cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The variance of the number of customers in an infinite-server queueing system with an arbitrarily correlated arrival process

Motivated by a container storage problem at seaports, this paper examines the infinite-server queueing model with a (second order) stationary but arbitrarily correlated arrival process. It starts with a description of the application context, including an explanation of why non-standard inputs and service times arise in certain container storage problems. As further illustration, formulas characterizing the input and service processes for a particular situation are then presented and justified, together with the simple container accumulation variance formula that follows from the general results derived later. The paper then describes the general results. After reviewing the properties of a general arrival process, and based on minimal assumptions, it presents exact expressions for the variance of the number of customers in the system. (The expression for the mean is already well known.) Expressions are first derived for general independent service times and then for more general service processes that are of importance in port applications.
Unexpected advanced generation cephalosporinase activity of the M69F variant of SHV β-lactamase

Infections with bacteria that contain hydrolytic β-lactamase enzymes are becoming a serious problem in the United States. Mutations at Met-69, an amino acid proximal to the active site Ser-70 in the TEM-1 and SHV-1 β-lactamases, have emerged as a puzzling cause of bacterial resistance to inhibitors of β-lactamases. Site-saturation mutagenesis of the 69 position in SHV β-lactamase was performed to determine how mutations of this non-catalytic residue play a role in increasing 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50 concentrations) for clinically important β-lactamase enzyme inhibitors. Two distinct phenotypes are evident in the variant β-lactamases studied: significantly increased minimum inhibitory concentrations (μg/ml) and IC50concentrations to clavulanic acid for the Met69Ile, Leu, and Val substitutions, and unanticipated increased minimum inhibitory concentrations and hydrolytic activity toward ceftazidime, an advanced generation cephalosporin antibiotic, for the Met69Lys, Tyr- and Phe-substituted enzymes. Molecular modeling studies emphasize the conserved structure of these substitutions despite great variation in substrate specificity. This study demonstrates the key role of Met-69 in defining substrate specificity of SHV β-lactamases and alerts us to new phenotypes that may emerge clinically.
Travelling through cinema space: the film spectator as tourist

This paper develops the notion of cinema spectatorship as a travel experience. Drawing on well-known and lesser-known works on spectatorship theory and cinematic space, it argues that part of the pleasure of spectatorship is imagining one is inhabiting a virtual space, distinct from the real space of viewing. Cinematic space is thus fundamentally ‘other’ but it is a contained otherness that allows the spectator both the thrill of experiencing something distinct from one's norm and the comfort of protection from this difference. The dynamic of contained otherness is most akin to the travel experience of tourism. While these qualities are inherent in the medium of fictional moving images, film form also plays a role in accepting a touristic gaze or questioning it.
Computable examples of the maximal Lyapunov exponent

Some new examples are given of sequences of matrix valued random variables for which it is possible to compute the maximal Lyapunov exponent. The examples are constructed by using a sequence of stopping times to group the original sequence into commuting blocks. If the original sequence is the outcome of independent Bernoulli trials with success probability p, then the maximal Lyapunov exponent may be expressed in terms of power series in p, with explicit formulae for the coefficients. The convexity of the maximal Lyapunov exponent as a function of p is discussed, as is an application to branching processes in a random environment.
The Temporal Association Between γδ T Cells and the Natural History of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

We previously reported a significant increase in percentages of peripheral blood gamma delta+ T cells in islet cell antibody (ICA) positive relatives of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD). In the present study, we further characterized this T cell abnormality in a larger group of ICA+ subjects and report that (1) Percentages of gamma delta+ T lymphocytes were significantly increased only in subjects with high ICA titers (> or = 20 JDF units) (P = 0.005) and resulted from an increase in absolute numbers of gamma delta+ T lymphocytes. (2) In these subjects, the increase in gamma delta+ T lymphocytes was associated with an increase in the V gamma 9 V delta 2 subpopulation (r = 0.99). (3) In these same subjects, high percentages of gamma delta+ T lymphocytes were associated with normal beta cell function while low percentages were associated with diminished insulin response. Using 65 microU/ml as the threshold of abnormal intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) response, percentages of gamma delta+ T lymphocytes could significantly predict IVGTT status in these subjects (P < 0.01). A longitudinal follow-up further suggested that the development of an abnormal IVGTT response and progression to diabetes was associated with a decrease in percentages of gamma delta+ T lymphocytes while patients whose gamma delta+ T cell percentages remained high retained normal beta cell function. Our data therefore suggest that gamma delta+ T lymphocytes and more specifically V gamma 9 V delta 2 T cells are implicated in the autoimmune process leading to diabetes and may have a regulatory role. The monitoring of their percentages in the blood of patients at risk for diabetes may be useful as an additional predictor of diabetes development.
The Chemistry of Oxygen in Silicon

