cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Water Mobility and Viscosity of Nanometric Alumina Suspensions

Addition of fructose has been shown to reduce the viscosity of aqueous suspensions of nanometric alumina powders. Highly concentrated and flowable aqueous nanometric alumina suspensions were achieved by fructose addition. Oxygen-17 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the relaxation time and the molecular mobility of water in the suspensions with and without fructose. It was found that a significant fraction of water is bound to the surface with lower mobility. Average water mobility increases and the viscosity of the suspension decreases with fructose addition, both of which are because of displacement of water from the alumina surface by fructose molecules. The results were related to rheological behavior of the suspensions.
Human Müllerian-inhibiting substance promoter contains a functional TFII-I-binding initiator.

Mullerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) plays an essential role in mammalian male sexual development; thus, it is important to determine how the tightly regulated expression of the MIS gene is transcriptionally controlled. Transcription of eukaryotic genes is dependent on regulatory elements in the enhancer and one or both distinct elements in the core promoter: the TATA box, and the initiator (Inr) element. Because the human MIS gene does not contain a consensus TATA and has not been reported to contain an Inr element, we hypothesized that the initiator region of the core promoter was essential for promoter activity. Transient transfection assays were conducted using an immortalized Embryonic Day 14.5 male rat urogenital ridge cell line (CH34) that expresses low levels of MIS. These studies revealed that promoter activity is dependent on the region around the start site (-6 to +10) but not on the nonconsensus TATA region. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that the human MIS initiator sequence forms a specific DNA-protein complex with CH34 cell nuclear extract, HeLa cell nuclear extract, and purified TFII-I. This complex could be blocked or supershifted by the addition of antibodies directed against TFII-I. These data suggest that the human MIS gene contains a functional initiator that is specifically recognized by TFII-I.
The Structure and Function of Highly Bent Toroidal DNA in Bacteriophage φ29

Tailed bacteriophages are highly efficient machines for infecting a host cell. A single virion must attach to the host surface, penetrate the cell wall, then release its double-stranded DNA genome. In these remarkable DNA delivery machines, controlling how and when the genome is released is a task of paramount importance. Recently, a three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstruction of mature bacteriophage φ29 revealed an intriguing toroidal DNA structure contained in a small cavity below the viral capsid. This highly bent toroidal DNA supercoil is thought to be 30-40 basepairs of dsDNA and its function remains unknown.In this study, we employ an elastic rod model to simulate highly strained DNA as it is compressed within the protein cavity. The model provides estimates of force and energy required to form the toroid as well as its equilibrium conformation. Results reveal that a toroid can indeed form under the biologically relevant forces for the viral packing motor (up to 100 pN). To understand the effects of the highly stressed toroid on DNA structure, we then employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations starting with the rod model-computed equilibrium as the initial condition. Following equilibration in MD, we construct an approximate density map using the final predicted toroid to compare with the recently published cryo-EM data. The computed density map correctly predicts the major dimensions of the toroid as well as regions of high and low density. Finally, we simulate the start of the ejection process by integrating the rod model forward in time upon sudden removal of the protein “tail knob.” The resulting fast dynamic collapse of the toroid suggests that its function could be to prime the ejection of the remaining viral genome.
The VAL Language: Description and Analysis

VAL is a high-level, function-based language designed for use on data flow computers. A data flow computer has many small processors organized to cooperate in the executive of a single computation. A computation is represented by its data flow graph; each operator in a graph is scheduled for execution on one of the processors after all of its operands' values are known. VAL promotes the indentification of concurrency in algorithms and simplifies the mapping into data graphs. This paper presents a detailed introduction to VAL and analyzes its usefulness for programming in a highly concurrent environment. VAL provides implicit concurrency (operations that can execute simultaneously are evident without the need for any explicit language notation). The language uses function- and expression-based features that prohibit all side effects, which simplifies translation to graphs. The salient language features are described and illustrated through examples taken from a complete VAL program for adaptive quadrature. Analysis of the language shows that VAL meets the critical needs for a data flow environment. The language encourages programmers to think in terms of general concurrency, enhances readability (due to the absence of side effects), and possesses a structure amenable to verification techniques. However, VAL is still evolving.more » The language definition needs refining, and more support tools for programmer use need to be developed. Also, some new kinds of optimization problems should be addressed.« less
Heavy drinking, alcohol dependence, and injuries at work among young workers in the United States labor force.

