cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Analysis of Stochastic Systems

Introduction What in the World Is a Stochastic Process? How to Characterize a Stochastic Process What Do We Do with a Stochastic Process? Discrete-Time Markov Chains: Transient Behavior Definition and Characterization Examples DTMCs in Other Fields Marginal Distributions Occupancy Times Computation of Matrix Powers DTMCs: First Passage Times Definitions Cumulative Distribution Function of T Absorption Probabilities Expectation of T Generating Function and Higher Moments of T DTMCs: Limiting Behavior Exploring the Limiting Behavior by Examples Irreducibility and Periodicity Recurrence and Transience Determining Recurrence and Transience: Infinite DTMCs Limiting Behavior of Irreducible DTMCs Examples: Limiting Behavior of Infinite State-Space Irreducible DTMCs Limiting Behavior of Reducible DTMCs DTMCs with Costs and Rewards Reversibility Poisson Processes Exponential Distributions Poisson Process: Definitions Event Times in a Poisson Process Superposition and Splitting of Poisson Processes Non-Homogenous Poisson Process Compound Poisson Process Continuous-Time Markov Chains Definitions and Sample Path Properties Examples Transient Behavior: Marginal Distribution Transient Behavior: Occupancy Times Computation of P(t): Finite State-Space Computation of P(t): Infinite State-Space First-Passage Times Exploring the Limiting Behavior by Examples Classification of States Limiting Behavior of Irreducible CTMCs Limiting Behavior of Reducible CTMCs CTMCs with Costs and Rewards Phase-Type Distributions Reversibility Queueing Models Introduction Properties of General Queueing Systems Birth and Death Queues Open Queueing Networks Closed Queueing Networks Single Server Queues Retrial Queue Infinite Server Queue Renewal Processes Introduction Properties of N(t) The Renewal Function Renewal-Type Equation Key Renewal Theorem Recurrence Times Delayed Renewal Processes Alternating Renewal Processes Semi-Markov Processes Renewal Processes with Costs/Rewards Regenerative Processes Markov Regenerative Processes Definitions and Examples Markov Renewal Process and Markov Renewal Function Key Renewal Theorem for MRPs Extended Key Renewal Theorem Semi-Markov Processes: Further Results Markov Regenerative Processes Applications to Queues Diffusion Processes Brownian Motion Sample Path Properties of BM Kolmogorov Equations for Standard Brownian Motion First Passage Times Reflected SBM Reflected BM and Limiting Distributions BM and Martingales Cost/Reward Models Stochastic Integration Stochastic Differential Equations Applications to Finance Epilogue Appendix A: Probability of Events Appendix B: Univariate Random Variables Appendix C: Multivariate Random Variables Appendix D: Generating Functions Appendix E: Laplace-Stieltjes Transforms Appendix F: Laplace Transforms Appendix G: Modes of Convergence Appendix H: Results from Analysis Appendix I: Difference and Differential Equations Answers to Selected Problems References Index Exercises appear at the end of each chapter.
Transcriptional regulation of the CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 genes by C/EBP-related proteins.

Abstract Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B1 and 2B2 are encoded by two closely related genes, CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 , that are expressed at low levels in adult rat liver but are induced markedly by the administration of the drug phenobarbital (PB) or other structurally unrelated hydrophobic compounds to animals. Very little is understood about the molecular mechanisms that control both basal and induced transcription of these genes. We have identified two liver specific DNase I hypersensitive sites associated with the CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 ( CYP2B ) genes. One site, which maps to a region in the 5′-flanking region between −2.2 and −2.3 kb, became more resistant to DNase I cleavage in nuclei from PB-treated rats; the converse was true of the other hypersensitive site, which maps to the proximal promoter region between −0.05 and −0.15 kb. DNase 1 footprint analysis revealed three prominent and one weak footprinted regions in the promoter region in the vicinity of the proximal hypersensitive site. Using competitor oligonucleotides, we determined that one footprinted region (FT2), between −42 and −66 bp, is likely to represent a binding site for CCAATT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) family members. Indeed, bacterial expressed recombinant C/EBPα bound at this site and formed a footprint pattern identical to the pattern observed with liver nuclear extract. In vitro transcription assays demonstrated that the FT2 site contributed strongly to promoter activity, since its mutation reduced transcription by 80%. Two other sites identified by footprint analysis (FT1 and FT3) are also required to maintain high basal transcription of CYP2B2 promoter constructs in an in vitro transcription assay. Transient transfection experiments confirmed the expectation that C/EBPα could activate the 1.4 kb CYP2B promoter constructs, with mutation of the FT2 site impairing both basal transcription and transactivation by exogenous C/EBPα.
Simulated Assembly of Nanostructured Organic/Inorganic Networks