Some of the key issues involving the chemistry of oxygen in silicon crystals are presented in this paper. The incorporation of oxygen into Czochralski-grown ingots from melt contact with silica crucibles is described in the context of the Si-SiO 2 phase diagram. The techniques for characterizing oxygen in silicon are reviewed, with an emphasis on the use of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and 18 O isotope substitution. The intrinsic diffusivity and solubility of oxygen in silicon derived from these SIMS measurements are compared to similar results from other techniques as well as related extrinsic behavior of oxygen. Aggregation phenomena involving oxygen, including thermal donor formation and precipitation are discussed. Finally, the recent progress in understanding internal gettering and shear stress are summarized.
Endorphins and the central inhibition of urinary bladder motility

The involvement of endogenous opioid mechanisms in the central neurogenic control of urinary bladder function has been examined in anesthetized rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjections of beta-endorphin (0.5-2.0 micrograms) produced powerful inhibition of rhythmic bladder contractions initiated by central reflex activity. The peptide fragments gamma-endorphin and alpha-endorphin (4-16 micrograms), formed by the processing of beta-endorphin by membrane homogenates of brain, were less active than the parent compound. The inhibitory effects of beta-endorphin was reversed by ICV naloxone (1-2 micrograms) but higher doses were required to reverse gamma- or alpha-endorphin effects. ICV naloxone administered alone increased intravesicular pressure and bladder contraction frequency. These observations support the hypothesis that the endorphins have a physiological role in the central regulation of urinary bladder activity.
Possible origins of infixation in Khmer

The existence of infixation in Austroasiatic has always been treated as a given: one of such antiquity that it has been proposed as a possible index of genetic affiliation with Austronesian. Nor does the comparative method allow the reconstruction of a typologically more plausible set of prefixes from which the attested infixes could have been derived via metathesis.Yet a plausible mechanism for the infixation process can be suggested on the basis of internal reconstruction, given the following facts about Khmer:1. A canonical iambic word structure;2. An ongoing process of initial syllable erosion whose most consistent effect is the simplification and reduction of the rhyme of the anacrusic syllable.Both facts, although currently attested, are also of great antiquity in Austroasiatic. In Viet-Muong, the process of erosion, unchecked, led to a lexicon of monosyllabic roots. In (Mon-)Khmer, erosion created a perceived gap in the structure of the word. Infixation plugs that gap.
Efficacy of the Antimicrobial Peptide Nisin in Emulsifying Oil in Water

: Nisin is an amphiphilic, antimicrobial peptide that has found application as a preservative in the food industry. Evaluation of nisin as an emulsifier was accomplished by measuring its ability to stabilize dispersed oil droplets in water. This was achieved by monitoring the time-dependent electrical conductivity of the dispersion. Nisin solutions at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 mg/ml were used to prepare emulsions, by homogenization of a volume of nisin solution and corn oil. While nisin showed significant emulsifying capacity in comparison to Tween® 80 and β-casein, its emulsifying properties were found to be highly concentration- and pH-dependent.
A real-time library of medicine for practicing physicians.

An on-line, practice-oriented library system now exists in prototype form which can act as a central repository of medical information. The source data are gathered by the residents at Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics at the University of Florida as part of their rotation through clinical pathology. The information is continually updated and reviewed every 3 months by new residents and area specialists. Plans are under way to make this pool of information accessible to all levels of the health care team in an instantaneously addressable fashion via CRT (cathode ray tube). After many months of resource development, we have major sections of an on-line dictionary of clinical and surgical pathology and expect to expand this in the future to include a medical problem-oriented indexing system, a diseaseoriented library, and a page-associated file of references.
Specific Heat of Pure Zinc and Dilute Zinc-Manganese Alloys below 5°K

The specific heats of degassed pure zinc and ZnMn alloys containing 0.02- and 0.05-at.% Mn have been measured in the range 0.4-3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, and an alloy containing 0.2-at.% Mn in the range 0.4-5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. A new "stud" technique was used to establish thermal contact with the copper-tray calorimeter. For normal pure zinc (0.9-3.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K), the electronic specific-heat coefficient is 151.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.1 \ensuremath{\mu}cal/\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}${\mathrm{K}}^{2}$ g-at.---lower than the currently accepted value---and the low-temperature limiting Debye temperature is (329.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.4)\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The temperature of the maximum of the specific-heat anomaly in ZnMn alloys is found to be directly proportional to the concentration in the range 0.02-0.1 at.%. There is therefore no evidence for a change at low concentrations to a concentration-independent temperature of the maximum, as found in CuFe and supposedly characteristic of a Kondo condensation; but experiments to lower concentrations and temperatures would be necessary to confirm this, because present estimates of the Kondo temperature vary from 0.2 to 4.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K.
Self-Esteem in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men: Implications for Risk-Taking Behaviors with Casual Sex Partners

