cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Discrete Fourier Transform method for alignment of visual evoked potentials

In this paper, we consider alignment of visual evoked potentials (EP) in the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) domain. Visual EPs have important clues for diagnosing medical problems such as multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis. The amplitude of visual EPs are usually smaller than the amplitude of spontaneous EPs which causes difficulties in reliably finding the latencies and amplitudes of important positive and negative peaks in the evoked responses. Therefore, noise cancellation becomes important for determining the features of interest in these waveforms. A well-known noise cancellation method is averaging multiple evoked potentials. Averaging after alignment of EP waveforms can improve the waveform quality substantially since usually evoked potentials have different characteristics and therefore have different latencies and amplitudes in response to the same visual stimulus. In this paper, we use a time alignment method which simultaneously reduces the spectral differences between all waveforms by minimizing the linearly phase shifted forms of the DFTs of these waveforms. We demonstrate that this method successfully aligns multiple visual EPs and achieves a smooth averaged waveform with reduced noise.
Ionic modulation of the effects of heparin and 6-aminohexanoic acid on plasminogen activation by streptokinase: The role of ionic strength, divalent cations and chloride

Studies were conducted on the effect of heparin or 6-aminohexanoic acid (6-AH) on the activation of glutamic plasminogen (Glu-Plg) by streptokinase in the presence of different concentrations of buffer, NaCl and divalent cations. Heparin and 6-AH inhibited streptokinase-mediated activation of Glu-Plg using 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 7.4. This inhibition was partially reversed by the addition of 0.2–1.0 mM of Mg ions. Increasing the ionic strength of Tris-HCl buffer from 10 to 50 mM or addition of 50–150 mM of NaCl to 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4 inhibited the activation of Glu-Plg by streptokinase while decreasing the % inhibition by heparin over the control samples. Double reciprocal plot of the activation of Glu-Plg by streptokinase using 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4 containing 100 mM NaCl showed that the addition of heparin lowered Vmax by 50% without affecting Km. To determine whether the inhibitory effect of heparin was specifically directed towards Glu-Plg or streptokinase, the ratios of the initial rate of plasmin generation in the presence of heparin over the controls were plotted against the inverse of the volume fraction of Glu-Plg or streptokinase after serial dilutions. The results indicated that the dilutions of streptokinase but not of Glu-Plg influenced the ratios, suggesting an interaction of heparin with streptokinase. Addition of 6-AH reversed the inhibitory effect of NaCl on the activation of Glu-Plg by streptokinase and the results of the near UV CD spectra of Glu-Plg showed that addition of 6-AH enhanced the spectra in this region with an increase in the ellipticity which was not affected by addition of NaCl.
Growth of Ultraviolet-Damaged Herpesvirus in Xeroderma Pigmentosum Cells

SummaryThe growth of ultravioletirradiated herpes simplex virus was studied in cultures of skin fibroblasts from a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum and compared with growth in WI-38 cells, skin f...
Unusual properties of bar-within-ring galaxies and the projection effect model for barred spiral galaxies

Five anomalous properties of bar-within-ring galaxies, which comprise the majority of barred spiral galaxies, are reported. These properties appear to be in conflict with conventional ideas about galactic morphology, but are in keeping with the projection effect model for barred spiral galaxies.
Geriatric syndromes in practice: delirium is not the only thing.

Delirium is front and center in much of our practice today. Imprecise understanding of agitated patients, challenging and often risk-laden behaviors, and ineffective interventions such as physical restraints of past practice have been replaced with sophisticated analyses and modeling and reports of means to transform practice. Sadly, other geriatric syndromes and the threats they pose to the safety and wellbeing of hospitalized older adults do not receive commensurate attention. Recently, I have witnessed growing focus on delirium but increased attention to other geriatric syndromes seems absent, particularly in hospitals without benefit of nurses improving care for healthsystem elders (NICHE) or other comprehensive geriatric nursing support. Attention to evidence-based care of older people at risk for or suffering other syndromes such as polypharmacy, incontinence, falls, malnutrition, and decline is often limited. We seem still to apply the usual practice of problem-focused plans to older people who are acutely and critically replace, despite our knowledge that they are at much greater risk for adverse events while in our care. Here, I aim to reveal how the recent focus on delirium, although good in itself, presents deeper problems in practice. These problems emerge when a fragmented perspective on care is reinforced and hospital outcomes are isolated from an integrated understanding of the individual’s health experience. However, the advantage of increased interest in and attention to delirium offers the potential to capitalize on momentum to reintegrate our perspective and individualize care. I end by suggesting a simple assessment strategy and
Changes in heart size and plasma volume during fasting.

