cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Stability of a Single-Turn α-Helix: The Single versus Multiconformation Problem

The pentapeptide Ac-HAAAH-NH2, cyclized through its imidazoles by PdII to give [Pd(en)(peptide)]2+, has recently been evaluated by 2-D NMR and simulated annealing as a single α-helix conformation in solution. In the present work, we have questioned this assumption by developing Pd2+ parameters for AMBER*, performing an extensive conformational search for the [Pd(en)(peptide)]2+, and deconvoluting the averaged NMR data into eight rapidly equilibrating conformations with populations ranging from 2 to 55%. None of the latter correspond to the α-helix, although a 3% form possesses a related structure. As a critical component of interpreting an averaged NMR spectrum in terms of a single conformation, we advise testing this assumption with a method that permits conformational deconvolution.
Comprehensive Review of the Effects of Diabetes on Ocular Health.

In light of the potentially devastating effects of diabetes on ocular health, it behooves the eyecare professional to pay close attention to ocular changes in their diabetic patients so that they can be treated early and effectively. In this article, anterior and posterior segment changes and disease are reviewed in depth, including extraocular, neurological and optic nerve changes. This article intends to provide a useful resource to clinicians regarding the full range of ocular complications associated with diabetes.
Producing nature and enacting difference in ecosystem-based fisheries management: An example from the Northeastern US

Abstract The science and management of marine resources is increasingly grappling with the use of ecosystem-based fisheries management. Though ecosystem-based fisheries management seeks to unite biological and sociocultural concerns into a holistic framework, people are often seen simply as external drivers of change. The technical questions that are often posed, such as the delineation of boundaries or the strategies of governance, are however more broadly questions concerning the social production of nature. This paper explores these issues by analyzing both the spatial fishing practices of different fishermen and the results of a series of workshops held in New England to solicit opinions about ecosystem-based fisheries management. The paper emphasizes teasing apart the human dimensions of fishing embedded in predominant notions such as fishing effort through more explicit consideration of spatially based resource dependencies and mutual constitution of society-nature.
Trabecular bone remodeling around smooth and porous implants in an equine patellar model

The objective of this investigation was to examine the stress-morphology relationships for trabecular bone around implants with different surface characteristics. Stainless steel spheres with either a polished surface or a sintered-bead porous coating were implanted unilaterally into equine patellae and maintained for a 6 month period. Stereological methods were used to quantify the trabecular bone morphology and finite element analyses were performed to predict the trabecular bone stresses. In general, the remodeling response around the smooth implants was greater than that around those porous implants that exhibited bone ingrowth. In accordance with these differences, the finite element models predicted greater changes in the stresses adjacent to the smooth implants due to the nonlinear boundary conditions. However, it did not appear that the trajectorial theory, in its simplest form, was applicable to the remodeling induced by the implants. A linear relationship between the change in bone areal density and the change in von Mises effective stress provides support for the hypothesis that the architecture of trabecular bone corresponds to an optimal structure. The results also demonstrated that, under certain circumstances, small changes in the stress state may result in large changes in the principal material orientation.
Quasar–galaxy pairs and surface density of quasars

DISCOVERIES of radio-quiet quasars in the vicinity of galaxies1–5, sometimes with possible signs of interactions seem to contradict strongly the statistical analyses6–9 on quasar–galaxy associations, which do not support the previous study10 involving 3C quasars and bright galaxies. In each of these analyses6–10, the calculations used the surface densities of galaxies, because the surface density of quasars is poorly known, but it has been claimed11 that the small angular separations are explicable by chance only if the surface density of quasars is much larger than believed. To test such an assumption we studied the problem by estimating directly the probabilities involved when adopting the most probable values of the density of quasars12,13 at B ∼ 19.0–19.5, that is, μ ∼ 3–5 (deg)−2.
Construction of an ori cassette for adapting shuttle vectors for use in Haemophilus influenzae.

Abstract An ori (origin of DNA replication) cassette, pORC, containing the P15a ori and the kanamycin-resistance-encoding gene from Tn5, was constructed. The cassette was used to convert an Escherichia coli promoter selection vector, which contains a promoterless chloramphenicol (Cm) acetyltransferase-encoding gene (cat) downstream from a multiple cloning site (MCS) [Brosius and Lupski, Methods Enzymol. 153 (1987) 54–68], to an E. coli-Haemophilus influenzae shuttle vector. The shuttle vector, pQL1, was shown to transform E. coli and H. influenzae efficiently. H. influenzae promoters were cloned into pQL1 by ligation of Saw3A-digested H. influenzae chromosomal fragments. Selection and semiquantitative analysis of promoter strength were performed on agar plates containing different concentrations of Cm. With the use of pQL1, H. influenzae gene regulation can now be studied in either H. influenzae or E. coli. In addition, elements of pORC can be used to convert other specialized E. coli vectors to E. coli-H. influenzae shuttle vectors.
Scaling properties of raindrop size distributions as measured by a dense array of optical disdrometers

