cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Equilibrium voluntary disclosures, asset pricing, and information transfers

Abstract We study a firm’s manager’s voluntary disclosure decisions and those disclosure decisions’ asset pricing, cost of capital, and information transfer effects in a model where investors trade multiple securities. We: develop new asset pricing formulas when the manager makes no disclosure that impose testable cross-equation restrictions on firms’ market values; develop a wide array of comparative statics; obtain surprising findings about nondisclosure’s effects on investors’ perceptions of uncertainty about firms’ future cash flows; develop simple, interpretable expressions for firms’ cost of capital; and show how no disclosure by one firm generates informational externalities on other firms.
Criminal Attempts and the Penal Lottery

ABSTRACTIn most penal systems, success is punished more than failure. For example, murder is punished more severely than attempted murder. But success or failure is often determined by luck. It thus appears that punishment is allotted on the basis of arbitrary factors. The problem of criminal attempts is the question of how to best resolve this apparent tension. One particularly sophisticated attempt at resolution, first developed by David Lewis, holds that such differential punishment is not unjust when understood as a natural penal lottery. What is most interesting about this view is that it does not appear to involve a commitment to resultant moral luck. I argue that the natural penal lottery fails to deliver justice. Upon analysis, it carries the same implication that it sought to avoid—namely, a commitment to resultant moral luck. I then argue that there can be, in principle, no penal lottery that delivers justice, natural or otherwise.
On Complete Ideals in Regular Local Rings

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an approach to unique factorization of complete ideals in two-dimensional regular local rings, based on a decomposition theorem that is valid in all dimensions. The theory of complete ideals in two-dimensional regular local rings was founded by Zariski. Zariski's work was motivated by the birational theory of linear systems on smooth surfaces. Zariski first raised the question of higher-dimensional generalizations, but not much has happened in this respect during the intervering fifty years. The chapter presents the assumption that R is a noetherian local domain, with maximal ideal m and fraction field K , then a prime divisor of R is a valuation ν of K whose valuation ring R ν dominates R such that the transcendence degree of the field R ν /m ν over R / m is as large as possible, that is, dim R – 1.
Sequential ELISA for cytokine levels in limited volumes of biological fluids

We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the sequential analysis of multiple cytokines in limited volumes of biological fluids, including gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and fibroblast culture supernatants (CS). GCF and CS samples were assayed for multiple cytokines, including IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF and IFN gamma. Immulon 3 microplates were coated with a monoclonal antibody, and a rabbit polyclonal antibody was used to detect the cytokine of interest. Biological samples (200 microL) were added to an anti-IL-1 beta-coated plate and incubated, and 175 microL of each sample were replicate transferred to an anti-IFN gamma-coated plate containing 25 microL/well of diluent. This was repeated in an identical fashion with sequential replicate transfers to an anti-IL-8-coated and finally an anti-IL-6-coated plate. The cytokine standard was a pooled combination of the recombinant human cytokines that were included in the sequence. The plates were developed using an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG and NPP as the substrate. Individual ELISAs ranged in sensitivity from 30 to 2 pg/0.2 mL, with cross-reactivity between these cytokines of 85% correlation between the two assays.
Parasite-Induced Modifications of the Host

Parasite-induced modifications of the host include pathogenesis, symbiosis, and immunity. First, however, I will discuss effects on the host that do not fit in any of these three categories. A good example of such an effect is provided by the sparganum growth factor (see also Chapter 8). J. F. Mueller noted in 1963 that mice used to propagate the larval stage of the tapeworm Spirometra mansonoides (Diagram XIV) became exceptionally large (Fig. 12.1). It soon became apparent that this was not a matter of simple obesity, but rather involved true skeletal and muscular growth.
Projection Based Model Reduction for Optimal Design of the Time-dependent Stokes System

The optimal design of structures and systems described by partial differential equations (PDEs) often gives rise to large-scale optimization problems, in particular if the underlying system of PDEs represents a multi-scale, multi-physics problem. Therefore, reduced order modeling techniques such as balanced truncation model reduction, proper orthogonal decomposition, or reduced basis methods are used to significantly decrease the computational complexity while maintaining the desired accuracy of the approximation. In particular, we are interested in such shape optimization problems where the design issue is restricted to a relatively small portion of the computational domain. In this case, it appears to be natural to rely on a full order model only in that specific part of the domain and to use a reduced order model elsewhere. A convenient methodology to realize this idea consists in a suitable combination of domain decomposition techniques and balanced truncation model reduction. We will consider such an approach for shape optimization problems associated with the time-dependent Stokes system and derive explicit error bounds for the modeling error. As an application in life sciences, we will be concerned with the optimal design of capillary barriers as part of a network of microchannels and reservoirs on microfluidic biochips that are used in clinical diagnostics, pharmacology, and forensics for high-throughput screening and hybridization in genomics and protein profiling in proteomics.
Multivariate resting-state functional connectivity predicts responses to real and sham acupuncture treatment in chronic low back pain.

