cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RETINOIC ACID-INDUCED INHIBITION OF TYPE I COLLAGEN GENE EXPRESSION BY HUMAN LUNG FIBROBLASTS

Abstract We examined α1(I) collagen gene expression in all-trans retinoic acid (RA)-treated human lung fibroblast cultures. RA (10−5 M) decreased steady-state levels for α1(I) collagen mRNA by at least 75% after 24 h. The inhibition was evident within 8 h after addition of RA, was dose dependent and reversible. Treatment with 9-cis-retinoic acid did not affect α1(I) collagen mRNA levels. RA also inhibited the increases in α1(I) mRNA stimulated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The RA-mediated decrease in α1(I) collagen mRNA was blocked by cycloheximide treatment, suggesting that synthesis of a protein intermediate is required for the inhibition. The RA-induced decrease in α1(I) collagen mRNA levels was not mediated by increases in prostaglandin E2 production. RA decreased α1(I) gene transcription as determined by nuclear run-off assays but did not significantly alter the rate of degradation of the α1(I) transcript as determined by actinomycin D treatment. Studies employing cells stably transfected with constructs containing portions of the α1(I) collagen promoter indicate that the DNA sequences which mediate the inhibitory effect are located within 900 bases from the transcription start site.
Change and Continuity in a Pastoralist Community in the High Peruvian Andes

Pastoralists of the high Andes Mountains raise mixed herds of camelids and sheep. This study evaluates the land use of herdsmen who are confronted by both socioeconomic and climate changes in Huancavelica, central Peru. Land use/ land cover change (LULCC) was measured through satellite imagery, and pastoralists’ capacity to adapt to socioenvironmental changes was evaluated through interviews and archival research. The most dynamic LULCCs between 1990 and 2000 were large increases in wetlands and a loss of permanent ice. We conclude that the people’s responses to these changes will depend on availability of institutions to manage pastures, other household resources, and perceptions of these biophysical changes. Socioenvironmental change is not new in the study area, but current shifts will likely force this community to alter its rules of access to pastures, its economic rationales in regards to commodities produced, and the degree of dependence on seasonal wage labor. In this scenario, households with a greater amount of livestock will fare better in terms of assets and capital that will allow them to benefit from the increasing presence of a market economy in a landscape undergoing climate change.
Minimax surveillance schedules with partial information

An analysis is made of the problem of finding the optimal schedule for checking an operating system which is subject to failure detectable only by inspection of the system. If a cost is attached to each inspection of the system and also to undetected failure, then there exists the problem of scheduling inspections to minimize total costs. This problem also exists for the surveillance inspection of stored goods subject to deterioration with time. Previous work by Barlow and Hunter gives the optimal schedules for two special cases — when the failure distribution of the units is known to be exponential, and when it is known to be uniform. Derman has obtained the minimax schedule, that is, the schedule which minimizes the maximum possible expected cost for the case where the failure distribution is entirely unknown. This paper assumes that the location of one percentile of the failure distribution of the units is known, and is concerned with the optimal use of this partial information. The minimax schedule is obtained for the case where the operation is to continue until either a failure is detected, or a stipulated time has elapsed, and comparisons are made with Derman' s results for an unknown distribution.
Three-dimensional structure of low density lipoproteins by electron cryomicroscopy

Human low density lipoproteins (LDL) are the major cholesterol carriers in the blood. Elevated concentration of LDL is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Purified LDL particles appear heterogeneous in images obtained with a 400-kV electron cryomicroscope. Using multivariate statistical and cluster analyses, an ensemble of randomly oriented particle images has been subdivided into homogeneous subpopulations, and the largest subset was used for three-dimensional reconstruction. In contrast to the general belief that below the lipid phase-transition temperature (30°C) LDL are quasi-spherical microemulsion particles with a radially layered core-shell organization, our three-dimensional map shows that LDL have a well-defined and stable organization. Particles consist of a higher-density outer shell and lower-density inner lamellae-like layers that divide the core into compartments. The outer shell consists of apolipoprotein B-100, phospholipids, and some free cholesterol.
Second-degree burn healing: the effect of occlusive dressings and a cream.

Abstract Because occlusive dressings and some creams have been found to speed epithelialization of blade-induced wounds, we studied the effect of two occlusive dressings and a polyglycerylmethacrylate cream, containing low concentration of fibronectin on epithelialization in second-degree burn wounds. Cylindrical brass rods were heated in a boiling water bath, removed, wiped dry, and placed (6 sec) on the skin of domestic pigs. The burned epidermis was removed and each burn wound was assigned to one of the following treatment groups: (1) air-exposed, (2) DuoDERM (hydrocolloid dressing; Squibb Co., New Jersey), (3) Opsite (polyurethane dressing; Smith & Nephew, New Jersey), or (4) experimental cream. Several burn wounds were excised from each treatment group on Days 6 to 14 after wounding. The excised burn wounds were incubated in 0.5 M NaBr for 24 hr which allowed separation of the epidermis from the dermis. The epidermis was examined macroscopically for defects in the area of the burn. Specimens were considered healed when a defect was not present. Neither of the occlusive dressings changed the rate of epithelialization as compared to air exposure. Wounds which were treated with the experimental cream epithelialized faster than the air-exposed wounds ( P
12 C(p,p') 12 C reaction at medium energies: Large momentum transfer and density dependent forces