Summary A dense network of optical disdrometers with 1 min resolution was utilized through the winter months of 2013–2014 in South Carolina, USA, to explore the manner in which box-counting fractal dimension is related to drop size. Ten storms of a duration exceeding eight hours were selected for detailed analysis. It was discovered that detector-to-detector variation within each storm was negligible, though storm-to-storm variability could be substantial. The box-counting fractal dimension was found to decrease with increasing drop size, suggesting that large drops are more temporally clustered than small drops. Implications for raindrop sampling are discussed.
Pure manganese(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin (MnTBAP) is not a superoxide dismutase mimic in aqueous systems: a case of structure–activity relationship as a watchdog mechanism in experimental therapeutics and biology

Superoxide is involved in a plethora of pathological and physiological processes via oxidative stress and/or signal transduction pathways. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimics have, thus, been actively sought for clinical and mechanistic purposes. Manganese(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin (MnTBAP) is one of the most intensely explored "SOD mimics" in biology and medicine. However, we show here that this claimed SOD activity of MnTBAP in aqueous media is not corroborated by comprehensive structure-activity relationship studies for a wide set of Mn porphyrins and that MnTBAP from usual commercial sources contains different amounts of noninnocent trace impurities (Mn clusters), which inhibited xanthine oxidase and had SOD activity in their own right. In addition, the preparation and thorough characterization of a high-purity MnTBAP is presented for the first time and confirmed that pure MnTBAP has no SOD activity in aqueous medium. These findings call for an assessment of the relevance and suitability of using MnTBAP (or its impurities) as a mechanistic probe and antioxidant therapeutic; conclusions on the physiological and pathological role of superoxide derived from studies using MnTBAP of uncertain purity should be examined judiciously. An unequivocal distinction between the biological effects due to MnTBAP and that of its impurities can only be unambiguously made if a pure sample is/was used. This work also illustrates the contribution of fundamental structure-activity relationship studies not only for drug design and optimization, but also as a "watchdog" mechanism for checking/spotting eventual incongruence of drug activity in chemical and biological settings.
Rotor Design to Attenuate Flow Distortion—Part II: An Unsteady Thin Airfoil Cascade Analysis

The transfer of stationary circumferential inlet distortion through a rotor is analyzed using unsteady thin airfoil cascade theory which can account for the distortion wave length, rotor chord and cascade solidity. The model consists of representing each blade by a moving doublet filament of finite length immersed in a compressible stream containing a velocity distortion. The study is limited to an unloaded, flat plate rotor. This model provides a new physical interpretation for the flow adjustments observed ahead of the rotor and for the generation of sound when an inlet distortion is imposed. The analytical results show the influence of solidity and other rotor design parameters on the distortion transfer. They are found to approach the semi-actuator disk results as the solidity tends to infinity.
Quadratic optimization for image reconstruction, II

Abstract We attack the problem of recovering an image (a function of two variables) from experimentally available integrals of its grayness over thin strips. This problem is of great importance in a large number or scientific areas. An important version of the problem in medicine is that of obtaining the exact density distribution within the human body from X-ray projections. A large number or methods have been proposed to solve this problem. In Part I of this paper we have shown that some methods are special cases of the same iterative quadratic optimization algorithm. In the present paper we discuss alternative iterative algorithms (conjugate gradient, nonstationary Richardson, semi-iterative) for quadratic optimization and compare their performance in image reconstruction with the previously used methods. The choice of the quadratic function to be minimized and the use of heuristic tricks to improve convergence are also discussed. The methods are illustrated by the reconstruction of a mathematically described phantom representing a cross section of the human head from simulated low-dose X-ray data. This paper is self-contained.
Human resource management: Challenges for graduate education

Abstract Despite a recent paradigm shift in many firms from an employee advocate model to a strategic business partner model, human resource (HR) management is still seen by some as not adding value to organizations. This article briefly summarizes a few of the challenges for HR graduate education at both the master's and doctoral degree levels. Emphasis is placed on the ever-increasing need to produce human resource professionals and managers, in general, who recognize and appreciate the value and relevance of HR's contributions to the attainment of strategic organizational outcomes as a strategic business contributor.
Radiative heat transfer in isothermal spherical media

