cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CPG control for assisting human with periodic motion tasks

Oscillatory movements play important roles in human life, such as the arm and leg movements during human locomotion. In this paper, we introduce a method for designing a feedback controller for a robotic system to help a human with periodic motion tasks. The control objective is to stabilize a human-intended oscillatory movement while reducing the required human effort. For the control architecture, we adopt the central pattern generator (CPG), which is a neuronal circuit for rhythmic motor pattern. Animal locomotions under CPG control are capable of complying with various environment dynamics to yield different oscillatory movements. We take advantage of a mathematical model of reciprocal inhibition oscillator (RIO), a simple-structured and well-studied type of CPG. The RIO controller acts as a nonlinear damping compensator and removes part of the resistive forces in the system, thereby reducing the human effort. It is shown that the resulting human-intended oscillation is a locally stable periodic solution of the closed-loop system. The result is first presented for a single degree-of-freedom (DOF) mechanical system and then extended to a multi-DOF system.
Characterization of histone acylations links chromatin modifications with metabolism.

Over the last decade, numerous histone acyl post-translational modifications (acyl-PTMs) have been discovered, of which the functional significance is still under intense study. Here, we use high-resolution mass spectrometry to accurately quantify eight acyl-PTMs in vivo and after in vitro enzymatic assays. We assess the ability of seven histone acetyltransferases (HATs) to catalyze acylations on histones in vitro using short-chain acyl-CoA donors, proving that they are less efficient towards larger acyl-CoAs. We also observe that acyl-CoAs can acylate histones through non-enzymatic mechanisms. Using integrated metabolomic and proteomic approaches, we achieve high correlation (R 2 > 0.99) between the abundance of acyl-CoAs and their corresponding acyl-PTMs. Moreover, we observe a dose-dependent increase in histone acyl-PTM abundances in response to acyl-CoA supplementation in in nucleo reactions. This study represents a comprehensive profiling of scarcely investigated low-abundance histone marks, revealing that concentrations of acyl-CoAs affect histone acyl-PTM abundances by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. A number of histone lysine modifications related to acetylation have been identified, but their functional significance is unclear. Here, the authors use in vitro and in vivo assays to characterize eight acyl histone post-translational modifications and link their abundance with metabolism.
Clinical outcomes of patients on check point inhibitor therapy who receive routine vaccinations.

e14597Background: Routine vaccination reduces preventable illness and infection in cancer patients even while undergoing therapy. Increasingly, patients with advanced malignancies receive check poi...
Overview of Fracture Repair

Migration, adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts, osteoclasts, chondroblasts, fi broblasts and endothelial cells characterize the cellular activities suspended within a collagenous matrix during fracture repair. Throughout life fracture repair is a dynamic process – orchestrated events directing the inflammatory response, chondrogenesis, osteogenesis and remodeling. These steps may involve many differently expressed genes. Fracture healing is also closely aligned with neo-angiogenesis. Matrix degradation and angiogenesis are concurrent processes supportive of endochondral bone formation. This chapter will focus on the biological hierarchy of bone and its capacity for repair. The cell and molecular biology of fracture repair will be considered as a context for proposed therapies for bone regeneration.
Robust data-driven discovery of governing physical laws with error bars.

Discovering governing physical laws from noisy data is a grand challenge in many science and engineering research areas. We present a new approach to data-driven discovery of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and partial differential equations (PDEs), in explicit or implicit form. We demonstrate our approach on a wide range of problems, including shallow water equations and Navier–Stokes equations. The key idea is to select candidate terms for the underlying equations using dimensional analysis, and to approximate the weights of the terms with error bars using our threshold sparse Bayesian regression. This new algorithm employs Bayesian inference to tune the hyperparameters automatically. Our approach is effective, robust and able to quantify uncertainties by providing an error bar for each discovered candidate equation. The effectiveness of our algorithm is demonstrated through a collection of classical ODEs and PDEs. Numerical experiments demonstrate the robustness of our algorithm with respect to noisy data and its ability to discover various candidate equations with error bars that represent the quantified uncertainties. Detailed comparisons with the sequential threshold least-squares algorithm and the lasso algorithm are studied from noisy time-series measurements and indicate that the proposed method provides more robust and accurate results. In addition, the data-driven prediction of dynamics with error bars using discovered governing physical laws is more accurate and robust than classical polynomial regressions.
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Revisited: Complication Avoidance and Outcomes with the Mini-Open Approach

