cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The automation of remote vehicle control

The automation of remote vehicles is becoming necessary to overcome the requirement of having man present as a controller. By removing man, remote vehicles can be operated in areas where the environment is too hostile for man, his reaction times are too slow, time delays are too long, and where his presence is too costly, or where system performance can be improved. This paper addresses the development of automated remote vehicle control for nonspace and space tasks from warehouse vehicles to proposed Mars rovers. The state-of-the-art and the availability of new technology for implementing automated control are reviewed and the major problem areas are outlined. The control strategies are divided into those where the path is planned in advance or constrained, or where the system is a teleoperator, or where automation or robotics have been introduced.
High Resolution Irradiance Spectrum from 300 to 1000 nm

The FTS scans that made up the Kitt Peak Solar Flux Atlas by Kurucz, Furenlid, Brault, and Testerman (1984) have been re-reduced. An approximate telluric atmospheric model was determined for each FTS scan. Large-scale features produced by O3 and O2 dimer were computed and divided out. The solar continuum level was found by fitting a smooth curve to high points in each scan. The scans were normalized to the fitted continuum to produce a residual flux spectrum for each FTS scan. The telluric line spectrum was computed using HITRAN and other line data for H2O, O2, and CO2. The line parameters were adjusted for an approximate match to the observed spectra. The scans were divided by the computed telluric spectra to produce residual irradiance spectra. Artifacts from wavelength mismatches, deep lines, etc, were removed by hand and replaced by linear interpolation. Overlapping scans were fitted together to make a continuous spectrum from 300 to 1000 nm. All the above steps were iterative. The monochromatic error varies from 0.1 to 1.0 percent. The residual spectrum was calibrated two different ways: First by normalizing it to the continuum of theoretical solar model ASUN (Kurucz 1992), and second, by degrading the spectrum to the resolution of the observed irradiance (Thuillier et al. 2004) to determine a normalization function that was then applied to the high resolution spectrum.
Practical constraints in growth of lightwave networks

The amount of fiber required, propagation delay, and length of the longest link are significant constraints in spatially large networks. This paper examines these characteristics from the viewpoint of growth.
Interracial Intimacy and the Potential for Social Change

In her review essay Interracial Intimacy and the Potential for Social Change, Stephanie Wildman examines Interracial Intimacy: The Regulation of Race and Romance by Rachel F. Moran. Moran's book investigates the so-called private landscape of race in the context of interracial intimacy. Moran urges the connection between our personal, private views of race and racial issues and the policy decisions society makes in the public realm. Moran explores historic antimiscegenation laws and their role in establishing societal norms and customs, the significance of race in daily life, the legal decisions leading to Loving v. Virginia, and the role of race in custody and adoption decisions. Wildman observes that interracial gay and lesbian relationships represent another area usually viewed as private, yet which implicates the societal landscape. Recognition of the public aspect of personal choice is a necessary element in the fight against bias and the movement toward social change.
Elucidation of O-glycosylation structures of the beta-amyloid precursor protein by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using electron transfer dissociation and collision induced dissociation.

Accumulation and deposition of β-amyloid peptide, a major constituent in neuritic plaques are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related neurodegenerative diseases. β-Amyloid (Aβ) is derived from the proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP), a transmembrane protein present in three major isoforms in brain comprising 695, 751 and 770 amino acids, respectively. Among other post-translational modifications, APP is modified during maturation by N- and O-glycosylation, which are thought to be responsible for its expression and secretion. Unlike N-glycosylation, no sites of O-glycosylation of APP have previously been reported. We report here the identification of three specific O-glycosylation sites of the secreted APP695 (sAPP695) produced in CHO cells, using a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray−tandem mass spectrometry. With the use of electron transfer dissociation and collision induced dissociation (ETD and CID), we identified type, composition an...
Endocytic Function, Glycosaminoglycan Specificity, and Antibody Sensitivity of the Recombinant Human 190-kDa Hyaluronan Receptor for Endocytosis (HARE)

