cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Full Wave Simulation of Lower Hybrid Waves in ITER Plasmas Based on the Finite Element Method

Thefirst lower hybrid (LH) full wave simulation of an ITER-scale plasma is presented. LHEAF[O. Meneghini et al., Phys. Plasmas 16, (2009)], an efficient LH full wave solver based on Finite Element Method (FEM) was used. In this study the scalability of the LHEAF approach was investigated, and the possibility of using massive parallel computer for solving extremely large problems was shown. In reactor scale plasmas, LH waves having a typical n� ≈ 2 are expected to be absorbed in the periphery of the plasma. In order to exploit the spatial localization of the LH waves, LHEAF is modified to consider only the region of plasma where the wave fields are non-zero. By this approach, the size of the computational domain was reduced by more than a factor of 10. In this simulation, the magnetic equilibrium and the density and temperature profiles proposed for AT operation scenario on ITER are used. In addition, the wide SOL is supposed to play an important role in the propagation of the LH waves on ITER, and its presence was included in the simulation. For a Maxwellian plasma the power deposition profile is narrow and peaks at r/a ≈ 0.7. c � 2010 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research
Postoperative Treadmill Performance and Graft Patency after Myocardial Revascularization

Abstract In a prospective study, a random selection of 122 patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting were studied angiographically and given treadmill tests preoperatively and one year after operation, regardless of their symptoms. A total of 397 grafts were performed (average, 3.3 grafts per patient) on all primary and secondary coronary vessels deemed graftable. Complete coronary revascularization (grafts to vessels 1.5 mm or more in diameter with 50% or greater stenosis) was achieved in 104 patients (85%); 18 patients (15%) were considered incompletely revascularized. One hundred sixteen of the 397 grafts (29%) were to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, 99 (25%) to the right coronary artery, 126 (32%) to the obtuse marginal branch, 52 (13%) to the diagonal branch of the LAD coronary artery, and 4 (1%) to the septal coronary arteries. Overall results showed that patients with positive postoperative treadmill tests had a graft patency of 64%, compared with 86% for patients with negative treadmill tests ( p p p This study shows that postoperative treadmill performance is highly dependent on completeness of revascularization and graft patency. It therefore supports the prognostic importance of regular treadmill exercise testing to monitor continued graft patency.
Effect of Infection Density On Sex Ratio of Heterodera Glycines 1)

Approximately equal numbers of males and females of Heterodera glycines Ichinohe developed in roots of soybean seedlings at low infection densities. High infection densities significantly increased the male to female ratio, first in the secondary and tertiary roots and then in the primary root. Infection density of secondary roots influenced nematode sex ratio in tertiary roots. Increased male to female ratios were attributed to differential death-rate of male and female larvae under conditions of food stress created by crowding.
Tail autotomy, functional conflicts and their resolution by a salamander

IF an organ serves several functions, two or more of these may conflict at times in their contribution to the immediate fitness of the organism. Among lower invertebrates the tail is commonly used as a defence against predators but it has other functions such as fat storage, locomotion, respiration and courtship. Experiments have shown that tail loss can depress reproductive output in lizards1,2, but this has not been reported for natural populations. Data reported here suggest that loss of the tail frequently depresses reproductive output in natural populations of the plethodontid salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus, which is widespread in California. The dual use of the tail for energy storage and for protection may increase the adaptive flexibility of the salamander for coping with an unpredictable environment.
A comparison of the effects of chlorpromazine, 7-hydroxychlorpromazine and chlorpromazine sulfoxide on the activity of central dopaminergic neurons

Abstract Using single unit recording techniques, chlorpromazine and two of its naturally occuring metabolites in man, 7-hydroxychlorpromazine and chlorpromazine sulfoxide, were tested for their ability to reverse amphetamine-induced depression of rat dopaminergic ventral tegmental neurons (A10). Small equivalent doses of chlorpromazine and 7-hydroxychlorpromazine were found to readily reverse amphetamine-induced depression of these cells. Chlorpromazine sulfoxide was found to be 50–100 times less potent in this regard. Previous findings have demonstrated that only phenothiazines with antipsychotic properties reverse amphetamine-induced depression of A10 neurons. Thus, we would predict that 7-hydroxychlorpromazine would have anti-psychotic properties whereas chlorpromazine sulfoxide would not. A preliminary study by Sakalis et al., suggests that plasma levels of chlorpromazine and 7-hydroxychlorpromazine are possibly correlated with the therapeutic effects of chlorpromazine in schizophrenia. Chlorpromazine sulfoxide levels, on the other hand, are reported to be high in chlorpromazine treated non-responders. Thus there is a direct parallel between predictions of antipsychotic efficacy based on our test model and the possible clinical importance of these chlorpromazine metabolites. Both findings suggest that 7-hydroxychlopromazine might be a good antipsychotic agent.
Computational design of peptides that target transmembrane helices.

