cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Odorant-Evoked Activity in the Piriform Cortex

Despite a remarkably precise spatial representation of odorant stimuli in the early stages of olfactory processing, the projections to the olfactory (piriform) cortex are more diffuse and show characteristics of a combinatorial array, with extensive overlap of afferent inputs and widespread intracortical association connections. Furthermore, although there is increasing evidence for the importance of temporal structure in olfactory bulb odorant-evoked output, little is known about how this temporal patterning is translated within cortical neural ensembles. The present study used multichannel electrode arrays and paired single-unit recordings in rat anterior piriform cortex to test several predictions regarding ensemble coding in this system. The results indicate that odorants evoke activity in a spatially scattered ensemble of anterior piriform cortex neurons, and the ensemble activity includes a rich temporal structure. The most pronounced discrimination between different odorants by cortical ensembles occurs during the first inhalation of a 2 s stimulus. The distributed spatial and temporal structure of cortical activity is present at both global and local scales, with neighboring single units contributing to coding of different odorants and active at different phases of the respiratory cycle. Finally, cross-correlogram analyses suggest that cortical unit activity reflects not only afferent input from the olfactory bulb but also intrinsic activity within the intracortical association fiber system. These results provide direct evidence for predictions stemming from anatomical- and theoretical-based models of piriform cortex.
Social Class Labelling in the Application of Bernstein's Theory of the Codes to the Identification of Linguistic Advantage and Disadvantage in Five-Year-Old Children.

Abstarct Misinterpretation of Bernstein's theory of language codes has important implications for the school. The terms ‘elaborated’ and ‘restricted’ code have often been used by many teachers as labels to identify a socially determined linguistic advantage and disadvantage of pupils. This paper considers reasons why Bernstein has been misinterpreted, and describes an experiment in which undergraduate students in applying categories derived from Bernstein's lists of ‘linguistic code markers’ to representational speech of five‐year‐old children interpreted the results in accordance with expectations emanating from a simplistic understanding of the theory. It was found that the students selected from the children's language only those structures that were consistent with the social class labels they had applied. It is suggested that the labelling consequence of teachers’ misinterpretations of the theory of the codes is likely to become a self‐fulfilling prophecy affecting pupils’ performance in school.
A new retinoic acid receptor identified from a hepatocellular carcinoma.

Processes as diverse as growth, vision and reproduction depend on the presence of vitamin A and its metabolites (retinoids), but the molecular mechanisms which govern these diverse actions remain unclear (for reviews see refs 1, 2). A crucial advance recently was the isolation of a specific nuclear receptor for retinoic acid3,4, one of the physiologically active vitamin A derivatives. This nuclear receptor is a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor family. Our analysis of an uncharacterized member of this class of intracellular receptors, encoded by a complementary DNA clone from a human placental library, has led us to discover a second retinoic acid receptor. This new receptor is expressed at high levels in a number of epithelial-type tissues. The gene for the receptor was first identified in a hepatocellular carcinoma where it surrounds a site of integration of hepatitis B virus5. Activation by this virus may play a role in tumour development in liver cells, where it is normally not expressed.
High efficiency method for gene transfer in normal pituitary gonadotropes: adenoviral-mediated expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 suppresses luteinizing hormone secretion.

The level of LH secretion is determined by both alterations in gonadotrope responsiveness and alterations in GnRH secretion. The molecular mechanisms underlying gonadotrope responsiveness are unknown, but may include G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). Typically, GRKs phosphorylate the intracellular regions of seven-transmembrane receptors permitting β-arrestin to bind, which prevents receptor activation of its G protein. Previously, we reported that heterologous expression of GRK2, -3, and -6 in GnRH receptor-expressing COS cells by complementary DNA transfection suppressed GnRH-stimulated inositol trisphosphate production, and that coexpression of GRK2 andβ -arrestin-2 was more inhibitory than either expressed alone. Here, we have investigated the effect of GRK2 on GnRH-stimulated LH secretion using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in normal pituitary gonadotropes. Pituitary cells were infected with adeno-GRK2 or adeno-β-galactosidase constructs at a multiplicity of infection of 60 (number of vi...
Navigating the Terra Incognita of Male Fertility: Sperm Ion Channels and their Function

Mammalian spermatozoa are unable to fertilize an oocyte immediately after their deposit in the female genital tract. To gain competence to fertilize, they must undergo a gradual maturation process termed capacitation that is accompanied by: 1) sperm intracellular alkalinization, evoked by proton extrusion through proton channels; 2) elevation of the intracellular [Ca2+], evoked by calcium influx through calcium ion channels, and 3) membrane hyperpolarization that is evoked by K+ efflux. Whereas the proton and calcium channels of human sperm are identified as Hv1 and CatSper, the identity of the principal potassium channel of human sperm (hKSper) was unknown. Potassium channels are indispensable for normal sperm physiology as they regulate cell membrane potential and cell motility. Recently, a pH-sensitive sperm K+ channel, encoded by the Slo3 gene was shown to be regulated by intracellular alkalinization and essential for male fertility in mice. It has been assumed, but never proven, that the K+ channel of human sperm has a similar molecular identity. Here we present full electrophysiological and pharmacological characterization of hKSper in both mature and developing human spermatozoa, and report that the molecular identity of hKSper is different from that of mouse KSper. In human sperm, the KSper current is conveyed by the big conductance, calcium-activated potassium channel (Slo1) which differs from mouse Slo3 in both its regulation and functional relationship with other sperm ion channels.
Understanding Statistical Significance: A Conceptual History