Abstract Heart size as determined by standard 6 foot x-rays of the chest before and after fasting was performed on 21 patients. Plasma volume by means of measurement of apparent volume of distribution of albumen tagged with I 131 was measured in 7 of these patients. The findings indicated that the heart size decreased in all patients studied and that a significant decrease in plasma volume was found during fasting in each subject. No correlation was found between change in heart size or blood volume and amount of weight loss or duration of fasting. All subjects were ambulatory and changes were not related to bed rest. The findings were related to the saluresis of fasting.
Microtiter radioimmunoprecipitation assay of HSV-1 polypeptides with recovery and SDS-PAGE analysis of precipatated proteins: Usefulness as screening test for large numbers of specimens including hybridoma supernates

Abstract Immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled polypeptides from complex mixtures of proteins was performed in polystyrene microtiter plates using staphylococcus protein A and various antibody preparations. The method is (1) rapid, (2) uses multichannel micropipettor technology, (3) handles large numbers of specimen easily, (4) requires very small volumes of antigen and antibody (5–50 μl), (5) provides replicates for statistical analysis and (6) allows recovery of precipitated proteins for direct SDS-PAGE analysis of precipitated proteins. We have shown it is useful as a test to screen large numbers of sera or to characterize monoclonal antibody-containing samples.
Towards improving the properties of plaster moulds and castings

The plaster moulding process is commonly used for casting prototypes of aluminium components designed for subsequent production by die casting. Plaster moulded prototype castings possess dimensional tolerances and surface quality comparable to die castings, but without the high tooling costs and lead times.Unfortunately, the mechanical properties of plaster castings are significantly inferior to their die cast counterparts. This is due primarily to the low thermal conductivity of plaster which extends casting solidification time significantly compared to die or even sand casting processes. Long solidification times result in large grained castings demonstrating low strength and hardness.This work is an experimental investigation into the effects of various levels of silica sand and carbon fibre additions on the properties of foaming plaster moulds and associated aluminium castings. Data and statistical analyses are presented and conclusions drawn regarding the wet and dry strength of plaster moulds as a f...
Sex trade, sexual risk, and nondisclosure of HIV serostatus: findings from HIV-infected persons with a history of alcohol problems.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between disclosure of HIV serostatus to sex partners and recent sexual risk behavior, substance abuse, and violence among sexually active HIV-infected patients with a history of alcohol problems. Participants (n = 124) were 79% males; age 25–61 years; 49% Black; and 35% with less than a high school education. Separate logistic regression models were used to assess relationships between each independent variable of interest and nondisclosure. Results demonstrate that buying sex and having more than one sex partner in the past 6 months were significantly associated with nondisclosure of HIV serostatus to a sex partner. Findings from this study underscore the ongoing need for behavioral interventions with HIV-infected individuals concerning disclosure. Programs that emphasize serostatus disclosure and/or consistent condom use in the context of sex trade and with multiple sexual partners will be particularly important.
Mehrseitige Sicherheit — Schutz für Unternehmen und ihre Partner im Internet

Internet based business leads to new challenges for Information Security with trust building and partner protection as the most important issues. This article gives an overview of security and threats taking into consideration the different interest of the parties involved (multilateral security). It also presents design criteria for multilateral security and discusses the state of the art and the future directions of technologies that are important for enterprises and multilateral security.
Christine McGuire: at the heart of the maverick measurement maven.

In this article, part of the Exemplar series in Advances in Health Sciences Education, we profile the career of Christine McGuire, and capture her perspectives on the status of medical education practice and research. Her career was prototypical of other exemplars in the series – a pathway characterized by serendipity. As an exemplar, her contributions of leadership, scholarship, and innovations have changed the face of medical education. We describe our methods of data collection – literature reviews and in-depth interviews. We provide a portrayal of her career and accomplishments. Finally, we characterize her perspectives on medical eduction, including her views of significant innovations, contributions of professional educators, lessons learned, and needed future efforts.
Media Reviews: Cristalli: L'Ordine dal Caos by Giovanni Pratesi

Federico Pezzotta, and Adalberto Giazotto. In Italian. Giunti Editore SPA, Milan, Italy. 240 pages; 2008; €48 (hardbound). This book, at first glance, appears to be yet another coffee-table book fe...
Population-level predictors of persistent hyperparathyroidism.

Background Systematic study of outcomes of initial surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been limited by selection and self-reporting biases. To avoid these biases, we evaluated parathyroidectomy (PTx) outcomes within an integrated health care system encompassing 3.25 million enrollees. Methods All patients undergoing PTx for PHPT from 1995 to 2010 were studied. Persistent and recurrent disease were defined by a serum calcium level >10.5 mg/dL before or after 6 months postoperatively, respectively. The effect of demographic, clinical, and hospital volume-related variables was assessed by the use of multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 1,190 initial operations for PHPT were performed at 14 hospitals. Follow-up calcium levels were available in 97% of subjects. The overall success rate was 92%, and 5% of patients developed recurrent disease. Age ≥70 years was predictive of persistent disease (odds ratio 1.80, P 100 cases) predicted against persistent disease (odds ratio 0.42, P P Conclusion The success rate of PTx is influenced by patient age, hospital volume, and sestamibi scan result. Surgical outcomes may be optimized by designating high-volume centers in the community setting.
Metastable tetragonal phase CdWO4 nanoparticles synthesized with a solvothermal method.

