cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outrages Against Personal Dignity: Rationalizing Abuse and Torture in the War on Terror

The outrage over revelations of torture and abuse at Abu Ghraib prison has faded from public discourse, but a number of questions remain unanswered. This paper criticizes official rationalizations offered for the abuse. We make the case that these abuses are systemic, resulting from dehumanization of the enemy and the long reliance on and refinement of torture by the United States national security agencies. We also consider the spread of torture in the current war on terror, and we call on sociologists to become involved in the study of torture and prisoner abuse.
Syntax optimization for and parsing of patterns

Theory and algorithm for optimization of a directed and labeled tree are presented. Their application for optimizing any finite pattern grammar represented in the form of a tree is discussed. Tree optimization leads to loss information which is essential for identification of patterns. Special technique for preserving this information has been suggested. Finally, outlines of two different algorithms for the parsing of patterns are included. The tree parser uses the optimized tree and the table-driven parser uses the optimized syntax stored in four separate tables.
Enhancement of rate of mutual neutralization by an ambient gas

Abstract Computer simulated experiments are reported which demonstrate that the rate of mutual neutralization in an ambient gas may be greatly enhanced by the bound ion pairs formed. The contributing energy range (expressed in units of kθ where θ is the temperature) is remarkably wide.
Regulation of T-lymphocyte mitogenesis by the leukocyte product 15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE)

Abstract Synthesis of lipoxygenase metabolites of [14C]arachidonic acid by mouse spleen lymphocyte cultures was inhibited by the leukocyte product 15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) in a dose-dependent manner. In parallel experiments, the influence of 15-HETE on mitogenesis in spleen lymphocyte cultures was examined. 15-HETE at concentrations similar to those which inhibited cellular lipoxygenases progressively inhibited mitogenesis induced by the T-cell mitogen PHA but had no significant effect on the mitogenic response to the B-cell mitogen LPS. The inhibitory response was maximal when 15-HETE was added within 8 hr of exposure to PHA. Several analogs of 15-HETE having progressively fewer double bonds were tested in the same systems. 15-OH,20:3 had approximately the same potency as 15-HETE in inhibiting both mitogenesis and formation of metabolites from [14C]arachidonic acid. 15-OH, 20:2 and 15-OH,20:0 were much less active in either assay. Mitogenesis, induced in spleen cell cultures by the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate, was also blocked by 15-HETE. These experiments indicate that lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid may play an important role in T-lymphocyte blastogenesis and suggest that 15-HETE, via its ability to selectively inhibit cellular lipoxygenases, may function as an endogenous regulator of T-lymphocyte responses.
School-Based Cardiovascular Exercise and Nutrition Programs with Parent Participation

Abstract Two separate studies examined the efficacy of school-based exercise and nutrition programs with parent components. In Study 1, one fifth and one sixth grade class were randomly assigned to each of the three different treatment conditions, a school-and-home condition (n = 45), a school-only condition (n = 43), and a control condition (n = 44). In Study 2, second and fourth grade classrooms were assigned randomly to a school-based treatment group (n = 48) with parent participation and a control group (n = 49). In both studies the school-based education program focused on decreasing fat and cholesterol and increasing physical activity with a parent component. In Study 1, school-and-home children scored significantly higher than the control group on nutrition knowledge and sit-and-reach flexibility. In Study 2, children in the treatment group scored significantly higher and demonstrated greater improvement on fitness/nutrition knowledge and on vegetable and fruit servings. Within the limitations of t...
Experiments on the effect of hormone weedkillers on sugar beet

MCPA and 2,4-D sprays at up to 1/20 the dosage normally vised for weed control in cereals severely distorted sugar beet, which subsequently grew at near normal rate but remained distorted. The severity of symptoms and yield depression depended on the stage of growth of the beet when sprayed. Sugar-yield loss was greatest when plants were sprayed at the 6–8 leaf stage.
ON LIMITATIONS TO PREDICTION

Abstract An expression is obtained for the limit to certainty of perfect prediction, in terms of the amount of verification data and the detail of the predictand. Related expressions are developed for the number of effective predictors that may be combined in a given prediction method, and for the fineness of predictand detail that can be forecast. Applications to evaluation of practical forecast problems are discussed by use of examples. Similar treatments are suggested for specification problems. Because of the generality of their derivations, it is believed that these expressions would be useful in other fields, as well as in meteorology.
Effect of Annealing on the Interfacial and Structural Properties of Amorphous Silicon-Hafnia Films

Chemical and physical properties of the interface formed between amorphous silicon (a-Si) and hafnium oxide (HfO2) were investigated using X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRR showed that the interface layer formed between the a-Si and HfO2 layer had a thickness of 0.7 ± 0.3 nm and a density of 4.4 ± 0.2 g/cm3. Based on the XPS results, the interface comprised HfO2, silicon oxide, and hafnium silicate phases. High-temperature annealing led to the conversion of elemental silicon and nonstoichiometric silicate into silicon dioxide phases. This reaction was also accompanied by the chemical reduction of the HfO2 phase. Annealed films crystallized into the monoclinic phase of HfO2 with a preferred orientation along the (111) axis.
Self-Efficacy and Social Adjustment of Patients With Mood Disorder