Few concepts in the social sciences have wielded more discriminatory power over the status of knowledge claims than that of statistical significance. Currently operationalized as a = 0.05, statisti...
Determination of electron orbital magnetic moments in carbon nanotubes.

The remarkable transport properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are determined by their unusual electronic structure1. The electronic states of a carbon nanotube form one-dimensional electron and hole sub-bands, which, in general, are separated by an energy gap2,3. States near the energy gap are predicted4,5 to have an orbital magnetic moment, µorb, that is much larger than the Bohr magneton (the magnetic moment of an electron due to its spin). This large moment is due to the motion of electrons around the circumference of the nanotube, and is thought to play a role in the magnetic susceptibility of CNTs6,7,8,9 and the magnetoresistance observed in large multiwalled CNTs10,11,12. But the coupling between magnetic field and the electronic states of individual nanotubes remains to be quantified experimentally. Here we report electrical measurements of relatively small diameter (2–5 nm) individual CNTs in the presence of an axial magnetic field. We observe field-induced energy shifts of electronic states and the associated changes in sub-band structure, which enable us to confirm quantitatively the predicted values for µorb.
SSB Antagonizes RecX-RecA Interaction

The RecX protein of Escherichia coli inhibits the extension of RecA protein filaments on DNA, presumably by binding to and blocking the growing filament end. The direct binding of RecX protein to single-stranded DNA is weak, and previous reports suggested that direct binding to DNA did not explain the effects of RecX. We now demonstrate that elevated concentrations of SSB greatly moderate the effects of RecX protein. High concentrations of the yeast RPA protein have the same effect, suggesting that the effect is not species-specific or even specific to bacterial SSB proteins. A direct SSB-RecX interaction is thus unlikely. We suggest that SSB is blocking access to single-stranded DNA. The evident competition between RecX and SSB implies that the mechanism of RecX action may involve RecX binding to both RecA protein and to DNA. We speculate that the interaction of RecX protein and RecA may enable an enhanced DNA binding by RecX protein. The effects of SSB are increased if the SSB C terminus is removed.
Aluminum Particle Ignition Studies

Experiments have been performed to study the combustion criteria of aluminum particles at atmospheric pressure. The primary goal is to quantify the outcome for a particle into which thermal energy has been deposited. Experiments utilized instantaneous joule heating of an aluminum wire. Once the particle was generated, it fell under gravity and the flight was recorded by video; in some cases, the ignited particle quenched or fragmented, and the residue was collected for SEM and EDS imaging. This provided information related to the aluminum oxide shell which was formed when combustion occurred. These experiments produced particles of approximately 150450 microns in the arc heating tests. In a second set of experiments, particles were produced under more observable time scales. This provided observation of the oxide skin, which is known to influence the ignition process. This experiment utilized a pressure pulse to eject a small droplet of molten aluminum through a small orifice. From this experiment, particle sizes ranging 2–3 mm were produced.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A higher dimensional theory of electrical contact resistance

The electrical contact resistance is computed for a local constriction of finite length and finite transverse dimension in a conducting current channel. Conformal mapping is used for the case of a rectangular channel. An analytic scaling law is constructed for the contact resistance over a wide range of aspect ratios between the constriction and the main current channel. The classical theory of Holm and Timsit is generalized to include finite length effects of the ldquoa-spotrdquo, defined as a small circular area of zero thickness through which current can flow. Potential applications and extensions of the theory are indicated.
Oithona colcarva, n. sp., and American copepod incorrectly known asO. brevicornis (Cyclopoida: Oithonidae)

Oithona colcarva, n. sp., is described and compared with related species. It is common in coastal and estuarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast south of Cape Cod. Since 1925 it has been incorrectly known asOithona brevicornis. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A00BY058 00006
Nanoscale controlled growth and domain structure of epitaxial ferromagnetic conductive oxide SrRuO 3 thin films

