cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The representation of national political freedom on Web interface design: The indicators

This study is designed to validate 10 Power Distance indicators identified from previous research on cultural dimensions to establish a measurement for determining a country's national political freedom represented on Web content and interface design. Two coders performed content analysis on 156 college-university Web sites selected from 39 countries. One-way analysis of variance was applied to analyze each of the proposed 10 indicators to detect statistical significant differences among means of the three freedom groups (free-country group, partly-free-country group, and not-free-country group). The results indicated that 6 of the 10 proposed indicators could be used to measure a country's national political freedom on Web interface design. The seventh indicator, symmetric layout, demonstrated a negative correlation between the freedom level and the Web representation of Power Distance. The last three proposed indicators failed to show any significant differences among the treatment means, and there are no clear trend patterns for the treatment means of the three freedom groups. By examining national political freedom represented on Web pages, this study not only provides an insight into cultural dimensions and Web interface design but also advances our knowledge in sociological and cultural studies of the Web. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Center-of-mass corrections in nuclear self-consistent field theories

Abstract Of various methods for making c.m. corrections to nuclear wave functions, one is found to be particularly suitable for calculations of the Hartree-Fock type, including those of Brueckner theory. For a spherical nucleus, expressions are derived for the corrections to the single-particle potential, the single-particle energies, the separation energies, the total binding energy and the rms mass, proton and neutron radii. The matrix formulation of Hartree-Fock theory in a harmonic-oscillator basis is employed. The limiting case of the single-oscillator configuration is discussed. Questions arise concerning the c.m. corrections when the Brueckner theory is renormalized with occupation probabilities. It is argued that within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approximation it is more accurate not to renormalize the c.m. corrections.
Multi-Input/Multi-Output Sliding Mode Control for a Tailless Fighter Aircraft

A frequency-domain procedure for the design of sliding mode controllers for multi-input/multi-output systems is presented. The methodology accommodates the effects of parasitic dynamics, such as those introduced by unmodeled actuators through the introduction of multiple asymptotic observers and model reference hedging. The design procedure includes a frequency-domain approach to specify the sliding manifold, the observer eigenvalues, and the hedge model. The procedure is applied to the development of a flight-control system for a linear model of the Innovative Control Effector fighter aircraft. The stability and performance robustness of the resulting design is demonstrated through the introduction of significant degradation in the control effector actuators and variation in vehicle dynamics.
Modular Polymer Design to Regulate Phenotype and Oxidative Response of Human Coronary Artery Cells for Potential Stent Coating Applications

Polymer properties can be tailored by copolymerizing subunits with specific physico-chemical characteristics. Vascular stent materials require biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and prevention of restenosis. Here we copolymerized poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and carboxyl-PCL (cPCL) at varying molar ratios and characterized the resulting material properties. We then performed a short-term evaluation of these polymers for their applicability as potential coronary stent coating materials with two primary human coronary artery cell types: smooth muscle cells (HCASMC) and endothelial cells (HCAEC). Changes in proliferation and phenotype were dependent upon intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and 4%PEG-96%PCL-0%cPCL was identified as the most appropriate coating material for this application. After 3days on this substrate HCASMC maintained a healthy contractile phenotype and HCAEC exhibited a physiologically relevant proliferation rate and a balanced redox state. Other test substrates promoted a pathological, synthetic phenotype of HCASMC and/or hyperproliferation of HCAEC. Phenotypic changes of HCASMC appeared to be modulated by the Young's modulus and surface charge of the test substrates, indicating a structure-function relationship that can be exploited for intricate control over vascular cell functions. These data indicate that tailored copolymer properties can direct vascular cell behavior and provide insights for further development of biologically instructive stent coating materials.
The Structures of Cyclopropane−Amine van der Waals Complexes

The rotational spectra of the cyclopropane−trimethylamine (CYC·TMA) and cyclopropane−dimethylamine (CYC·DMA) complexes have been observed using a pulsed nozzle, Fourier transform microwave spectrom...
The bridge between dendritic cells and asthma

A single molecule, osteopontin, seems to both amplify and quell the immune response in asthma—depending on the stage of the asthmatic reaction. The findings hint that, if given at the right stage, osteopontin might have value as a therapy (pages 570–578).
Molecular mechanics calculations on rous sarcoma virus protease with peptide substrates

