cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of TEC fluctuations and scintillations at Ascension Island

Abstract With increasing reliance on space-based platforms for global navigation and communication, concerns about the impact of ionospheric scintillation on these systems have become a high priority. Recently, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) performed amplitude scintillation measurements of L1 (1.575 MHz) signals from GPS satellites at Ascension Island (14.45° W, 7.95° S; magnetic latitude 16° S) during February–April, 1998, to compare amplitude scintillations with fluctuations of the total electron content (TEC). Ascension Island is located in the South Atlantic under the southern crest of the equatorial anomaly of F2 ionization where scintillations will be much enhanced during the upcoming solar maximum period. Ascension Island is included in the global network of the International GPS Service (IGS) and the GPS receivers in this network report the carrier to noise (C/N) ratio, the dual frequency carrier phase and pseudorange data at 30-s intervals. Such data with a sampling interval of 30 s were analyzed to determine TEC, the rate of change of TEC (ROT) and also ROTI, defined as the standard deviation of ROT. The spatial scale of ROTI, sampled at 30 s interval, will correspond to 6 km when the vector sum of the ionospheric projection of the satellite velocity and the irregularity drift orthogonal to the propagation path is of the order of 100 m/s. On the other hand, the scale-length of the amplitude scintillation index corresponds to the Fresnel dimension which is about 400 m for the GPS L1 frequency and an ionospheric height of 400 km. It is shown that, in view of the co-existence of large and small scale irregularities in equatorial irregularity structures, during the early evening hours, and small magnitude of irregularity drifts, ROTI measurements can be used to predict the presence of scintillation causing irregularities. The quantitative relationship between ROTI and S4, however, varies considerably due to variations of the ionospheric projection of the satellite velocity and the ionospheric irregularity drift. During the post-midnight period, due to the decay of small scale irregularities leading to a steepening of irregularity power spectrum, ROTI, on occasions, may not be associated with detectable levels of scintillation. In view of the power law type of irregularity power spectrum, ROTI will, in general, be larger than S4 and the ratio, ROTI/S4, in the present dataset is found to vary between 2 and 10. At high latitudes, where the ionospheric motion, driven by large electric fields of magnetospheric origin, is much enhanced during magnetically active periods, ROTI/S4 may be considerably larger than that in the equatorial region.
Angiosarcoma metastatic to the maxillary tuberosity gingiva

Abstract A case of angiosarcoma metastatic to the maxillary gingiva is presented. A review of the literature and an epidemiologic survey of angiosarcoma cases since 1944 at the M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute prove this to be an extremely rare occurrence. Generally, metastasis to the oral/perioral tissues occurs as a late sequela secondary to diffuse metastatic disease. In this case, however, two extensive metastatic tumor surveys determined that the only metastasis was to the oral site. The lesion clinically mimicked an inflammatory process. It is hoped that this presentation will reinforce aggressive pursuit of innocuous-appearing oral lesions when the patient has a history of malignant disease and will further encourage dental involvement in the oral/dental assessment and care of the cancer patient.
Band Shape Analysis of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra

The application of a finite difference Levenberg-Marquardt nonlinear least-squares procedure for the resoluton of overlapping peaks in Fourier transform-infrared spectra is described. Starting estimates of peak parameters utilized in the refinement are obtained from a numerically approximated second derivative spectrum which has been smoothed. Quantitative information reflecting the constituent peaks and the
A method for resolution of general acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase apoprotein

Abstract A modified acid-ammonium sulfate procedure has been developed to allow rapid, reversible resolution of flavin from pig kidney general acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase. The enzyme is added to a slurry of charcoal in an ammonium sulfate/KBr solution, pH 2, and the mixture centrifuged. The apoprotein is recovered by resuspending the pellet in Tris buffer and the charcoal and bound flavin are removed by centrifugation. This simple method, applied to general acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase, is superior to other procedures requiring repeated treatments with acid-ammonium sulfate resolving solutions.
Characterization of a Novel Zinc-Containing, Lysine-Specific Aminopeptidase from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

Cell extracts of the proteolytic, hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus contain high specific activity (11 U/mg) of lysine aminopeptidase (KAP), as measured by the hydrolysis of l-lysyl-p-nitroanilide (Lys-pNA). The enzyme was purified by multistep chromatography. KAP is a homotetramer (38.2 kDa per subunit) and, as purified, contains 2.0 ± 0.48 zinc atoms per subunit. Surprisingly, its activity was stimulated fourfold by the addition of Co2+ ions (0.2 mM). Optimal KAP activity with Lys-pNA as the substrate occurred at pH 8.0 and a temperature of 100°C. The enzyme had a narrow substrate specificity with di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides, and it hydrolyzed only basic N-terminal residues at high rates. Mass spectroscopy analysis of the purified enzyme was used to identify, in the P. furiosus genome database, a gene (PF1861) that encodes a product corresponding to 346 amino acids. The recombinant protein containing a polyhistidine tag at the N terminus was produced in Escherichia coli and purified using affinity chromatography. Its properties, including molecular mass, metal ion dependence, and pH and temperature optima for catalysis, were indistinguishable from those of the native form, although the thermostability of the recombinant form was dramatically lower than that of the native enzyme (half-life of approximately 6 h at 100°C). Based on its amino acid sequence, KAP is part of the M18 family of peptidases and represents the first prokaryotic member of this family. KAP is also the first lysine-specific aminopeptidase to be purified from an archaeon.
Science to Practice: Percutaneous Biopsies in the NIR Future—Will Fluorescence Guide the Way?

