cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear progesterone receptors in the human pregnancy myometrium: evidence that parturition involves functional progesterone withdrawal mediated by increased expression of progesterone receptor-A.

Context: We examined whether human parturition involves functional progesterone withdrawal mediated by changes in myometrial expression of progesterone receptors (PRs)-A and -B. Objective: Our objectives were to: 1) measure PR-A and PR-B protein levels in human pregnancy myometrium and determine whether the PR-A to PR-B ratio changes with advancing gestation and labor onset; and 2) determine how changes in the PR-A to PR-B ratio affect myometrial cell progesterone responsiveness. Design: PR protein levels and cellular localization were measured by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in lower uterine segment uterine wall tissue from preterm (<37 wk; not laboring; n = 5) and term (37–40 wk; not in labor: n = 6; in labor: n = 5) cesarean delivery. The capacity for PR-A and PR-B, alone and in combination, to mediate genomic progesterone responsiveness measured by the activity of a progesterone-responsive reporter plasmid was examined by artificially modulating their levels in the PHM1–31 ...
The "sick but slick" syndrome as a personality component of parents of battered children.

Thirteen parents convicted in court of battering their children and 13 matched controls were administered a battery of personality tests, with significant differences obtained on 5 of 21 study variables. Battering parents appeared healthier on those instruments based on content validity, where the social desirability of the items is more obvious. They appeared more disturbed (i.e., psychopathic) on items based on concurrent or statistical validity. It was concluded that battering parents were psychopathically disturbed, but whenever possible presented a distorted picture of themselves as healthy and unlikely to abuse their children. This tendency has been labeled the "sick but slick syndrome." Language: en
A survey of optimal control of distributed-parameter systems

This report is a survey of theoretical and computational methods in the field of optimal control of distributed-parameter systems. This includes systems described by integral equations and partial differential equations. The various studies which have been done are grouped according to the method employed. A number of applications and potential applications of these methods are discussed, and certain deficiencies in the current state of knowledge are noted. Difficulties and opportunities in practical applications are discussed, and suggestions are offered for directions of research to render the results more readily usable. A list of references is included numbering more than 250 items; papers, report, and books.
Nursery-acquired cytomegalovirus infection in two premature infants.

Summary Two premature infants who had been delivered at gestational ages of 27 and 33 weeks, respectively, acquired cytomegalovirus infections while still in the premature nursery. Following discharge one infant transmitted cytomegalovirus infection to her susceptible mother. Evidence is presented which suggests that the infections may have been acquired by means of blood transfusions.
Comparing adults in Los Angeles County who have and have not been homeless

This study compares the formerly homeless with those who have not been homeless on several characteristics, based on a telephone survey of the general adulate population. The study was conducted in Los Angeles County. Researchers estimate how many and what percentage of adults (aged 18 or older) have been homeless in the past 5 years and the types of places people stayed while they were homeless. An estimated 370,000 adults have experienced homelessness within the past 5 years, 5.7% of the adult population (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.2–6.2). A third were literally homeless (in a shelter, street, or car). Just over half (56%) stayed with a friend or relative while homeless. Nine percent had a mixed experience. Compared to those who were not homeless, the formerly homeless are disproportionately poor, African American, not in the job market, on public assistance, and in poor health. There are few differences when comparing place of birth, citizenship status, or length of residence in Los Angeles County. Yet many homeless have been able to achieve some economic stability. Implications for the development of intervention and prevention programs are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lipid and fatty acid composition of turkey liver, skin and depot tissue

Total lipid and phospholipid contents of liver, skin and depot fat from yearling hen turkeys have been studied. Liver lipid averaged 88.5 mg/g wet tissue; skin, 385.0 and depot fat, 753.5. Phospholipids comprised 32.05% of total lipid of liver, but only 0.81% of skin and 0.46% of depot fat. Fatty acids of liver differed from those of skin or depot fat by larger amounts of 16∶0, 18∶0, 20∶4, 22∶0 and 24∶0, and smaller amounts of 16∶1, 18∶1, 18∶2, 18∶3 and 20∶0. Similarity existed between skin and depot fat.
Topically delivered siRNA for cutaneous gene suppression

ETHODS: A ten-millimeter diameter area on depilitated dorsum f wild-type (C57/BLK6) mice was pretreated with 1% triton-x olution (6 hours). The solution was removed and small interferng RNA (siRNA) against mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 MAPK-1) (selected as proof of principle due to its ubiquity) was ncorporated into a cooling agarose matrix, applied to pre-treated kin, and covered with an occlusive dressing. Skin was harvested (day ; non-treated skin control). Skin was evaluated (immunohistohemistry, Western blot, rtPCR) for MAPK-1 expression. Lung, iver, and spleen homogenates were also evaluated.
Coalitions of malicious intelligent agents

