cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo and in vitro efficacy of zoledronate for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats.

Background: Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may cause painful bone destruction. Given the local invasiveness and rapid clinical progression of OSCC, conventional therapies are often palliative. In human cancer patients, zoledronate exerts anticancer effects by inhibiting tumor-induced angiogenesis and malignant osteolysis. Hypothesis: Zoledronate will exert in vitro and in vivo anti-angiogenic and antiresorptive effects in feline OSCC. Animals: Eight cats with OSCC were prospectively treated with zoledronate and conventional treatment modalities. Methods: In vitro, zoledronate's effects in modulating soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and receptor activator of nuclear factor kB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) expression were investigated in a feline OSCC cell line (SCCF1). In vivo, basal serum C-telopeptide (CTx) concentrations were compared among normal and OSCC-bearing cats, and the biologic effects of zoledronate administration in cats with naturally occurring OSCC were quantified by serially assessing circulating serum VEGF and CTx concentrations. Results: In vitro, zoledronate concentrations greater than 3 μM reduce soluble VEGF secretion in the SCCF1 cell line. The expression of RANKL in the SCCF1 cell line was also modulated by zoledronate, with low concentrations (3 μM) decreasing but higher concentrations (30 μM) increasing RANKL expression in comparison with untreated cells. In vivo, cats with bone-invasive OSCC had greater serum CTx concentrations in comparison with geriatric, healthy controls. Treatment with zoledronate rapidly decreased circulating serum VEGF and CTx concentrations in cats with spontaneously occurring OSCC. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Zoledronate exerts in vitro and in vivo effects that may favor the slowing of tumor growth and pathologic bone turnover associated with OSCC.
Genetic evidence of the regulatory role of parathyroid hormone-related protein in articular chondrocyte maintenance in an experimental mouse model.

Hyaline chondrocytes throughout the body must remain in their native undifferentiated state in order to function. Virtually all such cells, including articular chondrocytes, seem to have the capacity to progress through the chondrocyte differentiation program that is classically associated with growth chondrocytes, yet they do not normally do so (1–3). This growth chondrocyte program involves an orderly sequence of phenotypic changes (round → flat → prehypertrophic → hypertrophic) that progresses from an early proliferative cell to a terminally-differentiated, mineralizing chondrocyte (5). The capacity of articular chondrocytes to resist entering into this progression is referred to as “maintenance” (1–3). It is increasingly clear that articular chondrocyte maintenance is a regulated phenomenon, and a number of molecules and pathways have been implicated in this regulation (4,6–11). We have previously made the case that parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and Indian hedgehog (Ihh) might participate in this regulatory process (4). These two molecules regulate the growth chondrocyte differentiation program via a negative feedback loop that fine tunes the progression of differentiation through the program (5, 12–18). It turns out that PTHrP-producing growth chondrocytes are intimately associated with joint formation during embryogenesis and that the mid-region articular chondrocytes are derived at least in part from these PTHrP-expressing growth chondrocytes (4, 19). Further, the Ihh-PTHrP axis has been found to be fully deployed in articular cartilage in both the embryo and the adult and appears to regulate articular chondrocyte differentiation in a fashion that is reminiscent of its effects in growth cartilage (4). These findings suggest that PTHrP may participate in regulating articular chondrocyte maintenance, and we report here our initial examination of this hypothesis by conditionally deleting PTHrP in mid-region articular chondrocytes via growth and differentiation factor 5 (Gdf5) control sequences (20–22).
The Effect of Temperature on Interfacial Gradient Plasticity in Metallic Thin Films

The material microstructural interfaces have a profound impact on the scale-dependent yield strength and strain hardening when the surface-to-volume ratio of the medium increases such as in micro and nanosystems. In this paper, the framework of higher-order strain gradient plasticity with interfacial energy effect is used to investigate the coupling of thermal and mechanical responses of materials in small scales and fast transient processes. In addition to the nonlocal yield condition for the material bulk, a temperature and rate dependent microscopic yield condition for the interface is presented, which determines the stress at which the interface begins to deform plastically and harden. In order to address the strengthening and hardening mechanisms, the theory is developed based on the decomposition of the mechanical state variables into energetic and dissipative counterparts. This, consecutively, provides the constitutive equations to have both energetic and dissipative gradient length scales \(\ell _{en}\) and \(\ell _{dis}\) respectively. Hence four material length scales are introduced: two for the bulk and the other two for the interface. In addition, the effect of temperature on the yield strength and hardening of the interface is included in the formulation by postulating that the interfacial energy decreases as temperature increases. Finally the developed framework is solved numerically to investigate the size effect of unaxial loading of a film substrate system.
Butyltin Residues in Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) Found Dead along California Coastal Waters

