cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-GG-T-477: Influence of Pitch and Jaw Width On Helical Tomotherapy Head and Neck Treatment Planning

Purpose: To investigate the influence of pitch and jaw width selection on helical tomotherapy treatment plans for head and neck. Method and Materials: Helical tomotherapy plans using a combination of pitch and jaw width settings were developed for three patients previously treated for head and neck cancer. Three jaw widths (5, 2.5 and 1 cm) and six pitches (0.86, 0.7, 0.43, 0.34, 0.287 and 0.215) were used with a (maximum) modulation factor setting of 4. The 18 plans per patient were generated using an identical optimization procedure (e.g., number of iterations, objective weights and penalties, etc.), based on recommendations from TomoTherapy. The plans were compared using isodose plots, dose volume histograms, dose homogeneity indices, conformity indices, radiobiological models, and treatment times. Results: Smaller pitches and jaw widths showed better target dose homogeneity and sparing of normal tissue, as expected. The conformity index had a maximum for pitches between 0.287 and 0.43. The tumor control probabilities were greater than 99% for the 2.5‐ and 1‐cm jaw widths for all pitches except 0.86. The treatment time increased inversely proportional to the jaw width. Conclusion: Our study indicates that the smaller jaw widths (2.5 and 1 cm) and pitches near the range of 0.3–0.4 produce better plans for helical tomotherapy head and neck treatment. However, because of the large increase in treatment time with only slight improvement in sparing of the critical structures for the 1‐cm jaw width, the 2.5‐cm jaw width, currently used in our clinic, remains our preference. Supported in part by a research agreement with TomoTherapy, Inc.
Bordetella Adenylate Cyclase Toxin

AbstractA major virulence factor of the genus Bordetella is a unique toxin, a secreted adenylate cyclase, which penetrates membranes of mammalian cells resulting in unregulated generation of adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate (CAMP). In human infections caused by Bordetella pertussis, this toxin, Bordetella Adenylate Cyclase Toxin (BACT), and a second. Pertussis Toxin, apparently cause an unprecedented disruption of cellular transmembrane signaling processes. In Vitro, virtually all mammalian hematologic cells are susceptible to the action of BACT. Following brief exposure, intracellular cAMP in such cells increases several hundred-fold. Numerous other organ cells and established cell lines are similarly affected. Multiple aberrations in cellular function and proliferation accompany the production of intracellular cAMP induced by BACT. Although this toxin has not been purified, it, like Pertussis Toxin, appears to conform to the A/B model of protein toxins. The BACT holotoxin is labile and this has confounded ...
Chemistry and the National Science Education Standards

Some chemistry teachers, on reading the 9-12 National Science Education Standards, have concluded that (i) "there is not much chemistry in the Standards," and (ii) they are already teaching chemistry at a level that far exceeds the National Standards. The first conclusion is inaccurate, the second is probably inaccurate.
Lessons learned from the simulation experience of a three-tier multi-hop wireless Internet architecture

The mobile Internet provides mobile nodes with continuous access to the Internet resources. This type of service is guaranteed only if these mobile nodes are one-hop away from the edge of the Internet. Mobile ad hoc networks (MANET), however, enable multi-hop communication between mobile nodes. A more promising goal would be to connect MANET to the Internet, thus enabling mobile nodes to benefit from the multi-hop nature of MANET so they can to share access to the Internet resources with the stationary nodes. This paper aims to study a three-tier architecture to provide MANET nodes with multi-hop Internet connectivity, evaluate its performance through extensive experiments with respect to a set of decision parameters, and outline the lessons learned from these experiments.
Designing algorithms by sampling

This paper describes a method for empirical algorithm design, called database learning, using which an algorithm is constructed based on the solutions produced by an oracle on instances from a given input domain. We present experimental results of applying the strategy to designing heuristics for the problem of constructing a maximum independent set of a given graph. The heuristic designed by database learning is compared with the best general-purpose heuristic for the problem.
Left Main Coronary Artery to Biatrial Fistula Associated With Severe Functional Mitral Valve Regurgitation

A 67-year-old woman had progressive dyspnea, a loud murmur of mitral regurgitation, and a separate, continuous cardiac murmur suggesting shunt. Electrocardiography-gated computed tomography demonstrated a 7-cm aneurysm of the left main coronary artery with possible connection to the right atrium (Figure, A), along with a thin tissue boundary between the aneurysm (Figure, B) and left atrium, raising the possibility of secondary erosion (Figure, C, arrow). Echocardiography revealed severe functional mitral regurgitation, presumably due to volume overload (Figure, D and Movie I in the online-only Data Supplement). Flow was seen between the aneurysm and …
Further evidence of anticonvulsant role for 5-hydroxytryptamine in genetically epilepsy-prone rats