We have deliberately controlled the initial stage nucleation, growth mechanism and domain structure of epitaxial SrRuO 3 thin films, using substrate etching, miscut and lattice mismatch. The use of buffered HF etched substrates results in more uniform coverage and two-dimensional growth of ultrathin SrRuO 3 films, as compared to polished substrates. For thicker films, the use of exact (001) SrTiO 3 substrates results in growth by two-dimensional nucleation, leading to two 90 degree domains in the plane. As the miscut angle of vicinal (001) SrTiO 3 substrates is increased, step flow growth occurs leading to single domain films. An incoherent three dimensional island growth occurs on (001) LaAlO 3 substrates, resulting in multi domain films.
Magnetostatic Interactions of Two-Dimensional Arrays of Magnetic Strips

A series of arrays consisting of Permalloy stripes with dimensions of 100 nm x 300 nm x 1500 nm were fabricated using electron beam nanolithography and magnetron sputtering followed by the lift-off process. In order to elucidate the effect of magnetostatic interactions among nanosized stripes on magnetic properties of the arrays, the separation between the stripes in different arrays was varied in the range between 100 nm and 2000 nm. Magnetic hysteresis loops of the arrays were measured using SQUID magnetometer for different orientations of the applied field with respect to the arrays. Magnetic anisotropy of the arrays was determined based on ferromagnetic resonance measurements at 9.8 GHz using EPR spectrometer. The measurements were carried out for different directions of the in-plane magnetic bias filed. The angular dependence of the resonance field of the main resonant peak indicated presence of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy due to elongated shape of the stripes. Comparison between angular curves of resonant fields for different arrays leads to the conclusion that increasing strength of magnetostatic interactions among the stripes leads to a suppression of the uniaxial anisotropy. The stripes separated by 2000 nm behave almost like non-interacting objects, but the effect of interactions becomes particularly significant for separations smaller than 600 nm. The properties of the arrays with the smallest separations resembled those of continuous films. Magnetostatic modes have been observed in the FMR spectra in addition to the main resonant peak. These modes are believed to result from dimensional confinement of lateral spinwaves in the magnetic stripes. No such modes were observed in the reference samples of solid Py films, with the in-plane applied magnetic field.
Some Properties of a Hamiltonian Model of Broken SU ( 3 ) × SU ( 3 ) Symmetry. II

An inherent ambiguity of broken $\mathrm{SU}(3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{SU}(3)$ symmetry is discussed. It is shown to arise from a discrete unitary transformation in the $\mathrm{SU}(3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{SU}(3)$ space. For Hamiltonian models for which the symmetry-breaking term transforms like the $(3,\overline{3})+(\overline{3},3)$ representation, we find that, in general, there are two such terms which describe the same physical system. Some consequences of this result are discussed.
Scaling multiple addition and prefix sums on the reconfigurable mesh

Multiple addition is the problem of adding N b-bit integers. Prefix sums and multiple addition play fundamental roles in many algorithms, particularly on the reconfigurable mesh (R-Mesh). Scaling algorithms on the R-Mesh to run with the same or increased efficiency on fewer processors is a challenging and important proposition. In this paper, we present algorithms that scale with increasing efficiency for multiple addition, prefix sums, and matrix–vector multiplication. Along the way, we obtain an improved multiple addition algorithm.
The effect of the moisture absorption on the interfacial strength of polymeric matrix composites

Seven composite material systems have been studied to determine their potential suitability for structural applications for continuous immersion in sea water. The matrices of these composites have been found to absorb moisture with saturation occurring at 0.6%–2% of the matrix weight of additional moisture over approximately 1% present after fabrication, when soaked at ambient temperature in simulated sea water, with 20.7 MPa (3000 p.s.i.) hydrostatic pressure giving a very minor increase in moisture absorption. Pure water absorption gave a slightly higher saturation level than did simulated sea water. With the exception of the graphite/vinylester composites, the degradation in transverse tensile strength and interfacial shear strength due to moisture absorption has been found to vary from 0%–22%, with the thermoset/graphite systems and the vinylester/glass systems both showing sufficient promise to justify further study. The observed correlation in the decrease in interfacial shear strength due to moisture absorption with decreases in transverse tensile strength supports the hypothesis that the moisture-induced degradation is associated with a decrease in the interfacial strength rather than the degradation of matrix mechanical properties. In situ fracture observations in the scanning electron microscope further support this hypothesis.
Existence theorems for optimization problems concerning hyperbolic partial differential equations

Existence theorems are given for optimal control problems with partial integro-differential equations of hyperbolic type. A variety of conditions are given depending on whether (i) the cost functional is in the Lagrange form or Mayer form, (ii) the controls vary in a fixed compact set or variable but closed sets, (iii) the required solutions are generalized or usual, (iv) the defining equations are nonlinear or linear in the state variable or linear in the control, (v) the trajectories belong to the usual Sobolev classW p 2 ,p>1, or the special Sobolev classW p * , 1⩽p⩽∞. Several examples are given to illustrate the above cases. Necessary conditions for some of these problems have been discussed in an earlier paper.
Complex ensemble empirical mode decomposition and alpha-rooting for image contrast enhancement

This paper presents a new image contrast enhancement method based on the complex Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) and alpha-rooting approaches. The new scheme also takes advantage of Fourier transform properties and complex Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs). The experimental results show that the images obtained by this combination are more appealing than the best results yielded by classical alpha-rooting technique. This algorithm is tested on the medical images, hazy aerial images and other low contrast images.
Transformation of Acremonium coenophialum, a protective fungal symbiont of the grass Festuca arundinacea.

