cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Flexible Approach to Realize an Enterprise Architecture

A desired to-be enterprise architecture is realized through many individual projects that incrementally bring the enterprise toward the target enterprise architecture. There are many alternatives projects and the problem is how to decide among the alternatives given budget and time constraints. This paper presents a real options framework to plan a portfolio of projects to realize a target enterprise architecture. Using DoDAF, we describe a method for defining projects as a collection of compound real options. A switching model is used with Monte Carlo simulation to determine the capability phasing view of DoDAF v2.0. We present a case study of a small defense contractor to illustrate our approach. The model and method contributes a means to value a portfolio of projects to realize an enterprise architecture. The motivation for this research is the development of systems engineering tools to help the Department of Defense realize their net-centric transformation to have a more effective and efficient war-fighting capabilities.
Nonlinear dynamics in a neural network (parallel) processor

We consider an iterative map derived from the device equations for a silicon p+-n-n+ diode, which simulates a biological neuron. This map has been extended to a coupled neuron circuit consisting of two of these artificial neurons connected by a filter circuit, which could be used as a single channel of a parallel asynchronous processor. The extended map output is studied under different conditions to determine the effect of various parameters on the pulsing pattern. As the control parameter is increased, fixed points (both stable and unstable) as well as a limit cycle appear. On further increase, a Hopf bifurcation is seen causing the disappearance of the limit cycle. The increasing control parameter, which is related to a decrease in the bias applied to the circuit, also causes variation in the location of the fixed points. This variation could be important in applications to neural networks. The control parameter value at which the fixed point appear and the bifurcation occurs can be varied by changing the weightage of the filter circuit. The modeling outputs, are compared with the experimental outputs.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of the efficiency and safety of non-viral vector-mediated gene transfer into a wide range of human cells.

Non-viral gene transfer into a wide range of human cells was examined in order to clarify the factors that affect the efficiency and safety of non-viral vectors and to optimize the conditions so that high efficiency and low toxicity could be achieved. Six non-viral vectors (Lipofectin, LipofectAMINE PLUS, SuperFect, Effectene, DMRIE-C and DOTAP) were used to transfect a mammalian expression plasmid pCMVβ into 16 types of human primary cells and cultured cell lines. Transfection efficiency was quantified using a galactosidase assay. Cytotoxic effects were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and WST-8 assay. In serum-free conditions, LipofectAMINE PLUS, Effectene and SuperFect, on average, transfected DNA more successfully than Lipofectin, DMRIE-C, and DOTAP, although the levels of gene expression with these vectors varied remarkably in different cells. The most effective vector also differed depending on the cell type. Serum was found to inhibit gene transfer and reduce the cytotoxicity of all of these vectors except Effectene. The efficiency and toxicity of the non-viral vectors used depended on the type of vector, the DNA/vector ratio, the type of cell, and the presence of serum. These results provided useful information for the optimization of transfer conditions of these non-viral vectors.
The effects of polybrominated biphenyls and perchlorinated terphenyls on in vitro fertilization in the mouse.

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and perchlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) are industrial chemicals that are long-lasting environmental contaminants. Although in vivo effects of PBBs on reproduction are documented, no information is available on the effects of these chemicals on sperm-egg interactions or fertilization. The present study was undertaken to determine the toxic potential of PBBs and PCTs on in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the mouse. 2-Bromobiphenyl, 4-bromobiphenyl, o-terphenyl, m-terphenyl, and p-terphenyl were added to the IVF medium at various concentrations. Oocytes collected from superovulated B6D2F1 mice were maintained in a medium containing the chemicals. Capacitated sperm were then added and the dishes cultured in a humidified atmosphere at 37°C in 5% CO2+95% air. Oocytes were assessed for fertilization 20–24 h after insemination. polybrominated biphenyls and PCTs reduced the IVF rate at the higher dosages. Furthermore, an increased incidence of abnormal two-cell embryos and degenerative oocytes was observed at the 1 and 10 μg/ml concentrations of PBBs and PCTs. These results indicate that PBBs and PCTs adversely effect IVF and increase the incidence of abnormal embryos and oocyte degeneration in the mouse.
Doing multicultural education across the grade levels and subject areas: A case study of Wisconsin

Abstract This article reports results of a mail survey which examines what teachers trained in multicultural education at the preservice level do with multicultural education in their classrooms. The survey was sent to teachers currently teaching in Wisconsin who were certified between 1981 and 1985 by Wisconsin teacher education programs, which since 1974 have been required by state law to attend to multicultural education. Results provide a profiel of how teachers as a whole reported dealing with multicultural education in various aspects of classroom instruction, and with variations across grade level, subject area, student race, and social class.
Characterization of oil shale pore structure before and after pyrolysis by using X-ray micro CT

