cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impaired baseline regional cerebral perfusion in patients referred for coronary artery bypass

Background Cognitive dysfunction and cerebral vascular accidents remain some of the most devastating problems related to cardiac surgery. Despite the major advances in perioperative care and operative technique in coronary artery bypass, this cohort of patients appears to have poor cerebral physiologic reserve. The aim of this study was to describe regional cerebral perfusion of patients with coronary artery disease referred for coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods Eighty-two consecutive patients with coronary artery disease referred for coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled after providing informed consent in an institutional review board–approved study. Patients with prior cerebral vascular accident, transient ischemic attacks, head trauma, or other neurologic afflictions were excluded from the study. We prospectively measured preoperative regional cerebral perfusion using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of 12 regions. Patients were determined to have an abnormal SPECT if regional cerebral perfusion was less than 2 standard deviations below the mean of age-matched controls. Results The mean age was 67.5 (range, 34-89) years. The study group comprised 22% women and 78% men with known risk factors for atherosclerosis: current tobacco use (30%), hypertension (69%), and diabetes (27%). Seventy-five percent of the SPECT scans demonstrated abnormal regional cerebral perfusions, which were associated with older age ( P P P Conclusion Seventy-five percent of patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting have a significant impairment in regional cerebral perfusion compared with published age-matched controls, which may contribute to their proclivity for cerebral complications.
Environmental Kuznets curves, carbon emissions, and public choice

Concern about global climate change has elicited responses from governments around the world. These responses began with the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and have continued with other negotiations, including the 2009 Copenhagen Summit. These negotiations raised important questions about whether countries will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, if so, how the burden of emissions reductions will be shared. To investigate these questions, we utilize environmental Kuznets curves for carbon emissions for the G8 plus five main developing countries. Our findings raise doubts about the feasibility of reducing global carbon emissions and shed light on the different positions taken by countries on the distribution of emissions reductions.
Optimal policy toward international factor movements with a country-specific factor

Abstract This paper examines the optimal taxation of factor movements in a three factor model where two factors are potentially mobile. Results emphasize the role of substitutability or complementarity between factors in determining the optimal pattern of factor flows. In particular, a result analogous to the Ramaswami result on the desirability of factor-importing over factor-exporting will hold if factors are complements, but may not hold if they are substitutes. Also, a capitalexporting country that cannot tax imported labor should allow labor imports when capital and labor are substitutes, but may not allow labor imports if they are complements.
Human-animal Interaction and Older Adults

“ can be a wonderful motivator,” said my friend as I entered the tiny cramped room. My friend Betty (pseudonym) is usually optimistic and cheerful, so I knew there was a problem. Tucked away in the corner was the wheelchair she had grudgingly accepted for use a few weeks earlier, and her walker was back at her chair. A respiratory infection had weakened my 82-year-old friend, who already was challenged with the residual effects of a stroke. Everyone had encouraged her to rest by setting aside her walker and using a wheelchair, and for the first time, she had agreed. This story began 6 years ago. Back then, Betty was an independent widow who lived with her three dogs and was actively involved in obedience training and traveling to compete with her dogs. Tragedy struck when she experienced a stroke, which left her struggling to speak and with a loss of any feeling on her right side. Everything in her world was about to change. Two of her dogs were placed in permanent new homes, and only her elderly Shetland Sheepdog, Fagan (pseudonym), was kept nearby by a friend. Knowing Betty, I did not wait long before taking my daughter’s scruffy little rescue dog for a visit.
Another Look at the Mechanism of the Concerted 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Fulminic Acid to Acetylene†

The transition structure and energy barrier for the concerted addition of fulminic acid to acetylene, a prototypical 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, have been determined using various molecular orbital and density functional theory methods (MP2, CCSD(T), G2(MS), G2(CC), CASSCF/CASPT2, and B3LYP) with the aim of obtaining accurate energetics and finding an economical but reliable approach for treating larger substituted systems. Although the activation energy is not particularly sensitive to the geometries employed, it is strongly dependent on the treatment of dynamical electron correlation. The approximate G2(MS) appears to be an efficient and reliable treatment. Both CCSD(T) and CASPT2 results agree with each other, suggesting that the energy barrier for the HCNO + HCCH addition amounts to about 14 kcal/mol. The electronic mechanism of the cycloaddition has also been probed further using DFT descriptors, as well as an analysis of the CAS-LMO-CI wave functions. The hardness profile along the minimum energy pat...
Guiding ribozyme cleavage through motif recognition: the mechanism of cleavage site selection by a group ii intron ribozyme.

