cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breaking wave contribution to low grazing angle radar backscatter from the ocean surface

[1] The anomaly of radar sea spikes, defined here as the non-Bragg scattering events with backscattering cross-section of horizontal polarization exceeding that of the vertical polarization, has been associated with steep wave features possibly going through wave-breaking process, with or without whitecap manifestation. This property is exploited for using a dual polarized radar as a remote sensing breaking wave detector. Field data collected in the ocean covering wind speeds from 7 to 15 m/s, grazing angles from 1.4 to 5.5°, and with different levels of background swell influence are analyzed to quantify the radar cross-section and Doppler velocity from sea surfaces with and without wave breaking. Key results of the breaking effects are increasing significantly the Doppler velocity of both polarizations (about 50% faster), enhancing the horizontally polarized backscattering cross-section drastically (with 10–15 dB increase), and producing relatively small change in the vertically polarized cross-section (about 1–2 dB increase). The presence of swell (in the same direction of wind waves) reduces both the radar backscatter and the impact of breaking waves on radar return. By inference, the swell presence decreases the ocean surface roughness and breaking activity. These results are consistent with earlier in-situ surface wave measurements and our expectation of swell modification of breaking process due to interaction of short waves and the orbital velocity of long swell.
Adhesion Properties of Lightly Crosslinked Solvent-Swollen Polymer Gels

Polymer gels are crosslinked polymer networks, highly swollen with solvent. For practical gel applications adhesion to a wide range of substrates over a broad range of temperatures is desired. In this article the adhesive properties of two types of solvent-swollen elastomers were studied, utilizing a combination of tack, contact mechanics, and peel adhesion methods. The first gel was a crosslinked polybutadiene swollen with common polymer plasticizers, while the second was a commercially available silicone with high extractables content. Nominally, these solvent-swollen materials exhibit similar adhesive characteristics to nonsolvent swollen elastomers including: (1) an increase in tack adhesion energies with increasing pull-off rates and decreasing temperatures in the rubbery region, (2) qualitative correlation between the rheological loss tangent for the gel and the gel adhesion energy, (3) fibrillation and extension during adhesion testing for gels with a shear modulus value less than 105 Pa in the pla...
Lubricant thickness effects on friction between Pd(100) surfaces

Friction measurements have been made between pairs of Pd(100) surfaces prepared in vacuum with adsorbed n-octane films ranging in thickness from 0 to 20 monolayers on each surface. These measurements have been made at lattice misorientation angles of 0° and 45°. Both sets of measurements reveal friction anisotropy at all except the highest n-octane coverages. The friction coefficient drops with increasing n-octane coverage until it reaches a limiting value of μs ≈ 0.4. The static friction coefficient reveals a different dependence on n-octane coverage than has been observed for alcohols. The friction coefficient decreases more slowly with increasing n-octane coverage than for increasing alcohol coverage.
Free energies of solvation in chloroform and water from a linear response approach

Monte Carlo statistical mechanics simulations were used to compute absolute free energies of solvation in chloroform for 16 organic molecules. The intermolecular interactions were described by classical potential functions consisting of Coulomb and Lennard–Jones interactions. The partial charges for the solutes were derived from fitting to the electrostatic potential surfaces of ab initio 6–31G* wavefunctions. First, free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations yielded relative free energies of solvation. These were converted to absolute quantities through perturbations to the reference molecule, methane, which was annihilated. The average error in the FEP-computed free energies of solvation is 0·8 kcal mol−1. Then, a linear response equation, which contains terms proportional to the Lennard–Jones (van der Waals) and Coulombic components of the solute–solvent energy and to the solvent-accessible surface area of the solute, was optimized and reproduced both the FEP-calculated and experimental free energies of solvation with average errors of ca 0·5 kcal mol−1. In addition, an existing solute dataset for water, which had previously been fitted to the same equation, was expanded from 16 to 35 molecules. The fit of the Monte Carlo results for this set of molecules in TIP4P water to the experimental free energies of hydration yielded an average error of 0·8 kcal mol−1. Combination of the predictions of free energies of solvation in water and chloroform yields partition coefficients, log P, with an average error of 0·3–0·4 log unit. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrical and Optical Degradation Studies on AZO Thin Films Under Cyclic Bending Conditions

