cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Full Abstraction for Strongly Fair Communicating Processes

Abstract We present a denotational semantics for a language of parallel communicating processes based on Hoare's CSP [10] and Milner's CCS [14], and we prove that the semantics is fully abstract with respect to a deadlock-sensitive notion of fair behavior. The model incorporates the assumption of strong fairness: every process which is enabled infinitely often makes progress infinitely often. The combination of fairness and deadlock causes problems because the “enabledness” of a process may depend on the status of other processes. We formulate a parameterized notion of strong fairness, generalizing the traditional notion of strong fairness [5] in a way that facilitates compositional analysis. We then provide a denotational semantics which uses a form of trace, augmented with information about enabledness, and is related to the failures model for CSP [2] and to Hennessy's acceptance trees [7]. By introducing closure conditions on trace sets, we achieve full abstraction [13]: two processes have the same meaning if and only if they exhibit identical behaviors in all contexts.
FoxO3a (Forkhead Box O3a) Deficiency Protects Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Fibroblasts from Type I Polymerized Collagen Matrix-Induced Apoptosis via Caveolin-1 (cav-1) and Fas

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a lethal fibrotic disease characterized by the unrelenting proliferation and persistence of fibroblasts in a type I collagen-rich matrix that result in an expanding reticular network of fibrotic tissue. However, the underlying mechanism responsible for the persistence of myofibroblasts in IPF remains unclear. During normal tissue repair, unwanted fibroblasts are eliminated during collagen-matrix contraction by a mechanism whereby high PTEN activity suppresses Akt. We have previously found that FoxO3a, a transcriptional activator of apoptosis-inducing proteins, is inactivated in IPF fibroblasts resulting from aberrantly high PI3K/Akt activity due to inappropriately low PTEN activity. Here we demonstrate that this low FoxO3a activity confers IPF fibroblasts with resistance to collagen-mediated apoptosis. We show that the mechanism by which low FoxO3a activity confers IPF fibroblasts with an apoptotic resistant phenotype involves suppression of Fas expression as a result of down regulation of cav-1 expression via a PTEN/Akt-dependent pathway. We demonstrate that PTEN over-expression or Akt inhibition increases FoxO3a expression in IPF fibroblasts, resulting in up-regulation of caveolin-1. We show that FoxO3a binds to the cav-1 promoter region and ectopic expression of FoxO3a transcriptionally increases cav-1 mRNA and protein expression. In turn, we show that overexpression of caveolin-1 increases Fas levels and caspase-3/7 activity and promotes IPF fibroblast apoptosis on polymerized type I collagen. We have found that the expression of caveolin-1, Fas and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in fibroblasts within the fibroblastic foci of IPF patient specimens is low. Our data indicate that the pathologically altered PTEN/Akt axis inactivates FoxO3a down-regulating cav-1 and Fas expression. This confers IPF fibroblasts with an apoptosis-resistant phenotype and may be responsible for IPF progression.
Benzoyl peroxide initiated in situ functionalization, processing, and mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube-polypropylene composite fibers

Benzoyl peroxide initiated in situ functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) represents a simple means of generating reactive sites on the surface of carbon nanotubes by exploiting...
The application of parallel computing to the flow of fluids in porous media

Abstract Over the past 15 years high performance computing has had a signficant impact on the evolution of numerical predictive methods for flow in porous media involving improved recovery from hydrocarbon reservoirs. The complexity of these reservoir simulation models has led to computational requirements that have consistently taxed the fastest computers. This work discusses how current state-of-the-art parallel architectures have been investigated to allow models which more closely approach realistic simulations while emphasizing accuracy and efficiency of the models. Several modeling approaches have been investigated on different parallel architectures. These investigations have, in general, shown great promise for the use of massively parallel computers for reservoir simulations. Despite these results, reservoir simulation has been slow in moving toward parallel computing in a preoduction environment. There appear to be several reasons for this. First, the recursive natures of the existing linear solution techniques for reservoir modeling are not readily adaptable to massively parallel architectures. The trade-off between load balancing and global data structure has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Finally, the role of well and facility constraints and production optimization in massively parallel processing may lead to severe serial bottlenecks. Several approaches for the solution of these difficulties are presented.
Effect of Pituitary Extracts on Basal Metabolic Rate.

