cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliability Analysis for Multidisciplinary Systems with Random and Interval Variables

Tremendous efforts have been devoted to developing efficient approaches to reliability analysis for multidisciplinary systems. Most of the approaches are only capable of dealing with random variables modeled by probability distributions. Both random and interval variables, however, may exist in multidisciplinary systems. Their propagation through coupled subsystems make s reliability analysis computationally expensive. In this work, a unified reliability analysis framework is proposed to deal with both random and interval variables in multidisciplinary systems. The framework is an extension of an existing unified uncertainty analysis framework for single-disciplinary problems. The new framework involves probabilistic analysis and interval analysis. Both probabilistic analysis and interval analysis are decoupled from each other and are performed sequentially. The first order reliability method is used for probabilistic analysis. Three supporting algorithms are developed. The effectiveness of the algorithms is demonstrated with a mathematical example and an engineering application.
Recognition of methylated DNA through methyl-CpG binding domain proteins

DNA methylation is a key regulatory control route in epigenetics, involving gene silencing and chromosome inactivation. It has been recognized that methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) proteins play an important role in interpreting the genetic information encoded by methylated DNA (mDNA). Although the function of MBD proteins has attracted considerable attention and is well characterized, the mechanism underlying mDNA recognition by MBD proteins is still poorly understood. In this article, we demonstrate that the methyl-CpG dinucleotides are recognized at the MBD–mDNA interface by two MBD arginines through an interplay of hydrogen bonding and cation-π interaction. Through molecular dynamics and quantum-chemistry calculations we investigate the methyl-cytosine recognition process and demonstrate that methylation enhances MBD–mDNA binding by increasing the hydrophobic interfacial area and by strengthening the interaction between mDNA and MBD proteins. Free-energy perturbation calculations also show that methylation yields favorable contribution to the binding free energy for MBD–mDNA complex.
Isolation and partial characterization of the gene for cytochrome P-450 3a (P-450ALC) and a second closely related gene.

Abstract Two genes that hybridize to the cDNA for alcohol-inducible cytochrome P-450 form 3a (P-450ALC) have been isolated from a rabbit genomic library and characterized by restriction mapping, hybridization, and partial sequence analysis. The genes show extensive sequence similarity as judged by hybridization at high stringency to the coding region of P-450 3a cDNA. However, only gene 1 hybridizes under these conditions to the 3′ nontranslated segment of P-450 3a cDNA. The hybridizing fragments derived from both cloned genes were found to be present in the genome of all rabbits examined by Southern blot analysis, indicating that the genes represent separate loci and are not polymorphic alleles. Partial sequence analysis indicated that gene 1 encodes P-450 3a. Gene 2, if transcribed, would encode a protein with greater than 96% sequence identity with P-450 3a in the NH2-terminal region.
Retention behavior of pteroyl-oligo-γ-l-glutamates in reversed-phase chromatography

The effect of eluent pH on the retention of pteroyl-oligo-γ-l-glutamates containing up to eight glutamyl residues is investigated in reversed-phase chromatography with octadecyl-silica column. When the carboxylic groups of the solutes are largely undissociated, at pH 2, the retention of oligoglutamates increases with the number of glutamyl residues and the elution order parallels that in anion-exchange chromatography. At sufficiently high eluent pH the carboxylic groups are dissociated and the elution order is reversed so that solute molecules having smaller number of charges. i.e. less glutamyl residues, are retained stronger. The logarithm of capacity factor, with the exception of folic acid, is linearly dependent on the number of glutamyl residues over a wide range of eluent pH. The dependence of the capacity factor on pH for oligoglutamates is quantitatively interpreted considering the different dissociation constants for the α- and γ-carboxyls. The results suggest that in reversed-phase chromatography the selectivity of separation for polyionogenic compounds can be drastically modulated by changing the pH of the eluent.
Effects of dazmegrel, piroxicam and cyclophosphamide on the NZB(W model of SLE

To investigate the potential importance of prostaglandins and thromboxane in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the effects of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (piroxicam) and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (dazmegrel) were examined on survival, proteinuria, food consumption, body weight, and peripheral lymphocyte subset distribution in the NZB/W model of autoimmune lupus disease. The effect of an immunosuppressant (cyclophosphamide) known to be effective in the treatment of murine lupus on these parameters was also examined. Cyclophosphamide at 25 mg/kg ip weekly prolonged survival, inhibited proteinuria and prevented the characteristic decline in peripheral T cells and the relative increase in B cells seen in NZB/W lupus disease while having no apparent effect on body weight or food consumption. Neither dazmegrel at 50 or 200 mg/kg/day in the diet nor piroxicam at 2 mg/kg/day in the diet had any significant effects on these parameters.
The History of Sexuality in Context: National Sexological Traditions