A variety of methods exist for the design or selection of antibodies and other proteins that recognize the water-soluble regions of proteins; however, companion methods for targeting transmembrane (TM) regions are not available. Here, we describe a method for the computational design of peptides that target TM helices in a sequence-specific manner. To illustrate the method, peptides were designed that specifically recognize the TM helices of two closely related integrins (αIIbβ3 and αvβ3) in micelles, bacterial membranes, and mammalian cells. These data show that sequence-specific recognition of helices in TM proteins can be achieved through optimization of the geometric complementarity of the target-host complex.
A Biosemiotic Analysis of Braille

A unique aspect of human communication is the utilization of sets of well-delineated entities, the morphology of which is used to encode the letters of the alphabet. In this paper, we focus on Braille as an exemplar of this phenomenon. We take a Braille cell to be a physical artifact of the human environment, into the structure of which is encoded a representation of a letter of the alphabet. The specific issue we address in this paper concerns an examination of how the code that is embedded in the structure of a Braille cell is transferred with fidelity from the environment through the body and into the Braille reader’s brain. We describe four distinct encoding steps that enable this transfer to occur.
A framework for a real time intelligent and interactive Brain Computer Interface

Display Omitted A framework for a real time implementation of a Brain Computer Interface.Implementation & comparison of different feature extraction methods and classifiers.Accuracy & processing time comparison for detection of event related potentials-ERP.An implementation of a prototype system using the proposed BCI framework.Real time EEG data collection and classification of ERPs using Hex-O-Speller. This research proposes a framework for a real time implementation of a Brain Computer Interface (BCI). This interface is designed with a future objective of providing a testing platform as an interactive and intelligent Image Search and Retrieval tool that allows users, disabled or otherwise, to browse and search for images using non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) signals. As a proof of concept, a prototype system was designed and implemented to test real time data collection and navigation through the interface by detection and classification of event-related potentials (ERPs). A comparison of different feature extraction methods and classifiers for the detection of ERPs is performed on a standard data set to determine the best fit for the real time implementation of the BCI. The preliminary results of the real time implementation of the prototype BCI system are quantified by the success rate of the user/subject in navigating through the interface and spelling a search keyword using the mental-typewriter Hex-O-Speller.
Fatigue syndromes: New thoughts and reinterpretation of previous data

Recently, the author has identified 19 patients who have complained of marked fatigue that had abnormal responses to copper test bracelets or necklaces. At this time, 8 have been shown to have at least one enzyme deficiency in the heme pathway. These patients have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and other non-specific diagnoses. A lengthy but still limited review of the literature was performed regarding the following conditions: multiple sclerosis (MS), hepatic porphyria (HP), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and paralytic polio (PP). The text will focus on similar epidemiologies, laboratory findings and clinical courses. Copper as a common but not unique etiologic agent will be discussed; as will the heme pathway, a biologic process that may be disordered in all.
Coherently Controlled Multifunctional Active Optical Filters

In this paper, we propose multifunctional active optical filters using coherent nonlinear effects and quantum interference in quantum-well structures. Based on the application demand, in the absence of a control laser field, these filters can be either completely opaque or transparent. However, in the presence of such a control laser, the filter structure is activated, allowing transmission of a single frequency. We show that the amplitude and linewidth of these filters can be optically controlled, demonstrating various functionalities and performances including attenuation, amplification, and switching processes. We also show that, with proper design of such active filters, one can tune the wavelength of the filtered signal by varying the intensity of the control field.
Triple lines in materials science and engineering

We assess the impact of triple lines in materials preparation and use by considering several examples of materials behavior in which they have identifiable effects. The microstructural roles of triple lines are also considered and some persistent scientific questions are raised.
Meprin activity in rats with experimental renal disease

Abstract Activity of renal meprin, a membrane-bound proteinase in the proximal tubule brush border, was measured in normal rats and in two disease groups: chronic puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy for 12 weeks and streptozocin-induced diabetes for 6 months. Enzyme activity in kidney homogenates was assayed using azocasein as substrate. The mean activity of meprin was 3.22±0.34 U/g kidney weight in normal rats. In diabetic animals, enzyme activity was 8.58±2.11 U/g kidney weight, P
Differential Response of Mesoderm- and Neural Crest-Derived Smooth Muscle to TGF-β1: Regulation of c-myb and α1 (I) Procollagen Genes

