cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast practical algorithms for the Boolean-product-witness-matrix problem

Given two n × n Boolean matrices A and B, their Boolean Product Witness Matrix (BPWM) is an n × n integer matrix W with wij = some k such that aik = bkj = 1, (1 ≤ i, j, k ≤ n) and wij = 0 if no such k exists. The best known algorithms to date for solving the BPWM problem have a worst-case complexity of O(no log n), where O(no) is the time required to multiply two n × n integer matrices. The theoretically best known value of o is 2.376, but is higher for algorithms that are practical to implement for reasonable problem sizes. In this paper, we present a relatively simple and practical randomized algorithm for solving the BPWM problem. The expected completion time of our algorithms is O(n2 log n) for a large class of Boolean matrices, including but not limited to all mutually-independent matrices. We show that the probability of the algorithm requiring more than O(n2 log n) is vanishingly small for most input Boolean matrices, irrespective of the density of 1's or 0's in them.
Plasma oscillations (I)

This article is the first part of a review of the theory of wave phenomena in plasmas. The basic kinetic theory is developed taking into account coulomb collisions. From this magnetohydrodynamic equations are derived. It is demonstrated that it is legitimate to deal with a closed subset of these equations either in the limit of collision-dominated phenomena, or in the limit where the effective phase velocities of the phenomena of interest are much greater than thermal speeds. In case of collision-dominated plasmas the theory of transport coefficients is discussed.These equations are then applied to an extensive treatment of small amplitude wave phenomena in plasmas. A discussion of the dissipative effects on hydromagnetic waves is given. Hydromagnetic waves are also considered from the Chew, Goldberger and Low theory. Longitudinal and transverse oscillations in current-carrying plasmas are also discussed.Oscillations of a cylindrical plasma are considered and the phenomenon of ion cyclotron resonance is discussed. The possibility of radiation by plasma oscillations by a uniform sphere is exhibited. Some general results on the stability of longitudinal electron oscillations in non-uniform plasmas are given.A brief treatment of large amplitude electron oscillations is given and the breaking of these oscillations as a dissipative mechanism for the organized plasma motion is discussed.Part II of this paper, to appear in a future issue of this journal, will be devoted to the discussion of plasma oscillations directly from the kinetic theory.
Urinary TWEAK as a biomarker of lupus nephritis: a multicenter cohort study.

TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) has been implicated as a mediator of chronic inflammatory processes via prolonged activation of the NF-κB pathway in several tissues, including the kidney. Evidence for the importance of TWEAK in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN) has been recently introduced. Thus, TWEAK levels may serve as an indication of LN presence and activity. Multicenter cohorts of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and controls were recruited for cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of urinary TWEAK (uTWEAK) and/or serum TWEAK (sTWEAK) levels as potential biomarkers of LN. The performance of TWEAK as a biomarker for nephritis was compared with routinely used laboratory tests in lupus patients, including anti-double stranded DNA antibodies and levels of C3 and C4. uTWEAK levels were significantly higher in LN patients than in non-LN SLE patients and other disease control groups (P = 0.039). Furthermore, uTWEAK was better at distinguishing between LN and non-LN SLE patients than anti-DNA antibodies and complement levels, while high uTWEAK levels predicted LN in SLE patients with an odds ratio of 7.36 (95% confidence interval = 2.25 to 24.07; P = 0.001). uTWEAK levels peaked during LN flares, and were significantly higher during the flare than at 4 and 6 months prior to or following the flare event. A linear mixed-effects model showed a significant association between uTWEAK levels in SLE patients and their disease activity over time (P = 0.008). sTWEAK levels, however, were not found to correlate with the presence of LN or the degree of nephritis activity. High uTWEAK levels are indicative of LN, as opposed to non-LN SLE and other healthy and disease control populations, and reflect renal disease activity in longitudinal follow-up. Thus, our study further supports a role for TWEAK in the pathogenesis of LN, and provides strong evidence for uTWEAK as a candidate clinical biomarker for LN.
Muscle tension and personality

Studied the relationship between skeletal muscle activity and personality variables as measured by the MMPI in 17 male and 51 female patients (most with chronic pain) in a large general hospital. After administration of the MMPI, muscle activity was measured from the frontalis. A biserial correlation coefficient was calculated between muscle tension and each of 12 MMPI scales. The high-tension group obtained a significantly higher score on scale L and a significantly lower score on scale PD.
Dissecting and connecting the growth and accounting distortion components of accruals

This study refines the accrual decomposition approach in Richardson et al. (Account Rev 81:713–743, 2006) and introduces a growth measure that is free from accounting distortions. My evidence indicates that the lower persistence of accruals extends to accruals that are unrelated to accounting distortions. I, however, find that the growth and accounting distortion components of accruals are not isolated. Growth may provide a context where firms have more incentives to manipulate earnings. I provide evidence that the persistence of both the growth and accounting distortion components of accruals is affected by firm growth and agency cost factors, such as free cash flows, leverage, and overvalued equity. I also document high accounting distortions for relatively high-growth firms that are close to reporting positive earnings, and negative accounting distortions for relatively low-growth firms that are far from the potential to report positive earnings.
RIP-Chip: the isolation and identification of mRNAs, microRNAs and protein components of ribonucleoprotein complexes from cell extracts

