cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Planning the Initial Motion of a Free Sliding/Rolling Ball

This paper investigates the motion of a free ball with initial velocity and angular velocity on a horizontal plane under friction. The ball will first slide along a parabolic trajectory (with its contact velocity in constant direction) and then roll along a straight trajectory. Curving of the sliding trajectory can be utilized for obstacle avoidance in path planning. A one-to-one correspondence exists between curved trajectories of the ball from one point to another and pairs of sliding and rolling directions that span a cone at the starting point to contain the ending point in the interior. This leads to a compact 2-D trajectory space, in which obstacles induce monotonic constraint curves. Based on the monotonicity, a plane sweep algorithm is described to find all collision-free trajectories. The work has several distinct features: handling of both sliding and rolling; planning in the configuration space of trajectories not that of the ball; computation of not just one collision-free trajectory but all such trajectories; and, finally, combining dynamics with computational geometry. The application of the work to spherical robots is discussed at the end.
A century of confusion in researching Alzheimer’s disease

More than a century ago Alois Alzheimer published a case study that later evolved into the Amyloid Cascade hypothesis—which assumes that increasing proliferation of plaques and tangles in the brain cause dementia. However, studies involving the removal of plaques—amyloid-—in patients’ brains resulted in worse cognitive performance, suggesting that plaques cannot solely be the disease. The search then focused on tau misfolded protein. But the evidence is uncertain. This paper suggests a critical history approach to understanding this confusion in Alzheimer’s disease research. Confusion is related to variability in expression of the disease, inaccuracy of clinical diagnostic tools, the relationship to other diseases, and the increasing neurological variance among older adults. The final verdict is that there is an unclear relationship between the biology and the expression of the disease. Alzheimer’s disease may in fact be the expression of another, yet unknown, disease. An often overlooked component in Alzheimer’s disease is white matter in the brain. Although found to be negatively related to dementia and positively related to learning, white matter remains unexamined in most current research. Historical evidence suggests that this was not the case a century ago. This paper is grounded in historical observations that Alois Alzheimer and his contemporaries identified these criticisms a hundred years ago. By ignoring these criticisms today, we have ended in a research cul de sac . This paper argues for greater specificity of the definition of Alzheimer’s disease and a broadening of the research focus to include the possible role of epigenetic changes, variance within older ages and brain plasticity. Only by broadening the scope of research and addressing this confusion directly can we move out of this research cul de sac and move closer to a cure.
Epigenetics and Its Applications to Children’s Health

Epigenetics represents the study of inheritable changes in the regulation of DNA expression during development. It represents a normal process by which totipotent early cells differentiate and commit to specific tissues, organs, and other structures that are properly arranged and are functional to enable optimum organizational performance. Exposure to nutritional deficits or excess, environmental toxins and endocrine disruptors, and both psychological and physiological stress can produce epigenetic reprogramming, so that affected cells and tissues alter functioning, leading to morbidity and premature mortality. Epigenetic changes in the germ line can produce transgenerational, inherited gene regulatory changes. Within an individual lifespan, altered gene regulation via hyper- or hypo-methylation, acetylation, and the action of endogenous genetic elements leads to aging and growth abnormalities, including cancer, immune dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease.
IL-10: A Paradigm for Counterregulatory Cytokines

![][1] Interleukin-10 was first discovered in 1989 as cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor produced by CD4+ Th2 clones in response to the lectin Con A or Ag stimulation ([1][2]). At this time, increasing evidence suggested that Th1 and Th2 subsets possessed reciprocal inhibitory functions
Drug-Induced Hypertension in Chronic Kidney Disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have physiologic alterations that result in a pro-hypertensive phenotype. Hypertension has been demonstrated to be a strong risk factor for cardiovascular complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and progression to end-stage renal disease. Medications commonly used by patients with CKD to manage pain, inflammatory syndromes, mood disorders, anemia, cancer, and other conditions can cause raise blood pressure and, in the process, increase their risk for cardiovascular complications. In this chapter, we discuss the hypertensive effects of prescribed and over-the-counter medications that are commonly used by patients with CKD. Targeting and controlling risks that can potentially cause harm is central to the role of the healthcare provider. For this reason understanding which drugs are implicated in hypertension is imperative for any provider managing a patient with CKD.
Dynamic obstacle representations for robot and virtual agent navigation

