cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of FVB Myc-CaP cells as an immune competent, androgen receptor positive, mouse model of prostate cancer bone metastasis

Prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis research has been hamstrung by lack of animal models that closely resemble the disease present in most patients - that metastasize to bone, are dependent on the androgen receptor (AR), and grow in an immune competent host. Here, we adapt the Myc-CaP cell line for use as a PCa androgen dependent, immune competent bone metastases model and characterize the metastases. After injection into the left cardiac ventricle of syngeneic FVB/NJ mice, these cells formed bone metastases in the majority of animals; easily visible on H&E sections and confirmed by immunohistochemistry for Ar and epithelial cell adhesion molecule. Mediastinal tumors were also observed. We also labeled Myc-CaP cells with tdTomato, and confirmed the presence of cancer cells in bone by flow cytometry. To adapt the model to a bone predominant metastasis pattern and further examine the bone phenotype, we labeled the cells with luciferase, injected in the tibia and observed tumor formation only in tibia with a mixed osteolytic/osteoblastic phenotype. The presence of Myc-CaP tumors significantly increased tibia bone volume as compared to sham injected controls. The osteoclast marker, TRAcP-5b was not significantly changed in plasma from tibial tumor bearing animals vs. sham animals. However, conditioned media from Myc-CaP cells stimulated osteoclast formation in vitro from FVB/NJ mouse bone marrow. Overall, Myc-CaP cells injected in the left ventricle or tibia of syngeneic mice recapitulate key aspects of human metastatic PCa.
Simulation of Quantum Gibbs States using Epsilon-Near-Zero Materials and Classical Light

We present theoretical methods for simulating the evolution of quantum Gibbs states using classical light and epsilon-near-zero materials, which allow for easy measurement of the statistical information of the simulated system.
Estimating pediatric cases of COVID-19 over time in the United States: Filling in a gap in public use data.

Background COVID-19 continues to disturb nearly all aspects of life, leaving us striving to reach herd immunity. Currently, only weekly standardized incidence rate data per age group are publicly available, limiting assessment of herd immunity. Here, we estimate the time-series case counts of COVID-19 among age groups currently ineligible for vaccination in the USA. Methods This was a secondary analysis of publicly available data. COVID-19 case counts by age groups were computed using incidence rate data from the CDC and population estimates from the US Census Bureau. We also created a web-based application to allow on demand analysis. Results A total of 78 weeks of data were incorporated in the analysis, suggesting the highest peak in cases within the 5–11-year age group on week ending 2021-01-09 (n = 61,095) followed by the 12-15-year age group (n = 58,093). As of July 24, 2021, case counts in the 5-11-year age group have expanded beyond other groups rapidly. Discussion This study suggests it is possible to estimate pediatric case counts of COVID-19. National agencies should report COVID-19 time series case counts for pediatric age cohorts. These data will enhance our ability to estimate the population at risk and tailor interventions accordingly.
NATIONAL TREATMENT AT THE WTO: THE ROLES OF PRODUCT AND COUNTRY HETEROGENEITY*

This paper analyzes the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) national treatment (NT) clause in a two-country model where quality of goods and/or market size are heterogenous across countries. When market size is symmetric across countries, a reciprocal NT agreement (i) benefits the high-quality country, (ii) hurts the low-quality country, and (iii) delivers higher aggregate world welfare. However, such an agreement can arise in equilibrium if the high-quality country's market is relatively bigger and the quality gap between goods is small (i.e., goods are sufficiently alike). The qualitative nature of these results does not change when quality is endogenously determined.
Reachability Analysis of Hybrid Systems via Predicate Abstraction

Predicate abstraction has emerged to be a powerful technique for extracting finite-state models from infinite-state discrete programs. Th is paper presents algorithms and tools for reachability analysis of hybrid systems by combining the notion of predicate abstraction with recent techniques for approximating the set of reachable states of linear systems using polyhedra. Given a hybrid system and a set of user-defined boolean predicates, we consider the finite discrete quotient whose states correspond to all possible truth assignments to the input predicates. The tool performs an on-the-fly exploration of the abstract system. We demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique by analyzing a parametric timing-based mutual exclusion protocol and safety of a simple controller for vehicle coordination.
Implementation of Evidence-Based Design (EBD) by Non-Healthcare Design Practitioners

Evidence-based design (EBD) is an innovation to the normative design process for practitioners who strive to base design solutions on measurable outcomes. Published information about EBD—its purpose, process, and outcomes springs primarily from healthcare design sources. Little is known about the adoption of an EBD-approach by practitioners of other building types (offices, schools) or their degree of engagement with EBD. This study examined non-healthcare focused design practitioners’ current 1) understanding of EBD, 2) degree of implementation of EBD, and 3) interest in learning more about EBD as determined from an exploratory study via interviews of 10 multidisciplinary firms’ leaders. Findings indicated that these firms practiced normative design, having little knowledge of or engagement with EBD. To help identify reasons for this delay towards EBD, a comparative analysis of EBD-approaches in books published for design practitioners was conducted. It revealed a broad range of approaches, limited timelines for implementation, and promotion of practitioner/researcher collaborations. Additional resources/tools are needed by the non-healthcare focused design practitioners to support implementation of an EBD-approach into their normative design process.
Abstract 14641: Deficiency in the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Parkin Exacerbates Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy: Role of Mitophagy

Background: Long-term heavy alcohol consumption has been shown to promote mitochondrial injury, unfavorable geometric and contractile changes in the heart. Parkin, a cytosolic E3 ubiquitin ligase encoded by PARK2 gene, plays an important role in the regulation of selective mitophagy. This study was designed to examine the role of Parkin in alcohol-induced myocardial injury (aka alcoholic cardiomyopathy) and the underlying mechanism with a focus on mitophagy. Methods: Adult male wild-type C57 and PARKIN2 knockout (Parkin-/-) mice were placed on alcohol (4%) or control diet for 4 weeks. Echocardiographic and cardiomyocyte mechanical properties were assessed. Mitochondrial morphology, function and mitophagy were examined using transmission electronic microscopy, Clark-type oxygen electrode, and Western blot, respectively. Results: Our results revealed that chronic alcohol consumption triggered unfavorable geometric and contractile changes [decreased fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF), with enlarged left ventricular chamber; decreased peak shortening (PS) and velocity of shortening +dL/dt, increased time-to-90% relengthening TR90], the effects of which were exacerbated by Parkin deficiency. In addition, our data showed that chronic alcohol intake promoted myocardial mitochondrial swelling with cristae disarrangement, induced myocardial mitochondrial depolarization and respiration inhibition, which were exacerbated by Parkin knockout. Furthermore, chronic alcohol consumption promoted mitophagy activation, as evidenced by accumulation of Parkin and LC3BII in mitochondria and mitochondrial ubiquitination level in the heart, the effect of which was nullified by Parkin knockout. Conclusion: These data suggest that chronic alcohol consumption triggered mitophagy by stimulating Parkin translocation to the mitochondria, which may be an adaptive response in the heart. Our findings implicated the therapeutic potential of mitophagy as a target in the management of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Blanc chloromethylation reaction

Lewis acid-promoted chloromethyl group installation onto the aromatics rings with formalin and HC1.
A Molecular Dynamics Simulation of High Strain-rate Deformation in Nanocrystalline Silicon Carbide

Multi-million atom molecular dynamics simulations of tensile testing have been performed on nc-SiC. Reduction of grain size promotes simultaneous enhancement of ductility, toughness, and strength. Simulations show that the nc-SiC fails by intergranular fracture preceded by atomic level necking. Atomic diffusion can prevent premature cavitation and failure, and therefore it sets an upper limit on high strain-rate deformations of ceramics. We report a non-diffusional mechanism for suppressing premature cavitation, which is based on unconstrained plastic flow at grain boundaries. In addition, based on the composite’s rule of mixture, we estimate Young’s modulus of random high-angle grain boundaries in nc-SiC to be about 130 GPa. The effect of temperature and strain rate on mechanical properties is studied.
A long terminal repeat retrotransposon of Schizosaccharomyces japonicus integrates upstream of RNA pol III transcribed genes

Background Transposable elements (TEs) are common constituents of centromeres. However, it is not known what causes this relationship. Schizosaccharomyces japonicus contains 10 families of Long Terminal Repeat (LTR)-retrotransposons and these elements cluster in centromeres and telomeres. In the related yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe LTR-retrotransposons Tf1 and Tf2 are distributed in the promoter regions of RNA pol II transcribed genes. Sequence analysis of TEs indicates that Tj1 of S. japonicus is related to Tf1 and Tf2, and uses the same mechanism of self-primed reverse transcription. Thus, we wondered why these related retrotransposons localized in different regions of the genome.
The teaching of software engineering

It has become abundantly clear to all that during the last two decades of the twentieth century and long into the twenty first, software will be both the heart and the binding force of all our large technological developments. Two decades ago large software systems began to be born. Within the last decade, leaders in industry, government, and the universities have realized that software can represent up to 90% of the cost of large computer projects. During this time period, the term Software Engineering has emerged, which can be defined as:Software Engineering: The collection of analysis, design, test, documentation, and management techniques needed to produce timely software within budgeted cost.One of the major challenges facing computer science departments is how to teach software engineering to the large number of B.S. and M.S. students who are now studying Computer Science.
Acute gastritis occurring within 24 hours of severe head injury

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early appearance and incidence of stress gastritis following severe head injury. We performed upper esophago gastroduodenoscopy in 44 patients within 24 hours of a head injury. All patients were comatose and required ventilatory support. Forty of the patients (91%) had gastritis at esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The lesions were distributed in the fundus and corpus of the stomach (77% of the patients), in the esophagus (30% of the patients), in the antrum (25% of the patients), and in the duodenum (7% of the patients). The grade of gastritis at esophagogastroduodenoscopy did not correlate with the severity of the head injury, the type of head injury sustained, the timing of esophagogastroduodenoscopy after head injury, or the presence of shock on admission. However, patients with grade III gastritis had a greater Injury Severity Score than patients with grade 0 gastritis (normal mucosa). Gastro-duodenal mucosal damage is common after severe head injury and occurs soon after the event.
Space applications of superconductivity: microwave and infrared detectors

This is the fifth of a seven part series on the potential applications of superconductivity in space. The potential of superconducting microwave and infrared detectors for space applications is reviewed. The devices considered include bolometers, super-Schottky diodes and Josephson junctions operating as oscillators, mixers, and parametric amplifiers. In each case the description includes the physical mechanism, theoretical limits and the current state of the art for the superconducting device as well as its nonsuperconducting competitors.
COMMENTS ON McBRIDE'S COMPLETION OF KRONER'S PROOF THAT HYDROGENS OF BENZENE ARE HOMOTOPIC

This paper shows that McBride's completion of Kroner's proof (J. M. McBride, J. Am. Chem. Soc.102, 4134 (1980)) can be immediately obtained using the methods developed by the author in the context of isomer enumeration and NMR-signal enumeration with a theorem of Polya. The method is illustrated with both rigid and non-rigid molecules.
Caffeine knowledge, attitudes, and practices of young women

Abstract We studied how the amount of caffeine consumed from beverages was related to knowledge about caffeine and to attitudes toward caffeine and nutrition in a sample of 63 young women. The two measurements of caffeine consumption: 1) the 24-hour recall of beverages and 2) the beverage-frequency list were highly correlated. The strongest predictor of caffeine consumption was the attitude that “it is hard to limit coffee consumption.” There was a weak positive correlation between caffeine consumption and the attitude that “it is safe for pregnant women to consume caffeine,” but there was no correlation between caffeine consumption and knowledge about caffeine. We observed a negative association between knowledge about caffeine and attitude toward use of caffeine during pregnancy, but we found no relationship between knowledge about caffeine and attitude toward the importance of nutrition.
The Value of Infectious Diseases Consultation in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Background Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia results in substantial mortality. Infectious diseases specialist consultation can improve adherence to evidence-based management of S. aureus bacteremia, but its effect on mortality is unclear.
Convergence of backward-error-propagation learning in photorefractive crystals.

We analytically determine that the backward-error-propagation learning algorithm has a well-defined region of convergence in neural learning-parameter space for two classes of photorefractive-based optical neural-network architectures. The first class uses electric-field amplitude encoding of signals and weights in a fully coherent system, whereas the second class uses intensity encoding of signals and weights in an incoherent/coherent system. Under typical assumptions on the grating formation in photorefractive materials used in adaptive optical interconnections, we compute weight updates for both classes of architectures. Using these weight updates, we derive a set of conditions that are sufficient for such a network to operate within the region of convergence. The results are verified empirically by simulations of the XOR sample problem. The computed weight updates for both classes of architectures contain two neural learning parameters: a learning-rate coefficient and a weight-decay coefficient. We show that these learning parameters are directly related to two important design parameters: system gain and exposure energy. The system gain determines the ratio of the learning-rate parameter to decay-rate parameter, and the exposure energy determines the size of the decay-rate parameter. We conclude that convergence is guaranteed (assuming no spurious local minima in the error function) by using a sufficiently high gain and a sufficiently low exposure energy per weight update.
Coherent population trapping via a continuum with a train of ultrashort pulses

We consider the coherent population trapping effect with a train of ultrashort pulses in a {lambda}-type system with two bound states and a continuum replacing the upper state. Population transfer to the continuum can be totally suppressed provided that the splitting between the bound states is a multiple of the pulse repetition rate. Compared to the traditional case with only two laser fields coupling the bound states to the continuum, CPT with a pulse train allows one to avoid incoherent population losses due to interaction of the fields with 'wrong' transitions, which results in only partial suppression of ionization. A method of suppression of excited-state absorption of pumping radiation in laser crystals, with pumping in the form of the pulse train, is proposed. As a particular example pumping dynamics of a Ti{sup 3+}:YAlO{sub 3} crystal using this technique is numerically analyzed.
Conceptualizing jealousy as a disposition

The following aspects of jealousy are discussed: (1) An initial conceptualization of jealousy as a disposition which posits that to understand jealousy one must consider causes of individual differences and situational variation in jealous behavior. (2) Initial research on the personality of dispositionally jealous persons which found them to be self-deprecating, unhappy, anxious, externally controlled, and dogmatic. In addition, a research study on the role of arousability is reviewed and preliminary speculations on integrating jealousy with research and theory on social cognition are presented. (3) A review of research on the nature of jealousy-evoking situations. (4) How the person and situation interact and how this view can be integrated with dispositional jealousy. And (5) a few implications for the management of jealousy.
Structure-activity studies of RFamide-related peptide-1 identify a functional receptor antagonist and novel cardiac myocyte signaling pathway involved in contractile performance.

Human RFamide-related peptide-1 (hRFRP-1, MPHSFANLPLRF-NH2) binds to neuropeptide FF receptor 2 (NPFF2R) to dramatically diminish cardiovascular performance. hRFRP-1 and its signaling pathway may p...
A write-time based memristive PUF for hardware security applications

Hardware security has emerged as an important field of study aimed at mitigating issues such as piracy, counterfeiting, and side channel attacks. One popular solution for such hardware security attacks are physical unclonable functions (PUF) which provide a hardware specific unique signature or identification. The uniqueness of a PUF depends on intrinsic process variations within individual integrated circuits. As process variations become more prevalent due to technology scaling into the nanometer regime, novel nanoelectronic technologies such as memristors become viable options for improved security in emerging integrated circuits. In this paper, we describe a novel memristive PUF (M-PUF) architecture that utilizes variations in the write-time of a memristor as an entropy source. The results presented show strong statistical performance for the M-PUF in terms of uniqueness, uniformity, and bit-aliasing. Additionally, nanoscale M-PUFs are shown to exhibit reduced area utilization as compared to CMOS counterparts.
Are physical education-related state policies and schools' physical education requirement related to children's physical activity and obesity?

BACKGROUND: This study examines whether the extent of states' physical education (PE) requirement policies and the prevalence of schools requiring PE are associated with children's physical activity (PA) and obesity. METHODS: Two cycles (2002–2003 and 2006–2007) of cross-sectional data with individual- and state-level information were analyzed. Information on states' PE requirement was from the 2003 and 2006 Physical Education-Related State Policy Classification System, and the prevalence of schools requiring PE was from the 2002 and 2006 School Health Profiles. The individual-level sample includes 11- to 17-year-old children from the 2003 (N = 25,251) and 2007 (N = 23,728) National Survey of Children's Health. The associations of states' PE requirement and schools' PE requirement with children's PA and obesity were examined, controlling for individual, family, and state covariates. Variation in the associations by individual and family characteristics was also tested. RESULTS: States' PE requirement was not associated with any outcome. In cycle 1, overall, a 10% increase in the percentage of schools requiring PE was associated with a 28% increase in the number of days having vigorous PA per week. In cycle 2, the association was not significant. However, significant variation in the association by gender in cycle 2 suggests an influence of schools' PE requirement on girls' PA only. No association was found between schools' PE requirement and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Gaps exist between state PE-related policies and implementation in schools. However, schools' PE requirement seems to improve children's PA with some gender variation. The association between schools' PE requirement and children's weight is less clear.
Use of Apple Snails (Pomacea canaliculata) by Chacoan Peccary (Catagonus wagneri)

Abstract Apple snails, large tropical freshwater snails from the family Ampullariidae have been identified in the diet of the endangered Chacoan peccary, Catagonus wagneri . Apple snail shells of the type found in Paraguay, Pomacea canaliculata, have a mean weight of 7.8 gms (N = 50). No previous reports documenting these gastropods as being included in the peccary's diet have been found.
Infrared absorption spectra of metal-amino acid complexes—VI. The infrared spectra and normal vibrations of metal-alanine chelates

Abstract The infrared spectra of dl -α-alanine and seven metal-alanine chelates have been investigated from 3600 to 80 cm −1 . A normal coordinate analysis has been accomplished for the metal complexes as a 25-body problem and an approximate description of the vibrational mode has been assigned to all of the observed frequencies. Values of the bond-stretching force constants for both the metal-nitrogen and metal-oxygen bonds have been obtained for each of the complexes studied.
Exploring the Persistence of Adult Women at a Midwest Community College

The purpose of this study was to describe, interpret, and analyze the educational experiences and factors contributing to the decision to persist for adult, female, part-time students currently enrolled at a community college in the Midwest. This study sought to expand the research on student retention by describing the perspectives of adult female students. It used the guiding framework of feminist standpoint theory to describe, interpret, and analyze the educational experiences of the adult female participants.
Paleomagnetic results from a crosscutting system of northwest and north-south trending diabase dikes in the North Carolina Piedmont

Abstract North-south and northwest trending suites of diabase dikes which crosscut one another have been identified in the North Carolina Piedmont from the interpretation of aeromagnetic data and field relationships (e.g., Popenoe and Zietz, 1977; Burt et al., 1978). The crosscutting relationships and areal distribution of the dikes suggest that they were emplaced during two different stress regimes representing different ages or phases of the Early Mesozoic rifting of the North American margin. A paleomagnetic study was conducted on the two crosscutting dike suites of the North Carolina Piedmont in order to establish whether the time differential in the emplacement of the dike suites was significant or not and to confirm relative ages. Results from 11 NW trending diabase dike sites yield a VGP of 52.8°N, 60.2°E. The VGP for 15 N-S trending diabase dike sites is located at 71.5 ° N, 53.5 ° E. The Fisherian statistics of the pole position for both suites are significantly different from one another. This therefore suggests a relative age differential for the emplacement of diabase dikes with the NW suite interpreted as being relatively older than the N-S suite of dikes. The pole positions of both suites plot off the APW path for North America. To bring these aberrant poles into near coincidence with the APW path for North America would require the tilting of the Piedmont westwards approximately 15°. However, there is no geological evidence of a measurable amount of a probably complex post Jurassic tilting of the Piedmont province of this region.
Study 2-1: An Exploration of the Effect of Selected Sequence Variables on Student Choice in the Use of Algorithms.

3. For investigations involving the enactive mode, off-line instruction should be included as well as on-line instruction. There appeared to be a need for subjects to have demonstrations in the use of manipulative devices. 4. It would be of interest to examine the effect of teaching the logical structure of the transitivity relationship before testing a hypothesis that is built on that relationship.
Dissociation of the acute effects of alcohol on implicit and explicit memory processes

The effects of alcohol (0, 0.3 and 0.6 g/kg) on learning and memory were assessed in independent groups of male student volunteers. Subjects were shown a list of words and asked to form an image of a scene involving each word 1 hr after drinking an alcohol-containing beverage. Alcohol consumption impaired the ability of subjects to explicitly remember the words in a test of free recall. However, no impairment was observed if memory for the same material was assessed implicitly using a backwards-reading or word-completion task. That is, both alcohol-and placebo-treated subjects showed similar degrees of priming. The data indicate that alcohol's effects on memory are selective.
Three-dimensional free electron laser gain and evolution of optical modes

Abstract A three-dimensional FEL theory in the small signal regime is presented. We derive a semi-analytical energy theorem which relates the gain and the loss of an optical beam of arbitrary shape, driven by an electron of arbitrary profile, and apply it in several cases. We also derive an equation which describes self-consistently the field evolution near the axis by using a set of generalized “Gaussian” parameters for the optical beam.
Resource-efficient path-protection schemes and online selection of routes in reliable WDM networks

Feature Issue on Next-Generation WDM Network Design and Routing (WDMN). The optimal choice of routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) for the working and protection path-pair of the newly generated demand request is often a complex problem in reliable wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) networks subject to dynamic traffic. The challenge is twofold: how to provide the required reliability level without over-reserving network resources and how to find a good solution of the RWA problem under constrained computational time. Two important contributions are made. First, the shared path protection (SPP) switching scheme is generalized to guarantee the required (differentiated) level of reliability to all arriving demands, while, at the same time, ensuring that they contain the required amount of reserved network resources. This generalization is referred to as SPP-DiR. Second, an approach for choosing the working and protection path-pair routing for the arriving demand is proposed. The approach is based on a matrix of preselected path-pairs: the disjoint path-pair matrix (DPM). Results show that, when the SPP-DiR scheme is applied, a small reduction in demand reliability corresponds to a significant reduction of the required network resources, when compared with the conventional SPP. In turn, the demand blocking probability may be reduced more than one order of magnitude. It is also shown that the DPM approach is suitable for obtaining satisfactory RWA solutions in both SPP-DiR and conventional SPP networks. The use of the DPM is most suited when the time for solving the RWA problem is constrained, e.g., when demand requests must be served swiftly.
Cell replication and biomass in the activated sludge process

Abstract Because of the inherent difficulty in enumerating cell numbers in a flocculent suspension, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was chosen as an indicator of cell numbers in the activated sludge process. A direct relationship between the concentration of DNA in the sludge and plate count was found with a dispersed growth of mixed culture microorganisms. Therefore, it was assumed that a direct relationship existed between cell numbers and DNA concentration in the sludge in a flocculent suspension of mixed culture microorganisms as found in activated sludge. An increase in DNA was therefore assumed to be an indication of cell replication. An increase in biomass before an increase in DNA, indicated a storage of substrate in some form and not replication of organisms. The average increase in the weight per cell was determined by dividing the weight of biomass just prior to an increase in DNA by the initial weight of organisms present. Storage was a function of the loading rate to which the organisms were acclimated. A sludge acclimated to a loading rate of 2.0 per day increased 270 per cent in biomass before replication. Sludges acclimated to lower loading rates showed an extended time lag before cell replication occurred, while higher loading rates maintained the sludges in a more active state having shorter time lags before replication occurred. Increased frequency of feeding also resulted in less time before replication occurred. Replication commenced as long as 4 h after the external substrate was exhausted and the maximum biomass was reached in the F/M = 0.4 system. Thus, in the contact stabilization process, cell replication would be expected in the stabilization tank with only substrate storage taking place in the contact tank, due to the low loading rates used.
Conversion reaction of FeF2 Thin Films Upon Exposure to Atomic Lithium

The chemical and structural phase evolution of ultrathin (∼5 nm) FeF2 films upon deposition of atomic lithium in an ultrahigh vacuum environment has been studied using X-ray and UV photoemission sp...
Molecular Characterization and Evolutionary Study of Spider Tubuliform (Eggcase) Silk Protein

As a result of hundreds of millions of years of evolution, orb-web-weaving spiders have developed the use of seven different silks produced by different abdominal glands for various functions. Tubuliform silk (eggcase silk) is unique among these spider silks due to its high serine and very low glycine content. In addition, tubuliform silk is the only silk produced just during a short period of time, the reproductive season, in the spider's life. To understand the molecular characteristics of the proteins composing this silk, we constructed tubuliform-gland-specific cDNA libraries from three different spider families, Nephila clavipes, Argiope aurantia, and Araneus gemmoides. Sequencing of tubuliform silk cDNAs reveals the repetitive architecture of its coding sequence and novel amino acid motifs. The inferred protein, tubuliform spidroin 1 (TuSp1), contains highly homogenized repeats in all three spiders. Amino acid composition comparison of the predicted tubuliform silk protein sequence to tubuliform silk indicates that TuSp1 is the major component of tubuliform silk. Repeat unit alignment of TuSp1 among three spider species shows high sequence conservation among tubuliform silk protein orthologue groups. Sequence comparison among TuSp1 repetitive units within species suggests intragenic concerted evolution, presumably through gene conversion and unequal crossover events. Comparative analysis demonstrates that TuSp1 represents a new orthologue in the spider silk gene family.
Design and Operation of the NASA 91.5-cm Airborne Telescope.

StarLifter borne large aperture astronomical telescope for IR and submillimeter observations, discussing design and operation
The treatment of multiple lipomas by liposuction surgery.

Abstract. When lipomas reach 4 cm or more in size or are multiple, liposuction becomes an excellent alternative to excisional surgery, which is the treatment of choice for small lipomas. Two cases of multiple lipomas treated by liposuction surgery are presented.
Characterization of the Bermuda tropospheric aerosol by combined individual-particle and bulk-aerosol analysis

Abstract Marine boundary layer aerosol samples collected from Bermuda were examined by combined individual-particle analysis using an electron microprobe and bulk-sample analysis using INAA. Within the fine-fraction samples (
Adaptive compliant motion control for dexterous manipulators

This article presents two adaptive schemes for compliant motion control of dexterous manipulators. The first scheme is developed using an adaptive impedance control approach for torque-controlled manipulators, whereas the second strategy is an adaptive admittance controller for position-controlled manipulators. The proposed controllers are very general and computationally efficient, as they do not require knowledge of the manipulator dynamic model or parameter values of the manipulator or the environment and are implemented without calculation of the inverse dynamics or inverse kinematic trans formation. It is shown that the control strategies are globally stable in the presence of bounded disturbances and that in the absence of disturbances the ultimate bound on the size of the system errors can be made arbitrarily small. The capabilities of the proposed control schemes are illustrated through both computer simulations and laboratory experiments with a dexterous Robotics Research Corporation seven-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) manipulator. 17 refs., 4 figs.
Basal Activation of ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels in Murine Colonic Smooth Muscle Cell

The function and molecular expression of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels in murine colonic smooth muscle was investigated by intracellular electrical recording from intact muscles, patch-clamp techniques on isolated smooth muscle myocytes, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on isolated cells. Lemakalim (1 microM) caused hyperpolarization of intact muscles (17. 2 +/- 3 mV). The hyperpolarization was blocked by glibenclamide (1-10 microM). Addition of glibenclamide (10 microM) alone resulted in membrane depolarization (9.3 +/- 1.7 mV). Lemakalim induced an outward current of 15 +/- 3 pA in isolated myocytes bathed in 5 mM external K+ solution. Application of lemakalim to cells in symmetrical K+ solutions (140/140 mM) resulted in a 97 +/- 5 pA inward current. Both currents were blocked by glibenclamide (1 microM). Pinacidil (1 microM) also activated an inwardly rectifying current that was insensitive to 4-aminopyridine and barium. In single-channel studies, lemakalim (1 microM) and diazoxide (300 microM) increased the open probability of a 27-pS K+ channel. Openings of these channels decreased with time after patch excision. Application of ADP (1 mM) or ATP (0.1 mM) to the inner surface of the patches reactivated channel openings. The conductance and characteristics of the channels activated by lemakalim were consistent with the properties of KATP. RT-PCR demonstrated the presence of Kir 6.2 and SUR2B transcripts in colonic smooth muscle cells; transcripts for Kir 6.1, SUR1, and SUR2A were not detected. These molecular studies are the first to identify the molecular components of KATP in colonic smooth muscle cells. Together with the electrophysiological experiments, we conclude that KATP channels are expressed in murine colonic smooth muscle cells and suggest that these channels may be involved in dual regulation of resting membrane potential, excitability, and contractility.
Alfalta-stem pectins: enzymic degradation and structural characterization of a buffer-soluble fraction

Abstract Carbohydrate material solubilized from alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) stem cell walls with how 10m m potassium phosphate (pH 7.0) was fractionated into neutral and acidic components by anion-exchange chromatography. Glycosyl-composition and glycosyl-linkage analysis indicated that the neutral fraction contained arabinogalactan type I and that the major acidic fraction was composed of rhamnogalacturonans. The rhamnogalacturonans were resistant to depolymerization by endo-(1 → 4)-α- d -galacturonanase. Saponification of the rhamnogalacturonans followed by acidification to pH 5 gave a precipitate and a soluble fraction. The precipitate after resolubilization was extensively depolymerized by endo-(1 → 4)-α- d -galacturonanase. Rhamnogalacturonans in the soluble fraction, which contained a high proportion of neutral sugar residues, were only partially depolymerized by endo-(1 → 4)-α- d -galacturonanase. Product separated by gel filtration were shown by glycosyl-composition analysis to be composed of different proportions of neutral sugar residues and galactosyluronic residues.
A finite-difference solution of similar nonequilibrium boundary layers.

The solution of nonequilibrium boundary-layer problems by forward integration techniques becomes progressively more difficult as the dimensionless reaction rate constant K (ratio of flow time to reaction time) increases. With these methods the solutions grow exponentially in a distance of order K~, so that the initial values of the derivatives must be guessed nearly exactly if a solution is to be found for K ^>> 1. The method proposed circumvents this difficulty by treating the two-point boundary-value problem directly rather than as an initial-value problem. The differential equations are linearized with respect to the principal variable about an appropriate initial guess satisfying the boundary conditions. The resulting uncoupled, second-order linear equations are put into finite-difference form and are solved by matrix inversion. Temperature, velocity, and concentration profiles are obtained by successively solving the linearized equations in sequence until convergence (to the solution of the nonlinear equations) is reached. The specific case treated is the stagnationpoint dissociation of nitrogen. For conditions given, at K = 10~, the flow was effectively frozen, and by K = 10, equilibrium was substantially attained.
Passive Deformation Analysis of Human Leukocytes

The following analysis presents an experimental and theoretical study of the passive viscoelastic behavior of human leukocytes. Individual neutrophils in EDTA were observed both during their partial aspiration into a small micropipette and after expulsion from a large micropipette where the cell had been totally aspirated and deformed into a sausage shape. To analyze the data, a passive model of leukocyte rheology has been developed consisting of a cortical shell containing a Maxwell fluid which describes the average properties of the cell cytoplasm. The cortical shell represents a crosslinked actin layer near the surface of the cell and is assumed to be under pre-stressed tension. This model can reproduce the results of experiments using micropipette for both short-time small deformation and slow recovery data after large deformation. In addition, a finite element scheme has been established for the same model which shows close agreement with the analytical solution.
Assistive robotics and an ecology of elders living independently in their homes

For elders who remain independent in their homes, the home becomes more than just a place to eat and sleep. The home becomes a place where people care for each other, and it gradually subsumes all activities. This article reports on an ethnographic study of aging adults who live independently in their homes. Seventeen elders aged 60 through 90 were interviewed and observed in their homes in 2 Midwestern cities. The goal is to understand how robotic products might assist these people, helping them to stay independent and active longer. The experience of aging is described as an ecology of aging made up of people, products, and activities taking place in a local environment of the home and the surrounding community. In this environment, product successes and failures often have a dramatic impact on the ecology, throwing off a delicate balance. When a breakdown occurs, family members and other caregivers have to intervene, threatening elders' independence and identity. This article highlights the interest in how the elder ecology can be supported by new robotic products that are conceived of as a part of this interdependent system. It is recommended that the design of these products fit the ecology as part of the system, support elders' values, and adapt to all of the members of the ecology who will interact with them.
Perception of an Aggressive Interaction as a Function of the Perceiver's Aggression

This research examined whether persons high or low in naturally occurring aggression differ in attributions made to others engaged in an aggressive interaction. All participants were shown a videotaped aggressive exchange after which they completed a standard person-perception questionnaire and a self-report used to separate them into groups of persons high and low in aggression. The salience of the more aggressive stimulus person was manipulated as a means of relating results to existing findings and theory in person perception. Five of the seven dependent measures show effects of level of aggression consistent with prediction of more negative perceptions by persons high in aggression than by persons low in aggression. Level of aggression often interacts with salience and stimulus person, and some of these complex interactions are not easily interpretable. However, persons high in aggression than by persons low in aggression. Level of aggression often interacts with salience and stimulus person, and some of these complex interactions are not easily interpretable. However, persons high in aggression perceive greater injury, negative reactions, and domineering in such situations and make greater causal distinction among stimulus persons. Language: en
Multifactor Statistical Analysis of H2O2-Enhanced Photodegradation of Nicotine and Phosphamidon

Direct and indirect photolysis (λ = 254 nm) of aqueous nicotine and phosphamidon were studied. A central composite design was used to explore the effects of initial [H2O2] (0−10 mM), pH (2.8−11.2),...
On digital Wiener filters

The design of optimal digital fiters to minimize the mean-square error is well known and can be obtained by solving [S ud (z)/S u -(z)]+/S u +(z). However, the decomposition of [.]+ by partial fraction expansion, unlike the analog case, may not yield the optimal filter. In this letter, this problem is discussed.
Learning principles in paired-associate lists.

Learning rate and transfer to new stimuli requiring new responses, were found to vary directly with the number of instances (1, 2, 3, 6) of principles in a 12-pair list of paired associates. Also, a positive relationship was found between learning rate and transfer within the 6-instance condition.
Gender-specific response to isoflurane preconditioning in focal cerebral ischemia.

Inhalation anesthetics are effective chemical preconditioning agents in experimental cerebral ischemia. However, previous work has been performed exclusively in male animals. We determined if there is a gender difference in ischemic outcome after isoflurane preconditioning (IsoPC), and if this sex-specific response is linked to differences in Akt phosphorylation or expression of neuronal inducible cell-death putative kinase (NIPK), a negative modulator of Akt activation. Young and middle-aged male and female mice were preconditioned for 4 h with air (sham PC) or 1.0% IsoPC and recovered for 24 h. Cortices were subdissected from preconditioned young male and female mice for measurement of Akt phosphorylation (Western blot) and NIPK mRNA (quantitative polymerase chain reaction). Additional cohorts underwent 2 h of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion. Lastly, male and female Akt1+/+ and Akt1−/– mice were studied to determine if gender differences in ischemic outcome after IsoPC is Akt1-dependent. Inf...
Diagnostic yield and safety of jumbo biopsy forceps in patients with subepithelial lesions of the upper and lower GI tract

Background EUS-FNA often fails to make a definitive diagnosis in the evaluation of subepithelial lesions. The addition of jumbo biopsy forceps has the potential to improve diagnostic yield, but published series are limited. Objective To assess the likelihood of definitive diagnosis for subepithelial lesions by using jumbo biopsy forceps during EUS examination. Design Pooled retrospective analysis. Setting 6 tertiary referral centers. Patients All patients having undergone EUS examination for a subepithelial lesion in which jumbo biopsy forceps were used for tissue acquisition. Main Outcome Measurements Diagnostic yield of jumbo biopsy forceps use, complication rates, and comparison of diagnostic yield with that of EUS-FNA. Results A total of 129 patients underwent EUS with jumbo biopsy forceps; 31 patients (24%) had simultaneous EUS-FNA. The lesion locations were stomach (n = 98), esophagus (n = 14), duodenum (n = 11), colon (n = 5), and jejunum (n = 1). The average lesion size was 14.9 mm ± 9.3 mm. Overall, definitive diagnosis was obtained in 87 of 129 patients (67.4%) by using either method. A definitive diagnosis was provided by jumbo biopsy forceps use in 76 of 129 patients (58.9%) and by FNA in 14 of 31 patients (45.1%) ( P = .175). The results in third-layer lesions were definitive with jumbo biopsy forceps in 56 of 86 lesions (65.1%) and with FNA in 6 of 16 lesions (37.5%) ( P = .047). For fourth-layer lesions, the results with jumbo biopsy forceps were definitive in 10 of 25 (40.0%) and with FNA in 8 of 14 (57.1%) ( P = .330). Forty-five of 129 patients (34.9%) experienced significant bleeding after biopsy with jumbo forceps and required some form of endoscopic hemostasis. Limitations Retrospective study. Conclusions Jumbo forceps are a useful tool for the definitive diagnosis of subepithelial lesions. The greatest benefit appears to be with third-layer (submucosal) lesions. The risk of bleeding is significant.
Marketing Linkages: Secretariat Governance of the Climate-Biodiversity Interface

In this article I argue that, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), led by its autonomously entrepreneurial Executive Secretary, influences overlap management by strategically linking biodiversity and climate change issues. Specifically, the Secretariat marketed (filtered, framed, and reiterated) strategic frames of the biodiversity-climate change interface that reframed biodiversity from a passive victim of climate impacts, to an active player in climate response measures (i.e. adaptation). This reframing is significant in that a major hurdle to selling the benefits of biodiversity conservation to countries with more pressing development concerns has been the perceived limited relevance of conservation to human well-being. In emphasizing biodiversity's role in human adaptation and security, the Secretariat has begun to shape member state discourse surrounding the biodiversity-climate change linkage. Ultimately aimed at enriching our emerging theoretical understanding of the role of international bureaucracies in global governance, this article illuminates: (1) how the Secretariat understands and manages biodiversity-climate linkages; (2) the origins of the Secretariat's understanding and activities surrounding this issue; and (3) how Secretariat participation in overlap management is beginning to influence CBD political processes and outcomes.