Abstract The pyrolysis of oil shale to produce transportation fuels is a complex process. The organic matter in the oil shale is tightly bound with a heterogeneous mineral matrix. Several physical changes occur during the thermal conversion of kerogen in oil shale to produce hydrocarbon products. The creation of pore space during pyrolysis is an important physical process which determines the flow behavior of the pyrolysis products and the ultimate recovery. In this paper, we report the effect of temperature (350–500 °C) on oil shale pyrolysis and creation of pore volume during thermal treatment. One inch diameter oil shale cores from different depths of a single drill hole in the Uinta Basin were used. Increase in the pyrolysis temperature resulted in higher weight loss and a corresponding increase in the oil yield. Three-dimensional X-ray micro tomography (XMT) was performed to characterize and to analyze the nature of the pore network structure before and after pyrolysis. XMT scans of the cores at 42 μm voxel resolution displayed distinguishable features of reaction products and source rock. Unconstrained pyrolysis of organic rich core produced large pore space during thermal treatment. The three-dimensional pore network structure was established with pores as large as 500 μm developed after pyrolysis. Lattice Boltzmann simulation of flow through the developed pore network structure suggested that permeabilities from 173 Darcy to 2919 Darcy can be expected.
Yeast histone mRNA is polyadenylated

Histone mRNA from S. cerevisiae has been identified and partially purified. The RNA is quantitatively retained on oligo (dT) cellulose or poly(U) sepharose as assayed by in vitro translation or hybridization of radiolabelled cloned yeast histone sequences to RNA immobilized on DBM paper. Retention of yeast histone mRNA on either of these chromatographic systems is most likely the result of polyadenylation since, when primed with oligo (dT), the RNA is an extremely good template for reverse transcriptase, as determined by hybrid arrest translation or by hybridization to D. melanogaster histone DNA sequences.
Geometrical dependences of the low-frequency generation-recombination noise in mos transistors

Abstract A comparison between theory and experiments for the dependences of generation-recombination noise on the gate-oxide thickness and the channel length of MOS transistors is presented. The results show good agreements between theory and experiments.
Boron loss in furnace- and laser-fired, sol-gel derived borosilicate glass films

Borosilicate glass films were made by the sol-gel method from tetraethoxysilane and trimethylborate precursors. The precursor or glass composition at each stage of processing was analyzed to determine the sources of boron loss. The films were heated in a furnace and with a laser to compare boron volatilization by the two heating methods. The films were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, ellipsometry, induction-charged plasma spectroscopy, and Auger microscopy. The highest losses of boron occurred during coating and low temperature (<500 °C) furnace firing. Films with the highest boron concentrations were made by dip coating and rapid firing, either with a laser or by placing them into a hot furnace. Infrared spectroscopy revealed Si–O–B bonds, indicating incorporation of boron into the borosilicate glass structure for laser- and furnace-fired films.
Reinforcer variation: A narrative review

Abstract Reinforcers are known to lose their effectiveness over time. One strategy to prevent or delay a decrease in reinforcer effectiveness is reinforcer variation. That is, a reinforcer is selected by someone other than the respondent from an array of different reinforcers at each scheduled delivery. This is in contrast to delivering a single constant reinforcer for each reinforced response. Reinforcer variation has been examined in the applied literature and, overall, has had positive effects on preventing or delaying decrements in responding. However, inconsistent results of research investigations exist, and procedures for varying reinforcers differ between studies. Based on a narrative review of the existing literature, the exact mechanisms behind the effectiveness of reinforcer variation are still not known. In this narrative review we examine the applied literature on reinforcer variation, identify potential variables that may affect responding under conditions of varied reinforcers, and provide ...
A new approach to modeling for control

Abstract The behavioral approach to exact modeling leads to the concept of generating systems . Antoulas and Willems have shown that all exact models are parametrized by means of a feedback interconnection of a xed generating system with an arbitrary system. This approach is extended in the present paper to approximate modeling. The main tool is the Hankel-norm approximation applied to the generating system. The setup has the important feature that it leads to models and uncertainty described in terms of normalized coprime factorizations. This allows us to address at the same time the control problem , with little additional effort.
Femtosecond dynamics of a predissociative Rydberg state of methyl iodide

Abstract The femtosecond dynamics of a predissociative system is studied by using a quantum time-dependent wavepacket method. The molecular system in this study is loosely based on a Rydberg of methyl iodide. Four electronic states, i.e. the ground state, a Rydberg state optically coupled with the ground state, a dissociative state coupled with the Rydberg state via a non-adiabatic potential, and an ion state optically coupled with the Rydberg state, are included in the calculations. The transients of the methyl iodide ionization signal are calculated for both CH 3 I and CD 3 I. It is found that the deuterated methyl iodide has a longer lifetime due to the mass effect, in agreement with the experiment.
Effect of micellization on acid dissociation and headgroup conformation of hexadecyl(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium bromide

