cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Beyond Adaptive Braking

Train control systems use a Safe Braking Distance (SBD) to determine the appropriate length to separate trains to avoid collisions. The same properties that allow trains to propel themselves with great efficiency also prevent them from stopping suddenly. Once the SBD is determined, it can be applied to the signal system design by creating “signal blocks” that are used to determine the location of signal equipment along the track. In its simplest form, each signal block provides sufficient distance to stop the train traveling at the maximum authorized speed. More advanced train control systems utilize other means of train detection such as global positioning satellites, or track mounted transponders. Regardless of the train control technology used, the methods of determining SBD remain the same. Positive Train Control (PTC) type systems are being developed for deployment throughout the United States and are required on all passenger lines, including High Speed Rail. However all of these methodologies are based on traditional worst case scenarios. With PTC required to be deployed before the 2015 time limit, freight carriers are working on new braking algorithms that involve specific inputs such as speed, train weight and alignment. This is called “Adaptive Braking” in that it calculates a different solution based on the data on hand [22]. Reports on this development detail purely reactive methodology. Reactive methods simply imply that conditions for the calculation are based on information that is in or before real time. It is proposed to utilize a proactive approach in determining SBD to monitor adhesion conditions in advance of the train to optimize SBD and capacity.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Dietary fats and blood pressure: a critical review of the evidence.

Comparisons of blood pressure patterns among populations suggest that low-fat diets or consumption of unsaturated fatty acids decrease blood pressure. However, in most single populations dietary fatty acids and total fat, as determined by diet history, are not significantly correlated with blood pressure. Dietary fatty acids, quantitated by levels in adipose tissue or plasma lipoproteins, had no consistent association with blood pressure. Dietary fatty acids and total fat were not predictive of the development of hypertension over four years in a large cohort of nurses in the United States. Although several dietary trials lacking randomized controls suggested effects of dietary fats on blood pressure, 11 of 12 controlled trials showed no significant effects. All seven double-blind trials, and the two trials of longest duration (one and five years), showed no effect of either varying the content of total fat or of exchanging polyunsaturated for saturated fatty acids. In summary, there is little convincing evidence that the amount or type of dietary fat, varied within customary dietary patterns, affects blood pressure levels in persons with normal or mildly elevated blood pressure.
The basic science of thermally assisted chondroplasty

Thermal chondroplasty provides a visually enticing effect on articular cartilage, but the long-term effects of thermal modification and injury to articular cartilage must be understood before the technology is applied to cartilage and chondrocytes in a clinical setting.
The contingency model for the selection of decision strategies: An empirical test of the effects of significance, accountability, and reversibility

Abstract A contingency model for the selection of decision strategies was described and tested. This model suggests that when (1) decisions are more significant, (2) the decision cannot be reversed, and (3) the decision maker is responsible for his actions, then the decision strategy will be more analytic and result in a greater investment of time and effort than when the opposite conditions are true. Three studies tested and supported these assumptions. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for the further development of this particular model and for the field of decision making in general.
14.1: Invited Paper: Sonification: Multimodal and Auditory Displays of Data

Sonification is intentionally using sound to represent data. As visual displays both shrink and grow, as datasets grow in size and complexity, and as mobile data access increases, sophisticated auditory displays become crucial. We present a taxonomy of sonification, and discuss implementation and design, in the context of multimodal interaction.
Analytic Hierarchy Process for Technology Policy: Case Study the Costa Rican Digital Divide

This article consists of presentation slides on the following subject. This paper presents an application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for technology policy. Developing countries face the great challenge to bridge their internal digital divide. However, most studies seeking to bridge this gap offer only recommendations at the policy level. With the use of AHP as a methodology we can provide appropriate information about which technologies will have the greatest impact on bridging this gap.
The Universe, Too Quickly Toured

The Quantum Zoo . A Tourist's Guide to the Neverending Universe. Marcus Chown . Joseph Henry Press (National Academies Press), Washington, DC, 2006. 212 pp. $24.95, C$27.95. ISBN 0-309-09622-7. Writing for a broad, popular audience, Chown offers an entertaining description of two key strands of modern physics: quantum mechanics and relativity.
And the Answer Is, It Doesn’t Much Matter