I argue here that in its historical development, sexology developed differently in France than elsewhere in Europe. Though I concur that the modern notion of “sexuality” arose some time in the last half of the nineteenth century, the older notion of ”sex” persisted in French science and medicine for a far longer time than elsewhere because of a fear that nonreproductive sexual behavior would deepen the country's population crisis. I argue that the scientific and medical concepts of the sexual perversions, particularly homosexuality, were considered by French sexologists to be abnormal deviations from heterosexuality, whereas some English, German, and Austrian sexologists — including Freud — viewed the perversions more tolerantly as natural variations of the norm. I also address here the inadequacies of historical accounts of these developments that favor discursive ruptures in the Foucauldian manner, and stress the advantages of social history and causal historical explanation.
Distribution, transport, and deposition of mineral dust in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica: Contribution of major sources

[1] A model-based investigation of the transport, distribution and deposition of mineral dust in the Southern Hemisphere (SH) is performed by using the GFDL Atmospheric Model (AM2). The study represents an attempt to quantify the contribution of the major sources by tagging dust based on its origin. We evaluate the contribution of each source to the emission, distribution, mass burden and deposition of dust in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, and show that each source produces distinctive meridional transport, vertical distribution, and deposition patterns. The dust in SH originates primarily from Australia (120 Tg a -1 ), Patagonia (38 Tg a -1 ) and the inter-hemispheric transport from Northern Hemisphere (31 Tg a -1 ). A small fraction of it (7 Tg a -1 ) is transported and deposited in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, where dust from South America, Australia, and Northern Hemisphere are essentially located in the boundary layer, mid-troposphere, and upper-troposphere, respectively. These three sources contribute to nearly all the dust burden in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. South America and Australia are the main sources of the dust deposition, but they differ zonally, with each one dominating half of a hemisphere along 120°E-60°W: the half comprising the Atlantic and Indian oceans in the case of the South American dust and the Pacific half in the case of the Australian dust. Our study also indicates a potentially important role of Northern Hemisphere dust, as it appears to be a significant part of the dust burden but contributing little to the dust deposition in Antarctica.
Women with a low Framingham risk score and a family history of premature coronary heart disease have a high prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis

Background The Framingham risk estimation (FRE) serves as the basis for identifying which asymptomatic adults should be treated with aspirin and lipid-lowering therapy in primary prevention. However, the FRE generally yields low estimates of 10-year “hard” coronary heart disease (CHD) event risk with few women ( Methods We studied 102 asymptomatic women (mean age 51 ± 7 years) who were the sisters of a proband hospitalized with documented premature CHD. Participants underwent risk factor assessment and multidetector computed tomography for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring. Based on FRE prediction of 10-year risk for hard CHD events, participants were classified as low risk ( 20%) (n = 0). Significant subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as age-sex adjusted >75th percentile CAC scores. Results Ninety-eight percent were at low risk (mean FRE of only 2% ± 2%). However, 40% had detectable CAC, 12% had CAC >100, and 6% had CAC ≥400. Based on CAC score percentiles, 32% had significant subclinical atherosclerosis and 17% ranked above the 90th percentile. Conclusion Among women classified as low risk by FRE, a third had significant subclinical atherosclerosis. Sisters of probands with premature CHD appear to be a high-risk group and may warrant noninvasive screening for subclinical atherosclerosis to appropriately target individuals for more aggressive primary prevention therapy than what is currently recommended.
Acoustics of a moving source in a moving medium with application to propeller noise

Abstract In this paper the development of a convective acoustic analogy equation for the case of a moving source in a moving medium is described and the resulting form is compared to that of Blokhintsev and that of Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings. Computational results for a modern propeller with supersonic tips illustrate that both the “moving observer” and “moving medium” interpretations of the acoustic analogy lead to the same results, but that computational efficiency may dictate the use of the moving-medium approach. Using similar programming techniques, the moving-medium calculations show a sixfold decrease in CPU time over those obtained using the moving-observer formulation. The computed waveforms from both methods show improvements over previously published results.
Physical and Flavor Stability of Frozen Milk Dialyzed Against Simulated Ultrafiltrates

Abstract Frozen milk and its 3:1 concentrate were stored 30 wk at 15F without caseinate instability by conditioning their composition as follows: a)About 50% lactose was removed by dialysis against a simulated milk ultrafiltrate of average composition devoid of lactose. b)Soluble calcium partially removed by dialysis against an ultrafiltrate devoid of calcium. Method (b) gave a stable product for 30 wk at 15F even in the presence of 20% lactose. Partial removal of phosphorus promoted instability, indicating that precipitation of Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 in frozen milk and its interaction with the caseinate micelle is not the main factor responsible for instability. Delactosed milk had a flat flavor that can be corrected by adding the balance of lactose upon reconstitution. Milk with part of its calcium removed by dialysis against an ultrafiltrate had a flavor comparable to normal milk. Delactosed milk did not have the strong oxidized flavor developed in regular milk and its concentrate. This is due to removal of proxidant copper by dialysis. Adding 1ml 0.00045 m neocuproine to chelate copper prevented the development of oxidized flavor in nondialyzed milk.
Ethylene hydrogenation on Mo(CO)6 derived model catalysts in ultrahigh vacuum: From oxycarbide to carbide to MoAl alloy

