cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-J-135: Clinical Efficacy of Using KV-CBCT Imaging Guided 6D Robotic Couch in Lung SBRT

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of 6D Robotic couch‐top in CBCTimage‐guided stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT) for lungcancer. Methods: A total 94 analyzable setup cases for LungSBRT using 6D robotic couch‐top were evaluated. The 6D robotic couch‐top, furnished by Protura (via Civco Medical Solutions™), can be mounted to the table pedestal of the Varian's TX accelerator. In addition to the original 4D corrections (3 linear motions and Yaw) offered by the Varian table pedestal, the 6D robotic apparatus allows two additional freedoms ‐ Pitch and Roll, which were investigated in this study. During setup, the patient anatomy from planning CT was first aligned to the kV‐CBCT in Varian's 4DTC 3D matching program. The 6D movements were then executed from the treatment console. Results: Concerning the values of Pitch and Roll corrections in the 94 setups using the 6D robotics, the mean absolute values of both adjustments were 0.86 ± 0.33 degree and 0.61 ± 0.31 degree respectively (p = 0.007). Greater than 0.5 degree angular corrections were observed in 69.1% cases for Pitch and in 51.1% cases for Roll, collectively accounting for 90.4% cases. Corrections for one degree or more in either Pitch or Roll consisted 51.1% of cases. However, the average raw adjustments in those were 0.07 ±1.03 degree and −0.11 ± 0.82 degree respectively. Conclusions: Comprehensive correction of high precision alignment for kV‐CBCT imaging guided lungcancerSBRT requires adjustments in all six dimensions, including unconventional Pitch and Roll rotations. About 51% of patients require at least one degree corrections in either Pitch or Roll. Less than 10% of cases Pitch or Roll correction were insignificant or smaller than 0.5 degree. Relative to the manual corrections, the automated 6D robotic process increased the efficiency of alignment when Pitch and Roll corrections were warranted.
Objective aneuploidy detection for fetal and neonatal screening using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) allows entire genomes to be scanned for whole and segmental aneuploidy and thus may be an appropriate tool for the detection of clinically important abnormalities during fetal and neonatal screening. Criteria to distinguish between significant aberrations and experimental artifacts are essential for these applications. This report describes the use of a t-statistic to detect changes in CGH profiles that differ significantly from variations that occur in CGH profiles of normal samples. Eleven cell lines derived from fetal or neonatal patients were analyzed in this study. Aneuploidies in these lines included trisomies for chromosomes 13, 16, 18, and 21 and monosomy for distal 5p and tetrasomy 18p. Aneuploidy was detected in all samples by using the t-statistic, although the extent of the aneuploid region was not correctly estimated in some cases. A detailed description of the t-statistic used for making these CGH comparisons is described in a companion paper (Moore et al., Cytometry 28:183‐190, 1997). Cytometry 28:
Separation of fiber from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) using sieving and elutriation

ABSTRACT A process was developed to separate fiber from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in a dry-grind corn process. Separation of fiber from DDGS would provide two valuable coproducts: 1) DDGS with reduced fiber, increased fat, and increased protein contents; and 2) fiber. The process, called elusieve process, used two separation methods, sieving and elutriation, to separate the fiber. Material carried by air to the top of the elutriation column was called the lighter fraction and material that settled to the bottom of the column was called the heavier fraction. We evaluated the compositions of fractions produced from sieving and elutriation. Two commercial samples of DDGS were obtained from two dry-grind corn plants. Sieving over four screens (869, 582, 447, and 234 μm openings) created five size categories. The two smallest size categories contained >40% (w/w) of the original DDGS and had reduced fiber and increased protein and fat contents relative to the original DDGS. Elutriation of the...
Reduced Na+/K+ ATPase transport activity, resting membrane potential, and bradykinin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol synthesis by polyol accumulation in cultured neuroblastoma cells.

In these studies we examined the effect of polyol accumulation on neural cellmyo-inositol metabolism and properties. Neuroblastoma cells were cultured for two weeks in media containing 30 mM glucose, fructose, galactose or mannose with or without 0.4 mM sorbinil or 250 μMmyo-inositol. Chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to media containing 30 mM glucose, galactose, or mannose caused a decrease inmyo- inositol content and myo-[2-3H]inositol accumulation and incorporation into phosphoinositides compared to cells cultured in unsupplemented medium or medium containing 30 mM fructose as an osmotic control. These monosaccharides each caused an increase in intracellular polyol levels with galactitol > sorbitol = mannitol accumulation. Chronic exposure of neuroblastoma cells to media containing 30 mM glucose, galactose, or mannose caused a significant decrease in Na+/K+ ATPase transport activity, resting membrane potential, and bradykinin-stimulated32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol compared to cells cultured in medium containing 30 mM fructose. In contrast, basal incorporation of32P into phosphatidylinositol or basal and bradykinin-stimulated32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were not effected. Each of these cellular functions as well asmyo-inositol metabolism and content and polyol levels remained near control values when 0.4 mM sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor, was added to the glucose, galactose, or mannose supplemented media.myo-Inositol metabolism and content and bradykinin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol synthesis were also maintained when media containing 30 mM glucose, galactose, or mannose was supplemented with 250 μMmyo-inositol. The results suggest that polyol accumulation induces defects in neural cellmyo-inositol metabolism and certain cell functions which could, if they occurred in vivo, contribute to the pathological defects observed in diabetic neuropathy.
Crystal structures of Plasmodium falciparum cytosolic tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase and its potential as a target for structure-guided drug design.