Cross section and analyzing power measurements are presented for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$(p,p') inelastic scattering to the first excited ${2}^{+}$ state at ${E}_{x}=4.44$ MeV in $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ at bombarding energies of 122, 160, and 200 MeV. The angular range up to ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=156\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, corresponding to a momentum transfer of \ensuremath{\sim}1100 MeV/c, was measured. An analysis using the distorted-wave $t$-matrix approximation with density dependent interactions has been carried out. Calculations using different representations of the effective $t$ matrix demonstrate that measurements at large momentum transfer are sensitive to the off-shell behavior of the interaction. We find, however, that other input parameters to the model, such as distorting potentials or transition densities, are also important.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{12}\mathrm{C}$${(\mathrm{p},\mathrm{p}')}^{12}$C (${E}_{x}=4.44$ MeV), $E=122, 160, 200$ MeV, measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(E, \ensuremath{\theta})$, $A(E, \ensuremath{\theta})$, $\ensuremath{\theta}=6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}156\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. DWTA analysis. Density dependent interaction.
Complete Surgical Cytoreduction of Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma Using the Argon Beam Coagulator

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of the argon beam coagulator (ABC) in achieving optimal (≤1 cm) disease status and facilitating the conversion of optimal but visible disease (0.1–1.0 cm) to microscopic residual disease (complete cytoreduction) among patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma. Methods. All patients undergoing their primary attempt at surgical cytoreduction for Stage IIIB–IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma between October 1, 1997 and June 30, 2000 were identified from the tumor registry database. Data were abstracted retrospectively and included: the size/location of precytoreduction disease, surgical procedures performed, the anatomic regions in which the ABC was used for cytoreduction, the size/location of residual tumor, and the date of last follow-up and disease status. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and statistical comparisons were performed using the χ 2 test, Fisher's exact test, log rank test, and multivariate logistic regression. Results. Forty-five patients were identified (FIGO Stage IIIB=8, Stage IIIC=29, Stage IV=8). Overall, optimal cytoreduction was achieved in 84.4% of patients; 60.0% had only microscopic residual and 24.4% had residual disease 0.1–1.0 cm. The ABC was used to facilitate cytoreduction in 31 patients. Optimal disease status was achieved in 93.6% of cases in which the ABC was used compared with 64.3% for non-ABC cases ( P P P P = 0.006) and disease in three or fewer anatomic regions ( P = 0.014) were independent predictors of a microscopic residual surgical outcome. Complete cytoreduction was associated with a significant advantage in median progression-free survival (22.2 months) compared with patients with optimal but visible (0.1–1.0 cm) residual disease (12.3 months) and those with suboptimal (>1.0 cm) residual disease (6.3 months, P Conclusions. The ABC is a useful adjunct to conventional tumor reductive techniques and appears to significantly increase the feasibility of achieving both optimal disease status and complete cytoreduction of all visible tumor in patients with macroscopic metastatic ovarian carcinoma.
White faculty transforming whiteness in the classroom through pedagogical practice

The primary objective of this qualitative study is to present a conceptual framework of pedagogical practices reported by white faculty that serve to challenge the hegemony of whiteness in the university classroom. These transformative teaching practices surfaced through a review of racialized pedagogies discussed in the literature and in interviews with a small sample of white faculty formally or informally recognized for their skill teaching in diverse classrooms. In an effort to bring greater resonance to these teaching practices, parallels are drawn between these practices and behaviors that take place in everyday social relations that also serve to transform white dominance. Included here are the following forms of interactions: Expressing racial awareness by disclosing personal whiteness, acknowledging and attending to plurality and revealing patterns of white hegemony; and challenging white supremacy by creating alliances and acting to alter structures and cultures. Presentation of these findings i...
Role of immunocytochemistry in diagnosis of prostatic neoplasia by fine needle aspiration biopsy.

The efficacy of immunocytochemical staining for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific acid phosphatase (PSAP) was studied in aspiration biopsy specimens from 19 patients. Eighteen patients had prostatic carcinoma and one had hyperplasia of prostate. Specimens were obtained from both the primary tumors and metastatic sites. Immunoperoxidase staining was performed on alcohol-fixed cytology smears (some prepared up to 9 years previously) using appropriate antisera followed by an avidin-biotinylated horseradish peroxidase complex. Results were scored according to the percentage and intensity of positively stained malignant cells. Corresponding histologic specimens were stained and scored in a similar fashion. Correlations were made between the staining characteristics of the tumor markers and grade of tumor, using the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital classification of prostate carcinoma. Overall there was good correlation between cytologic and histologic specimens for the presence of PSA and PSAP, although metastases tended to show fewer positively stained cells than the primary tumor. There was no relationship between tumor grade and percentage of positively stained cells. Ninety-three percent of aspirated primary and secondary prostatic tumors stained positively for PSAP compared with 81 % for PSA. In one of 3 patients, negative staining of neoplastic cells by both PSAP and PSA was helpful in confirming the existence of a second primary tumor.
Enzymatic modification of schizophyllan

