cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Call in the Cyber National Guard

The economic consequences of a cyberattack on major critical infrastructures might well outweigh the cost of fielding the CNG. Furthermore, an ad hoc group of private consultants wouldn't have the time, teamwork, or skills to address a major cyberattack, nor would they be able to respond quickly. Because cyberspace isn't confined to national borders, it would be prudent to develop international partnerships in CNG training, education, and operations. Furthermore, industry participation and cooperation would be needed, perhaps via a nongovernment organization such as the W3C or by providing legal protections such as those provided to US National Guard members. However the CNG would be organized, industry would need to embrace the notion of and advantages derived from a national cyber-emergency-response capability. To ensure that the CNG and industry are partners, regular meetings at the local, regional, and national levels would be needed to plan strategies and build industry-guard teamwork.
House Prices and Regional Real Estate Cycles: Market Adjustments in Houston

Real estate cycles often generate sharp swings in real housing prices, price changes that cannot be adequately described by a single statistic such as median home values. Instead, the entire structure of prices across all quality levels must be examined. This paper analyzes the price impact of the Houston, Texas, real estate bust. It shows that the average price of housing fell, and that the structure of the housing price function itself changed. Changes in the marginal price of housing were probably more significant to the market equilibrating process than the decline in average price alone.
An algorithm to generate discrete probability distributions: Binomial, hypergeometric, negative binomial, inverse hypergeometric, and Poisson

A recursion procedure for generating point probability values, cumulative probability values, and interval probability values of discrete distributions is described. Algorithms and associated FORTRAN functions for five representative discrete probability distributions are presented : binomial, hypergeometric, negative binomial, inverse hypergeometric, and Poisson. The joint use of recursion and a small arbitrary initial value ensures computational efficiency.
Mechanical behavior of Alloy 800 at 838 K

Three commercial heats of Alloy 800 have been tested at 838 K in simple tension and in fatigue at constant plastic strain ranges from 0.2 pct. to 1.4 pct. Although all three heats met the ASTM specifications for Alloy 800, the heats exhibited significant differences in elevated temperature mechanical properties. These differences were functions not only of heat-to-heat chemistry variations, but also of the final annealing treatment given during their manufacture. The microstructures of several samples cycled to failure in the above tests were examined by transmission electron microscopy and compared with the microstructures of the as-received heats. It was found that significant additional precipitation occurred during the fatigue testing of two of the heats, and this was correlated with secondary hardening behavior found during the mechanical tests. The observed precipitation behavior could be explained using suggested isothermal transformation curves and solvus curves taken from the literature.
Compression techniques in tele-radiology

This paper describes a prototype telemedicine system for remote 3D radiation treatment planning. Due to voluminous medical image data and image streams generated in interactive frame rate involved in the application, the importance of deploying adjustable lossy to lossless compression techniques is emphasized in order to achieve acceptable performance via various kinds of communication networks. In particular, the compression of the data substantially reduces the transmission time and therefore allows large-scale radiation distribution simulation and interactive volume visualization using remote supercomputing resources in a timely fashion. The compression algorithms currently used in the software we developed are JPEG and H.263 lossy methods and Lempel-Ziv (LZ77) lossless methods. Both objective and subjective assessment of the effect of lossy compression methods on the volume data are conducted. Favorable results are obtained showing that substantial compression ratio is achievable within distortion tolerance. From our experience, we conclude that 30dB (PSNR) is about the lower bound to achieve acceptable quality when applying lossy compression to anatomy volume data (e.g. CT). For computer simulated data, much higher PSNR (up to 100dB) is expectable. This work not only introduces such novel approach for delivering medical services that will have significant impact on the existing cooperative image-based services, but also provides a platform for the physicians to assess the effects of lossy compression techniques on the diagnostic and aesthetic appearance of medical imaging.
Static test compaction for diagnostic test sets of full-scan circuits

The authors describe a static test compaction procedure for diagnostic test sets of full-scan circuits. Similar to reverse order and random order fault simulation procedures applied to fault detection test sets, the procedure simulates the test set in different orders in order to identify unnecessary tests. Two features distinguish the procedure from earlier ones. (i) It uses a diagnostic fault simulation process based on equivalence classes to identify tests that are not necessary for distinguishing fault pairs. (ii) It includes an iterative reordering process whose goal is to increase the number of tests that will be identified as unnecessary. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the ability of the procedure to compact diagnostic test sets and the effectiveness of the iterative reordering process.
Regulatory reform for diversified public utilities: For better or for worse?

