cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EST sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon.

Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) is a temperate grass with the physical and genomic attributes necessary for a model system (small size, rapid generation time, self-fertile, small genome size, diploidy in some accessions). To increase the utility of Brachypodium as a model grass, we sequenced 20,440 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from five cDNA libraries made from leaves, stems plus leaf sheaths, roots, callus and developing seed heads. The ESTs had an average trimmed length of 650 bp. Blast nucleotide alignments against SwissProt and GenBank non-redundant databases were performed and a total of 99.9% of the ESTs were found to have some similarity to existing protein or nucleotide sequences. Tentative functional classification of 77% of the sequences was possible by association with gene ontology or clusters of orthologous group’s index descriptors. To demonstrate the utility of this EST collection for studying cell wall composition, we identified homologs for the genes involved in the biosynthesis of lignin subunits. A subset of the ESTs was used for phylogenetic analysis that reinforced the close relationship of Brachypodium to wheat and barley.
Getting advance directives to the public: a role for emergency medicine

Advance directives are becoming more common in the health care system in the United States. Advance directives include "living wills," "durable powers of attorney for health care," "do not resuscitate orders," and the newer "medical directive." They are designed to allow individuals to determine the course of their medical care in the event that they are no longer able to transmit the information to their physician. The US Supreme Court's recent Cruzan decision increased the importance of these legal instruments by declaring that "clear and convincing" evidence may be required by states in order to terminate life support in a patient unable to express his wishes about care. Unfortunately, for many reasons, advance directives are often not completed by those who might desire them. Only 9% of Americans have executed advance directives. Emergency physicians have the opportunity to assist their patients in advance by disseminating advance directives to those who have contact with the emergency department: patients, family members, friends, health care workers, emergency medical services personnel, and police. A plan is suggested that includes education, the availability of advance directives, personnel available to help with completion of the documents, and immediate entry of the directive into a medical chart, if requested. This is in conformance with a recent policy adopted by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Tetrametallic Copper and Gold Derivatives of a Cyano-Iridium-Diiron-Monocarborane Cluster

The cyano-iridium-diiron complex [N(PPh3)2][8,10-{Ir(μ-PPh2)(CN)(Ph)(PPh3)}-8-(μ-H)-6,6,6,10,10-(CO)5-closo-6,10,1-Fe2CB7H7] (3) has been synthesized by reaction of a THF solution of [8,10-{Ir(μ-PPh2)(Ph)(CO)(PPh3)}-8-(μ-H)-6,6,6,10,10-(CO)5-closo-6,10,1-Fe2CB7H7] (2) with [NEt4]CN in the presence of Me3NO, followed by metathesis with [N(PPh3)2]Cl. Compound 3 in CH2Cl2 with [CuCl(PPh3)]4 or [AuCl(PPh3)], in the presence of TlPF6, yields [8,10-{Ir(μ-PPh2)(Ph){(CN)M(PPh3)n}(PPh3)}-8-(μ-H)-6,6,6,10,10-(CO)5-closo-6,10,1-Fe2CB7H7] (M = Cu, n = 2 (4) or M = Au, n = 1 (5), respectively). The structures of 4 and 5 have been established by X-ray diffraction experiments.
On the Topically Effective Ocular Hypotensive Properties of ICI 147,798, a Natriuretic β-Adrenoceptor Antagonist, in Rabbits

The ocular antihypertensive effects of ICI 147,798, a natriuretic, non-selective beta-blocker lacking local anaesthetic and intrinsic sympathomimetic activities, were evaluated in unanaesthetized rabbits with water-load-induced ocular hypertension. The racemate was approximately 20 times more potent as a beta-blocker than its d-isomer. The magnitude of reductions in intraocular pressure (IOP) elicited by both compounds was equal following topical administration of an equal dose-concentration (100-300 microliters, 0.5% or 0.75%) to one or both eyes, and the activities were similar to those obtained with timolol. A five-hour duration of the IOP lowering effect was achieved by ICI 147,798 and timolol in this rabbit model. ICI d-147,798 exhibited a shorter duration, which could be prolonged by increasing the concentration of the ophthalmic solution. Timolol caused a pronounced reduction of isoproterenol-induced tachycardia after a single dose (200 microliters, 0.5%) or by repeating the dose twice a day for four consecutive days. Following the same dose regimen, neither ICI 147,798 nor its d-isomer significantly altered the heart rate response produced by isoproterenol. These findings indicate that ICI 147,798, while effective as a potential antiglaucoma agent, does not display the characteristics of beta-blockers on heart rate effects noted with timolol. The results also cast some doubt on the contention that the IOP lowering effect of certain beta-blockers is predominantly determined by specific blockade of beta-adrenoceptors.
Major difference in the expression of delta- and mu-opioid receptors between turtle and rat brain.

