cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of start-up transient for a powertrain system with a nonlinear clutch damper

Abstract The transient vibration phenomenon in a vehicle powertrain system during the start-up (or shut-down) process is studied with a focus on the nonlinear characteristics of a multi-staged clutch damper. First, a four-degree-of-freedom torsional model with multiple discontinuous nonlinearities under flywheel motion input is developed, and the powertrain transient event is validated with a vehicle start-up experiment. Second, the role of the nonlinear torsional path on the transient event is investigated in the time and time−frequency domains; interactions between the clutch damper and the transmission transients are estimated by using two metrics. Third, the harmonic balance method is applied to examine the nonlinear characteristics of clutch damper during a slowly varying non-stationary process in a simplified and validated single-degree-of-freedom powertrain system model. Finally, analytical formulas are successfully developed and verified to approximate the nonlinear amplification level for a rapidly varying process.
Efficient finite-difference time-domain scheme for light scattering by dielectric particles: application to aerosols

We have examined the Maxwell-Garnett, inverted Maxwell-Garnett, and Bruggeman rules for evaluation of the mean permittivity involving partially empty cells at particle surface in conjunction with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) computation. Sensitivity studies show that the inverted Maxwell-Garnett rule is the most effective in reducing the staircasing effect. The discontinuity of permittivity at the interface of free space and the particle medium can be minimized by use of an effective permittivity at the cell edges determined by the average of the permittivity values associated with adjacent cells. The efficiency of the FDTD computational program is further improved by use of a perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition and the appropriate coding technique. The accuracy of the FDTD method is assessed on the basis of a comparison of the FDTD and the Mie calculations for ice spheres. This program is then applied to light scattering by convex and concave aerosol particles. Comparisons of the scattering phase function for these types of aerosol with those for spheres and spheroids show substantial differences in backscattering directions. Finally, we illustrate that the FDTD method is robust and flexible in computing the scattering properties of particles with complex morphological configurations.
Iron Triangle Simulation: A Role-Playing Game for Undergraduates in Congress, Interest Groups, and Public Policy Classes

1. Much of my discussion here follows Ian Hacking's "Five Parables," in Philosophy in History, ed. Richard Rorty, J. B. Schneewind, and Quentin Skinner (Cambridge, England; Cambridge University Press, 1984), pp. 103-125, esp. 110-114. While, like Hacking, I am deeply suspicious of a problems approach to the study of philosophy, I also agree that the analytic skills gained by mastering this methodology can be valuable not as ends in themselves, but as means to other, more illuminating, intellectual projects to which the problems approach may be irrelevant.
The Antidote to Bias in Research

The most commonly discussed shield against bias in scientific practice is disclosure of financial conflicts of interest (COI). Such disclosure is necessary because the public wants it. Yet, a growing cadre of scientists question the value of disclosure policies ([ 1 ][1], [ 2 ][2]). These dissenters
Enhanced prediction of mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention by consideration of general and neurological indicators.

Objectives This study sought to improve methodology for predicting post–percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) mortality. Background Recently, an increased proportion of post-PCI deaths caused by noncardiac causes has been suggested, often in rapidly triaged patients resuscitated from sudden cardiac death or presenting with cardiogenic shock. Older risk adjustment algorithms may not adequately reflect these issues. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing PCI from 2000 to 2009 were randomly divided into training (n = 8,966) and validation (n = 8,891) cohorts. The 2010 ACC-NCDR (American College of Cardiology–National Cardiovascular Data Registry) mortality algorithm was applied to the training cohort and its highest risk decile, separately. Variables describing general and neurological status at admission were then tested for their additional predictive capability and new algorithms developed. These were tested in the validation cohort, using receiver-operator characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow, and reclassification measures as principal outcome measures. Results In-hospital mortality was 1.0%, of which 52.2% had noncardiac causes or major contributions. Baseline model C-statistics for the total and upper decile training cohorts were 0.904 and 0.830. The Aldrete score (addressing consciousness, respiration, skin color, muscle function, and circulation) and neurology scores added incremental information, resulting in improved validation cohort C-statistics (entire group: 0.883 to 0.914, p Conclusions Half of in-hospital deaths in this series were of noncardiac causation. Prediction of in-hospital mortality after PCI can be considerably improved over conventional models by the inclusion of variables describing general and neurological status.
Is there a relationship between victim and partner alcohol use during an intimate partner violence event? Findings from an urban emergency department study of abused women.

Objective: This study sought to identify factors associated with drinking during an intimate partner violence (IPV) event among abused women presenting to an urban emergency department (ED). Methods: We use a cross-sectional study of IPV cases among adult female patients seen at an urban ED. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify substance use factors associated with an abused woman drinking while victimized or perpetrating IPV. Results: Among the 182 cases, an increased number of drinks per week, consuming five or more drinks per occasion, alcohol abuse and dependence, and illicit drug use were significantly associated with the abused woman's drinking while victimized or perpetrating IPV Partner's drinking five or more drinks per occasion was associated only with the woman's drinking while victimized. Partners were more likely to drink while perpetrating IPV in the relationship whether or not the woman drank while victimized. Among couples in which the abused woman also per...
Protection of parental T4 DNA from a restriction exonuclease by the product of gene 2.