Molecular models of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) protease and 20 peptide substrates with single amino acid substitutions at positions from P4 to P3', where the scissile bond is between P1 and P1'. were built and compared with kinetic measurements. The unsubstituted peptide substrate. Pro-Ala-Val-Ser-Leu-Ala-Met-Thr, represents the NC-PR cleavage site of RSV protease. Models were built of two intermediates in the catalytic reaction, RSV protease with peptide substrate and with the tetrahedral intermediate. The energy minimization used an algorithm that increased the speed and eliminated a cutoff for nonbonded interactions. The calculated protease-substrate interaction energies showed correlation with the relative catalytic efficiency of peptide hydrolysis. The calculated interaction energies for the 8 RSV protease-substrate models with changes in P1 to P1' next to the scissile bond gave the highest correlation coefficient of 0.79 with the kinetic measurements, whereas all 20 substrates showed the lower, but still significant correlation of 0.46. Models of the tetrahedral reaction intermediates gave a correlation of 0.72 for the 8 substrates with changes next to the scissile bond, whereas a correlation coefficient of only 0.34 was observed for all 20 substrates. The differences between the energies calculated for the tetrahedral intermediate and the bound peptide gave the most significant correlation coefficients of 0.90 for models with changes in P1 and P1', and 0.56 for all substrates. These results are compared to those from similar calculations on HIV-1 protease and discussed in relation to the rate-limiting steps in the catalytic mechanism and the entropic contributions.
Effects of anisotropy, order parameter, and viscosity on translational self-diffusion in nematic liquid crystals

Abstract A theory developed for the translational diffusion in nematic liquids crystals shows a dependence on the viscosities, order parameter, and molecular structure. Theoretical results for self-diffusion in p-azoxyanisole at 125°C are D∥ = 4.3 × 10−6, D⊥ = 3.1 × 10−6 c2/s, and D∥/D⊥ = 1.4.
Polymer Melt Rheology by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tubular rheometer for polymer melt systems is described. This technique allows the viscosity to be determined over a range of shear rates. It relies upon obtaining steady-state velocity profiles in tubular pipes using MRI and simultaneously measuring the pressure drop. In these experiments, the shear viscosity of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) melt was measured at shear rates between 1.8 and 12.1 s-1 and was found to be approximately 117.7 Pa·s. The viscosity was also determined using a parallel plate rheometer in which it was found to vary slightly with shear rate, ranging from 113.9 to 107.2 Pa·s, comparing favorably with the MRI determined values. MRI is noninvasive and nondestructive and can be applied to opaque systems; hence, it has the potential to be used for in-process monitoring.
Yield response curves of crops exposed to SO2 time series

Abstract Six species (alfalfa, onion, lettuce, radish, red clover, Douglas fir) were exposed in field growth chambers to both constant concentration and stochastic SO2 time series. Yield response curves were generated with median concentrations ranging from 0 to 20 pphm. Constant concentration treatments were found to underestimate yield loss compared with the pollutant time series treatments. An heuristic model of plant assimilation of SO2 is presented to explain this result.
Educational television as mediated literacy environments for preschoolers

Research on children’s television suggests that preschool programs can facilitate literacy and language development. In 1998 Whitehurst and Lonigan described two interdependent sets of skills involved in literacy acquisition: ‘outside‐in’ or oral language skills and ‘inside‐out’ or code‐related skills. Outside‐in skills support children’s interpretation or understanding of print by placing written language into context through oral language. Inside‐out skills focus on those skills involved in the translation of print into sounds and sounds into print. This study describes the production techniques of Between the Lions that contributed to preschooler’s observed behaviors from the outside‐in and the inside‐out.
Mass of the lowest T = 2 state in S 32 : A test of the isobaric multiplet mass equation

We produced the lowest $T=2$ state in $^{32}\mathrm{S}$ with the $^{31}\mathrm{P}$($p,\ensuremath{\gamma}$) reaction and measured the energies of the deexcitation \ensuremath{\gamma} rays, obtaining an excitation energy of $12047.96\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.28$ keV that disagrees with a previous value of $12045.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4$ keV. Our result, together with a recent measurement of the $^{32}\mathrm{Ar}$ mass, makes the $\text{A}=32$ multiplet the most precisely measured $T=2$ quintet and provides easily the most stringent test of the isobaric multiplet mass equation. A significant violation of the isobaric multiplet mass equation is observed that could be explained by mixing with a nearby $T=0$ level.
Phonon bottleneck effects in rectangular graphene quantum dots

This paper considers dimensionally-confined graphene quantum dots, provides formulations for the electronic states and the optical phonons in these quantum dots. These results are used to calculate scattering rates for the optical deformation potential and phonon bottleneck effects are identified.
Surgical critical care for cancer patients.

T IS ESTIMATED that 90% of patients with cancer will have some type of surgical procedure.1 Surgical procedures may be elective or palliative, tumor related, or involving other concomitant nononcologic health problems. The decision to surgically intervene and the selection of an appropriate procedure require integration of our past experience and current knowledge of the unique physiological problems of cancer patients. The introduction of new technology and surgical techniques such as video thoracoscopy and laparoscopic colectomies spare many the trauma of extensive surgery. However, for some, aggressive surgical management that was hardly justified 10 years ago remains the only hope for cure or palliation. Despite surgery being the first cancer therapy to be developed, advances in the areas of radiotherapy and chemotherapy preceded specialization in surgical oncology. In the 1960s and 1970s, critical care units became commonplace, providing a mechanism to implement intensive monitoring, recovery from deep anesthesia, and complex care. 2 Radical curative surgical procedures, techniques to eradicate or palliate the progression of disease, and major reconstructive undertakings to restore function and psychological well-being have improved survival and quality of life for many individuals with cancer. Careful preoperative evaluation coupled with the integration of therapies to manage underlying medical conditions has defined broader populations of cancer patients eligible for surgical
Lest We Forget Our Past: A Leader in Curriculum Development—Ralph Winfred Tyler

