cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Verification of tracker position measurement using digital video and instrumentation data recorded in flight

The function of the tracker image processing in our airborne FLIR tracking system is to continually measure the position of the tracked target relative to the image center. These positions are used by the line of sight control system to maintain the target in the center of the imaging sensor FOV. In order to perform an end-to-end test of the accuracy of the target positions measured by the tracker, we developed a verification method that makes use of instrumentation data and digital video recorded during flight test. The instrumentation data contains the track errors, which we wish to verify. A post-flight image analysis tool was developed to accurately measure the track positions in the flight recorded digital video for comparison to the recorded flight track errors. This tool made use of a correlation technique combined with a non-linear optimization procedure. The off-line track position estimates generated by this tool were then compared to those produced in flight by the tracker. This paper describes the algorithms used in the post-flight analysis to estimate the track positions from the digital video. The results of applying this verification technique to both a correlation tracker and a centroid tracker are then described.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An electron microscopic autoradiographic study of proline incorporation by mouse lingual epithelium.

Mouse lingual epithelium incorporates significant amounts of L-proline-2, 3-H3 one hour after intraperitoneal injection of the tritiated amino acid. All viable cell strata incorporated approximately equal amounts of proline as assessed by autoradiographic techniques. Grain counts at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours and 24 hours, the four time periods studied, indicated a progressive incorporation of proline up to 4 hours following injection. Preferential incorporation of proline into any one cell structure or group of structures was not observed. Keratohyalin granules (KHG's) demonstrated incorporated proline; however, usually only one silver grain appeared over each granule, and, based on grain counts, the amount of proline incorporated by KHG's appeared slightly less than the general labeling observed in KHG-containing cells. This finding supports recent biochemical studies which have indicated a considerably lower proline content of keratohyalin than had previously been reported. Significant proline incorporation into the epithelial basal lamina was not observed during the 24 hours of this study. Thus, while recent recombination experiments have conclusively demonstrated that epithelial basal cells synthesize considerable quantities of basal lamina in a 24 hour period; it would appear that epithelial basal cells contribute little to a formed, intact basal lamina. This finding lends credence to the concept of a long basal lamina turnover time.
Progress Report on the Application of a One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP®) to Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (PCVD)

Summary form only given. A new plasma PCVD system has been developed to provide controlled and consistent processing of textiles and films with the OAUGDPreg. Important features of this roll-to-roll, atmospheric pressure reactor are a precision-engineered and position-controllable cylindrical electrode configuration; an impedance-matching system that will compensate for the varying capacitance of the reactor due to the dielectric and exposed web between the electrodes; and precision control of web rotation speed, tension, and temperature. A main goal of this research is to relate independently variable plasma parameters to deposition results. Real-time measurement techniques may allow automation through feedback leading to better deposition properties with shorter exposure times. Emphasis will be placed on SiOx coatings on polymer substrates for an oxygen barrier, as well as other deposition applications of industrial interest
Use of the ages and stages questionnaire in young children who are deaf/hard of hearing as a screening for additional disabilities

Abstract Background Children with sensorineural hearing loss have a high rate of additional disabilities beyond those expected by the impact of hearing loss on language and are identified later than children without hearing loss. Identifying these developmental delays and allowing earlier implementation of interventions specific to these concerns would improve care. Aims To determine whether the Ages and Stages Questionnaire© (ASQ) can identify unmet needs or unidentified developmental delays among young children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Subjects Fifty children with any degree of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, 6 months to 36 months of age recruited from a tertiary referral center and regional early intervention programs for children who are deaf/hard of hearing. Outcome measures The ASQ and comprehensive developmental evaluations with the Revised Gesell Developmental Schedules. Study design Sensitivities and specificities of the ASQ were calculated. Results While 32% of our population had a developmental delay outside the domain of communication, the ASQ had poor sensitivity on the overall score without the communication domain as well as for fine motor, cognitive, personal–social domains. It had good sensitivity for the domains of communication and gross motor skills and good specificity (ranging 83–85%) on specific domains as well as for the overall score (70%). Conclusions The ASQ does not provide an effective mean for identifying additional developmental concerns in young children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Further studies are needed to determine how to identify additional disabilities in a timely manner among young children with hearing loss.
3D control of a high-speed quadruped trot

Purpose – Legged vehicles offer several advantages over wheeled vehicles, particularly on broken terrain, but are presently too slow to be considered for many high‐speed tasks. This paper presents an effective 3D controller for a high‐speed quadruped trot.Design/methodology/approach – To successfully regulate forward velocity and heading, secondary motions such as body pitch and roll must be stabilised. The complicated coupling between pitch and roll motion causes the control effort on one axis to disturb the motion and control effort of the other. Unlike the modular methods in previous research, the algorithm presented here employs a cooperative approach where pitch stability effort is directly accounted for by the roll controller.Findings – When the secondary motions such as pitch and roll are well stabilized, forward velocity and heading can be regulated up to 3 m/s and 20°/s, respectively.Research limitations/implications – For many quadrupeds, trotting is usually employed as the precursor to gallopin...
Perfusion preservation of hearts for 6 to 9 days at room temperature

