cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intelligent Multibeam Transmissions for Mission-Oriented Airborne Networks

By using the multibeam smart antennas (MBSAs), the nodes can form a high-throughput wireless mesh network with concurrent packet delivery in multiple directions. In this paper, a novel medium access control (MAC) scheme is designed for multibeam airborne mesh networks. It has the following two features: First, IEEE 802.11-compatible, interference-minimized channel access via a special two-layer MAC architecture, where the upper-layer MAC supports the concurrent multibeam transmission/reception, and the lower-layer MAC takes advantage of MBSAs; second, adjustment of the parameters of the two MAC layers to support different mission priorities in airborne networks, including the allocation of time slots in the upper layer. The simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed multibeam MAC protocols.
A Three-Layer Software Structure for Games: A Game PongStruTwo

The extensions of the game Pong explore a fact that the number of sprites and their behaviors, as well as the complexity of the game could be dynamically changed during the game in execution. For example, the game Pong7 asks for two bouncing balls. What if a game asks for adding 10 or 100 sprites? We not only need new techniques but also require a stable software structure for accommodating these changes. Based on the inheritance, abstract class, abstract method, and polymorphism of OOP, a three-layer software structure is constructed as a template for developing video games in order to handle such requirements.
Pd2dba3/P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N: a highly efficient catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and N,N-diarylaminostyrenes

Abstract A Pd2dba3/P(i-BuNCH2CH2)3N catalyzed one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted trans-4-N,N-diarylaminostilbenes and both symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted N,N-diarylaminostyrene derivatives is reported. The procedure involves two or more palladium catalyzed sequential coupling reactions (an amination and an inter-molecular Heck reaction) in one-pot using the same catalyst system with two different aryl halides, including aryl chlorides and hetero aryl halides as the coupling partners.
A Central Limit Theorem for the Renormalized Self-Intersection Local Time of a Stationary Process

Let X(t), t ≥ 0, be a measurable, separable stochastic process in R m, for some m ≥ 1. Let o(x), x ∈ R m, be a probability density function such that o(x) = o(—x), and let \(\hat{\phi}(u)\) be the corresponding characteristic function. It is assumed that $$\int_{R^{m}}|\hat{\phi}(u)|du<\infty$$ .
Online Topology Inference from Streaming Stationary Graph Signals

We address the problem of online topology inference from streaming nodal observations of graph signals generated by linear diffusion dynamics on the sought graph. To that end, we leverage the stationarity of the signals and use the so-called graph-shift operator (GSO) as a matrix representation of the graph. Under this model, estimated covariance eigenvectors obtained from streaming independent graph signals diffused on the sought network are a valid estimator of the GSO’s spectral templates. We develop an ADMM algorithm to find a sparse and structurally admissible GSO given the eigenvectors estimate. Then, we propose an online scheme that upon sensing new diffused observations, efficiently updates eigenvectors (thus makes more accurate on expectation) and performs only one or a few iterations of the mentioned ADMM until the new data is observed. Numerical tests illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed topology inference approach in recovering large scale graphs, adapting to streaming information, and accommodating changes in the sought network.
Connections for change

The author, a social work educator, describes how a light bulb moment led her to recognize that professional associations need the youth, energy and enthusiasm of student involvement, and that soci...
Interindividual Diversity in Expression of Organic Anion Uptake Transporters in Normal and Cirrhotic Human Liver

The liver plays an essential role in removing endogenous and exogenous compounds from the circulation. This function is mediated by specific transporters, including members of the family of organic anion transport proteins (OATPs) and the Na+-taurocholate transporting polypeptide (NTCP). In the present study, transporter protein expression was determined in liver samples from patients with cirrhosis or controls without liver disease. Five transporters (OATP1A2, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OATP2B1, and NTCP) were studied. Transporter content in homogenates of human liver was quantified on western blots probed with transporter-specific antibodies in which a calibrated green fluorescent protein-tagged transporter standard was included. Liver samples from 21 patients with cirrhosis (hepatitis C in 17 and alcohol abuse in 4) and 17 controls without liver disease were analyzed. Expression of each of the transporters had a large spread, varying by an order of magnitude in cirrhotic and control livers. OATP1B1 was the most abundant transporter in controls (P < 0.01) but was significantly lower in cirrhotic livers as was NTCP expression (P < 0.01). There was little difference in transporter expression with respect to age or sex. Despite the large variability in transporter expression within a group, analysis in individuals showed that those with high or low expression of one transporter had a similar magnitude in expression of the others. Conclusion: Differences in transporter expression could explain unanticipated heterogeneity of drug transport and metabolism in individuals with and without liver disease.
Rogue wave statistics in (2+1) Gaussian seas I: Narrow-banded distribution

