cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE CHOICE OF A SECOND ORDER ROTATABLE DESIGN

When the actual functional form is not known, useful information about the nature of the actual relationship in some particular region R of the g space can often be obtained by approximating the relationship by a graduating function g(g, P) where P3 is a vector of adjustable constants. The graduating functions usually employed have been polynomials in the variables g. The problem of experimental design which arises in the fitting of a graduating function has been discussed by Box & Draper (1959) and will be briefly restated here. We desire to choose a design matrix D of N rows and k columns which will specify the levels of the k variables to be run in N experiments. Denote the uth row of this matrix by gu. This vector has as elements the levels (61u, 62u .... 6 ku) of the k factors to be employed in the uth experiment, u = 1, 2, ..., N. Our primary objective will be to choose these levels so that when the graduating function g(g) is fitted by least squares, it will closely represent the true function y(g), within the region of interest R. Subject to the satisfaction of our primary objective, we shall also require that the factor levels be such that there is a high chance that the inadequacy of the graduating function g(g, P3) to represent y(g) will be detected. As will be seen, a subclass of all possible designs can be selected which will satisfy our primary requirement. We can then make use of our secondary requirement to make a selection of a particular design from this subclass. We now define 'region of interest', 'closely represent' and 'detection of inadequacy of model'.
Impact of Postoperative Nadir Hemoglobin and Blood Transfusion on Outcomes After Operations for Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

Objective Controversy surrounds the topic of transfusion policy after noncardiac operations. This study assessed the combined impact of postoperative nadir hemoglobin (nHb) levels and blood transfusion on adverse events after open surgical intervention in patients who undergo operative intervention for atherosclerotic vascular disease. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent peripheral arterial disease (PAD)-related operations were balanced on baseline characteristics by inverse weighting on propensity score calculated as their probability to have nHb greater than 10 gm/dL on the basis of operation type, demographics, and comorbidities, including the revised cardiac risk index. A multivariate generalized estimating equation analysis was performed to investigate associations between nHb, transfusion, and a composite outcome of perioperative death and myocardial infarction. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to assess the impact of nHb and transfusion on respiratory and wound complications; and a composite end point (CE) of death, myocardial infarction during a 2-year follow-up. Level of statistical significance was set at alpha of 0.0125 to adjust for the increased probability of type I error attributable to multiple comparisons. Results The analysis cohort included 880 patients (1074 operations). After adjusting for nHb level, the number of units transfused was not associated with the perioperative occurrence of the CE (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; P = .025). Adjusted for the number of units transfused, nHb had no impact on the perioperative CE (OR, 0.62; P = .22). An interaction term between transfusion and nHb level remained nonsignificant ( P = .312), indicating that the impact of blood transfusion was the same regardless of the nHb level. Perioperative respiratory complications were more likely in patients receiving transfusions (OR, 1.22; P = .009), and perioperative wound infections were less common in patients with nHb >10 gm/dL (OR, 0.65; P = .01). During an average follow-up of 24 months, transfused patients were more likely to develop the CE (hazard ratio [HR], 1.15, P = .009), whereas nHb level did not impact the long-term adverse event rate (HR, 0.78; P = .373). The above associations persisted even after adjusting the Cox regression model for the occurrence of perioperative cardiac events. Conclusions Although nHb less than 10 gm/dL is not associated with death or ACS after PAD-related operations, maintaining nHb greater than 10 gm/dL appears to decrease the risk of wound infection. Blood transfusion is associated with increased risk of perioperative respiratory complications. Until a randomized trial settles this issue definitively, a restrictive transfusion strategy is justified in patients undergoing operations for atherosclerotic vascular disease.
The Development Pattern of the Global Textile Industry and Trade: Part I: Evidence from Textile Exports of the EC, the Far East, and Emerging Textile Exporting Countries in the 1980s

This paper attempts to explain the changing pattern of international textile trade based on theoretical perspectives of the developmental stages of the global textile industry and trade. Nations' economic development, industrialization, and their changing resource endowments have led to differences in their comparative cost advantage of specializing in different textile products, which have contributed to (a) capital-abundant northern developed regions' greater specialization in producing and exporting capital-intensive goods of upstream textile sectors and intra-industry trade with declining leadership in the world textile trade and (b) labor-abundant southern developing regions' greater specialization in relatively labor-intensive goods of downstream textile sectors and inter-industry trade with growing leadership in the world textile trade. The latter part of this paper attempts to obtain empirical support by conducting Constant Market Share (CMS) analyses of textile exports of the EC, the Far East, an...
Renal transplantation in children: an American view from the bridge.

