cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Globalization, Evolution and Emergence of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: Are Emerging Markets the Next Pharmaceutical Marketing Frontier?

Pharmaceutical marketing has rapidly evolved over the past century and has now entered the digital revolution.Â This is exemplified by the rise of direct-to-consumer-advertising (â€œDTCAâ€), which has traditionally been only allowed in the United States and New Zealand in developed countries, but is now expanding in reach to other jurisdictions.Â Enabling the â€œglobalizationâ€ of pharmaceutical DTCA is Internet-related technologies that are not limited to geographical borders and are highly unregulated.Â This DTCA digital â€œspilloverâ€ into markets that prohibit it can have adverse impact on health outcomes and health-related spending. Â Emerging markets may represent the next logically step for digital DTCA proliferation, given their untapped market potential and explosive growth.Â Further research and global health policy reform is necessary to address this â€œemergingâ€ global health issue.
Analytical Prediction of Periodic Motions in a Machine Tool With Loss of Effective Chip Contact

This study applies a discontinuous systems theory by Luo (2005) to an approximate machine-tool model. The machine-tool is modeled by a two-degree of freedom forced switching oscillator. The switching of the model emulates the various types of dynamics in a machine-tool system. The main focus of this study is the loss of effective chip contact and boundaries of this motion. The periodic motions will be studied through the mappings developed for this machine-tool. The periodic motions will be numerically and analytically predicted via closed form solutions. The phase trajectory, velocity, and force responses are presented.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Reliability/wearout-aware design

Reliability and wearout phenomena are becoming first order design constraints in modern ICs. Ignoring wearout at design time can lead to costly early failures in the field, provisioning for wearout through increased margins can lead to overdesign. This presentation will go over several methods that try to: (1) accurately model wearout in order to predict and optimize margin provisioning (2) track wearout and signal imminent failure (3) track wearout and provide closed loop adaptation and (4) even take advantage of wearout in a few special cases.
Functional connectivity of the cortical swallowing network in humans.

Abstract Introduction Coherent fluctuations of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal have been referred to as “functional connectivity” (FC). Our aim was to systematically characterize FC of underlying neural network involved in swallowing, and to evaluate its reproducibility and modulation during rest or task performance. Methods Activated seed regions within known areas of the cortical swallowing network (CSN) were independently identified in 16 healthy volunteers. Subjects swallowed using a paradigm driven protocol, and the data analyzed using an event-related technique. Then, in the same 16 volunteers, resting and active state data were obtained for 540 s in three conditions: 1) swallowing task; 2) control visual task; and 3) resting state; all scans were performed twice. Data was preprocessed according to standard FC pipeline. We determined the correlation coefficient values of member regions of the CSN across the three aforementioned conditions and compared between two sessions using linear regression. Average FC matrices across conditions were then compared. Results Swallow activated twenty-two positive BOLD and eighteen negative BOLD regions distributed bilaterally within cingulate, insula, sensorimotor cortex, prefrontal and parietal cortices. We found that: 1) Positive BOLD regions were highly connected to each other during all test conditions while negative BOLD regions were tightly connected among themselves; 2) Positive and negative BOLD regions were anti-correlated at rest and during task performance; 3) Across all three test conditions, FC among the regions was reproducible (r > 0.96, p − 5 ); and 4) The FC of sensorimotor region to other regions of the CSN increased during swallowing scan. Conclusions 1) Swallow activated cortical substrates maintain a consistent pattern of functional connectivity; 2) FC of sensorimotor region is significantly higher during swallow scan than that observed during a non-swallow visual task or at rest.
Agri-Environmental Stewardship Schemes and “Multifunctionality”

The United Kingdom introduced the first agri-environmental scheme in the European Union in 1986. Since then, the United Kingdom has developed and implemented several other schemes that also feature stewardship payments to improve agriculture's environmental performance. In this article, lessons learned from the United Kingdom's agri-environmental programs are identified. Using the concept of “multifunctionality,” which increasingly is influencing agricultural policy in Western Europe, the authors examine key issues associated with potential major expansions of stewardship payment schemes on both sides of the Atlantic.
Modeling Contaminant Transport at the Pore-Micropore Interface

Understanding and ultimately simulating the contaminant transport processes occurring in, or around, micropore zones is a topic that will help further the advancement of efficient design and implementation of future remediation techniques. This paper proposes a method to forecast effects of micropores on contaminant transport using a new conceptual method that is based on a model that comprises three zones, namely mobile, immobile, and micropore zones and has two different porosity zones. The model is successfully tested against other established methods (van Genuchten and Wierenga, 1976) and experimental data (Brusseau, 1993).
Social organization and space-use in Gunnison's prairie dog

