cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stochastic choice of basis functions in adaptive function approximation and the functional-link net

A theoretical justification for the random vector version of the functional-link (RVFL) net is presented in this paper, based on a general approach to adaptive function approximation. The approach consists of formulating a limit-integral representation of the function to be approximated and subsequently evaluating that integral with the Monte-Carlo method. Two main results are: (1) the RVFL is a universal approximator for continuous functions on bounded finite dimensional sets, and (2) the RVFL is an efficient universal approximator with the rate of approximation error convergence to zero of order O(C//spl radic/n), where n is number of basis functions and with C independent of n. Similar results are also obtained for neural nets with hidden nodes implemented as products of univariate functions or radial basis functions. Some possible ways of enhancing the accuracy of multivariate function approximations are discussed. >
Characterization of the SV40 T antigen

Abstract Specific immunosorbents, which were prepared by coupling the IgG fraction of hamster antiserum to Sephadex G-25 or to agarose A 150 m, were used to isolate SV40 T antigen from SV40-infected and transformed cells. By electrophoresis in SDS-polyacrylamide gels the T protein has an estimated molecular size of 70,000. Treatment of this protein with 8 M urea, 0.05 acetic acid or with 6 M guanidine HCl, did not result in a dissociation into smaller subunits. The T protein has a high ratio of tryptophan to arginine, suggesting that T is not a histonelike protein. Analysis of purified SV40 full particles indicated that the T protein is not a viral structural component and that it is not a precursor of a viral structural protein.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the Subunit PsaC Establishes a Surface-Exposed Domain Interacting with the Photosystem I Core Binding Site†

We have postulated that the orientation of PsaC on the photosystem I core involves electrostatic interactions between charged residues on the core binding site and the subunit [Rodday, S. M., Jun, S.-S., & Biggins, J. (1993) Photosynth. Res. 36, 1-9]. We, therefore, changed eight acidic residues on PsaC to arginine and examined the efficiency of the mutant subunits in the reconstitution of P700-Fx cores in vitro. Reconstitution of the cores by the mutant subunits was determined by analysis of the kinetics of recombination reactions between P700+ and reduced acceptors as measured optically. Restoration of complete forward electron transfer, indicative of efficient subunit binding, was estimated from the ca. 30 ms decay component in the flash transients. Slightly reduced levels of reconstitution were observed for the mutants D24R, E46R/D47R. D61R, and E72R. In contrast, mutants D9R, E27R, and D32R showed significantly lower efficiencies. The presence of the iron-sulfur centers, FA and FB, in these three mutant subunits was confirmed by low-temperature EPR spectroscopy indicating that the polypeptides had folded correctly. We conclude that the introduction of positively charged side chains at positions 9, 27, and 32 seriously disrupts PsaC binding. However, when the wild-type acidic residues in these positions were changed to alanine, only mutant D9A showed a reduced level of reconstitution, suggesting that this aspartate is the most important residue participating in the electrostatic interaction with the core. The results are discussed in relation to the photosystem I crystal structure and support an orientation of PsaC on the core such that center FB is proximal to Fx.
Stochastic theory of transport in inhomogeneous media

Abstract Diffusive transport in porous media is analysed herein as a stochastic process by means of a formalism for self-correlated random walks. The usual effective diffusivity representation is rigorously justified upon passing to the continuum limit of the concentration field, and it is demonstrated that for random networks the resulting tortuosity is a process parameter dependent (weakly) on temperature, pressure and the diffusing species, and not a porous medium property alone. The predicted values of the tortuosity are found to be in the range of about 6–8 for pore size distributions typical of catalyst particles, and 30 and upwards for those corresponding to carbonaceous materials, consistent with experimental evidence.
Reliability of the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program for the Analysis of Voice Samples of Subjects With Dysarthria

Computer-based analysis systems are increasingly available for the clinical assessment of speech and voice functions. These systems have the potential to provide immediate quantitative information to assist clinical assessment and treatment. The Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) is a computer program that can calculate as many as 33 acoustic parameters from a voice sample. The MDVP appears to have potential for rapid quantitative assessments of voice in both research and clinical applications. This report evaluates the robustness and reliability of MDVP for vocal analyses of 32 individuals with dysarthria of various etiologies. It is concluded that the reliability is generally very good and that MDVP has potential as a tool for the semi-automatic analysis of voice samples in dysarthria. Some parameters appear to hold particular value in the description of voice qualities in these speech disorders.
If You Build It, They Will Assess It (or, An Open Letter to George Kuh, with Love and Respect)

In the scholarship of evaluating student assessment, no group does it as well as the Indiana University scholars engaged in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). More than 1,400 institutions employ the NSSE as a tool for better understanding their students'involvement, integration, and engagement. However, this special issue of The Review of Higher Education raises genuine concerns in the design and psychometrics of the SSE instruments. The authors carefully set out the structural flaws they have identified and offer thoughtful suggestions to improve the project. The preface urges NSSE respondents to these respectful critiques to show the same sensibility that the featured authors have shown to NSSE, beginning by acknowledging the critical literature.
Composition of mouse peritoneal macrophage phospholipid molecular species.

