cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tongue drive: a tongue operated magnetic sensor based wireless assistive technology for people with severe disabilities

The "tongue drive" system is a tongue-operated assistive technology developed for people with severe disability to control their environment. The tongue is considered an excellent appendage in severely disabled people for operating an assistive device. Tongue Drive consists of an array of Hall-effect magnetic sensors mounted on a dental retainer on the outer side of the teeth to measure the magnetic field generated by a small permanent magnet secured on the tongue. The sensor signals are transmitted across a wireless link and processed to control the movements of a cursor on a computer screen or to operate a powered wheelchair, a phone, or other equipments. The principal advantage of this technology is the possibility of capturing a large variety of tongue movements by processing a combination of sensor outputs. This would provide the user with a smooth proportional control as opposed to a switch based on/off control that is the basis of most existing technologies. We modeled the effects of position and orientation of the permanent magnet on the sensors in FEMLAB and experimentally measured them. We built a prototype system using off-the-shelf components and tested it successfully by developing a graphical user interface (GUI) in LabVIEW environment. A small battery powered wireless mouthpiece with no external component is under development.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Air-Ground Channel Characterization for Future Applications

Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) are being used increasingly worldwide. These systems will operate in conditions that differ from conventional piloted aircraft, and this implies that the airground (AG) channel for UASs can differ significantly from the traditional, simple, AG channel models. After providing some background and motivation, we describe the AG channel features and our efforts in measuring and modeling the AG channel. Some example measurement and model results-for the path loss and the Ricean K-factor-are provided to illustrate some of the interesting AG channel characteristics that are still being investigated.
Aerodynamics of a Curve-ball: The Sikorsky/Lightfoot Lift Data (P234)

In the 1940s and 50s, the United States was engaged in a national debate on whether the curve in baseball was an optical illusion. During this debate, Igor I. Sikorsky and Ralph B. Lightfoot investigated the lift force produced by a baseball spinning from zero to 1200 rpm (revolutions-per-minute) in a wind tunnel at free-stream velocities between 80 and 110 miles per hour1 (35.8 and 49.2 m/s). A brief note about the findings were later published by Joseph Drury (1953) reporting Sikorsky had determined that a four-seam pitch could curve three time more than a two-seam pitch. However, the substantive supporting experimental data was never published and over the years appeared to have been lost. The Sikorsky/Lightfoot data set was rediscovered; it is compared to more recent aerodynamic lift data for golf and baseballs with excellent correlation. The data also shows that seam orientation (i.e. surface roughness) has a large influence on lateral deviation in a high velocity pitch.
The mechanical and thermal properties of graphite fiber reinforce polyphenylquinoxaline and polyimide composites

Comparative studies were made on the fabrication characteristics, mechanical properties and thermal stabilities of three commercially available composite systems based on linear monoether polyphenylquinoxaline, P13N polyimide, and Skybond 703 polyimide, reinforced with Modmor II graphite fibers. Fabrication parameters and prepreg conditions were related to the properties of the laminates. Interlaminar shear strength and flexural properties were evaluated before and after the thermal aging at 600°F for periods up to 500 hrs. Thermal degradation of composites at various stages of thermal' aging was studied using optical and scanning electron microscopes.
BDNF control of adult SVZ neurogenesis

The sensory processing of odorants is a dynamic process that requires plasticity at multiple levels. In the olfactory bulb (OB), inhibitory interneurons undergo lifelong replacement through a process known as adult neurogenesis. These newly born cells are incorporated in a learning-dependent fashion, a process which has led some to suggest this as a primary mechanism through which the OB retains a high degree of plasticity throughout life. A continued focus of researchers in this field has been to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling adult subventricular zone (SVZ) neurogenesis and the innate functional role of these cells. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been identified as a strong candidate molecule regulating adult OB neurogenesis. We review what is known regarding the functional role of newly-born cells, highlight the role of BDNF in this process, and describe preliminary findings from our lab implicating BDNF in the process of selecting of newly born cells for survival.
Effects of drought stress on CO2 exchange and water relations in the CAM epiphyte Tillandsia utriculata (Bromeliaceae)

Summary Water was withheld from plants of Tillandsia utriculata L. for up to two months in a growth chamber. Nocturnal CO2 uptake declined substantially in the first week without water, then declined slowly between 7 and 31 d of the drought treatment. Net CO2 exchange after two months of desiccation was nearly zero, although substantial nocturnal increases in malic acid concentrations were still measureable. Thus, the degree of CO2 recycled internally via CAM increased dramatically throughout the drought treatment. In spite of the slow, yet substantial declines in nighttime CO2 uptake observed throughout the drought treatment, leaf water potentials remained relatively high (above −1.5 MPa) and declined by only 0.5 MPa after two months without water. Based on pressure-volume analyses, the leaf bulk elastic modulus was approximately 3.3 MPa, a very low value indicative of highly elastic cell walls. Thus, maintenance of high turgor pressures as a result of elastic cell walls may constitute an important adaptation of this species and presumably other epiphytic species of Tillandsia that reduces the negative effects of drought stress. This, as well as other adaptations to drought stress such as the preferential utilization of water from water-storage parenchyma, osmotic adjustment, and low rates of transpiration, should contribute to survival during drought in these unusual plants.
Proline excretion in Escherichia coli: a comparison of an argD+ strain and a proline-excreting argD- derivative.