Previously, we demonstrated that avian vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) derived from embryonic abdominal and thoracic aorta grow differently in the presence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) (Wrenn et al., In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 29, 73-78, 1992). The thoracic VSMC (N-VSMC) are derived from neural crest, and therefore differentiate from ectoderm; the abdominal VSMC (M-VSMC) are derived from mesoderm. The present study was designed to identify factors that mediate the differential responses of the VSMC to TGF-beta1. We found that TGF-beta1 increased DNA synthesis by approximately sevenfold in N-VSMC. Levels of both alpha1 (I) procollagen and c-myb mRNAs were markedly induced in N-VSMC treated with TGF-beta1. Chimeric plasmids containing up to 3.5 kb of alpha1 (I) procollagen 5' flanking DNA were induced to equivalent levels as procollagen mRNA in N-VSMC. However, TGF-beta1 increased DNA synthesis by threefold in M-VSMC; there was no effect on alpha1 (I) procollagen expression, and c-myb was not expressed, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry staining and RNA analyses. Antisense c-myb oligodeoxynucleotides blocked the TGF-beta1 induction of alpha1 (I) procollagen and the growth of N-VSMC. The increase in DNA synthesis by M- and N-VSMC was correlated with the secretion of PDGF-AA, and staurosporine and antibodies directed against PDGF-AA suppressed DNA synthesis. Our results demonstrate that TGF-beta1 activity and c-myb expression modulate the expression of alpha1 (I) collagen and cell proliferation in neural crest-derived smooth muscle. The regulation of these events by TGF-beta1 may be important during morphogenesis of blood vessels and vascular diseases.
Evidence for a distinct ligand binding site on tubulin discovered through inhibition by GDP of paclitaxel-induced tubulin assembly in the absence of exogenous GTP

GDP inhibits paclitaxel-induced tubulin assembly without GTP when the tubulin bears GDP in the exchangeable site (E-site). Initially, we thought inhibition was mediated through the E-site, since small amounts of GTP or Mg2+, which favors GTP binding to the E-site, reduced inhibition by GDP. We thought trace GTP released from the nonexchangeable site (N-site) by tubulin denaturation was required for polymer nucleation, but microtubule length was unaffected by GDP. Further, enhancing polymer nucleation reduced inhibition by GDP. Other mechanisms involving the E-site were eliminated experimentally. Upon finding that ATP weakly inhibited paclitaxel-induced assembly, we concluded that another ligand binding site was responsible for these inhibitory effects, and we found that GDP was not binding at the taxoid, colchicine, or vinca sites. There may therefore be a lower affinity site on tubulin to which GDP can bind distinct from the E- and N-sites, possibly on α-tubulin, based on molecular modeling studies.
The Effects of High Extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ Concentrations on the Levels of Inositol 1,3,4,5-Tetrakisphosphate in Bovine Parathyroid Cells

We examined the effects of calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and fluoride ion (F-) on inositol phosphate accumulation in bovine parathyroid cells prelabeled with [3H] inositol to determine whether these agents might modulate cytosolic Ca2+ through accumulation of intracellular inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4), which has been postulated to be a mediator of the influx of extracellular Ca2+. Both Ca2+ and Mg2+ produced dose-dependent increases in IP4 in the presence of Li+, with maximal 19- and 4-fold increases with 5.0 mM Ca2+ and 20 mM Mg2+, respectively. A 50% rise in IP4 was evident within 1 min in response to 5.0 mM Ca2+. In the absence of Li+, a 2-fold increase in IP4 was seen with 5.0 mM Ca2+ only after 15 min. Fluoride ion generated a dose-dependent increase in IP4, with a 48% rise at 10 mM F-, presumably by activating phospholipase-C through a guanine nucleotide regulatory (G) protein-dependent process. We conclude that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate generated in response to high extracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations can be converted to IP4 in parathyroid cells. The slow kinetics for the increase in IP4 with high Ca2+ in the absence of Li+, however, do not support a role for IP4 in the early phase of the sustained increase in cytosolic Ca2+ produced by high extracellular Ca2+ concentrations.
In vivo monitoring of the prion replication cycle reveals a critical role for Sis1 in delivering substrates to Hsp104

Summary Prions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are inherited ordered aggregates reliant upon the disaggregase Hsp104 for stable maintenance. The function of other factors in the natural prion cycle is unclear. We constructed yeast-bacterial chimeric chaperones to resolve the roles of Hsp104 domains, and by extension chaperones that interact with these domains, in prion propagation. Our results show that, as with amorphous aggregate dissolution, the Hsp70/40 system recruits prion substrates to Hsp104 via its top ring. By adapting our chimera to couple to an inactive protease "trap," we monitored the reaction products of prion propagation in vivo. We find that prion maintenance is accompanied by translocation of prion proteins through Hsp104 hexamers and that both processes critically rely upon the Hsp40 Sis1. Our data suggest that yeast prion replication is a natural extension of chaperone activity in dissolving amorphous aggregates, distinguished from its ancestral reaction by the ordered, self-propagating structure of the substrate.
Solution deposition of nanometer scale silver films as an alternative to vapor deposition for plasmonic excitation