Tributyltin (TBT) and its degradation products, mono- (MBT) and dibutyltin (DBT), were determined in liver, kidney, and brain tissues of adult southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) found dead along the coast of California during 1992−1996. Hepatic concentrations of butyltin compounds (BTs = MBT + DBT + TBT) ranged from 40 to 9200 ng/g wet wt, which varied depending on the sampling location and gender. Concentrations of BTs in sea otters were comparable to those reported in stranded bottlenose dolphins from the U.S. Atlantic Coast during 1989−1994. Greater accumulation of butyltins in sea otters was explained by their bottom-feeding habit and the diet that consists exclusively of invertebrates such as mollusks and gastropods. Livers of female sea otters contained approximately 2-fold greater concentrations of BTs than did those of males. The composition of butyltin compounds in sea otter tissues was predominated by TBT in most cases and suggestive of recent exposure. Large harbors such as Monterey Ha...
On the Euler equations of incompressible fluids

Euler equations of incompressible fluids use and enrich many branches of mathematics, from integrable systems to geometric analysis. They present important open physical and mathematical problems. Examples include the stable statistical behavior of ill-posed free surface problems such as the RayleighTaylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. The paper describes some of the open problems related to the incompressible Euler equations, with emphasis on the blowup problem, the inviscid limit and anomalous dissipation. Some of the recent results on the quasigeostrophic model are also mentioned.
The behavior of boron coatings under simultaneous ion bombardment and temperature cycling

Low Z boron coatings have been tested for stability under simulated fusion reactor conditions including simultaneous temperature cycling and ion implantation from the /sup 10/B (n,..cap alpha..)/sup 7/Li reaction. Boron coatings several microns thick, produced by vacuum evaporation onto heated titanium substrates, exhibited reasonable stability after doses of 3.8 x 10/sup 18/ ..cap alpha../cm/sup 2/ and 1320 temperature cycles from 165 to 490/sup 0/C. These conditions correspond to exposures at the first wall of the fusion reactor, ranging from a few weeks to about 6 months, depending on the reactor design.
Imitative modeling as a theoretical base for instructing language-disordered children.

A modification of Bandura’s social learning theory (imitative modeling) was employed as a theoretical base for language instruction. This approach was experimentally compared to an alternative tech...
Foreigners in Japanese prisons: Inmate adaptations and prison accommodations

Abstract Major movements of individuals across national boundaries increase chances for crimes by foreigners, some of whom become prisoners in societies in which they are both cultural strangers and social outcasts as prison inmates. Although they are relatively few when compared with the members of the host society who are imprisoned, their presence raises unusual difficulties for inmate adaptation and accommodations by the prison administration to their special needs and cultural preferences. This study examined the situation and accommodative reactions of the prison administration in Japan. There both the foreign inmates and the Correction Bureau encounter special difficulties in adjusting within the context of the regular operations of a prison system primarily tuned to managing inmates drawn from the host culture and society.
Motivated behaviors produced by increased arousal in the presence of goal objects.

Abstract Low doses of sodium pentobarbital injected i.p. in satiated rats increased wet mash intake to approximately the level of a 24 hr food deprived animal. Intakes of quinine adulterated mash and a nonnutritive bulk substance were similar for the pentobarbital injected animals and for 24 hr food deprived animals. Further tests demonstrated that the drug potentiates pain-elicited aggression, but has no effect on running in an activity wheel. These data are incorporated in an hypothesis that increased arousal in the presence of a goal object is sufficient to elicit the consummatory response appropriate to that goal object.
Two diet plans for fat PDF

As Adobe's Portable Document Format has exploded in popularity so too has the number PDF generators, and predictably the quality of generated PDF varies considerably. This paper surveys a range of PDF optimizations for space, and reports the results of a tool that can postprocess existing PDFs to reduce file sizes by 20 to 70% for large classes of PDFs. (Further reduction can often be obtained by recoding images to lower resolutions or with newer compression methods such as JBIG2 or JPEG2000, but those operations are independent of PDF per se and not a component of the results reported here.) A new PDF storage format called "Compact PDF" is introduced that achieves for many classes of PDF an additional reduction of 30 to 60% beyond what is possible in the latest PDF specification (version 1.5, corresponding to Acrobat 6); for example, the PDF 1.5 Reference manual shrinks from 12.2MB down to 4.2MB. The changes required by Compact PDF to the PDF specification and to PDF readers are easily understood and straightforward to implement.
In vitro Activity of Two New Aryl-Fluoroquinolone Antimicrobial Agents, Difloxacin (A-56619) and A-56620 Compared to That of Other Antimicrobial Agents

The in vitro activity of difloxacin (A-56619) and A-56620, two new aryl-difluoroquinolones, was compared to that of other new quinolones and several parenteral and oral antimicrobial agents. A-56620 inhibited 90% of Enterobacteriaceae at ≤1 μg/ml, Staphylococcus aureus 0.25 μg/ml, hemolytic streptococci 2 μg/ml, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 μg/ml, Bacteroides sp. and Clostridium at 8 μg/ml.A-56620 was equal or 2-fold more active than norfloxacin and ofloxacin, and 2–8-fold less active than ciprofloxacin. Difloxacin had similar in vitro activity with many isolates but usually was 2–8-fold less active than A-56620. Both agents inhibited β-lactamase positive Haemophilus influenzae (MIC 0.015 μg/ml)and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MK ≤0.008 μg/ml).Both agents were more active against streptococci and Streptococcus pneumoniae than norfloxacin, ofloxacin and enoxacin, but not more active than ciprofloxacin. They inhibited Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens resistant to cephalosporins and methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Spontaneously resistant mutants were seen with Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus at a frequency similar to that found for other new quinolones. These agents show overall in vitro activity comparable to other quinolones in clinical trial or recently approved for clinical use.
Molecular Mechanisms of Synchronous Synaptic Transmission