In this paper, we propose a model of pro-social and antisocial behaviour within and between agent coalitions. We analyse benevolent, selfish, and malevolent agents as generic types of pro-social and antisocial agents. We show that social attitudes must be well balanced in order to achieve stable pattern of interaction. We also provide a model of social interaction between coalitions. The model is used to develop an algorithm for detecting coordinated attacks in the area of computer and network security.
Sensitive cushion based on hetero-core fiber optics for unconstraint sitting posture monitoring

Recently, sitting posture monitoring has been focused in the fields of health management in order to improve the quality of Sedentary Lifestyle. We propose an unconstraint sitting posture monitoring method using a sensitive cushion based on hetero-core fiber optics. The hetero-core fiber optic sensor has several advantages for unconstrained human behavior monitoring such as single-mode transmission usage, flexibility and light-weight. Therefore, the hetero-core sensors can be unobtrusively embedded inside the cushion, which enables the sitting posture to be monitored without conscious to the sensor. We designed a bending structure with a hetero-core portion and examined its force properties. We successfully demonstrated that the developed sensitive cushion could detect body moving of a subject on a chair. The proposed method could monitor body moving in the case that the subject sat down on several moving patterns on the chair.
Acid hydrolysis and fermentation of microalgal starches to ethanol by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Many studies on the use of microalgal biomass to generate lipid and starch for production of transportation fuels assume ready conversion of starch to ethanol. However, few have shown data on this process. Here, biomass from the wall-deficient cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant cw15 was sequentially treated with 70 °C ethanol and 60 °C hexane prior to sulfuric acid hydrolysis at 121 °C and 2 atm. Hydrolysis was monitored over time until no further starch breakdown was observed. An estimated 30% of the dry algal biomass was hydrolyzed for fermentation. This hydrolyzed starch was successfully fermented into ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae to a maximum concentration of 0.87 ± 0.01% (m/v) at a maximum rate of 14 ± 1 mL/g h in 28 h. The observed yield coefficient of ethanol from glucose was 0.44 (g/g). Ethanol and what appeared to be glycerol were produced in equal proportions.
Regulation of dopamine-1A (D1A) receptor gene transcription.

The D1A receptor is expressed primarily in the brain and kidney. The D1A receptor gene has been cloned from human, rat and pig and is organized similarly in each species. The 5′flanking region of the D1A receptor gene is high in GC content, is TATA box-less and contains multiple Sp1 binding sites. Comparison and alignment of the nucleotide sequences within the 5′ flanking and 5′ untranslated regions of each gene indicates that the highest sequence identity is in the area centered approximately 100 bases upstream from the transcription start site. There are numerous binding sites for transcription factors, including Sp1 and AP-2, in the 5′ flanking region. Approximately 200 bases upstream is a conserved cAMP regulatory element-like sequence. The conserved position of certain cis-acting elements in each gene suggests that the essential elements for regulated expression of the D1A receptor gene are contained within the first 300 bases of the 5′ flanking region.
Plastic flow of a tungsten-based composite under quasi-static compression

Abstract A micromechanics study is carried out on the plastic flow of a tungsten “heavy alloy” under uniaxial compression. The alloy-composed of a continuous tungsten phase in a tungsten-nickel-iron “matrix”—is modeled as a dual-phase composite, with the tungsten phase approximated by aligned, uniformly distributed and equal-sized particles. The stress-strain behavior of each phase is assumed to be power-law hardening of the Ramberg-Osgood type. Stress-strain curves of the composite under uniaxial compression are computed numerically using several cell models representing different tungsten particle shapes. It is found that the overall stress-strain behavior of the composite is essentially independent of the particle shape. However, the character of the local plastic deformation changes dramatically with the inclusion geometry. Two simple formulae are given that approximate the overall flow behavior of the composite in terms of the tungsten volume fraction and the behavior of the individual phases.
Epitaxial SiGeC photodiode grown on Si substrate with response in the 1.3- to 1.55-μm wavelength range

We present results on epitaxial SiGeC alloy layers grown on Si substrates for optical receiver applications in the 1.3 - 1.55 micrometers wavelength range. The active absorbing layer of the pin photodiodes consist of a strained SiGeC alloy. The SiGeC alloy has a Ge content of 55% and 40%, with a thickness of 80 nm and 200 nm, respectively. TEM images review a high quality epitaxial film with a sharp interface between the SiGeC layer and the Si substrate. The devices show a breakdown voltage of about 6 V. Both surface normal and waveguide structures have been fabricated, and optical response extending to 1.55 micrometers has been demonstrated. At normal incidence the external quantum efficiency of the device with a 55%-Ge content is close to 1% at 1.3 micrometers . For a waveguide structure of 400-micrometers length the external quantum efficiency is 8% at 1.3 micrometers , and limited by the fiber coupling coefficient.
Computation of geodetic direct and indirect problems by computers accumulating increments from geodetic line elements

