cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of a salt stress-inducible zinc finger protein from Festuca arundinacea

Increased biotic and abiotic plant stresses due to climate change together with an expected global human population of over 9 billion by 2050 intensifies the demand for agricultural production on marginal lands. Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses responsible for reduced crop productivity worldwide and the salinization of arable land has dramatically increased over the last few decades. Consequently, as land becomes less amenable for conventional agriculture, plants grown on marginal soils will be exposed to higher levels of soil salinity. Forage grasses are a critical component of feed used in livestock production worldwide, with many of these same species of grasses being utilized for lawns, erosion prevention, and recreation. Consequently, it is important to develop a better understanding of salt tolerance in forage and related grass species. A gene encoding a ZnF protein was identified during the analysis of a salt-stress suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) expression library from the forage grass species Festuca arundinacea. The expression pattern of FaZnF was compared to that of the well characterized gene for delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), a key enzyme in proline biosynthesis, which was also identified in the salt-stress SSH library. The FaZnF and P5CS genes were both up-regulated in response to salt and drought stresses suggesting a role in dehydration stress. FaZnF was also up-regulated in response to heat and wounding, suggesting that it might have a more general function in multiple abiotic stress responses. Additionally, potential downstream targets of FaZnF (a MAPK [Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase], GST [Glutathione-S-Transferase] and lipoxygenase L2) were found to be up-regulated in calli overexpressing FaZnF when compared to control cell lines. This work provides evidence that FaZnF is an AN1/A20 zinc finger protein that is involved in the regulation of at least two pathways initiated by the salt stress response, thus furthering our understanding of the mechanisms of cellular action during a stress that is applicable to commercial crops worldwide.
One-Time Spectrum Coexistence in Dynamic Spectrum Access When the Secondary User May Be Malicious

The reliable coordination of communication channels between two organizations is becoming an increasingly important problem as we move toward cognitive radio systems that support dynamic spectrum access. The benefit of such coordination is clear in scenarios when both participants are completely benign, but such benefits can be easily negated if one of the participants operates in a manner contrary to their channel assignment. In this paper, we develop and explore a maxmin transmission protocol for a primary user (PU) in a multiband wireless network, where the secondary user (SU) may be malicious and have an intent to cause interference. In this case, the threat that a SU may be an adversary changes the problem and places the PU in a dilemma: 1) if the SU is an adversary then to decrease the probability of interference it is better for the PU to select which channels it uses from a larger set of bands (i.e., possibly even including the bands reserved for the SU) and 2) if the SU turns out to be law obedient, then using a larger set of bands leads to an increased chance of being interfered with. Similarly, the SU also faces a dilemma if he is malicious: if the PU thinks that the SU is law obedient, then to increase the probability of jamming, the SU should target only the bands reserved for the PU; while, if the PU thinks that the SU is malicious, then by switching to the bands reserved for the SU, the probability of interference can be significantly or even totally reduced. Using game-theoretical tools, we formally explore these dilemmas and use the resulting analysis to explore the tradeoffs between different strategies in terms of payoffs to each user and knowledge of the SU’s characteristics.
The Left Distributive Law and the Freeness of an Algebra of Elementary Embeddings

The left distributive law for a single binary operation is the law a(&) = (&)(a~). It has been studied in universal algebra (Stein [S], Kepka and Nemec [KN], Kepka [Kl, K2]; see also Jezek et al. [JKN] for a bibliography on the two-sided distributive law) and it has been studied more recently by set theorists because of its connection with elementary embeddings. For E, a limit ordinal let 6;. be the collection of all j: I’, -+ I’,, j an elementary embedding of (V,, E) into itself, j not the identity. Then the existence of a 3. such that c$;. # @ is a large cardinal axiom (see Gaifman [G] and Kanamori et ul. [KRS]). For Jo&;, let K~= cr(j), the critical point of j, and ti,+ i =j(~,~). Then 1 must equal sup(~,, : II <w) (Kunen [Ku]). Martin [Ml], Woodin [M2], Martin and Steel [MSl, MS2], and Woodin [W], in deep work, showed that slight strengthenings of this axiom imply determinacy properties of the real line, and subsequently that considerable weakenings suffice, making the axiom unnecessary for those determinacy properties. There is a natural operation . on 8;. (write UL: for u t’ in this and similar contexts below). For Jo gj., j extends to a map j: V,, , -+ I’,., , by defining, for A s V,, j(A) = U,,;,j(A n I’,). Then j may or may not be an elementary embedding of ( Vi + , , E) into itself, but at least j is elementary from (Vi, E, A) into (V,, E, jA). In the special case that A, as a set of ordered pairs, is a k E & we have that j(k) E &j-S Let j. k =j(k). Then the operation . on &j. is nonassociative, noncommutative, and left distributive. Another operation on 4. is composition: if k, IE&.. then k: IE&~.. Let Z be the set of laws a~(b~c)=(u~b)~~c, (ucb)c=u(bc), u(b’~c)=ub~.uc, a~ b = ub 0 a. Then &j~ satisfies Z, and Zimplies the left distributive law (u(bc)=(u~b)c=(uboa)c=ub(uc)). For Jo c!?~., let 4 be the closure of {j} under . . Let q, the set of “polynomials in j,” be the closure of (jj under . and 3. Results in which 4, 9j and their governing equations are involved appear in [Ml, M2, L], Dougherty
Observation of photorefractivity in a fullerene-doped polymer composite.