Performance of renal transplants in children frequently necessitates transfer of patients from the care of a local pediatric nephrologist to a regional, tertiary care center that is specially equipped to carry out organ transplantation. This shift in institutional affiliation can be the cause of some difficulties in treating these complicated patients including: (1) disparities in the expected outcome of the renal transplant procedure; (2) co-ordination and timely completion of the pre-operative evaluation; (3) proper handling of transfers of patients between medical centers and inter-physician communication; (4) psychosocial pressures encountered by parents when their children are under the care of two teams of physicians. It is recognized that the relationship between the referring pediatric nephrologist and the transplant physician is paradigmatic of the association that develops between a general practioner and a specialist. With this in mind, we offer some tentative suggestions on how to improve the therapeutic alliance between referring pediatric nephrologists and transplant surgeons, in the hope that this will improve the care of all pediatric transplant recipients.
A pilot study of high-dose intraarterial cisplatin chemotherapy with concomitant accelerated radiotherapy for patients with previously untreated T4 and selected patients with T3N0-N3M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract.

BACKGROUND This Phase I clinical trial was developed to assess the feasibility of combining high-dose intraarterial cisplatin chemotherapy with concurrent, concomitant boost accelerated radiation therapy for patients with previously untreated T4 and select patients with T3N0–N3M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. METHODS Between July 1999, and February 2002, 19 patients were treated with 3 or 4 weekly cycles of intraarterial Cisplatin chemotherapy (150 mg/m2) with concurrent, concomitant boost accelerated radiation therapy (72 grays in 42 fractions over 6 weeks). RESULTS Two patient deaths occurred among the first 15 patients enrolled. Both patients presented with febrile neutropenia, and both died of complications related to infection. The number of cycles of intraarterial cisplatin was reduced from four cycles to three cycles, and an additional four patients were treated. The fourth patient treated on the modified protocol developed febrile neutropenia, sepsis, and a thromboembolic event, which resulted in lower extremity amputations. The maximum acute toxicity experienced was Grade 2 in 6 patients, Grade 3 in 5 patients, Grade 4 in 6 patients, and Grade 5 in 2 patients. With a median follow-up of 21 months (range, 6.2–34.6 months), the overall survival at 1 year was 89.5% (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 76.7–100%). At 1 year, 92.9% of the patients were free from disease progression (95%CI, 80.3–100%). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that concurrent intraarterial cisplatin chemotherapy at a dose of 150 mg/m2 with concomitant boost accelerated radiation therapy is not feasible. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
A novel on-resin synthesis of C-terminally amidated peptides

Abstract An efficient method for solid-phase synthesis of peptide alkyl- and aryl amides is developed based on cleavage of peptide-thioester linker, HS(CH)2CONle, by a silver ion-amine complex. The metal ion-assisted acyl transfer reaction is usually completed in less than 1 h with high yields. This method is particularly suitable for preparing peptide aryl amides which are difficult to synthesize by other methods and also can be adopted for the combinatorial synthesis of nonpeptide amide libraries.
On the Designs of Thorough QT/QTc Clinical Trials

A thorough QT trial is typically designed to test for two set of hypotheses. The primary set of hypotheses is for demonstrating that the test treatment will not prolong QT interval. The second set of hypotheses is to demonstrate the assay sensitivity of the positive control treatment in the study population. The conventional designs of thorough QT studies are parallel arms and crossover trials. Although the sample size requirements, the time points of analysis, and the durations of drug administration to reach a steady stage are all different between the test and positive control treatments, the trials are often designed with equal study duration and sample size for the different treatment arms or periods. In order to reduce the number of subjects needed for the parallel-arm thorough QT clinical trial, unconventional designs were proposed and used in the recent years. In this article, we review and discuss a few of the designs and propose some additional designs in the form of unbalanced, group sequential...
Experimental Study of the Signals from a Segmented Cathode Drift Chamber

A test drift chamber has been constructed with a segmented cathode for measuring the second coordinate. A corona discharge source has also been constructed to measure the response of the cathode segments. Various size segments were studied and the position resolution and pulse height distributions measured.
Hemodialysis access in the pediatric patient population.

