cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring developmental, psychiatric, and medical conditions among children in multiple populations of the United States.

ABSTRACT:Background:Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) often co-occur with other developmental, psychiatric, neurologic, or medical diagnoses.Objective:This study examined co-occurring non-ASD diagnoses and symptoms in a population-based cohort of 8 year olds identified with ASD.Method:Data on 2,568 c
Short and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Acute Liver Failure Due to Ischemic Hepatitis

Aims The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence and presenting features of patients with acute liver failure (ALF) due to ischemic hepatitis and the prognostic factors associated with short (three-week) and long-term outcomes.
Synthesis of phenyl O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranoside

Abstract phenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-3-O-[4,6-O-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-β- d -alactopyranosyl]-α- d -galactopyranoside (3) was prepared from phenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β- d -galactopyranosyl)-α- d -galactopyranoside by zemplen deacetylation, followed by reaction with p-methoxybenzaldehyde in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride. The selective benzoylation of 3 gave the 3′-benzoate which, on condensation with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α- l -fucopyranosyl bromide under catalysis by halide ion, afforded a crystalline trisaccharide from which the title trisaccharide was obtained by debenzoylation followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis.
Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth/Permeability Factor by Endometrial Glandular Epithelial and Stromal Cells in Baboons during the Menstrual Cycle and after Ovariectomy

Vascular endothelial growth/permeability factor (VEG/PF) has a crucial role in angiogenesis, and neovascularization is essential in preparing the uterine endometrium for implantation. However, the regulation of VEG/PF synthesis by particular cell types of the endometrium during the human menstrual cycle is not well understood. Therefore, in the present study the baboon was used as a nonhuman primate to determine the role of the ovary in vivo in endometrial VEG/PF expression. VEG/PF mRNA levels were quantified by competitive RT-PCR in whole uterine endometrium and in glandular epithelial and stromal cells isolated from the endometrium by laser capture microdissection of baboons during the normal menstrual cycle and after ovariectomy, which decreased serum estradiol and progesterone to undetectable levels. Mean (+/-SE) levels (attomoles per micrograms of total RNA) of the 323-bp VEG/PF mRNA product, which reflected collective expression of all VEG/PF isoforms, in whole endometrium were 785 and 727 +/- 158 during the mid and late follicular phases, respectively, and 1108 +/- 320 during the midcycle surge in serum estradiol. VEG/PF mRNA levels then declined briefly before increasing to 1029 +/- 365 attomoles/ micro g RNA during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. VEG/PF mRNA levels (attomoles per femtomole of 18S rRNA) were similar in glandular epithelial (2.27 +/- 1.11) and stromal (2.54 +/- 0.70) cells at the midcycle estradiol peak and the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle (2.34 +/- 1.30 and 1.49 +/- 0.53, respectively). Immunocytochemical expression of VEG/PF protein was abundant in glandular and luminal epithelium, stroma, and vascular endothelium. Endometrial vessel density and percent vascularized area, determined by morphometric image analysis, were similar during the various stages of the baboon menstrual cycle. After ovariectomy, VEG/PF mRNA levels (attomoles per femtomole of 18S rRNA) in the endometrial glands (0.52 +/- 0.21) and stroma (0.22 +/- 0.11) were decreased to values that were approximately 20% and 10% (P < 0.05), respectively, of those in intact baboons during the midcycle estrogen surge. Moreover, there was relatively little VEG/PF protein immunostaining in the endometrial glands, stroma, and vascular endothelium after ovariectomy. In summary, VEG/PF mRNA and protein expression in glandular epithelial and stromal cells were markedly suppressed after ovariectomy, indicating that synthesis of this angiogenic factor in these endometrial cells is dependent upon a product(s) secreted by the ovary. Moreover, endometrial VEG/PF expression remained relatively constant and thus was available as a component of the angiogenic system throughout the menstrual cycle, presumably to progressively promote vascular reconstruction of the endometrium.
Heterotrimeric G-proteins involved in the MeJA regulated ion flux and stomatal closure in Arabidopsis thaliana

Heterotrimeric G-proteins play an important role in plant signalling pathways. The plant hormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) can induce stomatal closure in many plant species. The signal cascade in MeJA-induced stomatal closure has been studied previously. However, the function of G proteins in this process has not yet been evaluated. In this study, the stomatal movement induced by MeJA in the wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana (L. Heynh.) (WS), Gα subunit loss-of-function mutant gpa1-1 and gpa1-2 guard cells were measured. Further, the transmembrane ion flux (H+, Ca2+ and K+) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) experiments were performed in guard cells from WS, GDP-β-S pre-treated WS, gpa1-1 and gpa1-2 using non-invasive micro-test technique (NMT) and confocal technique. It was observed that the MeJA-induced stomatal closure was abolished in guard cells of gpa1 mutants. GDP-β-S pre-treatment and gpa1 mutants impaired the MeJA-activated H+ efflux, Ca2+ influx and K+ efflux. The accumulation of ROS in gpa1-1 and gpa1-2 guard cells was also lower than that in WS guard cells under MeJA treatment. These results suggested that Gα subunits are involved in regulating the signal events in JA signal pathway and stomatal closure.
Electrochemical oxidation of some biologically-important purines. Relationshuip to biochemistry of purines☆