Abstract Radiative heat transfer in emitting, absorbing, and scattering spherical media is analyzed. The medium is assumed to be gray, isothermal, and linear-anisotropically scattering. The medium is confined in the space between two gray concentric spheres, which diffusely emit, and specularly and diffusely reflect radiation. Approximate solutions of the equation of radiative transfer are obtained using the spherical harmonics method. Results presented include the irradiance and the net radiative heat flux. The effects of the different governing parameters and the particular type of boundary reflections are examined.
DMD-based 3D Micro-manufacturing

The development of the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) by Texas Instruments has made a significant breakthrough in 3D micro-manufacturing, and in particular, in the area of additive layer-based manufacturing. One area of particular interest for using DMD technology is microstereolithography; a technology that builds 3D shapes through successive photopolymerization of individual thin 2D layers that are stacked vertically. A DMD-based projection microstereolithography system and a robust micro-manufacturing process have been developed. This system and various micro-fabricated 3D structures with features on the order of 10 microns, including recent advancements in multimaterial micro-fabrication, will be presented and described.
A TRANSITION STATE MODEL FOR PREDICTING THE RATE OF EROSIVE WEAR OF DUCTILE MATERIALS BY SOLID PARTICLES

Abstract The transition state theory for chemical reactions is exploited in order to derive a general expression for predicting erosive wear in gas-solid and liquid-solid flows. Modeling is suggested and guided by the physical analogy between chemical reaction and erosion at a solid surface. The general form of the specific erosion rate constant kE is obtained from dimensional analysis considerations. Constants appearing in a specialized form of the equation for kE are evaluated from experimental results for slurry flow. The functional dependence of erosive wear on the particle angle of attack is not included in this study, but the effect is accounted for in an integrated sense. An experiment which is being undertaken at present to determine angular dependence effects in slurry flows in which the fluid mechanics are more readily controlled is described briefly.
Linking SNPs to CAG repeat length in Huntington's disease patients

To determine long-range linkage between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the repeat-containing region of a disease-related gene, Liu et al. develop SNP linkage by circularization (SLiC) and lay the groundwork for using allele-specific RNA interference to target insertion or deletion mutations in disease-associated genes. Allele-specific silencing using small interfering RNAs targeting heterozygous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is a promising therapy for human trinucleotide repeat diseases such as Huntington's disease. Linking SNP identities to the two HTT alleles, normal and disease-causing, is a prerequisite for allele-specific RNA interference. Here we describe a method, SNP linkage by circularization (SLiC), to identify linkage between CAG repeat length and nucleotide identity of heterozygous SNPs using Huntington's disease patient peripheral blood samples.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES: EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOUS TRADITION AND PARTICIPATION

Typically the relationship between civic engagement and religion has been investigated using only basic measures of religious attendance or denomination. We utilize more detailed indicators of various types of religious participation and a more valid concept of religious traditions to examine the influence on civic engagement, finding that typical measures of religious attendance or denomination camouflage much of religion's influence. We show that while several religious traditions are positively related to civic engagement, being an Evangelical Protestant or Black Protestant is negatively related. The results also indicate that religious attendance reduces overall civic engagement, while other types of religious participation increase civic engagement. At the specific levels of civic engagement such as belong, contribute, volunteer, and lead, we find similar variations in religious traditions and types of religious participation. Our findings suggest that scholars often overlooked the importance of reli...
Stochastic Event Capture Using Mobile Sensors Subject to a Quality Metric

Mobile sensors cover more area over a fixed period of time than do the same number of stationary sensors. However, the quality of coverage (QoC) achieved by mobile sensors depends on the velocity, mobility pattern, number of mobile sensors deployed, and the dynamics of the phenomenon being sensed. The gains attained by mobile sensors over static sensors and the optimal motion strategies for mobile sensors are not well understood. In this paper, we consider the following event capture problem: the events of interest arrive at certain points in the sensor field and disappear according to known arrival and departure time distributions. An event is said to be captured if it is sensed by one of the mobile sensors before it fades away. We analyze how the QoC scales with velocity, path, and number of mobile sensors. We characterize cases where the deployment of mobile sensors has no advantage over static sensors, and find the optimal velocity pattern that a mobile sensor should adopt. We also present algorithms for two motion planning problems: 1) for a single sensor, what is the sensor trajectory and the minimum speed required to satisfy a bound on the event loss probability and 2) for sensors with fixed speed, what is the minimum number of sensors required to satisfy a bound on the event loss probability. When the robots are restricted to move along a line or a closed curve, our algorithms return the optimal velocity for the minimum velocity problem. For the minimum sensor problem, the number of sensors used is within a factor of 2 of the optimal solution. For the case where the events occur at arbitrary points on a plane, we present heuristic algorithms for the aforementioned motion planning problems and bound their performance with respect to the optimal.
Geometry and elastic response of the aortic--iliac junction.