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin film is a promising candidate for low-cost transparent conductive oxide applications. AZO thin films have good electrical and optical properties; however, their reliability must be carefully considered in manufacturing and usage of flexible devices such as flexible solar cells. Cyclic bending leads to both electrical and optical degradation of AZO thin films. Therefore, this paper was designed to investigate the effects of the bending frequency, bending diameter, number of bending cycles, and film thickness on the electrical and optical degradation of AZO films, which were deposited on polyimide (PI) substrates using a radio frequency-magnetron sputtering technique. The cycling was conducted on identical specimens under controlled study parameters. The design of experiments technique was used to determine the significant factors on the percentage change in electrical resistance (PCER) and the degradation of average transmittance (DAT), considering a wavelength range from 660 to 950 nm. The result shows that the PCER is very sensitive to number of bending cycles, particularly in the first 300 cycles. After 1000 cycles, the mean PCER of 425- and 600-nm AZO films are about 300% and 600%, respectively. The DAT is sensitive to number of bending cycles, bending diameter, and bending frequency. The mean DAT is about 2.8% after 1000 bending cycles.
Problem-Based Learning: Lessons From Medical Education and Challenges for Management Education

The call for greater emphasis on relevant skills in the preparation of business and management majors spans several decades, but progress remains elusive. For example, the Porter and McKibbin report (1988) was accepted as ground shaking at the time; however, it seems that the ground has not shaken very much since. Critics suggest the need for greater emphasis on development of relevant management skills appears just as evident today as it was decades ago (Mintzberg, 2004; Rubin & Dierdorff, 2009). Problem-based learning (PBL) is an approach to education focused on skills development (Savery, 2006). In an effort to understand PBL’s potential as a pedagogy, the first part of this article briefly reviews its use in medical schools, the arena of professional education in which PBL has its longest and most widespread use. In the second part, we draw upon medical school experience, research literature, and personal experience with PBL to identify and discuss seven critical challenges in applying this approach t...
How Significant Are Departures from Certainty Equivalence? Some Analytical and Empirical Results

Abstract The feedback and the autoregressive closed form solution of the consumption function, with the income process allowed to follow a general ARIMA stochastic process, for the quadratic, exponential, and Weil's hybrid exponential–isoelastic utility functions are compared. For the exponential and Weil's utility functions, the consumption function can be decomposed into a certainty equivalent term plus a precautionary saving term. The three utility functions behave similarly when the consumer's subjective rate of time preference equals the market interest rate. Deviations from certainty equivalence become apparent only when consumers are allowed to have a different degree of patience than the market.
Using dislocations and integral strain to model the growth rates of secondary nuclei

It has been observed in single-crystal growth batch experiments where the solution is stagnant that different materials and different crystals crystallize with varying growth rate profiles. Growth rate dispersion has been shown to be a function of the supersaturation conditions present during both nucleation and growth. The purpose of this paper is to interpret the growth rate profiles of sodium nitrate, potash alum, and potassium sulfate nuclei through the development of a new growth rate model. The new growth rate model uses both strain and dislocations to account for experimentally observed behavior in growth rates and growth rate dispersion.
ON WIGNER'S FUNCTION AND OTHER FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATORS

We discuss a general method of associating functions with dynamical operators, and offer some guiding principles to search for a suitable association.
Formation of Embryoid Bodies with Controlled Sizes and Maintained Pluripotency in Three‐Dimensional Inverse Opal Scaffolds

Embryoid bodies (EBs) are aggregates of cells derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells, which can serve as a good model system to investigate molecular and cellular interactions in the earliest stages of embryo development. Current methods for producing EBs mainly rely on the use of hanging drops or suspensions in non-tissue culture treated plates, microwells, and spinner flasks. The capability of these methods is limited in terms of size uniformity and distribution as well as scalability. Here, a new platform based on three-dimensional alginate inverse opal scaffolds with uniform pores is presented, where uniform EBs with controllable sizes could be produced in the pores and then recovered after disintegration of the scaffolds. The size of the EBs could be readily controlled by varying the culture time and/or by using scaffolds with different pore sizes. The EBs maintained their viability and undifferentiated state, and they were able to differentiate into specific lineages upon stimulation.
The Insects and Other Inhabitants of Shelf Fungi in the Southern Blue Ridge Region of Western North Carolina. III. Isoptera, Lepidoptera, and Ants

The termites, Lepidoptera (larvae and adults), and ants which were collected from shelf fungi (Polyporaceae and Thelephoraceae) in the area indicated are listed. To the authors'knowledge, the termites are the first recorded from woody fungi in North America. The larvae of Tinea and Metalectra (Lepidoptera) are definitely associated with fungi. The ants are general foragers and are not particularly associated with fungi.
Integrating small computers within a conversational time-sharing environment

Software is described which will facilitate the use of a general time-sharing system by mini-computers. A user-written communication appendage task will edit input and output streams between the general time-sharing system and the specific mini-computer. This will enable a fuller utilization by the mini-computer of its native ability, including an "intelligent" reaction to central time-sharing commands. The software will enable mini-computers to make wide use of previously written conversational programs executing on the central system.
Evaluation of Synchrotron X-Rays for Digital Subtraction Coronary Angiography

