cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Civic Engagement and Voluntary Associations: Reconsidering the Role of the Governance Structures of Advocacy Groups

Despite the ubiquity of politically oriented voluntary associations, many scholars are unimpressed with the opportunities available for civic participation within the interest group sector. I argue that the dismissal of interest groups as insignificant contributors to civic life has been hasty. We lack data regarding the avenues available to group members to participate in ways other than check writing. Analyzing the political infrastructure of the National Organization for Women (NOW), I show that understanding the internal structure and political dynamics of advocacy groups can contribute to the debate about whether and how member-based political groups impact citizens’ political engagement. Specifically, the governance structure of such groups reveals the extent to which members are, or could be, significant partners in decision-making processes. Finally, I note the contributions associations such as NOW make to the civic education of citizens as well as to the provision of “free spaces” for the exchange of ideas among them.
Benzo[a]pyrene diol-epoxides different mutagenic efficiency in human and bacteria cells

Abstract Monolayer cultures of diploid human fibroblasts and suspensions of S. typhimurium TA100 cells were treated with [3H]-labelled enantiomeric forms of benzo[a]pyrene anti and syn 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxides. In both cell types, all of the enantiomers induced the formation of mutant 6-thioguanine (human) or 8-azaguanine-(bacterial)resistant cells. Diol-epoxide-modified nucleosides from human and from bacterial DNA hydrolysates were characterized by HPLC and showed essentially the same adduct species for human and bacterial cells treated with the same enantiomers. There were substantial differences, however, in the efficiency with which structurally-different adduct species were converted to mutant genotypes. In human cells, the mutagenic efficiency (mutation frequency/unit modified DNA) of the respective adduct species (+ anti ⪢ - anti = ±syn) at the hprt locus was exactly the opposite of that seen at a similar gene locus (gpt) in TA100 (- anti = ± syn > + anti). The results suggest that the structural configuration of adducts in genomic DNA is important in determining whether a mutant genotype will result, and likewise, that there are differences in specificity between the human and bacteria systems which process these adduct lessions.
Learning search strategies through discrimination

SAGE is an adaptive production system model of strategy learning. The system begins a task with weak, overly general operators and uses these to find a solution to some problem by trial and error. The program then attempts to resolve the problem, using its knowledge of the solution path to determine blame when an error occurs. Once the faulty operator has been found, the system employs a process of discrimination to generate more conservative versions of the rule containing additional conditions. Such variants are strengthened each time they are relearned, until they come to override their precursors. The program continues to learn until it can solve the problem without errors. SAGE has learned useful heuristics in the domains of the slide—jump puzzle, solving simple algebra equations and seriating blocks of different lengths.
Three dimensional tree grammars for the modeling of plants

A system to generate pictures of plants requires a model for plant growth, that includes size and shape influences, and a renderer to produce images from the model output. The model of this two step process is examined, from a basis in botanical research. An enhancement of graph grammars to three dimensions is presented for the model of plant growth. A discussion of the use of these grammars to model plant growth examines the three botanical elements of phyllotaxis, branch orientation, and phototropism. Prototype rules are given for the first two of these elements, and a technique is discussed for the last.CR Categories and Subject Descriptors: F.4.2 [Mathematical Logic and Formal Languages]: Grammars and Other Rewriting Systems - Parallel rewriting systems; I.3.5 /Computer Graphics]: Computational Geometry and Object Modeling.
Contribution of circulating acetylcholine to sensory nerve conduction augmentation.

Abstract We previously discovered that sensory nerve action potential amplitudes increased during isometric muscle contraction and that this response could be blocked with tourniquet isolation of the contraction source. The hypothesis for this study was that a circulating factor was responsible for this effect. In this prospective study, baseline and post intravenous injection of serial sural nerve action potential recordings were made in the leg of 8 rabbits. The sequence of the injections was randomized: 1) normal saline placebo, 2) 0.01 mg / kg acetylcholine (ACh) 3) 200 mg / kg Na acetate, 4) 260 mg / kg Na lactate, and 5) 20 mg / kg choline. Results showed there was a 3.8 μV increase in the sural nerve response 6 min after ACh injection compared to baseline at rest (p = .01, power = .9, analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measures). There were no significant changes in the amplitudes of the sural nerve after injection of the remaining agents or placebo (p = .33 to .81, ANOVA, repeated measures). In conclusion, circulating ACh is the only agent tested thus far that appears to be responsible for this effect. In addition, the amplitude and temporal curve of this response is similar to that seen after exercise in human subjects. The clinical importance of this study is that ACh plays a role in this newly discovered sensory regulatory mechanism controlled by the motor system.
Differential effects of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones on testosterone production by mouse testes.

