cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Inflation to More Inflation, Disinflation, and Low Inflation

Volume 2 of A History of the Federal Reserve (forthcoming) covers the years of inflation and disinflation, followed by a return to relatively low inflation. It addresses four questions: Why did inflation start? Why did it continue for 15 or more years, from 1965 to about 1982? Why did it end? Why did it not return? As we look back to the 1950s and 1960s, two of the many changes in the Federal Reserve System affecting inflation deserve comment. First, in the 1950s, the goal was price stability and zero reported inflation, not inflation of about 2 percent. The 1959-1960 disinflation brought reported consumer price index (CPI) inflation, measured as a 12-month moving average, to less than 1 percent from March through August 1959. This measure, again, was below 1 percent through most of 1961 and it did not reach 2 percent until early 1966. Properly measured and adjusted for biases in the price index, the true price level probably declined modestly during this period. This period of deflation was also a period of sustained economic growth. It, and several periods of deflation discussed in volume 1 of A History of the Federal Reserve (2003), show no evidence of the liquidity trap that absorbed much recent attention in the United States and Japan. A second major change is the role of economists and economic research at the Federal Reserve Board and in the Federal Reserve banks. In the 1950s, the Board had no economists as members and there were few economists as
A Monte Carlo study of methane adsorption in aluminophosphates and porous carbons.

Abstract Aluminophosphates are a variety of zeolite with the stoichiometry AIPO 4 . VPI-5 is of particular interest because its pores have a ring of 18 tetrahedral atoms, which is much larger than for any aluminosilicate based zeolites. The adsorption of methane in AIPO 4 -5 and VPI-5 at 274K was simulated using the grand canonical Monte Carlo technique. These results were compared to simulation results for model porous carbons; aluminophosphates were predicted to be unsuitable materials for methane storage.
Effect of Pillow Block Deformation on Ball Bearing Load Distribution

Support structure deflection distorts bearing rings, redistributes loads over bearing balls, and affects bearing life. In this study, solid finite elements modeled a shaft, bearing inner ring, outer ring, and pillow block. A nonlinear spring element represented each of the bearing balls. The force-versus-deflection curve of the spring element modeled the variable stiffness of the ball/raceway Hertzian contact. The curve also incorporated the diametrical clearance of the bearing to determine if each ball contacted the raceways. Further modification of the curve compensated for the compliance of the nodes of solid elements that modeled raceways. This construct avoided computationally expensive surface-to-surface contact calculations. Program output included deflection of the pillow block and a listing of spring element forces, which characterized the ball loads. The maximum ball load decreased for a bearing installed in a pillow block, and life increased. Material or geometric changes that reduced pillow block stiffness further improved life.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Validity of brief screening tools for cognitive impairment in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective To determine the validity of standardized screening assessments of cognitive functioning to detect neuropsychological impairment evaluated using a comprehensive battery in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods This is a cross-sectional study using a combined cohort of 139 persons with SLE and 82 persons with RA. Screening cut points were empirically derived using receiver operating characteristic curves and threshold selection methods. Screening measures included the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) learning and delayed recall indices and phonemic fluency, a composite measure of the 3 cognitive screening tests, and the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Short Form (PDQ-SF), a self-report measure of cognitive symptoms. A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered as the “gold standard” index of neuropsychological impairment. Results Rates of neuropsychological impairment were 27% and 15% for the SLE and RA cohorts, respectively. Optimal threshold estimations were derived for 5 screening techniques. The HVLT-R learning and phonemic fluency indices yielded the greatest sensitivity at 81%. The PDQ-SF yielded the lowest sensitivity at 52%. All measures were significantly associated with neuropsychological impairment after controlling for relevant sociodemographic covariates and depression. Conclusion These results suggest that telephone-administered screening techniques may be useful measures to identify persons with neuropsychological impairment. Specifically, measures of phonemic fluency and verbal learning appeared to be most sensitive and least likely to misclassify impaired individuals as cognitively intact. Self-reported questionnaires may have relatively decreased sensitivity compared to standardized interviewer-administered cognitive measures.
The treatment of giant tuberculous cavities.

Two groups of patients suffering from giant tuberculous cavities are analyzed and compared. Group I was treated with thoracoplasty and Group II with pulmonary resection. The final results were about equal. However we believe resection has some advantages.
Modern Computational Methodology Applied to the Simulation of Blocked Trialanine Peptide in Vacuo, Water Clusters, and Bulk Water