Objective To discuss lessons learned from an initial lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) experience with a focus on evolving surgical technique, complication avoidance, and new motor and sensory outcomes after implementation of a modified surgical approach. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected series of all patients undergoing LLIF by the senior author (A.D.L.) from January 2010 to January 2018 after implementation of a modified surgical mini-open technique, compared with previously reported institutional results with the originally recommended percutaneous technique. LLIF-specific complications examined included groin/thigh sensory dysfunction, flank bulge/pseudohernia, psoas-pattern weakness, and femoral nerve injury. Results The incidence (19%, n = 98 patients) of groin/thigh sensory dysfunction in our cohort was significantly lower than that of the historical control (60%, n = 59) (P Conclusions The adoption of an exclusive mini-open muscle-splitting approach with first-look inspection of the lumbosacral plexus nerve elements may improve motor and sensory outcomes in general and the incidence of postoperative groin/thigh sensory dysfunction and psoas-pattern weakness in particular.
Multi-objective Supply Restoration in Active Distribution Networks with Soft Open Points

The flexible interconnection technology based on soft open points (SOPs) provides opportunities to improve the operating level of active distribution networks (ADNs). The capability to achieve fast supply restoration is one of the important advantages of SOPs. This paper proposes a hybrid bi-level optimization method for multi-objective supply restoration in the ADNs with SOPs. The model of supply restoration for minimizing the out-of-service loads, the number of switch operations, and the network losses, is established. The model is formulated as a typical mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, taking the power outputs of SOPs and switch states as controllable variables. The optimization method based on fast non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and primal-dual interior-point method (PDIPM) is developed to solve it. NSGA-II is employed to reconfigure the switch states. For the network topology reconfigured by NSGA-II, an AC/DC OPF based on PDIPM is conducted to obtain the minimum power losses and to ensure the system operation constraints satisfied. A modified IEEE 33-node test system is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method. Results show that the application of SOPs effectively reduces the healthy out-of-service loads, and simplifies the switching operations required.
Mobile channel and channel coordination under different supply chain contexts

Abstract The paper proposes different supply chain contexts where one manufacturer sells the same product to two retailers, one traditional and one online. The first context is when two retailers are distinct entities and the second context is when a dominant manufacturer owns and controls the traditional retailer. In each context, we study a no cooperation scenario versus various cooperation strategies (namely the minimum pricing strategy, the whole channel price, and the revenue sharing cooperation). Besides, we investigate the use of a dual channel by the online retailer via a mobile channel and a computer channel. The online retailer could use the same price online or a price differentiation (called also personalized pricing) depending on where the purchase is done. Our results show the crucial role of the product compatibility to the web and the mobile baseline incremental sales in influencing the performance of each channel member.
[Prevalence of overweight, obesity and its relation to chronic diseases among adults of 5 monitoring areas in Guizhou Province in 2010-2012].

OBJECTIVE To understand the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults of 5 monitoring areas in Guizhou Province and to analyze the correlation between overweight, obesity and incidence of related chronic diseases. METHODS Multistage stratified cluster random sampling was employed, using data from "the 2010- 2012 National Nutrition and Health Survey". The physical measurement and the TC, TG, HDLC and blood glucose were conducted among 3682 resident population aged 18 years and above who from 5 monitoring areas( Yunyan and Baiyun District, Dejiang, Qianxi andSansui County in Guizhou Province). To analyze the distribution of overweight, obesity and central obesity in the population and its relationship with diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. RESULTS The prevalence rates were 27%, 7. 5% and 16. 9% for overweight, obesity and the central obesity in 5 surveillance areas of Guizhou Provinc. The central obesity rate increase with age, which was the highest in the elderly( over 60years)( χ~2= 32. 03, P < 0. 001), the female were higher than the male( χ~2= 4. 2, P =0. 04). Under controlling for age, gender, regional factors, compared with the normal weight population, the onset risk of diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension in the overweight populations were 1. 4 times, 1. 4 times and 2 times( 95% CI 1. 0- 2. 0, 1. 2-1. 7, 1. 6- 2. 5, P < 0. 05) respectively. The risk of obesity diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension were 2. 6 times( 95% CI 1. 7- 4. 1, P < 0. 001), 1. 5 times( 95% CI 1. 1-1. 9, P < 0. 001) and 3. 7 times( 95% CI 2. 7- 5. 1, P < 0. 001), respectively. Central obesity may increase the risk of diabetes( OR = 2. 18, 95% CI 1. 58- 3. 01, P < 0. 001)and the risk of hypertension( OR = 2. 2, 95% CI 1. 74- 2. 57, P < 0. 001). CONCLUSION Adult overweight and obesity were risk factors of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension risk factors. Central obesity were risk factors of diabetes and hypertension risk factors.
Vortioxetine use may cause false positive immunoassay results for urine methadone.

