cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The magic glove: a gesture-based remote controller for intelligent mobile robots

This paper describes the design of a gesture-based Human Robot Interface (HRI) for an autonomous mobile robot entered in the 2010 Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC). While the robot is meant to operate autonomously in the various Challenges of the competition, an HRI is useful in moving the robot to the starting position and after run termination. In this paper, a user-friendly gesture-based embedded system called the Magic Glove is developed for remote control of a robot. The system consists of a microcontroller and sensors that is worn by the operator as a glove and is capable of recognizing hand signals. These are then transmitted through wireless communication to the robot. The design of the Magic Glove included contributions on two fronts: hardware configuration and algorithm development. A triple axis accelerometer used to detect hand orientation passes the information to a microcontroller, which interprets the corresponding vehicle control command. A Bluetooth device interfaced to the microcontroller then transmits the information to the vehicle, which acts accordingly. The user-friendly Magic Glove was successfully demonstrated first in a Player/Stage simulation environment. The gesture-based functionality was then also successfully verified on an actual robot and demonstrated to judges at the 2010 IGVC.
The rutile type and its derivatives

Rutile type crystal structures and their derivatives are based on the same topology of primary bonds: straight chains of edge-sharing coordination octahedra are connected via corner-sharing to four surrounding chains. Twenty derivatives are known. Some are based on an ordering of cations, others on an ordering of anions, others still on distortions of their coordination polyhedra. The overwhelming majority of all the compounds reviewed here crystallize in the aristotypic rutile type. The trirutile type, an ordering variant, and the CaCl2 type, a distorted rutile, are also numerous. The other rutile type derivatives are known only from one, two, or just a few examples. Most of the known compounds obey Pauling's postulate, as expressed in his second rule for complex ionic compounds, according to which the sum of the bond strengths received by an anion should be balanced for stable compounds by the formal valence of that anion. More than one half of all naturally occurring chemical elements have been observe...
The influence of isotopic composition on the maximum in the cosmic ray energy spectra

The maximum often observed at low energies in primary cosmic ray spectra is examined with respect to the possible effect of isotopic composition. It is shown that a maximum can arise if He/sup 3/ and He/sup 4/ are not distinguished and spectra are plotted on the basis of energy per nucleon instead of rigidity. The discussion is extended to the case of protons, deuterons, and tritons. (D.J.C.)
The shadow algorithm: a scheduling technique for both compiled and interpreted simulation

The shadow algorithm, which is an event-driven unit-delay simulation technique that has been designed to take advantage of the instruction caches present in many of the latest workstations, is discussed. The algorithm is based on the threaded-code technique, but uses a dynamically created linked list of environments called shadows. Compiled shadow algorithm simulations run in about 1/5th the time required for a conventional interpreted event-driven simulation. The interpreted shadow algorithm runs in about 1/4th the time of a conventional interpretive simulation. >
Soluble interleukin-2 receptor, soluble CD8 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels in hematologic malignancies.

Plasma levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), soluble CD8 (sCD8) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) were determined by ELISA assays in about 100 patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL), acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMMoL), acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), and mycosis fun-goides (MF). Additionally, cultured AML, ALL, and CLL cells grown with and without 12-0-tetra-decanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were tested for IL-2R (CD25) expression by indirect immunofluorescence. Supernatants of these cultures were also tested for sIL-2R by ELISA.Elevated sIL-2R levels were found in HCL patients at initial diagnosis and relapse, in AMMoL, in AML, in the accelerated and non-accelerated phases of B-CLL, in PLL, in non-T/non-B ALL, in B-ALL, in mixed lineage ALL, in T-CLL, in T-ALL, and in active MF. Reduced levels of sIL-2R were encountered in HCL patients...
A Control for Social Desirability in a Semantic Differential

A control for social desirability was introduced into a semantic differential appropriate for describing person concepts. The modified instrument consisted of 18 scales balanced for SD and four unbalanced evaluative scales as marker items. Two subject groups, 52 psychiatric patients and 40 non-patients, described a doctor, a patient and myself. Data from each group yielded six orthogonal factors, with evaluative factors loaded primarily on the four unbalanced scales. Comparisons of factor structure by group and by concept showed much less factorial correspondence between these English-speaking groups, and a higher degree of subject-concept-scale interaction, than is usually found with the semantic differential. Control for SD seems to make the scales more sensitive to subject and situational differences.
The limit distribution of the concave majorant of an empirical distribution function

Abstract The limit distribution of the difference between the empirical distribution and its least concave majorant at a fixed point is derived.
Photic stimulation and visual physiology: Implications for behavioral studies

Behavioral studies using photic stimulation tend to ignore a multitude of complex relationships related to the interaction of light with the eye. Variations in retinal structure, photoreceptor sensitivity, light-dark adaptation, blink rate, and pupil size are uncontrolled. The phenomena of after images and electrical phosphenes are not considered. Visually crippled subjects such as albino rodents and dark-reared animals, are used without realizing the limitations this imposes on the interpretation of results. Pitfalls in experimental design and interpretation of data are discussed and specific papers are cited to illustrate the types of errors made when insufficient emphasis is placed on visual physiology.
Accelerated testing of electrical connectors

A method of accelerating the EEI-NEMA regular heat cycle tests for electric power connectors is proposed and the equipment required to perform the accelerated tests is described.
Temperature-dependent hydration at micellar surface: activation energy barrier crossing model revisited.