The results of computer simulation studies of CH3CO−(Ala)3−NHCH3 solvated in bulk computer water, solvated in computer water clusters, and in vacuo (isolated model molecule) at T = 300 K using modern computational methods are reported. The simulations were performed using a new multipurpose molecular dynamics package, PINY MD, which utilizes recently developed simulation techniques and is capable of evolving the peptide−water system with an integration time step of 6 fs, 6 times the usual value. Specifically, the conformational free energy surface of the peptide is calculated via umbrella sampling using the distance between the carbonyl oxygen of the N-terminal blocking group and the amide hydrogen of the C-terminal blocking group as the reaction coordinate. Comparisons are made between results obtained using the several different force fields, CHARMM22 (MacKerell, A. D., Jr.; et al., unpublished), CHARMM19 (Brooks, B., et al. J. Comput. Chem 1983, 4, 187.) and AMBER95 (Cornell et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1...
Developing teachers’ cultural competence: application of appreciative inquiry in ESL teacher education

This study described the application of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in a graduate-level teacher education course to guide teacher candidates’ interactions with culturally and linguistically diverse student populations. Through the process of Discover, Dream, Design, and Delivery, teacher candidates reflected on their own learning experiences, discovered students’ strengths and community assets, envisioned educational possibilities and provided recommendations for other teachers. A parallel mixed-methods design was employed to examine the impact of this experience on 21 teacher candidates who completed this course. Quantitative data were collected using the Cultural Competence Scale in a pre and post manner, and qualitative data were collected from teachers’ weekly blog entries and their reports based on their field experiences working with English learners. The findings of this study demonstrate teachers’ enhanced cultural competencies in working with English learners and illustrate their development as tea...
Exchange narrowing of electron spin resonance in a two-dimensional system

Electron-spin-resonance (ESR) measurements are reported in the two-dimensional Heisenberg magnet ${\mathrm{K}}_{2}$Mn${\mathrm{F}}_{4}$ and compared with a theory developed here. Results are in excellent agreement with calculated values and, we feel, give strong confirmation of recent theories of spin dynamics. The theory treats the linewidth $\ensuremath{\Delta}H$ and line shape in a two-dimensional Heisenberg system by assuming diffusive motion for the long-time dependence of the time correlation functions. The short-time dependence is taken to be Gaussian, and the resulting short- and long-time parts are joined together in a manner similar to that used by Gulley, Hone, Scalapino, and Silbernagel. An angular dependence roughly of the form $\ensuremath{\Delta}H\ensuremath{\propto}{(3{cos}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{-}1)}^{2}+(\mathrm{const}.)$ ($\ensuremath{\theta}$ is the angle of dc field with respect to the perpendicular to the plane) is observed at high temperature, as predicted by the theory. This angular dependence cannot be explained by either the secular or nonsecular parts of the second moment. Rather, it is due explicitly to the dominance of wave-vector $q\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ modes in the long-time decay of correlations in a two-dimensional system. As temperature is lowered toward the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature ${T}_{N}=45$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the linewidth initially decreases, passes through a minimum, and then increases rapidly near ${T}_{N}$. The angular dependence is also temperature-dependent such that $\ensuremath{\Delta}H$ ($\ensuremath{\theta}=90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$) becomes less than $\ensuremath{\Delta}H$ ($\ensuremath{\theta}=55\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$) below about 65 K. These features of the temperature dependence are consistent with the theory. Indeed, we find absolute agreement between theory and experiment to within 20% or better at all angles over a broad range of temperature. The theory contains no adjustable parameters since classical dipolar coupling is taken as the sole source of broadening and we use the same exchange constant $J$ as obtained from susceptibility measurements. The room-temperature line shape, which is Lorentzian at $\ensuremath{\theta}=55\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ and non-Lorentzian at $\ensuremath{\theta}=90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, and the frequency dependence of $\ensuremath{\Delta}H$, measured at 9.8 and 23.4 GHz, are also in agreement with theory. Shift of the resonance field with angle has been measured as well. This effect can be explained quantitatively by the net dipolar field and, contrary to the other phenomena, does not, in the main, reflect two-dimensional spin dynamics.
A novel proportional drift tube system

Abstract We have designed and tested proportional drift tubes (PDT) made of glued Kraft paper laminations. Their performance was demonstrated in tests using cosmic rays to be similar to conventional PDTs made of aluminum. The construction of the Kraft paper PDTs was simple and economical. The PDTs will be used in an experiment at LAMPF to search for neutrino oscillations.
Phonetic analyses of word and segment variation using the TIMIT corpus of American English

This paper reports a set of studies of some phonetic characteristics of the American English represented in the TIMIT speech database. First we describe some relevant characteristics of TIMIT, and how we use the non-speech files on the TIMIT CD with a commercial database program. Two studies are then described: one using only the non-audio parts of TIMIT (segmental transcriptions and durations, and speaker information), and one using the audio signal for acoustic analysis. Results of such studies should be useful not only to linguistic phoneticians but also for speech recognition lexicons and text-to-speech systems.
Leftover prescription opioids and nonmedical use among high school seniors: a multi-cohort national study.