Abstract CdWO 4 has only previously been reported in the monoclinic, or wolframite , phase. Here we report the first metastable, tetragonal or scheelite , CdWO 4 nanopowder. The tetragonal CdWO 4 was synthesized by a propylene glycol solvothermal method. The scheelite phase is stabilized by a combination of high surface area and surface complexation by the propylene glycol. The CdWO 4 is stable at 1 bar to 300 °C, and converts back to the monoclinic wolframite phase between 300 and 500 °C. The nanopowder exhibits cubic morphology and the average particle size of the nanopowder is around 50 nm.
The Role of the Environment in Student Ethical Behavior

Developing citizens of character has been a key goal of higher education for many years. However, obtaining this objective can be challenging since there are many factors that can influence students’ thought and behavior. In this article, I describe some of the research on student academic honesty, Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory of Moral Thought and Action, and ways that faculty, student affairs professionals, and administrators can positively influence students’ actions.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE AND PREGNANCY

Despite the lack of prospective studies on the relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pregnancy, the evidence strongly supports the conclusions that fertility is compromised in active Crohn's disease; heredity plays an important role in type and location of disease; fetal outcome is essentially no different than in the general population, except in the presence of active Crohn's disease during pregnancy; and the course of IBD during pregnancy is influenced by disease activity or lack of it before pregnancy. The major influence on outcome of pregnancy, fetal outcome, and course of IBD is the favorable effect of drug therapy on the disease. Most drugs, including sulfasalazine, 5ASA products, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressives, are safe, certainly safer than permitting the disease to be active and allowing for the possibility of surgical intervention during pregnancy. Episiotomy is contraindicated in women with Crohn's disease and perirectal complications. Cesarean section probably is indicated in most patients with Crohn's disease with colonic involvement.
Neonatal non-ketotic hyperglycinemia

The typical imaging findings of neonatal non-ketotic hyperglycinemia have rarely been described in the radiologic literature with only few individual cases or small series reported. In this article, we present a case of neonatal onset non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, imaged at 6 days of age, and discuss characteristic MRI and MR spectroscopic findings.
Calibration and validation of an innovative approach for estimating general cognitive performance

Objective: To evaluate a new approach for creating a composite measure of cognitive function, we calibrated a measure of general cognitive performance from existing neuropsychological batteries. Methods: We applied our approach in an epidemiological study and scaled the composite to a nationally representative sample of older adults. Criterion validity was evaluated against standard clinical diagnoses. Convergent validity was evaluated against the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: The general cognitive performance factor was scaled to have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 in a nationally representative sample of older adults. A cutoff point of approximately 45, corresponding to an MMSE of 23/24, optimally discriminated participants with and without dementia (sensitivity = 0.94, specificity = 0.90, area under the curve = 0.97). The general cognitive performance factor was internally consistent (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and provided reliable measures of functional ability across a wide range of cognitive functioning. It demonstrated minimal floor and ceiling effects, which is an improvement over most individual cognitive tests. Conclusions: The cognitive composite is a highly reliable measure, with minimal floor and ceiling effects. We calibrated it using a nationally representative sample of adults over the age of 70 in the USA and established diagnostically relevant cutoff points. Our methods can be used to harmonize neuropsychological test results across diverse settings and studies.
An Integrated-Circuit Approach to Extracellular Microelectrodes

This paper describes a new multielectrode microprobe which utilizes integrated-circuit fabrication techniques to overcome many of the problems associated with conventional microelectrodes. The probe structure consists of an array of gold electrodes which are supported on a silicon carrier and which project beyond the carrier for a distance of about 50 ? to allow a close approach to active neurons. These electrodes are covered with a thin (0.4-?) layer of silicon dioxide which is selectively removed at the electrode tips using high-resolution photoengraving techniques to define the recording areas precisely. The processing sequence described permits any two-dimensional electrode array to be realized. Interelectrode spacings can be accurately controlled in the range from 10 to 20 ? or larger, and electrode-tip diameters can be as small as 2 ?.
Evaluation of Nonisothermal Semi-Infinite Cylinder with Specularly Reflecting Walls as a Blackbody Source

The fractional deviation from blackbody radiation due to wall emissivity ∊ modestly differing from unity and due to the presence of a temperature gradient (dT/dx) at the open end of a specularly reflecting semi-infinite cylinder of diameter D and end temperature T1 is shown to be (163) (2-∊∊) d(T/T1)d(x/D).
Discordant Doppler right heart catheterization pulmonary artery systolic pressures: importance of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.