In their groundbreaking article in this month’s Radiology, Sheth et al provide an exciting new alternative for improving biopsy guidance based on optical fluorescence.
Efficient Second-Harmonic Generation In Glass Fibers: The Possible Role Of Photo-Induced Charge Redistributiont

Photo-induced charge redistribution is used to model the efficient second-harmonic generation of light in optical glass fibers. In this theory, second-harmonic light redistributes charge through a hopping process, giving rise to an electric field that follows the gradient of the transverse distribution of light intensity. The electric field, in conjunction with the third-order nonlinear susceptibility of the material, induces an effective χ (2) . The theory predicts that the fundamental wave cannot directly convert into a second-harmonic mode that has inversion symmetry about the transverse dimensions of the fiber, it may only convert directly to an antisymmetric mode. A self-consistent treatment reveals that a single mode of the second-harmonic cannot self phase-match and therefore cannot grow in intensity to the levels experimentally observed. The presence of two modes can, however, self-consistently give rise to the growth of one of them via a spatial parametric process caused by the nonlinear nature of the charge redistribution mechanism. An intense second-harmonic field having either even or odd symmetry can ultimately arise through this modal nonlinear interaction. Apparently, however, the static electric fields predicted by the hopping model are insufficient to account for the upper range of the experimentally observed effective χ (2) 's.
Descartes, La Mettrie, Language, And Machines

IN L'Homme machine La Mettrie at one point discusses the possibility of teaching an ape to speak, and later he suggests that just as the inventor Vaucanson had made a mechanical flute player and a mechanical duck, it might be possible some day for ‘another Prometheus’ to make a mechanical man which could talk.
Antagonism of stimulation-produced antinociception by intrathecal administration of methysergide or phentolamine

This study examined whether the antinociception produced by electrical stimulation of medullary raphe nuclei is mediated by activation of monoaminergic neurons projecting to the spinal cord. Ninety-four sites distributed about the midline of the medulla were stimulated and their ability to produce antinociception was determined using two different analgesiometric tests. Stimulation of sites in the nuclei raphe pallidus and raphe obscurus did not produce antinociception, but rather, produced tremor and, on occasion, extensor rigidity. In contrast, stimulation at sites located in the nucleus raphe magnus and the adjacent nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis produced antinociception, as indicated by increased tail flick latencies and decreased responsiveness to noxious pinch applied to the extremities. Intrathecal administration of saline prior to electrical stimulation of these sites did not attenuate either the elevation of tail flick latencies or the decreased responsiveness to pinch. However, intrathecal administration of 30 micrograms of either methysergide or phentolamine prior to stimulation at these same sites significantly attenuated the increase in tail flick latency and restored responsiveness to pinch. Naloxone (1 mg/kg, s.c.) did not attenuate the stimulation-produced antinociception evoked from any of these sites. These data support the postulate that the antinociceptive effect of electrical stimulation of the nucleus raphe magnus and the nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis is mediated by activation of serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons projecting to the spinal cord. The inability of either methysergide or phentolamine alone to completely antagonize the elevation of tail flick latency further suggests that the serotonergic and noradrenergic bulbospinal systems are coactivated by electrical stimulation of these sites.
The availability and helpfulness of graduate teaching assistant socialization activities

Sixty‐four (N=64) graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) enrolled at a large midwestern university were asked to rate the availability and helpfulness of GTA socialization activities. Daily interactions with other GTAs while working, other new GTAs, and the department secretary were among the most frequently available and helpful activities. Conversely, campus‐wide training programs, department orientation sessions, and trips with others from the department were rated as the least available and the least helpful activities. No significant relationship was found between gender of GTA or length of assistants hip for either the availability or the helpfulness of each socialization activity.
Reduction of endoscopically assessed acute aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury with cimetidine.