A photorefractive effect was observed in a fullerene (${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$) -doped organic composite containing polyvinylcarbazole and a second-order molecule, diethyl-amino-nitrostyrene (DEANST). Electro-optic modulation and degenerate four-wave mixing experiments were conducted. The material shows relatively high electro-optic coefficient, photocharge generation quantum efficiency, and photorefractive diffraction efficiency.
Myocardial ultrastructure and electrocardiograms of the sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) under normal and experimental conditions.

Adult sloths (Bradypus tridactylus) were studied by electrocardiography and by light and electron microscopy under normal conditions and under experimental conditions as provided for by injection of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and ether anesthesia. ECG's of the animals indicated heart rates of 45–71/min, which can be considered as the normal heart rate of the sloth under laboratory conditions. Under normal conditions, the contracted ventricular myocardium of the sloth exhibited (a) a wrinkled sarcolemma, (b) the usual pattern of myofibrils and of sarcoplasmic reticulum, (c) small mitochondria with spiked and branched, often anastomosed cristae, including a few small intramitochondrial dark bodies, (d) an amount of sacrcosomes smaller than the amount of myofibrils, (e) many glycogen granules, isolated, in the form of a chain, or as clusters, in subsarcolemmal, intermyofilamentous and perimitochondrial positions, (f) few multivesicular bodies and (g) large flat sections of the transverse tubular system. Injection of DNP (1 mg/kg) caused tachycardia. With ether anesthesia, the ECG showed monophasic action potential of myocardial injury and prolongation of inter or intraventricular condition. Electrically, the sloth's heart responded to hypoxia as do other mammalian hearts. The administration of DNP produced (a) derangement and reduction in number and length of the mitochondrial cristae, (b) disappearance of spikes, connections between the cristae and, consequently, the honeycombed arrangement, (c) increased matricial space in the center of mitochondria which was often filled with a grayish substance, (d) disappearance of small dark intramitochondrial granules, (e) depletion of glycogen particles and (f) few dilations in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Characterization of a lympho-inhibitory peptide produced by Mycoplasma bovis

Mycoplasma bovis is able to inhibit the mitogen-induced proliferation of bovine lymphocytes. Herein is described the isolation of an immuno-inhibitory peptide from M. bovis. Using size exclusion chromatography, three lympho-suppressive fractions were isolated from M. bovis free supernatant. MALDI-TOF analysis revealed a common peak throughout the suppressive fractions. The purest of these fractions was subjected to N-terminal sequencing, revealing an 84% homologous match with the C-terminus of the M. bovis surface protein VspL (variable surface protein-L). A recombinant of the 26 amino acid peptide was also able to suppress Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced proliferation of bovine lymphocytes. This describes a unique immunosuppressive peptide produced by the bovine respiratory pathogen, M. bovis.
Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Bar Prober

This paper describes an SOA bar prober used as a high-throughput, manufacturing-oriented testing system. It is capable of automatically measuring optical gain, far-field, L-I and V-I characteristics of individual chips of multiple SOA bars.
Curriculum Studies: Is My Thought “Arrested”?

(2008). Curriculum Studies: Is My Thought “Arrested”? Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 45-48.
Prospective study of the evolution of Raynaud's phenomenon

Abstract Seventy-four patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and no associated illness were followed prospectively to determine whether a secondary disease would develop, and clinical and laboratory assessments were performed at study entry to determine their association with the subsequent development of disease. After an average of 2.7 years of follow-up (range 0.5 to 5.7 years), outcome information was available on 58 persons (78.4 percent). A connective tissue disease developed in 11 (19.0 percent): three systemic sclerosis and eight CREST syndrome. The two variables at entry most strongly associated with the subsequent development of a connective tissue disease were an abnormal nailfold capillary pattern (adjusted odds ratio=26.82, 95 percent confidence Interval=4.69, 153.2) and an abnormal pulmonary function test result (odds ratio=4.78, 95 percent confidence interval=1.02, 22.41). The positive association of an abnormal barium esophagram, presence of antinuclear antibodies, and cutaneous abnormalities did not reach statistical significance. The development of connective tissue diseases in this group of patients is not rare. An abnormal nailfold capillary pattern is strongly associated with the subsequent development of systemic sclerosis or CREST syndrome in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.
An optimal control approach to the design of vibrating elastic-viscoelastic sandwich beams

