cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hyperfunction of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Disease: Indirect Evidence for Partial Gonadotroph Desensitization*

To examine gonadotropin secretory frequency as a component of the disordered neuroendocrine regulation of gonadotropin secretion in women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), we measured serum gonadotropin concentrations in 12 women with PCOD at 10-min intervals for periods of 12-24 h. The patterns of LH and FSH release in these patients were compared to the findings of 24 studies in 21 age-matched normal women during the early, mid- and late follicular phases (EFP, MFP and LFP) of their cycles. Serum sex steroid levels during the 12-24 h of study in the women with PCOD were compared to those in normal women studied during the follicular phase. The mean serum estradiol (E2) level in the women with PCOD was similar to that in normal women studied in the EFP, but lower than those in normal women in the MFP (P less than 0.05) and LFP (P less than 0.01). Mean serum estrone, however, was significantly higher in women with PCOD than in women in the EFP and MFP (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.02, respectively), but lower than that in women in the LFP (P less than 0.02). Total and unbound testosterone (T) levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOD compared to those in normal women at all stages of the follicular phase (P less than 0.001). The mean serum LH concentration and LH pulse amplitude were markedly elevated in the women with PCOD compared to normal women at all three stages of the follicular phase (P less than 0.05 or less). In addition, LH pulse frequency was faster in women with PCOD [24.8 +/- 0.9 ( +/- SE) pulses/24 h] than that in women in the EFP (15.6 +/- 0.7; P less than 0.01), MFP (22.2 +/- 1.1; P less than 0.05) and LFP (20.8 +/- 1.2; P less than 0.01). This increased LH pulse frequency in women with PCOD correlated with ambient serum E2 levels on the day of study (r = 0.84; P less than 0.001), but not with serum estrone, T, or unbound T. Repeat studies in four women with PCOD demonstrated a similarly abnormal gonadotropin secretory pattern in each. We conclude that 1) women with PCOD have an increase in both the amplitude and frequency of LH secretion compared to those in normally cycling women throughout the follicular phase; 2) the defect in women with PCOD is reproducible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Practical Issues in Applying Metadata Schemas and Controlled Vocabularies to Cultural Heritage Information

SUMMARY Gives an overview of descriptive metadata schemas for art and architecture, including Categories for the Description of Works of Art, Object ID, and the VRA Core Categories. It also focuses on the menu of controlled vocabularies and classification systems needed to populate these metadata schemas, such as the Art & Architecture Thesaurus, ICONCLASS, and others. Addresses the development of local authority files and thesauri to enhance end-user access, and metadata mapping and crosswalks as a means of providing integrated access to diverse information resources.
Using Evolutionary Archaeology and Evolutionary Ecology to Explain Cultural Elaboration: The Case of Middle Ohio Valley Woodland Period Ceremonial Subsistence

We propose a Darwinian evolutionary model for the development and disappearance of Woodland period cultural elaboration in the Ohio River Valley, and specifically the “climax” of this behavior known as the Hopewell phenomenon. We combine aspects of evolutionary archaeology and evolutionary ecology to provide a model that (1) has testable empirical consequences, and (2) specifically addresses the historical context of development of the phenomenon being explained. Our model builds on Smith's (1987) coevolutionary scenario for the development of symbiosis between Eastern Agricultural Complex (EAC) crops and the human populations exploiting them. After presenting our model, we explore the empirical consequences of ceremonial subsistence and the types of data that would be required to test the model. In our discussion of the extant data we also contrast our scenario with a competing evolutionary explanation for the Hopewell phenomenon: the “waste” hypothesis. The limited available evidence is in line with the...
The Transferable Skills of a Manager

Discusses the transferable skills and knowledge of a manager. Discussion on interpersonal relations and business communication; Details of managerial training and competency in corporate planning; ...
Long-range Rydberg-Rydberg interactions and molecular resonances

We present a detailed theoretical treatment to describe the lineshape of molecular resonances in a cold dense gas of rubidium Rydberg atoms. Molecular potentials in Hund's case (c) are calculated by diagonalization of an interaction matrix. We show how the strong l-mixing due to long-range Rydberg-Rydberg interactions can lead to resonances in excitation spectra. Such resonances were first reported in [S.M. Farooqi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 183002 (2003)], where single UV photon excitations from the 5s ground state occurred at energies corresponding to normally forbidden transitions or very far detuned from the atomic energies. Here, we focus our attention on resonances at energies corresponding to excited atom pairs (n - 1)p3/2+(n + 1)p3/2. Very good agreement between the theoretical and experimental lineshapes is found.
A moving source problem relevant to jet noise

Abstract The total power and power spectrum due to a point source convecting at a uniform subsonic velocity along the axis of a round jet are calculated. The source is a discrete frequency source in its own frame of reference and the jet is assumed to have a slug flow velocity profile with velocity equal to that of the source. The model problem is intended to provide some guidance concerning the issue of “convective amplification” in jet noise and the solution confirms that the convective amplification is very much frequency dependent. Some implications with regard to Strouhal scaling are pointed out.
Predictors of postoperative ventricular dysfunction in infants who have undergone primary repair of a ventricular septal defect

