cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pilot study of eye movement during mammography interpretation: Eyetracker results and workstation design implications

Digital mammography can potentially improve mammography image and interpretation quality. On-line interpretation from a workstation may improve interpretation logistics and increase availability of comparison images. Interpretation of eight 4k- × 5k-pixel mammograms on two to four 2k- × 2.5k-pixel monitors is problematic because of the time spent in choosing which images to display on which monitors, and zooming and roaming on individual images that are too large to display completely at full resolution. The authors used an eyetracker to measure radiologists viewing behavior during mammography interpretation with film on a viewbox. It was observed that a significant portion of the mammographers' time is spent viewing “comparison pairs” (typically two or more comparisons per case), such as the left mediolateral and craniocaudal images or old and new images. From the eyetracker measurements, we estimated that the number of images display, roam, and zoom operations decreases from an average of 64 for one monitor to 31 for four monitors, with the largest change going from one to two monitors. We also show that fewer monitors with a faster response time is superior to more monitors with a slower response time. Finally, the authors demonstrate the applicatity of time-motion analysis to mammographic workstation design.
Assessment of the biochemical effects of percutaneous exposure of sulphur mustard in an in vitro human skin system

1 Sulphur mustard (HD) is a potent chemical warfare agent which causes incapacitating blisters on human skin. There is no specific pretreatment nor therapy against this agent and the mechanism of dermo-epidermal cleavage is unclear. The aim of this study was to use a human skin explant system to determine the consequences of percuta neous exposure to HD.2 Increased activities of serine proteases associated with blistering disorders in humans were detected from human skin explants after exposure to HD. The most consistent response and the highest protease activities measured were found for trypsin. This class of enzyme is therefore implicated in the dermo-epidermal separation which is associated with blistering in humans following exposure to HD.3 An inflammatory response was observed in the skin explants exposed to HD. At low doses of HD it was characterised by the presence of neutrophils in the papillary dermis, culminating in the infiltration of the epidermis by these inflammatory cells at higher concen...
COTTONSEED AND SOY PROTEIN INGREDIENTS IN SOFT‐SERVE FROZEN DESSERTS

Six vegetable protein ingredients (glandless cottonseed flour, liquid cyclone process deglanded cottonseed flour, glandless cottonseed storage protein isolate, soy flour, soy protein concentrate, and shy protein isolate) were evaluated as partial replacements for milk solids-not-fat (MSNF) in soft-serve frozen desserts. Physical tests and sensory evaluations were conducted with the experimental desserts. All ingredients tested produced satisfactory results at low levels of substitution for MSNF. At higher levels of substitution, glandless cottonseed storage protein isolate appeared to be the best of the materials tested.
Automated constraint-based addition of nonmasking and stabilizing fault-tolerance☆

We focus on the constraint-based automated addition of nonmasking and stabilizing fault-tolerance to hierarchical programs. We specify legitimate states of the program in terms of constraints that should be satisfied in those states. To deal with faults that may violate these constraints, we add recovery actions while ensuring interference freedom among the recovery actions added for satisfying different constraints. Since the constraint-based manual design of fault-tolerance is well known, we expect our approach to have a significant benefit in automating the addition of fault-tolerance. We illustrate our algorithm with four case studies: stabilizing mutual exclusion, stabilizing diffusing computation, a data dissemination problem in sensor networks, and tree maintenance. With experimental results, we show that the complexity of our algorithm is reasonable and that it can be reduced using the structure of the hierarchical systems. We also reduced the time complexity of the synthesis using parallelism. We consider two approaches to speedup the synthesis algorithm: first, the use of the multiple constraints that have to be satisfied during synthesis; second, the use of the distributed nature of the programs being synthesized. We show that our approaches provide significant reduction in the synthesis time. To our knowledge, this is the first instance where automated synthesis has been successfully used in synthesizing programs that are correct under fairness assumptions. Moreover, in three of the case studies considered in this paper, the structure of the recovery paths is too complex to permit existing heuristic-based approaches for adding recovery.
Coriolis effects in homogeneous and inhomogeneous katabatic flows

Katabatic flows along a planar slope in a viscous stably-stratified fluid are investigated analytically and numerically, with an emphasis on flow features arising from the action of the Coriolis force. Two idealized flow types are considered: turbulent flow along a uniformly cooled slope, and two-dimensional laminar flow induced by a cold strip of finite width running down the slope. In the case of turbulent flow along a uniformly cooled slope, the downslope velocity exhibits a boundary-layer structure, but the cross-slope velocity and buoyancy fields spread inexorably upward. This behaviour is qualitatively similar to that found in laminar flows along a uniformly cooled slope. In contrast, in the two-dimensional strip flow, a steady state is reached, in which the cross-slope wind and buoyancy fields vanish far above the slope, but the downslope and slope-normal velocity fields do not vanish. These latter two flow components comprise two purely horizontal along-isentrope counter-flowing currents: an upslope current entering the top of the boundary layer on one side of the strip, and a downslope current flowing out of the boundary layer into the environment on the other side of the strip. The slope-normal vorticity associated with these currents originates in the stretching of planetary vorticity in a broad zone of convergent flow over the cold strip. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Biomechanical evaluation of superficial transfer of the biceps femoris tendon