BACKGROUND. Social adjustment is often a problem for patients with both bipolar disorder and major depression, particularly after hospital discharge, often contributing to relapse. Bandura (1982) described self-efficacy as addressing the interaction of cognitive, behavioral, and social characteristics that influence health behavior.OBJECTIVE. This study examined the relationship between self-efficacy and social adjustment after hospitalization for patients with a mood disorder.STUDY DESIGN. A descriptive, correlational study with predictive components was conducted.RESULTS. Self-efficacy explained 17% of the variance in social adjustment at the time of discharge and 49% of the variance 2 months posthospitalization in patients with mood disorder.CONCLUSIONS. Self-efficacy influenced social adjustment, particularly after hospital discharge, in this sample of 45 patients treated for mood disorder. Self-efficacy is important for individual’s integration in social networks and role functioning and contributes ...
Two-phase sampling to estimate river-wide populations of freshwater mussels

AbstractTwo-phase sampling provides a statistical framework for combining data from qualitative and quantitative sampling methods. It is a useful approach when the survey objective is a drainage-wide estimate of mussel density and the cost of qualitative sampling is small relative to the cost of quantitative sampling. This survey design has several advantages including: 1) no need for a priori classification of stream reaches into sampling strata, 2) allocation of sampling effort so that more time is spent sampling where mussels are at higher density and less time is spent sampling where mussels are not present, 3) the ability to evaluate the relationship between qualitative and quantitative estimates of density, and 4) efficient allocation of effort so that more stream reaches can be surveyed compared to quantitative-only sampling designs with similar effort. The survey design consists of sampling as many sites as possible during a qualitative 1st phase and sampling far fewer sites during a quantitative ...
Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: ; Inhibition of biotin transport by reversible competition with pantothenic acid is quantitatively minor.

Abstract A transporter present in intestinal cells and in choriocarcinoma cells has been shown to transport both pantothenic acid and biotin at similar transporter affinities. However, the concentration of pantothenic acid in most foods and biological fluids is approximately 200 times the concentration of biotin; theoretically, pantothenic acid might substantially reduce biotin transport via competition. In the present study, we sought to determine whether pantothenic acid reduces biotin transport by the biotin transporter in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC were isolated from human blood by gradient centrifugation. Incubations with [3H]biotin and pantothenic acid were conducted at physiologic concentrations. Intracellular [3H]biotin was quantified after washing by liquid scintillation counting. Pantothenic acid at 10 to 1,000 nmol/L reduced biotin (475 pmol/L) uptake by less than 12% (P 0.05), suggesting that countertransport of extracellular pantothenic acid and intracellular biotin does not increase biotin efflux from PBMC. We conclude that the physiologic effects of pantothenic acid on the transport of biotin in PBMC are likely to be quantitatively minor.
Micromechanical properties of keratin intermediate filament networks

Keratin intermediate filaments (KIFs) form cytoskeletal KIF networks that are essential for the structural integrity of epithelial cells. However, the mechanical properties of the in situ network have not been defined. Particle-tracking microrheology (PTM) was used to obtain the micromechanical properties of the KIF network in alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), independent of other cytoskeletal components, such as microtubules and microfilaments. The storage modulus (G′) at 1 Hz of the KIF network decreases from the perinuclear region (335 dyn/cm2) to the cell periphery (95 dyn/cm2), yielding a mean value of 210 dyn/cm2. These changes in G′ are inversely proportional to the mesh size of the network, which increases ≈10-fold from the perinuclear region (0.02 μm2) to the cell periphery (0.3 μm2). Shear stress (15 dyn/cm2 for 4 h) applied across the surface of AECs induces a more uniform distribution of KIF, with the mesh size of the network ranging from 0.02 μm2 near the nucleus to only 0.04 μm2 at the cell periphery. This amounts to a 40% increase in the mean G′. The storage modulus of the KIF network in the perinuclear region accurately predicts the shear-induced deflection of the cell nucleus to be 0.87 ± 0.03 μm. The high storage modulus of the KIF network, coupled with its solid-like rheological behavior, supports the role of KIF as an intracellular structural scaffold that helps epithelial cells to withstand external mechanical forces.
Population Trends as a Counterweight to Central City Decline, 1950–2000

The share of metropolitan residents living in central cities declined dramatically from 1950 to 2000. We argue that cities would have lost even further ground if not for demographic trends such as renewed immigration, delayed childbearing, and a decline in the share of households headed by veterans. We provide causal estimates of the effect of children on residential location using the birth of twins. The effect of veteran status is identified from a discontinuity in the probability of military service during and after the mass mobilization for World War II. Our results suggest that these changes in demographic composition were strong enough to bolster city population but not to fully counteract socioeconomic factors favoring suburban growth.
Hispanic and non-Hispanic children's performance on PASS cognitive processes and achievement