Abstract This article examines the difficulties of regulating public utilities which serve both noncompetitive and competitive markets. Problems with the administration of traditional rate of return regulation as utilities have diversified into competitive markets have led regulators to consider adopting alternative forms of regulation that allow the firm and the customers in noncompetitive markets to share in the economic benefits of production, including ‘price cap’ regulation. The article examines the efficacy of price caps as one possible form of regulatory bargain, both as a theoretical ideal and as they have been applied in practice. It also addresses explicitly the nature of another type of regulatory bargain designed to distribute net economic benefits to consumers and the firm.
MIMO Accelerator: A design flow for a programmable MIMO decoder architecture

We present a complete design flow for a novel programmable MIMO decoding architecture. The architecture uses a reconfigurable vector-coarse processing core with integrated dynamic scaling, combined with a novel memory access scheme that utilizes properties of matrix processing to afford both flexibility and single cycle access to vector operands. The architecture delivers DSP-like programmability while delivering PDP (power-delay-product) and area/energy efficiency that is three orders of magnitude higher than a DSP and on the same order of magnitude as dedicated ASIC designs. The hardware architecture is user reconfigurable; allowing independent control over the structure, word length, size of the processor, vector dimensions, and flexible memory access . The hardware configuration process is aided through a tool flow that feeds back real-time information on expected resources and performance, as well as allowing the automatic generation of hardware configurations from a target program. The design cycle of MIMO decoders is accelerated through both the architecture, which allows programmability approaching DSP and performance approaching dedicated hardware, and the hardware configuration flow which allows rapid analysis of hardware design tradeoffs.
Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation of tethered lipid assemblies

Using coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations based on the MARTINI force field, we study the self-assembly of free dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipids onto PEGylated lipids tethered to a solid substrate. We show that upon increasing lipid concentration, structural transitions occur from tethered spherical nanoparticles, to tethered cylinders and bicelles, to a tethered lipid bilayer with pores, to an unporated tethered lipid bilayer, and finally to a tethered lipid bilayer with liposomes on top of it. The simulation results compare well with structures inferred from experimental observations. In addition, we demonstrate the structural stability and local fluidity of the tethered lipid bilayer.
Genomic organization of the murine G protein beta subunit genes and related processed pseudogenes.

The functional significance of heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) for the many physiological processes including the molecular mechanisms of drug addiction have been described. In investigating the changes of mRNA expression after acute psychostimulant administration, we previously identified a cDNA encoding a G protein pi subunit (Gpi) that was increased up to four-fold in certain brain regions after administration of psychostimulants. The mouse Gpi gene (the mouse genetic symbol, GNB1) was mapped to chromosome 4, but little was known of its genetic features. To characterize the GNB1 gene further, we have cloned and analyzed the genomic structures of the mouse GNB1 gene and its homologous sequences. The GNB1 gene spans at least 50 kb, and consists of 12 exons and 11 introns. The exon/intron boundaries were determined and found to follow the GT/AG rule. Exons 3-11 encode the Gpi protein, and the exon 2 is an alternative, resulting in putative two splicing variants. Although intr...
A role-based access in a hierarchical sensor network architecture to provide multilevel security

Most of the proposed security protocols for wireless sensor networks (WSN) are designed to provide the uniform level of security across the network. There are various multi-sensing applications like sensors monitoring airport runway control system which may also be used to monitor environmental conditions such as wind speed and direction. When these nodes communicate, they may require different levels of security. For example, in case of a highjack event, the secure communication among nodes in a target region in the airport runway control system should be provided as they exchange highly critical data. In this paper, we propose a scheme called role-based access in sensor networks (RBASH) which provides role-based multilevel security in sensor networks. Each group is organized in such a way that they can have different roles based on the context and thus, can provide or have different levels of accesses. RBASH provides the desired security level based on the application need. The multilevel security is based on assigned keys to different nodes at different levels. To achieve this goal, we organize the network using Hasse diagram then compute the key for each individual node and extend it further to construct the key for a group. Based on experimental observations, we conclude that RBASH is energy and communication efficient in providing security compared to some other protocols which provides uniform security for all the nodes.
Nuclear plant data systems ― some emerging directions

Significant changes have occurred in recent years in the nuclear power industry to accentuate the need for data systems to support information flow and decision making. Economic conditions resulting in rapid inflation and larger investments in new and existing plants and the need to plan further ahead are primary factors. Government policies concerning environmental control, as well as minimizng risk to the public through increased nuclear safety regulations on operating plants are additional factors.
High Spatial And Temporal Resolution Imaging With The RANICON

An advanced two dimensional photon counting system employing a Resistive Anode Image Converter (RANICON) has been recently developed and tested at the STScI for use on ground based telescopes. It can presently obtain two dimensional images over a 25 mm diameter active area with 35 - 40 μm FWHM overall spatial resolution and ≤ms time resolution. The entire near UV, optical and near IR range can be covered with the use of bialkali, S-20 and GaAs photocathodes at overall sensitivities of 10 - 20 %. Its basic operating characteristics and results of recent field trials will be presented and discussed with special emphasis on its applications to time resolved imaging.
Mortality in dry-cleaning workers: an update.