By choosing sufficiently small elements of the length of the geodetic line, or of the latitude or longitude difference, the other two can be computed at each element and the results can be accumulated to solve the problem with more than twenty significant number accuracy if desired. Ten to twelve number accuracy was computed in the examples of this paper. The geodetic line elements are kept in correct azimuth by Clairaut’s equation for the geodetic line. The computers can do millions of necessary computations very economically in a few seconds. All other published methods solving the direct or indirect problem can be reliably checked against results obtained by this method. The run of geodetic lines around the back side of the Ellipsoid is outlined.
Photochemical addition of amino acids to thymine

Summary The ultraviolet light induced photoreactivity of thymine with the twenty two common amino acids has been surveyed. Lysine, arginine, cysteine, and cystine have been found to be reactive in forming heteroadducts. The results suggest that lysine and arginine may be involved in the experimentally observed ultraviolet induced crosslinking of histones to DNA in DNA-histone complexes.
Surface water and the origin of the positive excess specific heat for 7 nm rutile and anatase nanoparticles

Specific heats (15−350 K) have been measured on 7 nm TiO2 anatase and rutile nanoparticles containing significant amounts of surface-adsorbed water. By successively reducing the water content without changing particle size, we observed two types of water behavior. The specific heat of bare 7 nm particles was estimated using the water specific heats. Contrary to previous literature reports, the bare small particle specific heats are the same as those of the bulk, within experimental error.
Error estimates for approximate kinetic parameters used in food literature

Abstract For convenience, the z-value has been traditionally used to describe temperature dependence of reaction rates in food materials. This approximate parameter z linearizes a more common non-linear relationship described by the Arrhenius equation for temperature dependence. Whereas researchers have been concerned about the range over which such approximate linear relationships may be valid, this study provides quantitative data to that effect for the first time. The nature and extent of error in using the z-value, as compared to the use of Arrhenius parameters, has been mathematically analyzed. It is shown that for every time-temperature history, there exists an unique reference temperature that minimizes this error. If 121°C is always used as the reference temperature instead, severe calculation errors are possible for higher temperature processes such as UHT processing and lower temperature processes such as inactivation of enzymes. A formula is proposed to preserve the full Arrhenius accuracy while still using the available z-values for reactions.
Rapid and multifaceted privatization : experience of the Czech and Slovak Republics

Within three years of the overthrow of the communist regime, the Czech and Slovak governments have privatized about one-half of the economy. In its speed and extent, this is an unprecedented transformation, especially since the governments had neither prior experience nor the legal and institutional base for the process. The paper provides a descriptive analysis of the Czech and Slovak privatization process from 1990 to 1993. It examines each of the three programs of the overall privatization effort - restitution of property, small scale privatization, and large scale privatization - and evaluates the relative success of each. For each program, the paper outlines the background debates, describes the key institutions, examines the legal framework, and assesses the mechanics and outcomes.
Psychiatric disease and cytomegalovirus viremia in renal transplant recipients

Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) is rarely cultured from peripheral-blood leukocytes of immunocompetent patients, it may be cultured from up to 60% of renal transplant recipients, 1 to 4 months after transplantation. During this same period, renal transplant recipients are often referred for psychiatric evaluation. Since CMV may infect the central nervous system, the relationship between isolation of CMV from peripheral-blood leukocytes (viremia) and psychiatric evaluation was investigated in 80 renal allograft recipients at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Five of 16 (31%) patients with viremia and 7 of 64 (11%) patients without viremia required psychiatric consultation (P = 0.04, two-tailed Fisher exact test). CMV viremia may be an important but treatable contributor to psychiatric symptoms in the transplant recipient.
Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy and Dysregulation of the NO Synthase Pathway

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is the most aggressive form of atherosclerosis in humans and is the leading cause of death after the first year of heart transplantation. Endothelial dysfunction is a major contributing factor to the acceleration of coronary vascular disease in these individuals. A reflection of this endothelial dysfunction is the severe impairment in endothelium-dependent vasodilation that occurs early after transplantation. The etiology of this allograft endothelial alteration is multifactorial and may include preexisting atherosclerosis of the graft vessels, reperfusion injury during transplantation, denervation, disruption of the lymphatic system, and acute and chronic immune injury, as well as traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease (hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, or hyperhomocysteinemia) and pathogens, such as cytomegalovirus. The alteration in endothelial function affects vasomotor tone of the coronary arteries. Evidence indicates that there may be an impairment of endothelial production and/or activity of NO. Because NO is a potent vasodilator, its deficiency would explain the abnormal vasomotor tone in these individuals. In addition, because NO inhibits key processes in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, its absence may contribute to the acceleration of transplant vascular disease. Recent studies from our group and others have shed light on the mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and its importance in cardiac allograft vasculopathy. In addition, the alteration in endothelial function contributes to vascular inflammation and progression of the disease.
Further evidence for four mechanisms mediating vision at threshold: Sensitivities to complex gratings and aperiodic stimuli