Abstract Despite the high prevalence and socioeconomic impact of chronic low back pain (cLBP), treatments for cLBP are often unsatisfactory, and effectiveness varies widely across patients. Recent neuroimaging studies have demonstrated abnormal resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the default mode, salience, central executive, and sensorimotor networks in chronic pain patients, but their role as predictors of treatment responsiveness has not yet been explored. In this study, we used machine learning approaches to test if pre-treatment rsFC can predict responses to both real and sham acupuncture treatments in cLBP patients. Fifty cLBP patients participated in 4 weeks of either real (N = 24, age = 39.0 ± 12.6, 16 females) or sham acupuncture (N = 26, age = 40.0 ± 13.7, 15 females) treatment in a single-blinded trial, and a resting-state fMRI scan prior to treatment was used in data analysis. Both real and sham acupuncture can produce significant pain reduction, with those receiving real treatment experiencing greater pain relief than those receiving sham treatment. We found that pre-treatment rsFC could predict symptom changes with up to 34% and 29% variances for real and sham treatment, respectively, and the rsFC characteristics that were significantly predictive for real and sham treatment differed. These results suggest a potential way to predict treatment responses and may facilitate the development of treatment plans that optimize time, cost, and available resources.
Effects of Different Harvesting Times on Physico-Mechanical Properties of Sour Cherry ( Prunus cerasus L.)

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.), is a fruit species of Prunus in the subgenus cerasus in Rosaceae (Rosaceae) family. It is closely related to the sweet cherry, but it has a more acidic fruit. Two major cherry tree varieties are grown in Turkey. One of them is ’Kutahya’ cherry which suitable for use with all types of fruit and the other one is ‘Hungarian Cherry’ cultivation has spread to all regions of Turkey, although commercial aquaculture has been limited areas which are suitable climatic conditions. In Turkey, the most labor force is in harvesting was determined in sour cherry studies concerning the production process. In addition, the sour cherry harvesting constitutes of 30–60% of total production costs. Harvesting process is emerged as the most important factor determining in the cost of production. Therefore, basic research has to be made for cherries and system use in mechanical harvesting operation. In this study, some physico-mechanical properties were determined for mechanical harvesting of two cherries (‘Kutahya’ and ‘Hungarian Cherry’) in four different harvesting times. These properties are such as dimensions, projection area, fruit hardness, picking force of fruit stalk, picking force of fruit from stalk. To determine these parameters, an apparatus consisting of a load cell, and slot was used. The knowledge on these parameters is important for the development of new technological equipment and for reducing the losses occurred in sour cherry production.
Vibrational spectroscopy of the cryogenically cooled O- and N-protomers of 4-Aminobenzoic acid: Tag effects, isotopic labels, and identification of the E,Z isomer of the O-protomer

4-Aminobenzoic acid (4ABA) is a biologically relevant, small organic molecule with two protonation sites: the amino group (N-protomer) and the carboxyl group (O-protomer). The O-protomer is energetically preferred in the gas-phase, while the higher energy N-protomer can be trapped using aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile during electrospray ionization. Here, we focus on the structure of the O-protomer, which can occur in three low-lying isomeric forms that result from different orientations of the OH groups relative to the benzene ring. We report the vibrational spectra of both N- and O-protomers of the cryogenically cooled ions in the gas phase over the spectral range 800-4000 cm-1. The bands arising from the OH stretches are isolated from the nearby NH stretching fundamentals using isotopic labeling as well as by analysis of the shifts in these fundamentals upon attachment of D2 and N2 molecules to the OH groups of the O-protomer. The spectra of isomers derived from the different locations of the adducts were isolated using two-color, IR-IR photofragmentation spectroscopy. The docking motifs by which the O-protomer binds to another 4ABA molecule is also explored and found to feature a bifurcated arrangement involving attachment of both OH groups of the protonated head group to the carbonyl group of the neutral partner.
Glutamatergic Abnormalities in a Rodent Model of Alcohol Abuse

1866a Objectives Alcohol use disorders (AUD, as defined in DSM-V) are serious public health problems and significant contributors to the global burden of disease. Currently, a limited number of medications have been approved for treatment. Recently, research on AUD has implicated the glutamate system, particularly mGluR5, as key receptor in use, withdrawal, and relapse after abstinence. (Szumlinski et al, 2008; Paterson, et al, 2003). Currently, there are several PET ligands which are specific for mGluR5 - e.g 18F-FPEB and 11C-ABP688. Here, we use these two radiotracers to investigate changes in the mgluR5 system following chronic administration of alcohol in mice, by utilizing microPET and bio-distribution analysis. Methods Imaging: A total of eight (8) C57-B6 mice were split into two groups 1. treatment group (n=4) , which received 2.5 g/kg i.p of ethanol (EtOH) for 14 days; and 2.a control group (n=4),that received an equivalent volume/kg of saline (sal) IP for 14 days. Within two hours of the final dose, the mice were scanned with 18F-FPEB (2 EtOH and 2 sal) or 11C-ABP (2 EtOH and 2 sal), on a GE Vista microPET scanner. All mice were scanned for a duration of 60 minutes, starting immediately after tail vein injection of 150-200 microCuries of FPEB/ABP. PET images were quantified using previously described methods (Nandi, et al, 2013). Biodistribution: An additional twelve (12) mice were studied for radiotracer brain biodistribution. Six mice (3 EtOH, 3 sal) were each injected with ABP or FPEB, then sacrificed 60 minutes after tracer injection;specific brain regions were dissected out and counted on a gamma counter. Results Both imaging and biodistribution studies showed evidence for increased mGluR5 receptor density after chronic ethanol administration. Specifically, microPET imaging with both FPEB and ABP radiotracers, showed an increase in mGluR5 binding in cortex, hippocampus and striatum, which can be seen in the summed PET images of EtOH and saline treated mice . The biodistribution studies confirmed these results—specifically, in the EtOH treated mice there was a significant increase in binding in striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex (p Conclusions These results confirm a central role for mGluR5 in the chronic abuse of alcohol using two different mGluR5 ligands and two analytical methods (microPET, biodistribution). Our results are in line with the growing clinical evidence that glutamate signaling has a central role in the development and relapse from AUD. Future studies will investigate the time course of changes in mGluR5 density after cessation of alcohol use. References: Paterson, N. E., et al. (2003). Psychopharmacology (Berl), 167, 257-64. Szumlinski, K.K., et al. (2008) Biochem Pharmacol.;75:112-133 Nandi A, et al. (2013) J Nucl Med 54 (Supplement 2) [abstract] Grant Support : RO1AA023483-01A1
Dynamic Interplay between Resident and Recruited Macrophage Subsets in NASH