Abstract Hispanics have become the largest minority group in the United States. Hispanic children typically come from working class homes with parents who have limited English language skills and educational training. This presents challenges to psychologists who assess these children using traditional IQ tests because of the considerable verbal and academic (e.g., quantitative) content. Some researchers have suggested that intelligence conceptualized on the basis of psychological processes may have utility for assessment of children from culturally and linguistically diverse populations because verbal and quantitative skills are not included. This study examined Hispanic children's performance on the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS; [Naglieri, J.A., and Das, J.P. (1997). Cognitive Assessment System. Itasca, IL: Riverside.]) which is based on the Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive (PASS) theory of intelligence. The scores of Hispanic (N = 244) and White (N = 1956) children on the four PASS processes were obtained and the respective correlations between PASS and achievement compared. Three complementary sampling methodologies and data analysis strategies were chosen to compare the Ethnic groups. Sample size was maximized using nationally representative groups and demographic group differences were minimized using smaller matched samples. Small differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic children were found when ability was measured with tests of basic PASS processes. In addition, the correlation between the PASS constructs and achievement were substantial for both Hispanic and non-Hispanic children and were not significantly different between the groups.
Cascaded Free-Flow Isoelectric Focusing for Improved Focusing Speed and Resolution

This work presents the first implementation of cascaded stages for a microfabricated free-flow isoelectric focusing (FF-IEF) device. Both analytical and computational models for IEF suggest device performance will be improved by utilizing multiple stages to reduce device residence time. These models are shown to be applicable by using focusing of small IEF markers as a demonstration. We also show focusing of fluorescently tagged proteins under different channel geometries, with the most efficient focusing occurring in the cascaded design, as predicted by theory. An additional aim of this work is to demonstrate the compatibility of cascaded FF-IEF with common bioanalytical tools. As an example, outlet fractions from cascaded FF-IEF were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS−PAGE). Processing of whole cell lysate followed by immunoblotting for cell signaling markers demonstrates the reduction of albumin from samples, as well as the enrichment of apoptotic markers.
Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the metal squarate tetrahydrate polymers Fe(C4O4).4H2O and Cu(C4O4.4H2O

Abstract Iron(II) squarate tetrahydrate (1), Mr=239.95, Fe(C4O4)·4H2O, crystallizes having a monoclinic space group= C2/c, a=9.066(3), b=13.417(3), c=6.777(2) A, β=98.77(2)°, V=814.8(4) A3, Z=4, Dx=1.956(1) g cm−3, λ(Mo Kα)=0.71073, λ=18.613 cm−1, F(000)=488, T=300 K, R=0.025, Rw=0.028, for 687 observed reflections with ¦Fo¦>0. Copper(II) squarate tetrahydrate (2), Mr=247.65, Cu(C4O4)·4H2O, crystallizes having a monoclinic space group=P21/c, a=6.676(2), b=7.946(4), c=7.688(2) A, β=110.39(2)°, V=381.4(3) A3, Z=2, Dx=2.157(2) g cm−3, λ(Mo Kα)=0.71073 A, μ=28.833 cm−1, F(000)=250, T=300 K, R=0.025, Rw=0.028, for 627 observed reflections with ⊥Fo⊥>0. Extended Huckel molecular orbital (EHMO) calculations on model clusters, [Fe(OH)4(C4O4)2]6− and [Cu(OH)4(C4O4)2]6−, indicate that 1 and 2 are not good candidates for polymeric electrical conduction, because overlap between the metal and the squarate orbitals is negligible in the HOMO and LUMO of the model clusters. In addition, EHMO calculations suggest that the electronic forces cannot account for the structural differences found between 1 and 2. The magnetic susceptibility of 2, measured as a function of temperature, suggests that magnetic spins do not interact via the squarate anion bridges.
An implicit compact scheme solver with application to chemically reacting flows

A novel, stable, implicit compact scheme solver that is higher order in space, suitable for modeling steady-state and time-dependent phenomena on nonuniform grids for one-dimensional configurations, is presented. Several properties of compact scheme discretizations are introduced to develop efficient algorithms for Jacobian matrix generation and Jacobian-vector multiplication using a new component form for Jacobian operations. Composite nonuniform grids are introduced that enable the implicit compact scheme solver to achieve sixth order accuracy. A robust Newton's method is employed with explicit generation of Jacobian matrices. Superior resolution characteristics of the implicit compact scheme solver are demonstrated with several steady-state and time-dependent problems for the Burgers equation. The example of the solution of stiff flame problem is given. An analysis of spectral properties of Jacobian matrices is presented, which shows that the condition number and the eigenvalue distributions behave similarly to those found in Jacobians associated with low-order discretizations. Two sparsification strategies are developed for the systematic approximation of a dense Jacobian aimed at the practical implementation of linear system preconditioning through partial Jacobians.
Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever

Each year, many residents of and visitors to endemic regions of the western United States are exposed to the tick vectors of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF), Ornithodoros hermsi, Ornithodoros turicata, or Ornithodoros parkeri. This disease is remarkable because the human host is unaware of the tick bite, usually becomes very ill, may experience an exacerbation of symptoms rather than improvement shortly after beginning appropriate treatment, and, despite often high numbers of the etiologic organism in the blood, rarely dies as a result of the illness. Although relapsing fever is acquired in many parts of the world, this article focuses primarily on knowledge about TBRF in North America.
The Private Affairs of Bel Ami

This story of a charming, narcissistic, and scheming bounder whose successes are achieved through a series of sexual liaisons with Parisian women secured its director's reputation, according to the...
Comet Hyakutake x‐ray source: Charge transfer of solar wind heavy ions

Recently, Lisse et al. (1996) reported on exciting observations by the Rontgen X-ray satellite (ROSAT) of x-ray and extreme ultraviolet emissions from comet C/Hyakutake 1996 B2. The spatial distribution of the emissions was displaced sunward of the nucleus and the spatial extent was about 105 km. Lisse et al. (1996) suggested that the emission could be explained by thermal bremsstrahlung associated with hot electrons, possibly due to solar wind interaction effects. In the present paper, an alternate emission mechanism is proposed. The solar wind contains a large number of minor/heavy ion species with a range of charge states, such as O6+, C5+, N5+, and Si10+. These ions will readily charge transfer with cometary neutrals, producing ions which can be highly excited and consequently emit photons in the extreme ultraviolet and x-ray part of the spectrum. The photon emission rate is proportional to the solar wind heavy ion flux and hence to the solar wind flux and, with some assumptions concerning the solar wind velocity, to the solar wind number density. The emission rate should be greatest downstream of the bow shock along the sun-comet axis in agreement with the observed spatial distribution. The x-ray images are really images of the line of sight integration of the solar wind density convoluted with the cometary neutral density. A total EUV/x-ray luminosity for comet Hyakutake from this charge transfer mechanism agrees with the observed luminosity of 4 × 1015 ergs s−1 within a factor of two.
Prophylactic HPV Vaccines and Prevention of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Cervical cancer kills women of all ages. The irrefutable link to oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, forever changed society’s attitude toward cervical cancer. The advent of HPV vaccines has brought the link of sexual practices and personal behavior to the forefront. The vaccines were aggressively marketed to parents, young girls, public health officials, physicians, and all payor sources before the scientific data defining their actual benefit could be delineated. At this early time, the HPV vaccines prevent persistent type-specific HPV infections, some abnormal Pap tests, some colposcopies, and some excisional procedures in women who are HPV-DNA negative before vaccination. Health-modeling exercises have demonstrated that duration of vaccine efficacy is the most important parameter for any long-term cancer prevention benefit. Implementation efforts have demonstrated that a three-dose series is difficult to achieve and results in a high vaccine wastage rate.
Basic operators of the dual-resonance model

Abstract Rules for constructing arbitrary Feynman diagrams of the dual-resonance model are presented. Specifically, the twisted propagator, with all spurious states projected out, is explicitly constructed in terms of a one-dimensional integral. The propagator can be used together with the symmetric vertex operator to construct any dual diagram. With the aid of the projected propagator we present an operator proof of duality and construct a formula for N -point functions with arbitrary external states. These operators are also used to obtain simple forms for the three primitive one-loop operators of the model, as well as the counter-terms necessary for their renormalization.
Silicon photomultiplier (SPM) detection of low-level bioluminescence for the development of deployable whole-cell biosensors: Possibilities and limitations

Whole-cell bacterial bioreporters await miniaturized photon counting modules with high sensitivity and robust compatible hardware to fulfill their promise of versatile, on-site biosensor functionality. In this study, we explore the photon counting readout properties of the silicon photomultiplier (SPM) with a thermoelectric cooler and the possibilities of detecting low-level bioluminescent signals. Detection performance was evaluated through a simulated LED light source and the bioluminescence produced by the genetically engineered Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterial bioreporter 5RL. Compared with the conventional photomultiplier tube (PMT), the results revealed that the cooled SPM exhibits a wider linear response to inducible substrate concentrations (salicylate) ranging from 250 to 5000 ppb. Although cooling of the SPM lowered dark count rates and improved the minimum detectable signal, and the application of a digital filter enhanced the signal-to-noise ratio, the detection of very low light signals is still limited and remains a challenge in the design of compact photon counting systems.
Repeat sternotomy: no longer a risk factor in mitral valve surgical procedures.

