cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An analysis of repressed inflation in three transitional economies

In centrally planned economies, domestic prices do not respond flexibly to market forces, so economic disequilibria - including repressed inflation - persist. The authors assess the extent of repressed inflation in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Romania between 1980 and 1990. First, they develop a simultaneous equation model, which stipulates that the repressed inflation is caused by the difference in growth rate between households' money holdings and retail sales in the economy. Following are the model's basic assumptions: a stable demand for money function exists where the demand for real quasi-money depends on the level of real income and the expected rate of inflation; inflationary expectations are formed under an adaptive scheme in which expected inflation for the next period depends on the error made in predicting the current period's true inflation; the real stock of quasi-money balances adjusts to the desired level, after a time lag. The authors then derive a reduced-form equation on real quasi-money holdings, and estimate it with quarterly data for Czechoslovakia and Poland, and with annual data for Romania. Based on the estimated equation, they derive the true inflation rate for each economy. Finally, they determine the significance of the repressed inflation in each economy through statistical tests on parameters of the estimated equation. These are the authors' main findings: during 1980-90 in Czechoslovakia, repressed inflation was insignificant, the demand for money was mostly for transaction purposes, and inflationary expectations were almost myopic; in Poland, repressed inflation was significant but decreasing after 1987, and inflationary expectations adjusted fairly rapidly; and in Romania, repressed inflation was serious throughout the period, and inflationary expectations adjusted quite rapidly. This economic model needs to be refined and the data used need to be improved. But the paper's findings are broadly consistent with the results of most other studies.
Radiation prevents much cancer

Evidence reviewed here supports the concept that chronic exposure to ionising radiation can dramatically decrease cancer incidence and mortality. This evidence includes an inverse relationship between radiation levels and cancer induction and/or mortality in: over 200 million people in the USA; 200 million people in India; 10,000 residents of Taipei who live in cobalt-60 contaminated homes; high radiation areas of Ramsar, Iran; 12 million person-years of exposed and carefully selected control nuclear workers; almost 300,000 homes with radon in the USA; non-smokers in high radon areas of Saxony, Germany.
Oligopoly, Intergroup Conflict, and the Growth of the Firm

THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE has always held a dominant position in economic theory, if for no other reason than that in a capitalist society the process of resource allocation is carried out primarily through private business firms.1 Accordingly there has developed a rather extensive and detailed body of thought, typically referred to as the "theory of the firm," which purports to explain (at least in a theoretical sense) the behavior of
False Data Injection Attacks in Electricity Markets

We present a potential class of cyber attack, named false data injection attack, against the state estimation in deregulated electricity markets. With the knowledge of the system configuration, we show that such attacks will circumvent the bad data measurement detection equipped in present SCADA systems, and lead to profitable financial misconduct such as virtual bidding the ex-post locational marginal price (LMP). We demonstrate the potential attacks on an IEEE 14-bus system.
Liner stresses in deep tunnels below the water table

The primary support of a tunnel must be designed to sustain the loads that are transferred from the surrounding ground during excavation. The loads are originated from the ground itself and from the groundwater, if any. For deep circular tunnels, assuming that both ground and support remain within their elastic regime, the load on the primary support does not change with drainage conditions; it is the same whether there is flow towards the tunnel (drained tunnel) or the pore pressure behind the support is hydrostatic (no-drainage tunnel). Stresses and deformations in the ground, however, are quite different, with larger stresses and deformations occurring for the drainage case. In tunnels where there is an impermeable layer between the primary and secondary supports, as the secondary support is placed there is a load transfer from the primary to the secondary support. The primary support unloads and moves outwards, while the secondary support takes load and moves inwards. In tunnels where there is a drainage layer between the primary and secondary supports, the pressure behind the support depends on the discharge capacity of the drainage system relative to the water inflow from the ground. Within the range of cases investigated, the relative permeability factor, r0Kg/tfKf, can be used to evaluate the magnitude of the pore pressure build up behind the secondary support. Numerical experiments combined with analytical solutions provide a rational approach for a preliminary design of the primary and secondary supports in deep tunnels below the water table, and contribute to identify the load-transfer mechanisms between ground, water, and support. (A) "Reprinted with permission from Elsevier".
The surgical anatomy of the anomalous posterior communicating artery