The intensity and tunability of synchrotron X-ray beams are highly suited to the non-invasive detection of iodine by K-edge digital subtraction angiography. An imnaging system developed for in vivo canine studies is described. Considerations relating to an expanded system for human subject studies are discussed.
Effect of Lake Surface Temperature on the Spatial Distribution and Intensity of the Precipitation over the Lake Victoria Basin

AbstractA series of sensitivity experiments are performed to investigate the response of precipitation over the Lake Victoria basin (LVB) to the changes of lake surface temperature (LST) using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. It is shown that the default LST initialized from NCEP FNL (Final) Operational Global Analysis is deficient for simulating the rainfall over the LVB. Comparative experiments demonstrate the unambiguous impact of LST on the intensity and pattern of the precipitation over LVB. Intensification/weakening of precipitation over the lake occur with increasing/decreasing LST for both uniform and asymmetrical LST distribution. However, the relationship between rainfall anomalies and LST variations is nonlinear. Replacing the LST directly derived from global weather forecast models by the mean area-averaged LST of Lake Victoria (approximately 24°C) leads to improved rainfall simulation. However, LST with realistic cross-basin gradient is necessary to obtain a rainfall pattern ...
Chronic hypertension in pregnancy

Pregnancies in women with chronic hypertension are at increased risk of superimposed pre-eclampsia, abruptio placentae, fetal growth retardation and prematurity. The frequencies of these complications are increased in those women who have high-risk chronic hypertension, ie severe hypertension or pre-existing cardiovascular or renal diseases, as well as in those with target organ damage. Such women should receive antihypertensive therapy and close management to improve maternal and fetal outcome. In women with low-risk chronic hypertension, antihypertensive treatments do not improve pregnancy outcome. Prophylactic low-dose acetylsalicylic acid treatment does not reduce the frequency of superimposed pre-eclampsia nor does it improve perinatal outcome in these pregnancies.
Relationships Between Type and Performance of Daughters of Artificial Insemination Sires

Abstract Progeny group means of Predicted Difference milk yield, Predicted Difference fat yield, per cent of daughters with incomplete first lactations, and Descriptive Type were studied for 417 Holstein active artificial insemination (AI) sires which were production summarized in 1969-70. Three multiple regression analyses were : (1) regression of percent incomplete first lactations on Predicted Difference milk, Predicted Difference fat, and Descriptive Type; (2) regression of Predicted Difference milk on Descriptive Type, and (3) regression of per cent of sire's daughters exceeding breed-age average on Descriptive Type. Progeny average type was nearly independent of progeny average milk yield. Udder traits, with the exception of teats, appeared to be most related to utility of a sire's daughters as measured by yield and staying-ability in first lactation. Rear udder was the most consistently useful type trait for predictive purposes. In all cases, increased progeny average rear udder type was associated with increased merit for milk yield and proportion of daughters completing a first lactation. The regression of Predicted Difference milk yield on progeny average udder support and floor was significant but negative. The multiple R 2 for predicting per cent incomplete first lactations, from production and type, was 15.0%. The R 2 for predicting breeding value for milk from progeny type was only 8.1%. Differences among progeny means for per cent of breed-age average final type score were associated with progeny differences in stature, fore udder, rump, udder support and floor, rear udder, and front end. The R 2 for predicting per cent of breed-age average type from Descriptive Type was 70.9% Descriptive Type generally had only a small association with progeny merit for production and staying-ability in first lactations.
Seasonal plasticity in auditory processing of the envelope and temporal fine structure of sounds in three songbirds

Abstract Songs mediate mate attraction and territorial defence in songbirds during the breeding season. Outside of the breeding season, the avian vocal repertoire often includes calls that function in foraging, antipredator and social behaviours. Songs and calls can differ substantially in their spectral and temporal content. Given seasonal variation in the vocal signals, the sender–receiver matching hypothesis predicts seasonal changes in auditory processing that match the physical properties of songs during the breeding season and calls outside of it. We tested this hypothesis in white-breasted nuthatches, Sitta carolinensis, tufted titmice, Baeolophus bicolor, and Carolina chickadees, Poecile carolinensis. We measured the envelope-following response (EFR), which quantifies phase locking to the amplitude envelope, and the frequency-following response (FFR), which quantifies phase locking to the temporal fine structure of sounds. Because songs and calls of nuthatches are amplitude modulated at different rates, we predicted seasonal changes in EFRs that match the rates of amplitude fluctuation in songs and calls. In chickadees and titmice, we predicted stronger FFRs during the spring and stronger EFRs during the winter because songs are tonal and calls include amplitude-modulated elements. In all three species, we found seasonal changes in EFRs and FFRs. EFRs varied across seasons and matched the amplitude modulations of songs and calls in nuthatches. In addition, female chickadees had stronger EFRs in the winter than in the spring. In all three species, FFRs during the spring tended to be stronger in females than in males. We also found species differences in EFRs and FFRs in both seasons; EFRs and FFRs tended to be higher in nuthatches than in chickadees and titmice. We discuss the potential mechanisms underlying seasonality in EFRs and FFRs and the implications of our results for communication during the breeding season and outside of it, when these three species form mixed-species flocks.
A leptospiral factor producing a cytopathic effect on L cells.