We perform lattice Monte Carlo simulations to study nanostructured networks formed by linking organically functionalized inorganic nanoscale building blocks. We develop a minimal lattice model of an octafunctional nanoscale building block (NBB) by representing the inorganic core with a rigid cube and the organic linkers with “bead-spring” chains. Using this model, we explore the effect of linker length on network properties including porosity, spatial distribution of NBBs, and extent of cross-linking during assembly. We compare our results with recent experimental data on networks of octafunctional polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cubes.
Uncertainty and political participation

The minimax regret model of decision making under uncertainty, which was proposed by Ferejohn and Fiorina (1974) as a model of the voting decision, is here generalized to encompass forms of political participation (such as contributing money or time to a campaign) in which the range of alternatives is continuous. A principal implication of the model is that aggregate campaign contributions may be substantially increased by limiting the amount that any one individual can contribute. The conditions under which the behavior of a minimax regret decision maker can be unambiguously distinguished from that of an expected utility maximizer are also specified.
Trade or Trash: an examination of the archaeobotanical remains from the Byzantine harbour at Caesarea Maritima, Israel

A rich collection of waterlogged plant-remains was recovered from the harbour at Caesarea Maritima, Israel. These remains were identified and represent several varieties of fruit, nut, cereal crop, crop by-product and weed species. The two areas where remains were recovered provided assemblages that were different in composition. Trade or trash are the two interpretations discussed. In either case, however, the information derived from the assemblage is of archaeological importance, as the species present can aid in economic, dietary and trade reconstructions. © 2010 The Author
Crystal morphology, composition, and dissolution behavior of carbonated apatites prepared at controlled pH and temperature

A range of carbonated apatites was prepared by aqueous precipitation at 37, 60, and 85°C and at controlled pH values varying from 6.00–9.50 in 0.25 increments. The products were analyzed for Ca, P, Sr, Mg, Na, F, and carbonate. Their initial dissolution rates were measured in a pH 4.5, 0.01 mol · liter−1 acetate buffer. Information about crystal morphologies and crystal defects was obtained by x-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The CaP molar ratios of the products, together with their Sr and Mg contents, increased with increasing pH. Initial dissolution rates of the products, when adjusted for carbonate content, were in the order 37 > 60 > 85°C whereas apparent particle sizes determined by TEM and x-ray diffraction were ordered 37 < 60 < 85°C. Carbonated apatites precipitated at pHs of 7.0 or less were observed to have planar defects parallel to (100) that were identified as unit-cell-thick intergrowths of octacalcium phosphate. Carbonated apatites precipitated at higher pHs and noncarbonated apatites did not have these defects. A crystal growth mechanism is proposed to account for the presence of the (100) defects.
Defective expression of hematopoietic cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (HCP) in lymphoid cells blocks Fas-mediated apoptosis

Abstract Protein tyrosine dephosphorylation after Fas cross-linking occurred In Fas apoptosis-sensitive CEM-6 cells but not in Fas apoptosis-resistant MOLT-4 cells, and apoptosis in the CEM-6 cells could be inhibited by the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, pervanadate. The time course and level of dephosphorylation were correlated with Increased hematopoletic cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (HCP) activity, but not with the activity of two other tyrosine phosphatases. The level of expression of HCP was correlated with Fas apoptosis function in eleven human and murine Fas-positive lymphoid cell lines. Expression of recombinant HCP In the MOLT-4 cell line converted this Fas apoptosis-resistant cell line to Fas apoptosis sensitive. HCP-mutant me v / me v mice exhibited increased expression of Fas but decreased Fas-mediated apoptosis function in lymphold organs after anti-mouse Fas antibody treatment in vivo. Thus, HCP-mediated protein dephosphorylation is involved in the delivery of the Fas apoptosis signal in lymphoid cells.
Effectiveness of Microcomputer Simulations in Stimulating Environmental Problem Solving by Community College Students.

This study examined the impact of microcomputer simulations on environmental problem solving by community college students. A subordinate question was also addressed: Was the test instrument, which was used to assess the outcome of the treatment, biased by reading ability? The quasiexperimental design used two intact groups of community college students and parallels an earlier study by Rivers and Vockell (1987). The experimental group was assigned three simulation modules that focused on lake pollution analysis, wastewater quality management, and population dynamics. The comparison group was not exposed to any simulations, and served as a quasicontrol to identify possible Hawthorne effects. Effectiveness was assessed by the Test of Integrated Process Skills (TIPS I and II). Statistical analyses were done with t tests, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, and reliability coefficients. The experimental group showed a highly significant improvement in problem-solving skills after treatment, t(33) = 4.42, p < 0.001. Subtest mean gain scores supported the hierarchical relationships among cognitive modes for transitional operational reasoners as reported by Yap and Yeany (1988). An analysis of the correlation between the TIPS I and Nelson-Denny reading test scores indicated that the TIPS did not have a reading-level bias for the subjects in this study. Informal and anecdotal observations described improvements in other problem-solving skills which were not measured by the TIPS.
Bubble Detachment in Variable Gravity Under the Influence of Electric Fields