RNA targets of multitargeted RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) can be studied by various methods including mobility shift assays, iterative in vitro selection techniques and computational approaches. These techniques, however, cannot be used to identify the cellular context within which mRNAs associate, nor can they be used to elucidate the dynamic composition of RNAs in ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes in response to physiological stimuli. But by combining biochemical and genomics procedures to isolate and identify RNAs associated with RNA-binding proteins, information regarding RNA–protein and RNA–RNA interactions can be examined more directly within a cellular context. Several protocols — including the yeast three-hybrid system and immunoprecipitations that use physical or chemical cross-linking — have been developed to address this issue. Cross-linking procedures in general, however, are limited by inefficiency and sequence biases. The approach outlined here, termed RNP immunoprecipitation–microarray (RIP-Chip), allows the identification of discrete subsets of RNAs associated with multi-targeted RNA-binding proteins and provides information regarding changes in the intracellular composition of mRNPs in response to physical, chemical or developmental inducements of living systems. Thus, RIP-Chip can be used to identify subsets of RNAs that have related functions and are potentially co-regulated, as well as proteins that are associated with them in RNP complexes. Using RIP-Chip, the identification and/or quantification of RNAs in RNP complexes can be accomplished within a few hours or days depending on the RNA detection method used. *Note: In the version of the article originally published, in the last sentence of the ANTICIPATED RESULTS section, the callout should be to reference 19 instead of 18. The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.
PERCEPTUAL-MOTOR SURVEY OF YOUNG ADULT MENTAL RETARDATES'.'

The Purdue Perceptual-motor Survey of Roach and Kephart (1966) was given to 36 mental retardates. Ages ranged from 18 to 32 yr. (M = 23.3, SD = 3.7) and IQs from 30 to 84 (M = 52.9, SD = 16.3); 52.8% Ss were male, and 22.2% carried the diagnosis of mongolism. The 20 Survey items (see Footnote 1, Table A) were given twice to each S, an average of 59 days apart, by two different Es. The item scores, and four additional variables (CA, IQ, sex, and mongolism) were subjected to correlation analysis3 (Tables B and C). The test-retest correlation of one survey item (Nos. 17 and 18) was not significant (p > .05) but the correlations of all other items were significant (p = .01). Inspection of Ss' scores on Items No. 17 and 18 suggested that this tesr, Chalkboard: Double Circle, was too difficult (see Table B). Correlations among items (p = .01) were frequent; some of the largest correlations (.75 to .96) were among the items: Ocular pursuirs of the right eye (Nos. 31 and 32), of the left eye (Nos. 33, 34), and of both eyes (Nos. 29, 30), which are analogous to the findings of Roach and Kephart (1966) in their statistical analysis of the scores of a normative population, as are the correlations among Nos. 23, 24; 25, 26; 27, 28 (Rhythmic Writing), and Nos. 1, 2; 3, 4; 5, 6 (Walking Board). In the present study, the latter group of items also was correlated with Nos. 7, 8 (Jumping). Walking Board: Backward (Nos. 3, 4) and Jumping (Nos. 7, 8) were correlated with Imitation of Movement (Nos. 11, 12; see Table C). These correlations, if confirmed in studies w~rh larger populations, may reflect the high frequency of perceptual-motor dysfunction among mental retardates and might imply dysfunction syndromes (Ayres, 1965) as well as common constructs in different tests (Roach & Kephart, 196G). Correlations of IQ with Items No. 5 and 6; 23 and 24; 25 and 26; and 37 and 38, were significant (9 = .01), as was the correlation of sex with Items No. 9 and 10. Sex and IQ showed no significant correlation (Table D) .
A Luminescent Platinum(II) 2,6-Bis(N-pyrazolyl)pyridine Complex

Four platinum(II) cationic complexes were prepared with the mer-coordinating tridentate ligands 2,6-bis(N-pyrazolyl)pyridine (bpp) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolyl)pyridine (bdmpp): [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl·H2O; [Pt(bdmpp)Cl]Cl·H2O; [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF6); [Pt(bdmpp)(Ph)](PF6). The complexes were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry, and the structures of the bpp derivatives were determined by X-ray crystallography. [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl·2H2O: monoclinic, P21/n, a = 11.3218(5) A, b = 6.7716(3) A, c = 20.6501(6) A, β = 105.883(2)°, V = 1522.73(11) A3, Z = 4. The square planar cations stack in a head-to-tail fashion to form a linear chain structure with alternating Pt···Pt distances of 3.39 and 3.41 A. [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF6)·CH3CN: triclinic, P1, a = 8.3620(3) A, b = 10.7185(4) A, c = 13.4273(5) A, α = 96.057(1)°, β = 104.175(1)°, γ = 110.046(1)°, V = 1072.16(7) A3, Z = 2. Cyclic voltammograms indicate all four complexes undergo irreversible reductions between −1.0 and −1.3 V vs Ag/A...
The character of gene expression of human periosteum used to form new tissue in allograft bone.