Abstract The ethylene hydrogenation activity is compared for molybdenum oxycarbides, molybdenum carbides and a molybdenum alloy formed by reaction of molybdenum hexacarbonyl with alumina in ultrahigh vacuum using temperature-programmed desorption. It is found that molybdenum oxycarbides are inactive for ethylene hydrogenation. It is shown by forming carbides by reaction between alumina and ethylene that this is due to site blocking by oxygen. The carbide is found to be moderately active for hydrogenation and some ethylene decomposition and self-hydrogenation is also detected. The alloy is found to be the most reactive surface where substantial ethylene hydrogenation and also H–D are detected.
The forest products industry at an energy/climate crossroads

Abstract Transformational energy and climate policies are being debated worldwide that could have significant impact upon the future of the forest products industry. Because woody biomass can produce alternative transportation fuels, low-carbon electricity, and numerous other “green” products in addition to traditional paper and lumber commodities, the future use of forest resources is highly uncertain. Using the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS), this paper assesses the future of the forest products industry under three possible U.S. policy scenarios: (1) a national renewable electricity standard, (2) a national policy of carbon constraints, and (3) incentives for industrial energy efficiency. In addition, we discuss how these policy scenarios might interface with the recently strengthened U.S. renewable fuels standards. The principal focus is on how forest products including residues might be utilized under different policy scenarios, and what such market shifts might mean for electricity and biomass prices, as well as energy consumption and carbon emissions. The results underscore the value of incentivizing energy efficiency in a portfolio of energy and climate policies in order to moderate electricity and biomass price escalation while strengthening energy security and reducing CO 2 emissions.
Divergenceless Currents and K-Meson Decay

It is pointed out that one may test the role of divergenceless currents in strangeness nonconserving ( mu nu ) interactions by looking for certain striking effects in the angular correlations in K/sub mu 3/ decay. lt is assumed that only positive chiral states are coupled. A unique formula for the angular distribution is obtained which reverses the former expectations. Predictions are made from this. (M.H.R.)
Distinct effect of pregnenolone sulfate on NMDA receptor subtypes

Using rapid agonist applications to transfected HEK-293 cells, we investigated pregnenolone sulfate (PS) effects on deactivation and desensitization of recombinant NMDA receptors subtypes. PS prolonged the deactivation of responses produced by brief applications of L-glutamate with all subunit combinations tested. The action of PS was larger on NR1a/NR2A than on NR1a/NR2B channels. PS slowed the rate of macroscopic desensitization of the responses with all subunit combinations tested. In contrast, PS had little effect on current rise time and had much reduced action on responses with L-cysteate, a low affinity agonist. Our results suggest that PS decreases agonist unbinding. However, this action is counteracted by decreased desensitization. Since desensitization produces slow deactivating components, particularly with NR1a/NR2B receptors, this underlies the decreased PS effect with these subtypes. Indeed PS action was mainly observed on the fast component of deactivation. Furthermore, prolongation of NR1a/NR2A responses was similar to that of responses from NR1b/NR2B receptor, a subtype characterized by reduced desensitization. PS prolongation of evoked NMDA receptor mediated synaptic currents from cortical neuronal primary culture(s) was not significantly different from that of responses with NR1a/NR2B receptors indicating that native receptors in these neurons comprised at least some heteromeric combinations of these two subunits.
Nematodes as Bioindicators of Ecosystem Recovery During Phytoremediation of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil

Restoration of a weathered crude oil contaminated site undergoing phytoremediation was evaluated using nematodes as bioindicators. Samples were collected twice per year equating to spring and fall/winter. Mean annual total abundances ranged from 18–130 in the non-fertilized non-vegetated control (CTR) to 69–728 in tall fescue-ryegrass (FES) to 147–749 (100 g−1) in the fertilized bermudagrass-fescue (BER) treatment. Proportions of plant-parasitic (PP) and free-living (FL) nematodes were significantly impacted by treatment, but not year, with PP nematodes accounting for 27, 59, and 68% of CTR, FES, and BER communities, respectively. There was no significant year by season by treatment or treatment by year effect for total, PP, or FL nematode abundances. Diversity did not increase over time. The BER and FES treatments had more mature communities as indicated by higher plant-parasitic index (PPI) values. Phytoremediation accelerates petroleum degradation and alters the soil habitat which is reflected in the n...
Effect of macrophage source and activation on susceptibility in an age-dependent model of murine hepatitis caused by a phlebovirus, Punta Toro