Abstract Gene 2 amber mutants of bacteriophage T4 grown on su − hosts produce whole particles of which less than 0.5% are infective on su + hosts. Although the DNA of such particles is full-sized and un-nicked, it is degraded to acid-soluble fragments after infection of exo V + hosts. This breakdown does not occur on exo V − deficient hosts, and such hosts are fully permissive for gene 2-defective particles. We have now determined that giant-headed, gene 2-defective particles containing several genome lengths of DNA per head are fully infective on exo V + hosts even though part of the parental DNA is degraded to acid-soluble fragments early after infection. Restriction of gene 2-defective particles must therefore be due to exonucleolytic degradation of the incoming DNA. If the parental DNA is of sufficient length to enable a complete genome to survive this degradation before production of anti- exoV , such particles are now infective.
Introduction to a new technology for measuring urethral pressures: 3D high-resolution manometry.

Introduction and hypothesis This video introduces a 3D high-resolution manometry (HRM) system to the field of urogynecology. We demonstrate how to obtain and interpret dynamic urethral pressures with this measurement system and use it to evaluate pre- and postoperative women.
Partial regularity of mass-minimizing rectifiable sections

Let B be a fiber bundle with compact fiber F over a compact Riemannian n-manifold Mn. There is a natural Riemannian metric on the total space B consistent with the metric on M. With respect to that metric, the volume of a rectifiable section σ: M → B is the mass of the image σ(M) as a rectifiable n-current in B.
A review of multivariate analyses in imaging genetics.

Recent advances in neuroimaging technology and molecular genetics provide the unique opportunity to investigate genetic influence on the variation of brain attributes. Since the year 2000, when the initial publication on brain imaging and genetics was released, imaging genetics has been a rapidly growing research approach with increasing publications every year. Several reviews have been offered to the research community focusing on various study designs. In addition to study design, analytic tools and their proper implementation are also critical to the success of a study. In this review, we survey recent publications using data from neuroimaging and genetics, focusing on methods capturing multivariate effects accommodating the large number of variables from both imaging data and genetic data. We group the analyses of genetic or genomic data into either a prior driven or data driven approach, including gene-set enrichment analysis, multifactor dimensionality reduction, principal component analysis, independent component analysis (ICA), and clustering. For the analyses of imaging data, ICA and extensions of ICA are the most widely used multivariate methods. Given detailed reviews of multivariate analyses of imaging data available elsewhere, we provide a brief summary here that includes a recently proposed method known as independent vector analysis. Finally, we review methods focused on bridging the imaging and genetic data by establishing multivariate and multiple genotype-phenotype associations, including sparse partial least squares, sparse canonical correlation analysis, sparse reduced rank regression and parallel ICA. These methods are designed to extract latent variables from both genetic and imaging data, which become new genotypes and phenotypes, and the links between the new genotype-phenotype pairs are maximized using different cost functions. The relationship between these methods along with their assumptions, advantages, and limitations are discussed.
Maintaining the Mainstreamed Child in the Regular Classroom: The Decision-making Process

Inevitably, mainstreaming will place new burdens on regular teachers and test our schools' flexibility in dealing effectively with children with special problems. Likely, solutions will need to be as many and distinctive as the children in question — as yet no formulas exist for successful mainstreaming. Heron clearly describes some of the tools available to schools, and the references he provides should be especially useful to readers wishing to pursue one or more of his suggestions. — G.M.S.
Regulation of micropinocytosis in capillary endothelium by multivalent cations

Abstract Capillary endothelium isolated from rat epididymal fat exhibits the ability to ingest [ 14 C] sucrose by micropinocytosis. Stimulation of micropinocytosis was observed when the external concentration of either Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ was increased to 10 m M . Other divalent and trivalent cations had either no effect or were inhibitory dependent upon their external concentration. These cations, at an external concentration of 10 m M , inhibited micropinocytosis with the following order of effectiveness La 3+ > Sr 2+ ⪰ Tb 3+ > Ba 2+ . Removal of divalent cations from the incubation medium by chemical chelation resulted in the stimulation of micropinocytosis. Microvesicular efflux of previously ingested [ 14 C]sucrose was stimulated by Ca 2+ and inhibited by the presence of EDTA or at reduced temperatures. Micropinocytic activity in isolated endothelium involves both microvesicular endocytosis and exocytosis. These two concurrent processes, necessary for vesicular transport, appear to be regulated by cations in dissimilar ways.
Surface studies of the collectorless flotation of chalcopyrite