An enzymatic method was developed for the progressive modification of the polysaccharide schizophyllan. Fungal strains Hypocrea nigricans NRRL 62555, Penicillium crustosum NRRL 62558, and Penicillium simplicissimum NRRL 62550 were previously identified as novel sources of β-endoglucanase with specificity towards schizophyllan. Concentrated enzyme preparations from these strains showed specific activities of 1.7-4.3 U β-glucanase/mg protein. Using dilutions of these enzymes in time course digestions, schizophyllan was progressively modified to reduced molecular weight species. Glucose and oligosaccharides were found only in the more complete digestions, and thus modified schizophyllan can be produced quantitatively, without loss, to small molecules. Permethylation analysis confirmed that modified schizophyllan retains the fundamental linkage structure of native schizophyllan. Modified schizophyllan species showed progressively reduced viscosity profiles, and all exhibited pseudoplasticity in response to shear thinning.
Negative Ion Hyperconjugation in Fluorocarbanions and the Nature of the Borderline between E1cB and E2 Mechanisms. An ab Initio Study

Ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-31+G*//MP2/6-31+G* level on the 2,2-difluoroethyl (7), 1,2,2-trifluoroethyl (8), 1,1,2-trifluoroethyl (9), 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (10), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl (11), 1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl (12), and 1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethyl (13) carbanions show that the bond to the anti-β-fluorine is significantly weakened with respect to both the C−F bonds of the conjugate acids and the gauche-β- fluorine(s) of the carbanion. The extent of bond weakening decreases with increasing fluorination of the carbanion, but even 13 shows some evidence of weakening. The criteria are the carbon−fluorine bond length, the charge on fluorine, and the 18F/19F equilibrium isotope effect (EIE). The TS for proton abstraction by hydroxide ion from 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (3) to give 10 hydrated at the carbanion center shows bonding changes at all centers of a sort normally associated with E2 TSs, judging from isotope effects, bond lengths, and charges. The carbon-hydrated 10 collapses to elimination prod...
TECHNICAL NOTE: Nonparametric estimation and variate generation for a nonhomogeneous Poisson process from event count data

Given a finite time horizon that has been partitioned into subintervals over which event counts have been accumulated for multiple realizations of a population NonHomogeneous Poisson Process (NHPP), this paper develops point and confidence-interval estimators for the cumulative intensity (or mean value) function of the population process evaluated at each subinterval endpoint. As the number of realizations tends to infinity, each point estimator is strongly consistent and the corresponding confidence-interval estimator is asymptotically exact. If the NHPP has a piecewise constant intensity (rate) function, then the proposed point and confidence-interval estimators for the cumulative intensity function are valid over the entire time horizon and not just at the subinterval endpoints; and in this case algorithms are presented for generating event times from the estimated NHPP. Event count data from a call center illustrate the point and interval estimators.
Outstanding problems and instrumental prospects for the coming decade (A Review)

Abstract After a review of the discovery of external galaxies and the early classification of these enormous aggregates of stars into visually recognizable types, a new classification scheme is suggested based on a measurable physical quantity, the luminosity of the spheroidal component. It is argued that the new one-parameter scheme may correlate well both with existing descriptive labels and with underlying physical reality. Two particular problems in extragalactic research are isolated as currently most fundamental. (i) A significant fraction of the energy emitted by active galaxies (approximately 1% of all galaxies) is emitted by very small central regions largely in parts of the spectrum (microwave, infrared, ultraviolet and x-ray wavelengths) that were previously inaccessible to observation. The physical processes by which regions with ≲ 10-9 the volume of the luminous stellar parts of galaxies produce such enormous quantities of energy are currently the subject of much speculative debate. (ii) It appears that most of the mass of ordinary galaxies resides far from the central luminous region, with the volume containing most of this mass ≳ 103 times the volume containing most of the light-emitting stars; the nature, amount, and extent of this mass are quite unknown. New instruments that will be operating in the next decade and that may be helpful in solving these two problems are briefly mentioned with particular emphasis on the advances expected in angular resolution at wavelengths for which picture-taking ability has historically been poor or nonexistent.
Some actions of thyroxine on oxidative phosphorylation

