cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the effect of pattern adaptation on pattern pedestal effects: A two-process model

Abstract Pattern contrast thresholds for vertical Gabor patterns were measured on pattern pedestals that were vertical or horizontal. Contrast of the pedestal was varied to measure the function relating target contrast threshold to pedestal contrast (TvC function). TvC functions were measured without an adaptor and after adaptation to vertical, horizontal and plaid patterns. For a pedestal with the same orientation as the target, the vertical and plaid adapters increased thresholds at low pedestal contrasts, but not high. For the pedestal orthogonal to the target, the same two adaptors increased thresholds over the whole range of pedestal contrasts. These asymmetric effects are described by a model of adaptation and masking derived from a model of masking (Foley,1994a) by allowing two parameters to vary with the adapt state; one of them is an additive parameter in the denominator of the response function, which can be interpreted as adaptor-produced divisive inhibition that persists after adaptor offset; the other is the sensitivity to pedestal-produced divisive inhibition, which is changed by adaptation for the pedestal orthogonal to the target. Other models do not account for both effects.
Determining Promotional Effectiveness in Small Retail Firms: An Empirical Investigation

This exploratory study examines how promotional effectiveness is determined in small firms and examines decision‐makers attitudes toward promotional performance and measurement. Although it is commonly believed that small business managers rely upon intuitive methods, this study suggests that most small business managers apply some objective measure of effectiveness to their promotional strategies, typically using multiple methods. Evaluation techniques usually center on measures of financial performance and consumer behavior, with some firms relying on employee input for the assessment of promotional performance. The size of the firm and the gender of the decision‐maker account for significant differences in the frequency and type of evaluation methods applied. The majority of small business managers are somewhat satisfied with how well their promotional efforts perform, however, many experience difficulty in determining the impact of their promotions and could benefit from the development of models and techniques designed specifically for use in small firms.
Diagnosing colorectal carcinoma: Clinical and molecular approaches

Abstract In summary, the ability to decrease the mortality of colorectal carcinoma is increasingly within the grasp of clinicians. With accurate family and personal history, it is possible to estimate the risk of colorectal cancer and initiate FOBT and colonoscopy where appropriate. In the future, germline and even somatic genetic testing will further increase our ability to diagnose cancers before they become widely invasive. As molecular biology unravels the cause of what currently appears to be the majority of sporadic cancers, it may be possible to characterize more colorectal cancers that are caused by novel, as yet not recognized mutator genes. Unfortunately, a set of patients is likely to exist who remain to be diagnosed by symptoms caused by advanced cancer. The goal for the clinician is to decrease this subset to as small a group as possible.
Protein kinase A signaling as an anti-aging target

Protein kinase A (PKA) is a multi-unit protein kinase that mediates signal transduction of G-protein-coupled receptors through its activation by adenyl cyclase (AC)-mediated cAMP. The vital importance of PKA signaling to cellular function is reflected in the widespread expression of PKA subunit genes. As one of its many functions, PKA plays a key role in the regulation of metabolism and triglyceride storage. The PKA pathway has become of great interest to the study of aging, since mutations that cause a reduction in PKA signaling have been shown to extend lifespan in yeast, and to both delay the incidence and severity of age-related disease, and to promote leanness and longevity, in mice. There is increasing interest in the potential for the inhibition or redistribution of adiposity to attenuate aging, since obesity is associated with impaired function of most organ systems, and is a strong risk factor for shortened life span. Its association with coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cancer, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis is leading to its accession as a major cause of global ill health. Therefore, gene signaling pathways such as PKA that promote adiposity are potential inhibitory targets for aging intervention. Since numerous plant compounds have been found that both prevent adipogenesis and inhibit PKA signaling, a focused investigation into their effects on biological systems and the corresponding molecular mechanisms would be of high relevance to the discovery of novel and non-toxic compounds that promote healthy aging.
Professional capital: transforming teaching in every school

By placing Professional Capital into this educational policy landscape, its aims can be more carefully examined. The book can be read as a reaction to social and political forces that Hargreaves an...
The ultrastructure of the capillary fenestrae in the adrenal medulla of the rat.

