cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
United They Go Conjunct Regulation of Aortic Antioxidant Enzymes During Atherogenesis

Oxidative stress, resulting from a local imbalance between the ubiquitous formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the equally ubiquitous antioxidant defenses, is thought to be an important contributor to atherogenesis (Figure). Many of the players are known. The biochemical pathways generating superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and lipid peroxides have been identified, as have the most important oxygen radical–scavenging enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and thioredoxin reductase).1 Many endogenous and exogenous contributors to oxidative stress are also known, such as hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and shear stress. Leukocytes responding to intimal signals—frequently resulting from increased oxidation—are also an important contributor to ROS formation. In fact, ROS released during the respiratory burst, an innate immune defense against bacterial pathogens, may promote lipid peroxidation and therefore enhance further leukocyte recruitment and differentiation. In addition to antioxidant enzymes, arterial cells express enzymes promoting ROS formation, including, cyclooxygenase, NADPH oxidase, cytochrome P450 epoxygenases, myeloperoxidase, lipoxygenase, and inducible nitric oxide synthase.1–3 To what extent these enzymes account for ROS formation and oxidation of LDL in arteries, however, remains unknown. Dietary factors, natural and synthetic antioxidants, and hypocholesterolemic agents, such as statins, also directly and indirectly influence ROS. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the arterial wall. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing ROS formation and mechanisms through which ROS may affect atherogenesis. Research in vitro and in vivo has also shed much light on potential mechanisms through which oxidative stress may promote atherogenesis. Initially, the oxidation of LDL was seen as the central event.3 Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) is recognized by macrophage scavenger receptors that, in contrast to LDL receptors, are not downregulated by intracellular cholesterol and may therefore induce foam cell formation, a key event in atherogenesis. Cytokines released by activated macrophage/foam cells may then promote further cell recruitment and proliferation. Because LDL …
An analysis of firm-level innovation strategies in the US biotechnology industry

Abstract This study examines factors that may affect innovation strategies and performance of firms in the biotechnology industry. Specifically, differences between factors common to firms with high R&D intensity and those to firms with low R&D intensity are investigated. Biotechnology firms with relatively higher levels of R&D intensity attribute their innovation performance to research-based innovation factors and strategies such as strengthening their own research capabilities, entering into research collaborations with universities, industry leaders and other biotech firms, and licensing their technology. These strategies can be summarized as alignment within the industry. Firms with relatively lower R&D intensity have a hybrid focus—they invest in R&D but may also have products on the market. These firms attribute their innovation performance more so to production-based innovation factors and strategies such as gaining market access and maintaining connections with customers. Their strategy focuses on competitiveness, marketing, and distribution channels, while not ignoring the importance of a strong research base and the need to advance technologically. In a sense, strategies employed to achieve successful innovation reflect the stage of innovation in which a firm is operating for a particular product or process.
Teacher Candidates with Disabilities: Guidance for Teacher Educators

Abstract This article describes a variety of issues that teacher educators should consider when making decisions regarding the status of teacher candidates with disabilities. It reviews a variety of legal precedents and discusses some issues specific to appropriate accommodations for teacher candidates.
A framework for research in computer-aided instruction: challenges and opportunities

Abstract The relative effectiveness of computer-aided instruction (CAI) systems has become a popular research area. Over time, the focus has shifted from assessing the relative effectiveness of CAI (in comparison to traditional classroom teaching) to identifying factors that influence the success of CAI implementation. This paper presents a set of questions that form the basis for research in CAI. The questions evolve from a framework which suggests a set of components contributing to the effectiveness of CAI. These components are divided into four categories: student, environment, medium, and subject. As the research focus has changed, so has the technology that has been applied to instruction. Special attention is paid to the recent development of interactive videodisc (IVD) technology and the promise that it has shown as a new medium for instruction.
Study of Capacity Fade of Lithium-Ion Polymer Rechargeable Batteries with Continuous Cycling

A cycle life study was done on commercial lithium-ion polymer batteries to quantify contributions to capacity fade with continuous charge-discharge cycling. The cell consists of graphite (meso-carbon microbeads) as an anode material and lithium cobalt oxide (Li x CoO 2 ) as a cathode material. Analyses were done using ac impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that contributions to capacity fade with continuous charge/discharge cycling included solvent―salt deposition on the anode surface; however, instability and cation disorder in the cathode electrode were identified as the main reasons for capacity fade with continuous charge/discharge cycling.
Suppressive effect of interleukin-1 on pulmonary cytochrome P450 and superoxide anion production

