cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elevated maternal glycohemoglobin in early pregnancy and spontaneous abortion among insulin-dependent diabetic women

Insulin-dependent diabetic women without adequate glucose control have a higher rate of spontaneous abortions than does the general population of pregnant women. The present study examined whether insulin-dependent diabetic women who experienced spontaneous abortions had higher levels of glycohemoglobin in the first trimester than did insulin-dependent diabetic women who had normal pregnancy outcomes. Measurement of glycohemoglobin during the first trimester provides an integrated, retrospective index of glucose control during the phase of organogenesis. This study evaluated 116 pregnancies in 75 insulin-dependent diabetic women. Ninety pregnancies progressed beyond 20 weeks, with normal outcome. Twenty-six pregnancies terminated in spontaneous abortions before 20 weeks. The mean gestational ages for sampling of glycohemoglobin for the women who experienced spontaneous abortion and those for the women with pregnancies of more than 20 weeks were not significantly different. The mean level of glycohemoglobin for the women who experienced spontaneous abortions was significantly greater than that for the women with pregnancies of more than 20 weeks (p less than 0.05). Individual levels of glycohemoglobin of less than 12% at 8 to 9 weeks' gestation were associated with favorable outcomes, whereas levels of glycohemoglobin of more than 12% were predictive of a greater incidence of spontaneous abortions (p less than 0.05). These data suggest that the poorly controlled pregnant diabetic patient, as reflected by high levels of glycohemoglobin early in pregnancy, has an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.
Using a student response system in CS1 and CS2

Professors are continually exploring ways to increase the engagement of their students, but are sometimes concerned that doing "fun" things in class could adversely affect student learning. Over the course of several semesters, we had the same professor teach several CS1 and CS2 courses for computer science and game development majors. As part of his classroom approach, the professor used a student response system to engage the students in the flow of the lecture. In this paper, we examine the relationships between student participation using the student response system and student performance in the course assessments. We also explore the relationship between each student's perceived mastery of course topics and their demonstrated mastery of those topics on the Final Exam. Finally, we explore several differences between the multiple courses included in the study.
Biochemical entities that influence membrane-associated TNF RII (80-kDa) and IL-1 RI (80-kDa) complex expression and receptor fragment production in adherent vascular endothelium

Abstract The research aim of the present investigation was to identify leukocyte enzyme-proteases that have the capacity to biochemically recruit the passive participation of vascular endothelium in cytokine receptor ‘shedding' phenomenon involving membrane-associated TNF RII (80-kDa) and IL-1 RI (80-kDa) complexes. Achieving this research objective involved the design of a laboratory approach that delineated to what extent enzyme-proteases released by activated macrophages directly interact with, and liberate soluble fragments of membrane-associated cytokine receptor complexes. Results from this segment of the investigation revealed that cathepsin-D, a leukocyte carboxyl/aspartate protease, altered the integrity and generated soluble fragments of TNF RII (80-kDa) and IL-1 RI (80-kDa) receptor complexes expressed by vascular endothelium. Furthermore, laboratory findings also suggested that cathepsin-D possessed the ability to variably deplete biologically functional membrane-associated TNF RII (80-kDa) and IL-1 RI (80-kDa) complexes. Complementary investigations isolated a carboxyl/aspartate protease from activated macrophages utilizing pepstatin-A affinity chromatography. Exposure of vascular endothelium to pepstatin-A binding proteins resulted in a detectable depletion of membrane-associated TNF RII (80-kDa) and IL-1 RI (80-kDa) in addition to the generation of soluble receptor fragments. Analysis of macrophage pepstatin-A binding proteins by SDS-PAGE identified a primary fraction with a molecular mass of 47–52-kDa that closely correlated with the known molecular mass of leukocyte cathepsin-D. Evaluation of macrophage pepstatin-A binding-protein fractions by non-denaturing Hb-PAGE detected a lucent proteolytic band at 47–52-kDa compatible with the known molecular mass of leukocyte cathepsin-D. Macrophage pepstatin-A binding proteins also hydrolyzed a synthetic enzyme-specific substrate that selectively recognizes cathepsin-D biochemical activity. In conclusion, the leukocyte carboxyl/aspartate protease, cathepsin-D can biochemically alter the integrity and generate soluble fragments of membrane-associated TNF RII (80-kDa) and IL-1 RI (80-kDa) receptor complexes expressed by vascular endothelium. The relevance of this concept is in part based on investigations that have discovered that genetic ‘knock-out' mice incapable of expressing IL-1 RI (80-kDa) or TNF RI (55-kDa) receptor complexes are highly resistant to developing the pathophysiological alterations classically associated with conditions of endotoxic-shock.
Thermal degradation characteristics of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) copolymers

Abstract The oxidative and thermal degradation characteristics of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (AM-co-AA) and poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) (HPAM) have been explored via DSC, TG and TG-MS techniques. Several complications are described which limit the utility of a literature TG method for determining HPAM composition via analysis of its oxidative degradation. An improved TG method is described which is based on HPAM degradation in a nitrogen atmosphere. The utility of DSC and TG-MS experiments for elucidating the complex degradation characteristics of these polymer systems is illustrated for an AM-co-AA system. Multiple water and ammonia evolution stages were noted in TG-MS experiments and possible mechanisms are suggested.
An investigation of cysteine mutants on the cytoplasmic loop X/XI in the melibiose transporter of Escherichia coli by using thiol reagents: implication of structural conservation of charged residues.