A single-layered membrane that appears to be structurally highly organized has been observed to bridge capillary fenestrae in the rat adrenal medulla. The membrane measures about 20–30 A in thickness and is suspended from the peripheral opaque component of the triple-layered plasma membrane of the endothelial cell. In the central area of the membrane is a dense ring-like structure, the periphery of which contains some highly stained particles and which has a center similar in density to the rest of the membrane. In cross sections the innermost region can be seen to contain some stained material extending out perpendicularly to the plane of the membrane on both sides of the fenestrae. The diameter of the fenestra is about 500 A, the overall width of the central region being 150–200 A, and the light center being 50–100 A in diameter. The membrane structure is observed in the fenestrae, where it separates the capillary lumen from the pericapillary space. It is also observed in the walls of endothelial vesicles. The single-layered membrane is interpreted to be chemically different from the plasma membrane of the endothelial cell and to be nonlipid.
French Conversation for Young Adults

our profession has been pondering and arguing about for many, many years. That may be the best way to re-define and improve second language teaching-empirically-so that it would have a scientific basis. That may also be the only way in which we would be able to develop a method, audiolingual or whatever it may then be called, that would produce fluent, accurate speakers of a second language in the shortest possible time.
Identification of proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatases in rat cerebral microvessels

Abstract To determine if proton translocating adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) can be localized at the blood-brain barrier, isolated rat cerebral microvessels and cerebral synaptosomal preparations were assayed for ATPase activity in the presence of various inhibitors.N-ethylmaleimide-sensitivity could be consistently found in both cerebral microvessel and synaptosomal preparations. There was no vanadate sensitive component in the presence of ouabain, oligomycin and EGTA. Immunoblotting of cerebral microvessels and synaptosomes with a monoclonal antibody (E11) against the 31 kDa subunit of the vacuolar type H-ATPase pump identified a discrete 31 kDa band. Diffuse immunocytochemical staining of cerebral cortical tissue, predominantly in choroid plexus, could be found with E11 but not with HK α N2, and H,K-ATPase specific antibody, nor with a non-specific mouse monoclonal antibody (MOPC-21). Immunoblotting with HK α N2 showed an immunoreactive 76 kDa band, not present with the preimmune serum or the antibody preabsorbed with the immunizing synthetic peptide. It is concluded that the vacuolar type H-ATPase and not the gastric H,K-ATPase is present in cerebral tissue including cerebral microvessels and choroid plexus. Non-specific immunoreactivity may account for the 76 kDa band observed in the immunoblots using the HK α N2 antibody although presence of a degradation product of H,K-ATPase can not be ruled out. The functional role of the vacuolar H-ATPase in the blood-brain barrier remains to be determined.
THE FLUORIDATION DIALOGUE: IS IT AN IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICT?

In many communities the proposal to add minute quantities of a fluoride to the water supply as a means of reducing the amount of tooth decay in the population has provoked bitter controversy. Here is a study that inquires into the attitudes and motivations of the people who vote against fluoridation in the referenda which have been held on the issue. William A. Gamson is a Research Associate in Social Psychology at Harvard. He has a joint appointment between the Department of Social Relations and the Social Science Program of the School of Public Health.
Incorporating an entrepreneurship concentration into the undergraduate IT curriculum

This paper presents our approach to implementing structures that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship behaviors within the Lipscomb University student population. An early step in this process is presented in this paper: extending our undergraduate Information Technology (IT) curriculum with a concentration on entrepreneurship. Specifically, the paper clarifies where our IT courses address specific dimensions of innovation (a precursor to entrepreneurship), how the curriculum can be extended to effectively incorporate entrepreneurship, and where facilitating conditions can be implemented to reinforce entrepreneurial behavior in our student population. The curriculum changes and ideas presented here have a number of long- and short-term benefits for Lipscomb University as a whole and our IT program in particular. The paper ends by soliciting input on several issues that can maximize the effectiveness of this innovative program.
The appendix sign: a radiographic marker for irreducible intussusception.

Abstract Purpose Radiographic reduction (hydrostatic or pneumatic) of intussusception has become the standard of care in the pediatric population with success rates of more than 80%. Identification of those patients who are likely to fail nonoperative management could lead to earlier operation, a reduction in radiation exposure, and a decreased risk for complications after repeated attempts at enema reduction. During successful radiographic reduction, the small bowel is almost always visualized before the appendix. Visualization of the appendix before visualization of the small bowel during a successful reduction of an intussusception is a rare event. We report a new radiographic sign that we have termed the appendix sign (radiographic visualization of the appendix without reflux of air or contrast into the small intestine), which we hypothesize may have association with failure of nonoperative management. Method We performed a retrospective review of the last 12 years of irreducible intussusception. The associated studies were then reviewed to examine the incidence, sensitivity, and specificity of this radiographic finding. Results Ninety-one cases of intussusception were identified and had films available for review. Seventy-seven (76%) of the studies included the appropriate image. The appendix sign was visualized in 14 studies for an incidence of 18%. Of 14 patients, 10 failed enema reduction (positive predictive value, 71%). The sensitivity of the appendix sign is 43%. The specificity of the sign is 93%. Conclusions Our experience suggests that the presence of an appendix sign is associated with failing enema reduction of an intussusception and may be useful as a marker for determining the end point for further attempts at radiographic reduction.
Characterization of a new double-filament model of focal cerebral ischemia in heme oxygenase-2-deficient mice.