Abstract Purpose To (1) estimate the proportion of nonmedical users of prescription opioids (i.e., used prescription opioids in the past year without a doctor's orders) who used leftover medications from their own previous prescriptions; (2) assess substance use behaviors as a function of diversion source; and (3) identify the sources for these prescribed opioids. Methods We analyzed data collected via self-administered questionnaires from nationally representative samples of high school seniors (modal age, 18 years) as a part of the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study. The sample consisted of four cohorts (senior years of 2007–2010, n = 8,888), including 647 high school seniors who reported past-year nonmedical use of prescription opioids, of whom 53% were estimated to be women. Results An estimated 36.9% of past-year nonmedical users of prescription opioids obtained these opioid medications from their own previous prescriptions. Logistic regression analyses indicated that nonmedical users who used leftover medications from their previous prescriptions were primarily motivated to relieve physical pain, whereas nonmedical users who obtained medications from other sources had significantly higher odds of prescription opioid abuse and other substance use behaviors. Based on a subanalysis of nonmedical users who obtained prescription opioids from their previous prescriptions in 2010 (n = 51), approximately 27.1% obtained them from a dentist, 45.0% obtained them from an emergency room physician, and 38.3% obtained them from another physician. Conclusions Leftover prescription opioids from previous prescriptions represent a major source of nonmedical use of prescription opioids among high school seniors. These findings indicate that enhanced vigilance is needed when prescribing and monitoring prescription opioids among adolescents, to reduce leftover medications and nonmedical use.
Building Open and Scalable Digital Forensic Tools

We define a digital forensic investigative process as scalable if it can keep the average time per investigation constant in the face of growing target sizes and diversity. In technical terms, we consider scalability in terms of speed, cost, extensibility, and user interface abstractions. We argue that both commercial and open source products are showing a growing disconnect with actual scalability needs of digital forensic practice. In our view, the current technical approaches need to be rethought from the ground up. We put forward the idea that a new generation of technologies developed for the Internet should be adapted as the architectural basis for developing the new generation of open and scalable forensic tools.
Practical all-fiber source of high-power, 120-fs pulses at 1 μm

Amplification of femtosecond pulses at 1.03 μm in a standard Yb-doped single-mode fiber is reported. A pulse energy of 8 nJ and an average power of 400 mW are obtained, limited by available pump power. To our knowledge these are the highest pulse energy and average power obtained from an integrated, single-mode fiber amplifier. After dechirping, 120-fs, 6-nJ pulses are obtained. A practical fiber-based source with performance comparable with that of a bulk solid-state laser is thus demonstrated, and scaling to substantially higher powers will be possible.
Barriers to healthcare among Asian Americans.

The myth of the well-adjusted Asian American resulted from sample-biased research studies that concluded that Asian Americans are physically healthier and financially better off than Caucasians. The myth has been perpetuated by researchers who have often categorized Asian Americans as a single, undifferentiated group rather than as distinct ethnic groups. Consequently, data analysis techniques do not reveal distinctions that may exist had the researchers controlled for ethnic group variation. The authors discussed four major barriers—language and culture, health literacy, health insurance, and immigrant status—to healthcare that may influence within-group disparities among Asian Americans that may go unreported. The authors argue that healthcare policy makers and researchers should consider Asian Americans as members of discrete ethnic groups with unique healthcare needs. Recommendations for health policies and future research are provided.
Supertracker: A Programmable Parallel Pipeline Arithmetic Processor For Auto-Cueing Target Processing

Supertracker represents a programmable parallel pipeline computer architecture that has been designed to meet the real time image processing requirements of auto-cueing target data processing. The prototype bread-board currently under development will be designed to perform input video preprocessing and processing for 525-line and 875-line TV formats FLIR video, automatic display gain and contrast control, and automatic target cueing, classification, and tracking. The video preprocessor is capable of performing operations full frames of video data in real time, e.g., frame integration, storage, 3 x 3 convolution, and neighborhood processing. The processor architecture is being implemented using bit-slice microprogrammable arithmetic processors, operating in parallel. Each processor is capable of up to 20 million operations per second. Multiple frame memories are used for additional flexibility.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Acidic mine drainage: the rate-determining step

The rate-determining step in the oxidation of iron pyrite and the formation of acidity in streams associated with coal and copper mines is the oxidation of ferrous iron. Effective pollution abatement necessitates control ling this reaction.
EarthScoping the inner workings of magmatic systems

In the shadow of one of the world's great volcanic systems, an intensive 3-day workshop was undertaken to work toward developing a scientific plan for the magmatic systems component of the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) EarthScope Initiative. This NSF-sponsored workshop was designed to provide direction to the EarthScope planning committee and the NSF in developing scientific, technical, deployment, and management decisions related to the magmatic systems component of EarthScope. The meeting featured a mixture of oral and poster scientific sessions, breakout group and plenary discussions, and a field trip to examine one of the targets of the EarthScope magmatic science research plan: Mount St. Helens. The 60 participants represented a broad cross-section of the volcanology community including geologists, geophysicists, geodesists, penologists, and geochemists. Details on the meeting plan can be viewed at http://www. unavco.net/earthscope.asp.
Effects of Harvesting Aquatic Bait Species from a Small West Virginia Stream

