cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deletion of P21-activated kinase-1 induces age-dependent increased visceral adiposity and cardiac dysfunction in female mice.

It is known that there is an age-related progression in diastolic dysfunction, especially prevalent in postmenopausal women, who develop heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, EF > 50%). Mechanisms and therapies are poorly understood, but there are strong correlations between obesity and HFpEF. We have tested the hypothesis that P21-activated kinase-1 (PAK1) preserves cardiac function and adipose tissue homeostasis during aging in female mice. Previous demonstrations in male mice by our lab that PAK1 activity confers cardio-protection against different stresses formed the rationale for this hypothesis. Our studies compared young (3–6 months) and middle-aged (12–15 months) female and male PAK1 knock-out mice (PAK1−/−) and wild-type (WT) equivalent. Female WT mice exhibited increased cardiac PAK1 abundance during aging. By echocardiography, compared to young WT female mice, middle-aged WT female mice showed enlargement of the left atrium as well as thickening of posterior wall and increased left ventricular mass; however, all contraction and relaxation parameters were preserved during aging. Compared to WT controls, middle-aged PAK1−/− female mice demonstrated worsening of cardiac function involving a greater enlargement of the left atrium, ventricular hypertrophy, and diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, with aging PAK1−/− female mice, unlike male PAK1−/− mice, exhibited increased adiposity with increased accumulation of visceral adipose tissue. Our data provide evidence for the significance of PAK1 signaling as an element in the preservation of cardiac function and adipose tissue homeostasis in females during aging.
ImPartial: Partial Annotations for Cell Instance Segmentation

Segmenting noisy multiplex spatial tissue images constitutes a challenging task, since the characteristics of both the noise and the biology being imaged differs significantly across tissues and modalities; this is compounded by the high monetary and time costs associated with manual annotations. It is therefore imperative to build algorithms that can accurately segment the noisy images based on a small number of annotations. Recently techniques to derive such an algorithm from a few scribbled annotations have been proposed, mostly relying on the refinement and estimation of pseudo-labels. Other techniques leverage the success of self-supervised denoising as a parallel task to potentially improve the segmentation objective when few annotations are available. In this paper, we propose a method that augments the segmentation objective via self-supervised multi-channel quantized imputation, meaning that each class of the segmentation objective can be characterized by a mixture of distributions. This approach leverages the observation that perfect pixel-wise reconstruction or denoising of the image is not needed for accurate segmentation, and introduces a self-supervised classification objective that better aligns with the overall segmentation goal. We demonstrate the superior performance of our approach for a variety of cancer datasets acquired with different highly-multiplexed imaging modalities in real clinical settings. Code for our method along with a benchmarking dataset is available at https://github.com/natalialmg/ImPartial.
Productivity investment with hidden action

Abstract This paper considers a hidden action agency model in which an agent can be incentivized to simultaneously work and exert effort to increase productivity. When such multitasking is optimal, it is implemented through a higher powered contract, unlike the standard multitasking case. We determine conditions under which the principal wants to incentivize concurrent working and productivity investment and conditions under which the agent would want to participate. We show that these conditions are not the same. Multitasking is compared to separated tasks. Our results can help explain the skills gap.
MRI and Spect in Epilepsy Surgery

It is axiomatic in epilepsy surgery that the epileptogenic focus must be resected in order to achieve a good result. Imaging modalities which are directed toward this localisation can be divided into two major categories: anatomical and functional. MR has superseded CT for anatomic imaging in epilepsy (Kuzniecky et al., 1987; Jack et al., 1990a; Jackson et al., 1990; Ashtari et al., 1991; Berkovic et al., 1991; Bronen et al., 1991; Cook et al., 1992; Lencz et al., 1992). PET, SPECT, MR spectroscopy, and MR perfusion/diffusion imaging fall into the category of functional imaging. Further discussion of functional imaging here will be limited to SPECT which can be performed inter-ictally or peri-ictally (Stefan et al., 1987; Lee et al., 1988; Rowe et al., 1989; Tatum et al., 1990; Rowe et al., 1991).
Fire Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites

The terminology polymer nanocomposite describes a composite in which one of the composite materials, the nano-material, has a minimum of one dimension which is on the nanoscale and it is completely dispersed throughout the polymer. The typical nanomaterial is a clay but graphite, single-wall and multiple-wall nanotubes and nanoscale spherical particles, such as polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, POSS [1],[2], silica [3, 4, 5] and titania [6],[7], have also been used.
Semantic Foundations of Commutativity Analysis

This paper presents the semantic foundations of commutativity analysis, an analysis technique for automatically parallelizing programs written in a sequential, imperative programming language. Commutativity analysis views the computation as composed of operations on objects. It then analyzes the program at this granularity to discover when operations commute (i.e. generate the same result regardless of the order in which they execute). If all of the operations required to perform a given computation commute, the compiler can automatically generate parallel code. This paper shows that the basic analysis technique is sound. We have implemented a parallelizing compiler that uses commutativity analysis as its basic analysis technique; this paper also presents performance results from two automatically parallelized applications.
Properties of F′ Factor Deoxyribonucleic Acid Transferred from Ultraviolet-Irradiated Donors: Photoreactivation in the Recipient and the Influence of recA, recB, recC, and uvr Genes

Ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated Escherichia coli K-12 F lac+ donors transfer damaged F′ factors when mated with female cells. Exposure of the zygotes to white light after mating can cause the photoreactivation of the damaged transferred F′ factors. In so far as the photoreactivation is specific for pyrimidine dimers, these experiments indicate the presence of UV-induced dimers in the transferred F′ factor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). These damaged F′ factors are remarkably stable in recA recipients, having a half-life for susceptibility to photoreactivation of 1.5 to 2 hr. This is judged by the formation of Lac+ colonies, all of which are male secondary donors. In crosses with wild type and uvrA, recB, or recC mutant recipients, however, the Lac+ colonies are predominantly recombinants and photoreactivation is not detected. The extent of DNA synthesis resulting from transfer of F′ episomes from irradiated donors suggests that a complementary strand is formed on the damaged template. Photoreactivation behavior and sedimentation properties are used to deduce properties of such damaged episomes. We conclude that the complementary strand is discontinuous directly opposite dimers in the transferred strand. This structure may be an intermediate in the recombinational event sequence in Rec+ recipients.
Characterization of Borosilicate Glass Containing Savannah River Plant Radioactive Waste

Vitrification is the reference process for immobilization of radioactive waste from the Savannah River Plant. The waste, consisting mostly of hydrous oxides of Fe, Al, and Mn contaminated with fission products and alphemitting radionuclides, is mixed with glass-forming chemicals and melted at 1150°C to produce a durable borosilicate glass. In this paper, the results of studies characterizing glass containing actual radioactive waste are presented. The glass was produced in a small-scale joule-heated melter in a shielded facility at the Savannah River Laboratory. Feed for the melter was a mixture of 35 wt % waste (primarily Fe2O3 and Al2O3) and 65 wt % frit (primarily SiO2, Na2O, and B2O3). The melt was poured into 600-cc stainless steel beakers and allowed to cool. The glass was intensely radioactive. Dose rates at the surface of the glass were approximately 106 rad/hr. Specific activities (dpm/g glass) of the principal radionuclides were: 1.2 x 1010 for Cs-137, 7.9 x 109 for Sr-90, and 1.0 x 108 for alpha activity (primarily Pu-238 and Cm-244). Examination by optical and electron microscopy indicated the presence of 1–5 wt % spinel crystals — primarily NiFe2O4. Leach tests indicated good durability in deionized water, brine, and silicate water. These latter two leachants simulate groundwater from possible geologic repositories. Release rates at 40°C based on gamma, beta, and alpha activity in a 28-day test were approximately 0.01 g glass/ m2-day. This result agrees with results of tests with glass containing simulated waste and indicates that the borosilicate glass effectively immobilizes SRP radioactive waste. Also, during the leach tests, the pH of the leachates did not decrease even though they were exposed to the intense gamma, beta, and alpha radiation from this glass.
THE CONCENTRATION-EARNINGS HYPOTHESIS: RECONCILING INDIVIDUAL AND INDUSTRY DATA IN US STUDIES*

The authors provide at least a partial reconciliation of industry and individual level examinations of the influence of concentration on wages. They find that neither aggregation per se nor use of different wage measures accounts for the general failure of industry level studies to confirm a correlation. Instead, the failure results from serious misspecification forced by an incongruence by constructing an industry level data set that eliminates it and by showing that concentration emerges as significant, a result in harmony with most individual level studies. As a consequence, the results of previous industry level studies should be discounted. Copyright 1990 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
The degree of variation in DNA sequence recognition among four Drosophila homeotic proteins

The homeodomain has been implicated as a major determinant of biological specificity for the homeotic selector (HOM) genes. We compare here the DNA sequence preferences of homeodomains encoded by four of the eight Drosophila HOM proteins. One of the four, Abdominal-B, binds preferentially to a sequence with an unusual 5'-T-T-A-T-3' core, whereas the other three prefer 5'-T-A-A-T-3'. Of these latter three, the Ultrabithorax and Antennapedia homeodomains display indistinguishable preferences outside the core while Deformed differs. Thus, with three distinct binding classes defined by four HOM proteins, differences in individual site recognition may account for some but not all of HOM protein functional specificity. We further show that amino acid residues within the N-terminal arm are responsible for the sequence specificity differences between the Ultrabithorax and Abdominal-B homeodomains. Similarities and differences at the corresponding positions within the N-terminal arms are conserved in the vertebrate Abdominal-B-like HOM proteins, which play critical roles in limb specifications as well as in regional specification along the anterior-posterior axis. This and other patterns of residue conservation suggest that differential DNA sequence recognition may play a role in HOM protein function in a wide range of organisms.
Vapor pressure and enthalpy of vaporization of oil of catnip by correlation gas chromatography