Abstract We examined the posterior communicating artery (PCoA) and its perforators in different configurations of the Circle of Willis to study the relationship of these arteries to surrounding anatomic structures for a surgical perspective. Twenty-four cerebral hemispheres and five cadavers (10 sides) were examined. The adult configuration was observed in 30%, the fetal in 28%, the transitional in 14%, and the hypoplastic in 28%. The PCoA was always found to be medial to the third nerve. In 12% of sides with the fetal or transitional configurations, the third nerve was either touching the PCoA or the PCoA was overlying it at the level of the brain stem. An infundibular dilatation at the origin of the PCoA was identified in 22% of hemispheres and in 60% of specimens, it was bigger than 3 mm. An infundibular dilatation was always found in the fetal, transitional, and hypoplastic configurations. The number of perforators found arising from the PCoA was 4 to 15. The premamillary artery was always seen as the largest PCoA perforator and arose from the medial wall of the PCoA in 15%. Identifying the presence of a PCoA variant is of surgical relevance. The incidence of infundibular dilatations is higher in transitional, fetal, and hypoplastic configurations. The relationship of the third nerve to PCoA variants must be identified to avoid intraoperative injury. The premamillary artery can arise from the medial wall of the PCoA.
Laser sintering of direct write silver nano-ink conductors for microelectronic applications

Direct Write Technologies are reaching the goal of entirely printable microelectronic devices on flexible polymeric substrates. In the present work, nanoparticle inks deposited on low temperature polyimide substrates using Maskless Mesoscale Material Deposition (M3D ) technology were laser sintered using a continuous wave 1.06 micron Nd:YAG laser. In-situ measurements were made during sintering to capture the dynamic change in bulk resistivity as a function of deposited energy per volume of sintered material. It was shown that less than 0.05-μJ/μm 3 started the sintering and 0.34-μJ/μm 3 was enough for sintering the deposited samples regardless of initial resistance.
Multiple Positive cis Elements Regulate the Asymmetric Expression of the SpHE Gene along the Sea Urchin Embryo Animal-Vegetal Axis

Abstract The mechanism that establishes the maternally determined animal–vegetal axis of sea urchin embryos is unknown. We have analyzed the cis -regulatory elements of the SpHE gene of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, which is asymmetrically expressed along this axis, in an effort to identify components of maternal positional information. Previously, we defined a regulatory region that is sufficient to provide correct nonvegetal expression of a β-galactosidase reporter gene (Wei, Z., Angerer, L. M., Gagnon, M. L., and Angerer, R. C., Dev. Biol. 171, 195–211, 1995). We have now analyzed this region intensively in order to determine if the spatial pattern is controlled by nonvegetal-positive activities or by vegetal-negative activities. The regulatory sequences, except the basal promoter, were mutated by either deletion or sequence replacement. None of these mutations resulted in ectopic β-gal expression in vegetal cells, showing that no single negative cis element is responsible for the lack of vegetal SpHE transcription. Surprisingly, even short segments of the regulatory region containing only several identified cis elements also direct nonvegetal expression. Furthermore, the SpHE basal promoter functions effectively in vegetal cells in combination with cis -acting elements derived from the PMC-specific gene, SM50. We conclude that the spatial pattern of SpHE transcription is achieved by multiple positive activities concentrated in nonvegetal cells. The vegetal expression of SM50 also is regulated only by positive activities (Makabe, K. W., Kirchhamer, C. V., Britten, R. J., and Davidson, E. H., Development 121, 1957–1970, 1995). A chimeric promoter containing both SpHE and SM50 regulatory sequences is active ubiquitously, suggesting that these regulators are not reciprocally repressive. These observations suggest a model in which the SpHE and SM50 genes are activated by separate sets of positive maternal activities concentrated, respectively, in nonvegetal and vegetal domains of the early embryo.
Theoretical and experimental comparison of tissue phantoms using white light spectroscopy

White light spectroscopy has the potential to be used as an optical biopsy method, as backscattered light data can be related to the cellular nucleus size. In this paper, we compare experimental backscattering results against the general Mie theory simulations. Our experimental technique obtains results in terms of intensity vs. wavelength. We also use optical filters, to limit the source spectrum, and when converting the backscattered data into the Fourier domain, we obtain characteristic frequencies which describe the scatterer size. Phantom tissues, comprised of polystyrene spheres in a liquid or gel, are used for the experiments.
ESTIMATION OF BODILY DIMENSIONS

In a companion report ( 1 ), the author described a device which was employed to obtain direct measurements of perceived body size. Valid and reliable estimate~ of height, widch, and depth were obtained. Using ascending and descending methods of limits, the author found that the descending estimates were significantly greater than both the corresponding ascending estimates and the physical measurements of height and depth. The ascending estimates and the measurements did not differ significantly. These estimates were limited to three dimensions and had been obtained in only two sessions. It seemed desirable to conduct a second pilot investigation to determine, within a limited sample of Ss, whether the ascending-descending differences would hold for other bodily dimensions, and to determine the changes in estimates with repeated testing. METHOD The apparatus and methodology have been described in the companion report. There were two modifications in method for this investigation. Ss were tested in 10 sessions, and estimates of nine bodily dimensions were obtained. There were five estimations of "vertical" dimensions, and four of "horizontal" dimensions. If the dimensions were estimated in the ascending direction, the order of estimation was: height to the knee, height to the hip (top of the pelvis), height to the shoulder, height to the mouth, and full height; widch of the head (ear-to-ear), depth of the body, width of the body, and length of the arm (with the arm held horizontally). In other words, the vertical estimates were obtained before the horizontal estimates. This order was reversed when the descending estimate~ were made. Both ascending and descending estimates were made in each session, and the ascending-descending order was alternated for the 10 sessions. Ss were kept in ignorance of the accuracy of their estimates until the tenth session had been completed, at which time their actual measurements were obtained, and they were allowed to compare their estimates with their measurements. Precautions were taken to assure a lack of variation in height because of different heights of the heels of shoes. Because of an unforrunate and severe time limitation, data could be obtained from only seven Ss (10 had been planned for). All Ss were practiced 'This research was supported by Research Grant MY-3616 from the National Institutes of Health, USPHS. 'The author is indebted to Mr. Richard Seymann for his invaluable assistance in the collection and analysis of the data.
A degenerate evolution system modeling bean's critical-state type-II superconductors

