cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of group delay in linearly and circularly polarized lossless stacked patch antennas

[1] In this study, we investigate the group delay characteristics of linearly and circularly polarized lossless stacked patch antennas. A new closed-form analytic expression for group delay was derived for both polarizations to obtain physical insight and have an efficient technique for conducting parametric studies of the antenna group delay characteristics. The analytical model was constructed by employing an equivalent circuit, consisting of resonant RLC sections that model the lossless patches. The group delay is calculated via the frequency derivative of the input phase function (disregarding the far-field phase contribution, a second-order effect), which is obtained in closed form. The group delay is a function of the circuit parameters (Rl,u, Ll,u, Cl,u) , the values of which must be determined for a particular antenna. We employ a reduced-order Pade approximation to extract the parameter values by making use of sampled data obtained from either a full-wave simulation or alternatively via measured data. A circuit synthesis methodology is then employed to map the extracted Pade expansion coefficients onto a known impedance function. Comparison of the analytical results with the full-wave numerical calculations of the impedance, phase, and group delay quantities show very good agreement. The reduced-order approximation is a balanced compromise between the fidelity of the equivalent circuit model and the ability to obtain the group delay in an analytically exact fashion. Results shown herein establish that the group delay of a stacked patch antenna is proportional to the patch Q and the patch capacitance. The peak group delay of the antenna approaches an asymptotic value as the input resistance increases without bound, and the rate at which this occurs is inversely proportional to the patch Q. Results also illustrate that the peak group delay of the stacked patch approaches infinity as the inductance decreases, and approaches an asymptotic value as the inductance increases. Interestingly, all of these characteristics are independent of antenna polarization.
Glucocorticoid regulation of inflammation and its functional correlates: from HPA axis to glucocorticoid receptor dysfunction

Enhanced susceptibility to inflammatory and autoimmune disease can be related to impairments in HPA axis activity and associated hypocortisolism, or to glucocorticoid resistance resulting from impairments in local factors affecting glucocorticoid availability and function, including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The enhanced inflammation and hypercortisolism that typically characterize stress-related illnesses, such as depression, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, or osteoporosis, may also be related to increased glucocorticoid resistance. This review focuses on impaired GR function as a molecular mechanism of glucocorticoid resistance. Both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to impaired GR function. The evidence that glucocorticoid resistance can be environmentally induced has important implications for management of stress-related inflammatory illnesses and underscores the importance of prevention and management of chronic stress. The simultaneous assessment of neural, endocrine, and immune biomarkers through various noninvasive methods will also be discussed.
A virtual reality platform for modeling cognitive development

We present a virtual reality platform for developing and evaluating embodied models of cognitive development. The platform facilitates structuring of the learning agent, of its visual environment, and of other virtual characters that interact with the learning agent. It allows us to systematically study the role of the visual and social environment for the development of particular cognitive skills in a controlled fashion. We describe how it is currently being used for constructing an embodied model of the emergence of gaze following in infant-caregiver interactions and discuss the relative benefits of virtual vs. robotic modeling approaches.
IS THE PRICE RIGHT? GAUGING THE MARKETPLACE FOR LOCAL SUSTAINABLE POLICY TOOLS

Local government sustainability has become a cause celebre in urban policy. Extant research has attempted to construct narratives of sustainable environmental, economic, and social equity motivatio...
Anatomy of a conflict

Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Bighorn. By Douglas D. Scott, Richard A. Fox Jr, Melissa A. Connor and Dick Harmon. University of Oklahama Press: 1989. Pp. 309. Hbk $24.95.
Representations for Laguerre temperatures

Abstract The Laguerre difference heat equation ∇ n u(n,t)= ∂ ∂ u(n,t), where ∇ n ƒ(n)=(n+1)−(2n+a+1)ƒ(n)+(n+a)ƒ(n−1)a⩾0, provides an important discrete analogue of the classical heat equation ∂2u⧸∂x2=∂t. Conditions are established for solutions of this equation to be represented by integral and series transforms.
A Mr 80K hepatocyte surface protein(s) interacts with basement membrane components

Abstract We have identified a Mmr 80K cell surface protein(s) from adult rat hepatocytes that binds basement membrane components, including collagen IV, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, and laminin. Freshly isolated hepatocytes were cell surface-labeled with 125 I using the lactoperoxidase-catalyzed method, and detergent-solubilized membrane proteins were chromatographed on affinity columns prepared with purified basement membrane components. A Mr 80K protein was eluted with 0.15–1 M NaCl from a collagen IV column. Two proteins (Mr 80K and 38K) were eluted from a heparan sulfate proteoglycan column. The larger protein was also eluted from a column made with heparan sulfate side chains. Several proteins (Mr 80K, 67K, 45K, and 32K) bound to an affinity chromatography column made with the laminin A chain-derived synthetic peptide PA22-2, which is active for promoting cell attachment. When fractions eluted from these columns were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the Mr 80K proteins showed similar patterns with a pI ranging from 8 to 9. The Mr 80K protein(s) may have an important role in the interaction of hepatocytes with basement membrane.
Two deadly diseases and one nearly fatal cure: The sorry state of American sociology

