cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective Power Allocation Using for Transmit Source In MIMO Relay Communication

The Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems using relays are of interest for high-speed radio communication systems. Currently, most of the articles are interested in the model of three nodes with purposes such as increasing the channel capacities (mutual information) or reducing the minimum mean square of error. This paper extends to more than one relay and is concerned with the maximum channel capacity. It is assumed that the channel matrices between source and relay as well as relay and receiver are random matrices; the relay precoders are also assumed to be random and known at the receiver. The article proposes that the Lagrange multiplier finding algorithm using the Newton – Raphson optimization method is more straightforward than the traditional finding algorithm using the first and second derivatives but still gives a higher channel capacity.
Insulation variability: A general equation for strength distribution curves

Abstract The equation developed here is fundamental for an understanding of the behavior of inhomogeneous insulation, especially when the insulating material is of considerable extent in the form of continuous flat sheets, or cables, or discontinuous form as in pole-line construction. The “unit” may then be measured in terms of area in the case of sheets, and in terms of length in the case of cables. It is of basic importance in insulation research, testing, and operation. It furnishes the logical basis for the establishing of safety factors.
An overview of genomics research and its impact on livestock reproduction

The amount of information currently available about the genomes of many livestock species, especially cattle and pigs, has increased dramatically in the past few years and the rate of its accumulation will continue to increase. A large number of scientific 'tools' is currently available for research aimed at understanding biological processes important to livestock production. These resources are being used to understand biological processes regulating reproduction, body composition and immune function in all livestock species. This research will create many opportunities to develop new tools for the improvement of livestock production. The best commercial application of genomics is in conjunction with reproductive enhancing technologies, such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer and cloning.
Design and analysis of a grouped sweeping scheme for multimedia storage management

This paper presents an efficient grouped sweeping scheme (GSS) for disk scheduling to support multimedia applications. The GSS scheme provides a formulation for balancing the two conflicting requirements: on the one hand we want to reduce the amount of seek delay, while on the other hand the worst case bound on the time between two consecutive services to the same request stream needs to be minimized. The GSS approach leads to a general formulation covering a family of disk scheduling schemes. Two previously proposed approaches, a fixed order round-robin scheme and a more sophisticated elevator type scheme, are special cases of the GSS formulation. Our analysis shows that by properly setting the grouping factor the optimized GSS scheme can lead to substantially lower buffer requirement, particularly when compared with that of the round-robin scheme. We develop an efficient procedure to determine the optimum value of the grouping factor. We also incorporate the effect of disk arrays in the GSS formulation and discuss how GSS can be used in dynamic settings such as to provide interactive service in an integrated media environment.
Resting beta hypersynchrony in secondary dystonia and its suppression during pallidal deep brain stimulation in DYT3+ Lubag dystonia.

Objectives 1) To characterize patterns of globus pallidus interna neural synchrony in patients with secondary dystonia; 2) to determine whether neural hypersynchrony in the globus pallidus externa (GPe) and interna (GPi) is attenuated during high frequency deep brain stimulation (HF DBS) in a patient with DYT3+ dystonia and in a patient with secondary dystonia due to childhood encephalitis. Materials and Methods We recorded local field potentials from the DBS lead in the GPi of four patients (seven hemispheres) with secondary dystonia and from one patient (two hemispheres) with primary DYT3+ dystonia. In two patients, we also recorded pallidal local field potentials during the administration of 10 sec epochs of HF DBS. Results Power spectral densities during rest demonstrated visible peaks in the beta band in seven out of nine cases. In DYT3+ dystonia, power in the alpha and beta bands, but not theta band, was attenuated during HF DBS in the GPe and in GPi, and attenuation was most prominent in the high beta band. This patient demonstrated an early and maintained improvement in dystonia. There was no beta peak and the power spectrum was not attenuated during HF DBS in a patient with secondary dystonia due to childhood encephalitis. Conclusions These results suggest that beta hypersynchrony, demonstrated now in both primary and secondary dystonia, may play a pathophysiological role in pathological hyperkinesis. Further investigation is needed in a larger cohort of well-characterized primary and secondary dystonia patients.
Problems in characterizing barrier performance

The barrier is a synchronization construct which is useful in separating a parallel program into parallel sections which are executed in sequence. The completion of a barrier requires cooperation among all executing processes. This requirement not only introduces the wait for the slowest process delay which is inherent in the definition of the synchronization, but also has implications for the efficient implementation and measurement of barrier performance in different systems. Types of barrier implementation and their relationship to different multiprocessor environments are described. Then the problem of measuring the performance of barrier implementations on specific machine architecture is discussed. The fact that the barrier synchronization requires the cooperation of all processes makes the problem of performance measurement similarly global. Making non-intrusive measurements of sufficient accuracy can be tricky on systems offering only rudimentary measurement tools.
Conscientiousness in the classroom: a process explanation.