BACKGROUND: To determine whether heavily drinking and alcohol-dependent workers are at higher risk of occupational injury, we analyzed the nationally representative cohort of people enrolled in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth since 1979. METHODS: This analysis was restricted to the 8569 respondents in the 1989 annual interview (age 24-32) who were employed during the 6 months before the interview. We studied occupational injuries (excluding sprains or strains) reported within 6 months of the interview in 1989 (cross-sectional analysis) and 1990 (prospective analysis). RESULTS: Among current drinkers, significant two-fold increases in the odds of injury for one or more episodes of heavy drinking were reduced to an odds ratio (OR) of 1.2 (95% confidence interval C. = 0.7, 2.1) in the cross-sectional analysis and an OR of 1.6 (CI 1.0, 2.8) in the prospective analysis after adjustment for confounding. No dose-response relationship with the frequency of heavy drinking was found. Alcohol-dependent respondents were not at higher risk of injury in the cross-sectional (OR = 1.1, CI 0.7, 1.8) or prospective (OR = 1.3,CI 0.8, 2.2) analyses after adjustment for confounding. CONCLUSIONS: For young U.S. workers, common occupational injuries (excluding sprains and strains) may not be strongly associated with alcohol dependence. Confounding by other risk factors may explain much of the association between being a heavy drinker and occupational injuries in this population. Language: en
Ammonium azide under hydrostatic compression

The properties of ammonium azide NH4N3 upon compression were investigated using first-principles density functional theory. The equation of state was calculated and the mechanism of a phase transition experimentally observed at 3.3 GPa is elucidated. Novel polymorphs of NH4N3 were found using a simple structure search algorithm employing random atomic displacements upon static compression. The structures of three new polymorphs, labelled as B, C, and D, are similar to those of other metal azides.
Local Area Network Technology Applied to Automotive Electronic Communications

The purpose of this paper is to provide a tutorial on the current uses of digital communications in General Motors (GM) vehicle products. Existing GM vehicle communication systems are reviewed, their characteristics are described, and the future development trends of such systems are discussed. Long-term development of automotive digital communications will require a more complete understanding of the technologies applied. Local area network technology is proving to be very effective in lowering the cost of communication in land-based systems, due to the rapid growth and development of low-cost computing and data storage. Vehicle designers are now applying many of these same technologies to reduce the life cycle costs of increasingly complex electrical/electronic systems.
Efficacy of Multimodality Therapy in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Objectives. The integration of systemic biologic response modifier (BRM) therapy and surgery to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an evolving approach. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of this form of multimodality therapy in patients with metastatic RCC. Methods. Between 1988 and 1996, 14 patients at our institution underwent initial BRM therapy followed by surgical resection of primary and metastatic RCC lesions. Patient records were reviewed to determine the response to BRM therapy, progression-free survival rate, and overall survival rate. The mean follow-up for the entire group was 43.5 months. Results. After BRM therapy, 9 patients manifested an objective response and 5 patients had stable disease. All patients were then rendered disease-free by surgical excision of residual or recurrent metastatic lesions and the primary tumor. The cancer-specific survival rate at 3 years was 81.5%. Currently, 7 patients are alive and disease-free (mean follow-up 41.4 months), 3 patients are alive with recurrent disease (mean survival 48.3 months), 3 patients died of metastatic disease (mean survival 27.9 months), and 1 patient died of an unrelated cause 54.4 months after therapy. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that adjunctive surgery after BRM therapy can extend the survival of selected patients with metastatic RCC. Aggressive surgical resection of stable or responding lesions after BRM therapy should be considered in the management of these patients.
Recovering high dynamic range radiance maps from photographs

We present a method of recovering high dynamic range radiance maps from photographs taken with conventional imaging equipment. In our method, multiple photographs of the scene are taken with different amounts of exposure. Our algorithm uses these differently exposed photographs to recover the response function of the imaging process, up to factor of scale, using the assumption of reciprocity. With the known response function, the algorithm can fuse the multiple photographs into a single, high dynamic range radiance map whose pixel values are proportional to the true radiance values in the scene. We demonstrate our method on images acquired with both photochemical and digital imaging processes. We discuss how this work is applicable in many areas of computer graphics involving digitized photographs, including image-based modeling, image compositing, and image processing. Lastly, we demonstrate a few applications of having high dynamic range radiance maps, such as synthesizing realistic motion blur and simulating the response of the human visual system.
Purification of arginyl-RNA synthetase from rat liver.

Abstract 1. 1. The arginyl-RNA synthetase ( l -arginine:tRNA ligase (AMP)) of rat liver has been purified 100-fold. The purified enzyme was stable for several months at −20° in 20% glycerol. 2. 2. The kinetic properties of this enzyme were similar to those of other aminoacyl-RNA synthetases. The K m values for arginine, ATP and rat liver tRNA were 1.25, 1.9 and 0.37 μM, respectively. The K m values for tRNA of rat liver, yeast and Escherichia coli were 0.37, 0.66 and 0.17 μM, respectively. 3. 3. The 100-fold purified enzyme is heat labile, but is stabilized considerably by the addition of glycerol.
Relationship of nitrogen discharge to land use on Rhode River watersheds