We studied the influence of cimetidine on the gastroscopically visible effects of a single 1296-mg dose of aspirin. An initial dose-response study in 48 subjects showed that 200-and 400-mg doses of cimetidine conferred a sufficient reduction in gastric mucosal injury to warrant further study. A second study showed that coadministration of a single 200- or 400-mg cimetidine tablet with the aspirin conferred the same degree of injury reduction as when cimetidine was given before the aspirin. Reduction in mucosal injury by a 200-mg cimetidine tablet, coadministered with four aspirin tablets, was then compared to placebo in a double-blind trial. A reduction of mucosal injury was observed in 14 of 20 (70%) subjects receiving cimetidine and 0 of 10 subjects receiving placebo (P<0.001). Two hundred milligrams of cimetidine is therefore a rational dose for further studies of the reduction of chronic aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury.
A Dynamic Process Model of Contentious Politics: Corporate Receptivity to Activist Challenges

This paper explores why certain companies become more receptive to social activists over time. We propose a three-step, dynamic process of interaction between activists and companies. A firms’ past...
Chemoprotection in Brain Tumor Patients: Another Success for Stem Cell Gene Therapy

Chemotherapy with alkylating agents such as 1,3-bis (2 chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and temozolomide is a mainstay for treating malignant brain tumors; however, as a result of tumor cell resistance and progressive toxicity in normal tissues, these drugs invariably fail to eradicate high-grade glioblastomas. Drug resistance in tumor cells can be overcome with sensitization agents, but this strategy is limited by concomitant sensitization of the hematopoietic system, resulting in delays in therapy, drug dose reductions, and the occurrence of significant side effects. One approach to addressing this problem is to transfer appropriate resistance genes into transplanted hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to preserve blood formation during chemotherapy.1 This approach has been validated in preclinical animal models but until recently had not been successfully implemented in human patients. In this regard, it is notable that Adair and colleagues recently conducted a pioneering human gene therapy trial in adults with high-grade gliomas2 and show that this approach prevents hematopoietic suppression and may improve outcomes associated with this highly lethal and treatment-resistant cancer.2
Human Dignity: A Challenge to Contemporary Philosophy

This paper cannot and must not attempt a full-fledged philosophy of human dignity. All I propose to offer are prolegomena for such a philosophy. Specifically what I want to show is: 1. that the idea of human dignity plays a decisive role in today’s social and political thought and action, even more so than commonly realized; 2. that this idea in its present sense is relatively new; 3. that our ordinary way of talking about it is confused and vague to the point of contradictoriness; 4. that the idea of human dignity is vulnerable to attack; 5. that the philosophical treatment of the idea thus far is inadequate; 6. that the way to a better philosophy of human dignity requires certain basic distinctions such as those between dignity in itself and the grounds of dignity; 7. that human dignity in itself is a phenomenon within our experience; 8. that the basis for human dignity can lie in several grounds related to different philosophies.
Early cotton from coastal Ecuador

Seeds identified asGossypiumbarbadense, South American cotton, have been recovered from the Real Alto site on the Coast of Ecuador in contexts14C dated 35003000 B.C. The oldest date previously reported is 2500 B.C. for coastal Peru.
Genome-wide insights into eukaryotic transcriptional control

A report of the Keystone Symposium on Dynamics of Eukaryotic Transcription during Development, Big Sky, Montana, USA, 7-12 April 2010.
Proactive spatiotemporal resource allocation and predictive visual analytics for community policing and law enforcement

In this paper, we present a visual analytics approach that provides decision makers with a proactive and predictive environment in order to assist them in making effective resource allocation and deployment decisions. The challenges involved with such predictive analytics processes include end-users' understanding, and the application of the underlying statistical algorithms at the right spatiotemporal granularity levels so that good prediction estimates can be established. In our approach, we provide analysts with a suite of natural scale templates and methods that enable them to focus and drill down to appropriate geospatial and temporal resolution levels. Our forecasting technique is based on the Seasonal Trend decomposition based on Loess (STL) method, which we apply in a spatiotemporal visual analytics context to provide analysts with predicted levels of future activity. We also present a novel kernel density estimation technique we have developed, in which the prediction process is influenced by the spatial correlation of recent incidents at nearby locations. We demonstrate our techniques by applying our methodology to Criminal, Traffic and Civil (CTC) incident datasets.
Berry's phase manifestation in Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in single Bi nanowires

Here we report on Aharonov-Bohm oscillations of magnetoresistance (MR) of the single Bi nanowires with diameter d<80 nm. The samples were prepared by Ulitovsky technique and represented cylindrical single crystals with the 1011 orientation along the wire axis. Due to semimetal-to-semiconductor transformation and big density of surface states with strong spin-orbit interactions Bi nanowire should effectively become a conducting tube. The equidistant oscillations of the MR have been observed in a wide range of magnetic fields up to 14 T at various temperatures (1.5 K< T< 4.2 K) and angles θ (0< θ < 90°) of the sample orientation relative to the magnetic field. We have obtained longitudinal MR oscillations with periods ΔB1=Φ0/S and ΔB2=Φ0/2S, where Φ0=h/e is the flux quantum and S is the wire cross section. From B ≈ 8 T down to B=0 the extremums of Φ0/2S oscillations are shifted up to 3π at B=0 which is the manifestation of Berry phase shift due to carriers moving in inhomogeneous magnetic field. An interpretation of the MR oscillations in terms of a subband structure in the surface state band caused by quantum interference is presented.
Fitting and tracking 3D/4D facial data using a temporal deformable shape model

