cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interpretable deep generative models for genomics

Deep neural networks implementing generative models for dimensionality reduction have been extensively used for the visualization and analysis of genomic data. One of their key limitations is lack of interpretability: it is challenging to quantitatively identify which input features are used to construct the embedding dimensions, thus preventing insight into why cells are organized in a particular data visualization, for example. Here we present a scalable, interpretable variational autoencoder (siVAE) that is interpretable by design: it learns feature embeddings that guide the interpretation of the cell embeddings in a manner analogous to factor loadings of factor analysis. siVAE is as powerful and nearly as fast to train as the standard VAE but achieves full interpretability of the embedding dimensions. We exploit a number of connections between dimensionality reduction and gene network inference to identify gene neighborhoods and gene hubs, without the explicit need for gene network inference. Finally, we observe a systematic difference in the gene neighborhoods identified by dimensionality reduction methods and gene network inference algorithms in general, suggesting they provide complementary information about the underlying structure of the gene co-expression network.
Practical considerations for lock-free concurrent objects

Abstract: "An important class of concurrent objects are those that are lock-free, that is, whose operations are not contained within mutually exclusive critical sections. A lock-free object can be accessed by many threads at a time, yet clever update protocols based on atomic Compare-And-Swap operations guarantee the object's consistency. In this paper we take a practical look at the Compare-And-Swap operation in the context of contemporary shared memory multiprocessors. We first describe an operating system-based solution that permits the construction of a non- blocking Compare-And-Swap function on processor architectures that only support lock-oriented atomic primitives.We then evaluate several locking strategies that can be used to synthesize a Compare-And-Swap operation. We show that the common techniques for reducing the overhead of lock-oriented synchronization in the presence of contention are inappropriate when used as the basis for lock-free synchronization. We then describe a simple modification to an existing synchronization protocol which allows us to avoid much of the overhead normally associated with contention."
Performance of cable-in conduit conductors in ITER toroidal field coils with varying heat loads

The toroidal field (TF) coils in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will operate with varying heat loads generated by AC losses and nuclear heating. The total heat load is estimated to be 2 kW per TF coil under normal operation and can be higher for different operating scenarios. AC losses are caused by ramping the poloidal field (PF) for plasma initiation, burn, and shutdown; nuclear heating results from neutrons that penetrate into the coil past the shield. Present methods of reducing or eliminating the losses lead to larger and more expensive machines which are unacceptable with present budget constraints. A suitable solution is to design superconductors that operate with high heat loads, using a cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC), which can operate with such loads. Two thermal analysis design codes have been used to study the thermal response in a CICC conductor for the ITER TF coils. The analysis verifies that the mass flow rate through the coils affects the temperature margin and shows that a true steady-state flow is not established in the coils for the flow rates and operating conditions expected. Studying the transient response of the helium to a 100-s plasma burn is the first step taken toward determining the helium exiting conditions during a normal operating scenario. >
Norms of Intervention, R2P and Libya: Suggestions from Generational Analysis

It has been widely suggested that the March 2011 NATO intervention in Libya is evidence of a new international norm that has emerged as a consequence of advocacy of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle. Before this assessment solidifies into conventional wisdom, we propose an alternative reading: that the policies that led to the Libya intervention, particularly in the United States, were also driven by a generation of foreign policy elites who used the failures of the 1990s as a set of ‘formative experiences’ that provided shortcut comparisons to springboard the Libya intervention in 2011. Yet the substantive normative basis for these elites’ claims are based on norms and practices that have been around for some time, suggesting that humanitarian intervention is something states may choose to do under certain circumstances, but are under no obligation to do. In short, it is a permissive norm invoked at the discretion of foreign policy elites as a way to justify or enable policies that they see to be in their states’ interests.
Effect of breed (Angus vs Simmental) on immune function and response to a disease challenge in stressed steers and preweaned calves.

Two experiments were conducted with feeder steer calves and preweaned calves to determine the effects of breed on immune response. In Exp. 1, newly weaned Angus (n = 24) and Simmental (n = 24) steer calves were blocked by weight within breed and randomly assigned to 12 pens with four calves per pen. The basal diet consisted of 87% corn silage (DM basis) and 13% of a soybean meal-mineral-vitamin supplement. Steers were allowed ad libitum access to feed throughout the study. On d 2 following weaning, calves received an intranasal inoculation of infectious bovine rhinotraecheitis virus (IBRV; 2.7 x 10(8) CCID50). Rectal temperatures in response to the IBRV were higher (P < .05) in Angus calves. On d 9, calves were injected i.m. with 10 mL of a 25% pig red blood cell (PRBC) suspension. Total immunoglobulin (Ig) and IgM titers against PRBC were higher (P < .05) for the Angus calves. Breed did affect cell-mediated immune response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In Exp. 2, preweaned (16 Angus and 16 Simmental) calves were selected based on breed, body weight, and sex. On 0 d, all selected calves were injected i.m. with 10 mL of a 25% PRBC suspension. Total Ig and IgG titers against PRBC were higher (P < .05) for Angus calves. On d 28, lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood obtained from eight calves per breed. Peripheral lymphocytes from the Angus calves had a greater (P < .07) blastogenic response to 6.25 microg/mL of PHA than lymphocytes from Simmental calves. Results indicate that the immune response of Angus and Simmental calves may differ.
Software Quality Market: Design and Field Study of a Prediction Market

