cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total energies in Se. II. Vacancy in the crystal

Ab initio total-energy calculations are used to determine theoretically the structural configuration of the vacancy in trigonal Se. The method consists of calculating the forces, as well as the total energies, within the local-density and frozen-core approximations, for a superlattice structure containing a vacancy. In this way, relaxations at the vacancy can be fully taken into account, including a possible self-healing of the vacancy. A slightly relaxed symmetric version of the ideal vacancy is the lowest-energy structure found; neither asymmetric relaxation nor valence alternation appears to occur. A simple Hubbard Hamiltonian is used to analyze the spin configuration of the lowest-energy structure.
Physiological resistance and behavioral avoidance responses to residues of four pesticides by six spider mite populations

Six twospotted spider mite populations were assayed for their levels of physiological resistance and behavioral avoidance to residues of four synthetic pesticides. Mortality could not be estimated for bifenthrin and fenvalerate (synthetic pyrethroids) as mites effectively avoided treated surfaces, however significant between-population differences in mortality were detected for chlordimeform and cyhexatin. Considerable variation in walkoff and spindown behavioral response to sub-lethal doses of pesticides was observed among populations within compounds, and within populations among compounds. Within-compound walkoff and spindown behavioral response varied among all mite populations. Few significant between-compound correlations were significant, indicating that spider mites responded differently to the four pesticides. The hypothesis that physiological resistance is negatively correlated with behavioral avoidance was tested. Of the four possible negative correlations between physiological resistance and behavioral avoidance for chlordimeform and cyhexatin, only the correlation between cyhexatin-induced mortality and spindown response was significant. Comparisons of physiological resistance and behavioral avoidance of chlordimeform and cyhexatin by specific pairs of populations did not consistently find these two characters to be related. In a related experiment, the magnitude and direction of the correlation between physiological resistance and behavioral avoidance following selection for increased physiological tolerance to cyhexatin was compared in a highly resistant and a susceptible population of the twospotted spider mite. Mortality in the susceptible population at 2 ppm cyhexatin was similar to mortality in the resistant population at 250 ppm after 72 h exposure (ca. 12%). However, at these concentrations, the resistant population exhibited much higher avoidance of the compound through walkoff response.
Transgression as addiction: religiosity and moral disapproval as predictors of perceived addiction to pornography.

Perceived addiction to Internet pornography is increasingly a focus of empirical attention. The present study examined the role that religious belief and moral disapproval of pornography use play in the experience of perceived addiction to Internet pornography. Results from two studies in undergraduate samples (Study 1, N = 331; Study 2, N = 97) indicated that there was a robust positive relationship between religiosity and perceived addiction to pornography and that this relationship was mediated by moral disapproval of pornography use. These results persisted even when actual use of pornography was controlled. Furthermore, although religiosity was negatively predictive of acknowledging any pornography use, among pornography users, religiosity was unrelated to actual levels of use. A structural equation model from a web-based sample of adults (Study 3, N = 208) revealed similar results. Specifically, religiosity was robustly predictive of perceived addiction, even when relevant covariates (e.g., trait self-control, socially desirable responding, neuroticism, use of pornography) were held constant. In sum, the present study indicated that religiosity and moral disapproval of pornography use were robust predictors of perceived addiction to Internet pornography while being unrelated to actual levels of use among pornography consumers.
A Model to Predict the Partition Coefficients of Amino Acids in PEG/Salt Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Abstract A mathematical model incorporating both the influence of pH and solute hydrophobicity is presented to describe the partitioning of charged compounds in aqueous two-phase systems. The model is applied to the partitioning of amino acids in PEG/potassium phosphate aqueous two-phase systems in which the pH lies between 6.1 and 11.9. The model predicts the minimum in the partition coefficient of several amino acids which is observed in phase systems of intermediate pH.
Toward a model of purposeful participant inclusion: examining deselection as a participant risk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore purposive approaches to participant selection and to consider how deselecting qualified participants from research studies, particularly in studies of identity, may cause psychological harm. Design/methodology/approach – Within a framework of social identity theory, the paper reviews current approaches to participant selection in the purposive paradigm and uses examples from a case study to illustrate how research participants may be impacted by researcher decisions to include or deselect an individual from participation. Findings – Understanding the importance of belonging and validation on an individual's self-concept, threatening or challenging an individual's identity through the deselection process may present a tangible participant risk. Research limitations/implications – Though many methodologists cite the benefits of participating in narrative studies, if there is a tangible benefit in inclusion, there may conversely be a considerable harm in excl...
Overview of the fifth DARPA speech and natural language workshop