Research suggests that self-esteem in gay and bisexual men may be linked with sexual risk-taking behaviors. As part of a larger investigation into the sexual practices of gay and bisexual men, we assessed serostatus, self-esteem, condom use, and HIV disclosure to sexual partners. Among HIV-negative men, no relationships were found between their self-esteem and tendency to discuss their and their partners’ HIV status. However, among HIV-positive men, there was a positive relationship between self-esteem and disclosure to receptive and insertive anal sex partners. These results suggest greater attention to the self-esteem of HIV-positive men by attending healthcare workers and social support groups.
Hardware Trojan detection using exhaustive testing of k-bit subspaces

Post-silicon hardware Trojan detection is challenging because the attacker only needs to implement one of many possible design modifications, while the verification effort must guarantee the absence of all imaginable malicious circuitry. Existing test generation strategies for Trojan detection use controllability and observability metrics to limit the modifications targeted. However, for cryptographic hardware, the n plaintext bits are ideal for an attacker to use in Trojan triggering because the size of n prohibits exhaustive testing, and all n bits have identical controllability, making it impossible to bias testing using existing methods. Our detection method addresses this difficult case by observing that an attacker can realistically only afford to use a small subset, k, of all n possible signals for triggering. By aiming to exhaustively cover all possible k subsets of signals, we guarantee detection of Trojans using less than k plaintext bits in the trigger. We provide suggestions on how to determine k, and validate our approach using an AES design.
Slaying the Nuclear Dragon: Disarmament Dynamics in the Twenty-First Century

Slaying the Nuclear Dragon: Disarmament Dynamics in the Twenty-First Century, Tanya Ogilvie-White and David Santoro (eds). Athens, GA: The University of Georgia Press, 2012, pp. 338, $24.95 (paperb...
Perversity, duality, and arrangements in C3

Abstract In this paper, we use the perversity and self-duality of the sheaf of vanishing cycles to obtain previously unknown bounds on the Betti numbers of the Milnor fibre of a central hyperplane arrangement in C 3 . Moreover, we obtain restrictions on the monodromy action on cohomology which yield number-theoretic constraints on the Betti numbers of the Milnor fibre.
An experimental transistorized calculator

The first fully operative transistorized calculator complete with automatic input and output is described. This compact “all-transistor” unit requires 95 per cent less power than a vacuum-tube unit of comparable capacity. Present operating experience indicates the important role which transistors will play in the computers of the future.
Airborne Doppler Lidar Wind Field Measurements of Waves in the Lee of Mount Shasta

Doppler lidar wind data obtained along one leg of a race track traverse around Mount Shasta are presently studied to establish their value and limitations for the study of orographic flows, as well as to evaluate the relative usefulness of a linear model in the analyses of the observed fields-of-motion. The model successfully reproduced the observed downstream lee of positive horizontal divergence which embedded spatially irregular waves, but the amplitudes of the model downstream divergence is smaller than the observations by a factor of two.
Echocardiographic assessment of the mechanisms of correction of bileaflet prolapse causing mitral regurgitation with only posterior leaflet repair surgery

Abstract Recent data suggest that posterior leaflet repair alone corrects mitral regurgitation in patients with bileaflet prolapse and normal anterior chordae. The purpose of this study was to use echocardiography to define the anatomic differences between posterior and bileaflet prolapse and to determine if posterior leaflet repair alone leads to correction of bileaflet prolapse. We studied patients who underwent quadrangular resection of the posterior mitral valve leaflet to treat bileaflet prolapse (group I, n = 20) or isolated posterior leaflet prolapse (group II, n = 20). Echocardiographic characteristics were compared before and after the procedure. There were no differences in the left ventricular end-diastolic or end-systolic dimensions or function between the 2 groups. However, anterior leaflet length was greater in patients with bileaflet prolapse (3.3 ± 0.6 cm vs 2.6 ± 0.4 cm, p = 0.003). In group I, posterior leaflet repair changed anterior leaflet displacement from –0.8 ± 0.2 to 0.5 ± 0.4 cm (p
A Potential Role of Distinctively Delayed Blood Clearance of Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus Serotype 9 in Robust Cardiac Transduction

Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (rAAV9) vectors show robust in vivo transduction by a systemic approach. It has been proposed that rAAV9 has enhanced ability to cross the vascular endothelial barriers. However, the scientific basis of systemic administration of rAAV9 and its transduction mechanisms have not been fully established. Here, we show indirect evidence suggesting that capillary walls still remain as a significant barrier to rAAV9 in cardiac transduction but not so in hepatic transduction in mice, and the distinctively delayed blood clearance of rAAV9 plays an important role in overcoming this barrier, contributing to robust cardiac transduction. We find that transvascular transport of rAAV9 in the heart is a capacity-limited slow process and occurs in the absence of caveolin-1, the major component of caveolae that mediate endothelial transcytosis. In addition, a reverse genetic study identifies the outer region of the icosahedral threefold capsid protrusions as a potential culprit for rAAV9's delayed blood clearance. These results support a model in which the delayed blood clearance of rAAV9 sustains the capacity-limited slow transvascular vector transport and plays a role in mediating robust cardiac transduction, and provide important implications in AAV capsid engineering to create new rAAV variants with more desirable properties.
Optical Properties of InGaAsN: A New 1eV Bandgap Material System

