cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association between circulating specific leukocyte types and blood pressure: the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study.

Although total white blood cell (WBC) count has been associated with hypertension, the association between specific WBC types and blood pressure (BP) levels has not been studied. In a cohort of 5746 middle-age African-American and white adults free of clinical cardiovascular disease and cancer and not taking hypertension or anti-inflammatory medications, BP was measured at baseline and 3, 6, and 9 years later. Levels of circulating neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were measured at baseline. In African-Americans, but much less so in whites, increased neutrophil levels and decreased lymphocyte levels were significantly associated with elevation of BP but did not influence the rate of change of BP over time. The mean BP difference between the highest and lowest quartiles of neutrophils was approximately 8 mm Hg for systolic BP (SBP), 4 mm Hg for mean arterial pressure (MAP), and 5 mm Hg for pulse pressure (PP). The mean BP difference between the lowest and highest quartiles of lymphocytes was approximately 6 mm Hg for SBP, 2 mm Hg for diastolic BP (DBP), 3 mm Hg for MAP, and 4 mm Hg for PP. Increased neutrophils and decreased lymphocytes are significantly correlated with the regulation of BP and the development of hypertension, especially in African-Americans.
Comparison of linkage-disequilibrium methods for localization of genes influencing quantitative traits in humans.

Summary Linkage disequilibrium has been used to help in the identification of genes predisposing to certain qualitative diseases. Although several linkage-disequilibrium tests have been developed for localization of genes influencing quantitative traits, these tests have not been thoroughly compared with one another. In this report we compare, under a variety of conditions, several different linkage-disequilibrium tests for identification of loci affecting quantitative traits. These tests use either single individuals or parent-child trios. When we compared tests with equal samples, we found that the truncated measured allele (TMA) test was the most powerful. The trait allele frequencies, the stringency of sample ascertainment, the number of marker alleles, and the linked genetic variance affected the power, but the presence of polygenes did not. When there were more than two trait alleles at a locus in the population, power to detect disequilibrium was greatly diminished. The presence of unlinked disequilibrium ( D ′ * ) increased the false-positive error rates of disequilibrium tests involving single individuals but did not affect the error rates of tests using family trios. The increase in error rates was affected by the stringency of selection, the trait allele frequency, and the linked genetic variance but not by polygenic factors. In an equilibrium population, the TMA test is most powerful, but, when adjusted for the presence of admixture, Allison test 3 becomes the most powerful whenever D ′* >.15.
On the olfactory apparatus in the Miocene odontocete Squalodon sp. (Squalodontidae)

Abstract Most extant odontocetes appear to be anosmatic. However, some Miocene odontocetes, including a broken skull attributed to Squalodon sp. (Calvert Formation, Calvert Cliffs, Maryland, USA) preserve the osteological components associated with a well-developed sense of smell: dorsal nasal meatuses, ethmoturbinates within olfactory recesses, a perforate cribriform plate, and an olfactory bulb chamber. In Squalodon sp., the area within the olfactory recesses (i.e., covered in life by olfactory sensory epithelia) is 5367 mm 2 and the area occupied by the olfactory bulbs (i.e., the ethmoid area) is 769.8 mm 2 . In most mammals, the area of the olfactory epithelium is typically circa 16 times larger than the ethmoid area. The area covered by olfactory epithelium in CMM-V-2287 is only about seven times larger than its ethmoid area, less than half the area in typical mammals. During the Miocene, most odontocetes variously lost the osteological proxies indicative of osmatic ability. Perhaps biosonar surpassed the efficiency of olfactory cues during predation and social/parental/sexual interactions rendering the latter redundant/obsolete in odontocete analysis of, and interactions with and within their aquatic environments.
Neutron Diffraction and Computational Study of Zeolite NaX: Influence of SIII‘ Cations on Its Complex with Benzene

The crystal structure of zeolite NaX (Si:Al = 1.2) and that of its complex with benzene have been determined at 5 K by Rietveld analysis of powder neutron diffraction data in space group Fd3. For NaX, a = 25.0328(5) A, Rwp = 4.25%, and Rp = 3.27%. For NaX + benzene, a = 25.0496(7) A, Rwp = 4.60%, and Rp = 3.52%. The sodium ions were located preferentially in sites SI‘ and SII, both of which are fully occupied. The remaining cations were found at the SIII‘ site in the 12-ring window. These cations are coordinated by two oxygen atoms, O(1) and O(4), in a corner of the 4-ring window where the aluminum is located. Our simulations on cation positioning in NaX (Si:Al = 1) predict the preferred occupancy of SIII‘ sites that are facing AlO4 tetrahedra and support our crystallographic results. Less than half the benzene molecules were found at the six-ring window in the supercage, where they interact with the SII cations. No benzene was found in the 12-ring window, presumably because of the presence of the SIII‘ s...
Triglyceride removal efficiency and lipoprotein lipases: effects of Oxandrolone.