This volume presents revised versions of papers presented at the Fifth DARPA Speech and Natural Language Workshop, held in February 1992 at the Arden House Conference Center in Harriman, NY. This series of workshops provides a forum where researchers can exchange information about very recent technical progress in an informal, highly interactive setting. Topics of interest include speech recognition, speech understanding, text understanding, and machine translation.
Cold-fluid theory of equilibrium and stability of a high-intensity periodically twisted ellipse-shaped charged-particle beam

It is shown that there exists an exact paraxial cold-fluid equilibrium of a high-intensity, space-charge-dominated charged-particle beam with a periodically twisted elliptic cross section in a nonaxisymmetric periodic magnetic field. Generalized envelope equations, which determine the beam envelopes, ellipse orientation, density, and internal flow velocity profiles, are derived. Nonrelativistic and relativistic examples of such beam equilibria are presented. The equilibrium and stability of such beams are demonstrated by self-consistent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations.
On anisotropic finite deformation plasticity part I. A two-back stress model

Based on the scale-invariance approach to finite plasticity, a two-back stress model is proposed to describe phenomenologically the evolution of substructure or texture development. Each back stress obeys its own evolution and rotational rules. Different types of hardening rules are obtained on the basis of crystal slip and a scale invariance argument to account for different types of substructure evolution. An anisotropic yield surface is used to consider directional hardening/softening and distortion of the yield surface. The extension to include viscoplastic effects is straightforward within the scale invariance approach. The model is applied to analyze experimental data for uniaxial loading, torsion of cylindrical specimens with fixed ends, and unconstrained torsion. The agreement between model predictions and experimental data is very good, despite the small number of adjustable parameters used.
Pretreatment with pertussis toxin blocks morphine-but not β-endorphin-induced antinociception in the mouse

Abstract We have previously demonstrated that the antinociception induced by morphine and β-endorphin given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) is mediated by the stimulation of respective μ- and e-opioid receptors. The effects of i.c.v. pretreatment with pertussis toxin on the antinociception induced by morphine and β-endorphin given i. c. v. were studied in male ICR mice. Antinociception was assessed by the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (0. 5 μg) given i.c.v. 96 h earlier blocks the antinociception induced by i.c.v. administered morphine in both tail-flick and hot-plate tests. The same pretreatment did not affect the antinociception induced by i.c.v. administered β-endorphin. Our results indicate that morphine-, but not β-endorphin-induced antinociception is mediated by pertussis toxin sensitive G-proteins.
Comparison of methods for monitoring Mindarus abietinus (Homoptera: Aphididae) and their potential damage in Christmas tree plantations.

The balsam twig aphid, Mindarus abietinus Koch, causes distortion, loss, or both, of needles on balsam fir Christmas trees. Insecticides are often applied for control of twig aphids with little monitoring of population levels or their subsequent damage. This study compared the utility of 2 techniques (beating discs and visual counts of infested shoots) that could easily be used by Christmas tree growers to monitor aphids. A beating technique was better than visual counts for detecting numbers of fundatrices before and during budbreak, whereas visual counts of midcrown infested shoots were more feasible for estimating aphid abundance after budbreak. Sample size analysis indicated that a minimum of 15 trees could be used for either method to estimate mean numbers of fundatrices or mean proportions of potentially infested shoots. Correlation analyses between mean numbers of aphids or proportions of infested shoots and resulting proportions of undamaged shoots were variable with a significant and negative correlation between infested shoots and subsequent undamaged shoots ( r = −0.83). Paired comparisons were also made between selected and nonselected Choose-and-Cut Christmas trees to evaluate public perception of aphid damage. The public did not differentiate between aphid-damaged and undamaged trees, but they did show a preference for larger trees. Our results indicate that growers need to monitor aphids before budbreak and limit insecticide applications to trees with predictable levels of infestation (e.g., 2 or more fundatrices per disc results in ≈50% infested shoots) that will be harvested for shipment rather than grown for Choose-and-Cut.
Electron-optical phase shift of magnetic nanoparticles I. Basic concepts

The electron-optical phase shift induced in the electron beam due to the interaction with the electromagnetic field of magnetized nanoparticles of defined shape and arbitrary dimensions is calculated, presented and discussed. Together with the computable knowledge of vector potential and magnetic induction, including the demagnetizing field, and with the extension to more realistic geometries which will be presented in part II, this theoretical framework can be employed for the interpretation of transmission electron microscopy experiments on magnetic particles on the nanometre scale.
Melting point phase diagrams of free base and hydrochloride salts of bevantolol, pindolol and propranolol