Abstract It has been shown recently that chalcopyrite can be floated without a collector when the mineral is brought to an oxidizing environment. Some investigators consider that elemental sulfur formed under oxidizing conditions is responsible for collectorless flotation, even at alkaline pH values where the sulfur is thermodynamically unstable. Therefore, a search for the presence of elemental sulfur has been made by means of ESCA, mass spectrometry and solvent extraction followed by UV-spectrophotometric analysis. On the basis of these results, the possible mechanisms of collectorless flotation are discussed.
ASEAN–EU economic relationship: Integration and lessons for the ASEAN economic community☆

Abstract This paper considers the economic relationship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), in terms of both economic integration indicators and policy lessons in light of the proposal to create an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). It begins with a quantitative assessment of the ASEAN–EU economic relationship, followed by a contextual review of ASEAN economic integration as it evolves into the AEC. Next, we evaluate the relevant policy lessons of the European experience for ASEAN. Finally, we explore optimal objectives of the AEC and how ASEAN might go about putting policy flesh on the bones of the AEC proposal.
Infused Autograft Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratio and Survival in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Infused autograft absolute lymphocyte count is a prognostic factor for survival after autologous peripheral hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (APHSCT) for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). CD14+ HLA-DRlow/neg immunosuppressive monocytes affect tumor growth by suppressing host antitumor immunity. Thus, we set out to investigate if the infused autograft lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (A-LMR), as a biomarker of host immunity (ie, lymphocytes) and immunosuppression (ie, monocytes), affects survival after APHSCT. From 1994 to 2012, 379 DLBCL patients who underwent APHSCT were studied. The 379 patients were randomly divided into a training set (n = 253) and a validation set (n = 126). Receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve identified an A-LMR ≥1 as the best cut-off value, which was validated by the k-fold cross-validation in the training set. Multivariate analysis showed A-LMR to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in the training set. Patients with an A-LMR ≥ 1.0 experienced superior overall survival (OS) compared with patients with an A-LMR
Localization and Action of Dragon (Repulsive Guidance Molecule b), a Novel Bone Morphogenetic Protein Coreceptor, throughout the Reproductive Axis

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play important roles in reproduction including primordial germ cell (PGC) formation, follicular development, spermatogenesis and FSH secretion. Dragon, a recently identified glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored member of the repulsive guidance molecule (RGM) family, is also a BMP co-receptor. In the present study, we determined the tissue and cellular localization of Dragon in reproductive organs using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Among reproductive organs, Dragon was expressed in testis, epididymis, ovary, uterus, and pituitary. In the testis of early postnatal mice, Dragon was found in gonocytes and spermatogonia while in immature testes, Dragon was only weakly expressed in spermatogonia. Interestingly, PMSG treatment of immature mice robustly induced Dragon production in spermatocytes. In adult testis, Dragon was found in spermatocytes and round spermatids. In the ovary, Dragon was detected exclusively within oocytes and primarily those within secondary follicles. In the pituitary, Dragon expressing cells overlapped FSH expressing cells. Dragon was also expressed in a number of cell lines originating from reproductive tissues including Ishikawa, Hela, LβT2, MCF-7 and JEG3 cells. Immunocytochemistry and gradient sucrose ultracentrifugation studies showed Dragon was localized in lipid rafts within the plasma membrane. In reproductive cell lines, Dragon expression enhanced signaling of exogenous BMP2 or BMP4. The present studies demonstrate that Dragon expression is dynamically regulated throughout the reproductive tract and that Dragon protein modulates BMP signaling in cells from reproductive tissues. The overlap between Dragon expression and the functional BMP signaling system suggests that Dragon may play a role in mammalian reproduction.
Experimental detection of one case of benzene epoxidation by a peroxy radical and computational prediction of another.

Reaction of the β-styryl radical with O2 in benzene results in a low yield of benzene oxide, which is shown by isotopic labeling to arise from the solvent. Ab initio and DFT calculations elucidate the mechanism of this reaction, and identify the properties of other radicals that should be more effective promoters of the reaction. The CN radical is found to be one candidate.
The Ecclesiastical Trials in Massachusetts of Oliver Sherman Prescott

Every one who have ever been comforted by hearing the words “By this authority I absolve thee” spoken by one of our priests after a penitent confession, is indebted to Oliver Sherman Prescott; and might give thanks to God that he lived and fought in courts ecclesiastical in these United States of America.
Cell spreading and motility: a model lamellipod

Cells moving in vitro do so by means of a motile appendage, the lamellipod. This is a broad, flat sheet of cytogel which spreads in front of the cell and pulls the cell forward. We present here a mathematical model for lamellipodial motion based on the physical chemistry of actomyosin gels.
The binding site for oxaloacetate on succinate dehydrogenase

Abstract Oxaloacetate, a competitive inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase, bound with a sulfhydryl group of the enzyme to abolish the enzymic activity. Subsequently a thiosemiacetal was apparently formed to render the inhibition practically irreversible. The dehydrogenase, after taking up 25 silver equivalents per flavin, bound little oxaloacetate.
Elision and the Embellished Final Cadence in J. S. Bach's Preludes