In this paper we study a degenerate evolution system $\mathbf H_t +\nabla \times [|\nabla \times \mathbf H|^{p-2}\nabla \times \mathbf H]=\mathbf F$ in a bounded domain as well as its limit as $p\to \infty$ subject to appropriate initial and boundary conditions. This system governs the evolution of the magnetic field $\mathbf H$ in a conductive medium under the influence of a system force $\mathbf F$. The system is an approximation of Bean's critical-state model for type-II superconductors. The existence, uniqueness and regularity of solutions to the system are established. Moreover, it is shown that the limit of $\mathbf H(x, t)$ as $p\to \infty$ is a solution to the Bean model.
Facilitating Health Pattern Change in Exercise

This paper presents a portion of a study which addressed the problem: What factors are involved when an individual makes a change in the health pattern of exercise? Due to the preliminary nature of this study, data was obtained using the qualitative method of phenomenology from eight (four males and four females) volunteer participants who had changed their exercise pattern from no, or inconsistent exercise, to consistent exercise. The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by Colaizzi's method. Conclusions from the data analysis included differences between the two groups: (a) males emphasized physical benefits of exercise, whereas females stressed mental benefits, (b) males mentioned goals, whereas females stressed enjoyment, and (c) a common finding — group support was important. The paper concludes with suggestions for the holistic nurse in facilitating health pattern change.
Methane and water soluble iron production under controlled soil pH and redox conditions

Abstract When a soil is flooded, iron (Fe) reduction and methane (CH4) production occurred in sequence as predicted by thermodynamics. The dissolution and precipitation of Fe reflected both soil pH and soil redox potential (Eh). The objective of our experiment was to determine both CH4 production and Fe reduction as measured by Fe in solution in a flooded paddy soil over a wide range of closely controlled pH and Eh conditions. The greatest release of CH4 gas occurred at neutral soil pH in combination with low soil redox potential (‐250 mV). Production of CH4 decreased when soil pH was lowered in combination with an increase in the soil redox potential above ‐250 mV. Highest concentration of ferrous‐iron (Fe2+) under reducing conditions occurred when soil pH was lowered. Thus Fe reduction influenced CH4 formation in the flooded paddy soil. Results indicated that CH4 production was inhibited by the process of ferric‐iron (Fe3+) reduction.
Effects of dietary protein source on cholesterol metabolism in neonatal pigs

Abstract The purposes of this study were to determine the effects of dietary protein sources used in human infant formulas on cholesterol metabolism, and to examine several hormones as potential mediators of a cholesterolemic response. Thirty (15 male/15 female), two day old piglets were removed from sows and fed diets differing only in casein:whey ratios of either 100% casein, 80% casein:20% whey, or 40% casein:60% whey for three weeks. Piglets fed diets containing increasing amounts of casein had increased total and free (unesterified) serum cholesterol (p
Effects of gonadal hormones on adrenal steroid metabolism in vitro

Abstract The effects of gonadal hormones on adrenal steroidogenesis were studied in vitro . Cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity was stimulated by orchiectomy and the effect was reversed by testosterone replacement. Neither ovariectomy nor estradiol administration affected the reaction. With cholesterol or ll-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) as substrate, adrenals from intact male or female rats produced predominantly corticosterone (B) and 18-hydroxy-ll-deoxycorticosterone (18-OH-DOC). Gonadectomy in both sexes was followed by decreases in B and 18-OH-DOC production concomitant with increases in 5α- dihydrocorticosterone (DHB) and 3β-5α-tetrahydrocorticosterone (R). Replacement with the appropriate gonadal hormone reversed these effects. The changes in steroid profile paralleled changes in adrenal 5α-reductase activity. Mitochondrial 11β-hydroxylase activity increased after orchiectomy and was inhibited by testosterone; neither ovariectomy nor estradiol replacement had any effect.
Navigation Solutions for the Repeated-Intercept Mission with Constrained Maneuver Time