Abstract The human hyaluronan receptor for endocytosis (hHARE) mediates the endocytic clearance of hyaluronan (HA) and chondroitin sulfate from lymph fluid and blood. Two hHARE isoforms (190 and 315 kDa) are present in sinusoidal endothelial cells of liver, spleen, and lymph nodes (Zhou, B., McGary, C. T., Weigel, J. A., Saxena, A., and Weigel, P. H. (2003) Glycobiology 13, 339–349). Here we report the specificity and function of the 190-kDa HARE, expressed without the larger isoform, in Flp-In 293 cell lines (190hHARE cells). Like the native protein, recombinant hHARE contains ∼25 kDa of N-linked oligosaccharides, binds HA in a ligand blot assay, cross-reacts with three anti-rat HARE monoclonal antibodies, and is inactivated by reduction. The 190hHARE cell lines mediated rapid, continuous 125I-HA endocytosis and degradation for >1 day. About 30–50% of the total cellular receptors were on the cell surface, and their recycling time for reutilization was ∼8.5 min. The average Kd for the binding of HA to the 190-kDa hHARE at 4 °C was 7 nm with 118,000 total HA binding sites per cell. Competition studies at 37 °C indicated that the 190-kDa hHARE binds HA and chondroitin better than dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfates A, C, D, and E, but it does not bind to heparin, heparan sulfate, or keratan sulfate. Although competition was observed at 37 °C, none of the glycosaminoglycans tested, except HA, competed for 125I-HA binding by 190hHARE cells at 4 °C. Anti-HARE monoclonal antibodies #30 and #154, which do not inhibit 125I-HA uptake mediated by the 175-kDa rat HARE, partially blocked HA endocytosis by the 190-kDa hHARE. We conclude that the 190-kDa hHARE can function independently of other hHARE isoforms to mediate the endocytosis of multiple glycosaminoglycans. Furthermore, the rat and human small HARE isoforms have different glycosaminoglycan specificities and sensitivities to inhibition by cross-reacting antibodies.
Amphetamine-induced on- and off-wall rearing in adult laboratory rats

Abstract Recently, Bauer [1] reported that amphetamine did not increase rearing behavior in adult rats. This result is at variance with many earlier reports demonstrating that amphetamine does increase rearing behavior. Because Bauer's automated measure only detected rearing when it occurred on the wall of the cage, it is possible that amphetamine only increased rearing behavior that occurred off the wall, which was not measured in his study. Bauer also included non-habituated animals in his study which might account for the discrepant results. The present experiment was performed to determine if, indeed, there was a difference between amphetamine induced on- and off-wall rearing and to determine to what extent habituation affected both types of rearing. The findings demonstrated that both types of rearing increased following d-amphetamine administration for both habituated and non-habituated animals. However, at the highest dose of d-amphetamine studied (4 mg/kg) rearing occurred mainly on the wall. Additionally, rearing behavior was found to increase following amphetamine when measured in the Digiscan Animal Activity Monitoring system which detects, but does not discriminate between, both on- and off-wall rearing.
Experimental study on the effect of aggregate content on fracture behavior of concrete

Abstract Effect of aggregate content on fracture behavior of concrete is studied by testing on 48 geometrically similar three-point bend concrete beams. The results are analyzed by using a size effect method, in which the fracture behavior of concrete is characterized by two parameters: fracture energy Gf and effective fracture process zone cf. Test results showed that with increasing volume fraction of aggregate in the range 45–75%: (1) the compressive strength of concrete decreases slightly (15%), and can be practically considered to be a constant; (2) fracture energy Gf varies within 25%, and there is not critical volume fraction which gives the maximum Gf; and (3) the size of the fracture process zone decreases, which may be explained by the change in coarseness of grain structures defined in terms of mosaic patterns.
Lemons Markets and the Transmission of Aggregate Shocks

I study a dynamic economy featuring adverse selection in asset markets. Borrowing-constrained entrepreneurs sell past projects to finance new investment, but asymmetric information creates a lemons problem. I show that this friction is equivalent to a tax on financial transactions. The implicit tax rate responds to aggregate shocks, generating amplification in the response of investment and cyclical variation in liquidity.
Automatic Design and Manufacture of Soft Robots

We present the automated design and manufacture of static and locomotion objects in which functionality is obtained purely by the unconstrained 3-D distribution of materials. Recent advances in multimaterial fabrication techniques enable continuous shapes to be fabricated with unprecedented fidelity unhindered by spatial constraints and homogeneous materials. We address the challenges of exploitation of the freedom of this vast new design space using evolutionary algorithms. We first show a set of cantilever beams automatically designed to deflect in arbitrary static profiles using hard and soft materials. These beams were automatically fabricated, and their physical performance was confirmed within 0.5-7.6% accuracy. We then demonstrate the automatic design of freeform soft robots for forward locomotion using soft volumetrically expanding actuator materials. One robot was fabricated automatically and assembled, and its performance was confirmed with 15% error. We suggest that this approach to design automation opens the door to leveraging the full potential of the freeform multimaterial design space to generate novel mechanisms and deformable robots.
The Effects of Low-Carbohydrate versus Conventional Weight Loss Diets in Severely Obese Adults: One-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Trial

Participants on a low-carbohydrate diet had better results overall at 1 year than those on a low-fat, restricted-calorie diet. Weight loss was the same in the 2 groups, but patients on the low-carb...
A minimal ligand binding pocket within a network of correlated mutations identified by multiple sequence and structural analysis of G protein coupled receptors