Previous studies on the effect of pituitary extracts on basal metabolic rate have not been conclusive, although an increase has been indicated. The work of Oliver Kamm who succeeded in separating the oxytocic and vasomotor principles of pituitrin, has made it possible to fractionate their effects on metabolism. In the present experiments the metabolic rates of male rats fasted approximately 24 hours, were determined in a Haldane-Pembrey apparatus, before and after the subcutaneous injections of chloretone-free pitocin, pitressin and pituitrin (surgical). The limit of error of the method was considered to be ± 5%.A slight increase in metabolic rate was observed after the injection of pitocin. Doses ranging from 2.5 to 80 units per kilo showed an average rise in the oxygen consumption of 32% above the basal level, during the first hour after injection. Part of this rise, probably about 16%, was due merely to the effect of the injection. The average increase for the second and third hours after injection was...
An improved algorithm for solving biobjective integer programs

A parametric algorithm for identifying the Pareto set of a biobjective integer program is proposed. The algorithm is based on the weighted Chebyshev (Tchebycheff) scalarization, and its running time is asymptotically optimal. A number of extensions are described, including: a technique for handling weakly dominated outcomes, a Pareto set approximation scheme, and an interactive version that provides access to all Pareto outcomes. Extensive computational tests on instances of the biobjective knapsack problem and a capacitated network routing problem are presented.
Comparison of the stabilities and activities of Pt–Ru/C and Pt3–Sn/C electrocatalysts synthesized by the polyol method for methanol electro-oxidation reaction

Abstract Carbon-supported Pt, Pt–Ru, Pt 3 –Sn electrocatalysts have been synthesized by a modified polyol method. Energy dispersive spectroscopic (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analyses reveal that the as-prepared samples are composed of mainly Pt and RuO 2 or SnO 2 and the formation of alloys is found only after heat-treatment at 200 °C in a flowing 10% H 2 –90% Ar atmosphere. The activity and durability for the methanol electro-oxidation reaction (MOR) have been evaluated by accelerated durability test (ADT) carried out by scanning the electrode potential for extended number of cycles in the potential ranges of 0.02–0.6, 0.02–0.8, and 0.02–1.2 V vs. NHE. Regardless of heat-treatment, the initial activity for MOR decreases in the order Pt–Ru/C > Pt 3 –Sn/C > Pt/C and the durability decreases in the order Pt/C > Pt 3 –Sn/C > Pt–Ru/C. During the ADT of the as-prepared Pt–Ru/C and Pt 3 –Sn/C, no detectable amount of dissolved Sn ions was found in the electrolyte solution, while almost 40% of Ru could be found in the electrolyte solution after ADT between 0.02 and 1.2 V vs. NHE. With MOR activity comparable to and durability better than that of Pt–Ru, the Pt-Sn based catalysts offer the potential to be employed as anode catalysts in direct methanol fuel cells.
Multiple pathways of mitochondrial-nuclear communication in yeast: Intergenomic signaling involves ABF1 and affects a different set of genes than retrograde regulation

Mitochondrial-nuclear communication is taking on increased importance in models of oxygen sensing, oxidative stress, aging, and disease. The deletion of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) and, hence, the ability to respire, affects expression of several nuclear genes through at least two different mitochondrial-nuclear communication pathways. One of the pathways, retrograde regulation, is activated by a reduction in respiration, while another, intergenomic signaling, is unaffected by respiration but requires mtDNA. Using DNA microarrays, we identify here a set of nuclear genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are targets of intergenomic signaling. These nuclear genes are down-regulated in rho degrees cells that lack mtDNA but not in nuclear pet mutant rho(+)cells that possess mtDNA but lack respiration. Many of these nuclear genes encode mitochondrial proteins, implying that intergenomic signaling functions in coordinating mitochondrial and nuclear gene expression. In addition, analyses of deletion and linker scanning mutations in the promoter of the COX6 gene, a nuclear gene affected by intergenomic signaling, suggest an involvement of Abf1p transcription factor in intergenomic signaling. Together, these findings indicate that intergenomic signaling is distinct from retrograde regulation both in the nuclear genes that it regulates and in the way in which it affects their expression.
Phenotypic and structural analyses of hepatitis C virus NS3 protease Arg155 variants: sensitivity to telaprevir (VX-950) and interferon alpha.

Telaprevir (VX-950) is a highly selective, potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3·4A serine protease. It has demonstrated strong antiviral activity in patients chronically infected with genotype 1 HCV when dosed alone or in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a. Substitutions of Arg155 of the HCV NS3 protease domain have been previously detected in HCV isolates from some patients during telaprevir dosing. In this study, Arg155 was replaced with various residues in genotype 1a protease domain proteins and in genotype 1b HCV subgenomic replicons. Characterization of both the purified enzymes and reconstituted replicon cells demonstrated that substitutions of Arg155 with these residues conferred low level resistance to telaprevir (
Optimal design of grid-interfaced EV chargers with integrated generation

The penetration of plug-in electric vehicles and renewable distributed generation is expected to increase over the next few decades. Large scale unregulated deployment of either technology can have detrimental impact on the electric grid. However, appropriate pairing of these technologies along with some storage could mitigate their individual negative impacts. This paper presents a framework and an optimization methodology for designing grid-interfaced systems that integrate electric vehicle chargers, distributed generation and storage. To demonstrate its usefulness, this methodology is applied to the design of optimal architectures for a residential charging case. It is shown that, given current costs, maximizing grid power usage minimizes system lifecycle cost. However, depending upon the location's solar irradiance patterns, architectures with solar photovoltaic generation can be more cost effective than architectures without.
Stratification is the key: Inflammatory biomarkers accurately direct immunomodulatory therapy in experimental sepsis*