This paper describes a reactive navigation method for autonomous agents such as robots or actors in virtual worlds, based on novel dynamic tangent obstacle representations, resulting in exceptionally successful, geometrically sensitive navigation. The method employs three levels of abstraction, treating each obstacle entity as an obstacle-valued function; this treatment enables extraordinary flexibility without pre-computation or deliberation, applying to all obstacles regardless of shape, including non-convex, polygonal, or arc-shaped obstacles in dynamic environments. The unconventional levels of abstraction and the geometric details of dynamic tangent representations are the primary contributions of this work, supporting smooth navigation even in scenarios with curved shapes, such as circular and figure-eight shaped tracks, or in environments requiring complex, winding paths.
Enabling Dynamic Reconfigurability of SDRs Using SDN Principles.

Dynamic reconfiguration and network programmability are active research areas. State of the art solutions use the Software Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm to provide basic data plane abstractions and programming interfaces for control and management of these abstractions; however, SDN technologies are currently limited to wired networks and do not provide the appropriate abstractions to support ever changing wireless protocols. On the other hand, the Software Defined Radio (SDR) paradigm enables complex signal processing functionality to be implemented efficiently in software, instead of on specialized hardware; however, SDR does not cater to the demand for adaptive radio network management with respect to changing channel conditions and policies. To overcome these limitations, we present CrossFlow, a principled approach for application development in SDR networks. CrossFlow defines fundamental radio port abstractions and an interface to manipulate them. It provides a flexible and modular cross-layer architecture using the principles of SDR and a mechanism for centralized control using the principles of SDN. Through the convergence of SDN and SDR, CrossFlow works towards providing a target independent framework for application development in wireless radio networks. We validate our design using proof-of-concept applications, namely, adaptive modulation, frequency hopping, and cognitive radio.
Neurocognitive Findings in Onychophagia (Pathological Nail Biting)

A notable number of people struggle to control the desire to bite their nails, resulting in impairment and distress. Understanding this behavior and the inability to control it has received little research attention. One possible mechanism to understand nail biting is through the use of neurocognitive assessments. Neurocognitive assessments of pathological nail biting, however, are lacking. This analysis assesses the clinical presentation and neurocognitive profile of adults with nail biting relative to participants without nail biting. A total of 87 participants (aged 18-29 years) were recruited for a study on nail biting in young adults. Participants completed diagnostic, self-report, and neurocognitive measures which assessed two cognitive domains - motor impulsivity and cognitive flexibility. In the sample, 34 participants reported current nail biting. The nail biting group showed no significant differences in impulsivity or cognitive flexibility compared to the healthy controls. The lack of association between nail biting and cognitive deficits suggests that perhaps identifying meaningful subtypes of nail biting that reflect distinct pathology from normal grooming behavior may be important.
Testing with Software Designs

Abstract This chapter explores current state-of-the-art techniques that have been used in software design testing, either to test the designs or to test implementations against the designs. A common design notation that is in use today is UML. Originally, techniques have been designed with the intentions of testing implementations against their design artifacts provided in UML, but there are also techniques that test the design artifacts directly. Given that UML is a defacto standard in design notations, this chapter mostly focuses on testing techniques that either test designs in UML directly, or use a design in UML to test its implementation. As appropriate, we refer to general testing principles and techniques to illustrate their application in the context of testing with software designs. The chapter covers relevant testing criteria, testing techniques based on the type of UML diagram and automated test generation.
Analysis of the use of the "CASH" Dispatch Kit captive bolt gun as a single stage euthanasia process for pigs

The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of the “CASH” Dispatch Kit as single step euthanasia method for all weight classes of pigs within a commercial setting. Males and females from six weight classes (2-3kg, 7.5-10 kg, 15-20 kg, 30-40 kg, 100-120 kg, 200 + kg) were enrolled in the trial. Fifteen stockpersons were enlisted from a single production company to perform euthanasia. Four different captive bolt gun heads were utilized a non-penetrating head, a short penetrating bolt, a medium penetrating bolt and an extended penetrating bolt. The 5 lightest weight class animals (2-120 kgs) were all effectively euthanized with a single application of the "Cash" Dispatch. In the heaviest weight class (200+ kg), 7 of the 60 pigs required a second shot. There was a difference between weight class and requirement for a second shot with all 7 occurring in the heaviest weight classes (p=0.0066). Three stockpersons accounted for the 7 failed single step euthanasia and of these, one stockperson was responsible for 4 failures. Introduction The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA, 2007) defines euthanasia as death that occurs with minimal pain and distress. The swine industry has the
The role of peroxynitrite in nitric oxide-mediated toxicity.