This paper provides navigation solutions to perform the repeated-intercept mission with a constrained time of maneuver. The repeated-intercept (flyby) mission can be performed by a small, highly maneuverable microsatellite designed to fly past a target satellite at high relative velocity. Because of non-Keplerian orbital perturbations, the microsatellite must perform a small maneuver at or shortly after the intercept to adjust its orbit to permit another intercept approximately one revolution later. During the course of that orbit the microsatellite uses midcourse guidance and terminal guidance to refine its trajectory and the intercept geometry. Themission repeats, allowing the microsatellite to image the target satellite from various angles and under multiple lighting conditions, providing an on-orbit inspection capability without matching orbital planes. This paper presents a strategy for selection of the magnitude and direction of the initial maneuver to provide the greatest number of flyby opportunities within constrained budgets of time and fuel.
Construction of a thread coater and use of azocasein release To characterize the sealant coat porosity of fibers coated with latex biocatalytic coatings

A single-stage annular fiber coating method with co-current dry-air drying at 30 degrees C has been developed for multilayer coating of 128 mm diameter polyester thread (yarn) with latex films as a model for enzyme immobilization and development of a filament biocatalytic filter. Acrylic vinyl acetate polymer coatings were sequentially metered onto the fibers by the combination of a flexible squeegee and a red rubber annulus. The thread coater can operate over a range of 0.07-1.37 m/min thread velocities while delivering a nearly constant and reproducible polymer loading of 30. 8 +/- 1.3 mg/m. A 100% polyester, 278.9 denier thread was precoated with latex to generate an approximately 369 denier sealed filament. The filament was then coated with a latex + sulfanilamide-azocasein mixture and sealed with a polymer top coat. The permeability of the polymer sealant top coat was characterized using entrapped azocasein as a tracer molecule and monitoring the azocasein release upon rehydration of the coated threads. Azocasein release rate decreased with curing time at 30 degrees C until 2 days and was invariant after 2-3 days of curing. A 282 mOsm rehydrating solution was sufficient to suppress increased azocasein release due to top coat blistering. No enhancement in the permeability of the top coat was observed when high molecular weight water soluble polymers (WSPs) were used as fillers. This probably results from the low WSP to latex ratio used (0.05-0.1) and the slow rate of WSP leaching compared to the release of azocasein. A method using 60-120 mesh silica was also developed to study the effect of mechanical abrasion of the coated threads as measured by azocasein release kinetics.
Effects of palatability-induced hyperphagia and food restriction on mRNA levels of neuropeptide-Y in the arcuate nucleus

This study examined the effect of feeding either a bland cornstarch-based diet (BCD) or a highly palatable, high fat diet containing sucrose (HPD) on hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) gene expression for neuropeptide-Y (NPY). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received either BCD ad libitum, HPD ad libitum, HPD pair-fed to the caloric intake of the BCD, or the HPD at 60% of ad libitum HPD intake for 7 days. Animals receiving the HPD ad libitum consumed more calories and gained more weight than animals receiving the BCD (P 0.05). However, feeding the HPD at 60% of ad libitum intake of the HPD, increased NPY mRNA levels in the ARC relative to the other treatments (P<0.01). The present data are consistent with the view that NPY in ARC responds to energy deficits rather than to hyperphagia stimuli related to palatability.
Dual-stylus-arm scratch drive micro-robots controlled by a communication channel

A novel approach to controlling the mobility of MEMS SDA Scratch-Drive-Actuator (SDA) micro-robots is presented. The operation of MEMS SDA has been well demonstrated by the research of Donald et al. [1][2][3]. An improvement of adding an additional stylus arm to control left and right rotation as well as using both arms to halt was presented in [5]. In order to eliminate the complication of different stress curling to control multiple micro-robots, an alternative solution of controlling electrical connection between parallel plate body and stylus arms is presented. A Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) was developed and applied which allowed a micro-robot to move towards a target using global communication channel to guide the robot's path.
Estimation of Flexible Cylinder Displacements in Wave-basin Experiments

This paper describes a method developed to estimate the three-dimensional displacement field of long, flexible cylinders subjected to wave loading. The method makes use of the relationship between curvature and displacement of a uniform beam. The technique was implemented in a large-scale experimental study to investigate the response of a pair of flexible cylinders in close proximity, with an emphasis on the collision behavior between them. The model cylinders were designed to be representative of risers or tendons of a tension-leg platform in approximately 1000 m of water. The cylinder models, approximately 17-m long and 0.03-m diameter, were instrumented to measure the cylinder curvature at discrete locations along their length. At each time step the displacement field was computed from the curvature measurements using a ‘shoot-to-fit’ numerical-integration scheme. This procedure yielded a complete description of displacement along the cylinder as a function of time. The number and location of the curvature measurements were optimized by simulating the wave-flexible cylinder interaction with a finite-element model that was also used to demonstrate the accuracy of the method. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated by results from the experimental program, and it appear to be feasible to adapt this approach for field experiments.
Regression models and risk estimation for mixed discrete and continuous outcomes in developmental toxicology