Abstract Background Urine immunoassays are frequently employed for methadone screening because they are relatively inexpensive and widely available. However, immunoassays are notoriously prone to false positives. We report that the use of vortioxetine (Trintellix® in the USA and Canada, Brintellix® worldwide) could cause false positives in the Roche KIMS Methadone II Urine immunoassay (MDN2). Methods We performed a spiking study using a parent drug vortioxetine concentration of 7500 ng/ml. Results Urine specimens from seven patients on typical vortioxetine doses tested positive for methadone in the Roche assay but negative for methadone in a confirmatory (GC/MS) assay and two other immunoassay platforms. Because of the pharmacokinetics of vortioxetine and the high cross-reactivity of a metabolite in the MDN2 assay, routine use of the drug could cause false positives even without detectible parent drug in the urine. Conclusions Vortioxetine is commonly prescribed for mood disorders, which have high prevalence in patients treated for opioid addiction. For that reason, it is important that clinicians are aware of this interference.
The North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease-Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure Score Accurately Predicts Survival: An External Validation Using a National Cohort.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) carries high short-term mortality. The North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease (NACSELD)-ACLF score, positive if ≥2 organ failures are present, is a bedside tool that predicts short-term mortality in patients with cirrhosis. However, it was created using major liver referral centers, where a minority of patients with cirrhosis are hospitalized. Therefore, this study used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a nationally representative database, from 2005 to 2014 to externally validate the NACSELD-ACLF score in a cohort of patients with decompensated cirrhosis who were identified by a validated algorithm. Organ failures were identified using diagnosis codes. The primary objective was to evaluate the association between the NACSELD-ACLF score and inpatient mortality, whereas secondary objectives compared outcomes depending on presence of infection or hospitalization at a transplant center. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare outcomes, and area under the curve was calculated. There were 1,523,478 discharges that were included with 106,634 (7.0%) having a positive NACSELD-ACLF score. Patients were a mean 58 years old, and a majority were white men. Infection was present in 33.7% of the sample. Inpatient survival decreased with each organ failure and if infection was present. Patients with the NACSELD-ACLF score had significantly lower inpatient survival on crude (94% versus 48%; P < 0.001) and multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR], 0.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.07-0.08) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.77 (95% CI, 0.77-0.78). Liver transplant centers had clinically similar but significantly better survival at each organ failure, in patients with the NACSELD-ACLF score, and on multivariate analysis (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.13-1.22). Using a national cohort, our study validated the NACSELD-ACLF score as an excellent, simple bedside tool to predict short-term survival in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
Deep Learning for Control: a non-Reinforcement Learning View.

Deep learning platforms have become hugely popular due to their successes in natural language processing and image processing. Our objective is to show how deep learning platforms can be used for control problems. We do not make judgments about their performance as compared to traditional control approaches. We show that the main challenge when using deep learning platforms for learning control policies for nonlinear systems is ensuring the stability of the learning algorithm that depends on the stability of the closed loop system during the learning process. We discuss two approaches for overcoming the potential instability of the optimization algorithm, and showcase them in the context of learning a stabilizing controller for an inverted pendulum.
Poetry and digital media for improving upper elementary African American science learning

This study aims to analyze a case study of the Digi-Stars Science Film Club, which focused on using poetry, and digital media to improve upper elementary African Americans’ science learning. Fourth...
Filtration mechanisms and manufacturing methods of face masks: An overview

Face masks are loose-fitting masks that cover the nose and mouth and have ear ties at the back of the head whereas respirators are tight-fitting face covering devices which filter the air during in...
Still makes me wanna holler: African American males, dilemmas, and disparities

The current discussion explores the myriad of challenges facing African American males across the social, political, and economic landscape. As such, this paper examines the impact of such challeng...
Review Essay of Janaway & Robertson (Editors), Nietzsche, Naturalism and Normativity (Oxford, 2012)

This volume comprises nine new essays, primarily on various topics in Nietzsche’s ethics, especially his critique of morality, meta-ethics and moral psychology; only one essay primarily concerns the meaning of “naturalism.” The contributors include, besides the editors, several well-known figures in Anglophone Nietzsche studies: R. Lanier Anderson, Nadeem Hussain, Peter Poellner, Bernard Reginster, and Richard Schacht. Of perhaps special interest is that the volume features two essays by well-known moral philosophers, Peter Railton and Alan Thomas, neither of whom has written on Nietzsche previously. Almost all the essays (with the exception of Schacht's) are written to a high standard of scholarly care and philosophical argumentation, and can be read profitably by philosophers not primarily interested in Nietzsche. The volume as a whole is certainly essential for Nietzsche scholars, and some of the essays will interest moral philosophers more generally.
Intestinal Immunization with Soluble Bacterial Antigens: the Example of Cholera Toxoid

