cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A self-improving helpdesk service system using case-based reasoning techniques

Abstract Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) is the process of solving a given problem based on the knowledge gained from solving precedents. It is an effective technique in the area of customer services or helpdesks. That is, a CBR system is used to solve most of the commonly occurring customer problems. While the implementation techniques may vary, most CBR systems include the following five steps: case representation and storage, precedent matching and retrieval, adaptation of the retrieved solution, validation of the solution, and finally, casebase update to include the information gained from the new problem. This paper details the various implementation techniques for these five steps, while focusing on a particular helpdesk system, namely SmartUSA, developed for the Union Camp Corporation. This system solves a customer's problem by filtering the problem description through an alias table to generate a brief description and then matching the brief description with the cases in the database. It has proved to be an effective and user-friendly system that has successfully handled different descriptions of the same problem and allowed for the casebase to be built in free-format (plain) text. This system has significantly reduced the workload and the response time in the customer services department of the Union Camp Corporation.
Vibrational anharmonicity in BF3

Abstract The anharmonic coefficients, x ss ' and the rotation-vibration interaction constants α s and β s of BF 3 have been calculated from an assumed anharmonic potential function, consisting of a harmonic force field in instantaneous curvilinear coordinates with a Morse function for each bond-stretching coordinate. This model gives calculated quantities in fairly good agreement with those determined experimentally from the rotation-vibration spectra except for the rotation-vibration interaction constant of the out-of-plane bending mode. In order to reproduce, in our calculation, the experimental value of this quantity we needed to include a fairly large cross term in the potential energy coupling the BF stretching and out-of-plane deformation coordinates.
The film boiling reactor: A new environment for chemical processing

A new platform, based on film boiling, is described for chemical processing by catalytic decomposition of organic liquids. A model for conversion of pure methanol to hydrogen and carbon monoxide is used to illustrate the operational and performance characteristics of the reactor. The model extends film boiling theory to include catalytic reactions at the surface. The results show that wall temperature exerts a dominant influence on product yields, with tube diameter a secondary effect. The yields of hydrogen increase as tube diameter and wall temperature increase, with the variation being nonlinear. At temperatures > 1200 K, the wall conversion rates reach an asymptote with wall concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide being lower and higher than stoichiometric, respectively, because of the higher diffusion rate of hydrogen compared to carbon monoxide. A dimensional “performance factor,” defined as the ratio of hydrogen yield to the total energy required to maintain the vapor film and drive the reaction, is used to cast the performance of the film boiling reactor in terms of the variables of the problem. For the range of tube diameters examined (1.5 mm to 1.5 cm), the analysis shows the existence of wall temperatures that optimize performance. The advantages of the new reactor system are its simplicity and potentially large product yields, making it ideal for portable applications. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Intracerebral metastases in solid-tumor patients: natural history and results of treatment.

In order to determine the natural history and results of treatment of intracerebral metastases in solid-tumor patients, the records of 191 patients with an antemortem diagnosis of intracerebral metastasis made during the period from August 1974 to November 1978 were reviewed. Malignancies included lung (122 patients), breast (26), unknown primary (16), melanoma (8), colorectal (6), hypernephroma (4), and others (12). Favorable prognostic factors included solitary brain metastasis (P less than 0.001), ambulatory performance status (P less than 0.001), symptoms of headache (P less than 0.001), or visual disturbances (P less than 0.02), and estrogen receptor positivity in breast cancer patients (P = 0.055). Poor prognostic factors included advanced age (P less than 0.04) and evidence of impaired consciousness, i.e., disorientation, lethargy, stupor, or coma (P less than 0.007). Median survival time after diagnosis of intracerebral metastasis was 3.7 months for the entire series. In those patients with a single intracerebral metastasis and minimal tumor burden, the type of treatment used had a significant impact on survival. Those cases treated with surgery and radiation had a median survival time of 9.7 months versus 3.7 months for those treated with radiation alone (P less than 0.02). When using a proportional hazard regression analysis to adjust for the three most important prognostic factors, treatment (surgery and radiation versus radiation alone) still appeared to be important. Intracerebral metastases were the immediate or contributing cause of death in 50% of the patients in this series. Patients at greater risk of dying of intracerebral metastases included those in whom the brain was the first site of distant metastasis, those with an intracerebral metastasis from an unknown primary site, and those whose presentation of malignancy was with symptoms of a brain metastasis. Although the therapeutic goal in intracerebral metastases is generally palliative, it appears that there are categories of cases that may benefit from more aggressive treatment.
Computerunterstützter Physikunterricht im Gymnasium

Der Aufsatz schildert ein an der Universitat Augsburg laufendes Projekt des Computerunterstutzten Unterrichts (CUU) fur den Einsatz im Physikunterricht an Gymnasien. Ein Beispiel erlautert das bisher Erreichte.
Behavioral sensitization, alternative splicing, and d3 dopamine receptor-mediated inhibitory function.