Abstract The melibiose transporter (Mel B) of Escherichia coli is a cation-coupled (H + , Li + , and Na + ) membrane protein (MW 50 kDa) consisting of 12 transmembrane helices that are connected by periplasmic and cytoplasmic loops, with both the C- and N-ends located on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Previous investigations on the largest cytoplasmic loop X/XI indicated that it is a functional re-entrant loop. In this communication, the cysteine mutants on loop X/XI were studied with charged thiol reagents MTSES, MTSET, and IAA for both the inhibition patterns and charge replacement/function rescue of inactive mutants in which the original charged residues were replaced by neutral cysteines. Strong inhibitions were observed in T373C and V376C by both MTSES and MTSET, consistent with previous results of PCMBS inhibition. The thiol reagents failed to recover the activities of inactive mutants D351C, D354C, and R363C and to inhibit active mutants E357C, K359C, and E365C to any significant extent, suggesting a structural conservation at D351, D354, and R363 and tolerance of structural variations at E357, K359, and E365. The results are consistent with previous observation of structural conservation of functionally charged residues in the transmembrane domains and extend to a loop the contention that in the melibiose transporter functionally important charged residues are structurally conserved.
Commercial Applications of Reactions Catalyzed by Soluble Complexes of Cobalt and Rhodium

Abstract The past quarter century has witnessed an enormous transformation in the use of soluble transition metal complexes as catalysts in the chemical process industries. Until the mid-1950s, industrial use of homogeneous catalysis was largely confined to reactions of acetylene [1]. As indicated in Fig. 1, a large family of acetylene-based reactions was used to produce polymer intermediates such as vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, chloroprene, and 1,4-butanediol. The processes were simple but they were relatively expensive because they were based on an expensive raw material. The large energy content of the acetylene molecule (ΔF°=50.84 kcal/mol) made it both hazardous to handle and expensive even in times when energy was cheaper.
A Combined Simulation and Kirkwood−Buff Approach to Quantify Cosolvent Effects on the Conformational Preferences of Peptides in Solution

A molecular dynamics study of the effects of salt on the conformational preferences of leucine enkephalin (LE) in water has been performed to outline a general approach for quantifying the effects of a cosolvent on a biomolecular equilibrium in solution using molecular simulation. The simulations of LE suggest that the peptide exists as a mixture of folded and unfolded conformations in pure water, and a potential of mean force calculation indicates the population of the folded form to be 53±3%. The addition of 2 M salt reduces the population of the folded form to 12±5%. A combination of the simulation data and Kirkwood−Buff theory is used to determine the preferential interactions of the cosolvent with the peptide and to reproduce the population changes indicated by the potential of mean force calculations. The results demonstrate the potential of a combined simulation and Kirkwood−Buff approach for quantifying simulation data in an effort to understand the effects of cosolvents on the thermodynamics of b...
Luminescence, laser, and carrier‐lifetime behavior of constant‐temperature LPE In1−x Gax P (x=0.52) grown on (100) GaAs

Photoluminescence and carrier lifetime data are obtained on low‐dislocation‐density (etch pits ≳ 5 × 103/cm2) n‐type In1−x Gax P (x=0.52) epitaxial layers grown on (100) surfaces of GaAs by means of a constant‐temperature liquid‐phase‐epitaxial (CT‐LPE) process. These crystals are of exceptional quality and readily lase from 77 to 300 °K. The index dispersion relation (n‐λ dn/dλ) is determined from the laser mode spacing Δλ in the temperature range 77–300 °K and indicates that at higher thresholds laser operation shifts toward donor tail states. By means of optical phase shift measurements the carrier lifetime (77°K) is examined as a function of wavelength from the spontaneous regime to well above laser threshold. The lifetime data indicate that there is a correlation between a dip in the lifetime due to stimulated emission and the region of the spectrum where the first laser modes appear. These data, and similar data on p‐type crystals, indicate that CT‐LPE In1−x Gax P should be very promising for the de...
Hybrid system for computing reachable workspaces for redundant manipulators

