cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-gridding and signal formation in the kinestatic charge detector for digital mammography

Various designs of the kinestatic charge detector (KCD) have used a Frisch Grid--a planar, meshed electrode sandwiched between the detector's anode and cathode. The grid shields the cathode from effects of drifting ions until they reach the region between the cathode and the grid. Including the grid, however, has made detector design difficult because of electric field non-uniformities and microphonics. Recent studies have shown that the KCD may not need a grid. `Self-gridding,' an effect which produces the same results, occurs when the ratio of cathode's collector width to the drift gap is sufficiently small. The greater this ratio, the more self-gridding takes place. The process of signal formation has been analyzed for the self- gridding geometry using ExcelTM (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA). Detector response to microcalcifications has been simulated by small, drifting volumes with a steep dip in ion count; low-contrast lesions by larger volumes with a shallow dip in ion count. Both of these typical breast lesions can be detected with self-gridding geometry. This geometry will soon be tested in an experiment for validity as a detector design.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Binary instrumentation support for measuring performance in OpenMP programs

In parallel computations, evaluating the causes of poor speedup is an important development activity to reach the goal of creating the most efficient parallel computation possible. In our research on irregular parallel computations, especially graph algorithms, we had specific measurement needs for which a dearth of tools could be found. We created PGOMP, a small library-based profiling tool for the Gnu OpenMP implementation, and show its use here in discovering some of the causes of poor speedup in graph computations.
Reducing Direct and Structural Violence: The Human Needs Theory

Human needs theory offers insights into a range of peacebuilding processes that are involved in the reduction of both direct and structural violence. Human needs theory helps explain why needs for security and identity are often prepotent in interstate wars and in destructive identity conflicts. Because these needs are built into the organism, 1 challenge for peace psychologists is to invent peaceful means for people to satisfy their security and identity needs. In contrast to direct violence, structural violence occurs when economic and political structures systematically deprive need satisfaction for certain segments of society. When economic deprivation occurs, the need for well-being is not satisfied, resulting in deficits in human growth and development. Politically, structural violence engenders the systematic deprivation of the need for self-determination. Six propositions on direct and structural violence are advanced, including the proposition that a just and sustainable peace will require, at a ...
The effects of a morphological cue and of distinctive verbal labels on the transposition responses of three-, four-, and five-year olds

Abstract This study tests for mediation in a transposition task and presents evidence bearing on the mediational-deficiency hypothesis. Stimuli to be used in transposition training were prelabeled with nonsense syllables. Under one treatment, a morphological cue for relationship (- er ) was included; in another, distinctive verbal labels were learned. A third treatment provided familiarity but no labels. All analyses indicated that the - er morpheme had had a facilitative effect on the relational thinking of the older children under the far test. The labels containing a morphological signal, while learned at all three age levels, seemed to control behavior to a greater extent at CA 5. The results provide support for the mediational-deficiency hypothesis.
A dry redox couple employed as the reference material in work function and corrosion potential measurements by the Kelvin technique

Abstract The sensitivity to the nature of the surrounding gas phase of materials hitherto employed as the reference surface in work function measurements made by the Kelvin technique causes serious problems of interpretation of measurements. By measuring the work function of Ag/AgCl films against bulk redox Ag/AgCl, LiCl systems of different humidities in both nitrogen and oxygen, it has been possible to demonstrate the insensitivity of the Ag/AgCl film to changes of humidity as well as its excellent stability over time. Some applications of this new Kelvin probe material are presented.
Outsourcing to teleradiology companies: bad for radiology, bad for radiologists.

Outsourcing night and weekend call to teleradiology companies has become a common practice among private radiology groups. While this may lead to an easier lifestyle, the authors discuss the serious negative consequences for radioligists and the specialty as a whole. These include the likelihood of commoditization of the field, lowering of fees, displacement from hospital contracts and outpatient reading contracts, greater encroachment by other specialties, and lowering of quality.
ATP-mediated potassium recycling in the cochlear supporting cells

Gap junction-mediated K+ recycling in the cochlear supporting cell has been proposed to play a critical role in hearing. However, how potassium ions enter into the supporting cells to recycle K+ remains undetermined. In this paper, we report that ATP can mediate K+ sinking to recycle K+ in the cochlear supporting cells. We found that micromolar or submicromolar levels of ATP could evoke a K+-dependent inward current in the cochlear supporting cells. At negative membrane potentials and the resting membrane potential of −80 mV, the amplitude of the ATP-evoked inward current demonstrated a linear relationship to the extracellular concentration of K+, increasing as the extracellular concentration of K+ increased. The inward current also increased as the concentration of ATP was increased. In the absence of ATP, there was no evoked inward current for extracellular K+ challenge in the cochlear supporting cells. The ATP-evoked inward current could be inhibited by ionotropic purinergic (P2X) receptor antagonists. Application of pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS, 50 µM) or pre-incubation with an irreversible P2X7 antagonist oxidized ATP (oATP, 0.1 mM) completely abolished the ATP-evoked inward current at the negative membrane potential. ATP also evoked an inward current at cell depolarization, which could be inhibited by intracellular Cs+ and eliminated by positive holding potentials. Our data indicate that ATP can activate P2X receptors to recycle K+ in the cochlear supporting cells at the resting membrane potential under normal physiological and pathological conditions. This ATP-mediated K+ recycling may play an important role in the maintenance of cochlear ionic homeostasis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11302-010-9184-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with a series of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyls at 299 ± 2 K