The combination of a defined medium with single-pass perfusion has made possible long-term maintenance of beating rat hearts at 22 degrees C in vitro. The 6- to 9-day survival period appears to be the longest so far reported for hearts. This method provides a stable system which should be useful for investigating the role of single factors in myocardial preservation and evaluating the effects of exposure to pharmacological and toxicological agents.
Aggressive Management of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis from Mucinous Appendiceal Neoplasms

Background Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) in the setting of mucinous appendiceal neoplasms is characterized by the intraperitoneal accumulation of mucinous ascites and mucin-secreting epithelial cells that leads to progressive compression of intra-abdominal organs, morbidity, and eventual death. We assessed postoperative and oncologic outcomes after aggressive surgical management by experienced surgeons.
Development of a Scaling Factor Identification Method Using Design of Experiments for Product-Family-Based Product and Process Design

Identifying the most influential scaling factor is critical in the early stage of product-family-based product design, but the issue has been inadequately address by researchers and not properly applied to real-world manufacturing problems. A scaling fa..
Cranial irradiation and central hypothyroidism

Abstract Cranial irradiation causes thyrotropin (TSH)-releasing hormone (TRH) secretory abnormalities. TRH deficiency leads to abnormal glycosylation of TSH α and β subunits and loss of the normal circadian pattern of TSH secretion (low in the afternoon, a surge in the evening, higher at night). This disruption results in either mixed hypothyroidism (raised TSH with abnormal secretory kinetics) or central hypothyroidism (abnormal secretory kinetics without raised TSH). Although primary hypothyroidism is more common in the general population and cancer survivors, the cumulative incidence of central and mixed hypothyroidism is high during the ten years after cranial irradiation. Monitoring for decline in free thyroxine (FT 4 ) and rise in serum TSH, and early recognition using TSH surge and TRH tests, are clinically valuable. Early thyroid hormone replacement therapy to achieve serum FT 4 in the upper half of the normal range is crucial for maintaining optimal health and growth in cancer survivors.
Relative effectiveness of the 300–320 nm spectral region of sunlight for the production of primary lethal damage in E. coli cells

Abstract Cell inactivation by sunlight exposure has been studied in E. coli CSR 603 (uvrA recA phr), a K12 derivative which is deficient in all known repair systems. Under suitable conditions, unfiltered sunlight inactivates these cells to 10−3 survival within 30 sec. The effects of unfiltered sunlight have been compared with those of sunlight filtered through 1-cm layers of aqueous caffeine solutions ranging in concentration from 1 to 20 mg/ml. In the wavelength region of solar emission below 320 nm, which is most critical for DNA damage, the transmission of these liquid filters changes from 10 to 90% within 8-nm intervals. Thus our results permit minimum estimates for the fraction of lethal lesions produced by the solar spectrum below certain wavelengths. In an experiment analyzed in this manner more than 80% of primary lethal lesions are caused by wavelengths 380 nm to primary lethal damage is below 1%.
Cubism in the Shadow of Marx

Book reviewed in this article: David Cottington Cubism in the Shadow of War: The Avant-Garde and Politics in Paris, 1905–1914
Laboratory Self-Inspection: A Guide to Effective Safety & Health Auditing

Inspection of laboratories for safety and health issues is essential for the prevention of accidents and injuries. The development of checklists for use in auditing laboratories insures that pertinent areas of the laboratory safety and health plan are fully examined. A framework for conducting a typical laboratory inspection is suggested in this article, and potential checklist questions are presented based on safety and health issues common to a clinical laboratory setting. Safety inspections can be divided into: manuals and records; and physical inspections. Proper safety requires a strong management team along with proper education and training. After reading this article, the reader should be able to understand basic principles of laboratory safety, which include manuals and records as well as physical inspection of the laboratory. Generalist Exam 0201 questions and answer forms are located after the “Your Lab Focus” section, p. 143.
A Switchbox Router with Obstacle Avoidance

Detour is the channel router used by the Magic layout system. Based on Rivest and Fiduccia's "greedy" channel router, Detour is capable of routing switchboxes and channels containing obstacles such as preexisting wiring. It jogs nets around multi-layer obstacles such as contacts, and routes over single-layer obstacles. If there are no obstacles, results are comparable to other good channel routers. Detour thus combines the effectiveness of traditional channel routers with the flexibility of net-at-a-time routers.
Revisiting the Taxation of Punitive Damages

