cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PEDERASTY, HEROISM, AND THE FAMILY IN CLASSICAL GREECE

Male homosexuality in Classical Greece found its expression in relationships that conformed to a pederastic model. This socially endorsed hierarchical relationship between older lover and younger beloved can be understood as an integral part of the culture by examining the concept of heroism and of the ideal warrior/hero presented in the poems of Homer and discussed in classical literature. Pederasty functioned to support the family and the continued primacy of masculine values and ethics. There is evidence that by the Classical period, traditional views, formed on the model of the warrior/hero, were undergoing a weakening and confusion. Social critics of the time rediculed these weaknesses and urged a return to values that stressed the dominance and strength of the hero.
Amiodarone: correlation of early and late electrophysiologic studies with outcome.

Abstract Twenty-nine patients with recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or cardiac arrest underwent baseline, early (after 2 weeks of therapy) and late (after 5 months, mean) electrophysiologic studies during oral amiodarone therapy. Inducible sustained VT was present in all patients at baseline study, in 21 of 22 at early and in 26 of 29 at late study. The cycle length of induced VT increased from 263 ± 60 msec at baseline study to 305 ± 58 msec at early follow-up study and to 318 ± 64 msec at late study ( p p p p
Imitation, Comprehension, and Production of Grammatical Structures.

The purpose of the study was to gather baseline data from 147 Southern urban higher status white and lower status white and black 4-year-old boys and girls on measures of their ability to imitate, comprehend, and produce selected grammatical structures. The children were given the Brown, Fraser, Bellugi Test of Grammatical Contrasts. The higher status white group performed significantly better on all three tasks than did either of the lower status groups. The tasks ordered in difficulty: comprehension = imitation > production. An alternate scoring system was devised to account for possible dialect differences between the test and the lower status children.
Selective dissolution and one step separation of terpene trilactones in ginkgo leaf extracts for GC-FID determination

Abstract Under ultrasonication, the ginkgo terpene trilactones, ginkgolides and bilobalide, in ginkgo extracts can be selectively dissolved in 10% aqueous NaH2PO4 solution at a temperature of 50–60°C and separated from the solution by extraction with a mixture of ethyl acetate/tetrahydrofuran in a capped vial. After derivatization, these terpene trilactones can be quantified using GC-FID. This method has a detection limit of 10 ng, and the RSD was 6% (n=5). Twelve commercial GBE products in powder, liquid, tablet and capsule forms were analyzed. The total time required for analyzing these samples from sample preparation to final data processing was less than 6 h, and the total organic solvent consumption was less than 40 ml. This procedure proves to be a simple, fast, safe, and effective method for all types of Ginkgo biloba extracts (GBE) including the “complex” or “advanced” formulas.
Forward masked excitation patterns in multielectrode electrical stimulation

Across-channel interactions in multi-electrode cochlear implant patients may be critical to their performance in the natural auditory environment. One measure of channel interaction can be obtained using forward masking. The patterns of threshold shift were obtained as a function of the separation between masker and probe electrode pairs in four Nucleus-implanted patients with varying levels of speech recognition. In the three subjects with better speech recognition (N4, N7, and N13), the masking patterns showed the least parameter dependence. In the subject with the lowest speech scores (N3), the masking patterns showed the greatest dependence on masker level and on probe delay. Masking as a function of masker level also reflected these differences: N3’s functions showed the greatest changes for different probe delays. Similar rates of recovery were observed in the three good performers (time constant approximately 70 ms). In contrast, subject N3’s recovery function shows a more rapid recovery. These data indicate that channel interaction is individually variable and parameter dependent, both of which may play a role in the perception of dynamic stimuli in the natural auditory environment.
The facile preparation of alkenyl metathesis synthons

We report synthetic methodology allowing the preparation of any length alkenyl halide from inexpensive starting reagents. Standard organic transformations were used to prepare straight chain α-olefin halides in excellent overall yields with no detectable olefin isomerization and full recovery of any unreacted starting material. Reported transformations can be used for the selective incorporation of pure α-olefin metathesis sites in highly functionalized molecules.
Characteristics of a broad-band Fourier transform ion trap mass spectrometer

Abstract The characteristics of a novel Fourier transform ion trap mass spectrometer capable of broadband nondestructive ion detection are described. Details of the instrumentation, including the custom-built detection circuitry, are provided. An approximate mathematical model for the image current signal-to-noise ratio is derived from the work of Comisarow [J. Chem. Phys. 69 (1978) 4097] and used to estimate the sensitivity of the technique. Data obtained using impulsive dc excitation and ac excitation are presented and frequency shifts, mass calibration, mass resolution and sensitivity are discussed. The detrimental effects of space charging and nonlinear fields on performance are examined using experimental data and computer simulations. The effect of dc biasing on ion frequency and signal intensity is investigated and mass calibration data are presented.
A NOVEL COMPUTER BASED EXPERT DECISION MAKING MODEL FOR PROSTATE CANCER DISEASE MANAGEMENT