Relative rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with a series of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls have been determined at 299 ± 2 K, using methyl nitrite photolysis in air as a source of OH radicals. Using a rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with propene of 2.52 × 10−11 cm3/molec·s, the rate constants obtained are (× 1011 cm3/molec·s: acrolein, 1.83 ± 0.13; crotonaldehyde, 3.50 ± 0.40; methacrolein, 2.85 ± 0.23; and methylvinylketone, 1.88 ± 0.14). These data, which are necessary input to chemical computer models of the NOx–air photooxidations of conjugated dialkenes, are discussed and compared with literature values.
Better Pen-and-Paper Surveys for Transportation Research in Developing Countries: A Modified, Stated Preference, Pivoting Approach

In developing countries, the rapid pace of socioeconomic and technological change necessitates the use of quick-response survey methods. Transportation researchers often work with limited budgets in environments with relatively low rates of computer and Internet access. Such conditions can preclude the use of the computer-assisted survey methods that are preferred for conducting research in industrialized countries. This paper describes novel methods for low-cost and high-quality data collection in a data-poor environment. The context is a stated preference (SP) experiment to estimate adoption of bikeshare and electric bikeshare in Beijing, but the methods are transferable. Two main methodological contributions are described. The first is a unique survey design that allows SP pivoting to occur within a single pen-and-paper interview (PAPI). For small- to medium-sized surveys, this design is often more cost-effective than traditional pivoting methods that require either a multistage PAPI survey or computer...
The interface of race and accounting: the case of Hawaiian sugar plantations, 1835-1920

This paper explores the interface of race and accounting on Hawaiian sugar plantations during the 1835-1920 period. The data examined at the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association (HSPA) archives indicate that Caucasian and ethnically Hawaiian workers were paid significantly higher wages and held a disproportionately larger number of managerial positions than Asian counterparts. In addition, workers from different ethnic groups were imported at various times to stem an existing group's solidarity and demands for higher wages and better conditions. We review the accounting techniques used on the plantations and provide examples showing how the HSPA employed racist policies, controlled labour, and instituted productivity and cost control measures. The archives examined contain an extensive amount of data on worker attendance and field productivity; however, they include no records on the performance of individual workers. The absence of these data suggests that race rather than efficiency served as the primar...
Doppler power variation from porcine blood under steady and pulsatile flow

Although a number of recent studies have demonstrated that the echogenicity of blood varies as a function of time under pulsatile flow, the fundamental mechanisms responsible for it are still uncertain. To better understand this phenomenon, the Doppler power from porcine blood and polystyrene microsphere suspensions was measured at the center of the tube as functions of two crucial parameters, flow velocity and stroke rate (for pulsatile flow), under steady and pulsatile flow in a mock flow loop. In the present study, the experimental results were obtained with a 10-MHz pulsed Doppler system with a frequency response estimated more accurately by electronic injection, and validated by comparing to the radiofrequency (RF) signal acquired from the same Doppler instrument. The results show that the Doppler power from microspheres and porcine red blood cell (RBC) suspensions did not vary appreciably (< 2 dB), with either the speed or stroke rate (for pulsatile flow only) under steady and pulsatile flow. It was found that the Doppler power from porcine whole blood under steady flow decreased with the speed by approximately 13 dB from 3 to 33 cm/s and was only 3 dB higher than that from RBC suspension at 33 cm/s, suggesting minimal RBC aggregation in whole blood at this speed. The apparent cyclic variation from whole blood was observed at 20 and 40 beats/min (BPM). The cyclic variation became more obvious as the speed and stroke rate decreased. The mean Doppler power over a cycle increased as the peak speed decreased. The Doppler power reached a maximum near peak systole and a minimum at late diastole at the center of the tube. This pattern cannot be explained by RBC aggregation due to the shear rate alone, and may be attributed to acceleration and deceleration along with aggregation. The cyclic variation was not observed at 60 BPM, probably because of a lack of time for aggregation to occur.
Two-Way Analysis of Variance Using Means and Standard Deviations

In an earlier article published in this journal, Gordon (1973) demonstrated how to compute an ANOVA F-ratio from nothing more than a table of means and standard deviations. Here, it is shown how to accomplish this same goal in two-factor designs. To point out the value of the simple formulas presented, a table from a recently published article is found to contain a large error.
Pilot Flame Effects on Gas Jet Flames in Crossflow