In recent years, the validity of the activation energy barrier crossing model at the micellar surface brings notable controversy (Sen, P.; Mukherjee, S.; Halder, A.; Bhattacharyya, K. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2004, 385, 357−361. Kumbhakar, M.; Goel, T.; Mukherjee, T.; Pal, H. J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 19246−19254.) in the literature. In order to check the validity of the model by time-resolved solvation of a probe fluorophore, a wider range of temperature must be considered. At the same time, spatial heterogeneity (solubilization) of the probe and structural perturbation of the host micelle should carefully be avoided, which was not strictly maintained in the earlier studies. We report here the solvation dynamics of 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6(p-dimethylamino-styryl) 4H-pyran (DCM) in the SDS micelle at 298, 323, and 348 K. The probe DCM is completely insoluble in bulk water in this wide range of temperature. The size of the micelle at different temperatures using the dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniq...
Analysis of Nonlinear Omega Receivers

A summary of ongoing research analyzing the VLF noise environment and various structures of nonlinear Omega receivers is presented. First, the noise amplitude is seen to have a probability density function that can be modeled as Gaussian for small amplitudes and as decreasing proportionally to (amplitude)−2.2 for large amplitudes. This model of probability density function suggests a maximum likelihood nonlinearity that is linear for small amplitudes and of the form f(x) ˜ 1/x for large amplitudes. Analysis of the behavior of two approximations of this nonlinearity (hole punch and clipper) is presented. Issues addressed include performance relative to a linear receiver as a function of structure, threshold for either nonlinearity, bandwidth prior to nonlinearity, and signal level. The study included both synthesized signals added to actual noise and off-the-air signals. Improvements of 7–14 dB relative to a linear receiver were observed. Finally, it is observed that the presence of a strong local Omega station within the receiver passband results in virtually no improvement for a weaker station, relative to a linear receiver.
Effects of caffeine with repeated dosing.

We have recently demonstrated dose-dependency of caffeine metabolism under multiple dosing conditions. Whether there are persistent pharmacodynamic actions of caffeine under such circumstances is the focus of this report. Nine healthy subjects were given, in randomized 5 day blocks, placebo, 4.2 (low) and 12 (high) mg · kg−1 · day−1 of caffeine in 6 divided doses.
A prospective phase ii trial of concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy with delayed accelerated fractionation in unresectable tumors of the head and neck

Background Our study is a prospective evaluation of unresectable malignant cancers of the head and neck treated with concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) using delayed accelerated fractionation (concomitant boost). Methods Between January 1988 and March 1995, 82 patients with unresectable cancers of the head and neck were enrolled in this phase II study. Of these, 52 patients were treated and followed for a minimum of 3 years and are the subject of this analysis. All patients had T4 lesions and were stage IV according to the American Joint Committee on Staging Criteria (AJCC). Patients received RT with accelerated fractionation to a total of 70 Gy in 6 weeks using a concomitant-boost technique. Concomitant cis platin (100 mg/M2) was given on days 1 and 22 of RT. Twenty-seven patients received mitomycin-C (7.5 mg/M2) on days 1 and 22, and 1 patient received mitomycin-C on day 1. In addition, 27 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with cis platin and vinblastine. The mean follow-up was 45 months (range, 36–72 months). The minimum follow-up for surviving patients is 3 years. Results At 3 years, the local control rate was 58%. Three-year local control rates for paranasal sinus, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and larynx/hypopharynx were 78%, 78%, 64%, and 100%, respectively. For all patients, the distant-metastasis-free survival was 56%, and the overall survival rate was 36%. Patients with oral cavity cancers experienced worse overall survival versus other sites, 0% versus 47% (p = .03). Salivary cancers also showed worse survival versus other sites, 0% versus 47%, but was not statistically significant. Severe acute complications occurred in 34% of patients. Treatment-related toxicity also resulted in the death of 2 patients. Severe late complications occurred in 7% of patients. Conclusions Treatment of this poor prognostic group of patients with aggressive chemotherapy and RT produced surprisingly good local control and survival. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck20: 497–503, 1998.
Biochemical characterization and messenger specificity of polypeptide chain initiation factors from Escherichia coli.

