cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binding to saxitoxin to electrically excitable neuroblastoma cells.

Abstract Saxitoxin inhibits the action potential Na+ ionophore of electrically excitable neuroblastoma cells with a KI of 3.7 nM. Binding experiments detect a single class of saturable binding sites with KD = 3.9 nM and a binding capacity of 156 fmol/mg of cell protein (78 sites per micrometer2 of cell surface). Saturable binding is completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin but is unaffected by scorpion toxin or batrachotoxin. No saturable binding is observed in cultures of clone N103, a variant neuroblastoma clone lacking the action potential Na+ response. Thus, saxitoxin binds specifically to the action potential Na+ ionophore in neuroblastoma cells. Comparison of saxitoxin and scorpion toxin binding reveals that there are three saxitoxin receptor sites for each scorpion toxin receptors site. The implications of this stoichiometry are considered.
Models and mechanisms for bacteriocin action and application.

Abstract There is considerable research on bacteriocin genetics, purification, and properties. Less is known about the mechanism(s) by which bacteriocins kill pathogens, the physical chemistry of the bacteriocin/pathogen interaction, and of the variables which influence bacteriocins' efficacy in foods. Such knowledge is prerequisite to the wider applications of bacteriocins and to increasing their efficacy by genetic engineering. Mechanistic studies using spores as bacteriocin targets are relatively few. Empirical challenge studies in a variety of foods have had mixed results. Working with well defined model foods, we have determined that increasing protein or phospholipid concentrations decrease nisin 's effectiveness against Clostridium botulinum growth from spore inocula. Nisin is also less effective at abuse compared to refrigerated temperatures. This may be a general characteristic of bacteriocins since increasing temperature decreases many bacteriocins' inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in foods. L. monocytogenes vegetative cells provide a better target for bacteriocin action than do C. botulinum spores. Bacteriocins dissipate proton motive force (PMF) in L. monocytogenes, C. sporogenes and vegetative cells of other sensitive species. The cytoplasmic membrane is generally considered to be the site at which bacteriocins act. We have adopted fluorescence spectroscopy to characterize the interaction of bacteriocins with liposomes comprised of lipids extracted from L. monocytogenes membranes. The regulatory status of bacteriocins, various models for bacteriocin action, and future prospects for their application are also discussed.
Hormonally Responsive Areas of the Reproductive System of the Male Guinea Pig. III. Presence of Cytoplasmic Estrogen Receptors

We have previously shown that the administration of estrogens to intact adult male guinea pigs resulted in a variety of morphological changes in their accessory sex organs (the seminal vesicles, prostate, common ejaculatory chamber, coagulating gland, and epididymis). To ascertain if a biochemical basis existed for a direct action of estrogens on these tissues, we examined them for the presence of estrogen receptors. We determined that cytosol prepared from the accessory sex glands contains a macromolecular binding component for estradiol-17�. This component sediments as an 8S species on 5-20% sucrose gradients under low (0.01 M KCI) ionic strength conditions and as a 4S species under high (0.4 M KCI) ionic strength conditions. Time-course studies indicate that binding equilibrium is achieved in �\�2 h; dissociation of [3 HI estradiol from the binding protein is very slow (t#{189}>42 h). The cytoplasmic binder is highly specific for estrogens; the relative affinities of various estrogens for the protein were estradiol = 1, estrone = 0.72, diethylstilbestrol 0.30, and estriol = 0.17. Progesterone, testosterone, and 5a-dihydrotestosterone, even at a 1000-fold excess, caused less than 10% inhibition of [3 HI estradiol binding to the protein. The binder present in cytosol prepared from the accessory sex organs (excluding the epididymis) exhibited an equilibrium dissociation constant of ‘��0.3 nM, and there were “.‘30 fmoles of binding sites per mg of cytosol protein. The cytoplasmic estrogen binder exhibits the characteristics usually attributed to receptors and is clearly different from a 4S, nonspecific, rapidly dissociating binder that is present in plasma. On the basis of steroid specificity, the cytoplasmic estrogen binder is distinct from the androgen receptor that is present in male reproductive tissues.
Quantifying 2-factor phase relations in non-linear responses from low characteristic-frequency auditory-nerve fibers.