By means of postoperative radionuclide angiography we identified a subset of infants undergoing primary repair of their ventricular septal defects (VSD) who had postoperative morbidity and ventricular dysfunction. Twenty-three consecutive infants undergoing repair of an uncomplicated VSD were studied. Radionuclide-determined postoperative ventricular dysfunction (VD), as defined by a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 0.30 2 to 4 hours after surgery, was correlated with clinical signs of postoperative morbidity. Six patients developed postoperative VD. Clinical correlates of VD included the use of postoperative inotropic support, increased number of postoperative intensive care days, and a low growth rate 3 months postoperatively. Potential predictors of VD were evaluated. A preoperative pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) greater than 3.0 and a pulmonary-to-systemic vascular resistance ratio (Rp/Rs) less than 0.20, taken in combination, gave a positive predictive value for VD of 100%. It is concluded that the preoperative Qp/Qs and Rp/Rs can be used to predict those infants at risk for postoperative morbidity following repair of their VSD.
Purification and functional roles of the PI and PII components of Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase deadenylylation system

Abstract The deadenylylation of glutamine synthetase is catalyzed by the combined action of two, easily separable, protein components (P I and P II ). The P I component by itself catalyzes slow deadenylylation when it is adsorbed onto manganese phosphate precipitate. The response of this “solid phase” [P I -Mn-PO 4 ]-catalyzed deadenylylation reaction to various effectors is very different from that exhibited by the reaction catalyzed by a soluble mixture of P I and P II . Thus, the P I -P II system is activated by ATP, UTP, α-ketoglutarate, RNA, and ethanol and is inhibited by glutamine, whereas the [P I -Mn-PO 4 ] system is inhibited by all these effectors except glutamine and ATP which are without effect. Though qualitatively the same, the relative effectiveness of the various effectors in modulating activity of highly purified mixtures of P I and P II is significantly different from that observed earlier by Shapiro (13) for relatively impure preparations. The results are compatible with the interpretation that the P II component is concerned with the regulation of deadenylylation activity. This and alternative possibilities are discussed.
About the House: Lévi-Strauss and Beyond

About the House: Levi-Strauss and Beyond. Janet Carsten and Stephen Hughjones, eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995. xiv + 300 pp., figures, notes, photographs, references, contributors, index.
Study of effectiveness of bleomycin in rat brain tumor model intravenously and intracerebrally.

Abstract Bleomycin (BLM) is an antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces verticillus . It has special affinity for ectodermal tissues. Since gliomas are of ectodermal origin, the therapeutic value of this drug was evaluated in the 9L gliosarcoma model in inbred Fisher rats. The drug normally does not cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), but in brain tumors the permeability of the BBB is altered and drug can be detected in brain tumor tissue. This study compared the efficacy of bleomycin given intracerebrally in tumor bearing animals and to the effectiveness of the intravenous route. Using a weekly schedule of drug administration the optimal dose was 0.5 mg/kg intracerebrally ( p p
Distributed multi-agent architecture for automation systems

Abstract In the 21st century, industrial automation will be greatly benefited by the advances in electronics, information systems, and process technology. However, these technological advances are still separate islands of automation. We believe that multi-agent systems will help the future of automation by providing flexible and scalable ways to integrate the different parts. This paper reports preliminary results of an ongoing research project that demonstrates advanced automation in a highly distributed architecture that is made of a synergy of intelligent agents, control, and physical devices. This was built to achieve the goals of reduced manning and improved readiness and survivability in US Navy shipboard systems.
Embolic capture angioplasty of lower extremity lesion following distal embolization

Peripheral embolization is a known complication of peripheral artery interventions. It can lead to occlusion of distal vessels leading to significant lower extremity ischemia and complications. Peripheral artery interventions involving chronic total occlusions have been shown to have higher rates of complications including distal embolization. Although distal embolic protection strategies are available, they are seldom utilized during lower extremity interventions, especially during treatment of totally occluded vessels. Proteus embolic capture angioplasty balloon may provide operators with the option of balloon dilation of stenotic lesion in the peripheral arterial bed, along with embolic capture. We report a case where use of this novel device helped in achieving a successful angioplasty outcome along with evacuation of distal embolus and restoration of antegrade flow.
The importance of the forecast

Careful forecasts, as accurate as possible, are central to the successful implementation of policy. There are fundamental reasons why policy makers cannot ‘play by ear’, adjusting policy quickly to each unexpected deviation in economic outcomes. Specific incidents are described where economic policy went awry because of faulty forecasts. The policy process is described in detail to show precisely where the forecast enters. Forecasting as a validation tool for establishing credibility in policy formation is analysed and discussed. Some estimated measure of forecast accuracy is presented, together with commentary on the necessary degrees of precision for successful implementation of policy.
Quark condensate in nuclear matter