Abstract Originally discussed in the context of ocean statistics for oil rig platform decks and satellite data, spatiotemporal exceeding probability distributions have recently been thought to explain the failure of second and third-order nonlinear models of distributions at a fixed point in space. To investigate this possibility, we derive a simplified model for the (2+1) exceeding probability distribution of ocean waves based on the Gaussian random field approach, with a particular interest in rogue waves. Using standard statistical tools, we show that (2+1)) Longuet–Higgins’ distribution does not depend on the spatiotemporal scale of the ocean surface, rather on the directional spectrum and the dimensionless wave height. Moreover, we use extreme value theory Gumbel (1958)[24] to find the expected maximum wave height in (2+1) dimensions, showing that Piterbarg’s framework provides a smaller expected maximum than Adler’s approach. Unfortunately, both are known for assigning maximum heights that do not saturate when the surface area is very large. Taking into account the mean rogue wave profile, we derive a new expression for the maximum wave height that provides realistic estimates. Finally, comparing the theory for the exceeding probability and expected maximum dimensionless height with the North Alwyn data set of Stansell (2004)[47] we conclude that both (2+1) versions of Longuet-Higgins (1952, 1980)[31,34] distributions fail to provide an accurate description of both return period and maximum observed wave heights, thus undermining the argument that the error in ocean wave statistics can be cured by extending point statistics to higher-dimensions.
Chapter 15 – Historical Documents

Some of the most diverse and invaluable sources of proxy data are historical records. These data are particularly important since they deal with short-term (high-frequency) climatic fluctuations during the most recent past. In terms of the climatic future, it is this timescale and frequency domain that is often of most interest to planners and decision makers. A great deal can be learned about the probability of extreme events by reference to historical records, and this provides a more realistic perspective on the likelihood of similar events recurring in the future.
The potential impacts of early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on KSHV‐infected cells

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) causes several human cancers, including Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), which are mostly seen in immunocompromised patients such as HIV+ individuals. Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world. The risk of developing TB is dramatically higher in people living with HIV than among those without HIV infection. Case reports link cutaneous or pulmonary KS in HIV+ patients with mycobacterial co-infections, however, impacts of Mtb infection or its products on KSHV-infected cells are not known. We report here that ESAT-6, a secreted Mtb virulence factor, induces viral reactivation from KSHV-infected cells. KSHV-infected pulmonary endothelial cells were resistant to ESAT-6 induced inhibition of cell growth. Our data demonstrate that Mtb virulence factors influence the biology of KSHV-infected cells, highlighting the need to study the interactions between these two pathogens commonly found in people living with HIV. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Experimental Study of Heat Transfer Coefficient and Pressure Drop for Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and Water Inside a Microchannel

The thermo-fluidic nature of water and supercritical carbon dioxide in a microchannel is experimentally studied. A test rig and microfluidic devices are constructed to enable precise control and measurements of temperature, pressure, heat and mass fluxes.. Wall temperature measurements, heat transfer coefficients, and pressure drops for both fluids were directly measured and compared.. Flow regimes and characteristic Rynolds numbers were discussed and were related to Dittos-Boelter and Gnielinski correlations. It was found that an exponential fit better predicted the wall temperature profile obtained for supercritical CO 2 . Moreover, for conditions close to the pseudo-critical point, the correlations failed to predict the supercritical heat transfer coefficient but fit well in the gas-like supercritical CO 2 conditions. It was also found that water has a better ability to remove heat under the conditions studied in this paper with smaller pressure drop. However, for water the pressure drop was a significant portion of the operational pressure.
Ultralow Surface Resistance via Vacuum Heat Treatment of Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavities

We report on an effort to improve the performance of superconducting radiofrequency cavities by using heat treatment in a temperature range sufficient to dissociate the natural surface oxide. We find that the residual resistance is decreased significantly, and we find an unexpected reduction in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) resistance. Together these result in extremely high-quality factor values at relatively large accelerating fields ${E}_{\mathrm{acc}}$ \ensuremath{\sim} 20 MV/m: ${Q}_{0}$ = 3--4 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{11}$ at 1.5 K and ${Q}_{0}$ \ensuremath{\sim} 5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{10}$ at 2.0 K. In one cavity, measurements of surface resistance versus temperature showed an extremely small residual resistance of just 0.63 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.06 n\ensuremath{\Omega} at 16 MV/m. Secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements confirm that the oxide is dissociated significantly, but they also show the presence of nitrogen after heat treatment. We also present studies of surface oxidation via exposure to air and to water, as well as the effects of very light surface removal via HF rinse. The study is performed on 1.3 GHz cavities, but the effect may be extendable to other frequencies as well. The possibilities for applications and the planned future development are discussed.
Bridges, not walls: the hippocampus builds narrative memories across distant events