Abstract Uric acid is electrochemically oxidized at the pyrolytic graphite electrode in a primary 2 e−  2h+ process at the C4  C5 bond to give a readily reducible and highly reactive bis-imine. The latter can be detected as a cathodic peak by fast-sweep cyclic voltammetry. Complete hydration of the bis-imine gives uric acit—4.5—diol that breaks down to alloxan and urea at pH = I, allantoin and a small amount of urea at pH = 7, and at intermediate pH values mixtures of alloxan, allantoin, urea and occasionally traces of parabanic acid. Xanthine undergoes a r e−  4h+ oxidation that proceeds by two 2 e−  2H+ stages to give uric acid bis-imine. This then hydrates and fragments in the same way as described for uric acid. The electrochemical reactions are very similar to the biological oxidations of these compounds. Uric acid, xanthine and allopurinol are all strongly adsorbed at the pyrolytic graphite electrode. All three compounds exhibit competitive adsorption effects.
Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β-activated Kinase 1 Mimics and Mediates TGF-β-induced Stimulation of Type II Collagen Synthesis in Chondrocytes Independent of Col2a1 Transcription and Smad3 Signaling

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), and interleukin-1beta activate TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which lies upstream of the p38 MAPK, JNK, and NF-kappaB pathways. Our knowledge remains incomplete of TAK1 target genes, requirement for cooperative signaling, and capacity for shared or segregated ligand-dependent responses. We show that adenoviral overexpression of TAK1a in articular chondrocytes stimulated type II collagen protein synthesis 3-6-fold and mimicked the response to TGF-beta1 and BMP2. Both factors activated endogenous TAK1 and its activating protein, TAB1, and the collagen response was inhibited by dominant-negative TAK1a. Isoform-specific antibodies to TGF-beta blocked the response to endogenous and exogenous TGF-beta but not the response to TAK1a. Expression of Smad3 did not stimulate type II collagen synthesis or enhance that caused by TGF-beta1 or TAK1a, in contrast to its effects on its endogenous targets, CTGF and plasminogen-activated inhibitor-1. TAK1a, overexpressed alone and immunoprecipitated, phosphorylated MKK6 and stimulated the plasminogen-activated inhibitor-1 promoter following transient transfection; both effects were enhanced by TAB1 coexpression, but type II collagen synthesis was not. Stimulation by TAK1a or TGF-beta did not require increased Col2a1 mRNA, and TAK1 actually reduced Col2a1 mRNA in parallel with the cartilage markers, SRY-type HMG box 9 (Sox9) and aggrecan. Thus, TAK1 increased target gene expression (Col2a1) by translational or posttranslational mechanisms as a Smad3-independent response shared by TGF-beta1 and BMP2.
Nitrate photo-assimilation in tomato leaves under short-term exposure to elevated carbon dioxide and low oxygen

The role of photorespiration in the foliar assimilation of nitrate (NO3–) and carbon dioxide (CO2) was investigated by measuring net CO2 assimilation, net oxygen (O2) evolution, and chlorophyll fluorescence in tomato leaves (Lycopersicon esculentum). The plants were grown under ambient CO2 with ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) as the nitrogen source, and then exposed to a CO2 concentration of either 360 or 700 µmol mol−1, an O2 concentration of 21 or 2%, and either NO3– or NH4+ as the sole nitrogen source. The elevated CO2 concentration stimulated net CO2 assimilation under 21% O2 for both nitrogen treatments, but not under 2% O2. Under ambient CO2 and O2 conditions (i.e. 360 µmol mol−1 CO2, 21% O2), plants that received NO3– had 11–13% higher rates of net O2 evolution and electron transport rate (estimated from chlorophyll fluorescence) than plants that received NH4+. Differences in net O2 evolution and electron transport rate due to the nitrogen source were not observed at the elevated CO2 concentration for the 21% O2 treatment or at either CO2 level for the 2% O2 treatment. The assimilatory quotient (AQ) from gas exchange, the ratio of net CO2 assimilation to net O2 evolution, indicated more NO3– assimilation under ambient CO2 and O2 conditions than under the other treatments. When the AQ was derived from gross O2 evolution rates estimated from chlorophyll fluorescence, no differences could be detected between the nitrogen treatments. The results suggest that short-term exposure to elevated atmospheric CO2 decreases NO3– assimilation in tomato, and that photorespiration may help to support NO3– assimilation.
Differential expression of novel genes by bone marrow-derived macrophage populations

