cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser isotope separation of zirconium atoms cooled in a supersonic beam

Abstract A method for the separation of zirconium isotopes based on a two-colour photoionisation scheme is reported. Laser vaporisation of a zirconium rod together with cooling by supersonic expansion in a molecular beam apparatus provides a high concentration of atomic zirconium. Hyperfine splitting in the z3F2 ← a3F2 transition of atomic zirconium allows isotopically selective absorption of a first photon. Subsequent absorption of two photons, the first resonantly, gives selectivities of = 100 for ionisation of 91Zr.
Heat capacities of solid polyamides

Abstract Heat capacities of 10 polyamides were analysed by using an approximate group vibration spectrum and fitting the skeletal heat capacity to a Tarasov function. New data were measured between 230 and 320 K for nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 6.9, nylon 6.10 and nylon 6.12 by differential scanning calorimetry. A new method to account for the difference between C p and C v was tested. For all synthetic nylons good agreement could be obtained between experiment and calculation (nylon 6, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 6.6, nylon 6.9, nylon 6.10, nylon 6.12 and polymethacrylamide). Two poly(amino acids), (polyglycine and polyalanine) were also analysed and found to have larger discrepancies at higher temperatures, perhaps due to experimental error. The θ temperatures are similar for most polyamides and extrapolate to polyethylene for larger numbers of CH 2 groups.
Medullary cells of origin of vagal cardioinhibitory fibers in the pigeon. I. Anatomical studies of peripheral vagus nerve and the dorsal motor nucleus.

The organization to the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in the pigeon was studied in an attempt to localize the cells of origin of vagal cardioinhibitory fibers. The course of the peripheral vagus nerve is described form the intracranial rootlets to abdominal levels. Using combined microdissection and electrical stimulation techniques, the branches which mediate cardiodeceleration are found to arise from a localized segment of the vagal trunk below the thoracic ganglion, and above the level where the left and right vagi join. The dorsal motor nucleus, its cytoarchitectonic divisions, and other structures connected with vagal rootlets are described on the basis of normal material. Utilizing the above findings a series of retrograde degeneration experiments was undertaken. The distribution of chromatolytic neurons following cervical vagotomy was described to indicate the extent of the dorsal motor nucleus. Selective nerve sections (abdominal vagotomy, cardiac vagotomy, recurrent laryngeal neurotomy, or pneumonectomy) then indicated that there is an incompletely inverted topographic representation of the vagus nerve in the dorsal motor nucleus, including a representation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve; no evidence was found for the existence of a nucleus ambiguus. The vagal cardioinhibitory fibers appear to be represented throughout the rostral half of the nucleus, but they are most concentrated in the ventral portion of the nucleus, approximately three-quarters of a millimeter rostral to the obex.
Changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, 2002–2009

Purpose The epidemiology of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is changing. Temporal trends and differences between healthcare settings must be described in order to better predict future risk factors associated with this dangerous bacterial infection.
Precise visual target information and throwing accuracy in adults

In an initial study of visual guidance on throwing, it was hypothesized that precise visual information about the target's center would improve accuracy. Precise information was provided by a small red dot in the center of a large white target. In two experiments, equal numbers of men and women (N = 40) threw chalked tennis balls from a distance of 11 m with and without the dot. Accuracy was determined as the mean absolute and variable radial error. Women especially benefitted from the presence of the dot which supported the hypothesis. In Exp. 2, instructions to focus on the dot throughout the throw had no effect on throwing accuracy for either men or women. Further analysis indicated that skill was not significant in subjects' use of precise information to guide throwing, as might have been predicted from the literature. Consistent with the literature, large gender differences in both absolute and variable errors were found.
A comparison of two cost-differentiated virtual reality systems for perception and action tasks

Recent advances in technology and the opportunity to obtain commodity-level components have made the development and use of three-dimensional virtual environments more available than ever before. How well such components work to generate realistic virtual environments, particularly environments suitable for perception and action studies, is an open question. In this paper we compare two virtual reality systems in a variety of tasks: distance estimation, virtual object interaction, a complex search task, and a simple viewing experiment. The virtual reality systems center around two different head-mounted displays, a low-cost Oculus Rift and a high-cost Nvis SX60, which differ in resolution, field-of-view, and inertial properties, among other factors. We measure outcomes of the individual tasks as well as assessing simulator sickness and presence. We find that the low-cost system consistently outperforms the high-cost system, but there is some qualitative evidence that some people are more subject to simulator sickness in the low-cost system.
A Pressing Need for Gender Balance in AGU Honors Nominations

AGU thrives on the volunteer efforts of its scientists, which is how I found myself agreeing to be a member of AGU's Science for Solutions Award committee last year. The award is targeted specifically at students and postdoctoral scientists who use Earth and space science to solve societal problems, and it was an intriguing experience to go through the process of evaluating the nominees and selecting a winner. All across the Union, members of other honors committees were going through a similar process, and at the 2013 Fall Meeting, those award recipients selected by the committees were honored.
A Review of Multilevel and Longitudinal Modeling Using Stata