Abstract Auditory-nerve excitation by two response factors that can be in antiphase has been hypothesized by Kiang (1990) on the basis of non-linear interference in responses to tones (Kiang et al., 1969). The general conditions for antiphasic responses and the relevance of the hypothesis for other auditory stimuli are unknown. Clarification was sought in a systematic modeling study of published data on level-dependent non-linear responses from low characteristics-frequency (CF) auditory-nerve fibers for a broad variety of acoustic stimuli. The MBPNL non-linear I/O model of cochlear frequency analysis (Goldstein, 1990), which incorporates the 2-factor hypothesis, was used to stimulate the reported non-linear phenomena. It was found that experiments with paired click stimuli (Goblick and Pfeiffer, 1969) and with octave-band complex tones (Horst et al., 1990), in addition to experiments with single clicks or tones, are sensitive to the phase difference between factors. Surprisingly, the paired-click transient responses require a quadrature phase, while the complex-tone steady-state responsesrequire an antiphase relation. The MBPNL model simulations of all low-CF data surveyed, for simple and complex stimuli, are consistent with a quadrature phase for transient responses and antiphase relation for steady-state responses. It is hypothesized that some adaptive, low-CF, cochlear mechanism, not described by the basic MBPNL model, produces a temporal transition of the ‘2-factor’ response from an initial quadrature relation (tip leading) to a final antiphase relation. New experimental and modeling research guided by this working hypothesis is proposed.
Anomalous flux pinning in a torus of thoriated UBe13.

We compare the local magnetization at a spatial singularity of superconducting U_(0.97)Th_(0.03)Be_(13) for different magnetic field histories. We find a reduction in the zero-field-cooled vortex flow relative to the field-cooled case, marked by a sharp onset coincident in temperature with the second (lower-temperature) transition in the specific heat. This effect is peculiar to the flux threading the hole of the torus, to (U,Th)Be_(13) samples with multiple superconducting transitions, and to the lower superconducting state with broken time-reversal invariance.
Eggshell thickness in marine birds in the New York Bight—1970s to 1990s

Maintaining eggshell thickness is critical for birds, as thin eggshells result in breakage during incubation, with subsequent hatching failure. Beginning in the 1960s, eggshell thickness has been used as a biomarker of exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, as a measure of avian population health, and as a predictor of potential reproductive failures. In this study, eggs were collected from four coastal bird species nesting in the New York Bight (Cedar Beach, NY to Barnegat Bay, NJ) in the early 1970s, early 1980s, and early 1990s, and eggshell thickness was measured. We tested the hypothesis that decreasing use of chlorinated hydrocarbons, and subsequent decreased levels of these pollutants in the New York Bight estuarine food web, should have resulted in increased eggshell thickness from the 1970s to the 1990s. Most of the variation in eggshell thickness was explained by decade and species. Eggshell thickness increased from the early 1970s (or the 1980s for some species) to the early 1990s for all four species examined: common tern (Sterna hirundo), Roseate tern (S. dougallii), least tern (S. antillarum), and black skimmer (Rynchops niger). For common terns and black skimmers, eggshell thickness increased by nearly 50% from the 1970s to the 1990s, whereas in the smallest species, the least tern, eggshell thickness increased only by 12%. In the 1990s, least terns with the smallest eggs had the thinnest eggshells, and black skimmers with larger eggs had the thickest eggshells.
SU‐GG‐I‐92: Semi‐Automatic Structure Delineation Using Deformable Image Registration

Purpose: To determine the applicability of the semi‐automatic organ and tumor contouring method based on the elastic registration of CTimages.Method and Materials: Five CT scans of thorax used for treatment planning of lungcancer patients were employed for this study. The GTV and esophagus were the structures of interest. The CT slice where a structure firsts appears is manually contoured and the last slice with the structure is identified. The initial contour is cascaded to the last slice via a consecutive image registration. The method uses the space‐zooming technique based on the Gaussian pyramid. The deformation field obtained at a given pyramid level is interpolated to the next level using B‐splines. The deformed images are interpolated by means of backward reconstruction. The image registration is based on an image differential optical motion estimation. The software is implemented in C programming language. The data are extracted from dicom files with Matlab scripts. Results: Ideally the initial slice with a structure of interest is delineated and the method allows to complete the entire volume automatically up to its final Ct slice. For cases with a significant structural change between slices like volume partitioning, a human intervention is required to contour the problematic cross‐section. The contours migration was deemed to provide acceptable results. The final inspection and contour examination of the entire volume is still required to validate structures. The robustness of the method for average case might be tuned with with algorithm's parameters. Conclusion: The described method works for cases for which there is no drastic topological change between slices of the structure of interest. The method deals with cases for which threshold‐based segmentation techniques have difficulties due to similar values of CT numbers of the adjacent structures.
WE-D-AUD-07: Temporal, Dosimetric, and Geometric Precision of Gated Step-And-Shoot Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Due to the complicated technical nature of gated RT, electronic and mechanical limitations may affect the precision of delivery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the temporal, dosimetric, and geometric accuracies of gated RT. Method and Materials: A Varian Trilogy, equipped with a RPM system, is used to examine the accuracy of both un‐gated and gated deliveries. Data recorded using radiographic films and EPIDs allow extraction of geometric and system response accuracy. The dosimetric precision of each segment making up a step‐and‐shoot IMRTtreatment plan is individually recorded and analyzed using ionization chamber methods. Results: The time required from when the target object enters the specified phase to when the radiation beam is actually turned on is approximately ∼ 0.15 s. This time error is systematic and is the same for both normal and SS‐IMRT gated deliveries.Dosimetric data from 50+ repetitions of a fixed segment dose for both un‐gated and gated deliveries are obtained. At higher dose rates, the dosimetric errors are seen to become greater in the gated case. A geometric comparison of the un‐gated to gated RT delivery show clear positional inconsistencies in the thicker outer MLC leafs in the non‐gated case. These leaf positional discrepancies are attributed to motion of the thicker outer leaf pairs while the radiation beam is on. Conclusion: A system response time of ∼150 ms is obtained using a simple moving phantom procedure. Dosimetrically we have found that gating negatively effects dose accuracy by interruption of the “overshoot” effect. This interruption could lead to large dosimetric errors, especially for plans consisting of a large number of small MU segments that are delivered at high dose rates. Geometrically very little error for both un‐gated and gated deliveries are seen, provided that a well‐defined leaf tolerance is used.
Turning around local economies: Managerial strategies and community assets