The objective of the research is to investigate the behavior of individual air bubbles injected through an orifice into an electrically insulating liquid under the influence of a static electric field. Situations were considered with both uniform and nonuniform electric fields. Bubble formation and detachment were visualized in terrestrial gravity as well as for several levels of reduced gravity (lunar, martian and microgravity) using a high-speed video camera. Bubble volume, dimensions and contact angles at detachment were measured. In addition to the experimental studies, a simple model, predicting bubble characteristics at detachment in an initially uniform electric field was developed. The model, based on thermodynamic considerations, accounts for the level of gravity as well as the magnitude of the uniform electric field. The results of the study indicate that the level of gravity and the electric field magnitude significantly affect bubble behavior as well as shape, volume and dimensions.
Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and ΔFosB in emotion-associated neural circuitry after asymptotic levels of active avoidance behavior are attained.

Abstract Avoidance susceptibility may constitute a vulnerability to develop anxiety disorders, and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats exhibit unique features in their acquisition of avoidance behavior that appear to promote susceptibility to this form of learning, namely the absence of the commonly observed “warm-up” effect. The present study sought to determine if strain differences in acquired avoidance behavior, between WKY and Sprague Dawley rats, could be attributed to differences in dopamine-related plasticity, represented by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity, and prolonged neuronal activation, represented by ΔFosB accumulation, in three key areas of the brain: the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), dorsal striatum (DS), and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Consistent with earlier work, WKY rats exhibited a higher level of asymptotic performance of avoidance behavior, which included an absence of warm-up in the first few trials of later training sessions, and they exhibited more non-reinforced anticipatory responses in the single minute prior to the initiation of the first warning signal presentation of each training session. In the brain, phosyphorylated ERK2 (pERK2) activation was higher in avoidance trained rats in both the mPFC and DS, although the difference in DS was mostly observed in WKY rats. Avoidance-training was associated with higher levels of ΔFosB expression in the mPFC of SD rats, but not WKY rats. The strain differences in pERK2 activation in the DS and ΔFosB levels in the mPFC may underlie the strain-specific differences observed in warm-up, the emission of non-reinforced anticipatory responses, and general differences in asymptotic performance of active avoidance behavior. The mPFC and DS require further study as potential neural targets for understanding avoidance susceptibility and, as a result, anxiety vulnerability.
Social integration and diabetes management among rural older adults.

Objectives:To describe diabetes management behaviors and social integration among older adults, and delineate the associations of social integration with diabetes management behaviors.Method:Interview data from 563 African American, American Indian, and White participants (age 60+) from eight south central North Carolina counties selected using a site-based procedure. Statistical analysis comprises descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis.Results:Participants had high levels of social integration and largely adhered to diabetes management behaviors (glucose monitoring, checking feet, maintaining diet, formal exercise program, health provider monitoring A1C and examining feet). Social integration was associated with several behaviors; social network size, particularly other relatives seen and spoken with on the telephone, was associated with provider A1C monitoring and foot examinations.Discussion:Social integration had small but significant associations with diabetes managemen...
Advancements in meeting new regulations with activated carbon: Results from full scale cement plant field tests

Throughout 2011–2012, Norit (now part of Cabot Corporation) performed five full-scale field trials at cement plants within North America. Despite differences in kiln configuration, raw mix composition, activated carbon injection (ACI) location, flue gas temperature, and particulate control systems, results show that test activated carbons significantly reduced mercury emissions. The test programs discussed in this report were developed to assist cement plants in meeting pending regulations for mercury emissions in a cost-effective and reliable manner. Several new carbon sorbents were evaluated with either improved mercury removal performance, concrete compatible characteristics, or both. Depending on the plant locations, EPA Method 30B and/or mercury CEMS were used to determine the mercury removal across the particulate control system. All carbon sorbents tested in the United States reduced mercury emissions to less than 55-lb mercury per million tons of clinker for all cases, thus meeting the cement emissions regulations for existing kilns. Carbon sorbents tested outside of the United States targeted mercury reduction requirements as mandated by the applicable regulating body.
Global behavior of integral transforms

We obtain global estimates for various integral transforms of positive differentiable functions that satisfy inequalities of the type , for .
CDK4-mediated MnSOD activation and mitochondrial homeostasis in radioadaptive protection