Variations in vascular anatomy in knockout mouse strains can influence infarct volume after middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion (MCAO). In wild-type (WT) and heme oxygenase-2 gene-deleted (HO2-/...
How Does School District Consolidation Affect Property Values? A Case Study of New York:

This article explores the impact of school district consolidation on house values based on house sales in upstate New York State from 2000 to 2012. By combining propensity score matching (PSM) and double-sales data to compare house value changes in consolidating and comparable school districts, we find that, except in one relatively large district, consolidation has a negative impact on house values during the years right after it occurs and that this effect then fades away and is eventually reversed. This pattern suggests that it takes time either for the advantages of consolidation to be apparent or for the people who prefer consolidated districts to move in. Finally, as in previous studies, the long-run impacts of consolidation on house values are positive in census tracts that initially have low incomes, but negative in high-income census tracts, where parents may have a relatively large willingness to retain the nonbudgetary advantages of small districts.
Formation of 5- and 6-methyl-1H-indene (C10H10) via the reactions of the para-tolyl radical (C6H4CH3) with allene (H2CCCH2) and methylacetylene (HCCCH3) under single collision conditions

The reactions of the p-tolyl radical with allene-d4 and methylacetylene-d4 as well as of the p-tolyl-d7 radical with methylacetylene-d1 and methylacetylene-d3 were carried out under single collision conditions at collision energies of 44–48 kJ mol−1 and combined with electronic structure and statistical (RRKM) calculations. Our experimental results indicated that the reactions of p-tolyl with allene-d4 and methylacetylene-d4 proceeded via indirect reaction dynamics with laboratory angular distributions spanning about 20° in the scattering plane. As a result, the center-of-mass translational energy distribution determined a reaction exoergicity of 149 ± 28 kJ mol−1 and exhibited a pronounced maximum at around 20 to 30 kJ mol−1. In addition, the center-of-mass angular flux distribution T(θ) depicted a forward–backward symmetry and indicated geometric constraints upon the decomposing complex(es). Combining with calculations, these results propose that the bicyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 6-methyl-1H-indene (p1) and 5-methyl-1H-indene (p2), are formed under single collision conditions at fractions of at least 85% in both reaction systems. For the p-tolyl–methylacetylene system, experiments with partially deuterated reactants also reveal the formation of a third isomer p5 (1-methyl-4-(1-propynyl)benzene) at levels of 5–10%, highlighting the importance in conducting reactions with partially deuterated reactants to elucidate the underlying reaction pathways comprehensively.
Use of Guar By-Products in High-Production Laying Hen Diets

Abstract A 5 × 5 Latin square experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding low concentrations of guar germ or a combination of guar germ and hull (guar meal) in high-production laying hen diets. A total of 125 Lohmann laying hens (21 wk old) of similar BW were randomly assigned to 5 blocks. Each block was divided into 5 experimental units, consisting of 5 hens per unit. Hens were fed either a nonguar control diet, or 1 of 4 diets containing either 2.5 or 5% guar germ, or 2.5 or 5% guar meal over a 20-wk trial period (five 4-wk periods). No significant differences were observed when feeding either 2.5 or 5% guar germ or meal (P > 0.05) on hen-day egg production or feed consumption. Significant differences in egg weight, total egg mass per hen, and feed conversion ratio were detected in hens fed 2.5% guar meal, whereas they remained unchanged for diets containing either level of guar germ or 5% guar meal. Feeding either level of guar germ or guar meal did not affect shell quality (shell thickness, egg breaking force, and specific gravity), Haugh units, or egg yolk color (L*, a*, b*). The results showed that both guar germ and guar meal can be fed to high-production laying hens at up to 5% without adverse effects on laying hen performance.
Transient analysis of a D-C electromagnet with cutout switch

This paper analyzes the effect of the armature motion on the force stroke characteristics, the pickup speed, and the interruption performance of the cutout switch of a d-c electromagnet. The analysis of the interruption performance is made for a case where a capacitor is connected across the cutout switch. The same method can be extended to other cases.
Mupirocin Resistance among Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus-Colonized Patients at Admission to a Tertiary Care Medical Center

All patients admitted to our tertiary care hospital from 1 December 2007 to 10 June 2008 were screened for methicillin (meticillin)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization, and the isolates were tested for mupirocin susceptibility by using Etest. Mupirocin resistance (MR) was noted to occur in 3.4% of MRSA carriers, and high-level MR was noted to occur in 0.62% of carriers.
Integrated CMOS electronic system-on-chip for medical sensors and actuators.