There is general agreement that leptospires produce a cytopathic effect (CPE) on a variety of mammalian cells in vitro. Cytotoxic substances have been found in the supernatant fluid of leptospiral serotypes representing pathogenic but not saprophytic serotypes [1-3]. Stalheim [2] could find no difference in the cytotoxicity for macrophages of avirulent and virulent variants of the same strain of Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona. However, Miller et al. [3] reported that pomona strains that were virulent for hamsters produced a much greater CPE on L cells than a known avirulent strain of the same serotype. This observation prompted further investigation into the nature of the variation in CPE between viru-
Direct observation of the oxygenated species during oxygen reduction on a platinum fuel cell cathode

Understanding the oxygen reduction reaction at fuel cell cathodes requires information on adsorbed oxygenated species. Sanchez Casalongue et al. report in situ identification of oxygenated intermediates at cathodes and establish a correlation between the cathode potential and the surface speciation.
Does complexity reduce coordination

Herein it is shown that increased complexity does not necessarily imply more coordination failure. Experienced people playing a 4-player spatial grid game with over 68 000 strategy choices and (68 000)4 potential outcomes were as likely to find the Pareto dominant Nash equilibrium as in a corresponding normal form game.
The effect of data structures on the logical complexity of programs

The logical complexity of a program is a measure of the effort required to understand it. We hypothesize that the logical complexity of a program increases with the increase in the opaqueness of the relationship between the physical data structures used in the program and their corresponding abstract data types. The results of an experiment conducted to investigate this hypothesis are reported. Documentation techniques for making programs easier to understand using complex data structures are discussed. Data structure diagrams, data structure invariants, stepwise transformation of data structures, and formal specification of the mapping between abstract and concrete data structures are illustrated using two nontrivial examples.
Evidence for spatially inaccessible labile N from a comparison of soil core extractions and soil pore water lysimetry

Abstract NH4+, NO3−, and amino acids are generally thought to be either mobile in the soil solution or adsorbed to ion exchange sites on soil surfaces. Here we examine a third possibility: some labile N compounds may be spatially inaccessible to plants and microbes due to isolation in soil microsites with low water potential. We tested this hypothesis in Arctic tussock tundra soils by comparing soil NH4+, NO3−, and amino acid concentrations using tension lysimetry, water extractions, and salt extractions. We used lysimeters to measure labile N that is in the mobile soil solution, and water extracts and salt extracts as combined measurements of mobile, adsorbed, and spatially inaccessible labile N. Averaged through the 2011 growing season, 37 ± 28% of labile N was adsorbed to ion exchange sites, 10 ± 4% was in the mobile soil solution, and the remaining 52 ± 26% was neither mobile nor on exchange sites. Labile N concentrations in water extractions were, on average, ∼5 times higher than those in lysimeters. These results suggest that a large quantity of the water-extractable N is not available in the mobile soil solution. The estimated quantity of spatially inaccessible labile N declined over the course of the season, suggesting that these pools can be gradually drawn down by plant or microbial uptake. To place these results in context, we reviewed published labile N concentrations in lysimeters and extractions in other ecosystems and these published values were consistent with our results, showing much higher concentrations of labile N in extractions than in lysimeters. Overall, our study supports the hypothesis that soils can contain a substantial spatially inaccessible pool of extractable labile N that is not immediately available to plants and soil microbes.
Engaging Incoming First-Year Students: Lessons Learned from a Sustainability Orientation Session

On many college and university campuses across the United States, one of the largest barriers to sustainability is the lack of engagement from students. Furman University in Greenville, South Carol...
Dual diagnosis: psychoactive substance dependence and the personality disorders.

Research on the relationship between psychoactive substance dependence and personality disorder has been difficult to interpret. Among the reasons for this difficulty are (1) shifts in conceptualizations of these two classes of disorders, (2) markedly different findings related to age, sex, other demographic variables, and stage of illness, (3) overlapping of diagnositc criteria, and (4) instability of Axis II diagnoses over time in these populations. Personality disorder may be preexisting, but not necessarily predisposing. Nevertheless, Axis II diagnoses can be made in alcohol and other drug dependent patients, and are present in these populations at higher prevalence rates than in the general public. Although amelioration of personality disorder will not in itself necessarily correct substance dependence, Axis II diagnoses are of considerable importance in treatment planning and prognosis. Recent and future research on the genetic typology of alcoholism may shed further light on the complex relationshi...
Detecting objects with partial obstruction at the ARC split beam injector images at the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) utilizes 192 beams, four of which are diverted to create the Advanced Radiographic Capability (ARC) by generating a sequence of short laser pulses. This ARC beam after being converted to X-rays will act as a back lighter to create a radiographic movie and provide an unprecedented insight into the imploding dynamics and serve as a diagnostic for tuning the experimental parameters to achieve fusion. One such beam is the centering beam of the pre-amplifier module which due to a split path obstructs the central square alignment fiducials. This fiducial is used for alignment and also as reference for the programmable spatial shaper (PSS) system. Image processing algorithms are used to process the images and calculate the position of various fiducials in the beam path. We discuss the algorithm to process ARC split beam injector (SBI) centering images with partial fiducial information.
Age and Work Satisfaction in a Government Agency: A Situational Perspective