Given the increasing competition in the software industry and the critical consequences of software errors, it has become important to develop methods for early forecasting of software quality. This research utilized a novel forecasting approach based on recent work in using prediction markets, which has proved useful in a variety of situations. In a prediction market for software quality, individual estimates from diverse project stakeholders such as project managers, developers, testers, and users were collected at various points in time during the project. Stakeholders reveal their estimates by trading in software quality contracts in a market designed for the task. Data were collected using a prediction market and a survey from a live software project at three different stages of completion (requirements, initial release and final release phases). Analyses of the data suggests that i) forecasts from the prediction market differ from forecasts from surveys and ii) prediction market forecasts are more accurate predictors of eventual quality than surveys. Thus, prediction markets can serve as an additional mechanism for aggregating stakeholder beliefs about software quality.
Blast Waves and Explosions Sound generation by explosive decompression of an airplane

We examine sound generation by the explosive decompression of a pressurized airplane in flight. The near-field is numerically computed by assuming the sudden removal of an axial section of an idealized, streamlined, cylindrical fuselage with an external flow simulating flight. After an initial transient period, we find a nearly circular blast wave with a leading shock strength that is highest in the direction of motion and decreasing rapidly as the observer moves to the rear of the airplane. Geometric acoustics (ray tracing) is used to estimate the attenuation of the wave as it propagates through a model atmosphere to observers on the ground. The audibility of the event is examined in the case of the TWA 800 accident and compared to previous analyses.
Cholesterol secoaldehyde, an ozonation product of cholesterol, induces amyloid aggregation and apoptosis in murine GT1-7 hypothalamic neurons.

Aldehydic products from ozonation of cholesterol and peroxidation of phospholipids have been shown to accelerate aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) in vitro. Here, we show that 3β-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al (ChSeco), an ozonation product of cholesterol, induces Aβ aggregation, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytotoxicity in murine GT1-7 hypothalamic neurons. The formation of Aβ aggregates in situ was dose-dependent at ChSeco concentrations ranging from 1t o 20µM. The increase in insoluble Aβ aggregates at increasing concentrations of ChSeco was accompanied by a decrease in soluble Aβ as evidenced by Western blot analysis. The formation of ROS in neuronal cells was found to be dose- and time-dependent with the magnitude being higher at 20 µM compared to 10 µM ChSeco or untreated controls. The increase in ROS was associated with depletion of GSH. The cytotoxicity induced by ChSeco involved changes in phosphatidylserine translocation, DNA fragmentation, and caspase 3/7 activity that are characteristic of apoptosis. Pretreatment of neuronal cells with Trolox, a water-soluble analog of α-tocopherol offered partial, but significant protection against ChSeco-induced cell death, whereas, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) completely prevented the cytotoxic effects of ChSeco. NAC and Trolox were without any effects on ChSeco-induced Aβ aggregation. Fibrillogenesis inhibitors, which inhibited A β aggregation, did not inhibit cell death induced by ChSeco, implying that ROS generation, and not Aβ aggregation, plays a major role in the observed cytotoxicity. However, since Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases are slow and progressive, the formation of Aβ aggregates in vivo by ChSeco may have long-term pathological consequences. Abbreviations: AD, Alzheimer's diseases; BSA, bovine serum albumin; ChSeco, cholesterol secoaldehyde; CM-H2DCFDA, 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate; CM-DCF, 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorofluorescein; GST, glutathione-S-transferase; KRH, Krebs-Ringer-HEPES; HRP, horseradish peroxidase; MTS, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 5-(3-carboxymethoxy-phenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium; NAC, N-acetyl-L-cysteine; PMS, phenazine methosulfate; PS, phosphatidylserine; ROS, reactive oxygen species; and TBST, Tris-buffered saline with 0.1% (w/v) Tween 20.
Interactions Between Sendai Virus and Human Erythrocytes

Abstract Concentrated Sendai virus, when adsorbed to erythrocytes at 4 C, caused invaginations in the plasma membrane. Following elevation of the temperature to 37 C, the plasma membrane became fused with the viral envelope before dissolution of the virions and rupture of the cells. Cell lysis was accompanied by rapid and total loss of hemoglobin to the extracellular space. Following aqueous pyridine extraction, the hemoglobin-free ghosts remaining were found to be devoid of N-acetylneuraminic acid and to have solubility properties different from those of normal erythrocyte ghosts. By the action of viral neuraminidase, bound N-acetylneuraminic acid was also liberated from purified virus receptor substance whose electrophoretic mobility was thereby substantially reduced. Cu++ selectively inhibited hemolysis and neuraminidase without interfering with hemagglutination and attachment. Neuraminidase appeared to be essential for Sendai virus hemolysis; viral particle size may also be a critical factor in this process.
Periprocedural management of aspirin during colonoscopy: a survey of practice patterns in the United States