Abstract Three protein factors are required for maximum poly(U, G)- or AUG-directed binding of fMet-tRNA to ribosomes. The same three factors are both necessary and sufficient for “natural” mRNA-directed binding of fMet-tRNA to ribosomes. Bound fMet-tRNA cosediments with the 70S ribosome as does bound mRNA. All three factors are required for the fMet-tRNA and GTP-dependent binding of mRNA to the 70S initiation complex. The physiochemical characteristics of the initiation factors are described. Purified IF1 and IF3 are electrophoretically homogeneous. Purified IF2 preparations exhibit 1–4 bands on gel electrophoresis. IF1 and IF3 are heat stable, basic proteins, each consisting of a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight 9000 and 21,000, respectively. IF2 is a heat-labile acidic protein. Its sedimentation coefficient of 3.9 corresponds to a mol wt of 55,000 but SDS-gel electrophoresis suggests that the actual molecular weight may be somewhat higher. Both IF1 and IF3 are insensitive to inhibition by p -hydroxymercuribenzoate while IF2 is sensitive. The factor-promoted binding of fMet-tRNA to ribosomes has been characterized with respect to various requirements. Optimum conditions are similar to those for polypeptide chain elongation. In the absence of high salt treatment, all three factors reside on native 30S ribosomal particles. They are not found on native 70S particles or 50S particles, nor in the soluble fraction of the cell extract.
Catecholamines Regulate the Activity, Secretion, and Synthesis of Renalase

Background— We previously identified renalase, a secreted novel amine oxidase that specifically degrades circulating catecholamines. Parenteral administration of either native or recombinant renalase lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac contractility by metabolizing circulating catecholamines. Renalase plasma levels are markedly reduced in patients with chronic kidney disease. It is not known whether endogenous renalase contributes to the regulation of catecholamines. Methods and Results— We show here that circulating renalase lacks significant amine oxidase activity under basal conditions (prorenalase) but that a brief surge of epinephrine lasting <2 minutes causes renalase activity to increase from 48±18 to 2246±98 arbitrary units (n=3; P<0.002). Enzyme activation is detectable within 30 seconds and sustained for at least 60 minutes. Analysis of epinephrine-mediated hemodynamic changes in normotensive rats indicates that prorenalase becomes maximally activated when systolic pressure increases ...
Probability estimations and delusion-proneness

Abstract The present study investigated the reasoning of high and low-delusion-prone individuals on probability estimation tasks using emotionally neutral and delusional narratives. Undergraduate students (N = 33) who were classified as high-delusion-prone or low-delusion-prone based on their scores on a widely used measure of delusion-proneness in reasoning research (the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory) were asked to rate the probability that five neutral and eight unusual situations, presented in narratives that ranged in terms of degree of likelihood, could be true. Results indicated that compared to low-delusion-prone participants, high-delusion-prone participants assigned equivalent probability estimations to neutral narratives, but considered delusional narratives to be more likely (p
King Solomon’s Mines: A 20th Century Myth

Over the last twenty years, there has been a discernable increase in the number of scholars who have focused their research on metal production, working and use in antiquity, a field of study which has come to be known as ARCHAEOMETALLURGY. Materials scientists and conservators have worked primarily in the laboratory while archaeologists have conducted fieldwork geared to the study of metal technology in a cultural context with laboratory analysis as one portion of the interpretive program.
Excitation of two atoms by a single photon

Abstract A pair of ground state atoms can absorb a single photon resulting in two excited atoms if the absorption takes place during a collision of the atoms. A crude illustrative calculation for a He gas is outlined.
Proactive database index tuning through data threshold prediction

For queries to be efficiently processed in a database, the query optimizer must be presented with an efficient set of indexes for the query workload. Due to the dynamic and complex nature of modern database workloads, database administrators and developers often rely on autonomic tuning tools to determine an optimal set of indexes for the workload. These autonomic tuning tools rely on the use of virtual, or "what-if", indexes. Virtual indexes are limited in the respect that they only provide tuning recommendations given the sizes and distribution of data currently housed in the database. In an active database system, relations and the distribution of data within them are constantly changing at different relative rates. The optimal set of indexes for completing a query will change when related data distributions grow relative to one another past some data threshold. In this paper, we propose a novel extension to the virtual index concept that allows estimating query behavior and index utilization at future points in time. Thus, data thresholds can be proactively detected and the future viability of a given index set can be assessed. The implementation and various applications of this new technology are discussed.
Double-Barrel Remplissage: An Arthroscopic All–Intra-articular Technique Using the Double-Barrel Knot for Anterior Shoulder Instability

The arthroscopic remplissage procedure is an effective addition to a standard anterior repair in traumatic anterior shoulder instability associated with large humeral defects. The double-barrel remplissage is an all–intra-articular technique that uses a double-pulley, sliding, and self-retaining knot mechanism called the double-barrel knot. A 70° arthroscope (posterior portal) is necessary for adequate visualization of the humeral defect and the rotator cuff. Trans-tendon anchors (single or double loaded) are inserted into the superior and inferior aspects of the humeral defect through a cannula that is placed posterior to the infraspinatus. Placement of anchors is facilitated by insertion of a guidewire, as well as an anchor sleeve that is threaded over it. The double-barrel knot is formed using the anchors as a double-pulley system, and the knot is tensioned after the anterior repair is complete. Intra-articular visualization confirms adequate approximation and compression of the infraspinatus tendon and capsule into the defect. Advantages include an increased surface area (footprint) for healing and ease of knotting without the necessity for additional subacromial dissection.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein increases in Müller cells after retinal detachment.

