cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A preliminary analysis of traffic crashes by out-of-state drivers.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the involvement of out-of-state drivers in fatal crashes and each US state's fatality rate per distance driven. Method: Two analyses were performed. In the first analysis, we examined the percentages of out-of-state drivers among those involved in fatal crashes using the data from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS). In the second analysis, we correlated these percentages with the states’ fatality rates per distance driven. Both analyses used the data for 2008. Results: There are two main findings of this study. First, there is wide variability across the 50 states in the percentage of all drivers involved in fatal crashes who were out-of-state drivers, with a minimum of 5.0 percent in California and a maximum of 41.2 percent in Wyoming. Second, there is a positive correlation between this percentage and the corresponding fatality rate per distance driven. Conclusions: There are two main findings. First, states vary greatly ...
A comparison of bolus versus continuous cardiac output in an experimental model of heart failure.

Objective The majority of studies examining cardiac output measurement have been done in physiologically stable models with low thermal background noise. Research comparing continuous cardiac output (CCO) with bolus thermodilution cardiac output (COTD) measures in human and animal models have reported high correlations, negligible bias, but large limits of agreement. The purpose of this project was to compare CCO with COTD measures in an experimental model of heart failure where the cardiac output values were low and the range was narrow. Design A one-group experimental design with preintervention control measures and repeated CCO and COTD measures across nine time points. Setting Cardiovascular research laboratory. Subjects Thirty dogs. Measures and main results Univariate and multivariate versions of repeated-measures analysis were used to assess the influences of temperature, weight, and stage of the experimental protocol on CCO, COTD, and the differences between them. The two measures CCO and COTD were assessed for agreement by using methods proposed by Bland and Altman. Two hundred and fifty pairs of measurements were obtained during sinus rhythm. The range for COTD measures was 0.5-4.67 L/min and for CCO measures 1.0-5.40 L/min. Of the 250 cardiac outputs estimated by the continuous method, 73.4% of the values were within +/-15% of that estimated by the repetitive, single thermodilution method. The mean bias for the entire protocol was 0.01 (SD = 0.51) with a range of 4.33 L/min. Conclusion Agreement between the two measures may be the function of biological variability, responses to anesthesia, and technique. Bland and Altman evaluation demonstrated low bias and precision and similar levels of agreement when compared with previous studies in an experimental model where the cardiac output was low and the range was narrow.
LES Investigation of Near Field Wakes Behind Juncture of Wing and Plate

This paper is a preliminary work on the numerical study of the near field wake and wingtip vortex behind the juncture of wing and plate. The object is to develop a LES-based code to simulate the near field wake and wingtip vortex, which will help understanding near field wakes and wake control.
Third-order elastic constant C sub 111 in NaCl and KCl.

Third order elastic constant for NaCl and KCl single crystals by ultrasonic pulse techniques
Installing and using collaborative websites

CoWeb (short for Collaborative Web-site) is a simple freely-available hypermedia space that has been used in a variety of settings, including over 100 courses at Georgia Tech and dozens of institutions around the world. CoWeb is simple to use and flexible enough to be used for many activities; even non-technical teachers are inventing educational activities using the tool. CoWeb is easy to install on any common computer (MacOS, Windows, Linux, etc.). In this tutorial, we lead participants through installing and administering CoWeb on their laptop machine, and we lead participants through design and implementation of their own collaborative learning activities in the CoWeb. The presentation will include a tour of real classroom sites. By the end of the tutorial, participants will be able to administer CoWeb and know how to use CoWeb to support various activities.
The direct determination of the vacancy concentration and P-T phase diagram of HgTe by dynamic mass-loss measurements

A modified mass-loss measurement technique is employed, for the first time, for the direct,in-situ determination of the Hg vacancy formation in HgTe(s). The Hg vacancy concentrations are determined between 335 and 626° C for four different compositions within the homogeneity region and range from 2 to 7 × 1019 cm−3. The enthalpy of formation of a singly-ionized Hg vacancy is derived to be between 0.29 and 0.54 eV depending upon the deviation of HgTe from stoichiometry. Thermochemical data of this quantity in the literature are in qualitative agreement with these results. Based on the simultaneously determined equilibrium Hg partial pressures within the homogeneity range, the vacancy concentration-partial pressure isotherm diagram could be constructed. The Hg partial pressures are also measured along the three-phase boundaries of the system, and a considerable part of theP-T phase diagram is established. These are in close agreement with published data obtained by optical techniques.
NF-κB2 mutation targets TRAF1 to induce lymphomagenesis