It is now generally accepted that several mechanisms mediate contrast detection at threshold. Many attempts to measure the bandwidths of these mechanisms using subthreshold summation have yielded estimates suggesting very narrow frequency tuning. We have measured thresholds for three classes of stimuli: gratings containing two sinusoidal components, sums of “difference of Gaussian” (DOG) patterns, and square waves. The results of the subthreshold summation experiments with gratings are consistent with those of other studies. All of these thresholds can be predicted by a model requiring only four center-surround-type mechanisms at each retinal locus. These mechanisms have a full bandwidth at a half-height of about 1.75 octaves. Quantitative prediction of sensitivities depends critically upon spatial probability summation. It is this spatial nonlinearity that yields these somewhat counterintuitive results. The much narrower bandwidths inferred by others are due to the assumption of linearity used in their analyses.
Buoyant sub-surface loading of the lithosphere in the Great Plains foreland basin

A recent development1 in the study of foreland sedimentary basins is the recognition of the important role played by negatively buoyant sub-surface loads in the evolution of some of these basins. Models2 for the subsidence of the Apennine and Carpathian foreland basins, in particular, show that sub-surface loads can equal or exceed the topographic load of the neighbouring mountain belt. Here we show that part of the Rocky Mountain foreland is underlain by a positively buoyant sub-surface load which counterbalances almost half of the total topographic load on the western Great Plains. The presence of this load explains the shallowness of the Denver Basin and the large Bouguer gravity anomalies over the Great Plains. We suggest that this load was emplaced during the Miocene when, according to geological evidence3–5, the region underwent epeirogenic uplift. The sub-surface load may result from lithospheric thinning, which often accompanies or precedes crustal extension6,7.
A rigorous divide-and-conquer algorithm for fast DC-mode extraction

The DC mode is a fundamental mode that comprises the solution of Maxwell's equations in a physical problem. We present a rigorous divide-and-conquer algorithm to extract the DC mode efficiently from an arbitrary 3-D problem where both dielectrics and conductors can be arbitrarily shaped, inhomogeneous, lossy, and dispersive. Numerical experiments have demonstrated the validity of the proposed algorithm.
Factors involved in digitalis sensitivity in chronic pulmonary insufficiency.

Abstract Of 29 patients with chronic pulmonary insufficiency, 8 exhibited electrocardiographic evidences of sensitivity to acetyl strophanthidin. The degree of arterial hypoxia was significantly lower in the sensitive group.
Growth trends and nutritional status of sugar maple stands on the appalachian plateau of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Growth of sugar maple trees and element concentrations of soil and foliage were investigated at 12 stands in north-central Pennsylvania and southern New York. The goal of this exploratory study was to evaluate growth trends since the 1950s and to determine whether element concentrations were within limits conducive for normal growth. Basal area growth of overstory maple trees increased at six sites, declined at five, and remained nearly constant at one. Overall, the growth of overstory sugar maple trees did not change appreciably since the late 1950s, but growth of subcanopy maples decreased markedly, probably because of intensified shading in these maturing stands. Concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, N, P, and Zn in soil and maple foliage were within the range of values reported for other sugar maple stands in North America. Calcium concentrations appeared adequate for growth, although at some sites they were near the low end of the typical range. Basal area growth of the overstory maples was correlated to the concentrations of Ca, Al, and the Ca∶Al ratio of soil, whereas growth of the subcanopy maples was not. Growth of the overstory trees was also correlated to the Ca concentration of maple foliage, which in turn was correlated to pH, Ca, Al, and the Ca∶Al ratio of soil. Manganese concentrations in soil and foliage were comparatively high, but were not correlated to trends in growth. The results of this investigation do not indicate abnormal changes in growth of sugar maple since the late 1950s. They suggest, however, that Ca availability limits growth at some sites and indicate that Al concentrations in the soil may be inhibiting Ca uptake.
Primary structure of the canine U1 snRNA.