Abstract Higher-order contributions to the quark condensate in nuclear matter due to nucleon-nucleon interactions are evaluated in the Dirac-Brueckner approach with the Bonn one-boson-exchange potential. We find that at normal nuclear matter density the quark condensate with higher-order contributions is about 5% larger than the model-independent leading-order result obtained from the pion-nucleon sigma term and usually used in theoretical discussions. At higher densities, the higher-order contributions become increasingly important, leading to a hindrance of chiral restoration. Possible reasons for this behaviour are discussed.
Electron-hydrogen fluoride scattering at ultralow electron energies: Possible role of dipole-supported states

A detailed experimental and theoretical study of the interaction of very-low-energy electrons with the polar target HF is reported. This interaction is investigated experimentally by measuring rate constants for ionization and state changing in collisions between K({ital np}) Rydberg atoms with 90{approx_lt}{ital n}{approx_lt}400 and HF. The data are analyzed using the results of rotational close-coupling calculations that include possible effects associated with dipole-supported real or virtual states. A comparison of theory and experiment suggests that low-energy-electron{endash}HF scattering is strongly influenced by the presence of a dipole-supported virtual state with an energy, for {ital J}=0, of {approximately}1{endash}1.5 meV. The present work points to the importance of dipole-supported states in electron{endash}polar molecule scattering. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Optimal strategies for random tournament games

Abstract Given a tournament T , the tournament game is: Two players independently pick a node of T . If both pick the same node, the game is tied. Otherwise, the player whose node is at the tail of the arc connecting the two nodes wins. Fisher and Ryan showed that this game has a unique optimal strategy. For a tournament game on a random n node tournament, we find the probability that the optimal strategy uses k nodes with nonzero probability.
A contact problem for the elastic quarter space

Abstract The problem of the contact between a smooth, rigid indenter and an elastic quarter space is solved using integral transform techniques. The indenter can have an arbitrary plan form and can extend to the edge of the quarter space. Numerical results are given when a rigid, right-circular body is pressed into the top surface of the quarter space, while keeping its axis parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the edge.
Effect of age and serum creatinine on endogenous digoxin-like substances in infants and children.

An apparent digoxin-like immunoreactive substance(s) (DLIS) was evaluated in 374 pediatric patients, 0 to 72 months of age, not receiving digoxin. The relationship between DLIS presence or concentration and age, weight, gender, race, and serum creatinine was investigated. Twenty-seven percent of patients had a positive apparent DLIS concentration (≥0.2 ng/ml). The mean ±SD concentration of DLIS in the positive group was 0.39±0.18 ng/ml (range 0.2 to 1.37 ng/ml). Patients in the DLIS-postive group were younger than those in the negative group (P 0.05). No signiticant relationship was found between race or gender and DLIS. A weakly positive correlation between serum creatinine concentration and DLIS was noted (r=0.22, P 0.6 mg/dL) did not correlated with DLIS concentration. These results support the hypothesis that the presence of DLIS is age related, but DLIS appears to be present in a much larger and older population of pediatric patients than previously reported.
Zenker's diverticulitis secondary to alendronate ingestion: a rare cause of recurrent dysphagia

Objective Acute dysphagia/odynophagia developed in a 79-year-old female patient secondary to what we believe was a caustic injury to a large Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) in the setting of long-term alendronate use. She reported severe dysphagia and odynophagia of 1-week duration. She had experienced a similar episode 10 months earlier that had resolved after stopping alendronate temporarily. Although she was able to handle secretions, she was unable to swallow solids or liquids. She was noted to be dehydrated. On endoscopy, a large and markedly inflamed ZD was identified. There was no visual esophageal mucosal injury within the esophagus. Alendronate therapy was discontinued, and parenteral nutrition and proton pump inhibitors were initiated. Her symptoms resolved within 1 week, and she was able to resume oral intake. Design Case report. Setting University Hospital. Limitations Case report. Discussion Bisphosphonate therapy is commonly used to treat osteoporosis and is therefore an increasingly prevalent component of the medication list of elderly patients. These medications may cause significant caustic injury and are therefore administered with strong caution in the setting of dysphagia or known structural abnormalities of the esophagus. The fear is that tablets may become entrapped within a diverticulum and lead to intense acute inflammatory changes. Conclusions Health care providers should be aware of potential complications with ulcerogenic medications in patients with ZD. These medications should be administered with caution in the setting of dysphagia or known structural abnormalities of the esophagus. When patients with history of dysphagia are evaluated for their suitability to receive oral bisphosphonate therapy, care should be taken to investigate the etiology of dysphagia. Evaluation should focus not only on the tubular esophagus, but also on excluding a Zenker's pharyngeal diverticulum with appropriate contrast imaging.
The Morphology and Temporal Variations of the Van Allen Radiation Belt, October 1959 to December 1960