Recent diagnoses of the contemporary crisis in American sociology generally fail to address some of the discipline's most deeply rooted problems and therefore cannot provide an effective remedy. If sociology is to escape from its current moribund condition in the United States, it must move away from prevalent “biologizing” and “naturalizing” attitudes, while also rejecting the false cure of “postmodernism.” A true renaissance will require a critical approach that combines moderate empiricism and moderate relativism with a strong human-rights perspective.
Molecular basis of hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin

Increased levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) can ameliorate the clinical course of inherited disorders of beta-globin gene expression, such as beta thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. In a group of disorders called hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH), expression of the gamma-globin gene of HbF persists at high levels in adult erythroid cells. Molecular studies of the HPFH syndromes have identified several important regulatory elements for the normal pattern of gamma-globin gene expression. Deletion as well as nondeletion types of HPFH have been identified. The nondeletion types of HPFH are characterized by the presence of point mutations, in the promoter region of one or another gamma-globin gene, that are thought to alter interactions between various transcription factors and the promoter. The deletion types of HPFH are thought to deregulate the normal developmental pattern of gamma-globin gene expression due to the juxtaposition of normally distant cis-acting factors into the vicinity of the gamma genes. These findings have provided us with a more sophisticated understanding of the molecular basis for the persistent gamma-gene expression in these syndromes and point to certain strategies for potential future attempts at gene therapy for beta-globin gene disorders.
Oxygen isotope variations at the margin of a CAI records circulation within the solar nebula.

Micrometer-scale analyses of a calcium-, aluminum-rich inclusion (CAI) and the characteristic mineral bands mantling the CAI reveal that the outer parts of this primitive object have a large range of oxygen isotope compositions. The variations are systematic; the relative abundance of 16O first decreases toward the CAI margin, approaching a planetary-like isotopic composition, then shifts to extremely 16O-rich compositions through the surrounding rim. The variability implies that CAIs probably formed from several oxygen reservoirs. The observations support early and short-lived fluctuations of the environment in which CAIs formed, either because of transport of the CAIs themselves to distinct regions of the solar nebula or because of varying gas composition near the proto-Sun.
Supported nickel catalysts for carbon dioxide reforming of methane in plug flow and membrane reactors

Abstract The catalytic production of synthesis gas through methane reforming using carbon dioxide was studied in a plug flow reactor and a membrane reactor at atmospheric pressure over nickel supported on MgO and La 2 O 3 . The Ni 0.03 Mg 0.97 O and the Ni/La 2 O 3 catalysts exhibited high activity and gave conversions of methane at equilibrium levels in the plug flow mode of operation. Incorporation of a Vycor glass membrane in the reactor resulted in higher conversions than obtained in an identical plug flow reactor operated without diluent. The catalysts had low to moderate surface areas and low uptakes of H 2 and CO at room temperature. X-ray diffraction showed that there was no discernable change between the catalysts before and after reaction. Elemental analysis showed that there was little carbon deposited on the Ni 0.03 Mg 0.97 O catalyst but there was slight coking on the Ni/La 2 O 3 catalyst.
ERPs to words correlate with behavioral measures in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) participated in a research study that involved both electrophysiological and behavioral measures. Event related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during auditory presentation of known and unknown words. Behavioral measures of language/cognitive function and severity of autism symptoms were also collected at the time of ERP testing and again one year later. In general, higher functioning children with ASD exhibited more localized brain effects for differences between known and unknown words. Lower functioning children with ASD had more diffuse patterns of response to the different word classes and also exhibited a stronger right hemisphere lateralization. That is, they showed differences between known and unknown words at many electrode sites and larger differences in the right hemisphere. In addition, significant correlations were obtained between specific brain wave measurements for both known and unknown words and the various behavioral measures. Patterns of ERPs effectively predicted later behavioral scores.
Antinociceptive action of nicotine and its methiodide derivatives in mice and rats

