cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Scalable Cloud-based Queuing Service with Improved Consistency Levels

Queuing is commonly used to connect loosely coupled components to form large-scale, highly-distributed, and fault-tolerant applications. As cloud computing continues to gain popularity, a number of vendors have started offering cloud-hosted, multi-tenant queuing service. They provide high availability at the cost of reduced consistency. Although they offer at-least-once delivery guarantee, that is, no message loss, they do not make any effort in maintaining FIFO order, which is an important aspect of the queuing semantics. Thus they are not adequate for some applications. This paper presents the design and implementation of a scalable cloud-based queuing service, called Blue Dove Queuing Service (BDQS). It provides improved queuing consistency -- at-least-once and best-effort in-order message delivery -- while preserving high availability and reliability. It also offers clients a flexible trade-off between duplication and message order. Comprehensive evaluation is carried out on an Infrastructure-as-a-Service cloud computing platform with up to 70 server nodes and 1000 queues. It shows that BDQS achieves excellent performance scalability. Meanwhile, it offers an order-of-magnitude improvement in out-of-order measurement compared to existing no-order systems. Results also indicate that BDQS is highly reliable and available.
Sex differences in the perception of noxious experimental stimuli: a meta-analysis.

Fillingim and Maixner (Fillingim, R.B. and Maixner, W., Pain Forum, 4(4) (1995) 209-221) recently reviewed the body of literature examining possible sex differences in responses to experimentally induced noxious stimulation. Using a 'box score' methodology, they concluded the literature supports sex differences in response to noxious stimuli, with females displaying greater sensitivity. However, Berkley (Berkley, K.J., Pain Forum, 4(4) (1995) 225-227) suggested the failure of a number of studies to reach statistical significance suggests the effect may be small and of little practical significance. This study used meta-analytic methodology to provide quantitative evidence to address the question of the magnitude of these sex differences in response to experimentally induced pain. We found the effect size to range from large to moderate, depending on whether threshold or tolerance were measured and which method of stimulus administration was used. The values for pressure pain and electrical stimulation, for both threshold and tolerance measures, were the largest. For studies employing a threshold measure, the effect for thermal pain was smaller and more variable. The failures to reject the null hypothesis in a number of these studies appear to have been a function of lack of power from an insufficient number of subjects. Given the estimated effect size of 0.55 threshold or 0.57 for tolerance, 41 subjects per group are necessary to provide adequate power (0.70) to test for this difference. Of the 34 studies reviewed by Fillingim and Maixner, only seven were conducted with groups of this magnitude. The results of this study compels to caution authors to obtain adequate sample sizes and hope that this meta-analytic review can aid in the determination of sample size for future studies.
Special subalgebras of Boolean algebras

We consider eight special kinds of subalgebras of Boolean algebras. In Section 1 we describe the relationships between these subalgebra notions. In succeeding sections we consider how the subalgebra notions behave with respect to the most common cardinal functions on Boolean algebras (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On output response compression in the presence of unknown output values

A circuit may produce unknown output values during simulation of an input sequence due to an unknown initial state or due to the existence of tri-state elements. For circuits tested using BIST, unknown output values make it impossible to determine a single unique signature for the fault free circuit. To accommodate unknown output values in a BIST scheme, we describe a procedure for synthesizing a minimal logic block that replaces unknown output values by a known constant. The proposed procedure ensures that the BIST scheme will be able to detect all the faults detectable by the input sequence applied to the circuit while allowing a single unique signature to be obtained.
Towards a theory of the rough ground: merging the policy and ethnographic frames of religion in the Kyrgyz Republic

Discussions of Islam present two analytical problems, one of interpretation and another of theory. Regarding interpretation, different frames – policy or ethnographic – for viewing religion influence our bias/understanding of religion and give us different senses of what ‘knowing’ the religion of a particular community means. The related issue is one of theory and connects to the problem of theorising movement: how people navigate their religious lives is not linear but much more random, related to events, and at times reified by (though always engaging with) the assumptions of policy agendas and the ethnographic imagination. Exploring implications that the policy and ethnographic frames have for Muslims in the Kyrgyz Republic, I argue that in synthesising the impact of different frames of analysis, a ‘theory of the rough ground’, while anything but neat, better portrays life as it is experienced locally.
Genome-wide testing: genomic medicine: commentary on the article by Bar-Shira et al. on page 353.