Background: G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are seven helical transmembrane proteins that function as signal transducers. They bind ligands in their extracellular and transmembrane regions and activate cognate G proteins at their intracellular surface at the other side of the membrane. The relay of allosteric communication between the ligand binding site and the distant G protein binding site is poorly understood. In this study, GREMLIN [1], a recently developed method that identifies networks of co-evolving residues from multiple sequence alignments, was used to identify those that may be involved in communicating the activation signal across the membrane. The GREMLIN-predicted long-range interactions between amino acids were analyzed with respect to the seven GPCR structures that have been crystallized at the time this study was undertaken. Results: GREMLIN significantly enriches the edges containing residues that are part of the ligand binding pocket, when compared to a control distribution of edges drawn from a random graph. An analysis of these edges reveals a minimal GPCR binding pocket containing four residues (T118 3.33 , M207 5.42 , Y268 6.51 and A292 7.39 ). Additionally, of the ten residues predicted to have the most long-range interactions (A117 3.32 , A272 6.55 , E113 3.28 , H211 5.46 , S186 EC2 , A292 7.39 , E122 3.37 , G90 2.57 , G114 3.29 and M207 5.42 ), nine are part of the ligand binding pocket. Conclusions: We demonstrate the use of GREMLIN to reveal a network of statistically correlated and functionally important residues in class A GPCRs. GREMLIN identified that ligand binding pocket residues are extensively correlated with distal residues. An analysis of the GREMLIN edges across multiple structures suggests that there may be a minimal binding pocket common to the seven known GPCRs. Further, the activation of rhodopsin involves these long-range interactions between extracellular and intracellular domain residues mediated by the retinal domain.
Exploring Reading Processes in an Academic Reading Test Using Short-Answer Questions

Integrated reading/writing tasks are becoming more common in large-scale language tests. Much of the research on these tasks has focused on writing through reading; assessing reading through writing is a less explored area. In this article we describe a reading-into-writing task that is intended to measure both reading comprehension and language use on an academic English test. The task involves responding to short-answer questions (SAQs) that require examinees to use their own words to state the main idea of a text, draw inferences, or synthesize information across multiple texts. The article presents results of a two-part study addressing the validity of this method of assessing reading by investigating the cognitive processes involved in responding to SAQs. First, we present the results of a qualitative study of five nonnative English-speaking students, who provided verbal protocols as they read the texts and responded to the SAQs. Next, we present data from a larger sample of students focusing specifi...
One-step saddlepoint approximations for quantiles

In this paper we propose two simple one-step methods for approximating distribution quantiles of statistics. The methods are derived by approximately inverting saddlepoint formulas for the cumulative distribution functions of the sample mean. The resulting formulas are suitable for use with a pocket calculator. Their extensions to conditional inference and finite population problems are also discussed.
Is new-onset diabetes of clinical significance in treated hypertensive patients?--Con.

There is little doubt that diabetes is more common in hypertensive than normotensive individuals. There are also some data suggesting that the use of certain antihypertensive agents, i.e., diuretics and more specifically some β blockers will increase the occurrence of new onset diabetes (NOD) when compared to other medications, especially angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers. The clinical significance of this l%–3.5% difference, however, has not been established. Different studies report different outcomes. In large outcome trials the occurrence of NOD did not effect mortality or morbidity outcomes. Although one study reported that NOD had the same prognosis as pretreatment diabetes, another did not. At present, data are insufficient to suggest that NOD is of important clinical significance or that present treatment recommendations, especially regarding the use of diuretics, should be changed.
The patenting process, innovation, and size

This paper focuses on the U.S. patenting process and how large and small entity inventors respond to it. In particular, a framework of patenting process events and activities related to success is developed and evaluated empirically, with a factor analysis revealing similarities and differences in the priorities of the two groups. The results have implications for both the conduct of the new product process under the law and for review and examination of public policy regarding patents.
`Exact' formulation for π-polarization waves of dynamical X-ray diffraction

Self-consistent formulae for treating the pi-polarization waves in two-beam X-ray diffraction from single crystals are refined within the Laue formalism. These formulae overcome the inverted Delta.D not equal 0 problem and avoid all the unnecessary approximations in previous dynamical theories. Therefore, they are as accurate as the formulae for sigma-polarization waves.
Baccalaureate student perceptions of challenging family problems: Building bridges to acceptance.

This study explored the attitudes of 147 undergraduate social work majors to working with difficult families. Students indicated which problems (from a list of 42, including hot topics such as homosexuality, transgender issues, abortion, and substance abuse) they believed they would find most difficult to work with and provided information regarding their own experience with these problems (personal or family, knowing of others with this situation, and no previous knowledge). Student reactions emerged in three qualitative domains: affective, cognitive, and experiential. Affective reactions tended to be strong and were reported in regard to issues such as abortion, religious differences, and abuse. Cognitive reactions tended to be categorized as “not knowing how” to work with the client or lack of training, while experiential reactions related to either personal experience or, the converse, no experience with the population. A better understanding of the nature of student barriers to working with particular family problems is useful for developing approaches that can reduce this reluctance through more inclusive educational experiences.
Evidence for two shield volcanoes exposed on the island of Kauai, Hawaii