In this paper, we propose a novel method for detecting and tracking landmark facial features on purely geometric 3D and 4D range models. Our proposed method involves fitting a new multi-frame constrained 3D temporal deformable shape model (TDSM) to range data sequences. We consider this a temporal based deformable model as we concatenate consecutive deformable shape models into a single model driven by the appearance of facial expressions. This allows us to simultaneously fit multiple models over a sequence of time with one TDSM. To our knowledge, it is the first work to address multiple shape models as a whole to track 3D dynamic range sequences without assistance of any texture information. The accuracy of the tracking results is evaluated by comparing the detected landmarks to the ground truth. The efficacy of the 3D feature detection and tracking over range model sequences has also been validated through an application in 3D geometric based face and expression analysis and expression sequence segmentation. We tested our method on the publicly available databases, BU-3DFE [15], BU-4DFE [16], and FRGC 2.0 [12]. We also validated our approach on our newly developed 3D dynamic spontaneous expression database [17].
CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANISM OF NEURO-MUSCULAR BLOCK IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

The neuromuscular block of myasthenia gravis has the characteristics of an antidepolarizing (competitive block), similar to that produced by d-tubocurarine in normal subjects: progressive decrease in muscle action potentials evoked by two or more nerve stimuli, posttetanic facilitation, posttetanic fatigue, inhibition of the depolarizing action of acetylcholine (ACh) or anticholinesterase compounds, and reversal of the block by ACh or anticholinesterase compounds. In myasthenic patients spontaneously recurring negative discharges were more difficult to locate in the end-plate zone than in normal subjects, suggesting that the number or density of functioning end plates may be reduced. The threshold dose of intra-arterial ACh that increased electrical activity was higher than in normal subjects; the duration of the increased electrical activity was briefer, and was followed by more depression of negative discharges than in normal subjects and by a greater increase in the threshold dose of ACh. These results indicate that the end-plate zone of myasthenic patients is less responsive than that of normal subjects to the excitatory action of ACh, and may be more readily desensitized by ACh. In both myasthenic patients and normal subjects the intra-arterial injection of ACh produced a prompt transient decrease in evoked potentials, attributable to depolarization of the end plates, followed by recovery (and in myasthenic patients by repair), and then by a more prolonged late decrease in evoked potentials, attributable to desensitization of the end plates to transmitter. This prompt depressant effect of ACh on evoked potentials was less in myasthenic patients than in normal subjects, and the late depressant effect of ACh was greater. In myasthenic patients the late block produced by ACh had the characteristics of an antidepolarizing (competitive) type of block, including inhibition of the depolarizing action of ACh and reversibility by ACh or neostigmine, while in normal subjects the characteristics were those of a depolarizing (noncompetitive) type of block, including little or no inhibition of the depolarizing action of ACh and lack of reversal by ACh or neostigmine. The differences between the late depressant action of ACh in myasthenic patients and normal subjects resembled differences in the effect of other depolarizing compounds, such as choline, succinylcholine, and decamethonium, and are best explained by differences in behavior of the postsynaptic receptor. The disease appears to be due to the presence of abnormal forms of receptor or to abnormal responses of receptor to the transmitter. The predominance of one or other form of receptor may determine the clinical state of the myasthenic patient and his response to anticholinesterase medication.
Raman observation of the ferroelectric phase transition in SnTe

The ferroelectric phase transition in SnTe from a cubic to a rhombohedral structure at liquid-helium temperatures is investigated by Raman-scattering techniques. Using a backscattering geometry, Raman peaks are observed which correspond to $q\ensuremath{\simeq}0$ longitudinal-optical (LO) phonons in bulk $p=2.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{20}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ SnTe single crystals at 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, as well as in $p=1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{20}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ SnTe single crystal at liquid-nitrogen temperatures. The dependence of the phase transition and the scattering spectrum on the carrier density is discussed.
Analysis of gel exclusion chromatographic data by chromatographic plate theory analysis: Application to plasma fibrinogen chromatography

Abstract The quantification in plasma of fibrinogen/fibrin derivatives, native fibrinogen and fibrinogen derivatives smaller than fibrinogen, is of considerable value in the study of patients with thromboembolic vascular disease. Because these protein moieties are biophysically dissimilar, agarose gel exclusion chromatography is a preferred method for their fractionation. However, even when using large agarose gel columns and prolonged chromatographic separation time periods, estimation of individual component concentration from a plot of chromatographic effluent volume versus chromatographic fibrinogen/fibrin antigen concentration is difficult, owing to incomplete chromatographic resolution of these components. However, if system Ve's for all biophysically-distinct components have been determined, together with column Np and the plot of chromatographic effluent volume versus chromatographic effluent fibrinogen/fibrin concentration has been determined with high precision using preciselystandardized columns, individual component concentration can be determined by chromatographic plate theory analysis. We describe a mathematical formulation for this purpose and a computer program to handle the heavy computational load. This analytical method has been applied to plasma fibrinogen chromatographic studies and demonstration is provided that satisfactory fivecomponent quantification can be obtained using small agarose columns and apparently poorly-resolved chromatograms that cannot be analyzed for component concentration by visual or other conventional methods. This new approach to the problem of component quantification with gel exclusion chromatography is of general utility.
Violence and the paradox of democratic renewal: A preliminary assessment