Background Although the echo Doppler (D) estimation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was initially highly correlated with right heart catheterization (RHC), recent D-RHC studies have questioned its accuracy. The aim of this study was to reevaluate this relationship and to determine possible explanations for disparate D-RHC results. Methods We retrospectively identified all patients at one institution who underwent RHC and had an echocardiogram within the prior month. Echocardiographic and catheterization hemodynamic factors were evaluated by regression and Bland–Altman analysis. Results Of 69 patients, 52 (75.4%) had estimable D-PASP. D-RHC PASP r = 0.62 and 51.9% had a PASP difference >10 mmHg, comparable to other recent studies. The D-RHC difference correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (r = −0.60, P < 0.001) and right atrial pressure (r = −0.43, P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis including wedge pressure improved the relation between D and RHC for PASP (r = 0.86). These results were little changed using only the respective RV-RA pressure gradients from D and RHC. Conclusion Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure appears to be a significant covariate in the correlation between D and RHC PASP.
517 ACID LIPASE: IN CULTURED AMNIOTIC FLUID CELLS

Two pregnancies at risk for Wolman's disease (WD) were monitored by quantitative assays and electrophoresis of lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) in cultured amniotic fluid cells. Cells from case I had less than 5% of control LAL activity with 14C-triolein as substrate, but showed 30-35% of control LAL activity when measured with either 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate or p-nitrophenyl myristate as substrate. Electrophoresis of cells from case I revealed the absence of band A of LAL. After termination of the pregnancy, results of the analysis of fetal tissues were consistent with the diagnosis of WD. Cells from case II had normal levels of LAL activity with all substrates tested and revealed a normal electrophoretic pattern of LAL. These results suggest that the use of synthetic substrates to quantitate LAL in the cultured amniotic fluid cells from a WD fetus may be misleading. On the other hand, electrophoresis of LAL from these cells readily reveals the deficiency of the A band and supports the diagnosis made using radiolabelled “natural” substrates. We recommend, therefore, that these two procedures, radioactive assay and electrophoresis, be employed for the prenatal diagnosis of WD. (Supported in part by NIH grant HL 18723, NF grant 6-80 and AHA grant 76-768).
On the Triangular Form of a Polynomial Matrix and Its Invariants with Respect to the Semiscalar Equivalence

We investigate the structure of polynomial matrices in connection with their reducibility by semiscalarequivalent transformations to simpler forms. We obtain a system of invariants for one class of matrices with respect to semiscalar equivalence. On this basis, we establish the almost canonical form of a matrix with respect to semiscalar equivalence.
Interannual Variability of Wind Speed and Wind Power at Five Tall-Tower Sites in Minnesota (1996-2001)

We use wind speed measurements from 1996-2001 at 70 m above ground (a typical wind turbine height) to investigate interannual variability in wind speed and wind power at five sites in Minnesota. Our results show that, over the period of record, there was an 8-12% difference between the lowest and highest mean annual wind speeds (depending on the station); differences for wind power were 12-33%. Years with the highest mean annual wind speed did not always have the highest mean wind power, and some "fast" years had less hour-to-hour variability than "slow" years. We also estimated the available wind power at each site, which we defined as the energy that can be captured by a particular wind turbine. Accounting for turbine characteristics reduced the mean annual wind power by as little 2% at low wind-speed sites, to as much as 13% at sites with higher mean speeds. Mean annual 70-m wind speeds at these five Minnesota sites show more spatial coherence than speeds at lower measurement heights, and their time se...
Alteration of ionic selectivity of a K + channel by mutation of the H5 region

THE high ionic selectivity of K+ channels is a unifying feature of this diverse class of membrane proteins. Though K+ channels differ widely in regulation and kinetics, physiological studies have suggested a common structure: a single file pore containing multiple ion-binding sites and having broader vestibules at both ends1–5. We have used site-directed mutagenesis and single-channel recordings to identify a molecular region that influences ionic selectivity in a cloned A-type K+ channel from Drosophila. Single ammo-acid substitutions in H5, the fifth hydrophobic region6, enhanced the passage of NH+4 and Rb+, ions with diameters larger than K+, without compromising the ability of the channel to exclude the smaller cation, Na+. The mutations that substantially altered selectivity had little effect on the gating properties of the channel. We conclude that the H5 region is likely to line the pore of the K+ channel.
Postbuckling analysis of layered composites using p-version finite strips

