cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combinatorial decompositions of a class of rings

In this paper we introduce some combinatorial methods for the study of graded rings and use these methods to analyze a class of rings that are of importance in combinatorics. Our methods are based on a “unique representation theorem” which is shown (Section 2) to hold for any graded algebra and which in a sense is an extension of the direct sum decomposition for Cohen-Macaulay algebras. This unique representation is reminiscent of a similar result obtained by Rees [20]. Both results yield a decomposition of the algebra. However, our result differs from that of Rees in that it carries more information about the algebra. Our main results are concerned with a class of rings (see Section 3 for the definition) associated to simplicial complexes. There are several natural operations that can be performed on simplicial complexes to obtain new complexes which in turn have an interpretation for the corresponding rings. We show (Sections 4, 5, and 6) that our basic decompositions can be transferred during these operations from the original rings to the newly constructed ones. The operations studied here are: the chain transform or barycentric subdivision (Section 4), rank-selection both for partially ordered sets and for simplicial complexes (Section S), and localization (Section 6). As we develop these tools we give some applications. In Section 5 we give a new topological characterization of the Cohen-Macaulay property for partially ordered sets, an immediate consequence of which is the RankSelection Theorem (Baclawski [2]). This characterization is closely related to those obtained by Garsia in [14].
Three-generation attachment: How grandmothers and mothers contribute to children's attachment security

Infant attachment is influenced by the mother's responsiveness, which is, in turn, thought to be based on her own history of attachment. When a single mother lives with her own mother, the child's grandmother may influence the child's attachment not only indirectly through the mother's attachment history but also directly through the grandmother's involvement in caregiving and through the grandmother-mother relationship. As part of an Early Head Start study, 57 single mothers and 21 coresident grandmothers reported their adult attachment style at program enrollment. Mothers' parenting behaviors were observed at 14 and 24 months, and children's secure base behavior was reported by their mothers at 10, 14, and 18 months. Grandmothers' and mothers' security scores were related to children's security but in different directions. Because results suggest the importance of context in understanding intergenerational processes, a follow-up qualitative study was conducted when children were seven to eight years old...
The Gene Discovery Page: a helping hand for sequence analysis

The purpose of The Gene Discovery Page is to serve as a desktop area providing easy access to a variety of sequence analysis tools. It organizes these tools in a coherent and stepwise fashion, providing one of the many strategies that can lead to gene discovery. This page helps to answer questions such as: `Does a particular DNA sequence code for a protein and what might the function be?' or `Is there a protein in organism A homologous to protein X of organism B?' All tools included display their results directly on the WWW browser, providing continuity and immediacy in sequence data analysis. The Gene Discovery Page is updated regularly with new tools as they appear.
Chronic effect of pneumoperitoneum on renal histology.

ABSTRACT Background and Objective: Transient intraoperative oliguria is a constant phenomenon during laparoscopic procedures. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that this effect is secondary to a...
U.S. experiences with racial and ethnic profiling: history, current issues, and the future

The issue of racial and ethnic bias in policing has been the focus of legal and criminal justice scholarship, court action, and public debate in the U.S. for a number of years. The issue has also been prominent in criminal justice scholarship, public discussion, and policy making in other countries, particularly the U.K., for an even longer period. This article surveys the history of the issue in the U.S. and attempts to give scholars and policy makers the benefit of the insights gained through the U.S. experience in handling the issue. Among these are the importance of the empirical question of the “hit rate” and how police use of race or ethnicity as a criterion changes it, and the difficulties of dealing with the thorny benchmarking issue. The article also discusses how advocates in the U.S. have attempted to meet and overcome arguments that police and their supporters have made in an attempt to minimize the problem or justify doing little or nothing about it.
Resurrection as Insurrection: Potential Space and the Subversion of Political Totalities

In this article, I depict the shared belief in resurrection as subversive vis-a-vis political totalities. More particularly, I argue that the idea of resurrection as insurrection emerges against the background of the political realities of the Roman Empire and its diverse tools for controlling people through public spectacles of terror that heighten fear, helplessness, and indifference, thwarting motivations for resistance and insurrection. From this context, resurrection reveals a present-future possibility of an embodied care, hope, and freedom in spite of and not subject to principalities that aim to subjugate bodies and minds. Given this idea of resurrection, I use an emended version of Winnicott’s (1953, 1967, 1971) concept of potential space and Arendt’s (1958) space of appearances to portray the interpersonal and psychosocial dynamics that make it possible for people to retain care, hope, and freedom in resisting and subverting the political totalities that undermine each.
Long-time molecular diffusion, sedimentation and Taylor dispersion of a fluctuating cluster of interacting Brownian particles