Flame structure, which includes the radiation power and temperature profiles, soot concentration profiles, and pollutants emissions (NO, NO x , CO, and CO 2 ) of propane and propylene gas diffusion flames with and without ahydrogen pilot flame in crossflow is presented. All of the profiles were obtained at a distance of 50% of the total flame length from the burner. The purpose was to investigate the effects of a pilot flame on the structure of flames in crossflow. The fuel was injected vertically into a horizontal airstream through a burner. The flames at nonpiloted conditions were partially or completely detached form the burner. For the piloted flames, hydrogen was added to completely attach the flames to the burner. Experiments were conducted at two different crossflow speeds, 2.68 m/s and 3.58 m/s. The piloted flames, in general, had lower emissions of NO, NO x , and CO 2 . The temperature profiles in all flames showed a peak near the flame center. The pilot flame did not significantly influence the flame temperature profiles at the crossflow speed of 2.68 m/s. However, at 3.58 m/s, the overall flame temperature for both fuels was lower in the piloted flames. The nonpiloted detached flame showed higher concentrations of NO x , CO 2 , and O 2 , but had a lower soot concentration. All of the piloted flames appeared to be longer and narrower compared to detached flames. Piloted flames also produced higher radiation, produced more smoke, and appeared more luminous than detached flames.
The influence of the interface on the strength and elastic properties of low aspect ratio fibre composites

The strength and elastic properties of randomly distributed low aspect ratio fibre composites were investigated. The fibre-matrix interfacial conditions were varied by applying various surface treatments to the fibres. The influence of the interfacial bond on the strengths of such composites was demonstrated.
Changes in mouse oocyte membrane potential and permeability during meiotic maturation

Mouse oocytes spontaneously undergo meiotic maturation when removed from the ovary and cultured in vitro. This paper describes the changes in cell surface membrane potential from the germinal vesicle (GV) stage (- 46 mV, inside negative), through germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) (- 31 mV), to the polar body (PB) stage (- 17 mV). Radioisotope tracer flux experiments established the total exchangeable internal K at the GV stage in 190 mM, the K efflux rate coefficient as 6.7 X 10(-5) sec-1) and the K permeability as 46.7 X 10(-8) cm sec-1. In comparison with previous results with PB stage oocytes, this suggests that the membrane potential depolarization is caused largely by a decrease in K permeability. When GVBD is blocked with 0.11 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the membrane potential does not depolarize. This suggests a linkage between depolarization and GVBD. However, incubation in 80 mM K medium, which depolarizes the oocyte, does not trigger GVBD. It is concluded that membrane depolarization by itself is not sufficient to cause GVBD.
Comparison of calcium mobilization in response to noradrenaline and acetylcholine in submandibular cells of newborn and adult rats.

The response of mature and immature rat submandibular cells to alpha-receptor stimulation was compared in terms of the generation of inositol triphosphate (IP3) and Ca2+ mobilization, and of how the calcium mobilization response affects acetycholine (ACh)-induced Ca2+ mobilization. In mature cells, noradrenaline (NA) caused much smaller IP3 and Ca2+ responses than ACh. However, the Ca2+ release induced by NA was enough to partially discharge an agonist-sensitive store and to reduce Ca2+ release by a subsequent ACh stimulus. Exposure to NA also caused an influx of Ca2+ in the mature cells, which was largely associated with Ca2+ entry induced by store depletion (i.e. capacitative entry). In the immature submandibular cells of newborn rats, NA caused essentially no IP3 response and a small Ca2+ release, which only partially affected the Ca2+ released by a subsequent exposure to ACh. In contrast to adult cells, immature cells did not show an increased Ca2+ influx after exposure to NA. However, prestimulation with this agonist potentiated the Ca2+ influx activated by ACh in the cells of newborn rats, but not in cells of adult rats. As both mature and immature submandibular cells have a well-developed phosphoinositide turnover response to ACh, the findings in mature cells suggest a less efficient coupling between alpha-receptors and phospholipase C, while those in immature cells suggest that this coupling is even less functional in the early stages of postnatal development. In permeabilized and 45Ca(2+)-loaded mature cells, cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) released 13.4% of loaded 45Ca2+ and this release was significantly reduced by pre-exposure to IP3. Similarly, pre-exposure to cADPR also reduced the IP3-induced 45Ca2+ release. It is concluded that: (1) stimulation with NA induces a smaller Ca2+ release in mature and immature submandibular cells than ACh; (2) the mediator for this small Ca2+ mobilization may be cADPR; and (3) NA stimulates capacitative Ca2+ entry in mature cells, but not in immature cells, and it also activates a Ca2+ entry pathway distinct from the one induced by store depletion, particularly in immature cells.
Improved random graph isomorphism