Abstract We report the attainment of surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) from highly uniform thin silver films, solution-deposited on glass substrates by a wet chemistry approach. The surface morphology of these films was characterized by atomic force microscopy. The SPCE emission enhancements, polarization and angularity obtained from solution-deposited silver on BK7 glass were comparable to that achieved from conventional SPCE slides prepared via vapor deposition. This facile, wet chemistry procedure for the deposition of SPCE films provides an inexpensive, low maintenance alternative to vapor deposition for SPCE substrate preparation. This would allow the fluorescence observation technique to become more readily available for high sensitivity, low cost applications.
Benign Notochordal Cell Tumor of the Sacrum with Atypical Imaging Features: The Value of CT Guided Biopsy for Diagnosis

We report a case of a benign notochordal cell tumor (BNCT) of the sacrum with atypical imaging features, which was incidentally discovered in a 74-year-old man undergoing evaluation for progressively worsening hip and back pain. It is important for radiologists, pathologists and orthopedic surgeons to be aware of the diagnosis of BNCT and be familiar with its radiographic features to avoid unnecessary treatment. This case illustrates the advantage of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy as a minimally invasive technique for definitive diagnosis of a BNCT with atypical imaging features.
Optomechanical control of atoms and molecules

We briefly review some of our recent and ongoing work on nanoscale optomechanics, an emerging area at the confluence of atomic, condensed matter and gravitational wave physics. A central tenet of optomechanics is the laser cooling of a moving mirror, typically an end mirror of a Fabry-Perot resonator, to a point near its quantum-mechanical ground state of vibration. Following a general introduction we discuss how the motion of such a macroscopic quantum oscillator can be squeezed, and then show how the placement of a ferroelectric tip on the oscillator allows the coherent manipulation and control of the center-of-mass motion of ultracold polar molecules.
Evidence for a Protein Mutator in Yeast: Role of the Hsp70-Related Chaperone Ssb in Formation, Stability, and Toxicity of the [PSI] Prion

Propagation of the yeast protein-based non-Mendelian element [PSI], a prion-like form of the release factor Sup35, was shown to be regulated by the interplay between chaperone proteins Hsp104 and Hsp70. While overproduction of Hsp104 protein cures cells of [PSI], overproduction of the Ssa1 protein of the Hsp70 family protects [PSI] from the curing effect of Hsp104. Here we demonstrate that another protein of the Hsp70 family, Ssb, previously implicated in nascent polypeptide folding and protein turnover, exhibits effects on [PSI] which are opposite those of Ssa. Ssb overproduction increases, while Ssb depletion decreases, [PSI] curing by the overproduced Hsp104. Both spontaneous [PSI] formation and [PSI] induction by overproduction of the homologous or heterologous Sup35 protein are increased significantly in the strain lacking Ssb. This is the first example when inactivation of an unrelated cellular protein facilitates prion formation. Ssb is therefore playing a role in protein-based inheritance, which is analogous to the role played by the products of mutator genes in nucleic acid-based inheritance. Ssb depletion also decreases toxicity of the overproduced Sup35 and causes extreme sensitivity to the [PSI]-curing chemical agent guanidine hydrochloride. Our data demonstrate that various members of the yeast Hsp70 family have diverged from each other in regard to their roles in prion propagation and suggest that Ssb could serve as a proofreading component of the enzymatic system, which prevents formation of prion aggregates.
Determination of Shallow Shear-Wave Velocity at Mississippi Embayment Sites Using Vertical Seismic Profiling Data

We used vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data collected in shallow bore- holes (about 40-60 m deep) to determine the shear-wave velocity at four sites in the Mississippi embayment in southwestern Tennessee. The source was an air-powered hammer that produces repeatable SH waves, which were recorded by source monitor geophones deployed on the surface very close to the source. Three approaches were used to determine interval velocities: an approximate zero-offset method, a layer- stripping method, and a waveform-matching method. The first two methods use arrival-time picks, whereas the latter is based on the fit of synthetic VSP data to the first half-cycle (approximately) of each trace. The advantage of this method over the other two is that it uses a segment of the data, rather than a single data point. There- fore, the velocities determined using the waveform-matching method are better con- strained and are not affected by picking errors, which may translate into significant spurious velocity variations. The source wavelets recorded by one of the monitor geophones and the velocity model computed with the layer-stripping method were used to generate synthetic vertical seismic profiling data for comparison with the actual data. Then the model velocities were modified interactively, one layer at a time, until a satisfactory match was achieved. This required including attenuation in the computation of the synthetic data. The four sites investigated in this study can be divided into two groups: low-velocity sites (Shelby Farms and Covington) and high-velocity sites (Brownsville and Jackson). These last two sites are at larger dis- tances from the embayment axis than the other two, which means that the difference in velocities probably corresponds to the presence of different geologic units. Good agreements between the lithology in the boreholes and the velocity profiles were obtained for all the four sites.
Of what use are tests of significance and tests of hypothesis