The island of Kauai has always been interpreted as a single shield volcano, but lavas of previously correlated reversed-to-normal magnetic-polarity transitions on opposite sides of the island differ significantly in isotopic composition. Samples from west Kauai have 87Sr/86Sr 18.25; samples from east Kauai have 87Sr/86Sr > 0.7037, ϵNd ≤ 6.14, and 206Pb/204Pb < 18.25. Available data suggest that a younger eastern shield grew on the collapsed flank of an older western one.
Generalization of the One‐Dimensional Ising Model Applicable to Helix Transitions in Nucleic Acids and Proteins

The exact treatment of the Ising model for an infinite, one‐dimensional system has been generalized to make it applicable to the helix transition in synthetic polynucleotides, DNA, synthetic polypeptides, and proteins. The particular advantages of the present treatment are flexibility and generality: the free energies of sequences of similar units of any size can be assigned arbitrary values in the final equations; also ``mismatching'' between the two strands in a double helix is allowed for.Anderson's general theory of collision line broadening has been applied to H2O–N2 encounters. The only attractive force was assumed to be that between the H2O dipole, μ=1.87×10—18 esu, and the N2 quadrupole, qN2, an adjustable parameter. A second adjustable parameter, bm, the distance of closest approach, includes the effects of all other forces. The IBM 704 was used in the calculation. Effects of varying the parameters were noted for a number of lines, and in the final calculation, which yielded the widths of all sig...
Adherence of Bordetella pertussis to Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells

Adherence of Bordetella pertussis to ciliated respiratory tract mucosa is important in the pathogenesis of whooping cough. The adherence of B pertussis to human respiratory epithelial cells was investigated using cells obtained by brushing at bronchoscopy. B pertussis attached exclusively to the ciliary tufts of ciliated cells. A mean +/- SEM of 5.0 +/- 0.3 organisms attached per cell when bacteria in a concentration of 2 X 10(9)/ml were incubated with ciliated cells. Organisms examined by electron microscopy were found to adhere to the cilia both by direct apposition and by filaments coursing between bacteria and cilia. The specificity of the adherence of B pertussis to ciliary tufts may explain the unique ability of this organism to infect the human tracheobronchial mucosa.
Mapping stress and structurally controlled crustal shear velocity anisotropy in California

We present shear velocity anisotropy data from crustal earthquakes in California and demonstrate that it is often possible to discriminate structural anisotropy (polarization of the shear waves along the fabric of major active faults) from stress-induced anisotropy (polarization parallel to the maximum horizontal compressive stress). Stress directions from seismic stations located near (but not on) the San Andreas fault indicate that the maximum horizontal compressive stress is at a high angle to the strike of the fault. In contrast, seismic stations located directly on one of the major faults indicate that shear deformation has significantly altered the elastic properties of the crust, inducing shear-wave polarizations parallel to the fault plane.
Respiratory responses of ducks to simulated altitude

Abstract Domestic ducks were exposed to simulated altitudes of 0, 3000, 6000, and 9000 m in order to study the respiratory changes that take place. We found that the respiratory minute volume (ve, btps) increased with altitude, the increase being due to increased respiratory frequency while tidal volume (V t , btps ) showed only minor changes. The quantity of air moved (e, stpd), however, remained nearly unchanged with increasing altitude. The oxygen extraction, calculated as 1 —(FI n 2FEo2)/(FE n 2FIo2), remained constant at about 0.28 up to 6000 m and declined to 0.17 at 9000 m. The fractional gas concentrations (F o 2 and F co 2) m exhaled air and in the interclavicular and posterior thoracic air sacs changed only little up to 6000 m, but at 9000 m fo2increased and Fco2 decreased. The relative constancy of expired and air sac gas up to 6000 m seems remarkable. However, when applied to current models of air flow in the avian respiratory system the results seem fully explainable and permit a detailed analysis of the functioning of the avian respiratory system.
Immunologic response of rabbits to 6-aminopenicillanic acid.

Abstract Injection of rabbits with penicillin G, penicillin O, or penicillin V in Freund's adjuvant is followed by the appearance of antibody that agglutinates penicillin-sensitized rabbit erythrocytes. The immunologic specificity of the antibody is identical whether the serum studied is from an animal injected with penicillin G, penicillin O, or penicillin V. Administration of 6-APA to rabbits results in the formation of antibody with the same specificity as animals injected with penicillin G, penicillin O, or penicillin V. However, the amount of antibody produced in response to injection with 6-APA is much greater than with the complete penicillin molecule. On the basis of these results, it is postulated that 6-APA, or some derivative of it, is an important determinant group for the formation of penicillin antibody in the rabbit.
Clinical management of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with long-term sequelae of poliomyelitis

Thirty-three patients with long-term sequelae of poliomyelitis with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome established by either abnormal nerve conduction studies or previous carpal tunnel surgery were surveyed. There was no significant long-term resolution of symptoms in the patients who had surgery (n = 9) or were currently using wrist orthoses (n = 11) compared with patients without such treatment (n = 13). In patients who used a single cane or those who used crutches (N = 10), there was a direct correlation between the hand holding the cane or crutch and the hand in which carpal tunnel syndrome developed. The chronic use of cane and crutch predisposes these patients to development of carpal tunnel syndrome, and caution should be used when considering wrist surgery.
Non-gastrin, intestinal-phase secretion. Experimental confirmation in the dog.