Abstract In the present study, we have constructed a subtraction cDNA library to identify novel genes induced by IFN-γ in GM-CSF-derived bone marrow macrophages (mo). Mo were treated with 50 U/ml IFN-γ for 40, 70 and 140 min to induce expression of early genes regulated by IFN-γ, and the mo were pooled. Poly(A)+RNA was prepared from both unactivated and IFN-γ-stimulated mo, and cDNA libraries were constructed in λZAP. Genes expressed in common by both mo populations were removed by subtraction using biotin-avidin precipitation of hybrid complexes. Further selection was performed by differential screening using cDNA prepared from mRNA of unactivated mo as a probe, followed by colony hybridization to remove sister clones. Of 17 clones from which sequence information was obtained, two appeared to be identical with the murine genes, C10 (clone GM2B1) and Mac-2 (clone GM2C4) and an additional two clones had high similarity to human cDNAs encoding proteins of unknown function. cDNAs containing sequences which did not match published sequences were used to probe Northern blots prepared from both unstimulated and IFN-γ-activated GM-CSF- and CSF-1-derived mo. Five clones (GM1A2, GM1B4, GM1F2, GM2A12 and GM2B8) showed enhanced transcript levels following IFN-γ treatment of GM-CSF-derived mo, but demonstrated high constitutive transcript levels in CSF-1-derived mo. In addition, C10 transcripts were constitutively expressed by GM-CSF-derived mo, but not by CSF-1-derived mo, even after activation by IFN-γ. These data suggest that much of the functional heterogeneity of GM-CSF- and CSF-1-derived mo resides in the differential expression of early genes specifically induced by IFN-γ.
On Dittmer's Popular Culture, Geopolitics, and Identity as a classroom resource

In this intervention, four geographers, all of whom have used Jason Dittmer's book, Popular Culture, Geopolitics, and Identity, in their classes, assess its status as a teaching resource. All have had considerable success using Dittmer's book, alongside other resources, to cultivate critical thinking and critical knowledge production in a wide range of classes.
Grouped variable model selection for heterogeneous medical signals

We explore statistical regression techniques for use in medical monitoring and telehealth applications. Medical embedded systems of the present and future are recording vast sets of data related to medical conditions and physiology. In this paper, distributed time-lag linear models are proposed as a means to help explain relationships between two or more medical and physiological measurements. The issues associated with performing multiple regression with heterogeneous medical data are treated as problems in model selection. An automatic method of model selection is proposed to construct models for high sample rate data by grouping sets of predictor variables.The grouped predictor variable model optimization problem is formalized. Once an initial regression is performed on all available variables, our approximate algorithm for finding the grouped variable model with the greatest validity runs in O(n2) time, where n is the number of available predictor variables. This is compared to the all subsets technique which requires O(2n) time for the same predictor set. In our experiments with medical signal data, we find that the method produces models with reasonable goodness of fit scores and high average confidence levels for grouped predictors.
Prevalence of pseudoischemic ST-segment changes during ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.

Abstract Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (AEM) is frequently used to record ST-segment changes suggesting transient myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. 1 AEM has also been used to assess the efficacy of antiischemic therapy. 2–6 The value of AEM for ischemia monitoring is dependent on the ST-segment changes detected being reliable markers for transient myocardial ischemia. Frequently, before AEM and exercise treadmill tests, technicians perform provocative maneuvers (i.e., position change, hyperventilation and Valsalva maneuver) to elicit ST-segment or T-wave changes that may interfere with electrocardiographic determinations of transient myocardial ischemia. Despite this practice, there are few studies examining the incidence of these electrocardiographic artifacts. One such study found that in subjects without cardiac disease, ST-segment depression or T-wave changes suggesting ischemia seldom occurred. 7 The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of these pseudoischemic ST-segment or T-wave changes in cardiac patients referred for AEM.
Cortisol resistant RPMI-1788 lymphocytes become sensitive to cortisol subsequent to a 24-h incubation period in medium containing purified human transcortin

RPMI-1788 lymphocytes (a human cell line) are resistant to cortisol in vitro. Prior incubation for a minimum of 24 h a medium which contains purified human transcortin at a concentration of 50 μg/ml renders these cells sensitive to the inhibitory action of cortisol as regards the synthesis of DNA. Only the transcortin-exposed cells contain a cortisol binding species whose sedimentation behavior in a sucrose gradient is identical to that of transcortin.
Influence of trapping at impurity atoms on diffusion annealing of metals after electron irradiation

Abstract A theory of correlated diffusion annealing is presented which takes into account the trapping of mobile interstitials at impurity atoms. Both the cases of three dimensional diffusion and one dimensional crowdion diffusion are considered. In the case of three dimensional diffusion the trapping can be approximately described by a ‘trapping constant’ in the diffusion equation of the interstitial. To derive this description from the general equations we have used the superposition approximation in which third order correlations are replaced by products of second order correlations. Comparison with experimental data of Sosin and Neely(1) on Au atoms in Cu seems to support the picture of three dimensional diffusion and yields a trapping volume around Au atoms in Cu of about 90 atomic volumes. But from the few data points available no definite conclusions can be drawn concerning the nature of interstitial migration at low temperature.
Variational principles of elasticity in terms of the polarization tensor

Abstract New variational principles for anisotropic and nonhomogeneous elasticity theory, in terms of the elastic polarization tensor, are derived by a straightforward method. Previous variational principles given by Hashin and Shtrikman [3] are rederived by a similar method and are generalized to take account of body forces and mixed boundary conditions.
Stereotype threat, identity salience, and spatial reasoning