Abstract The crystalline nature of β-adrenergic antagonist racemates was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. Melting point phase diagrams were prepared for the free base and hydrochloride salt forms of bevantolol, pindolol and propranolol. The free base form of bevantolol and propranolol behaved as a racemic compound with pseudoracemate character in the vicinity of the racemic mixture. Eutectics were found near the pure enantiomers and at the racemic mixture. The hydrochloride salt forms of these drugs were classified as conglomerates, possesing a eutectic in the diagram only at the racemic mixture. The diagram for free base pindolol revealed a pseudoracemate; a diagram for its hydrochloride salt was not feasible. Calculated initial and final melting temperatures adequately described experimental results for conglomerate, racemic compound and pseudoracemate examples.
A simple sample preparation for enhancing the sensitivity of mass spectrometric oligosaccharide determinations through the use of an adsorptive hydrophobic resin.

A simple microadsorption technique is described to remove detergent additives from oligosaccharide samples before their mass spectrometric analysis. The described methodology has been validated with submicrogram quantities of contaminated glycoproteins. This procedure is applicable to investigating minute quantities of glycans in both the positive- and negative-ion mode of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.
Inter-organizational relations: A training program for community mental health administrators

With the development of community mental health centers, maintaining good interorganizational relations has become a central task for mental health administrators. The author presents a training program for CMHC directors and others to help them work more effectively in this field.
Avian olfaction: then and now

Avian olfaction has been a small but persistent research topic for the last half century. For an entire symposium to be devoted to it testifies to growing understanding of its importance in avian behavior, physiology, and ecology. Without Bang’s early papers describing the anatomy of the olfactory cavity along with the development of olfactory mucosa in several avian species, or her and Cobb’s measurements of the olfactory bulb in over 100 species, avian olfaction as a serious research topic might have had little appeal. Beginning in the early 1960s, my laboratory studied the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the avian olfactory system as well as behavioral effects of olfactory stimuli. Over the years, other laboratories have taken up these topics and by now a good body of research has been produced, most on behavioral aspects of olfaction. This emphasis is an essential contribution to avian biology because the ultimate question for avian olfaction is how birds use their olfactory system.
New species of Selaginella (Selaginellaceae) from the Guayana Highland of Venezuela

Three new species of Selaginella are described from the Guayana Highland of Venezuela: S. cardiophylla, S. hemicardia and S. pruskiana. They are illustrated and the relationships of each are discussed. Another species, provisionally determined as S. terezoana, is reported for the first time from Guyana.
Auditory System Development and Dysfunction: What Do We Really Know about Childhood Hearing Loss?

udiologists must have a thorough underA standing of normal auditory system function in order to diagnose hearing impairment and dysfunction. This is particularly true for the pediatric audiologist who works with a very young patient who may provide limited behavioral information. This background knowledge should include familiarity with auditory anatomy and physiology, psychoacoustics, and speech perception. The information comes to audiologists from a wide range of both human and animal studies, from studies of developing and mature auditory systems, and finally, from studies of both normally functioning systems and systems with auditory pathology. The academic background of audiologists provides this information from the first undergraduate class through the final graduate courses. However, in everyday practice, it is the working view of what constitutes an impaired auditory system that determines what audiologists actually do. The purpose of this article is to provide a framework for audiologists to guide their work with infants and children who may have hearing loss. An impaired auditory system may be characterized differently by the use of different criteria for dysfunction. Four different types of criteria will be discussed. These criteria include: a threshold criterion, a disease/dysfunction criterion, an audibility criterion, and an expanded audibility criterion. These criteria may be applied individually or together, depending upon the patient and his or her needs and presenting problems. In addition, the effects of auditory development on the use of these criteria in practice will be reviewed.
Vehicle restrictions and CO2 emissions in Beijing – A simple projection using available data

Abstract The Beijing Government launched a new policy on restricting vehicle ownership in late 2010 to regulate the faster motorization and the excessive vehicular carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. In this paper, we first analyzed this policy and its effect on private passenger vehicle population. The private passenger vehicle population in Beijing from 2011 to 2020 was predicted under three different scenarios: no constraint (NC), current constraint (CC) and tighter constraint (TC). Then the assessment of vehicular emissions reduction benefits was made on the basis of private passenger vehicle population, vehicle kilometers traveled and CO 2 emission factors. It was projected that the CO 2 emissions in 2020 will reach 23.90, 15.55 and 13.23 million tons under NC, CC and TC respectively. The policy is very effective in controlling the faster motorization and reducing CO 2 emissions.
Diagnostic Capability of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography for Glaucoma