Background The risk of postpolypectomy bleeding for patients taking aspirin is low, and gastroenterology society guidelines state that aspirin is likely safe to continue; however, many practices recommend aspirin discontinuation. Objective To characterize practice patterns of periprocedural aspirin use with colonoscopy in the United States. Design Survey study. Setting Endoscopy units in the United States. Interventions We reviewed colonoscopy preparation instruction sheets available online to characterize recommendations regarding periprocedural aspirin use. The endoscopy units that recommended discontinuation of aspirin before colonoscopy were contacted to determine their reasons for doing so. We also determined which endoscopy units were recognized by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) quality recognition program. Main Outcome Measurements Endoscopy unit recommendations regarding aspirin use before colonoscopy. Results We reviewed colonoscopy preparation instructions from 317 endoscopy units, of which 138 (43.5%) recommended continuing aspirin, 103 (32.5%) recommended stopping aspirin, and 76 (24%) requested patients to contact a physician. The most common reasons for recommending aspirin discontinuation were concern about bleeding after polypectomy (62%), perceived minimal downside to stopping aspirin (38%), inertia to changing old policies (20%), and concern about medicolegal implications of postpolypectomy bleeding (15%). There was no significant association between endoscopy unit recommendations about periprocedural aspirin use and ASGE quality certification ( P = .17) or type of endoscopy facility (ambulatory surgical center vs hospital affiliated) ( P = .55). Limitation Non-response bias. Conclusion Less than half of the endoscopy units surveyed in the United States routinely continue aspirin before screening colonoscopies despite evidence that benefits outweigh the risks. It is important for gastroenterology and cardiology societies to make a firm statement, educate their members, and give them confidence and support to continue aspirin periprocedurally.
The acute toxicity of four herbicides to 0-4 hour nauplii of Cyclops vernalis Fisher (Copepoda, Cyclopoida).

1) When compared with published dataCyclops vernalis Fisher was found to be among the most sensitive crustaceans when exposed to amitrole-T and 2,4-D (free acid). 2) The toxiclty of amitrole toC. vernalis was somewhat less than published data forDaphnia magna. The 2,4-D (salt) was shown to be less toxic toC. vernalis than reported toxicity forLepomis macrochirus. 3) The toxicity of the commercial formulations was not dependent on the active ingredient content. Amitrole-T with 20 percent active ingredient proved to be more toxic than reagent grade amitrole. The alkanolamine salt of 2,4-D was less toxic than 2,4-D (free acid) to an extent much greater than could be expected from the examination of the acid equivalent of 2,4-D (salt). 4) Each of the herbicides examined apparently exhibited more than one mode of toxic action. This was demonstrated by the time-mortality data. 5) The method used here would be useful in the determination of effects other than mortality such as instar lengths, rates of molting and susceptability of different naupliar stages to stress factors.
Universal optical transmission features in periodic and quasiperiodic hole arrays.

We investigate the influence of array order in the optical transmission properties of subwavelength hole arrays, by comparing the experimental spectral transmittance of periodic and quasiperiodic hole arrays as a function of frequency. We find that periodicity and long-range order are not necessary requirements for obtaining enhanced and suppressed optical transmission, provided short-range order is maintained. Transmission maxima and minima are shown to result, respectively, from constructive and destructive interference at each hole, between the light incident upon and exiting from a given hole, and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) arriving from individual neighboring holes. These SPPs are launched along both illuminated and exit surfaces, by diffraction of the incident and emerging light at the neighboring individual subwavelength holes. By characterizing the optical transmission of a pair of subwavelength holes as a function of hole-hole distance, we demonstrate that a subwavelength hole can launch SPPs with an efficiency up to 35%, and with an experimentally determined launch phase φ = π/2, for both input-side and exit-side SPPs. This characteristic phase has a crucial influence on the shape of the transmission spectra, determining transmission minima in periodic arrays at those frequencies where grating coupling arguments would instead predict maxima.
p53 tumor suppressor gene and ras oncogene mutations in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas

To examine the potential role of p53 and ras gene mutations in hypopharyngeal tumorigenesis, twenty-eight primary hypopharyngeal carcinomas, obtained at biopsy or total pharyngolaryngectomy, were investigated. Exons 5 through 9 of the p53 gene and exons 1 and 2 of the H-, K-, N-ras gene were screened using a combination of immunohistochemistry and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction products (PCR-SSCP). The targeted DNA sequences coding for p53 and ras were confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Point mutations of p53 were found in 9 (32.1%) of the 28 cases, including one with a double mutation, 3 in exon 5, 1 in exon 6, 2 in exon 7 and 4 in exon 8. Positive nuclear immunostaining for p53 was evident in 14 (50.0%) lesions. Seven (25.0%) of the 28 demonstrated point mutations in the H-rns gene, and 11 (39.3%) showed positive cytoplasmic staining for I as. The 5-year survival rate was worse with than without p53 overexpression (p <0.05). The present results suggest that gene mutations, although they occur at a relatively low incidence, are involved in hypopharyngeal tumorigenesis with p53 expression being a prognostic factor.
Excitation into3p55plevels from the metastable levels of Ar

Measurements of cross sections for electron-impact excitation out of the J=0 and J=2 3p{sup 5}4s metastable levels of argon into nine of the ten levels of the 3p{sup 5}5p manifold are presented in the energy range from threshold to 10 eV. A mixed target of atoms in both metastable levels was created by a hollow cathode discharge. Laser quenching was used to depopulate either one of the metastable levels, allowing separate measurements of the cross sections from each of the two metastable levels. Unlike the metastable excitation cross sections into 3p{sup 5}4p levels, the cross sections into the 3p{sup 5}5p levels are not found to be proportional to optical oscillator strengths.
Ultra-deep Desulfurization of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels: Chemistry and Process

Recently, ultra-deep desulfurization of liquid hydrocarbon fuels is becoming very important worldwide not only because of the heightened interest for cleaner air and thus increasingly stringent environmental regulations for fuel sulfur content, but also because of the great need for making ultra-low-sulfur fuels used in hydrocarbon fuel process for fuel cell applications. This article is a selective review on chemistry and process concerning the ultra-deep desulfurization of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The principles and problems for the existing hydrodesulfurization processes and the challenges, concepts, advantages, and disadvantages of various new approaches are discussed, including (1) sulfur compounds in liquid hydrocarbon fuels; (2) Reactivity and mechanistic aspect of various sulfur compounds; (3) Challenges in ultra-deep desulfurization processes; (4) Approaches to ultra-deep desulfurization process.
Glossopharyngeal schwannomas: a 100 year review.

Objectives: To review the literature on glossopharyngeal schwannomas with a focus on clinical presentation, radiologic/audiologic characteristics, and management options, and to propose a mechanism explaining the nature of vestibulocochlear dysfunction seen with these tumors. Study Design: Contemporary review. Methods: English literature search for cases of primary isolated glossopharyngeal schwannomas and chart review of two new cases. Results: A total of 42 glossopharyngeal schwannoma cases between 1908–2008 were reviewed. Of these 84% presented with vestibulocochlear symptoms whereas only 30% presented with glossopharyngeal symptoms. Tumors can occur anywhere along the CNIX; however, the majority of symptomatic cases are intracranial/intraosseous, which present with vestibulocochlear dysfunction. Reviewed cases typically described the caliber of CNVII and VIII on CT/MRI as normal. We present a case where notching and displacement of CNVIII by the tumor can be appreciated on MRI, allowing for the first correlation between clinical symptoms and imaging findings. Mid frequency SNHL was prevalent in contrast to the high-frequency pattern typical of vestibular schwannomas. Tonotopic studies of CNVIII mapped low-to-mid frequency fibers along the posterior medial surface corresponding to the area of greatest compression by glossopharyngeal schwannomas. Conclusion: Glossopharyngeal schwannomas usually present with vestibulocochlear rather than glossopharyngeal symptoms, likely due to CNVIII compression and displacement by tumor, which can be better appreciated with modern imaging. The tumor's location posterior and medial to CNVIII combined with the complex CNVIII tonotopic organization may account for the preferential mid-frequency hearing loss seen in these patients. Laryngoscope, 119:26–35, 2009
Intrauterine Growth Is Related to Gestational Pulmonary Function in Pregnant Asthmatic Women

Asthmatic mothers have been reported to deliver infants of lower mean birth weight than nonasthmatic mothers. This study examined the relationship between intrauterine growth and serial gestational spirometry in 352 pregnant asthmatic women who were prospectively treated and observed during pregnancy. A small (r = 0.11) but significant (p
Pulse characterization and arbitrary waveform generation via spectral phase comb shaping

Spectral phase comb shaping is shown to be a powerful concept for phase-only generation and in-situ characterization of arbitrary optical pulse sequences, where the temporal shape of every pulse in the train is controlled independently.
The Pregnant Client: Understanding and Counseling Her.