The individual molecular species composition of diacyl, alkylacyl and alkenylacyl glycerophospholipids was determined in mouse peritoneal macrophages. A marked deterogeneity in the relative composition (mol%) of macrophage ether and ester phospholipid individual species was noted. High concentrations of 16∶0–20∶4 were found in ether phospholipids such as alkenylacyl glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE; 27.5 mol%) and alkylacyl glycerophosphocholine (GPC; 16.6%) as compared to mol % levels of 16∶0–20∶4 in diacyl GPE (5.7%) and diacyl GPC (8.1%), respectively. Interestingly, alkenylacyl GPE was highly enriched in 1-ether (16∶0) relative to alkylacyl GPC. The predominant diacyl molecular species in glycerophosphoinositol (GPI) and glycerophosphoserine (GPS) were 18∶0–20∶4 (59.1%) and 16∶0–18∶1 (41.1%), respectively. It is noteworthy that the level of 18∶0–20∶4 was several times higher in diacyl GPI (59.1%) than in diacyl GPS (11.1%), diacyl GPE (25.7%), and diacyl GPC (3.7%). The most abundant molecular species in diacyl GPC and diacyl GPE were 16∶0–18∶1 (29.9%) and 18∶0–20∶4 (25.7%), respectively. The abundance of 20∶4 in ether phospholipids, specifically 16∶0–20∶4 and 18∶0–20∶4, in alkylacyl GPC is significant in view of the role these antecedents play in the biosynthesis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and 20∶4-derived eicosanoids in stimulated macrophages. The unique molecular species composition of the peritoneal macrophage distinguishes this cell type from others.
The Emergence of a Transnational Social Formation and The Mirage of Return Migration Among Dominican Transmigrants

Using a transnational perspective, this article analyzes the soriocul‐tural and political transformation of US‐Dominican transmigrants who have relocated to the Dominican Republic as one step in their transnational journey. Transmigrants and their society of origin have forged a dense web of transnational relations that unites them in a continuous transterritorial social formation. This formation is evident in the incessant back and forth traveling and multidirectional exchanges of material and intangible resources and symbols between the US and the DR. Transmigration has spread people's lives across national borders and generated a transnational habitus. Thus, even transmigrants who resettle in the DR maintain enduring transnational relationships. However, instead of being a social equalizer that empowers all migrants alike, transnational migration tends to reproduce and even exacerbate class, gender, and regional inequalities. Finally, internal and transnational migration seem to form a single system co...
An Ice Breeze Mechanism for an Ice Divergence-Convergence Criterion in the Marginal Ice Zone

Abstract A coupled air-ice-ocean theoretical model for the marginal ice zone (MIZ) is developed and used to show that an off-ice and divergent wind field not only produces a dilation of the MIZ (as is generally thought), but also generates a compaction of MIZ for some circumstances. An ice divergence-convergence criterion in the MIZ is found and used to help explain some features, such as ice edge bands, and the formation and maintenance of polynyas and leads. The model contains three parts: a thermally forced boundary layer air flow, a mechanically driven ice drift, and a reduced gravity ocean. The three components are linked through the surface temperature gradient and various interfacial stresses. Model results show that in the MIZ, a thermally generated surface wind blowing from ice to water (ice breeze) is generally divergent over ice owing to the maximum surface temperature gradient located at the ice edge. Such divergent local winds can make the ice flow either divergent or convergent depending on ...
Modeling and predicting the compression strength limiting mechanisms in Z-pinned textile composites

Motivated by experimental results on Z-pinned plain weave glass fiber textile composites that show kink banding of fiber tows to be a strength limiting mechanism of failure in compression, computational results are presented for the effects of Z-pin diameter and Z-pin density on compression strength. Distortion to the textile fiber tows introduced by the insertion of Z-pins is found to be the dominant cause for initiating kink bands while the type of bond between the Z-pin and the surrounding matrix is found to influence the post-kinking response. When the Z-pin diameter remains unchanged, the composite strength decreases as the Z-pin density increases, while, when the Z-pin density is fixed, the composite strength decreases as the Z-pin diameter decreases in agreement with experimental observations.
Behavior problems and placement change in a national child welfare sample: a prospective study