Abstract The acid dissociation constant of the hydroxy group of micellized hexadecyl(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium bromide, 1, was estimated from variations of the 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts of the hydroxyethyl group with pH, and by monitoring the pH increase on addition of OH−. These methods give pKa in the range 12.4–12.6, which is similar to the value of 12.4 estimated kinetically from rate constants of dephosphorylation and aromatic nucleophilic substitution with functional micelles of 1 over a range of [OH−]. These values are similar to the literature value of pKa = 12.8 for dilute choline measured conductimetrically and micellization does not have a major effect on the deprotonation equilibrium of 1. The hydroxyethyl group of 1 is largely in the gauche conformation in both the micelle and the monomer due to favorable O⋯N+ interactions, as shown earlier for choline. The headgroups in micelles of 1 behave largely independently as regards their conformation and deprotonation of the hydroxy group.
On the brink

Mobile-enabled location-based services are generating a huge amount of customer checkin data every day. It is vital to understand how small businesses, like restaurants, use this real-time data to make better-informed business operation decisions in this mobile marketing era. Using data collected from Foursquare, a leading location-based service provider, and Yelp, we aim to find out the predictive power of customer checkins on business failure of restaurants in New York City by using several predictive modeling techniques, such as Neural Network, Logit model and K-nearest neighbor. Our findings are encouraging. The customer checkin data from both a focal restaurant and its neighbors have shown strong predictive power on business failure. Compared to the baseline model in which we only use business characteristic variables to predict failure, incorporating the checkin data captured from location-based services gives a remarkable improvement on predictive accuracy. Our findings provide the foundation for future studies on the predictive power of information obtained from location-based services on business operations. Customer checkin information available through location-base services has shown strong predictive power on business performance.Both focal restaurants' and their neighbors' customer checkin data can be used as leading indicators of business failure.The more competitors that are nearby, the less likely a restaurant will fail.Closer neighbors' checkin history data has a higher impact on business failure compared to further neighbors.
ASSESSMENT OF THE OUTPUT OF A STOCHASTIC DECISION MODEL

The concept of stochastic dominance is described and its use is illustrated in relation to the evaluation of the output of a systems simulation model of lucerne haymaking in south-west Spain. Two alternative machinery systems are ranked for various lucerne areas using the criteria of stochastic dominance, and These results are compared with those obtained using mean-variance analysis.
Technical Program Chairs' overview

Welcome to the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP), the 19th in the series of ICIPs. We hope you find ICIP inspiring and rewarding both for the knowledge you gain of advances in Image and Video processing through the conference technical presentations, and for the equally valuable “side information” that comes from personal interactions and hallway conversations with colleagues and friends, old and new, that you meet here.
Hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide

Abstract Waste CO2, a by-product of obtaining fuel cell H2 from CH4 (now vented), is a greenhouse gas with applications, including water purification. It is proposed that it be trapped and used for this and/or other purposes with the intent of lowering costs of power, water purification and the cost of transition to a hydrogen energy economy as well as slowing the rate of growth of the atmospheric CO2 burden.
A knowledge update mechanism for an adhesive advisor

Abstract Adhesive selection is a critical process in printed circuit board assembly. A knowledge base adhesive selection system is discussed. A user-friendly mechanism that facilitates knowledge update by the domain expert is described.
A serum-free method for culturing normal human bronchial epithelial cells at clonal density

A technique for the isolation and culture of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells is described. This procedure involves first explanting fragments of large airway tissue to initiate fibroblastic-cell-free outgrowths of epithelial cells and subsequently using a serum-free medium (LHC-9) to propagate the NHBE cells at clonal density.
Micromechanical Analysis of Mouse Aortic Valve Leaflets With Atomic Force Microscopy

A significant limitation in our ability to study congenital heart valve disease and defects is due to lack of appropriate animal models and also in part to our incomplete understanding of biomechanical properties of the leaflet tissues. Biomechanical changes in leaflets as they develop and throughout a person’s lifetime are not well understood. With improved understanding of such changes, more intuitive approaches could be used to develop tissue engineered heart valves. Each year in the United States, over 20,000 children are born with congenital heart defects; many requiring valve replacement surgery [1–2]. Additionally, over 300,000 people worldwide require heart valve replacement surgery each year [3–4]. The creation of better valve replacements would improve treatment and quality of patient life.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Template matching for signal identification in cognitive radio systems