Acremonium coenophialum is a mutualistic mycosymbiont and natural agent of biological protection of the widely distributed grass Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue). An electroporative transformation system was developed for A. coenophialum. Segments of DNA 5′ to the β-tubulin gene (tub2) of the closely related ascomycete Epichloe typhina, fused to the Escherichia coli hph gene encoding hygromycin B phosphotransferase, conferred hygromycin resistance when introduced into A. coenophialum by electroporation. The incorporation of the Emericella nidulans trpC terminator greatly increased protoplast germination on selective medium and improved transformation efficiencies 30–200% depending on the plasmid construct. Plasmid pCSN43, which incorporates the trpC controlling elements for hph expression, was also used to transform A. coenophialum. Southern blot analysis of ten pCSN43 transformants indicated the possibility of random integration of this vector into the genome.
Partial attenuation of hydroxyurea-induced embryotoxicity by deoxyribonucleotides in mouse and rat embryos treated in vitro.

Abstract Hydroxyurea (HU) is a well known developmental toxicant in all animal species tested. It inhibits DNA synthesis, and addition of deoxycytidine monophosphate (dCMP) has been shown previously to attenuate the developmental toxicant effects of HU in vivo. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether addition of deoxyadenosine monophosphate (dAMP) or dCMP would attenuate HU-induced embryotoxicity using a rodent whole embryo culture system. Rat embryos were removed on the morning of day 10 of gestation, and mouse embryos were removed on day 8 of gestation (day 0 = the day a vaginal plug was found). Embryos were treated with various concentrations of HU (up to 500 μg/ml) for 1 hr at 37 °C before being washed and cultured for 43 hr in rat serum containing dAMP or dCMP. At the end of the culture period, six endpoints were evaluated for each viable embryo: morphological score; number of somite pairs; crown-rump and head lengths, DNA and protein contents. HU (300 μg/ml) significantly decreased values for all endpoints in embryos from both mice and rats; however, mouse embryos appeared to be more sensitive to the effects of the drug. dAMP and dCMP alone produced some embryotoxicity at high concentrations. The combination of HU + dAMP had no consistent beneficial effect in rat embryos and no effect on mouse embryos. The combination of HU + dCMP improved growth and development slightly. As determined by HPLC analysis, HU treatment (300 μg/ml for 1 hr) decreased all nucleotide pools. Subsequent treatment with dAMP increased all pool levels, although these levels remained below those of control embryos. These results suggest that the developmental toxicant effects of HU are not due solely to alterations in deoxyribonucleotide pool levels.
ATF-1 mediates protease-activated receptor-1 but not receptor tyrosine kinase-induced DNA synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells

Previously we have demonstrated that activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and induction of DNA synthesis in response to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists require NADH/NADPH-like oxidase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Here we tested the role of p38 MAPK in RTK and GPCR agonist-induced DNA synthesis in VSMC. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and thrombin (RTK and GPCR agonists, respectively) activated p38 MAPK in a time-dependent manner in VSMC. Inhibition of p38 MAPK led to a 50% decrease in the DNA synthesis induced by thrombin but not PDGF-BB. ATF-1 was found to be the predominant member of the cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-DNA complex formed in VSMC in response to PDGF-BB and thrombin, and both agonists induced its phosphorylation. Regardless of this, inhibition of p38 MAPK reduced only thrombin- but not PDGF-BB-induced ATF-1 phosphorylation. Similarly, inhibition of p38 MAPK caused a 50% decrease in thrombin- but not PDGF-BB-induced CRE promoter-dependent transcription. Ectopic expression of an inhibitory anti-ATF-1 single-chain antibody fragment, ScFv, significantly interfered with DNA synthesis induced by thrombin but not PDGF-BB. Together, these results suggest the following conclusions. 1) Both RTK and GPCR agonists activate p38 MAPK and induce CRE promoter-dependent transcription; 2) both RTK and GPCR agonists induce ATF-1 phosphorylation, and ATF-1 is a predominant member in the CRE-DNA complexes formed in response to these agents; and 3) p38 MAPK-dependent ATF-1 phosphorylation and CRE promoter-mediated transcription are associated with GPCR agonist-induced VSMC growth.
INFLUENCE OF AMINO-ACID LEVELS ON PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN VITRO.