Complexin and Synaptotagmin work in concert to couple the SNARE-mediated membrane fusion machinery to the triggering signal i.e. influx of Ca2+ ions. The SNARE assembly process is arrested at a very late stage by Complexin, to prevent spontaneous fusion events and the Complexin clamp is reversed by Synaptotagmin in a Ca2+-dependent manner to synchronize the neurotransmitter release. To understand the mechanistic details of this process, we developed a Nanodisc based system, which allows us to generate trans-SNARE complexes under soluble conditions. SNAREs on Nanodisc assemble but do not fuse due to the topological constraints placed by the Nanodiscs. We employed a VAMP construct (VAMP-4X) which carries mutations in the C-terminal hydrophobic layers that prevent assembly of this region with the t-SNARE to accurately recreate the pre-fusion SNARE complex between two bilayers that mimic the vesicle-bilayer junction in docked vesicles. Fluorescence analysis show that the Synaptotagmin binds to the pre-fusion SNAREpin between the two bilayer under Ca2+ free conditions and the primary interaction is such that SNARE assembly or Complexin binding does not affect it. Calcium- additions triggers a very rapid co-penetration of the Ca2+-binding loops of both C2 domains into the bilayer, with somewhat higher preference to the bilayer containing t-SNAREs and this partitioning could be further augmented by the addition of PIP2. However, Synaptotagmin maintains its position on the SNARE complex during the whole process. Recent data has shown that Complexin arrests fusion by blocking the complete assembly of SNAREpins in adjacent complexes i.e. a trans-clamping interaction. Our results suggest a simple, one-step physical mechanism by which Synaptotagmin could trigger the reversal of the trans-Complexin clamp and activate fusion, in response to Calcium.
In vitro hypoxia and excitotoxicity in human brain induce calcineurin-Bcl-2 interactions.

Abstract Although pathogenesis of neuronal ischemia is incompletely understood, evidence indicates apoptotic neuronal death after ischemia. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective protein, interacts with calcineurin in non-neuronal tissues. Activation of calcineurin, which is abundant in the brain, may play a role in apoptosis. Using co-immunoprecipitation experiments in biopsy-derived, fresh human cortical and hippocampal slices, we examined possible interactions between calcineurin and Bcl-2. Calcineuin–Bcl-2 interactions increased after exposure in vitro to excitotoxic agents and conditions of hypoxia/aglycia. This interaction may shuttle calcineurin to substrates such as the inositol-1,4,5-tris-phosphate receptor because under these experimental conditions interactions between calcineurin and inositol-1,4,5-tris-phosphate receptor also increased. A specific calcineurin inhibitor, FK-520, attenuated insult-induced increases in calcineurin–Bcl-2 interactions and augmented caspase-3 like activity. These data suggest that Bcl-2 modulates neuroprotective effects of calcineurin and that calcineurin inhibitors increase ischemic neuronal damage.
Band radiation from a fluctuating medium

A simple model of band radiation from a fluctuating medium, which emulates fluctuations in a turbulent diffusion flame, has been studied to determine the relative importance of the many mean and fluctuation parameters. The importance of fluctuations is largely confined to variation in the Planck function, which is strongly dependent upon the mean and variance of the mixture fraction and upon the band fundamental wavenumber.
Effect of Glucagon Infusion on Plasma Magnesium, Glucose, and Insulin in Bull Calves

Two Holstein bull calves each were infused intravenously with 1 mg glucagon in .9% sodium chloride, and two were given saline alone; 1 wk later treatments were reversed. Glucagon increased concentrations of insulin and glucose but decreased potassium in blood plasma and moderately increased urinary magnesium and calcium losses. When only saline was used, there was no effect. A hypothesis relating elevated glucagon to grass tetany is proposed.
Critical behavior of a smectic- A to nematic phase transition imbedded in a random network of voids

Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44240~Received 13 August 1997!We present the results of a systematic ac calorimetric study on the smectic-A to nematic ~Sm-A–N! phasetransition for the alkylcyanobiphenyl liquid crystals, 8CB and 9CB, imbedded in the randomly interconnectedvoids of Millipore cellulose membranes. The conﬁning void size ranged from 5 to 0.025mm, which, althoughlarge, introduces substantial changes compared to the bulk behavior. The heat capacity peak at the Sm-A–Ntransition temperature changes from sharp and prominent to broad and small with increased conﬁnement.Concomitant with the heat capacity peak shape change, critical behavior analysis reveals that the randomconﬁnement drives the heat capacity critical exponent from its bulk value towards zero, approaching thethree-dimensionalXY universality class value prediction of 20.007. This change in the critical exponent isliquid-crystal material and voids size dependent, and is equivalent to what occurs with increasing nematicrange that weakens the coupling between smectic and nematic order parameters. The Millipore conﬁnementdoes not alter the nematic range; it is the randomness it introduces that changes the nature of the coupling. Inaddition, but in a manner not fully consistent with ﬁnite size effects, transition temperatures are shifted downfrom bulk and the transition enthalpy is suppressed. Supporting results are found in a study of binary mixturesof 9CB and 10CB. @S1063-651X~98!02504-5#PACS number~s!: 64.70.Md, 61.30.2v, 65.20.1wINTRODUCTION
Auditory Responsive Naming versus Visual Confrontation Naming in Dementia

Dysnomia is typically assessed during neuropsychological evaluation through visual confrontation naming. Responsive naming to description, however, has been shown to have a more distributed representation in both fMRI and cortical stimulation studies. While naming deficits are common in dementia, the relative sensitivity of visual confrontation versus auditory responsive naming has not been directly investigated. The current study compared visual confrontation naming and auditory responsive naming in a dementia sample of mixed etiologies to examine patterns of performance across these naming tasks. A total of 50 patients with dementia of various etiologies were administered visual confrontation naming and auditory responsive naming tasks using stimuli that were matched in overall word frequency. Patients performed significantly worse on auditory responsive naming than visual confrontation naming. Additionally, patients with mixed Alzheimer's disease/vascular dementia performed more poorly on auditory responsive naming than did patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, although no group differences were seen on the visual confrontation naming task. Auditory responsive naming correlated with a larger number of neuropsychological tests of executive function than did visual confrontation naming. Auditory responsive naming appears to be more sensitive to effects of increased of lesion burden compared to visual confrontation naming. We believe that this reflects more widespread topographical distribution of auditory naming sites within the temporal lobe, but may also reflect the contributions of working memory and cognitive flexibility to performance.
Limitations of the CV technique for ion-implanted profiles

The CV profiling technique is reviewed and its validity and limitations are investigated, with special attention given to the case where the method is extended to the study of ion-implanted impurity distributions. A theoretical analysis is described which yields information about the dependence of CV measurements on impurity profile. The inverse problem is then considered and the results demonstrate that the depletion approximation formulas commonly used for the reduction of CV data to give doping profiles are misleading when applied to substrates with rapidly varying profiles as are generally the case for ion-implanted substrates. Examples of the profiles obtained for various shaped impurity distributions are given.
Cardiorespiratory fitness as a predictor of dementia mortality in men and women.

There is evidence that physical activity may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer disease and dementia. However, few reports have examined the physical activity�dementia association with objective measures of physical activity. Cardiorespiratory fitness (hereafter called fitness) is an objective reproducible measure of recent physical activity habits. Purpose: We sought to determine whether fitness is associated with lower risk for dementia mortality in women and men. Methods: We followed 14,811 women and 45,078 men, age 20�88 yr at baseline, for an average of 17 yr. All participants completed a preventive health examination at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, TX, during 1970�2001. Fitness was measured with a maximal treadmill exercise test, with results expressed in maximal METs. The National Death Index identified deaths through 2003. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between baseline fitness and dementia mortality, adjusting for age, sex, examination year, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, abnormal ECGs, and health status. Results: There were 164 deaths with dementia listed as the cause during 1,012,125 person-years of exposure. Each 1-MET increase in fitness was associated with a 14% lower adjusted risk of dementia mortality (95% confidence interval (CI) = 6%�22%). With fitness expressed in tertiles, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for those in the middle- and high-fitness groups suggest their risk of dementia mortality was less than half that of those in the lowest fitness group (HR = 0.44, CI = 0.26�0.74 and HR = 0.49, CI = 0.26�0.90, respectively). Conclusions: Greater fitness was associated with lower risk of mortality from dementia in a large cohort of men and women.
Precipitation and Determination of Zirconium Using Some Unusual Alpha-Hydroxyacids

Abstract Zirconium forms stable, insoluble, chelate compounds with many organic alpha-hydroxyacids (substituted glycolic acids) and a number of them have been investigated for the gravimetric determination of zirconium. Four new reagents were studied: hexahydromandelic acid, atrolactic acid, p-phenylene diglycolic acid and 2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-buteonic acid. Quantitative precipitation of zirconium was achived with all the above acids but most precipitates are of indefinite composition and must be ignited to the oxide for weighing. These studies lead to a better understanding of the nature of alpha-hydroxyacid complexes of zirconium.
A bubble-based microfluidic gas sensor for gas chromatographs