Objective There is ongoing debate regarding the impact of youth behavior problems on placement change in child welfare compared to the impact of placement change on behavior problems. Existing studies provide support for both perspectives. The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the relations of behavior problems and placement change in a nationally representative sample of youths in the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Method The sample consisted of 500 youths in the child welfare system with out-of-home placements over the course of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being study. We used a prospective cross-lag design and path analysis to examine reciprocal effects of behavior problems and placement change, testing an overall model and models examining effects of age and gender. Results In the overall model, out of a total of eight path coefficients, behavior problems significantly predicted placement changes for three paths and placement change predicted behavior problems for one path. Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at baseline predicted placement change between baseline and 18 months. Behavior problems at an older age and externalizing behavior at 18 months appear to confer an increased risk of placement change. Of note, among female subjects, placement changes later in the study predicted subsequent internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Conclusions In keeping with recommendations from a number of professional bodies, we suggest that initial and ongoing screening for internalizing and externalizing behavior problems be instituted as part of standard practice for youths entering or transitioning in the child welfare system.
Studies of lignin biosynthesis using isotopic carbon. IV. Formation from some aromatic monomers.

Studies have been carried out on the transformation of some C14- labelled aromatic monomers into the lignin residues which yield phenolic aldehydes on nitrobenzene oxidation. The dilution of the radioactive carbon during transformation of the administered precursor to the aldehyde-yielding residue has been taken as a criterion of its efficiency as a lignin precursor. In wheat plants, substances with a phenylmethane (C6, C1) skeleton are not, in general, efficient precursors, although the carbon-14 of vanillin and p-hydroxybenzoic acid is incorporated appreciably into parts of the lignin. In contrast, several substances with a phenylpropane (C6, C3) structure—phenylalanine, tyrosine, and cinnamic acid—are readily transformed to two or more of the three lignin residues, and ferulic acid is very efficiently converted to the guaiacyl part of lignin. Degradation experiments indicate that the aromatic ring and at least the adjacent side chain carbon of the C6, C3 compounds are incorporated as a unit. Preliminar...
RNA-guided isomerization of uridine to pseudouridine—pseudouridylation

Box H/ACA ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), each consisting of one unique guide RNA and 4 common core proteins, constitute a family of complex enzymes that catalyze, in an RNA-guided manner, the isomerization of uridines to pseudouridines (Ψs) in RNAs, a reaction known as pseudouridylation. Over the years, box H/ACA RNPs have been extensively studied revealing many important aspects of these RNA modifying machines. In this review, we focus on the composition, structure, and biogenesis of H/ACA RNPs. We explain the mechanism of how this enzyme family recognizes and specifies its target uridine in a substrate RNA. We discuss the substrates of box H/ACA RNPs, focusing on rRNA (rRNA) and spliceosomal small nuclear RNA (snRNA). We describe the modification product Ψ and its contribution to RNA function. Finally, we consider possible mechanisms of the bone marrow failure syndrome dyskeratosis congenita and of prostate and other cancers linked to mutations in H/ACA RNPs.
Purification of Nucleic Acids in Microfluidic Devices

The functionality of micropillars, microposts, silica beads, silica particles, sol−gels, and porous monoliths provides a framework for sample preparation and analysis for an integrated microfluidic system.
Bulk and interface Gap states in a-Si:H: A comparative study of field effect and capacitance measurements on codeposited samples

Abstract Pseudogap density of states (DOS) estimates from field effect, Schottky diode and M-I-S tunnel diode admittance measurements on several sets of identically prepared, codeposited a-Si:H samples are reported. Additional measurements of composition, optical absorption, electronic transport, photoconductivity and photoluminescence yield consistent parameters from sample to sample. The field effect-derived DOS is shown to depend strongly on the properties of the film/substrate interface: equivalent bulk DOS estimates range from 5 × 10 16 to greater than 10 19 eV −1 cm −3 at the Fermi level. Schottky diode admittance data provide DOS values of 1 × 10 16 eV −1 cm −3 for all the samples measured, consistent with the reproducibility of the other bulk parameters. The M-I-S data indicate that the dominant contribution to the M-I-S space-charge layer is due to interfacial, rather than bulk gap states. Because of the rather large and unpredictable density of interface states (10 11 – 10 12 eV −1 cm −2 , field effect is found unsuitable for characterizing bulk DOS, while Schottky diode admittance experiments give reasonably consistent estimates for bulk DOS at the Fermi level.
A reassessment of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in diabetic pregnancy

Abstract We assessed maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations in 227 diabetic women who belonged to different groups of White's classification but found no difference either between the insulin-dependent and the normative population or between the former and diabetics who were not insulin-dependent. By contrast, we found in maternal blood a marked, statistically significant inverse correlation between maternal serum AFP and the concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin in maternal blood assayed within 6 weeks of each other in mid-gestation (r = −0.4, p
The microwave spectrum, dipole moment and low frequency vibrational states for phosphabenzene