There has been widespread interest in defining optimal treatment strategies for patients with unstable angina. Within the penumbra of this diagnosis is a wide spectrum of patients, ranging from those with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction to those who have had recent onset of progressive angina without electrocardiographic changes or evidence of myocardial necrosis. A great deal of interest in the former group of patients has been stimulated by the most recent trials, Fragmin and Fast Revascularization During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease (FRISC II), Validation of Immediate angioplasty in Non–Q-wave myocardial infarction: an Open randomized multicenter study (VINO), and Treat Angina With Aggrastat and Determine Costs of Therapy With Invasive or Conservative Strategies (TACTICS),1–4⇓⇓⇓ which support an aggressive approach for the majority of patients. Seventy-five percent of the patients in the TACTICS trial fell into the categories of intermediate or high risk on the basis of the TIMI grading system, and in these subsets there was a clinically significant improvement in outcomes in the invasive arm, a finding heartily applauded by interventional cardiologists. See Circulation. 2002;105:2367–2372 Nonetheless, it should be emphasized that a sizable minority of patients with a history strongly suggestive of unstable angina have neither ECG changes nor elevated serum biomarkers, and in these subgroups the benefit of an aggressive approach is less evident. Although percutaneous coronary intervention has frequently been used in this group of patients, it has not been without problems, with the potential for increased complications particularly when angiographic thrombus was present.5 In addition, during follow-up, subsequent restenosis rates were found to be increased. Of interest, as far back as 1984,6 the initial National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angiography (NHLBI PTCA) registry found unstable angina to be a risk factor for the development of subsequent …
The effect of copper deficiency on adriamycin toxicity.

Abstract The effect of copper (Cu) deficiency on antioxidant status of liver and heart and its effect on adriamycin toxicity was assessed. Weanling rats were fed Cu-adequate (+Cu) and Cu-deficient (−Cu) diets for 3 weeks and then injected intraperitoneally once with saline or adriamycin (8 mg/kg). All − Cu rats had increased heart/body weight ratios compared to + Cu rats. Regardless of Cu status, adriamycin decreased body weight and increased heart cytochrome c oxidase, but had no effect on Cu.Zn-superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) index or liver cytochrome c oxidase activity. − Cu, adriamycin rats had significantly decreased heart weights (0.54 + 0.02 g/kg body wt.) compared to − Cu, saline rats (0.69 ± 0.05 g/kg body wt.). Four of 6 − Cu rats given adriamycin had abnormal EKGs, with 3 showing extrasystoles and 1 having a severe bradycardia. All + Cu rats given adriamycin had normal EKGs. Pathological changes detected with electron microscopy were most severe in − Cu rats given adriamycin.
Comparison of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement bias and imprecision across three spectral-domain optical coherence tomography devices.

Purpose. We compared retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) bias and imprecision among three spectral-domain optical coherence tomographs (SD-OCT).
Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic AMP-gated, hcn1-like cation channel: the primary, full-length hcn isoform expressed in a saccular hair-cell layer

Abstract The expression of transcript for hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-sensitive cation channel (HCN) isoforms underlying hyperpolarization-activated, inward current (Ih) has been determined for a model hair-cell preparation from the saccule of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Based upon identification from homology to known vertebrate HCN cDNA sequence, cloning of PCR products amplified with degenerate primers indicated an expression frequency of 7:2:1 (HCN1:HCN2:HCN4) for the hair-cell sheet compared with 1:1:7 for brain. Full-length sequence has been obtained for the HCN1-like isoform representing the primary HCN transcript expressed in the hair-cell preparation. The channel protein is 938 amino acids in length with 93% amino acid identity for the region extending from the S1–S6 membrane spanning domains through the voltage-pore and cyclic nucleotide-binding domains, compared with HCN1 for rabbit, rat, mouse and human. The N- and C-terminal regions are less homologous, with 39–51% and 43–44% amino acid identities, respectively. Compared with other vertebrate HCN1, the hair-cell HCN1 contains additional consensus phosphorylation sites associated with unique repeats in the carboxy terminus. The HCN1-like transcript has been localized to hair cells of the saccular sensory epithelia by in situ hybridization. Previous electrophysiological studies have identified Ih as the sole inwardly rectifying ion channel in a specific population of hair cells of the saccule of frogs [J Neurophysiol (1995) 73:1484] and fish [J Physiol (1996) 495:665] . Ih is an important determinant of the resting membrane potential, and for this population of hair cells, is predicted to maintain the membrane potential within a voltage range allowing the voltage-gated calcium channels to open, permitting “spontaneous” release of transmitter. The molecular properties of the HCN1-like isoform underlying Ih expressed in the saccular hair cells of the teleost, trout, may consequently impact spontaneous release of transmitter from hair cells of the saccule.
Enhancing Supercritical Fluid Extraction Using Acoustic Excitations

A computational fluid dynamics model of supercritical fluid extraction of a solute (caffeine) from a fixed bed of porous solid matrix (coffee beans) using a supercritical solvent (carbon dioxide) is developed. The mathematical model is developed considering diffusion-controlled transport in the particle and film mass transfer resistance around the particle. Accurate representations of the transport properties of supercritical carbon dioxide are considered. The conservation equations are numerically solved using an implicit finite volume method. Supercritical fluid extraction of a solute from a solid matrix has a slow dynamics even when solute free solvent is re-circulated and therefore improvements in the mass transfer process are required. The effect of acoustically excited flows on supercritical fluid extraction in a fixed bed extractor is investigated. Harmonically oscillating inlet wall boundary condition is used to model a piezoelectric transducer. The use of acoustic excitation represents a potential efficient way of enhancing mass transfer processes. Application of acoustic excitations at the fundamental frequency of the extractor (f = 996 Hz) increased the overall yield by about 15%. The effects produced by compressions and decompressions, as well as by radiation pressure and streaming contribute to the enhancements.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A comparison of quadrature and single-channel receiver processing in adaptive beamforming