Abstract Interleukin-1 has been shown to prolong the survival of rats exposed to lethal concentrations of oxygen. This oxygen tolerance has been attributed by some workers to an increase of manganese superoxide dismutase. We report here that the administration of interleukin-1 to male adult rats results in (i) significant decrease of pulmonary cytochrome P450 at 24 and 72 hours, (ii) decrease of P450 IIB1 mRNA at 24 and 72 hours and (iii) significant decrease of superoxide anion generation from pulmonary microsomes isolated from treated rats. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate these effects of interleukin-1 on pulmonary P450 and its oxidase activity ( O − 2 generation). On the basis of these results and several earlier reports in which various P450 depressants have been shown to depress superoxide production from microsomes and to prolong the lives of rodents in hyperoxia, we conclude that oxygen tolerance induced by interleukin-1 administration is likewise mediated, at least in part, by reduced generation of superoxide anion from cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system.
The parallels between parenting and patient care.

Soon after my medicine residency, while on faculty at a large academic medical center, I crossed paths with a complicated patient. Middle aged, homeless, and struggling with substance abuse, he was as well known to the staff for his disruptive behavior as he was for being discharged AMA. His behavior continued after he was admitted to my inpatient service for alcohol withdrawal. Late Friday afternoon, his nurse called me, distressed. “This patient needs to be transferred off this unit. He’s just too disruptive.” Shortly thereafter when I arrived on the floor, he was at the nurses’ station, stumbling and screaming to be discharged. He was largely incoherent, unable to reason, and it became clear relatively quickly that he lacked decisional capacity to choose to leave the hospital. During our discussion, though he continued to yell, I remained calm and even-handed about how we were going to care for him. I told him why he was here, sick in the hospital, and I listened to his frustrations about the staff, his room, and the food. The entire encounter, which ended amicably, lasted about 5 minutes. As I left him and returned to the nurses’ station, his nurse came up to me and said, “You handled that so well. How come you didn’t get angry?” And I said “I’ve seen worse. I’m a parent.”
A general incomplete block-matrix factorization method

Abstract A general method for incomplete factorization of M -matrices in block-matrix form is presented. The method generalizes previous methods for pointwise incomplete factorization [methods of Varga (1960), of Wožnicki (1973), and of Meijerink and van der Vorst (1977)] as well as a method for tridiagonal block matrices. Also we present a new and more general result on the existence of so-called modified incomplete factorizations which satisfy a generalized rowsum criterion.
A novel hemin reducing system: Crown ether complexes of sodium dithionite and their uses as reducing agents in nonaqueous solvents

Abstract The preparation of an 18-crown-6-complex of sodium dithionite is described. This complex is soluble in DMF, DMSO, alcohols, and other solvents and allows dithionite to be used as a reducing agent in solvents in which it is otherwise insoluble. The complex easily reduces a new chelated protohemin in nonaqueous media and, in aprotic solvents, it selectively reduces the hemin in the presence of oxygen, yielding the oxyheme derivative. In addition, the reduction of both azobenzene and disulfide bonds in organic solvents further demonstrates the utility of the new complex.
An asymptotic model of the mold region in a continuous steel caster

A model is developed to simulate the solidification of the steel shell in the mold region of the continuous casting process. Conduction-dominated temperature fields in the mold, mold flux, steel shell, and molten steel regions are determined through the development of an evolution equation for the solidifying front. This equation is derived in the limit of small aspect ratio, mold width to height, using asymptotic methods. These results are coupled with a lubrication-theory model for the mold flux region. This model assumes a temperature-dependent viscosity for the mold flux and allows for solidification of the flux at temperatures below a critical value. System response to changing casting speeds, superheat, mold wall temperatures, and mold flux properties is investigated.
Breastfeed at your Own Risk

For nearly two years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spent $2 million on an ad campaign to promote breastfeeding by educating mothers about the risks of not doing so. Those risks ...
Dispersion of vapor from liquid natural gas spills— Evaluation of simulation in a meteorological wind tunnel: Five-cubic-meter China Lake spill series

Abstract A series of six-cubic-meter liquid natural gas (LNG) spills were performed in 1978 at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, CA. A parallel set of modeled spills were simulated in meteorological wind-tunnel facilities to provide field-test planning information, to extend the value of the limited set of field measurements carried out, and to evaluate the concept of physical modeling of LNG plume dispersion as a predictive hazard analysis tool.
Azimuthal τ–p analysis in anisotropic media