Abstract The microwave spectrum of the ground vibrational state and seven lowfrequency vibrational states for phosphabenzene (C5H5P) have been assigned. The small positive inertial defect and the alternation of intensities due to nuclear spin statistics for the ground state confirm a plannar structure with C2v symmetry. A PC bond distance of 1.70–1.73 A and 〈CPC of 101°–104° were estimated based on plausible assumptions for the other ring parameters. Four low-frequency fundamental modes of vibration were identified and vibrational assignments discussed. The nuclear spin statistics indicate that three of these modes were antisymmetric to the C2 axis while one mode was symmetric. The dipole moment has been determined as 1.54±0.02 D.
A Numerical Study of the Compression and Shear Failure of Woven Carbon-Carbon Laminates

A finite element analysis was performed to determine the influence of microstructural inhomogeneities on the compressive and shear strength of 2-D carbon-carbon laminates. In particular, the effects of amplitude and distribution of the fiber bundle crimps, and lengths and distribution of the interply and transverse bundle cracks are determined. The results of the numerical study are successfully compared with experimental observations made in an earlier study under compression and shear loading. Under a warp-aligned compression load, the local material parameter which controls the overall instability in the form of multiple interply delaminations is the critical energy release rate for growth of pre-existing interply cracks, except for when the maximum length of these cracks is less than 0.6 mm when the failure is through bundle kink-induced shear faulting. For all pre-existing crack lengths, the same parameter was responsible for initiating a planar shear fault following the crimp boundaries under an interlaminar shear loading. Accordingly, the numerical cell-model considered here conforms to the above mechanism by allowing the participation of the energy release rate as the failure parameter.
The comparative in vitro susceptibility of cefazolin-resistant organisms to six cephalosporins, four penicillins, and three aminoglycosides

One thousand thirty-seven cefazolin-resistant, gram-negative clinical isolates including members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, pseudomonads, and other nonfermenters were tested against a variety of newer antimicrobial agents by microdilution. Most of the Enterobacteriaceae were resistant to the second-generation cephalosporins, but highly susceptible to the thirdgeneration agents and the broad-spectrum penicillins, 90% of the strains being inhibited at attainable serum concentrations. Cefoperazone and the penicillins had good activity against the Pseudomonas species, but the aminaglycasides remained the mast active agents against all the gram-negative bacilli tested except Pseudomanas maltaphilia. Prior to the release of new antimicrobia] agents, reports will appear in the medical and microbiological literature summarizing the spectrum and in vitro efficacy of the agents. The data in such reports usually represent cross sections of populations of stock strains or large numbers of clinical isolates which are not selected because of their susceptibility to the older, less expensive, and more commonly used antimicrobial agents. In this study, we chose only organisms resistant to a first-generation cephalosporin, cefazolin, for evaluation with the newer, recently released antimicrobial agents. This was facilitated by a "restrictive testing and reporting system" in use in this laboratory for the past year and a half. Only gram-negative bacteria that were resistant to cefazolin would automatically be tested against a variety of newer antimicrobial agents. The following is the accumulated data we collected on these cefazolin-resistant organisms. The following [~-lactam type (or derivative) antimicrobial agents were tested: cefazolin (Smith Kline and French Laboratories), cefamandole (Lilly Research Laboratories), cefoxitin (Merck, Sharp & Dohme), cefoperazone (Roerig, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals), cefotaxime (Hoechst-Roussel), ceftizoxime (Smith Kline and
Genetic mapping of the Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide to mouse Chromosome 12

Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago and Westside VAMC, 840 S. Wood St. M/C 787, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
Effects of mammalian and avian gonadotropins on in vitro progesterone production by avian ovarian granulosa cells.

Abstract Chicken ovarian granulosa cells were incubated in vitro following their preparation by collagenase treatment. The secretion of progesterone by the cell suspension was increased (between 2.3- and 3.8-fold) by the addition of either avian or mammalian luteinizing hormone (LH). The effectiveness of chicken gonadotropin fractions in stimulating progesterone release agrees well with their known LH contents. The addition of an antiserum against avian LH, to the incubation, blocked the effect of chicken LH on progesterone release. Mammalian FSH induced small (20 to 70%) increases in progesterone secretion.
Cholesterol and lipoproteins : beyond atherogenesis

Although much emphasis has been placed on the role of cholesterol and lipoproteins in atherosclerotic plaque formation, recent studies suggest that lipids have other vascular actions which may contribute to the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia. These include deleterious effects of lipids on platelet and endothelial cell function, coagulation, fibrinolysis, and prostacyclin metabolism. The purpose of this report is to review recent data regarding the nonatherogenic effects of lipids and provide insight as to how lipid lowering might contribute to clinically important improvements in vascular biology.
Vaccination against Furunculosis in Arctic Char: Efficacy of a Commercial Vaccine

