cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An improved multimembrane microassay for quantitating the motility of granulocytes and monocytes labeled with chromium-51☆

Various modifications of the Boyden chamber chemotaxis assay have been used to screen patients for abnormalities in granulocyte or monocyte motility. In most cases, cell motility has been assessed by quantitating the fraction of cells that migrates from an upper chamber through a filter toward a lower chamber containing chemoattractant. Existing versions of the assay have several shortcomings. They are labor-intensive, require relatively large numbers of cells and lengthy incubation, or they require visual cell counting and do not permit assessment of cells which may drop off the filter into the attractant medium. We have improved the accuracy and efficiency of existing microchamber assays by using 51Cr-labeled cells to eliminate microscopic cell counting, shortening the incubation time, adjusting the assay sensitivity, and accounting for cells which drop off into the attractant well. The modified method uses Neuroprobe multiwell microchambers and two 10 microns polycarbonate filters with 3 microns pores on top of one 100 microns nitrocellulose filter. The optimal incubation period is 60 min, and the assay requires about one-fifth as many cells as the standard Boyden chamber methods. Cell drop-off can be measured accurately by harvesting the attractant wells with detergent, and the assay sensitivity is comparable to that of existing radiometric assays using large chambers. The data indicate that the range of chemotactic and random motility of normal granulocytes and monocytes measured in the modified assay system is comparable to that reported for studies which have used established motility assays.
Effect of Variables on pH Measurement in Acid-Rain-Like Solutions as Determined by Ruggedness Tests.

Ruggedness Test (RT) experiments were performed to assess the significance of the various main factors which affect pH measurements in low ionic strength aqueous solutions, as well as to establish the presence of interactions between the main factors. Stirring has an adverse effect on the measurement of pH, since it not only increases the random noise but also biases the measured value. Temperature control to the nearest 0.5/sup 0/C is sufficient for maintaining measurements accurate to 0.01 pH. Addition of NaNO/sub 3/ or KCl can not be tolerated in accurate pH measurements. Three small two-factor interactions were also revealed.
Synthesis of caffeine-2−14C

Xanthine-2−14C (1) was converted to caffeine-2−11C (2) by methylation with dimethyl sulfate.
Cohesive zone laws for fatigue crack growth: Numerical field projection of the micromechanical damage process in an elasto-plastic medium

Abstract Cohesive zone failure models are widely used to simulate fatigue crack propagation under cyclic loading, but the model parameters are phenomenological and are not closely tied to the underlying micromechanics of the problem. In this paper, we will inversely extract the cohesive zone laws for fatigue crack growth in an elasto-plastic ductile solid using a field projection method (FPM), which projects the equivalent tractions and separations at the cohesive crack-tip from field information outside the process zone. In our small-scale yielding model, a single row of discrete voids is deployed directly ahead of a crack in an elasto-plastic medium subjected to cyclic mode I K-field loading. Damage accumulation under cyclic loading is captured by the growth of voids within the micro-voiding zone ahead of the crack, while the evolution of the cohesive zone law representing the micro-voiding zone is inversely extracted via the FPM. We show that the field-projected cohesive zone law captures the essential micromechanisms of fatigue crack growth in the ductile medium: from loading and unloading hysteresis caused by void growth and plastic hardening, to the softening damage locus associated with crack propagation via a void by void growth mechanism. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the FPM in obtaining a micromechanics-based cohesive zone law in-place of phenomenological models, which opens the way for a unified treatment of fatigue crack problems.
BEYOND THE RATIONALITY PROJECT: POLICY ANALYSIS AND THE POSTPOSITIVE CHALLENGE

Peter deLeon. 1988. Advice and Consent: The Development of the Policy Sciences Deborah A. Stone. 1988. Policy Paradox and Political Reason John S. Dryzek and Davis B. Bobrow. 1987. Policy Analysis by Design
Preictal behavior in psychogenic and epileptic seizures

Abstract The purpose of our research was to study isolated manifestations observed before the attack proper in psychogenic seizures (PS). We studied preictal behavior in 192 PS in 97 consecutive patients diagnosed with prolonged electroencephalogram (EEG)-closed circuit TV (CCTV) monitoring. For comparison, we reviewed 81 complex partial seizures (CPS) recorded in 22 patients. We defined the onset of attacks based on patient or family report, or as the beginning of altered responsiveness or prominent motor activity or collapse. We studied the 5 minutes preceding perceived seizure onset as well as the seizure proper. Unusual movements or minor behavioral alterations were seen preceding the attack proper in 130 PS (68%) but only seven CPS (9%). In PS, the movements were repetitive in nature in 77% and discontinuous in 94%. They usually stopped before the onset of the attack proper. The predominant movements were most often in the upper extremities (25%), in the head or face (20%), or migratory (22%). Preictal behavioral changes are common in PS and may be helpful in differentiating PS from epileptic seizures.
Assessment of in vitro and in vivo activities in the National Cancer Institute's anticancer screen with respect to chemical structure, target specificity, and mechanism of action.