Canonical labeling of a graph consists of assigning a unique label to each vertex such that the labels are invariant under isomorphism. Such a labeling can be used to solve the graph isomorphism problem. We give a simple, linear time, high probability algorithm for the canonical labeling of a G(n,p) random graph for p@?[@w(ln^4n/nlnlnn),1-@w(ln^4n/nlnlnn)]. Our result covers a gap in the range of p in which no algorithm was known to work with high probability. Together with a previous result by Bollobas, the random graph isomorphism problem can be solved efficiently for p@?[@Q(lnn/n),1-@Q(lnn/n)].
Emotions emerge from more basic psychological ingredients: A modern psychological constructionist model

Over a century ago, William James outlined the first psychological constructionist model of emotion, arguing that emotions are phenomena constructed of more basic psychological parts. In this artic...
COUPLED-MICROSTRIP BANDPASS SINC FILTERS FOR BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

A bandpass microwave sinc filter using coupled microstrip circuits is described. The filter contains three elements; a coupled line filter which creates the main lobe and zeros, a Butterworth filter to reduce out-of-band energy, and an isolation element. Results for a 2.35 GHz filter matched to a 110 MHz chip rate are shown.
Prepyloric antral diaphragm: Delays in treatment

Six cases of prepyloric antral diaphragm were encounteredat Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron between 1965 and 1985, with approximately 150 cases reported in the literature during this time. In our series, a delay from onset of symptoms to treatment existed for a period of 4 months to 6 years. We suggest that prompt endoscopic confirmation and surgical therapy for this lesion, when suspected by clinical and radiologic abnormalities, would decrease the physical and psychologic morbidity of unexplained recurrent vomiting in these children.
Effects of Ultrasmall Orifices on the Electrogeneration of Femtoliter-Volume Aqueous Droplets

The ability to generate individual picoliter- and femtoliter-volume aqueous droplets on demand is useful for encapsulating and chemically manipulating discrete chemical and biological samples. This paper characterizes the effects of orifice dimensions and material choices on generating such droplets in an immiscible oil phase by using single high-voltage pulses with various amplitudes and durations. We have examined microfluidic orifices as small as 1.7 μm in equivalent radii and found that the electrohydrodynamic jet lengths and the subsequent formation of droplets are affected by the axial aspect ratios of the orifices (length of an orifice divided by its equivalent radius). As higher voltages were used to compensate for the increased capillary pressure and hydrodynamic resistance in ultrasmall orifices, we observed secondary jet protrusions and droplet formations that were not of classical electrohydrodynamic origin. The droplets generated from secondary jets traveled at relatively lower velocities as ...
HIPS-2 software for image processing: goals and directions

HIPS-2 is a set of image processing modules which provides a powerful suite of tools for those interested in research, system development, and teaching. In this paper we first review the design considerations used to develop HIPS-2 from its predecessor (HIPS). Then, a number of further developments are outlined which are under consideration. These include the development of a graphical user interface, more general approaches to color from the standpoint of color reproduction and linear models of color, and extensions to the software and data format to deal with production-oriented tasks.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Geometric effects of mixing in 2D granular tumblers using discrete models

Discrete models are an effective method to study mixing of granular materials in a variety of cases. We study the mixing of monodisperse granular materials in 2D tumblers rotating in the avalanching regime using two different discrete models. First, we develop a cellular automata (CA) model based on comparing the heights of columns of particles in the CA grid that results in irregular avalanching and mixing of particles. Second, we use a model based on mapping of wedge regions that has been shown to reproduce experimental results. We compare mixing of like particles in tumblers of various shapes and fill fractions using both models. Mixing rates for half-full tumblers demonstrate a strong dependence on the symmetries of the tumbler shape. More than half-full tumblers give rise to a core of unmixed particles with a shape that changes with fill fraction. This results in multiple extrema in the mixing rate depending on the fill fraction. Mixing is fastest for low fill fractions, and triangular tumblers provide the quickest mixing. While the wedge and CA models produce quantitatively similar results, the cellular automata model is substantially more flexible and typically runs in an order of magnitude less time. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 53: 1151–1158, 2007
Seeing White Men: Bias in Gender Categorization

The gender system operates to place members of US society into categories, and then allocate labor and resources to those members on the basis of their category membership. In order to better understand the gender system, this study examines the methods by which members of US society use the gender system to place other members into a gender category, and how other social systems such as age and race affect gender categorization. Full and partial facial images were shown to participants, who were asked to identify the sex and/or gender of the individual in the image, indicate how confident they were in this identification, and then write a brief explanation for why they identified the individual in the image as they did. The results of this study point towards an “assumed male” bias in gender categorization. Results suggest that while age has little effect on gender categorization, race and gender do, with respondents being the most confident and “accurate” when viewing self-categorized white males.
Uniqueness of locally optimal quantizer for log-concave density and convex error weighting function