Abstract The nucleotide (nt) sequence of the canine U1 snRNA was determined. It exhibited significant homology (90–98%) with known U1 sequences. The RNA can be folded according to the secondary structure previously proposed for the U1 snRNA. It contained the conserved sequence UUACCUG in loop A (nt 6 12), required for the recognition of the 5' splice site, and the sequence UGCACU in loop B (nt 68 73), required for recognition of the Ul-70K protein. The U1 snRNA was localized in the nucleus and its transcription was sensitive to α-amanitin, suggesting that it is transcribed by RNA polymerase II. Southern analysis revealed that the canine genome possesses 5–10 copies of U1 snRNA-encoding genes.
Evidence for a caudate role in aphasia from FDG positron computed tomography

Abstract In a recent study we examined correlations between language function and regional glucose metabolism from FDG positron computed tomography. Caudate metabolism correlated with PICA speaking and comprehension factors, as well as BDAE mean writing and reading scores. To identify the language function implicated with caudate metabolism in these eleven patients, twenty subtests making up these two PICA factors and mean BDAE scores were correlated to caudate metabolism. Also a principal components analysis on the twenty subtests identified three factors, only one of which correlated with caudate metabolism. Evidence was found that the caudate has a functional relationship to recognition or motor planning of simple and overlearned materials. This involved simple syntax, low levels of abstraction, identification or sequencing of phonetic and semantic material. This role appeared related to but independent of Broca and frontal lobe function, and may involve the focusing of cortical functions, by allowing ...
The Expression of Density Dependence in State Communities of Organized Interests

We examine a key issue arising from the density dependence hypothesis of the population ecology approach to studying interest communities: the expression of density dependence through variations in the rates of entrance and/or exit from lobbying communities. How such expression occurs will influence (a) the independence of mobilization phenomena from the nature of the lobbying community into which an organization is being mobilized and (b) the prospects of demographic turnover within interest communities. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses of new and more complete data using a more fully specified model generates sharply different results from those reported by Gray and Lowery, suggesting that much greater attention must be accorded to community context in analyses of the mobilization.
Forest distribution and site quality in southern Lower Michigan, USA

Aim The primary objectives of this research were to determine whether current forest patches in southern Lower Michigan are a proportionate sample of forest types present in the pre-settlement cover and, if not, to establish the degree to which certain types are over- or under-represented in the contemporary landscape. This determination is useful not only because any conservation policy designed to restore the present forest to pre-settlement biodiversity through preservation of existing stands requires an accurate understanding of the degree to which these stands in sum mirror past forest diversity, but also because it fills a gap in the existing ecological literature. Location The research was conducted within four counties in southern Lower Michigan, USA (Ionia, Livingston, Tuscola and Van Buren). Methods Soil survey data were used to characterize the range of site quality across the study area and the areal extent of each quality category. The geographic locations of all current forest patches in each county were then determined from land use maps and were overlaid on the site quality classification. This procedure yielded the observed distribution of forest relative to site quality. The expected areal extent of forest within each category of site quality on the landscape was determined by assuming a random distribution and multiplying the total area of forestland by the proportion of landscape within each category of site quality. This procedure calculated the expected distribution of forest in terms of site quality by dividing the total forestland among the landscape types, relative to how well represented the landscape types were. The observed and expected distributions were then compared both in terms of absolute difference and normalized difference. Results Overall results indicate that categories of site quality that support a large proportion of the present-day forest patches are generally composed of agriculturally inferior soil and are over-represented with forest. Surviving or reforested tracts are concentrated on inferior types of habitat. Main conclusions Results suggest that the present-day forest patches may not be a proportionate sample of the primeval forest. Rather, they are concentrated on agriculturally-inferior (coarse-textured, steeply-sloped, or poorly-drained) types of habitat. Unless these stands are for some unknown reason compositionally richer than their pre-settlement counterparts, these results suggest that the existing forest resource in southern Lower Michigan is an inferior (biased) sample of the primeval cover. Furthermore, because forest types associated with the most heavily-developed agricultural sites have apparently suffered the most loss of habitat, species more characteristic of these types may have experienced a greater decline in overall importance across the landscape. This study suggests that policy aimed at increasing the potential biodiversity of the area should include provisions that encourage the redevelopment of forest habitat on those sites no longer supporting their equal share of forest.
High resolution radar target identification

The application of neural networks to the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) problem is discussed. In particular, initial studies investigating the use of an ART-2 self organizing neural-network in a 2-D SAR ATR system are summarized. The performance of the new neural net pattern-matching algorithm is compared with that of the baseline correlation pattern matching algorithm developed previously. This comparison includes evaluating the ability of the pattern matcher to reject nontargets (clutter discretes) and to classify the remaining detections into tank/APC/Howitzer categories. >
A dynamically adaptive constrained unequal error protection scheme for video transmission over wireless channels