Very low density lipoprotein triglyceride turnover rate, fractional turnover rate, and half-life were studied using Glycerol −3H to label VLD-TG in 16 patients with familial Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. The patients were maintained on an isocaloric diet with determination of triglyceride turnover after 2 wk of placebo, and a second determination after 2 wk of Oxandrolone (an anabolic-androgenic synthetic steroid). On placebo, mean very low density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLD-TG) was 539, falling on Oxandrolone to 254 mg100 ml (p < 0.05). Mean half-life (T12) was 10.3 hr on placebo and was shortened to 5.2 hr on drug (p < 0.05). The fractional turnover rate (FTR) on placebo was 0.104 ± 0.016 hour−1, and rose to 0.166 ± 0.016 on drug (p < 0.05). Mean turnover rate (TR) rose slightly from 17.6 mg/kg/hr on placebo to 19.04 mg/kg/hr on Oxandrolone. Both postheparin lipolytic activity (PHLA) and postheparin triglyceride lipase (TGL) were appreciably increased on drug, rising respectively from 0.297 μeq FFA/ml/min and 11.7 mμeq FFA/ml/hr (on placebo) to 0.396 and 23.7 (on drug). The changes (Δ) in VLD-TG on Oxandrolone correlated with Δ T 12 (R = 0.761) and with Δ FTR (R = −0.532). Oxandrolone may lower very low density lipoprotein triglyc eride by substantially increasing fractional turnover rate and shortening half-life while slightly augmenting turnover rate and improving efficiency of VLD-TG removal.
Inflation with superstrings

Abstract Cosmological solutions with three exponentially expanding space dimensions in the N =1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills supergravity system are found under the assumption of gluino and “subgravitino” condensation. The potential has a long flat region providing sufficient inflation.
Autonomous agent for on-machine acceptance of machined components

In recent years, manufacturers of high precision mechanical parts have been required to produce increasingly complex designs, in smaller lot sizes, with improved quality. These requirements demand lower process costs, shorter development cycles and more accurate manufacturing technologies. To meet these demands, manufacturers are attempting to both improve process quality and provide better CAD/CAM integration. The technique of on-machine acceptance provides one mechanism for improving the part inspection and verification process. This approach allows one machine and one process capability model to be used for both fabrication and inspection, reducing capital cost and overall cycle time. However, the on-machine acceptance technique possesses greater potential than as simply an alternative mechanism for verifying part geometry. If the inspection capability information generated by on-machine acceptance processes can be made available to designers, it can be used to create a design-for-inspectability environment and help realize the benefits of concurrent 2048 engineering. This paper proposes a novel architecture which integrates on-machine acceptance with an agent-based concurrent design environment, for reducing both the cost and production time for high quality, small lot size, mechanical parts. This work has focused on the production of stainless steel pressure vessels at the Integrated Manufacturing Technology Laboratory (IMTL) manufacturing cell, located at Sandia National Laboratories, California.
Tradeoffs between residential and industrial fire protection for ultimate public safety

In 1975, fire losses in the United States totaled about 0.25% of the GNP, or 4.4 billion dollars. Statistics on distribution of fire types show that 30% involve residential dwellings; 10% industrial, institutional, and educational buildings; 21% are due to transportation-related factors; and the remaining 38% include forest, grassland, and rubbish fires. These statistics show that industrial and public facilities account for almost 50% of the financial loss statistics, while residential and transportation losses amount to 36 and 11% of the total, respectively. More than 60% of fire fatalities are attributed to building fires, and of these, almost 90% occur in private residences. This brief survey reveals that a relatively small number of fires are responsible for the major dollar losses, and the major loss of life in fires results from residential fires, where the number of fatalities per fire are relatively small. Can technology be applied to reduce either the financial disaster incurred during industrial fires, or the life loss in residential fires? The evidence indicates that residential fire mortality will not be significantly reduced by technical solutions. However, there is also the potential for large life loss in industrial fires, and these could be reduced significantly by technical solutions. Therefore, increased efforts to secure the optimum amount of industrial fire protection could certainly reduce our financial losses, and possibly protect more lives.
Chloroplast DNA deletions associated with wheat plants regenerated from pollen: possible basis for maternal inheritance of chloroplasts

Abstract Albinism in plants regenerated from pollen by anther culture may result from the same mechanisms as postulated to be responsible for maternal inheritance of chloroplasts. Consistent with this view, Southern blotting was used to show that large regions of the chloroplast genome (over 80% in one case) were deleted in the major ctDNA molecules present in eight albino wheat plants regenerated from separate pollen calluses. A wide variety of deleted ctDNA molecules was present in these plants. Most albino plants appeared to contain a heterogeneous population of ctDNA molecules. Albino plant 6 contained one major type of deleted ctDNA molecule that had a circular 39 kb restriction map. The retention of only two Pst I (unaltered in size) fragments in albino plant 7 may delimit a region of ctDNA that contains a replication origin.
Neighborhood Formation on The West Side of San Antonio, Texas