This paper examines two biological models of anticancer activity, cytotoxicity and hollow fiber (HF) activity, for chemotherapeutic agents evaluated as part of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) drug screening effort. Our analysis proposes strategies to globally assess compounds tested in the NCI’s 60-cell (NCI 60 )i n vitro anticancer screen in terms of structural features, biological activity, target specificity, and mechanism of action by data integration via our self-organizing maps of structural and biological response patterns. We have built statistical models to predict compound potency and HF activity based on physicochemical properties. Our results find that it is the combination of different structural properties that determines a compound’s biological activity. A direct correlation is also found between compound potency and specificity, indicating that specific targeting, rather than promiscuous poisoning, gives rise to potency. Finally, we offer a strategy to exploit this relationship for future mining of novel anticancer candidates.
Importance of the mouse liver tumor in carcinogenesis bioassay studies using benzidine dihydrochloride as a model

Abstract Benzidine dihydrochloride induced hepatocellular adenomas in male and female mice which appeared to progress to hepatocellular carcinomas as either the length of administration and/or the dose level of benzidine increased. The differentiation of hepatocellular carcinomas also correlated inversely with dose, and poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas metastasized more frequently. These findings support the view that the mouse liver tumor is predictive of carcinogenicity in bioassay studies.
Combination treatment of vertebral metastases using image-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and vertebroplasty: a case report.

Abstract Background We describe a case of vertebral metastases treated with a combination of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and vertebroplasty in a single session. Case Description A 45-year-old female with recently diagnosed metastatic non-small cell lung cancer was referred for consideration of vertebroplasty after having several weeks of back pain. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans of the thoracic spine revealed metastatic lesions at the T9 and T12 bodies. Radiofrequency ablation was performed using a starburst array electrode (Rita Medical Systems, Mountain View, Calif). The metastatic lesion in the T9 vertebral body measured 1.5 × 1.5 cm and was heated to 100°C for 5 minutes. Vertebroplasty was then performed on this lesion as well as a lesion at T12 with no complications. The patient was discharged home the same day without complaints. Conclusion Radiofrequency ablation and vertebroplasty are minimally invasive procedures that can be used in combination to treat spinal metastases. The pain relief from these treatments is often immediate. RFA can also be used to minimize procedure-related complications during the vertebroplasty. In properly selected patients, RFA may also increase the duration of local spinal stabilization afforded by the vertebroplasty alone. Long-term studies are warranted to assess the efficacy and durability of this unique approach.
Studies on β-adrenoceptors mediating changes in mechanical events and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate levels. Guinea-pig trachea

Abstract In quinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle, (−)-isoproterenol and (−)-soterenol increase cyclic AMP levels, the latter being classified as a partial agonist. The ED50 values were 1.74 × 10−7 M and 2.48 × 10−7M for isoproteronol and soteronol, respectively. Isoproterenol and soterenol were also examined as competitive antagonists of isoproterenol-induced increase in cyclic AMP levels. The apparent dissociation constants calculated from dose ratios for antogonism were 2.19 × 10−8 M for isoproterenol and 08.38 × 10−8 M for soterenol. These values are the same as apparent dissociation constants obtained in previous studies on relaxation produced by these agonsits. Carbachol, the functional antagonist use to estimate agonist dissociation constants for production of relaxation, antagonized isoproterenol- and soterenol-induced increases in cyclic AMP only in the central region of their dose-response curves without blocking effects of small or large doses of either agonist. This antagonism was demonstrated to be calcium-dependent. The results are consistent with the view that β-receptors mediating relaxation and diseases in cyclic AMP levels in guinea-pig trahea are of the same type and that differences in concentrations required to elicit the two responses is a result of the receptor reserve. A larger receptor reserves for β-agonist in tracheal smooth muscle vs. heart is considered to be a major determinant in quantitative responses produced in the two tissues.
"Extinction" of a head-bumping symptom of eight years' duration in two minutes: a case report.

Abstract A head-bumping Symptom of 8 years duration was “extinguished” in 2 min. by requiring the patient to perform the habit in the presence of the therapist, whose approval was highly important to the patient. The outcome suggested that the patient's expectancy of shameful feelings. and desire to please the therapist led to her continued freedom from the symptom.
Hate Speech and Constitutional Protection: Priming Values of Equality and Freedom

Freedom of speech and equality are two basic values in American culture that cause a value conflict with regard to hate speech. This study examined the effects of priming of values of freedom of speech and equal protection (equality) on perceptions of and attitudes toward hate speech and value prioritization. Data were collected from 159 college students. Priming of freedom of speech directed participants' attitudes and values toward advocating freedom of speech, whereas priming for equal protection directed attitudes and values toward the harm of hate speech. Participants primed for free speech viewed hate speech (introduced via scenarios) as less harmful and the speaker as less accountable than those primed for the harm of hate speech and a control group.
Oxygen mass transfer requirements during the growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on iron pyrite