Abstract The effects of thyroxine and three of its analogues on oxidative phosphorylation have been tested using intact mitochondria and submitochondrial particles. When intact mitochondria were maintained in isotonic sucrose, thyroxine was virtually without effect unless the mitochondria were preincubated, for a minute or more, with the reaction medium in the absence of substrate. Under such conditions phosphorylation was uncoupled from the oxidation of succinate. Intact mitochondria washed with hypotonic phosphate buffer lost oxidative activity and exhibited poorer phosphorus to oxygen ratios than aliquots of the mitochondrial suspension maintained in isotonic sucrose. Both the oxidation rate and the phosphorus to oxygen ratio of the phosphate-washed mitochondria were stimulated by thyroxine. Submitochondrial particles prepared from sonic extracts of mitochondria also showed an improvement in the rate of oxidation and in the phosphorus to oxygen ratios in the presence of thyroxine or triiodothyronine. This was true when either succinate or reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide were used as substrates. Thyroxine concentrations from 2 to 10 times those necessary to produce increases in rate of oxidation or phosphorus to oxygen ratios uncoupled phosphorylation from oxidation in submitochondrial particles preincubated with the reaction medium for 2 min prior to the addition of thyroxine and substrate. Thyroxine appeared to have little effect on the adenosinetriphosphatase activity or on the rate of exchange of inorganic phosphate with the terminal phosphate of adenosinetriphosphate in submitochondrial particles.
Genomic organization of a potential human DNA-crosslink repair gene, KIAA0086

Abstract In the present study, we describe the genomic structure of the KIAA0086 gene and the 5′-flanking sequence. The analysis is based on the alignment of the KIAA0086 cDNA and a corresponding genomic BAC sequence which was identified in a basic blast similarity search using the cDNA sequence as a template. The gene contains nine exons spanning approximately 20 kb. All splice sites conform to the GT–AG rule. Analysis of the upstream untranscribed region identified one GC box but no TATA box, suggesting that the KIAA0086 gene is a housekeeping gene. The promoter region contains putative recognition sites for several transcription factors, e.g., AP1, Sp1 and NFκB. The homology of the KIAA0086 gene to the yeast SNM1 gene, which is involved in the cellular response to DNA-interstrand crosslinks, is discussed with respect to a possible role of the KIAA0086 gene in the human disorder, Fanconi anemia.
Computational Study of Air Cooled Data Centers Assisted With Locally Distributed Water to Air Heat Exchangers

The heat dissipated by data center equipment continues to increase due to the growing server power year by year. Thermal management continually becomes a challenging problem both from the standpoint of maintaining the equipment within a proper and reliable operation environment, as well as from a total energy cost perspective. With the total heat load increasing, as well as local high density heat fluxes, more cooling air flow rates may be needed by the racks which cannot be sufficiently provided by CRAC units. This may occur during peak periods of operation and may also occur in isolated aisles in the data center. Under such circumstances, just changing the air flow rates to specific aisles may cause unanticipated hot air recirculation into cold aisles which may happen during the transients that arise as the load and air flow rates are changing; henceforth, it may even occur in steady state. This could reduce the reliability of the data center equipment. A hybrid cooling strategy, which uses water to air heat exchangers located at the rear of specific racks to assist the air cooling, can be very effective in solving this problem by removing heat from the rack before it is exhausted into the room. This study describes the impact of this heat exchanger strategy on the thermal management of a data center. In this analytical study, the heat removal percentage and working efficiency of the heat exchanger are presented under different water flowrates and water inlet temperatures. Different case studies are conducted, showing that this method can significantly assist the data center air cooling under scenarios such as, power increases or CRAC unit failure. Detailed function of the heat exchanger on impacting the rack inlet temperatures are also discussed in this paper.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A multicomponent oil-cracking kinetics model for modeling preservation and composition of reservoired oils

Abstract Accurate assessment of the preservation of crude oils is essential for evaluating the economics of deep petroleum accumulations. This paper describes a multicomponent kinetics model which calculates the extent of cracking, API gravity, GOR, and composition of reservoired oils as a function of the initial oil composition, residence time, and thermal/burial history of the reservoir. This model uses the program PMOD developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as the software platform. It contains ten petroleum components; the density and composition of each component was determined based on literature data. Its reaction network contains seven cracking reactions with activation energies (E) that range from 37.1 to 80.0 kcal/mol and Arrhenius factors (A) from 3.838E21 to 2.844E34 my−1. A reaction network was created for a waxy oil and one for a nonwaxy oil by using the published IFP experimental data as calibration. A method was developed to derive the input oil composition by combining data from reservoir fluid analysis, liquid chromatography, and whole-oil gas chromatography. Several output examples are presented. In addition, field data from the Jurassic Smackover Trend in northern Gulf of Mexico are used to test and demonstrate the application of the model. The present model may be used not only to model oil cracking but to identify secondary alteration (such as biodegradation and fractionation) in reservoired oils. Future research is needed to test the sensitivity of the parameters, to create reaction networks for other types of oils, and to incorporate the pressure effect into the model.
Power company fuel supply — Sensitivity analysis

Abstract With the rising costs of the purchase and transport of coal, methods for reducing these costs have acquired increased importance to the electric utility company. Important to the success of a method is a knowledge of the sensitivity of the model to its controlled and uncontrolled variables. A sensitivity analysis procedure plus example problems are the essential ingredients of this paper.
Bond strength optimization of plasma-sprayed Cr2O3 layers by factorial two-level experiments