Abstract The mechanism by which group II introns cleave the correct phosphodiester linkage was investigated by studying the reaction of mutant substrates with a ribozyme derived from intron ai5γ. While fidelity was found to be quite high in most cases, a single mutation on the substrate (+1C) resulted in a dramatic loss of fidelity. When this mutation was combined with a second mutation that induces a bulge in the exon binding site 1/intron binding site 1 (EBS1/IBS1) duplex, the base-pairing register of the EBS1/IBS1 duplex was shifted and the cleavage site moved to a downstream position on the substrate. Conversely, when mismatches were incorporated at the EBS1/IBS1 terminus, the duplex was effectively truncated and cleavage occurred at an upstream site. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the cleavage site of a group II intron ribozyme can be tuned at will by manipulating the thermodynamic stability and structure of the EBS1/IBS1 pairing. The results are consistent with a model in which the cleavage site is not designated through recognition of specific nucleotides (such as the 5′-terminal residue of EBS1). Instead, the ribozyme detects a structure at the junction between single and double-stranded residues on the bound substrate. This finding explains the puzzling lack of phylogenetic conservation in ribozyme and substrate sequences near group II intron target sites.
A Web 2.0-Based Scientific Application Framework

A significant obstacle to building usable, web-based interfaces for computational science in a Grid environment is how to deploy scientific applications on computational resources and expose these applications as web services. To streamline the development of these interfaces, we propose a new application framework that can deliver user-defined scientific workflows as both web services and OpenSocial gadgets. Through this application framework, scientists can focus on defining computational workflows using domain-specific applications and can use the software tools in the framework to quickly generate gadgets for running the applications and visualizing the output from workflow executions. By assembling these domain-specific gadgets and some common gadgets predefined in the framework for workflow management, scientists can easily set up a customized computational workspace to meet their requirements.
Comet in context

Combinatorial optimization problems naturally arise in many application areas, including logistics, manufacturing, supply-chain management, and resource allocation. They often give rise to complex and intricate programs, because of their inherent computational and software complexity. There is thus a strong need for software tools which would decrease the distance between the specification and the final program.This paper contains a brief description of COMET, an object-oriented language supporting a constraint-based architecture for neighborhood search. It contrasts COMET to constraint programming languages and shows how constraint programming and COMET provides many of the same benefits for constraint satisfaction and neighborhood search respectively. In particular, COMET supports a layered architecture cleanly separating modeling and search aspects of the programs, constraints encapsulating incremental algorithms, and various control abstraction to simplify neighborhood exploration and meta-heuristics.
Size-dependent density of states and optical spectra of CdSe quantum rods and tubes

Abstract In this Letter we study electronic structure of Cd m Se m quantum rods (QRs) and quantum tubes (QTs) of different sizes. We demonstrate that HOMO–LUMO and optical gaps are higher for quantum tubes than for quantum rods with approximately the same diameters and lengths. In addition we calculate the density of states (DOS) and optical absorption spectra using TDDFT and CIS methods as well as DFT for the DOS calculations. We determine that the DOS and optical spectra are rather different for all samples. The TDDFT and CIS calculations exhibit similar but slightly shifted spectra. The DFT calculations are essentially different from the TDDFT and CIS ones. Thus, we conclude that the DFT method has to be used with care for DOS and optical spectra calculations.
The evolution of water cooling for IBM large server systems: Back to the future

This paper provides a technical perspective and review of water cooling technology as implemented through 5 generations of IBM's high performance computing systems from the S360/91 to the recently announced IBM Power 575 supercomputing system. The use of hybrid air-to-water cooling and then indirect (cold plate) water cooling in earlier IBM systems is described. Attention is given to how and why water-cooling was implemented to provide the required cooling capability while maintaining ease of serviceability at the module level. Also discussed is the use of a Cooling Distribution Unit (CDU) to control cooling system water temperature, distribute water to multiple racks and serve as a buffer between system water and customer facility water. Rising microprocessor power dissipation, increased heat loads at the data center level, and demands for increased cooling energy efficiency are presented as driving the need for the reintroduction of water cooling. The introduction of the rear door heat exchanger to respond to the challenge of rising heat loads at the data center level is discussed. Finally, the IBM Power 575 water cooling system is described. Included in the discussion are the coolant flow architecture and the incorporation of Modular Water cooling Units (MWU's) within the server frame replacing the remote CDU concept.
On the optimal choice of nodes in the collocation-projection method for solving linear operator equations

Abstract H R is a Hilbert space with norm ∥ ∥ R and K is a linear operator mapping H R into l 2 ( T ), where T is a closed, bounded interval of the real line. K and H R jointly have the property that there exist M such that ¦ (Kf)(t)¦ ⩽ M ∥f∥ R , t ϵ T . In the collocation-projection method for approximately solving the equation Kf = g , the approximate solution f n is taken as that element of H R that minimizes ∥ f ;∥ R subject to ( Kf )( t ) = g ( t ) for t ϵ T n , where T n + 1 = { t i } i = 0 n and t i ϵ T . We show how results obtained elsewhere are applicable to the problem of choosing the node set T n to minimize ∥ f − f n ∥ R . The results are applicable to the approximate solution of 2-point boundary value problems using a spline basis. We make some remarks concerning the problem of choosing the nodes to minimize sup s ¦f(s) − f n (s)¦ , when K is a differential operator.
What's odd about that? Exploring preschoolers' ability to apply the oddity principle to stimuli differing in colour, size, or form