Abstract Eight Rhode River subwatersheds were monitored with flow volume-integrating apparatus for area yield discharge of total nitrogen, total kjeldahl nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. Land use data for each subwatershed were also estimated from aerial photographs and ground truth surveys. Regression analyses of area yield discharge for the year versus percent managed land (row crops + pasture + residential) have high ( R 2 = 0.65−0.68) correlations for all three nitrogen parameters. Correlations were relatively high for nitrate nitrogen in each season; however, little relationship was found between percent disturbed land and total Kjeldahl nitrogen in the spring. Correlations were higher in five variable multiple linear regressions utilizing four land use categories. Nitrate nitrogen had a strong correlation with percent row crops, the highest correlation being in the winter and the lowest in the fall. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen had a high correlation with row crops in the summer when this form of nitrogen was discharged at high rates. Variations in percentages of four land use categories were sufficient to explain 98% of the variation between watersheds in discharges of total nitrogen for the year. High percentages of the variability in discharge of Kjeldahl and of nitrate nitrogen between watersheds were also explainable by land use variation for the year and for most season-parameter combinations. A second set of multiple linear regressions utilizing basin characteristics related to transport mechanisms resulted in generaly similar coefficients of determination for all three parameters.
The interplay of ubiquitous DNA-binding factors, availability of binding sites in the chromatin, and DNA methylation in the differential regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression.

Abstract We have identified DNA elements in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene promoter which are bound 'in vivo' by proteins under conditions of basal level gene expression and have evaluated several hypothesis to account for the tissue specific expression of the gene. In vitro DNase I footprinting demonstrated that factors which bind to basal expression elements of the PEPCK promoter, the BSE/CRE and NFI/CCAAT sites, are also present in HTC and XC cells which do not express the PEPCK gene. 'In vivo' DNase I footprinting demonstrated that the BSE/CRE, NFI/CCAAT, and three additional sites are bound by protein in H4IIE cells which express the PEPCK gene but not in the HTC or XC cells. No evidence for a repressor protein or for phased nucleosome binding to the PEPCK promoter in HTC or XC cells could be detected. Genomic sequencing was used to determine if differential methylation of the PEPCK promoter could account for the lack of factor binding in HTC and XC nuclei. None of the 14 cytosine residues in CpG dinucleotides was methylated in H4IIE or rat liver DNA, all were methylated in rat sperm DNA, and 6 were methylated in HTC DNA; including the cytosine at position--90 within the BSE/CRE. Only one cytosine residue, at position--90, was methylated in XC DNA. Treatment of XC cells with 5-azacytidine resulted in loss of methylation at the--90 position yet this was insufficient to allow synthesis of a detectable amount of PEPCK mRNA.
Limited change in the diversity and structure of subtidal communities over four decades

A unique archive of photographs from 1969 to 1974 permitted a test of the hypothesis that the diversity and composition of contemporary epilithic communities on subtidal rock walls in the San Juan Islands, WA, USA, has changed over 40 years. Notably, the richness and diversity of sessile taxa was significantly higher in 2008–2011. Furthermore, the multivariate community structure of sessile and mobile taxa differed between the historic and modern eras. Historic communities were characterized by a high percent cover of bare rock and non-calcified algal crusts, consistent with the effects of grazing by chitons and urchins. The rate of sessile community turnover, an index less susceptible to spatial sampling artifacts than richness or diversity, was not significantly different between the two eras. Together with the naturally high spatial variability in these epilithic communities, and the limited replication of historic quadrats, we interpret cautiously the data as evidence of limited change despite a clear shift in temperature and predator (fish) guild composition. The lack of substantial change in rock wall communities may be due in part to their vertical topography, which limits physical disturbance and the preemption of space by weedy algae, two processes that are often associated with “phase-shifts” in other marine ecosystems.
Observations of Unusually Small Dust Grains in the Coma of Comet Hale-Bopp C/1995 O1

We present 1.2-18.3 μm photometry of comet 1995 01 (Hale-Bopp). Our observations spanned nearly 4 months pre- and post-perihelion. The dust grain size-dependent parameters of superheat, 10 μm silicate excess, and albedo are used to make determinations about the Hale-Bopp coma grain population. The evolution of the coma grain size distribution is tracked by measuring these parameters over a range of heliocentric distances. We also observed several regions in the Hale-Bopp coma revealing significant gradients in the measured color temperature suggesting differences in the dust grain size distribution. Finally, we compare the grain size-dependent parameters to those of 11 other bright comets. The extreme values of these parameters displayed by Hale-Bopp suggest it had a smaller mean dust grain size than those associated with the other comets.
A possible approach for the assessment of radiation effects on populations of wild organisms in radionuclide-contaminated environments?

