cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multivariate principal oscillation pattern analysis of ICA sources during seizure

Mapping the dynamics of neural source processes critically involved in initiating and propagating seizure activity is important for effective epilepsy diagnosis, intervention, and treatment. Tracking time-varying shifts in the oscillation modes of an evolving seizure may be useful for both seizure onset detection as well as for improved non-surgical interventions such as microstimulation. In this report we apply a multivariate eigendecomposition method to analyze the time-varying principal oscillation patterns (POPs, or eigenmodes) of maximally-independent (ICA) sources of intracranial EEG data recorded from subdural electrodes implanted in a human patient for evaluation of surgery for epilepsy. Our analysis of a subset of the most dynamically important eigenmodes reveals distinct shifts in characteristic frequency and damping time before, throughout, and following seizures providing insight into the dynamical structure of the system throughout seizure evolution.
Indian and African plate motions driven by the push force of the Reunion plume head

Mantle plumes are thought to play an important part in the Earth’s tectonics, yet it has been difficult to isolate the effect that plumes have on plate motions. Here we analyse the plate motions involved in two apparently disparate events—the unusually rapid motion of India between 67 and 52 million years ago and a contemporaneous, transitory slowing of Africa’s motion—and show that the events are coupled, with the common element being the position of the Indian and African plates relative to the location of the Reunion plume head. The synchroneity of these events suggests that they were both driven by the force of the Reunion plume head. The recognition of this plume force has substantial tectonic implications: the speed-up and slowdown of India, the possible cessation of convergence between Africa and Eurasia in the Palaeocene epoch and the enigmatic bends of the fracture zones on the Southwest Indian Ridge can all be attributed to the Reunion plume. An analysis of the plate motions involved in two apparently disparate tectonic events — the unusually rapid motion of India between 67 million and 52 million years ago, and a transitory slowing of Africa's motion at around the same time — has uncovered a possible common cause for the two. The Reunion volcanic hotspot beneath the Indian Ocean has been active for about 67 million years, and the close coupling of the motion of India and Africa strongly suggests that it is the waxing and waning of the Reunion plume head that is driving these motions.
Induction tempering of steel: Part II. Effect of process variables

Hardness patterns through induction-tempered steel bars and tubes of various sizes have been interpreted in terms of an effective tempering parameter which allows a continuous heating and cooling cycle to be converted into an equivalent fixed-temperature treatment. By this means, the effect of induction-heating variables on tempering behavior of a number of hardened carbon and alloy steels has been investigated. These variables include heating rate, cooling rate (following tempering), and surface-to-center temperature differences generated during induction heating. In addition, the modification during induction tempering of nonuniform as-quenched hardness distributions (due to inadequate hardenability) is described. The results suggest that tempering via induction methods can be applied more readily than is currently believed.
Photosynthetic pathways in freshwater aquatic plants.

Abstract Recent studies show that generalizations about photosynthetic pathways, derived from terrestrial plant studies, do not apply to aquatic plants. Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis is of selective value not only in arid environments, where it enhances water-use efficiency, but also in aquatic plants of oligotrophic waters, where it enhances competitive ability in carbon acquisition. C 4 photosynthesis is present in many aquatic species, but in these species it is not coupled with the specialized anatomy of terrestrial C 4 plants. The ratio of the stable carbon isotopes, 13 C/ 12 C, in the biomass of terrestrial plants is a marker of their photosynthetic pathway. In aquatic environments, additional resistances to carbon-isotope fractionation make this technique of limited use in detecting photosynthetic pathways.
PATIENT ADHERENCE IN REMOTE FOLLOW-UP OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMPLANTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Remote follow-up of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has become an attractive alternative to office visits. One type of remote CIED follow-up is wireless and uses radiofrequency transmissions. Although wireless CIED transmission has several advantages (as compared with
Pedestrian-Friendly Environments and Active Travel for Residents of Multifamily Housing: The Role of Preferences and Perceptions

This article examines the relationship of the built environment to physical activity in suburban multifamily housing developments in a medium-sized city, testing Alfonzo’s (2005) model of decisions...
505-MS/s photonic analog-to-digital converter

Summary form only given. Optical sampling techniques show great promise for realizing high-resolution (12 bit) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with multi-gigahertz of instantaneous bandwidth. The advantages of optical sampling derive from the ultra-low timing jitter (<100 fs) of short-pulse mode-locked lasers and the negligible electromagnetic crosstalk between the optical sampling pulses and the electrical signal being sampled. The phase-encoded sampling technique used in the 505-MS/s photonic ADC reported provides high linearity and large suppression (50-dB) of laser amplitude noise.
Technical Note: Precision and accuracy of a commercially available CT optically stimulated luminescent dosimetry system for the measurement of CT dose index