The biomechanics of the biceps femoris tendon transfer were determined from four fresh, frozen extremities. All transfers involved the proximal and anterior advance ment of a selected portion of the tendon to a position superficial to the lateral collateral ligament. The rota tional torque and flexion force were measured before and after the transfer with the knee positioned at 10°, 20°, 30°, and 45° of flexion, in neutral and 5° internal rotation. Although more specimens need to be tested for statistical confirmation, the transfer of the superficial portion of the biceps tendon resulted in average de creases of 2% and 15% in the rotational and flexion capacity of the biceps, respectively. Biomechanically, the functional lever arm of the transferred tendon about the longitudinal (internal-external rotation) axis was es sentially unchanged, while the functional lever arm about the sagittal (flexion-extension) axis was de creased slightly. The total transfer of the biceps tendon resulted in an increase of 2...
β-Catenin Activates the HOXA10 and CDX4 Genes in Myeloid Progenitor Cells

HoxA10 is a homeodomain transcription factor that is involved in maintenance of the myeloid progenitor population and implicated in myeloid leukemogenesis. Previously, we found that FGF2 and CDX4 are direct target genes of HoxA10 and that HOXA10 is a Cdx4 target gene. We also found that increased production of fibroblast growth factor 2 (Fgf2) by HoxA10-overexpressing myeloid progenitor cells results in activation of β-catenin in an autocrine manner. In this study, we identify novel cis elements in the CDX4 and HOXA10 genes that are activated by β-catenin in myeloid progenitor cells. We determine that β-catenin interacts with these cis elements, identifying both CDX4 and HOXA10 as β-catenin target genes in this context. We demonstrate that HoxA10-induced CDX4 transcription is influenced by Fgf2-dependent β-catenin activation. Similarly, Cdx4-induced HOXA10 transcription is influenced by β-catenin in an Fgf2-dependent manner. Increased expression of a set of Hox proteins, including HoxA10, is associated with poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. Cdx4 contributes to leukemogenesis in Hox-overexpressing acute myeloid leukemia, and increased β-catenin activity is also associated with poor prognosis. The current studies identify a molecular mechanisms through which increased expression of HoxA10 increases Cdx4 expression by direct CDX4 activation and by Fgf2-induced β-catenin activity. This results in Cdx4-induced HoxA10-expression, creating a positive feedback mechanism.
Cognitive effects of atypical antipsychotics in patients with Alzheimer's disease and comorbid psychiatric or behavioral problems: a retrospective study.

Abstract Background: In addition to cognitive decline, 30% to 40% of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience concomitant psychiatric and behavioral complications, such as hallucinations, delusions, and aggression. Atypical antipsychotics (AAs) are used to treat psychosis and aggressive behaviors in these patients; however, data regarding their early effects on cognition are conflicting. Based on a literature search, the cognitive effects of long-term treatment with AAs in outpatients with AD have not been studied. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the rate of cognitive decline with longterm AA use in adult patients with AD receiving concomitant treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors. Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Data were collected from the charts of adult outpatients who (1) received care at Memory Disorders Clinic, Columbus, Ohio, between April 2003 and June 2005; (2) were aged ⩾55 years with a diagnosis of mild to severe definite or probable AD; (3) received an AA for ≥6 months or did not receive any AA; and (4) received a cholinesterase inhibitor during the entire evaluation period. Cognitive function, as measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), was compared between those who received AA treatment and those who did not. The end point was the rate of decline in cognitive function, defined as annualized change in mean MMSE score from baseline to the end of follow-up. Results: Ninety-two outpatients were included in the final analysis (67 women, 25 men; mean age, 72.4 years). Thirty-four patients received treatment with an AA for ⩾ 6 months (mean duration of treatment, 421 days) and 58 did not receive any AA treatment. Quetiapine (mean dose, 67 mg/d) was prescribed to 28 (82 %) of the patients receiving an AA. The AAs were prescribed for psychosis (15 [44%] patients), psychosis/agitation (11 [32%]), and agitation/aggression (8 [24%]). The baseline mean MMSE scores in patients receiving and not receiving an AA were 14.65 and 17.88, respectively (P = 0.021), with mean (SD) annual rates of cognitive decline of 3.03 (1.84) and 2.24 (1.27), respectively (P = NS). Conclusion: The results from this retrospective study of data from a small, selected group of outpatients with AD did not find a significant difference in the rate of cognitive decline between those who received an AA for ⩾ 6 months and those who did not.
Language Conflict: Transactions and Games in Kenya