Four mongrel dogs were prepared with a Heidenhain pouch, a gastric fistula, and a 90-cm-long Thiry-Vella loop. After recovery, dose-reponse curves were obtained with different doses of pentagastrin, and the maximal acid output was determined. The jejunal loop was perfused for 3 h with either 5% liver extract or with 0.15 M NaCl at a rate of 114 ml/h. To verify that the stomach could release gastrin and that the assay could detect that change, antral perfusion with liver extract was performed. Serum gastrin levels and acid output were measured every 30 min. Perfusion of the jejunal loop with liver extract resulted in a significant increase in acid output from the Heidenhain pouch and the gastric fistula, whereas perfusion with saline solution failed to show any changes. The magnitude of acid response from the Heidenhain pouch and gastric fistula was 11% and 18%, respectively, as compared with maximal pentagastrin stimulation. The serum gastrin levels remained unchanged during both liver extract and saline ...
24A. Hormesis and Integrative Medicine.

Focus Area: Integrative Approaches to Care The session will begin by outlining several examples of what appears to be unexplained or paradoxical effects of plant extracts or drugs given at low doses. We will then explore the definition, basic principles, and ramifications of a concept named “Hormesis.” This fascinating field of research examines the bio-stimulatory effects of numerous substances given at doses below the commonly believed threshold for an effective dose. Many substances that are inhibitory at high doses can stimulate at lower doses. We will look at the work of Edward Calabrese and the hormesis group at Massachusetts State University and others. After reviewing the meaning and biological basis of hormesis, we will look at examples of U-shaped dose-response curves for a variety of drugs and botanical substances. We will examine the applications of hormesis to therapy including (1) the ability of hormetic effects to switch on homeostatic mechanisms, (2) the implication of hormesis for adaptogenic effects, and (3) the often poorly understood incidences of hormesis in drug therapy—especially where there is overlap with conventional dosing. We will discuss highly critical topics such as, “What would be the results of a hormetic response to chemotherapy that resulted in the chemotherapy drug have a growth stimulatory effect on tumor cells?” and explore data that support this possibility. Finally, we'll look at connections between hormesis theory and research and the use of some common natural therapies, including some probable U-shaped dose-response curves for some important botanical medicines.
Rat polymerase β gapped DNA interactions: Antagonistic effects of the 5′ terminal PO4- group and magnesium on the enzyme binding to the gapped DNAs with different ssDNA gaps

The role of the 5′ terminal phosphate group downstream from the primer and magnesium cations in the energetics and dynamics of the gapped DNA recognition by rat polymerase β have been examined, using the fluorescence titration and stopped-flow techniques. The analyses have been performed with the entire series of gapped DNA substrates differing in the size of the ssDNA gap. The 5′ terminal phosphate group and magnesium cations exert antagonistic effect on enzyme binding to gapped DNA that depends on the length of the ssDNA gap. The PO 4 − group amplifies the differences between the substrates with different ssDNA gaps, while in the presence of magnesium, affinities and structural changes induced in the DNA are very similar among examined DNA substrates. Both, the phosphate group and Mg+2 differ dramatically in affecting the thermodynamic response of the gapped DNA-rat pol β system to the salt concentration. The data indicate that these distinct effects result from affecting the structure of the DNA, in the case of the phosphate group, and from direct magnesium binding to the protein. The mechanism of rat enzyme binding depends on the length of the ssDNA gap and the presence of the 5′ terminal phosphate group. Complex formation with DNAs having three, four, and five residues in the gap occurs by a minimum three-step sequential mechanism. Depending on the presence of the 5′ terminal phosphate group and/or magnesium, binding of the enzyme to a DNA containing two residues in the ssDNA gap is described by the same three-step or by a simpler two-step mechanism. With the DNA containing only one residue in the gap, binding is always described by only a two-step mechanism. The PO 4 − group and magnesium cations have opposite effects on internal stability of the complexes with different length of the ssDNA gap. While the PO 4 − group increases the stability of internal intermediates with the increasing length of the gap, Mg+2 decreases the stability of the intermediates with longer ssDNA gap. As a result, the combined favorable orientation effect of the phosphate group and the unfavorable Mg+2 effect lead to the optimal docking of the ssDNA gaps with three and four residues by the enzyme.
Bis(μ-N,N′-η2-N,O-η2-N′,O′-di(o-methoxyphenyl)formamidinato)disilver(I): an interesting coordination geometry for silver(I) and room temperature fluorescence