Three quaternary methiodides of nicotine were prepared and tested for antinociceptive activity in the mouse tail-flick, mouse phenylquinone and rat tail-flick tests. Following peripheral administration, all three methiodides were inactive in the mouse and rat tail-flick procedures, whereas nicotine was active in both tests, which suggested that nicotine was acting centrally. Quaternization of nicotine did not eliminate antinociceptive activity as demonstrated by the intraventricular injection of the methiodides in mice. Nicotine pyrrolidine and bis methiodides were somewhat more potent than nicotine, whereas nicotine pyridine methiodide was considerably less potent than nicotine in the tail-flick procedure. Systemically administered nicotine pyrrolidine methiodine was approximately one-third as active as nicotine in the mouse phenylquinone test; nicotine pyridine methiodide and nicotine bis methiodide were 100 and 300 times less active, respectively. Hexamethonium partially blocked nicotine and nicotine pyrrolidine methiodide, whereas mecamylamine blocked nicotine completely but nicotine pyrrolidine methiodide partially. Nicotine may have both central and peripheral actions in the mouse phenylquinone test, whereas nicotine pyrrolidine methiodide may have both nicotine and non-nicotine like antinociceptive activity. The radiolabelled methiodides were synthesized and their disposition in body tissues studied. The methiodides were found to penetrate brain poorly (plasma-to-brain ratios greater than 20). The methiodides were metabolized to nicotine to a small extent. This metabolism occurred to a greater extent in mice than in rats.
Presence of tumor necrosis is not a significant predictor of survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: higher prognostic accuracy of extent based rather than presence/absence classification.

Purpose: The presence of necrosis has been proposed as an adverse prognostic factor in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. However, classification based on a presence/absence basis ignores its heterogeneity, which may be associated with other important pathological factors and prognosis. We performed the first prospective study of necrosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma to our knowledge and tested the traditional presence/absence classification vs an alternative extent based classification.Materials and Methods: We studied the presence and extent of tumor necrosis, pathological features and cancer specific survival of 343 consecutive patients.Results: Tumor necrosis was present in 227 tumors (66%) and was associated with more advanced tumors. However, the predictive accuracy for cancer specific survival was low (64.6%) and the presence of necrosis was not retained as an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis (p = 0.299). There was significant heterogeneity among tumors with necrosis. Incr...
Petascale atmospheric general circulation models

The High-Order Method Modeling Environment (HOMME) is a framework to investigate using high-order element-based methods to build conservative and accurate atmospheric general circulation models. Currently, HOMME employs the discontinuous Galerkin and spectral element methods on a cubed-sphere tiled with quadrilateral elements to solve the primitive equations, and has been shown to scale to (10K) processors of a Cray XT 3/4 and (32K) processors of an IBM Blue Gene/L. Here we briefly describe the development of a baroclinic model using the discontinuous Galerkin option in the HOMME framework, present idealized test case results, and provide preliminary performance data.
Reactions of NO with Mn(II) and Mn(III) centers coordinated to carboxamido nitrogen: synthesis of a manganese nitrosyl with photolabile NO.

The Mn(II) and Mn(III) complexes of the pentadentate ligand N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-N-ethyl-2-pyridine-2-carboxamide (PaPy3H; H is the dissociable carboxamide H), namely, [Mn(PaPy3)(H2O)]ClO4 (1) and [Mn(PaPy3)(Cl)]ClO4 (2), with bound carboxamido nitrogen have been isolated and characterized. The high-spin Mn(II) center in 1 is very sensitive to dioxygen, and this complex is rapidly converted into 2 upon reaction with Cl- in air. The bound carboxamido nitrogen in 1 is responsible for this sensitivity toward oxidation since the analogous Schiff base complex [Mn(SBPy3)Cl]ClO4 (4) is very resistant to oxidation. Reaction of NO with 1 affords the diamagnetic {Mn−NO}6 nitrosyl [Mn(PaPy3)(NO)]ClO4 (5). Complexes with no bound carboxamido nitrogen such as 4 and [Mn(PaPy3H)(Cl)2] (3) do not react with NO. No reaction with NO is observed with the Mn(III) complexes 2 and [Mn(PaPy3)(MeCN)]2+ either. Collectively these reactions indicate that NO reacts only with the Mn(II) center ligated to at least one carbox...
Inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy measurements using adjustable oxide-free tunnel junctions

We report an adjustable, oxide-free tunnel junction for inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy that is capable of detecting the vibrational modes of molecules adsorbed on clean metal surfaces. In this article, we describe the details of these junctions and the procedure by which the tunneling data is obtained and analyzed. We also describe a compact 4He cryostat that was built to test the properties of these junctions. The performance of the junctions is demonstrated with tunneling data taken with a neon–hydrogen film adsorbed on platinum.
Thermomechanical and Hydrophobic Characterization of Shape Memory Polymers

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have generated a great amount of interest due to their capacity to recover a programmable shape under an applied stimulus, such as temperature change or light irradation [1, 2]. The SMP is initially synthesized with a specific original shape. This shape can be deformed under a mechanical load and at a temperature (TH) greater than the glass transition temperature, Tg. The application of this deformation coupled with subsequent lowering of the temperature (TC) to below the Tg, can fix the polymer in the newly altered formation even after removal of the external load. Increasing the temperature again, to a point above Tg, then activates the shape memory effect, whereby the original shape can be recovered. This shape memory ability is a direct result of specific molecular architecture. Chemical and physical crosslinks and macromolecular chain entanglements are part of this structure. Chemical crosslinks between segments give form to the original shape. Some of these segments are stimuli-sensitive, in other words, segments can become increasingly elastic with the application of thermal energy. This application of energy causes the crystalline structure of these segments to melt and be easily deformed under external load. This temporary shape can now be maintained with the removal of thermal energy leading to re-crystallization. Recoil in this state is prevented by both the new crystalline structure and entanglements of the segments caused by deformation. Physical crosslinks give the architecture permanence, since the linkages do not degrade with stimulus [3]. Different crosslinker formulations can result in varying types of chemical crosslinks. Variations in the structure lead to alterations in the material properties, such as mechanical characteristics and hydrophobicity.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Assessment of Single-Word Production for Children under Three Years of Age: Comparison of Children with and without Cleft Palate.