Abstract In adult mice, direct intratesticular injection of ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (o-FSH-13; AFP2846-C, from NIAMDD, vs 700 ± 8 (6); P In vitro T production in the presence of hCG, LH or FSH were differentially affected by the concentrations of calcium (Ca 2+ ) or magnesium (Mg 2+ ) in the incubation media. The stimulatory effects of FSH were apparent at significantly lower levels of Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ , than were those of LH or hCG. The results of these studies indicate that FSH is capable of stimulating testicular T production. Furthermore, the responsiveness to FSH is qualitatively different than that to LH/hCG in terms of the age pattern, as well as the dependence on Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ . In addition, plasma FSH levels appear to influence testicular responsiveness to direct exogenous administration of gonadotropins. These studies indicate that FSH stimulation of T production can be differentiated from those of LH, and that these effects of FSH can be observed under physiological conditions.
Gender Differences in Receptivity to Sexual Offers: A New Research Prototype

Among the most cited series of experiments in social and evolutionary psychology are those conducted by Clark and Hatfield (1989, 2003). In these studies, college students served as confederates in a simple field experiment. They approached fellow college students of another gender and asked one of three questions: (a) “Would you go out with me tonight?” (b) “Would you come over to my apartment tonight?” or (c) “Would you go to bed with me tonight?” Men and women differed markedly in their receptivity to casual sexual offers. When asked: “Would you go out with me tonight?” both were equally receptive. Yet, when confederates asked, “Would you come over to my apartment” or “Would you go to bed with me?” gender differences were striking. In the following series of experiments we attempted to develop a pencil and paper method to mirror the procedure of the classic study. We think we succeeded. Although cultural and social considerations may have influenced participants’ tendency to accept or reject sexual offers, as predicted by evolutionary perspectives, in all three experiments men were more likely than women to accept sexual offers. The studies also explored some of the reasons men and women gave for refusing a date, apartment visit, or a sexual encounter. We close by itemizing some questions that, given this new set of research materials, may be worth asking.
Bromodeoxyuridine induced variations in the level of alkaline phosphatase in several human heteroploid cell lines.

The level of alkaline phosphatase in a number of established cell lines of human origin can be modified by exposure to non-lethal concentrations of bromodeoxyuridine (BRdU). In the several cell lines examined an inverse relationship between amount of induction and constitutive level of the enzyme was observed. Thus, the H.Ep 2 line, which had the highest basal level of enzyme, was reversibly repressed following exposure to the drug, whereas other cell lines with relatively low constitutive enzyme levels were induced to a maximum of 10-fold following exposure. Initiation of induction required from 24 to 48 hours, and as short an exposure ("pulse") as five hours was sufficient to produce induction. Exposure to visible light had no effect upon the repression of alkaline phosphatase in H.Ep 2 by BRdU. Induction did not occur in non-dividing, serum starved cells. The time course of induction by BRdU and hydrocortisone was similar, and simultaneous exposure of the cells to both agents resulted in no greater induction than that observed with either drug alone. Experiments utilizing mitomycin C yielded significant induction in the presence of this agent alone, and somewhat less induction when both mitomycin C and BRdU were added simultaneously. These results suggest that DNA synthesis is required for BRdU were added simultaneously. These results suggest that DNA synthesis is required for BRdU-mediated induction of alkaline phosphatase.
Sex Changes Everything: The Recent Narrowing and Widening of Travel Differences by Gender

The average U.S. male historically commutes further and longer than his female counterpart. Yet pivotal changes at home, as younger women especially increase their influence on household location and work decisions, and in the labor market, and as women's participation rates and profiles approach men's, strongly suggest that gender's influence on travel might be changing as well. Furthermore, the independent and interactive influence of other demographic factors, not least age and race, remain unclear. This study analyzes national microdata covering the past 20 years to examine both issues. We find sources of both convergence and divergence in travel behaviors by sex. The gender gap in commute length of older workers is growing, even while that of younger workers steadily closes. At the same time, racial differences in mode choice and commute times are becoming less pronounced-both by race and by gender. Thus, gendered elements of travel demand are indeed evolving, if not in predictable directions.
Connecting with the digital customer of the future

Purpose – The authors expect that media and entertainment (ME target consumers' specific digital personalities; deliver holistic, relevant content experiences – not just content alone; and create new flexibly integrated, cross‐channel digital revenue models that can deliver value comparable to traditional models.Research limitations...
Collective Wisdom and Individual Freedom

The paper distinguishes two ways of understanding a wise society. A society can be wise by virtue of possessing mostly true evaluative beliefs. Or it can be wise by virtue of employing rational procedures of collective belief formation. If the first possibility involves the society's being, in Margaret Gilbert's sense, a plural subject of evaluative beliefs, social wisdom will, as Gilbert says, entail an abridgement of individual freedom. But, this paper argues, if a society's being wise is understood as its employing rational procedures of collective belief formation, social wisdom positively requires individual freedom.
High-Level Expression and Characterization of a Purified 142-Residue Polypeptide of the Prion Protein†