Background A cohort of 1,708 dry-cleaning workers identified from union records was exposed to perchloroethylene (PCE), a known animal carcinogen and probable human carcinogen, for at least 1 year before 1960. Many workers also had exposure to Stoddard solvent, a petroleum-based dry-cleaning solvent. Methods Vital status was updated through 1996 and life table analyses conducted. Results The cohort had excess cancer mortality (271 deaths, standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.41). Elevated SMRs for tongue, bladder, esophagus, intestine, lung, and cervical cancer, pneumonia, and diseases of the stomach and duodenum were statistically significant. Conclusions The current study confirms findings of prior updates and other studies that dry-cleaning workers have excess cancer mortality at several sites. Although important lifestyle and socioeconomic risk factors exist for both cervical and esophageal cancer mortality, excesses of these sites in the PCE only subcohort and among workers with longer duration of PCE exposure suggest an association with PCE exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:121–132, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In vivo mri of the left coronary artery branching patterns in mice and the myocardial area-at-risk during coronary ligation: towards improved understanding of an important model

Introduction Ligation of the left coronary artery (LCA) is frequently used to study ischemia in mice. However, the branching pattern of the LCA in mice and the impact of this has not been characterized. MRI of LCA branching patterns was thus performed in mice in vivo and correlated with fluorescence reflectance imaging (FRI) of the percent myocardial area at risk (AAR) during coronary ligation.
NF-κB Comes Home

NF-κB was discovered because of its binding to the Igκ locus intronic enhancer, but deletion of its binding site does not appear to affect V-to-Jκ rearrangement. New work by Verkoczy et al. (2005) in this issue of Immunity suggests that NF-κB regulates Igκ rearrangement after all, by activating RAG expression during receptor editing.
Conflict Resolution Maneuvers in Air Traffic Control: Investigation of Operational Data

Little is known about air traffic controllers' preferred maneuvers to resolve conflicts between pairs of aircraft, despite the topic's importance of to the planned NextGen system. We analyzed 256 cases of conflict resolution maneuvering from radar track data from 5 U.S. air traffic control centers. Our results show the influences of conflict geometries on controllers' maneuver choices.
A systems perspective on the R&D of industrial technology

Scientific discoveries open up new horizons, and technologies based on them can create or transform markets. However, the process of translating scientific discoveries into technologies involves a series of risk steps, resulting in low success rates. In industrial technology research institutes such as ITRI, the planning of such projects typically starts with conceptualizing innovative applications that meet certain needs of consumers or society. Once initiated, the process is forced to be in constant touch with both ends of its range: scientific discovery and market needs; the utmost consideration is the large impact it will have on industries, economy and the society at large. In this talk, examples of industrial technology research from a semiconductor application perspective, along with the collaboration model with the industry and academia, are presented. Crucial factors leading to successful deployment of new technologies such as cost, quality, and reliability are also addressed.
Successful Investigational New Drug Preparation without Reinventing the Wheel

The biotech industry is the usual venue of new drug development, with costs estimated between $500 million and $2 billion per drug developed (Adams and Brantner, 2006). Occasionally, members of an academic medical community may choose to develop a new drug within their own institution because they are focused on an orphan disease and/or their new therapy may lack a successful financial model. The Dermatology Department at Stanford University School of Medicine has focused on creating a successful treatment for epidermolysis bullosa since 1988. Support for this process has come from philanthropy (http://www.ebkids.org) as well as federal and state funding.
Panama Canal Expansion and the 2012 Outstanding Projects and Leaders Awards

In 2014, the Panama Canal will celebrate its 100th anniversary, but today it is in the midst of a major expansion. The expansion program broke ground in 2007, and in August 2009, a $3.12 billion design and build contract was awarded to construct the new third lane locks at both the Pacific and Atlantic ends of the canal. The contractor for this challenging work is a four-member joint venture operating under the name Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC). The lead member of the GUPC is the Spanish contractor Sacyr Vallehermoso; the second heavy weight on the team is Italy’s largest heavy contractor Impregilo; the third member is Belgium’s Jan De Nul, dredging specialists; and Constructora Urbana SA (CUSA), the largest contractor in Panama, is the fourth member. Thework under this contract includes the construction of six lock chambers with three water-saving basins each, three dams, and four wastewater-treatment plants. Major temporary facilities to support the work include two cofferdamswith docks. Additionally, the work requires dry excavation of approximately 50 million m (65.4 cy) of material. East Coast and Gulf ports in the U.S. anticipating the transportation efficiencies of the third lane are currently upgrading terminal facilities to handle the much larger post-Panamax cargo ships. Today, only the port facilities in Norfolk, Virginia can handle fully loaded post-Panamax vessels. The current Panama Canal lock chambers are 33.5-m (110-ft) wide by 294.1-m (965-ft) long, while the new lock chambers for the third lane will be 55-m (180-ft) wide by 427-m (1,400-ft) long. The size of the locks is hard to visualize, but consider that the full height of the Empire State Building including its pinnacle is 442.9 m (1,453 ft), therefore, remove the pinnacle and the New York City monument will fit in one of the locks.
Chinese Industrial Structure in Transition: The Emergence of Stock-offering Firms