The purpose of this study is the determination of the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficients (k) required to maintain the oxygen concentration above the critical level during the growth of T. ferrooxidans on solid substrate in the form of iron pyrite. Critical oxygen concentrations measured at several temperatures and at a pH of 2.5 indicate that the limiting oxygen concentration for the growth of T. ferrooxidans is approximately 5% of the oxygen concentration at saturation. Calculations show that, to prevent oxygen from limiting bacterial growth (hence leaching rate), the reactor must be designed to operate with a k-value equal to or greater than 58,5 hr/sup -1/. 14 refs.
Matrices permutable to ∗ matrices

Abstract A (0, 1) matrix (aij) is said to be a ∗ matrix iff aij = 1 implies ai′j′ = 1 for all (i′, j′) satisfying 1 ⩽ i′ ⩽ i, 1 ⩽ j′ ⩽ j. (0, 1) matrices permutable to ∗ matrices are characterized and counted. Commutivity of matrices which permute to ∗ matrices is also discussed.
VOC Elimination in a Compost Biofilter Using a Previously Acclimated Bacterial Inoculum

A comparison of biodegradation efficiencies was done for volatile benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m-xylene, p-xylene, and o-xylene elimination in a compost biofilter. The column was first exposed to a synthetic mixture and then a free phase product mixture containing these compounds at increasing pollutant loads. The optimal moisture content of the system was determined, and this was used in the biodegradation experiments. An acclimated culture was used as an inoculum for the biofilter, the matrix of which consisted of composted forestry products, composted sewage sludge, lime, and perlite. Inlet and outlet concentrations were measured, and pollutant loads, elimination capacities, and removal efficiencies were determined for each of the compounds. Optimal moisture content for this system was found to be 40%, and the short lag times (one to five days) in acclimating to the compounds was ascribed to the presence of the well-acclimated inoculum. The compounds in the synthetic mixture had higher removal efficiencies (80-99%) even at the higher pollutant loads experienced, with the exception of o-xylene. Dynamic removal efficiencies and acclimation periods were seen in the free phase product mixture, with a removal efficiency range from 70 to 95%. This was attributed to the presence of chlorinated aliphatics in the free phase product.
Superattenuation in the tryptophan operon of Serratia marcescens.

Deletions were generated in vitro in the leader region of the tryptophan operon of Serratia marcescens and subsequently incorporated into the Escherichia coli chromosome in single copy form. Deletions which removed the translation start codon for the leader peptide or which ended in the ribosome recognition region preceding the leader peptide coding segment, caused super attenuation, that is, increased transcription termination at the attenuator. Apparently, the capacity to initiate translation of this coding region modulates expression of the operon.
Fictions of fictitious capital: American Psycho and the poetics of deregulation

Patrick Bateman (American Psycho, 1991 [set 1989]) lives on the dash between the M's (M-M1-M2), as represented by Marx's formula for finance (or ‘fictitious’) capital. M differs from M1 (and so on) insofar as the increase represents money made from money (or from financial instruments) rather than from production (or M-C-M1, where ‘C’ may be understood either as Commodity [produced, distributed, consumed] or as Capital [accumulated prior to investment in manufacture]). This essay takes the financier Bateman's preferred activities, brand display, torture, and the serial liquification of ‘hardbodies’, as quasi-allegorical representations of the working of finance capital during the Reagan presidency. In the thin phenomenology of Bateman's experience, an anxious experience of pain-making, fetishism, and disavowal, traces of a means whereby fictitious capital might be critiqued may be discerned.
Epitaxial growth of SrTiO3 thin films by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Epitaxial SrTiO3 thin films were prepared using low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The volatile metalorganic precursors employed were Sr(hexafluoroacetyl acetonate)2⋅tetraglyme and titanium tetraisopropoxide. Single‐phase, epitaxial films were deposited on (100)LaAlO3 at a temperature of 810 °C. In‐plane epitaxy was verified using x‐ray phi scan analysis. The SrTiO3 films exhibit a significant tetragonal distortion with c/a=1.010(±1.6×10−4) at room temperature. No evidence of fluorine contamination is noted by x‐ray diffraction or by Auger electron spectroscopy measurements.
Efficacy of Manual Therapy

