cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Future Requirements for Effective Use of Parallel Computers

The field of parallel computing is developing so rapidly now that in some sense making any statement about the present, much less the future, is a risky undertaking. Nonetheless, some clear directions can be delineated.
International Lender of Last Resort

This comment discusses the issues regarding the scale of conditional finance offered by the International Monetary Fund in recent rescue packages, and the related issues regarding a true lender of last resort. It reviews critiques of the Fund?s performance in recent emerging-market crises, noting that they come from opposite directions.
Recognition of 3D Objects from 2D Images - Some Issues

This paper presents a simple methods for visualizing, understanding, interpreting, and recognizing 3D objects from 2D images. It extended the linear combination methods, uses parallel pattern matching and can handle 3D rigid concave objects as well convex objects and articulated objects, yet, needs only a very small number of learning samples. Some real images are illustrated, with future research discussed.
Use of Self-Report to Predict Ability to Walk 400 Meters in Mobility-Limited Older Adults

Objectives: To determine whether the ability to walk 400 m could be predicted from self-reported walking habits and abilities in older adults and to develop an accurate self-report measure appropriate for observational trials of mobility when functional measures are impractical to collect. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: University-based human physiology laboratory. Participants: One hundred fifty community-dwelling older men and women (mean age±standard error= 79.8±0.3). Measurements: An 18-item questionnaire assessing walking habits and ability was administered to each participant, followed by a 400-m walk test. Ninety-eight (65%) volunteers were able to complete the 400-m walk; 52 (35%) were unable. Logistic regression was performed using response items from a questionnaire as predictors and 400-m walk as the outcome. Results: Three questions (Do you think you could walk one-quarter of a mile now without sitting down to rest. Because of a health or physical problem, do you have difficulty walking 1 mile? Could you walk up and down every aisle of a grocery store without sitting down to rest or leaning on a cart?) were predictive of 400-m walking ability and were included in the model. If participants answered all three questions compatible with the inability to walk 400 m, there was a 91% probability that they were unable to walk 400 m, with a sensitivity of 46% and a specificity of 97%. Conclusion: A three-item self-report developed in the study was able to accurately predict mobility disability. The utility of this instrument may be in evaluating self-reported mobility in large observational trials on mobility when functional mobility tasks are impractical to collect.
Trauma sternotomy for presumed haemopericardium with incidental coccidioidal pericarditis.

Background Disseminated cocciodiomycosis with extrapulmonary disease occurs in less than 1% of infected patients, with few cases involving the pericardium reported in the literature. A subxiphoid window in a focussed assessment with sonography for trauma is a fast and reliable study for detecting haemopericardium in the haemodynamically unstable injured patient.
Diversity of "Synechococcus" at the Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Observatory: Insights from Culture Isolations, Clone Libraries, and Flow Cytometry

The cyanobacterium Synechococcus is a ubiquitous, important phytoplankter across the world's oceans. A high degree of genetic diversity exists within the marine group, which likely contributes to its global success. Over 20 clades with different distribution patterns have been identified. However, we do not fully understand the environmental factors that control clade distributions. These factors are likely to change seasonally, especially in dynamic coastal systems. To investigate how coastal Synechococcus assemblages change temporally, we assessed the diversity of Synechococcus at the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO) over three annual cycles with culture-dependent and independent approaches. We further investigated the abundance of both phycoerythrin (PE)-containing and phycocyanin (PC)-only Synechococcus with a flow cytometric setup that distinguishes PC-only Synechococcus from picoeukaryotes. We found that the Synechococcus assemblage at MVCO is diverse (13 different clades identified), but dominated by clade I representatives. Many clades were only isolated during late summer and fall, suggesting more favorable conditions for isolation at this time. PC-only strains from four different clades were isolated, but these cells were only detected by flow cytometry in a few samples over the time series, suggesting they are rare at this site. Within clade I, we identified four distinct subclades. The relative abundances of each subclade varied over the seasonal cycle, and the high Synechococcus cell concentration at MVCO may be maintained by the diversity found within this clade. This study highlights the need to understand how temporal aspects of the environment affect Synechococcus community structure and cell abundance.
A fruitful outcome to the papaya genome project

The draft genome sequence of a transgenic virus-resistant papaya marks the first genome sequence of a commercially important transgenic crop plant.
Queries and constraints: a comprehensive semantic model for UML2

UML and UML2 are the de facto industry standards for model based software development. To deliver the benefits promised by model based development, including sophisticated synthesis and validation tool support, UML2 must have a precise and formally defined semantics. While there have been attempts at defining semantics for individual description techniques in the past, a unifying semantics approach covering the information represented by all UML2 description techniques has proven elusive so far. In this contribution we turn the picture around: we define a semantic core-model of distributed, reactive systems and interpret UML2’s description techniques as queries and constraints at instantiations of this core model. A query selects the elements relevant for a specification. A constraint imposes structural and behavioral properties on the system under consideration.
Reconstitution of photosystems I and II using spinach subchloroplast fragments fractionated by triton treatment.

