triangular signal and the NPCP is the best predictor for sinusoidal signal. Conversely, the FPQP is the best predictor for parabolic and cubic signals. The results also suggest that the PFP1 and PFP2 show significant improvement over that of the TPLP, FPQP, and NPCP in long-range prediction.
Renal clearance of amino acids in canine cystinuria.

Abstract The renal clearances of cystine, the dibasic, acidic, and neutral amino acids have been compared with simultaneously determined clearance of inulin in six cystinuric and three normal dogs. The plasma levels of cystine and the dibasic amino acids were comparable in cystinuric and normal dogs; plasma methionine was elevated in cystinuric dogs and was positively correlated with plasma cystine levels. In the cystinuric animals the renal clearance of cystine varied from a minor reabsorptive defect in some animals to a complete reabsorptive defect in others. There was a positive multiple correlation between plasma cystine, plasma methionine levels, and fractional reabsorption of cystine. In one cystinuric animal, cystine clearance exceeded inulin clearance. Lysine reabsorption was normal in two and slightly depressed in four of the cystinuric animals. Abnormal clearances of other amino acids were only randomly observed. The clearance of cystine and of the dibasic amino acids may vary independently in canine cystinuria. Our data suggest that canine cystinuria may be a metabolic disease manifested as a tubular reabsorptive defect.
Evaluation of a Commercial Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Preparation in the Subretinal Space of the Cat

• To explore the feasibility of using human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in the management of subretinal hemorrhage, we examined the toxic effects of a commercial preparation of human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in the subretinal space of the holangiotic retina of the cat. Various concentrations of human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator and controls were infused into the subretinal space with a glass micropipette (40-to 60-μm tip) to form a retinal bleb. Concentrations from 2.5 mg/L to 200 mg/L were well tolerated without ultrastructural toxic effects, while 1000 mg/L of human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator caused severe, irreversible toxic effects to the photoreceptor—retinal pigment epithelium complex. This toxic effect appeared to be due to the carrier vehicle rather than the human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator protein itself. Our results demonstrate that commercially prepared human recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator can be safely used in the subretinal space of the cat with the range necessary for fibrinolysis.
Robust 3D part extraction from range images with deformable superquadric models

The extraction of 3-D geometric primitives is an important issue in model-based computer vision. The reliability of the primitives extraction is vital for further object recognition processing. In this paper, we develop a robust 3-D part extraction system. The deformable superquadrics are selected as 3-D part primitives, and a robust superquadric extraction method is developed. First, we introduce a novel adaptive weighted partial data minimization algorithm which can robustly extract superquadric from data containing both Gaussian and random noise. The convergence and the efficiency of the algorithm are discussed. The fuzzy logic techniques are introduced to further improve the algorithm to handle input containing multiple objects. Finally, a range image processing system is developed based on robust superquadric extraction method. This system can efficiently extract 3-D parts from range images. The testing results using both synthetic and real data are presented.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Matching-Tests: Reduced Anxiety and Increased Test Effectiveness.

A review of research on the negative effects of text anxiety on scholastic performance led to the consideration of the use of matching formats for anxiety reduction. Three experiments were conducted in which high school juniors and seniors took parallel matching and multiple-choice tests covering topics of prior knowledge (Exp. I) or recently learned information (Experiments II and III). Results showed that matching-tests were superior to multiple-choice formats: Students overwhelmingly preferred the matching-test formats, scored equally high or significantly better on them, and experienced significantly less debilitating test anxiety. The conclusion is that traditional dependence on multiple-choice tests to the avoidance of matching items is questionable.
Plasmon induced transparency in cascaded π-shaped structures

ABSTRACT We demonstrate a composite metamaterial composed of two asymmetrically oriented  -shaped structures thatexhibits plasmonic analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The structure exhibits netuning of EIT-like spectral behavior and spatial control of near- eld intensity distribution. Originated from theasymmetric design, we introduce a more compact system which possesses the similar EIT-like spectral responseas well as much smaller optical mode volumes.Keywords: Metamaterials, resonance, electromagnetic optics, optical properties 1. INTRODUCTION Electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) is the elimination of absorption over a narrow spectral regionin a broad absorption regime. 1,2 EIT phenomenon has been rst demonstrated by Boller et al. where theyapply a temporally smooth coupling laser between the bound state of an atom and upper state of the transitionwhich will be transparent. 1 This transparency is due to the destructive interference between these two dressedstates. However, realization of the atomic physics EIT phenomenon is challenging due to the experimentalrestrictions such as laser stabilization, preserving each state coherency need for low temperature. To overcomethese experimental drawbacks, classical analogues of EIT has been proposed in wide variation of elds, suchas, split ring resonators,
Diagnosis of Chlamydial Infection in the Pediatric Population