Generalized Taylor dispersion theory, incorporating so-called coupling effects, is used to calculate the transport properties of a single deformable ‘chain’ composed of hydrodynamically interacting rigid Brownian particles bound together by internal potentials and moving through an unbounded quiescent viscous fluid. The individual rigid particles comprising the flexible chain or cluster may each be of arbitrary shape, size and density, and are supposed ‘joined’ together to form the chain by a configuration-dependent internal potential V. Each particle separately undergoes translational and rotational Brownian motions; together, their relative motions give rise to a conformational or vibrational Brownian motion of the chain (in addition to a translational motion of the chain as a whole). Sufficient time is allowed for all accessible chain configurations to be sampled many times in consequence of this internal Brownian motion. As a result, an internal equilibrium Boltzmann probabilistic distribution of conformations derived from V effectively obtains.In contrast with prior analyses of such chain transport phenomena, no ad hoc preaveraging hypotheses are invoked to effect the averaging of the input conformation-specific hydrodynamic mobility data. Rather, the calculation is effected rigorously within the usual (quasi-static) context of configuration-specific Stokes-Einstein equations.Explicit numerical calculations serving to illustrate the general scheme are performed only for the simplest case, namely dumb-bells composed of identically sized spheres connected by a slack tether. In this context it is pointed out that prior calculations of flexible-body transport phenomena have failed to explicitly recognize the existence of a Taylor dispersion contribution to the long-time diffusivity of sedimenting deformable bodies. This fluctuation phenomenon is compounded of shape-sedimentation dispersion (arising as a consequence of the intrinsic geometrical anisotropy of the object) and size-sedimentation dispersion (arising from fluctuations in the instantaneous ‘size’ of the object). Whereas shape dispersion exists even for rigid objects, size dispersion is manifested only by flexible bodies. These two Taylor dispersion mechanisms are relevant to interpreting the non-equilibrium sedimentation-diffusion properties of monodisperse polymer molecules in solutions or suspensions.
Quantitative analysis of two dinor urinary metabolites of prostaglandin I2.

Abstract The synthesis of deuterium- and tritium-labeled analogs of 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α and of 6,15-diketo-13,14-dihydro-2,3-dinor-prostaglandin F 1α is described. These analogs were used as internal standards in the assay of the corresponding unlabeled metabolites in human urine by stable isotope dilution and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In male subjects the 24-h urinary excretion of the two metabolites was found to be 719 ± 264 and 314 ± 115 ng, respectively. The method offers a noninvasive approach to the study of prostaglandin I 2 synthesis in man.
Temperature and Surfactant Dependence of Accumulation of 4-Aminoantipyrine and Ethanol in Fish

The accumulation of 4-aminoantipyrine and ethanol by goldfish placed in solutions of the drugs was determined from 10 to 35° in the presence and absence of 0.01% polysorbate 80. The volume of distribution of ethanol, 0.68 ml/g of fish, was not affected by surfactant or temperature. The volume of distribution of 4-aminoantipyrine also was not affected by surfactant, but it increased linearly from 0.43 to 0.76 ml/g over 10–35°. The clearance constants for the absorption of both drugs were temperature sensitive. The clearance constant for 4-ami- noantipyrine, 11.6 μ1/min/g of fish at 20°, conformed to the Arrhenius equation; the activation energy was 12.9 kcal/mole, indicating that 4- aminoantipyrine absorption was probably membrane controlled. Polysorbate 80 increased the clearance constant of 4-aminoantipyrine, and the increase occurred at a measurable rate rather than instantaneously. The clearance constant for ethanol, 46.5 μl/tnin/g at 20°, was not described by the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy appeared to decrease with increasing temperature, perhaps reflecting a change in the rate-limiting barrier to absorption from the membrane to the aqueous stagnant layer. Alternatively, the ethanol absorption rate may have been limited by blood flow to the absorbing surface. The ethanol absorption rate was not affected by polysorbate 80.
Isolation, Structure, and Synthesis of Margaspidin, a New Dryopteris Phloroglucinol Derivative

Investigation of Dryopteris marginalis has resulted in the isolation of a new phloroglucinol derivative, m.p. 178–180°, designated margaspidin. Characterization studies have indicated that it is a two-ring compound consisting of butyryl-3-methylphloroglucinol (II) and aspidinol (V) linked by a methylene bridge (I). The structure (I) has been confirmed by synthesis. Six other phloroglucinol derivatives have been identified and four of them isolated in pure form. These compounds are albaspidin, desaspidin, flavaspidic acid, para -aspidin, phloraspin, and phloraspidinol, of which the first three have been chromatographically detected by previous workers. Margaspidin has been found to be the major compound in D. marginalis extracts, the content being about ten times higher than that of the other phloroglucinol derivatives present in this Dryopteris species.
Low‐dose continuous oral melphalan for the treatment of primary systemic (AL) amyloidosis

Median survival of patients with AL amyloidosis with clinically significant cardiac involvement is 5 months when treated with cyclic melphalan and prednisone. We investigated a regimen of continuous oral melphalan as a single agent for patients with cardiac amyloidosis who were unable to tolerate prednisone or more aggressive chemotherapy. Thirty patients with amyloid cardiomyopathy were treated with continuous oral melphalan. Seven of 13 patients, evaluable after 3-4 months of treatment, achieved a partial haematological response and three achieved a complete haematological response; six patients have survived for > 1 year. This regimen appeared to be effective in inducing haematological responses in patients who received total doses of melphalan > 300 mg.
Lipopolysaccharide and cyclic AMP regulation of CB2 cannabinoid receptor levels in rat brain and mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages

Abstract CB 2 cannabinoid receptors exist in immune cells including macrophages. Affinity-purified antibodies against the CB 2 receptor identified a 45 kDa protein in rat brain, human tonsil and rat and mouse microglia, but not mouse N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells. Intracerebroventricular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased immunoreactive CB 2 receptors in brain membranes detected by Western blot. LPS increased immunodetectable CB 2 receptors in cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages, and this was partially attenuated by cyclohexamide or the protein kinase A and C inhibitors H8 and bis-indolylmaleimide. Forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased CB 2 receptor immunoreactivity, suggesting the involvement of the cyclic AMP–protein kinase A–Cyclic AMP response element pathway in the regulation of CB 2 receptor levels.
The chemical modification of necrogenic and proteolytic activities of venom and the use of EDTA to produce Agkistrodon piscivorus, a venom toxoid

Abstract Venom treated with EDTA loses its ability to produce intradermal necrosis. EDTA treated venom is capable of stimulating the production of antibodies which reacts with and neutralizes the toxins of untreated venom. Neither sodium bicarbonate nor phosphate reverses the EDTA inhibition of proteolytic enzymes of Agkistrodon piscivorus venom.
Quantitative data for precision, closed-die, forging : Internal deformations and computer simulations

Abstract This paper presents a quantitative experimental study of the internal deformations generated during a precision closed-die (PCD), isothermal, forging. The purpose of the study is to obtain statistically meaningful data so that accuracy tests can be conducted for different forging-simulation programs. A circular bar (25.4 mm diameter) of tin/lead eutectic solder is used for the billet, and the closed-die cross-section is an ‘H’ shape. Vertical arrays of tracer particles, aligned in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece, permit the internal deformations to be measured. The initial radial locations are measured to be within the desired location with a coefficient-of-variation of only 1.96%, and the bottom location of the vertical tracer-array is controlled to be within ±0.15% of the top location. The standard deviation for all internal displacements is 0.233 mm for the radial position, 0.157 mm for the vertical position, and sources of these deviations are discussed. One set of simulations with one FEM computer model, ALPID-v2.1 for rigid-thermoviscoplastic behavior, is conducted and compared with the data. Parametric sensitivity studies are also done, and various reasons for discrepancies are discussed. One major reason appears to be that the frictional behavior changes with both surface location and reductions-in-height of the billet, contrary to the simulation's assumed constant value. Also, if no rezoning is done, ultra-small, equisized-elements appear to be required for the simulation of both the PCD forging and the upset calibration-test.
Analysis of coating on glass fiber reinforcements

Several commercially available glass fiber reinforcements were analyzed to determine the amounts (“loadings”) and types of coatings applied by their manufactures. Loadings were determined by solvent extraction and pyrolysis and ranged from 0.54 to 4.22 weight percent with the heaviest amounts on random mats and the least amounts on rovings intended for filament winding and weaving. The major components of the solvent-extracted coatings were identified by infrared (IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. All of the coatings analyzed could be sorted into three classes of coatings which matched the matrix types recommended by the glass manufacturers. In each case, the coating consisted primarily of a mixture of two separate materials, designated as the “unreacted resin” and the “lubricant”.
Directly modulated semiconductor-laser-fed photonic delay line with ferroelectric liquid crystals

A 3-bit binary photonic delay line is demonstrated at 1 GHz by use of a directly modulated semiconductor laser and remote interconnection fiber optics. Three types of free-space delay-bit geometries are tested for 5.69-ns, 1.67-ns, and 8.8-ps designed delay bits. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that a photonic delay line is demonstrated with ferroelectric liquid-crystal optical on-off devices for optical path switching and active polarization noise filtering. Three-dimensional imaging optics and antireflection-coated optics (for all but five components) are used successfully to minimize photonic delay-line insertion losses and interchannel cross talk. The 3-bit system is fully characterized for measured and designed performance.
Oral Lichenoid Drug Eruption: A Report of a Pediatric Case and Review of the Literature

: Lichenoid drug eruptions are seen most frequently on the skin and seldomly affect the mucosal surfaces. Oral involvement—known as oral lichenoid drug eruption—is more common in the adult population and has been associated with numerous medications. Pediatric-onset oral lichenoid drug eruption is an exceptionally rare finding with only isolated cases published in the literature. The nonspecific appearance and latent presentation of pediatric oral lichenoid drug eruption can cause confusion in diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of oral lichenoid drug eruption occurring in a 15-year-old and explore challenges in the clinical and histologic recognition of this condition.
Discovery of a new function of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2: COX-2 is a cardioprotective protein that alleviates ischemia/reperfusion injury and mediates the late phase of preconditioning