Abstract The geometry and the pressure-radius relationship of the aortic trifurcation region were studied in vitro in 10 dogs. The cross-sectional area changed gradually from a circular shape in the lower abdominal aorta to an oval form in the proximal part of the junction, then became asymmetric and eventually separated into 3 circular cross-sections. The cross-sectional area increased rapidly at the junction and then tapered off at the separation point. The elastic response in the physiologic pressure range indicated that the junction was stiffer than the iliac artery which in turn was stiffer than the lower abdominal aorta.
Towards an SMT proof format

The Edinburgh Logical Framework (LF) extended to support side condition code (LFSC) is advocated as a foundation for a proof format for SMT. The flexibility of the framework is demonstrated by example encoded inference rules, notably propositional resolution. Preliminary empirical results obtained with a SAT solver producing proofs in LFSC format are presented.
Transferrin receptor 2 mediates a biphasic pattern of transferrin uptake associated with ligand delivery to multivesicular bodies.

The physiological role of transferrin (Tf) receptor 2 (TfR2), a homolog of the well-characterized TfR1, is unclear. Mutations in TfR2 result in hemochromatosis, indicating that this receptor has a ...
How to Become a Loyalist: Petitions, Self-Fashioning, and the Repression of Unrest (East Frisia, 1725–1727)

On January 21, 1727, several communes in the Nordbrookmerland region of East Frisia, a small principality located on the North Sea coast of Germany and hard by the Dutch border, were granted what amounted to immunity from prosecution for acts of rebellion. How and why this happened is a story that has a great deal to tell about the influence ordinary people could exert, through petitioning, on the practice of state power in early modern Europe. In the months and years before 1727, the prince of East Frisia, Georg Albrecht, had become embroiled in an increasingly hostile confrontation with the Estates of his province for control over the administration of taxes in the land. In their efforts to gain the upper hand, both the prince and the Estates had tried to forge alliances among the rural population and mobilized these networks against each other. The Nordbrookmerlanders tended to ally with the prince, but felt increasingly isolated and endangered. Throughout the autumn of 1726, they had been petitioning the chancellor, Enno R. Brenneysen, for protection against attacks perpetrated by the Estates' allies on their “wives and children, houses and farms.” In light of the chancellor's inability to preserve them from further destruction, the village elders asked that they be allowed to obey the Estates' commands until order was restored. Doing this, they pointed out, would force them to commit several “rebellious” acts, such as signing manifestos, supplying recruits for the rebels' militia, and paying an extraordinary war tax that had been levied by the Estates, the so-called Wochengeld.
Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy Displays Signatures of Structural Ordering in Peptide Aggregates

In the presence of lipid bilayers, the hexapeptide AcWL5 forms membrane-bound aggregates dominated by β-secondary structure and is thus a useful model for the onset of peptide aggregation in membrane environments. Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectra in the amide I region for aggregates of AcWL5 peptides with single isotopic labels provide new insight into the residue-level structural ordering of the aggregated peptides. Separation of spectral information along two axes provides clear indications of the band frequencies and relative intensities, which together are an indication of extended amide coupling networks across structural regions of a particular size. The lowered anharmonicities, relative to free peptide, and the narrow, homogeneous lineshapes of the 2D IR peaks indicate the delocalization of vibrational modes through an ordered structure whose flexibility varies with relative peptide concentration. Crosspeaks between delocalized transitions can be used to estimate the strength of the coupling interactions between neighboring residues. The sensitivity of 2D IR spectra to residue-level structural ordering shows that 2D IR spectroscopy is a powerful technique for probing structures formed during the onset of peptide aggregation.
Dispersion equations which model high-frequency linear viscoelastic behavior as described by fractional derivative models

Abstract Within the conceptual framework of linear response theory, the real and imaginary parts of the memory function are related through the so-called Kramers–Kronig dispersion equations (DE). In the field of linear viscoelasticity, the high-frequency asymptotic behavior predicted by these DE is that the real part converges to a constant, i.e. the glassy modulus, and the imaginary part vanishes. However, experimental results in the high-frequency region on glassy polymers illustrate that both real and imaginary parts weakly increase with increasing frequency. Such behavior contradicts the usual DE asymptotic pattern. In this paper DE are obtained which correctly describe the experimental high-frequency power-law behavior, i.e. both real and imaginary parts scale like ωα, for ω→+∞, where α∈(0, 1) . The analytical derivation uses as starting point the linear viscoelastic behavior as predicted by the Maxwell fractional derivative model. A different DE pair possibly describing the behavior of elastomers is also presented.
Betulinic acid reduces ultraviolet-C-induced DNA breakage in congenital melanocytic naeval cells: evidence for a potential role as a chemopreventive agent.