Abstract An efficient computation of 3D workspaces for redundant manipulators is based on a "hybrid" a!-gorithm between direct kinematics and screw theory. Direct kinematics enjoys low computationalcost, but needs edge detection algorithms when workspace boundaries are needed. Screw theoryhas exponential computational cost per workspace point, but does not need edge detection. Screwtheory allows computing workspace points in prespecified directions, while direct kinematics doesnot. Applications of the algorithm are discussed. 1 Introduction The problem of computing the workspace for a redundant manipulator has applications in a varietyof fields such as robotics, computer aided design, and computer graphics. The reachable workspaceof a manipulator is the volume or space encompassing all points that a reference point P on the endeffector traces as all the joints move through their respective ranges of motion [4,8]. In computer aideddesign, three dimensional workspace for a human limb or robotic manipulator can be used in designingthe interior of cars, tanks, or space vehicles. Different panels and keys can be repositioned within the3-D reachable workspace. These different configurations can be tested before being manufactured.In robotics, the workspace problem has long been on the agenda of researchers; however, they havenot formulated a satisfactory and general solution.A workspace is said to have a hole if there exist at least one straight line which is surroundedby the workspace yet without making contact with it [14,6]. A workspace is said to have a void ifthere exist a closed region R, buried within the reachable workspace, such that all points inside thebounding surface of R are not reached by the manipulator [14,6].The first efforts to compute the manipulator workspace, based on its kinematic geometry, startedin the mid 1970's [8,4]. They proved that the extreme distance line between a chosen point on thefirst joint axis and the center point of the end effector intersects all intermediate joint axes of rotation.However, the above result is not valid if any intermediate joint axis is parallel to the extreme distanceline, two joint axes intersect, or any joint is not ideal (has limits). Kumar and Waldron [5] presentedanother algorithm to compute the manipulator's workspace. In their analysis, an imaginary forceis applied to the reference point at the end effector in order to achieve the maximum extension inthe direction of the applied force. The manipulator reaches its maximum extension when the force's
Oil in Nigeria: A Bibliographical Reconnaissance

Several studies have demonstrated the impact of oil in Nigeria, with recent literature showing that modern Nigeria can hardly be understood without oil. There is now an abundance of literature to present an overview of the subject. In this first piece, the modest intention is to indicate the range of literature as well as identify the broad themes. An attempt is also made to locate the themes in their historical context in order to indicate some of the major changes in the literature. Subsequent essays will identify the paradigmatic shifts in the literature, as well as the major gaps that exist. In addition, we hope to argue in another essay that large bodies of work exist to sustain reliable comparative studies.The introduction to this essay sets out the themes to be discussed, and each receives separate attention. These themes include the impact of the oil industry on Nigeria's workers, environment, and communities within the oil rich Niger Delta. They also include the impact of oil revenue on Nigeria's foreign policy, national development, and political stability. An examination of the literature from the 1950s to the present reveals several clear patterns of change. The literature begins with an optimistic view of the oil industry, shifts toward in-depth discussions during the 1970s and 1980s on the impact of the oil shock, and currently resides on issues of environmental destruction and human rights violations incurred from the oil industry. The synthesis presented here privileges research-based essays and books.
Development of a computerized atlas of neonatal surgery

Digital imaging is an evolving technology with significant potential for enhancing medical education and practice. Current teaching methodologies still rely on the time-honored traditions of group lectures, small group discussions, and clinical preceptorships. Educational content and value are variable. Utilization of electronic media is in its infancy but offers significant potential for enhancing if not replacing current teaching methodologies. This report details our experience with the creation of an interactive atlas on neonatal surgical conditions. The photographic atlas has been one of the classic tools of practice, reference, and especially of education in surgery. The major limitations on current atlases all stem from the fact that they are produced in book form. The limiting factors in the inclusion of large numbers of images in these volumes include the desire to limit the physical size of the book and the costs associated with high quality color reproduction of print images. The structure of the atlases usually makes them reference tools, rather than teaching tools. We have digitized a large number of clinical images dealing with the diagnosis and surgical management of all of the most common neonatal surgical conditions. The flexibility of the computer presentation environment allows the images to be organized in a number of different ways. In addition to a standard captioned atlas, the user may choose to review case histories of several of the more common conditions in neonates, complete with presenting conditions, imaging studies, surgery and pathology. Use of the computer offers the ability to choose multiple views of the images, including comparison views and transparent overlays that point out important anatomical and histopathological structures, and the ability to perform user self-tests. This atlas thus takes advantage of several aspects of data management unique to computerized digital imaging, particularly the ability to combine all aspects of medical imaging related to a single case for easy retrieval. This facet unique to digital imaging makes it the obvious choice for new methods of teaching such complex subjects as the clinical management of neonatal surgical conditions. We anticipate that many more subjects in the surgical, pathologic, and radiologic realms will eventually be presented in a similar manner.
Evaluation of visual acuity during laser photoradiation therapy of cancer

Visual function for ten patients undergoing HPD-PRT was tested using 1) the Graham Field Eye Chart for distance vision, 2) pseudo-isochromatic plates for color vision, and 3) Amsler grid for changes in macular function. Whereas some increases and decreases in ocular function were observed, no clear patterns or changes of significance were observed.
Rainfall and runoff chemistry of Florida pine flatwoods

