cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congestion analysis of a computer core storage system

This paper studies the congestion problems of the computer core storage units. The principle of storage request interleaving is briefly discussed as means of increasing thruput. An analytic model is proposed to analyze the core storage system with a two-way interleaving feature. The model, an approximation to the physical system, is an extension of a queueing model with bulk service considered by Bailey in Ref. [1].
Device for comprehensive analysis of leakage current paths in photovoltaic module packaging materials

Photovoltaic (PV) modules in high voltage systems are prone to power loss over time due to leakage current flowing through the module packaging materials. A device has been developed to measure impedances of individual paths of leakage current. This has made it possible to understand the contributions of materials and interfaces responsible for degradation. This was not possible earlier when only total leakage currents were being measured. Detailed analysis of the leakage current paths in the PV modules under high voltage bias is carried out over an extended period. Knowledge about dominant leakage current paths can be used to quantify the physical and chemical changes occurring within the module packaging materials.
Status of CMS

This presentation reviews the initial commissioning and operation of the CMS experiment with beams at the LHC starting with the first collisions on March 30, 2010 at 7 TeV. The initial experience with operating the detector and commissioning of the the trigger is described. A few issues that have come up in this initial period of operation are described.
Risk Factors for Eating Disorders: Surprising Similarities between Middle School Boys and Girls

This study examined body dissatisfaction (BD), drive for thinness (DT), and self-esteem in middle school students. Participants were 40 girls and 36 boys aged 11–13. Students completed BD and DT Eating Disorder Inventory subscales and the Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire. There were no significant differences on these measures. For boys and girls, self-esteem was negatively correlated with BD, and Body Mass Index (BMI) was positively correlated with BD. For boys, BMI was positively correlated with DT. DT was negatively correlated with self-esteem in girls. The relationship between body dissatisfaction and self-esteem is cause for concern and may be a higher risk for developing eating disorders.
Reduced-Dimension Linear Transform Coding of Correlated Signals in Networks

A model called the linear transform network (LTN) is proposed to analyze the compression and estimation of correlated signals transmitted over directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). An LTN is a DAG network with multiple source and receiver nodes. Source nodes transmit subspace projections of random correlated signals by applying reduced-dimension linear transforms. The subspace projections are linearly processed by multiple relays and routed to intended receivers. Each receiver applies a linear estimator to approximate a subset of the sources with minimum mean squared error (MSE) distortion. The model is extended to include noisy networks with power constraints on transmitters. A key task is to compute all local compression matrices and linear estimators in the network to minimize end-to-end distortion. The nonconvex problem is solved iteratively within an optimization framework using constrained quadratic programs (QPs). The proposed algorithm recovers as special cases the regular and distributed Karhunen-Loeve transforms (KLTs). Cut-set lower bounds on the distortion region of multi-source, multi-receiver networks are given for linear coding based on convex relaxations. Cut-set lower bounds are also given for any coding strategy based on information theory. The distortion region and compression-estimation tradeoffs are illustrated for different communication demands (e.g., multiple unicast), and graph structures.
Potassium ion transport processes across the interface of an immiscible liquid pair in the presence of crown ethers

The mechanism of potassium ion transfer from an aqueous to a 1,2-dichloroethane phase which is facilitated by urushiol crown ether or dibenzo-18-crown-6 in the range of potassium concentrations, cK+, from 0.1 mM to 1 M was studied by current scan polarography at the ascending water electrode, chronopotentiometry, and chronopotentiometry with current reversal at the stationary water electrode. At cK+ below 0.02 M a single polarographic wave is obtained, which corresponds to the transfer of K+-crown ether complex from the aqueous phase. At cK + ≥ 0.02 M, an additional wave appears at a less positive potential which grows at the expense of the first wave, which finally disappears at higher cK+. The second wave results from the transfer of a simple potassium ion across the interface, where it reacts with the crown ether. At cK+ at which the additional wave begins to appear, the formation reaction of K+-crown ether takes place at the aqueous side of the interface.
Efficient algorithm for computing the Euler-Poincaré characteristic of a semi-algebraic set defined by few quadratic inequalities

We present an algorithm which takes as input a closed semi-algebraic set, S? Rk, defined by $$ P_{1} \leq 0, \ldots ,P_{\ell} \leq 0,\quad P_{i} \in \hbox{R}[X_{1} , \ldots ,X_{k} ],\quad \deg (P_{i} ) \leq 2, $$ and computes the Euler---Poincare characteristic of S. The complexity of the algorithm is kO(?).
The Myth of Academic Freedom

This paper argues that there is no such thing as academic freedom. A person who speak out on issues, whether within their institution or in public, risk retaliation by others more powerful than they. And there are many forms of retaliation. Even tenure can't guarantee protection from powerful colleagues. Tenure and academic freedom were originally conceived as a way to provide scholars the freedom to explore and express, without fear of retaliation, unconventional ideas that might challenge existing or preconceived social or scientific philosophies or practices
OxymiRs in Cutaneous Development, Wound Repair and Regeneration