Jefferson's famous dictum that the ‘tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants’ is examined using a counterfactual argument and empirical and normative analysis. If Jefferson is right and there is an inescapable connection between democracy and violence, his dictum must contain a paradox since democracy in the first instance also predicates the creation and maintenance of institutional mechanisms for non‐violent resolution and management of conflict. What if Jefferson was wrong and the ‘blood of patriots and tyrants’ can destroy rather than fertilize the tree of liberty? Positing the counterfactual suggests (and permits analysis of) three derivative subhypotheses: (1) that democracies born in violence are more prone to periodic ‘violent challenges’ than those born peacefully; (2) that periodic violent challenges in democracies leave them less, rather than more, stable; and (3) that when democracies break down they usually do so when a culture of violence is ...
Membrane-membrane and membrane-substrate adhesion during dissection of gap junctions with the atomic-force microscope

The gap junction is a specialized region of the plasma membrane that consists of an array of cell-to-cell ion channels. These channels form where the membranes from two cells come together, and the gap junction is therefore composed of two lipid bilayers. The atomic force microscope (AFM) can be used to dissect the gap junction, removing one membrane and exposing the extracellular domains of the second. The force required to dissect the membrane, near 10-8 N vertical force for gap junctions adsorbed to mica, provides a measure of the strength of the interaction between the two membranes. Since a single membrane is left in contact with the mica, this interaction must be stronger than the membrane-membrane interaction. Non-junctional membrane attached to the gap junctions is easily removed with the AFM tip while the gap junction membrane remains attached to the mica, providing evidence that the interaction with the mica is mainly mediated by protein-mica interactions. Consistent with this hypothesis is the observation that material trapped under the membrane sometimes results in pieces of membrane above the material being pulled out during dissection. These results lay the foundation for examining the molecular details of the basis for membrane- membrane and membrane-substrate adhesion.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Tools to assess tissue quality

Biospecimen science has recognized the importance of tissue quality for accurate molecular and biomarker analysis and efforts are made to standardize tissue procurement, processing and storage conditions of tissue samples. At the same time the field has emphasized the lack of standardization of processes between different laboratories, the variability inherent in the analytical phase and the lack of control over the pre-analytical phase of tissue processing. The problem extends back into tissue samples in biorepositories, which are often decades old and where documentation about tissue processing might not be available. This review highlights pre-analytical variations in tissue handling, processing, fixation and storage and emphasizes the effects of these variables on nucleic acids and proteins in harvested tissue. Finally current tools for quality control regarding molecular or biomarker analysis are summarized and discussed.
Geometric quotients of link groups

Abstract A geometric method is given for finding quotients of a link group using the geometry of a projection of the link. The method is called “contraction of bands”. If a projection of the link is chosen, a spanning surface of the link is constructed which decomposes as discs connected by maximal bands. These are the bands involved in the contraction method. When all the bands are contracted, a quotient is obtained all of whose relations are of Artin-type; this is called the “Artin quotient”. It is possible that the Artin quotient is a quotient of a classical Artin group. However, it is shown in this paper that any Artin group is the quotient of some link group. Involved in this is an interesting class of links called “minimal Artin links”. The paper contains examples of various contractions and Artin quotients.
Adhesion in byssally attached bivalves.

Summary The byssus is a structure produced by marine bivalve molluscs to adhere, usually permanently, to substrata under water. As the adhesion of synthetic polymers to surfaces is predictably compromised by the presence of water, particularly bulk water, it is of particular interest to discover the mechanism of byssal adhesion. In most species, the byssus consists of at least four essential components: acid mucopolysaccharides, adhesive protein, fibrous proteins, and an oxidative enzyme, polyphenoloxidase. The function of the mucopolysaccharide component is still uncertain, but it can conceivably be used by the animal as a temporary adhesive, a surface modifying agent, and/or a stabilizing filler for the permanent adhesive. The adhesive protein known as the polyphenolic protein in Mytilus is but a thin plaque applied to the substrate surface by the foot of the animal. The molecular and physical properties of this adhesive protein conform remarkably well to what one expects of an ideal synthetic polymer, i.e. high molecular weight, abundance of large and polar side chains, near-zero surface contact angle, and total water-insolubility after setting. The fibrous proteins constitute the major portion of the thread or ribbon-like material connecting the animal to the adhesive plaque on the substrate surface. These proteins are packed in ordered crystalline arrays, e.g. β-pleated sheet and collagen helix (in mytilids) as is to be expected from structural tensile elements of Nature. The enzyme polyphenoloxidase is presumed to induce intermolecular cross-linking of proteins in the fibrous and adhesive portions of the byssus. In Mytilus the natural substrates of the enzymc may be the dopa-containing polyphenolic protein and accessory gland protein.
Measurement of Platelet Collagen Receptor Density in Human Subjects

