cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pair-programming experiment in a non-programming course

Pair programming is a concept where two programmers work side by side at the same computer, writing code jointly. One of them, called the driver, is in control of the keyboard and mouse. The other, called the navigator, observes what the driver is doing and offers advice. It is the driver's job to write the code. The navigator has a chance to observe the larger picture, evaluating the driver's code for correctness of design and implementation. Studies have shown that pair programming is very effective. Two programmers can finish a task in little over half the elapsed time that a single programmer takes. And the quality of the code-measured in terms of absence of defects-is much higher.In the past few years, pair programming has made inroads into industry and into programming courses. However, it has not typically been used in courses that teach subjects other than programming or software engineering, nor has it been used in the analysis of experimental results. This paper reports on an experiment in a combined senior/masters-level computer architecture class, using Hennessy & Patterson's Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach as a text. Students were required to implement three projects simulating various aspects of a microarchitecture (cache, branch predictor, dynamic instruction scheduler). Then they engaged in an experimental analysis to find the best configuration in a design space. Students reported high levels of satisfaction with the experience of pair programming. Pair programmers obtained significantly higher grades on Project 1; however, differences on the other projects were not statistically significant.
Contributions of morphological awareness skills to word-level reading and spelling in first-grade children with and without speech sound disorder.

Purpose In this study, the authors compared the morphological awareness abilities of children with speech sound disorder (SSD) and children with typical speech skills and examined how morphological...
Reducing Research Anxiety among MSW Students

Research anxiety significantly declined in a diverse sample of 59 MSW students in their first-year hybrid online research course in which the instructor used an array of innovative educational techniques empirically proven to reduce this phenomenon. The pretest/posttest study, the standardized survey instruments used, and a summary of these techniques are described. This approach offers a way to help students overcome their fears, develop confidence in their abilities, and master basic components of research methodology, which, in turn, may increase the likelihood that they will participate in evidence-based practices and other research-related activities after they graduate.
Fusion Between Intraluminal Vesicles of Late Endosomes as a Possible Mechanism of Endosomal Escape by Cell-Penetrating Peptides

Escape from endosomes is a major limiting step in the delivery of various bioactive molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids by cationic cell-penetrating peptides including HIV Tat-derived peptide (TAT). In this work we explore the mechanism of TAT escape from endosomes using protein-free liposomes. We found that TAT induces vesicle content leakage and membrane fusion of liposomes mimicking late endosomal lipid composition. Extent of both leakage and fusion increases with the increase in the content of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), which is a characteristic lipid of late endosomal membrane. TAT-induced membrane fusion and leakage of BMP-containing liposomes was promoted by acidic pH. Replacement of BMP by its structural isomer phosphatidylglycerol (PG) significantly inhibits TAT-induced membrane rearrangements. While there was no significant difference between BMP and PG in the binding affinity of TAT, effects of BMP and PG on the Lα to HII phase transition of egg PE suggested that BMP is more fusogenic than PG. Modifications of liposome composition that inhibited TAT-induced lipid mixing (incorporation of either PEG-lipid or LPC) also inhibited TAT-induced leakage. We demonstrate that fluorescein labeled TAT efficiently translocates across lipid bilayer of liposomes that mimic intraluminal vesicles of late endosomes and are highly enriched in BMP. Based on these results, we propose that TAT induces leaky fusion between BMP-containing bilayers of late endosomal membranes first to deliver TAT into the intraluminal vesicles and then, upon vesicle fusion with the limiting membranes, to release the peptide into cytosol.
Dry Etching to form Submicron Features in CMR Oxides: (Pr,Ba,Ca)MnO3 and (La,Sr)MnO3

Effective pattern transfer into (Pr,Ba,Ca)MnO 3 and (La,Sr)MnO 3 has been achieved using Cl 2 /Ar discharges operated under Inductively Coupled Plasma conditions. Etch rates up to 900 A-min −1 for (La,Sr)MnO 3 and 300 A-min −1 for (Pr,Ba,Ca)MnO 3 were obtained, with these rates being a strong function of ion flux, ion energy and ion-to-neutral ratio. The etching is still physically-dominated under all conditions, leading to significant surface smoothing on initially rough samples. Sub-micron (0.35 μm) features have been produced in both materials using SiN x as the mask.
Urecholine® prophylaxis for urinary retention in anorectal surgery

A randomized prospective trial with 108 patients undergoing anorectal surgery was conducted comparing the use of Urecholine® orally or subcutaneously to no treatment controls. There was no difference in postoperative urinary retention rates and caudal or general anesthesia, nor was there an earlier postoperative bowel movement with Urecholine. The volume of intravenous fluids significantly affected retention rates.
A review of orthogonal square-wave functions and their application to linear networks