In our recent article, Taxing Punitive Damages, available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1421879, we argued (1) that plaintiffs in punitive damages cases should be allowed to introduce to the jury evidence regarding the deductibility of those damages by defendants, and (2) that this jury tax-awareness approach is better than the Obama Administration’s suggested alternative of disallowing those deductions. To our delight, Professor Larry Zelenak and Paul Mogin have each provided published comments to our piece on Virginia Law Review's In Brief companion website. Professor Zelenak’s thoughtful response focuses on our prescriptive claim that jury tax-awareness is better than nondeductibility, while Mr. Mogin disputes our doctrinal claim that the tax evidence is admissible. In this reply, we offer our answers to these and related challenges.
Concept of Operations for Personal Remote Sensing Unmanned Aerial Systems

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) have rapidly grown into a significant part of the world-wide aviation budget. However, regulations and official standards have lagged significantly. Within the U.S., there has been significant pressure to develop the regulations to allow commercial and governmental agencies to utilize UASs within the National Airspace System (NAS). The authors propose a concept of operation document that incorporates existing regulations and ensures an acceptable level of performance based on experience with a Personal Remote Sensing (PRS) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).
PRINCIPAL MATRIX SOLUTIONS AND VARIATION OF PARAMETERS FOR A VOLTERRA INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION AND ITS ADJOINT

We define the principal matrix solution Z(t,s) of the linear Volterra vector integro-differential equation x 0 (t) = A(t)x(t) + Z t s B(t,u)x(u)du
The Ulp2 SUMO Protease Is Required for Cell Division following Termination of the DNA Damage Checkpoint

Eukaryotic genome integrity is maintained via a DNA damage checkpoint that recognizes DNA damage and halts the cell cycle at metaphase, allowing time for repair. Checkpoint signaling is eventually terminated so that the cell cycle can resume. How cells restart cell division following checkpoint termination is poorly understood. Here we show that the SUMO protease Ulp2 is required for resumption of cell division following DNA damage-induced arrest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, although it is not required for DNA double-strand break repair. The Rad53 branch of the checkpoint pathway generates a signal countered by Ulp2 activity following DNA damage. Interestingly, unlike previously characterized adaptation mutants, ulp2Δ mutants do not show persistent Rad53 phosphorylation following DNA damage, suggesting checkpoint signaling has been terminated and no longer asserts an arrest in these cells. Using Cdc14 localization as a cell cycle indicator, we show that nearly half of cells lacking Ulp2 can escape a checkpoint-induced metaphase arrest despite their inability to divide again. Moreover, half of permanently arrested ulp2Δ cells show evidence of an aberrant mitotic spindle, suggesting that Ulp2 is required for proper spindle dynamics during cell cycle resumption following a DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest.
Inventory Types and Firm Performance: Vector Autoregressive and Vector Error Correction Models

The effects of inventory management on firm performance have been well documented. Most previous research, however, has focused on the performance effects of total inventories and has ignored the potentially differential performance effects of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods inventories. This research investigates the effects of various inventory types on firm performance. The empirical analyses of data from U.S. manufacturing industries reveal that the magnitude of the inventory–performance relationship varies by type of inventory and across industries. Specifically, raw materials inventories have a greater impact on firm performance than work-in-process and finished goods inventories. As a possible explanation, intertemporal interactions among these inventory types are explored using vector autoregressive and vector error correction models. The results suggest that raw materials and finished goods inventories asymmetrically affect each other over time. Implications for research and practice as well as future research opportunities are discussed.
Ethical Issues with Newborn Screening in the Genomics Era

Continued technological advances have made the prospect of routine whole-genome sequencing (WGS) imminent. To date, much of the discussion about WGS has focused on its application and use in clinical medicine. Relatively little attention has been paid to the potential integration of WGS into newborn screening programs. Given the structure and scope of these programs, it is possible that the early applications of WGS will occur in state-run newborn screening programs. Assessment of the pressing ethical issues currently facing the newborn screening community will provide insight into the challenges that lie ahead in the genomics era.
The Effects of Fire on Avian Communities: Spatio-Temporal Attributes of the Literature 1912-2003