Abstract The potential impact of commercial bait harvest from small streams was studied in Rich Creek, West Virginia. A mail survey and personal interviews of bait dealers in the mountain areas of this state established typical harvest pressures exerted by commercial operations. Bait fish and crayfish in 50-m sections of Rich Creek were harvested three times every two weeks from May 15 until September 15, 1973, via seine and minnow traps. Treatments consisted of no harvest, a harvest simulating a typical bait dealer, and a harvest pressure twice that of a commercial dealer; all treatments were in triplicate. The effects of the harvests were determined by comparisons over time within treatments, comparisons between treatments and comparisons with final population indices. No significant differences in these comparisons were found to occur for the bait species or for the game fish species inhabiting the study sections. The different harvesting pressures did not appear to affect the densities of the bait and...
Epigenetic targets of HDAC inhibition in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Epigenetic chromatin remodeling and modifications of DNA represent central mechanisms for regulation of gene expression during brain development and in memory formation. Emerging evidence implicates epigenetic modifications in disorders of synaptic plasticity and cognition. This review focuses on recent findings that HDAC inhibitors can ameliorate deficits in synaptic plasticity, cognition, and stress-related behaviors in a wide range of neurologic and psychiatric disorders including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, anxiety and mood disorders, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, and Rett syndrome. These agents may prove useful in the clinic for the treatment of the cognitive impairments that are central elements of many neurodevelopmental, neurological, and psychiatric disorders.
Efficacy of artemisinin in experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the protozoan Leishmania sp., affects 500 000 people annually, with the Indian subcontinent contributing a significant proportion of these cases. Emerging refractoriness to conventional antimony therapy has emphasised the need for safer yet effective antileishmanial drugs. Artemisinin, a widely used antimalarial, demonstrated anti-promastigote activity and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) ranged from 100 μM to 120 μM irrespective of Leishmania species studied. Leishmania donovani -infected macrophages demonstrated decreased production of nitrite as well as mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, which was normalised by artemisinin, indicating that it exerted both a direct parasiticidal activity as well as inducing a host protective response. Furthermore, in a BALB/c model of VL, orally administered artemisinin (10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg body weight) effectively reduced both splenic weight and parasite burden, which was accompanied by a restoration of Th1 cytokines (interferon-gamma and interleukin-2). Taken together, these findings have delineated the therapeutic potential of artemisinin in experimental VL.
Singularities of a Variational Wave Equation

Abstract We analyze several aspects of the singular behavior of solutions of a variational nonlinear wave equation which models orientation waves in a massive nematic liquid crystal director field. We prove that smooth solutions develop singularities in finite time. We construct exact travelling wave solutions with cusp singularities, and use them to illustrate a phenomena of accumulation and annihilation of oscillations in sequences of solutions with bounded energy. We also prove that constant solutions of the equation are nonlinearly unstable.
Theoretical Predictors of Delinquency among Public School Students in a Mid-Southern State: The Roles of Context and Gender

Theoretical predictors of delinquency among a sample of rural and small town youths are examined by testing the impact of numerous theoretical indices both within in-school and out-of-school settin...
PhotoStudy: vocabulary learning and collaboration on fixed & mobile devices

PhotoStudy is a system that supports vocabulary study on both wired and wireless devices. It is designed to make it simple to annotate content with multimedia such as images and audio recorded on these devices. This paper presents a prototype system that uses wireless markup languages and Java MIDlets. User evaluations have been conducted, and are being continued in our iterative design approach. We report the results from questionnaire evaluations, observational studies and interviews.
Accuracy of various human NAT2 SNP genotyping panels to infer rapid, intermediate and slow acetylator phenotypes

Aim: Humans exhibit genetic polymorphism in NAT2 resulting in rapid, intermediate and slow acetylator phenotypes. Over 65 NAT2 variants possessing one or more SNPs in the 870-bp NAT2 coding region have been reported. The seven most frequent SNPs are rs1801279 (191G>A), rs1041983 (282C>T), rs1801280 (341T>C), rs1799929 (481C>T), rs1799930 (590G>A), rs1208 (803A>G) and rs1799931 (857G>A). The majority of studies investigate the NAT2 genotype assay for three SNPs: 481C>T, 590G>A and 857G>A. A tag-SNP (rs1495741) recently identified in a genome-wide association study has also been proposed as a biomarker for the NAT2 phenotype. Materials & methods: Sulfamethazine N-acetyltransferase catalytic activities were measured in cryopreserved human hepatocytes from a convenience sample of individuals in the USA with an ethnic frequency similar to the 2010 US population census. These activities were segregated by the tag-SNP rs1495741 and each of the seven SNPs described above. We assessed the accuracy of the tag-SNP a...
The Lived Experience of End-Stage Liver Failure and Liver Transplantation