In this paper, a novel adaptive unequal error protection (UEP) scheme is proposed which dynamically modifies the UEP level in a packet based on constraints imposed by variations in wireless channel conditions. The technique involves (1) implementing a forcing function that weighs the objective perceptual quality of the image to give the optimum protection level in a packet, and (2) utilizes a feedback mechanism to adapt to the time-varying wireless channel loss characteristics. An optimum UEP level in the transmitted packets is dynamically sought using constrained optimization in order to maintain maximum perceptual quality at the end user. Simulation results show that the proposed technique outperforms the existing constant UEP approaches, especially for packet loss probabilities greater than 0.5.
Non-singleton fuzzy logic systems

In this paper we present a formal derivation of general non-singleton fuzzy logic systems. We show how they can be efficiently computed and give examples for special types of inference and membership functions. We also present analytical comparison of the non-singleton and singleton fuzzy logic systems formulation. >
Size effect of high contrast gratings in VCSELs

We report on the effects of shrinking the physical size of a high index contrast grating (HCG) on a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). HCGs previously had been simulated assuming infinite periodicity. Here we probe through simulation and experiment the effect of reducing the HCG to only a few periods. We experimentally realize lasing VCSELs with as few as 4 periods of HCG. By shrinking the HCG to an extremely small size and integrating it on a wavelength tunable VCSEL, we are able to achieve a tunable VCSEL with a record fast mechanical tuning response of >27 MHz. This is a 5X improvement over the fastest previously reported wavelength tunable VCSELs.
Time-Constrained Content Delivery in Multicast-Capable Optical Networks

In this paper, we study the problem of time-constrained multicast flow aggregation in which programs with specified starting times and specified ending times are aggregated together and delivered from a head end to one or more destinations. We first use a four-partite graph to describe the problem and show that the problem is NP-complete. We then formulate the problem as an integer linear program (ILP) and give results for small scale problems. A heuristic approach, named time compatible first (TCF), is presented, and results show that TCF achieves good results in both large and small scale problems.
Framework for waveband switching in multigranular optical networks: part I-multigranular cross-connect architectures [Invited]

Feature Issue on Waveband Switching, Routing, and GroomingOptical networks using wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) are the foremost solution to the ever-increasing traffic in the Internet backbone. Rapid advances in WDM technology will enable each fiber to carry hundreds or even a thousand wavelengths (using dense-WDM, or DWDM, and ultra-DWDM) of traffic. This, coupled with worldwide fiber deployment, will bring about a tremendous increase in the size of the optical cross-connects, i.e., the number of ports of the wavelength switching elements. Waveband switching (WBS), wherein wavelengths are grouped into bands and switched as a single entity, can reduce the cost and control complexity of switching nodes by minimizing the port count. This paper presents a detailed study on recent advances and open research issues in WBS networks. In this study, we investigate in detail the architecture for various WBS cross-connects and compare them in terms of the number of ports and complexity and also in terms of how flexible they are in adjusting to dynamic traffic. We outline various techniques for grouping wavelengths into bands for the purpose of WBS and show how traditional wavelength routing is different from waveband routing and why techniques developed for wavelength-routed networks (WRNs) cannot be simply applied to WBS networks. We also outline how traffic grooming of subwavelength traffic can be done in WBS networks. In part II of this study [Cao , submitted to J. Opt. Netw.], we study the effect of wavelength conversion on the performance of WBS networks with reconfigurable MG-OXCs. We present an algorithm for waveband grouping in wavelength-convertible networks and evaluate its performance. We also investigate issues related to survivability in WBS networks and show how waveband and wavelength conversion can be used to recover from failures in WBS networks.
A comprehensive evaluation of multicategory classification methods for microarray gene expression cancer diagnosis

Motivation: Cancer diagnosis is one of the most important emerging clinical applications of gene expression microarray technology. We are seeking to develop a computer system for powerful and reliable cancer diagnostic model creation based on microarray data. To keep a realistic perspective on clinical applications we focus on multicategory diagnosis. To equip the system with the optimum combination of classifier, gene selection and cross-validation methods, we performed a systematic and comprehensive evaluation of several major algorithms for multicategory classification, several gene selection methods, multiple ensemble classifier methods and two cross-validation designs using 11 datasets spanning 74 diagnostic categories and 41 cancer types and 12 normal tissue types. Results: Multicategory support vector machines (MC-SVMs) are the most effective classifiers in performing accurate cancer diagnosis from gene expression data. The MC-SVM techniques by Crammer and Singer, Weston and Watkins and one-versus-rest were found to be the best methods in this domain. MC-SVMs outperform other popular machine learning algorithms, such as k-nearest neighbors, backpropagation and probabilistic neural networks, often to a remarkable degree. Gene selection techniques can significantly improve the classification performance of both MC-SVMs and other non-SVM learning algorithms. Ensemble classifiers do not generally improve performance of the best non-ensemble models. These results guided the construction of a software system GEMS (Gene Expression Model Selector) that automates high-quality model construction and enforces sound optimization and performance estimation procedures. This is the first such system to be informed by a rigorous comparative analysis of the available algorithms and datasets. Availability: The software system GEMS is available for download from http://www.gems-system.org for non-commercial use. Contact: alexander.statnikov@vanderbilt.edu
22.3 A 4-to-11GHz injection-locked quarter-rate clocking for an adaptive 153fJ/b optical receiver in 28nm FDSOI CMOS