In this paper we report preliminary findings of a study that examines the historical formation of the principally Mexicano West Side of San Antonio. Our thesis is dialectical: a cultural point – counterpoint of the “socially deforming (barrioizing) and the culturally affirming (barriological) spatial practices” (Villa, 2000, 8) that have characterized the relationship between Anglos and Mexicans since the Mexican-American War of 1846–1848 and the Anglo conquest of the northern area of Mexico now known as South Texas, a relationship that has served to frame both groups and to re-enforce respective cultural identities. By taking a historical view of the relationship, we are attempting to “broadly identify a historical continuity between past and present circumstances influencing the production of barrio social space and its representations” (Villa, 2000, 8). The authors argue that barriology offers a method for understanding neighborhood formation and maintenance in a time when the dynamics of this and maintenance have become central issues in community research, thus they address the following questions:
New insight in BEOL TDDB Cu diffusion mechanism: A constant current stress approach

The Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown (TDDB) of Ultra-Low-κ (ULK) (κ=2.7) and porous ULK SiCOH (κ=2.55) was systematically investigated using both Constant Current Stress (CCS) and Constant Voltage Stress (CVS) method on our 32nm and 28nm technologies. The invariance of J 2 t unambiguously suggest that the NBlock-IMD interface Cu diffusion is the dominant failure mechanism. Also, the electric field independent TDDB thermal activation energy was experimentally identified. By comparing the distribution of t BD and J 2 t BD obtained by CVS, J 2 t BD gives a better β value closer to intrinsic because die to die spatial variations are automatically compensated. The extracted β is also consistent with that from Poisson area scaling study. At high current stress conditions, J 2 t BD start to drop, indicating another failure mechanism starts to dominate. In summary, the evaluation of J 2 t BD provides a new insight in the low-κ TDDB breakdown mechanism.
Application of the homogenization approximation to rough one-dimensional photonic crystals

As previously reported [Opt. Lett.29, 2791 (2004) ], one-dimensional photonic crystals exhibit a decrease in their normal reflectivity if their interfaces are not flat. We show that the homogenization approximation accurately predicts this diminished optical response by comparing results with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations applied to the same roughened structures. Within the parameter range tested (rms roughness <20% and rms wavelengths <100% of the photonic crystal periodicity), the homogenization approximation accurately reproduces the reflectivities obtained by the FDTD simulations, which are much more computationally expensive.
NI-82DIFFUSION AND CONVENTIONAL MR IMAGING GENOMIC BIOMARKER SIGNATURE FOR EGFR MUTATION IDENTIFICATION IN GLIOBLASTOMA

PURPOSE: To create a diffusion and conventional MR imaging biomarker signature in order to identify those Glioblastoma (GBM) patients with EGFR mutation status. EGFR is the cell-surface receptor for members of the epidermal growth factor family(EGF-family)of extracellular protein ligands,a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. EGFR gene expression is present in 40% of GBM patients.Identification of EGFR as an oncogene has led to the development of anticancer therapeutics directed against EGFR.Thus,a non-invasive imaging surrogate that predicts EGFR mutation status will help stratify patients into therapy and clinical trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 80 treatment-naive patients from TCGA who had both gene and microRNA expression profiles including the EGFR mutation status and pretreatment MRI from The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). Qualitative VASARI imaging features for these 80 patients were assessed by 3 independent neuroradiologists and consensus was reached. Quantitative volumetric analysis was done in the 3D Slicer software 3.6 using segmentation module.Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR)was used for segmentation of the edema and post-contrast T1 weighted imaging(T1W1)for segmentation of enhancement and necrosis.Diffusion was analyzed in Olea Sphere 2.3 and Conventional FLAIR/post- contrast T1WI was registered to DWI/ADC maps. ADC, FLAIR, T1 Gadolinium enhancement values were measured using the ROI based method, in the perilesional edema/non-enhancing tumor and the enhancing tumor zones, dividing the perilesional edema/non-enhancing tumor into 3 zones each of 1 cm width, 3 ROI measurements were taken from each zone. Each quantitative feature was correlated to EGFR mutation status to create the imaging biomarker signature predictive of EGFR mutation status. Survival analysis was done in all cases. RESULTS: A diffusion and conventional MR imaging biomarker signature was created that predicted EGFR mutation status. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR mutation status plays an important role in predictive and prognostic stratification of patients with GBM. The identification of a non-invasive biomarker signature as a surrogate for EGFR mutation can help stratify patients in specific therapy and predict response to therapy.
Slit for Interposing Spectra on Echellegrams

A slit for spectrographs with cross dispersion has been constructed. The function of the slit is illustrated by three spectra interposed on an echellegram.
Morphology of the Developing Human Endolymphatic Sac