It is frequently asserted that measures to protect the biotic environment from increased radiation exposures arising from human activities should be focussed on the population rather than the individual. It is, however, difficult (if not impossible) to identify any population-specific attributes that can be affected by radiation exposure directly rather than through the mediation of direct, known and identifiable effects in individual organisms. Indeed, it is often conceded that this difficulty forces attention to be refocussed onto the effects in individuals. Regulatory controls on radioactive waste management and disposal could then be implemented to ensure that any radiation effects in individual native plants and animals remain at, or below, some acceptable level (yet to be defined). Nevertheless, the question remains as to whether such controls would also provide for the protection of the population. An answer to this question depends on the availability of a model that allows the integration of the known effects of radiation exposure on the mortality, morbidity, fertility and fecundity of individuals into an assessment of the possible impact at the population level. The utility of one such approach, the Leslie Matrix Model, is explored in respect of a fish population (the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa). This initial implementation of the population model is simplistic (and, certainly, environmentally unrealistic), but it is concluded that the output from the model does provide some insights into how the population might respond to radiation-induced changes in individual attributes, and that further development in the direction of increased realism is fully warranted.
DIVISIBILITY PROPERTIES OF COEFFICIENTS OF WEIGHT 0 WEAKLY HOLOMORPHIC MODULAR FORMS

In 1949, Lehner showed that certain coefficients of the modular invariant j(τ) are divisible by high powers of small primes. Kolberg refined Lehner's results and proved congruences for these coefficients modulo high powers of these primes. We extend Lehner's and Kolberg's work to the elements of a canonical basis for the space of weight 0 weakly holomorphic modular forms.
Human erythrocyte electrofusion kinetics monitored by aqueous contents mixing

The kinetics of electrically induced fusion of human erythrocyte ghosts were monitored by the Tb/DPA and ANTS/DPX fluorescence fusion assays. Ghosts were aligned by dielectrophoresis using a 3-MHz 350-V/cm alternating field and were fused by single 15- or 50-microseconds electric field pulses of amplitude 2.5–5.0kV/cm. Fusion was detected immediately after the pulse. The peak fluorescence change due to fusion was always obtained within 7 s of pulse application, and was highest for a 5.0kV/cm 15-microseconds pulse. Probe leakage was measured separately and became apparent only 2–3 s after the initiation of fusion. Increasing pulse amplitudes produced higher fusion yields but produced more leakage from the fusion products. 50-microseconds pulses produced less fusion, resulting from a disruption of the dielectrophoretic alignment by fluid turbulence immediately after pulse application. Probe leakage was observed only when pulse application was preceded by dielectrophoresis, suggesting that close membrane positioning allows for additional membrane destabilization caused by the high field pulse. The fluorescence kinetics are interpreted using a simplified model depicting three major types of events: (a) fusion without observable leakage, (b) fusion followed by probe leakage, and (c) contact-related leakage from ghosts which do not undergo contents mixing.
Previous loss of chromosome 11 containing a suppressor locus increases radiosensitivity, neoplastic transformation frequency and delayed death in HeLa × fibroblast human hybrid cells

CGL1 (HeLaHfibroblast) hybrid cells have been utilized to study mechanisms of radiation-induced neoplastic transformation of human cells in vitro. Previous analysis has shown that loss of active tumor suppressor alleles on fibroblast chromosomes 11 and 14 may be required for radiation-induced neoplastic transformation of CGL1 cells. Loss of chromosome 11 alone was, therefore, found to be necessary but not sufficient for neoplastic transformation. We postulated that the loss of chromosome 11 may make the hybrid cells more susceptible to radiation-induced neoplastic transformation, since these cells have already undergone one of the required tumor suppressor loss events. Hybrid cells which have lost one copy of chromosome 11 were designated CON104(‐11). CON104(‐11) hybrid cells were found to have increased X-ray sensitivity and susceptibility to radiation-induced neoplastic transformation when compared with the parental CGL1 cells. In addition, the neoplastically transformed foci appear to arise earlier after radiation exposure in CON104(‐11) versus CGL1 cells. Furthermore, the plating efficiency (PE) of the progeny of the irradiated CON104(‐11) cells, growing in transformation flasks, is persistently lower than parental CGL1 cells during the 21 day assay period. The lower PE of the progeny of irradiated cells was attributed to the expression of delayed death/lethal mutations post-irradiation, a reflection of genomic instability. Taken together, the data indicate that previous loss of chromosome 11 may increase the radiation-induced genomic instability of the hybrid cells, leading to increased radiation sensitivity and neoplastic transformation potential. The data suggest that one possible function of the chromosome 11 tumor suppressor gene may be to help maintain genome stability after radiation damage.
Near Room Temperature Magnetocaloric Response of an (FeNi)ZrB Alloy

Mechanical alloying of (Fe70Ni30)89Zr7B4 powders leads to the formation of a γ-FeNi phase. In order to obtain single γ-phase, a powdered sample was solution annealed in the γ-phase field and water quenched. The Curie temperature of this powder was slightly higher than room temperature. The refrigerant capacity calculated for this alloy, RCFWHM ~ 330 J·kg-1 for 5 T, is comparable to other prominent room temperature magnetocaloric materials, making this alloy a good candidate for magnetic refrigeration near room temperature with additional benefits that is non-rare earth containing and less expensive than many alternatives.
Rhodococcus equi Infections in Immunocompetent Hosts: Case Report and Review