Mammalian cells are able to sense environmental oxidative and genotoxic conditions such as the environmental low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) present naturally on the earth's surface. The stressed cells then can induce a so-called radioadaptive response with an enhanced cellular homeostasis and repair capacity against subsequent similar genotoxic conditions such as a high dose radiation. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a primary mitochondrial antioxidant in mammals, has long been known to play a crucial role in radioadaptive protection by detoxifying O2(•-) generated by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast to the well-studied mechanisms of SOD2 gene regulation, the mechanisms underlying posttranslational regulation of MnSOD for radioprotection remain to be defined. Herein, we demonstrate that cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) serves as the messenger to deliver the stress signal to mitochondria to boost mitochondrial homeostasis in human skin keratinocytes under LDIR-adaptive radioprotection. Cyclin D1/CDK4 relocates to mitochondria at the same time as MnSOD enzymatic activation peaks without significant changes in total MnSOD protein level. The mitochondrial-localized CDK4 directly phosphorylates MnSOD at serine-106 (S106), causing enhanced MnSOD enzymatic activity and mitochondrial respiration. Expression of mitochondria-targeted dominant negative CDK4 or the MnSOD-S106 mutant reverses LDIR-induced mitochondrial enhancement and adaptive protection. The CDK4-mediated MnSOD activation and mitochondrial metabolism boost are also detected in skin tissues of mice receiving in vivo whole-body LDIR. These results demonstrate a unique CDK4-mediated mitochondrial communication that allows cells to sense environmental genotoxic stress and boost mitochondrial homeostasis by enhancing phosphorylation and activation of MnSOD.
Pseudoscleroderma and Phenylketonuria

: An infant girl with partial phenylketonuria developed pseudoscleroderma. After six years of follow up, both the neurologic and cutaneous conditions improved under a phenylalanine restricted diet. The probable roles of phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and their metabolites may cause both conditions through possible transient hypersensitivity of cutaneous and muscular tissues.
Statistical Deconvolution for Superresolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Superresolution microscopy techniques based on the sequential activation of fluorophores can achieve image resolution of ∼10 nm but require a sparse distribution of simultaneously activated fluorophores in the field of view. Image analysis procedures for this approach typically discard data from crowded molecules with overlapping images, wasting valuable image information that is only partly degraded by overlap. A data analysis method that exploits all available fluorescence data, regardless of overlap, could increase the number of molecules processed per frame and thereby accelerate superresolution imaging speed, enabling the study of fast, dynamic biological processes. Here, we present a computational method, referred to as deconvolution-STORM (deconSTORM), which uses iterative image deconvolution in place of single- or multiemitter localization to estimate the sample. DeconSTORM approximates the maximum likelihood sample estimate under a realistic statistical model of fluorescence microscopy movies comprising numerous frames. The model incorporates Poisson-distributed photon-detection noise, the sparse spatial distribution of activated fluorophores, and temporal correlations between consecutive movie frames arising from intermittent fluorophore activation. We first quantitatively validated this approach with simulated fluorescence data and showed that deconSTORM accurately estimates superresolution images even at high densities of activated fluorophores where analysis by single- or multiemitter localization methods fails. We then applied the method to experimental data of cellular structures and demonstrated that deconSTORM enables an approximately fivefold or greater increase in imaging speed by allowing a higher density of activated fluorophores/frame.
Measurement of optical dephasing of Eu3+ and Pr3+ doped silicate glasses by spectral holeburning

Abstract Long-lived spectral holeburning has been observed in Eu 3+ and Pr 3+ doped silicate glasses, and used to measure homogeneous linewidths (φ h ). In the case of Eu 3+ , holes are burned by optical pumping of nuclear quadrupole levels, and our low temperature measurement of φ h shows that the previously determined T 1.8 temperature dependence holds down to at least 1.6 K. On the other hand, in Pr 3+ doped glass, holes are burned by optically induced local lattice rearrangements. In contrast to previously studied inorganic glasses, we find a linear temperature dependence of φ h for the 3 H 4 ↔ 1 D 2 transition from 1.6 K to 20 K. This was confirmed by picosecond accumulated grating photon echoes. Current theories of dephasing in glasses do not predict these temperature dependences. Holeburning has also been observed in Pr 3+ doped BeF 2 and phosphate glasses and Nd 3+ doped silicate glass and thus appears to be a rather general phenomenon in inorganic glasses, as has been found for molecules in organic glasses.
Monitoring the real time growth of a self-assembled monolayer on a polymer electrolyte surface

Abstract The growth of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) at the surface of a polymer electrolyte has been shown to inhibit the formation of the passivating layer that forms when the polymer is in contact with lithium metal. In this work, ac impedance spectroscopy was used to monitor the formation of SAM layers on polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer electrolyte thin films as a function of time. To monitor SAM growth, thin PEO films were cast onto interdigitated electrodes. The electrodes were subsequently immersed in a saturated SAM solution and the film impedance was measured. SAM molecules with the general formula: H (CH 2 ) 32 (CH 2 CH 2 O) y H ( y = 2, 10, 40) were used. Growth occurred due to interactions with the ethylene oxide portion of the SAM molecules with the PEO surface. To visualize SAM growth impedance data at a single frequency sensitive to changes at the solution interface was plotted verses time. At the point of immersion, a sharp increase in impedance was observed. With time, the rate at which the impedance increased slowed and ultimately leveled off presumably indicating the point at which a nearly complete monolayer had formed. SAM growth was verified using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR).
Serotonin and dopamine in the retina of a lizard.