The Adames strain of a bunyavirus, Punta Toro virus (PTV), is an hepatotrophic virus that has been described to produce an age-dependent lethal hepatic necrosis in 3–4 week old C57BL/6 mice, but 8 week old mice survive with minimal necrosis. The course of PTV infection in vitro in macrophages derived from these mice served as a model to study the pathogenesis of phlebovirus infection. Peripheral blood monocytes, resident or elicited peritoneal macrophages, and Kupffer cell liver macrophages, as well as hepatocytes, were able to support replication of PTV in vitro to a variable extent. Kupffer cells were the only population of macrophages, however, that expressed an age-related ability to affect viral infection and replication in vitro, suggesting that liver macrophages may have a unique modulatory effect on the occurrence and severity of PTV-induced hepatitis in mice. Whereas PTV showed minimal replication in resident peritoneal macrophages, the virus could replicate effectively in peritoneal macrophages elicited by thioglycolate. Activation of peritoneal macrophages with endotoxin resulted in a significant inhibition of intrinsic PTV replication (p<0.001), and a modest extrinsic inhibitory effect on PTV replication in cocultured hepatocytes. Both effects persisted in the presence of antiinterferon. These results indicate that the source and state of activation of macrophage/monocyte populations can influence the course of infection in vitro by the phlebovirus, Punta Toro, and can modulate infection in cocultured target cells.
Intraabdominal adhesion formation after preperitoneal dissection in the murine model

Background: The laparoscopic approach to hernia repair has been advocated by many as a potentially superior method of herniorraphy. Several techniques have been described, each with its own proposed advantages. These techniques involve different anatomic approaches, the most recent of which is the totally extraperitoneal approach (TEPA). One presumed advantage of the extraperitoneal approach is the avoidance of adhesion formation because the peritoneum is not entered and mesh is not placed in direct contact with intra-abdominal structures. We hypothesize, however, that when the peritoneum is dissected from the abdominal wall, it is partially devascularized, leading to scar formation and potential adhesion formation. This would suggest that the TEPA method of herniorraphy may not completely avoid the risks of intra-abdominal adhesion formation. Methods: After appropriate approval was obtained, 88 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two equal groups. One group underwent laparotomy followed by careful blunt dissection of the peritoneum from the left abdominal wall. The control group underwent laparotomy without manipulation of the peritoneum. All animals were re-explored 14 days later, and the abdominal cavity was examined for adhesions. The type and location of any adhesion was recorded. Results: Adhesion formation occurred in 10 of 44 (23%) subjects in the peritoneal dissection group, compared with 3 of 44 (7%) in the nondissection group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Dissection of the peritoneum from the overlying abdominal wall in the murine model leads to intra-abdominal adhesion formation. This suggests that peritoneal dissection in the TEPA method of herniorraphy may lead to intra-abdominal adhesion formation.
Studies of striped bass in three Chesapeake Bay spawning habitats

Abstract Comparisons were made of in situ striped bass prolarval and yearling studies conducted in the Nanticoke River in 1984, Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (CD yearling experiments were conducted in 1985 and 1986. Water quality parameters, inorganic contaminants and organic contaminants were evaluated daily from 24 h composite samples taken during each study. Percent cumulative survival of striped bass prolarvae in the Nanticoke River was less than 10% after 96 h exposure at three field locations during two experiments. Acidic conditions, aluminium and soft freshwater (low buffering capacity) were suspected in causing the poor prolarval survival. Percent cumulative survival of striped bass prolarvae tested in the C&D Canal was 42–59.5% after 96 h of exposure at three field stations during two experiments. Mortality was not attributed to acute contaminant and water quality effects. All yearling striped bass exposed to habitat water for 10 d at the three field stations survived. However, histological effects (lamellar dilations) were reported. Percent cumulative survival of striped bass prolarvae exposed to Potomac River water ranged from 4.5–22.5% during three 96 h experiments at three field stations. Poor survival of prolarvae was attributed to various inorganic contaminants (monomeric aluminium, cadmium, and copper) and sudden decreases in water temperature. Yearling survival in the in situ Potomac River studies ranged from 0–77.5% at the three field locations during two 7 d experiments. High pH conditions and inorganic contaminants were suspected in causing mortality of this life stage. Histological changes in the kidney were also observed in yearlings exposed to Potomac River water. Striped bass prolarval and yearling survival from in situ tests was compared with a juvenile index used by the state of Maryland to assess striped bass production. Only at one site (Nanticoke River, 1984) did the prolarval survival data from the in situ tests predict the quality of Maryland's junvenile index. Reasons why these two parameters do not and should not always correlate are discussed.
Thermal tolerance of the bivalve molluscs Modiolus modiolus L., Mytilus edulis L. and Brachidontes demissus Dillwyn.

