cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prospective evaluation of the impact of 18-F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography staging on survival for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To determine the impact of 18-F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the staging and prognosis of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC). Methods and Materials: Between January 2000 and October 2004, all patients with LAEC evaluated in the Department of Radiation Oncology were considered for enrollment into a Phase II trial of preoperative chemoradiation. Entry required a staging whole-body FDG-PET scan. Results: One hundred ten consecutive patients were evaluated; 38 were ineligible for reasons including treatment elsewhere, prior malignancy, or refusal of treatment. After conventional staging (clinical examination, endoscopic ultrasound, and chest/abdominal computerized tomography), 33 patients were ineligible because of metastatic disease or poor performance status. Of the remaining 39 patients, 23 were confirmed to have LAEC after FDG-PET staging and were treated in the Phase II trial (Cohort I). Sixteen patients, however, had FDG-PET findings consistent with occult metastatic disease and were deemed ineligible for the trial but were treated with curative intent (Cohort II). The 2-year survival rate for the 23 patients in Cohort I was 64%, compared with 17% ( p = 0.003) for patients in Cohort II (FDG-PET positive). Conclusions: More than one-third of patients determined to have LAEC with conventional staging were upstaged with the use of FDG-PET. Despite comparable therapy, upstaging with FDG-PET predicts poor 2-year survival.
High energy gamma ray energy measurements

Abstract An easy method to measure gamma ray energies to about 0.003 MeV is suggested which utilizes the reaction Q -value, and demands consistency between the sum of the cascade gamma ray energies between two levels and the energy of the direct transition. This procedure is applied to the 0.9363-MeV resonance in the 27 Al(p, γ ) 28 Si reaction.
Complement-mediated antibody-dependent enhancement of HIV-1 infection requires CD4 and complement receptors

In this study it is demonstrated that complement-mediated antibody-dependent enhancement (C'-ADE) of HIV-1 infection in vitro is blocked by murine monoclonal antibodies to CD4 and complement receptor type 2 (CR2) while HIV-1 infection in the absence of C'-ADE is blocked by anti-CD4 but not anti-CR2 monoclonal antibodies. The anti-CR2 murine monoclonal antibody, OKB7, blocked C'-ADE of HIV-1 infection at concentrations greater than 1 μg/ml. The anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody, OKT4a, but not OKT4f blocked C'-ADE at concentrations greater than 0.06 μg/ml. HIV-1 infections were quantitated by cytopathic effect, indirect immunofluorescence, and reverse transcriptase release. It appears from these in vitro studies that C'-ADE of HIV-1 infection requires both CD4 and complement receptors while HIV-1 infection in the absence of antibody and complement requires only CD4.
Are Supernovae Responsible for the Gamma Ray Spectrum from the Galactic Center

We discuss the supernova remnants distribution as a function of the galactic longitude and compare their positions to that of the detected TeV gamma ray sources. A large fraction of these sources either coincide or a close by known supernova remnants. If we look within 10 o of the Galactic center most identied sources are combinations of supernova remnants with giant molecular clouds. The diffuse gamma ray flux from the direction of the Galactic center is much smaller.
Effects of adrenalectomy and glucocorticoid replacement on gluconeogenesis in perfused livers from diabetic rats.

Abstract 1. 1. The dependence of the increased rate of hepatic gluconeogenesis in diabetes upon glucocorticoid secretion was studied using the perfused rat liver preparation. Adrenalectomy reduced, and glucocorticoid treatment restored, glucose output, gluconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis from lactate, and ureogenesis in livers from alloxan-diabetic rats. Cortisol treatment for 1 h in vivo or in vitro significantly increased glucose output and gluconeogenesis from high or physiological levels of lactate in livers from adrenalectomized diabetic rats. Cortisol treatment for 2 h in vivo increased ureogenesis and glycogen synthesis in such livers, but cortisol infusion for 2 h in vitro produced no effects on these processes. 2. 2. The in vitro effects of cortisol on glucose output and gluconeogenesis were of similar magnitude to the in vivo effects and were abolished by addition of cycloheximide and actinomycin D. This suggests that the direct effects of glucocorticoids on hepatic glucose production and gluconeogenesis are quantitatively important and probably involved increased mRNA and protein synthesis. 3. 3. Measurements of the levels of gluconeogenic intermediates in perfused livers from adrenalectomized diabetic rats indicated restraint of reactions located between pyruvate and phosphopyruvate and possibly between glucose-6- P and glucose. Glucocorticoid treatment in vivo or in vitro produced changes consistent with facilitation of reactions located at these sites. There was no evidence of glucocorticoid action on fructose diphosphatase or phosphofructokinase and changes in adenine nucleotides and citrate were the opposite to those expected if steroid facilitated the net conversion of fructose-1,6- P 2 to fructose-6- P . 4. 4. Adrenalectomy reduced the large increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity in livers from diabetic rats, but did not alter the small increase in pyruvate carboxylase. Cortisol treatment for 1 h and longer significantly elevated phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity in livers from adrenalectomized diabetic rats, but did not change pyruvate carboxylase activity. Adrenalectomy and steroid replacement did not modulate the increased levels of acetyl-CoA and cyclic AMP in livers from diabetic rats. 5. 5. It is concluded that the increase in hepatic gluconeogenesis in diabetes is dependent upon secretion of glucocorticoids and that induction of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is a major mechanism by which the steroid act. The hormones do not alter cyclics AMP levels nor affect pyruvate carboxylase activity by increasing the level of the enzyme or acetyl-CoA.
DC and Dynamic Characteristics of P-Doped and Tunnel Injection 1.65- $\mu{\hbox {m}}$ InAs Quantum-Dash Lasers Grown on InP (001)

