cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Multiplicative Complexity of Boolean Functions on Four and Five Variables

A generic way to design lightweight cryptographic primitives is to construct simple rounds using small nonlinear components such as 4\(\,\times \,\)4 S-boxes and use these iteratively (e.g., PRESENT [1] and SPONGENT [2]). In order to efficiently implement the primitive, efficient implementations of its internal components are needed. Multiplicative complexity of a function is the minimum number of AND gates required to implement it by a circuit over the basis (AND, XOR, NOT). It is known that multiplicative complexity is exponential in the number of input bits \(n\). Thus it came as a surprise that circuits for all \(65 536\) functions on four bits were found which used at most three AND gates [3]. In this paper, we verify this result and extend it to five-variable Boolean functions. We show that the multiplicative complexity of a Boolean function with five variables is at most four.
Heart Disease in Women

Navin C. Nanda, Nurgul Keser, 513 pages. New Delhi, India: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishing Ltd. 2015. $184.00, ISBN-13: 978-9351522942 Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. In comparison with men, women have greater cardiovascular mortality, report more morbidity, and have greater reductions in quality of life. Furthermore, sex disparities in cardiovascular health exist among women of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and racial subgroups, which likely reflect both lingering diagnostic and treatment disparities, and underlying biological sex differences, as well. For example, there is a largely female predominance of stress-induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy after menopause, a greater occurrence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, particularly in elderly women, and a higher incidence of rheumatic mitral stenosis among women in developing countries. In addition, after 55 years of age, hypertension is more prevalent in women than in men, particularly in black women. Clinical outcomes also differ by sex. Women with atrial fibrillation have a higher risk of thromboembolic events in comparison with men, and, among individuals younger than 55 years of age, the rate of acute myocardial infarction in the past decade has declined in men, but not in women. As the importance and impact of cardiovascular disease in women is increasingly recognized, we are learning how heart disease is distinct between the sexes, both in its pathophysiology and in our ability to diagnose and treat women. To better understand and appreciate sex differences in cardiovascular disease, there needs to be a compilation of current knowledge and an accessible tool that …
Review of Cosmic Rays

Photon astronomy is divided into areas covering different energy regimes, beginning with radio astronomy at the lowest, and ending with gamma-ray astronomy at the highest observable energies. The cosmic radiation on the other hand encompasses in a single area nuclear particles and electrons of astrophysical origin over a very wide energy range, extending from superthermal energies that just exceed those of the solar or stellar winds (≈106eV) to particles that carry the largest quanta of energy observed in any astrophysical radiation, up to 1021 eV. Dealing with that wide a range in energy, one should not be surprised that the origin of this radiation and its behavior is likely to involve a variety of different physical phenomena. Also, the spectrum of cosmic rays has two dimensions, one in energy, and one in the species of the particles.
Directed differentiation of neural-stem cells and subtype-specific neurons from hESCs

We describe a chemically defined protocol for efficient differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to neural epithelial cells and then to functional spinal motor neurons. This protocol comprises four major steps. Human ESCs are differentiated without morphogens into neuroepithelial cells that form neural tube-like rosettes in the first 2 weeks. The neuroepithelial cells are then specified to OLIG2-expressing motoneuron progenitors in the presence of retinoic acid (RA) and sonic hedgehog (SHH) in the following 2 weeks. These OLIG2 progenitors generate postmitotic, HB9 expressing motoneurons at the fifth week and mature to functional motor neurons thereafter. The protein factor SHH can be replaced by a small molecule purmorphamine in the entire process, which may facilitate potential clinical applications. This protocol has been shown equally effective in generating motor neurons from human induced pluropotent stem (iPS) cells.
Adalimumab Induced Subcutaneous Nodular Sarcoidosis; A Rare Side Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitor

Adalimumab and other tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors have been shown in the recent years to successfully treat sarcoidosis refractory to systemic corticosteroids and other agents. However, there have been an increasing number of cases of sarcoidosis paradoxically induced by these agents. It is hypothesized that this is due to the disruption of the fine balance of cytokines involved in granuloma formation. We describe the first case of adalimumab-induced subcutaneous nodular sarcoidosis in a patient with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Integrated programmable operational amplifiers with improved characteristics

A semi-custom integrated circuit featuring digitally programmable operational amplifiers is presented. The OP AMPs realized are based on the composite OP AMPs, previously introduced by the authors and known for their extended bandwidth and reduced active and passive sensitivities. For proof of concept, a small chip was manufactured using the Ferranti Interdesign's CMOS Monochip prototype. A 136 by 185 mils chip containing 200 transistors, four capacitors, and 10 resistors was constructed in a 24 pin package. Experimental results of the prototype chip verified the design concept that was demonstrated theoretically and using SPICE simulation. The results clearly demonstrate the enhanced characteristics of these family of composite OP AMPs when utilized in different applications. >
Visualizing approaches for displaying measures of sentiment