Purpose: To determine the precision and accuracy of CTDI{sub 100} measurements made using commercially available optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) dosimeters (Landaur, Inc.) as beam width, tube potential, and attenuating material were varied. Methods: One hundred forty OSL dosimeters were individually exposed to a single axial CT scan, either in air, a 16-cm (head), or 32-cm (body) CTDI phantom at both center and peripheral positions. Scans were performed using nominal total beam widths of 3.6, 6, 19.2, and 28.8 mm at 120 kV and 28.8 mm at 80 kV. Five measurements were made for each of 28 parameter combinations. Measurements were made under the same conditions using a 100-mm long CTDI ion chamber. Exposed OSL dosimeters were returned to the manufacturer, who reported dose to air (in mGy) as a function of distance along the probe, integrated dose, and CTDI{sub 100}. Results: The mean precision averaged over 28 datasets containing five measurements each was 1.4%{+-} 0.6%, range = 0.6%-2.7% for OSL and 0.08%{+-} 0.06%, range = 0.02%-0.3% for ion chamber. The root mean square (RMS) percent differences between OSL and ion chamber CTDI{sub 100} values were 13.8%, 6.4%, and 8.7% for in-air, head, and body measurements, respectively, with an overall RMSmore » percent difference of 10.1%. OSL underestimated CTDI{sub 100} relative to the ion chamber 21/28 times (75%). After manual correction of the 80 kV measurements, the RMS percent differences between OSL and ion chamber measurements were 9.9% and 10.0% for 80 and 120 kV, respectively. Conclusions: Measurements of CTDI{sub 100} with commercially available CT OSL dosimeters had a percent standard deviation of 1.4%. After energy-dependent correction factors were applied, the RMS percent difference in the measured CTDI{sub 100} values was about 10%, with a tendency of OSL to underestimate CTDI relative to the ion chamber. Unlike ion chamber methods, however, OSL dosimeters allow measurement of the radiation dose profile.« less
Engineering and Characterization of a Stabilized α1/α2 Module of the Class I Major Histocompatibility Complex Product Ld*

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most polymorphic locus known, with thousands of allelic variants. There is considerable interest in understanding the diversity of structures and peptide-binding features represented by this class of proteins. Although many MHC proteins have been crystallized, others have not been amenable to structural or biochemical studies due to problems with expression or stability. In the present study, yeast display was used to engineer stabilizing mutations into the class I MHC molecule, Ld. The approach was based on previous studies that showed surface levels of yeast-displayed fusion proteins are directly correlated with protein stability. To engineer a more stable Ld, we selected Ld mutants with increased surface expression from randomly mutated yeast display libraries using anti-Ld antibodies or high affinity, soluble T-cell receptors (TCRs). The most stable Ld mutant, Ld-m31, consisted of a single-chain MHC module containing only theα1 andα2 domains. The enhanced stability was in part due to a single mutation (Trp-97 → Arg), shown previously to be present in the allele Lq. Mutant Ld-m31 could bind to Ld peptides, and the specific peptide·Ld-m31 complex (QL9·Ld-m31) was recognized by alloreactive TCR 2C. A soluble form of the Ld-m31 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and refolded from inclusion bodies at high yields. Surface plasmon resonance showed that TCRs bound to peptide·Ld-m31 complexes with affinities similar to those of native full-length Ld. The TCR and QL9·Ld-m31 formed complexes that could be resolved by native gel electrophoresis, suggesting that stabilized α1/α2 class I platforms may enable various structural studies.
Meningococcal Endocarditis Presenting as Cellulitis

We report the case of a patient with mixed connective tissue disease who presented with two very unusual manifestations of meningococcal disease, cellulitis and endocarditis, concurrently. We also review the literature concerning Neisseria meningitidis as a causative agent of cellulitis or endocarditis. While meningococcal endocarditis or cellulitis is very rare, autoimmune disease predisposes patients to meningococcal infection. Therefore, unusual infections with this organism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever and rash in patients with connective tissue diseases.
Dendritic Molecular Capsules for Hydrophobic Compounds

Reichardt's dye, a highly solvatochromic dye, was encapsulated within poly (glycerol succinic acid) ([Gn]-PGLSA-OH) dendrimers to investigate the interior environment of these dendritic macromolecules. The absorption maximum for the encapsulated Reichardt's dye in water was indicative of a relatively high dielectric constant present within the dye/dendrimer complex. 1H NMR of the encapsulated complex showed the presence of aromatic protons from Reichardt's dye along with the aliphatic protons of the dendrimer. Additionally, there were substantial changes in T1 and T2 times of the encapsulated dye when compared with the free dye, and 1H NOESY spectra for the complex showed a significant number of intermolecular NOE cross-peaks. These data reveal the close through-space proximity of the dye to the dendrimer and the restricted motion of the encapsulated dye. To demonstrate the potential use of these macromolecules as drug delivery vehicles, the poorly water-soluble anticancer drug 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10H...
Neurobiological studies of reading and reading disability.