We reviewed the temporal, geographic, and biogeographic distribution, as well as relevant research and publication attributes, of 512 documents addressing the effects of fire on avian communities, to provide an assessment of the scope of this literature and recommendations for future research. We summarized relevant attributes of all documents to identify patterns that were then tested against appropriate null models. Most documents reported on original research, with the literature evenly divided between studies investigating controlled fire and those reporting on uncontrolled wildfires. Conceptual reviews made up the second largest category; methodological reviews, bibliographies, and meta-analyses were rare. Although the literature examined spans nearly a century, most documents were published within the last 15 years, with new literature being added at an increasing rate. However, increases seem to be skewed towards original research at the expense of synthesis. An overwhelming majority of documents were published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and in English. Other important publication outlets included MS and PhD theses and conference proceedings. The spatial distribution of documents by continent and biogeographic domain and division differed significantly from expectations based on land area. Future research on avian community response to fire should focus on (1) continued synthesis, emphasizing methodological reviews, bibliographies, and North America; (2) increasing research efforts in areas currently underrepresented in the literature, including Africa, Asia, and South and Central America; and (3) meta-analyses.
Female-specific color is a signal of quality in the striped plateau lizard (Sceloporus virgatus)

Recent theoretical and empirical studies confirm that male mate choice and/or female--female mate competition can be expressed in the absence of sex-role reversal. Such reproductive patterns may select for the evolution of female traits that indicate female phenotypic or genotypic quality among non--role-reversed species. Although attention to the evolution and function of female ornaments is increasing, additional focus is needed on female-specific ornaments (those not expressed in conspecific males) and on nonavian systems in order to gain a broad understanding of how selection acts directly on ornamentation of female animals. In the striped plateau lizard, Sceloporus virgatus, only females develop orange throat patches during the reproductive season. The color peaks in expression near the time of ovulation and appears to stimulate male courtship. Here, I examine whether this female-specific ornament can be used by males to reliably assess female phenotypic quality. Using multivariate regression analyses, I show that the area of the orange color patch predicts body condition and mite load, the chroma (i.e., saturation) of the color patch predicts body size, and both patch area and chroma reliably predict average egg mass. Thus, female reproductive color may function as a condition-dependent signal, indicating phenotypic quality to potential mates. Copyright 2006.
Solution structure of villin 14T, a domain conserved among actin‐severing proteins

The solution structure of the N-terminal domain of the actin-severing protein villin has been determined by multidimensional heteronuclear resonance spectroscopy. Villin is a member of a family of actin-severing proteins that regulate the organization of actin in the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Members of this family are built from 3 or 6 homologous repeats of a structural domain of approximately 130 amino acids that is unrelated to any previously known structure. The N-terminal domain of villin (14T) contains a central beta-sheet with 4 antiparallel strands and a fifth parallel strand at one edge. This sheet is sandwiched between 2 helices on one side and a 2-stranded parallel beta-sheet with another helix on the other side. The strongly conserved sequence characteristic of the protein family corresponds to internal hydrophobic residues. Calcium titration experiments suggest that there are 2 binding sites for Ca2+, a stronger site near the N-terminal end of the longest helix, with a Kd of 1.8 +/- 0.4 mM, and a weaker site near the C-terminal end of the same helix, with a Kd of 11 +/- 2 mM. Mutational and biochemical studies of this domain in several members of the family suggest that the actin monomer binding site is near the parallel strand at the edge of the central beta-sheet.
Remembering in contradictory minds: Disjunction fallacies in episodic memory.

Disjunction fallacies have been extensively studied in probability judgment. They should also occur in episodic memory, if remembering a cue's episodic state depends on how its state is described on a memory test (e.g., being described as a target vs. as a distractor). If memory is description-dependent, cues will be remembered as occupying logically impossible combinations of episodic states (e.g., as being a target and a distractor). Consistent with this idea, memory disjunction fallacies were repeatedly detected in a series of experiments, at the level of individuals as well as at the level of groups. Disjunction fallacies varied as a function of manipulations that should affect description-dependency, such as type of test cue, immediate versus delayed testing, word frequency, and emotional valence. Response bias, as well as description-dependency, contributed to disjunction fallacies, as predicted by fuzzy-trace theory's retrieval model. The significance of these findings for memory is that a new form of episodic distortion, description-dependent memory, has been added to the 2 traditional forms (forgetting and false memory). The significance for probability judgment is that disjunction fallacies, which have customarily been explained as by-products of memory retrieval, may be wholly or partly due to the uncontrolled influence of response bias.
Epigenetic maturation in colonic mucosa continues beyond infancy in mice

