cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ALTERNATIVES TO CELEBRITY IN THE RESCUE OF THE CITY, a Reply to Robert A. Beau regard

: Books by urban academics that spark interest in the fate of cities are important but only one of the critical functions of urban scholars. Privileging the role of “public intellectual” in creating passionate popular involvement with the city is based on the assumption that the celebrity of a few academics in the 1960s/1970s was a major factor in the public urban concerns of that period. The author argues that calling for new public intellectuals to use media-driven celebrity to rekindle interest in cities does not preclude the media's function as a filter that may distort or appropriate ideas in their own interests. He urges teaching students a critical perspective, working with people as colleagues rather than as tutors, building urban affairs as a field of study, using interactive communication channels such as the Internet, and examining the urban insights of nonacademic writers and artists.
Towards a less costly but accurate test of gastric emptying and small bowel transit

Our aim is to develop a less costly but accurate test of stomach emptying and small bowel transit by utilizing selected scintigraphic observations 1-6 hr after ingestion of a radiolabeled solid meal. These selected data were compared with more detailed analyses that require multiple scans and labor-intensive technical support. A logistic discriminant analysis was used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of selected summaries of scintigraphic transit measurements. We studied 14 patients with motility disorders (eight neuropathic and six myopathic, confirmed by standard gastrointestinal manometry) and 37 healthy subjects. The patient group had abnormal gastric emptying (GE) and small bowel transit time (SBTT). The proportion of radiolabel retained in the stomach from 2 to 4 hr (GE 2 hr, GE 3 hr, GE 4 hr), as well as the proportion filling the colon at 4 and 6 hr (CF 4 hr, CF 6 hr) were individually able to differentiate health from disease (P less than 0.05 for each). From the logistic discriminant model, an estimated sensitivity of 93% resulted in similar specificities for detailed and selected transit parameters for gastric emptying (range: 62-70%). Similarly, combining selected observations, such as GE 4 hr with CF 6 hr, had a specificity of 76%, which was similar to the specificity of combinations of more detailed analyses. Based on the present studies and future confirmation in a larger number of patients, including those with less severe motility disorders, the 2-, 4-, and 6-hr scans with quantitation of proportions of counts in stomach and colon should provide a useful, relatively inexpensive strategy to identify and monitor motility disorders in clinical and epidemiologic studies.
Acute Physicochemical Effects in a Large River-Floodplain System Associated with the Passage of Hurricane Gustav

On 1 September 2008, Hurricane Gustav passed over the Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB) in south-central Louisiana. Anticipating physicochemical shifts due to concentrated precipitation and wind stress generated by this strong category 2 storm, we deployed a continuous recording multiparameter water quality sonde in a southern ARB bayou 3 days prior to storm arrival to document conditions before, during, and after hurricane landfall. Quarter-hourly physicochemical measurements taken over a 2-week period indicated that dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and specific conductance all reached annual lows immediately following storm passage. The most pronounced post-storm fluctuation involved DO. Daily mean DO concentration dropped to hypoxic level (DO ≤ 2 mg/L) within 3 days of landfall, followed by near anoxic conditions within 5 days that resulted in extensive system-wide fish kills. Within 6 weeks, however, DO returned to, and pH was near pre-storm levels. To evaluate the impact of Hurricane Gustav on ARB physicochemistry, we contrasted data on DO, pH, temperature, and specific conductance collected from 16 lower ARB sampling sites over a 54-day interval prior to storm landfall with data collected during a 45-day post-storm period. Results indicated that water quality was highly dissimilar (P < 0.0001) between the two periods.
(α-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid) (α-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid) and simple derivatives

Abstract For preparing pseudo cord-factors, similar in gross structure to α,α-trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate, we have synthesized (α- d -glucopyranosyluronic acid) (α- d -glucopyranosiduronic acid) (“trehalose dicarboxylic acid”) by catalytic oxidation of trehalose. Such simple derivatives as the dimethyl ester and the hexa- O -acetyl diacid chloride are useful for the attachment of lipid substituents to the carbohydrate core to yield the desired pseudo cord-factors. Some of the glycolipids have toxic and antitumor properties resembling those of the natural product.
Vascular flow resistance in rabbit hearts: "apparent viscosity" of RBC suspensions.