background : Each year, three to five children per million develop chronic renal failure. Of these, 70% will require dialysis for short periods, and 23% will require prolonged hemodialysis support. It is in the latter group that difficulty to encountered in establishing dialysis access. methods : From 1985 to 1992, we provided hemodialysis access for a group of 24 children. There were 16 boys and 8 girls, with a mean age of 11.1 ± 4 years (range 3 to 17). All children were significantly below the 50th perentile weight for their age and sex. Seven Children entered hemodialysis following failed peritoneal dialysis after an average of 21 ± 10.5 months. Seventeen patients received a renal transplant. Seven of these children have resumed hemodialysis. results : The technique for establishing hemodialysis was varied: 15 arteriovenous fistulae, 37 expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) bridge grafts, 9 bovine arteriovenous bridge grafts, and 29 chronic central venous catheters. The overall nean functional patency of the fistulae was 6.2 ± 10.2 months. One third of these fistulae failed to mature sufficiently to permit their use for dialysis purposes. Twenty-one upper extremity ePTFE grafts were implanted, with a mean functional patency of 11 ± 11.1 months. Sixteen groin loop grafts were utilized, with a primary patency of only 4.1 ± 5 months. Thrombectomy was performed in 25 cases (patch or interposition in 8 cases), with a secondary patency in these grafts of 10.5 ± 17 months. An inability to achieve access in 2 children resulted in the creation of unusual types of access: an aorto-caval fistula and an axillo-femoral fistula and a combination of single-needle puncture of an immature fistula with one lumen of a PermCath. There were eight ePTFE graft infections, with graft loss occurring in seven cases. Superior vena caval occlusion occurred in two patients, inferior vena caval thrombosis in one patient, and axillo-subclavian venous occlusion in two patients. Development of central venous occlusions significantly increased the difficulty in establishing dialysis access. The total dialysis period provided by the 90 primary procedures performed in this study was 658 months. Each procedure, therefore, provided access for a mean duration of only 7.3 months. conclusion : Providing dialysis access in the pediatric population is a time-consuming and frustrating challenge. We believe that all patients with renal dysfunction should have their conditions managed as potential long-term dialysis candidates. Therefore, our philosophy is to achieve maximal use from each access site. Although the primary patency of upper-arm ePTFE grafts was greater than that for the forearm fistulae in this study, failure of the upper-arm graft can result in loss of that limb for the purposes of future dialysis access. Consequently, we strongly advocate the “distal before proximal” and “autogenous before prosthetic” dogma in providing pediatric hemodialysis access.
Statistical uncertainty analysis for stochastic simulation with dependent input models

When we use simulation to estimate the performance of a stochastic system, lack of fidelity in the random input models can lead to poor system performance estimates. Since the components of many complex systems could be dependent, we want to build input models that faithfully capture such key properties. In this paper, we use the flexible NORmal To Anything (NORTA) representation for dependent inputs. However, to use the NORTA representation we need to estimate the marginal distribution parameters and a correlation matrix from real-world data, introducing input uncertainty. To quantify this uncertainty, we employ the bootstrap to capture the parameter estimation error and an equation-based stochastic kriging metamodel to propagate the input uncertainty to the output mean. Asymptotic analysis provides theoretical support for our approach, while an empirical study demonstrates that it has good finite-sample performance.
Crystallography, magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and electrical resistivity of heavy-fermionLiV2O4single crystals grown using a self-flux technique

Magnetically pure spinel compound $\mathrm{Li}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ is a rare $d$-electron heavy fermion. Measurements on single crystals are needed to clarify the mechanism for the heavy-fermion behavior in the pure material. In addition, it is known that small concentrations $(l1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mol}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}%)$ of magnetic defects in the structure strongly affect the properties, and measurements on single crystals containing magnetic defects would help to understand the latter behaviors. Herein, we report flux growth of $\mathrm{Li}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ and preliminary measurements to help resolve these questions. The magnetic susceptibility of some as-grown crystals show a Curie-like upturn at low temperatures, showing the presence of magnetic defects within the spinel structure. The magnetic defects could be removed in some of the crystals by annealing them at $700\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$. A very high specific heat coefficient $\ensuremath{\gamma}=450\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mJ}∕\mathrm{mol}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{K}}^{2}$ was obtained at a temperature of $1.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ for a crystal containing a magnetic defect concentration ${n}_{\text{defect}}=0.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mol}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}%$. A crystal with ${n}_{\text{defect}}=0.01\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mol}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}%$ showed a residual resistivity ratio of 50.
Detection of outliers in signal processing and detection of number of signals in presence of outliers

Likelihood ratio tests for mean-slippage outlier(s) and Roy's (1953) union-intersection principle for dispersion-slippage outlier(s) are applied in the signal processing data. Procedures to get approximate critical values of the tests are given.Then likelihood ratio tests and intuitive tests are suggested to test the rank of Γ in the presence of mean-slippage and dispersion-slippage outliers, respectively, where is the covariance matrix of the observation vector in signal processing. Finally, the estimate of rank of Γ is obtained through information criterion developed by Zhao, Krishnaiah and Bai (1986a,b) and through modified information criterion proposed by the author.
VCAM-1 inhibits TGFβ stimulated epithelial-mesenchymal transformation by modulating Rho activity and stabilizing intercellular adhesion in epicardial mesothelial cells

Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is of central importance both in normal development and in disease. During heart development, cells of the superficial epicardial mesothelium undergo EMT to give rise to precursor cells of the coronary vasculature and cardiac fibroblasts. Here we report that the alpha(4)beta(1) integrin ligand, VCAM-1, inhibits EMT of chick epicardial mesothelial cells stimulated by TGFbeta isoforms. We further investigated the molecular basis of this inhibition using cultured chick embryonic and rat adult epicardial mesothelial cells. We observed that VCAM-1 increased cortical actin filaments at intercellular junctions and reduced stress fibers across epicardial cells. VCAM-1 inhibited stress fiber formation by TGFbeta1, TGFbeta2, TGFbeta3 and lysophosphatidic acid and altered Rho activity stimulated by TGFbeta3. This was accompanied by an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of p190RhoGAP. All three TGFbeta isoforms weakened intercellular adhesion, reduced membrane localization of beta-catenin and E-cadherin and stimulated epicardial EMT in chick hearts. Each of these effects was restricted by simultaneous VCAM-1 treatment. Our data support the hypothesis that VCAM-1 can alter epicardial EMT at two key points: it limits Rho-dependent events such as stress fiber formation and it maintains the association of beta-catenin and E-cadherin with the adherens junction.
Pore and surface diffusion in multicomponent adsorption and liquid chromatography systems