SUMMARY For the purpose of transversely isotropic (TI) normal moveout (NMO) correction, we propose analysis of plane wave transformed azimuthal gathers, interactively using a single azimuth data at a time and a new delay time equation (developed in this paper), which is a function of two parameters at each azimuth. Results from independently estimated multi-azimuth gathers, then, can be combined to estimate stiffness or Thomsen coefficients. Azimuthal τ–p analysis also avoids numerical ray tracing, resulting in a rapid algorithm. We demonstrate the applicability of our method using a set of P-wave synthetic seismograms from a multilayered medium, consisting of isotropic and HTI layers. Azimuth-dependent anisotropy parameters are derived by delay time fitting and NMO correction. The reflections from the bottom interface of an isotropic layer with an anisotropic overburden show apparent anisotropic traveltime behaviour, which is easily accounted for by our layer-stripping based azimuthal NMO analysis. Unlike the previous approximate HTI NMO correction equation, this equation performs better NMO correction for the HTI medium and is also applicable to the VTI medium. Presence of only two reduced parameters in the equation helps the anisotropic parameter estimation become less ambiguous.
Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Diagnosis of Cancer

Objective Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to multiple adverse health outcomes. This study examined the association between ACEs and cancer diagnosis. Methods Data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey were used. The BRFSS is the largest ongoing telephone health survey, conducted in all US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and provides data on a variety of health issues among the non-institutionalized adult population. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to derive components for ACEs. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to provide adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between ACE components and overall, childhood and adulthood cancer, adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, educational status, marital status, and insurance status. Results Approximately 62% of respondents reported being exposed to ACEs and about one in ten respondents reported ever having been diagnosed with cancer. Component 1, which had the sexual abuse variables with the highest weights, was significantly associated with adulthood cancer (adjusted OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03–1.43). Conclusion The association between ACEs and adulthood cancer may be attributable to disease progression through association of ACEs with risk factors for other chronic diseases. More research should focus on the impact of sexual abuse ACEs and adverse health outcomes.
Electronic instrumentation for a nonintercepting photon-beam monitor

Abstract The paper describes the electronic instrumentation for a nonintercepting photon-beam monitor in use at the 82″ bubble chamber at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The position and the intensity of the beam are monitored by four shower-counters placed behind a 2-mm collimator. The bubble chamber flash-illumination and camera-advance are inhibited when the beam is not centered within 0.5 mm.
The canonical height and elliptic surfaces

Abstract Let π: S → P 1 be an elliptic surface over the complex numbers. Let E be the generic fiber of S. Then E is a curve of genus 1 which we assume has a rational point over K = C(u). By the Mordell-Weil theorem, one knows that E(K) is finitely generated. In this paper the author uses the canonical height pairing to help in determining E(K). In particular, suppose that the rank of E(K) is r. Then the author is interested in determining whether r sections form a basis. As an illustration, the author examines the equation A4+B4=C4+D4
Search-as-a-service: Outsourced search over outsourced storage

With fast-paced growth of digital data and exploding storage management costs, enterprises are looking for new ways to effectively manage their data. One such cost-effective paradigm is the cloud storage model also referred to as Storage-as-a-Service, in which enterprises outsource their storage to a storage service provider (SSP) by storing data (usually encrypted) at a remote SSP-managed site and accessing it over a high speed network. Along with storage capacity used, the SSP often charges clients on the amount of data that is accessed from the SSP site. Thus, it is in the interest of the client enterprise to download only relevant content. This makes search over outsourced storage an important capability. Searching over encrypted outsourced storage, however, is a complex challenge. Each enterprise has different access privileges for different users and this access control needs to be preserved during search (for example, ensuring that a user cannot search through data that is inaccessible from the filesystem due to its permissions). Secondly, the search mechanism has to preserve confidentiality from the SSP and indices can not be stored in plain text.In this article, we present a new filesystem search technique that integrates access control and indexing/search mechanisms into a unified framework to support access control aware search. Our approach performs indexing within the trusted enterprise domain and uses a novel access control barrel (ACB) primitive to encapsulate access control within these indices. The indices are then systematically encrypted and shipped to the SSP for hosting. Unlike existing enterprise search techniques, our approach is resilient to various common attacks that leak private information. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, our approach is a first such technique that allows search indices to be hosted at the SSP site, thus effectively providing search-as-a-service. This does not require the client enterprise to fully trust the SSP for data confidentiality. We describe the architecture and implementation of our approach and a detailed experimental analysis comparing with other approaches.
Wavelets and distributed approximating functionals

A general procedure is proposed for constructing father and mother wavelets that have excellent time-frequency localization and can be used to generate entire wavelet families for use as wavelet transforms. One interesting feature of our father wavelets (scaling functions) is that they belong to a class of generalized delta sequences, which we refer to as distributed approximating functionals (DAFs). We indicate this by the notation wavelet-DAFs. Correspondingly, the mother wavelets generated from these wavelet-DAFs are appropriately called DAF-wavelets. Wavelet-DAFs can be regarded as providing a pointwise (localized) spectral method, which furnishes a bridge between the traditional global methods and local methods for solving partial differential equations. They are shown to provide extremely accurate numerical solutions for a number of nonlinear partial differential equations, including the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, for which a previous method has encountered difficulties (J. Comput. Phys. 132 (1997) 233).
The effects of sex on chemosensory communication in a terrestrial salamander (Plethodon shermani)