Nontraditional “invisible” sources of growth are identified through a case study of a diversified industrial region in Massachusetts. Firm-specific managerial strategies are found to be an important element in the determination of economic growth. Customized and hybrid firms characterize major departures from the product-cycle model in which product specialization and service specialization attached to traditional products allow them to avoid productcycle maturity. The interaction of these business strategies with invisible community factors such as labor force quality and the labor-management environment significantly influences local economic growth. These findings indicate the importance of targeting development efforts at the firm as opposed to the industry level and the need to better utilize local invisible factors as a basis for boosting local economic growth.
Vector quarks in the Higgs triplet model

We analyze the effects of introducing vector fermions in the Higgs triplet model. In this scenario, the model contains, in addition to the Standard Model particle content, one triplet Higgs representation and a variety of vectorlike fermion states, including singlet, doublet, and triplet states. We investigate the electroweak precision variables and impose restrictions on model parameters. We show that, for some representations, introducing vector quarks significantly alters the constraints on the mass of the doubly charged Higgs boson, bringing it in closer agreement with present experimental constraints. We also study the effects of introducing the vectorlike fermions on neutral Higgs phenomenology, in particular on the loop-dominated decays $H\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $H\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Z\ensuremath{\gamma}$, and the restrictions they impose on the parameter space.
New state and host plant records for metallic woodboring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Tennessee, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT The following 41 metallic woodboring beetle species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from Tennessee are reported as new state records: Acmaeodera texana LeConte, Actenodes simi Fisher, Agrilus acutipennis Mannerheim, Agrilus arcuatus Say, Agrilus bilineatus (Weber), Agrilus cephalicus LeConte, Agrilus defectus LeConte, Agrilus geminatus (Say), Agrilus lecontei celticola Fisher, Agrilus masculinus Horn, Agrilus obsoletoguttatus Gory, Agrilus otiosus Say, Agrilus parvus parvus Saunders, Agrilus pseudofallax Frost, Agrilus putillus putillus Say, Agrilus quadriguttatus quadriguttatus Gory, Agrilus subcinctus Gory, Anthaxia cyanella Gory, Anthaxia dichroa Bilý, Anthaxia quercata (F.), Anthaxia quercicola Wellso, Brachys aerosus (Melsheimer), Brachys ovatus (Weber), Buprestis consularis Gory, Buprestis decora F., Buprestis fasciata F., Buprestis maculipennis Gory, Buprestis rufipes Olivier, Chalcophora virginiensis (Drury), Chrysobothris cribraria Mannerheim, Chrysobothris dentipes (Germar), Chrysobothris rot...
Restoration of positive mood states in major depression as a potential drug development target

Restoration of positive mood, in addition to reducing negative mood, is an important treatment goal in the management of depression. The need to restore positive mood states in depressed patients is not adequately addressed by available treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), suggesting that this mood dimension could be a useful target for drug development. However, for positive mood restoration to become a valid target for antidepressant drug development certain questions should be answered: are symptoms of decreased positive mood phenomenologically distinct from other symptoms of MDD? Should they be considered a distinct aspect of MDD in the diagnostic nomenclature? Is there evidence for differential responsiveness to treatment? Is the underlying pathophysiology understood and different from that of other MDD symptoms? Is low positive mood specific to depression or does it contribute to psychopathology in other disorders? Beyond these basic questions, this review identifies a number of design issues that need to be considered when conducting studies that target improving positive mood. These design issues include (1) what population to study, (2) what line of treatment to target, (3) the appropriateness and validation of methods and measures to evaluate positive mood and its restoration, (4) the role of functional outcome measures in determining success of the treatment, and (5) optimal designs for add-on therapy versus monotherapy agents.
Lattice-Matched and mismatched multiquantum-well heterostructure photodiodes for operation at 1.1 to 1.5 μm

The first electron and hole sub-band energies of lattice-matched and strained-layer superlattices using the InxGay-Al1-x-yAs and In1-xGaxAs alloys, respectively, have been calculated. The results indicate that devices operating at ∼ 1.1 to 1.5 μm can be fabricated with such periodic and biperiodic structures. Calculations using the miniband parameters and materials characteristics indicate that avalanche photodiodes with α/β ≃ 3–5 can be made with these multiple heterostructure layers.
Experimental measurements of magnetic field generation from sheared flows