Macrophage-mediated inflammation is critical in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Here, we describe that with high fat, high sucrose diet feeding, mature Tim4pos Kupffer cells (KCs) decrease in number, while monocyte-derived Tim4neg macrophages accumulate. Through the use of single cell RNA sequencing and reporter mice we establish that monocyte-derived infiltrating macrophages comprise two subsets that can be distinguished by their expression or lack of expression of Cx3cr1. The Cx3cr1-expressing macrophages were localized to macrophage aggregates/hepatic crown like structures (hCLS) in the steatotic liver and are therefore referred to as CLuster Associated Monocyte-derived Macrophages (CLAMMs). In C- motif chemokine receptor 2 (Ccr2)-deficient mice, CLAMMs fail to appear in the liver and this is associated with a loss of macrophage aggregation despite similar degrees of liver steatosis and total macrophage content. Our data reveal the dynamic changes and functional diversity of macrophage subsets in the liver during the pathogenesis of NASH.
Impacts of invasive ant-hemipteran interaction, edge effects and habitat complexities on the spatial distribution of ants in citrus orchards

Abstract The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is an invasive ant species well established throughout subtropical climates in the United States. The Argentine ant disrupts natural ecosystems by displacing native ant species and associating with phloem-feeding insects, which they protect from natural enemies in exchange for honeydew excreted by the phloem-feeders. Thus, interactions between these ants and phloem-feeders can be an issue of critical importance in agroecosystems. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the presence or absence of another invasive pest, Asian Citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, adjacent habitat types, and edge complexity impact the species richness, activity, and distribution of ants including the Argentine ant within citrus groves in southern California. When ACP were present and edge complexity was higher, ant activity rates were higher, yet we observed a decline in total ant species richness. Surrounding habitat type had no effect on ant activity or total ant species richness. Understanding the spatial patterns of both the Argentine ant and ACP can aid future management practices for controlling both Argentine ants and Asian citrus psyllid populations.
‘Schools by and for Koreans’: Korean Immigrants’ Private Schooling Initiatives in Territorial Hawai‘i, 1906-1930

This paper concerns the ‘education fever’ that marked the early Korean immigrant community’s private schooling initiatives in territorial Hawaiʻi (1898–1959). Drawing on the cases of two Korean pri...
Predicting and measuring mortality risk after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Introduction: Over the last decade, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a treatment option for most patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). With growing indi...
Government Budgeting and Financial Management in Practice: Logics to Make Sense of Ambiguity

Socially Constructed Decisions about Public Money Financial Management as Socially Negotiated Process The Study of Government Budgeting, Finance, and Financial Management Organization of the Book References Endnotes History of Government Budgeting and Finance Reforms Normative Development of Government Budgeting and Finance Coalition Convergence and Divergence in Three Stages A Continuing and Episodic Struggle The Right Turn in Politics and Related Developments Summary References Endnotes The Practice of Government Budgeting and Finance Is Interpretation Practitioners Define Government Budgeting, Finance, and Financial Management Theories about Finance Officials' Work What Is an Interpretation? Studies Conclusion: Summarizing Practice as Interpretation References Endnotes Fiscal Policy Impacts in Public Finance Introduction Fiscal Policy Impacts Summary and Discussion References Endnote Conventional Budgeting with Targets, Incentives, and Performance, Gerald J. Miller, Donijo Robbins, and Jaeduk Keum Movements toward the Performance-Based Reforms Interrelations among Incentives, Certification, and Targets The Research Research Findings Discussion and Conclusions References Endnotes Budgeting for Nonconventional Expenditures, Gerald J. Miller and Iryna Illiash The Budget Problem Interpreting Control: A Matter of Substitutable Policy Tools Budgeting Interpretations: The Social Construction Approach Trade-Off Criteria, the Poor, and Welfare Policy The Context That We Force to Emerge, That We Enact, That We Socially Construct References Endnotes Budgeting Structures and Citizen Participation, Gerald J. Miller and Lyn Evers Structures How the Budget Processes Work What Works toward Citizen Participation? Participation Designs for Budgeting Discussion and Summary References Endnotes Revenue Regime Change and Tax Revolts The Analytic Base and General Background The Performance Budget Indices and Tax Revolts Summary of Research Questions Answering the Research Question Findings Discussion and Interpretation of the Results Postscript References Debt Management Networks, Gerald J. Miller and Jonathan B. Justice The Bond Sale Process and Participants Simulating Stable and Unstable Teams Debt Networks and Normative Ambiguity in Practice References Auctioning Off the Farm with Tax Incentives for Economic Development, Donijo Robbins and Gerald J. Miller Macro-Level Goals of Incentives Micro-Level Goals of Incentives The Research Problem The Experiment Data and Findings Discussion Summary References Endnotes Summary The Larger Argument References Index
Flight Mechanics of Low-Thrust Spacecraft