The reptilian turtle brain has a remarkably higher endurance for anoxia than mammalian brains. Since the response to O(2) deprivation is dependent in a major way on the expression and regulation of membrane proteins, differences in such proteins may play a role in the species-related differences in hypoxic responses. Because opioid system is involved in the regulation of hypoxic responses, we asked whether there are differences between rat and turtle brains in terms of opioid receptor expression. In this work, we compared the expression and distribution of delta-and mu-opioid receptors in the turtle and rat brains. Our results show that (1) the dissociation constant (K(d)) for delta-receptor binding was approximately four times lower and B(max) was more than double in the turtle brain homogenates than in rat ones; (2) the delta-receptor binding density was heterogeneously distributed in the turtle brain, with a higher density in the rostral regions than in the brainstem and spinal cord, and was generally much higher than in rat brains from the cortex to spinal cord; (3) the delta-opioid receptors in the rat brains were mostly located in the cortex, caudate putamen, and amygdala with an extremely low density in most subcortical (e.g., hippocampus and thalamus) and almost all brainstem regions; and (4) in sharp contrast to delta-opioid receptors, mu-opioid receptor density was much lower in all turtle brain regions compared with the rat ones. Our results demonstrate that the turtle brain is actually an organ of delta-opioid receptors, whereas the rat brain has predominantly mu-opioid receptors. Because we have recently found that delta-opioid receptors protect neurons against glutamate and hypoxic stress, we speculate that the unique pattern of delta-receptor receptor expression and distribution plays a critical role in the tolerance of turtle brain to stressful situations characterized by glutamate excitotoxicity.
A coherent semiclassical transport model for pure-state quantum scattering

We present a time-dependent semiclassical transport model for coherent pure-state scattering with quantum barriers. The model is based on a complex-valued Liouville equation, with interface conditions at quantum barriers computed from the steady-state Schrodinger equation. By retaining the phase information at the barrier, this coherent model adequately describes quantum scattering and interference at quantum barriers, with a computational cost comparable to that of classical mechanics. We construct both Eulerian and Lagrangian numerical methods for this model, and validate it using several numerical examples, including multiple quantum barriers.
Shape Design Sensitivity Analysis of Elastic Structures

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Design problems in which the shape of two- or three-dimensional elastic bodies plays the role of design are studied. Five prototype problems are formulated in a unified variational form, with performance measures involving natural frequency, displacement, and stress in the structure. The material derivative of continuum mechanics and an adjoint variable method of design sensitivity analysis are used to develop an explicit formula for variation of performance measures in terms of normal movement of the boundary of the physical domain. Examples are presented for beams, membranes, shafts, and three-dimensional elastic solids.
Perspectives of European boys about their voice change and school choral singing: developing the possible selves of adolescent male singers

This article reports analysis of interviews with 85 boys from England, Greece, Ireland and Spain about the voice change, school singing and choral music instruction. Consistent, former and self-described non-singers were included. Data suggest consistency with much of the existing narrative literature about the experience of voice change. Unique topics included a sense of identity loss during voice change. Issues related to gender and sexuality-based bullying were explored. Boys offered numerous recommendations for teachers, including that teachers focus on vocal technique specific to male changing voices. Boys’ comments suggested a pattern of identity development consistent with the Possible Selves construct. This suggests that teachers can support adolescent male singers by addressing specific issues at specific points in a boy's process of voice change and identity development.
Stress Field Induced by a Stringer of Inhomogeneities in a Half Space

This paper presents the study of a stringer of inhomogeneities in an isotropic half space under prescribed load. It shows that the presence of stiff inhomogeneities causes the increase in the stresses in the regions where they are formed. Stress concentration generally occurs within the inhomogeneities, particularly near their edges or corners, and increases as the location of the inhomogeneities approaches the material surface and as the friction force increases.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Application of a Web-enabled real-time structural health monitoring system for civil infrastructure systems

The system architecture of a novel structural health monitoring system that is optimized for the continuous real-time monitoring of dispersed civil infrastructures is presented. The monitoring system is based on a highly efficient multithreaded software design that allows the system to acquire data from a large number of channels, monitor and condition this data, and distribute it, in real time, over the Internet to multiple remote locations. Bandwidth and latency issues that impact the operation of monitoring systems are discussed. The application of the monitoring system under discussion to a long span, flexible bridge in the metropolitan Los Angeles region is described. The bridge had previously been instrumented with 26 strong motion accelerometers. Sample 'quick analysis' results continuously provided by the monitoring system are presented and interpreted. System identification results, obtained through off-line batch processing, are presented for a data set from a recent earthquake that automatically triggered the recording capability of the system. It is shown that, using a time domain system identification approach, the bridge stiffness and damping matrices can be identified from the earthquake data set and subsequently used to determine the bridge modal properties, such as frequencies and damping ratios. In this approach the bridge is modeled as a multi-input/multi-output system with order compatible with the number of available sensors. Implementation issues requiring further investigation are presented and discussed.
Unequal crossing over and heterochromatin exchange in the X-Y bivalents of the deer mouse, Peromyscus beatae.