Background The incidence of reoperative mitral valve (MV) surgical procedures is increasing, representing more than 10% of all MV operations in the United States. Previous clinical series have reported mortality rates of 5% to 18% and reentry injury rates of 5% to 10% for reoperative MV operations. Methods Between January 2004 and June 2012, 1,312 MV operations were performed on 1,275 patients. We excluded 234 patients who underwent small incision primary right thoracotomy, 11 redo operations with first or second operation other than sternotomy, and 10 emergent operations, leaving 1,056 MV operations for analysis (first-time sternotomy, 926 [88%]; repeat sternotomy, 130 (12%]). Preoperative computed tomography was performed for all repeat sternotomy patients. Patients at risk for reentry injury were identified, and protective strategies were applied systemically before resternotomy procedures. Results Among 130 patients undergoing reoperative MV operations, 35% (46/130) had prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 15% (19/130) aortic valve operations, and 61% (80/130) MV operations. Sixteen percent (21/130) had more than one previous sternotomy. Operative mortality was 4.6% (43/926) for first-time procedures and 4.6% (6/130) for reoperative MV operations. Intraoperative injury (innominate vein) occurred during repeat sternotomy in 2 (1.5%) patients. Stroke occurred in 3 patients (2%) who underwent repeat sternotomy and in 22 (2%) who underwent first-time sternotomy. On multivariable analysis, preoperative New York Heart Association function class, concomitant CABG, dialysis, and higher pulmonary artery pressures were associated with operative mortality, and repeat sternotomy was not. Conclusions With careful planning and execution, outcomes for reoperative MV operations in contemporary practice are favorable and are identical with those for first-time operations.
Metagenomic systems biology of the human gut microbiome reveals topological shifts associated with obesity and inflammatory bowel disease

The human microbiome plays a key role in a wide range of host-related processes and has a profound effect on human health. Comparative analyses of the human microbiome have revealed substantial variation in species and gene composition associated with a variety of disease states but may fall short of providing a comprehensive understanding of the impact of this variation on the community and on the host. Here, we introduce a metagenomic systems biology computational framework, integrating metagenomic data with an in silico systems-level analysis of metabolic networks. Focusing on the gut microbiome, we analyze fecal metagenomic data from 124 unrelated individuals, as well as six monozygotic twin pairs and their mothers, and generate community-level metabolic networks of the microbiome. Placing variations in gene abundance in the context of these networks, we identify both gene-level and network-level topological differences associated with obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We show that genes associated with either of these host states tend to be located at the periphery of the metabolic network and are enriched for topologically derived metabolic “inputs.” These findings may indicate that lean and obese microbiomes differ primarily in their interface with the host and in the way they interact with host metabolism. We further demonstrate that obese microbiomes are less modular, a hallmark of adaptation to low-diversity environments. We additionally link these topological variations to community species composition. The system-level approach presented here lays the foundation for a unique framework for studying the human microbiome, its organization, and its impact on human health.
Selected physiological and psychological responses to live-fire drills in different configurations of firefighting gear

The purpose of this study was to examine selected physiological and psychological responses to strenuous live-fire drills in different configurations of protective firefighting gear. Career firefighters (n = 10) performed three sets of firefighting drills in a training structure that contained live fires in two different configurations of firefighting gear. On separate days subjects wore: (a) the NFPA 1500 (1987) standard configuration, and (b) a hip-boot configuration of the firefighting gear. Physiological and psychological measurements were recorded pre-activity and at the end of each trial. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a strong trend for performance time to be greater in the 1500 gear than in the hip-boot gear. There was a significant Time x Gear interaction for tympanic membrane temperature, with temperature being greater in the 1500 gear. Perceptions of effort and thermal sensations were also greater in the 1500 gear than in the hip-boot configuration of the gear. There was little difference in mean performance on cognitive function measures between the two gear configurations, but there was greater variability in performance in the 1500 gear. These data suggest that performing strenuous firefighting drills in the current NFPA 1500 standard configuration results in longer performance time, greater thermal strain, and greater perception of effort and thermal sensation.
Overlearning and the Feeling of Knowing.

Previous research on the feeling of knowing for nonrecalled items has focused on the validity of the feeling of knowing as a predictor for subsequent performance but generally has overlooked the question of what factors the feeling of knowing might be based upon. We explored the hypothesis that one factor underlying the feeling of knowing is the degree of prior learning for the sought-after item. Undergraduates learned a list in which various items were acquired to a criterion of either one correct recall, two correct recalls, or four correct recalls. Four weeks later, the subjects had a recall-retention test, then rank ordered the nonrecalled items in terms of the relative feeling of knowing for each of the nonrecalled items, and finally had a recognition test on the nonrecalled items. A major finding (in addition to those summarized at the end of the article) was that the magnitude of the feeling of knowing for nonrecalled items increased with the degree of prior learning.
Advanced glycation endproducts: from precursors to RAGE: round and round we go

The formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) occurs in diverse settings such as diabetes, aging, renal failure, inflammation and hypoxia. The chief cellular receptor for AGEs, RAGE, transduces the effects of AGEs via signal transduction, at least in part via processes requiring the RAGE cytoplasmic domain binding partner, diaphanous-1 or mDia1. Data suggest that RAGE perpetuates the inflammatory signals initiated by AGEs via multiple mechanisms. AGE-RAGE interaction stimulates generation of reactive oxygen species and inflammation--mechanisms which enhance AGE formation. Further, recent data in type 1 diabetic kidney reveal that deletion of RAGE prevents methylglyoxal accumulation, at least in part via RAGE-dependent regulation of glyoxalase-1, a major enzyme involved in methylglyoxal detoxification. Taken together, these considerations place RAGE in the center of biochemical and molecular stresses that characterize the complications of diabetes and chronic disease. Stopping RAGE-dependent signaling may hold the key to interrupting cycles of cellular perturbation and tissue damage in these disorders.
Adaptive Homography-Based Visual Servo Tracking Control via a Quaternion Formulation

In this paper, an adaptive homography-based visual servo tracking controller is developed for the camera-in-hand problem using a quaternion formulation to represent rotation tracking error. The desired trajectory in the tracking problem is encoded by a sequence of images (e.g., a video sequence), and Lyapunov methods are employed to facilitate the control design and the stability analysis. An adaptive estimation law is designed to compensate for the lack of unknown depth information. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the visual servo tracking controller.
Ultra wide band saw correlators using dual orthogonal frequency coded transducers

This paper presents the development of ultra-wideband (UWB) surface acoustic wave (SAW) correlators using dual dispersive orthogonal frequency coded transducers. Orthogonal frequency coding (OFC) is a spread spectrum coding technique with a variety of applications. The OFC SAW correlator spectrally spreads the UWB data beyond that of CDMA due to an increased signal bandwidth. The OFC SAW correlator concept was previously demonstrated using a coded dispersive transducer in conjunction with an unweighted transducer [1]. The performance of the UWB SAW correlator device is distinctly enhanced by using a dual OFC transducer architecture.
The paradoxical effects of splenectomy on tumor growth

Background: There is a vast and contradictory literature concerning the effect of the spleen and particularly of splenectomy on tumor growth. Sometimes splenectomy seems to inhibit tumor growth, but in other cases it seems, paradoxically, to facilitate both oncogenesis and the growth of established tumors. Approach: In this essay I have selected from this large literature a few papers that seem particularly instructive, in the hope of extracting some understanding of the rules governing this paradoxical behavior. Conclusion: In general, whether splenectomy enhances or inhibits tumor growth seems to depend primarily upon the ratio of spleen to tumor. Small proportions of spleen cells usually stimulate tumor growth, in which case splenectomy is inhibitory. Larger proportions of the same cells, especially if they are from immunized animals, usually inhibit tumor growth, in which case splenectomy results in tumor stimulation.
Effectiveness of engineering design focus in strength of materials

Elementary strength of materials is a core undergraduate engineering course that introduces the mechanics of deformable bodies. Traditionally, the focus of the course is on analysis, but we have recast the course to apply analysis to design in order to better prepare students to become engineers — design being the primary function of practicing engineers. A semester-long design project has been implemented to provide an opportunity for students to practice design. Student teams design playground equipment including: conceptual layout, material selection, load specification, design analysis, drawings, cost estimate, and final report. A web site has been created to facilitate administration of the project, provide links to data sources, and give design analysis examples. This paper summarizes the design project and the tools created to ease the time burden associated with the project. The focus is on assessment of the effectiveness of the project. The results of the assessment over three semesters at Penn State are positive. Analysis of the data indicates that the students who completed the course with design emphasis are better skilled at design and perform equally at analysis relative to those students completing the traditional strength of materials course.
Linear Complementarity for Regularized Policy Evaluation and Improvement

Recent work in reinforcement learning has emphasized the power of L1 regularization to perform feature selection and prevent overfitting. We propose formulating the L1 regularized linear fixed point problem as a linear complementarity problem (LCP). This formulation offers several advantages over the LARS-inspired formulation, LARS-TD. The LCP formulation allows the use of efficient off-the-shelf solvers, leads to a new uniqueness result, and can be initialized with starting points from similar problems (warm starts). We demonstrate that warm starts, as well as the efficiency of LCP solvers, can speed up policy iteration. Moreover, warm starts permit a form of modified policy iteration that canbeusedto approximate a "greedy" homotopy path, a generalization of the LARS-TD homotopy path that combines policy evaluation and optimization.
Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of the Complementary Deoxyribonucleic Acid for Chicken Inhibin/Activin βB Subunit

Abstract Inhibins and activins are dimeric peptide hormones that play an integral role in the intraovarian regulation of folliculogenesis. The domestic hen, with its well-defined follicular hierarchy, provides a unique model in which to study the role of these hormones in follicular development. In the present study, the complete coding sequence and deduced amino acid sequence for the chicken inhibin/activin βB subunit has been determined from cDNA clones isolated from a chicken ovarian granulosa cell library. This βB-subunit cDNA predicts a precursor protein of 392 amino acids containing the mature C-terminal 115 amino acid βB subunit. When compared to the βB subunit isolated from a variety of species, the chicken cDNA clone showed high nucleotide identity in the full-length coding region (>70%) and in the mature coding region (>80%). In addition, the deduced amino acid sequence of chicken βB subunit showed greater than 95% identity compared to other species in the mature peptide region. Expression of th...
Auxin Transport within Intact Dormant and Active White Ash Shoots