In their new edition, Rabe-Hesketh and Skrondal add to the maturing applied literature on multilevel modeling techniques with an in-depth demonstration in Stata. Suitable for self-study or an applied first graduate course, the book goes well beyond simply covering the relevant command syntax. Starting with a review of simple regression, it presents a largely nonspecialist account of the most common multilevel extensions. Repeated illustrations are also included of many software features—descriptive statistics, hypothesis tests, data recoding and restructuring, basic data simulations, and custom graphing—of practical interest beyond the modeling techniques at hand. Every chapter includes study exercises, and sample data used in the examples can be retrieved directly into Stata from the Internet. Most formulas and notation will be understood by any reader with a reasonable grasp of linear regression. Each topic is developed through case studies of one or more data sets and includes discussion of inference and interpretation of results. A few tips on model identification are included throughout, although it is not a major focus. A chapter is dedicated to panel data and estimating growth curves, while another outlines crossed random-effects models in contrast to their more familiar nested-effects cousins. Treatment of longitudinal data has been expanded considerably since the first edition. The authors also provide alternate equation notation in several places to ease the transition between the competing multilevel notation schemes, and they helpfully point out a few inconsistencies in notation between various Stata procedures. The book is geared toward Stata version 10, but most commands will work in other recent versions. The book’s strengths include diverse data examples drawn from disciplines ranging from medicine and public health to education and economics. It displays a generous amount of command syntax and procedure output, which makes it easy to follow and replicate its sample analyses. Another high point is a section
Captain Deleuze and the white whale: Melville, moby‐dick, and the cartographic inclination

“Captain Deleuze and the White Whale: Melville, Moby‐Dick, and the Cartographic Inclination”; Herman Melville is usually viewed as one of the United States's darker, more brooding authors, but Deleuze, in his many scattered comments on him, finds a strikingly different figure. Clearly Deleuze feels a strong kinship with this 19th‐century writer, and he seems to find in Melville a perspective that is at some distance from the Melville currently configured by the American academy. This essay reads parts of The Fold and A Thousand Plateaus through a lens provided by Melville, specifically the Melville of Moby‐Dick, arguing that a complex notion of the fold provides a central feature of both authors, concept of human agency.
Mechanisms of action of therapeutic antibodies for cancer

The therapeutic utility of antibodies and their derivatives is achieved by various means. The FDA has approved several targeted antibodies that disrupt signaling of various growth factor receptors for the treatment of a number of cancers. Rituximab, and other anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies are active in B cell malignancies. As more experience has been gained with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, the multifactorial nature of their anti-tumor mechanisms has emerged. Other targeted antibodies function to dampen inhibitory checkpoints. These checkpoint inhibitors have recently achieved dramatic results in several cancers, including melanoma. These and related antibodies continue to be investigated in the clinical and pre-clinical settings. Novel antibody structures that target two or more antigens have also made their way into clinical use. Tumor targeted antibodies can also be conjugated to chemo- or radiotherapeutic agents, or catalytic toxins, as a means to deliver toxic payloads to cancer cells. Here we provide a review of these mechanisms and a discussion of their relevance to current and future clinical applications.
Dominant Negative Mutants of Transducin-α That Block Activated Receptor†

Mutations counterpart to dominant negative RasSer17Asn in the α-subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins are known to also produce dominant negative effects. The mechanism of these mutations remains p...
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY USING SYNCHROTRON RADIATION

Abstract X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a widely used method of obtaining cross sectional views of objects. The high intensity, natural collimation, monochromaticity and energy tunability of synchrotron X-ray sources could potentially be used to provide CT images of improved quality. The advantages of these systems would be that images could be produced more rapidly with better spatial resolution and reduced beam artifacts. In addition images, in some cases, could be acquired with elemental sensitivity. As a demonstration of the capability of such a system, CT images were obtained of four slices of an excised pig heart, in which the arteries and cardiac chambers were filled with an iodinated medium. Images were taken with incident X-rays tuned successively to energies just above and below the iodine K edge. Iodine specific images were obtained by logarithmically subtracting the low energy image data from the high energy data and then reconstructing the image. CT imaging using synchrotron radiation may become a convenient and non-destructive method of imaging samples difficult to study by other methods.
Critical Role of Non-Muscle Myosin Light Chain Kinase in Thrombin-Induced Endothelial Cell Inflammation and Lung PMN Infiltration

The pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) involves bidirectional cooperation and close interaction between inflammatory and coagulation pathways. A key molecule linking coagulation and inflammation is the procoagulant thrombin, a serine protease whose concentration is elevated in plasma and lavage fluids of patients with ALI and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, little is known about the mechanism by which thrombin contributes to lung inflammatory response. In this study, we developed a new mouse model that permits investigation of lung inflammation associated with intravascular coagulation. Using this mouse model and in vitro approaches, we addressed the role of non-muscle myosin light chain kinase (nmMLCK) in thrombin-induced endothelial cell (EC) inflammation and lung neutrophil (PMN) infiltration. Our in vitro experiments revealed a key role of nmMLCK in ICAM-1 expression by its ability to control nuclear translocation and transcriptional capacity of RelA/p65 in EC. When subjected to intraperitoneal thrombin challenge, wild type mice showed a marked increase in lung PMN infiltration via expression of ICAM-1. However, these responses were markedly attenuated in mice deficient in nmMLCK. These results provide mechanistic insight into lung inflammatory response associated with intravascular coagulation and identify nmMLCK as a critical target for modulation of lung inflammation.
Promising New Tool for Stakeholder Interaction

This paper presents a research methodology combining the contingent value method (CVM) and the Delphi model, creating an interactive stakeholder interaction to enhance decision making and influence...
A Study of a Serological Principle for the Separation of Mixtures of Bacterial Species, with Preliminary Application to the Isolation of Typhoid Bacilli from Feces

There are few fields of bacteriology which do not offer the difficult problem of isolating pure cultures of a desired bacterial species when it constitutes a minority of the cells in a natural mixture of microorganisms. This problem has stimulated the development of many ingenious methods of enrichment and selective inhibition, each adapted as closely as possible to the requirements of the particular field of inquiry. However, there are many situations, especially among closely related species, in which selective enrichment cannot be
THE HOST GALAXIES OF NARROW-LINE SEYFERT 1 GALAXIES: EVIDENCE FOR BAR-DRIVEN FUELING

We present a study of the host galaxy morphologies of narrow- and broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1's and BLS1's) based on broadband optical images from the Hubble Space Telescope archives. We find that large-scale stellar bars, starting at ~1 kpc from the nucleus, are much more common in NLS1's than BLS1's. Furthermore, the fraction of NLS1 spirals that have bars increases with decreasing full width at half-maximum of the broad component of Hβ. These results suggest a link between the large-scale bars, which can support high fueling rates to the inner kiloparsecs, and the high mass accretion rates associated with the supermassive black holes in NLS1's.
Median measure: an approach to IR systems evaluation

In this paper results from three studies examining 1295 relevance judgments by 36 information retrieval (IR) system end-users is reported. Both the region of the relevance judgments, from non-relevant to highly relevant, and the motivations or levels for the relevance judgments are examined. Three major findings are studied. First, the frequency distributions of relevance judgments by IR system end-users tend to take on a bi-modal shape with peaks at the extremes (non-relevant/relevant) with a flatter middle range. Second, the different type of scale (interval or ordinal) used in each study did not alter the shape of the relevance frequency distributions. And third, on an interval scale, the median point of relevance judgment distributions correlates with the point where relevant and partially relevant items begin to be retrieved. The median point of a distribution of relevance judgments may provide a measure of user/IR system interaction to supplement precision/recall measures. The implications of investigation for relevance theory and IR systems evaluation are discussed.
Performance and emission characteristics of biofuel in a small-scale gas turbine engine

Performance and emissions characteristics of a 30 kW gas turbine engine burning Jet A, soy methyl ester, canola methyl ester, recycled rapeseed methyl ester, hog-fat biofuel, and their 50% (volume) blends in Jet A were studied over a range of throttle settings. The addition of biofuel resulted in a reduction in static thrust and thrust-specific fuel consumption, and increased thermal efficiency. The CO and NO emissions from the turbine were reduced with the biofuel blends. The results suggest that an optimum mixture may be found that reduces pollutant emissions while producing the desired thrust. This study demonstrates that biofuels may serve as viable supplements to petroleum-based fuels.
Survival of a fast-growing strain of lupin rhizobia in sonoran desert soils

Abstract Bacteria isolated from the roots of lupins are normally slow-growing, but an effective, fast-growing strain (generation rime, 3.6 h) of Rhizobium was isolated from a species of Lupinus native to the Sonoran Desert near San Felipe, Baja, Mexico. This strain (Lupin 43) possesses multiple ffageila and produces acid in a denned medium. Field and incubator studies were conducted to determine if the Actaptation of the characteristics of fast-growing strains enabled Lupin 43 to survive under the desert conditions of the southwestern U.S. In the field, where no moisture was added after initial inoculation, Lupin 43 survived in significantly higher numbers than Lupin 96AI 1, a commercial, slow-growing strain. In laboratory studies, at a constant moisture tension of — kPa, differences in survival between the two strains were mostly dependent on soil texture, pH and temperature.
Suicide Risk at Young Adulthood Continuities and Discontinuities From Adolescence