Standard protocols for sepsis treatment, relying on broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, and ventilation, have remained essentially unchanged for the last three decades. Although decreased mortality has been observed with early goal-directed therapy and activated protein C (1), aggressive anti-inflammatory trials, either in the form of corticosteroid-based therapy (2–5) or more recent specific anti-cytokine approaches (6), not only failed to improve survival but some were even associated with increased mortality (7). Corticosteroids have a long history in the therapy of sepsis, beginning with the landmark study by Schumer (8), which showed a 30% improvement in survival after early dexamethasone (DEX) and prednisolone treatment in patients with septic shock. However, subsequent clinical trials contradicted the original findings by showing that high-dose glucocorticoids did not improve outcome in septic patients (3, 4, 9, 10). It should be noted that low-dose steroids were reintroduced as an adjunctive therapy in patients with adrenal insufficiency (11). There is a growing consensus that appropriate therapy for sepsis cannot rely on the “magic bullet” paradigm where specific, targeted therapy directed against a single mediator will be successful. Two major immune conditions proposed to coexist during the course of sepsis, the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and the compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome, emphasize that sepsis constantly fluctuates (12). Thus, successful treatment needs to be frequently adjusted based on the patient’s current immunoinflammatory status. Statistical analysis suggested that the failure of the anticytokine trials may have been related to heterogeneous patient populations, because cohorts with the highest mortality risk were more likely to benefit from anti-inflammatory interventions (13). Using inflammatory cytokines as biomarkers, we developed an approach that allows accurate mortality prediction in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of murine sepsis (14, 15). To verify this approach in a scenario of targeted treatment, we hypothesized that nonspecific corticosteroid (DEX) suppression of inflammation in subjects predicted to die (P-DIE) would improve survival, whereas the identical treatment applied to animals predicted to live (P-LIVE) will produce little benefit.
Optical absorption from polarons in a diatomic polymer.

Several recent experiments' on polythiophene have focused renewed attention on the optical-absorption properties of polaronlike excitations in conducting polymers. In particular, strong intragap absorption features are observed in both photoinduced photoabsorption (PA) and in optical absorption from doped samples. In PA and in moderately doped ( )4 mol % ) ' samples, two peaks are clearly observed, whereas for lightly doped ( & 2.5 mo1%)' samples, a third peak occurs at a frequency intermediate between the other two. Importantly, both this pattern of peaks and its change with doping are exactly what one would expect on the basis of prior theoretical calculations of polaron absorption within the continuum limit of the Su-SchriefferHeeger —(SSH)-like model' appropriate to a conducting polymer (like polythiophene) with a nondegenerate ground state. For low doping, where single polarons are expected to be dominant excitations, the two localized electronic levels (at +coo, coo & 6,o) associated with a polaron lead to three distinct intragap (co & 2b.o) contributions to a(co), the optical absorption: (1) a"'(co), a 5-function transition between the two localized levels occurring at co = 2coo, (2) a' '(co), an absorption which begins at
Fate through Fat: Lipid Metabolism Determines Stem Cell Division Outcome

Distinctive metabolism associated with particular cell states is increasingly being defined in normal and malignant cells. Ito et al. (2012) now show that fatty acid oxidation is associated with hematopoietic stem cells and determines whether they undergo symmetric or asymmetric cell division, driving a fundamental property of the stem cell state.
Non-Abelian Berry's phase effects and optical pumping of atoms

Abstract We predict experimentally verifiable manifestations of non-Abelian Berry's phase effects for atoms in external collinear electric and magnetic fields. The field strengths are arranged so as to cause accidental degeneracy between atomic states. The relevant theoretical results, which have been presented in detail elsewhere, are summarized and explained. We propose an experiment using optically pumped metastable multiplets of Pb208 in an atomic beam apparatus to test these predictions. We estimate required experimental parameters, and conclude that the proposed experiment can realistically be performed.
A comparative review of human and equine leucocyte differentiation antigens

Summary Monoclonal antibody technology has allowed the recognition and study of numerous leucocyte antigens in man and laboratory animals for over a decade. Numerous advances in the understanding of immune responses and immunopathology have resulted. In recent years equine researchers have started to develop similar reagents, which now offer a powerful tool to investigators of equine immunology and disease.
Binding Selectivity Studies of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases Using Free Energy Calculations