Abstract This work features the application of an optimal control algorithm to a new class of continuous one-dimensional structural design problems. A sandwich beam of rectangular cross-section is considered. It has a variable-thickness core and two equal variable-thickness cover layers and is subjected to harmonic forced vibrations. The objective is to distribute both the core and layer mass so as to minimize a measure of dynamic compliance for forced steady-state vibration and fixed material volumes. Either or both materials may be viscoelastic. Any constitutive relation may be used provided it is linear and time-invariant. The design problem is formulated as an optimal control problem. The resulting problem contains ten state variables, two control functions, four control parameters, and six terminal state constraints. Simple transformations are used to treat the minimum-gage constraints. A conjugate gradient/gradient projection optimal control algorithm is then used to obtain numerical solutions. Several optimal beam designs are presented and compared for a variety of problem parameter values.
Cortical activity and cognitive functioning.

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the effects of photically induced EEG disruption on cognitive functioning. Twenty-eight male subjects were selected for study. Fourteen of these had shown EEG activation and 14 had failed to activate during several previous exposures to intermittent photic stimulation. All subjects had histories negative for head injury, seizures or seizures in other family members. Each subject was examined twice. During and in the absence of photic stimulation his performance was evaluated on the following cognitive tasks: 1, memory for stories; 2, paired associate learning; 3, digit span; 4, serial 7's; 5, arithmetic problems. This study indicated that: 1. 1. The degree of EEG disruption in response to photic stimulation and measured by the EEG was not related to quality of performance on any of the tasks used. 2. 2. Marked to extreme disruption of EEG activity during the actual learning of each task did not impair recal or memory of that material. 3. 3. Similarly, marked or extreme EEG disruption did not interfere with the cognitive process involved in serial 7's or solving arithmetic problems. 4. 4. The distracting, and sometimes unpleasant, flickering light was not associated with consistent impairment of performance. Rather, marked individual differences in flicker-induced impairment of cognitive functioning were found. 5. 5. S's impairment in test performance during photic stimulation was not related to manifest anxiety.
Effects of Picture Size and Placement on Memory for Written Words.

A study investigating the effects of varying size and position of line drawings in combination with written words was conducted with kindergarten students. Subjects were shown written words under four conditions that represented various size and position relationships between line drawings and orthography. After 4 consecutive days of exposure in an incidental learning task, both identification and recognition measures were obtained. Results showed superior performance for word-only and enhanced-word conditions, over those in which small and large line drawings were paired with written words, supporting similar research findings conducted with reading tasks. Implications are drawn for application to individuals with little or no functional speech who use graphic symbols for expressive communication.
Modulation of respiratory pattern and upper airway muscle activity by the pedunculopontine tegmentum: role of NMDA receptors

The pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT) is postulated to have important functions relevant to the regulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and arousal, and various motor control systems including respiration. We have recently shown that pharmacologic activation of a neuronal subpopulation within the PPT, induced by micropipette injection of glutamate in nanoliter volumes, can produce respiratory rhythm disturbances and changes in genioglossus muscle activity in anesthetized rats. The aim of this study was to determine whether the respiratory pattern disturbance and increased genioglossus muscle tone induced by glutamate injection within the PPT are mediated by activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors within the PPT. Experiments were performed in eight adult male spontaneously breathing Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized using nembutal. Respiratory movements were monitored by piezoelectric strain gauge. Three-barrel glass pipettes were used to pressure inject glutamate (as a probe for respiratory modulating sites), ketamine (an NMDA channel blocker), and oil-red dye (to aid in histological verification of the injection sites) within the PPT. Electroencephalograms were recorded from the sensorimotor cortex, the hippocampus, and the pons, contralateral to the injection site. Electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from the genioglossus muscle. The typical response to glutamate injection within the PPT respiratory-modulating region was immediate apnea followed by tachypnea and increased genioglossal tonic activity. The noncompetitive NMDA receptor channel-antagonist ketamine, injected at the same site and in the same volume as glutamate (5 nl), blocked respiratory dysrhythmia and genioglossal EMG responses to subsequent glutamate injections. For the first time, the present results suggest that respiratory rhythm and upper airway muscle tone are controlled by the activation of pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus NMDA receptors.
Communication in the diagnostic mammography suite: implications for practice and training.

