cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An interactive graduate student records system

This project involved the development of an interactive storage and retrieval system for School of Education graduate student records.The School of Education wanted to convert from a paper system involving notebooks of graduate student information to an online system allowing for adding, deleting, updating, and displaying of the student records, and also for the generation of reports. Initially, the School of Education wanted the system to include personal data, summary academic data, and academic program data such as courses completed and additional courses required. Due to the complexity of the academic programs, however, the system was designed to maintain only the personal and summary academic data.All programs were written to run on a Data General minicomputer using Data General's FORTRAN 5. Menu selection followed by specific prompts allow for the operation of the system after minimal instruction.The data is stored in a random access file with individual records being identified by social security numbers. A "dictionary" file contains social security numbers along with relative record numbers. The report generation routine uses prompts to construct a SAS program, copies the data into a card-image file which is sent with the SAS program to a state university system for batch processing.
Quadrupole mixing in hadronic atoms: An additional probe of the hadron-nucleus interaction

Abstract We calculate the effect of the nuclear electric quadrupole moment on the yields of hadronic X-rays. For each negative hadron there are a few nuclei for which the effect is large and readily observable. Results are presented for kaonic atoms with distorted even-even nuclei .
A Novel All Fiber Magneto-optic On-off Switch

This paper represents recent results and efforts in developing the concept and the implementation of an all fiber optical on-off switch based on Faraday Effect exhibited by magneto-optic (MO) materials such as rare earth doped iron garnets. The on-off function of the switch is useful for isolation and connection of node/nodes from the network without having to electronically turn off the laser. In this paper Faraday rotation of the polarization of light with a variable bias magnetic field is demonstrated. An extinction ratio of about 19dB is measured. It can be improved further by additional Faraday rotation created by another MO material in the light path. The interferometric configuration of the switch design reduces its dependence on the polarization. The biasing circuit for the magnetic field should be able to change the voltage rapidly in order to obtain fast operating time of the optical switch. The inductance of the coil used for generating the required magnetic field is the bottleneck for rapid switching of the magnetic field in the magneto-optic material. Circuits used to change the voltage across the bias circuit rapidly are discussed. The switching speed of magneto-optic materials depends on the speed of the domain walls. The switching time for the magneto-optic material will be discussed. Thick film ferrimagnetic bismuth-substituted rare-earth iron garnets are used as the Faraday rotators.
TH‐C‐L100F‐02: Instrumentation Noise Equivalent Exposure (INEE) and the Effect of Detector Blurring and Image Post‐Process Smoothing: A Simulation Study

Purpose: To investigate the behavior of Instrumentation‐Noise‐Equivalent Exposure (INEE) when there is detector blurring and image post‐process smoothing. Method and Materials: INEE is the exposure at which detectedquantum noise and instrumentation noise are equal, and below which the system becomes instrumentation noise limited. In order to understand the effect of detector blurring and post‐process smoothing on the determination of INEE, Poisson‐distributed random numbers (representing input x‐ray quanta per pixel) were generated that simulate an ideal input x‐ray image pattern. Blurring functions were simulated by Gaussian pointspread functions with different full‐width‐half‐maxima (FWHM), defined in a 15 pixel × 15 pixel kernel. The reference pixel‐size and x‐ray fluence were selected following a set of measurements on a custom Microangiographic detector (43 μm square‐image‐pixels in 1024×1024 pixel matrix). A two‐dimensional discrete convolution of the Poisson‐distributed image with the Gaussian blurring function results in an image with reduced total‐noise, but constant signal. The instrumentation‐noise was simulated by an additive constant‐variance and zero‐mean noise. Addition of instrumentation noise after the blurring process simulates the detector‐blurring case, whereas addition before the blurring process represents the image‐post‐process smoothing. This study assumed that the system has no secondary‐quantum‐sink and follows Poisson statistics throughout the imaging‐chain. INEE was determined by calculating the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) over a range of input exposures, and analyzed as a function of Gaussian‐width and additivenoise levels. Results: The square‐root of INEE is shown to increase linearly with detector‐Gaussian‐blur width, but is shown to be independent of image‐post‐process smoothing. For this particular study, a one‐pixel increase in FWHM of the blurring function resulted in 1.5x higher output SNR. Conclusion: A simple simulation study was presented to demonstrate that the SNR‐based practical measurement of INEE is independent of image‐post‐process smoothing in digital x‐ray imagingsystems. (Partial support: NIH R01‐NS43924, R01‐EB002873, Toshiba Corp.).
A Comparison of Rorschach Records of Three Multiple Personalities

Summary Inter- and intra-protocol comparisons among the Rorschachs of three authenticated cases of multiple personality were presented. The original or primary personalities seemed reasonably complex but, as successive personalities emerged, a definite tendency toward simplification was noted. A theoretical explanation for this phenomenon was advanced.
Cyclic AMP binding to the amphibian oocyte plasma membrane: possible interrealtionship between meiotic arrest and membrane fluidity