ALTHOUGH protein synthesis is obviously dependent on availability of amino-acids1, the relationship of alterations in intracellular levels of amino-acids to rates of protein synthesis and breakdown remains obscure. Thus, enhanced protein synthesis has been observed in the presence of normal2 as well as elevated3 cellular levels of amino-acids. A maximum effective cellular concentration may exist for each amino-acid beyond which net protein synthesis cannot be further stimulated4,5. However, above this concentration alterations in gross protein synthesis may occur which are masked by concomitant variations in protein breakdown. The investigations recorded here were designed to investigate this possibility. The data indicate that a primary increase in extracellular concentration of one essential amino-acid may result in stimulation of protein synthesis and protein breakdown in surviving liver cells.
New Notharctine (Primates, Adapiformes) Skull From the Uintan (Middle Eocene) of San Diego County, California

A new genus and species of notharctine primate, Hesperolemur actius, is described from Uintan (middle Eocene) aged rocks of San Diego County, California. Hesperolemur differs from all previously described adapiforms in having the anterior third of the ectotympanic anulus fused to the internal lateral wall of the auditory bulla. In this feature Hesperolemur superficially resembles extant cheirogaleids. Hesperolemur also differs from previously known adapiforms in lacking bony canals that transmit the internal carotid artery through the tympanic cavity. Hesperolemur, like the later occurring North American cercamoniine Mahgarita stevensi, appears to have lacked a stapedial artery. Evidence from newly discovered skulls of Notharctus and Smilodectes, along with Hesperolemur, Mahgarita, and Adapis, indicates that the tympanic arterial circulatory pattern of these adapiforms is characterized by stapedial arteries that are smaller than promontory arteries, a feature shared with extant tarsiers and anthropoids and one of the characteristics often used to support the existence of a haplorhine-strepsirhine dichotomy among extant primates. The existence of such a dichotomy among Eocene primates is not supported by any compelling evidence. Hesperolemur is the latest occurring notharctine primate known from North America and is the only notharctine represented among a relatively diverse primate fauna from southern California. The coastal lowlands of southern California presumably served as a refuge area for primates during the middle and later Eocene as climates deteriorated in the continental interior. Hesperolemur probably was an immigrant taxon that entered California from either the northern (Wyoming/Utah) or southern (New Mexico) western interior during the middle Eocene.
Recombinant human interleukin-11 prevents mucosal atrophy and bowel shortening in the defunctionalized intestine

Abstract Background: Mucosal atrophy and bowel shortening are the hallmark of proximal intestinal diversion for extensive necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or Thiry-Vella fistulas (TVF), in which the ends of a defunctionalized loop of intestine are exteriorized as stomas. Recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) is a pleiotropic cytokine that promotes epithelial regeneration and enhances adaptation after bowel resection. The authors hypothesized that rhIL-11 may prevent mucosal atrophy and bowel shortening in rats with TVF. Methods: After creation of ileal TVF, Sprague-Dawley rats were selected randomly to receive either rhIL-11 or equal volume of 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) subcutaneously daily. On day 14, the TVF were excised and examined morphologically. Enterocyte apoptosis was measured using the TUNEL assay. Mucosal DNA and protein content were measured. Results: Administration of rhIL-11 resulted in a significantly greater weight gain and less shortening of TVF than BSA treatment. TVF from the rhIL-11-treated group showed evidence of hyperplasia and hypertrophy and increased crypt to villus ratio. The BSA group had substantial mucosal atrophy. There was a qualitative decrease in the incidence of apoptosis in the rhIL-11 group. Conclusions: Recombinant human IL-11 prevents mucosal atrophy and shortening of defunctionalized intestinal loops. It may help reduce the incidence of short gut syndrome in infants with extensive NEC. J Pediatr Surg 35:1079-1083. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Synthesis of Squaraine-N-Hydroxysuccinimide Esters and Their Biological Application as Long-Wavelength Fluorescent Labels

We describe the synthesis and the fluorescence spectral characterization of two conjugatable long-wavelength fluorescence probes. These probes consist of a squaraine moiety, which is a cyanine-type chromophore with a central squarate bridge, and a reactive N-hydroxysuccinimide group for coupling with amino functions. One form is water soluble due to the presence of a sulfobutyl group; the other is water insoluble. The water-insoluble form was reacted with taurine to achieve water solubility and this squaraine-taurine conjugate displayed a very high affinity for bovine serum albumin. The squaraines exhibit short lifetimes and low quantum yields in water, with a significant increase in lifetime and quantum yield when bound to proteins. Their absorption maxima around 635 nm in water and 640 nm when bound to proteins allow excitation with the newly commercially available diode laser sources at 635, 645, and 650 nm. The spectral properties and photostabilities of the water-soluble squaraine probes are compared with those of the commercially available CY5-NHS ester.
ECL and BiCMOS application specific memories (ASMs) on a single chip