Melanoma transformation progresses in a multistep fashion from precursor lesions such as congenital naevi. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light promotes this process. Betulinic acid (BA) was identified by our group as a selective inhibitor of melanoma that functions by inducing apoptosis. The present
Linkage stratification and mutation analysis at the parkin locus identifies mutation positive Parkinson's disease families [1]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurological disorders in humans with an overall prevalence of 1:1000 with the incidence increasing to as high as 3.4% among people aged 75 years.1,2 The clinical phenotype includes resting tremor, muscular rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. The signs and symptoms of the disease are the consequence of a striatal deficiency of dopamine resulting from neuronal death in the substantia nigra. It is characterised by the presence of the Lewy body, an intracytoplasmic inclusion body found in many brain regions which is not entirely specific to, but is a highly sensitive marker for, Parkinson's disease. The pathogenesis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease is unknown. For the overwhelming majority of PD patients, the disease has previously been thought to occur sporadically. However, there is increasing evidence of a genetic contribution to the disorder.1,3 Recently, two studies have investigated familial aggregation of PD using large, population based, case-control studies. Elbaz et al 4 reported an odds ratio of 3.2 for the presence of PD in first degree relatives (parents and sibs) of 175 cases as compared to 481 controls. Analyses stratified by age showed this aggregation to be stronger for younger PD patients. Familial aggregation of PD in Iceland was studied using a cohort of 772 cases, with 560 having onset of disease at >50 years of age.5 In this study, the odds ratio for PD was 6.7 for sibs and 3.2 for offspring of affected subjects. These studies are consistent with others reporting the risk to be anywhere from two to 14 times higher for first degree relatives as compared to the risk in members of unaffected families.6–9 Genetic linkage analyses in families with either autosomal dominant forms of PD or with an autosomal recessive, juvenile form …
Sterilization of the ovaries by roentgen rays in the treatment of distant metastases from primary carcinoma of the breast

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of sterilization of the ovaries on metastatic carcinoma from a primary focus in the breast is briefly discussed. 2. 2. Two illustrative cases, demonstrating the efficacy of this procedure, are reported. 3. 3. Roentgen sterilization of all women, regardless of age, who have metastatic carcinoma from a primary carcinoma of the breast and of all women of forty years or older as a prophylactic measure is recommended.
Identifying 120 years of decline in ecosystem structure and maturity of Great South Bay, New York using the Ecopath modelling approach

Abstract Mass balanced models yield valuable information regarding ecological function and delivery of ecosystem services, but often rely on data collected well before many species were reduced to fractions of their original abundance. Lagoonal systems, such as Great South Bay (GSB), NY, sit on the interface of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and are prone to anthropogenic stressors but proximity to land also makes the presence of data regarding historic populations and structure more likely. To quantify over a century of ecosystem change, Ecopath models were developed for GSB at each of four time periods where commercial and scientific data exist: 1880s, 1930s, 1980s and 2000s. The results indicated that the GSB has experienced a decline in ecosystem maturity, loss of top keystone predators, a decline in connectivity to the ocean though the reduction of migratory species and increasing dominance of low trophic level organisms. These changes undermine the delivery of ecosystem services, increase conflicts over limited resources and suggest that present day restoration targets fail to recognize appropriate baselines. We discuss the role of stochastic events, which result in state changes that could be defined as regime shifts, and ecosystem connectivity to the long-term stability of lagoonal systems.
Nonmonotonic thermal histories and contrasting kinetics of multiple thermochronometers

Abstract Thermochronologic data are typically interpreted as point- or path-wise constraints on monotonic cooling histories. This is at least partly because allowing for the possibility of nonmonotonic thermal histories both precludes straightfoward use of closure temperature (Tc) concepts and introduces ambiguities in modeling continuous time–temperature paths from multiple thermochronometers or closure profile, multi-domain, or fission-track length data. However, the monotonic cooling assumption severely limits the ability to elucidate reheating episodes with potentially important geologic significance. Here I show that in some cases multiple thermochronometers with contrasting kinetic properties can be used to both diagnose reheating events and constrain their duration and temperature. Thermochronometric systems with varying activation energies display “kinetic crossovers,” whereby relative diffusivities are reversed at certain temperatures. For reheating events of certain durations and temperatures, this results in “inverted” ages, whereby systems with higher nominal Tcs have younger ages than systems with lower Tcs. However, even if reheating does not cause age inversion, in cases where two systems are partially reset and constraints on the timing of a reheating event are available, the relative fractional resetting extents can be inverted to estimate a square-pulse equivalent duration and temperature of the reheating event. Here I outline this approach for diagnosing nonmonotonic thermal histories and for deducing features of reheating events from thermochronometric data, and review several examples from previously published data that illustrate its use and potential in a range of applications.
Creating Embryos for Use in Stem Cell Research