Abstract In the history of education, every generation brings forth someone who has a lasting impact on the current and future generations of educators. Ralph Winfred Tyler was one of those people. His life spanned nearly the entire 20th century, and his concepts of curriculum and instruction transcended this long and fruitful existence. They are found today embedded in the accountability and reform movements. This article is a short celebration of his contributions and life lest, in our hurry to improve our schools, we forget this bit of heritage.
Resveratrol, a Natural Red Wine Polyphenol, Reduces Ischemia-Reperfusion–Induced Spinal Cord Injury

Background Severe neurologic injury still represents one of the most devastating complications after surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms. We therefore aimed to investigate the protective effect of resveratrol, a natural polyphenol antioxidant present in grapes and wine, in an experimental model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods Sixteen rabbits were assigned either to group A (n = 8; receiving resveratrol, treated group) or group B (n = 8; control group, nontreated group) and underwent a 30-minutes period of spinal cord ischemia by clamping the abdominal aorta between the left renal artery and the aortic bifurcation. Fifteen minutes before clamping, rabbits received either intravenous resveratrol (100 μg/kg; group A) or normal saline (group B). Functional assessment with Tarlov score at 8, 16, and 24 hours postoperatively, histopathologic assessment of the spinal cord, measurements of malondialdehyde levels, and myeloperoxidase activity in the spinal cord were performed. Results Neurologic impairment (Tavlov score for group A=4.38 ± 1.19 and for group B=0.38 ± 0.74, p p p = 0.002) were significantly lower in the resveratrol-treated animals. Additionaly, pathologically assessed outcomes were better in the resveratrol-treated group. The total number of motor neurons in the gray matter was significantly lower in the nontreated group than in the resveratrol-treated group (14.26 ± 2.94 versus 29.12 ± 3.64, p = 0.003). Conclusions Prophylactic use of resveratrol reduced neurologic injury and provided clinical improvement by attenuating the inflammatory milieu in the rabbit spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion model.
An efficient radiosynthesis of [18F]fluoromisonidazole

Abstract An efficient preparation of the hypoxic cell tracer [ 18 F]3-fluoro-1-(2′-nitro-1′-imidazolyl)-2-propanol ([ 18 F]fluoromisonidazole) is reported. This radiopharmaceutical is of interest to probe hypoxic tissue in infarcts and tumors. One-step radiolabeling and rapid protection group removal provided 55–80% yield in 50 min. The process is similar to common fluorine labeling procedures, simplifying the procedure for most laboratories, and offers an improvement over more difficult previous methods. The labeling precursor was prepared in five steps from readily available materials in a straightforward reaction scheme.
How robot morphology and training order affect the learning of multiple behaviors

Automatically synthesizing behaviors for robots with articulated bodies poses a number of challenges beyond those encountered when generating behaviors for simpler agents. One such challenge is how to optimize a controller that can orchestrate dynamic motion of different parts of the body at different times. This paper presents an incremental shaping method that addresses this challenge: it trains a controller to both coordinate a robot's leg motions to achieve directed locomotion toward an object, and then coordinate gripper motion to achieve lifting once the object is reached. It is shown that success is dependent on the order in which these behaviors are learned, and that despite the fact that one robot can master these behaviors better than another with a different morphology, this learning order is invariant across the two robot morphologies investigated here. This suggests that aspects of the task environment, learning algorithm or the controller dictate learning order more than the choice of morphology.
Metabolic Engineering: Past and Future

We present here a broad overview of the field of metabolic engineering, describing in the first section the key fundamental principles that define and distinguish it, as well as the technological and intellectual developments over the past approximately 20 years that have led to the current state of the art. Discussion of concepts such as metabolic flux analysis, metabolic control analysis, and rational and combinatorial methods is facilitated by illustrative examples of their application drawn from the extensive metabolic engineering literature. In the second section, we present some of the rapidly emerging technologies that we think will play pivotal roles in the continued growth of the field, from improving production metrics to expanding the range of attainable compounds.
Cell rests in the periodontal ligament of mouse molars.