Abstract Attention is called to the Haar and Walsh functions as being potentially useful in engineering applications. The Walsh functions have a single magnitude with either a positive or negative sign in the range of definition. Each member of the Haar family also has a single magnitude although this magnitude is different for different members of the set. This interesting property makes the Haar and Walsh functions easy to generate as physical signals and enables analog multiplication by these functions to be performed by an appropriate sequence of sign changes. In this paper the well-known properties of the Haar and Walsh functions are summarized. Equations are derived which give the output of linear electric networks in terms of Haar and Walsh functions. Expressions relating the Haar and Walsh “spectra” to the complex Fourier spectrum are presented, and practical applications of the results are suggested. An example illustrating the properties of the Haar and Walsh functions is worked out in detail.
Using an Evidence‐Based Program Planning Model In a Macro Practice Course

A graduate macro practice foundation course was modified to incorporate curriculum content on the paradigm of evidence‐based (informed) practice. The author developed an Evidence‐Based Program Planning Model that was used as the framework for teaching this paradigm. Students learned to search and appraise the evidence to answer a practice question, use evidence to select a “best” practice, assess the transportability and fidelity issues in implementing the practice in a community or organizational setting, and design a program based on the best practice. Desired outcome from this course is that students will be motivated to engage in a lifetime of learning‐by‐inquiry.
Design and synthesis of a hybrid potentiator–corrector agonist of the cystic fibrosis mutant protein ΔF508-CFTR

A developing therapy of cystic fibrosis caused by the ΔF508 mutation in CFTR employs correction of defective CFTR chloride channel gating by a ‘potentiator’ and of defective CFTR protein folding by a ‘corrector’. Based on SAR data for phenylglycine-type potentiators and bithiazole correctors, we designed a hybrid molecule incorporating an enzymatic hydrolysable linker to deliver the potentiator (PG01) fragment 2 and the corrector (Corr-4a) fragment 13. The hybrid molecule 14 contained PG01-OH and Corr-4a–linker–CO2H moieties, linked with an ethylene glycol spacer through an ester bond. The potentiator 2 and corrector 13 fragments (after cleavage) had low micromolar potency for restoration of ΔF508-CFTR channel gating and cellular processing, respectively. Cleavage of hybrid molecule 14 by intestinal enzymes under physiological conditions produced the active potentiator 2 and corrector fragments 13, providing proof-of-concept for small-molecule potentiator–corrector hybrids as a single drug therapy for CF caused by the ΔF508 mutation.
Edit automata: enforcement mechanisms for run-time security policies

We analyze the space of security policies that can be enforced by monitoring and modifying programs at run time. Our program monitors, called edit automata, are abstract machines that examine the sequence of application program actions and transform the sequence when it deviates from a specified policy. Edit automata have a rich set of transformational powers: they may terminate an application, thereby truncating the program action stream; they may suppress undesired or dangerous actions without necessarily terminating the program; and they may also insert additional actions into the event stream. After providing a formal definition of edit automata, we develop a rigorous framework for reasoning about them and their cousins: truncation automata (which can only terminate applications), suppression automata (which can terminate applications and suppress individual actions), and insertion automata (which can terminate and insert). We give a set-theoretic characterization of the policies each sort of automaton can enforce, and we provide examples of policies that can be enforced by one sort of automaton but not another.
Big Pharma's Commedia.

Despite continuing financial success, many big pharmaceutical companies are facing an uncertain future. Merging basic and clinical research in a determined effort to fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms of disease and thus to develop effective drugs with fewer side effects is the tough journey ahead that big pharma needs to pursue to ensure a brighter future.
Regulation of collagenase expression during replicative senescence in human fibroblasts by Akt-forkhead signaling

The expression of collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 1) in human fibroblasts increases during aging bothin vivo and in vitro. This age-associated increase in collagenase expression has been postulated to contribute to the age related decline in tissue function by increasing proteolysis of matrix components, but little is known regarding the regulation of collagenase expression. We examined the role that the serine/threonine kinase Akt plays in collagenase expression during in vitrosenescence of WI-38 normal human lung fibroblast cells. Our results indicate that Akt-mediated signals, acting through the forkhead transcription factor FKHRL1, can regulate collagenase expression in WI-38 fibroblasts. Dominant negative forms of Akt increase collagenase promoter activity in early passage WI-38 fibroblasts, whereas an active form of Akt suppresses steady state levels of collagenase mRNA in senescent WI-38 fibroblasts. In addition, the activity of a synthetic promoter containing forkhead-specific binding sites, as measured by luciferase activity, is much higher in senescent cells compared with early passage WI-38 fibroblasts. These results indicate that members of the forkhead family of transcription factors play a role in the regulation of the collagenase promoter and that increased activity of forkhead transcription factors may underlie the increase in collagenase expression observed during replicative senescence.
Diffusion and first-order reaction in time-dependent flows

Abstract A superposition method is used to analyze the diffusion and first-order reaction of a solute in a flowing fluid. The local concentration and mass transfer rate are expressed directly in terms of the corresponding quantities determined without reaction. Time-dependent flows, time-dependent boundary conditions and moving boundaries are included. The results may be used for experimental or analytical studies of reactor systems.
Nature of febrile response to intravenous injection of large amounts of herpes simplex virus in guinea pigs.