Multivariate dose-response models have recently been proposed for developmental toxicity data to simultaneously model malformation incidence (a binary outcome), and reductions in fetal weight (a continuous outcome). In this and other applications, the binary outcome often represents a dichotomization of another outcome or a composite of outcomes, which facilitates analysis. For example, in Segment II developmental toxicology studies, multiple malformation types (i.e., external, visceral, skeletal) are evaluated on each fetus; malformation status may also be ordinally measured (e.g., normal, signs of variation, full malformation). A model is proposed is for fetal weight and multiple malformation variables measured on an ordinal scale, where the correlations between the outcomes and between the offspring within a litter are taken into account. Fully specifying the joint distribution of outcomes within a litter is avoided by specifying only the distribution of the multivariate outcome for each fetus and using generalized estimating equation methodology to account for correlations due to litter clustering. The correlations between the outcomes are required to characterize joint risk to the fetus, and are therefore a focus of inference. Dose-response models and their application to quantitative risk assessment are illustrated using data from a recent developmental toxicology experiment of ethylene oxide in mice.
Role of Interleukin 10 Transcriptional Regulation in Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory properties that plays a central role in limiting host immune response to pathogens, thereby preventing damage to the host and maintaining normal tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of IL-10 is associated with enhanced immunopathology in response to infection as well as increased risk for development of many autoimmune diseases. Thus a fundamental understanding of IL-10 gene expression is critical for our comprehension of disease progression and resolution of host inflammatory response. In this review, we discuss modes of regulation of IL-10 gene expression in immune effector cell types, including signal transduction, epigenetics, promoter architecture, and post-transcriptional regulation, and how aberrant regulation contributes to immunopathology and disease progression.
Isotopic constraints on the production rates, crystallisation histories and residence times of pre-caldera silicic magmas, Long Valley, California

Pre-caldera high-silica rhyolites of Glass Mountain, California erupted episodically from 2.1 Ma until the catastrophic eruption of the Bishop Tuff at 0.74 Ma. The lavas are extremely evolved, with Rb/Sr ratios between 128 to 3640, the latter being the highest recorded from a volcanic rock. Glass separates from pre-l.2 Ma lavas define two geographically controlled Rb-Sr isoehrons. Lavas adjacent to the current caldera rim define an isochron age of 2.047 + 0.013 Ma with an initial ratio of 0.7063 + 2, and lavas more distant from the caldera define an isochron of 1.894 + 0.013 Ma with the same initial ratio. The isochrons are consistent with the magmas forming within 26 ka, which implies a minimum magma production rate of 0.75 × 10 -3 km3/yr over this period. New 4°Ar-39Ar ages on sanidine and biotite have established that lavas defining each isochron were erupted over a long time interval, the isochron ages being up to 360 ka older than the youngest eruption age. Rb-Sr isotope data are reported for minerals from three lavas with eruption ages of 1.990 ± 0.012, 1.866 & 0.014 and 1.686 + 0.011 Ma. Petrographically early apatite inclusions in biotite and biotite inclusions in feldspar and quartz have glass-mineral Rb-Sr ages that are indistinguishable from the relevant regional isochron. Sr diffusion in feldspar is slow at the magmatie temperatures inferred for Glass Mountain rhyolites (~ 700°C) such that over 0.5 Ma the cores of large feldspars (> 1 ram) will retain > 99.9% of their original Sr. The cores of sanidine and plagioclase yield glass-mineral ages that are up to 300 ka older than eruption ages. Feldspar rim ages for two samples are indistinguishable from eruption ages. The rims of sanidines and plagioclases from the third sample are 110 and 280 ka older than the eruption age and 180 and 20 ka younger than the cores. These mineral age data probably reflect the combination of extended periods of mineral growth and partial isotopic exchange with the host liquid during protracted residence in a magma reservoir. However, the Ar and Sr isotopic data for biotite phenocrysts are consistent with the presence of a significant component that is recycled from earlier magmatic pulses. Due to the extreme Rb/Sr ratios of the rocks and minerals it is possible to very precisely resolve the time difference between the formation of different phases, assuming that they crystallised from the same host magmas
Physical origin of topological mass in 2 + 1 dimensions

In this paper QED in 2 + 1 dimensions is studied. We offer a simple physical description of the mechanism that gives rise to anomalous fermion currents and the “topological” mass (Chern-Simons term) in the effective gauge theory. The dynamical properties of the fermions are analyzed and explained in some detail. The physical properties responsible for these anomalous effects are identified and the mechanisms clarified. A novel result that follows from our discussion is that the ground state carries spin (S) as well as charge (Q) and that S = 12(m/|m|)Q. The relation of these effects to the 1 + 1-dimensional chiral anomaly and to some other topological features is discussed. The possible connection between QED in 2 + 1 dimensions and theories of the quantum Hall effect is briefly studied. Even though both theories contain crossed-field currents, a detailed analysis of the structure of QED shows that they are different even at a physical level. Hence QED in 2 + 1 is not a suitable model for the quantum Hall effect.
Photochemistry in the stratosphere—with applications to supersonic transports