Retinal detachment, separation of the neural retina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), initiates a series of changes in the eye which result in loss of vision if the retina is not rapidly reattached to the RPE. Many of the complex effects of this separation on the cell biology of the retina have yet to be determined. We report here a change in the amount and location of a specific cytoskeletal protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), within Muller cells after retinal detachment. Cat neural retina and RPE were separated by injecting fluid into the extracellular space between the retina and RPE. Normal retinas and retinas detached for 30 days were fixed and embedded for conventional electron microscopy or immunocytochemistry, or homogenized and processed by SDS-PAGE for immunoblot analysis with anti-GFAP. In normal retinas and in attached retinal regions of eyes with retinal detachment, GFAP was detected only in the end feet of the Muller cells as 10 nm diameter filaments and as a diffuse component over the cytoplasm. By contrast, in regions where the retina was detached from the RPE, GFAP was localized throughout the Muller cells in both of these forms. Immunoblots revealed a significant increase in anti-GFAP labeling of a 51 000 MW band from the detached retina.
Allelic variation of MHC structure alters peptide ligands to induce atypical partial agonistic CD8+ T cell function.

T cell receptors recognize small changes in peptide ligands leading to different T cell responses. Here, we analyzed a panel of HLA-A2–Tax11-19 reactive T cell clones to examine how small allelic variations of MHC molecules could alter the functional outcome of antigen recognition. Similar to the effects induced by antigenic altered peptide ligands, weak or partial agonistic T cell functions were identified in individual T cell clones with the recognition of MHC-altered peptide ligands (MAPLs). Interestingly, one subtype of HLA-A2 molecules induced an unusual type of partial agonistic function; proliferation without cytotoxicity. Modeling of crystallographic data indicated that polymorphic amino acids in the HLA-A2 peptide binding groove, especially the D-pocket, were responsible for this partial agonism. Reciprocal mutations of the Tax peptide side chain engaging the D-pocket indeed restored the agonist functions of the MHC–peptide complex. Whereas early intracellular signaling events were not efficiently induced by these MAPLs, phosphorylated c-Jun slowly accumulated with sustained long-term expression. These data indicate that MAPLs can induce atypical partial agonistic T cell function through structural and biochemical mechanisms similar to altered peptide ligands.
An Experimental Study of Fluidic Coupling Between Multiple Piezoelectric Fans

Piezoelectric fans have been shown to provide large enhancements in heat transfer over natural convection while consuming very little power. These fans consist of a piezoelectric material attached to a flexible cantilever. When driven at resonance, large oscillations at the cantilever tip cause fluid motion, which in turn, results in improved heat transfer rates. In this work, the performance of two fans operating simultaneously is analyzed. A coupling phenomenon is observed which, for a given input, causes an increase in vibration amplitude of as large as 40 percent compared to an isolated single fan. Understanding this coupling is essential in order to create design tools for implementing piezoelectric fans in practical cooling systems. Mylar fans are analyzed, and multiple experiments performed in air and within a vacuum chamber to isolate the source of coupling and determine its magnitude. The results suggest that coupling is almost entirely due to fluid-structure interaction, and the impact on the characteristic vibration parameters is explored. The collective motion of the fans decreases the fluidic damping, and the coupling magnitude is determined for a range of fan pitches
A run-time, feedback-based energy estimation model For embedded devices

We present an adaptive, feedback-based, energy estimation model for battery-powered embedded devices such as sensor network gateways and hand-held computers. Our technique maps hardware and software counters to energy consumption values using a set of first order, linear regression equations. Our system is novel in that it combines online and offline techniques to enable runtime power prediction. Our system employs an offline instantiated model that it continuously updates using feedback from a readily available battery monitor within the device.We empirically evaluate our model and detail its robustness, accuracy, and computational cost. We also analyze the stability of the model in the presence of feedback errors. We demonstrate that our approach can achieve an error rate of 1% (extant techniques: 2.6% to 4%) for computationally bound tasks and 6.6% (extant techniques: 11%) for communication bound tasks.
Developmentally regulated expression of GABA receptor ρ1 and ρ2 subunits, L7 and cone–rod homeobox (CRX) genes in mouse retina