Rainfall chemistry was monitored for 10 yr and correlated with runoff chemistry of an undisturbed 140 ha pine-cypress flatwoods watershed in Florida. Volume-weighted rainfall averaged 4.8 pH units and decreased by 0.013 units yr−1, which was not statistically significant. The seasonal variation of pH showed a minimum during the summer months. Regression analyses demonstrated that rainfall acidity was weakly correlated with nitrate-N and sulphate-S. Significant but slight annual decreases were found for Na, Ca and K levels in rainfall; these were due to large fluctuations occurring during the early years of the study. The average volume-weighted monthly runoff acidity was nearly one pH unit less than in rainfall and remained constant over time. Levels of nitrate-N and phosphate-P showed a significant decrease while Ca showed a significant increase in runoff over time. The pine-cypress flatwoods ecosystem appeared to absorb most of the H+, N and P, while losing only a little of the bases.
Nematodes learn: now what?

A study in Nature reports that nematodes can learn to associate different chemosensory stimuli with illness and to avoid these stimuli in a choice test. Elevated serotonin in a particular type of neuron was critical for this learning.
Paraplegia of spinal epidural compression by metastatic breast cancer and urgent radiotherapy—timeliness for naught?

Four patients who became paraplegic because of spinal epidural compression by metastatic breast cancer were treated for palliation by external beam radiation. None of the four regained ambulation after therapy. Our findings place in question the urgent need for radiotherapy in these paralytic people with the disorder, especially when they are pain-free.
Calorimetric investigations of second order ferroelectric transitions

Calorimetric studies employing small temperature intervals were made of the second order ferroelectric transitions in triglycine sulfate and Rochelle salt. No evidence of a heat capacity divergence was observed in Rochelle salt. No strong heat capacity divergence was observed in triglycine sulfate, an observation which may be attributed to the quality of the crystals available for study. In triglycine sulfate it was demonstrated that crystal quality can affect the heat capacity measured in the immediate vicinity of the transition.
Scaling of motor cortical excitability during unimanual force generation

During performance of a unimanual force generation task primary motor cortices (M1s) experience clear functional changes. Here, we evaluated the way in which M1s interact during parametric increases in right wrist flexion force in healthy volunteers. We measured the amplitude and the slope of motor evoked potentials (MEP) recruitment curves to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the left and right flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscles at rest and during 10%, 30% and 70% of maximal wrist flexion force. At rest, no differences were observed in the amplitude and slope of MEP recruitment curves in the left and right FCR muscles. With increasing right wrist flexion force, MEP amplitudes increased in both FCR muscles, with larger amplitudes in the right FCR. We found a significant correlation between the left and right MEP amplitudes across conditions. The slope of right and left FCR MEP recruitment curve was significantly steeper at 70% of force compared to rest and 10% of force. A significant correlation between the slope of left and right FCR MEP amplitudes was found at 70% of force only. Our results indicate a differential scaling of excitability in the corticospinal system controlling right and left FCR muscles at increasing levels of unimanual force generation. Specifically, these data highlights that at strong levels of unimanual force the increases in motor cortical excitability with increasing TMS stimulus intensities follow a similar pattern in both M1s, while at low levels of force they do not.
Degradation of red cell membrane phospholipids by sea anemone nematocyst venom.

Abstract Sea anemone (Aiptasia pallida) nematocyst venom exhibited phospholipase A activity on red cell membrane phospholipids. Phospholipase A, purified from the venom, converted four of the major membrane phospholipids to their respective lysoderivatives, and to water-soluble phosphorus compounds. The production of these water-soluble derivatives appears to be due to the action of a lysolecithinase intrinsic to red cell membranes. Thus, the extent of membrane phospholipid hydrolysis by venom phospholipase A was determined either by direct measurements of the decrease in phospholipid content, or by adding the increase in lysophospholipids to the increase in water-soluble phosphorus compounds. These findings suggest that the underlying mechanism of nematocyst venom-induced hemolysis is due to the enzymatic action of venom phospholipase A on membrane phospholipids.
On finite deformation of F.C.C. crystals in (110) channel die compression

Abstract The characteristic behavior of f.c.c. crystals in the (110) channel die compression test is loading-axis stability. The lattice either rotates about the (110) loading direction or is stable relative to the channel axes, dependent upon constraint direction and active slip systems. Herein we establish a general theoretical basis for the initial finite deformation behavior that encompasses the full range of crystal orientations under (110) loading. We also make detailed analyses of crystal shearing, lattice rotation, slip-systems hardening, and constraint stress for orientations near a nominal (110) (1 1 2 ) ( 1 1 1 ) experimental orientation, based upon three specific hardening theories, and make comparisons with the experimental data to a compressive strain of one.
Fecundity, fruiting pattern, and seed dispersal in Piper amalago (Piperaceae), a bat-dispersed tropical shrub.