Abstract The bond strength of plasma-sprayed layers depends on the many parameters governing plasma spraying and the substrate preparation. A combination of individual trials with factorial two-level experiments is proposed to optimize the bond strength within a reasonable period of time. Significant parameters can be determined by plotting the results of the factorial analysis on a seminormal plot. Owing to the complexity of plasma spraying, the strong influence of some significant parameters could not be explained. Nevertheless, the theoretical predictions were successfully put into practice: the bond strength of Cr2O3 on mild steel was increased by more than a factor 2 with respect to our standard spraying conditions. At best, a bond strength of 35 N mm−2 was obtained.
The human geography of Arctic sea ice: introduction

Research across disciplines affiliated with geophysical, biological, and engineering sciences has created important informative models of the annual sea ice cycle, ice-dependent species, and struct...
On stability of systems of delay differential equations

Abstract In this paper we give necessary and sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of the zero solution of the system of linear delay differential equations of the form x′(t)=αAx(t)+(1−α)Ax(t−τ), where A is an n×n matrix, τ>0 is constant, and 0⩽α⩽1. We reduce this to systems of first- and second-order problems. Our stability results are given in terms of the eigenvalues of A. The proof of our results are carried out by an application of Pontryagin's criterion for quasi-polynomials to the characteristic functions of subsystems of the delay differential equations. We also provide four algorithmic stability tests and include several examples.
Le financement extérieur pour le développement : Le rôle de la Banque interaméricaine de développement

La Banque interamericaine de developpement (bid) represente la source de financement multilateral la plus importante pour les projets de developpement social et economique en Amerique latine et dans les Caraibes. La presente etude se penche sur les initiatives de la bid relatives a la promotion de la croissance economique et a la modernisation de l’Etat. Des liens etroits sont etablis entre ces initiatives et le programme plus ambitieux de la Banque concernant l’introduction de reformes economiques neoliberales dans la region. Si certaines reformes ont contribue dans une certaine mesure a la croissance economique, il existe peu de preuves demontrant une diminution correspondante de la pauvrete et des inegalites dans la region. La derniere partie presente une autre vision du processus de developpement, qui s’appuie sur le renforcement de l’autonomisation au niveau local.
Aspects of intrinsic coercivity via Gd analogs

Some aspects of intrinsic coercivity in rare earth-transition metal compounds series are discussed with emphasis on comparison of relevant parameters between series based on Gd with analogs based on anisotropic rare earths. In particular the lack of low temperature coercivity in GdCo5cNi5—5c is shown to be consistent with a more constant Co moment over the region of composition compared with analog series. Exchange and crystal field (V) parameters are obtained from numerous Gd compounds, using the compensation points for the former and nuclear quadrupole interaction data for the latter. Within this framework, trends in intrinsic hardness can be better understood and new strategies for maximizing the effects become clearer. Einige Aspekte der intrinsischen Koerzivitat von Legierungsserien der Seltenen-Erd-Ubergangsmetalle werden insbesondere im Hinblick auf den Vergleich von relevanten Parametern zwischen Serien auf Gd-Grundlage mit Analogua auf Basis anisotroper Seltener Erden diskutiert. Insbesondere wird gezeigt, das das Fehlen der Tieftemperatur-Koerzitivitat in GdCo5cNi5—5c mit einem konstanteren Co-Moment uber den Zusammensetzungsbereich im Vergleich mit analogen Serien konsistent ist. Austausch- und Kristallfeld (V)-Parameter werden aus zahlreichen Gd-Verbindungen erhalten, wobei fur die ersteren die Kompensationspunkte und fur die letzteren die Werte fur die Kernquadrupolwechselwirkung benutzt werden. Innerhalb dieses Rahmens lassen sich die Tendenzen der intrinsischen Harte besser verstehen und neue Strategien fur eine Maximierung des Effekts werden klarer.
ESTIMATING THE SHAPE PARAMETER OF THE LOG-LOGISTIC DISTRIBUTION

The log-logistic distribution is a useful distribution in survival analysis. Parameter estimation problems have been discussed by many authors. This paper focuses on the interval estimation for the shape parameter of the log-logistic distribution. Bain and Engelhardt3 gave confidence intervals for the parameters of a logistic distribution based on pivotal quantities formed by maximum likelihood estimators. Chen10 proposed another method for obtaining exact confidence intervals of the shape parameter of the log-logistic distribution. Compared with the existing methods for constructing confidence intervals for the parameters of the log-logistic distribution, the method given in Chen10 is easier to use. In the present paper, the pivotal quantity used in Chen10 is adjusted to improve the performance of statistical analysis. Monte Carlo simulation is conducted to compare the performance of different pivotal quantities. The simulation result shows that the adjusted pivotal quantity has better performance, and then should be recommended to the statistics users.
Robust eigensystem assignment for second-order dynamic systems