The objective of this paper is to report the presence and localization of serotonin and dopamine in the retina of the lizard Uta stansburiana. High performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection were used to identify and quantitate the two amines. Both compounds are present as endogenous molecules in this retina and are found in concentrations similar to those reported in other non-mammalian retinas. The same methods were employed to confirm, in the isolated retina, the synthesis of serotonin from precursor, tryptophan. Immunocytochemical methods were used to localize, in the neural retina, serotonin and the rate-limiting enzyme of dopamine synthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase. Serotonin immunoreactivity was observed in bistratified amacrine cells (ca.7 μU dia.) with processes ramifying in sublayers 1,4, and 5 of the inner plexiform layer. Immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase was observed in a different population of bistratified amacrine cells (ca. 11 μ dia.) that had processes ramifying in sublayers 1 and 5 (and perhaps 3) of the inner plexiform layer. The enzymes for further metabolism of dopamine were not found in the retina of this lizard by immunocytochemical methods. The results of this research suggest that only single classes of serotoninergic and dopaminergic neurons are present in the retina of U. stansburiana. This retina might, therefore be an appropriate place in which to investigate the functioning of these amines in visual information processing.
The inversion matrix and error estimation in data inversion: application to diffusion battery measurements

Abstract Judicious selection of the measurement conditions and analysis methods to be used can make it less difficult to produce accurate data inversions in the presence of experimental error. The response (data) vector (b) of a multi-channel instrument, such as an optical particle counter or multi-stage impactor or diffusion battery, to an input distribution vector (x) can be modelled as a set of linear equations given by the vector-matrix equation b = Ax . For low resolution instruments, one of several methods of data inversion is usefully employed: simple inversion, least-squares inversion, various smoothing inversions and various non-linear approaches. One non-linear approach [Twomey, S. (1975) J. Comput. Phys.18, 188–200.] we found to be sensitive to starting conditions and to show cycling during iteration, similar to equations leading to ‘chaos’ [Wu, J. J. et al. (1989) J. Aerosol Sci.20, 477–482.]. Simple inversion, least-squares inversion and smoothing are alike in that they produce their solutions from x = Zb , where Z(i, j) are the elements of what one could call the ‘inversion matrix’, Z, a kind of transfer function. Z gives the sensitivity of the inferred values to changes (or errors) in the data values. A criterion for the best measurement instrument or measurement conditions could be the minimum largest absolute Z(i, j) or the mean absolute value or some other weighting. Propagation of error analysis indicates that another measure of Z(i, j) that would be useful would be its root mean square. The ‘condition number’ is another measure that has also been suggested [Cooper, D. W (1974) Ph.D. dissertation. Division of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, (1975) 68th Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control Assoc., Boston, MA; Yu, P.-Y. (1983) Ph.D. dissertation. Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, College Park, MD; Farzanah, F. F. et al. (1984) Environ. Sci. Technol.19, 121–126; Hirleman, E. D. (1987) 1st Intl. Conf. on Particle Sizing, Rouen, France.]. Some comparisons of these measures are made. The inversion matrix gives the clearest indication of the relationship between the data and the results of inversion. We recommend that proposed experimental conditions should be adjusted based on inversion matrix studies in order to lessen ill-conditioning and the reliance on various data analysis methods to cope with ill-conditioned systems.
Allosteric drugs: the interaction of antitumor compound MKT-077 with human Hsp70 chaperones.

The Hsp70 chaperones (Heat shock protein 70 kDa) are key to cellular protein homeostatis. However, they also have the ability to inhibit tumor apoptosis, and contribute to aberrant accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neuronal cells affected by tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease. Hence, Hsp70 are increasingly been identified as targets for therapeutic intervention in these widely abundant diseases. Hsp70 proteins are allosteric machines and offer besides classical active site targets, also opportunities to target the mechanism of allostery. In this work, it is demonstrated that the action of the potent anti-cancer compound MKT-077, is through differential interaction with the Hsp70 allosteric states. MKT-077 (1-ethyl-2-[[3-ethyl-5-(3-methylbenzothiazolin-2-yliden)]-4- oxothiazolidin-2-ylidenemethyl] pyridinium chloride) is therefore an “allosteric drug”. Using NMR spectroscopy, the compound’s binding site on human HSPA8 (Hsc70) is identified. The binding pose is obtained from NMR-restrained docking calculations, subsequently scored by molecular dynamics-based energy and solvation computations. Suggestions for improvement of the compound’s properties are made on the basis of the binding location and pose.
Laterality of Brain and Ocular Lesions in Aicardi Syndrome