Although the research literature has established that Conscientiousness predicts task performance across a variety of achievement contexts (e.g., Barrick & Mount, 1991; O'Connor & Paunonen, 2007), comparatively less is known about the processes that underlie these relations. To the latter end, the current research examines effortful strategies and achievement goals as mediating factors that might explain why people with higher levels of Conscientiousness are predicted to reach higher levels of academic performance. In a longitudinal study, 347 college students completed measures of personality and achievement goals at the beginning of the class, followed by measures of effortful strategies multiple times throughout the semester. Results support the hypothesis that effortful strategies mediate the association between Conscientiousness and academic performance. Moreover, the statistical effects of Conscientiousness were generally independent of achievement goals, but a small portion of the effect was mediated through approach, but not avoidance, achievement goals. These results highlight the importance of examining mediating processes between personality and outcomes, and in the case of Conscientiousness, our results suggest that effortful strategies might serve as a useful target for performance-enhancing interventions.
Differential profiling of human red blood cells during storage for 52 selected microRNAs

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), the negative regulators of cellular mRNAs, are present in mature red blood cells (RBCs) in abundance relative to other blood cells. So far, there are no studies aimed at identifying large-scale miRNA profiles during storage of RBCs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RNA samples from each RBC bag stored at 4°C were collected on Days 0, 20, and 40 and subjected to miRNA profiling by using a membrane-based array. Fifty-two selected miRNAs of cellular apoptotic pathway represent the array. Through bioinformatics analyses, we identified potential target genes for selected miRNAs. RESULTS: Differential profiling of RBCs for 52 miRNAs revealed two distinguishable patterns during storage: Forty-eight miRNAs demonstrated no trend at all, while four miRNAs, miR-96, miR-150, miR-196a, and miR-197, demonstrated an increase up to Day 20 and subsequently decreased during storage. We selected miR-96 and subjected it to standard bioinformatics analyses for target gene predictions, which identified several mRNAs including the RBC proapoptotic calpain small subunit-1 (CAPNS1) as potential targets of miR-96. To validate these predictions, we selected CAPNS1 mRNA as an example and confirmed its presence in the RBCs. Future experimental verification would help define miR-96–CAPNS1 interaction, if any, in the stored RBCs. CONCLUSIONS: This study for the first time provided a differential profile of stored RBCs for selected miRNAs related to cellular apoptotic pathway and opened new avenues toward identification of novel in vitro RBC biomarkers of storage lesions. Future studies focusing on target gene-miRNA interactions in stored RBCs would also unravel underlying mechanisms of storage lesions.
Adult Adjustment among High School Graduates with Mild Disabilities

This study investigated the adult adjustment of a statewide random sample of 737 young adults with learning disabilities, 59 labeled behaviorally disordered, and 142 labeled mentally disabled, all graduates of special education resource teacher programs. Results are reported in terms of (a) general status information, such as marital status and living arrangements; (b) information about those competitively employed, such as wages, hours worked per week, and percentage of living expenses paid; and (c) comparison of competitively employed versus unemployed individuals, in terms of high school vocational training and work experiences. Information is also provided on postsecondary education and overall “successful” adult adjustment. Data are compared across disability groups and across gender, where relevant.
Hydrodynamic resettability for a microfluidic particulate-based arraying system

Precision hydrodynamic controls of microparticles (e.g., microbeads and cells) are critical to diverse lab-on-a-chip applications. Microfluidic particulate-based arraying techniques are widely used; however, achieving full microarray resettability without sacrificing trapping performance has remained a significant challenge. Here we present a single-layer hydrodynamic methodology for releasing high numbers of microparticles after a microfluidic arraying process. Experiments with suspended streptavidin-coated polystyrene microbeads (15 μm in diameter) revealed resetting efficiencies of 100%, with trapping and loading efficiencies of 99% and 99.8%, respectively. Experiments with suspended endothelial cells (13–17 μm in diameter) revealed trapping efficiencies of 65% and 93% corresponding to arraying of one cell or at least one cell per trap, respectively, with loading efficiencies of 78%. Full cell-based resettability was also observed, with the caveat that reagents that promote cellular detachment from the substrate were required. The presented resettable microarray could be readily integrated into bead-based or cell-based microfluidic platforms to enable: (i) the retrieval of high numbers of microparticles (e.g., for subsequent analyses and/or use in additional experiments), and (ii) microarray reusability.
Moth visual potentials in response to middle UV-radiation.

Das dunkeladaptierte Facettenauge vom NachtschmetterlingManduca sexta wurde mit UV-Licht mittlerer Wellenlange (2700–3100 A) bei niedriger Intensitat bestrahlt. Der photorezeptorische Anteil des ERGs war vermindert oder verschwunden, aber nachsynaptische Wirkungen wurden beobachtet. Impulsaktivitaten wurden bei einem hauptsachlich efferenten Flugmuskelnerv ausgelost, wenn das kontralaterale Auge beleuchtet wurde.
Potassium current oscillations across the rabbit lens epithelium.