Spacecraft starting from circular orbits and using a low thrust, tangentially directed, will follow a spiraled flight path as illustrated in Fig. 1. Whether or not the thrust is constant, if it remains less than one per cent of local vehicle weight the mean path of these trajectories will maintain the familiar circular velocityaltitude relationship for some time. Complete trajectory equations for this mean path and approximate equations for the oscillations about it are derived and presented here. For spacecraft using constant thrust acceleration, parameters are presented for generalizing all differential equations of motion to make them independent of the thrust acceleration and the gravity constant (choice of planet). In the case where this thrust is directed tangentially throughout flight, generalized plots are presented relating velocity, radius distance, and time. When the constant tangential thrust acceleration is less than 10 ~ initial g, single curves independent of the value of the thrust acceleration result, relating the parametric velocity, radius distance, and time. Plots of mean path velocity, distance from the center of the gravity source, and time may be constructed for any space craft of this type regardless of what planet, what initial altitude, and what thrust acceleration is employed, by simply multiplying the scales of the parametric plots by suitable constants. Simple algebraic expressions for speed, altitude, and time to achieve any specific point on the trajectory are available from the generalized plots. Examples of these are presented for the parabolic escape velocity point.
Simultaneous Multi Layer Access: A High Bandwidth and Low Cost 3D-Stacked Memory Interface

Limited memory bandwidth is a critical bottleneck in modern systems. 3D-stacked DRAM enables higher bandwidth by leveraging wider Through-Silicon-Via (TSV) channels, but today’s systems cannot fully exploit them due to the limited internal bandwidth of DRAM. DRAM reads a whole row simultaneously from the cell array to a row buffer, but can transfer only a fraction of the data from the row buffer to peripheral IO circuit, through a limited and expensive set of wires referred to as global bitlines. In presence of wider memory channels, the major bottleneck becomes the limited data transfer capacity through these global bitlines. Our goal in this work is to enable higher bandwidth in 3D-stacked DRAM without the increased cost of adding more global bitlines. We instead exploit otherwise-idle resources, such as global bitlines, already existing within the multiple DRAM layers by accessing the layers simultaneously. Our architecture, Simultaneous Multi Layer Access (SMLA), provides higher bandwidth by aggregating the internal bandwidth of multiple layers and transferring the available data at a higher IO frequency. To implement SMLA, simultaneous data transfer from multiple layers through the same IO TSVs requires coordination between layers to avoid channel conflict. We first study coordination by static partitioning, which we call Dedicated-IO, that assigns groups of TSVs to each layer. We then provide a simple, yet sophisticated mechanism, called Cascaded-IO, which enables simultaneous access to each layer by time-multiplexing the IOs, while also reducing design effort. By operating at a frequency proportional to the number of layers, SMLA provides a higher bandwidth (4X for a four-layer stacked DRAM). Our evaluations show that SMLA provides significant performance improvement and energy reduction (55%/18% on average for multi-programmed workloads, respectively) over a baseline 3D-stacked DRAM with very low area overhead.
Abriß der Verfassungsgeschichte

