cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling pressure-transient behavior of sectionally homogeneous reservoirs by the boundary-element method

Pressure-transient solution in a piecewise homogeneous reservoir with arbitrary geometry of each region is proposed by the Laplace domain boundary-element method (BEM). Any number of such regions with different rock and fluid properties can be included in the solution procedure. This formulation can solve for impermeable barriers of any shape, size, and orientation, including large pressure-support sources (aquifers) and fluid-injection problems that show composite behavior. Any number of line-source wells can be included. Example solutions are verified against known analytical solutions. Injection-fluid-front velocity is calculated as part of the solution; thus, the fluid fronts can be tracked in a quasistationary sense. The analytical aspects of this procedure are discussed. BEM solutions are accurate because the method retains the free-space Green's function of the governing differential operator as a global weighting function in the integral equation.
Aerodynamic forces on an oscillating cylindrical duct with an internal flow

Aerodynamic forces of harmonically oscillating cylindrical duct with supersonic internal flow within framework of potential flow theory
Opiate receptor: irreversible inactivation by an alkylating local anesthetic.

Abstract The mouse brain opiate receptor is irreversibly inactivated by incubation with an alkylating local anesthetic, a chloroethyl analog of lidocaine. The inactivation reaction is strongly temperature dependent and is undetectable at 0°C. The fraction of opiate receptors which is not inactivated in a given period of time retains its original affinity for naltrexone. Opiate agonists and antagonists are equally effective in protecting the receptor from inactivation by this compound.
Speaker/speech recognition using microphone arrays and neural networks

Hands-free operation of speech processing equipment is sometimes desired so that the user is unencumbered by hand-held or body-worn microphones. This paper explores the use of array microphones and neural networks (MANN) for robust speech/speaker recognition in a reverberant and noisy environment. Microphone arrays provide high-quality, hands-free sound capture at distances, and neural network processors compensate for environmental interference by transforming speech features of the array input to those of close-talking microphone input. The MANN system is evaluated using both computer-simulated degraded speech and real- room collected speech. It is found that the MANN system is capable of elevating recognition accuracies under adverse conditions, such as room reverberation, noise interference, and mismatch between the training and testing conditions, to levels comparable to those obtained with close-talking microphone input under a matched training and testing condition.
An information geometry approach to shape density Minimum Description Length model selection

For advantages such as a richer representation power and inherent robustness to noise, probability density functions are becoming a staple for complex problems in shape analysis. We consider a principled and geometric approach to selecting the model order for a class of shape density models where the square-root of the distribution is expanded in an orthogonal series. The free parameters associated with these estimators can then be rigorously selected using the Minimum Description Length (MDL) criterion for model selection. Under these models, it is shown that the MDL has a closed-form representation, atypical for most applications of MDL in density estimation. We provide a straightforward application of our derivations by using this closed-from MDL criterion to select the optimal multiresolution level(s) for a class of square-root, wavelet density estimators. Experimental evaluation of our technique is conducted on one and two dimensional density estimation problems in shape analysis, with comparative analysis against other popular model selection criteria such as Bayesian and Akaike information criteria.
A technique for using endosteal blade implants.

Abstract A technique for insertion of an endosteal blade implant and its use as a retainer for a fixed partial denture have been described. Careful planning for the location of the implant, good surgical procedures, and attention to proper detail in fixed partial denture construction are essential to success of blade implants.
Bombesin stimulates insulin secretion by a pancreatic islet cell line.

Abstract The amphibian tetradecapeptide, bombesin (BBS) has been shown to stimulate insulin secretion both in vivo and by pancreatic islet cells in vitro. To determine whether BBS can act directly on pancreatic beta cells, we examined its effects on insulin secretion by HIT-T15 cells (HIT cells), a clonal islet cell line. Addition of 100 nM BBS to HIT cells stimulated insulin release 25-fold within 30 sec. The rapid stimulatory effect of BBS on insulin release was short-lived: the secretory rate returned to basal levels after 90 min of BBS treatment. The decrease in the rate of insulin release in the continued presence of BBS was due not to depletion of intracellular insulin stores but to specific desensitization to this peptide. Stimulation of insulin secretion by BBS was dose dependent with an ED50 value (0.51 +/- 0.15 nM) similar to the concentration of BBS-like immunoreactive material in rat plasma. Five BBS analogs, including porcine gastrin-releasing peptide, were as powerful as BBS in stimulating insulin release. The relative potencies of the analogs tested indicated that the COOH-terminal octapeptide sequence in BBS was sufficient for stimulation of release. In contrast, 14 peptides structurally unrelated to BBS did not alter insulin secretion. BBS action was synergistic with that of glucagon; insulin secretion in the presence of maximal concentrations of both peptides was greater than the additive effects of the two peptides added individually. Somatostatin inhibited BBS-stimulated release by 69 +/- 1% with an ID50 value of 3.2 +/- 0.3 nM. These results show that BBS stimulation of insulin secretion by a clonal pancreatic cell line closely parallels its effects in vivo and support the hypothesis that BBS stimulates insulin secretion by a direct effect on the pancreatic beta cell. The clonal HIT cell line provides a homogeneous cell preparation amenable for studies on the biochemical mechanisms of BBS action in the endocrine pancreas.
Analysis of adaptive operator selection techniques on the royal road and long k-path problems