We present an overview of an integrated low- power, lightweight, compact computing platform dedicated to addressing specific needs in sensing and actuation. The architecture includes an adaptive computing electronic design (Chip) that supersedes the capabilities of present micro- computing paradigms (micro-processors, micro-controllers, and DSPs) in the application domains of process identification, modeling, prediction, and real-time control. In particular, a domain of prominent applications is biological and medical measurements and stimulation.
Picosecond noninvasive optical detection of internal electrical signals in flip-chip-mounted silicon integrated circuits

This paper reviews the charge-sensing optical probing system, and shows how it may be used to detect internal current and voltage signals in flip-chip-mounted silicon integrated circuits. Previously, researchers have used this concept to detect both single-shot 200-MHz-bandwidth signals, without averaging, and 8-GHz-bandwidth stroboscopic signals. This system has a high sensitivity: 145nA/√Hz current sensitivity in typical bipolar transistors, and 1.35mV/√Hz voltage sensitivity in typical CMOS circuits (using a semiconductor laser probe). It is noninvasive, has a potential submicron spatial resolution, and should be capable of providing linear and calibrated measurements. Therefore, this probing approach should be a powerful tool for future circuit analysis and testing.
Single-ISA Heterogeneous Multi-Core Architectures for Multithreaded Workload Performance

A single-ISA heterogeneous multi-core architecture is achip multiprocessor composed of cores of varying size, performance,and complexity. This paper demonstrates that thisarchitecture can provide significantly higher performance inthe same area than a conventional chip multiprocessor. It doesso by matching the various jobs of a diverse workload to thevarious cores. This type of architecture covers a spectrum ofworkloads particularly well, providing high single-thread performancewhen thread parallelism is low, and high throughputwhen thread parallelism is high.This paper examines two such architectures in detail,demonstrating dynamic core assignment policies that providesignificant performance gains over naive assignment, andeven outperform the best static assignment. It examines policiesfor heterogeneous architectures both with and withoutmultithreading cores. One heterogeneous architecture we examineoutperforms the comparable-area homogeneous architectureby up to 63%, and our best core assignment strategyachieves up to 31% speedup over a naive policy.
Extracting Operating Modes from Building Electrical Load Data

Empirical techniques for characterizing electrical energy use now play a key role in reducing electricity consumption, particularly miscellaneous electrical loads, in buildings. Identifying device operating modes (mode extraction) creates a better understanding of both device and system behaviors. Using clustering to extract operating modes from electrical load data can provide valuable insights into device behavior and identify opportunities for energy savings. We present a fast and effective heuristic clustering method to identify and extract operating modes in electrical load data.
Endoscopic management of the frontal recess in frontal sinus fractures: a shift in the paradigm?

Objectives: To evaluate alternative management strategies for anterior table frontal sinus fractures involving the frontal sinus outflow tract. Study Design: A prospective cohort of patients with anterior table frontal sinus fracture with frontal outflow tract involvement documented by computed tomography (CT) scan was examined between 1999 and 2001. Methods: A select group of patients with anterior table frontal sinus fracture involving the frontal outflow tract was treated with open reduction of bony fracture without osteoplastic obliteration of the frontal sinus. Serial CT scans were obtained starting at 8 weeks after injury. Patients with persistent frontal sinus obstruction after medical treatment underwent an extended endoscopic frontal sinusotomy or a modified endoscopic Lothrop procedure. Results: Fourteen patients sustained frontal sinus fractures and were treated during the study period. Seven patients were included in the modified treatment algorithm, with a mean follow-up of 18 months. All patients had concurrent facial fractures: superior orbital rim (n = 5), naso-orbital-ethmoid complex (n = 2), mandible (n = 2), and midface (n = 2). All 7 patients underwent open repair of the facial fractures. Postoperatively, 5 patients had spontaneous frontal sinus ventilation. Two patients, both of whom had naso-orbito-ethmoid fractures, had persistent frontal sinus obstruction clinically and radiographically. These patients were successfully managed with an endoscopic frontal sinus procedure. Conclusions: A select group of patients with frontal sinus and outflow tract fracture may be managed with open repair of the anterior table fracture without obliteration. In these cases, suspected frontal outflow tract obstruction can be managed expectantly. Failed frontal sinus ventilation may require endoscopic frontal sinus surgery to reestablish mucociliary clearance.
Fast algorithms for training stack filters

Stack filters constitute a class of nonlinear digital filters possessing a weak superposition property. In the paper, fast algorithms for training stack filters are introduced. The first algorithm is based on a technique previously developed. Similar to the previous algorithm, this improved method requires only simple arithmetic operations-increment, decrement, and local comparison. The /spl epsiv/-convergence property of the fast algorithm is established. In addition, two fast training algorithms are developed for a subclass of stack filters called weighted order statistic filters. These fast algorithms are variants of the LMS and RLS algorithms in linear filters. All three fast algorithms developed exploit the repetition property of the training input. The factor of speedup is approximately the ratio between the number of quantization levels of the input and the window size. >
On the correctness criteria of fine-grained access control in relational databases