Purpose To determine the diagnostic capability of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in glaucoma patients with visual field defects. Design Prospective, cross-sectional study. Methods settings: Participants were recruited from a university hospital clinic. study population: One eye of 85 normal subjects and 61 glaucoma patients with average visual field mean deviation of −9.61 ± 8.76 dB was selected randomly for the study. A subgroup of the glaucoma patients with early visual field defects was calculated separately. observation procedures: Spectralis optical coherence tomography (Heidelberg Engineering, Inc) circular scans were performed to obtain peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses. The RNFL diagnostic parameters based on the normative database were used alone or in combination for identifying glaucomatous RNFL thinning. main outcome measures: To evaluate diagnostic performance, calculations included areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio. Results Overall RNFL thickness had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values: 0.952 for all patients and 0.895 for the early glaucoma subgroup. For all patients, the highest sensitivity (98.4%; 95% confidence interval, 96.3% to 100%) was achieved by using 2 criteria: ≥ 1 RNFL sectors being abnormal at the Conclusions Statistical parameters for evaluating the diagnostic performance of the Spectralis spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were good for early perimetric glaucoma and were excellent for moderately advanced perimetric glaucoma.
Some Properties of Threshold Logic Unit Pattern Recognition Networks

A condition for separation of two categories by a pattern-recognition network formed by an array of threshold logic units (TLU) and an additional decision element is discussed. The array implements a set of hyperplanes that partition the sample space, and the array outputs and the sample vector elements form the input to the decision element. It is shown that this input is separable by a convex surface if, in each of the cells in the partition, the convex hull of the first-category vectors in that cell does not intersect with the convex hull of the second-category vectors in that cell. When the TLU outputs can be set to zero by another TLU in the array, a comparison shows that the network capacity can be significantly increased. A sufficient condition for the array outputs to be in general position is described. An algorithm is suggested that places the hyperplanes so that equal error rates occur on both sides. This property tends to more finely partition regions with overlap between categories.
Speed gradient approach to longitudinal control of heavy-duty vehicles equipped with variable compression brake

This paper considers a longitudinal speed control problem for heavy-duty vehicles equipped with variable compression brake. The use of compression brake reduces the wear of the conventional friction brakes, and it is a preferred way of controlling the vehicle speed during a steady descent or non-critical braking maneuvers. To perform more aggressive braking maneuvers or control vehicle speed during large changes in the grade, the compression brake must be coordinated with gear ratio adjustments and friction brakes. We develop nonlinear controllers that accomplish both noncritical and critical maneuvers. We also show how distance constraints from other vehicles in traffic may be included. The design technique is based on the speed-gradient (SG) approach, whereby the control action is chosen in the maximum descent direction for a scalar goal function. The nominal goal function is selected to address the speed regulation objective, and it is then appropriately modified by barrier functions to handle the critical maneuver requirements. Two ways to handle the uncertainty in the road grade are discussed: through the use of an integral action of the SG controller for constant grades, and through the use of an added differential action for varying grades.
Cluster Belly: A Variant of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Cluster headache (CH) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are pain disorders that possess relationships with circadian rhythms. However, they have not been compared to assess similarities that could yield pathophysiologic insights. A young male adult with periodic episodes of abdominal pain highly reminiscent of CH is described. Since childhood, he experienced severe attacks featuring excruciating, abdominal pain accompanied by prominent restlessness, lasting 30-120 minutes, occurring in the evening and in discrete 2- to 8-week periods, interspersed with remissions where typical triggers did not lead to attacks. Although all of the patient's symptoms fell within the spectrum of IBS, the semiology was highly evocative of CH, based on the attack duration, restlessness, periodicity, and selective vulnerability to particular triggers only during attack periods. A subset of patients thought to have IBS may feature similar attack profiles and could suggest the importance of the hypothalamus in its pathophysiology, akin to CH.
Differential optical strain gauge for torsion measurements.