More than 10 years after its discovery, the function of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the cardiovascular system remains largely an enigma. Many scholars have assumed that the allegedly detrimental effects of COX-2 in other systems (e.g. proinflammatory actions and tumorigenesis) signify a detrimental role of this protein in cardiovascular homeostasis as well. This view, however, is ill-founded. Recent studies have demonstrated that ischemic preconditioning (PC) upregulates the expression and activity of COX-2 in the heart, and that this increase in COX-2 activity mediates the protective effects of the late phase of PC against both myocardial stunning and myocardial infarction. An obligatory role of COX-2 has been observed in the setting of late PC induced not only by ischemia but also by delta-opioid agonists and physical exercise, supporting the view that the recruitment of this protein is a central mechanism whereby the heart protects itself from ischemia. The beneficial actions of COX-2 appear to be mediated by the synthesis of PGE(2) and/or PGI(2). Since inhibition of iNOS in preconditioned myocardium blocks COX-2 activity whereas inhibition of COX-2 does not affect iNOS activity, COX-2 appears to be downstream of iNOS in the protective pathway of late PC. The results of these studies challenge the widely accepted paradigm that views COX-2 activity as detrimental. The discovery that COX-2 plays an indispensable role in the anti-stunning and anti-infarct effects of late PC demonstrates that the recruitment of this protein is a fundamental mechanism whereby the heart adapts to stress, thereby revealing a novel, hitherto unappreciated cardioprotective function of COX-2. From a practical standpoint, the recognition that COX-2 is an obligatory co-mediator (together with iNOS) of the protection afforded by late PC has implications for the clinical use of COX-2 selective inhibitors as well as nonselective COX inhibitors. For example, the possibility that inhibition of COX-2 activity may augment myocardial cell death by obliterating the innate defensive response of the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury needs to be considered and is the object of much current debate. Furthermore, the concept that the COX-2 byproducts, PGE(2) and/or PGI(2), play a necessary role in late PC provides a basis for novel therapeutic strategies designed to enhance the biosynthesis of these cytoprotective prostanoids in the ischemic myocardium. From a conceptual standpoint, the COX-2 hypothesis of late PC expands our understanding of the function of this enzyme in the cardiovascular system and impels a critical reassessment of current thinking regarding the biologic significance of COX-2.
Density of Helicobacter pylori Infection In Vivo as Assessed by Quantitative Culture and Histology

Helicobacter pylori density was assessed by quantitative culture and histologic examination of gastric biopsy specimens from 29 H. pylori-infected dyspeptic patients. Density was correlated with cagA and vacA genotypes (assessed by polymerase chain reaction and colony hybridization), gastric inflammation and epithelial injury (assessed histologically), and peptic ulceration. Quantitative culture was more reproducible than histology, and antral density was more reproducible than corpus density. Mean antral density of cagA + /vacA s1 strains was 4-fold higher than that of cagA - /vacA s2 strains (1.9 X 10 6 vs. 4.5 X 10 5 cfu/g, P =.02). Antral density was associated with mucosal neutrophilic and lymphocytic infiltration (P <.01) and with epithelial injury (P <.05). Mean antral bacterial density was 5-fold higher in duodenal ulcer patients than in others (P =.005). In conclusion, H. pylori density in vivo is easily quantified and is associated with bacterial virulence determinants, gastric inflammation, and duodenal ulceration, suggesting a central role in pathogenesis.
A tunable microlens with 0.9 mm scan range and small lateral shift

We report an electrothermally-actuated microlens scanner suitable for biomedical imaging applications. Large vertical actuation range of ∼0.9 mm with small lateral shift (≪ 7 µm) and tilting (≪ 0.38°) is demonstrated for assembled glass lenses.
Novel electroactive polymer system: PVDF-based polymer blends

In this paper, we report a new electroactive polymer system, blends of P(VDF-TrFE) and P(VDF-CTFE). The thermal transition behavior and crystalline structure of the polymer blends were studied using the DSC and X-ray diffraction. The optimized thermal treating condition and composition for the blends were identified to have homogeneous materials. In order to find blends with high electromechanical performance, the maximum polarization level and the ratio of maximum polarization to remnant polarization are employed as key parameters to optimize the composition and process. Uniaxially stretching technique was employed to modify the morphology of the polymer blends and to enhance the electromechanical performance. The phase transition behavior can be significantly modified using thermal treating condition. In a stretched polymer blend, a polarization level about 60 mC/m2 at external electric field of 150 V/μm was obtained with a small remnant polarization, less than 10 mC/m2. This is very attractive for electromechanical applications.
Pion scattering by 3He and 3H

Abstract Elastic π-3H and π-3He scattering has been suggested as a highly sensitive probe of small nuclear wave function components. More detailed calculations considerably reduce this sensitivity.
The molecular basis of ultrasonic absorption by proteins.