The overall purpose of intelligence analysis platforms is to extract key information from multi-source data. Ultimately, these systems are meant to save intelligence analysts time and effort by offering knowledge discovery capabilities. However, intelligence analysis platforms only assist analysts to the extent they are designed with human factors in mind. Poorly designed intelligence analysis platforms can hinder the knowledge discovery process, or worse, promote the misinterpretation of analysis results. Future intelligence systems must be critical enablers for improving speed, efficiency, and effectiveness of command-level decision making. Human-centered research is needed to address the challenge of visualizing large data collections to facilitate orientation and context, enable the discovery and selection of relevant information, and provide dynamic feedback for identifying changes in the state of a targeted region or topic. From the perspective of the ‘Human as a Data Explorer,’ this study investigates the visual presentation of intelligence information to support timely and accurate decision making. The investigation is a starting point in understanding the rich and varied set of information visualizations sponsored by the Army in recent years. A human-subjects experiment explores two visualization approaches against a control condition for displaying sentiment about a set of topics with an emphasis on the performance metrics of decision accuracy and response time. The resulting data analysis is the first in a series of experiments providing input for technology development informing future interface designs and system prototypes.
Educational trends in engineering and technology management (ETM)

As the engineering and technology management (ETM) field continues to grow, Portland State University's Department of Engineering and Technology Management is conducting a world-wide research study on education and research in this field. It is a follow-up to previous studies in 1977, 1981, and 1984, 1990 and 1994. The objective is to develop a resource guide for ETM by analyzing growth patterns in ETM education, and determining the characteristics and strategic directions of the educational and research components of the field. Approximately 3500 individuals have been contacted in more than 1200 academic institutions, and responses have been received from 148 academic institutions up to now. An additional 121 ETM programs have also been identified, but their responses have not been received yet. This paper presents a summary of the findings of the study.
Ebstein's anomaly: Echocardiographic and clinical features in the fetus and neonate

To determine which morphologic features are associated with early death, the complete echocardiograms and medical records of 16 consecutive patients with Ebstein's anomaly and concordant atrioventricular connections who presented in the fetal (n = 5) or neonatal (n = 11) period were reviewed. The cohort was classified into two groups on the basis of survival at 3 months. Group 1 consisted of seven patients who died at less than or equal to 3 months of age, and Group 2 consisted of the nine surviving patients. Comparing Groups 1 and 2, the respective incidence rates of morphologic features that correlated with early death (p less than 0.05) included tethered distal attachments of the anterosuperior tricuspid leaflet (86% versus 11%), right ventricular dysplasia (86% versus 0%), left ventricular compression by right heart dilation (71% versus 11%) and the area of the combined right atrium and atrialized right ventricle being greater than the combined area of the functional right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle (57% versus 0%) measured in the apical four chamber view. Right ventricular dysplasia was present in all patients with marked right atrial and atrialized right ventricular enlargement, in 86% of patients with tethered anterior leaflets and in 83% of those with left ventricular compression; 86% of patients with right ventricular dysplasia had tethered distal attachments. In conclusion, echocardiography defines morphologic features in the fetus and neonate that are highly predictive of death by 3 months of age.
Shallow water bottom topography from radar imagery

Radar imagery of shallow coastal waters (usually <40 m deep) contain unexplained features1–3 resembling the bottom topography. Since microwave radiation does not penetrate far in sea-water, these features must be the result of hydrodynamic processes coupled to the bottom topography that modulate the amplitude of the short (Bragg resonant) sea-surface waves, the main contributors to the backscattered radar power4,5. Because many different hydrodynamic processes operate in coastal waters, and the precise mechanism which generates the radar images is not fully established, a programme to explore the mechanism(s) was initiated at the US Naval Research Laboratory. Here we give a brief description of the possible mechanisms and results from the pilot experiment conducted in July 1982, 40 nautical miles south-east of Nantucket Island.
A measurement of the neutron lifetime by counting trapped protons

A measurement of the neutron lifetime τn performed by trapping and counting decay protons from in-beam neutron decays in a Penning trap is in progress at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A description of the measurement technique, the status of the data analysis, and prospects for improvements in the measurement are discussed.
Foreign body granuloma simulating solid neoplasm on MR

We report a postoperative foreign body granuloma occurring in the thyroid bed after anterior cervical fusion. The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging finding of increased signal on T2-weighted images is atypical for this type of granuloma and is thought to be due to the large proportion of cellularity in the mass histologically. In the differential diagnosis of solid postoperative masses it is important to consider foreign body granuloma, as it can mimic neoplastic disease both clinically and radiographically.
Interacting electron theory of coherent nonlinear response.