The state of tissue oxygenation is widely recognized as a major microenvironmental cue that is known to regulate the expression of coding genes. Recent works have extended that knowledge to demonstrate that the state of tissue oxygenation may potently regulate the expression of microRNAs (miRs). Collectively, such miRs that are implicated in defining biological outcomes in response to a change in the state of tissue oxygenation may be referred to as oxymiRs. Broadly, oxymiRs may be categorized into three groups: (A) the existence (expression and/or turnover) of which is directly influenced by changes in the state of tissue oxygenation; (B) the existence of which is indirectly (e.g. oxygen-sensitive proteins, metabolites, pH, etc.) influenced by changes in the state of tissue oxygenation; and (C) those that modify biological outcomes to changes in the state of tissue oxygenation by targeting oxygen sensing pathways. This work represents the first review of how oxymiRs may regulate development, repair and regeneration. Currently known oxymiRs may affect the functioning of a large number of coding genes which have hitherto fore never been linked to oxygen sensing. Many of such target genes have been validated and that number is steadily growing. Taken together, our understanding of oxymiRs has vastly expanded the implications of changes in the state of tissue oxygenation. This emerging paradigm has major implications in untangling the complexities underlying diseases associated with ischemia and related hypoxic insult such as chronic wounds.
Langevin machine: a neural network based on stochastically justifiable sigmoidal function

In neural networks the activation process controls the output as a nonlinear function of the input; and, this output remains bounded between limits as decided by a logistic function known as the sigmoid (S-shaped). Presently, by applying the considerations of Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics, the Langevin function is shown as the appropriate and justifiable sigmoid (instead of the conventional hyperbolic tangent function) to depict the bipolar nonlinear logic-operation enunciated by the collective stochastical response of artificial neurons under activation. That is, the graded response of a large network of `neurons' such as Hopfield's can be stochastically justified via the proposed model. The model is consistent with the established link between the Hopfield model and the statistical mechanics. The possible outcomes and implications of using the Langevin function (in lieu of conventional hyperbolic tangent and/or exponential sigmoids) in determining nonlinear decision boundaries, in characterizing the neural networks by the Langevin machine versus the Boltzmann machine, in sharpening and annealing schedules and in the optimization of nonlinear detector performance are discussed.
Reflections on music and identity in Ethnomusicology

The relationship between music and identity became a commonplace theme in ethnomusicology beginning in the early 1980s. This article surveys all 17 articles published in the journal Ethnomusicology in the last 25 years with the word ′identity′ in the title in order to understand how ethnomusicologists have treated this subject. The survey reveals that the authors of these articles neither cite the general literature on identity nor one another. As a consequence, this article takes on the task of analyzing the ethnomusicological literature around basic questions found in the general literature, including what is identity, where does identity come from, how many identities do we possess, how is identity created, and who defines and institutionalizes identity. It concludes with some reflections on what music contributes to the construction and symbolization of identity.
Motoneurons Dedicated to Either Forward or Backward Locomotion in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Multifunctional motoneurons and muscles, which are active during forward and backward locomotion are ubiquitous in animal models. However, studies in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans suggest that some locomotor motoneurons are necessary only for forward locomotion (dorsal B-motoneurons, DB), while others (dorsal A-motoneurons, DA) are necessary only for backward locomotion. We tested this hypothesis directly by recording the activity of these motoneurons during semirestrained locomotion. For this purpose, we used epifluorescence imaging of the genetically encoded calcium sensor cameleon, expressed in specific motoneurons, while monitoring locomotor behavior through the microscope condenser using a second camera. We found that ventral and dorsal B-motoneurons (DB and VB) were coactive during forward locomotion while ventral A-motoneurons (VA) were only active during backward locomotion. The signals we recorded correlated with the direction of locomotion but not with the faster undulatory cycles. To our knowledge, these are the first recordings of motoneuron activity in C. elegans and the only direction-dedicated motoneurons described to date.
A Sex Difference in White Blood Cells of Rats ( WR Strain)

DURING the course of toxicity studies in male rats (WR), isologous bone marrow from female animals was transplanted to counteract depressing action on the bone marrow of the compound under evaluation. A search was made for a biological marker characteristic of the donor identifiable in the host and the presence of a structural difference between nuclei of male and female neutrophilic leucocytes as described for humans1, rabbits2, and dogs3 was confirmed also for rats.
Temperature dependence of the barley root plasma membrane-bound Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase

Arrhenius plots of the maximal velocities for the Ca2+-and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activities found in a plasma membrane-rich microsome fraction isolated from the roots of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Conquest) were nonlinear. Arrhenius plot analyses using a relation which produced curvilinear Arrhenius plots accurately fit the data and allowed the calculation of the activation enthalpies and molar heat capacities of activation. The temperature dependence of the computed Km values for the Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activities was complex, with the highest enzyme-substrate affinities being obtained near the barley seedling growth temperature (16°C). Using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy with amphiphilic cationic and anionic spin probes, it was possible to demonstrate that temperature changes and increasing Ca2+ concentrations could alter the mobility of the membrane lipid polar head groups. Inhibition of the ATPase activities by high levels of Ca2+ may result from a Ca2+-induced reduction in the lipid polar head group mobility. The possible role of lipid polar head group-protein interactions in the complex temperature dependence of the barley root ATPase kinetic constants is discussed.
Demonstrations of methods and results of pedigree breeding of plants and animals