Stereotype threat research provides insight into how the low standardized test scores of students from stigmatized social groups may derive in part from the negative performance expectations about these groups. Because these students belong to many social groups, one means of mitigating the threat is to remind them of their membership in groups for which there are positive performance expectations. We tested this hypothesis by priming different social identities among undergraduates prior to administering a standardized test of spatial reasoning, the Vandenberg Mental Rotation Test. We found that females who were primed to contemplate their identity as students at a selective private college performed better than those who were primed to contemplate their sex or a test-irrelevant identity. For males, priming their sex increased performance relative to the test-irrelevant or private college student primes. These results demonstrate the potential of reminding students of their achieved identities (e.g., private college student) in an effort to subdue evaluation apprehension created by negative stereotypes about their ascribed identities, such as being female in the case of spatial abilities.
Electronic states in early-late transition metal glasses: Application to Cu0.60Zr0.40

Abstract The electronic properties of amorphous Cu0.60Zr0.40 are studied within the two component muffin-tin EMA framework. We argue that an understanding of the photoemission spectrum of this system requires that short range order effects be incorporated in both the construction of the atomic potentials and the calculation of the average spectrum. However, we show that the essential features of the density of states can be understood on the basis of simpler calculations in which the glass is modeled as either a substitutional alloy or a liquid with just a single pair distribution function.
Topical antibiotic prophylaxis in intraocular injections.

reous injections found that the prevalenceofinfectiousendophthalmitiswasapproximately0.2%perinjection.Thisprevalenceisaboutthe same as the rate of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. 6 The available published data regarding endophthalmitis and intraocular injections are very limited. Despite the existence of numerous publications regarding endophthalmitisprophylaxisforintraocularsurgery, especially related to cataract surgery, the role of topical antibiotics in preventing endophthalmitis has remained a controversial subject.Giventhepaucityofdataonintraocular injections, the use of topical antibiotics to prevent infections is yet more controversial. Much of the argument for the use of antibiotics in preventing endophthalmitis following intravitreous injection is based on the scientific evidence available for anterior segmentintraocularsurgery.Evenwith thesepublisheddata,thereisnoconsensus on whether topical antibiotics should be used preoperatively. The purpose of the current article is to provide arguments “for” the use of antibiotics. Theargumentadvocatingtheuse of preoperative antibiotics is based
Comparison of methods for enumeration of interacting species in a biological system

Abstract Matrix rank analysis, a method extensively used to enumerate interacting species or components in various biological systems, has been compared with the more readily available technique of factor analysis. Data previously analyzed by matrix rank analysis has been subjected to factor analysis. The results show that there are some agreements and disagreements between the two methods. The sources and nature of the disagreements are discussed. Our work indicates that factor analysis may be preferable to matrix rank analysis.
Do Hospital attributes predict guideline-recommended gastric cancer care in the United States?

Hospital attributes have been shown to impact short- and long-term outcomes after cancer surgery. However, the effect of hospital attributes on processes of cancer care in terms of delivery of guideline recommended care has not been evaluated. We examined the impact of hospital attributes (volume and type) on guideline-recommended care in patients treated for gastric cancer. We identified patients who were surgically treated for gastric cancer at Commission on Cancer (CoC) hospitals from 2001 to 2006. Patient, tumor, and treatment factors were compared separately by hospital volume and type. Multivariable analyses were used to evaluate the impact of hospital attributes on delivery of guideline recommended gastric cancer care: adequate lymphadenectomy (≥15 lymph nodes), and adjuvant multimodality therapy (for AJCC Ib–IVM0), controlling for covariates. More than 1,490 CoC hospitals performed 37,124 gastrectomies. High-volume and teaching CoC hospitals were more likely to treat younger patients, non-whites, patients with lower AJCC stage, and to perform adequate lymphadenectomy than low-volume and community CoC hospitals (p ≤ 0.001). Hospital volume and type, however, were not associated with receipt of adjuvant multimodality therapy. These associations persisted in our multivariable analyses to show that CoC hospital attributes were associated with adequate lymphadenectomy, but marginally predictive of receipt of adjuvant multimodality therapy. The strong association between CoC hospital volume or type and guideline-recommended care diminishes after gastric cancer surgery. Variations in referral, insurance, and documentation patterns are potential explanations for these findings. These results highlight some limitations of using hospital attributes as a sole predictor of optimal cancer care.
A factorization algorithm to compute Pfaffians

Abstract We describe an explicit algorithm to factorize an even antisymmetric N 2 matrix into triangular and trivial factors. The construction resembles the Crout algorithm for LU factorization. It allows for a straight forward computation of Pfaffians (including their signs) at the cost of N 3 / 3 flops.
Rhetorics of Belonging: Nation, Narration, and Israel/Palestine

Alluding to the neglect of Palestine in postcolonial studies has by now become a pro forma rhetorical gesture intended to mark the originality and radicalism of the scores of related monographs, co...
Intergall migration in the aphid genus Pemphigus.