Spectrum sensing feature of cognitive radio systems introduces methods to improve the spectrum utilization. The unique signatures or specific features of wireless signals can be utilized to improve the performance of spectrum sensing by identifying the signals. Moreover, spectral efficiency can be improved by achieving signal orthogonality in different domains such as code, polarization and location beside the frequency and time. However, such methods assume the types of the signals of interest to be known. In this paper, template matching method is proposed as a new spectrum sensing technique to identify the wireless signals based on the spectral signatures in the spectrum. In contrary to the original template matching approach, the number of templates to be kept in the database is limited to one abstract signal for each signal type. The templates are constructed from the abstracts and scaled based on the template matching parameters. Two new metrics are introduced for signal identification method proposed. The performance of proposed metrics are also compared with that of energy detection for wireless fading channels. Identification of the signals with the similar signatures are discussed as well.
Brain BLAQ: Post-hoc thick-section histochemistry for localizing optogenetic constructs in neurons and their distal terminals.

Optogenetic constructs have revolutionized modern neuroscience, but the ability to accurately and efficiently assess their expression in the brain and associate it with prior functional measures remains a challenge. High-resolution imaging of thick, fixed brain sections would make such post-hoc assessment and association possible; however, thick sections often display autofluorescence that limits their compatibility with fluorescence microscopy. We describe and evaluate a method we call “Brain BLAQ” (Block Lipids and Aldehyde Quench) to rapidly reduce autofluorescence in thick brain sections, enabling efficient axon-level imaging of neurons and their processes in conventional tissue preparations using standard epifluoresence microscopy. Following viral-mediated transduction of optogenetic constructs and fluorescent proteins in mouse cortical pyramidal and dopaminergic neurons, we used BLAQ to assess innervation patterns in the striatum, a region in which autofluorescence often obscures the imaging of fine neural processes. After BLAQ treatment of 260-350 μm-thick brain sections, axons and puncta of labeled afferents were visible throughout the striatum using a standard epifluorescence stereomicroscope. BLAQ histochemistry confirmed that motor cortex (M1) projections preferentially innervated the matrix component of lateral striatum, whereas medial prefrontal cortex projections terminated largely in dorsal striosomes and distinct nucleus accumbens subregions. Ventral tegmental area dopaminergic projections terminated in a similarly heterogeneous pattern within nucleus accumbens and ventral striatum. Using a minimal number of easily manipulated and visualized sections, and microscopes available in most neuroscience laboratories, BLAQ enables simple, high-resolution assessment of virally transduced optogenetic construct expression, and post-hoc association of this expression with molecular markers, physiology and behavior.
Intrinsic Contributions to Chiral Recognition: Discrimination Between Enantiomeric Amines by Dimethyldiketopyridino-18-crown-6 in the Gas Phase

We have employed Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry to investigate and quantify the recognition of chiral amines in the gas phase by the chiral crown ethers (R,R)- and (S,S)-dimethyldiketopyridino-18-crown-6, using a new procedure wherein the relatively involatile chiral ligand is easily ionized via electrospray to produce a protonated host molecule. A neutral chiral amine and an achiral reference amine, which are generally fairly volatile, were introduced into the ion trapping cell, where they reacted with the protonated host to form crown−ammonium complexes. Equilibrium constants were determined for exchange of the chiral and achiral amine guests. Electrospray of the other enantiomeric host, followed by guest exchange equilibrium constant determination, enabled characterization of the effects of chirality on complexation equilibria. Comparison of the equilibrium constants for the two enantiomeric hosts measures the relative degree of recognition for a given guest. In all...
Sexually transmitted diseases in animals

The sexual transmission of infectious agents is one of a suite of characteristics that enhance the ability of an infection to persist in low-density populations. Gary Smith and Andrew Dobson review the characteristics and control of sexually transmitted diseases in domestic animals and wildlife species.
Thermodynamic assessment of the Cu–Ti–Zr system

Abstract Equilibrium phase relations in the Cu–Ti–Zr system are calculated using the Calphad approach. Thermodynamic model parameters for the Ti–Zr, Cu–Ti and Cu–Zr systems, previously obtained in the literature, are used. New thermodynamic descriptions for the ternary interaction parameters of the liquid are obtained from experimental information. Additionally, the Gibbs energy of formation for the ternary phase Cu 2 TiZr phase is also assessed from experimental data. A new description of the CuTi 2 and CuZr 2 phases, treated as single phases, is developed. The parameters obtained in this assessment are later used for the calculation of selected isothermal sections and the projected liquidus surface of this system over the entire composition range. This model allows the prediction of a series of invariant points involving the liquid phase, at lower temperatures than neighboring binary eutectics.
5-Phosphorylribose 1-α-methylenebisphosphonate: Properties of a substrate analog of 5-phosphorylribose 1-α-diphosphate