This study reports a large case series of children with Aicardi syndrome. A new severity scoring system is established to assess sidedness of ocular and brain lesions. Thirty-five children were recruited from Aicardi syndrome family conferences. All children received dilated ophthalmologic examinations, and brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were reviewed. Ocular and brain MRI Aicardi lesion severity scores were devised. A linear mixed model was used to compare each side for the ocular and brain MRI severity scores of Aicardi-associated disease. Twenty-six children met the inclusion criteria for the study. All subjects were female, ages 3 months to 19 years. Rates per child of optic nerve coloboma, severe lacunae, and microphthalmos in one or both eyes (among those with complete fundus examinations available) were 10/24 (42%), 8/22 (36%), and 7/26 (27%), respectively. Ocular and brain MRI asymmetry was found in 18% (4/22) and 58% (15/26) of subjects, respectively, with more right-sided brain lesions than left-sided ones (V = 52, P = 0.028). A significant correlation between sidedness of brain disease and microphthalmos was noted (T = 2.54, P = 0.02). This study substantiates the range and severity of Aicardi syndrome-associated ophthalmologic and brain MRI lesions from prior smaller case series.
Experimental demonstration of a timing jitter eater

Summary form only given. We have demonstrated 4 dB of timing jitter reduction of a semiconductor mode locked laser. Optimal designs for telecommunication applications and optical sampling applications will be discussed as well as performance improvements with solitons.
An internal variable constitutive model for hot working of metals

Abstract A set of internal variable type constitutive equations which model large elastic-viscoplastic deformations of metals at high temperatures is formulated. For a first-order representation of large deformation constitutive behavior we use a scalar as an internal variable to represent the isotropic resistance to plastic flow offered by the internal state of the material. Hot compression tests on an iron-2% silicon alloy and a commercially pure aluminum have been conducted. Based on these experiments, specific viscoplastic constitutive functions are proposed, and the values for the materials parameters appearing in these functions are determined. The constitutive equations with these functions and material parameters accurately reproduce the basic tests and also accurately predict the response of the metal to some critical experiments which were not used to determine the material parameters in the constitutive functions. Although the use of a single scalr internal variable limits the constitutive equations to describing the deformation behavior of initially isotropic metals up to deformation levels where significant internal damage and polycrystal texturing has not developed, the constitutive equations presented here should be useful for obtaining an improved analysis of various hot deformation processing operations of metals.
Plant monitoring and diagnosis by transient identification: the fuzzy approach

Plant monitoring and diagnosis are usually integrated as one process to detect and isolate suspect symptoms and use these symptoms to find the root cause of the failure. The research reported here enables two new plant monitoring and diagnosis frameworks/architectures, each of which employs multiple fuzzy rule-based systems in parallel and in sequence. By employing fuzzy sets and by constructing a decision concerning the normalcy of system behavior in stages, we are able to exploit far more information contained in the signals (one signal per sensor). The paper focuses on a new transient identification scheme using fuzzy logic. A fuzzy rule based transient identification system is implemented in MATLAB. The experiments demonstrate how traditional features such as WOLP and HAS, for transient identification can be fuzzified to improve the efficiency and performance of traditional classifiers used for the same purpose.
Role and mechanism of action of the APOBEC3 family of antiretroviral resistance factors.

Metazoan organisms are subject to invasion by a wide range of microbial pathogens and have, as a result, evolved a range of defensive measures. While scientific attention historically has focused on adaptive immune responses, such as antibodies and cytotoxic T cells, it has of late become
Geometric Constructions for Predicting Hough Transform Performance

Graphical techniques are presented for estimating Hough transform performance for detecting straight lines in noisy digital pictures. The methods show explicitly the influence of noise due, for example, to quantizing errors on the accuracy of estimating the underlying sets of collinear points. Exact bounds are obtained for sets of collinear points showing that under quite general conditions only the endpoints are of significance. Theorems governing grid size for the accumulator method are given.
Eyes on the prize: life goals in the context of visual disability in midlife

Objective: To investigate implications of vision loss in midlife, identify life goals that are important to middle-aged adults and assess how vision loss interferes with goal pursuit.Design: Cross-sectional exploratory study.Setting: Vision rehabilitation agency.Subjects: Two hundred and sixteen middle-aged adults with visual impairment.Methods: Telephone interviews composed of structured and open-ended assessments of life goals (i.e. priorities, plans, or hopes people have in their lives) and goal interference due to vision loss.Results: Across the three assessed domains, functional goals were reported most often (N = 214), followed by social goals (N = 72) and psychological goals (N = 28). Among functional goals, career, daily tasks and mobility goals were identified by the highest percentage of participants. Family goals were identified most frequently for social goals, and life quality was identified most often for psychological goals. Vision-related goals occurred throughout the three domains, repres...
Mo1570 Endoscopic Management of Upper GI Fistulae or Leaks: Exactly How Well Are WE Doing?

