cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring fault types, detection activities, and failure severity in an evolving safety-critical software system

Many papers have been published on analysis and prediction of software faults and/or failures, but few established the links from software faults (i.e., the root causes) to (potential or observed) failures and addressed multiple attributes. This paper aims at filling this gap by studying types of faults that caused software failures, activities taking place when faults were detected or failures were reported, and the severity of failures. Furthermore, it explores the associations among these attributes and the trends within releases (i.e., pre-release and post-release) and across releases. The results are based on the data extracted from a safety-critical NASA mission, which follows an evolutionary development process. In particular, we analyzed 21 large-scale software components, which together constitute over 8,000 files and millions of lines of code. The main insights include: (1) only a few fault types were responsible for the majority of failures pre-release and post-release, and across releases. Analysis and testing activities detected the majority of failures caused by each fault type. (2) The distributions of fault types differed for pre-release and post-release failures. (3) The percentage of safety-critical failures was small overall, and their relative contribution increased on-orbit. (4) Both post-release failures and safety-critical failures were more heavily associated with coding faults than with any other type of faults. (5) Components that experienced high number of failures in one release were not necessarily among high failure-prone components in the subsequent release. (6) Components that experienced more failures pre-release were more likely to fail post-release, overall and for each release.
Real-time acquisition of laser-induced fluorescence decays

Picosecond time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (PITLIF) has the potential to provide rapid measurements of minor-species concentrations by correction for local quenching conditions on the time scale of turbulence. Previous studies demonstrated that this technique could provide laser-induced fluorescence data and local quenching rates in flames but used equivalent-time sampling to obtain the required fluorescence decays. This precludes the use of PITLIF in turbulent systems. Fluorescence decays of sodium seeded into a laminar H(2)-O(2)-Ar diffusion flame are obtained from real-time data with an acquisition rate on the time scale of turbulence. The results obtained with this method are shown to be similar to those obtained from equivalent-time sampling.
Presence and absence in Artistic representation: When Rousseau answered with music to Derrida and de Man

Jacques Derrida based his first important work on the reading of Roussau's Essay On the Origin of Language.Derrida exposed systematic contradictions between the philosophical positions present in that essay and the actual descriptions. Soon after, Paul de Man declared the absence of such contradictions or “blind spots” in the writings of Rousseau. For de Man, it is in Jacques Derrida's eyes that something intercepts the light. He explains how Derrida reads (and misreads) Rousseau through Rousseau's very influence. In other words, de Man writes in turn to account for a particular text he thinks Derrida cannot see because of the traditional angle in the readings. This is especially the case in a central passage of the Essay where Rousseau develops his meditation on music and describes it as an art not of presence but of absence.
The conserved adenosine in helix 6 of Archaeoglobus fulgidus signal recognition particle RNA initiates SRP assembly

The signal recognition particle (SRP) RNA helix 6 of archaea and eukaryotes is essential for the binding of protein SRP19 and the assembly of a functional complex. The conserved adenosine at the third position of the tetraloop of helix 6 (A149) is crucial for the binding of protein SRP19 in the mammalian SRP. Here we investigated the significance of the equivalent adenosine residue at position 159 (A159) of Archaeoglobus fulgidus SRP RNA. The A159 of A. fulgidus and A149 of human SRP RNA were changed to C, G or U, and fragments containing helix 6 or helices 6 and 8 were synthesized by run-off transcription with T7 RNA polymerase. The ability of recombinant A. fulgidus and human SRP19 to form ribonucleoprotein complexes was measured in vitro. The simultaneous presence of A149 and helix 8 is required for the high-affinity binding of SRP19 to the human SRP RNA. In contrast, A. fulgidus SRP19 binds to the SRP RNA fragments with high affinity irrespective of the nature of the nucleotide, demonstrating that A159 does not directly participate in protein binding. Instead, as indicated by the resistance of the wild-type A. fulgidus RNA towards digestion by RNase A, this residue allows the formation of a tightly folded RNA molecule. The high affinity between A. fulgidus SRP19 and RNA molecules that contain both helices 6 and 8 suggests that A159 is likely to initiate archaeal SRP assembly by forming a conserved tertiary RNA– RNA interaction.
Effect Of Slice Thickness On Depth-Dose Distribution Of A Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

The effect on dose of varying the imaging slice thickness in computed tomography was evaluated. A cylindrical Plexiglas phantom (20 cm diameter, 15 cm length) was used. The dose at each depth was estimated from measured dose profiles. The maximum surface dose was independent of slice thickness. The minimum surface dose in the scan plane increased with slice thickness. This indicated that scatter contributes to the dose in the scan plane. A computer program has been developed. It predicted the maximum surface dose for a scan procedure with an accuracy of ±1.2 mrad/mAs. The model takes the effect of scatter into account, assuming a zero-th order scattering cross section, which is a constant, independent of photon energy. A least squares fit with the experimental data permitted to estimate the scattering cross section (.095 cm 2/g, for the 10 mm slice thickness).© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Giant Left Circumflex Coronary Artery Aneurysm With Arteriovenous Fistula to the Coronary Sinus

