cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purified vitamin K epoxide reductase alone is sufficient for conversion of vitamin K epoxide to vitamin K and vitamin K to vitamin KH2.

More than 21 million prescriptions for warfarin are written yearly in the U.S. Despite its importance, warfarin's target, vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), has resisted purification since its identification in 1972. Here, we report its purification and reconstitution. HPC4, a calcium-specific antibody that recognizes a 12-aa tag, was used to purify and identify VKOR. Partial reconstitution is achieved on the column by washing with 0.4% dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/0.4% deoxycholate. Activity is completely recovered by dialysis against a buffer containing a reducing agent but lacking dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate. Removal of detergent from the eluted proteins apparently facilitates liposome formation. Purified recombinant VKOR with tag is ≈21 kDa, as expected; fully active; and >93% pure. The concentration of warfarin for 50% inhibition is the same for purified protein and microsomes. It has been reported that VKOR is a multisubunit enzyme. Our results, however, suggest that a single peptide can accomplish both the conversion of vitamin K epoxide to vitamin K and vitamin K to reduced vitamin K. This purification will allow further characterization of VKOR in relation to other components of the vitamin K cycle and should facilitate its structural determination.
Catalysis of ester hydrolysis by N-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)acetohydroxamic acid (I)

Abstract N-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)acetohydroxamic acid was synthesized. This compound, which incorporates a dimethylamino group as a second functionality into the hydroxamic acid molecule, catalyzes the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate faster than acetohydroxamic acid itself does. The function of the dimethylamino group is to labilize the intermediate formed in the reaction, thus assisting deacylation intramolecularly. The dimethylamino group carries out this function by intramolecular general base catalysis. Nucleophilic catalysis is ruled out by the sizable deuterium oxide solvent isotope effect ( k H 2 O k D 2 O = 2.05 ) found. General acid-hydroxide ion catalysis is ruled out by determination of the lack of reaction with azide ion, which does not possess a dissociable proton, with the intermediate in this reaction. The deuterium oxide solvent isotope effect on the azide ion reaction of the intermediate also rules out a general acid-hydroxide ion reaction.
THE CONTINUUM OF CAPITAL FOR SMALL AND MICRO ENTERPRISES

Since the 1990s, interest in the role of small and microenterprises (SMMEs) in economic development has garnered considerable attention throughout academic and practioner circles. Widely known for their potential to help stimulate economic growth and as a potential avenue for poverty alleviation, the purpose and promise of small businesses have been widely publicized. However, to date, little research exists that adequately documents the specific capital needs of very small businesses (those with less than 20 employees) and microenterprises (those with less than 5 employees) and their owners at specific points in a business's development and growth. Using data from the 1992 Characteristics of Business Owners Survey, the 2002 Survey of Business Owners and the 2003 Survey of Small Business Finances, we analyze the different types of firms in the United States, the amount of capital used by firms of different size and the sources of capital used by firms of different sizes to assess how capital needs and sources differ for those businesses with less than 20 employees. Paying particular attention to businesses owned by women and minorities, we argue that the path of SMMEs differs substantially from the typical path of larger small businesses. In addition, we highlight the implications of our findings and provide our policy recommendations to address them.
Validation and implementation of a new method for monitoring in situ strain and temperature in rock masses using fiber-optically instrumented rock strain and temperature strips

Abstract Fiber-optically instrumented rock strain and temperature strips (FROSTS) are a new method for monitoring in situ strain and temperature in intact rock masses. FROSTS are an alternative to other techniques such as borehole extensometers or instrumented rock bolts for monitoring strain around underground openings. FROSTS have six fiber-optic strain and temperature gages installed at 30 cm intervals along specially designed strips of 304-stainless steel and are embedded into the rock mass. FROSTS are modified Rock Strain Strips (ROSS). If pretensioned prior to installation, the FROSTS can measure both shortening and elongation. Two FROSTS were pretensioned and installed on the 4100 level (~1250 m below the surface) of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. Data from the initial monitoring of these FROSTS record strain in the rock mass due to the closure of microcracks and fractures created during drilling for installation and then stabilization of the FROSTS sensors. The fiber-optic temperature sensors on the FROSTS also record a detailed thermal gradient of increasing temperature with depth into the rock mass. Laboratory experiments show that the FROSTS accurately measure strain, are more compliant than the rock mass they are embedded into, and thoroughly couple to the rock mass to ensure accurate readings. FROSTS provide an accurate and detailed record of in situ strain and temperature in rock masses and are useful for the structural health monitoring of underground spaces.
Johnson distribution models of hyperspectral image data clusters

The Johnson System for characterizing an empirical distribution is used to model the non-normal behavior of Mahalanobis distances in material clusters extracted from hyperspectral imagery data. An automated method for determining Johnson distribution parameters is used to model Mahalanobis distance distributions and is compared to an existing method which uses mixtures of F distributions. The results lead to a method for determining outliers and mitigating their effects.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors of the Stomach