Karyotyping has been in use in genetics clinics for decades as the standard screening and diagnostic test for major cytogenetic abnormalities. Many of these abnormalities involve changes in gene copy number, resulting in insertions and/or deletions (indels). The limitations of karyotyping in detecting some copy number changes is well known. For example, in del22q11.2 (diGeorge) syndrome, the deletion is usually too small to be detected even by high-resolution banding techniques (1). Techniques have been developed to deal with this lack of resolution, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and spectral karyotyping, but frequently, these require a high degree of suspicion, as the techniques are targeted to specific regions and not genome-wide interrogations.
Comparison of the Kallested Pathfinder EIA, cytocentrifuged direct fluorescent antibody, and cell culture for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis

A total of 203 duplicate endocervical samples collected from patients at an adolescent health care center were tested for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis by cell culture, Pathfinder enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Kallestad) and cytocentrifuged direct fluorescent antibody (DFA). Compared to cell culture, the Pathfinder assay demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 85.2% and 100%, whereas the DFA procedure demonstrated to be 92.6% sensitive and 99.4% specific.
Gay fathers' and gay nonfathers' relationship with their parents

Early family backgrounds of gay fathers compared to a matched sample of gay nonfathers were investigated, with particular emphasis on parent‐son relationships. It was hypothesized that, contrary to predictions based on Freudian theory, there would be no difference in homosexual fathers' and nonfathers' perceptions of their early family life and relationships with their mothers and fathers. Questionnaires from 30 gay fathers and 30 gay nonfathers derived from a larger nationwide study of 285 homosexual men from Dignity chapters in the Northeastern, Midwestern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western United States were analyzed using analysis of variance. No difference was found between the gay fathers' and gay nonfathers' perceptions of their parents' acceptance of them. Both groups perceived their mothers to be significantly more accepting than .their fathers. Both groups also reported growing up in intact homes where heterosexual relationships were modeled for them, pleasant memories existed, and marital dis...
Meta-synthesis of caring in nursing

Aim. The aim of this investigation was to enhance the understanding of the concept of caring. Background. Despite many analyses and studies of caring, the concept is not fully understood. This lack of clarity is unsettling given that caring is suggested to be the essence of nursing and a component of nursing's guiding paradigm. Meta-synthesis methods offer a way to push the understanding of caring forward using existing research findings. Design. Qualitative meta-synthesis. Method. Meta-synthesis and grounded theory strategies were adapted to synthesize findings from 49 qualitative reports and six concept analyses of caring. Results. Results from this work indicate that caring is a context-specific interpersonal process that is characterized by expert nursing practice, interpersonal sensitivity and intimate relationships. It is preceded by a recipient's need for and openness to caring, and the nurse's professional maturity and moral foundations. In addition, a working environment that is conducive to caring is necessary. Consequences include enhanced mental well-being among nurses and patients, and improvements in patients’ physical well-being. Relevance to clinical practice. It appears that caring has the potential to improve the well-being of patients and nurses. It is recommended that healthcare agencies and educational institutions devote more resources to cultivate the caring among employees and students. Conclusions. The findings explicate a cohesive process of caring. They provide insight into the human attributes and clinical milieu that are necessary for caring to emerge. They also offer clarity regarding the therapeutic benefits of caring.
Stapled peptides: Magic bullets in nature's arsenal.

Selectivity is a key obstacle in drug development. A new study describes how “peptide stapling,” a technique for making peptide α-helices more potent and cell permeable, allows the design of MCL-1 inhibitors with extraordinary selectivity.
The Religious Meaning of the Ruthwell Cross

In the most thorough study that has been made of the Ruthwell Cross (Fig. 1), the late Baldwin Brown came to the conclusion that this imposing work of the seventh century was erected to symbolize the triumph of the cross.1 His interpretation is supported by the Anglo-Saxon verses inscribed on its side in runic characters, a poem of the Dream of the Rood, in which the cross of Christ, speaking in the first person, recounts in passionate language its own experience and testimony of the Crucifixion:
Development of silicon-germanium circuits for high-frequency small satellite-based integrated radiometers

Small satellites are increasingly attractive platforms for performing high-quality Earth science radiometric observations. Traditional scientific satellites and instruments are extremely expensive, one-of-a-kind designs with long design cycles. In order to maintain long-term uninterrupted science data collection, re-designing new large satellites and instruments for each application every few decades may not be practical. Small satellites, however, are relatively economical and can be deployed in large constellations to collect global data with high spatial and temporal resolution. These satellites can potentially be manufactured to scale and periodically replaced, enabling practical long-term data collection. Radiometers for these platforms need to be highly integrated and suitable for scale production, assembly, and testing. This necessitates a unique instrument design.
Critical role of the carbohydrate moiety in human von Willebrand factor protein for interactions with type I collagen.