It is desired to encode a random variable X using an N -level quantizer Q to minimize the expected distortion E \rho(|X-Q(X))I) , where the error weighting function \rho is convex, strictly increasing and continuously differentiable. It is shown that if X has a log-concave density, then there exists a unique locally optimal quantizer Q \ast and Lloyd's Method I may be used to find Q \ast . Trushkin had earlier shown this result for the error weighting functions \rho (t) \equiv t and \rho(t) \euiv t^{2} .
Early Clinical Experience With Argon Ion Laser Endarterectomy

This report describes our progress in the development of argon ion laser endarterectomy for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Nine patients underwent 10 vascular reconstructions for claudication (6), rest pain (1), and gangrene (2). There was 1 aortoiliac endarterectomy, 6 superficial femoral artery endarterectomies, 1 profunda femoris endarterectomy and 2 popliteal endarterectomies. The reconstructions were 6 cm to 60 cm in length. The operations were performed using low power argon ion laser radiation, 1.0 W. All patients experienced symptomatic relief and had palpable pulses postoperatively. There were no perforations and there were no injuries to surrounding tissues from laser radiation. Surgical complications occurred and these were technical problems that should be eliminated from the operation with further developments. The early clinical results show that laser endarterectomy can be performed for peripheral vascular reconstruction using low power argon ion laser radiation.
Posterior Ankle Impingement: Clarification and Confirmation of the Pathoanatomy

The diagnosis of posterior hindfoot pain may prove to be elusive as there are many potential causes of hindfoot pain, including both soft tissue and osseous abnormalities. This is a case presentation of os trigonum syndrome, with the diagnosis suggested by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), confirmed by ultrasound, and treated with os trigonum resection. Specific findings of os trigonum syndrome can be seen on MRI, including bone marrow edema pattern and high signal intensity in the synchondrosis as well as in the surrounding soft tissues. Diagnostic injections performed with imaging guidance can help confirm the diagnosis in equivocal cases. Diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures can help confirm the diagnosis of os trigonum syndrome in a patient presenting with hindfoot pain.
Reworking Autonomy: Toward a Feminist Perspective

The principled approach to theory building that has been a conspicuous mark of bioethical theory for the past generation has in recent years fallen under considerable critical scrutiny. Although some critics have confined themselves to reordering the dominant principles, others have rejected a principled approach entirely and turned to alternative paradigms. Prominent among critics are antiprin-ciplists, who want to jettison the principle-based approach altogether and adopt a casuistic (case-specific) model, and communitarians, who favor an eclectic model combining features of both the casuistic model and a modified principled approach. Particularly conspicuous in virtually all such critiques is their challenge to the preeminence of the principle of autonomy. Critical barbs have been aimed not only at theories favoring a hierarchical ordering of moral principles that give first place to autonomy, but also at those that include autonomy among a set of ostensibly coequal principles. Though these critics have performed a valued function by displacing bioethical principles from their Olympian perch beyond actual decision-making contexts, some version of the principle of autonomy may, nonetheless, be well worth defending but for very different reasons than those put forward by its supporters.
Overt and Relational Aggression on the Playground: Correspondence Among Different Informants

Abstract Recent research has focused on subtypes of children's aggressive behavior (e.g., instrumental, bullying, relational). However, little work with preschool children has explored intermethod agreement involving teacher ratings, peer behavior nominations, and playground behavior observations for these three different forms of aggression. This study attempted to fill this gap in the literature by using all three methods to examine aggressive subtypes of playground behavior in preschool as related to SES and gender. Data involving aggressive behavior of 241 4- to 5-year-old children in Head Start and university preschool programs were collected from peers, teachers, and observers. Results indicated that peers, teachers, and observers differentiated between general categories of relational aggression and overt aggression. However, peers did not distinguish between overt instrumental and bullying aggression. Peers viewed relational aggression, but not overt aggression, as being associated with anger and ...
Intelligent Decision Support for Aircraft Logistics at Commercial Airports

For airline traffic at major commercial airports, systems of staged queues are employed to coordinate flight and ground operations of independent carriers with some competing and some collective interests. System performance is affected by the concentration of airlines' flight schedules, resources allocated for gate operations, taxiway and ramp layouts, air traffic control procedures for aircraft on the ground and in the air, adverse weather conditions, traffic backups at major connecting hubs, etc. We present a conceptual framework and discrete-event simulation model for examining how changes in airport design, ground resources, operating procedures and sequencing techniques for traffic movements affect different stakeholders.
Changes in Role Orientations of Women A Study of Sex Role Traditionalism over a Five-Year Period

Longitudinal data were used to estimate the extent to which changes in life situations affected sex role traditionalism of women during a five-year period. An overall decrease in traditionalism was found, which was more pronounced for younger women. Multiple regression analysis indicated that experiences such as becoming married, having a child, and becoming employed were associated with lessened traditionalism. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Presence of BACE1 and BACE2 in muscle fibres of patients with sporadic inclusion-body myositis