Abstract Reconstitution of Photosystems I and II was demonstrated using small (approx. 10 nm diameter) and photochemically highly active subchloroplast fragments fractionated from spinach by Triton treatment and using diphenylcarbazide as a Photosystem-II electron donor. NADP + -reduction activity of the reconstituted system was comparable to that of the unfractionated chloroplasts. Plastocyanin (or Euglena cytochrome 552) was an absolute requirement. Lecithin presumably served as a “binding agent”.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome with restrictive atrial septum and advanced heart block documented with a novel fetal electrocardiographic monitor

Hypoplastic left ventricle with congenital heart block has been reported previously in a fetus with concurrent left atrial isomerism and levo-transposition of the great arteries. We present the unusual case of an infant diagnosed in utero with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a restrictive atrial septum and advanced heart block but with D-looping of the ventricles and no atrial isomerism. In addition, fetal heart rhythm was documented with the assistance of a new fetal electrocardiographic monitor.
Comparison of GCIP and stage III radar-rainfall estimates over the Mississippi River Basin for 1997

Summary The worth of archival, long-term, high spatial and temporal resolution radar-rainfall estimates for hydrologic modeling has not yet been established. In particular, uncertainties remain regarding accuracy at the event time-scale, which is a modeling requirement for mass conservation. To explore this issue, an archival radar-rainfall precipitation dataset produced from the National Reflectivity Composite for the GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP) and US National Weather Service, Weather Surveillance Radar 1988-D (WSR-88D) Stage III (SIII) data were compared with data from 982 National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) rain gages throughout the Mississippi River Basin. These two datasets are derived from the same radar-reflectivity observations but they are different. The GCIP dataset was developed from low resolution (5 dBZ bins) national radar mosaic imagery using a systematic procedure that employed one climatologically-derived reflectivity-rainfall relationship, while the SIII radar-rainfall estimates are produced using a processing algorithm developed by the US National Weather Service that employs near-real time adjustment and varied parameterizations in different River Forecast Centers around the Mississippi River Basin. Statistical analyses were performed to compare both radar-rainfall datasets with rain gage data on an event time-scale for the entire year of 1997. The investigation shows that the GCIP dataset, given a change in the equation used to calculate rainfall from reflectivity, has a lower root mean square difference for the majority of gages in four of the five river forecast centers that cover the Mississippi River Basin compared to SIII in 1997.
Mucosal and Mucocutaneous (Generalized) Pemphigus Vulgaris Show Distinct Autoantibody Profiles

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune bullous disorder characterized by autoantibodies directed against desmoglein 3. A group of 19 pemphigus vulgaris sera were characterized by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and the passive transfer mouse model. The aim of these studies was to determine the specificity of the autoantibody response in these patients. All patients had clinical and histologic evidence of pemphigus vulgaris. Fogo selvagem sera (n = 8), bullous pemphigoid sera (n = 8), antinuclear antibodies positive sera from patients with lupus erythematosus (n = 2), and normal human sera (n = 8) were used as controls. All pemphigus vulgaris patients showed titers of IgG autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence > or = 1:60, predominantly of the IgG4 subclass and immunoprecipitated recombinant desmoglein 3 expressed in the baculovirus system. Patients with disease localized to the mucous membranes showed no reactivity with desmoglein 1 and only one had weak reactivity with mouse skin by indirect immunofluorescence (titer = 1:20). Sera of four of these mucosal patients were tested in the mouse model and three of four did not elicit skin or mucosal disease in the animals. In contrast, sera from all seven patients with disease involving the skin and mucous membranes (generalized disease) produced disease in neonatal mice. In one patient the disease evolved from pure mucosal involvement associated with anti-desmoglein 3 antibodies to a disorder involving mucosas and skin. This transition was associated with the appearance of anti-desmoglein 1 antibodies in the patient's serum. These studies indicate that the autoantibody response in pemphigus vulgaris is heterogeneous. Epitopes recognized by some pemphigus vulgaris sera are species specific and others may be mucosal specific.
Mechanical properties of BaTiO3 open-porosity foams

Abstract Barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ) foams synthesized via direct foaming method using silicon-free, rigid polyurethane systems (PU), commercially purchased and lab developed, are being engineered for piezocomposites in sonar applications. The mechanical properties of these foams were measured using confined compression testing to evaluate the suitability of these foams for the intended application. Compressive modulus and collapse strain determined from the experimental data increased with increasing density. Additionally, the foams fabricated using the lab developed PU (LPU) showed a higher mechanical strength due to a higher average density than the foams developed using commercial PU (CPU) system. The data was then fit with a phenomenological model to verify the values of the compressive properties extracted from the experimental data and also to extract additional properties such as tensile strength. Based on these findings, it is proposed that these foams can be successfully incorporated into piezocomposites by infiltrating the foams with polymer.
Current concepts of fetal growth restriction: part I. Causes, classification, and pathophysiology