The NF-κB2 gene is recurrently mutated in human lymphoid malignancies. However, a causal relationship between NF-κB2 mutation and lymphomagenesis has not been established. It is also unclear how the mutation may lead to lymphoid malignancies. We report the generation of transgenic mice with targeted expression of p80HT, a lymphoma-associated NF-κB2 mutant, in lymphocytes. The transgenic mice display a marked expansion of peripheral B cell populations and develop predominantly small B cell lymphomas. p80HT expression has no apparent effect on the proliferation of B cells, but renders them specifically resistant to apoptosis induced by cytokine deprivation and mitogenic stimulation. Lymphocytes and lymphoma cells from p80HT mice express high levels of TRAF1, an antiapoptotic protein also implicated in lymphoid malignancies. p80HT binds the TRAF1 promoter in vivo and activates TRAF1 transcription. Moreover, TRAF1 knockdown abrogates the antiapoptotic activity of p80HT and TRAF1 deficiency reestablishes B cell homeostasis in p80HT mice. These findings demonstrate NF-κB2 mutation as an oncogenic event in vivo and suggest a molecular pathway for TRAF1 activation in the pathogenesis of lymphomas.
Iron deficiency associated with higher blood lead in children living in contaminated environments

The evidence that iron deficiency increases lead child exposure is based primarily on animal data and limited human studies, and some of this evidence is contradictory. No studies of iron status and blood lead levels in children have accounted for environmental lead contamination and, therefore, the source of their exposure. Thus, no studies have directly determined whether iron deficiency modifies the relationship of environmental lead and blood lead. In this study, we compared blood lead levels of iron-deficient and iron-replete children living in low, medium, or highly contaminated environments. Measurements of lead in paint, soil, dust, and blood, age of housing, and iron status were collected from 319 children ages 1-5. We developed two lead exposure factors to summarize the correlated exposure variables: Factor 1 summarized all environmental measures, and Factor 2 was weighted for lead loading of house dust. The geometric mean blood lead level was 4.9 microg/dL; 14% exceeded 10 microg/dL. Many of the children were iron deficient (24% with ferritin < 12 ng/dL). Seventeen percent of soil leads exceeded 500 microg/g, and 23% and 63% of interior and exterior paint samples exceeded 5,000 microg/g. The unadjusted geometric mean blood lead level for iron-deficient children was higher by 1 microg/dL; this difference was greater (1.8 microg/dL) after excluding Asians. Blood lead levels were higher for iron-deficient children for each tertile of exposure as estimated by Factors 1 and 2 for non-Asian children. Elevated blood lead among iron-deficient children persisted after adjusting for potential confounders by multivariate regression; the largest difference in blood lead levels between iron-deficient and -replete children, approximately 3 microg/dL, was among those living in the most contaminated environments. Asian children had a paradoxical association of sufficient iron status and higher blood lead level, which warrants further investigation. Improving iron status, along with reducing exposures, may help reduce blood lead levels among most children, especially those living in the most contaminated environments.
Platelet thromboxane production during endotoxin shock

Circulating thromboxane (TX) is elevated following endotoxin, and platelets become hyperaggregable. Thromboxane synthesis was therefore studied in platelets during endotoxemia. Rabbit blood and platelets were taken at 0, 60 and 120 min after start ofE. coli endotoxin infusion (1.10 μg/kg min, i.v.). Blood incubated with arachidonic acid (AA, 10−4M) generated TXA2, which was measured using a superfused rabbit aorta bioassay. Washed platelets were stimulated with 1-14C AA (0.1 μCi) to generate radiolabeled TXB2, which was isolated by TLC and quantitated by scintillation spectrometry. Control (0 time) platelet count was 488×103/mm3. In the test group, platelet counts fell to 65% of control at 60 min and to 52% at 120 min, while TXA2 generation was 95% (60 min) and 94% (120 min) of control. In contrast a serial dilution of untreated platelets yielded a progressive decline in thromboxane generation. In endotoxemic platelets, the conversion of 1-14C AA to TXB2 (percent/109 platelets) was increased at 120 min (0 min, 34.7; 120 min, 40.0;P<0.05). Endotoxemic platelets generated greater amounts of thromboxane than did normal platelets, and this condition may account for platelet hyperaggregability in shock.
On Using Cooperative Routing for Lifetime Optimization of Multi-Hop Wireless Sensor Networks: Analysis and Guidelines

Theoretically optimal performance and behavior of a routing protocol are very important because they can be used to guide the design of practical protocols. Motivated by the promising lifetime performance of an existing suboptimal cooperative transmission (CT) routing protocol for wireless sensor networks, we formulate the lifetime-optimization problem using linear programming (LP), which requires considerations of CT's unique characteristics and sophisticated variable definitions. By evaluating LP for various cases, we show the effectiveness of cooperative routing by comparing it with the non-CT case. Also, by analyzing the LP solution, we identify some important factors and behaviors of optimal cooperative routing. More specifically, we conclude that (i) matching the rate of doing CT and matching the candidate pools of cooperators to the LP solution are important factors to achieve near-optimal lifetime performances, and, (ii) for small multi-hop networks, the design of cooperative routing can be simplified because one may use the sink node as a single VMISO receiver and rely on the existing energy-aware routing for the primary routing.
A GIS MODELING METHOD APPLIED TO PREDICTING FOREST SONGBIRD HABITAT