Malaria, most commonly caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, is a devastating disease that remains a large global health burden. Lack of vaccines and drug resistance necessitate the continual development of new drugs and exploration of new drug targets. Due to their essential role in protein synthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are potential anti-malaria drug targets. Here we report the crystal structures of P. falciparum cytosolic tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (Pf-cTrpRS) in its ligand-free state and tryptophanyl-adenylate (WAMP)-bound state at 2.34 A and 2.40 A resolutions, respectively. Large conformational changes are observed when the ligand-free protein is bound to WAMP. Multiple residues, completely surrounding the active site pocket, collapse onto WAMP. Comparison of the structures to those of human cytosolic TrpRS (Hs-cTrpRS) provides information about the possibility of targeting Pf-cTrpRS for inhibitor development. There is a high degree of similarity between Pf-cTrpRS and Hs-cTrpRS within the active site. However, the large motion that Pf-cTrpRS undergoes during transitions between different functional states avails an opportunity to arrive at compounds which selectively perturb the motion, and may provide a starting point for the development of new anti-malaria therapeutics.
Quantifying the effects of climate and surface change on glacier mass balance

When a mass balance is computed using an outdated map, that computation does not reveal the actual mass change. But older maps often must be used for practical reasons. We present a method by which, with a few additional measurements each year, a mass balance computed with an outdated map can be transformed into an actual mass change. This is done by taking into account the influence of changes in areal extent and changes in the surface elevation of the glacier since the map was made. This method is applied to South Cascade Glacier, Washington, U.S.A., as an example. The computed cumulative mass balance from 1970 to 1997 would have been 16% too negative if the 1970 map had not been updated. While the actual volume change of a glacier is relevant to hydrological studies, the change that would have occurred on a constant (or static) surface is more relevant to certain glacier dynamics problems and most climate problems. We term this the reference-surface balance and propose that such a balance, which deliberately omits the influence of changes in area and surface elevation, is better correlated to climatic variations than the conventional one, which incorporates those influences.
Quantification of tissue texture with photoacoustic spectrum analysis

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is an emerging technology that could map the functional contrasts in deep biological tissues in high resolution by “listening” to the laser induced thermoelastic waves. Almost all of the current studies in PA imaging are focused on the intensity of the PA signals as an indication of the optical absorbance of the biological tissues. Our group has for the first time demonstrated that the frequency domain power distribution of the broadband PA signals encode the texture information within the regions-of-interest (ROI). Following the similar method of ultrasound spectral analysis (USSA), photoacoustic spectrum analysis (PASA) could evaluate the relative concentrations and, more importantly, the dimensions of microstructures of the optically absorbing materials in biological tissues, including lipid, collagen, water and hemoglobin. By providing valuable insights into tissue pathology, PASA should benefit basic research and clinical management of many diseases, and may help achieve eventual “noninvasive biopsy”. In this work, taking advantage of the optical absorption contrasts contributed by lipid and hemoglobin at 1200-nm and 532-nm wavelengths respectively, we investigated the capability of PASA in identifying histological changes corresponding to fat accumulation livers through the study on ex vivo and in situ mouse models. The PA signals from the mouse livers were acquired using our PA and US dual-modality imaging system, and analyzed in the frequency domain. After quantifying the power spectrum by fitting it to a first order model, three spectral parameters, including the intercept, the midband fit and the slope, were extracted and used to differentiate fatty livers from normal livers. The comparison between the PASA parameters from the normal and the fatty livers supports our hypotheses that PASA can quantitatively identify the microstructure changes in liver tissues for differentiating normal and fatty livers.
Inflammatory mediators regulate interleukin-8 production by cultured gestational tissues: evidence for a cytokine network at the chorio-decidual interface.