To help the pregnant client manage her transition to motherhood, counselors need to understand and to build on the normal psychological changes of pregnancy.
Analyzing Sub-Optimal Human-Automation Performance across Multiple Sessions

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the interaction between operator strategy and consistency over time. Background: Sub-optimal human-automation performance is a phenomenon whereby combining human operators with diagnostic aids results in performance that is less than desirable. Rice, Trafimow and Hunt (in press) used Potential Performance Theory (PPT) to show that strategies account for little of the variance in sub-optimal performance, and that most of the decrements are due to operators inconsistently using these strategies. The current study looks at these issues across multiple sessions. Method: 20 participants spent four sessions searching for enemy helicopters in aerial images of Baghdad; the task was augmented by a 70% reliable diagnostic aid that provided recommendations during each trial. Results: Consistency accounted for improvement in observed scores early on, despite no gains to strategy, while improvements in strategy accounted for increased observed performance in t...
Emergent Surgical Retrieval of Embolized Atrial Septal Defect Closure Device

We present a case of an atrial septal defect closure device that embolized to the aortic valve and left main coronary artery ostium, which required emergent surgical retrieval in an unstable child.
Amino acid sequence of the coelomic C globin from the sea cucumber Caudina (Molpadia) arenicola.

The sequence of a globin from a marine invertebrate, the sea cucumberCaudina (Molpadia) arenicola (Echinodermata), is reported. This globin, chain C, is one of four major globins found in coelomic red cells in this organism and is the second to be sequenced. Chain C consists of 157 residues, is amino-terminally acetylated, and has an extended amino-terminal region. This globin shares a 60% sequence identity with the other sequencedC. arenicola globin, D chain (Mauriet al., Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1078, 63–67, 1991), but has a 93.6% identity with a globin from another sea cucumber,Paracaudina chilensis (Suzuki,Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 998, 292–296, 1989).
Task allocation for reconfigurable teams

Self-reconfigurable robots are systems built from a collection of modules that have the ability to form themselves into many different topologies. This includes forming robots of different shapes, but also includes dividing and merging to form different numbers of physically independent robots during the course of the mission. We call systems of this type reconfigurable teams. The challenge with such systems is to utilize these capabilities in an effective fashion to complete the given mission. In this work, we describe a behavior-based algorithm and an auction-based algorithm, each inspired by previous work in mobile robot task allocation, to control reconfigurable teams. For each technique, we extend the traditional methods by giving them the ability to utilize the dividing and merging operations to improve efficiency of the overall mission. We then apply these algorithms to missions of exploration and placement of surveillance sensors, showing that both techniques successfully avail themselves of the reconfigurations in an efficient and effective manner. Methods for teams of self-reconfigurable robots to divide and merge to complete missions.Behavior-based approach and auction-based approach extend traditional robot team methods.Exploration and surveillance sensor placement missions considered.Simulator enables comparative testing of both algorithms performing both missions.
Stimulation of in vitro proliferation of murine lymphocytes by synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides

To elucidate the properties of mitogenic nucleic acids, the ability of oligodeoxynucleotides to stimulate the in vitro proliferation of murine lymphocytes was investigated. The compounds tested were a series of oligodeoxynucleotides, synthesized with either phosphodiester or phosphorothioate chemistry and containing (dG) and (dC) alone or together. Among oligodeoxynucleotides tested, phosphorothioates were more active than phosphodiesters and stimulated thymidine incorporation under the same conditions as mitogenic non-mammalian DNA. Mitogenesis was unaffected by depletion of T cells, suggesting B cells as the predominant cell type stimulated. These results indicate that mitogenic nucleic acids need not have an extended polymeric structure and raise the possibility that antisense compounds have immunologic activity, at least in animal models.
Web-Based Tutorials for Teaching Introductory Statistics

Interactive Web-based tutorials were developed as a supplement to lectures in an introductory statistics class. A quasi-experimental design compared learning outcomes of students who attended one of two classes that offered the tutorials to students as an extra-credit course option to those who attended a lecture-only class. Analysis of critical items on five course exams revealed that students who attended the classes with tutorials scored higher on four out of five topics covered by the tutorials than students who attended the lecture-only class. Tutorial use leading to mastery of the concepts was associated with exam performance on the critical items. These findings suggest that Web-based tutorials can be an effective supplement to class lectures for enhancing student learning.
Microscopic simulation of quantum dynamics and nuclear tunneling in bacterial reaction centers.

The “dispersed polaron” version of the semiclassical trajectory approach is used to evaluate the quantum mechanical nuclear tunneling effects in the charge recombination reaction, P+Q−→PQ, in photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers, The cclculations are based on the crystallographic structure of reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas viridis. They succeed in capturing the temperature dependence of the rate constant without using adjustable parameters. This provides the first example of a microscopic simulation of quantum mechanical nuclear tunneling in a biological system.
A-ring analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3).