The time variations of intensity in the ‘horn’ of the outer Van Allen radiation belt as measured by the omnidirectional GM counter 302 in Explorer 7 were investigated for the period October 1959 to December 1960. A consistent empirical relationship between intensity and scalar magnetic field B was derived for different values of the magnetic shell parameter L that made it possible to ‘correct’ for dependency of intensity on B and thus to examine the true time variations at any fixed L. The correlation between counting rates in the outer zone over North America and Australia at the same value of L improved decidedly after correction for B. The changes in the corrected intensity for several L values between 2.5 and 4.7 earth radii revealed some large variations (greater than a factor of 100) prominent only between L = 2.5 and L = 3.2, and some fluctuations by a factor of 10 only at the larger L values. The temporal variations of intensity between L = 2.5 and 3.5 over North America are similar to those between L = 1.8 and 2.5 over South Africa. The changes in intensity tend to be correlated negatively with U, the geomagnetic equatorial ring current field, for L>3.4, and positively for L 3.5 is generally less, and for L<3.5 it often tends to be greater, than before the storms. For 2.5≤L≤3.5 nearly all the observations over Australia, and about half those over North America, were at B values equal to or greater than those at sea level over the region of South Africa for the same L values. Consequently, all the particles observed under these conditions over Australia and North America are lost as they drift over the region of South Africa. The observed intensities over Australia, in particular, measure the outflux of particles from the outer radiation belt in a time interval less than the longitudinal drift period. This result implies a very high rate of replenishment of energetic electrons in the outer belt.
Antibodies to murine amelogenins: localization of enamel proteins during tooth organ development in vitro.

Abstract During mouse tooth development the secretory ameloblasts differentiate and produce a population of acidic glycoproteins termed ‘amelogenins’ which function in the formation of the extracellular enamel organic matrix. Amelogenin-enriched fractions were isolated from murine molar and incisor tooth organs during early postnatal enamel matrix production using an extraction procedure with acetic acid. Major polypeptides were separated by gel electrophoresis, amelogenin polypeptide bands (circa 16–20,000 molecular weight) were exicised, amelogenins were eluted from the gel bands and then used as immunogen for immunization. Rabbit antibodies raised against amelogenins showed extensive cross-reactivity with lower molecular weight polypeptides of 16,000–20,000. These antibodies were used with indirect immunofluorescence microscopy to show the specific localization of amelogenins during the synthesis and secretion of the enamel matrix in situ as well as in vitro. No staining reaction was found in keratinized or non-keratinized epidermal tissues, dental papilla mesenchyme, odontoblasts, dentine matrix, cartilage, bone, heart, brain, lung, or salivary glands. In order to detect differentiation-specific synthesis of amelogenins, we cultured early cap stage molar tooth organs (17-days gestation or Theiler stage 25) in a serumless, chemically-defined medium for periods up to 21 days. The anti-amelogenin antibodies did not stain, by indirect immunofluorescence, cap stage molar tooth organ tissues. However, within six days in vitro, explants stained with antisera and showed localization within ameloblasts and newly secreted enamel matrix. Comparisons with in situ epithelial differentiation into ameloblasts suggested that cultured explants required approximately twice as long to reach a comparable expression of amelogenins. Synthesis of amelogenins was first detected by immunoprecipitation also during the sixth day of organ culture. The family of amelogenin polypeptides may be products of structural genes which can become activated during epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, even in the absence of exogenous growth factors such as serum or neutrotrophic mediators. The expression of amelogenins, therefore, does not appear to require hormones and may be an example of mesen-chyme-directed epithelial differentiation.
Should Social Workers Use Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5?

Up until now, social workers have depended on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as the primary diagnostic classification for mental disorders. However, the DSM-5 revis...
A single disulfide bond restores thermodynamic and proteolytic stability to an extensively mutated protein

The potential for engineering stable proteins with multiple amino acid substitutions was explored. Eleven lysine, five methionine, two tryptophan, one glycine, and three threonine substitutions were simultaneously made in barley chymotrypsin inhibitor-2 (CI-2) to substantially improve the essential amino acid content of the protein. These substitutions were chosen based on the three-dimensional structure of CI-2 and an alignment of homologous sequences. The initial engineered protein folded into a wild-type-like structure, but had a free energy of unfolding of only 2.2 kcal/mol, considerably less than the wild-type value of 7.5 kcal/mol. Restoration of the lysine mutation at position 67 to the wild-type arginine increased the free energy of unfolding to 3.1 kcal/mol. Subsequent cysteine substitutions at positions 22 and 82 resulted in disulfide bond formation and a protein with nearly wild-type thermodynamic stability (7.0 kcal/mol). None of the engineered proteins retained inhibitory activity against chymotrypsin or elastase, and all had substantially reduced inhibitory activity against subtilisin. The proteolytic stabilities of the proteins correlated with their thermodynamic stabilities. Reduction of the disulfide bond resulted in substantial loss of both thermodynamic and proteolytic stabilities, confirming that the disulfide bond, and not merely the cysteine substitutions, was responsible for the increased stability. We conclude that it is possible to replace over a third of the residues in CI-2 with minimal disruption of stability and structural integrity.
Differential lateralization for positive and negative emotion in the human brain: EEG spectral analysis