Rhodococcus equi is an unusual cause of infection in humans. Infection in immunocompetent patients is extremely rare-only 19 cases in immunocompetent hosts have been reported. Localized infections represent nearly 50% of reported cases. Pulmonary infections account for only 42% of infections in immunocompetent hosts, compared with 84% of infections in immunocompromised hosts. The mortality rate among immunocompetent patients is approximately 11%, compared with rates of 50%-55% among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and 20%-25% among non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients. Treatment of infections in immunocompetent hosts depends on the site of infection. Serious infections need to be treated with combinations of parenteral antibiotics, followed by combinations of oral antibiotics. Surgical treatment is necessary for certain types of local infections. We report a pulmonary infection due to R. equi in an immunocompetent patient, and we review all reported cases of R. equi infection in immunocompetent hosts.
Developing a cost-effective brand loyalty program

What makes a brand loyalty program successful or cost-effective? Interviews of 41 managers of brand loyalty programs were conducted to establish the best practices for such programs. Following this, a study of 132 brand managers and a study of 643 consumers jointly show that brand managers may overestimate the importance of targeting heavy users (or frequent users) and may underestimate the effectiveness of inexpensive reward programs. In reality, low and moderate reward programs that target light users may generate higher incremental sales and may tend to be more profitable than is generally expected.
Colonization State Influences the Hemocyte Proteome in a Beneficial Squid–Vibrio Symbiosis

The squid Euprymna scolopes and the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri form a highly specific beneficial light organ symbiosis. Not only does the host have to select V. fischeri from the environment, but it must also prevent subsequent colonization by non-symbiotic microorganisms. Host macrophage-like hemocytes are believed to play a role in mediating the symbiosis with V. fischeri. Previous studies have shown that the colonization state of the light organ influences the host's hemocyte response to the symbiont. To further understand the molecular mechanisms behind this process, we used two quantitative mass-spectrometry-based proteomic techniques, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) and label-free spectral counting, to compare and quantify the adult hemocyte proteomes from colonized (sym) and uncolonized (antibiotic-treated/cured) squid. Overall, iTRAQ allowed for the quantification of 1,024 proteins with two or more peptides. Thirty-seven unique proteins were determined to be significantly different between sym and cured hemocytes (p value < 0.05), with 20 more abundant proteins and 17 less abundant in sym hemocytes. The label-free approach resulted in 1,241 proteins that were identified in all replicates. Of 185 unique proteins present at significantly different amounts in sym hemocytes (as determined by spectral counting), 92 were more abundant and 93 were less abundant. Comparisons between iTRAQ and spectral counting revealed that 30 of the 37 proteins quantified via iTRAQ exhibited trends similar to those identified by the label-free method. Both proteomic techniques mutually identified 16 proteins that were significantly different between the two groups of hemocytes (p value < 0.05). The presence of V. fischeri in the host light organ influenced the abundance of proteins associated with the cytoskeleton, adhesion, lysosomes, proteolysis, and the innate immune response. These data provide evidence that colonization by V. fischeri alters the hemocyte proteome and reveals proteins that may be important for maintaining host–symbiont specificity.
Computers as Components: Principles of Embedded Computing System Design

Chapter 1 - Embedded Computing Chapter 2 - Instruction Sets Chapter 3 - CPUs Chapter 4 - The Embedded Computing Platform Chapter 5 - Program Design and Analysis Chapter 6 - Processes and Operating Systems Chapter 7 - Hardware Accelerators Chapter 8 - Networks Chapter 9 - System Design Techniques Appendix A - UML Notations Appendix B - Notes on Hardware Design
Global Impact of sdiA Amplification Revealed by Comprehensive Gene Expression Profiling of Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli the amplification of sdiA, a positive activator of ftsQAZ, genes that are essential for septation, results in mitomycin C resistance. To help us understand this resistance phenotype, genes whose expression was altered by increased sdiA dosage were identified using a DNA microarray-based, comprehensive transcript profiling method. The expression of 62 genes was reduced by more than threefold; of these, 41 are involved in motility and chemotaxis. Moreover, the expression of 75 genes, 36 of which had been previously characterized, was elevated at least threefold. As expected, increased sdiA dosage led to significantly elevated sdiA and ′ddlB-ftsQAZ-lpxC operon expression. Transcription of two genes, uvrY and uvrC, located downstream of sdiA and oriented in the same direction, was elevated about 10-fold, although the intervening gene, yecF, of opposite polarity was unaffected by increased sdiA dosage. Three genes (mioC and gidAB) flanking the replication origin, oriC, were transcribed more often when sdiA dosage was high, as were 12 genes within 1 min of a terminus of replication, terB. Transcription of the acrABDEF genes, mapping in three widely spaced loci, was elevated significantly, while several genes involved in DNA repair and replication (e.g., nei, recN, mioC, and mcrC) were moderately elevated in expression. Such global analysis provides a link between septation and the response to DNA-damaging agents.
Reinforcing, subjective, and physiological effects of MDMA in humans: a comparison with d-amphetamine and mCPP