The genus Chlamydia now contains 4 species, 2 of which, Chlamydia trachomatis and C. pneumoniae are important human pathogens. Both organisms cause infections in children and adults, but infection in children pose a unique set of problems. As C. trachomatis is primarily a sexually transmitted disease, the presence of rectal or genital infection in a prepubertal child has been used as evidence of sexual abuse. Although there are several categories of non-culture tests the have been approved for genital sites in adults, these tests are not approved for these sites in children. Of these tests in rectal and vaginal specimens in children have been associated with a high rate of false positives. C. pneumoniae is emerging as a frequent cause of community acquired pneumonia in adults and children. Because culture is not generally available, serologic diagnosis is used more frequently. However, currently available serologic methods appear to be insensitive in children. The availability of a commercial PCR test wil...
Role of cations in the activation of chloroplast adenosine triphosphatase by acid-base transition

Abstract Activation of the Mg and sulfhydryl-dependent ATPase activity of spinach chloroplasts was accomplished by transition from acid to alkaline medium. No sign was found of strong specificity for the nature of the cation used in the basic stage; Li, Na, K, choline, and Tris cations all caused activation. Other possible sources of specific cations for activation were ruled out. The evidence suggests that a specific cation pump is not present in chloroplast thylakoid membranes. In turn it is likely that a proton gradient is the energetic basis for enzyme activation in these experiments, and by inference for the phosphorylation of ADP.
The ethical complexities of sponsored digital storytelling

This article articulates key ethical issues that may arise in sponsored digital storytelling initiatives, projects wherein participants’ stories are used to promote the organization that subsidized...
Transparent electronics: Schottky barrier and heterojunction considerations

Abstract Transparent electronics employs wide band gap semi-conductors which are transparent in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for the fabrication of electronic devices and circuits. Current and future transparent electronics applications require the use of wide band gap oxide semi-conductor interfaces as contacts and rectifiers, as well as for passivation and barrier-shaping layers. Modern Schottky barrier and heterojunction theory can be applied to the assessment of such interfaces, and is reviewed for this purpose from a charge transfer, energy band diagram perspective. Ideal interface formation theory is envisaged as originating from Fermi level mediated charge transfer giving rise to a macroscopic interfacial dipole, while non-ideal theory involves charge neutrality level mediated charge transfer giving rise to a microscopic interfacial dipole. This interface formation theory is applied to the problem of indium tin oxide (ITO) – zinc oxide and ITO – tin oxide interfaces, confirming their utility as injecting source-drain contacts in transparent thin-film transistors.
Elaborate organization of visual cortex in the hamster.

Abstract We have studied the organization of visual cortex in the hamster by analyzing and correlating the distributions of callosal and striate-extrastriate connections. Our results show that, in lateral extrastriate cortex. callosal connections form an elaborate pattern which delineates at least 3 regions poor in callosal connections. These regions receive projections from striate cortex which are distributed into multiple separate fields. Two additional striate-projection fields were observed in medial extrastriate cortex, and another field was often observed near the posterolateral border of primary somatosensory cortex. All striate recipient fields are reciprocally connected with striate cortex. The patterns of callosal and striate-extrastriate connections in the hamster are similar, although not identical, to the corresponding patterns in rats and mice. Our results provide evidence that the organization of visual cortex in the hamster is highly elaborate, and suggest that extrastriate cortex is subdivided into multiple visual areas.
Small-polaron hopping in magnetic semiconductors

The theory of small-polaron hopping transport in magnetic semiconductors and insulators is formulated via a many-electroon generalization of the one-electron tight-binding approach utilized in standard small-polaron theory. Here the magnetic effects are taken into account from first principles by constructing the electronic wave function from linear combinations of antisymmetrized products of Wannier states involving both the itinerant electron and the valence electrons. This enables us to determine the effect of the indistinguishability of an itinerant electron from valence electrons on the transfer of an electron between two magnetic ions. To treat hopping within a magnetic lattice the magnetic environment surrounding the two sites directly involved in a hop is approximated by an effective internal magnetic field. It is found that in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic regimes the magnetic nature of the solid only reduces the small-polaron mobility by a weakly temperature-dependent factor of the order of unity. However, below the N\'eel temperature in an antiferromagnet it is found that electronic transitions only occur between nondegenerate states. This results in an additional activated factor in the small-polaron mobility.
Cold hardiness in the adults of two winter stonefly species: Allocapnia granulata (Claassen, 1924) and A. pygmaea (Burmeister, 1839) (Plecoptera: Capniidae)