The use of manual therapy to treat somatic pain syndromes and associated disabilities is widespread. Yet, the efficacy of manual therapy has not been previously established because equivocal findings in the literature prevent definitive conclusions. The purposes of this article are (1) to establish objective criteria for judging the validity of manual therapy research, (2) to identify and discuss the results of those trials that were determined to be valid demonstrations of treatment efficacy or valid demonstrations of nonuseful therapy, and (3) to determine whether patients who benefit from manual therapy have common characteristics. The abstracts or full reports of 146 titles with appropriate key words were reviewed. Of these, 105 studies were not primary studies of manual therapy and were thus eliminated from review. In the 41 remaining studies, 18 did not utilize statistical comparisons or report blinded assessment of outcome measures. Nine controlled studies yielded negative results, but the statistical power or minimum sample size required to detect potential differences between manual therapy and control groups was not described. The 14 studies that met the efficacy criteria were categorized by the following factors: (1) the anatomical region of intervention, (2) pragmatic versus explanatory goals, and (3) primary intervention (manipulation, mobilization, combination). There was a paucity of valid explanatory research in all areas and a particular absence of controlled trials involving manual therapy applied to the peripheral joints. Manual therapy for low back pain, however, was studied extensively. The analysis of valid trials provided clear evidence that manual therapy, particularly manipulation, can be an effective modality when used to treat patients who have low back pain. A preliminary "profile" of the patient with low back pain who would likely benefit from manual therapy included acute symptom onset with less than a 1-month duration of symptoms, central or paravertebral pain distribution, no previous exposure to spinal manipulation, and no pending litigation or workers' compensation. Suggestions for future manual therapy research are discussed.
Health Policy Basics: Health Insurance Marketplaces

Starting on 1 October 2013, most individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for and enroll in health insurance coverage through their state's health insurance marketplace, also known as an exchange. The health insurance marketplaces will serve as a one-stop resource to help the uninsured and the underinsured find comprehensive health coverage that fits their needs and budget and determine whether they qualify for health insurance tax credits provided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Physicians may benefit because insured patients are more likely to have a regular source of care, adhere to medical regimens, and access preventive care. However, implementation of the marketplaces may prove challenging if enrollment numbers are insufficient, technical problems arise, and patients are unable to access providers. Despite these potential issues, physicians are encouraged to educate themselves about how the marketplaces work so they can direct their patients to find the coverage that best meets their medical needs.
Sickle Cell Trait and Incident Ischemic Stroke in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Background and Purpose—Numerous case reports describe stroke in individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) in the absence of traditional risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. To date, no prospective epidemiological studies have investigated this association. Methods—A population-based sample of blacks (n=3497; mean age=54 years; female=62%) was followed from 1987 to 2011 in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, contributing a total of 65 371 person-years. Hazard ratios and incidence rate differences for ischemic stroke were estimated, contrasting SCT to homozygous hemoglobin A. Models were adjusted for age, sex, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, total cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, and coronary heart disease. Results—SCT was identified in 223 (6.4%) participants. During a median follow-up of 22 years, 401 subjects experienced incident stroke (89% ischemic). Incident ischemic stroke was more frequent among those with SCT (13%) than those with homozygous hemoglobin A (10%). SCT ...
LTE PHY performance analysis under 3GPP standards parameters

Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been introduced by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and is poised to dominate the 4th generation (4G) of mobile telecommunication networks. In this article, we present an in-depth analysis of the LTE physical layer's characteristics and its performance. Our work is unique in providing a detailed performance study based on Release 8 of the 3GPP standard. Several works have discussed the LTE performance; however, most have been restricted to limited scenarios. Our work shows a more comprehensive investigation of the maximum data throughput under different conditions and scenarios. Our performance study includes TDD and FDD operational modes for uplink and downlink transmissions in different antenna diversity schemes, data modulation, and code rates. Our results show that LTE (3GPP-Release 8) supports downlink throughputs of up to 300Mbps and for the uplink a throughput of up to 75 Mbps.
Smoothened variants explain the majority of drug resistance in basal cell carcinoma

Advanced basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) frequently acquire resistance to Smoothened (SMO) inhibitors through unknown mechanisms. Here we identify SMO mutations in 50% (22 of 44) of resistant BCCs and show that these mutations maintain Hedgehog signaling in the presence of SMO inhibitors. Alterations include four ligand binding pocket mutations defining sites of inhibitor binding and four variants conferring constitutive activity and inhibitor resistance, illuminating pivotal residues that ensure receptor autoinhibition. In the presence of a SMO inhibitor, tumor cells containing either class of SMO mutants effectively outcompete cells containing the wild-type SMO. Finally, we show that both classes of SMO variants respond to aPKC-ι/λ or GLI2 inhibitors that operate downstream of SMO, setting the stage for the clinical use of GLI antagonists.
State-space family realization of 2-D linear digital systems

A procedure is proposed for obtaining a family of state-space models from a two-dimensional transfer function matrix. The resulting model is in terms of an arbitrary parameter a. By substituting different values of a, different realizations with the same transfer function matrix are obtained. The proposed technique utilizes the method given by R. Eising (IEEE Trans. Automat. Control, vol.AC-23, p.793-9, 1978), and the final state-space model is in the form of R.P. Roesser's (1975) 2-D model. Two different levels of family realization are obtained by expansion of the transfer function matrix about the arbitrary parameter a. The resulting system matrices from the family realisation algorithm are more general than the system matrices obtained from existing algorithms and should be useful in those applications where a secondary criterion can be optimized by varying an arbitrary parameter a. The procedure is illustrated with the help of an example. >
Fastanova: an efficient algorithm for genome-wide association study