Aphids of the gall-forming species Pemphigus populitransversus (Hemiptera: Aphidae) exhibit surprising amounts of within-gall diversity for allozyme phenotypes. The patterns are inconsistent with meiotically produced variation. Lack of variation within galls wrapped in cloth bags indicates that the variation is the result of among-gall dispersal by immature aphids.
Performance evaluation of multiversion with the Oracle synchronization

In this paper we present a new analytical model for performance measurements of timestamp driven databases. The model is based on two-dimensional Poisson processes where one coordinate represents the real arrival time and the other the timestamp of an arriving messages. The notion of preemption is defined which serves as a model for synchronization. Preemption naturally implies such performance measures as response time and amount of abortion in the system. The concept of oracle is introduced which allows evaluation of a lower bound on the synchronization cost. Preemption and the oracle are then used to evaluate performance of the Multiversion synchronization. We present the distribution and the expectation of the synchronization cost. The analysis is then applied to a database with exponential communication delays (a) and the intensity of transaction l. It is shown that for Multiversion, this cost depends linearly on l/a and logarithmically on l.
Inhibition of creatinine phosphokinase as a possible mechanism for creatinuria produced by two toxic antibiotics, muconomycin A and B

Abstract Muconomycin A (M-A) and muconomycin B (M-B), two nonnitrogenous antibiotics derived from culture broths of Myrothecium verrucaria, possess unique structural features and high mammalian toxicity. The ld 50 in mice (i.p.) was found to be 0.50 to 0.75 mg/kg for both antibiotics. M-A induced a severe creatinuria in rats, and this effect was attenuated by pre-administration of vitamin E. Both antibiotics were found to inhibit creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in vitro; I50 values were 29.8 × 10−4 M for M-A and 7.0 × 10−4 M for M-B. CPK was then assayed, at various concentrations of substrate, with M-A. A Hunter-Downs plot of the data showed that M-A was a noncompetitive inhibitor of CPK; the Ki was 3.5 × 10−4 M. It is suggested that the high toxicity of these antibiotics, as well as their ability to cause creatinuria, may be related to their inhibitory effect on CPK.
Isosurface Extraction and View-Dependent Filtering from Time-Varying Fields Using Persistent Time-Octree (PTOT)

We develop a new algorithm for isosurface extraction and view-dependent filtering from large time-varying fields, by using a novel persistent time-octree (PTOT) indexing structure. Previously, the persistent octree (POT) was proposed to perform isosurface extraction and view-dependent filtering, which combines the advantages of the interval tree (for optimal searches of active cells) and of the branch-on-need octree (BONO, for view-dependent filtering), but it only works for steady-state(i.e., single time step) data. For time-varying fields, a 4D version of POT, 4D-POT, was proposed for 4D isocontour slicing, where slicing on the time domain gives all active cells in the queried timestep and isovalue. However, such slicing is not output sensitive and thus the searching is sub-optimal. Moreover, it was not known how to support view-dependent filtering in addition to time-domain slicing.In this paper, we develop a novel persistent time-octree (PTOT) indexing structure, which has the advantages of POT and performs 4D isocontour slicing on the time domain with an output-sensitive and optimal searching. In addition, when we query the same iso value q over m consecutive time steps, there is no additional searching overhead (except for reporting the additional active cells) compared to querying just the first time step. Such searching performance for finding active cells is asymptotically optimal, with asymptotically optimal space and preprocessing time as well. Moreover, our PTOT supports view-dependent filtering in addition to time-domain slicing. We propose a simple and effective out-of-core scheme, where we integrate our PTOT with implicit occluders, batched occlusion queries and batched CUDA computing tasks, so that we can greatly reduce the I/O cost as well as increase the amount of data being concurrently computed in GPU.This results in an efficient algorithm for isosurface extraction with view-dependent filtering utilizing a state-of-the-art programmable GPU for time-varying fields larger than main memory. Our experiments on datasets as large as 192 GB (with 4 GB per time step) having no more than 870 MB of memory footprint in both preprocessing and run-time phases demonstrate the efficacy of our new technique.
Pattern-Based Analysis of an Embedded Real-Time System Architecture

The emerging Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Architecture Analysis & Design Language (AADL) standard is an architecture modeling language for real-time, fault-tolerant, scalable, embedded, multiprocessor systems. It enables the development and predictable integration of highly evolvable systems as well as analysis of existing systems. This paper discusses the role and benefits of using the AADL in the process of analyzing an existing avionics system. We use the AADL to describe architecture patterns in the system being analyzed and to identify potentially systemic issues in the system. We discuss some of the findings related to timing, scheduling, and fault tolerance and the benefits of the use of the AADL. Additionally we highlight the benefits of working with architecture abstractions that are reflected in the AADL notation, in particular the separation of architecture design decisions from implementation decisions. Such a light-weight architecture analysis is typically followed by a full-scale AADL model of the system with required and actual timing, performance, and reliability figures, and its analysis to determine whether the requirements are met.
Influence of dietary phosphorus and sulphaguanidine levels on P utilization in rats