Abstract Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus are susceptible to furunculosis, a serious bacterial disease that affects the productivity of salmonid farms around the world. The objective of this laboratory study was to evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available vaccine against furunculosis in two strains of Arctic char. Labrador and Nauyuk char were injected with Aqua Health Furogen 2 or 0.9% NaCl. At 87 and 108 d postvaccination, fish were challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida by immersion. In both challenges, the Aqua Health vaccine provided significant protection against furunculosis; percent cumulative mortality was significantly (P = 0.005) greater for the fish vaccinated with 0.9% NaCl than for those vaccinated with Furogen 2. Strain (P = 0.30), days since vaccination (P = 0.38), and the interaction between vaccine and strain (P = 0.40) were not significant. The point estimate for the preventive fraction (PF) was greater than 0.90 for the Labrador fish vaccinated with Furogen 2; for the Nauyuk fish...
Interrelation among measurements of browning of processed potatoes and sugar components

A principal factor in assessment of quality of processed potato products is the Maillard-reaction-induced brown color which develops during processing (chips) or during subsequent storage (dehydrated dice). The present paper constitutes a statistical appraisal of the relationship between this browning and the individual reducing-sugar components of the raw tubers and dehydrated potato dice. Although correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9 (except for sucrose) comparison of standard errors of estimate and application of a parameter referred to herein as the “discriminatory index” reveals that sugar measurements, or combinations thereof, do not yield sufficient information to establish an exclusively complete causal relationship between reducing sugar components and extent and rate of browning. This is true despite the control or elimination of several factors usually overlooked in the pertinent measurements which might lead to the observed scatter. Possible auxiliary factors operating during the browning reaction, other than sugars and amino compounds, are discussed. Application of discriminatory indices to the data reveals reducing-sugar and glucose measurements as a more sensitive index of browning in potato chips than of browning rate of dehydrated potato dice. On the other hand, measurements of fructose and total sugar constitute equally reliable indices of both types of browning but at a lower sensitivity level. From the standpoint of prediction of quality of processed potato products in general, this analysis leads to the conclusion that subjective or semiquantitative appraisal of chip color may constitute at least as adequate an index of quality as any of the more elaborate objective measurements undertaken in the laboratory.
Sanctions Peers, and Deviance: Preliminary Models Of A Social Control Process*

Research on sanction threat-behavior relationships has suffered because investigators, using cross-sectional data, have failed to meet methodological requirements concerning the causal order of var...
In-situ Mössbauer spectroscopic study of the behaviour of tin(II) chloride during coal hydrogenation

Abstract In-situ Mossbauer spectroscopy has been used to study the catalytic role of SnCl 2 and its interaction with the IL6 coal during hydrogenation. The measurements have been recorded under three different atmospheres of nitrogen, hydrogen, and hydrogen in the presence of a heavy distillate solvent SRC-II. The study has shown that both tin and chlorine can enter the coal structure at an early stage of hydrogenation. The presence of chlorine has been shown to cause the cleavage of ether-oxygen linkages in the coal. Tin (II) sulphide is the predominant form of the catalyst after the hydrogenation and is the product of the scavenging of coal sulphur by tin. The study has also shown the formation of FeCl 2 · xH 2 0 ( x = 1, 2) as a result of the reaction between pyrrhotites (Fe (1− x ) S, formed by the decomposition of FeS 2 ) and hydrochloric acid in the nitrogen and the hydrogen atmospheres.
Shifting Priority from Treating a Case to Treating a Community

Major thrust of health policy of Government of Nepal is to reach out rural population with preventive, promotive and curative services through network of government health system. Sub Health Post (SHP), Health Post (HP) and Primary Health Center (PHC) are the major health service delivery institutions below district level to provide services to rural population.1 These health facilities are supposed to provide health services under the principle of primary health care. If we look at the policy regarding the health services to be provided by a SHP/HP, it is mostly health promotion and preventive health activities together with few curative services. However, current trends show that these health facilities are more focused on curative part with little attention on health promotion and prevention. Health providers are mainly concentrating on providing curative services like treating cases who visit these health facilities. Besides, they provide family planning services, prescribe medicines, treat diarrhea and pneumonia cases. They also provide immunization services which is one of the successful public health interventions of health sector. But, there are often gaps in educating/counseling the patients/care takers who come in to contact with the health workers which are important part of health promotional activities. If we look at the list of services to be provided by these health facilities, it is very clear that in every health program from family planning to immunization, there is provision of providing health promotional activities. In this context, one can argue that health workers at peripheral health facilities are now more clinically oriented. The situation is further worsened once the free health care services are introduced. In most of the health facilities, after the free health care policy was introduced, patient flow was sharply increased, however this increase is basically for getting curative care and free medicine. Due to the increase pressure of patient flow in the health facilities (which are already short of staff), staff have very few time for consultation with patients. As a result, health promotional activities will be sidelined more which is already given low priorities. But, it should not be concluded that free health care service is regressive for health promotional activities.
The Demand for Food Quality in Rural China