Abstract The vaporization enthalpy and vapor pressure of the two nepetalactones found in Nepeta cataria have been evaluated by correlation gas chromatography. Vaporization enthalpies at T = 298.15 K of {(68.0 ± 1.9) and (69.4 ± 1.9)} kJ ⋅ mol−1 have been derived for the minor diastereomer, (4aS,7S,7aS)-nepetalactone, and major one, (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone, respectively. Vapor pressures also at T = 298.15 K of p = (1.2 ± 0.04) Pa and (0.91 ± 0.03) Pa have been evaluated for the minor and the major stereoisomer. In addition to being of interest because of the remarkable effect it has on various felids, oil of catnip is also quite effective in repelling mosquitoes, comparable to diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET). The vapor pressures evaluated in this work suggest that the two stereoisomers have similar volatility to DEET at ambient temperatures.
THE EFFECT OF ANGLE SLICE ACQUISITION ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC CERVICAL VERTEBRAL COLUMN MORPHOMETRY IN GREAT DANES

Computed tomography (CT) scans can be acquired with the transverse images aligned either parallel to the endplates or perpendicular to the vertebral canal. The purpose of this prospective cross-sectional study was to determine the effect of angle acquisition on CT morphometric evaluation of the cervical vertebral column of Great Danes with and without cervical spondylomyelopathy. Twenty-eight Great Danes (13 normal, 15 affected) were sampled. For each dog, a set of CT images was acquired with the transverse slices aligned parallel to the endplates and another one with the transverse images aligned perpendicular to the vertebral canal. For each different set, transverse slices from the cranial, middle, and caudal aspects of the individual vertebral bodies C2-C7 were measured. Height, width, transverse area, right dorsal to left ventral height (RDLV), and left dorsal to right ventral height (LDRV) were recorded by a single observer at each location. For both affected and control dogs, significant differences between the measurements obtained from the two sets of transverse images were found only at the cranial aspect of the vertebrae (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.005, and P = 0.010 for height, width, area, RDLV, and LDRV, respectively). Measurements for the middle and caudal aspects did not differ. The funnel-shape morphology of the cervical vertebral foramina in Great Danes with stenosis of their cranial aspect may be responsible for the significant differences found. Considering that the morphometric parameters were significantly affected by CT slice angle in the current study, authors recommend that a standardized scanning protocol be followed when morphometric evaluations using CT are planned.
Pathways and prevention in tobacco use.

Researchers have identiﬁed many risk factors for adoles-cent smoking initiation [1]. With the exception oftobacco-speciﬁc factors, these risk factors tend to be thosecharacteristic of youth problematic behaviors in general[2]. This work is extremely valuable in identifying indi-vidual, family and school characteristics that either iden-tify those youths at high risk of becoming smokers and/orshould be targets for prevention and other interventionefforts. However, for more speciﬁc targeting of preventionactivities, it is important to distinguish various subgroupsof youths who exhibit speciﬁc smoking patterns overtime. Many youths will never smoke, others will experi-ment with smoking only to quit, while some will begin amany years-long smoking career. Obviously, the latteryouths are at higher risk from their smoking than theformer, and the ability to identify these distinct trajecto-ries can assist the targeting of intervention efforts.The ability to identify distinct trajectories has beenadvanced in recent years by the development of new dataanalytical techniques, including longitudinal forms ofcluster analysis [3], variants of latent growth curve mod-eling [4] and semiparametric group-based modelingapproaches [5]. While the existence of differing statisticalapproaches may appear problematic, it can also be ablessing. Conceptual models that are robust to the precisedata analytical choices one makes are more trustworthythan those that depend upon speciﬁc choices that couldreasonably have been made differently [6]. This robust-ness is all the more important as researchers adopt newtechniques which are mathematically complicated andwhere standard intuitions for reasonable results may notapply.Of these approaches to identifying longitudinal trajec-tories, the longitudinal clustering approach has beenadopted to adolescent smoking by Soldz & Cui [7] and thesemiparametric group-based approach by Chassin
The effect of activity history and current activity on static and dynamic postural balance in older adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of former athleticism and current activity status on static and dynamic postural balance in older adults. Fifty-six subjects participated in four study groups including former athletes, currently active (AA; n = 15; 69.1+/-4.4 years.; 77.8+/-9.8 kg), former athletes, currently inactive (AI; n = 12; 66.7 years.; 87.2+/-15.1 kg), controls currently active (CA; n = 14; 68.6 +/- 4.5 years.; 73.9+/-15 kg), and controls currently inactive (CI; n = 15; 72.8+/-4.8 years; 81.1+/-14.8). All subjects were tested for height, weight, flexibility, thigh circumference, and static (sharpened Romberg/unipedal stance), and dynamic (step length and width) balance tests. The sharpened Romberg (eyes open) test showed that AA (60.0+/-0 s) and CA (59.4+/- 0.5 s) balanced significantly longer than AI (41.5+/-7.2 s), and CI (41.8+/-6.1 s) (p<0.05). The unipedal (eyes open) test balance scores for AA, CA, AI, and CI were respectively 40.0+/-4.5, 55.1+/- 3.4, 33.0+/-7.1, and 27.5+/-6.1 s, with CA significantly better than CI (p<0.05). In dynamic balance AA and CA (746.1+/-28.0 and 724.6+/-24.3 mm) showed significantly longer step lengths (p<0.05) than CI (643.7+/-26.5 mm). The eyes closed test results for relative group comparisons were similar. Overall, two-way analysis of variance showed a significant activity main effect for all dependent variables measured (p<0.05). The results indicated that current activity status plays a key role on balance performance in older adults. Furthermore, former athletic activity history provides no protection for the age related onset of postural imbalance.
Experimental synchronization of chaotic lasers.