Abstract The ability of von Willebrand factor protein (vWF) to agglutinate platelets with ristocetin depends upon the presence of its highest molecular weight multimers (HMWM) and its intact carbohydrate structure. Previously we demonstrated that the HMWM are preferentially adsorbed to purified fibrillar type I collagen. The role of the carbohydrate structure of vWF in this function has not been established. In these studies complete desialylation (>95%) of the intact protein by neuraminidase did not interfere with the normal adsorption of vWF activity to type I collagen. In contrast, modification of the penultimate galactose of the desialylated protein with galactose oxidase or β-galactosidase markedly reduced adsorption of vWF activity by collagen. Subsequent reduction of the oxidized desialylated protein with potassium borohydride completely regenerated the normal adsorption of vWF activity by collagen. Enzymatic modification of the penultimate galactose moiety of vWF resulted in a loss of the HMWM, as observed following SDS-glyoxyl agarose electrophoresis. This was in contrast to desialylated vWF, which appeared intact structurally and which predictably lost its HMWM exposure to collagen in a manner similar to native vWF. Therefore, the carbohydrate structure of vWF and, in particular, the penultimate galactose moiety, may be critical for vWF-collagen interactions and for the mediation of primary hemostasis.
Impact of vertical porosity distribution on the permeability of pervious concrete

Abstract Though the presence of a vertical porosity distribution in porous pavements has been recognized, the impact of this distribution on the permeability of the pavement has not been considered. This research investigates the impact of a vertical porosity distribution on the overall permeability of pervious concrete. First, an unimpaired porosity–permeability relationship was generated using pervious concrete specimens which had uniform porosity throughout. This relationship was then used in conjunction with the vertical porosity distribution of surface compacted pervious concrete specimens to generate a vertical permeability distribution. An effective permeability value was used to summarize the overall behavior of the permeability distribution and was shown to have a much better correlation with the actual permeability of the specimens than the permeability predicted using the average porosity of the specimen. Additionally, an analysis of the relationship between the permeability distribution and the effective permeability showed that the minimum permeability (and therefore minimum porosity) tends to have the largest impact on the effective permeability.
A Computer Program Development for Sizing Stand-alone Photovoltaic-Wind Hybrid Systems

Abstract The exhaustion and all the drawbacks of fossil fuels are the main elements that led to the development and use of new alternativesfor power generation based on renewable energy,amongthem: photovoltaic energy systems, windenergy systems and their combination in a hybrid photovoltaic-wind system. In this paper we proposed a sizing approach of stand-alone Photovoltaic-Wind systems which is evaluated by the development of a computer applicationbased essentially on Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) algorithmto provide an optimal technical-economic configuration. An example of a PV-Wind plant sizing is presented and discussed.
Bermuda sea level during the last interglacial

Bermuda is a stable, mid-oceanic carbonate platform for which a particularly complete record of sea level fluctuation during the period ∼135–70 kyr has been reconstructed from 230Th/234U dating of corals and speleothems, amino acid racemization dating of molluscs, and a reinterpretation of geological field relations. During the past 5 yr Bermuda has been the focus of an extensive geochronological programme which has included a detailed re-examination of the geology (to be reported elsewhere1–3). Here we focus only on the latest interglacial sequence. We use the stratigraphie nomenclature of Land et al.4, but will present new age data and interpretations of geological relationships. This information, as it relates to the last interglacial period, is given in Tables 1 and 2 and summarized in Fig. 1. We show that during the last interglacial period, sea level was only above its present level for a few thousand years at about 125 kyr when it stood at +4 to +6m. At ∼105 and ∼85 kyr, sea level rose to between −15 and −20 m as constrained by ages for submerged speleothems and eolianites. At ∼95 kyr sea level in Bermuda was at least −15 m below present level.
Constraining G1-Specific Transcription to Late G1 Phase: The MBF-Associated Corepressor Nrm1 Acts via Negative Feedback

Summary G1-specific transcription in yeast depends upon SBF and MBF. We have identified Nrm1 ( n egative r egulator of M BF targets 1), as a stable component of MBF. NRM1 ( YNR009w ), an MBF-regulated gene expressed during late G1 phase, associates with G1-specific promoters via MBF. Transcriptional repression upon exit from G1 phase requires both Nrm1 and MBF. Inactivation of Nrm1 results in prolonged expression of MBF-regulated transcripts and leads to hydroxyurea (HU) resistance and enhanced bypass of rad53 Δ- and mec1 Δ-associated lethality. Constitutive expression of a stabilized form of Nrm1 represses MBF targets and leads to HU sensitivity. The fission yeast homolog SpNrm1, encoded by the MBF target gene nrm1 + ( SPBC16A3.07c ), binds to MBF target genes and acts as a corepressor. In both yeasts, MBF represses G1-specific transcription outside of G1 phase. A negative feedback loop involving Nrm1 bound to MBF leads to transcriptional repression as cells exit G1 phase.
Occurrence and significance of echocardiographically demonstrated tricuspid valve prolapse

Echocardiograms from 562 patients were examined for evidence of the pattern of tricuspid valve prolapse. Criteria for the diagnosis can be established similar to those applicable to mitral prolapse. In 500 consecutive patients without mitral valve prolapse, there were no cases of isolated tricuspid valve prolapse. Eleven of 53 (21%) patients with mitral valve prolapse also had tricuspid valve prolapse. Four of six (67%) patients with Marfan's syndrome and mitral valve prolapse also had tricuspid valve prolapse. The occurrence of this echocardiographic pattern as an isolated finding as well as associated with mitral valve prolapse was significantly less than previous angiographic reports. Patients with both these findings tended to be older than those with mitral valve prolapse alone, but clinically differed in no other way. Use of standardized technique can minimize errors in diagnosis.
D2O induced alterations of mitosis in PtK1, cells☆