ABSTRACTPurpose: We propose a strategic, computer based, prostate cancer decision making model based on the analytic hierarchy process. We developed a model that improves physician-patient joint decision making and enhances the treatment selection process by making this critical decision rational and evidence based.Materials and Methods: Two groups (patient and physician-expert) completed a clinical study comparing an initial disease management choice with the highest ranked option generated by the computer model. Participants made pairwise comparisons to derive priorities for the objectives and subobjectives related to the disease management decision. The weighted comparisons were then applied to treatment options to yield prioritized rank lists that reflect the likelihood that a given alternative will achieve the participant treatment goal. Aggregate data were evaluated by inconsistency ratio analysis and sensitivity analysis, which assessed the influence of individual objectives and subobjectives on th...
Systems biology approach to understanding post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological disorder affecting individuals that have experienced life-changing traumatic events. The symptoms of PTSD experienced by these subjects-including acute anxiety, flashbacks, and hyper-arousal-disrupt their normal functioning. Although PTSD is still categorized as a psychological disorder, recent years have witnessed a multi-directional research effort attempting to understand the biomolecular origins of the disorder. This review begins by providing a brief overview of the known biological underpinnings of the disorder resulting from studies using structural and functional neuroimaging, endocrinology, and genetic and epigenetic assays. Next, we discuss the systems biology approach, which is often used to gain mechanistic insights from the wealth of available high-throughput experimental data. Finally, we provide an overview of the current computational tools used to decipher the heterogeneous types of molecular data collected in the study of PTSD.
Axioms as generic rewrite rules in C++ with concepts

Compilers are typically hardwired to attempt many optimizations only on expressions that involve particular built-in types. Ideally, however, an optimizing compiler would recognize a rewrite opportunity for user-defined types as well, whenever the operands of an expression satisfy the algebraic properties that justify the rewrite. This paper applies the principles and techniques of generic programming and the "concepts" language feature, that was proposed to C++, to approximate this ideal. Concretely, a concept defines the signature and algebraic laws of a class of types. We attach rewrite rules to a concept, and by doing this make them applicable to the entire class of types that the concept defines. The annotation burden to a programmer is small-we take the existing declarations that a type models a particular concept as the annotation that enables generic rewrites. To apply generic rewrite rules, we instantiate them to type-specific rules. We use data-flow information from the compiler's existing analyses to determine when these rules can be applied, and show how to interleave their application with function inlining to find more rewrite opportunities. Our prototype is implemented as an extension of the ConceptGCC compiler; our experiments show the approach is effective in eliminating abstraction penalties. Principles of generic programming are well-suited for encoding high-level compiler optimization rules.Industrial compilers can be extended to support extensible optimizations on user-defined types.High-level optimizations can be effective, when general low-level optimization opportunities are exhausted.
Performance evaluation of RODEO: Route degradation optimization for the multi-hop dynamic spectrum access networks

Dynamic spectrum access (DSA) enabled via cognitive radios (CR) is an emerging paradigm towards the achievement of better spectrum utilization, extended coverage and ubiquitous connectivity for the wireless end-users. The complexity of the DSA framework and persistent disruption due to primary-secondary spectrum etiquette and dynamic spectrum availability raise serious routing challenges. We propose and evaluate RODEO, a novel route optimization method, based on the concept of route degradation factor (RDF). RODEO bases the RDF calculation not only on the shortest path and cumulative route delay concept but more importantly on PU profiling (channel disruption probabilities due to PU arrival) as well as link redundancy. In order to exploit the best of reactive and proactive routing paradigms, RODEO takes a hybrid approach towards destination discovery. RODEO leverages proactive routing principles in order to maintain robust multi-hop paths in the areas of the network least affected by PU arrival. Conversely, in a reactive manner it discovers paths on parts of the network most impacted by PU arrival. Performance evaluations are carried out on different types of network topologies in order to show how route optimization based on minimized RDF through an adjustable REN affects route selection and maintenance process.
Preserving Multifunctional Agriculture: Discussion

Since the first conservation movement in the United States in the late nineteenth century, there has been an upward trend in public con cern and policies related to multiple functions and values of land. In the 1970s, conservation activities extended to protecting agricultural land from development. As pointed out by Johnston and Duke (JD), provision of public amenities and services was one of the earliest
Distortion-Free Microchannel Plate Mercury Atomic Resonance Ionization Image Detector

An atomic mercury resonance image detector with microchannel plate amplification and charge-coupled device (CCD) detection is evaluated. A thin Pt film on the surface of the input window of the resonance ionization image detector (RIID) eliminated the surface charge on the input window. Image spatial resolution of better than 120 mu m was achieved. The linearity of the image intensity vs. imaging signal energy is currently limited by the linearity of the CCD. In addition, the image quality (spatial resolution and dynamic range) is improved by using a microchannel plate (MCP) in front of the input window of the RIID. The RIID has a much improved contrast ratio. Several noises, including multiphoton photoionization noise, noise due to parasitic luminescence of the phospher screen, and MCP noise, were minimized. The main noise source was the photoelectric effect of the metal input electrode of the CCD when illuminated by 254 nm radiation.
Clinical correlations of auditory P200 topography and left temporo-central deficits in schizophrenia: a preliminary study.