Background. This study reports comparative phonological assessment results for children with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) to typically developing peers using an evaluation tool for early phonological skills. Methods. Children without clefts (NC = noncleft) and 24 children with CLP, ages of 18–36 months, were evaluated using the Profile of Early Expressive Phonological Skills (PEEPSs) [1]. Children interacted with toy manipulatives to elicit a representative sample of target English consonants and syllable structures that are typically acquired by children between 18 and 27 months of age. Results. Results revealed significant differences between the two groups with regard to measures of consonant inventory, place of articulation, manner of production, accuracy, and error patterns. Syllable structure did not indicate differences, with the exception of initial consonant clusters. Conclusions. findings provide support for PEEPS as a viable option for single-word assessment of children with CLP prior to 3 years of age.
NMR study of water adsorption in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance was used to measure water adsorption isotherms at room temperature in cut single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and activated carbon (AC). Although the level of water adsorption inside SWNTs is as high as in any AC, the adsorption isotherm reveals the lack of wetting inside cut-SWNTs. Quantitative analysis and various effects of adsorbed D 2 O on gas adsorption inside cut-SWNTs indicate that adsorbed water molecules reside mostly near principal adsorption sites associated with tube ends and defects.
On being and holding responsible

In his Responsibility and the moral sentiments, Wallace develops the idea that we should think of what it is to be morally responsible for an act in terms of norms for holding someone responsible for that act. Smith has recently claimed that Wallace's approach and those like it are ‘fundamentally misguided’. She says that such approaches make the mistake of incorporating conditions for ‘actively blaming’ others into the basic conditions for being responsible, when in fact the conditions for active blame ‘go beyond’ the basic conditions. In this essay, I argue that Smith's otherwise illuminating discussion of these ‘Normativist’ approaches does not undermine them. Specifically, I maintain that being actively blamable by certain persons with the relevant standing is actually constitutive of being responsible for at least some acts. By distinguishing between persons with different sorts of standing, a Normativist approach can avoid Smith's challenge. My larger aim is thus to clarify and defend the Normativis...
High Nasal Burden of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Increases Risk of Invasive Disease

In a retrospective cohort study of 1,140 patients harboring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the nasal burden was low in 31%, category 1+ to 2+ in 54%, and category 3+ to 4+ in 15%. There was a significant trend in infection risk with increasing nasal burden (P = 0.007). In multivariate models, high nasal burden remained significantly associated with invasive infection.
Strength under various modes of deformation

Breaking stresses and strains have been measured for sheets of a brittle elastic material, a highly crosslinked polyisoprene rubber, under three different modes of deformation: simple tension, pure shear, and equi-biaxial extension. Sharp cracks, about 2 mm long, were made in the centre of each specimen before testing. The breaking stress for equi-biaxial straining was found to be significantly higher than for uniaxial straining while the breaking strain was about one-half as large. All of the results are in accord with a single value of the fracture energy, about 150 J m−2.
A technique for determination of microhardness profiles in thin surface diffusion layers

La technique consiste a monter l'echantillon de telle facon que la surface et non la section transversale soit exposee. Les mesures de microdurete sont effectuees sur la surface. L'echantillon est ensuite poli, et les mesures sont effectuees a differentes profondeurs sur la surface polie. Application de cette technique a un superalliage Fe−Ni implante par des ions azote, et a une couche de diffusion dans un acier au carbone
Exploring the moderating influence of product innovativeness on the organizational integration‐new product market success relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate the moderating impact of product innovativeness on the new product market success‐organizational integration relationship. Design/methodology/approach – A mail survey research approach was used that gathered 131 completed survey instruments from NPD managers in the electrical products, medical devices, and the heavy construction equipment industries. Findings – This research confirmed that organizational integration during NPD processes and the innovativeness of new products are associated with new product market success. This study also discovered that product innovativeness does not moderate the organizational integration‐new product market success relationship.Research limitations/implications – This study's findings may not be generalizable to industries beyond those studied, the studied relationships may change when new product projects are appended to one another, and it may be necessary to take into account several dimensions of product innov...
The Role of Catalyst Properties on Methanol Oxidation over V 2 O 5 –TiO 2 Using Ozone