Differences in length of the heterochromatic short arms of the X and Y chromosomes in individuals ofPeromyscus beatae are hypothesized to result from unequal crossing over. To test this hypothesis, we examined patterns of synapsis, chiasma formation, and segregation for maleP. beatae which were either heterozygous or homozygous for the amount of short-arm sex heterochromatin. Synaptonemal complex analysis demonstrated that mitotic differences in heterochromatic shortarm lengths between the X and Y chromosomes were reflected in early pachynema as corresponding differences in axial element lengths within the pairing region of the sex bivalent. These length differences were subsequently eliminated by synaptic adjustment such that by late pachynema, the synaptonemal complex configurations of the XY bivalent of heterozygotes were not differentiable from those of homozygotes. Crossing over between the heterochromatic short arms of the XY bivalent was documented by the routine appearance of a single chiasma in this region during diakinesis/metaphase I. Sex heterochromatin heterozygotes were characterized by the presence of asymmetrical chiasma between the X and Y short arms at diakinesis/metaphase I and sex chromosomes with unequal chromatid lengths at metaphase II. These data corroborate our hypothesis on the role of unequal crossing over in the production and propagation of X and Y heterochromatin variation and suggest that, in some cases, crossing over can occur during the process of synaptic adjustment.
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease: Substantiation of a Less Aggressive Approach

A nonsurgical, less aggressive, less toxic chemotherapeutic protocol for the management of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTB) pulmonary infections has been uniformly applied to patients in our institution between 1972 and 1985. Forty-three nonimmunocompromised patients with active lung disease caused by Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) (n = 26), M kansasii (n = 16), and M xenopi (n = 1) were identified retrospectively. Eighteen MAI patients were treated with three or four antituberculosis agents resulting in sputum conversion and clinical improvement in 12 (67 percent). Additionally, 11 out of 16 (69 percent) patients completing therapy or still undergoing therapy for persistent MAI disease, achieved sputum conversion and clinical improvement after prolonged therapy (3.6 ± 0.5 years [SEM]). When M kansasii was identified as the etiologic agent, all patients were treated with four or fewer antituberculosis agents and 14 out of 16 patients (88 percent) achieved sputum conversion and clinical improvement throughout the follow-up period. We conclude that the use of three or four chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of NTM lung disease provides an excellent probability of successful outcome even in MAI infections.
The effects of neutron irradiation on the activation parameters for slip in iron

Abstract The effect of fast neutron irradiation on the rate controlling mechanism for slip in iron and dilute iron alloys has been investigated. Stress relaxation techniques have been used to determine the components of the applied stress and the activation volumes. The activation enthalpy has been estimated from the temperature dependence of the effective stress. To reduce the problem of heterogeneous deformation in irradiated iron the tests were performed at low strains ( 18 nvt ( E > 1 MeV) does not change the deformation mechanism in iron and dilute iron-carbon alloys but merely increases the long range internal stress However, after the source hardening has been overcome by prestrain, some modification in the flow mechanism may take place. The yielding process near room temperature apparently can be changed by nitrogen additions After irradiation however, the process appears to revert to the same one operating in the base Ferrovac iron.
The Effect of Smoke-Free Air Law in Bars on Smoking Initiation and Relapse among Teenagers and Young Adults

Background: Existing evidence has shown that most smoking uptake and escalation occurs while smokers are teenagers or young adults. Effective policies that reduce smoking uptake and escalation will play an important role in curbing cigarette smoking. This study aims to investigate the effect of smoke-free air (SFA) laws in bars on smoking initiation/relapse while controlling for other confounders. Methods: The national longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) from 1997–2009 was linked to state-level scores for the strength of SFA laws in order to carry out the analysis. Results and Conclusion: We find that SFA laws in bars with exemptions significantly reduce (p ≤ 0.01) the probability of smoking initiation (one-puff, daily, and heavy smoking initiation). The 100% SFA law in bars without exemption significantly deters smoking relapse from abstinence into daily smoking (p ≤ 0.05) or relapse from abstinence into heavy smoking (p ≤ 0.01) among people age 21 or older. The reduction of one-puff and daily smoking initiation is larger among ages 20 or younger than ages 21 or older, while the reduction in relapse does not differ by whether respondents reach the drinking age. Results also indicate that higher cigarette taxes significantly reduce daily smoking initiation and relapse into nondaily and light smoking.
Student misbehavior during senior year: A comparison of immigrants and the native-born ☆