Abstract The enzymatic synthesis of 5-phosphorylribose 1-α-methylenebisphosphonate (PRPCP), an analog of 5-phosphorylribose 1-α-diphosphate (PRPP), has been achieved by incubating Mg 2+ , β,γ-methylene ATP, and ribose 5-phosphate with pure Salmonella typhimurium PRPP synthetase (EC 2.7.6.1). The PRPCP was purified from the reaction mixture by ion-exchange chromatography, and was isolated as the ammonium salt. It was characterized by phosphate and ribose contents, and by 31 P NMR spectroscopy. A study of the rates of hydrolysis of PRPP and PRPCP at 37°C shows that the methylene analog is more stable to chemical hydrolysis at pH's 4, 7, and 10. The products of base hydrolysis of PRPCP are methylenebisphophonate and ribose 5-phosphate. PRPCP serves as a good alternate substrate for mammalian orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.10), but is a very poor substrate for this enzyme derived from yeast. PRPCP should be a useful analog in kinetic studies of phosphoribosyl transferases because its chemical decomposition product, methylene bisphosphonate, is identical to the nonnucleotide product produced by these enzymes.
High-Resolution Observations and Numerical Simulations of Easterly Gap Flow through the Strait of Juan de Fuca on 9–10 December 1995*

Abstract This paper examines the three-dimensional flow and dynamics of easterly gap flow through the Strait of Juan de Fuca on 9–10 December 1995 using high-resolution observations and model simulations. The observations were obtained during the fourth intensive observing period during the second phase of the Coastal Observation and Simulation with Topography field experiment. One of the most important data sources was the NOAA P-3 aircraft, which provided flight-level data, reflectivity, and Doppler winds as it flew down the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Below 900 m, the flow accelerated from 7 to 14 m s−1 at the entrance to the strait, with a significant cross-gap component and confluence over the eastern sections of the strait below 500 m. The easterly flow approaching the western exit of the strait accelerated from 15 to 20 m s−1. As the 900 m deep easterly flow exited the gap it decreased in depth and accelerated to ∼25 m s−1, creating a shallow swath of diffluent winds below 300 m. Later in the event whe...
Nanocrystalline diamond lateral field emission diode fabrication by dual micropatterning technique

Abstract A dual-mask micropatterning process has been developed to fabricate nanocrystalline diamond lateral field emission diode with reduced reversed leakage current. In contrast to the all-diamond lateral device reported previously, this vacuum microelectronic device integrates a 6-finger lateral nanodiamond emitter cathode with a nickel metal anode on a SiO2 underlying substrate serving as the spacer material. In this configuration, the nitrogen-incorporated nanodiamond cathode has higher field enhancement factor, geometrically as well as materially, resulting in high rectification and excellent diode behavior. This lateral device processing further illustrates the viability of nanocrystalline diamond for device integration.
Acute respiratory-tract infections and risk of first-time acute myocardial infarction.

Summary Background There is growing interest in the role of infections in the aetiology of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We undertook a large, population-based study to explore the association between risk of AMI and recent acute respiratory-tract infection. Methods We used data from general practices in the UK (General Practice Research Database). Potential cases were people aged 75 years or younger, with no history of clinical risk factors, who had a first-time diagnosis of AMI between Jan 1, 1994, and Oct 31, 1996. Four controls were matched to each case on age, sex, and the practice attended. The date of the AMI in the case was defined as the index date. For both cases and controls the date of the last respiratory-tract infection before the index date was identified. We also did a case-crossover analysis of cases who had an acute respiratory-tract infection either before the index date or before an arbitrarily chosen date (1 year before AMI). Findings In the case-control analysis of 1922 cases and 7649 matched controls, significantly more cases than controls had an acute respiratory-tract infection in the 10 days before the index date (54 [2·8%] vs 72 [0·9%]). The odds ratios, adjusted for smoking and body-mass index, for first-time AMI in association with an acute respiratory-tract infection 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, or 16–30 days before the index date (compared with participants who had no such infection during the preceding year) were 3·6 (95% CI 2·2–5·7), 2·3 (1·3–4·2), 1·8 (1·0–3·3), and 1·0 (0·7–1·6); (test for trend p Interpretation Our findings suggest that in people without a history of clinical risk factors for AMI, acute respiratory-tract infections are associated with an increased risk of AMI for a period of about 2 weeks. We cannot, however, completely exclude the possibility of misdiagnosis bias, if prodromal symptoms of AMI were mistaken for respiratory-tract infection.
Provider and peer selection in the evolving internet ecosystem