1. This study was designed to evaluate further the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in regulating susceptibility and/or intensity of audiogenic seizures in genetically epilepsy-prone rats. 2. The effects of sertraline, a highly selective and potent inhibitor of 5-HT uptake, on both the intensity of the audiogenic seizures and the extracellular concentrations of 5-HT in the thalamus were evaluated in severe seizure genetically epilepsy-prone rats. 3. Sertraline (7.5, 15 and 30 mg kg-1, i.p.) produced a dose-dependent reduction in the intensity of the audiogenic seizures. 4. Brain microdialysis studies showed that the same doses of sertraline also caused dose-dependent increases in the extracellular 5-HT concentration in the thalamus of the freely moving rats. 5. The peak anticonvulsant effect correlated temporally with the peak increases in the extracellular 5-HT concentration for this drug. 6. It is concluded that enhancement of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic transmission may contribute to the anticonvulsant effect of sertraline in severe seizure genetically epilepsy-prone rats. 7. The present results coupled with earlier investigations support the hypothesis that 5-HT plays an anticonvulsant role in genetically epilepsy-prone rats.
The role of housing type and housing quality in urban children with asthma

The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between type and quality of housing and childhood asthma in an urban community with a wide gradient of racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and housing characteristics. A parent-report questionnaire was distributed in 26 randomly selected New York City public elementary schools. Type of housing was categorized using the participants’ addresses and the Building Information System, a publicly-accessible database from the New York City Department of Buildings. Type of housing was associated with childhood asthma with the highest prevalence of asthma found in public housing (21.8%). Residents of all types of private housing had lower odds of asthma than children living in public housing. After adjusting for individual- and community-level demographic and economic factors, the relationship between housing type and childhood asthma persisted, with residents of private family homes having the lowest odds of current asthma when compared to residents of public housing (odds ratio: 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.22, 1.21). Factors associated with housing quality explain some of the clustering of asthma in public housing. For example, the majority (68.7%) of public housing residents reported the presence of cockroaches, compared to 21% of residents of private houses. Reported cockroaches, rats, and water leaks were also independently associated with current asthma. These findings suggest differential exposure and asthma risk by urban housing type. Interventions aimed at reducing these disparities should consider multiple aspects of the home environment, especially those that are not directly controlled by residents.
Intussusception among recipients of rotavirus vaccine: reports to the vaccine adverse event reporting system.

Background. Rotavirus vaccine was li- censed on August 31, 1998, and subsequently recom- mended for routine use among infants. To assess rare adverse events, postlicensure surveillance was con- ducted. Objective. To describe the cases of intussusception among rotavirus vaccine recipients reported to the Vac- cine Adverse Event Reporting System from October 1998 through December 1999. Setting and Participants. Infants vaccinated with ro- tavirus vaccine in the United States. Outcome Measures. Intussusception confirmed by ra- diology, surgery, or autopsy report with medical record documentation or confirmed by a primary health care provider. Results. There were 98 confirmed cases of intussus- ception after vaccination with rotavirus vaccine reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System; 60 of these developed intussusception within 1 week after vac- cination. Based on calculations using vaccine distribu- tion data and intussusception incidence rates from 2 sep- arate databases, an estimated 7 to 16 cases would have been expected to occur in the week after vaccination by chance alone. Conclusion. Using a passive surveillance system for vaccine adverse events, we observed at least a fourfold increase over the expected number of intussusception cases occurring within 1 week of receipt of rotavirus vaccine. Other studies were initiated to further define the relationship between rotavirus vaccine and intussuscep- tion. In light of these and other data, the rotavirus vac- cine manufacturer voluntarily removed its product from the market, and the recommendation for routine use of rotavirus vaccine among US infants has been withdrawn. Pediatrics 2001;107(6). URL: http://www.pediatrics.org/ cgi/content/full/107/6/e97; intussusception, rotavirus vac- cine, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, vaccine safety.
Nonlinear-Control Strategy for Advanced Vehicle Thermal-Management Systems

Advanced thermal-management systems for internal combustion engines can improve coolant-temperature regulation and servomotor power consumption by better regulating the combustion process with multiple computer-controlled electromechanical components. The traditional thermostat valve, coolant pump, and clutch-driven radiator fan are upgraded with servomotor actuators. When the system components function harmoniously, desired thermal conditions can be accomplished in a power-efficient manner. In this paper, a comprehensive nonlinear-control architecture is proposed for transient-temperature tracking. An experimental system has been fabricated and assembled which features a variable-position smart valve, variable-speed electric water pump, variable-speed electric radiator fan, engine block, and various sensors. In the configured system, the steam-based heat exchanger emulates the heat generated by the engine's combustion process. Representative numerical and experimental results are discussed to demonstrate the functionality of the thermal-management system in accurately tracking the prescribed temperature profiles and minimizing electrical power consumption.
Cell killing and chromatid damage in primary human bronchial epithelial cells irradiated with accelerated 56Fe ions