This paper presents the results of a study on the buckling and postbuckling analyses of layered shear-deformable composite plates using p-version finite strips. The plates are considered to be sufficiently long so that the effect of boundary conditions along the shorter edges is of little significance; this makes it possible to use the ‘exact’ trigonometric functions in the longitudinal direction. The displacement field in the transverse direction is discretized by p-version finite strips and convergence is studied by p-extension, i.e. keeping the number of strips relatively small whilst increasing the polynomial order till convergence of the buckling load or the postbuckling stiffness is achieved. Detailed convergence studies are presented and comparison with results of earlier investigations are shown wherever appropriate. The results demonstrate the superior convergence characteristics of the p-version approach.
Vertex-neighbor-integrity of magnifiers, expanders, and hypercubes

Abstract A set of vertices S is subverted from a graph G by removing the closed neighborhood N [ S ] from G. We denote the survival subgraph of the vertex subversion strategy S by G / S . The vertex-neighbor-integrity of G is defined to be VNI( G )=min S ⊆ V ( G ) {| S |+ ω ( G / S )}, where ω ( H ) is the order of the largest connected component in the graph H. The graph parameter VNI was introduced by Cozzens and Wu [3] to measure the vulnerability of a spy network. Cozzens and Wu showed that the VNI of paths, cycles, trees and powers of paths on n vertices are all on the order of n . Here we prove that the VNI of any member of a family of magnifier graphs is linear in the order of the graph. We also find upper and lower bounds on the VNI of hypercubes. Finally, we show that the decision problem corresponding to computing the vertex-neighbor-integrity of a graph is NP-complete.
The Birth and Growth of a Polynesian Women's Exchange Network

Based on ethnographic interviews and historical research, this article describes the birth and growth of a commoner women's exchange network in the Kingdom of Tonga during the twentieth century. The network developed during the first two decades of the century along with other late colonial institutions in Tonga that have been called ‘the compromise culture’. The exchange institution started with the inter-island exchange of women's prestige wealth within Tonga; the network soon expanded to incorporate Fijian and Samoan women's groups, to include western commodities and cash and, in the 1980s and 1990s, to involve Tongan migrants who are resident overseas. The detailed history of the women's exchange network over eight decades recounts an important slice of commoner women's life stories and memories. At the same time, as an account of a compromise institution, the history of the exchange network offers a window on the process of change in the twentieth century. It demonstrates the deeply conservative nature of seemingly radical institutional changes in Tonga, the increasing difficulties over time in trying to isolate ‘western’; and ‘traditional’; forces, and the profound transformations of Tongan life now underway.
Gaia and variable stars

The study of variable phenomena (periodic, irregular or transient) provides a unique way to acquire knowledge about objects in our Universe. Currently, we are going through a rapid expansion of time-domain astrophysics. One reason for this expansion is the technological developments materialised in small to medium size observational projects such as HAT, OGLE, Catalina, PTF and upcoming very large projects such as Gaia or LSST. In this article, we are focusing on the ESA cornerstone mission Gaia. This spacecraft will provide astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic measurements for one billion stars. Among the existing and planned multi-epoch projects Gaia is unique because it will provide exquisite astrometric measurements for all objects it observes. We provide a brief overview of the literature concerning this mission and its expected contribution to variability studies.
Productivity, Extent of Markets, and Manufacturing in the Late Antebellum South and Midwest

This article uses the Bateman-Weiss samples of manufacturing firms from 1850 and 1860 to estimate the labor and total factor productivity of southern and midwestern manufacturing industries in the late antebellum period. The results indicate rapid growth in productivity, especially in the South. The article also demonstrates a positive association between measured productivity, firm size, and urbanization. Differences in manufacturing performance between the South and the Midwest are shown to be crucially dependent on the extent of markets within the two regions.
Predicting Cache Contention for Multithread Applications at Compile Time

Shared cache in multicore processors is an important hardware resource that should be utilized effectively to achieve high performance for parallel applications. It is critical to coordinate accesses by multiple threads to data that reside in shared cache to reduce cache contentions, and to improve cache hit rates of both shared and private data of threads. Poorly scheduled threads with regards to their memory access patterns can cause severe cache interference among each other, thus increasing the number of cache misses greatly and causing overall application performance degradation. To evaluate the cache contention behavior of multithread applications, we propose a new method to predict number of cache misses that would happen due to cache sharing and/or contention at compile time. The method utilizes compiler analysis techniques to generate memory access traces for each thread under no cache sharing. Then a small number of combinations of threads' memory access traces are randomly selected among all combinations as an input to predict cache misses of the threads using the proposed method. We have shown that our method can predict the number of cache misses very fast without losing accuracy. Our approach is very generic and can predict cache contention and/or sharing impact of parallel applications on both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. We evaluated the method with a simulation case study and two scientific benchmarks. The results showed that our method can accurately predict the impact of cache contention and sharing at compile time.
Using HSV-1 Genome Phylogenetics to Track Past Human Migrations