Two to three hours after the intravenous injection of herpes simplex virus (109.3 p.f.u.) into the guinea pig a single peak of fever (+2.4°C) was usually observed. The characteristics of this fever were in many respects comparable to those of fever produced by influenza virus. The pyrogenicity of herpesvirus was neutralized by specific anti-herpes serum and found to be closely associated with infectious virus particle.
Copper-alloyed ZnS as a p-type transparent conducting material

, Phone: þ011 1 510 486 6715, Fax: þ011 510 486 4995Copper alloyed ZnS was investigated as a p-type, transparentconducting material composed of earth-abundant elements.Thin ﬁlms of Cu-alloyed ZnS were synthesized using pulsedlaserdepositionwithCucontentsintherangeofx¼0.06–0.27(Cu content x is reported as the fraction of cation present).Thermopower and Hall effect measurements show that theﬁlms are p-type. We ﬁnd that transparency and conductivityare comparable to some of the best reported p-type materialswithourbestﬁlmsexhibitingconductivitiesof54Scm
Image binarization techniques for correlation-based pattern recognition

Correlation using binary images is suited to efficient digital realization or convenient optical implementation. Binarization algorithms are required in order to match grayscale imagery to these binary corre- lation architectures. We present several novel point-wise and block-wise binarization techniques all of which outperform the grayscale matched filter for large values of input signal-to-noise ratio (SNR50 dB). We dis- cuss direct binarization methods based on global thresholds, local thresholds, histogram equalization, edge-enhancement, and statistical binarization, as well as indirect methods based on auto- and cross- correlation techniques. These point-wise methods are shown to offer poor noise tolerance and a new block-wise binarization method is intro- duced to enhance recognition at low values of SNR. This block-wise technique is motivated by vector quantization-based image compression and offers performance superior to the grayscale matched filter for an input SNR as low as 212 dB. © 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(99)02611-2)
Substrate birefringence in coated optical storage disks

The in-plane and vertical birefringences of polycarbonate optical disk substrates are important parameters that can adversely affect the system performance. However, these parameters are difficult to measure in coated disks with current techniques. An approach based on a variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometer allows measurement of the birefringence for coated disks. In particular, it is possible to obtain the vertical birefringence, which is of increasing importance, in a relatively simple manner. Comparison between coated and uncoated substrates shows that the birefringence can decrease after coating with magneto-optical layers.
Complexity of network synchronization

The problem of simulating a synchronous network by an asynchronous network is investigated. A new simulation technique, referred to as a synchronizer, which is a new, simple methodology for designing efficient distributed algorithms in asynchronous networks, is proposed. The synchronizer exhibits a trade-off between its communication and time complexities, which is proved to be within a constant factor of the lower bound.
Biosynthesis of plant sterols and triterpenoids. The incorporation of (3RS)-[2-14C, (4R)-4-3H1] mevalonate into α-spinasterol and β-amyrin in Camellia sinensis

Abstract The biosynthesis of α-spinasterol and β-amyrin has been investigated in Camellia sinensis . Administration of doubly labeled 4R,4- 3 H-2- 14 C-mevalonic acid led to the formation of radioactive α-spinasterol and β-amyrin. In the case of α-spinasterol, the 3 H/ 14 C ratio was found to be 2·44:5·00 rather than 3:5. The 3 H/ 14 C ratio of the biosynthesized β-amyrin was found to be 1·0:1·0, which is consistent with an earlier study in Pisum sativum .
Lung Transplantation Across Donor-Specific Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies: Utility of Bortezomib Therapy in Early Graft Dysfunction

OBJECTIVE:To report the usefulness of bortezomib therapy in a sensitized lung transplant recipient experiencing antibody-mediated rejection.CASE SUMMARY:During a pretransplant evaluation, a 62-year-old woman with usual interstitial pneumonitis developed a diverticular bleed requiring transfusions, which elevated her panel reactive antibody to 98% for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and 71% for class II. She underwent desensitization to decrease her panel reactive antibody levels. She received a double lung transplant across a weak HLA class II incompatibility but developed respiratory failure due to early graft dysfunction. On postoperative day (POD) 14 she was found to have donor-specific antibodies (DSA) to HLA class I and class II antigens. She received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis, and bortezomib to reduce the DSA. Repeat DSA testing on POD 80 demonstrated a 50% reduction in DSA, which became undetectable at POD 255.DISCUSSION:Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is difficult t...
A Novel Role for IκBζ in the Regulation of IFNγ Production