The physiology of parturition, and the pathophysiology of preterm labor, is incompletely understood. Infection of gestational tissues may account for a significant proportion of women who experience preterm labor. Interleukin- 8 (IL-8), or neutrophil-activating protein (NAP-1), is a potent chemotactic and activating factor for neutrophils and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory injury to skin and lung, but has yet to be described in gestational tissues. Cultured chorion and decidual cells obtained from normal human pregnancies were used to evaluate whether these tissues produce IL-8 basally and in response to inflammatory cytokines. As measured by specific IL-8 RIA, chorion and decidual cells produce IL-8 constitutively and in response to IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor. Cotreatment of chorion cells or decidual cells with IL-1β and actinomycin D or cycloheximide abrogated IL-8 production. Northern blot analysis confirmed that IL-1β stimulation of chorion and decidual cells resulted in increased IL-8 messenger RNA expression. Our data support the concept that a complex cytokine network between maternal and fetal gestational tissues exists, and that activation of inflammatory cytokine production in these tissues, including IL-8, likely contributes to the pathophysiology of infection- induced preterm labor.
The obstetrician-gynecologist's role in the practical management of polycystic ovary syndrome

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome come to the gynecologist with a variety of symptoms, including menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, acne, weight gain, obesity, and infertility. An accurate diagnosis requires both confirmation of signs and symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome and exclusion of other disorders. Once the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome has been established, the presence of concomitant conditions, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, must be assessed. Because the cause of polycystic ovary syndrome is not clear, treatment options have focused on symptom management. Such treatment options include oral contraceptives, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs with “add-back” hormone regimens, antiandrogens, ovulation-inducing agents, electrolysis, nutritional and weight loss counseling, exercise, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, and glucocorticoids. Pathogenic considerations, risk factor assessments, and treatment objectives combine to determine the choice of therapies. It is not clear whether insulin resistance is clinically important or causal in polycystic ovary syndrome symptom complex in all affected women. Polycystic ovary syndrome may be the final common expression of a variety of metabolic or neuroendocrine perturbations. If insulin resistance is a universal feature, it would make sense to treat with an insulin-sensitizing agent in the expectation that symptoms would resolve or improve. If insulin resistance is not the main etiologic factor, however, then insulin-sensitizing agents would be useful as adjunctive agents only for women with clinically important insulin resistance (eg, patients with polycystic ovary syndrome in whom insulin resistance causes hyperglycemia). In such cases an insulin-sensitizing agent could be instituted along with a program of weight loss and exercise. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;179:S109-13.)
A Dynamic Wheel/Rail Interaction Model Based on an Euler-Bernoulli Beam Rail Model

Early detection of rail defects is necessary for preventing derailments and costly damage to the train and railway infrastructure. A rail surface flaw can quickly go from a small fracture to a broken rail after only a few train cars have passed over it. Rail defect detection is typically performed by using an instrumented car or a separate railway monitoring vehicle. Such systems can either be costly or time consuming to implement. This paper presents a dynamic wheel/rail interaction model for generating training data for a defect detection algorithm. The defect detection algorithm works with an onboard data acquisition system and sensor set consisting of accelerometers mounted to the bogie side frame. Side frame vertical acceleration signatures are analyzed by the algorithm to detect defects ranging from small surface fractures to rail breaks with complete rail separation. Proper training of the defect detection algorithm requires a large data set. This data set should consist of a wide range of train operating conditions and defect characteristics. Operating conditions of interest include various forward speeds and payloads, and defect characteristics of interest include rail fracture and break geometric parameters. To generate this training data, a dynamic wheel/rail interaction model was developed that relates crack/break geometry to the side frame vertical acceleration signature. The model was generated by treating the rail as an Euler-Bernoulli beam with appropriate boundary conditions and the pad-tie-ballast systems as discrete, evenly spaced lumped parameter forcing inputs into the rail system. The pad and ballast were each separately modeled as a non-linear spring and damper in parallel, and the sleeper was treated as a mass fixed between the spring and damper of the pad and ballast. The model was validated by comparing the simulated vertical acceleration response to actual bogie side frame vertical acceleration data.© 2011 ASME
Protein C inhibitor regulates both cathepsin L activity and cell-mediated tumor cell migration.

Abstract Background Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a plasma serine protease inhibitor (serpin) that regulates several serine proteases in coagulation including thrombin and activated protein C. However, the physiological role of PCI remains under investigation. The cysteine protease, cathepsin L, has a role in many physiological processes including cardiovascular diseases, blood vessel remodeling, and cancer. Methods and results We found that PCI inhibits cathepsin L with an inhibition rate (k 2 ) of 3.0 × 10 5 M − 1 s − 1 . Whereas, the PCI P1 mutant (R354A) inhibits cathepsin L at rates similar to wild-type PCI, mutating the P2 residue results in a slight decrease in the rate of inhibition. We then assessed the effect of PCI and cathepsin L on the migration of human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells. Cathepsin L was expressed in both the cell lysates and conditioned media of MDA-MB-231 cells. Wound-induced and transwell migration of MDA-MB-231 cells was inhibited by exogenously administered wtPCI and PCI P1 but not PCI P14 mutant. In addition, migration of MDA-MB-231 cells expressing wtPCI was significantly decreased compared to non-expressing MDA-MB-231 cells or MDA-MB-231 cells expressing the PCI P14 mutant. Downregulation of cathepsin L by either a specific cathepsin L inhibitor or siRNA technology also resulted in a decrease in the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusions Overall, our data show that PCI regulates tumor cell migration partly by inhibiting cathepsin L. General significance Consequently, inhibiting cathepsin L by serpins like PCI may be a new pathway of regulating hemostasis, cardiovascular and metastatic diseases.
Boron-11 Pure Quadrupole Resonance Investigation of Peptide Boronic Acid Inhibitors Bound to α-Lytic Protease†