Preschoolers were tested on a variety of oddity problems—that is, problems where one object in a set of four differed from the other three on one dimension. These dimensions consisted of colour, size, or form. The children were most accurate on size oddity problems in which one object was bigger than the others. They were almost as accurate on colour oddity problems. Form problems were next, and size oddity problems wherein the odd object was smaller than the other three objects were next. These decalages are interpretable in terms of relational complexity theory and executive function.
Evidence for selenocysteine in ovine tissue organelles

Subcellular fractions were prepared by differential centrifugation from heart and liver of a lamb labeled with 75Se-selenite. Crude fractions of nuclei, mitochondria, and microsomes from both tissues were solubilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate and chromatographed on columns of sephacryl S-200. A low molecular weight (MW) 75Se labeled cardiac cytosol protein (approximately 10,000 daltons) was partially purified by gel filtration chromatography. The major 75Se peaks from the sephacryl columns and the low MW cardiac protein were hydrolyzed in HCl under an inert atmosphere. When chromatographed on an amino acid analysis column, 75Se from each hydrolysate chromatographed in the identical position of 2,7-diamino-4-thia-5-selenaoctanedioic acid, the mixed oxidized dimer of cysteine and selenocysteine. The low MW cardiac protein was reacted with chloroacetate after reduction with borohydride. 75Se from a hydrolysate of this derivatized protein eluted in the same position as Se-carboxymethylselenocysteine on the amino acid analysis column. Thus, selenocysteine appears to be the predominant form of selenium in ovine heart and liver.
The potter’s wheel: the host’s role in sculpting its microbiota

Animals, ranging from basal metazoans to primates, are host to complex microbial ecosystems; engaged in a symbiotic relationship that is essential for host physiology and homeostasis. Epithelial surfaces vary in the composition of colonizing microbiota as one compares anatomic sites, developmental stages and species origin. Alterations of microbial composition likely contribute to susceptibility to several distinct diseases. The forces that shape the colonizing microbial composition are the focus of much current investigation, and it is evident that there are pressures exerted both by the host and the external environment to mold these ecosystems. The focus of this review is to discuss recent studies that demonstrate the critical importance of host factors in selecting for its microbiome. Greater insight into host–microbiome interactions will be essential for understanding homeostasis at mucosal surfaces, and developing useful interventions when homeostasis is disrupted.
Experiences of parents of children surviving brain tumour: a happy ending and a rough beginning

Despite a large number of studies reporting distress in parents after successfully completed cancer treatment of a child, few have explored the influence of current matters. The objective of this study was to explore parents' perceptions of post-treatment influence of childhood brain tumour. Semi-structured individual interviews were performed with the parents of seven children who had completed treatment for various types of brain tumour. Through inductive thematic analysis five key themes were derived, including 16 sub-themes. The key themes relate to: (1) survivor needs related to training and everyday life activities, where parents invested a large amount of time and commitment; (2) the everyday family life was restricted: family life in focus; (3) parenting role and routines had become more demanding; (4) for the parent as an individual daily routine as well as the view of life had changed; and (5) parental concerns and worries regarding the survivor's current and future well-being were amplified. Findings of the study suggest that the parents in the study struggle with the consequences of tangible strain, as well as existential challenges. Follow-up support should include updated information about the child's present state, and how it can be improved, as well as coaching when assisting and supporting the child.
Environmental Policy As Learning: A New View of an Old Landscape

Environmental policy in the United States has always been characterized by high levels of political conflict. At the same time, however, policy makers have shown a capacity to learn from their own and others' experience. This article examines U.S. environmental policy since 1970 as a learning process and, more specifically, as an effort to develop three kinds of capacities for policy learning. The first decade and a half may be seen in terms of technical learning, characterized by a high degree of technical and legal proficiency, but also narrow problem definitions, institutional fragmentation, and adversarial relations among actors. In the 1 980s, growing recognition of deficiencies in technical learning led to a search for new goals, strategies, and policy instruments, in what may be termed conceptual learning. By the early 1990s, policy makers also recognized a need for a new set of capacities at social learning, reflecting trends in European environmental policy, international interest in the concept of sustainability, and dissatisfaction with the U.S. experience. Social learning stresses communication and interaction among actors. Most industrial nations, including the United States, are working to develop and integrate capacities for all three kinds of learning. Efforts to integrate capacities for conceptual and social learning in the United States have had mixed success, however, because the institutional and legal framework for environmental policy still is founded on technical learning.
Effect of acute intermittent hypoxia treatment on ventilatory load compensation and magnitude estimation of inspiratory resistive loads in an individual with chronic incomplete cervical spinal cord injury