IkappaBzeta is a novel member of the IkappaB family of NFkappaB regulators, which modulates NFkappaB activity in the nucleus, rather than controlling its nuclear translocation. IkappaBzeta is specifically induced by IL-1beta and several TLR ligands and positively regulates NFkappaB-mediated transcription of genes such as IL-6 and NGAL as an NFkappaB binding co-factor. We recently reported that the IL-1 family cytokines, IL-1beta and IL-18, strongly synergize with TNFalpha for IFNgamma production in KG-1 cells, whereas the same cytokines alone have minimal effects on IFNgamma production. Given the striking similarities between the IL-1R and IL-18R signaling pathways we hypothesized that a common signaling event or gene product downstream of these receptors is responsible for the observed synergy. We investigated IkappaBzeta protein expression in KG-1 cells upon stimulation with IL-1beta, IL-18 and TNFalpha. Our results demonstrated that IL-18, as well as IL-1beta, induced moderate IkappaBzeta expression in KG-1 cells. However, TNFalpha synergized with IL-1beta and IL-18, whereas by itself it had a minimal effect on IkappaBzeta expression. NFkappaB inhibition resulted in decreased IL-1beta/IL-18/TNFalpha-stimulated IFNgamma release. Moreover, silencing of IkappaBzeta expression led to a specific decrease in IFNgamma production. Overall, our data suggests that IkappaBzeta positively regulates NFkappaB-mediated IFNgamma production in KG-1 cells.
A categorical model for higher order imperative programming

The order-enriched category of monotonic predicate transformers over posets is a model of the refinement calculus of higher order imperative programs and pre-post specifications. This category is shown to be equivalent to the category of spans over ideal relations, and ideal relations are shown to be spans over monotonic functions between posets. To do this we use a skew span construction because the standard categorical span constructions are inapplicable. Axioms are given for products and coproducts of underlying posets as well as the homset as a coexponent, using inequations (for various kinds of lax adjunctions) and conditional equations (for adjunctions in subcategories) that are shown to uniquely determine the structures. The model is described in elementary terms using power allegories, an axiomatic calculus of relations, which makes the proofs accessible to non-specialists and shows that the results generalize to other base categories.
Role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in controlling aggregation and postaggregative development in Dictyostelium.

We have examined the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in controlling aggregation and postaggregative development inDictyostelium.We previously showed that cells in which the gene encoding the PKA catalytic subunit has been disrupted (pkacat−cells) are unable to aggregate [S. K. O. Mann and R. A. Firtel (1991). A developmentally regulated, putative serine/threonine protein kinase is essential for development inDictyostelium. Mech. Dev.35, 89–102]. We show thatpkacat−cells are unable to activate adenylyl cyclase in response to cAMP stimulation due to the inability to express the aggregation-stage, G-protein-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (ACA). Constitutive expression of ACA from an actin promoter results in a high level of Mn2+-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity and restores chemoattractant- and GTPγS-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity but not the ability to aggregate. Similarly, expression of the constitutively active, non-G protein-coupled adenylyl cyclase ACG inpkacat−cells also does not restore the ability to aggregate, although ACG can complement cells in which theACAgene has been disrupted. These results indicate thatpkacat−cells lack multiple, essential aggregation-stage functions. As the mound forms, high, continuous levels of extracellular cAMP functioning through the cAMP serpentine receptors activate a transcriptional cascade that leads to cell-type differentiation and morphogenesis. The first step is the induction and activation of the transcription factor GBF and downstream postaggregative genes, followed by the induction of prestalk- and prespore-specific genes. We show thatpkacat−cells induce postaggregative gene expression in response to exogenous cAMP, but the level of induction of some of these genes, includingGBF,is reduced.SP60(a prespore-specific gene) is not induced andecmA(a prestalk-specific gene) is induced to very low levels. Expressing GBF constitutively inpkacat−cells restoresecmAexpression to a moderate level, butSP60is not detectably induced. Overexpression of PKAcat from the Actin 15 (Act15), ecmAprestalk, and thePKAcatpromoters inpkacat−cells results in significant aberrant spatial patterning of prestalk and prespore cells, as determined bylacZ reporter studies. Our studies identify new, essential regulatory roles for PKA in mediating multicellular development.
VIProf: Vertically Integrated Full-System Performance Profiler

In this paper, we present VIProf, a full-system, performance sampling system capable of extracting runtime behavior across an entire software stack. Our long-term goal is to employ VIProf profiles to guide online optimization of programs and their execution environments according to the dynamically changing execution behavior and resource availability. VIProf thus, must be transparent while producing accurate and useful performance profiles. We overview the design and implementation of VIProf and empirically evaluate the system using a popular software stack - one that includes a Linux operating system, a Java virtual machine, and a set of applications. This composition is commonly employed and important for high-end systems such as application and Web servers as well as computational grid services. We show that VIProf introduces little overhead and is able to capture accurate (function-level) full-system performance data that previously required multiple profiles and extensive, manual, and offline post-processing of profile data.
Hormonal regulation of motor unit size and synaptic strength during synapse elimination in the rat levator ani muscle