The supercooling points (SCPs) and lower lethal temperatures (LLT50) of adult males and females of Allocapnia granulata and A. pygmaea (Plecoptera: Capniidae) were determined for field-collected individuals from streams in central Minnesota (USA). Mean SCPs (±SE) for A. granulata females was −13.15°C (±0.44) and −11.95°C (±0.47) for A. pygmaea females. Using probit analysis, the LLT50 (±SE) for females of A. granulata was determined to be −8.50°C (±0.63) and −9.26°C (±0.57) for A. pygmaea. Mean LLT50s were higher than their respective SCPs, indicating that these species are not freeze tolerant and may be chill susceptible. SCPs for both Allocapnia species were lower than many other winter-emerging species, but were considerably higher than a species of Chironomidae (Diamesa mendotae: −21.6°C) often found in the same habitats. These results indicate that these Allocapnia species are moderately cold hardy, but are not well suited to mid-winter temperatures in Minnesota.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) carbamoylphosphate synthetase gene structure records the deep lineage of plants

Abstract Given the central role of carbamoylphosphate synthetases in pyrimidine and arginine metabolism in all living organisms, the absence of fundamental information regarding plant CPSase genes is a striking omission [Lawson et al., Mol. Biol. Evol. 13 (1996) 970–977; van den Hoff et al., J. Mol. Evol. 41 (1995) 813–832]. Whereas CPSase gene architecture and aa sequence have proven to be useful characters in establishing ancient and modern genetic affinities, phylogenetic analysis cannot be completed without the inclusion of plant CPSases. We describe the first isolation by molecular cloning of a plant CPSase gene ( CPAII ) derived from alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ). DNA sequence analysis reveals a proteobacterial architecture, namely closely linked carA and carB coding domains separated by a short intergenic region, and transcribed as a polycistronic mRNA. CPAII encodes the amino acid residues that typify a CPSase type II enzyme. In addition, an ancient internal duplication has been retained in the plant carB sequence. Partial nucleotide sequencing of additional clones reveals that the alfalfa genome contains multiple CPSase II gene copies which may be tissue-specific in their expression. It appears that with respect to CPSase genes, CPAII resembles the carAB gene of bacteria, and may have preserved much of this ancient gene structure in the alfalfa genome.
Queerly Made: Harmony Hammond's Floorpieces

AbstractIn 1973, the artist Harmony Hammond made a series of artworks entitled Floorpieces. Based on traditional rag-rug techniques, these braided fabric pieces were selectively painted and then placed, like rugs, directly on the ground. The making of the Floorpieces coincided with Hammond coming out, and their spiraling, braided form is suggestive of both lesbian erotics and traditions of women's handicraft. Hammond's work challenges many of the binary oppositions that continue to structure conversations of craft—high/low, masculine/feminine, functional/decorative. This article argues that Hammond's destruction of binaries activates a queer space, and that her handmade abstractions open up possible directions for a productive queering of the category of craft that is attentive to sexuality and class.
Velocity versus temperature relation for solidification and melting of silicon: A molecular-dynamics study.

We report on molecular-dynamics simulations to determine the steady-state velocity versus temperature relation for (001) solidification and melting of silicon using the Stillinger-Weber potential to model the interactions between the silicon atoms. Down to 250 K of undercooling, the simulation values show good agreement with experimental results. The slope of the temperature velocity relation near the melting point is reported as (-15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 K)/(m/s) whereas we find the slope of the transition-state curve that we fitted to the simulation values has a slope (-9.8 K)/(m/s) at the melting point.However, since Stillinger-Weber amorphous silicon is not formed easily by cooling the melt our simulations do not show the growth into amorphous silicon at the critical velocity of \ensuremath{\approxeq}15 m/s (undercooling below \ensuremath{\approxeq}250 K) that is observed experimentally. Instead in our simulations the velocity of growth into crystalline silicon increases to a maximum of 19.4 m/s at 1350 K and then decreases to at least 1050 K. At 1000 K, the system grows a few incomplete planes, which we suggest may be associated with the growth of amorphous silicon. At 950 K, we did not detect any growth during the 115 ps of the simulation. We also did not observe growth at 1600 or 1700 K over the 115 ps of these simulations. The simulation velocity versus temperature relation shows asymmetry in the solidification and melting portions of the curve with no discontinuity in slope at the melting point. We fitted our simulation velocity versus temperature relation by using the transition-state theory parametrized to Stillinger-Weber silicon. The transition-state theory gives a good qualitative description of the simulation values at all temperatures.It is interesting that the transition-state theory also fits the experimental values for crystallization even though it is parametrized for Stillinger-Weber silicon. The results of these epitaxial-growth studies of silicon are important for studies attempting to model the growth of layered structures by atom deposition with use of molecular dynamics with the Stillinger-Weber potential. Our results show that, even if the deposited atoms have kinetic energies 60% below the melting temperature, the growth of the crystal may be caused by liquid epitaxial growth with one (001) plane grown every 10 ps.
Are electronic medical records associated with improved perceptions of the quality of medical records, working conditions, or quality of working life?