The major, and possible only, component of the infectious prion is the scrapie prion protein (PrPSc); the protease resistant core of PrPSc is PrP 27-30, a protein of approximately 142 amino acids. PrPSc is derived from the cellular PrP isoform (PrPC) by a post-transliatonal process in which a profound conformational change occurs. Syrian hamster (SHa) PrP genes of varying length ranging from the N- and C- terminally truncated 90-228 up to the full-length mature protein 23-231 were inserted into various secretion and intracellular expression vectors that were transformed into Escherichia coli deficient for proteases. Maximum expression was obtained for a truncated SHaPrP containing residues 90-231, which correspond to the sequence of PrP 27-30; disruption of the bacteria using a microfluidizer produced the highest yields of this protein designated rPrP. After solubilization of rPrP in 8 M GdnHC1, it was purified by size exclusion chromatography and reversed phase chromatography. During purification the recovery was approximately 50%, and from each liter of E. coli culture, approximately 50 mg of purified rPrP was obtained. Expression of the longer species containing the basic N-terminal region was less successful and was not pursued further. The primary structure of rPrP was verified by Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry, and secondary structure determined by circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. When rPrP was purified under reducing conditions, it had a high beta-sheet content and relatively low solubility similar to PrPSc, particularly at pH values > 7. Refolding of rPrP by oxidation to form a disulfide bond between the two Cys residues of this polypeptide produced a soluble protein with a high alpha-helical content similar to PrPC. These multiple conformations of rPrP are reminiscent of the structural plurality that characterizes the naturally occurring PrP isoforms. The high levels of purified rPrP which can now be obtained should facilitate determination of the multiple tertiary structures that Prp can adopt.
FRACTURE ANALYSIS OF PLATE BENDING USING THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Xthe transverse deflection and rotat~ons Yn the Reissner-Mindlin Sype of plate bending theories, and r is the r adial distance from the crack tip. This result suggests that two different finite element interpolation functions need to be utilizkd for w and 0 respectively, in the application of i' the Reissner-Mindlin plate bending theory to fracture problems. The commonly used quarter-point singular isoparametric elements c annot satisfy the condition stated above, since the same interpolations should be used for w and Bi. Instead, a f amily of singular quadrilateral isoparametric elements derived in [5] c an be a pplied to this case. For example, an eight-noded singular element with derivative singularity of order p is given below in terms of local coordinate axes s and t:
Persistent expression of biologically active anti-HER2 antibody by AAVrh.10-mediated gene transfer

Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against an extracellular region of the human epidermal growth-factor receptor type 2 (HER2) protein. We hypothesized that a single adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated genetic delivery of an anti-HER2 antibody should be effective in mediating long-term production of anti-HER2 and in suppressing the growth of human tumors in a xenograft model in nude mice. The adeno-associated virus gene transfer vector AAVrh.10alphaHER2 was constructed based on a non-human primate AAV serotype rh.10 to express the complementary DNAs for the heavy and light chains of mAb 4D5, the murine precursor to trastuzumab. The data show that genetically transferred anti-HER2 selectively bound human HER2 protein and suppressed the proliferation of HER2(+) tumor cell lines. A single administration of AAVrh.10alphaHER2 provided long-term therapeutic levels of anti-HER2 antibody expression without inducing an anti-idiotype response, suppressed the growth of HER2(+) tumors and increased the survival of tumor bearing mice. In the context that trastuzumab therapy requires frequent and repeated administration, this strategy might be developed as an alternate platform for delivery of anti-HER2 therapy.
Autonomous parvoviruses neither stimulate nor are inhibited by the type I interferon response in human normal or cancer cells.