A generalized parallel pore and surface diffusion model for multicomponent adsorption and liquid chromatography is formulated and solved numerically. Analytical solution for first- and second-order central moments for a pulse on a plateau input is used as benchmarks for the numerical solutions. Theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data for two systems: ion-exchange of strontium, sodium, and calcium in a zeolite and competitive adsorption of two organics on activated carbon. In a linear isotherm region of single-component systems, both surface and pore diffusion cause symmetric spreading in breakthrough curves. In a highly nonlinear isotherm region, however, surface diffusion causes pronounced tailing in breakthrough curves; the larger the step change in concentration, the more pronounced tailing, in contrast to relatively symmetric breakthroughs due to pore diffusion. If only a single diffusion mechanism is assumed in analyzing the data of parallel diffusion systems, a concentration-dependent apparent surface diffusivity or pore diffusivity results; for a convex isotherm, the apparent surface diffusivity increases, whereas the apparent pore diffusivity decreases with increasing concentration. For a multicomponent nonlinear system, elution order can change if pore diffusion dominates for a low-affinity solute, whereas surface diffusion dominates for a high-affinity solute.
Tau-Chopping Enzyme Adds Fuel to the Neurodegeneration Fire

The microtubule-associated protein tau is a bad actor implicated in several age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia. In AD, aggregated species of tau form neurofibrillary tangles in neurons, which are associated with cell death. Mutations in the gene encoding tau cause neurodegeneration in both humans and mice. Despite years of research, the mechanisms mediating tau toxicity in the brain are not well understood, limiting the development of tau-based therapies for AD. Now, Zhang et al. have identified a new mechanism of tau neurotoxicity, which has clear therapeutic implications. The authors identified a new protease, termed AEP (asparagine endopeptidase), which readily cleaved tau at two sites, generating fragments that were prone to pathological aggregation and were highly toxic to cultured neurons. Deletion of the gene encoding AEP in a mouse model of tau-induced neurodegeneration (the P301S tau transgenic mouse) limited the accumulation of pathogenic tau in the brain and prevented synapse damage and learning deficits. Whereas virus-mediated overexpression of a disease-linked form of tau in mouse brain caused tau pathology and synapse loss, expressing the same tau protein that had been rendered resistant to AEP-mediated cleavage led to less pathology and milder behavioral deficits. AEP protein and proteolytic activity, as well as AEP-specific tau fragments, also increased in the brain in an age-dependent manner in P301S tau transgenic mice. Last, the AD-related amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) induced AEP expression and tau cleavage in mouse neurons, whereas increased AEP protein, proteolytic activity, and tau fragments were observed in post-mortem brain tissue from human AD patients. These findings suggest that AEP-mediated tau cleavage could play a role in AD pathogenesis. Scientifically, AEP provides a potential link by which Aβ might trigger tau pathology, a pathological event that is thought to be critical in AD but has remained elusive. Clinically, quantification of AEP activity or specific AEP-derived tau fragments might also provide unique diagnostic biomarkers for AD. Last, drugs that inhibit AEP activity may have the potential to exert protective effects in AD patients. Although these findings need to be confirmed in other preclinical models and examined more thoroughly in humans, this study suggests that blocking this tau-chopping enzyme may hold promise as a new therapeutic avenue for AD treatment. Z. Zhang et al ., Cleavage of tau by asparagine endopeptidase mediates the neurofibrillary pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Nat. Med. 10.1038/nm.3700 (2014). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v20/n11/full/nm.3700.html
Sampling Practices of Auditors in Public Accounting, Industry, and Government (Retracted)

Although audit sampling is a common procedure, relatively little is known about the sampling practices of auditors in public accounting, industry, and government. This study surveyed practicing auditors to determine how they: (1) planned sample sizes, (2) selected sample items, and (3) evaluated sample outcomes. Respondents also provided data on the training received, debiasing techniques employed when using nonstatistical (judgmental) methods, and literature sources relied on to provide guidance regarding sampling matters. Respondents in all areas of practice reported that a majority of audit sampling applications rely on nonstatistical methods for sample planning, selection, and evaluation. Despite the heavy reliance on nonstatistical methods, less than 10 percent of respondents reported receiving training in debiasing techniques, and no respondents reported using these techniques. Among statistical methods dollar‐unit sampling is the most frequently employed technique. All respondents reported reliance...
An Investigation of Nanocrystalline Semiconductor Assemblies as a Material Basis for Ionizing-Radiation Detectors