The purposes of this study were to determine if users of electronic medical records (EMRs) perceived their medical records to be of higher quality than users of paper records and to examine the relationship between EMR use and perceptions of working conditions, quality of worklife and quality of care among family physicians. To do so, a cross-sectional survey of family physicians (n = 1482) was conducted. Survey items included measurement of use of an EMR, perceptions of medical records, working conditions, job satisfaction, and quality of care. One hundred and forty-three physicians (23%) reported using EMRs. Physicians who used EMRs were significantly more satisfied with the quality of their medical records. EMR use was not related to other outcomes. While EMR users value their record systems higher than non-users value the traditional system, EMR systems do not appear to directly impact the other variables. Indirect relationships are suspected and should be tested.
Video Surveillance of Passengers with Mug Shots

The authority officer relies on facial mug-shots to spot suspects among crowds. Passing through a check point, the facial displays and printouts operate in low resolution fixed poses. Thus, a databases-cuing video is recommended for real-time surveillance with Aided-Target Recognition (AiTR) prompting the inspector taking a closer second look at a specific passenger. Taking advantage of commercial available Face Detection System on Chips (SOC) at 0.04sec, we develop a fast and smart algorithm to sort facial poses among passengers. We can increase the overlapping POFs (pixels on faces) in matching mug shots at arbitrary poses with sorted facial poses. Lemma: We define the long exposure as time average of facial poses and the short exposure as single facial pose in a frame of video in 30 Hz. The fiduciary triangle is defined among two eyes and nose-top. Theorem Self-Reference Matched Filtering (Szu et al. Opt Comm. 1980; JOSA, 1982) to Facial-Pose: If we replace the desirable output of Weiner filter as the long exposure, then the filter can select a short exposure as the normal view. Corollary: Given a short exposure as normal view, the fiduciary triangle can decide all poses from left-to-right and top-to-down.
The influence of temperature shifts on the kinetic evaluation of non-isothermal thermogravimetric data

Abstract Temperature shifts which are due to the experimental setup are taken into account in the present study in the evaluation of kinetic procedures. When the temperature shifts considered have a linear relationship with heating rate, it is found that the coefficients in such relationships will decide the changing trend of the calculated activation energy and frequency factor values. This can explain some published results. However, in the above case the evaluation of the kinetic mechanism is rendered extremely difficult. In such cases there is a high possibility that a kinetic analysis will result in the prediction of an incorrect reaction mechanism. While the problem can be solved by minimizing the coefficients mechanically, performing experiments in a very narrow heating rate range is strongly recommended.
It Takes t* to Tango: Trading Coalitions with Fixed Prices

In the Edgeworth non-tatonnement process, trade occurs if there exists some coalition of agents able to make a Pareto-improving trade among themselves at current prices. It is known that the coalition size required is bounded by the number of commodities and that, provided all agents always have strictly positive endowments, bilateral trade suffices. These results are generalized, but it is shown that, when some agents do not hold all commodities, the information requirements for coalition formation can be very severe. Coalition size is not the only problem; very detailed information on preferences may be needed.
Effect of overexpressing fibroblast growth factor 2 protein isoforms in osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 cells

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is made by osteoblasts and modulates their function. There are high molecular weight (HMW) protein isoforms of FGF-2 that have nuclear localization sequences and a low molecular weight (LMW) 18 kDa FGF-2 protein that is exported from cells. Since FGF-2 is a trophic factor and potent mitogen for osteoblasts, the goal of this study was to utilize targeted overexpression of FGF-2 as a novel means of assessing different FGF-2 isoforms on osteoblastic cell viability and proliferation. Either LMW or HMW human Fgf2 cDNAs were cloned downstream of 3.6 kb alpha1(I)-collagen 5' regulatory elements (Col 3.6). A set of expression vectors, called Col3.6-Fgf2 isoforms-IRES-GFPsaph, capable of concurrently overexpressing either LMW or HMW FGF-2 isoforms concomitant with GFPsaph from a single bicistronic mRNA were built. Viable cell number in ROS 17/2.8 cells stably transfected with Vector (Col3.6-IRES-GFPsaph) versus each of the Col3.6-Fgf2-IRES-GFPsaph constructs were compared. In the presence of 1 or 10% serum, DNA synthesis was increased in cells expressing any isoform of FGF-2 compared with vector. However, cells transfected with HMW isoform had augmented DNA synthesis in 1 or 10% serum compared with cells expressing either ALL or LMW FGF-2 isoforms. A neutralizing FGF-2 antibody significantly reduced the mitogenic response in cells harboring ALL or the LMW FGF-2 isoforms but did not block the mitogenic effect of cells harboring the HMW isoforms. In summary, overexpression of any isoform of FGF-2 protein increased viable cell number and OB proliferation in the presence of low or high concentrations of serum. However, the HMW/nuclear isoforms preferentially mediate augmented OB proliferation. We conclude that differential expression of FGF-2 proteins isoforms is important in modulating OB function.
Multidetector computed tomographic angiography in planning of reoperative cardiothoracic surgery.