Members of the genus Parvovirus are small, nonenveloped single-stranded DNA viruses that are nonpathogenic in humans but have potential utility as cancer therapeutics. Because the innate immune response to parvoviruses has received relatively little attention, we compared the response to parvoviruses to that of several other types of viruses in human cells. In normal human glia, fibroblasts, or melanocytes, vesicular stomatitis virus evoked robust beta interferon (IFN-β) responses. Cytomegalovirus, pseudorabies virus, and Sindbis virus all evoked a 2-log-unit or greater upregulation of IFN-β in glia; in contrast, LuIII and MVMp parvoviruses did not evoke a detectable IFN-β or interferon-stimulated gene (ISG; MX1, oligoadenylate synthetase [OAS], IFIT-1) response in the same cell types. The lack of response raised the question of whether parvoviral infection can be attenuated by IFN; interestingly, we found that IFN did not decrease parvovirus (MVMp, LuIII, and H-1) infectivity in normal human glia, fibroblasts, or melanocytes. The same was true in human cancers, including glioma, sarcoma, and melanoma. Similarly, IFN failed to attenuate transduction by the dependovirus vector adeno-associated virus type 2. Progeny production of parvoviruses was also unimpaired by IFN in both glioma and melanoma, whereas vesicular stomatitis virus replication was blocked. Sarcoma cells with upregulated IFN signaling that show high levels of resistance to other viruses showed strong infection by LuIII. Unlike many other oncolytic viruses, we found no evidence that impairment of innate immunity in cancer cells plays a role in the oncoselectivity of parvoviruses in human cells. Parvoviral resistance to the effects of IFN in cancer cells may constitute an advantage in the virotherapy of some tumors. IMPORTANCE Understanding the interactions between oncolytic viruses and the innate immune system will facilitate employing these viruses as therapeutic agents in cancer patients. The cancer-selective nature of some oncolytic viruses is based on the impaired innate immunity of many cancer cells. The parvoviruses H-1, LuIII, and MVM target cancer cells; however, their relationship with the innate immune system is relatively uncharacterized. Surprisingly, we found that these parvoviruses do not evoke an interferon response in normal human fibroblasts, glia, or melanocytes. Furthermore, unlike most other types of virus, we found that parvovirus infectivity is unaffected by interferon treatment of human normal or tumor cells. Finally, parvoviral replication was unimpaired by interferon in four human tumor types, including those with residual interferon functionality. We conclude that deficits in the interferon antiviral response of cancer cells do not contribute to parvoviral oncoselectivity in human cells. The interferon-resistant phenotype of parvoviruses may give them an advantage over interferon-sensitive oncolytic viruses in tumors showing residual interferon functionality.
The Evolving University: Disruptive Change and Institutional Innovation

Abstract The domain of education, like many institutions in contemporary society, faces significant challenges to the completion of it s mission. This is especially true of higher education, which in many countries faces increasing expectations that it serves as a driver facilitating social and cultural advancement. New modes of inclusive delivery need to be tested with real students, new curriculum approaches need to be validated, new platforms need applications and content to succeed, and analytical tools need broadly based data to be truly useful. These also include new ways of collaborating and presenting domain specific subject matter. It is increasingly likely that the University of the future will not look like present-day institutional arrangements.
Immunological studies with the gonadotropins and their subunits from the green sea turtle Chelonia mydas.

Antisera generated in rabbits against highly purified follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and the β subunit of LH from the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, were used to obtain additional biochemical information on the chemical and biological relatedness between the two turtle gonadotropins. Evidence that the antisera were directed against the biologically active gonadotropins was obtained from neutralization studies. At concentrations of 1 ml of antiserum per 100 μg of hormone, FSH and LH could each be selectively neutralized with homologous antisera. These results provide additional evidence that both gonadotropins have intrinsic biological activities in assays related to testis growth and androgen production in lizards and in vitro androgen production by snake testes. Each antiserum (as) showed some binding to the heterologous radioiodinated hormone, but binding was clearly maximal with homologous tracer, and some of this cross-reaction was shown to be due to heterogeneity in antibody populations. Highly specific radioimmunoassays (RIAs) were developed for both FSH and LH with these antisera. When FSH as was used in conjunction with 125I-labeled FSH, Chelonia LH and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) showing virtually no cross-reaction (e.g., contamination of LH with FSH was < 1%). Alternatively, RIA using either LHβ as or LH as combined with 125I-labeled LHβ as tracer was highly specific for LH and especially the β subunit; there was no cross-reaction with either FSH, TSH, or the α subunit of LH. When LH as was used with 125I-labeled α as tracer, the specificity of the RIA was reduced; in this case, LHβ alone showed no cross-reaction but LHα was highly potent. Thus, these systems provide a means for studying the importance of the two separate subunits in immunorelatedness among pituitary glycoprotein hormones and for measurement of circulating gonadotropin levels.
Response to letter by Lee regarding article, "Multi-analyte profiling reveals matrix metalloproteinase-9 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 as plasma biomarkers of cardiac aging"

In the August 2011 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics , we reported our findings on plasma biomarkers of cardiac aging phenotypes.1 We thank Dr Lee for the questions regarding the plasma collection procedure used in our study. Different anticoagulants (eg, EDTA, heparin, and citrate) are available and used in blood sampling. Every anticoagulant has its own advantages and disadvantages. Heparin has been shown to increase matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 levels when added to the heparinized plasma after blood collection (postanalytical phase).2 Adding heparin in the tube …
Association between Visual Field Defects and Quality of Life in the United States