AbstractOf more than 2 million segmental bone defects repaired annually with bone autografts and allografts, 15–40% fail. Improving healing rates may be approached with tissue engineering and use of periosteum overlying an allograft. The present study documents gene expression in human periosteum–allograft constructs compared to allografts alone. Strips of human cadaveric periosteum (26 years, f, distal femur) were sutured about sterilized human femoral cortical strut bone allograft (54 years, m) segments. After construct incubation (M199 supplemented medium) for 8 d, constructs and allografts alone were implanted in nude mice. At 10 and 20 weeks, constructs (N = 4, each group) and allografts (N = 2, each group) were retrieved and placed in RNAlater for quantitative PCR to determine expression of human- and murine-specific genes relevant to remodeling. Specimens were frozen-ground to powders and RNA was extracted, purified, reverse-transcribed, and amplified. Ribosomal protein (P0) was used to normalize s...
The emergence of item-specific encoding effects in between-subjects designs: perceptual interference and multiple recall tests.

The perceptual-interference effect occurs when interference with word perception (by backward masking) enhances later memory for the word. In terms of the item-specific-relational framework (Hunt & McDaniel, 1993), this effect is similar to other manipulations that enhance item-specific encoding (such as the generation effect). One similarity is that item-specific effects typically do not arise in betweensubjects designs. However, the present experiment demonstrates that a between-subjects perceptualinterference effect emerges over multiple recall tests. Furthermore, perceptual interference produces both more intertest gains (indexing enhanced item-specific processing) and more intertest losses (indexing disrupted relational encoding) compared with the intact (control) condition. Finally, delaying the mask to a point at which it no longer interferes with perception (266 msec) eliminates both the perceptual-interference recall advantage and the increase in intertest gains. This condition still produces more intertest losses, however. Together, these results imply that a delayed mask disrupts relational encoding but produces no item-specific enhancement, dissociating the two effects of the perceptualinterference manipulation.
COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY MEASURES AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY TO COMMUNICATION

This review assesses the adequacy of several commonly employed cognitive complexity measures on the basis of five criteria: high test-retest reliability with adults, association with chronological age across childhood and adolescence, independence from intelligence and verbal abilities, association with other indices of developed social cognition, and association with measures of developed communicative functioning. Extant research indicates that only one complexity measure—Crockett's Role Category Questionnaire—is satisfactory on all these criteria, whereas Bieri's widely used measure is deficient on most. However, research to date concerning the relationship of cognitive complexity (as assessed by Crockett's measure) to communication has failed to illuminate the specific role played by complexity as opposed to other social-cognitive factors with which it is associated.
Family Group Conferencing: An Indigenous Practice Approach to Compliance With the Indian Child Welfare Act

Native American children are perpetually over-represented in the U.S. child welfare system, despite the creation of the Indian Child Welfare Act. This article examines the use of family group conferencing, particularly initiated in Indian child welfare systems, as a practice method to reduce the disproportionality in this area.
Improved quantification of small objects in near-infrared diffuse optical tomography

Diffuse optical tomography allows quantification of hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, and water in tissue, and the fidelity in this quantification is dependent on the accuracy of optical properties determined during image reconstruction. In this study, a three-step algorithm is proposed and validated that uses the standard Newton minimization with Levenberg-Marquardt regularization as the first step. The second step is a modification to the existing algorithm using a two-parameter regularization to allow lower damping in a region of interest as compared to background. This second stage allows the recovery of the actual size of an inclusion. A region-based reconstruction is the final third step, which uses the estimated size and position information from step 2 to yield quantitatively accurate average values for the optical parameters. The algorithm is tested on simulated and experimental data and is found to be insensitive to object contrast and position. The percentage error between the true and the average recovered value for the absorption coefficient in test images is reduced from 47 to 27% for a 10-mm inclusion, from 38 to 13% for a 15-mm anomaly, and from 28 to 5.5% for a 20-mm heterogeneity. Simulated data with absorbing and scattering heterogeneities of 15 mm diam located in different positions show recovery with less than 15% error in absorption and 6% error in reduced scattering coefficients. The algorithm is successfully applied to clinical data from a subject with a breast abnormality to yield quantitatively increased absorption coefficients, which enhances the contrast to 3.8 compared to 1.23 previously.
Thermodynammics computations for the gasdynamic analysis of explosion phenomena

Gas dynamics analysis of explosion phenomena based on unsteady flow fields and thermodynamic properties of chemically reacting substance
Generalizing a two-conformation model for describing salt and temperature effects on protein retention and stability in hydrophobic interaction chromatography