Background Redo cardiothoracic surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared with primary operations. Multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA) delineates the course of previous coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) and proximity of mediastinal structures to the chest wall. We sought to determine if high-risk preoperative MDCTA findings were associated with greater use of preventive surgical strategies during redo cardiac surgery in patients with prior CABG. Methods We studied 167 patients (mean age 69 ± 9 years, 79% men) with prior CABG, referred for redo cardiac surgery, who underwent contrast-enhanced MDCTA to assess CABG location and mediastinal relationship to chest wall. Preoperative risk was determined. Prevalence of high-risk MDCTA findings, use of preventive surgical strategies, frequency of severe intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative mortality were recorded. Results Mean risk score was high (7.5 ± 3). High-risk MDCTA findings included proximity ( p Conclusions Routine use of preoperative MDCTA to detect high-risk findings has a strong association with adoption of preventive surgical strategies in high-risk patients undergoing redo cardiac surgery.
A Multifunctional MWCNT Composite: Strain Sensing, Damping and Application to Structural Vibration Control

The goal of this work is to develop and investigate the properties of a new type of multifunctional composite which is based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The composite was prepared from a paper like MWCNT film which was sandwiched between two adhesive layers. Both two point probe and four point probe methods were used to test its mechanical strain sensing properties. The Young’s modulus and shear modulus of MWCNT film composite were acquired by the nanoindentation test and direct shear test. A free vibration test was also performed to investigate its structural damping properties. A new model/configuration for sandwich structural vibration control was then proposed based on the MWCNT experiments results. In this new configuration, a cantilever beam covered with MWCNT composite on the top and one layer of shape memory alloy (SMA) on the bottom was used to illustrate this concept. The MWCNT composite simultaneously serves as free layer damping and strain sensor, and the SMA acts as actuator. Simple on-off controller was designed for controlling the temperature of the SMA so as to control the SMA recovery stress as input and the system stiffness. Both free and forced vibrations were analyzed. Simulation work showed that this new configuration for sandwich structural vibration control was successful especially for low frequency system.© 2009 ASME
Relativizing complexity classes with sparse oracles

Baker, Gill, and Solovay constructed sparse sets A and B such that P(A) ≠ NP(A) and NP(B) ≠ co-NP(B). In contrast to their results, we prove that P = NP if and only if for every tally language T, P(T) = NP( T), and that NP = co-NP if and only if for every tally language T, NP(T) = co-NP(T). We show that the polynomial hierarchy collapses if and only if there is a sparse set S such that the polynomial hierarchy relative to S collapses. Similar results are obtained for several other complexity classes.
Altered Expression of Amyloid β Precursor mRNAs in Cerebral Vessels, Meninges, and Choroid Plexus in Alzheimer's Diseasea

Altered tissue-specific processing or production of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is thought to be central to amyloid deposition in cerebrovascular and the neocortical tissues in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We demonstrate that A beta peptide(s) is readily detectable and increased in cerebral vessels, meninges and choroid plexus obtained at autopsy from AD subjects compared to age-matched controls. Using the reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we further found that A beta transcripts encoding the A beta sequence in all forms of APP containing exons 16 and 17 (of APP770) were significantly increased in vessel samples in AD subjects. This was also evident in the neocortical samples and not related to pre-mortem factors or postmortem interval. It is possible that the increased A beta mRNAs reflect enhanced expression of the L-APP isoform (APP770 without exon 15) expressed in leukocytes and glia alike. We also found evidence for changed proportions of APP 770, 756 and 695 mRNAs in cerebral vessel samples from AD subjects compared to controls. Whereas APP770 and APP751, the predominant forms, were significantly decreased, APP695 transcript was increased in vessel samples from AD subjects. Such changes were not evident in neocortical samples from the same subjects. These observations suggest tissue-specific changes in expression of APP isoforms implicating one of the mechanisms for increased accumulation of A beta in cerebrovascular tissues in AD.
A family of dispersed repetitive DNA sequences in tobacco contain clusters of W-box elements recognized by pathogen-induced WRKY DNA-binding proteins