Previous anatomical studies suggest that androgen regulates synapse elimination in the androgen-sensitive levator ani(LA) muscle of the rat. Androgen treatment beginning on postnatal day 7 (P7) prevents some of the normal loss of multiaxonal innervation in this muscle. The present study used physiological techniques to measure the number and size of LA motor units during the synapse elimination period in muscles from normals, and castrates treated with either testosterone propionate or oil. The number of increments in LA twitch tension as nerve stimulation intensity increased, a measure of the number of motor units, was the same at the end (P28) of synapse elimination as near the beginning (P7) of this process. This result indicates that motoneuronal cell death does not contribute to synapse elimination in the LA. Moreover, androgen during this period did not influence the number of LA motor units. In contrast, between P7 and P28, there was a dramatic decline in the size of LA motor units, as indicated by a decrease in the percentage of twitch or tetanus tension of individual motor units relative to the maximal twitch or tetanus tension of the whole muscle. In addition, androgen treatment of castrated males during this period prevented some of the normal decline in the size of LA motor units. Estimates of the number of inputs per LA muscle fiber derived from the number of LA motor units and their average size indicate that androgen maintains polyneuronal innervation in the LA muscle. This finding supports previous anatomical studies suggesting that androgen can prevent synapse elimination in this muscle. The strength of LA synapses was also examined by measuring the tetanus: twitch ratio of individual motor units and by measuring the safety margin of LA synapses. Both measurements indicated that the average strength of LA synapses increases during synapse elimination. Moreover, androgen appeared to spare synapses from elimination without increasing their strength, since androgen-treated muscles generally had larger motor units but the same mean tetanus:twitch ratio and safety margins as untreated LA muscles except at P28, when synapses in androgen-treated LA muscles had appreciably lower safety margins than normal. These results suggest that androgen regulates synapse elimination through a mechanism(s) independent of synaptic strength.
Detectability of Radio Frequency Interference due to Spread Spectrum Communication Signals using the Kurtosis Algorithm

Analysis of detectability of the kurtosis algorithm for pulsed-sinusoidal radio frequency interference (RFI) has already been performed in detail. The detectability for wide-band spread-spectrum RFI is investigated here. A commercial RF communications product XBee is used for generating the spread-spectrum signal which is fed to the Agile Digital Detector (ADD) through a bench-top radiometer. ADD measures the probability distribution function of the incoming signal. The performance of the detection algorithm for spread-spectrum RFI is characterized and compared to pulsed-sinusoidal RFI. The sensitivity of the kurtosis algorithm with respect to the spectral properties of the wide-band signal is also investigated.
Protein phosphatase 2A activity affects histone H3 phosphorylation and transcription in Drosophila melanogaster

Transcriptional activation of the heat shock genes during the heat shock response in Drosophila has been intimately linked to phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10, whereas repression of non-heat-shock genes correlates with dephosphorylation of histone H3. It is then possible that specific kinase and/or phosphatase activities may regulate histone phosphorylation and therefore transcription activation and repression, respectively. We find that treatment of cells with strong phosphatase inhibitors interferes with the genome-wide dephosphorylation of histone H3 normally observed at non-heat-shock genes during heat shock. Mutants in protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) also display reduced genome-wide H3 dephosphorylation, and sites of H3 phosphorylation that do not contain heat shock genes remain transcriptionally active during heat shock in PP2A mutants. Finally, the SET protein, a potent and highly selective inhibitor of PP2A activity that inhibits PP2A-mediated dephosphorylation of Ser10-phosphorylated H3, is detected at transcriptionally active regions of polytene chromosomes. These results suggest that activation and repression of gene expression during heat shock might be regulated by changes in PP2A activity controlled by the SET protein.
Kidney Disease Progression and Screening Cost-Effectiveness among African Americans

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?—T.S. Eliot The tragedy in the continuing disparities in the progression of CKD to ESRD and cardiovascular events for poor and disadvantaged (often minority) patients has not been so much that
The future healthcare and quality

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the future of healthcare and quality.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes six future healthcare systems based on four archetypes.Findings – Instead of dealing with process oriented practice, management participation, financial incentives and capacity management, the emphasis should be on communication, education, shared decisions and quality of life.Originality/value – The paper makes it clear that quality improvement efforts should be centred on the needs and wishes of patients, recognising patients' expertise, values and preferences.
Towards practical deployment of audio-visual speech recognition