Abstract Two years ago it was pointed out that the oxides of nitrogen from the exhaust gases of 500 American SST would probably reduce the earth's ozone shield by about 20% on an average worldwide basis and up to 50% in zones of high traffic. These calculations depended on extensive assumptions about the natural background of nitrogen oxides in the stratosphere and the expected distribution of exhaust gases from SST. Also, this model involved steady-state photochemistry with explicit neglect of atmospheric motions. Recent studies by many investigators have made some measurements of nitrogen oxides in the stratosphere, calculated the expected distribution of exhaust gases on the basis of an almost-realistic model of three-dimensional motion, calculated the expected reduction of ozone in models that explicitly include one- or two-dimensional motions, and interpreted past historical events as constituting significant injections of nitric oxide into the stratosphere. The model calculations, including atmospheric motions, give a worldwide reduction of ozone by 500 SST between 7 and 28%, and for a 3 to 6 fold “local maximum” between 20 and 50% ozone reduction. Some of these 1973 calculations, including motions, give results comparable to the 1971 steady-state calculations. Recent studies indicate that the nuclear bomb tests of 1952–1962 injected significant quantities of nitric oxide into the stratosphere; the observed increase of ozone in the northern hemisphere during the 1960s may, in part, be the atmosphere returning to normal after the end of large-scale nuclear tests. Also, a recent interpretation of the sunspot modulation of cosmic rays gives a quantitative measure of the response of stratospheric ozone to an injection of nitric oxide; translated into terms of SST, these results indicate that 75 Concordes operating in one flight corridor for 11 months would decrease the local ozone column between 2 and 5%. Some biologists regard even this small reduction of ozone as a matter for serious concern.
Dual-polarized microstrip array with high isolation and low cross-polarization

A 2 x 2 dual-polarized microstrip array antenna with high isolation between the two input ports and low cross-polarization level has been developed. The technical background for this achievement and antenna performance results are presented.
Isolation and culture of hamster pancreatic ducts

A technique for the isolation and culture of interlobular and intralobular ducts of the hamster pancreas is described. The procedure involves a partial collagenase digestion of the minced pancreas followed by a filtration step to separate the larger duct fragments from acinar and islet tissue. These fragments are then embedded in an agarose matrix containing CMRL 1066 culture medium with appropriate supplements.
The LBL Neutralized Beam Focusing Experiment

An intense neutralized Cs+1 beam has been focused by an electrostatic polarization field induced by a solenoidal magnetic field of 10-25 gauss. This report describes the experiment and compares the results with the predictions of an analytic linearized fluid model and a particle-in-cell simulation which treats the motion of the warm electrons in detail.
Gene Transfer by DNA–Gelatin Nanospheres☆

A DNA and gelatin nanoparticle coacervate containing chloroquine and calcium, and with the cell ligand transferrin covalently bound to the gelatin, has been developed as a gene delivery vehicle. In this study, the coacervation conditions which resulted in the formation of distinct nanoparticles are defined. Nanospheres formed within a narrow range of DNA concentrations and achieved incorporation of more than 98% of the DNA in the reaction. Crosslinking of gelatin to stabilize the particles does not effect the electrophoretic mobility of the DNA. DNA in the nanosphere is partially resistant to digestion with concentrations of DNase I that result in extensive degradation of free DNA but is completely degraded by high concentrations of DNase. Optimum cell transfection by nanosphere DNA required the presence of calcium and nanospheres containing transferrin. The biological integrity of the nanosphere DNA was demonstrated with a model system utilizing DNA encoding the cystic fibrosis transport regulator (CFTR). Transfection of cultured human tracheal epithelial cells (9HTEo) with nanospheres containing this plasmid resulted in CFTR expression in over 50% of the cells. Moreover, human bronchial epithelial cells (IB-3-1) defective in CFTR-mediated chloride transport were complemented with effective transport activity when transfected with nanospheres containing the CFTR transgene.
Overcoming immunological tolerance to melanoma: Targeting CTLA-4.