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a widely used drug of abuse chemically related to both the amphetamines and mescaline. Laboratory animal studies have shown that MDMA is a potent re-uptake inhibitor and releaser of dopamine and serotonin. Although the subjective and physiological effects of MDMA have been compared to d-amphetamine in humans, no direct comparison with a serotonin releasing agent has been reported and reinforcing effects have not been evaluated. In this paper we report a direct comparison of the reinforcing, subjective, and physiological effects of MDMA (1 and 2 mg/kg) to d-amphetamine (10 and 20 mg), to metachlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP--a serotonin releasing agent (0.5 and 0.75 mg/kg)), and to placebo using a within-subject design in 12 volunteers with moderate MDMA experience. Both the high dose of d-amphetamine and MDMA showed significant reinforcing effects as indicated by high cross-over values on the multiple choice procedure compared to all other treatments. All three drugs showed dose-dependent changes in subjective effects whereas physiological effects were most pronounced for MDMA with almost no changes seen with mCPP. The subjective effects of MDMA were similar both to those of mCPP and d-amphetamine, suggesting that both dopamine and serotonin systems are involved in mediating these effects. In contrast, only the dopaminergic agents, d-amphetamine and MDMA, had reinforcing effects.
Fast algorithms for uncertainty propagation, and their applications to structural integrity

In many practical situations, we need to know how uncertainty propagates through data processing algorithms, i.e., how the uncertainty in the inputs affects the results of data processing. This problem is important for all types of uncertainty: probabilistic, interval, and fuzzy. From the computational viewpoint, however, this problem is much more complex for interval and fuzzy uncertainty. Therefore, for these types of uncertainty, it is desirable to design faster algorithms.
Mechanics of Woven Fabrics: Part III: Critical Review of Weavability Limit Studies

Extensive coverage of previous work in the area of weavability limit theories, their experimental validation, and their practical importance is reviewed. The review also includes previous work on m...
Altitudinal variation in parental energy expenditure by white-crowned sparrows

SUMMARY We used the doubly labeled water technique to measure daily energy expenditure (DEE) during the incubation and feeding nestling stages in two populations of white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys)— one montane and migratory, the other coastal and sedentary — that differ in thermal environment and clutch size. We assessed the birds9 thermal environment by continuously monitoring (among other variables) operative temperature and wind speed both in the open and within bushes and willow thickets occupied by sparrows. From these measurements, we derived several estimates of the birds9 thermal environment, including standard operative temperature (Tes). Shade air temperature and Tes averaged 6.6 and 10.3°C lower, respectively, at the montane study site during DEE measurements. The montane population9s DEE averaged 24% higher than that of the sea-level population (103.6±12.2 versus 83.7±9.6 kJ day-1; means ± S.D., N=31 and 22, respectively), reflecting both its larger brood size (3.7 versus 2.9) and the colder environment. The DEE:BMR ratio was lowest in the sea-level population (2.1 versus 2.6), but neither population worked to their physiological capacity to produce young. DEE was significantly correlated with temperature across populations, with Tes explaining 42% of the variation in DEE. Statistically removing the effect of temperature by adjusting DEE to a common temperature reduced the difference in DEE between populations by 34% to 87.7 and 100.8 kJ day-1, respectively, for sea-level and montane populations. Basal and resting metabolic rates were similar in both populations, implying that greater activity in the montane population accounted for its higher temperature-adjusted DEE. Our results indicate that the thermal context within which behavior occurs can significantly affect interindividual variation in DEE. Attempts to assess reproductive effort by measuring DEE should therefore account explicitly for the effect of temperature.
Test for Individual Perceptions of Job Equity: Some Preliminary Findings

For 880 persons in management and professional positions mean satisfaction for those classified as Benevolent, Equity Sensitive, and Entitled when under-equitably of over-rewarded showed main effects of sensitivity to equity and perceptions of equity, but no interactions. Further work is suggested.
Semantic analysis and classification of medical questions for a logic-based medical question-answering system

Due to the continuous growth and crucial real-world impact of information produced in the biomedical and health domain, there is an acutely felt need for question-answering (QA) systems that can aid medical researchers and health care professionals in their information search. In order to provide users with accurate answers, such systems need to utilize semantic analysis and processing of medical texts and knowledge resources. Moreover, QA systems equipped with reasoning capabilities can derive more adequate answers by using inference mechanisms. We propose a logic-based medical QA system which uses Description Logic (DL) for knowledge representation and reasoning. As a first step in constructing the proposed QA system, we present a study on the semantic analysis and categorization of medical questions.
Application of the normal form of vector fields to predict interarea separation in power systems