Behavioral sensitization, the progressive and enduring augmentation of certain behaviors following repetitive drug use, alters rodent locomotion in a long-standing manner. The same dopamine pathways playing an important role in drug dependence and psychosis also play a critical role in sensitization. Individual dopamine receptor subtypes have markedly different functional responses to stimulation, with D3 dopamine receptor stimulation inhibiting rodent locomotion. The D3 receptor has highest affinity of the dopamine receptor subtypes for dopamine, and is occupied to a greater degree following stimulant drug administration. D3 receptor activity may be regulated through the expression of an alternatively spliced, truncated receptor isoform (termed ‘D3nf’) altering receptor localization and function via dimerization with the full-length subunit. The expected physiological response to repetitive drug administration is tolerance. Tolerance of D3 receptor inhibition of locomotion would contribute to sensitization to stimulant drugs. We hypothesize that repetitive D3 receptor stimulation contributes to the development of behavioral sensitization through decreased responsivity of D3-receptor-mediated locomotor inhibition. Increased D3nf expression may direct altered receptor localization and subsequent release of D3-receptor-mediated inhibition, contributing to the expression of sensitization. These hypotheses follow directly from the affinities of the receptor subtypes for dopamine; dopamine concentrations following stimulant administration; the effects of individual dopamine receptor subtype stimulation on locomotion; and the expected homeostatic response of the system to perturbation by drug. Clarifying these mechanisms underlying sensitization may suggest new interventions for neuropsychiatric conditions in which dopamine plays an important role, including psychosis, drug dependence, and Parkinson's disease. This information may also elucidate a previously unrecognized mechanism regulating receptor trafficking and desensitization.
Quo vadis nateglinide? Ten-year perspective.

Introduction: It has been hypothesized that reducing postprandial glucose spikes would result both in improved overall glycemic control and long-term (especially cardiovascular) outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. Nateglinide, a short-acting insulin secretagogue of the meglitinide class of antidiabetic agents, has been marketed for the past decade specifically to address the diminished postprandial insulin secretion. It is thus timely to review our experience with this agent. Areas covered: This review summarizes findings from the key preclinical and pivotal clinical research studies that eventually led to drug approval. The literature search involved both original experimental studies and subsequent comprehensive reviews of the subject. The search included the databases (in English language) in the PubMed (maintained by the US Library of Medicine) domain as well as review of the articles in the author's files spanning the years 1995 – 2011. Expert opinion: The author's subjective feelings about ou...
Constrictive Pericarditis Complicating Disseminated Lupus Erythematosus

A case of constrictive pericarditis complicating disseminated lupus erythematosus is reported in a 58-year-old man. Hemodynamic studies documented the diagnosis and also confirmed the clinical suspicion of coexistent atrial septal defect. Measurement of left ventricular volume by a thermodilution technic augmented information available from routine studies. Pericardiectomy and closure of the atrial septal defect relieved the mechanical lesion. The case is also unique in its documentation of the coexistence of three different forms of heart disease—congenital atrial septal defect, pericardial constriction from lupus erythematosus, and rheumatic valvular disease.
Insider hacking: applying situational crime prevention to a new white-collar crime

Insider hacking consists of cybercrimes against entities initiated by individuals who hold a legitimate trust relationship with that entity. The responsibility of preventing insider hacking falls to information technology (IT) or information security departments staffed by computing professionals. The same can be said about research into the prevention of insider hacking, computing centric academics/professionals do the work. While this seems logical, established behavioral methods for reducing crime have largely been ignored. In this paper, the author places insider hacking into the context of the white-collar criminology literature then pulls from crime science, applying a situational crime prevention model to inform future research on insider hacking.
Fourier series with small gaps

A trigonometric series has “small gaps” if the difference of the orders of successive terms is bounded below by a number exceeding one. Wiener, Ingham and others have shown that if a function represented by such a series exhibits a certain behavior on a large enough subinterval I , this will have consequences for the behavior of the function on the whole circle group. Here we show that the assumption that f is in any one of various classes of functions of generalized bounded variation on I implies that the appropriate order condition holds for the magnitude of the Fourier coefficients. A generalized bounded variation condition coupled with a Zygmundtype condition on the modulus of continuity of the restriction of the function to I implies absolute convergence of the Fourier series.
Organizational alignment through information technology: a Web-based approach to change

This paper reports on the effectiveness of web-based internet tools and databases to facilitate integration of technical organizations with interfaces that minimize modification of each technical organization.
Nucleic acid content in nutritional muscular dystrophy