A performance comparison between two different types of receivers in an HF adaptive array application is presented. The data used for the study were recorded using a bistatic HF radar located in the central valley of California. Eastword-looking transmissions were generated using a continuous sweep-frequency (chirp) format with a sweep repetition rate of 60 Hz. Backscatter signals, produced by a one-hop forward ionospheric path followed by a one-hop ionospheric return path were received using eight adjacent 32-element linear subarrays spanning a total linear aperture of 2.5 km. Single-channel receivers at each of the eight subarrays were employed for deramping and conversion to baseband. The overall system bandwidth was 960 Hz, and a common local oscillator was used for the receivers. All adaptive processing was carried out off-line using digitized data recorded simultaneously at the eight receiver outputs. The objective of the study described in this paper was to compare the results obtained using the receiving system described above with those which would be obtained using quadrature receivers at the subarray outputs. In the latter case, dual common local oscillator injection, with a 90\deg phase difference, is employed to obtain two receiver outputs, (in-phase and quadrature components) for each receiver. The component outputs then each have a bandwidth equal to one-half that of the single-channel receiver or 480 Hz for both the in-phase and quadrature signals. One advantage of quadrature reception is that a single real multiplying weight can be used at the two outputs to obtain a frequency-independent gain and phase-shift across the received bandwidth, a property which is not easily obtained for all azimuths in the single-channel receiver structure. The study described in this paper was undertaken to quantitatively determine the importance of this difference in an adaptive beamforming system. The approach taken was to synthesize quadrature receiver signals from the recorded single-channel data using Hilbert transform methods. Comparisons between the two receiving systems were then carried out using identical data sets. The results obtained illustrate that minor differences (less than 5 dB) exist in the processed outputs provided that the same number of adaptive degrees of freedom are used in the two processors. As a result, decisions as to the specific form of a receiver to be used in an HF radar should be based on considerations relating to ease of implementation rather than the overall performance of the adaptive processor.
Dehydroepiandrosterone alters lipid profiles in Zucker rats

High free fatty acid (FFA) levels are common in obesity and in diseases such as diabetes that are associated with the obese state. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) decreases dietary fat consumption, body fat content, and insulin levels in the obese Zucker rat (ZR), a genetic model of human youth-onset obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of DHEA on lean and obese ZR serum, adipose, and hepatic tissue fatty acid (FA) profiles and serum FFA levels. Because DHEA is known to decrease fat consumption and body fat, we postulate that DHEA may also alter FA profiles and FFA levels of the obese ZR such that they more closely resemble the profiles and levels of their lean siblings. In this study there was a DHEA and a pair-fed (PF) group (n=6) for 12 lean and 12 obese ZR. The diet of the treatment groups was supplemented with 0.6% DHEA, and PF groups were given the same average calories consumed by their corresponding DHEA group for 30 d. Fasted animals were sacrificed, and FA profiles and FFA levels were measured. Serum FFA levels were higher in obese (∼1 mmol/L) compared to lean rats (∼0.6 mmol/L). After 30 d of DHEA treatment, FFA levels were lower (P<0.05) in both lean and obese groups. Although several significant differences in FA profile of serum, hepatic, and adipose lipid components were observed between lean and obese ZR, DHEA-related changes were only observed in the serum phospholipid (PL) and liver PL and triglyceride fractions. The slight but significant decrease in serum FFA levels may be reflected by changes in serum PL FA profiles. Specific hepatic FA profile alterations may be related to DHEA's known effects in inducing hepatic peroxisomes. We speculate that such FA changes may give insight into a mechanism for the action of DHEA.
Using video for reference staff training and development: A selective bibliography

With the rapid growth of the video and VCR market since the 1980s, librarians have increasingly used videos for staff training and development, as well as for instructional purposes. As a medium, video provides a potentially stimulating and accessible alternative to other training approaches. In many training and instructional situations, video can clarify technical procedures, step‐by‐step, using such functions as slow motion and replay. For training programs emphasizing soft skills development (including communication, supervisory, and management skills), video can enhance role playing and behavior modeling. It can also provide opportunities for self‐observation and evaluation through the taping of simulated or actual interactions.
Randomization-assisted model-based survey sampling