We report a new proof-of-concept bubble-based gas sensor for a gas chromatography system, which utilizes the unique relationship between the diameters of the produced bubbles with the gas types and mixture ratios as a sensing element. The bubble-based gas sensor consists of gas and liquid channels as well as a nozzle to produce gas bubbles through a micro-structure. It utilizes custom-developed software and an optical camera to statistically analyze the diameters of the produced bubbles in flow. The fabricated gas sensor showed that five types of gases (CO2, He, H2, N2, and CH4) produced (1) unique volumes of 0.44, 0.74, 1.03, 1.28, and 1.42 nL (0%, 68%, 134%, 191%, and 223% higher than that of CO2) and (2) characteristic linear expansion coefficients (slope) of 1.38, 2.93, 3.45, 5.06, and 5.44 nL/(kPa (μL s−1)−1). The gas sensor also demonstrated that (3) different gas mixture ratios of CO2 : N2 (100 : 0, 80 : 20, 50 : 50, 20 : 80 and 0 : 100) generated characteristic bubble diameters of 48.95, 77.99, 71.00, 78.53 and 99.50 μm, resulting in a linear coefficient of 10.26 μm (μL s−1)−1. It (4) successfully identified an injection (0.01 μL) of pentane (C5) into a continuous carrier gas stream of helium (He) by monitoring bubble diameters and creating a chromatogram and demonstrated (5) the output stability within only 5.60% variation in 67 tests over a month.
Optical Properties Of The Marine Aerosol As Predicted By The Navy Aerosol Model

A model is presented which predicts optical and infrared extinction and absorption from marine aerosol for wavelengths of 0.2 to 40 micrometers. The model utilizes standard meteorological measurements as inputs but has default values built into it so that input values are not absolutely necessary, but when they are available they will increase the accuracy of the predictions. The model is based on aerosol size distribution measurement data taken by several investigators from platforms close to the sea surface. The optical predictions of the model are derived from precalculated terms stored in the program which were originally obtained from lengthy Mie calculations on special aerosol size distributions.
Beliefs and Values and the Sterilization Decision

A decision-making framework based on the models of personal decision making developed by psychologists and economists and a methodology based on axiomatic conjoint measurement are used to explore individuals' beliefs and values regarding contraceptive sterilization. Particular emphasis is given to demonstrating a. that there exist individual differences in beliefs and values, b. that there exist differences in beliefs and values between persons who choose sterilization—either tubal ligation or vasectomy—and persons who choose non-sterilization contraceptive methods when no more children are wanted, and c. that the effect of beliefs and values on the sterilization decision is an interactive one. The methodology used is compared to that typically used in studying fertility- and health-related behaviors.
Sign Pattern Matrices That Allow Orthogonality

Abstract A pair of sign pattern row vectors (or column vectors) allows orthogonality if the two vectors are the sign patterns for two real orthogonal row vectors (respectively, column vectors). A square sign pattern matrix that does not have a zero row or zero column is sign potentially orthogonal (SPO) if every pair of rows and every pair of columns allows orthogonality. It has been conjectured that every SPO matrix A allows orthogonality; that is, there is a real orthogonal matrix H whose sign pattern equals A . A counterexample to this conjecture is presented, and sufficient conditions are given for a ± SPO matrix to allow orthogonality.
Electronic Structure of Polycrystalline Pecvd Diamond Surfaces

Ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques have been employed in a preliminary study of the electronic structure of polycrystalline diamond films that have been grown on Si substrates by if-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using water/ethanol growth chemistries. In particular, polycrystalline diamond films with distinctly different surface morphologies and Raman scattering characteristics have been investigated. Corresponding ultraviolet photoemission spectra from air-exposed samples have shown the presence of a prominent low-energy secondary electron emission peak indicative of a negative electron affinity (NEA) surface. Chemical stability of the polycrystalline diamond NEA surface has been demonstrated following conventional acid cleans and hydrogen plasma processing. In contrast, an oxygen (20%)/Ar plasma exposure has been shown to extinguish the photoemission of low-energy secondary electrons and remove the NEA. However, by employing a high-temperature anneal at 750 °C for 15 min in ultra-high vacuum the NEA surface can be restored. Compared to NEA single crystal diamond surfaces the photoexcited low-energy electron emission from chemical vapor deposited polycrystalline diamond films is more robust.
Channel coding considerations for digital speech encoded by linear prediction

We are concerned with the protection of speech parameters, produced by a linear predictor, when they are transmitted through a typical communications channel. An analysis of the complete system yields a lower bound to the overall mean-square error. These results isolate the role that channel coding plays in the total system performance. Our goal is to motivate the selection of a more sensible criterion for designing channel coding in such systems. We demonstrate that the mean-square error criterion used on a channel basis is such a choice and that there are reasonable design procedures for employing block codes in this fashion. This type of coding can be applied not only to whole individual speech coefficients but to various groups of positions. Finally the implementation of the corresponding decoder is examined from the viewpoint of generalized bandpass filtering.
A global ranking approach to end points in trials of mechanical circulatory support devices.