Monozygotic twin and other epidemiologic studies indicate that epigenetic processes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases that commonly affect the colonic mucosa. The peak onset of these disorders in young adulthood suggests that epigenetic changes normally occurring in the colonic mucosa shortly before adulthood could be important etiologic factors. We assessed developmental changes in colitis susceptibility during the physiologically relevant period of childhood in mice [postnatal day 30 (P30) to P90] and concurrent changes in DNA methylation and gene expression in murine colonic mucosa. Susceptibility to colitis was tested in C57BL/6J mice with the dextran sulfate sodium colitis model. Methylation specific amplification microarray (MSAM) was used to screen for changes in DNA methylation, with validation by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Gene expression changes were analyzed by microarray expression profiling and real time RT‐PCR. Mice were more susceptible to chemically induced colitis at P90 than at P30. DNA methylation changes, however, were not extensive; of 23 743 genomic intervals interrogated, only 271 underwent significant methylation alteration during this developmental period. We found an excellent correlation between the MSAM and bisulfite pyrosequencing at 11 gene associated intervals validated (R 2 5 0.89). Importantly, at the genes encoding galectin-1 (Lgals1), and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 or Smad3, both previously implicated in murine colitis, developmental changes in DNA methylation from P30 to P90 were inversely correlated with expression. Colonic mucosal epigenetic maturation continues through early adulthood in the mouse, and may contribute to the age-associated increase in colitis susceptibility. Transcript Profiling: Gene Expression Omnibus (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/), accession numbers: GSE18031 (DNA methylation arrays), GSE19506 (gene expression arrays).
Division of labor in child care: A game-theoretic approach

This paper uses a game of repeated play to model parental child care in order to examine the gap between the expectations of egalitarian-minded couples before the transition to parenthood and the reality of parenthood, with its gendered roles. This is done first in a gender-free context in order to examine the mechanism by which the division of labor is established in a family – it is this same process through which gendered expectations have an impact. The analysis shows that it is difficult to achieve the equilibrium of equal sharing of child care, even when this is the preference of the parents. This leads to a discussion of alterations and meta-strategies for couples who want to share care equally. Gender differences between parents are also modeled, including the impact these have on outcomes and equilibria.
Criteria for the design of GaInP/GaAs/Ge triple-junction cells to optimize their performance outdoors

This paper investigates which reference spectrum should be used to design GalnP/GaAs/Ge triple-junction cells (at 300 K) in order to optimize their performance outdoors (at elevated temperatures). The outdoor performance is simulated using direct spectra from the recently proposed Module Energy Rating Procedure. We find that triple-junction cells designed for AM1.5D, low-AOD and AM1.5G standard spectra at 300 K all work well for maximizing daily energy production at elevated temperatures. AM1.5G cells are the best choice for midday power production, whereas AM1.5D cells are the best choice for power production during the morning and evening. Performance of cells optimized for a newly proposed Low-AOD spectrum is intermediate between these two extremes.
A comparison of chronic cadmium effects on Hyalella azteca in effluent-dominated stream mesocosms to similar laboratory exposures in effluent and reconstituted hard water

Laboratory single-species toxicity tests are used to assess the effects of contaminants on aquatic biota. Questions remain as to how accurately these toxicity tests predict site-specific bioavailability and chronic effects of metals, particularly in streams that are effluent-dominated or dependent on effluent discharge for flow. Concurrent 42-d Hyalella azteca exposures were performed with cadmium and final treated municipal effluent in the laboratory and at the University of North Texas Stream Research Facility (Denton, TX, USA), a series of outdoor lotic mesocosms. An additional 42-d laboratory test was conducted with H. azteca to evaluate Cd toxicity in reconstituted hard water (RHW). Endpoints included Cd body burden, survival, growth, and reproduction. Calculated average bioaccumulation factors were: 2,581 (stream mesocosm test) laboratory effluent > laboratory RHW. Differences among response variables in the three tests likely resulted from increased food sources and decreased Cd bioavailability in lotic mesocosms. Our results demonstrate that laboratory toxicity tests may overestimate chronic toxicity responses of H. azteca to Cd in effluent-dominated streams.
Regulation and signaling of human bombesin receptors and their biological effects.

Purpose of review This review will highlight recent advances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms by which mammalian bombesin receptors are regulated and which intracellular signaling pathways have been characterized to mediate agonist-dependent receptor biological effects. Recent findings Mammalian bombesin receptors have been demonstrated to be involved in a larger array of physiological and pathophysiological conditions than previously reported. Pharmacological experiments in vitro and in vivo as well as utilization of animals genetically deficient of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor demonstrated roles in memory and fear behavior, lung development and injury, small intestinal cell repair, autocrine tumor growth, and mediating signals for pruritus and penile reflexes. Intracellular signaling studies predominantly of the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor owing to its frequent overexpression in some human malignancies showed that PI3 kinase activation is an important mechanism of cell proliferation. Tumor cell treatment including gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonists combined with inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor resulted in an additive effect on blocking cell proliferation. Novel molecular mechanisms of the orphan bombesin receptor subtype-3 and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor gene regulation have been elucidated. Summary Inhibition of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor signaling in human malignancies represents an attractive target for pharmacological treatment. Novel functions of bombesin related peptides have been identified including processes in the central nervous system, lung and intestinal tract.
In Vivo Expression of Recombinant Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Rabbit Carotid Artery Increases Production of Superoxide Anion