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are relatively rare mesenchymal tumors located within the submucosa of the GI tract. The defining characteristic of GISTs is the presence of the cell-surface antigen CD117 receptor tyrosine kinase, identified by immunohistochemistry. Currently the only cure for GIST is complete surgical resection. Imatinib has revolutionized the treatment of GISTs and has been used as adjuvant treatment after resection, and as treatment for locally advanced, recurrent, and metastatic GIST. Imatinib resistance has become a significant concern in the treatment of GISTs and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target different pathways are currently being studied.
Orientation of nucleosomes and linker DNA in calf thymus chromatin determined by photochemical dichroism

The dichroism for photochemical attachment of a psoralen derivative to Mg2+ -stabilized chromatin fibres is used to deduce the orientation of nucleosomal disks and linker DNA in the 30-nm fibre. The new technique of photochemical electric dichroism should have general applicability to problems of nucleic acid organization in cellular subunits and viruses.
Numerical solution of the steady Stokes equations

In this paper we present a fast numerical technique for finding solutions of the steady-state Stokes equations on both two- and three-dimensional dimains. We implement the method on a special staggered grid for a rectangular (cubic) domain and obtain a solution in an order of O(N log N) operations for both two- and three-dimensional cases, where N is the number of grid points in the domain. The main idea is to derive from the Stokes equations an equation for the pressure p, Ap = b, where the matrix A is semi-positive definite and very-well conditioned on the orthogonal complement of its null space.
Nitric oxide mediates chemoreceptor inhibition in the cat carotid body

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that carotid sinus nerve fibers mediate a so-called “efferent” inhibition of carotid body chemoreceptors. However, the mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon are not understood. Recently, it has been shown that an extensive plexus of nitric oxide synthase-containing carotid sinus nerve fibers innervate the carotid body, and that many fine, beaded fibers can be seen in close proximity to small blood vessels as well as lobules of parenchymal cells. The present study examined the effects of centrifugal neural activity in the carotid sinus nerve on the accumulation of [ 3 H]citrulline synthesized from [ 3 H]arginine in the cat carotid body, and the possible involvement of nitric oxide in mediating “efferent” chemoreceptor inhibition. Electrical stimulation of carotid sinus nerve C-fibers evoked an increase in [ 3 H]citrulline accumulation in the carotid body, which was Ca 2+ -dependent and blocked by l - N G -nitroarginine methylester (0.1 mM), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Using a vascularly perfused in vitro carotid body preparation, chemoreceptor activity was recorded from thin nerve filaments split-off from the main trunk of the carotid sinus nerve. Electrical stimulation of the main nerve trunk at C-fiber intensities inhibited steady-state chemoreceptor discharge, and this effect was blocked by l - N G -nitroarginine methylester. However, when the organ preparation was switched to the superfuse-only mode, carotid sinus nerve stimulation failed to alter the steady-state discharge, but under these conditions, prolonged nerve stimulation (>5 min) did attenuate the chemoreceptor response to hypoxia, an effect which was likewise blocked by l - N G -nitroarginine methylester. The present data, together with previous anatomical findings that nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity is present in both sensory and autonomic ganglion cells innervating the carotid body, suggest that two neural mechanisms may be involved in the inhibitory neural regulation of carotid chemoreceptors. One mechanism appears to involve nitric oxide release from intralobular sensory C-fibers, which lie in close proximity to the chemoreceptor type I cells. The other mechanism involves release of nitric oxide from perivascular terminals of autonomic microganglia neurons, which control carotid body blood flow.
Gate noise in field effect transistors at moderately high frequencies

At higher frequencies the gate noise of a field effect transistor increases rapidly with increasing frequency. This effect is here attributed to the thermal noise of the conducting channel and is caused by the capacitive coupling between the channel and the gate. The noise is represented by gate and drain noise current generators i g and i d , respectively; an approximation method is developed that allows calculation of i g 2, i d 2and i g × i d for moderately high frequencies. The correlation coefficient of i g and i d is imaginary and amounts to about 0.40j under saturated conditions, i g 2can be expressed in terms of the noise resistance R n , and the gate-source capacitance C gs. It is shown that the correlation has only a slight influence on the noise figure F and that (F min - 1) varies as ωC gs R n over a wide frequency range.
Adult Scoliosis: Etiology and Classification