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) and their phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP(3)) products regulate a variety of cellular processes. Of these, PI3Kα is an attractive target for anticancer drug design. Mutations in the PI3Kα kinase domain alter the mobility of the activation loop resulting in gain of function. We employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations-based energetic analysis using molecular mechanics/generalized born surface area (MM/GBSA) for PI3Kα and -γ. MD simulations were carried out for PI3K models based on the RESP (restrained electrostatic potential) and quantum mechanics (QM)-polarized ligand docking (QPLD)-derived partial charges. Computational alanine scanning was also used to evaluate the contributions of key binding residues to ligand binding. Our results show that both RESP and QPLD charge models of PI3Kα and PI3Kγ provide similar performance in MD simulations. For example, the predicted RESP and QPLD free energies of -9.5 and -9.3 kcal/mol for LY294002 binding to PI3Kγ and -10.9 and -11.7 kcal/mol for wortmannin binding to PI3Kα are in good agreement with experimental values. A significant loss in binding free energy was observed when hydrophobic residues were mutated to alanine, suggesting that specific hydrophobic interactions are important to optimal ligand binding. MM/GBSA calculations suggested that residues Ser774, Gln859, and Ile932 of PI3Kα might be used to design H1047R mutant-specific ligands, whereas Lys890 of PI3Kγ can be used for ligand design targeting PI3Kγ.
ELECTRIC FIELD EFFECTS ON ELECTRON TRANSFER RATES IN DICHROMOPHORIC PEPTIDES : THE EFFECT OF HELIX UNFOLDING

The effect of helix unfolding on the rates of photoinduced electron transfer in model dichromophoric peptides was investigated. Two α-helical peptides, 1 and 2, having an alternating Ala-Aib backbo...
Adaptive fracture simulation of multi-layered thin plates

The fractures of thin plates often exhibit complex physical behaviors in the real world. In particular, fractures caused by tearing are different from fractures caused by in-plane motions. In this paper, we study how to make thin-plate fracture animations more realistic from three perspectives. We propose a stress relaxation method, which is applied to avoid shattering artifacts after generating each fracture cut. We formulate a fracture-aware remeshing scheme based on constrained Delaunay triangulation, to adaptively provide more fracture details. Finally, we use our multi-layered model to simulate complex fracture behaviors across thin layers. Our experiment shows that the system can efficiently and realistically simulate the fractures of multi-layered thin plates.
Double-dipping: When your research answers unintended questions

Structure/Method/Design: This was a descriptive retrospective study of histologically confirmed cases of esophageal cancer diagnosed at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, and identified through its Cancer Registry and/or endoscopy unity, from 1998 to 2008. Demographic data (age, sex, village) were obtained from hospital records and a risk-factor questionnaire was administered to patient’s relatives. Results (Scientific Abstract)/Collaborative Partners (Programmatic Abstract): 802 patients were diagnosed with esophageal cancer during the study period, the majority of which was squamous cell carcinoma. 59% of cases were male. Mean age at diagnosis was 60 years (inter-quartile range 50-70). The age-standardized incidence rates (ASR to world population per 100,000) were 6.8 and 3.8 in men and women respectively. Large geographical variations were observed. ASRs were over 9 inmen inMoshi Urban,Moshi Rural, andHai and less than 3 in Rombo, Mwanga and Same districts. 96% of male cases and 92% of female cases had drank alcohol regularly; 38% and 5% had consumed strong illicit moonshine spirits (gongo). Amongst drinkers, drinking started at mean age of 13 years, with 25% having started by age 8 and mean lifetime years of drinking was 50 (SD 15.6). 87% ofmale and 36% of female cases had smoked tobacco regularly. Summary/Conclusion: Within the high esophageal cancer area of the Kilimanjaro region, the south and western districts adjacent to the Kilimanjaro mountain peak have over 3-fold higher incidence rates than other districts in the region. Prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption is higher among cases than in previous population surveys. These findings need further investigation in a broader analytical study.
Amniotic fluid 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in preterm labor.

5-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) is an arachidonate lipoxygenase product capable of stimulating human uterine contractility in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine if preterm labor is associated with changes in the concentration of this metabolite in amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid was obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis from three groups of women with preterm labor: group 1 - women without intraamniotic infection who responded to tocolysis (n = 32); group 2 - women without intraamniotic infection who failed to respond to tocolysis (n = 22); and group 3 - women with intraamniotic infection (n = 14). 5-HETE was determined by radioimmunoassay. The median amniotic fluid concentration of 5-HETE in women who responded to tocolysis (median = 1412 pg/ml; range: 111-3547) was significantly lower than in women who delivered despite tocolysis (median = 2052 pg/ml; range: 136-7774) and women with intraamniotic infection (median = 1876 pg/ml; range: 543-7033) [p 0.05).
A Model to Estimate Potential Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Habitat Based on Studies in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana

The depth distribution of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) was studied in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, to develop a model to predict changes in SAV abundance from changes in environmental quality. We conducted annual line-intercept surveys from 1997 through 2001 and monitored monthly photosynthetically active radiation at four sites with different shoreface slopes. The following relationships between SAV distribution and environmental factors were used as model parameters: (1) water clarity controls SAV colonization depth; (2) fluctuation in annual mean water level and wave mixing determines SAV minimum colonization depth; and (3) site differences in SAV areal coverage under the comparable water quality conditions are due to shoreface slope differences. These parameters expressed as mathematical components of the model are as follows: mean water clarity determines SAV colonization depth (Zmax= 2.3/Kd); mean water level and wave mixing controls SAV minimum depth (Zmin= 0.3 m); and shoreface slope angle (θ) determines the distance from Zmin to Zmax. The equation developed for the potential SAV habitat (PSAV) model is PSAV = (2.3 − 0.3 ×Kd)/(sinθ×Kd). The model was validated by comparing empirical values from the dataset to values predicted by the model. Although the model was developed to predict the PSAV in Lake Pontchartrain, it can be applied to other coastal habitats if local SAV light requirements are substituted for Lake Pontchartrain values. This model is a useful tool in selecting potential restoration sites and in predicting the extent of SAV habitat gain after restoration.
A critical comparative review of PZT and SBT - based science and technology for non-volatile ferroelectric memories