The studies described are aimed at a better understanding of the intestinal immunological system and its role in protection against enteric infection. The cellular kinetics of the intestinal immune response to cholera toxoid were studied in rats and the protection afforded by toxoid immunization was studied in dogs. Memory was demonstrated in the gut immune system. Plasma cells containing IgA antitoxin appeared in large numbers in gut lamina propria when intraduodenal boosting followed either intraperitoneal priming or prolonged oral priming, intraperitoneal priming being the most efficient. Immunization by the intraperitoneal route alone produced no response in small bowel lamina propria. Lamina propria plasma cells were derived from precursors in Peyer's patches or mesenteric lymph nodes which migrated through the thoracic duct and systemic circulation before homing to the gut. Dogs were immunized parenterally with cholera toxin or toxoid and challenged orally with Vibrio cholerae. Protection correlated closely with serum antitoxin titres and was usually brief. Passive intravenous immunization with IgG antitoxin was also protective. In contrast, subcutaneous priming followed by oral boosting yielded longer protection without elevated serum antitoxin titres. Antitoxin was detected in jejunal washings only briefly after local boosting. The mechanism by which protection is prolonged is unclear but its greater duration after parenteral priming and oral boosting emphasizes the importance of stimulating the gut immune mechanism in attempts to immunize against enteric bacterial infections. The parenteral-oral squence may be an effective means of immunizing the intestine with non-replicating protein antigens.
The Machine that Sings: Modernism, Hart Crane, and the Culture of the Body

Acknowledgments. Introduction: Recuperating the Animality of the Body 1. Eroticism Pure and Impure: Deciphering the Body in 'Possessions,' 'Voyages,' and 'The Wine Menagerie' 2. Morton Minsky Reads The Bridge: 'National Winter Garden' and the Meaning of Burlesque 3. The Invented Indian of The Bridge: Hart Crane and the Ethnographic Idea of Culture 4. The Animal in the Machine: The Technological Sublime and Corporeal Figuration in The Bridge. Notes. Works Cited. Index
On the localization of feedforward networks

Interference in neural networks occurs when learning in one area of the input space causes unlearning in another area. Networks that are less susceptible to interference are called spatially local networks. These networks are often used in neurocontrol, in online applications, where, because of the real time nature of the task, interference is often a problem. Although there are heuristics as to what makes a network local, there is no theoretical framework for measuring localization. This paper provides a formal definition of interference and localization that will allow measurement of a network's local properties. These definitions will be useful in developing learning algorithms that make networks more local. This may lead to faster learning over the entire input domain.
Effect of Water Vapor on Fatigue Crack Growth in 7475-T651 Aluminum Alloy Plate

The effects of water vapor on fatigue crack growth in 7475-T651 aluminum alloy plate at frequencies of 1 Hz and 10 Hz were investigated. Twenty-five mm thick compact specimens were subjected to constant amplitude fatigue testing at a load ratio of 0.2. Fatigue crack growth rates were calculated from effective crack lengths determined using a compliance method. Tests were conducted in hard vacuum and at water vapor partial pressures ranging from 94 Pa to 3.8 kPa. Fatigue crack growth rates were frequency insensitive under all environment conditions tested. For constant stress intensity factor ranges crack growth rate transitions occurred at low and high water vapor pressures. Crack growth rates at intermediate pressures were relatively constant and showed reasonable agreement with published data for two Al-Cu-Mg alloys. The existence of two crack growth rate transitions suggests either a change in rate controlling kinetics or a change in corrosion fatigue mechanism as a function of water vapor pressure. Reduced residual deformation and transverse cracking specimens tested in water vapor versus vacuum may be evidence of embrittlement within the plastic zone due to environmental interaction.
The Very High Temperature Reactor

The High Temperature Reactor (HTR) and Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) are types of nuclear power plants that, as the names imply, operate at temperatures above those of the conventional nuclear power plants that currently generate electricity in the US and other countries. Like existing nuclear plants, heat generated from the fission of uranium or plutonium atoms is carried off by a working fluid and can be used generate electricity. The very hot working fluid also enables the VHTR to drive other industrial processes that require high temperatures not achievable by conventional nuclear plants (Figure 1). For this reason, the VHTR is being considered for non-electrical energy applications. The reactor and power conversion system are constructed using special materials that make a core meltdown virtually impossible.
Dislocation-Twin Interactions in Magnesium Alloy AZ31

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed to study the defect structures in a cold deformed AZ31 magnesium alloy. The materials were compressed at room temperature along the rolling direction to promote the formation of {10–12} extension twins. Dislocation character and configuration in both the twin and adjacent matrix were investigated. It was found that basal dislocations are dominant in the matrix, though some dislocations immediately adjacent to the twin boundary have component. An abundance of dislocations with a component were observed inside the twin, even at relatively low strain level of 2%. Defects on the twin boundary and in the proximity were further investigated, including stacking faults on the basal plane which appear to have resulted from partial dislocations emanating from the twin boundary.
The culture of vengeance and the fate of American justice