InGaAsN is a new semiconductor alloy system with the remarkable property that the inclusion of only 2% nitrogen reduces the bandgap by more than 30%. In order to help understand the physical origin of this extreme deviation from the typically observed nearly linear dependence of alloy properties on concentration, we have investigated the pressure dependence of the excited state energies using both experimental and theoretical methods. We report measurements of the low temperature photoluminescence energy of the material for pressures between ambient and 110 kbar. We describe a simple, density-functional-theory-based approach to calculating the pressure dependence of low lying excitation energies for low concentration alloys. The theoretically predicted pressure dependence of the bandgap is in excellent agreement with the experimental data. Based on the results of our calculations, we suggest an explanation for the strongly non-linear pressure dependence of the bandgap that, surprisingly, does not involve a nitrogen impurity band. Additionally, conduction-band mass measurements, measured by three different techniques, will be described and finally, the magnetoluminescence determined pressure coefficient for the conduction-band mass is measured.
Cellular and molecular biology of the beta cell.

Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of islet-cell function and its relationship to regulation of whole body glucose metabolism. At the genetic level, the regulatory regions in islet-specific genes are being characterised. Transcription factors that interact with these regions have been cloned and these will be instructive in elucidating how islet-specific genes are regulated during development and regeneration. Identification of the enzymes responsible for proteolytic conversion of proinsulin to insulin represents a major advance in understanding prohormone processing. Cleavage of proinsulin is mediated by at least two prohormone convertases (PC3/PC1 and PC2). Their activity is regulated by an acidic gradient between the Golgi and secretory granules and by calcium ions. It is not yet clear how insulin or the PC's are specifically diverted into the regulated secretory pathway. Regulation at this step may be defective in some diabetic patients resulting in relatively elevated circulating proinsulin levels. Specific features of GLUT 2 and glucokinase (GK), proteins that regulate Beta-cell glucose transport and phosphorylation, indicate that these may be key components of the glucose sensor. GLUT 2 is necessary to reconstitute glucose-sensitive insulin secretion in pituitary tumour cells expressing a proinsulin cDNA. Furthermore, the expression of GLUT 2 in Beta cells, but not in hepatocytes, is decreased in diabetes mellitus. However, under normal circumstances GK is probably rate limiting for Beta-cell glucose utilisation. Thus, it is likely that both GLUT 2 and GK determine the set point for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Elucidation of distal effectors that regulate insulin secretion is also crucial to our understanding of Beta-cell function. Elevations in cytosolic Ca2+ are essential for stimulus secretion coupling. A novel second messenger, cyclic ADP ribose, has been implicated as a regulator of glucose-stimulated Ca2+ release from the Beta-cell endoplasmic reticulum. These and other recent advances provide optimism for the ultimate development of an artificial Beta cell capable of making insulin and releasing it in response to glucose.
Chlamydia pneumoniae Induces Tissue Factor Expression in Mouse Macrophages via Activation of Egr-1 and the MEK-ERK1/2 Pathway

Recent studies have suggested that infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae (C pneumoniae) may contribute to the instability of atherosclerotic plaques and thrombosis and is associated with acute coronary events. Tissue factor (TF), a potent prothrombotic molecule, is expressed by macrophages and other cell types within atherosclerotic lesions and plays an essential role in thrombus formation after plaque rupture. Therefore the effects of C pneumoniae on induction of TF expression in macrophages were investigated. Infection of RAW mouse macrophages with C pneumoniae induced a time-dependent increase in procoagulant activity, expression of TF protein, and TF mRNA. C pneumoniae infection stimulated increased binding of nuclear proteins to the consensus DNA sequence for Egr-1, a key response element within the TF promoter, and increased the expression of Egr-1 protein. Transient transfections of RAW cells with mutated TF promoter constructs showed that the Egr-1 binding region is an important transcriptional regulator of C pneumoniae-induced TF expression. Furthermore, C pneumoniae-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Elk-1 and pharmacological inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase activity reduced the expression of TF and Egr-1. Antibody and polymyxin B blocking of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) partially reduced the C pneumoniae-induced expression of TF and Egr-1. In conclusion, the C pneumoniae-induced increase in TF expression in macrophages is mediated in part by Egr-1, signaling through TLR4, and activation of the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway.
Children's Social Skills: Assessment and Classification Practices