This paper describes the nightly and seasonal production of ripe fruit by Piper amalago (Piperaceae), a patchily distributed, bat-dispersed forest shrub, at Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, Costa Rica. Phenological observations over several years indicate that individuals produce a low (usually 1–3) and variable number of ripe fruit each night for 3–4 wks in the early wet season (June and July). Observations of the disappearance rates of marked fruits and fruit manipulation experiments indicate that fruit removal probabilities are high (often nearly 1.0) and independent of nightly and seasonal ripe fruit crop size. Data from previous feeding and foraging studies of the bat Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) are used to estimate the mobility of P. amalago's seeds. Most seeds (>90%) are deposited ≧50 m from parent plants under night feeding roosts. Relatively few seeds move >300 m, and movements this long are more likely to occur early and late in the fruiting season when bats change feeding sites more frequently. Seed experiments indicate that P. amalago seedling establishment probabilities are higher in light gaps than under forest canopy. The dispersal quality (sensu McKey 1975) of P. amalago's chiropteran seed dispersers is directly proportional to the number of seeds they excrete in actual or incipient light gaps.
Miniaturization: Chip-based liquid chromatography and proteomics.

Proteomic research is linked with significant technological challenges such as the high dynamic range and low abundance of biologically interesting proteins. Moreover, there is an increasing need for high-throughput and robustness of routinely performed analyses. Solving these difficulties requires refinements in the capability to fractionate and prepare biological samples as well as improvements in speed, automation, separation power and overall analytical sensitivity. Recent innovations in microfluidic devices with integrated on-chip sample enrichment, liquid chromatography and electrospray emitters and their applicability for specific proteomic applications are presented in this review.
Functionalized Rhodium Intercalators for DNA Recognition.

A series of rhodium complexes containing the phenanthrenequinone diimine (phi) ligand have been prepared which bind DNA by intercalation and, upon photoactivation, promote DNA strand breaks. In this series, the ancillary, nonintercalating bipyridyl or phenanthroline ligands have been functionalized to yield complexes containing guanidinium, amido, or amino groups arranged with defined stereochemistry for site-specific interaction with the DNA bases. Λ-1-[Rh(MGP)_2phi]^(5+) (MGP = 4-(guanidylmethyl)-1,10-phenanthroline) site-specifically targets the 6-base pair sequence 5‘-CATATG-3‘ with a binding affinity of 1 (±0.5) × 10^8 M^(-1) while Δ-1-[Rh(MGP)_2phi]^(5+) displays an affinity of 5 (±2) × 10^7 M^(-1) for 5‘-CATCTG-3‘. Even though these two isomers target sites which differ by only a single base, binding is highly enantioselective. The specificity is derived chiefly from interactions of the pendant guanidinium groups with the DNA bases. For the racemates of 1-[Rh(GEB)_2phi]^(5+) (GEB = (4-(2-guanidylethyl)-4‘-methyl-2,2‘-bipyridine) and 1-[Rh(GPB)_2phi]^(5+) (GPB = (4-(2-guanidylpropyl)-4‘-methyl-2,2‘-bipyridine), photocleavage patterns also show the strongest site of photocleavage as 5‘-CATCTG-3‘, the target site for Δ-1-[Rh(MGP)_2phi]^(5+). Moreover, consistent with the dominance of the guanidinium groups in establishing specificity, significantly enhanced photocleavage is evident for the 1-positional isomer of these complexes, where the guanidinium moieties are directed toward the DNA (above and below the phi ligand) compared to the 2-isomer, in which the guanidinium groups are directed away from the DNA. In contrast to Λ-1-[Rh(MGP)_2phi]^(5+), Λ-1-[Rh(GEB)_2phi]^(5+) shows little cleavage at 5‘-CATATG-3‘; this sensitivity to linker length likely depends on the mode of recognition of 5‘-CATATG-3‘ involving sequence-dependent unwinding of the DNA site. Analogous site-specificity or isomer-specificity is not evident with the complexes which contain pendant amido or amino functionalities. Instead these complexes appear to resemble the parent, unfunctionalized [Rh(phen)_2phi]^(3+) with respect to recognition. Pendant guanidinium functionalities appear to be particularly advantageous in the construction of small molecules which bind DNA with site-specificity.
Temperature Effects on Refolding and Aggregation of a Large Multimeric Protein Using Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) equipped with laser-induced fluorescence detection (UFO) allows rapid and sensitive identification of folding and aggregation intermediates of P22 tailspike endorhamnosidase using the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Conversion of the protrimer into the native tailspike protein, which is the rate-limiting step, can be quenched at 0 °C and results in a loss of the protrimer in the refolding pathway. Results obtained from CZE.UFD and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicate the loss of folding intermediates through the adsorption of polypeptide chains onto the wall of the refoldingvial. Early aggregation intermediates are studied using a temperature-sensitive folding tailspike mutant which shifts productive folding to the aggregation pathway at restrictive temperatures. By monitoring refolding intermediates during the temperature shift experiments, the early monomeric intermediate is identified as the thermolabile junctional intermediate between the productive and aggregation pathways. After passing the stage for accumulation of thermolabile intermediate, an increase in refolding temperature from 10 to 35 °C is carried out for achieving the optimal refolding kinetics and yields of tailspike endorhamnosidase.
Wavelet basis functions in biomedical signal processing