A number of studies using nontopographic analyses have reported an amplitude decrement of the auditory P200 component in schizophrenics compared to normal controls. Here we report a topographic analysis of the auditory P200 (204–272 ms; peak to baseline) in chronic medicated schizophrenics (N = 11) and normal controls (N = 18) and the correlation between this measure and clinical symptoms in schizophrenia. Exploratory T-statistic mapping (SPM) and “protected” Hotelling's T-squared contrasts of integrated voltages over the entire scalp showed that schizophrenics' P200 component had diminished amplitude in the left temporo-central region. Furthermore, P200 amplitude in the same scalp region during the experimental condition of counting infrequent tones was highly correlated with negative symptoms in the schizophrenic group.
Will the “Real” Trade Balance Please Stand Up?

m Probably most of the readers of this journal are aware that the United States INTRODUCTION: has been running a deficit in its merchandise trade account for some years. Ever When Is a Deficit since 1976, in fact, imports of merchandise have exceeded exports in every quarReally a Surplus? ter. In as much as the trade balance is a component of GNP, the deficit has been reducing the level of GNP by around $30 billion a year. Most of us are aware, also, that it is the high price of oil that has caused the deficit. We have been transferring some of our GNP to OPEC.
The interplay of self-heating effects and static RTF in nanowire transistors

Random Telegraph Noise Fluctuations (RTF) manifest themselves as fluctuations in transistor threshold voltage and drive (on) current. RTF is caused by random trapping and detrapping of charges lying at the inversion channel of the device under consideration close to the oxide-semiconductor interface [1]. Traditionally RTF were important only in analog design at low frequencies [2]. However, as CMOS is scaling into sub-100 nm regime, the effect of RTF as well as its variability is not negligible any more even in digital design [3]. In fact, we have illustrated in past work that the presence of a single negatively charged trap at the source end of the channel in a nanowire transistor can have very degrading effect on the on-current [4]. In these simulations we have utilized 3D Monte Carlo device simulator in which the short-range portion of the Coulomb interaction was accounted for by our real-space molecular dynamics model, details of which can be found in Ref. [5]. The model properly accounts for both the short-range and the long-range component of the Coulomb interaction and has been well recognized in the literature and applied in many other studies [6].
Phenomenological Theory of Exchange Currents in Nuclei

On the assumption that the interaction between nuclear particles involves a space exchange operator, it is shown that an addition must be made to the conventional current density for the nucleons in order to establish the equation of continuity within the nucleus. A general expression is found for this exchange current and the corresponding exchange magnetic moment. This phenomenological theory has application to the calculation of magnetic moments of nuclei and to the calculation of transition probabilities for the absorption and emission of radiation by nuclei. In this paper, application is limited to the exchange moments of ${\mathrm{H}}^{3}$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$. It is found that the exchange moments are six or seven times too small to account for the observed moments. In view of results obtained by Villars, it is concluded that the important contributions to the magnetic moment are directly related to the properties of the field (meson field) which describes the nuclear interaction, so the exchange moment may be of use for obtaining direct information concerning the nature of this field.
The Moon Agreement in the 21st century

Abstract Forty years after the Promethean achievement of Apollo 11, the major space-faring nations are showing a renewed interest in missions to the Moon. While in the 1960s, in the context of the Cold War, the decision to land humans on the Moon was perceived as a strategic political instrument between the two blocs, now in the 21st century, a considerably increased number of space actors complicate the scene with multiple sectorial and national interests. Security still predominates, although economic considerations also play an increasing role. The commercialisation and privatisation of space activities leads to new challenges which raise the issue of the role of the international legal framework. In this context, the Agreement Governing the Activities of the States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies of 1979 (known as the Moon Agreement) should be able to play a relevant role. There are several political and legal questions that arise for discussion. At its forty-sixth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) decided to include a discussion on the activities, which are being or to be carried out on the Moon and other celestial bodies in the forty-seventh session of the Subcommittee in 2008. A joint statement by some State Parties to the Agreement addresses questions raised during these discussions.
Follicular cell dendritic sarcoma of cervical nodes in a patient with significant WTC exposure.