In keinem anderen westlichen Staat hat die geltende Verfassungsordnung ihre Wurzeln so tief in die Vergangenheit gesenkt wie in England. Das heutige Verfassungsrecht Frankreichs oder Deutschlands konnte ohne Schwierigkeit auf der Grundlage des letzten gultigen Verfassungsinstruments beschrieben werden. Selbst in den Vereinigten Staaten, deren Verfassung schon vor fast einunddreiviertel Jahrhunderten in Kraft getreten ist, liese sich die heutige Verfassungspraxis ohne mehr als gelegentliche Hinweise auf historische Vorgange darbieten. Anders aber in England. Bei schlechthin allen am gegenwartigen politischen Prozes beteiligten Staatsorganen — der Krone, den beiden Hausern des Parlaments mit ihren Privilegien und Gebrauchen, den Gerichten und dem von ihnen angewendeten Recht — haben sich bedeutsame Zuge ihres mittelalterlichen Ursprungs bis in die Gegenwart erhalten. Nur beispielsweise sei hier an die konigliche Prarogative als der Grundlage der monarchischen Kompetenz oder an die Revisionszustandigkeit des House of Lords und des Privy Council erinnert. Heute noch geltende Gesetze gehen bis in langst verflossene Jahrhunderte zuruck. Die burgerlichen Freiheitsrechte, erstmals anfangs des 13. Jahrhunderts in der Magna Charta begrundet und seither als gemeines Recht — common law — weiterentwickelt, erhielten im 17. Jahrhundert ihre heutige positiv-rechtliche Einkleidung. Die parlamentarische Regierungsweise, im Kampf gegen den koniglichen Absolutismus im 17. Jahrhundert errungen, begann im 18. Jahrhundert ihre heutige Gestalt als parlamentarische Kabinettsregierung anzunehmen. Selbst die Anfange der politischen Parteien, in allen anderen Landern erst das Ergebnis der burgerlichen Gesellschaft des 19. Jahrhunderts, reichen in England bis ins 17. und 18. zuruck. Sicherlich haben sich auch die englischen Staatseinrichtungen gewandelt und den Bedingungen der technologischen Massengesellschaft unserer Zeit angepast. Aber nirgendwo anders wirkt die aus der Vergangenheit ererbte Tradition auf die Formen und das Verfahren des politischen Prozesses in solchem Mas ein wie im heutigen Grosbritannien.
A Correlation between TCR Vα Docking on MHC and CD8 Dependence: Implications for T Cell Selection

Abstract T cell receptors (TCR) adopt a similar orientation when binding with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, yet the biological mechanism that generates this similar TCR orientation remains obscure. We show here the cocrystallographic structure of a mouse TCR bound to a human MHC molecule not seen by the TCR during thymic development. The orientation of this xenoreactive murine TCR atop human MHC deviates from the typical orientation more than any previously determined TCR/MHC structure. This unique orientation is solely due to the placement of the TCR Vα domain on the MHC. In light of new information provided by this structure, we have reanalyzed the existing TCR/MHC cocrystal structures and discovered unique features of TCR Vα domain position on class I MHC that correlate with CD8 dependence. Finally, we propose that the orientation seen in TCR recognition of MHC is a consequence of selection during T cell development.
Genetic load is associated with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation in macaques

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis pathway is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia and alcohol abuse. Studies have demonstrated an association between HPA axis dysfunction and gene variants within the cortisol, serotonin and opioid signaling pathways. We characterized polymorphisms in genes linked to these three neurotransmitter pathways and tested their potential interactions with HPA axis activity, as measured by dexamethasone (DEX) suppression response. We determined the percent DEX suppression of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in 62 unrelated, male rhesus macaques. While DEX suppression of cortisol was robust amongst 87% of the subjects, ACTH suppression levels were broadly distributed from −21% to 66%. Thirty-seven monkeys from the high and low ends of the ACTH suppression distribution (18 ‘high’ and 19 ‘low’ animals) were genotyped at selected polymorphisms in five unlinked genes (rhCRH, rhTPH2, rhMAOA, rhSLC6A4 and rhOPRM). Associations were identified between three variants (rhCRH-2610C>T, rhTPH2 2051A>C and rh5-HTTLPR) and level of DEX suppression of ACTH. In addition, a significant additive effect of the ‘risk’ genotypes from these three loci was detected, with an increasing number of ‘risk’ genotypes associated with a blunted ACTH response (P = 0.0009). These findings suggest that assessment of multiple risk alleles in serotonin and cortisol signaling pathway genes may better predict risk for HPA axis dysregulation and associated psychiatric disorders than the evaluation of single gene variants alone.
New Composite Biocarriers Engineered To Contain Adsorptive and Ion-Exchange Properties Improve Immobilized-Cell Bioreactor Process Dependability

Novel biocarriers that combine the adsorptive properties of activated carbon with the ion-exchange properties of zeolite-based type Z inorganic oxide biocarriers (D. R. Durham, L. C. Marshall, J. G. Miller, and A. B. Chmurny, Appl. Environ, Microbiol. 60:3329-3335, 1994.) were developed. These biocarriers, designated Type CZ, possess fundamental properties that heretofore have not been described for available microbial immobilization matrices. Type CZ biocarriers provide an environment that promotes dense microbial colonization and maintains bioreactor productivity by buffering immobilized microorganisms from unfavorable operating conditions. Data demonstrating protection of immobilized bacteria from organic shock loads and extended pH shocks are presented. In addition, bioreactors containing the composite Type CZ biocarriers continue to remove waste stream contaminants during periods of oxygen deprivation and nutrient limitation.
Face reconstruction across different poses and arbitrary illumination conditions

In this paper, we present a novel method for face reconstruction from multi-posed face images taken under arbitrary unknown illumination conditions. Previous work shows that any face image can be represented by a set of low dimensional parameters: shape parameters, spherical harmonic basis (SHB) parameters, pose parameters and illumination coefficients. Thus, face reconstruction can be performed by recovering the set of parameters from the input images. In this paper, we demonstrate that the shape and SHB parameters can be estimated by minimizing the silhouettes errors and image intensity errors in a fast and robust manner. We propose a new algorithm to detect the corresponding points between the 3D face model and the input images by using silhouettes. We also apply a model-based bundle adjustment technique to perform this minimization. We provide a series of experiments on both synthetic and real data and experimental results show that our method can have an accurate face shape and texture reconstruction.
Receptors linked to inhibition of adenylate cyclase: additional signaling mechanisms.