We report the observation of synchronization of the chaotic intensity fluctuations of two Nd:YAG lasers when one or both the lasers are driven chaotic by periodic modulation of their pump beams.
Experiments with the Bubble Sextant at Sea

Altitudes of celestial objects were observed with the bubble sextant from a 950 ton ship and a 12 ton craft at sea. For moderate sea conditions individual altitudes were occasionally as much as 60 minutes of arc in error and averages of 5 consecutive observations were usually correct within 30 minutes of arc. On the 950 ton ship a portion of the error was due to the vibration of the ship caused by wind, engines, etc., and a larger portion was due to the horizontal acceleration arising from the roll and pitch of the ship. If the roll were simple harmonic the latter error could be partially eliminated by taking the sextant altitude at the midpoint of the roll. A small pendulum device was arranged to sound a buzzer signal at the midpoint of the roll and the sextant observations were made simultaneously with the buzzer signal. This improved the accuracy of the bubble sextant altitudes by roughly a factor of 2, so that individual observations were rarely more than 30 minutes of arc in error and averages of 5 consecutive altitudes were usually correct within 15 minutes of arc for a moderate sea.
The effect of radiation on comb block copolymers

Abstract In order to increase the plasma etch resistance of photoresists, comb-shaped block copolymers have been prepared with radiation resistant sidechains and radiation sensitive backbones. The sidechains were polystyrene, and the backbones were poly(methyl methacrylate) or poly(alkene sulphones). It was found possible to synthesize these block copolymers with up to 50% of the radiation resistant sidechains by anionic grafting for poly(methyl methacrylate). In the case of the polysulphones, an initial polystyrene containing a terminal alkene group was synthesized. This was copolymerized with the alkene and sulphur dioxide by a radical reaction. The radiation sensitivity of the copolymers was then studied.
Natural circulation phenomena relevant to small breaks and transients

Abstract In all LWRs, natural circulation is an important passive heat removal mechanism. For PWRs, the core flow is a maximum for intermediate liquid inventories or loop voidage; for BWRs, the core flow is a maximum for high downcomer levels. These observations are based on available test data: to explain them, we have derived a new model. Utilizing the quasi-steady hypothesis and by solving analytically the loop “u-tube” momentum balance together with conservation of mass and energy, we obtain unique expressions for the core flowrate as a function of inventory. The model covers all possible modes of loop natural circulation. The model has been compared to the available test and plant data. For PWRs, we show agreement to within the limits of the experimental uncertainties and model approximations. For BWRs, we derive a new semitheoretical correlation which describes both test and plant data. It is concluded that the natural circulation phenomena and flowrates are understood and predictable for the range of LWR conditions relevant to small breaks and transients. The model can be used to derive simple operating maps that would help the operator identify modes of heat removal during abnormal shutdown conditions.
Statistical mechanics of dilute liquid mixtures of He3 in He4

The Woo-Tan-Massey quantum-mechanical theory of dilute mixtures of He-3 in liquid He-4 is extended to incorporate superfluid flow. Then statistical-mechanical principles are employed to find explicit formulas for thermodyanmic and hydrodynamic properties of mixtures, such as internal energy, free energy, entropy, pressure, chemical potential, and normal-fluid and superfluid densities. This paper is the first in a planned series that applies methods originally developed for pure liquid He-4 to dilute mixtures as a means of establishing a comprehensive theory that includes a theoretical bridge between a microscopic description of the mixtures and a hydrodynamic two-fluid model. Ultimately effects of applied electric and magnetic fields on dilute solutions are also planned to be treated.
An evaluation of MPI message rate on hybrid-core processors

Power and energy concerns are motivating chip manufacturers to consider future hybrid-core processor designs that may combine a small number of traditional cores optimized for single-thread performance with a large number of simpler cores optimized for throughput performance. This trend is likely to impact the way in which compute resources for network protocol processing functions are allocated and managed. In particular, the performance of MPI match processing is critical to achieving high message throughput. In this paper, we analyze the ability of simple and more complex cores to perform MPI matching operations for various scenarios in order to gain insight into how MPI implementations for future hybrid-core processors should be designed.
EMS activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory is associated with process improvements in the care of myocardial infarction patients.