We examined cell killing and chromatid damage in primary human bronchial epithelial cells irradiated with high-energy 56Fe ions. Cells were irradiated with graded doses of 56Fe ions (1 GeV/nucleon) accelerated with the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The survival curves for cells plated 1 h after irradiation (immediate plating) showed little or no shoulder. However, the survival curves for cells plated 24 h after irradiation (delayed plating) had a small initial shoulder. The RBE for 56Fe ions compared to 137Cs gamma rays was 1.99 for immediate plating and 2.73 for delayed plating at the D10. The repair ratio (delayed plating/immediate plating) was 1.67 for 137Cs gamma rays and 1.22 for 56Fe ions. The dose-response curves for initially measured and residual chromatid fragments detected by the Calyculin A-mediated premature chromosome condensation technique showed a linear response. The results indicated that the induction frequency for initially measured fragments was the same for 137Cs gamma rays and 56Fe ions. On the other hand, approximately 85% of the fragments induced by 137Cs gamma rays had rejoined after 24 h of postirradiation incubation; the corresponding amount for 56Fe ions was 37%. Furthermore, the frequency of chromatid exchanges induced by gamma rays measured 24 h after irradiation was higher than that induced by 56Fe ions. No difference in the amount of chromatid damage induced by the two types of radiations was detected when assayed 1 h after irradiation. The results suggest that high-energy 56Fe ions induce a higher frequency of complex, unrepairable damage at both the cellular and chromosomal levels than 137Cs gamma rays in the target cells for radiation-induced lung cancers.
Vietnam’s Health Care System Emphasizes Prevention And Pursues Universal Coverage

Vietnam’s private and public health system is focused on achieving universal, affordable coverage across the country.
Henry Kissinger and the American Century – By Jeremi Suri

The author of this study provides readers with both a brief overview of Henry Kissinger's career and an interesting conceptualization of that career based on Kissinger's religion and early life exp...
Estimation of Individual and Population Noncompliance Using Longitudinal Marker Data, with Application to AIDS

Extensive research has been devoted to issues related to noncompliance in long-term clinical trials. Lack of compliance to the prescribed treatment by the participants in the trial can cause a loss in power of the study to detect the treatment difference. Traditional methods for evaluating the compliance of subjects include self-reported questionnaires and pharmacologic assays of drug levels in randomly-drawn blood samples, but each of these has important limitations. This paper proposes a method for assessing noncompliance based on longitudinal laboratory marker data that are affected by the drug. The problem of estimating the specific times of noncompliance of an individual is considered first. Next, combining these estimates across individuals to estimate the prevalence, over time, of noncompliance in a population is considered. The method will estimate the times of noncompliance of individual subjects with the subjects estimated to be compliant regarded as right-censored observations. Thus, the distri...
The Effects of a Metal Ground Plane on RFID Tag Antennas

This paper presents measured antenna impedance and patterns of a horizontally oriented folded dipole as it is moved toward a metal ground plane. The 915 MHz measurements on different antennas provide rules-of-thumb for RFID link design and suggest that changing antenna thicknesses may make tags more resistant to on-object degradations
Electronic states of the superheavy element 113 and (113)H

Abstract We have carried out relativistic complete active space multi-configuration interaction followed by multi-reference configuration interaction computations including spin–orbit effects for the electronic states of the superheavy element 113 and (113)H. It is demonstrated that (113)H exhibits unusually short bond length and large dissociation energy due to large relativistic effects including spin–orbit effects. The 6d-spin–orbit-correlation effects are shown to be very important for (113)H.
Effects of methocel A15LV, polyethylene glycol, and polyvinyl alcohol on CD13 and CD33 receptor surface content and metabolism of HL60 cells cultured in stirred tank bioreactors.

Flow cytometry was used to examine the effect of hydrodynamic forces in a stirred tank bioreactor on the CD13 and CD33 receptor surface content of HL60 (human promyelocytic leukemia) cells. A step increase in agitation rate from 80 to 400 rpm reduced the HL60 cell apparent growth rate and increased the CD13 receptor surface content per cell, on average, by 95%. In contrast, this step increase in agitation rate to 400 rpm decreased the CD33 receptor surface content per cell, on average, by 10%. The protective effects of 0.1% Methocel A15LV, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on CD13 and CD33 receptor surface content were examined under agitation at 300 rpm in parallel 2 L bioreactor runs. The average CD33 receptor surface content was unaffected by the presence of Methocel A15LV or PEG, while PVA had a slight protective effect. In contrast, in terms of CD13 receptor content, HL60 cells agitated at 300 rpm with Methocel A15LV, PEG, or PVA behaved like cells agitated at 80 rpm with no media additives (McDowell and Papoutsakis, 1998). That is, Methocel A15LV, PEG, and PVA prevented the transduction of mechanical forces which affect CD13 cell content. HL60 cells cultured with 0.1% A15LV, PEG or PVA under conditions of mild agitation (60 rpm) in spinner flasks exhibited glucose consumption and lactate production rates that were approximately 20% lower than values of cultures containing no additive. Under conditions of agitation at 300 rpm in the 2 L bioreactor, the presence of A15LV, PEG, and PVA reduced the HL60 glucose consumption and lactate production rates by approximately 50%. Thus, media additives can dramatically reduce lactate accumulation in agitated bioreactors due to cell growth, in addition to providing protection from cellular injury.
Combining community participatory research with a randomized clinical trial: The protecting the hood against tobacco (PHAT) smoking cessation study