Adult spinal deformity is common and can have a significant and measurable impact on quality of life. Patients with adult scoliosis present with clinical symptoms and radiographic findings that differ from those seen in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Adult scoliosis is typically due either to progression of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis or to development of a de novo spinal deformity. The deformity is characterized by associated degenerative changes including spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, rotational or lateral subluxation, lumbar hypolordosis, and relative rigidity of the spinal deformity. The deformity and associated degenerative changes occur due to a vicious cycle of asymmetric loading of the spine, asymmetric degeneration, and asymmetric deformity. Although not perfect, the Scoliosis Research Society classification for adult spinal deformity provides the best mechanism by which adult spinal deformity may be assessed.
Has Lightning Struck Twice? Use of PSI in College Classrooms

Classroom use of the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) was investigated by sending questionnaires to three groups, early (before 1975) users of PSI, recent (after 1975) users, and current chairpersons of psychology departments. Data from all three sources suggest that fewer PSI courses are being taught, and that many depart substantially from the original PSI format.
The Influence of Weathering Prior to Harvest on Certain Properties of Cotton Fibers

Most of the.commercial cotton fiber produced in the United States is subjected to a period of from one to many weeks of exposure to the weather before it is harvested from the plant. Such weathering has been shown in prior work to be a cause of changes in the wax on the fiber [19], in the fiber's swelling behavior in alkali [22]. and, under humid conditions, in the pH of water extracts of the fiber [21]. Subsequent investigation now has revealed that a number of other fiber properties also may undergo change during preharvest weathering. These properties include moisture regain at constant relative humidity, dye absorption, content of water-soluble reducing substances, browning tendency, rate of wetting in a water-alcohol mixture, length, strength, and susceptibility to enzymatic decomposition. As might have been expected, the X-ray angle, as defined by Berkley and co-workers [4], showed little if any alteration. Several of the fiber properties which change during weathering have been measured on commerci...
Correlation of boundary layer quantities for hypersonic laminar flows with zero pressure gradient for several gases

The laminar boundary layer has been theoretically studied for six gases for flows over cold walls with zero pressure gradient at Mach numbers between 5.5 and 12.5 to correlate boundary layer quantities for the various gases. The flow conditions considered correspond to those that can be generated in test facilities such as the shock tunnel and the expansion tube. Computed results obtained using real gas properties indicate that the Eckert number based on edge conditions serves to correlate the results in terms of the wall shear stress and enthalpy gradient, the Stanton number, and the momentum thickness for the various gases within plus or minus 10 per cent for Te = Tw and Te approximately 3Tw. Computed Reynolds analogy factors exhibit very good agreement with those predicted by the Colburn analogy. Velocity and displacement thicknesses correlate well with Eckert number for Te = Tw, but fail to correlate for Te approximately 3Tw. Differences in results are traced to property variations. Results show that the Eckert number is a significant correlating variable for the flows considered.
Stress Tensor of Static Dipoles in strongly coupled N=4 Gauge Theory

In the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence we calculate the induced stress tensor of static dipoles (electric-electric and electric-magnetic) in a strongly coupled N = 4 SYM gauge theory, by solving the linearized Einstein equation with Maldecena string as a source. Analytic expressions are given for the far-field and a near-field close to one charge, and compared to what one has in weak coupling. The result can be compared to lattice results for QCD-like theories in a deconfined but strongly coupled regime.
National allegories and the emergence of female voice in Moufida Tlatli's Les silences du palais ∗

(2000). National allegories and the emergence of female voice in Moufida Tlatli's Les silences du palais. Third Text: Vol. 14, No. 50, pp. 33-44.
FreeViewer: An Intelligent Director for 3D Tele-Immersion System

This paper proposes FreeViewer, a 3D Tele-Immersion view-control system that allows viewers to see arbitrary side of the performer by intelligently choosing the streams of a subset of cameras and changing the point of view in a 3D virtual space. The view changing is actuated by the change of the sensor data from wearable devices (eg. Google Glass, smartphone) on the performer able to monitor the current orientation.
RCE classifiers: theory and practice

Restricted Coulomb Energy (RCE) classifiers, as described by Scofield et al. (1988), are shown to have a conceptual relationship with hyperspherical classifiers developed in the 1960s by Batchelor (1974). These classifiers are also shown to share similarities with networks of localized receptive fields and with psychological models of concept formation. Next, the performance of some RCE classifiers is examined. The ability of a trained RCE classifier to generalize to new instances is compared with that of several well-known classifiers. Then, four previously unexamined aspects of RCE classifiers are investigated empirically: (1) the influence of potential wells on training rate, (2) the influence of potential wells on storage requirement, (3) the influence of potential wells on generalization to new instances, and (4) rejection of an instance from an unknown class. Modifications of a traditional RCE classifier improve average correct classification at generalization from 83.2 to 90.7% without significant ...
Experimental validation of the wavefield transform of electromagnetic fields