Context: Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes disruption of the efferent input to and afferent input from respiratory muscles, which impairs respiratory motor and sensory functions, respectively. This disturbs the injured individual's ability to respond to ventilatory loads and may alter the respiratory perceptual sensitivity of applied loads. Acute intermittent hypoxia with elevated CO2 (AIH treatment) has been shown to induce ventilatory long-term facilitation in individuals with chronic SCI. This study evaluated the effect of ten days of AIH treatment on ventilatory load compensation and respiratory perceptual sensitivity to inspiratory resistive loads (IRL), in an individual with chronic, incomplete cervical SCI.Methods: Case report and literature review.Findings: We report a case of a 55-year-old female with a C4 chronic, incomplete SCI (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale D). The subject underwent evaluation at four time-points: Baseline, Post Sham, AIH Day 1 and AIH Day 10. Significant i...
Time Variations, Births, and Lunar Association

Abstract: Often maternity nurses are heard to remark that the full moon influences the onset of labor and subsequently the birth of babies. The senior author decided to do a statistical analysis of data pertaining to births in a community hospital during a 3-year period from January 1977 through December 1979 to help determine the validity of this belief. While there were many statistically significant built-in rhythms regarding births, i.e., time of year for births to occur, day of week for births to occur, and time of day for births to occur, influence by the full or new moon on the incidence of birth was not supported by the data. Chances are, however, that a number of maternity nurses will continue to believe that the association exists.
Optimizing disk storage to support statistical analysis operations

Data stored in spreadsheets and relational database tables can be viewed as "worksheets" consisting of rows and columns, with rows corresponding to records. Correspondingly, the typical practice is to store the data on disk in row major order. While this practice is reasonable in many cases, it is not necessarily the best practice when computation is dominated by column-based statistics. This short note discusses the performance tradeoffs between row major and column major storage of data in the context of statistical data analysis. A comparison of a software package utilizing column major storage and one using row major storage confirms our results.
The effects of cations on the activity of citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7) in Luidia clathrata (Say) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

Abstract 1. 1. Citrate synthase K m values for oxaloacetate and acetyl-coenzyme A are 11.5 and 22.8 μM respectively. 2. 2. Divalent cations had a greater inhibitory effect than monovalent cations. Calcium was more inhibitory than magnesium; sodium was more inhibitory than potassium. 3. 3. Ionic inhibition may indicate a potential for intracellular ionic regulation of citrate synthase activity.
Depression and HIV risk behavior practices among at risk women.

ABSTRACT In this study, we examined the relationship between depression and HIV-related risk behavior practices in a sample of 250 “at risk,” predominantly African American women living in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. Interviews were conducted between August 1997 and August 2000. Street outreach efforts were used to identify potential study participants, with further expansion of the sample via targeted sampling and ethnographic mapping procedures. Our conceptual model hypothesized a relationship between depression and HIV risk in which depression and condom-related attitudes were construed as intervening (or mediating) variables. A multivariate analysis was used to determine the relationship between depression and women's risk behaviors. The results showed that depression was a key-mediating variable, having its primary influence on women's risky practices through its impact upon their attitudes toward using condoms. Factors associated with depression, included religiosity, closeness of family...
More than Words: Applying the Discipline of Literary Creative Writing to the Practice of Reflective Writing in Health Care Education

This paper examines definitions and uses of reflective and creative writing in health care education classrooms and professional development settings. A review of articles related to writing in health care reveals that when teaching narrative competence is the goal, creative writing may produce the best outcomes. Ultimately, the paper describes the importance of defining literary creative writing as a distinct form of writing and recommends scholars interested in using literary creative writing to teach narrative competence study pedagogy of the field.
A cellular genome-wide association study reveals human variation in microtubule stability and a role in inflammatory cell death