This article reviews significant advances in understanding the basis for the magnitude of ultrasonic absorption in proteins and related biological materials. Carstensen and Schwan's accurate and extensive measurements on blood and hemoglobin solutions provided the initial experimental data; these were augmented by data from measurements on aqueous solutions of gelatin, bovine serum albumin, lysozyme, various polypeptides, and amino acids. The initial frequency range of 1-10 MHz was expanded to 0.035-1000 MHz; temperature and pH dependences of absorption were studied. Theoretical approaches included consideration of the relative motion of blood cells in plasma, perturbation of water structure around macromolecules, solvation of charged entities, proton-transfer reactions, and helix-coil transitions. Proton-transfer reactions between amino and carboxylic groups and water proved to be largely responsible for the observed peaks in pH dependence of absorption coefficient; the peaks occurred in the basic and acidic regions corresponding to the pKs for titration of these groups. Such reactions could not account for the magnitude of absorption at physiological pH because only histidine titrated in this range. Extensive analysis, using relaxation theory, and measurements have shown that the proton transfer reaction between the imidazole group of histidine and hydrogen phosphate ion (in solution) provides sufficient volume change formore » significant ultrasonic absorption at physiological pH. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment was found with the peptide bacitracin in phosphate buffer solutions. By generalizing these results to the case of a protein, Slutsky wt al estimated maximum values of frequency-dependent absorption coefficients for typical tissue and found them to be correct to order of magnitude.« less
Seating arrangements that promote positive academic and behavioural outcomes: a review of empirical research

Seating arrangements are important classroom setting events because they have the potential to help prevent problem behaviours that decrease student attention and diminish available instructional time. The purpose of this synthesis of empirical literature is to determine which arrangements of desks best facilitate positive academic and behavioural outcomes for primary through secondary high school students with a range of characteristics. Eight studies that investigated at least two of three common arrangements (i.e., rows, groups or semi-circles) were considered. Results indicate that teachers should let the nature of the task dictate seating arrangements. Evidence supports the idea that students display higher levels of appropriate behaviour during individual tasks when they are seated in rows, with disruptive students benefiting the most.
Live, Attenuated Influenza A/England/42/72 (H3N2) Virus Vaccine: A Field Trial

Two doses of a live, attentuated influenza A/England/42/72 (H3N2) vaccine virus (inhibitor-insensitive Alice strain) were administered intranasally to 130 university students, and placebo was given to 134 students. Fourfold or greater rises in titer of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody occurred in 68% of all vaccine recipients and in 88% of those with initial titers of less than 1:8; the geometric mean titer of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody increased from 1:15 to 1:77. A 3.2-fold rise in titer of neuraminidase-inhibiting antibody occurred in 24% of the students. Side effects produced by administration of the vaccine include mild rhinitis and sore throat, which were found only during the first four days after administration of the first dose. Inhibitor-insensitive virus was shed only by three of 31 intensively studied vaccine recipients; these three subjects all had initial serum titers of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody of less than 1:8. No transmission of vaccine virus to spouses was detected. During a 12-month interval after vaccination, the geometric mean titer of hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody in serum and the prevalence of antibody decreased minimally among the 47 vaccine recipients still available for study.
Culture and Contact: Charles C. Di Peso's Gran Chichimeca, edited by Anne I. Woosley and John C. Ravesloot. Foreword by Anne I. Woosley and Allan J. McIntyre. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 1993

This volume contains 11 papers from the October 1988 seminar, held at the Amerind Foundation, to assess Charles Di Peso's (1920- 1962) contributions to American archaeology and particularly to the issues of Mesoamerican-Southwestern interaction and the role of Casas Grandes (Paquime) in that interaction. Two additional papers (Emanuel Breitburg's and Ben Nelson's) were solicited later and are included herein.
Ggas A Family of Adp Ribosylation Factor-Binding Proteins Related to Adaptors and Associated with the Golgi Complex

Formation of intracellular transport intermediates and selection of cargo molecules are mediated by protein coats associated with the cytosolic face of membranes. Here, we describe a novel family of ubiquitous coat proteins termed GGAs, which includes three members in humans and two in yeast. GGAs have a modular structure consisting of a VHS domain, a region of homology termed GAT, a linker segment, and a region with homology to the ear domain of gamma-adaptins. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed colocalization of GGAs with Golgi markers, whereas immunoelectron microscopy of GGA3 revealed its presence on coated vesicles and buds in the area of the TGN. Treatment with brefeldin A or overexpression of dominant-negative ADP ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) caused dissociation of GGAs from membranes. The GAT region of GGA3 was found to: target a reporter protein to the Golgi complex; induce dissociation from membranes of ARF-regulated coats such as AP-1, AP-3, AP-4, and COPI upon overexpression; and interact with activated ARF1. Disruption of both GGA genes in yeast resulted in impaired trafficking of carboxypeptidase Y to the vacuole. These observations suggest that GGAs are components of ARF-regulated coats that mediate protein trafficking at the TGN.
Fuzzy Logic and VLSI Testing

A new application of Fuzzy logic (FL), in the context of test vector generation in VLSI testing is presented. Fuzzification of the threshold value simulation (TVS) approach and setting up of mathematical concepts are carried out in terms of a hierarchy of membership functions. The test-vectors are found by optimising a suitable membership function. The Fuzzy model besides giving a different mathematical basis, also helps in defining new and better optimising functions, thus provind its utility. The concepts outlined in this paper, though demonstrated on toy model of a circuit consisting of only AND gates, can easily be extended to circuits with other logic gates.
Attaching and effacing Escherichia coli infections in calves, pigs, lambs, and dogs.

Attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) adhere to mucosal epithelium in both small and large intestine and induce a distinctive lesion characterized by an irregular scalloped appearance of the epithelial layer. Infection with attaching and effacing E. coli was detected in 14 calves, 7 pigs, 2 lambs, and 3 dogs. Affected animals were from farms and kennels in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Ages of affected animals were calves, 2 days to 4 months; pigs, l-6 weeks; lambs, 1 week; and dogs, 7-8 weeks. Clinical signs included diarrhea in all animals, but other nonenteric disease problems were present in some animals. Concurrent infection with other enteropathogens was detected in 9 calves and 5 pigs. Infection with AEEC appeared to be the sole cause of illness and death in some animals. There was evidence of intestinal hemorrhage in 5 of the calves and in all 3 dogs. Attaching and effacing lesions varied from small scattered foci to widespread involvement of large areas of intestinal mucosa. Verotoxin was produced by E. coli strains isolated from 9 calves, but not by strains from pigs, lambs, or dogs. Escherichia coli is normally present in the intestine of warm-blooded animals and humans. Although pres- ent in lesser numbers than the obligate anaerobes, this gram-negative bacillus is the predominant facultative anaerobe in the normal intestine. 8,25 Most of these E. coli are nonpathogenic, but some strains induce enteric disease through virulence factors plasmid-mediated. Pathogenic stra tha ins
Survey of characterization and metrology for nanoelectronics

Advances in process technology enable high volume manufacture of integrated circuits with nano-scale transistor and interconnect technology. This fabrication capability results in the availability of a great range of nano-scale materials and structures such as nano-tubes, thin films, nano-dots, and nanowires. Many of these materials are under consideration as the material for beyond CMOS switches. There are two themes emphasized in this paper. First, materials exhibit new phenomena such as quantum confinement at nano-scale dimensions. Measurements not only observe these phenomena, determination of the dimensions of nanoscale materials requires understanding of these phenomena. Second, simulation and modeling at nano-scale dimensions is critical to both device operation and metrology. This extended abstract reviews the materials characterization and metrology methods necessary for measuring materials properties. This abstract covers several of the many measurement methods necessary for nanoscale characterization and metrology.
Intracerebral haemorrhage: mechanisms of injury and therapeutic targets

Summary Intracerebral haemorrhage accounts for about 10–15% of all strokes and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. No successful phase 3 clinical trials for this disorder have been completed. In the past 6 years, the number of preclinical and clinical studies focused on intracerebral haemorrhage has risen. Important advances have been made in animal models of this disorder and in our understanding of mechanisms underlying brain injury after haemorrhage. Several therapeutic targets have subsequently been identified that are now being pursued in clinical trials. Many clinical trials have been based on limited preclinical data, and guidelines to justify taking preclinical results to the clinic are needed.
An interaction between type 1 and type 2 programmed cell death and clonogenic survival.

Abstract We suggest two additional reasons why current, non-surgical therapies for most solid, epithelial-derived cancers can lack effectiveness. Studies with panc-1 human pancreatic cancer cells cultured with actinomycin D and/or MK 886 indicate firstly, that type 2 (intrinsic, autophagic, mitochondrial-dependent, MK 886-induced) programmed cell death is less effective than the type 1 (apoptotic, extrinsic, ligand-dependent, actinomycin D-induced) form in reducing the number of residual clonogenic cells, and secondly, that activation of cellular suicide during their combined culture results in a greater number of residual clonogenic cells compared with either agent alone. Hypothesis. Based on results from the culture of panc-1 cells with MK 886 and/or actinomycin D, we suggest that in this system, and possibly in others: (a) type 2 programmed cell death is a less effective inhibitor of residual cells with clonogenic potential, and (b) activation together of both forms of PCD increases the number of residual clonogenic cells.
Re-entrant supraventricular tachycardia in infancy: current role of prophylactic digoxin treatment