In this study, we compared the temporal expression pattern of four retinal genes; ρ1 and ρ2 that encode subunits of GABAc receptors, L7 that encodes Purkinje cell protein and CRX that encodes the cone–rod homeobox transcription factor. A reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) strategy that generated a linear correlation between the amount of retinal RNA and the amount of amplified product was used to quantify transcripts from each gene. Results with this method showed that the ρ1 and L7 have similar developmental patterns. Both exhibit basal level expression before P7. From P7 to P20, the RNA levels for both genes were increased about 12-fold. After P20, the RNA levels remained unchanged. Compared to ρ1 and L7, expression of ρ2 began later, since the ρ2 RNA could not be detected until P10. At P10, the ρ2 RNA level was about 10% of its level at P35. Expression of ρ2 reached its peak at a later developmental stage compared to that of ρ1 and L7. The different temporal patterns were confirmed by co-amplification of ρ1, ρ2, and L7 in a single PCR tube. CRX RNA was detected at embryonic day 15 (E15) and increased progressively, in agreement with a prior study using in situ hybridization. These data, combined with evidence that the tissue distribution of ρ1 and L7 RNA in the CNS are similar, indicates that ρ1 and L7 may share common transcriptional regulatory elements. Furthermore, the difference in the timing of ρ subunit expression suggests that the subunit composition of GABAc receptors vary during retinal development.
A Structural View of Curriculum

(1979). A structural view of curriculum. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 18, Education: A Vision NOT A Viewpoint (Accountability), pp. 336-348.
Rebuttals and a final commentary

Abstract The preceding manuscripts by Drs. Benbadis and Leeman reflect the ongoing controversy of the merits, limitations and ethical problems associated with the induction of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) using “placebos”. Each author backed their opinions with conviction and often passion, and when available, published studies in the literature, which was covered in a comprehensive manner between the two manuscripts. Yet, no debate is complete without a rebuttal, which is included in this third manuscript followed by a final commentary.
Rate Distortion Optimization for Mesh-Based P2P Video Streaming

This paper addresses the problem of optimal rate allocation for video streaming in a multi-path peer-to-peer mesh network. We present a distributed rate allocation algorithm that minimizes the total rate distortion among receiving peers. The scheme assumes that video streams can be transcoded/requantized at intermediate peers. We deploy a double pricing solution that simultaneously incorporates both the network and the relay constraints. We compare it with a single pricing solution where the relay constraint is applied only after all the communicating peers have converged. Our simulation shows that the double pricing solution consistently achieves a smaller aggregate distortion for all peers in comparison to the single pricing solution and thus achieves higher video quality.
Compact Optical Generation of Microwave Signals Using a Monolithic Quantum Dot Passively Mode-Locked Laser

Microwave signal generation from the saturable absorber of a monolithic quantum dot passively mode-locked laser is presented. We observe a differential efficiency of 33% that measures the optical-to-RF power conversion. An optimum extraction efficiency of the saturable absorber of about 86% is also found. To assess the stability of the device, the mode-locking operation regime of the quantum dot device is analyzed and compared to the quantum well system. Our findings confirm that quantum dot mode-locked lasers are suitable candidates for the optical generation of RF signals in a compact and efficient semiconductor device.
Radar performance during propagation fades in the mid-Atlantic region

Periodically through the year, an Atlantic coast vessel traffic control radar, located near the entrance to the Delaware Bay, observes a reduction in detection range from 37 (20 nmi) to about 17 km (9 nmi). Sometimes ships can be seen visually from the radar tower before they can be observed on the radar screen. The reduction in the radar detection range usually lasts several hours and occurs often when fog is present. An investigation of this phenomenon, referred to as a radar deep fade (RDF), was undertaken to find out what causes the fade and to determine the best method of increasing the radar detection range when one occurs. The investigation indicated that these RDFs arose during the presence of a propagation condition known as subrefraction, which is an increase in the atmospheric index of refraction with altitude above the ocean surface at microwave frequencies. This increase in the index of refraction with altitude results in the effective radius of the Earth being much smaller than the usual 4/3 Earth radius that is observed for radar during standard atmospheric conditions. During subrefractive conditions, the effective Earth's radius can be between its true radius and one-half of its true radius. As a result, the radar horizon is shortened and the radar detection range is reduced. These RDFs will occur during propagation conditions known as sustained deep fades (SDFs), which arise when subrefraction lasts for more than two hours and causes one way losses exceeding 20 dB relative to free-space for line-of-sight (LOS) geometries. Subrefraction is caused by the movement of subtropical moist air over the cold ocean surface. The recommended solution for increasing the radar range in the presence of subrefractive conditions is to place the radar on a higher tower than the present 19-m-high tower, one that is perhaps 60-m high. This would increase the radar range by 50% when the Earth's effective radius is half of normal. This increase in radar height also usually increases the radar detection performance when skip zones associated with surface-based ducts occur or when evaporation ducts (EVDs) are present.
Hybrid immunoglobulin isotypes of identical specificity produced by genetic recombination in Escherichia coli and expression in lymphoid cells.