A "situational"perspective on employee attitudes is used to interpret the relationship between age and work satisfaction among 434 employees of a Federal Government agency. Distinct age-satisfaction curves are discovered among three employee groups: a U-shaped curve among nonprofessionals, an upward-sloping double-bend curve among elite professionals, and a downward sloping curve among ordinary professionals. Employee perceptions of management climate, mobility possibilities, and personal influence all vary by subcontext and determine level of work satisfaction. Results are seen as supporting a situational rather than ontogenetic explanation of work satisfaction.
Computational resiliency for distributed applications

In recent years, computer network attacks have decreased overall reliability of computer systems and undermined confidence in mission-critical software. These robustness issues are magnified in distributed applications, which provide multiple points of failure and attack. The notion of resiliency is concerned with constructing applications that are able to operate through a wide variety of failures, errors, and malicious attacks. A number of approaches have been proposed in the literature based on fault tolerance achieved through replication of resources. In general, these approaches provide graceful degradation of performance to the point of failure but do not guarantee progress in the presence of multiple cascading and recurrent failures. Our approach is to dynamically replicate message-passing processes, detect inconsistencies in their behavior, and restore the level of fault tolerance as a computation proceeds. This paper describes a novel operating system technology for resilient message-passing applications that is automated, scalable, and transparent. The technology provides mechanisms for process replication, process migration, and adaptive failure detection. To quantify the performance overhead of the technology, we benchmark a distributed application exemplar to represent a broader class of applications.
A Deep-Time Perspective of Land-Ocean Linkages in the Sedimentary Record

It is increasingly important to understand and predict how marine environments respond to changes in climate and sea level and to variability in sediment flux from rivers. The dynamics of these factors occur over several orders of temporal magnitude and, under favorable geologic conditions, contribute to long-lived sediment accumulation. Thus, stratigraphic successions along continental margins are archives of these environmental changes and can be used to reconstruct land-ocean linkages, which provide important context for shorter-term and future modifications to this critical zone. Here, we discuss an integrated approach to the analysis of deep-time sediment archives (>10 6 years) that considers the entire system, from eroding catchments where sediment is produced to subsiding basins where sediment accumulates. This holistic approach is presented within the framework of fundamental concepts about sedimentary-basin analysis and stratigraphic characterization through a combination of foundational literature and studies that represent the state of the art.
Textile Electromagnetic Coupler for Monitoring Vital Signs and Changes in Lung Water Content

A newly designed and fabricated textile electromagnetic (EM) coupler and a novel side-by-side transmission coefficient measurement arrangement were found most suitable for clinical trial and practical implementation of a microwave-based system for monitoring vital signs and measuring changes in lung water content. Comparative simulation studies were conducted to determine the effect of the textile material’s conductivity on the sensitivity and accuracy of the new side-by-side $S_{21}$ measurement arrangement. Two sewing techniques were examined to develop a robust and stable textile EM coupler prototype with a secured feeding structure. The new textile EM couplers and measurement procedure are tested in human clinical studies. Results were benchmarked with an FDA-approved medical device and confirmed the readiness of the developed textile EM coupler and new side-by-side transmission coefficient measurement arrangement for clinical trials and the ultimate practical realization of this microwave technology. Specifically, it is shown that the embroidered steel thread textile EM coupler is best suited for practical implementation and provided high sensitivity to detect vital signs and a 1% change of lung water.
LANSCE prototype beam position and phase monitor (BPPM) mechanical design

A prototype Beam Position and Phase Monitor (BPPM) beam line device is being designed to go in the LANSCE 805-MHz linear accelerator. The concept is to install two beam line devices in locations where their measurements can be compared with older existing Delta-T loop and wire scanner measurements. The purpose for the new devices is to measure the transverse position, angular trajectory, and central beam phase and energy of the LANSCE H+ and H- beams. The mechanical design of the new devices will combine features from previous LANL designs that were built for the LANSCE Isotope Production Facility, LANSCE Switchyard project, and those done for the SNS linear accelerator. This paper will discuss the mechanical design and fabrication issues encountered during the course of developing the BPPM.
T cell receptor-independent CD2 signal transduction in FcR+ cells.