This paper discusses the role of significance testing, in contrast to hypothesis testing. It takes the view that the two processes must be differentiated because they are in fact different even though they possess some common mathematical features. A supporting view of significance testing is presented. Difficulties and obscurities are discussed.
Microstructure of Fabrics Chemically Finished for Thermal Adaptability

A new "comfort" property, a warming and cooling effect, has been designed into textile fabrics by finishing them with polyethylene glycol solutions. High polymer add ons result, changing the physical nature of the fabrics. Finished and unfinished cotton, cotton / polyester, and wool fabrics were compared using optical and electron micros copy techniques to determine changes brought about by the finish. Finish polymer was deposited heavily within yarns, forming a fiber-polymer matrix. Polymer was also distributed throughout the cotton fibers. The results of various finishing procedures were compared, and the effects of laundering through 50 cycles was studied.
Volunteer Tourism: Powerful Programs or Predisposed Participants?

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in initial status and growth trajectories of college students who did and did not participate in a voluntourism experience. A key objective of the study was to explore the backgrounds of the participants, comparing them to similar nonvoluntourists, to better understand what compelled them to spend their spring break engaged in community service in a distant location. The participants were 617 students at a university in the Midwestern United States, half of whom participated in a voluntour. Voluntourists reported higher levels of yearly civic engagement, civic attitude, openness, compassion, cognitive drive and reflectivity. The developmental disparities evident before the tour continued to grow over the course of five weeks. Implications for marketing, program design and education are discussed within the context of the burgeoning voluntourism industry.
Genetic and environmental influences on intraindividual variability in reaction time.

Reaction time (RT) data from the Minnesota Twin Study of Adult Development and Aging were used to investigate genetic and environmental influences on intraindividual variability in RT. The sample was 738 individuals (aged 27 to 95 years), including 185 monozygotic (MZ) and 131 disygotic (DZ) twin pairs. Two RT factors were created: decision time and movement time. Age-corrected heritability estimates were 40% for mean RT; 21% for intraindividual variability in movement time; and 0% for intraindividual variability in decision time. Multivariate analysis indicated that all genetic variance in the RT measures was shared among measures; environmental variance was specific to each RT measure.
From wireless to integrated telecommunications in Latin America: A market-based analysis of America Movil

Enabled by technological change, telecommunications service providers have entered a new era in which integrated telecommunications services, particularly data and video offerings, will be their principal growth drivers. In order to provide these services to their subscribers, often in multiple play bundles, the two principal telecommunications operators in Latin America, America Movil and Telefonica are migrating to converged fixed line and mobile platforms supported by high-speed optical networks. Organizational convergence, internal in Telefonica's case, through merger with Telmex Internacional and Telmex in America Movil's, has accompanied technological convergence. This paper investigates why America Movil, primarily a wireless company before its reorganization in 2010, decided to change its strategic direction. The paper also analyzes the impact that America Movil's reorganization has on the attractiveness of the company's Latin American business portfolio compared with Telefonica's, and on its competitive position. The degree of market attractiveness and competitive strength possessed by the portfolios, as well as the portfolios' market variability, are considered. The multidimensional portfolio analysis technique employed in the paper may have wider applicability for formulating corporate strategy.
Management of advanced colorectal cancer, part 1

Purpose Important developments in chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer over the past 15 years are reviewed, with an emphasis on the most recently published data from clinical trials of newer multidrug regimens, administration techniques, and dosing schedules. Summary Eight agents are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Fluorouracil and leucovorin still constitute the foundation of most chemotherapy regimens for this population; combination fluorouracil–leucovorin therapy plus either irinotecan (the FOLFIRI regimen) or oxaliplatin (the FOLFOX regimen) are two firmly established first-line treatments shown to produce similar outcomes. In Phase III trials conducted over the past six to seven years, regimens of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CapeOx) were demonstrated to have clinical effectiveness comparable to that of FOLFOX therapy. Response rates of 35–55% and median overall survival of ≥20 months have been documented with some of the newer regimens. Research to define the optimal role of the three monoclonal antibody agents approved by FDA for use in managing advanced colorectal cancer is ongoing; bevacizumab has been shown to confer significant survival benefits when added to certain chemotherapy regimens, and other monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab and panitumumab) also appear to offer significant benefits in select patients as first- or second-line therapies. Conclusion Over the past 15 years, a shift toward multiagent treatment strategies including a variety of chemotherapy agents and monoclonal antibodies has yielded improved rates of response and prolonged survival among patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The CapeOx, FOLFOX, and FOLFIRI regimens are currently among the most widely used first-line treatments.
Single-row routing and extensions