Abstract A critical comparison is made between the two leading material technologies being developed for the first generation of non-volatile ferroelectric memories. One of them is based on Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 (PZT) and the other on a layered perovskite family of materials, of which the most intensively investigated is Sr1-xBi2+yTa2O9 (SBT). Basic scientific and technological issues, related to the synthesis of thin films and composition-microstructure-property relationships, are discussed in view of materials integration strategies developed to produce capacitors with properties suitable for commercial non-volatile ferroelectric memories.
Live versus recorded relaxation training: a controlled investigation

The effects of live (LR) and taped (TR) progressive relaxation training and self-relaxation (SR) were compared using measures of physiological arousal and subjective tension. Subjects were selected from respondents to newspaper ads that solicited tense people to participate in a therapy study. All treatments led to significant in-session reductions of physiological arousal (tonic heart rate, respiration rate, and muscle tension) with no difference between groups. All treatments led to significantly reduced levels of subjective tension, with LR resulting in significantly greater reductions than TR and SR. The results are discussed in light of previous research and clinical implications are noted.
Effect of pregnancy on effectiveness of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

Background Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are experienced by up to 85% of pregnant women. Some young women on maintenance proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment are choosing surgery to stop their medical treatment and avoid severe symptoms during pregnancy. There are no reports describing the effect of pregnancy on the long-term efficacy of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on the efficacy of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.
American Youth Violence: Issues and Trends

Census and arrest data suggest that all forms of violent youth crime increased more than the youth population during the 1960s. Since 1970, however, per capita rates of youth homicide and rape have been stable as measured by arrest trends. Robbery by young offenders in 1977 was close to the per capita rate in 1970. Only the heterogeneous crime of aggravated assault has increased significantly through the 1970s, and this increase may be a result of different patterns of police classification and reporting. Recent studies of youth crime have produced insufficient information on the concentration, predictability, and responsiveness to sanctions of youth violence. The data collected to date are far more ambiguous than has been acknowledged in the current debates about "cracking down" on youth violence or identifying and isolating "hard core" or career adolescent offenders. Language: en
Profiles of HCO and CH3 in CH4/O2 and C2H4/O2 flames by resonance ionization

Measurements are presented of the relative density profiles of formyl and methyl radicals in stoichiometric methane/oxygen and ethylene/oxygen flames which exemplify recent progress in the use of resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) spectroscopy for flame diagnostics. The advantages and present limitations of this new laser-based technique are discussed. The high sensitivity of the REMPI method for the detection of HCO presents an opportunity for better measurements of flame profiles and of the rate constants for consumption of this important intermediate in hydrocarbon combustion.
The Iconography of Desolation: Patagonia and the Ruins of Nature

Gabriela Nouzeilles, an Associate Professor of Latin American Studies at Princeton University, founded and served as executive editor of the interdisciplinary journal Nepantla: Views from South. Sh...
Field Efficacy and Application Timing of Methoxyfenozide, a Reduced-Risk Treatment for Control of Navel Orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Almond

ABSTBACT Large-scale field efficacy trials of methoxyfenozide (Intrepid), a reduced-risk molting agonist insecticide, were conducted in 2004 and 2005 in an orchard containing ‘Nonpareil’ and ‘Sonora’ almonds [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] located in Kern County, CA. Methoxyfenozide applied one to three times, the organophosphate phosmet (Imidan) alone or in combination with methoxyfenozide, or the pyrethroid permethrin (Perm-Up) were tested for efficacy against the primary lepidopteran pest navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), and three other lepidopteran pests of almond: oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck); obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris); and peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella Zeller. Two or three applications of methoxyfenozide (bracketing hull split or spring plus bracketing hull split) were more effective than a single hull split application of phosmet, phosmet combined with permethrin, or methoxyfenozide. In these trial...
Image quality analysis of a spectra-radiometric sparse-aperture model