Deuterium oxide (D2O) was applied to PtK1 cells to assess its effect on mammalian mitosis. Cells exposed to culture medium containing up to 50% D2O were able to enter and complete mitosis, but the duration of mitosis was increased proportionally to the concentration of D2O applied. Cells exposed to 50% D2O showed increases of more than 300% for the interval between nuclear envelope breakdown and anaphase onset, and approximately 65% for the interval between anaphase onset and initial furrowing. At a concentration of 80%, D2O acted as an inhibitor of mitosis; after 8 h exposure to this concentration, cultures showed an increase in the proportion of mulinucleate cells and an absence of mitotic figures. When applied early in anaphase, 80% D2O effectively slowed chromosome separation, prolonging anaphase for more than 60 min. Normal chromosome motion was restored when medium containing D2O was replaced with control medium. Mitotic chromosomes remained condensed throughout prolonged anaphase intervals. Immunofluoresence examination of spindles stained using a monoclonal anti-tubulin revealed no pronounced increase in microtubule polymerization after exposure of cells to 20-80% D2O.
Natural dietary ingredients (oats and alfalfa) induce covalent DNA modifications (I‐compounds) in rat liver and kidney

Mammalian tissue DNA has recently been found, via 32P postlabeling, to contain complex profiles of age-dependent bulky carcinogen adductlike covalent modifications, which have been termed I-compounds, referring to their apparent indigenous origin without exposure to exogenous carcinogens. I-compound patterns are highly species, sex, tissue, and diet specific. As shown here, the presence of certain plant ingredients in diet, i.e., ground oats and alfalfa meal, significantly contributed to the formation of these DNA derivatives. Six groups of weanling female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of the following diets for three months: a natural ingredient diet containing neither oats nor alfalfa (Wayne MRH 22/5 Rodent Blox), Wayne diet supplemented with oats or alfalfa or both, a purified semisynthetic diet (AIN-76A), and AIN diet supplemented with oats. The natural ingredient diet produced more complex patterns and higher levels of I-compounds than purified diet in both liver and kidney DNA. Supplementation of either diet with oats elicited the formation of four additional oats-specific I-compounds in liver DNA. Oats and alfalfa, individually and in combination, tended to significantly raise nonpolar and diminish polar I-compound levels. To determine whether the oats-related extra spots were derived from mycotoxin contamination, two groups of rats were fed either Wayne diet or Wayne diet containing zearalenone (0.05 mg/kg) for three weeks. Zearalenone significantly increased the uterine weight but did not induce any DNA adduct formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Interview: In search of the pathophysiology and prevention of schizophrenia

Jeffrey A Lieberman is currently the Lawrence E Kolb Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He also holds the Lieber Chair and Directs the Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia. Dr Lieberman received his medical degree from the George Washington School of Medicine in 1975. Following his postgraduate training in psychiatry at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center of New York Medical College, he was on the faculties of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Prior to moving to Columbia University he was Vice Chairman for Research and Scientific Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Mental Health and Neuroscience Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Dr Lieberman’s research has been supported by grants from the NIH and the NARSAD, Stanley, and Me...
Ultra-dense EEG sampling results in two-fold increase of functional brain information.

Abstract Contemporary high-density electroencephalographic systems (hd-EEG) comprising up to 256 electrodes have inter-electrode separations of 2–4 cm. Because electric currents of the brain are believed to strongly diffuse before reaching the scalp surface, higher-density electrode coverage is often deemed unnecessary. We used an ultra-dense electroencephalography (ud-EEG) sensor array to reveal strong potential variation at 1 cm scale and discovered that it reflects functional brain activity. A new classification paradigm demonstrates that ud-EEG provides twice the signal to noise ratio for brain-response classification compared with contemporary hd-EEG. These results suggest a paradigm shift from current thinking by showing that higher spatial resolution sampling of EEG is required and leads to increased functional brain information that is useful for diverse neurological applications.
Web‐based Chinese management (WCM)—Toward a new management paradigm for the next millennium?

This article develops a distinctive Chinese management model called “Web-based Chinese Management” (WCM). It is practiced in private family enterprises located in Mainland China's booming “noncommunist” business centers and in overseas Chinese firms. The model is thought to be highly effective due to its use of social capital, high degree of flexibility, and cost efficiency. However, given that it usually puts limits to the growth of the focal company, it is less effective in exploiting economies of scale in steady-state mass-production industries. With its emphasis on skill, experience, and action, it conforms to my definition of “art.” I propose WCM as a new management paradigm for the next millennium and think that it fits well into the prevailing zeitgeist of ever more interdependent networks. The framework can help international businessmen both to deal effectively with Chinese enterprises, as well as serve as “best practice” that can be emulated to master highly uncertain and complex environments. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Validation of a diagnostic test. Epidemiologic principles in dermatology.