One of the choices that most affect the performance of Evolutionary Algorithms is the selection of the variation operators that are efficient to solve the problem at hand. This work presents an empirical analysis of different Adaptive Operator Selection (AOS) methods, i.e., techniques that automatically select the operator to be applied among the available ones, while searching for the solution. Four previously published operator selection rules are combined to four different credit assignment mechanisms. These 16 AOS combinations are analyzed and compared in the light of two well-known benchmark problems in Evolutionary Computation, the Royal Road and the Long K-Path.
A review and classification of empirical research in operations management

Abstract The progress in the use of empirical research methods has been a topic of interest in the Operations Management (OM) area for the last 15 years. It is considered desirable to accompany traditional OM research, which develops and tests theories using mathematics, modelling, and simulation, with research that makes use of empirical data. The use of empirical research helps support the understanding of OM practices within industry. This paper expands and updates previous literature review studies dealing with empirical research in OM. The journal publications reviewed for this paper were published in the years 1986 to 1995. This is a review of the articles published in thirteen journals that are traditional outlets for OM research. These articles are classified and the results of these classifications presented. There has been an increase in the amount of published articles that make use of empirical research methods in the OM area, both in number and as a percentage of the total number of articles published in these journals.
Impact of Long-Term Antibiotic Use for Acne on Bacterial Ecology and Health Outcomes: A Review of Observational Studies

Acne is among the most common cutaneous disorder affecting most individuals by the time they reach adulthood. Management of acne can be quite a challenge and includes medications with significant side effects. We discuss the potential side effects of long-term antibiotic use. These side effects should be carefully weighed and monitored when designing a treatment plan.
Intraoral lesions of adults associated with herpes simplex virus.

Abstract It now appears that the association of herpes simplex virus with oral lesions in adults is not as rare as was formerly believed and that many adults are not immune to this virus and hence are susceptible to primary infection. It is suggested that the diseases associated with herpes simplex virus be studied and that isolation of the virus not be rejected as indicative only of innocuous shedding. Because there are no reproducible data to refute the possibility, it is proposed that herpes simplex virus be considered as a potential pathogen whenever it is isolated.
High-dose corticosteroids in the treatment of pulseless idioventricular rhythm.

Pulseless idioventricular rhythm (PIVR) is a slow electrical rhythm of ventricular origin without mechanical activity, and it is associated with a mortality rate that approaches 100%. In 1976 high-dose corticosteroids were advocated as beneficial in the treatment of PIVR. A critical-review of the early literature suggests that the favorable outcome may have been attributable to variables other than treatment with high-dose steroids. Recent prospective clinical trials have not confirmed the salutory effect of steroids in this dysrhythmia.
H-Type Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Congenital Esophageal Stenosis

An 18-month-old boy was seen in the pediatric pulmonary clinic with a history of wheezing, stridor and intolerance to solid foods. Barium esophagram revealed distal esophageal stenosis and subsequently an H-type TEF at surgery. Following the surgery to repair both lesions the child continues to do well.
Antimicrobial coatings produced by “tethering” biocides to the coating matrix: A comprehensive review

Covalently attached, non-leaching biocidal-moieties are being explored as an environmentally friendly option for replacing antimicrobial coatings that release biocides. This review highlights studies on antimicrobial surface treatments and coatings in which the antimicrobial agent is covalently bound (i.e. tethered) to the surface or coating matrix. In addition, test methods for measuring antimicrobial surface activity are reviewed, and a discussion of advantages and disadvantages of the various methods is provided.
Ghrelin and the Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor Constitute a Novel Autocrine Pathway in Astrocytoma Motility

Originally thought of as a stomach-derived endocrine peptide acting via its receptors in the central nervous system to stimulate food intake and growth hormone expression, ghrelin and its receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R)) are widely expressed in a number of organ systems, including cancer cells. However, the direct functional role of ghrelin and its receptor in tumors of central nervous system origin remains to be defined. Here, we demonstrate that the human astrocytoma cell lines U-118, U-87, CCF-STTG1, and SW1088 express 6-, 11-, 15-, and 29-fold higher levels of GHS-R compared with primary normal human astrocytes. The ligation of GHS-R by ghrelin on these cells resulted in an increase in intracellular calcium mobilization, protein kinase C activation, actin polymerization, matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity, and astrocytoma motility. In addition, ghrelin led to actin polymerization and membrane ruffling on cells, with the specific co-localization of the small GTPase Rac1 with GHS-R on the leading edge of the astrocytoma cells and imparting the tumor cells with a motile phenotype. Disruption of the endogenous ghrelin/GHS-R pathway by RNA interference resulted in diminished motility, matrix metalloproteinase activity, and Rac expression, whereas tumor cells stably overexpressing GHS-R exhibited increased cell motility. The relevance of ghrelin and GHS-R expression was verified in clinically relevant tissues from 20 patients with oligodendrogliomas and grade II–IV astrocytomas. Analysis of a central nervous system tumor tissue microarray revealed that strong GHS-R and ghrelin expression was significantly more common in high grade tumors compared with low grade ones. Together, these findings suggest a novel role for the ghrelin/GHS-R axis in astrocytoma cell migration and invasiveness of cancers of central nervous system origin.
Utility of customized trapdoor cecostomy tube for long-term internal biliary drainage in the setting of benign biliary strictures