Research highlights? Daubechies 44 wavelet basis is the most similar function across various biosignals. ? High order Daubechies functions are useful to extract features from 1-D biosignals. ? For wavelet signal processing, selection of mother function similar to signal is not always a proper strategy. During the last two decades, wavelet transform has become a common signal processing technique in various areas. Selection of the most similar mother wavelet function has been a challenge for the application of wavelet transform in signal processing. This paper introduces Daubechies 44 (db44) as the most similar mother wavelet function across a variety of biological signals. Three-hundred and twenty four potential mother wavelet functions were selected and investigated in the search for the most similar function. The algorithms were validated by three categories of biological signals: forearm electromyographic (EMG), electroencephalographic (EEG), and vaginal pulse amplitude (VPA). Surface and intramuscular EMG signals were collected from multiple locations on the upper forearm of subjects during ten hand motions. EEG was recorded from three monopolar Ag-AgCl electrodes (Pz, POz, and Oz) during visual stimulus presentation. VPA, a useful source for female sexuality research, were recorded during a study of alcohol and stimuli on sexual behaviors. In this research, after extensive studies on mother wavelet functions, results show that db44 has the most similarity across these classes of biosignals.
Bifunctional acid—base catalysis by imidazole groups in enzyme mimics

Abstract The cleavage of RNA can be catalysed by imidazole buffer, and shows sequential bifunctional catalysis. When the two imidazole groups are attached to the same catalyst, as in enzymes or in cyclodextrin bis-imidazole derivatives, simultaneous bifunctional catalysis is seen. The geometric preference for such bifunctional catalysis is revealed by the use of three isomeric cyclodextrin bis-imidazoles. Different isomers are preferred for phosphate ester hydrolysis and for ketone enolization, and the preferences reveal details of the catalytic mechanisms.
Initial Results From an Interdisciplinary Review of Trust Research

In the days of modern engineering, a complex system can be designed and built using numerous sources of information, knowledge, hardware, and software. A factor that impacts the success of a complex system is trust. In designing a framework that allows for a unified trust model or trusting picture and defining a reliable metric for measuring trustworthiness, we are examining definitions and methodologies from social sciences and engineering. This paper uses a combination of publication analysis of research literature including psychological, sociological, economic, automation, and cyberspace perspectives of trust and technical dialogues with the subject matter experts at the Air Force Research Laboratory, to illuminate the interdisciplinary approach undertaken in hardware centric design with human interface. We review past work to highlight trustworthiness characteristics and trust measurements that conceptually could apply across fields under examination. We expect to create a more rigorous definition of trust and trustworthiness that leads to finding the appropriate metrics to measure trust and trustworthiness dynamically.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Hepatocellular carcinoma: current surgical management.

At present the only potentially curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is either partial hepatectomy or total hepatectomy with orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Underlying liver reserve and regenerative capacity are the most important determinants of the risk of postoperative hepatic failure after partial hepatectomy; thus, careful preoperative assessment of liver function is mandatory. In specialized centers perioperative mortality is less than 5%, although cirrhotic patients are at increased risk. Various neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies are under investigation, but as yet there are no data that demonstrate benefit from adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. The use of OLT is limited by the difficulty of obtaining donor livers. Patients selected for transplantation and partial hepatectomy represent two distinct subgroups, but their survival after treatment is comparable. Despite the progress in the management of HCC by surgical resection, the fact remains that the majority of these patients will experience local recurrences. This has led to the development of a variety of novel new treatments that require further evaluation.
Roles of ADAM13-regulated Wnt activity in early Xenopus eye development

Abstract Pericellular proteolysis by ADAM family metalloproteinases has been widely implicated in cell signaling and development. We recently found that Xenopus ADAM13, an ADAM metalloproteinase, is required for activation of canonical Wnt signaling during cranial neural crest (CNC) induction by regulating a novel crosstalk between Wnt and ephrin B (EfnB) signaling pathways (Wei et al., 2010b). In the present study we show that the metalloproteinase activity of ADAM13 also plays important roles in eye development in Xenopus tropicalis. Knockdown of ADAM13 results in reduced expression of eye field markers pax6 and rx1, as well as that of the pan-neural marker sox2. Activation of canonical Wnt signaling or inhibition of forward EfnB signaling rescues the eye defects caused by loss of ADAM13, suggesting that ADAM13 functions through regulation of the EfnB–Wnt pathway interaction. Downstream of Wnt, the head inducer Cerberus was identified as an effector that mediates ADAM13 function in early eye field formation. Furthermore, ectopic expression of the Wnt target gene snail2 restores cerberus expression and rescues the eye defects caused by ADAM13 knockdown. Together these data suggest an important role of ADAM13-regulated Wnt activity in eye development in Xenopus.
Chemotherapy and thoractomy for metastatic osteogenic sarcoma. A model for adjuvant chemotherapy and the rationale for the timing of thoracic surgery.