The present experiment utilized EEG spectral analysis to investigate lateralization for emotional processes in the human brain. In frontal zones, a differential lateralization for positive and negative emotion was observed, with relative left-hemispheric activation (as measured by decreases in alpha abundance) for positive emotions and relative right-hemispheric activation for negative emotions. In parietal zones, a differential lateralization for verbal and spatial processes was observed, with relative left-hemispheric activation for verbal questions and relative right-hemispheric activation for spatial questions. Examination of EEG bands other than alpha (i.e. delta, theta, beta, and total power) suggested that emotional and cognitive processes are further distinguished by different EEG spectral patterns.
Charge state of ions in liquid metal field ion sources

The post-ionization model of field evaporation is shown to be consistent with observations of singly and doubly charged ions in liquid metal field ion sources. The model can be used to estimate the field strength at the apex of the Taylor cone which is found to be 1.9–2.0 V/A for a Ga source. Experiments to test the post-ionization model and to determine the apex field strength more accurately are suggested. A possible method of obtaining ∼μA currents of highly charged ions, e.g. Zr4+, Ta4+, Ga3+, As3+, is proposed.
Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears in Throwing Athletes

The throwing athlete generates a tremendous force and torque on the shoulder to create the acceleration and deceleration necessary to propel objects at a high velocity. The muscles of the rotator cuff must offset these high-energy forces to stabilize the humeral head within the glenoid which, overtime, can lead to muscle fatigue and repetitive microtrauma. As a result, overhead athletes constantly subject their rotator cuffs to extreme loads, which can lead to a spectrum of rotator cuff pathology. It has been our experience that partial-thickness rotator cuff tears are one of the most common findings in the injured thrower’s shoulder. The purpose of this article is to address the technical aspects of treating throwing athletes with partial thickness rotator cuff tears.
Parallelism profiling of an Ops5 production system interpreter

The issue of processing nonnumeric algorithms has been one of the major research foci of parallel processing. However, nonnumeric algorithms are known to be difficult to parallelize due to their inherent non-regularity. The authors investigate the potential parallelism in a typical nonnumeric problem. In particular, they selected an OPS5 production system interpreter. The parallelism they investigate is a very fine-grain parallelism at the instruction level. For the implementation of a complete OPS5, they selected SISAL, a purely functional language. A complete OPS5 is implemented in SISAL. Benchmark production system programs are executed to investigate potential parallelism in the production system interpreter. Experimental results indicated that most of the parallelism can be extracted from the matching step of production systems. This particular implementation shows that the production system interpreter can give up to 8-fold speed-up in the absence of communication overhead. >
Antianaerobic Activity of a Novel Fluoroquinolone, WCK 771, Compared to Those of Nine Other Agents

Agar dilution MIC methodology was used to compare the activity of WCK 771 with those of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, imipenem, clindamycin, and metronidazole against 350 anaerobes. Overall, the MICs (in micrograms per milliliter) at which 50 and 90%, respectively, of the isolates tested were inhibited were as follows: WCK 771, 0.5 and 2.0; ciprofloxacin, 2.0 and 32.0; levofloxacin, 1.0 and 8.0; gatifloxacin, 0.5 and 4.0; moxifloxacin, 0.5 and 4.0; piperacillin, 2.0 and 64.0; piperacillin-tazobactam, ≤0.125 and 8.0; imipenem, 0.125 and 1.0; clindamycin, 0.125 and 16.0; and metronidazole, 1.0 and >16.0.
Exploring FPGA Routing Architecture Stochastically

This paper proposes a systematic strategy to efficiently explore the design space of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) routing architectures. The key idea is to use stochastic methods to quickly locate near-optimal solutions in designing FPGA routing architectures without exhaustively enumerating all design points. The main objective of this paper is not as much about the specific numerical results obtained, as it is to show the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed optimization approach. To demonstrate the utility of the proposed stochastic approach, we developed the tool for optimizing routing architecture (TORCH) software based on the versatile place and route tool. Given FPGA architecture parameters and a set of benchmark designs, TORCH simultaneously optimizes the routing channel segmentation and switch box patterns using the performance metric of average interconnect power-delay product estimated from placed and routed benchmark designs. Special techniques - such as incremental routing, infrequent placement, multi-modal move selection, and parallelized metric evaluation - are developed to reduce the overall run time and improve the quality of results. Our experimental results have shown that the stochastic design strategy is quite effective in co-optimizing both routing channel segmentation and switch patterns. With the optimized routing architecture, relative to the performance of our chosen architecture baseline, TORCH can achieve average improvements of 24% and 15% in delay and power consumption for the 20 largest Microelectronics Center of North Carolina benchmark designs, and 27% and 21% for the eight benchmark designs synthesized with the Altera Quartus II University Interface Program tool. Additionally, we found that the average segment length in an FPGA routing channel should decrease with technology scaling. Finally, we demonstrate the versatility of TORCH by illustrating how TORCH can be used to optimize other aspects of the routing architecture in an FPGA.
Ultrahigh Density Logic Designs Using Monolithic 3-D Integration