Objective— Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important pro-angiogenic cytokines. Ability of VEGF to stimulate formation of superoxide anion in vivo has not been studied. We hypothesized that in vivo expression of recombinant VEGF in the rabbit carotid artery increases production of superoxide anion. Methods and Results— Plaque-forming units (109) of adenovirus-encoding human VEGF165 (AdVEGF) or β-galactosidase (AdLacZ) were delivered into the lumen of rabbit carotid arteries. Three days after gene delivery, expression of recombinant proteins was detected in endothelium and smooth muscle cells. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine were impaired in AdVEGF-transduced arteries ( P <0.01; n=5). Treatment with superoxide dismutase mimetic, Mn(III) tetra(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (10−5 mol/L), improved relaxations to acetylcholine ( P <0.01; n=5). Western blot analysis demonstrated increased expression of p47 phox in AdVEGF-transduced arteries ( P <0.05; n=8). Lucigenin chemiluminescence showed significantly higher production of superoxide anion in AdVEGF-transduced arteries ( P <0.05; n=5 to 10). Conclusions— Our results suggest that in vivo expression of recombinant VEGF in the vascular endothelium increases local production of superoxide anion. Superoxide anion appears to be an important mediator of vascular effects of VEGF in vivo.
An analysis of knowledge collected from volunteer contributors

A new generation of intelligent applications can be enabled by broad-coverage repositories of knowledge. One emerging approach to constructing such repositories is proactive knowledge collection from large numbers of volunteer contributors. In this paper, we study the coverage and quality of a representative collection of part-of information contributed by volunteers. We analyze growth of coverage over time, redundancy of the collected knowledge, and the effect of the coverage and redundancy on the quality of the collection. We also present initial comparisons with collections created by ontology engineering and text extraction approaches. Our analysis reveals that redundancy of contribution helps identify high quality statements, but that some of the statements also have overly high redundancy, drawing contributor effort away from areas where they are needed more. We suggest possible ways to address these issues in future collection efforts.
Demographic Limitations of the Ability of Habitat Restoration to Rescue Declining Populations

Habitat restoration is often recommended in conservation without first evaluating whether pop- ulations are in fact habitat limited and thus whether declining populations can be stabilized or recovered through habitat restoration. We used a spatially structured demographic model coupled with a dynamic neu- tral landscape model to evaluate whether habitat restoration could rescue populations of several generic migratory songbirds that differed in their sensitivity to habitat fragmentation (i.e., severity of edge effects on nesting success). Simulating a best-case scenario, landscapes were instantly restored to 100% habitat before, at, or after habitat loss exceeded the species' vulnerability threshold. The vulnerability threshold is a measure of extinction risk, in which the change in population growth rate (∆λ) scaled to the rate of habitat loss (∆h )f alls below −1% (∆λ/∆h ≤− 0.01). Habitat restoration was most effective for species with low-to-moderate edge sensitivities and in landscapes that had not previously experienced extensive fragmentation. To stabilize pop- ulations of species that were highly edge sensitive or any species in heavily fragmented landscapes, restoration needed to be initiated long before the vulnerability threshold was reached. In practice, habitat restoration is generally not initiated until a population is at risk of extinction, but our model results demonstrate that some populations cannot be recovered at this point through habitat restoration alone. At this stage, habitat loss and fragmentation have seriously eroded the species' demographic potential such that halting population declines is limited more by demographic factors than the amount of available habitat. Evidence that populations de- cline in response to habitat loss is thus not sufficient to conclude that habitat restoration will be sufficient to rescue declining populations.
Influence of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator on Gene Expression in Response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Chronic lung infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes significant morbidity in cystic fibrosis patients initiated by the failure of innate immune responses. We used microarray analysis and real-time PCR to detect transcriptional changes associated with cytokine production in isogenic bronchial epithelial cell lines with either wild-type (WT) or mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in response to P. aeruginosa infection. The transcription of four NF-κB-regulated cytokine genes was maximal in the presence of WT CFTR: the interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6, CXCL1, and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) genes. Analysis of protein expression in two cell lines paired for wild-type and mutant CFTR with three P. aeruginosa strains showed IL-6 and IL-8 expressions were consistently enhanced by the presence of WT CFTR in both cell lines with all three strains of P. aeruginosa, although some strains gave small IL-8 increases in cells with mutant CFTR. CXCL1 production showed consistent enhancement in cells with WT CFTR using all three bacterial strains in one cell line, whereas in the other cell line, CXCL1 showed a significant increase in cells with either WT or mutant CFTR. ICAM-1 was unchanged at the protein level in one of the cell lines but did show mild enhancement with WT CFTR in the other cell pair. Inhibitions of NF-κB prior to infection indicated differing degrees of dependence on NF-κB for production of the cytokines, contingent on the cell line. Cytokine effectors of innate immunity to P. aeruginosa were found to be positively influenced by the presence of WT CFTR, indicating a role in resistance to P. aeruginosa infection.
African American kidney transplant patients' perspectives on challenges in the living donation process.