Purpose To investigate the association between visual field defects and quality of life in the United States population. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants A total of 5186 participants in the 2005 through 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 40 years of age and older without a self-reported history of age-related macular degeneration or prior refractive surgery who had undergone frequency doubling technology perimetric testing. Methods Frequency doubling technology perimetry was performed in both eyes. Results from the better eye were used to categorize subjects as normal or having mild, moderate, or severe visual field loss. Subjects completed surveys about their visual and physical functioning ability. Main Outcome Measures Disability pertaining to 6 vision-related activities, 2 visual function questions, and 5 physical functioning domains. Results Eighty-one percent of subjects had normal visual fields and 10%, 7%, and 2% demonstrated mild, moderate, and severe visual field defects, respectively. Subjects with greater severity of visual field defects had greater difficulty with vision-related activities. Subjects with severe visual field defects demonstrated the greatest odds of difficulty with all 6 activities. The 2 activities impacted most adversely were daytime driving in familiar places (odds ratio [OR], 12.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.1–25.1) and noticing objects off to the side when walking (OR, 7.7; 95% CI, 4.7–12.7). Subjects with severe visual field defects had greater odds of worrying about eyesight (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.0–5.8) and being limited by vision in the time spent on daily activities (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 3.0–8.5). Subjects with severe visual field defects demonstrated the greatest odds of difficulty with 3 physical function domains, including activities of daily living (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.37–4.38), instrumental activities of daily living (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.37–4.38), as well as leisure and social activities (OR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.87–5.77). Conclusions Greater severity of visual field abnormality was associated with significantly greater odds of disability with vision-related function and physical function. These findings support the necessity of routine screening to find those who may benefit from therapy to prevent progressive glaucomatous vision loss.
Performance models of correlators with random and systematic phase errors

Hybrid correlators are composed of numerous nonideal electronic and optical components that, to one degree or another, limit performance through unintended transformations of signals. Many of these eftects show up as phase errors at a spatial light modulator (SLM) plane. The errors can be described as random variables, or as systematic offsets from the correct phases, as appropriate. Sources of systematic phase errors include quantizing circuits, incorrect or nonlinear amplifier gain, limited range phase modulators and residual phase modulation of amplitude-mostly SLMs. Random phase errors arise from electronic noise and fabrication variations of SLMs. Several systematic and random filter plane errors are related through a single parameter that describes the amount of phase mismatch. A model of peak-to-noise ratio (PNR) is also presented that describes the combined effects of random and systematic errors. This expression contains the products of two functions, one that depends only on systematic, the other on random, phase mismatch. PNR is also a function of the number of pixels in the filter plane modulator and a normalized moment of the amplitude of the image spectrum. The model is useful for developing phase error budgets for correlation systems.
Applications of an acousto-optical bispectrum processor

The ''bispectrum'' of a signal measures the degree of correlation between three interacting frequency components due to a quadratic nonlinearity. Attention is here given to an acoustooptic implementation of the bispectrum which can operate on relatively wide-bandwidth signals. The overall architecture employed is that of a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer which contains three acoustooptic modulators in conjunction with appropriate transforming lenses. The cross-bispectrum of the input and output signals are computed for a quadratically nonlinear system; an accurate estimate of the time delay between the signals is derived from the cross-bispectrum information.
Mobility due to natural disaster: theoretical considerations and preliminary analyses.

Relatively little of the work on natural disasters has focused on people who do not return to their pre-disaster homes. This study uses Annual Housing Survey data from 1974 through 1981 to examine moving households who attribute their moves to a natural disaster. The focus is on three issues: the characteristics of the movers and their recovery; a comparison with other involuntary movers (i.e., public and private displacees); and the amount of innovating or conserving behavior shown by different groups of movers and the impact of these behaviors on each group's recovery after the move. The paper compares disaster movers to all movers and to other forced movers. Distinct differences between the groups in their characteristics and housing recovery exist. The paper concludes with suggestions for continued analysis and policy implications.
Orthopedic management of vertebral and long bone fractures in patients with osteoporosis

Because of the evolving demographics of the world's population, fracture surgeons must become experts in the treatment of fractures in osteoporotic bone. Toward this end, fracture surgeons are learning to modify the classic techniques of internal fixation to adapt them to the elderly population. Screws should be placed into the best quality of bone available, which, in most cases, is an opposing cortex. Screw fixation can be augmented using acrylic cement. When using plate fixation, stable bone contact at the fracture site is the most important factor in reducing strain in the plate. Shortening of the affected bone is advisable to achieve this contact in comminuted fractures. Plates should not be used to bridge areas of comminution in osteoporotic bone. Plates should generally be as long as is compatible with the affected bone, with screws placed as close to and as far away from the fracture site as possible. When confronted with diaphyseal fractures or fractures with metaphyseal-diaphyseal comminution, locked intramedullary nails can be used. Angled blade plates are applicable to osteoporotic metaphyseal fractures but should be used as tension band plates, which require stable load-sharing contact opposite the plate. Antiglide plating and use of tension band wires are also effective strategies for osteoporotic fractures. Finally, to reduce the morbidity of bone graft harvest and to ensure adequate volumes of graft, the use of bone graft substitutes is particularly applicable in elderly patients. All patients with evidence of osteoporosis should be started on a medical regimen to combat further bone loss that includes calcium supplementation with a prescription for antiresorptive agents, including bisphosphonates, calcitonin, or hormone replacement therapy.
The Pathogenesis of Renal Insufficiency