Abstract The present study confirmed previous data obtained by others that DNA and RNA content of liver and skeletal muscle increase in vitamin E deficiency. New data were obtained for kidney cortex and adrenal where elevated nucleic acid levels were found in the vitamin E-deprived animals. Attempts to isolate highly polymerized DNA from skeletal muscle were in part successful, but necessary solubilization of the product for further purification was difficult. However, spectrophotometric analyses of these purified fractions confirmed the increased DNA content in the skeletal muscle of E-deprived animals. Preliminary results on particulate fractions of kidney cortex cells indicate that the increment in RNA was associated with particles that sediment at 10,300g. It would appear that a rise in DNA has occurred which cannot be explained by a concentration effect, leucocyte infiltration, or the mitotic process. It is suggested that this phenomenon is a reflection of an attempt at muscle regeneration which other mechanisms prevent.
A Tetrahedral Representation of the Genetic Code Emphasizing Aspects of Symmetry

The genetic code is a mapping of 64 codons to 22 actions, including polypeptide chain initiation, termination, and incorporation of the twenty amino acids. The standard tabular representation is useful for looking up which amino acid is encoded by a particular codon, but says little about functional relationships in the code. The possibility of making sense of the code rather than simply enumerating its codon-to-action pairings therefore is appealing, and many have attempted to find geometric representations of the code that illuminate its functional organization. Here, I show that a regular tetrahedron with each of its four faces divided into sixteen equilateral triangles (for a total of 64 triangular 'cells') is a particularly apt geometry for representing the code. I apply five principles of symmetry and balance in order to assign codons to the triangular cells of the tetrahedral faces. These principles draw on various aspects of the genetic code and the twenty amino acids, making the final construct a positional balance of the amino acids and their functions rather than a re-analysis of them. The potential significance of this exercise, and others like it, is that this way of organizing the biological facts may provide new insights into them.
Experimental Study on Performance of a Propulsive Nozzle with a Blower Piping System

The characteristics of the thrust for ship propulsion equipment directly driven by air compressed by pressure fluctuation in a blower piping system are investigated. The exhaust valve is positioned upon the air ejection hole in the discharge pipe in order to induce the large-scale pressure fluctuation, and the effects of the valve on the pressure in the pipes and the thrust for the propulsive nozzle are examined. The pressure in the pipes decreases immediately after the valve is opened, and it increases just before the valve is closed. The thrust for the propulsive nozzle monotonically increases with increasing number of revolutions and depth. The interfacial wave in the nozzle appears in the frequency of approximately 4Hz, and it is important for the increase of the thrust to synchronize the opening-closing cycle for the exhaust valve with the generation frequency of the interfacial wave. The finite difference lattice Boltzmann method is helpful to investigate the characteristics of the flow in the nozzle.
Cell‐cell interactions in regulating osteogenesis and osteoblast function

Endochondral bone formation requires an elaborate interplay among autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine signals, positional cues, and cell-cell contacts to mediate the complex three-dimensional architecture and function of the skeleton. Embryonic bone development occurs by migration, aggregation, and condensation of immature mesenchymal progenitor cells to form the cartilaginous anlage. Upon vascular invasion, the cartilaginous scaffold is colonized and subsequently mineralized by osteoblasts. Likewise, bone remodeling in the adult skeleton is a dynamic process that requires coordinated cellular activities among osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts to maintain bone homeostasis. This review examines the role of cell-cell interactions mediated by adherens junctions formed by cadherins and communicative gap junctions formed by connexins in regulating bone development and osteogenic function.
Leverage in Least Squares Additive-Plus-Multiplicative Fits for Two-Way Tables

Abstract An additive-plus-multiplicative model can describe both main effects and row x column interactions in two-way tables of data. When each cell contains exactly one observation, a least squares fit for this nonlinear model calculates the main effects, using means of rows and columns, and then fits a multiplicative term to the additive residuals, using the singular value decomposition. A natural extension of the hat matrix for a linear model yields a definition of leverage that provides insights about the impact of erroneous data values on the fit. Theoretical and numerical investigations reveal the complex nature of leverage for this nonlinear model.
Effects of Problem Uncertainty and Prior Arousal on Pre-Decisional Information Search

Fifty-four undergraduate Ss at the University of Delaware were presented sequentially 10 decision problems. Prior to making a decision on a problem, S had the option of receiving up to five additional information items. Independent variables were the initial uncertainty of the decision problem and prior “emotional” arousal. Dependent measures were the number of information items taken, the utilization of time resources, and S's arousal level (GSR). Neither independent variable affected the amount of information acquisition prior to decision, but differences in problem uncertainty within the high uncertainty conditions were negatively related to information search (r = -.706). Decision time increased linearly with problem uncertainty and decreased across sequential problems. In general, decision-making became more facile with increasing experience.
The influence of missing components of the Acute Physiology Score of APACHE III on the measurement of ICU performance