The wavefield transform is a mathematical technique for transforming low-frequency electromagnetic (EM) signals to a non-diffusive wave domain. The ray approximation is valid in the transform space and this makes traveltime tomography for 3D mapping of the electrical conductivity distribution in the subsurface possible. The transform, however, imposes stringent frequency bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio requirements on the data. Here we discuss a laboratory scale experiment designed to collect transform quality EM data, and to demonstrate the practical feasibility of transforming these data to the wavefield domain. We have used the scalable nature of EM fields to design a time-domain experiment using graphite blocks to simulate realistic field conditions while leaving the time scale undisturbed. The spatial dimensions have been scaled down by a factor of a thousand by scaling conductivity up by a factor of a million. The graphite blocks have two holes drilled into them to carry out cross-well and borehole-to-surface experiments. Steel sheets have been inserted between the blocks to simulate a conductive layer. Our experiments show that accurate EM data can be recorded on a laboratory scale model even when the scaling of some features, such as drill-hole diameters, is not maintained. More importantly, the time-domain EM data recorded in cross-well and surface-to-borehole modes can be usefully and accurately transformed to the wavefield domain. The observed wavefield propagation delay is proportional to the direct distance between the transmitter and receiver in a homogeneous medium. In a layered medium, data accuracy is reduced and, hence, our results are not so conclusive. On the basis of the experimental results we conclude that the wavefield transform could constitute a valid approach to the interpretation of accurate, undistorted time-domain data if further improvement in the transform can be realized.
Interferometric Control of Grating Ruling with Continuous Carriage Advance

A 14-inch ruling engine, whose operation with interferometer control of grating blank position between ruling strokes has been described previously, is now being operated with continuous blank advance and control. Displacement of the carriage holding the grating blank is measured in terms of the phase of a fringe system of constant inclination passing across a photoelectric pickup, which produces low-frequency ac whose phase is compared with that from a generator measuring the phase of motion of the ruling diamond. Synchronism between diamond and blank is maintained through corrections fed into a differential on the engine screw-worm by a balancing motor operated by phase differences. Grooves straight to one-tenth fringe, up to 9 in. long, can be produced by means of a cam-and-lever system which rectifies the otherwise simple harmonic motion of the diamond carriage. Continuous servo control results in improved elimination of screw errors and engine vibrations, and in simplified circuitry. The needed electronic and interferometric control systems have been found to function reliably over the long periods needed to rule large gratings.A change-gear system permits passage of any desired fractional number of fringes per diamond stroke needed to produce from about 50 000 to 2000 grooves per inch. The signal-to-noise ratio obtained when green light from an Hg-198 tube is used to illuminate the carriage-translation interferometer is found to permit control over 10 in. of carriage motion, and stepping methods are being studied to permit multiplication of this distance. Plane gratings up to 8 in. in width of ruling and 5 in. in groove length have been produced, which show acceptably low ghost intensities despite original screw errors of more than 50 times the tolerance limit. Error-of-run and fanning appear to be under good control over distances of 8 in. Rapidly occurring random errors previously found have been traced to lateral motion of the diamond carriage and eliminated. Slow irregularities in groove position are ascribed to temperature variations, to which the engine has been found to be 10 times as sensitive as necessary; these are now being removed. Continuous oscilloscope records taken during ruling show that blank positioning is being controlled by servo interferometry to within 1/40 fringe or better, and indicate sources of disturbances whose removal should result in further improvement.
Inherent speedup limitations in multiple time step/particle mesh Ewald algorithms.

Multiple time step (MTS) algorithms present an effective integration approach to reduce the computational cost of dynamics simulations. By using force splitting to allow larger time steps for the more slowly varying force components, computational savings can be realized. The Particle-Mesh-Ewald (PME) method has been independently devised to provide an effective and efficient treatment of the long-range electrostatics interactions. Here we examine the performance of a combined MTS/PME algorithm previously developed for AMBER on a large polymerase beta/DNA complex containing 40,673 atoms. Our goal is to carefully combine the robust features of the Langevin/MTS (LN) methodology implemented in CHARMM-which uses position rather than velocity Verlet with stochasticity to make possible outer time steps of 150 fs-with the PME formulation. The developed MTS/PME integrator removes fast terms from the reciprocal-space Ewald component by using switch functions. We analyze the advantages and limitations of the resulting scheme by comparing performance to the single time step leapfrog Verlet integrator currently used in AMBER by evaluating different time-step protocols using three assessors for accuracy, speedup, and stability, all applied to long (i.e., nanosecond) simulations to ensure proper energy conservation. We also examine the performance of the algorithm on a parallel, distributed shared-memory computer (SGI Origin 2000 with 8 300-MHz R12000 processors). Good energy conservation and stability behavior can be demonstrated, for Newtonian protocols with outer time steps of up to 8 fs and Langevin protocols with outer time steps of up to 16 fs. Still, we emphasize the inherent limitations imposed by the incorporation of MTS methods into the PME formulation that may not be widely appreciated. Namely, the limiting factor on the largest outer time-step size, and hence speedup, is an intramolecular cancellation error inherent to PME. This error stems from the excluded-nonbonded correction term contained in the reciprocal-space component. This cancellation error varies in time and introduces artificial frequencies to the governing dynamics motion. Unfortunately, we find that this numerical PME error cannot be easily eliminated by refining the PME parameters (grid resolution and/or order of interpolating polynomial). We suggest that methods other than PME for fast electrostatics may allow users to reap the full advantages from MTS algorithms.
Visual conceptualizations of meetings: A group work design