Abstract Objective: To update basic concepts and management strategies of fetal growth restriction (FGR). Data source: An English literature search was conducted for pertinent articles related to FGR from 1976 to 1997. Original research articles, review articles, and book chapters were reviewed. Methods of study selection: This study was divided into two parts. For this article, both human data and animal data pertinent to understanding causative factors, pathogenesis, clinical type, and pathophysiology were included. To perform a meaningful comparison, the concept of investigators and their methods of investigation were critically compared between the two study periods: 1976–1985 and 1986–1997. Tabulation, integration, and results: Older concepts involving basic principles of FGR based on animal models during the first study period were integrated with new research findings obtained from human FGR during the second study period. By comparative analysis of older animal data and new human data, current concepts of FGR were synthesized. Conclusion: Fetal growth restriction affects a heterogenous group of infants. Despite development of new technology for investigation, many older basic concepts related to FGR are still fundamentally sound. However, new investigations directly performed on human fetuses are a useful expansion of the older concepts.
Atomic displacements in ferroelectric trigonal and orthorhombic boracite structures

Abstract New crystal-structure refinements of Pca21 boracite, Mg3ClB7O13, and Rϵc ericaite, Fe2.4Mg0.6ClB7O13, show that some boron and oxygen atoms are involved in the ‘ferro’ transitions as well as the metal and halogen atoms. The atomic displacements associated with the polarity changes are as large as 0.6A.
ALE-DGSEM approximation of wave reflection and transmission from a moving medium

We derive a spectrally accurate moving mesh method for mixed material interface problems modeled by Maxwell's or the classical wave equation. We use a discontinuous Galerkin spectral element approximation with an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian mapping and derive the exact upwind numerical fluxes to model the physics of wave reflection and transmission at jumps in material properties. Spectral accuracy is obtained by placing moving material interfaces at element boundaries and solving the appropriate Riemann problem. We present numerical examples showing the performance of the method for plane wave reflection and transmission at dielectric and acoustic interfaces.
Switching speed of longitudinal thin film recording media

Switching speed of longitudinal thin film recording media was studied using micromagnetic modeling. The dependence of the switching speed on the damping constant /spl alpha/ was investigated. It is shown that when /spl alpha/ is small (=0.01), even with instantaneously rising head field, the medium switching time can be as large as 2 ns, which is slow enough to have a significant impact to the high frequency recording. Nonzero head field risetime can significantly decrease the medium switching speed. The impact of finite medium switching speed and nonzero head field risetime on recording performance is estimated.
13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of alterations in glutamate neurotransmission.

Over the past a few years, significant progress has been made in refining the in vivo 13 C magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique and in applying it to studying the alterations in the glutamate-glutamine cycling flux. Meanwhile, the details of the metabolic modeling are being rigorously debated. Recent evidence against fast α-ketoglutarate-glutamate exchange across the mitochondrial membrane is examined. Previous reports have indicated that glutamate release or 13 C label incorporation into glutamine is attenuated at elevated concentrations of endogenous γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). A recent study has shown that phenelzine administration reduces the glutamate-glutamine cycling flux while raising endogenous GABA levels in vivo. Effects of several metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists and antagonists and brain disorders on the glutamate-glutamine cycle are also summarized.
A fast fanout optimization algorithm for near-continuous buffer libraries

This paper presents a gain-based fanout optimization algorithm for near-continuous buffer libraries. A near-continuous buffer library contains many buffers in a wide range of discrete sizes and each buffer of a specific type satisfies a size-independent delay equation. The new fanout algorithm is derived from an optimal algorithm to a special fanout optimization problem for continuous libraries. The gain-based technique constructs fanout trees which have better timing at similar area cost. Since no combinatorial search over buffer sizes or fanout tree topologies is used, our execution time is up to 1000 times faster when compared to conventional fanout algorithms.
Computer aided application of chemical engineering principles in the development of coatings