BACKGROUND: This article describes the process and results of a smoking cessation intervention randomized clinical trial (RCT) that was conducted as a community-based participatory research project. This RCT tested whether outcomes are improved by adding social justice and tobacco industry targeting messages to a smoking cessation program conducted among African American adults within a low-income community in San Francisco, California. This study provides lessons for future similar research projects that focus on urban low-income populations. METHODS: Participants were randomly allocated to receive a smoking-cessation program (control group [CG]) or CG care plus tobacco industry and media (IAM) messages. Primary interventions were behavioral. At intake, participants reporting severe withdrawal or smoking > or = 25 cigarettes daily were offered free nicotine replacement therapy. Baseline data were from an in-person interview. Outcome measures included self-reported smoking status; validation of quitting was by salivary cotinine assays. RESULTS: Of 87 participants providing baseline data, 31% (27) did not join the RCT. Proportions quitting in the CG and IAM group were 11.5% and 13.6% at 6 months and 5.3% and 15.8% at 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: African Americans in underserved inner-city neighborhoods can be recruited into RCTs with community participatory approaches. Differences between the CG and IAM in proportions who quit were 2.1% and 10.5% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. More than 3 years with adequate funding, high staffing ratios, and intense outreach and follow-up schedules are needed to achieve recruitment and study goals.
Biodefense versus bioterrorism

We always knew, didn't we, that he was probably one of our kind. When the deadly envelopes laced with anthrax spores claimed their first of five eventual victims - Robert Stevens, a 63-year-old photo editor for the Florida-based tabloid 'newspaper' The Sun - just a few weeks after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, most scientists figured that the killer was connected with the US biowarfare program, and was almost certainly a scientist. Using anthrax as a weapon required just too much specialized knowledge for the low-tech terror groups we were used to dealing with; it was simpler to imagine that the powder came from someone with access to a bioweapons stock and knowledge of how to handle it. Now, with the recent suicide of a microbiologist who worked at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, and the partial release of evidence from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that indicates he was probably the person responsible, our worst fears have been realized. Pogo, Walt Kelly's philosophical cartoon possum, was right: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
A Wide-Tracking Range Clock and Data Recovery Circuit

A hybrid analog-digital quarter-rate clock and data recovery circuit (CDR) that achieves a wide-tracking range and excellent frequency and phase tracking resolution is presented in this paper. A split-tuned analog phase-locked loop (PLL) provides eight equally spaced phases needed for quarter-rate data recovery and the digital CDR loop adjusts the phase of the PLL output clocks in a precise manner to facilitate plesiochronous clocking. The CDR employs a second-order digital loop filter and combines delta-sigma modulation with the analog PLL to achieve sub-picosecond phase resolution and better than 2 ppm frequency resolution. A test chip fabricated in a 0.18 mum CMOS process achieves BER <10-12 and consumes 14 mW power while operating at 2 Gb/s. The tracking range is greater than plusmn5000 ppm and plusmn2500 ppm at 10 kHz and 20 kHz modulation frequencies, respectively, making this CDR suitable for systems employing spread-spectrum clocking.
Image reconstruction in photoacoustic tomography involving layered acoustic media

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT), also known as thermoacoustic or optoacoustic tomography, is a rapidly emerging biomedical imaging technique that combines optical image contrast with ultrasound detection principles. Most existing reconstruction algorithms for PAT assume the object of interest possesses homogeneous acoustic properties. The images produced by such algorithms can contain significant distortions and artifacts when the object’s acoustic properties are spatially variant. In this work, we establish an image reconstruction formula for PAT applications in which a planar detection surface is employed and the to-be-imaged optical absorber is embedded in a known planar layered acoustic medium. The reconstruction formula is exact in a mathematical sense and accounts for multiple acoustic reflections between the layers of the medium. Computer-simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate and investigate the proposed method.
Assessment of the dining environment on and near the campuses of fifteen post-secondary institutions.