The model-assisted paradigm presently dominates survey sampling. Under it, randomization-based theory is treated as the only true approach to inference. Models are helpful only when choosing between randomization-based methods. We propose an alternative theoretical paradigm. Model-based inference, which conditions on the realized sample, is the focus of this approach. Randomization-based methods, which focus on the set of hypothetical samples that could have been drawn, are employed primarily to provide protection against model failure. Although the choices made under the randomization-assisted model-based paradigm are often little different from those recommended by Sarndal et al. (Model Assisted Survey Sampling, Springer, New York, 1992), the motivation is clearer. Moreover, the approach proposed here for variance estimation leads to a logically coherent treatment of finite-population and small-sample adjustments when they are needed.
Genetic Characterization of Antiplasmid Immunity through a Type III-A CRISPR-Cas System

Many prokaryotes possess an adaptive immune system encoded by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs). CRISPR loci produce small guide RNAs (crRNAs) that, in conjunction with flanking CRISPR-associated (cas) genes, combat viruses and block plasmid transfer by an antisense targeting mechanism. CRISPR-Cas systems have been classified into three types (I to III) that employ distinct mechanisms of crRNA biogenesis and targeting. The type III-A system in Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62a blocks the transfer of staphylococcal conjugative plasmids and harbors nine cas-csm genes. Previous biochemical analysis indicated that Cas10, Csm2, Csm3, Csm4, and Csm5 form a crRNA-containing ribonucleoprotein complex; however, the roles of these genes toward antiplasmid targeting remain unknown. Here, we determined the cas-csm genes that are required for antiplasmid immunity and used genetic and biochemical analyses to investigate the functions of predicted motifs and domains within these genes. We found that many mutations affected immunity by impacting the formation of the Cas10-Csm complex or crRNA biogenesis. Surprisingly, mutations in the predicted nuclease domains of the members of the Cas10-Csm complex had no detectable effect on antiplasmid immunity or crRNA biogenesis. In contrast, the deletion of csm6 and mutations in the cas10 Palm polymerase domain prevented CRISPR immunity without affecting either complex formation or crRNA production, suggesting their involvement in target destruction. By delineating the genetic requirements of this system, our findings further contribute to the mechanistic understanding of type III CRISPR-Cas systems.
Hypothalamic and basal ganglia projections to the posterior thalamus: possible role in modulation of migraine headache and photophobia

Migraine attacks are typically described as unilateral, throbbing pain that is usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and exaggerated sensitivities to light, noise and smell. The headache phase of a migraine attack is mediated by activation of the trigeminovascular pathway; a nociceptive pathway that originates in the meninges and carries pain signals through meningeal nociceptors to the spinal trigeminal nucleus and from there to the cortex through relay neurons in the thalamus. Recent studies in our lab have identified a population of trigeminovascular neurons in the posterior (Po) and lateral posterior (LP) thalamic nuclei that may be involved in the perception of whole-body allodynia (abnormal skin sensitivity) and photophobia (abnormal sensitivity to light) during migraine. The purpose of the current study was to identify sub-cortical areas that are in position to directly regulate the activity of these thalamic trigeminovascular neurons. Such process begins with anatomical mapping of neuronal projections to the posterior thalamus of the rat by performing discrete injections of the retrograde tracer Fluorogold into the Po/LP region. Such injections yielded retrogradely labeled neurons in the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca, the dopaminergic cells group A11/A13, the ventromedial and ventral tuberomammillary nuclei of the hypothalamus. We also found that some of these neurons contain acetylcholine, dopamine, cholecystokinin and histamine, respectively. Accordingly, we speculate that these forebrain/hypothalamic projections to Po and LP may play a role in those migraine attacks triggered by disrupted sleep, skipping meals and emotional reactions.
PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION: ARE VOLUNTEERS MORE OR LESS FEARFUL OF CRIME THAN OTHER CITIZENS?

ABSTRACT Fear of crime is one of many quality of life issues that community crime prevention strategies have attempted to identify and address. Little is known, however, about the perceptions of fear of criminal victimization among citizens who volunteer in community crime prevention programs. This study assesses fear of violent crime and property crime victimization among 192 police volunteers and 421 general citizens, controlling for known correlates of fear of crime in the comparison. Multivariate regression analyses show that police volunteers fear violent crime victimization substantially more than general citizens. Likewise, police volunteers fear property victimization more than general citizens, however, the effect on fear of violent crime was markedly more robust than for property crime. The findings drawn from this study lend support to Pepinski's (1989) cautions concerning community crime prevention programs. Directions for future research are discussed.
Bulb-T Beams with Self-Consolidating Concrete on Route 33 in Virginia

A study investigated bulb-T beams with self-consolidating concrete (SCC) in the Route 33 Bridge over the Pamunkey River in Virginia, near West Point. Before construction of the bridge, two test beams with SCC similar in cross section to the actual beams in the structure were cast and loaded to failure at FHWA's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia. They were tested for transfer length, development length, flexural strength, and shear strength. These test beams demonstrated that SCC members can be designed with the same methods, assumptions, and limiting values as used for normally consolidated concrete beams. On the basis of positive results, beams with SCC were cast and placed in the bridge. It was found that SCC can be prepared yielding adequate slump flow without segregation, satisfactory strength and acceptably low permeability. Attention should be paid to the sensitivity of SCC to water content.
What determines the variation in relative performance evaluation usage across US industries