In an attempt to deduce the physiological basis of proline excretion in argD− strains of Escherichia coli K12, several properties of an argD+ (nonexcreting) and an argD− (excreting) derivative were compared. No difference was found in the transport or in the utilization of either proline or its immediate precursor, Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (PCA). Furthermore, no differences were found in the physical or kinetic properties of partially purified preparations of the enzyme mediating the final step in proline biosynthesis, PCA reductase. The specific activity of PCA reductase was, however, consistently higher in crude extracts prepared from the argD− mutant.
Chemical fractionation of metals in core sediments of Orogodo River, southern Nigeria

Sequential chemical extraction of metals (Cu, Ni, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cr, and Zn) from core sediments of the Orogodo River was carried out with a view of providing information on the phase distribution of these metals with respect to depths and seasons. The results indicate that copper was speciated into organic matter/sulfide, Fe–Mn oxides, and residual forms at 0–5 cm depth while at deeper sections copper was predominantly in the residual form. Nickel was speciated mainly into Fe–Mn oxides and residual forms. The average of lead in various particulate phases of the sediment are 0–100% for residual; 0–8% for carbonate; 0–16.2% for exchangeable; 0–10% for organic matter/sulfide form and 22–56% for Fe–Mn oxides bound metals. Manganese was speciated into exchangeable (10–36%) and Fe–Mn oxides bound (10–48%) at the surface layers of 0–20 cm depths and predominantly in the residual form in deeper sections implying partitioning into trioctahydral clay and/or well-defined crystalline oxides. Iron was predominantly in t...
A note on Barnette's conjecture

A well-known conjecture of Barnette states that every 3-connected cubic bipartite planar graph has a Hamiltonian cycle, which is equivalent to the statement that every 3-connected even plane triangulation admits a 2-tree coloring, meaning that the vertices of the graph have a 2-coloring such that each color class induces a tree. In this paper we present a new approach to Barnette's conjecture by using 2-tree coloring. A Barnette triangulation is a 3-connected even plane triangulation, and a B-graph is a smallest Barnette triangulation without a 2-tree coloring. A configuration is reducible if it cannot be a configuration of a B-graph. We prove that certain configurations are reducible. We also define extendable, non-extendable and compatible graphs; and discuss their connection with Barnette's conjecture.
Functionally Diverse Subsets in CD4 T Cell Responses Against Influenza

Background Antibody alone cannot provide optimal protection against many infectious diseases impacting global heath. In these cases, our challenge is to develop innovative vaccines that generate protective populations of memory T cells. However, our studies suggest that current paradigms explaining how memory CD4 T cells provide protection are inadequate. This is likely due to both the paucity of and heterogeneity of memory CD4 T cells observed in vivo, which make analysis extremely difficult.
Process models for ultra-shallow junction technologies

Submicron technologies include low thermal budget processing, Ge+or Si+preamorphization implants, ultra-low energy B and As implants, thin oxides and silicide contacts. These new technologies and the models required to simulate them are not simple extrapolations of existing process models. Major new process variables include crystal damage produced during implantation and the annealing of this damage, point-defect injection during contacting and implantation parameters associated with preamorphization. In this paper we describe new process models that describe these effects. The models are based on extensive data generated as part of our shallow junction, submicron CMOS program, and the models have been imbedded in the PREDICTTMprocess simulation code.
The Reductive Half-reaction of Xanthine Oxidase REACTION WITH ALDEHYDE SUBSTRATES AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE CATALYTICALLY LABILE OXYGEN

The kinetics of xanthine oxidase has been investigated with the aim of addressing several outstanding questions concerning the reaction mechanism of the enzyme. Steady-state and rapid kinetic studies with the substrate 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde demonstrated that (k cat/K m)appand k red/K d exhibit comparable bell-shaped pH dependence with pK avalues of 6.4 ± 0.2 and 8.4 ± 0.2, with the lower pK a assigned to an active-site residue of xanthine oxidase (possibly Glu-1261, by analogy to Glu-869 in the crystallographically known aldehyde oxidase from Desulfovibrio gigas) and the higher pK a to substrate. Early steps in the catalytic sequence have been investigated by following the reaction of the oxidized enzyme with a second aldehyde substrate, 2-aminopteridine-6-aldehyde. The absence of a well defined acid limb in this pH profile and other data indicate that this complex represents anE ox·S rather thanE red·P complex (i.e. no chemistry requiring the active-site base has taken place in forming the long wavelength-absorbing complex seen with this substrate). It appears that xanthine oxidase (and by inference, the closely related aldehyde oxidases) hydroxylates both aromatic heterocycles and aldehydes by a mechanism involving base-assisted catalysis. Single-turnover experiments following incorporation of 17O into the molybdenum center of the enzyme demonstrated that a single oxygen atom is incorporated at a site that gives rise to strong hyperfine coupling to the unpaired electron spin of the metal in the MoVoxidation state. By analogy to the hyperfine interactions seen in a homologous series of molybdenum model compounds, we conclude that this strongly coupled, catalytically labile site represents a metal-coordinated hydroxide rather than the Mo=O group and that this Mo–OH represents the oxygen that is incorporated into product in the course of catalysis.
OPTIMAL POPULATION AND INCREASING RETURNS TO SCALE