A patient who worked at the World Trade Center (WTC) site presented with right cervical lymphadenopathy. He underwent right neck dissection. The final pathology showed follicular dendritic cell sarcoma. He was treated with radiation and chemotherapy and remained free of disease initially. He then presented with left cervical lymphadenopathy 2.5 years later and underwent a left neck dissection with similar pathology. A discussion of the disease process and WTC exposure is presented. Clinicians should be cognisant of this disease process and the latency between WTC exposure and the onset of sarcomas.
Fluoride retention in rats receiving various vitamin-sodium fluoride preparations**

Studies were conducted in rats to investigate the metabolism of fluoride whenprovided as a constituent of two chewable and two liquid multivitamin preparations. Data obtained after 30 and 60 day experimental periods revealed no significant differences in fluoride retention or in the fluoride excretion pattern between any of the experimental groups. The data suggest that there is no interference by any of the ingredients of the preparations used in this study on fluoride metabolism when the retention of fluoride in the carcass and femur is used as an index of fluoride availability.
Neural Hijacking Action of High-Frequency Electrical Stimulation on Cortical Circuits

Electrical stimulation of the brain was one of the first experimental methods applied to understanding brain organization and function and it continues as a highly useful method both in research and clinical applications. Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) involves applying electrical stimuli through a microelectrode suitable for recording the action potentials of single neurons. ICMS can be categorized into single-pulse stimulation; high-frequency, short-duration stimulation; and high-frequency, long-duration stimulation. For clinical and experimental reasons, considerable interest focuses on the mechanism of neural activation by electrical stimuli. In this article, we discuss recent results suggesting that action potentials evoked in cortical neurons by high-frequency electrical stimulation do not sum with the natural, behaviorally related background activity; rather, high-frequency stimulation eliminates and replaces natural activity. We refer to this as neural hijacking. We propose that a major component of the mechanism underlying neural hijacking is excitation of axons by ICMS and elimination of natural spikes by antidromic collision with stimulus-driven spikes evoked at high frequency. Evidence also supports neural hijacking as an important mechanism underlying the action of deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus and its therapeutic effect in treating Parkinson's disease.
A fragment of α-actinin promotes monocyte/macrophage maturation in vitro

Abstract Conditioned media (CM) from cultures of HL-60 myeloid leukemia cells grown on extracellular bone marrow matrix contains a factor that induces macrophage-like maturation of HL-60 cells. This factor was purified from the CM of HL-60 cells grown on bone marrow stroma by ammonium sulfate precipitation, then sequential chromatography on DEAE, affi-gel blue affinity, gel exclusion, and wheat germ affinity columns, followed by C-4 reverse phase HPLC, and SDS-PAGE. The maturation promoting activity of the CM was identified in a single 31 kD protein. Amino acid sequence analysis of four internal tryptic peptides of this protein confirmed significant homology with amino acid residues 48–60, 138–147, 215–220, and 221–236 of human cytoskeletal α-actinin. An immunoaffinity purified rabbit polyclonal anti-chicken α-actinin inhibited the activity of HL-60 conditioned media. A 27 kD amino-terminal fragment of α-actinin produced by thermolysin digestion of chicken gizzard α-actinin, but not intact α-actinin, had maturation promoting activity on several cell types, including blood monocytes, as measured by lysozyme secretion and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. We conclude that an extracellular α-actinin fragment can promote monocyte/macrophage maturation. This represents the first example of a fragment of a cytoskeletal component, which may be released during tissue remodeling and repair, playing a role in phagocyte maturation.
Pont’s Index and Dental Arch Form

Pont’s index is an average measurement for a group, and although it can be applied to all group members, it must not be applied to the individual. Participants in the study (Navajo males and females, and dental students) had ideal occlusions with crowding or spacing of less than 1 mm. The measurements of the interarch widths of the maxillary premolars and first molars were compared with those calculated with use of Pont’s index. Differences between the measurements ranged from −12.5 to +9.8 mm for premolar widths, and from −15.1 to +14.7 mm for the molar widths. In most participants, the observed measurements were less than the calculated ones. Differences were found between arch forms in males and females with similar Pont indexes.
Optimal stabilization of discrete event systems

An optimal stabilization problem for discrete event systems (DES) is addressed. A class of not necessarily finite state 'logical' DES models is utilized which can also model the costs for events to occur. Let P and A denote two such models. Suppose that P characterizes the valid behavior of a dynamical system and A represents certain design objectives which specify the allowable DES behavior which is 'contained in' the valid behavior. An optimal control problem for P and A is how to choose the sequence of inputs to P so that the DES behavior lies in A (i.e., it is allowable) and so that a performance index defined in terms of the costs of the events is minimized. Two solutions are provided to an optimal stabilization problem, i.e. how to find a sequence of inputs that results in an optimal state trajectory which cycles in a pre-specified set. >
Characterization of the Role of Glutathione in Repin-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity in Rat Pheochromocytoma (PC12) Cells