Transport of indoleacetic acid-1(14)C following application to the buds of intact white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) shoots proceeds at a velocity of about 1.3 centimeters per hour in actively growing seedlings, but only 0.3 centimeter per hour in dormant seedlings. The rapid movement is metabolically controlled, and at 1 C or in a nitrogen environment it is reduced to 0.2 centimeter per hour, suggesting that the slower movement is due to diffusion. The transport profile for growing shoots shows a logarithmic decrease in activity in stems treated for 3 hours. However, over longer treatment intervals, especially after 12 hours, a steady state of recoverable activity occurs in the more basal stem segments. Cold-treated shoots acquire the capacity for rapid transport 7 days after they are placed into favorable growing conditions, at which time dormancy callose disappears from the phloem, respiratory activity of the stem tissue increases, and mitotic reactivation occurs in the bud. Following shoot reactivation, the velocity and amount of exogenously supplied indoleacetic acid transported remained relatively uniform until the onset of the succeeding dormant period. Five per cent, or less, of the applied tracer moves into the shoot, with substantial portions remaining as indoleacetic acid.
Analysis of haptoglobin and hemoglobin-haptoglobin interactions with the Neisseria meningitidis TonB-dependent receptor HpuAB by flow cytometry.

Neisseria meningitidis expresses a two-component TonB-dependent receptor, HpuAB, which mediates heme-iron (Hm-Fe) acquisition from hemoglobin and hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. Due to genetic polymorphisms in the human haptoglobin gene, haptoglobin (and hemoglobin-haptoglobin) exists as three structurally distinct phenotypes. In this study, we examined the influence of the haptoglobin phenotype on the interactions of HpuAB with apo-haptoglobin and hemoglobin-haptoglobin. Growth assays confirmed that HpuAB utilizes hemoglobin-haptoglobin more efficiently than hemoglobin as an Fe source and revealed a preference for human-specific, polymeric 2-2 or 2-1 hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. We developed a flow cytometry-based assay to measure the binding kinetics of fluorescein-labeled ligands to HpuAB on live, intact meningococci. The binding affinity of HpuAB for hemoglobin-haptoglobin phenotypes correlated well with the ability of each ligand to support Neisseria meningitidis growth, with higher affinities exhibited for types 2-2 and 2-1 hemoglobin-haptoglobin. Saturable binding of Hb and apo-haptoglobin suggested that HpuAB-mediated utilization of hemoglobin-haptoglobin involves specific interactions with both components. In contrast to previous studies, we detected binding of HpuB expressed alone to hemoglobin, apo-haptoglobin, and hemoglobon-haptoglobin of all three phenotypes. However, in the absence of HpuA, the binding capacity and/or affinity of the receptor was reduced and the dissociation of hemoglobin was impaired. We did not detect binding of HpuA alone to hemoglobin, apo-haptoglobin, or hemoglobin-haptoglobin; however, the lipoprotein is crucial for optimal recognition and use of ligands by the receptor. Finally, this study confirmed the integral role of TonB and the proton motive force in the binding and dissociation of Hb and hemoglobin-haptoglobin from HpuAB.
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND CONTROL FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES IN CHINA

Financial planning and control systems in China are discussed. The effectiveness of the pre-1979 system is evaluated and compared to the system instituted in 1979 under China's modernization drive. The implications of these changes for China and for the United States are discussed.
Electrochemical Generation of Superoxide in Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids

We have demonstrated that superoxide ion can be generated electrochemically in room-temperature ionic-liquid solvents. In the absence of impurities, cyclic voltammetry showed that the super oxide ion is stable in these solvents. Similar superoxide ion chemistry has previously been demonstrated in volatile and environmentally suspect aprotic solvents such as dimethyl formamide and acetonitrile. However, ionic liquids are nonvolatile and should minimize the problems of secondary solvent waste. It is proposed that the resultant superoxide ion can be used to perform low-temperature oxidation of wastes. Low-temperature oxidation of waste solvents can provide a much needed alternative to high-temperature waste incinerators, whose use is greatly complicated by regulatory requirements and locating suitable sites. © 2001 The Electrochemical Society. @DOI: 10.1149/1.1406997# All rights reserved.
The Fraenkel‐Carnap question for Dedekind algebras

03B15, 03C85It is shown that the second-order theory of a Dedekind algebra is categorical if it is ﬁnitely axiomatizable.This provides a partial answer to an old and neglected question of Fraenkel and Carnap: whether every ﬁnitelyaxiomatizable semantically complete second-order theory is categorical. It follows that the second-order theoryof a Dedekind algebra is ﬁnitely axiomatizable iff the algebra is ﬁnitely characterizable. It is also shown thatthe second-order theory of a Dedekind algebra is quasi-ﬁnitely axiomatizable iff the algebra is quasi-ﬁnitelycharacterizable.
Theory of scanning tunneling microscopy — methods andapproximations