We have studied the characteristics of 1.65-mum InAs self-organized quantum-dash lasers grown on InP (001) substrates, wherein special techniques of p-doping of quantum dashes and tunnel injection are incorporated for the first time. We measured a very large T0 (196 K) in p-doped quantum-dash lasers, accompanied by an increase in threshold current density (Jth~1600 A/cm2 ), compared to the undoped quantum-dash lasers (T0=76 K and Jth~950 A/cm2). The p-doped lasers exhibit a maximum 3-dB bandwidth of 8 GHz, chirp ~1.0 Aring, and alpha-parameter ~1.0 (measured at subthreshold bias conditions) at a temperature of 278 K. Similar undoped quantum-dash lasers exhibit a 3-dB bandwidth of 6 GHz. A self-consistent model, that includes Auger recombination in quantum dashes, is developed to calculate the threshold current at various temperatures. A comparison of the calculated threshold current and T0 with measured values reveals that Auger recombination in quantum dashes plays a major role in determining the values of threshold current and T0 in both undoped and p-doped quantum-dash lasers. While p-doping increases the gain and differential gain, the presence of wetting layer states, the relatively large inhomogeneous broadening of quantum dashes, and the substantially increased Auger recombination upon p-doping severely limit the potential benefits. Superior characteristics, including large modulation bandwidth (f-3 dB~12 GHz), near-zero alpha-parameter, and very low chirp (~0.3 Aring), are achieved when the technique of tunnel injection is also utilized
Assessing confidence of knowledge base content with an experimental study in entity resolution

The purpose of this paper is to begin a conversation about the importance and role of confidence estimation in knowledge bases (KBs). KBs are never perfectly accurate, yet without confidence reporting their users are likely to treat them as if they were, possibly with serious real-world consequences. We define a notion of confidence based on the probability of a KB fact being true. For automatically constructed KBs we propose several algorithms for estimating this confidence from pre-existing probabilistic models of data integration and KB construction. In particular, this paper focuses on confidence estimation in entity resolution. A goal of our exposition here is to encourage creators and curators of KBs to include confidence estimates for entities and relations in their KBs.
Monoclonal antibody analysis of serotype-restricted and unrestricted bluetongue viral antigenic determinants

Abstract Twenty-one monoclonal antibodies that react with bluetongue virus (BTV) and have restricted or unrestricted serotype specificities were identified in culture supernatants of hybridomas derived from lymphocytes of mice immunized with BTV Serotype 17. Hybridomas were screened and antibody specificities characterized in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay and by immunoprecipitation with radiolabeled, BTV 17-infected cell lysates. Three general serotype specificities were demonstrated by 13 antibodies that precipitated structural viral protein 9 (VP 9). One antibody precipitated VP 7, a 48,000 dalton non-structural protein, and reacted in radioimmunoassay with 20 BTV serotypes and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease of Deer Virus serotype 1 (EHDV 1), EHDV 2, and Ibaraki virus, but not with uninfected cells. One Serotype-specific antibody neutralized infectivity, inhibited hemagglutination by BTV 17, and precipitated VP 2 and VP 3. A second antibody, with restricted serotype specificity, precipitated VP 2 and VP 8. These results confirm those of others ( Huismans and Erasmus, 1981 ) that BTV Serotype-specific and neutralizing epitopes are associated with VP 2.
Quantum control of electron spins in the two-dimensional electron gas of a CdTe quantum well with a pair of Raman-resonant phase-locked laser pulses

We demonstrated optical spin control of a two-dimensional electron gas in a modulation-doped CdTe quantum well by driving a spin-flip Raman transition with a pair of phase-locked laser pulses. In contrast to single-pulse optical spin control, which features a fixed spin-rotation axis, manipulation of the initial relative phase of the pulse pair enables us to control the axis of the optical spin rotation. We show that the Raman pulse pair acts like an effective microwave field, mapping the relative optical phase onto the phase of the electron spin polarization and making possible ultrafast, all-optical, and full quantum control of the electron spins.
Radiative recombination of spatially extended excitons in (ZnSe/CdS)/CdS heterostructured nanorods.