Abstract This article highlights the need for balance between content and process in task / work groups A conceptual model with visual maps depicting an ideal meeting of a task / work group is presented along with four scenarios in which the balance between content and process fails to occur. Implications of balance and imbalance between content and process in groups, especially meetings, are discussed.
Plasmonic heterostructures for addressable nanophotonics

Plasmonics applications will benefit if reliable means to alter plasmon absorption and damping properties via external inputs are found. We are working towards this goal by functionalizing noble metal films with polarizable, excitonic molecular films. Examples include molecular j-aggregates, whose excitonic absorptions can be photobleached to modify plasmon absorption properties. We report two developments in this area. The first is the observation of coherent polarization coupling between the exciton of a molecular J-aggregate and the electronic polarization of noble metal nanoparticles. The second is a new far-field method to directly observe surface plasmon propagation, demonstrating that the lateral intensity decay length is affected by a change of the interface property. The method relies on the detection of the intrinsic lossy modes associated with plasmon propagation in thin films. We also uniquely introduce a method to excite a broad spectral distribution of surface plasmon simultaneously throughout the visible spectrum allowing surface plasmon based spectroscopy to be performed.
A study of emotion and reason in products and services

This study investigates the relationship between emotion, reason and perceived risk. Evidence is presented using an aggregative data set of 146 products and services which were randomly selected from the SIC (Standard Industrial Classification Codes) manual. It is demonstrated that emotional factors account for a significant and substantial portion of the variance in perceived risk even after the effect of rational factors (perceived differences between alternatives) has been taken into account. It is suggested that emotion be explicitly modelled in future conceptualisations of perceived risk. Copyright © 2002 Henry Stewart Publications.
Tolerance of chemotherapy following splenectomy for leukopenia or thrombocytopenia in patients with malignant lymphomas

Splenectomy was done in 11 patients with malignant lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia because of leukopenia or thrombocytopenia which prevented necessary chemotherapy. White cell counts rose to at least 5000 in all 8 patients who previously had had leukopenia. Similarly, platelet counts rose to at least 140,000 in 9 of the 11 patients who had had thrombocytopenia. These white cell and platelet responses were seen despite the presence of proven bone marrow involvement with malignant cells in 7 of the 11 patients. The tolerance to chemotherapy could be evaluated in 7 of the 9 patients whose peripheral counts responded to splenectomy. In 6 of these patients at least a moderate dose of chemotherapy could be given without severe depression of the white cell and platelet count for 2 months or longer.
Trajectory Perturbations of Fin-Stabilized Projectiles Due to Muzzle Blast

The flow at the muzzle of a gun during launch of fin-stabilize d projectiles is investigated both experimentally and analytically. Optical and flash radio graph surveys are used to define the muzzle blast growth and projectile r dynamics. Based upon the experimental results, an analysis is developed of the loadings exerted by propellant gases upon the projectile. It is shown that both in-bore and muzzle blast flowfields must be considered. The inbore flow is modeled as a one-dimensional, unsteady expansion, whereas the muzzle blast flow is approximated as a two-dimensional, quasisteady, underexpanded jet. The effect of launch gasdynamic loadings upon projectile motion is calculated and is shown to compare favorably with experiment. Nomenclature = area of a single fin = lift and moment coefficients = speed of sound = gun tube diameter = distance between obturator and fins = projectile transverse moment of inertia
Combining NHC-Cu and Bronsted base catalysis: enantioselective allylic substitution/conjugate additions with alkynylaluminum reagents and stereospecific isomerization of the products to trisubstituted allenes.

All-catalytic route to trisubstituted allenes: The first examples of catalytic enantioselective allylic substitution reactions that involve alkyne-based nucleophiles and lead to products having tertiary stereogenic centers are followed by an exceptionally stereospecific amine-catalyzed isomerization to trisubstituted allenes (see picture; NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene).
Critical analysis of applying Hopfield neural net model to optimization problems

The authors present a rigorous matrix-based analysis of the Hopfield model in order to understand the fundamental characteristics of the model, its strengths, and its weaknesses. They formally show why the results obtained by applying the Hopfield model to most NP-complete problems are in general unsatisfactory. They also indicate that promising results are achieved randomly. Possible amendments and future research directions are discussed. >
Design of entropy-constrained multiple-description scalar quantizers

The problem of entropy-constrained multiple-description scalar quantizer design is posed as an optimization problem, necessary conditions for optimality are derived, and an iterative design algorithm is presented. Performance results are presented for a Gaussian source, along with comparisons to the multiple-description rate distortion bound and a reference system. >
Probing the Xenopus laevis inner ear transcriptome for biological function.