The paper deals with the common allegation that economies characterized by increasing returns of scale are suboptimally populated. Although increasing returns is a necessary condition for suboptimal population, it is demonstrated that it is not sufficient. Furthermore, a more stringent necessary condition is available, i.e., the degree of returns to scale must exceed one plus the capital share for the economy. This necessary condition may also be employed as a test of sufficiency for overpopulation. In the light of this criterion, it is suggested that the incidence of suboptimal population has been overestimated.
Mobile App Connecting People Based on Personality Detection and Image Perception Analysis

We propose a personality detection algorithm based on human perceptions of images and created a mobile social application named Date gram to test the efficiency of our algorithm and connect people who share similar image perceptions. We detect user's Big Five personality based on their perceptual opinions on several images. Users in Date gram are matched to play visual-sentiment games, through which their connections based on personality similarity are further strengthened. Datagram utilizes techniques of image sentiment detection to analyze user's personality. Given the collected personal sentiment perception data, we proposed personality-mapping algorithm to categorize users into "Big Five" personality. After the Adjective-Noun-Pairs (ANPs) are extracted from each image, a personalized image-profile that consists of multiple pairs of ANPs and corresponding user decisions is generated. This profile is treated as the input of our algorithm, and a modified Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model is applied to extract personality-related features. "Big Five" personality values are calculated by a word-personality mapping algorithm where the technique of Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) is used. To evaluate our proposed algorithm, we did user studies over visual sentiments as well as personality detections. The results demonstrate that sentimental opinions from different persons vary significantly towards the same image, people would prefer to connect with those sharing similar perceptions of images and similar personalities with them.
An Assessment of Two Computerized Vocabulary Games Reveals That Players Improve as a Result of Review

Two commercially available, computerized vocabulary games were assessed for their teaching benefits to users. The games were independently tested against three criteria, not against each other. The Matching Game used a rehearsal teaching strategy and required participants to match words to their meanings. The Analogy Game used a semantic strategy and required participants to determine the relationship between the meanings of three words. Game scores were used as the dependent measure because they reflected the accuracy of the participants' responses and their knowledge of the word meanings. The assessment revealed three points of interest about the games. First, participants improved game scores when they reviewed the meanings of words presented in the games. Second, participants did not improve their ability to determine the meaning of new words that were presented in either game. Third, participants with low verbal skills prior to playing the Matching Game demonstrated greater improvement in game scores...
Abstract 5062: Serum microRNA profiling in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with the development of nearly all cancers and serum miRNAs are promising biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, and prognosis of cancer. We sought to identify serum miRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers for bladder cancer. To this end, global miRNA profiling was performed on sera in a pilot sample set containing matched non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and healthy controls to identify highly abundant serum miRNAs. Eighty nine miRNAs were stably detectable in cases and controls and selected for further testing. These 89 miRNAs were simultaneously quantified by high-throughput Taqman analysis using the Fluidigm BioMark™ HD System in a discovery set (140 NMIBC patients and 139 control subjects) and a validation set (140 NMIBC patients and 139 control subjects). In the discovery phase, 12 miRNAs showed significant differential expression between NMIBC patients and controls. In the validation phase, expression of one miRNA, miR-409-3p, remained significantly down-regulated in patients with NMIBC as compared to controls. The risk estimates of bladder cancer for miR-409-3p by tertile distributions in controls showed a significant trend for increased risk at the highest tertile for the whole sample set (odds ratio (OR) = 2.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.42-3.59; P = 5.95 × 10−4) as well as for age > 65 (OR = 2.32; 95% CI =1.24-4.34; P =4.60 × 10−3) and ever smokers (OR = 2.34; 95% CI =1.31-4.18; P =4.05 × 10−3). Analyses of joint effects of this risk factor showed that the OR was statistically significantly elevated to 5.21 (95% CI =2.72-10.00; P =6.84 × 10−7) for the sample set including both the lowest level of miR-409-3p and ever smokers. Thus the differential expression miR-409-3p in serum distinguishes NMIBC and controls and may contribute to bladder cancer development. Citation Format: Jie Lian, Shu-Hong Lin, Sherri Luo, Maosheng Huang, Jian Gu, Ashish M. Kamat, Colin P. Dinney, Xifeng Wu. Serum microRNA profiling in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5062. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5062
Contesting the market-based nature of Mexico’s national payments for ecosystem services programs: Four sites of articulation and hybridization