Young adult suicide is an important social problem, yet little is known about how risk for young adult suicide develops from earlier life stages. In this study the authors report on 759 young adults who were potential high school dropouts as youth. At both adolescence and young adulthood, measures of suicide risk status and related suicide risk factors are collected. With a two-by-two classification on the basis of suicide risk status at both adolescence and young adulthood, the authors distinguish four mutually exclusive groups reflecting suicide risk at two life stages. Using ANOVA and logistic regression, both adolescent and young adult suicide risk factors are identified, with evidence of similarity between risk factors at adolescence and at young adulthood, for both individual-level and social-context factors. There is also support for both continuity and discontinuity of adolescent suicide risk. Implications for social policy are discussed.
Spatial and temporal variation of chemical composition and mass closure of ambient coarse particulate matter (PM10-2.5) in the Los Angeles area

To study the seasonal and spatial characteristics, as well as chemical composition of coarse (2.5–10 μm) particulate matter (PM), 10 sampling sites were set up in different areas (urban, semi-rural, desert, near-freeway, community-based, etc) of the Los Angeles Basin. Ambient coarse PM was collected over a year long in 24-hour periods once per week during weekdays, and was analyzed for elemental carbon and organic carbon (EC–OC), water soluble inorganic ions, and total metals and elements. Five categories were used to reconstruct PM mass: 1) crustal materials and other trace elements 2) organic matter 3) elemental carbon 4) sea salt and 5) secondary ions. Overall, crustal materials and other trace elements were the most abundant category, accounting for an average of 47.5 ± 12% of the total reconstructed mass. Secondary ions (sulfate, nitrate and ammonium) and organic matter also contributed significantly at mass fractions of around 22.6% and 19.7%, respectively. Elemental carbon was a less significant component, accounting for less than 2% of total mass across sites. Sea salt particles were more prevalent in spring and summer (12.7%) due to the strong prevailing onshore southwesterly wind in that period. Mass fractions of organic matter, as well as crustal materials and other trace elements were higher in fall and winter, indicating that their contributions were not affected by the lower wind speed and change in wind direction during that period. PM concentrations of sea salt particles decreased from coast to inland along the trajectory of LA Basin, while crustal materials and other trace elements became dominant in inland sites. On the other hand, organic carbon was found to be well-correlated with tracers of soil dust (R = 0.74 and 0.72 for Ti and Fe respectively), suggesting that humic substances might be the major constituent of organic matter in coarse mode in the Los Angeles Basin.
Synchronic Umlaut in Old Icelandic

Recent papers by Cathey and Demers (1975, 1976, 1977, ms) have incorporated an analysis of Old Icelandic phonology in which purely phonetically conditioned rules of i -Umlaut and u -Umlaut are crucial not only to the analysis itself, but to the theoretical implications theauthors draw from that analysis. Synchronically, however, the non exceptional application of i -Umlaut is restricted to just four morpho-syntactic classes: athematic and j -thematic verbs in the preterite subjunctive, j -thematic verbs in the non-preterite, adjectives with a consonant-initial comparative suffix, and athematic feminine or plural r -stem nouns. Historical u-Umlaut continues to round a to Q before u in the next syllable even in literary Old Icelandic, but its application is also morphologically induced, viz. a → Q in all feminines, plurals, and u-stems not followed by a vocalic suffix. All intraparadigmatic umlaut alternations are covered by these morphologizations, which in turn obviate the abstractions proposed by Cathey and Demers.
Adrenal weight-maintaining factors other than ACTH in a beef pituitary extract.

It has been reported that an alkaline extract of beef pituitary glands contained an adrenotropic factor which was potent in influencing adrenal weight but relatively poor in causing adrenal ascorbic acid depletion. We have prepared and tested such an extract and believe that our preparation contained at least two types of activity, each capable of maintaining adrenal weights in hypophyk sectomized rats. These two types of activity appeared to be identifiable with the activities of two recognized pituitary hormones: luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH). No dissociation of ACTH into an adrenal weight main- taining factor and an adrenal ascorbic acid depleting factor need be postulated to explain our results.
Screening with automated perimetry using a threshold-related three-level algorithm

Eighty eyes were tested using the computer-driven, automated threshold-related, three-level screening strategy of the Humphrey Field Analyzer. Using Goldmann perimetry as the standard, different statistical algorithms were used in an attempt to differentiate eyes with glaucoma (n = 24) from normal controls (n = 56). Seventeen or more absolute and/or relative defects anywhere in the full field test area identified approximately 95% of the glaucoma eyes and screened out 80% of the control eyes. Retesting these criteria on a second group of 25 glaucomatous and 108 control eyes provided comparable results. The number of stimulus presentations can be substantially reduced, without deterioration in either sensitivity or specificity, by using a two-level strategy and limiting testing to the nasal field.
The Impact of Divorce on Friendships With Couples and Individuals

When couples divorce, their friendships with other couples and individuals often shift. Using data from a mixed-methods study of 58 divorced individuals and 123 couples, this article explores how friendships change following divorce or a couple's breakup from two different perspectives. Divorced people report that they more often retain, and in some cases strengthen, their individual friendships and that their friendships with both members of couples are rarely maintained. Most couples had other couples with whom they were friends divorce or break up and described losing a friendship with one of the members. Implications for practitioners are included.
Recognition of Dictyostelium discoideum lysosomal enzymes is conferred by the amino-terminal carbohydrate binding site of the insulin-like growth factor II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor.

The insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF-II/MPR) is a type I glycoprotein that mediates both the intracellular sorting of lysosomal enzymes bearing mannose 6-phosphate (M...
N2 fixation by red alder (Alnus rubra) and scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) planted under precommercially thinned Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

From acetylene reduction assays over a 10-month period starting in April 1979, nodule activities averaged 18.78 (se 4.67) μmoles C2H4 g nodule dw−1 h−1 forAlnus rubra and 59.95 (se 12.14) μmoles C2H4 g nodule dw−1 h−1 forCytisus scorparius. Plant rates were 1.91 (se. 47) μmoles C2H4 plant−1 h−1 forA. rubra and 0.55 (se. 17) μmoles C2H4 plant−1 h−1 forC. Scoparius. Plant activity and total leaf N were strongly correlated with the dw of other plant parts, but nodule activity and percent leaf N were not. Plant and nodule activities were not associated with temperature, moisture stress, precipitation events or percent light for either species over the growing season nor for 54A. rubra sampled in mid-season 1979 on one replication. After 5 to 6 growing seasons, 14A. rubra on the same site ranged from 30 to 332 cm in height and showed strong correlation between nodule dw, leaf dw, plant size and total leaf N. Results from this study and others indicate logistic equations may be modified to predict the effect of adding a N2 fixing plant to a population of non N2 fixing trees.
The Effects of an Arm-Fire Mechanism on Operator Performance in a Simulated Crane Control Task:

Incidents involving overhead crane operations at Kennedy Space Center have resulted in a desire to investigate alternative crane control interfaces for potential improvements. This study examines one such interface, which integrates an arm-fire mechanism into an existing crane control console. Two mock crane console configurations were used in a counterbalanced, repeated-measure design to determine effects of the arm-fire on performance and workload ratings of experienced and inexperienced subjects. Addition of the arm-fire produced both positive and negative operational results. Use of the arm-fire mechanism increased operator reaction times, subjective workload ratings, and mean RMS error scores on a secondary tracking task. The arm-fire mechanism effectively mitigated incorrect inputs that could result in injuries or damaged hardware. The only reaction time increase deemed operationally significant was in emergency direction reversal situations. Study funded by NASA grant #NGT10-52621.
UHV-HREM and diffraction of surfaces

Characterization of the structure of surfaces is very important in order to develop a fundamental understanding of the electronic, mechanical and chemical properties of a material. While transmission electron microscopy imaging (TEM) and diffraction (TED) techniques are capable of providing surface structural information at the atomic level, such data would be suspect if obtained under conventional vacuum conditions (10-6–10-8 Torr). Ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions are imperative during both preparation and observation of clean surfaces/interfaces. Conventional TEM techniques are very powerful for UHV-TEM investigations; however, the marriage of surface science and conventional TEM to yield an UHV-TEM is a complex task. These complexities and some of the results obtained using UHV-TEM and UHV-TED techniques for surfaces i.e. solid-vacuum interfaces will be illustrated.
Further evidence for posttranscriptional control of inducible tyrosine aminotransferase synthesis in cultured hepatoma cells.

The posttranscriptional control model for inducible enzymes is supported by evidence that the action of the RNA synthesis inhibitor, actinomycin D, in inhibiting the deinduction of inducible tyrosine aminotransferase is not due to its inhibition of enzyme degradation.
The Rise of the Indo-Afghan Empire c.1710-1780

The Rise of The Indo-Afghan Empire, c. 1710-1780 deals with the magnificent world of Afghan nomads, horse-dealers and mercenaries bridging the frontiers between the old metropolitan centres of India, Iran and Central Asia. During the eighteenth century they succeeded in establishing a vigorous new system of Indo-Afghan states. In Central Asia, the Afghans created an imperial tradition on the basis of long-standing Perso-Islamic ideals. In India, along the caravan routes with Turkistan and Tibet, they carved out thriving principalities in association with military service and the breeding and trade in war-horses. By fully incorporating this Afghan ascendancy into the fabric of Islamic and world history the author challenges the widely held notion of a gloomy Afghan past.
Detection of natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity in hamsters, using Raji target cells.

Natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity was investigated in both inbred (CBSsLak) and outbred [Lak:LVG(SYR)] hamsters. NK cytotoxicity was measured by 51Cr release assay, with mononuclear cells obtained by cardiac puncture used as effector cells and five cell lines (SA-7, Raji, K-562, YAC-1, and IMK101) from various species used as target cells. Positive natural cytotoxicity was observed against SA-7 and Raji cells but not against K-562, YAC-1, or IMK101. Higher cytotoxic indexes were obtained with Raji than with SA-7 target cells. The cytotoxic capacity of NK cells was related to the strain of hamster, the age of the animal, and the effector:target cell ratio. Outbred hamsters exhibited higher NK cytotoxicity than inbred hamsters. Effector cells from hamster less than 1 month old had low NK activity. The specificity of the cell lysis was determined by the use of unlabeled competitor cells and 51Cr-labeled target cells. The results suggest that Raji cells are suitable target cells for the study of NK cytotoxicity in hamsters, and that SA-7 and Raji cells may possess common antigenic determinants recognized by hamster NK cells.
Modulation of the immunogenicity of antigenic determinants by their flanking residues

Abstract Much of the attention on protein antigens and their induction of T-cell responses has focused on the nature of the interactions of their `core' determinants with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or the T-cell receptor (TCR). Here, Kamal Moudgil and colleagues instead emphasize the vital role of the amino acid residues that flank the core antigenic determinant on the outcome of the response.
An overlay data plane for PlanetLab

PlanetLab is a geographically distributed overlay platform designed to support the deployment and evaluation of planetary-scale network services. It currently includes over 500 machines spanning 252 sites and 29 countries, and has supported over 450 research projects. PlanetLab can support large-scale overlays running in slices (i.e., collections of distributed virtual machines). It has significantly lowered the barriers to deploying overlays. The paper describes how to lower them further by introducing a general data plane for overlay networks. Researchers can plug their own control planes into this data plane to run fully functional overlays easily on PlanetLab, and students can use the overlay data plane as a hands-on tool for learning about internetworking concepts. The overlay data plane is the first step in the "Internet-in-a-slice" project, which will let members of the PlanetLab community experiment with virtual Internets running on PlanetLab.
SMM detects new reactions in solar flares

A gamma ray and neutron spectrometer instrument built at the University of New Hampshire under direction of Edward L. Chupp has detected several important new kinds of emissions from solar flares. The instrument was launched Feb. 14, 1980 on the Solar Maximum Mission satellite. Chupp reports that during a major flare on June 21, 1980, his experiment made the first clear observations of neutrons reaching the earth from a solar flare. Neutrons are neutral subatomic particles created in nuclear reactions with flares. Free neutrons decay spontaneously into protons and electrons in about 15 minutes, so only very high speed neutrons can reach the earth at all, as light takes about 8 minutes to reach the earth from the sun. In the June 21 flare an intense burst of gamma rays, lasting about 1 minute, was followed by a 20-min stream of neutrons. This particular flare was probably the most intense to occur during this solar cycle.
String Theory Is Testable, Even Supertestable

Suppose we could understand the laws of nature that govern the particles and their interactions, and in addition why the laws are as they are, and also how the universe evolved and perhaps even how it originated—an active research area today That understanding—a theory—would be formulated not in terms of everyday units, but rather units built from constants such as the speed of light, Planck's constant and Newton's constant. From these constants one obtains the natural scales: the Planck length (∼10−33 cm) and the Planck mass (MP∼1019 GeV/c2). I will call this theory the primary theory, a name I like because it suggests that as we go through a hierarchy of effective theories, from macroscopic sizes to atoms to nuclei, we end at a primary one that is not related to another at a deeper level.
Predictability of prebent advancement plates for use in maxillomandibular advancement surgery.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the predictability when using prebent advancement (PBA) plates in the maxillary osteotomies of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of the MMA surgeries at University of Alabama at Birmingham was carried out. Thirty-six obstructive sleep apnea patients who underwent MMA with PBA were included in this study. All cases had fixation of the maxillary osteotomies with KLS Martin PBA titanium plates and screws (KLS Martin, Jacksonville, FL). Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken within 1 month before surgery (T1), and between 2 to 4 weeks postsurgically (T2). All cephalometric radiographs were analyzed using Planmeca Dimaxis Imaging Software (Helsinki, Finland). Vertical and horizontal measurements were made to several skeletal landmarks including Sella (S), A point (APT), and upper incisor (UPI). The amount of advancement was measured through pre- and postoperative lateral cephalographs and compared with the magnitude of the advancement plates used. Results All data of 36 patients were included and used for statistics. The data showed that the mean difference was 0.74 mm (advancement is more than the size of the PBA plates) and the mean percentage difference was 11.35%. Fifty percent of the cases had the magnitude of advancement within 1 mm of the PBA size. The predictive analysis found that the PBA size was a significant predictor for the advancement achieved ( P P = .0726) and the relative advancement difference ( P = .0612). The absolute difference and the relative difference take into account the size of the PBA and are better parameters to judge the predictability of the advancement achieved. The rationale for this unpredictability is largely due to the anatomy of the maxilla and pyriform rims and the adaptation of the PBA to the maxilla. Conclusion There are distinct advantages to the use of PBA plates. The PBA plates have been proven to significantly affect the advancement. However, when very precise movements are required, the size of the PBA used does not predictably correlate to and frequently underestimates the amount of advancement achieved. Therefore accurate model surgeries are still required for most cases.
The Dogmatism Puzzle