Objective To determine the impact of missing Acute Physiology Score (APS) values on risk-adjusted mortality.
A new protocol test sequence generation method based on UIOS

The authors propose a novel method for test sequence generation based on UIOS which only needs a minimal verification part. They also prove that the UIOv method (or revised unique input/output method) has the same applicability as the characteristic set method. The UIOv method can find a test sequence for any minimal finite-state machine. The proposed method has the same applicability as the UIOv method. In addition, the method uses a simple test on a given protocol specification to decide whether a verification part is needed for detecting transfer faults, the method can generate a minimal number of input/output sequences for a verification part. A more efficient algorithm for generating UIOSs and signature sets is presented. It is proven that the upper bound on the length of a UIOS is (n-1)*n rather than n/sup n/, where n is the number of states in a finite-state machine. >
Some mechanisms involved in cancer cell detachment by necrotic material

Factors influencing cell detachment are thought to play a role in metastasis and invasion. Previous studies on cylinders punched from Walker 256 (W-256) tumors growing in rats showed that detachment of viable cancer cells was facilitated by their proximity to necrotic regions and exposure to a necrotic extract. By the use of pure cultures of W-256 cells, it is shown that necrotic extracts which are rich in lysosomal hydrolases act directly on W-256 cells, facilitating their in vitro detachment. Lysosomal enzymes have previously been shown to facilitate cell detachment. The partial inhibition of this process by hydrocortisone suggests that the extracts also act by labilizing the W-256 cell lysosomes; this enzyme release is also demonstrable by direct assay. Although secondary lysosomes could not be visualized in the W-256 cells, both they and macrophages release lysosomal hydrolases on freeze-thawing, and could both account for the high enzyme content of the necrotic regions, by a process of continuous secretion and/or cell input. Histologic examination of perinecrotic and peripheral regions of tumors showed a higher proportion of macrophages in the former, which is thought to be mainly due to differential trapping of the macrophages. The results emphasize the functional properties of necrotic regions of tumors and the necessity of referring to specific regions of the same tumor when referring to its metastatic and other properties.
Nonallelic Gene Conversion in the Genus Drosophila

Nonallelic gene conversion has been proposed as a major force in homogenizing the sequences of paralogous genes. In this work, we investigate the extent and characteristics of gene conversion among gene families in nine species of the genus Drosophila. We carried out a genome-wide study of 2855 gene families (including 17,742 genes) and determined that conversion events involved 2628 genes. The proportion of converted genes ranged across species from 1 to 9% when paralogs of all ages were included. Although higher levels of gene conversion were found among young gene duplicates, at most 1–2% of the coding sequences of these duplicates were affected by conversion. Using a second approach relying on gene family size changes and gene-tree/species-tree reconciliation methods, we estimate that only 1–15% of gene trees are misled by gene conversion, depending on the lineage considered. Several features of paralogous genes correlate with gene conversion, such as intra-/interchromosomal location, level of nucleotide divergence, and GC content, although we found no definitive evidence for biased substitution patterns. After considering species-specific differences in the age and distance between paralogs, we found a highly significant difference in the amount of gene conversion among species. In particular, members of the melanogaster group showed the lowest proportion of converted genes. Our data therefore suggest underlying differences in the mechanistic basis of gene conversion among species.
On assessing operator response time in human reliability analysis (HRA) using a possibilistic fuzzy regression model

Abstract Operator response times for off-normal events in nuclear power plants have been used to assess human failure probabilities. Usually, log-normal distribution is applied to the relation of response times and failure probabilities. In the literature there have been several studies on estimating the response times. Since the response times are affected by the performance shaping factors, a regression model can be applied to estimate the response times. The conventional regression model regards the deviations between the observed and estimated values as measurement errors. However, the deviations of the dependent variable, the response times can be dependent upon the fuzziness of the parameters for the independent variables, the performance shaping factors. In this research, possibilistic linear regression models have been used to asses fuzzy parameters and furthermore response times associated with the performance shaping factors.
External Auditory Osteoma