1. The effects of dietary phosphorus and sulphaguanidine levels, and sex differences on: (a) phytate digestibility, (b) calcium and P utilization, (c) the activities of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alkaline phytase (EC 3.1.3.8) and acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) in the intestinal mucosa of male and female rats were investigated.2. There was a linear increase in femur ash, Ca and P contents and the maximum force withstood by the fresh femurs as dietary P level was increased from 1.5 to 3.0 to 4.5 g/kg diet.3. The apparent digestibilities of Ca, P and phytate-P decreased as the level of P in the diet increased. Rats given the diets with 1.5 or 3.0 g P/kg were hypercalciuric and hypophosphaturic compared with rats receiving 4.5 g P/kg diet.4. The level of Ca retained was similar for all treatments. The level of P retained increased as the dietary P level increased. This suggests that P deprivation was a result of inadequate amounts of P retained and not due to the absorption of inositol phosphates formed during the enzymic hydrolysis of phytate.5. The addition of sulphaguanidine increased phytate digestibility without changing the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase or alkaline phytase of the intestinal mucosa. This suggests that these enzymes did not play a role in the increase in phytate digestibility. However, dietary sulphaguanidine enhanced phytate digestibility, suggesting that alterations in the diet which modify either the composition or metabolism of the gastrointestinal microflora may be beneficial in enhancing the in vivo hydrolysis of phytate.6. Differences between males and females are reported and discussed.
Deriving predicate statistics in datalog

Database query optimizers rely on data statistics in selecting query execution plans. Similar query optimization techniques are desirable for deductive databases and, to make this happen, we need to be able to collect data statistics for Datalog predicates. The difficulty is, however, that Datalog predicates can be recursive. In this paper, we propose an algorithm, called SDP, that estimates Datalog query sizes efficiently by maintaining the statistical dependency information for derived predicates. Base predicate statistics are computed and summarized using dependency matrices, and derived predicate statistics are computed by evaluating rules in an abstract way with rule bodies replaced with algebraic expressions over the dependency matrices. Recursive rules are handled by a fixed point evaluation. Our experimental study validates that: 1) SDP produces better query size estimates than using base predicate statistics and propagating them to derived predicates using the argument independence assumption; 2) the estimates largely preserve the relative order of real query sizes and thus can be used to guide cost based query optimizers.
Approximate Policy Iteration for Markov Control Revisited

Q-Learning is based on value iteration and remains the most popular choice for solving Markov Decision Problems (MDPs) via reinforcement learning (RL), where the goal is to bypass the transition probabilities of the MDP. Approximate policy iteration (API) is another RL technique, not as widely used as Q-Learning, based on modified policy iteration. In this paper, we present and analyze an API algorithm for discounted reward based on (i) a classical temporal differences update for policy evaluation and (ii) simulation-based mean estimation for policy improvement. Further, we analyze for convergence API algorithms based on Q-factors for (i) discounted reward and (ii) for average reward MDPs. The average reward algorithm is based on relative value iteration; we also present results from some numerical experiments with it.
A Fuzzy Systematic Approach to Construction Risk Analysis

This article emphasizes the need for a fuzzy systematic structural approach to the risk assessment of construction projects and introduces the processes required to form a hierarchical systematic structure based on fuzzy logic using the Fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (Fuzzy DEMATEL) method. In this research, for the first time, the fuzzy DEMATEL method has been successfully applied to the risk assessment of the Persian Gulf Bridge megaproject, connecting Qeshm Island, located in the high risk Strait of Hormuz, to the mainland of Iran, and produced logical results. In this case study, forty-five major risks, classified in ten groups of risks, were found, analyzed, and structured within a systematic hierarchical model. The final causal hierarchical structure of risks has been briefly analyzed and the risks have been prioritized with respect to their values of prominence in the model and their influence on the structure of risk factors. A result of this analysis confirms that country risks, including the state economy and multinational sanctions against the country are the most important risks affecting the project. Another result shows that the most destructive risk can arise from the planning and budgeting of the Sea Bridge project.
Multiple gastric red spots, capillary ectasia, hypergastrinemia and hypopepsinogenemia I in cirrhosis: a new syndrome?