Lifes events are scattered throughout time, yet they often coalesce to form a larger narrative in memory. Prior research suggests that the hippocampus, which supports memory for past events, can sometimes integrate distant events into unified memories. However, the conditions which lead to hippocampus-dependent memory integration are unclear. Here, we used functional brain imaging to test whether the ability to form a larger narrative (narrative coherence) drives hippocampus-dependent memory integration. During encoding of fictional stories, the hippocampus supported patterns of activity, including activity at boundaries between events, which were more similar between distant events that formed one coherent narrative, compared with events taken from unrelated narratives. Twenty-four hours later, the hippocampus preferentially supported detailed recall of coherent narrative events, through reinstatement of hippocampal activity patterns from encoding. These findings reveal a key function of the hippocampus: the dynamic integration of events into a narrative structure for memory.
A profitable trading and risk management strategy despite transaction costs

We present a new profitable trading and risk management strategy with transaction cost for an adaptive equally weighted portfolio. Moreover, we implement a rule-based expert system for the daily financial decision-making process using the power of spectral analysis. We use several key components such as principal component analysis, partitioning, memory in stock markets, percentile for relative standing, the first four normalized central moments, learning algorithm, and switching among several investment positions consisting of short stock market, long stock market and money market with real risk-free rates. We find that it is possible to beat the proxy for the equity market without short selling for 168 S&P 500-listed stocks during the 1998–2008 period and 213 Russell 2000-listed stocks during the 1995–2007 period. Our Monte Carlo simulation for both the various set of stocks and the interval of time confirms our findings.
Fraction of expired oxygen: an additional safety approach to monitor oxygen delivery to the heart lung machine oxygenator:

Background:Monitoring oxygen delivery to the oxygenator of a heart lung machine (HLM) is typically accomplished with an O2 analyzer connected to the gas inflow line. It is assumed when the FiO2 is ...
Plugged In: Screen-Based Device Use Among U.S. Public School Speech-Language Pathologists and Associated Clinical Characteristics:

School-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are increasingly confronted with opportunities to use screen-based devices. In order to fully investigate how technology impacts therapeutic efficac...
Dynamics of a macrophyte-driven coastal ecotone: Underlying factors and ecological implications

Abstract Ecotones are ecological boundaries or areas of transition between ecosystems. They are sensitive indicators of global change, and studying their dynamics can be useful to predict habitat shifts and landscape transformation. The Ulva-Zostera ecotone in Elkhorn Slough (California, United States) is a good example of a transitional area between habitat-forming macrophytes in a highly eutrophic coastal system. This study focused on understanding its driving factors, spatiotemporal trends, and overall ecological implications. A combination of habitat monitoring, recruitment and transplant experiments, and sediment analysis were used to describe the ecological characteristics of the system. Ecotone dynamics were driven by seasonality of Ulva spp., its distribution across the ecotone delimited by processes affecting its early developmental stages. While water quality and light availability were not linked to abundance and distribution of Ulva spp., sediment composition likely affected macrophyte distribution and overall ecosystem structure. Remarkably, physico-chemical conditions that hinder growth and expansion of Ulva spp. occur where eelgrass (Zostera marina) is present. Understanding the processes involved in habitat boundary dynamics is important to identify stressors and anticipate change at larger scales.
The Listener Effect in Multitalker Speech Segregation and Talker Identification.

Over six decades ago, Cherry (1953) drew attention to what he called the “cocktail-party problem”; the challenge of segregating the speech of one talker from others speaking at the same time. The p...
Validation of the Haines Index predicted from real-time high-resolution MM5 forecasts using rawinsonde observations over the eastern half of the USA

The accuracy of the predicted Haines Index using the MM5 model is evaluated using rawinsonde observations. The evaluation compared predicted and observed Haines Indices during a 5-month period from 1 June to 31 October 2003 at 29 upper-air sounding sites within the modeling domain over much of the eastern half of the USA. Despite a consistent cold bias of 1–3°C in the lower to mid troposphere and a dry bias at the 850-mb and 700-mb levels in the MM5 results, little bias is found in the predicted Haines Index. This is because the temperature bias is largely cancelled in the calculation of the vertical temperature gradients used to derive the Haines Index and the dry bias is compensated by the slightly weaker instability in the model predictions. The predicted Haines Index captured the observed spatial and temporal variations of the observed index values resulting from changes in synoptic conditions. Of the 4184 total available soundings for the comparison, 45% had an exact match between the predicted and observed Haines Index categories and another 43% had a good match with the predicted and observed index differing by only one category. The rest of the 12% were cases where the predicted index fell under a category that was substantially different from the observed category, significantly raising or lowering the risk level for potentially dangerous fire behavior. Despite the general success, serious limitations exist when using the Haines Index derived from MM5 results for predicting high-risk conditions. This is because the prediction failed more than 50% of the time to capture the observed extreme cases when the observed index reached its highest possible value of 6. Although such extreme cases are rare, they represent conditions that are most conducive to dangerous and erratic fire behaviors and failure to predict these conditions may lead to serious consequences.
Microbial Transport in the Subsurface