Social organization of the Gunnison's prairie dog, Cynomys gunnisoni, was studied in two populations in south-central Colorado. Gunnison's prairie dogs live in complex, interactive societies fitting current definitions of highly social ground squirrels. Members of harems (‘coteries’) cooperatively use and defend a common territory. Spatial overlap is extensive between the adult male(s) and adult females, and among adult females within the harem through the active season. Amicable behavioral interactions are frequent within the harem, whereas interactions between members of different harems are primarily agonistic and spatial overlap is minimal. Although their behavioral repertoire is more limited, social organization of the Gunnison's prairie dog most closely resembles that of the black-tailed prairie dog, C. ludovicianus. Although body size, age of first reproduction, and age of emigration differed between the two study populations (Rayor 1985a), a comparison of social traits did not reveal substantial differences.
Experiments on the water entry of asymmetric wedges using particle image velocimetry

In this work, we experimentally characterize the water entry of an asymmetric wedge into a quiescent fluid through particle image velocimetry (PIV). The wedge enters the water surface with an orthogonal velocity falling from a fixed height. We systematically vary the heel angle to elucidate the effect of asymmetric impact on the flow physics and on the fluid-structure interaction. The pressure field in the fluid is reconstructed from PIV data by integrating the Poisson equation. We find that the impact configuration significantly influences both the velocity and the pressure field, ultimately, regulating the hydrodynamic loading on the wedge. Specifically, as the heel angle increases, the location of maximum velocity of the flow moves from the pile-up region to the keel. At the same time, the pressure field significantly decreases in the vicinity of the keel, reaching values smaller than the atmospheric pressure. The spatiotemporal evolution of the hydrodynamic loading is thus controlled by the heel angle, with larger heel angles resulting into more rapid and sustained impacts.
The Magnetic Moments of the Neutron and the Deuteron

The magnetic moments of the neutron and the deuteron have been measured in terms of the proton moment. The radiofrequency resonance technique of Alvarez and Bloch was used to determine the Larmor frequency of neutron precession in a magnetic field in which the frequency of proton precession had been determined by the method of Purcell, Torrey, and Pound. The ratio of the magnetic moment of the neutron to the magnetic moment of the proton is 0.68479\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004. The ratio of the deuteron moment to the proton moment is 0.30702\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0001, in agreement with the Columbia value. Taking the magnetic moment of the proton as 2.7896 nuclear magnetons, the neutron moment is -1.9103\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0012 and the deuteron moment 0.85647\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0003 nuclear magneton. These values lead to a prediction of an admixture of 4.0 percent $^{3}D_{1}$ state in the ground state of the deuteron, in agreement with the value 3.9 percent found by Rarita and Schwinger from the magnitude of the electric quadrupole moment of the deuteron. The need for further theoretical investigation of the deuteron magnetic moment is pointed out.
Quantum chemistry based force field for simulations of HMX

The molecular geometries and conformational energies of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) and 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-dinitro methyldiamine (DDMD) and have been determined from high-level quantum chemistry calculations and have been used in parametrizing a classical potential function for simulations of HMX. Geometry optimizations for HMX and DDMD and rotational energy barrier searches for DDMD were performed at the B3LYP/6-311G** level, with subsequent single-point energy calculations at the MP2/6-311G** level. Four unique low-energy conformers were found for HMX, two whose conformational geometries correspond closely to those found in HMX polymorphs from crystallographic studies and two additional, lower energy conformers that are not seen in the crystalline phases. For DDMD, three unique low-energy conformers, and the rotational energy barriers between them, were located. In parametrizing the classical potential function for HMX, nonbonded repulsion/dispersion parameters, valence paramete...
TU-E-BRC-02: Combined Use of CT and MVCBCT for Optimal Dose Calculation in Presence of High-Z Material

Purpose: High atomic number (Z) materials such as dental fillings complicate the use of conventional CTimages and application of the superposition dose calculation algorithm. This work investigates the accuracy of current planning methods for patients with dental work and proposes to combine the strengths of two imaging modalities in order to obtain a more realistic dose distribution in presence of high‐Z materials. Method and Materials: Dose simulations were performed on conventional CT and megavoltage cone‐beam CT (MVCBCT) images calibrated for electron density. MVCBCT images were acquired on a phantom and patient using two MVCBCT beam lines having substantially different energy spectra. Dose measurements on a cylindrical phantom with an ion chamber and MOSFETdetectors were compared to simulations performed in Pinnacle and with Monte Carlo.Monte Carlo simulations used EGSnrc/BEAMnrc code with a treatment head model that produced a close match to measured data. Phantom and patient CTimages were simulated with MCRTP using a voxel resolution of 3mm. Results: MVCBCT produced much less high‐Z artifact than CT. MVCBCT images from the highest energy beam with low energy photons filtered out had the least artifact but the lowest soft‐tissue resolution. Dose measurements on phantom were much closer to simulations performed with Monte Carlo (2–5%) than Pinnacle (7–14%). Simulations indicate that Pinnacle underestimates dose in soft tissue adjacent to fillings as well as attenuation through the high‐Z material. This could result in a hotter gum dose and underdosage of the target volume. Conclusion: Combined CT‐MVCBCT images of head and neck patients are being used with Monte Carlo to quantify the dosimetric impact of dental fillings for IMRT and 3DCRT. In absence of corrective measure, constraints on dental contours could be used to limit the number of IMRT segments entering through the high‐Z material before reaching the tumor.
Particle mesh Ewald: An N⋅log(N) method for Ewald sums in large systems