We report on organometallic synthesis of luminescent (ZnSe/CdS)/CdS semiconductor heterostructured nanorods (hetero-NRs) that produce an efficient spatial separation of carriers along the main axis of the structure (type II carrier localization). Nanorods were fabricated using a seeded-type approach by nucleating the growth of 20−100 nm CdS extensions at [000 ± 1] facets of wurtzite ZnSe/CdS core/shell nanocrystals. The difference in growth rates of CdS in each of the two directions ensures that the position of ZnSe/CdS seeds in the final structure is offset from the center of hetero-NRs, resulting in a spatially asymmetric distribution of carrier wave functions along the heterostructure. Present work demonstrates a number of unique properties of (ZnSe/CdS)/CdS hetero-NRs, including enhanced magnitude of quantum confined Stark effect and subnanosecond switching of absorption energies that can find practical applications in electroabsorption switches and ultrasensitive charge detectors.
Changing mechanical response during continental collision: active examples from the foreland thrust belts of Pakistan

Abstract We have used data from teleseismic, seismic reflection and field geologic studies, along with both geomechanical and gravity modeling to contrast the tectonics of four active orogenic wedges in Pakistan: the Kashmir Himalaya, the Salt Range-Potwar Plateau foldbelt, the Sulaiman Range and the Makran accretionary wedge. In Makran, oceanic crust is still being subducted, and a thick pile of sediments is being accreted and underplated. Undercompaction and excess pore pressures can explain the narrow cross-sectional taper and frontal aseismicity of this wedge. Beneath the Sulaiman wedge, continental crust is just starting to be underthrust. Indirect evidence suggests that fine-grained carbonate rocks found in abundance deep in the stratigraphic section may be deforming ductilely at the base of the Sulaiman wedge and provide a zone of ductile detachment. The collision has proceeded to a much more mature stage in the Salt Range-Potwar Plateau foldbelt and the Kashmir Himalaya. Isostatic response to underthrusting of continental crust has kept the sedimentary pile quite thin in both of these wedges, so in that respect the two foldbelts are similar. However, thick Eocambrian salt beneath the Salt Range and Potwar Plateau permits that foldbelt to be much wider in map view, with a thinner cross-sectional taper and a mixture of thrust vergence directions. A major normal fault in basement causes the Salt Range to rise in front of the mildly deformed molasse basin of the southern Potwar Plateau. Much of the diversity among these mountain belts can be understood in terms of differences in the maturity of the collision process in each area, the resulting thickness of the sedimentary pile encountered at the deformation front, and the presence or absence of large contrasts in strength between the various layers of the stratigraphic section and basement relief.
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum

20 World Health Organisation. Severe falciparum malaria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2000; 94 (suppl 1). 21 World Health Organisation. Assessment of therapeutic efficacy of antimalarial drugs: WHO/MAL/96.1077. Geneva: WHO, 1996. 22 Nosten F, ter Kuile FO, Luxemburger C, et al. Cardiac effects of antimalarial treatment with halofantrine. Lancet 1993; 341: 1054–56. 23 Byrd SR, Gelber RH. Effect of dapsone on haemoglobin concentration in patients with leprosy. Lepr Rev 1991; 62: 171–78. 24 Mookherjee S, Howard V, Nzila-Mouanda A, Watkins W, Sibley CH. Identification and analysis of dihydrofolate reductase alleles from Plasmodium falciparum present at low frequency in polyclonal patient samples. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1999; 61: 131–40. 25 Brockman A, Price RN, van Vugt M, et al. Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug susceptibility on the north-western border of Thailand during five years of extensive use of artesunate-mefloquine. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2000; 94: 537–44. ARTICLES
New and interesting water beetles from Mt. Roraima and Ptari‐tepui, Venezuela (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae and hydrophilidae)

Abstract Three species of water beetles, 2 dytiscids and 1 hydrophilid, from Mt. Roraima and Ptari‐tepui in the state of Bolivar, Venezuela, are discussed. One dytiscid, Tepuidessus breweri n. gen., n. sp., and the hydrophilid Tropisternus jolyi n. sp., are described and distinguishing characters are illustrated. The new taxa are compared to related ones and their habitats are discussed. Also, a collection of Rhantus elegans Waterhouse is reported for the first time since the species was described in 1895. The male genitalia of R. elegans is illustrated for the first time and its habitat also is described.
Influence of manganese deficiency on the characteristics of proteoglycans of avian epiphyseal growth plate cartilage.

Abstract The need for manganese for normal skeletal development appears to be related to its role in proteoglycan biosynthesis. The purpose of this research was to characterize the proteoglycans synthesized under conditions of manganese deficiency. The proteoglycans were extracted from epiphyseal growth plate cartilage and the monomers separated by cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation followed by column chromatography. The proteoglycan monomers from normal cartilage contained primarily (92%) chondroitin sulfate side chains with keratan sulfate being a minor (8%) component. Manganese deficiency reduced the total amount of cartilage proteoglycans. Of the monomers present in deficient cartilage, the majority (75%) were similar to those found in normal cartilage. Cartilage from deficient chicks also contained a second monomer fraction (25%) characterized by a reduced carbohydrate content. Thus, in addition to a reduction in total proteoglycan content, manganese deficiency results in qualitative changes in the proteoglycans present in epiphyseal growth plate cartilage.
Association of obesity and circulating adipose stromal cells among breast cancer survivors.