The problem of single-row routing has its origin in the design of multilayer printed circuit board. It has been shown that the problem can be reduced to an ordering problem by using a novel interval graphical representation. Criteria for optimum single-row routing for the purpose of minimizing the street congestion have been obtained. Extensions of the single-row routing problem can be made in several directions. In particular, the problem of double-row routing can be formulated in a similar fashion. A solution is given; and, furthermore it is demonstrated that the problem is directly related to the problem of channel routing in polycell layout.
The Assessment of Stigma: Implications for Theory and Intervention

Self-disclosure data from marijuana smokers are considered. Attention is given to disclosure patterns in relation to four types of reference individuals and to feelings about disclosure. Users were most likely to disclose and to feel comfortable about disclosing to high intimate and nonauthority reference individuals. They were less likely to disclose and to feel comfortable about disclosing (1) to low intimate and nonauthority reference individuals, and (2) to authority-reference individuals--irrespective of their intimacy with them. The implications of a self-disclosure-reference-individual strategy for the study of stigma and for intervention purposes are discussed.
An architecture for a high speed fuzzy logic inference engine in FPGAs

Fuzzy logic arithmetic requires more processing power than traditional methods. To overcome this problem a four stage two datapath fuzzy logic inference engine is proposed. Each stage and datapath operates in parallel when possible to reduce total processing time. The inference engine architecture is designed to be used to control a two link robot arm and to work in an FPGA implementation.
Transcriptional Regulation of Transforming Growth Factor β1 by Glucose: Investigation into the Role of the Hexosamine Biosynthesis Pathway

Abstract Background: The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) is hypothesized to mediate many of the adverse effects of hyperglycemia. We have shown previously that increased flux through this pathway leads to induction of the growth factor transforming growth factor-a (TGF-a) and to insulin resistance in cultured cells and transgenic mice. TGF- β is regulated by glucose and is involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy. We therefore hypothesized that the HBP was involved in the regulation of TGF- β by glucose in rat vascular and kidney cells. Methods: A plasmid containing the promoter region of TGF- β 1 cloned upstream of the firefly luciferase gene was electroporated into rat aortic smooth muscle, mesangial, and proximal tubule cells. Luciferase activity was measured in cellular extracts from cells cultured in varying concentrations of glucose and glucosamine. Results: Glucose treatment of all cultured cells led to a time- and dose-dependent stimulation in TGF- β 1 transcriptional activity, with high (20 mM) glucose causing a 1.4- to 2.0-fold increase. Glucose stimulation did not occur until after 12 hours and disappeared after 72 hours of treatment. Glucosamine was more potent than glucose, with 3 mM stimulating up to a 4-fold increase in TGF β 1-transcriptional activity. The stimulatory effect of glucosamine was also dose-dependent but was slower to develop and longer lasting than that of glucose. Conclusions: The metabolism of glucose through the HBP mediates extracellular matrix production, possibly via the stimulation of TGF- β in kidney cells. Hexosamine metabolism therefore, may play a role in the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Literacy(ies), culture(s), and development(s): The ethnographic challenge

Book reviewed in this article: Illegal Alphabets and Adult Biliteracy: Latino Migrants Crossing the Linguistic Border. Tomas Mario Kalmar. 2001. Literacy and Development: Ethnographic Perspectives. Edited by Brian Street. 2001. Local Literacies: Reading and Writing in One Community. David Barton and Mary Hamilton. 1998. The Making of Literate Societies. Edited by David R. Olson and Nancy Torrance. 2001. Multilingual Literacies: Reading and Writing in Different Worlds. Marilyn Martin-Jones and Kathryn Jones. 2000.
On Measurement of Relative National Standards of Living

Some Aspects of the General Problem, 318. — Selection of Indicators, 320. — The Problem of Averaging, 327. — Conclusions, 333.
Adaptive local quantizer design for tracking in a wireless sensor network

We investigate the problem of tracking a target using a wireless sensor network, where quantized sensor measurements are utilized because of inherent communication and energy constraints. Due to the severe nonlinearity of the measurement model, we resort to sequential Monte Carlo methods for tracking, i.e., particle filters. The tracking performance is a function of local sensor quantizer thresholds. We propose a new dynamic adaptive local quantizer design approach along with some practical implementation considerations. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the significant performance improvement achieved by our quantizer design technique.
Optimal bound on high stresses occurring between stiff fibers with arbitrary shaped cross-sections ✩