In this article we focus on the physical, chemical, and biological processes involved in the transport of bacteria in the saturated subsurface. We will first review conceptual models of bacterial phases in the subsurface, and then the processes controlling fate and transport on short (e.g., bioremediation) time scales. Finally we briefly review field bacterial transport experiments and discuss a number of issues that impact the application of current process descriptions and models at the field scale.
Computational characterization and identification of core promoters of MicroRNA genes in C. elegans, H. sapiens and A. thaliana

MicroRNAs are short, noncoding RNAs that play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation. Although many functions of microRNAs in plants and animals have been revealed in recent years, the transcriptional mechanism of microRNA genes is not well understood. To elucidate the transcriptional regulation of microRNA genes, we study and characterize, in a genome scale, the promoters of intergenic microRNA genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, Homo sapiens and Arabidopsis thaliana. Specifically, we show that the known microRNA genes in these species have the same type of promoters as the protein-coding genes. To further characterize the promoters of miRNA genes, we develop a miRNA core promoter prediction method, called common query voting (CoVote). We applied this new method to identify putative core promoters of most known microRNA genes in the three model species of choice.
Sigma-2 receptors as a biomarker of proliferation in solid tumours.

Over the past several years, our group has provided considerable evidence that the expression of sigma-2 (σ2) receptors may serve as a biomarker of tumour cell proliferation. In these in vitro studies, σ2receptors were expressed 8–10 times more in proliferative (P) tumour cells than in quiescent (Q) tumour cells, and the extent and kinetics of their expression were independent of a number of biological, physiological and environmental factors often found in solid tumours. Moreover, the expression of σ2receptors followed both the population growth kinetics when Q-cells were recruited into the P-cell compartment and the proliferative status of human breast tumour cells treated with cytostatic concentrations of tamoxifen. However, these in vitro studies may or may not be indicative of what might occur in solid tumours. In the present study, the σ2receptor P:Q ratio was determined for the cells from subcutaneous 66 (diploid) and 67 (aneuploid) tumours grown in female nude mice. The σ2receptor P:Q ratio of the 66 tumours was 10.6 compared to the σ2receptor P:Q ratio of 9.5 measured for the 66 tissue culture model. The σ2receptor P:Q ratio of the 67 tumours was 4.5 compared to the σ2receptor P:Q ratio of ≈ 8 measured for the 67 tissue culture model. The agreement between the solid tumour and tissue culture data indicates that: (1) the expression of σ2receptors may be a reliable biomarker of the proliferative status of solid tumours and (2) radioligands with both high affinity and high selectivity for σ2receptors may have the potential to non-invasively assess the proliferative status of human solid tumours using imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography or single-photon emission computerized tomography. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign
Accuracy and Timeliness in Decision-making Organization

Abstract Two measures of performance, accuracy and timeliness of response, are introduced for information processing and decision-making organizations. Accuracy is computed by comparing the actual response of an organization to a glven task to the desired response and assigning a cost to the discrepancy. Timeliness reflects the ability of the organization to produce a response within an allotted timee determined bv the task requirements. Delays in completing a task are due both to the time required for processing information and making decisions and to the time required to effect communicnions among decisionmakers. A simple model is introduced that models transmission delays, The method is applied to two organizational structures. The accuracy - expected response time locus is constructed and the accuracy-timeliness trade-off is investigated. The workload constraints on decisionmakers are considered in evaluating the two designs.
An interdisciplinary approach to the pre-engineering curriculum

We describe the approach being used at Auburn University to design a two year, team taught, well coordinated sequence that will integrate topics in calculus and calculus based courses in the typical pre-engineering curriculum. The sequence will integrate topics normally covered in calculus, vector calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, introductory physics, and engineering courses such as statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and circuits so that transitions from the geometry and analysis of mathematics to the principles of physics to the engineering applications will appear seamless. Common ideas in mathematics, physics, and engineering will be presented with mutually supporting viewpoints in a timely and mutually reinforcing way.
Production of Macroglobulins in Vitro and a Study of Their Cellular Origin