The Internet consists of thousands of autonomous networks connected together to provide end-to-end reachability. Networks of different sizes, and with different functions and business objectives, interact and co-exist in the evolving “Internet Ecosystem.” The Internet ecosystem is highly dynamic, experiencing growth (birth of new networks), rewiring (changes in the connectivity of existing networks), as well as deaths (of existing networks). The dynamics of the Internet ecosystem are determined both by external “environmental” factors (such as the state of the global economy or the popularity of new Internet applications) and the complex incentives and objectives of each network. These dynamics have major implications on how the future Internet will look like. How does the Internet evolve? What is the Internet heading towards, in terms of topological, performance, and economic organization? How do given optimization strategies affect the profitability of different networks? How do these strategies affect the Internet in terms of topology, economics, and performance? In this thesis, we take some steps towards answering the above questions using a combination of measurement and modeling approaches. We first study the evolution of the Autonomous System (AS) topology over the last decade. In particular, we classify ASes and inter-AS links according to their business function, and study separately their evolution over the last 10 years. Next, we focus on enterprise customers and content providers at the edge of the Internet, and propose algorithms for a stub network to choose its upstream providers to maximize its utility (either monetary cost, reliability or performance). Third, we develop a model for interdomain network formation, incorporating the effects of economics, geography, and the provider/peer selections strategies of different types of networks. We use this model to examine the “outcome” of these strategies, in terms of the topology, economics and performance of the resulting internetwork. We also investigate the effect of external factors, such as the nature of the interdomain traffic matrix, customer preferences in provider selection, and pricing/cost structures. Finally, we focus on a recent trend due to the increasing amount of traffic flowing from content providers (who generate content), to access providers (who serve end users). This has led to a tussle between content providers and access providers, who have threatened to prioritize certain types of traffic, or charge content providers directly - strategies that are viewed as violations of “network neutrality”. In our work, we evaluate various pricing and connection strategies that access providers can use to remain profitable without violating network neutrality.
Fascin-mediated propulsion of Listeria monocytogenes independent of frequent nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex

Actin-dependent propulsion of Listeria monocytogenes is thought to require frequent nucleation of actin polymerization by the Arp2/3 complex. We demonstrate that L. monocytogenes motility can be separated into an Arp2/3-dependent nucleation phase and an Arp2/3-independent elongation phase. Elongation-based propulsion requires a unique set of biochemical factors in addition to those required for Arp2/3-dependent motility. We isolated fascin from brain extracts as the only soluble factor required in addition to actin during the elongation phase for this type of movement. The nucleation reaction assembles a comet tail of branched actin filaments directly behind the bacterium. The elongation-based reaction generates a hollow cylinder of parallel bundles that attach along the sides of the bacterium. Bacteria move faster in the elongation reaction than in the presence of Arp2/3, and the rate is limited by the concentration of G-actin. The biochemical and structural differences between the two motility reactions imply that each operates through distinct biochemical and biophysical mechanisms.
Prenatal diagnosis of a de novo ring chromosome 11.

Ring chromosomes are uncommon findings in prenatal diagnosis. Growth retardation is the most significant manifestation, in particular among patients with rings of larger chromosomes. A 30-year-old gravida 1, para 0 white woman was referred for genetic counseling because of maternal anxiety. Cytogenetic analysis of amniotic fluid cells at 16 weeks gestation revealed an abnormal mosaic female chromosome complement; 46,XX,r(11)(p15q25)[14]/45,XX,-11[7]. The ring 11 showed no detectable loss of chromosomal material at 450 band level. Both parents had a normal karyotype. Fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated intact subtelomeric regions in the ring chromosome. A targeted ultrasound evaluation at the time of consultation suggested no significant abnormalities. The parents were counseled and subsequently decided to terminate the pregnancy. The autopsy revealed an immature female fetus with abnormal craniofacial features including brachycephaly, low-set ears and hypertelorism, bicornuate uterus, and calcifications in the renal tubules. The abnormal phenotypes could be a consequence of the ring instability, submicroscopic deletion, and/or alteration of genetic material at the site of fusion.
Complex Field Coding in Multi-Source Cooperative Networks for Full Diversity

Recently, error control codes, including convolutional codes, have been used in multi-source cooperation (MSC) networks to provide higher diversity and code rates relative to repetition-based single source cooperation alternatives. For an MSC network with K active users, it has been established that the maximum diversity order is less than K for any error control code with code rate R > 1/K. This paper introduces distributed complex field coding (DCFC) in MSC networks. Theoretical analysis reveals that DCFC-MSC is capable of enabling full diversity order equal to K, at a fixed rate ?. Simulations verify that DCFC-MSC can improve system performance markedly.
The role of HuR in gemcitabine efficacy in pancreatic cancer: HuR Up-regulates the expression of the gemcitabine metabolizing enzyme deoxycytidine kinase