External auditory canal (EAC) osteomas are rare, benign bony neoplasms that occur in wide range of patients. While chronic irritation and inflammation have been suggested as causal factors in several cases, significant data is lacking to support these suspicions. Symptoms are rare and can include hearing loss, vertigo, pain and tinnitus. Diagnosis is made based on a combination of clinical history and examination, radiographic imaging, and histopathology. Osteomas of the EAC are usually found incidentally and are unilateral and solitary. Computed tomography reveals a hyperdense, pedunculated mass arising from the tympanosquamous suture and lateral of the isthmus. Histopathologically, EAC osteomas are covered with periosteum and squamous epithelium, and consist of lamalleted bone surrounding fibrovascular channels with minimal osteocysts. Osteomas have historically been compared and contrasted with exostoses of the EAC. While they share similarities, more often than not it is possible to distinguish the two bony neoplasms based on clinical history and radiographic studies. Debate remains in the medical literature as to whether basic histopathology can distinguish osteomas of the EAC from exostoses. Surgical excision is the standard treatment for EAC osteomas, however close observation is considered acceptable in asymptomatic patients.
Characterization of Plasmid Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis: Evidence for Plasmid-Linked Citrate Utilization

The use of Streptococcus diacetylactis as a flavor producer in dairy fermentations is dependent upon its ability to produce diacetyl from citrate. Treatment of S. diacetylactis strains 18-16 and DRC1 with acridine orange resulted in the conversion of approximately 2% of the DRC1 population and 20% of the 18-16 population to citrate negative, which is indicative of the involvement of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Growth in the presence of acridine orange also resulted in the appearance of 2% lactose-negative derivatives in S. diacetylactis 18-16 and 99% lactose-defective, proteinase-negative derivatives in S. diacetylactis DRC1. Cesium chloride-ethidium bromide equilibrium density gradients of cleared lysate material from each strain revealed the presence of covalently closed circular DNA. Samples of this covalently closed circular DNA were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis to determine the plasmid composition of each strain. S. diacetylactis 18-16 was found to possess six plasmids, of approximately 41, 28, 6.4, 5.5, 3.4, and 3.0 megadaltons (Mdal). S. diacetylactis DRC1 contained six plasmids, of approximately 41, 31, 18, 5.5, 4.5, and 3.7 Mdal. Variants of S. diacetylactis 18-16 which failed to produce acetoin plus diacetyl from citrate (citrate negative) were missing a 5.5-Mdal plasmid. Lactose-negative mutants of the same strain were devoid of a 41-Mdal plasmid. Lactose-defective, proteinase-negative mutants of S. diacetylactis DRC1 were missing a 31-Mdal plasmid. The citrate-negative mutants of S. diacetylactis DRC1 isolated in this study did not possess a 5.5-Mdal plasmid. Thus, we have evidence that there is a correlation between the ability to utilize citrate and the presence of a 5.5-Mdal plasmid. A relationship was also noted between lactose fermentation and proteinase activity and plasmid DNA in S. diacetylactis.
Electron hop funnel measurement and simulation for various geometries and materials

Summary form only given: Vacuum electron hop funnel devices can be used to collect and spatially average electron emission current from field emission arrays (FEAs). At the proper operating voltage the funnels provide unity gain of the injected emission current. The resulting beams can be more uniform than from typical FEAs, and the funnel technique might be used to generate very uniform electron sheet beams. In the work described here, hop funnels have been fabricated from low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC). Other materials will also be tested including SiO2 and Macor in order to measure and simulate the effect that different secondary emission yield curves has on the insulating surface charge distribution and I-V characteristics. For each insulating material, hop funnel structures with varying wall slopes will be constructed to measure the relationship of the slope of the hop funnel wall with the "knee" of the I-V curve. In addition, the electron energy distribution of the hop funnel electron beam, as well as the beam spread, will be measured for each material and wall slope to create a matrix of data which will be used to determine an optimal hop funnel structure for a minimal average transverse electron energy component of the exit beam. The data will be compared against the predictions of the particle trajectory computer simulation Lorentz and will be used to refine the statistical parameters in the numerical simulation. Based on the results, a novel slit design will be constructed of LTCC to be used with the FEAs to generate an electron sheet beam.
Early to Mid-Term Results of Fixed-Bearing Total Ankle Arthroplasty with a Modular Intramedullary Tibial Component