Databases are increasingly being used to store information covered by heterogeneous policies, which require support for access control with great flexibility. This has led to increasing interest in using fine-grained access control, where different cells in a relation may be governed by different access control rules. Although several proposals have been made to support fine-grained access control, there currently does not exist a formal notion of correctness regarding the query answering procedure. In this paper, we propose such a formal notion of correctness in fine-grained database access control, and discuss why existing approaches fall short in some circumstances. We then propose a labeling approach for masking unauthorized information and a query evaluation algorithm which better supports fine-grained access control. Finally, we implement our algorithm using query modification and evaluate its performance.
On the placement of Web server replicas

There has been an increasing deployment of content distribution networks (CDNs) that offer hosting services to Web content providers. CDNs deploy a set of servers distributed throughout the Internet and replicate provider content across these servers for better performance and availability than centralized provider servers. Existing work on CDNs has primarily focused on techniques for efficiently redirecting user requests to appropriate CDN servers to reduce request latency and balance load. However, little attention has been given to the development of placement strategies for Web server replicas to further improve CDN performance. We explore the problem of Web server replica placement in detail. We develop several placement algorithms that use workload information, such as client latency and request rates, to make informed placement decisions. We then evaluate the placement algorithms using both synthetic and real network topologies, as well as Web server traces, and show that the placement of Web replicas is crucial to CDN performance. We also address a number of practical issues when using these algorithms, such as their sensitivity to imperfect knowledge about client workload and network topology, the stability of the input data, and methods for obtaining the input.
Spatially regularized machine learning for task and resting-state fMRI

Abstract Background Reliable mapping of brain function across sessions and/or subjects in task- and resting-state has been a critical challenge for quantitative fMRI studies although it has been intensively addressed in the past decades. New method A spatially regularized support vector machine (SVM) technique was developed for the reliable brain mapping in task- and resting-state. Unlike most existing SVM-based brain mapping techniques, which implement supervised classifications of specific brain functional states or disorders, the proposed method performs a semi-supervised classification for the general brain function mapping where spatial correlation of fMRI is integrated into the SVM learning. The method can adapt to intra- and inter-subject variations induced by fMRI nonstationarity, and identify a true boundary between active and inactive voxels, or between functionally connected and unconnected voxels in a feature space. Results The method was evaluated using synthetic and experimental data at the individual and group level. Multiple features were evaluated in terms of their contributions to the spatially regularized SVM learning. Reliable mapping results in both task- and resting-state were obtained from individual subjects and at the group level. Comparison with existing methods A comparison study was performed with independent component analysis, general linear model, and correlation analysis methods. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method can provide a better or comparable mapping performance at the individual and group level. Conclusions The proposed method can provide accurate and reliable mapping of brain function in task- and resting-state, and is applicable to a variety of quantitative fMRI studies.
RNA-activated DNA cleavage by the Type III-B CRISPR–Cas effector complex

The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) system is an RNA-guided immune system that protects prokaryotes from invading genetic elements. This system represents an inheritable and adaptable immune system that is mediated by multisubunit effector complexes. In the Type III-B system, the Cmr effector complex has been found to cleave ssRNA in vitro. However, in vivo, it has been implicated in transcription-dependent DNA targeting. We show here that the Cmr complex from Thermotoga maritima can cleave an ssRNA target that is complementary to the CRISPR RNA. We also show that binding of a complementary ssRNA target activates an ssDNA-specific nuclease activity in the histidine-aspartate (HD) domain of the Cmr2 subunit of the complex. These data suggest a mechanism for transcription-coupled DNA targeting by the Cmr complex and provide a unifying mechanism for all Type III systems.
Why Respect Culture

we do not have moral reasons to respect culture in any direct sense. he tensions that surround culture and the normative claims made for it in political debate pervade western press coverage. In 1994, for instance, The New York Times opened the year with an ominous warning about the need to protect indigenous peoples from impending "cultural extinction" that threatens them in the face of relentless political and economic development (Wilford 1994). This basically was a plea to protect and preserve particular cultures. Yet the Times also has roundly criticized well established, indigenous cultural practices. For example, it recently focused on the ritualized female slavery practiced illegally in several West African states (French 1997a, 1997b). Here the families of young girls surrender them to traditional priests whom the girls serve sexually and otherwise in atonement for crimes committed by relatives. In their coverage, then, our press often displays deep ambivalence about whether and on what terms we might, by turns, protect and criticize other cultures. This same ambivalence characterizes the recent writings of many political philosophers who also are preoccupied with the normative status of culture. Consider a prominent example. Charles Taylor defends a "politics of cultural recognition" that, while committed to traditional rights, is wedded neither to uncompromising insistence on "uniform application of the rules defining these rights without exception" nor to individualist skepticism regarding "collective goals." He presents this communitarian political vision as an alternative to the "liberalism of rights." He claims in the first place that while his view allows for uncompromising application of such universalist rights as habeas corpus, it nevertheless allows him "to weigh the importance of certain forms of uniform treatment against the importance of cultural survival, and opt sometimes in favor of the latter" (Taylor 1994, 60-61). Taylor then endorses a still stronger position. He defends the "presumption"-which he embraces in "something like an act of faith"-that "we owe equal respect to all cultures." According to Taylor this presumption requires that we respect "the equal value of different cultures; that we not only let them survive, but acknowledge their worth" (Taylor 1994, 64-69).
Shock-Bubble Interaction Simulations Using a New Two-Phase Discontinuous Galerkin Method