An 80-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer status post radiation therapy, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and congestive heart failure was referred to our institution for evaluation of a giant left circumflex (LCx) coronary artery aneurysm with fistulous communication to the coronary sinus. The patient initially presented with shortness of breath and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction associated with anterolateral T-wave inversion on ECG (Figure 1). Chest radiography showed a dense structure with a circular silhouette at the projection of the superior right mediastinum at the location of the right atrium in the posterior-anterior view and in the posterior mediastinum in the lateral view (Figure 2). She underwent cardiac catheterization, which showed no significant obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. However, the angiogram revealed a large LCx coronary artery aneurysm with fistulous communication to the coronary sinus (Figure 3A and 3B; online-only Data Supplement Movies I and II). To better define the anatomic relationship of this aneurysm, a contrast-enhanced 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was performed. The location of the aneurysm was noted to be posterior to the left ventricle in juxtaposition with the left atrium, and its size measured 6.0 cm × 5.6 cm …
Viral caspase inhibitor p35, but not crmA, is neuroprotective in the ischemic penumbra following experimental stroke.

Abstract Apoptosis, a predominant cause of neuronal death after stroke, can be executed in a caspase-dependent or apoptosis inducing factor (AIF)–dependent manner. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors expressing caspase inhibitors p35 and crmA have been shown to be neuroprotective against various excitotoxic insults. Here we further evaluated the possible neuroprotective role of p35 and crmA in a rat stroke model. Overexpression of p35, but not crmA, significantly increased neuronal survival. Results of double immunofluorescence staining indicate that compared with neurons infected with crmA or control vectors, p35-infected neurons had less active caspase-3 expression, cytosolic cytochrome c and nuclear AIF translocation.
Abstract LB-165: Novel metabolic metyltransferase mediates radiation resistance in glioblastomas

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Purpose: Nicotinamide- N -methyltransferase(NNMT) is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of drugs and xenobiotic compounds. It is known to be highly expressed in a variety of cancers and has been investigated for its potential use as a diagnostic or prognostic marker. Furthermore, clinical data has shown that high NNMT expression is correlated with adverse patient outcome. In our glioblastoma (GBM) patient data set and other publically available data set NNMT is one among the top 25 genes which is differentially regulated when compared with normal adjacent tissue and also with various grades of brain tumor. NNMT is highly expressed in grade IV compared to low grade astrocytomas. Kaplan-Meier survival plots for NNMT gene shows that higher expression is associated with poor survival benefit and the median survival was found to be more than doubled in patient group with low expression of NNMT. Despite all this, the mechanistic behavior of NNMT in the malignant phenotype remains uncharacterized. We plan to gain an understanding of the signaling pathways with which NNMT interacts and elucidate its role in radioresistance. Experimental Design: The in vitro radiosensitivity assays were evaluated using wild type, NNMT-knockdown and NNMT-overexpression GBM cell lines. The assay conducted includes MTS, DNA damage and repair, Clonogenic survival assay, comet assay, Annexin V apoptosis assay, matrigel invasion assays, ATP assay, etc. The cell line after treatment was lysed and probed for pro-and anti-survival signaling pathways. Results and Discussion: We explored the expression profile of NNMT in established (ATCC) and in our panel of primary GBM cell lines. The expression levels correlates with relative radioresistance exhibited by the cell line. It appears NNMT knockdown cell lines exhibited an enhanced radiosensitivity. Currently we are probing signaling cascades which are differentially regulated in the NNMT knockdown and overexpression cell lines and also the differential response to radiation treatment based on differing levels of NNMT expression. The results will be presented at the meeting. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-165.
The Phenotypic Deception: Influences of Classical Genetics on Genetic Paradigms

����� What does it mean to say that a trait is "genetic"? The public view of the genotype-phenotype relationship is oversimplified and does not capture the complexity of molecular events as revealed by modern biology. With the advent of knowledge about jumping genes (transposons), coding regions (exons) that can be spliced together in more than one combination to produce multiple gene products, and nucleotide sequences that are part of two reading frames (overlapping genes), genes can no longer be visualized as simply a series of fixed, discrete units. Historically, the structure of the gene remained a mystery until the spiral staircase model of DNA structure was made famous by Watson and Crick [I]. Today, there is broad public awareness that DNA constitutes the hereditary material, while awareness of gene function more closely fits the term "factor" as used by geneticists during the classical period prior to 1920. Simple dichotomous phenotypes such as red- or white-eyed DrosophiL· and round or wrinkled peas serve as examples for expression of a typical gene. The price paid for this kind of either/or paradigm of genetic understanding is high because it fixates thinking on individual units (genes) as being causal in a simple and straightforward manner that ignores the lesson of complexity that modern genetics is unraveling. But is there really a false public perception ofthe genotype-phenotype relationship? A group of recent high school Westinghouse winners was asked to predict future directions in science. Among the high-tech wonders imagined was the suggestion that we will be able, at some point in the future, to create perfect humans by gene manipulation. Behind this fix-it-by-tinkering strategy lies a deeper, more subtie conceptualization that is both widespread and profoundly misleading.
Designing robust multimodal systems for universal access