Abstract Evidence from neuroimaging studies, including our own, suggest that skilled word identification in reading is related to the functional integrity of two consolidated left hemisphere (LH) posterior systems: a dorsal (temporo-parietal) circuit and a ventral (occipito-temporal) circuit. This posterior system appears to be functionally disrupted in developmental dyslexia. Relative to nonimpaired readers, reading-disabled individuals demonstrate heightened reliance on both inferior frontal and right hemisphere posterior regions, presumably in compensation for the LH posterior difficulties. We propose a neurobiological account suggesting that for normally developing readers, the dorsal circuit predominates at first, and in conjunction with premotor systems, is associated with analytic processing necessary for learning to integrate orthographic with phonological and lexical–semantic features of printed words. The ventral circuit constitutes a fast, late-developing, word form system, which underlies fluency in word recognition. Learning outcomes: As a result of this activity, (1) the participant will learn about a model of lexical processing involving specific cortical regions. (2) The participant will learn about evidence which supports the theory that two dorsal LH systems may be disrupted in developmental dyslexia. (3) The participant will learn that individuals with reading impairment may rely on other regions of the brain to compensate for the disruption of posterior function.
Comparison of early versus late experience with percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty

The immediate outcome of the first 150 patients (Group 1) and the last 161 patients (Group 2) who underwent percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty was compared. There was no difference between the two groups in age, gender, New York Heart Association functional class, presence of calcification, atrial fibrillation, degree of mitral regurgitation, mean pulmonary artery pressure, left atrial pressure, cardiac output, pulmonary vascular resistance, mitral valve gradient and mitral valve area. Fewer patients in Group 1 than Group 2 had an echocardiographic score less than or equal to 8 (62% versus 69%, respectively, p = 0.02). The atrial septum was dilated with an 8 mm balloon in 74% of patients in Group 1 and with a 5 mm balloon in all patients in Group 2. Ratio of effective balloon dilating area to body surface area was larger in Group 1 than in Group 2 (4.05 +/- 0.07 versus 3.7 +/- 0.03 cm2/m2, p = 0.0001). A good result (mitral valve area greater than or equal to 1.5 cm2) was obtained in 77% and 75% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = NS). After percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty, a greater than or equal to 2 grade increase in mitral regurgitation was noted in 12% of Group 1 and 6% of Group 2 (p = 0.02) and a left to right shunt was detected in 22% of Group 1 and 11% of Group 2 (p = 0.0001). There were three procedure-related deaths in Group 1, but none in Group 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Accuracy of parenteral nutrition solutions compounded with automated systems and by hand.

The ASHP Guidelines on the Safe Use of Automatic Compounding Devices for the Preparation of Parenteral Nutrition Admixtures reported in 2000 that approximately 65% of U.S. hospitals used automated systems for parenteral nutrition (PN) compounding.[1][1] Automated systems have been found to be more
Morphologies and Energies of Néel Inversion Wall Defects in a Liquid Crystal Polyether

Two-dimensional Neel inversion walls formed in a nematic monodomain during magnetic realignment of a highly elastically anisotropic thermotropic liquid crystal polyether (e ≈ +0.5; k11 ≈ 3k33) are examined via polarized light microscopy (PLM). The detailed director patterns of these walls are then imaged at high resolution by atomic force microscopy (AFM) through a lamellar decoration technique, employed after the walls have been fixed by quenching while under a field. Walls form as closed loops composed of a continuous inversion wall with antiparallel director alignment of the interior region with respect to that of the exterior. The energy of Neel walls is theoretically evaluated as a function of elastic anisotropy, and it is shown that, in the extreme of e = +1.0, indicating easy bend distortion, a Neel bend wall is 58% lower in energy than a Neel splay wall. Correspondingly, for easy splay distortion, i.e., e = −1.0, the situation reverses. In our experimental system, the energy of a splay wall is 17%...
Differential Effects of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone,Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Phorbol Ester, and Depolarization in GH4C1 Rat Pituitary Cells*

The sequence of PRL and GH release from GH4C1 cells was studied in perifusion and static culture systems. The secretory pattern elicited by TRH differed from those caused by depolarizing concentrations of KC1 (Ca2+-initiated secretion), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), 8-bromo-cAMP, and forskolin (cAMP-mediated secretion), and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol- 13-acetate (TPA) (protein kinase C activation). TRH, K+, VIP, and TPA all caused secretion within 1 min in the perifusion system but the peak response to TRH and depolarization occurred earlier than the peak responses to TPA and VIP. PRL and GH release in response to a pulsatile application of TRH (0.4-min pulse every 5 min for 25 min) did not decline with a low dose, indicating that acute desensitization does not occur, but did decrease with a high concentration. When cells in the perifusion system were subjected to continuous stimulation, TRH caused a biphasic response with a 2- to 3-min period of high secretion followed by a second phase in which GH...
Numerical investigation and modeling of reacting gas-solid flows in the presence of clusters