Abstract Reported here are the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization of the title disilver compound, which provides the first example of room temperature fluorescence from a d10–d10 compound. In addition to confirmation of the dinuclear nature of the compound, X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals an N2O2 (distorted) tetrahedral coordination for each silver(I) center.
Information access issues for interdisciplinary scholars: Results of a Delphi study on women's studies research

Abstract Using the Delphi technique, this study explored the information needs of faculty in a program long known to be transdisciplinary, namely Women's Studies. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for future research in collection development, instruction, and reference service.
Hybrid System For High Resolution Digital Video Densitometry

A high resolution hybrid system for video densitometry is introduced. The system utilizes 100 mm spot films taken directly from the output phosphor of an image intensifier. These images are magnified using a zoom lens and subsequently digitized by means of a Plumbicon TV camera and a Quantex DS-30 video image processor. The zoomed images are digitized in a 512x512 format with 8 bits/pixel. These images are then transferred into a Data General NOVA 3 computer for video densitometric analysis. The limiting resolution of the system is the resolution at the output phosphor of the image intensifier. Experimental results using phantoms to evaluate the hybrid system's ability to quantitate percentage stenosis are presented.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and venous thromboembolism: a prospective study.

Introduction Plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an inflammatory marker associated positively with atherothrombotic risk. Whether Lp-PLA2 is related to risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is incompletely studied.
Synaptic Calcium Regulation in Hair Cells of the Chicken Basilar Papilla

Cholinergic inhibition of hair cells occurs by activation of calcium-dependent potassium channels. A near-membrane postsynaptic cistern has been proposed to serve as a store from which calcium is released to supplement influx through the ionotropic ACh receptor. However, the time and voltage dependence of acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked potassium currents reveal a more complex relationship between calcium entry and release from stores. The present work uses voltage steps to regulate calcium influx during the application of ACh to hair cells in the chicken basilar papilla. When calcium influx was terminated at positive membrane potential, the ACh-evoked potassium current decayed exponentially over ∼100 ms. However, at negative membrane potentials, this current exhibited a secondary rise in amplitude that could be eliminated by dihydropyridine block of the voltage-gated calcium channels of the hair cell. Calcium entering through voltage-gated channels may transit through the postsynaptic cistern, since ryanodine and sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase blockers altered the time course and magnitude of this secondary, voltage-dependent contribution to ACh-evoked potassium current. Serial section electron microscopy showed that efferent and afferent synaptic structures are juxtaposed, supporting the possibility that voltage-gated influx at afferent ribbon synapses influences calcium homeostasis during long-lasting cholinergic inhibition. In contrast, spontaneous postsynaptic currents (“minis”) resulting from stochastic efferent release of ACh were made briefer by ryanodine, supporting the hypothesis that the synaptic cistern serves primarily as a calcium barrier and sink during low-level synaptic activity. Hypolemmal cisterns such as that at the efferent synapse of the hair cell can play a dynamic role in segregating near-membrane calcium for short-term and long-term signaling.
Modeling progressive damage in composites: a shear deformable element for ABAQUS®

The motivation for the present work is to enable a designer to model composite structures with plate/shell elements that capture a three-dimensional state of stress for damage progression. This is accomplished by incorporating a shear deformable composite element with built-in progressive damage capability into a commercial finite element program, ABAQUS®, as a user element. The user element's ability to capture a three-dimensional state of stress with damage progression is displayed in two example problems of composite plates.
Dynamic response of lined tunnels by an isoparametric boundary element method

Abstract This work investigates the dynamic stress concentration in the lining of a circular cylindrical tunnel excavated in a linear elastic or viscoelastic medium of infinite extent under conditions of plane strain. The dynamic load consists of planar waves of a general transient nature. The numerical method employed is the boundary element method formulated in the Laplace transformed domain. A numerical inverse transformation is used to bring the results obtained by the boundary element method back to the time domain. Isoparametric boundary elements are utilized in the discretization of the surfaces of the problem. The results obtained are in very good agreement with known analytic solutions, while they compare favorably with other numerical solutions. The method is quite general and can be used for cylindrical tunnels of arbitrary cross-section.
Diabetes and risk of bladder cancer: evidence from a case-control study in New England.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is an emerging public health issue in the US, affecting 11% of Americans over the age of 20, with long-term complications that include cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. A recent meta-analysis found that bladder cancer incidence was approximately 40% higher in individuals with diabetes; however, few studies considered duration or type of therapy and had limited adjustment for potentially confounding factors. METHODS: To further investigate the potential role of diabetes in risk of bladder cancer, the authors analyzed data from a case-control study conducted in New Hampshire in which patients with bladder cancer, and controls sampled from the population, completed an interview regarding history of diabetes, cigarette smoking history, height, weight, and history of urinary tract infections. RESULTS: The study consisted of 331 cases and 263 controls on whom information regarding diabetes was ascertained. History of diabetes was related to an increased bladder cancer risk (adjusted odds ratio = 2.2, 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.8). The association was strongest in those who had diabetes for the longest duration (OR for 16 or more years = 3.6, 1.1 to 11.2) and in those taking oral hypoglycemic medications (OR = 3.3, 1.5 to 7.1). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support an association between bladder cancer incidence and diabetes, and further suggest that the risk may be greater among patients taking oral hypoglycemics and those with diabetes of longer duration. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Reply to: Roberts