A novel approach for the robust eigensystem assignment of flexible structures using full state or output feedback is developed. Using the second-order dynamic equations, the approach can assign the eigenvalues of the system via velocity and displacement feedbacks, or acceleration and velocity feedbacks. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the system are assigned, via the second-order eigenvalue problem for the structural system, in two steps. First, an orthonormal basis spanning the attainable closed-loop eigenvector space corresponding to each desired closed-loop eigenvalue is generated using the Singular Value or QR decompositions. Second, a sequential procedure is used to choose a set of closed-loop eigenvectors that are as close as possible to the column space of a well-conditioned target matrix. Among the possible choices of the target matrix, the closest unitary matrix to the open-loop eigenvector matrix appears to be a suitable choice. A numerical example is given to illustrate the proposed algorithm.
Mutual exclusivity in autism spectrum disorders: testing the pragmatic hypothesis

While there is ample evidence that children treat words as mutually exclusive, the cognitive basis of this bias is widely debated. We focus on the distinction between pragmatic and lexical constraints accounts. High-functioning children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) offer a unique perspective on this debate, as they acquire substantial vocabularies despite impoverished social-pragmatic skills. We tested children and adolescents with ASD in a paradigm examining mutual exclusivity for words and facts. Words were interpreted contrastively more often than facts. Word performance was associated with vocabulary size; fact performance was associated with social-communication skills. Thus mutual exclusivity does not appear to be driven by pragmatics, suggesting that it is either a lexical constraint or a reflection of domain-general learning processes.
Hubble Space Telescope Paα and 1.9 Micron Imaging of Sagittarius A West

We present Hubble Space Telescope/NICMOS images at 02 resolution (Nyquist-sampled in the central 19'') of the H I Pa? emission line in a 70''(?) ? 90''(?) region of the Galactic center centered on the nonthermal radio source Sgr A*. The majority of the emission arises from ionized gas in the minispiral in the central parsec. Pa? emission is also seen from 26 stellar sources, presumably early-type stars with mass-loss winds. The new data reveal significant small-scale structure (?1'' ~ 1.2 ? 1017 cm) in the ionized gas of the minispiral; low surface brightness emission features are also seen for the first time. The ratio of observed Pa? emission to 6 cm radio continuum emission is used to derive an extinction map for the ionized gas over the central parsec. AV varies from 20 to 50 mag with a median value of AV = 31.1 mag, in excellent agreement with earlier estimates derived for the stellar sources. Extinctions, independently derived using H92? recombination-line data, were in excellent agreement with those derived from the 6 cm continuum. A broad minimum in the extinction extends ~30'' northeast-southwest over the area of the IRS 16 cluster, including the area of peak flux in Pa? and radio continuum. Large increases in extinction are seen along the periphery of the ionized gas, particularly in the direction of the western arm, suggesting that the ionized gas is partially extincted by dust in the molecular clouds at the outside of the ionized region; however, the H II cannot be entirely behind the molecular clouds since the extinctions would then be much greater. The minimum Lyman continuum emission rate within 40'' radius of Sgr A* is 3.9 ? 1050 s-1 or LLyC 2.7 ? 106 L?, half of this within 20'' radius. The small-scale, filamentary structures in the ionized gas have a free thermal expansion time of only ~3000 yr; either magnetic fields or mass-loss winds from the hot emission line stars may contain the ionized filaments. (Eight new emission-line stars were also detected in Pa?.) For both the ionized gas and stellar continuum, the centroids of the emission (corrected for extinction) remain within ~?1'' from a radius of 2'' out to 40''. This provides further evidence that Sgr A* (the putative central black hole) is indeed at or extremely close (?0.04 pc or 1.2 ? 1017 cm) to the center of the Galactic nucleus stellar distribution and presumably the dynamical center of the Galaxy. The 1.9 ?m surface brightness increases inwards to 09 radius and exhibits a decrease or leveling off closer to Sgr A*, possibly indicating the core radius of the central stellar distribution or depletion of the late-type stars by stellar collisions near the central black hole.
Dose-response measures of rCBF and subjective changes following procaine in healthy female volunteers

The intravenous administration of procaine shows relatively specific activation of limbic structures. Several investigators have utilized this property of procaine to probe limbic system dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders. The dose of procaine utilized in human studies varies significantly, however, and the optimal dose of procaine as a limbic probe has not been demonstrated. In two 10-individual groups of healthy female volunteers, we assessed the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) response, by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to saline and 1.38 mg/kg procaine (Group I), and saline, 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg procaine (Group II). Compared to saline, 0.5 mg/kg procaine produced minimal rCBF changes, 1.0 mg/kg procaine induced both limbic and non-limbic activation, and 1.38 mg/kg procaine showed relatively specific rCBF limbic activation. Subjective responses increased in a dose-response manner. We conclude that a dose of 1.38 mg/kg procaine provides a more limited and specific activation of limbic structures than 1.00 mg/kg procaine and thus may be more useful as a specific probe of limbic function.
Assessment and Management of Irritative Voiding Symptoms