An N⋅log(N) method for evaluating electrostatic energies and forces of large periodic systems is presented. The method is based on interpolation of the reciprocal space Ewald sums and evaluation of the resulting convolutions using fast Fourier transforms. Timings and accuracies are presented for three large crystalline ionic systems.
Upper and Lower Body Strength in Relation to Underhand Pitching Speed by Experienced and Inexperienced Pitchers

The relation of legs, arms, shoulders, and grip strength with underhand pitching speed of experienced and inexperienced female pitchers was investigated. For 16 experienced female underhand pitchers and 16 inexperienced women with no softball experience (control group) leg and arm strength were measured using a Hydrafitness exercise machine. Grip strength was measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Underhand throwing speed was measured with a radar gun. Regression analysis showed arm and grip strength correlated with throwing speed (p ≤ .05) for the experienced group. For the inexperienced control group, the only correlate of throwing speed was arm strength (p≤ 05) There was a significant difference between the two groups on all measures of strength and ball speed in favor of the experienced group (p ≤.05).
A time-related parametric risk factor analysis for postoperative atrial fibrillation after heart surgery.

Objectives Multiple mechanisms may be involved in postoperative atrial fibrillation. Therefore, our objective was to determine the risk factors for postoperative atrial fibrillation as a function of time after coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgeries to determine which risk factors might predominate at different times. Methods Parametric hazard functions were determined for 1583 patients and then in subgroups (coronary artery bypass grafting alone, mitral valve procedure, and aortic valve replacement +/− coronary artery bypass grafting). Multivariable risk factor analyses were performed, and the risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation was estimated. Results The risk for postoperative atrial fibrillation for all patients was highest immediately postoperatively and at 48 hours. The initial peak risk declined to approximately zero within 18 hours postoperatively. A second peak occurred at 48 hours, followed by a slow decline over the following 4 to 7 days. The time intervals encompassing these peaks were termed phase I and phase II. Predominant risk factors in phase I were older age (relative risk [RR], 1.6; P = .006), longer crossclamp time (RR, 1.3; P = .001), and mitral valve procedure (RR, 2.5; P = .0001). In phase II, these were older age (RR, 3.0; P Conclusions Phase I and phase II periods are associated with distinct risk factors; therefore, it is likely that the mechanisms of postoperative atrial fibrillation change over time.
Effect of season on appetite and food consumption of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis.

SummaryFood consumption of adult male lizards (Anolis carolinensis) at 28°C is maximal in summer and minimal in winter. This seasonal variation in appetite appears to be correlated with hours of daylight and is responsible in part for seasonal changes in body composition of this lizard.
The baroclinic instability of a “2½ dimensional model atmosphere” in which the upper level is non-divergent

The baroclinic instability of a “2½ dimensional model atmosphere” is examined by the method of small wave perturbations. The model is very similar to that of Estoque (19S6) but somewhat less restrictive. It is shown that the assumption of an upper isobaric level of non-divergence leads to the following unusual results: (1) Instability is impossible if the Rossby beta-parameter is zero. (2) The vertical shears required for instability increase linearly with the beta-parameter. (3) Only positive vertical shears lead to instability. (4) The instability is of the linear type as opposed to the more usual exponential type. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1962.tb00124.x
Transthoracic echocardiographic simulator: normal and the abnormal.

Despite anesthesiologists’ use of transesophageal echocardio-graphy (TEE) and familiarity with cardiovascular imaging,TTE has not been as widely used perioperatively. With therecent availability of relatively inexpensive and portable ultra-sound systems, there has been a resurgence of interest in usingthis modality to its full potential. Another possible reason for itsunderutilization could be the lack of structured training programsfor anesthesiologists. The National Board of Echocardiographymandates a minimum of 150 TTE examinations to be per-formed by operators, with 300 interpretations under appropriatesupervision, as requirements for certiﬁcation. However, a short-age of trained personnel and stafﬁng-related issues are two ofthe reasons for a comprehensive TTE examination either notbeing performed routinely or not in a timely fashion, particu-larly for preoperative risk stratiﬁcation.TTE is a modality that requires considerable skill in imageacquisition and supervised training for interpretation. Tradi-tionally, cardiologists have employed the services of trainedechocardiography technicians for image acquisition, whereasemergency room and critical care physicians have to acquireand interpret transthoracic images themselves. Major nationalprofessional societies (eg, the American Society of Anesthesi-ologists, the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, andthe Society of Critical Care Medicine) have taken the initiativeto educate their members about the beneﬁts and applications ofechocardiography in routine practice. However, currently thereare no formal TTE image-acquisition training opportunitiesavailable for anesthesiologists.As a result, an increasing demand for this clinical skill isfurther exacerbated by a paucity of training opportunities, ne-cessitating the employment of alternate training methods totrain physicians in TTE. Therefore, the use of simulation tech-nology provides a unique opportunity to create a virtual train-ing environment to offset the initial learning curve and shortenthe eventual training duration.
Laser-initiated polymerization of lauryl methacrylate: Laser repetition rate effect