Abstract Prior research has increasingly shown that the length of time in the U.S. and acculturation may have negative effects on a variety of immigrant outcomes, including academic performance, health, and occupational attainment. However, much of the research on the educational outcomes of immigrants focuses primarily on their academic achievement but neglects another factor that affects educational success—behavior at school. Using data from a sample of high school seniors in several Pacific Northwest school districts, I examine whether more time in the U.S. increases school misbehavior by testing the effects of immigrant generation and indicators of acculturation on three measures of disciplinary problems during the senior year of high school—attending class unprepared, getting in trouble for breaking school rules, and being put on suspension. First and one-point-five generation immigrants attend class more prepared and get into less trouble for breaking the school rules than do third or higher generation students during their senior year of high school. High academic performance and indicators of acculturation explain only part of this beneficial effect of immigrant generation on behavior at school. Additional analyses show that second generation Asian immigrants are more similar to first and 1.5 generation immigrants from all racial and ethnic groups than they are from other second generation racial and ethnic groups in regards to moderate and intermediate behavior.
ERMM: An Engineering Requirements Management Method

Automotive product development is a lengthy and complex process. There exists a large body of various requirements, standards, and regulations, which need to be followed by all engineering activities throughout the entire vehicle development process. The underlying relationships between these requirements are very complicated. Although most of engineering requirements can be found in various engineering databases, it is the lack of the underlying relationship between the requirements and their association with the design that makes it extremely difficult for even experienced engineers to follow the requirements in their day-to-day work. This paper introduces an engineering requirements management method that captures these interrelationships and associations using a matrix-based representation. A case study with a real automotive component is also presented.
The Challenge of Spiritual Diversity: Can Social Work Facilitate an Inclusive Environment?:

Social workers' growing interest in spirituality implicitly raises the issue of spiritual diversity. Demographic data indicate that the profession is not reflective of the larger society, with thei...
It is time for everyone to own the bone

The current status of the population's bone health has caused considerable concern in the USA and around the world. In keeping with that situation, the US Surgeon General issued a special report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis in 2004 calling attention to a rapidly increasing healthcare problem especially linked to a growing and aging population base. The report specifically cited the medical profession's failure to treat the underlying osteoporosis in elderly individuals with fragility fractures with a 20% treatment rate as the norm. It was noted that an individual fracture was a sentinel event that provided a “teachable moment” for the patient in order to prevent future fractures. Additional statistics revealed the annual total number of fragility fractures, more than two million, exceeded the combined annual total incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction, and breast cancer. Realizing that the American Heart Association and the cardiology community had a successful US national program encouraging the use of beta blockers in patients after myocardial infarction in order to prevent recurrences, the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) embarked on a course leading to the development of a program to improve bone healthcare in elderly patients with fragility fractures. The cardiology project, “Get With The Guidelines” (GWTG), included a registry in order to document improvement in cardiac patient care. Therefore, the AOA, a leadership group of orthopaedic surgeons, decided it was time to engage the orthopaedic community in a quality improvement initiative patterned after GWTG. Thus, Own the Bone was created as a multidisciplinary program in order to engage patients and physicians from different specialties who might be involved with the bone health concerns of patients with fragility fractures. After the success of a pilot study from 2005 to 2006, Own the Bone was launched as a US national quality improvement program in 2009. It involves a turnkey protocol, utilizing a web-based registry, in order to complete ten basic measures of patient care in patients 50 years and older with fragility fractures. Those measures center on information and counseling on nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle changes, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, and communication to the patient and primary care physician, mentioning the need for osteoporosis care. While this project was initially meant to be implemented in a hospital setting, it can also be applied in an outpatient clinic or emergency care facility. The program continues to expand to numerous hospitals in many states with the support of a growing number of orthopedists and allied medical specialists interested in bone health and osteoporosis. Thus, Own the Bone is a systems-based, quality improvement initiative which provides many benefits for patients with fragility fractures and their treating physicians.
High temperature operation of n-type 6H-SiC and p-type diamond MESFETs

Large signal RF and DC performance of n-type 6H-SiC and p-type diamond MESFETs has been simulated at various operating temperatures by a large-signal RF simulator using the harmonic balance technique and the two-dimensional device simulator, PISCES-IIB. The RF performance of SiC MESFET is predicted to be optimal in a temperature range slightly higher than room temperature. At room temperature the simulated SiC MESFET exhibits an output power of 3.5 W/mm for an operating frequency of 8 GHz with 16.5 dB gain and 44% power-added efficiency at 24 dBm input power. In contrast to the SiC MESFET, the RF performance of the diamond MESFET is improved with temperature, but the current level is much lower than that in SiC in the entire temperature region investigated. The very different temperature dependencies of DC and RF performance in SiC and diamond MESFETs are attributed to the significant difference in the dopant ionization energies in SiC and diamond. >
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cold-Adapted and Inactivated Vaccines for the Prevention of Influenza A Disease