Abstract We consider high stresses in stiff-fiber reinforced materials, which increase rapidly as fibers approximate to one another. This paper presents the optimal blow-up rate of the stresses with respect to the distance between a pair of stiff fibers in R 3 . The blow-up result plays an important role in our understanding of low strengths of fiber-reinforced composites. Referring to a problem of anti-plane shear, the stresses can be interpreted as the electric fields outside closely spaced perfect conductors in R 2 , under the action of applied electric field ∇H. It has been shown by Ammari, Kang et al. that in the particular case of circular inclusions, the electric field blows up at the optimal rate ϵ − 1 / 2 as ϵ → 0 , where ϵ is the distance between conductors. Recently, Yun has extended the blow-up result to pairs of conductors associated with a large class of shapes whose complements can be transformed conformally to the outside of a circle with C 2 mapping. However, it presented a suboptimal result that only for a special uniform field ∇ H = ( 1 , 0 ) , the electric fields blow up at the exact rate ϵ − 1 / 2 . In this paper, an upper bound with the rate ϵ − 1 / 2 of electric field for any harmonic function H is established. This yields the optimal blow-up rate ϵ − 1 / 2 for the inclusions in the same class of shapes as Yun.
Parental report of sleep problems in Down syndrome

Background Children with Down syndrome (DS) suffer from sleep problems, including sleep mainte- nance problems, as well as snoring, and other symptoms of disordered breathing. To examine sleep in DS, we gave parents a questionnaire assess- ing their child's sleep.
Modelling the relative strength of security protocols

In this paper, we present a way to think about the relative strength of security protocols using SoS, a lattice-theoretic representation of security strength. In particular, we discuss how the model can be used, present the TLS protocol as a compelling real world example, show how it is modeled, and then explain how lattice-theoretic properties can be used to evaluate security protocols.
Double-lattice packings of convex bodies in the plane

Mahler [7] and Fejes Toth [2] proved that every centrally symmetric convex plane bodyK admits a packing in the plane by congruent copies ofK with density at least ?3/2. In this paper we extend this result to all, not necessarily symmetric, convex plane bodies. The methods of Mahler and Fejes Toth are constructive and produce lattice packings consisting of translates ofK. Our method is constructive as well, and it produces double-lattice packings consisting of translates ofK and translates of?K. The lower bound of ?3/2 for packing densities produced here is an improvement of the bounds obtained previously in [5] and [6].
Leakage power reduction in low-voltage CMOS designs

Lowering supply voltage is one of the most effective ways of reducing power dissipation. Low supply voltage requires the device threshold to be reduced in order to maintain performance. Due to the exponential relationship between the leakage current and the transistor threshold voltage in the weak inversion region, static current (and hence, static power power dissipation) can no longer be ignored. In this paper the author presents different design techniques such as multiple threshold voltage, dynamic threshold control, substrate biasing, and leakage control using transistor stacking to achieve large improvements in leakage power during both stand-by and active mode of operation.
A surface-emitting 3D metal-nanocavity laser: proposal and theory

A novel three-dimensional (3D) metal-nanocavity (or nano-coin) semiconductor laser suitable for electrical injection is proposed and analyzed. Our design uses metals as both the cavity sidewall and the top/bottom reflectors (i. e., a fully metal encapsulated nanolaser) and maintains the surface-emitting nature. As a result of the large permittivity contrast between the dielectric and metal, the optical energy can be well-confined inside the metal nanocavity. With a proper design and the choice of the HE111 mode, which has the best top surface radiation pattern, a laser with a physical size smaller than 0.01λ03 is achievable at 1.55 μm wavelength with a reasonable semiconductor gain at room temperature. We provide a detailed theoretical model starting from the waveguide analysis to full 3D structure simulations by taking into account both geometry and metal dispersion. We show a systematic procedure for analyzing this class of 3D metal-cavity (or nano-coin) lasers with discussions on the optimization of the performance such as light output power, threshold reduction, and output beam shaping.
Repeated brief social defeat episodes in mice: effects on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus.

Abstract Stressful experiences can affect hippocampal structure and function and can suppress new cell birth in the adult hippocampus in several species. Here we examine how repeated intermittent social defeat affects cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus (DG) in mice. Adult male CFW mice were subjected to 10 daily social defeat episodes, 3 defeat episodes within one day or a single defeat episode. Intruder mice were injected with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU, 200 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h after the last fight, and incorporation of BrdU into proliferating cells in the DG was quantified. In a third experiment, aggressive resident mice were allowed to fight with an intruder mouse every day for 10 days, and these residents were injected with BrdU 1 h after the last aggressive encounter. There was a significant decrease in cell proliferation in mice that received 10 social defeats, confirming and extending earlier results. This decrease is correlated with the intensity of the defeat experiences, as quantified by frequency of attack bites. Cell proliferation was slightly inhibited after a single defeat, although this effect was not significant. Three defeats within a 5-h period had no effect on levels of proliferation. Offensive aggressive stress in the residents did not result in any changes in hippocampal cell proliferation. These data indicate that repeated intermittent social defeat experienced over multiple days suppresses proliferation in the DG, and this may have important implications for our understanding of hippocampal changes related to stress psychopathologies.
Early morning activity detection using acoustics and wearable wireless sensors