Oxidation of methanol over V2O5 catalysts supported on anatase TiO2 that were prepared using sol-gel formation and impregnation procedures were investigated. The effects of incorporating Mg in sol-gel to influence the properties of the catalyst were also studied. The process provides an alternative low temperature reaction pathway for reducing emissions of hazardous air pollutant (HAPs) such as methanol and total reduced sulfur compounds (TRS) from pulp and paper mills. The bulk and surface composition of the catalysts were determined by XRD and SEM-EDAX, respectively. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the vanadia–titania catalysts showed mainly the anatase phase of TiO2. Temperature programmed desorption of methanol from the different catalyst showed that the α and β peaks differ significantly with V content and addition of Mg. The combination of gas phase and surface reactions on the V/TiO2 catalysts reduced the amount of ozone required for high degradation of methanol to mainly COx with small quantities of methyl formate. In the absence of ozone the catalysts showed very low activity. It is hypothesized that the ozone is directly influencing the V4+ and V5+ redox cycle of the catalyst. Oxidation of methanol is influenced by the operation variables and catalyst properties. The results of this study revealed that the V content has significant influence on the catalyst activity, and the optimum vanadia loading of about 6 wt%. Higher turnover frequencies were observed over sol-gel catalysts than with catalysts prepared by the impregnation method.
Molecular beam epitaxy engineered III-V semiconductor structures for low-power optically addressed spatial light modulators

Device approaches are investigated for optically addressed SLMs based on molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) engineered III-V materials and structures. Strong photooptic effects can be achieved in periodically delta-doped multiple-quantum-well structures, but are still insufficient for high-contrast modulation with only single- or double-pass absorption through active layers of practical thickness. The asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity approach is employed to permit extinction of light due to interference of light reflected from the front and back surfaces of the cavity. This approach is realized with an all-MBE-grown structure consisting of GaAs/AlAs quarter-wave stack reflector grown over the GaAs substrate as the high reflectance mirror and the GaAs surface as the low reflectance mirror. High-contrast modulation is achieved using a low-power InGaAs/GaAs quantum well laser for the control signal.
On the cointegration of international stock indices

This paper investigates the cointegration relationship among a group of international stock indices in light of new developments of econometric methods. Kasa (1992) first documented strong evidence for cointegration relations among five national stock indices, which suggests that there exists a common trend among those stock indices. Using Johansen multivariate cointegration test, we find that his findings are persistent in a sample of longer periods and more countries. In order to investigate whether these results are driven by statistical biases related to the sample size, we apply to our tests the Johansen’s small sample correction factor. The results still point toward the existence of a cointegration relationship but the evidence becomes much weaker. We next examine the empirical patterns emerged from different lag specifications and argue that Kasa’s findings are more likely due to the size distortion in extreme long lag VAR models. Indeed, when we employ a newly developed non-parametric test that does not require estimation VAR models, the null hypothesis of no cointegration cannot be rejected for the original sample of Kasa’s five-country stock indices from 1974 to 1990, nor for the extended period from 1970 to 2003.
Analysis of hearing preservation after endolymphatic mastoid sac surgery for Meniere's disease.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Comparison of audiometric outcomes between patients with definite Meniere's disease who underwent endolymphatic mastoid sac surgery (EMSS) following failed medical therapy and patients who underwent medical therapy only. Study Design: Retrospective chart review of 456 consecutive patients between 1997 and 2006. Methods: Outcome measures were changes in pure-tone average (PTA), word recognition score (WRS), and speech reception threshold (SRT). Results: Of 58 qualified patients, 29 who underwent EMSS after failing medical therapy showed a 4 dB decrease in PTA, a 2% increase in WRS, and a 2 dB decrease in SRT. Twenty-nine patients treated with medical therapy only demonstrated a 1 dB PTA increase, 2% WRS improvement, and 2 dB SRT improvement. No significant difference was noted between the medically and surgically managed patients in terms of changes in PTA (P = .34) or WRS (P = .95) after treatment. Of all patients in the study, 60% had no clinically significant change in hearing, whereas 24% improved and 16% worsened. The distribution of post-treatment hearing changes between the medical and surgical groups was statistically insignificant (P = .17). Conclusions: The changes in PTA and WRS among patients with Meniere's disease managed with medical therapy or EMSS were not statistically significant. Although performing EMSS to treat the vertigo of Meniere's disease does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of deteriorating auditory function after treatment, surgery also does not confer an increased likelihood of stabilizing or improving hearing. Laryngoscope, 2010
Initial D2 Dopamine Receptor Sensitivity Predicts Cocaine Sensitivity and Reward in Rats