AbstractIntroduction. Prior data from our institution suggested that our paramedics can accurately interpret ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) on prehospital 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs), and that activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory by paramedics immediately upon diagnosing STEMI at the scene could potentially decrease door-to-balloon (D2B) times. A “field activation” protocol was thus initiated in May 2010. This study examined D2B times and compliance with the national 90-minute D2B performance benchmark in the first 14 months. Hypothesis. We hypothesized that D2B times would be shorter, and 90-minute compliance better, when the catheterization laboratory was activated by emergency medical services (EMS), compared with when either EMS failed to activate the catheterization laboratory or when the STEMI patient arrived by means other than EMS. Methods. For this prospective, observational study, EMS and hospital data were reviewed for consecutive STEMI patients at a si...
Transforming reactor improves D-C. arc welding

Transients normally prone to occur in a welding generator are eliminated by compensating action of a simple device external to the generator; desirable external reactance also is provided for a welding circuit.
Analysis of flonicamid and its metabolites in dried hops by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

An analytical method was developed for the determination of the neo-nicotinoid insecticide flonicamid ( N-cyanomethyl-4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide) and its metabolites N-(4-trifluoronicotinoyl) glycine (TFNG), 4-trifluoronicotinic acid (TFNA), and 4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide (TFNA-AM) in dried hops. The method utilized C18 and polymeric solid phase extraction (SPE) column cleanups, liquid–liquid partitioning, and liquid chromatography (LC) with mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Method validation and concurrent recoveries from untreated dried hops ranged from 66 to 119% for all compounds over five levels of fortification (0.005, 0.02, 0.2, 2.0, and 4.0 ppm). Flonicamid-treated hop samples collected from three field sites had the following residues: flonicamid levels of 0.561–2.85 ppm, TFNA levels of 0.302–0.470 ppm, TFNA-AM levels of 0.038–0.177 ppm, and TFNG levels of 0.098–0.204 ppm. Untreated hop samples from all fields had residues <0.005 ppm for flonicamid, TFNA, TFNA-AM, and TFNG. The limit of quantitati...
Ureteral Calculi Detection Using Low Dose Computerized Tomography Protocols is Compromised in Overweight and Underweight Patients

Purpose: Low dose computerized tomography protocols have demonstrated a reduction in radiation exposure while maintaining excellent sensitivity and specificity in the detection of stones in patients of average size. Low dose computerized tomography protocols have not yet been evaluated in subjects in the extremes of weight. We evaluated the effect of body weight when using low dose protocols to detect ureteral calculi.Materials and Methods: Three cadavers of increasing weight (55, 85 and 115 kg) were prepared by inserting 721 calcium oxalate stones (range 3 to 7 mm) in 33 random configurations into urinary tracts. Cadavers were then scanned using a GE LightSpeed® at 7 radiation settings. An independent, blinded review by a radiologist was conducted to generate ROC curves, with areas under the curve compared using a 1-way ANOVA (α = 0.05).Results: Sensitivity and specificity were significantly lower in the low and high weight cadavers compared to the medium weight cadaver at 5 mAs (p <0.001) and 7.5 mAs (p...
An Electron Microscopic Study of Calcification of Retinoblastoma

We examined three eyes with retinoblastoma that had clinical evidence of calcification. The light and electron microscopic study of the retinoblastoma cells from these eyes disclosed an intramitochondrial calcium deposition after plasmalemma disruption. Morphologically, calcium deposits initially occur as needle-like structures gathered within the mitochondrial membrane. With progressive necrotic liquefaction of tumor cells, microbodies develop a central calcified cone surrounded by an electron-translucent zone with coarse needle-like calcium deposition on the surface.
The mechanistic role of DNA methylation in myeloid leukemogenesis

The importance of epigenetic aberrations in the pathogenesis of leukemias has been revealed by recurrent gene mutations that highlight epigenetic pathways as well as by the clinical success of therapies like 5-azacytidine and decitabine that work through epigenetic mechanisms. However, precise mechanisms of how gene mutations lead to leukemias and how epigenetic therapies induce clinical remissions are elusive. Current scientific inquiries that take advantage of techniques that can distinguish among the various covalent cytosine modifications at single base resolution are likely to shed light on the ways epigenetic pathways drive leukemogenesis as well as how the hypomethylating drugs induce clinical remissions. The hope is that these studies will also reveal which patients are likely to respond to epigenetic therapies. Thus, the future is likely to bring a new wave of diagnostic and prognostic tools that probe the epigenomics of leukemia to help clinicians in their management of patients.
Absolute radiometric calibration of the thematic mapper

Calibration data for the solar reflective bands of the Landsat-5 TM obtained from five in-flight absolute radiometric calibrations from July 1984-November 1985 at White Sands, New Mexico are presented and analyzed. Ground reflectance and atmospheric data were utilized to predict the spectral radiance at the entrance pupil of the TM and the average number of digital counts in each TM band. The calibration of each of the TM solar reflective bands was calculated in terms of average digital counts/unit spectral radiance for each band. It is observed that for the 12 reflectance-based measurements the rms variation from the means as a percentage of the mean is + or - 1.9 percent; for the 11 measurements in the IR bands, it is + or - 3.4 percent; and the rms variation for all 23 measurements is + or - 2.8 percent.
Temporal properties in masking biological motion