Forty-five children with osteogenic sarcoma metastatic to the lung were treated with sequential chemotherapy, consisting of high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) with citrovorum factor rescue (CFR), adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide, and the surgical removal of all pulmonary metastases when possible. Fourteen of the 45 patients had complete removal of all metastases at initial thoracotomy, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Ten of these 14 patients are surviving (all with no evidence of disease) for from 24–56 months (median 33+months) from the start of treatment. Thirty-one of the 45 patients had diffuse pulmonary metastases and were treated with chemotherapy followed by multiple thoracotomies and further chemotherapy. Twelve of these 31 patients have no evidence of disease for from 6–41+ months (median 19+ months). The correlation of clinical response, with the surgical and histologic findings at the time of thoracotomy, following chemotherapy in this latter group of patients, has helped us to define the proper dose and scheduling of chemotherapy when used in an adjuvant situation. It also has provided a model for the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in osteogenic sarcoma. In addition, this experience has led us to propose the following guidelines for the management of osteogenic sarcoma patients with pulmonary metastases: 1) pulmonary metastases large enough to be seen on roentgenogram should eventually be removed if possible, 2) patients with late occurring solitary pulmonary metastases should undergo initial surgical removal of pulmonary metastases, followed by “adjuvant” chemotherapy, and 3) patients with rapidly occurring or apparent multiple pulmonary metastases should undergo chemotherapy initially; if pulmonary metastases shrink in size or do not change in size over a period of 2–6 months of chemotherapy, an attempt should be made surgically to excise all “residual” disease prior to the continuation of chemotherapy. This approach to the treatment of osteogenic sarcoma in patients with pulmonary metastases has yielded an unexpectedly high disease-free and prolonged survival rate, and demonstrates the value of aggressive treatment in this group of patients who classically had an extremely poor prognosis.
A Closed-Form Solution for Options with Stochastic Volatility with Applications to Bond and Currency Options

I use a new technique to derive a closed-form solution for the price of a European call option on an asset with stochastic volatility. The model allows arbitrary correlation between volatility and spotasset returns. I introduce stochastic interest rates and show how to apply the model to bond options and foreign currency options. Simulations show that correlation between volatility and the spot asset’s price is important for explaining return skewness and strike-price biases in the BlackScholes (1973) model. The solution technique is based on characteristi c functions and can be applied to other problems.
Battery-powered, electrocuting trap for stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae).

A solar-charged, battery-powered, electrocuting grid was combined with a white plywood base to make a portable, pulsed-current, pest-electrocuting device that attracted and killed stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), outdoors. The grid was powered once every 1-2 s by a 0.016-s pulse of 60-Hz alternating current of 4 mA and 9,500 V. Power was turned off at night by a photoresistor. The trap functioned continuously for 14 d with an unrecharged 12-V, 18A/h lawn-tractor battery and killed as many as 4,000 flies per day. Solar cells were used to charge a single 12-V battery continuously that operated 12 grids for a period of 90 d. The grid did not short circuit for any length of time even during heavy rainstorms or when large insects were killed. The incorporation of moire patterns and the utilization of the correct size, orientation, and placement of wires made the electrocuting grid itself attractive to stable flies. The traps were spaced at distances of up to 120 m from the battery and pulse circuit. The electrocuting traps were more effective than sticky traps and avoided the problems associated with chemicals. They are well suited for use around calf pens, dog kennels, or large animal shelters.
The role of the CS-US interval in bar press avoidance learning

Nine groups of rats were run in a single session with different CS-US intervals, ranging from 20% to 100% of the intertrial interval. The longer CS conditions led to markedly better acquisition of the bar press response.
Electron spin injection from a regrown Fe layer in a spin-polarized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

An electroluminescence circular polarization of 23% and threshold current reduction of 11% are obtained in an electrically pumped spin-polarized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser. Electron spin injection is accomplished utilizing a regrown Fe/n-AlGaAs Schottky tunnel barrier deposited around the base of the laser mesas. Negligible circular polarizations and threshold current reductions are measured for nonmagnetic and Fe-based control VCSELs, which provides convincing evidence of spin injection, transport, and detection in our spin-polarized laser.
Literature Review on Hidden Markov Model-Based Sequential Data Clustering

The purpose of this report is to investigate current existing algorithm to cluster sequential data based on hidden Markov model (HMM). Clustering is a classic technique that divides a set of objects into groups (called clusters) so that objects in the same cluster are similar in some sense. The clustering of sequential or time series data, however, draws lately more and more attention from researchers. Hidden Markov model (HMM)-based clustering of sequences is probabilistic model-based approach to clustering sequences. Generally, there are two kinds of methodologies: parametric and semi-parametric. The parametric methods make strict assumptions that each cluster is represented by a corresponding HMM, while the semi-parametric approaches relax this assumption and transform the problem to a similarity-based issue. Generally, the semi-parametric methods perform better than parametric approaches as reported by some researchers. Future research can be done in exploring new distance measures between sequences and extending current HMM-based methodologies by using other models.
Experimental approaches for solution X-ray scattering and fiber diffraction