Multimodal interfaces are being developed that permit our highly skilled and coordinated communicative behavior to control system interactions in a more transparent and flexible interface experience than ever before. As applications become more complex, a single modality alone does not permit varied users to interact effectively across different tasks and usage environments [11]. However, a flexible multimodal interface offers people the choice to use a combination of modalities, or to switch to a better-suited modality, depending on the specifics of their abilities, the task, and the usage conditions.This paper will begin by summarizing some of the primary advantages of multimodal interfaces. In particular, it will discuss the inherent flexibility of multimodal interfaces, which is a key feature that makes them suitable for universal access and mobile computing. It also will discuss the role of multimodal architectures in improving the robustness and performance stability of recognition-based systems. Data will be reviewed from two recent studies in which a multimodal architecture suppressed errors and stabilized system performance for accented nonnative speakers and during mobile use. The paper will conclude by discussing the implications of this research for designing multimodal interfaces for the elderly, as well as the need for future work in this area.
Evaluation of a System to Automatically Sample Zooplankton From the Discharge of Dams

Automatic plankton samplers installed at two dams on the Connecticut River continuously monitored crustacean zooplankton from October 1977 through 1979 and allowed a significant reduction in man-hours involved in an extensive sampling program. Automatic samplers efficiently sampled most species and size classes of crustacean zooplankton in a similar, but not consistently identical manner as a commonly used towed-net plankton sampler. The smallest sized zooplankton were captured more efficiently than the largest. Mesh selection and sampler avoidance exerted different influences on automatic samplers and towed nets. Future use of the samplers and direct comparison of results to results obtained by other methods was supported.
Identification of an Acinetobacter baumannii Zinc Acquisition System that Facilitates Resistance to Calprotectin-mediated Zinc Sequestration

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen that accounts for up to 20 percent of infections in intensive care units worldwide. Furthermore, A. baumannii strains have emerged that are resistant to all available antimicrobials. These facts highlight the dire need for new therapeutic strategies to combat this growing public health threat. Given the critical role for transition metals at the pathogen-host interface, interrogating the role for these metals in A. baumannii physiology and pathogenesis could elucidate novel therapeutic strategies. Toward this end, the role for calprotectin- (CP)-mediated chelation of manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in defense against A. baumannii was investigated. These experiments revealed that CP inhibits A. baumannii growth in vitro through chelation of Mn and Zn. Consistent with these in vitro data, Imaging Mass Spectrometry revealed that CP accompanies neutrophil recruitment to the lung and accumulates at foci of infection in a murine model of A. baumannii pneumonia. CP contributes to host survival and control of bacterial replication in the lung and limits dissemination to secondary sites. Using CP as a probe identified an A. baumannii Zn acquisition system that contributes to Zn uptake, enabling this organism to resist CP-mediated metal chelation, which enhances pathogenesis. Moreover, evidence is provided that Zn uptake across the outer membrane is an energy-dependent process in A. baumannii. Finally, it is shown that Zn limitation reverses carbapenem resistance in multidrug resistant A. baumannii underscoring the clinical relevance of these findings. Taken together, these data establish Zn acquisition systems as viable therapeutic targets to combat multidrug resistant A. baumannii infections.
IQ mismatch compensation using time domain signal processing: A practical approach

In recent times, analysis of transceiver RF front-end analog impairments and their compensation using digital signal processing techniques have drawn increasing interest. Analysis and calibration of frequency dependent and frequency independent IQ imbalance (FD-IQI & FI-IQI) are explored in this paper. In order to reduce implementation complexity, we propose sequential compensation rather than joint compensation of FD-IQI and FI-IQI. A low-complexity technique for compensation of FD-IQI in time-domain is presented. Fundamental limit on estimation accuracy of FI-IQI parameters is derived in the presence of uncompensated FD-IQI. Impact of the proposed technique on packet-error-rate (PER) performance of a IEEE 802.11g receiver is demonstrated via silicon measurements.
Observation of whispering-gallery and directional resonant laser emission in ellipsoidal microcavities

Whispering-gallery resonant laser emission is reported in CdSe-tagged polystyrene microcavities. A clear intensity threshold for laser emission is observed. Using a recently developed asymptotic expansion derived from Mie theory, we have theoretically identified the experimentally observed discrete resonant peaks and assigned them to different quantum states. In fluorescent carboxylate-modified ellipsoidal polystyrene microcavities, we have observed that whispering-gallery mode and directional laser emission can be excited simultaneously. To understand our experimental results, we extend the asymptotic expansion from spherical to ellipsoidal microcavities to explain the whispering-gallery mode behavior and develop a simple ray-optics model to interpret the directional emission. The obtained numerical data agree well with experimental observation.
Spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction investigation of the behavior of hanksite and tychite at high pressures, and a model for the compressibility of sulfate minerals