The emergence of stock issuance in China challenges the most fundamental systemic institution of social ownership of the means of production. This paper analyzes the development of China's stock markets and its impact on the structure of ownership and control in China's industries. It presents the structure of Chinese industry in transition along with the emergence of stock-offering firms. The problems existing in the current stock market development are identified, and policy implications are derived.
Biological factors which may influence an older child's or adolescent's responses to toxic chemicals.

Currently, there is considerable interest in scientific and regulatory issues relating to protection of children's health. Attention to date has largely been focused on establishing the efficacy and safety of drugs in children and on assessing potential risks of pesticides and similar agents to infants and young children. Older children and adolescents, however, have received little attention as special subgroups at risk from exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. Adolescence is the second most rapid period of growth and development, after infancy. Several organ systems experience substantial structural and functional changes during puberty. Attention is focused in this review on the more important organ systems that are undergoing maturation and therefore may be the most likely to exhibit aberrant responses to toxicants. Attention is also paid to age-related changes in processes which govern the disposition and metabolism of chemicals in the body.
Rotating Stall Control in Axial Compressor Subject to Wheel Speed Transients

A gain-scheduled controller design methodology for rotating stall control in an axial flow compressor subject to wheel speed transients is presented. Linear robust controllers are designed for a family of flow coefficients in the spatial domain at specified discrete wheel speeds to regulate nonaxisymmetric flow. The resulting family of controllers are then gain scheduled with respect to wheel speed in an effort to address the transient wheel speed condition. To validate the performance of the gain schedule control law, domains of attraction obtained from initial condition simulated responses of the nonlinear compressor model are used. I. Introduction R OTATING stall and surge are aerodynamic instabilities that occur during operation of a compressor near the peak pressure rise of the compressor. These instabilities degrade performance and produce large loading effects on the compressor blades. To avoid the occurrence of these flow instabilities, the compressor is operated at conditions that are removed from the surge line (stability line), thus creating a factor of safety defined as the surge margin. The surge margin required to prevent the occurrence of rotating stall and surge during wheel speed transients is related to the rate of change
Impact on Hurricane Track and Intensity Forecasts of GPS Dropwindsonde Observations from the First-Season Flights of the NOAA Gulfstream-IV Jet Aircraft.

In 1997, the Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) began operational Gulfstream-IV jet aircraft missions to improve the numerical guidance for hurricanes threatening the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. During these missions, the new generation of Global Positioning System dropwindsondes were released from the aircraft at 150–200-km intervals along the flight track in the environment of the tropical cyclone to obtain profiles of wind, temperature, and humidity from flight level to the surface. The observations were ingested into the global model at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, which subsequently serves as initial and boundary conditions to other numerical tropical cyclone models. Because of a lack of tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin, only five such missions were conducted during the inaugural 1997 hurricane season. Due to logistical constraints, sampling in all quadrants of the storm environment was accomplished in only one of the five cases d...
Viral Enhancement of Nasal Colonization with Haemophilus influenzae Type b in the Infant Rat

Viral Enhancement of Nasal Colonization with Haemophilus influenzae Type b in the Infant Rat
A HIERARCHICAL DECISION-PROCESS MODEL FOR FORECASTING AUTOMOBILE TYPE-CHOICE

Abstract This article presents a hierarchical decision model based on interviews with 45 buyers of new 1978 automobiles. The methodology is borrowed from anthropological decision making studies and focuses on the transportation requirements of the car buyer rather than on characteristics of the automobile. Interior car size is found to be the most constraining decision criterion for this group of buyers. The model accounts for 42 of the 45 cases in the sample.
A trivial knot whose spanning disks have exponential size

If a closed curve in space is a trivial knot (intuitively, one can untie it without cutting) then it is the boundary of some disk with no self-intersections. In this paper we investigate the minimum number of faces of a polyhedral spanning disk of a polygonal knot with n segments. We exhibit a knot whose minimal spanning disk has exp(cn) faces, for some positive constant c.
Theoretical description of pressure shifts and quenching of excited atomic states in liquid helium