Abstract This paper is to provide chemical engineers with a perspective of the opportunities and the challenges in the development of computer-aided-tools for the coatings industry which has annual world-wide sales of about forty billion U.S. dollars. Key ingredients of typical coating systems are polymers, pigments, solvents and miscellaneous additives. A coating chemist/engineer must balance a large number of end use properties by manipulating the types and amounts of the ingredients when developing an optimum formulation. To be effective, an in-depth understanding of the interactions of the ingredients is essential. Many of these interactions can be estimated by the application of chemical engineering principles. Unfortunately, due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the development work, it is unrealistic to expect a coating chemist/engineer to apply the variety of these principles quantitatively. However, with the use of computers, user friendly packages can be developed and utilized by these technical people. We will review computer-aided application of these principles in the research and development of coatings, using successful applications in our own laboratory as examples, such as polymer design, polymerization process development, and solvent formulation. Based on our own experience, benefits and limitations of this approach will be presented.
SPEECH TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Summary form only given. Two forces are in pursuit of discovering the possibilities of speech technology automation. First is the global research and development community which has been hard at work for improving the performance and usability of the technology. Second is the business community which constantly evaluates the performance of the technology against the expectation of the user community for delivering solutions such as a spoken car navigation system. While the performance improvement has been on a constant positive progress curve, the market opportunity has been on a much more uncertain curve. For example, the early vision of delivering a dictation solution has been on hold in recent years while it enjoyed enormous interest in the 90 s. At the same time, some industry experts predict that this vision will be fulfilled soon because of the usability needs of billions of mobile devices in use today. Analogies can be drawn for the use of speech technologies for call centers self service interaction. While we have seen a much bigger market success, some industry experts predict that web self services will slow down the use of speech self service. So, where does the truth lie? What are those market opportunities that are clear winners? What opportunities will open up in future and what are their technical challenges? In this talk, we will address some of these questions.
Energy storage capacitors for pulsed plasma thrusters.

Energy storage film capacitors for pulsed plasma thrustors developed for coaxial plasma gun and pulsed arc gun
Maximizing pin alignment by pin permutations

Abstract The problem considered here is that of permuting the pins of modules in order to maximize the number of connections which can be achieved in the polysilicon level. Using a graph-theoretic formulation, the problem is shown to be equivalent to that of removing fewest edges in a certain graph to break all cycles. The problem is proved to be NP-complete. A heuristic based on branch-and-bound is proposed.
Sensitivity analysis of multicomponent seismic attributes to fluid content and pore pressure

We analyzed the sensitivity of multicomponent (MC) seismic (P-P, P-SV, and SH-SH) reflection coefficients (RCs) and traveltimes to water saturation and pore pressure by taking the appropriate partial derivatives. Applying this approach to a poorly consolidated sandstone reservoir partially saturated with light oil and brine, demonstrates that P-P traveltimes have the largest sensitivity to water saturation, but the least sensitivity to pore pressure. In contrast, SH-SH traveltimes have the least sensitivity to water saturation, and the most sensitivity to pressure. P-SV traveltimes have intermediate sensitivities to pressure and saturation, but are more affected by saturation than pressure. By analyzing the sensitivity of MC seismic RCs to water saturation at the reservoir top, i.e., shale over oilsaturated sandstone, and at the oil-water contact (OWC), i.e., oil-saturated sandstone over brine-saturated sandstone, we found that the absolute value of amplitudes at all angles is greatest for P-P, smallest for P-SV, and intermediate for SH-SH. In addition, the absolute values of AVO (amplitude variation vs. offset) gradients at the reservoir top and OWC can be organized in descending order as (P-SV, SH-SH, PP) and (P-P, P-SV, SH-SH), respectively. For the sensitivity of both interfaces to pressure (the reservoir top and OWC), angle-dependent relations are extracted.
Wavelet deformable model for shape description and multiscale elastic matching

In this research, we propose a hierarchical wavelet curve descriptor which decomposes a planar curve into components of different scales so that the coarsest scale components carry the global approximation information while other finer scale components contain the local detailed information. Furthermore, we interpret the wavelet coefficients as random variables, and use the deformable stochastic wavelet descriptor to model a group of shapes which have the same topological structure but may differ slightly due to local deformation. We show that this descriptor can be conveniently used in multiscale elastic matching. Local deformation can be more effectively represented by the wavelet descriptor than the conventional Fourier descriptor, since wavelet bases are well localized in both the spatial and frequency domains. Experimental results are given to illustrate the performance of the proposed wavelet descriptor, where we use a model-based approach to extract the contour of an object from noisy images.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A trans Golgi-derived exocytic coated vesicle can contain both newly synthesized cholinesterase and internalized transferrin

Abstract We used a cholinesterase-mediated density shift protocol to investigate the movement of internalized transferrin (Tf) through endo- and exocytic coated vesicles (CVs) in the perfused rat liver. Upon internalization, exogenous 125 I-Tf was found in endocytic CVs but not in cholinesterase-containing (i.e., exocytic) CVs (0–40 min). Between 1 and 2 hr, 125 I-Tf began to appear in exocytic CVs. The origin of the exocytic CV was further investigated. After perfusion of the liver with asialotransferrin, the exocytic CVs were shown to contain resialylated Tf, indicating that the trans Golgi was the origin of this class of CVs. The resialylated Tf accumulated in the extracellular medium with kinetics very similar to the time course for appearance of Tf in cholinesterase-containing, exocytic CVs, suggesting that these CVs are directly involved in the transfer of material from the trans Golgi to the cell surface.
Comprehensive meteorological modelling of the middle atmosphere: a tutorial review