Acute Infections Renal blood flow increases strikingly during fever induced by the administration of a foreign protein (the so-called "pyrogenic reaction"), apparently as the result of efferent art...
Transient heat flow analysis using the fundamental collocation method

The fundamental collocation method for general two dimensional transient heat flow problems in solids is presented. The numerical procedure is applied directly to heat conduction in the time domain and is illustrated using several example problems. The method is capable of handling problems of arbitrary shapes subjected to arbitrary initial conditions and mixed time-dependent boundary conditions. Its simplicity and minimal computational effort combined with accuracy and stability of the results make the method an excellent alternate approach to domain methods such as the finite difference and finite element methods.
Segmentation Of Planar And Quadric Surfaces

A segmentation technique for range images based on Fourier transform is presented. It allows the extraction of planar and quadric surfaces using a simple data coding. The method described is global (does not require the use of local operator for classification), robust to noise and easy to implement. Recognition procedures are also discussed.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Aqueous humor induces transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-producing regulatory T-cells.

PURPOSE. The intraocular microenvironment is an immune-privileged site where immunogenic inflammation is suppressed. Suppression of immunogenic inflammation has been associated with immunosuppressive factors found in aqueous humor produced by ocular tissues. To further understand the mechanisms suppressing immunogenic inflammation in the eye, we have examined the production of lymphokines by primed T-cells activated in the presence of aqueous humor. METHODS. Enriched in vivo primed T-cells were T-cell receptor-stimulated in the presence of fresh aqueous humor. The culture supernatant was assayed for IFN-? and IL-4 by sandwich ELISA. TGF-s production by T-cells stimulated in the presence of aqueous humor was assayed by a TGF-s bioassay of the culture supernatant and by quantitative RT-PCR for TGF-s1 mRNA expression. Aqueous humor-treated T-cells were assayed for their capacity to suppress IFN-? production by stimulated, primed T-cells. RESULTS. Aqueous humor-enhanced proliferation but irreversibly suppress...
Functional reconstitution of beta-adrenergic receptors and the stimulatory GTP-binding protein of adenylate cyclase

A procedure for the functional reconstitution of beta-adrenergic receptors and the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G/F) of adenylate cyclase in phospholipid vesicles is described. beta-Adrenergic receptors were solubilized from turkey erythrocyte plasma membranes and reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles by the addition of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine and removal of detergent by gel filtration. This procedure restored the ability to bind [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol and [3H]dihydroalprenolol. Purified rabbit hepatic G/F that was added to the receptor vesicles could be stably activated by guanosine 5'-[3-thio]triphosphate at a low rate, and this activation was increased up to 4-fold in the presence of beta-adrenergic agonists. This stimulation of the activation of G/F was specific for beta-adrenergic agonists and could be specifically blocked by beta-adrenergic antagonists. Stimulation was proportional to the concentration of vesicles containing active beta-adrenergic receptor. Under optimal conditions, 5 to 6 molecules of G/F were activated per receptor, indicating that catalytic activation of G/F by receptor was reconstituted.
Environmental influences on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides populations in shallow Nebraska lakes

The influence of environmental variables on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) populations in 22 shallow (mean depth 1.0–2.9 m) Nebraska lakes was evaluated. Largemouth bass exhibited density-dependent size structure and growth, but not condition. Total annual mortality averaged only 30%. Deeper lakes contained low density largemouth bass populations with a high proportion of fish >380 mm, whereas larger lakes with little submerged vegetation had faster growth. The proportion of largemouth bass >380 mm and relative abundance tended to increase with emergent vegetation coverage. More stable recruitment was evident in shallower lakes with increased emergent vegetation coverage. Strong year classes were associated with cooler September air temperatures. Largemouth bass populations exhibited density-dependent effects in lakes up to 332 ha. Lake depth, emergent vegetation and autumn air temperatures may influence largemouth bass populations more than previously suggested.
Introduction: Media and the cold war in Europe

(1993). Introduction: Media and the cold war in Europe. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 5-6.
A study of gas-stopping of intense energetic rare isotope beams

A scheme is proposed for the efficient thermalization of energetic and intense rare isotope beams. Simulation results indicate that gas stopping of heavy ions in a weakly focusing magnetic field can overcome the severe intensity limitation that exists in present systems and also provide a much faster ion extraction.
Planning the transition process: A model for teachers of preschoolers who will be entering kindergarten