CD2 subserves both adhesion and signal transduction functions in T cells, thymocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells. In mature T lymphocytes, CD2-mediated signaling function apparently requires surface expression of T cell receptors (TCRs). In contrast, in CD2+ CD3- NK cells and thymocytes, signal transduction through CD2 is TCR independent. To resolve this paradox and characterize TCR-independent triggering mechanisms, we transfected a human CD2 cDNA into a murine mast cell line, C1.MC/57 (Fc epsilon RI+, Fc gamma RII+, Fc gamma RIII+), which is known to produce interleukin 6 (IL-6) as well as release histamine in response to crosslinking of Fc epsilon RI. In the CD2 transfectant, a combination of anti-T11(2) + anti-T11(3) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) induced a rise in intracellular free calcium [( Ca2+]i), IL-6 production, and histamine release. As expected, no activation was mediated by the same mAbs in C1.MC/57. F(ab)'s fragments of the activatory combination of anti-T11(2) + anti-T11(3) mAbs induced IL-6 in the CD2-transfected mast cells, demonstrating an Fc gamma receptor ectodomain-independent triggering mechanism. In addition, either intact anti-T11(2) or anti-T11(3) IgG alone, which failed to induce [Ca2+]i mobilization in the transfectant, was able to induce IL-6 production. A mAb directed against both Fc gamma RII (previously denoted as Fc gamma RIIb) and Fc gamma RIII (previously denoted as Fc gamma RIIa) inhibits this induction. These results indicate that: (a) Ca2+ mobilization is not essential for IL-6 production; and (b) crosslinking of CD2 and Fc gamma receptors via intact anti-CD2 IgG stimulates IL-6 production. Thus, CD2-mediated IL-6 production occurs by both Fc receptor ectodomain-independent as well as Fc receptor ectodomain-dependent mechanisms in these nonlymphoid cells. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that although the mast cells do not express CD3 zeta or CD3 eta mRNA, they express Fc epsilon RI gamma mRNA. The latter is a known component of Fc gamma RIII as well as Fc epsilon RI, has significant homology to CD3 zeta/eta, and is thought to have a signal transduction function. In these mast cells, CD2 signaling machinery does not require CD3 zeta/eta and may be linked to the Fc epsilon RI gamma subunit. We predict that this subunit or a related structure may confer a TCR-independent signal transduction pathway upon CD2 in CD3- NK cells, thymocytes, and certain B lymphocytes.
Narcissism and Romantic Attraction

A model of narcissism and romantic attraction predicts that narcissists will be attracted to admiring individuals and highly positive individuals and relatively less attracted to individuals who offer the potential for emotional intimacy. Five studies supported this model. Narcissists, compared with nonnarcissists, preferred more self-oriented (i.e., highly positive) and less other-oriented (i.e., caring) qualities in an ideal romantic partner (Study 1). Narcissists were also relatively more attracted to admiring and highly positive hypothetical targets and less attracted to caring targets (Studies 2 and 3). Indeed, narcissists displayed a preference for highly positive-noncaring targets compared with caring but not highly positive targets (Study 4). Finally, mediational analyses demonstrated that narcissists' romantic attraction is, in part, the result of a strategy for enhancing self-esteem (Study 5). From the perspective of the modern observer, the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus can be viewed as a tale of romantic attraction. The handsome youth Narcissus wanders the world refusing romantic offers from a variety of eligible others, none of whom he deems worthy of his love. Eventually, he finds himself in a dark wood staring into a pool of water. It is here that he discovers the face of the person he loves staring back at him. This person he so adores is himself. Narcissus's attraction freezes him on the spot; he dies, and eventually turns into a flower. The story of Narcissus yields interesting insights into the nature of narcissism and romantic attraction. The myth suggests that, in the domain of narcissism, romantic attraction is bound up with a focus on the self and a lack of attention to others. The former is evident in Narcissus's gaze at his own reflection, and the latter is evident in his refusal to form relationships with those who desire him. What drives this pattern of romantic attraction in narcissists? The myth of Narcissus suggests that self-love, which in modern psychological terms may be translated as self-enhancem ent (i.e., the desire to maintain or increase the positivity of the selfconcept), underlies narcissists' romantic attraction. The goal of the present research was to understand the relation between narcissism and romantic attraction. Arguably, this brief exposition of the myth of Narcissus reveals a theme central to the romantic life of narcissists, elements of which are an attention to the self, a relative lack of intimate contact with others, and a strategy for self-esteem regulation. I trace this theme through the
Beta-galactosidase in rat ovarian bursa fluid at ovulation.