Rationale and Objectives The diagnostic mammography suite is a microcosm of challenging physician–patient communication in radiology. Little has been written about communication practices in the diagnostic mammography suite, the effect of this communication on both physicians and patients, and implications for radiology training programs. We surveyed radiology residents and staff about communication training, practices, and experiences communicating directly with patients in the diagnostic mammography suite. Materials and Methods We asked the membership of the Association of Program Directors in Radiology to disseminate surveys to radiology residents and staff radiologists in their institutions. We analyzed response frequencies and correlations. Results We received responses from 142 residents and 120 staff radiologists. More than half of staff respondents spoke personally with every patient who had an abnormal diagnostic mammogram; 37% felt they had inadequate time to do so. Most residents and staff highly rated their own communication skills and confidence in ability to explain results and respond to patients’ emotions, but experienced stress doing so. A majority of respondents reported no formal communication skills education after medical school. Twenty-nine percent of staff respondents regularly observed residents’ communication with patients and 39% of residents reported receiving feedback about their communication. Residents’ opportunities to observe staff communicate with a patient and to receive feedback on their own patient interactions were correlated with self-rated communication skill and confidence in ability to respond to patients’ emotions ( P Conclusions Radiologists engage in challenging and stressful patient communication interactions. There is a paucity of educational curricula on interpersonal and communication skills in radiology. This has implications for both patient and physician satisfaction and patient outcomes.
Neurons in V1 Patch Columns Project to V2 Thin Stripes

In the primate, connections between primary visual cortex (V1) and the second visual area (V2) are segregated according to the characteristic pattern of cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity in each of these cortical areas. Patches supply thin stripes, whereas interpatches supply pale stripes and thick stripes. Previously, the projection from patches to thin stripes was reported to arise exclusively from layer 2/3. In this present report, we made injections of a retrograde tracer, cholera toxin-B (CTB-Au), into macaque V2 thin stripes to re-examine the laminar origin of their input from V1. While the great majority of cells indeed resided in layer 2/3, small populations were also present in layers 4A, 4B, and 5/6. The location of CTB-filled cells in each layer was analyzed to determine the relationship with CO patches. Cells in layers 2/3, 4A, and 4B were aggregated into patches, forming columns that project to thin stripes. Surprisingly, cells in layer 5/6 were scattered, seemingly at random. These findings confirm that the main V1 projection to V2 stripes emanates from patches in layer 2/3. However, multiple V1 layers innervate V2 thin stripes, and the projection from layer 5/6 does not respect the patch/interpatch dichotomy.
Degrees of Fairness and Proportional Chances

Suppose the following: two groups of people require our aid but we can help only one group; there are more people in the first group than in the second group; every person in both groups has an equal claim on our aid; and we have a duty to help and no other special obligations or duties. I argue that there exists at least one fairness function, which is a function that measures the goodness of degrees of fairness, that implies that we should follow a procedure of proportional chances to determine which group to aid.
Changes in eating inventory scores following obesity treatment

Eating Inventory scores may predict compliance, attrition, and outcome to obesity treatment. Research documenting change on the Eating Inventory subsequent to treatment is limited. In Study 1, 29 obese patients demonstrated significant improvement on all three factors of the Eating Inventory (Cognitive Restraint, Disinhibition, and Hunger) following a 26-week multidisciplinary weight management program. In Study 2, a second sample of 18 obese patients also demonstrated significant improvement on all three factors on the Eating Inventory following treatment. These results provide initial guidelines for the amount of change that patients may demonstrate on the Eating Inventory following treatment.
The Functions of Ethical Originalism

Jamal Greene has suggested that much originalist argument be understood on the model of what Philip Bobbitt called ethical argument, meaning argument about the American constitutional ethos. This short paper expands that suggestion by identifying three discursive functions that ethical-originalist argument serves other than attempting to persuade decisionmakers to decide constitutional issues in particular ways. First, ethical-originalist argument aims to establish the content of constitutional history as a value in itself. Second, ethical-originalist argument helps to allay anxieties about constitutional legitimacy that the dead-hand problem might otherwise foster (albeit without actually solving the dead-hand problem). Third, ethical-originalist argument can establish particular participants in constitutional discourse as authentically qualified to arbitrate issues in the name of the constitutional tradition. The paper closes by suggesting that much textualist argument as well as originalist argument can profitably be understood as sounding in ethos.
Time scale for cold-air pool breakup by turbulent erosion

Turbulent erosion has been proposed as a major mechanism for removing wintertime cold-air pools (CAPs) from basins and valleys. The time scales involved in this erosion process, which are of great interest for winter weather forecasting, have not been studied systematically in the past. In this short contribution, a semi-analytical model is developed to estimate the time required for the dissipation of cold air pools from above by downward micro-scale turbulent erosion for different wind speeds aloft, different static stabilities inside the cold pool, and for different basin cross sections. The calculations show that micro-scale turbulent erosion is a rather slow process andthat the erosion rate decreases rapidly with time as static stability increases in the capping inversion at the top of the cold pool. The rate of erosion is determined mainly by wind speed above the CAP and the temperature inversion strength inside the CAP; it is less sensitive to the shape of the topography. Shallow CAPs of a few tens of meters in depth with a weak inversion may be removed in a matter of hours if winds aloft are sufe ciently strong to initiate and maintain turbulent mixing. It is unlikely, however, that deeper CAPs with a moderate to strong inversion can be destroyed by micro-scale turbulent erosion unless combined with other regional and synoptic-scale processes that produce larger-scale turbulent mixing. Zusammenfassung Erosion durch Turbulenz ist schon lange als wesentlicher Prozess bei der Zerst¨
Chronic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Activates Unfolded Protein Response in Arterial Endothelium in Regions of Susceptibility to Atherosclerosis