Much progress has been achieved during the past two decades in audio-visual automatic speech recognition (AVASR). However, challenges persist that hinder AVASR deployment in practical situations, most notably, robust and fast extraction of visual speech features. We review our efforts in overcoming this problem, based on an appearance-based visual feature representation of the speaker's mouth region. We cover three topics in particular. Firstly, we discuss AVASR in realistic, visually challenging domains, where lighting, background, and head-pose vary significantly. To enhance visual-front-end robustness in such environments, we employ an improved statistical-based face detection algorithm that significantly outperforms our baseline scheme. However, visual-only recognition remains inferior to visually "clean" (studio-like) data, thus demonstrating the importance of accurate mouth region extraction. We then consider a wearable audio-visual sensor to capture the mouth region directly, thus eliminating face detection. Its use improves visual-only recognition, even over full-face videos recorded in the studio-like environment. Finally, we address the speed issue in visual feature extraction, by discussing our real-time AVASR prototype implementation. The reported progress demonstrates the feasibility of practical AVASR.
Preparing African-American Males for Postsecondary Options

For more than a decade, there has been a dramatic decline in the percentage of African American males attending postsecondary institutions. In an effort to reverse this trend, some institutions (i.e., University of Georgia) have commissioned task forces and committees to investigate the causes of this decline as well as provide recommendations to address this problem. One of the recommendations presented to the University System Board of Regents included the development and support of not only initiatives designed to prepare African American males for postsecondary options, but programs that offer academic and social support once enrolled. This article describes one of the six programs selected by the Board of Regents to address the aforementioned decline in one Southeastern state.
Design and Evaluation of Opal2: A Toolkit for Scientific Software as a Service

Grid computing provides mechanisms for making large-scale computing environments available to the masses. In recent times, with the advent of Cloud computing, the concepts of Software as a Service (SaaS), where vendors provide key software products as services over the internet that can be accessed by users to perform complex tasks, and Service as Software (SaS), where customizable and repeatable services are packaged as software products that dynamically meet the demands of individual users, have become increasingly popular. Both SaaS and SaS models are highly applicable to scientific software and users alike. Opal2 is a toolkit for wrapping scientific applications as Web services on Grid and cloud computing resources. It provides a mechanism for scientific application developers to expose the functionality of their codes via simple Web service APIs, abstracting out the details of the back-end infrastructure. Services may be combined via customized workflows for specific research areas and distributed as virtual machine images. In this paper, we describe the overall philosophy and architecture of the Opal2 framework, including its new plug-in architecture and data handling capabilities. We analyze its performance in typical cluster and Grid settings, and in a cloud computing environment within virtual machines, using Amazon's Elastic Computing Cloud (EC2).
A role for CF1A 3' end processing complex in promoter-associated transcription.

The Cleavage Factor 1A (CF1A) complex, which is required for the termination of transcription in budding yeast, occupies the 3′ end of transcriptionally active genes. We recently demonstrated that CF1A subunits also crosslink to the 5′ end of genes during transcription. The presence of CF1A complex at the promoter suggested its possible involvement in the initiation/reinitiation of transcription. To check this possibility, we performed transcription run-on assay, RNAP II-density ChIP and strand-specific RT-PCR analysis in a mutant of CF1A subunit Clp1. As expected, RNAP II read through the termination signal in the temperature-sensitive mutant of clp1 at elevated temperature. The transcription readthrough phenotype was accompanied by a decrease in the density of RNAP II in the vicinity of the promoter region. With the exception of TFIIB and TFIIF, the recruitment of the general transcription factors onto the promoter, however, remained unaffected in the clp1 mutant. These results suggest that the CF1A complex affects the recruitment of RNAP II onto the promoter for reinitiation of transcription. Simultaneously, an increase in synthesis of promoter-initiated divergent antisense transcript was observed in the clp1 mutant, thereby implicating CF1A complex in providing directionality to the promoter-bound polymerase. Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C) analysis revealed a physical interaction of the promoter and terminator regions of a gene in the presence of a functional CF1A complex. Gene looping was completely abolished in the clp1 mutant. On the basis of these results, we propose that the CF1A-dependent recruitment of RNAP II onto the promoter for reinitiation and the regulation of directionality of promoter-associated transcription are accomplished through gene looping.
Protection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Reactive Oxygen Species Conferred by the mel2 Locus Impacts Persistence and Dissemination

Persistence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans represents a major roadblock to elimination of tuberculosis. We describe identification of a locus in M. tuberculosis, mel2, that displays similarity to bacterial bioluminescent loci and plays an important role during persistence in mice. We constructed a deletion of the mel2 locus and found that the mutant displays increased susceptibility to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Upon infection of mice by aerosol the mutant grows normally until the persistent stage, where it does not persist as well as wild type. Histopathological analyses show that infection with the mel2 mutant results in reduced pathology and both CFU and histopathology indicate that dissemination of the mel2 mutant to the spleen is delayed. These data along with growth in activated macrophages and infection of Phox−/− and iNOS−/− mice and bone marrow-derived macrophages suggest that the primary mechanism by which mel2 affects pathogenesis is through its ability to confer resistance to ROS. These studies provide the first insight into the mechanism of action for this novel class of genes that are related to bioluminescence genes. The role of mel2 in resistance to ROS is important for persistence and dissemination of M. tuberculosis and suggests that homologues in other bacterial species are likely to play a role in pathogenesis.
Identity in Flux Negotiating Identity While Studying Abroad