Nanocrystalline (NC) semiconductor materials have previously been studied as a means of increasing the exciton multiplicity upon the impingement of visible light, for applications such as solar cells. If the multi-exciton states have highly uniform multiplicities across macroscopic NC samples, then one can also potentially quench the statistical counting noise associated with charge-carrier creation in the bulk. We thus assess the viability of using NC semiconductor materials for the detection of ionizing radiation. Using CdTe and PbSe NC films, we report on the colloidal synthesis and deposition procedures for spherical NC particles with dimensions less than 10 nm. In particular, using a thioglycolic-acid (TGA)-stabilized CdTe NC solution adsorbed to polycations, CdTe nanocrystalline films were deposited on glass and metallic substrates using either the layer-by-layer (LBL) method or by using drop-casting techniques. A scanning electron microscope was used to study the surface morphology and impurity concentrations of the CdTe and PbSe-films, and by sandwiching the films between evaporated metallic electrodes, the junction properties of the material were studied, and rectifying characteristics were observed. The resulting depletion region and the material's response to alpha particle impingement were studied.
An amino acid change near the carboxyl terminus of the Streptococcus gordonii regulatory protein Rgg affects its abilities to bind DNA and influence expression of the glucosyltransferase gene gtfG.

The Streptococcus gordonii glucosyltransferase structural gene, gtfG, is located immediately downstream from its positive transcriptional regulatory determinant, rgg. Recent genetic studies have indicated that the 3' end of rgg is involved either directly as a binding site or indirectly, e.g. by playing a role in secondary structure, in the interaction of Rgg with the gtfG promoter. A previously identified spontaneous mutant with a point mutation near the 3' end of rgg had only approximately 25% of the parental level of glucosyltransferase activity. To determine if this decreased activity was due to a change in the DNA binding site of trans-acting Rgg, or due to a change in the Rgg protein itself, complementation analyses and DNA-binding studies were performed. In Rgg-deficient strains, the chromosomal rgg point mutation did not influence the ability of plasmid-borne rgg to increase glucosyltransferase expression. However, plasmids carrying parental rgg were able to increase glucosyltransferase activity and expression of a gtfG promoter fusion to a greater extent than plasmids carrying the mutant allele, indicating that the mutant Rgg protein had decreased activity. The ability of NH(2)-terminal (hexahistidine) tagged proteins to bind to a 107 bp dsDNA fragment corresponding to the region immediately upstream of gtfG was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance. Despite their differences in activity, both mutant and parental recombinant Rgg proteins bound to this dsDNA, albeit with different strengths. These studies provide insights into functional domains of S. gordonii Rgg which influence glucosyltransferase expression, and may have implications for Rgg-like regulatory proteins in related bacteria.
Thyrotropin and Prolactin Pituitary Reserve in the “Empty Sella Syndrome”

Ten patients (8 women, 2 men) with the "empty sella syndrome" were studied to evaluate the pituitary reserve of human thyrotropin (hTSH) and prolactin (hPRL). None of the patients had signs or symptoms of hypopituitarism or primary hypothyroidism. All patients had normal baseline thyroid function tests except for 2 patients with mild elevations in total triiodothyronine as measured by competitive protein displacement assay (T3D). Eight of ten patients had normal hTSH responses to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), whereas the 2 patients with elevated T3D had blunted TRH responses. In the 4 patients studied, the metabolic clearance (MCR) and production rates (PR) of hTSH were normal. In 9 of 10 patients normal baseline serum hPRL levels were detected, and each responded to TRH. In one case serum hPRL was undetectable and failed to respond to TRH. The assessment of other anterior pituitary function revealed few minor abnormalities. In summary, like other anterior pituitary hormones, the pituitary reserve in "empty sella syndrome" of hTSH and hPRL is usually normal. When abnormalities do occur, they are attributable to other co-existent endocrine pathology.
Narrow-linewidth microwave frequency generation by dual-wavelength Brillouin fiber laser

We demonstrate use of a fiber laser based on dual-wavelength stimulated Brillouin scattering to generate a 14.2-GHz tone with a Lt400-mHz linewidth. We discuss the dependence of this frequency on various drive parameters
tax and rex Sequences of bovine leukaemia virus from globally diverse isolates: rex amino acid sequence more variable than tax.