Abstract Isovolumically beating, isolated hearts from male New Zealand rabbits were perfused retrograde via the aorta at a paced rate of 180 to 200 beats per minute. Perfusions were effected at arterial pressures (AP) ranging from 10 to 80 mm Hg. Perfusions (Krebs-Henseleit buffer + 1% BSA + insulin, 100 μl/liter; same + 40% sheep RBC; same + 40% bovine RBC) were dosed with 15 m M papaverine to induce maximum vasodilation. In each case normalized flow rate (per unit heart mass) varied linearly with AP but all linear regressions extrapolated to a positive, zero-flow value of AP. Normalized flow resistance, defined as the slope of the line fitted to the pressure-drop vs normalized flow (per unit of dry heart weight) data, was not affected by the change from sheep to bovine RBC in the maximally dilated hearts. Data from RBC-free perfusions were inserted in Poiseuille's law to compute an effective geometric factor for the organ vasculature. This is turn was used to calculate apparent viscosities of the RBC suspensions. These were indistinguishable for the different RBC suspensions and fell between 0.5 and 0.6 of the respective high shear-rate values measured in a cone-plate viscometer, thus agreeing with the findings of S.R.F. Whittaker and F. R. Winton (1933, J. Physiol. (London) , 78, 339–369) for the dog hindlimb. Relative apparent viscosities (suspension viscosity ÷ suspending medium viscosity) were 1.89 (sheep RBC) and 1.85 (bovine RBC) and are in good agreement with the range deduced for the mesenteric microcirculation of the cat from the microscopic measurements of Lipowsky et al. (1980), signifying that the low apparent in vivo viscosity determined for an intact organ follows from the microhematocrit deficiency.
Optimal conditions for supercoil DNA sequencing with the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I large fragment.

Abstract Sequencing ladders produced from supercoiled DNA templates with the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase Klenow fragment are often unreadable because of a high background and misincorporated nucleotides. This study showed that contaminating RNA molecules can interfere with template: primer hybridization. Procedures are provided for the purification of template DNA and stringent conditions for primer-template hybridization that overcome these problems.
Advances in Neonatal Cardiac Surgery: Historical Perspective and Current Status

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the developments that have allowed advances in neonatal cardiac surgery. 2. Describe the diagnostic approach to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). 3. Delineate the preoperative management of the neonate who has HLHS. 4. Describe the original Norwood procedure and subsequent modifications. 5. Delineate the optimal therapy in the postoperative period for neonates who have a single ventricle. Advances in the surgical and medical management of children who have congenital heart disease (CHD) have led to a dramatic improvement in overall survival and reduced the long-term sequelae of open-heart surgery. With improved survival and decreased morbidity over the past 2 decades, the early complete repair of complex congenital heart problems in preterm and low-birthweight neonates has gained wider acceptance. Cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons now consider and perform complete neonatal repair more frequently than palliative surgery in this patient population. The treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) best illustrates the evolution of management strategies to improve survival and long-term outcome. A recent modification of the Norwood operation that involves a right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit has led to much improved early postoperative stability and, in many centers, improved survival to a stage II superior cavopulmonary connection. A multidisciplinary team approach is required to provide the necessary care for this complex patient population. In 1938, Robert Gross at Children’s Hospital in Boston successfully ligated a patent ductus arteriosus, and this procedure—performed against the wishes of surgeon-in-chief William Ladd—opened the era of surgery for CHD. (1) Gross and Hufnagel performed detailed animal experiments to develop a technique for treatment of coarctation of the aorta that involves excision and end-to-end anastomosis. (2) Clarence Craaford of Stockholm, Sweden, had visited Gross to observe his experimental work, and in October 1944, Craaford and Nylin were the first to repair aortic …
Did They Fail? Could They Choose?

The contributors argue that the paths and causes of societal declines are generally complex and that despite pressures of population and environmental degradation, societies demonstrate considerable resilience.
Hypothyroidism: its incidence and prevalence in adults older than 55 years of age in an acute rehabilitation unit.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the incidence and prevalence of hypothyroidism in the acute rehabilitation unit. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation unit. Patients: Thirty-five men and 91 women older than the age of 55 years (average, 74 years) separated into postsurgical (PS) and nonsurgical (NS) groups. Twenty-two men and 76 women were PS, 21 of whom had a history of hypothyroidism. Thirteen men and 15 women were NS, and 4 in this group had a history of hypothyroidism. Main Outcome Measures: Levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine. Results: There were 34 cases of hypothyroidism, a prevalence rate of 27%. The incidence of newly diagnosed cases was 9% (9 of 101). Six of the newly diagnosed cases were PS patients and three were NS patients. Eleven cases of undertreated hypothyroidism were found, in 9 PS patients and 2 NS patients. The rate of undertreated hypothyroidism in the PS population was 43% (9 of 21); in the nonsurgical population, it was 50% (2 of 4). The overall rate of undertreated hypothyroidism for both PS and NS groups was 44% (11 of 25). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of hypothyroidism on an inpatient rehabilitation unit and a high rate of undertreated hypothyroidism in PS patients. Screening high-risk patients is recommended.
Novel Defect Complexes and Their Role in the p-Type Doping of GaN

Hydrogen is known to play a key role in $p$-type doping of GaN. It is believed that H passivates Mg dopants and then is removed by annealing. We present first principles calculations in terms of which we show that the doping process is significantly more complex. Several substitutional-interstitial complexes form and can bind H, with vibrational frequencies that correlate well with hitherto unidentified observed lines. We predict that these defects, which limit doping efficiency, can be eliminated by annealing in an atmosphere of H and N prior to the final anneal that removes H.
Predicting adolescent perceptions of the risks and benefits of cigarette smoking: a longitudinal investigation.