Abstract Mexico’s national payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs pay rural landholders for hydrological services, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and improvement of agroforestry systems. The intention of the programs’ initial funders and designers was to create a PES program that would introduce market efficiency into environmental policy and “green” the market by creating and recognizing the economic value of healthy ecosystems. This article traces the complex processes through which this ideal type conceptualization of market-efficient environmental policy was subverted and the practice altered to more closely fit national interests, rural realities and alternative conceptions of the ‘value’ of socio-nature. This article examines how the market-based notions of the programs’ designers were hybridized at four distinct sites of articulation: (1) the federal politics of poverty alleviation in Mexico; (2) rural social movements with distinct conceptualizations of ‘conservation’ and ‘development’; (3) the institutional and cultural context of the ecosystem services being commodified; and (4) the socio-natural knowledges and grounded practices of rural Mexico. This analysis is based on a multi-sited ethnography conducted with program participants, intermediary organizations, and designers. The article draws on a growing critical literature on market-based mechanisms and minutely examines the process through which the Mexican national PES program was altered at multiple scales and in multiple forms, from the rhetoric of political speeches to the specific elements of the policy’s design and from the theoretical tinkering of neoclassical economists to the quotidian practices of rural environmental managers.
Science and the Bush Administration.

I n various ways, the scientific community in the United States—and in other nations as well—has expressed concern about the way in which decisions about scientific issues have been subjected to political tests by the Bush administration. For example, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), in
Occupational Therapy Task Observation Scale (OTTOS)©: A Rapid Method for Rating Task Group Function of Psychiatric Patients

Objective We designed a simple rating instrument, the Occupational Therapy Task Observation Scale (OTTOS), to facilitate evaluation and documentation of patient performance during occupational therapy task groups and to improve the communication between occupational therapists and other treatment team members. Method After analysis of other rating instruments, a preliminary version of OTTOS was designed, extensively field tested, and further modified. Interrater reliability was determined, and validity was tested against three established rating instruments: the Bay Area Functional Performance Evaluation, the Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Evaluation Scale, and the Milwaukee Evaluation of Daily Living Skills. Results The final version of OTTOS contains two parts, 10 items for evaluation of specific task functions and 5 items for rating general behavior. Field use demonstrated that the scale successfully tracked changes in functional capacity and included most facets of patient function evaluated during task groups. Use of OTTOS required minimal training, and scoring required less than 2 min for each patient. The correlation between the scores of experienced occupational therapists was high (.92 for the total scores). The correlation between OTTOS and the other rating instruments ranged from .880 to .340; the highest correlations, as expected, were with test subscales that most closely resembled OTTOS: Conclusion Preliminary data indicated that OTTOS offers a reliable and valid method for rapidly rating the function of patients with psychiatric illness attending task groups. In addition, use of OTTOS improved the communication between occupational therapists and other health care providers, facilitated the education of occupational therapy students, and met the documentation requirements of third-party payers.
The Genesis and Importance of the Electrocardiogram in Coarctation of the Aorta

The electrocardiogram in uncomplicated coarctation of the aorta in infants reflects the pattern of the fetal circulation and serves as a useful prognostic guide. When the fetal ductus inserts proximally to the region of coarctation and closes at birth, right ventricular enlargement is present at birth but is retrogressive. Furthermore, in this situation collateral circulation has begun to develop before birth so that the left ventricle can compensate on assumption of the postnatal circulation, and the prognosis is good. When the insertion of the fetal ductus is distal to the coarctation, progressive, and frequently fatal, left ventricular enlargement and failure develop shortly after birth. Modifications of these electrocardiographic patterns in the production of right bundle branch block are also discussed and illustrated.
Using Student and Institutional Characteristics to Predict Graduation Rates at Community Colleges: New Developments in Performance Measures and Institutional Effectiveness

Prediction models using graduation rate as the performance indicator were obtained for community colleges in California, Florida, and Michigan. The results of this study indicated that institutional graduation rate could be predicted effectively from an aggregate of student and institutional characteristics. A performance measure was computed, the Institutional Performance Ratio (IPR), for each institution to form a metric. This metric was used to measure one institution's performance against another in terms of graduation rate. Based on the IPR value, an institution could determine whether its performance exceeded, met, or was below expectation.
Successful immunosuppressive therapy for HTLV-I associated myelopathy

We report here a patient with HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM), who showed remarkable improvement clinically and immunologically with combined cyclophosphamide and prednisone therapy.
Some Volatile Components in Milk, Blood, and Urine from Cows Fed Silage, Bromegrass, and Hay and Grain,