Many hormones and neurotransmitters attenuate cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in intact cells by virtue of their ability to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity via the GTP-binding protein denoted as Gi. Nonetheless, a number of physiological findings suggest that attenuation of cAMP production is not sufficient to serve as the only signal for eliciting the diverse physiological effects provoked by these various receptor populations. Additional biochemical and electrophysiological changes are known to occur after occupancy of receptors linked to inhibition of adenylate cyclase, including acceleration of Na+/H+ exchange, activation of K+ conductances, and inhibition of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. This review summarizes the current understanding of how these receptors are coupled to their multiple potential effector mechanisms and offers some speculation about the possible interplay between the biochemical and electrophysiological sequels of receptor occupancy. It is hoped that future studies will establi...
Exploiting Background Knowledge for Relation Extraction

Relation extraction is the task of recognizing semantic relations among entities. Given a particular sentence supervised approaches to Relation Extraction employed feature or kernel functions which usually have a single sentence in their scope. The overall aim of this paper is to propose methods for using knowledge and resources that are external to the target sentence, as a way to improve relation extraction. We demonstrate this by exploiting background knowledge such as relationships among the target relations, as well as by considering how target relations relate to some existing knowledge resources. Our methods are general and we suggest that some of them could be applied to other NLP tasks.
Introduction: The Benefits, Uses, and Practical Application of Informal Assessment Procedures

There is increasing emphasis on assessment by legislative mandates (e.g., No Child Left Behind and IDEA-04) by professional education organizations (e.g., Council for Exceptional Children, Internat...
Heterogeneous composition of dopamine neurons of the rat A10 region: molecular evidence for diverse signaling properties

The A10 region contains different neurons: dopamine (expressing tyrosine hydroxylase; TH), GABA, glutamate-only (expressing the vesicular glutamate transporter 2; VGluT2), and TH-VGluT2 (coexpressing TH and VGluT2). We used three methods to investigate proteins necessary for the synthesis (aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase, AADC) or transport (vesicular monoamine transporter; VMAT2 or dopamine transporter; DAT) of dopamine within TH neurons in the A10 region. By in situ hybridization–immunohistochemistry, we found that all TH neurons in the A10 region had AADC, but not all had VMAT2, DAT or D2 receptors (D2R). To determine whether TH-VGluT2 neurons account for TH neurons lacking these dopamine markers, we implemented an anatomical “mirror technique”, and found that not all TH-VGluT2 neurons lacked VMAT2, DAT or D2R. Next, by quantitative RT-PCR of individual micro-dissected TH neurons, we discovered two classes of TH-VGluT2 and three classes of TH-only neurons with different latero-medial distribution. Some of the TH-VGluT2 neurons had both VMAT2 and DAT (TH-VGluT2 Class 1); others lacked detectable levels of both transporters (TH-VGluT2 Class 2). Most of the TH-only neurons contained VMAT2 and DAT (TH-only Class 1), a few had DAT without detectable VMAT2 (TH-only Class 2), and others lacked detectable levels of both transporters (TH-only Class 3). We concluded that (a) the majority of TH neurons lacking DAT are TH-VGluT2 neurons, (b) very few TH-only neurons express DAT without VMAT2, and (c) TH-VGluT2 neurons lacking DAT also lack VMAT2. Thus, the A10 region contains dopamine neurons with differential compartmentalization and unique signaling properties.
Hyperbranched Molecules with Epoxy-Functionalized Terminal Branches: Grafting to a Solid Surface

We report the fabrication of a molecular surface coating from an epoxy-functionalized hyperbranched polyester functionalized by secondary epoxy groups. These groups were presented in the fraction of terminal branches of the hyperbranched shell with the ratio of epoxy-containing branches and alkyl branches of 1:2. We demonstrated that a uniform monolayer with the thickness of 4.5 nm could be fabricated by melt grafting of functionalized hyperbranched polymers to a bare silicon surface. Steric constraints imposed by the chemical attachment of alkyl and epoxydized branches to a single core prevented microphase separation of dissimilar segments and allowed the fabrication of uniform monolayers with surface exposure of the functional groups and high adhesion. An estimated 3−4 epoxy groups per molecule were located in the uppermost surface layer and provided residual functionality sufficient to graft another polymer layer. Grafted layers were extremely robust and sustain high compression and shear stresses whil...
Synthesis of 1-methylpyrazolidine and some of its derivatives

1-Methylpyrazolidine has been prepared via a two-step reaction sequence from ethyl acrylate and methylhydrazine, and also directly from trimethylene bromide and methylhydrazine. The N -methylpyrazolidino group was substituted for the dialkyl-amino group in a limited number of clinically effective agents. These derivatives are to be screened for pharmacologic activity.
Solid state chemistry and luminescence of X-ray phosphors