The rare evaporite minerals hanksite, Na22K(SO4) 9(CO3)2Cl, and tychite, Na6Mg 2(CO3)4(SO4), are excellent case studies for the high-pressure behavior of ionic groups since their structures combine ionic complexity and high symmetry (hexagonal P63/m and cubic Fd3, respectively). Here we investigate the structure and compressibility of hanksite up to 20 GPa in the diamond-anvil cell using Raman spectroscopy and X ray diffraction and of tychite up to 17 GPa in the diamond cell using X ray diffraction and first-principles modeling. At ambient pressure, the Raman spectrum of hanksite has a single sulfate v1 frequency at 992 cm -1 with a lower-frequency shoulder. As pressure is increased, this mode splits into two distinct peaks, which arise from two distinct local environments for the sulfate tetrahedra within the hanksite structure. Below 10 GPa, the mode Gruneisen parameter of the dominant sulfate v1 frequency is 0.27(1); the mode Gruneisen parameter of the lower frequency shoulder is 0.199(7). X ray diffraction data of hanksite indicate a 5% volume drop between 8-10 GPa with no apparent change of symmetry. A Birch-Murnaghan fit to the data below 8 GPa yields an isothermal bulk modulus of 66(1) GPa for hanksite and 85(1) GPa for tychite, with K′ fixed at 4.
Radio evidence for an expanding magnetic arch beyond 20 solar radii

A magnetic loop located beyond 20 R⊙ appears to be the later evolution of an expanding magnetic arch observed at 2 r⊙. The expansion speed is of the order of 100 km s−1.
Memory footprint matters: efficient equi-join algorithms for main memory data processing

High-performance analytical data processing systems often run on servers with large amounts of main memory. A common operation in such environments is combining data from two or more sources using some "join" algorithm. The focus of this paper is on studying hash-based and sort-based equi-join algorithms when the data sets being joined fully reside in main memory. We only consider a single node setting, which is an important building block for larger high-performance distributed data processing systems. A critical contribution of this work is in pointing out that in addition to query response time, one must also consider the memory footprint of each join algorithm, as it impacts the number of concurrent queries that can be serviced. Memory footprint becomes an important deployment consideration when running analytical data processing services on hardware that is shared by other concurrent services. We also consider the impact of particular physical properties of the input and the output of each join algorithm. This information is essential for optimizing complex query pipelines with multiple joins. Our key contribution is in characterizing the properties of hash-based and sort-based equi-join algorithms, thereby allowing system implementers and query optimizers to make a more informed choice about which join algorithm to use.
Influence of debonding in ground heat exchangers used with geothermal heat pumps

Debonding in ground heat exchangers used with geothermal heat pumps may occur for a variety of reasons, such as shrinkage of the backfill materials or surrounding formation, improper grouting and thermal mismatch. The effect of thermal contact resistance on the heat conduction due to debonding in ground heat exchangers was investigated using a set of one-dimensional simplified analytical models as well as two-dimensional finite element models. From the cases studied, debonding at the backfill/pipe interface was found to be of greater significance than debonding between grout and surrounding formation.
Metabolism of diflubenzuron by spider mites and bean plantsa

Diflubenzuron was absorbed and metabolised relatively slowly by the two-spotted spider mite Tetrunychus urticae Koch. Diflubenzuron metabolites, tentatively identified by coincident chromatography with reference standards, included 4- chlorophenylurea, 2, 6-difluorobenzoic acid, 4-chloroformanilide, 2, 6-difluoro-benzamide, and two compounds monohydroxylated in the chloroaniline moiety. There was little absorption of diflubenzuron when applied topically to leaves of bean plants. However, there was translocation of radioactive material when diflubenzuron was injected into the stern. In this case, the radioactivity, which was confined largely to vascular tissue, apparently moved acropetally but exhibited very little or no basipetal movement. Bean plants metabolised injected diflubenzuron, and certain of the metabolites were similar to those isolated from mites.
Monocyte migration across pulmonary membranes in mice infected with cytomegalovirus.

Abstract Ultrastructural evidence of monocyte migration across pulmonary membranes was found in immunosuppressed mice infected with murine cytomegalovirus (CMV). A previous study showed that monocytes are the only cells that contain virus particles in this experimental model. These cells migrate across the vascular endothelium and into the interstitial space. They then move through the basement membranes of alveoli and bronchioles into newly formed spaces between the basement membrane and the epithelium. Concurrently, zonulae adhaerentes develop between the monocytes and the investing epithelial cells. Gaps then appear to develop in the epithelium, probably at intercellular junctions, and the monocytes migrate into the air spaces. These morphologic observations corroborate earlier evidence which suggested that monocytes are the precursors of alveolar macrophages.
A message management system for personal computers