How should we monitor methotrexate therapy in psoriatic patients to avoid hepatic cirrhosis? The standard approach requires liver biopsies after each 1.5 g of methotrexate, in addition to performing liver function tests three to four times per year. In this issue of theArchives, O'Connor and his colleagues 1 suggest that we may be able to avoid exposing many of our patients to the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with multiple liver biopsies by using simple and relatively inexpensive liver function tests. They derive a prediction rule for hepatic fibrosis based on the results of these tests. The evaluation of the validity of such a prediction rule involves several basic epidemiologic concepts related to diagnostic testing. 2-10 These are reviewed below in the context of predicting hepatic fibrosis with a liver function test. Mentioned below are some general pitfalls in the assessment of test validity, and a discussion of more
MO‐FF‐A4‐04: A Method to Construct Synthetic Maps of Spatially Correlated Deformable Image Registration Errors by Random Sampling of De‐Correlated Error Modes

Purpose: To develop and test a method for constructing random synthetic maps of spatially correlated deformable image registration errors for estimating uncertainties in daily dose summation. Method and Materials: Two CTs were deformably registered 50 times using a variable region of interest (ROI) as the target of the registration. The displacement vector fields (DVFs) for anatomic motion included spatially correlated errors due to the variable ROI. Maps of the DVF error were created by subtracting the mean DVF from the individual DVFs for the volume shared by all ROIs. These DVF error maps were used as a training set to which principal components analysis was applied, producing spatially de‐correlated modes of DVF error. These modes were sampled independently and used to reconstruct new synthetic maps of DVF error that reproduced the characteristics of the training set. Results: We applied three tests to show that a set of our sampled DVF error maps was statistically indistinguishable from a set of validation error maps: (1) the standard deviation of the sampled DVF errors was comparable to that of the validation set; (2) the eigenvalue spectra were the same for the sampled and validation sets; (3) the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test applied to the principal coefficient distributions for the two sets was consistent with their indistinguishability. Conclusion: We have developed a method to construct DVF error maps by sampling probability distributions of the spatially de‐correlated error modes. We validated our procedure by demonstrating that maps of DVF error produced by our method were statistically indistinguishable from validation error maps. We propose to use this method to calculate the effect of DVF error on daily dose summation using deformable image registration.
Behavioral titration of a magnetic map coordinate

Spatial variation in the inclination of the geomagnetic field has been implicated in the map component of homing by eastern red-spotted newts Notophthalmus viridescens. Here we show that when newts are exposed to small changes in magnetic inclination, the most dramatic effects on homing orientation occur at values close to the 'home value', as predicted by the magnetic map hypothesis (Phillips 1996). Newts reverse the direction of homing orientation over a range of inclination of 0.5° spanning the home value, providing further evidence that magnetic inclination or one of its components (i.e., vertical or horizontal intensity) is used to derive map information.
C1q nephropathy: a distinct pathologic entity usually causing nephrotic syndrome.

The presence, distribution, and intensity of glomerular C1q localization were evaluated by direct immunofluorescence microscopy in 800 renal biopsy specimens which were also studied by light and electron microscopy. Identified were 15 patients with extensive (mean: 3.6 + out of 4 +), predominantly mesangial, C1q localization along with C3 and immunoglobulins, but no evidence for systemic lupus erythematosus. Pathologically, this lesion most closely resembled lupus nephritis. Clinical and pathologic data from these 15 C1q nephropathy patients were compared to data from 30 lupus nephritis and 223 other proliferative glomerulonephritis patients, and the C1q nephropathy patients were found to be dissimilar to both groups. The 15 C1q nephropathy patients had an average age of 17.8 years, 8 males, 7 females, 9 Black, 100% had proteinuria (mean 7.5 gld), 40% hematuria, 0% hypocomplementemia, and 0% antinuclear antibodies. By electron microscopy, 100% had mesangial dense deposits, 20% capillary wall dense deposits, and 0% endothelial tubuloreticular inclusions. Nine patients treated with steroids had no definite resolution of proteinuria. We proposed that C1q nephropathy is a distinct clinicopathologic entity, usually causing steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in older children and young adults.
Hydralazine and methyldopa in thiazide-treated hypertensive patients.