We compared 31 complete and nearly complete globally derived HSV-1 genomic sequences using HSV-2 HG52 as an outgroup to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and look for evidence of recombination. The sequences were retrieved from NCBI and were then aligned using Clustal W. The generation of a maximum likelihood tree resulted in a six clade structure that corresponded with the timing and routes of past human migration. The East African derived viruses contained the greatest amount of genetic diversity and formed four of the six clades. The East Asian and European/North American derived viruses formed separate clades. HSV-1 strains E07, E22 and E03 were highly divergent and may each represent an individual clade. Possible recombination was analyzed by partitioning the alignment into 5 kb segments, performing individual phylogenetic analysis on each partition and generating a.phylogenetic network from the results. However most evidence for recombination spread at the base of the tree suggesting that recombination did not significantly disrupt the clade structure. Examination of previous estimates of HSV-1 mutation rates in conjunction with the phylogenetic data presented here, suggests that the substitution rate for HSV-1 is approximately 1.38×10−7 subs/site/year. In conclusion, this study expands the previously described HSV-1 three clade phylogenetic structures to a minimum of six and shows that the clade structure also mirrors global human migrations. Given that HSV-1 has co-evolved with its host, sequencing HSV-1 isolated from various populations could serve as a surrogate biomarker to study human population structure and migration patterns.
LC-MS/MS Coupled with Stable Isotope Dilution Method for the Quantification of 6-Thioguanine and S6-Methylthioguanine in Genomic DNA of Human Cancer Cells Treated with 6-Thioguanine

Thiopurines, including mercaptopurine (MP), 6-thioguanine (SG) and azathioprine, are widely used for the treatment of many human diseases including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To exert their cytotoxic effect, these prodrugs need to be metabolically activated to SG nucleotides and incorporated into nucleic acids. SG in DNA can be methylated spontaneously to S6-methylthioguanine (S6mG) in the presence of S-adenosyl-l-methionine. It was proposed that S6mG, owing to its high miscoding potential (pairing preferentially with thymine), may induce cell death by triggering the postreplicative mismatch repair pathway. Understanding the implications of this pathway in the cytotoxic effect of thiopurine drugs necessitates an accurate measurement of the level of S6-methylthio-2′-deoxyguanosine (S6mdG) in DNA of cells treated with thiopurine drugs. Here we developed a sensitive HPLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method and measured the level of 6-thio-2′-deoxyguanosine (SdG) and S6mdG in geno...
Potential Development and Use of Data Acquisition Systems

Abstract Computerized dairy herd data acquisition systems for management of the dairy herd can be expected to become reality. As herd sizes increase and various components of the system are developed, dairy managers will in increasing numbers accept management systems utilizing either a mini-computer or a terminal for a computer located elsewhere. The computerized dairy herd management system envisioned is one utilizing electronic animal identification, automatic milk weighing and recording, entrance of data into the system at either the parlor, the lot, barn, or at the computer itself. Output will be developed to assist the manager in decision making and management of the herd. As computers are installed for dairy herd management, additional uses will be found in computer-assisted decision aids, monitored crop production, financial accounting, and rapid communications.
Sectoral Clustering and Growth in American Metropolitan Areas

O HUALLACHAIN B. (1991) Sectoral clustering and growth in American metropolitan areas, Reg. Studies 25, 411–426. The purposes of this paper are to develop a theory of industrial clustering of information intensive industries, identify intermetropolitan clusters of sectors in the US, to test the relationship between the clustering pattern and metropolitan employment and income growth, and to interpret temporal changes in the clusters. The empirical results reported here are based on factor analyses of employment shares in seventy-seven sectors in the 150 largest metropolitan areas in 1977 and 1986. The sectors are mainly two-digit industries. Also included are nine auxiliary and administrative sectors and three government sectors. The factor analyses succeeded in identifying spatial associations among sectors. Little association was found between the location of high-order services and corporate auxiliary and administrative employment. I interpret clustering of information intensive service and manufacturi...
The Von Thünen Model and Environmental Uncertainty

Abstract In the Von Thunen model of agricultural location, land use is strictly determined by the set of initial conditions. However, under such conditions of environmental uncertainty, the pattern of land use is not predetermined, but varies according to the behavior mode of individual farmers. Elements of decision theory are used to show that a crop pattern that maximizes the long-run economic return frequently differs from the pattern that maximizes a guaranteed return each year. Secondly, although the short-run pattern produces a more stable return, the long-run pattern generates a higher average annual return. Thus, in a competitive system, conflicts emerge where farmers who can afford the higher risks dominate those unable to survive short-run fluctuations.
Probability density function for waves propagating in a straight rough wall tunnel