Four series of pedigreed poultry were shown to illustrate certain laws of inheritance.Series I. Darwin's case of “reversion”:1, Jungle fowl; 2, black minorca and 3, white silky, female; 4, their son, black with red markings as in the jungle fowl; 5, second hybrid generation, including (a), white type and (b), type with jungle fowl coloration.Series II. The production of a frizzle-silky race:1, Silky, male; 2, frizzle, female; 3, first hybrid generation, frizzled but not silky; 4, second hybrid generation, both frizzled and silky feathers in the same individual.Series III. Particulate inheritance of plumage color:1, Game colored Tosa fowl, male; 2, white cochin, female; 3, son of 1 and 2, game colored, feathers barred with white; 4, second hybrid generation: (a), white type; (b), game type.Series IV. Independence in inheritance of the different characters:I, White leghorn, male; 2, Houdan, female (mottled, black and white); 3, son of I and 2, white, small crest, Y comb, low nostril, four toes on each foot;...
Suppression of background radiation in BGO and NaI detectors used in nuclear reaction analysis

Abstract A compact arrangement of electronic and material shielding in conjunction with a 3 in. × 3 in. BGO detector can achieve hydrogen sensitivities of 10–100 ppm using the 15 N hydrogen profiling technique. Measured background yields for various shielding conditions are presented for 3 in. × 3 in. BGO and NaI detectors.
Treatment of Cancer-Related Pain: When Orally Administered Medications Fail

Objective To summarize the available pain-relieving interventions other than oral medications for cancer-related pain. Design The pertinent literature is reviewed, and the various options for treating pain in patients with cancer are discussed. Material and Methods The appropriate situations for use of parenteral administration of opioids, spinal analgesia, neural blockade, and neurosurgical treatment are outlined, and the potential problems and complications associated with these techniques are described. Results The basic approach to the management of pain in patients with cancer is to begin treatment with less potent analgesic agents early and to progress toward use of more potent pharmaceutical agents, adjuvant drugs, and invasive procedures as needed for alleviation of pain. With parenteral administration of opioids, the dosage can be adjusted rapidly, and therapy can be continued even though a patient may have gastrointestinal dysfunction. A portable ambulatory infusion pump can be used in selected patients. The major advantage of spinal opioid analgesia is the intense analgesia provided with minimal side effects. The potential complications and the availability of treatment alternatives have limited the use of neurolytic blocks, which usually provide only temporary relief of pain. In carefully selected patients with pancreatic or other upper gastrointestinal neoplasms, however, neurolytic celiac plexus and splanchnic nerve blocks are effective. Patients who fail to respond to conservative interventions may be candidates for neurosurgical procedures, such as spinal cord, cortical, or brain-stem stimulation or neuro-ablative operations (most commonly, cordotomy). Conclusion Cancer-related pain continues to be a major problem, and clinicians should be aware of the availability of effective treatment strategies and techniques. When orally administered medications fail to control pain or cause excessive side effects, patients should be referred to an appropriate specialist or medical center for consideration of other pain-relieving techniques.
Combinatorial Optimization Algorithms for Metabolic Networks Alignments and Their Applications

The accumulation of high-throughput genomic and proteomic data allows for reconstruction of large and complex metabolic networks. To analyze accumulated data and reconstructed networks, it is critical to identify network patterns and evolutionary relations between metabolic networks; finding similar networks is computationally challenging. Based on gene duplication and function sharing in biological networks, a network alignment problem is formulated that asks the optimal vertex-to-vertex mapping allowing path contraction, different types of vertex deletion, and vertex insertions. This paper presents fixed parameter tractable combinatorial optimization algorithms, which take into account the similarity of both the enzymesâ€™ functions arbitrary network topologies. Results are evaluated by the randomized P-Value computation. The authors perform pairwise alignments of all pathways for four organisms and find a set of statistically significant pathway similarities. The network alignment is used to identify pathway holes that are the result of inconsistencies and missing enzymes. The authors propose a framework of filling pathway holes by including database searches for missing enzymes and proteins with the matching prosites and further finding potential candidates with high sequence similarity.
Translation efficiency of Lea mRNAs in cotton embryos: minor changes during embryogenesis and germination