Children today experience many transitions within their school careers. One transition in particular, from preschool to kindergarten presents many challenges for children, families, and teachers. A model for planning and carrying out this transition is presented. The model includes developing and implementing the transition process.
Lowering: a static optimization technique for transparent functional reactivity

Functional Reactive Programming (FRP) extends traditional functional programming with dataflow evaluation, making it possible to write interactive programs in a declarative style. An FRP language creates a dynamic graph of data dependencies and reacts to changes by propagating updates through the graph. In a transparent FRP language, the primitive operators are implicitly lifted, so they construct graph nodes when they are applied to time-varying values. This model has some attractive properties, but it tends to produce a large graph that is costly to maintain. In this paper, we develop a transformation we call lowering, which improves performance by reducing the size of the graph. We present a static analysis that guides the sound application of this optimization, and we present benchmark results that demonstrate dramatic improvements in both speed and memory usage for real programs.
Implications of Hypocapnia, Normocapnia, Hypercapnia and the Variance of PaCO2 to Immediate Neonatal Outcome

Implications of Hypocapnia, Normocapnia, Hypercapnia and the Variance of PaCO2 to Immediate Neonatal Outcome
Closed-Loop Trajectory Simulation for Thermal Protection System Design for Neptune Aerocapture

A configuration for aerocapture at Neptune is considered with an emphasis on reduction of the overall aeroshell thermal protection system mass. The biconic vehicle is assumed to be capable of bank angle as well as angle-of-attack modulation for guidance and optimal trajectory shaping. A methodology is presented for determining a nominal trajectory that robustly accommodates off-nominal flight conditions with relatively small dispersions in integrated heat load. Such a trajectory, termed nominal robust, is presented for bank-only guidance. A nominal-robust trajectory is also generated for guidance with both angle-of-attack and hank modulation. Simulation of a nominal-robust trajectory with angle-of-attack modulation in the presence of multiple stacked off-nominal conditions is described. The resulting reduction of maximum heat rate and heat load relative to the undershoot and overshoot trajectories is quantified. The thermal protection system response based on closed-loop trajectory simulations for worst-case off-nominal scenarios is calculated and compared with the traditional overshoot/undershoot thermal protection system design method. The results show that the use of the nominal-robust methodology results in a significant decrease in aeroshell mass, and that combined bank and angle-of-attack modulation further reduces trajectory dispersion and stagnation-point-integrated heat load as compared to pure bank-angle modulated trajectories.
Centrifugal Pendulum Vibration Absorbers: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

This paper presents results from tests completed on a rotor system fitted with pendulum-type centrifugal torsional vibration absorbers. A review of the associated theoretical background is also given and the experimental and theoretical results are compared andcontrasted. An overview of the test apparatus is provided and itsunique features are discussed. To the best knowledge of the authors,this is the first time that a systematic study of the dynamic behaviorof torsional vibration absorbers has been undertaken in a controlledenvironment.
Method for determining the spatial correlation width of a Gaussian-Schell beam to optimize the scintillation index over long horizontal turbulent paths

We describe a method for controlling the spatial correlation width of a propagating Gaussian-Schell model (GSM) beam in an unknown turbulent atmosphere to optimize the scintillation index (SI). In our approach we slowly change a simulated GSM beam from incoherent to coherent by controlling the coherence through the spatial correlation width. The goal is to use statistics to determine the point just before a GSM beam becomes too coherent and starts to exhibit the statistics of a fully coherent source. We define this value of the spatial correlation width as the upper-coherence limit. We show that there is a straightforward method of calculating the upper-coherence limit in a closed channel regardless of turbulence strength or aperture size.
Nuclear moments and isotope and isomer shifts of neutron-deficient mercury isotopes 195, 195m, 194, 193, 193m and 192

Nuclear spins I, magnetic-dipole μ and electro-quadropole Q moments, and optical spectroscopic isotope and isomer shifts (I.S.) have been obtained for the neutron-deficient mercury isotopes and isomers with mass numbers from 192 to 195. The isotopes were produced by p, yn reactions on Au197. Approximately 0.01μg of Hg was transferred into the rf-excited electrodeless light sources. A well-blazed plane diffraction grating, 25 cm wide, was used in the multiple wavelength monochromator of 11 m focal length for these high-resolution optical hfs measurements. These lead to the results I = 12 for Hg195, I = 132 for Hg195m and Hg193m; μ = −1.05, 0.53, −1.04 nm for Hg193m, Hg195, Hg195m; Q = 1.37, 1.41 b for Hg193m, Hg195m; with respect to Hg198, I.S. = 0.441±0.020, 0.368 ±0.006, 0.284±0.007, 0.214±0.008, 0.220±0.005cm−1 for Hg192, Hg193m, Hg194, Hg195 and Hg195m. For Hg193 the tentative results are I = 12, μ = 0.56 nm, and I.S. = 0.350±0.027 cm−1; the last result was obtained by Walter and Stroke in a magnetic-scanning experiment. The isotope- and isomer-shift results, which have led to a hypothesis of the cause of odd-even staggering in isotope shift, are discussed qualitatively in the light of the polarizability of nuclei by nucleons (coupling of core-excited states with odd particle).
Monolithic integration of a semiconductor optical amplifier and a high bandwidth p-i-n photodiode using asymmetric twin-waveguide technology