RNA-binding protein HuR binds U- or AU-rich sequences in the 3'-untranslated regions of target mRNAs, stabilizing them and/or modulating their translation. Given the links of HuR with cancer, we studied the consequences of modulating HuR levels in pancreatic cancer cells. HuR-overexpressing cancer cells, in some instances, are roughly up to 30-fold more sensitive to treatment with gemcitabine, the main chemotherapeutic component of treatment regimens for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), compared with control cells. In pancreatic cancer cells, HuR associates with deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) mRNA, which encodes the enzyme that metabolizes and thereby activates gemcitabine. Gemcitabine exposure to pancreatic cancer cells enriches the association between HuR and dCK mRNA and increases cytoplasmic HuR levels. Accordingly, HuR overexpression elevates, whereas HuR silencing reduces, dCK protein expression in pancreatic cancer cells. In a clinical correlate study of gemcitabine treatment, we found a 7-fold increase in risk of mortality in PDA patients with low cytoplasmic HuR levels compared with patients with high HuR levels, after adjusting for other treatments and demographic variables. These data support the notion that HuR is a key mediator of gemcitabine efficacy in cancer cells, at least in part through its ability to regulate dCK levels posttranscriptionally. We propose that HuR levels in PDA modulate the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine, thus serving as a marker of the clinical utility of this common chemotherapeutic agent and a potential target for intervention in pancreatic cancer.
Two-dimensional representations of axisymmetric fields for computer calculations

An accurate representation of axisymmetric fields has been devised by extending the method of ideal current loops to off-axis fields. It is assumed that the data to be simulated are available through measurements or through a solution of a boundary value problem. The method provides an algebraic expression for the fields throughout a two-dimensional region of interest and eliminates the need for the axial expansion formula in approximating off-axis fields. The use of Gaussian and other functions as alternatives to the coil function is proposed. Examples of the technique in simulating a periodic permanent magnet (PPM) focusing field are presented and compared with a Fourier analysis of the problem.
Desensitization of Functional µ-Opioid Receptors Increases Agonist Off-Rate

Desensitization of µ-opioid receptors (MORs) develops over 5–15 minutes after the application of some, but not all, opioid agonists and lasts for tens of minutes after agonist removal. The decrease in function is receptor selective (homologous) and could result from 1) a reduction in receptor number or 2) a decrease in receptor coupling. The present investigation used photolysis of two caged opioid ligands to examine the kinetics of MOR-induced potassium conductance before and after MOR desensitization. Photolysis of a caged antagonist, carboxynitroveratryl-naloxone (caged naloxone), blocked the current induced by a series of agonists, and the time constant of decline was significantly decreased after desensitization. The increase in the rate of current decay was not observed after partial blockade of receptors with the irreversible antagonist, β-chlornaltrexamine (β-CNA). The time constant of current decay after desensitization was never more rapid than 1 second, suggesting an increased agonist off-rate rather than an increase in the rate of channel closure downstream of the receptor. The rate of G protein–coupled K+ channel (GIRK) current activation was examined using photolysis of a caged agonist, carboxynitrobenzyl-tyrosine-[Leu5]-enkephalin. After acute desensitization or partial irreversible block of MORs with β-CNA, there was an increase in the time it took to reach a peak current. The decrease in the rate of agonist-induced GIRK conductance was receptor selective and dependent on receptor number. The results indicate that opioid receptor desensitization reduced the number of functional receptor and that the remaining active receptors have a reduced agonist affinity.
Design and implementation of a robot control system using a unified hardware-software rapid-prototyping framework

The application of a unified framework for the rapid prototyping of hardware and software for application-specific systems to the development of a real-time multisensor robot control system is described. The key features of the computer-aided system design methodology offered by this framework are exemplified through this system. The system controls, in real-time, a six-degree-of-freedom articulated robot arm using position, force and proximity sensing. Another key aspect of the robot control system is the extensive use of special-purpose dedicated hardware, which provides better performance than systems that are largely based on general-purpose computers. >
Program comprehension during software maintenance and evolution

Code cognition models examine how programmers understand program code. The authors survey the current knowledge in this area by comparing six program comprehension models: the Letovsky (1986) model; the Shneiderman and Mayer (1979) model; the Brooks (1983) model; Soloway, Adelson and Ehrlich's (1988) top-down model; Pennington's (1987) bottom-up model; and the integrated metamodel of von Mayrhauser and Vans (1994). While these general models can foster a complete understanding of a piece of code, they may not always apply to specialized tasks that more efficiently employ strategies geared toward partial understanding. We identify open questions, particularly considering the maintenance and evolution of large-scale code. These questions relate to the scalability of existing experimental results with small programs, the validity and credibility of results based on experimental procedures, and the challenges of data availability. >
The use of virtual worlds and animated personas to improve healthcare knowledge and self-care behavior: the case of the heart-sense game