In this paper I will address whether the restriction on the creation of human embryos solely for the purpose of research in which they will be used and destroyed in the creation of human stem cell lines is ethically justified. Of course, a cynical but perhaps accurate reading of the new Obama policy is that leaving this restriction in place was done for political, not ethical, reasons, in light of the apparent public opposition to creating embryos for use in this research. But the issue of whether the restriction is ethically justified remains important, even if only for another day in the policy arena.
The Role of Accruals in Predicting Future Cash Flows and Stock Returns

We revisit the role of the cash and accrual components of accounting earnings in predicting future cash flows using out-of-sample predictions, firm-specific regression estimates, and different levels of aggregation of the dependent variable, with market value of equity as a proxy for all future cash flows. We find that, on average, accruals improve upon current cash flow from operations in predicting future cash flows. As accruals' contribution to the prediction of future cash flows varies significantly across firm-quarters, we proceed to investigating determinants of accruals' predictive ability for future cash flows. We find that positive accruals are more likely to improve upon current cash flow in predicting future cash flows. Accruals' contribution is also increasing in cash flow volatility and decreasing in the magnitude of discretionary accruals and of special items. Finally, portfolios formed on stock return predictions using information from current CFO and accruals yield significantly positive returns on average, as opposed to CFO alone. Hence, investors using predictions based on current accounting data to pick stocks are better off taking accruals into account. We also find that Sloan's (1996) accrual anomaly is related to our accrual contribution anomaly. Indeed, when accruals' contribution to future cash flow prediction is the highest, the accrual anomaly vanishes.
On the impact of SNR estimation error on adaptive modulation

In this letter we investigate the impact of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation on the performance of adaptive modulation. The adaptive modulation technique uses an estimate of the SNR at the receiver to choose a modulation scheme so that a given performance target is met. By adapting the modulation scheme, the link is able to improve the spectral efficiency as compared to static modulation. An analytic expression for the impact of SNR estimation error is derived and it is shown that SNR estimation has minimal impact on the performance.
Reciprocal Functional Modulation of the Activation of T Lymphocytes and Fibroblasts Derived from Human Solid Tumors

Fibroblasts are a dominant cell type in most human solid tumors. The possibility that fibroblasts have the capacity to interact with and modulate the function of tumor-associated T lymphocytes makes them a potential therapeutic target. To address this question, primary cultures of fibroblasts derived from human lung tumors were established and cultured with T cells derived from the same tumor. The tumor fibroblasts significantly enhance the production of IFN-γ and IL-17A by the tumor-associated T cells following a CD3/CD28-induced activation of the T cells. This enhancement was fibroblast cell dose-dependent and did not require direct contact between the two cell types. Tumor-associated fibroblast-conditioned media similarly enhanced both IFN-γ and IL-17A in activated T cells, and this enhancement was significantly reduced by Abs to IL-6. Conditioned media derived from activated lymphocyte cultures significantly enhanced IL-6 production by tumor fibroblasts. A similar enhancement of IFN-γ and IL-17A was observed when activated T cells from a normal donor were cultivated with skin fibroblasts derived from the same donor. These results establish that fibroblasts and autologous lymphocytes, whether derived from the tumor microenvironment or from nonmalignant tissues, have the capacity to reciprocally interact and modulate function. In contrast to other reports, fibroblasts are shown to have an immunostimulatory effect upon activated T lymphocytes. The ability of fibroblasts to enhance two T cell cytokines known to have an impact upon tumor progression suggests that fibroblasts play an important role in tumor pathogenesis that could be exploited therapeutically.
Duration of Smoking Abstinence and Success in Quitting