To the Editor: We are writing to provide data on a novel approach for measuring platelet collagen receptors in human subjects. Immediately after vascular injury, circulating platelets are exposed to collagen, a matrix protein that both supports platelet adhesion and activates platelets through platelet collagen receptors.1 Collagen signals generated at a site of arterial vessel injury are therefore likely to be among the first platelet activating signals that generate the coronary thrombi responsible for myocardial infarction. The molecular basis of platelet collagen responses has recently been elucidated by the identification and characterization of two platelet collagen receptors: the immune receptor homologue glycoprotein VI (GPVI)2 and the integrin α2β1.3 GPVI is required for platelet activation in response to collagen,4,5 whereas α2β1 plays an accessory role to support platelet responses to immobilized collagen in the setting of high shear forces.6 Preliminary findings from both laboratory and clinical studies suggest that the surface density of the platelet collagen receptors GPVI and α2β1 may regulate the degree of platelet activation by collagen and its clinical outcome.7–11 Despite these preliminary findings, the precise role of platelet collagen receptor density as a risk factor for MI remains poorly understood, with the few reported studies yielding apparently contradictory results. A study examining the correlation of platelet GPVI receptor polymorphisms with surface receptor density in normal individuals found one common allele (associated with the coding region polymorphism T683C) that correlated with lower GPVI receptor density and reduced collagen-mediated platelet aggregation.8 In contrast, …
GC–MS analysis of crocetane, phytane and some of their stereoisomers using cyclodextrin-based stationary phases

The detection and complete separation of crocetane (2,6,11,15-tetramethylhexadecane) and phytane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylhexadecane), two widely investigated hydrocarbon biomarkers for archaea in geological environments, are reported. The essential components of the analysis are a series of derivatized cyclodextrin capillary GC stationary phases. In addition, the further separation of stereoisomers of both compounds was observed on the highly selective permethyl-2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin stationary phase. In Nature, as in the laboratory, the synthesis (diagenesis) of these biomarkers determines their structures and stereochemistry. Hence, methods that allow their characterization and quantitation provide useful geochemical information.
Contractionary devaluation, substitution in production and consumption, and the role of the labor market

Using a demand determined model involving both consumption goods imports and home goods with imported inputs, this paper shows that the condition under which devaluation reduces demand for home goods, and thus aggregate output if real exports are fixed, basically depends on the sign of one plus the weighted sum of the price elasticities of demand for imported consumer goods and of derived demand for imported inputs. This model includes Cooper's and Krugman-Taylor's models as special cases, and shows that substitution substantially lessens the possibility of contactionary devaluation. However, these results are dependent on the assumptions regarding the labor market and monetary policy. If wages are indexed or are determined in a labor market with labor supply dependent on real wages, then output and the balance of payments again become inversely related. In these circumstances, devaluation alone cannot cure a balance of payments deficit. A contraction of aggregate demand is required, relative to an unsustainable initial level. Devaluation should be judged in terms of its longer run impact rather than whether it is contractionary. Also, increased borrowing to avoid a contractionary devaluation is neither relevant nor feasible in many cases.
Pubovaginal Slings Using Fascia Lata for the Treatment of Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency

ABSTRACTPurpose: Various materials and techniques have been used to construct a pubovaginal sling. We believe that fascia lata has several advantages and report our experience.Materials and Methods: A total of 32 female patients with urodynamically proved intrinsic sphincter deficiency underwent a pubovaginal sling procedure using fascia lata. An unscarred fascial strip 24 to 28 x 2 cm. was attached to itself over a 3 to 4 cm. bridge of abdominal wall fascia. Results were tabulated by chart review and an independent patient survey.Results: Chart review revealed that 28 of 32 patients (87%) required no pads, and 3 improved and 1 did not. An independent patient survey revealed that 70% of patients (21 of 30) required no pads, 20% required 1 to 3 small pads and 10% required more than 3 small pads per day. Of the patients 80% would undergo the procedure again.Conclusions: Excellent results can be obtained with fascia lata for the treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency. A long, wide strip of fascia attach...
Primary cardiac chondrosarcoma

A case of primary cardiac chondrosarcoma in a 41-year-old woman who presented with cardiac tamponade and cardiac intracavitary obstruction is described. The tumor originated from the right atrium and invaded the adjacent right ventricular wall and interatrial septum. Primary cardiac chondrosarcoma is extremely rare, and its clinical, computed tomographic, echocardiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings are described.
Viscosities of carrier gases at gas chromatograph temperatures and pressures