To characterize bleeding from gastric red spots in patients with cirrhosis, three groups of patients were studied: (a) 11 cirrhotic patients bleeding from gastric red spots, (b) 18 nonbleeding cirrhotic patients without gastric red spots, and (c) 13 non-cirrhotic patients with endoscopic normal mucosa (controls). Histologic examination of antral biopsy specimens revealed a diffuse capillary ectasia without inflammation in 8 of the 11 cirrhotic patients with gastric lesions. Morphometric analysis disclosed a significantly greater mean mucosal capillary cross-sectional area in cirrhotic patients with gastric lesions (mean ± SE, 1371 ± 320 μm2) than in those without gastric lesions (541 ± 61 μm2) (p < 0.005) or controls (353 ± 20 μm2) (p < 0.001). Hypergastrinemia was detected in 8 of the 11 cirrhotic patients with lesions, in 2 of the 18 cirrhotic patients without gastric lesions, and in none of the controls (p < 0.001). Gastrin serum levels correlated significantly (r = 0.80) with mean mucosal capillary cross-sectional area in patients with cirrhosis. Pepsinogen I serum levels below 20 ng/ml were observed in 7 of the 11 cirrhotic patients with lesions, in 1 of the 18 cirrhotic patients without lesions, and in none of the controls. These data indicate that bleeding from gastric red spots in patients with cirrhosis is a distinct entity characterized by vascular ectasia of the gastric mucosa. This condition seems to be associated with hypergastrinemia and low serum levels of pepsinogen I.
Topology and Boundaries of the Aerotaxis Receptor Aer in the Membrane of Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli chemoreceptors are type I membrane receptors that have a periplasmic sensing domain, a cytosolic signaling domain, and two transmembrane segments. The aerotaxis receptor, Aer, is different in that both its sensing and signaling regions are proposed to be cytosolic. This receptor has a 38-residue hydrophobic segment that is thought to form a membrane anchor. Most transmembrane prediction programs predict a single transmembrane-spanning segment, but such a topology is inconsistent with recent studies indicating that there is direct communication between the membrane flanking PAS and HAMP domains. We studied the overall topology and membrane boundaries of the Aer membrane anchor by a cysteine-scanning approach. The proximity of 48 cognate cysteine replacements in Aer dimers was determined in vivo by measuring the rate and extent of disulfide cross-linking after adding the oxidant copper phenanthroline, both at room temperature and to decrease lateral diffusion in the membrane, at 4°C. Membrane boundaries were identified in membrane vesicles using 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein and methoxy polyethylene glycol 5000 (mPEG). To map periplasmic residues, accessible cysteines were blocked in whole cells by pretreatment with 4-acetamido-4′-maleimidylstilbene-2, 2′ disulfonic acid before the cells were lysed in the presence of mPEG. The data were consistent with two membrane-spanning segments, separated by a short periplasmic loop. Although the membrane anchor contains a central proline residue that reaches the periplasm, its position was permissive to several amino acid and peptide replacements.
Interleukin-13 Upregulates Vasodilatory 15-Lipoxygenase Eicosanoids in Rabbit Aorta

Objective— Vasorelaxation of rabbit aorta is mediated by factors released from the vascular endothelium. In the aortic endothelium, arachidonic acid (AA) is metabolized via the 15-lipoxygenase pathway to the vasodilatory compounds 11,12,15-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (THETA) and 15-hydroxy-11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (HEETA). Interleukin-13 (IL-13) increases 15-lipoxygenase expression and activity in several types of cells. We tested the hypothesis that IL-13 upregulates the 15-lipoxygenase pathway in rabbit aorta by inducing 15-lipoxygenase expression, thus increasing vascular relaxation mediated by THETA and HEETA. Methods and Results— Aorta rings and cultured endothelial cells were treated with IL-13, and 15-lipoxygenase expression was analyzed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. 15-Lipoxygenase expression was increased by IL-13 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Aortic rings were incubated with [14C]AA, and the metabolites were extracted and resolved...
LOTIS: GRB follow-up observations at early times

LOTIS is an automated wide field-of-view telescope system capable of responding to GRB events as early as 10s after a trigger from the GCN which rapidly distributes coordinates from the Beppo/SAX, BATSE and RXTE instruments. Measurements of optical activity at these early times will provide important clues to the GRB production mechanism. In over two year's of operation, LOTIS has responded to 40 GCN triggers including GRB971217 with l10s and GRB980703 within 5 hours. We report results from these events and constraints on simultaneous optical signals during these GRB's.
Predictors of Operative Mortality in Critical Valvular Aortic Stenosis Presenting in Infancy

Abstract Congenital aortic stenosis presenting within the first 6 months of life is a highly lethal anomaly. Although aortic valvotomy has offered excellent palliation in many instances, the operative risk remains substantial. To better understand the factors associated with a poor operative result, the records of all patients less than 6 months of age undergoing aortic valvotomy at our institution from 1972 through 1986 were analyzed. Nineteen patients (58%) (Group I) survived operation; 14 (42%) (Group II) died. The following variables were analyzed in an attempt to define those with prognostic significance: mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), left ventricular (LV) peak systolic pressure, LV end-diastolic pressure, peak systolic aortic valve gradient, LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LV ejection fraction, and age at operation. The only variables that were significantly different in the two groups were mean PA (Group I, 29 ± 3 mm Hg, and Group II, 54 ± 3 mm Hg; p 2 , and Group II, 20 ± 4 ml/m 2 ; p 2 or less survived operation. We conclude that small LV dimension and elevation of PAP may be predictive of a poor surgical result in patients with severe aortic stenosis presenting in infancy.
Utility of fluorescence microscopy in embryonic/fetal topographical analysis