This paper presents a design for a message management system that reduces the coding effort for the application developer, gives the user greater control over the treatment of application messages, and eliminates many problems of translation. Any message may be directed to one or more devices (screen, printer) and/or files (log, activity), with the ability to exclude message elements (e.g., date and time) from being sent to any output destination, or to exclude a destination altogether. Because the message-handling code and message texts are separated from one another and from the application code, the developer need only issue a message identifier and set the associated variable values. The message identifier contains codes for both class and severity, and the developer provides default selection criteria that the user can modify. These tables of selection criteria provide a simple yet highly flexible means of determining where each message will be sent and in what form. The simplicity of including variable information and the separation of message texts into a master repository (where an information developer or translator can work on them) tend to improve the quality of messages to the user by making them more consistent and informative.
Treatment of pain in older patients

Pain in older adults is a highly prevalent problem. While the basis of pain management in older individuals is similar to that for younger patients, it may differ in terms of presentation, assessment, and management. This article explores the basic concepts of pain control with a focus on older patients with cancer and highlights issues clinicians should consider when treating these individuals.
T cell recognition motifs of an immunodominant peptide of myelin basic protein in patients with multiple sclerosis: structural requirements and clinical implications

Myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The T cell response to the 83-99 region of MBP represents a dominant autoreactive response to MBP in MS patients of DR2 haplotype. In this study, a large panel of DR2- and DR4-restricted T cell clones specific for the MBP83-99 peptide were examined for the recognition motifs and structural requirements for antigen recognition using alanine-substituted peptides. Our study revealed that although the recognition motifs of the T cell clones were diverse, the TCR contact residues within the 83-99 region of MBP were highly conserved. Two central residues (Phe90 and Lys91) served as the critical TCR contact points for both DR2- and DR4-restricted T cell clones. Single alanine substitution at residue 90 or residue 91 abolished the responses of 81-95 % of the T cell clones while a double alanine substitution rendered all T cell clones unresponsive. It was also demonstrated in this study that the substituted peptides altered the cytokine profile of some, but not all, T cell clones. Some MBP83-99-specific T cell clones were able to sustain alanine substitutions and were susceptible to activation by microbial antigens. The study has an important implication in designing a peptide-based therapy for MS.
Language and speech correlates of anatomically verified lesions in thalamic surgery for parkinsonism.

The brains of 27 deceased parkinsonian patients who had undergone stereotaxic thalamic surgery were examined anatomically to define the exact location of the surgical lesion in each case. A correla...
An integral-field spectrograph for the terrestrial planet finder coronagraph

Abstract We describe the rationale and requirements for an integral-field spectrograph aboard NASA’s Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph.
Caught on an Island: Geographic and Spiritual Isolation in Medieval German Courtly Literature: Herzog Ernst, Gregorius, Tristan, and Partonopier und Meliur

The relationship between man and nature has always been the object of careful examinations not only by scientists, but also by writers and artists, philosophers and theologians. Individual objects ...
Lack of correlation in welfare check distribution and transport patterns in a rural critical care transport service

Abstract Introduction Understanding patterns of use of emergency medical services is important for planning adequate programs, budgets, and schedules. Understanding the factors associated with use of these services can help systems target high-risk populations or behaviors and allocate budgetary resources appropriately. Previous data have shown an association between the use of emergency health care use and distribution of welfare check distribution in both the United States and Canada. These data have limitations. In these studies, no attempt was made to investigate whether this increase in use was for particular types of complaints (medical or traumatic) or true outside of an urban community. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there were similar monthly associations in patterns of use of a regional transport service for either medical or traumatic complaints. Methods Med Flight is a regional aeromedical service operated by the University of Wisconsin. The service provides transport services to all hospitals and emergency medical services for critically ill or injured patients inside a radius of approximately 75 miles. The program transports approximately 1200 patients per year. Data for all transports for the years 1998-2004 were obtained. Daily numbers of transports were then compared for all patients and subsets of those with specifically traumatic or cardiac-related complaints. Results There were 7756 transports during the study period: 34% of the transports were trauma related; 30% were cardiac related. There was a significant association between trauma-related flights and both month of the year ( P P Conclusion In contrast to previous studies, these findings show no association between use of a regional transport service and time of the month. Determinants of use of emergency services may differ between urban and nonurban areas.
Late Cenozoic extensional transfer in the Walker Lane strike-slip belt, Nevada

Mid-Miocene to Pliocene (11 to 6 Ma) displacement on the shallowly northwest- dipping Silver Peak-Lone Mountain detachment system transferred 30 to 40 km of right slip from the Furnace Creek transcurrent fault 85 km east-northeast to the central Walker Lane strike-slip faults. Top-to-the-northwest slip on the detachment was accompanied by upper-plate extension on steeply dipping faults and large-scale exhumation of midcrustal rocks of the lower-plate complex. Doubly plunging, northwest-trending folds (turtleback structures) control the outcrop distribution of the extensional complex and formed in response to simple shear of the footwall complex. Activity on the detachment ceased as Miocene- Pliocene (6-4.8 Ma) volcanic rocks were erupted and deformed during the final stage of northwest-trending folding. Late Pliocene to Holocene displacement transfer shifted north to a curved array of steeply dipping faults that may be underlain by a shallowly northwest-dipping detachment.
A SIMULTANEOUS EQUATION MODEL OF COST/PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIPS IN LARGE SCALE COMPUTING