The growing interest in1α,25(OH)2D3, the hormonally active form of vitamin D3, has prompted numerous efforts to synthesize vitamin D analogs as potential therapeutic agents, and some of these are already on the market and in clinical development. Although most vitamin D preparations developed thus far have focused on side-chain modifications, providing many useful analogues with high potency and selectivity, in recent years, modifications of the A-ring has attracted much attention because it can afford useful analogues exhibiting unique activity profiles as well. In this review we will focus on the current understanding of the relationship between selected modifications in the A-ring of the 1α,25(OH)2D3 molecule, such as epimerization and/or substitution at C-1 and C-3, substitution at C-2, and removal of the 10,19-exocyclic methylene group, and their effect on biological potency and selectivity. Finally, suggestions for the structure-based design of therapeutically valuable A-ring vitamin D analogs will conclude the review.
The evolutionary consequences of indirect effects

Indirect effects occur when the effect of one species on another is mediated by a third species or through other links in the ecosystem. Indirect interactions are widespread in nature with effects on the properties of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Despite their far-reaching ecological relevance, the evolutionary importance of indirect effects has only recently garnered attention. Here I highlight recent research illustrating significant evolutionary consequences of indirect effects. These studies span field and laboratory studies as well as terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. I argue that these results provide a blueprint that future research can utilize to evaluate the link between the ecological community and evolution and, thereby, improve the predictive power of evolution in a natural setting.
Stories about teaching: Using qualitative data to promote reflective practices

Abstract In this article two teacher educators describe an approach they have used with preservice early childhood and early childhood special education majors. They explain how the approach that they call “stories about teaching” resembles, yet differs from case study methods. The authors explain the process they used to develop, pilot, and use stories derived from qualitative data that they gathered in various early childhood settings. They explain how discussions based on the stories have provided their students opportunities to explore real‐life teaching situations from multiple perspectives, increase the depth of their reflections, and link theory to practice. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
A 10MHz-BW, 5.6mW, 70dB SNDR ΔΣ ADC using VCO-based integrators with intrinsic DEM

This paper presents the design of a first-order close-loop VCO based ΔΣ ADC. Unlike other VCO based ADC, it does not contain operational amplifier which is power hungry and scaling unfriendly. Also, by using two VCOs referring to each other, it has an intrinsic DEM capability that improves SNDR degradation caused by mismatches in the feedback DAC. The design is low power and area efficient. A prototype is designed in the 0.13um CMOS technology with a power supply of 1.5V. The input signal bandwidth is 10MHz. In SPICE simulation, 70dB of SNDR is achieved while consuming only 5.6mW.
Rapidity Charge Densities and the Leading-Particle Effect

The rapidity charge density in inelastic proton-proton collisons is discussed. Within a short-range-order picture, the experimental data are useful in defining the central plateau region of production processes where the properties of the initial particles are unimportant. (auth)
Multiwavelet spectral and polarization analyses of seismic records

SUMMARY We present an algorithm, based on the wavelet transform and multiple taper spectral analysis, for providing a low-variance spectrum estimate of a non-stationary data process. The‘multiwavelet’algorithm uses, within each frequency band, a number of mutually orthogonal Slepian wavelets, optimally concentrated in frequency. The sum of squared wavelet transforms with the Slepian wavelets results in a spectrum estimate that is both low-variance and resistant to broad-band bias. The multiwavelet algorithm is used to estimate the time-varying spectral density matrix S(f, t) for two or more time series, in particular for three-component seismic data. Coherent three-component motion is described by motion along a single trajectory, with appropriate projections onto the three component axes. This trajectory is found by applying a singular value decomposition (SVD) to a matrix M(f, t) of wavelet transform values. The normalized first singular value of the SVD determines whether a correlation among the three components of the seismogram is statistically significant. Where significant, coherent particle motion is reconstructed by a linear combination of the wavelets with coefficients specified by the first left-singular vector. The polarization of this motion with respect to the coordinate axes is given by the first right-singular vector. Where the wavelets are real-valued, the usefulness of this method is limited to cases in which the three components of the seismic record oscillate in phase with each other, as is often the case for seismic body waves. Elliptical polarization is handled by pairing even and odd Slepian wavelets into complex-valued wavelets, capable of detecting phase shifts between components. We demonstrate the mutiwavelet spectrum and polarization estimators on seismic data from a large shallow earthquake in the Solomon Islands, and from the recent deep earthquakes beneath Fiji (1994 March 9) and Bolivia (1994 June 9).
A systematic study of large PMTs for the Pierre Auger Observatory

In order to select the most suitable Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) for the surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we have performed extensive tests on large PMTs from three different manufacturers: Electron Tubes Limited, Hamamatsu Photonics, and Photonis Imaging Sensors. The test and their results are described in this report.
Incorporating Gesture and Gaze into Multimodal Models of Human-to-Human Communication

Structural information in language is important for obtaining a better understanding of a human communication (e.g., sentence segmentation, speaker turns, and topic segmentation). Human communication involves a variety of multimodal behaviors that signal both propositional content and structure, e.g., gesture, gaze, and body posture. These non-verbal signals have tight temporal and semantic links to spoken content. In my thesis, I am working on incorporating non-verbal cues into a multimodal model to better predict the structural events to further improve the understanding of human communication. Some research results are summarized in this document and my future research plan is described.
The effects of malnutrition parental literacy and household crowding on acute lower respiratory infections in young Kenyan children.