Modern SoC systems impose stringent requirements on on-chip clock generation and distribution. Ring-oscillator (RO) based injection-locked (IL) clocking has been used in the past [1] to provide a low-power, low-area and low-jitter solution. Ring-based injection-locked oscillators (ILO) can also be used to generate quadrature phases from a reference clock [2] without frequency division, which is desirable for half-rate and quarter-rate CDR. However, ILO inherently has a small locking range [3] making it less suitable for wideband applications. In addition, drift in the free-running frequency due to PVT variations may lead to poor jitter performance and locking failures [4]. Adding a PLL to an ILO provides frequency tracking. However, PLL-aided techniques have second-order characteristics that lead to jitter peaking. They also add design complexity and power consumption [5]. We present a frequency-tracking method that exploits the dynamics of IL in a quadrature RO to increase the effective locking range. This quadrature locked loop (QLL) is used to generate accurate clock phases for a 4-channel optical receiver using a forwarded clock at quarter-rate (Fig. 22.3.1). The QLL drives an ILO at each channel without any repeaters for local quadrature clock generation. Each local ILO has deskew capability for phase alignment. The receiver maintains per-bit energy consumption across wide data-rates (16 to 32Gb/s) by adaptive body biasing (BB) in a 28nm FDSOI technology.
Extrapolation methods for Sommerfeld integral tails

A review is presented of the extrapolation methods for accelerating the convergence of Sommerfeld-type integrals (i.e. semi-infinite range integrals with Bessel function kernels), which arise in problems involving antennas or scatterers embedded in planar multilayered media. Attention is limited to partition-extrapolation procedures in which the Sommerfeld integral is evaluated as a sum of a series of partial integrals over finite subintervals and is accelerated by an extrapolation method applied over the real-axis tail segment (/spl alpha/,/spl infin/) of the integration path, where /spl alpha/>0 is selected to ensure that the integrand is well behaved. An analytical form of the asymptotic truncation error (or the remainder), which characterizes the convergence properties of the sequence of partial sums and serves as a basis for some of the most efficient extrapolation methods, is derived. Several extrapolation algorithms deemed to be the most suitable for the Sommerfeld integrals are described and their performance is compared. It is demonstrated that the performance of these methods is strongly affected by the horizontal displacement of the source and field points /spl rho/ and by the choice of the subinterval break points. Furthermore, it is found that some well-known extrapolation techniques may fail for a number of values of /spl rho/ and ways to remedy this are suggested. Finally, the most effective extrapolation methods for accelerating Sommerfeld integral tails are recommended.
The kinetic basis for the stabilization of staphylococcal nuclease by xylose

The effect of xylose on the rates of folding and unfolding of staphylococcal nuclease (nuclease) have been investigated using fluorescence-detected pressure-jump relaxation kinetics in order to establish the kinetic basis for the observed stabilization of nuclease by this sugar (Frye KJ, Perman CS, Royer CA, 1996, Biochemistry 35:10234-10239). The activation volumes for both folding and unfolding and the equilibrium volume change for folding were all positive. Their values were within experimental error of those reported previously (Vidugiris GJA, Markley JL, Royer CA, 1995, Biochemistry 34:4909-4912) and were independent of xylose concentration. The major effect of xylose concentration was to increase significantly the rate of folding. The large positive activation volume for folding was interpreted previously as indicating that the rate-limiting step in nuclease folding involves dehydration of a significant amount of surface area. A large effect of xylose on the rate constant for folding provides strong support for this interpretation, because xylose, an osmolyte, stabilizes the folded state of proteins through surface tension effects. These studies further characterize the transition state in nuclease folding as lying closer to the folded, rather than the unfolded state along the folding coordinate in terms of the degree of burial of surface area. The image of the transition state that emerges is consistent with a dry molten globule.
Pulmonary testing using peak flow meters of very low birth weight children born in the perisurfactant era and school controls at age 10 years