After defining social skills, the authors review recent advances in the assessment and classification of children's social skills. Social skills have been demonstrated to be critical prerequisites to academic and interpersonal success. Therefore, knowledge of recent advances in the evaluation of social skills is essential to the functioning of counselors in schools.
Bent monopole antennas on EBG ground plane with reconfigurable radiation patterns

The ability to change radiation patterns is one of the most challenging areas of antenna reconfigurability. It should be emphasized that the reconfigurability here refers to the capacity to change an individual radiator's characteristics. The single reconfigurable element brings more capability to array design for beam forming or steering. This paper presents a novel reconfigurable bent monopole antenna near an EBG ground plane. By controlling the switches integrated in the antenna structure, one can realize 1D or 2D beam switching.
The role of droplet rotation in turbulent spray combustion modeling

In this study, some general aspects of droplet-flow interactions in modeling of heteregenous fields and the influence of droplet rotation in such models was described. In particular, the effects of rigid-body rotation of heptane droplets on their rate of evaporation in an stagnant environnement of air was experimentally investigated
Endocervical carcinoma: A study of 23 patients with clinical-pathological correlation

Twenty-three patients with endocervical carcinomas diagnosed at the Mount Sinai Medical Center during the last 5 years were reviewed (clinical history and histologic material). The tumors were endocervical-type adenocarcinomas, adenosquamous carcinoma, mucinous (colloid), papillary, and clear cell carcinomas. Eight associated carcinomas in situ were found. Younger patients tended to have more adenosquamous carcinomas, perhaps related to the frequency of squamous metaplasia in sexually active women. Twenty-two out of twenty-three patients were multiparous, many of them grand multiparas. In two patients the tumor followed parturition, and in two patients it was found in the cervical stump. No association with oral contraceptives was found. Multiparous women seem to be at increased risk for this malignancy. The early detection of endocervical carcinoma is based on the recognition of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in situ in the biopsy material. This is of particular significance in the endocervical cancer because its location often prevents early detection.
Mouse embryonic fibroblasts null for the Krüppel-like factor 4 gene are genetically unstable

Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc-finger transcription factor with tumor suppressive activity in colorectal cancer. Here, we investigated whether KLF4 is involved in maintaining genetic stability in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from mice wild type (+/+), heterozygous (+/−), or homozygous (−/−) for the Klf4 alleles. Compared to Klf4+/+ and Klf4+/− MEFs, Klf4−/− MEFs had both a higher level of apoptosis and rate of proliferation. Quantification of chromosome numbers showed that Klf4−/− MEFs were aneuploid. A higher number of Klf4−/− MEFs exhibited γ-H2AX foci and had higher amounts of γ-H2AX compared to controls. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated the presence of numerous chromosome aberrations including dicentric chromosomes, chromatid breaks, and double minute chromosomes in Klf4−/− cells but in few, if any, Klf4+/+ or Klf4+/− MEFs. Approximately 25% of Klf4−/− MEFs exhibited centrosome amplification in contrast to the less than 5% of Klf4+/+ or Klf4+/− MEFs. Finally, only Klf4−/− MEFs were capable of anchorage-independent growth. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that MEFs null for the Klf4 alleles are genetically unstable, as evidenced by the presence of aneuploidy, chromosome aberration and centrosome amplification. The results support a crucial role for KLF4 in maintaining genetic stability and as a tumor suppressor.
Fluoroscopic balloon–guided transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with Zenker's diverticulum

During the past 20 years, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) became an important diagnostic technique. Indications for TEE include: defining the cause and severity of native valve disease, particularly mitral regurgitation; detecting vegetations and other sequelae of endocarditis; assessing prosthetic valve function; and identifying a potential cardiac source for emboli.(1) TEE is usually well tolerated and is associated with few adverse events. However, structural abnormalities of the esophagus such as diverticula, stenoses, tumors, and advanced varices are relative contraindications to TEE because of the technical difficulties associated with probe advancement and the risk of esophageal perforation.(2) This report describes the successful performance of TEE in a patient with a Zenker's diverticulum. The patient was severely symptomatic of atrial fibrillation and was a poor candidate for long-term anticoagulation. Therefore, it was necessary to rule out a thrombus before cardioversion. Because the Zenker's diverticulum was large, a novel approach was taken using a balloon to occlude the orifice allowing safe passage of the TEE probe.
Mandibular Asymmetry and Antigonial Notching in Individuals With Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate

Abstract Objective: To determine whether asymmetric antigonial notching is associated with the development of mandibular and lower facial asymmetry in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Design: Retrospective mixed-longitudinal investigation including UCLP and nonaffected orthodontic patients. Participants: All (24) available patients with UCLP treated in our clinic with complete longitudinal records, and 72 skeletal maturation matched noncleft orthodontic patients that served as controls. Subject records included hand-wrist, panoramic, frontal, and 45° oblique cephalometric radiographs. Main Outcome Measures: The development of mandibular asymmetry, measured on oblique cephalometric radiographs, as well as lower facial asymmetry, measured on frontal cephalometric radiographs, was monitored in individuals with UCLP in relation to antigonial notching asymmetry, assessed on panoramic and oblique cephalometric radiographs. Results: First, no statistical differences were found in antigoni...
THE PROBLEM OF SHIFTING THERMAL TOLERANCES