Language shift amid vast socioeconomic change and the tenacity with which groups hold on to their language despite social and political change are contradictory trends that intrigue but often frustrate language planners and scholars seeking to explain patterns of language use (Rubin 1979). In order to analyze these patterns, many scholars conceive of language as a "social resource" (Eastman 1983a) that is exploited by individuals and groups to affect personal and political outcomes. This perspective has both a micro and a macro component. Socioand anthropological linguists who take the "micro" perspective focus their attention on individual speakers who vary their linguistic repertoires to establish or adjust their identity and/or to enhance their power. Microanalysis usually involves the systematic observation of linguistic "transactions" in complex urban environments. From these transactions, we see a world in which languages are evolving, where the boundaries between languages are fluid and weak, and in which each person has his/her own repertoire of languages and dialects. Political linguistics has developed a more "macro" perspective (see Beer and Jacob (1985) for recent papers). Its focus is on groups and nation-states. In this macro world, individuals are members of more-or-less stable language communities, and are citizens/subjects of a state that perhaps seeks the homogenization of language repertoires and/or the peaceful reconciliation of language groups. While microanalysis has prospered in its use of transaction analysis, macroanalysis remains in search of a research technique. In this article, game theory will be proposed as the macro complement to transaction analysis. These traditions, while not antithetical, have not been reconciled. It is the purpose of this article to demonstrate both the power yet incompleteness of each perspective based on a discussion of the language situation in Kenya. A reconciliation of the two foci, it should become clear, is a necessary condition for a fully developed theory of language conflict and language change. This article takes the modest step of elaborating the differences by analyzing patterns of language shift from both perspectives. Although it focuses on the Kenyan situation, the theoret-
Quaternary geology of the Rhode Island inner shelf

Abstract Five sedimentary units and three erosional unconformities identified in high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles reveal the stratigraphic framework and Quaternary history of the inner continental shelf south of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Late Tertiary to early Pleistocene rivers eroded the pre-Mesozoic bedrock and the Upper Cretaceous to lower Tertiary coastal plain and continental shelf strata to form a lowland and cuesta having a north-facing escarpment. The lowland and landward flanks of the cuesta were modified by glaciers during Pleistocene time and subsequently were overlain by drift and end moraine deposits of the late Wisconsinan ice advance. During deglaciation, freshwater lakes formed between the retreating ice and end moraines. Prior to sea-level rise, the drift and older deposits were cut by streams flowing south and southwestward toward Block Island Sound. As sea level rose, postglacial valleys were partly filled by fluvial, freshwater-peat, estuarine and salt-marsh deposits. Transgressing seas eroded the sea floor, exposing bedrock and coastal plain outcrops, and deposited marine sediments.
Breast tumor classification via single-frequency microwave imaging

We propose a novel method for the classification of breast tumors (malignant versus benign) based on principal component analysis (PCA) following single-frequency microwave imaging. For initial evaluation, a simplified model of the biological tissue was developed in a frequency-domain finite-element framework. The model incorporated various combinations of dielectric constant and conductivity. A double-level classification scheme allows classifying a tumor with high accuracy.
Group 1 mGluR-Dependent Synaptic Long-Term Depression: Mechanisms and Implications for Circuitry and Disease

Many excitatory synapses express Group 1, or Gq coupled, metabotropic glutamate receptors (Gp1 mGluRs) at the periphery of their postsynaptic density. Activation of Gp1 mGluRs typically occurs in response to strong activity and triggers long-term plasticity of synaptic transmission in many brain regions, including the neocortex, hippocampus, midbrain, striatum, and cerebellum. Here we focus on mGluR-induced long-term synaptic depression (LTD) and review the literature that implicates Gp1 mGluRs in the plasticity of behavior, learning, and memory. Moreover, recent studies investigating the molecular mechanisms of mGluR-LTD have discovered links to mental retardation, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and drug addiction. We discuss how mGluRs lead to plasticity of neural circuits and how the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of mGluR plasticity provides insight into brain disease.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES IN DEFINING AND ASSESSING TEACHER DISPOSITIONS

Teacher preparation programs are required by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) to assess the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of teacher candidates. Dispositions and the personal values that support them are defined differently by NCATE and other experts in the fields of education and business. In order to better understand dispositions the researchers examined the relationships between the personal values and dispositions of teacher candidates and successful teachers. Using the Rokeach Value Scale, results showed significant relationships between values and dispositions for teacher candidates and successful teachers.
VASECTOMY REVERSAL ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES PRODUCTION BY SEMINAL FLUID LEUKOCYTES AND SPERM