Objective—To evaluate developmental changes, personal smoking experiences, and vicarious smoking experiences as predictors of adolescents’ perceptions of the risks and benefits of cigarette smoking over time, in order to identify new and effective targets for youth smoking prevention programs. Design—395 adolescents were surveyed every six months for two school years, from the beginning of 9 th grade to the end of 10 th grade. Main Outcome Measures—Time, participant smoking, friend smoking, parental smoking, and sex were evaluated as predictors of smoking-related short-term risk perceptions, long-term risk perceptions, and benefits perceptions using multilevel modeling techniques. Results—Perceptions of benefits did not change over time. Perceptions of risk decreased with time, but not after sex and parental smoking were included in the model. Adolescents with personal smoking experience reported decreasing perceptions of risk and increasing perceptions of benefits over time. Adolescents with more than 6 friends who smoked also reported increasing perceptions of benefits over time. Conclusions—Changes in risk perceptions may not purely be the result of developmental processes, but may also be influenced by personal and vicarious experience with smoking. Findings highlight the importance of identifying and targeting modifiable factors that may influence perceptions.
Maintenance chemotherapy: an evolving and increasingly acceptable strategy in cancer management.

Individual randomized phase 3 trials and meta-analyses of previously published studies have provided support for the general concept of the clinical utility of extending the duration of antineoplastic drug therapy in an effort to prolong (“maintain”) a favorable clinical state. This commentary briefly reviews data from several of these reports.
Structure and Function of a Human TAFII250 Double Bromodomain Module

TFIID is a large multiprotein complex that initiates assembly of the transcription machinery. It is unclear how TFIID recognizes promoters in vivo when templates are nucleosome-bound. Here, it is shown that TAFII250, the largest subunit of TFIID, contains two tandem bromodomain modules that bind selectively to multiply acetylated histone H4 peptides. The 2.1 angstrom crystal structure of the double bromodomain reveals two side-by-side, four-helix bundles with a highly polarized surface charge distribution. Each bundle contains an Nepsilon-acetyllysine binding pocket at its center, which results in a structure ideally suited for recognition of diacetylated histone H4 tails. Thus, TFIID may be targeted to specific chromatin-bound promoters and may play a role in chromatin recognition.
Abstract 2569: Disruption of ceramide glycosylation restores p53-dependent apoptosis in p53 mutant drug-resistant cancer cells: Alternative splicing determines the feature of p53 activity

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Mutation of tumor suppressor p53 is frequently detected in many different types of cancers. p53 mutants acts as oncogenic proteins preventing programmed cell death and promoting cancer progression. Restoration of p53 that is to increase the expression of wild-type p53 and to eliminate mutant expression can substantially increase the efficacy of chemotherapy and stop malignant progression. However, incomplete understanding the molecular mechanism underlying p53 gene regulation limits the success in p53 restoration. We, for the first time, report that disruption of ceramide glycosylation restores p53 dependent-apoptosis in p53 mutant drug-resistant cancer cells. A lose of 21 base-pair in the mRNA of exon-5 can result in the accumulation of mutant p53 and cells insensitiveness to induced-apoptosis in human NCI/ADR-RE ovarian cancer cells. We found that treatment of mixed-backbone oligonucleotide against human glucosylceramide synthase (MBO-asGCS) increased the levels of wild-type p53 mRNA (containing the 21 bp in exon-5) and protein of wild-type p53 in dose-dependent manner (50-200 nM). In response to doxorubicin-induced DNA damage, phosphorylated p53 (Ser15 in the exon-5) was significantly increased, that in turn increased the protein levels of p21 and Bax, and apoptosis (52% vs. 3%) after MBO-asGCS treatment compared to control in NCI/ADR-RE cells. Silencing of GCS using MBO-asGCS (1 mg/kg) restored wild-type p53 expression and substantially sensitizes NCI/ADR-RE tumors to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in vivo (10 mice per group), as compared to MBO-scramble control or other treatments. In contrast, introduction of GCS gene in NCI-ADR-RE cells reduces wild-type p53 expression and p53-depedent apoptosis. Further mechanic studies indicated that increased ceramide after GCS silencing modulates the function of SRp30a (ASF/SF2) regulating alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Increasing endogenous ceramide by inhibition of its glycosylation using PDMP or enhanced its production using sphingomylinase promoted wild-type p53 expression at the levels of mRNA, protein and phosphorylation; decreasing ceramide by inhibition of ceramide synthesis using fumonisin (FB1) repressed wild-type p53 expression. Present study indicates that cancer cells marked with mutant p53 phenotype are capable of expressing functional p53; ceramide glycosylation is one molecular mechanism that shifts expression to wild-type form of p53 at alternative splicing of post-transcription processing. MBO-asGCS, a specific agent silencing GCS restores p53-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2569.
Early stage papillary serous or clear cell carcinoma confined to or involving an endometrial polyp: outcomes with and without adjuvant therapy.