Pure quadrupole resonance is a potentially useful spectroscopic approach to study the coordination of quadrupolar nuclei in biological systems. We used a field-cycling NMR method to observe boron pure quadrupole resonance of two peptide boronic acid inhibitors bound to α-lytic protease. The method is similar to our earlier field-cycling experiment [Ivanov, D., and Redfield, A. R. (1998) Z. Naturforsch. A 53, 269−272] but uses a simple Hartmann−Hahn transfer from proton to 11B before field cycle and direct 11B observe after it. Pure quadrupole resonance is sensitive to the boron coordination geometry. For example, trigonal boron in neutral phenylboronic acid, which was used as a model compound, resonates at 1450 kHz, while the resonance of the tetrahedral phenylboronic acid anion appears at approximately 600 kHz. In the complex of the MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-boroVal inhibitor with the enzyme the quadrupole resonance signal was observed at 600−650 kHz, which indicates tetrahedral boron coordination in the active...
Necessary and sufficient conditions for balancedness in partitioning games

Abstract This paper considers the class of partitioning games, which includes the bridge game, the assignment game, the consecutive game, and the m -sided assignment game, which is itself a generalization of the assignment game. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of the core in these games.
Boethius' Definition of Persona and Mediaeval Understanding of the Roman Theater

IT has been widely supposed that only a very few learned men of the Middle Ages understood how the plays of ancient Rome were actually performed, by actors impersonating the characters with voice and gesture. The information on representation by comedians and tragedians, histriones and mimi, transmitted by Isidore of Seville in the Etymologiae (xviii, 42-51) was bare and limited, at second hand, chiefly from late sources of the empire when formal drama was already dead;' errors in understanding the ancient drama accumulated in later learned tradition, reaching a peak in the fourteenth century. With a general blurring of literary categories already indicated by fourth-century grammarians and Isidore, comedy and tragedy were interpreted in tenth-century manuscripts of Terence, and in the work of mediaeval grammarians, poets, and commentators with increasingly circumstantial detail as forms of narrative which were recited, sometimes with the accompaniment of mute miming.2 The general mediaeval ignorance of the Roman modes of performing formal drama before its early decline is familiar enough; but probably, as Professor Gustave Cohen has suggested, we have exaggerated it, at least for some times and places, notably the centers of humanistic learning in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.3 Recent histories of mediaeval drama have cited only Honorius in the Gemma Animae (ca 1100) and John of Salisbury in the Policraticus (1159) as showing a truer historical understanding.4 Honorius pictured the priest as like a tragic actor, by his gestures representing to the people the combat of Christ in the theater of the church an extension of a traditional Augustinian metaphor which urged the wonders of Christian belief as substitutes for the inordinately popular Roman spectacles of the empire.' But Honorius also thought of the representation of ancient tragedies as a form of recitation. With his great knowledge of Cicero and of his beloved Terence and many other classic authors, John of Salisbury seems to have had a really clear conception of the way in which Roman comedies were performed by gesture and speech.' Extraordinary as John's learning was, it is hardly likely that among the humanistic scholars of the twelfth century he was alone in that knowledge of the Roman theater. In two articles (one presented with comment by Professor Cohen) Professor Loomis has quoted a series of interesting mediaeval passages, several hitherto unfamiliar, which use the traditional terminology of the theater, and which often imply notions of similarity between the ludi scenici of antiquity and secular theatrical representations of some kind in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.7 Professor Bigongiari, in a learned article opposing most of Professor Loomis's inferences, quoted many more mediaeval passages using a traditional Latin vocabulary of the theater.8 Whatever the difficulties of interpreting allusions in which literary tradition and contemporary reference are wonderfully mixed, many of these passages at least
Information Makes Might: The Relationship between Information and Power Explored

An ethnographic study of special education directors in Minnesota lends support to the notion that access to, possession, use and abuse of information are significant variables in the acquisition and maintenance of power. The special education director in Minnesota has job responsibilities for which he has little or no authority to fulfill. Meeting his responsibilities necessitates, therefore, the acquisition of other forms of power. The behavioral machinations used to acquire and maintain these other forms of power and their relationship to the acquisition and use of information are analyzed.
Restriction endonuclease patterns of adenovirus type 12 and 18