Beta-galactosidase a readily assayed and representative lysosomal enzyme was determined fluorometrically in accumulated ovarian bursa fluid of rats at ovulation. The 25-day-old rats were given 25 IU pregnant mare serum ip at 1700 then 40 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) 54 hours later at 2300. 10 hours later bursa fluid was aspirated by glass micropipet added to 250 mcl .01% bovine serum albumin in .9% saline and weighed. Beta-galactosidase was assayed at pH 5 in .1 M citrate phosphate buffer with .175 mM fluorescein-di-beta-D-galactopyranoside as substrate by following increase in fluorescence at 37 degree C. The amount of fluid collected ranged from 1-10 mcl in ovulating rats. Mean galactosidase activity was .15 fluoresence units/minute/mg fluid corrected for .22 units in control rats that had not been given HCG. Galactosidase activity in extracted bursa tissue and in plasma was unaffected by HCG; plasma levels were .02 units/minute/mg. These results i.e. beta-galactosidase 7.5 times higher in bursa fluid than in plasma show that lysosomal enzymes may be exuded from follicle walls during ovulation.
Preclinical and clinical research on inflammation after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most lethal stroke subtypes. Despite the high morbidity and mortality associated with ICH, its pathophysiology has not been investigated as well as that of ischemic stroke. Available evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggests that inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the progression of ICH-induced secondary brain injury. For example, in preclinical ICH models, microglial activation has been shown to occur within 1 h, much earlier than neutrophil infiltration. Recent advances in our understanding of neuroinflammatory pathways have revealed several new molecular targets, and related therapeutic strategies have been tested in preclinical ICH models. This review summarizes recent progress made in preclinical models of ICH, surveys preclinical and clinical studies of inflammatory cells (leukocytes, macrophages, microglia, and astrocytes) and inflammatory mediators (matrix metalloproteinases, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, heme oxygenase, and iron), and highlights the emerging areas of therapeutic promise.
Lamella-to-Lamella Transition and Effect of Coil-Stretching on Crystallization in a Rod−Coil Diblock Copolymer Containing Poly(ϵ-caprolactone)

We have studied the phase properties of a diblcok copolymer poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-block-poly(2,5-bis[4-methoxyphenyl]oxycarbonyl)styrene) (PCL-b-PMPCS) with a PMPCS volume fraction of ∼59%. The mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline (LC) PMPCS block was amorphous in the as-cast films; and would transform into a columnar (Φ) LC phase upon the first heating and thereafter serve as rod in the copolymer studied. On the basis of simultaneous measurement of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS), we identified that the original microphase-separated lamellar morphology observed in the as-cast films with amorphous PMPCS block could evolve into a new lamellar morphology with a significantly increased long period. This lamella-to-lamella transition was triggered by the amorphous-to-LC transition and was irreversible. WAXS results revealed that the chain axes of the PCL block in crystal and the rod-like PMPCS block in Φ phase were all parallel to the microphase-separated lamellar normal. Since the meltin...
High-throughput biochemical kinase selectivity assays: panel development and screening applications.

Kinases represent attractive targets for drug discovery. Eight small-molecule kinase inhibitors are currently marketed in the area of oncology, and numerous others are in clinical trials. Characterization of the selectivity profiles of these compounds is important to target appropriate patient populations and to reduce the potential of toxicity due to off-target effects. The authors describe the development, validation, and utilization of a biochemical kinase assay panel for the selectivity profiling of inhibitors. The panel was developed as 29 radiometric Flashplate™ assays, and then an initial 13 were transitioned to a nonradiometric Caliper mobility shift assay format. Generation of high-quality data from the panel is detailed along with a comparison of the assay formats. Both assay technologies were found to be suitable for panel screening, but mobility shift assays yielded higher data quality. The selectivity data generated here should be useful in computational modeling and help facilitate, in conjunction with sequence and structural information, the rational design of inhibitors with well-defined selectivity profiles. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2008:000-000)
Polycatenation under Thermodynamic Control

Iodide-catalyzed reversible nucleophilic attacks have been exploited to access side-chain polycatenanes under thermodynamic control. Multiple catenations occurring all along the polymer chain are entirely driven to completion by the intra- and intermolecular side-chain π···π stacking interactions of contiguous catenanes.
Kinetics of the reactions between the invariant chain (85–99) peptide and proteins of the murine class II MHC

The region comprising residues 83-107 of the extracytoplasmic domain of the class II MHC-associated invariant chain protein is essential for its functional interaction with MHC proteins. A nested set of peptides that encompass this region, designated the class II invariant chain-derived peptides (CLIP), bind to many MHC proteins and inhibit the binding of antigenic peptides. The kinetics of the reactions between CLIP and five different murine class II MHC proteins have been determined. Specificity of CLIP binding was confirmed by competition with antigenic peptides. Large differences in the reaction rates were observed. For example, half-times of dissociation ranged from 4.4 min to 17.5 h, a > 200-fold difference. These results demonstrate that CLIP bind to MHC heterodimers at a site that involves the polymorphic residues. These data support the hypothesis that the CLIP binding site is within the peptide binding groove. It is further suggested that these differences in kinetic stabilities of CLIP-MHC protein complexes might affect the diversity of endogenous peptides bound to class II MHC proteins.
Effect of hyperoxia, hypercapnia, and hypoxia on cerebral interstitial oxygen tension and cerebral blood flow.