This paper presents a systematic approach to predict the structural characteristics of power systems following large disturbances. Specifically, this paper uses the normal form of vector fields to predict the onset of the interarea separation in power systems following large disturbances. The normal form method is well established in the dynamical systems theory literature. The paper develops an analytically based index which identifies the onset of the interarea separation. The proposed approach has been applied to the 50-generator IEEE test system. The results obtained indicate that the proposed index effectively captures the structural characteristics of the system dynamic behavior and accurately predicts the nature of the system dynamic performance following large disturbances.
Enhanced antimicrobial activity of peptide-cocktails against common bacterial contaminants of ex vivo stored platelets

Bacterial contamination of blood components such as ex vivo-stored platelets is a major safety risk in transfusion medicine. We have recently shown that synthetic antimicrobial peptides named PD1-PD4 derived from the thrombin-induced human platelet-derived antimicrobial proteins, and repeats of Arg-Trp (RW1-RW5) demonstrate microbicidal activity against selected bacteria and viruses. In the present study, we selected PD3, PD4, RW2, RW3 and RW4 and evaluated each individual peptide and their various combinations to see whether the cocktail regimen enhances the antimicrobial activity above and over the individual peptides. Stored platelet or plasma samples spiked with known titres of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus cereus were treated with either individual peptides or with peptides in various combinations. Analyses revealed that individual peptides show moderate microbicidal activity (10- to 100-fold reduction) against the tested bacteria relative to their combined regimen. The peptide combinations (RW2 + RW4, RW2 + RW3 + RW4 and PD4 + RW3 + RW4) on the other hand enhanced the microbicidal activity (c.10 000-fold reduction) and revealed a minimal inhibitory concentration of 5 μM. Time-kill kinetics indicated that these three peptide combinations exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity bringing about a 100-fold reduction of bacterial titres within 20 min of incubation. The present study therefore demonstrates the synergistic effect of antimicrobial peptides when used in combinations and provides a proof-of-concept of its potential application as a molecular tool towards pathogen reduction and further extends the possibility of using peptide combinatorial therapeutics as broad-spectrum antibiotics or as alternatives to combat drug-resistant bacteria.
Iterative joint decoding and sparse channel estimation for single-carrier modulation

Single carrier (SC) modulation over a sparse channel motivated by underwater acoustic communications (UAC) is considered. A BER analysis for deterministic channels is first presented that identifies conditions under which SC with zero forcing detection outperforms OFDM. The analysis also motivates the use of MMSE detection in Rayleigh fading channels. An iterative receiver is then developed combining LDPC decoding, channel estimation under a numerosity constraint and CFO tracking. It is shown that MMSE turbo equalization arises naturally from the marginalization in the factor graph when the decoder extrinsic densities are approximated as Gaussian. A frequency-domain MMSE turbo equalizer is then combined with matching pursuits (MP) channel estimation. Simulation results for a realistic UAC channel are given showing consistent improvement using iterative processing.
Separability Testing in Production Economics

The implications of separability in production are examined using duality. Restrictions on the profit function implied by separability of the production function, and vice versa, are derived in a simple way. These restrictions are then calculated for commonly used classes of functional forms. Then the method is used to test separability of the profit function using experimental production data. The hypothesis that the profit function was separable (plant nutrients from spacing unit costs) could not be rejected. This implies that an aggregate price index for nutrients is appropriate.
Safety evaluation for new drug approval in Korea

Current drug regulation in Korea is based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, which has been revised 14 times. Toxicity guidelines are described in the Regulation for Evaluation on Safety and Efficacy of Drugs (Korea Food and Drug Administration Notification No. 1999-60, revised on December 22, 1999) and Guidelines for Toxicity Studies of Drugs (Korea Food and Drug Administration Notification No. 1999-61, revised on December 22, 1999). This paper describes the review process and toxicity guidelines for new drug approval in Korea.
Pneumococcal Surface Protein A Contributes to Secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection after Influenza Virus Infection

We compared growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae mutants with disruption in the pspA (PspA-), nanA (NanA-) or hyl (Hyl-) gene to the parental D39 strain using a competitive growth model in mice with and without prior influenza infection. Total bacteria numbers recovered from influenzainfected mice were significantly greater compared to mice without influenza infection. Whereas Hyland NanA- mutants did not display attenuation in mice with or without prior influenza infection, the PspA- mutant exhibited attenuation in mice both with and without influenza infection. This defect was severe influenza-infected mice where PspA- growth was 1800-fold less than D39. Furthermore, PspA immunization significantly reduced secondary bacterial lung burdens and specific markers of lung damage in mice receiving serotypes 2, 3 and 4 pneumococci. Our findings indicate that PspA contributes to secondary S. pneumoniae infection following influenza and that PspA immunization mitigates early secondary pneumococcal lung infections.
A Large-Area Image Sensing and Detection System Based on Embedded Thin-Film Classifiers