Summary form only given. The generation and destruction of magnetic field is an important feature of solar, magnetosphere and cosmic plasmas, for example during reconnection, dynamo, and turbulent processes. We have experimentally measured spatially resolved profiles of magnetic flux ropes. These data include ion flow, magnetic field, current density, and plasma pressure, which allow us to verify a screw pinch equilibrium and also infer the electron fluid flow in three dimensions. Parallel currents along each flux rope result in a mutual attraction, which compresses and distorts the cylindrically symmetric equilibrium profiles. The electron and ion fluid flows turn out to be different, and we show that sheared axial electron fluid flow v_e generates magnetic field B(t) via the induction term curl Xv_e X B = -curl X E = dB/dt. Data show a quadrupole out of plane magnetic field signature with four fold symmetry that is driven by flux rope flows with two fold symmetry. This mechanism provides a natural and general mechanism for large scale sheared flows to acquire smaller scale magnetic features, disordered structure, and possibly turbulence.
Transfer of reactive inhibition as a function of prior training on the inhibitory task

Task-specific and task-nonspecific (Hullian) conceptions of reactive inhibition (Ir) were examined in a dual-task paradigm in which two segments of massed practice on a main task were separated either by rest or by massed practice on an alternate task upon which subjects had received varying amounts of practice 24 h earlier. Given that prior practice on the alternate task increased the task specificity of its variance, and given reminiscence on the main task as an index of Ir transfer from the alternate task, the task-specific conception of Ir implies increasing main-task reminiscence as a function of the amount of prior training on the alternate task, whereas the task-nonspecific conception implies equal amounts of main-task reminiscence for all levels of prior training on the alternate task. Results from a sample of 120 subjects (60 of each sex) showed significant Ir transfer for both sexes, and the amount transferred was independent of the amount of prior training. Thus, the task-nonspecific conception of Ir was upheld.
Energy balance alters dunning R3327-H prostate tumor architecture, androgen receptor expression, and nuclear morphometry in rats.

BACKGROUND We hypothesize that diet or energy restriction may alter prostate tumor architecture and nuclear morphometry in a manner predictive of indolent biology. METHODS Adult male rats bearing the Dunning R3327-H tumor were provided free-access to the AIN76 diet or 30% diet/energy restriction for 16 weeks. Tumor tissue was harvested and stained for biomarker evaluation by quantitative digital image analysis. RESULTS Compared to controls, tumors from restricted rats showed a contracted stromal compartment with an increased epithelial/glandular area, and a greater number of smaller and more homogeneous glands. In parallel, the nuclei in tumors harvested from diet-restricted rats were smaller in size, showed a lower proportion with androgen receptor (AR) staining, and reduced intensity of AR staining. CONCLUSIONS Our observations support the hypothesis that diet/energy restriction alters prostate tumor architecture, AR expression, and nuclear morphology consistent with a more differentiated and less aggressive phenotype. Prostate 66: 945–953, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Automatic induction of language model data for a spoken dialogue system

In this paper, we address the issue of generating in-domain language model training data when little or no real user data are available. The two-stage approach taken begins with a data induction phase whereby linguistic constructs from out-of-domain sentences are harvested and integrated with artificially constructed in-domain phrases. After some syntactic and semantic filtering, a large corpus of synthetically assembled user utterances is induced. In the second stage, two sampling methods are explored to filter the synthetic corpus to achieve a desired probability distribution of the semantic content, both on the sentence level and on the class level. The first method utilizes user simulation technology, which obtains the probability model via an interplay between a probabilistic user model and the dialogue system. The second method synthesizes novel dialogue interactions from the raw data by modelling after a small set of dialogues produced by the developers during the course of system refinement. Evaluation is conducted on recognition performance in a restaurant information domain. We show that a partial match to usage-appropriate semantic content distribution can be achieved via user simulations. Furthermore, word error rate can be reduced when limited amounts of in-domain training data are augmented with synthetic data derived by our methods.
The conservation status of the Socorro Mockingbird Mimodes graysoni in 1993–1994