The high-order accurate Runge-Kutta Discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG) method is used to solve a compressible two-phase model. The governing equation is based on the Euler equation, therefore mass, momentum, and total energy are conserved. The interface is numerically diffused and captured solving the convection of the volume fraction. This convection equation is solved with the RKDG method for Hamilton-Jacobi equations. This results in a new and fully unified formulation that does not require any special treatment at the interface. In order to reduce the computational cost, an adaptive mesh is used with an efficient refinement/coarsening criteria. The Moment Limiter with primitive decomposition modified for non-uniform grids is used to prevent oscillations close to discontinuities. This technique successfully minimizes the typical pressure oscillations of multifluid flows to the order of the computational precision. Typical one-, two- and three-dimensional problems are conducted to validate the scheme, including the three-dimensional interaction of bubbles with shocks. The interaction of a shock with an air bubble in water is studied in two and three dimensions. An internal water jet is formed in the regime studied and leads to an asymmetrical collapse. The collapse time of a cylindrical bubble, defined as the required time for the jet to hit the distal side, is computed for different shock strengths.
Nineteenth-Century Developments in Geometric Probability: J. J. Sylvester, M. W. Crofton, J.-É. Barbier, and J. Bertrand

La recherche en probabilites geometriques au XIX e siecle est decrite en retracant le developpement technique des idees de J. J. Sylvester, M. W. Crofton, J.-E. Barbier, et J. Bertrand ainsi que la transmission et la communication de leurs resultats mathematiques
Inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin and Bcl-2 in endometriosis expression and their correlation

Objective To understand the inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin and Bcl-2 in endometriosis(EMs) in the expression and relevance.Methods By SP immunohistochemical method to detect eutopic endometrium,ectopic endometrium,and normal endometrium at proliferative phase,secretory phase inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin and Bcl-2 positive rate.Results The inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin,bcl-2,respectively,both in the normal endometrium is proliferative or secretory phase showed no expression,but the inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin,Bel-2 in eutopic endometrium,ectopic endometrium in both proliferative or secretory phase exist in expression,and inhibitor of apoptosis protein Survivin,Bel-2 in ectopic endometrium in both proliferative or secretory phase of the positive rates were higher than the reign of membrane-positive rate,there was statistically significant difference(P 0.05).However,Survivin,bcl-2 in ectopic endometrium were proliferative and secretory phase of the positive rate,the difference was not statistically significant(P 0.05).Endometriosis of survivin protein expression and Bcl-2 expression was positively correlated,the correlation coefficient(r = 0.785,P = 0.000).Conclusion Survivin,Bel-2 in ectopic endometrium in the two work together to inhibit ectopic endometrial apoptosis,and thus involved in endometriosis pathogenesis.
Hierarchical finite automation modeling of device automatic polling logic and its implementation

To settle the problems of complicated polling logic that leads to barriers to the implementation of software,one formal model of hierarchical finite automation(HFA) was set up and discussed.Dynamic behavior characteristics of the device automatic polling were analyzed and modeled with HFA.The core and subsidiary states of the HFA were abstracted according to the process of polling.The main core states were farther subdivided using the principles of HFA.One implementing architecture was also presented for the HFA transformation in to the software system.The HFA model can describe the device automatic polling logic briefly,which ensures the application of the software.
Analysis of Growth Factors of Farmers' Income in Henan Province during "the Eleventh Five-Year Plan" Period

Statistical data revealed that the total income of farmers in Henan province during "the eleventh Five-Year Plan" period was consisted of five parts,i.e.,income from first industry(48.1%),wage income(35.2%),income from second or third industry(10.5%),transfer income(5.1%) and property income(1.1%).The five parts of income were separately compared with the average level of China and those of the six central provinces,and the position of Henan farmers'income in the whole country and regions was determined.The limiting factors were analyzed and suggestions were proposed to promote the farmers' income in "the twelfth Five-Year Plan" period.
Carcinoma of the Ureter: Natural History, Management and 5-Year Survival