Abstract Thirty hypertensive patients who continued to be hypertensive after one month of treatment with hydrochlorothiazide were allocated at random to one of three treatment groups: hydrochlorothiazide and hydralazine, hydrochlorothiazide and methyldopa, or hydrochlorothiazide and placebo. Baseline measurements of blood pressure and other variables were those obtained after hydrochlorothiazide rather than those after placebo alone or “no treatment.” Both hydralazine and methyldopa produced significant dose-related reductions in supine and standing blood pressures while no appreciable changes were noted in the placebo group. The decrements in supine and standing systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures with hydralazine and methyldopa were parallel and of equal magnitude. No differences were noted in supine or standing heart rates in the three groups. Serious untoward reactions were not observed in this short-term study.
Case Study of a Prototypical Elementary Insertion Reaction: C(1D) + H2 → CH + H

We present a thorough theoretical study of the title reaction using a wave packet based statistical model, which is ideally suited for reactions dominated by long-lived complexes. Both state-to-state integral cross sections and thermal rate constants were calculated for the three isotopic (H2, D2, and HD) reactions using a recent ab initio potential energy surface. Product (CH or CD) vibrational state distributions were found to decrease monotonically with the vibrational quantum number. The product rotational degree of freedom is highly excited up to the highest energetically available states, in good agreement with experimental results. For the C + HD reaction, the CD + H channel was found to be more populated than the CH + D channel, consistent with experimental observations. The thermal rate constants depend weakly on temperature and agree very well with recent experimental measurements at the room temperature.
Estrogen receptor agonist fate during wastewater and biosolids treatment processes: a mass balance analysis.

The estrogen receptor agonist fate of hexane extracts from various locations and phases (liquid and solid) within one pilot-scale and two full-scale wastewater treatment facilities were examined by use of the receptor-binding yeast estrogen screen (YES assay). Estrogenic activity was found in samples that contained a high concentration of biological solids and was particularly high in the suspended solid fraction from biosolids treatment facilities. Mass balances revealed that the estrogenic activity associated with the processed biosolids constituted between 5 and 10% of the influent estrogenic activity, while the treated liquid effluent prior to disinfection contained between 26 and 43%. Overall, this suggests that between 51 and 67% of the estrogenic activity contained in the influent wastewater was either biodegraded during the wastewater or biosolids treatment processes or was unavailable to the extraction/detection procedure. In both aerobic and anaerobic digestion, mass balances revealed an increas...
Encoding and decoding in parietal cortex during sensorimotor decision-making

It has been suggested that the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) of macaques plays a fundamental role in sensorimotor decision-making. We examined the neural code in LIP at the level of individual spike trains using a statistical approach based on generalized linear models. We found that LIP responses reflected a combination of temporally overlapping task- and decision-related signals. Our model accounts for the detailed statistics of LIP spike trains and accurately predicts spike trains from task events on single trials. Moreover, we derived an optimal decoder for heterogeneous, multiplexed LIP responses that could be implemented in biologically plausible circuits. In contrast with interpretations of LIP as providing an instantaneous code for decision variables, we found that optimal decoding requires integrating LIP spikes over two distinct timescales. These analyses provide a detailed understanding of neural representations in LIP and a framework for studying the coding of multiplexed signals in higher brain areas.
On generalized decentralized fixed modes in descriptor systems

Abstract In the first part of this paper, some necessary and sufficient conditions for r polynomials to have to common zeros are derived, one of which is stated by a controllability matrix and is very useful to control theory. In the second part, a necessary and sufficient condition independent of eigenvalues for descriptor systems to have no generalized decentralized fixed modes is developed, which may be thought of as an answer to an issue proposed by Anderson and Clements [1].
atonal is the proneural gene for Drosophila photoreceptors

The Drosophila peripheral nervous system comprises four major types of sensory element: external sense organs (such as mechano-sensory bristles), chordotonal organs (internal stretch receptors), multiple dendritic neurons, and photoreceptors. During development, the selection of neural precursors for external sense organs requires the proneural genes of the achaete-scute complex, which encode basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factors. These genes do not, however, control precursor selection for chordotonal organs or photoreceptors, raising the question of whether other proneural genes exist or a different mechanism of neurogenesis operates. Here we show that atonal (ato), originally isolated as a proneural gene for chordotonal organs, is also the proneural gene for photoreceptors. Pattern formation in the Drosophila eye involves a succession of cell fate specifications. Of the eight photoreceptors within each ommatidium of the compound eye, the photoreceptor R8 is the first to appear in the eye imaginal disc, right behind the morphogenetic furrow. The appearance of other photoreceptors (R1-7) follows in a defined sequence that is thought to arise by induction from R8 (refs 8, 9, 11, 12). We find that photoreceptor formation requires the function of atonal at the morphogenetic furrow and that atonal is specifically required for R8 selection. Formation of other photoreceptors does not directly require atonal function, but does depend on R8 selection by atonal. Thus, photoreceptors are selected by two mechanisms: R8 by a proneural mechanism, and R1-7 by local recruitment.
Indomethacin treatment for polyhydramnios and subsequent infantile nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

A case of polyhydramnios was effectively treated with amniotic fluid decompression and indomethacin. Six months later nephrogenic diabetes insipidus was diagnosed and indomethacin was again effectively used. By reducing urine output, indomethacin controlled both in utero and extrauterine polyuria in this patient.
Analysis of magnetic field measurement results for the AGS booster magnets