The Socorro Mockingbird Mimodes graysoni is endemic to Socorro Island, Mexico, and has declined dramatically in this century. Study of its population size, distribution, and structure is currently under way to help assess its conservation status. In 1993 and 1994 215 Socorro Mockingbirds were ringed; a modified Lincoln index yielded a population estimate of 353 ± 66 individuals in 1994. Most of the birds observed occupied a small region at high elevation that covered less than 10% of the island's area. Average territory size was 1.48 ± 0.71 ha, n = 11. Of the 86 birds banded in 1993 67% were adults and 33% subadults. Of the 170 birds detected in 1994, including new captures and ringed individuals from the previous year, 44% were adults and 56% subadults. In 1993 62% were male and 38% female; in 1994 56% were male and 44% were female. The sex ratio of the population was similar to that of other undisturbed Mimid populations, which argues against the possibility that cats might prey disproportionately on incubating females. Moreover, the presence of young birds in both years indicates that successful reproduction was occurring and that the population was not suffering catastrophic nest failure, as might be caused by cat predation on nestlings or fledglings. Northern Mockingbirds Mimus polyglottos, which first arrived on Socorro in the 1970s, occupied mainly open areas produced by sheep grazing, which suggests that the Socorro Mockingbird is not being competitively displaced. Our observations indicate that habitat degradation by sheep is the most probable cause of the Socorro Mockingbird's decline.
Genetics of urogenital abnormalities in ACI inbred rats

The frequency of urogenital abnormalities in adult ACI rats was 18.8%. These abnormalities consisted of a spectrum of defects ranging from focal aplasia of the ureter to the complete absence of the ureter, kidney, and tubular genital tract on the affected side. When ACI rats with normal urogenital tracts tracts were crossed with F344 rats the frequency of the defects decreased to a constant level in the F1, F2, and F3 generations. There was no clearly significant decrease in the frequency of the defects in the backcross offspring of (ACI times F344)F1 times ACI matings, but there was a significant and dramatic decrease in the backcross to F344 rats. Attempts to select against these defects by brother-sister matings among normal ACI rats were not successful: 5 generations of inbreeding did not alter the frequency of the urogenital abnormalities. The frequency of the abnormalities was the same in the offspring of affected parents as in the offspring of normal parents, indicating homozygosity of the factors responsible for the defects. The results suggest that the transmission of these defects is polygenic.
Crystals and magnetic structures of CeC2, PrC2 and NdC2

Abstract Neutron diffraction study has revealed that CeC2, PrC2 and NdC2 become a body-centered first-kind anti-ferromagnet below 33°, 15° and 29°K with the ordered moments having 81, 44 and 90% of the free-ion values, respectively. The moment direction is parallel to the tetragonal c-axis.
Wind-Driven Seasonal Cycle of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

AbstractThe dynamical processes governing the seasonal cycle of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) are studied using a variety of models, ranging from a simple forced Rossby wave model to an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model. The AMOC variability is decomposed into Ekman and geostrophic transport components, which reveal that the seasonality of the AMOC is determined by both components in the extratropics and dominated by the Ekman transport in the tropics. The physics governing the seasonal fluctuations of the AMOC are explored in detail at three latitudes (26.5°N, 6°N, and 34.5°S). While the Ekman transport is directly related to zonal wind stress seasonality, the comparison between different numerical models shows that the geostrophic transport involves a complex oceanic adjustment to the wind forcing. The oceanic adjustment is further evaluated by separating the zonally integrated geostrophic transport into eastern and western boundary currents and interior flows. The ...
XBP-1 is required for biogenesis of cellular secretory machinery of exocrine glands.

The secretory function of cells relies on the capacity of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to fold and modify nascent polypeptides and to synthesize phospholipids for the subsequent trafficking of secretory proteins through the ER–Golgi network. We have previously demonstrated that the transcription factor XBP-1 activates the expression of certain ER chaperone genes and initiates ER biogenesis. Here, we have rescued the embryonic lethality of XBP-1 deficient fetuses by targeting an XBP-1 transgene selectively to hepatocytes (XBP-1−/−;LivXBP1). XBP-1−/−;LivXBP1 mice displayed abnormalities exclusively in secretory organs such as exocrine pancreas and salivary gland that led to early postnatal lethality from impaired production of pancreatic digestive enzymes. The ER was poorly developed in pancreatic and salivary gland acinar cells, accompanied by decreased expression of ER chaperone genes. Marked apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells was observed during embryogenesis. Thus, the absence of XBP-1 results in an imbalance between the cargo load on the ER and its capacity to handle it, leading to the activation of ER stress-mediated proapoptotic pathways. These data lead us to propose that XBP-1 is both necessary and sufficient for the full biogenesis of the secretory machinery in exocrine cells.
An evolutionary model of speculative attacks

We build an evolutionary model of currency crises incorporating learning through imitation and experimentation by heterogeneous agents. Foreign currency speculators in the model interact and learn over time through experimentation. Drawing on results from game theory, we show that the resulting dynamic converges to a unique long run equilibrium, in which the currency is “attacked” if the economic fundamentals are sufficiently adverse. Evolutionary selection is thus shown as a way to resolve the issue of indeterminacy of equilibria associated with models of currency crises.
Stability and scalability in global routing