Sporadic inclusion-body myositis (IBM) is the most common, progressive muscle disease of older individuals. We investigated the presence of BACE1 and BACE2-two beta secretases that cleave amyloid-beta-precursor protein-in muscle-biopsy samples from patients with IBM and from controls. On immunofluorescence, BACE1 and BACE2 co-localised with amyloid beta in IBM vacuolated muscle fibres, but were not found in controls. Immunoblotting showed increased BACE2 but not BACE1 in patients with IBM compared with controls. Our study suggests that both of these proteases might participate in processing of amyloid-beta-precursor protein in IBM muscle fibres.
Conference Scene: 2nd Cancer Epigenetics Conference

The GTC Cancer Summit: Novel Approaches to Drug Discovery was divided into two parallel tracks: the 2nd Cancer Epigenetics Conference, and the Protein Kinases and Drug Design Conference. The 2nd Cancer Epigenetics Conference focused on exciting changes in drug discovery that include an unprecedented private and public collaboration on drug discovery in epigenetics through the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), which has led to several major breakthroughs including: the development of small-molecule inhibitors that interfere with protein interactions, especially bromodomain-containing protein acetylation readers; the indirect but successful targeting of the elusive MYC oncogene; and the identification of epigenetic drugs that are disease-specific. Also reported were the development of clinically useful DNA methylation assays; cell, peptide and protein arrays for testing antibody- and protein-binding specificity; and tools for chromatin capture and DNA modification analysis. Several groups reported on the lack of specificity of some commercial, but unnamed, antibodies used for epigenetic studies.
Refine ment of the modified r elative dose response (MRDR) assay as a method to assess vitamin A status of humans

The modified relative dose response (MRDR) assay is a minimally invasive method of detecting marginal vitamin A status. In the present study, the MRDR assay was performed four times in six well-nourished adults and in one male 5-yold child over a 7-month period. In all instances, assay ratios of dehydroretinol (DR) to retinol (R) were <0.030, the tentative cutoff value of "normal" for the MRDR assay in humans. The mean ratio for all time points for all individuals was 0.015 + 0.005, with a mean coefficient of variation of 27 + 13%. In a related experiment, both MRDR and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) tests were conducted on nine adults and the same male child. All DR/R ratios were <0.02, and all CIC specimens were normal. Thus, the DR/R ratio in well-nourished individuals, although showing some variation, does not oscillate between abnormal and normal responses. Furthermore, the DR/R ratios and CIC patterns were fully concordant.
Age-related changes in cardiovascular response as a function of a chronic stressor and social support.

The effects of aging, chronic stress, and social support on cardiovascular functioning were examined using a cross-sectional design. Thirty-six family caregivers of Alzheimer's disease victims and 34 control Ss performed 2 active coping tasks while continuous noninvasive measures of cardiovascular activity were monitored. Results revealed that caregivers high in social support displayed typical age-related decreases in heart-rate reactivity, whereas caregivers low in social support displayed age-related increases in heart-rate reactivity. Analyses further indicated that only Ss with low social support were characterized by age-related increases in systolic blood pressure. These results suggest that social support can moderate age-related changes in cardiovascular functioning, particularly in Ss exposed to a chronic stressor. Age-related changes in cardiovascula r functioning are well documented, but the potential impact of social factors on these changes has not received much attention. Studies of age and its relation to cardiovascular functioning suggest that (a) physiological and chronological age are not isomorphic (Smith, 1984) and (b) social factors may play a role in the aging process (Editorial, 1981; Szklo, 1979). Our aim was to examine the potential contribution of social factors on age-related changes in cardiovascular functioning. We pursued this aim along two fronts. First, we sought to examine the moderating effects of a chronic stressor (i.e., caregiving responsibilities for a family member with Alzheimer's disease) on the relationship between chronological age and cardiovascular functioning. Second, because of a substantial social component in caregiving stress (e.g., Biegel, Sales, & Schulz, 1991) and the putative stress-buffering effects of social support, we examined the potential moderating effect of perceived social support on cardiovascula r functioning in young and elderly caregivers.
Interstitial cystitis coexisting with vulvar vestibulitis in a 4-year-old girl

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a disorder that is difficult to diagnose and is thought to be uncommon in children. We report the first case of IC coexisting with vulvar vestibulitis in a 4-year-old girl. She presented with urinary symptoms and pelvic and vulvar pain. Cystoscopic and histological investigation confirmed interstitial cystitis and vulvar vestibulitis. Gynecologists are often called upon to deal with symptoms referable to the genital tract. It is important to always include interstitial cystitis in the differential diagnosis of urinary symptoms associated with pelvic pain.
Automatic Construction of Large-Scale Regular Expression Matching Engines on FPGA