Rabbit lenses expressing spontaneous oscillations in translens short-circuit current (Isc) are obtained somewhat frequently, with this phenomenon observed in approximately 30% of isolated lenses as described earlier (Exp. Eye Res. 61, 129-140, 1995). Since pharmacological protocols to consistently elicit Isc oscillations were not found, characterizations of the underlying transport processes have been limited to the application of various inhibitors on the spontaneous phenomenon. The present report extends the initial observations by confirming that oscillations are immediately inhibited upon the anterior addition of the Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine (10 microM), and by demonstrating that other treatments which should affect epithelial Ca2+ homeostasis are also inhibitory (e.g., Bay K 8644 (10 microM), diltiazem (10 microM), EGTA (2 mm), and Ca2+-free media). Furthermore, Isc oscillations are immediately inhibited by the K+ channel blocker, Ba2+, but not by the Na+-K+ pump inhibitor, ouabain. The intracellular Ca2+ mobilizing agents thapsigargin (0.1 microM) or acetylcholine (1 microM) modified but did not permanently inhibit the oscillations, confirming earlier observations. At 50 microM, however, acetylcholine addition was inhibitory, but reversible, for oscillations restarted upon its subsequent removal. In addition, lens oscillations were also characterized under open-circuit conditions with microelectrodes inserted in the superficial cells near the equator of lenses isolated in a divided chamber. The potential difference (PD) across each lens face was recorded, as was the translens PD (PDt), which equals the difference between the PDs across each lens surface. Oscillations in PDt were obtained in 7 of 26 lenses. The oscillations arose only from an oscillation in the PD across the anterior face (PDa). While PDa and PDt oscillated with the same amplitude (approximately 12 mV) and period (approximately 70 sec), the PD across the posterior surface remained stable. During these oscillations the conductance of the anterior surface was maximal at the most positive voltage of the anterior bath with respect to the lens interior (46 mV), whereas, minimal conductance occurred at the least positive PDa (34 mV). Overall, these observations are consistent with the likely presence of voltage-operated Ca2+ channels in parallel with various Ca2+-sensitive K+ channels in the epithelial basolateral membrane. A model to explain the oscillatory pattern across the anterior face while the PD across the posterior face remains unaltered is presented.
An Experiment to Determine Nose Tip Transition with Fluctuating Pressure Measurements

Theme A accurate assessment of the altitude at which nose tip boundary-layer transition onset occurs is required to design and evaluate the heat protection system of high performance re-entry vehicles. Theoretical approaches to the transition phenomena are lacking, consequently the re-entry vehicle designer has relied almost exclusively on experimental data. Although transition onset has been determined on the frustum of R/V's in both ground and flight test experiments, and nose tip transition has been obtained and detected in ground tests with thermal instrumentation, there is a noticeable lack of transition detection techniques based on pressure measurements for the nose tip region. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an exploratory ground test program to assess possible flight pressure instrumentation concepts to detect nose tip transition for full scale R/V flight test applications. l Specific ground test objectives were: a) to determine the feasibility of detecting nose tip transition by fluctuating pressure measurements using a miniaturized solid-state pressure transducer, and b) to demonstrate that the solid-state pressure sensor can make both steady-state and fluctuating pressure measurements simultaneously in a wind tunnel test for possible flight test application. Simultaneous fluctuating and steady-state pressure measurements were made and transition could be detected on the nose tip frustum 3.3 nose radii aft of the stagnation point. Transition onset was not detected at more forward stations possibly due to a porous nose.
Theory and test of commercially available wolter phaseplate for use in schlieren optical systems employed in ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis

Abstract An inexpensive practical phaseplate available commercially is described. Illustrations are given of its use in electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation equipments as a schlieren diaphragm—the operational heart of the schlieren optical system. Practically the use of the phaseplate is warranted when a. high magnification angles are used b. the refractive index gradient curve is steep c. disturbances in the cell are to be seen most clearly. Theoretically, the phaseplate confirms concepts as to the nature of the diffraction fringes from any schlieren diaphragm since it operates on diffraction due to defocusing of the light source image by the lens action of the gradient. Disteche's and Wolter's theory of the fringes are contrasted. The phaseplate also makes more clear the nature of the anomaly of schlieren patterns near the baseline which show a different shape of curve depending upon the orientation of the opaque edge.
Calibration of subsurface batch and reactive-transport models involving complex biogeochemical processes