This study investigated risk factors for acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in young Kenyan children. Exposures included mild-moderate malnutrition, household crowding, and low parental literacy. The study population consisted of 106 toddler-aged children (18-25 months) who were free of ALRI for at least 4 weeks before beginning a 1-year follow-up period. Subjects were visited weekly for morbidity information and monthly for anthropometric measurement. Being underweight (weight-for-age < 80 per cent of expected) was positively associated with ALRI, as was stunting (height-for-age < 90 per cent of expected). No association was found for acute wasting (weight-for-height < 90 per cent of expected). Having more than five siblings or parents with low reading skills were also risk factors. These data suggest that improving nutrition and parental literacy may contribute to lowering the incidence of acute lower respiratory infections. Interventions include breastfeeding, full immunization, diets adequate in quality and quantity, and early treatment through parental recognition of serious infections.
Tracheal stenosis: the long and the short of it.

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to present slide tracheoplasty as the procedure of choice for tracheal stenosis. From 1990 through 1997, patients referred to University of California, San Francisco for tracheal stenosis were managed by resection and anastomosis. During this period, other centers reported successful use of slide tracheoplasty and, from 1998 to 1999, we performed 3 slide tracheoplasties in addition to 3 more resection and anastomosis procedures. Methods: Between 1990 and 1999, 9 patients with tracheal stenosis of varying lengths underwent surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. They were treated surgically with either resection and anastomosis or with slide tracheoplasty. Results: Two of the 6 patients treated by resection and an astomosis had an anastomotic breakdown; all 3 patients undergoing slide tracheoplasty did not have anastomotic problems. Technically, a slide tracheoplasty has only one half the tension distributed over an oblique anastomosis that is more than the circumferential length of a resection and anastomosis approach. Conclusion: Based on these results, a slide tracheoplasty may be the procedure of choice for tracheal stenosis, whether long or short. J Pediatr Surg 35:1612-1616. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Social Values and Salesperson Performance: An Empirical Examination:

Although social values have been used increasingly in consumer research, their utility in sales management research has received little attention. Using a national sample of industrial salespeople, the authors evaluate several hypotheses, developed from social adaptation theory and a theoretical framework of values domain, regarding the incremental ability of the List of Values (LOV) to predict salesperson performance beyond adaptive selling (ADAPTS) and customer orientation (SOCO). The LOV shows promise as a tool by which salesperson performance can be predicted. Managerial implications are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.
New insights into the mechanism of activation and hydrogen absorption of (2LiNH2–MgH2)

Abstract 2LiNH2–MgH2 is considered an attractive material for reversible hydrogen storage. In an attempt to improve the hydrogen storage characteristics of the 2LiNH2–MgH2 system, the activation mechanism of the material, as well as the improvement in hydrogen absorption rates through doping were explored. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) investigations reveal that the initial and irreversible conversion process 2 LiNH 2 + MgH 2 ⇒ 2 LiH + Mg ( NH 2 ) 2 is exothermic, indicating it is energetically favorable for this initial conversion of the starting material. The exothermicity of this first step explains why the original starting material (2LiNH2 + MgH2) is never regenerated during re-hydrogenation of the desorbed product. Adding catalytic amounts (
Paste Particle and Bean Size as Related to Sweetened Azuki Paste Quality

ABSTRACT Influences of the amount of sugar, particle size of unsweetened paste, and bean size on sweetened paste quality were evaluated in two types of azuki. Increased sugar resulted in darker, less red, and less yellow sweetened paste and decreased hardness, adhesiveness, and chewiness of sweetened paste. Sweetened paste produced from larger particles was less red and less yellow than that from smaller ones. Paste particle size, as determined by sedimentation tests, was correlated with graininess of sweetened paste (r = 0.930**), indicating that the larger the paste particle, the grainier the sweetened paste produced. Protein content ranged from 22.3% in small beans to 26.1% in large beans in Azuki cv. Erimo and from 22.4% in medium size beans to 23.5% in large beans in Azuki WSU 262. Proportion of unsweetened paste particles that were <106 μm was 71.5% in small beans but only 39.3% in large beans in Erimo, and 38.7% in medium size beans, and 23.8% in large beans in WSU 262. Sweetened paste produced fro...
Decreased inflammatory responsiveness of hypophysectomized rats to heat is reversed by a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) antagonist