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial over 5 years compared the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of cold-adapted and inactivated influenza A vaccines in 5210 normal subjects. Both vaccines were well tolerated. Inactivated vaccine significantly increased hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers. Significant titer rises were also noted after cold-adapted vaccine but of lesser magnitude than with inactivated vaccine. The efficacy of inactivated vaccine in preventing culture-positive influenza was 76% (95% confidence interval [CI], 58%-87%) for H1N1 disease and 74% (95% CI, 52%-86%) for H3N2; for cold-adapted vaccine, 85% (95% CI, 70%-92%) and 58% (95% CI, 29%-75%), respectively. The efficacy of inactivated vaccine in preventing a four-fold rise in antibody titer over the influenza season was 69% (95% CI, 61%-76%) for H1N1 and 73% (95% CI, 65%-79%) for H3N2; for cold-adapted vaccine, 54% (95% CI, 44%-62%) and 32% (95% CI, 17%-44%), respectively. Cold-adapted and inactivated influenza vaccines are safe and effective for preventing influenza A disease.
Intracoronary Stent Visualized on Transesophageal Echocardiogram In a Case of Coronary Dissection Complicated by Aortic Dissection

We present a case of a patient presenting with a myocardial infarction with subsequent coronary intervention resulting in a coronary dissection complicated by an aortic dissection. The coronary dissection was treated with coronary stents. Transesophageal echocardiogram visualized the intracoronary stent within the intimal flap of the aortic dissection. The aortic dissection was successfully managed conservatively.
Aerosol nucleation over oceans and the role of galactic cosmic rays

We investigate formation of sulfate aerosol in the marine troposphere from neutral and charged nucleation of H 2 SO 4 and H 2 O. A box model of neutral and charged aerosol processes is run on a grid covering the oceans. Input data are taken from a model of galactic cosmic rays in the atmo- sphere, and from global chemistry and transport models. We find a weak aerosol production over the tropical oceans in the lower and middle troposphere, and a stronger production at higher latitudes, most notably downwind of industrial re- gions. The strongest aerosol production however occurs in the upper troposphere over areas with frequent convective activity, in particular in the tropics. This finding supports the proposition by which non-sea salt marine boundary layer aerosol in tropical regions does not form in situ, but nucle- ates in the upper troposphere from convectively lifted and cloud processed boundary layer air rich in aerosol precursor gases, from where it descends in subsiding air masses com- pensating convection. Convection of boundary layer air also appears to drive the formation of condensation nuclei in the tropical upper troposphere which maintains the stratospheric aerosol layer in the absence of volcanic activity. Neutral nu- cleation contributes only marginally to aerosol production in our simulations. This highlights the importance of other mechanisms, including charged binary and ternary, and neu- tral ternary nucleation for aerosol formation. Our analysis indicates that the variation of ionization by galactic cosmic rays over the decadal solar cycle does not entail a response in aerosol production and cloud cover via the second indi- rect aerosol effect that would explain observed variations in global cloud cover. We estimate that the variation in radia- tive forcing resulting from a response of clouds to the change in galactic cosmic ray ionization and subsequent aerosol pro- duction over the decadal solar cycle is smaller than the con- current variation of total solar irradiance.
An analysis of a class of neural networks for solving linear programming problems

A class of neural networks that solve linear programming problems is analyzed. The neural networks considered are modeled by dynamic gradient systems that are constructed using a parametric family of exact (nondifferentiable) penalty functions. It is proved that for a given linear programming problem and sufficiently large penalty parameters, any trajectory of the neural network converges in finite time to its solution set. For the analysis, Lyapunov-type theorems are developed for finite time convergence of nonsmooth sliding mode dynamic systems to invariant sets. The results are illustrated via numerical simulation examples.
THE ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OPTIMUM PROPORTIONS FLOCCULATION RATIOS

The fact that the optimum proportion flocculation ratio is different when determined by the alpha (Dean and Webb) and beta (Ramon) procedures is pointed out. It is demonstrated that this difference is a consequence of the difference in the two methods, and that the two optima, though they may in certain cases lie near together, can never coincide. A new ratio (the epsilon ratio), intermediate between the alpha and beta ratios, and having theoretical advantages over both of them, is defined.
The Function of Platelets

The main function of platelets, the maintenance of hemostasis, depends on three of their properties, the endothelial supporting function of platelets, the ability to form hemostatic plugs and to release lipoprotein material (platelet factor 3). When the number of circulating platelets is reduced the capillary endothelium becomes weakened as platelets are not available to enter the endothelial cytoplasm to support it and the capillary wall ruptures when exposed to minor trauma. The bleeding through the ruptured vessel wall is arrested by formation of a clump of platelets forming a hemostatic plug. Damage to the vessel wall initiates both the coagulation mechanisms and degradation of adenosine triphosphate. The products of each of these reactions, namely, thrombin and adenosine diphosphate bring about aggregation of platelets to form the hemostatic plug. These are the platelet functions performed following a transfusion of platelets into a thrombocytopenic recipient. The platelets remaining in the circulation and which are counted in platelet survival studies are those in excess of the immediate need of the recipient.
Bayesian Spike-Triggered Covariance Analysis