Abstract Cyclic AMP, which maintains the vertebrate oocyte in prophase arrest under physiological conditions, exhibits specific and saturable binding to the cytoplasmic face of the prophase-arrested Rana pipiens oocyte membrane. Scatchard type analyses of [3H]cAMP binding to isolated plasma membranes indicate a single class of binding sites with a Kd = 19.3 ± 7.0 nM at cAMP concentrations below 10−6 M and additional low affinity site(s) and/or non-specific binding at concentrations above 10−6 M. Photoaffinity labeling of prophase oocyte plasma membranes with [32P]-8-N3cAMP demonstrates cAMP/cGMP-displacable binding of 8-N3[32P]cAMP to a 100–110 kDa peptide doublet. Plasma membrane fluidity was monitored by electron spin resonance in isolated plasma-vitelline membranes using a 5-doxyl stearic acid probe. Exogenous dibutryl cAMP (dbcAMP) produces an increase in membrane fluidity within minutes and blocks and/or reverses the progesterone-induced decrease in plasma membrane fluidity. The dbcAMP concentration that produced half-maximal fluidity increase (10 μM) corresponds to the half-maximal inhibiting dose of dbcAMP for progesterone induction of meiosis. Cholera toxin, which elevates intracellular cAMP and blocks meiosis, also increases membrane fluidity and inhibits progesterone-induced decrease in membrane fluidity. Elevated levels of intracellular cAMP thus appear to maintain meiotic arrest by binding to specific plasma membrane site(s) and maintaining the plasma membrane in a relatively fluid state. The progesterone-induced fall in intracellular cAMP first reported in Rana thus appears to be responsible for the progesterone-induced increase in membrane fluidity and further suggests that the change in membrane order is essential for the resumption of the meiotic divisions.
Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance colonography: challenge for colonoscopy.

Background: Computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) colonography are new noninvasive techniques to examine the colon. Methods: A literature search was performed through 2/1/2012, and relevant studies included in the review. Results: MR colonography is evolving, and holds the promise that it may achieve high-level sensitivity for adenomas and cancers without exposure to radiation. CT colonography is much more mature at this point in time, and has received great attention in the last decade as a colon imaging tool, including potentially as a primary colon cancer screening method. Its accuracy for detection of polypoid lesions ≥1 cm is high, likely close to that of colonoscopy. New techniques focusing on minimally prepped CT colonography hold the potential of making the procedure more widely accepted. While radiation exposure with CT colonography is a concern, this risk is likely very modest, particularly if used in patients over the age of 50. CT colonography, while a viable colon cancer screening modality in the USA, could not be widely implemented, largely because of lack of standards for training and reading, and because the number of skilled readers is limited. Summary: MR and CT colonography are relatively novel and exciting modalities that can be used to identify colonic lesions. They promise a high level of sensitivity and pose essentially no (MR) or modest (CT) risks. Future investigation will likely lead to wider acceptance of both of these tests, including perhaps to their use in colon cancer screening programs.
Design, synthesis, and pr eliminary characterization of tyrosine-containing polyarylates: New biomaterials for medical applications

Five structurally related, aliphatic polyarylates were synthesized from tyrosine-derived diphenols and diacids. The diphenols were a homologous series of three desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine alkyl esters (ethyl, hexyl, octyl) which had previously been used in the synthesis of mechanically strong and tissue-compatible polycarbonates. The diacids (succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid) were selected among compounds that were known to be of low systemic toxicity. By using different diacids as comonomers, the flexibility of the polymer backbone could be varied while the desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine alkyl esters provided pendent chains of various length. Some of the thermal and mechanical properties of the five polymers could be correlated to their chemical structure: the glass transition temperature decreased from 53 to 13°C, and the tensile modulus (measured at room temperature) decreased from 1500 to about 3 MPa when the length of the aliphatic diacid in the polymer backbone and/or the length of the alkyl ester pe...
Fuel-Reduction Treatment Effects on Avian Community Structure and Diversity

Abstract We assessed responses of the breeding bird community to mechanical thinning and prescribed surface fire, alone and in combination, between 2000 and 2006 in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests in northern Arizona, USA. Fuel-reduction treatments did not affect species richness or evenness, and effects on density of 5 commonly detected species varied among species. Populations of some species, such as the western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), increased following burning treatments, whereas others, such as the mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli), decreased in response to thinning treatments. Our results also identified a temporal response component, where avian community composition and structure changed synchronously on all treatments over time. Given the modest effects these small-scale fuel-reduction treatments had on avian composition and the specific density responses of particular species, our results suggest that land managers should consider implementing prescribed surface fire after thin...
Covalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Materials Applications

Covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has significantly expanded the utility of the nanotube structure. Covalent sidewall functionalization has been employed to increase the solubility of these materials, which allows for the manipulation and processing of these otherwise insoluble nanotubes. Increased solubility leads to better dispersion in polymeric systems. Functionalization can be performed selectively wherein the metallic SWNTs react faster than the semiconductors. This has allowed a separation of carbon nanotubes by type. Covalent sidewall functionalization also allows nanotube-based composite formation where the functional group is well mixed with the polymer matrix. This has led to dramatic increases in the modulus of elastomers while retaining their elongation-at-break properties.
Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Conformational Regulation

Nitric Oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule that is involved in many physiological processes. In cells, NO is produced by Nitric Oxide Synthases (NOs) then bind to its principal receptor Soluble Guanylate Cyclase (sGC). Upon NO binding, sGC activity increases as it catalyzes the conversion of its substrate GTP to cGMP. As a second messenger, cGMP regulates series of proteins further downstream in the signaling cascade that promotes smooth muscle relaxation, vasodilation, and also inhibits platelet aggregation. Hence, sGC is targeted as a possible therapeutic agent for treatment in pulmonary hypertension and prevention of blood clot formation. Recent interest revolves around the different sGC effectors that may increase the enzyme activity and cGMP production. Intrinsically, CO and NO bind to sGC inducing different activity levels of 5 fold and 400 fold respectively. Synthetic compound, such as YC-1 and BAY 41-2272, activates sGC up to 10 fold independently from NO. However, the presence of both NO and YC-1 molecule pose an additive effect on sGC activity. YC-1 has also been noted to work synergistically with CO increasing activation level that is comparable to NO. Our objective is to distinguish of the sGC activation mechanism between sGC/CO/YC-1 and sGC/NO/YC-1 complex from a structural perspective. Current information has indicated that sGC/CO/YC-1 forms a 6-coordinate complex while sGC/NO/YC-1 forms a 5-coordinate complex. Unfortunately, there are limited information on the binding sites interactions and the overall structure of the enzyme upon activation. We employed fluorescence spectroscopy to observe the global rearrangement of sGC in the presence of effectors by observing the behavior of the reporter residue Trp that is located in each α and β subunit. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) will also be utilized to determine the distance between the binding sites in different sGC complexes
A Small-Angle Scatterometer

The design, analysis, and performance of a small-angle scatterometer are presented. A dye-cell Gaussian apodized aperture is utilized to reduce the small-angle diffraction background. After the diffraction background is sufficiently reduced, the system scatter becomes the dominant noise in the instrument beam profile. The geometrical aberrations are graphically shown to have no significant effect on the higher-order diffraction rings of the beam profile, and as such, an aberrational tolerancing approach can be employed in scatterometer design. Small-angle scattered light measurements are presented for two mirror samples. The associated beam profiles and NEBRDF levels are also given.
Effect of simultaneous B + and N + 2 implantation on microhardness, fatigue life, and microstructure in Fe-13Cr-15Ni base alloys

Microhardness and cantilever beam fatigue measurements were conducted on Fe–13Cr–15Ni base austenitic alloys that were implanted with boron and nitrogen ions either singly or simultaneously. The microstructure of the modified surface layer and dislocation slip modes after fatigue tests were investigated by optical and transmission electron microscopy. Both hardness and fatigue life were improved by ion implantation, but the greatest improvement was achieved when boron and nitrogen were implanted simultaneously. The degree of fatigue life improvement also varied with minor changes in the base alloying compositions: nitrogen was detrimental or ineffective in the presence of titanium, and boron was much more effective in the presence of molybdenum. Comparison of slip band morphology between the compression and tension cycles indicated that implantation improved the reversibility of surface slip and delayed crack initiation.
The synergy of human and artificial intelligence in software engineering

To reduce human efforts and burden on human intelligence in software-engineering activities, Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques have been employed to assist or automate these activities. On the other hand, human's domain knowledge can serve as starting points for designing AI techniques. Furthermore, the results of AI techniques are often interpreted or verified by human users. Such user feedback could be incorporated to further improve the AI techniques, forming a continuous feedback loop. We recently proposed cooperative testing and analysis including human-tool cooperation (consisting of human-assisted computing and human-centric computing) and human-human cooperation. In this paper, we present example software-engineering problems with solutions that leverage the synergy of human and artificial intelligence, and illustrate how cooperative testing and analysis can help realize such synergy.
Indentation Technique to Investigate Elastic Moduli of Thin Films on Substrates

Closed-form elasticity solutions are introduced, that predict the average displacement beneath square and triangular, uniformly loaded areas at the surface of a bilayer. The solutions aid in the application of depth-sensing indentation techniques for measuring thin film elastic moduli. The elasticity solutions agree closely with experimental data of Al, Si, 1 μm Al on Si, and 2 μm Cr on Si. The case of poor adhesion between the film and substrate is briefly examined.
Tuition Discounting for Revenue Management.