Abstract Background Although previous studies of mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs) have used all-cause mortality as a primary end point, trends in device technology and implementation will increasingly necessitate the use of composite end points for MCSD studies. The ideal composite end point for studies of MCSDs is uncertain. Methods and Results We reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of traditional composite end points in MCSD studies from both a clinical and statistical perspective. Although composite end points may increase statistical power, they also introduce potential problems in interpretation of data, and in some situations may interpret a given clinical course in ways very different than it would be viewed by patients or providers. A global ranking end point, which ranks various aspects of the clinical course based on a prespecified hierarchical ranking system, may provide many of the advantages of composite end points while avoiding many of the pitfalls. One version of such an end point for use in MCSD studies is proposed. Conclusions Use of a global ranking end point for incorporating various components of the clinical course into a single end point retains much of the benefit of composite end points while avoiding many of the limitations associated with the use of composites. Adoption of such end points may facilitate the development of MCSD therapy.
Chapter 19 Discussion of three resampling papers

Discussion of: Putter H., and van Zwet W.R. (1996) . Resampling: Consistency of substitution estimators, Annals of Statistics 24 2297-2318. Putter H., and van Zwet W.R. (1997). On a set of the first category. Festschrift for Lucien Le Cam, Springer Verlag , 315-324. Bickel P., Gotze F. and van Zwet W.R. (1997). Resampling fewer than n observations: Gains, Losses and Remedies for Losses, Statistica Sinica 1 1-31.
The Role of Social Distrust in Risk-Benefit Analysis: A Study of the Siting of a Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility

Distrust of social institutions is becoming an important component of risk communication and policy analysis. To assess the impact of social distrust on decision making, we examine the role of distrust of information sources on the willingness to accept a hazardous waste disposal facility in one's neighborhood. Using a prospective-reference utility model, distrust of information sources is analyzed a possible influence on individual choice in a risk-benefit tradeoff. Using contingent valuation survey data on the siting of a hazardous waste disposal facility, we find that respondents are particularly distrustful of both governmental officials and waste disposal businesses. We find that social distrust increases the perceived risk of a facility and influences the likelihood of accepting a referendum to site a hazardous waste disposal facility. The level of compensation offered in the contingent valuation scenario also is found to influence a respondent's risk perception.
TYPHUS FEVER : II. CYTOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE SCROTAL SAC EXUDATE IN TYPHUS-INFECTED GUINEA PIGS.

1. A satisfactory method is described for the topographical study of Rickettsia prowazeki in sections of the scrotal sac of typhus-infected guinea pigs. 2. In such sections Rickettsiae are always intracellular. 3. Typhus Rickettsiae multiply luxuriantly in the serosal cells and produce great distention of these cells. 4. Rickettsiae may be found in small numbers in the endothelial cells lining the underlying capillaries in the testes and scrotum, but are not seen in perivascular macrophages, connective tissue cells, fat cells, smooth or striated muscle fibres or epithelial cells. 5. Rickettsiae are rarely phagocytosed in small numbers by polymorphonuclears but are never seen in lymphocytes, plasma cells or eosinophiles. 6. When infected mesothelial cells proliferate and desquamate, they rapidly lose their content of Rickettsiae. 7. The large mononuclear cells seen in smears of the scrotal sac exudate may be separated into two groups: (1) the serosal (mesothelial) cells which become heavily infected with Rickettsiae but which are not phagocytic for graphite ink and (2) the macrophages (phagocytic cells) which do not contain Rickettsiae.
Monitoring Indoor Ambient Atmospheres for Volatile Organic Compounds Using an Ion Mobility Analyzer Array with Selective Chemical Ionization

Abstract Three ion mobility analyzers with different reagent gases for chemical ionization were interfaced to a single computer and operated with a software package created for simultaneous and continuous monitoring of 1 to 8 analyzers. Mobility spectra were collected and digitized on separate input channels with 200 ms sampling intervals for individual analyzers. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor ambient atmospheres were monitored in two scenarios: laboratory air during designed releases of several VOCs and ambient air in a central chemistry storeroom used for undergraduate laboratories. The ion mobility analyzer with reagent ions of H(H2O)+ n (n = 2 – 4) exhibited response toward alcohols, aldehydes, and other VOCs with low proton affinities. However, analyzers with reagent ions of elevated proton affinity including acetone and dimethylsulfoxide showed selective response toward only VOCs with proton affinities greater than that of the reagent ion. Thus, two tiers in selectivity of array respon...
Effect of organic vapour interaction on permeation rate through polymer films

The permeability coefficients (P) of linalool, citral ethyl butyrate, d-limonene and octanal permeating through LDPE and ionomer films were measured alone as individual and as a component of a mixture at a temperature of 23 °C and in saturated water vapour. Values of P for ionomer film were approximately two orders of magnitude below those for LDPE for the compounds tested. Both PET and PETG films were found to be much better barriers against the compounds tested than LDPE and ionomer films. In general, the permeability, diffusion and solubility coefficients (P. D, and S) values measured in mixture were substantially less than the values obtained individually. Permeability behaviour of these compounds at low concentrations in the mixture was similar to that of permanent gases. Reduction of solubility coefficients in mixture permeation was greater with the higher solubility coefficients. These results provide a better understanding of the mechanism of vapour diffusion through polymers.
Parent Management of Organization, Time Management, and Planning Deficits among Adolescents with ADHD