The nano-scale 3-D interconnects available in monolithic 3-D integrated circuit (IC) technology enable ultrahigh density device integration at the individual transistor level. In this paper, we investigate the benefits and challenges of monolithic 3-D integration technology for ultrahigh density logic designs. We first build a 3-D standard cell library for transistor-level monolithic 3-D ICs and model their timing and power characteristics. Then, we explore various interconnect options for monolithic 3-D ICs that improve design quality. Next, we build timing-closed, full-chip GDSII layouts and perform sign-off iso-performance power comparisons with 2-D IC designs. Based on layout simulations, we compare important design metrics such as area, wirelength, timing, and power consumption of transistor-level monolithic 3-D designs with traditional 2-D, gate-level monolithic 3-D, and TSV-based 3-D designs.
Evaluating the Impact of Internet Teaching: Preliminary Evidence from American National Government Classes

The analysis and discussion in this article are based on the preliminary results from a study of a redesigned American National Government course funded by a $200,000 grant from the Pew Program in Course Redesign. One of the central goals of this grant is to evaluate the effectiveness of the partial replacement of face-to-face classroom time with web-based interactive assignments. (We refer to the redesigned courses as “reduced seat-time” or RST.) The grant supported the development of pedagogically appropriate uses of the Internet for an introductory general education program (GEP) course, and it funded the evaluation of the impact of the redesigned course on student attitudes and learning outcomes.
Unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of non‐malignant genetic diseases: An alemtuzumab based regimen is associated with cure of clinical disease; earlier clearance of alemtuzumab may be associated with graft rejection

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with matched unrelated donors (MUD), offers potentially curative therapy for patients with non-malignant genetic diseases. In this pilot study conducted from 2006 to 2014, we report the outcomes of 15 patients with non-malignant genetic diseases who received a myeloablative regimen with a reduced cyclophosphamide dose, adjunctive serotherapy and MUD HSCT [intravenous alemtuzumab (52 mg/m(2) ), busulfan (16 mg/kg), fludarabine (140mg/m(2) ), and cyclophosphamide (105 mg/kg)]. Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of tacrolimus/cyclosporine and methylprednisolone. Median (range) time to neutrophil engraftment (>500 cells/µL) and platelet engraftment (>20,000/mm(3) ) were 15 (12-28) and 25 (17-30) days, respectively. At a median follow-up of 2 (0.2-5.4) years, the overall survival (OS) was 93.3% (95% CI: 0.61-0.99) and disease-free survival (DFS) was 73.3% (95% CI: 0.44-0.89). Among this small sample, earlier alemtuzumab clearance was significantly associated with graft rejection (P = 0.047), earlier PHA response (P = 0.009) and a trend toward earlier recovery of recent thymic emigrants (RTE) (P = 0.06). This regimen was associated with durable donor engraftment and relatively low rates of regimen related toxicity (RRT); future alemtuzumab pharmacokinetic studies may improve outcomes, by allowing targeted alemtuzumab clearance to reduce graft rejection and promote more rapid immune reconstitution.
Increased Activation of EGF-Receptor Tyrosine Kinase by EGF and TGF-α in the Colonic Mucosa of Aged Rats

Freshly isolated colonocytes as well as detergent-solubilized colonic mucosa and lectin purified receptor-enriched mucosal preparations were utilized to compare ligand-induced activation of EGF-receptor (EGF-R) tyrosine kinase (Tyr-k) activity between young (4 months) and aged (24 months) rats. In all three mucosal preparations, EGF and TGF-a produced a significantly greater stimulation in EGF-R Tyr-k activity in aged than in young rats, when compared with the corresponding basal levels. This was observed in spite of a significantly higher basal EGF-R Tyr-k activity in the colonic mucosa of aged rats than in young animals. Neither in young nor in aged rats did bombesin cause any significant change in EGF-R Tyr-k activity in the colonic mucosa. In aged rats, TGF-a also caused a stimulation in tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF-R and autophosphorylation of the 165 kDa band (a molecular mass that corresponds to EGF-R) and several other mucosal proteins (Mr 120,110, 70,60,55 and 50 kDa). We suggest that mitogenic activation of EGF-R Tyr-k may be an important event for the development of hyperproliferative state in the colonic mucosa of aged rats.
Calmodulin is a critical regulator of osteoclastic differentiation, function, and survival.