Over the past decade, institutionally-funded financial aid (or “tuition discounts”) have been the fastest-growing item within most public four-year college and university operating budgets. One explanation for this trend is due to the changing structure of public colleges’ revenue streams, as tuition and fees have replaced state appropriations as a viable and predictable source of funding. This analysis explores the extent to which expenditures on institutionally-funded financial aid generates additional revenue for public four-year colleges and universities. Using institutional data (n = 174) from 2002 to 2008, the analysis implements a generalized method of moments (GMM) technique and concludes that aid indeed can be leveraged for revenue generation. However, this relationship is only sustainable to a certain point. When unfunded tuition discount rates exceed approximately 13%, institutions may experience diminishing revenue returns to this financial aid investment.
Unmet needs for developmental disabilities services

Data collected from a representative sample of persons who are developmentally disabled living in three counties in Florida in 1989 were analyzed to determine the number of services these persons receive, the extent to which they do not receive services they need, the reasons these services are not received, and the factors which are related to satisfaction with services. A battery of 90 services which can be grouped into 8 general categories was used, and the data were collected in face-to-face interviews with 312 persons.
Teaching Critical Thinking: Focusing on Metacognitive Skills and Problem Solving:

To become a better critical thinker, one not only must develop expert thinking skills but also become an expert at choosing the best skills for the particular situation. These two components of critical thinking can be described as maximizing the efficiency and accuracy of one's cognitive and metacognitive skills for successful actions. The development of students' cognitive and metacognitive skills was the approach taken to teach a required critical-thinking course. Students assessed different aspects of their own thinking and problem-solving skills before and after a module on problem solving and decision making. Comparisons between above-average and below-average students indicated that students learn to choose general approaches to their problems and learn more specific strategies for successfully resolving their problems. Factor analyses of the students' self-assessments and changes in factor structures indicated that students improved their critical-thinking skills and were aware of their improvements.
Mobilizing Conservative Women: The Viennese Katholische Frauenorganisation in the 1920s

In the 1920s newly enfranchised Austrian women crossed the line separating the private sphere of home and family and entered the arena of political participation. Catholic women, schooled in the experience of their church organizations, were no exception. But although they mobilized within the democratic framework and under the rights and privileges provided by the First Republic, their initial agenda consisted of a commitment to the primacy of woman's role as mother and homemaker, and saw involvement in the political arena merely as an expedient in defense of the domestic sphere. Furthermore, the Weltanschauung of Catholic women was initially hostile to parliamentary democracy, to the very system that allowed—or in their eyes made necessary—their political mobilization.
Wide-Band Operation of Microstrip Circulators

Octave bandwidth operation of Y-junction stripline and microstrip circulators is predicted using Bosma's Green's function analysis. The width of the coupling transmission lines is found to be a significant design parameter. Theoretical and experimental results are presented which show that wide lines and a smaller than usual disk radius can be used to obtain wide-band operation. A microstrip circulator is reported which operates from 7-15 GHz. Also presented are an analysis of the input impedance and an approximate equivalent circuit for the Y-junction circulator which shows the relationship between Bosma's equivalent circuit and that of Fay and Comstock.
Cerulein-induced in vitro activation of trypsinogen in rat pancreatic acini is mediated by cathepsin B

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: One of the central, unresolved issues in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis is the uncertainty regarding the mechanisms responsible for the premature intrapancreatic activation of digestive enzyme zymogens. The aim of the current study was to develop and characterize an in vitro system that might mimic the events leading to trypsinogen activation within the pancreas during pancreatitis. METHODS: Activation of trypsinogen in response to stimulation with cerulein was quantitated in isolated rat pancreatic acini. RESULTS: Activation of trypsinogen was detected within 10 minutes of exposing isolated rat pancreatic acini, in Ca2+-containing buffer, to a supramaximally stimulating concentration of cerulein in vitro. Complete inhibition of pancreatic cathepsin B activity with E-64d, a specific, potent and irreversible cathepsin B inhibitor, prevents cerulein- induced in vitro trypsinogen activation. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro activation of trypsinogen can be detected when pancreatic acini are exposed to a supramaximally stimulating dose of cerulein. The results using this in vitro system support the hypothesis that the appearance of active trypsin within the pancreas during the early stages of cerulein-induced pancreatitis reflects activation of trypsinogen by the lysosomal hydrolase cathepsin B. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jul;113(1):304-10)
Estimation of vegetation water content and photosynthetic tissue area from spectral reflectance: a comparison of indices based on liquid water and chlorophyll absorption features