In his critique of my views on supererogation, Rodney Roberts (Philosophia, 2014) claims that I treat care ethics as having a more general moral validity than other care ethicists do. He also claims that the kind of sentimentalism I espouse doesn’t sufficiently emphasize sentiment and then goes on to question what I say about supererogation. But in fact other care ethicists also think care ethics can cover the whole of morality, and my sentimentalism emphasizes sentiment just as much and as little as that paradigm sentimentalist Francis Hutcheson does. Further, the critique Roberts makes of my view on supererogation doesn’t allow for the full range of possible cases of supererogation.
The surgical management of pulmonary metastasis: current concepts.

Lung metastases have been found in 25-30% of all patients with cancer at autopsy. Those patients satisfying criteria for surgical resection represent a much smaller subgroup. Given the potentially curative nature of pulmonary metastasectomy in the absence of disseminated disease, it has become widely accepted as an important treatment option for a variety of malignancies with metastasis to the lungs. A standardized approach remains unfounded however, given limited numbers of patients, various histologic subtypes and few published studies utilizing randomized prospective methodology.Ultimately, the development of metastasis represents a major determinant of survival for patients with cancer. Pulmonary metastasectomy is an important treatment modality for patients with metastatic pulmonary disease. The indications for pulmonary metastasectomy and the surgeon's role in pulmonary metastatic disease continue to evolve. Future prospective studies and the compilation of comparable data yielding prognostic factors for specific histologies will better define indications for resection.
Malignant cylindroma of the scalp arising in a setting of multiple cylindromatosis: a case report.

An unusual case of malignant cylindroma of the scalp arising in a 79-year-old white female with multiple cylindromatosis is presented. The tumor apparently arose from a cylindroma and had features of spiradenoma. Multiple cylindromatosis is an uncommon hereditary autosomal dominant disease, which is characterized by multiple skin adnexal tumors like cylindromas and trichoepitheliomas and occasional spiradenomas. Cylindroma is an uncommon benign tumor, which originates from skin appendages and is most commonly found on the scalp and face with a strong predilection for middle-aged and elderly females. Although cylindromas are usually benign neoplasms, carcinoma arising in such neoplasms is rare with only sporadic reports in literature. Her family history was negative for a similar disease. The patient’s main concern was painful lesions over her right ear that interfered with wearing of her glasses. The clinical, histological immunohistochemical features, and treatment are presented along with a review of the literature.
Matrix of Power: Tantra, Kingship, and Sacrifice in the Worship of Mother Goddess Kāmākhyā

Because the Goddess has come to the great mountain Nīlakūa to have sexual enjoyment with me [Śiva], she is called Kāmākhyā, who resides there in secret. Because she gives love, is a loving woman, i...
Airway Management for Pediatric Emergencies

Several factors increase the difficulty and urgency of airway management in children in the emergency setting. Early and appropriate airway management are of prime importance in improving the outcome of such patients. The major decision points of airway management include one's assessment of the airway and ability to perform endotracheal intubation. If the airway is judged to be normal, oral endotracheal intubation following sedation and neuromuscular blockade is suggested. Rapid sequence intubation to prevent acid aspiration should be used. While the medications for airway management generally are administered intravenously, it should be kept in mind that intraosseous access is an acceptable alternative for the administration of several different agents, including those used for endotracheal intubation. If the airway cannot be secured following the administration of anesthetic and neuromuscular blocking agents, the ASA algorithm for the "cannot intubate/cannot ventilate" scenario should be followed (Figure). When the airway is judged to be abnormal, one of the above described awake techniques may be used. While there is ample literature concerning these techniques in adults, their use in children has been limited. Most importantly, considerable practice may be required to become and stay facile with many of these "alternative techniques" of airway management. In certain circumstances, surgical cricothyrotomy should be considered as an alternative to airway management. Regardless of the technique chosen, appropriate personnel and preparation are mandatory to ensure the safe and effective management of the airway in the pediatric trauma patient. Due to the various skills and expertise of different subspecialists, a multidisciplinary approach to such patients is recommended. Such an approach may include pediatricians, emergency room physicians, surgical subspecialists, anesthesiologists, and critical care physicians.
Metabolic differences in Zea-Glomus-Azospirillum symbioses