An optical mode transformer, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), and a high-bandwidth waveguide-coupled photodiode are monolithically integrated using separately optimized materials based on asymmetric twin-waveguide (ATG) technology. Incident light is collected by a diluted, large fiber guide followed by transfer to an SOA. After amplification, light is coupled into the uppermost In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As light absorption layer by two consecutive taper couplers. The device shows a peak responsivity of 11 A/W (/spl sim/12.5-dB SOA-to-detector gain) and a 3-dB electrical bandwidth of 36 GHz, corresponding to a gain-bandwidth product of 640 GHz. In this SOA/p-i-n chip, separation of optical functions (light guiding, amplification, and detection) into different waveguides allows for optimization of materials for each function without material regrowth. Generalized photonic integrated circuits containing complex combinations of these three optical functions can be realized using the integration scheme demonstrated here.
Global harmony: coupled noise analysis for full-chip RC interconnect networks

Noise is becoming one of the most important metrics in the design of VLSI systems, certainly of comparable importance to area, timing, and power. In this paper, we describe Global Harmony, a methodology for the analysis of coupling noise in the global interconnect of large VLSI chips, being developed for the design of high-performance microprocessors. The architecture of Global Harmony involves a careful combination of static noise analysis, static timing analysis, and reduced-order modelling techniques. We describe a reduced-order modelling approach that allows for passive multiport reduction of RC netlists as impedance macromodels while preserving the symmetry and sparsity of the state matrices for efficient storage. We describe how the macromodels are practically employed to perform coupling analysis and how timing constraints can be used to limit pessimism in the analysis.
Flicker Noise in Observer-Controller Digital PLL

The observer-controller loop filter proposed in the author's prior work is extended to include the effect of flicker noise in the digital-controlled oscillator (DCO). We show that the same implementation structure, as in the author's prior work but with modified gain values to account for the effect of flicker noise, can be used to achieve near-ideal jitter performance. A frequency domain analysis of the observer-controller loop filter is presented to provide a more intuitive understanding of the loop filter operation. The analysis shows that a system zero is introduced at dc to filter out the flicker noise and that the observer-controller based digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) remains effectively a second-order system regardless of the transport delay in the digital feedback loop. A comparison with conventional DPLL loop filter is also provided, which shows that in the presence of flicker noise, the jitter performance is even further improved than in the author's prior work.
Comparability of Computer- and Paper-Administered Multiple-Choice Tests for K–12 Populations: A Synthesis

There have been many studies of the comparability of computer-administered and paper-administered tests. Not surprisingly (given the variety of measurement and statistical sampling issues that can affect any one study) the results of such studies have not always been consistent. Moreover, the quality of computer-based test administration systems has changed considerably over recent years, as has the computer-experience of students. This study synthesizes the results of 81 studies performed between 1997 and 2007. The estimated effect size across all studies was very small (–.01 weighted, .00 unweighted). Meta-analytic methods were used to ascertain whether grade (elementary, middle, or high school) or subject (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Reading, Science, or Social Studies) had an impact on comparability. Grade appeared to have no affect on comparability. Subject did appear to affect comparability, with computer administration appearing to provide a small advantage for English Language Arts and Soc...
Rapid diagnosis of respiratory viral infections by using a shell vial assay and monoclonal antibody pool

We compared the detection of seven respiratory viruses by using a commercially available monoclonal antibody pool in a 2-day shell vial assay with that by using standard cell culture with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-negative nasal secretions from hospitalized children. We found 179 respiratory virus isolates by either method in 675 specimens. Overall, the shell vial assay detected 147 of 179 (79%) of the positives after 2 days; cell culture detected 148 of 179 (80%) after a mean incubation period of 7.6 days (range, 1 to 14 days). The sensitivity of the shell vial assay was 78% for RSV, 94% for influenza B virus, 83% for adenovirus, and 80% for parainfluenza viruses. The sensitivity of the cell culture was 70% for RSV, 79% for influenza B virus, 90% for adenovirus, and 89% for parainfluenza viruses. The 2-day shell vial assay allowed the detection of respiratory viruses in a clinically relevant time frame and rapidly detected RSV in specimens lacking RSV antigen by ELISA.