Abstract The pressure dependence of the linewidth and shift for the 2 3 S→2 3 P and 3 3 S→2 3 P transitions observed in electron-bombarded liquid helium is calculated by applying static line-broadening theory within the framework of a theoretical model. The calculated pressure shift, width and asymmetry are in good agreement with recent measurements over the pressure range of 1 to 25 atm. A new mechanism is proposed for the strong pressure quenching observed for several atomic and molecular emission lines.
Sarcoidosis of the upper extremity: Case presentation and literature review

Sarcoidosis of the skeletal system is not rare but problems related to it are unusual. Two cases of sarcoidosis, with involvement of the upper extremity, are presented to point out problems that may occur in its treatment. Osteolytic sarcoid involvement of the phalanges leads to resorption and collapse, with a poor response to bone grafting or splinting. The phalangeal collapse could be treated with intramedullary cement or Kirschner wire fixation. Sarcoid involvement of fractures can lead to a nonunion and they should be treated with excision when appropriate, rather than attempting osteosynthesis. Arteriograms of sarcoid lesions show them to have a very poor blood supply. A bone scan can be used to demonstrate areas of sarcoid involvement before the characteristic lesion becomes evident on a radiograph.
Renormalization group and the superconducting susceptibility of a Fermi liquid

A free Fermi gas has, famously, a superconducting susceptibility that diverges logarithmically at zero temperature. In this paper we ask whether this is still true for a Fermi liquid and find that the answer is that it does not. From the perspective of the renormalization group for interacting fermions, the question arises because a repulsive interaction in the Cooper channel is a marginally irrelevant operator at the Fermi liquid fixed point and thus is also expected to infect various physical quantities with logarithms. Somewhat surprisingly, at least from the renormalization group viewpoint, the result for the superconducting susceptibility is that two logarithms are not better than one. In the course of this investigation we derive a Callan-Symanzik equation for the repulsive Fermi liquid using the momentum-shell renormalization group, and use it to compute the long-wavelength behavior of the superconducting correlation function in the emergent low-energy theory. We expect this technique to be of broader interest.
29: Cerebral metabolism during starvation in infant and adult rats and the effect of int'rauterine growth retardation (IUG-R)

Cerebral blood flow (CBP) was measured with radioactive microspheres in 20 days old IUGR rats, normal littermates and adult rats. Cerebral a-v diff. of acetoacetate (AcAc), D-β-hydroxybutyrate (βHBA), glucose, lactate, oxygen and brain DNA content were determined in other corresponding groups of similarly treated animals. Mean CBF values of 0.48±0.04 and 0.62±0.07 ml/gxmin(± SEM) in infant and adult rats resp. were not sign. diff. CBF was unaffected by starvation and was not diff. between IUGR and normal littermates. Cerebral uptake of ketone bodies (umol/mg DNAxmin) was higher in infant than adult rats during starvation. Cerebral uptake ofβHBA was higher in controls than in IUGR rats after 48 h. of starvation. Uptake of glucose was not diff. between infant and adult rats or between IUGR and normal, littermates. Arterial blood glucose was sign, lower in 48 h. starved IUGR rats than controls. Cerebral uptake of oxygen was lower in infant than adult rats and also lower in IUGR than normal littermates during starvation. The average percentage of the total cerebral uptake of substrate (mmol/min) accounted for by ketone bodies was 15.2, 25.7 and 41.0 % resp. in adult rats, 20 days old IUGR and normal littermates. Conclusion: l) Ketone bodies are more important substrates for the brain in 20 days old than adult rats during starvation. 2) Cerebral utilization of ketone bodies is reduced in 20 day IUGR rats compared to normal littermates suggesting greater sensitivity to starvation.
Standards for follow-up care of patients with breast cancer

Summary In the United States alone, over 200,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year, and another 50,000 are diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. The vast majority of these women will survive for five or more years, and the majority will never experience a recurrence of their disease. Follow-up care is focused on the early identification of new primary cancer and locoregional recurrences. There is no clear evidence that early identification of distant metastases will lead to an extension in survival, and for this reason routine imaging studies such as CT and PET scans are not recommended. Comprehensive care for breast cancer survivors should also address late complications of treatment and ongoing psychosocial problems that may have arisen as a result of a breast diagnosis and treatment. Although subspecialists often provide follow-up care for breast cancer survivors, randomized trials have demonstrated that generalists can provide such care. As the number of breast cancer survivors continues to increase, guidelines and programs to provide comprehensive, compassionate, and cost-effective follow-up care will become ever more important.
Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-sensitive ATPase in Halobacterium saccharovorum.