We present algorithms for implementing large-scale regular expression matching (REM) on FPGA. Based on the proposed algorithms, we develop tools that first transform regular expressions into corresponding non-deterministic finite automata (RE-NFA), then convert the RE-NFA into structural VHDL that utilize both logic slices and block memory (BRAM) available on modern FPGA devices. An n-state m-character input regular expression matching engine (REME) can be constructed in O (n times m log2 m) time using O (n times m) memory space, resulting in a circuit that occupies no more than O (n times m) slices on FPGA. A large number of REMEs are placed automatically onto a two-dimensional staged pipeline, allowing scalability to hundreds of REMEs with linear area increase, running at over 300 MHz on Xilinx Virtex 4 devices.
Uncertainty Management in Personalized Recommendation for E-commerce

In an e-commerce environment, the magnitude of products and the diversity of venders cause confusion and difficulty to choose the right product from a trustworthy vender. Although people have recognized the importance of feedbacks and reputations for the trustworthiness of individual venders and products, they remain uncertain when they have to define and enforce their own rules to use these different types of information. This paper introduces fuzzy logic into policy definition and enforcement in personalized recommendation for shopping decisions. Applications of this system into different e-commerce environments such as e-shopping and e-auction sites show that this novel tool can provide a convenient and accurate recommendation platform for common shoppers in the e-commerce environment.
Age differences in fluid intelligence: Contributions of general slowing and frontal decline

The current study examined the contributions of general slowing and frontal decline to age differences in fluid intelligence. Participants aged 20-89 years completed Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, simple reaction time, choice reaction time, Wisconsin Card Sorting, and Tower of London tasks. Age-related declines in fluid intelligence, speed of processing, and frontal function were observed. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that the processing speed and frontal function measures accounted for significant variance in fluid intelligence performance, but there was also a residual effect of age after controlling for each variable individually as well as both variables. An additional analysis showed that the variance in fluid intelligence that was attributable to processing speed was not fully shared with the variance attributable to frontal function. These findings suggest that the age-related decline in fluid intelligence is due to general slowing and frontal decline, as well as other unidentified factors.
Heterogeneous catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation: Use of a polymer-bound alkaloid

By employing polymer-bound alkaloid derivatives, heterogeneous catalytic asymmetric dihydroxylation has been achieved with good to excellent enantioselectivities in the dihydroxylation of trans-stilbene. It has also been shown that the OsO4-polymer complex can be used for iterative processes.
Synaptobrevin Transmembrane Domain Influences Exocytosis by Perturbing Vesicle Membrane Curvature

Membrane fusion requires that nearly flat lipid bilayers deform into shapes with very high curvature. This makes membrane bending a critical force in determining fusion mechanisms. A lipid bilayer will bend spontaneously when material is distributed asymmetrically between its two monolayers, and its spontaneous curvature (C0) will influence the stability of curved fusion intermediates. Prior work on Ca2+-triggered exocytosis revealed that fusion pore lifetime (τ) varies with vesicle content (Q), and showed that this relation reflects membrane bending energetics. Lipids that alter C0 change the dependence of τ on Q. These results suggested that the greater stability of an initial exocytotic fusion pore associated with larger vesicles reflects the need to bend more membrane during fusion pore dilation. In this study, we explored the possibility of manipulating C0 by mutating the transmembrane domain (TMD) of the vesicle membrane protein synaptobrevin 2 (syb2). Amperometric measurements of exocytosis in mouse chromaffin cells revealed that syb2 TMD mutations altered the relation between τ and Q. The effects of these mutations showed a striking periodicity, changing sign as the structural perturbation moved through the inner and outer leaflets. Some glycine and charge mutations also influenced the dependence of τ on Q in a manner consistent with expected changes in C0. These results suggest that side chains in the syb2 TMD influence the kinetics of exocytosis by perturbing the packing of the surrounding lipids. The present results support the view that membrane bending occurs during fusion pore expansion rather than during fusion pore formation. This supports the view of an initial fusion pore through two relatively flat membranes formed by protein.
Comparative functional effects of chronic ventricular demand and atrial synchronous ventricular inhibited pacing.