Increased osteoclastic resorption and subsequent bone loss are common features of many debilitating diseases including osteoporosis, bone metastases, Paget's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. While rapid progress has been made in elucidating the signaling pathways directing osteoclast differentiation and function, a com- prehensive picture is far from complete. Here, we explore the role of the Ca 2þ -activated regulator calmodulin in osteoclastic differentiation, functional bone resorption, and apoptosis. During active bone resorption, calmodulin expression is increased, and calmodulin concentrates at the ruffled border, the organelle utilized for acid transport and bone dissolution. Pharmacologic inhibitors of calmodulin, several of which are already used clinically as anti-cancer and anti-psychotic agents, inhibit osteoclastic acid transport, suggesting their potential as bone-sparing drugs. Recent studies also implicate calmodulin in osteoclast apoptosis through a mechanism involving its direct interaction with the death receptor Fas. During osteoclastogenesis, RANKL-induction stimulates a rise in intracellular Ca 2þ , which in turn activates calmodulin and its downstream effectors. In particular, the Ca 2þ /calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin and its targets, the NFAT family of transcription factors, have been posited as the master regulators of osteoclastogenesis. However, recent in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that another Ca 2þ /calmodulin-regulated effector protein, CaMKII, is also involved. CaMKII þ/� mutant mice have reduced osteoclast numbers, and CaMKII antagonists inhibit osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Furthermore, CaMKII is known to activate AP-1 transcription factors, which are also required for RANKL-induced osteoclast gene transcription, and recent findings suggest that CaMKII can down-regulate gp130, a cytokine receptor involved in bone remodeling and implicated in numerous osteo-articular diseases. J. Cell. Biochem. 97: 45-55, 2006. 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Light singlet particles and their cosmological consequences in witten-type supersymmetric models☆

Abstract In a class of supersymmetric gauge models which generate a large mass scale from a supersymmetry breaking mass scale M through loop corrections, there exists generally a very light scalar particle which transforms like a singlet under SU(3) c × SU(2) L with no U(1) charge. Cosmological constraints on such a particle are so severe that an upper bound is set on possible values of supersymmetry breaking scale in this class of models as M ≲ 500 TeV provided that the large mass scale is 10 15 GeV and the mass of the light scalar particle is generated in one-loop order. This bound holds even if the goldstino is not absorbed into the gravitino.
Statistics of vertical motion over land and water

Observations from many sources have been brought together to study the relationship between the ratio of standard deviation of vertical velocity to friction velocity, and z/L where z is the height and L the Monin-Obukhov length. A good compromise for this relationship is: where ϕM is the normalized wind shear. This equation has been combined with theoretical expressions for the wind profile to derive a nomogram for the standard deviation of vertical angle as function of z/L and z/z0, where z0 is the roughness length.
The History of AV Nodal Reentry

Though patients with AV nodal reentry are now routinely cured by catheter ablation, the basic mechanism of this disorder is still under debate. The putative mechanism of AV node reentry was first discovered by the elegant work of Gordon Moe. He demonstrated the existence of dual pathways and echo beats in rabbits. Building on these seminal observations, the mechanism of AVNRT has burgeoned to include the possibility of left atrial input into the node. The first curative nonpharmacologic procedures involved surgical dissection around the AV node and the procedure was rapidly supplanted by catheter ablation procedures. The initial ablative procedure targeted the fast pathway, but later observations showed that ablation of the slow pathway was more effective and safer. Cure of AV nodal reentry which is the most common cause of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia became possible through the cooperative efforts of anatomists, physiologists, surgeons, and clinical electrophysiologists.
Congressional Leadership Selection and Support: A Comparative Analysis

R recent studies of party leadership in Congress1 call for comparattive treatment with that other cadre of congressional leaders the chairmen and ranking minority members of the standing committees. Such an effort seems worthwhile for two reasons. First, explication of the relation between these two congressional subsystems-in particular, the degree of "overlap" or "meshing" of the two leadership groups-seems important for a more complete understanding of the structure of congressional leadership. Second, such a comparative study provides an excellent opportunity to develop and test certain broader propositions concerning the influences shaping congressional leadership. Considerable attention has been paid to the norms governing leadership selection-specifically, the seniority norm governing the selection of chairmen and what Richard Fenno calls the "seniorityprotege-apprenticeship" cluster of norms that distributes influence throughout the House.2 Such explanations usefully stress the point that leadership-selection norms are part of a complex, ongoing process of institutionalization or institutional maintenance.3 Yet emphasis on their contribution to institutional growth or maintenance may lead too facilely to the assumption that individual mem-
A repeated measures model for analysis of continuous outcomes in sequential parallel comparison design studies

Previous authors have proposed the sequential parallel comparison design (SPCD) to address the issue of high placebo response rate in clinical trials. The original use of SPCD focused on binary outcomes, but recent use has since been extended to continuous outcomes that arise more naturally in many fields, including psychiatry. Analytic methods proposed to date for analysis of SPCD trial continuous data included methods based on seemingly unrelated regression and ordinary least squares. Here, we propose a repeated measures linear model that uses all outcome data collected in the trial and accounts for data that are missing at random. An appropriate contrast formulated after the model has been fit can be used to test the primary hypothesis of no difference in treatment effects between study arms. Our extensive simulations show that when compared with the other methods, our approach preserves the type I error even for small sample sizes and offers adequate power and the smallest mean squared error under a wide variety of assumptions. We recommend consideration of our approach for analysis of data coming from SPCD trials.
Quantifying Total, N, and Non-N Related Crop Rotation Effects Without 15N