AbstractPurpose: Reactive oxygen species, which are primarily produced by leukocytes, are generally detrimental to sperm. High reactive oxygen species levels are found in men with abnormal sperm function. Since men often have poor sperm characteristics and infertility after vasectomy reversal, fertile men to determine if reactive oxygen species were elevated in the former group.Materials and Methods: We studied semen samples of men with proved fertility (39) and those with previously proved fertility who had undergone vasectomy reversal (45). The presence of leukocytes was determined by Bryan-Leishman staining. Reactive oxygen species endogenous activity was monitored by luminol dependent chemiluminescence in washed cells, including all cells in the semen, and Percoll density gradient purified sperm.Results: After vasovasostomy men had significantly lower sperm concentration, motility and computerized motility measurements than fertile men. Mean reactive oxygen species in washed seminal cells after vasova...
Ultrastructural organization of the noradrenergic innervation of the superficial gray layer of the hamster's superior colliculus

Immunocytochemistry with an antibody-directed tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was combined with electron microscopy and serial-section analysis to examine the synaptic organization of the catecholaminergic projection to the stratum griseum superficiale (SGS) of the hamster's superior colliculus (SC). A total of 250 TH-immunoreactive profiles within SGS were examined. Of these, 114 (45.6%) made synaptic contacts; 81 (71.1%) were axodendritic, and the remainder (33, 28.9%) were axo-axonic. Serial-section analysis was employed to evaluate the presence or absence of synaptic contacts for 26 profiles. Overall, 19 (73.1%) of the profiles followed through serial sections exhibited synaptic contacts. Double staining of single sections with antibodies directed against TH and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) and examination in the light microscope indicated that virtually all TH-positive fibers also contained D beta H. This indicated that the fibers examined at the electron microscopic level were noradrenergic rather than dopaminergic. These results suggest that norepinephrine may have both pre- and postsynaptic actions in the hamster's SC and that at least some of these effects are mediated by conventional synapses.
Using GPGPU to Enhance Simulation of the Functionalized Cahn-Hilliard Equation

The Functionalized Cahn-Hilliard (FCH) Equation describes the dynamics of pore network formation in a functionalized polymer/solvent membrane. During the casting of such membranes, processes occur on very diverse timescales requiring long computationally intensive simulations. Our scheme is designed to be unconditionally gradient stable allowing for adaptivity in time stepping while preserving the discrete energy law. We present a novel iteration for solving the nonlinear equation with a Fourier spectral method, and numerical results are shown with a 100x speedup using a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).
Regulation of Duodenal Specific Expression of the Human Adenosine Deaminase Gene

Formation of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract is an ordered process of development and differentiation. Yet, the adult small intestine also retains the plasticity to respond to cues both internal and environmental to modulate intestinal function. The components that regulate this development, differentiation, and modulation at the molecular level are only now being elucidated. We have used the human adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene as a model to identify potential cis-regulatory components involved in these processes within the small intestine. In mammals, high levels of ADA in the small intestine are limited specifically to the differentiated enterocytes within the duodenal region. These studies describe the identification of a region of the human ADA gene, completely distinct from the previously identified T-cell enhancer, which is capable of directing the human intestinal expression pattern in the intestine of transgenic mice. The reporter gene expression pattern observed in these transgenic mice is identical to the endogenous gene along both the cephalocaudal and crypt/villus axis of development. Timing of this transgene activation, however, varies from that of the endogenous mouse gene in that the transgene is activated approximately 2 weeks earlier in development. Even so, this precocious activation is also limited to the epithelium of the developing villi strictly within the duodenal region of the small intestine.
Septin-Driven Coordination of Actin and Microtubule Remodeling Regulates the Collateral Branching of Axons

Axon branching is fundamental to the development of the peripheral and central nervous system. Branches that sprout from the axon shaft are termed collateral or interstitial branches. Collateral branching of axons requires the formation of filopodia from actin microfilaments (F-actin) and their engorgement with microtubules (MTs) that splay from the axon shaft. The mechanisms that drive and coordinate the remodeling of actin and MTs during branch morphogenesis are poorly understood. Septins comprise a family of GTP-binding proteins that oligomerize into higher-order structures, which associate with membranes and the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. Here, we show that collateral branching of axons requires SEPT6 and SEPT7, two interacting septins. In the axons of sensory neurons, both SEPT6 and SEPT7 accumulate at incipient sites of filopodia formation. We show that SEPT6 localizes to axonal patches of F-actin and increases the recruitment of cortactin, a regulator of Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization, triggering the emergence of filopodia. Conversely, SEPT7 promotes the entry of axonal MTs into filopodia, enabling the formation of collateral branches. Surprisingly, septins provide a novel mechanism for the collateral branching of axons by coordinating the remodeling of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton.
The epigenetic regulator UHRF1 promotes ubiquitination-mediated degradation of the tumor-suppressor protein promyelocytic leukemia protein

The promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein is a tumor suppressor originally identified in acute promyelocytic leukemia and implicated in tumorigenesis in multiple forms of cancer. Here, we demonstrate that the PML protein undergoes ubiquitination-mediated degradation facilitated by an E3 ligase UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1), which is commonly upregulated in various human malignancies. Furthermore, UHRF1 negatively regulates PML protein accumulation in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), HEK 293 cells and cancer cells. Knockdown of UHRF1 upregulates whereas ectopic overexpression of UHRF1 downregulates protein abundance of endogenous or exogenous PML, doing so through its binding to the N-terminus of PML. Overexpression of wild-type UHRF1 shortens PML protein half-life and promotes PML polyubiquitination, whereas deletion of the RING domain or coexpression of the dominant-negative E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, E2D2, attenuates this modification to PML. Finally, knockdown of UHRF1 prolongs PML half-life and increases PML protein accumulation, yet inhibits cell migration and in vitro capillary tube formation, whereas co-knockdown of PML compromises this inhibitory effect. These findings suggest that UHRF1 promotes the turnover of PML protein, and thus targeting UHRF1 to restore PML-mediated tumor suppression represents a promising, novel, anticancer strategy.
Lipid composition of guinea pig platelets and megakaryocytes. The megakaryocyte as a probable source of platelet lipids

Platelets are formed by fragmentation of the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of the megakaryocyte in the bone marrow. This study has compared the lipid composition of guinea pig platelets and megakaryocytes. Phospholipids were quantitated by TLC and measurement of lipid phosphorus. Cholesterol and fatty acids were quantitated by GLC. The cholesterol/phospholipid molar distribution in megakaryocytes was: 9.8% phosphatidylserine, 6.7% phosphatidylinositol, 14.2% sphingomyelin, 40.0% phosphatidylcholine and 29.3% phosphatidylethanolamine. Platelets continued 11.2% phosphatidylserine, 5.1% phosphatidylinositol, 16.1% sphingomyelin, 38.6% phosphatidylcholine and 29.0% phosphatidylethanolamine. The major megakaryocyte fatty acids were 20.0% palmitic, 16.4% stearic, 20.6% oleic, 13.2% linoleic and 8.2% arachidonic. The major platelet fatty acids were 17.4% palmitic, 17.5% stearic, 11.6% oleic, 12.4% linoleic and 14.6% arachidonic. The major and minor fatty acid compositions of the individual platelet phospholipids reflected those of the megakaryocyte counterparts. The increased arachidonic acid and decreased oleic acid in platelets relative to megakaryocytes were found in all four glycerophospholipids. The similarity of the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of megakaryocytes and platelets suggests that the lipid composition of the platelet is determined by the megakaryocyte.
Therapy of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy.

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the outcome of patients with locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma treated at our university.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 16 cases of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma in the renal fossa treated with surgical resection alone or in combination with biological therapy.Results: Complete resection was possible in 15 patients of whom 3 had positive surgical margins. Of the 12 patients with negative margins 6 are free of disease while the 3 with positive margins had involvement of a remaining ipsilateral adrenal gland and distant metastasis. Of all 16 patients 12 are alive a median of 23.5 months after the diagnosis of locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma. Of those treated with the combination of biological therapy and surgery 50 percent have no evidence of disease compared to 25 percent of those treated with surgery alone.Conclusions: Long-term survival can be achieved with an aggressive surgical approach. Incomplete resection or positive surgical mar...
Exploring causes of frustration for software developers

When learning to program, frustrating experiences contribute to negative learning outcomes and poor retention in the field. Defining a common framework that explains why these experiences occur can lead to better interventions and learning mechanisms. To begin constructing such a framework, we asked 45 software developers about the severity of their frustration and to recall their most recent frustrating programming experience. As a result, 67% considered their frustration to be severe. Further, we distilled the reported experiences into 11 categories, which include issues with mapping behaviors to code and broken programming tools. Finally, we discuss future directions for defining our framework and designing future interventions.
New antagonists of LHRH. II: Inhibition and potentiation of LHRH by closely related analogues

Modifications of the previously described LHRH antagonists, [Ac-D-Nal(2)1, D-Phe(4Cl)2, D-Trp3, D-Cit6, D-Ala10]LHRH and the corresponding D-Hci6 analogue, have been made to alter the hydrophobicity of the N-terminal acetyl-tripeptide portion. Substitution of D-Trp3 with the less hydrophobic D-Pal(3) had only marginal effects on the antagonistic activities and receptor binding potencies of the D-Cit/D-Hci6 analogues, but it appeared to further improve the toxicity lowering effect of D-Cit/D-Hci6 substitution. Antagonists containing D-Pal(3)3 and D-Cit/D-Hci6 residues, i.e. [Ac-D-Nal(2)1, D-Phe(4Cl)2, D-Pal(3)3, D-Cit6, D-Ala10]LHRH (SB-75) and [Ac-D-Nal(2)1, D-Phe(4Cl)2, D-Pal(3)3, D-Hci6, D-Ala10]LHRH (SB-88), were completely free of the toxic effects, such as cyanosis and respiratory depression leading to death, which have been observed in rats with the D-Trp3, D-Arg6 antagonist and related antagonists. Replacement of the N-acetyl group with the hydrophilic carbamoyl group caused a slight decrease in antagonistic activities, particularly in vitro. Introduction of urethane type acyl group such as methoxycarbonyl (Moc) or t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) led to analogues that showed LHRH-potentiating effect. The increase in potency induced by these analogues, e.g. [Moc-D-Nal(2)1, D-Phe(4Cl)2, D-Trp3, D-Cit6, D-Ala10]LHRH and [Boc-D-Phe1, D-Phe(4Cl)2, D-Pal(3)3, D-Cit6, D-Ala10]LHRH, was 170-260% and persisted for more than 2 h when studied in a superfused rat pituitary system.
Bifurcations in Three-Dimensional Motions of Articulated Tubes, Part 1: Linear Systems and Symmetry