A theory of the nonlinear susceptibility for a two-band semiconductor model is given as a perturbation series in the external oscillating electric field and in the carrier interaction. Diagrammatic representation makes clear both the structure of subsets of the perturbation series for resummation and the corresponding physical processes. The theory, applied to four-wave mixing in quantum wells, provides a unified basis for understanding a wide range of observed phenomena.
Flow cytometry in toxicity analysis

The well-established clinical research tool of flow cytometry has now been applied to the detection of toxic injury to the cells of organisms exposed to environmental contaminants
Assessing the Impacts of Local Knowledge and Technology on Climate Change Vulnerability in Remote Communities

The introduction of new technologies into small remote communities can alter how individuals acquire knowledge about their surrounding environment. This is especially true when technologies that satisfy basic needs, such as freshwater use, create a distance (i.e., diminishing exposure) between individuals and their environment. However, such distancing can potentially be countered by the transfer of local knowledge between community members and from one generation to the next. The objective of this study is to simulate by way of agent-based modeling the tensions between technology-induced distancing and local knowledge that are exerted on community vulnerability to climate change. A model is developed that simulates how a collection of individual perceptions about changes to climatic-related variables manifest into community perceptions, how perceptions are influenced by the movement away from traditional resource use, and how the transmission of knowledge mitigates the potentially adverse effects of technology-induced distancing. The model is implemented utilizing climate and social data for two remote communities located on the Seward Peninsula in western Alaska. The agent-based model simulates a set of scenarios that depict different ways in which these communities may potentially engage with their natural resources, utilize knowledge transfer, and develop perceptions of how the local climate is different from previous years. A loosely-coupled pan-arctic climate model simulates changes monthly changes to climatic variables. The discrepancy between the perceptions derived from the agent-based model and the projections simulated by the climate model represent community vulnerability. The results demonstrate how demographics, the communication of knowledge and the types of ‘knowledge-providers’ influence community perception about changes to their local climate.
Distinct dose-dependent effects of plasmin and TPA on coagulation and hemorrhage

All thrombolytic agents in current clinical usage are plasminogen activators. Although effective, plasminogen activators uniformly increase the risk of bleeding complications, especially intracranial hemorrhage, and no laboratory test is applicable to avoid such bleeding. We report results of a randomized, blinded, dose-ranging comparison of tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) with a direct-acting thrombolytic agent, plasmin, in an animal model of fibrinolytic hemorrhage. This study focuses on the role of plasma coagulation factors in hemostatic competence. Plasmin at 4-fold, 6-fold, and 8-fold the thrombolytic dose (1 mg/kg) induced a dose-dependent effect on coagulation, depleting antiplasmin activity completely, then degrading fibrinogen and factor VIII. However, even with complete consumption of antiplasmin and decreases in fibrinogen and factor VIII to 20% of initial activity, excessive bleeding did not occur. Bleeding occurred only at 8-fold the thrombolytic dose, on complete depletion of fibrinogen and factor VIII, manifest as prolonged primary bleeding, but with minimal effect on stable hemostatic sites. Although TPA had minimal effect on coagulation, hemostasis was disrupted in a dose-dependent manner, even at 25% of the thrombolytic dose (1 mg/kg), manifest as rebleeding from hemostatically stable ear puncture sites. Plasmin degrades plasma fibrinogen and factor VIII in a dose-dependent manner, but it does not disrupt hemostasis until clotting factors are completely depleted, at an 8-fold higher dose than is needed for thrombolysis. Plasmin has a 6-fold margin of safety, in contrast with TPA, which causes hemorrhage at thrombolytic dosages.
Aspartate and glutamate as possible neurotransmitters of cells in layer 6 of the visual cortex

Earlier work1–8 has suggested that aspartate, glutamate and γaminobutyric acid (GABA) act as transmitters in the cerebral cortex. There is reasonable evidence for the identity of the cell population responsible for GABA release9–12 but until now there has been little evidence concerning the sources for release of aspartate and glutamate. Here we have used two approaches to identify possible neurotransmitters used by cells in the visual cortex: measurement of the efflux of endogenous compounds in conditions of synaptic release and localization of these compounds to particular cell classes using neurotransmitter-specific histochemical techniques. Our results suggest that the acidic amino acids aspartate and glutamate may be cortical neurotransmitters, as shown by calcium-dependent release from endogenous stores and by uptake specific to pyramidal cells in layer 6 of the cortex. These substances may therefore have a role in the function of layer 6 cells, which are responsible for the recurrent projection from the cortex to the lateral geniculate nucleus and for the projection within the cortex from layer 6 to layer 4.
A rapid, sensitive method for the simultaneous quantitation of estradiol and estradiol conjugates in a variety of tissues: assay development and evaluation of the distribution of a brain-enhanced estradiol-chemical delivery system.