The photoinitiated polymerization of lauryl methacrylate with a pulsed excimer laser source is highly dependent on the laser repetition rate and the absorbance (optical density) of the photoinitiator. The GPC chromatograms of poly(lauryl methacrylate) generated by the laser-initiated polymerization of lauryl methacrylate decrease in size and shift to lower molecular weight species with increasing repetition rate. In addition, the polymers produced at high laser repetition rates are characterized by a number of distinct narrow molecular weight GPC peaks. The decrease in polymerization efficiency is especially pronounced at laser pulsing frequencies greater than 3 Hz.
Impact of the Endoscopic Sinus Surgical Simulator on Operating Room Performance

Objectives/Hypothesis The aim of this study is to evaluate an endoscopic sinus surgical simulator (ESS) as a training device and to introduce a methodology to assess its impact on actual operating room performance. Study Design Prospective evaluation of the endoscopic sinus surgical simulator as a trainer. Methods Ten junior and senior ear, nose and throat residents served as subjects, some of whom had prior training with the simulator. The evaluation team collected several measures, which were analyzed for a statistical correlation, including simulator scores, operating room performance rating, ratings of videotaped operating room procedures, and surgical competency rating. Results These findings suggest the ESS simulator positively affects initial operating room performance across all measures as judged by senior surgeons rating anonymous videotapes of those procedures. The two simulation-trained residents were rated consistently better than the other two residents across all measures. These differences approached statistical significance for two items: anterior ethmoidectomy (P = .06;P <.05) and surgical confidence (P = .09;P <.05). In addition, the 3 subjects with the highest overall scores on the competency evaluation also had 3 of the 4 highest cumulative simulation times. Conclusions The endoscopic sinus surgical simulator is a valid training device and appears to positively impact operating room performance among junior otolaryngology residents.
Specific replacements of pyruvate for trophic support of central and peripheral nervous system neurons.

: When embryonic central nervous system neurons are seeded at low densities with Eagle's basal medium supplemented with the serum substitute N1, glucose, and glutamine, neuronal survival for even 24 h requires the additional supply of exogenous pyruvate–and so does the survival of many peripheral nervous system neurons. Pyruvate can be replaced by α-ketoglutarate or oxaloacetate, but not by Krebs cycle substrates that are not keto acids. Most other α-keto acids tested (though not β- or γ-keto acids) also mimic pyruvate. The apparent equivalence to pyruvate of all these compounds includes identical ED50 values (300 μM for embryonic avian forebrain neurons, 30–40 μM for rat hippocampal neurons), and also identical susceptibilities to the pyruvate-sparing effects of other low-molecular-weight agents present in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium or in astroglia conditioned medium. The substitute α-keto acids, however—unlike pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, or oxaloacetate—support cell survival only in the presence of α-amino acids that transaminate to α-ketoglutarate, oxaloacetate, or pyruvate. The α-keto acids, therefore, operate as acceptors of amino groups from appropriate donors to generate Krebs cycle-relevant substrates. Consistent with this view, [14C]glutamate did not generate appreciable 14CO2 unless accompanied by a suitable α-keto acid. Thus: (1) the true survival-controlling agents for these cultured CNS neurons are pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, and oxaloacetate; (2) other α-keto acids provide for neuronal support only insofar as they make it possible for exogenously supplied α-amino acid precursors to generate intracellularly one of the three critical agents; and (3) the inability of CNS neurons to utilize glucose for their survival resides with some restriction of substrate access to the Krebs cycle.
Dysarthric speakers' intelligibility and speech characteristics in relation to computer speech recognition

This research examined the use of the DragonDictate speech recognition system as a writing aid by 10 speakers with spastic dysarthria due to cerebral palsy with the ultimate goal of establishing prescription guidelines. The objectives were to (1) determine how intelligibility relates to recognition success; (2) determine those characteristics of speech, fluency, and voice that affect the accuracy level of the voice recognizer; and (3) investigate individual profiles of recognition over a series of dictations among high- and low-intelligibility dysarthric speakers versus nondisabled controls. Correlations between intelligibility measures and recognition success measures were strong. The total number of voice features correlated moderately with the number of readings needed to reach 80% recognition levels and with variability in recognition. The frequency of pauses showed a strong positive association with the number of readings subjects needed to reach 80% recognition. The frequency of nonspeech sounds was...
Fibronectin polymerization regulates the composition and stability of extracellular matrix fibrils and cell-matrix adhesions