We have developed an approach for using “presence” data to construct habitat models. Presence data are those that indicate locations where the target organism is observed to occur, but that cannot be used to define locations where the organism does not occur. Surveys of highly mobile vertebrates often yield these kinds of data. Models developed through our approach yield predictions of the amount and the spatial distribution of good-quality habitat for the target species. This approach was developed primarily for use in a GIS context; thus, the models are spatially explicit and have the potential to be applied over large areas. Our method consists of two primary steps. In the first step, we identify an optimal range of values for each habitat variable to be used as a predictor in the model. To find these ranges, we employ the concept of maximizing the difference between cumulative distribution functions of (1) the values of a habitat variable at the observed presence locations of the target organism, and ...
Tax competition, uniform assessment, and the benefit principle

Abstract In previous discussions it has been argued that tax competition between local governments results in a tax burden on business that is less than the cost of public services for business and in suboptimal levels of public expenditures for residents. However, this conclusion has never been substantiated by a full theoretical treatment. Here a theoretical model of tax competition is developed between metropolitan areas, with labor perfectly immobile and two local public goods, one for residents and one for business. For “plausible” parameter values, numerical solutions of the optimality conditions are computed by means of a nonlinear programming algorithm.
The impact of maternal age on pregnancy outcome in singleton pregnancies

Abstract Objective: To identify the impact of maternal age on pregnancy outcome in singleton gestations without a maternal history of previous preterm delivery. Study design: We retrospectively identified women who presented with preterm labor in the current pregnancy andsubsequently delivered between July 1995 and February 2000. Included were those with documented pregnancy outcome who delivered at ≥24 weeks of gestation. Data were analyzed as four age groups: Results: Pregnancy outcome was analyzed in 22,975 women. Overall, 38.4% experienced preterm delivery. There were no significant differences across the groups in the incidence of delivery because of spontaneous labor at >37 weeks of gestation. Significant findings are summarized in the table (all P 2 ). 20–34 35–39 ≥40 n = (2,061) 17,362) (2,961) (591) Delivery 46.5% 37.6% 36.6% 37.1% Delivery 6.1% 4.4% 5.9% 7.1% PTL @ delivery 36.0% 26.8% 23.4% 23.5% Cesarean delivery 11.3% 21.9% 32.3% 35.8% Conclusion: Our findings suggest that maternal age
Breaking Boundaries in Neural-Immune Interactions

For the past 60 years, the central nervous system has been considered immunologically privileged. Yet results from diverse fields show clear and convincing evidence of bidirectional communication between the nervous and immune systems.
The special treatment of first rank auditory hallucinations and bizarre delusions in the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The presence of a single first-rank auditory hallucination (FRAH) or bizarre delusion (BD) is sufficient to satisfy the symptom criterion for a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of schizophrenia. We queried two independent databases to investigate how prevalent FRAH and BD are in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and whether the diagnosis depends on them. FRAH was common in both datasets (42.2% and 55.2%) and BD was present in the majority of patients (62.5% and 69.7%). However, FRAH and BD rarely determined the diagnosis. In the first database, we found only seven cases among 325 patients (2.1%) and in the second database we found only one case among 201 patients (0.5%) who were diagnosed based on FRAH or BD alone. Among patients with FRAH, 96% had delusions, 14–42% had negative symptoms, 15–21% had disorganized or catatonic behavior, and 20–23% had disorganized speech. Among patients with BD, 88–99% had hallucinations, 17–49% had negative symptoms, 20–27% had disorganized or catatonic behavior, and 21–25% had disorganized speech. We conclude that FRAH and BD are common features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, typically occur in the context of other psychotic symptoms, and very rarely constitute the sole symptom criterion for a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of schizophrenia.
ATR: a master conductor of cellular responses to DNA replication stress

The integrity of the genome is constantly challenged by intrinsic and extrinsic genotoxic stresses that damage DNA. The cellular responses to DNA damage are orchestrated by DNA damage signaling pathways, also known as DNA damage checkpoints. These signaling pathways play crucial roles in detecting DNA damage, regulating DNA repair and coordinating DNA repair with other cellular processes. In vertebrates, the ATM- and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase plays a key role in the response to a broad spectrum of DNA damage and DNA replication stress. Here, we will discuss the recent findings on how ATR is activated by DNA damage and how it protects the genome against interference with DNA replication.
The evolution of farm management, production efficiencies, and current challenges to catfish production in the United States

Abstract The catfish industry is the most successful aquaculture business in the US. The development and growth of the catfish industry has resulted in complex fish farm businesses that require intensive management. Technological innovations have resulted in increased yields (land use efficiency). However, in more recent years, productivity gains have not kept pace with the rate of increase in input costs. Increasing intensification of catfish production over time has been accompanied by increased use of debt capital that results in higher levels of financial risk. While still a profitable activity, real profit margins have declined as financial risk has increased. New technologies will likely continue to increase productivity over time. Market‐oriented agribusiness approaches to catfish marketing are likely to become the norm. The challenge for the catfish industry is to coordinate adoption of new higher‐cost technologies with demand increasing market development to sustain farm price levels.
Irreversible entropy production rate in high-pressure turbulent reactive flows

A Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) database is created describing high-pressure reactive flows for studying the flow characteristics and the irreversible entropy production rate that must be modeled by Subgrid-Scale (SGS) models in Large Eddy Simulation. The governing equations are the continuity, momentum, total energy and species transport equations complemented by a real-gas equation of state. The molecular transport model is based on complete mass-diffusion and thermal-diffusion matrices having elements computed according to all-pressure mixing rules. The mixture viscosity and thermal conductivity are calculated from the individual species values, valid at high pressures, by using all-pressure mixing rules. The reaction is a one-step process and the values of different coefficients in the reaction rate ensure that it gives physically-correct trends for autoignition. The DNS is performed for a temporal mixing layer. Three realizations are computed and examined to reveal the influence of the initial pressure p_0 and of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). It is found that the main flame is of diffusion type, flanked by premixed flames. As p_0 increases, the most intensive premixed-flame regions draw closer to the diffusion flame. Additionally to the well-known advantage of EGR, we found that it promotes the development of uphill diffusion which is a molecular process inducing the formation of strong species gradients that in turn induce turbulence production, i.e. the formation of dynamic small scales. Analysis of the irreversible entropy production rate revealed that its four modes – due to viscosity, mass diffusivity, thermal conductivity and reaction – operate in different spatial regions of the flow where different phenomena occur. Increasing p_0 and lack of EGR both result in an increase in the magnitude of the irreversible entropy-production rate. For the Reynolds number values achievable in DNS, the reaction mode dominates in magnitude all other modes of the irreversible entropy-production rate.
Assessment of Proximity of a Wound to Major Vascular Structures as an Indication for Arteriography

• The use of angiography to evaluate penetrating extremity wounds with proximity to major vascular structures remains controversial. Arteriography in the asymptomatic patient with a penetrating extremity wound is reported to identify arterial injuries in 6% to 21% of patients; however, some injuries may have little clinical importance. This study attempted to determine the value of proximity as an indication for angiography. Five hundred seven asymptomatic patients with 534 penetrating extremity injuries underwent arteriography due to proximity to major vascular structures. Thirty-six arteriograms (6.7%) were positive. Seven patients did not undergo operative exploration, 19 patients (3.6%) had arteriograms, and ten (1.9%) had false-positive arteriograms. The remaining 498 patients had true-negative examination results. Arteriography was associated with 13 complications (2.6%). Proved vascular injury in the clinically asymptomatic patients in our series was extremely low (3.6%). These data make it difficult to justify arteriography due to proximity of injury to major vascular structures. However, it is difficult to abandon exclusion arteriography based on these retrospective data. These observations do suggest that better criteria to define proximity need to be identified. ( Arch Surg 1988;123:942-946)
Genetic and environmental factors in primary dysmenorrhea and its relationship to anxiety, depression, and neuroticism.

Over 1200 pairs of female monozygotic and dizygotic twins with regular menses reported on the amount of flow, severity of pain, and degree of limitation experienced during menstruation. Fifty-two percent of the women reported moderate or severe menstrual pain and these reports were fairly repeatable (0.62–0.80) over a 3-month interval. Heritabilities were 0.22 for flow, 0.38 for pain, and 0.36 for limitation. Covariations between menstrual symptoms and the symptoms and personality variables of state anxiety and depression and trait neuroticism were shown to be almost entirely genetic in origin. There was also gene action specifically affecting menstrual pain and also menstrual flow, but genetic variation in limitation was entirely due to genes also affecting flow, pain, and personality variables-neuroticism in particular.
A Two-Parameter Model of Cell Membrane Permeability for Multisolute Systems

A two-parameter model of cell osmotic response (F. W. Kleinhans, 1998, Cryobiology 37, 271–289) is expanded for multisolute systems. The cell water volume W and intracellular osmolalities of N solutes are related as W[1 + LpRTΣNi=1(Mi/Pi)] = W0[1 + LpRTΣNi=1(M0)i/Pi)], where Mi is the intracellular osmolality of the ith solute (i = 1 … N), Pi is the membrane permeability of the ith solute, Lp is the membrane hydraulic conductivity, R is the gas constant, T is the absolute temperature, and the subscript “0” denotes the initial values at time zero. The above formula allows calculating the final (equilibrium) volume when all entities are permeable. Simple algebraic expressions for calculation of the number and magnitude of transient maximum volume excursions are presented. These simple expressions can all be calculated by hand on a pocket calculator. Practical examples of one-, two-, and three-solute systems are discussed. Special attention has been given to situations when systems contain an impermeable component. All formulas are simple to use for optimization of variety of cryobiological protocols. Application of the theory for optimization of addition and dilution of a permeable cryoprotectant is also discussed.
Biosynthesis of mammalian transfer RNA. Evidence for regulation by deacylated transfer RNA