America is driven by vengeance in Terry Aladjem's provocative account – a reactive, public anger that is a threat to democratic justice itself. From the return of the death penalty to the wars on terror and in Iraq, Americans demand retribution and moral certainty; they assert the 'rights of victims' and make pronouncements against 'evil'. Yet for Aladjem this dangerously authoritarian turn has its origins in the tradition of liberal justice itself – in theories of punishment that justify inflicting pain and in the punitive practices that result. Exploring vengeance as the defining problem of our time, Aladjem returns to the theories of Locke, Hegel and Mill. He engages the ancient Greeks, Nietzsche, Paine and Foucault to challenge liberal assumptions about punishment. He interrogates American law, capital punishment and images of justice in the media. He envisions a democratic justice that is better able to contain its vengeance.
Effect of covariate measurement error in randomized clinical trials

Prognostic factors often appear as covariates in clinical trials designed to estimate treatment effects. These factors are usually subject to measurement error and lead to decreased efficiency in the estimation of the treatment effect. We use Weibull regression models and asymptotic theory to derive the efficiency of estimation obtained by adjusting for one dichotomous and one continuous covariate measured with error. An application to a clinical trial involving advanced lung cancer patients illustrates the results.
The Role of Specific Checkpoint-Induced S-Phase Transcripts in Resistance to Replicative Stress

Checkpoint activation during S phase modulates transcription. In response to replication arrest, the fission yeast Cds1 checkpoint kinase maintains the normal S-phase transcriptional program by regulating MBF, the S-phase transcription factor. We show that similar regulation occurs in response to DNA damage during S-phase. We test the relative contributions to replication-stress resistance of transcriptional regulation and the two other major checkpoint functions: cell-cycle arrest and fork stabilization. We show that, although transcriptional regulation provides only modest resistance relative to fork stabilization, it contributes significantly to cell survival. Finally, we investigate the roles of two specific transcripts: mik1 and mrc1. These results demonstrate the general importance of checkpoint regulation of G1/S transcription in response to replicative stress and elucidate the specific roles of Mik1 and Mrc1 in the checkpoint.
FluoRender: An application of 2D image space methods for 3D and 4D confocal microscopy data visualization in neurobiology research

2D image space methods are processing methods applied after the volumetric data are projected and rendered into the 2D image space, such as 2D filtering, tone mapping and compositing. In the application domain of volume visualization, most 2D image space methods can be carried out more efficiently than their 3D counterparts. Most importantly, 2D image space methods can be used to enhance volume visualization quality when applied together with volume rendering methods. In this paper, we present and discuss the applications of a series of 2D image space methods as enhancements to confocal microscopy visualizations, including 2D tone mapping, 2D compositing, and 2D color mapping. These methods are easily integrated with our existing confocal visualization tool, FluoRender, and the outcome is a full-featured visualization system that meets neurobiologists' demands for qualitative analysis of confocal microscopy data.
Modelling and simulations of a bonded rod

This work models, analyzes, and simulates the process of adhesive bonding between a rod or a slab and an object. The process is assumed to be quasistatic and the model consists of an evolution equation for the rod, a nonstandard boundary condition describing the adhesive traction, and an ordinary differential equation for the adhesive evolution. The object may be reactive or rigid, and the rod elastic or viscoelastic. The equations are shown to decouple and once the adhesion field is found, the displacements are obtained in a closed form. Numerical simulations provide insight into the behavior of structures with this model of adhesion. These include the reversible process which may be history dependent. It is found that when the bonding field is weak, the assumptions underlying the quasistatic approximation are violated, and intrinsically the model predicts that either the debonding process stops, or complete debonding can be obtained only asymptotically.
Using a commercial graphical processing unit and the CUDA programming language to accelerate scientific image processing applications

In the past two years the processing power of video graphics cards has quadrupled and is approaching super computer levels. State-of-the-art graphical processing units (GPU) boast of theoretical computational performance in the range of 1.5 trillion floating point operations per second (1.5 Teraflops). This processing power is readily accessible to the scientific community at a relatively small cost. High level programming languages are now available that give access to the internal architecture of the graphics card allowing greater algorithm optimization. This research takes memory access expensive portions of an image-based iris identification algorithm and hosts it on a GPU using the C++ compatible CUDA language. The selected segmentation algorithm uses basic image processing techniques such as image inversion, value squaring, thresholding, dilation, erosion and memory/computationally intensive calculations such as the circular Hough transform. Portions of the iris segmentation algorithm were accelerated by a factor of 77 over the 2008 GPU results. Some parts of the algorithm ran at speeds that were over 1600 times faster than their CPU counterparts. Strengths and limitations of the GPU Single Instruction Multiple Data architecture are discussed. Memory access times, instruction execution times, programming details and code samples are presented as part of the research.
Diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom sensitivity.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The objective of this review is to highlight recent advances in the preparation, documentation and performance of reagents and methods used in the diagnosis of Hymenoptera-venom-induced immediate-type hypersensitivity. RECENT FINDINGS: The following potent allergens have been reported: (1) a low-molecular-weight honey-bee allergen (Api m 6) has been described; (2) venom allergens in the North American species of bumble-bee (Bombus pennsylvanicus) have been more fully characterized, with the focus on phospholipase A2; (3) the vespid venom Ves v 5 allergen has been structurally mapped to identify immunoglobulin-E-binding epitopes; (4) the possible role of carbohydrate antigen epitopes as a cause of cross-reactivity among honey-bee and vespid venom proteins has been reported; and (5) the venom of Pachycondyla chinensis, an ant found commonly in the Far East, has been described. The most significant reports during this period have focused on the less-than-ideal performance of the intradermal venom skin-test reagents. The issue of the patient that is positive for venom allergy history but negative for an intradermal venom skin test is raised, and it is suggested that there is a need for caution and the use of serology as a supplementary diagnostic test. SUMMARY: The important issue this year is the reminder that intradermal skin tests may be negative in venom-allergic patients, possibly because of changes in the potency of the extracts. The clinical history should drive the diagnosis of insect-sting allergy. When negative confirmatory venom skin-test or serology results are considered to be inconsistent with a positive history, they should be repeated.
The reproductive biology of the potato and its implication for breeding