In earlier studies, only two major patterns of transcript accumulation were seen for 18 late embryogenesis abundant (Lea) gene families in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) during embryogenesis and early germination. Each of these gene families probably comprises two active alloalleles. The two polypeptides encoded by seven of the Lea families can be distinguished, and analysis of their translation in vitro indicated that regulation of the homeologous transcript abundance was similar in each. In the present study, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of polypeptides synthesized in excised embryos was employed to determine if LEA polypeptide synthesis is regulated at the translational level. The relative in vivo synthesis rate of each of the two polypeptides of 7 Lea families was compared with the relative concentration of their transcripts measured earlier by in vitro translation. For 4 families, the relative translational efficiencies of the homeologous mRNAs do not change during embryogenesis. However, there are changes of 1.5–3-fold in the other 3 families. The translation efficiencies of all transcripts of 9 of the Lea family mRNAs in vivo can be calculated from the fraction of total protein radioactivity incorporated in each LEA polypeptide family and the fractional abundance of Lea family transcripts measured by RNA dot hybridization. Lea mRNAs are found to be translated at near average rates throughout embryogenesis and early germination. These observations suggest that regulation of Lea gene expression at the translational level is minor.
Caldendrin, a Neuron-specific Modulator of Cav/1.2 (L-type) Ca2+ Channels

EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins such as calmodulin and CaBP1 have emerged as important regulatory subunits of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Here, we show that caldendrin, a variant of CaBP1 enriched in the brain, interacts with and distinctly modulates Cav1.2 (L-type) voltage-gated Ca2+ channels relative to other Ca2+-binding proteins. Caldendrin binds to the C-terminal IQ-domain of the pore-forming α1-subunit of Cav1.2 (α11.2) and competitively displaces calmodulin and CaBP1 from this site. Compared with CaBP1, caldendrin causes a more modest suppression of Ca2+-dependent inactivation of Cav1.2 through a different subset of molecular determinants. Caldendrin does not bind to the N-terminal domain of α11.2, a site that is critical for functional interactions of the channel with CaBP1. Deletion of the N-terminal domain inhibits CaBP1, but spares caldendrin modulation of Cav1.2 inactivation. In contrast, mutations of the IQ-domain abolish physical and functional interactions of caldendrin and Cav1.2, but do not prevent channel modulation by CaBP1. Using antibodies specific for caldendrin and Cav1.2, we show that caldendrin coimmunoprecipitates with Cav1.2 from the brain and colocalizes with Cav1.2 in somatodendritic puncta of cortical neurons in culture. Our findings reveal functional diversity within related Ca2+-binding proteins, which may enhance the specificity of Ca2+ signaling by Cav1.2 channels in different cellular contexts.
Predictors of hemorrhage volume and disability after perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective: The determinants of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) volume and an atypical pattern of blood are not clear. Our objective was to determine if reduced platelet activity on admission and abnormal venous drainage are associated with greater SAH volume. Methods: We prospectively identified noncomatose patients with SAH without an identifiable aneurysm. We routinely measured platelet activity on admission and recorded aspirin use. SAH volumes were calculated with a validated technique. CT angiograms were reviewed by a certified neuroradiologist for venous drainage. Patients were followed for clinical outcomes through 3 months with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Data are Q1–Q3. Results: There were 31 patients in the cohort. Thirty (97%) underwent an angiogram on admission, and 25 (81%) an additional delayed angiogram. SAH volume was lowest with normal venous drainage bilaterally (4.4 [3.7–16.4] mL) and higher with 1 (12.9 [3.7–20.4]) or 2 (20.9 [12.5–34.6] mL, p = 0.03) discontinuous venous drainages. Patients with reduced platelet activity had more SAH on the diagnostic CT (17.5 [10.6–20.9] vs 6.1 [2.3–15.3] mL) ( p = 0.046). SAH volume was greater for patients requiring drainage for hydrocephalus (16.4 [11.5–20.5] vs 5.4 [2.7–16.4] mL) ( p = 0.009). Outcomes at 3 months were generally excellent (median mRS = 0, no symptoms). Conclusions: Discontinuous venous drainage and reduced platelet activity were associated with increased SAH volume and hydrocephalus. These factors may explain thick SAH and reduce the need for repeated invasive imaging in such patients.
The role of gefitinib in the management of Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of death in cancer patients worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases. The prognosis of NSCLC is still poor, albeit slow and steady improvement achieved in the past three decades by chemotherapy. Recently, the importance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the pathogenesis and progression in NSCLC was identified particularly in those cancer cells with EGFR mutation and/or increased gene copy number. Gefitinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was the first agent approved for treating advanced NSCLC. It has become a popular choice in treating Asian patients after a higher response rate was reported in Japanese patients than in non-Japanese patients in the first Phase II trial. Objective: To evaluate the role of gefitinib in the treatment of Asian patients with NSCLC. Methods: A review of published papers in PubMed and Embase (2000 – 2007) and meeting reports of the American Society of Clinic...
Global cross sections and minimal flows

Abstract Let M be a closed n-dimensional manifold with a flow ϕ that has a global cross section Σ≅Dn−1, and let h be the (piecewise continuous) first return map for Σ. Our primary examples of such flows are minimal ones. We study how the return map captures topological properties of the flow and of the manifold. For a given map h if there exists an M,ϕ such that h is a first return map over some cross section then we call M,ϕ the suspension of h. As an application, we give several (piecewise continuous) maps of D2 and a (piecewise continuous) map on D3 which have suspensions. The suspension manifold of the map h3 from Fig. 6 is homotopic to S3. Hence, if there exists a suspendable minimal map of D2 which is cell conjugate to h3 then it induces a minimal flow on this homotopy-S3. We also discuss ways to test if the suspension manifold is the suspension of a map on a closed manifold, as in the case of an irrational flow on T 2 , and when it is not, as in the case of any flow on S3.
Effects of liver injury and nephrectomy on the anticonvulsant activity of phenacemide.