Learning Objectives Introduce the technique of placement of customized cecostomy tubes (c-tubes) as an alternative to conventional biliary drains for long-term biliary drainage. Background Benign biliary strictures remain a frequent cause of morbidity in liver transplants requiring multiple percutaneous biliary interventions such as balloon cholangioplasty, long term locking loop biliary catheter placement, and biliary catheter upsizing. The complications of locking loop catheters include catheter dislodgment, kinking, and interference with daily activities. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details A 10.2F Cook Chait TrapdoorTM C-tube (Bloomington, Indiana) has been placed with technical success on 3 patients with split liver transplants complicated by benign central strictures. The first (age 17 yrs) over the last two years has had 9 exchanges with mean interval between exchanges of 10.8 weeks (range 7 - 14 wks.) The second (age 5 yrs) recently had the c-tube placed without complication. The third (age 21 mo) had the c-tube for 3 weeks. On follow up, the catheter was no longer required and removed. The tube has not fallen out in any case. The access of the biliary system does not differ. Prior to placement the c-tube must be molded using steam to temporarily undo the coils. There is no locking loop. The catheter is supported by the distal coils.The benefits include low external profile, stability from the increased coils in the bowel, and decreased excursion within the biliary tree. The low profile has been reported by parents to fit conveniently under clothing, limit the stigmata of chronic disease, prevent entanglement and pulling by the child. Limitations include the increased time of steaming (~2 min), tendency to accordion on placement, creation of proximal catheter side holes, and extra steps required in flushing. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points Technical differences in placing customized c-tube as opposed to conventional internal/external biliary drains for long-term internal biliary drainage are not substantial. However, there is a decreased potential of dislodgement and improved aesthetics for the child and family. Given initial positive experience in the pediatric population, the technique may prove beneficial in adults.
Interactions of OspA Monoclonal Antibody C3.78 with Borrelia burgdorferi within Ticks

The Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA) vaccine induces antibodies that prevent transmission from the tick to the host. Here we describe studies with an OspA monoclonal antibody (C3.78) to understand the mechanism by which antibodies entering the tick block Borrelia transmission. Host complement in the tick's blood meal did not contribute to protection because the antibody was equally effective whether infected ticks fed on normal or complement-deficient mice. Antibody-mediated cross-linking of bacteria or cross-linking of OspA molecules was not required for protection because C3.78 Fab′ fragments were as effective as whole antibody molecules. At low C3.78 concentrations, transmission was blocked despite the presence of many live spirochetes within the tick, confirming that clearance of Borrelia organisms was not required to block transmission. We propose that OspA antibody binding to the surface of spirochetes blocks transmission by a mechanism that does not require bacterial killing.
Corticotropin-releasing factor: endocrine and autonomic integration of responses to stress.

Abstract Corticotropin-releasing factor, a 41-residue peptide, is established as the principal physiological regulator of the pituitary-adrenal axis. The neuroanatomic distribution of corticotropin-releasing factor and its receptors suggests that this peptide may be a neurotransmitter in pathways outside the hypophysiotropic zone. Indeed, corticotropin-releasing factor demonstrates patent neuropharmacological actions that are independent of its pituitary effects . Laurel Fisher reviews the combined anatomical, pharmacological and physiological evidence that supports a role for corticotropin-releasing factor in mediating the integrated endocrine, autonomie and cardiovascular responses to stress .
Hicks, Marshall, and Points Off the Demand Curve:

It is well known that Marshall's measure of consumer's surplus is an underestimator of Hicks' equivalent variation of consumer's surplus when the points under consideration are on the consumer's de...
Effects of once daily dosing with inhaled budesonide on airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation following repeated low-dose allergen challenge in atopic asthmatics