Repin, a major constituent in extracts of the plant Centaurea repens is thought to be the active principal responsible for the development of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia (ENE), a fatal Parkinson-like neurodegenerative disorder in horses. Although the exact mechanism by which ingestion of this weed causes ENE is uncertain, a limited body of experimental evidence suggests a critical role for the glutathione redox system. In the present study, the mechanism of repin neurotoxicity was examined in PC12 cells with a focus on determining the role of glutathione (GSH) in repin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and dopaminergic toxicity. The results demonstrate that repin reduced both cellular GSH levels and mitochondrial function in a manner that was time- and concentration-dependent. The repin-induced changes in GSH levels were found to precede the changes in mitochondrial function. Depletion of GSH with a potent GSH depletor (ethacrynic acid (EA)) and a GSH synthesis inhibitor (buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)) prior to repin treatment enhanced the repin-induced mitochondrial change. In addition, repin caused a concentration-dependent decrease in cellular dopamine levels in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells. Increases in intracellular GSH levels induced by pre-treatment with reducing agents (N-acetyl-L-cysteine or reduced glutathione) completely protected the cells from repin-induced mitochondrial and dopaminergic toxicity. Antioxidants, coenzyme-Q and ascorbic acid completely blocked repin-induced dopaminergic toxicity. These data suggest that GSH plays a critical role in repin-induced neurotoxicity and that the maintenance of neuronal redox status may prove to be a useful strategy for the prevention and/or treatment of ENE. The results support the view that GSH depletion, leading to oxidative damage and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction, may serve as a trigger for neuronal cell death.
Design and Optimization of Low-Thrust Trajectories with Gravity Assists

Missions such as Mariner 10, Voyager 1, Galileo, and Stardust all used gravity-assist flybys to achieve their mission goals efficiently. Methods to design such gravity-assist missions are fairly well developed and generally assume all major maneuvers are performed impulsively by chemical rockets. The recent success of the low-thrust Deep Space 1 mission demonstrates that low-thrust (high-efficiency) propulsion is ready to be used on future missions, potentially reducing the required propellant mass or the total time of flight. By combining both gravity-assist flybys and low-thrust propulsion, future missions could enjoy the benefits of both. To realize such missions, an effective design methodology is needed. A two-step approach to the design and optimization of low-thrust gravity-assist trajectories is described. The first step is a search through a broad range of potential trajectories. To speed up this search, a simplified shape-based trajectory model is used. The best trajectories are chosen using a heuristic cost function. The second step optimizes the most promising trajectories using an efficient parameter optimization. method. Examples of missions designed using this approach are presented, including voyages to Vesta, Tempel 1, Ceres, Jupiter, and Pluto.
Determination of vitellogenin titer in the hemolymph of Dermacentor variabilis (Acarina: Ixodidae) using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Using polyclonal antibodies against Dermacentor variabilis (Say) egg vitellin, we developed an indirect, competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vitellogenin in the hemolymph of females was quantitatively monitored through feeding (slow feeding and rapid engorgement feeding periods) and postfeeding (preoviposition and oviposition) until death. Vitellogenin concentrations in hemolymph ranged from 1 μg/ml on the first day of feeding to a maximum of 430 μg/ml on the third day of oviposition. The temporal pattern of vitellogenin production in this tick shows a gradual increase in the hemolymph vitellogenin titer throughout the slow feeding period followed by a rapid and substantial rise during the rapid engorgement feeding period and a continuation of this rise in titer through the most productive egg laying part of oviposition. The vitellogenin titer rapidly falls toward the end of oviposition as the tick nears death. There was a 170-fold increase in vitellogenin concentration as measured from the onset of rapid engorgement to the maximum vitellogenin titer. The rapid engorgement feeding period signaled a sharp increase in vitellogenin production.
Cell Phones and the Measurement of Child Neglect The Validity of the Parent-Child Activities Interview

Two multisite studies were conducted to assess the feasibility of using cell phone interviews (the Parent-Child Activities Interview) to learn more about the quality of daily parenting among high-risk mothers, including child neglect. In Study 1, 45 primiparous teenage mothers with 3- to 9-month-old infants were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: one received frequent cell phone interviews and the other group less frequent interviews over their home telephone. Relationships among paper-and-pencil surveys of parenting (gathered in person) and a Parenting Essentials score (coded from the phone interviews) were significantly correlated. In Study 2, adolescent and adult mothers and their first-born children ( n = 544) completed 2 observations of parenting in their home as well as a series of 3 PCA calls at ages 4 and 8 months. Parenting Essentials coded from the interviews were significantly related to observed measures of parenting at both time points. The Parent-Child Activities Interview shows promise as a reliable and valid measure of parenting, capturing frequent and detailed information about daily parenting practices. Cell phones may prove useful in intervening with mothers at risk of suboptimal parenting and child neglect.
On the use of conformal grids for propagation and scattering problems in finite-difference time-domain computations