Abstract Zea mays L. (cv. Early Sunglow) plants were inoculated with either the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus etunicatum , with a strain of Azospirillum brasilense , or with both endophytes together. All plants were grown in a relatively fertile, peat-based potting mix to minimize differences in macronutrient assimilation between treatments. In addition, non-inoculated maize plants were fertilized with amounts of N and P that had been found to compensate for the input of nutrients following colonization by Azospirillum or Glomus . In general, maize plants colonized by Glomus contained more Zn and Cu, but less P, starch, proline, threonine and alanine than corresponding P-fertilized plants. Corn plants colonized by Azospirillum contained less N, soluble sugars, soluble protein, leucine and isoleucine. but more leaf area and glutamate than corresponding N-fertilized plants. Roots of mycorrhizal plants contained a number of lipids [fatty acids 16:1(11 c ), 18:3 (6,9,12), 20:3, 20:4 and 20:5] not found in P-fertilized controls. The physiology of the plants inoculated with G. etunicatum or A. brasilense was altered in a manner independent of host mineral status.
Success factors of platform leadership in web 2.0 service business

The purpose of this study is to investigate the critical success factors of platform leadership in the Web 2.0 based service business environment. Because of the lack of theoretical foundation for this topic, we adopted relevant theory and case study analyses. Representative Web 2.0 firms which have developed platform leadership were chosen and analyzed on the basis of previous research on platform strategy through spider web analysis. This study shows that Web 2.0 firms such as Google, Flickr, and Salesforce.com differ in their competitive capabilities for platform leadership. The result of this research suggests that platform leadership in the Web 2.0 era depends on five interdependent dimensions: innovation ability, connectivity, complementarities, efficiency, and network effects.
INFLUENCE OF ACID RELATED MANUFACTURING PRACTICES ON PROPERTIES OF COTTAGE CHEESE CURD

The influences of selected manufacturing practices on textural and physical properties of cottage cheese curd were investigated. The rate of acid development of lactic microorganisms used in making culture set curd and the pH of cutting of the curd were varied using pilot scale cheese making equipment. Culture set curd was compared with curd made by the direct acid set method. The pH of cutting influenced curd properties, although the rate of acid development did not. Textural properties of acid set curd differed significantly from those of culture set curd.
Millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of highly excited states of water

To facilitate studies of water in the interstellar medium and late-type stars, the frequencies of 30 new millimeter- and submillimeter-wave transitions of H2O-16 have been measured, which lie between 100 GHz and 600 GHz. This represents almost a doubling of the number of water lines that have been observed in the laboratory in this spectral region at high resolution. All of the newly observed lines are highly excited, lying between 2400 and 4200/cm above the ground level. Some of these have large excitation energies because of their high rotational states and others because they lie in excited vibrational states. These lines are potentially of substantial astrophysical significance because they are related to the study of interstellar masers and because their high excitation eliminates the atmospheric self-absorption associated with the more well-known water lines.
Effect of pretreatment on Pt–Co/C cathode catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

In order to reduce the precious metal loading without sacrificing activity and stability, a new method for the preparation of bimetallic catalysts is proposed. Currently, Pt-alloy particles, with 2 to 3 nm in diameter, are loaded on high surface area carbon supports. Of the Pt loaded, only the surface atoms interact with the reactants. In order to increase the Pt utilization per metal particle the new process for catalyst preparation will incorporate a non-noble transition metal core coated with a skin layer of Pt deposited on high surface area carbon. The effect of reducing agent strength during synthesis was also explored. It was determined that the Co addition has a higher impact on catalyst when used with NaBH4 as reducing agent as compared to NaCOOH.
A dynamic plasticity analysis based on superposition of effects of moving dislocations

Abstract Plastic deformation of a material can be studied either by modelling the behavior through an appropriate constitutive equation or by examining the microscopical mechanisms responsible for the macroscopic deformation; ideally, one would like to have the two approaches bridged. A problem in dynamic plasticity, namely the decay of the leading wavefront of an elastoplastic plane pulse, has been recently reconsidered by R.J. Clifton and X. Markenscoff [1][2] on the basis of the wavelets radiated by the dislocations set in motion by the incident wave and superposition of that effect to obtain the total macroscopic response, i.e. the amplitude decay. Essentially the dissipated energy of the incident pulse has been scattered by the dislocations into the three-dimensional space and one can predict this dissipative effect by the appropriate superposition of the individual responses. We will describe below the main features of this model and the superposition technique (which were analyzed in [1] and [2]) and further extend it to include anisotropic materials.
Piezoelectric Actuators for Distributed Vibration Excitation of Thin Plates

The results demonstrate that modes can be selectively excited and that the geometry of the actuator shape markedly affects the distribution of the response among modes. It thus appears possible to tailor the shape of the actuator to either excite or suppress particular modes leading to improved control behavior