Background Repeated low-dose allergen challenge increases airway hyperresponsiveness and sputum eosinophils in atopic asthmatics. Inhaled corticosteroids attenuate the airway responses to high-dose allergen challenge, but have not been evaluated against repeated low dose challenge. Objective This study evaluates the effects of once daily treatments of two doses of inhaled budesonide on airway responses to repeated low-dose allergen challenge. Methods Eight atopic asthmatics with a dual airway responses to inhaled allergen were recruited into a randomized, double-blind crossover, placebo-controlled study. In the mornings of four consecutive days (day 1-day 4), subjects inhaled budesonide 100 μg, 400 μg, or placebo, 30 min before inhaling a concentration of allergen causing a 5% early fall in FEV1. Airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine and sputum eosinophils were measured at baseline, on the afternoon of day 2, day 4, and 24 h after the last challenge. There was a 1-week washout between each of the three treatment periods. Results The repeated low-dose allergen challenge induced increases in the percentage sputum eosinophils from 2.0 ± 0.7% at baseline to 16.6 ± 7.1% on day 4 (P = 0.002), and this effect was reduced by once daily budesonide 100 μg to 5.6 ± 1.8% (P = 0.01) and by once daily budesonide 400 μg to 3.1 ± 0.9% (P = 0.004). Also, the allergen-induced methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness which occurred by day 4 (P = 0.03) of the repeated low dose challenge was inhibited by budesonide 400 μg (P = 0.017). Conclusion Both budesonide 100 μg and 400 μg inhaled once daily significantly reduces allergen-induced sputum eosinophilia after repeated low dose challenge; however, only the higher dose also attenuates the allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness.
NITRIC OXIDE AND LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN OXIDATION

Nitric oxide can have both pro-oxidant and antioxidant effects on low-density lipoprotein. Nitric oxide does not appear to react directly with components of LDL. However, in the presence of oxygen (through NO2 and N2O3 formation) or superoxide (through peroxynitrite formation) nitric oxide may cause oxidation of the lipid, protein and antioxidant components of LDL. Conversely, nitric oxide is a potent inhibitor of LDL oxidation when initiated by copper ions or by azo-initiators. The possible implications of these observations to vascular pathology are discussed.
A comparison of three methods of estimating the logistic regression coefficients

A Sampling experiment performed using data collected for a large clinical trial shows that the discriminant function estimates of the logistic regression coefficients for discrete variables may be severely biased. The simulations show that the mixed variable location model coefficient estimates have bias which is of the same magnitude as the bias in the coefficient estimates obtained using conditional maximum likelihood estimates but require about one-tenth of the computer time.
Nonstationary composite image modeling and two-source coding

A second-generation coding algorithm based on a nonstationary composite model for images is presented. The authors consider as sources the gross information describing the underlying structure of the image, and its fine or textural information. Median and range filters are used to segment the image into homogeneous and transition regions. The mean value function in each of these regions is estimated to provide the gross information. Estimation in the transition regions is done by means of space-varying unbiased estimators based on Legendre orthogonal polynomials. The textural information is characterized by means of linear prediction with space-varying coefficients. Parametrizing these coefficients in terms of known basis makes possible a recursive solution of the prediction problem. The coding procedure is based on coding separately the gross and the textural information. Examples illustrate the efficiency of the proposed coding procedure. >
Physical Health Monitoring of Patients With Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia is associated with several chronic physical illnesses and a shorter life expectancy, compared with life expectancy in the general population. One approach to improving the health of patients with schizophrenia is to improve the monitoring of physical health that occurs in psychiatric settings. The authors discuss a consensus panel’s recommendations for improving the physical health monitoring of patients with schizophrenia who are treated in outpatient settings. METHOD: A consensus meeting including psychiatric and other medical experts assembled on October 17–18, 2002, to evaluate the existing literature and to develop recommendations for physical health monitoring of patients with schizophrenia. Conference participants reviewed the literature in the following areas: 1) weight gain and obesity; 2) diabetes; 3) hyperlipidemia; 4) prolongation of the QT interval on the ECG; 5) prolactin elevation and related sexual side effects; 6) extrapyramidal side effects, akathisia, and tardiv...
A REVIEW OF THE NEARCTIC GEOSARGINAE (DIPTERA, STRATIOMYIDAE)

The subfamily Geosarginae forms a troulesome complex in the New World tropics, and much work will be necessary before certain generic and specific relationships can he determined. In the Nearctic region, however, conditions are not so serious; for, in spite of the fact that certain of the genera are not very satisfactorily defined, the species are comparatively few and, for the most part, quite distinct. It is hoped that the present review will serve to identify the species found in America north of Mexico.
Machiavelli's “new prince” and the Primordial Moment of Acquisition

Commentators have frequently noted the discrepancy in il Principe between the figure of the new prince and the impossibility of exemplifying him. Against interpretations that claim Machiavelli's text either traps a prince in a web of self-destructive advice or destabilizes the very political knowledge it provides, the author argues that it uses the figure of the new prince to locate us in the primordial moment of acquisition of political power, a moment that is never overcome but is constantly replayed in maintaining states and beneath established institutions. Thus given the impossibility for a new prince to ever get beyond “the primordial moment of acquisition,” there can be no overall theoretical resolution to this tension, and thus no closure to this text. Therefore the text addresses a reader—actor who has to assemble the maxims and examples in light of the necessities governing primordial acquisition as they play out in his/her historical location.
Development of a Spiritual Support Scale for Use with Older Adults