As the complexity of physical implementation continues to grow with technology scaling, routability has emerged as a major concern and implementation flow bottleneck. Infeasibility of routing forces a loop back to placement, netlist optimization, or even RTL design and floorplanning. Thus, to maintain convergence and a manageable number of iterations in the physical implementation flow, it is necessary to accurately predict design routability as quickly as possible. Routability estimation during placement typically exploits rough but fast global routers. Fast global routers are integrated with placers and are supposed to provide accurate congestion estimation for each iterative placement optimization, with short turn-around time. Such integrated global routers (as well as congestion estimators without global routers) should give (1) fast, and (2) stably accurate decisions as to whether a given placement is indeed routable. In this paper, we evaluate four academic global routers [14] [1] [9] [4] in terms of stability and scalability. We perturb global routing problem instances in controlled ways, and analyze the sensitivity of routing outcomes and metrics. We observe scaling suboptimality and substantial noise in most of our experiments; this suggests a future need for new global router criteria and metrics.
Spontaneous Collapse of Primary Acquired Iris Stromal Cysts

Purpose To describe the spontaneous collapse of primary acquired iris stromal cysts. Methods We reviewed the medical records, clinical findings, and ultrasonography of two patients who had been followed up for primary acquired iris stromal cysts. Results During follow-up, both patients experienced spontaneous collapse of their cysts, which resulted in membrane formation on the peripheral corneal endothelium, localized peripheral anterior synechiae, ectropion uveae, and slightly peaked pupil. Conclusion Primary acquired iris stromal cysts may undergo spontaneous collapse, resulting in clinical findings similar to other anterior segment disorders.
Matching polygon fragments

Abstract Many computer vision systems model objects using polygons. If objects occlude each other or do not appear entirely in view, we need to match a polygon scene fragment with the polygon representation of the model objects. In this paper we present a way to match polygon fragments. Using polygon moments and cross moments we can compute a dissimilarity measure between two fragments. In addition, we also find the coordinate transform that maps one fragment onto the other. These polygon moments can be conputed by using just the end points of the line segments. If the dissimilarity measure is less than a small number, then we can preliminarily conclude fragments. Otherwise the polygon fragments are dissimilar and are not considered any further. In computing the dissimilarity measure, we will also find a coordinate transform that maps one fragment to another. By using this coordinate transform, we can develop confirmation tests for determining whether the scene polygon fragments really belong to an occluded object.
Teaching and training developer-testing techniques and tool support

Developer testing is a type of testing where developers test their code as they write it, as opposed to testing done by a separate quality assurance organization. Developer testing has been widely recognized as an important and valuable means of improving software reliability, as it exposes faults early in the software development life cycle. Effectively conducting developer testing requires both effective tool support by tools and developer-testing skills by developers. In this paper, we describe our experiences and lessons learned in teaching and training developer-testing techniques and tool support in both university and industrial settings. We highlight differences in teaching and training in these two settings, and observations from interacting with practitioners in our process of teaching and training.
A New Constitutive Model for Predicting Proton Conductivity in Polymer Electrolytes

A new constitutive model relating proton conductivity to water content in a polymer electrolyte or membrane is presented. Our constitutive model is based on Faraday’s law and the Nernst-Einstein equation; and it depends on the molar volumes of dry membrane and water but otherwise requires no adjustable parameters. We derive our constitutive model in two different ways. Predictions of proton conductivity as a function of membrane water content computed from our constitutive model are compared with that from a representative correlation and other models as well as experimental data from the literature and those obtained in our laboratory using a 4-point probe.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Progressive visual loss in subfoveal exudation in age-related macular degeneration: a meta-analysis using Lineweaver-Burke plots.

Purpose To analyze the randomized clinical trials in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to reveal apparent differences in the behavior of untreated control eyes among these trials. Herein we test the hypothesis that the behavior of untreated control eyes is actually the same in all studies, with apparent differences arising from differences in the time of entry of eyes into clinical trials. Design Retrospective meta-analysis of prior clinical trials. Methods Control eye data from six AMD studies (Macular Photocoagulation Study, Subfoveal Surgery Trial, Photodynamic Therapy [TAP] With Visudyne, pegaptanib trial for neovascular AMD, anecortave acetate trial, and 360 degree Macular Translocation Study) were plotted on a double reciprocal plot of 1/(Letters Lost) vs 1/(Months After Enrollment). To account for differences in time of entry into clinical trials, we introduced a horizontal translation factor to shift each data subset horizontally to maximize r 2 for the cumulative trend line. Results Cumulative data for untreated control eyes fits a straight line on a double reciprocal plot ( r 2 = .9521); an untreated eye would eventually deteriorate to a final vision of 20/640. The slope of the line predicts that patients would experience half of the maximum final vision within 10.88 months after exudation onset. Conclusions The pattern of vision loss experienced in AMD eyes with subfoveal neovascularization is uniform across a wide range of clinical trials, with apparent differences arising from differences in the time of entry of patients into clinical trials.
Food Fight!: Parenteral Nutrition, Enteral Stimulation and Gut-Derived Mucosal Immunity

Nutrition support is an integral component of modern patient care. Type and route of nutritional support impacts clinical infectious outcomes in critically injured patients. This article reviews the relationships between type and route of nutrition and gut-derived mucosal immunity in both the clinical and laboratory settings.
Radiation pattern of an open-ended waveguide covered by plasma layers