The authors examine the use of grids that are conformal with the geometry of the material boundaries and, consequently, reduce the discretization errors introduced by the stair-stepped approximation. However, it is found that the introduction of the nonuniformity in the grid gives rise to at least two difficulties in the implementation of the finite-difference time-domain algorithm. The first is the loss of accuracy in the computation of finite-difference derivatives when the field points are distributed nonuniformly. The second is implementation of the appropriate boundary conditions at the material interfaces. The authors address these problems and suggest some means for eradicating them. A scheme is presented that has the attractive feature that it reduces to the conventional finite-difference time-domain method if a uniform grid is used. To illustrate the proposed algorithm the authors consider a parallel plate waveguide which supports a single propagating mode. >
Conserved Enhancer in the Serum Response Factor Promoter Controls Expression During Early Coronary Vasculogenesis

Serum response factor (SRF) is a transcription factor required for mesoderm formation in the developing mouse embryo that is important for myogenic differentiation, including notably, the differentiation of the proepicardial organ (PEO) into coronary vascular cells during early development. To identify regulatory sequences that control SRF expression during early mouse development, we used a novel transgenic approach to study the role of conserved noncoding DNA sequences (CNCS) in the SRF gene. Embryonic stem (ES) cells containing a targeted single-copy of putative SRF regulatory sequences were used to directly generate transgenic embryos by tetraploid aggregation. Because the ES cell-derived targeted embryos are genetically equivalent, except for the putative regulatory sequence of interest, differences in transgene expression can be attributed directly to these sequences. Using this approach, we identified an E-box/Ets containing 270-bp cis-acting module in the SRF promoter that mediates expression in the PEO. Reporter transgenes containing this module express in derivatives of the PEO that give rise to the coronary vasculature, but do not express in the PEO-derived epicardium. These results are the first reported in vivo analysis of SRF regulatory elements that control expression during early development. Using this reporter module and this approach, it should be possible to begin to elucidate molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation of coronary vasculature progenitor cells, as well as identify additional SRF regulatory elements important during mammalian development.
Efficient exact optimization of multi-objective redundancy allocation problems in series-parallel systems

Abstract This paper proposes a decomposition-based approach to exactly solve the multi-objective Redundancy Allocation Problem for series-parallel systems. Redundancy allocation problem is a form of reliability optimization and has been the subject of many prior studies. The majority of these earlier studies treat redundancy allocation problem as a single objective problem maximizing the system reliability or minimizing the cost given certain constraints. The few studies that treated redundancy allocation problem as a multi-objective optimization problem relied on meta-heuristic solution approaches. However, meta-heuristic approaches have significant limitations: they do not guarantee that Pareto points are optimal and, more importantly, they may not identify all the Pareto-optimal points. In this paper, we treat redundancy allocation problem as a multi-objective problem, as is typical in practice. We decompose the original problem into several multi-objective sub-problems, efficiently and exactly solve sub-problems, and then systematically combine the solutions. The decomposition-based approach can efficiently generate all the Pareto-optimal solutions for redundancy allocation problems. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method over meta-heuristic methods on a numerical example taken from the literature.
Debugging aids for systems-on-a-chip

The advent of in-circuit emulation (ICE) tools to the embedded systems designer was akin to the advent of the tractor to farmers: life suddenly became easier. The ICE allows easy access to the CPU register set, memory map and allows simple implementation of features such as hardware breakpoints and trace functions. Essentially, the ICE allows a target cable from the (ICE) box to be directly connected, via a header-socket interface, to the circuit board. The header consists of an exact representation of the microcontroller footprint. As microcontrollers are becoming more highly integrated however, the ICE solution in itself is facing certain challenges. Firstly, microcontroller bus speeds are increasing rapidly, roughly doubling every 4-5 years. This presents a problem as high clock rates are difficult to emulate using a cable and target connector. In addition, address and data-bus ports aren't always available on single chip MCUs, thus memory replacement hardware and logic analyzer approaches can be restricted. Another problem which the ICE cannot resolve is that of the mechanical interface. As MCU pincounts increase (at a rate similar to their clock speeds), 'hookover' connectors are becoming increasingly unreliable, unmanageable and downright expensive. In many applications, the space restrictions placed on the control unit (where the circuit resides) will simply not permit a hookover connection. This physical size limitation in fact, is fast becoming very common.
An Exploratory Multilevel Analysis of Nonprescription Stimulant Use in a Sample of College Students