Irritative voiding symptoms are to the urinary tract much as a cough is to the pulmonary system, that is, a nonspecific manifestation of multiple potential underlying causes. Key to the evaluation and management of patients with these symptoms is a clear understanding of the differential diagnosis, the diagnostic tests required for evaluation, and the role of specialists in diagnosis and treatment. This article outlines a general diagnostic approach for patients with irritative voiding symptoms. Treatment approaches for the diseases, as well as the initial management that may be performed in the primary care setting, are also discussed.
Determination Of Diagnostic X-Ray Spectra From Ionization Chamber Measurements

The x-ray spectrum of a diagnostic x-ray unit has a fundamental influence on the performance of the unit, i.e., the required patient exposure and image quality. This article describes a method of obtaining approximate spectral distributions from computer analysis of ionization chamber measurements of attenuation of the beam by a standard material. The results are compared with measurements made under identical conditions with a lithium drifted silicon solid state spectrometer. The value of attenuation analysis data for radiologic physics calculations and possible modifications of the technique are discussed.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Beta-lactamase targeted enzyme activatable photosensitizers for antimicrobial PDT

ABSTRACT Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment modality for inf ectious disease has shown promise. However, most of the antimicrobial photosensitizers (PS) non-preferentially accumulate in both bacteria and host tissues, causing host tissue phototoxicity during treatment. We have developed a new antimicrobial PDT strategy which exploits beta-lactam resistance mechanism, one of the major drug-resistance bacteria evolved, to achieve enhanced target specificity with limited host damage. Our strategy comprises a prodrug construct with a PS and a quencher linked by beta-lactam ring, resulting in a diminished phototoxicity. This construct, beta-lactamase enzyme-activated-photosensitizer (beta-LEAP), can only be activated in the presence of both light and bacteria, and remains inactive elsewhere such as mammalian tissue. Beta-LEAP construct had shown specific cleavage by purified beta-lactamase and by beta-lactamase over-expressing methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Specific photodynamic toxicity was observed towards MRSA, while dark and light toxicity were equivalent to reference strains. The prodrug design, synthesis and photophysical properties will be discussed. Keywords: Photodynamic therapy, photosensitizer, beta-lactamase, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Topological and Functional Characterization of the ssSPTs, Small Activating Subunits of Serine Palmitoyltransferase

The topological and functional organization of the two isoforms of the small subunits of human serine palmitoyltransferase (hssSPTs) that activate the catalytic hLCB1/hLCB2 heterodimer was investigated. A variety of experimental approaches placed the N termini of the ssSPTs in the cytosol, their C termini in the lumen, and showed that they contain a single transmembrane domain. Deletion analysis revealed that the ability to activate the heterodimer is contained in a conserved 33-amino acid core domain that has the same membrane topology as the full-length protein. In combination with analysis of isoform chimera and site-directed mutagenesis, a single amino acid residue in this core (Met25 in ssSPTa and Val25 in ssSPTb) was identified which confers specificity for palmitoyl- or stearoyl-CoA, respectively, in both yeast and mammalian cells. This same residue also determines which isoform is a better activator of a mutant heterodimer, hLCB1S331F/hLCB2a, which has increased basal SPT activity and decreased amino acid substrate selectivity. This suggests that the role of the ssSPTs is to increase SPT activity without compromising substrate specificity. In addition, the observation that the C-terminal domains of ssSPTa and ssSPTb, which are highly conserved within each subfamily but are the most divergent regions between isoform subfamilies, are not required for activation of the heterodimer or for acyl-CoA selectivity suggests that the ssSPTs have additional roles that remain to be discovered.
A Bayesian approach to SAR imaging

We introduce a new approach using the Bayesian framework for the reconstruction of sparse Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. The algorithm, named SLIM, can be thought of as a sparse signal recovery algorithm with excellent sidelobe suppression and high resolution properties. For a given sparsity promoting prior, SLIM cyclically minimizes a regularized least square cost function. We show how SLIM can be used for SAR image reconstruction as well as SAR image enhancement. We evaluate the performance of SLIM by using realistically simulated complex-valued backscattered data from a backhoe vehicle. The numerical results show that SLIM can satisfactorily suppress the sidelobes and yield higher resolution than the conventional matched filter or delay-and-sum (DAS) approach. SLIM outperforms the widely used compressive sampling matching pursuit (CoSaMP) algorithm, which requires the delicate choice of user parameters. Compared with the recently developed iterative adaptive approach (IAA), which iteratively solves a weighted least squares problem, SLIM is much faster. Due to the computational complexity involved with SAR imaging, we show how SLIM can be made even more computationally efficient by utilizing the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and conjugate gradient (CG) method to carry out its computations. Furthermore, since SLIM is derived under the Bayesian model, the a posteriori distribution given by the algorithm provides us with a confident measure regarding the statistical properties of the SAR image pixels.
Otto Hintze: His Work and His Siginificance in Historiography