Equations are derived for viscosities of H2, He, N2 and Ar for use at chromatographic temperatures which are accurate to within 0.3% for H2, and 0.1% for the other gases. The effect of pressure is usually negligible but may increase the viscosity of N2 or Ar by as much as 0.5% at 25°C or lower and 5 atm or higher.
Anti-VEGF Antibodies Mitigate the Development of Radiation Necrosis in Mouse Brain

Purpose: To quantify the effectiveness of anti-VEGF antibodies (bevacizumab and B20-4.1.1) as mitigators of radiation-induced, central nervous system (brain) necrosis in a mouse model. Experimental Design: Cohorts of mice were irradiated with single-fraction 50- or 60-Gy doses of radiation targeted to the left hemisphere (brain) using the Leksell Perfexion Gamma Knife. The onset and progression of radiation necrosis were monitored longitudinally by in vivo , small-animal MRI, beginning 4 weeks after irradiation. MRI-derived necrotic volumes for antibody (Ab)-treated and untreated mice were compared. MRI results were supported by correlative histology. Results: Hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections of brains from irradiated, non–Ab-treated mice confirmed profound tissue damage, including regions of fibrinoid vascular necrosis, vascular telangiectasia, hemorrhage, loss of neurons, and edema. Treatment with the murine anti-VEGF antibody B20-4.1.1 mitigated radiation-induced changes in an extraordinary, highly statistically significant manner. The development of radiation necrosis in mice under treatment with bevacizumab (a humanized anti-VEGF antibody) was intermediate between that for B20-4.1.1–treated and non–Ab-treated animals. MRI findings were validated by histologic assessment, which confirmed that anti-VEGF antibody treatment dramatically reduced late-onset necrosis in irradiated brain. Conclusions: The single-hemispheric irradiation mouse model, with longitudinal MRI monitoring, provides a powerful platform for studying the onset and progression of radiation necrosis and for developing and testing new therapies. The observation that anti-VEGF antibodies are effective mitigants of necrosis in our mouse model will enable a wide variety of studies aimed at dose optimization and timing and mechanism of action with direct relevance to ongoing clinical trials of bevacizumab as a treatment for radiation necrosis. Clin Cancer Res; 20(10); 2695–702. ©2014 AACR .
Homogeneous Poisson Structures on Loop Spaces of Symmetric Spaces

This paper is a sequel to (Caine A., Pickrell D., Int. Math. Res. Not., to appear, arXiv:0710.4484), where we studied the Hamiltonian systems which arise from the Evens- Lu construction of homogeneous Poisson structures on both compact and noncompact type symmetric spaces. In this paper we consider loop space analogues. Many of the results extend in a relatively routine way to the loop space setting, but new issues emerge. The main point of this paper is to spell out the meaning of the results, especially in the SU(2) case. Applications include integral formulas and factorizations for Toeplitz determinants.
The Practice of Politics in Postcolonial Brazil: Porto Alegre, 1845–1895 – By Roger A. Kittleson

This monograph is elegantly written, convincing, and very instructive on politics and political culture in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, over the latter half of the nineteenth cen...
A compact, low loss piezoelectric RF MEMS relay with sub 100-ns switching times

This work reports on the effort to develop a low voltage, high performance RF MEMS relay within an existing MEMS process. The 54 × 43 µm2 relay achieved an insertion loss of under 0.2 dB from DC to 23.75 GHz at 5-V and an isolation from DC to 18-GHz of better than 30-dB. Additionally, the smal stiff structure achieved switching times of sub 100-ns with a 7-V actuation voltage and temperature measurements indicate stable operation from 0 °C to 125 °C. The relay was fabricated within an existing digital MEMS relay process, enabling integrated digital control for future RF systems.
Power Allocation, Rate, and Coverage for Relay-Assisted Downlink Data Transmission

The coverage of a base station terminal (BST) in a cellular network can generally be increased through the use of a relay node within the cell boundary. We consider the downlink for a single, one-dimensional cell with a relay node, or access point (AP), which serves a separate set of (non-cellular) users (e.g., corresponding to a WiFi system). The BST and AP jointly allocate available power across users and the BST-AP link to maximize the sum data rate across all cellular and AP users. Two relay schemes are considered: (i) the information flows to the cellular users served by the relay are jointly encoded and transmitted from the BST to the AP; and (ii) the preceding information flows are transmitted in parallel from the BST to the AP. We give an upper bound on the increase in rate provided by the AP, which depends on the relative powers and bandwidths available to the BST and AP. Although the increase in total rate provided by sharing AP resources is typically modest, it can provide a more equitable rate distribution across cellular users, and extend the coverage of the BST.
Evaluation of distributed hydrologic impacts of temperature-index and energy-based snow models