Neurons typically respond to a restricted number of stimulus features within the high-dimensional space of natural stimuli. Here we describe an explicit model-based interpretation of traditional estimators for a neuron's multi-dimensional feature space, which allows for several important generalizations and extensions. First, we show that traditional estimators based on the spike-triggered average (STA) and spike-triggered covariance (STC) can be formalized in terms of the "expected log-likelihood" of a Linear-Nonlinear-Poisson (LNP) model with Gaussian stimuli. This model-based formulation allows us to define maximum-likelihood and Bayesian estimators that are statistically consistent and efficient in a wider variety of settings, such as with naturalistic (non-Gaussian) stimuli. It also allows us to employ Bayesian methods for regularization, smoothing, sparsification, and model comparison, and provides Bayesian confidence intervals on model parameters. We describe an empirical Bayes method for selecting the number of features, and extend the model to accommodate an arbitrary elliptical nonlinear response function, which results in a more powerful and more flexible model for feature space inference. We validate these methods using neural data recorded extracellularly from macaque primary visual cortex.
Construction of graphs with special properties

We report on selected recent results in graph theory that arose from some chemically related considerations. These include cosntructions of vertex transitive grpahs using symmetric permutation matrices as generators, generalization of selected transtive graphs as ''objects'' in n-dimensional space and a construction of a family zero-symmetric graphs, first such family reported in the literature.
Feedback regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis through modulation of SHP/Nr0b2 gene expression by Sirt1 and FoxO1.

Protein deacetylase Sirt1 has been implicated in the regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis; however, the mechanisms are not fully understood. To further elucidate how Sirt1 regulates gluconeogenesi...
Pictures and trails: a new framework for the computation of shape and motion from perspective image sequences

This paper presents a new framework for the computation of shape and motion from a sequence of images taken under perspective projection. The framework is based on two abstractions, the picture and trail loci, that represent respectively the set of all pictures of the same scene and the set of all trails that a point in the world can leave on the image for a given camera trajectory. These abstractions lead to a remarkably clean relation between perspective and orthography. A shape and motion reconstruction method is developed for the case of a two-dimensional world but all concepts also hold in three dimensions. Experiments show that the method is rather immune to noise but critically dependent on camera calibration. >
An Empirical Model of Barotropic Atmospheric Dynamics and Its Response to Tropical Forcing

Abstract A linear empirical model of barotropic atmospheric dynamics is constructed in which the streamfunction tendency field is optimally predicted using the concurrent streamfunction state as a predictor. The prediction equations are those resulting from performing a linear regression between tendency and state vectors. Based on the formal analogy between this model and the linear nondivergent barotropic vorticity equation, this empirical model is applied to problems normally addressed with a conventional model based on physical principles. It is found to qualitatively represent the horizontal dispersion of energy and to skillfully predict how a general circulation model will respond to steady tropical heat sources. Analysis of model solutions indicates that the empirical model’s dynamics include processes that are not represented by conventional nondivergent linear models. Most significantly, the influence of internally generated midlatitude divergence anomalies and of anomalous vorticity fluxes by hi...
Visualization exploration and encapsulation via a spreadsheet-like interface

Exploring complex, very large data sets requires interfaces to present and navigate through the visualization of the data. Two types of audience benefit from such coherent organization and representation: first, the user of the visualization system can examine and evaluate their data more efficiently; second, collaborators or reviewers can quickly understand and extend the visualization. The needs of these two groups are addressed by the spreadsheet-like interface described in this paper. The interface represents a 2D window in a multidimensional visualization parameter space. Data is explored by navigating this space via the interface. The visualization space is presented to the user in a manner that clearly identifies which parameters correspond to which visualized result. Operations defined on this space can be applied which generate new parameters or results. Combined with a general-purpose interpreter, these functions can be utilized to quickly extract desired results. Finally, by encapsulating the visualization process, redundant exploration is eliminated and collaboration is facilitated. The efficacy of this novel interface is demonstrated through examples using a variety of data sets in different domains.
Minimum word-length requirements for MIMO-OFDM

The first step in the design and implementation of a MIMO-OFDM system is to analyze the characteristics of the baseband modulated signal. This is crucial in order to minimize the complexity of the digital signal processing. This paper demonstrates the generalized derivation of the minimum word-length requirements for the main data-path in OFDM systems based on the analytical evaluation of the normalized power distribution, clipping noise effect, and essential dynamic range. We have formulated the minimum word-length requirements for the main data path in both transmitter and the receiver. The theoretical analyses are also supported by system level simulations.
Effects of information load, sensory modality, and age on paced inspection performance