Haploidy, 2n gametes, synaptic mutants, stylar barriers, endosperm barriers. Endosperm Balance Number (EBN) and its relationship to 2n gametes, stylar barriers and disomic genetics are a part of the reproductive biology of potato. Also all are tools for isolation and preservation of a species identity. Haploidy and 2n gametes allow for interploidy gene transfer. Parallel spindles and synaptic mutants permit the transfer of entire parental genomes intact and are powerful tools in potato breeding. Stylar barriers provide a mechanism for interspecific isolation via unilateral incompatibility. Incongruity has also been invoked. Endosperm barriers have been discussed in terms of EBN which requires a 2 maternal:1 paternal ratio in the endosperm for successful seed development. Genetic models suggesting three unlinked genes in a threshold-like system and a two gene system have been proposed. A relationship may exist between EBN and stylar barriers. The use and manipulation of 2n gametes, stylar barriers and EBN have been used effectively in germplasm transfer from species to cultivated potato.
Genomic and physiological diversity amongst strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, and genomic comparison with Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Twenty-three strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans of known pedigree were examined. Thirteen strains survived 65° C for 5 min and 7 of these for 10 min, but sporulation was never observed. All strains grew between 25° C and 35° C and some strains grew at 5° and 40° C. They were genomically diverse, comprising 7 DNA homology groups, and the GC content varied from 55–65 mol %. Correlation between genomic group and growth temperature was noted. All strains grew on ferrous sulfate as energy source, but some failed to utilize elemental sulfur. Acidified thiosulfate supported growth of most of the strains examined but it was judged to be a poor substrate upon which to base taxonomic conclusions because of decomposition of thiosulfate in acid. Six strains of Thiobacillus thiooxidans showed negligible genomic affinity to T. ferrooxidans, and they comprised 2 DNA homology groups and their GC content varied from 52–62 mol%. Anomalies due to contaminants in cultures of T. ferrooxidans were resolved, and the contaminants were identified.
Are there quasistable hadrons containing superheavy quarks

Flavor-changing neutral currents are reconsidered allowing the possibility that superheavy quarks, with masses comparable to the weak-boson mass, exist in nature. It is argued that the natural conservation of these weak neutral currents cannot be imposed to order ..cap alpha..G/sub F/ in this case. Rather, the absence of strangeness-changing (and possibly charm-changing) neutral currents to this order suggests that the mixing angles between ordinary and superheavy quarks must be extremely small. Some phenomenological ramifications of this restriction are presented.
Reclaiming the Prophets: Cohen, Heschel, and Crossing the Theocentric/Neo-Humanist Divide

In this essay, I examine Hermann Cohen's and Abraham Joshua Heschel's respective accounts of the classical prophets of the Hebrew Bible, which contend with the Protestant biblical criticism of their day. Their accounts of the prophets are of central significance for their philosophies of Judaism, which mirror and oppose each other. This Auseinandersetzung addresses the often neglected topic of Jewish responses to German-Protestant biblical criticism and stresses the cogency of Heschel's thought. Additionally, examining Cohen and Heschel together problematizes the polarization between theocentrism and neo-humanism currently dominating the landscape of modern Jewish thought.
Differential effects of distinct central nervous system regions on cell migration and axonal extension of neural precursor transplants