SUMMARY This study reports the development and empirical test of a measure of spiritual supports used by older adults in managing life challenge. The Spiritual Strategies Scale (SSS) consists of 18 items. Cronbach's coefficient alpha reliability for the measure was .86. The sample, gathered from interviews at four sites, consisted of 79 older adults who were predominantly Jewish European American and African American. Concurrent validity analyses suggest that this measure warrants further testing. This scale also has potential for clinical use in social work practice by counselors for older adults.
Occlusion regulates epidermal cytokine production and inhibits scar formation

Hypertrophic scars are a major clinical problem, yet there are few therapeutics available to prevent or treat scar formation. One of the oldest known and most effective treatments is occlusion with silicone gel. However, little is known about its mode of action. It is hypothesized that occlusion increases the hydration state of the epidermis, and that this affects the epidermal and dermal cell behavior. This study investigated this possibility. Using the rabbit hypertrophic scar model, we determined that occlusion increased the hydration state of the epidermis in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly reduced the scar hypertrophy. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry showed that occlusion altered keratinocyte behavior, including keratin expression. Furthermore, occlusion significantly decreased the epidermal expression of the profibrotic cytokine interleukin-1beta and increased the epidermal expression of the antifibrotic cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha. These alterations in the epidermal gene expression resulted in concomitant changes in the expression of the transforming growth factor-beta family members by cells in the dermis, resulting in a decrease in profibrotic signaling within the dermis. In summary, the results of this study indicate that occlusive therapy was able to decrease dermal fibrosis by hydrating the epidermis and altering the pro- and antifibrotic signals produced following injury.
How the Gateway Arch Got its Shape

Robert Osserman examines Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch in St. Louis in order to shed light on what its exact shape is, why it is that shape, and whether the various decisions made during its design were based on aesthetic or structural considerations. Research included discussions with engineers and architects who worked with Saarinen on the project. The paper concludes by noting some questions that are still unanswered.
Application of Machine Learning To Epileptic Seizure Detection

We present and evaluate a machine learning approach to constructing patient-specific classifiers that detect the onset of an epileptic seizure through analysis of the scalp EEG, a non-invasive measure of the brain's electrical activity. This problem is challenging because the brain's electrical activity is composed of numerous classes with overlapping characteristics. The key steps involved in realizing a high performance algorithm included shaping the problem into an appropriate machine learning framework, and identifying the features critical to separating seizure from other types of brain activity. When trained on 2 or more seizures per patient and tested on 916 hours of continuous EEG from 24 patients, our algorithm detected 96% of 173 test seizures with a median detection delay of 3 seconds and a median false detection rate of 2 false detections per 24 hour period. We also provide information about how to download the CHB-MIT database, which contains the data used in this study.
Symptom Reflections of Women With Cardiac Disease and Advanced Practice Nurses: A Descriptive Study

The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the experiences of women with cardiac disease in regard to cardiac risk factors, symptoms, and symptom interpretation. Interviews with a convenience sample of 21 African American and Caucasian female patients, aged 40-81 years with cardiac diagnoses, were taped and transcribed. Three advanced practice nurses with experience in cardiovascular nursing were interviewed individually for background. Analyses of symptoms indicated that women experienced a range of prodromal symptoms other than chest pain prior to hospitalization such as: edema, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dry cough, and exhaustion. Atypical symptoms delayed recognition of a cardiac problem for some women. The lack of symptom consistency underscores the need for thorough assessment and screening of women at risk for cardiac problems. Advanced practice nurses are aware of current cardiac disease research in women but they must continue to be vigilant for atypical symptoms.
Equilibria associated with cupric chloride leaching of chalcopyrite concentrate

Abstract The leaching of chalcopyrite in aqueous cupric chloride solutions is treated with a thermodynamic model which incorporates the equilibria associated with the formation of various cupric, cuprous and ferrous chloride complexes. The precipitate from a refluxing slurry of elemental sulfur and aqueous cuprous and ferrous chlorides contained predominantly covellite (CuS) and a small amount of pyrite (FeS2). Mossbauer spectra indicate that there was no chalcopyrite formation. Cupric chloride leaching experiments on both chalcopyrite concentrate and cupric sulfide indicated that the extent of cuprous ion formation in these aqueous cupric chloride solutions is controlled by the thermodynamics of the equilibrium: CuS+Cu 2+ ⇌ 2 Cu + +S 0 Conditions which favor the desired complete reduction of cupric ion are discussed.
Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) responds differentially to a robotic fish of varying swimming depth and aspect ratio