Recent reports have indicated that Hertwig's epithelial root sheath in rats and mice becomes trapped between dentin and cementum or within cementum during molar root development. Evidence is presented that well defined cell rests persist nevertheless in the periodontal ligament of mouse molars. These rests are located in close proximity to the cementum surface. They are composed of clumped epithelial cells with typical ultrastructural features. The latter include intracytoplasmic tonofibrils, intercellular desmosomal connections and a limiting basal lamina showing frequent interruptions in its continuity. Hemidesmosomes and occasional anchoring fibrils are associated in the usual manner with the basal lamina.
Figuring Out the Fed—Beliefs about Policymakers and Gains from Transparency

In this paper, I use a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to estimate a model of private-sector behavior that does not feature private-sector knowledge of the monetary policymaking process and, instead, leaves firms and households uncertain about how monetary policy is set. The private sector entertains two competing views of monetary policymaking, which I estimate. Firms and households use Bayes' law on a rolling data sample to distinguish between those two models. I use this setup to study the evolution of beliefs about the Federal Reserve and the possible gains from transparency.
A new Bayesian estimation approach for continuous-time systems

In this paper, a new Bayesian estimation method is introduced. This new method provides estimation for the state variable through a locally correlated process. It utilizes both range and smoothing parameters. Therefore, it has the flexibility of the nonparametric approach as well as the adaptability of the Bayesian estimation. In addition, its convergence and some of its properties are discussed.
Efficient Power Estimation for Highly Correlated Input Streams

Power estimation in combinational modules is addressed from a probabilistic point of view. The zero-delay hypothesis is considered and under highly correlated input streams, the activities at the primary outputs and all internal nodes are estimated. For the first time, the relationship between logic and probabilistic domains is investigated and two new concepts - conditional independence and isotropy of signals - are brought into attention. Based on them, a sufficient condition for analyzing complex dependencies is given. In the most general case, the conditional independence problem has been shown to be NP-complete and thus appropriate heuristics are presented to estimate switching activity. Detailed experiments demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method. The results reported here are useful in low power design.
Microfluidic Technologies for Temporal Perturbations of Chemotaxis

Most cells in the body have the ability to change their physical locations during physiologic or pathologic events such as inflammation, wound healing, or cancer. When cell migration is directed toward sources of cue chemicals, the process is known as chemotaxis, and it requires linking the sensing of chemicals through receptors on the surfaces of the cells to the directional activation of the motility apparatus inside the cells. This link is supported by complex intracellular signaling pathways, and although details regarding the nature of the molecules involved in the signal transduction are well established, far less is known about how different signaling molecules and processes are dynamically interconnected and how slower and faster signaling events take place simultaneously inside moving cells. In this context, advances in microfluidic technologies are enabling the emergence of new tools that facilitate the development of experimental protocols in which the cellular microenvironment is precisely controlled in time and space and in which signaling-associated changes inside cells can be quantitatively measured and compared. These tools could enable new insights into the intricacies of the biological systems that participate in chemotaxis processes and could have the potential to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic strategies to control cell motility and enhance our abilities for medical intervention during health and disease.
Hunger in young children of Mexican immigrant families.

Objective: To measure rates of hunger and food insecurity among young US-born Latino children with Mexican immigrant parents (Latinos) compared with a nonimmigrant non-Latino population (non-Latinos) in a low-income clinic population. Design, setting and subjects: A repeated cross-sectional survey of 4278 caregivers of children ,3 years of age in the paediatric clinic of an urban county hospital for a 5-year period from 1998 to 2003. A total of 1310 respondents had a US-born child with at least one parent born in Mexico. They were compared with a reference group comprised of non-Latino US-born participants (n ¼ 1805). Child hunger and household food insecurity were determined with the US Household Food Security Scale. Results: Young Latino children had much higher rates of child hunger than nonLatinos, 6.8 versus 0.5%. Latino families also had higher rates of household food insecurity than non-Latinos, 53.1 versus 15.6%. Latino children remained much more likely to be hungry (odds ratio (OR) ¼ 13.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) ¼ 5.9‐28.7, P , 0.01) and in household food-insecure households (OR ¼ 6.6, 95% CI ¼ 5.2‐8.3, P ,0.01) than non-Latinos after controlling for the following variables in multivariate analysis: child’s age, sex, maternal education level, single-headed household status, family size, young maternal age (,21 years), food stamp programme participation, TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or ‘welfare’) programme participation and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) usage, and reason for clinic visit (sick visit versus well-child). Conclusion: Young children in Mexican immigrant families are at especially high risk for hunger and household food insecurity compared with non-immigrant, non-Latino patients in a low-income paediatric clinic.
Optimal placement of software monitors aiding systematic testing

The usefulness of software monitors in testing large programs is discussed. Several types of testing strategies based on the use of monitors are surveyed. Since there is a computational overhead involved in employing monitors, attempts are made to minimize the number of monitors employed. This optimisation problem is formulated and analyzed in graph theoretic terms. Implementation aspects are considered through both discussion and examples.
Taxonomic Criteria for Limax Amoebae, with Descriptions of 3 New Species of Hartmannella and 3 of Vahlkampfia*