We reviewed retrospectively 53 new cases of primary ureteral carcinoma. Each patient was staged pathologically and survival by operative procedure was compared. Depth of tumor invasion is the most accurate indicator of over-all outcome. Patients with stage A tumors had an 80 per cent 5-year survival rate, compared to only 33.3 per cent of the patients with stage C lesions. Patients also were divided into 2 groups: group 1 patients had a ureteral lesion only, and group 2 patients had a ureteral tumor and a second primary urothelial lesion. No difference was found in 5-year survival rates for patients in groups 1 (48.3 per cent) and 2 (47.7 per cent). Since prognosis for patients with low stage tumors was not enhanced by an aggressive operation a more conservative approach is indicated.
Teaching Steel Connections Using an Interactive Virtual Steel Sculpture

Steel connections play important roles in the integrity of a structure, and many structural failures are attributed to connection failures. Connections are the glue that holds a structure together. The failures of the Hartford Civic Center in 1977, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City in 1980, and the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis in 2007 are all attributed to connection failures. A good connection design requires engineer to have a good understanding of the mechanics and steel behavior. The engineer also should know the fabricator’s limitations and experience. In the past few years, in order to help students better understand various connection types; many schools have acquired the steel sculptures. A steel sculpture is a physical system that shows different types of connections found in standard construction practices. Unfortunately, because of its size and location (eight feet tall, weighs nearly 2500 pounds and usually erected outdoor), students do not always have easy access to it. Moreover, today’s students who belong to the Google generation are more comfortable with web-based learning tools. Through a NSF grant we have created an interactive version of the steel sculpture to provide not only an effective learning opportunity but also a 24-7 access to students and educators in the United States and abroad. This work is the result of a collaborative effort among universities and students from different engineering programs. The virtual sculpture gives the user the freedom to rotate or pan the sculpture to view it from any direction. The user may also isolate any one of the connections for a closer view and learn more about that given connection including: description of the connection, potential failure modes (limit states), sample calculations of each limit state todetermine the load carrying capacity of the connection, field examples, and finite element models of various failure modes. The 3-D model provides a visual display of stress distribution in the connection area. The solid model of the steel sculpture was developed using Creo and converted to a 3-D interactive PDF file. This was done to avoid the need for purchasing the Creo software. A web page was also developed from where users can download the virtual sculpture and all of the linked documents. Three survey forms were also developed with a slightly different focus to seek feedback from students, educators, and recent engineering graduates. The user may complete the online survey form after s/he has had an opportunity to explore the virtual sculpture. The capabilities of the virtual steel sculpture are presented in this paper.
84. Pharmacology/Toxicology Studies for Gene-Modified Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Cystinosis

Cystinosis is an autosomal metabolic disease belonging to the family of lysosomal storage disorders. Mutations in the CTNS gene, encoding a lysosomal cystine transporter, lead to cystine accumulation and multi-organ failure such as blindness, myopathy, diabetes and central nervous system defects. Affected individuals also develop proximal tubulopathy and eventually progress to end stage renal failure. Treatment is available with the drug cysteamine to reduce intracellular cystine content. However, cysteamine only delays the progression of the disease.In April 2012, the first clinical trial using stem cells for cystinosis was approved as an allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell (HSPC) transplant to be conducted at University of California, Los Angeles. This trial was based on our preclinical studies in the mouse model of cystinosis, Ctns-/- mice, which showed that transplantation of HSPCs expressing a functional Ctns gene led to the abundant tissue integration of bone marrow-derived cells, a significant decrease of cystine accumulation and kidney preservation. In order to avoid the high mortality and morbidity associated with allogeneic transplants, however, we have developed an autologous transplantation strategy of HSPCs genetically modified ex vivo to express a functional CTNS gene as a treatment for cystinosis. Preclinical studies using a SIN-lentivirus vector containing CTNS to transduce Ctns-/- HSPCs and transplanted in Ctns-/- mice were promising leading to cystine reduction in all tissues and kidney function improvement.We are currently performing pharmacological and toxicological studies using a batch of pCCL-CTNS lentiviral vector preparation produced under comparable Good Manufacturing Practice, the results of which will be included in an IND for a phase 1 clinical trial for cystinosis. We have now completed the in vitro studies, establishing the optimal conditions to transduce human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells with our lentiviral vector to obtain a Vector Copy Number (VCN) included between 1 and 3. We performed Colony Forming Unit (CFU) assays using human CD34+ PBSC isolated from five healthy donors and four cystinotic patients and neither showed aberrant proliferation or differentiation potential with the lentivirus compared to negative controls. Additionally, the In Vitro Immortalization (IVIM) assay, a genotoxicity test, did not produce immortalized clones, thus demonstrating an excellent safety profile. Lastly, we have in progress in vivo serial transplantation experiments of transduced murine Ctns-/- HSPCs to assess the safety of this strategy in vivo by comprehensive molecular, clinical and histological analyses. This work represents the first stem cell and gene therapy treatment strategy for cystinosis. If successful, this treatment could be a proof of concept for other degenerative multi-systemic disorders.
Depopulation of the isomeric state 180Tam by the reaction 180Tam