A method of calculating the radiation fields of a multilayer plasma-clad slot antenna using discrete waveguide modes has been formulated. The fields of a plasma-covered slot radiating into a large waveguide are computed several wavelengths from the antenna. For large guides these fields represent the radiation pattern of an open structure.
On the need for benchmarks in hydrological modelling

Hydrological models are applied frequently to scientific or practical problems. For many applications it is concluded that the model has been able to reproduce the measurements with ‘acceptable accuracy’. The question is what we mean by this term; the meaning of ‘acceptable accuracy’ can be quite subjective. We might compute statistical goodness-of-fit measures such as model efficiency, but even the use of such a measure does not necessarily allow an objective judgment of model performance. Does an efficiency of 0.8 for the runoff simulations indicate good or poor model performance? The answer depends on whom you ask. But it also depends on what could be achieved given the specific catchment and the observed data. What might be a poor fit for a watershed with excellent measurements might rightly be considered to be good in a watershed where the available data are of poor quality. To truly assess model performance, it is important to compare one’s results with results obtained in some other way, i.e. to choose an appropriate benchmark series.
Adequate Intake levels of choline are sufficient for preventing elevations in serum markers of liver dysfunction in Mexican American men but are not optimal for minimizing plasma total homocysteine increases after a methionine load

Background: An adequate intake of 550 mg choline/d was established for the prevention of liver dysfunction in men, as assessed by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase concentrations. Objective: This controlled feeding study investigated the influence of choline intakes ranging from 300 to 2200 mg/d on biomarkers of choline status. The effect of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotype on choline status was also examined. Design: Mexican American men (n = 60) with different MTHFR C677T genotypes (29 677TT, 31 677CC) consumed a diet providing 300 mg choline/d plus supplemental choline intakes of 0, 250, 800, or 1900 mg/d for total choline intakes of 300, 550, 1100, or 2200 mg/d, respectively, for 12 wk; 400 μg/d as dietary folate equivalents and 173 mg betaine/d were consumed throughout the study. Results: Choline intake affected the response of plasma free choline and betaine (time X choline, P < 0.001); the highest concentrations were observed in the 2200 mg/d group. Phosphatidylcholine (P = 0.026) and total cholesterol (P = 0.002) were also influenced by choline intake; diminished concentrations were observed in the 300 mg/d group. Phosphatidylcholine was modified by MTHFR genotype (P = 0.035; 677TT < 677CC). After a methionine load (100 mg/kg body wt), choline intakes of 1100 and 2200 mg/d attenuated (P = 0.016) the rise in plasma homocysteine, as did the MTHFR 677TT genotype (P < 0.001). Serum alanine aminotransferase was not influenced by the choline intakes administered in this study. Conclusions: These data suggest that 550 mg choline/d is sufficient for preventing elevations in serum markers of liver dysfunction in this population under the conditions of this study; higher intakes may be needed to optimize other endpoints.
The NSTX trouble reporting system

An online trouble reporting system (TRS) has been introduced at NSTX. The TRS is used by NSTX operators to report problems that affect NSTX operations. The purpose of the TRS is to enhance NSTX reliability and maintainability by identifying components, occurrences, and trends that contribute to machine downtime. All NSTX personnel have access to the TRS. The user interface is via a Web browser, such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. This Web-based feature permits any X-terminal, PC, or MAC access to the TRS. The TRS is based upon a trouble reporting system developed at the DIII-D Tokamak, at General Atomics Technologies (Petersen and Miller, 1991). This paper provides a detailed description of the TRS software architecture, user interface, MS SQL server interface and operational experiences. In addition, sample data from the TRS database are summarized and presented.
Microwave performances of n.p.n. and p.n.p. AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

The performances of metalorganic vapor-phase-deposition (MOCVD)-grown heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) were compared at microwave frequencies to identify relative merits of each type of device. Figure-of-merit (ft) and maximum frequency of oscillation (f/sub max/) values of devices with 100-nm-thick bases were 22 and 40 GHz for n-p-n transistors, and 19 and 25 GHz for p-n-p transistors, respectively. An accurate device model was developed using the measured S-parameter data. The base resistance of the p-n-p transistors, as determined from the model, was about five times lower than identical-size n-p-n devices. A theoretical comparison of the two types indicates that similar performances may be obtained from both if the base layer thickness of p-n-p transistor is half that of the n-p-n device. Large-signal characterization was carried out at 10 GHz. >
Stress-induced martensitic phase transformation in thin sheets of Nitinol