Lymph nodes of three patients with macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom were studied in tissue culture and shown to synthesize 19S γ-globulin in vitro. Lymph node imprints, bone marrow, and buffy coat smears of the same patients consisted almost entirely of lymphocytes. When these were stained with fluorescein-conjugated antiserum to macroglobulin, large and medium-sized lymphocytes and lymphoblasts rather than mature lymphocytes or plasma cells were shown to contain the protein. It is suggested that 19S γ-globulin may also be synthesized by cells belonging to the lymphoid series under normal circumstances.
Computers and the Public's Right of Access to Government Information

Publisher Summary In the first 15 years of large-scale computerization, substantial attention has been paid to the impact of computerization on individual privacy, organizational decision-making, citizen participation in group and political life, and changing power relationships in organizational structures. Yet only in the past few years have we begun to recognize an impact of information technology equally vital to democratic societies: the effects of computer use on the public's right of access to government information. Clearly, an increasing proportion of the information that government agencies store about people, property, and transactions is today going into automated files. So many files of the executive branches of local, state, regional, and national government in the United States have been computerized that our government's client services, administrative operations, program evaluation, and management planning are now permanently embedded in computer and communication systems. Such heavy reliance on computers raises important issues in terms of government secrecy. This chapter discusses the issues of the pre-computer setting of government secrecy, and general patterns of computer usage and its organizational impact on the government. Furthermore the chapter discusses the computer impact on public access: reports from the information-holders and information-seekers, with a look at reports from the federal information-holders, and reports from the information-seekers, an analysis of the access situation, and recommendations for action.
Mechanisms of HCI-Induced lowering of intracellular pH in rabbit esophageal epithelial cells

Abstract Background: For acid injury to occur in esophageal epithelium, extracellular HCl must lower intracellular pH. Therefore, we sought to define the mechanisms for translation of low extracellular pH (pH o ) into low intracellular pH (pH i ). Methods: To define the mechanisms, primary cultures of rabbit esophageal epithelial cells were loaded with the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, 2′7″-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), which enabled pH i to be recorded by microfluorimetry. Results: Lowering pH o to 6.0 with HCl lcaused pH i to decline at 0.07–0.08 units/min and produced an average cellular H + load of 3–6 mmol/L at 1 minute and of 11 mmol/L at 5 minutes. This degree of acidification was primarily attributable to increased H + entry via a 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS)-sensitive Cl o -dependent mechanism because DIDS or exposure to Cl o -free solution blocked cell acidification. Furthermore a contribution to low pH l at low pH o of abolition of acid extrusion via Na+H+ and Na + -dependent Cl−HCO3− exchangers was sought but not established because exposure at low pH o to either 5-( N -ethyl- N -isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA) or Na + -free solution + EIPA increased the degree of acid loading over untreated cells. Conclusions: Low pH o results in low pH i in esophageal cells primarily because of increased H + entry via a DIDS-sensitive, Cl o -dependent mechanism consistent with the known acid-loading Na + -independent Cl−HCO3− exchanger.
Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies for Interdependent Systems

Vulnerability assessments are crucial in identifying and mitigating risks at a facility, community, state, regional, or national level. Traditional vulnerability assessment methodologies generally focused solely on physical security. The US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Assurance (DOE/OEA) and the US Department of Homeland Security, Office of Infrastructure Protection (DHS/IP) have developed vulnerability assessment methodologies that integrate physical security, operational security, cyber security, and interdependencies element areas together. The interdependencies element considers infrastructure dependencies, interdependencies (modeling a system of systems), and systems' effects (e.g. upstream and downstream system operations, supply chain analysis). For this article, the term interdependencies take on a more holistic and broader definition and perspective. By including the interdependencies element area, vulnerability assessments provide a broader and crosscutting perspective to assist in evaluating risk. Specific interdependencies questions are identified to help assessment teams conduct assessments. The interdependencies questions developed are also applicable to other analysis areas that benefit from broadening scope through interdependencies considerations. Keywords: infrastructure interdependencies; vulnerability assessment; risk mitigation; systems affects
Fast acquisition and sampling in MRI: Introduction to time-sequential sampling of spatio-temporal signals

Dynamic MRI is formulated as the reconstruction of a spatiotemporal signal from samples of its spatial Fourier transform in (k,t)-space. The sampling strategy, which defines the acquisition procedure, is subject to an inherent time-sequential sampling (TSS) constraint: only one sample in k-space can be acquired at any one time. We use our recently introduced TSS theory to develop adaptive minimum redundancy data acquisition and reconstruction procedures optimized for the dynamic object being imaged. The approach can produce a high temporal and spatial resolution movie of the dynamic object, with multifold reduction in acquisition rate compared to conventional methods.
Collective cell migration of smooth muscle and endothelial cells: impact of injury versus non-injury stimuli