Cost/performance studies of central processing units have important implications for the organization of computing services. Recent studies have seriously challenged conclusions that economies of scale exist in CPU's and have rejected earlier findings that their average costs decrease with the square root of their power. The authors have argued that previous research is seriously flawed by its use of single equation models, and that performance is not simply an exogenous variable(s). A system of simultaneous equations is employed to measure the causal relationships between hardware characteristics, technology, cost, and their interactions. Parameter estimates suggest that economies of scale exist for large computer systems. The simultaneous equation model is used to define the cost-performance equilibrium and, for various hardware characteristics, a “design path” for optimal configuration.
The Beautiful and the Dangerous: Encounters with the Zuni Indians

The Beautiful and the Dangerous: Encounters with the Zuni Indians. BARBARA TEDLOCK. New York: Penguin Books, 1992. xiv + 336 pp., notes, bibliography, index.
Human intervertebral disc cells are genetically modifiable by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer: implications for the clinical management of intervertebral disc disorders.

Study Design. Human intervertebral disc cells were cultured in monolayer and treated with adenovirus-containing marker genes to determine the susceptibility of the cells to adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. Objectives. To test the efficacy of the adenovirus-mediated gene transfer technique for transferring exogenous genes to human intervertebral disc cells in vitro. Summary of Background Data. Upregulated proteo-glycan synthesis after direct in vivo adenovirus-mediated transfer of growth factor genes to the rabbit intervertebral disc has previously been reported. Before contemplating extending this approach to the treatment of human disc disease, it is necessary to demonstrate that human intervertebral disc cells are indeed susceptible to adenovirus-mediated gene transduction. Methods. Human intervertebral disc cells were isolated from disc tissue obtained from 15 patients during surgical disc procedures. The cells were cultured in monolayer and treated with saline containing five different doses of adenovirus carrying the lacZ gene (Ad/CMV-lacZ), saline containing adenovirus carrying the luciferase gene (Ad/CMV-luciferase), or saline alone. Transgene expression was analyzed by 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-galactosidase (X-Gal) staining and luciferase assay. Results. Adenovirus efficiently transferred lacZ and luciferase marker genes to cells from degenerated discs as well as to cells from nondegenerated discs. A minimum dose of 150 MOI Ad/CMV-lacZ was found to be sufficient to achieve transduction of approximately 100% of disc cells-regardless of patient age, sex, surgical indication, disc level, and degeneration grade. No statistically significant difference in the luciferase activities could be detected in disc cell cultures from degenerated and nondegenerated discs treated with Ad/CMV-luciferase. Conclusions. In vitro transducibility of human intervertebral disc ceils by adenovirus is relatively insensitive to disc degeneration grade. Because the rate-limiting step for successful gene therapy is the ability to transfer genesefficiently to the target tissue, the achievement of efficient gene transfer to human intervertebral disc cells (using a direct, adenovirus-mediated approach) is an important and necessary step in the development of gene therapy strategies for the management of human intervertebral disc disorders.
Interaction and Stabilization of Acidified Casein Dispersions with Low and High Methoxyl Pectins

The ability of low (LMP) and high methoxyl pectins (HMP) to stabilize acidified sodium caseinate dispersions was evaluated. Samples of 2.5% casein, 1% pectin, and 2.5% casein−1% pectin were hydrated in a 0.1 constant ionic strength buffer and pH was adjusted to 3.8, 4.8, 5.8, and 6.8. Without pectin, casein precipitated at pH 3.8 and 4.8. In single-component dispersions, pH had little influence on turbidity, L values, sedimentation, and apparent viscosity. L values for dispersions of LMP−casein and HMP−casein at pH 3.8 and 4.8 were about twice those at pH 5.8 and 6.8 and were higher than those for pectin. Apparent viscosity of LMP−casein and HMP−casein dispersions was not influenced by pH as were turbidity and L values. At low pH, dispersions were less Newtonian and had greater consistency index. Increased stability and apparent viscosity were consistent with fewer interactive sites between HMP and casein than between LMP and casein. Keywords: Pectin−protein interactions; acidified dairy drinks; viscosity...
Investigation of Large Eddy Simulation Code Scaling Performance and Network Type Influence on a Linux PC Cluster

The parallel performance of a large eddy simulation computational fluid dynamics code was evaluated on a Pentium III PC cluster with 64 processors running under Linux. Scaling capability of the code and comparative code performance under Fast Ethernet, Myrinet, and Gigabit Ethernet were investigated. The code shows very good scalability for a scaled speedup test with wall clock time remaining practically constant for any number of processors. The code does not saturate the Fast Ethernet bandwidth. Whereas Myrinet demonstrates a lower difference between CPU and wall clock time, indicating more efficient interprocessor communication, its overall wall clock time is equal to or higher than for the code compiled for Fast Ethernet. Gigabit Ethernet shows a very slight advantage over Fast Ethernet.
Effect of bandwidth and numerical aperture in optical scatterometry