A rapid and sensitive method that permits the simultaneous quantitation of estradiol (E2) and the E2 conjugate [estradiol 17-(1,4-dihydrotrigonellinate)] in biological tissues from rats is described. This method development was necessitated by the design of this E2-chemical delivery system (E2-CDS) which permits the predictable metabolism of the E2-CDS to a charged quaternary ion (E2-Q+) and its subsequent hydrolysis to slowly liberate E2. Based upon in vitro determinations of the rates of oxidation of E2-CDS to E2-Q+ and hydrolysis of E2-Q+ to E2, we anticipated that concentrations of E2-Q+ would be several orders of magnitude higher in tissues than E2. Three steps were used to extract and prepare samples for the radioimmunoassay (RIA) of estradiol. The first step is homogenization and extraction of the biological samples with an organic solvent; the second step is the base catalyzed hydrolysis of the E2 conjugate in 1 N NaOH; and the third step utilizes solid-phase extraction (SPE) with C18 reversed-phase columns which provide a means of achieving a rapid and precise extraction and separation of E2. The analysis of plasma samples does not require the initial solvent extraction. All purified E2 samples were then reconstituted in the assay buffer and assayed by RIA for E2. The application of this procedure to the determination of E2-Q+ and E2 in biological materials was assessed for specificity, reliability and recovery in vitro by using tissues and plasma from rats and in vivo evaluations of the distribution of E2 and E2-Q+ were done using rats treated with 1 mg E2-CDS/kg. Our in vitro analyses revealed that E2 and E2-Q+ could be differentially extracted with a high recovery and that both compounds could be specifically and reliably assayed in brain, plasma, anterior pituitary, liver, kidney, lung, heart and adipose tissue. In vivo analyses revealed that following a single i.v. injection of E2-CDS, brain levels of E2 exceeded serum levels by 30-, 41-, and 82-fold while brain levels of E2-Q+ exceeded serum levels by 33-, 70-, and 294-fold at 1, 7 and 14 days, respectively. Collectively, these data indicate that E2-Q+ and E2 can be reliably quantitated in a variety of tissues following the administration of an E2-chemical delivery system.
Flip-chip integration of lenslet arrays on segmented deformable micromirrors

Flip chip assembly technology offers a reliable and advanced packaging approach for hybrid integration of micromachined optical components. In this paper we present flip chip integration of microlens arrays with surface micromachined segmented deformable micromirrors. 12 by 12 electrostatic micromirror arrays were fabricated through a commercial surface micromachining process and integrated with glass microlenses. A commercial glass microlens array is positioned directly over the micromirror. The use of a lenslet to focus the incoming laser beam onto the reflective surface of a micromirror substantially increases optical efficiency of the hybrid microsystem. For mirror deflections much smaller than the lenslet focal length, the lenslet/micromirror combination behaves as a phase-only modulating optical element. The hybrid lenslet/MEMS arrays thus serve as rugged, compact optical elements for beam steering, beam shaping, and aberration correction applications.
Electron irradiation induced reduction of magnesium chloride thin films deposited on gold: XPS and ISS study

Abstract The ion and electron beam stimulated desorption from MgCl2 ultra-thin films is reported. The films are prepared by gas phase deposition of MgCl2 on a polycrystalline Au foil in ultra-high vacuum conditions. The MgCl2 film, held at 330 K, is uniformly bombarded with Ar-ions or electrons of 1 keV of energy. The chemical composition of the film is monitored by XPS and ISS. The ionic film surface is terminated by Cl atoms, as shown by ISS. The ion bombardment sputters the MgCl2 film, without changing the chemical composition of the film surface. In contrast, the electron beam damages markedly the film, with the reduction of Mg2+ to the metallic state. Only 10% of the original Cl is left in the film after 30 min of electron bombardment. The ISS analysis shows that Mg atoms appear on the film surface after electron irradiation.
Organoleptic Evaluation of Three Phenols Present in Wood Smoke

SUMMARY Guaiacol, 4-methyl guaiacol, and 2,6-di–methoxyphenol, components of wood smoke condensates, were evaluated organoleptically. Mean panel thresholds of the taste and odor in water and the odor in mineral oil were determined for each compound. The majority of the panel characterized the compounds as being smoky in odor and taste, although phecolic characteristics were also present. The relative effectiveness of each compound in the over–all flavor picture was shown by the ratio (concentration in smoke/threshold concentration). Guaiaeol had the largest index, whereas 2,6–dimethoxyphenol, which was present in smoke condensate in greatest concentration, had a considerably lower value. Mixing the three compounds in the approximate concentrations found in the smoke condensate did not give the desirable characteristic aroma. Trace components must also be considered for their effect in the over–all flavor pattern.
TRAIL and Triptolide: An Effective Combination that Induces Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Introduction An emerging therapy in oncology is the induction of apoptotic cell death through anti-death receptor therapy. However, pancreatic cancer is resistant to apoptosis including anti-death receptor therapy. We have previously described how triptolide decreases resistance to apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesized that triptolide decreases tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects that combined therapy with TRAIL and triptolide have on different parameters of apoptosis.
Residual stress distribution in spray atomized and deposited Ni3Al