We have previously identified in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) a group of pathogen- and salicylic acid (SA)-induced DNA-binding proteins that contain the highly conserved WRKY DNA-binding domain. In order to identify their potential target genes, we have isolated tobacco genomic DNA sequences that contain the consensus TTGAC(C/T) binding sites (W boxes) recognized by WRKY DNA-binding proteins. Surprisingly, sequence analysis of the 16 clones with the strongest binding affinities for the WRKY proteins indicated that they all belong to a family of dispersed repetitive DNA sequences with an approximate copy number of 10,000 per haploid tobacco genome. These repetitive DNA sequences contain a number of direct and inverted repeats, a feature commonly attributed to mobile genetic elements. BLAST search revealed that similar repetitive sequences are present in the promoters of the tobacco par/str246C gene and the gene encoding a feedback-insensitive anthranilate synthase α-2 chain. Interestingly, the par/str246C gene, which contains a W-box element in the repetitive sequence of its promoter, was induced dramatically in resistant tobacco plants after infection with tobacco mosaic virus. These results support that dispersed repetitive DNA sequences may serve as reservoirs for new functional cis-acting DNA elements that can be recruited through chromosomal rearrangement to participate in transcriptional regulation of nearby genes.
Barriers to Treatment for Women With Substance Use Disorders

Substance-dependent women are facing tremendous barriers that impede them from entering into treatment programs. Such barriers include the lack of childcare, fear of stigma, lack of family or financial support, denial, and the co-occurring disorders. Strategies are paramount to the removal of these barriers, whereas treatment and relapse prevention aid in the rehabilitation process.
Military penetrating spine injuries compared with blunt.

Abstract Background context The nature of blunt and penetrating injuries to the spine and spinal column in a military combat setting has been poorly documented in the literature. To date, no study has attempted to characterize and compare blunt and penetrating spine injuries sustained by American servicemembers. Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the military penetrating spine injuries with blunt spine injuries in the current military conflicts. Study design/setting Retrospective study. Patient sample All American military servicemembers who have been injured while deployed in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) whose medical data have been entered into the Joint Theater Trauma Registry (JTTR). Methods The JTTR was queried for all American servicemembers sustaining an injury to the spinal column or spinal cord while deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. These data were manually reviewed for relevant information regarding demographics, mechanism of injury, surgical intervention, and neurologic injury. Results A total of 598 servicemembers sustained injuries to the spine or spinal cord. Isolated blunt injuries were recorded in 396 (66%) servicemembers and 165 (28%) sustained isolating penetrating injuries. Thirty servicemembers (5%) sustained combined blunt and penetrating injuries to the spine. The most commonly documented injuries were transverse process fractures, compression fractures, and burst fractures in the blunt-injured servicemembers versus transverse process fractures, lamina fractures, and spinous process fractures in those injured with a penetrating injury. One hundred four (17%) servicemembers sustained spinal cord injuries, comprising 10% of blunt injuries and 38% of penetrating injuries (p Conclusions Blunt and penetrating injuries to the spinal column and spinal cord occur frequently in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Penetrating injuries result in significantly higher rates of spinal cord injury and trend toward increased rates of operative interventions and decreased neurologic improvement at follow-up.
FARMERS' CHANGING ROLES IN THIEUDEME, SENEGAL The Impact of Local and Global Factors on Three Generations of Women

This article focuses on the changing roles of the women farmers of Thieudeme, Senegal. Sociological concepts and methods are combined with women's perceptions to more fully understand the nature of role change from part-time subsistence farming of hardy staples to full-time farming and marketing of vegetables among three generations of women and to compare women's perceptions of change factors with those identified through research and policy analysis. The authors also consider the associations among women's traditional arenas of decision making, increased responsibilities for household maintenance, improved status in the community, and organizing and demands for greater autonomy. Women are more likely to emphasize stress from work burdens and conflicts than to conclude that change has brought them any benefits.
Application of Ti salicide process on ultra-thin SIMOX wafer

Fully-depleted, ultra-thin SIMOX/CMOS is a suitable technology to achieve low voltage and high speed application because of its capability of low Vth operation. However, large resistivity of diffusion area is an issue. In this paper,a thin salicidation layer was adopted to decrease the sheet resistivity of the ultra-thin SIMOX layer. Good transistor characteristics with sheet resistivity less than one tenth of the non-silicided diffusion resistivity were achieved, and no degradation of the transistor characteristics was observed.
A comparison of the size of the arterial vascular bed to the right ventricular mass in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Hearts from patients dying with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were examined for right ventricular mass and coronary arterial vascular bed size. Normal hearts obtained from patients dying of other causes were also examined for comparison. The relationship between the size of the vascular bed and ventricular mass was examined and a definite but low correlation was found. Severe obstructive coronary artery disease was excluded, and chronic hypoxemia did not alter the results. The arterial vascular bed supplying the right ventricle of male patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease appears to undergo a compensatory increase in size as the ventricular mass enlarges, but this is highly variable and incomplete.
Silicone Elastomer Uptake Method for Determination of Free 1‐Alkyl‐2‐Pyrrolidone Concentration in Micelle and Hydroxypropyl‐β‐Cyclodextrin Systems Used in Skin Transport Studies