Abstract This work presents a volume-filtered formulation for describing chemically reacting flows in the presence of solid catalytic particles. The equations are discretized in a Eulerian–Lagrangian framework and applied to flows of isothermal, heterogeneously reacting chemical species in fully developed three-dimensional risers. The aim of this study is to identify and quantify the influence of particle clusters on heterogenous reactions. The Archimedes number, Ar, is varied from 500 to 12,500, and the Damkohler number, Da, from 0.1 to 10. To assess the multiphase dynamic effects on the chemistry, conversion times from the three-dimensional simulations are compared to a zero-dimensional model that solves for the temporal evolution of the species mass fraction and ignores all spatial variations. The conversion process associated with the three-dimensional simulations is shown to be significantly longer compared to the zero-dimensional solution, with an increasing effect for larger values of Da. The discrepancies can be fully attributed to the presence of clusters, which are accounted for in the zero-order equations by an additional term that contains the covariance between species mass fraction and particle volume fraction fluctuations, which needs to be modeled. To this purpose, contributions to the fluctuating chemical source term are evaluated from the three-dimensional data and discussed, and a presumed-shape probability distribution function (PDF) approach is investigated. This PDF approach models the fluctuating chemical source term by a product of a beta distribution for the species mass fraction and a lognormal distribution for the particle concentration, and yields a mean species solution that agrees very well with the three-dimensional results for the range of Ar and Da considered in this study.
Prostate cancer: trends in mortality and stage-specific incidence rates by racial/ethnic group in Los Angeles County, California (United States).

Between 1976 and 1988 in the United States, the secular trends in age-adjusted incidence rates of prostate cancer were significantly different by racial/ethnic group (P<0.001), and increased significantly only among non-Hispanic Whites at a rate of 2.7 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI]=2.3–3.1%) annually. While incidence rates of regional disease increased significantly (7.7 percent to 11.3 percent annually) among all racial/ethnic groups during this period, localized disease increased significantly only among non-Hispanic Whites, by 1.8 percent (CI=1.4–2.3%) annually. Prostate cancer mortality in Los Angeles County (California) remained constant among Hispanics, non-Hispanic Whites, and Asians, but increased 1.6 percent (CI=0–3.2%) annually among Blacks. While the increase in localized disease rates of non-Hispanic Whites may be due to increased detection of asymptomatic disease, this apparently has not occurred among other racial/ethnic groups in Los Angeles County. The secular increase in regional disease rates among all racial/ethnic groups without a concurrent increase in mortality (except Blacks), suggests increased accuracy of staging rather than a true increase in incidence may account for these trends. Adjusted for socioeconomic status, year and age at diagnosis, Black and Hispanic men were at significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with non-localized disease (odds ratio = 1.39 and 1.24, respectively) than were non-Hispanic Whites.
Cost vs Performance in Propulsion System Design

The propulsion designer is confronted with significant difficulties in selecting rocket motor parameters in applications where both cost and performance issues exist. While not a problem in principle, there is a formidable problem in practice because of the impracticality of conducting all of the necessary propulsion tradeoffs within the context of the entire system. The propulsion designer must therefore uncouple the rocket motor optimization from the system optimization by developing a measure of propulsion cost effectiveness and by treating major interface variables with constraining relations. The context for an analysis of this problem is a small-diameter free-flight artillery rocket system incorporating a solid-propellant rocket motor. Several low-cost rocket motor approaches are compared with a conventional design. While offering unit cost savings, these lowcost approaches involve performance and reproducibility penalties. Even with a single definitive costeffectiveness measure, it is shown that any of these designs may be regarded as optimum, depending on how the comparison is made (i.e., which constraints are imposed). Chamber pressure serves as an example of optimization of a continuous variable in the presence and absence of constraints. Again, system constraints are found to have a profound effect on optimization results.
Feasibility of assessing liver lipid by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in healthy normal and overweight prepubertal children.

Abstract Background: Intramyocellular and intrahepatic (IHL) lipids are significantly associated with insulin resistance in adults and adolescents and may represent an early marker for developing the metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Methods: During the pilot phase of a larger cross-sectional study, we used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to determine the feasibility of noninvasively evaluating IHL in 11 male (n = 4) and female (n = 7) prepubertal children using a standard clinical system and to determine whether IHL is correlated with adiposity, fasting insulin and glucose, and liver enzymes. Results: Body mass index (BMI) (range, 13.4–32.4 kg/m2) and IHL stores (range, 0.07–3.2% relative to an oil phantom) were variable. IHL was correlated with body mass (r = 0.66, P = 0.037), BMI (r = 0.73, P = 0.016), percentage body fat (r = 0.73, P = 0.01, n = 10), waist circumference (r = 0.85, P = 0.016), and serum lactate dehydrogenase concentration (r = 0.77, P = 0.03) but was not significan...
The Impact of Asynchronous GPGPU Behaviors on Stochastic Simulation