Abstract A two-conformation adsorption model that includes the effects of salt concentration and temperature on both stability and adsorption has been developed to describe the effects of secondary protein unfolding on hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). The model has been applied to a biotech protein and to β-lactoglobulin on Phenyl Sepharose 6FF low sub HIC media. Thermodynamic property models for adsorption and protein stability with parameters obtained from experimental chromatographic data successfully describe observed chromatographic behavior over ranges of temperature and salt concentration, provide predictions of distribution among different conformers, and give a basis for calculating trends in retention strength and stability with changing conditions, that might prove useful in HIC process development.
Age-related changes in error processing in young children: a school-based investigation

Growth in executive functioning (EF) skills play a role children's academic success, and the transition to elementary school is an important time for the development of these abilities. Despite this, evidence concerning the development of the ERP components linked to EF, including the error-related negativity (ERN) and the error positivity (Pe), over this period is inconclusive. Data were recorded in a school setting from 3- to 7-year-old children (N=96, mean age=5 years 11 months) as they performed a Go/No-Go task. Results revealed the presence of the ERN and Pe on error relative to correct trials at all age levels. Older children showed increased response inhibition as evidenced by faster, more accurate responses. Although developmental changes in the ERN were not identified, the Pe increased with age. In addition, girls made fewer mistakes and showed elevated Pe amplitudes relative to boys. Based on a representative school-based sample, findings indicate that the ERN is present in children as young as 3, and that development can be seen in the Pe between ages 3 and 7. Results varied as a function of gender, providing insight into the range of factors associated with developmental changes in the complex relations between behavioral and electrophysiological measures of error processing.
RADIATION PROTECTION AND FREE RADICALS

FREE radicals formed in biological materials by ionizing radiation may be detected under the proper conditions by paramagnetic resonance techniques. Possibly such free radicals contribute, directly or indirectly, to the radiation damage suffered by living organisms. The various chemicals which have been found to increase the survival of organisms subjected to large doses of radiation may provide protection by action on the free radicals or by some more direct action on the substance of the organism. This report describes experiments made to see if paramagnetic resonance detection of free radicals could be used to study chemical protection against ionizing radiation.
Active Learning for Part-of-Speech Tagging: Accelerating Corpus Annotation

In the construction of a part-of-speech annotated corpus, we are constrained by a fixed budget. A fully annotated corpus is required, but we can afford to label only a subset. We train a Maximum Entropy Markov Model tagger from a labeled subset and automatically tag the remainder. This paper addresses the question of where to focus our manual tagging efforts in order to deliver an annotation of highest quality. In this context, we find that active learning is always helpful. We focus on Query by Uncertainty (QBU) and Query by Committee (QBC) and report on experiments with several baselines and new variations of QBC and QBU, inspired by weaknesses particular to their use in this application. Experiments on English prose and poetry test these approaches and evaluate their robustness. The results allow us to make recommendations for both types of text and raise questions that will lead to further inquiry.
Excitatory amino acid receptors of the retina: diversity of subtypes and conductance mechanisms

Abstract Excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors underlie major pathways of synaptic communication in the vertebrate retina, including neurotransmission from photoreceptors in the outer plexiform layer (OPL), and from bipolar cells and perhaps some amacrines in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) 1 . Pharmacological studies, combined with intracellular electrophysiological recordings, have provided new insights into EAA receptor subtypes associated with identified neurons. The results obtained have established the retina as a model system for studying both the diverse nature of EAA receptors on different identified neurons and the unique conductance mechanisms that underlie the separation of ON and OFF channels within the OPL. There is now strong evidence for an EAA receptor which, when activated, hyperpolarizes the cell by closing ionic channels 2,3 , and for a new receptor subtype in the carp retina 4,5 , which hyperpolarizes by opening channels to either K + or Cl − ions. This brief review describes the retinal pathways that utilize EAA and the evidence for diversity in pharmacology and ionic mechanisms.
Solubilization of Collagen in Restructured Beef with Collagenases and α‐Amylase

Three microbial collagenases were evaluated for their ability to degrade collagen structure in a restructured beef product. Collagenase preparations with and without α-amylase were added to flaked meat, and their effect on collagen solubility was determined by quantitating the percent soluble hydroxyproline following cooking of product slices. Results demonstrated statistically significant increases in collagen solubility above that of a control product (no added enzymes) for purified Clostridium histolyticum and partially purified Vibrio B-30 collagenases alone and for purified Achromobacter iophagus and partially purified Clostridium histolyticum collagenases with the addition of α-amylase. Thus, the use of collagenase may prove valuable in the production of quality-enhanced meat products.
Beware of Strangers Bearing Gifts: Foodborne Illness in Outpatient Clinic