SummaryPhenurone was tested at various time intervals after administration in normal, liver-injured and nephrectomized rats for its ability to prevent the tonic extensor component of maximal electroshock seizures. The results were analyzed for the effect of liver injury and nephrectomy on the potency and the duration of anticonvulsant action of this compound. Liver injury significantly increased the potency and the duration of anticonvulsant action; on the other hand, bilateral nephrectomy had no significant effect on the anticonvulsant properties of this agent. The results suggest that, in the rat, the liver is the principal organ for the degradation of Phenurone into products devoid of anticonvulsant action, and that the kidney plays no important role in the metabolic alteration or excretion of this compound.
An application of Mowrer's sentence conditioning paradigms in developing evaluative meaning

Summary This study applied adaptations of Mowrer's Thing-Thing, Thing-Sign, Sign-Thing , and Sign-Sign laboratory paradigms in an attempt to condition elementary school S s to assign evaluative meaning responses to previously neutral nonsense syllables. The investigation involved presentation and withdrawal of tokens as UCS, and nonsense syllables as CS. Experimental procedures appropriate for children were devised which paralleled Mowrer's infra-human laboratory paradigms. The procedures were effective in communicating evaluative meaning as measured by a modified semantic-differential for the Thing-Thing, Sign-Thing , and Sign-Sign paradigms, but were not effective for the Thing-Sign paradigm.
Lessons Learned from "integrating" intensive family-based interventions into medical care settings for mothers living with HIV/AIDS and their adolescent children.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended integrating behavioral interventions into medical care settings for persons living with HIV. Delivering an intensive, family-based intervention for mothers living with HIV (MLH) (n = 173) and their adolescent children (n = 116) integrated into medical care was problematic. Despite the fact that nearly half of MLH were recruited at HIV/AIDS clinics, community centers and children’s hospitals were the most popular and most successful sites for the delivery of the intervention. We provide recommendations for how to integrate intensive interventions into medical care, given the needs of MLH, their adolescents, and the organizations serving them.
Evaluation of micromechanical methods to determine stiffness and strength properties of foams

The stiffness and strength properties of foams with tetrakaidecahedral unit cells are evaluated using both finite element-based micromechanics and analytical methods. The finite element analysis models the varying cross section of the struts exactly. The analytical methods assume the struts have constant cross section along the length. Equivalent constant cross section of the strut can be obtained by either matching the densities or by using harmonic averaging of the stiffness properties. A method in which the moment of inertia of the cross section is averaged is also considered. The comparison of properties obtained for the different equivalent constant cross-section foams shows the inability of the various averaging schemes to match the shear modulus and the strength properties, while the Young’s modulus matches to some extent. The failure of the weakest cross section in the varying cross-section strut of the unit cell leads to a lower tensile strength in the actual foam compared to the uniform cross-se...
Impact of exchange-rate variability on commodity trade between U.S. and Germany

Previous studies that looked at the impact of exchange rate volatility on trade flows used aggregate trade data between one country and rest of the world or between two countries. More recent studies, however, have expanded the literature by using a highly disaggregated commodity level data between two countries. In this paper we consider the sensitivity of 131 industries that trade between U.S. and Germany. We find that exports and imports of a majority of the industries react to the real dollar–euro volatility in the short run. The short-run effects, however, last into the long run only in almost 50 % of the industries. Among these industries, while almost all U.S. exporting industries are affected favorably by exchange rate volatility, a majority of the U.S. importing industries are affected adversely.
Complete sequence of a 38.4-kb human cosmid insert containing the polymorphic marker DXS455 from Xq28.

The complete DNA sequence of a cosmid mapping to human Xq28 (DXS455) has been determined using a shotgun approach (genbank accesion number: L31948). The cosmid insert is 38.4 kb in length, and contains several repetitive sequences, including a highly repetitive region located in a fragment previously shown to contain a polymorphic VNTR locus, as well as short di- and tri-nucleotide repeats. In addition to the previously known VNTR locus, a CA-repeat and an unusual 800-bp repetitive region have been found to be polymorphic. The repeated sequence mapping to the site of the VNTR locus spans 480 bp in the cosmid. In addition to several AT-dinucleotide stretches, this repeat has four copies of a 25 bp repeat unit and flanking sequences similar to this 25-mer. No expressed sequences have so far been identified in this cosmid.
Burns of the feet.