Abstract The rate of tRNA synthesis in cultured Friend leukemia cells has been examined as a function of the variation in polyribosome structure produced by treatment with a variety of inhibitors of protein synthesis. The results indicate, in contrast to the conclusions of Bolcsfoldi (Bolcsfoldi, G. (1974) Exp. Cell Res., 88, 231–240), that no necessary relationship exists between the ribosome distribution and the rate of tRNA synthesis. Alternatively, it is observed that inhibitors of tRNA aminoacylation cause, in all cases, a decrease in the rate of tRNA synthesis whereas drugs which may stimulate the aminoacylation of tRNA cause, in all cases, an elevation of the rate of tRNA synthesis. It is concluded that tRNA synthesis in mammalian cells may be regulated by the relative levels of acylated and deacylated tRNA.
Ibrutinib: a first in class covalent inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase

Ibrutinib (formerly PCI-32765) is a potent, covalent inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, a kinase downstream of the B-cell receptor that is critical for B-cell survival and proliferation. In preclinical studies, ibrutinib bound to Bruton's tyrosine kinase with high affinity, leading to inhibition of B-cell receptor signaling, decreased B-cell activation and induction of apoptosis. In clinical studies, ibrutinib has been well-tolerated and has demonstrated profound anti-tumor activity in a variety of hematologic malignancies, most notably chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), leading to US FDA approval for relapsed CLL and MCL. Ongoing studies are evaluating ibrutinib in other types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Waldenstrom's macrogobulinemia, in larger Phase III studies in CLL and MCL, and in combination studies with monoclonal antibodies and chemotherapy. Future studies will combine ibrutinib with other promising novel agents currently in development in hematologic malignancies.
Quantitative measurements of acoustic scattering from zooplanktonic organisms

Abstract In situ measurements at 102 kHz have been made of the scattering of sound from a small volume of the ocean containing a distribution of a zooplanktonic organism, the euphausiid, Euphausia pacifica . Quantitative information was recorded on analog magnetic tape and subsequently converted to digital form for analysis. Based on simultaneous measurements of side and back scattering from euphausiids and on a mathematical model, four-fifths of the scattered sound is considered to be caused by the compressibility contrast between the animals and the seawater. The remaining one-fifth is attributed to density contrast. The back scattering cross-section of a typical euphausiid at 102 kHz has been found to be 1·4 × 10 −4 cm 2 . Based on this value it is possible to predict the optimum frequency and intensity of incident sound for future acoustic studies involving these animals.
Visualization of STIM1 and Orai1 by Electron Microscopy

STIM1 and Orai1 constitute the core machinery of store-operated calcium entry. We used transmission and freeze-fracture electron microscopy to visualize these proteins at endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) junctions. In thin sections, ER formed frequent extensive cortical junctions in HEK-293 cells overexpressing STIM1 and Orai1 and exposed to thapsigargin (TG), but small and rare junctions in control cells. Extended molecules, most likely STIM1, decorated the ER and bridged the ER-PM gap. Freeze-fracture replicas of cells treated in the same manner showed elevated PM domains (“puncta”) packed with particles at a higher density than on the surface of control cells (2564±443/µm2 versus 1863±331/µm2). Puncta varied in size (∼0.01 to 0.45 µm2) and frequency. Clusters of particles in puncta typically exhibited a clear sharp border, but particle density sometimes declined more gradually to background. Since the puncta most likely correspond to sites of STIM1-Orai1 co-clustering at ER-PM junctions, targeting to puncta was used to guide the classification of particles potentially representing Orai1 channels based upon structural parameters. A high percentage of particles in puncta exhibited a common signature; “large and tall” particles were present at a significantly higher density within puncta than in untransfected cells (average 1300±309 versus 225±84/µm2). Three characteristics of these particles are similar to the tetrameric CaV1.1 channels of skeletal muscle: 1) diameter, only slightly smaller than that of CaV1.1; 2) unusual height indicated by the platinum free “shadow”; 3) square, slightly scalloped outline of the same shadow in some images. It is reasonable to postulate that the “large and tall” particles represent tetrameric Orai1 channels clustered in correspondence with cortical Stim-bearing ER junctions. These observations introduce a new approach to visualize individual unlabeled Stim and Orai molecules in situ. Funded by NIH RO1 HL-48093 (CFA) and NS-14609 (MDC).
Zero modes of the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole

The zero energy eigenvalue problem for quantum fluctuations about the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole solution is solved explicitly in the Prasad-Sommerfield limit, by exploiting the formal similarity with self-dual euclidean field configurations. The relevance of the results to the spin of the quantized monopole is examined.
Optical tomography using independent component analysis to detect absorptive, scattering, or fluorescent inhomogeneities in turbid media

A new imaging approach for three-dimensional localization and characterization of absorptive, scattering or fluorescent objects in a turbid medium is presented and demonstrated using simulated and experimental data. This approach uses a multi-source and multi-detector signal acquisition scheme and independent component analysis (ICA) from information theory for target localization and characterization. Independent component analysis of the perturbation in the spatial intensity distribution or the fluorescent signal measured on the medium boundary sorts out the embedded objects. The location and optical characteristics (size, shape and optical property) of the embedded objects are obtained from a Green's function analysis based on an appropriate model for light propagation in the background medium and back-projections of the retrieved independent components.
Context sensitive vocabulary and its application in protein secondary structure prediction