Organization, Time Management, and Planning (OTP) problems are a key mechanism of academic failure for adolescents with ADHD. Parents may be well positioned to promote remediation of these deficits; yet, almost nothing is known about OTP management behaviors among parents of middle and high school students with ADHD. In a sample of 299 well-diagnosed adolescents with ADHD, a measure of parental OTP management was psychometrically validated. Latent Class Analysis was conducted to detect distinct patterns of parental OTP management and yielded four unique classes: Parental Control (18.7 %), Parent-Teen Collaboration (20.4 %), Homework Assistance (20.4 %), and Uninvolved (40.5 %). Logistic Regression analyses indicated that maladaptive parental OTP strategies were related to higher levels of parent and adolescent psychopathology. Parental OTP management did not relate to current adolescent OTP skills or GPA, indicating that parents did not select OTP management strategies in immediate response to adolescent functioning. Implications for parent-directed intervention are discussed.
Short Range Telemetry

A short range RF telemetry transmitter developed at the General Motors Proving Ground is used to obtain data from moving components on the test vehicle. It is capable of operation at acceleration levels to 1000 g's and temperatures to 300°F.
Research Issues Related to the Visualization of Complex and Networked Systems

A number of research issues are discussed on how best to visualize performance and vulnerability in complex and distributed network systems. A powerful paradigm would be to convey information about a distributed network to a decision maker using natural attributes of display systems such as color, shape, and other variables. Future visualizations are hypothesized to enable decision makers to better understand complex visualizations so they can allocate scarce resources to protect their networks.
Correlation of the expression of acrB and the regulatory genes marA, soxS and ramA with antimicrobial resistance in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae endemic to New York City

Objectives: Nosocomial isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to all commonly used antimicrobial agents have emerged in many regions of the world. It is unknown if efflux systems contribute to the multidrug resistance phenotype. Methods: The expression of genes encoding the efflux pump AcrAB and the global regulators MarA, SoxS and RamA were examined and correlated with antimicrobial resistance. Results: Twenty isolates belonged to the two important clones representing KPC-possessing strains endemic to our region. Virtually all of these isolates had negligible or absent expression of the genes, and resistance to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides could be explained by alternative mechanisms. All of these isolates were susceptible to tigecycline. A group of 14 heterogeneous isolates was also examined. There was a correlation between expression of marA with expression of soxS. Only expression of soxS was significantly correlated with expression of acrB. With a background substitution in GyrA, increased expression of acrB and marA appeared to contribute to fluoroquinolone resistance in some isolates. A correlation was noted between expression of soxS and ramA (but not marA and acrB) and tigecycline MICs. Following in vitro exposure to tigecycline, resistance occurred in association with a marked increase in marA and acrB expression in isolates lacking expression of soxS and ramA. Conclusions: While laboratory-derived tigecycline resistance was associated with increased acrB expression, the variation in tigecycline MICs in clinical isolates was associated only with selected regulator genes. It appears that other mechanisms beyond activation of the acrAB system mediate tigecycline resistance.
Function of caspases in regulating apoptosis caused by erythropoietin deprivation in erythroid progenitors.

Erythropoietin (EP) is required by late stage erythroid progenitor cells to prevent apoptosis. In a previous study (Gregoli and Bondurant, 1997, Blood 90:630–640), it was shown that rapid proteolytic conversion of procaspase 3 to the fully activated enzyme occurred when erythroblasts were deprived of EP for as little as 2 h. In the present study, protein and mRNA analyses of erythroblasts indicated the presence of the proenzyme precursors of caspases 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The effects of various caspase inhibitors on caspase 3 processing and on apoptosis were examined. These inhibitors were benzyloxycarbonyl (z-) and fluoromethylketone (FMK) derivatives of peptides that serve as substrates for selected caspases. z-VAD-FMK, t-butoxycarbonyl-aspartate-FMK (Boc-D-FMK), and z-IETD-FMK blocked the initial cleavage of procaspase 3, while z-DEVD-FMK, z-VEID-FMK, and z-VDVAD-FMK did not block the initial cleavage but had some effect on blocking apoptosis. The peptide inhibitor z-FA-FMK, which inhibits cathepsins B and L but is not known to inhibit caspases, altered caspase 3 processing to a final 19 kDa large subunit that appeared to retain enzymatic activity. The action of z-FA-FMK in preventing the usual conversion to a 17 kDa subunit suggests the possibility that a noncaspase protease may be involved in caspase 3 processing. Studies with the peptide inhibitors and EP were done to determine the short- and long-term effectiveness of the caspase inhibitors in protecting EP-deprived cells from apoptosis. Although several of the inhibitors were effective, z-IETD-FMK was studied most extensively because of its specificity for enzymes which cleave procaspase 3 at aspartate 175 (IETD175). Large percentages of EP-deprived erythroblasts treated with z-IETD-FMK appeared morphologically normal and negative by a DNA strand breakage (TUNEL) assay at 24 h (75%) compared to EP-deprived controls (10%) which were not treated with inhibitor. However, inhibitor-treated erythroid progenitors deprived of EP for 24 h and then resupplied with EP showed only a modest improvement in long-term survival compared to cells which did not receive the caspase inhibitor during the 24 h EP deprivation. Thus, while the manifestations of apoptosis were delayed in most cells by inhibiting caspase activity, the processes initiating the loss of cell viability due to EP deprivation were irreparablein the majority of the cells and eventually led to their deaths. J Cell Physiol 178:133–143, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Combining Hard Periodic and Soft Aperiodic Real-Time Task Scheduling on Heterogeneous Compute Resources