The adult human endolymphatic sac (ES) has been described as a complex network of interconnected tubules. Embryologic examination describes the human ES as a single-lumen, pouch-like structure. Transition from saccular shape to tubules during the entire fetal period has not been previously reported. Tubular ES structure is thought to be unique to humans. Animal investigations describe similar saccular appearance, but without tubules in mature sacs. The authors examined 45 human fetal temporal bones to trace ES development and reviewed six types of animal sacs. Results in humans reveal tubular structure as early as 26 weeks' gestation. Maturation variably occurred in the fetal period and postnatally. For the first time, the tubular system is noted in the animal, the rhesus monkey. These findings suggest that the tubular system may represent more advanced specialized function.
Rapid iron borate (FeBO3) powder fabrication using microwave heating

Microwave assisted synthesis of crystalline FeBO 3 powder is investigated in a multimode cavity at 2.45GHz as a possible method for faster synthesis. An Alumina-SiC susceptor enclosure was placed inside the cavity to overcome poor microwave absorption of the precursor at low temperatures. Enhanced diffusion was observed with appropriate precursor viscosity at reaction temperature. Less than 8 hours was found enough to complete FeBO 3 synthesis, as compared with more than 20 hours of synthesis using conventional muffle oven. Microwave enhanced diffusion was not obvious with too high viscosity and eventually leveled by thermal diffusion with too low viscosity. The microwave synthesized FeBO 3 particles were found more rhombohedral and smaller than conventional furnace synthesized ones, thus are inherently more suitable as optical composite materials.
Conversion of ethylene diamine dihydrochloride into ethylenediamine by electrodialytic water- splitting

The feasibility of water-splitting electrodialysis for the conversion of polyammonium salts into the corresponding amines and acids was demonstrated with the conversion of ethylenediamine dihydrochloride as an example. Two- and three-compartment cells were compared and their current efficiencies ascertained. The former was relatively low in current efficiency, with a roughly linear increase with conversion. The three-compartment cell operated at more than 80% current efficiency over most of the conversion range, with a voltage drop of 2·7 V per repeating unit at 400 Am−2 and 25° C.
A New Oxyma Derivative for Nonracemizable Amide-Forming Reactions in Water

An Oxyma derivative, (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl 2-cyano-2-(hydroxyimino)acetate (2), displayed remarkable physicochemical properties as a peptide-coupling additive for peptide-forming reactions in water. Short peptides to oligopeptides could be synthesized by using 2, EDCI, and NaHCO3 in water without measurable racemization. Significantly, a simple basic and acidic aqueous workup procedure can remove all reagents utilized in the reactions to afford only coupling products in consistently excellent yields.
A structure–activity relationship study of small-molecule inhibitors of GLI1-mediated transcription†

We have previously reported ketoprofen amide compounds as inhibitors of GLI1-mediated transcription, an essential down-stream element of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. These compounds inhibited Gli-luciferase reporter in C3H10T1/2 cells that were exogenously transfected with GLI1 and in Rh30 cells that endogenously overexpress GLI1. Here we have designed new derivatives of these compounds aiming to explore the structure–activation relationship (SAR). By replacing the ketone carbonyl group of the ketoprofen moiety with an ether, amide, sulfonamide, or sulfone, we found several new compounds that are equipotent to the ketoprofen amide compounds. Among them, sulfone 30 inhibited Gli-luciferase reporter in C3H10T1/2 cells that were exogenously transfected with GLI1 and in Rh30 cells that endogenously overexpress GLI1. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 95: 24–30, 2011.
Evaluation of the computer controlled dynamic yield locus tester

The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the computer controlled dynamic yield locus tester (DYLT) based on the constant volume approach. This was done by comparing the flow parameters of five test materials: (1) BCR limestone, (2) glass fibers, (3) ground silica, (4) microcrystalline cellulose, and (5) wheat flour, using the computer controlled Jenike tester (CCJT) and DYLT. Test results showed that the flow parameters, cohesion and angle of internal friction, measured using the CCJT and DYLT for BCR limestone, glass fibers and microcrystalline cellulose were statistically similar (p>0.05). Only one flow parameter value, cohesion at a consolidation stress of 10.7 kPa, for ground silica was significantly different (p<0.05) between the two experimental techniques. Three of six flow parameter values, i.e., cohesion and angle of internal friction, for wheat flour were significantly different (p<0.05) between the CCJT and DYLT. These differences are attributed to inconsistent post yield behavior. Minimal differences occurred between the experimental techniques, CCJT and DYLT, and the published data for BCR limestone.
Bioavailability of soy isoflavones through placental/lactational transfer and soy food