In a number of Bach's keyboard preludes, the final cadence is richly decorated by interpolated harmonies and melodic figuration, so that it superficially resembles an interrupted cadence. The present study explores Bach's techniques of embellishing such final cadences. Sometimes, the tonic note is elided and the leading note ‘resolves’ to the lowered seventh degree of the scale, as in the Prelude in C major from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I. Another technique of embellishment is the interpolation of submediant and/or subdominant harmonies between dominant and tonic. A survey of Bach's oeuvre indicates that he wrote embellished final cadences exclusively in keyboard preludes and chorale-based genres (including chorale preludes). A brief concluding discussion of embellished final cadences in works by later composers provides a broad context in which to appreciate the generic and historical significance of this phenomenon.
Allometry of behavior

The study of allometric and size scaling relationships is well developed in most biological fields, but lags behind in the area of animal behavior. Part of the reason for this deficit is that scaling relationships of behaviors tend to be inherently more 'noisy' than other biological scaling relationships. However, body size has a pervasive influence on the performance of animals in their environments. For example, the frequently strong relationship between power-to-mass ratios and locomotor performance means that smaller species and individuals enjoy superior locomotor performance (burst acceleration and maneuverability) than larger species, particularly within a clade. We suggest that these size-related functional influences on performance profoundly influence many aspects of animal behavior, such as how animals forage, fight, flee, perceive danger, respond to risk and interact with other individuals. We outline exciting avenues for research on the allometry of behavior by integrating scaling and functional perspectives.
Red blood cell dynamics: from cell deformation to ATP release

The mechanisms of red blood cell (RBC) deformation under both static and dynamic, i.e., flow, conditions have been studied extensively since the mid 1960s. Deformation-induced biochemical reactions and possible signaling in RBCs, however, were proposed only fifteen years ago. Therefore, the fundamental relationship between RBC deformation and cellular signaling dynamics i.e., mechanotransduction, remains incompletely understood. Quantitative understanding of the mechanotransductive pathways in RBCs requires integrative studies of physical models of RBC deformation and cellular biochemical reactions. In this article we review the physical models of RBC deformation, spanning from continuum membrane mechanics to cellular skeleton dynamics under both static and flow conditions, and elaborate the mechanistic links involved in deformation-induced ATP release.
A dual-channel intrafascicular electrode for tracking single cell activities in peripheral nerves

We have developed a dual-channel intrafascicular electrode and classification technique which improve single cell discriminability in recordings of multi-cellular activity in peripheral nerves. The electrode is composed of two separately insulated multi-strand bundles of carbon fibers. Its small size makes intraneural differential recording possible which may improve EMG noise rejection. The technique is based on a binary search clustering method and achieves higher classification success than a standard window discriminator.
DEC‐205/CD205+ dendritic cells are abundant in the white pulp of the human spleen, including the border region between the red and white pulp

Summary The distribution of dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages in the human spleen has received less attention than that of lymphocytes. Here we have addressed this problem with the human DEC-205/CD205 marker (‘DEC’), which is an endocytic receptor on DCs that mediates efficient presentation of antigens. DEC was abundant on dendritic profiles in the white pulp but absent from the red pulp, the latter defined with antibodies to two antigens, mannose receptor/CD206 on sinusoidal lining cells, and macrosialin/CD68 on macrophages. Double staining with anti-DEC and anti-CD3 showed the expected concentration of DEC+ cells in the relatively small T-cell areas of the human spleen. DEC+ cells were also found in other regions of the white pulp. In all regions, the DEC+ cells were positive for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and the CD11c integrin but largely immature, with low expression of B7-2/CD86 costimulator and DC-lysosome-associated membrane protein (LAMP)/CD208. When we concentrated on the perifollicular region between the red pulp and the marginal zone, we found macrophages that stained with antibodies to sialoadhesin/CD169 and DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin (SIGN)/CD209, and just inside these cells were DEC+ profiles. The DEC+ DCs were intertwined with cells that stained for the vascular addressin mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule (MAdCAM). Therefore, anti-DEC-205/CD205 antibodies are useful for identifying DCs in human splenic white pulp and its border region with the red pulp.
Statistical methods for 3D reconstruction of viruses using cryo electron microscopy data

Cryo electron microscopy of viruses provides 2D projections of the scattering intensity of the viral particle but the orientation of the projections is not known. We describe an approach to reconstructing the 3D scattering intensity in spite of the unknown projection orientations using nonlinear least squares ideas where the reconstruction is guaranteed to have the icosahedral symmetry known to be present in the viral particle.
Graphical Aids to Aerospace Vehicle Mission Analysis