Abstract In this study, the calibration of subsurface batch and reactive-transport models involving complex biogeochemical processes was systematically evaluated. Two hypothetical nitrate biodegradation scenarios were developed and simulated in numerical experiments to evaluate the performance of three calibration search procedures: a multi-start non-linear regression algorithm (i.e. multi-start Levenberg–Marquardt), a global search heuristic (i.e. particle swarm optimization), and a hybrid algorithm that combines the particle swarm procedure with a regression-based “polishing” step. Graphical analysis of the selected calibration problems revealed heterogeneous regions of extreme parameter sensitivity and insensitivity along with abundant numbers of local minima. These characteristics hindered the performance of the multi-start non-linear regression technique, which was generally the least effective of the considered algorithms. In most cases, the global search and hybrid methods were capable of producing improved model fits at comparable computational expense. In other cases, the multi-start and hybrid calibration algorithms yielded comparable fitness values but markedly differing parameter estimates and associated uncertainty measures.
A comparison of two direct-reading aerosol monitors with the federal reference method for PM2.5 in indoor air

Abstract Two types of direct-reading aerosol monitoring devices, the TSI, Inc. Model 3320 Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS), and the TSI, Inc. Model 8520 DustTrak Aerosol Monitor (DustTrak), were collocated indoors with a US EPA designated Federal Reference Method (FRM) PM2.5 sampler, the BGI, Inc. PQ200, to assess the comparability of the sampling methods. Simultaneous 24-h samples were collected from two APS instruments, one DustTrak and one FRM sampler for 20 sample periods. The 30-min average concentrations during the 24-hour sample periods were also logged and compared for the APS and DustTrak. Statistical analysis on the mass concentrations obtained from each sampler type included paired t-tests and linear regression. The 24-h average PM2.5 levels from the FRM samplers were approximately normally distributed and ranged from 5.0 to 20.4 μg m−3 with mean and standard deviation 11.4 and 4.0 μg m−3, respectively. The 24-h average DustTrak levels are well correlated with FRM levels (R2=0.859) but show significant proportional bias (β1=2.57, p
Translating the diabetes prevention program into a hospital-based weight loss program.

Objective Intensive lifestyle interventions have established efficacy, but translation to real-world settings has not been well demonstrated. Using the diffusion of innovations model, we describe the adoption of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Lifestyle Intervention into a hospital-based program and report feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes. Design Patients (N = 118; 72% female, mean age = 48.8, mean baseline body mass index = 43.3) were enrolled into 16 weeks of DPP. Main outcome measure Weight loss (kg) was measured at baseline and after treatment. Results Mean weight loss after 16 weeks was 5.57 kg (SD = 4.6) or 4.6% of baseline weight, and 30% met the 7% weight loss goal. Outcomes are compared with those reported in the DPP trial. Most participants (90.4%) were satisfied with the service; however, only 56% were satisfied with their weight loss. Conclusion The DPP was successfully translated into a real-world clinic with some protocol modifications. Weight loss was modest among heavier patients with more comorbidities than the original DPP sample. Diffusion of innovations theory provides a useful framework for adopting evidence-based programs in the clinical setting.
Diffusion-Induced Nonuniformity of Photoinitiation in a Photobleaching Medium

Absorption of incident light in photopolymerizations gives rise to instantaneous distributions of initiator concentration and initiation rate that are nonuniform along the beam path. Absent diffusion, however, the time-integrated production of primary radicals is uniform if the initial initiator concentration is uniform and all initiator is consumed, since each initiator molecule is photolyzed in place. Here, we consider the effects of diffusion of a photobleaching initiator for finite values of the ratio of the diffusive time scale l2/D to the reaction time scale 1/(φIoαA), where l and Io are the layer thickness and incident light intensity at the optical entrance, and D and αA are the diffusion coefficient and molar absorption coefficient of photoinitiator, respectively, whose quantum yield of consumption is φ. Compared to the limiting case in which diffusion is negligible, diffusion has the effect of shifting the instantaneous initiation rate profiles forward in the layer, where initiator is relatively...
Compositional analysis of an H-Coal liquid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-computer technique

Abstract The H-Coal atmospheric still overhead (ASO) liquid was subjected to preparative high-performance liquid chromatography on Porasil followed by gas chromatographic and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the collected fractions, except for the forerun and column residue. Among the intermediate 5 fractions, there were 29 single compounds and 12 compound types identified. This analysis involved interpretation of 60 mass spectra aided by the PBM and STIRS computer search of the Cornell mass spectral data base. The identified compounds represent about half of the H-Coal liquid.
Immunogenicity studies of a synthetic antigen of alpha methyl dopa.

AbstractSince the idiosyncratic liver toxicity of methyl dopa (L-α-methyl-3, 4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine) may be due to immune mediated mechanisms, immunologic tools are needed to detect methyl dopa induced antibody and antigen. Hapten (methyl dopa) -carrier (albumin) conjugates were synthesized to generate antibodies reactive with this drug. Studies were also conducted to test the immunogenicity of this hapten-carrier conjugate and its cross reactivity with methyl catechol and levodopa. Methyl dopa (MD), levodopa (LD) or methyl catechol (MC) were conjugated to rabbit serum albumin (RSA) under high pH (base) conditions or by a tyrosinase (tyr) catalyzed reaction. Under the base conjugation conditions, MD-RSA, LD-RSA and MC-RSA conjugates were produced at higher hapten: carrier ratios than conjugates produced by the enzyme catalyzed reaction. Rabbits were subsequently immunized with either MD-RSA(base) or MD-RSA(tyr). Antibodies elicited by MD-RSA(base) had marked reactivity to the carrier protein, albumin, ...
The development of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in a patient with prostaglandin-induced foveolar hyperplasia.