SYNOPSIS. Seven species of limax amoebae were isolated into clonal, monoxenic cultures with Aerobacter aerogenes from material collected from freshwater habitats. Studies were made of their trophic structure, nuclear division, cyst structure, some aspects of cytochemistry, and other characteristics. Six new species are described: Vahlkampfia inornata, V. avara, V. jugosa, Hartmannella limacoides, H. vermiformis, and H. exundans. The well-known species Naegleria gruberi (Schardinger, 1899) is re-described on the basis of 8 strains; its flagellated phase was found to be biflagellate, with rare exceptions. A correlation exists between the manner of locomotion and the pattern of nuclear division in the limax amoebae in the family Vahlkampfiidae and those in the genus Hartmannella. Trophic amoebae of all species had a PAS-positive surface layer, altho results with H. vermiformis and H. exundans were less definite than with other species. All species except H. limacoides formed cysts in culture. The cyst walls of all cyst-forming species were strongly PAS-positive, but results of the zinc chloroiodide test for cellulose were negative with the method used. The genus Hartmannella Alexeieff, 1912, is re-defined to include those species which assume a simple, monopodial limax-like form during locomotion and have nuclear division similar to that of metazoan cells and to distinguish it from the genus Acanthamoeba Volkonsky, 1931.
Characterization of contractile function in diabetic hypertensive cardiomyopathy in adult rat ventricular myocytes.

Abstract Diabetes and hypertension both produce myocardial dysfunction that accelerates cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Coexistence of the two often results in a more severe cardiomyopathy than either process alone. The purpose of this study was to characterize the contractile function of diabetic hypertensive cardiomyopathy at the single myocyte level. Adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were made diabetic with a single injection (55 mg/kg) of streptozotocin (STZ). Contractile properties of ventricular myocytes were evaluated, including peak shortening (PS), time-to-peak shortening (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR90) and maximal velocities of shortening/relengthening (±dL/d t). The experimental animals exhibited enlarged heart size, elevated blood glucose and systolic blood pressure. PS was unchanged (SHR), enhanced (WKY-STZ) or depressed (SHR-STZ) compared to control (WKY). Myocytes from all experimental groups displayed prolonged TPS and TR90compared to the WKY group, although only those from the hypertensive groups (SHR, SHR-STZ) were associated with reduced ±dL/d t. Additionally, myocytes from the WKY-STZ but not the SHR or the SHR-STZ groups exhibited impaired responsiveness to increased extracellular Ca2+. Myocytes from the SHR-STZ group displayed a leftward shift of the stimulus frequency-peak shortening response curve compared to the WKY group. These results confirmed observations at the multicellular levels that combination of diabetes and hypertension results in a greater impairment of cardiac contractile function than is seen with either disease alone.
An overview of scalar quantization based data hiding methods

In Ref. [Costa, Writing on dirty paper, IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 29 (1983) 439-441.], Costa presented a communications framework that provided useful insights into the study of data hiding. We present an alternate and equivalent framework with a more direct data hiding perspective. The difference between the two frameworks is in how channel dependent nature is reflected in optimal encoding and decoding operations. The connection between the suggested encoding/decoding scheme and practical embedding/detection techniques is examined. We analyze quantization based embedding/detection techniques in terms of the proposed framework based on three key aspects. The first aspect is the type of postprocessing utilized at the embedder (i.e. distortion compensation [Chen, Wornell, Preprocessed and postprocessed quantization index modulation methods for digital watermarking, in: Proceedings of SPIE: Security and Watermarking of Multimedia Contents II, vol. 3971, 2000, pp. 48-59; Eggers, Su, Girod, A blind watermarking scheme based on structured codebooks, IEE Colloq. Secure Images Image Authentication 4 (2001) 1-6.], thresholding [Ramkumar, Akansu, Self-noise suppression schemes for blind image steganography, in: Proceedings of SPIE International Workshop on Voice, Video and Data Communication, Multimedia Applications, vol. 3845, 1999.], Gaussian mapping [Perez-Gonzalez, Balado, Hernandez Martin, Performance analysis of existing and new methods for data hiding with known-host information in additive channels, IEEE Trans. Signal Process. 51(4) (2003) 960-980].). The second key aspect is the form of demodulation used at the extractor. The third is the criteria used to optimize the embedding/detection parameters. The embedding/detection techniques are compared in terms of probability of error, correlation, and mutual information (hiding rate) performance merits.
Biochemical, genetic, and functional analyses of the phosphorylation sites on the Epstein-Barr virus-encoded oncogenic latent membrane protein LMP-1.