Summary Bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) is an important agricultural problem with high costs to the dairy industry. Here, we examine the variation of the tax and rex genes of BLV. The tax and rex genes share 420 bases and have overlapping reading frames. The tax gene encodes a protein that functions as a transactivator of the BLV promoter, is required for viral replication, acts on cellular promoters, and is responsible for oncogenesis. The rex facilitates the export of viral mRNAs from the nucleus and regulates transcription. We have sequenced five new isolates of the tax/rex gene. We examined the five new and three previously published tax/rex DNA and predicted amino acid sequences of BLV isolates from cattle in representative regions worldwide. The highest variation among nucleic acid sequences for tax and rex was 7% and 5%, respectively; among predicted amino acid sequences for Tax and Rex, 9% and 11%, respectively. Significantly more nucleotide changes resulted in predicted amino acid changes in the rex gene than in the tax gene (P ≤ 0.0006). This variability is higher than previously reported for any region of the viral genome. This research may also have implications for the development of Tax-based vaccines.
A Generic High-Frequency Model for the Nonlinearities in Buck Converters

To investigate the high-frequency behaviors for the switching converters, the modeling and analysis should include the influences from the sideband components, which are generated by the converter's nonlinearities. With a buck converter, two non- linearities are identified in this paper: the pulse-width modulator and the switches. Based on the harmonic-balance approach, the multifrequency model is proposed to address these nonlinearities and to predict the high-frequency performances. With the derived model, different modulation schemes are compared based on their influence on the sideband effect and the control bandwidth limitations. The possible benefit from the double-edge modulation and its limitations are clarified. In addition, the audio-susceptibility is studied considering the nonlinearity of the switches. With the combination of the two nonlinearities, a generic high-frequency model is achieved. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the achievements of the proposed models.
Energy-efficient recognition and mining processor using scalable effort design

A domain-specific processor for energy-efficient execution of Recognition and Data Mining (RM) workloads is presented. The processor consists of a 2-D array of processing elements and a streaming memory hierarchy and interconnect network that are customized to efficiently execute dominant computational kernels (matrix-vector multiplication, vector dot product, L1 norm, and L2 norm) from a wide range of RM algorithms. To achieve further energy efficiency, the RM processor utilizes scalable effort design, a technique that exploits the inherent resilience of algorithms to inexactness in their constituent computations. The scalable effort RM processor adopts a cross-layer approach by combining scaling mechanisms at the algorithm, architecture, and circuit levels, to create a desirable trade off between energy consumption and output quality. Measurements from the implemented chip in 65nm CMOS indicate processing efficiencies of 569 GOPS/W-4.68 TOPS/W. The use of scalable effort design achieves energy savings of 1.2-2.3X with no loss in output quality, and 2X-20X with modest reduction in quality.
Multiple knife-edge diffraction of microwaves

The paper discusses a simplified solution to the problem of multiple diffraction of microwaves over knife-edge obstacles. The path loss is obtained directly and quickly by alignment of distances and heights, adequately selected from a path profile. A theoretical study shows good agreement between the simplified approach and a complete mathematical analysis made by G. Millington in 1962. When the diffraction loss reaches a maximum which might be in excess of 50 dB, the approximate value exceeds the theoretical one by 2 to 5 dB. Predictions are in good agreement, too, with the results of experiments conducted both in France and in the United States. Out of ten examples reported in the paper, nine indicate an error equal or smaller than 3 dB.
Pictorial depth cues for outdoor augmented reality

This paper presents and evaluates a set of pictorial depth cues for far-field outdoor mobile augmented reality (AR). We examine the problem of accurately placing virtual annotations at physical target points from a static point of view. While it is easy to line up annotations with a target point's projection in the view plane, finding the correct distance for the annotation is difficult if the target point is not represented in an environment model. We have found that AR depth cues, such as vertical and horizontal shadow planes, a small top-down map, or color encodings of relative depth, have a positive impact on a user's ability to align a 3D cursor with physical objects at various distances. These cues aid the user's depth perception and estimation by providing information about the 3D cursor's distance and its relationship in 3-space to any features that may already have been annotated. We conducted a user study that measures the effects of different depth cues for both absolute 3D cursor placement as well as placement relative to a small number of marked reference points, whose distances are known. Our study provides insight about mobile AR users' ability to judge distances both absolutely and relatively, and we identify techniques that successfully enhance their performance.
Proceedings: Cell Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease From Discovery to Clinic

In March 2013, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in collaboration with the NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine, held a 2-day workshop on cell therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD), with the goals of reviewing the state of stem cell research for the treatment of PD and discussing and refining the approach and the appropriate patient populations in which to plan and conduct new clinical trials using stem cell-based therapies for PD. Workshop participants identified priorities for research, development, and funding; discussed existing resources and initiatives; and outlined a path to the clinic for a stem cell-based therapy for PD. A consensus emerged among participants that the development of cell replacement therapies for PD using stem cell-derived products could potentially offer substantial benefits to patients. As with all stem cell-based therapeutic approaches, however, there are many issues yet to be resolved regarding the safety, efficacy, and methodology of transplanting cell therapies into patients. Workshop participants agreed that designing an effective stem cell-based therapy for PD will require further research and development in several key areas. This paper summarizes the meeting.
Psychosocial Factors Related to the Incidence of Cancer