Abstract Restriction endonuclease analysis using 10 restriction enzymes was performed on six and three wild isolates of adenovirus (Ad) type 12 and 18, respectively. Among the Ad 12 strains, five DNA variants could be identified. The degree of pairwise comigration of restriction fragments suggests a high degree of genomic diversity within Ad12. The wild isolates of Ad18, on the other hand, displayed a low degree of genetic variability and comprised one DNA variant closely related to the prototype strain. The Bgl II, Bst EII, and Hin dIII restriction endonuclease patterns of Ad18 were inconsistent with those originally presented. Identical RE-patterns among Ad18 prototype strains (DC) obtained from four different sources, including directly from the American Type Culture Collection, verify that the genuine Ad18 prototype was used in the present study. Using the revised restriction patterns of Bgl II, Bst EII, and Hin dIII, a proper identification of Ad18 will be facilitated.
Conscience, morality and judgment: An inquiry into the subjective basis of human rights

This paper is an exploration of the role of conscience in the justification of human rights. I argue that in both the western tradition of natural rights and the non-western traditions, human rights are justified, in part, because of their appeal to conscience, and not simply because they issue from a divine source or are based on reason. In contrast, contemporary justifications of human rights primarily look for an objective foundation or simply assert the pragmatic importance of human rights as their justification. While there are distinct advantages to this way of arguing, there are also problems, which I will discuss. As an alternative, I outline Arendt's understanding of conscience as the ability to be with and think with one's self as a secular alternative to both a non-secular version of conscience, and the denial of conscience implicit in contemporary theories. Her view of political judgment helps us to understand how conscience can be understood as subjective but not arbitrary. This paper brings ...
Characteristics and treatment of batterers

This article summarizes the substantial research conducted in the last decade concerning the characteristics of batterers. While certain characteristics appear to be associated with these abusers, no specific profile has emerged. Treatment programs have focused on anger management, improving communication, improving self-esteem, changing beliefs, and stress management, but research has not determined the effectiveness of these programs. Various approaches for treating abusers are presented in this article, including psychoeducational groups for batterers and conjoint therapy for couples. The legal system's use of diversion programs for referral/sentencing of batterers is also discussed as an important method for reducing spouse abuse. Language: en
Metabolism of aromatic and heterocyclic amine bladder carcinogens: bioanalytical considerations.

Aromatic and heterocyclic amines are environmental chemicals which can cause bladder cancer in man. Because these chemicals cause carcinomas at a site distal to their portals of entry, metabolic processes are involved in initiation of their carcinogenic effects. N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT) and its deformylated analogue, ANFT, were used as model compounds to assess metabolism. Electrochemical properties of ANFT made liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection a specific and sensitive method for analysis. Peroxidatic metabolism of ANFT by prostaglandin H synthase (PHS) in the presence of N-acetylcysteine resulted in the formation of 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-5-(N-acetylcystein-S-yl)thiazole (ANFT-MA). This thioether product has an oxidation potential significantly lower than ANFT. Rat urinary excretion of ANFT-MA was significantly decreased with peroxidase inhibitors, 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil and methimazole. Inhibitors did not alter excretion of ANFT or prostaglandin E2, a PHS product of arachidonic acid metabolism. 1H and 13C-NMR were selected to explore potential structural differences between ANFT and FANFT which might explain preferential PHS metabolism of ANFT. Evidence for a "zwitterion" configuration for ANFT but not FANFT was observed. ANFT in the "zwitterion" configuration would be a better reducing co-substrate. Chemical synthesis and GC-MS fragmentation patterns identified 3-(2,3-dihydro-1-methyl-2-pyrrolyl)pyridine as a peroxidatic product of nicotine metabolism. This peroxidatic product was found in urine from a cigarette smoker in an amount approximately 6% that observed for continine. Thus, a potential role for peroxidative metabolism was demonstrated in man.
Insights on charge transfer doping and intrinsic phonon line shape of carbon nanotubes by simple polymer adsorption.

Doping of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes via noncovalent adsorption of polyethylenimine which converts p-type semiconducting nanotubes into n-type is examined by micro-Raman studies. Distinctively different responses are observed in metallic and in semiconducting nanotubes. Very little or no changes in the radial breathing and the disorder modes are observed upon polymer adsorption on semiconducting carbon nanotubes indicating noncovalent nature of this process. Tangential G-band spectral downshift of up to ∼10 cm-1 without line broadening is observed for semiconducting tubes suggesting similar magnitude of electron transfer as commonly observed in electrochemical doping with alkali metals. Strong diameter dependence is also observed and can be explained by thermal ionization of charge carriers with activation barrier that scales as the energy gap of the semiconducting nanotubes. In contrast, metallic nanotubes exhibit very different behavior with significant line broadening of the G-band and c...
A complete characterization of a class of robust linear average consensus protocols

We provide a set of verifiable necessary and sufficient conditions for a member of a broad class of linear discrete-time consensus protocols to guarantee the robust convergence of the outputs of the networked dynamics to the correct average consensus value.
Enhanced optical inspectability of patterned EUVL mask