Summary Chromatographic analyses of volatile material in milk, blood, and urine of cows fed silage, bromegrass pasture, and a control ration of hay and grain were made. Off-flavors as determined by organoleptic analysis could not be related to any specific volatile materials determined from the analyses. Of the volatile constituents found in biological fluids, their concentrations were usually higher in urine than either milk or blood. Some chromatographic peaks from the analysis of some of the biological fluids were peculiar to certain feeds. Evidence for identification was presented for ethyl ether, ethanol, methyl sulfide, propanal, acetone, methanol, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, and n-propanol. Identification was based upon agreement of retention time with known compounds and alteration of chromatographs by prior treatment of samples with various qualitative reagents. Of materials observed, only acetone and 2-butanone were conclusively identified.
Seasonal changes in median eminence dopamine in male syrian hamsters: Role of the gonads and duration of exposure to short days

Median eminence dopamine concentrations are reduced in male hamsters housed in a short photoperiod for 12 weeks, but tyrosine hydroxylase activity and dopamine metabolism are unaffected. The mechanism responsible for this decrease in dopamine is unclear. The purpose of the experiments presented here was to examine the effects of gonadal steroids on this decline in median eminence dopamine concentrations, and to characterize the time course over which this change occurs. Experiment 1 examined the effects of short day exposure on median eminence dopamine concentrations and tuberoinfundibular dopamine neuronal activity (i.e., accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylanine) in castrated male hamsters. The results of that experiment suggest that the short-day induced decline in median eminence dopamine concentrations is maintained in the absence of gonadal steroids. In Experiments 2 and 3, tuberoinfundibular dopamine neuronal activity (accumulation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid concentrations, respectively), median eminence dopamine concentrations and circulating prolactin levels were measured in animals housed in short days for varying lengths of time. This was done to determine when the decline in median eminence dopamine concentrations occurs and if the decline is preceded by a change in tuberoinfundibular dopamine neuronal activity. The results of these two experiments suggest that median eminence dopamine concentrations and circulating prolactin levels decline after approximately 4 weeks of short-day exposure, and that these photoperiod induced changes are not associated with changes in tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neuronal activity.
Examining reliability of wireless multihop network routing with linear systems

In this study, we present a control theoretic technique to model routing in wireless multihop networks. We model ad hoc wireless networks as stochastic dynamical systems where, as a base case, a centralized controller pre-computes optimal paths to the destination. The usefulness of this approach lies in the fact that it can help obtain bounds on reliability of end-to-end packet transmissions. We compare this approach with the reliability achieved by some of the widely used routing techniques in multihop networks.
Flame Length Measurements of Burning Fuel Puffs

Abstract An experimental study of burning of natural gas puffs generated by a fully modulated jet, has been conducted. The present study concentrated on the effects of duty-cycle and puff volume, or equivalently the injection time, on the flame length. It is observed that when individual puffs are well-separated, considerably shorter flame lengths, by as much as a factor of four, are obtained compared to a steady jet flame. Furthermore, the flame length of individual puffs scales with the initial volume of puff, in agreement with the previous studies of buoyant puffs in aqueous media. For a given puff volume, as the duty-cycle is increased beyond a given value, the flame length tends to rise rapidly due to the interaction among neighboring puffs. A dimensionless parameter is found which indicates the transition of puff characteristics.
Cell-cycle control linked to extracellular environment by MAP kinase pathway in fission yeast

IN fission yeast the onset of mitosis is brought about by Cdc2/ Cdcl3 kinase, which is inhibited by the Weel/Mikl tyrosine kin-ases and activated by Cdc25 tyrosine phosphatase1. This control network integrates many signals, including those that monitor DNA replication, DNA damage and cell size. We report here that a fission yeast MAP kinase pathway links the cell-cycle G2/M control with changes in the extracellular environment that affect cell physiology. Fission yeast spc1 mutants have a G2 delay that is greatly exacerbated by growth in high osmolarity media and nutrient limitation. A lethal interaction of spc1 and cdc25 mutations shows that Spcl promotes the onset of mitosis. Spcl is a MAP kinase homologue that is activated by Wisl kinase in response to osmotic stress and nutrient limitation. Spcl is inactivated by Pypl, a phosphatase previously identified as a mitotic inhibitor2,3. Pypl dephosphorylates only tyrosine-173 of Spcl, unlike the dual-specificity phosphatases that have been shown to regulate other MAP kinases4.
E-satisfaction: an initial examination