Study abroad is one aspect of global movement that connects individuals of diverse backgrounds. Individuals studying abroad are proffered to negotiate self-identity when they confront novelty and new contexts. This study chose to use the qualitative method of phenomenological interviews to examine how individuals experience themselves and others when abroad. Specifically, the study focused on modifications of self-identity via self-images. The results presented emotions, cognitions, and behaviors experienced by individuals during global encounters. The study indicates that individuals negotiate identity while studying abroad and modify self-images associated with personal identity (unique character traits) rather than social identity (shared traits with ingroup). The authors propose that identity among global citizens is an ongoing process that is context dependent and less stable than previously regarded.
Training sequence optimization in MIMO systems with colored interference

We address the problems of channel estimation and optimal training sequence design for multiple-input multiple-output systems over flat fading channels in the presence of colored interference. In practice, knowledge of the unknown channel is often obtained by sending known training symbols to the receiver. During the training period, we obtain the best linear unbiased estimates of the channel parameters based on the received training block. We determine the optimal training sequence set that minimizes the mean square error of the channel estimator under a total transmit power constraint. In order to obtain the advantage of the optimal training sequence design, long-term statistics of the interference correlation are needed at the transmitter. Hence, this information needs to be estimated at the receiver and fed back to the transmitter. Obviously it is desirable that only a minimal amount of information needs to be fed back from the receiver to gain the advantage in reducing the estimation error of the short-term channel fading parameters. We develop such a feedback strategy in this paper.
Mobility of the spin-labeled side chains of some novel antifolate inhibitors in their complexes with dihydrofolate reductase.

Four spin-labeled inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) have been synthesized, each of which has the 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) reporting group at a different distance from the 2,4-diaminopyrimidine moiety by which the inhibitors are anchored and oriented in the active site. Inhibitors in which the TEMPO group is attached by a short side chain are weakly bound to DHFR from bacteria (Streptococcus faecium and Lactobacillus casei), to the bovine enzyme and to recombinant human DHFR. However, binding is sufficiently tight, especially in the ternary complexes with NADPH, for recording of the EPR spectra of the bound ligands. The spectra indicate that when these inhibitors are bound to the enzyme the TEMPO group is highly immobilized with correlation times, τc, 4 – 20 ns. Inhibitors that have the reporter group attached to the glutamate moiety of methotrexate bind to all four DHFRs more tightly than the inhibitors with shorter side chains by factors of up to 106. However, in most complexes formed by the inhibitors with longer side chains immobilization of the TEMPO group is slight (τc 0.2–4 ns). These results are in general agreement with predictions from X-ray crystallographic results including thermal factors but there are some unanticipated differences between some results for bacterial and eukaryotic enzymes. Three of the splin-labeled inhibitors would provide good probes for distance measurements in and around the active site of mammalian DHFR.
Relationship of raised atherosclerotic lesions to fatty streaks in cigarette smokers

Abstract Intimal surfaces of the 3 main coronary arteries combined and of the abdominal aorta, sudan-stained, were described by visual inspection as divided into normal intima (N), fatty streaks (F) and raised lesions (R) expressed as percentages. Subjects were 1320 black and white men aged 25–64 years autopsied in New Orleans. Histories of cigarette smoking, elicited by interview of wives or other associates of each deceased subject, were summarized as average number of cigarettes used per day during the preceding 10 years. The relationship between AT L = F + R (all types of lesions) and RaL = R÷ (F + R) (raised among lesions) observed here reproduced the well known relationships (1) for subjects alike in age, RaL tended to be greater if ATL was greater and (2) in subjects alike in ATL, the average RaL rose with increasing age. The overall average RaL at each ATL and age was greater in smokers than nonsmokers and was greater in whites than in blacks. The results were examined in terms of the model N → F → R in which Class A causes are viewed as promoting the process from beginning to end while Class B agents act at the first or the second step but not both. Of many possible ways to interpret the patterns which were found, one especially simple formulation is compatible with the model. This interpretation suggests that (1) cigarette smoking had a large Class B effect, (2) a racial trait attached greater Class B atherogenesis to whites than to blacks, and (3) Class A effects were alike in both racial groups and all smoking categories. The interpretation further leads to the suggestion that the target tissue of smoking is the fatty streak such that slowly progressing or regressing fatty streaks, formed alike in smokers and nonsmokers, are caused by smoking to cease to regress and to progress more rapidly.
Arthritis and Synovitis of the Shoulder