Purpose – Relative performance evaluation (RPE) involves board comparisons of firm performance to that of a peer group when evaluating CEO performance. To date, research on RPE in the USA has typically relied on models where RPE is implicitly assumed. In contrast, Bannister and Newman provide some direct evidence on the explicit RPE usage by US firms showing that it is limited and there is significant inter-industry variation in its use. The authors aim to focus on why boards in some industries employ RPE to a greater extent than those in other industries do using measures of industry discretion, industry homogeneity, industry competition. Design/methodology/approach – The authors utilize the sample use in the Bannister and Newman study of RPE usage in industries (160 firms from the 1992 Fortune 250 with proxy statements for 1992 and 1993). The authors compile measures of industry membership (using SIC codes), industry discretion, industry homogeneity, and industry competition from Compustat a well. Multi...
Radiation therapy for gynecologic malignancies.

Abstract In the last century, radiation has been successfully used as primary and adjuvant treatment in the management of gynecologic malignancies. It is anticipated that radiation will continue as an integral component in the treatment of cervical,endometrial, vulvar, and vaginal carcinoma. Current efforts are directed at im-proving control rates while minimizing treatment-related toxicities through the use of more conformal external beam radiotherapy techniques, refinement of brachytherapy techniques, and the integration of chemotherapy.
On the Study of Asian-Americans: its Current State and Agenda

In order to investigate the extent and scope of the Asian-American's integration into American society the majority of researchers have applied an assimilation perspective. This perspective has gen...
Effects of Source Congruity on Brand Attitudes and Beliefs: The Moderating Role of Issue-Relevant Elaboration

In this article, we examine the conditions under which source congruity affects brand attitudes and beliefs. Source congruity is defined as the degree of match between accessible endorser associations and attributes associated with the brand. When the level of issue-relevant elaboration is high, we propose that source congruity affects brand attitudes positively, as consumers seek brand-relevant information to form attitudes. When the level of issue-relevant elaboration is low, source congruity has less of an effect on brand attitudes, as consumers use peripheral cues or heuristics to form attitudes. Support for the hypotheses comes from three lab studies.
HICAMP bitmap: space-efficient updatable bitmap index for in-memory databases

Bitmap represents an efficient indexing structure for querying large amounts of data and is widely deployed in data-warehouse applications. While the size of a bitmap scales linearly with the number of rows in a table, due to its sparseness, it can be greatly reduced via compression based on run-length encoding. However, updating a compressed bitmap is expensive due to the encoding and decoding overheads, in particular, as re-compression can change the compressed sequence length and data layout. Due to this problem, bitmap indices only perform well for read-only workloads.In this paper, we propose a bitmap index structure which is both space-efficient and allows fast updates, by building on top of a smart memory model called HICAMP. As a consequence, our approach enables bitmap indices for workloads that exhibit high update ratios as in OLTP workloads. We also present a new multi-bit bitmap design which addresses the candidate checking problem. In our experiments, the HICAMP bitmap index demonstrates 3~12x reduction in size over B-tree and 8~30x over other commonly used indexing structures such as Red-Black tree, while supporting efficient updates simultaneously.
Cenomanian-Turonian carbon isotope events recorded in terrestrial organic matter from northern Japan

Abstract Carbon isotopic fluctuations recorded in terrestrial organic matter from the Upper Cretaceous Cenomanian-Turonian succession of Hokkaido, Japan show a remarkably similar pattern to isotopic fluctuation in carbonate carbon reported from southern England and the Italian Apennines. Chronological correlation for the Cenomanian-Turonian section of Japan is based on planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy with some additional data from macrofossils, allowing a detailed comparison of isotope stratigraphies for Japan and Europe. Three distinct features of the isotope profile, namely a positive spike near the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary, a shoulder in the lower-middle Turonian and a level segment in the middle-upper Turonian are observed in Japan. These features are biostratigraphically comparable and correlative with isotope profiles reported from Europe. The single factor influencing isotopic composition of both terrestrial organic carbon and marine carbonate carbon is isotopic change in the global CO2 reservoir of the ocean-atmosphere system. If these three carbon isotope features are synchronous, they may be inferred as having been caused by global phenomena and as providing global high-resolution chemo-stratigraphic markers. Carbon isotope stratigraphy could be an important bridge between terrestrial inland sequences and marine sequences.
Homeobox Genes Msx-1 and Msx-2 Are associated with Induction and Growth of Skin Appendages