Protein secondary structure prediction is an important step towards understanding the relation between protein sequence and structure. However, most current prediction methods use features difficult for biologists to interpret. In this paper, we present a new method that applies information retrieval techniques to solve the problem:we extract a context sensitive biological vocabulary for protein sequences and apply text classification methods to predict protein secondary structure. Experimental results show that our method performs comparably to the state-of-art methods. Furthermore, the context sensitive vocabularies can serve as a useful tool to discover meaningful regular expression patterns for protein structures.
Fault-tolerance support in distributed systems

The issue of support for fault-tolerant distributed systems has received much attention in recent years[BABA87, LAMP84, SCHL83]. In this position paper we present some aspects of our research into Distributed Shared Memory systems which concern fault-tolerance. We argue that the viability of DSM systems critically depends on the issue.Our research, which began at the University of California, Los Angeles, was concerned with applications that used shared memory in single site systems and their extension to operate in a distributed environment. Our approach was to modify the underlying operating system to support a new facility called distributed shared memory (DSM).
Conformational analysis of the electron-transfer kinetics across oligoproline peptides using N,N-dimethyl-1,4-benzenediamine donors and pyrene-1-sulfonyl acceptors.

Photoinduced intramolecular charge separation across proline-bridged donor−acceptor complexes of the type Pyr-(Pro)n−DMPD (where Pyr = pyrene-1-sulfonyl and DMPD = N,N-dimethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine) was studied. The steady-state emission spectrum for n = 0, 1, 2, 3 showed an increase in emission intensity with the number of proline residues. Time-dependent emission measured by streak camera showed increasing emission signal amplitude with increasing n, along with a decrease in decay rate. In all these studies, Pyr-Pro was used as a control complex for the decay of the excited pyrene acceptor moiety without the donor DMPD. Detailed photon counting experiments carried out in DMF/water, DMF, and toluene showed single-exponential kinetics for n = 0, 1 and multiexponential kinetics for n = 2, 3. Rate constants observed in DMF are for n = 0, k = ∼5 × 1010 s-1; n = 1, k = 9.70 × 108 s-1; n = 2, k = 35.9 × 108 s-1 (70%) and 5.58 × 108 s-1 (30%); and n = 3, k = 16.6 × 108 s-1 (55%) and 3.87 × 108 s-1 (45%). These ...
Taste cell formation does not require gustatory and somatosensory innervation

Abstract Dependency of taste buds and taste papillae on innervation has been debated for a long time. Previous research showed neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), play an important role for the establishment of the lingual gustatory and somatosensory innervation. BDNF null mutant mice showed severe deficits in gustatory innervation and loss of taste buds while NT-3 null mutation reduced lingual somatosensory innervation to tongue papillae. These results proved BDNF or NT-3 null mutations affected different sensory modalities (i.e. gustatory and somatosensory, respectively). In this study, we analyzed taste bud development in BDNF × NT-3 double knockout mice to examine the relationship between taste bud development and gustatory/somatosensory innervation. Our results demonstrate that, at the initial stage, before nerve fibers reached the appropriate areas in the papilla, taste bud formation did not require innervation. However, at the synaptogenic stage, after nerve fibers ramified into the apical epithelium, innervation was required and played an essential role in the development of taste buds/papillae.
Cerebral blood flow and metabolism during and after prolonged hypocapnia in newborn lambs

We studied the effects of prolonged (6 hours) hypocapnia and the abrupt termination there of on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in six paralyzed, sedated (but not anesthetized) newborn lambs. Thirty minutes after institution of hyperventilation to an arterial carbon dioxide pressure of 15±2 torr, cerebral blood flow was decreased by 36±13%, but after 6 hours of sustained hyperventilation, cerebral blood flow had returned to baseline. Abrupt termination of hyperventilation after 6 hours resulted in a 110±71% increase in cerebral blood flow over baseline after 30 minutes of normocapnia. This cerebral hyperemia persisted for at least 90 minutes after hyperventilation was discontinued. Cerebral oxygen consumption did not change throughout the study. The posthypocapnia hyperemia noted in these animals after abrupt normalization of arterial carbon dioxide pressure may contribute to the increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage in newborn infants who are treated similarly in the management of pulmonary hypertension.
Response Agreement: a Fortran Program To Compute an Agreement Matrix for Eventual Pattern Analysis