The activation of dopamine receptors within the mesolimbic dopamine system is known to be involved in the initiation and maintenance of cocaine use. Expression of the D2 dopamine receptor subtype has been implicated as both a predisposing factor and consequence of chronic cocaine use. It is unclear whether there is a predictive relationship between D2 dopamine receptor function and cocaine sensitivity that would enable cocaine abuse. Therefore, we exploited individual differences in behavioral responses to D2 dopamine receptor stimulation to test its relationship with cocaine-mediated behaviors. Outbred, male Sprague-Dawley rats were initially characterized by their locomotor responsiveness to the D2 dopamine receptor agonist, quinpirole, in a within-session ascending dose-response regimen (0, 0.1, 0.3 & 1.0 mg/kg, sc). Rats were classified as high or low quinpirole responders (HD2 and LD2, respectively) by a median split of their quinpirole-induced locomotor activity. Rats were subsequently tested for differences in the psychostimulant effects of cocaine by measuring changes in cocaine-induced locomotor activity (5 and 15 mg/kg, ip). Rats were also tested for differences in the development of conditioned place preference to a low dose of cocaine (7.5 mg/kg, ip) that does not reliably produce a cocaine conditioned place preference. Finally, rats were tested for acquisition of cocaine self-administration and maintenance responding on fixed ratio 1 and 5 schedules of reinforcement, respectively. Results demonstrate that HD2 rats have enhanced sensitivity to the locomotor stimulating properties of cocaine, display greater cocaine conditioned place preference, and self-administer more cocaine compared to LD2 animals. These findings suggest that individual differences in D2 dopamine receptor sensitivity may be predictive of cocaine sensitivity and reward.
Measurements and simulations of multi-frequency human radar signatures

Range-Doppler signatures of human motions are a useful tool for retrieving information on observed activities, but require an understanding of the scattering processes involved to enable interpretation. This paper presents a study of human range-Doppler signatures using both measurements and models, in particular focusing on the impact of the radar frequency to enable an understanding of any advantages in the use of multiple radar frequencies.
Engineering biofilm formation and dispersal

Anywhere water is in the liquid state, bacteria will exist as biofilms, which are complex communities of cells that are cemented together. Although frequently associated with disease and biofouling, biofilms are also important for engineering applications, such as bioremediation, biocatalysis and microbial fuel cells. Here, we review approaches to alter genetic circuits and cell signaling towards controlling biofilm formation, and emphasize utilizing these tools for engineering applications. Based on a better understanding of the genetic basis of biofilm formation, we find that biofilms might be controlled by manipulating extracellular signals, and that they might be dispersed using conserved intracellular signals and regulators. Biofilms could also be formed at specific locations where they might be engineered to make chemicals or treat human disease.
MAPK Signal-integrating Kinase Controls Cap-independent Translation and Cell Type-specific Cytotoxicity of an Oncolytic Poliovirus

Many animal viruses exhibit proficient growth in transformed cells, a property that has been harnessed for the development of novel therapies against cancer. Despite overwhelming evidence for this phenomenon, understanding of the molecular mechanisms enabling tumor-cell killing is rudimentary for most viruses. We report here that growth and cytotoxicity of the prototype oncolytic poliovirus (PV), PVSRIPO, in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is promoted by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) converging on the MAPK signal-integrating kinase 1 (Mnk1) and its primary substrate, the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E. Inducing Mnk1-catalyzed eIF4E phosphorylation through expression of oncogenic Ras substantially enhanced PVSRIPO translation, replication, and cytotoxicity in resistant cells. This effect was mimicked by expression of constitutively active forms of Mnk1 and correlated with enhanced translation of subgenomic reporter RNAs. Our findings implicate Mnk1 activity in stimulation of PVSRIPO cap-independent translation, an effect that can be synergistically enhanced by inhibition of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K).
Learning Phrase Patterns for Text Classification

This paper introduces methods to discriminatively learn phrase patterns for use as features in text classification. An efficient solution is described using a recursive algorithm with a mutual information selection criterion. The algorithm automatically determines when word classes are useful in specific locations of a phrase pattern, allowing for variable specificity depending on the amount of labeled data available. Experiments are carried out on three text classification tasks in both English and Chinese, resulting in improved performance when adding the phrase patterns to the existing n-gram features.
Reciprocal alteration in circulating TJ6+ CD19+ and TJ6+ CD56+ leukocytes in early pregnancy predicts success or miscarriage