Although they are formally categorized by the ABA as major burns, isolated burns of the feet are often managed on an outpatient basis. This retrospective review evaluates the success of such outpatient management, including the complications encountered. The outcome of the review emphasizes that although isolated burns encompass only a small body surface area, they require careful in-hospital treatment to avoid the complications of cellulitis, subsequent prolonged hospitalization, increased need for skin grafting, and increased incidence of hypertrophic scarring.
Breast ultrasound tomography: Bridging the gap to clinical practice

Conventional sonography, which performs well in dense breast tissue and is comfortable and radiation-free, is not practical for screening because of its operator dependence and the time needed to scan the whole breast. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can significantly improve on these limitations, it is also not practical because it has long been prohibitively expensive for routine use. There is therefore a need for an alternative breast imaging method that obviates the constraints of these standard imaging modalities. The lack of such an alternative is a barrier to dramatically impacting mortality (about 45,000 women in the US per year) and morbidity from breast cancer because, currently, there is a trade-off between the cost effectiveness of mammography and sonography on the one hand and the imaging accuracy of MRI on the other. This paper presents a progress report on our long term goal to eliminate this trade-off and thereby improve breast cancer survival rates and decrease unnecessary biopsies through the introduction of safe, cost-effective, operatorindependent sonography that can rival MRI in accuracy. The objective of the study described in this paper was to design and build an improved ultrasound tomography (UST) scanner in support of our goals. To that end, we report on a design that builds on our current research prototype. The design of the new scanner is based on a comparison of the capabilities of our existing prototype and the performance needed for clinical efficacy. The performance gap was quantified by using clinical studies to establish the baseline performance of the research prototype, and using known MRI capabilities to establish the required performance. Simulation software was used to determine the basic operating characteristics of an improved scanner that would provide the necessary performance. Design elements focused on transducer geometry, which in turn drove the data acquisition system and the image reconstruction engine specifications. The feasibility of UST established by our earlier work and that of other groups, forms the rationale for developing a UST system that has the potential to become a practical, low-cost device for breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
Cyclic AMP metabolism in asthma: Studies with leukocytes and lymphocytes

Abstract The effect of isoproterenol on cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in lymphocytes and leukocytes from asthmatic and normal individuals has been studied. Lymphocyte cAMP levels rose in response to 10 −8 to 10 −2 M isoproterenol; the dose-response curve was biphasic with a maximum response at concentrations of 10 −6 to 10 −4 M. At all drug concentrations the response of cells from asthmatic individuals was less than the response of cells from normal control subjects. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant, however. Similarly, basal cAMP levels were lower in the cells of asthmatic as compared with normal individuals, but again the difference was not significant. When these two parameters were combined and the results expressed as absolute cAMP levels after isoproterenol treatment, a significant difference was observed. Both the unstimulated. cAMP levels and the response to isoproterenol of leukocytes from normal and asthmatic subjects were influenced by the incubation medium. Use of a medium buffered with tris as compared with bicarbonate-phosphate resulted in lower basal cAMP levels and increased responsiveness to isoproterenol. Treatment of normal leukocytes with serum from asthmatic individuals did not alter their response to isoproterenol.
The disappointed evangelist: or, how I learned to stop worrying and love ambiguity

Researcher reflexivity is a critical component qualitative research that adds depth to the interpretive process. It is becoming more common for researchers to document their reflexive process explicitly in the research write-up, and in this paper I will present an example from my own work. The story of the ‘disappointed evangelist’ highlights the potential pitfalls of the researcher’s interpretive authority and how our own preconceptions can obscure the participant’s experience. When my understanding of a participant’s experience was off the mark, I was challenged to critically examine my interpretive process that had led to such an understanding. I highlight how we must embrace the ambiguity and complexity of a participant’s experience and not force them into pre-conceived categories that serve our research agendas.
Robust Principal Components

This paper proposes a new algorithm to obtain an eigenvalue decomposition for the sample covariance matrix of a multivariate dataset. The algorithm is based on the rotation technique employed by Ammann and Van Ness (1988a,b) to obtain a robust solution to an errors-in-variables problem. When this rotation technique is combined with an iterative reweighting of the data, a robust eigenvalue decomposition is obtained. This robust eigenvalue decomposition has important applications to principal component analysis. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare ordinary principal component analysis using the standard eigenvalue decomposition with this algorithm, referred to as ROPRC. It is seen that ROPRC is reasonably efficient compared to an eigenvalue decomposition when Gaussian data is available, and that ROPRC is much better than the eigenvalue decomposition if outliers are present or if the data has a heavy-tailed distribution. The algorithm returns useful numerical diagnostic information in the form o...
Ion distribution in leaves of varying age in salt‐tolerant lines of alfalfa under salt stress

Abstract Two lines of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a salt‐tolerant AZ‐Germ Salt II and a salt‐sensitive Mesa Sirsa, were grown for three weeks in solution culture containing 0 or 100 mol/m3 sodium chloride (NaCl) in half‐strength Hoagland nutrient solution. Distribution of cations and chloride (Cl) in the leaves of varying ages was determined. The older leaves (age‐dependent) of both lines contained more sodium (Na) in the laminae and petioles than the younger leaves at the salt treatment, whereas the reverse was true for potassium (K) in the laminae. Age‐dependent Cl distribution was only found in the laminae of AZ‐Germ Salt II. Distribution of calcium (Ca) in the lamina and petioles was strongly age‐dependent in both lines, but such a pattern was not found for magnesium (Mg) concentrations. AZ‐Germ Salt II accumulated considerably higher concen‐ trations of Na and Cl in the laminae compared with Mesa Sirsa. The lower Na and Cl concentrations in the laminae of Mesa Sirsa were due to relatively higher ac...
Sitosterolemia: platelets on high-sterol diet