Pyroptosis is proinflammatory cell death that occurs in response to certain microbes. Activation of the protease caspase-1 by molecular platforms called inflammasomes is required for pyroptosis. We performed a cellular genome-wide association study (GWAS) using Salmonella typhimurium infection of human lymphoblastoid cell lines as a means of dissecting the genetic architecture of susceptibility to pyroptosis and identifying unknown regulatory mechanisms. Cellular GWAS revealed that a common human genetic difference that regulates pyroptosis also alters microtubule stability. An intergenic single-nucleotide polymorphism on chromosome 18 is associated with decreased pyroptosis and increased expression of TUBB6 (tubulin, β 6 class V). TUBB6 is unique among tubulin isoforms in that its overexpression can completely disrupt the microtubule network. Cells from individuals with higher levels of TUBB6 expression have lower microtubule stability and less pyroptosis. Reducing TUBB6 expression or stabilizing microtubules pharmacologically with paclitaxel (Taxol) increases pyroptosis without affecting the other major readout of caspase-1 activation, interleukin-1β secretion. The results reveal a new role for microtubules and possibly specific tubulin isoforms in the execution of pyroptosis. Furthermore, the finding that there is common diversity in TUBB6 expression and microtubule stability could have broad consequences for other microtubule-dependent phenotypes, diseases, and pharmacological responses.
Electronic structure, local moments, and transport in Fe 2 VAl

Local spin density approximation calculations are used to elucidate electronic and magnetic properties of the Heusler structure ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}\mathrm{VA}1$. The compound is found to be a low carrier density semimetal. The Fermi surface has small hole pockets derived from a triply degenerate Fe derived state at $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ compensated by a V derived electron pocket at the $X$ point. The ideal compound is found to be stable against ferromagnetism. Fe impurities on V sites, however, behave as local moments. Because of the separation of the hole and electron pockets the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction between such local moments should be rapidly oscillating on the scale of its decay, leading to the likelihood of spin-glass behavior for moderate concentrations of Fe on V sites. These features are discussed in relation to experimental observations of an unusual insulating state in this compound.
A Policy Based Infrastructure for Social Data Access with Privacy Guarantees

We present a policy based infrastructure for social data access with the goal of enabling scientific research, while preserving privacy. We describe motivating application scenarios that could be enabled with the growing number of user datasets such as social networks, medical datasets etc. These datasets contain sensitive user information and sufficient caution must be exercised while sharing them with third parties to prevent privacy leaks. One of the goals of our framework is to allow users to control how their data is used, while at the same time enabling the aggregate data to be used for scientific research. We extend existing access control languages to explicitly model user intent in data sharing as well as supporting additional access modes that go beyond the traditional allow/deny binary semantics of access control. We describe our policy infrastructure and show how it can be used to enable the above scenarios while still guaranteeing individual privacy and present a prototype implementation of the framework extending the SecPAL authorization language to account for new roles and operations.
Carbon fiber-reinforced concrete for traffic monitoring and weighing in motion

The use of carbon fiber (5 mm long, 0.5% or 1.0% by weight of cement) reinforced concrete for traffic monitoring and weighing in motion was demonstrated in the laboratory for stresses up to 1 MPa and speeds up to 55 mph. The DC electrical resistance decreased with increasing stress and was independent of speed. Resistance was measured with the four-probe method, using continuous carbon fibers together with silver paint as electrical contacts. The resistance change was reversible upon unloading.
Immunological nature of antimycobacterial phenomenon in macrophages.

Abstract Heptane-extractable fractions (HEF) prepared from immune-activated macrophages (IA-M) of tubercle bacilli or bovine gamma globulin-sensitized and -challenged guinea pigs inhibited the growth of tubercle bacilli whereas HEF of normal macrophages exerted no antibacterial activity. In distinction to the strong antibacterial activity of HEF of IA-M, HEF of immune macrophages exerted weak or no antimycobacterial activity. HEF of alveolar macrophages exerted stronger antibacterial activity than HEF of peritoneal macrophages. The degree of the antibacterial activity of HEF was determined primarily by the time of macrophage collection from antigenically stimulated animals. The antibacterial activity gradually increased and peaked at 2 weeks after the antigenic stimulation of sensitized animals; subsequently, the activity declined and disappeared in about 5 weeks. Similar to other immunological reactions, the stimulation of sensitive animals with specific antigen induced an anamnestic reaction which was characterized by a rapid recall of the macrophage antimycobacterial phenomenon (MAP). The antibacterial strength of the recalled phenomenon in sensitized animals was dependent upon the intensity of the sensitizing regimen; the phenomenon was much stronger in three times-sensitized animals than in once- and twice-sensitized animals. The time of appearance and the specificity of induction and of recall of the MAP indicate that the phenomenon is associated with the activated state in macrophages and, as a consequence of this association, it has a well-defined immunological nature.
A combined crisp and fuzzy approach for handwriting analysis