Rationale: Endothelial function and dysfunction are central to the focal origin and regional development of atherosclerosis; however, an in vivo endothelial phenotypic footprint of susceptibility to atherosclerosis preceding pathological change remains elusive. Objective: To conduct a comparative multi-site genomics study of arterial endothelial phenotype in atherosusceptible and atheroprotected regions. Methods and Results: Transcript profiles of freshly isolated endothelial cells from 7 discrete arterial regions in normal swine were analyzed to determine the steady state in vivo endothelial phenotypes in regions of varying susceptibilities to atherosclerosis. The most abundant common feature of the endothelium of all atherosusceptible regions was the upregulation of genes associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The unfolded protein response pathway, induced by ER stress, was therefore investigated in detail in endothelium of the atherosusceptible aortic arch and was found to be partially activated. ER transmembrane signal transducers IRE1α and ATF6α and their downstream effectors, but not PERK, were activated concomitant with a higher transcript expression of protein folding enzymes and chaperones, indicative of ER stress in vivo. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the prevalence of chronic endothelial ER stress and activated unfolded protein response in vivo at atherosusceptible arterial sites. We propose that chronic localized biological stress is linked to spatial susceptibility of the endothelium to the initiation of atherosclerosis.
Professional-Nonprofessional Dimensions of Self-Expression in a Professional Organization

The purposes of this research were, first, to examine the relationship between self-expression in organizational participation and the professional and nonprofessional dimension; second, to replicate Bonjean and Markham's study on a professional organization; and third, to determine the utility of this questionnaire as an administrative tool. This paper is an extension of research, particularly in personality and organization theory, which examines the relationship between individual predispositions and organizational constraints. This empirical investigation is aimed at examining this '`fit" for professional and nonprofessional staff in a professional organization. The questionnaire utilized consists of 24 items which comprise the self-expression measure and 10 behavioral measures and a measure of job satisfaction. The first three hypotheses suggest that there will be significant differences between subgroups on the level of self-expression and the ranking of ideal job characteristics and satisfactions. ...
AN EQUILIBRIUM GUIDE TO DESIGNING AFFINE PRICING MODELS

The paper examines equilibrium models based on Epstein–Zin preferences in a framework in which exogenous state variables follow affine jump diffusion processes. A main insight is that the equilibrium asset prices can be computed using a standard machinery of affine asset pricing theory by imposing parametric restrictions on market prices of risk, determined inside the model by preference and model parameters. An appealing characteristic of the general equilibrium setup is that the state variables have an intuitive and testable interpretation as driving the consumption and dividend dynamics. We present a detailed example where large shocks (jumps) in consumption volatility translate into negative jumps in equilibrium prices of the assets as agents demand a higher premium to compensate for higher risks. This endogenous “leverage effect,” which is purely an equilibrium outcome in the economy, leads to significant premiums for out-of-the-money put options. Our model is thus able to produce an equilibrium “volatility smirk,” which realistically mimics that observed for index options.
A Novel Frequency Analysis Method for Assessing Kir2.1 and Nav1.5 Currents

Voltage clamping is an important tool for measuring individual currents from an electrically active cell. However, it is difficult to isolate individual currents without pharmacological or voltage inhibition. Herein, we present a technique that involves inserting a noise function into a standard voltage step protocol, which allows one to characterize the unique frequency response of an ion channel at different step potentials. Specifically, we compute the fast Fourier transform for a family of current traces at different step potentials for the inward rectifying potassium channel, Kir2.1, and the channel encoding the cardiac fast sodium current, Nav1.5. Each individual frequency magnitude, as a function of voltage step, is correlated to the peak current produced by each channel. The correlation coefficient vs. frequency relationship reveals that these two channels are associated with some unique frequencies with high absolute correlation. The individual IV relationship can then be recreated using only the unique frequencies with magnitudes of high absolute correlation. Thus, this study demonstrates that ion channels may exhibit unique frequency responses.
Multiuser channel estimation for ultra-wideband systems using up to the second-order statistics

In a pulse-position modulation-based ultra-wideband (UWB) communication system, multiple access is enabled by assigning unique time-hopping sequences to different users. Each user's data information is carried by positions of short pulses which are directly transmitted through an unknown and possibly dense multipath channel. Single-user channel estimation methods have been proposed by maximum likelihood optimization that treats multiple access interference as Gaussian noise. In this paper, multiuser channel estimation methods are proposed based on a pulse-rate discrete-time system model and up to the second-order statistics of the channel outputs. The model can be regarded in a trilinear structure and also resembles a code-division multiple-access (CDMA) system with newly defined hopping-code dependent matrices and inputs for each user. Considering that either the mean or covariance of received signals contains sufficient information for all unknown channels, least squares and covariance matching ideas are successfully applied to estimate all channels blindly. Accordingly, closed-form solutions are derived. Those channel estimates can be used to design typical linear receivers. Performance of each proposed estimator is analyzed and also verified by computer simulations. Corresponding receivers' performance is also studied numerically.
Skill acquisition in multi-dimensional manipulator control.