Abstract As more e-retailers promise their customers that online experiences will be satisfying ones, understanding what creates a satisfying customer experience becomes crucial. Even though this understanding appears crucial, no studies have examined the factors that make consumers satisfied with their e-retailing experiences. To partly fill this void, the authors examine the role that consumer perceptions of online convenience, merchandising (product offerings and product information), site design, and financial security play in e-satisfaction assessments. They find that convenience, site design, and financial security are the dominant factors in consumer assessments of e-satisfaction. The authors discuss the implications of these findings and offer directions for future research.
Comparisons of propylene and propyne catalytic oxidation on a 100 Å Pt/Al2O3 thin film using in situ soft X-ray fluorescence methods

Abstract Propyne and propylene deep oxidation to form CO 2 and H 2 O in flowing oxygen pressures up to 0.01 Torr has been studied on a 100 A Pt/Al 2 O 3 thin film catalyst using a combination of synchrotron based soft X-ray techniques. In situ temperature-programmed and isothermal kinetic experiments have been used to evaluate reaction mechanisms and energetics. Propyne oxidation on the thin film occurs in a simple, one-step process with a C 3 H 4 (propyne) intermediate. Propylene oxidation on this surface is more complex. Initial propylene desorption and oxydehydrogenation results in the formation of a C 3 H 5 intermediate (1-methylvinyl). Skeletal oxidation begins with increasing temperature and additional oxydehydrogenation results in the formation of a C 3 H 4 propyne-like intermediate. Thus, as observed previously on the Pt(1 1 1) surface, skeletal oxidation of both propyne and propylene above 370 K proceeds through a C 3 H 4 intermediate. Even for this complex, supported Pt thin film sample, the oxidation mechanisms for propyne and propylene remain stable over the entire range of oxygen pressures studied. The propyne and propylene oxidation temperatures on the Pt film are quite similar to the Pt(1 1 1) surface. Propyne adsorbs on the 100 A Pt/Al 2 O 3 thin film through the π system nearly parallel to the surface, in a manner very similar to the Pt(1 1 1) surface. However, molecular adsorption of propylene on the Pt film surface is more complex. A new weakly adsorbed bonding mode is observed on the Pt film in addition to a strongly adsorbed form similar to propylene bonding on the Pt(1 1 1) surface. This weakly bound species desorbs between 200 and 270 K, while the more tightly bound propylene species that remains on the surface undergoes oxydehydrogenation and skeletal oxidation as outlined above.
Aperture-synthesis techniques that use very low power illumination

Active imaging techniques are described that have minimum transmitter aperture redundancy and maximum transmitter intermittency. The proposed techniques are variants of Fourier telescopy. These techniques largely overcome conventional signal limitations by encoding the image information in the time domain. The basic approach combines long-baseline interferometry with phase closure to obtain high resolution images with very low average transmitter power, by proper choice of phase closure strategy. Several strategies are discussed and simulation results are presented.
Darcian Dynamics: A New Approach to the Mobilization of a Trapped Phase in Porous Media

We develop a new approach, which we term Darcian Dynamics, to simulate two-phase (liquid-gas) flow in porous media, when the gas phase is disconnected in the form of ganglia. The method is based on the assumption of homogeneous fluid flow for the liquid, although it does allow for heterogeneous capillary thresholds due to the pore microstructure. Using techniques from potential theory, the hydrodynamic interaction between liquid and gas is expressed through an integral representation over the ganglia interfaces. We use a numerical method to solve the resulting integral equation, and explore conditions for the onset of ganglia mobilization as well as for subsequent events, such as break-up, coalescence and stranding. The interaction between the ganglia and the flowing phase is influenced by the capillary and gravity (Bond) numbers, and by geometric factors, such as size, orientation, and ganglia density. The latter effect depends on the hydrodynamic interaction in addition to the intuitively expected crowding effect.
Adaptive online load forecasting via time series modeling

Reliable short-term load forecasting by computer is a topic of considerable interest. In this paper, a reliable online method to accomplish short-term load forecasting is presented. It automatically adapts to changing conditions and requires very little human intervention. It makes use of time series models, automatically adjusting the model parameters, to forecast the load. Unique in this method are (i) the autocorrelation optimization used for incorporating daily and weekly periodicities, and (ii) the identification method used for adapting the time series model parameters, which adapts not only the model parameter values, but also the structure and order of the time series model itself.
Influence of Biopsy Size on Sex-Steroid Receptor Levels Determined by Enzyme Immunoassay

Abstract: Results of estrogen and progestin determinations are used routinely to predict a breast cancer patient's response to endocrine therapy and to assess prognosis. Because the sizes of breast carcinoma biopsies are decreasing with earlier detection, the enzyme immunoassay procedure is used with greater frequency. This investigation compared the levels of estrogen and progestin receptors determined with this method in three size groups (≤ 0.1 g, 0.1–0.2 g, > 0.2 g) of biopsies of 1,945 primary breast carcinomas and 201 lymph node metastases. Similar comparisons were made with biopsies of endometrial and ovarian carcinomas. Using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney statistic analyses, an insignificant difference in results was obtained for either estrogen or progestin receptors in the lowest (≤ 0.1 g) size group compared to either the group containing the biopsies weighing between 0.1 and 0.2 g or the group weighing more than 0.2 g. These data support our contention that the enzyme immunoassay can be used with confidence to measure steroid hormone receptors in biopsies weighing as little as 50–100 mg. We recommend the immunohistochemical analysis should be employed primarily for biopsies weighing less than 50 mg.
Bovine papillomavirus type 1 E6-induced sensitization to apoptosis is distinct from its transforming activity.