The use of immunotherapeutics in melanoma has received much attention, and recent advances to further characterize the regulatory components of the immune system and the importance of co-stimulatory molecules have opened a new area for clinical investigation. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) serves as a negative regulator of immunity. Recent trials administering fully human anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibodies to melanoma patients have demonstrated clinically meaningful responses. Treatment with CTLA-4 blocking antibodies, however, is not without potential toxicities. Autoimmune side-effects, the most common being colitis-associated diarrhea, are frequently associated with clinical responses. In efforts to build upon prior vaccination efforts as well as attempt to offer patients clinically meaningful immune responses with a CTLA-4 blockade but without significant toxicities, we conducted a clinical trial in patients who previously received autologous tumor cells engineered to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GVAX; Cell Genesys, South San Francisco, CA, USA) with periodic infusions of CTLA-4 blocking antibodies. This sequential treatment resulted in clinically significant anti-tumor immunity without grade 3 or 4 toxicity in most patients. Pathological analyses following treatment of pre-existing tumors revealed a linear correlation between tumor necrosis and the ratio of intra-tumoral CD8+ effector cells to FoxP3+ regulatory cells (Tregs). Effective anti-tumor immunity and serious autoimmunity can be disassociated. Further targeting of anti-tumor Tregsin combinatorial therapy approaches may be a rich avenue of future investigation.
Optimized production of high specific activity [11C]urea.

Abstract Use of [ 11 C]urea as an intermediate for the preparation of “no-carrier-added” radiopharmaceuticals required optimization of synthetic parameters. A procedure has been developed to produce [ 11 C]urea from “no-carrier-added” 11 CN − within 16 ± 1 min from end of bombardment (EOB) with a radiochemical yield of 95.0 ± 2.5%.
N-Linked glycan site occupancy impacts the distribution of a potassium channel in the cell body and outgrowths of neuronal-derived cells.

Abstract Background Vacancy of occupied N-glycosylation sites of glycoproteins is quite disruptive to a multicellular organism, as underlined by congenital disorders of glycosylation. Since a neuronal component is typically associated with this disease, we evaluated the impact of N-glycosylation processing of a neuronal voltage gated potassium channel, Kv3.1b, expressed in a neuronal-derived cell line, B35 neuroblastoma cells. Methods Total internal reflection fluorescence and differential interference contrast microscopy measurements of live B35 cells expressing wild type and glycosylation mutant Kv3.1b proteins were used to evaluate the distribution of the various forms of the Kv3.1b protein in the cell body and outgrowths. Cell adhesion assays were also employed. Results Microscopy images revealed that occupancy of both N-glycosylation sites of Kv3.1b had relatively similar amounts of Kv3.1b in the outgrowth and cell body while vacancy of one or both sites led to increased accumulation of Kv3.1b in the cell body. Further both the fully glycosylated and partially glycosylated N229Q Kv3.1b proteins formed higher density particles in outgrowths compared to cell body. Cellular assays demonstrated that the distinct spatial arrangements altered cell adhesion properties. Conclusions Our findings provide direct evidence that occupancy of the N-glycosylation sites of Kv3.1b contributes significantly to its lateral heterogeneity in membranes of neuronal-derived cells, and in turn alters cellular properties. General significance Our study demonstrates that N-glycans of Kv3.1b contain information regarding the association, clustering, and distribution of Kv3.1b in the cell membrane, and furthermore that decreased occupancy caused by congenital disorders of glycosylation may alter the biological activity of Kv3.1b.
Face recognition based on logarithmic local binary patterns

This paper presents a novel approach to the problem of face recognition that combines the classical Local Binary Pattern (LBP) feature descriptors with image processing in the logarithmic domain and the human visual system. Particularly, we have introduced parameterized logarithmic image processing (PLIP) operators based LBP feature extractor. We also use the human visual system based image decomposition, which is based on the Weber's law to extract features from the decomposed images and combine those with the features extracted from the original images thereby enriching the feature vector set and obtaining improved rates of recognition. Comparisons with other methods are also presented. Extensive experiments clearly show the superiority of the proposed scheme over LBP feature descriptors. Recognition rates as high as 99% can be achieved as compared to the recognition rate of 96.5% achieved by the classical LBP using the AT&T Laboratories face database.
Mohs surgery report: design of an appropriate rhombic flap for a circular defect created by Mohs microscopically controlled surgery.

. The rhombic flap is a transposition flap based on exact geometric design. The rhombic transposition principle, however, can be applied to circular as well as to geometric wounds. A method is suggested by which the best rhombic flaps for any specific anatomic site can be generated without conversion of the wound to a rhombic design.
Research on Voltage Coordinated Control of the Power Plants Connected

According to coupling phenomenon of reactive power when a power plant is connected to another power plant, reactive power can not be to achieve a reasonable distribution of each power plant,which causes the problem of voltage control. This paper describes the methods of adjusting the parameters of automatic voltage control (AVC) to realize the coordinated control between power plants connected, which makes the voltage of power system to meet the demand of power grid operation.
Role for differential cell proliferation in perforation and rupture of chick pharyngeal closing plates