A positive association of obesity with breast cancer incidence and mortality is well established. Recent reports indicate that adipose stromal cells (ASCs) play an important role in breast cancer development and progres- sion by producing estrogens and tumor-promoting cyto- kines. Furthermore, circulating ASCs have been uniquely detected in obese individuals, which is likely due to increased tissue remodeling and cell mobilization. The number of circulating ASCs is even more prominent in obese patients with colon and prostate cancers, both of which are exacerbated by obesity. To determine whether a similar association exists for breast cancer, we collected blood samples from a cohort of breast cancer survivors and enumerated circulating ASCs by flow cytometry on the basis of the previously established ASC-associated immu- nophenotype (CD34 ? /CD31 - /CD45 - ). We found signifi- cantly higher levels of circulating ASCs (p \ 0.001) in breast cancer survivors with body mass index (BMI) C30 kg/m 2 than their non-obese counterparts (BMI \ 30). We also compared circulating ASCs before and after exercise of only the obese subjects enrolled in a 6-month individualized exercise program, but found no statistically significant difference, likely due to limited number of subjects in the study. Our findings suggest that circulating ASCs can serve as a potential biomarker for future studies of the impacts of obesity and physical activity on breast cancer recurrence and survival.
Alterations in CER6, a Gene Identical to CUT1, Differentially Affect Long-Chain Lipid Content on the Surface of Pollen and Stems

Very long chain lipids contribute to the hydrophobic cuticle on the surface of all land plants and are an essential component of the extracellular pollen coat in the Brassicaceae. Mutations in Arabidopsis CER genes eliminate very long chain lipids from the cuticle surface and, in some cases, from the pollen coat. In Arabidopsis, the loss of pollen coat lipids can disrupt interactions with the stigma, inhibiting pollen hydration and causing sterility. We have positionally cloned CER6 and demonstrate that a wild-type copy complements the cer6-2 defect. In addition, we have identified a fertile, intragenic suppressor, cer6-2R, that partially restores pollen coat lipids but does not rescue the stem wax defect, suggesting an intriguing difference in the requirements for CER6 activity on stems and the pollen coat. Importantly, analysis of this suppressor demonstrates that low amounts of very long chain lipids are sufficient for pollen hydration and germination. The predicted CER6 amino acid sequence resembles that of fatty acid–condensing enzymes, consistent with its role in the production of epicuticular and pollen coat lipids >28 carbons long. DNA sequence analysis revealed the nature of the cer6-1, cer6-2, and cer6-2R mutations, and segregation analysis showed that CER6 is identical to CUT1, a cDNA previously mapped to a different chromosome arm. Instead, we have determined that a new gene, CER60, with a high degree of nucleotide and amino acid similarity to CER6, resides at the original CUT1 locus.
Screening and characterization of antiepileptic drugs with rapidly recurring hippocampal seizures in rats

A method to efficiently screen antiepileptic drugs (AED) for their actions against complex partial and secondarily generalized seizures is presented. The procedure relies on rapidly recurring hippocampal seizures (RRHS) in rats which are first used to bring epileptic responses to a stable, fully kindled state and then to test 3 parameters--behavioral seizures, electrographic seizures, and afterdischarge thresholds--before and after drug administration. With the methods described, the effects of a given drug treatment can be thoroughly determined in a single study period. Quantitative determinations of dose-response, time-action and relative potency characteristics are readily ascertained. A battery of known AED, encompassing those in common clinical use, was studied with this system. Kindled motor seizures (classes 4 and 5) were more readily suppressed than limbic behavioral seizures (classes 1-3). Electrographic seizures were usually, but not always, shortened concurrently with suppression of behavioral seizures. Under the conditions of this study, afterdischarge thresholds were not elevated, indicating that a critical role of AED is to counteract seizure spread and prolongation. The overall behavior of the RRHS test system with AED was identical to that with traditional amygdala kindled seizures and results were in good agreement with the clinical responsiveness of the kinds of seizures that these experimental systems model. The features of RRHS make it a useful system for screening new agents for antiepileptic effects, even in circumstances where little or no information about the drug under study is available.
Chronic clozapine, but not haloperidol, alters the response of mesoprefrontal dopamine neurons to stress and clozapine challenges in rats.

Previously, we demonstrated that serotonin-lesioned rats had an enhanced mesoprefrontal dopaminergic response to restraint stress. This study attempted to extend our knowledge regarding this serotonin/dopamine interaction by seeing if suppression of serotonin metabolism by chronic administration of the atypical antipsychotic, clozapine, would have similar effects. Both typical and atypical neuroleptics require chronic administration in humans before antipsychotic activity is seen. Rats treated for 21 days with clozapine or haloperidol, a typical antipsychotic without significant binding affinity for serotonergic receptors, showed lowered basal dopamine metabolism in the medial prefrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens, and the striatum, as expected. Basal serotonin metabolism in the prefrontal cortex was also lowered by clozapine treatment, but not haloperidol. One of two challenges were given to chronically treated rats: 30 min of restraint stress or an acute challenge of clozapine. When corrected for baseline differences, both challenges significantly elevated dopamine metabolism in the prefrontal cortex of the clozapine group more than the saline or haloperidol groups. No hyperresponsiveness was seen with serotonin metabolism in the prefrontal cortex or either dopamine or serotonin metabolism in the nucleus accumbens in clozapine-treated, challenged rats. Additionally, this augmentation of the dopaminergic stress response was not seen with a single, acute administration of clozapine. The significance of the clozapine-induced hyperresponsiveness of the mesoprefrontal dopamine system is discussed with regard to clinical efficacy of clozapine. Synapse 34:28–35, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
SIR2: a potential target for calorie restriction mimetics