Background: There has been a continuing increase in the use of total ankle arthroplasty for the treatment of end-stage ankle arthritis. Our aim was to determine the clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes of total ankle arthroplasties done with a prosthesis with a modular intramedullary stem and intramedullary referencing to align the tibia. Methods: A consecutive series of patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty with the INBONE Total Ankle Replacement from June 2007 to December 2010 were enrolled in this study. Pain and patient-reported function were assessed with use of a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey. Objective function was measured with assessment of walking speed, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the Sit-to-Stand (STS) test, and the Four Square Step Test (4SST). Standardized weight-bearing radiographs obtained preoperatively and after total ankle arthroplasty were evaluated. We analyzed clinical, functional, and radiographic measurements with a series of repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with post-hoc testing to assess differences between preoperative, one-year postoperative, and most recent follow-up data. On the basis of the number of statistical comparisons, a Bonferroni correction was completed (alpha < 0.003). Results: We identified 194 primary INBONE total ankle arthroplasties with a mean duration of clinical follow-up of 3.7 years (range, 2.2 to 5.5 years). Patients demonstrated a significant improvement (p < 0.003) in VAS pain, AOFAS, SMFA, and SF-36 scores at the time of final follow-up, compared with preoperative values, and in walking speed, STS time, TUG time, and 4SST time at two years postoperatively, compared with preoperatively. The mean coronal tibiotalar angle for varus and valgus ankles significantly improved postoperatively and was maintained until the time of final follow-up. The prevalence of unstable subsidence leading to impending failure was 5%, and the prevalence of revision was 6%. Conclusions: Patients who underwent total ankle arthroplasty with the INBONE Total Ankle Replacement demonstrated significant improvement in radiographic, functional, and patient-reported outcome scores at a mean of 3.7 years postoperatively. The overall implant survival rate was 89%. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Inactivation of BK Channels by the NH2 Terminus of the β2 Auxiliary Subunit: An Essential Role of a Terminal Peptide Segment of Three Hydrophobic Residues

An auxiliary β2 subunit, when coexpressed with Slo α subunits, produces inactivation of the resulting large-conductance, Ca2+ and voltage-dependent K+ (BK-type) channels. Inactivation is mediated by the cytosolic NH2 terminus of the β2 subunit. To understand the structural requirements for inactivation, we have done a mutational analysis of the role of the NH2 terminus in the inactivation process. The β2 NH2 terminus contains 46 residues thought to be cytosolic to the first transmembrane segment (TM1). Here, we address two issues. First, we define the key segment of residues that mediates inactivation. Second, we examine the role of the linker between the inactivation segment and TM1. The results show that the critical determinant for inactivation is an initial segment of three amino acids (residues 2–4: FIW) after the initiation methionine. Deletions that scan positions from residue 5 through residue 36 alter inactivation, but do not abolish it. In contrast, deletion of FIW or combinations of point mutations within the FIW triplet abolish inactivation. Mutational analysis of the three initial residues argues that inactivation does not result from a well-defined structure formed by this epitope. Inactivation may be better explained by linear entry of the NH2-terminal peptide segment into the permeation pathway with residue hydrophobicity and size influencing the onset and recovery from inactivation. Examination of the ability of artificial, polymeric linkers to support inactivation suggests that a variety of amino acid sequences can serve as adequate linkers as long as they contain a minimum of 12 residues between the first transmembrane segment and the FIW triplet. Thus, neither a specific distribution of charge on the linker nor a specific structure in the linker is required to support the inactivation process.
Application of signature analysis for determining the operational readiness of motor-operated valves under blowdown test conditions

Abstract In support of the NRC-funded Nuclear Plant Aging Research (NPAR) program, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has carried out a comprehensive aging assessment of motor-operated valves (MOVs). As part of this work, ORNL participated in the gate valve flow interruption blowdown (GVFJB) tests carried out in Huntsville, Alabama, The tests provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate signature analysis methods for determining the operability of MOVs under accident conditions. ORNL acquired motor current and torque switch shaft angular position signauresnon two test MOVs during several GVFIB tests. The reduction in operating “margin” of both MOVs due to the presence of additional value running loads imposed by high flow was clearly observed in motor current and troque switch angular signatures. In addition, the effects of differential pressure, fluid temperature, and line voltage on MOV operations were observed and more clearly understood as a result of utilizing the signature analysis techniques.
Semi-supervised spike sorting using pattern matching and a scaled Mahalanobis distance metric

Sorting action potentials (spikes) from tetrode recordings can be time consuming, labor intensive, and inconsistent, depending on the methods used and the experience of the operator. The techniques presented here were designed to address these issues. A feature related to the slope of the spike during repolarization is computed. A small subsample of the features obtained from the tetrode (ca. 10,000–20,000 events) is clustered using a modified version of k-means that uses Mahalanobis distance and a scaling factor related to the cluster size. The cluster-size-based scaling improves the clustering by increasing the separability of close clusters, especially when they are of disparate size. The full data set is then classified from the statistics of the clusters. The technique yields consistent results for a chosen number of clusters. A MATLAB implementation is able to classify more than 5000 spikes per second on a modern workstation.
ZOOMING IN: a new high-resolution gene expression atlas of the brain.