Magnetic field measurements have been made on nearly 200 conventional magnets that have been installed in the AGS (Alternating Gradient Synchrotron) booster and its associated transfer lines. The measurement were intended to monitor the quality of the magnets being produced and to check the performance of each magnet before installation. The magnetic measurements efforts led to certain improvements in the manufacturing process, which subsequently produced very good, very uniform magnets. The integrated dipole fields of the 36 booster dipoles are uniform to 1.5 parts in ten thousand. The magnetic measurements indicate that the quadrupoles were manufactured to an accuracy of 3/10000 inch. >
Myeloid Differentiation Protein-2–Dependent and –Independent Neutrophil Accumulation during Escherichia coli Pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia remains a serious disease. Pattern recognition receptors play an integral role in neutrophil accumulation during pneumonia. Although myeloid differentiation protein (MD)-2 has been recognized as a key molecule for LPS signaling, the role of MD-2 in neutrophil accumulation in the lung during bacterial infection has not been explored. Here, we investigate the role of MD-2 in Escherichia coli LPS–induced lung inflammation and E. coli–induced pneumonia. LPS-induced CD14-independent neutrophil accumulation was abolished in CD14/MD-2−/− mice. MD-2−/− mice challenged with LPS displayed attenuated neutrophil influx, NF-κB activation, cytokine/chemokine expression, and lung histopathology. MD-2−/− mice transplanted with MD-2+/+ bone marrow demonstrated decreased neutrophil influx and cytokine/chemokine expression in the lungs when challenged by LPS. MD-2−/− mice infected with E. coli demonstrated reduced neutrophil influx and cytokine/chemokine expression in the lungs, whereas heat-killed E. coli did not induce either neutrophil accumulation or cytokine/chemokine expression in MD-2−/− mice infected with E. coli. Furthermore, MD-2−/− mice displayed increased bacterial burden in the lungs and enhanced bacterial dissemination. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-5−/− mice infected with E. coli exhibited attenuated neutrophil accumulation, whereas MD-2/TLR5−/− mice inoculated with E. coli showed further attenuated neutrophil influx and impaired bacterial clearance. Taken together, these new findings demonstrate: (1) the important role of MD-2 in the CD14-independent LPS-mediated cascade of neutrophil influx; (2) the relative importance of bone marrow– and non–bone marrow cell–derived MD-2 in LPS-induced inflammation; and (3) the essential role of MD-2–dependent and MD-2–independent (TLR5) signaling in E. coli–induced neutrophil accumulation and pulmonary host defense.
Globally exponentially stable observer for vision-based range estimation

Abstract A reduced-order nonlinear observer is developed to estimate the distance from a moving camera to a feature point on a static object (i.e., range identification), where full velocity and linear acceleration feedback of the calibrated camera is provided. The contribution of this work is to develop a global exponential range observer which can be used for a larger set of camera motions than existing observers. The observer is shown to be robust against external disturbances in the sense that the observer is L p ∀ p ∈ [ 1 , ∞ ] stable even if the target object is moving or the camera motion is perturbed. The presented observer identifies the range provided an observability condition commonly used in literature is satisfied and is shown to be exponentially stable even if camera motion satisfies a less restrictive observability condition. A sufficient condition on the observer gain is derived to prove stability using a Lyapunov-based analysis. Experimental results are provided to show robust performance of the observer using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).
Expression of the Helicobacter pylori adhesin SabA is controlled via phase variation and the ArsRS signal transduction system

Adaptation to the acidic microenvironment, and adherence to mucosal epithelium, are essential for persistent colonization of the human stomach by Helicobacter pylori. The expression of SabA, an adhesin implicated in the ability of H. pylori to adhere to the host gastric epithelium, can be modulated by phase variation via slipped-strand mispairing in repetitive nucleotide tracts located in both the promoter region and the coding region. This study demonstrates the occurrence of phase variation at the sabA locus within individual strains of H. pylori, and among multiple isolates from a single patient. In addition, transcription of sabA is repressed by the acid-responsive ArsRS two-component signal transduction system in vitro. Our results demonstrate that isogenic inactivation of the arsS (jhp0151/HP0165) histidine kinase locus results in a 10-fold SabA-dependent increase in adherence to gastric epithelial cells in strain J99 (contains an in-frame sabA allele), but not in strain 26695 (out-of-frame sabA allele). The combination of transcriptional regulation of the sabA locus by the ArsRS two-component signal-transduction system and the generation of subpopulations harbouring alternate sabA alleles by slipped-strand mispairing during chromosomal replication could permit H. pylori to rapidly adapt to varying microenvironments or host immune responses. As a pathogen with a paucity of regulatory proteins, this dual regulation indicates that SabA expression is a tightly regulated process in H. pylori infection.
Spatio-temporal soil moisture measurement with wireless underground sensor networks