Abstract LMP-1 is the only Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent protein known to have the properties of a transforming oncogene in rodent fibroblasts and the only latent protein, besides EBNA-1, detected in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma biopsies. LMP-1 is characterized by serine/threonine phosphorylation and rapid turnover (half-life, 2 to 3 h) due to specific proteolytic cleavage, which causes release of a phosphorylated C-terminal fragment (p25) into the cytoplasm. We used biochemical, functional, and mutational analyses to identify sites of phosphorylation. All of the phosphorylation sites detected lie in the C-terminal domain. In particular, we identified S-313 and T-324 as functionally important sites. Prevention of phosphorylation at S-313, by altering it to a glycine, prevented detectable phosphorylation of both LMP-1 and p25, indicating that it is a major site on both forms of the molecule. However, lack of detectable phosphorylation had no effect on p25 cleavage or on the ability of LMP-1 to transform Rat-1 fibroblasts. Alteration of S-313 to an aspartate resulted in a form of LMP-1 that was toxic to Rat-1 cells. Alteration of T-324 to a glycine residue had no detectable effect on the ability of LMP-1 to become serine phosphorylated or transform Rat-1 cells. Alteration of T-324 to a glutamate, however, inhibited all detectable phosphorylation and resulted in a form of LMP-1 that was unable to transform Rat-1 fibroblasts. These results are discussed in the context of a model in which LMP-1 function is modulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation at S-313 and T-324.
Comparison of joint phase/timing tracking loops for a coherent frequency hopped spread spectrum receiver

Quantifies the performance degradation of a coherent frequency hopped spread-spectrum system due to phase tracking error. A ML (maximum likelihood) joint phase/timing tracking loop is compared with an ELG (early-late gate) timing tracking loop. The performance of a first-order ML loop operating in the presence of jamming is obtained numerically, with the effect of decision error on data included in the analysis. The overall probability of error is only slightly degraded from the perfectly synchronized case, and the mean time to loss of lock shows that the system is capable of working in an environment of severe jamming. >
Placement of multiple RFID reader antennas to maximise portal read accuracy

A critical factor in the adoption of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is the level of read accuracy that is achieved. With passive tags, the read accuracy depends on the volume of the region that receives sufficient power from the reader. Most current research considers the powering region of a reader to be determined only by its read range (i.e. distance). However, read accuracy also depends on the relative orientations of reader and tag antennas and their polarisations. In particular, when tag positions are not fixed, the locations of reader antennas relative to the tags can have a significant effect on the success of the interrogation processes. This paper uses Friis' equation to explicitly consider orientations and polarisations while addressing the problem of determining the best locations for a set of reader antennas at a scanning portal. The objective is to maximise the size of the powering region in order to maximise read accuracy. A methodology for determining the powering region with multiple antennas is developed along with an enumeration approach to determine optimal antenna locations.
Predisease: When Does it Make Sense?

Screening often leads to finding conditions that are not at the stage or level that would classify them as disease but, at the same time, are not at a stage or level at which people can be declared entirely disease free. These ‘‘inbetween’’ states have sometimes been designated as ‘‘predisease.’’ Examples include precancerous lesions, increased intraocular pressure (‘‘preglaucoma’’), prediabetes, and prehypertension. When the goal of preventing adverse health outcomes is kept in mind, this review poses the idea that ‘‘predisease’’ as a category on which to act makes sense only if the following 3 conditions are met. First, the people designated as having predisease must be far more likely to develop disease than those not so designated. Second, there must be a feasible intervention that, when targeted to people with predisease, effectively reduces the likelihood of developing disease. Third, the benefits of intervening on predisease must outweigh the harms in the population. A systematic review of screening guidelines (published in 2003–2010) for 4 sample conditions (cervical cancer, glaucoma, diabetes, and hypertension) is included to assess whether they address these issues, followed by a discussion of the framework questions as they pertain to each condition.
Overview of metformin: special focus on metformin extended release.

Introduction: Diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and vascular alterations, leading to micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications, which account for increased morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes. Due to its cardio-protective effects, metformin is recommended as the initial agent of choice in the treatment of T2DM. Results of UKPDS, one of the largest and longest studies, showed reductions in cardiovascular mortality in patients using metformin. Areas covered: This article reviews the history, structure, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of extended-release metformin (XR). It also highlights fact that its use has been shown to have the same clinical and metabolic benefits as standard metformin, but also improved adherence and reduced side effects. The paper provides a side-by-side comparison of the main differences in the use of metformin XR versus metformin IR, i.e., the...
Effects of increased bedload on algal- and detrital-based stream food webs: Experimental manipulation of sediment and macroconsumers

Sedimentation poses a significant threat to stream ecosystems throughout the world, and increases in bedload can be especially detrimental to benthic communities. To examine how increased bedload affects algal- and detrital based stream communities, we manipulated sediment (via daily sediment addition to 0.25-m2 areas of stream bottom) and top-down effects of macroconsumers (fishes and crayfish, via electric exclusion) in two factorial experiments, one using tiles and one using leaf packs as sampling substrates. Sediment addition had significant effects on both algal- and detrital-based stream benthic communities, most notably via the alteration of macroconsumer-mediated biotic interactions; these effects largely were due to sediment transport across the stream bottom, rather than sediment deposition. In the tile experiment, macroconsumers reduced total insect biomass and biomass of several dominant insect taxa under ambient sediment conditions. Sediment addition eliminated all macroconsumer effects except their reduction of chironomid biomass. In the leaf pack experiment, sediment addition eliminated macroconsumer effects on fungal accumulation rates; in general, however, leaf packs were not as affected by sediment addition as tiles. Direct effects of sediment addition were minimal in both experiments: algal composition was altered on tiles, while dipteran predator biomass tended to decline in leaf packs. These experiments demonstrate that small, environmentally realistic increases in bedload affect benthic communities, primarily via the alteration of macroconsumer effects. Although indirect effects of sedimentation have been examined less frequently than direct biotic responses, this study demonstrates the importance of sediment regime in determining the outcome of fish and crayfish-mediated species interactions.
Constant-Voltage-Bias Stress Testing of a-IGZO Thin-Film Transistors