We determined lung function at age 10 years in very low birthweight (VLBW, <or=1,500 g) children and controls, and compared the sensitivity to detect subgroup differences by peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC) and their diurnal variation. VLBW children were recruited across the perisurfactant era at admission to six NICUs in Wisconsin and Iowa, and controls from area classrooms. Two hundred sixty five VLBW children and 360 controls were tested by the Jaeger AM1 peak flow meter at age 10 years. Two hundred six VLBW and 79 controls had additional home monitoring. Abnormality was defined as observed/predicted ratio <0.8 for PEF, FEV(1), and FVC, and by criteria of Pelkonen for diurnal PEF variation. VLBW children were compared to controls, VLBW children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to those without, and those with respiratory conditions to those without. PEF and FEV(1) showed high reproducibility (intraclass correlations, ICC 0.75-0.83). Controls and VLBW children with and without BPD differed significantly on all measures. Baseline test results did not differ across birth years, but PEF variation was less after surfactant availability (P = 0.04). Observed over predicted FEV(1) was the most sensitive in detecting differences between groups (P < 0.001), with mean (s.d.) 0.97 (0.12) for controls, 0.88 (0.14) for VLBW children without BPD, and 0.78 (0.13) for those with BPD. Odds ratios for abnormality were especially high with respiratory medication use during the first 5 years of life, 4.4 (95% CI: 2.0-9.8) for FEV(1) and 5.1 (95% CI: 2.0-13.2) for diurnal PEF variation. Our results show that respiratory abnormalities persist to at least age 10 years for VLBW children born in the surfactant era.
Reconciling Incompatibilities: A Grounded Theory of HIV Medication Adherence and Symptom Management:

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explain how ethnically diverse men and women living with HIV manage their interacting illness symptoms, medication side effects, and treatment adherence choices. The authors used the constant comparative method to analyze textual data from in-depth interviews with 66 HIV-infected people representing the changing HIV demographic profile in the San Francisco Bay area and generate a theory of Reconciling Incompatibilities. Adherence options of complying, not complying, or self-tailoring occurred in a context of attributional uncertainty as to whether distress was illness- or treatment-related, a sometimes silent virus, and perceived fickle medical markers. Conditions, including self-identity, illness ideology, concurrent treatment regimens, the meaning of time, medication burden and side effects, and lifestyle, coalesced to produce a state of mind that shaped adherence choices on a dose-by-dose basis. This theory offers a basis for interventions designed to promote optimal adherence choices concerning HIV therapies.
A set of surgical chain saws.

A biochemical tour de force in this issue of The EMBO Journal suggests that JAMM/MPN+‐domain containing deubiquitinating enzymes specifically disassemble K63‐linked ubiquitin chains.
Robust image communication over wireless channels

Typical image compression algorithms produce data streams which require a very reliable communication-they are not designed for transmission in an environment in which data may be lost or delayed, as provided by current and next-generation wireless communication networks. Compression and transmission provisions that avoid catastrophic failure caused by lost, delayed, or errant packets are therefore imperative in order to provide reliable visual communication over such systems. This robustness is obtained by modifying the source coding and/or adding channel coding. This article presents an overview of both lossy and lossless source coding techniques and combined source/channel techniques providing robustness, presenting examples of successful techniques.
THE BLAME GAME: Racialized Responses to Hurricane Katrina

Response to Hurricane Katrina and public commentary by high-profile individuals has made race a focus in the media and brought racial inequality to the attention of people in the United States. Analyzing responses to an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, I find that, even after this very public event that brought race to the forefront in the U.S., people relied on the ideologies of meritocracy and color blindness to rationalize inequality. Findings of how the myth of meritocracy is utilized, along with how people argue against it, can be used to keep race at the forefront of the nation's attention while furthering discussions of inequality. The academic community is challenged to keep the voices of alternative ideologies in the spotlight and to use the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina to create change.
Microvascular Integrity and the Time Course of Myocardial Sodium Accumulation After Acute Infarction

Loss of membrane permeability caused by ischemia leads to cellular sodium accumulation and myocardial edema. This phenomenon has important implications to left ventricular structure and function in the first hours after myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that during this period of time, after prolonged coronary occlusion and complete reflow, the rate of myocardial sodium accumulation is governed by microvascular integrity. We used 3-dimensional (23)Na MRI to monitor myocardial sodium content changes over time in an in vivo closed-chest canine model (n=13) of myocardial infarction and reperfusion. Infarcts with microvascular obstruction (MO) defined by both radioactive microspheres and contrast-enhanced (1)H MRI showed a slower rate of sodium accumulation as well as lower blood flow at 20 minutes and 6 hours after reperfusion. Conversely, the absence of MO was associated with faster rates of sodium accumulation and greater blood flow restoration. In addition, infarct size by (23)Na MRI correlated best with infarct size by triphenyltetrazolium chloride and contrast-enhanced (1)H MRI at 9 hours after reperfusion. We conclude that in reperfused myocardial infarction, sodium accumulation is dependent on microvascular integrity and is slower in regions of MO compared with those with patent microvasculature. Finally, (23)Na MRI can be a useful tool for monitoring in vivo myocardial sodium content in acute myocardial infarction.