Movements of a three-jointed electrically-powered manipulator were controlled by vertical movements of the second, third and fourth fingers of the subject's hand. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional movement problems were examined. In the two-dimensional case, subjects were shown a silhouette of the manipulator with a lit endpoint or the manipulator endpoint alone. The manipulator was always fully visible in the three-dimensional case. Recordings were made of time-to-target, maximum deviation from a straight line path, and the percent of time that various numbers of controls were activated simultaneously. The results indicated that with practice the subjects tended to approach targets on a straight line course in both situations. They also increased the percentage of time that several controls were activated together. Being able to see the manipulator improved control coordination and decreased movement time in the two-dimensional case, but did not affect movement accuracy.
Mapping cityscapes to cyber space

This work establishes a cyber space of an urban area for visiting on the Internet. By registering entire scenes along every street and scenes at many locations, people can visually travel from street to street, and reach their destinations in cyber city. The issues we discuss here are how to map a large scale area to image domain in a small amount of data, how to cover visual information as complete as possible in the mapping, and how to effectively display the captured scenes for various activities in cyber city. Route Panoramas captured along streets and Panoramic Views captured at widely open sites are associated to city maps to provide a navigation function. This paper focuses on the properties of our extended images - route panorama, the archiving process applied to an urban area, and a real environment we developed to transmit and display scenes on the WWW and portable devices. The created cyber spaces of real cities have broad applications such as city tour, real estate, E-commerce, heritage preservation, urban planning and construction.
Transition in the fractal geometry of Arctic melt ponds

During the Arctic melt season, the sea ice surface undergoes a remarkable transformation from vast expanses of snow covered ice to complex mosaics of ice and melt ponds. Sea ice albedo, a key parameter in climate modeling, is determined by the complex evolution of melt pond configurations. In fact, ice–albedo feedback has played a major role in the recent declines of the summer Arctic sea ice pack. However, understanding melt pond evolution remains a significant challenge to improving climate projections. By analyzing area–perimeter data from hundreds of thousands of melt ponds, we find here an unexpected separation of scales, where pond fractal dimension D transitions from 1 to 2 around a critical length scale of 100 m 2 in area. Pond complexity increases rapidly through the transition as smaller ponds coalesce to form large connected regions, and reaches a maximum for ponds larger than 1000 m 2 , whose boundaries resemble space-filling curves, with D ≈ 2. These universal features of Arctic melt pond evolution are similar to phase transitions in statistical physics. The results impact sea ice albedo, the transmitted radiation fields under melting sea ice, the heat balance of sea ice and the upper ocean, and biological productivity such as under ice phytoplankton blooms.
Power and the People

Consuming Power. A Social History of American Energies. DAVID E. NYE. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1997. xiv, 331 pp., illus. $25. ISBN 0-262-14063-2.
The Impact of Mission Fulfillment on the Internal Audience: Psychological Job Outcomes in a Services Setting

The way a firm fulfills its mission statement may play a role in internal marketing and affect important psychological job outcomes of employees. The conceptual model proposed herein argues that mission fulfillment influences key psychological states related to motivation (i.e., employee engagement), social identity (organizational identification), and emotional resources (emotional exhaustion). These psychological states in turn drive affective commitment and turnover intentions, two variables of continued interest to researchers and managers. The authors test this model empirically using data from 3,999 employees of a health care service system. The findings provide support for the hypothesized model rather than an alternative and shed light on an important tool for internal marketing. Besides suggesting avenues for future research, such as refining the concept of employee engagement and uncovering the antecedents of employees’ perceptions of mission fulfillment, this study demonstrates the importance o...
Assembly of adiponectin oligomers.