Abstract Because of the high water content of vegetation, water absorption features dominate spectral reflectance of vegetation in the near-infrared region of the spectrum. In comparison to indices based on chlorophyll absorption features (such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)), indices based on the water absorption bands are expected to “see” more deeply into thick canopies and have a preferential sensitivity to thin as opposed to thick tissues. These predictions are based on the much lower absorption coefficients for water in the short wavelength water bands as compared to chlorophyll. Thus, the water bands may have advantages over NDVI for remote sensing of photosynthetic tissues. Previous studies have primarily related water band indices (WI) to leaf area index (LAI). Here we expand the definition of photosynthetic tissues to include thin green stems and fruits and measure a wide range of species to determine the influence of variable tissue morphologies and canopy structures on these relationships. As expected, indices based on reflectance in the water absorption bands in the near infrared were best correlated with the water content of thin tissues (less than 0.5-cm thickness). The choice of wavelength for a water index was much more important for thick than for thin canopies, and the best wavelengths were those where water absorptance was weak to moderate. We identified three wavelength regions (950–970, 1150–1260 and 1520–1540 nm) that produced the best overall correlations with water content. Comparison of these wavelength regions with the atmospheric “windows” where water vapor absorption is minimal suggests that the 1150–1260 and 1520–1540 nm regions would be the best wavelengths for satellite remote sensing of water content. We also developed and tested a new Canopy Structure Index (CSI) that combines the low absorptance water bands with the simple ratio vegetation index (SR) to produce an index with a wider range of sensitivity to photosynthetic tissue area at all canopy thicknesses. CSI was better than either WI or SR alone for prediction of total area of photosynthetic tissues. However, SR was best for prediction of leaf area when other green tissues were excluded. All of these relationships showed good generality across a wide range of species and functional types.
Regulation of Dictyostelium Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase-3 (PTP3) through Osmotic Shock and Stress Stimulation and Identification of pp130 as a PTP3 Substrate

Osmotic shock and growth-medium stimulation of Dictyostelium cells results in rapid cell rounding, a reduction in cell volume, and a rearrangement of the cytoskeleton that leads to resistance to osmotic shock. Osmotic shock induces the activation of guanylyl cyclase, a rise in cGMP mediating the phosphorylation of myosin II, and the tyrosine phosphorylation of actin and the approximately 130-kDa protein (p130). We present data suggesting that signaling pathways leading to these different responses are, at least in part, independent. We show that a variety of stresses induce the Ser/Thr phosphorylation of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase-3 (PTP3). This modification does not alter PTP3 catalytic activity but correlates with its translocation from the cytosol to subcellular structures that co-localize to endosomal vesicles. This translocation is independent of PTP3 activity. Mutation of the catalytically essential Cys to a Ser results in inactive PTP3 that forms a stable complex with tyrosine-phosphorylated p130 (pp130) in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that PTP3 has a substrate specificity for pp130. The data suggest that stresses activate several interacting signaling pathways controlled by Ser/Thr and Tyr phosphorylation, which, along with the activation of guanylyl cyclase, mediate the ability of this organism to respond to adverse changes in the external environment.
mRNA Cap Methylation Influences Pathogenesis of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus In Vivo

ABSTRACT One role of mRNA cap guanine-N-7 (G-N-7) methylation is to facilitate the efficient translation of mRNA. The role of mRNA cap ribose 2′-O methylation is enigmatic, although recent work has implicated this as a signature to avoid detection of RNA by the innate immune system (S. Daffis, K. J. Szretter, J. Schriewer, J. Q. Li, S. Youn, J. Errett, T. Y. Lin, S. Schneller, R. Zust, H. P. Dong, V. Thiel, G. C. Sen, V. Fensterl, W. B. Klimstra, T. C. Pierson, R. M. Buller, M. Gale, P. Y. Shi, M. S. Diamond, Nature 468:452-456, 2010, doi:10.1038/nature09489). Working with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), we previously showed that a panel of recombinant VSVs carrying mutations at a predicted methyltransferase catalytic site (rVSV-K1651A, -D1762A, and -E1833Q) or S -adenosylmethionine (SAM) binding site (rVSV-G1670A, -G1672A, and -G4A) were defective in cap methylation and were also attenuated for growth in cell culture. Here, we analyzed the virulence of these recombinants in mice. We found that rVSV-K1651A, -D1762A, and -E1833Q, which are defective in both G-N-7 and 2′-O methylation, were highly attenuated in mice. All three viruses elicited a high level of neutralizing antibody and provided full protection against challenge with the virulent VSV. In contrast, mice inoculated with rVSV-G1670A and -G1672A, which are defective only in G-N-7 methylation, were attenuated in vivo yet retained a low level of virulence. rVSV-G4A, which is completely defective in both G-N-7 and 2′-O methylation, also exhibited low virulence in mice despite the fact that productive viral replication was not detected in lung and brain. Taken together, our results suggest that abrogation of viral mRNA cap methylation can serve as an approach to attenuate VSV, and perhaps other nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses, for potential application as vaccines and viral vectors. IMPORTANCE Nonsegmented negative-sense (NNS) RNA viruses include a wide range of significant human, animal, and plant pathogens. For many of these viruses, there are no vaccines or antiviral drugs available. mRNA cap methylation is essential for mRNA stability and efficient translation. Our current understanding of mRNA modifications of NNS RNA viruses comes largely from studies of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). In this study, we showed that recombinant VSVs (rVSVs) defective in mRNA cap methylation were attenuated in vitro and in vivo . In addition, these methyltransferase (MTase)-defective rVSVs triggered high levels of antibody responses and provided complete protection against VSV infection. Thus, this study will not only contribute to our understanding of the role of mRNA cap MTase in viral pathogenesis but also facilitate the development of new live attenuated vaccines for VSV, and perhaps other NNS RNA viruses, by inhibiting viral mRNA cap methylation.
Regression analysis of panel count data with covariate-dependent observation and censoring times