In this paper, we study the classification of the early morning activities of daily living to assist those with cognitive impairments due to traumatic brain injuries. The system can be used to help therapists in hospitals or could be deployed in one's home. We briefly describe the infrastructure of our cost-effective system which uses fixed and wearable wireless sensors and show results related to the detection of activities executed in the morning. We focus on several early morning activities such as washing face, brushing teeth, shaving face and especially on the detection of shaving and brushing activities executed with electric devices. Features from accelerometer and acoustic sensors were extracted in time and frequency domain then used for classification using Gaussian mixture models, followed by a sequential classifier. We show promising classification results obtained from 7 subjects especially when electric devices are used to execute these early morning activities.
Towards faster rates and oracle property for low-rank matrix estimation

We present a unified framework for low-rank matrix estimation with nonconvex penalty. A proximal gradient homotopy algorithm is developed to solve the proposed optimization problem. Theoretically, we first prove that the proposed estimator attains a faster statistical rate than the traditional low-rank matrix estimator with nuclear norm penalty. Moreover, we rigorously show that under a certain condition on the magnitude of the nonzero singular values, the proposed estimator enjoys oracle property (i.e., exactly recovers the true rank of the matrix), besides attaining a faster rate. Extensive numerical experiments on both synthetic and real world datasets corroborate our theoretical findings.
Positioning and Pricing of Horizontally Differentiated Products

We provide structural results and a solution method for designing horizontally differentiated product lines – optimizing product positions and prices – under fairly general consumer choice behavior. Our choice model is a generalization of the basic Hotelling-Lancaster locational choice model: Consumer tastes (ideal products) follow a general distribution; substitution disutility (transportation cost) can be an asymmetric convex function of product-spatial distance; and the market may not be fully covered. We formalize the notion that a shift of consumer tastes toward one end of the product space cannot result in a shift of the optimal product line in the opposite direction. For a unimodal taste distribution, we show that with respect to the product that covers the mode (or one of two products adjacent to it) prices and market shares drop toward the tails. Hence, higher popularity is always associated with higher price – although pricing, positioning, relative market share and popularity of products are all endogenous in our model. Our solution method is exact for discrete consumer taste distributions. Whereas, for continuous distributions, it requires lower and upper bounds, which can be computed efficiently using shortest path formulations and they asymptotically converge to the optimal profit.
Teacher Induction in Kansas City: State Policy, District Trends, and Their Implications

This paper analyzes the findings from a study of teacher induction policy in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It looks at 13 districts in the states of Kansas and Missouri to explore the landscape and experience of teacher induction. Special attention is paid to each state’s policy regarding induction as well as the enactment of induction in urban, suburban and rural school districts.The data are based on document reviews, phone interviews, focus groups and on-line surveys conducted between November 2006 and June 2007. We conducted interviews with district professional development coordinators who were both knowledgeable about and influential in the crafting of the induction practices in their districts. We also conducted district focus groups with beginning teachers and asked mentors, site administrators and new teachers to participate in an on-line survey which assessed their experience regarding induction in their district. The interviews, focus groups and on-line surveys addressed: the details of current induction efforts, the experience of individuals who participate in such programs, and the effects of state policy on induction efforts in the district.
Facetime doesn't count

The American Academy of Pediatrics has historically discouraged media exposure for children under two due to the absence of evidence supporting its benefits and the potential for negative effects (AAP, 2011); however, the AAP has begun to recognize that all screen time may not be equal (Brown etźal., 2015). For example, many young children today are geographically separated from family members, and video chat in particular may allow them to develop and maintain relationships with remote relatives (Ballagas etźal., 2009). Do babies and toddlers use this technology, or have their parents discouraged its use because it is a form of media exposure? An online media usage survey was distributed to 183 parents of children between 6 and 24 months in the D.C. metro area. There were high levels of video chat usage reported across all children, regardless of whether they were exposed to high or low levels of other types of media. Furthermore, some parents explicitly reported viewing video chat as an exception to otherwise restrictive media rules. The changing landscape of traditional and non-traditional media sources and the implications of increased access to video chat technology for family communication are discussed.
Autoradiographic Studies of Human Lymphocytes Cultured in Vivo

SummaryHuman lymphocytes were cultured in diffusion chambers implanted into the peritoneal cavities of rats. In cultures treated with PHA, the pattern of morphologic transformation and initiation of DNA synthesis paralleled closely similar studies made in vitro. Immunologic stimulation of the human cells by the heterologous host was presumably minimal or absent since control cultures (without PHA) showed no significant degree of blastogenesis when compared with PHA-treated cultures. Minimum DNA synthesis time determined for the PHA-stimulated lymphocytes was 9–10 hr. Values found for the duration of Tc (16–18 hr) and minimum TG2 (2 hr) were shorter than those reported for similar studies in vitro. The in vivo culture method using Millipore chambers appears to offer a more physiologic method for studying lymphocytes.