Background. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) has been described in association with several obstructive antropyloric lesions including idiopathic foveolar hyperplasia (gastric mucosal hypertrophy), feeding tubes, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and hypertrophic antral polyps. Non obstructive antral webs have also been described with HPS. Patient and methods. We present a case of gastric-outlet obstruction in association with HPS, namely, prostaglandin-induced foveolar hyperplasia. This entity has been previously described, but rarely in association with HPS. We report a female infant requiring prostaglandin therapy for pulmonary atresia who developed dose-related prostaglandin-induced foveolar hyperplasia and symptoms of progressive non-bilious vomiting. Results. Intially, ultrasonography demonstrated evidence of antral mucosal hypertrophy as the cause for gastric-outlet obstruction. The patient subsequently developed progressive thickening of the antropyloric muscle, resulting in sonographic appearances of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Pyloromyotomy was eventually required for treatment of HPS. Conclusion. A common denominator of most of the above-described entities is thickening and/or hypertrophy of the antral mucosa. We suggest that the antropyloric musculature may hypertrophy in an effort to overcome the gastric-outlet obstruction caused by the adjacent thickened antral mucosa. In other words, these entities may represent examples of “secondary” hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.
The effect of the basis set superposition error on the geometry optimization of the p-DFB–N2 complex

Abstract In this Letter, a case is reported where a small basis set superposition error (BSSE) dependence on the geometry leads to a large change in the optimized structure. The rotational potential energy curves of the p -difluorobenzene–N 2 ( p -DFB–N 2 ) complex were calculated with MP2, MP3, MP4(SDQ) and basis sets at different levels. For all calculations with the BSSE correction, similar rotational potential curves and the same minimum point were obtained. On the other hand, the uncorrected potential curves were quite different from the above ones and from each other.
Circulating sclerostin levels and markers of bone turnover in Chinese-American and white women.

Context: Chinese-American women have bone microarchitectural features that confer greater bone stiffness compared to white women, but the physiology underlying these findings has not been investigated. Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess racial differences in serum sclerostin and bone turnover markers (BTMs), and to explore their associations with each other, volumetric bone mineral density (BMD), and bone microarchitecture in Chinese-American and white women. Design and Setting: We conducted a cross-sectional study at a university hospital. Participants: We studied 138 women. Results: Serum osteocalcin was 19–28% lower in pre- and postmenopausal Chinese-American vs white women, respectively (both P < .01). C-Terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) level was 18–22% lower in pre- and postmenopausal Chinese-American vs white women (both P < .05). Pre- vs postmenopausal differences in osteocalcin and CTX were greater in white vs Chinese-American women. Sclerostin levels were similar in bo...
Silver ion effects on Hyphomicrobium species growth initiation and apparent minimum growth temperatures

A shaken thermal gradient device providing temperatures between 8.3 and 33.5° C was used to investigate the effects of silver ion on the duration of the lag phase and on minimum apparent growth temperatures of Hyphomicrobium spp. grown at 29 and 9°C. With 29°C-grown inocula, at lower temperatures, an increased time was required for growth initiation in the presence of silver ion added at 5 ng ml-1. With silver ion added at 10 or 100 ng ml-1, growth initiation was not observed at lower temperatures. With 100 ng ml-1 added silver ion, this effect also was observed with 9°C-grown inocula. This increased sensitivity to silver ion could limit the ability of Hyphomicrobium spp., and possibly other microbes, to initiate growth and to contribute to microbial functioning in silver-impacted low temperature environments.
COLICINE K : II. THE PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF A SUBSTANCE HAVING COLICINE K ACTIVITY

By chemical fractionation a substance having colicine K activity has been obtained from the culture medium of E. coli K(235) L(+)O. Colicine K activity was found associated with the O antigen of this microorganism. When the O antigen was dissociated, colicine K activity remained with the protein component of the antigen.
Abnormal Properties of Prion Protein with Insertional Mutations in Different Cell Types