By 2030, an estimated 67 million Americans ages 18 years or older are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) affects many joints throughout the body. Although not as common as other locations such as the hip and knee, shoulder OA can be equally troubling for patients. The loss of shoulder function and therefore associated limitations of upper extremity motion can lead to depression, anxiety, activity limitations, and job performance problems. Shoulder OA and the specific causes can be grouped into primary and secondary categories. Primary or idiopathic OA has no specific identifiable cause. Secondary OA results from an identifiable cause or predisposing factor, which include but are not limited to, shoulder trauma, dislocations, or chronic rotator cuff tear. Epidemiologic data has demonstrated that glenohumeral arthrosis typically manifests after the sixth decade of life and women are more likely to have primary glenohumeral OA than men. Younger patients, however, are also occasionally afflicted, and these patients represent a unique management challenge as many of these patients wish to maintain demanding lifestyles.
Medical College faculty provide national leadership in injury control and prevention

Injury prevention is best achieved through a better understanding of how and why injuries occur. Not long ago, injuries were viewed as accidents or random acts of circumstance, outside the scope of human intervention. Early injury research changed that flawed, fatalistic view, exposing injury as a disease influenced by risk factors like any other threat to human health.
The Model of Social Facts

Many contemporary philosophers of law embrace a view called "Inclusive Positivism," which seeks to combine the work of H.L.A. Hart and Ronald Dworkin. This view seeks to attain the best of both worlds: a modest and plausible Hartian analysis of law in terms of social facts, and a Dworkinian recognition that moral considerations are often relevant to determining what the law is. Hart himself appears to have favored this form of positivism in the posthumously published Postscript to his classic work, The Concept of Law. Building upon a semantical account of statements that express rules of recognition, I defend Dworkin's view that the positivistic picture of law as a matter of social facts is fatally flawed. On the other hand, I defend Hart's emphasis on the conventionality of law, and argue that Dworkin's theory leaves insufficient space for this pivotally important feature of legal systems. In the end, I argue, having the best of both worlds in jurisprudence is recognizing that while law is socially constructed and conventional, appeals to our actual legal conventions do not fix the range of arguments available in legal justification.
'Rescue' angioplasty for failed thrombolysis.

Early restoration of patency of the infarct-related artery is a universally accepted goal in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. However, even with the most successful fibrinolytic regimen only approximately 50% of patients achieve restoration of normal flow at 90 minutes. "Rescue" angioplasty, the mechanical reopening of an infarct-related artery after unsuccessful fibrinolytic therapy, appears to be beneficial.
Metal-organodiphosphonates: Structural consequences of introducing aromatic tethering groups. The structures of [Cu(phen){HO3P(C12H8)PO3H}], [{Cu(phen)}2{HO3P(C12H8)PO3H}] and [Cu(terpy){HO3P(C12H8)PO3H}] and of the bimetallic materials [{Cu(LL)}2MoO2{HO3P(C12H8)PO3H}3] (LL = 2,2-bipyridine, o-phenanthroline)

Abstract Hydrothermal reactions were used to prepare three copper-organodiphosphonate compounds and two copper-molybdate-organodiphosphonate chains. Compound 1 , [Cu(phen){HO 3 P(C 12 H 8 )PO 3 H}] is a binuclear Cu(II) compound, while [{Cu(phen)} 2 {HO 3 P(C 12 H 8 )PO 3 H}] ( 2 ) is a Cu(I) species with distorted “T” shaped copper coordination geometry. In contrast, [Cu(terpy){HO 3 P(C 12 H 8 )PO 3 H}]·1.5H 2 O ( 3 ·1.5H 2 O) exhibits a zig-zag chain structure. The isomorphous bimetallic diphosphonates, [{Cu(LL)} 2 MoO 2 {HO 3 P(C 12 H 8 )PO 3 H} 3 ]·H 2 O (LL = bpy ( 4 ·H 2 O), phen ( 5 ·H 2 O)) also exhibit chain structures, constructed from {Cu 2 MoO 2 } clusters, bridging aromatic diphosphonate ligands, and diphosphonates coordinating to the clusters at one terminus and projecting a second pendant terminus.
Latency Discrimination Mechanisms in Virtual Environments: Velocity and Displacement Error Factors

Latency (time delay) in head-tracked virtual environments (VEs) is well known to disturb users' sense of presence as well as hinder performance in manipulation tasks. We have determined in previous studies that observers cannot rely solely on direct temporal detection of time delay. They, at least in part, perceive the consequent visual “slip” of the VE scene from its expected spatially stable location. By employing an occlusion technique, the present experiment enabled comparison of the influence of visual image displacement and velocity errors on observer discrimination of VE system latency when using head-mounted displays. The results show better latency sensitivity (i.e., lower Just Noticeable Differences, or JNDs) in situations where velocity error magnitude predominates over displacement error cues, even though the velocity errors were visible for shorter durations. Correlation analyses indicate that latency-induced velocity errors are most closely related to latency JND than displacement errors.