In this study, we explore the feasibility of using bioinspired robotics to influence the behaviour of mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), a social freshwater fish species that is extensively studied for the ecological issues associated with its diffusion in non-native environments. Specifically, in a dichotomous choice test, we investigate the behavioural response of small shoals of mosquitofish to a robotic fish inspired by mosquitofish in its colouration, shape, aspect ratio, and locomotion. Our results indicate that the swimming depth and the aspect ratio of the robotic fish are both determinants of mosquitofish preference. In particular, we find that mosquitofish are never attracted by a robotic fish whose colouration and shape are inspired by live subjects and that the degree of repulsion varies as a function of the swimming depth and the aspect ratio.
An approach to object-oriented requirements verification in software development for distributed computing systems

Developing software for distributed computing systems is challenging due to lack of effective software development methodologies and tools. In particular, because many errors in the source code can be traced to the errors in the requirements specification, it is especially important to have effective verification techniques for the requirements specification. In this paper, an approach to verification of object-oriented requirements specification (OORS) in software development for distributed computing systems is presented. In our approach, the requirements specification generated by object-oriented analysis is described using a formal specification language, which is transformed into an information tree. Then, the completeness and consistency of the requirements specification expressed in terms of the information tree is verified by comparing it with the original requirements statement. >
Computer generation of the character tables of the symmetric groups (Sn)

Algorithms and codes based on the method of Schur functions and Frobenius' theorem are used to generate the character tables of the symmetric groups (S,) containing n! elements. The codes developed can generate characters of S, up to n = 20. I. INTRODUCTION The generation of all the irreducible characters of the symmetric group s, in general for all n is considered a computationally difficult problem since the number of elements in the group S, grows as n!. The symmetric group S, has many important physicochemical The symmetry groups of nonrigid molecules and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) groups are expressible as generalized wreath products of S,S.~-~ The symmetry group of n electron exchange in an electronic configuration is expressible in terms of the unitary group or the symmetry group S,. Thus the genealogical construction of electronic spin functions for an n-particle system can be achieved using the irreducible representations of S,. The symmetric groups have also applications in organic stereochemistry and in the construction of the graphs for modes of reThe permutation group or the automorphism group of the vertices of a graph, in general, is expressible in terms of the subgroups of S, or wreath products of the subgroups of S,s. The isomerization graphs of many nonrigid organic and inorganic species have been constructed in recent The construction and characterization of the automorphism groups of such graphs have been the topics of many investigations.
Fast glutamate uptake via EAAT2 shapes the cone-mediated light offset response in bipolar cells.

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are responsible for extracellular glutamate uptake within the retina, and are expressed by retinal neurons and Muller cells. Their role within glutamatergic synapses is not completely understood. In the salamander retina, five distinct EAAT-encoding genes have been cloned, making the amphibian retina an excellent system to study EAAT function. This study focused on sEAAT2, which is expressed in photoreceptor terminals and Off-bipolar cells in two isoforms, sEAAT2A and sEAAT2B. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recording, florescence imaging and antibody labelling methods, we systematically studied the functions of these two isoforms at the synapse between photoreceptors and bipolar cells, both in dark and with photic stimulation. Both sEAAT2A and sEAAT2B were sensitive to dihydrokainic acid (DHKA), a known EAAT2-specific inhibitor. Each isoform of sEAAT2 was found to play a role in tonic glutamate uptake at the cone synapse in darkness. Furthermore, presynaptic sEAAT2A strongly suppressed the rapid, transient glutamate signal from cones following light-offset. This was achieved by quickly binding exocytosed glutamate, which subsequently limited glutamate spillover to adjacent receptors at postsynaptic sites. Since the intensity and duration of photic stimulation determine the magnitude of these cone transient signals, we postulate that presynaptic cone EAATs contribute to the encoding of contrast sensitivity in cone vision.
A fluorine-containing hydrophobically associating polymer. I. Synthesis and solution properties of copolymers of acrylamide and fluorine-containing acrylates or methacrylates

Fluorine-containing hydrophobically associating polymers have been synthesized by copolymerization of acrylamide with a small amount of an acrylate or methacrylate having a fluorocarbon containing ester group. It was found that hydrophobic associations occurring between these fluorocarbon chains was stronger than the interactions of the corresponding hydrocarbon comonomers and depend on the length of the fluorocarbon chain. The polymer solutions were found to be highly pseudoplastic but the viscosity loss was completely reversible upon removal of shear
Who will turn the knobs when i die