PROBLEM : TJ6 is a cytokine whose membrane form is regularly expressed on the B lymphocytes of women during pregnancy. In a previous study we have shown that pregnancies that end in a spontaneous abortion are characterized by an increase in natural killer (NK) cells and that NK cells in these pregnancies also expressed TJ6, whereas NK cells from pregnancies that terminate normally neither increase in number nor do they express significant amounts of the cytokine. METHODS : To evaluate the ability of TJ6 to predict pregnancy outcome, 61 blood samples from pregnant women were studied. Blood samples were drawn between 5 and 12 weeks of gestation and analyzed for lymphocyte expression of TJ6 using Cytoron Absolute flow cytometry and two-color fluorescence. The percentage of CD19+ (B) cells and CD56+ (NK) cells that expressed TJ6 was calculated, and this percentage was correlated with subsequent pregnancy outcome classified as successful (viable birth) or unsuccessful (abortion, still-birth). TJ6 CD19 and TJ6 CD56 was determined in 32 blood samples from women with successful pregnancy outcomes and 29 samples from women with unsuccessful pregnancy outcome. RESULTS : The mean TJ6 CD19 expression for successful pregnancies was 10.6% and for unsuccessful pregnancies was 5.1% (P < 0.03). The mean TJ6 CD56+ percentage of circulating cells that express TJ6 expression for successful pregnancies was 3.3% and for unsuccessful pregnancies was 10.4% (P = 0.02). All unsuccessful pregnancies had less than 90% of circulating CD19 cells express TJ6 and/or greater than 50% of circulating CD56 cells express TJ6. Use of the expression of TJ6 on CD19 and CD56 cells during the first trimester predicts viable pregnancy with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSIONS : The work now being reported validates the hypothesis that expression of TJ6 on NK cells obtained from pregnant women predicts the outcome of pregnancy. In addition we show that this prognosticator can be reliably demonstrated early in the first trimester.
A method for the separation of glycine-conjugated bile acids as a group from taurine-conjugated bile acids

Abstract A thin-layer chromatographic method for bile acids has been described which separates glycine conjugates, taurine conjugates, and free bile acids into three separate bands. The solvent system used for this purpose is ethanol-isopropyl alcohol-isooctane-ethyl acetate (25:10:10:10). This method is time saving and very simple for quantitative estimation of the glycine:taurine ratio in biological specimens.
Inheritance and genetic linkage of transcobalamin II

The genetic polymorphism of the vitamin B12 transport protein transcobalamin II (TC II) was studied in the Caucasian population and in families. There are five codominent alleles of TC II which show a Mendelian mode of inheritance. No genetic linkage of TC II was found with gene loci for ADA, GLO I, Pi, HLA, AB0 and AK1. TC II like proteins could be detected on autoradiograph of PAGE in two patients with congenital homozygosity for functional TC II deficiency. These vitamin B12 binding proteins in the patients' serum were shown not to be normal R-proteins.
Determining intravenous rt-PA eligibility in the Emergency Department.

The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement of Emergency Department (ED) attendings, ED residents, and neurology residents compared with stroke neurologists in the assessment of intravenous rt-PA eligibility. A convenience sample of patients presenting with possible stroke symptoms to the University of Michigan Hospital ED from June 2003 to July 2004 was identified. A physician from each of four groups: ED attending, ED resident, neurology resident, and stroke neurology attending independently evaluated each patient for eligibility for intravenous (IV) rt-PA. Accuracy, sensitivity, and positive predictive value (PPV) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by physician type, compared with the stroke neurologist, for eligibility for IV rt-PA. Exactly 36 (49%) out of the 73 evaluated patients were diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and 11 were deemed eligible for treatment with IV tPA by the stroke neurologist. Agreement with the stroke neurologist for rt-PA eligibility was 93% [95% CI: 84%, 98%] (sensitivity = 82% [48%, 98%], PPV = 82% [48%, 99%]) for the ED attendings, 79% [65%, 90%] (sensitivity = 75% [35%, 97%], PPV = 43% [18% 71%]) for the ED residents, and 84% [73%, 92%] (sensitivity = 100% [74%, 100%], PPV = 52% [31%, 73%]) for the neurology residents. There were two false positive cases identified by ED attendings, eight, by ED residents, and 11 by neurology residents. This study suggests that the agreement between ED attendings and stroke neurologists for determination of rt-PA eligibility is good. There is room for improvement, however, in the determination of acute stroke therapy eligibility in the ED setting especially among trainees.
High-Performance Interface Electronic System for a 13 $\,\times\,$ 13 Flexible Biomechanical Ground Reaction Sensor Array Achieving a Gait Ground Velocity Resolution of 100 $\mu{\rm m/sec}$

This paper describes a high-performance interface electronics system design for a high-density flexible biomechanical ground reaction sensor array (GRSA). The prototype system can be incorporated into a personal boot heel to measure real-time ground force, shear strain, and sole deformation associated with a human bipedal locomotion, thus providing zero-velocity correction to an inertial measurement unit placed in a close proximity. This approach can greatly reduce inertial error accumulation and improve positioning accuracy. The sensing electronics consist of a front-end multiplexer that can sequentially connect individual sensing nodes from a 13 × 13 GRSA to a capacitance-to-voltage converter followed by a 12-bit algorithmic ADC with a sampling rate of 66.7 k-samples/s. The entire sensor array can be scanned within 10 ms. The GRSA employs capacitive sensing scheme and is fabricated using PDMS deformable dielectric layer. The integrated sensing electronics are fabricated in XFAB 0.35 μm CMOS process and dissipate 3 mW power. The overall system sensing resolution is limited by electrical interferences coupled through long interconnect traces between a GRSA and an electronic sensing module. Dynamic and static pressure testing shows the prototype system functionality achieving a gait ground velocity sensing resolution of 100 μm/s.
Productivity, scale and efficiency in the U.S. textile industry