The recent data concerning the relationship between psychosocial factors and the incidence of cancer have been reviewed covering life events, personality factors, psychiatric diagnoses, and loss-separation-hopelessness. The multiple methodological and design problems in this area of investigation are the factors that stand out and make interpretation difficult. Nevertheless, an association between oncogenesis and a number of factors such as extraversion, neuroticism, and lack of closeness to family is suggested. Many studies raise additional questions without providing definitive answers. A long term prospective study which has been designed to look at cancer outcome and multiple psychosocial factors is needed to determine if such factors add to the risk of oncogenesis.
Lentiviral based gene transduction and promoter studies in human hematopoietic stem cells (hHSCs)

Human hematopoietic stem cells (hHSCs) have enormous potential for clinical use in cell-based therapies, especially as a gene delivery system. Moreover, lentiviral transduction in stem cells is very often associated with low transduction efficiency and low levels of foreign gene expression. Therefore, it is important to analyze vector and promoter systems that can generate robust foreign gene expression in these cells. In this study, we evaluated and compared the ability of different commercially available promoters to drive the expression of exogenous reporter genes in hHSCs and evaluated the effect of different doses of stem cell growth factors on the expression of transgenes. We used lentivirus based vector system carrying the following promoters: 1) Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter, 2) Simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter, 3) mammalian Ubiquitin C (UBC) promoter and 4) cellular polypeptide chain elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1) promoter. EF1 and CMV promoters robustly drove the expression of green fluorescence protein (GFP) reporter gene, while SV40 and UBC promoters induced very low level of GFP expression. Lentivectors containing EF1 and CMV promoters showed high-level stable GFP expression in human cord blood stem cells for 6 weeks period after post transduction. CD133+ hHSCs stimulated with higher concentration of growth factors exhibited enhancement of transduction rate. Cord blood derived CD133+ hHSCs could be effectively transduced with lentivectors under CMV or EF-1 promoters for the expression of foreign gene
Pragmatism in modeling peer influence: Dynamics, outcomes, and change processes

This paper reviews the model-building approach to developmental psychopathology as it applies to understanding the influence of peers on adolescent problem behavior. Considerable longitudinal evidence suggests that deviant peer involvement is prognostic of escalations in various forms of problem behavior, including substance use, delinquent behavior, and violence. Most convincing, however, are data from randomized intervention trials that show alarming iatrogenic effects for aggregating high-risk peers. This paper shows that intervention research can also clarify the role of parents in reducing deviant peer involvement. Results from a 4-year prevention trial are reported for a community sample of multiethnic middle school youth. Random assignment to family-centered services in a school Family Resource center produced reduced growth in deviant peer involvement. The extensiveness of the parenting intervention was correlated with reduced growth in deviant peer involvement, especially among high-risk youth. Findings are discussed with respect to developmental theory and the design of future intervention trials that clarify the role of adults in structuring the emerging adolescents' world of peers.
Pleural Gas Analysis for Detection of Alveolopleural Fistulae.

Purpose Visual inspection (VI) of bubbles in the chest drainage unit does not differentiate a true leak of alveolopleural fistula (APF) from a false leak. We hypothesized that detection of elevated levels of carbon dioxide, increase in oxygen content, or both, in pleural gas upon the administration of supplemental oxygen would accurately identify APF. Description Prospective study comparing pleural gas analysis (GA) with VI to detect APF after surgical lobectomy (n = 50). Evaluation APF was found in 22 (44%) patients at the time of analysis. VI revealed air bubbles in 31 (62%) patients, indicating the presence of APF, of whom 12 (38.7%) were false leaks. VI failed to identify APF in 3 (6%) patients that resulted in post–tube removal pneumothorax. By contrast, GA accurately demonstrated APF in 21 patients, with only one false negative and no false positives. GA demonstrated better sensitivity (95.5% vs 86.4%), specificity (100% vs 57.1%), positive predictive value (100% vs 61.3%), and negative predictive value (96.6% vs 84.2%) compared to VI. Conclusions Pleural gas analysis is an effective technique to detect APF and can facilitate timely and safe chest tube removal.
Representative Men: Moral Perfectionism, Masculinity and Psychoanalysis in Good Will Hunting

This article argues that Stanley Cavell's notion of moral perfectionism must be understood, within the American cultural context, as deeply intertwined with myths of heroic American masculinity. It traces connections between Cavell's descriptions of moral perfectionism, the transcendentalist authors (primarily Emerson and Thoreau) on whom he relies, and writings about the myth of the American frontier hero. When understood as a tradition of masculinity, it becomes possible to trace moral perfectionism across much wider areas of American cinematic culture than Cavell's reading suggests; Good Will Hunting (Gus Van Sant, 1997) is used as an example which further illuminates the relationship between moral perfectionism and American masculinities. Psychoanalysis, a major feature of Good Will Hunting as well as an important aspect of Cavellian moral perfectionism, must also be revisited in terms of the differences in its popular mythologisation for men versus for women.
Role for Hyaluronan Synthase 3 in the Response to Vascular Injury