For optical inspection of Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL) masks using Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) light, contrast from reflected light is used to form the image of the mask and detect the defects. The inspectability of a patterned mask depends on the optical properties, surface conditions and thickness of absorber and buffer layer. The issue in EUVL mask inspection is the relatively low image contrast in the inspection tool because both the EUV-reflective and EUV-absorbing regions reflect DUV light. The need of a buffer layer to protect the multilayer (ML) reflector during mask processing and defect repair necessitates two inspections for a patterned mask: one with the buffer layer on to find the defect for repair and one with the buffer layer removed to qualify a final mask. Since the ML appears bright at DUV inspection wavelengths, the buffer layer is also chosen to give high reflectivity. Therefore, the absorber reflectivity must be low enough to provide high image contrast and to avoid the edge interference effect. Recently, we have developed a surface treatment process to reduce the reflectivity of absorber layer and result in a DUV contrast approaching 90 percent. This greatly improves the optical inspectability of EUVL mask to a level similar to conventional transmission mask. In this paper, we describe the overall EUVL mask inspection strategy and present a comprehensive discussion on mask optimization in materials selection and modification for high inspectability. We report the reflectivity of Mo-Si multilayer, buffer layers using SiO2 and Ru, and absorber layers of Cr and TaN. We will demonstrate with DUV inspection images of the optimized EUVL masks that the image contrast and quality from reflected light are close to those of conventional photo-masks with transmitted light. This greatly enhanced EUVL mask inspectability will increase defect detectability for inspection tools and simplify image rendering in die-to-database inspection.
An improved protocol for library screening by protein-protein interactions with biotinylated MBP-fusion proteins

We have developed an improved protocol for the nonradioactive screening of expression libraries and far-western blots by protein-protein interactions. EmBP-1, a wheat bZIP transcription factor, and GF-14, a rice protein associated with G-box-binding factor complexes, were purified fromE. coli as fusions with the maltose-binding protein and biotinylated with NHS-LC-Biotin. These were then preincubated with streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase before being used as probes on a cDNA expression library. Complexing the streptavidin with the biotinylated protein, instead of adding it separately in a secondary incubation, resulted in a significant reduction of nonspecific binding. This method has successfully been used to isolate several genes from a rice cDNA library, including genes encoding some novel bZIP factors.
Kinetic study of CO and O2 binding to horse heart myoglobin reconstituted with synthetic hemes lacking methyl and vinyl side chains

Abstract Carbon monoxide- and oxygen-binding rates and affinities were measured for horse heart myoglobins reconstituted with synthetic hemes lacking peripheral methyl and vinyl groups. There is an apparent correlation between heme size and ligand specificity, i.e. larger m values (ratios of CO vs O 2 association rates, l′ k′ ) with smaller hemes. However, this correlation broke down with the most dealkylated heme. This is interpreted as resulting from protein conformational changes altering the steric crowdedness at the O 2 -binding site. Spectral properties and autoxidation rates also corroborate this view.
Culture: A Problem that Cannot Be Solved./Culture in Mind: Cognition, Culture, and the Problem of Meaning

Culture:. Problem that Cannot Be Solved. Charles W. Nuckolls. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1998. ix. 301 pp., figures, tables, bibliography, index. Culture in Mind: Cognition, Culture, and the Problem of Meaning. Bradd Shore. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. xii. 428 pp., figures, bibliography, index.
Hydrocarbon growth via ion-molecule reactions: computational studies of the isomers of C4H2+, C6H2+ and C6H4+ and their formation paths from acetylene and its fragments

We seek insight into the origin of observations made in plasma experiments mimicking interstellar and circumstellar conditions. To this end theory is applied to the low-energy isomers of C4H2+, C6H2+ and C6H4+ and their formation paths from acetylene and its fragments. Ab initio molecular dynamics trajectories are performed to explore which isomers are readily accessible from acetylene and its ion fragments. Structural information at a high level of electronic structure theory [CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ], as well as information on the vibrational [UMP2] and electronic spectra [ωB97X] of the low-energy isomers is reported.
UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE HEAT RELEASE RATES: MEASUREMENTS AND ESTIMATION

A new instrument, termed a furniture calorimeter, has been constructed and placed into operation for measuring furniture heat release rates based on oxygen consumption. Using the furniture calorimeter, burning rate information has been obtained on a series of 13 chairs, loveseats, and sofas, most of them specially built to permit direct comparisons of construction features. A quantitative assessment is made of the effect of fabric types, padding types (cotton batting, ordinary polyurethane foam, and California-requirements foam), and frame types. The advantages of furniture calorimeter testing over normal room fire testing are discussed. Based on these measurements, a rule is presented for estimating the heat release rate based on design factors. Finally, implications for achieving both good flame resistance and good cigarette ignition resistance are discussed.
Mechanisms of Ballasted Floc Formation

Ballasted flocculation processes were studied at laboratory scale to evaluate the mode of transport of ballasting agent from bulk liquid into the chemical floc and establish a new model for assessing the mechanisms of ballasted floc formation. For this purpose, a test program consisting of bench scale observations, microscopic observations, density tests, and centrifugal settling tests was developed. Ballasted flocs were found to be formed by a mechanism in which the ballasting agent is incorporated into the floc matrix by inertial forces, and the ballasting agent taking the place of the bound water content ( ΦW ) . Bulk density of ballasted flocs ( ρb ) was found to be linearly related to the ballasting agent dose (M) . This study provided a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling the interaction between ballasting agent and coagulant/polymer chemical floc.
A data processing curriculum development methodology