Inherited forms of the human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) have been associated with mutations in the normal soluble, protease-sensitive form of the host prion protein (PrP-sen). Normal PrP protein contains five copies of a repeating eight-amino acid region, and PrP molecules with six or more copies of this region are associated with disease in familial CJD. It has been hypothesized that these mutations might facilitate spontaneous formation of the abnormal, aggregated protease-resistant PrP isoform, PrP-res, associated with clinical CJD and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). In the present experiments, hamster PrP molecules with 5 (wild-type), 7, 9, or 11 copies of this repeat region were generated and expressed in mouse fibroblast cells or mouse neuroblastoma cells. In mouse fibroblast cells, mutant hamster PrP molecules expressing 7, 9, and 11 copies of the octapeptide repeat sequence showed altered cell surface expression, but both mutant and wild-type hamster PrP-sen molecules demonstrated abnormal properties of aggregation and increased protease resistance. By contrast in mouse neuroblastoma cells, hamster PrP-sen with 5, 9, and 11 octapeptide repeats were expressed normally on the cell surface, but only PrP-sen molecules with 9 or 11 copies of the repeat motif had abnormal properties of aggregation and increased protease resistance. Overall, regardless of cell type, hamster PrP molecules with greater than 7 octapeptide repeats were more aggregated and more protease-resistant than molecules with 7 repeats or less. However, these abnormal molecules were at least 1000-fold less protease-resistant than bona fide PrP-res derived from TSE-infected brain tissue, and they showed no increased ability to form PrP-res in a cell-free system.
Increased In Vitro and In Vivo Digestibility of Soy Proteins by Chemical Modification of Disulfide Bonds

To improve protein digestibility of aqueously extracted soy proteins, an effective chemical treatment under mild conditions is needed. Soy proteins, including storage protein glycinin and antinutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors, are rich in disulfide bonds. Reduction of these disulfide bonds by incubating soy proteins with sodium sulfite and sodium metabisulfite at 55 °C showed no net increase of free sulfhydryl groups after dialysis to remove the residual reducing agent. However, the in vitro digestibility measured by trypsin hydrolysis using the pH-Stat method was significantly increased. Sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) was more effective in increasing in vitro digestibility than sodium sulfite at the same molar concentration. The digestibility of soy protein treated by 0.5 mmol SMBS/g soy flour at 55 °C was more than doubled compared to that of the control without reduction treatment. Large-scale testing of soy proteins treated with SMBS for an in vivo animal feeding study showed similar in vitro digestibility by trypsin, e.g., the degree of hydrolysis of the treated sample was 8.5% compared to 1.6% of the control. These soy proteins were further evaluated using a chick growth model. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) increased by 57% when the chicks fed SMBS-treated soy were compared to the chicks fed raw soy flour. SMBS-fed chicks did not display any pancreatic hypertrophy compared to those fed with raw soy control. These results indicate that there is great potential to use safe chemicals and mild temperature to inactivate the antinutritional factors in soybeans and thus improve digestibility of soy proteins that are extracted with low-temperature aqueous process.
Absorbability and weight gain by mice fed methyl glucoside fatty acid polyesters : potential fat substitutes

Male mice (n = 27) were fed a control diet consisting of a fat free diet plus 11% peanut oil or two methyl glucoside polyester (MGP), experimental diets for 10 days. The experimental diets consisted of fat-free diet plus 11% of MGP, 100% oleate, or 90:10 stearate:oleate. Absorbability, percent recovery of the oils and fats, and percent mean body weight gain were determined. The mice consuming 100% oleate MGP and the mice consuming 90:10 stearate:oleate MGP lost more weight (− 10.1%) and (− 7.4%), respectively, than the mice consuming the control diet, P < 0.05. Subsequent fat analysis showed that the 100% oleate MGP were almost completely recovered from the feces, indicating close to zero absorbability, while the MGP (90:10 stearate:oleate) were partially absorbed at 66.8%. No anal leakage or death was observed. Methyl glucose fatty acid polyester may serve as a potential alternative fat substitute.
Gate delay calculation considering the crosstalk capacitances

In this paper, we present a new technique for calculating the output waveform of CMOS drivers for cross-coupled RC loads. The proposed technique is based on an effective capacitance calculation for each driver and an efficient, provably convergent, iterating scheme between the coupled drivers. Our technique can easily handle different input arrival times, transition times, and polarities, and can be extended to multiple cross-coupled drivers in a straightforward manner. Experimental results show that the new technique exhibits high accuracy (less than 4% error in average).
Dose-dependent Modulation of Octacalcium Phosphate Crystal Habit by Amelogenins

In vitro studies on interactions between amelogenins and calcium phosphate crystals are critical for elucidating biomineralization mechanisms of tooth enamel. This work was aimed at investigating the effects of native porcine amelogenins on octacalcium phosphate (OCP) crystal growth in a gelatin gel. We prepared OCP mineral discs by circulating calcium and phosphate solutions on the opposite ends of the gels loaded with 0-2% amelogenin for one week. A dose-dependent modulation of OCP crystal habit by amelogenins was observed by scanning electron microscopy. While the incorporation of 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5% amelogenins showed no significant effect on the crystal morphology, in the presence of I and 2% amelogenins, the crystals were remarkably longer, having an average aspect ratio 3-5 times greater than that of those formed in the control gels. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy suggested that amelogenin assemblies selectively blocked b-axial development, resulting in the c-axial el...
An intervention to increase alcohol treatment engagement: A pilot trial