Two commonly used strategies in modeling snowmelt are the energy balance and temperature-index methods. Here we evaluate the distributed hydrologic impacts of these two different snowmelt modeling strategies, each in conjunction with a physics-based hydrologic model (PIHM). Results illustrate that both the Isnobal energy-balance and calibrated temperature-index methods adequately reproduce snow depletion at the observation site. However, the models exhibit marked differences in the distribution of snowme lt. When combined with PIHM, both models capture streamflow reasonably during calibration year (WY06), but Isnobal model gives better streamflow results in the validation year (WY07). The uncalibrated temperature-index model predicts streamflow poorly in both years. Differences between distributed snowmelt, as predicted by Isnobal and calibrated temperature-index method, and its consequent effect on predicted hydrologic states suggest the need to carefully calibrate temperature-index models in both time and space. Combined physics-based snow and hydrologic models provide the best accuracy, while a temperature -index model using coefficients from the literature the poorest.
Identification of Single Nucleotide Mutations That Prevent Developmentally Programmed DNA Elimination in Paramecium tetraurelia

Abstract The excision of internal eliminated sequences (IESs) occurs during the differentiation of a new somatic macronuclear genome in ciliated protozoa. In Paramecium tetraurelia, IESs show few conserved features with the exception of an invariant 5′-TA-3′ dinucleotide that is part of an 8-bp inverted terminal repeat consensus sequence with similarity to the ends of mariner/Tc1 transposons. We have isolated and analyzed two mutant cell lines that are defective in excision of individual IESs in the A-51 surface antigen gene. Each cell line contains a mutation in the flanking 5′-TA-3′ dinucleotide of IES6435 and IES1835 creating a 5′-CA-3′ flanking sequence that prevents excision. The results demonstrate that the first position of the 5′-TA-3′ is required IES excision just as previous mutants have shown that the second position (the A residue) is required. Combining these results with other Paramecium IES mutants suggests that there are few positions essential for IES excision in Paramecium. Analysis of m...
Pulmonary Adenomas in A/J Mice Treated with Silica

This study was designed to test the pulmonary tumor response to intratracheally instilled silica in Strain A mice. Urethane was used as a positive control. Silica treatment was utilized to evaluate the effect of a potent fibrinogen on pulmonary adenoma formation in this unique animal model. Urethane produced an increase in pulmonary tumor response in this study in agreement with previous investigations. Also, the background incidence of adenomas was comparable to other studies. Silica treatment did not affect tumor incidence either in terms of percent of mice with adenomas or average number of adenomas per mouse.
An embedded mechatronic system for wireless servo control

This paper demonstrates one of the first implementations of wireless servo control for mechanical systems. The novel elimination of the physical connection between the controller and the system can facilitate less restrictive hardware layout designs in many control systems. In this work, a low-cost wireless servo system was successfully created and tested using embedded microcontrollers and radio frequency communication hardware. In preliminary testing, the system showed good response for a DC motor controlled with simple feedback algorithms running with approximately a 30Hz sample rate.
Aberrant Cell Division and Random FtsZ Ring Positioning in Escherichia coli cpxA* Mutants

In Escherichia coli, certain mutations in the cpxA gene (encoding a sensor kinase of a two-component signal transduction system) randomize the location of FtsZ ring assembly and dramatically affect cell division. However, deletion of the cpxRA operon, encoding the sensor kinase and its cognate regulator CpxR, has no effect on division site biogenesis. It appears that certain mutant sensor kinases (CpxA*) either exhibit hyperactivity on CpxR or extend their signalling activity to one or more noncognate response regulators involved in cell division.
Tailoring the electromagnetic responses of metamaterials: double negative medium designs and experiments

Summary form only given. Interest in double negative (DNG) media has arisen from many proposed microwave and optical applications, including novel imaging and propagation enhancements. The use of DNG media for ultra-small, efficient antenna applications has also been proposed. This microwave antenna application requires micron- and nanosized inclusions to realize a metamaterial that will exhibit the desired DNG properties. Several of the related physics and engineering issues will be reviewed.
Building skeletal graphs for structural feature extraction on handwriting images

Presents a method of building skeletal graphs for handwriting images, aiming at extraction of high-level structural features such as loops, turns, ends, and junctions. Block adjacency graphs are used as the base representation and transformed at locations where deformation occurs to obtain satisfactory skeletal graphs. Then the identification and ordering of structural features are considered based on skeletal graphs.
In Vitro Susceptibility of Isolates of Francisella tularensis Types A and B from North America

Due to concern that Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, may be used as a bioterrorist weapon, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recently provided a susceptibility testing method with breakpoints. Here, 169 isolates (92 type A and 77 type B) from North America were tested against seven antimicrobial agents (streptomycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and chloramphenicol) used for the treatment of tularemia. The MICs for all of the isolates fell within the susceptible range. In addition, all isolates had MICs for erythromycin of 0.5 to 4 μg/ml, in contrast to an MIC of >256 μg/ml for the common laboratory strain LVS (live vaccine strain).