Calorie restriction (CR) extends lifespan in a wide variety of species and mitigates diseases of aging in mammals. Here, we describe the evidence that the silent information regulator 2 (SIR2) gene, which encodes a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, regulates lifespan and mediates CR in lower species such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans. We discuss the emerging roles of mammalian SIR2 homologs in regulating physiological changes triggered by CR and their potential connections to diseases of aging. We conclude with the recent advances on small molecules that activate the enzymatic activity of SIR2 as potential CR mimetics. The SIR2 family represents an evolutionarily conserved lifespan regulator. Modulating the activity of SIR2 might provide effective CR mimetics to combat diseases of aging.
STRENGTH AND RUPTURE MODELING OF UNIDIRECTIONAL POLYMER COMPOSITES

With the increasing use of composite materials a detailed understanding of the micromechanical events that lead to material failure is necessary. In this work, numerical techniques for prediction of the static strength and rupture lifetime of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composites are developed. Statistical static strength and rupture lifetimes of Grafil 700 carbon fiber/Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) thermoplastic matrix are presented for purposes of comparison. The key ideas in developing micromechanical models for failure are the interaction between the fiber and matrix, its response to time and temperature, and the fiber strength distribution. Fiber/matrix interaction is studied through the use of model composites. Three-dimensional model composites, representative of unidirectiona l polymer matrix composites, are fabricated with hexagonal fiber packing. Strain gages mounted onto the fibers provide strain concentration measurements due to a break in one of the fibers. Three-dimensional finite element analysis is performed to model the load-sharing. There is very good agreement between the finite element analysis and experimental results. A comparison is also made between the load-sharing calculated by finite element analysis and that obtained by a modified Hedgepeth and Van Dyke (HVD) 'shear-lag' analysis. The HVD analysis yields greater stress concentrations on the unbroken neighboring fibers. The finite element loadsharing is incorporated into a Monte Carlo simulation for the static strength of carbon fiber/polymer matrix composite. The composite material Weibull distribution computed by the simulation has a location and shape parameter of 1.71 GPa and 47.3, respectively, at a length of 76 mm. The experimentally obtained Weibull location and shape parameters are 1.57 GPa and 29.4, respectively, at a length of 76 mm. The Monte Carlo approach for rupture modeling is briefly discussed.
Crystal structure reveals specific recognition of a G-quadruplex RNA by a β-turn in the RGG motif of FMRP

Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) is a regulatory RNA binding protein that plays a central role in the development of several human disorders including Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and autism. FMRP uses an arginine-glycine-rich (RGG) motif for specific interactions with guanine (G)-quadruplexes, mRNA elements implicated in the disease-associated regulation of specific mRNAs. Here we report the 2.8-A crystal structure of the complex between the human FMRP RGG peptide bound to the in vitro selected G-rich RNA. In this model system, the RNA adopts an intramolecular K+-stabilized G-quadruplex structure composed of three G-quartets and a mixed tetrad connected to an RNA duplex. The RGG peptide specifically binds to the duplex–quadruplex junction, the mixed tetrad, and the duplex region of the RNA through shape complementarity, cation–π interactions, and multiple hydrogen bonds. Many of these interactions critically depend on a type I β-turn, a secondary structure element whose formation was not previously recognized in the RGG motif of FMRP. RNA mutagenesis and footprinting experiments indicate that interactions of the peptide with the duplex–quadruplex junction and the duplex of RNA are equally important for affinity and specificity of the RGG–RNA complex formation. These results suggest that specific binding of cellular RNAs by FMRP may involve hydrogen bonding with RNA duplexes and that RNA duplex recognition can be a characteristic RNA binding feature for RGG motifs in other proteins.
A SmartBIST variant with guaranteed encoding

SmartBIST is a name for a family of streaming scan test pattern decoders that are suitable for on-chip integration. The automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) algorithms are modified to generate scan test stimulus vectors in a highly compacted source format that is compatible with the SmartBIST decoder hardware. The compacted stimulus vectors are streamed from automatic test equipment (ATE) to the decoder, which expands the data stream in real-time into fully expanded scan test vectors. SmartBIST encoding and decoding use simple algebraic techniques similar to those used for LFSR-coding (also known as LFSR-reseeding). The specific SmartBIST implementation shown in this paper guarantees that all test cubes can be successfully encoded by the modified ATPG algorithm irrespective of the number and position of the care bits.
Enzymatic Assay for the Combined Determination of Plasmin Plus Plasminogen in Milk: Revisited