In this paper, the estimation distortion of distributed soil moisture measurement using Wireless Underground Sensor Networks (WUSNs) is investigated. The main focus of this paper is to analyze the impact of the environment and network parameters on the estimation distortion of the soil moisture. More specifically, the effects of rainfall, soil porosity, and vegetation root zone are investigated by exploiting a rainfall model, in addition to the effects of sampling rate, network topology, and measurement signal noise ratio. Spatio-temporal correlation is characterized to develop a measurement distortion model with respect to these factors. The evaluations reveal that with porous soil and shallow vegetation roots, high sampling rate is required for sufficient accuracy. In addition, the impact of rainfall on the estimation distortion has also been investigated. In a storm, which carries on a large area and lasts for a long time, the estimation distortion is decreased because of the increase in spatial correlation. Moreover, only few closest sensors are needed to estimate the values of an interested location. These findings are utilized to guide the design of WUSNs for soil moisture measurement to reduce the density of network and the sampling rate of the sensors but at the same time maintain the performance of the system. Moreover, guidelines for designing WUSNs for soil moisture measurement are provided. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that establishes tight relations between environmental effects and distributed measurement in WUSNs.
Evaluation and Analysis of F-16XL Wind Tunnel Data from Dynamic Tests

A series of wind tunnel tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center as part of an ongoing effort to develop and test mathematical models for aircraft rigid-body aerodynamics in nonlinear unsteady flight regimes. Analysis of measurement accuracy, especially for nonlinear dynamic systems that may exhibit complicated behaviors, is an essential component of this ongoing effort. In this paper, tools for harmonic analysis of dynamic data and assessing measurement accuracy are presented. A linear aerodynamic model is assumed that is appropriate for conventional forced-oscillation experiments, although more general models can be used with these tools. Application of the tools to experimental data is demonstrated and results indicate the levels of uncertainty in output measurements that can arise from experimental setup, calibration procedures, mechanical limitations, and input errors.
Cortical connections of dorsal cortex rostral to V II in squirrel monkeys

A region of dorsal cortex along the rostral border of V II has been described as comprising a visual area or areas separate from more lateral cortex in both New and Old World primates. To evaluate these possibilities in squirrel monkeys, we studied patterns of cortical connections by injecting Fast Blue, Fluoro-Gold, horseradish peroxidase, and wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase into the dorsal region and related results to distinctions in myeloarchitecture. Our major conclusions are as follows. (1) The dorsal region (D) has distinctly different connections from the area found laterally, the caudal subdivision of the dorsolateral area (DLC). These include major connections with the rostral subdivision of the dorsolateral area (DLR), ventral posterior parietal cortex in the Sylvian fissure, the middle temporal area (MT), the medial superior temporal area (MST), ventral cortex just rostral to V II, and cortex in the inferior temporal sulcus. Weaker connections are with V I, V II, DLC, the fundal superior temporal area (FST), and the frontal lobe. In contrast, DLC, has strong connections with V II and inferior temporal (IT) cortex, weaker connections with DLR, and lacks connections with ventral posterior parietal cortex (Steele et al: J Comp Neurol 306:495–520, 1991). (2) Caudal and rostral aspects of dorsal cortex differ in the magnitude of connections with V I, V II, DLR, and FST. These differences are consistent with the previous proposal that at least two visual areas, caudal and rostral, occupy the dorsal region in squirrel monkeys (Krubitzer and Kaas: Visual Neurosci 5:165, 1990), but they could also reflect regional differences in the connections of a single visual area. (3) The dorsal region is more densely myelinated than surrounding cortex; however, rostral aspects of dorsal cortex are less myelinated than caudal aspects, again suggesting the existence of at least two areas. (4) The distinctiveness of connections between dorsal cortex and rostral as compared to caudal dorsolateral cortex provides further evidence for dividing the region of DL into two visual areas, DLC and DLR (Cusick and Kaas: Visual Neurosci 1:211, 1988; Steele et al: J Comp Neurol 306:495–520, 1991).
Awareness of Breast Density and Its Impact on Breast Cancer Detection and Risk

Purpose Legislation mandating disclosure of breast density (BD) information has passed in 21 states; however, actual awareness of BD and knowledge of its impact on breast cancer detection and risk are unknown. Methods We conducted a national cross-sectional survey administered in English and Spanish using a probability-based sample of screening-age women, with oversampling of Connecticut, the only state with BD legislation in effect for > 1 year before the survey. Results Of 2,311 women surveyed, 65% responded. Overall, 58% of women had heard of BD, 49% knew that BD affects breast cancer detection, and 53% knew that BD affects cancer risk. After multivariable adjustment, increased BD awareness was associated with white non-Hispanic race/ethnicity (Hispanic v white non-Hispanic: odds ratio [OR], 0.23; P < .001), household income (OR, 1.07 per category increase; P < .001), education (OR, 1.19 per category increase; P < .001), diagnostic evaluation after a mammogram (OR, 2.64; P < .001), and postmenopausal h...