Hypophysectomy, but not adrenalectomy, decreased (relative to sham-operated controls) the swelling and Evans blue dye extravasation responses of the anesthetized rat's pawskin to thermal injury. alpha-Helical CRF (9-41), a synthetic competitive antagonist of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on isolated pituitary cells, did not affect in sham-operated rats the swelling response after immersion of the paw in 58 degrees C water for 30 s. Swelling was measured over a 1 h period using the fluid displacement method for quantifying paw volume. But, when alpha-helical CRF (9-41) was injected 92 micrograms/kg i.v. 10 min before or immediately after heat exposure, it both attenuated and reversed the insensitive state produced by hypophysectomy: that is, the swelling response reappeared. Under the same test conditions, naloxone hydrochloride, an opioid antagonist, was ineffective. The results suggest that hypophysectomy may induce a condition whereby endogenous CRF or CRF-like peptides may act as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Default Network Connectivity in Medial Temporal Lobe Amnesia

There is substantial overlap between the brain regions supporting episodic memory and the default network. However, in humans, the impact of bilateral medial temporal lobe (MTL) damage on a large-scale neural network such as the default mode network is unknown. To examine this issue, resting fMRI was performed with amnesic patients and control participants. Seed-based functional connectivity analyses revealed robust default network connectivity in amnesia in cortical default network regions such as medial prefrontal cortex, posterior medial cortex, and lateral parietal cortex, as well as evidence of connectivity to residual MTL tissue. Relative to control participants, decreased posterior cingulate cortex connectivity to MTL and increased connectivity to cortical default network regions including lateral parietal and medial prefrontal cortex were observed in amnesic patients. In contrast, somatomotor network connectivity was intact in amnesic patients, indicating that bilateral MTL lesions may selectively impact the default network. Changes in default network connectivity in amnesia were largely restricted to the MTL subsystem, providing preliminary support from MTL amnesic patients that the default network can be fractionated into functionally and structurally distinct components. To our knowledge, this is the first examination of the default network in amnesia.
Application of high-κ gate dielectrics and metal gate electrodes to enable silicon and non-silicon logic nanotechnology

High-k gate dielectrics and metal gate electrodes are required for enabling continued equivalent gate oxide thickness scaling, and hence high performance, and for controlling gate oxide leakage for both future silicon and emerging nonsilicon nanoelectronic transistors. In addition, high-K gate dielectrics and metal gates are required for the successful demonstration of high performance logic transistors on high-mobility non-silicon substrates with high iON/iOFF ratios.
Inhibition of Ribulose 1,5-Diphosphate Carboxylase by 6-Phosphogluconate

6-Phosphogluconate is a much more effective inhibitor of the photosynthetic carboxylation enzyme, ribulose-1, 5-diphosphate carboxylase, than other sugar phosphates and sugar acids of the reductive and oxidative pentose phosphate cycles. The inhibition appears to be noncompetitive with ribulose 1,5-diphosphate. Since 6-phosphogluconate is unique to the oxidative cycle and inhibits at concentrations comparable to those found in vivo, it is proposed that its inhibition of the carboxylase may be a regulatory factor. If so, it would operate during darkness as a different control factor from those factors postulated to activate the carboxylase during photosynthesis.
Crystallization kinetics of amorphous NiSix films

Abstract In situ resistivity measurements have been used to determine the kinetics of crystal growth of co-evaporated NiSi x films. Samples with various heat treatments have been examined with X-ray diffaction to determine the phases growing. It is found that all the films contain crystallites as deposited and that NiSi 2 or Ni 2 Si grow in most of them. The variations in activation energy and the “mode of transformation” with composition are explained.
Variation in flight duration among individual Tetraopes beetles: Implications for studies of insect flight

Abstract Milkweed beetles, Tetraopes tetraophalmus (Forster) (Cerambycidae), were flight tested three times weekly throughout their lives. Flight durations peaked early in life and then declined rapidly with age. Significant variation existed (1) between individuals, with some flying for long periods of time, others for only a few seconds, and (2) within individuals, with some flying for long periods on some test days and very briefly or not at all on other days. Long and short fliers were indistinguishable on the basis of size, sex, or lifespan. The data show that studies of insect flight will underestimate the number of long fliers in a population by as much as 50% or more unless individuals are flight tested more than once.
Technology and perception in the 21st-century reading room

Radiology reading rooms have changed dramatically over the past 15 years, moving from analog-light-box-based environments to digital-display-based environments. Most of the focus in the early stages of this transition was on the technology, but it soon became obvious that it was not possible or even prudent to consider the technology without considering radiologists. The information being presented to radiologists in digital reading rooms is in many ways very different from that presented on traditional film. On one hand, the digital workstation display medium itself is very different from traditional film images hung on light boxes. On the other hand, without large-area light boxes, images such as those from computed tomography (CT) can no longer be displayed all at once in a series of film sheets. The digital world also introduces the possibility of manipulating image data in ways that were never possible with analog film. Not only can radiologists manipulate image data with various image-processing tools, but also, computers can analyze images and provide even more information to incorporate into the interpretation process. As a consequence of these differences, it has been necessary to focus attention on radiologists to discover ways to optimize the digital reading environment with respect to the human visual system and the way the eye-brain system processes information. This article reviews some of the important perceptual issues that have arisen in the digital reading rooms of the 21st century.