Nonprescription stimulant use is a high-risk behavior prevalent in the college population. To date, research on this substance use behavior lacks a comprehensive theoretical lens as well as geograp...
Designing a sufficient reactive power supply scheme to multi islands in a microgrid

This paper studies the design of reactive power supply for microgrids. The problem can be stated as follows: for a given microgrid, determine an optimum allocation of reactive power sources so that adequate voltages can be maintained during islanded mode as well as more than one topology of islanded operation. A genetic algorithm is used to develop the optimal allocation.
Stimulus-Control Factors in Search Performance of Hyperactive Children

Added stimulation, both biochemical and environmental, has been used to improve the sustained attention but less frequently the search-attention performance of hyperactive children. In the present study a search task was used that differed from sustained-attention tasks only in an additional requirement for visual scanning. The performance of hyperactive and control children on a noncolored version of this task was compared with a version to which color stimulation had been presented that reduced the area to be scanned or that required a wide area to be scanned in a mixed design counterbalanced for stimulation order and level of search. Findings were that hyperactive children omitted more signals than controls on most of the noncolored search task. In the color condition, only during the last third of performance did the hyperactive children crossover with a greater increase in errors than controls. This increase, however, was attributed to the narrow-focus search condition that reduced overall visual acc...
Multimedia demonstrations and exercises for communication engineering

This work-in-progress describes the development of multimedia demonstrations/exercises for communication engineering using both the visual and aural output facilities of MATLAB. The demonstrations/exercises illustrate to the students not only the mathematical description of the signals and their visual display in both the time and frequency domain, but the sounds of the signals.
Reconsidering Schwab's Practicals: A Response to Peter Hlebowitsh's Generational Ideas in Curriculum: A Historical Triangulation.

This article explores the place of Ralph Tyler and Joseph Schwab in the history of curriculum studies, and educational theory more broadly. I argue that most analyses of both Schwab’s and Tyler’s work are built not on their own life-projects and writings, but developed from blinkered readings of a narrow range of their writings selected to meet the needs of contemporary ideological debates. When we see the work of both Schwab and Tyler within their own terms, we see them seeking to redirect educational studies away from the “theoretical” project that had its origins in the 19th-century university and toward education’s “craft” tradition. In Schwab’s case, he sought to do this in a way that fully engaged educational research and scholarship with the practical and deliberative forms of thought associated with curriculum development, in a way that promised sustained effects on schooling.
STARRIA ZIMBABWEËNSIS (CYANOPHYCEAE) GEN. NOV. ET SP. NOV.: A FILAMENT TRIRADIATE IN TRANVERSE SECTION1

A new filamentous bluegreen alga Starria zimbabweensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. isolated from a soil sample collected near Zimbabwe, Southern Rhodesia, has a unique triradiate morphology. In transverse section each narrow cell possesses three arm-like projections, separated by 120° and in which pigment is concentrated. Filaments may be straight or twisted and various clonable biradiate forms have originated in cultures initiated from the triradiate type. Cell ultra-structure is typical of the Oscillatoriaceae except that 70 nm pit-like pores occur throughout the L-II layer of the longitudinal walls. Wall structure of deviant forms is identical to that of the triradiate “wild type.” The organism is assigned to the Oscillatoriaceae rather than to the Gomontiellaceae or to a new family.
ESUIF: An Open Esterel Compiler

Abstract I describe a new compiler infrastructure for imperative synchronous languages such as Esterel and E⌋↕. Built on the S⊓〉{ 2 system, it includes a new intermediate representation for this class of languages that has simple semantics designed for easy implementation in hardware or software. I describe the structure of this new compiler, the intermediate representation, and how Esterel source is translated into this intermediate representation.
Administrative coding is specific, but not sensitive, for identifying eosinophilic esophagitis.

The use of administrative databases to conduct population-based studies of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in the United States is limited because it is unknown whether the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code for EoE, 530.13, accurately identifies those who truly have the disease. The aim of this retrospective study was to validate the ICD-9 code for identifying cases of EoE in administrative data. Confirmed cases of EoE as per consensus guidelines (symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and ≥15 eosinophils per high-power field on biopsy after 8 weeks of twice daily proton pump inhibitor therapy) were identified in the University of North Carolina (UNC) EoE Clinicopathologic Database from 2008 to 2010; 2008 was the first year in which the 530.13 code was approved. Using the Carolina Data Warehouse, the administrative database for patients seen in the UNC system, all diagnostic and procedure codes were obtained for these cases. Then, with the EoE cases as the reference standard, we re-queried the Carolina Data Warehouse over the same time frame for all patients seen in the system (n=308,372) and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the ICD-9 code 530.13 as a case definition of EoE. To attempt to refine the case definition, we added procedural codes in an iterative fashion to optimize sensitivity and specificity, and restricted our analysis to privately insured patients. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis with 2011 data to identify trends in the operating parameters of the code. We identified 226 cases of EoE at UNC to serve as the reference standard. The ICD-9 code 530.13 yielded a sensitivity of 37% (83/226; 95% confidence interval: 31-43%) and specificity of 99% (308,111/308,146; 95% confidence interval: 98-100%). These operating parameters were not substantially altered if the case definition required a procedure code for endoscopy or if cases were limited to those with commercial insurance. However, in 2011, the sensitivity of the code had increased to 61%, while the specificity remained at 99%. The ICD-9 code for EoE, 530.13, had excellent specificity for identifying cases of EoE in administrative data, although this high specificity was achieved at an academic center. Additionally, the sensitivity of the code appears to be increasing over time, and the threshold at which it will stabilize is not known. While use of this administrative code will still miss a number of cases, those identified in this manner are highly likely to have the disease.
Risk-Adapted Dose-Dense Immunochemotherapy Determined by Interim FDG-PET in Advanced-Stage Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