This paper presents an off-fine writer-independent handwriting analysis system which utilizes both classical crisp and fuzzy methodologies to output possible personality traits of the writer. The design deploys an analytical handwriting analysis approach based on two primitives, the baseline and the slant angle of the characters. The objective of the design strategy is to present a group of parameters for handwriting analysis based on the text. These parameters allow for the classification of writing into different categories which could be used as a preliminary step for outputting the personality traits of the writer. Two parameters, the baseline and the slant-angle, are the inputs to a rule-base which outputs the personality trait category. The evaluation of the baseline is non-fuzzy (crisp) whereas the evaluation of the slant-angle utilizes the fuzzy paradigm. The approach is based on a combination of classical geometric arithmetic evaluation and fuzzy control designs. For determination of the base line angle two methodologies are explored: the geometric-features based segmentation method and a method based on biologically inspired generation theories or the low pass filtering method. We utilize the geometric features evaluation for the baseline extraction since it proves more robust with respect to the variations of the handwriting in an off-line environment. For determination of the slant type a fuzzy technique is adopted to determine the contributions of the slant-type angle to each of the five variations of the slant-type categories. The uncertainties in the system model are expressed by fuzzy-valued model parameters with their membership functions derived from experimental data. In total five variations of slant type are considered. These include extreme left, controlled left, vertical, controlled right and extreme right. Fifteen personality traits PT1 - PT15 were identified and sets of rules formulation were created, (e.g., If Input1 is "level" and "Input2" is "Controlled Left" then Output is PTx.) The proposed approach takes advantage of two differing methodologies that have clear outputs to evaluate two attributes of handwriting. The outputs are utilized to determine a personality trait. The system can be further enhanced by including more parameters such as size of letters, spacing between letters and other attributes of handwriting as part of the inputs for trait determination.
Portfolios of the Poor: How the World's Poor Live on $2 a Day

Portfolios of the Poor: How the World's Poor Live on $2 a Day. By Daryl Collins, Jonathan Morduch, Stuart Rutherford, and Orlanda Ruthven. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2009, 320 pp., ...
Decay of residual plasma in a vacuum gap after forced extinction of a 250-ampere arc

The decaying plasma present within an experimental vacuum switch following the forced extinction of a 250-ampere arc across silver electrodes is studied. Ions and electrons are collected by applying a 6-volt potential across the vacuum device at various predetermined delay intervals after arc extinction. The magnitudes of the peak currents collected by this means vary from about ½ ampere a few microseconds after arc extinction to less than a milliampere 200 microseconds later. The results suggest that this current is principally due to ions having an initial density of 4 × 1012/cm3and moving with an average velocity of 2.6 × 105cm/s. The movement of these ions is nearly independent of the applied potential.
Improving Linearity of Ferroelectric-Based Microwave Tunable Circuits

A device architecture for improving the linearity of barium-strontium-titanate (BST) capacitors is proposed, analyzed, and experimentally demonstrated. The basic concept is to reduce the RF swing across the ferroelectric varactors by connecting multiple capacitors in series. With proper biasing networks, the overall device preserves its tunability. In this paper, the proposed architecture is analyzed to derive the equations that relate its quality factor and tuning speed to the design parameters. Parallel-plate BST capacitors are fabricated based on the architecture. Various measurements are performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the technique. The third-order intercept point at input (IIP3) is found to be improved by 16 dB. The hot-tuning test shows that the tunability is maintained for up to 20-V peak-to-peak swing. BST capacitors utilizing the proposed technique are used in a phase-shifter design. The 2.4-GHz phase shifter exhibits high IIP3 greater than 40 dBm
A probabilistic framework for grouping image features

Presents a framework for determining probability distributions over the space of possible image feature groupings. Such a framework allows higher level processes to reason over many plausible perceptual groupings in an image, rather than committing to a specific image segmentation in the early stages of processing. The authors first derive an expression for the probability that a set of features should be grouped together, conditioned on the observed image data associated with those features. This probability measure formalizes the principle that features in an image should be grouped together when they participate in a common underlying geometric structure. The authors then present a representation scheme in which only those groupings with high probability are explicitly represented, while large sets of unlikely grouping hypotheses are implicitly represented. The authors present experimental results for a variety of real intensity images.
Tables for Quick Power Estimates When Comparing Means

This paper includes 3 tables for quick power estimates that require no computation for the most common designs involving comparisons of 2 and 3 means in ANOVA and ANCOVA situations. Power can be estimated for (from .1σ to 1σ) for 4 effect sizes at alpha levels from .01 to .20, for samples sizes from 5 to 400 per group, and for directional and nondirectional tests.
Class visualization of high-dimensional data with applications

The problem of visualizing high-dimensional data that has been categorized into various classes is considered. The goal in visualizing is to quickly absorb inter-class and intra-class relationships. Towards this end, class-preserving projections of the multidimensional data onto two-dimensional planes, which can be displayed on a computer screen, are introduced. These class-preserving projections maintain the high-dimensional class structure, and are closely related to Fisher's linear discriminants. By displaying sequences of such two-dimensional projections and by moving continuously from one projection to the next, an illusion of smooth motion through a multidimensional display can be created. Such sequences are called class tours. Furthermore, class-similarity graphs are overlaid on the two-dimensional projections to capture the distance relationships in the original high-dimensional space. The above visualization tools are illustrated on the classical Iris plant data, the ISOLET spoken letter data, and the PENDIGITS on-line handwriting data set. It is shown how the visual examination of the data can uncover latent class relationships.
Emerging Vascular Applications of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Picture is Worth More than a Thousand Words