Panel count data often occur in a long-term study where the primary end point is the time to a specific event and each subject may experience multiple recurrences of this event. Furthermore, suppose that it is not feasible to keep subjects under observation continuously and the numbers of recurrences for each subject are only recorded at several distinct time points over the study period. Moreover, the set of observation times may vary from subject to subject. In this paper, regression methods, which are derived under simple semiparametric models, are proposed for the analysis of such longitudinal count data. Especially, we consider the situation when both observation and censoring times may depend on covariates. The new procedures are illustrated with data from a well-known cancer study.
The Tradeoff Between Mortgage Prepayments and Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings

Many households face the trade-off between paying an extra dollar off the remaining mortgage on their house and saving that extra dollar in tax-deferred accounts (TDAs) used for retirement. We show that, under certain conditions, it becomes a tax arbitrage to reduce mortgage prepayments and to increase TDA contributions because of the tax-deductibility of mortgage interest and tax-exemption of qualified retirement savings. Using data from the Survey of Consumer Finances, we document that a significant number of households that are accelerating their mortgage payments instead of saving in a TDA forgo a profitable tax arbitrage opportunity. Finally, we show empirically that this inefficient behavior is unlikely to be driven by liquidity or other financial constraints. Rather, the observed behavior can be attributed to a certain extent to the reluctance of many households to participate in financial markets as either lenders or borrowers.
The Work of Steering Instruction Toward the Mathematical Point A Decomposition of Teaching Practice

Despite its centrality in teaching, what it takes to identify the goals of instruction and use those goals to manage the work has yet to be articulated in ways that it can be adequately studied or taught. Using data from preservice teachers’ mathematics lessons, this study identifies and illustrates seven central tasks of “steering instruction toward the mathematical point”: attending to and managing multiple purposes, spending instructional time on mathematical work, spending instructional time on the intended mathematics, making sure students are doing the mathematical work, developing and maintaining a mathematical storyline, opening up and emphasizing key mathematical ideas, and keeping a focus on meaning. Findings can inform teacher education, research on teaching, and the design of curriculum materials.
A 1.75 GHz piezoelectrically-transduced SiC lateral overmoded bulk acoustic-wave resonator

This paper presents the development and study of a novel lateral overmoded bulk acoustic-wave resonator (LOBAR) using piezoelectric AlN on SiC technology. The SiC LOBAR is a new class of resonant devices in which multiple longitudinal vibrations are excited in a high quality factor (Q) acoustic cavity (SiC) by means of a miniaturized AlN transducer that occupies a small fraction of the device volume (210 µm3 of AlN versus 42,021 µm3 of SiC). The first LOBAR prototype reported herein exhibits a Q of 4250 for a series resonance at 1.75 GHz - one of the highest Q demonstrated for micro-resonators using piezoelectric transduction at GHz frequencies. The use of two materials capable of operations at high temperature and in harsh environments [1] simultaneously offers high Q (SiC) and high transduction efficiency (AlN) and enables, for the first time, the development of RF MEMS components for a new realm of applications.
Bone mineral density in children with myelomeningocele: effect of hydrochlorothiazide.