The goal of this project is to determine whether a computer based training game (HEART-SENSE) can improve recognition of heart attack symptoms and shift behavioral issues so as to reduce pre-hospitalization delay in seeking treatment and thereby reduce myocardial infarction mortality and morbidity. In Phase I we created and evaluated a prototype virtual village in which users encounter and help convince synthetic personas to deal appropriately with a variety of heart attack scenarios and delay issues. Innovations made here are: (1) a design for a generic simulator package for promoting health behavior shifts, and (2) algorithms for animated pedagogical agents to reason about how their emotional state ties to patient condition and user progress. Initial results show that users of the game exhibit a significant shift in intention to call 911 and avoid delay, that multi-media versions of the game foster vividness and memory retention as well as a better understanding of both symptoms and of the need to manage time during a heart attack event. Also, results provide insight into areas where emotive pedagogical agents help and hinder user performance. Finally, we conclude with next steps that will help improve the game and the field of pedagogical agents and tools for simulated worlds for healthcare education and promotion.
Successful resection of a primary cardiac fibroma in a neonate: report of a case

During the fetal-neonatal period, a primary cardiac tumor may be completely asymptomatic and such tumors may be incidentally discovered by echocardiography. A four-hour-old male was diagnosed to have a cardiac tumor by post-natal echocardiography and was observed closely. Surgery was indicated immediately at the 3 week follow-up examination when the tumor was found to have obstructed the right ventricle outflow. The tumor was resected successfully and its histopathology indicated that it was a fibroma. Follow-up echocardiograms and magnetic resonance imaging 5 months postoperatively demonstrated no evidence of any remaining tumor and his RV function was good.
TGFβ3 signaling activates transcription of the LEF1 gene to induce epithelial mesenchymal transformation during mouse palate development

Epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of the medial edge epithelial (MEE) seam creates palatal confluence. This work aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which TGFbeta3 brings about palatal seam EMT. We collected mRNA for PCR analysis from individual transforming MEE cells by laser microdissection techniques and demonstrated that TGFbeta3 stimulates lymphoid-enhancing factor 1 (LEF1) mRNA synthesis in MEE cells. We show with antisense beta-catenin oligonucleotides that up-regulated LEF1 is not activated by beta-catenin in palate EMT. We ruled out other TGFbeta3 targets, such as RhoA and MEK1/2 pathways, and we present evidence using dominant-negative Smad4 and dominant-negative LEF1 showing that TGFbeta3 uses Smads both to up-regulate synthesis of LEF1 and to activate LEF1 transcription during induction of palatal EMT. When phospho-Smad2 and Smad4 are present in the nucleus, LEF1 is activated without beta-catenin. Our paper is the first to show that the Smad2,4/LEF1 complex replaces beta-catenin/LEF1 during activation of EMT in vivo by TGFbeta3.
Characterization of the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans strains in an insect model.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes disease in immunocompromised individuals, especially in HIV+/AIDS patients, and organ transplant recipients. Patients who present with crypt...
Review: The Architect’s Library: Notable Books on Architectural Themes in the Vassar College Library

The Architect’s Library: Notable Books on Architectural Themes in the Vassar College Library Vassar College Library and Art Center 21 January–15 June 2014 Over the past several years a combination of serendipitous discoveries and systematic searching has revealed that Vassar College has an extraordinary collection of rare architectural books from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries. It includes early editions of canonical works by Vignola, Alberti, Palladio, Piranesi, and other Italian Renaissance and baroque architects, theorists, and printmakers; a rich collection of titles from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, including a full set on the Gothic Revival with the major works of Augustus Pugin (Figure 1), John Ruskin, William Morris, Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, and many other lesser-known figures; nineteenth-century American treatises and pattern books, including works on domestic and landscape architecture by A. J. Downing, Catharine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe, Calvert Vaux, and Gervase Wheeler; and a wealth of original editions of canonical works of the modern movement, including books by Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Walter Gropius, among many others. This unusually rich collection derives from a series of donations going back to those of the college’s founder, Matthew Vassar, and extending through the gifts of Professor John McAndrew, who taught at Vassar from 1931 to 1937 before becoming director of the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art. This exhibition displayed …
Metabolism and Role of Phosphatidylinositol in Acetylcholinestimulated Membrane Function

I should like to discuss some of the work from this laboratory on the nature and function of stimulus-induced changes in phosphatidylinositol metabolism. Such changes have long been known to occur in many types of cells in response to stimulation by some neurotransmitters, hormones, and various other agents. In the early work, the changes were characterized as an increased turnover of the hydrophilic part of the phosphatidylinositol moleculephosphate and inositol — without a concomitant increase in the turnover of the hydrophobic, diglyceride part of the molecule. Tissues which show such a response include, among others, neural tissue and some exocrine and endocrine glands.