Remodeling of extracellular matrices occurs during development, wound healing, and in a variety of pathological processes including atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, and angiogenesis. Thus, identifying factors that control the balance between matrix deposition and degradation during tissue remodeling is essential for understanding mechanisms that regulate a variety of normal and pathological processes. Using fibronectin-null cells, we found that fibronectin polymerization into the extracellular matrix is required for the deposition of collagen-I and thrombospondin-1 and that the maintenance of extracellular matrix fibronectin fibrils requires the continual polymerization of a fibronectin matrix. Further, integrin ligation alone is not sufficient to maintain extracellular matrix fibronectin in the absence of fibronectin deposition. Our data also demonstrate that the retention of thrombospondin-1 and collagen I into fibrillar structures within the extracellular matrix depends on an intact fibronectin matrix. An intact fibronectin matrix is also critical for maintaining the composition of cell–matrix adhesion sites; in the absence of fibronectin and fibronectin polymerization, neither α5β1 integrin nor tensin localize to fibrillar cell–matrix adhesion sites. These data indicate that fibronectin polymerization is a critical regulator of extracellular matrix organization and stability. The ability of fibronectin polymerization to act as a switch that controls the organization and composition of the extracellular matrix and cell–matrix adhesion sites provides cells with a means of precisely controlling cell-extracellular matrix signaling events that regulate many aspects of cell behavior including cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation.
Monolithic 6W Ka-band high power amplifier

The design and performance of a fully monolithic 6W Ka-band power amplifier is outlined. Excellent agreement between modeled and measured performance was demonstrated. This 3-stage power amplifier, which power combines 16 FETs on the third stage, is fully matched on chip to 50/spl Omega/ at the input and output wire bond pads. Performance achieved /spl sim/20.5 dB gain from 24-32 GHz with a peak power of >6W and PAE of /spl sim/21%. This performance was achieved using a 0.1 /spl mu/m power PHEMT process. To the authors knowledge, this is the highest output power demonstrated from a single device in this frequency band.
Social Change and the American Family

Major changes affecting American family life must be seen in historical and international perspective. Most are shared with other industrialized societies and are rooted in our past and culture. This brief presentation provides an overview with respect to family instability, unmarried sex, unmarried childbearing, cohabitation, and single-parent families. Changes across these behavioral domains are seen as mutually reinforcing in creating diverse family experience and family types. At the same time, even given important differences on the average, the various family types overlap considerably with respect to both their nature and consequences.
The Probability of a Confidence Interval Based on Minimal Estimates of the Mean and the Standard Deviation

Using two measurements, we produce an estimate of the mean and the sample standard deviation. We construct a confidence interval with these parameters and compute the probability of the confidence interval by using the cumulative distribution function and averaging over the parameters. The probability is in the form of an integral that we compare to a computer simulation.
Photodegradation of the brevetoxin PbTx-2 in coastal seawater.

The photodegradation rate of the brevetoxin analog PbTx-2 was investigated in a variety of natural water matrices. The observed first-order photodegradation rate coefficient of the logarithmic-transformed dissolved PbTx-2 concentrations vs. irradiation time was 0.20 ± 0.04 h−1 in coastal seawater, corresponding to a half-life of approximately 3 h based on 10 separate photolysis experiments. No loss of PbTx-2 occurred in dark controls, indicating that this was primarily a photo-mediated process. Photodegradation rate coefficients in samples in which dissolved organic matter was removed by ultraviolet oxidation prior to photolysis resulted in significantly slower rates of PbTx-2 photodegradation (0.08 ± 0.03 h−1). When trace metals were also removed prior to photolysis, no loss of PbTx-2 occurred, indicating that direct photolytic loss of PbTx-2 is insignificant in coastal seawater. The proposed mechanism of PbTx-2 decay is a photosensitized pathway involving organic matter and trace metals that is significantly accelerated by decreasing oxygen concentrations. The influence of molecular oxygen on the rate of toxin loss has important ramifications for the fate of PbTx-2 during Karenia brevis blooms, as in situ dissolved O2 concentrations fluctuate widely during bloom development and decay. Sunlight-mediated reactions are therefore a significant, yet previously unrecognized, sink of dissolved PbTx-2 in seawater under environmentally relevant conditions.
Sedation procedures in MR imaging: safety, effectiveness, and nursing effect on examinations.