Abstract X-ray phosphors are solid state inorganic materials used in medical X-ray imaging applications. The role of these phosphors is to reduce the exposure of the patient to X-rays while maintaining the structural features of the X-ray image. This is done by amplifying every X-ray photon absorbed by a phosphor screen into hundreds of visible- or UV-light photons which are then recorded by a detector, such as a piece of photographic film. Conventional screen/film imaging methods, still the highest quality, most widely used, and most cost effective diagnostic tools in radiology, are emphasized. A good X-ray phosphor must meet challenging prerequisites: good X-ray absorption in the diagnostic medical energy range (15–100 keV), high luminescence efficiency, emission in the green to near-UV region, proper crystallite size and shape, air and water stability, and easy large-scale production. The commercially important X-ray phosphors (e.g., LaOBr:Tm, Gd 2 O 2 S:Tb and M′-YTaO 4 ) are all synthesized by high-temperature reactions (800–1300°C) in the presence of a flux. The chemistry and properties of these phosphor compounds and recent discoveries in reaction chemistry are discussed. Research on new X-ray phosphors is also described.
Mice with Enhanced Macrophage Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Are Resistant to Melanoma

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a peptidase responsible for the cleavage of angiotensin I and several other peptides. Here, gene targeting was used to switch control of the ACE locus from the endogenous promoter to the macrophage-specific c-fms promoter. Challenge of these mice, called ACE 10/10, with the aggressive mouse melanoma cell line B16 showed that they are remarkably resistant to tumor growth. Tumor resistance was seen after challenge with different melanoma cell lines and in mice with different genetic backgrounds. Histological study of the tumors that did grow in ACE 10/10 mice showed an enhanced inflammatory response. ACE 10/10 mice had increased numbers of tumor epitope-specific CD8+ T cells after challenge with melanoma or lymphoma. ACE 10/10 macrophages showed increased production of interleukin-12 and nitric oxide but reduced interleukin-10. Engraftment of wild-type mice with ACE 10/10 bone marrow transferred B16 tumor resistance. Injection of B16 tumors with ACE 10/10 macrophages also reduced tumor growth. ACE 10/10 mice may define a new means of enhancing the immune response, which may be potentially useful in several human clinical situations.
Assessing consistency of a Mueller matrix measurement by rotation of the sample under test

We present a method for checking the consistency of a Mueller matrix measurement. The method is based upon the rotational properties of a Mueller matrix. An anisotropic sample is placed in the polarimeter in a precision rotation stage. The Mueller matrix is then measured as a function of sample rotation. Each Mueller matrix is then transformed by matrix rotation back into the Mueller matrix at zero angle. The consistency between these resulting matrices is then taken as an indication of measurement uncertainties. The method is demonstrated with two different samples measured on two different polarimeters.
Stimulation of dna synthesis by ascorbate in cultures of articular chondrocytes

The addition of 0.2 mM Na L-ascorbate increased the incorporation of 3H-thymidine by rabbit articular chondrocytes in cell and organ culture. The stimulatory response of explants to ascorbate was potentiated by pretreatment of the cartilage with 0.2% clostridial collagenase (type 1) or trypsin for 15-30 minutes. In explants there was a latent period of 3 to 4 days before increased labeling of the nuclei could be detected. The effect was transient and declined after 8 days of culture. It was more evident in organ cultures of immature (3-month-old) than 2- to 3-year-old rabbits. Age differences were not detected in cell cultures. Explants of adult human articular cartilage were stimulated by ascorbate when the medium was supplemented with 10% fresh human serum but not by fetal bovine serum. The findings indicated that synthesis of DNA by articular chondrocytes in situ is regulated by responsiveness of the cells proper to compounds such as vitamin C, by properties of the extracellular matrix, and by factors in the serum. Ascorbate was cytotoxic at concentrations greater than 0.2 mM in the presence of certain batches of serum.
ADSORPTION OF AMMONIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON COADSORBED CARBON MONOXIDE ON MONOLAYER AND MULTILAYER PALLADIUM EPITAXIALLY GROWN ON MO(110)

The adsorption of ammonia on a monolayer of Pd on Mo(110), Pd1ML/Mo(110), and multilayer Pd(111)/Mo(110) surfaces has been studied using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). A diffuse (2 × 2) LEED pattern has been observed for ammonia on the Pd1ML/Mo(110) surface. TPD measurements indicate a shift of the desorption peak maximum of ammonia to a lower temperature for monolayer palladium compared to multilayer palladium. However, both surfaces display virtually identical HREELS spectra with the symmetric deformation (umbrella mode) being the dominating feature, indicating an upright adsorption geometry on both surfaces. The coadsorption of NH3 and CO has been also studied with HREELS over a wide coverage range on both surfaces. A strong interaction between adsorbed NH3 and CO is indicated by the red shift of the CO stretching vibrational mode (as large as 400 cm-1) and a blue shift of the NH3 symmetric...
Human CD4+ Cytolytic T Lymphocyte Responses to a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp160 Subunit Vaccine