The perception of biological motion using point light animation techniques was investigated in several experiments. Animations simulating walking were presented with additional masking dots. The temporal properties of the walking motion or the temporal relationship between the walking and masking motions were systematically manipulated. Results showed that (1) perception of biological motion was sensitive to even small temporal perturbation within the walker, (2) the effectiveness of a mask depended upon the temporal phase difference between the mask and point light walker, (3) relatively small temporal differences between the mask and point light walker decreased the effectiveness of the mask, and (4) these effects were not due simply to observers detecting the phase offsets in the display. Temporal properties of the motion are important in perceiving the human form in action, just as in other types of figure—ground segregation. This information may be processed by both motion and form pathways for processing biological motion.
High resolution cross strip anodes for photon counting detectors

Abstract A new photon counting, imaging readout for microchannel plate sensors, the cross strip (XS) anode, has been investigated. Charge centroiding of signals detected on two orthogonal layers of sense strip sets are used to derive photon locations. The XS anode spatial resolution (
Muonium defect centers in semiconductors

After a brief summary of the properties of the muonium defect centers observed in the elemental group IV semiconductors, the status of studies of muonium centers in semiconductors at the time of the last μSR conference in 1983 will be compared with what is currently known. With the introduction of new experimental techniques, such as high-transverse-field μSR and level-crossing spectroscopy, many new results are or soon will be available on muonium centers. These, combined with new theoretical studies, should lead to rapidly increased insight into a subject which has been both puzzling and resistant to clarification.
Integrated Thermal Conduction and Hardenability Laboratory Activity

This paper describes an integrated laboratory project between separate heat transfer and machine design courses. The project was structured around a Jominy end quench hardenability test. Most of the students participating were simultaneously enrolled in both classes. In the heat transfer class, students were required to model one-dimensional, transient thermal conduction for an end quench geometry of 4140 steel. In machine design, students applied their theoretical temperature profiles to a continuous cooling transformation curve (CCT) of 4140 steel to predict microstructure and matched the theoretical cooling rates with hardenability curves from literature to predict hardness. In laboratory, students then performed an end quench test in accordance with ASTM A255 on four steel rods. By combining activities across the two courses, students developed an appreciation for the interconnectivity of material within the engineering curriculum, and learned that practical applications typically require they employ knowledge from a variety of sources.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
EFFECT OF ICED STORAGE ON FREE FATTY ACID PRODUCTION AND LIPID OXIDATION IN MULLET MUSCLE

The influence of two periods of iced storage followed by up to 12 months frozen storage on development of free fatty acid and oxidative rancidity was studied. Mullet held in the round for 1 day and 7 days iced storage were processed into various forms of mullet flesh: mullet in the round, boneless skin-on and skin-off fillets with and without anti-oxidant treatment and were then stored at -18°C. Generally, higher free fatty acid levels and less lipid oxidation (TBA and peroxide value) were observed in frozen mullet fillets (with and without skin) with a longer period of iced storage, except for the frozen skin-on fillets which showed no significant difference in oxidation between the two periods of iced storage. However- frozen, antioxidant-treated (immersed, in 0.25% TBHQ + 2% ascorbic acid) fillets with the longer period of iced storage had less free fatty acid production than the fillets with the shorter period of iced storage. Oxidative rancidity followed the same trend as free fatty acid development in the skin-off fillets, but was not significantly affected by the duration of iced storage in the skin-on fillets. In mullet frozen in the round after the two different periods of iced storage, the trend of free fatty acid production was similar to the development of oxidative rancidity. Both free fatty acid and oxidative rancidity were higher in the frozen sample with 7 days iced storage than the samples with 1 day iced storage.
Low cost 60 GHz RF front end transceiver integrated on organic substrate

This paper presents, for the first time, a low cost, 60 GHz, RF front-end Tx/Rx integrated with a Yagi-Uda antenna array on organic Liquid Crystal Polymer substrate. The Tx/Rx module consists of a GaAs LNA, PA and a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) switch wirebonded on a single, multilayer substrate. The array was designed for operation at 60.6 GHz with a gain of 12.1 dBi. The radiation pattern measurements were conducted and showed an active antenna gain of 31.8 dB for the receiver and 21.6 dB of gain for the transmitter. It demonstrates 19.7 dB and 9.5 dB of added gain from the integrated receive and transmit modules respectively. The array has 1 and 3 dB deviation in gain in receiver and transmitter modules respectively from 55–63 GHz.
Choice of the constraining operator in the constrained Hartree-Fock method

Abstract The variation of the generator coordinate trial function with respect to the path of integration leads to a prescription for the choice of the constraining operator in constrained Hartree-Fock calculations. The resulting path follows a local valley in the deformation energy surface. The proposed scheme is applied to a three-level model with SU(3) symmetry.
Patterns of recurrence and role of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II–IV serous ovarian borderline tumors