Spray atomization and deposition involves disintegrating a molten stream of metal into micrometer-sized droplets with a high velocity gas, and subsequently deposition the mixture of solid, liquid, and partially solidified droplets on a substrate surface. This synthesis methodology has attracted considerable attention as a viable processing alternative for structural materials, and has been successfully applied to numerous alloy systems. Residual stresses are almost always present during processing, often due to the presence of thermal or other gradients. It is well established that significant amounts of residual stresses develop during conventional casting, and heat treatments, etc. The presence of compressive residual stresses in the surface layer of a component, for example, can dramatically improve the mechanical properties of a material, such as fatigue life and corrosion resistance. In most cases, however, the presence of residual stresses deteriorates the mechanical properties of the material, often leading to distortion of the component or even to the formation of cracks. The objective of the present study was to measure the distribution of macro-scale residual stresses in materials processed by spray atomization and deposition, and to investigate the relationship between the residual stresses and the processing conditions. Accordingly, X-ray diffraction analysis was utilized to measuremore » the residual stresses of a spray deposited Ni[sub 3]Al, and the results were elucidated in terms of the thermal extraction mechanisms that are present during spray atomization and deposition.« less
201 DIAGNOSIS RELATED GROUPS: A COMPARISON OF PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE AND NONINTENSIVE CARE PATIENTS

The case mix for 2,403 pediatric intensive care (PICU) and 14,552 general ward patients (WARD) by Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) were examined for a three year period. Available data included length of stay (LOS) and mean charges (MC) within eight accounting categories for each DRG for PICU and WARd. A subset of 856 PICU and 2,222 WARD patients in 9 most common DRGs was examined for variations in LOS and MC per patient. While case mix by DRG was consistent over time for both groups, the PICU case mix differed significantly from that of the WARD (p<.001). After adjustment for inflation and for differences in case mix, the average LOS for the PICU was 10.7 days versus 6.1 for the WARD (p<.025) with a MC of $7,172 for PICU and $2,946 for WARD (p<.01). These differences increased over time. During the three year period, PICU average LOS increased by 4.9% (.5 days) while that of the WARD decreased by 29.4% (2 days). In addition, marked differences in LOS and MC between PICU and WARD were found within the 9 DRGs. We conclude that significant inhomogeneity exists between PICU and WARD in all indices of resource utilization. Combining the PICU and WARD populations for the purpose of setting target rates and projecting length of stay would strongly bias reimbursement protocols against the PICU population.
The sensory perception of texture and mouthfeel

Texture and mouthfeel are fundamental sensory properties of foods and beverages. The formulation of specific textures and mouthfeels has been very challenging for product developers and manufacturers. This is due to the limited understanding of the physiology of texture and mouthfeel perception, and of consumer preferences for tactile and kinesthetic characteristics. This article provides an update on the latest advances in the understanding of oral texture and mouthfeel perception.
Public Health Implications of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basins

This paper summarizes the primary literature and reviews research findings of the health implications associated with exposure to persistent toxic substances (PTSs) in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basins. Most of these studies focus on fish consumption because this route has been shown to be the major route of exposure to PTSs; however, other exposure routes including air, diet, and water are also important. Recent studies complement and build upon the epidemiologic, wildlife, and laboratory data gathered over the last three decades documenting health consequences associated with PTSs. For example, findings in the United States (U.S.) indicate that at-risk populations, e.g., certain ethnic groups, sport anglers, the elderly, pregnant women, children, fetuses, and nursing infants, continue to be exposed to PTSs including PCBs, dioxins, chlorinated pesticides, and mercury. Designating these particular populations as “at-risk” is not meant to suggest that other populations with lower exposures, body burdens, or susceptibilities are not without risk. The human health data for these groups indicate that: (1) reproductive function may be disrupted by exposure to PCBs and other PTSs; (2) neurobehavioral and developmental deficits occur in newborns and continue through school-age children from in utero exposure to PCBs and other PTSs; and (3) other systemic effects, e.g., self-reported liver disease and diabetes, may be associated with elevated serum levels of PCBs. Further research is needed to extend the information available to assess and understand the etiology of these health findings. Other conclusions include: (1) the benefits from fish consumption should be considered when evaluating health implications offish consumption; (2) health education is especially valuable in mitigating potential effects and informing individuals about certain windows of vulnerability, e.g., pregnancy; and (3) pollution prevention strategies remain a key to reducing toxic chemical loading.
Effect of Temperature and Screw Speed on Stability of Fumonisin B1 in Extrusion-Cooked Corn Grits1