Abstract This paper reviews the current state of comprehensive, three-dimensional, time-dependent modelling of the circulation in the middle and upper atmosphere from a meteorologist's perspective. The paper begins with a consideration of the various components of a comprehensive model (or general circulation model, GCM), including treatments of processes that can be explicitly resolved and those that occur on scales too small to resolve (and that must be parameterized). The typical performance of GCMs in simulating the tropospheric climate is discussed. Then some important background on current ideas concerning the general circulation of the stratosphere and mesosphere is presented. In particular, the transformed-Eulerian mean flow formalism, the role of vertically-propagating internal gravity waves in driving the large-scale circulation, and the notion of a stratospheric surf zone are all briefly reviewed. Using this background as a guide, some middle atmospheric GCM results are discussed, with a focus on simulations made recently with the GFDL ‘SKYHI’ troposphere-stratosphere-mesosphere GCM. The presentation attempts to emphasize the interaction between theory and comprehensive modelling. Many theoretical notions cannot be confirmed in detail from observations of the real atmosphere due to the various limitations in the observational methods, but can be very completely examined in GCMs in which every atmospheric variable is known perfectly (within the limits of the numerical methods). It will be shown that our understanding of both the role of gravity waves in the general circulation and the nature of the stratospheric surf zone has benefited from analysis of GCM results. From the point of view of the upper atmosphere, one of the most interesting aspects of GCMs is their ability to generate a self-consistent field of upward-propagating gravity waves. This paper concludes with a discussion of the gravity wave field in the middle atmosphere of GCMs. Comparisons of the explicitly-resolved gravity wave field in the SKYHI model with observations are quite encouraging, and it seems that the model is capable of producing a gravity wave field with many realistic features. However, the simulated horizontal spectrum of the eddy momentum fluxes associated with the waves is quite shallow, suggesting that much of the spectrum that is important for maintaining the mean circulation is not explicitly resolvable in current GCMs. A brief discussion of current efforts at parameterizing the mean flow effects of the unresolvable gravity waves is presented.
Studies of MNSsU antigen activity on leukocytes and platelets.

Leukocytes or platelets from donors of appropriate blood type do not absorb anti-M, anti-N, anti-S, or anti-s. Leukocytes from U-positive donors absorb anti-U, but white blood cells collected from U-negative donors do not absorb the antibody. Tests with separated platelets, lymphocytes, and neutrophils indicate that U-antigen is probably restricted to the neutrophils.
Hormone- and phorbol ester-activated protein kinase C isozymes mediate a reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton associated with prolactin secretion in GH4C1 cells.

TRH regulates PRL secretion and synthesis in GH4C1 rat pituitary cells. TRH responses are associated with activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes and elevation of cytosolic calcium. To determine which PKC isozymes are involved in TRH-directed responses, we evaluated the effect of TRH on GH cell alpha-, beta-, delta-, and epsilon-PKC isozymes. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that TRH caused rapid redistribution of all isozymes to a Triton X-100-insoluble (i.e. cytoskeletal) fraction. Corollary immunocytofluorescence studies demonstrated that redistributed PKCs accumulate in cell peripheries. Exocytosis involves reorganization of the cytoskeleton, therefore, each of the GH cell PKCs is appropriately located to phosphorylate proteins important for cytoskeleton organization. To determine the relative contributions of calcium and PKC signal transduction pathways in mediating TRH responses, the effects of potassium depolarization (which increases cytosolic calcium) and phorbol dibutyrate (which activates...
Chlorpromazine and its metabolites alter polymerization and gelation of actin

Hepatic hydroxylated metabolites of chlorpromazine (10(-5)M to 10(-4)M), a frequently used phenothiazine tranquilizer, produce solid gel formation with filamentous actin, but the less toxic chlorpromazine sulfoxide metabolite does not. At higher concentrations (5 x 10(-4)M) chlorpromazine inhibits actin polymerization. These dose-response relationships parallel the drug's hepatic toxicity in vivo and suggest that interactions between chloropromazine or chlorpromazine metabolites and actin could be an underlying mechanism of cell injury.
On the sharpness of cracks compared with Wells's COD

Crack opening displacement concept in fracture mechanics, considering crack tip radius as measure of extension potential
Animal models for studying transport across the blood-brain barrier.