Although much evidence reveals sexually dimorphic processing of chemosensory cues by the brain, potential sex differences at more peripheral levels of chemoreception are understudied. In plethodontid salamanders, the volume of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) is almost twice as large in males as compared to females, both in absolute and relative size. To determine whether the structural sexual dimorphism in VNO volume is associated with sex differences in other peripheral aspects of chemosensation, we measured sex differences in chemo-investigation and in responsiveness of the VNO to chemosensory cues. Males and females differed in traits influencing stimulus access to VNO chemosensory neurons. Males chemo-investigated ("nose tapped") neutral substrates and substrates moistened with female body rinses more than did females. Compared to females, males had larger narial structures (cirri) associated with the transfer of substrate-borne chemical cues to the lumen of the VNO. These sex differences in chemo-investigation and narial morphology likely represent important mechanisms for regulating sex differences in chemical communication. In contrast, males and females did not differ in responsiveness of VNO chemosensory neurons to male mental gland extract or female skin secretions. This important result indicates that although males have a substantially larger VNO compared to females, the male VNO was not more responsive to every chemosensory cue that is detected by the VNO. Future studies will determine whether the male VNO is specialized to detect a subset of chemosensory cues, such as female body rinses or female scent marks.
Optimal Parameters for Maneuverability of Affordable Precision Munitions

High maneuverability of guided projectiles enables engagement of fleeing targets, opens the area of influence of a weapon system, and allows new missions to be performed such as prosecuting targets in defilade. Gun-launched precision munitions have unique constraints that create technical barriers to achieving enhanced maneuverability. Structural integrity during the gun launch event, packaging control surfaces within the launch tube, and affordability are paramount concerns. The present work is a fundamental investigation of the flight mechanics and guidance, navigation, and control technologies necessary to optimize maneuverability of affordable precision projectiles. Detailed aerodynamic modeling and nonlinear equations of motion for the flight of a fin-stabilized airframe meeting low control authority constraints were implemented in simulation. Flight control laws were developed for various maneuver schemes with different actuator realizations. Simulations were conducted over a large parameter space to evaluate maneuverability. Results provide the optimal parameters within the distinctive scope of gun-launched munitions. Flying a skid-to-turn airframe with four canards in the “X” configuration maximizes control authority with moderate volume allocation and actuator bandwidth requirements. Examination of dynamic stability along with static stability illustrates that high-fidelity aerodynamic characterizations are required when optimizing maneuverability due to the implications on the airframe design and flight control algorithm development.
Integration in a Probability Space

There are two basic avenues to integration. In the modern approach the integral is introduced first for simple functions—as a weighted average of the values of the function—and then defined for any nonnegative measurable Function f as a limit of the integrals of simple nonnegative functions increasing to f. Conceptually this is extremely simple, but a certain price is paid in terms of proofs. The alternative classical approach, while employing a less intuitive definition, achieves considerable simplicity in proofs of elementary properties.
Diurnal regulation of photosynthesis in understory saplings

summary Photosynthetic rates of plants grown in natural systems exhibit diurnal patterns often characterized by an afternoon decline, even when measured under constant light and temperature conditions. Since we thought changes in the carbohydrate status could cause this pattern through feedback from starch and sucrose synthesis, we studied the natural fluctuations in photosynthesis rates of plants grown at 36 and 56 Pa CO # at a FACE (freeair-CO # -enrichment) research site. Light-saturated photosynthesis varied by 40% during the day and was independent of the light-limited quantum yield of photosynthesis, which varied little through the day. Photosynthesis did not correspond with xylem water potential or leaf carbohydrate build-up, but rather with diurnal changes in air vapor-pressure deficit and light. The afternoon decline in photosynthesis also corresponded with decreased stomatal conductance and decreased Rubisco carboxylation eciency which in turn allowed leafairspace CO # partial pressure to remain constant. Growth at elevated CO # did not aect the afternoon decline in photosynthesis, but did stimulate early-morning photosynthesis rates relative to the rest of the day. Plants grown at 56 Pa CO # had higher light-limited quantum yields than those at 36 Pa CO # but, there was no growth‐CO # eect on quantum yield when measured at 2 kPa O # . Therefore, understory plants have a high light-limited quantum yield that does not vary through the day. Thus, the major diurnal changes in photosynthesis occur under lightsaturated conditions which may help understory saplings maximize their sunfleck-use-eciency.
Clonal analysis of peripheral T cell precursors in lpr mice.

MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice develop massive lymphadenopathy characterized by expansion of an unusual population of T cells with the Thy 1+, CD3+, CD4-, CD8- (double negative) phenotype. The role these cells play in accelerating the autoimmune syndrome seen in these mice is unknown. In order to better understand the origin of the expanded population of T cells, we have derived a panel hybridomas from double negative Ipr lymph node cells. Surprisingly, eleven of twelve hybridomas selected for the absence of surface CD4 and CD8 do not express CD3. Six of eleven confirmed to have inherited the MRL T cell receptor locus have rearrangement at that locus, suggesting commitment to a T cell lineage. Only hybridoma 2.4, which expresses CD3, responds to ConA, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, and induces antibody production. The presence of CD3-, CD4-, CD8- T cells in the periphery of Ipr mice confirms aberrant T cell development in these mice and suggests an intrinsic cell defect which is expressed early in lymphopoiesis.
Time optimal control of spin systems with unequal coupling

In this article, we study the problem of time optimal manipulation of dynamics of coupled spins in NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy and quantum information processing. In particular, we analyze the system of three linearly coupled spins with unequal couplings. We give time optimal control laws for steering the state of the spins between points that are of significance in coherent spectroscopy
Substrate binding mode and its implication on drug design for botulinum neurotoxin A.

The seven antigenically distinct serotypes of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins, the causative agents of botulism, block the neurotransmitter release by specifically cleaving one of the three SNARE proteins and induce flaccid paralysis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared them as Category A biowarfare agents. The most potent among them, botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A), cleaves its substrate synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25). An efficient drug for botulism can be developed only with the knowledge of interactions between the substrate and enzyme at the active site. Here, we report the crystal structures of the catalytic domain of BoNT/A with its uncleavable SNAP-25 peptide 197QRATKM202 and its variant 197RRATKM202 to 1.5 A and 1.6 A, respectively. This is the first time the structure of an uncleavable substrate bound to an active botulinum neurotoxin is reported and it has helped in unequivocally defining S1 to S5′ sites. These substrate peptides make interactions with the enzyme predominantly by the residues from 160, 200, 250 and 370 loops. Most notably, the amino nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen of P1 residue (Gln197) chelate the zinc ion and replace the nucleophilic water. The P1′-Arg198, occupies the S1′ site formed by Arg363, Thr220, Asp370, Thr215, Ile161, Phe163 and Phe194. The S2′ subsite is formed by Arg363, Asn368 and Asp370, while S3′ subsite is formed by Tyr251, Leu256, Val258, Tyr366, Phe369 and Asn388. P4′-Lys201 makes hydrogen bond with Gln162. P5′-Met202 binds in the hydrophobic pocket formed by the residues from the 250 and 200 loop. Knowledge of interactions between the enzyme and substrate peptide from these complex structures should form the basis for design of potent inhibitors for this neurotoxin.
Development of an emission-transmission CT system combining X-ray CT and SPECT

We describe the design and initial evaluation of a prototype emission-transmission imaging system which incorporates a third-generation X-ray CT scanner and a single-headed SPECT scanner. The two commercial imaging devices are juxtaposed such that the CT table can move the patient directly into the SPECT scanner prior to the X-ray scan. The integrated system is being used to investigate correlation of X-ray CT images with conventional SPECT images and to attempt correction of attenuation errors in the SPECT image. We have evaluated two potential sources of error in the acquisition and analysis of data from this system. First, the observed flux of scattered X-rays passing through the SPECT collimator into the gamma camera is 17,000 cps-well below the rated maximum of 180,000 cps. Second, attenuation correction of SPECT will be performed by generating an attenuation map from the CT image. Previous experience suggests that directly calculated values can be generated within 3% of actual attenuation values, but more complex approaches will be implemented if necessary. Preliminary results of applying CT-derived attenuation correction are presented for a myocardial perfusion phantom. >
Improving Validity By Testing for Competence: Refinement of a Paradigm and Its Application to the Hearing-Impaired

The Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices and a Piagetian battery were administered to 120 hearing-impaired children, ages 6-11 years, under one of two nonelaborative conditions—(1) standard, or (2) ...
Explaining Pregnancy Loss: Parents' and Physicians' Attributions