patient’s upper GI anatomy was the following: gastric bypass (nZ4), Whipple’s (nZ4), Billroth II (nZ5), Ivor-Lewis (nZ3), gastric sleeve with leak (nZ3), several anastomosis-undefined post-surgical status (nZ2). The technical success was 90%. In two patients transillumination was not obtainable and placement failed. The mean distance of DPEJ was 70 cm (range 45 to 110 cm) past the gastrojejunal anastomosis. The mean procedure time was 35 minutes (range 20-110). There were no major adverse events associated with the procedure. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the largest study using DPEJ in patients with complex surgically altered upper GI tract anatomy. The novel technique using overtubeand fluoroscopy was efficacious, safe and successful. Future comparative studies are now warranted
Serum Cholinesterase in Analbuminemia

Serum cholinesterase activity was found to be normal in persons with analbuminemia. This finding disproves previous speculations that there is some intimate connection between the hepatic biosynthesis of albumin and serum cholinesterase.
Characterization techniques for installed fibers

We review the key fibre link parameters that require testing, and the various measurement techniques effectively used in the field. We then briefly cover new test requirements identified for future network architectures.
Sweetener Preference of C57BL/6ByJ and 129P3/J Mice

Previous studies have shown large differences in taste responses to several sweeteners between mice of the C57BL/6ByJ (B6) and 129P3/J (129) inbred strains. The goal of this study was to compare behavioral responses of B6 and 129 mice to a wider variety of sweeteners. Seventeen sweeteners were tested using two-bottle preference tests with water. Three main patterns of strain differences were evident. First, sucrose, maltose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, sucralose and SC-45647 were preferred by both strains, but the B6 mice had lower preference thresholds and higher solution intakes. Second, the amino acids D-phenylalanine, D-tryptophan, L-proline and glycine were highly preferred by B6 mice, but not by 129 mice. Third, glycyrrhizic acid, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, thaumatin and cyclamate did not evoke strong preferences in either strain. Aspartame was neutral to all 129 and some B6 mice, but other B6 mice strongly preferred it. Thus, compared with the 129 mice the B6 mice had higher preferences for sugars, sweet tasting amino acids and several but not all non-caloric sweeteners. Glycyrrhizic acid, neohesperidin, thaumatin and cyclamate are not palatable to B6 or 129 mice.
Cerebellar Ataxia, Vertical Supranuclear Gaze Palsy, Sensorineural Deafness, Epilepsy, Dementia, and Hallucinations in an Adolescent Male

We encountered an adolescent male with cerebellar ataxia since age 11, difficulty in vertical gaze from age 2, leg weakness since age 10, and partial epilepsy since age 8. At age 14, he developed visual and auditory hallucinations, as well as mild sensorineural deafness. He was evaluated as having a mitochondrial disorder. No common mitochondrial DNA mutations were detected in the blood. Muscle biopsy revealed nonspecific changes and normal respiratory chain enzyme complexes. He developed progressive cognitive decline leading to diagnosis of dementia at age 15, and intractablepartial epilepsy persisted despite treatment with multiple anticonvulsants. He also had progressive dysphagia requiring gastrostomy tube for nutrition. He required many other diagnostic investigations for neurodegenerative disorders, but was eventually confirmed as having Niemann-Pick disease type C with excessive free cholesterol using filipin staining and zero activity for cholesterol esterification in fibroblast as well as two pathogenic mutations in the NPC1 gene.
Energy Efficiency Evaluation of a Data Mining Prefetching Algorithm for Hybrid Storage Systems

This paper evaluates the energy performance of a novel data prefetching scheme in multi level storage system. This data prefetching algorithm (DM-PAS) proposes a hybrid storage system that consists of Solid State Drives (SSD), conventional Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Tape Drives (TD). The algorithm was originally developed to meet the growing demand of high speed data fetching in the large cloud systems. Inspired by enormous download requests to the EROS (Earth Resources Observation and Science) center of the U.S. Geological Survey, the purpose of the developed algorithm was to achieve high I/O performance and reliability and tested in a real world hybrid storage system. However, as energy efficiency in the computing system context is becoming crucial day by day, energy aware algorithms offers a distinct appeal to the data center administrators. Simulations were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the tested energy-conserving strategy DM-PAS. Simulations demonstrate that utilization of DM-PAS results in reduced energy consumption of hybrid storage systems in a dynamic environment as compared with the same storage systems without using DM-PAS.
Object-oriented user interfaces (abstract)

The principles of objects, polymorphism, classes, and inheritance can apply to the end users external view of a user interface, just as it can apply to the language that is used to implement it. This tutorial shows how to design (not implement) a user interface that is truly object-oriented. It gives guidance on the design of the externals of object-oriented user interfaces, and shows how developers can capitalize on the isomorphism between the users conceptual model of the interface and the constructs provided by object-oriented programming languages. The tutorial exposes a (perhaps surprisingly) deep analogy between object-oriented programming languages and object-oriented user interfaces. This analogy is valuable because it can be used to map external user interface design in a clear and natural way onto object-oriented application frameworks. The tutorial is illustrated with historical examples, many on videotape.
Evidence that membrane transduction of oligoarginine does not require vesicle formation.