The mechanism involved in the morphogenesis of skin appendages is a fundamental issue underlying the development and healing of skin. To identify molecules involved in the induction and growth of skin appendages, we studied the expression of two homeobox genes, Msx-1 and Msx-2, during einbryonic chicken skin development. We found that i) both Msx-1 and Msx-2 are early markers of epithelial placodes for skin appendages; ii) both Msx-1 and Msx-2 are expressed in the growing feather bud epithelia but not in the interbud epithelia; iii) although mostly overlapping, there are differences between the expression of the two Msx genes, Msx-1 being expressed more toward the anterior whereas Msx-2 is expressed more toward the distal feather bud; iv) there is no body-position-specific expression pattern as was observed for members of the Hox A-D clusters; v) in the feather follicle, Msx-1 and 2 are expressed in the collar and barb ridge epithelia, both regions of continuous cell proliferation; vi) when feather-bud growth was inhibited by forskolin, an activator of adenylyl cyclase, the expression of both genes was reduced. These results showed that Msx genes are specifically expressed in epithelial domains destined to become skin appendages. Its function in skin- appendage morphogenesis may be twofold, first in making epithelial cells competent to become skin appendages and, second, in making epithelial cells maintain their potential for continuous growth.
Antigenic Histamine Release from Passively Sensitized Human Leukocytes

With histamine release as an indicator, consistent passive sensitization of normal human leukocytes to specific anligen could be achieved with human serum, fresh or stored at -70 degrees C, from allergic individuals. With certain sera, dilution slowed the rate of sensitization but increased eventual histamine release.
Kaye Scholer as Original Sin: The Lawyer's Duty of Candor and the Bar's Temptations of Evasions and Apology

Professor William Simon's analysis of the Kaye Scholer affair (1998) deals with serious charges of malfeasance, not only against the attorneys who represented Lincoln Savings in its battle with the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), but also against the bar generally. Simon sees the legal profession's response to the Kaye Scholer matter as a circling of the wagons, a reflexive and uncritical act of self-defense that counts as a "large mark against [the bar] in the current debate over the appropriate allocation of regulatory responsibilities between public authorities and professional institutions" (1998, 245). Instead of the careful inquiry and self-examination that Simon views as the appropriate response to the OTS's allegations, the bar responded with "a panoply of evasions" (1998, 245). These are substantial claims-ones that the lawyers and scholars alike should take seriously. If true, they might justify a reexamination of the role of private attorneys in important areas of regulatory practice. One can certainly agree with many of Simon's observations. For example, he is correct that the vast majority of the commentators on the matter
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Impact of Internal Mammary Artery Conduit on Long-Term Outcomes After Percutaneous Intervention of Saphenous Vein Graft”

We thank Drs Brilakis and Banerjee for their insightful comments concerning our recently published study.1 Our goal was to evaluate whether percutaneous interventions of saphenous vein graft (SVG) had any influence on long-term outcomes. In accordance with the retrospective and observational nature of our study, we used currently accepted methodology that included adjustments using a Cox proportional hazard model to account for differences in baseline confounders in the 4 groups. In …
RECOVERY OF PITUITARY FUNCTION FOLLOWING SURGICAL REMOVAL OF LARGE NONFUNCTIONING PITUITARY ADENOMAS

SUMMARY Pituitary function was evaluated in eleven patients with large nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas before and 3 months after surgical adenomectomy. The longest anteroposterior dimension from the anterior wall to the dorsum of the sella on a lateral skull x-ray ranged between 22 and 45 mm. All adenomas were confirmed histologically and had negative immunostaining for GH, PRL, ACTH and HCG. Based on the pre- and post-operative pituitary function, the patients were divided into two groups. Group I included eight patients who had hypopituitarism pre-operatively of whom five had partial recovery of pituitary function while three had persistent hypopituitarism. Group II included three patients who had normal pituitary function pre- and post-operatively. Five patients of group I had high normal or slightly elevated serum PRL levels while one had a normal level and two patients had low levels pre-operatively. TRH but not perphenazine resulted in a variable but definite rise in serum PRL preoperatively in patients with normal or elevated PRL level. In contrast, neither stimulus resulted in a rise in serum PRL in two patients with low basal levels. Serum PRL levels were normal in six patients and low in two others post-operatively. Serum TSH levels were low in all eight patients with hypothyroidism. TRH resulted in a sustained release of TSH in three patients and was without effect in two patients pre-operatively. Of eight patients with pre-operative hypothyroidism, five recovered normal function and three remained hypothyroid. Of six patients with adrenal insufficiency pre-operatively, two recovered normal pituitary—adrenal function while only two of eight patients recovered gonadal function post-operatively. None of the eight patients recovered GH responsiveness to stimulation. All patients that recovered pituitary function had normal or slightly elevated serum PRL pre-operatively. Our data indicate that recovery of pituitary function in patients with large pituitary adenomas and hypopituitarism may occur after surgical removal of the adenoma. One of the possible mechanisms of hypopituitarism in this setting would be interruption of the hypothalamic pituitary portal circulation by the large adenoma. An additional factor might be pressure necrosis and destruction of normal pituitary cells by the expanding adenoma. The extent of that might determine the degree of recovery of pituitary function.
Recombination-based mechanisms for somatic hypermutation