Abstract : This paper describes an interactive computer graphics system, called Graphic ROCKET, currently being developed as a performance analysis aid for the aerospace vehicle systems analysis process. It is intended to provide a means for rapidly specifying and evaluating the performance of a wide range of aerospace vehicle designs and flight plans. This capability will enable the aerospace mission analyst either to get his job done much faster or to consider a larger number of alternatives for accomplishing his mission objective. (Author)
Systemic Testing on Bradley-Terry Model against Nonlinear Ranking Hierarchy

We take a system point of view toward constructing any power or ranking hierarchy onto a society of human or animal players. The most common hierarchy is the linear ranking, which is habitually used in nearly all real-world problems. A stronger version of linear ranking via increasing and unvarying winning potentials, known as Bradley-Terry model, is particularly popular. Only recently non-linear ranking hierarchy is discussed and developed through recognition of dominance information contents beyond direct dyadic win-and-loss. We take this development further by rigorously arguing for the necessity of accommodating system's global pattern information contents, and then introducing a systemic testing on Bradley-Terry model. Our test statistic with an ensemble based empirical distribution favorably compares with the Deviance test equipped with a Chi-squared asymptotic approximation. Several simulated and real data sets are analyzed throughout our development.
LIGHT IMPULSIVE DAMPING OF SPACECRAFT EXHIBITING NORMAL MODE BEHAVIOR

This paper develops an impulsive damping control algorithm suitable for spacecraft. The fuel optimal solutions to the problem of damping the motion of spacecraft consists of impulsive control forces applied at repeated instances in time. The instances in time occur when the spacecraft undergoes maximum absolute velocities and minimum absolute displacements. This paper approximates impulses by short duration pulses. Maximum absolute velocities and minimum absolute displacements are then approximated by transient values of their respective standard deviations. Impulsive damping is achieved by applying either a large single pulse or smaller repeated pulses. A near fuel optimal mode preserving impulsive damping control algorithm is developed next. The algorithm exhibits the following properties: 1) the impulsive damping control algorithm is independent of spacecraft stiffness, 2) the associated control forces are proportional to spacecraft inertia, and 3) the impulsive damping control algorithm is decentralized. The impulsive damping of a cantilever beam demonstrates the results.
The damping performance of a single particle impact damper

This paper presents results from computer simulations used to investigate the damping performance of a single particle vertical impact damper over a wide range of excitation frequencies and amplitudes, particle-to-structure mass ratios, lid clearance ratios, structural damping ratios, and coefficients of restitution. Measurements of the damping performance, particle flight times, and structure contact times are presented. Performance at both the structure's undamped natural frequency and off-resonant conditions are studied in depth. Maximum damping at a fixed oscillation frequency occurs at an optimal lid height that increases with increasing mass ratio, increasing structural damping ratio, but decreases with coefficient of restitution. The corresponding maximum degree of damping increases with increasing mass ratio and coefficient of restitution, but decreases with increasing structural damping ratio. Field plots of the damping ratio are also presented as functions of oscillation amplitude and frequency to demonstrate the damper performance over a range of design parameters and operating conditions.
The Winds of Change: Environmental Justice in Energy Transitions

Environmental injustices have long been recognized as an important social dimension of energy systems. Like other kinds of polluting facilities, power plants, refineries, uranium mines, and sites o...
Angiogenesis interactome and time course microarray data reveal the distinct activation patterns in endothelial cells.

Angiogenesis involves stimulation of endothelial cells (EC) by various cytokines and growth factors, but the signaling mechanisms are not completely understood. Combining dynamic gene expression time-course data for stimulated EC with protein-protein interactions associated with angiogenesis (the “angiome”) could reveal how different stimuli result in different patterns of network activation and could implicate signaling intermediates as points for control or intervention. We constructed the protein-protein interaction networks of positive and negative regulation of angiogenesis comprising 367 and 245 proteins, respectively. We used five published gene expression datasets derived from in vitro assays using different types of blood endothelial cells stimulated by VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A). We used the Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) to identify significant temporal gene expression profiles. The statistically significant patterns between 2D fibronectin and 3D type I collagen substrates for telomerase-immortalized EC (TIME) show that different substrates could influence the temporal gene activation patterns in the same cell line. We investigated the different activation patterns among 18 transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors, and experimentally measured the protein level of the tyrosine-kinase receptors VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 in human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) and human microvascular EC (MEC). The results show that VEGFR1–VEGFR2 levels are more closely coupled than VEGFR1–VEGFR3 or VEGFR2–VEGFR3 in HUVEC and MEC. This computational methodology can be extended to investigate other molecules or biological processes such as cell cycle.
The Determinants of Nicaraguan Nonagricultural Exporters: A Firm-Level Perspective

ABSTRACTNicaragua, as a small emerging market with a challenging history of economic and political turmoil, is understudied within the international business context. Utilizing the World Bank's 2010 Nicaragua Enterprise Survey, this article explores which nonagricultural Nicaraguan firms are best suited to export. Important findings include firm location, firm size, ownership composition, performance, firm industry, firm quality programs, and firm origin in the informal sector. These findings are discussed within the Nicaraguan context.
Performance limits on M-QAM transmission in hybrid multichannel AM/QAM fiber optic systems