Adiponectin is among the most studied adipokines, the collection of molecules secreted from adipose tissue. It is also one of the most architecturally complex adipokines with its various oligomeric states that include trimers, hexamers, nonamers (9mers), dodecamers (12mers), and octadecamers (18mers). The importance of adiponectin in metabolic regulation is underscored by its strong positive associations with improvement in insulin action and also decreased risks for developing type 2 diabetes. Understanding the mechanisms involved in maintaining the steady-state concentrations of adiponectin oligomers in circulation is therefore likely to provide important insight into the development of insulin resistance. This review will discuss the current state of knowledge regarding the biochemical composition of adiponectin oligomers, the commonly used techniques to analyze them, and the known post-translational modifications that affect their assembly. Evidence based on in vitro oligomer assembly reactions in support of a “cystine ratchet” model of adiponectin oligomer formation will be considered along with limitations of the evidence. Secretory pathway proteins that have been shown to affect the distribution of adiponectin oligomers will also be discussed along with hypotheses regarding their potential involvement in the cystine ratchet model of adiponectin oligomerization.
Model reference adaptive control of time varying and stochastic systems

The adaptive control of general delay, linear time-varying systems is addressed. A simple model reference adaptive control law is devised. It does not require a priori knowledge of the sign of the high-frequency gain. This control law coupled with the parameter estimation equations allows a simple representation of the closed-loop system. This greatly eases the stability and performance analysis, and has potential for generalization to adaptive pole placement and other control laws suitable for nonminimum-phase systems. For the Kalman filter parameter estimator coupled with this control law, stability is obtained without persistence of excitation or knowledge of the sign of the high frequency gain. Performance results for the extended-least-squares algorithm are described. >
A systems biology approach reveals common metastatic pathways in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. The survival rate of patients with metastatic disease remains very dismal. Nevertheless, metastasis is a complex process and a single-level analysis is not likely to identify its key biological determinants. In this study, we used a systems biology approach to identify common metastatic pathways that are jointly supported by both mRNA and protein expression data in two distinct human metastatic OS models. mRNA expression microarray and N-linked glycoproteomic analyses were performed on two commonly used isogenic pairs of human metastatic OS cell lines, namely HOS/143B and SaOS-2/LM7. Pathway analysis of the differentially regulated genes and glycoproteins separately revealed pathways associated to metastasis including cell cycle regulation, immune response, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition. However, no common significant pathway was found at both genomic and proteomic levels between the two metastatic models, suggesting a very different biological nature of the cell lines. To address this issue, we used a topological significance analysis based on a “shortest-path” algorithm to identify topological nodes, which uncovered additional biological information with respect to the genomic and glycoproteomic profiles but remained hidden from the direct analyses. Pathway analysis of the significant topological nodes revealed a striking concordance between the models and identified significant common pathways, including “Cytoskeleton remodeling/TGF/WNT”, “Cytoskeleton remodeling/Cytoskeleton remodeling”, and “Cell adhesion/Chemokines and adhesion”. Of these, the “Cytoskeleton remodeling/TGF/WNT” was the top ranked common pathway from the topological analysis of the genomic and proteomic profiles in the two metastatic models. The up-regulation of proteins in the “Cytoskeleton remodeling/TGF/WNT” pathway in the SaOS-2/LM7 and HOS/143B models was further validated using an orthogonal Reverse Phase Protein Array platform. In this study, we used a systems biology approach by integrating genomic and proteomic data to identify key and common metastatic mechanisms in OS. The use of the topological analysis revealed hidden biological pathways that are known to play critical roles in metastasis. Wnt signaling has been previously implicated in OS and other tumors, and inhibitors of Wnt signaling pathways are available for clinical testing. Further characterization of this common pathway and other topological pathways identified from this study may lead to a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of metastatic OS.
Theis Parameter Evaluation from Pumping Tests by Sensitivity Analysis

Through the years the Theis equation has played an important role in ground-water hydrology. Comparison of experimental pumping-test data with this theoretical curve by graphic means has been a standard method of determining aquifer transmissivity and storage. The purpose of this paper is to present a technique and an algorithm to automatically fit experimental pumping-test data to the Theis equation by obtaining the “best” transmissivity and storage in the least squares sense through the use of sensitivity analysis. The automated fit for pumping-test data developed in this work should be a useful tool for the ground-water hydrologist. Use of the technique is simple, quick, and inexpensive, and has the advantage of always being objective. As a measure of the error in fitting, the rms deviation in drawdown is calculated for the “best” transmissivity and storage.
Incorporating Uncertainty in Diagnostic Analysis of Mechanical Systems

The increase in complexity of modern mechanical systems can often lead to systems that are difficult to diagnose, and therefore require a great deal of time and money to return to a normal operating condition. Analyzing mechanical systems during the product development stages can lead to systems optimized in the area of diagnosability, and therefore to a reduction of life cycle costs for both consumers and manufacturers and an increase in the useable life of the system. A methodology for diagnostic evaluation of mechanical systems incorporating indication uncertainty is presented. First, Bayes formula is used in conjunction with information extracted from the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), component reliability, and prior system knowledge to construct the Component-Indication Joint Probability Matrix (CIJPM). The CIJPM, which consists of joint probabilities of all mutually exclusive diagnostic events, provides a diagnostic model of the system. The Replacement Matrix is constructed by applying a predetermined replacement criterion to the CIJPM. Diagnosability metrics are extracted from a Replacement Probability Matrix, computed by multiplying the transpose of the Replacement Matrix by the CIJPM. These metrics are useful for comparing alternative designs and addressing diagnostic problems of the system, to the component and indication level. Additionally, the metrics can be used to predict cost associated with fault isolation over the life cycle of the system.© 2002 ASME
The Challenge of Left Main Stenosis