The assessment of cerebral interstitial oxygen tension (piO(2)) can provide valuable information regarding cerebrovascular physiology and brain function. Compartment-specific cerebral piO(2) was measured by (19)F NMR following the infusion of an oxygen-sensitive perfluorocarbon directly into the interstitial and ventricular space of the in vivo rat brain. (19)F T(1) measurements were made and cerebral piO(2) were obtained through in vitro calibrations. The effects of graded hyperoxia, hypercapnia, and hypoxia on piO(2) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were investigated. Under normoxia (arterial pO(2) approximately 120 mm Hg), piO(2) was approximately 30 mm Hg and jugular venous pO(2) was approximately 50 mm Hg. During hyperoxia (arterial pO(2) = 90-300 mm Hg), piO(2) increased linearly with the arterial pO(2). Following hypercapnia (arterial pCO(2) = 20-60 mm Hg), the piO(2) increased sigmoidally with increasing CBF. With hypoxia (arterial pO(2) = 30-40 mm Hg), CBF increased approximately 56% and piO(2) decreased to approximately 15 mm Hg. The hypoxia-induced CBF increase was effective to some extent in compensating for the reduced piO(2). This methodology may prove useful for investigating cerebral piO(2) under pathologically or functionally altered conditions. Magn Reson Med 45:61-70, 2001.
Automatic Selection of Number of Clusters in Networks Using Relative Eigenvalue Quality

In communication networks, it is often useful to partition the networks into disjoint clusters so that hierarchical protocols, such as hierarchical routing, can be used. Many clustering techniques have been developed for this purpose, including connectivity-based, centroid-based, and spectral methods. One issue with all of these methods is how to select an appropriate number of clusters from the structure of the network. In this paper, we consider clustering techniques based on spectral graph theory in which the relations among nodes in a communication network are mapped onto a graph. We consider techniques that are designed to minimize the multiway normalized cut, a metric that tries to simultaneously minimize the number of edges cut between clusters while balancing the volumes of the clusters. We develop a new method for determining the number of clusters based on the eigenvalues of a normalized graph Laplacian matrix by comparing the eigenvalues to the statistics of a certain type of random cut of the graph. Performance results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm.
Volume discount decisions : Wealth maximization or EOQ approach ?

A recent paper finds that when volume discounts are available, in some cases, reliance on the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model can induce purchasers to make wealth reducing decisions, and the Present Value (PV) approach should be preferred. While this finding is theoretically correct, the magnitudes of wealth reductions suggested by the paper's numerical examples seem to be questionable. Furthermore, the paper also finds that, in some other cases, a purchaser using the EOQ approach realizes a net increase in current wealth compared to a purchaser using the PV approach. Logic suggests that such a finding cannot be correct, since by its very definition, it is the PV approach that seeks to maximize the current wealth. We offer an alternative frame of comparison and a modified model to show that, under the paper's assumptions, the EOQ approach can never realize a net increase in current wealth compared to the current wealth generated by the PV approach. On the other hand, we also show that when typical values of the relevant parameters prevail, the additional costs imposed by the EOQ approach are not significant. Finally, we suggest that insofar as the PV approach requires greater administrative costs to implement, it may even be counterproductive to the goal of wealth maximization. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 377–389, 1998
Semantic influences on thematic role assignment: evidence from normals and aphasics.

We report two studies that examine the role of semantic influences in the assignment of thematic roles. Semantic factors were manipulated by contrasting sentences in which one noun argument was a plausible filler of only one thematic role (e.g., the painting in The artist disliked the painting) with sentences in which both noun arguments were plausible fillers of both thematic roles (e.g., The robin ate the insect). Subjects were required to make plausibility judgments to sentences presented auditorily. Experiment 1 examined RTs of normal subjects on the plausibility judgment task. In Experiment 2, the same sentences were presented to aphasic patients identified as ‘‘asyntactic’’ comprehenders. In Experiment 1, RTs were speeded by semantic constraints on thematic assignment, particularly when the role-constrained NP occurred early in the sentence (as in The painting was disliked by the artist ). The aphasic performance patterns in Experiment 2 paralleled those of normal subjects, but in greatly exaggerated fashion. The patients exhibited high error rates on sentences where semantic constraints conflicted with the syntactically based assignments, even on sentences with canonical (S-V-O) word order (e.g., #The deer shot the hunter). ≈ 1998 Academic Press