ABSTRACT Corn grits spiked with fumonisin B1 (FB1) at a level of 5 μg/g were extrusion cooked in a corotating twin-screw extruder at different temperatures (140, 160, 180, and 200°C) and screw speeds (40, 80, 120, and 160 rpm). Good recoveries of FB1 were obtained from the nonextruded as well as the extruded grits by using high-performance liquid chromatography. Both the barrel temperature and the screw speed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected the extent of fumonisin reduction in extruded grits. As expected, the FB1 recovered decreased with an increase in temperature and a decrease in screw speed. The amount of FB1 lost from cooking grits at the different extrusion parameters used in this study ranged from 34 to 95%. About 46–76% of the spiked FB1 was lost when the grits were cooked at temperatures and screw speeds that resulted in acceptable product expansion and color.
M20 Activation Of The Trkb Receptor Pathway Using A Novel Monoclonal Antibody Agonist: Implications For The Treatment Of Huntington’s Disease

Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease marked by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene (HTT) that might lead to production of a pathogenic mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT). Recent evidence suggests that alterations in neurotrophin tyrosine kinase receptor signalling pathways contribute to HD pathophysiology. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-mediated activation of the tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) receptor is a critical component involved in the survival, differentiation and synaptic plasticity of striatal neurons. Reduced levels of BDNF have been previously reported to be observed in both HD post mortem brain tissue and HD mouse models. Furthermore, mHTT has been shown to reduce levels of BDNF in the striatum by inhibiting its gene expression and cortico-striatal trafficking. Aims In this study, we explore the capacity of novel mouse TrkB agonistic monoclonal antibodies (mAb TrkB agonist) to activate the TrkB receptor signalling pathway in vivo . Methods The mAb TrkB agonists were tested in vitro to confirm receptor selectivity, efficient binding affinity and functional activity. Subsequently, wild type mice received intrastriatal bolus injections of mAb TrkB agonist at 6 weeks of age and were sacrificed at four different time points post injection. Results At 30 min post injection, a significant increase in the phosphorylation of TrkB was observed in striatal neurons of mice treated with the mAb TrkB agonist when compared to vehicle treated and non-treated animals. At 4 h post injection, the levels of TrkB phosphorylation were returned to baseline levels. Quantitative western blots were also performed as an orthogonal method to confirm immunohistochemical results. Overall, our findings demonstrate the functional activity of mAb TrkB agonist antibodies in the CNS and establish the potential of an immuotherapeutic approach for restoring aberrant BDNF-TrkB signalling activity in the HD brain.
Automatic graders for programming classes

Fifteen months ago the first version of an “automatic grader” was tried with a group of twenty students taking a formal course in programming. The first group of twenty programs took only five minutes on the computer (an IBM 650). With such a satisfactory beginning, the grader was then used for the entire course with this group of students and have been used at Rensselaer ever since. For all exercises, the average time spent on the computer has run from half a minute to a minute for each student. In general only an eighth as much computer time is required when the grader is used as is required when each student is expected to run his own program, probably less than a third as much staff time, and considerably less student time. The grader easily justifies itself on economic grounds. It accomplishes more than savings in time and money; it makes possible the teaching of programming to large numbers of students. This spring we had 80 students taking a full semester course in programming; over 120 are expected next spring. We could not accommodate such numbers without the use of the grader. Even though the grader makes the teaching of programming to large numbers of students possible and economically feasible, a most serious question remains, how well did the students learn? After fifteen months, our experience leads us to believe that students learn programming not only as well but probably better than they did under the method we did use—laboratory groups of four or five students. They are not as skilled in machine operation, however, since they get only a brief introduction to it late in the course. After learning programming, very little time is needed for each student to become at least an adequate machine operator. Students seem to like the grader and are not reluctant to suggest improvements!
Life Cycle Cost as a Propulsion System Design Consideration

This paper deals with applying Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and Design To Cost (DTC) principles to aircraft engine programs. The dynamic driving elements of LCC are identified with an example of direct application to a deterministic computer model. This model was used as the principal tool to project operating and support costs for the XT701 turboshaft engine in conjunction with the U.S. Army Heavy Lift Helicopter Development that featured a specific DTC-related award fee in the contract. The overall methodology of LCC and DTC supported by the math model earned a Superior evaluation with an unprecedented 100 percent award fee for this kind of application. The customer audit, in support of the performance award, supports the conclusion that computer models can be used to enhance the LCC aspects of propulsion system development programs.Copyright © 1977 by ASME
Deep Belief Networks for Real-Time Extraction of Tongue Contours from Ultrasound During Speech

Ultrasound has become a useful tool for speech scientists studying mechanisms of language sound production. State-of-the-art methods for extracting tongue contours from ultrasound images of the mouth, typically based on active contour snakes, require considerable manual interaction by an expert linguist. In this paper we describe a novel method for fully automatic extraction of tongue contours based on a hierarchy of restricted Boltzmann machines (RBMs), i.e. deep belief networks (DBNs). Usually, DBNs are first trained generatively on sensor data, then discriminatively to predict human-provided labels of the data. In this paper we introduce the translational RBM (tRBM), which allows the DBN to make use of both human labels and raw sensor data at all stages of learning. This method yields performance in contour extraction comparable to human labelers, without any temporal smoothing or human intervention, and runs in real-time.
Photoresponse of n-TiO2 thin film and nanowire electrodes