The development of an effective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) may require immunization protocols that elicit cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) in addition to neutralizing antibodies. This report demonstrates that vaccination of 4 HIV-1-seronegative volunteers with a recombinant HIV-1 gp160 vaccine produced in mammalian cells elicited a CTL response in 3. The observed CTL activity was not mediated by classic CD8+ CTL but rather by cells of the CD4+ phenotype. The level of CTL activity varied over time, did not correlate with the proliferative response to gp160, and was not increased by repeated immunization. At the clonal level, the vaccine was shown to elicit a functionally heterogeneous CD4+ T cell response that included clones with antigen-specific, major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytolytic activity. These clones were capable of lysing target cells expressing the HIV-1 env gene and thus might be active against HIV-1-infected cells in vivo.
How Microimaging Technology Is Transforming the Field of Skeletal Genetics

Microcomputed tomography (microCT) is emerging as the technique of choice for skeletal genetics research. The goal of these studies is to identify genes that modulate bone strength and skeletal biomechanics. Many studies use animal models, namely rats and mice. To fully characterize the skeletal phenotype, one must determine the size, shape, and microstructure of the bones preferably in three dimensions. In what follows are three examples of how μCT has been used to illuminate genetic effects on bone structure.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Isolating the neural mechanisms of interference during continuous multisensory dual-task performance

The need to engage in multiple tasks simultaneously is often encountered in everyday experience, but coordinating between two or more tasks can lead to impaired performance. Typical investigations of multitasking impairments have focused on the performance of two tasks presented in close temporal proximity on discrete trials; however, such paradigms do not match well with the continuous performance situations more typically encountered outside the laboratory. As a result, the stages of information processing that are affected during multisensory continuous dual tasks and how these changes in processing relate to behavior remain unclear. To address these issues, participants were presented simultaneous rapid visual and auditory stimulus sequences under three conditions: attend visual only, attend auditory only, and dual attention attend both visual and auditory. Performance, measured in terms of response time and perceptual sensitivity d', revealed dual-task impairments only in the auditory task. Neural activity, measured by the ERP technique, revealed that both early stage sensory processing and later cognitive processing of the auditory task were affected by dual-task performance, but similar stages of processing of the visual task were not. Critically, individual differences in neural activity at both early and late stages of information processing accurately rank-ordered individuals based on the observed difference in behavioral performance between the single and dual attention conditions. These results reveal relationships between behavioral performance and the neural correlates of both early and late stage information processing that provide key insights into the complex interplay between the brain and behavior when multiple tasks are performed continuously.
Differential expression of the partially duplicated chloroplast S10 ribosomal protein operon.

The chloroplast S10 ribosomal protein operon is partially duplicated in many plants because it initiates within the inverted repeat of the circular chloroplast genome. In spinach, the complete S10 operon (S10B) spans the junction between inverted repeat B (IRB) and the large single-copy (LSC) region. The S10 operon is partially duplicated in the inverted repeat A (IRA), but the sequence of S10A completely diverges from S10B at the junction of S10A and the LSC region. The DNA sequence shared by S10A and S10B includes trnI1, the rpl23 pseudogene (rpl23ψ), the intron-containing rpl2 and rps19, which is truncated in S10A at the S10A/LSC junction (rps19′). Transcription of rps19′ from the promoter region of S10A could result in the synthesis of a mutant S19 protein. Analysis of RNA accumulation and run-on transcription from S10A and S10B using unique probes from the S10A/LSC and S10B/LSC junctions reveals that expression of S10A is reduced. The difference in S10A and S10B expression appears to be the result of reduced transcription from S10A, rather than differences in RNA stability. Transcription of S 10B can initiate at three distinct promoter regions, P1, P2 and P3, which map closely to transcripts detected by S1 nuclease analysis. P1 is located upstream of trnI1 and has the highest transcription initiation frequency in vitro of the three promoter regions. The DNA sequence of P1 is most similar to the chloroplast promoter consensus DNA sequence. Interference by the highly and convergently transcribed psbA-trnH1 operon is considered as a mechanism to explain the reduced activity of the S10A promoters.
Neutrophil priming by postshock mesenteric lymph is biphasic

Abstract Mesenteric lymph is the mechanistic link between splanchnic hypoperfusion and acute lung injury following hemorrhagic shock (HS). Postshock mesenteric lymph (PSML) primes neutrophils (PMNs) for enhanced superoxide release. Recently, the bioactivity of lipid (rapid priming) and aqueous (slower priming) factors within the lymph has been questioned. We sought to quantify early and late effects of PSML on PMNs. Methods. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (325–375 g) underwent cannulation of the mesenteric lymphatics, femoral artery, and vein. HS to a MAP of 30 mmHg for 45 min was induced. PSML collected in the resuscitation phase was incubated with human PMNs for 5, 15, 30, and 60 min. Priming effect was assessed by stimulated superoxide release. Results. Five minutes of PSML incubation primed PMNs substantially compared to preshock lymph 10.47 ± 1.01 versus 6.25 ± 0.54 nmol O2−/3.75 × 105 cells/mL/min (P = 0.06). PSML had no appreciable effect at 15 min, 4.29 ± 0.64 nmol O2−/3.75 × 105 cells/mL/min, but demonstrated increased priming following 30 min, 7.45 ± 0.04 versus 4.19 ± 0.84 nmol O2−/3.75 × 105 cells/mL/min (P Download : Download full-size image