In this issue of Blood , Kanaji et al have identified the cellular mechanisms responsible for the bleeding abnormality and macrothrombocytopenia associated with sitosterolemia.[1][1] ![Figure][2] Impaired ABCG5/ABCG8 heterodimer function in Abcg5 −/− or Abcg8 −/− hepatocytes and
Community Health Assessment Through Physical Anthropology: Auxological Epidemiology

Child growth and development was used as an indicator of individual and group well-being by the English health reform advocates of the 19th century. While epidemiology developed using mortality and morbidity rates to assess community health, anthropologists continued the study of child growth, and their techniques can be adapted to study today's difficult problems in community health assessment. Although morbidity and mortality measures will continue to form the basis for evaluating community health, the study of child growth may add a component to community health assessments that has been missing.
2′5′oligo(A) polymerase activity in serum of mice infected with EMC virus or treated with interferon

Interferon-treated cells show an increase in two double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent enzymatic activities involving an oligoadenylate polymerase and a protein kinase (ref. 1 and refs therein). The polymerase converts ATP into a series of oligonucleotides characterized by 2′5′-phosphodiester bonds, designated 2′5′-oligo(A) or 2-5A (ref. 1). These oligonucleotides activate an endoribonuclease that degrades RNA1 in extracts of control and interferon-treated cells. These observations have been made in tissue culture cells and no information is yet available on these enzymatic activities in animals with elevated interferon levels. We report here on 2-5A synthesis in tissue homogenates and serum of mice infected with encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV); this virus induces interferon synthesis when injected intraperitoneally into mice2. Significant synthesis of 2-5A was detected in extracts of spleen and lungs, but also, surprisingly, in the serum of these mice. Subsequent experiments showed synthesis of 2-5A in serum of mice treated with the interferon inducer poly(I)·poly(C) (ref. 3) or with mouse fibroblast interferon.
Antithrombotic efficacy of single subcutaneous administration of a recombinant nematode anticoagulant peptide (rNAP5) in a canine model of coronary artery thrombolysis.

We examined the adjunctive benefit of recombinant nematode anticoagulant peptide (rNAP5), a factor Xa inhibitor, in a canine model of recombinant (rt)-PA-induced thrombolysis. In anesthetized dogs, a stable occlusive thrombus was formed by electrolytic injury of the vessel wall, after which the animals were administered rt-PA (1.44 mg/kg, i.v.) and rNAP5 (0.1 mg/kg, s.c.; n=13), or rt-PA plus vehicle (1–2 ml, s.c.; n=13). Hemodynamic and coagulation parameters were monitored for 360 minutes. Single subcutaneous administration of rNAP5 resulted in a prolonged and sustained increase in the activated partial thromboplastin time (>10-fold), whereas prothrombin time was unchanged. The template bleeding time was not altered significantly throughout the protocol (maximum 1.4-fold). The incidence of reperfusion was similar in the two groups with a trend toward faster reperfusion in the rNAP5 group (34±4 minutes) compared to the vehicle group (63±15 minutes; p=0.07). After reperfusion, 80% of the vessels in the vehicle group reoccluded, whereas only 14% of vessels reoccluded in the rNAP5-treated group. Times to reocclusion were 65±21 minutes and 221±28 minutes, respectively (p<0.05). Single subcutaneous administration of rNAP5 sustained the coronary artery blood flow after reperfusion, such that at the end of protocol the flow was 47% of the preocclusion value as compared to the vehicle group in which the flow was 11% (p<0.05). Cyclic flow reductions were most prominent during rt-PA-induced reperfusion and were similar in both groups. The results indicate that a single subcutaneous administration of rNAP5 provides a sustained antithrombotic effect in maintaining the coronary artery patency during rt-PA-induced thrombolysis.
Temporal variation in morphological and genetic characteristics within a hybrid population of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

Samples of mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens L. complex from Memphis, Tenn., were collected from June to November 1985 and examined in regard to allozyme frequencies and ratios of the two arms of the phallosome of the male genitalia (DV/D). The dominant allozymes of hexokinase (HkA) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PgdF) significantly increased in frequency during this period as did the mean DV/D ratio. An analysis of gene frequencies by species group designated by DV/D ratios revealed no significant differences among Cx. pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, and intermediates. The lack of association of gene frequencies with the taxa determined by the DV/D ratio indicated that although allozyme frequencies were correlated temporally with the DV/D ratio in the population, they were not associated with subspecies. These results are consistent with previous work that has shown latitudinal association and thermal stability differences in the major allozymes of these enzymes in the Cx. pipiens complex.
Teaching Language Rules as Solutions to Language Problems