An optical strain gauge has been built to measure extremely small torsion strains in cylindrical specimens. Moire fringe techniques are used to measure the differential angular changes between two sensing mirrors supported on two rings attached to the specimen. The present instrument has a useable linear range of about 0.5 mrad with a sensitivity of 500 mV/mrad. Angular changes as small as 2 μrad are easily detected. Risley prisms are used to extend the range to 10 mrad as well as to verify the calibration procedure.
Measurement of Spectral Bandwidth, as Exemplified with the Beckman "Enzyme Analyzer System TR Spectrophotometer"

This paper describes simple methods for determining spectral bandwidth by measurement and by calculation. We measured the spectral bandwidth of the monochromator from the Beckman Enzyme Analyzer TR, and found it to be 3.5-4.0 nm (av 3.8) by two different methods. We visually estimated it to be 4 nm. Using the specifications for the diffraction grating, focal length, and fixed slit width, we calculated the theoretical spectral bandwidth to be 3.6 nm.
Thalamus segmentation from diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging

We propose a semi-automatic thalamus and thalamus nuclei segmentation algorithm from diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) based on the mean-shift algorithm. Comparing with existing thalamus segmentation algorithms which are mainly based on K-means algorithm, our mean-shift-based algorithm is more flexible and adaptive. It does not assume a Gaussian distribution or a fixed number of clusters. Furthermore, the single parameter in the mean-shift-based algorithm supports hierarchical clustering naturally.
Terminal Radar Approach Control: Measures of Voice Communications System Performance

Effective communication in the National Airspace System (NAS) is an essential safety component of successful air travel. As the NAS migrates from its current ground infrastructure and voice communications system to one that encompasses both ground and airborne systems, digital data transmission may become the principal communication medium. As technological advances lead to innovations in communications system development, these emerging systems will be evaluated against the existing legacy system's performance parameters such as setup delay, voice streaming, pause duration, and message propagation. The data presented here are but a first step in providing objective and quantifiable communications system performance metrics that may prove valuable to communication systems developers and personnel charged with evaluating, certifying, and deploying the next generation of communications systems. The authors analyzed nearly 8,000 transmissions that represented the busiest air-ground communications from the five terminal radar approach control facilities with the highest number of operations in the contiguous United States. Typically, setup delays lasted 81 ms, voice streaming 2568 ms, pause duration 127 ms, and message propagation 73 ms for a total of 2849 ms per transmission. On average, transmissions were separated by 1736 ms of silence. Disruptions to efficient information transfer can result from blocked, stepped-on, and clipped transmissions - but they are rare events and occurred in only 1.16% of the sampled transmissions. A comparison between aircraft with and without disruptions revealed that when a disruption was present, an average of 14.54 messages were transmitted, compared with an average of 9.90 messages when no disruption was present. Even so, there appears to be some type of a detection mechanism in place to alert the controller to the presence of blocked transmissions. The source of this detection system is unclear; however, systems developers may want to exploit and expand this capability to include stepped-on and clipped transmissions.
Ketone bodies inhibit the viability of human neuroblastoma cells.

Abstract Purpose Recent studies have shown that brain tumor cells, unlike normal brain cells, are largely dependent upon glucose for energy and are not able to use ketone bodies as a primary energy source. These findings are thought to be because of decreased expression of succinyl-coenzyme A:3-oxoacid coenzyme A transferase (SCOT), a key enzyme involved in ketone body metabolism. Because of their neural crest origin, we hypothesized that neuroblastoma cells would also be unable to use ketone bodies as a primary energy source. Methods Human foreskin fibroblasts (control) and human neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-AS) were grown in standard media with glucose (glc+), standard media without glucose (glc−), glucose-free media with acetoacetate, or glucose-free media with β -hydroxybutyrate. Cell viability was determined with MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay and apoptosis with fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Immunoblotting was performed to SCOT protein. Results Neuroblastoma cell viability was significantly decreased in the acetoacetate and hydroxybutyrate media by 52% and 61%, respectively, compared with control media. In addition, neuroblastoma cells showed significantly more apoptosis in the ketone media. Viability and apoptosis in the normal fibroblasts were not affected by the culture media. The expression of SCOT protein was significantly less in human neuroblastoma cells compared with the control fibroblasts. Conclusions Unlike human fibroblasts, neuroblastoma cells were unable to use ketone bodies as an energy source, likely because of their decreased expression of SCOT protein. Dietary manipulation using ketone bodies in accordance with SCOT expression may be a novel therapeutic strategy for neuroblastoma.
Goal-Based Explanation Evaluation