Using the in situ optical technique known as digital image correlation (DIC), full-field quantitative strain maps of localization have been experimentally obtained for the first time in thin sheets of Nitinol. The use of DIC provides new information connecting previous observations on the micro- and macro-scales. It shows that the transformation initiates before the formation of localized bands, and the strain inside the bands does not saturate when they nucleate. The effect of rolling texture on the macroscopic stress–strain behavior was observed and it is shown that the resolved stress criterion or Clausius–Clapeyron relation does not hold for polycrystalline Nitinol. Finally, the effect of geometric defects on localization behavior was observed.
Exploring the Physically III Child's Self-Perceptions and the Mother's Perceptions of Her Child's Needs Insights Gained from the FIRO-BC—a Behavior Test for Use with Children

When dealing with the management of the dying patient and his family, systematic research has been very limited. Understanding the dying child's needs, as well as his family's, is important for appropriate therapy programs. The present study investigated the mother's awareness of her child's expressed and wanted needs in three areas of interpersonal relationships. It also studied the dying child's self-perceived needs and desires as com pared with those of children with a non-life-threatening illness and with those of well children.
Challenges to Informed Peer Review Matching Algorithms

Background Peer review is a beneficial pedagogical tool. Despite the abundance of data instructors often have about their students, most peer review matching is by simple random assignment. In fall 2008, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of an informed algorithmic assignment method, called Un-weighted Overall Need (UON), in a course involving Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs). The algorithm showed no statistically significant impact on the MEA Final Response scores. A study was then conducted to examine the assumptions underlying the algorithm. Purpose (Hypothesis) This research addressed the question: To what extent do the assumptions used in making informed peer review matches (using the Un-weighted Overall Need algorithim) for the peer review of solutions to Model-Eliciting Activities decay? Design/method An expert rater evaluated the solutions of 147 teams' responses to a particular implementation of MEAs in a first-year engineering course at a large mid-west research university. The evaluation was then used to analyze the UON algorithm's assumptions when compared to a randomly assigned control group. Results Weak correlation was found in the five UON algorithm's assumptions: students complete assigned work, teaching assistants can grade MEAs accurately, accurate feedback in peer review is perceived by the reviewed team as being more helpful than inaccurate feedback, teaching assistant scores on the first draft of an MEA can be used to accurately predict where teams will need assistance on their second draft, and the error a peer review has in evaluating a sample MEA solution is an accurate indicator of the error they will have while subsequently evaluating a real team's MEA solution. Conclusions Conducting informed peer review matching requires significant alignment between evaluators and experts to minimize deviations from the algorithm's designed purpose.
Folate status among patients with non‐small cell lung cancer: A case‐control study*

Background and Objectives This case control study explored the purported inverse relationship between folate status and lung cancer development. Methods Folate status of 46 postoperative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients was compared to that of 44 non-cancer patients. Cancer patients had completed treatment > 3 months prior and had no evidence of cancer. Ineligibility criteria for all patients included (1) > 2 alcoholic drinks/day (2) ongoing tobacco use, or (3) folate supplementation > 400 μg/day. Results No differences were found between groups in serum and RBC folate after adjustment for age and use of folate-interfering medications: geometric means (GM) × /geometric standard error (GSE): 7.9 ng/ml × /1.1 vs. 7.8 ng/ml × /1.1, respectively (P = 0.91) for serum folate; 264 ng/ml × /1.1 vs. 263 ng/ml × /1.1, respectively (P = 0.97) for RBC folate. Age- and creatinine-adjusted homocysteine was no different between groups: GM × /GSE: 9.4 μmol/L × /1.0 vs. 8.6 μmol/L × /1.0, respectively (P = 0.17). No difference were seen in folate intake. Frequencies of the homozygous genotype for the MTHFR polymorphism, an enzyme important in folate metabolism and associated with a reduced risk of other cancers, were no different. Conclusions This case control study does not support the hypothesis that low folate is an independent risk factor for NSCLC. J. Surg. Oncol. 2001;77:247–252. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Efforts to Reduce Consumer Fraud Victimization Among the Elderly The Effect of Information Access on Program Awareness and Contact

Concern about the risk of consumer fraud victimization among the elderly has led to programs that disseminate fraud prevention information and provide services. However, little is known about how seniors access such information or learn about or contact these programs. Drawing on scholarship on fraud, media consumption, and the fear of crime, this study contributes to efforts to understand and reduce consumer fraud victimization. Analyses of data from adults age 60 and above demonstrate that certain segments of the elderly population access a greater variety of information sources to learn about fraud prevention. In turn, such access is associated with greater fraud prevention program awareness and contact.
MIMO Radar with Frequency Diversity

We propose a new multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) radar system with colocated antennas that can greatly reduce target fluctuations. This is achieved by employing frequency diversity. The proposed MIMO radar system results in a radar array with frequency-division multiplexing that can also incorporate beamforming to design the transmission beam pattern. After presenting an overview of existing MIMO radar systems and their related signal models, we provide a detailed description of the proposed frequency diversity technique and the corresponding transmitter and receiver structures. Furthermore, we present a maximum likelihood estimation algorithm that incorporates frequency diversity with MIMO radar, derive the corresponding Cramer-Rao lower bound, and demonstrate its improved performance using numerical results.