Abstract BACKGROUND: Catered meals are common in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and physician offices. During a routine site visit of an outpatient clinic, Infection Control (IC) identified an outbreak of gastrointestinal (GI) illness among clinic employees. Personnel attributed their illness to a lunch catered from a local restaurant the previous day. METHODS: Cases were defined as personnel who ate catered food and developed two or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, fever, or chills. A menu and list of employees present at the luncheon were obtained. Clinic personnel were interviewed for food and symptom histories. Stool specimens and temperatures were collected on symptomatic personnel. The local department of health (DOH) and the hospital epidemiologist were notified, along with the vendor who provided the lunch. RESULTS: Fourteen cases were identified among 21 clinic personnel (attack rate=70%). The illness onset varied from 2 to 17 hours (median=12 hours) after lunch. Personnel reported the following symptoms: diarrhea (86%), abdominal cramps (66%), nausea (40%), chills (20%), and headache (20%). Personnel who ate pasta with cream sauce were more likely to become ill compared to those who did not (13/17 [76%] versus 1/3 [33%], p=0.14]. Stool cultures were obtained from six cases; all were negative for bacterial pathogens. Secondary illness developed in two family members of employees. Seven employees continued to have contact with patients while symptomatic and were reluctant to go home due to financial and staffing constraints. CONCLUSIONS: The attack rate and incubation period suggests this outbreak was directly related to a catered meal. IC and the DOH would not have been aware of this outbreak had the IC practitioner not arrived for a routine site visit. Clinic personnel were unaware that GI illness could be transmitted to others and continued to work while symptomatic. This investigation prompted education of the medical center's clinical administrators regarding the importance of notifying IC regarding foodborne illnesses and prohibiting symptomatic personnel from working.
A substoichiometric radioisotope dilution study using210Pb

A radioisotope dilution procedure has been developed which permits the determination of lead over a concentration range of 0.1 to 10 ppm. Samples in an ammoniacal cyanide/sulfite medium are labelled with210Pb, followed by addition of substoichiometric amount of dithizone. The Pb/HDz/2 formed is extracted into CH2Cl2, and aliquot portions are taken for liquid scintillation counting. Count rate is plotted vs. the reciprocal of the lead concentration, yielding a straight line. An average error of ±3.5% is estimated, based on a linear least squares fit.
On the negativity of higher order derivatives of Dirichlet's energy in plateau's problem

We calculate higher order derivatives of Dirichlet’s Energy at a branched minimal surface in the direction of Forced Jacobi Fields discovered by the author and R. Bohme. We show that, under certain conditions these derivatives can be made negative, while all lower order derivatives vanish. This is the first time that derivatives of order greater than three have been calculated.
Radar-Based Flood Warning System Applied to Tropical Storm Allison

Flood warning systems in urban areas have greatly improved in recent years with the advent of geographical information systems (GIS), radar-based rainfall estimation using next generation radar (NEXRAD), and delivery systems on the internet. The issue of flood warning and alert was brought to the forefront of public attention in Houston, Texas after the devastation resulting from the Tropical Storm Allison flood of June, 2001. This flood was reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the most damaging urban flood in U.S. history, and certainly the most devastating event to impact Houston and Harris County with over $5 billion in total damages, and about 50,000 damaged structures. Over $1.5 billion in damages to the Texas Medical Center (TMC) alone were reported, with additional major impacts to the local community. While more traditional gage-based alert systems often provide flood notification to many people, the combination of GIS, NEXRAD, and the internet allows for the more efficient accumulation of rainfall data in real-time. This data can then be used in hydrologic models to estimate peak flows in a basin. This paper will illustrate the design, operation, and performance of an advanced flood warning system, developed for the TMC, which utilizes NEXRAD radar for hydrologic prediction in the Brays Bayou watershed of Houston, Texas. It will specifically document and review its use during the T.S. Allison storm event and other historical events.
Science, truth, and forensic cultures: The exceptional legal status of DNA evidence

Many epistemological terms, such as investigation, inquiry, argument, evidence, and fact were established in law well before being associated with science. However, while legal proof remained qualified by standards of 'moral certainty', scientific proof attained a reputation for objectivity. Although most forms of legal evidence (including expert evidence) continue to be treated as fallible 'opinions' rather than objective 'facts', forensic DNA evidence increasingly is being granted an exceptional factual status. It did not always enjoy such status. Two decades ago, the scientific status of forensic DNA evidence was challenged in the scientific literature and in courts of law, but by the late 1990s it was being granted exceptional legal status. This paper reviews the ascendancy of DNA profiling, and argues that its widely-heralded objective status is bound up with systems of administrative accountability. The 'administrative objectivity' of DNA evidence rests upon observable and reportable bureaucratic rules, records, recording devices, protocols, and architectural arrangements. By highlighting administrative sources of objectivity, this paper suggests that DNA evidence remains bound within the context of ordinary organisational and practical routines, and is not a transcendent source of 'truth' in the criminal justice system.
A Framework for Teaching Programming Languages

This paper provides a description of a framework for programming language implementation that is accessible to students in a one semester course focused on programming languages. Rather than concentrating solely on language features, this paper describes a framework where imperative, functional, and logic programming languages are all used to develop a compiler for a non-trivial subset of a functional programming language. Provided by the framework are a virtual machine, a disassember of Python programs, a partial implementation of a Standard ML compiler with suggested tests, and a partial implementation of a type inference system implemented using Prolog, again with suggested tests. Classroom experience gained while using this framework is also shared. A suggested fourteen week sequence is provided. Real reactions from students and reflections on coverage of the ACM 2013 Curricula guildelines conclude the paper.
Weight change and mortality among older Mexican Americans.