Abstract 1. 1. The bivalves Modiolus modiolus, Mytilus edulis and Brachidontes demissus have been exposed to high temperatures for periods ranging from a day to a month. 2. 2. Lethal temperatures obtained for such exposures indicate that Modiolus modiolus and Mytilus edulis are restricted in their natural distribution by upper limiting sea-water temperatures of about 23° and 27°C respectively. 3. 3. Brachidontes demissus has the highest heat tolerance of the three species and is adapted to survival in the tropical intertidal environment where long-term exposure to temperatures in the high thirties and brief exposure to 40°C is the rule.
Integrable InGaAs/GaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

A new electrically isolated bottom-emission vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structure with a novel contacting method is demonstrated. The structure is grown on semi-insulating material and contacts are made to an n-type intracavity contact layer and the top of a low-resistance Al 0.67 Ga 0.33 As/GaAs p-type distributed Bragg reflector. This structure offers the advantages of device isolation and low parasitic capacitance without sacrificing performance. Small devices (10 μm or less in diameter) perform as well as the best lasers reported in the literature
A Synopsis of Neotropical Stylogyne (Myrsinaceae)

A complete list of accepted names for the Neotropical genus Stylogyne A. DC. (Myrsinaceae) comprises 35 species and two subspecies. The name Stylogyne lateriflora (Sw.) Mez is neotypified. The following 21 names are lectotypified: Ardisia clusioides Griseb., A. hostmannii Miq., A. surinamensis Miq., Stylogyne amazonica Mez, S. atra Mez, S. balaensis Mez, S. canaliculata (Lodd.) Mez, S. depauperata Mez, S. flumensis (Mez) Ricketson & Pipoly, S. funckiana Mez, S. kappleri Mez, S. micans Mez, S. nigricans (A. DC.) Mez, S. pauciflora Mez, S. poeppigii Mez, S. sellowiana Mez, S. serpentina Mez, S. sordida Mez, S. spruceana Mez, S. venezuelana Mez, and S. warmingii Mez. One error in the original protologue is corrected for S. darienensis Lundell. Two new combinations, S. fluminensis (Mez) Ricketson & Pipoly and S. sublaevigata (Kuntze) Ricketson & Pipoly, are made. Finally, 13 names are newly synonymized within Stylogyne.
Crime Trends and Police Expenditures: An Investigation of the Lag Structure

All previous investigations into the effect of crime trends on appropriations for police protection have employed either inappropriate cross-sectional data or unrealistic singular lag structures. The model developed here involves a more reasonable lag structure and is estimated with time series data. The expenditure for police appears as a function of the crime rate with a lag structure that begins at two years, that contains geometrically declin ing coefficients, and that has a mean lag of 3.9 years.
On the mechanism of autoinhibition of the RhoA-specific nucleotide exchange factor PDZRhoGEF

The Dbl-family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate the cytosolic GTPases of the Rho family by enhancing the rate of exchange of GTP for GDP on the cognate GTPase. This catalytic activity resides in the DH (Dbl-homology) domain, but typically GEFs are multidomain proteins containing other modules. It is believed that GEFs are autoinhibited in the cytosol due to supramodular architecture, and become activated in diverse signaling pathways through conformational change and exposure of the DH domain, as the protein is translocated to the membrane. A small family of RhoA-specific GEFs, containing the RGSL (regulators of G-protein signaling-like) domain, act as effectors of select GPCRs via Gα12/13, although the molecular mechanism by which this pathway operates is not known. These GEFs include p115, LARG and PDZRhoGEF (PRG). Here we show that the autoinhibition of PRG is caused largely by an interaction of a short negatively charged sequence motif, immediately upstream of the DH-domain and including residues Asp706, Glu708, Glu710 and Asp712, with a patch on the catalytic surface of the DH-domain including Arg867 and Arg868. In the absence of both PDZ and RGSL domains, the DH-PH tandem with additional 21 residues upstream, is 50% autoinhibited. However, within the full-length protein, the PDZ and/or RGSL domains significantly restore autoinhibition. Our results suggest a mechanism for autoinhibition of RGSL family of GEFs, in which the RGSL domain and a unique sequence motif upstream of the DH domain, act cooperatively to reduce the ability of the DH domain to bind the nucleotide free RhoA. The activation mechanism is likely to involve two independent steps, i.e. displacement of the RGSL domain and conformational change involving the autoinhibitory sequence motif containing several negatively charged residues.
Clinical Reasoning: A 64-year-old man with painful, unilateral external ophthalmoplegia

A 64-year-old man was referred for evaluation of double vision in March 2009. Four months prior, he experienced daily pain in the region of the right forehead and right eye. Two months later, he noticed constant binocular, vertical double vision. Evaluation by an outside ophthalmologist resulted in the diagnosis of a right 4th cranial nerve (CN) palsy, a normal cranial and orbital MRI study with contrast, and an unremarkable laboratory evaluation. One month later, his right eye began “turning in,” and within a few days he was unable to abduct the eye. Several weeks later, the right eyelid began to droop and progressively worsened over the next several days to complete closure of the eye. His past medical history was notable for arterial hypertension, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, nephrolithiasis, squamous cell carcinoma of the forehead, and a precancerous melanoma of the left ear. When he was seen in the neuro-ophthalmology clinic, visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye. Color vision was intact in each eye. The right pupil was 2 mm larger than the left and was nonreactive to light or near effort. There was no relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). Dilated fundus examination was normal in each eye. Eye movements of the right eye were limited in all directions and there was complete right upper eyelid ptosis (figure 1). Corneal sensation of the right eye was absent and there was numbness over the right forehead. The remainder of the cranial nerve examination was normal. Figure 1 Nine …
Lover's cups: drinking interfaces as new communication channels