We consider the effects of finite spectral bandwidth and numerical aperture in scatterometry measurements and discuss efficient integration methods based upon Gaussian quadrature in one dimension (for spectral bandwidth averaging) and two dimensions inside a circle (for numerical aperture averaging). Provided the wavelength is not near a Wood's anomaly for the grating, we find that the resulting methods converge very quickly to a level suitable for most measurement applications. In the vicinity of a Wood's anomaly, however, the methods provide rather poor behavior. We also describe a method that can be used to extract the effective spectral bandwidth and numerical aperture for a scatterometry tool. We find that accounting for spectral bandwidth and numerical aperture is necessary to obtain satisfactory results in scatterometry.
Expression of the L-type calcium channel in the developing mouse visual system by use of immunocytochemistry

Abstract Developmental refinement of the retinogeniculate and retinocollicular pathways is partially dependent upon Ca 2+ channel function [J. Comp. Neurol. 440 (2001) 177–191]. We have examined the development of the L-type voltage gated Ca 2+ channel to determine if the onset of expression matches this period of refinement. Labeling by an antibody directed against the α1C subunit of this channel was examined in the superior colliculus (SC), lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), visual cortex (CTX), hippocampus (HC) and cerebellum (CB) in mice aged P3–4, P8–9, P15, P21, P28, and adults. At P3–4, labeled cells within the SC were concentrated within a dense band in the retinorecipient zone of the superficial gray layer. More lightly labeled neurons were seen in other layers. This dense band was still seen at P15, while more labeled neurons were seen in other layers. By P21–P28, labeled neurons were fairly uniformly distributed throughout all layers of SC. Neuronal cell types appeared to be labeled at all ages examined within the LGN. Within CTX, putative layer V–VI pyramidal neurons were well labeled at P4 and later ages, and labeled layer II–III pyramids could be distinguished by P9 and later ages. The dendrites and cell bodies of pyramidal neurons within CA1–CA3 of HC, granule neurons in the dentate gyrus, and Purkinje neurons in CB were labeled at all ages examined. We conclude that the L-type Ca 2+ channel is expressed in many neurons within retinorecipient targets as well as in other brain regions during the developmental period in which pathway refinement and synaptic plasticity occurs.
Removal of bitterness from the bitter peptides extracted from cheddar cheese with peptidases from Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris SK11.

Abstract Intracellular peptidases were extracted from the cell lysate of Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris SK11 that had been grown in milk. Peptidase activities were determined using 12 synthetic derivatives of p -nitroanilide. The X-prolyl-dipeptidyl amino peptidase exhibited the highest activity. Activities of aminopeptidase A and Pro iminopeptidase were low, and the activity of pyrrolidone carboxylyl peptidase was minimal under the conditions of the assay. The optimal pH and temperature for overall enzyme activity were 7.5 and 30°C, respectively. Incubation of the enzyme extract with peptide fractions from Cheddar cheese resulted in the degradation of some peptides, as observed by HPLC analysis. In a 4-h hydrolysis at pH 7.0 and 35°C, sensory bitterness intensity of the bitter peptide fractions was significantly decreased. Five peptides that were responsible for bitterness in Cheddar cheese were isolated. Their origins were identified as α s1 -CN(f1-7), (f1-13), (f11-141), α s2 -CN(f191-197), and β -CN(f8-16). These bitter peptides were rich in Pro, and Pro commonly occurred in the penultimate position. The calculated hydrophobicities suggested that the isolated bitter peptides were both hydrophobic and hydrophilic.
Stress appraisals and cellular aging: A key role for anticipatory threat in the relationship between psychological stress and telomere length

Chronic psychological stress is a risk factor for multiple diseases of aging. Accelerated cellular aging as indexed by short telomere length has emerged as a potential common biological mechanism linking various forms of psychological stress and diseases of aging. Stress appraisals determine the degree and type of biological stress responses and altered stress appraisals may be a common psychological mechanism linking psychological stress and diseases of aging. However, no previous studies have examined the relationship between stress appraisals and telomere length. We exposed chronically stressed female caregivers and non-caregiving controls (N=50; M age=62.14±6.10) to a standardized acute laboratory stressor and measured their anticipatory and retrospective threat and challenge appraisals of the stressor. We hypothesized that threat and challenge appraisals would be associated with shorter and longer telomere length respectively, and that chronic caregiving stress would influence telomere length through altered stress appraisals. Higher anticipatory threat appraisals were associated with shorter age-adjusted telomere length (β=-.32, p=.03), but challenge appraisals and retrospective threat appraisals showed no independent association with telomere length. Caregivers reported significantly higher anticipatory (β=-.36, p=.006) and retrospective (β=-.29, p=.03) threat appraisals than controls, but similar challenge appraisals. Although there was no significant main effect of caregiver status on telomere length, caregiving had a significant indirect effect on telomere length through anticipatory threat appraisals. Exaggerated anticipatory threat appraisals may be a common and modifiable psychological mechanism of psychological stress effects on cellular aging.
Practicing Pelvic Examinations by Medical Students on Women Under Anesthesia: Why Not Ask First?