Membranes from Halobacterium saccharovorum contained a cryptic ATPase which required Mg(2+) or Mn(2+) and was activated by Triton X-100. The optimal pH for ATP hydrolysis was 9-10. ATP or GTP were hydrolyzed at the same rate while ITP, CTP, and UTP were hydrolyzed at about half that rate. The products of ATP hydrolysis were ADP and phosphate. The ATPase required high concentrations (3.5 M) of NaCl for maximum activity. ADP was a competitive inhibitor of the activity, with an apparent Ki of 50 micro-M. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) inhibited ATP hydrolysis. The inhibition was marginal at the optimum pH of the enzyme. When the ATPase was preincubated with DCCD at varying pH values, but assayed at the optimal pH for activity, DCCD inhibition was observed to increase with increasing acidity of the preincubation medium. DCCD inhibition was also dependent on time of preincubation, and protein and DCCD concentrations. When preincubated at pH 6.0 for 4 h at a protein:DCCD ratio of 40 (w/w), ATPase activity was inhibited 90 percent.
Sequence analysis of the glyW region in Escherichia coli.

Resume Nous avons determine la sequence DNA d'un segment de mille bases du chromosome d' Escherichia coli . Ce segment comprend glyW , un gene en deux copies codant pour le tRNA Gly 3 , et ses regions adjacentes. Une sequence d'insertion, dont l'origine spontanee etait deja connue, est identifiee comme IS1. Des sites d'initiation possibles pour l'initiation et la terminaison de transcription sont identifies par comparaison avec les sequences des regions modeles du type promoteur ou terminateur. Les resultats suggerent que l'expression de glyW depend de l'expression du gene precedent, pgsA , soit par chevauchement transcriptionnel ou traductionnel, soit par co-transcription, soit encore par une combinaison de ces deux mecanismes.
Racial differences in urinary F2-isoprostane levels and the cross-sectional association with BMI

Levels of four urinary F(2)-isoprostanes (F(2)-IsoPs) were examined in a large sample of the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study (IRAS) multiethnic cohort: 237 African Americans (AAs), 342 non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), and 275 Hispanic whites (HWs). F(2)-IsoP isomers - iPF2a-III, 2,3-dinor-iPF2a-III, iPF2a-VI, and 8,12-iso-iPF2a-VI - were measured in 854 urine samples using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection. In AAs, levels of all four F(2)-IsoPs were lower compared with NHWs and HWs (P values 0.2), and positive associations among whites (P values <0.05). Taking into account that positive cross-sectional associations between systemic F(2)-IsoP levels and BMI have been consistently demonstrated in many study populations, the lack of such an association among AAs reveals a new facet of racial/ethnic differences in obesity-related risk profiles.
Estimating the Variance of Wages in the Presence of Selection and Unobserved Heterogeneity

Abstract Identification of potential wage distributions by education is important to the study of the causal links between education, inequality, and uncertainty. Potential wage inequality within an educational group (that is, the variance in wages if all workers had the same education) exceeds the observed statistics because self-selected education truncates wage distributions. Decomposing potential wage inequality into heterogeneity (known to the agent making the educational choice) and uncertainty (unknown to the agent) suggests that wage uncertainty does not necessarily rise with education. It is unobserved heterogeneity, not uncertainty, that explains the observed relationship between college graduation and higher wage inequality.
A Cross-Sectional Assessment of the ACGIH TLV for Hand Activity Level

The ACGIH Worldwide Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for hand activity “considers average hand activity level or “HAL” and peak hand force.” We report cross-sectional data that assess the validity of the TLV with respect to symptoms and selected upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among workers. The prevalence of symptoms and specific disorders were examined among 908 workers from 7 different job sites in relation to the TLV. Worker exposures were categorized as above the TLV, above the TLV Action Limit but below the TLV, or below the TLV Action Limit. Symptoms in the distal upper extremities did not vary by TLV category. Tendonitis in the wrist/hands/fingers did not vary by TLV category, but elbow/forearm tendonitis was significantly associated with TLV category. All measures of carpal tunnel syndrome were associated with TLV category. In all instances, prevalence of symptoms and specific disorders were substantial in jobs that were below the TLV action limit, suggesting that even at “acceptable” levels of hand activity, many workers will still experience symptoms and/or upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders, which may be important in the rehabilitation and return to work of injured workers. Future analyses need to examine the incidence of symptoms and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders prospectively among workers in relation to the TLV for hand activity.
Quantifying environmental change from high-resolution remotely sensed imagery using a composite ecosystem degradation index