This work examines the effect of one key aspect of General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU) computing on the realism and fidelity of stochastic simulations. In particular it is shown that the asynchronous nature of GPGPU computing can be leveraged to produce increased fidelity and realism, compared to conventional computing methods, when applied to probabilistic or stochastic simulations. This is a multifaceted argument that shows:1) Asynchronous behaviors are essential to produce high computational throughput on GPGPU devices, and thus allow more rigorous sampling, which in turn enables a deeper understanding of the underlying stochastic processes.2) Asynchronous GPGPU computing can eliminate the “global clock” present in simulations and potentially produce a better representation of the underlying process.This paper also attempts to give a working introduction to GPGPU computing, and to the applications of this technology in the field of stochastic simulation. A range of literature regarding these simulations is also surveyed, in order to provide context. A demonstration of synchronous versus asynchronous algorithms for robot swarm path planning is used to illustrate this discussion. Several notes on the limitations of GPGPU computing in this field are also made, along with remarks regarding future development of GPGPU-accelerated stochastic simulations.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
MODULATION OF DRUG METABOLISM IN INFECTIOUS AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

During inflammation, expression of various P450 genes is modulated differentially. Both the downregulation of some P450s and the induction of others may be the result of a complex interaction involving inflammatory cytokines, stress hormones, and metabolic perturbations. Our results suggest that NO is not an important mediator for the downregulation of CYP2C11 in rat liver.
The Role of Tissue Engineering in Articular Cartilage Repair and Regeneration

Articular cartilage repair and regeneration continue to be largely intractable because of the poor regenerative properties of this tissue. The field of articular cartilage tissue engineering, which aims to repair, regenerate, and/or improve injured or diseased articular cartilage functionality, has evoked intense interest and holds great potential for improving articular cartilage therapy. This review provides an overall description of the current state of and progress in articular cartilage repair and regeneration. Traditional therapies and related problems are introduced. More importantly, a variety of promising cell sources, biocompatible tissue engineered scaffolds, scaffoldless techniques, growth factors, and mechanical stimuli used in current articular cartilage tissue engineering are reviewed. Finally, the technical and regulatory challenges of articular cartilage tissue engineering and possible future directions are also discussed.
Axial Transonic Rotor and Stage Behavior Near the Stability Limit

Transient casing pressure data from a transonic rotor and rotor-stator stage measured using high-speed pressure probes embedded in the casewall over the rotor tips is analyzed. Using long data sets sampled at a high frequency, low-frequency (less than once-per-revolution) non-axisymmetric flow phenomena were detected while operating at steady-state conditions near stall. Both the rotor and stage cases are investigated and the difference in behavior of a rotor with and without a stator blade row is investigated. Data for both cases over the speed range 70–100% of design and from choke to near the stability limit (stall or surge) is presented. The root mean square power of the low-frequency signal as well as its fraction of the total pressure signal is presented. It was thought that the behavior of these signals as stall was approached could lead to some method of detecting the proximity of stall. For the rotor-only configuration the strength of these non-axisymmetric phenomena increased as stall was approached for all speed-lines. However for the stage configuration, more representative of an operational machine, these were of a lower magnitude and did not exhibit a clearly increasing trend as stall was approached. This would seem to indicate that the stator suppressed these signals somewhat. It is also shown that these non-axisymmetric phenomena led to a significant variation of the mean relative inlet flow angle into the rotor blade. During stable operation near to stall at 100% speed for the rotor-only case a 1.9° variation of this angle was measured. This compared with a 5.6° variation over the entire speed line. Further it was observed that while the rotor and stage cases had different stability limits their peak relative inlet flow angles near stall were similar for both along most speed-lines.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Nonuniformity in hologram diffraction efficiency from time-constant error in the recording schedule

Holograms recorded in materials such as photorefractive crystals exhibit exponential decay upon subsequent exposure to light. To ensure uniform diffraction efficiencies of multiple holograms, one needs to write according to a recording time schedule that can be calculated from the writing and the erasing time constants of the material. We analyze how errors in the time constants affect the uniformity of the diffraction efficiency in multiple holograms. For good uniformity to be maintained, the accuracy of the erasing time constant needs to scale inversely proportional to log M, where M is the number of exposures, whereas error in the writing time constant causes a finite error that does not increase with M.
Genetic analyses of ethanol-induced hyperglycemia.