The purposes of invasive, anatomic treatments for patients with coronary atherosclerosis are to relieve symptoms and to prolong life expectancy. When the patient's issues revolve around symptom status, that patient advises the physician of their symptomatic level, the extent to which these symptoms
The Dynamics of Interstate War Finance

Governments pay for interstate war through a combination of reductions in non-military spending, higher taxes, increased debt, and printing money. We develop a general framework that identifies the relative extent to which governments will make use of each finance option and how a government's finance strategy will change over the course of an interstate war. Contrary to existing research on the topic, our model implies that the extent to which a government uses a given finance option is never independent of its uses of other finance options, the use of all finance options are complementary with respect to the level of war finance, and typically vary over the course of a war. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of patterns of U.S. war finance from 1816 to 2014 are largely consistent with the model's expectations.
Intestinal glycyl-L-phenylalanine and L-phenylalanine transport in a euryhaline teleost.

The transport mechanisms for the dipeptide glycyl-L-phenylalanine (Gly-Phe) and L-phenylalanine (Phe) were characterized in fish intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV). Gly-Phe was rapidly hydrolyzed only intravesicularly with almost total hydrolysis occurring even at 10 s. Dipeptide uptake was not stimulated by an inward gradient of Na, K, or H. Phe uptake was stimulated by an inward gradient of either Na or K but displayed an overshoot phenomenon only in the presence of an Na gradient. Kinetic analysis of the effect of substrate concentration on transport rate revealed that transport of both Gly-Phe and Phe occurred by a saturable process conforming to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Km for Gly-Phe was 9.8 +/- 3.5 mM, whereas that for Phe in the presence of Na or K, respectively, was 0.74 +/- 0.13 and 1.1 +/- 0.37 mM. Maximum uptake for Gly-Phe and for Phe in the presence of Na and K was 5.1, 0.9, and 0.4 nmol.mg and protein-1.5 s-1, respectively. Gly-Phe and Phe transport displayed different patterns of inhibition by dipeptides and amino acids. These results suggest that Gly-Phe and Phe are transported via different mechanisms, with Gly-Phe being hydrolyzed during a carrier-mediated, cation-independent process and Phe being transferred via a Na+ cotransport process similar to that described in mammals. During conditions of high luminal dipeptide concentrations, the Gly-Phe pathway may make a significant contribution to total Phe uptake.
Kt/Vurea and Nonurea Small Solute Levels in the Hemodialysis Study

The Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study showed that high-dose hemodialysis providing a single-pool Kt/Vurea of 1.71 provided no benefit over a standard treatment providing a single-pool Kt/Vurea of 1.32. Here, we assessed whether the high-dose treatment used lowered plasma levels of small uremic solutes other than urea. Measurements made ≥3 months after randomization in 1281 patients in the HEMO Study showed a range in the effect of high-dose treatment compared with that of standard treatment: from no reduction in the level of p-cresol sulfate or asymmetric dimethylarginine to significant reductions in the levels of trimethylamine oxide (-9%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], -2% to -15%), indoxyl sulfate (-11%; 95% CI, -6% to -15%), and methylguanidine (-22%; 95% CI, -18% to -27%). Levels of three other small solutes also decreased slightly; the level of urea decreased 9%. All-cause mortality did not significantly relate to the level of any of the solutes measured. Modeling indicated that the intermittency of treatment along with the presence of nondialytic clearance and/or increased solute production accounted for the limited reduction in solute levels with the higher Kt/Vurea In conclusion, failure to achieve greater reductions in solute levels may explain the failure of high Kt/Vurea treatment to improve outcomes in the HEMO Study. Furthermore, levels of the nonurea solutes varied widely among patients in the HEMO Study, and achieved Kt/Vurea accounted for very little of this variation. These results further suggest that an index only on the basis of urea does not provide a sufficient measure of dialysis adequacy.
CONTEXTUAL DETERMINANTS OF FEMINIST ATTITUDES: NATIONAL AND SUBNATIONAL INFLUENCES IN WESTERN EUROPE

We augment the survey-based studies of attitudes toward feminism with comparative, contextual perspectives emphasizing the importance of social structure and culture. In doing so, we are able to assess the relative merits of two very different structural theories. Most researchers implicitly assume a simple linear effect of social context on attitudes. On the other hand, some early works on American conservatism suggest to us that status discontent may be a better explanation. We explicate these two approaches and derive a series of testable hypotheses for each. We then examine the validity of these theories utilizing data from nine European nations.