The effects on paced inspection performance of amount of stimulus information, presentation of information visually, as opposed to visually and auditorily, and age were investigated. In comparison to performance with one sequence of visual information, correct identifications of signals declined and false alarms increased when two sequences of visual information were monitored. Increasing the number of classes of signals in the two sequences did not significantly affect performance. However, when one of the two sequences was presented visually and the other auditorily, performance improved. There was a tendency for performance to be lower among older subjects in most experimental conditions.
Nutrition Labels: An Exploratory Study of Consumer Reasons For Nonuse

Studies of consumer usage of nutrition labels required by the Food and Drug Administration have found that usage levels are low. A mailback survey of food shoppers in Madison, Wisconsin was conducted to determine who uses nutrition labels as well as reasons for nonuse. Multiple regression analysis revealed that compared to users, nonusers did not rate themselves as highly on nutrition knowledge, were less likely to plan meals in advance, and were not as highly educated. When asked why they did not use labels, most nonusers said they did not need them, and a sizable group reported their shopping practices pre-empt label usage. Nonusers also felt that a sample label had too much information. When asked to perform computations from sample label information, nonusers were less successful than users. The implications of these findings for nutrition education efforts are discussed.
Revealed preference, iterated belief revision and dynamic games

In previous work (G. Bonanno, Rational choice and AGM belief revision, Artificial Intelligence, 2009) a semantics for AGM belief revision was proposed based on choice frames, borrowed from the rational choice literature. In this paper we discuss how to use choice frames to analyze extensive-form games. Given an extensive form with perfect recall, a choice frame can be used to represent a player’s initial beliefs and her disposition to change those beliefs when she is informed that it is her turn to move. When some players move more than once along some play of the game, the issue of iterated belief revision arises. We provide a semantics for iterated belief revision in terms of choice frames and provide an outline of how to use choice frames to analyze solution concepts for extensive-form games.
Understanding Tobacco Use Onset Among African Americans.

Introduction Compared to the majority of non-Hispanic white ("white") cigarette smokers, many African American smokers demonstrate a later age of initiation. The goal of the present study was to examine African American late-onset smoking (ie, regular smoking beginning at age 18 or later) and determine whether late-onset (vs. early-onset) smoking is protective in terms of quit rates and health outcomes. Methods We used data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) because the wide age range of participants (20-75 at baseline) allowed the examination of smoking cessation and mortality incidence across the lifespan. Results Consistent with previous research, results indicated a later average age of smoking onset among African Americans, compared to whites. Disentangling effects of race from age-of-onset, we found that the cessation rate among late-onset African American smokers was 33%, whereas rates for early-onset African American smokers and early- and late-onset white smokers ranged from 52% to 57%. Finally, results showed that among white, low-socioeconomic status (SES) smokers, the hazard rate for mortality was greater among early- versus late-onset smokers; in contrast, among African American smokers (both low- and high-SES) hazard rates for mortality did not significantly differ among early- versus late-onset smokers. Conclusions Although late (vs. early) smoking onset may be protective for whites, the present results suggest that late-onset may not be similarly protective for African Americans. Tobacco programs and regulatory policies focused on prevention should expand their perspective to include later ages of initiation, in order to avoid widening tobacco-related health disparities. Implications This study indicates that late-onset smoking is not only the norm among African American adult smokers, but that late- versus early-onset smoking (ie, delaying onset) does not appear to afford any benefits for African Americans in terms of cessation or mortality. These results suggest that prevention and intervention efforts need to consider individual groups (not just overall averages) and that tobacco control efforts need to be targeted beyond the teenage years. Tobacco programs and regulatory policies focused on prevention should expand their perspective to include later ages of initiation, to avoid widening tobacco-related health disparities.
Conformal encapsulation of three-dimensional, bioresorbable polymeric scaffolds using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

Bioresorbable polymers such as poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) have a multitude of potential biomaterial applications such as controlled-release drug delivery and regenerative tissue engineering. For such biological applications, the fabrication of porous three-dimensional bioresorbable materials with tunable surface chemistry is critical to maximize their surface-to-volume ratio, mimic the extracellular matrix, and increase drug-loading capacity. Here, two different fluorocarbon (FC) precursors (octofluoropropane (C3F8) and hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO)) were used to deposit FC films on PCL scaffolds using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). These two coating systems were chosen with the intent of modifying the scaffold surfaces to be bio-nonreactive while maintaining desirable bulk properties of the scaffold. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed high-CF2 content films were deposited on both the exterior and interior of PCL scaffolds and that deposition behavior is PECVD system specific. ...
The Applied Research on Mathematical Statistics in Determining the Standard Value of Geotechnical Pparameters

The existing norms to calculate the standard values used in the statistical correction factor is based on statistical confidence level of 95% when to correct,but at the same specification of their level of confidence not less than 90% of the proceeds statistical correction factor to meet the engineering survey and design accuracy.Therefore,this article will be reduced to 90% confidence level to calculate the statistical correction factor,and conducted case study to verify the reliability of the statistical correction factor.
Differences in Pathological Characteristics and Prognosis of Clinical A2 Prostatic Cancer from A1 and B Disease