Previous investigations in our laboratory demonstrated how the polar head group and alkyl chain of amphiphilic chemical skin permeation enhancers contribute to enhancer potency. In those studies enhancers with n-alkyl chain lengths of eight or less were investigated. In order to investigate enhancers with longer n-alkyl chain lengths, enhancer-solubilizing agents should be considered. Corticosterone (CS) flux enhancement along the lipoidal pathway of hairless mouse skin (HMS) was determined with the enhancers 1-hexyl- (HP), 1-octyl- (OP), 1-decyl- (DP), and 1-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidone (DoP) solubilized in 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol-2000] (DSPE) micelles or in hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD). The free CS, HP, OP, DP, and DoP aqueous concentrations in the DSPE micelle and HPbetaCD systems were determined using a partitioning method. Comparisons of the enhancer potencies based on the free concentration of the enhancers revealed a nearly semi-logarithmic linear relationship between enhancer potency and the carbon number of the alkyl chain length with a slope of approximately 0.55. The observed n-alkyl chain length dependency in the aqueous phase is consistent with the hydrophobic effect. This study shows that longer chain enhancers may be studied by employing a solubilizing system, and free enhancer concentration in these systems can be determined with the aid of the silicone elastomer uptake method.
Patella Fractures With Bone–Patella Tendon–Bone Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

The bone–tendon–bone autograft currently is the most widely used graft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions, although numerous other allograft and autograft choices are available. Patella fractures after ACL reconstructions using bone-tendon-bone autografts are a recognized, but rarely reported, complication. The incidence of such fractures has been reported to be between 0.23% and 2.3%. Patella fractures can occur either intraoperatively, from an overly aggressive bony resection, or postoperatively, from direct trauma. Intraoperative fractures typically are longitudinal fissures whereas postoperative patella fractures commonly are stellate or transverse. Nondisplaced fractures can be treated nonoperatively with rigid knee immobilization whereas displaced fractures should be treated with open reduction and internal fixation. When rapid rehabilitation is paramount, some authors have advocated that all fracture patterns received rigid fixation for earlier movement and more rapid restoration of the extensor mechanism. Regardless of treatment protocol, numerous authors have shown minimal long term sequela and comparable final outcomes whether a fracture is present or not. We review the anatomy of the extensor mechanism, the surgical technique of properly harvesting the bone-patella tendon-bone autograft, and various treatment protocols for the management of patella fractures.
Sleep quality during euthymia in bipolar disorder: the role of clinical features, personality traits, and stressful life events

Background: Poor sleep quality is known to precede the onset of mood episodes and to be associated with poor treatment outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD). We sought to identify modifiable factors that correlate with poor sleep quality in BD independent of residual mood symptoms. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to assess the association between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and clinical variables of interest in euthymic patients with DSM-IV BD (n= 119) and healthy controls (HC; n= 136) participating in the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and demographic and clinical variables in BD and HC participants. A unified model determined independent predictors of sleep quality. Results and discussion: Euthymic participants with BD and HC differed in all domains. The best fitting unified multivariable model of poor sleep quality in euthymic participants with BD included rapid cycling (β= .20, p= .03), neuroticism (β= .28, p =2×1 0 �3 ), and stressful life events (β= .20, p= .02). Poor sleep quality often persists during euthymia and can be a target for treatment. Clinicians should remain vigilant for treating subjective sleep complaints independent of residual mood symptoms in those sensitive to poor sleep quality, including individuals with high neuroticism, rapid cycling, and recent stressful life events. Modifiable factors associated with sleep quality should be targeted directly with psychosocial or somatic treatment. Sleep quality may be a useful outcome measure in BD treatment studies.
Performance and processing of SAR satellite clusters

Spaceborne radar systems have been proposed that use the concept of "formation flying" satellites; a system wherein a cluster of small, individual satellites orbit the Earth while remaining in the same relative positions with respect to each other. Each individual satellite would be a standard SAR sensor, but the data collected from each could be combined to produce a single "virtual" satellite from the overall array of sensors. The question from a radar standpoint is, how should this data be processed, and what are the benefits in radar performance resulting from this design? A spaceborne array of radar satellites has the advantage that angle-of-arrival information, in addition to range-Doppler data, is collected. Essentially, the array of satellites can be viewed as a large, albeit sparse, array of antennas. This paper demonstrates that this extra information can be used to produce SAR imagery over both an arbitrarily wide swathwidth and with fine resolution. This is accomplished by applying a minimum mean squared error processing algorithm to combine the data from each sensor. The results of several simulations are shown; they demonstrate the efficacy of the concept and the processing. It is also shown that, as the number of satellites increases, the performance of the MMSE processing increases and the hardware requirements associated with each radar are eased.
Effects of ethanol on hepatic cellular replication and cell cycle progression