Re-entrant supraventricular tachycardia is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in infancy. Pharmacological prevention of recurrencies is a standard recommendation for infants less than 1 year of age. In view of the often benign spontaneous clinical course of the disease, the risk-benefit analysis of any antiarrhythmic agent given is important. It was the aim of this retrospective study, to assess the value of oral long-term digoxin given to paediatric patients with supraventricular tachycardia with onset in the first 4 months of life. Twenty-six newborns and infants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median age at first presentation of the patients was 7 days. Eight patients (31%) had structural heart disease, 9 patients had a pre-excitation syndrome, and the other 17 children had a concealed accessory atrioventricular pathway. Long-term prophylaxis with oral digoxin was considered successful in 17 children (65%). In 2 patients therapy with digoxin was considered partially effective and in 7 patients (27%) failure of digoxin to improve symptoms led to the introduction of other anti-arrhythmic agents. Serum digoxin levels were no different in the patients with successful therapy as compared to those with treatment failure. No side-effects due to digoxin were noted in all the patients treated. After a mean followup of 54 months (12–130 months), 19 children (73%) were free of recurrencies and on no medication, 5 children were free of recurrencies but had anti-arrhythmic therapy. Only 2 patients, both on anti-arrhythmic therapy, were still suffering from tachycardia. Conclusion Digoxin remains an effective treatment option in infants with supraventricular tachycardia and it helped to avoid the long-term use of other anti-arrhythmic drugs with potentially more serious side-effects (pro-arrhythmia) in a considerable proportion of infants treated.
Neurochemical and behavioral analyses of the lateral hypothalamic syndrome: A look back

Philip Teitelbaum is one of the great physiological psychologists of his generation. His early research clarified key issues regarding the effects of electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial or ventrolateral hypothalamus on food intake in rats, a subject of paramount interest during the 1950s and 1960s. Perhaps best known were his extensive studies of the lateral hypothalamic syndrome in rats, which focused on the complex and changing array of symptoms after experimental brain damage. It soon became clear from later work that his research interests were not in the brain's control of food intake but in the effects of lesions to fragment behavior and thereby allow investigators to view its components. He was the foremost proponent of the use of exquisite behavioral analysis to reveal details in movement that allowed insights into brain function, and that approach - old fashioned physiological psychology made modern and at its finest - has infiltrated the entire field of experimental psychology, including studies of ingestive behavior, even while the new field of behavioral neuroscience emerged. He extended his analytic approach to neurological issues such as autism in humans, a promising arena that fully occupied his attention during the later phases of his career. But his influence on his scientific colleagues went well beyond his careful and powerful thinking; his articles and books have been models of clarity and concision. I write in behalf of a grateful field to salute his many great contributions.
Experimental Distemper in the Gnotobiotic Dog

Distemper was produced experimentally in 12 gnotobiotic dogs with the Snyder Hill and Lederle strains of virus. Eight gnotobiotic dogs served as uninoculated controls. In the absence of other microorganisms, the only signs of disease were mild transient fever and leukopenia. The only macroscopic lesion was severe atrophy of the thymus. Microscopically all the lymphoid tissues underwent lymphoid depletion and reticular cell hyperplasia. Lesions appeared in the brain eight days after inoculation. The virus caused direct neuronal degeneration in the frontal cortex, only minimal lesions in the vicinity of the fourth ventricle and no demyelination. Infrequent inclusion bodies were found in neurons and in the reticular cells of the lymphoid tissues. No lesions were found in the lungs, stomach, urinary bladder, or skin.
Reactive oxygen species and p38 phosphorylation regulate the protective effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the apoptotic response to NMDA

Abstract NMDA causes oxidative stress in neurons, and produces cell death involving elements of both necrosis and apoptosis. To examine the neuroprotective mechanism of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in NMDA-induced death of AF5 cells, we measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation after exposure to NMDA. ROS generation was increased by NMDA, and NMDA-induced ROS generation was significantly decreased by THC. Western blotting revealed an increase in phosphorylated p38 MAPK after NMDA treatment, which was also blocked by pretreatment with THC. The time course of ROS generation and activation of MAPK signaling pathways were similar. SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, partially blocked glutamate excitotoxicity in AF5 cells. The present data suggest that THC protects against NMDA-induced apoptosis in AF5 cells by blocking ROS generation and inhibiting the activation of p38-MAPK.
Delay-sensitive packet scheduling in wireless networks

We consider "opportunistic" downlink scheduling of data traffic in a wireless network. In particular, we focus on the delay performance of such schedulers. First a channel-dependent scheduling algorithm is considered that maximizes throughput by always transmitting to the user with the best channel conditions. The delay distribution of this scheduling rule is analyzed and asymptotic results are given when the number of competing users becomes large. Simulations show these asymptotic results are a good approximation for even a small number of users. This scheduling rule may result in unfair treatment of users that have relative bad channels for a long period of time; to remedy this we propose a simple utility-based scheduling algorithm. The motivation is to maximize the time-averaged utility, where utility is a decreasing function of the delay incurred when serving a request. The scheduling algorithm takes into account both the utility function and the channel state. We give simulation results that characterize the performance of the scheduling algorithm. The effect of the temporal correlation of the channel of the performance is also studied.
Dosing of 3-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for International Normalized Ratio Reversal