Three-dimensional motions of a two-segment articulated tube system carrying a fluid and having rotational symmetry about the vertical axis are examined for bifurcating periodic solutions. As the flow rate through the tubes is increased past a critical value, the downward vertical position of equilibrium gets unstable and bifurcates into two qualitatively different kinds of periodic motions. The mathematical problem is more general than that occurring in the Hopf bifurcations and the method of analysis used is the method of Alternate Problems. Since physical systems invariably have some asymmetry, the analysis takes into account these symmetry-breaking perturbations. In Part 1 of this two-part paper, symmetry properties of the system and the linear stability are discussed.
The role of melatonin in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Study design. A matched, case-control study comparing melatonin production in female patients with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Objectives. To determine whether melatonin production is decreased in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Summary of Background Data. Central etiology for idiopathic scoliosis has never been established. Previous authors have produced experimental scoliosis in chikens after pinealectomy, preventable by administration of melatonin. They suggested that a defect in melatonin synthesis might be involved in the pathogenesis of human idiopathic scoliosis. Methods. Nine female adolescents with no medical problems, normal neurologic examinations, radiographic idiopathic scoliosis of 15-40°, and Risser stage I-III were in the patient group. Eighteen healthy adolescent girls with no medical problems, a negative school screening, and no family history of scoliosis were control subjects. Patients and control subject were matched for age , weight, Tanner stage, sleep duration, and light exposure by multiple linear regression. Night-time and daytime urine samples were analysed for melatonin by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results. Althought nighttime melatonin levels were significantly higher than daytime levels in all volunteers(P 0.63) or daytime (P>0.78) melatonin levels between patients and control subjects, even after matching by multiple linear regression analysis. A statistical analysis demonstrated that if a melatonin deficiency of 25% or more did exist in patients with scoliosis compared with control subject, the likelihood that it would have been detected in thid study was more than 98%. Conclusion. Althought melatonin deficiency may cause scoliosis in the chiken , this study suggests that it is not a mechanism in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in humans.
Flu: Past and Present

The interaction of humans and epidemic diseases is as old as the human story and the human population remains firmly linked with the natural world. In the twentieth century, influenza pandemics illustrate the impact of infectious diseases despite continuing efforts to safeguard the human population, and serve to illustrate the unintended effects of an interconnected world. The influenza virus – highly infectious and transmissible – is a disease that readily exploits global connections, and despite intense study on the virus and methods to protect the population, the virus remains a pandemic threat. Changing patterns of living arrangements, food production, commerce, and travel have created new opportunities for old and new pathogens alike. Human populations will continue to face challenges from infectious organisms for the foreseeable future.
NK cell–mediated killing of target cells triggers robust antigen-specific T cell–mediated and humoral responses

Previous work showed that administration of antigen-expressing apoptotic cells in vivo results in antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses independent of Toll-like receptor signaling. We report here that natural killer (NK) cells can serve a function directly upstream of this pathway and initiate robust adaptive immune responses via killing of antigen-expressing target cells. This pathway is highly sensitive, in that administration of as few as 104 target cells induced detectable antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. Importantly, NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity of target cells could also induce robust antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell responses, which were critical for subsequent CD8+ T-cell priming and IgG responses. Unlike adaptive immune responses induced by gamma-irradiated cells, the NK-cell pathway required myeloid differentiating factor 88 (MyD88) and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain–containing adapter-inducinginterferon-β (Trif) signaling. NK cells have previously been shown to detect and kill pathogen-infected host cells, as well as neoplastic cells and tissue allografts. The present data provide further evidence that they also discharge a strong tie with their relatives in the adaptive immune system. We think that the recognition and killing of target cells by NK cells represents an important pathway for the generation of robust CD8+ T and humoral responses that may be exploited for vaccine development.
Effective single band Hamiltonian for electron-phonon coupling in cuprate superconductors

We derive an effective single-band Hubbard type Hamiltonian for CuO2 planes. The Hamiltonian includes both electron-electron repulsion and electron-phonon coupling to oxygen vibrational modes. We start with first-principles density functional theory parameters and then map onto a single-band model. Unlike previous mappings to a single-band Hamiltonian, ours explicitly preserves the Fermi surface shape and matrix elements of the many-band Hamiltonian. We consider both in-plane oxygen breathing modes as well as out-of-plane tilting modes. The latter modes have a quadratic electron-phonon coupling, and are also highly anharmonic in La2CuO4 based superconductors. The coupling to breathing modes is too small to account for highTc, while the coupling to quadratic modes is much stronger even though they would be neglected in a standard Migdal-Eliashberg approach to superconductivity.
Social Comparisons by Children: An Analysis of Research on Sex Differences.