This paper addresses questions regarding the performance of interactive music compositions through an examination of the author's own works. The questions emerge from the compositional impetus and the subsequent technical design of each of the works. The paper also examines some of the forces impacting the performance, preservation and long-term viability of interactive works and non-interactive electroacoustic compositions.
Protein phosphorylation in signaling – 50 years and counting

pieces of information about that life have been irretrie-vably lost, yielding an under-determined landscape.Conjectures about that landscape, although often inter-esting, might also prove to be, in the end, unfalsiﬁable.Forarealmaslargeandcomplexastheubiquitinsystem,it is a given that its malfunctions are both numerous anddiverse. Hence, the enormous importance of the ubiquitinﬁeld for understanding and treating human diseases,including cancer, neurodegenerative syndromes, immuno-logicalabnormalitiesandamyriadofotherillnesses,geneticor otherwise, that can be traced to ubiquitin-dependentprocesses.Researchonregulatedproteindegradation,fromits mechanistic and physiological beginnings in the 1980s,has become a veritable monster of a ﬁeld. Severalpharmaceutical companies are developing compounds thattarget speciﬁc components of the ubiquitin system. Thefruits of their labors have already become, or will soonbecome,clinicallyusefuldrugs.Effortsinthisareawillyield,I hope, not only ‘conventional’ inhibitors or activators ofenzymes but also more sophisticated drugs that will directtheubiquitinsystemtotarget,destroyand,thereby,inhibitfunctionally any speciﬁc protein.
Synthesis of Silicon Based Opal by Chemical Reduction of Silica Opal

By reduction of SiO2 opal in atmosphere of nitrogen (80%)-helium (15%)-hydrogen (5%) gas mixture at various temperatures we tuned the dielectric contrast ratio and band gap of photonic crystal (PC) up to 10 %. The SEM images dose not show any detectible change in lattice parameters, whereas the elemental analysis shows remarkable decrease of oxygen content. The shift of reflectance spectra toward the long wavelength and increase of transmission in infrared region confirm the redaction of silica and partial transformation to the silicon.
The Ames MER microscopic imager toolkit

The Mars Exploration Rovers, spirit and opportunity, have spent several successful months on Mars, returning gigabytes of images and spectral data to scientists on Earth. One of the instruments on the MER rovers, the Athena microscopic imager (MI), is a fixed focus, megapixel camera providing a /spl plusmn/3mm depth of field and a 31/spl times/31 mm field of view at a working distance of 63 mm from the lens to the object being imaged. In order to maximize the science return from this instrument, we developed the Ames MI toolkit and supported its use during the primary mission. The MI toolkit is a set of programs that operate on collections of MI images, with the goal of making the data more understandable to the scientists on the ground. Because of the limited depth of field of the camera, and the often highly variable topography of the terrain being imaged, MI images of a given rock are often taken as a stack, with the instrument deployment device (IDD) moving along a computed normal vector, pausing every few millimeters for the MI to acquire an image. The MI toolkit provides image registration and focal section merging, which combine these images to form a single, maximally in-focus image, while compensating for changes in lighting as well as parallax due to the motion of the camera. The MI toolkit also provides a 3D reconstruction of the surface being imaged using stereo and can embed 2D MI images as texture maps into 3D meshes produced by other imagers on board the rover to provide context. The 2D images and 3D meshes output from the toolkit are easily viewed by scientists using other mission tools, such as Viz or the MI browser. This paper describes the MI toolkit in detail, as well as our experience using it with scientists at JPL during the primary MER mission.
Towards More Flexible Architectures

Communication and synchronization costs constitute two major sources of overhead in parallel processing systems. Multiprocessor architectures provide hardware mechanisms to reduce the costs associated with communication and synchronization. Often there is a single mechanism provided for handling a certain task. Although this mechanism may provide acceptable performance for the average case, it may not be the ideal choice for each and every case. A more flexible architecture would provide several mechanisms, allowing the programmer and/or compiler to choose the best suited policy. In this way, the architecture can efficiently support several programming paradigms. In addition, there is synergy in using several mechanisms within the same program. I argue that such flexibility can be realized without excessive increase in hardware complexity or loss in performance. The following sections are written from the viewpoint of augmenting shared memory architectures.
Retirement Plans and Prospects for Retirement Income Adequacy

Will Americans have enough to live on in retirement? This paper attempts to address that question for the Baby Boomer and Gen Xer generations. While it is widely accepted that employment-based retirement plans have played a significant role in providing retirement income to American workers, this paper quantifies the impact that those programs have in the determination of retirement income adequacy. The analysis in this paper reveals that one of the most important factors in determining whether Gen Xers would have sufficient retirement resources is eligibility for participation in an employment-based defined contribution plan.
Strain Hardening and Aging in Cold-Formed Steel

Previous investigations of the effects of cold-forming on light gage steel have dealt primarily with so-called corners, where the effect of plastic straining is large and that of strain aging negligible. However, in cases where cold work is less severe, e.g. in cold-formed electric-welded tubing, the influence of strain aging becomes significant. A method for predicting increases in yield strength in members formed with moderate amounts of plastic deformation is presented. The results of this method are compared with experimental results.
Abstract 203: Redox Regulation of MKP-1 and the Functional Reprogramming of Monocyte-Derived Macrophages by Metabolic Stress