Abstract Thin film and nanowire electrodes of n-type titanium oxide (n-TiO 2 ) were fabricated and their photoresponses towards water-splitting reaction were studied. A more than twofold increase in maximum photoconversion efficiency was observed when a single-layer thin film of n-TiO 2 was replaced by nanowires. Highest photoconversion efficiency was observed at an applied potential of 0.61 V vs. E aoc where the electrode potential at open circuit, E aoc was found to be −1.0 V SCE −1 at illumination intensity of 40 mW cm −2 in 5.0 M KOH solution. The maximum photoconversion efficiency was approximately of another twofold increase for water splitting at nanowire electrodes when methanol was used as a sacrifacial hole scavenger (depolarizing agent) in the electrolyte. Also, this maximum photoconversion efficiency was found at a lower applied potential of 0.41 V vs. E aoc in presence of methanol. The band-gap energy of the n-TiO 2 films and nanowires annealed at 750°C was found to be 2.98 eV, which indicates their rutile structure.
Nernst effect in high-Tc superconductors

The observation of a large Nernst signal $e_N$ in an extended region above the critical temperature $T_c$ in hole-doped cuprates provides evidence that vortex excitations survive above $T_c$. The results support the scenario that superfluidity vanishes because long-range phase coherence is destroyed by thermally-created vortices (in zero field), and that the pair condensate extends high into the pseudogap state in the underdoped (UD) regime. We present a series of measurements to high fields $H$ which provide strong evidence for this phase-disordering scenario.
Primary Photophysical Properties of A2E in Solution

Time-resolved spectroscopic techniques are used to determine the primary photoprocesses of A2E in solution. Comparison of the absorption and excitation spectrum of A2E in methanol solution indicates excitation at 400 nm populates the S2 excited state. Transient absorption signals decaying with a time constant of 0.9 ps were observed probing around 800 nm. These signals are attributed to the S2→Sn transition and reveal the S2→S1 relaxation occurs on the subpicosecond time scale. Transient absorption data probing at shorter wavelengths (480 and 550 nm) are attributed to the S1→Sn absorption. These signals exhibit an exponential decay with a time constant of 11 and 13 ps, respectively. Time-resolved emission measurements of the corresponding S0←S1 decay reveal a nonexponential decay; however, >95% of the signal amplitude is described by an exponential decay with a time constant of 12.4 ps. Both time-resolved emission and absorption experiments therefore indicate repopulation of the ground electronic state oc...
Does hyperthermia increase adenoviral transgene expression or dissemination in tumors

Purpose: Viral vectors used for cancer gene therapy are usually delivered by direct intratumoral administration. We studied the role of hyperthermia (HT) in vitro and in vivo in an attempt to achieve higher transfection rates (especially, larger volume of spread).Materials and methods: Replication-deficient adenoviruses containing either the human sodium-iodide symporter (Ad5-CMV-hNIS) or green fluorescent protein (Ad5-CMV-eGFP) as reporter genes were used. For in vitro studies, human lung cancer A549 cells were transfected with the virus and assayed for hNIS expression by radioactive pertechnetate uptake or green fluorescence activity using a gamma-counter or fluoroscopy respectively in the presence and absence of HT. For in vivo studies, A549 tumors were established intramuscularly in CD1 athymic mice. The adenoviral constructs (1010 viral particles/tumor) were injected intratumorally when the tumors reached 10–11 mm in diameter. Different timing sequences of HT were examined and viral spread was assess...
Cirripede: circumvention infrastructure using router redirection with plausible deniability

Many users face surveillance of their Internet communications and a significant fraction suffer from outright blocking of certain destinations. Anonymous communication systems allow users to conceal the destinations they communicate with, but do not hide the fact that the users are using them. The mere use of such systems may invite suspicion, or access to them may be blocked. We therefore propose Cirripede, a system that can be used for unobservable communication with Internet destinations. Cirripede is designed to be deployed by ISPs; it intercepts connections from clients to innocent-looking destinations and redirects them to the true destination requested by the client. The communication is encoded in a way that is indistinguishable from normal communications to anyone without the master secret key, while public-key cryptography is used to eliminate the need for any secret information that must be shared with Cirripede users.Cirripede is designed to work scalably with routers that handle large volumes of traffic while imposing minimal overhead on ISPs and not disrupting existing traffic. This allows Cirripede proxies to be strategically deployed at central locations, making access to Cirripede very difficult to block. We built a proof-of-concept implementation of Cirripede and performed a testbed evaluation of its performance properties.
SNS LEBT Chopper pulse width limitation