This paper presents a methodology that can be implemented in a corporate or academic setting to develop a data processing curriculum. Even though this methodology does not present new concepts, it does gather together several useful, tried and proven techniques, namely, Work Study, Job Analysis, and Vocational Course Construction, which, when combined and utilized in your data processing environment, generates training programs that will produce graduates trained especially to meet your corporate requirements. This methodology, based on a “wholistic” approach to the creation of a functionally useful “D. P. body”, analyzes an operational job, and creates a training program for it in a reasonably short time period.
Regulation of dimorphism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: involvement of the novel protein kinase homolog Elm1p and protein phosphatase 2A.

Abstract The Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes ELM1, ELM2, and ELM3 were identified on the basis of the phenotype of constitutive cell elongation. Mutations in any of these genes cause a dimorphic transition to a pseudohyphal growth state characterized by formation of expanded, branched chains of elongated cells. Furthermore, elm1, elm2, and elm3 mutations cause cells to grow invasively under the surface of agar medium. S. cerevisiae is known to be a dimorphic organism that grows either as a unicellular yeast or as filamentous cells termed pseudohyphae; although the yeast-like form usually prevails, pseudohyphal growth may occur during conditions of nitrogen starvation. The morphologic and physiological properties caused by elm1, elm2, and elm3 mutations closely mimic pseudohyphal growth occurring in conditions of nitrogen starvation. Therefore, we propose that absence of ELM1, ELM2, or ELM3 function causes constitutive execution of the pseudohyphal differentiation pathway that occurs normally in conditions of nitrogen starvation. Supporting this hypothesis, heterozygosity at the ELM2 or ELM3 locus significantly stimulated the ability to form pseudohyphae in response to nitrogen starvation. ELM1 was isolated and shown to code for a novel protein kinase homolog. Gene dosage experiments also showed that pseudohyphal differentiation in response to nitrogen starvation is dependent on the product of CDC55, a putative B regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A, and a synthetic phenotype was observed in elm1 cdc55 double mutants. Thus, protein phosphorylation is likely to regulate differentiation into the pseudohyphal state.
Real Time Congestion Monitoring and Management of Power Systems

The collapse of the US electric grid on August 14, 2003 caused the largest blackout in US history, knocking more than 100 power plants offline and leaving 50 million customers in the US and Canada without power. The old transmission systems that were built in the 60's or 70's are blamed for this outage. Certainly, it is time to upgrade and modernize the transmission system. But it is more important to predict and avoid ahead of real time the risks to the existing grid, or help the analysis of the real time situation in order to minimize the damage or provide the useful information for how to upgrade the grid. This paper proposes an approach of power systems real time congestion monitoring and management (RTCMM) to reach this goal. The proposed RTCMM system will be a collection of analysis, processes, computing equipment, measurement devices and communications that are assembled to provide the means to maintain a secure system state. The implementations of real time congestion monitoring and management are discussed in the paper
Statistical Mechanics of Neocortical Interactions: Testing Theories with Multiple Imaging Data

To test theories of neocortical processing of macroscopic phenomena, e.g., attention and consciousness, based on relatively microscopic neocortical interactions, e.g., synaptic and neuronal interactions, both theoretical and experimental designs must account for the nonlinear nonequilibrium multivariate stochastic nature of these phenomena. Statistical mechanics of neocortical interactions (SMNI) is one theoretical description that has been tested on short-term memory and electroencephalographic data, and is proposed as a framework to test other theories and mechanisms of neocortical activity. Copula analysis of multivariate stochastic systems, previously developed for financial markets, is an important approach to developing a "portfolio of physiological indicators" to create cost/objective functions to fit experimental data, e.g., multiple synchronous imaging data.
Resistance of Tin Dioxide to Chemical Reaction with Vanadate—Sulfate Melts

A thermogravimetric analysis/SO[sub 3] equilibrium technique has been used to show that tin dioxide (SnO[sub 2]) is inert to chemical reaction with NaVO[sub 3] at 700 and 800 C under SO[sub 3] partial pressures as high as 5 [times] 10[sup [minus] 2] bar (5 kPa). The results suggest that SnO[sub 2] may be potentially useful as a material for protection against molten vanadate-sulfate hot corrosion at moderate temperatures ( < 800 C).
Influence of the National Curriculum for Physical Education on inner-city teachers' behaviours associated with pupils' psychosocial development.