The increasing magnitude of bipolar ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) arrays allows single-chip designs of up to 50 K gates. To take full advantage of these solitary chip systems, high-performance, ECL, bipolar arrays with large and small on-chip efficient memory architectures must be available. Motorola's MCA4 50 k ECL customer definable array (CDA), an approach that meets these needs through offering gate array or optional semicustom portions of ECL (emitter coupled logic) bipolar and BiCMOS custom memory on a single chip, is discussed. It is shown that ECL memories with less than 2-ns access times are practical for configurations of up to 4 kb. For larger memories, embedded BiCMOS RAMs of up to 180 kb can be implemented on half of an otherwise 50 k ECL array. Besides process flexibility, the array allows the designer to perform layout techniques using tiles (fully diffused macros adhering to the gate array row grid) as fundamental building blocks for the memory cells and RAM auxiliary logic. Implications of using embedded memories and large arrays are addressed. >
Scattered homoclinics to a class of time-recurrent Hamiltonian systems

A second-order Hamiltonian system with time recurrence is studied. The recurrence condition is weaker than almost periodicity. The existence is proven of an infinite family of solutions homoclinic to zero whose support is spread out over the real line.
Urodynamic Studies are Recommended in Children With Central Nervous System Tumors Regardless of Location

Purpose: Neurogenic bladder dysfunction is a frequent occurrence in association with neoplasms involving the central nervous system. We determine whether tumor location in children with central nervous system neoplasms correlates with specific patterns of urodynamic abnormalities, alleviating the need for urodynamic investigations in these patients.Materials and Methods: A total of 62 children with the diagnosis of a central nervous system neoplasm underwent urodynamic investigation after treatment between 1994 and 2004. Patient demographics, tumor location and etiology were assessed. Urodynamic variables recorded included bladder capacity, early and late compliance, voiding pressure and post-void residual volume. For comparative analysis patients were grouped according to central nervous system level of involvement. Statistical analysis was performed, with p <0.05 considered significant.Results: Mean ± SD patient age at urodynamic evaluation was 10.6 ± 7 years. Tumor was located intracranially in 21% of ...
Role of immediate confirmatory prostate biopsy to ensure accurate eligibility for active surveillance.

Objective To assess the role of confirmatory prostate biopsy in the accurate risk assessment of patients with low risk prostate cancer eligible for active surveillance. Methods Patients electing active surveillance of their low grade, low volume prostate cancer with prostate-specific antigen 2 core involvement or Gleason 7 disease on subsequent biopsies. Prostate-specific antigen, total number of cores on initial and rebiopsy, the presence of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, and prostate-specific antigen density, when available, were assessed as predictors of biopsy progression. Results Sixty patients were included. Median time to rebiopsy was 2 months. Nineteen patients (31.7%) had findings that excluded them from active surveillance. Despite rebiopsy findings, 7 patients elected for active surveillance, all of which eventually underwent treatment for continued biopsy progression. Of the 41 patients eligible for active surveillance after rebiopsy, 8% elected treatment, 74% remained on active surveillance, and 13% experienced biopsy progression. No cancer on rebiopsy was associated with a reduced risk of progression to treatment on active surveillance (odds ratio 0.14, P = .011). A microfocus of Gleason 4 pattern (odds ratio 16.0, P = .04) and high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (odds ratio 7.29, P = .03) on initial biopsy were independent predictors of immediate rebiopsy progression. Prostate-specific antigen, prostate-specific antigen density, and the total number of cores were not significant. Conclusion Confirmatory rebiopsy aids in the accurate identification of low-risk patients for active surveillance as one-third are initially undergraded. Patients with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and any Gleason pattern 4 on initial biopsy are at highest risk and should be counseled regarding the risks of progression on active surveillance accordingly.
The Role of Uric Acid and Other Crystals in Osteoarthritis

Clinicians have long assumed that an association exists between crystal arthropathies and the presence of osteoarthritis (OA). However, studies establishing an independent association between calcium pyrophosphate or uric acid crystal disease and OA are sparse. Even less is known about a possible pathogenic relationship. Whereas some studies suggest that the relationships between crystals and OA may not be incidental and that crystal deposition may contribute to the onset and/or acceleration of OA joint damage, other authors have challenged this assertion. In this review, we provide an overview of past and current research elucidating the role of crystal deposition, including monosodium urate, calcium pyrophosphate, and other crystals, in OA. Given the clinical frequency of gout and that agents exist to modulate serum UA levels, special attention is given to the role of monosodium urate crystals.
Challenges and progress in the development of a closed-loop artificial pancreas

Pursuit of a closed-loop artificial pancreas that automatically controls the blood glucose of individuals with type 1 diabetes has intensified during the past six years. Here we discuss the progress and challenges in the major steps towards a closed-loop system. Continuous insulin infusion pumps have been widely available for over two decades, but “smart pump” technology has made the devices easier to use and more powerful. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology has improved and the devices are more widely available. A number of approaches are currently under study for fully closed-loop systems; most manipulate only insulin, while others manipulate insulin and glucagon. Algorithms include on-off (for prevention of overnight hypoglycemia), proportional-integral-derivative (PID), model predictive control (MPC) and fuzzy logic based learning control. Meals cause the major “disturbance” to blood glucose, and we focus on approaches that our group has developed to predict when a meal is likely to be consumed and its effect.
Using Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Raman Spectroscopy to Measure Local Stresses in First-Level Flip-Chip Organic Packages