Summary: We review some experiments designed to test recombination-based mechanisms for somatic hypermutation in twice, particularly mechanisms involving templated mutation or gene conversion. As recombination and repair functions are highly conserved among prokaryotes and eukaryotes, pathways of mutation in microorganisms may prove relevant to the mechanism of somatic hypermutation. Estherichia coli initates a recombination-based pathway of mutation in response to environmental stimuli, and this “adaptive” pathway of mutation has striking similarities with somatic hypermutation, as does a process of mutagenic repair that occurs at double-strand breaks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We present model for recombination-based hypermutation of the immunoglobulin loci which could result in cither templated cir non-templated mutation.
The Effects of Different Competitive Contingencies on Cooperative Behavior.

Abstract This research report describes investigations conducted in a field setting where participation in the experimental program was voluntary. The rates of task output by three-person cooperative groups were investigated by manipulating payoffs to group members when achievements on interdependent tasks equaled a standard prescribed by an instructor; surpassed the task achievements of another group and achieved a higher, lower, and then higher, task rate than another group. The data support the proposition that task achievement rates of three-person cooperative groups are a positive function of competitive contingencies. When rewards are contingent upon a higher comparison outcome, group task rates increase, and when rewards are contingent upon a lower comparison outcome, the rates decrease.
Polymer NMR spectroscopy. VI. Methyl methacrylate–styrene and methyl methacrylate–α‐methylstyrene copolymers

The NMR spectra of methyl methacrylate–styrene and methyl methacrylate–α-methylstyrene copolymers exhibit, among other features of interest, an unexpected multiplicity in the 6.4–7.8 τ region, characteristic of methoxyl protons. This multiplicity is believed due to magnetic shielding by styrene units. By comparing the results of a statistical analysis of monomer sequence probabilities with the relative areas of the methoxyl peaks, it is shown that the degree of shielding of the methoxyl protons is dependent not only upon the presence of styrene units as nearest neighbors along the chain but also upon their stereochemical configuration with respect to the methyl methacrylate units. By means of reasonable assumptions it is possible to explain the copolymer spectra and to give a partial description of the stereochemical configuration of the methyl methacrylate–styrene copolymers. The NMR method should be valuable in the analysis of other copolymers, particularly block and graft copolymers.
Bayesian goodness-of-fit test for censored data

Abstract We propose a Bayesian computation and inference method for the Pearson-type chi-squared goodness-of-fit test with right-censored survival data. Our test statistic is derived from the classical Pearson chi-squared test using the differences between the observed and expected counts in the partitioned bins. In the Bayesian paradigm, we generate posterior samples of the model parameter using the Markov chain Monte Carlo procedure. By replacing the maximum likelihood estimator in the quadratic form with a random observation from the posterior distribution of the model parameter, we can easily construct a chi-squared test statistic. The degrees of freedom of the test equal the number of bins and thus is independent of the dimensionality of the underlying parameter vector. The test statistic recovers the conventional Pearson-type chi-squared structure. Moreover, the proposed algorithm circumvents the burden of evaluating the Fisher information matrix, its inverse and the rank of the variance–covariance matrix. We examine the proposed model diagnostic method using simulation studies and illustrate it with a real data set from a prostate cancer study.
Spore discharge in Glomerella

A species of Glomerella grown under controlled conditions discharged spores in a brief span during the first hour of darkness. Dark periods as brief as 5 min during the photoperiod also elicited release within 30 min. A temperature drop of 5·5 and 11 °C but not 3° resulted in discharge; increasing the temperature 5·5 from 21° had no effect but release occurred when temperature returned to 21°. A drop in humidity also caused immediate discharge. There was no evidence of an endogenous pattern in continuous light or continuous dark.
Empirical investigation of the effectiveness of several computer performance evaluation tools

A number of tools exist for computer selection evaluation. The operational cost of applying these vary considerably as does the precision of the performance prediction. This paper compares the precision of several commonly used methods in a single test case, namely cycle time, instruction mix analysis and benchmarking.
2.2.2 Using Stakeholder Analysis to Define the Problem in Systems Engineering

The first step in most system life cycles is the problem definition. Stakeholder analysis is a key technique to insure the problem has been fully and completely described before we attempt to obtain a solution to the problem. We identify and describe the three most common techniques for stakeholder analysis: interviews, focus groups, and surveys. We compare the three techniques using five criteria: time commitment of participants, ideal stakeholder group, preparation, execution, and analysis. We identify best practices to make stakeholder analysis both effective and efficient. This paper will aid the new practitioner and student of systems engineering as they organize and execute an effective stakeholder analysis, which is critical to the success of any systems engineering project.
Shape models in computer integrated manufacture-a review