Patterns of cell proliferation show two distinct domains around avian pharyngeal closing plates as they form, perforate, and rupture. Pouch endoderm and groove ectoderm are in one domain showing 81–86% proliferation, which suggests relatively rapid growth. Cells in epithelia that comprise the pharyngeal closing plates contiguous with pouch and groove epithelia are vital but are dividing at a significantly lower percentage (62–64%). This phenomenon is similar to the lag in growth reported for cells in the oral membrane around the time of rupture (Miller and Olcott, 1989: Anat. Rec., 223:204–208), is consistent with Waterman's suggestion (1985: Anat. Rec., 211:450–457) that cellular reorganization, rather than massive degeneration, is a major mechanism of initial perforation, and suggests that differential growth is a contributor to perforation and rupture of chick pharyngeal closing plates. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THE ARTERIAL BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE CAT DIAPHRAGM WITH A NOTE ON THE VENOUS DRAINAGE

In fifty-three cats the arterial blood supply to the diaphragm was studied and some observations made on the venous drainage. The arteries arise from the 8th to 13th intercostal arteries, the internal mammary arteries and from branches of the abdominal aorta. Rarely there are direct branches from both the thoracic and the abdominal aorta. There are considerable variations in the pattern of supply. The veins drain into tributaries of the intercostal veins, the internal mammary veins and into the inferior vena cava.
Permutation-based adjustments for the significance of partial regression coefficients in microarray data analysis.

The aim of this paper is to generalize permutation methods for multiple testing adjustment of significant partial regression coefficients in a linear regression model used for microarray data. Using a permutation method outlined by Anderson and Legendre [1999] and the permutation P-value adjustment from Simon et al. [2004], the significance of disease related gene expression will be determined and adjusted after accounting for the effects of covariates, which are not restricted to be categorical. We apply these methods to a microarray dataset containing confounders and illustrate the comparisons between the permutation-based adjustments and the normal theory adjustments. The application of a linear model is emphasized for data containing confounders and the permutation-based approaches are shown to be better suited for microarray data. Genet. Epidemiol. 31, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
9.4 - An investigation of laser wave depolarization due to atmospheric transmission

A theoretical and an experimental analysis of optical depolarization due to atmospheric transmission is given. We used the geometrical optics approximation and applied Chernov's three-dimensional ray statistics model for the calculations. The theory predicts that the root-mean-square change of the polarization angle of an optical beam propagating through the atmosphere is of the order of 10-9rad/km. This was found to increase linearly with the path-length. The experiment was designed to measure the amount of depolarization of a linearly polarized laser wave propagating through the atmosphere. The measurements over a 2.6-km path length indicated the absence of such an effect. The sensitivity of these measurements was limited by the equipment used to -42 dB in the daytime and to -45 dB at night.
The mean measure of divergence: its utility in model-free and model-bound analyses relative to the Mahalanobis D(2) distance for nonmetric traits.

The mean measure of divergence (MMD) distance statistic has been used by researchers for nearly 50 years to assess inter-sample phenetic affinity. Its widespread and often successful use is well documented, especially in the study of cranial and dental nonmetric traits. However, the statistic has accumulated some undesired mathematical baggage through the years from various workers in their attempts to improve or alter its performance. Others may not fully understand how to apply the MMD or interpret its output, whereas some described a number of perceived shortcomings. As a result, the statistic and its sometimes flawed application(s) have taken several well-aimed hits; a few researchers even argued that it should no longer be utilized or, at least, that its use be reevaluated. The objective of this report is to support the MMD, and in the process: (1) provide a brief history of the statistic, (2) review its attributes and applicability relative to the often-used Mahalanobis D2 statistic for nonmetric traits, (3) compare results from MMD and D2 model-free analyses of previously-recorded sub-Saharan African dental samples, and (4) investigate its utility for model-bound analyses. In the latter instance, the ability of the D2 and other squared Euclidean-based statistics to approximate a genetic relationship matrix and Sewall Wright's fixation index using phenotypic data, and the inability of the MMD to do so, is addressed. Three methods for obtaining such results with nonlinear MMD distances, as well as an assessment of the fit of the isolation-by-distance model, are presented. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Neighborhood Environment, Sexual Risk Behaviors and Acquisition of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Adolescents Diagnosed with Psychological Disorders

The association between neighborhood environment and prevalence of STIs, sexual partner variables and condom use among adolescents with psychological disorders was examined. Cross-sectional data in three urban areas of the US (Southeast, Northeast and Midwest) were obtained from 384 sexually active male and female participants who provided urine samples for laboratory-confirmed testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis. A total of 15.4% of participants tested positive for one of the three STIs. Results indicated that relative to adolescents living in low risk neighborhood environments, those living in high risk environments were significantly more likely to have a STI and to report having casual partners. Findings suggest that in high risk neighborhoods, STI acquisition may be less dependent on condom use and more dependent on other contextual factors. The importance of expanding public health research to include assessment of neighborhood context as a determinant of sexual risk-taking is emphasized.