Parents who experience a pregnancy loss desire to know why it happened and frequently adopt causal explanations for it. One-hundred thirty-eight females and fifty-six of their male partners were asked to explain why they believed their spontaneous abortion, fetal or neonatal death, or ectopic pregnancy occurred. Explanations for loss included blaming the mother, physical problems with the mother or fetus, fate, and no explanation. While the participants generally relied on physicians' accounts for the loss, as hypothesized, many adopted a second explanation as well. Physicians' explanations were found to be related to the gestational age of the fetus, although similar effects were not found for the participants' accounts. Participants expressed greater satisfaction when possible reasons for the loss were explained to them and continued to view such accounts as essential even two years after the event. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Experimental comparison of fourier transformation and model‐fitting methods of spectral analysis

A summary of the results of an extensive comparative experimental study of Fourier transformation and model-fitting methods of spectral analysis of random time-series data is presented. It is illustrated that Fourier transformation methods can be an essential companion to model-fitting methods even for short data segments with underlying sharp spectral peaks. The best spectrum estimates can be obtained by taking advantage of the strengths of both types of methods. For example, it is shown that detection and estimation of the frequencies of spectral lines for short data segments can be best accomplished using certain parametric methods in conjunction with Fourier transformation methods to aid in model-order selection and identification of spurious peaks in the parametric spectrum estimate, and that estimation of amplitude and phase for sine-wave removal, given frequency estimates, and spectrum estimation after sine-wave removal can often be best accomplished with Fourier transformation methods alone.
On the choice of rational decimation systems for multidimensional signals

Rational decimation systems, which alter the signal sampling rates by a rational factor, can be used to reduce the data rate of bandlimited signals without loss of information. In the present work, this idea is extended from the one-dimensional case to the multidimensional (MD) case. Given an arbitrary support of bandlimited MD signals, it is shown how to find a rational matrix whose irreducible left matrix fraction description defines the decimation and expansion matrices required in the rational decimation system. It is also shown how to choose the filter in this system to completely eliminate image components and aliasing effects. This technique is also applied to MD signals that are bandlimited in hyperspherical supports. >
Calcium ion-protein interactions in prothrombin activation.

1. The protein concentration dependence observed in the calcium binding to fragment 1 indicates that calcium-mediated dimerization is responsible for the cooperative calcium binding behavior usually observed. ''Unusual'' fragment 1, which exhibits negative cooperativity (the type of binding behavior expected for ions interacting with a charged protein) at high concentration, also exhibit altered self-association behavior. 2. The calcium-induced spectral perturbations that are observed by fluorescence and ultraviolet difference spectroscopy are influenced by calcium-mediated dimerization. Similar spectral perturbations may also be induced by other divalent, trivalent, and monovalent ions, as well as changes in pH. Because this is a multi-site system, only limited interpretation of the spectral data is possible without calcium binding data. 3. Although strong side chain CD signals make estimation of fragment 1 secondary structure ambiguous, the CD data do indicate small changes in structure during calcium binding. Similar changes are observed upon addition of monovalent ions at high concentration or after lowering the pH. No coupling between changes in conformation and the cooperative calcium binding behavior has yet been observed to exist.
Global Manipulation Planning in Robot Joint Space With Task Constraints

We explore global randomized joint-space path planning for articulated robots that are subjected to task-space constraints. This paper describes a representation of constrained motion for joint-space planners and develops two simple and efficient methods for constrained sampling of joint configurations: tangent-space sampling (TS) and first-order retraction (FR). FR is formally proven to provide global sampling for linear task-space transformations. Constrained joint-space planning is important for many real-world problems, which involves redundant manipulators. On the one hand, tasks are designated in workspace coordinates: to rotate doors about fixed axes, to slide drawers along fixed trajectories, or to hold objects level during transport. On the other hand, joint-space planning gives alternative paths that use redundant degrees of freedom (DOFs) to avoid obstacles or satisfy additional goals while performing a task. We demonstrate that our methods are faster and more invariant to parameter choices than the techniques that exist.
Hypermedia-aided design

Recently, the Internet has revolutionized many activities from entertainment to marketing and business. Two key underlying Internet technologies, efficient data delivery and hypertext, demonstrated exceptional potential as new application enablers. In this paper, we present a novel Hypermedia-Aided Design (HAD) collaboration framework that facilitates new communication and data presentation paradigms to improve the effectiveness of typical EDA applications. The framework leverages on the advantages of using semantic multicast as a communication backbone and quantized hypermedia presentations as an efficient data organization, retrieval, and presentation model. Semantic multicast is a global communication tool that relies on an internetwork of proxies to provide content discovery and semantics-based profile-driven data dissemination services. We introduce the notion of a quant, an atomic interactive multimedia information primitive with embedded hyperlinks. We demonstrate how interest-specific quant retrieval and concatenation can enable more focused collaboration. The HAD framework consists of a set of applications for student (designer)-centered CAD education (consulting), collaborative design and debugging, I-commerce, and technical support. In all applications, quant-based presentations enable that theoretical and practical components are tailored according to user's interest and performances. The conceptualized and implemented applications act in synergy with existing software, hardware, and system design tools.
Role of the σD-Dependent Autolysins in Bacillus subtilis Population Heterogeneity