Existing computer-aided manufacturing systems are based on models of shape tailored to a particular process. Computer integrated manufacture involves many different processes, and hence requires more complete models of components or assemblies. This can be provided by solid modelling techniques extended to include extra data related to manufacture such as form features and tolerances. These developments are being applied to many manufacturing processes, from casting to assembly, but profound questions remain concerning both the structure and the use of shape models in manufacture.
Imaging of atomic hydrogen in flames with two-step saturated fluorescence detection

The hydrogen profile in a laminar hydrogen-air diffusion flame is mapped from a study of the Balmer-..cap alpha.. emission. (AIP)
Does invasive bladder cancer differ between women and men

From July, 1976, to June, 1985, one hundred one radical cystectomies were performed for bladder cancer in our institution. Seventy-four were in men and 27 in women (2.7 to 1). In 87 percent of men the cystectomy was performed for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) compared with 60 percent in women. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was more prevalent in women, 30 percent versus 6 percent in men. Females also were more likely to have pT3, pT4 tumors at cystectomy, 59 percent versus 18 percent. The possible reasons for these differences are presented.
Immunofluorescent evidence of prior herpes simplex virus type-2 infection in prostate carcinoma

Abstract The finding of herpes simplex virus type-2 (HS V--2) particles in prostatic carcinoma (PCa) tissue has led to speculation that the virus might cause this disease. We studied 27 PCa and 33 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) specimens for the presence of HSV-2 antigens by indirect immunofluorescent staining to HSV-2 using commercially prepared rabbit anti-HSV-2 and fluoresceintagged goat and anti-rabbit antibody. The slides were randomly number coded by an impartial referee then read independently by each investigator. In cases of disagreement, new slides were prepared and read until agreement. The code was then broken. Seven of 27 PCa specimens and 8 of 33 BPH specimens showed positive staining. By contingency table analysis, the results were not statistically different ( ξ 2 = 0.0224; p > 0.8). In our series, there is no difference in the prevalence of HSV-2 staining between PCa and BPH. Further examination of our data failed to show any difference in the prevalence of staining for HSV-2 based on whether the source of the tissue was surgical or autopsy. We conclude that HSV-2 infection of the prostate is common (15/60 = 25 %) but probably has no causal relationship to PCa.
Close supermassive binary black holes

Arising from: T. A. Boroson & T. R. Lauer , 53–55 (2009)10.1038/nature07779 ; Boroson & Lauer reply It has been proposed that when the peaks of the broad emission lines in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are significantly blueshifted or redshifted from the systemic velocity of the host galaxy, this could be a consequence of orbital motion of a supermassive black-hole binary (SMBB)1. The AGN J1536+0441 ( = SDSS J153636.22+044127.0) has recently been proposed as an example of this phenomenon2. It is proposed here instead that J1536+0441 is an example of line emission from a disk. If this is correct, the lack of clear optical spectral evidence for close SMBBs is significant, and argues either that the merging of close SMBBs is much faster than has generally been hitherto thought, or if the approach is slow, that when the separation of the binary is comparable to the size of the torus and broad-line region, the feeding of the black holes is disrupted.
Comparison of ultrafiltration systems for concentration of biologicals

Ultrafiltration has been used with increasing frequency in recent years in biological laboratories for concentration, separation or purification of biological material. No data have been available on the comparison of the characteristics of Ultrafiltration systems currently in use. This study compares the filtration characteristics of four systems using commercially available membranes on suspensions and solutions: suspension of protein micelles (casein), cell debris (E. coli) and catalase solution. None of the four systems considered is found to be generally superior for all the suspensions and solutions. Vibration systems were most effective when relatively large particles were involved, while laminar flow recycling systems with high wall shear rates were best for dilute suspensions and proteins in solution. It was found that shearing inactivates enzymes in both recycle and vibration systems. It was also observed that vibration actually reduces flux in dilute solutions.
Mechanism of vinyl polymerizations. IX.† Some factors affecting copolymerization

The influence on polymerization and copolymerization of various structural factors, especially polarity at the double bond of the monomer, is discussed. The effect of substituents in donating or withdrawing electrons appears to be an important regulating factor in copolymerization.
Production of age-synchronous mass cultures of Caenorhabditis elegans

Methods are described for culturing large populations of age-synchronous Caenorhabditis elegans throughout the adult life span. Contamination of adult populations by progeny was prevented by constructing double-mutant strains that produce progeny at a frequency of less than .005 per adult at the nonpermissive temperature (25.5 degrees C). Of four double-mutant strains that we have characterized, three have wild-type life spans at 25.5 degrees. The other strain contains a mutant allele, age-1(hx542), that results in an increase in life span of 60% over wild type. All four strains produced sufficient numbers of progeny at the permissive temperature (20 degrees C) to generate populations containing 1-5 x 10(6) nematodes within two weeks. Age-synchronous young adult populations were produced using these strains and have been maintained as adults both in liquid culture and on agar medium. Procedures that reduce E. coli contamination by 30-fold in harvested samples of adults are also described.