Sparse aperture (SA) telescopes represent a promising technology to increase the effective diameter of an optical system while reducing overall weight and stowable size. Although conceptually explored in the literature for decades, the technology has only recently matured to the point of being reasonably considered for certain applications. In general, a sparse aperture system consists of an array of sub-apertures that are phased to synthesize a larger effective aperture. The models used to date to create predictions of sparse aperture imagery typically make use of a "gray world" assumption, where the input is a resampled black and white panchromatic image. This input is then degraded and resampled with a so-called polychromatic system optical transfer function (OTF), which is a weighted average of the OTFs over the spectral bandpass. In reality, a physical OTF is spectrally dependent, exhibiting varying structure with spatial frequency (especially in the presence of optical aberrations or sub-aperture phase errors). Given this spectral variation with spatial frequency, there is some concern the traditional gray world resampling approach may not address significant features of the image quality associated with sparse aperture systems. This research investigates the subject of how the image quality of a sparse aperture system varies with respect to a conventional telescope from a spectra-radiometric perspective, with emphasis on whether the restored sparse aperture image will be beset by spectral artifacts.
Lessons learned teaching Ada in the context of software engineering

Educators across the country are struggling with difficult issues in the teaching of Ada and its relationship to the computer science curriculum. By design, the language supports software engineering principles. Therefore, it would seem that the “natural” place for teaching Ada is within the context of software engineering. This paper reports on the author's and his students' experiences in learning and using Ada in different settings, including a software engineering project course, and a course centered on Ada and its use.
Observations on the doubling time of prostate cancer. The use of serial prostate‐specific antigen in patients with untreated disease as a measure of increasing cancer volume

Background. The serum marker prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been shown to be proportional to the volume of prostate cancer (Yang polyclonal assay). One gram of cancer on average produces 3.5 ng/ml of PSA elevation. Thus, changes in PSA in untreated patients should reflect tumor growth rate and the shape of the growth curve. Methods. Forty-three patients with previously untreated prostate cancer had serial PSA determinations during a period of at least 12 months (mean, 30 months; range, 12–63 months). There was no treatment between the initial and final PSA. PSA was measured five or more times in half of these patients. Log-PSA values were plotted versus time, tested for linearity, and compared between different clinical stages and histologic grades. Results. PSA values increased with time in 86% of patients but remained stable in 14%. The increase of PSA was exponential (log-linear) throughout the measured interval. Doubling times were faster in patients with higher disease stages and grades. Seventy-nine percent of all patients had a doubling time of more than 24 months. Twenty of 28 cancers thought to be clinically organ confined doubled at rates exceeding 48 months. Tumor doubling times were overestimated in patients with large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia because hyperplasia increases serum PSA at an average rate of 0.3 ng/ml. Conclusions. The authors conclude that prostate cancer has a constant (log-linear) growth rate that is very slow. This extraordinarily slow doubling time has substantial consequences for therapeutic decisions and for screening programs.
The intramolecular tunnelling of hydrogen

This paper reports an approach to the analysis of the local anharmonic states of motion and tunnelling of hydrogen illustrated with the molecule malonaldehyde. A potential energy function is used accurately to fit the local potential energy surface. The basis fitting functions in the potential resemble the Morse basis function, , but are intrinsically Gaussian: . After rearrangement to isolate the Gaussian operators, the new form of the potential allows the direct use of mathematically friendly (Gaussian) manipulations that are needed to carry out the quantum mechanical analysis of the anharmonic features, namely tunnelling. The quantal analysis uses Cartesian harmonic oscillator basis functions together with the Talmi–Moshinsky–Smirnov methods to evaluate matrix elements of the potential energy operator. The longer term objective of this kind of work is to develop practical methods of hybrid analysis with which to treat the local atom dynamics associated with a reactive species while the rest of the dyna...
Alcohols, ethers, carbohydrates, and related compounds. II. The anomeric effect.

The anomeric effect has been studied for a variety of compounds using the MM4 force field, and also using MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) ab initio calculations and experimental data for reference purposes. Geometries and energies, including conformational, rotational barriers, and heats of formation were examined. Overall, the agreement of MM4 with the experimental and ab initio data is good, and significantly better than the agreement obtained with the MM3 force field. The anomeric effect is represented in MM4 by various explicit terms in the force constant matrix. The bond length changes are accounted for with torsion-stretch elements. The angle changes are accounted for with torsion-bend elements. The energies are taken into account with a number of torsional terms in the usual way. A torsion-torsion interaction is also of some importance. With all of these elements included in the calculation, the MM4 results now appear to be adequately accurate. The heats of formation were examined for a total of 12 anomeric compounds, and the experimental values were fit by MM4 with an RMS error of 0.42 kcal/mol.
Expression of growth-associated protein-43 kD in Schwann cells is regulated by axon-Schwann cell interactions and cAMP

We have examined the regulation of growth-associated protein 43 kD (GAP-43) in rat Schwann cells. In unlesioned adult nerves, GAP-43-immunoreactivity was restricted to non-myelinating Schwann cells and unmyelinated axons. When adult nerves were transected to cause permanent axotomy, previously myelinating Schwann cells expressed progressively more GAP-43-immunoreactivity over 3 weeks, and GAP-43 mRNA levels increased over a similar time course. The peak level of GAP-43 mRNA occurred at least 2 weeks later than that of nerve growth factor receptor, another marker of denervated Schwann cells. In contrast, after nerve-crush, which allows axonal regeneration, many fewer Schwann cells had GAP-43-immunoreactivity, and the amount of GAP-43 mRNA was markedly lower than in transected nerves. Forskolin, a drug that activates adenylate cyclase and mimics many effects of axon-Schwann cell interactions, markedly reduced GAP-43-immunoreactivity and mRNA expression in cultured Schwann cells, whereas interleukin-1 had no effect. These data demonstrate that axon-Schwann cell interactions inhibit the expression of GAP-43 in Schwann cells and that this effect is mimicked by forskolin.
Ice storm effects on the canopy structure of a northern hardwood forest after 8 years