Many studies of food demand do not use actual prices but unit values, obtained by dividing expenditures by the quantity consumed. This can bias empirical analyses because unit values are not exogenous market prices; they reflect household food quality choices within each food category. This article develops a framework for assessing the resulting bias in income and price elasticities of demand and applies the framework to data for rural China. Empirical results indicate that households in rural China tend to consume higher-quality food as income increases, with a greater sensitivity to income for basic foods than for luxury foods. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Probing d-wave pairing correlations in the pseudogap regime of the cuprate superconductors via low-energy states near impurities

The issue of probing the pseudogap regime of the cuprate superconductors, specifically with regard to the existence and nature of superconducting pairing correlations of d-wave symmetry, is explored theoretically. It is shown that if the d-wave correlations believed to describe the superconducting state persist into the pseudogap regime, but with pair-potential phase fluctuations that destroy their long-range nature, then the low-energy quasiparticle states observed near extended impurities in the truly superconducting state should also persist as resonances in the pseudogap regime. The scattering of quasiparticles by these phase-fluctuations broadens what was (in the superconducting state) a sharp peak in the single-particle spectral function at low energy, as we demonstrate within the context of a simple model. This peak and its broadening are, in principle, accessible via scanning tunneling spectroscopy near extended impurities in the pseudogap regime. If so, such experiments would provide a probe of the extent to which d-wave superconducting correlations persist upon entering the pseudogap regime, thus providing a stringent diagnostic of the phase-fluctuation scenario.
S100B – A common connection between depression and cerebellar disorders

Abstract The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that differ in the extent of neuropathological involvement of cerebellum, brainstem, and basal ganglia. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as depressive and memory symptoms, are common presenting symptoms in SCA patients. A mechanistic connection between different regions of the brain involved in major depression comes from the down regulation of glial function. We hypothesize that the impaired S100B signaling pathway is a common link between SCA and major depression, and that the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with SCA are due to glial dysfunction in specific areas of the brain. Understanding of S100B dependent pathway will help develop new therapeutic strategies for treating cerebellar disorders and depression.
HIV-1 Nef Disrupts Antigen Presentation Early in the Secretory Pathway

Human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 Nef disrupts viral antigen presentation and promotes viral immune evasion from cytotoxic T lymphocytes. There is evidence that Nef acts early in the secretory pathway to redirect major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) from the trans-Golgi network to the endolysosomal pathway. However, a competing model suggests that Nef acts much later by accelerating MHC-I turnover at the cell surface. Here we demonstrate that Nef targets early forms of MHC-I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum by preferentially binding hypophosphorylated cytoplasmic tails. The Nef-MHC-I complex migrates normally into the Golgi apparatus but subsequently fails to arrive at the cell surface and become phosphorylated. Cell type-specific differences in the rate of MHC-I transport through the secretory pathway correlate with responsiveness to Nef and co-precipitation of adaptor protein 1 with the Nef.MHC-I complex. We propose that the assembly of a Nef.MHC-I.adaptor protein 1 complex early in the secretory pathway is important for Nef activity.
TinyPack XML: Real time XML compression for wireless sensor networks

Wireless networks possess significant limitations in bandwidth. Additionally, real-time networks cannot tolerate high latency. While some good XML compression algorithms exist, there remains a need for methods that reduce latency and bandwidth usage further in real time wireless applications. This paper presents a new compression scheme which reduces bandwidth while minimizing latency of XML data while in transit. XML structural data is reduced to format strings and arguments are sent as they are generated using modifications of real-time compression techniques specific to each data type. Methods are introduced to gracefully handle lost data in environments where delivery of all packets is not guaranteed. Performance evaluations show increased compression ratios and a decrease in latency and energy for our method compared to existing XML data compression approaches.
Liquid Crystal Alignment Method for Long Lifetime Tilted-Perpendicular Light Valves