Abstract Objective To investigate clinical outcomes of stage IA uterine papillary serous (UPSC) and clear cell carcinoma (CC) arising from or associated with a polyp. Methods From 1995 to 2011, we identified 51 cases of stage IA UPSC (67%), CC (8%) or mixed histology (26%) endometrial cancer. Of these, 32 had disease confined to polyp (seven with no residual disease after hysterectomy), 14 had surface spread, 1 had myometrial invasion (MMI) and 4 had both. The majority of patients did not receive adjuvant therapy (80%). Patients given adjuvant treatment (either platinum-based chemotherapy alone, radiation alone, or a combination of the two) had incomplete staging or abnormal cytology. Results At mean follow-up of 58.3months, only 4 patients had progressed, via pelvic adenopathy, carcinomatosis or both. There were no vaginal cuff recurrences. Kaplan–Meier 5year estimates were pelvic control of 92.1%, disease-free survival 93% and OS 80.6%. Only 9% (3/32) of cases confined to polyp progressed. One responded to salvage chemoradiation, but two died despite salvage. Only 5% (1/19) of cases with surface and MMI progressed. On univariate analysis, only MMI and abnormal/positive cytology were significantly associated with increased pelvic recurrence (MMI p =0.0059, cytology p =0.0036) and worse DFS (MMI p =0.0018, cytology p =0.0054). Two patients given adjuvant treatment developed new gynecologic malignancies. Conclusion In our study, patients with limited UPSC/CC disease involving a polyp who have complete workup did well without adjuvant therapy, with recurrence rates similar to UPSC/CC stage IA disease. Late and extensive pelvic relapses may occur in the few who do relapse.
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS OF A SUBTERRANEAN CYLINDRICAL INHOMOGENEITY EXCITED BY A LINE SOURCE

The anomalous fields from a buried cylindrical inhomogeneity in an otherwise uniform half-space are analyzed. The problem is rendered two-dimensional by assuming that the uniform line source of current is parallel to the subsurface cylinder. The multipole scattered field coefficients are obtained from the numerical solution to the associated singular Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. The horizontal magnetic field amplitude, the vertical magnetic field phase, and the amplitude and phase of the ratio of horizontal to vertical magnetic fields are shown to be diagnostic of the location of the inhomogeneity. The results have possible applications to electromagnetic location in mine rescue operations and to geophysical prospecting.
Stereotypes influence false memories for imagined events

Two experiments tested the influences of vivid imagery and person schemata on eyewitness accuracy. Participants watched an event sequence including actors performing stereotype-consistent and inconsistent actions. Additionally, participants either read descriptions of actions (Experiment 1) or vividly imagined actions (Experiment 2). After either 30 minutes or 2 days, recognition memory, source memory, and remember/know judgements were made. After 2 days, false alarms to imagined events increased, relative to the 30-minute test; those false alarms were more often misattributed to stereotype-consistent actors, relative to the same actions in the reading condition. In addition, the accompanying remember judgements were higher for false alarms to imagined events, relative to read events, regardless of stereotype consistency. Overall the results suggest that, over time, vivid imagery reinforces schema activation, increasing stereotype-consistent false memories.
Economics of sirolimus-eluting stents: drug-eluting stents have really arrived.

Since the development of coronary angioplasty in the late 1970s, there have been a series of technical advancements that have improved the outcome of the procedure. Clearly, the biggest advance was to move from balloon angioplasty to intracoronary stenting and now to drug-eluting stents (DES).1,2 These advances have been shown to reduce in-hospital events and to dramatically lower the incidence of restenosis, the long standing “Achilles’ Heel” of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). As these advances have occurred, there has been concern about the ability of society to afford these new therapies. See p 508 What we seek in medical care is value; that is, good medical care that is worth what we pay for it. This may be evaluated for a particular new service, whether diagnostic or therapeutic, by performing a cost-effectiveness evaluation. Healthcare economics has grown as a field in recent years, and there are now published standards for cost-effectiveness evaluations.3 The cost-effectiveness of a new procedure is best expressed in cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained.3 More recently, economic studies have been conducted as part of randomized controlled trials.4 This offers the ability to both get patient level as opposed to summary data and also to benefit from a randomized comparison. Economic evaluations benefit from the lack of selection bias in randomized trials just as much as clinical comparisons do. A model economic evaluation performed as part of the randomized trial of DES, the Sirolimus-Eluting Balloon Expandable Stent in the Treatment of Patients With De Novo Native Coronary Artery Lesions (SIRIUS) trial, is offered in the current issue of Circulation by Cohen et al.5 In the SIRIUS trial, 1058 patients undergoing elective coronary stent implantation were randomized to a bare metal stent or the sirolimus DES.2 The patients were then …
A Smart Market for Industrial Procurement with Capacity Constraints