Cell migration is a vital process for growth and repair. In vitro migration assays, utilized to study cell migration, often rely on physical scraping of a cell monolayer to induce cell migration. The physical act of scrape injury results in numerous factors stimulating cell migration – some injury-related, some solely due to gap creation and loss of contact inhibition. Eliminating the effects of cell injury would be useful to examine the relative contribution of injury versus other mechanisms to cell migration. Cell exclusion assays can tease out the effects of injury and have become a new avenue for migration studies. Here, we developed two simple non-injury techniques for cell exclusion: 1) a Pyrex® cylinder - for outward migration of cells and 2) a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) insert - for inward migration of cells. Utilizing these assays smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) migratory behavior was studied on both polystyrene and gelatin-coated surfaces. Differences in migratory behavior could be detected for both smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) when utilizing injury versus non-injury assays. SMCs migrated faster than HUVECs when stimulated by injury in the scrape wound assay, with rates of 1.26 % per hour and 1.59 % per hour on polystyrene and gelatin surfaces, respectively. The fastest overall migration took place with HUVECs on a gelatin-coated surface, with the in-growth assay, at a rate of 2.05 % per hour. The slowest migration occurred with the same conditions but on a polystyrene surface at a rate of 0.33 % per hour. For SMCs, injury is a dominating factor in migration when compared to the two cell exclusion assays, regardless of the surface tested: polystyrene or gelatin. In contrast, the migrating surface, namely gelatin, was a dominating factor for HUVEC migration, providing an increase in cell migration over the polystyrene surface. Overall, the cell exclusion assays - the in-growth and out-growth assays, provide a means to determine pure migratory behavior of cells in comparison to migration confounded by cell wounding and injury.
Prosodic cues in syntactically ambiguous strings; an interactive speech planning mechanism

The paper presents data suggesting that the clarity with which the speech signal is produced may be mediated by the presence of extra syntactic factors such as the presence of strongly biasing context. An elicited speech experiment examining prepositional phrase attachment ambiguities produced within either strongly biasing or non biasing contexts reveals that although the expected acoustic correlates of syntactic structure are consistently observed, the salience of these cues is diminished when alternate sources of disambiguating information are present for the listener. A second experiment shows that the cues are predictive with respect to listeners' interpretation of the ambiguous segments.
Factors contributing to success in surgical education research

Abstract Background: Surgeons who have demonstrated excellence through extensive publication in the medical education literature can provide valuable guidance for new surgeons interested in educational research. Methods: National databases identified members of the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) who have accumulated the greatest number of peer-reviewed, original educational research publications. The top 15 surgeons completed an open-ended survey exploring surgical education research issues. Results: The top three factors contributing to success in this field were (1) chair support, (2) collaboration with peers and mentors, and (3) participation in the ASE. The top three barriers were (1) perception at their institution of educational research as lacking credibility, (2) lack of adequate funding, and (3) lack of time. Eighty-five percent (11 of 13) reported having tenure or equivalent, of which 45% reported educational research as playing a significant role. All respondents advised formal training in education. Conclusions: Credibility of educational research is bolstered by quality research and a supportive chair. Scholarly work in this field can form the basis for an academic career.
On the conversion of intravenously administered progesterone to pregnanediol in the human female.

THE recently reported studies of West (1), and West, Tyler, Brown and Samuels (2) on the metabolism of intravenously administered testosterone have yielded results which emphasize the ideal character of the intravenous route for studies of this kind. Two recent events have given us a unique opportunity to study similarly the metabolism of progesterone. The first was the discovery (based on the reports of Bischoff and Pilhorn (3) and West (1)) that the preparation of any steroid for intravenous administration can be an exceedingly simple procedure (4). The other was the decision of this Department, based on this observation and on the report of Hertz et al. (5), to study the therapeutic effectiveness of intravenous progesterone in cervical carcinoma (6). The data reported here were obtained in conjunction with this work on carcinoma therapy, our main objective being the determination of the true conversion rate of progesterone to pregnanediol. As might be expected, our study raised more questions than it h...
Depression in patients being evaluated for heart transplantation

In the evaluation of 68 consecutive heart transplant candidates, 37 (54%) had one or more depressive syndromes. Premorbid psychiatric risk factors of depression were prevalent throughout the group. Statistically significant associations with depression were found with age, educational and occupational levels, and a history of past depressive episodes, but not with family psychiatric history, parental loss in childhood, history of serious childhood illness, or history of substance abuse. Of the 43 patients transplanted, 16 of 22 who were depressed preoperatively required psychiatric intervention postoperatively compared to 8 of 21 who were not depressed; 75% had a beneficial response to treatment. We recommend that a diagnosis of depression not be considered reason to exclude otherwise suitable candidates for cardiac transplantation.
The Uq controlling-element system in maize