This paper presents a large-area image sensing and detection system that integrates, on glass, sensors and thin-film transistor (TFT) circuits for classifying images from sensor data. Large-area electronics (LAE) enables the formation of millions of sensors spanning physically large areas; however, to perform processing functions, thousands of sensor signals must be interfaced to CMOS ICs, posing a critical limitation to system scalability. This work presents an approach whereby image detection of shapes is performed using simple circuits in the LAE domain based on amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFTs. This reduces the interfaces to the CMOS domain. The limited computational capability of TFT circuits as well as high variability and high density of process defects affecting TFTs and sensors is overcome using a machine-learning algorithm known as error-adaptive classifier boosting (EACB) to form embedded weak classifiers. Through EACB, we show that high-dimensional sensor data from a-Si photoconductors can be reduced to a small number of weak-classifier decisions, which can then be combined in CMOS to achieve strong-classifier performance. For demonstration, a system classifying five shapes achieves performance of >85%/>95% [true-positive (tp)/true-negative (tn) rates] [near the level of an ideal software-implemented support vector machine (SVM) classifier], while the total number of signals from 36 sensors in the LAE domain is reduced by $3.5\text{-}9\times$ .
Sintering, mechanical, electrical and oxidation properties of ceramic intermetallic TiC–Ti3Al composites obtained from nano-TiC particles

The paper discusses the development of a new material system for interconnect application in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) based on TiC–Ti3Al. Nano-sized TiC powders utilized in this research were synthesized using carbon coated TiO2 precursors from a patented process. The pressureless sintering of TiC–Ti3Al in a vacuum was applied at temperatures between 1100 °C and 1500 °C and content of Ti3Al was varied in the range of 10–40 wt%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for phase evaluation and sintering behavior. Relative density increased markedly with increasing sintering temperature because of grain growth and formation of the Ti3AlC2 secondary phase. Dense products (>95% TD) were prepared from nanosized TiC powders with 10 and 20 wt% Ti3Al, but with about 8 to 10% porosity for 30 and 40 wt% Ti3Al. The mechanical properties were determined from Vickers hardness and fracture toughness calculations. Vickers hardness decreased and fracture toughness increased with increasing Ti3Al content. The electrical conductivity and oxidation behavior of TiC–Ti3Al composites were investigated to evaluate the feasibility for SOFC interconnect application. The electrical conductivity measurements in the air at 800 °C for 100 h were made using the Kelvin 4-wire method.
P128 – 2769: Human Parechovirus CNS infection: A rare cause of neonatal encephalitis

Objective Human Parechoviruses (HPeV) belong to the family of Picornaviridae and can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from mild diarrhoea to sepsis, meningitis and encephalitis, particularly among young children and infants. We describe the clinical spectrum, laboratory and radiological findings of two neonates with HPeV CNS infection. Method Case reports. Results Case 1: A nine day old neonate with no preceding risk factors for infection presented with a one day history of irritability and poor feeding. He was apyrexial on presentation but deteriorated with apnoeas and encephalopathy needing intensive care support. He had normal inflammatory markers and TORCH screen. CSF examination revealed 0 WCC, normal protein, glucose with no growth on culture. MRI Brain multiple small lesions in bifrontal subcortical, deep periventricular white matter, corpus callosum with marked restricted diffusion. CSF PCR was positive for HPeV. He received I/V antibiotics/antivirals (1 week) and showed spontaneous clinical improvement with normal neurodevelopment at 6 months. Case 2: A twelve day old neonate with no preceding history of note presented with a one-day history of intermittent facial twitch and clonic jerking of upper or lower limbs. He was commenced on antibiotics and antiviral following infection screen and treated with IV phenobarbitone for focal seizures. CSF was acellular, with normal protein and glucose with no growth on culture. MRI scan showed multifocal parenchymal lesions with marked restricted diffusion in the white matter along with corpus callosum. A CSF PCR was positive for HPeV. Baby was discharged after clinical improvement. Conclusion HPeV CNS infection is a rare but emerging cause of neonatal encephalitis. Paediatricians must be aware of this disease and consider it as a part of neurotropic virus screen in neonatal sepsis. Neuroimaging may be helpful with its characteristic MRI findings.
The abused patient.

Domestic violence is an ever-increasing problem in modern day society and includes physical abuse directed against children, spouses, and the elderly. Dentists are frequently the first health professionals to render treatment to an abused patient and must consequently be knowledgeable in recognizing the tell-tale signs of abuse and be aware of their reporting obligations and requirements. Early recognition with timely referrals to appropriate agencies can possibly help prevent more significant injuries and even death from occurring in abused patients. Language: en