Abstract The direct-transmission and transfer Hamiltonian approaches, as well as various approximations developed for scanning tunneling microscopy are reviewed and compared for a free-electron model. The second approach provides a deeper insight into the imaging process and should enable one to include effects due to tight-binding bands, surface states and adsorbate-induced modifications. Possible new directions of research and remaining challenges are identified.
A Community-Organizing Approach to Promoting Physical Activity in Older Adults: The Southeast Senior Physical Activity Network

This article describes a community organizing approach to promoting physical activity among underserved older adults in southeast Seattle: the Southeast Senior Physical Activity Network (SESPAN). T...
Stability of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone: effects of pH, temperature, pig skin, and enzyme inhibitors.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the stability of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) as a function of solution pH, temperature, and pig skin with and without enzyme inhibitors. LHRH, incubated with a 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 2.5–8.1), pig skin, and pig skin with enzyme inhibitors, was analyzed using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The solution's pH affected the rate constants of LHRH, following apparent first-order kinetics. Maximum stability was achieved at pH 6.05. Therefore, the effect of various temperatures (i.e., 65, 75, 80, and 90°C) was studied on the stability of LHRH at pH 6.05. The activation energy for the overall reaction was 23.4 kcal/mol at pH 6.05. The shelf-life of LHRH at 25°C and pH 6.05, calculated using the Arrhenius equation, was approximately 4 years. The rate constant of LHRH in the skin (area: 9 cm2; thickness: 0.5 mm) was 0.167 hr−1. Out of three inhibitors (i.e., aprotinin, bestatin, and leupeptin), bestatin had the best stabi...
Detection of Fabry's disease carriers by enzyme assay of hair roots.

Fabry’s disease (McKusick 30150) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder characterized by a deficiency of α-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22). In affected hemizygous males, tissue glycosphingolipid deposition causes extremity pain, angiokeratomous skin lesions and corneal opacities. Death usually occurs in mid-adulthood due to renal or cardiac failure. Female carriers of the disorder may show clinical symptoms, particularly corneal verticillata (Desnick and Sweeley, 1983).
Temperature dependent study of the microwave performance of 0.25-/spl mu/m gate GaAs MESFETs and GaAs pseudomorphic HEMTs

We report on the noise figure, associated gain, and the current gain cutoff frequency for comparable 0.25-/spl mu/m gate GaAs MESFETs and GaAs pseudomorphic HEMTs (p-HEMTs) as a function of cryogenic temperature. Contrary to previously published results which suggest that p-HEMTs should have a higher electron velocity and a lower noise figure than MESFETs due to the effects of the two-dimension electron gas (2-DEG), we have experimentally verified that this is not the case. We show clear evidence that the transport properties of the 2-DEG in p-HEMTs do not make a significant contribution to the speed enhancement and noise reduction during high-frequency operation of these devices. It is the fundamental InGaAs material properties, specifically the /spl Gamma/-L valley separation in the conduction band and associated effective mass of the electron in either GaAs or InGaAs channel, which limits the high-field electron velocity and thus the speed and noise performance of the devices.
Adaptive eigenfiltering of steady-state VEPs

An adaptive eigenfiltering algorithm is used to obtain estimates of the single sweep steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP). >
Terrorism, U.S. Strategy, and Reagan Policies

List of Charts Preface Introduction: International Terrorism: Issues and Questions Contemporary International Terrorism Coordination of the United States Anti-terrorism Program Agencies and Departments Comprising Anti-terrorist Bureaucracy U.S. Military Capabilities and Counter-terrorism The Intelligence Community and Terrorism American Use of International Law in Combatting Terrorism United States Policy: Past, Present, and Future Appendix: Heads of the State Department's Anti-terrorist Office: 1972-1987 Selected Bibliography Index
HIV Infection Upregulates Caveolin 1 Expression To Restrict Virus Production

Caveolin 1 (Cav-1) is a major protein of a specific membrane lipid raft known as caveolae. Cav-1 interacts with the gp41 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope, but the role of Cav-1 in HIV replication and pathogenesis is not known. In this report, we demonstrate that HIV infection in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), THP-1 macrophages, and U87-CD4 cells results in a dramatic upregulation of Cav-1 expression mediated by HIV Tat. The activity of p53 is essential for Tat-induced Cav-1 expression, as our findings show enhanced phosphorylation of serine residues at amino acid positions 15 and 46 in the presence of Tat with a resulting Cav-1 upregulation. Furthermore, inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) blocked phosphorylation of p53 in the presence of Tat. Infection studies of Cav-1-overexpressing cells reveal a significant reduction of HIV production. Taken together, these results suggest that HIV infection enhances the expression of Cav-1, which subsequently causes virus reduction, suggesting that Cav-1 may contribute to persistent infection in macrophages.