Objective The present study evaluated the restaurant and dining venues on and near post-secondary campuses varying in institution size. Design The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Restaurants (NEMS-R) was modified to evaluate restaurants as fast food, sit down and fast casual; and campus dining venues as dining halls, student unions and snack bar/cafes. ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's B and T tests were used to distinguish differences between dining venues and associated institutions by size. Setting The study was conducted at fifteen US post-secondary institutions, 2009–2011. Subjects Data presented are from a sample of 175 restaurants and sixty-eight on-campus dining venues. Results There were minimal differences in dining halls by institution size, although medium-sized institutions as compared with small-sized institutions offered significantly more healthful side dish/salad bar items. Dining halls scored significantly higher than student unions or snack bar/cafes on healthful entrees, side dish/salad bar and beverages offerings, but they also had the most barriers to healthful dietary habits (i.e. all-you-can-eat). No differences were found by restaurant type for NEMS-R scores for total restaurant dining environment or healthful entrees and barriers. Snack bars had more healthful side dishes ( P = 0·002) and fast-food restaurants had the highest level of facilitators (i.e. nutrition information; P = 0·002). Conclusions Based on this evaluation in fifteen institutions, the full campus dining environment provides limited support for healthy eating and obesity prevention. The quality of campus dining environments can be improved via healthful offerings, providing nutrition information and other supports to facilitate healthy eating and prevent unwanted weight gain.
Necropsy findings in American alligator late-stage embryos and hatchlings from northcentral Florida lakes contaminated with organochlorine pesticides.

Increased American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) embryo and neonatal mortality has been reported from several northcentral Florida lakes contaminated with old-use organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). However, a clear relationship among these contaminants and egg viability has not been established, suggesting the involvement of additional factors in these mortalities. Thus, the main objective of this study was to determine the ultimate cause of mortality of American alligator late-stage embryos and hatchlings through the conduction of detailed pathological examinations, and to evaluate better the role of OCPs in these mortalities. Between 2000 and 2001, 236 dead alligators were necropsied at or near hatching (after ∼65 days of artificial incubation and up to 1 mo of age posthatch). Dead animals were collected from 18 clutches ranging in viability from 0% to 95%. Total OCP concentrations in yolk ranged from ∼100 to 52,000 μg/kg, wet weight. The most common gross findings were generalized edema (34%) a...
Plasma B Lymphocyte Stimulator and B Cell Differentiation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Patients

We hypothesized B cells are involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a progressive, restrictive lung disease that is refractory to glucocorticoids and other nonspecific therapies, and almost invariably lethal. Accordingly, we sought to identify clinically associated B cell–related abnormalities in these patients. Phenotypes of circulating B cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Intrapulmonary processes were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Plasma B lymphocyte stimulating factor (BLyS) was assayed by ELISA. Circulating B cells of IPF subjects were more Ag differentiated, with greater plasmablast proportions (3.1 ± 0.8%) than in normal controls (1.3 ± 0.3%) ( p < 0.03), and the extent of this differentiation correlated with IPF patient lung volumes ( r = 0.44, p < 0.03). CD20+ B cell aggregates, diffuse parenchymal and perivascular immune complexes, and complement depositions were all prevalent in IPF lungs, but much less prominent or absent in normal lungs. Plasma concentrations of BLyS, an obligate factor for B cell survival and differentiation, were significantly greater ( p < 0.0001) in 110 IPF (2.05 ± 0.05 ng/ml) than among 53 normal (1.40 ± 0.04 ng/ml) and 90 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subjects (1.59 ± 0.05 ng/ml). BLyS levels were uniquely correlated among IPF patients with pulmonary artery pressures ( r = 0.58, p < 0.0001). The 25% of IPF subjects with the greatest BLyS values also had diminished 1-y survival (46 ± 11%), compared with those with lesser BLyS concentrations (81 ± 5%) (hazard ratio = 4.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.8–8.7, p = 0.0002). Abnormalities of B cells and BLyS are common in IPF patients, and highly associated with disease manifestations and patient outcomes. These findings have implications regarding IPF pathogenesis and illuminate the potential for novel treatment regimens that specifically target B cells in patients with this lung disease.
Electro-tactile preference identification using fuzzy logic

Electro-tactile based rehabilitation systems must be capable of self-tuning to suit the tactile preference of different users. However, tactile preference is difficult to assess in practice. We propose a Takagi-Sugeno-Kang (TSK) fuzzy logic modeling and control approach for the on-line assessment of tactile preference. The method relies on real-time measurements of voltage and power absorbed by the fingertip. Our results show that the fuzzy logic approach successfully models user tactile preference. We are currently developing an electro-tactile based Braille display (E-Braille) for assisting the Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) that exploits our fuzzy model.
A stochastic model for the development of Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller incompatibilities that incorporates protein interaction networks

Speciation is characterized by the development of reproductive isolating barriers between diverging groups. Intrinsic post-zygotic barriers of the type envisioned by Bateson, Dobzhansky, and Muller are del- eterious epistatic interactions among loci that reduce hybrid fitness, leading to reproductive isolation. The first formal population genetic model of the development of these barriers was published by Orr in 1995, and here we develop a more general model of this process by incorporating finite protein-pro- tein interaction networks, which reduce the probability of deleterious interactions in vivo. Our model shows that the development of deleterious interactions is limited by the density of the protein-protein interaction network. We have confirmed our analytical predictions of the number of possible interactions given the number of allele substitutions by using simulations on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein- protein interaction network. These results allow us to define the rate at which deleterious interactions are expected to form, and hence the speciation rate, for any protein-protein interaction network.
Cooperative binding interactions required for function of the Ty1 sterile responsive element.