The ability of beta-lactoglobulin variants A and B, alpha-lactalbumin, and BSA to inhibit plasmin plus plasminogen activity was examined. Data showed that beta-lactoglobulin A at concentrations of .2 and 1 mg/ml inhibited plasmin plus plasminogen activity by 18 and 54%. beta-Lactoglobulin B had no effect on plasmin plus plasminogen activity. At concentrations of .2 and 1 mg/ml, BSA inhibited plasmin plus plasminogen activity by 25 and 63%. alpha-Lactalbumin at concentrations of .2 and 1 mg/ml caused 1.9 and 20% inhibition of plasmin plus plasminogen activity. These data, collectively, suggest that existing methodology for measuring plasmin activity in milk serum underestimates real plasmin activity in milk. Underestimation is more pronounced in samples with high whey protein content (late lactation milk and milk obtained from mastitic quarters). To avoid this problem, we have modified the existing methodology. Our modification allows plasmin determination without interference from whey proteins and other plasmin inhibitors that are present in the serum fraction of bovine milk.
Interaction of long-chain nicotinates with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine.

The interaction of four long-chain nicotinates, compounds that are of interest as potential chemopreventive agents, with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was investigated in monolayers at the air-water interface and in fully hydrated bilayers. For the monolayer studies, the compression isotherms of mixtures of the respective nicotinate with DPPC were recorded at various compositions on a hydrochloric acid subphase (pH 1.9–2.1, 37 ± 2°C). The headgroup of the nicotinates (24–29 A2/molecule) is larger than that of the hydrophobic tail (20 A2/molecule). The pure nicotinates exhibit a temperature- and chain length-dependent transition from an expanded to a condensed phase. Analysis of the concentration dependence of the average molecular area at constant film pressure and the concentration dependence of the breakpoint of the phase transition from the expanded to the condensed state suggests that all four DPPC-nicotinate mixtures are partially miscible at the air-water interface. Although a complex phase behavior with several phase transitions was observed, differential scanning calorimetry studies of the four mixtures are also indicative of the partial miscibility of DPPC and the respective nicotinate. Overall, the complex phase behavior most likely results from the head-tail mismatch of the nicotinates and the geometric packing constraints in the two-component lipid bilayer.
Why Teach Literature and Medicine? Answers from Three Decades

In this essay, I look back at some of the earliest attempts by the first generation of literature-and-medicine scholars to answer the question: Why teach literature and medicine? Reviewing the development of the field in its early years, I examine statements by practitioners to see whether their answers have held up over time and to consider how the rationales they articulated have expanded or changed in the following years and why. Greater emphasis on literary criticism, narrative ethics, narrative theory, and reflective writing has influenced current work in the field in ways that could not have been foreseen in the 1970s. The extraordinary growth of interest and work in the field nationally and, especially since 1996, internationally has included practitioners in many additional areas such as disability studies, film studies, therapeutic writing, and trauma studies. Along with the emergence of narrative medicine, this diverse community of scholars and practitioners—affiliated more through their use of narrative methodologies than the teaching of literature—makes the perennial challenge of evaluation and assessment even more complicated.
A performance analysis of the partial randomization dynamic element matching DAC architecture

This paper presents the results of a performance analysis of a novel dynamic element matching technique for low harmonic distortion digital-to-analog converters. The technique promises to be suitable for applications such as direct digital synthesis systems, wherein low hardware complexity is essential in addition to low harmonic distortion. As the main result of the analysis, the DAC can be designed such that the hardware complexity is reduced to a minimum while still providing a given least required spurious-free dynamic range.
STRUCTURAL TENSION, MIGRATION, AND DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF VENEZUELA∗

Mismatch of labor demand and supply, resulting from economic growth, is referred to here as structural tension. Spatial variations in structural tension are identified for Venezuelan states in 1971. Positive tension, indicating overutilization of human resources, prevails in urban areas. By contrast, rural locales exhibit underutilization due to rapid labor force growth without parallel increases in employment opportunities. Influence of structural tension, coupled with other migration determinants, upon destination choice by economically active immigrants is explored. Structural tension emerges as strongly significant for the total sample, displacing wages from the model. This is consistent with our contention that wages are a less precise indicator of labor supply and demand.
Event Categorization beyond Verb Senses

Verb senses are often assumed to distinguish among different conceptual event categories. However, senses misrepresent the number of event categories expressed both within and across languages and event categories may be “named” by more than a word, i.e. a multi-word expression. Determining the nature and number of event categories in an event description requires an understanding of the parameters relevant for categorization. We propose a set of parameters for use in creating a Gold Standard of event categories and apply them to a corpus sample of 2000 sentences across 10 verbs. In doing so, we find an asymmetry between subjects and direct objects in their contributions to distinguishing event categories. We then explore methods of automating event categorization to approximate our Gold Standard through the use of hierarchical clustering and Latent Semantic Analysis (Deerwester et al., 1990).
Missed opportunities in reactive chemical hazard evaluations