This article analyzes research on social comparisons by children of elementary school age or younger with respect to sex differences. First, theoretical perspectives are briefly examined, which yield a conceptual framework for the study of social comparison. Then, relevant research is reviewed. This research has been categorized according to whether children were investigated in laboratory-controlled or naturalistic settings. Next, a summary is delineated for the reader, highlighting major findings and emphasizing points of similarity and contrast between studies. Finally, recommendations are drawn for future research.
The feasibility of an environmentally friendly microgrid

Establishing the local feasibility of using distributed generation sources (a micro-grid) is the focus of this project, where an 81-house neighborhood in Chandler, Arizona was chosen to serve as the model. An in-depth analysis of the current energy and water use of the neighborhood and its associated cost to the consumer, along with an evaluation of the capacity of the existing infrastructure, was completed in order to compare it to a simulated model of a micro grid providing the same amount of energy by using photovoltaic cells, fuel cells and micro turbines. Analyzing the Net Present Cost of different configurations of distributed generation sources shows that micro turbines and fuel cells, while having a smaller carbon foot print, are not economically feasible, whereas using photovoltaic cells while maintaining a connection to the existing grid increases the cost by only $.023/kWh while reducing the CO 2 , SO x , and NO x emissions.
An enhanced psychoacoustic model based on the discrete wavelet packet transform

The perception of acoustic information by humans is based on the detailed temporal and spectral analysis provided by the auditory processing of the received signal. The incorporation of this process in psychoacoustical computational models has contributed significantly both in the development of highly efficient audio compression schemes as well as in effective audio watermarking methods. In this paper, we present an approach based on the discrete wavelet packet transform, which closely mimics the multi-resolution properties of the human ear and also includes simultaneous and temporal auditory masking. Experimental results show that the proposed technique offers better masking capabilities and it reduces the signal-to-masking ratio when compared to related approaches, without introducing audible distortion. Those results have implications that are important both for audio compression by permitting further bit rate reduction, and for watermarking by providing greater signal space for information hiding.
Combustion synthesis and characterization of Sr and Ga doped LaFeO3

A homogeneous perovskite oxide La0.5Sr0.5Ga0.2Fe0.8O3−δ (LSGFO) has been synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). The homogeneity and the particle size of the combustion product may be increased by decreasing the cooling rate of the sample, either by increasing the sample diameter or by controlling the post-combustion temperature. The particle morphology depends on the gaseous and molten compounds formed as the combustion front passes through the sample. The perovskite oxide maintained its cubic structure at all temperatures in air. However, a decomposition of LSGFO occurred at 860°C under a simulated syngas environment (22% CH4+57% H2+21% CO2, oxygen partial pressure of about 10−17 atm). The maximum electrical conductivity of a disc prepared from the SHS powder was 142 S/cm at 580°C under oxygen pressure of 1 atm. The LSGFO may be suitable for use as a membrane in syngas production since its thermal expansion in air and reducing environment are rather close at high temperature.
Block-Krylov component synthesis method for structural model reduction

A new analytical method is presented for generating component shape vectors, or Ritz vectors, for use in component synthesis. Based on the concept of a block-Krylov subspace, easily derived recurrence relations generate blocks of Ritz vectors for each component. The subspace spanned by the Ritz vectors is called a block-Krylov subspace. The synthesis uses the new Ritz vectors rather than component normal modes to reduce the order of large, finite-element component models. An advantage of the Ritz vectors is that they involve significantly less computation than component normal modes. Both 'free-interface' and 'fixed-interface' component models are derived. They yield block-Krylov formulations paralleling the concepts of free-interface and fixed-interface component modal synthesis. Additionally, block-Krylov reduced-order component models are shown to have special disturbability/observability properties. Consequently, the method is attractive in active structural control applications, such as large space structures. The new fixed-interface methodology is demonstrated by a numerical example. The accuracy is found to be comparable to that of fixed-interface component modal synthesis.
Template-based automatic data flow code generation for mediaprocessors