As I write this essay, I am a fourth-year medical student and recently completed my third-year obstetrics and gynecology clerkship. During my third year, I had the chance to participate actively in various aspects of medical training, which spanned the emotional spectrum from fascinating to mundane
A neurophysiological comparison of gamma-hydroxybutyrate with pentobarbital in cats

Abstract The purpose of the present paper is to compare the neurophysiological actions of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) with pentobarbital in cats with chronically implanted electrodes. Observations were performed on gross behavior, EEG activity and averaged response to clicks. The major behavioral and EEG effects following GHB are as follows: 60 mg/kg - no perceptible differences; 100–200 mg/kg - animal crouched, pupils dilated, head elevated, hypersalivates and occasionally vomits during spindling EEG pattern; 200–600 mg/kg - intermittent hypersynchronous bursts, posture unchanged, the electrical activity shifts to continuous hypersynchronous 2.5 c/sec waves; 400–600 mg/kg - spiking initially more pronounced in limbic leads while the hypersynchrony slows to 1.5 c/sec in other leads, followed by generalized high amplitude spikes and short polyphasic bursts with short periods of electrical silence between spikes in all leads. There are periods of spontaneous myoclonic jerks which are intensified by stimuli. Averaged evoked responses in the ASG, MBRF and CL increase in amplitude as the dose of GHB is increased. In contrast to GHB, pentobarbital (40 mg/kg) produces an initial desynchronization with ataxia, spindling and burst suppression phase. The averaged evoked responses to click gradually reduce in amplitude during these corresponding phases. On the basis of gross behavior, EEG patterns and averaged evoked response to clicks it appears that GHB and pentobarbital do not have similar properties. The action of GHB is similar to generalized non-convulsant epilepsy. It is proposed that the clinical efficacy of this agent may be based on the induction of a lack of responsiveness rather than by virtue of specific anesthetic properties. A re-evaluation of the desirable properties of anesthetic agents and the anesthetic state seems in order as a result of the apparent clinical success which GHB has had as an anesthetic agent.
Statistical modeling framework of live spectrum observation data for opportunistic spectrum sharing

A statistical model of land mobile radio (LMR) voice traffic is developed from empirical RF Spectrum measurement data. This model builds upon previous work, and is used to generate synthetic voice traffic that closely follows the daily and weekly patterns of the measured traffic. The model is applied to a Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) simulation. A coexistence algorithm that takes advantage of the modeled channel statistics is presented that allows an opportunistic secondary user (SU) to share a channel with a primary user (PU). The algorithm shows a clear improvement compared to the basic Listen-before-talk scheme that has no knowledge of a PU's statistical traffic characteristics. Spectrum Opportunity Accessed and collision rate are used as metrics to compare the DSA coexistence techniques. We demonstrate the utility of a spectrum observatory system as being the integral part of this DSA framework, where the observatory continually monitors and models PU channel activity in order to provide the SU with useful statistical information about the PU's traffic characteristics.
Hormone-independent Transcriptional Activation and Coactivator Binding by Novel Orphan Nuclear Receptor ERR3

Orphan nuclear receptors share sequence homology with members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, but ligands are unknown or unnecessary. A novel orphan receptor, estrogen receptor-related protein 3 (ERR3), was identified by yeast two-hybrid screening, using the transcriptional coactivator glucocorticoid receptor interacting protein 1 (GRIP1) as bait. The putative full-length mouse ERR3 contains 458 amino acids and is closely related to two known orphan receptors ERR1 and ERR2. All the ERR family members share an almost identical DNA-binding domain, which has 68% amino acid identity with that of estrogen receptor. ERR3 bound specifically to an estrogen response element and activated reporter genes controlled by estrogen response elements, both in yeast and in mammalian cells, in the absence of any added ligand. A conserved AF-2 activation domain located in the hormone-binding domain of ERR3 was primarily responsible for transcriptional activation. The ERR3 AF-2 domain bound GRIP1 in a ligand-independent manner both in vitro and in vivo, through the LXXLL motifs of GRIP1, and GRIP1 functioned as a transcriptional coactivator for ERR3 in both yeast and mammalian cells. Expression of ERR3 in adult mouse was restricted; highest expression was observed in heart, kidney, and brain. In the mouse embryo no expression was observed at day 7, and highest expression occurred around the 11-15 day stages. Although ERR3 is much more closely related to ERR2 than to ERR1, the expression pattern for ERR3 was similar to that of ERR1 and distinct from that for ERR2, suggesting a unique role for ERR3 in development.