Szmmmay.-This study examined the quality of instruction provided by a sample of teachers worlung in a depressed urban setting and within the confines of the National Curriculum for Physical Education in terms of use of behaviours related to pupils' psychosocial development. Subjects were 18 specialist physical education teachers working in seven mixed-sex secondary schools in one large city in southeastern England. Two lessons of each teacher's choice, in wtuch they taught any activity to pupils in Years 7, 8, or 9, were videotaped during the summer term of 1996. Lessons were coded with the Coaching Behavior Assessment System, an observational procedure designed to record the rate at which teachers use behaviours positively and negatively associated with pupils' psychosocial development. Descriptive statistics indicated that teachers used behaviours linked with pupils' positive psychosocial development much more frequently than they used behaviours associated with pupils' negative psychosocial developmenr. A coniparison of the data collected at these seven urban schools with those collected previously in a rural setting (Curtner-Smith, Kerr, & Hencken, 1995) suggested that, in general, British physical education teachers' behaviours are similar across the locations.
Osteocutaneous defects of the clavicle: Two case reports, analysis of the literature, and a novel management algorithm

Osteocutaneous defects of the clavicle follow surgical management of chronic infections, tumors, and trauma. There are several reconstructive options, but it is unknown whether the bone needs to be reconstructed, which flaps are the best for reconstruction, nor why certain flaps favored over other options for a given scenario. Factors such as wound etiology, defect size, patient demographics, and co-morbidities guide therapy. The management of osteocutaneous defects of the clavicle is herein reviewed. Two clinical cases are presented, literature discussing clavicle form and function, disease pathogenesis, and reconstructive approaches are analyzed, and a resultant algorithm proposed.
Pharmacologic induction of fetal hemoglobin synthesis: cellular and molecular mechanisms.

The switch from embryonic to fetal then to adult hemoglobin synthesis is a unique phenomenon during early human development. Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) is known to interfere with polymerization of Hb S in erythrocytes. Several pharmacologic agents such as 5–azacytidine, myleran, hydroxyurea, erthropoietin, and butyrates enhance fetal hemoglobin production and have been used in hemoglobinopathy patients to ameliorate severe pain episodes and reduce severe anemia. Among these, hydroxyurea is the agent of choice because of its safety and ease of administration. One of the primary cellular mechanisms involved in pharmacologic induction of Hb F synthesis is rapid regeneration of erythroid precursors following the cytoreduction phase of certain pharmacologic agents. Molecular mechanisms involving changes in chromatin structure and/or transcription factor binding have been demonstrated for γ gene induction by butyrate. Identifying the proteins involved in γ gene activation by various compounds may offer a new strat...
Biologic Studies of Chimeras of Highly and Moderately Virulent Molecular Clones of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVsmPBj Suggest a Critical Role for Envelope in Acute AIDS Virus Pathogenesis

Previous studies identified three molecular clones of the acutely pathogenic SIVsmPBj strain that varied in terms of relative in vivo pathogenicity. One clone, SIVsmPBj6.6, reproducibly induced a rapidly fatal disease in pigtailed macaques. In contrast, a highly related clone (SIVsmPBj6.9) was only minimally pathogenic in macaques. PBj6.6 and PBj6.9 shared a tyrosine substitution at position 17 in the Nef protein that is a major determinant of virulence but differed at one residue in Vpx (C89R), three residues within the envelope (D119G, R871G, G872R), and a single residue in Nef (F252L). SIVsmPBj6.9 was less efficient in inducing proliferation of resting macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro than SIVsmPBj6.6 and exhibited a marked reduction in infectivity relative to SIVsmPBj6.6. Chimeric viruses for each of these variable residues were constructed, and their biologic properties were compared to those of the parental strains. Differences in Vpx and Nef did not alter the basic biologic phenotype of the chimeras. However, the D119G substitution in the envelope of SIVsmPBj6.9 was associated with a marked reduction in the infectivity of this virus relative to SIVsmPBj6.6. An associated processing defect in gp160 of SIVsmPBj6.9 and chimeras expressing the D119G substitution suggests that a reduction in virion envelope incorporation is the mechanistic basis for reduced virion infectivity. In vivo studies revealed that substitution of the PBj6.9 amino acid into PBj6.6 (D119) abrogated the pathogenicity of this previously pathogenic virus. Introduction of the PBj6.9 G119, however, did not confer full virulence to the parental PBj6.9 virus, implicating one or all of the other four substitutions in the virulence of SIVsmPBj6.6.
Energy efficient distributed image compression in resource-constrained multihop wireless networks

Efficient compression and transmission of images in a resource-constrained multihop wireless network is considered. Distributed image compression is proposed as a means to overcome the computation and/or energy limitation of individual nodes by sharing the processing of tasks. It has the additional benefit of extending the overall lifetime of the network by distributing the computational load among otherwise idle processors. Two design alternatives for energy efficient distributed image compression are proposed and investigated with respect to energy consumption and image quality. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme prolongs the system lifetime at a normalized total energy consumption comparable to the centralized image compression.
Comments on "Application of 0-1 integer programming to multitarget tracking problems"

A change of notation is suggested to clarify results reported in [1]. It is noted that the proposed cost function is generally not linear. Thus, the 0-1 integer programming formulation is inappropriate without additional assumptions.