Abstract There are many reasons for wishing to determine the rate of uptake of a drug from blood into brain parenchyma. However, when faced with doing so for the first time, choosing a method can be a formidable task. There are at least 7 methods from which to choose: indicator dilution, brain uptake index, microdialysis, external registration, PET scanning, in situ perfusion, and compartmental modeling. Each method has adantages and disadvantages. Some methods require very little equipment while others require equipment that can cost millions of dollars. Some methods require very little technical experience whereas others require complex surgical manipulation. The mathematics alone for the various methods range from simple algebra to complex integral calculus and differential equations. Like most things in science, as the complexity of the technique increases, so does the quantity of information it provides. This review is meant to serve as a starting point for the researcher who wishes to study transport and uptake across the blood-brain barrier in animal models. An overview of the mathematical theory, as well as an introduction to the techniques, is presented.
Levetiracetam: a comprehensive review

Levetiracetam was approved by the US FDA in 1999 after failing the traditional screening tests for antiepileptic drugs. In the 10 years since its introduction, it has become one of the first-line antiepileptic agents and has been evaluated in small uncontrolled studies and case series as an off-label treatment for status epilepticus, for nonepileptic neurological conditions, such as movement disorders, neuropathic pain and headaches, and for some psychiatric conditions. It has not been approved for any indication other than chronic epilepsy. A significant factor in using levetiracetam for seizures and other disorders has been its ease of dosing and tolerability. In this article, we outline how levetiracetam was discovered, the animal and human data showing its antiepileptic activity, its potential use in other neurological conditions and the significant adverse events. We also discuss the direction antiepileptic drug development will take in the future.
Theory of scaling for fluctuations in thermal explosion conditions

We demonstrate that fluctuations in the transient bimodality regime for gaseous thermal explosions scale with the inverse of an effective size parameter Ω. The ratio between this parameter and the volume V is obtained analytically for a nonturbulent heat conduction regime. We show that as the system departs from the laminar flow limit towards a turbulent regime, the fluctuations are enhanced since Ω decreases. We also prove that as V tends to zero, the ratio Ω/V tends to one, an intuitively expected result. The theory is inspired and confirmed by experiments on the decomposition of ethyl azide. Within the induction period, we use a corrected parabolic approximation for the potential determining the drift term in the Fokker-Planck equation. The maximum occurs at the ignition temperature. The correction arises from size effects (Ω/V ≠ 1) due to an inhomogeneous distribution of temperature. The parabolic approximation is valid only within the induction period, until the fluctuations have macroscopic consequences. Our study reveals that the following anomalies bear a common origin that can be explained quantitatively if the correction is introduced: a) Discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical value for the Frank-Kamenetsky constant. Early work by O.K. Rice on the gaseous thermal explosion of ethyl azide indicates that this discrepancy is enhanced when the size of the vessel increases. — b) Reduction of the induction period, or, equivalently, contraction of the time-scale for the transient bimodality during which heat accumulates in the system. This anomaly is accompanied by an enhancement of the growth rate for the Gaussian width of the probability density distribution for the temperature due to fluctuations. This phenomenon will be interpreted by the observer as a premature ignition.
Divergent evolution in the enolase superfamily: The interplay of mechanism and specificity

Abstract The members of the mechanistically diverse enolase superfamily catalyze different overall reactions. Each shares a partial reaction in which an active site base abstracts the α-proton of the carboxylate substrate to generate an enolate anion intermediate that is stabilized by coordination to the essential Mg2+ ion; the intermediates are then directed to different products in the different active sites. In this minireview, our current understanding of structure/function relationships in the divergent members of the superfamily is reviewed, and the use of this knowledge for our future studies is proposed.
Prestige Influences in Serious Dating Relationships of University Students

The idea of a status hierarchy governing the serious dating relationships of university students is subjected to definitive test. The data, from a state university population, support the assertion. High agreement, within and between sexes, is found on the ranking of fraternities and sororities. Drops, pinnings, and engagements all tend to occur disproportionately among persons from similar prestige levels. The findings hold both for Greek-affiliated and for independent students. The degree of status homogamy tends to increase with the seriousness of the involvement. Interpretations of the findings are offered. T | nhe interests of sociologists in American dating patterns have ranged widely. Some have studied the ages at which dating begins,' some have analyzed the normative system governing early dating,2 while *Revision of a paper read at the annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Society, 1968. The authors are grateful to Robert G. Lembke for his assistance in collecting the original data. 1 Carlfred B. Broderick and Stanley E. Fowler, "New Patterns of Relationships Between the Sexes Among Preadolescents," Marriage and Family Living, 23 (February 1961), pp. 27-30; William J. Cameron and William F. Kenkel, "High School Dating: A Study in Variation," Marriage and Fanmily Living, 22 (February 1960), pp. 74-76; August B. Hollingshead, Elmtown's Youth (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1949), pp. 224-225; and Samuel H. Lowrie, "Early and Late Dating: Some Conditions Associated with Them," Marriage and Family Living, 23 (August 1961), pp. 284-291. 2 Warren Breed, "Sex, Class and Socialization in Dating," Marriage and Family Living, 18 (May 1956), pp. 137-144; Harold T. Christensen, "DatThis content downloaded from 157.55.39.32 on Mon, 10 Oct 2016 04:21:03 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Sometimes You Can Go Home Again