More than 1.5 million percutaneous coronary interventions are performed annually. The most important long-term complication is restenosis caused by inflammation, neointimal vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperplasia, and excess accumulation of extracellular matrix. Delineating mechanisms that contribute to inflammation, neointimal hyperplasia, and constrictive vascular remodeling will, therefore, improve and expand the options for prophylactic and therapeutic percutaneous coronary interventions for the growing population of patients with arterial disease. See accompanying article on page e9 Hyaluronan is a pericellular and extracellular matrix component of normal vasculature located throughout vessels from the luminal surface of the endothelium, to most prominently in the adventitia. The marked upregulation of hyaluronan production and accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions and in the neointima of restenotic vessels has generated great interest as to its role in vascular disease. Endothelial pericellular hyaluronan promotes leukocyte adhesion and transmigration, whereas hyaluronan binding to CD44 on leukocytes regulates inflammatory gene expression. Platelet-mediated hyaluronan cleavage generates bioactive hyaluronan fragments that stimulate leukocyte production of cytokines and chemokines. Moreover, hyaluronan is involved in the processes underlying the tissue response after vascular injury, in particular, VSMC proliferation and migration. In most cases, the implication of hyaluronan in vascular disease has been based on the circumstantial evidence of elevated hyaluronan levels in vascular lesions or deduced from deleting or blocking hyaluronan receptors (such as CD44 and receptor for HA-mediated motility). Designing approaches to more directly define the role of hyaluronan in vascular disease has been difficult in view of the multitude of synthases (HAS1, HAS2, and HAS3) and multiple hyaluronidases involved in its metabolism. …
Clearance of porcine insulin, proinsulin, and connecting peptide by the isolated rat liver.

SummaryIn the isolated rat liver perfusion system, the immunological half-life of crystalline single-component insulin was 17 min. In contrast, there was no significant clearance of either proinsulin or the connecting peptide that links the A and B chain of insulin in the proinsulin molecule. There was also no evidence of conversion of proinsulin to insulin. This may, in part, explain the prolonged in vivo half-life of proinsulin relative to insulin.The authors are most grateful to Dr. M. A. Root (Lilly) for the proinsulin antibody, and to Dr. R. E. Chance (Lilly) for the purified proinsulin, connecting peptide, and single-component insulin used in this study. We also appreciate the excellent technical assistance of Mrs. Carla Gullickson, Miss Ellen Laschansky, and Mrs. Jeanette Teague.
Comprehensive Research on the Sedimentary Environment and Palaeogeography of Early Cretaceous Jehol Bita in Western Liaoning,China

The Yixian Formation becomes world well-known by fancy Jehol bita fossils,each signify headway of bita research would bring both here and abroad scientists' attention.As a result of deuteric tectonic destroy and weathering effect,the Jehol bita's palaeogeograpic and basin sedimentary characteristics are hard to make detailed field works and nethermore research.This systematic field sedimentary indicates that 6 sedimentary strata of Yixian formation formed in different phases of passive continental margin to foreland basin evolving process,depositional environment attributes to alluvial fan-braided channel-meander-lacustrine system.From lower Laogonggou stratum up to Jingangshan one,the sedimentary environment was continuously changed.The lithofacies and rock sets was frequently replaced.The sedimentary clast abundantly supply,so the basin was rapidly filled in.The full sedimentary history could be divided into channel and lacustrine types.Fluvial facies possesses main body of early period,each basin tectonic cycle begins in alluvial-channel facies,they are affected by region geologic,geographic and climatic diversities,then develop into freshwater and saltwater lacustrine environments.In Filling moment,basins of predominating fluvial facies consists of alluvial fan sets,flood plain sets and lakeshore plain-delta sets.Lacustrine sediment models make up of logged-depth and brackish water(gypsiferous)types.
Integration and scaling of UV-B radiation effects on plants: from molecular interactions to whole plant responses.

A process based model integrating the effects of UV-B radiation to molecular level processes and their consequences to whole plant growth and development was developed from key parameters in the published literature. Model simulations showed that UV-B radiation induced changes in plant metabolic and/or photosynthesis rates can result in plant growth inhibitions. The costs of effective epidermal UV-B radiation absorptive compounds did not result in any significant changes in plant growth, but any associated metabolic costs effectively reduced the potential plant biomass. The model showed significant interactions between UV-B radiation effects and temperature and any factor leading to inhibition of photosynthetic production or plant growth during the midday, but the effects were not cumulative for all factors. Vegetative growth were significantly delayed in species that do not exhibit reproductive cycles during a growing season, but vegetative growth and reproductive yield in species completing their life cycle in one growing season did not appear to be delayed more than 2–5 days, probably within the natural variability of the life cycles for many species. This is the first model to integrate the effects of increased UV-B radiation through molecular level processes and their consequences to whole plant growth and development.