![Figure][1] The interactions of organisms with the range of temperatures in their environments have generated intense interest among researchers for decades, and coupled with the wide acceptance that global climate change is a reality has resulted in a renewed interest in thermal biology.
A Baby With Generalized Edema

A 2-month-old Caucasian female infant was referred to the pediatric endocrine clinic with a diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism, which was discovered by a neonatal screening test. She was born in a community hospital by caesarean section at 34 weeks of gestation secondary to oligohydramnios, fetal distress, and partial placental abruption. The mother was 32 years of age, and it was her first pregnancy. The baby’s birth weight was 4 lb 15 oz, and the birth length was 17 in. The mother had been concerned about the edema of labia and lower extremities since the birth, which worsened over the last few weeks. Abdominal distension was also noted over a few weeks, and the baby was having breathing difficulty. The baby had been vomiting off and on since birth and did not improve with formula changes. Over the period of the last 24 hours her left foot was not only swollen but also red and apparently painful. According to the mother, the baby was very fussy and ill appearing with increased breathing difficulties.
Work in Progress: Dominant Sensory Mode based Groups in VLSI Classes

We are working with the hypothesis that active learning is more productive when heterogeneous groups of VLSI hardware students, with different learning styles, interact with each other. The proposal explores instruments to judge the dominant sensory modes of hardware/VLSI engineering students, along with their affinity for logical modules and the underlying physics of semiconductor. Since VLSI course content involves learning from tool manuals, solving problems, and also listening to class lectures, we test for visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning mode. Preliminary result indicates that the heterogeneous groups based on dominant sensory mode yielded 19% better performance than random grouping. Future focus will be on (a) exploring different instruments, (b) evaluating their success in classifying the dominant learning mode and (c) investigating the role of women in the co-operative learning scenario.
Selective influence on populations of rhizosphere or rhizoplane bacteria and actinomycetes by mycorrhizas formed by Glomus fasciculatum

Abstract The influence of infection by the vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatum on populations of general taxonomic and functional groups of naturally-occurring rhizosphere and rhizoplane bacteria and actinomycetes associated with roots of sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was assayed on selective media. Total numbers of bacteria, but not actinomycetes, on the rhizoplane increased on plants with VA mycorrhizas (VAM) compared to plants without VAM. Bacteria and actinomycete populations were not affected quantitatively in the rhizosphere soil of VAM plants. However, VAM affected specific groups of bacteria and actinomycetes in both the rhizosphere soil and rhizosplane. Rhizosphere soil of mycorrhizal plants contained more facultative anaerobic bacteria, had fewer fluorescent pseudomonads, but had the same number of Gram-negative bacteria as non-mycorrhizal plants. Of the actinomycetes assayed, populations of both Streptomyces spp and chitinase-producing actinomycetes decreased in the rhizosphere, but not in the rhizoplane of mycorrhizal plants. Leachates of VAM and non-VAM rhizosphere soil were also compared for the presence or activity of bacteria that could influence sporulation by the root pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. Fewer sporangia and zoospores were produced by P. cinnamomi in leachates of rhizosphere soil from VAM plants than from non-VAM plants, suggesting that sporangium-inducing microorganisms had declined or sporangium-inhibitors had increased. Since assays for specific functional groups of microorganisms revealed changes even when total numbers seemed the same, we conclude that the microbial equilibrium had been altered by formation of VA mycorrhizas.
Introduction: Using Medical Registries and Data Sets for Technology Assessment

The rising costs of health care and interest in the evaluation of health services and systems have sparked an increased need for technology assessment. A variety of available methods of assessment are described in the Institute of Medicine's book Assessing Medical Technologies (1). Although such methods as the randomized controlled trial (RCT) are widely accepted and used, obtaining information by such methods often takes a considerable amount of time, expense, and sophistication in study design. These costs suggest that a broader range of methods for collecting information about health care technologies should be considered. A vast resource of data collected on patients, ranging from a provider's practice records to national data sets, might be useful for technology assessment if it could be properly appraised.
Prediction of occult neck disease in laryngeal cancer by means of a logistic regression statistical model