PURPOSE In studies of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, positron emission tomography with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) performed after two to four cycles of chemotherapy has demonstrated prognostic significance. However, some patients treated with immunochemotherapy experience a favorable long-term outcome despite a positive interim FDG-PET scan. To clarify the significance of interim FDG-PET scans, we prospectively studied interim FDG-positive disease within a risk-adapted sequential immunochemotherapy program. PATIENTS AND METHODS From March 2002 to November 2006, 98 patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center received induction therapy with four cycles of accelerated R-CHOP (rituximab + cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) followed by an interim FDG-PET scan. If the FDG-PET scan was negative, patients received three cycles of ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide) consolidation therapy. If residual FDG-positive disease was seen, patients underwent biopsy; if the biopsy was negative, they also received three cycles of ICE. Patients with a positive biopsy received ICE followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 44 months, overall and progression-free survival were 90% and 79%, respectively. Ninety-seven patients underwent interim FDG-PET scans; 59 had a negative scan, 51 of whom are progression free. Thirty-eight patients with FDG-PET-positive disease underwent repeat biopsy; 33 were negative, and 26 remain progression free after ICE consolidation therapy. Progression-free survival of interim FDG-PET-positive/biopsy-negative patients was identical to that in patients with a negative interim FDG-PET scan (P = .27). CONCLUSION Interim or post-treatment FDG-PET evaluation did not predict outcome with this dose-dense, sequential immunochemotherapy program. Outside of a clinical trial, we recommend biopsy confirmation of an abnormal interim FDG-PET scan before changing therapy.
Mtv-1 Superantigen Trafficks Independently of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Directly to the B-Cell Surface by the Exocytic Pathway

Presentation of the Mtv-1 superantigen (vSag1) to specific Vbeta-bearing T cells requires association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. The intracellular route by which vSag1 trafficks to the cell surface and the site of vSag1-class II complex assembly in antigen-presenting B lymphocytes have not been determined. Here, we show that vSag1 trafficks independently of class II to the plasma membrane by the exocytic secretory pathway. At the surface of B cells, vSag1 associates primarily with mature peptide-bound class II alphabeta dimers, which are stable in sodium dodecyl sulfate. vSag1 is unstable on the cell surface in the absence of class II, and reagents that alter the surface expression of vSag1 and the conformation of class II molecules affect vSag1 stimulation of superantigen reactive T cells.
Highly active and durable nanostructured molybdenum carbide electrocatalysts for hydrogen production

In an attempt to tailor low-cost, precious-metal-free electrocatalysts for water electrolysis in acid, molybdenum carbide (β-Mo2C) nanoparticles are prepared by in situ carburization of ammonium molybdate on carbon nanotubes and XC-72R carbon black without using any gaseous carbon source. The formation of Mo2C is investigated by thermogravimetry and in situ X-ray diffraction. X-ray absorption analysis reveals that Mo2C nanoparticles are inlaid or anchored into the carbon supports, and the electronic modification makes the surface exhibit a relatively moderate Mo–H bond strength. It is found that carbon nanotube-supported Mo2C showed superior electrocatalytic activity and stability in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) compared to the bulk Mo2C. An overpotential of 63 mV for driving 1 mA cm−2 of current density was measured for the nanotube-supported Mo2C catalysts; this exceeds the activity of analogous Mo2C catalysts. The enhanced electrochemical activity is facilitated by unique effects of the anchored structure coupled with the electronic modification.
Lemierre syndrome: The forgotten disease

Lemierre syndrome is characterized by an acute oropharyngeal infection, suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, anaerobic sepsis, and metastatic infections. Before the discovery of antibiotics, this disease usually was fatal. We report the case of a patient with all of these findings, indicating that Lemierre syndrome still is seen today. Prompt recognition, abscess drainage, and appropriate antibiotic coverage result in complete recovery in most patients.