Ice storms can cause severe damage to forest canopies, resulting in differential mortality among tree species and size classes and leading to long-lasting changes in the vertical structure and composition of the forest. An intense ice storm in 1998 damaged large areas of the northern hardwood forest, including much of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire (USA). Following up on detailed poststorm assessments, we measured changes in the vertical structure of the forest canopy 8 years poststorm. We focused on how the presence of disease-induced advance regeneration of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) has affected canopy structure in the recovering forest. We measured foliage-height profiles using a point-quadrat approach and a pole-mounted leaf area index (LAI) sensor. Although the total LAIs of damaged and undamaged areas were similar, areas damaged in 1998 showed an increased proportion of total leaf area between 6 and 10 m above the ground. The foliage at this height is largely (54...
Biological gold recovery from gold–cyanide solutions

Abstract This paper describes a process for recovering gold from aqueous cyanide solutions using naturally occurring soil microorganisms. In this research, microbes successfully liberated gold cations from aurocyanide complexes. The gold was subsequently captured on iron and zinc electron donors. Three sets of bench scale experiments were conducted using cyanide degrading biomass that had been enriched on cyanide as a sole nitrogen source. After cyanide degrading microorganisms populated microcosm reactors, the biomass was fed with a gold cyanide solution. Microorganisms consumed the CN − moiety of aurocyanide complexes, releasing gold cations. A portion of the gold was recovered on steel wool or zinc which served as cathodes. Although gold recovery rates were low, methods for improving efficiency were investigated.
Site‐specific intracoronary thrombolysis with urokinase‐coated hydrogel balloons: Acute and follow‐up studies in 95 patients

Conventional balloon angioplasty in the presence of intracoronary thrombus is associated with an elevated risk for acute myocardial infarction, emergency bypass surgery, and death. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a new technique to treat thrombus-containing stenoses consisting of the local delivery of urokinase directly to the site of intraluminal clot with hydrogel-coated balloons. Ninety-five patients with angiographically apparent intracoronary thrombus were treated with urokinase-coated hydrogel balloons either prior to (n = 74) or following (n = 21) conventional balloon angioplasty. Clinical diagnoses for the study group included acute myocardial infarction in 50 patients, postinfarction angina in 23 patients, and unstable angina in 22 patients. All hydrogel balloons were initially coated with urokinase by immersing the inflated balloon in a concentrated Abbokinase solution (50,000 units/ml) for 60 s. All patients were subsequently treated with drug-coated balloons using a balloon:artery ratio of 1:1, a mean of 2.2 +/- 1.2 inflations, and a mean total inflation time of 7.5 +/- 4.9 min. Use of urokinase-coated balloons resulted in angiographic disappearance of intracoronary thrombus in 78 patients, improvement in 14, and no change in the remaining 3 patients. Following hydrogel balloon use for the entire 95 patients, TIMI flow increased from 1.4 +/- 1.2 to 2.9 +/- 0.4, minimal lumen diameter increased from 0.4 +/- 0.4 to 2.0 +/- 0.6 mm, and thrombus score decreased from 2.0 +/- 0.9 to 0.2 +/- 0.6 (all P < 0.01). Procedural and early in-hospital complications were noted in 7 of the 95 patients (7.4%) and included abrupt closure in 3 patients, distal embolization in 1 patient, no reflow in 1 patient, sidebranch occlusion in 1 patient, and late closure in 1 patient. Two of the 3 patients with abrupt closure and the single patient with late closure required intracoronary stenting to maintain vessel patency. Two of these 7 patients sustained small myocardial infarctions, although no patient required emergency bypass surgery or experienced a procedural death. Late clinical follow-up (mean = 8.3 +/- 6.6 months; range = 2 wk to 29 mo) demonstrated adverse recurrent events in 29 of the 95 patients (30.5%), including death (n = 5), myocardial infarction (n = 2), and recurrence of angina (n = 22). The results of this study suggest that intracoronary thrombolysis can be safely and rapidly achieved by using limited quantities of urokinase delivered directly to the site of intraluminal clot with hydrogel balloons. Use of this technique may result in improved acute outcomes in comparison with conventional techniques currently being used to treat thrombus-containing stenoses.
Microtubules in the sperm of the spider crab, Libinia emarginata L.