The objective of this study was to evaluate environmental impacts surrounding a freshwater reservoir in South Carolina using landscape ecology pattern and structure metrics calculated from high-resolution optical/infrared imagery. In preparation for satellite-based studies using platforms such as SPOT-5, IRS-P5, Orbview 3 & 4, and Ikonos satelites, digital high-altitude color infrared (NAPP) and Airborne Terrestrial Applications Sensor (ATLAS) data were analyzed for a shoreline surrounding a freshwater reservoir in South Carolina subject to degradation from urban encroachment. An index was developed using a genetic learning neural network to mimic the impact rating given each section of the shoreline by experts in the field. It is hoped that this index can be extended on global scale by using high resolution satellites to allow for a standard index that would reduce the often subjective nature of shoreline degradation evaluations.
Issues in Assessing Psychological Characteristics at a Distance: An Introduction to the Symposium

This article provides an overview of the issues, methods, and constructs presented in the papers for the symposium Issues in Assessing Psychological Characteristics at a Distance. These papers share a substantive focus on the psychological characteristics of U.S. presidents and a common commitment to the use of "at-a-distance" assessment techniques. In this context, at-a-distance measures raise several substantive and methodological issues, including the connections between leaders and advisors, the value of public versus private rhetoric, and differences between spontaneous and prepared source material. The authors of the papers use two psychological constructs, the operational code and conceptual complexity, to investigate these issues and to illustrate the utility of at-a-distance methods for assessing psychological characteristics.
Do the Poor Pay More for Food? A Review of Food Price Disparities in Urban Environments

The rising rates of obesity in the United States are a major public health concern. Disproportionately high rates of obesity among low-income individuals are partially attributable to disparities i...
Interrelating of ventricular pressure and intracellular calcium in intact hearts

Although the mechanistic link between variations in intracellular calcium and its effects on myofilament regulatory proteins and subsequent impact on cardiac muscle force production have been known for some time, characterization of cardiac contractile properties are predominantly confined to phenomenological descriptions of the relationship between either muscle length and force or ventricular pressure and volume. However, as recognition of the limitations of these theories grow, investigators have begun to look toward more fundamental theories of cardiac contraction to explain whole heart function. The goal of the present study was first to explore, on a theoretical level, the degree of complexity required in a biochemical model necessary to adequately explain both equilibrium and twitch contraction behavior of cardiac muscle. Central to this analysis was a critical examination of the evidence for and against the importance of a calcium-free, force-generating state. Next, we determined whether such theories can actually account for the interrelationships between the experimentally measured time courses of pressure generation and the calcium transient measured from intact ventricles during both normal twitches as well as during complex contraction sequences. The results of this analysis provide strong support for a four-state model, including the calcium-free, force-generating state. These results will help guide the continuing quest for a mechanistic theory of ventricular function.
mir-17-92, a cluster of miRNAs in the midst of the cancer network

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that function to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Although their functions were originally described during normal development, miRNAs have emerged as integral components of the oncogenic and tumor suppressor network, regulating nearly all cellular processes altered during tumor formation. In particular, mir-17-92, a miRNA polycistron also known as oncomir-1, is among the most potent oncogenic miRNAs. Genomic amplification and elevated expression of mir-17-92 were both found in several human B-cell lymphomas, and its enforced expression exhibits strong tumorigenic activity in multiple mouse tumor models. mir-17-92 carries out pleiotropic functions during both normal development and malignant transformation, as it acts to promote proliferation, inhibit differentiation, increase angiogenesis, and sustain cell survival. Unlike most protein coding genes, mir-17-92 is a polycistronic miRNA cluster that contains multiple miRNA components, each of which has a potential to regulate hundreds of target mRNAs. This unique gene structure of mir-17-92 may underlie the molecular basis for its pleiotropic functions in a cell type- and context-dependent manner. Here we review the recent literature on the functional studies of mir-17-92 and highlight its potential impacts on the oncogene network. These findings on mir-17-92 indicate that miRNAs are integrated components of the molecular pathways that regulate tumor development and tumor maintenance.
Factorial validity of an abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for seniors in the Nurses’ Health Study

Background: Using validated measures of individuals’ perceptions of their neighborhood built environment is important for accurately estimating effects on physical activity. However, no studies to date have examined the factorial validity of a measure of perceived neighborhood environment among older adults in the United States. The purpose of this measurement study was to test the factorial validity of a version of the Abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS-A) modified for seniors in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS). Findings: A random sample of 2,920 female nurses (mean age = 73 ± 7 years) in the NHS cohort from California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania completed a 36-item modified NEWS-A for seniors. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test measurement models for both the modified NEWS-A for seniors and the original NEWS-A. Internal consistency within factors was examined using Cronbach’s alpha. The hypothesized 7-factor measurement model was a poor fit for the modified NEWS-A for seniors. Overall, the best-fitting measurement model was the original 6-factor solution to the NEWS-A. Factors were correlated and internally consistent. Conclusions: This study provided support for the construct validity of the original NEWS-A for assessing perceptions of neighborhood environments in older women in the United States.
Antigenic structure of Pasteurella pestis and the isolation of a crystalline antigen.