Transplantation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy in CNS injury. However, the adult CNS lacks instructive signals present during development and, depending on the region and type of transplant, may be inhibitory for neuron generation and axonal growth. We examined the effects of the white matter in different regions of the adult CNS on the properties of NPC transplants with respect to cell survival, differentiation, migration, and axonal growth. NPCs were prepared from day 13.5 embryonic spinal cord of transgenic rats that express the human placental alkaline phosphatase (AP) reporter. These NPCs were injected unilaterally into the cervical spinal cord white matter and into the corpus callosum of adult rats and were analyzed immunohistochemically 2 weeks later. NPCs survived in both regions and differentiated into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons, with no apparent differences in survival or phenotypic composition. However, in the spinal cord white matter, graft-derived cells, identified as precursors and glial cells, migrated from the injection site rostrally and caudally, whereas, in the corpus callosum, graft-derived cells did not migrate and remained at the injection site. Importantly, graft-derived neurons extended axons from the grafting site along the corpus callosum past the midline, entering into the contralateral side of the corpus callosum. These results demonstrate dramatic differences between white matter regions in the spinal cord and brain with respect to cell migration and axonal growth and underscore the importance of considering the effects of the local CNS environment in the design of effective transplantation strategies.
Discussion: A technique for measuring the compressive modulus of articular cartilage under physiological loading rates with preliminary results

AbstractOn the issue of ultrasound measurement of cartilage thickness, in his Reply to my initial Communication [1] Dr Shepherd asserts that we ‘assume’ a velocity for the speed of sound in cartilage in our ultrasonic measurement of acetabula cartilage thickness and topography [2]. Page 254 of our 1981 Journal of Biomechanics article [2] states: ‘Sound velocity in the respective media was experimentally determined using samples of known geometry.’ A prior publication of the Leeds group in 1989 [3] cited reference [2] and stated ‘Efforts by the present authors to measure cartilage thickness using ultrasound indicate… Thickness measurements were difficult to obtain and even with immaculate cartilage, signal attenuation was pronounced. The unreliability in obtaining measurements prevented even a rudimentary repeatability study from being performed.’ Dr Shepherd also cites in his Reply to my Communication [1] a brief abstract [4] by his group which also dismisses ultrasound measurement with ‘ultrasonic measur...
The application of total hydrocarbon flame ionization detectors to the analysis of hydrocarbon mixtures from motor vehicles, with and without catalytic emission control

The successful application of total hydrocarbon analyzers to the analysis of hydrocarbon mixtures requires linear response with respect to a single calibration compound. Flame ionization detectors configured for total hydrocarbon analysis (premixed flames) do not respond in the same manner to all hydrocarbon species. A discussion of the source of the phenomena is presented.
Platelet attachment and spreading on polystyrene surfaces: Dependence on fibronectin and plasma concentration

Fibronectin promoted platelet attachment and spreading on polystyrene surfaces but was not essential if the surfaces were coated with plasma. The dependence of platelet adhesion on plasma concentration was complex. The extent of attachment and spreading was increased on surfaces treated with up to 1.0% plasma and decreased at higher plasma concentrations. The results support the hypothesis that protein adsorption is not directly related to protein concentration when surfaces are exposed to complex protein mixtures.
Principal component analysis of knee kinematics and kinetics after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract This study compared the gait of 10 subjects with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction to a group of 12 height- and weight-matched control subjects. The analysis was based on knee flexion, adduction, and internal rotation angles and moments. The objective was to use principal component analysis (PCA) to identify knees of the ACL reconstructed subjects that fell outside normal ranges as determined by control subjects. Gait data were collected on all subjects in a motion analysis laboratory. Principal component (PC) models were developed for each gait measure based on the control subjects’ data and used to assess gait waveforms of ACL reconstructed subjects. PCA allows analysis of entire gait waveforms for comparisons. In a sample of 10 ACL reconstructed subjects (7 years after surgery, on average), six of the ACL reconstructed knees had not returned to normal following surgery and eight of the contralateral knees functioned differently from controls. A majority of the differences were noted to occur in the abduction–adduction knee moment with corresponding infrequency in the differences seen in abduction–adduction rotation. PCA enabled us to identify subjects with abnormal gait waveforms as outliers relative to the normal control group.
An Inquiry into the Contemporary Differential between Female and Male Voter Turnouts

This study seeks to identify contemporary factors that systematically explain the difference in the ratio of the female-to-male voter participation rates, FVPR/MVPR, and the difference between the female and male voter participation rate levels, FVPR−MVPR, in the U.S. Using state-level data form the 2004 Presidential election, it is found that both FVPR/MVPR and FVPR−MVPR are an increasing function of the gender-specific unemployment rates, median earnings, educational attainment levels, population age 65 and over, and the presence of a female governor in the state and a decreasing function of the gender-specific divorce rates.
Synopsis of the tribe Bocageeae (Annonaceae), with revisions of Cardiopetalum, Froesiodendron, Trigynaea, Bocagea, and Hornschuchia