The Ste12p transcription factor controls the expression of Ty1 transposable element insertion mutations and genes whose products are required for mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The binding site for Ste12p is a consensus DNA sequence known as a pheromone response element (PRE). Upstream activating sequences (UASs) derived from known Ste12p-dependent genes have previously been characterized to require either multiple PREs or a single PRE coupled to a binding site for a second protein. The Ste12p-dependent UAS from Ty1, called a sterile response element (SRE), is of the second type and is comprised of a PRE and an adjacent TEA (TEF-1, Tec1, and AbaA motif) DNA consensus sequence (TCS). In this report, we show by UV crosslinking analysis that two proteins, Ste12p and a protein with an apparent size of 72 kDa, directly contact the Ty1 SRE. Other experiments show that Tec1p is required for formation of the Ty1 SRE protein-DNA complex and is physically present in the complex. These results establish a direct role for Tec1p in the Ty1 SRE and yet another set of combinatorial interactions that achieve a qualitatively distinct mode of transcriptional regulation with Ste12p. The Ste12p transcription factor is important for two distinct life cycle transitions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These transitions are from a vegetative form to either a mating-competent or pseudohyphal differentiated state. The a and a haploid cell types differentiate into mating-competent forms upon exposure to the mating pheromone from the opposite cell type (4). One aspect of this differentiation is the transcriptional induction of genes whose products execute functions associated with multiple events during the mating process. These include genes encoding pheromone, receptor, and other components of the pheromone-induced signal pathway and those that mediate growth arrest, nuclear migration, cell fusion, and adaptation (reference 37 and references therein). The common feature of these genes is the presence of pheromone response elements (PREs) within their promoter regions (19, 35). The consensus
Travelling Salesperson Problem for dynamic systems

Abstract In this paper, we study the following version of the Travelling Salesperson Problem: Find the fastest closed trajectory for a controlled dynamic system such that its output visits all points in a given (finite) set. We present an algorithm that, if the n points are randomly sampled from a uniform distribution, produces an output trajectory the expected duration of which scales within a constant factor of the optimum asymptotically in n .
PHYLOGEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHY OF SYMPATRIC SISTER SURFPERCH SPECIES, EMBIOTOCA JACKSONI AND E. LATERALIS ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST: HISTORICAL VERSUS ECOLOGICAL FACTORS

With 18 closely related endemic species that radiated in a diversity of ecological niches, the California surfperches (Embiotocidae) species flock is a good candidate for the study of sympatric speciation. Resource partitioning has been suggested as an important driving force in the radiation of the surfperch family. Within the family, two congeneric sister species, Embiotoca jacksoni and E. lateralis, are known to compete strongly for a preferred single food resource and may be used as a model of ecological interactions for the family. Along the California coast, the distribution of the two species differs. Embiotoca jacksoni has a continuous range, whereas E. lateralis shows a disjunction with a distribution gap in the Southern California Bight. Two hypotheses may explain this disjunct distribution. Ecological competition may have displaced E. lateralis in favor of E. jacksoni. Alternatively, a common vicariant event may have separated the species into northern and southern populations, followed by secondary contact in E. jacksoni but not in E. lateralis. The two hypotheses predict different phylogeographic and demographic signatures. Using a combined phylogeographic and coalescent approach based on mitochondrial control region data, we show that vicariance can only account for a portion of the observed divergences. Our results are compatible with a significant role played by ecological competition in the southern range of the species.
Intraneural Ganglion Cysts

Our understanding of intraneural ganglion cysts has considerably improved in the past few years. They usually arise from a degenerated joint. Synovial fluid under pressure exits the joint through an articular branch of a nerve. This can spread retrograde to involve the parent nerve. The classic example is the common peroneal nerve and the superior tibiofibular joint .
The Unity of Truth and the Plurality of Truths

There is one truth, but many truths: i.e., one unambiguous, non-relative truth-concept, but many and various propositions that are true. One truth-concept: to say that a proposition is true is to say (not that anyone, or everyone, believes it, but) that things are as it says; but many truths: particular empirical claims, scientific theories, historical propositions, mathematical theorems, logical principles, textual interpretations, statementsabout what a person wants or believes or intends, about grammatical and legal rules, etc., etc. But, as Frank Ramsey once said, “There is no platitude so obvious that eminent philosophers have not denied it”; and as soon as you ask why anyone would deny that there is one truth-concept, or that there are many true propositions, it becomes apparent that my initial, simple formula disguises many complexities.
Under-Appreciated Steps in Instrument Development, Part I: Starting With Validity.