The ability to accurately predict the presence of subclinical metastatic neck disease in clinically N0 patients with primary epidermoid cancer of the larynx would be of great value in determining whether to perform an elective neck dissection. We describe a statistical approach to estimating the probability of occult neck disease given pretreatment clinical parameters. A retrospective study was performed involving 736 clinically N0 patients with primary laryngeal cancer who were treated surgically with primary resection and ipsilateral neck dissection. Nodal involvement was determined histologically after surgical lymphadenectomy. A logistic regression model was used to derive an equation that calculated the probability of occult neck metastasis based on pretreatment T stage, tumor location, and histologic grade. The model has a sensitivity of 74%, a specificity of 87%, and can be entered into a programmable calculator.
From conversational tooltips to grounded discourse: head poseTracking in interactive dialog systems

Head pose and gesture offer several key conversational grounding cues and are used extensively in face-to-face interaction among people. While the machine interpretation of these cues has previously been limited to output modalities, recent advances in face-pose tracking allow for systems which are robust and accurate enough to sense natural grounding gestures. We present the design of a module that detects these cues and show examples of its integration in three different conversational agents with varying degrees of discourse model complexity. Using a scripted discourse model and off-the-shelf animation and speech-recognition components, we demonstrate the use of this module in a novel "conversational tooltip" task, where additional information is spontaneously provided by an animated character when users attendto various physical objects or characters in the environment. We further describe the integration of our module in two systems where animated and robotic characters interact with users based on rich discourse and semantic models.
Orthopedic implant design, analysis, and manufacturing system

The use of artificial intelligence technology and computer-aided design and manufacturing for the design and analysis of custom joint prostheses fabricated on demand for specific patients has been explored. A description is given of the ORTHO-PERT system, an orthopedic healthcare workstation developed for this purpose, focusing on its architecture and unique features. It is the stress and the strain field created by the implant itself that controls the remodeling of the bony tissue around a bioinert implant; the objective has been to create an automated design and manufacturing system that incorporates such knowledge. An expert system for interpretation of forces on hip prosthesis has been implemented. This system known as FEMEX (finite-element-method expert) prepares the basic FEM model for proposed hip prosthesis design. The results of the FEM analysis are heuristically interpreted, and conclusions are drawn and provided to the host expert system. >
SHARED AND UNIQUE FEATURES OF DIVERSIFICATION IN GREATER ANTILLEAN ANOLIS ECOMORPHS

Examples of convergent evolution suggest that natural selection can often produce predictable evolutionary outcomes. However, unique histories among species can lead to divergent evolution regardless of their shared selective pressures-and some contend that such historical contingencies produce the dominant features of evolution. A classic example of convergent evolution is the set of Anolis lizard ecomorphs of the Greater Antilles. On each of four islands, anole species partition the structural habitat into at least four categories, exhibiting similar morphologies within each category. We assessed the relative importance of shared selection due to habitat similarity, unique island histories, and unique effects of similar habitats on different islands in the generation of morphological variation in anole ecomorphs. We found that shared features of diversification across habitats were of greatest importance, but island effects on morphology (reflecting either island effects per se or phylogenetic relationships) and unique aspects of habitat diversification on different islands were also important. There were three distinct cases of island-specific habitat diversification, and only one was confounded by phylogenetic relatedness. The other two unique aspects were not related to shared ancestry but might reflect as-yet-unmeasured environmental differences between islands in habitat characteristics. Quantifying the relative importance of shared and unique responses to similar selective regimes provides a more complete understanding of phenotypic diversification, even in this much-studied system.
Toward a second order description of neuronal networks

The complexity of the activity of large numbers of neurons and their interconnectivity creates a challenge for understanding computations within the brain. The high dimensionality of the activity patterns and connectivity patterns, combined with the difficulty of estimating them from limited data sets, is a tremendous obstacle to an analysis of the relationships between the connectivity and the behavior of the network.
VISCOUS FLOW IN A CYLINDRICAL TUBE CONTAINING A LINE OF SPHERICAL PARTICLES.

Viscous flow in a circular cylindrical tube containing an infinite line of rigid spheroidal particles equally spaced along the axis of the tube is considered for (a) uniform axial translation of the spheroids (b) flow past a line of stationary spheriods and (c) flow of the suspending fluid and spheroids under an imposed pressure gradient. The fluid is assumed to be incompressible and Newtonian. The Reynolds number is assumed to be small and the equations of creeping flow are used.
Weaponization of lightweight UAS for support of military operations