Many theories of explanation evaluation are based on context-independent criteria. Such theories either restrict their consideration to explanation towards a fixed goal, or assume that all valid explanations are equivalent, so that evaluation criteria can be neutral to the goals underlying the attempt to explain. However, explanation can serve a range of purposes that place widely divergent requirements on the information an explanation must provide. It is argued that understanding what determines explanations' goodness requires a dynamic theory of evaluation, based on analysis of the information needed to satisfy the many goals that can prompt explanation; this view conforms to the commonsense idea that people accept and apply explanations precisely if those explanations give the information they need. A range of goals that can underly explanation is examined, and a theory is presented for evaluating whether an explanation provides the information an explainer needs for these goals. The theory is illustrated by sketching its implementation in the computer program, ACCEPTER, which does goal-based evaluation of the goodness of explanations for surprising events in news stories.
The Timing of SIDS Deaths in Premature Infants in an Urban Population

Previous reports have demonstrated that premature infants are at greatly increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Although only 9% of infants are born at less than 36 weeks' gestation, 20% of SIDS victims are former premature infants. The objective of this study was to characterize the time course of SIDS in premature infants and to determine why SIDS occurs at such a high rate in this patient population. A database of all cases of SIDS in Philadelphia from 1987 through 1991 was used to establish the time course for SIDS deaths in term and preterm infants. Gestational age was established by Dubowitz exam. To evaluate distinctly different age groups, infants from 32-36 weeks were excluded from analysis. Age at death and postconceptional age of death were compared for both groups. Data are described in weeks (mean +/- SEM), and analyzed using unpaired t-test and log-rank test to compare survival rate between term and preterm infants. A significant difference (P < 0.01) was noted in age at death of term versus preterm infants. No difference was found in postconceptional age of death. The survival rates were also different (P < 0.001). Preterm infants showed a much wider distribution in age of death from SIDS. The term infants followed the classic SIDS curve. By 32 weeks' postnatal age, 95% of all SIDS had taken place in the term group, but only 75% in the preterm group. The age at death for SIDS differs in the preterm infant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A psychological jurisprudence model of public opinion and international prosecution

Theories abound as to why states consent to international courts, but little research has examined how individuals decide which justice options—local trials, international trials or other transitio...
Introduction of an intervening sequence into a human serine suppressor tRNA gene: effects on gene expression in vitro and in vivo.

The 13 nucleotide Xenopus laevis tyrosine tRNA gene intervening sequence was into a human serine suppressor tRNA gene which lacked an intron, by site-directed mutagenesis. Analysis of the products of in vitro transcription in a HeLa cell extract indicates that the intervening sequence is accurately removed to generate a mature sized RNA identical to that obtained from an intron-less gene. Analysis of the transcripts obtained in vitro and in vivo shows that the U in the CUA anticodon sequence is partially modified to psi. Total TRNA isolated from cells infected with recombinant SV40 viruses carrying the mutant tRNA genes is active in suppression of UAG codons in a reticulocyte cell-free system. Cotransfection of COS cells with the mutant tRNA genes and a mutant chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene containing the termination codon UAG demonstrated that the tRNA functions as a UAG suppressor in vivo. Analysis of 32P-labeled RNA obtained from infected cells showed, however, that cells infected with the intron-containing gene accumulate less mature tRNA than cells infected with the intron-less tRNA genes.
Linearity testing of Analog-to-Digital Converters using imprecise sinusoidal excitations

One of the biggest challenges associated with testing the linearity of high performance Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) is generating a test stimulus more linear or spectrally more pure than the device under test. In this paper we propose algorithms that allow easy to generate, imprecise sinusoidal excitations that differ by a constant voltage to characterize the Integral nonlinearity (INL) of high resolution ADCs. Simulation results indicate that sine waves with SFDR&#60;40dB can be used to accurately identify the INL of 16-bit ADCs with the proposed methods.
Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma With Supervening Epstein-Barr Virus–Associated Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma can have profound immune dysfunction and immunodeficiency. Epstein-Barr virus–driven B-cell lymphoid proliferation can occur in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, as in other immunodeficiency states. However, few cases of Epstein-Barr virus–positive B-cell lymphoma arising in patients with preexisting angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma have been reported. We report a case of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in which diffuse large B-cell lymphoma developed 56 months after the diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. The patient survived for 9 years after the initial diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, and molecular studies performed on multiple biopsy specimens during this period revealed the dynamic nature of clonal lymphoid expansion. Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 and Epstein-Barr virus– encoded RNA were detected in the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, suggesting that Epstein-Barr virus may have played a role i...
The spatial organization of epidermal structures: hairy establishes the geometrical pattern of Drosophila leg bristles by delimiting the domains of achaete expression.