This phenomenological study examined the lived experience of an individual who underwent end-stage liver failure and liver transplantation. The participant was asked to respond to the question, What was it like for you having experienced end-stage liver failure and liver transplantation? Permission was granted to tape-record the interview. Themes derived from the data analysis were identified, analyzed, and sorted. As a result, four categories were delineated: (1) uncertainty, (2) control, (3) social support, and (4) spirituality. Categories and themes contributing to a description of one individual's experience with end-stage liver failure and liver transplantation may provide direction for interventional studies designed to effect change in the lived experiences of those undergoing similar phenomena.
Long-Term Efficacy and Durability of Botulinum-A Toxin for Refractory Dysfunctional Voiding in Children

Purpose: We evaluated our long-term experience with intrasphincteric botulinum toxin A injection in children with dysfunctional voiding.Materials and Methods: From January 2006 through July 2012 we saw 2,172 neurologically normal children due to dysfunctional voiding. Of patients who presented to these visits we retrospectively identified the charts of 12 with dysfunctional voiding (8 females) in whom urotherapy and medical management failed and who underwent botulinum toxin A injection to the external urinary sphincter. Mean patient age at surgery was 10.5 years (range 4 to 19). Average followup was 45 months (range 20 to 71). Preoperatively and postoperatively all children were evaluated with history and physical examination, voiding diary, renal and pelvic ultrasound with post-void residual volume measurement and uroflowmetry.Results: Eight of the 12 children (67%) experienced significant improvement in voiding parameters. Before vs after treatment mean ± SD post-void residual urine volume was 115 ± 83...
Prevention of iron- and copper-mediated DNA damage by catecholamine and amino acid neurotransmitters, L-DOPA, and curcumin: metal binding as a general antioxidant mechanism

Concentrations of labile iron and copper are elevated in patients with neurological disorders, causing interest in metal-neurotransmitter interactions. Catecholamine (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and amino acid (glycine, glutamate, and 4-aminobutyrate) neurotransmitters are antioxidants also known to bind metal ions. To investigate the role of metal binding as an antioxidant mechanism for these neurotransmitters, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), and curcumin, their abilities to prevent iron- and copper-mediated DNA damage were quantified, cyclic voltammetry was used to determine the relationship between their redox potentials and DNA damage prevention, and UV-vis studies were conducted to determine iron and copper binding as well as iron oxidation rates. In contrast to amino acid neurotransmitters, catecholamine neurotransmitters, L-DOPA, and curcumin prevent significant iron-mediated DNA damage (IC50 values of 3.2 to 18 μM) and are electrochemically active. However, glycine and glutamate are more effective at preventing copper-mediated DNA damage (IC50 values of 35 and 12.9 μM, respectively) than L-DOPA, the only catecholamine to prevent this damage (IC50 = 73 μM). This metal-mediated DNA damage prevention is directly related to the metal-binding behaviour of these compounds. When bound to iron or copper, the catecholamines, amino acids, and curcumin significantly shift iron oxidation potentials and stabilize Fe3+ over Fe2+ and Cu2+ over Cu+, a factor that may prevent metal redox cycling in vivo. These results highlight the disparate antioxidant activities of neurotransmitters, drugs, and supplements and highlight the importance of considering metal binding when identifying antioxidants to treat and prevent neurodegenerative disorders.
Putting population-based care into practice: real option or rhetoric?

Background: Efforts to improve care have focused on population-based approaches, though little practical information exists about implementation. Methods: This report reviews relevant literature on teamwork in the context of a time-series evaluation of a demonstration project to reorganize care of a single panel of patients in a managed care setting. The proportion of the study panel achieving recommended levels for breast and colon cancer screening, warfarin control, and diabetic eye care was compared with the surrounding practice panels and the managed care population as a whole. Using unconditional logistic regression, we compared changes within populations between March 1993 and March 1995, and the rate of change between populations during the same period. Results: A model of team care was successfully implemented. Colon (occult blood in the stool) and breast (mammography) screening increased more rapidly in the study population than in the surrounding practices or plan as a whole (P Conclusion: This work shows that a team approach to population-based care is a real option. Such an approach, however, will not generalize to other settings or all conditions, and its implementation involves some major challenges.
Calibrated bioresorbable microspheres: a preliminary study on the level of occlusion and arterial distribution in a rabbit kidney model.