Background and aims: Weight changes are predictors of health outcomes in older people. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between 2-year weight change and mortality in older Mexican Americans. Methods: Seven-year prospective cohort study of 1749 non-institutionalized Mexican American men and women aged 65 and older residing in five Southwestern states. Measures include self-reports of medical conditions (heart attack, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, hip fracture or cancer), functional disability, high depressive symptoms, smoking status, a summary performance score of lower body function, hand grip muscle strength, and body mass index (BMI). Weight change was examined by comparing the baseline weight to the weight two years later to estimate the hazard of death within the following five-year period. Results: Of the 1749 subjects, 396 (22.6%) lost 5% or more weight, 984 (56.3%) had weight that remained stable, and 369 (21.1%) gained 5% or more weight between baseline and the 2-year follow-up period. Of the ones who lost 5% of weight, 28% died as compared to 19.7% and 15.2% of those whose weight remained stable and those who gained weight after 5 years, respectively. The hazard ratio (HR) of death for the group that lost 5% or more of their weight compared to the reference group (stable weight) was 1.35 (95% CI 1.06–1.70) after controlling for demographic variables, BMI, and waist circumference at baseline and 1.32 (95% CI 1.04–1.67) after controlling for all covariates. The HR of death for the group that gained 5% or more of weight was 0.78 (95% CI 0.58–1.05) after controlling for demographic variables, BMI, and waist circumference at baseline and 0.77 (95% CI 0.57–1.04) after controlling for all covariates. Conclusions: Weight loss is an independent predictor of mortality among older Mexican Americans, after controlling for relevant risk factors.
DNA polymorphism and clinical genetics

Introduction of recombinant DNA technology in clinical genetics has provided a more deeper understanding of the molecular basis of inherited disorders in man. Application of these techniques led to detection as well as prevention of genetic defects in risk-prone families. This paper provides a brief outline of the methods involved in prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects. The advantages of using a new set of genetic markers (restriction fragment length polymorphism) over the traditional immunological and biochemical markers are also indicated. The implications of these recent discoveries in the management of genetic defects are also presented.
The effects of Dissolution–Precipitation Creep on quartz fabrics within the Purgatory Conglomerate, Rhode Island

Abstract Quartz Crystallographic Preferred Orientation (CPO) patterns are most commonly a result of deformation by dislocation creep. We investigated whether Dissolution–Precipitation Creep (DPC), a process that occurs at lower differential stresses and temperatures, may result in CPO in quartz. The Purgatory Conglomerate is part of the SE Narragansett basin where strain intensity increases from west to east and is associated with top-to-the-west transport and folding during the Alleghanian orogeny. Within the Purgatory Conglomerate, DPC led to quartz dissolution along cobble surfaces perpendicular to the shortening direction, and quartz precipitation in overgrowths at the ends of the cobbles (strain shadows), parallel to the maximum extension direction. Quartz c-axis orientations as revealed by Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) methods were random in all analyzed domains within the cobbles and strain shadows irrespective of the intensity of strain or metamorphic grade of the sample. Quartz dissolution probably occurred exclusively along the cobbles' margins, leaving the remaining grains unaffected by DPC. The fact that quartz precipitated in random orientations may indicate that the strain shadows were regions of little or no differential stress.
Invariants of link cobordism

Abstract This paper is an exposition of some link invariants. These are multisignature invariants associated to nilpotent groups. Their relationship to link cobordism is discussed and an outline of a possible infinite group version is given. These invariants are used to show that there are not link corbodism groups under connected sum.
Adult versus embryonic stem cells: It's still a tie

.They performed two major categories of experiments.First, extensively expanded (> 50 cell doublings) andclonally marked MAPCs were injected into host blasto-cysts in a procedure analogous to that used previously forES cells. Clonally marked MAPCs generated high-levelchimeras (up to 45%), which survived into postnatal life(up to 20 weeks) and were healthy. Some animalsachieved high-level donor chimerism even when onlyone MAPC was injected. MAPCs contributed to virtuallyall tissues, including the brain, retina, lung, skeletal mus-cle, myocardium, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, spleen,and blood. Second, MAPCs were injected into adultNOD-SCID mice. Similar to the results obtained withinjection of blastocysts, the MAPCs again contributedsubstantially to multiple tissues, although only 1 ! 10
Autonomous state estimation using optic flow sensing