Studying the association between quantitative phenotype (such as height or weight) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is an important problem in biology. To understand underlying mechanisms of complex phenotypes, it is often necessary to consider joint genetic effects across multiple SNPs. ANOVA (analysis of variance) test is routinely used in association study. Important findings from studying gene-gene (SNP-pair) interactions are appearing in the literature. However, the number of SNPs can be up to millions. Evaluating joint effects of SNPs is a challenging task even for SNP-pairs. Moreover, with large number of SNPs correlated, permutation procedure is preferred over simple Bonferroni correction for properly controlling family-wise error rate and retaining mapping power, which dramatically increases the computational cost of association study.In this paper, we study the problem of finding SNP-pairs that have significant associations with a given quantitative phenotype. We propose an efficient algorithm, FastANOVA, for performing ANOVA tests on SNP-pairs in a batch mode, which also supports large permutation test. We derive an upper bound of SNP-pair ANOVA test, which can be expressed as the sum of two terms. The first term is based on single-SNP ANOVA test. The second term is based on the SNPs and independent of any phenotype permutation. Furthermore, SNP-pairs can be organized into groups, each of which shares a common upper bound. This allows for maximum reuse of intermediate computation, efficient upper bound estimation, and effective SNP-pair pruning. Consequently, FastANOVA only needs to perform the ANOVA test on a small number of candidate SNP-pairs without the risk of missing any significant ones. Extensive experiments demonstrate that FastANOVA is orders of magnitude faster than the brute-force implementation of ANOVA tests on all SNP pairs.
Naturally Occurring and Bracken-Fern-Induced Bovine Urinary Bladder Tumors Clinical and Morphological Characteristics

Clinical and morphological characteristics of 139 naturally occurring and 20 braken-fern-induced urinary bladder tumors of cows were studied. Hematuria was prominent and occurred as early as 60 days after braken fern feeding began. Anemia and changes in leukocytes were late manifestations. Papillomas appeared as early as 1 year, whereas invasive carcinomas did not develop until 2.6 years after initiation of feeding. Twenty of 30 cows fed braken fern developed bladder tumors within 5.3 years. None of eight untreated control cows that lived 4 years or six that lived 10 years developed neoplasms. Naturally occurring and fern-induced bladder tumors were epithelial (35%) or mixed epithelial and stromal (55%). Papillomas occurred in 24% and carcinomas in 61% of naturally occurring cases, whereas there were papillomas (40%) and carcinomas (50%) in fern-fed cows. Naturally occurring tumors were metastatic to regional lymph nodes and lung. No metastases were detected in fern-fed cows.
Bayesian regression with input noise for high dimensional data

This paper examines high dimensional regression with noise-contaminated input and output data. Goals of such learning problems include optimal prediction with noiseless query points and optimal system identification. As a first step, we focus on linear regression methods, since these can be easily cast into nonlinear learning problems with locally weighted learning approaches. Standard linear regression algorithms generate biased regression estimates if input noise is present and suffer numerically when the data contains redundancy and irrelevancy. Inspired by Factor Analysis Regression, we develop a variational Bayesian algorithm that is robust to ill-conditioned data, automatically detects relevant features, and identifies input and output noise -- all in a computationally efficient way. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques on synthetic data and on a system identification task for a rigid body dynamics model of a robotic vision head. Our algorithm performs 10 to 70% better than previously suggested methods.
Inertia and Interception in the Deposition of Particles from Boundary Layers

The treatment of Parnas and Friedlander for the problem of particle capture by interception in laminar boundary layers is generalized to include the effect of inertia. For a circular cylinder in cross-flow it is seen that the collection efficiency is initially reduced by inertia at small Stokes number, Stk, and depends mainly on the product of Stk and the square root of the Reynolds number. An approximate method of extending this work to other two-dimensional or axisymmetric geometries is sketched.
Using Economic and Regulatory Incentives to Restore Endangered Species: Lessons Learned from Three New Programs

We studied three new incentive-based programs for restoring endangered species on private lands in the United States: safe harbor, Environmental Defense's Landowner Conservation Assistance Program, and conservation banking. For each program, we gathered data on the number of participating landowners, the number of species targeted for assistance, and the cumulative acreage of enrolled land. Measured in this way, both safe harbor and the Landowner Conservation Assistance Program have been remarkably successful. Landowners are drawn to three aspects of these programs: (1) the removal of regulatory burdens associated with attracting endangered species to their property; (2) technical guidance on how to restore habitats for endangered species; and (3) cost-share assistance for habitat restoration. Technical guidance appears to be more important than either regulatory relief or financial assistance in securing the cooperation of some landowners. Assessing the success or failure of conservation banking proved more difficult, given the relatively small number of banks created to date and the lack of any centralized database on them. However, nearly half of the 47 endangered-species conservation banks we surveyed have sold credits, indicating some success in either acquiring or restoring essential habitats.
Analysis and design of symbol mappers for iteratively decoded BICM