PURPOSE: To measure the safety and effectiveness of conscious sedation in order to assess utilization and the effect on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database of conscious sedation records for MR imaging at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md, from 1991 to 1998 was searched. Safety data according to medication and procedure duration for each nurse were tabulated for 6,093 patient records. Data were analyzed by using quality control statistical measures to determine time utilization and effectiveness. Break-even costs for the procedure were determined. RESULTS: Of 6,093 patients scheduled for examination, 4,761 patients (78.1%) received conscious sedation by the MR conscious sedation service. Complications were observed in 20 of the 4,761 patients (0.42%). No deaths occurred. The most common complication was oxygen desaturation (n = 8). Diagnostic and complete MR examinations were performed in 4,453 of the 4,761 patients (93.5%). The mean time to sedate the pa...
Minimum Uncertainty Wavelets

The objective of this paper is to calculate filters with a minimum uncertainty, the product of filter length and bandwidth. The method is applicable to producing minimum uncertainty filters with time or frequency domain constraints on the filter. The Calculus of variations is used to derive the conditions that minimize a filter’s uncertainty. The general solution is a linear combination of Hermite functions, where the Hermite functions are summed from low to high order until the filter’s constraints are met. Filters constrained to have zero amplitude at zero hertz have an uncertainty at least three times greater than expected from the Uncertainty Principle, and the minimum uncertainty filter is a first derivative Gaussian. For the previous filter, the minimum uncertainty high cut filter is a Gaussian function of frequency, but the minimum uncertainty low cut filter is a linear function of frequency.
Differential Expression of Glutamate Receptor Subunits in the Nervous System of Caenorhabditis elegans and Their Regulation by the Homeodomain Protein UNC-42

In almost all nervous systems, rapid excitatory synaptic communication is mediated by a diversity of ionotropic glutamate receptors. In Caenorhabditis elegans, 10 putative ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits have been identified, a surprising number for an organism with only 302 neurons. Sequence analysis of the predicted proteins identified two NMDA and eight non-NMDA receptor subunits. Here we describe the complete distribution of these subunits in the nervous system of C. elegans. Receptor subunits were found almost exclusively in interneurons and motor neurons, but no expression was detected in muscle cells. Interestingly, some neurons expressed only a single subunit, suggesting that these may form functional homomeric channels. Conversely, interneurons of the locomotory control circuit (AVA, AVB, AVD, AVE, and PVC) coexpressed up to six subunits, suggesting that these subunits interact to generate a diversity of heteromeric glutamate receptor channels that regulate various aspects of worm movement. We also show that expression of these subunits in this circuit is differentially regulated by the homeodomain protein UNC-42 and that UNC-42 is also required for axonal pathfinding of neurons in the circuit. In wild-type worms, the axons of AVA, AVD, and AVE lie in the ventral cord, whereas in unc-42 mutants, the axons are anteriorly, laterally, or dorsally displaced, and the mutant worms have sensory and locomotory defects.
X-ray crystallographic analyses of inhibitor and substrate complexes of wild-type and mutant 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase.

Abstract The metabolic pathway by which 4-chlorobenzoate is degraded to 4-hydroxybenzoate in the soil-dwelling microbePseudomonas sp. strain CBS-3 consists of three enzymes including 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase. The structure of the unbound form of this thioesterase has been shown to contain the so-called “hot dog” fold with a large helix packed against a five-stranded anti-parallel β-sheet. To address the manner in which the enzyme accommodates the substrate within the active site, two inhibitors have been synthesized, namely 4-hydroxyphenacyl-CoA and 4-hydroxybenzyl-CoA. Here we describe the structural analyses of the enzyme complexed with these two inhibitors determined and refined to 1.5 and 1.8 A resolution, respectively. These studies indicate that only one protein side chain, Ser91, participates directly in ligand binding. All of the other interactions between the protein and the inhibitors are mediated through backbone peptidic NH groups, carbonyl oxygens, and/or solvents. The structures of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes suggest that both a hydrogen bond and the positive end of a helix dipole moment serve to polarize the electrons away from the carbonyl carbon of the acyl group, thereby making it more susceptible to nucleophilic attack. Additionally, these studies demonstrate that the carboxylate group of Asp17 is ∼3.2 A from the carbonyl carbon of the acyl group. To address the role of Asp17, the structure of the site-directed mutant protein D17N with bound substrate has also been determined. Taken together, these investigations suggest that the reaction mechanism may proceed through an acyl enzyme intermediate.
Low-noise fiber-laser frequency combs (Invited)

We discuss experimental and theoretical aspects of a low-noise fiber-laser frequency comb, including the experimental configuration and the major contributions to the frequency noise and linewidth of the individual comb modes. Intracavity noise sources acting on the mode-locked laser determine the free-running comb linewidth and include environmental changes, pump noise, and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). Extracavity noise sources acting outside of the laser typically determine the signal-to-noise ratio on the comb lines and include environmental effects, shot noise, and noise generated during supercontinuum generation. Feedback strongly suppresses these intracavity noise contributions, yielding a system that operates with comb linewidths and timing jitter below the quantum limit set by the intracavity ASE. Finally, we discuss correlations in the residual noise across a phase-locked comb.
RNA interference: The molecular immune system

Introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into cells expressing a homologous gene triggers RNA interference (RNAi), or RNA-based gene silencing (RBGS). The dsRNA degrades corresponding host mRNA into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by a protein complex containing Dicer. siRNAs in turn are incorporated into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that includes helicase, RecA, and exo- and endo-nucleases as well as other proteins. Following its assembly, the RISC guides the RNA degradation machinery to the target RNAs and cleaves the cognate target RNA in a sequence-specific, siRNA-dependent manner. RNAi has now been documented in a wide variety of organisms, including plants, fungi, flies, worms, and more recently, higher mammals. In eukaryotes, dsRNA directed against a range of viruses (i.e., HIV-1, RSV, HPV, poliovirus and others) and endogenous genes can induce sequence-specific inhibition of gene expression. In invertebrates, RNAi can be efficiently triggered by either long dsRNAs or 21- to 23-nt-long siRNAs. However, in jawed vertebrates, dsRNA longer than 30 bp can induce interferon and thus trigger undesirable side effects instead of initiating RNAi. siRNAs have been shown to act as potent inducers of RNAi in cultured mammalian cells. Many investigators have suggested that siRNAs may have evolved as a normal defense against endogenous and exogenous transposons and retroelements. Through a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches, some of the mechanisms underlying RNAi have been described. Recent data in C. elegans shows that two homologs of siRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and tiny noncoding RNAs (tncRNAs) are endogenously expressed. However, many aspects of RNAi-induced gene silencing, including its origins and the selective pressures which maintain it, remain undefined. Its evolutionary history may pass through the more primitive immune functions of prokaryotes involving restriction enzymes that degrade plasmid DNA molecules that enter bacterial cells. RNAi has evolved further among eukaryotes, in which its wide distribution suggests early origins. RNAi seems to be involved in a variety of regulatory and immune functions that may differ among various kingdoms and phyla. We present here proposed mechanisms by which RBGS protects the host against endogenous and exogenous transposons and retroelements. The potential for therapeutic application of RBGS technology in treating viral infections such as HIV is also discussed.
Surviving Attacks and Intrusions: What can we Learn from Fault Models

When designing or analyzing applications or infrastructures with high reliability, safety, security, or survivability demands, the fundamental questions are: what is required of the application and can the infrastructure support these requirements. In the design and analysis of fault-tolerant systems, fault models have served us well to describe the theoretical limits. But with the inclusion of malicious acts, the direct application of fault models has exposed limited applicability. However, we can take advantage of the powerful fault models if we defer their direct application from the events that lead to faults, that is, the fault causes, and instead focus on the effects. This way one can avoid questions referring to the meaning of fault models in the context of previously unsuitable faults like Trojan horses or Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. Instead, we can use fault models at the level of abstraction where the application maps on the infrastructure. In this paper fault models are discussed in the context of system survivability and malicious act. It is shown that these models can be used to balance the demands put on the application and the capabilities of the underlying infrastructure. Active and imposed fault descriptions are defined that allow to match the mechanisms that provide survivability to the application with the infrastructure-imposed limitations. By defining a system as a collection of functionalities, individual functionalities and their associated fault descriptions can be analyzed in isolation.
A Climatology of Fatal Convective Wind Events by Storm Type

There are still hundreds of casualties produced by thunderstorm hazards each year in the United States despite the many recent advances in prediction and mitigation of the effects of convective storms. Of the four most common thunderstorm hazards (wind, hail, flooding, and lightning), convective winds (tornadic and nontornadic) remain one of the most dangerous threats to life and property. Using thunderstorm fatality and Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) data, this research illustrates a spatial and temporal analysis of the storm morphological characteristics, or convective mode, of all fatal tornadic and nontornadic convectivewind eventsfrom 1998 to 2007.The investigation employs a radar-based morphology classification system that delineates storm type based on an organizational continuum, including unorganized cellular, quasi-organized cellular (either a cluster of cells or a broken line of cells), organized cellular (supercells and supercells embedded in an organized linear system), and organized linear (either squall lines or bow echoes). Results illustratethat over90% of the 634 recorded tornadodeaths were associated with supercells, with 78% of the deaths due to isolated tornadic supercells and 12% linked to tornadic supercells embedded within an organized linear convective system. The morphologies responsible for the 191 nontornadic convective wind fatalities vary substantially, with bow echoes (24%), squall lines (19%), and clusters of cells (19%) the most prominent convective modes producing fatalities. Unorganized and quasi-organized convection accounted for nearly half (45%) of all nontornadic convective wind fatalities. Over half of all fatal tornadoes (53%) occurredbetween0000and0600UTC,andmost(59%)fatalitiesfromnontornadicconvectivewindsoccurred in the afternoon between 1800 and 0000 UTC. Two corridors of nontornadic convective wind fatalities were present:thelowerGreatLakesregionandthemid-South.Tornadofatalitiesweregreatestinazoneextending from southeastern Missouri, through western Tennessee, northeastern Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The methods employed and results found in this study are directly applicable in the further development of storm classification schemesand provide forecasters andemergency managers with information to assist in the creation and implementation of new convective wind mitigation strategies.
Structure and motion of curved 3D objects from monocular silhouettes