When in spring 1914 Otto Hintze was elected a member of the Prussian Academy of Science he indicated in his inaugural address that his publications in the field of Prussian history most likely had earned him this honor. He added, however, that the history of Prussia was by no means the exclusive aim of his work as a historian. Alluding to the fact that his professorship at the University of Berlin was a chair for general constitutional, administrative, and economic history as well as for political science (Politik), he continued: “The real goal towards which my scholarly endeavors are directed has always been a universal comparative constitutional and administrative history of the West [der Neueren Staatenwelt—a term which for Hintze, as in Ranke's Epochen der Neueren Geschichte, comprised both medieval and modern Europe], especially of the Romance and Germanic speaking nations. It is in this context that Ranke's lifework could and should be complemented.”
Effect of an amnesic dose of reserpine, syrosingopine or guanethidine on the levels of whole brain dopamine and norepinephrine in the mouse

Abstract Independent groups of mice were treated with an amnesic dose of either reserpine, syrosingopine or guanethidine. The animals were sacrificed either 2 or 24 hrs later. While reserpine depleted the levels of whole brain dopamine and norepinephrine at both times syrosingopine or guanethidine did not appreciably deplete these catecholamines at either time. Since all three drugs produce amnesia when given 2 hrs before passive avoidance training, it appears that the levels of whole brain catecholamines at the time of training do not predict the probability of memory formation.
Comparing natural evolution strategies to BIPOP-CMA-ES on noiseless and noisy black-box optimization testbeds

Natural Evolution Strategies (NES) are a recent member of the class of preal-valued optimization algorithms that are based on adapting search distributions. Exponential NES (xNES) are the most common instantiation of NES, and particularly appropriate for the BBOB 2012 benchmarks, given that many are non-separable, and their relatively small problem dimensions. Here, we augment xNES with adaptation sampling, which adapts learning rates online, and compare the resulting performance directly to the BIPOP-CMA-ES algorithm, the winner of the 2009 black-box optimization benchmarking competition (BBOB). This report provides an extensive empirical comparison, both on the noise-free and noisy BBOB testbeds.
Role of novel targeted therapies in the clinic

The number and variety of novel, molecular-targeted agents offers realistic hope for significant advances in cancer treatment. The potential of these new treatment approaches is unquestionable, but the reality is something that only thorough clinical evaluation and experience can reveal. Clinical experience of targeted therapies is at an early stage but it is likely that we will have an increasing number of treatment options available to us in the near future. This manuscript explores our current understanding of molecular-targeted therapies and considers: What approach should be used? (single vs multitarget agents); When should they be administered? (identifying the optimal point for intervention); How should they be used? (monotherapy or combination therapy regimens); and Who should we be giving them to? (acknowledging the need for patient selection).
The luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) neuronal networks of the guinea pig brain. II. The regulation on gonadotropin secretion and the origin of terminals in the median eminence.

Summary Cell bodies synthesizing LH-RH are located throughout the central nervous system including the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, the medial preoptic area and medial septal nucleus. The contribution of each of these cell groups to the LH-RH terminals in the median eminence was assessed by immunocytochemistry following placement of radiofrequency lesions in male guinea pigs. Lesions in the arcuate nucleus resulted in an almost complete absence of LH-RH fibers in the median eminence. Lesions in the medial preoptic area or suprachiasmatic nucleus produced a decrease in theamount of immunoreactivity throughout the median eminence; but there was only a small decrease in the numbers of labeled fibers, which was localized to the internal zone of the median eminence and the external zone on the ventral and lateral surfaces of the infundibular stalk. Lesions of the mammillary bodies, medial amygdaloid nucleus, septal nucleus and fornix had no effect. The effects of these lesions on pituitary gonadotropin secretion was also assessed. Only lesions in the arcuate nucleus diminished plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone in the male guinea pigs. Similarly only arcuate lesions prevented the postcastration rise in plasma LH in ovariectomized female guinea pigs. These data strongly suggest that the arcuate nucleus is the major but not the sole source of LH-RH terminals in the median eminence, and these are responsible for the neural regulation of tonic gonadotropin secretion.
The unsteady laminar boundary layer on a rotating disk in a counter-rotating fluid

The growth of the unsteady boundary layer on an infinite rotating disk in a counter-rotating fluid is examined numerically and analytically. The numerical computations indicate that the boundary layer breaks down when ωt* ≈ 2·36 in a novel way: the displacement thickness, as well as all the velocity components, becomes infinite. This numerical solution is fitted to an asymptotic expansion which contains the singularities found in the numerical integrations, and it is concluded that the solution of the unsteady similarity equations does break down at a finite time as the numerical results indicate. This problem is placed in a physically more realistic context by considering numerically the unsteady boundary layer which develops on a finite rotating disk in a counter-rotating fluid. It is found that the breakdown of the solution occurs at the axis at the same time, and thus the concept of a thin boundary layer in this more realistic problem is also destroyed in a finite time.