Context—The increasing shortage of deceased donor kidneys suitable for African Americans highlights the critical need to increase living donations among African Americans. Little research has addressed African American transplant recipients' perspectives on challenges and barriers related to the living donation process. Objective—To understand the perspectives of African American recipients of deceased and living donor kidney transplants on challenges, barriers, and educational needs related to pursuing such transplants. Participants and Design—A mixed-method design involved 27 African American kidney recipients (13 male) in 4 focus groups (2 per recipient type: 16 African American deceased donor and 11 living donor recipients) and questionnaires. Focus group transcripts were evaluated with NVivo 10.0 (QSR, International) by using inductive and deductive qualitative methods along with crystallization to develop themes of underlying barriers to the living donor kidney transplant process and were compared w...
Two novel germline DDX41 mutations in a family with inherited myelodysplasia/acute myeloid leukemia

Though rare, inherited forms of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are being recognized with increasing frequency. Germline mutations in well-characterized genes such as RUNX1, CEBPA, GATA2 and ETV6 have been found to predispose to MDS/AML.[1][1]–[4][2] Families with
International Regions: A Comparative Approach to Five Subordinate Systems

This article offers a framework for the comparison of regional international relations and its application to five of the fifteen subordinate systems into which international politics could be divided.' The five subordinate systems to be discussed-the Middle East, West Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and West Africahave been chosen because they are geographically disparate and fairly representative of the types of subordinate systems which exist throughout the international system.2
Indices of Early Dementia on Wais

The generalized loss of efficiency found in presenile and early senile dementia might be expected to produce a fairly regular pattern of WAIS subtest scores. Also, for these patients diagnosis by psychological methods is of more practical relevance than for other types of brain damage. The records of 148 patients from two previous studies were inspected. They had been tested when the diagnosis was doubtful and classified after a follow-up of at least a year as dementia (50) or depression (98). Table 1 shows their mean age-scaled scores on the seven subtests which rhey had all completed: Vocabulary (V), Similarities (S), Arithmetic (A), Digit Span (D), Picture Completion (P), Block Designs (B) and Digit Symbol (DS).
Red Tape and Clean Air: Title V Air Pollution Permitting Implementation as a Test Bed for Theory Development

The greatest test of a theory's utility is the degree to which it translates to subject areas for which it was not designed. This article conducts such a test, by applying an etiological theory of red tape to Title V of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Title V significantly expands the paperwork requirements for certain industrial sources of air pollution in an attempt to-among many other things-facilitate enforcement of air quality regulations, strengthen compliance by regulated companies, and enable citizen participation. We review basic red tape concepts, apply those concepts to Title V, and use the theory to assess Title V's potential for red tape. We conclude that the shifting political context of Title V implementation, its multitudinous goals, and its dubious behavioral forecasts render Title V a strong candidate for red tape. More fundamentally, we determine that the etiological theory of red tape has heuristic value, as suggested by its applic
The Place and Importance of Population Studies in Relation to the Negro Population of the South

T HE subdivision of population data according to race is regarded as the first step in the study of population. This is more than a statistical convenience. The white and Negro populations, under the circumstances which differentiate them sociologically, respond to social and economic factors in ways that are at times significantly dissimilar. And, although together they may comprise a regional or national population and pattern, the processes which differentiate them, as well as determine the nature of their differential responses, are obscured in the general trends. Moreover, this association and sociological differentiation in themselves are the source of interactions which are important to any understanding of the regional society. This paper proposes briefly to point out areas in the study of population which are vitally affected by Negro population trends in the South.
Interaction of Nitrogen Mustard with Polyribonucleotides, Ribosomes, and Enzymes Involved in Protein Synthesis in a Cell-Free System

The effects of nitrogen mustard (HN2) on synthetic polyribonucleotides, ribosomes, and enzymes involved in protein synthesis in an Escherichia coli cell-free system were investigated. It was found that HN2 decreased the coding capacity of three synthetic polymers: poly A, poly U, and poly C. Poly C and poly U were more sensitive to HN2 than poly A. Ribosomes and protein synthesizing enzymes (100,000 g supernatant) obtained from E. coli cells were preincubated with drug and assayed for activity in the cell-free polypeptide synthesizing system. The effect of nitrogen mustard on the ribosomes was concentration dependent; lower concentrations (10-6 to 10-4 M) stimulated polypeptide synthesis while higher concentrations (10-3 M) inhibited synthesis. Protein-synthesizing enzymes were inhibited by nitrogen mustard at both high and low concentrations. These results suggest possible sites of action of the biological alkylating agent HN2 at the level of genetic code translation of messenger RNA into protein. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to thank Linda Galligher for her excellent technical assistance. Nitrogen mustard was a gift from Merck Sharp and Dohme, Rahway, New Jersey.
Introduction: Congressional Control of Jurisdiction and the Future of the Federal Courts -- Opposition, Agreement and Hierarchy