Performance limits on M-QAM transmission in hybrid multichannel AM/QAM (amplitude modulated/quadrature amplitude modulated) fiber-optic systems are presented. It has been shown that for such hybrid analog/digital transmission over an optical fiber, the induced in-band clipping noise will significantly degrade the reception performance of M-QAM signals. Here the author determines the channel capacity and signal power (or optical modulation index) of M-QAM as limited by the presence of the clipping noise, which is non-Gaussian and impulsive, and discusses design tradeoffs for M-QAM channels in such cases. >
Digitizing a real estate document library

Purpose – The purpose of the article is to present the organizational, logistic, and technological problems in reengineering established real estate library business processes to inform other practitioners.Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on the approach taken in one organisation. This paper presents the organizational, logistic, and technological problems in reengineering established real estate library business processes by considering a real case study, although the identify of the firm is not revealed.Findings – The information management literature is strewn with bits and pieces on document imaging and its perceived benefits through increased technology. The business process is more complex than the sales literature suggests. Imaging projects begin with a paper backlog that requires preparation, organization, taxonomy, and elimination of redundancy through document analysis. Personnel, budget, and administration need to be allocated. Simultaneously, a document management system must...
MRI of the gastrointestinal tract

This article reviews the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A summary of the current MRI techniques is included, emphasizing the choice of pulsing sequences, imaging plane, surface coils and intravenous and oral contrast agents for each of the different segments of the GI tract. The multiple available oral contrast agents are reviewed, including the role of both positive and negative. Finally, the major clinical applications of MRI in the GI tract are discussed by major disease categories (congenital abnormalities, inflammatory disease and benign and malignant neoplasms). The latter is further subdivided by GI tract segments such as esophagus, stomach, small bowel and colon.
An Antagonist Decoy Receptor and a Death Domain-Containing Receptor for TRAIL

TRAIL, also called Apo2L, is a cytotoxic protein that induces apoptosis of many transformed cell lines but not of normal tissues, even though its death domain-containing receptor, DR4, is expressed on both cell types. An antagonist decoy receptor (designated as TRID for TRAIL receptor without an intracellular domain) that may explain the resistant phenotype of normal tissues was identified. TRID is a distinct gene product with an extracellular TRAIL-binding domain and a transmembrane domain but no intracellular signaling domain. TRID transcripts were detected in many normal human tissues but not in most cancer cell lines examined. Ectopic expression of TRID protected mammalian cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis, which is consistent with a protective role. Another death domain-containing receptor for TRAIL (designated as death receptor-5), which preferentially engaged a FLICE (caspase-8)-related death protease, was also identified.
Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide: an in vitro study on canine arteries

Early systemic arterial hypotension is a common clinical feature of Pseudomonas septicemia. To determine if Pseudomonas aeruginosa endotoxin induces the release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO), an endogenous nitrovasodilator, segments of canine femoral, renal, hepatic, superior mesenteric, and left circumflex coronary arteries were suspended in organ chambers (physiological salt solution, 95% O2/5% CO2, pH 7.4, 37oC) to measure isometric force. In arterial segments contracted with 2 µM prostaglandin F2a, Pseudomonas endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) serotype 10(Habs) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.05 to 0.50 mg/ml)) induced concentration-dependent relaxation of segments with endothelium (P<0.05) but no significant change in tension of arteries without endothelium. Endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to Pseudomonas LPS occurred in the presence of 1 µM indomethacin, but could be blocked in the coronary artery with 10 µM NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis from L-arginine. The inhibitory effect of L-NMMA on LPS-mediated vasorelaxation of the coronary artery could be reversed by exogenous 100 µM L-arginine but not by 100 µM D-arginine. These experiments indicate that Pseudomonas endotoxin induces synthesis of nitric oxide from L-arginine by the vascular endothelium. LPS-mediated production of EDNO by the endothelium, possibly through the action of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOSc), may decrease systemic vascular resistance and may be the mechanism of early hypotension characteristic of Pseudomonas septicemia.
Thorough GABAergic innervation of the entire axon initial segment revealed by an optogenetic ‘laserspritzer’