Mol Syst Biol. 3: 75 If you walk through a laboratory at the Salk Institute, all the people working in it look fairly similar: two legs, a head and so on. However, it is only through a more detailed analysis that one could reveal the differences between the first year graduate student (nervously pipetting) and the well‐respected principal investigator (PI) (editing manuscripts). Analogous to this, how can we discriminate diverse neuronal populations (e.g. graduate student versus PI) and even understand their function in the adult brain? Genome‐wide, unbiased gene expression studies using DNA microarrays or serial analyses of gene expression have created a tremendous amount of data defining tissue‐specific and even region‐specific gene expression in mammals (Lockhart et al , 1996; Datson et al , 2001; Lewandowski and Small, 2005). In other words, the ‘laboratory’ (in analogy to organs, e.g., the brain) and maybe even the ‘job description’ (e.g., the substructure of the brain) of many genes have been already identified. In a study recently published in Nature , Lein et al (2007) went one step further and have provided a genome‐wide gene expression atlas of the adult mouse brain (the Allen Brain …
On the role of mismatch in rate distortion theory

Using a codebook C, a source sequence is described by the codeword that is closest to it according to the distortion measure d/sub 0/(x,x/spl circ//sub 0/). Based on this description, the source sequence is reconstructed to minimize the reconstruction distortion as measured by d/sub 1/(x,x/spl circ//sub 1/), where, in general, d/sub 1/(x,x/spl circ//sub 1/)/spl ne/d/sub 0/(x,x/spl circ//sub 0/). We study the minimum resulting d/sub 1/(x,x/spl circ//sub 1/)-distortion between the reconstructed sequence and the source sequence as we optimize over the codebook subject to a rate constraint. Using a random coding argument we derive an upper bound on the resulting distortion. Applying this bound to blocks of source symbols we construct a sequence of bounds which are shown to converge to the least distortion achievable in this setup. This solves the rate distortion dual of an open problem related to the capacity of channels with a given decoding rule-the mismatch capacity. Addressing a different kind of mismatch, we also study the mean-squared error description of non-Gaussian sources with random Gaussian codebooks. It is shown that the use of a Gaussian codebook to compress any ergodic source results in an average distortion which depends on the source via its second moment only. The source with a given second moment that is most difficult to describe is the memoryless zero-mean Gaussian source, and it is best described using a Gaussian codebook. Once a Gaussian codebook is used, we show that all sources of a given second moment become equally hard to describe.
Comparison of age, body mass index, and frequency of systemic hypertension and diabetes mellitus in patients having coronary angioplasty in 1996 versus in 2006

The data submitted to the New York State Department of Health Coronary Angioplasty Reporting System Database on coronary angioplasties performed at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College from 1996 to 2005 were analyzed. Compared with 1996, during 2005, more coronary angioplasties were performed (1,624 vs 1,122), and the patients were older (mean age 64.5 vs 61.0 years, p 2 , p
Calculation of Reverse Annealing in Neutron Damaged p-Type Silicon

A calculation of the reverse annealing process in neutron-burst irradiated p-type silicon at 300°K was performed, utilizing a variation of the equilibrium cluster theory of Gregory. Material conditions which were considered included 1, 10, and 100 ?-cm material with an injection ratio of 10-6 , and 1 ?-cm material with injection ratios of 10-7 and 10-8. This calculation demonstrated the relationship between the peak and time of occurrence of the damage constant versus time curve and the material resistivity and injection level. It was also shown that the reverse annealing rate depends upon the capture rate of defects in the cluster, rather than the rate of transport of defects from the depletion region to the cluster. These carrier capture rates were such that the forward annealing process usually began before the clusters reached charge saturation. Finally, it was concluded that an injected minority carrier pulse lasting less than 5×10-6 sec after burst will not appreciably affect the reverse annealing process.
Metamodeling for cycle time-throughput-product mix surfaces using progressive model fitting

A simulation-based methodology is proposed to map the mean of steady-state cycle time as a function of throughput and product mix for manufacturing systems. Nonlinear regression models motivated by queueing analysis are assumed for the underlying response surface. To insure efficiency and control estimation error, simulation experiments are built up sequentially using a multistage procedure to collect data for the fitting of the models. The resulting response surface is able to provide a cycle-time estimate for any throughput and any product mix, and thus allows the decision maker to instantly investigate options and trade offs regarding their production planning.
Spatial Design, Optimal

Statistical inferences from spatial data are affected substantially by the spatial configuration of the sites where those data are observed. Thus, it is natural to try to select a configuration that optimizes, in some sense, the quality of the desired inference(s). This article lays out the classical framework for optimal model-based spatial sampling design. Prediction error variance design criteria are featured, but optimality criteria for estimating model parameters are also mentioned. Optimal designs may be built “from scratch” or by expanding or contracting an existing design.
Radio frequency interference