Introducing a Symposium of articles exploring the constitutionality of recently-enacted jurisdictional laws affecting prisoners and aliens, this essay argues that the recent legislation reveals three complex and contradictory relationships between Congress and the federal courts over their jurisdiction: (1) a dynamic of confrontation, in which Congress seeks to curtail "activist" federal judges, (2) a dynamic of agreement, in which Congress and the federal judiciary as a whole seek to curtail access to federal courts for these claimants, and (3) a dynamic expressing judicial hierarchy, in which both the Supreme Court and Congress seek to reinforce the "supersupremacy" of the Supreme Court vis-a-vis the inferior federal courts. In connection with this third dynamic, the essay suggests that 28 U.S.C. section 2254 (d)(1), which appears to limit the sources of controlling federal law on state habeas corpus to decisions of the Supreme Court (and, by implication, excludes decisions of the inferior federal courts) violates Article III principles requiring that decisions of all courts exercising the "judicial power" of the United States be constrained by the prospect of those decisions functioning as precedent. After reviewing the excellent contributions of Professors David Cole, John Harrison, Daniel J. Meltzer, Judith Resnik and Lawrence G. Sager, the essay goes on to suggest that jurisdictional rules affecting aliens have foreseeable effects on foreign relations (see Breard) that require attention, beyond the concerns for caseload reduction and expeditious judgment that informed much recent legislative change. Concluding that the dynamics of confrontation, agreement and hierarchy are likely to endure, the essay joins with Professor Resnik in calling for more attention to nonadjudicatory judicial statements (e.g., the Long Range Plan of the Federal Courts) about the nature of federal jurisdiction.
Liquid crystals based sensing platform-technological aspects

In bulk phase, liquid crystalline molecules are organized due to non-covalent interactions and due to delicate nature of the present forces; this organization can easily be disrupted by any small external stimuli. This delicate nature of force balance in liquid crystals organization forms the basis of Liquid-crystals based sensing scheme which has been exploited by many researchers for the optical visualization and sensing of many biological interactions as well as detection of number of analytes. In this review, we present not only an overview of the state of the art in liquid crystals based sensing scheme but also highlight its limitations. The approaches described below revolve around possibilities and limitations of key components of such sensing platform including bottom substrates, alignments layers, nature and type of liquid crystals, sensing compartments, various interfaces etc. This review also highlights potential materials to not only improve performance of the sensing scheme but also to bridge the gap between science and technology of liquid crystals based sensing scheme.
Characterization of acid-base disturbances and effects on calcium and phosphorus balances of dietary fixed ions in pregnant or lactating does

Effects of fixed cation-anion balance on acid-base status and calcium and phosphorus balances were examined. Pregnant and lactating goats were fed a diet of alfalfa hay, concentrate and minerals to vary the cation-anion balance [meq sodium (Na) + meq potassium (K)-meq chloride (Cl)]/100 g diet dry matter (DM) over the range found in ruminant feeds. Small but significant effects on ruminal pH, fermentation and dilution rate were observed. Metabolic acid-base status of pregnant and lactating goats was normal when (Na + K - Cl) balance was 40 to 50 meq/100 g DM. The other treatments drastically altered plasma electrolyte concentrations, causing metabolic acid-base disturbances and profound changes in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Subclinical hypernatremic, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis was induced by a dietary fixed cation excess (Na + K - Cl) of greater than 85 meq/100 g DM (typical of buffered, alfalfa diets) and caused hypocalciuria, diminished calcium and phosphorus absorption, and possibly diminished dietary calcium absorption and resorption of calcium from bone. Subclinical hyperchloremic, hyponatremic metabolic acidosis from a diminished dietary fixed cation-anion balance (Na + K - Cl) of less than 10 meq/100 g DM (typical of nonbuffered corn silage or grain diets) caused hypercalciuria, enhanced calcium and phosphorus absorption and apparently enhanced calcium resorption from bone. Apparent effects on absorption and resorption depended on calcium and phosphorus intakes. Alterations in goats performance were not demonstrable. Dietary excesses of fixed cations over anions (meq Na + K - Cl/100 g diet DM greater than 50) cause metabolic alkalosis in ruminants, whereas fixed anion excesses (meq Na + K - Cl/100 g diet DM less than 40) cause metabolic acidosis. Content of electrolytes in diets should be reported in all nutrition trials with ruminants for assessment of metabolic acid-base status.