BACKGROUND For most smokers, quitting is a difficult process. Many smokers try to quit repeatedly before they succeed, with some relapsing even after a lengthy period of abstinence. Few population-based cohort studies have examined relapse among former smokers. Quantification of the relationship between the duration of abstinence and the likelihood of continued abstinence is important for the evaluation of ongoing public health interventions and the design of smoking-cessation programs. PURPOSE We analyzed longitudinal data from a large, representative population cohort of former smokers and estimated the probability of future relapse for different durations of abstinence at baseline (e.g., 1 to <3 months and 3 to <6 months). METHODS From the 1990 California Tobacco Survey that used a random-digit-dialed computer-assisted telephone survey to interview 24296 California adults (baseline interview) from June 1990 through February 1991, a stratified random sample of 4642 adults was reinterviewed from March 1992 through July 1992. Both surveys assessed smoking status using standard questions about the lifetime use of 100 cigarettes and the self-classification of current smoking: 1) "Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your lifetime?" and 2) "Do you smoke cigarettes now?" We included all 1449 former smokers at baseline interview who answered "yes" to the first question and "no" to the second and who also provided a valid date at both of the surveys when asked, "When did you last smoke regularly?" All data were weighted to account for the study design and to ensure that the estimates were representative of the California population by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and geographic region. RESULTS Only about 12% of the former smokers who had quit for less than 1 month at baseline remained continuously abstinent at the follow-up interview. This percentage increased to 25% for those who had quit from 1 to less than 3 months; it increased again to 52% if the duration of quitting was from 3 to less than 6 months, but it increased only slightly to 59.2% for those who had quit from 6 to less than 12 months. Overall, the likelihood of remaining continuously abstinent until the follow-up interview was about 90% for former smokers who had quit for 3 months or longer and 95% for those who had quit for 1 year or longer. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS We suggest that self-reported cessation for more than 3 months be considered as an intermediate criterion for success both in longitudinal studies and the cross-sectional evaluation of community interventions. If a more stringent criterion is needed, we recommend self-reported cessation for at least 1 year.
Distributed Welfare Games

Game-theoretic tools are becoming a popular design choice for distributed resource allocation algorithms. A central component of this design choice is the assignment of utility functions to the individual agents. The goal is to assign each agent an admissible utility function such that the resulting game possesses a host of desirable properties, including scalability, tractability, and existence and efficiency of pure Nash equilibria. In this paper we formally study this question of utility design on a class of games termed distributed welfare games. We identify several utility design methodologies that guarantee desirable game properties irrespective of the specific application domain. Lastly, we illustrate the results in this paper on two commonly studied classes of resource allocation problems: “coverage” problems and “coloring” problems.
Wilson loops in noncompact U ( 1 ) gauge theories at criticality

We study the properties of Wilson loops in three-dimensional noncompact U(1) gauge theories with global Abelian symmetries. We use duality in the continuum and on the lattice to argue that, close to the critical point between the Higgs and Coulomb phases, all correlators of the Wilson loops are periodic functions of the Wilson loop charge, Q. The period depends on the global symmetry of the theory, which determines the magnetic flux carried by the dual particles. For single flavor scalar electrodynamics, the emergent period is Q=1. In the general case of N complex scalars with a U(1){sup N-1} global symmetry, the period is Q=N. We also give some arguments why this phenomenon does not generalize to theories with a full non-Abelian SU(N) symmetry, where no periodicity in Q is expected. Implications for lattice simulations, as well as for physical systems, such as easy-plane antiferromagnets and disordered superfluids, are noted.
Towards sustainable polymer chemistry with homogeneous metal-based catalysts

In the last two decades, numerous catalytic methods have become woven into the fabric of green and sustainable chemistry. In order to qualitatively evaluate and construct a tangible meaning for sustainable processes in polymer chemistry, this perspective outlines ten desirable attributes of homogeneous metal-based catalysts to prepare monomers and polymers within the context of sustainability. Catalysts were evaluated with respect to their activity, composition, and potential environmental impact. In many cases, the most pertinent catalysts tolerate a wide range of functional groups and eliminate purification or synthetic steps. Desirable catalysts also exhibit low toxicity, diminish chemical waste, and allow replacement of toxic chemicals with benign alternatives. Ideally, catalysts operate with extended lifetimes and only require minimal catalyst loadings.
The macrophage stimulating protein/Ron pathway as a potential therapeutic target to impede multiple mechanisms involved in breast cancer progression.

Macrophage Stimulating Protein (MSP) is the only known ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase Ron. The MSP/Ron pathway is involved in several important biological processes, including macrophage activity, wound healing, and epithelial cell behavior. A role for MSP/Ron in breast cancer has recently been elucidated, wherein this pathway regulates tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Here, we review the recent literature surrounding MSP/Ron function in tumor cells, inflammatory cells, and osteoclasts – cell types that often coexist in breast tumor microenvironments. We discuss the potential implications of MSP/Ron activity occurring concurrently in these cell types on tumor progression and metastasis. Lastly, we outline the potential for targeting MSP/Ron as a novel therapy for breast cancer, and for other cancer types.
Rapid Semi-automatic Segmentation of Real-time Magnetic Resonance Images for Parametric Vocal Tract Analysis