For topographical analysis of developing embryos, investigators typically rely on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to provide the surface detail not attainable with light microscopy. SEM is an expensive and time-consuming technique, however, and the preparation procedure may alter morphology and leave the specimen friable. We report that by using a high-resolution compound epifluorescence microscope with inexpensive low-power objectives and the fluorochrome acridine orange, we were able to obtain surface images of fixed or fresh whole rat embryos and fetal palates of considerably greater topographical detail than those obtained using routine light microscopy. Indeed the resulting high-resolution images afford not only superior qualitative documentation of morphological observations, but the capability for detailed morphometry via digitization and computer-assisted image analysis.
Platelet Function Assays—Not All Are Created Equal

Platelet function testing has undergone major changes in the last decade. In the past, these tests were primarily used to diagnose hereditary bleeding disorders, typically using a platelet aggregation assay. Although diagnosis of bleeding disorders is still important, measuring platelet function to monitor platelet inhibitor therapy has become the more common reason for ordering this type of testing. This has also led to a variety of new platelet function assays designed to assist platelet inhibitor monitoring. It is now clear that many patients show resistance to platelet inhibitor therapy. These patients show less platelet inhibition than expected for a given dose of medication, and an increased risk of thrombosis. The most common forms of resistance are related to clopidogrel and aspirin therapy. Several different resistance mechanisms have been described, but the most common is reduced metabolism of clopidogrel to its active form, leading to inadequate platelet inhibition. Reduced absorption of medications and receptor polymorphisms leading to reduced binding and inhibition by these drugs has also been reported. Two approaches have been taken to assess …
Learn about effective proposal writing via the review process (abstract only)

This interactive workshop focuses on the National Science Foundation grant proposal review process. By a close examination of the review process, participants gain an understanding of how to write good reviews and how to improve their own proposal writing. The topics for the workshop include: the proposal review process from submission to award or decline; elements of a good review; NSF merit criteria (intellectual merit and broader impacts); elements of good proposals; the format of the typical review panel process; how to volunteer to review.The workshop uses a structured guided-interactive approach to lead participants through each topic by introducing related issues, engaging participants in group exercises designed to explore and share their understanding of the issues, and then providing some expert opinion on these issues.Faculty members who wish to better understand the NSF review process or seek funding in support of undergraduate computing education are encouraged to attend. Participants will include novice proposal writers and those with more experience who seek to improve their proposal writing or reviewing skills.
A self-steering array using power detection and phase shifting

A half-duplex self-steering array using power detection and phase shifting is presented. The system combines a phase-shifting array and an RF power-tracking control circuit to autonomously steer its beam toward the peak-power direction. Retrodirectivity is reported for angles of 0Ð, −15Ð, −30Ð, and +45Ð at a transmitting frequency of 6.5 GHz.
Agency Leaders, Gendered Institutions, and Representative Bureaucracy

This study examines three central questions: Do women state agency heads establish priorities that advance women’s interests more frequently than men agency heads? Among state agency heads with women-related top priorities, are there systematic differences between women and men in the influences on their priority choices? Do the organizational and political contexts in which agency leaders work explain variation in policy priorities? Analysis of data from a national survey of women and men department heads reveals that working in a redistributive agency affects whether a leader pursues a women-centered policy agenda, regardless of the leader’s gender, other personal characteristics, or reported influences on priority choice. The authors conclude that the way representative bureaucracy actually plays out can be more fully understood if the tenets of social science theory on gendered institutions are incorporated into analyses of how representative bureaucracy works. Scholars have wrestled with the theoretical complexities of representative bureaucracy for decades. In the last 35 years, a number of public administration and political science researchers in the United States have invested significant effort in this enterprise (Mosher 1968; Krislov 1974; Meier and Nigro 1976; Thompson 1976; Rosenbloom and Featherstonhaugh 1977; Saltzstein 1979; Reh
A geostatistical analysis of small-scale spatial variability in bacterial abundance and community structure in salt marsh creek bank sediments

Small-scale variations in bacterial abundance and community structure were examined in salt marsh sediments from Virginia's eastern shore. Samples were collected at 5 cm intervals (horizontally) along a 50 cm elevation gradient, over a 215 cm horizontal transect. For each sample, bacterial abundance was determined using acridine orange direct counts and community structure was analyzed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting of whole-community DNA extracts. A geostatistical analysis was used to determine the degree of spatial autocorrelation among the samples, for each variable and each direction (horizontal and vertical). The proportion of variance in bacterial abundance that could be accounted for by the spatial model was quite high (vertical: 60%, horizontal: 73%); significant autocorrelation was found among samples separated by 25 cm in the vertical direction and up to 115 cm horizontally. In contrast, most of the variability in community structure was not accounted for by simply considering the spatial separation of samples (vertical: 11%, horizontal: 22%), and must reflect variability from other parameters (e.g., variation at other spatial scales, experimental error, or environmental heterogeneity). Microbial community patch size based upon overall similarity in community structure varied between 17 cm (vertical) and 35 cm (horizontal). Overall, variability due to horizontal position (distance from the creek bank) was much smaller than that due to vertical position (elevation) for both community properties assayed. This suggests that processes more correlated with elevation (e.g., drainage and redox potential) vary at a smaller scale (therefore producing smaller patch sizes) than processes controlled by distance from the creek bank.