Constant-voltage-bias (VDS = VGS = 30 V) stress measurements are performed for a period of 105 s on thin-film transistors (TFTs) with amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) channel layers fabricated via RF sputtering using a postdeposition annealing temperature of 200degC, 250degC, or 300degC. Thermal silicon dioxide is employed as a TFT bottom-gate insulator. All SiO2/IGZO TFTs tested exhibit the following: 1) a positive rigid log(ID)- VGS transfer curve shift; 2) a continuous drain-current decrease over the entire stress duration; and 3) recovery of the log(ID)-VGS transfer curve toward the prestressed state when the stressed TFT is left unbiased in the dark at room temperature for an extended period of time. The SiO2/IGZO TFTs subjected to a higher postdeposition annealing temperature are more stable. A small (and typically negligible) amount of clockwise hysteresis is present in the log(ID) -VGS transfer curves of IGZO TFTs. These instability and hysteresis observations are consistent with a SiO2/ IGZO TFT instability mechanism involving electron trapping within the IGZO channel layer.
Growth advantage of fast lactose-fermenting mutants of slow lactose-fermenting coliform bacteria in gnotobiotic rats and mice.

When germ-free rats or mice were mono-associated with either Escherichia coli lac− (ATCC 15939) or a slow lactose-fermenting coliform (Paracolobactrum coliforme ATCC 11605), fast lactose-fermenting mutants overgrew the parent organisms.
Density Functional Dependence in the Theoretical Analysis of the Terahertz Spectrum of the Illicit Drug MDMA (Ecstasy)

In this paper, the experimental terahertz (THz) spectrum of the illicit drug 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine hydrochloride (MDMA.HCl, C11H16O2N+·Cl-) has been rigorously modeled using solid-state density functional theory (DFT). The compound MDMA.HCl is more widely known by the street name ?Ecstasy? and is a commonly abused drug. The first-principles simulation and assignment of the experimental THz absorption features is a key step in the validation of the spectrum for use in spectral databases for illicit compound sensing. This theoretical study includes the use of an array of generalized gradient approximation density functionals in order to provide a thorough understanding of the performance of the various functionals in the simulation of this crystalline drug. Of the seven studied functionals, the BP functional yielded superior agreement with the experimental data in terms of intramolecular structure, and in the position and intensity of spectral features.
High and low dose rate irradiation have opposing effects on cytokine gene expression in human glioblastoma cell lines

Abstract Effects of radiation on five cytokine expressing human glioblastoma cell lines were studied. In comparison to unirradiated controls, IL-Iβ and IL-6 mRNAs were generally reduced after low (LDR, 1.0 cGy/min) and very low (VLDR, 0.35 cGy/min) dose rate irradiation. In contrast, high (HDR, 200 cGy/min) and intermediate (IDR, 4.1 cGy/min) dose rates increased steady-state levels of IL-Iβ and IL-6 mRNAs. The surviving fraction was generally inversely proportional to the dose rate; however, these glioma cells were unusually susceptible to LDR. In the two cell lines tested, IDR was less cytotoxic than either HDR or LDR irradiation. Although cytokine gene expression had no clear effect on radiation survival in vitro , autologous cytokines could be important to radiation response in vivo by affecting immune response, tumour stroma, vasculature or surrounding tissues. Adjusting dose rates to account for inverse dose rate effects and altered gene expression may be a useful strategy in optimising radiation therapy of glioblastomas.
Urbanisms, worlding practices and the theory of planning:

This special issue seeks to return the urban to the heart of planning theory. In doing so, it has three objectives. Firstly, it highlights particular urbanisms: how they are produced, lived and negotiated, from New York to Bogota. The articles thus draw attention to the multiplicity of urbanisms that constitute the contemporary world system, thereby disrupting the rather restricted analytics of global cities and world cities. Secondly, the articles pay careful attention to the forms of worlding at work in such urbanisms, demonstrating how the production of the urban takes place in the crucible of modernizing projects of development, regimes of immigration and governance and experiments with neoliberalism and market rule.Thirdly, this special issue seeks to explore the implications of such research and analysis for the field of ideas currently constituted as planning theory. How does the study of urbanisms allow a rigorous understanding of planning as the organization and transformation of space? How can p...
Address code generation for digital signal processors