The tribal name Bocageeae Endlicher is reestablished and the tribe is circumscribed on the basis of solitary internodal ebracteate pedicels that are articulated at the base, and pollen shed in polyads of eight or more grains. Septate anther locules, large pollen size, and seed appendages are prevalent in the tribe. Intectate pollen with free-standing columellae, rare in Annonaceae, occurs not only in the genusTrigynaea but also in some species ofBocagea andHornschuchia. As defined here, the Bocageeae include seven neotropical genera:Cymbopetalum, Porcelia, Bocagea, Cardiopetalum, Froesiodendron, Hornschuchia, andTrigynaea. The latter five genera are revised and the treatments include ten new species:Cardiopetalum plicatum, Froesiodendron urceocalyx, Hornschuchia lianarum, H. santosii, H. leptandra, Trigynaea cinnamomea, T. lanceipetala, T. triplinervis, T. lagaropoda, andT. axilliflora, all from tropical South America. A new combination,Froesiodendron longicuspe, changes the rank of that taxon from subspecies to species.Cardiopetalum surinamense is removed fromFroesiodendron and reassigned toCardiopetalum on the basis of its connate petals, dehiscent monocarps, and seeds with bilobed arils. A cladogram provides an explicit hypothesis of intergeneric relationships in the tribe. The new combinationOnychopetalum periquino, based onTrigynaea periquino, is made.
Axial impact of composites

Abstract A finite element method was developed to calculate the behavior of an axisymmetric composite body of revolution impacting on an isotropic surface. The composite is made of unidirectional fiber reinforced plies, with no restriction either on the number of plies or on the orientation of the fibers in each ply; hence the laminate may be ‘thin’ or ‘thick’, and may be of ‘symmetric’ or ‘unsymmetric’ layups. The target may be a semi-infinite body or may be a simply supported or clamped slab. The impact velocity may be zero (static loading) or non-zero with the impactor penetrating the target. A user-friendly computer code AXIMPACT was written which provides the following information: (a) the position of the impactor during impact (including the penetration depth), (b) the stresses and strains in the impactor and the target, (c) the deformations of the impactor and the target, and (d) the failure of the composite impactor and the target. The code was validated by comparing results generated by the code to available analytical and numerical results and to data. In every case the agreement between the present and previous results was excellent.
Interactions between hERG and KCNQ1 α-subunits are mediated by their COOH termini and modulated by cAMP

KCNQ1 and hERG encode the voltage-gated potassium channel α-subunits of the cardiac repolarizing currents IKs and IKr, respectively. These currents function in vivo with some redundancy to maintain...
Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Cerebrovascular Events

Background— Stroke, mainly attributable to atherothrombotic disease, represents a leading cause of disability and death in the Western world. Endothelial dysfunction, which is considered a key factor in atherogenesis, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, the magnitude of the association between coronary endothelial dysfunction (CED) and cerebrovascular events is unknown. This study was performed to investigate the association between CED and cerebrovascular events. Methods and Results— We studied 503 patients without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary endothelial function testing by intracoronary acetylcholine infusion. Patients were divided according to the presence (n=305) or absence (n=198) of CED, and medical records were examined for the occurrence of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or transient ischemic attack either before (prevalent) or after (incident) coronary endothelial function testing. Among the study population, a total of 25 c...
The Effects of Si-Micromachined On-Wafer Packaging on the Performance of K-Band Circuits

This paper presents results from a study on the effect of Si-micromachined packaging on the performance of K-band circuits. Components inclduding interconnects and stubs have been fabricated using finite ground coplanar (FGC) transmission lines and results indicate that nonmetalized air cavities introduce fewer parasitics as compared to metalized air cavities. Flip-chip devices have been incorporated to design a packaged 3-stage low noise amplifier (LNA). The performance of flip-chip Indium Phosphide (InP) high electron mobility trnsistors (HEMTs) in the host substrate environment is measured and used to design the packaged LNA for desired performance.
Co-Enzyme Q10: A New Drug for Cardiovascular Disease

Co-enzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) is a naturally occurring substance which has properties potentially beneficial for preventing cellular damage during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. It plays a role in oxidative phosphorylation and has membrane stabilizing activity. The substance has been used in oral form to treat various cardiovascular disorders including angina pectoris, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. Its clinical importance is now being established in clinical trials worldwide.
Turkey‐Iran relations, 1997 to 2000: The Kurdish and Islamist questions

This article focuses on the bilateral relations between Turkey and Iran from 1997 to 10 June 2000, terminating with the ECO conference held in Tehran. The omni-balancing international relations theory of Steven David is used to explain Turkey's relations with Iran. Six major developments which are influenced by the Kurdish and Islamist questions are used to emphasise significant aspects of the two countries' relations: 1) the 'Tale of the Two Mayors', which refers to how the cases of the Mayor of Istanbul, Receb Tayyib Erdo < an, and the Mayor of Tehran, Golam Hossein Karbaschi, were covered in the press; 2) the Kavakc L affair, which refers to the issue of Merve Kavakc L , the female member of the Turkish parliament who raised a political firestorm by wearing a headscarf (turban) into the Turkish parliament building in April 1999; 3) the July 'student' demonstrations in Iran, particularly in Tehran; 4) the Turkish bombing raid of 17 July 1999; 5) the Hizbullah affair in Turkey; and 6) the arrest of the k...