ABSTRACT The N benefits attributed to legumes in crop rotations are often overestimated because the technique for quantifying this benefit without 15N includes rotation effects not directly related to N. This study was conducted to test an approach proposed in the literature for delineating such effects without requiring the use of 15N. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Norwis) was grown continuously and in two-year rotations with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Nitro), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), or white lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Ultra). Potato was fertilized with 0, 90, or 180 kg N ha−1 as (NH4)2S04. The total, N, and non-N effects of crop rotation were calculated based on tuber dry weight and plant N uptake for the rotation systems and the tuber dry weight vs. plant N uptake relationship for continuous potato. The total effect of crop rotation generally declined upon increasing N fertilizer from 0 to 90 kg N ha−1, apparently due to decreasing importance of the N effect with added fertilizer. No...
Initiator role of double stranded DNA in terminal transferase catalyzed polymerization reactions

Abstract Binding of the 58 kDa monomer and 44 kDa alpha beta dimer forms of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase to double stranded DNA was demonstrated by gel retardation and tryptophan fluorescence quenching. The dissociation constants and cooperativity parameters were similar to those that have been determined for binding of these two forms of terminal transferase to single stranded DNA. However, the double stranded DNA binding site size of 10 nucleotides was half the size expected. The efficacy of blunt ended DNA as an initiator in the polymerization reaction catalyzed by terminal transferase was demonstrated by radiometric assays and product analyses on agarose gels. The initial reaction kinetics indicated that dGTP but not dATP was added efficiently to a blunt double stranded DNA 3' end. These results are correlated with current models for in vivo terminal transferase function.
Evaluation of humic acid fractions by fluorimetry and 13C NMR spectroscopy

Abstract Freeze-thaw cycles were used to produce morphologically dissimilar humic acid fractions that showed evidence of possessing distinctly different molecular features. The kinetics of fluorescence enhancement produced by the addition of Sm 3+ ions to pyrene/humic acid solutions indicated that the ability to form pseudomicellar domains was vastly different among the fractions. 13 C NMR spectra bore out the suggestion that the tendency of humic acid fractions to undergo intramolecular coiling is related to their aliphatic content.
Supporting efficient machine-to-machine communications in the future mobile internet

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication represents an important new class of applications for the future “Internet of Things (IoT)”. The IoT scenario requires scalable connectivity to billions of embedded devices such as sensors, RFID's and machines. Current sensor networking solutions involve the use of gateways for hierarchical access to sensor devices, but this approach leads to specialized M2M systems which are not visible to the vast majority of Internet devices and applications. The MobilityFirst future Internet architecture provides a new framework for efficiently supporting sensor net and M2M scenarios through the use of an identity naming system for all network attached objects using the concept of a “globally unique identifier (GUID)”. The use of GUID results in a “flat” network where sensors and other embedded devices are visible to all applications and devices on the Internet. In addition, GUID names make it possible to introduce context and content-aware services which are well suited for M2M scenarios where attributes such as location or type of content are more important than physical address for establishing network connectivity. This paper presents a discussion of how M2M service scenarios are supported in the MobilityFirst architecture, introducing the protocol layers and API's as they apply to sensors and embedded devices. A proof-of-concept prototype implementation is discussed and an application to a sensor scenario is described.
A comparison of known codes, random codes, and the best codes

This paper calculates new bounds on the size of the performance gap between random codes and the best possible codes. The first result shows that, for large block sizes, the ratio of the error probability of a random code to the sphere-packing lower bound on the error probability of every code on the binary symmetric channel (BSC) is small for a wide range of useful crossover probabilities. Thus even far from capacity, random codes have nearly the same error performance as the best possible long codes. The paper also demonstrates that a small reduction k-k/spl tilde/ in the number of information bits conveyed by a codeword will make the error performance of an (n,k/spl tilde/) random code better than the sphere-packing lower bound for an (n,k) code as long as the channel crossover probability is somewhat greater than a critical probability. For example, the sphere-packing lower bound for a long (n,k), rate 1/2, code will exceed the error probability of an (n,k/spl tilde/) random code if k-k/spl tilde/>10 and the crossover probability is between 0.035 and 0.11=H/sup -1/(1/2). Analogous results are presented for the binary erasure channel (BEC) and the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. The paper also presents substantial numerical evaluation of the performance of random codes and existing standard lower bounds for the BEC, BSC, and the AWGN channel. These last results provide a useful standard against which to measure many popular codes including turbo codes, e.g., there exist turbo codes that perform within 0.6 dB of the bounds over a wide range of block lengths.