Background: Genetic sensitivity to ethanol-induced hyperglycemia was hypothesized to be related to sensitivity to ethanol-induced hypothermia and conditioned taste aversion. These hypotheses were explored by characterizing blood glucose changes after ethanol exposure in BXD recombinant inbred mice. Methods: Adult male and female BXD recombinant inbred mice were acutely exposed to 4 g/kg of ethanol or saline with the order of exposure counterbalanced, and separated by a 1-week interval. Tail blood samples and rectal temperatures were determined immediately before ethanol/saline exposure and 2 hr after exposure. Results: Substantial strain differences in ethanol-induced hyperglycemia and hypothermia were noted. In addition, sex also determined sensitivity to ethanol-induced hyperglycemia and interacted with strain. Correlational analyses using strain means indicated that ethanol-induced hyperglycemia was genetically independent from ethanol-induced hypothermia or conditioned taste aversion. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses indicated provisional QTL for ethanol-induced hyperglycemia on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, and 18, which, in part, were sex specific. Conclusions: These findings indicate important sex differences in the glycemic response to ethanol. In addition, multiple genes likely control this response, independent from genes that are important for the thermic or aversive effects of ethanol.
Structure and action of heteronemertine polypeptide toxins Binding of cerebratulus lacteus toxin B-IV to axon membrane vesicles

The binding of the crustacean selective protein neurotoxin, toxin B-IV, from the nemertine Cerebratulus lacteus to lobster axonal vesicles has been studied. A highly radioactive, pharmacologically active derivative of toxin B-IV has been prepared by reaction with Bolton-Hunter reagent. Saturation binding and competition of 125I-labeled toxin B-IV by native toxin B-IV have shown specific binding of 125I-labeled toxin B-IV to a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant of 5–20 nM and a binding site capacity, corrected for vesicle sidedness, of 6–9 pmol per mg membrane protein. This compares to a value of 3.8 pmol [3H]saxitoxin bound per mg in the same tissue. Analysis of the kinetics of toxin B-IV association (k+1=7.3·105M−1·s−1) and dissociation (k− 1=2·10−3s−1) shows a nearly identical Kd of about 3 nM. There is no competition of toxin B-IV binding by purified toxin from Leiurus quinquestriatus venom while Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing toxin I appears to cause a small enhancement of toxin B-IV binding.
Strain effects on highly strained InAsP/InGaP multi-quantum well structures grown by MOVPE using TBAs and TBP

This thesis investigates different material systems and processing technology for high temperature compatible laser diodes used in volume applications within the 1.3-μm telecom wavelength window. Laser diodes built from such materials are much desired in order to eleminate the need for active temperature control needed in current systems, which significantly increases both complexity, size and cost. The structures were grown by Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) and the evaluation of materials was performed using different characterization methods such as High-Resolution X-Ray Diffraction (HR-XRD), Photoluminescence (PL), Time-Resolved Photoluminescence (TR-PL). Fabrication and evaluation of Fabry-Perot lasers with different geometries was used to check the material quality and temperature performance. A novel in-situ etching technique was developed for the use i future more advanced, buried hetrostructure lasers. The first studied materials system was AlGaInAsP/InGaAsP/InP. To handle a 5-element material with the precision required, modelling of the materials and heterostructure properties was performed. The addition of Al to the InGaAsP barrier allows better electron confinement with little change in valence band properties. The optimum aluminium content was found to be about 12%. Although the effect of Al could be identified, it was not sufficient with T0 of only 90 K only up to 60 °C. A second materials system InGaP/InAsP/ InP initially looked quite promising from a materials and quantum well design point of view but encountered severe problems with the device integration and further work was discontinued. The main effort was therefore was devoted to a third materials system: AlGaInAs/AlGaInAs/InP. This material system is not unknown but has hitherto not found a widespread application for fibre optic applications. In this work, the MOCVD growth of 1.3 μ;m quantum well laser structures was optimized and ridge waveguide laser devices with excellent temperature performance was fabricated (T0 = 97 K at 85 °C). A ridge waveguide laser was identified as suitable structure since it requires only a single epitaxial growth, thus avoiding the main problem of oxidation of Al based buried structures. The dynamic performance was excellent up to 110 °C and the device fabrication is highly reliable (lifetime >7000 h). This high yield uncooled ridge Fabry-Perot laser process has now been transferred to production and is applied in short length 10 Gb/s multimode links. In order to further improve the usefulness of the Al-containing materials in even higher performance devices needed in future applications developments towards fully buried heterostructure device geometry were also pursued. To overcome difficulty of oxidation of Al containing layers at the mesa walls an in-situ etching technique was implemented. Different chemistry approaches were investigated and the first results of lasers devices were reported.
Reconstructing the Effects of Computers on Practice and Education during the Past Three Decades

Abstract Architectural practice and education are consuming the phenomenon of digital technologies in their own distinctive manner. Professional practice has used computers mainly to increase the efficiency of how the profession has functioned in the past 150 years. Architectural academia has taken a more critical position and has used computer technology to reshape the scope of the profession. The schools of architecture supporting this view have become testing grounds for new design imagination, methods and materials, and types of projects.
Interpretation and the department of speech

Periodic evaluation is healthy for any academic discipline. Such evaluation reviews historical trends and current practices, reveals strengths and weaknesses and frequently provides data upon which future developments may be based. This study should serve these ends.
The Little Bootstrap and other Methods for Dimensionality Selection in Regression: X-Fixed Prediction Error