AbstractA retrospective study was done of 53 cases of clinical stages A1 to B2 prostatic carcinomas staged by pelvic lymphadenectomy. The study compared the histologic differentiation, degree of lymphocytic infiltration, incidence of lymph node metastases and type of cellular response of clinical stage A2 to stages A1 and B disease. The available data pertaining to the incidence and survival of patients with stage A2 prostatic carcinoma were analyzed.Our study indicates that 1 of every 3 unsuspected carcinomas is of clinical stage A2. The stage A2 tumors are diffused, with a higher degree of undifferentiation and a higher incidence of lymph node metastases than tumors classified clinically as stages A1 and B1. Also the survival of patients with clinical stage A2 tumors is lower than the survival of patients with clinical stage B1 disease. Clinical stage A2 tumors are more advanced biologically than clinical stage B1 tumors.
Posterior Fossa Tumors in Adult Patients

In adults, the most common expansile "mass" lesion in the posterior fossa is a subacute stroke, whereas the most common neoplastic lesion in the posterior fossa is cerebellar metastasis (intra-axial) or vestibular schwannoma (extra-axial). Those diseases fall outside the scope of this article, which focuses on primary intra-axial tumors of the posterior fossa in adults. This category of tumors is uncommon and more frequently encountered in children. This article reviews tumors of the cerebellum, brainstem, and fourth ventricle that are seen in adult patients, following categories from the 2007 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors.
3-D simulation of electronic and ionic transport in PEFC cathodes

In this work we present a 3-dimensional (3-D) model for the simulation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC). The model is implemented in our in-house semiconductor and circuit simulator developed at Florida State University, RandFlux [1]. The transport equations are written in a form similar to the transport equations in semiconductor devices, which makes our model easy to be numerically implemented in commercial semiconductor simulators.
NK1.1+ Cells Are Involved in the Anti-Tumor Immunity Induced by the Rejection of Donor Hematopoietic Cells in Mixed Bone Marrow Chimeras.

BACKGROUND Surprisingly, some patients who reject donor marrow grafts following nonmyeloablative HCT sustain remissions of advanced hematologic malignancies (Br J Haematol 2005, 128:351). In murine mixed chimeras prepared with nonmyeloablative conditioning, we previously showed that recipient leukocyte infusions (RLI) induced loss of donor chimerism and anti-tumor responses against host-type tumors (Blood 2003, 102:2300) and that both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are necessary to achieve maximum anti-tumor effects (J Immunol 2005, 175:665). We now examined whether or not NK and/or NKT cells are required in the anti-tumor effect. METHODS Mixed chimerism was achieved in BALB/c (H-2d) mice conditioned with depleting anti-CD4 and CD8 mAbs on Day -5, cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg on Day -1 and 7 Gy thymic irradiation on Day 0 prior to transplantation of 25x106 B10.BR (H-2k) or B10.RIII (H-2r) bone marrow cells. Some groups received RLI (3x107 BALB/c spleen cells) seven weeks post-BMT. A20 cells (5x105) were given i.v. one week after RLI. Some groups included Jα281-deficient BALB/c (Jα281 KO) mice that lack invariant NKT (iNKT) cells or NK1.1+ BALB/c mice whose NK and NKT cells can be depleted by anti-NK1.1 Ab, PK136. Some groups received a depleting dose of anti-NK1.1 antibody before and after RLI administration. RESULTS Untreated recipients of NK1.1-depleted RLI (n=9) showed similar tumor survival compared to recipients of NK1.1-sufficient RLI (n=9) (median survival time [MST] 52 versus 52 days respectively, p=0.68). NK1.1-depleted (with mAb in vivo) chimeras that received RLI (n=8) had shorter survival (MST 35.5 days) than NK1.1-sufficient chimeras that received RLI (n=10) (MST 68 days, P<0.01) and no anti-tumor effect was observed in the depleted group. Jα281 KO chimeric recipients receiving with Jα281 KO-derived RLI (n=12) had shorter survival than wild-type chimeric mice receiving wild-type RLI (n=11) (MST 41.0 vs 67.0 days, p<0.01) and no survival benefit of RLI was observed in Jα281 KO recipients (p=0.93). CONCLUSION When NK and NKT cells were depleted from NK1.1+ BALB/c recipients, no anti-tumor effect was observed. In contrast, no reduction in anti-tumor effect was observed in chimeras given NK1.1-depleted RLI. Invariant NKT cells are required to achieve anti-tumor effects in this model. Therefore, NKT cells and possibly NK cells in the recipient are essential for the anti-tumor effect of RLI, but NK and NKT cells in the RLI do not play a role. The requirement for both T cells and NK/NKT cells suggests an essential interaction between the innate and acquired immune systems.