Many studies of electron transfer in solution have focused on dissolved electrons, which represent the simplest system. As [Bardeen][1] explains in his Perspective, new results by [ Martini et al .][2] indicate that under the right conditions, the dynamics of dissolved electrons can not only be characterized but also controlled. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/293/5529/444 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/293/5529/462
Seymour Benzer 1921–2007

It is now common knowledge that both “Nature” and “Nurture” determine animal behavior. But even as late as the 1970s, the concept that genes have anything to do with behavior was not universally accepted. In the face of such skepticism, Seymour Benzer, working tirelessly at Caltech, refused to join the philosophical debate and, in the way so familiar to those who knew him, shrugged his shoulders and said plainly, “Let the science speak for itself.” With characteristic simplicity, he argued that by holding the environment constant one could generate single-gene mutations disrupting complex behaviors, such as learning and memory, and thereby uncover their molecular basis.
Platelet message and microarrays

Platelets are anucleate, and until the late 1980s it was thought that circulating platelets have little residual RNA message. But in 1988 Newman et al (J Clin Invest. 1988;82:739-743) showed that one can use RT-PCR to amplify platelet-specific messages from purified peripheral blood platelets. Since
Grain Boundary Energy and Grain Growth in Highly-Textured Al Films and Foils: Experiment and Simulation

Relative grain boundary energy as a function of misorientation angle was measured in a cube-oriented, 120 µm-thick Al foil and in a fiber-textured, 1.7 µm-thick Al film using a multiscale analysis of the grain boundary dihedral angles. For the Al foil, the energies of low-angle boundaries increased with misorientation angle, in good agreement with the Read-Shockley model. For the Al film, two energy minima were observed for high-angle boundaries. Grain growth was studied in 25 and 100 nm-thick films that were annealed at 400 °C for a series of times in the range of 0.5 to 10 h. For the 100 nm-thick film, grains approximately doubled their size (equivalent circular diameter) before grain growth stagnated. The steady-state distributions of reduced grain area for two-dimensional, Monte Carlo Potts and partial differential equation based simulations showed excellent agreement with each other, even when anisotropic boundary energies were used. However, the simulated distributions had fewer small grains than the experimental distributions.
On sufficient-completeness and related properties of term rewriting systems

The decidability of the sufficient completeness property of equational specifications satisfying certain conditions is shown. In addition, the decidability of the related concept of quasi-reducibility of a term with respect to a set of rules is proved. Other results about irreducible ground terms of a term rewriting system also follow from a key technical lemma used in these decidability proofs; this technical lemma states that there is a finite bound on the substitutions of ground terms that need to be considered in order to check for a given term, whether the result obtained by any substitution of ground terms into the term is irreducible. These results are first shown for untyped systems and are subsequently extended to typed systems.
Single-site beta-diiminate zinc catalysts for the alternating copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides: catalyst synthesis and unprecedented polymerization activity.

Synthetic routes to zinc β-diiminate complexes are reported. The synthesis of 11 β-diimine [(BDI)-H] ligands, with varying N-aryl substituents and bridging structures, is described. These ligands are converted to (BDI)ZnX complexes (X = OAc, Et, N(SiMe3)2, Br, Cl, OH, OMe, OiPr). X-ray structural data revealed that all zinc complexes examined exist as μ-X-bridged dimers in the solid state, with the exception of the zinc ethyl and amido complexes which were monomeric. Complexes of the form (BDI)ZnOR (R = alkyl, acyl) and (BDI)ZnN(SiMe3)2 are highly active catalysts for the alternating copolymerization of epoxides and CO2. Copolymerizations of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO2 with (BDI-1)ZnX [(BDI-1) = 2-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)amido)-4-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino)-2-pentene)] and (BDI-2)ZnX [(BDI-2) = 2-((2,6-diethylphenyl)amido)-4-((2,6-diethylphenyl)imino)-2-pentene)], where X = OAc, Et, N(SiMe3)2, Br, Cl, OH, OMe, OiPr, were attempted at 50 °C and 100 psi CO2. Complexes with X = OAc, N(SiMe3)2, OMe, Oi...
Netrin and DCC: Axon Guidance Regulators at the Intersection of Nervous System Development and Cancer