The present report is a summary of investigations initiated in 1942 to extend the knowledge of the antigenic structure of P. pestis, and to use this information to place plague prophylaxis on a sounder basis. The detailed experimental data will be reported at a later date.All the studies, unless otherwise stated, were performed with dried plague bacilli of the virulent “Yreka” strain. The bacilli were grown on agar for 3 days at 37°C and suspended in saline. This was precipitated by one to 2 volumes of acetone cooled to—70°C and left overnight. Repeated washings with acetone and drying in vacuo produced a bacterial powder of high antigenicity and toxicity (LD50 for 20 g mice: 20-40 μg).Extraction of the acetone-dried plague bacilli with neutral salt solutions (0.85%, 2.5% sodium chloride solutions or 0.4% sodium acetate solution) yielded a water-soluble and a water-insoluble antigenic component. The water-soluble fraction is quite toxic for mice and rats (LD50 for 20 g mice, 8-15 μg), and has a high immun...
Measurement of CP-Violating Asymmetries in B0 → (ρπ)0 Using a Time-Dependent Dalitz Plot Analysis

We present the preliminary measurement of CP-violating asymmetries in B0 → (ρπ)0 → π+π-π0 decays using a time-dependent Dalitz plot analysis. The results are obtained from a data sample of 213 million decays, collected by the BaBar detector at the PEPII asymmetric-energy B-Factory at SLAC. We measure 16 coefficients of the bilinear form factor terms occurring in the time-dependent decay rate of the B0 meson with the use of a maximum-likelihood fit. The physically relevant CP parameters are derived from these coefficients.
Imaginary Companions of Two Children

Abstract This paper presents the case of a 4-year-old girl and a 7 1/2-year-old boy who had imaginary companions for 9 months and 5 months, respectively. In prelatency children these companions are rooted in the transformation of narcissism involved with object relations and pregential drive derivatives. In latency children they usually represent superego prestages in the form of auxiliaries, adjuncts, or scapegoats. Betsy's companions provided a defense against fear of maternal abandonment and disappeared when no longer needed. Tom's companions made concrete his wish/fears of peering at his nude mother and disappeared with the introduction of a third companion. Imaginary companions are often defensive, progressive phenomena.
An R package suite for microarray meta-analysis in quality control, differentially expressed gene analysis and pathway enrichment detection

Summary: With the rapid advances and prevalence of high-throughput genomic technologies, integrating information of multiple relevant genomic studies has brought new challenges. Microarray meta-analysis has become a frequently used tool in biomedical research. Little effort, however, has been made to develop a systematic pipeline and user-friendly software. In this article, we present MetaOmics, a suite of three R packages MetaQC, MetaDE and MetaPath, for quality control, differentially expressed gene identification and enriched pathway detection for microarray meta-analysis. MetaQC provides a quantitative and objective tool to assist study inclusion/exclusion criteria for meta-analysis. MetaDE and MetaPath were developed for candidate marker and pathway detection, which provide choices of marker detection, meta-analysis and pathway analysis methods. The system allows flexible input of experimental data, clinical outcome (case–control, multi-class, continuous or survival) and pathway databases. It allows missing values in experimental data and utilizes multi-core parallel computing for fast implementation. It generates informative summary output and visualization plots, operates on different operation systems and can be expanded to include new algorithms or combine different types of genomic data. This software suite provides a comprehensive tool to conveniently implement and compare various genomic meta-analysis pipelines. Availability: http://www.biostat.pitt.edu/bioinfo/software.htm Contact: [email protected] Supplementary Information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Autonomous construction agents: An investigative framework for large sensor network self-management

Recent technological advances have made it cost effective to utilize massive, heterogeneous sensor networks. To gain appreciable value from these informational systems, there must be a control scheme that coordinates information flow to produce meaningful results. This paper will focus on tools developed to manage the coordination of autonomous construction agents using stigmergy, in which a set of basic low-level rules are implemented through various environmental cues. Using VE-Suite, an open-source virtual engineering software package, an interactive environment is created to explore various informational configurations for the construction problem. A simple test case is developed within the framework, and construction times are analyzed for possible functional relationships pertaining to performance of a particular set of parameters and a given control process. Initial experiments for the test case show sensor saturation occurs relatively quickly with 5-7 sensors, and construction time is generally independent of sensor range except for small numbers of sensors. Further experiments using this framework are needed to define other aspects of sensor performance. These trends can then be used to help decide what kinds of sensing capabilities are required to simultaneously achieve the most cost-effective solution and provide the required value of information when applied to the development of real world sensor applications.