The radio channel places fundamental limitations on the performance of wireless communication systems in tunnels and caves. The field propagating in caves or tunnels is a complex-valued Gaussian random process, by the central limit theorem. We assume that the phase probability density function is uniformly distributed over a range of extent 2/spl pi/. Under this assumption, the phase and amplitude of the field joint probability density function are independent and uncorrelated. We show that the probability density function for the amplitude of a random field propagating in a straight rough wall tunnel or cave is Rician. This tells us that there is a dominant signal component, such as a line-of-sight propagation path. In such a situation, random components arriving at different angles are superimposed on a stationary signal. At the output of an envelope detector, this has the effect of adding a DC component to the random multipath signal (Gibson, J.D., "The Mobile Communications Handbook", CRC Press, 1996). Since both expected value and standard deviation depend only on radial position, the probability density function for the amplitude of a random field propagating in a straight rough wall tunnel or cave is a radially dependent function.
Fertility from Natural Matings Influenced by Social and Physical Environments in Multiple-Bird Cages,

Various social and physical environments were tested for effects on fertility using three White Leghorn strains in multiple-bird cages. Familiarizing breeder males with the cage environment before introducing females had no appreciable effect. Area per bird (560 vs. 1130 cm.-2) and cage height (40 vs. 80 cm.) were not detected as significant variables. Firmer wire flooring and previous mating experience of males appeared to confer advantages in establishing fertility.
Positional Estimation Within a Latent Space Model for Networks

Recent advances in latent space and related random effects models hold much promise for representing network data. The inherent dependency between ties in a network makes modeling data of this type difficult. In this article we consider a recently developed latent space model that is particularly appropriate for the visualization of networks. We suggest a new estimator of the latent positions and perform two network analyses, comparing four alternative estimators. We demonstrate a method of checking the validity of the positional estimates. These estimators are implemented via a package in the freeware statistical language R. The package allows researchers to efficiently fit the latent space model to data and to visualize the results.
Weight-of-Evidence (WOE): Quantitative Estimation of Probability of Impairment for Individual and Multiple Lines of Evidence

Environmental decision-making is con~plex and often based on multiple lines of evidence. Integrating the infornlation from these multiple lines of evidence is rarely asinlplc process. We present aquantitative approach to the combination of multiple lines of evidence through calculation of weight-of-evidence, with reference conditions used to define a not impaired state. The approach is risk-based with measure. . ment of risk computed as the probability of impairment. When data on reference conditions are available, there are a variety of methods for calculating this probabilitv. Statistical theorv and the use of odds ratios orovide a method for combinine the '2 measures of risk from the different lines of evidence. The approach is illustrated using data from the Great Lakes to predict the risk at potentially contaminated sites.
Internet gambling: an emerging concern in family practice medicine?

Background Gambling problems are rarely brought to the attention of family practice physicians, but pathological gambling can be associated with poor emotional and physical health. Recent availability and easy accessibility of Internet gambling may be associated with pathological gambling status, and Internet gambling may confer health risks. Objective This study evaluated the prevalence of Internet gambling, its association with pathological gambling, and the relationship between Internet gambling and health status among patients attending medical and dental clinics. Methods The South Oaks Gambling Screen and Short Form 12 were administered to 1414 adults in waiting areas of clinics. Results Only 6.9% of respondents reported ever gambling on the Internet, with 2.8% indicating frequent Internet wagering. Almost two-thirds (65.9%) of regular Internet gamblers were classified as probable pathological gamblers, compared with 29.8% of ever-Internet gamblers and 7.6% of non-Internet gamblers. Internet gambling was associated with poor mental and physical health, and this association remained significant even after controlling for age, gender, site and pathological gambling status. Conclusions These data suggest that Internet gambling is linked to pathological gambling and is independently associated with poor health. Family practice physicians should consider referring patients who gamble on the Internet for further treatment.
HISTIDINE MUTANTS REQUIRING ADENINE: SELECTION OF MUTANTS WITH REDUCED hisG EXPRESSION IN SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM

A method is described for the selection of Salmonella typhimurium mutants with reduced levels of hisG enzyme activity. This method is based on the fact that the hisG enzyme catalyzes the consumption of ATP in the first step of histidine biosynthesis. Normally, this reaction is closely regulated, both by feedback inhibition and by repression of the operon. However, conditions can be set up that result in the uncontrolled use of adenine in histidine biosynthesis. Cells grown under these conditions become phenotypic adenine auxotrophs. Some revertant clones that no longer require adenine contain mutations in hkG, hisE, or the his-control region. The hisG mutations are of all types (nonsense, frameshift, missense, deletion and leaky types), and they map throughout the hisG gene.
Hilbert-Schmidt lower bounds for estimators on matrix lie groups for ATR