This paper shows how computer interfaces can enhance common activities and use them as communication method between people. In this paper, the act of drinking is used as an input of remote communication with the support of computer interfaces. We present Lover's Cups which enable people to share the time of drinking with someone they care about in different places. Using a wireless connection, an otherwise ordinary pair of cups becomes a communication device, amplifying the social aspect of drinking behavior.
Evaluation of Online, On-Demand Science Professional Development Material Involving Two Different Implementation Models

This report presents pilot-test results for a science professional development program featuring online, on-demand materials developed by the National Science Teachers Association. During the spring 2006 semester, 45 middle school teachers from three different school districts across the United States participated in a professional development program designed to facilitate content knowledge and skills in the area of Newtonian force and motion. Participants from one of the school districts experienced a full-day instructor-led workshop along with two web-based seminars with a content-area expert. This was followed by a 4-week period of time in which they had access to self-directed, online, on-demand instructional materials that included activities, information, simulations, examples, and practice with immediate feedback over the targeted outcomes. Participants from the two other school districts only had access to the online materials with no instructor-led experience. This report documents positive gains in achievement as well as levels of confidence in teaching the material within all of the professional development groups. Data about the use of specific features within the online material are included, as well as completion rates and attitude survey results. Recommendations for future study are also included.
Current status of dose-dense chemotherapy for breast cancer

In an effort to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy for breast cancer, examination of the impact of dose intensity, dose density, and treatment duration may have as much relevance as the specific antineoplastic agents utilized. After several years of pilot feasibility studies of dose-dense chemotherapy regimens, whose delivery has been made safe and feasible by the use of hematopoietic growth factor support (in particular, filgrastim), we now have phase III data demonstrating the advantages of this approach in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer.
Hot-carrier effects in polysilicon emitter bipolar transistors

The degradation of self-aligned, polysilicon emitter transistors is described for a wide range of constant current stress on several device sizes. The experimental results indicate that Delta I/sub B/ can be expressed as AQ/sup n/, with n=0.5 for these devices. Except for large values of I/sub R/, A varies in a power-lay fashion with I/sub R/. The dependence of Delta I/sub B/ upon the forward current at which the device is operating can be expressed as A=BJ/sup gamma //sub C/. It is observed that n is characteristic of all devices and stress currents, B is constant for a given device size, and gamma varies with device size and reverse current. >
A program decomposition scheme with applications to software modification and testing

The authors use M. Weisers (1984) technique, to approximate the notion of direct-sum decomposition for the flowgraph representation of a program. Given a program slice, they define its complement and demonstrate how to obtain it; the slices and complements are used to define the components of the decomposition. These components are independent in the sense that they are executable projections of a subset of the program's specification and can have nonempty intersections. The authors characterize those projections that give a nontrivial decomposition and demonstrate how to extend any given projection to a maximal component with respect to the decomposition. Statements and variables within the components are characterized according to their appearance in other components. Variables and/or statements that appear in more than one component can be combined into one component that will completely delineate influence in the source. The decomposition yields a method and guidelines for maintainers to use so that changes can be assured to be completely contained in the modules under consideration and there are no undetected linkages between the modified and unmodified code. >
Iterative Non-linear Dimensionality Reduction with Manifold Sculpting

Many algorithms have been recently developed for reducing dimensionality by projecting data onto an intrinsic non-linear manifold. Unfortunately, existing algorithms often lose significant precision in this transformation. Manifold Sculpting is a new algorithm that iteratively reduces dimensionality by simulating surface tension in local neighborhoods. We present several experiments that show Manifold Sculpting yields more accurate results than existing algorithms with both generated and natural data-sets. Manifold Sculpting is also able to benefit from both prior dimensionality reduction efforts.
Association of a multi-synthetase complex with translating ribosomes in the archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis

In archaea and eukaryotes aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) associate in multi-synthetase complexes (MSCs), however the role of such MSCs in translation is unknown. MSC function was investigated in vivo in the archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, wherein six aaRSs were affinity co-purified together with several other factors involved in protein synthesis, suggesting that MSCs may interact directly with translating ribosomes. In support of this hypothesis, the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) activities of the MSC were enriched in isolated T. kodakarensis polysome fractions. These data indicate that components of the archaeal protein synthesis machinery associate into macromolecular assemblies in vivo and provide the potential to increase translation efficiency by limiting substrate diffusion away from the ribosome, thus facilitating rapid recycling of tRNAs.
CHARACTERIZATION, DISTRIBUTION, CATABOLISM, AND SYNTHESIS OF THE FATTY ACIDS OF THE TWO-SPOTTED SPIDER MITE, TETRANYCHUS URTICAE*