Vascular applications of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are reviewed, with emphasis on algorithms that use nonpictorial information contained in the MR data set. Current clinical vascular practice generally limits use of MR angiography and three-dimensional vessel images to qualitative pictorial rendering without routinely using the available quantitative information contained within the MR data. This review is dedicated to recent advances that include characterization of vessel histology, assessment of carotid plaque vulnerability, characterization of blood flow dynamics, quantitative analysis of disease severity, and prediction of vascular intervention outcome. Examples from histologic preparation, in vitro and in vivo experiments, are discussed, with an emphasis on potential clinical applications and advances in acquisition technology.
An Alternate Pathway for Visual Signal Integration into the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis: Retinorecipient Intergeniculate Neurons Project to Various Regions of the Hypothalamus and Innervate Neuroendocrine Cells Including Those Producing Dopamine

Using tract tracing and immunocytochemistry, this study explored the connectivity between lateral geniculate efferents and neurons of the hypothalamus, including those producing dopamine, that have direct access to fenestrated capillaries. It was also determined whether the intergeniculate neurons that give rise to hypothalamic projections are targeted by retinal axons. Within the hypothalamus, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin-labeled, lateral geniculate efferents were observed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, subparaventricular area, periventricular nuclei, medial preoptic areas, and between the arcuate and ventromedial nuclei. In these sites, intergeniculate efferents contacted populations of neurons that were retrogradely labeled from fenestrated capillaries by the intraperitoneal injection of fluorogold. Hypothalamic dopamine neurons, a population of which was neuroendocrine, were also synaptic targets of lateral geniculate efferents. After injection of the retrograde tracer fluorogold into these hypothalamic projection sites in parallel with bilateral enucleation, retrogradely labeled perikarya were restricted to the intergeniculate leaflet. All of the labeled perikarya contained infolded nuclei, and their distal dendrites were frequently found to be contacted by degenerated, retinal fibers. This study provides morphological evidence for a signaling pathway from the retina through the intergeniculate leaflet to hypothalamic cells that participate in neuroendocrine regulations. These observations raise the possibility that visual signals independent of the circadian clock may also influence the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. In light of the overlapping distribution of intergeniculate and suprachiasmatic efferents in the hypothalamus and their similar relationship with neuroendocrine cells, it is suggested that integration of circadian and visual signals can occur outside of the suprachiasmatic nucleus to regulate endocrine rhythms.
Phase I Trial of Weekly and Twice-Weekly Bortezomib with Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, and Prednisone in Relapsed or Refractory Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma

Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of substituting weekly or twice-weekly bortezomib for vincristine in the R-CVP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) regimen in patients with relapsed/refractory indolent and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Experimental Design: Of the 57 patients in this phase I trial, 55 participated in 1 of 2 dosing schedules that included rituximab (375 mg/m 2 ) and cyclophosphamide (750 or 1,000 mg/m 2 ) administered on day 1 of each 21-day cycle and prednisone (100 mg orally) days 2 to 6. In the once-weekly schedule, bortezomib was administered on days 2 and 8; on the twice-weekly schedule, bortezomib was given on days 2, 5, 9, and 12. Bortezomib and cyclophosphamide were alternately escalated. A separate cohort of 10 patients in the twice-weekly schedule received concurrent pegfilgrastim (PegG) on day 2. Results: Both schedules of R-CBorP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and prednisone) were well tolerated. Most toxicities across all dose levels and cycles were grade 1 or 2. The overall response rates for patients on the weekly ( n = 13) and twice-weekly ( n = 33) schedules were 46% [23% complete response/complete response unconfirmed (CR/CRu)] and 64% (36% CR/CRu), respectively. Concurrent PegG did not increase hematologic toxicities in this regimen. A randomized phase II study is under way to further compare toxicity and efficacy of the 2 dosing schedules. Conclusions: R-CBorP is a safe and effective regimen in patients with relapsed/refractory indolent and MCLs. Most toxicities were grade 1 or 2, and a promising response rate was seen in this phase I study. Clin Cancer Res; 17(8); 2493–501. ©2011 AACR .
Ultra-fast and scalable sidewall functionalisation of single-walled carbon nanotubes with carboxylic acid

A simple and fast method for the functionalisation of single-walled carbon nanotubes with carboxylic acid terminated molecules, at varying molar fractions, is presented.
Growth and nutrition of guayule (Parthenium argentatum) in a saline soil as influenced by vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhiza and phosphorus fertilization*