Iterative decoding and demodulation of bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) is investigated. The union bound on the error probability of BICM with maximum-likelihood (ML) decoding is derived with the assumption of a uniform interleaver. Based on the union bound, it is shown that an interleaving gain is achievable for BICM at high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The design rules on the symbol mapper for optimal asymptotic performance at high SNR are derived and a new symbol mapper, called the maximum squared Euclidean weight (MSEW) symbol mapper, is proposed with examples given for 8-PSK and 16-QAM. The MSEW mapper is shown by means of an extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart to provide the best error-floor performance for BICM at high SNR. At low SNR, a mapper doping technique is proposed that combines the MSEW mapper with Gray mapper to provide a good match to a given outer code. Simulation results are also presented to confirm our analysis.
NanoPort: an example for building knowledge portals for scientific domains

We describe the NanoPort (www.nanoport.org) system to demonstrate a general framework of building domain-specific knowledge portals. These portals consolidate diverse information resources and provide rich functionalities to support effective information retrieval and knowledge discovery.
Cyberstalking: moral responsibility, and legal liability issues for Internet service providers

The study examines a range of moral issues associated with recent cyberstalking cases. Particular attention is centered on the Amy Boyer/Liam Youens case of cyberstalking, which raises a host of considerations that we believe have a significant impact for ethical behavior on the Internet. Among the questions we consider are those having to do with legal liability and (possible) moral responsibility that Internet service providers (ISPs) have for stalking crimes that occur in their "space" on the Internet as well as issues of moral responsibility for individual online users to determine their obligation to inform persons who are targeted by cyberstalkers, when it is in their power to do so.
Semigroups of non-negative integral matrices

In [1], Pall proved an interesting result on a certain class of 2 × 2 integral matrices. He showed that the semigroup of 2 × 2 matrices of determinant 1 and non-negative entries contains exactly 2 primes , and every other non-unit is expressible uniquely as products of these primes. Before formally stating this result, we need some notation. Let G n denote the semigroup of n × n matrices with determinant 1 and nonnegative integral entries, I n the n × n identity matrix, the n × n matrix with a 1 as its ( i, j ) element and zeros elsewhere, and let . When the dimension is clear, we shall drop the superscripts.
Realizing the Promise of Robotic Leg Prostheses

Recent advances in robotics technology are enabling the emergence of robotic leg prostheses that can emulate the full biomechanical functionality of the healthy limb. The behavior of such prostheses is software-controllable, in an analogous manner to the way in which the central nervous system controls the human musculoskeletal system. Although these prostheses have the capability of reproducing the biomechanical behavior of the healthy limb, their ability to do so is a function of how well the prosthesis control system coordinates the movement of the leg with the movement of the user.
Peep (The Network Auralizer): Monitoring Your Network with Sound

Activities in complex networks are often both too important to ignore and too tedious to watch. We created a network monitoring system, Peep, that replaces visual monitoring with a sonic 'ecology' of natural sounds, where each kind of sound represents a specific kind of network event. This system combines network state information from multiple data sources, by mixing audio signals into a single audio stream in real time. Using Peep, one can easily detect common network problems such as high load, excessive traffic, and email spam, by comparing sounds being played with those of a normally functioning network. This allows the system administrator to concentrate on more important things while monitoring the network via peripheral hearing.
Distributed critical location coverage in wireless sensor networks with lifetime constraint

In many surveillance scenarios, there are some known critical locations where the events of concern are expected to occur. A common goal in such applications is to use sensors to monitor these critical locations with sufficient quality of surveillance within a designated period. However, with limited sensing resources, the coverage and lifetime requirement may not be satisfied at the same time. Thus, sometimes the sensor needs to reduce its duty cycle in order to satisfy the stringent lifetime constraint. In this paper, we model the critical location coverage problem using a point coverage model with the objective of scheduling sensors to maximize the event detection probability while meeting the network lifetime requirement. We show that this problem is NP-hard and propose a distributed algorithm with a provable approximation ratio of 0.5. Extensive simulations show that the proposed distributed algorithm outperforms the extensions of several state-of-the-art schemes with a significant margin while preserving the network lifetime requirement.
Design of substrate label for steady state flux measurements in plant systems using the metabolic network of Brassica napus embryos.