Isoflavones are non-nutritive components of soy responsible for estrogenic responses observed in vitro and in experimental animals. Possible beneficial effects (e.g., reduction of serum lipids, increased bone mineral density, relief of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, mammary and prostate cancer chemoprevention) in humans have been attributed to consumption of isoflavones but evidence for potential adverse effects (e.g., stimulation of estrogen-dependent mammary tumors and aberrant perinatal development) has also been reported in experimental animal models. Bioavailability from appropriate food matrices and exposure during different life stages are both critical determinants of isoflavone effects. For these reasons, it is important to compare isoflavone bioavailability in adults to that in fetal and neonatal animals for a more complete understanding of potential susceptibility issues. Studies of the major soy isoflavone genistein were conducted in pregnant and lactating Sprague-Dawley rats to quantify placental and lactational transfer to plasma and brain to understand better biological effects observed in multigenerational studies. In addition, studies were conducted with genistein in adult Balb/c mice to define absolute bioavailability from both gavage and soy protein isolate (SPI)-containing food. The information derived from these studies makes it possible to predict internal exposures of children to genistein from soy infant formula, which is manufactured using SPI.
The source rupture process of the Great Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963

Abstract The Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963 is one of the largest ( M w = 8.3) intraplate events. It involved oblique thrusting at an intermediate depth within the subducted lithosphere near the abrupt bend in the southeastern Banda arc (6.86° S, 129.58° E). To better understand the tectonic significance of this earthquake, the detailed source process of the Banda Sea event was determined by body wave analysis. The rupture history was established by deconvolving source time functions from long-period P wave seismograms, using both individual station and multi-station time-domain deconvolution methods. The seismic moment release occurred within the first 50 s of rupture, initiating at a depth near 120 km and expanding laterally and downdip over a vertical extent of about 50 km. Slip and moment release were concentrated in one main region near the hypocenter, at depths between 110 and 130 km. The along-strike rupture length was only about 100 km, so it is difficult to resolve any horizontal directivity. The compressional stress orientation inferred from the focal mechanism parallels the strike of the slab, and reflects the importance of contortion of the lithosphere in this region. The Banda Sea event may be part of a major detachment at the leading edge of the subducted Australian continental shelf.
Risk Constellations in Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Patterns

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. Among other complications, diabetes is associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) that is thought to be equal to the risk of CHD in subjects without diabetes with previous myocardial infarction. Studies have shown that CHD risk factors start to increase long before the onset of clinical diabetes. Furthermore, the risk factors that are present in prediabetic individuals are also components of the highly prevalent metabolic syndrome. This suggests that treatment of CHD risk factors may effectively reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle interventions have proved effective in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. A number of post hoc studies have reported consistent reductions in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in hypertensive patients treated with either angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). As a result of these positive data, ongoing prospective studies are investigating whether antihypertensive agents prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in patients at risk. Telmisartan, a selective oral ARB that is indicated for first-line therapy of essential hypertension, may provide improved tolerability compared with ACE inhibitors. Therefore, the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) program is investigating the effectiveness of telmisartan in the prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes. The program comprises ONTARGET and the Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE-Intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND).
The BTeV trigger architecture

BTeV is a high-statistics B-physics experiment that will achieve new levels of sensitivity in testing the Standard Model explanation of CP violation, mixing, and rare decays in the b and c quark systems by operating in the unique environment of a hadron collider. In order to achieve its goals, it will make use of a state-of-the-art Si-pixel vertex detector and a novel 3-level hierarchical trigger that will look at every single beam crossing to detect the presence of heavy quark decays. This talk will describe the trigger architecture focusing on key design aspects that allow the use of commercially available technology in a highly feasible and practical solution that meets the demanding physics requirements of the BTeV experiment.
Integrating systematic exploration, analysis, and maintenance in software development

Modern integrated development environments (IDEs) support one live codebase at a given moment, which imposes limitations to software development. For example, with only one codebase, the developer must pause development while running tests, or a static analysis, as any edit could invalidate the ongoing computation. Were the IDEs supported a copy of developer's codebase, the analyses could have run on this copy, in parallel with the development process. In this paper, we propose techniques and tools that integrate multiple live codebases support to the software development process. Our hypothesis is that IDE support for multiple live codebases can provide a richer development process and aid developers.
Deposition of particles in a convergent channel

Particle trajectory and deposition in a convergent two-dimensional channel are analyzed for the uniform and developing laminar flow with a dilute particle concentration. The governing equations of particle motion are given under the effect of inertia force, viscous force, gravity force and electrostatic force, which were solved with the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Depositions were calculated based on the distance traveled by a particle to reach the wall. Many computations for deposition are performed on a combination of different parameters, and the results are then discussed in detail.
Demonstrational and constraint-based techniques for pictorially specifying application objects and behaviors