Children with myelomeningocele experience difficulty with ambulation, which leads to immobilization and secondary loss of bone mineral density (BMD). In addition, non-ambulatory myelomeningocele patients have higher urinary calcium losses than their ambulatory counterparts. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is known to reduce urinary calcium loss and increase BMD in non-myelomeningocele patients with hypercalciuria. This study examines the effect of HCTZ on urinary calcium and BMD in non-ambulatory children with myelomeningocele. Thirteen of 20 non-ambulatory patients with myelomeningocele completed the year-long randomized double-blinded study (placebo = 7 and HCTZ = 6). Evaluation included electrolytes, PTH, osteocalcin, 1, 25-OH vitamin D, urinary pyridinolines/deoxypyridinolines (Upyr/dpyr), urinary calcium/creatinine (UCa/Cr), and forearm BMD (dual X-ray absorptiometry). Follow-up electrolytes were obtained at 1–2, 6, and 12 months and UCa/Cr and BMD was obtained again at 12 months. There were no initial differences between the placebo and HCTZ groups. UCa/Cr decreased in the HCTZ group after treatment (0.20±0.09 vs. 0.04±0.02, p<0.05). However, forearm BMD (z-scores) after 1 year remained unchanged in both the HCTZ (−5.95±0.98 to −5.86±0.92) and placebo (−7.19±0.69 to −6.67±0.63) groups. While use of HCTZ for 1 year did not affect BMD, it reduced urinary calcium excretion in non-ambulatory children with myelomeningocele.
Prevalence of Migraine in Patients With Celiac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background.—European studies have demonstrated increased prevalence of headache of patients with celiac disease compared with controls. Methods.—Subjects took a self-administered survey containing clinical,demographic,and dietary data,as well as questions about headache type and frequency. The ID-Migraine screening tool and the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) were also used. Results.—Five hundred and two subjects who met exclusion criteria were analyzed ‐ 188 with celiac disease, 111 with IBD, 25 with gluten sensitivity (GS), and 178 controls (C). Chronic headaches were reported by 30% of celiac disease, 56% of GS, 23% of IBD, and 14% of control subjects (P 65 was protective (P = .0345). Seventy-two percent of celiac disease subjects graded their migraine as severe in impact, compared with 30% of IBD, 60% of GS, and 50% of C subjects (P = .0919). There was no correlation between years on gluten-free diet and migraine severity. Conclusions.—Migraine was more prevalent in celiac disease and IBD subjects than in controls. Future studies should include screening migraine patients for celiac disease and assessing the effects of gluten-free diet on migraines in celiac disease.
Algorithms for the spatial single relay channel

The spatial single relay channel consists of a transmitter, a relay and a receiver located in an environment with distance-dependent path loss as well as scattering. We describe an optimal and a heuristic algorithm for achieving the maximum data rate from the transmitter to the receiver on non-overlapping spatial channels. These algorithms can be applied to existing wireless LAN systems that aim to increase their performance via relays. We demonstrate the effects of proximity gain and multiplexing gain in determining the optimal relay position. By simulation, we demonstrate the effects of randomly generated scatterers, scatterer position asymmetries, and the scatterer area on the maximum data rate.
Surgical resection of giant metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the heart

A 44-year-old woman underwent a hysterectomy for leiomyosarcoma in 1969. Cardiac invasion was detected in 1981 but the tumor was considered inoperable. In 1985, 16 years after hysterectomy, malignant tamponade developed as a result of a massive tumor arising from the left ventricle. Emergency decompression by median sternotomy and tube thoracostomy was followed a week later by tumor resection and simultaneous excison of a lung metastasis with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. The cardiac tumor weighed 719 gm. A residual pelvic tumor found on a computed tomographic scan was subsequently removed. She is alive and well 22 months after the operation. Aggressive surgical resection of cardiac and other metastases of this slowly growing tumor can be lifesaving.
TFRC friendliness and the case of ECN: Research Articles

The TFRC protocol has been proposed as a TCP-friendly protocol to transport streaming media over the Internet. However, its deployment is still questionable because it has not been compared to other important protocols, analysed in the presence of important mechanisms, such as the explicit congestion notification (ECN), and studied under more realistic network conditions. In this paper, we address these three aspects, including other congestion control protocols not considered before in the same investigation, such as TCP Tahoe, Reno, Newreno, Vegas, Sack, GAIMD, and the Binomial algorithms, the effect of using ECN in the friendliness of the protocols, and the fairness of the protocols under static and dynamic network conditions. We found that TFRC can be safely deployed in the Internet if competing with TCP Tahoe, New Reno and SACK since fairness is achieved under all scenarios considered. We also found that ECN actually helps in achieving better fairness. However, fairness problems arise when TFRC competes with TCP Reno, GAIMD, SQRT or IIAD in static or dynamic conditions, or both. We used normalized throughput, fairness index, and convergence time as the main performance metrics for comparison. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE ACTIVITY OF SOME RESPIRATORY-ASSOCIATED ENZYMES IN STEROL AND NONSTEROL GROWN CULTURES OF PHYTOPHTHORA CACTORUM