We compared the effects of chronic ventricular inhibited (VVI) and atrial synchronous ventricular inhibited (VDD) pacing on functional capacity in 8 patients with complete atrioventricular heart block. Permanent VDD (Medtronic #2409, ASVIP) pacemakers were implanted in four men and four women (age range 27-76 years, mean 58.9 +/- 18.4 years), and randomly assigned to a three-month period of VDD or VVI pacing in this single blinded, crossover study. Functional capacity was assessed by questionnaire, graded treadmill exercise testing and radionuclide angiocardiography prior to pacemaker implant and following each pacing period. Following 3 months of pacing in each of VVI and VDD pacing modes, maximum heart rate (83.4 +/- 14 vs 134.9 +/- 16.4 beats/min, p less than 0.001) and double product (147.5 +/- 58.3 vs 218.9 +/- 52.7, p less than .001) were greater with VDD pacing. Although exercise duration on treadmill exercise testing (5.3 +/- 2.9 vs 6.9 +/- 3.1 minutes, p less than 0.1) was greater in the VDD mode, the difference was not significant. Similarly, there was no significant difference in functional capacity as measured by questionnaire scores (50.1 +/- 8.4 vs 46.9 +/- 8.9, p less than 0.1) or in left ventricular ejection fraction for the two pacing modes (.54 vs .55, p less than .5). Only one patient reported a subjective improvement with physiologic (VDD) pacing, whereas the remaining patients stated no preference. We conclude that VDD pacing offers improved maximal cardiac work during exercise compared to VVI pacing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An Internal Feedback Traveling-Wave-Tube Oscillator

A theory of operation neglecting space charge is presented for the internal feedback traveling-wave-tube oscillator. Experimental results, obtained from an oscillator using a helix as the interaction structure, are shown to agree closely with the theory. A brief discussion of oscillators operating on space harmonics is given, and it is suggested that an oscillator operating on the space-harmonic principle might have desirable characteristics for a millimeter wave generator.
Early Invasiveness Characterizes Metastatic Carcinoid Tumors in Transgenic Mice

The conversion of a normal cell into a metastatic tumor is thought to occur in a stepwise progression of genetic changes that affect both growth control and interactions with the extracellular environment. The development of invasiveness allows tumor cells to escape from their primary site. We have investigated transgenic mice that develop both invasive intestinal neuroendocrine tumors and noninvasive tumors of the pancreatic beta-cells. Visual inspection and gene expression studies indicate that the beta-cell tumors rarely metastasize. In contrast, intestinal tumors that first appear in submucosal areas metastasize with high frequency to the lymph nodes and liver. No evidence of preneoplastic mucosal lesions was seen in the intestine, indicating that invasiveness is acquired early in the tumorigenic progression of these cells. Comparison of intestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in transgenic mice suggests that an early requirement for invasiveness may contribute to metastatic potential.
Differential sampling measurement of a 7 V rms sine wave and a programmable Josephson voltage standard

A 10 V programmable Josephson voltage standard has enabled sine waves with rms voltages up to 7 V to be accurately measured with differential sampling methods. This paper reviews the challenges and limitations of differential sampling that arise when rms voltages greater than a few volts are measured. Preliminary measurements confirmed the capability of the NIST 10 V Josephson array to perform this task and emphasize the need for highly stable and low-phase-noise ac sine wave voltage sources in order to further reduce the measurement uncertainty.1
Pregnancy and Exogenous Steroid Treatments Modulate the Expression of Relaxant EP2 and Contractile FP Receptors in the Rat Uterus

Abstract Prostaglandins (PGs) interact with specific receptors on plasma membranes to regulate myometrial activity in many species. The present study examined whether the expression of relaxant prostaglandin E receptor subtype two (EP2) and contractile prostaglandin F receptor (FP) mRNA in the rat uterus is changed during various states of pregnancy and regulated by steroid hormones. Expression of mRNA for EP2 and FP receptors in the full-thickness uteri was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Abundance of receptor mRNA was expressed relative to β-actin mRNA. Results showed that 1) mRNA for EP2 receptors in the rat uterus was substantially increased during pregnancy (320%) compared with the nonpregnant state (100%, P < 0.01), and declined during labor at term (36% vs. 100% in control, P < 0.01); 2) mRNA expression for FP receptors in rat uterus was increased during pregnancy (333% vs. 100% in nonpregnant rats, P < 0.01) and reached maximal levels during labo...
The use of sports references in marketing of food and beverage products in supermarkets.

Objective:Food marketing has been identified as a significant driver of the childhood obesity epidemic. The purpose of the present study was to (i) conduct a content analysis of the types of sports references that appear on supermarket food and beverage products and (ii) assess each product’s nutritional and marketing profile. Design:This was a descriptive study. Every product featuring sports references on the packaging was purchased in two major supermarkets during 2010. A content analysis was conducted and nutritional evaluations were made based on the Nutrient Profile Model, a validated nutrition model. Marketing data were obtained from The Nielsen Company. Setting:Two major supermarkets in Connecticut, USA. Subjects:Food and beverage products (n102) were selected from two supermarkets. Results:The 102 products (fifty-three foods and forty-nine beverages) had sports references as part of their packaging: 72?5% featured a character exercising, 42?2% were endorsed by a professional sports entity and 34?0% were child-targeted. The median nutrition score for food products was 36 (15unhealthiest and 1005healthiest; scores of$63 are considered healthy according to this model). More than two-thirds of beverages (69?4%) were 100% sugar-sweetened. Children saw significantly more commercials for these products than adults. Conclusions:Companies place sports figures on food and beverage products that are child-targeted and unhealthy.