Steady state metabolic flux analysis using 13 C labeled substrates is of growing importance in plant physiology and metabolic engineering. The quality of the flux estimates in 13 C metabolic flux analysis depend on the: (i) network structure; (ii) flux values; (iii) design of the labeling substrate; and (iv) label measurements performed. Whereas the first two parameters are facts of nature, the latter two are to some extent controlled by the experimenter, yet they have received little attention in most plant studies. Using the metabolic flux map of developing Brassica napus (Rapeseed) embryos, this study explores the value of optimal substrate label designs obtained with different statistical criteria and addresses the applicability of different optimal designs to biological questions. The results demonstrate the value of optimizing the choice of labeled substrates and show that substrate combinations commonly used in bacterial studies can be far from optimal for mapping fluxes in plant systems. The value of performing additional experiments and the inclusion of measurements is also evaluated. � 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cytomegalovirus Infection and Antibody Protection of the Developing Placenta

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is transmitted from the infected mother to the placenta and fetus. Virus replicates in the decidua, invasive cytotrophoblasts that breach the uterine vasculature and villous cytotrophoblasts underlying syncytiotrophoblasts, then reaches blood vessels in the villus core. Virus replication, fibrosis, and edema result in a hypoxic intrauterine environment and release of cytokines that stimulates compensatory development of the placenta. We employed villous explant cultures to study viral effects on differentiation and test novel approaches to rescue the placenta from infection.
Euler summation for fourier series and laplace transform inversion

Euler summation is a convergence-acceleration technique which has proved very effective in Fourier-series methods for Laplace transform inversion. We present an analysis of the effect of Euler summation that explains its excellent performance. The central result is a bound on the truncation error when Euler summation is used. Our analysis supports some of the parameter-selection strategies proposed in Abate and Whitt's recent comprehensive treatment of Fourier series methods [2]. Specifically, we show that if our goal is to minimize the required number of terms of the Fourier series subject to the truncation error bound being no more than a specified target accuracy, then the “degree of averaging parameter” m should depend only on the desired accuracy, and not on properties of the function in question (so long as that function is sufficiently smooth). We also present a framework, here called “product smoothing, ” for constructing related summation methods with desirable properties
Metabolic Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Endurance exercise is widely recommended in the treatment paradigm of various hyperlipoproteinemias for its putative anti-atherogenic action on circulating lipids and apolipoproteins (Fig. 7.1) and to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, which may lower atherosclerotic risk independent of lipids and other risk factors [1]. Support for this notion, however, is largely based on research in normocholesterolemic subjects. Training studies in hypercholesterolemic subjects are rare, and lipid results are inconclusive [2].
Emetine promotes VHL-independent inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha in a renal carcinoma cell line

1311 Inactivating mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau ( VHL ) tumor suppressor gene are associated with inherited VHL syndrome which is characterized by susceptibility to a variety of neoplasms including central nervous system hemangioblastoma and clear cell renal carcinoma. Mutations in the VHL gene are also found in the majority of sporadic clear cell renal carcinoma, the most common malignant neoplasm of the human kidney. Inactivation of VHL is associated with normoxic stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and 2-α gene products (HIF-1α and HIF-2α), central regulators of tumor angiogenesis, invasion, survival, and glucose utilization. HIF-2α has been particularly implicated in the development of clear cell renal carcinoma. While several inhibitors of HIF-1α have been described, these drugs typically have minimal impact on HIF-2α expression/activity. 786-O is a VHL-deficient RCC cell line that constitutively expresses only HIF-2α, and is therefore suitable for screening of novel HIF-2α inhibitors. Using this cell line, we have identified emetine as a specific inhibitor of HIF-2α protein stability and function. Without altering HIF-2α mRNA level, emetine rapidly and dramatically down-regulated HIF-2α protein expression in 786-O cells. HIF-2α down-regulation was accompanied by HIF-2α ubiquitination, and was reversed by proteasome inhibition. However, emetine-induced HIF-2α downregulation was calcium-dependent and insensitive to the prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor dimethyloxallyl glycine, suggesting that emetine can access a previously undescribed proteasome-dependent degradation pathway that is independent of VHL and does not require HIF proline hydroxylation necessary for recognition of HIF by the VHL ubiquitin ligase. Further, we observed that emetine caused a 5’-TOP (tract of pyrimidines)-dependent inhibition of HIF mRNA translation. Finally, both mRNA and protein expression of the HIF target genes GLUT-1, TGFα and VEGF were reduced by emetine, demonstrating the functional consequence of HIF inhibition in this model system. These data support further investigation of emetine or structurally related compounds as useful leads for identification of novel HIF-2α inhibitors that impact both HIF-2α protein translation and stability.
Comparative reduction of Norwalk virus, poliovirus type 1, F+ RNA coliphage MS2 and Escherichia coli in miniature soil columns.

Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) are important agents of waterborne illness and have been linked to several groundwater-related outbreaks. The presence of human enteric viruses, in particular the presence of NLVs, is difficult to detect in the environment. Consequently, surrogate organisms are typically used as indicators of viruses from faecal contamination. Whether traditional bacterial indicators are reliable indicators for viral pathogens remains uncertain. Few studies have directly compared mobility and reduction of bacterial indicators (e.g. coliforms, Escherichia coli) and other surrogate indicators (coliphages) with pathogenic human viruses in soil systems. In this study the mobility and comparative reduction of the prototype NLV, Norwalk Virus (NV), was compared to poliovirus 1 (PV1), a bacterial indicator (E coli, EC) and a viral indicator (coliphage MS2) through miniature soil columns. Replicate, 10 cm deep, miniature columns were prepared using three soils representing a range of soil textures (sand, organic muck, and clay). Columns were initially conditioned, then incubated at 10-14 degrees C, dosed twice weekly for 8 weeks with one column pore volume of virus-seeded groundwater per dose, followed by 8 weeks of dosing with one column pore volume per dose of unseeded, simulated rainwater. Columns were allowed to drain after each dosing until an effluent volume equivalent to an applied dose was collected. Column effluents and doses were assayed for all viruses and EC. Rapid mobility with minimal reduction was observed for all organisms in the sand. Similar reductions were observed in organic muck for most organisms but NV showed a greater reduction. No organisms were shown to pass through the clay columns. Elution of viruses, in particular PV1, from the columns was gradual. After cessation of microbe dosing, E. coli was less detectable than viruses in column effluents and, therefore, unreliable as a virus indicator.
FRACTURES IN THE AGED.

The most common cause of fractures in the elderly is falling.Urinalysis, hemoglobin determination and a thoracic roentgenogram always should be obtained for the elderly patient with a major fracture. Determination of the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes aids in assessment of the patient for treatment.Treatment should be selected on an individual basis. Good nursing care is most important, and the patient should be provided with a familiar environment or familiar articles to decrease disorientation and delirium. If surgical intervention is indicated, it should be accomplished with dispatch in accord with good surgical principles.The physician's obligation to the patient continues after the fracture has healed until the patient is returned to the best possible condition according to the injury sustained.
Leveraging social network analysis for research on journalism in the information age

Advances in information and communication technologies connect media organizations, media content, and audiences in new ways. This essay advocates the use of a relational approach to study journalism and media in the information age. This article begins with a review of the communication network typology, highlighting its applicability to journalism studies. A review of journalism studies that use social network analysis reveals a number of new opportunities for research. Finally, the essay illustrates the heuristic value of the communication network typology and multidimensional networks for the study of journalism and media.
Aestivation Sites and Thermal Characteristics of an Aestival Microhabitat of Hypera brunneipennis1 , 2

In California, the Egyptian alfalfa weevil, Hypera brunneipennis (Boheman), aestivates in a variety of sheltered sites both near and far from, but not within, alfalfa fields. Within the microhabitat of one of these, hourly mean temperatures in the range optimum for survival and aestival development (20–25°C) prevailed during 46% of a 24-h period as opposed to only 25% of the period in an unsheltered site. Evidently the sheltered site offers the dormant weevils protection from direct exposure to lethal ambient temperatures and also provides them thermal conditions favorable for aestival development and survival through the summer.
RENAL VASCULAR RESPONSE TO HYPOTHERMIA.

SummaryThe vascular response of the perfused isolated dog kidney to acute periods of hypothermia has been carried out in specially designed experiments to remove interfering vascular effects of altered blood viscosity and extravascular pressure. Results show an active renal vasoconstriction occurring during the rewarming period, resulting from the release of adrenergic agents by the stressed animal. It is concluded that both active and passive components of renal resistance are involved during certain phases of hypothermia.
Quantitative Proteomics of Vestibular Schwannoma Cerebrospinal Fluid A Pilot Study

This pilot study aimed to identify candidate proteins for future study that are differentially expressed in vestibular schwannoma (VS) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and to compare such proteins with those previously identified in perilymph and specimen secretions. CSF was collected intraoperatively prior to removal of untreated sporadic VS (3 translabyrinthine, 3 middle cranial fossa approaches) and compared with reference CSF samples. After proteolytic digestion and iTRAQ labeling, tandem mass spectrometry with ProteinPilot was used to identify candidate proteins. Of the 237 proteins detected, 13 were dysregulated in ≥3 of the 6 VS patients versus controls, and 13 were dysregulated (12 up, 1 down) in samples from patients with class D versus class B hearing. Four perilymph proteins of interest were dysregulated in ≥1 VS CSF samples. Thus, 26 candidate VS CSF biomarkers were identified that should be considered in future VS biomarker and tumor pathophysiology investigations.
The Hurst Exponent of Sunspot Counts: A Note

It is shown that the time series of sunspot counts may be represented as the sum of a regular cyclical process and a random Hurst process. In the 2375-month study period 1/1818-11/2015, the optimal cyclical components of mean monthly sunspot counts consist of a short wave function with a period of 131 months and a long wave function in which the amplitude of the short wave undergoes a 100-year cycle. The residuals of this model, though random, exhibit properties of the Hurst phenomenon in which dependence, memory, and persistence generate apparent patterns out of randomness. The findings imply that not all patterns in the empirical record of sunspot counts contain useful information because some patterns represent random behavior.