The irradiation of an enriched sample of $^{180}\mathrm{Ta}^{m}$ with bremsstrahlung from a linear accelerator having an end-point energy of 6 MeV has excited a strong channel for the reaction $^{180}\mathrm{Ta}^{m}(\ensuremath{\gamma},{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{\ensuremath{'}})^{180}\mathrm{Ta}$, which requires a total spin change of $8\ensuremath{\hbar}$. An integrated cross section of 4.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}25}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$keV has been found. This is a large value exceeding by two orders of magnitude known cross sections for ($\ensuremath{\gamma},{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reactions producing isomers of other species.
Label-Free Dynamic Mass Redistribution Reveals Low-Density, Prosurvival α1B-Adrenergic Receptors in Human SW480 Colon Carcinoma Cells.

Small molecules that target the adrenergic family of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) show promising therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of various cancers. In this study, we report that human colon cancer cell line SW480 expresses low-density functional α1B-adrenergic receptors (ARs) as revealed by label-free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) signaling technology and confirmed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. Remarkably, although endogenous α1B-ARs are not detectable via either [3H]-prazosin–binding analysis or phosphoinositol hydrolysis assays, their activation leads to robust DMR and enhanced cell viability. We provide pharmacological evidence that stimulation of α1B-ARs enhances SW480 cell viability without affecting proliferation, whereas stimulating β-ARs diminishes both viability and proliferation of SW480 cells. Our study illustrates the power of label-free DMR technology for identifying and characterizing low-density GPCRs in cells and suggests that drugs targeting both α1B- and β-ARs may represent valuable small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of colon cancer.
A Cryogenic Fluid System Simulation in Support of Integrated Systems Health Management

Simulations serve as important tools throughout the design and operation of engineering systems. In the context of sys-tems health management, simulations serve many uses. For one, the underlying physical models can be used by model-based health management tools to develop diagnostic and prognostic models. These simulations should incorporate both nominal and faulty behavior with the ability to inject various faults into the system. Such simulations can there-fore be used for operator training, for both nominal and faulty situations, as well as for developing and prototyping health management algorithms. In this paper, we describe a methodology for building such simulations. We discuss the design decisions and tools used to build a simulation of a cryogenic fluid test bed, and how it serves as a core technology for systems health management development and maturation.
WHITE, Terry, ed., THE SIBLING SOCIETY: Papers Presented at the Robert Bly Colloquium

WHITE, Terry, ed., THE SIBLING SOCIETY: Papers Presented at the Robert Bly Colloquium. Lanham. MD: University Press of America. 2000, 216pp., $36.00 hardcover.Nearly a decade ago poet Robert Ely's The Sibling Society (1996) offered a critique of contemporary adulthood informed by a somewhat idiosyncratic reading of recent social history and a thoughtful critique of society's social ills. Similar critiques have been made by others but few with the depth and bite of Bly's writing. The sixteen essays presented in The Sibling Society: Papers Presented at the Robert Bly Colloquium, each nicely written, interesting and well researched, reflect the reasons his thesis remains compelling.In The Sibling Society (1996) Bly argued that adults of the late post-war generation had come to be ruled by consumerism, professional and personal self interest, and narcissism. Nor had the rest of their emotional development faired well. The end result was that emotionally stunted or "half-grown adults", intent on their own agendas, were incapable of fulfilling their parental, nurturing, and leadership obligations, to the next generation. Whether in Toronto, Vancouver, or New York, this generation was not inclined to look up to past generations for leadership, guidance, and tradition, nor would they look down to the next generation seeking direction, encouragement, and approval. To Bly, this is a generation dominated by horizontal rather than vertical thinkers, concerned most about themselves. They have left a leadership and parenting vacuum in North American culture, Bly would argue.Papers Presented at the Robert Bly Colloquium is divided into four sections, each reflecting a different perspective on Bly's thesis. The first four essays examine Sibling Society itself, important for those less familiar with Bly's work. We are asked to consider whether Sibling Society is fully capable of transmitting culture across generations, whether parents casting themselves as friends and confidants can take the place of authoritative parents, and whether the adultification of the young through relentless media programming, negative and contemptuous of adults and parents, encourages the young to aspire to adult roles. A forth essay points to the growing numbers of impoverished and developmentally challenged children as an indication of the profound ambivalence of adults toward children. The three remaining sections address the psychological impact, the self, and metaphors and myths, of Sibling Society. These essays indicate the richness of Bly's ideas, both in exemplifying North America's cultural ills, as well as in offering readers ways to positively address troubling issues.If Bly's original thesis is in some respects flawed, he has gone well beyond William F. Ogburn's (1986-1959) decline of the family thesis, first presented in 1933.* Ogburn's still influential view was that modernity, technology, and urbanization, left the family increasingly bereft of its cohesive functions. …