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) linac beam shall be chopped in the manner which supports accumulation of protons in the accumulating ring and assures low loss and activation free extraction of charged particles from the ring to the SNS target. The Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) Chopper System uses four identical pulsed power supplies (pulsers) to create the required series of bipolar HV pulses. Each pulser supplies a +/- 3 kV pulse or ground to an electrostatic einzel lens split into four quadrants to deflect the beam for 200 ns to 1 us. The SNS linac Timing System provides a series of input trigger signals of different widths to drive the pulser's MOSFET switches. The width of the pulser's output pulse is variable for multiple purposes such as change of average beam energy delivered to the target or for a beam study process. Lower and upper pulse width limits for the Chopper System depend on the characteristics of the pulsers, LEBT load, beam energy, extraction kicker and timing system. This paper presents timing limits for the existing SNS chopping system.
Ultrastructure of the parotid gland in the little brown bat

The ultrastructure of the parotid gland was examined in the little brown bat. The seromucous acinar cells contained abundant granules of variable morphology. These granules were characterized by a submembranous dense layer consisting of fine parallel slats. In some bats, the matrix of the granules was structureless, whereas in others it consisted of closely packed but randomly arranged bundles of tubules. The intercalated ducts had a highly developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, often containing large numbers of intracisternal granules. In contrast, only a few secretory granules were present in the supranuclear cytoplasm. The striated ducts, which exhibited the characteristic basal striations consisting of vertically oriented mitochondria and highly folded plasmalemmas, contained numerous small dense granules in a subluminal band. These granules had a paracrystalline substructure with a periodicity of 8 nm. Excretory ducts strongly resembled striated ducts. They showed the same kind of basal striations and about half their constituent cells contained small paracrystalline granules.
Foundations of a Political Strategy for Business

Corporate political activity is on the upswing, and today's manager is often challenged to understand the public policy process, anticipate possible consequences of coming issues, and implement effective corporate political planning. The author describes a framework for corporate political planning, and a view of the public policy process in light of advances in the "economics of politics."
Strangers in sync: Achieving embodied rapport through shared movements

This paper examines the emergence of behavioral synchrony among strangers in the context of self-disclosure, and their path in predicting interaction quality. Specifically, we hypothesize that behavioral synchrony mediates the direct effect of self-disclosure on the development of embodied rapport. Same-sex stranger pairs (n=94) were randomly assigned to a videorecorded self-disclosure or control condition, and afterward each member rated their social interaction. Following the procedure used by Bernieri, Reznick, & Rosenthal (1988), two trained judges independently watched each video record and rated each pair interaction on behavioral synchrony. Bootstrapping analyses provide support for the hypothesized mediating effect of behavioral synchrony, which emerged as independent of the effects of self-other overlap and positive affect. The authors discuss implications of behavioral synchrony for relationship formation processes and the inevitable entwinement of behavior and judgments in light of embodied cognition.
Feminist Group Counseling with South Asian Women Who Have Survived Intimate Partner Violence

This article examines how to use a feminist approach in group counseling with South Asian women who have survived intimate partner violence (IPV). South Asian culture, including gender-role expectations and attitudes about family violence, is discussed. A case study detailing a feminist counseling group conducted with this population is presented. Strengths, limitations, and implications of utilizing feminist group work with this population are explored.
Optimal test length for maximum absolute prediction

The concepts of multiple differential prediction and multiple absolute prediction are developed in earlier papers (2, 3). The problem of determining the optimal distribution of testing time for multiple differential prediction has been previously considered (4). This paper develops an analogous procedure for multiple absolute prediction. A numerical example illustrating the procedure is presented. The mathematical rationale underlying the procedure is given.
Virtual model validation of complex multiscale systems: Applications to nonlinear elastostatics

Abstract We propose a virtual statistical validation process as an aid to the design of experiments for the validation of phenomenological models of the behavior of material bodies, with focus on those cases in which knowledge of the fabrication process used to manufacture the body can provide information on the micro-molecular-scale properties underlying macroscale behavior. One example is given by models of elastomeric solids fabricated using polymerization processes. We describe a framework for model validation that involves Bayesian updates of parameters in statistical calibration and validation phases. The process enables the quantification of uncertainty in quantities of interest (QoIs) and the determination of model consistency using tools of statistical information theory. We assert that microscale information drawn from molecular models of the fabrication of the body provides a valuable source of prior information on parameters as well as a means for estimating model bias and designing virtual validation experiments to provide information gain over calibration posteriors.
Matching communication facilities to data processors

There are a number of problems which arise when data-processing equipment is to be connected to communications lines in real-time systems. Four different solutions, utilizing essentially three basic approaches, consisting of (a) a system modification, (b) an addition, and (c) an independent stored-program device, are discussed. Each has certain advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on the system complexity and size, information flow rates, and the central processor requirements.