A new two-element controlling element system, the Ubiquitous (Uq) system was found among the progeny of stocks infected with Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV). Uq interacts with a-ruq to induce variegation at the a locus. Uq induces changes at the a-ruq allele leading to the loss of the ruq element. One derivative type is colorless and a second, is pale-colored and both have lost the ability to respond to Uq. Uq like other controlling elements in maize transposes, however in the one case identified, a duplication of Uq occurred. Unlike most systems, Uq shows a dosage effect. It is discussed how several different kinds of treatment could induce the transposability of maize elements leading to the insertion of these elements at a locus, thus leaving the functioning of such a locus under the control of a controlling element system.
The Haunted Grid: Nature, Electricity, and Indian Spirits in the American Metaphysical Tradition

The frequent pairing of electrical machines and Native American spirits in nineteenth-century Spiritualism was a topic first addressed by Werner Sollors in a 1983 article for American Quarterly. Building on Sollors’ observations, this article suggests that the juxtaposition of machines and Indian spirits reflects an alchemical worldview, one that framed Spiritualist conceptions of materiality and spiritual progression. As an industrializing America transformed nature into a modern infrastructure, Andrew Jackson Davis and John Murray Spear spiritualized technology, likening electricity and electrical machines to the rarefied matter of the spirit world. By the same alchemical logic, the rarefication of an Indian-inscribed nature was thought to yield Native American spirits, who circulated in and through the nation’s new machines. This narrative has continued to shape the metaphysical imaginary, even as the popularity of Spiritualism has declined, reflecting a sustained meditation on the ultimate meaning of industrialization in America.
A framework for rule processing in reconfigurable network systems (abstract only)

High-performance rule processing systems are needed by network administrators in order to protect Internet systems from attack. Researchers have been working to implement components of Intrusion Detection Systems, such as the highly popular Snort system, in reconfigurable hardware. While considerable progress has been made in the areas of string matching and header processing, complete systems have yet been demonstrated that effectively combine all of the functionality necessary to perform intrusion detection and prevention for real network systems.In this paper, we discuss a framework for implementing a rule processing system in reconfigurable hardware. The framework integrates the functionality to scan data flows for regular expressions, fixed strings, and header values. It also allows plug-in modules to be added to the system in order to perform the extended functionality to support the remaining set of Snort rules in modular components. Reconfigurability and flexibility are key components of the system that enable it adapt to protect Internet systems from threats including malicious worms, computer viruses, and network intruders.To prove the system viable, a system has been built that scans all bytes of Transmission Control protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) traffic entering and leaving a network's gateway at multi-gigabit rates and performs deep-packet inspection. Using Xilinx FPGA hardware on the Field programmable Port Extender (FPX), the platform can process 32,768 complex rules at data rates of 2.5 Gbps. Systems to handle data at 10 Gbps rates can be built today using the same framework in the most recent generation of reconfigurable hardware devices such as the Virtex4.
Folic Acid improves Phenytoin Pharmacokinetics

Phenytoin (PHT) therapy to control seizures decreases serum folate levels in half of epileptic patients, thus increasing the risk of folate depletion. Supplementation with folic acid prevents deficiency but also changes PHT pharmacokinetics. Kinetic monitoring of PHT when folic acid is provided as a supplement has not been reported in women of child-bearing age. This study of six fertile women examined the interdependence of PHT and folic acid in a randomized crossover study of two treatments: treatment 1 consisted of 300 mg sodium PHT per day and treatment 2 consisted of 300 mg sodium PHT plus 1 mg folic acid per day. Dietary folic acid intake was calculated daily. During treatment 1, serum folate level decreased 38.0 +/- 18.6% (mean +/- standard deviation) and serum PHT concentration was in the low therapeutic range (43.92 +/- 14.52 mumol/L). During treatment 2, serum folate level increased 26.0 +/- 33.4%, and serum PHT level (39.04 +/- 14.16 mumol/L) was similar to that in treatment 1. Only one subject attained PHT steady state during treatment 1, but four subjects achieved steady state during treatment 2. Dietary folate intakes during treatments 1 and 2 were not significantly different. This study suggests an interdependence between PHT and folic acid and supports the observation that fertile women treated with PHT require folic acid supplementation to maintain a normal serum folate level.
Comparison Between Sensory Quality of Freshly Prepared Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Before and After Hot Hording on a Cafeteria Counter

Sensory quality of freshly prepared spaghetti with meat sauce entree was compared to that held hot on a cafeteria counter. A study of the time and temperature relationship indicated a steady decline in temperatures during the first 30 min of steam-table holding, although within safe limits. An experienced taste panel consisting of 8–10 members rated the samples for various sensory attributes. The freshly cooked product was rated significantly higher compared to the hot-held product for moistness, appearance of spaghetti, intensity of spice flavor in the sauce, spaghetti texture, meat texture, and general acceptability.
TiCl4 as a Precursor in the TiN Deposition by ALD and PEALD