The senses of hearing and balance depend upon mechanoreception, a process that originates in the inner ear and shares features across species. Amphibians have been widely used for physiological studies of mechanotransduction by sensory hair cells. In contrast, much less is known of the genetic basis of auditory and vestibular function in this class of animals. Among amphibians, the genus Xenopus is a well-characterized genetic and developmental model that offers unique opportunities for inner ear research because of the amphibian capacity for tissue and organ regeneration. For these reasons, we implemented a functional genomics approach as a means to undertake a large-scale analysis of the Xenopus laevis inner ear transcriptome through microarray analysis. Microarray analysis uncovered genes within the X. laevis inner ear transcriptome associated with inner ear function and impairment in other organisms, thereby supporting the inclusion of Xenopus in cross-species genetic studies of the inner ear. The use of gene categories (inner ear tissue; deafness; ion channels; ion transporters; transcription factors) facilitated the assignment of functional significance to probe set identifiers. We enhanced the biological relevance of our microarray data by using a variety of curation approaches to increase the annotation of the Affymetrix GeneChip® Xenopus laevis Genome array. In addition, annotation analysis revealed the prevalence of inner ear transcripts represented by probe set identifiers that lack functional characterization. We identified an abundance of targets for genetic analysis of auditory and vestibular function. The orthologues to human genes with known inner ear function and the highly expressed transcripts that lack annotation are particularly interesting candidates for future analyses. We used informatics approaches to impart biologically relevant information to the Xenopus inner ear transcriptome, thereby addressing the impediment imposed by insufficient gene annotation. These findings heighten the relevance of Xenopus as a model organism for genetic investigations of inner ear organogenesis, morphogenesis, and regeneration.
Excise, Ablate or Observe: The Small Renal Mass Dilemma—A Meta-Analysis and Review

Purpose: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma is increasing due to the incidental detection of small renal masses. Resection, predominantly by nephron sparing surgery, remains the standard of care due to its durable oncological outcomes. Active surveillance and ablative technologies have emerged as alternatives to surgery in select patients. We performed a meta-analysis of published data evaluating nephron sparing surgery, cryoablation, radio frequency ablation and observation for small renal masses to define the current data.Materials and Methods: A MEDLINE® search was performed for clinically localized sporadic renal masses. Patient age, tumor size, duration of followup, available pathological data and oncological outcomes were evaluated.Results: A total of 99 studies representing 6,471 lesions were analyzed. Significant differences in mean patient age (p <0.001), tumor size (p <0.001) and followup duration (p <0.001) were detected among treatment modalities. The incidence of unknown/indeterminate path...
The Normative North and the Stigmatized South: Ideology and Methodology in the Perceptual Dialectology of California

As part of a larger perceptual dialectology study of linguistic diversity within California, this article focuses on a survey of Californians regarding the evaluation of language use within the state. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of two open-ended survey questions regarding where Californians “speak the best” and “speak the worst” reveals that Southern California is stigmatized by a majority of respondents as having the worst speech within the state and Northern California is valorized as having the best speech, due to the perceived differential access of speakers to educational opportunities. A small but socially significant “political correctness effect” also emerges, whereby some respondents indicate reluctance to evaluate others' linguistic varieties. The findings demonstrate both the need for greater attentiveness to ideological issues in research design and the importance of combining different theoretical and methodological traditions in the study of language ideologies and attitudes.
Genetic diversity and medicinal drug response in eye care

Individual variation in drug response and adverse drug reactions are a serious problem in medicine. This inter-individual variation in drug response could be due to multiple factors such as disease determinants, environmental and genetic factors. Much has been published in the literature in recent years about the potential of pharmacogenetic testing and individualized medicine. The development of personalized medicine is truly an exciting area of research. This pharmacogenetic concept in ophthalmology has existed for more than a century. Although substantial studies that link genetic variants to inter-individual difference in drug response have been reported in several diseases such as cancer and heart diseases, such studies are progressing slowly in the eye field. In this short article, an attempt has been made to summarize these results. Recently, there have been some small-scale studies that seem to associate the drug response to the genotype of patients in two major eye disorders, namely age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and glaucoma. These studies are still in their infancy, and do not suggest that a pharmacogenetic basis of drug development is a credible concept and can become reality in the future. This is because most drug responses involve a large number of genes that have several polymorphisms and it is unlikely that any one single gene dictates the drug response. Therefore, a polygenic approach, whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis and a molecular understanding of disease itself may provide a better insight in the future about genetic predisposing factors for adverse drug reactions.
Saving Venice: Engineering and ecology in the Venice lagoon