The Lapidary interface design tool is a demonstrational system that allows the graphics and run-time behaviors that go inside an application window to be specified pictorially. In particular, Lapidary allows the designer to draw example pictures of application-specific graphical objects that the end user will manipulate (such as boxes, arrows, or elements of a list), the feedback that shows which objects are selected (such as small boxes on the sides and corners of an object), and the dynamic feedback objects (such as hairline boxes to show where an object is being dragged). The run-time behavior of all these objects can be specified ina straightforward way using constraints, demonstration, and dialog boxes that allow the designer to provide abstract descriptions of the interactive response to the input devices. Lapidary generalizes from these specific example pictures and behaviors to create prototype objects and behaviors from which instances can be made at run-time. A novel feature of Lapidary's implementation is its use of constraints that have been explicitly specified by the designer to help it generalize example objects and behaviors and to guide it in making inferences.
Field testing a parent guide to quality day care centers

The present study describes the field testing procedures used to evaluate the reliability and predictive validity of the Parent Guide to Quality Day Care Centers. Twenty-six women were asked to use the items in the guide as a basis for observing in several local day care centers prejudged by local child care professionals to provide a given quality level of services. The results showed that a significant number of the items (80%) were reliably observed more frequently in centers prejudged to provide above-average services than in centers prejudged to provide below-average services.
The effects of plant-incorporated methylmercury on its distribution, excretion and demethylation patterns in the rat

Abstract Rats were dosed once per os with either plant-incorporated or solution-radioactive methylmercury (MeHg). While whole-body retention did not change, the incorporation into some organs was approx. 2.5 X higher when administered Hg was in the plant-incorporated rather than in solution form. The only noticeable change in demethylation occurred in the cerebrum where MeHg:Hg ratios were 79:10 (plantincorporated MeHg) and 65:24 (solution-MeHg). Between 5 to 7% of the total mercury was excreted in faeces and urine either in the inorganic (faeces) or organic (urine) forms. Mercury levels in mitochondrial and soluble fractions of cerebrum were noticeably lower with plant-MeHg than with solution-MeHg.
Image Signature: Highlighting Sparse Salient Regions

We introduce a simple image descriptor referred to as the image signature. We show, within the theoretical framework of sparse signal mixing, that this quantity spatially approximates the foreground of an image. We experimentally investigate whether this approximate foreground overlaps with visually conspicuous image locations by developing a saliency algorithm based on the image signature. This saliency algorithm predicts human fixation points best among competitors on the Bruce and Tsotsos [1] benchmark data set and does so in much shorter running time. In a related experiment, we demonstrate with a change blindness data set that the distance between images induced by the image signature is closer to human perceptual distance than can be achieved using other saliency algorithms, pixel-wise, or GIST [2] descriptor methods.
A unique pattern of toxic synthesis in pentitol catabolism: implications for evolution.

All of ourEscherichia coli C mutants blocked in the first step of D-arabitol catabolism (D-arabitol dehydrogenase) became unable to grow in the presense of D-arabitol. We have shown that this sensitivity is eliminated by a defect in the second enzyme of the pathway (D-xylulokinase), leading to a pattern of toxicity and its relief which has not been previously reported. We have found a similar pattern of toxicity and its relief in the closely related ribitol pathway. The evolutionary significance of these findings is discussed.
Water quality and shellfish management in tillamook bay, Oregon

The contamination of shellfish by pathogenic bacteria and viruses is a concern of shellfish producers, distributors, and consumers. To address these water quality concerns, the National Shellfish Sanitation Program has classified shellfish growing waters as approved, conditionally approved, or prohibited. The Tillamook estuary is one of Oregon's primary shellfish harvest areas. Degradation of water quality in Tillamook Bay has been linked to oyster bed closures, declines in salmonid populations, and decreases in recreational use of estuarine resources. In this study, water quality concerns related to shellfish management are addressed by examining the patterns of fecal coliform bacteria (FCB) concentration in Tillamook Bay. A oneway analysis of variance was used to compare log‐transformed FCB concentrations in prohibited, restricted, and conditional shellfish management areas. We found (I) a difference in Tillamook Bay water quality between all three areas and (2) a change in FCB concentrations through ti...
Characterization of a Murine Type IIB Procollagen-specific Antibody

Abstract Type II collagen is the major collagenous component of the cartilage extracellular matrix; formation of a covalently cross-linked type II collagen network provides cartilage with important tensile properties. The Col2a1 gene is encoded by 54 exons, of which exon 2 is subject to alternative splicing, resulting in different isoforms named IIA, IIB, IIC and IID. The two major procollagen protein isoforms are type IIA and type IIB procollagen. Type IIA procollagen mRNA contains exon 2 and is generated predominantly by chondroprogenitor cells and other non-cartilaginous tissues. Differentiated chondrocytes generate type IIB procollagen, devoid of exon 2. Although type IIA procollagen is produced in certain non-collagenous tissues during development, this developmentally-regulated alternative splicing switch to type IIB procollagen is restricted to cartilage cells. Though a much studied and characterized molecule, the importance of the various type II collagen protein isoforms in cartilage development and homeostasis is still not completely understood. Effective antibodies against specific epitopes of these isoforms can be useful tools to decipher function. However, most type II collagen antibodies to date recognize either all isoforms or the IIA procollagen isoform. To specifically identify the murine type IIB procollagen, we have generated a rabbit antibody (termed IIBN) directed to a peptide sequence that spans the murine exon 1–3 peptide junction. Characterization of the affinity-purified antibody by western blotting of collagens extracted from wild type murine cartilage or cartilage from Col2a1 + ex2 knock-in mice (which generates predominantly the type IIA procollagen isoform) demonstrated that the IIBN antibody is specific to the type IIB procollagen isoform. IIBN antibody was also able to detect the native type IIB procollagen in the hypertrophic chondrocytes of the wild type growth plate, but not in those of the Col2a1 + ex2 homozygous knock-in mice, by both immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical studies. Thus the IIBN antibody will permit an in-depth characterization of the distribution of IIB procollagen isoform in mouse skeletal tissues. In addition, this antibody will be an important reagent for characterizing mutant type II collagen phenotypes and for monitoring type II procollagen processing and trafficking.
Market power, market power mitigation, and efficiency