Abstract A method is described that permits limited culture of Tetranychus urticae Koch in a chemically defined diet. The fatty acids of the mite T. urticae consist of normal saturated and monoenoic acids of from 12 to 20 carbon atoms. Polyunsaturated linoleic and linolenic acids are also found. The C 18 series of fatty acids comprise over 80 per cent of the total fatty acids. There is an increase in linolenic and a decrease in palmitic and palmitoleic acids during progression through the protonymphal, deutonymphal, and adult growth stages. The proportions of the other fatty acids remain nearly constant during the growth phases. A higher proportion of stearic and a lower proportion of linolenic acid are contained in the phospholipids than in the neutral lipids. Starvation of the mites leads to a rapid loss of linolenic acid with lesser decreases of the other fatty acids. Palmitic acid is rapidly utilized by starving adult mites in some experiments. Adult mites maintained on a liquid diet containing tritiated acetate incorporate the isotope into saturated monoenoic and polyenoic fatty acids.
Targeting autophagy: a novel anticancer strategy with therapeutic implications for imatinib resistance

Autophagy is an ancient, intracellular degradative system which plays important roles in regulating protein homeostasis and which is essential for survival when cells are faced with metabolic stress. Increasing evidence suggests that autophagy also functions as a tumor suppressor mechanism that harnesses the growth and/or survival of cells as they transition towards a rapidly dividing malignant state. However, the impact of autophagy on cancer progression and on the efficacy of cancer therapeutics is controversial. In particular, although the induction of autophagy has been reported after treatment with a number of therapeutic agents, including imatinib, this response has variously been suggested to either impair or contribute to the effects of anticancer agents. More recent studies support the notion that autophagy compromises the efficacy of anticancer agents, where agents such as chloroquine (CQ) that impair autophagy augment the anticancer activity of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and alkylating agents. Inhibition of autophagy is a particularly attractive strategy for the treatment of imatinib-refractory chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) since a combination of CQ with the HDAC inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) compromises the survival of even BCR-ABL-T315I+ imatinib-resistant CML. Additional studies are clearly needed to establish the clinical utility of autophagy inhibitors and to identify patients most likely to benefit from this novel therapeutic approach.
Role of Soft Drink & Ice Manufacturing in the Economy of Washington County

Soft drink and ice manufacturing is an important part of the history and economy of Washington County in Pennsylvania. The industry creates jobs and compensation for workers and generates tax revenues in the County.
A Reply to Professor Thomas

This article replies to the response offered by Professor George C. Thomas III to Professor Wildenthal's lead article, Nationalizing the Bill of Rights: Revisiting the Original Understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1866-67, 68 Ohio State Law Journal 1509 (2007) (available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=963487). See Thomas, The Riddle of the Fourteenth Amendment: A Response to Professor Wildenthal, 68 Ohio State Law Journal 1627 (2007) (available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1005685).Wildenthal's lead article offers a fresh analysis, building upon extensive prior work by other scholars (including Thomas, in an important 2001 article), of the evidence regarding whether the Fourteenth Amendment was originally understood to incorporate and apply the Bill of Rights to the states. The lead article concludes that the evidence is sufficient to support that inference. Thomas's response agrees in part with the analytical approach of the lead article, but disagrees with its conclusions in several important respects.This article offers a concise reply to Professor Thomas's thoughtful arguments in his response. The reply points out the common ground shared and seeks to clarify the extent and nature of the disagreements, so as to facilitate further study and debate.
The Vertical Structure of Low-Frequency Motions in the Nearshore. Part I: Observations

AbstractField observations of oscillating currents in the surfzone of a natural beach show significant vertical structure in energy, phase, and rotation at low frequencies around 0.005 Hz, where most of the energy is associated with vorticity motions. Energy levels in the cross-shore component of the flow seaward of the sandbar decay near the bottom. Shoreward of the bar crest, the flow decays nearly linearly over the water column. Conversely, a weaker alongshore component of the flow increases near the bottom seaward of the sandbar and is roughly depth-uniform inside the bar crest. Near this 0.005-Hz frequency band, the coherence between the uppermost and successive vertically separated sensors drops off quickly, with as much as a 70%–80% coherence drop over the water column (ranging from 2.5 to 4 m). The phase relative to the uppermost sensor shifts approximately linearly over depth, with as much as 50° phase lag at the bottom that can lag or lead the surface. Rotary coefficients also vary across the su...
The orthopaedic surgeon's standard of living versus quality of life.