Keywords: discriminant validity; concurrent validity; convergent validity; construct validity; external validity; predictive validity
Consumer Goods Promotions in Developing Countries: An Empirical Study

Consumer-goods multinationals make extensive use of promotions in advanced markets. But can they be as selective in their use of media in developing countries? This study of 61 subsidiaries in developing country settings shows few differences in media usage among various types of consumer non-durable products, suggesting that MNCs use whatever media they can. In contrast, usage of sales promotion tools is variable by type of consumer good, indicating MNC preferences for company-initiated and company-controlled promotions.
Combined maximum likelihood estimates for the equicorrelation coefficient.

Combined maximum likelihood estimates for equicorrelation covariance matrices are considered. The case of a common equicorrelation rho and possibly different standard deviations sigma 1, ..., sigma k among k experimental groups is examined first, and the estimation of (rho, sigma 1, ..., sigma k) is discussed. Second, under the assumption of a common standard deviation and possibly different equicorrelations, the estimation of (rho 1, ..., rho k, sigma) is considered. In each case, maximum likelihood solutions and corresponding large-sample variances are presented.
Use of Calixarene Host Molecules to Stabilize Quantum-confined Cadmium Sulfide Formation

We describe here the use of calixarenes, methylene (-CH2-) linked phenolic macrocyclic molecules, to stabilize the formation of quantum-confined (Q-) CdS clusters. Specifically, we focus on the use of an amino-derivatized calixarene, para-[(dimethylamino)-methyl]calix[6]arene, to stabilize Q-CdS clusters which have been characterized by High Resolution TEM (HREM), as well as absorption and emission spectroscopies. Under typical preparative conditions, an average particle diameter of 36 A is obtained. HREM, in combination with Selected Area Diffraction (SAD), confirms the structure of the clusters as zinc blende CdS. Spectroscopic studies using absorption and emission methods indicate that both particle size and cluster photophysics are sensitive to the ratio of CdS to calixarene.
A Comment On The Interdisciplinary Approach To Administrative Thought

Interdisciplinary approaches to administration may foster prescientific biases influencing the concepts that theorists develop or judge to be legitimate. This article discusses some of these biases.
Precipitation as a Factor in the emergence of Epilachna CorruptaFrom Hibernation

Three years' study of the emergence of the Mexican bean beetle ( Epilachna corrupta Muls.) from hibernation show that there is a definite relation between precipitation and the emergence of the beetle and that the percentage emerging is influenced directly by the temperature during the period of rainfall. It is also apparent that heat alone is not sufficient stimulus to produce emergence, as no beetles emerged on some of the hottest days during the season, and that the period of emerg-enceis governed by a combination of the two factors. Emergence rarely occurs when the mean temperature is below 55°F., and reaches its maximum at a mean temperature of 58° to 69°F. Beetles in hibernation respond to the effect of artificial precipitation during the emerging season.
Chemical-looping combustion in a reverse-flow fixed bed reactor

A reverse-flow fixed bed reactor concept for CLC (chemical-looping combustion) is explored. The limitations of conventional fixed bed reactors, as applied to CLC, are overcome by reversing the gas flow direction periodically to enhance the mixing characteristics of the bed, thus improving oxygen carrier utilization and energy efficiency with respect to power generation. The reverse-flow reactor is simulated by a dusty-gas model and compared with an equivalent fixed bed reactor without flow reversal. Dynamic optimization is used to calculate conditions at which each reactor operates at maximum energy efficiency. Several cases studies illustrate the benefits of reverse-flow operation for the CLC with CuO and NiO oxygen carriers and methane and syngas fuels. The results show that periodic reversal of the flow during reduction improves the contact between the fuel and unconverted oxygen carrier, enabling the system to suppress unwanted catalytic reactions and axial temperature and conversion gradients. The operational scheme presented reduces the fluctuations of temperature during oxidation and increases the high-temperature heat produced by the process. CLC in a reverse-flow reactor has the potential to achieve higher energy efficiency than conventional fixed bed CLC reactors, when integrated with a downstream gas turbine of a combined cycle power plant.
Study on fermentation technology of colored brown rice enzymes

Brown rice enzyme was fermented by colored brown rice as main materials,adding honey,malt extract powder,salt and yeast. With the content of γ- aminobutyric acid as evaluation index,optimum medium and fermentation conditions were determined by orthogonal test. The results showed that the optimum medium was purple rice and honey 2%,malt extract powder 1%,water 700%. The optimum fermentation conditions were yeast inoculum 18%,fermentation time 3 h,fermentation temperature 30℃,rotation speed 100 r /min. Under these conditions,170.6 mg γ- aminobutyric acid could be obtained from 100 g brawn rice.
Total Hemispherical Emissivity of Grade 91 Ferritic Alloy with Various Surface Conditions