Exponentially growing populations of Bacillus subtilis contain two morphologically and functionally distinct cell types: motile individuals and nonmotile multicellular chains. Motility differentiation arises because RNA polymerase and the alternative sigma factor σD activate expression of flagellin in a subpopulation of cells. Here we demonstrate that the peptidoglycan-remodeling autolysins under σD control, LytC, LytD, and LytF, are expressed in the same subpopulation of cells that complete flagellar synthesis. Morphological heterogeneity is explained by the expression of LytF that is necessary and sufficient for cell separation. Moreover, LytC is required for motility but not at the level of cell separation or flagellum biosynthesis. Rather, LytC appears to be important for flagellar function, and motility was restored to a LytC mutant by mutation of either lonA, encoding the LonA protease, or a gene encoding a previously unannotated swarming motility inhibitor, SmiA. We conclude that heterogeneous activation of σD-dependent gene expression is sufficient to explain both the morphological heterogeneity and functional heterogeneity present in vegetative B. subtilis populations.
Multivariate tests comparing binomial probabilities, with application to safety studies for drugs

Summary. In magazine advertisements for new drugs, it is common to see summary tables that compare the relative frequency of several side-effects for the drug and for a placebo, based on results from placebo-controlled clinical trials. The paper summarizes ways to conduct a global test of equality of the population proportions for the drug and the vector of population proportions for the placebo. For multivariate normal responses, the Hotelling T 2 -test is a well-known method for testing equality of a vector of means for two independent samples. The tests in the paper are analogues of this test for vectors of binary responses. The likelihood ratio tests can be computationally intensive or have poor asymptotic performance. Simple quadratic forms comparing the two vectors provide alternative tests. Much better performance results from using a score-type version with a null-estimated covariance matrix than from the sample covariance matrix that applies with an ordinary Wald test. For either type of statistic, asymptotic inference is often inadequate, so we also present alternative, exact permutation tests. Follow-up inferences are also discussed, and our methods are applied to safety data from a phase II clinical trial.
Concussion in sports.

Context: Recently, concussion has become a topic of much discussion within sports. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the literature concerning the definition of concussion, management of initial injury, return to play, and future health risks. Evidence Acquisition: This article reviews the most recent findings on recognizing and managing sports-related concussion, which has become a significant health risk. We reviewed articles from the literature discussing concussion and its effects. Results: Though concussion patients typically have negative head imaging, imaging is warranted in those with severe mechanism, significant loss of consciousness, focal neurologic deficit, or worsening symptoms. The existence of "second-impact syndrome," whereby a first minor head injury predisposes an athlete to later catastrophic injury, remains controversial; however, it is clear that concussion has significant effects on a patient and should be considered carefully in return-to-play decisions. Conclusions: A comprehensive understanding of concussion and its related risks is important in making return-to-play decisions as well as health care and league policy. Language: en
Biosynthesis of lymph and plasma lipoprotein apoproteins by isolated perfused rat liver and intestine.

The ability of rat intestine and liver to synthesize the various apoproteins of plasma lipoproteins was investigated. After the individual isolated organs were perfused with blood containing [3H]lysine, chylomicrons plus very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were isolated from the perfusates and the intestinal lymph. After lipoprotein delipidation, apoproteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the 3H content was determined. Livers incorporated [3H]lysine into all apoprotein bands of VLDL and HDL. The 3H content was greater in large proteins that remained in the stacking gel (group I, predominantly β-apoprotein) than in proteins with apparent molecular weights near 50,000 (group II) or in the smaller peptides (molecular weights near 10,000, group III). In the intestine, 3H was incorporated into group I and, in larger amounts, into group II apoproteins of lymph VLDL. No labeled VLDL appeared in the perfusate. 3H was also incorporated into group II apoproteins of lymph and perfusate HDL. Significantly, no [3H]lysine was found in the group III peptides of any lymph or intestinal perfusate lipoproteins. Since these peptides were always present in VLDL from mesenteric lymph collected in vivo, the results suggest that nascent VLDL of gut origin acquires group III peptides from other lipoproteins that penetrate lymph from plasma.
Practical Skills and Practical Wisdom in Virtue

ABSTRACTThis paper challenges a frequent objection to conceptualizing virtues as skills, which is that skills are merely capacities to act well, while virtues additionally require being properly motivated to act well. I discuss several cases that purport to show the supposed motivational difference by drawing our attention to the differing intuitions we have about virtues and skills. However, this putative difference between virtue and skill disappears when we switch our focus in the skill examples from the performance to the performer. The ends of a practice can be used to judge not only the skilfulness of a performance, but also the motivational commitment of the performer. Being virtuous requires both acting well and being properly motivated to do so, which can be captured by viewing virtues as the moral subset of skills. In claiming this, though, I resist the idea that there is no element in virtue that is not found in other skills. Virtue requires being practically wise about how practices fit into a...
Supracervical versus total hysterectomy.