The spatial organization of Drosophila melanogaster epidermal structures in embryos and adults constitutes a classic model system for understanding how the two dimensional arrangement of particular cell types is generated. For example, the legs of the Drosophila melanogaster adult are covered with bristles, which in most segments are arranged in longitudinal rows. Here we elucidate the key roles of two regulatory genes, hairy and achaete, in setting up this periodic bristle pattern. We show that achaete is expressed during pupal leg development in a dynamic pattern which changes, by approximately 6 hours after puparium formation, into narrow longitudinal stripes of 3–4 cells in width, each of which represents a field of cells (proneural field) from which bristle precursor cells are selected. This pattern of gene expression foreshadows the adult bristle pattern and is established in part through the function of the hairy gene, which also functions in patterning other adult sense organs. In pupal legs, hairy is expressed in four longitudinal stripes, located between every other pair of achaete stripes. We show that in the absence of hairy function achaete expression expands into the interstripe regions that normally express hairy, fusing the two achaete stripes and resulting in extra-wide stripes of achaete expression. This misexpression of achaete, in turn, alters the fields of potential bristle precursor cells which leads to the misalignment of bristle rows in the adult. This function of hairy in patterning achaete expression is distinct from that in the wing in which hairy suppresses late expression of achaete but has no effect on the initial patterning of achaete expression. Thus, the leg bristle pattern is apparently regulated at two levels: a global regulation of the hairy and achaete expression patterns which partitions the leg epidermis into striped zones (this study) and a local regulation (inferred from other studies on the selection of neural precursor cells) that involves refinement steps which may control the alignment and spacing of bristle cells within these zones.
Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Diagnostic and Dispositional Tool after Mild-Moderate Blast Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by explosive munitions, known as blast TBI, is the signature injury in recent military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Diagnostic evaluation of TBI, including blast TBI, is based on clinical history, symptoms, and neuropsychological testing, all of which can result in misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of this condition, particularly in the case of TBI of mild-to-moderate severity. Prognosis is currently determined by TBI severity, recurrence, and type of pathology, and also may be influenced by promptness of clinical intervention when more effective treatments become available. An important task is prevention of repetitive TBI, particularly when the patient is still symptomatic. For these reasons, the establishment of quantitative biological markers can serve to improve diagnosis and preventative or therapeutic management. In this study, we used a shock-tube model of blast TBI to determine whether manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) can serve as a tool to accurately and quantitatively diagnose mild-to-moderate blast TBI. Mice were subjected to a 30 psig blast and administered a single dose of MnCl2 intraperitoneally. Longitudinal T1-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h and at 14 and 28 days revealed a marked signal enhancement in the brain of mice exposed to blast, compared with sham controls, at nearly all time-points. Interestingly, when mice were protected with a polycarbonate body shield during blast exposure, the marked increase in contrast was prevented. We conclude that manganese uptake can serve as a quantitative biomarker for TBI and that MEMRI is a minimally-invasive quantitative approach that can aid in the accurate diagnosis and management of blast TBI. In addition, the prevention of the increased uptake of manganese by body protection strongly suggests that the exposure of an individual to blast risk could benefit from the design of improved body armor.
CEO-Firm Match Quality and Firm Performance

Much of the empirical research on CEO pay is based on agency theory and has studied the incentives executives have to make decisions that benefit shareholders. This study takes a different look at CEO success by focusing on the quality of the match between the CEO and the firm’s needs. Compared to lower quality matches, highly productive matches are characterized by executives that have long tenures as CEOs and better per period firm performance over their time as CEO. A simple modification of a widely used Bayesian model of learning (DeGroot 1970) is proposed where the board of directors dismiss a CEO when they conclude the probability true firm-CEO match quality falls below a critical match quality threshold is greater than a threshold probability. This separation decision rule means CEOs are positively selected on match quality. The empirical results confirm this prediction; a statistically and economically significant relationship between the total time an executive serves as CEO (completed tenure) and monthly stock returns is found. We also find that stock returns in period t are correlated with completed tenure for CEOs that survive to period t. These results suggests investors are making valid judgments about firm-CEO match quality and boards of directors are making CEO retention decisions as they learn about CEO productivity in the firm. The results are inconsistent with models that predict long tenured CEOs become entrenched in their positions at the expense of shareholders.
Effect of Concrete Release Strength on the Development Length and Flexural Capacity of Members Made With Different Prestressing Wires Commonly Used in Pretensioned Concrete Railroad Ties