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate patterns of recurrence and prognostic factors as well as the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II–IV ovarian SBT.
Trypanosoma cruzi: Exposure of Murine Cells to Live Parasites in Vitro Leads to Enhanced Surface Class I MHC Expression Which Is Type I Interferon-Dependent

Abstract Previous reports indicate that myocardial cells from human patients with chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy express increased levels of class I MHC molecules on their surfaces. To determine whether parasites can modulate class I expression. we have examined the effect of in vitro exposure to live Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes on class I MHC expression by murine cells. Here we show that co-incubation of various murine cell lines, including 3T3 fibroblasts, J774.A1 macrophage-like cells, and freshly-explanted BALB/c primary embryo fibroblasts, with live trypomastigotes leads to a two- to fourfold increase in their expression of surface class I MHC molecules. Cell-Gee supernatants from T. cruzi-exposed cells, but not from either cells or parasites cultured alone, were also capable of upregulating class I expression, indicating the involvement of a soluble factor. Active supernatants were shown to contain IFN-α/β activity and their ability to upregulate class I was inhibitable by anti-IFN-α/β Abs. This ability of T. cruzi to enhance class I MHC expression on host cells via IFN-α/β induction could be an important factor in the initiation of host immunity and/or immune-mediated pathology.
An approximate potential energy surface for HeI2 collisions

Abstract We have calculated the interaction potential for HeI2 in T-shaped geometries using Hartree—Fock and Moller—Plesset third-order perturbation t
Influence of substituents on cation-π interactions. 3.

Threshold collision-induced dissociation of M+(C6H5CH3)x with Xe is studied using guided ion beam mass spectrometry. M+ include the following alkali metal ions: Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+. Both mono- and bis-complexes are examined (i.e., x = 1 and 2). In all cases, the primary and lowest energy dissociation channel observed is endothermic loss of an intact toluene ligand. Sequential dissociation of a second toluene ligand is observed at elevated energies in the bis-complexes. Minor production of ligand exchange products, M+Xe and M+(C6H5CH3)Xe, is also observed. The cross section thresholds for the primary dissociation channel are interpreted to yield 0 and 298 K bond dissociation energies for (C6H5CH3)x-1M+−C6H5CH3, x = 1−2, after accounting for the effects of multiple ion−neutral collisions, the kinetic and internal energies of the reactants, and dissociation lifetimes. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory are used to determine the structures of these complexes and...
Biomechanical Changes at Adjacent-Level Segments After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

It is well documented that there is significant motion in the unfused segments above and below a fused segment during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion but exact nature of this motion is not well known. The current finite element study showed that likelihood of adjacent segment degeneration is higher in a two level fusion than a one level fusion. Also, the analyses showed that two level fusion at upper cervical levels more likely to degenerate above and below than two level fusion at lower cervical levels.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Accountability in Global Governance: Civil Society Claims for Environmental Performance at the World Bank

International organizations frequently lack accountability to both states and civil society groups. States often face difficulties monitoring the actions of international organizations. Civil society groups do not often enjoy direct influence over decision-making within international organizations. To address these challenges, states have created accountability mechanisms for international organizations. Accountability mechanisms allow civil society groups to submit complaints about the performance of international organizations. They take the form of ombudsmen offices, accountability panels, and complaint procedures. Little is known about when and why these mechanisms constrain behavior by international organizations that runs counter to the mutual interests of states and civil society groups. Using the World Bank Inspection Panel as a test case, I show that monitoring by civil society groups alters lending at the World Bank when it enhances oversight by powerful states. By combining their abilities in sanctioning and monitoring, states and civil society groups can promote accountability at international organizations.
Review: Supervised withdrawal plus other interventions reduces benzodiazepine use in older persons.

Source Citation Gould RL, Coulson MC, Patel N, Highton-Williamson E, Howard RJ. Interventions for reducing benzodiazepine use in older people: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Ps...
Yet Another Digression on Systems Analysis: The Great Spare Parts Fiasco

Top management of a well-known computer manufacturing firm recently became concerned with the growing cost of maintaining, across the country, local stocks of spare parts needed to repair and maintain the computers it typically leased, and sometimes sold, to users. This was obviously an inventory control problem, so the corporate OR/MS group was called in and told to do their thing to bring the inventory picture back into more acceptable proportions.
Effect of Stress Relief Time on the Transition Temperature of Linde 80 Welds

The Babcock & Wilcox Company used Mn-Mo-Ni automatic submerged-arc welds with the Linde 80 flux type for the fabrication of 14 currently operating PWR reactor vessels. Due to the fact that the weld wire was copper-coated (high copper content) and that they have low upper-shelf toughness properties, the welds are limiting with respect to pressurized thermal shock analysis. The welds (reactor vessel, surveillance, and nozzle dropouts) were exposed to stress relief times (postweld heat treatment) ranging from 10–53 h between 593°C (1100°F) and 621°C (1150°F). In analyzing recently acquired master curve reference temperature data (ASTM E1921), it was discovered that there is a stress relief time effect on the transition temperature. The stress relief time effect can be seen in the drop weight TNDT data, but its effect is less clear in the 41 J (30ft-lb) Charpy impact data. In addition, the stress relief time has an effect on yield stress. The stress relief time may have an effect on the irradiation embrittlement of the welds, but the trend is not conclusive. Since there is an effect of stress relief time on the initial transition temperature, it is felt that it is important to test surveillance welds with similar stress relief times as the vessel welds that are being evaluated. Surveillance welds with longer stress relief times can be used to conservatively represent the vessel welds.
Apocalmodulin and Ca2+ calmodulin bind to the same region on the skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel

The skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel (RYR1) is regulated by calmodulin in both its Ca2+-free (apocalmodulin) and Ca2+-bound (Ca2+ calmodulin) states. Apocalmodulin is an activator of the channel, and Ca2+ calmodulin is an inhibitor of the channel. Both apocalmodulin and Ca2+ calmodulin binding sites on RYR1 are destroyed by a mild tryptic digestion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, but calmodulin (either form), bound to RYR1 prior to tryptic digestion, protects both the apocalmodulin and Ca2+ calmodulin sites from tryptic destruction. The protected sites are after arginines 3630 and 3637 on RYR1. These studies suggest that both Ca2+ calmodulin and apocalmodulin bind to the same or overlapping regions on RYR1 and block access of trypsin to sites at amino acids 3630 and 3637. This sequence is part of a predicted Ca2+ CaM binding site of amino acids 3614-3642 [Takeshima, H., et al. (1989) Nature 339, 439-445].
Structural features of envelope proteins on hepatitis C virus-like particles as determined by anti-envelope monoclonal antibodies and CD81 binding.

Abstract The envelope glycoprotein E2 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major component of the viral envelope. Knowledge of its topologic features and antigenic determinants in virions is crucial in understanding the viral binding sites to cellular receptor(s) and the induction of neutralizing antibodies. The lack of a robust cell culture system for virus propagation has hampered the characterization of E2 presented on the virion. Here we report the structural features of hepatitis C virus-like particles (HCV-LPs) of the 1a and 1b genotypes as determined by various mouse and human monoclonal anti-envelope antibodies. Our results show that the E2 protein of HCV-LPs reacts with human monoclonal antibodies recognizing conformational determinants. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for the hypervariable region 1 (HVR-1) sequence reacted strongly with HCV-LPs, suggesting that the HVR-1 is exposed on the viral surface. Several mAbs recognized both HCV-LPs with equally high affinity, indicating that the corresponding epitopes [amino acids (aa) 192–217 of E1 and aa 412–423, aa 522–531, and aa 640–653 of E2] are conserved in both genotypes and exposed on the surface of the HCV-LP. The E2 and E1/E2 dimers of 1a bound strongly to the recombinant large extracellular loop (LEL) of CD81 (CD81–LEL) of human and African green monkey, while the HCV-LP of 1a bound weakly to human CD81–LEL. E1/E2 dimers and the HCV-LPs of 1b did not bind CD81–LEL, consistent with the notion that CD81 recognition by E2 is strain-specific and does not correlate with permissiveness of infection. A model of the topology and exposed antigenic determinants of the envelope proteins of HCV is proposed.
An anionic galactomannan polysaccharide gum from a newly-isolated lactose-utilizing bacterium. II. Fermentation kinetics and lactose transport

The facultative bacterium Erwinia ATCC 55046, isolated from the soil of a wheytreated farm field, produces an anionic galactomannan polysaccharide gum (designated lactan gum) from lactose and other sugars. On lactose semidefined medium in a 5-L fermentor, the organism had a maximum growth rate of 0.66 h−1 and produced 26 g/L polysaccharide with a yield on lactose of 0.66 g/g and a volumetric productivity of 0.6 g/(L.h). In shake flasks, the best final gum concentration was obtained with a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 40:1 (w/w). Gum yield and concentration was greater on disaccharides than on monosaccharides. The organism was found to transport lactose by a permease system as opposed to a phosphotransferase system. Lactan gum can be produced efficiently from lactose, the major sugar in whey and whey permeate.
Use of Biomarkers to Assess Tissue Specific Androgen Adequacy: Defining Male Hypogonadism

Purpose: The criteria for normal testosterone have been established by expert consensus rather than by evidence. We determined whether a cutoff point for normal could be established using biomarkers.Materials and Methods: We performed an exploratory investigation of 1,492 hypogonadal men pooled from 7 registration trials. Serum testosterone, prostate specific antigen and hematocrit were measured at baseline and after 90 days of continuous testosterone replacement therapy.Results: Baseline prostate specific antigen, percent change in prostate specific antigen and hematocrit appeared to be most strongly related to baseline serum testosterone. Subgroup analysis and visual inspection of linear spline fit of these data suggested an approximate serum testosterone cutoff for normal of 300 ng/dl for percent change in hematocrit, and 200 ng/dl for baseline prostate specific antigen and percent change in prostate specific antigen.Conclusions: This exploratory study revealed considerable variation among individuals ...