This work addresses the problem of state estimation for an autonomous flying vehicle using an optic flow approach motivated by the visuomotor system of insects. We investigate the minimum number of optic flow sensors and the sensor configuration necessary to have an observable system. The system dynamics linearized about a point are not observable, but a nonlinear observability analysis based on Lie derivatives indicates that the sensor measurements provide enough information for estimating the states of the system. In this work, we consider planar obstacles, such as walls. The results are demonstrated in simulation.
Intelligent reasoning for processing planning

Abstract Turbo- capp is an intelligent process planning system. The system is able to: (1) interpret geometric data from a 2-1/2D cad system, (2) extract surface features in the cad database, (3) check design consistency of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, (4) manage an extensive manufacturing knowledge base, (5) update the knowledge base by interacting with experienced planners (learning), and (6) perform intelligent reasoning based on extracted machined surfaces and their relationships with surface finish, geometric dimensions and tolerances, current machine configurations, and available tools in order to generate alternative process plans.
A sigmoid process for modeling warranty repairs

This paper proposes a sigmoid process to model the warranty data which graphically illustrate S-shape. In the paper, it is shown that the sigmoid process is the non-homogeneous Poisson process super-imposed by warranty dropout process. The nonparametric estimates of warranty repair rate and mean cumulative function (MCF) are presented. The three parameters of the sigmoid model are estimated by maximum likelihood method. The confidence intervals of the estimates of model parameters and MCF are constructed. Likelihood ratio test is developed to test the hypothesis that the historic values of location parameters are statistically equal. An example is presented to illustrate and validate the sigmoid model.
Quantitative frame analysis and the annotation of GC-rich (and other) prokaryotic genomes. An application to Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans.

Motivation: Graphical representations of contrasts in GC usage among codon frame positions (frame analysis) provide evidence of genes missing from the annotations of prokaryotic genomes of high GC content but the qualitative approach of visual frame analysis prevents its applicability on a genomic scale. Results: We developed two quantitative methods for the identification and statistical characterization in sequence regions of three-base periodicity (hits) associated with open reading frame structures. The methods were implemented in the N-Profile Analysis Computational Tool (NPACT), which highlights in graphical representations inconsistencies between newly identified ORFs and pre-existing annotations of coding-regions. We applied the NPACT procedures to two recently annotated strains of the deltaproteobacterium Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans, identifying in both genomes numerous conserved ORFs not included in the published annotation of coding regions. Availability and implementation: NPACT is available as a web-based service and for download at http://genome.ufl.edu/npact. Contact: ude.lfu@bonaicul Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Transmembrane structure of an inwardly rectifying potassium channel.

Summary ADP concentrations that reflect the metabolic state of thecell(K ir 6.x/sulfonylureareceptorcomplexes)andthe Inwardly rectifying potassium channels (K ir ), com- lipid PIP 2 (Doupnik et al., 1995; Wickman and Clapham,prising four subunits each with two transmembrane 1995; Nichols and Lopatin, 1997; Babenko et al., 1998; domains, M1 and M2, regulate many important phys- Baukrowitz et al., 1998; Huang et al., 1998; Shyng andiological processes. We employed a yeast genetic Nichols, 1998; Sui et al., 1998). screen to identify functional channels from libraries of K ir channels have the simplest structural plan of char-K ir 2.1 containing mutagenized M1 or M2 domains. acterized eukaryotic channels. Most K ir channels are Patterns in the allowed sequences indicate that M1 tetramers (Yang et al., 1995; Corey et al., 1998; Raab-and M2 are helices. Protein–lipid and protein–water GrahamandVandenberg,1998)thatareassembledfrom interaction surfaces identified by the patterns were either identical or nonidentical subunits to make func-verified by sequence minimization experiments. Sec-
Spontaneous REM sleep is modulated by the activation of the pedunculopontine tegmental GABAB receptors in the freely moving rat

Considerable evidence suggests that the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic system and pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPT) in the brain stem are critically involved in the regulation of ...
Genome-wide mapping of chromatin state of mouse forelimbs

BACKGROUND Cell types are defined at the molecular level during embryogenesis by a process called pattern formation and created by the selective utilization of combinations of sequence specific transcription factors. Developmental programs define the sets of genes that are available to each particular cell type, and real-time biochemical signaling interactions define the extent to which these sets are used at any given time and place. Gene expression is regulated through the integrated action of many cis-regulatory elements, including core promoters, enhancers, silencers, and insulators. The chromatin state in developing body parts provides a code to cellular populations that direct their cell fates. Chromatin profiling has been a method of choice for mapping regulatory sequences in cells that go through developmental transitions. RESULTS We used antibodies against histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylations (H3K4me3) a modification associated with promoters and open/active chromatin, histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylations (H3K27me3) associated with Polycomb-repressed regions and RNA polymerase II (Pol2) associated with transcriptional initiation to identify the chromatin state signature of the mouse forelimb during mid-gestation, at embryonic day 12 (E12). The families of genes marked included those related to transcriptional regulation and embryogenesis. One third of the marked genes were transcriptionally active while only a small fraction were bivalent marked. Sequence specific transcription factors that were activated were involved in cell specification including bone and muscle formation. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that embryonic limb cells do not exhibit the plasticity of the ES cells but are rather programmed for a finer tuning for cell lineage specification.
Molecular interaction and enzymatic activity of macrophage migration inhibitory factor with immunorelevant peptides.