Manchester, England was the site of the world's first hysterectomy, performed by Charles Clay in November 1843.1 Under-taken to remove a large myomatous uterus, the operation was successful (the uterus was removed), but the patient died on the 15th postoperative day. Approximately 10 years later
A Multifaceted Intervention to Improve Influenza, Pneumococcal, and Herpes Zoster Vaccination among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective. Vaccination rates for influenza, pneumococcus, and zoster in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have remained low. Simple electronic or paper reminders have produced only small increases in vaccination rates. We sought to identify a more effective approach to improve vaccination rates. Methods. We conducted a system-level intervention at an academic rheumatology clinic that included electronic reminders with linked order sets, physician auditing and feedback, patient outreach, and optional printed prescriptions for zoster vaccination at an outside pharmacy. Results. We targeted 1255 eligible patients with RA. There was no change in patients’ self-reported influenza vaccination rates, although the baseline self-reported rate was already high and much higher than that documented in the electronic health record. Pneumococcal vaccination rates increased from 28.7% to 45.8%; in regression analysis, the rate of change in pneumococcal vaccination increased by 9.4% per year above baseline trends (95% CI 3.9–15.5, p = 0.002). The rate of zoster vaccination increased from 2.5% to 4.5% overall (p = 0.01) and from 3.0% to 6.6% among patients not receiving biologic therapy that precluded zoster vaccination. Conclusion. Although the intervention improved pneumococcal and zoster vaccination rates, the improvement in pneumococcal vaccination rate was less than expected, and the zoster vaccination rate remained low even for ideal candidates. Likely barriers include lack of familiarity and difficulty using electronic reminders and order sets, uncertainty about the value and safety of recommended vaccines, and uncertainty about patients’ insurance coverage and prior vaccination history. Future interventions should include strategies to address these.
Asymmetric risk of the Stein variance estimator under a misspecified linear regression model

Using LINear EXponential (LINEX) loss, we formulate the risk of a generic pre-test estimator for the disturbance variance in a misspecified regression model. The dominance and inadmissibility of the Stein estimator of disturbance variance are derived under respective loss configures.
The Creditor's Protection Mechanism of Bankruptcy Law

The Bankruptcy Law is a private Law.One of its aim is to protect both creditors' and debtors' fights and interests.The creditors' rights and! interests is easy to be hurt,thus,the substantive and procedural creditors' protec- tion mechanism as perfect as possible should be set up,especially the priciple of creditor self-determination should be virtually carried out.In this respect,there are many defects in the Bankruptcy Law of 1986 in china.The Regulations on the Issues Arising during the Trial of Bankrupt Cases by the supreme Court camw into effect,on sept 1st,2002,which has overcome above-mentioned defects partly.However,there are still some defects in the new judicial regulation which should be amended in the future new Bankruptcy Law.
Creating Engaging Abstracts For The Journal Of Astronomy & Earth Sciences Education

The crafting of journal article abstracts is a consistent weakness among authors across many disciplines. Far too many abstracts serve as brief “teasers” and fail to comprehensively provide a summary of the research. Abstracts that result in the largest number of article citations are those that follow a simple writing formula that starts with a broad description of the field and highlights what is as yet unsatisfactorily examined in the existing literature. The middle section provides the research question, a description of the study-participants, and the research methods used. Finally, desirable, comprehensive abstracts that present a summary of the paper include illustrative results and a short statement of evidence-based conclusions.
A game theoretic framework for communication decisions in multiagent systems

Communication is the process of transferring information between multiple entities. We study the communication process between different entities that are modeled as multiple agents. To study the interactions between these entities we use Game theory, which is a mathematical tool that is used to model the interactions and decision process of these multiple players/agents. In the presence of multiple players their interactions are generally modelled as a stochastic game. Here we assume that the communication medium, protocols and language are already present in this multiagent system. We address the question of information selection in the communication process. In this thesis, we develop a formal framework for communication between different agents using game theory. Our major contributions are: A classifications of the multi agent systems and what information to communicate in these various cases. Algorithms for Inverse Reinforcement Learning in multiagent systems, which allow an agent to get a better understanding about the other agents. A mathematical framework using which the agents can make two important decisions, when to communicate, and, more importantly what to communicate in different classes of multiagent systems.