GABAergic terminals of chandelier cells exclusively innervate the axon initial segment (AIS) of excitatory neurons. Although the anatomy of these synapses has been well-studied in several brain areas, relatively little is known about their physiological properties. Using vesicular γ-aminobutyric acid transporter-channelrhodopsin 2-enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (VGAT-ChR2-YFP)-expressing mice and a novel fibreoptic 'laserspritzer' approach that we developed, we investigated the physiological properties of axo-axonic synapses (AASs) in brain slices from the piriform cortex (PC) of mice. AASs were in close proximity to voltage-gated Na(+) (NaV) channels located at the AIS. AASs were selectively activated by a 5 μm laserspritzer placed in close proximity to the AIS. Under a minimal laser stimulation condition and using whole-cell somatic voltage-clamp recordings, the amplitudes and kinetics of IPSCs mediated by AASs were similar to those mediated by perisomatic inhibitions. Results were further validated with channelrhodopsin 2-assisted circuit mapping (CRACM) of the entire inhibitory inputs map. For the first time, we revealed that the laserspritzer-induced AAS-IPSCs persisted in the presence of TTX and TEA but not 4-AP. Next, using gramicidin-based perforated patch recordings, we found that the GABA reversal potential (EGABA) was -73.6 ± 1.2 mV when induced at the AIS and -72.8 ± 1.1 mV when induced at the perisomatic site. Our anatomical and physiological results lead to the novel conclusions that: (1) AASs innervate the entire length of the AIS, as opposed to forming a highly concentrated cartridge, (2) AAS inhibition suppresses action potentials and epileptiform activity more robustly than perisomatic inhibitions, and (3) AAS activation alone can be sufficient to inhibit action potential generation and epileptiform activities in vitro.
Basement membrane and extracellular interstitial matrix components in bladder neoplasia : evidence of angiogenesis

Immunohistochemical studies to localise collagen IV, laminin, fibronectin and tenascin were undertaken in 59 bladder biopsies. These were non-neoplastic or contained foci of flat dysplasia or of transitional cell neoplasia. Collagen IV and laminin were reliably demonstrated in basement membranes but focal loss of reactivity for collagen IV was found in the urothelial basement membrane in some cases of inflammation, dysplasia, and non-invasive papillary transitional cell tumour. Basement membranes were rarely demonstrated around invasive transitional cell carcinomas. Fibronectin and tenascin were found in the sub-urothelial lamina propria and in some urothelial basement membranes. The stroma of invasive tumours reacted strongly for both. Increased numbers of sub-urothelial capillaries were present in association with some cases of cystitis, flat dysplasia or non-invasive transitional cell neoplasia suggesting an angiogenic stimulus in these circumstances. Immunohistochemical staining of basement membrane components is unlikely to be of value in the routine histopathological assessment of transitional cell neoplasms of the bladder.
Self-supervised discriminative training of statistical language models

A novel self-supervised discriminative training method for estimating language models for automatic speech recognition (ASR) is proposed. Unlike traditional discriminative training methods that require transcribed speech, only untranscribed speech and a large text corpus is required. An exponential form is assumed for the language model, as done in maximum entropy estimation, but the model is trained from the text using a discriminative criterion that targets word confusions actually witnessed in first-pass ASR output lattices. Specifically, model parameters are estimated to maximize the likelihood ratio between words w in the text corpus and w's cohorts in the test speech, i.e. other words that w competes with in the test lattices. Empirical results are presented to demonstrate statistically significant improvements over a 4-gram language model on a large vocabulary ASR task.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Invasive Fungal Infections in the Cancer Patient: Recent Progress and Ongoing Questions

In the last 5 years we have witnessed further developments in diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) that complicate cancer chemotherapy. In this brief overview, we highlight some advancement, discuss future directions, and unmet needs in this complex area.
The Photoelectrocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

The kinetics of the photoreduction of CO{sub 2} in nonaqueous solutions containing tetraalkyl ammonium cations has been examined with reference to the effects of surface decoration of p-CdTe with metals, organic complexes, and crown ethers. The electrode surface was scanned by SEM,XPS, and particularly by FTIR spectroscopy. The principle product throughout was CO, although small amounts of formate and methanol were observed. Catalysts, except for the crown ethers, produce an anodic shift in the i-V curves which is in the region of 100-200 mV, equivalent to {approx} 10 times increases in the rate constant. The efficiency of the conversion of light to CO is {approx} 5%. Crown ethers adsorb on the surface in a lying down position and behave in a pseudo-Langmuirian way. The 18-crown-6 ether in the presence of tetraethyl ammonium cations produce on the greatest catalysis, a 410 mV shift, equivalent to about 10{sup 3} times increase in the rate constant. The photoelectrochemical kinetic parameters are consistent with a rate-determining step, CO{sub 2} + H + e + hv {r arrow} CO + OH. The catalyst effect of the NR{sub 4} ions is interpreted in terms of the foregoing electrochemical reactions, NR{sub 4} + e {l reversible} NR{submore » 4} and NRA + CO{sub 2} {r reversible} NR{sub 4} + CO{sub 2} which take place on different sites from that of the photoelectrochemical reactions. The catalytic shifts are correlated with changes in bonding between intermediate radicals and the catalyst atoms as in electrochemical catalysis.« less
Quantitative neurogenetic perspectives

We comment that covariances between brain divisions may be constraining or facilitating, depending on what is being selected, and that modern quantitative genetic methods provide the tools to discover and manipulate the genetic networks that give rise to the covariances described in the target article.
A Low-Cost Open-Source Metal 3-D Printer