Abstract Objectives Previous research has documented the difficulty individuals with alcohol use disorders have initiating alcohol treatment. This study assessed the feasibility of a brief, cognitive–behavioral intervention designed to increase treatment initiation among individuals with alcohol use disorders. Methods This randomized controlled trial included 196 participants who screened positive for a possible alcohol use disorder on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Randomly assigned intervention participants were administered a brief cognitive–behaviorally-based intervention by telephone designed to modify beliefs that may interfere with treatment-seeking behavior. Beliefs about treatment and treatment-seeking behavior were assessed postintervention. Results Participants receiving the intervention had significantly improved their attitudes toward addiction treatment ( p p p Conclusions A brief, cognitive–behavioral intervention delivered by telephone and focused on modifying treatment-interfering beliefs holds promise for increasing alcohol treatment seeking among individuals in need.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase transgenic models of endothelial dysfunction.

Endothelial production of nitric oxide is critical to the regulation of vascular responses, including vascular tone and regional blood flow, leukocyte–endothelial interactions, platelet adhesion and aggregation, and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. A relative deficiency in the amount of bioavailable vascular NO results in endothelial dysfunction, with conditions that are conducive to the development of atherosclerosis: thrombosis, inflammation, neointimal proliferation, and vasoconstriction. This review focuses on mouse models of endothelial dysfunction caused by direct genetic modification of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene. We first describe the cardiovascular phenotypes of eNOS knockout mice, which are a model of total eNOS gene deficiency and thus the ultimate model of endothelial dysfunction. We then describe S1177A and S1177D eNOS mutant mice as mouse models with altered eNOS phosphorylation and therefore varying degrees of endothelial dysfunction. These include transgenic mice that carry the eNOS S1177A and S1177D transgenes, as well as knockin mice in which the endogenous eNOS gene has been mutated to carry the S1177A and S1177D mutations. Together, eNOS knockout mice and eNOS S1177 mutant mice are useful tools to study the effects of total genetic deficiency of eNOS as well as varying degrees of endothelial dysfunction caused by eNOS S1177 phosphorylation.
Random disambiguation paths for traversing a mapped hazard field

We consider the problem of safely and swiftly navigating through a spatial arrangement of potential hazard detections in which each detection has associated with it a probability that the detection is indeed a true hazard. When in close proximity to a detection, we assume the ability—for a cost—to determine whether or not the hazard is real. Our approach to this problem involves a new object, the random disambiguation path (RDP), which is a curve-valued random variable parametrized by a binary tree with particular properties. We prove an admissibility result showing that there is positive probability that the use of an RDP reduces the expected traversal length compared to the conventional shortest zero-risk path, and we introduce a practically computable additive-constant approximation to the optimal RDP. The theoretical considerations are complemented by simulation and example. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 52: 285-292, 2005.
Implications of μ−e universality constraints for gauge models☆

Abstract We discuss implications of apparent violation of μ−e universality ratio π → e ν π → μν SU(2) × U(1) gauge model with and without righthanded doublets and gauge models based on the exceptinal groups.
Principles of applied experimental igneous petrology: A comment on “Experimental constraints on the Skaergaard liquid line of descent” by Thy, Lesher, Nielsen, and Brooks, 2006, Lithos 92: 154–180

Abstract The foremost principles of experimental igneous petrology applied to natural rocks are here considered to be the following. First, only the mineral assemblages found at or near the experimental liquidus are relevant to fractional crystallization. Subliquidus assemblages of the same bulk composition can have little relevance to this process, owing to the closed system of the experiment. Second, in a closed system the natural mineral assemblages define the intensive parameters of T, P, and the activities of all components, including oxygen, which must constrain the experimental investigation. Extensive (mass-dependent) parameters do not define the compositions of the evolving liquids, which are solely controlled by successive liquidus phase assemblages. Third, the bulk compositions (rocks or mixtures) chosen for study must be able to yield at the liquidus the mineral compositions found in the natural occurrence. The study under discussion fails in all three of these desiderata. Subliquidus products of equilibrium crystallization and their masses were used to infer a differentiation history. Intensive parameters were constrained to an arbitrary choice of the FMQ buffer. Finally, the bulk compositions chosen for experiment can be shown beforehand (and as in the listed results) to yield olivine and plagioclase compositions far more refractory than in any known rock of the target intrusion.
Reply to Brownlee Erratum

Reply to Erratum To "The Capital Asset Pricing Model: An Evaluation of Its Potential as a Strategic Planning Tool" By Thomas H. Naylor and Francis Tapon, Management Sci.29 5 633.
A patient with severe emphysema and aspiration pneumonia.