We have produced a series of hybrid IgG1-IgG2a mouse immunoglobulins with identical light chains (L) and variable regions to facilitate the identification of structural features associated with functional differnces between immunoglobulin isotypes. Hybrid heavy chain (H) constant region gene segments were generated by genetic recombination in Escherichia coli between plasmids carrying mouse γ1 and γ2a gene segments. Crossovers occured through out these segments although the frequency was highest in regions of high nucleotide sequence homology. Eleven variant immunoglobulins produced by transfected hybridoma cell lines are assembled into H2L2 tetramers and properly glycosylated. In addition, all 11 immunoglbulins have identical antigen combining sites specific for the fluorescent hapten e-dansyll-L-lysine. Protein A binding was used as probe of the structural integrity of the Fc portion of the variant antibodies. Differeneces in protein A binding between IgG1 and IgG2a appear to be due to amino acid differances at postions 252 (Thr→Met) and 254 (Thr→Ser) of the heavy chain (EU numbering).
Adaptive coding and modulation for spread-spectrum signals

We consider coding and edulation schemes for direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DS-SS) systems with multiple-access (MA) interference in a fading environment. Our goal is to be able to adapt the code to different environments. Communication in an environment with a large amount of interference will require a lower transmission (code) rate while small levels of interference will allow a high rate transmission. The following coded modulation systems are considered: a conventional 64-ary orthogonal (M/sub 64/) code, the trellis coded Nordstrom-Robinson (TCNR) code, and the trellis coded Reed-Muller (TCRM) code. Each of these is concatenated with a (63, k) Reed-Solomon (RS) outer code. The performance measure of interest is the error probability and throughput. These are evaluated by making a Gaussian approximation on the multiple-access interference. Our results show, given an error probability requirement, and a certain data rate, a maximum number of users for each of the three DS-SS schemes can be determined. This indicates the receiver can adjust the coding and modulation scheme to achieve the given requirement.
The Empire of Masks: Pluralism and Monism in Politics and Architecture

This essay assesses the opposition of pluralism and monism with respect to politics and architecture, developing the argument within three general areas: the spurious association between political intentions and architectural character, the distinctions and commonalties between political freedom and artistic freedom, and the adverse effect of inappropriate associations between political content and artistic form in general and, in particular, the perceptual impairment of the processes by which buildings come to be endowed with their suitable character.
On Stripline Four-Port Circulator

A rigorous and exact theory of four-port stripline circulator based on Green's function method is presented in this paper. Three circulation conditions were derived and numerical results are presented which can be used for practical four-port circulator design. Since the solution derived is exact, metal pin tuning is not necessary to fabricate the four-port circulator described in this paper.
GENETICS OF OBESITY IN HUMANS AND ANIMAL MODELS

Human obesity has a significant genetic component which contributes to the risk for this disorder. The application of molecular genetic techniques to identify these genes using a variety of approaches, including information from animal models, will help clarify the role of specific genes in the etiology of human obesity. Identification of these genetic mechanisms is likely to lead to new approaches, both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic, for the prevention and treatment of this disease.
Preferred Timing of Female Life Events Cohort Differences

The present research examines cohort differences in the preferred timing of events in the female life cycle. A modified and extended version of the Age Constraint Scale was administered to three gr...
Evolution and Biological Roles of Alternative 3′UTRs

More than half of human genes use alternative cleavage and polyadenylation to generate alternative 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) isoforms. Most efforts have focused on transcriptome-wide mapping of alternative 3'UTRs and on the question of how 3'UTR isoform ratios may be regulated. However, it remains less clear why alternative 3'UTRs have evolved and what biological roles they play. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the functional roles of alternative 3'UTRs, including mRNA localization, mRNA stability, and translational efficiency. Recent work suggests that alternative 3'UTRs may also enable the formation of protein-protein interactions to regulate protein localization or to diversify protein functions. These recent findings open an exciting research direction for the investigation of new biological roles of alternative 3'UTRs.
The Role of Mercury and Cadmium in Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, and Stroke

Mercury and cadmium have a high affinity for sulfhydryl (–SH) groups, inactivating numerous enzymatic reactions, amino acids, and sulfur-containing antioxidants (NAC, ALA, and GSH), with subsequent decreased oxidant defense and increased oxidative stress. Both bind to metallothionein and substitute for zinc, copper, and other trace metals reducing the effectiveness of metalloenzymes. Mercury induces mitochondrial dysfunction with reduction in ATP, depletion of glutathione, and increased lipid peroxidation. An increased oxidative stress and reduced oxidative defense are common. Selenium and fish containing omega 3 fatty acids antagonize mercury toxicity. The overall vascular effects of mercury include increased oxidative stress and inflammation, reduced oxidative defense, thrombosis, vascular smooth muscle dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and immune and mitochondrial dysfunction. The clinical consequences of mercury toxicity include hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrhythmias, reduced heart rate variability (HRV), increased carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) and carotid artery obstruction, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), generalized atherosclerosis, and renal dysfunction, insufficiency, and proteinuria. Pathological, biochemical, and functional medicine correlations are significant and logical. Mercury diminishes the protective effect of fish and omega-3 fatty acids. Mercury and cadmium inactivate catecholamine-O-methyl transferase (COMT), which increases serum and urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This effect will increase blood pressure and may be a clinical clue to heavy metal toxicity. Cadmium concentrates specifically in the kidney, inducing proteinuria, renal dysfunction, and insufficiency. Cadmium is associated with hypertension, but less so with CHD, CVD, and CVA. Renal cadmium reduces CYP4A11 and PPARs, which may be related to hypertension, sodium retention, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and zinc deficiency. Dietary calcium may mitigate some of the toxicity of cadmium. Mercury and cadmium heavy metal toxicity should be evaluated in any patient with hypertension, CHD, CVD, CVA, or other vascular disease. Specific testing for acute and chronic toxicity and total body burden using hair, toenail, urine, and serum should be done.
Competition between the Brain and Testes under Selenium-Compromised Conditions: Insight into Sex Differences in Selenium Metabolism and Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disease