A method of rapid semi-automatic segmentation of real-time magnetic resonance image data for parametric analysis of vocal tract shaping is described. Tissue boundaries are identified by seeking pixel intensity thresholds along tract-normal gridlines. Airway contours are constrained with respect to a tract centerline defined as an optimal path over the graph of all intensity minima between the glottis and lips. The method allows for superimposition of reference boundaries to guide automatic segmentation of anatomical features which are poorly imaged using magnetic resonance ‐ dentition and the hard palate ‐ resulting in more accurate sagittal sections than those produced by fully automatic segmentation. We demonstrate the utility of the technique in the dynamic analysis of tongue shaping in Tamil liquid consonants. Index Terms: speech production, vocal tract segmentation, MRI, tongue shaping, articulatory analysis
Monitoring of distributed systems

Distributed systems offer opportunities for attaining high performance, fault-tolerance, information sharing, resource sharing, etc. But we cannot benefit from these potential advantages without suitable management functions such as performance management, fault management, security management, etc. Underlying all these management functions is the monitoring of the distributed system. Monitoring consists of collecting information from the system and detecting particular events and states using the collected information. These events and states can be symptoms for performance degradations, erroneous functions, suspicious activities, etc. and are subject to further analysis. Detecting events and states requires a specification language and an efficient detection algorithm. The authors introduce an event/state specification language based on classical temporal logic and a detection algorithm which is a modification of the RETE algorithm for OPS5 rule-based language. They also compare their language with other specification languages. >
RESONANCE EFFECTS AND THE CEPHEID "BUMP MASS" ANOMALY

A second-order iterative nonlinear pulsation theory is generalized to the nonadiabatic case, and employed to treat Cepheid models with linear normal-mode periods lying in the vicinity of the resonance P2/Po = 0.5. It is shown that resonance effects occurring in the second-order terms influence the phases at which maxima appear on the theoretical velocity curves. Comparison of the iterative velocity curves with those given by hydrodynamic integration indicates good agree­ ment in a sizable number of cases. Discrepancies which appear in a number of models are dis­ cussed. It is argued that the results of the present investigation strengthen the case for associating the bumps on Cepheid velocity curves with the resonance P2/Po = 0.5. A brief discussion of the Cepheid "bump mass" anomaly concludes the article. Subject headings: stars: Cepheids - stars: pulsation I. INTRODUCTION
Wireless intrusion detection and response

A prototype implementation of a wireless intrusion detection and active response system is described. An off the shelf wireless access point was modified by downloading a new Linux operating system with nonstandard wireless access point functionality in order to implement a wireless intrusion detection system that has the ability to actively respond to identified threats. An overview of the characteristics and functionality required in a wireless intrusion detection system is presented along with a review and comparison of existing wireless intrusion detection systems and functionalities. Implemented functionality and capabilities of our prototyped system are presented along with conclusions as to what is necessary to implement a more desirable and capable wireless intrusion detection system.
Linguistic anthropology of education

Stanton Wortham & Betsy Rymes (eds.), Linguistic anthropology of education. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2003. Pp. 288. Hb $69.95.In his introduction to this volume, Stanton Wortham argues for the value of a linguistic anthropological approach to education. After all, “a society's beliefs about language – as a symbol of nationalism, a marker of differences, or a tool of assimilation – are often reproduced and challenged through educational institutions” (p. 2). So too is language used in schools in ways that, often unwittingly, reproduce the inequities in society more generally; a linguistic anthropological approach is particularly well suited to pointing out the processes by which this happens.
Network structures and algorithms in Bioconductor

Summary: In this paper, we review the central concepts and implementations of tools for working with network structures in Bioconductor. Interfaces to open source resources for visualization (AT&T Graphviz) and network algorithms (Boost) have been developed to support analysis of graphical structures in genomics and computational biology. Availability: Packages graph, Rgraphviz, RBGL of Bioconductor (www.bioconductor.org). Contact: stvjc@channing.harvard.edu
Big Cypress Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia) Diet, Activity and Habitat Use on a Golf Course in Southwest Florida

ABSTRACT Habitat use, feeding and activity patterns of Big Cypress fox squirrels (Sciurus niger avicennia) were studied in southwest Florida to identify golf course features favorable to fox squirrels. The location, behavior and foods of 30 radio-located squirrels were recorded twice weekly from Dec. 1995 to Jul. 1997. Diet was >85% food from native conifers for 6 mo (Aug.–Jan.), >75% flowers and fruits of planted exotics for 3 mo (Feb.–Apr.) and a variety of foods supplemented by mushrooms and webworm larvae for 3 mo (May–Jul.). Ground feeding accounted for 69.6% of observations. Use of foods from exotic species was associated with greatest reproduction in the summer. Five categories of behavior in adults (feeding, travel, resting, nesting, social interactions) showed significant interaction between sex and time-of-day and season and time-of-day in a log-linear model. Squirrels were least active during the hottest part of the year. Squirrels concentrated their activity in tree stands of the course's roug...