Species of the Pythiaceae, consisting of the genera Pythium and Phytophthora, have been shown to require the presence of exogenous sterols for reproduction and/or growth (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15). Schlosser and Gottlieb (14) have shown that when species of Pythium bind exogenous sterols, they become sensitive to the polyene antibiotic filipin. Such action indicates localization of sterol at the cell membrane since polyene antibiotics bind with sterols at that site. These workers also report (15) that Pythium ultimum Trow in the presence of cholesterol utilized labeled glucose and released 14C02 at a faster rate than did the sterol-free mycelium. Thus, sterols, which appear to be localized at the cell membrane, may be involved in some manner in the metabolism or uptake of carbohydrates. Little information exists concerning the effects of sterols on enzyme activity of Phytophthora spp. Since sterols have been implicated in the respiratory process (15, 16), three key respiratory-associated enzymes, aldolase, L-glutamic acid-oxaloacetic acid transaminase (GOT), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) were chosen for study in cultures of Phytophthora cactorum (Leb. & Cohn) Schroet. grown with and without /3-sitosterol. The isolate of Phytophthora cactorum used in this study, N-94, was
Africanized Bees: The Africanization Process and Potential Range in the United States

Evaluating the problems likely to be caused by insects not yet in the United States is an unusual enterprise for entomologists. The complexity of the biological world causes such predictions to be wrong at least as often as they are correct, which rarely makes the exercise desirable. But, rarely do we have an opportunity to see a spreading insect population moving toward our borders, as is the case with Africanized bees. The attempt of Taylor (1985) to predict their spread and impact is noteworthy. Only with such attempts can we alert our scientific and agricultural establishments to prepare themselves to mitigate potential problems. However, the predictions of Taylor may have left some Bulletin readers with the impression that the impact is most likely to be small and regional, that the Africanization process is fully documented, and that all the important basic research has been finished.
The Use of Food as a Buffer in a Predator-Prey System

The purpose of this report is to explore the role of a buffer in the problems of predation. The particular system used was that of cat-rat because the numbers of predators and of prey can be counted and manipulated and a buffer can be easily provided. While of course this system lacks the complexities of a completely wild predator-prey relationship, it is believed that much can be learned by simplifying the problem and approaching it experimentally. The theory of a predator-prey system has been elaborated mathematically by many writers for a generation and is now a part of general ecological knowledge. In brief, the system involves several species, some of which eat the others. As the prey increase the predators follow and in some cases consume enough prey to cause a decline of prey. Then the predators decline till they no longer can hold the prey in check and the prey again increase. The critical point in reference to buffers is the extent of decline of prey. It is possible for the prey to become so scarce that the predators may starve or leave. Then of course the prey can increase very rapidly until other predators arrive. But if a buffer is present the predators can turn to it when the prey become scarce and thus the predators remain and are ready when the prey begins to increase. The buffer thus may keep the predators on hand to check the increase of prey and thereby the predators may hold down the prey population. Among predator-prey systems involving two vertebrates there exist few cases in which the predator really limits the prey population, although such cases are common among invertebrates, especially insects. Apparently the adjustment of changes in populations is not suitable, among vertebrates, to permit predators to maintain a number …
Comment on “Seeding, Controlling, and Benefiting from the Microbunching Instability”

A Comment on the Letter by S. Seletskiy, B. Podobedov, Y. Shen, and X. Yang, Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 034803 (2013). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Imaging.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, responsible for 1 in every 4 women’s deaths. Despite increases in awareness over the past decade, only 54% of women recognize that heart disease is their number 1 killer. Almost two-thirds (64%) of women who die suddenly
Detection of Internal Insulation Defects of Composite Insulator Based on Electro-optic Electric Field Sensor

To promote the detection sensitivity of the electric field mapping method, we set up an experimental system based on electro-optic electric field sensors for the defect detection of composite insulator. Then we performed simulative defect detection experiments and got the axial electric field distribution with depression near the sheds along the insulators so as to prove the validity of the proposed method. We also tested some insulators obtained from ageing experiments and field operation. The results show that, for internal insulation defects detection, optimal sensitivity can be obtained when the measurement points of the axial electric field distribution around the insulator are 10 mm far from the edge of the insulator sheds(outward), and the smallest defect that can be detected by the sensor is 20 mm long short circuit.
From inpatient to inn status. A new residential model.

This article presents a new residential model that has been developed at the Massachusetts Menetal Health Center. The “dormitory-inn” provides an alternative to 24-hour inpatient hospitalization for patients who traditionally would have been admitted and retained on inpatient services. Issues covered include hours and location, referrals, requirements for staff, medical and nursing coverage, and a review of the efficacy of the program.
Non-osteogenic fibroma of bone; a review of the literature with the addition of six cases.

The clinical history and the roentgenographic and pathological findings in six cases of non-osteogenic fibroma of bone have been included in some detail in the hope that recognition of this lesion as a distinct entity will be made somewhat easier and that this diagnosis perhaps will be more frequently considered when tumors of bone, especially in the cortical metaphyseal region, have to be treated. Complete curettage or subperiosteal resection of the affected area is supported as the method of treatment.