Abstract Purpose To assess the level of occlusion and arterial distribution of calibrated bioresorbable microspheres (BRMS-I and BRMS-II) compared with tris-acryl gelatin microspheres (TGMS) after renal embolization. Materials and Methods Six rabbits underwent renal embolization with 100–300 µm BRMS-I and TGMS; three rabbits received partial occlusion (group 1, n=3), and three rabbits received total occlusion (group 2, n=3). Four other rabbits received 100–300 µm BRMS-II (with higher cross-linking density than BRMS-I) in the left kidneys reaching total occlusion (group 3, n=4). Coronal sections of the kidneys were histologically analyzed. Ease of injection, microsphere deformation, vessel sizes, and arterial distribution were assessed. Results The injection of BRMS-I, BRMS-II, and TGMS through microcatheters went smoothly without any clogging. In group 1, BRMS identification was easier than TGMS. In group 2, both BRMS-I and TGMS were observed in all three arterial levels (interlobar, arcuate, and interlobular arteries) without a significant difference ( P = .84). BRMS-I were not significantly different from TGMS in the mean diameter of vessels occluded (197 µm ± 23 vs 158 µm ± 21, P = .25) or the microsphere deformation (8.85% ± 0.53% vs 11.80% ± 0.64%, P = .071). In group 3, the arterial distribution of BRMS-II was significantly different from BRMS-I and TGMS ( P Conclusions In occluding arteries, 100–300 µm BRMS-I were not significantly different from 100–300 µm TGMS. Arterial distribution of BRMS can be influenced by their cross-linking density.
Nucleophile recognition as an alternative inhibition mode for benzoic acid based carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

A series of hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives have shown inhibitory activity against carbonic anhydrase (CA). X-ray crystallography shows that these molecules inhibit not by binding the active site metal ion but by strong hydrogen bonding to the metal-bound water nucleophile. The binding mode observed for these molecules is distinct when compared to other non-metal-binding CA inhibitors.
Field and Laboratory Analyses of Water from the Columbia Aquifer in Eastern Maryland

Field and laboratory analyses of pH, alkalinity, and specific conductance from water samples collected from the Columbia aquifer on the Delmarva Peninsula in eastern Maryland were compared to determine if laboratory analyses could be used for making regional water-quality interpretations. On the basis of 170 field pH and specific conductance measurements, 165 laboratory pH and specific conductance measurements, and 86 field and 135 laboratory alkalinity measurements, a significant difference at the 0.1-percent level was found between laboratory and field analyses of pH and specific conductance. No significant difference was found between laboratory and field analyses of alkalinity. In most samples, laboratory pH was greater than field pH, laboratory specific conductance was less than field specific conductance, and laboratory alkalinity was equally likely to be less than, the same as, or greater than field alkalinity. Kruskal-Wallis tests of field and laboratory data grouped by north-south and east-west coordinates and by land use indicate that the difference between field and laboratory values is usually not enough to affect the outcome of the statistical tests. Thus, laboratory measurements of these constituents may be adequate for making certain regional water-quality interpretations, although they may result in errors if used for geochemical interpretations.
Redundant linked list based cache coherence protocol

This article presents a distributed directory based cache coherence protocol that improves performance and facilitates error recovery in large scale multiprocessors. A number of distributed directory based protocols, such as the Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI, ANSI/IEEE Std 1596), use a linked list structure to maintain cache coherence. While they work well for small to medium size systems, the list traversal overhead becomes high when the system size grows into the thousands of processors range. Also, the system is vulnerable to a single node failure in that the recovery from such a failure involves all the processors in the system. Single node failure can happen relatively frequently when a protocol is applied to SCI-based Local Area MultiProcessors (LAMP) where individual nodes are autonomous computers and can power up and down individually. We propose an enhancement to the linked list approach. A redundant spanning list is constructed when the list is built, which achieves two goals: 1) the list traversal time is reduced from O(N) to O(/spl radic/N) and 2) recovery from single node failure is confined to the processors involved in the failed list, unless the head of the list is lost.
Long-term Blue Light Effects on the Histology of Lettuce and Soybean Leaves and Stems

Blue light (320 to 496 nm) alters hypocotyl and stem elongation and leaf expansion in short-term, cell-level experiments, but histological effects of blue light in long-term studies of whole plants have not been described. We measured cell size and number in stems of soybean (Glycine max L.) and leaves of soybean and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), at two blue light fractions. Short-term studies have shown that cell expansion in stems is rapidly inhibited when etiolated tissue is exposed to blue light. However, under long-term light exposure, an increase in the blue light fraction from less than 0.1% to 26% decreased internode length, specifically by inhibiting soybean cell division in stems. In contrast, an increase in blue light fraction from 6% to 26% reduced soybean leaf area by decreasing cell expansion. Surprisingly, lettuce leaf area increased with increasing blue light fraction (0% to 6%), which was attributed to a 3.1-fold increase in cell expansion and a 1.6-fold increase in cell division.
Using Mahalanobis distance to compare genomic signatures between bacterial plasmids and chromosomes