In this paper we propose a procedure to generate code with minimum number of addressing instructions. We analyze different methods of generating addressing code for scalar variables and quantify the improvements due to optimizations such as offset assignment, modify register optimization and address register assignment. We propose an offset assignment heuristic that uses k address registers, an optimal dynamic programming algorithm for modify register optimization, and an optimal formulation and a heuristic algorithm for the address register assignment problem.
Sequencing-by-Hybridization Revisited: The Analog-Spectrum Proposal

All published approaches to DNA sequencing by hybridization (SBH) consist of the biochemical acquisition of the spectrum of a target sequence (the set of its subsequences conforming to a given probing pattern) followed by the algorithmic reconstruction of the sequence from its spectrum. In the "standard" or "uniform" approach, the probing pattern is a string of length L and the length of reliably reconstructible sequences is known to be m/sub len/ = O(2/sup L/). For a fixed microarray area, higher sequencing performance can be achieved by inserting nonprobing gaps ("wild-cards") in the probing pattern. The reconstruction, however, must cope with the emergence of fooling probes due to the gaps and algorithmic failure occurs when the spectrum becomes too densely populated, although we can achieve m/sub comp/ = O(4/sup L/). Despite the combinatorial success of gapped probing, all current approaches are based on a biochemically unrealistic spectrum-acquisition model (digital-spectrum). The reality of hybridization is much more complex. Departing from the conventional model, in this paper, we propose an alternative, called the analog-spectrum model, which more closely reflects the biochemical process. This novel modeling reestablishes probe length as the performance-governing factor, adopting "semidegenerate bases" as suitable emulators of currently inadequate universal bases. One important conclusion is that accurate biochemical measurements are pivotal to the success of SBH. The theoretical proposal presented in this paper should be a convincing stimulus for the needed biotechnological work.
Geology of Galapagos

This paper reviews the origins and geological history of the Galapagos Islands. The islands arose from a ‘hot-spot’. The oceanic crust on which the islands are built can be no more than 10 million years old, and the islands themselves have been in existence at least 3.3 million years. The Galapagos are among the most active volcanic groups in the world, and the physical nature of the islands is dominated by lava structures of various ages, including lava tubes or tunnels, which have been of particular interest to biologists. Weathering of the rock to produce soil has generally been slow, particularly in the drier parts.
Failure of lichen planopilaris to respond to ustekinumab

Author(s): Webster, Guy | Abstract: Lichen planopilaris failed to respond to ustekinumab after 10 months of treatment.
Termite Control: Changing Attitudes and Technologies

Termites account for nearly $2 billion per annum in losses to structures throughout the world. After nearly 40years, chlorinated hydrocarbon termiticides are being replaced with less persistent and presumably safer soil pesticides. Changing attitudes are providing a foundation for experimentation and eventual implementation of alternative control strategies involving wood preservatives, baiting systems, biological control, and physical methods.
Comparative Analysis of Two- Versus Three-Dimensional Sonography for Nuchal Translucency Measurement.

Objective The aim of this article is to test the hypothesis that three-dimensional (3D) sonography is correlated to the two-dimensional (2D) sonography for nuchal translucency (NT) measurement during first trimester screening (FTS). Methods We performed a prospective observational study on patients presenting for FTS. Three NT measurements were performed using the current standardized 2D method at the midsagittal planes, and NT sonography was then repeated for each case using 3D sagittal and axial plane. The Kruskal–Wallis test and the Spearman rank correlation were used to evaluate the relationship between 2D and 3D NT methods of measurement. A p -value Results The study included 366 patients with singleton pregnancies. Mean maternal age was 31.2 years, and mean gestational age was 12 3/7 weeks. The mean maximal NT measurement for 2D and 3D sagittal and axial planes were 1.65, 1.70, and 1.66 mm, respectively ( p = 0.42). The Spearman rank correlation of 2D sagittal plane sonography with 3D sagittal and axial planar sonography was 0.73 and 0.68, respectively ( p Conclusion 3D NT measurement appears to be a tool highly correlated to the conventional 2D sonographic approach. This may be useful in selected cases in which there is difficulty in obtaining optimal 2D measurements of the NT space.
CIVIL DEFENSE IMPLICATIONS OF A PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR IN A THERMONUCLEAR TARGET AREA.

The Turkey Point pressurized water reactor was analyzed as a Civil Defense problem in a nuclear attack. It is postulated that the reactor presents no additional hazard in a target area unless a lar...
Fatty Acid Metabolic Defects and Right Ventricular Lipotoxicity in Human Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background—The mechanisms of right ventricular (RV) failure in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are poorly understood. Abnormalities in fatty acid (FA) metabolism have been described in experi...
Selection Method, Partisanship, and the Administration of Elections:

The methods used to select public officials affect the preferences they bring to office, the incentives they face while in office, and, ultimately, the policy goals they pursue. We argue that the p...