Disulfide reduction is an important step in antigen processing for HLA class II restricted T cell responses. Migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a member of the thioredoxin family and has been classically defined as a cytokine. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and CD analysis, here we describe the binding to MIF of two peptides, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and insulin B (InsB) with high affinity for HLA class II allo-types, HLA-DP2 and HLA-DQ8, respectively. At neutral pH, cysteinylated InsB was a substrate for MIF thiol reductase activity, as assessed by mass spectroscopy/electrospray analysis. Finally, a biologically active form of MIF co-immunopurified with mature forms of HLA DP2/15, and a peptide derived from the HLA-DP β1 helix could be used for affinity purification of MIF. The possibility that MIF participates in class II antigen presentation and/or as a chaperone is discussed.
Luteinizing Hormone Regulation in the Monkey (Macaca nemestrina): Failure of Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone to Block the Estrogen-Induced Gonadotropin Surge

In contrast to females, intact male monkeys do not release luteinizing hormone (LH) after an acute estrogen challenge; orchidectomized males, on the other hand, do release LH in response to estrogen. To examine whether physiological levels of testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) could effect a blockade of the estrogen-induced LH surge in the female monkey, we treated 4 long term oophorectomized female pigtailed macaques (Mocaca nemestrina) for 10 days with Silastic capsules containing T. These capsules produced T blood levels of 6.80 ± 0.97 ng/ml, which approximated the normal range (3.44-15.75 ng/ml). In addition to T or DHT, in this and subsequent experiments all gonadectomized animals received a long term (> 1 week) pretreatment with a 1.5 cm Silastic capsule containing estradiol-1 7j3. This treatment, designed to titrate the high postgonadectomy levels of LH into approximately the intact range, was continued throughout the entire experimental period. The monkeys were then challenged with estradiol benzoate (EB) (50 pg/kg, s.c.) and bled twice daily for 6 days; each responded with a typical LH surge. In a second trial, the animals were treated with T for 6 weeks and then challenged with EB; again, each responded with an LH surge. In a third trial, each monkey was treated with T for 8 weeks combined with DHT for the final 2 weeks. This treatment also failed to block the EB-induced LH surge. We then treated 3 long term orchidectomized male pigtailed macaques with T for 10 days and then challenged them with EB; each animal responded with a normal LH surge. These data demonstrate that 1) neither T nor DHT can block the EB-induced LH surge in the oophorectomized female and 2) T in the physiological range can not effect a blockade of the EB-induced surge in the orchidectomized male.
Measurement of IgG Concentration in Ovine Fetal Fluids: A Useful Diagnostic Test

The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University received 172 aborted ovine fetuses during the 1985-1987 lambing seasons; from 120 of these, body fluids were evaluated for IgG levels. Fifty-two (43%) of the fetal fluids had immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels greater than 15 mg/dl. Forty-five (87%) of the fluids with elevated IgG levels were confirmed or presumed toxoplasma or chlamydia abortions. A mean fetal fluid IgG concentration of 111.5 +/- 78 mg/dl was found for the 26 toxoplasma abortions; for the 19 chlamydia abortions, a mean IgG concentration of 109 +/- 91 mg/dl was found. Antibody titers equal to or greater than 1:40 against Toxoplasma gondii were detected in 23 fetal fluids. Fetal fluid IgG concentration less than 15 mg/dl was found to be associated with bacterial organisms (i.e., Campylobacter sp.) as the confirmed or presumed cause of abortion. These results suggest that measurement of fetal fluid IgG concentration is a useful, supportive diagnostic test in determining the cause of ovine abortion, and should be included as a routine laboratory procedure for ovine abortion diagnosis.
Find-similar: similarity browsing as a search tool

Search systems have for some time provided users with the ability to request documents similar to a given document. Interfaces provide this feature via a link or button for each document in the search results. We call this feature find-similar or similarity browsing. We examined find-similar as a search tool, like relevance feedback, for improving retrieval performance. Our investigation focused on find-similar's document-to-document similarity, the reexamination of documents during a search, and the user's browsing pattern. Find-similar with a query-biased similarity, avoiding the reexamination of documents, and a breadth-like browsing pattern achieved a 23% increase in the arithmetic mean average precision and a 66% increase in the geometric mean average precision over our baseline retrieval. This performance matched that of a more traditionally styled iterative relevance feedback technique.