This study explores TiN film deposition using the plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) technique, comparing the results of PEALD-TiN with the previous results of ALD-TiN and ALD-TiN with in situ reduction. Eachof the studies used TiCl 4 precursor as the titanium source. The ALD-TiN study used ammonia as the reducing agent. Nitrogen and hydrogen gases are not reactive in the ALD-TiN deposition, but they were successfully used in PEALD-TiN. This study shows that the concept of self-saturating reaction in ALD differs from PEALD. Although the growth rate saturates as a function of pulse lengths, the number of active surface sites and the film composition can be changed by the plasma pulsing parameters. In all deposition techniques the TiN films exhibit excellent film properties including low resistivity, low impurity concentration, and high-density films. PEALD provides significant advantages if the deposition temperature is lower than 350°C.
Pseudoerror on-line monitoring: Concept design and evaluation

This paper deals with the problem of monitoring the performance of digital communication links, with the objective of detecting the on-line signal failures as rapidly as possible. The problem of monitoring the performance of data communication links is inherent to data transmission. This paper describes a method of generating a measurable pseudoerror that can be used in a variety of applications. Some of the theoretical ideas of this technique were taken from Ref. 1. By developing a Pseudo Error Region (PER), the on-line error rate can be estimated much more rapidly without distrubing the data. The design of hardware and measurement results are presented, along with a comparison with theoretical predictions.
Apoptosis in cerebral ischemia: executional and regulatory signaling mechanisms.

Abstract Programmed cell death, often in the form of apoptosis, is an important contributing mechanism in the pathogenesis of ischemic brain injury. Depending on the severity of the insult and the stage of the injury, the executional pathways that are directly responsible for cell death and the signaling mechanisms that participate in the regulation of these death pathways may vary. It is likely that molecular or pharmacological targeting of the upstream signaling mechanisms that control the death executional pathways may offer opportunities for more complete and long-term neuroprotection. This review summarizes the recent advancements in the understanding of the executional and regulatory signaling mechanisms in ischemic brain injury.
The effect of aging on the induction of humoral and cellular immunity and tolerance in two long-lived mouse strains.

Abstract Aging is a complex process that adversely affects most if not all components of the immune system. In this report, two long-lived mouse strains have been compared in ability to generate both antigen-specific immunity and tolerance. Although CBA/CaJ mice produced high levels of antibody following injection of aqueous preparations of aggregated human -γ-globulin (AHGG), C57BL/6 mice made only meager antibody responses to such preparations. Age dramatically affects the humoral anti-HGG response to aqueous AHGG in both strains, but the meager response of young C57BL/6 mice was at insignificant levels in aged C57BL/6 mice. Conversely, both mouse strains generated good responses following injection of HGG in complete Freund's adjuvant at both the T and B cell level as evidenced by in vitro antigen-specific T cell proliferation and anti-HGG antibody production. Aged mice of both strains showed a marked decrease in the production of serum anti-HGG antibody in comparison to young mice. Although the antigen-specific T cell proliferative response was significantly decreased in aged CBA/CaJ mice, such proliferation was not affected in aged mice of the C57BL/6 strain. Removal of CD8+ cells from lymph node T cells of either young or aged C57BL/6 mice did not increase the antigenspecific proliferative response, suggesting that loss of CD8++ suppressors during the aging process is not responsible for the high level of antigen-specific T cell proliferation in aged C57BL/6 mice. Tolerance to HGG was readily induced in both young and aged C57BL/6 and CBA/CaJ mice although aged mice demonstrate a modest resistance to tolerance induction when compared to their young counterparts. This resistance was observed in both antibody production and antigenspecific T cell proliferation.
Shedding some LIGHT on chronic GVHD.

In this issue of Blood , Flowers and colleagues present the results of an international study evaluating the use of ECP for the treatment of chronic GVHD.
On product covering in 3-tier supply chain models: natural complete problems for W [3] and W [4]

The field of supply chain management has been growing at a rapid pace in recent years, both as a research area and as a practical discipline. In this paper, we study the computational complexity of product covering problems in 3-tier supply chain models, and present natural complete problems for the classes W[3] and W[4] in parameterized complexity theory. This seems the first group of natural complete problems for higher levels in the parameterized intractability hierarchy (i.e., the W-hierarchy), and the first precise complexity characterizations of certain optimization problems in the research of supply chain management. Our results also derive strong computational lower bounds and inapproximability for these optimization problems.