Effectively scheduling tasks on heterogeneous resources is critical to maximizing the overall benefit of those resources in system-on-a-chip architectures. In this paper we focus on scheduling soft a periodic tasks alongside periodic tasks with hard deadline constraints on heterogeneous real-time systems. We introduce a method to improve a periodic task responsiveness without breaking periodic task deadline guarantees, by first scheduling periodic tasks offline, then dynamically scheduling a periodic tasks in the remaining resource slack time. Experimental results indicate that the quality of a periodic task scheduling depends highly on the slack distribution within and across resources after periodic task scheduling, and on the flexibility of the a periodic task scheduler to rearrange these compute slacks to accommodate incoming a periodic tasks.
Using smart meter data to estimate demand response potential, with application to solar energy integration

Abstract This paper presents a new method for estimating the demand response potential of residential air conditioning (A/C), using hourly electricity consumption data (“smart meter” data) from 30,000 customer accounts in Northern California. We apply linear regression and unsupervised classification methods to hourly, whole-home consumption and outdoor air temperature data to determine the hours, if any, that each home׳s A/C is active, and the temperature dependence of consumption when it is active. When results from our sample are scaled up to the total population, we find a maximum of 270–360 MW (95% c.i.) of demand response potential over a 1-h duration with a 4 °F setpoint change, and up to 3.2–3.8 GW of short-term curtailment potential. The estimated resource correlates well with the evening decline of solar production on hot, summer afternoons, suggesting that demand response could potentially act as reserves for the grid during these periods in the near future with expected higher adoption rates of solar energy. Additionally, the top 5% of homes in the sample represent 40% of the total MW-hours of DR resource, suggesting that policies and programs to take advantage of this resource should target these high users to maximize cost-effectiveness.
Networking CSU-CHILL and CSU-Pawnee to Form a Bistatic Radar System

This paper describes how the synchronization and networking capabilities of the transmit and receive chain used at the CSU-CHILL and CSU-Pawnee radars are used to form a bistatic radar system capable of observing clear air echoes from atmospheric boundary layer. An overview of the bistatic radar geometry and resolution volume are presented, along with a discussion of the methods used to achieve timing coherence. Some preliminary results from clear-air observations are included.
Models of cloud-topped mixed layers under a strong inversion

Theoretical models are constructed with the aim of relating, explaining and predicting features of a radiatively active turbulent cloud layer over the sea and under a strong subsidence inversion. Both dry aerosol clouds (no phase change) and wet clouds (with a phase change and latent heat exchanges) are considered. For the wet cloud case an important element of the theory is the requirement that the wet-bulb potential temperature must increase upwards in the inversion. For both cases entrainment of the upper warm air is hypothesized to lie between upper and lower limits determined from the turbulent energy budget. The dry cloud case is solved for both steady state and transient results, with only the transient behaviour depending on the entrainment hypothesis. Only steady state solutions are presented for the more complex wet cloud case and these differ somewhat for the maximum and minimum entrainment limits. Observational data from Oakland, California are used for comparison with those steady state solutions, with results indicating the essential validity of the approach. Detailed comparisons, especially for determination of the most correct entrainment rate, are hampered both by inadequate measurement of the inversion properties and by uncertainties in the net radiation flux leaving the cloud top. Computations of the latter suggest that several presently used radiation models are still in serious disagreement, at least for application to downward flux under an inversion. It is suggested that the present theory provides a partial explanation of the origin of the trade wind inversion.
After the Black Box Warning: Predictors of Psychotropic Treatment Choices for Older Patients With Dementia

Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with the selection of pharmacological treatments often given as first-line treatments to elderly patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia. It also evaluated patterns of medication usage over time in the year preceding and three years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning for antipsychotic usage. Methods:A retrospective cohort consisted of 19,517 Veterans Affairs patients with diagnosed dementia and a new outpatient start with an antipsychotic agent (haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone) or valproic acid and its derivatives between May 1, 2004, and September 30, 2008. Patient and facility characteristics were examined for their association with the new starts of these medications. Results:Trends in the rate of fills for psychotropic medications varied, with yearly increases in the use of quetiapine, haloperidol, and valproic acid and decreasing use of olanzapine and risperidone...