The silhouette of a smooth 3D object observed by a moving camera changes over time. Past work has shown how surface geometry can be recovered using the deformation of the silhouette when the camera motion is known. This paper addresses the problem of estimating both the full Euclidean surface structure and the camera motion from a dense set of silhouettes captured under orthographic or scaled orthographic projection. The approach relies on a viewpoint-invariant representation of curves swept by viewpoint-dependent features such as bitangents, inflections and contour points with parallel tangents. Feature points, which form stereo frontier points between non-consecutive images, are matched using this representation. The camera's angular velocity is computed from constraints derived from this correspondence along with the image velocity of these features. From the angular velocity, the epipolar geometry is ascertained, and infinitesimal motion frontier points can be detected. In turn, the motion of these frontier points constrains the translation component of camera motion. Finally, the surface is reconstructed using established techniques once the camera motion has been estimated.
Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps: Market Status, Barriers to Adoption, and Actions to Overcome Barriers

More effective stewardship of our resources contributes to the security, environmental sustainability, and economic well-being of the nation. Buildings present one of the best opportunities to economically reduce energy consumption and limit greenhouse gas emissions. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), sometimes called ground-source heat pumps, have been proven capable of producing large reductions in energy use and peak demand in buildings. However, GHPs have received little attention at the policy level as an important component of a national strategy. Have policymakers mistakenly overlooked GHPs, or are GHPs simply unable to make a major contribution to the national goals for various reasons? This brief study was undertaken at DOE's request to address this conundrum. The scope of the study includes determining the status of global GHP markets and the status of the GHP industry and technology in the United States, assembling previous estimates of GHP energy savings potential, identifying key barriers to application of GHPs, and identifying actions that could accelerate market adoption of GHPs. The findings are documented in this report along with conclusions and recommendations.
Structures of Larger Proteins, Protein–Ligand, and Protein–DNA Complexes by Multidimensional Heteronuclear NMR

The application of multidimensional heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy for solving three-dimensional structures of proteins and protein complexes is described and illustrated by a number of examples, including the structures of interleukin-1β, the calmodulin-M13 peptide complex and the GATA-1/DNA complex. Keywords: protein structure; complexes; NMR
Single Coronary Artery

A 54-year-old postmenopausal female, with systemic arterial hypertension and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, had exertional chest discomfort. At cardiac catheterization, a single coronary artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva was seen (Fig. 1). This condition is extremely rare, discovered in < 0.05% of the general population. Transesophageal echocardiography using color flow imaging documented that the left anterior descending coronary artery was anterior to the pulmonary artery (Fig. 2).
Matrix compliance regulates Rac1b localization, NADPH oxidase assembly, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Substratum stiffness controls the subcellular localization of Rac1b, a highly activated splice variant of the small GTPase Rac1. On stiff substrata, Rac1b localizes to the plasma membrane, forming ...
Testing the predictive performance of distribution models

Distribution models are used to predict the likelihood of occurrence or abundance of a species at locations where census data are not available. An integral part of modelling is the testing of model performance. We compared different schemes and measures for testing model performance using 79 species from the North American Breeding Bird Survey. The four testing schemes we compared featured increasing independence between test and training data: resubstitution, random data hold-out and two spatially segregated data hold-out designs. The different testing measures also addressed different levels of information content in the dependent variable: regression R 2 for absolute abundance, squared correlation coefficient r 2 for relative abundance and AUC/Somer’s D for presence/absence. We found that higher levels of independence between test and training data lead to lower assessments of prediction accuracy. Even for data collected independently, spatial autocorrelation leads to dependence between random hold-out test data and training data, and thus to inflated measures of model performance. While there is a general awareness of the importance of autocorrelation to model building and hypothesis testing, its consequences via violation of independence between training and testing data have not been addressed systematically and comprehensively before. Furthermore, increasing information content (from correctly classifying presence/absence, to predicting relative abundance, to predicting absolute abundance) leads to decreasing predictive performance. The current tests for presence/absence distribution models are typically overly optimistic because a) the test and training data are not independent and b) the correct classification of presence/absence has a relatively low information content and thus capability to address ecological and conservation questions compared to a prediction of abundance. Meaningful evaluation of model performance requires testing on spatially independent data, if the intended application of the model is to predict into new geographic or climatic space, which arguably is the case for most applications of distribution models.