A study was conducted to determine the effect of concrete release strength on the development length and flexural capacity of members utilizing five different 5.32-mm-diameter prestressing wires that are commonly used in the manufacture of prestressed concrete railroad ties worldwide. These included two chevron-indented wires with different indent depths, one spiral-indented wire, one dot-indented wire, and one smooth wire (with no surface indentation). A consistent concrete mixture was used for the manufacture of all test specimens, and the different release strengths were obtained by allowing the specimens to cure for different amounts of time prior to de-tensioning. Each prismatic specimen (prism) had a 3.5″ (88.9 mm) × 3.5″ (88.9 mm) square cross section with four wires arranged symmetrically. The prisms were identical except for the wire type and the compressive strength at the time of de-tensioning. All four wires were each initially tensioned to 7000 pounds (31.14 KN) and then de-tensioned gradually when the concrete compressive strength reached 3500 (24.13 MPa), 4500 (31.03 MPa) and 6000 (41.37 MPa) psi. Precise de-tensioning strengths were ensured by testing 4-in.-diameter (101.6 mm) × 8-in.-long (203.2 mm) compression strength cylinders that were temperature match-cured.The prisms were loaded in 3-point-bending to determine the ultimate bond characteristics of each reinforcement type for the different concrete release strengths. A loading rate of 300 lb/min (1334 N/min) was applied at mid-span and the maximum sustained moment was calculated for each test. Two 69-in.-long (175.26 cm) prisms, each having different concrete release strength, were tested with each of the 5 wire types. These prisms were tested at both ends, with a different embedment length assessed at each end. Thus, for each wire type and concrete release strength evaluated, a total of 4 tests were conducted for a total of 60 tests (5 wire types × 3 release strengths × 4 tested embedment lengths). Test results indicate that the concrete compressive strength at de-tensioning can have a direct impact on the ultimate flexural capacity of the members, and this has significant design implications for pretensioned concrete railroad ties. Results are discussed and recommendations made.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Interference Analysis for mm-Wave Picocells

Millimeter (mm) wave picocellular networks are a promising approach for delivering the 1000-fold capacity increase required to keep up with projected demand for wireless data: the available bandwidth is orders of magnitude larger than that in existing cellular systems, and the small carrier wavelength enables the realization of highly directive antenna arrays in compact form factor, thus drastically increasing spatial reuse. In this paper, we carry out an interference analysis for mm wave picocells in an urban canyon, accounting for the geometry associated with the sparse multipath characteristic of this band. While we make some modeling simplifications, our analysis provides a strong indication of the very large capacity, of the order of {\it Terabits/sec per km,} provided by such networks, using system bandwidths of the order of a few GHz.
Estrogen receptor alpha gene amplification in breast cancer: 25 years of debate

Twenty-five years ago, Nembrot and colleagues reported amplification of the estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) in breast cancer, initiating a broad and still ongoing scientific debate on the prevalence and clinical significance of this genetic aberration, which affects one of the most important genes in breast cancer. Since then, a multitude of studies on this topic has been published, covering a wide range of divergent results and arguments. The reported prevalence of this alteration in breast cancer ranges from 0% to 75%, suggesting that ESR1 copy number analysis is hampered by technical and interpreter issues. To date, two major issues related to ESR1 amplification remain to be conclusively addressed: (1) The extent to which abundant amounts of messenger RNA can mimic amplification in standard fluorescence in situ hybridization assays in the analysis of strongly expressed genes like ESR1, and (2) the clinical relevance of ESR1 amplification: Such relevance is strongly disputed, with data showing predictive value for response as well as for resistance of the cancer to anti-estrogen therapies, or for subsequent development of cancers in the case of precursor lesions that display amplification of ESR1. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the various views on ESR1 amplification, and highlights explanations for the contradictions and conflicting data that could inform future ESR1 research.
Considerations for Motion Planning of a Robot With Two Actuated Spoke Wheels in the Two-Dimensional Sagittal Plane: Gaits and Transitions

IMPASS (Intelligent Mobility Platform with Active Spoke System) is a novel mobile robot which is driven by a pair of rimless spoke wheels which can alter the length of any given spoke in the hub. A highly mobile robot such as IMPASS could prove very valuable in applications where the terrain is complex and dangerous, but for this platform to be practical for real world use, motion control of the actuated rimless wheel must be automated. This work discusses considerations for motion planning concerning the transitions from step to step in the two-dimensional sagittal plane. Each step transition can be defined by a switching angle, which is the angle made between the back spoke and a reference axis. Presented is a review of the types of step transitions that are advantageous for ascending and descending obstacles, as well as traversing terrain with minor irregularities. These step transitions have been tested in simulation and on a physical prototype, the results of which will be discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME