cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gene conversion in the evolution of the human and chimpanzee MHC class I loci.

: Sixty-five DNA sequences from human and chimpanzee major histocompatibility complex class I loci were searched for statistical evidence of past gene conversion. Twenty-four potential conversions were detected: they were distributed across both variable and conserved portions of the gene, and involved both classical and non-classical loci. The majority spanned less than 100 bp, comparable in length to the conversions observed in spontaneous mutatations in mice. Both within-locus and between-locus conversions were observed. Certain areas of the antigen recognition site appear to have been the target for multiple conversion events. The implications of these findings for the evolution of the class I multigene family are discussed.
Nutrition Support of the Diabetic Patient

Diabetes, as the component of the past medical history of individuals requiring nutrition support, poses specific problems to the clinician managing the patient. Besides an exaggerated glucose resp...
Response of adrenalectomized-hypophysectomized rats to the pituitary growth hormone

IT IS WELL known that adrenalectomy in young animals entails interference with growth. Grollman (1936) has indeed proposed the re-establishment of growth by administration of adrenocortical extracts as a satisfactory test for the presence of the vitally necessary adrenocortical hormone. It can, however, be shown that the interference with growth caused by adrenalectomy is due to disturbances in the electrolyte metabolism, because adrenalectomized rats grow normally when given 1% NaCl as drinking water. In the present paper, the attempt has been made to see whether the re-invocation of growth by administration of growth hormone to hypophysectomized rats is influenced by concurrent adrenalectomy. Since it is known that adrenal secretion in excess actually impedes growth, it was considered entirely possible that animals subjected to adrenalectomy as well as hypophysectomy might be even more sensitive to growth hormone than the hypophysectomized rat.
The Face Symbol: Research Issues and Cartographic Potential

The face symbol, developed by Herman Chernoff (1973), is possibly the seminal multivariate point symbol. Cartographically, the symbol has made an appearance several times, but it has often been criticized because designers tend to ignore two key symbol parameters: feature salience and natural correspondence. Feature salience is the concept of perceptually ordering facial features from those that produce the most noticeable changes to those that produce the least noticeable changes. Natural correspondence refers to designing face symbols so that the overall attitudinal labels of the symbols correspond to the overall physical meaning of the mapped data. It is argued here that feature salience and natural correspondence may be treated as special cases of visual attention in relation to symbol design. From this perspective, these symbols deserve a new look cartographically. This research reports on symbol variations, explores feature salience and natural correspondence, addresses user environments and tasks, and speculates on future experimental designs that may lead to more effective map use of this symbol.
Selecting Metaphoric Terminology for the Computer Industry

Well-selected metaphoric terminology can reduce the fear and ignorance that often dishearten first-time computer users and can help them grasp new concepts and procedures. Many people are amused by...
The magnetic field dependence of luminescence in plasma-deposited amorphous silicon

Abstract A magnetic field dependent increase in luminescence intensity, which saturates at ∼30G, is observed at temperatures up to 150K in plasma-deposited amorphous silicon. The effect is explained by a coupling between spin states below 30G caused by low frequency magnetic fluctuations which originate from the photogeneration of carriers. The coupling changes the recombination kinetics when the spin-lattice relaxation time is larger than the recombination time. The effect is related to the anomalous spin dependent photoconductivity and spin dependent luminescence, and is thought to originate from the competing non-radiative transition, which is the tunnelling of a carrier into a singly occupied defect state.
The contribution of a 2-amino group on receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition and antiangiogenic activity in 4-anilinosubstituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines.

Comparison between a series of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines with and without the 2-amino group is presented in order to determine the validity of our hypothesis that inclusion of this group improves potency against receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). The 2-amino analogs were better against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet derived growth factor-β (PDGFR-β) in whole cell inhibition assays and in the A431 cytotoxicity assay compared to the 2-desamino analogs. However, the 2-desamino analogs were more potent inhibitors against vascular endothelial growth factor-2 (VEGFR-2) than the corresponding 2-amino compounds. In addition, none of the 2-desamino compounds exhibited better anti-angiogenic activity in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay as compared to the standard and were only micromolar inhibitors. This study validates our original hypothesis that the inclusion of a 2-amino group in pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines improves multiple RTK inhibition and antiangiogenic activity.
Elastic, optical, and dielectric properties and their pressure derivatives of rutile‐structure oxides in a modified rigid ion approximation

The elastic and static dielectric constants and their first pressure derivatives, and the optical mode frequencies and mode gammas at zero wave vector have been calculated for GeO2, TiO2, and SnO2 from a modified rigid ion model, in which first and second nearest neighbor central force repulsive interaction of Born-Mayer type and oxygen–cation–oxygen angle bending forces are included. The nine free parameters of the model are determined from a least squares fit to the zero pressure values of the optical frequencies and elastic constants. The agreement with the experimental optical and elastic data at zero pressure is very good, and fair to moderate for the pressure derivatives. Die elastischen Konstanten, die statischen Dielektrizitatskonstanten, deren Druck-koeffizienten und die Frequenzen und mikroskopischen Gruneisen-Parameter der optischen Schwingungen in der Zonenmitte wurden fur GeO2, TiO2 und SnO2 mittels eines modifizier-ten Modells starrer lonen berechnet, in dem Zentralkrafte vom Born-Mayer-Typ zwischen nachsten und ubernachsten Nachbarn und Federbindungen fur die Verzerrung der Sauerstoff–Ration–Sauerstoff–Winkel berucksichtigt sind. Die neun freien Parameter des Modells wurden mittels der Methode der kleinsten Quadrate aus den optischen Frequenzen und elastischen Konstanten bei verschwindendem Druck bestimmt. Die Ubereinstimmung mit den gemessenen optischen und elastischen Daten bei verschwindendem Druck ist gut und die mit den Druckkoeffizienten und mikroskopischen Gruneisen-Parametern masig.
Effect of Bulk Doping on the Electrical Conductivity of Selected Metallocene Polyamines

The conductivity of the polyamine derived from titanocene dichloride and 2-nitro-1,4-phenylenediamine increases to 101 to 103 fold when doped with iodine. Larger increases are found for the analogous polyamines except derived from zirconocene dichloride (increased 103–104 fold) and hafnocene dichloride (105–106 fold) and for certain other diamines. The conductivity of the product of titanocene dichloride and N-methyl-1,4-phenylenediamine increased 105 fold when doped. By comparison, conductivity increased only tenfold for the product from titanocene dichloride and chloro-1,4-phenylenediamine and less for the titanocene product with 1,4-phenylenediamine and methoxy-1,4-phenylenediamine and none for the product from dibutyltin dichloride and 2-nitro-1,4-phenylenediamine. Conductivity did not appreciably change when samples were exposed to the atmosphere for 21 h. MALDI MS and IR results are consistent with the formation of C–I compounds for doped materials.
Application of Divergent Multi-Component Reactions in the Synthesis of a Library of Peptidomimetics Based on γ-amino-α,β-Cyclopropyl Acids

Abstract The multi-component condensation of organozirconocene, aldimine and zinc carbenoid was applied to the stereoselective synthesis of cyclopropane amino acid derivatives. These compounds served as scaffolds for the preparation of a 46-member library. The C- and N-termini of the cyclopropane amino acid derivatives were diversified by condensations with ten amines and ten acylating agents, respectively. To improve yields and accelerate library synthesis, most products were prepared under microwave irradiation and purified by polymer-bound scavengers and SPE methodology. All compounds were analyzed by LC–MS and a representative selection was fully characterized.
Distribution and sub-cellular localization of the aflatoxin enzyme versicolorin B synthase in time-fractionated colonies of Aspergillus parasiticus

Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic fungal secondary metabolites. At least 18 enzyme activities are required for aflatoxin biosynthesis in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus parasiticus. One of these enzymes, versicolorin B synthase (VBS), catalyzes bisfuran ring closure in versiconal hemiacetal (a reaction near the middle of the pathway) to form versicolorin B. This reaction is required for the subsequent activation to aflatoxin B1-8,9 epoxide, a highly reactive and toxic aflatoxin metabolite, and is important for aflatoxin toxicity. We analyzed the localization of VBS in the aflatoxin-producing strain A. parasiticus SU-1 grown on solid media using a colony fractionation technique developed previously. A highly specific polyclonal antibody, raised against a maltose-binding protein-VBS fusion protein synthesized in Escherichia coli, was used to detect VBS in SU-1 grown on a rich solid medium via immunofluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and immunogold transmission electron microscopy (TEM). VBS was detected in both vegetative hyphae and in asexual developmental structures, called conidiophores. Western blot and CLSM analyses demonstrated the highest abundance of VBS in colony fraction S2 consisting of cells that had grown for 24-48 h; this fraction also contained the highest levels of newly developed conidiophores and the highest abundance of aflatoxin B1, consistent with VBS abundance. At the subcellular level, CLSM and TEM detected VBS distributed throughout the cytoplasm and concentrated in ring-like structures surrounding nuclei. It is uncertain whether enzymatically active VBS is present in either or both locations.
Estimation of target geometry from Mueller matrix imagery

An imaging polarimeter records the polarization state of light reflected by an object that is illuminated with a polarized source such as a laser. Active polarimetric imagery has been shown to be useful in many remote sensing applications including shape extraction, material classification and target detection/recognition. In this paper, we present a method that automatically extracts the angle of incidence, angle of reflection and the relative azimuthal angle from Mueller matrix imagery. Mueller matrix imagery provides multiple measurements from which we can construct a nonlinear system of equations. This system is solved using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm which is a standard nonlinear equation solver. We experimentally demonstrate via computer simulations that the parameter estimates can be estimated accurately using our approach.
Cosmological B-L production via the affleck-dine mechanism

Abstract A cosmological B - L excess can be produced by the Affleck-Dine mechanism along with the usual B excess. This allows an adequate B to survive if B + L is washed out by nonperturbative electroweak effects.
Glances, glares, and glowering: how should a virtual human express emotion through gaze?

Gaze is an extremely powerful expressive signal that is used for many purposes, from expressing emotion to regulating human interaction. The use of gaze as a signal has been exploited to strong effect in hand-animated characters, greatly enhancing the believability of the character's simulated life. However, virtual humans animated in real-time have been less successful at using expressive gaze. One reason for this is that we lack a model of expressive gaze in virtual humans. A gaze shift towards any specific target can be performed in many different ways, using many different expressive manners of gaze, each of which can potentially imply a different emotional or cognitive internal state. However, there is currently no mapping that describes how a user will attribute these internal states to a virtual character performing a gaze shift in a particular manner. In this paper, we begin to address this by providing the results of an empirical study that explores the mapping between an observer's attribution of emotional state to gaze. The purpose of this mapping is to allow for an interactive virtual human to generate believable gaze shifts that a user will attribute a desired emotional state to. We have generated a set of animations by composing low-level gaze attributes culled from the nonverbal behavior literature. Then, subjects judged the animations displaying these attributes. While the results do not provide a complete mapping between gaze and emotion, they do provide a basis for a generative model of expressive gaze.
Obama Presents Far‐Reaching Climate Plan, Addresses Keystone Pipeline Proposal

Stating that climate change “is a challenge that does not pause for partisan gridlock,” U.S. President Barack Obama took matters into his own hands and presented a broad-based climate action plan on 25 June. The plan, which relies on existing administrative authority and does not require congressional approval, includes three primary objectives: cutting carbon pollution in the United States, preparing the nation for the impacts of climate change, and leading international efforts to address climate change.
Topological defects and open inflation

Topological defects can naturally be formed soon after bubble nucleation in the open inflation scenario. The defects are not completely diluted away by the subsequent period of inflation in the bubble interior and can produce observable large-scale microwave background anisotropies. Superheavy strings and monopoles attached to the strings can act as gravitational lenses with angular separation between the images of up to an arcminute. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
High mobility strained germanium quantum well field effect transistor as the p-channel device option for low power (Vcc = 0.5 V) III–V CMOS architecture

In this article we demonstrate a Ge p-channel QWFET with scaled TOXE = 14.5A and mobility of 770 cm2/V*s at n s =5×1012 cm−2 (charge density in the state-of-the-art Si transistor channel at Vcc = 0.5V). For thin TOXE &#60; 40 A, this represents the highest hole mobility reported for any Ge device and is 4× higher than state-of-the-art strained silicon. The QWFET architecture achieves high mobility by incorporating biaxial strain and eliminating dopant impurity scattering. The thin TOXE was achieved using a Si cap and a low Dt transistor process, which has a low oxide interface Dit. Parallel conduction in the SiGe buffer was suppressed using a phosphorus junction layer, allowing healthy subthreshold slope in Ge QWFET for the first time. The Ge QWFET achieves an intrinsic Gmsat which is 2× higher than the InSb p-channel QWFET [3]. These results suggest the Ge QWFET is a viable p-channel option for non-silicon CMOS.
Analysis of a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism in schizophrenia: evidence for association with aggressive and antisocial behavior

We have recently characterized a functional polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene that is responsible for substantial variability in COMT enzymatic activity found in humans. A common low-activity variant of the enzyme contains a methionine residue at amino acid 158 of membrane-bound COMT whereas the common high activity variant has a valine at this site. Considering the role of COMT in dopamine metabolism and the involvement of dopaminergic pathways in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and violence, we screened 37 patients with schizophrenia to determine whether or not a behavioral association with the COMT polymorphism exists. Patients were assessed for dangerousness on the basis of a history of violent and threatening behavior, crime, cocaine and alcohol abuse, and other antisocial behaviors. We found that schizophrenic patients who were homozygous for the low activity allele were judged by their psychiatrists to be at higher risk for aggressive and dangerous behavior than those who were homozygous for the high activity allele (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 10.43; P = 0.003).
Link-state routing without broadcast storming for multichannel mesh networks

A link-state routing protocol tailored for multichannel mesh networks is proposed. One drawback of using multichannel communications is the high overhead involved in broadcast operations: a transmitter should transmit a broadcast packet to all channels that may be occupied by receivers. This makes certain broadcast-intensive mechanisms, such as link-state routing, difficult to implement. The link-state routing protocol proposed in this paper is tailored for multichannel mesh networks by minimizing the broadcast overheads. This is achieved by a special set of nodes, called cluster-heads. We have implemented our protocol on a multichannel mesh network test bed and compared its performance with an AODV-like reactive routing protocol, also tailored for multichannel mesh networks. The measurements show that the proposed link-state routing protocol provides transient communications with comparable or better performance. Ways to improve the performance of the proposed routing with infrastructure access is also discussed.
High-Throughput Immunomagnetic Cell Detection Using a Microaperture Chip System

We report a microchip system based on a combination of immunomagnetic separation, microfluidics, and size-based filtration for high-throughput detection of rare cells. In this system, target cells bind to magnetic beads in vitro and flow parallel to a microchip with flow rates of milliliters/minute. A magnetic field draws the bead-bound cells toward the microchip, which contains apertures that allow passage of unbound beads while trapping the target cells. The cells captured on the chip can be investigated clearly under a microscope and released from the chip for further analysis. We first characterize the system by detecting cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and A549) in culture media. We then demonstrate detection of 100 MCF-7 cells spiked in 7.5 mL of human blood to simulate detection of circulating tumor cells present in cancer patient blood samples. On average, 85% of the spiked cells were detected. We expect this system to be highly useful in a wide variety of clinical as well as other applications that seek rare cells.
A continuum analysis of fracture in Widmanstätten α plus β colonies

Abstract A continuum mechanical model is proposed to investigate the deformation and fracture in a Ti-6Al-4V alloy with a Widmanstatten microstructure. The investigation was conducted using an elastoplastic finite element technique. The location and probable direction of extension of defects within the microstructure were investigated. From these data, coherent quantitative evaluation of microstructural failure is possible. Confirmation of the numerical predictions awaits experimental observation; however, the baseline data presented here demonstrate the utility of computational mechanics in providing guidance for quantifying microstructural failure.
Microscopic calculation of the fermi liquid interaction constants for electrons in the surface inversion layer of a semiconductor

Abstract The leading Fourier coefficients of both the spin dependent and spin independent Landau interaction function of a quasi-two-dimensional electron gas are evaluated. Three different schemes for calculating the interaction function are studied for both a pure two-dimensional Coulomb interaction and an effective electron-electron interaction appropriate to the actual metal-insulator-semiconductor structure.
Pythium sp. (Phycomycetes:Pythiales) pathogenic to mosquito larvae

Abstract A species of the fungus Pythium causing a high rate of mortality in a field collection of Aedes sierrensis was examined for its potential as a biological contol agent. Motile zoospores, the only infective stage, exhibited a strongly positive chemotactic response to wounds of mosquito larvae, but were apparently incapable of penetrating normal cuticle. Wide variation of mortality rate in laboratory tests was a function of harshness of physical treatment which larvae received prior to testing and zoospore concentration.
Energy-efficient spin-transfer torque magnetization reversal in sub-10-nm magnetic tunneling junction point contacts

Spin-transfer torque (STT) magnetization reversal in a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ), Ta/CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB/Ta, built on the tip of a nanoprobe in a direct contact with a copper substrate is demonstrated in the previously unexplored sub-10-nm diameter range. With the contact resistance of the order of 185 kOhm, the measured magnetoresistance value was 29 %. The average STT reversal current of 95 nA indicated a switching current density of approximately 0.1 MAcm−2 which is more than 30 times smaller than the smallest value reported for STT-MTJs of larger dimensions. An atomistic-scale theory confirmed the experimental result which indicates at least an order of magnitude reduction of the spin damping in the sub-10-nm diameter range.
Processing and characterization of silver films used to fabricate hollow glass waveguides.

Hollow glass waveguides are an increasingly popular fiber for the delivery of high-power IR laser radiation. At CO2 laser wavelengths the measured and theoretical losses agree, but at the 3-µm Er:YAG laser wavelength the losses remain higher than expected. The reason for this is the surface roughness of the silver film used to form the first layer of the Ag/AgI thin-film structure. We found that the roughness of the silver film increases fivefold as silvering times increase from 5 to 80 min. This increased surface roughness produces a concomitant linear increase in the attenuation coefficient for the silver-only guides for wavelengths shorter than approximately 5 µm.
Predicting the thermal/structural performance of the atmospheric trace molecules spectroscopy /ATMOS/ Fourier transform spectrometer

ATMOS is a Fourier transform spectrometer to measure atmospheric trace molecules over a spectral range of 2-16 microns. Assessment of the system performance of ATMOS includes evaluations of optical system errors induced by thermal and structural effects. In order to assess the optical system errors induced from thermal and structural effects, error budgets are assembled during system engineering tasks and line of sight and wavefront deformations predictions (using operational thermal and vibration environments and computer models) are subsequently compared to the error budgets. This paper discusses the thermal/structural error budgets, modelling and analysis methods used to predict thermal/structural induced errors and the comparisons that show that predictions are within the error budgets.
Theory of Electron-Molecule Collisions by Frame Transformations

Laboratory-frame and body-frame treatments are combined using the $l$-uncoupling transformation which had served to interpret the absorption spectrum of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. Application of a phase-amplitude procedure converts the Schr\"odinger equation to a Volterra-type integral form, which reduces to a Born-like approximation when the long-range interactions are weak. Attention is directed to features of low-energy collisions that must be considered by a realistic theory. This paper develops a formalism that can take advantage of different simplifying factors in different ranges of the electron-molecule distance. Detailed developments and applications are deferred.
Standing on Shoulders

The article reflects on the life of African Americans in the U.S. It opines that teachers of African American history saw it as a tool to counter the societal attitudes which often devalued the lives and potential of Black children. It comments that Helen O. Dickens, a former professor of obstetrics and gynecology and associate dean of minority affairs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, would have welcomed the election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States.
From Spatial Analysis to Geospatial Science

When Spatial Analysis was published in 1968, it drew together the fruits of the first decade of geography's quantitative revolution. In the decades that have followed, quantitative geography has both diffused and concentrated, abandoned some themes, made major progress on others, and in the contemporary form of geospatial analysis has become an innovative multidisciplinary enterprise. In this article, we sketch the broad outlines of this history, lay out the main threads along which technical capabilities have developed, and describe what appear to us to be the leading questions at the research frontier. Even as many geographers disavow social science, geospatial science has emerged as a lusty arena marked by intellectual vigor, conceptual growth, and enhanced analytic abilities. What now is taking shape is a spatially integrated social–environmental science that is transcending older disciplinary attachments, boundaries, and constraints.
Formalizing Functional Flow Block Diagrams Using Process Algebra and Metamodels

Functional flow block diagrams (FFBDs) are a traditional tool of systems engineering and remain popular in some systems engineering domains. However, their lack of formal definition makes FFBDs imprecise and impossible to rigorously analyze. The inability to analyze FFBDs may allow specification errors to remain undetected until well into the system design process or, worse, until the system is operational. To help address these problems, we have developed a precise formal syntax and semantics for FFBDs, based on the application of metamodels and the process algebra Communicating Sequential Processes (CSP). FFBDs constructed within our formalized framework are precisely defined and amenable to analyses of properties, such as safety, progress, and conformance to required scenarios. We demonstrate some of the analyses made possible by our formalization in a simple case study of system specification and show how our formalization can be used to detect and correct subtle system errors during the specification phase.
Surface Nanomechanical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposite Layers

The nanomechanical behavior of molecularly thick (8−10 nm) compliant polymeric layers with the nanodomain microstructure from poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] (SEBS or Kraton) was probed with micromechanical surface analysis based on scanning probe microscopy. The microprobing with high lateral resolution revealed the bimodal character of the nanomechanical surface behavior with different elastic responses shown by the rubber matrix and the glassy nanodomains. High-resolution probing showed virtually constant elastic response for the compliant layer compressed to 60% of its initial thickness followed by a sharp increase of the resistance when the tip reached within 3 nm from a stiff solid substrate. Application of the double-layer model allowed the estimation of the actual elastic moduli of different nanophases within the grafted polymer monolayer: 7 ± 3 MPa for the rubber phase and 20 ± 7 MPa for the glassy domains. The relatively high elastic modulus of the rubber matrix is caused by a ...
Acephate present in food-serving areas of buildings after baseboard spraying.

Mesure des teneurs en acephate sur des surfaces non ciblees avec vaporisation de cet insecticide sur des plateaux en vinyl dans des salles a manger et des zones de service
The screening for Occult Renal Disease (SCORED) value is associated with a higher risk for having or developing chronic kidney disease in patients treated for small, unilateral renal masses.

BACKGROUND. Patients with renal masses are at risk for having or developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] <60 mL per minute/1.73 m2). In this study, the authors investigated whether the Screening for Occult Renal Disease (SCORED) model could identify patients with renal masses who were at risk for having or developing CKD. METHODS. Two hundred forty-two consecutive patients with unilateral T1a renal masses who underwent treatment were reviewed retrospectively. The GFR was estimated by using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. SCORED values were stratified as low (<4) or high (≥4). Kaplan-Meier survival curves (with log-rank comparison) were used to compute the risk of developing CKD. RESULTS. Before intervention, 65 of 242 patients (27%) with T1a renal masses had CKD, including 10 of 98 patients (10%) with low SCORED values and 55 of 144 patients (38%) with high SCORED values. Interventions included radical nephrectomy (RN) in 71 patients (29%) and nephron-sparing approaches (NSA) in 171 patients (71%). Among patients with normal preoperative renal function, those with low SCORED values were less likely to develop CKD than those with high SCORED values, whether they underwent RN (38% vs 82%; P < .001) or NSA (14% vs 22%; P = .01). Multivariate analyses revealed that high SCORED values (hazard ratio [HR], 2.9; P = .02) and RN (HR, 7.0; P < .001) were significant predictors of developing CKD. CONCLUSIONS. High SCORED values were associated with a higher risk for having or developing CKD in patients who underwent intervention for small, unilateral renal masses. These data suggest that NSA should be used whenever possible, and SCORED risk stratification should be used in counseling patients regarding their potential risk of CKD. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Outlaw contract terms in consumer contracting: mispricing, market inefficiency and the overconsumption of risk

US contract law is designed for sophisticated counterparties. The law has largely failed to accommodate the idiosyncrasies of modern consumer transactions. The trend towards expansion of nominal ‘choice’ in consumer contracting effectively eliminates effective decision making which is overwhelmed by rational ignorance. The article concludes that shrinking the bargaining range in consumer contracts by increasing mandatory default terms (especially risk-based terms) would increase market efficiency. The article demands reversal of current trends in law; demanding it leave the wild west of anything goes consumer contracting and embrace structured transactions which force internalisation of certain risks until information asymmetries equilibrate.
Investigation of dynamic characteristics of an elastic wing model by using corrections of mass and stiffness matrices

The effects of theoretical changes in mass and stiffness matrices on the dynamic characteristics of a model wing are considered. The NASTRAN computer code is utilized to find theoretical mass and stiffness matrices with their corresponding natural frequencies and mode shapes. The dynamic response is then calculated by using theoretical mass and stiffness matrices and theoretical modal data. Experimentally measured mode shapes and natural frequencies are used to improve the stiffness and mass matrices. The resulting improved stiffness and mass matrices are further used to calculate again the dynamic response for the model. Analysis of the computational results and experimental data show that the improved theoretical model represents the experimental model better than the original theoretical model. Other means of improving the theoretical model are summarized.
Spatial and temporal distribution of Sonic hedgehog mRNA in the embryonic mouse mandible by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization analysis

Hedgehog genes have recently been implicated in the control of pattern formation in many developing organ system. Vertebrate homologues of the Drosophila hedgehog have been identified in mouse and rate embryos. The temporal regulation of sonic hedgehog (mouse homologue) has previously been studied by Northern analysis of whole embryos with varying results. Sonic hedgehog transcript expression in the mouse mandibular process was now characterized using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) an in situ hybridization techniques. PCR analysis revealed transcripts at gestational days 10 and 11, before the formation of the dental lamina, but not at days 12-14, after tooth buds have formed. Transcripts were localized to, primarily, the epithelium in the presumptive incisor region of the mandibular midline at gestational day 10. No mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization techniques in the presumptive molar regions of odontogenic epithelium. Sonic hedgehog expression may be involved in the regulation of pattern formation through establishment of an incisor-molar axis of polarity.
Estimation of probabilities using the logistic model in retrospective studies

Abstract Methods for estimating the parameters of the logistic regression model when the data are collected using a case-control (retrospective) scheme are compared. The regression coefficients are estimated by maximum likelihood methodology. This leaves the constant term parameter to be estimated. Four methods for estimating this parameter are proposed. The comparison of the four estimators is in two parts. First, they are compared for large samples. This is accomplished via the asymptotic distribution of the estimators. Second, the estimators are compared for small samples. This is conducted via simulation using 11 logistic models. The estimation of the posterior probability of the response variable being a success ( P x ), as given by the logistic regression model, when the constant parameter is estimated by each of the four proposed methods is the main focus of this paper. A third concern is the comparison of the logistic discriminant procedures when each of the four methods of estimating the constant parameters is used. In addition, the linear discriminant function procedure is included. This comparison is executed only for small samples via simulation. It was found that when estimating P x , method 1 (which is essentially the MLE) minimizes the expected mean square error. The results were not as clear when the parameter of interest was the constant term itself. The results from the classification comparisons implied that when the logistic model contains mostly (or all) binary regression variables the logistic discriminant procedure using method 1 to estimate the constant term gives minimum expected error rate; otherwise the linear discriminant function gives minimum expected error rate. In the latter case the logistic discriminant procedure (method 1 estimator of the constant term) is approximately as good.
Topological consideration in the theory of replication of DNA

An obvious difficulty of the Watson-Crick model of DNA is that the intertwining of the strands would seem to hinder their separation during replication. The nature of the difficulty is here made precise and is called the alignment problem. It is shown that the swivelase theory, found in current textbooks and thought to overcome the difficulty, does not in fact do so. The various conceivable solutions of the alignment problem are considered and rejected, leading to the conclusion that chromosomal DNA is not double-helical. An alternative model of DNA is discussed. In addition a topological classification of DNA denaturation processes is given, and an alternative interpretation of the gel electrophoresis experiments on circular duplex DNA is suggested.
Spinal cord modulation associated with isometric contractions

Objective: The dual-strategy hypothesis explains single-joint voluntary movement by dividing movements into two different strategies and suggesting that different excitation pulses modulate these movements. The existence of this excitation pulse was evaluated by quantifying magnitude and timing changes in the H-reflex (changes in spinal excitability) prior to a voluntary contraction. These changes in spinal excitability were assessed during a ballistic plantar flexion isometric contraction, where both the target size and force level was manipulated. Methods and materials: Subjects were seated in a modified chair with a force transducer placed under the metatarsal heads to measure ankle force output. Following a visual stimulus subjects were trained to produce a plantar flexion force of 25% and 50% of a maximum voluntary contraction, within target sizes of 5% and 15% of the selected force level. Soleus motor neuron reflex excitability was analyzed by measuring changes in the H/M ratio. The H-reflex was randomly elicited by tibial nerve stimulations at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 ms prior to the recorded average soleus premotor time for each of the force and target size conditions. Results: A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated a significant effect among target sizes for the time of change in spinal excitability, slope of facilitation (rate of rise of spinal excitability), and peak facilitation. A significant difference was also established between force levels for the slope and peak facilitation, but there was no difference with time of facilitation. Conclusions: These results indicate that changes in both target size and force level can influence slope and peak of facilitation. However, only target size appears to affect the time of facilitation. Results clearly support the existence of an excitation pulse that is regulated by the type of movement.
The isolation and characterization of an in vivo recombinant between the filamentous bacteriophage f1 and the plasmid pSC101.

Abstract After infection with the male-specific filamentous bacteriophage f1, F+Escherichia coli harboring the tetracycline resistance- (Tetr) conferring plasmid pSC101, extruded some filamentous Tetr-transducing particles. One such particle, which was named VO-1, was cloned and characterized. The size of the VO-1 phage particle, as well as heteroduplex and restriction enzyme analyses of the replicative form DNA of VO-1, are consistent with the hypothesis that VO-1 contains the f1 and pSC101 genomes in their entirety. The site of transition from f1 to pSC101 and the site of transition of pSC101 to f1 within the VO-1 genome were determined. Comparison of VO-1 to another f1-pSC101 chimera formed in vivo (Vovis, G. F., Ohsumi, M., and Zinder, N. D. (1977). Bacteriophage f1 as a vector for constructing recombinant DNA molecules. In “Molecular Approaches to Eucaryotic Genetic Systems”, pp. 55–61. Academic Press, New York.) indicates that an insertion sequence probably exists in pSC101. VO-1 DNA as a separate entity was able to transform E. coli to Tetr. However, the VO-1 molecule segregated within E. coli to yield a molecule indistinguishable from authentic pSC101 DNA by restriction enzyme analysis and a molecule that was slightly larger than authentic f1. The latter molecule was named f1′. The f′ present in the original VO-1 lysate differs from f1 by about 300 extra nucleotides which are located at the site where pSC101 was inserted into f1 to form the VO-1 chimera. Thus, bacteria transformed or transduced to Tetr by VO-1 are found to contain VO-1, pSC101, and f1′ replicative form DNA. Such E. coli produce both f1′ and VO-1 phage particles. The existence of VO-1 demonstrates that it is possible to form filamentous phage particles containing a DNA molecule significantly greater in size than unit length f1. The implications of these observations for the use of the filamentous bacteriophage as cloning vectors are discussed.
TEACHING NOTE: A SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM'S EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING ABOUT RACE IN THE CURRICULUM

Teaching about race, racism, and oppression presents higher education programs with complex challenges. This article reports on the experiences of a new MSW program in designing a gateway "race, gender, and inequality" course. Embracing a theoretical base of culturally competent practice and solutions to the inherent difficulties of discussing race and oppression in diverse student groups is suggested along with six rules of engagement. Recommendations are based on the interactive experience of a highly diverse faculty and student body, literature review, student focus groups, faculty retreats, expert consultation, and curriculum refinement.
Penalized discriminant methods for the classification of tumors from gene expression data.

En raison de l'avancee des technologies de micropuces haut debit, il est devenu possible de developper des systemes de classifications moleculaires pour differents types de cancer. Dans cet article, nous proposons une methode fondee sur les modeles de regression regularisee pour la classification des tumeurs dans les experiences de micropuces. Les performances des modeles en composantes principales, des moindres carres partiels et de la ridge regression sont etudiees; Ces procedures de regression sont adaptees aux techniques de classification utilisant l'algorithme de score optimal. Nous developpons egalement une methode de classement des genes fondee sur les modeles de regression ajustee. Les methodes proposees sont appliquees a deux etudes de cancerologie utilisant les micropuces.
Implications of superconductivity of PrBa2Cu3O7

The effect of Pr on the superconductivity of PrBa2Cu3O7 implies that the cuprate-planes are not primary superconductors, because Pr-on-a-Ba-site (on one side of a cuprate plane) breaks Cooper pairs and destroys the superconductivity, while Pr-on-a-Pr-site (on the other side) does not adversely affect the superconductivity.
2011 solutions in perception challenge performance metrics and results

The 2011 Solutions in Perception Challenge presented an international collection of teams with the opportunity to develop algorithms that could accurately detect, recognize, and locate in space an arbitrary collection of artifacts. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) generated a series of artifacts synonymous with parts found in industrial settings, a modular fixturing system capable of accurately and precisely positioning the artifacts within a work volume, and a relative pose scoring metric to quantify an algorithm's performance. Teams were presented with training and validation data sets consisting of red-green-blue color images and 3D point cloud data of the artifacts, and the top performers achieved over 70 % accuracy in translation and pose estimation. In this paper we discuss the design of NIST's contributions, and present the teams' results from the Challenge.
Using DaVinci Technology for Digital Video Devices

It's not practical for one SoC processor to fit all equipment and meet today's aggressive performance, power, and cost targets. The DaVinci integrated portfolio of processors, software, and tools offers support for developing a broad spectrum of optimized digital video equipment.
Hydroxyapatite as a novel support for gold and ruthenium catalysts: Behaviour in the water gas shift reaction

Abstract Novel catalysts comprising gold or ruthenium supported on hydroxyapatite are prepared by a deposition–precipitation method and examined for their behaviour in the water gas shift reaction at various reaction temperatures and at atmospheric pressure. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized using BET-surface area (BET-SA), XRD, TPR, TPD of NH3 and CO2. High WGS activities were observed over Au/HAP compared with Ru/HAP catalyst. The Ru/HAP catalyst showed methanation activity at temperatures above 300 °C, caused by a tendency for the dissociative chemisorption of CO to occur, though this process can be suppressed to some extent by an increase in the partial pressure of water under reaction conditions.
Society for French Historical Studies

Labor history was alive and well at a conference of the Society for French Historical Studies held at Ohio State University on March 29-31, 1990. In two panels and one plenary session?a total of nine papers?French labor historians examined a variety of issues ranging from representations of labor and workers in socialist thinking, the labor press, and labor congresses, to workers' reactions to the portrayal of work and labor in the Paris Exhibition of 1889, women in unions, and managerial strategies in controlling women workers in the Paris metal trades. Recently, French labor historians have examined the disjuncture between representations of work in France on the one hand, and workers' own vision and experience of work and labor organization on the other. (See, for example, essays in the excellent collection edited by Steven Laurence Kaplan and Cynthia J. Koepp, Work in France: Representations, Meaning, Organization, and Practice [Ithaca and London, 1986]). Two papers at the conference focused on this theme. Joy Hall (Auburn University), in "Worker and Socialist Responses to the Social Economy Exhibit at the Paris Exposition of 1889," argued that the exhibit, designed to further solidarist ideals of social peace between workers and employers and to promote mutualism for its moral as well as its economic benefits, proved to be a disappointment for workers. Their voices were lost in reformers' efforts to promote management-oriented reform; no place was given to demonstrating the realities of workers' experience. K. Steven Vincent (North Carolina State University), in "Representations of Labor and Workers in Nineteenth-Century French Socialist Thought," traced the ambiguity of French socialist thinking on work from Lafargue's defense of "the right to be lazy" to Fourier's argument that work could be liberating if not fulfilling and Proudhon's idea that a committed, creative labor force, conscious of its moral obligation, could save society from decadence. Vincent argued that socialists idealized the worker-as-hero even when reality suggest ed differently?although it is true that, as Steven Zdatny (Rice University) pointed out in his comments, the socialists' overidealizing of workers' potential for action was not unusual or unique: all political parties did this. This moralizing tendency spilled over into discussions of women, where the socialists praised the virtues of the femme au foyer. They were less concerned with the exploitation of women in the workplace than they were with the problem of the demise of the home.
Ontogenesis of learning: III. Variation in the rat's differential reflexive and learned responses to sound frequencies.

The ontogenesis of the rat's differential response to variation in sound frequency was investigated. Two behavioral procedures were employed: (a) a differential Pavlovian conditioning procedure that provided a means of inferring the pup's capacity to learn to respond differentially on the basis of sound frequency (e.g., 2000 Hz vs 900 Hz), and (b) a habituation-generalization task that indexed the capacity to discriminate different sound frequencies from the pup's reflexive behavior. Pups less than 17 days old failed to learn to respond differentially to a 2000-Hz vs 900-Hz tone (Experiment I, IIA, IIB, and III). In contrast, pups only 14 days old discriminated tones that differed by as little as 200 Hz when the reflex-habituation-generalization procedure was employed (Experiment IV). This suggests that the reflexive and learned behaviors, potentially controlled by sound frequency, are dissociated during ontogenesis, the former emerging prior to the latter. These data were interpreted within a neurobiological framework that related ontogenetic changes in behavioral capacity to a caudal-to-rostral maturational sequence in the ascending auditory system of the components that contribute to these capacities.