SUMMARY Growth of guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) in a moderate and a highly saline-sodie soil was increased by inoculation with Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith. The growth of guayule plants was stimulated equally by the addition to the soil of either 100 μg g1 of phosphorus (P) or inoculum of G. intraradices. Mycorrhizal plants had increased concentrations of PO4 and decreased concentrations of Na in shoot tissues compared to non inoculated control plants. Addition of 100/μgg 1 of P to the soil increased the accumulation of PO4 in the shoot tissues and in most instances decrease accumulation of Cu, Zn, Na, K, and SO4. Concentrations of Na, K, and Cl and frequently Mn in the shoot tissues were increased while the concentrations of PO4 and SO4 in shoot tissues were generally decreased by the addition of NaCl to the soil. Addition of 100μgg 1 of P to the soil did not markedly affect the colonization of guayule roots by G. intraradices. The roots of mycorrhizal guayule grown in soil with NaCl added contained decreased numbers of arbuscules and vesicles. Addition of both P and NaCl to the soil reduced the formation of arbuscules and vesicles and reduced the occurrence of moderate and heavy levels of root colonization.
A low-radix and low-diameter 3D interconnection network design

Interconnection plays an important role in performance and power of CMP designs using deep sub-micron technology. The network-on-chip (NoCs) has been proposed as a scalable and high-bandwidth fabric for interconnect design. The advent of the 3D technology has provided further opportunity to reduce on-chip communication delay. However, the design of the 3D NoC topologies has important distinctions from 2D NoCs or off-chip interconnection networks. First, current 3D stacking technology allows only vertical inter-layer links. Hence, there cannot be direct connections between arbitrary nodes in different layers — the vertical connection topology are essentially fixed. Second, the 3D NoC is highly constrained by the complexity and power of routers and links. Hence, low-radix routers are preferred over high-radix routers for lower power and better heat dissipation. This implies long network latency due to high hop counts in network paths. In this paper, we design a low-diameter 3D network using low-radix routers. Our topology leverages long wires to connect remote intra-layer nodes. We take advantage of the start-of-the-art one-hop vertical communication design and utilize lateral long wires to shorten network paths. Effectively, we implement a small-to-medium sized clique network in different layers of a 3D chip. The resulting topology generates a diameter of 3-hop only network, using routers of the same radix as 3D mesh routers. The proposed network shows up to 29% of network latency reduction, up to 10% throughput improvement, and up to 24% energy reduction, when compared to a 3D mesh network.
Altered chromosome 6 in immortal human fibroblasts.

Human diploid fibroblasts have a limited life span in vitro, and spontaneous immortalization is an extremely rare event. We have used transformation of human diploid fibroblasts by an origin-defective simian virus 40 genome to develop series of genetically matched immortal cell lines to analyze immortalization. Comparison of a preimmortal transformant (SVtsA/HF-A) with its uncloned and cloned immortalized derivatives (AR5 and HAL) has failed to reveal any major alteration involving the simian virus 40 genome. Karyotypic analysis, however, demonstrated that all of the immortal cell lines in this series have alterations of chromosome 6 involving loss of the portion distal to 6q21. The karyotypic analysis was corroborated by DNA analyses. Southern analysis demonstrated that only one copy of three proto-oncogene loci (ros1, c-myb, and mas1) on 6q was retained in immortal cells. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the microsatellite polymorphism at 6q22 (D6S87) showed loss of heterozygosity. In addition, elevated expression of c-myb (6q22-23) was observed. We hypothesize that the region at and/or distal to 6q21 plays a role in immortalization, consistent with the presence of a growth suppressor gene. 66 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.
Identification of RNA recognition elements in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptome

Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, including mRNA localization, translation and decay, is ubiquitous yet still largely unexplored. How is the post-transcriptional regulatory program of each mRNA encoded in its sequence? Hundreds of specific RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) appear to play roles in mediating the post-transcriptional regulatory program, akin to the roles of specific DNA-binding proteins in transcription. As a step toward decoding the regulatory programs encoded in each mRNA, we focused on specific mRNA– protein interactions. We computationally analyzed the sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNAs bound in vivo by 29 specific RBPs, identifying eight novel candidate motifs and confirming or extending six earlier reported recognition elements. Biochemical selections for RNA sequences selectively recognized by 12 yeast RBPs yielded novel motifs bound by Pin4, Nsr1, Hrb1, Gbp2, Sgn1 and Mrn1, and recovered the known recognition elements for Puf3, She2, Vts1 and Whi3. Most of the RNA elements we uncovered were associated with coherent mRNA expression changes and were significantly conserved in related yeasts, supporting their functional importance and suggesting that the corresponding RNA–protein interactions are evolutionarily conserved.