For very-high-temperature reactors (VHTRs), the ability of structural components, specifically the reactor pressure vessel, to dissipate heat by radiation is an important design criterion. Thus, in...
Transcoronary chemical ablation of ventricular tachycardia after mapping of the arterial blood supply to the arrhythmogenic area (report of 2 cases)

Transcoronary chemical ablation of ventricular tachycardia was performed in 2 patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia in Fu Wai Hospital. The procedures were successful. 1.5 ml sterilized ethanol (95%) was given to 1 patient and 0.8 ml to the other. The 2 patients were cured and no arrhythmia was found during 32-months and 4-months follow-up period respectively. One patient developed a limited inferior wall myocardial infarction after 1.5 ml ethanol. No other complications were observed. We found that after careful transcoronary mapping with saline and antiarrhythmic drugs, chemical ablation could prevent further episodes of the arrhythmia in selected high risk patients.
Elastic optical networking in the microsoft cloud [Invited]

To keep pace with the tremendous bandwidth growth in cloud networking, web-scale providers, such as Microsoft, have been quick to adopt elastic features of modern optical networks. In particular, colorless flexible-grid reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers, bandwidth-variable transceivers, and the ability to choose a variety of optical source types are integral for cloud network operators to improve network efficiency while supporting a variety of service types. We take an in-depth look at Microsoft's deployed network infrastructure and discuss the impact of elasticity on network capacity and flexibility. As a proof-of-concept, a new elastic open line system (OLS), in which the line system components and the signal sources are disaggregated, was assembled in a laboratory environment, and 4000 km of propagation over primarily nonzero dispersion-shifted fiber using multiple source types is demonstrated. Finally, the long-term goal of unifying the control plane of the OLS, DWDM signal sources, routers, and Ethernet switches under a single software-defined network controller is briefly addressed.
Origin and implications of non-radial Imbrium Sculpture on the Moon

The widespread rimmed grooves, lineations and elongate craters extending from the Imbrium impact basin on the Moon, termed the Imbrium Sculpture, includes a non-radial component that is used to infer that the Imbrium impactor was the size of a proto-planet—about half the diameter of Vesta. The pattern of rimmed grooves, lineations and elongate craters around Mare Imbrium on the Moon has been termed the Imbrium Sculpture. Rather than radiating from the centre of Imbrium, the grooves come from different locations reflecting the consequence of a giant oblique collision. Peter Schultz and David Crawford use the non-radial trends in these patterns to infer that the Imbrium impactor was a proto-planet with a diameter about half that of the asteroid Vesta. On the basis of laboratory impact experiments, shock physics codes and the observed groove widths, the authors conclude that multiple fragments from each oblique basin-forming impactor, such as the one that formed Imbrium, should have survived planetary collisions and contributed to the heavy impact bombardment between 4.3 and 3.8 billion years ago. Rimmed grooves, lineations and elongate craters around Mare Imbrium shape much of the nearside Moon. This pattern was coined the Imbrium Sculpture1, and it was originally argued that it must have been formed by a giant oblique (~30°) impact, a conclusion echoed by later studies2. Some investigators, however, noticed that many elements of the Imbrium Sculpture are not radial to Imbrium, thereby implicating an endogenic or structural origin3,4. Here we use these non-radial trends to conclude that the Imbrium impactor was a proto-planet (half the diameter of Vesta), once part of a population of large proto-planets in the asteroid belt. Such independent constraints on the sizes of the Imbrium and other basin-forming impactors markedly increase estimates for the mass in the asteroid belt before depletion caused by the orbital migration of Jupiter and Saturn5. Moreover, laboratory impact experiments, shock physics codes and the groove widths indicate that multiple fragments (up to 2% of the initial diameter) from each oblique basin-forming impactor, such as the one that formed Imbrium, should have survived planetary collisions and contributed to the heavy impact bombardment between 4.3 and 3.8 billion years ago.
Evolutionary traps as keys to understanding behavioral maladapation

Evolutionary traps are severe cases of behavioral maladaptation that occur when, due to human activity, the cues animals use to guide their behavior become uncoupled from their fitness consequences. The result is that animals can prefer the most dangerous resources or behaviors, even when better options are available. Traps are increasingly common and represent a significant wildlife conservation problem. Understanding of the more proximate sensory-cognitive mechanisms underpinning traps remains poor, which highlights the need for interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to investigating traps. Key to advancing basic trap theory and its conservation applications will be the development of appropriate and tractable model systems to investigate the mechanisms that cause traps within species, and how mechanisms vary across species.
Abstract 149: Regulation of Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Recognition by the Apo A-I Mimetic Peptide 4F

The apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mimetic peptide 4F displays prominent anti-inflammatory properties, including the ability to reduce vascular macrophage content. Macrophages are a heterogenous group...