The packaging community relies on finite element method (FEM) models to predict stresses that develop within microelectronic packages. However, FEM model predictions do not always accurately predict or explain package failures. Material heterogeneity and non-perfect geometries are not typically accounted for in such models and there has been debate about whether the physical models used in standard FEM models best describe complex viscoelastic materials such as underfills. We present preliminary results from a method to directly measure local stresses in a viscoelastic model underfill using carbon nanotubes as sensors with the aim of developing a robust experimental method that can be used to validate or supplement FEM model predictions.
Differential Influence of Distinct Components of Increased Blood Pressure on Cardiovascular Outcomes From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Elevation in blood pressure (BP) increases risk for all cardiovascular events. Nevertheless, the extent to which different indices of BP elevation may be associated to varying degrees with different cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. We studied 13 340 participants (aged 54±6 years, 56% women and 27% black) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who were free of baseline cardiovascular disease. We used Cox proportional hazards models to compare the relative contributions of systolic BP, diastolic BP, pulse pressure, and mean arterial pressure to risk for coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and all-cause mortality. For each multivariable-adjusted model, the largest area under the receiver-operating curve (AUC) and smallest −2 log-likelihood values were used to identify BP measures with the greatest contribution to risk prediction for each outcome. A total of 2095 coronary heart disease events, 1669 heart failure events, 771 stroke events, and 3016 deaths occurred during 18±5 years of follow-up. In multivariable analyses adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the BP measures with the greatest risk contributions were the following: systolic BP for coronary heart disease (AUC=0.74); pulse pressure for heart failure (AUC=0.79); systolic BP for stroke (AUC=0.74); and pulse pressure for all-cause mortality (AUC=0.74). With few exceptions, results were similar in analyses stratified by age, sex, and race. Our data indicate that distinct BP components contribute variably to risk for different cardiovascular outcomes.
Renal pharmacodynamics of antihypertensive drugs: Clinical applications

I T IS now well accepted that effective antihypertensive therapy minimizes the progressive deterioration of renal function in patients with essential hypertension. It is also recognized that in patients with hypertension and advanced impairment of renal function, drastic reduction of the arterial pressure may result in decreased kidney perfusion and may precipitate renal insufficiency. For a rational management of the hypertensive patient with renal function impairment, a knowledge of the renal hemodynamic effects of the currently employed antihypertensive drugs is necessary.
Production of enhanced beam halos via collective modes and colored noise

We investigate how collective modes and colored noise conspire to produce a beam halo with much larger amplitude than could be generated by either phenomenon separately. The collective modes are lowest-order radial eigenmodes calculated self-consistently for a configuration corresponding to a direct-current, cylindrically symmetric, warm-fluid Kapchinskij-Vladimirskij equilibrium. The colored noise arises from unavoidable machine errors and influences the internal space-charge force. Its presence quickly launches statistically rare particles to ever-growing amplitudes by continually kicking them back into phase with the collective-mode oscillations. The halo amplitude is essentially the same for purely radial orbits as for orbits that are initially purely azimuthal; orbital angular momentum has no statistically significant impact. Factors that do have an impact include the amplitudes of the collective modes and the strength and autocorrelation time of the colored noise. The underlying dynamics ensues because the noise breaks the Kolmogorov-Arnol'd-Moser tori that otherwise would confine the beam. These tori are fragile; even very weak noise will eventually break them, though the time scale for their disintegration depends on the noise strength. Both collective modes and noise are therefore centrally important to the dynamics of halo formation in real beams.
Role of arm motion in the standing long jump

The role of arm motion on the performance of the standing long jump was investigated. Three males performed a series of jumps with free (JFA) and with restricted (JRA) arm motion to determine if arm swing improves jumping distance. The subjects jumped off a force platform and the motion of the body segments were recorded with a four-camera, passive motion-capture system. Jumping performance was defined as the horizontal displacement of the toe between the initial and landing (TD) positions. The subjects jumped 21.2% further on an average with arm movement (2.09+/-0.03 m) than without (1.72+/-0.03 m). Seventy-one percent of the increase in performance in JFA was attributable to a 12.7% increase in the take-off (TO) velocity of the center of gravity (CG). Increases in the horizontal displacement of the CG before TO and in the horizontal position of the toe with respect to the CG at TD accounted for the remaining 29% of the improvement in jumping distance. The added balance and control provided by the arms throughout the jumping motion contributed to performance improvement in JFA. The subjects were able to remedy excessive forward rotation about the CG by swinging the arms backwards during the flight phase. Without the freedom to swing the arms during flight, the subjects had to eliminate any excessive forward rotation while still in contact with the ground. This tendency in JRA was manifest in the premature decline in the vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and the development of a counterproductive backward-rotating moment about the CG just before TO.
From 'Soviet' to 'European' Yaroslavl: Changing Neighbourhood Structure in Post-Soviet Russian Cities

The absence of a market meant that Soviet cities evolved in fundamentally different ways from Western cities, but economic reform promises to transform them. Drawing from 1993 survey data from the city of Yaroslavl, the paper analyses how Russian citizens look at their Soviet-made city. It finds that Russians of diverse background appear to be drawn to a historically `European' model of urban development in which the central city becomes home to the monied class and the socially correct, while poorer social groups are pushed toward the periphery. To understand the dynamics of the early stages of post-Soviet city development, a regression model containing demographic, life-stage and housing-condition variables is developed which predicts 52 per cent of the variance in moving intentions. After describing the initial impact of the housing privatisation process, the paper examines the reasons behind and the significance of the precipitous decline in housing privatisation since 1993.
Workplace Matters The Use of Parental Leave Policy in Japan

Policies to render employment and family more compatible have been adopted in many postindustrial countries. But the organizational contexts that facilitate or hinder employees' policy usage have b...
Groundfish management in transition within the Scotia–Fundy area of Canada

Owing to the collapse of several groundfish stocks in the Scotia-Fundy area of Atlantic Canada, the fisheries-management system has been critically reviewed and changes introduced. A fisheries-management model with eight components was used to structure the recommendations for change. The components are strategic planning, annual planning, fishing entitlements, catch and effort monitoring, enforcement, service delivery, socio-economic analysis, and resource analysis. For each component, a brief synopsis of the major problems identified during the review is provided, and subsequent changes (1995-1998) to address problems are summarized. In spite of unclear and conflicting objectives, the conservation objectives under a rebuilding strategy are generally being met for the open fisheries, at least recently. This is a direct result of improvements in the overall management system. By transferring responsibilities for several aspects of management to the fishing industry, there has been a reduction in institutional uncertainty. Introduction of a combination of enterprise allocations, individual transferable quotas and community quotas has permitted a reduction of fishing capacity without government assistance. However, the reduction in participation level in the open groundfish fisheries has led to social unrest as some participants received small quota shares. For fisheries that have been closed since 1993, little progress has been made in improving the management system. The resource base is not recovering owing to continued levels of poor recruitment, and there is a lack of scientific consensus on the relative contributions of fishing and ecosystem changes to the poor recruitment observed during the past decade. The groundfish fisheries-management system of the Scotia-Fundy area provides an interesting case history on the degree to which conservation objectives can be achieved despite considerable institutional and ecosystem uncertainty.
Reduction of crystalline iron(III) oxyhydroxides using hydroquinone: Influence of phase and particle size

Iron oxides and oxyhydroxides are common and important materials in the environment, and they strongly impact the biogeochemical cycle of iron and other species at the Earth's surface. These materials commonly occur as nanoparticles in the 3–10 nm size range. This paper presents quantitative results demonstrating that iron oxide reactivity is particle size dependent. The rate and extent of the reductive dissolution of iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles by hydroquinone in batch experiments were measured as a function of particle identity, particle loading, and hydroquinone concentration. Rates were normalized to surface areas determined by both transmission electron microscopy and Braunauer-Emmett-Teller surface. Results show that surface-area-normalized rates of reductive dissolution are fastest (by as much as 100 times) in experiments using six-line ferrihydrite versus goethite. Furthermore, the surface-area-normalized rates for 4 nm ferrihydrite nanoparticles are up to 20 times faster than the rates for 6 nm ferrihydrite nanoparticles, and the surface-area-normalized rates for 5 × 64 nm goethite nanoparticles are up to two times faster than the rates for 22 × 367 nm goethite nanoparticles.
The factor V Leiden mutation increases the risk of venous thrombosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Background & Aims: Thromboembolic disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and possible association of the factor V Leiden mutation with the development of thrombosis in patients with IBD. Methods: This retrospective study included 11 patients with IBD and arterial or venous thrombosis and 51 patients with IBD and no history of thrombosis who were matched for age, sex, ethnic/racial origin, and type of IBD (controls). The presence of the factor V Leiden mutation was determined by coagulation assay and confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction method. Results: Four of 11 IBD patients (36%) with thrombosis and 2 of 51 IBD controls (4%) were heterozygotes for the factor V Leiden mutation (relative risk, 14.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-169.25; P = 0.009, Fisher exact test). All thrombotic events in the patients with activated protein C resistance were venous with a calculated prevalence of 50% (4 of 8 patients) and a relative risk of venous thrombosis in IBD patients with factor V Leiden of 23 (95% confidence interval, 2-294; P = 0.005). Conclusions: In patients with IBD, inheritance of the factor V Leiden mutation results in a significant increased risk of venous thrombosis. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;115:830-834