Deformable template representations of observed imagery model the variability of target pose via the actions of the matrix Lie groups on rigid templates. In this paper, we study the construction of minimum mean squared error estimators on the special orthogonal group, SO(n), for pose estimation. Due to the nonflat geometry of SO(n), the standard Bayesian formulation of optimal estimators and their characteristics requires modifications. By utilizing Hilbert-Schmidt metric defined on GL(n), a larger group containing SO(n), a mean squared criterion is defined on SO(n). The Hilbert-Schmidt estimate (HSE) is defined to be a minimum mean squared error estimator, restricted to SO(n). The expected error associated with the HSE is shown to be a lower bound, called the Hilbert-Schmidt bound (HSB), on the error incurred by any other estimator. Analysis and algorithms are presented for evaluating the HSE and the HSB in cases of both ground-based and airborne targets.
Effect of vasopressin on renal cyclic AMP generation in potassium deficiency and patients with sickle hemoglobin

Abstract The effect of intravenous vasopressin on the rate of urinary excretion of cyclic AMP in patients with concentrating defects due either to potassium deficiency or S hemoglobin was found to be similar to that noted in control subjects. In addition renal medullary cyclic AMP concentration after intravenous vasopressin was found to be higher in potassium deficient than control rats. These data indicate that the decrease in ability to concentrate the urine in potassium deficiency and S hemoglobin is related to factors other than inability to increase cyclic AMP formation in response to vasopressin
Analysis of gene transcript profiling and immunobiology in Shetland sheepdogs with dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a canine and human inflammatory disease of the skin and muscle that is thought to be autoimmune in nature. In dogs, DM occurs most often in the rough collie and Shetland sheepdog. Characteristic skin lesions typically develop on the face, ears, tail, and distal extremities. The severity of lesions varies and is thought to increase with stressful stimuli. Previous studies in the collie suggest that DM is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion with incomplete penetrance. The work presented here concerns gene transcripts profiling and immunobiology of DM in the Shetland sheepdog. Gene transcript profiles were generated for affected and normal skin using a canine-specific oligonucleotide array having 49,929 probe sets. Two-hundred and eight-five gene transcripts, many of which are involved in immune function, were found to be differentially regulated in these tissues. Also reported are Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses which showed that staining patterns with sera from normal and affected dogs are quite similar. While our work suggests that canine DM is a disease that may be immune mediated, it did not detect the production of specific disease-associated autoantibodies.
On the nature of thumbs

Asymmetric regulation of Hox gene expression pre-dates the appearance of tetrapod digits, and was co-opted in the development of 'thumbness'. This asymmetric expression correlates with independent morphological evolutionary variation of digit 1.
Marketing your practice on the Internet

The Internet provides a unique opportunity for marketing a medical practice. By demonstrating a commitment to good doctor-patient communication, by providing helpful background information, and by facilitating office workflow, a Web site can be a cost-effective way to enhance any practice. This chapter examines the basics of implementing an Internet presence; the issues related to online communication with patients; and the ongoing utilization, promotion, and maintenance of a Web site.
A New Placement Algorithm for Reduction of Soft Errors in Macrocell Based Design of Nanometer Circuits

The rates of transient faults such as soft errors have been significantly impacted due to the aggressive scaling trends in the nanometer regime. In the past, several circuit optimization techniques have been proposed for preventing soft errors in logic circuits. These approaches include, inclusion of concurrent error detection circuits on selective nodes, selective gate sizing, dual-VDD assignment and selective node hardening at the transistor level. However, we show in this paper that larger wirelengths for nets can act as larger RC ladders and can effectively filter out the transient glitches due to radiation strikes. Based on this, we propose a simulated annealing based placement algorithm that significantly reduces the SER of logic circuits. We accurately capture the soft error masking effects by using a new metric called the {\em logical observability}. The cost function for simulated annealing is modeled as the summation of the logical observability weighted with the netlength for each net, while simultaneously constraining the total area and the total wirelength. The algorithm tries to assign higher wirelengths for nets with low masking probability for higher glitch reduction, while maintaining low delay and area penalty for the overall circuit. Each placement configuration is represented as a sequence pair and the moves in the space of sequence pairs are probabilistically accepted depending upon the cost gradient and the iteration count. Higher cost moves have a higher probability of acceptance at initial iterations for better state space exploration, while at later iterations the algorithm greedily tries to minimize the cost. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that soft error rate reduction is attempted during the placement stage. The proposed algorithm has been implemented and validated on the ISCAS85 benchmarks. We have experimented using the FreePDK 45nm Process Design Kit and the OSU cell library which indicate that our radiation immune placement algorithm can significantly reduce the SER in logic circuits with very low overheads in delay and area.