According to the Dogmatism Puzzle, knowledge breeds dogmatism: if a subject knows a proposition h, then she is justified in disregarding any future evidence against h, for she knows that such evidence is misleading. The standard, widely accepted, solution to the puzzle appeals to the defeasibility of knowledge. I argue that the defeat solution leaves intact a residual dogmatist puzzle. Solving this puzzle requires proponents of defeat to deny a plausible principle that the original puzzle relies on called Entitlement, a principle stating roughly that knowing that a piece of evidence is misleading entitles one to disregard it. The plausibility of Entitlement should cast doubt not only on the defeat solution, but on an assumption that has often been taken for granted: the falsity of the dogmatist conclusion of the original puzzle. I conclude that we face a dilemma between giving up Entitlement and living with dogmatism.
Minimally symptomatic patients with ruptured chordae tendineae due to myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve

Minimally symptomatic patients with ruptured chordae tendineae and severe mitral insufficiency due to myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve are presented. This unique clinical subset of patients with mitral valve prolapse is described.
Posttraumatic Oxytocin Dysregulation: Is It a Link Among Posttraumatic Self Disorders, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Pelvic Visceral Dysregulation Conditions in Women?

This article explicates a theory that oxytocin, a sexually dimorphic neurotransmitter and paracrine hormone, is a plausible mechanism linking early relational trauma with posttraumatic self disorders (e.g., dissociation, somatization, and interpersonal sensitivity), posttraumatic stress disorder, and pelvic visceral dysregulation disorders (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, and hyperemesis gravidarum). This posttraumatic oxytocin dysregulation disorders theory is consistent with the historical and contemporary literature. It integrates attention to psychological and physical comorbidities and could account for the increased incidence of these disorders among females. Specific propositions are explored in data from studies of traumatic stress and women's health.
Single-Molecule Fluorescence Imaging with Sub-nanometer Resolution

Objective: The emerging field of fluorescence nano-scopy promises to revolutionize biomedical research, and remarkable progress has been made in the measurement of nano-meter distances. Although diffraction of visible light limits the far-field optical resolution to ∼200nm, the center position of spatially resolved fluorescent molecules or nano-particles can be located to much higher precision. Notably, in high resolution microwave and optical spectroscopy there are numerous examples where the line-center is determined with a precision of less than 0.000001 of the line-width. In contrast, the brightest single fluorescent emitters can be detected with a Signal-to-Noise-Ratio of ∼100, limiting the localization precision to 0.01 (∼1.5nm) of the microscope Point-Spread-Function (PSF) width. Moreover the error in co-localizing two or more single emitters is notably worse, remaining greater than 0.03-0.05 (5-10nm) of the PSF width.Results: We achieve two-color single-molecule imaging with 0.5nm absolute localization and registration accuracy as well as demonstrate 0.7nm absolute accuracy in distance measurements between two different color dye-molecules attached at known positions along a surface tethered bio-molecule. The statistical uncertainty in the mean for an ensemble of N∼10 identical single molecule samples is limited only by the total number of collected photons to ∼0.3nm, or ∼0.002 of the width of the optical PSF. We further show how our method can be used to improve the resolution of many sub-wavelength, far-field imaging methods such as those based on co-localization of stochastically excited fluorescent molecules.Conclusion: We demonstrate sub-nanometer resolution in measurements of molecular-scale distances using far-field fluorescence imaging optics, at room temperature and in physiological buffer conditions. The improved resolution will allow deciphering in real-time, at the single molecule level the structure and dynamics of large, multi-subunit biological complexes.
Tests for the joint evolution of mating system and drought escape in Mimulus

Annals of Botany109: 583–598, 2012 During the editing process of this article a mistake was introduced into the key for Fig. 2, where the black bars should indicate dry soil. A corrected version of the figure is reproduced below. An error was also introduced in Table 2, where the fourth row was labelled as ‘%’ rather than as ‘%N’. We apologise for these errors. Fig. 2. Fig. 2. Least-squares means ( ± s.e.) of flower size (A), anther–stigma separation (B), days from sowing to first flower (C), leaf %N content (D), leaf 13C isotope ratio (E), number of flowers produced (F) and above-ground biomass (G) ...
Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma Presenting with Tongue Involvement: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report an unusual case of mixed cellularity classical Hodgkin's lymphoma with prominent involvement of the base of the tongue at diagnosis. In situ hybridization findings for Epstein-Barr virus were positive. Waldeyer's ring involvement by Hodgkin's lymphoma is uncommon with < 200 cases reported in the English literature and only 5 previous reports of Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the tongue.
Essay Review: Ptolemy's Geography, An Annotated Translation of the Theoretical Chapters by J. Lennart Berggren and Alexander Jones

(2003). Essay Review: Ptolemy's Geography, An Annotated Translation of the Theoretical Chapters by J. Lennart Berggren and Alexander Jones. Annals of Science: Vol. 60, No. 3, pp. 313-320.
Direct Injury to the Axillary Nerve in Athletes Playing Contact Sports