We address the problem of designing multi-item procurement auctions for a monopsonistic buyer in capacity-constrained environments. Using insights from classical auction theory, we construct an optimization-based auction mechanism ("smart market") relying on the dynamic resolution of a linear program minimizing the buyer's cost under the suppliers' capacity constraints. Suppliers can modify their offers in response to the optimal allocation corresponding to each set of bids, giving rise to a dynamic competitive bidding process. To assist suppliers, we also develop a bidding-suggestion device based on a myopic best-response (MBR) calculation that solves an associated optimization problem. Assuming linear costs for the suppliers, we study within a game-theoretic framework the sequence of bids arising in this smart market. Under a weak behavioral assumption and some symmetry requirements, an explicit upper bound for the winning bids is established. We then formulate a complete behavioral model and solution methodology based on the MBR rationale and show that the bounds derived earlier continue to hold. We analytically derive some structural and convergence properties of the MBR dynamics in the simplest nontrivial market environment, which suggests further possible design improvements, and investigate bidding dynamics and incentive compatibility issues via numerical simulations.
Inefficient Bacteriolysis of Escherichia coli by Serum from Human Neonates

To assess bacteriolysis in human neonates, Escherichia coli O7w:K1:NM were incubated with sera from eight healthy neonates, serum pooled from the eight neonates, and serum pooled from healthy adults. The adult serum killed E. coli. In contrast, the bacteria were not killed during incubation with sera from the eight neonates, the pooled neonatal serum, or with heat-inactivated adult serum. However, the combination of pooled neonatal serum and heat-inactivated adult serum killed the bacteria. Supplemental IgG-containing antibodies that bound to E. coli did not enhance the bactericidal activity of the neonatal serum. Ten of 12 blood isolates of E. coli from septic neonates but only 8 of 15 isolates from septic adults were serum-sensitive (killed during incubation with adult serum) (P less than .05). Therefore, neonatal serum killed E. coli inefficiently and was deficient in non-IgG heat-stabile component(s) required for bacterial killing. Compared with adults, neonates were more frequently septic with serum-sensitive strains of E. coli.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Levofloxacin Administered at 750 Milligrams in Obese Adults

The physiochemical properties of levofloxacin suggest that it is an agent which may exhibit altered pharmacokinetics in obese individuals. The purpose of this study was to describe the pharmacokinetics of a single 750-mg intravenous dose of levofloxacin in both hospitalized and ambulatory obese individuals. The hypothesis was that a standard dose of levofloxacin in obese individuals would achieve serum concentrations likely to be therapeutic. A single levofloxacin dose of 750 mg was infused over 90 min, and seven serial serum samples were subsequently obtained to evaluate the pharmacokinetics after the first dose. The peak concentrations of levofloxacin were comparable to those seen with normal-weight individuals. However, the area under the concentration-time curve and clearance were quite variable. Accelerated clearance was evident in the ambulatory obese individuals. Further investigation of the effects of obesity on the pharmacokinetics of levofloxacin is necessary to ensure optimal dosing.
Synthesis and characterization of Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes with a hexadentate hemi-cage ligand formed with bipyridine

A series of transition metal complexes, Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II), have been prepared and characterized using the hemi-cage ligand previously reported by Beeston et al. [R.F. Beeston, W.S. Aldridge, J.A. Treadway, M.C. Fitzgerald, B.A. Degraff, S.E. Stitzel. Inorg. Chem., 37, 4368 (1998)]. The ligand is composed of three bipyridyl groups covalently bound to a central benzene ring through ethyl groups. Preliminary DFT calculation with Cr(III) indicates that the ligand will allow the three bipyridyl groups to coordinate to a metal with a pseudooctahedral coordination geometry. Comparison of UV-Vis spectra, magnetic susceptibility, and cyclic voltammetry indicates that the complexes are remarkably similar to the corresponding bipyridine complexes, . No evidence was found to indicate that the ligand restricts the motion of the bipyridyl groups enough to change the chemical properties.
Automatic generation of nonlinear optimal control laws for broom balancing using evolutionary programming

The paper explores the use of mutatian operators with evolutionary programming (EP) to automatically generate time optimal "bang-bang" type control laws for the three dimensional broom balancing (inverted pendulum) problem. EP produces a time optimal nonlinear control strategy that takes the state variables as input and determines the direction of the "bang-bang" force to be applied. Preliminary results indicate that the control laws generated are capable of generalizing over previously unseen input states and compare well with nonlinear control laws that were generated using other evolutionary computation methods.
White dwarf kinematics versus mass

We investigated the relationship between the kinematics and mass of young ( 0.95 M_⊙) are consistent with the expected relative contributions of single star evolution and mergers. We find that the kinematics are consistent with the majority of high-mass white dwarfs being formed through single star evolution.
Spatial beamformer weighting sets for circular array STAP

An experimental, circular, electronically scanned array is being fabricated by Raytheon as part of the Office of Naval Research sponsored UHF Electronically Scanned Array (UESA) program. Space-time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques applied to circular arrays are of particular interest on this project. STAP refers to adaptive nulling techniques in the angle Doppler domain to place nulls in the direction of clutter or jammers. Traditionally STAP techniques have been applied to linear arrays and, until recently much less attention has been directed at employing STAP techniques for circular arrays. In this paper we explore the spatial beamformer weights (or antenna distribution) that form an interference-free pattern in the presence of multiple jammers for circular arrays of directional elements. The goal is to create patterns that have high directivity, low sidelobes, yet multiple nulls in specified angular directions, This information may be used in pre- or post-processing algorithms by providing information of the spatial beamformer weights between an optimum linear STAP processor and a circular array.
Experimental Issues in In-Situ Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction at High Pressure and Temperature by Using a Laser-Heated Diamond-Anvil Cell

An integrated technique of diamond-anvil cell, laser-heating and synchrotron x-ray diffraction technologies is capable of structural investigation of condensed matter in an extended region of high pressures and temperatures above 100 GPa and 3000 K. The feasibility of this technique to obtain reliable data, however, strongly depends on several experimental issues, including optical and x-ray setups, thermal gradients, pressure homogeneity, preferred orientation, and chemical reaction. In this paper, we discuss about these experimental issues together with future perspectives of this technique for obtaining accurate data.
The TIPPI point: toward trustworthy interfaces

The TIPPI workshop brought security and user interface professionals together to explore ways to improve authentication methods so that users will not be tricked into giving away personal information. Here, we consider some of the themes discussed at TIPPI, including the nature of the authentication problem, systems that might help solve it, and other observations on necessary components of secure systems designed for human users.
A general approach for the S-parameter design of oscillators with 1 and 2-port active devices

A circular function that serves as a basis for deciding if a circuit will continuously oscillate is introduced. The circular function is derived from the signal flow graph of the circuit including the external load. Any node in the flow graph can be split into two nodes, one of which contains incoming branches and the other of which contains outgoing branches. The circular function is then the transfer function between the two nodes, and it can be measured or simulated by looking at the reflection coefficient of a circulator inserted at the node that was originally split. Oscillations occur when the circular function is unity. The stability of these oscillations is determined by considering the behavior of the circular function as the circuit saturates. The circular function can be applied to one-port oscillators that use negative resistance devices and to feedback oscillators containing transistors, and it reduces to previously published results for specific circuit topologies. To verify the practicality of this approach two 30 GHz HEMT oscillators were designed and tested. >
Modeling of multiple scattering among vias in planar waveguides using Foldy–Lax equations

The full-wave solution of multiple scattering among cylindrical vias in planar waveguides is modeled by using Foldy–Lax equations. By using the equivalence principle, the coupling among traces with many vias is decomposed into interior and exterior problems. For the interior problem, the dyadic Green's function is expressed in terms of vector cylindrical waves and waveguide modes. The Foldy–Lax equations of multiple scattering among the cylindrical vias are calculated. The waveguide modes are decoupled in the Foldy–Lax equations. The scattering matrix of coupling among vias is calculated. Numerical simulations of the scattering matrix are illustrated for several hundred vias. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 31: 201–208, 2001.
Predicting and Evaluating the Power of Shared Features

Several recent efforts in multi-class feature-based object recognition employ shared features, or features that simultaneously belong to multiple class models. These approaches claim a considerable time savings by reducing the total number of features used by all models, thereby lessening the concomitant computational effort of finding the features in images. In this paper we derive a Bayesian framework for predicting and evaluating the performance of shared feature-based recognition systems. We then use this framework to predict the performance of several instances of a simple multi-class object detector.
Slit1 and Slit2 Cooperate to Prevent Premature Midline Crossing of Retinal Axons in the Mouse Visual System

During development, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons either cross or avoid the midline at the optic chiasm. In Drosophila, the Slit protein regulates midline axon crossing through repulsion. To determine the role of Slit proteins in RGC axon guidance, we disrupted Slit1 and Slit2, two of three known mouse Slit genes. Mice defective in either gene alone exhibited few RGC axon guidance defects, but in double mutant mice a large additional chiasm developed anterior to the true chiasm, many retinal axons projected into the contralateral optic nerve, and some extended ectopically-dorsal and lateral to the chiasm. Our results indicate that Slit proteins repel retinal axons in vivo and cooperate to establish a corridor through which the axons are channeled, thereby helping define the site in the ventral diencephalon where the optic chiasm forms.
A source density function

The delta function initial condition solution of the generalized Feller equation gives rise to a four-parameter class of one-sided probability source density functions. Because of this origin, each of these functions represents the instantaneous density of an autonomous Markov diffusion process. As the source location parameter approaches zero the density class to be investigated here reduces to the hyper-Gamma class. Because of the immense flexibility in shape (as compared with the hyper-Gamma class) the source density class offers itself to a wide variety of applications in physics and statistics, especially if the observations are far removed from zero. Relative to applications, the natural and paramount concern must be directed toward the parameter estimation problem. This paper provides the analytical foundation for a numerical approach to its solution. The log-likelihood function for the source density class will be established. Based on it the maximum-likelihood equations will be derived. For practical numerical reasons, direct maximization of the log-likelihood function may be more successful than an attempt to solve the (three) maximum-likelihood equations. Therefore, the analytical properties of the log-likelihood function will be discussed, as they are essential in the implementation of any numerical optimization routine.
Maternal Nutrient Restriction Reduces Concentrations of Amino Acids and Polyamines in Ovine Maternal and Fetal Plasma and Fetal Fluids

Amino acids and polyamines are essential for placental and fetal growth, but little is known about their availability in the conceptus in response to maternal undernutrition. We hypothesized that maternal nutrient restriction reduces concentrations of amino acids and polyamines in the ovine conceptus. This hypothesis was tested in nutrient-restricted ewes between Days 28 and 78 (experiment 1) and between Days 28 and 135 (experiment 2) of gestation. In both experiments, ewes were assigned randomly on Day 28 of gestation to a control group fed 100% of National Research Council (NRC) nutrient requirements and to an nutrient-restricted group fed 50% of NRC requirements. Every 7 days beginning on Day 28 of gestation, ewes were weighed and rations adjusted for changes in body weight. On Day 78 of gestation, blood samples were obtained from the uterine artery and umbilical vein for analysis. In experiment 2, nutrient-restricted ewes on Day 78 of gestation either continued to be fed 50% of NRC requirements or were realimented to 100% of NRC requirements until Day 135. Fetal weight was reduced in nutrient-restricted ewes at both Day 78 (32%) and Day 135 (15%) compared with controls. Nutritional restriction markedly reduced (P < 0.05) concentrations of total α-amino acids (particularly serine, arginine-family amino acids, and branched-chain amino acids) and polyamines in maternal and fetal plasma and in fetal allantoic and amniotic fluids at both mid and late gestation. Realimentation of nutrient-restricted ewes increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of total α-amino acids and polyamines in all the measured compartments and prevented intrauterine growth retardation. These novel findings demonstrate that 50% global nutrient restriction decreases concentrations of amino acids and polyamines in the ovine conceptus that could adversely impact key fetal functions. The results have important implications for understanding the mechanisms responsible for both intrauterine growth retardation and developmental origins of adult disease.
Mitigating Counterfeit Part Intrusions with Enterprise Simulation

Abstract In recent years, counterfeit parts have infiltrated the defense supply chain, which provides replacement parts and sub-systems for deployed systems. This creates a significant amount of risk. Both government and industry have formulated and implemented various policy initiatives to address the problem, including inspections, penalties and trusted sourcing. However, the problem is still on-going. Additional policies are under consideration, and the unintended effects of policies are not known. To study the problem and potential policy solutions, we present an enterprise simulation model of counterfeit parts intrusion and policy alternatives. The model reflects the defense enterprise, tiers of suppliers, counterfeiters and other government policy actors. Interactions of these actors and their reactions to events and policies form an important part of the enterprise system behavior. Policies, their effects and their interactions are detailed in this multi-stakeholder environment.
Translational Regulation of the Mitochondrial Genome Following Redistribution of Mitochondrial MicroRNA in the Diabetic Heart

Background— Cardiomyocytes are rich in mitochondria which are situated in spatially distinct subcellular regions, including those under the plasma membrane, subsarcolemmal mitochondria, and those between the myofibrils, interfibrillar mitochondria. We previously observed subpopulation-specific differences in mitochondrial proteomes following diabetic insult. The objective of this study was to determine whether mitochondrial genome–encoded proteins are regulated by microRNAs inside the mitochondrion and whether subcellular spatial location or diabetes mellitus influences the dynamics. Methods and Results— Using microarray technology coupled with cross-linking immunoprecipitation and next generation sequencing, we identified a pool of mitochondrial microRNAs, termed mitomiRs, that are redistributed in spatially distinct mitochondrial subpopulations in an inverse manner following diabetic insult. Redistributed mitomiRs displayed distinct interactions with the mitochondrial genome requiring specific stoichiometric associations with RNA-induced silencing complex constituents argonaute-2 (Ago2) and fragile X mental retardation–related protein 1 (FXR1) for translational regulation. In the presence of Ago2 and FXR1, redistribution of mitomiR-378 to the interfibrillar mitochondria following diabetic insult led to downregulation of mitochondrially encoded F0 component ATP6. Next generation sequencing analyses identified specific transcriptome and mitomiR sequences associated with ATP6 regulation. Overexpression of mitomiR-378 in HL-1 cells resulted in its accumulation in the mitochondrion and downregulation of functional ATP6 protein, whereas antagomir blockade restored functional ATP6 protein and cardiac pump function. Conclusions— We propose mitomiRs can translationally regulate mitochondrially encoded proteins in spatially distinct mitochondrial subpopulations during diabetes mellitus. The results reveal the requirement of RNA-induced silencing complex constituents in the mitochondrion for functional mitomiR translational regulation and provide a connecting link between diabetic insult and ATP synthase function.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common cutaneous malignancy in the USA, accounting for 20% of non-melanoma skin cancers. Among Caucasians, it is the second most common cancer overall. Although the great majority of cases are cured by surgery or other treatments, deaths from SCC may be nearly as common as those from melanoma. Identification of patients at risk for untoward outcomes as well as clarity regarding appropriate staging and management, particularly of high-risk tumors, is imperative. This chapter discusses the current state of knowledge regarding the pathophysiology leading to cutaneous SCC, risk factors for its development, and the clinical spectrum of squamous dysplasia with particular attention given to high-risk and invasive disease. It provides an in-depth discussion of the available data regarding surgical and non-surgical management of cutaneous SCC, particularly of high-risk tumors.
Combination Endovascular Therapy and Open Surgery: Fogarty Tumor Embolectomy

The introduction of the balloon catheter for the removal and treatment of intravascular or intraluminal lesions in the 1960s by Dr. Thomas Fogarty initiated a widespread endovascular treatment concept for vascular or obstructive lesions. The passage of this narrow catheter through or beyond the obstructing lesion with expansion of the balloon and withdrawal of the catheter and the balloon enhanced the removal of multiple endovascular clots and emboli that, prior to that time, were unable to be or difficult to remove. The catheter technique of endovascular treatment thus initiated a new era of vascular access and therapy.
Diagnostic yield of continuous video electroencephalography for paroxysmal vital sign changes in pediatric patients.

Summary Objective We aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of continuous monitoring with video electroencephalography (cVEEG) for pediatric inpatients with paroxysmal vital sign changes (PVSCs), and to identify risk factors for the PVSCs being seizures, based on clinical information available before cVEEG initiation. We hypothesized that PVSCs without nonautonomic symptoms (NAS) were unlikely to be seizures, and also that patients' clinical characteristics would alter the risk of recording seizures. Methods We performed a single-center chart review of 324 cVEEG studies that were obtained for differential diagnosis of PVSCs. We examined the type of PVSCs that prompted cVEEG, associated NAS, and patient characteristics, and whether the target events or seizures were recorded. We performed logistic regression analyses to determine which patient and semiologic features altered the risk of the PVSCs being seizures, and which patient characteristics altered the risk of recording any seizures. Results Target PVSCs were recorded in 52% (N = 169). Seizures were recorded in 21% (N = 69) of the studies, often unrelated to the PVSCs (N = 39). When examining only PVSCs without NAS, only 4% (3/75) of studies obtained for apnea and 2.1% (1/48) of studies obtained for oxygen desaturation revealed the target events to be seizures. No studies recorded ictal hypertension (0/26), hypotension (0/16), or bradycardia (0/18). In univariate analysis, there was a decreased risk that the events were seizures when PVSCs lacked NAS (odds ratio [OR] 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08–0.65). The risk was increased when the patient had received an antiseizure medication (2.9, 1.3–6.5), the target PVSC was apnea (3.5, 1.5–8.5), and in particular, apnea with NAS (8.7, 3.7–20.8). In adjusted analyses, only apnea with associated NAS independently increased the risk of the PVSCs being seizures (7.7, 3.2–18.5). Significance PVSCs in the absence of NAS are rarely due to seizures. Ideally, cVEEG should be reserved for children with additional risk factors for seizures, beyond isolated PVSCs.
Early School Adjustment and Educational Attainment

Although school attainment is a cumulative process combining mastery of both academic and behavioral skills, most studies have offered only a piecemeal view of the associations between middle childhood capacities and subsequent schooling outcomes. Using a 20-year longitudinal dataset, this study estimates the association between children's academic skills, anti-social behaviors and attention problems, all averaged across middle childhood, and their long-term educational outcomes. After adjusting for family and individual background measures, we find that high average levels of math and reading achievement, and low average levels of anti-social behavior problems, are positively associated with later attainment. Associations between attention problems and attainment are small. Associations are attenuated somewhat when sibling differences in these skills and behaviors are related to sibling differences in attainment outcomes.
Rapid Scan AERI Observations: Benefits and Analysis

The temporal frequency (currently ten minute) of high spectral resolution radiances measured by the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) have been increased to less than one minute to provide improved temporal monitoring of clouds and atmospheric thermodynamics.
Postglacial vegetation history of southeastern Wyoming, U.S.A.

Paleoenvironmental records from southeastern Wyoming have been compiled to show the development of forests in the Medicine Bow Mountains. The late-glacial period had little to no tree cover and a landscape dominated by alpine tundra, or alpine steppe-like conditions based on high abundances of Artemisia pollen. Initial conifer forest development began after 13,000 calibrated years Before Present (cal yr BP) with patchy, mixed fir-spruce-pine forests forming throughout the Medicine Bow Mountains. At lower tree line, pines in these forests contained limber pine based on pollen and macrofossil data, whereas at mid- and high elevations pine trees were most likely lodgepole pine. Forest densities increased after 9000 cal yr BP, with upper elevations dominated by Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, while lower elevations were dominated by lodgepole pine that replaced limber pine. Modern forest conditions began to form after 5000 cal yr BP. The timing of past vegetation change in southeastern Wyoming appears consistent with those observed in the Greater Yellowstone region though pollen assemblages vary regionally.