The standard of living for an orthopaedic surgeon is high. By standard of living, I mean those material things that are beyond the essentials of food, clothing, and shelter. For some, that may be expensive cars, homes, boats, exotic travel, or sequestered wealth. As I started in my career, I was offered an opportunity to go on for a PhD. The decision to continue in surgical practice was based on my desire to maintain my surgical skills. There was also a part of me that had to be the provider of a “higher standard of living” for the family. I justified that high standard by the extensive time and intensity of training. It was further justified by the future long hours away from family and leisure. To me, extensive travel with the family met that standard and at the same time raised our quality of life. I felt that this luxury had been bought with night call and numerous weekends that were lost to trauma and rescheduled surgery. As the years passed, I began to see colleagues move to other locations or completely change careers. Were they seeking greater financial reward, or were they looking for something else? Although I remained satisfied with my standard of living, I realized that the time had come for me to pursue my interests in the basic sciences. At this midpoint of my career, I thought back to why I had entered this profession. I knew that, in my case, there was something more important …
The Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and American Indians

This encyclopedia entry describes what the United States really bought when it made the Louisiana Purchase with France and what Thomas Jefferson intended in regards the Territory.
An Ancient Experience with Price Control

NE of the characteristic features of the present economic situation in the United States and in other countries at war is an increased effectual demand coupled with decreasing quantities of goods brought to market. Both factors have arisen out of the war situation. The market is becoming more and more an emergency market and the prices based on it are in part no longer normal prices. The law of supply and demand, regulating the actual price of goods, is weakened in its function, not only because of the growing scarcity of goods, but also as a result of greater purchasing power. This "increasing purchasing power" as states the introduction to the Canadian Maximum Prices Regulations of November, 1941, "will, if unchecked, create undesirable inflation of prices." As one means of checking inflation Great Britain, Canada, the United States, and other countries have resorted to price control, using predominantly the method of either uniform or individual maximum price fixing. Yet maximum prices are not new, as ancient economic history shows. In 301 A.D. the Roman Emperor Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus promulgated his famous edict De pretiis rerum venalium, which fixed a maximum price for more than one thousand items. The edict was published in the form of an imperial law. It was enacted by Diocletian himself, by his consort Maximianus, to whom Diocletian had transferred his authority over the Western Empire, and by the two Caesars, Constantius and Galerius, whom the two emperors had adopted as their aids in the government and as their potential successors. The question has arisen whether the edict was published and enforced in the whole empire, or whether it applied to the East only, the part of the empire ruled by Diocletian himself. The introduction (praefatio) to the edict provides that the maximum prices "be held in observance throughout our whole domain (totius orbis nostri observantia contineri)" and emphasizes in its last paragraph that "by such a statute provision is manifestly made not only for the individual states (civitatibus singulis) and peoples and provinces but for the whole empire (universo orbi)." This seems to indicate that the edict was not intended for the Eastern
Electoral Responsiveness, Legislative Institutions, and Government Policy in Parliamentary Democracies

A central normative claim in favor of liberal democracy is that it promotes the continuing responsiveness of the government to the preferences of its citizens. In most of the world's democracies, however, governments are composed of multiple political parties, making the connection between policy and citizen preferences tenuous. This raises a critical question: Whose preferences are ultimately reflected in coalition policy choices? Recent theoretical developments argue that party influence in coalition governments critically depends on the institutional context in which these governments operate. In the presence of institutions that allow credible enforcement of policy bargains, coalition policy should reflect a compromise among the positions of the governing parties. In the absence of such institutions, parties that control relevant portfolios should dominate policy choices. Significantly, however, current empirical work does not provide direct evidence of the manner in which institutions condition the impact of party preferences on policy outcomes. In this study, we close this gap by providing systematic cross-national evidence that the strength of legislative institutions significantly impacts which parties are effective in shaping policy. These findings have important implications for our understanding of coalition governance, electoral responsiveness, and democratic representation.
A System for Tracking an Autonomously Controlled Canine

This paper presents an approach for outdoor navigation of an autonomously guided canine using an embedded command module with vibration and tone generation capabilities and an embedded control suite comprised of a microprocessor, wireless radio, GPS receiver, and an Attitude and Heading Reference System. In order to determine the canine's motions, which inherently contain non-conventional noise characteristics, the sensor measurements were integrated using a specialized Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), equipped with a Fuzzy Logic controller for adaptive tuning of the Process Noise Covariance Matrix. This allowed for rejection of un-modelled canine motion characteristics which tend to corrupt accelerometer bias tracking in a standard EKF. The EKF solution provided an optimized estimate of the canine position and velocity and also proved to be effective in tracking the canine's position (within 7·5 m) and velocity (within 1·2 m/s) during simulated 10 second GPS outages.
A biomedical instrument development center

We propose a biomedical instrument development center based in a University in a developing country. This Center is chartered to develop medical instruments based on commodity computers and computer components. The Center will produce world-class products which meet the strictest of US and World standards. The products must be perceived as new and innovative and better than currently available products. The Center will have a strong business focus. Projects and proposals will be initiated and continue on the basis of a sound business plan. (3 pages)