The mature sperm of Libinia emarginata possesses a large acrosome exhibiting several zones of varying electron density which surrounds the central acrosomal tubule. A ring-shaped apical cap with a depressed center covers the distal end of the acrosome while two centrioles appear in the area of lessened electron density at the base of the central acrosomal tubule. Peripherally the acrosome is surrounded by the lamellar region. The nucleus in turn surrounds the lamellar region and acrosome excepting in the region of the apical cap. Nuclear material forms the three lateral arms and posterior median process. A core of microtubules of centriolar origin extend the length of these processes. A limiting membrane formed by fusion of cell and nuclear membrane covers the surface of the sperm.
Protein binding of bilirubin: Comparison of in vitro and in vivo measurements of bilirubin displacement by drugs

Abstract A comparison of methods for the in vitro and in vivo measurement of unbound bilirubin in the presence of plasma proteins, drugs and other chemicals was made to determine the best methods for preclinical investigation of new drugs that may be used during the perinatal period. The methods examined included: equilibrium dialysis, binding of 2-(4′-hydroxybenzeneazo)benzoic acid to serum, spectral shift of free and albumin-bound bilirubin, displacement of bilirubin from albumin to mitochondria in vitro, drug-mediated decrease in plasma bilirubin in hyperbilirubinemic Gunn rats, and Sephadex gel filtration for separation of protein bound and unbound bilirubin. Sephadex gel filtration appeared to be the most useful method for measurement of unbound bilirubin. There was good agreement between in vitro studies of sulfadimethoxine and salicylate displacement of bilirubin using Sephadex gel filtration and in vivo studies in the Gunn rat. Studies of bilirubin displacement in the icteric Gunn rat provide a basis for establishing realistic conditions of drug dosage, the time course of drug action and the possible role of metabolites where there is insufficient information to establish the appropriate conditions for in vitro investigations.
Application of partial least squares regression to the automatic detection of chemical vapors by passive infrared remotely sensed image data

Passive infrared (IR) remote sensors are gaining wide acceptance as an analytical tool for the remote detection of chemical vapor plumes. A common problem in plume detection for remotely sensed data is the ability to obtain a quality background signature. Many detection methods employ techniques to extract the signatures of the unknown components in order to determine the overall classification of a desired signature. However, this is often the most difficult step since no prior background knowledge is available. In this document, a novel implementation of partial least squares (PLS) regression is proposed for the automatic detection of dimethylmethylphosphonate (DMMP) vapors from remotely sensed hyperspectral image data. In this implementation, prior knowledge of the target signature is used to extract the analyte information directly from the scene. The various unknown and interfering signatures are implicitly modeled by the PLS algorithm as components that maximize a covariance criterion. This implicit modeling is beneficial since it allows for the detection of a single target chemical without the need for a separate background subtraction procedure.
Evidence-Based Standards for Cancer Pain Management

High-quality management of cancer pain depends on evidence-based standards for screening, assessment, treatment, and follow-up for general cancer pain and specific pain syndromes. We developed a set of standards through an iterative process of structured literature review and development and refinement of topic areas and standards and subjected recommendations to rating by a multidisciplinary expert panel. Providers should routinely screen for the presence or absence and intensity of pain and should perform descriptive pain assessment for patients with a positive screen, including assessment for likely etiology and functional impairment. For treatment, providers should provide pain education, offer breakthrough opioids in patients receiving long-acting formulations, offer bowel regimens in patients receiving opioids chronically, and ensure continuity of opioid doses across health care settings. Providers should also follow up on patients after treatment for pain. For metastatic bone pain, providers should offer single-fraction radiotherapy as an option when offering radiation, unless there is a contraindication. When spinal cord compression is suspected, providers should treat with corticosteroids and evaluate with whole-spine magnetic resonance imaging scan or myelography as soon as possible but within 24 hours. Providers should initiate definitive treatment (radiotherapy or surgical decompression) within 24 hours for diagnosed cord compression and should follow up on patients after treatment. These standards provide an initial framework for high-quality evidence-based management of general cancer pain and pain syndromes.
Association Mapping of Kernel Size and Milling Quality in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars

Association mapping is a method for detection of gene effects based on linkage disequilibrium (LD) that complements QTL analysis in the development of tools for molecular plant breeding. In this study, association mapping was performed on a selected sample of 95 cultivars of soft winter wheat. Population structure was estimated on the basis of 36 unlinked simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The extent of LD was estimated on chromosomes 2D and part of 5A, relative to the LD observed among unlinked markers. Consistent LD on chromosome 2D was <1 cM, whereas in the centromeric region of 5A, LD extended for ∼5 cM. Association of 62 SSR loci on chromosomes 2D, 5A, and 5B with kernel morphology and milling quality was analyzed through a mixed-effects model, where subpopulation was considered as a random factor and the marker tested was considered as a fixed factor. Permutations were used to adjust the threshold of significance for multiple testing within chromosomes. In agreement with previous QTL analysis, significant markers for kernel size were detected on the three chromosomes tested, and alleles potentially useful for selection were identified. Our results demonstrated that association mapping could complement and enhance previous QTL information for marker-assisted selection.