The teaching procedures that are commonly used with language-disordered children do not entirely match the goals that they are intended to achieve. By using a problem-solving approach to teaching l...
Endoplasmic Reticulum Retention and Associated Degradation of a GABAA Receptor Epilepsy Mutation That Inserts an Aspartate in the M3 Transmembrane Segment of the α1 Subunit

A GABA(A) receptor alpha1 subunit epilepsy mutation (alpha1(A322D)) introduces a negatively charged aspartate residue into the hydrophobic M3 transmembrane domain of the alpha1 subunit. We reported previously that heterologous expression of alpha1(A322D)beta2gamma2 receptors in mammalian cells resulted in reduced total and surface alpha1 subunit protein. Here we demonstrate the mechanism of this reduction. Total alpha1(A322D) subunit protein was reduced relative to wild type protein by a similar amount when expressed alone (86 +/- 6%) or when coexpressed with beta2 and gamma2S subunits (78 +/- 6%), indicating an expression reduction prior to subunit oligomerization. In alpha1beta2gamma2S receptors, endoglycosidase H deglycosylated only 26 +/- 5% of alpha1 subunits, consistent with substantial protein maturation, but in alpha1(A322D)beta2gamma2S receptors, endoglycosidase H deglycosylated 91 +/- 4% of alpha1(A322D) subunits, consistent with failure of protein maturation. To determine the cellular localization of wild type and mutant subunits, the alpha1 subunit was tagged with yellow (alpha1-YFP) or cyan (alpha1-CFP) fluorescent protein. Confocal microscopic imaging demonstrated that 36 +/- 4% of alpha1-YFPbeta2gamma2 but only 5 +/- 1% alpha1(A322D)-YFPbeta2gamma2 colocalized with the plasma membrane, whereas the majority of the remaining receptors colocalized with the endoplasmic reticulum (55 +/- 4% alpha1-YFPbeta2gamma2S, 86 +/- 3% alpha1(A322D)-YFP). Heterozygous expression of alpha1-CFPbeta2gamma2S and alpha1(A322D)-YFPbeta2gamma2S or alpha1-YFPbeta2gamma2S and alpha1(A322D)-CFPbeta2gamma2S receptors showed that membrane GABA(A) receptors contained primarily wild type alpha1 subunits. These data demonstrate that the A322D mutation reduces alpha1 subunit expression after translation, but before assembly, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation and membrane alpha1 subunits that are almost exclusively wild type subunits.
Interdependence between promitochondrial and cytoplasmic protein synthesis during respiratory adaptation in baker's yeast

Abstract When anaerobically-grown yeast cells were aerated in the presence of cycloheximide, they accumulated intermediate(s) for respiratory adaptation. The formation of these intermediates was dependent upon promitochondrial protein synthesis and independent of cytoplasmic protein synthesis. The cytoplasmic system was unable to accumulate significant amounts of intermediates for adaptation in the absence of protein synthesis by the promitochondrial system.
Are Gender, Comorbidity, and Obesity Risk Factors for Postoperative Periprosthetic Fractures After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty?

We studied the frequency and patient risk factors for postoperative periprosthetic fractures after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). With a mean follow-up of 6.3 years, 305 postoperative periprosthetic fractures occurred in 14,065 primary THAs. In multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses, female gender (hazard ratio [HR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.88), Deyo-Charlson comorbidity score of 2 (HR, 1.74 for score of 2; 95% CI, 1.25-2.43) or 3 or higher (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.26-2.32), and American Society of Anesthesiologist class of 2 (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 0.90-3.76) or 3 (HR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.18-5.1) or 4 or higher (HR, 2.68; 95% CI, 0.70-10.28) were significantly associated with higher risk/hazard, and cemented implant, with lower hazard (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.87) of postoperative periprosthetic fractures. Interventions targeted at optimizing comorbidity management may decrease postoperative fractures after THA.
Behavior of Particles in the Growth Reactor and their Effect on Silicon Carbide Epitaxial Growth

Formation of particles and their effect on SiC epitaxial growth in the CVD reactor is investigated. Particle induced defects in the epilayer at different gas decomposition conditions are discussed. A higher number of pits with larger diameters are observed in the epilayer for conditions where gases decompose later in the gas injector tube (i.e. nearer to the substrate). On the other hand, the number and size of these pits reduce for the condition where gas decomposes earlier in the tube. To investigate the effect of particles during the growth, various particles with different size, shape and compositions are intentionally placed on the substrate surface before epitaxial films are grown. Samples are mapped and compared at similar locations in the pre-growth, post growth and post-etch (by molten KOH) conditions. It is found that the nature of particle induced defects depends primarily on size and shape of particles.
Acute infection of a mediastinal cyst.

Mediastinal cysts are not uncommon causes of a medistinal mass detected by chest roentgenogram. Even when infected, they are usually indolent. In our case, however, a man had an acute and life-threatening anaerobic infection of a mediastinal cyst, unsuspected until operation.