X-ray scattering and diffraction from non-crystalline systems have gained renewed interest in recent years, as focus shifts from the structural chemistry information gained by high-resolution studies to the context of structural physiology at larger length scales. Such techniques permit the study of isolated macromolecules as well as highly organized macromolecular assemblies as a whole under near-physiological conditions. Time-resolved approaches, made possible by advanced synchrotron instrumentation, add a crucial dimension to many of these investigations. This article reviews experimental approaches in non-crystalline X-ray scattering and diffraction that may be used to illuminate important scientific questions such as protein/nucleic acid folding and structure-function relationships in large macromolecular assemblies.
Age trends in the sleep EEG of healthy older men and women

The all-night sleep EEGs of 314 (191 women, 123 men) healthy older subjects between the ages of 45 and 90 were studied for age trends in the power spectra of the all-night NREM sleep EEG. Power spectra of the unnormalized EEG of the women show a power loss in the delta band and a power increase in the beta band with increasing age. For the men no significant trends in the power spectra of the unnormalized EEG were in evidence. A normalization of the power spectra was performed by referencing each logarithmically expressed spectra to its area between 2 Hz and 30 Hz. For both genders the normalized spectra show significant decreases in power at many frequencies below 16 Hz and significant increases in power at frequencies above 18 Hz with increasing age. The age trends observed in the spectra of this population (45-90 y age group) are about a third of the magnitude of those reported in the literature for subjects between the ages of 20 y and 40 y.
Korean Sojourners in the Deep South: The Push/Pull Dynamics of Immigration

Asians are now the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. And although disproportionately more likely to live in Western states, some are settling in nontraditional host communities. Focusing on one such instance in southeast Georgia, the present ethnographic case study considers a poultry processing plant's decision to recruit dozens of South Koreans. Starting in 2006, Korean immigrants began working at Claxton Poultry in Evans County, Georgia. This study looks at the factors motivating the workers to leave Korea and the host community's motives for seeking their labor. Education plays a critical role in the findings.
Aboriginal Students' Perspectives on the Factors Influencing High School Completion.

The Canadian education system is failing its Aboriginal students as evidenced by the significant proportion not completing high school. The Aboriginal population has experienced a significantly greater proportion of people living in poverty and higher rates of unemployment than has the non-Aboriginal population. These factors can be linked to the Aboriginal population's lower educational attainment. The research questions in this phenomenological study explored the influences that encourage Aboriginal middle-level students to remain engaged in school, thus promoting the likelihood of their completing high school. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 Aboriginal adolescents identified as being at risk of dropping out before completing high school. Data were analyzed using semiotic phenomenology, including description, reduction, and interpretation. Study findings identified the importance of schools providing linkages to students’ Aboriginal heritages and relationship building betwe...
Optimizing energy and performance for server-class file system workloads

Recently, power has emerged as a critical factor in designing components of storage systems, especially for power-hungry data centers. While there is some research into power-aware storage stack components, there are no systematic studies evaluating each component's impact separately. Various factors like workloads, hardware configurations, and software configurations impact the performance and energy efficiency of the system. This article evaluates the file system's impact on energy consumption and performance. We studied several popular Linux file systems, with various mount and format options, using the FileBench workload generator to emulate four server workloads: Web, database, mail, and fileserver, on two different hardware configurations. The file system design, implementation, and available features have a significant effect on CPU/disk utilization, and hence on performance and power. We discovered that default file system options are often suboptimal, and even poor. In this article we show that a careful matching of expected workloads and hardware configuration to a single software configuration—the file system—can improve power-performance efficiency by a factor ranging from 1.05 to 9.4 times.
Quaking and Gas Exchange in Leaves of Cottonwood (Populus deltoides, Marsh.).

Cottonwood ( Populus deltoides, Marsh.) leaves are amphistomatous and have an adaptation in their petiole which allows them to oscillate in wind. A possible function of these oscillations in enhancing gas exchange was studied. Cottonwood leaves were found to oscillate in the presence of wind velocities frequently encountered in nature. A pressure differential across the leaf was shown to result in bulk flow of air through that leaf. Oscillating a cottonwood leaf at frequencies found to occur in nature was found to increase the rate of O 2 flux through the leaf. The measured changes in boundary layer resistances during oscillations were found to be insufficient to account for the increased O 2 flux. Thus, the bulk flow of air through an oscillating cottonwood leaf results in a decreased total resistance which is typically 25% less than that of a still leaf.
Computers and society: a liberal arts perspective

There is ambivalence among computer science educators regarding the degree to which ethical and value questions should be incorporated in the computer science curriculum. This paper states a philosophical case for substantive treatment of these topics in colleges committed to the liberal arts, and goes on to consider some of the practical difficulties involved.