In this panel session paper, we discuss the interaction of market power in electricity markets, market power mitigation procedures in place in various independent system operators in North America, particularly in the context of transmission constraints, and the efficiency of the markets.
ANTIBODY-PRODUCING CAPACITY OF ADULT CHICKEN SPLEEN CELLS IN NEWLY HATCHED CHICKS A STUDY OF SOURCES OF VARIATION IN A HOMOLOGOUS CELL TRANSFER SYSTEM

1. To evaluate the effect of primary in vitro antigenic stimulation on a population of immunologically competent cells, a homologous cell transfer system was used, with adult chickens as the spleen cell donors, killed Brucella abortus as the antigen, and newly hatched chicks as the recipients. 2. The distribution of antibody titers in recipients of cells from random donors was bimodal, with about 30 per cent showing no detectable titer and the remainder distributed normally. 3. Variability of titer was reduced significantly in subgroups receiving cells from a single donor, indicating that the primary source of variability was the genetic capacity of discrete cell populations to respond to antigen. 4. In serial passage studies, activity of donor cell populations was lost rapidly: antibody was not demonstrated after the second passage, and the graft versus host reaction (splenomegaly) was not demonstrated after the third passage. Results were similar with in vitro antigenic stimulation at the time of the first passage only and with additional stimulation at the time of subsequent transfers. 5. The thesis that,the homograft reaction of the newly hatched recipients had contributed significantly to the variability in the single transfer studies and to the rapid loss of activity in the serial transfer experiments was confirmed by the results of transfers following alteration of the lymphoreticular system of the host by thorotrast administration, splenectomy, and treatment with 19-nortestosterone during embryogenesis. All three favored the survival and function of transferred cells, raising the average antibody titer and virtually eliminating the no-response category. The inhibition of homograft immunity was most pronounced in the 19-nortestosterone group.
SU-E-T-228: The Beauty and the Beast: Transition from Film/paper Charts to Paperless Environment with a New TrueBeam/ARIA System in a Small Community Hospital on a Tight Budget

Purpose: To review the issues a physicist may encounter in a community hospital during the transition from film/paper charts to a paperless environment with ARIA and a TrueBeam LINAC. With a lean budget, it was necessary for the physics group to take on the project management responsibilities in order save costs. This work highlights the lessons learned during the planning and execution of our project. Methods: Like many hospitals around the county, our hospital was caught in the economic downturn and was unable to provide all of the capital necessary to upgrade to the radiation oncology department. However, with the support of the hospital foundation, a total of $6M was secured for new LINAC, ARIA and CT simulator. To save costs on facilities and computers, it was necessary for the physics group to be involved in creating architectural drawings for shielding calculations, finding a vendor to remove the old linac, assisting the foundation to raise money, submission of the ‘Certificate of Need’ approval with the state, negotiation with vendors, IT infrastructure, reviews with the general contractor and vendor's project team, and ultimately writing the commissioning reports for the new systems as well as developing new policies and procedures. Results: During a period of 4 months, the old LINAC was removed, facility renovations made, the TrueBeam linac was installed, accepted, and commissioned and first patients were treated. In addition, we transitioned from a film/paper environment to a paperless environment. However, this was very stressful for staff and it may be advisable to stage such a project over a longer period of time. There was also significant lost revenue (∼$2M) during downtime of construction, installation, and commissioning. Conclusions: The radiation oncology department was upgraded (The Beauty) on a tight budget but at the cost of added stress (The Beast) to the staff.
A scalable eigensolver for large scale-free graphs using 2D graph partitioning

Eigensolvers are important tools for analyzing and mining useful information from scale-free graphs. Such graphs are used in many applications and can be extremely large. Unfortunately, existing parallel eigensolvers do not scale well for these graphs due to the high communication overhead in the parallel matrix-vector multiplication (MatVec). We develop a MatVec algorithm based on 2D edge partitioning that significantly reduces the communication costs and embed it into a popular eigensolver library. We demonstrate that the enhanced eigensolver can attain two orders of magnitude performance improvement compared to the original on a state-of-art massively parallel machine. We illustrate the performance of the embedded MatVec by computing eigenvalues of a scale-free graph with 300 million vertices and 5 billion edges, the largest scale-free graph analyzed by any in-memory parallel eigensolver, to the best of our knowledge.
The Joint Organization of Interaction within a Multimodal CSCL Medium.