Technical progress in the open-source self replicating rapid prototyper (RepRap) community has enabled a distributed form of additive manufacturing to expand rapidly using polymer-based materials. However, the lack of an open-source metal alternative and the high capital costs and slow throughput of proprietary commercialized metal 3-D printers has severely restricted their deployment. The applications of commercialized metal 3-D printers are limited to only rapid prototyping and expensive finished products. This severely restricts the access of the technology for small and medium enterprises, the developing world and for use in laboratories. This paper reports on the development of a open-source metal 3-D printer. The metal 3-D printer is controlled with an open-source micro-controller and is a combination of a low-cost commercial gas-metal arc welder and a derivative of the Rostock, a deltabot RepRap. The bill of materials, electrical and mechanical design schematics, and basic construction and operating procedures are provided. A preliminary technical analysis of the properties of the 3-D printer and the resultant steel products are performed. The results of printing customized functional metal parts are discussed and conclusions are drawn about the potential for the technology and the future work necessary for the mass distribution of this technology.
Human Rights in an Era of Neoliberal Globalization: The Alien Tort Claims Act and Grassroots Mobilization in Doe v. Unocal

This article examines a widely publicized corporate accountability and human rights case filed by Burmese plaintiffs and human rights litigators in 1996 under the Alien Tort Claims Act in U.S. courts, Doe v. Unocal, in conjunction with the three main theoretical approaches to analyzing how law may matter for broader social change efforts: (1) legal realism, (2) Critical Legal Studies (CLS), and (3) legal mobilization. The article discusses interactions between Doe v. Unocal and grassroots Burmese human rights activism in the San Francisco Bay Area, including intersections with corporate accountability activism. It argues that a transnationally attuned legal mobilization framework, rather than legal realist or CLS approaches, is most appropriate to analyze the political opportunities and indirect effects of Doe v. Unocal and similar litigation in the context of neoliberal globalization. Further, this article argues that human rights discourse may serve as a common vocabulary and counterhegemonic resource for activists and litigators in cases such as Doe v. Unocal, contrary to overarching critiques of such discourse that emphasize only its hegemonic potentials in global governance regimes.
A comparison of optimized higher order spectral detection techniques for non-Gaussian signals

Using the Gaussian noise rejection property of higher order spectra (HOS), HOS-based detectors have been proposed that outperform conventional second-order techniques in certain scenarios. Based on statistical tests proposed by Suhha Rao and Gabr (1980), as well as Hinich (1982), Kletter and Messer (1990), and Hinich and Wilson (1990), have developed similar bifrequency-domain detectors that are dependent on bispectral estimates of the observation process. Formalizing the estimate consistency requirements and the asymptotics for these detectors, we derive a new F-test statistic. We consider the detrimental effects of using spectral estimates in the denominator of Hinich's test. We determine refined conditional distributions for third- and fourth-order versions of his detector. We also modify his test for colored scenarios. Extending the bispectral detectors to their kth-order counterparts, we calculate the optimal smoothing bandwidth to use in constructing the HOS estimates, producing the best detection performances for both our F-test and Hinich's test with our refined distributions. These new bandwidths yield significant improvements in detector performance over previous results. For the finite sample case, our calculations characterize the tradeoff between the two detectors and demonstrate that a larger smoothing bandwidth than the one suggested by previous researchers should be used. Our calculations are verified using simulations for both white and colored cases.
Disease progression after initial surgical intervention for Takayasu arteritis.

Objective This study was conducted to determine the incidence of disease progression and the need for subsequent revascularization procedures in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA). Methods From 1980 to 2009, all patients with TA who underwent an initial revascularization procedure for end-organ ischemia were identified. The incidence of subsequent revascularization in another vascular bed or revision of the initial procedure was determined. Results Forty patients (36 women; mean age, 35) underwent an initial revascularization procedure. Indications for the initial procedure were hypertension in 20, renal dysfunction in 9, extremity ischemia in 6, and stroke/transient ischemic attack in 5. The initial revascularization consisted of 60 bypass procedures and 4 endovascular interventions. During a mean follow-up of 6.4 years, progression of TA in another vascular bed or stenosis/occlusion of the initial revascularization procedure occurred in 16 patients (40%). Five patients with progression required one procedure, whereas 11 required two or more surgical interventions. Procedures required were renal in 12, cerebrovascular in 8, extremity in 8, aortic reconstruction in 5, and mesenteric in 1. Postoperative/30-day morbidity was 14%, and one operative death occurred. Actuarial survival was 94% at 1 year and 85% at 5 years after the remedial procedure. Conclusions TA progression is common in patients who require revascularization for end-organ ischemia. This finding emphasizes the need for global lifelong vascular surveillance of all patients who undergo surgical intervention for TA. The effect of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy on reducing reoperation requires further study.