Abstract The involvement of vesicular formation processes in the membrane transduction and nuclear transport of oligoarginine is currently a subject of controversy. In this report, a novel quantitative method which allows for the selective measurement of membrane transduction excluding concurrent endocytosis was used to determine the effects of temperature, endosomal acidification, endosomolysis, and several known inhibitors of endocytic pathways on the internalization of oligoarginine. The results show that, unlike endocytosis, transduction of oligoarginine was not affected by incubation at 16°C as compared to the 37°C control, and was only partially inhibited at 4°C incubation. Additionally, membrane transduction was not inhibited to the same extent as endocytosis following treatment with ammonium chloride, hypertonic medium, amiloride, or filipin. The endosomolytic activity of oligoarginine was investigated by examining the leakage of FITC-dextran into the cytosolic compartment, which was not higher in the presence of oligoarginine. Furthermore, ammonium chloride showed no effect on the nuclear transport of oligoarginine. The data presented in this report indicate that membrane transduction is likely to occur at the plasma membrane without the formation of membrane vesicles, and the nuclear localization involves membrane transduction, rather than endocytosis of oligoarginine.
Dusty Disks and the Structure of Early-Type Galaxies

Our eventual understanding of the formation and evolution of galaxies is critically dependent upon achieving knowledge of the distribution of matter within these systems. This is an excedingly difficult task, compounded by the fact that most of the matter in galaxies is not directly visible. Therefore, luminosity distributions are not sufficient to determine mass distributions. We must rely upon dynamical probes for this task. Fortunately, a potentially powerful dynamical probe of mass distributions is provided by disks which lie wholly or partially outside of a symmetry plane of the galactic light distribution. Many early-type galaxies, including dust-lane ellipticals and polar-ring galaxies, possess embedded gas disks. These disks, which are generally believed to be the result of accretion, often display warps and twists or have angular momentum vectors that are misaligned with the kinematic axes of the galaxy. The structure of these disks can be understood by examining the distribution of dust associated with them. Here we discuss the structure and use of such disks.
The Molecular Nature of Chemical Stimuli in the Aquatic Environment

Many aquatic organisms possess well-developed chemosensory systems that are adapted to monitoring changes in the chemical composition of the aqueous environment in which they live. For aquatic organisms. specific chemicals in the environment may evoke highly predictable changes in behavior. Facets of behavior known to be affected by external chemicals include those associated with feeding. avoiding predators, recognizing a suitable habitat, reproducing, migrating. and interacting with conspecific organisms. General reviews of this material are provided by Mackie and Grant ( 1974). Daloze, Braekman. and Tursch (1980). and Atema (1985).
Short-term moderate sleep restriction decreases insulin sensitivity in young healthy adults

Abstract Context and purpose The literature suggests that severe sleep loss of more than a few hours a night decreases glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The aim of this study was to determine whether moderate sleep restriction had similar effects. Methods Fifteen healthy non-obese (body mass index = 24.5 ± 3.4 kg/m 2 ) young adults (20.6 ± 1.3 years) completed two 2-hour oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs): one was after 3 days of time-in-bed restriction by 1 to 3 hours each night, and the other was after 3 days of ad libitum sleep. Glucose and insulin concentrations during OGTT and fasting glucagon and cortisol concentrations were determined. The homeostasis model of insulin resistance, Matsuda index, and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index were calculated. Results The total time-in-bed during the sleep restriction and the ad libitum phase was 5.98 ± 0.76 and 7.98 ± 0.54 hours/day, and total sleep time was 5.16 ± 0.49 and 6.65 ± 0.64 hours/day, respectively. Glucose concentrations before and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after consumption of glucose and area under the curve were not different for the 2 OGTTs ( P > .10 for all). Insulin concentration at fasting and area under the curve during the OGTT were significantly higher ( P = .034 and .038, respectively) after restricted sleep than after ad libitum sleep. Fasting glucagon concentration was also higher ( P = .003). The homeostasis model of insulin resistance, Matsuda index, and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index all suggested decreased insulin sensitivity after restricted sleep. Conclusion Short-term moderate sleep restriction reduced insulin sensitivity compared to ad libitum sleep in this group of healthy young adults.