Abstract The bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) E6 oncoprotein induces tumorigenic transformation of murine C127 cells and stimulates transcription when targeted to a promoter. We have previously shown that C127 cells expressing BPV-1 E6 exhibited increased tumor necrosis factor α (TNF)-mediated apoptosis. To understand the mechanisms by which BPV-1 E6 sensitizes cells to apoptosis and to investigate the relevance of E6-enhanced apoptosis to its other biological activities, we analyzed a BPV-1 E6 mutant (491, with four amino acids deleted at the C-terminus) for its ability to sensitize C127 cells to apoptosis. The result was then compared with the E6 mutant's ability to transform cells, to activate transcription, and to associate with known cellular binding proteins. Our data indicated that the transcriptional activation function of BPV-1 E6 correlated with sensitization of cells to TNF-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, functions required for BPV-1 E6-mediated sensitization of cells to apoptosis are distinct from those required for transformation. A potential role of paxillin in E6 sensitization of cells to apoptosis is implicated. These results thus indicate that sensitization of cells to TNF-induced apoptosis represents a novel function of BPV-1 E6.
The Role of Antibody and Complement in Phagocytosis by Rabbit Alveolar Macrophages

The relative importance of antibody and complement in the phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two common bacterial pathogens, by alveolar macrophages from rabbits was studied. Normal rabbit serum was a satisfactory opsonin for the phagocytosis of S. aureus but not for P. aeruginosa. Normal rabbit serum opsonized S. aureus by both the classic and the alternative complement pathways; loss of both pathways destroyed opsonic activity. The presence of complement was not required for maximal phagocytosis when 10% staphylococcal immune serum was used. However, an intact alternative complement pathway enhanced phagocytosis when the concentration of staphlyococcal immune serum was lowered to 0.3%. Similarly, 10% pseudomonas immune serum opsonized P. aeruginosa without complement. When the concentration of pseudomonas immune serum was lowered to 1%, either the classic or the alternative complement pathway could significantly enhance phagocytosis of P. aeruginosa. Similar results were obtained with alveolar macrophages activated with bacille Calmette-Guerin. These studies demonstrate the importance of complement in enhancing phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages of bacterial pathogens when antibody concentration is the limiting factor.
Cis-Trans Isomerism in Naphthoquinones: Interconversion and Participation in Oxidative Phosphorylation

Synthetic phylloquinone was resolved into cis and trans isomers by thin-layer chromatography. The two isomers had identical ultraviolet spectra characteristic of vitamin K(1) and were differentiated by nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy on the basis of the displacement of the peak corresponding to the olefinic methyl group in the naphthoquinone side chain. Studies on the restoration of electron transport coupled to phosphorylation in irradiated preparations of Mycobacterium phlei showed that only the trans isomer was active with substrates linked to nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide. The purified trans phylloquinone was enzymatically converted to the cis isomer. Under similar conditions, cis vitamin K(1) gave rise to the trans-naphthoquinone. The natural naphthoquinone of M. phlei vitamin MK(9)(II-H) was similarly resolved into cis and trans isomers.
Identifying the role of proprioception in upper-limb prosthesis control: Studies on targeted motion

Proprioception plays a crucial role in enabling humans to move purposively and interact with their physical surroundings. Current technology in upper-limb prostheses, while beginning to incorporate some haptic feedback, does not provide amputees with proprioceptive information about the state of the limb. Thus, the wearer must visually monitor the limb, which is often inconvenient or even impossible for some tasks. This work seeks to quantify the potential benefits of incorporating proprioceptive motion feedback into upper-limb prosthesis designs. We apply a noninvasive method for controlling the availability of proprioceptive motion feedback in unimpaired individuals in a human subject study to compare the benefits of visual and proprioceptive motion feedback in targeted motion tasks. Combined results of the current study and our previous study using a different task indicate that the addition of proprioceptive motion feedback improves targeting accuracy under nonsighted conditions and, for some tasks, under sighted conditions as well. This work motivates the development of methods for providing artificial proprioceptive feedback to a prosthesis wearer.
Dynamic Motions of the HIV-1 Frameshift Site RNA