Abstract When a regression problem contains many predictor variables, it is rarely wise to try to fit the data by means of a least squares regression on all of the predictor variables. Usually, a regression equation based on a few variables will be more accurate and certainly simpler. There are various methods for picking “good” subsets of variables, and programs that do such procedures are part of every widely used statistical package. The most common methods are based on stepwise addition or deletion of variables and on “best subsets.” The latter refers to a search method that, given the number of variables to be in the equation (say, five), locates that regression equation based on five variables that has the lowest residual sum of squares among all five variable equations. All of these procedures generate a sequence of regression equations, the first based on one variable, the next based on two variables, and so on. Each member of this sequence is called a submodel and the number of variables in the e...
SuperBreak: using interactivity to enhance ergonomic typing breaks

Repetitive strain injuries and ergonomics concerns have become increasingly significant health issues as a growing number of individuals frequently use computers for long periods of time. Currently, limited software mechanisms exist for managing ergonomics; the most well-known are "break-reminder" packages that schedule and recommend typing breaks. Yet despite the proven benefits of taking breaks, such packages are rarely adopted due to the over-head of introducing periodic interruptions into a user's workflow. In this paper, we describe SuperBreak, a break-reminder package that provides hands-free interactions during breaks, with the goal of encouraging users to take more breaks and enhancing the benefits of those breaks. In a field study of 26 knowledge workers, 85% preferred SuperBreak over a traditional break-reminder system, and on average participants took a higher percentage of the interactive breaks suggested to them. Our results highlight the value of interactivity for improving the adoption and retention of ergonomic break practices.
Update on Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) disease encompasses a genetically heterogeneous group of inherited neuropathies, also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies. CMT results from mutations in more than 40 genes expressed in Schwann cells and neurons causing overlapping phenotypes. The classic CMT phenotype reflects length-dependent axonal degeneration characterized by distal sensory loss and weakness, deep tendon reflex abnormalities, and skeletal deformities. Recent articles have provided insight into the molecular pathogenesis of CMT, which, for the first time, suggest potential therapeutic targets. Although there are currently no effective medications for CMT, multiple clinical trials are ongoing or being planned. This review will focus on the underlying pathomechanisms and diagnostic approaches of CMT and discuss the emerging therapeutic strategies.
SWARM: A Parallel Programming Framework for Multicore Processors

Due to fundamental physical limitations and power constraints, we are witnessing a radical change in commodity microprocessor architectures to multicore designs. Continued performance on multicore processors now requires the exploitation of concurrency at the algorithmic level. In this paper, we identify key issues in algorithm design for multicore processors and propose a computational model for these systems. We introduce SWARM (software and algorithms for running on multi-core), a portable open-source parallel library of basic primitives that fully exploit multicore processors. Using this framework, we have implemented efficient parallel algorithms for important primitive operations such as prefix-sums, pointer-jumping, symmetry breaking, and list ranking; for combinatorial problems such as sorting and selection; for parallel graph theoretic algorithms such as spanning tree, minimum spanning tree, graph decomposition, and tree contraction; and for computational genomics applications such as maximum parsimony. The main contributions of this paper are the design of the SWARM multicore framework, the presentation of a multicore algorithmic model, and validation results for this model. SWARM is freely available as open-source from http://multicore-swarm.sourceforge.net/.
Offshore Transport of Shelf Waters through Interaction of Vortices with a Shelfbreak Current

AbstractInteractions between vortices and a shelfbreak current are investigated, with particular attention to the exchange of waters between the continental shelf and slope. The nonlinear, three-dimensional interaction between an anticyclonic vortex and the shelfbreak current is studied in the laboratory while varying the ratio e of the maximum azimuthal velocity in the vortex to the maximum alongshelf velocity in the shelfbreak current. Strong interactions between the shelfbreak current and the vortex are observed when e > 1; weak interactions are found when e < 1. When the anticyclonic vortex comes in contact with the shelfbreak front during a strong interaction, a streamer of shelf water is drawn offshore and wraps anticyclonically around the vortex. Measurements of the offshore transport and identification of the particle trajectories in the shelfbreak current drawn offshore from the vortex allow quantification of the fraction of the shelfbreak current that is deflected onto the slope; this fraction i...
Dyeing from Aqueous Suspension in Organic Solvents

It is suggested that water pollution and consumption in dyeing can be reduced greatly by suspending conventional aqueous dyebaths in an inert organic phase of similar density. The feasibility of the method has been verified on a number of important dye-fiber systems. The organic solvents could be reused immediately without an intermediate distillation or other purification step. In a comparison with other processes, emphasis is placed on the possibility of alleviating water problems now, without the need for lengthy development work.
Constitutive expression of cathepsin K in the human intervertebral disc: new insight into disc extracellular matrix remodeling via cathepsin K and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand

Cathepsin K is a recently discovered cysteine protease which cleaves the triple helical domains of type I to II collagen. It has been shown to be up-regulated in synovial tissue from osteoarthritic and rheumatoid patients, and is a component in normal and nonarthritic cartilage, where it increases with aging. Studies on heart valve development have recently shown that receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) acts during valve remodeling to promote cathepsin K expression. Since extracellular matrix remodeling is a critical component of disc structure and biomechanical function, we hypothesized that cathepsin K and RANKL may be present in the human intervertebral disc. Studies were performed following approval of the authors' Human Subjects Institutional Review Board. Six annulus specimens from healthier Thompson grade I to II discs, and 12 specimens from more degenerate grade III to IV discs were utilized in microarray analysis of RANKL and cathepsin K gene expression. Immunohistochemistry was also performed on 15 additional disc specimens to assess the presence of RANKL and cathepsin K. Cathepsin K gene expression was significantly greater in more degenerated grade III to IV discs compared to healthier grade I to II discs (P = 0.001). RANKL was also identified with immunohistochemistry and molecular analyses. RANKL gene expression was also significantly greater in more degenerated discs compared to healthier ones (P = 0.0001). A significant linear positive correlation was identified between expression of cathepsin K and RANKL (r2 = 92.2; P < 0.0001). Extracellular matrix remodeling is a key element of disc biology. Our use of an appropriate antibody and gene expression studies showed that cathepsin K is indeed present in the human intervertebral disc. Immunolocalization and molecular analyses also confirmed that RANKL is present in the human disc. Expression of RANKL was found to be significantly greater in more degenerated compared to healthier discs (P = 0.0001). Cathepsin K gene expression levels showed a positive, significant correlation with RANKL expression. Based on these data, we propose that cathepsin K plays a significant role in disc matrix remodeling and in matrix degradation in the proinflammatory cytokine-rich microenvironment of the degenerating disc.
A Review of: “DANBOM, DAVID B. Born in the Country: A History of Rural America.”

Born in the Country is a key text for students of rural life. Now out in a second edition, the updated version more fully recognizes sweeping changes that have occurred across the rural United Stat...
Molecular engineering approaches for quantifying hepatic gene activity in embryonic stem cells

Although defined differentiation strategies exist for generating hepatocyte-like cells from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, these systems yield a heterogeneous end population, from which it is difficult to assay, purify and quantify cells of interest and understand their gene expression profile. Using non-viral vector plasmids, we have designed several constructs for exploring the real-time expression levels of alpha feto-protein and albumin. These vectors encode for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and are driven by the regulatory elements of the gene of interest Via transient transfection, the DNA reporter plasmids are delivered into the ES cells to monitor gene behavior and the portion of cells that are liver-like. Parallel transfections using constitutive reporters provide a normalization control and yield insight into changes in gene uptake with varied differentiation. Gene behavior is quantified based on flow cy to me try and cells of interest can be further purified from the remaining population via a cell sorter. This process enables additional enzymatic assays to be performed on this homogenous group. In addition to providing a vivid tool for understanding specific gene regulatory motifs, the reporters have further application in assaying cell-cell interactions, cell communication and maturation of cellular components.
Rotating stall control via bifurcation stabilization

Rotating stall is a fundamental aerodynamic instability in axial flow compressors, induced by nonlinear bifurcation. It effectively reduces the performance of aeroengines. In this paper classical bifurcation theory is used to derive output feedback control laws in which throttle position is employed as actuator and pressure rise as output measurement. The challenge to the proposed control system is that the critical mode of the linearized system corresponding to rotating stall is neither controllable nor observable. Using the projection method from Iooss and Joseph (1980), and Abed and Fu (1986), it is shown that linear output feedback controllers are adequate for bifurcation stabilization. Both linear and nonlinear feedback control laws are proposed and are shown to be effective in elimination of hysteresis loop associated with rotating stall, and in extending the stable operating range of axial flow compressors.
Evolution of CCR5 Use before and during Coreceptor Switching

The envelope gene (env) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) undergoes rapid divergence from the transmitted sequence and increasing diversification during the prolonged course of chronic infection in humans. In about half of infected individuals or more, env evolution leads to expansion of the use of entry coreceptor from CCR5 alone to CCR5 and CXCR4. The stochastic nature of this coreceptor switch is not well explained by host selective forces that should be relatively constant between infected individuals. Moreover, differences in the incidence of coreceptor switching among different HIV-1 subtypes suggest that properties of the evolving virus population drive the switch. We evaluated the functional properties of sequential env clones from a patient with evidence of coreceptor switching at 5.67 years of infection. We found an abrupt decline in the ability of viruses to use CCR5 for entry at this time, manifested by a 1- to 2-log increase in susceptibility to CCR5 inhibitors and a reduced ability to infect cell lines with low CCR5 expression. There was an abnormally rapid 5.4% divergence in env sequences from 4.10 to 5.76 years of infection, with the V3 and V4/V5 regions showing the greatest divergence and evidence of positive selection. These observations suggest that a decline in the fitness of R5 virus populations may be one driving force that permits the emergence of R5X4 variants.