Objective: To determine the mechanisms through which MKP-1 deficiency in monocytes and macrophages promotes atherogenesis. Methods and Results: Transplantation of MKP-1-deficient (MKPKO) bone marrow into LDL-R-/- (MKP-1LeuKO) mice accelerated high fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerotic lesion formation. After 12 weeks of HFD feeding, MKP-1LeuKO mice showed increases in lesion size in both the aortic root and the aorta, despite reduced plasma cholesterol levels. Macrophage content was increased in lesions of MKP-1LeuKO mice compared to mice that received wt bone marrow. After only 6 weeks on a HFD, the in vivo chemotactic activity of monocytes was already significantly increased in MKP-1LeuKO mice. Macrophages isolated from MKPKO mice showed impaired autophagy, increased sensitivity to 7-ketocholesterol-induced apoptosis, and IL-4-induced M2 polarization of these macrophages was blocked. Importantly, macrophages in atherosclerotic lesion of MKP-1LeuKO mice showed increased macrophage apoptosis and decrease...
Unusual population buildups by Hirstionyssus utahensis (Acarina: Mesostigmata) on the golden-mantled ground squirrel in the laboratory.

Articles such as the one by Smith & House (1975, Lab. Animals, Jan-Feb.: 32–35, 44) reflect an increasing interest by the scientific community in maintaining and breeding wild rodents in the laboratory for experimental purposes. This is especially true with respect to the zoonotic diseases associated with rodents in nature. This laboratory routinely has several species of wild rodents on hand for use in studies on such diseases as Colorado tick fever and plague.
Heritable cystic disorders of the kidney. The mythology of polycystic disease.

Presentation of a classification of renal cystic disease which incorporates relevant clinical-pathological correlations from numerous sources.
Effect of Human Recombinant VWF Administration on Plasma ADAMTS13 Activities in Non-Human Primates and Rabbits

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is composed of a series of multimers, the sizes of which are regulated by the plasma metalloprotease ADAMTS13. Reports suggest that a transient increase in VWF levels, triggered for instance by DDAVP treatment, will result in a decrease in ADAMTS13 activity. This phenomenon is widely believed to be due to ADAMTS13 being exhausted when confronted with an excess of substrate. Treating patients who have type 3 von Willebrand disease with a recombinant human von Willebrand factor (rVWF) that has not yet been exposed to ADAMTS13 might thus cause a drop in ADAMTS13 levels. We therefore tested whether a rise in VWF concentrations to supraphysiological levels caused by administration of rVWF could influence endogenous ADAMTS13 levels in animal models. Various doses of human rVWF (300, 600, and 1200 RCo IU/kg BW) were injected into rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys and plasma samples were collected at a range of time points. As expected, VWF antigen rose sharply in a dose-dependent manner (~25 IU/ml VWF:Ag for the highest dose, 15 min after injection) and then declined gradually (~7 IU/ml VWF:Ag for the highest dose, 18 hours after injection). When these samples were tested for ADAMTS13 activity using the FRETS assay, no relevant changes were observed throughout the entire test period in the rabbit or in the monkey samples, indicating that rVWF, even at high doses, did not compromise ADAMTS13 activity. Both rabbit and cynomolgus ADAMTS13 recognized human rVWF as the specific cleavage products were detectable by electrophoresis at all doses administered. These animal studies thus indicate that an excess of intravenously administered rVWF leading to supraphysiological levels does not exhaust ADAMTS13.
Analytical method for the sensitivity analysis of active nanophotonic devices

Achieving active control of the flow of light in nanoscale photonic devices is of fundamental interest in nanophotonics. For practical implementations of active nanophotonic devices, it is important to determine the sensitivity of the device properties to the refractive index of the active material. Here, we introduce a method for the sensitivity analysis of active nanophotonic waveguide devices to variations in the dielectric permittivity of the active material. More specifically, we present an analytical adjoint sensitivity method for the power transmission coefficient of nanophotonic devices, which is directly derived from Maxwell’s equations, and is not based on any specific numerical discretization method. We show that in the case of symmetric devices the method does not require any additional simulations. We apply the derived theory to calculate the sensitivity of the power transmission coefficient with respect to the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric permittivity of the active material for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional plasmonic devices. We consider Fabry-Perot cavity switches consisting of a plasmonic waveguide coupled to a cavity resonator which is filled with an active material with tunable refractive index. To validate our method, we compare it with the direct approach, in which the sensitivity is calculated numerically by varying the dielectric permittivity of the active material, and approximating the derivative using a finite difference. We find that the results obtained with our method are in excellent agreement with the ones obtained by the direct approach. In addition, our method is accurate for both lossless and lossy devices.
Electron Delocalization in Perylene Diimide Helicenes

We report two new helicenes derived from the double fusion of an acene with two perylene diimide (PDI) subunits. These PDI-helicene homologs exhibit very different structural and electronic properties, despite differing by only a single ring in the link between the PDI units. The shorter inter-PDI link brings the two PDI subunits closer together, and this results in the collision of their respective π-electron clouds. This collision facilitates intramolecular through-space electronic delocalization when the PDI-helicene is reduced.