We performed long-term followup (31 to 276 months) of 11 contact athletes who had sustained isolated injuries to their axillary nerves during athletic competition. There were no known shoulder dislocations. Electromyographs were taken of 10 patients, and all patients had confirmation of clinically defined injuries that were confined to their axillary nerves. Nine injuries were sustained while tackling opposing players in football; two were sustained in hockey collisions. In seven athletes, the mechanism of injury was a direct blow to the anterior lateral deltoid muscle. In four athletes, there were simultaneous contralateral neck flexion and ipsilateral shoulder depression. At followup, all patients had residual deficits of axillary sensory and motor nerve function. There had been no deltoid muscle improvement in three patients, moderate improvement in two patients, and major improvement in six patients. However, shoulder function remained excellent, with all athletes maintaining full range of motion and good-to-excellent motor strength. Axillary nerve exploration and neurolysis in four patients did not significantly affect the outcomes. Although no patient had full recovery of axillary nerve function, 10 of 11 athletes returned to their preinjury levels of sports activities, including professional athletics.
Tradeoffs between battery energy capacity and stochastic optimal power management in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Recent results in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) power management research suggest that battery energy capacity requirements may be reduced through proper power management algorithm design. Specifically, algorithms which blend fuel and electricity during the charge depletion phase using smaller batteries may perform equally to algorithms that apply electric-only operation during charge depletion using larger batteries. The implication of this result is that “blended” power management algorithms may reduce battery energy capacity requirements, thereby lowering the acquisition costs of PHEVs. This article seeks to quantify the tradeoffs between power management algorithm design and battery energy capacity, in a systematic and rigorous manner. Namely, we (1) construct dynamic PHEV models with scalable battery energy capacities, (2) optimize power management using stochastic control theory, and (3) develop simulation methods to statistically quantify the performance tradeoffs. The degree to which blending enables smaller battery energy capacities is evaluated as a function of both daily driving distance and energy (fuel and electricity) pricing.
Production and hedging under knightian uncertainty

This article introduces Knightian uncertainty into the production and futures hedging framework. The firm has imprecise information about the probability density function of spot or futures prices in the future. Decision‐making under such scenario follows the “max‐min” principle. It is shown that inertia in hedging behavior prevails under Knightian uncertainty. In a forward market, there is a region for the current forward price within which full hedge is the optimal hedging policy. This result may help explain why the one‐to‐one hedge ratio is commonly observed. Also inertia increases as the ambiguity with the probability density function increases. When hedging on futures markets with basis risk, inertia is established at the regression hedge ratio. Moreover, if only the futures price is subject to Knightian uncertainty, the utility function has no bearing on the possibility of inertia. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 20: 397–404, 2000
Catadioptric omnidirectional camera

Conventional video cameras have limited fields of view that make them restrictive in a variety of vision applications. There are several ways to enhance the field of view of an imaging system. However, the entire imaging system must have a single effective viewpoint to enable the generation of pure perspective images from a sensed image. A new camera with a hemispherical field of view is presented. Two such cameras can be placed back-to-back, without violating the single viewpoint constraint, to arrive at a truly omnidirectional sensor. Results are presented on the software generation of pure perspective images from an omnidirectional image, given any user-selected viewing direction and magnification. The paper concludes with a discussion on the spatial resolution of the proposed camera.
Making “Waves” With a Murine Model of Aortic Insufficiency

Considering the current emphasis on valvular heart disease in clinical practice, a mouse model of valvular regurgitation is important and timely.1,2 Hajj et al revisit a previously reported mouse homozygous for a single nucleotide mutation in the gene encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), resulting in a 90% global reduction in EGFR-tyrosine kinase activity.3 Egfr Wa2/Wa2 , or waved-2 (Wave) mice, had been previously reported to develop abnormalities of the semilunar valves.3 In one report, the aortic valve of Wave mice was thickened and enlarged with mixed aortic stenosis (AS)/aortic regurgitation (AR) and a mean gradient ranging from 15 to 40 mm Hg.3 In a second, Barrick et al found that Egfr Wa2/Wa2 mice on the c57bl/6j background, in comparison to 129s1/svimj, had an increased aortic valve gradient, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and decreased survival.4 Aortic cusp separation was not measured, but these results were again interpreted to be caused by predominantly calcific AS.4 Both papers showed that reduced EGFR signaling was associated with the development of aortic valve disease, reflected by increased peak systolic pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure.3,4 Fortuitously, and in contrast to most models of murine congenital heart disease, animals were viable postnatally.5 However, it remained unclear whether AS or AR was the predominant disorder. See accompanying article on page 1653 Enter the present study by Hajj et al, who unequivocally demonstrate that Wave mice do not have AS, but are almost exclusively a model of noncalcific, myxomatous AR.2 At 1.5 months of age, 70% of mice had moderate to severe AR …