Plasmids are ubiquitous mobile elements that serve as a pool of many host beneficial traits such as antibiotic resistance in bacterial communities. To understand the importance of plasmids in horizontal gene transfer, we need to gain insight into the ‘evolutionary history’ of these plasmids, i.e. the range of hosts in which they have evolved. Since extensive data support the proposal that foreign DNA acquires the host’s nucleotide composition during long-term residence, comparison of nucleotide composition of plasmids and chromosomes could shed light on a plasmid’s evolutionary history. The average absolute dinucleotide relative abundance difference, termed d-distance, has been commonly used to measure differences in dinucleotide composition, or ‘genomic signature’, between bacterial chromosomes and plasmids. Here, we introduce the Mahalanobis distance, which takes into account the variance–covariance structure of the chromosome signatures. We demonstrate that the Mahalanobis distance is better than the d-distance at measuring genomic signature differences between plasmids and chromosomes of potential hosts. We illustrate the usefulness of this metric for proposing candidate long-term hosts for plasmids, focusing on the virulence plasmids pXO1 from Bacillus anthracis, and pO157 from Escherichia coli O157:H7, as well as the broad host range multi-drug resistance plasmid pB10 from an unknown host.
Self-Similar Layered Hidden Markov Models

Hidden Markov Models (HMM) have proven to be useful in a variety of real world applications where considerations for uncertainty are crucial. Such an advantage can be more leveraged if HMM can be scaled up to deal with complex problems. In this paper, we introduce, analyze and demonstrate Self-Similar Layered HMM (SSLHMM), for a certain group of complex problems which show self-similar property, and exploit this property to reduce the complexity of model construction. We show how the embedded knowledge of self-similar structure can be used to reduce the complexity of learning and increase the accuracy of the learned model. Moreover, we introduce three different types of self-similarity in SSLHMM, and investigate their performance in the context of synthetic data and real-world network databases. We show that SSLHMM has several advantages comparing to conventional HMM techniques and it is more efficient and accurate than one-step, flat method for model construction.
A Simulation Study on the Probability of Correct Selection for Large k Populations

An increasing number of contemporary datasets are high dimensional. Applications require these datasets be screened (or filtered) to select a subset for further study. Multiple testing is the standard tool in such applications, although alternatives have begun to be explored. In order to assess the quality of selection in these high-dimensional contexts, Cui and Wilson (2008b) proposed two viable methods of calculating the probability that any such selection is correct (PCS). PCS thereby serves as a measure of the quality of competing statistics used for selection. The first simulation study of this article investigates the two PCS statistics of the above article. It shows that in the high-dimensional case PCS can be accurately estimated and is robust under certain conditions. The second simulation study investigates a nonparametric estimator of PCS.
Assessment of hemostatic efficacy and osseous wound healing using HemCon dental dressing.

Introduction: Obtaining hemostasis in the surgical crypt during periradicular surgery is essential. It allows for improved visibility and contributes to a dry environment suitable for the placement of moisture-sensitive root-end filling material. Although current materials may not be moisture sensitive during setting, hemostasis is important for proper placement of root-end filling materials during apical surgery. A new hemostatic agent, HemCon dental dressing (Patterson Dental, St Paul, MN), may improve upon the efficacy of wound healing and hemostasis both in extent and time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemostatic effect of HemCon in osseous wound sites and evaluate the wound healing potential and percentage of new bone formation in osseous crypts treated with HemCon. Methods: A split-mouth design was used with random allocation of sham and experimental sites in 12 rabbits. In experimental sites, either HemCon or 15.5% ferric sulfate was applied to osseous crypts created with a round bur. Hemostatic efficacy was evaluated using predetermined scores. Rabbits were sacrificed at 21 days, andtissueswereharvested andprepared forhistologic evaluation. A blinded pathologist scored samples relative to inflammation. The percentage of new bone deposition was calculated using NIS Elements software (Nikon Instruments Inc, Melville, NY). Results: There wasnostatisticalsignificantdifferenceinhemostaticefficacy or wound healing between HemCon and ferric sulfate (P > .05). The HemCon group showed a significantly higher percentage of new bone deposition compared with the controls (P < .01). Conclusions: HemCon shows promise as an adjunct to the endodontic surgical armamentarium. (J Endod 2011;37:807‐811)
The neuronal representation of pitch in primate auditory cortex

Pitch perception plays a critical role in identifying and segregating auditory objects 1 , especially in the context of music and speech. The perception of pitch is not unique to humans and has been experimentally demonstrated in several animal species 2,3 . Pitch is the subjective attribute of a sound’s fundamental frequency (f0), that is determined by both the temporal regularity and average repetition rate of its acoustic waveform. Spectrally dissimilar sounds can have the same pitch if they share a common f0. Even when the acoustic energy at f0 is removed (“missing fundamental”) the same pitch is still perceived 1 . Despite its importance for hearing, how pitch is represented in the cerebral cortex remains unknown. Here we show the existence of neurons in the auditory cortex of marmoset monkeys that respond to both pure tones and missing fundamental harmonic complex sounds (MFs) with the same f0, providing a neural correlate for pitch constancy 1 . These pitchselective neurons are located in a restricted low-frequency cortical region near the anterolateral border of primary auditory cortex (AI), consistent with the location of a pitch-selective area identified in recent human imaging studies 4,5 .
Head of the line arbitration of packet switches with combined input and output queueing

A single-stage non-blocking N × N packet switch is considered. Data units may be stored before switching at the inputs as well as after switching at the outputs. Some output buffering capacity is intended to achieve high throughput, whereas an additional input buffering capacity keeps losses due to input-buffer overflow reasonably low. The paper studies the impact on performance of the head of the line arbitration policy, i.e. the sequence which is used to transfer data units from the heads of input queues to each output queue. The investigation is based on two performance measures: the average delay and the maximum throughput of the switch. Closed-form expressions for the FCFS, LCFS and the ROS policies are obtained. The result of the average delay with the FCFS policy leads to a lower bound, and that with the LCFS policy to an upper bound for the average delay, corresponding to an arbitrary symmetric policy which does not use information related to the state of the input queues. It is shown that the maximum throughput does not depend on the head of the line arbitration policy. It depends only on the output-buffer size and the packet-size distribution. The cases of fixed and exponentially distributed packet sizes are studied. The effects of asymmetric policies which result in different behaviours of some of the input queues is also considered.
Designing self test programs for embedded DSP cores

This paper describes a self test program design technique for embedded DSP cores. The method requires minimal knowledge of the core's internals and minimal insertion of external LFSR hardware, without scan insertions. The test program consists of a small set of instructions which operate iteratively on pseudorandom data generated by the LFSRs to fully test the DSP core components. The method uses instruction-based test metrics and a program template as a blueprint to generate the test program. The self test scheme has been successfully applied on an industrial-strength DSP core and the results compare favorably to other methods using ATPG and pseudorandom BIST.
Study Abroad Experiences in the Developing World: Opportunities and Challenges

Over the past three years the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University have conducted a study-abroad course for ISU undergraduates in a small, isolated, village in the country of Mali, in western, sub-Saharan Africa. Most, if not all, of the people in the village live under conditions that the World Bank refers to as extreme poverty. The focus of the course is on the development of sustainable technologies that are appropriate for the people in this village and villages similar to it. Our goal is to offer students a chance to develop such technologies, in the end changing how they view engineering and their role as engineers. One of the challenges of the course is how to integrate this high value off-campus experience into the on-campus curriculum. To do this we have linked two on-campus sustainable engineering courses (sustainable engineering systems and appropriate technology design) with this study abroad course. In this paper, we discuss the course in more detail, with a focus on an assessment of how well we are meeting our objectives. We shall also discuss the challenges of holding such a course and will offer some advice for those who may wish to venture along the same path.
Regional Renal Blood Flow Measurements Using Radioactive Microspheres in a Chronic Porcine Model with Unilateral Vesicoureteral Reflux

Abstractsup 95 Niobium labeled radioactive microspheres were used to determine regional renal blood flows in a porcine model of chronic sterile vesicoureteral reflux. Unilateral vesicoureteral reflux was surgically created in 5 mini-pigs and regional renal blood flows were determined by microsphere injection 6 months later. The contralateral nonrefluxing kidney acted as a control. There was a significant reduction of flow in the inner cortical regions of the middle (78 percent of control, p less than or equal to 0.0437) and lower poles (69 percent of control, p less than or equal to 0.0274), and the juxta-medullary cortical region of the lower pole (67 percent of control, p less than or equal to 0.0124). There was no difference in flow in the other regions or when comparing whole kidneys. There were no differences between refluxing and nonrefluxing kidneys when comparing ratios of inner to outer cortical flow level by level. These observations are in contrast to those in acutely created vesicoureteral ref...
Optimal multiple level decision fusion with distributed sensors

A data fusion model consisting of several levels of parallel decision fusions is considered. Global optimization of such a model is discussed to obtain the fusion rules for overall optimal performance. The reliability analysis of the proposed model is carried out to establish its superiority over the existing parallel and serial fusion models. >
Arabidopsis Glyoxalase II Contains a Zinc/Iron Binuclear Metal Center That Is Essential for Substrate Binding and Catalysis

Glyoxalase II participates in the cellular detoxification of cytotoxic and mutagenic 2-oxoaldehydes. Because of its role in chemical detoxification, glyoxalase II has been studied as a potential anti-cancer and/or anti-protozoal target; however, very little is known about the active site and reaction mechanism of this important enzyme. To characterize the active site and kinetic mechanism of the enzyme, a detailed mutational study of Arabidopsis glyoxalase II was conducted. Data presented here demonstrate for the first time that the cytoplasmic form of Arabidopsis glyoxalase II contains an iron-zinc binuclear metal center that is essential for activity. Both metals participate in substrate binding, transition state stabilization, and the hydrolysis reaction. Subtle alterations in the geometry and/or electrostatics of the binuclear center have profound effects on the activity of the enzyme. Additional residues important in substrate binding have also been identified. An overall reaction mechanism for glyoxalase II is proposed based on the mutational and kinetic data from this study and crystallographic data on human glyoxalase II. Information presented here provides new insights into the active site and reaction mechanism of glyoxalase II that can be used for the rational design of glyoxalase II inhibitors.