In recent years, a number of axon guidance genes, including Netrin (Net) and Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC), have been implicated in human cancers. Many of the hallmarks of human cancer, such as cell growth, invasion, evasion of apoptosis, and formation of a blood supply to the tumor, involve cellular processes that are critical during nervous system development. Here, the roles of Net-DCC in the regulation of these cellular processes in tumors and developing neurons are discussed. The advantages of using Drosophila to study the function of Net-DCC and other axon guidance molecules in these cellular processes, as well as the potential for cancer therapeutics targeting Net-DCC are highlighted.
Product Platform Design and the Gate Model: Lessons From Industry Case Studies

Organizations that seek long-term success no longer depend on just one product but rather a platform of products that target key markets. Time-to-market pressures and globally distributed engineering design environments demand support through life-cycle models, particularly in the early stages of product development, for an effective product platform. Product definition and structured processes such as gate models are necessary in platform design for organizations to focus their effort on developing families of products that share common components and technology. This paper discusses conventions and research directions in different industries, describes methods in use, and explains a roadmap for product platform development. Case studies of laser printer, industrial robot, and AC motor drive controller platform development further explore challenges in platform design and the role of gate models. The paper concludes with gate model lessons and proposed work to further this research including decision analytic and system approaches.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The Polyketide Pks1 Contributes to Biofilm Formation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Infections caused by biofilms are abundant and highly persistent, displaying phenotypic resistance to high concentrations of antimicrobials and modulating host immune systems. Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, shares these qualities with biofilm infections. To identify genetic determinants of biofilm formation in M. tuberculosis, we performed a small-scale transposon screen using an in vitro pellicle biofilm assay. We identified five M. tuberculosis mutants that were reproducibly attenuated for biofilm production relative to that of the parent strain H37Rv. One of the most attenuated mutants is interrupted in pks1, a polyketide synthase gene. When fused with pks15, as in some M. tuberculosis isolates, pks1 contributes to synthesis of the immunomodulatory phenolic glycolipids (PGLs). However, in strains such as H37Rv with split pks15 and pks1 loci, PGL is not produced and pks1 has no previously defined role. We showed that pks1 complementation restores biofilm production independently of the known role of pks1 in PGL synthesis. We also assessed the relationship among biofilm formation, the pks15/1 genotype, and M. tuberculosis phylogeography. A global survey of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates revealed surprising sequence variability in the pks15/1 locus and substantial variation in biofilm phenotypes. Our studies identify novel M. tuberculosis genes that contribute to biofilm production, including pks1. In addition, we find that the ability to make pellicle biofilms is common among M. tuberculosis isolates from throughout the world, suggesting that this trait is relevant to TB propagation or persistence.
Quantum key distribution by using public key algorithm(RSA)

Classical cryptography is based on the computational difficulty to compute the secret key using the current computing systems. Depending only on the difficulty of computational complexity does not provide enough security because finding a fast method to calculate the secret key will compromise the security of the systems. Quantum computing uses the law of physics for communication allowing new concepts to be applied in computing specially in cryptography and key distribution by applying quantum theorems and principles. In this paper, we are introducing a new model for quantum key distribution between three parties or more where there is a trusted center providing the clients the necessary secret information to securely communicate with each other.
Minimizing total weighted completion time when scheduling orders in a flexible environment with uniform machines

We consider the scheduling of orders in an environment with m uniform machines in parallel. Each order requests certain amounts of k different product types. Each product type can be produced by any one of the m machines. No setup is required if a machine switches over from one product type to another. Different product types intended for the same order can be produced at the same time (concurrently) on different machines. Each order is released at time zero and has a positive weight. Preemptions are allowed. The completion time of an order is the finish time of the product type that is completed last for that order. The objective is to minimize the total weighted completion time. We propose heuristics for the non-preemptive as well as the preemptive case and obtain worst case bounds that are a function of the number of machines as well as the differences in the speeds of the machines. Even though the worst-case bounds we showed for the two heuristics are not very tight, our experimental results show that they yield solutions that are very close to optimal.
Role of free space and weak interactions on geometric isomerization of stilbenes held in a molecular container

Photochemical geometric isomerization of olefins is long known to depend on the medium in which it occurs. Highest selectivity occurs in flexible biological systems as well as in inflexible crystals. We present results in this report that suggest the isomerization is selective even in an isotropic flexible aqueous medium provided it occurs within an isolated water-soluble inflexible reaction cavity. By examining the photochemistry of twelve stilbenes (trans and corresponding cis isomers) included in an organic cavitand octa acid we have been able to probe the role of 'free volume', 'weak interactions' and 'supramolecular steric effects' on the geometric isomerization process. Geometric isomerization becomes selective when the olefin's mobility is restricted by the medium through weak interactions, supramolecular steric effects and controlled free space (free volume).
How users evaluate: The target strikes back

Steps that should be taken when major purchases are considered. Subjective evaluation and testing of the system are discussed. The intent is to provide a guide to user concerns at the level of day-to-day use. >