In this paper we employ panel data techniques to address several issues related to the recent performance of the textile industry. We build on the research and results obtained by Ramcharran (in Empirical Econ 26:515–524, 2001) for the textile industry as a whole, by extending the analysis to the sector level. Using data for 23 sectors over 39 years (1958–1996), we estimate a variable elasticity of substitution (VES) production function; the results allow us to construct time-series of marginal products of inputs and elasticities of scale and substitution. We find evidence in support of the use of a VES function and conclude that there are systematic differences among textile sectors’ productivity and performance.
Activity rhythms in the Mongolian gerbil under natural light conditions

Abstract Male and female Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were maintained from birth under natural light conditions. They were observed in adulthood over 24-hour periods for the occurrence of locomotion, digging, scrabbling, sleeping, grooming, eating and drinking. The animals exhibited a crepuscular activity rhythm in all behaviors except drinking. Peak activity levels occurred at approximately 6–8 a.m. and 6–8 p.m., the hours of day which encompassed dawn and dusk. There were no sex differences in the rhythmic cycling of activity. Results are discussed in relation to basal metabolic rate of the animals, nutritional requirements and ambient temperature conditions.
High resolution image of the subducted Pacific (?) plate beneath central Alaska, 50–150 km depth

Abstract A receiver function transect across the Alaska Range images the subducting Pacific plate at 50–150 km depth. Across a 200 km long array of 30 receivers, the largest observed P-to-S conversions come from the top of the subducting slab. This signal is coherent across the array and is strongly asymmetric, requiring a complicated interface at the top of the slab. Waveform inversion shows that the conversion is generated by a 11–22 km thick low velocity zone at the top of the slab, as much as 20% slower than the surrounding mantle. The velocity of this zone increases with increasing depth of the slab, approaching velocities of the mantle near 150 km depth. All intermediate depth earthquakes occur within the zone, along a plane dipping 5° steeper. The layer is too thick to represent metamorphosed oceanic crust, as proposed for other subduction zones. It may represent a thick serpentinized zone or, more likely, a thick exotic terrane subducting along with the Pacific plate.
Right-angled mock reflection and mock Artin groups

We define a right-angled mock reflection group to be a group G acting combinatorially on a CAT(O) cubical complex such that the action is simply-transitive on the vertex set and all edge-stabilizers are Z 2 . We give a combinatorial characterization of these groups in terms of graphs with local involutions. Any such graph Γ not only determines a mock reflection group, but it also determines a right-angled mock Artin group. Both classes of groups generalize the corresponding classes of right-angled Coxeter and Artin groups. We conclude by showing that the standard construction of a finite K(π,1) space for right-angled Artin groups generalizes to these mock Artin groups.
Milled rice breakage due to environmental conditions

ABSTRACT Milled, long-grain rice was exposed to air at temperatures (T) of 20, 30, and 40°C, and relative humidities (RH) ranging from 25 to 85%. The kernels then were subjected to a breakage test to determine the extent of damage that occurred during each exposure condition. Increasing air T levels produced higher amounts of broken kernels across the RH range. Milled rice at higher moisture content (MC) levels sustained more extensive stress crack damage at low RH conditions and less stress crack damage at high RH conditions relative to milled rice at lower MC levels. Varietal differences were also present, but were overshadowed by MC effects.
Characterization of a sampling voltage tracker for measuring fast, repetitive signals

An equivalent-time sampling and digitizing system is described, together with test methods for characterizing its dynamic performance. Time-base errors, linearity errors, step response parameters, harmonic distortion, and frequency response are considered, and typical measurement results are included. The system is capable of state of the art measurements for signal frequencies up to 200 MHz.
Economic outcomes for the treatment of allergic rhinitis

The purpose of this article is to review the literature related to economic outcomes associated with treating allergic rhinitis. A literature review was conducted using 'Medline' and the in-house database of the publishers of this journal for articles published between January 1991 and January 1996. Only 3 cost-outcome analyses that compared alternative treatments for allergic rhinitis were found. Given the limited number of full economic evaluations, much of this article focuses on issues related to direct and indirect costs and outcome measures that should be considered when performing an economic evaluation of allergic rhinitis. We conclude that more comprehensive analyses using a wide array of costs and outcomes are needed. At present, it is not possible to draw general conclusions regarding the economic value of alternative treatments for allergic rhinitis.
The impact of primary life involvements on turnover: A comparison of part-time and full-time employees

This paper compares the factors which affect the decision of part-time and full-time employees to leave an organization. The decision is hypothesized to be contingent on primary life involvements. A sample of 154 registered nurses, with families, was used. The results demonstrated that primary life involvements were useful for predicting turnover of part-time employees only. The results were integrated with research which suggests that different types of attitudes predict turnover of part-time and full-time employees.