A 68-year-old male patient has history of severe emphysema and esophageal achalasia. He was admitted to the intensive care unit with acute on top of chronic hypercanic respiratory failure and right lower lobe pneumonia. The patient …
A Multidimensional Hierarchical Model of Physical Fitness: A Basis for Integration and Collaboration

For operational purposes, physical development is characterized using a multidimensional hierarchical model. Optimal physical development is described as a combination of good physical fitness and a high level of skill development. Physical fitness has multiple subdimensions of its own. Developing each subdimension requires regular physical activity, which is not likely to occur without the collaboration of many, including the individual, family, friends, schools, community, and private agencies.
Studies on the total synthesis of disorazole C1. An advanced macrocycle intermediate.

Synthesis of protected tetradehydro-(6,6‘-S)-(14,14‘-S)-(16,16‘-R)-disorazole (3), a potential precursor to the natural product disorazole C1 (1), is described. Key features of this work include (a) an unprecedented sequential 1,5 O → O silyl rearrangement/Horner−Wadsworth−Emmons reaction used to construct 18, (b) a highly convergent Sonogashira reaction between the dienyl iodide 7 and the alkyne 8 to assemble the dienyne monomeric fragment 5, and (c) the selective cyclization of 5 to give either the cyclic monomer 23 or the dimer 3.
THE SURGEON'S USE OF ULTRASOUND IN THE ACUTE SETTING

As the role of the general surgeon continues to evolve, the surgeon's use of ultrasound will surely influence practice patterns, particularly for the evaluation of patients in the acute setting. With the use of real-time imaging, the surgeon receives "instantaneous" information to augment the physical examination, narrow the differential diagnosis, or initiate an intervention. With select ultrasound examinations, the surgeon can rapidly evaluate adult and pediatric patients who present with an acute abdomen, especially those in shock. In the hands of the surgeon, this noninvasive bedside tool can more accurately assess the presence, depth, and extent of an abscess, confirm complete aspiration, or diagnose wound dehiscence before it is apparent on physical examination. Ultrasound is so accurate for the diagnosis of pyloric stenosis that it has essentially replaced the upper gastrointestinal series in most institutions. The surgeon's use of ultrasound to detect a pleural effusion has virtually replaced the lateral decubitus film. Furthermore, an ultrasound-guided thoracentesis not only facilitates the procedure but improves its safety. Many ICUs now have protocols in place to perform routine duplex surveillance of those patients who are considered at high risk for the development of thromboembolic complications. As surgeons become more facile with ultrasound, it is anticipated that other uses will develop to further enhance its value for the assessment of patients in the acute setting.
Consensus-based rendezvous

We present a distributed algorithm for solving the rendezvous problem based on the so-called consensus protocols. By using the properties of the consensus protocols we show that our algorithm drives the agents in the formation to a common configuration without the need for the agents to communicate with each other, and with no need for the agents to work in a common reference frame. We also show that several existing rendezvous algorithms can be viewed as special cases of the proposed algorithm. We include simulation results to illustrate the approach.
Limited uptake of summer precipitation by bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum Nutt) and Gambel's oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt)

Winter and spring precipitation that saturates to deep soil layers precedes summer droughts in the Intermountain West. Occasional summer convection storms relieve summer drought, but are infrequent and unreliable from year to year, leading to the hypothesis that dominant tree species might not invest limited carbon reserves to surface roots to take up summer precipitation in these regions. We compared the hydrogen (δD) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios of winter, spring and summer precipitation to that of xylem sap water in Acer grandidentatum and Quercus gambelii, two dominant trees of this region. By this method we could identify water sources utilized throughout the growing season. Xylem δD and δ18O values changed significantly when each species leafed-out; this change was not associated with changes in either soil or plant water status (as measured by predawn and midday water potentials). This shift is apparently related increased transpirational flux, which may flush out residual stem water from the previous growing season. δD values of xylem sap of both species matched winter precipitation input values throughout most of the summer, indicating a reliance on deep-soil moisture sources throughout the growing season. Mature Q. gambelii did not take up summer precipitation, whereas A. grandidentatum responded slightly to the largest summer rain event. Small trees of both species, particularly A. grandidentatum, showed a limited uptake of summer rains.
Detecting 3-D Mirror Symmetry in a 2-D Camera Image for 3-D Shape Recovery

In this paper, we take up the long-standing problem of how to recover 3-D shapes represented by a 2-D image, such as the image on the retina of the eye, or in a video camera. Our approach is biologically grounded in a theory of how the human visual system solves this problem, focusing on shapes that are mirror symmetrical in 3-D. A 3-D mirror-symmetrical shape can be recovered from a single 2-D orthographic or perspective image by applying several a priori constraints: 3-D mirror symmetry, 3-D compactness, and planarity of contours. From the computational point of view, the application of a 3-D symmetry constraint is challenging because it requires establishing 3-D symmetry correspondence among features of a 2-D image, which itself is asymmetrical for almost all viewing directions relative to the 3-D symmetrical shape. We describe new invariants of a 3-D to 2-D projection for the case of a pair of mirror-symmetrical planar contours, and we formally state and prove the necessary and sufficient conditions for detection of this type of symmetry in a single orthographic and perspective image.