Given the increasing complexity of modern warfare, the U.S. Army will need to continue to develop and employ new weapon systems in order to maintain U.S. superiority over its current and future enemies. Mission success in the three dimensional battlefield will be achieved by the commander who has the ability to gather quick, accurate, and detailed intelligence, communicate and synchronize with surrounding units, and when necessary, provide a rapid and effective response. In order to achieve these results, the military has recently begun using Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UASs, for a wide variety of combat support and combat missions. Currently however, the majority of lightweight UASs are used solely for surveillance and reconnaissance. Offering unit commanders the ability to observe areas without endangering their soldiers has become an invaluable asset to lower level commanders; yet the need for UASs to perform more functions than simply reconnaissance has arisen. In modern warfare, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where the enemy is hidden among the population and snipers and improvised explosive devices are their primary method of fighting, new tactics are needed. As a result, our capstone research team will develop weaponized lightweight UASs concepts and optimize performance solutions for application in the current Global War on Terror. Additionally, the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center, AMRDEC, has proposed to develop a lightweight UAS with weapon capability as well. Therefore, the work done by this capstone group will ultimately leverage and inform the work done by AMRDEC and their contractors. In order to complete this project, we used the Systems Decision Process (SDP): an iterative problem solving process comprised of four phases - problem definition, solution design, decision making, and solution implementation that focuses on decision-maker and stakeholder value. Finally, modeling and simulation was performed to assess the feasibility and performance of our candidate solutions. Results of the evaluation of candidate solutions will be presented.
Selective area epitaxy of magnesium oxide thin films on gallium nitride surfaces

Selective area growth of thin films reduces the number of steps in microfabrication processing and enables novel device structures. Here, we report, for the first time, selective area epitaxy of an oxide material on a GaN surface. Chlorination of the GaN surface via wet chemical processing is found effective to disrupt Mg adsorption and selectively prevent molecular beam epitaxy growth of MgO. MgO films grown on neighboring, nonchlorinated surfaces are epitaxial with a (111) MgO∥(0001) GaN crystallographic relationship. Better than 3 μm lateral resolution for the selective area growth of MgO on GaN is demonstrated.
Preparation of Ordered Monolayers of Polymer Grafted Nanoparticles: Impact of Architecture, Concentration, and Substrate Surface Energy

Rapid fabrication of large area, ordered assemblies of polymer grafted (hairy) nanoparticles (PGNs) will enable additive manufacturing of novel membrane, electronic, and photonic elements. Herein, we discuss the relationship between select processing conditions, substrate surface energy, and canopy architecture on the hierarchical structure of sub- to monolayer PGN assemblies. Varying concentrations (10, 20, and 70 nM) of polystyrene (PS) grafted (σ ∼ 1 chain/nm2) gold nanoparticles (AuNP, r0 = 9 nm) were flow-coated onto surface-modified silicon wafers (γs ∼ 20 mN/m, hydrophobic to 80 mN/m, hydrophilic). The profile of an isolated gold–polystyrene (PS) PGN depends on substrate–canopy interface energy. At low substrate–PS interface energy (20 mN/m), the PS canopy spreads to maximize contact with the surface, whereas at high substrate–PS interface energy (80 mN/m), the chains minimize contact area resulting in a more compact, thicker PGN corona. This behavior is translated up to monolayer assemblies, where...
Synthesis of immunoglobulin within the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. Detection by analysis of CSF/serum IgG ratio.

This study included 49 patients with clinical multiple sclerosis (MS), 105 patients with other neurological diseases (OND), and 30 controls. It compared seven assays for CNS IgG synthesis with the oligoclonal banding (agarose electrophoresis) method. A newly developed assay which determined the differences between the measured and calculated CSF/serum IgG ratio (M-C value), using albumin as a reference protein, v.as particularly sensitive to the diagnosis of MS. In 40/46 (87%) of patients with MS, the M-C value was 0.001 or more, while oligoclonal banding was found in CSF of 38/49 (78%). In the 210 controls, the M-C value was invariably less than 0.001 and oligoclonal banding was not found. In patients with OND, 26/104 (25%) had an M-C value of 0.001 or greater while 11/105 (11%) had oligoclonal banding in CSF. The M-C value also offers a convenient means of quantifying CNS IgG synthesis during disease activity or treatment. It is concluded that the combined use of the oligoclonal banding method and the M-C value determination gives the greatest predictive value for the diagnosis of MS.
Single ion and dimerization studies of the Al(III) ion in aqueous solution.

Aqueous trivalent aluminum (Al) ions and their oligomers play important roles in diverse areas, such as environmental sciences and medicine. The geometries of octahedral Al(H2O)63+ and tetrahedral Al(OH)4− species have been studied extensively. However, structures of intermediate hydrolysis products of the Al(III) ion, such as the penta-coordinated Al(OH)2+ species, which exists at pH values ranging from 3.0 to 4.3, and their mode of formation have been poorly understood. Here, we present that a trigonal bipyramidal Al(OH)(H2O)42+ structure is formed in aqueous solution and how this monomeric species dimerizes to a dinuclear [(H2O)4Al(OH)2Al(H2O)4]4+ complex in aqueous solution. The Gibbs free energy change calculations indicate that the formation of the dinuclear complex is preferred over the existence of two single trigonal bipyramidal Al(OH)(H2O)42+ species in aqueous solution. This study captures the solution dynamics and proton transfer in the oligomerization reactions of penta-coordinated Al(OH)2+ s...