This paper describes some of the challenges of sustainability, and shows how they are manifested in coastal environments. It reviews the problems facing Venice and its lagoon, as a particularly interesting and complex example, and describes the technological, environmental, and scientific actions taken to address the problems of sustainability. Specifically, the actions and interdisciplinary research supporting management of the Venice lagoon environment are discussed, with a particular focus on the sediment. Conclusions are drawn regarding the integration of science, technology, and the environment, including the interactions of industry, the international scientific community, and governments.
Rate-optimal scheduling for cyclo-static and periodic schedules

In order to realize DSP applications on multiprocessor systems with the optimal throughput, the properties and efficient techniques need to be derived. Rate-optimal scheduling with minimum unfolding has been studied in the past for static schedules only. The scheduling models called cyclo-static and periodic schedules allow more flexibility in processor assignment. This paper derives the minimum unfolding factors required to achieve rate-optimal schedules for cyclo-static and periodic schedules. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of these schedules are also derived. From these results, it is shown that unfolding is necessary under these two models for certain data flow graphs to achieve rate-optimality. Furthermore, all the theorems are proved in a constructive way, in which an efficient shortest-path algorithm is used for scheduling.
Laser speckle effects on hard target differential absorption lidar

Reflection of laser light from a diffuse surface exhibits a complex interference pattern known as laser speckle. Measurement of the reflected intensity from remote targets, common to `hard-target' differential absorption lidar, requires consideration of the statistical properties of the reflected light. We have explored the effects of laser speckle on the noise statistics for CO 2 DIAL. For an ensemble of independent speckle patterns it is predicted that the variance for the measured intensity is inversely proportional to the number of speckle measured. We have used a rotating drum target to obtain a large number of independent speckle and have measured the predicted decrease in the variance after correlations due to system drifts were removed. Measurements have been made using both circular and linear polarized light. These measurements show a slight improvement in return signal statistics when circular polarization is used. We have conducted experiments at close range to isolate speckle phenomena from other phenomena, such as atmospheric turbulence and platform motion thus allowing us to gain a greater understanding of speckle issues. We have also studied how to remove correlation in the data caused by albedo inhomogenuties producing a more statistically independent ensemble of speckle patterns. We find that some types of correlation are difficult to remove from the data.
Late effects of chemotherapy compared to bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplasia

Background. As more pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) survive, comparison of the late effects of various therapies becomes increasingly important. This study of survivors of AML is the largest to date comparing the late effects of patients treated with chemotherapy (CT) with or without irradiation (RT) or CT followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Procedure. In a retrospective review of 228 patients with AML or MDS from 1970 to 1995, 62 survived and had follow-up data available more than 1 year following completion of therapy. Ten patients with Down syndrome were excluded. Twenty-six received CT and 26 underwent BMT. Weight and height Z scores, endocrine, ophthalmologic, renal, and cardiac function following CT ± RT or BMT ± total body irradiation (TBI) were compared at a mean follow-up of 7.4 and 5.6 years, respectively. Results. Both groups experienced a decrement in height and increase in weight. The mean height Z score in the CT group fell from -0.29 to -0.72 (P = 0.02) and mean weight Z score rose from -0.06 at diagnosis (T0) to 0.51 at last follow-up (T2) (P = 0.02), a finding no longer significant when patients who received RT were excluded. The mean height Z score in the BMT group fell from -0.17 at TO to -0.65 at T2 (P = 0.02), while the mean weight rose from 0.29 at T0 to 0.84 at T2, (P = 0.07). Six of 9 BMT adolescent girls experienced ovarian failure versus 0 of 1 girls treated with CT (P = 0.002). Seven adolescent CT males and seven BMT males showed normal pubertal progression. Two BMT patients require thyroid hormone supplementation, and one receives growth hormone. Six BMT patients and one CT patient developed cataracts, all of whom received irradiation (P = 0.10). Serum creatinine level, hypertension, or left ventricular shortening fraction were not different in the two groups. One BMT patient has chronic graft versus host disease. Conclusions. Growth, renal, and cardiac functions were similar in the two groups. The need for estrogen supplementation was more frequent following BMT. Recommendations concerning therapy for AML should depend on the probability of cure.
A Multimodal Tomography System Based on ECT Sensors

A new noninvasive system for multimodal electrical tomography based on electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) sensor hardware is proposed. Quasistatic electromagnetic fields are produced by ECT sensors and used for interrogating the sensing domain. The new system is noninvasive and based on capacitance measurements for permittivity and power balance measurements for conductivity (impedance) imaging. A dual sensitivity map of perturbations in permittivity and conductivity is constructed. The measured data along with the sensitivity matrix are used for the actual image reconstruction. The new multimodal tomography system has the advantage of using already established reconstruction techniques, and the potential for combination with new reconstruction techniques by taking advantage of combined conductivity/permittivity data. Moreover, it does not require direct contact between the sensor and the region of interest. The system performance has been tested on representative data, producing good results
Modeling the Spatiotemporal Evolution of a Nanodusty Plasma