In order to collaborate effectively in group discourse on a topic like mathematical patterns, group participants must organize their activities in ways that share the significance of their utterances, inscriptions, and behaviors. Here, we report the results of a ethnomethodological case study of collaborative math problem-solving activities mediated by a synchronous multimodal online environment. We investigate the moment-by-moment details of the interaction practices through which participants organize their chat utterances and whiteboard actions as a coherent whole. This approach to analysis foregrounds the sequentiality of action and the implicit referencing of meaning making—fundamental features of interaction. In particular, we observe that the sequential construction of shared drawings and the deictic references that link chat messages to features of those drawings and to prior chat content are instrumental in the achievement of intersubjectivity among group members’ understandings. We characterize this precondition of collaboration as the co-construction of an indexical field that functions as a common ground for group cognition. Our analysis reveals methods by which the group co-constructs meaningful inscriptions in the dual-interaction spaces of its CSCL environment. The integration of graphical, narrative, and symbolic semiotic modalities in this manner also facilitates joint problem solving. It allows group members to invoke and operate with multiple realizations of their mathematical artifacts, a characteristic of deep learning of mathematics.
Out of Sequence: The Timing of Marriage Following a Premarital Birth

Estimates of the time elapsed between premarital birth and subsequent marriage are presented using data from the 1973 National Survey of Family Growth. This study is a multistage area probability cross-sectional sample of households in the contiguous US. About 9800 women 15-44 years of age who had ever been married or who had children of their own living in the household were included. Variables include premarital birth cohort; age at premarital birth: education; geographic region; and race. Life table probabilities of not having married following a premarital birth at selected months for whites and blacks respectively are shown. Overall about 24% of white women marry within 6 months of premarital birth; 1/2 marry before 24 months; and over 3.4 marry before 48 months have passed. The median length of time between premarital birth and marriage for white women is 22.2 months. The results for white women with respect to education and region are not statistically significant. The results for black women show that they wait on the average much longer between premarital birth and marriage than do white women with a median of 46 months. The black-white differential increases with time. With respect to premarital birth cohort members of the 1955-9 cohort were the quickest to marry (a median of 43.0 months) but with little difference between members of other cohorts (medians of between 48 to 50 months). Considering education black women show dramatic differentials with women having more than 12 years of education marrying soonest. There is a differential between the South (median--42.6 months) and the Northeast (median--60 months). A proportional hazards model was constructed.
Historical Pyrogeography of Texas, USA

Synthesis of multiple sources of fire history information increases the power and reliability of fire regime characterization. Fire regime characterization is critical for assessing fire risk, identifying climate change impacts, understanding ecosystem processes, and developing policies and objectives for fire management. For these reasons, we conducted a literature review and spatial analysis of historical fire intervals in Texas, USA, a state with diverse fire environments and significant fire-related challenges. Limited literature describing historical fire regimes exists and few studies have quantitatively assessed the historical frequency of wildland fire. Written accounts provided anecdotal fire information that is spatially and temporally constrained. Three spatial datasets depicting historic mean fire intervals (MFIs) showed agreement in that the majority of Texas consisted of frequent fire regimes (MFIs = 1 yr to 12 yr), and that a gradient of decreasing fire return intervals existed from west to east. Much potential likely exists for acquiring fire history data in the Piney Woods region, the Oak Woods and Prairies region, and the mountain ranges of the Trans Pecos region. These data will be valuable for improving fire regime characterization to guide fire planning and budget processes, for the restoration and maintenance of fire-adapted landscapes, and for informing fire prevention and education activities.
Analysis of Single Side Axial Flux Brushless DC Motor with Two Different Stator Geometries

Finite element analysis was conducted for an axial flux single side three-phase brushless DC motor with two different stator geometries. Each motor has thirty two permanent rotor magnets and twelve stator electromagnetic poles. One of the motor has one stator segment with twelve electromagnetic poles and the other one has two stator segments with six electromagnetic poles on each stator segment. ANSOFT Maxwell 3D finite element analysis software was used to create 3D motor geometries and analyze motor models. Finite element analysis was conducted under transient solution type with mechanical motion. During the simulation, the applied load torque was non-linearly increased with the rotor speed. Mechanical and electromagnetic characteristics of the motor models were observed and recorded. According to the results, motor model with one stator segment has higher initial acceleration. On the other hand, both models have approximately similar steady state average speed and torque. Therefore, dividing the stator into two segments with same number of electromagnetic poles does not change the motor performance at the steady state.