Selenium (Se) is essential for both brain development and male fertility. Male mice lacking two key genes involved in Se metabolism (Scly−/−Sepp1−/− mice), selenoprotein P (Sepp1) and Sec lyase (Scly), develop severe neurological dysfunction, neurodegeneration, and audiogenic seizures that manifest beginning in early adulthood. We demonstrate that prepubescent castration of Scly−/−Sepp1−/− mice prevents behavioral deficits, attenuates neurodegeneration, rescues maturation of GABAergic inhibition, and increases brain selenoprotein levels. Moreover, castration also yields similar neuroprotective benefits to Sepp1−/− and wild-type mice challenged with Se-deficient diets. Our data show that, under Se-compromised conditions, the brain and testes compete for Se utilization, with concomitant effects on neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Selenium is an essential trace element that promotes male fertility and brain function. Herein, we report that prepubescent castration provides neuroprotection by increasing selenium-dependent antioxidant activity in the brain, revealing a competition between the brain and testes for selenium utilization. These findings provide novel insight into the interaction of sex and oxidative stress upon the developing brain and have potentially significant implications for the prevention of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by aberrant excitatory/inhibitory balance, such as schizophrenia and epilepsy.
Is the Notion of Corporate Fault a Faulty Notion?: The Case of Corporate Mens Rea

The imposition of liability, whether civil or criminal, on corporations evokes heated debate and continuing controversy. One of the more theoretically perplexing and practically challenging areas of corporate liability are the provisions in the law that require a corporation to possess a state of mind, such as intent, before it is made liable. The apparent incongruity of requiring a corporation to have a state of mind, when it has no mind per se, should encourage us to ask why we have laws that require corporations to possess mens rea - why not simply make corporations liable on a strict liability or negligence standard. There appears to be no deterrence-based answer to this question. This Article undertakes to fill this gap. The Article compares the various corporate mens rea standards against strict liability and negligence to ascertain when, if ever, corporate mens rea is socially preferable to its alternatives. The analysis suggests that corporate mens rea is indeed problematic and that, unlike mens rea requirements for individuals, corporate mens rea rarely proves to be preferable to its alternatives. Furthermore, even in those rare instances where corporate mens rea is the preferred alternative it is better to make corporate mens rea a matter only relevant to increasing the sanction, not a matter determinative of a corporation's liability. Consequently, it is socially desirable to replace corporate mens rea standards with strict liability or negligence that allows for mens rea to be made a matter influencing the magnitude of the sanction when appropriate. Developments in the law seem to be moving in this direction and the analysis in this paper adds further support for them.
Primary culture of PYY cells from canine colon

In the present study we report methods for the isolation and culture of colonic peptide YY (PYY) cells and have tested the effects of sodium oleate and other chemotransmitters on PYY release. Enzyme-dispersed canine colonic mucosa cells were separated by a Beckman elutriation rotor, and the enriched PYY fraction was cultured on type I collagen in full growth medium. After 42-48 h of culture PYY cells had selectively adhered to the collagen. Forty to 45% of the adherent cells contained PYY (5.5 +/- 0.5 pmol/24-mm well), and 10-15% of the cells contained glucagon-like immunoactivity (GL29-LI; 0.95 pmol/24-mm well). The effect of various secretagogues on PYY release from these cultures was monitored. Sodium oleate stimulated PYY release in a time-dependent fashion over a dose range from 10 microM to 10 mM. However, sodium oleate at a dose of 100 mM produced disproportionately large PYY release. During a 2-h incubation 5.1% of the total cell content of PYY was released in response to 0.1 mM sodium oleate compared with basal release of 1.1%. At doses less than 10 mM sodium oleate did not release GL29-LI, whereas concentrations of 10 and 100 mM resulted in marked GL29-LI release. These findings suggest that lower concentrations of sodium oleate selectively release PYY, whereas higher concentrations nonselectively induce peptide release probably by effects on membrane stability. We also found that bombesin, epinephrine, and forskolin, but not carbachol, produced time- and dose-dependent release of PYY from these cultures.
Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging visualizes drastic changes in the blood flow in a patient with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy

A 26-year-old female presented to the emergency department due to shortness of breath and was admitted to the hospital after large emboli in the distal branch pulmonary arteries (PAs) were found on contrast-enhanced CT angiogram. At 6 months, catheterization and pulmonary angiogram confirmed chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The patient was referred for …
Degradation of Fabric by American Cockroach, House Cricket, and Striped Earwig

Fabrics, cut into 2 × 2-inch pieces, were exposed in a laboratory experiment to American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.); house crickets, Acheta domestica (L.); and striped earwigs, Labidura riparia (Pallas). Selected fabrics included all-cotton; cotton treated with 5 different “easy-care” resin finishes; and synthetic fabrics including acetate, acrylic, nylon, polyester, triacetate, and viscose. Half the fabric pieces were stained with an animal fat, the other half were left untreated. Fabric damage by insects was measured by weight loss and percent visible damage. American cockroaches caused significant damage to acetate, viscose, and triacetate fabrics that had been stained. Damage to cotton fabrics was not apparent. House crickets attacked acetate, viscose, and triacetate to a highly significant degree. Stained and unstained polyester, nylon, and acrylic were attacked to a lesser extent. Striped earwigs slightly nibbled the edges of nylon fabric.
A New Technique for Separating Flotation Samples

The seed blower is an instrument typically employed by seed technologists to sort seed types by density. Because of the labor intensive nature of hand separating flotation samples, the seed blower offers archaeologists a new apparatus that enhances the efficiency of initial separation. The blower is described, and initial results of its application to archaeological flotation samples from Louisiana are presented.
Plasma thromboplastin component (PTC) deficiency produced by prolonged administration or prothrombopenic anticoagulants.

SummaryEvidence is presented showing that a deficiency of PTC (Hemophilic factor B, Christmas factor) may develop after prolonged administration of phenindione and also probably dicoumarol.
Oil industry first field trial of inter-well reservoir nanoagent tracers

This short manuscript highlights the industry's first proven reservoir nanoagents' design and demonstrates a successful multi-well field trial using these agents. Our fundamental nanoparticles tracer template, A-Dots or Arab-D Dots, is intentionally geared towards the harsh but prolific Arab-D carbonate reservoir environment of 100 + °C temperature, 150,000 + ppm salinity, and an abundant presence of divalent ions in the connate water. Preliminary analyses confirmed nanoparticles' breakthrough at a producer nearly 500m from the injector at the reservoir level; thus, proving the tracer nanoparticles' mobility and transport capability. This is considered industry-first and a breakthrough achievement complementing earlier accomplishments in regard to the nanoagents' reservoir stability with the first successful single well test and ease of scale up with the synthesis of one metric ton of this material. The importance of this accomplishment is not in how sophisticated is the sensing functionalities of this design but rather in its stability, mobility, scalability, and field application potentials. This renders the concept of having active, reactive, and even communicative, in-situ reservoir nanoagents for underground sensing and intervention a well anticipated near-future reality.
Structural characterization of the nickel(II) formate complex, Ni(py)4(O2CH)2·2py, and re-evaluation of the nitrate counterpart, Ni(py)4(ONO2)2·2py: Evidence for non-linear nitrate coordination ☆

Abstract The molecular structure of the nickel formate compound, Ni(py)4(O2CH)2·2py, has been determined by X-ray diffraction, thereby demonstrating that the formate ligand coordinates in a unidentate manner. A similar investigation of the nitrate compound, Ni(py)4(ONO2)2·2py, indicates that the nitrate ligand also coordinates in a unidentate manner; however, the Ni–O–NO2 bond angle is distinctly bent, in contrast to the linear geometry that was previously reported.
Surface pH responses of muscles of different fiber-type composition to catecholamines

Catecholamines were infused intravenously for 45 min into pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rabbits. Physiologically low-dose epinephrine (0.125 microgram . min-1 . kg-1) decreased medial gastrocnemius (MG) surface pH (SpH) 0.16 +/- 0.03 (SD) (P less than 0.001) to a low of 7.25 +/- 0.11 and soleus (S) SpH 0.09 +/- 0.04 (P less than 0.01) to a low of 7.33 +/- 0.08 without changing blood pressure significantly. Surface temperature measurements suggested a statistically insignificant small increase in local blood flow in both muscles. With 1.25 microgram . min-1 . kg-1 epinephrine, MG SpH decreased 0.22 +/- 0.05 (P less than 0.001) to a low of 7.17 +/- 0.06 and S SpH decreased 0.10 +/- 0.05 (P less than 0.02) to a low of 7.26 +/- 0.04. The MG SpH decrease exceeded the S SpH decrease in each experiment for both epinephrine infusion levels, and the incremental difference was significantly greater (P less than 0.02) with the higher dose, demonstrating a dose-response effect more pronounced for glycolytic compared with oxidative fibers. Norepinephrine infusions of 1.25 and 2.5 micrograms . min-1 . kg-1 did not change SpH of either muscle significantly, despite increases in blood pressure of 10 +/- 3 (P less than 0.002) and 19 +/- 10 mmHg (P less than 0.02), respectively.