Growth, charging, and transport of nanoparticles in a low-pressure RF plasma are studied by using a 1-D time-dependent numerical model. Images are presented, which show the spatiotemporal evolution of the nanoparticle size distribution function.
Anonymous E-prescriptions

This paper studies issues related to privacy protection of medical data, arguing that the topic is suitable for applied cryptographic research.We present the problem of medicine prescription privacy and describe a practical system that employs standard cryptographic techniques to achieve several improvements over current practices. We also introduce a very simple tool: Online group signatures which can be built via simple primitives implemented in commonly employed cryptographic libraries.
Uniqueness of minimal partial realizations

Two methods for determining whether all minimal partial realizations of a given finite sequence have isomorphic state spaces are described. In particular, uniqueness of the minimal polynomial of the minimal partial realizations is shown to be an equivalent condition.
SI Engine Control in the Cold-Fast-Idle Period for Low HC Emissions and Fast Catalyst Light Off

The engine and its exhaust flow behaviors are investigated in a turbo-charged gasoline direct injection engine under simulated cold-fast-idle condition. The metrics of interest are the exhaust sensible and chemical enthalpy flows, and the exhaust temperature, all of which affect catalyst light off time. The exhaust sensible enthalpy flow is mainly a function of combustion phasing; the exhaust chemical enthalpy flow is mainly a function of equivalence ratio. High sensible and chemical enthalpy flow with acceptable engine stability could be obtained with retarded combustion and enrichment. When split injection is employed with one early and one later and smaller fuel pulse, combustion retards with early secondary injection in the compression stroke but advances with late secondary injection. Comparing gasoline to E85, the latter produces a lower exhaust temperature because of charge cooling effect and because of a faster combustion.
Orthogonal code generator for 3G wireless transceivers

Orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) codes are standard in third generation UMTS cellular systems. The efficient generation of these codes is essential for reducing the area and power of wireless transceivers. In this paper, the basic properties of this family of codes are analyzed from an RTL perspective and two efficient hardware code generators are proposed. Tradeoffs and design solutions as well as low power considerations are discussed. These results represent the first reported implementation of an OVSF code generator.
Male Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Comparison With Female Breast Cancer

Purpose Because of its rarity, male breast cancer is often compared with female breast cancer. Patients and Methods To compare and contrast male and female breast cancers, we obtained case and population data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program for breast cancers diagnosed from 1973 through 2005. Standard descriptive epidemiology was supplemented with age-period-cohort models and breast cancer survival analyses. Results Of all breast cancers, men with breast cancer make up less than 1%. Male compared with female breast cancers occurred later in life with higher stage, lower grade, and more estrogen receptor–positive tumors. Recent breast cancer incidence and mortality rates declined over time for men and women, but these trends were greater for women than for men. Comparing patients diagnosed from 1996 through 2005 versus 1976 through 1985, and adjusting for age, stage, and grade, cause-specific hazard rates for breast cancer death declined by 28% among...
Use of A Public Telephone Hotline to Detect Urban Plague Cases

Summary Current methods for vector-borne disease surveillance are limited by time and cost. To avoid human infections from emerging zoonotic diseases, it is important that the United States develop cost-effective surveillance systems for these diseases. This study examines the methodology used in the surveillance of a plague epizootic involving tree squirrels (Sciurus niger) in Denver Colorado, during the summer of 2007. A call-in centre for the public to report dead squirrels was used to direct animal carcass sampling. Staff used these reports to collect squirrel carcasses for the analysis of Yersinia pestis infection. This sampling protocol was analysed at the census tract level using Poisson regression to determine the relationship between higher call volumes in a census tract and the risk of a carcass in that tract testing positive for plague. Over-sampling owing to call volume-directed collection was accounted for by including the number of animals collected as the denominator in the model. The risk of finding an additional plague-positive animal increased as the call volume per census tract increased. The risk in the census tracts with >3 calls a month was significantly higher than that with three or less calls in a month. For tracts with 4–5 calls, the relative risk (RR) of an additional plague-positive carcass was 10.08 (95% CI 5.46–18.61); for tracts with 6–8 calls, the RR = 5.20 (2.93–9.20); for tracts with 9–11 calls, the RR = 12.80 (5.85–28.03) and tracts with >11 calls had RR = 35.41 (18.60–67.40). Overall, the call-in centre directed sampling increased the probability of locating plague-infected carcasses in the known Denver epizootic. Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of this methodology at monitoring large-scale zoonotic disease occurrence in the absence of a recognized epizootic.