The HIV-1 frameshift site (FS) plays a critical role in viral replication. During translation, the HIV-1 FS transitions from a 3-helix to a 2-helix junction RNA secondary structure. The 2-helix junction structure contains a GGA bulge, and purine-rich bulges are common motifs in RNA secondary structure. Here, we investigate the dynamics of the HIV-1 FS 2-helix junction RNA. Interhelical motions were studied under different ionic conditions using NMR order tensor analysis of residual dipolar couplings. In 150 mM potassium, the RNA adopts a 43°(±4°) interhelical bend angle (β) and displays large amplitude, anisotropic interhelical motions characterized by a 0.52(±0.04) internal generalized degree of order (GDOint) and distinct order tensor asymmetries for its two helices (η = 0.26(±0.04) and 0.5(±0.1)). These motions are effectively quenched by addition of 2 mM magnesium (GDOint = 0.87(±0.06)), which promotes a near-coaxial conformation (β = 15°(±6°)) of the two helices. Base stacking in the bulge was investigated using the fluorescent purine analog 2-aminopurine. These results indicate that magnesium stabilizes extrahelical conformations of the bulge nucleotides, thereby promoting coaxial stacking of helices. These results are highly similar to previous studies of the HIV transactivation response RNA, despite a complete lack of sequence similarity between the two RNAs. Thus, the conformational space of these RNAs is largely determined by the topology of their interhelical junctions.
Long-time Instability and Unbounded Sobolev Orbits for Some Periodic Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations

We study the energy cascade problematic for some nonlinear Schrodinger equations on \({\mathbb{T}^2}\) in terms of the growth of Sobolev norms. We define the notion of long-time strong instability and establish its connection to the existence of unbounded Sobolev orbits. This connection is then explored for a family of cubic Schrodinger nonlinearities that are equal or closely related to the standard polynomial one \({|u|^2u}\). Most notably, we prove the existence of unbounded Sobolev orbits for a family of Hamiltonian cubic nonlinearities that includes the resonant cubic NLS equation (a.k.a. the first Birkhoff normal form).
Measurement of the optical extinction coefficient of combustion-generated aerosol

Abstract This note describes measurements of the mass-specific extinction coefficient, σ s , of carbonaceous aerosol produced during hydrocarbon combustion. Measurements of σ s were obtained by laser extinction at λ = 632 nm . The aerosol was generated using a laminar diffusion flame, and the mass-specific extinction coefficient determined as a function of the global equivalence ratio, φ . The elemental carbon content of the aerosol was also determined with respect to φ . A relationship was developed between the elemental carbon/total carbon (EC/TC) ratio and σ s . A simple method of producing laboratory aerosol with controlled EC/TC ratio is also presented.
Finite element bidomain calculations

The finite-element method is used to study the electrical response of a 2-D bidomain model of cardiac tissue to current injection. For unequal anisotropy ratios of the intracellular and extracellular spaces, injection of current into the tissue induces a transmembrane potential that has a complicated spatial dependence, including adjacent regions of depolarized and hyperpolarized tissue. This behavior could have implications for the electrical stimulation of the tissue, for defibrillation, and in the study of the virtual cathode effect. >
Molecular induction by phenobarbital of a rat hepatic form of cytochrome P-450: Expression of a 4-kilobase messenger RNA

Abstract A differential screening procedure was employed to isolate a cDNA clone corresponding to a major phenobarbital (PB)-inducible form of rat hepatic cytochrome P -450. The G-C homopolymer-tailing technique was utilized to construct a cDNA library in the Pst I site of plasmid pBR322. The library represented PB-induced poly(A + )RNA sequences from hepatic polysomes of 150-g male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hybrid-selection experiments against total PB-inducible RNA were performed with plasmid DNA derived from clones enriched in PB-inducible information. The mRNA molecules that specifically hybridized were subjected to in vitro translation, were immunoprecipitated with antibody raised in rabbits against purified cytochrome P -450 b ( P. E. Thomas, D. Korzeniowski, D. Ryan, and W. Levin (1979) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 192 , 524–532 ), and were electrophoresed under sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic conditions. One cDNA clone, designated PB-8, contained a 600-bp insert partially coding for a PB-inducible cytochrome P -450 species that comigrated on SDS-gel electrophoresis with highly purified P -450 b . A single injection of PB, 15–18 h before sacrifice, increased the level of polysomal poly(A + )RNA complementary to the isolated cDNA clone by approximately 16-fold. Northern blot hybridizations of polysome-derived poly(A + )RNA, electrophoresed in denaturing agarose gels, demonstrated that the size of the mRNA corresponding to the isolated clone was 4 kb. Isolated heteronuclear RNA species demonstrated a time-dependent increase in the synthesis of a similar 4-kb RNA molecule. By genomic blot hybridization to Eco RI-restricted DNA, at least three complementary DNA fragments migrating at 5.1, 3.2, and 2.9 kb were observed with 32 P-labeled PB-8 as a probe. These data, together with restriction endonuclease mapping and partial cDNA sequence information of the PB-8 cDNA, suggest that the PB-8 clone represents a previously unreported cDNA clone for a form of cytochrome P -450 inducible by PB.