Abstract A new technique for tilted-perpendicular alignment (TPA) of liquid crystals on surfaces greatly improved the photostability of the photoactivated liquid crystal light valves (LCLVs) with negative dielectric anisotropy liquid crystals. The operation of surface-perpendicular aligned LCLVs provided a very dark off-state, high contrast images, and high light throughput efficiency. Alkoxy groups bonded on angle-deposited SiO2 gave controlled TPA, in which the tilt angle of LC on the treated surfaces was primarily dependent on the thickness of the shallow-angle deposited SiO2 layer. We have demonstrated improved photostability to high intensity light exposures using this TPA method in hermetically sealed cells. Projection LCLVs with very high contrast and with greater than 10,000 hours of operational stability at 2000 lumens, were obtained using this new TPA method and more stable liquid crystal mixtures.
The Modular Multiprocessor-A Model for Laboratory Instrument Design

By using off-the-shelf microcomputer modules to implement a software-reconfigurable architecture, a group of designers built a system particularly well-suited to the demands of the laboratory.
Absorption of sound in helium vapor

We have studied the absorption of sound in helium vapor using a broad band heat pulse technique. The results are in good accord with classical hydrodynamics and with experimental values of the viscosity and thermal conductivity.
Onset and duration of action of rocuronium in children receiving chronic anticonvulsant therapy.

The onset and time course of action of rocuronium in normal children and children receiving anticonvulsant drugs for prolonged periods was characterized. A single bolus dose of 0.6 mg.kg-1 rocuronium was administered i.v. to seven nonepileptic patients on no medication, and eight patients on chronic anticonvulsant therapy consisting of either phenytoin, carbamazepine, or both who were age and weight matched. Neuromuscular transmission was monitored by the evoked compound electromyography of the thenar muscles using train of four stimulation every 20 s. Recovery times of the first twitch to 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of baseline values and recovery index were obtained. The onset times were 1.05+/-0.5 and 1.41+/-0.5 min for the control and anticonvulsant groups respectively and were not significantly different. Children receiving chronic anticonvulsant therapy had significantly shorter recovery index than the control group (control 10.4+/-5.1 min, anticonvulsant 4.8+/-1.7 min, P<0.05). Furthermore, the duration of recovery to 10%, 50%, 75% and 100% of baseline T1 values was less in the anticonvulsant drug group. Our data confirm resistance to rocuronium in children on chronic anticonvulsant drugs.
Low-field electron transport mechanism in GaAs MESFETs

Electron transport mechanisms in the vicinity of channel-buffer (substrate) interfaces in GaAS MESFETs are studied at low values of transverse electric field, both theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that considerable degradation in the low-field drift mobility occurs in the near-pinchoff regime. Experimental results for long-channel MESFETs fabricated by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) exhibit nearly 35% degradation of the drift mobility in that regime. Scattering calculations based on the steady-state Boltzmann transport equation are in good agreement with the measured mobility data and suggest that electrons are predominantly scattered from the steep channel walls and localized states at the channel-buffer interface. The latter is atomically abrupt and nearly free of contamination in these devices. The localized states are hypothesized to have originated from changes in the growth conditions that might occur during the interface formation in the ultrahigh-vacuum environment of the MBE system. >
2-deoxy-fluorglucose–positron emission tomography imaging of the brain: Current clinical applications with emphasis on the dementias

A number of very significant advances in the field of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging are now beginning to have an impact on clinical PET brain imaging. Among the most significant advances are further improvements in PET scanner detectors and computers. Increasingly, more sophisticated methods of image analysis and quantitation are also beginning to emerge. In addition, there has been a very rapid introduction of newer PET radiotracers that will ultimately work their way into the clinical environment. Finally, there is an expanding interest in the potential of PET brain imaging in the evaluation of a wide variety of clinical neuropsychiatric conditions.
The transformation of Russian management: a qualitative and theory building approach

Abstract This paper makes use of a qualitative research approach to develop fundamental knowledge of Russian management behavior during the ongoing transformation from a planned to a market economy. Data from focus groups of managers was collected in 1989, 1991, and 1992 and showed the dynamic impact of and adjustments to the market economy on the part of Russian managers. This data was then used as a basis for building a theoretical framework of the transformation from a centrally-planned to a market driven economy.
Homotopy-epimorphisms, homotopy-monomorphisms and homotopy-equivalences

Abstract Two variants of a classical theorem of J.H.C. Whitehead are established. The first is used to infer that a pointed map ƒ:X → Y of pointed, path-connected CW-spaces which is both a homotopy-epimorphism and a homotopy-monomorphism is a homotopy-equivalence and the second characterizes the plus construction in homotopy theory.
50-Mbps free-space direct detection laser diode optical communication system with Q=4PPM signaling