BACKGROUND:Three-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is commonly used for reversal of international normalized ratio (INR) in patients who are bleeding or require emergency surgery. However, there is little information regarding the optimal dosing strategy for achieving adequate INR reversal.OBJECTIVE:To determine whether patients with higher initial INR levels are less likely to achieve adequate INR reversal after receiving 3-factor PCC.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care medical center in the US. Patients who received 3-factor PCC were grouped into 2 categories based on degree of INR reversal after PCC infusion: (1) adequate reversal (final INR ≤1.5) or (2) inadequate reversal (final INR >1.5). Initial INR was compared between the 2 groups using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounders and determine predictors of adequate INR reversal.RESULTS:Fifty patients met criteria for inclusion in the final...
A fast preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm for regularized WLS reconstruction for PET

In this paper, new theory and methods for a class of preconditioners are developed for accelerating the convergence rate of iterative reconstruction. A preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) iterative algorithm for weighted least squares reconstruction (WLS) is formulated for emission tomography. A linear regularization method is adopted and shown to be equivalent to penalized WLS reconstruction with quadratic penalty functions. Using simulated positron emission tomography (PET) data of the Hoffman brain phantom, it was shown that the convergence rate of the PCG using the new preconditioner is an order-of-magnitude faster compared to the standard conjugate gradient algorithm. It is also significantly faster than previously proposed preconditioners for emission tomography.
Molecular mechanisms of resistance and toxicity associated with platinating agents.

Platinating agents, including cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin, have been used clinically for nearly thirty years as part of the treatment of many types of cancers, including head and neck, testicular, ovarian, cervical, lung, colorectal and relapsed lymphoma. The cytotoxic lesion of platinating agents is thought to be the platinum intrastrand crosslink that forms on DNA, although treatment activates a number of signal transduction pathways. Treatment with these agents is characterized by resistance, both acquired and intrinsic. This resistance can be caused by a number of cellular adaptations, including reduced uptake, inactivation by glutathione and other anti-oxidants, and increased levels of DNA repair or DNA tolerance. Here we investigate the pathways that treatment with platinating agents activate, the mechanisms of resistance, potential candidate genes involved in the development of resistance, and associated clinical toxicities. Although the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin, we have focused primarily on preclinical data that has clinical relevance generated over the past five years.
Determination of the optimal conditions for laryngeal pacing with the Itrel II implantable stimulator.

Objective: To determine the optimal stimulus paradigm, electrode orientation, and configuration of an implantable stimulator used to reanimate the posterior-cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle in case of bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP). Study Design: Acute studies were conducted on 13 canines implanted with Itrel II systems with or without PCA innervation. PCA stimulus-response characteristics were obtained by measuring stimulated vocal fold displacement endoscopically. Results: The denervated PCA was only 10% to 25% as responsive to stimulation as the innervated PCA. However, the response could be increased to 38% and 61% if the Itrel was modified to deliver 1 and 2 msec pulses, respectively. Stimuli delivered centrally to the muscle 5 mm from the median raphe improved performance. Conclusion and significance: The optimal stimulus paradigm identified in this study (1 msec pulses delivered at 30 to 40 Hz and 2 to 8.5 mA) has been applied to implanted BVFP patients and improved outcome. Information regarding optimal electrode orientation could also be important to future clinical trials. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;125:183-92.)
Differential expression of rat pancreatic islet beta-cell glucose transporter (GLUT 2), proinsulin and islet amyloid polypeptide genes after prolonged fasting, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and dexamethasone treatment.

The question posed by these studies was whether chronic adaptive changes in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion are accompanied by comparable changes in islet Betacell glucose transporter (GLUT 2) gene expression. Control, fasted (3-day), insulin-injected hypoglycaemic (5-day), and dexamethasone-treated (4-day) rats (n=5 for each condition), were studied. After fasting significant decrements in proinsulin mRNA/μg RNA (−32 %, p 0.05). After insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, decrements in proinsulin mRNA/μg RNA (−49%, p 0.05). Dexamethasone treatment resulted in a marked stimulatory effect on proinsulin mRNA/μg RNA (+236%, p 0.05). Quantitative immunoblot analysis with a GLUT 2 specific antibody revealed no change in islet GLUT 2 protein with fasting, but a small decrease (−39±11%) in islet GLUT2/μg protein after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia. These results do not support the hypothesis that chronic changes in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion are accompanied by changes in GLUT 2 expression. In contrast to the lack of correlation with GLUT 2, there was a striking correlation between proinsulin and islet amyloid polypeptide mRNAs for all experimental conditions (r=0.974, p<0.001). These results suggest common transcriptional or turnover regulatory mechanisms or both for proinsulin and islet amyloid polypeptide gene expression, which differ for GLUT 2 gene expression.
Correcting mutual coupling and isolation for a 2-D real-time microwave camera

Recently, new technologies have made it possible to produce synthetic aperture radar (SAR) based microwave images in real-time by using different microwave imaging arrays. However, depending on the imaging array construction the data of interest may be corrupted by mutual coupling and poor isolation. SAR images created from this data have an increased level of artifacts. This paper presents a method for correcting or pre-processing the data by using correlation canceling technique and provides an analysis of three different estimates of the correction. Simulation results show the efficacy of this method, which is corroborated by experiment.