A program to compute a response agreement matrix is described. Such a matrix may then be used as input into factor analytic programs of the user’s choice in order to provide a pattern analysis of test results, symptom checklists, or any other dichotomously scored variables. The program currently prints the agreement matrix and punches cards which may be used as input for the two frequently available package factor analytic programs. Such information should be valuable to persons involved in either basic or applied research. EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT 1981, 41 EVEN if two persons obtain the same total score on a test, it is improbable that they responded identically to every individual item. Their test response patterns would most likely be dissimilar. Pattern analysis is a technique which is useful in uncovering those patterns in situations in which the variables (e.g., test items, symptom lists, or personality characteristics in a check list) can be dichotomously scored. Tyron and Bailey (1970) discussed many of the proposed techniques of pattern analysis. However, according to Nunnally (1978), the proper approach is to factor analyze a matrix of response agreements over items for each pair of individuals. Although many programs are available for factor analytic solutions, few exist which can be used to produce a matrix of response agreement. The purpose of this paper was to describe a program providing the computation of a matrix of response agreement that can then be used as input for the factor analytic program of the researcher’s choice.
Tumour necrosis factor receptor I (p55) is upregulated on endothelial cells by exposure to the tumour-derived cytokine endothelial monocyte- activating polypeptide II (EMAP-II).

Endothelial monocyte activating polypeptide-II (EMAP-II) is an inflammatory cytokine known to have a role in neutrophil and macrophage chemotaxis and in apoptosis. It is a tumour-derived cytokine that sensitizes tumour vasculature to the effects of systemic TNF. In order to gain insight into the mechanism by which EMAP-II sensitizes vessels to TNF, we focused on its effects on TNF receptor expression. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), TNF-R1 mRNA is increased four-fold following incubation with recombinant EMAP-II. Conditioned media from cell lines known to produce high levels of EMAP-II upregulated TNF-R1 but not TNF-R2 by up to twenty-fold compared to media controls and low expressing cell lines; this effect was blocked by anti-EMAP-II antibody. Recombinant EMAP-II upregulated TNF-R1 expression by approximately six-fold. Analysis of HUVEC lysates by ELISA showed increased expression of TNF-R1 within 2 h; TNF-R2 expression was unaffected by recombinant EMAP-II. Finally, immunohistochemistry of human melanomas in vivo showed that TNF-R1 staining is increased on the vessels of tumours known to express high levels of EMAP-II compared to low EMAP-II expressing tumours. These results suggest that EMAP-II upregulates TNF-R1 expression by endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo. This induction of TNF-R1 expression may be the mechanism by which EMAP-II sensitizes tumour endothelium to the effects of TNF leading to haemorrhagic necrosis.
Attributions of charismatic leadership: The impact of decision style, outcome, and observer characteristics

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of decision style (intuitive versus technical), decision outcome (successful versus unsuccessful), and organizational role of the observer (managers versus nonmanagers) on attributions of charismatic leadership suggested by Conger (1989). Results showed that all three variables have a significant influence on the attribution process, but that it is important to distinguish between different components of charismatic leadership.
Port Wine Stain Progression: A Potential Consequence of Delayed and Inadequate Treatment?

Background and Objectives Port wine stains are congenital low-flow vascular malformations of the skin. Unlike hemangiomas, PWS do not involute with time, but rather if left untreated can hypertrophy and develop nodularity. Laser therapy of PWS particularly with pulsed-dye lasers, is a safe, well-established treatment that is successful in the majority of patients, especially for younger patients. Patients that fail to receive treatment early in life may subsequent develop lesions more likely to progress. Study Design/Patients and Methods A case report and review of the literature are presented. We report a 43 year-old man born with a port-wine stain on the right side of his face that extended in the V2 distribution on his face. He had undergone several sessions with a pulsed-dye laser, the sequential dual-wavelength (595 nm and 1064 nm) laser and a CO2 resurfacing laser from the age of 26 but failed to follow through with a sufficient number of treatments to prevent hypertrophy. Results Due to an insufficient number and interval of treatments (with only 7 treatments over 16 years starting at age 26) with the various lasers, the patient's port wine stain continued to progress in color and development of nodularity. Conclusions Patients born with port wine stains should have early laser treatment to achieve optimal results. Delay in treatment, as in this patient until age 26, may result in hard to treat PWS that can continue to progress in nodularity. This case illustrates the hypertrophy and nodularity that can occur due to progression of a PWS with failure to follow through with sufficient number of laser treatments. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:423–426, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Lateral Interbody Fusion: Indications and Techniques

There has been a universal trend across surgical specialties to minimize trauma to adjacent tissues while addressing the relevant pathology. Advances in lighting techniques, retractor technology, and magnification have fueled this trend. Within the field of spine surgery, this has manifested itself as an exponential increase in the number of minimally invasive techniques and implants available to surgeons. One of these techniques, the lateral interbody fusion has garnered considerable interest because of the small footprint it leaves in the surrounding tissues, its ability to deliver a large interbody implant through a small incision, and the surgeon's ability to avoid of the posterior elements of the spine. Initial studies have shown promising results when compared with the complications of traditional open procedures. However, certain idiosyncrasies of the lateral interbody fusion are notable: it requires meticulous patient positioning, real-time neurologic monitoring to traverse the substance of the psoas muscle, and results in some postoperative thigh symptoms in almost all patients. Despite the paucity of long-term outcome data, the indications for the lateral interbody fusion continue to evolve.
A widely tunable narrow linewidth semiconductor fiber ring laser