Ethanol is a hepatotoxin. It appears that the liver is the target of ethanol induced toxicity primarily because it is the major site of ethanol metabolism. Metabolism of ethanol results in a number of biochemical changes that are thought to mediate the toxicity associated with ethanol abuse. These include the production of acetaldehyde and reactive oxygen species, as well as an accumulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). These biochemical changes are associated with the accumulation of fat and mitochondrial dysfunction in the liver. If these changes are severe enough they can themselves cause hepatotoxicity, or they can sensitize the liver to more severe damage by other hepatotoxins. Whether liver damage is the result of ethanol metabolism or some other hepatotoxin, recovery of the liver from damage requires replacement of cells that have been destroyed. It is now apparent that ethanol metabolism not only causes hepatotoxicity but also impairs the replication of normal hepatocytes. This impairment has been shown to occur at both the G1/S, and the G2/M transitions of the cell cycle. These impairments may be the result of activation of the checkpoint kinases, which can mediate cell cycle arrest at both of these transitions. Conversely, because ethanol metabolism results in a number of biochemical changes, there may be a number of mechanisms by which ethanol metabolism impairs cellular replication. It is the goal of this article to review the mechanisms by which ethanol metabolism mediates impairment of hepatic replication.
D-β-Hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase

D-β-Hydroxybutyric dehy drogenase of respiratory particles from pig heart was first described in 1937 by Green, Dewan and Leloir 1 . With an assay based on oxygen uptake through the cytochrome system, they demonstrated that the enzyme was stereospecific for the D-isomer and that β-hydroxypropionic acid, αhydroxybutyric acid, γ-hydroxybutyric acid, crotonic acid, butyric acid, and acetic acid were not oxidized under conditions in which β-hydroxybutyrate was oxidized vigorously. The enzyme was shown to be distinct from malic and lactic dehydrogenases. The particulate enzyme also dehydrogenates higher d-β-hydroxy aliphatic acids up to nine carbon atoms long2, but does not act on l-β-hydroxyacids or their coenzyme A thioesters3. d-β-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase is specific for DPN and will not reduce TPN1,3 or desamino-DPN4.
Machine-Learning Aided Optimal Customer Decisions for an Interactive Smart Grid

In this paper, a hierarchical smart grid architecture is presented. The concept of smart home is extended in two aspects: 1) from traditional households with smart devices, such as advanced metering infrastructure, to intelligent entities with instantaneous and distributive decision-making capabilities; and 2) from individual households to general customer units of possibly large scales. We then develop a hidden mode Markov decision process (HM-MDP) model for a customer real-time decision-making problem. This real-time decision-making framework can effectively be integrated with demand response schemes, which are prediction based and therefore inevitably lead to real-time power-load mismatches. With the Baum–Welch algorithm adopted to learn the nonstationary dynamics of the environment, we propose a value iteration (VI)-based exact solution algorithm for the HM-MDP problem. Unlike conventional VI, the concept of parsimonious sets is used to enable a finite representation of the optimal value function. Instead of iterating the value function in each time step, we iterate the representational parsimonious sets by using the incremental pruning algorithm. Although this exact algorithm leads to optimal policies giving maximum rewards for the smart homes, its complexity suffers from the curse of dimensionality. To obtain a low-complexity real-time algorithm that allows adaptively incorporating new observations as the environment changes, we resort to Q-learning-based approximate dynamic programming. Q-learning offers more flexibility in practice because it does not require specific starting and ending points of the scheduling period. Performance analysis of both exact and approximate algorithms, as compared with the other possible alternative decision-making strategies, is presented in simulation results.
The Treatment Decision-Making Process: Age Differences in a Sample of Women Recently Diagnosed With Nonrecurrent, Early-Stage Breast Cancer

This research utilizes retrospective, self-report data collected from a nonprobability sample of women recently diagnosed with nonrecurrent, early-stage breast cancer to better understand how the treatment decision-making process varies with patient age. Three important areas — context, decision-making style, and influencing factors — are examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Findings indicate that although patients recalled similar contextual attributes, they reported attitudes, behavior, and considerations that differed by age. Older women were less likely than their younger counterparts to have desired participation in therapy selection, sought out medical information, or considered the possibility of recurrence when making treatment decisions.