Reactive chemicals pose a significant hazard to the process industries arising from their inherent nature. This paper examines four reactive chemical accidents caused by self-heating that led to thermal runaway reactions. Although none of these case studies resulted in serious injuries, the runaway reactions caused fires, explosions, or toxic gas releases that resulted in extensive damages and loss of production. This paper considers the causal factors of these accidents, identifies the thermal stability data available before the accidents, and presents simple hazard calculations indicating the predictability of the accidents. The paper concludes with a discussion of lessons learned from these accidents. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Saf Prog, 2006
Evolution of Class III treatment in orthodontics

Angle, Tweed, and Moyers classified Class III malocclusions into 3 types: pseudo, dentoalveolar, and skeletal. Clinicians have been trying to identify the best timing to intercept a Class III malocclusion that develops as early as the deciduous dentition. With microimplants as skeletal anchorage, orthopedic growth modification became more effective, and it also increased the scope of camouflage orthodontic treatment for patients who were not eligible for orthognathic surgery. However, orthodontic treatment combined with orthognathic surgery remains the only option for patients with a severe skeletal Class III malocclusion or a craniofacial anomaly. Distraction osteogenesis can now be performed intraorally at an earlier age. The surgery-first approach can minimize the length of time that the malocclusion needs to worsen before orthognathic surgery. Finally, the use of computed tomography scans for 3-dimensional diagnosis and treatment planning together with advances in imaging technology can improve the accuracy of surgical movements and the esthetic outcomes for these patients.
Maternal Resources, Parenting Practices, and Child Competence in Rural, Single-Parent African American Families

A family process model was tested that linked maternal education, maternal religiosity, and the adequacy of family financial resources to cognitive and psychosocial competence in the mothers' children. The sample included 156 6- to 9-year-old African American children living in single-mother-headed households in rural areas, 82% of whom lived in poverty. The distal variables of maternal education, maternal religiosity, and adequacy of financial resources were linked with the proximal variables of "no nonsense" parenting, mother-child relationship quality, and maternal involvement in the child's school activities. The proximal variables were, in turn, indirectly linked with children's cognitive competence, social competence, and internalizing problems through their association with the children's development of self-regulation.
A versatile approach for Monte Carlo simulation of tomographic systems

In this paper we present the design principles and the main features of a new Monte Carlo simulation code for tomography that, through a modular object oriented approach, maintains the efficiency of specialized solutions while incorporating features common to general Monte Carlo particle transport simulation packages such as the presence of a comprehensive geometrical modeling subsystem. The simulation of photon history through a heterogeneous medium is treated as a distinct case of particle transport, rather than a geometrical representation problem, leading to efficient tracing through voxel-based anthropomorphic phantoms. The approach is general and flexible allowing for a mixed voxel and surface based representation of the attenuation distribution (similarly for the activity distribution). Various variance reduction techniques are introduced.
Obtaining Informed Consent for Research: A Model for Use with Participants Who Are Mentally Ill

An issue of ongoing concern to clinical investigators, medical ethicists, and institutional review board (IRB) members is the problem of obtaining informed consent in research that involves people with mental illness as research participants. Although the presence of a mental disorder per se does not render a person incapable of giving informed consent, some individuals afflicted with significant cognitive impairment, formal thought disorder, substantial anxiety or depression, or a variety of other symptoms may be impaired in their capacity to comprehend consent disclosures and therefore to exercise consent to research participation in a competent manner. The stakes surrounding this informed consent issue are significant. On the one hand, the inclusion in research of participants who are not capable of giving informed consent may result in their exposure to unwarranted risks and significant harm. These concerns may be exacerbated in certain clinical trials in which patients are required to discontinue their medications during “washout periods” at the onset of a study, or are randomly assigned to a placebo treatment and remain off medication for (potentially) extended periods.
Rapid multi-robot exploration with topometric maps

Multi-robot map building has advanced to the point where high quality occupancy grid data may be collected by multiple robots collaborating with only intermittent connectivity. However, the tasking of these agents to most efficiently build the map is a problem that has seen less attention. Unfamiliar, highly cluttered environments can confound exploration strategies that rely solely on occupancy grid frontier identification or even semantic classification methods keyed on geometric features. To reason about partial maps of novel, highly cluttered locations, hypotheses about significant structure in the disposition of free space may be used to guide exploration task assignment. A parsing of map data into places with semantic significance to the exploration task provides a foundation from which one may infer an efficient exploration strategy.
Implementation and Performance Evaluation of the HPC Challenge Benchmarks in Coarray Fortran 2.0