A 50 Mbps direct detection optical communication system for use in an intersatellite link was constructed with an AlGaAs laser diode transmitter and a silicon avalanche photodiode photodetector. The system used a Q = 4 PPM format. The receiver consisted of a maximum likelihood PPM detector and a timing recovery subsystem. The PPM slot clock was recovered at the receiver by using a transition detector followed by a PLL. The PPM word clock was recovered by using a second PLL whose input was derived from the presence of back-to-back PPM pulses contained in the received random PPM pulse sequences. The system achieved a bit error rate of 0.000001 at less than 50 detected signal photons/information bit. The receiver was capable of acquiring and maintaining slot and word synchronization for received signal levels greater than 20 photons/information bit, at which the receiver bit error rate was about 0.01.
A čerenkov counter as high energy photon spectrometer

A cerenkov counter designed as high energy γ spectrometer is described. Lead glass is used as a medium in which the shower from a γ is both produced and absorbed. The incident energy is measured by means of the cerenkov light produced in the medium by the electrons of the shower. The counter has been calibrated with electrons of energies up to 275 MeV and has shown high efficiency, linear response with the energy and energy resolution from ± 28% at 80 MeV to ±17% at 275 MeV. Possible improvements of this type of instrument are discussed.
Two renewal theorems for general random walks tending to infinity

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of moments of the first passage time of a random walk S n into [x, ∞) for fixed x≧ 0, and the last exit time of the walk from (−∞, x], are given under the condition that S n →∞ a.s. The methods, which are quite different from those applied in the previously studied case of a positive mean for the increments of S n , are further developed to obtain the “order of magnitude” as x→∞ of the moments of the first passage and last exit times, when these are finite. A number of other conditions of interest in renewal theory are also discussed, and some results for the first time for which the random walk remains above the level x on K consecutive occasions, which has applications in option pricing, are given.
Menstrual cycle characteristics in chronically hemiovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Abstract Circulating levels of LH, FSH, estradiol, and progesterone were measured by RIA in daily serum samples throughout the menstrual cycle in five regularly cycling, chronically hemiovariectomized, adult cynomolgus monkeys. The hormonal patterns, the lengths of the follicular and luteal phases, and the overall cycle length were nearly indistinguishable from those observed in intact cycling monkeys. The findings accord with the notions 1) that in intact monkeys, the contralateral ovary contributes little, if at all, to the regulation of the function or lifespan of the corpus luteum, and 2) that the corpus luteum after spontaneous luteolysis has no local residual effect inimical to new follicle growth. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 48: 345, 1979)
System Infrastructure Development Life Cycle for Enterprise Computing Systems

Service oriented organizations rely on resilient computing systems to assist them not only in automating their business but also extending their operation hours to 24 by 7. Two major categories of their computing systems are software and hardware. Many researchers have worked on the software development to improve the performance of business processes on the application level. However, without proper system infrastructure the effectiveness of these improvements will be reduced significantly. The system infrastructure design should fully support the application's requirements which are derived from the business objectives. In this paper we present a methodology for system software and hardware integration design, System Infrastructure Development Life Cycle. We apply this methodology to the research and education infrastructure development project for the Enterprise Computing Systems program at our school. Two pilot tasks, "Hardware and System Software Installation and Configuration" and "Building a Networking and Supporting Environment" are used to validate the process.
Net returns and risk for cover crop use in Alabama tomato production

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) producers are faced with uncertain yields and prices, and utilizing a production system that will reduce risk while maintaining yield may keep tomato producers economically sustainable into the future. A conservation tillage production system with high biomass cover crops may be an economically viable alternative for tomato producers in Alabama. The objective of this study was to compare the economics of alternative production systems using different cover crops, such as cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and different subsoiler shanks for fresh-market tomato production relative to a commonly used plastic mulch system to determine the preferred treatment. Gross revenues and net returns from tomato production using a rye cover crop were higher than tomato production using plastic mulch in 2 of the 4 years. For the clover cover crop, gross revenues and net returns were higher in 1 out of the 4 years. Under tomato prices and weather conditions observed during 2005–2008, the preferred treatment for a risk neutral producer was planting tomatoes into a rye cover crop with a wide shank. For a strongly risk averse producer, all cover crop treatments were preferred to plastic mulch. The use of a cover crop in tomato production has the potential to be an equally profitable, less risky alternative to plastic mulch in Alabama.
Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis in Alcaligenes eutrophus H16. Identification and characterization of the PHB polymerase gene (phbC).

The phbC gene encoding the third enzyme of the poly-β-hydroxybutyrate biosynthetic pathway, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate polymerase, in Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 has been identified by the complementation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate negative mutants of A. eutrophus H16. These results demonstrate that the three enzymes of the poly-β-hydroxybutyrate biosynthetic pathway are organized phbC-phbA-phbB. Expression of all three genes in Escherichia coli results in a significant level (50% dry cell weight) of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate production. phbC encodes a polypeptide of Mr = 63,900 which has a hydropathy profile distinct from typical membrane proteins indicating that poly-β-hydroxybutyrate biosynthesis probably does not involve a membrane complex.