➢ Radiation from processor packages was investigated using a simplified 3D numerical model. The radiation pattern (Near field) agrees with measurement ➢ Preliminary results show that the package PDN resonance may be the major reason that P1 radiates more than P2 processor
Fractal Coherence: Scalably Verifiable Cache Coherence

We propose an architectural design methodology for designing formally verifiable cache coherence protocols, called Fractal Coherence. Properly designed to be fractal in behavior, the proposed family of cache coherence protocols can be formally verified correct for systems with an arbitrary number of cores, using existing, automated formal tools. We show, by designing and implementing a specific Fractal Coherence protocol, called Tree Fractal, that Fractal Coherence protocols can attain comparable performance to traditional snooping and directory protocols.
Online supervisor synthesis for partially observed discrete-event systems

A partial information supervisor that generates a class of closed controllable and observable sublanguages of a specified "legal" language is presented. This supervisor has the following features: 1) it can be implemented online (i.e., the disabled event set need only be computed once upon each event observation); 2) the computations of the disabled event set can be performed in O(mn) worst case complexity, where a is the number of states in the legal language generator and m is the number of events; 3) an online supervisor presented previously by Heymann and Lin (1993) is a special case of the new supervisor; and 4) all the languages generated by the new supervisor contain the supremal closed controllable and normal (supCCN) sublanguage of the legal language (in fact, they contain a language developed by Fa et al. (1993) that was shown to contain the supCCN sublanguage).
Behavioral Models in Transportation Planning

The current transportation planning process falls between two more efficient and logical extremes. Enormous savings could accrue through simplification of current travel forecasting procedures with little loss in accuracy. Alternatively, more research should be undertaken to develop models to evaluate individual travel response to alternative transportation systems. Most behavioral research has focused on modal split considerations; similar models are needed for the analysis of travel behavior in general. These models will be more complex than those used in a modal split context because multiple outcomes will be required, rather than a binary decision. Transportation investment should be considered a policy tool to achieve overall urban goals. Behavioral models are necessary to evaluate whether or not goals will be achieved through the implementation of urban transportation system improvements.
TCTAP A-168 Efficacy of Catheter Directed Thrombolysis for Stent Occlusion in Superficial Femoral Artery in Chronic Period

Efficacy of stent for long chronic total occlusion (CTO) in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) has been hampered by stent occlusion. Balloon dilatation with or without aspiration was applied in treatment of stent occlusion. However, it frequently offers suboptimal result and accompanies distal
If the People Like It, It Must Be Good: Criticism, Democracy and the Culture of Consensus

What is the role, if any, of professional music criticism in the age of the internet, and what are the potential consequences of its likely demise? How do we evaluate the claim that the erosion of traditional forms of cultural authority, including professional criticism, is inherently democratic? To address these questions, this paper compares professional music criticism with the technologically-mediated forms of cultural judgment that have increasingly replaced it, analyzing the shift from aesthetics to consensus as the basis for cultural judgment. Rather than signaling the end of cultural authority, the recent transformations of the music world are marked by the emergence of authority of a different kind.
Use of class I histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin in combination regimens

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are epigenetic-modifying agents that have shown promise as anticancer therapies. Several HDAC inhibitors have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as single-agent therapies to treat T-cell lymphoma. The synergistic combination of HDAC inhibitors with other anticancer agents has the potential to constitute treatment regimens with enhanced efficacy. Romidepsin is a structurally unique, potent, bicyclic class 1 selective HDAC inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma who have had at least 1 prior therapy and patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have had at least 1 prior systemic therapy. Here, we review data that support the use of romidepsin in combination with other anticancer agents for the treatment of various malignancies. Promising results have emerged from early clinical studies, supporting the potential for romidepsin combination regimens to constitute safe and effective treatments for cancer.
Exploration and Practice of Robot Courses in Higher Engineering Education

In the context of "regression to engineering practice",three typical problems of robot courses in higher engineering education in China are presented in this article. They are discipline-crossing,subject frontiers and engineering practice. In order to address these problems,this paper demonstrates how to construct hierarchical teaching system,diversify practice teaching links,present special lectures and step research teams combining with our practices in aspect of educational idea,teaching contents and practical effect. These all indicate our positive and beneficial exploration and attempt. Practice shows that undergraduate's engineering ability and innovation consciousness can be improved with integration of multi-faceted engineering perception,multi-crossed disciplines and diversified practical teaching process based on technology of intelligent robot,and the effect is more clear in the actual projects through mutual participation of teachers and students. Moreover,our efforts can also contribute on the valuable exploration and practice with respect to the cultivation of innovation-oriented engineering talents based on robotic education in universities and colleges.