Abstract Modern mediaprocessors, with their flexibility and fast time-to-market, have become an alternative to ASICs as solutions for the high computing needs in digital imaging and video applications. A key element in obtaining high performance from mediaprocessors is an efficient data transfer mechanism to move the data between on-chip and off-chip memories. A direct memory access (DMA) controller can reduce the data movement overhead by operating independently from the main computing engine. However, to use the DMA to its full extent requires extensive experience and/or significant programming/debugging efforts. In this paper, we present a template-based automatic DMA code creation tool, which can reduce the DMA programming effort substantially. We developed the data flow code generator (DFCG) for two mediaprocessors, i.e. Hitachi/Equator Technologies MAP and Texas Instruments TMS320C64x. We have used the DFCG in 84 imaging functions and obtained almost identical performance to those functions whose DMA code had been manually developed, while substantially reducing DMA programming efforts.
A study of plastic zone formation by digital image processing

Abstract A simple experimental technique is presented to directly measure the plastic zone in engineering structural materials by using both digital image processing and optical techniques. Standard image processing procedures were performed on images obtainted from laser illumination of polished stainless steel specimens to obtain predictions of the onset and size of plastic zone formation. The finite element program, ANSYS, was used to obtain numerical solutions for comparison with the experimental data. It is shown that the experimental method discussed in this paper is capable of predicting plastic zone size as a function of loading.
A graph-theoretic approach for characterization of precipitates from atom probe tomography data

Abstract Atom Probe Tomography (APT) represents a revolutionary characterization tool that allows direct-space three-dimensional, atomic-scale resolution imaging along with the chemical identities of each detected atom. Quantitative analysis of APT data to perform characterization of precipitates in alloys gives clear insights into the structure–property relationships and helps in achieving the larger goal of materials-by-design. Most techniques currently used to extract precipitate topology and interface information from APT data are efficient; however, they are based on homogenization of the rich point cloud data which is inherently lossy. Furthermore, these methods require a specified, usually heuristic, concentration-level to draw iso-contours in order to extract characteristics of the precipitate topology. These twin issues of homogenization and heuristics are compelling rationale for the development of a robust, scalable, heuristic-free, graph-based framework, which we call Gra ph methods for P recipitate Top ology Characterization (GraPTop). This framework is motivated by the equivalence between a 3D point cloud data of atoms and an undirected, weighted, labeled graph. By considering the 3D point cloud data as an undirected, weighted, labeled graph, we leverage powerful graph-based algorithms to identify the local topology of precipitates without the necessity of any heuristics. Since GraPTop is based on nearly linear-complexity graph-algorithms, it is scalable to extremely large datasets. Furthermore, the performance of this framework is insensitive to the complexity of the geometry or the number of the precipitates in the point cloud data. We showcase this framework by analyzing several regions of interest in a point cloud Al–Mg–Sc (Aluminium–Magnesium–Scandium) specimen APT data and extract several interesting measures describing the precipitate topology like area, volume, and nonconvexity.
Towards a Mixed Integer Linear optimization model for universal beacon code assignment

A Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) formulation of NAS-wide beacon code assignment in the CONUS is presented. The optimization model is also tested with historical data and results demonstrated for a limited scenario. The objective of this research is to minimize (and if-possible eliminate) the need for change in the flight beacon codes as they cross center boundaries en-route to their destination. This reduction in the need to change beacon codes can help alleviate the additional burden during the workload intensive hand-off procedures.
Integrated InGaAs-InP quantum wire laser-modulators for 1.55-µm applications

Quantum wire lasers and modulators offer superior performance over their quantum well counterparts. We present simulations of an integrated InGaAs-lnP quantum wire laser-modulator structure operating at 1.55 μm. In the case of quantum wire lasers, we have computed the optical gain as a function of current density for wires having widths ranging between 60 and 100 A. For example, the threshold current density of 61 A/cm 2 is computed for a wire with a width of 80 A. In the case of quantum wire modulators, we compute the changes in the absorption coefficient and index of refraction due to an external electric field to implement electroabsorptive and electrorefractive optical modulators. For example, the absorption coefficient changes (Δα/α) by 450% when an applied electric field changes from 30 to 60 kV/cm for an 80 A quantum wire. The corresponding change of refractive index is about 11%. A structure integrating an edge-emitting laser with an in-line type electroabsorptive or electrorefractive modulator is presented. The quantum wires are designed to operate the laser at a wavelength that corresponds to the Stark effect tuning of the modulator. We can maximize the changes in electroabsorptive and electrorefractive modulators by choosing the right combination of wire dimensions, operating wavelengths, and electric fields.
Simple methods of measuring the net photorefractive phase shift and coupling constant.

We report measurements of the photorefractive phase shift and coupling constant of several photorefractive materials. We solve the problem of beam coupling and diffraction in a material with a dynamically written grating for arbitrary input beams. These solutions are used to determine the beam coupling as a function of the photorefractive phase φ and coupling constant g when one beam is either sinusoidally phase modulated or ramped in phase. Experimental results are obtained for LiNbO3, BaTiO3, and for paraelectric potassium lithium tantalate niobate as a function of applied electric field.