We have demonstrated a novel approach to obtain a 0.1-nm line width laser with 38-dB sidemode suppression by utilizing a 1.3-/spl mu/m semiconductor optical amplifier in a fiber unidirectional ring that consists of a linear polarizer and polarization controllers. The laser has a low-threshold current of 22.5 mA as well as a wide tuning range of 28 nm. The new approach is applicable to the 1.55-/spl mu/m region as well. It is expected that nanosecond wavelength tuning speed is feasible using this approach in conjunction with fast electrooptic polarization controllers, short cavities and low-cavity losses.
Adaptive space-time feedforward/feedback detection for high data rate CDMA in frequency-selective fading

We investigate linear and nonlinear space-time minimum mean-square-error (MMSE) multiuser detectors for high data rate wireless code-division multiple-access (CDMA) networks. The centralized reverse-link detectors comprise a space-time feedforward filter and a multiuser feedback filter which processes the previously detected symbols of all in-sector users. The feedforward filter processes chip-rate samples from a bank of chip-matched filters which operate on the baseband outputs from an array of antennas. We present an adaptive multiuser recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm which determines the MMSE adjusted filter coefficients with less complexity than individual adaptation for each user. We calculate the outage probabilities and isolate the effects of antenna, diversity, and interference suppression gains for linear and nonlinear filtering and for CDMA systems with varying levels of system control (e.g., timing control, code assignment, cell layout). For eight users transmitting uncoded 2-Mb/s quadrature phase-shift keying with a spreading gain of eight chips per symbol over a fading channel with a multipath delay spread of 1.25 /spl mu/s, the performance of a three-antenna feedforward/feedback detector was within 1 dB (in signal-to-noise ratio per antenna) of ideal detection in the absence of interference. By training for 10% of a 5-ms frame, RLS adaptation enabled the same detector to suffer less than a 0.5-dB penalty due to the combined effects of imperfect coefficients and error propagation. The advantage of nonlinear feedforward/feedback detection over linear feedforward detection was shown to be significantly larger for a CDMA system with enhanced system control.
Differentiating agents and nontoxic therapies.

Human prostate cancer is characterized by several unusual features that render it an appropriate target for differentiation agents and other nontoxic therapies. Autopsy studies on men not known to have prostate cancer show that prostate cancer will develop in most men, if they live long enough. Of men aged 50 to 60 years, approximately half will be found to have prostate cancer. Of men aged more than 80 years, 90% to 100% will have prostate cancer. Given the size of the male population of the United States, more than 20 million men can be expected to have prostate cancer. Despite these numbers, only about 40,000 are diagnosed as having metastatic prostate cancer in any given year, that is, approximately 0.3% of the total men with this malignancy. Thus, the natural history of prostate cancer suggests that it is a malignancy in which the mutations needed for rapid growth and metastatic spread do not commonly happen. Any treatment that could prevent or reverse these changes might significantly alter the natural history of human prostate cancer. In men with diagnosed prostate cancer, the natural history of the malignancy varies markedly. Tumor doubling times can range from as rapid as 2 weeks to more than 5 years. A prostate cancer that doubles every 2 weeks exhibits a growth rate similar to that seen in acute leukemia or high-grade lymphomas. A prostate cancer that doubles in size every 5 years may take more than 15 to 20 years to cause significant problems for a patient and may not need to be treated at all. Any treatment that significantly slows the growth of prostate cancer might prolong the survival of patients without necessarily inducing tumor cell death. The goals of differentiation and other nontoxic therapies fit well with the aspects of prostate cancer biology just outlined. In general, the goal of these approaches is to impair cancer cell growth and metastatic spread. Are these goals clinically useful? Most patients diagnosed with prostate cancer are between the ages of 60 and 80 years, whereas the median life expectancy for men in the United States is now approaching 85 to 90 years. It is estimated that the median tumor-doubling time at time of diagnosis in patients with prostate cancer limited to the prostate gland ranges from 2 to 4 years. If differentiation therapy or other nontoxic therapies can reduce tumor growth rates by more than 75%, many of these patients will most likely die of other diseases before prostate cancer will seriously threaten their health. There may be no reason to limit the use of differentiation or other nontoxic therapies to
The use of icons, earcons, and commands in the design of an online hierarchical menu

Important goals for interface designers are to determine when it is beneficial to use iconic or command-based menus and how these traditional menu systems can be enhanced by the use of sound. To investigate this topic, 28 subjects were asked to maneuver through one of four different implementations of an interactive software package in order to execute a target command using either an iconic or command-based menu with or without the use of sound. The sounds descended in pitch as the depth of the menu increased, and were used as an auditory cue to code the location of a particular menu item. The results indicate that icons were more easily remembered than commands, but that commands were easier to locate under the highest level branch of the menu. The results also indicate a trend toward faster performance times with the use of command-based menus in comparison to iconic-based menus designed with the same structure. However, there was no difference in performance within iconic or command-based menus when sound was included in the user interface. Implications for user interface design are discussed. >