Today's largest supercomputers have over two hundred thousand CPU cores and even larger systems are under development. Typically, these systems are programmed using message passing. Over the past decade, there has been considerable interest in developing simpler and more expressive programming models for them. Partitioned global address space (PGAS) languages are viewed as perhaps the most promising alternative. In this paper, we report on our experience developing a set of PGAS extensions to Fortran that we call Co array Fortran 2.0 (CAF 2.0). Our design for CAF 2.0 goes well beyond the original 1998 design of Co array Fortran (CAF) by Numrich and Reid. CAF 2.0 includes language support for many features including teams, collective communication, asynchronous communication, function shipping, and synchronization. We describe the implementation of these features and our experiences using them to implement the High Performance Computing Challenge (HPCC) benchmarks, including High Performance Linpack (HPL), Random Access, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and STREAM triad. On 4096 CPU cores of a Cray XT with 2.3 GHz single socket quad-core Opteron processors, we achieved 18.3 TFLOP/s with HPL, 2.01 GUP/s with Random Access, 125 GFLOP/s with FFT, and a bandwidth of 8.73 TByte/s with STREAM triad. we call Co array Fortran 2.0 (CAF 2.0). Our design for CAF 2.0 goes well beyond the original 1998 design of Coarray Fortran (CAF) by Numrich and Reid. CAF 2.0 includes language support for many features including teams, collective communication, asynchronous communication, function shipping, and synchronization. We describe the implementation of these features and our experiences using them to implement the High Performance Computing Challenge (HPCC) benchmarks, including High Performance Linpack (HPL), Random Access, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and STREAM triad. On 4096 CPU cores of a Cray XT with 2.3 GHz single socket quad-core Opteron processors, we achieved 18.3 TFLOP/s with HPL, 2.01 GUP/s with Random Access, 125 GFLOP/s with FFT, and a bandwidth of 8.73 TByte/s with STREAM triad.
Quantification of fingertip force reduction in the forefinger following simulated paralysis of extensor and intrinsic muscles.

Objective estimates of "ngertip force reduction following peripheral nerve injuries would assist clinicians in setting realistic expectations for rehabilitating strength of grasp. We quanti"ed the reduction in "ngertip force that can be biomechanically attributed to paralysis of the groups of muscles associated with low radial and ulnar palsies. We mounted 11 fresh cadaveric hands (5 right, 6 left) on a frame, placed their fore"ngers in a functional posture (neutral abduction, 453 of #exion at the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, and 103 at the distal interphalangeal joint) and pinned the distal phalanx to a six-axis dynamometer. We pulled on individual tendons with tensions up to 25% of maximal isometric force of their associated muscle and measured"ngertip force and torque output. Based on these measurements, we predicted the optimal combination of tendon tensions that maximized palmar force (analogous to tip pinch force, directed perpendicularly from the midpoint of the distal phalanx, in the plane of "nger #exion}extension) for three cases: non-paretic (all muscles of fore"nger available), low radial palsy (extrinsic extensor muscles unavailable) and low ulnar palsy (intrinsic muscles unavailable). We then applied these combinations of tension to the cadaveric tendons and measured "ngertip output. Measured palmar forces were within 2% and 53 of the predicted magnitude and direction, respectively, suggesting tendon tensions superimpose linearly in spite of the complexity of the extensor mechanism. Maximal palmar forces for ulnar and radial palsies were 43 and 85% of non-paretic magnitude, respectively (p(0.05). Thus, the reduction in tip pinch strength seen clinically in low radial palsy may be partly due to loss of the biomechanical contribution of fore"nger extrinsic extensor muscles to palmar force. Fingertip forces in low ulnar palsy were 93 further from the desired palmar direction than the non-paretic or low radial palsy cases (p(0.05). ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
In vivo regulation of β-MHC gene in rodent heart: role of T3 and evidence for an upstream enhancer

Cardiac β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) gene expression is mainly regulated through transcriptional processes. Although these results are based primarily on in vitro cell culture models, relatively li...
Speaking Transnationally: Early Modern European Linguistic Exchanges with Islamic Southeast Asia

This article considers European cross-cultural exchanges with Islamic Southeast Asia from the perspective of language. Earlier assumptions of the superiority of European languages over non-European ones are unwarranted. In the early modern period English was a peripheral language, and the English and other Europeans used various languages to communicate in trading relations with the East. In Southeast Asia (the “East Indies”), Malay was a significant early modern lingua franca. This study examines the circumstances under which the Dutch explorer Frederick de Houtman came to write a handbook on Malay, later translated into Latin, English, and other languages, when he joined a 1598–99 Dutch East Indies voyage to Aceh. Imprisoned by the sultan, he also wrote an account of his experience. The textual materials produced by this encounter include, aside from Houtman's own Dutch account, an account by the expedition's English pilot and an Acehnese chronicle, Hikayat Aceh, mentioning the European visitors. Using these varied materials—in English, Dutch, and Malay—this study analyzes Houtman's role as translator and interpreter to rethink early modern transnational communication.
Virtual Psychology: An Overview of Theory, Research, and Future Possibilities

This chapter presents a detailed overview of the study of virtual world psychology. With the advent of avatar-mediated virtual worlds, psychologists now have new questions to examine and new techniques with which to study human cognition and social interactions. This chapter reviews both empirical findings and theoretical perspectives guiding the research agenda. The chapter describes the dominant theoretical frameworks used to account for virtual world psychology, followed by a comprehensive discussion of the major empirical findings to date. The empirical review concentrates on cognitive and social processes that manifest in virtual settings as well as applied areas of behavioral research, such as education and mental health. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the directions in which the field is expected to move. Throughout the discussion, an emphasis is placed on the questions of how virtual worlds differ psychologically from the real world and how experience in virtual worlds influences behavior in the real world.