Nitric oxide is a hydrophobic gas with chemical properties that make it uniquely suited as both an intra- and intercellular messenger. It is a relatively stable, charge-neutral radical with a strong tendency to interact and react with other species possessing unpaired electrons such as superoxide, iron, and molecular oxygen. Thus, it has several potential toxic mechanisms; actual toxicity is highly dependent on nitric oxide concentration and the particular microenvironment in which it is produced.
Sensory Robotics Related to Shoe Manufacture

This paper reviews the materials and handling systems used in footwear manufacture and identifies the needs of the industry in order to move towards more automated techniques. A robot work cell for attaching shoe soles is described.
Effects of genetic and environmental explanations of psychopathy and gender on perceptions of criminal behaviors

Genetic/biological evidence is increasingly introduced into courtrooms but findings regarding its impact are mixed. This study integrates research on psychopathy and the use of genetic evidence in ...
Circumglobal Response to Prescribed Soil Moisture over North America

AbstractA series of idealized prescribed soil moisture experiments is performed with the atmosphere/land stand-alone configuration of the Community Earth System Model, version 1, in an effort to fi...
Limitations of Vascular Quality Initiative-derived models to predict the outcomes of intervention for infrapopliteal limb-threatening ischemia.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to validate published Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) prediction models for patients with limb-threatening ischemia (LTI) undergoing open or endovascular revascularization for infrapopliteal occlusive disease. Methods We sought to validate our prior VQI LTI models for major adverse limb events (MALEs) and amputation-free survival (AFS) in a VQI new cohort undergoing open or percutaneous interventions from September 2014 through August 2016. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated including the C statistic, and the predicted vs actual outcomes were correlated. The Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) statistic was calculated to determine goodness of fit, and the Tjur R2 statistic was derived to demonstrate the degree to which the observed outcomes were accurately predicted by the models. Results Of 15,576 open infrainguinal and 34,679 percutaneous interventions collected in the VQI during the 24-month interval, 8852 and 17,124, respectively, were performed for LTI, among which 4410 and 5116 specifically targeted the infrapopliteal vessels. MALEs and AFS were identified for 400 of 927 (43.1%) and 576 of 982 (58.7%) open procedures and 197 of 855 (23.0%) and 658 of 1115 (59.0%) percutaneous procedures, respectively. For open operation, the predictive ability of the model was poor for MALEs (C = 0.59; HL = 107; R2 = 0.03) and only marginally better for AFS (C = 0.69; HL = 130; R2 = 0.10). Similarly, for endovascular intervention, the model performed poorly for MALEs (C = 0.62; HL = 183; R2 = 0.06) and slightly better for AFS (C = 0.68; HL = 68; R2 = 0.11). Breaking AFS into its component determinants, the predictive ability of the open operation model for patient survival (C = 0.77; HL = 70; R2 = 0.15) surpassed that for limb salvage (C = 0.64; HL = 54; R2 = 0.05). For endovascular interventions, the survival model (C = 0.71; HL = 94; R2 = 0.11) also outperformed the limb salvage model (C = 0.67; HL = 28; R2 = 0.07). For both types of intervention, the actual MALE rate was lower and AFS was higher than predicted by the models. Conclusions The ability of reported VQI-derived models to accurately predict major outcomes for infrapopliteal LTI is limited and cannot be advocated for clinical decision-making at this time. Further study would be necessary to determine whether this is due to intraoperative and postoperative variables not accounted for in our models, absence of pertinent data points from the registry, or incomplete follow-up.
Chronic Mild Gut Inflammation Accelerates Brain Neuropathology and Motor Dysfunction in α-Synuclein Mutant Mice.

Emerging findings suggest that Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology (α-synuclein accumulation) and neuronal dysfunction may occur first in peripheral neurons of the autonomic nervous system including the enteric branches of the vagus nerve. The risk of PD increases greatly in people over the age of 65, a period of life in which chronic inflammation is common in many organ systems including the gut. Here we report that chronic mild focal intestinal inflammation accelerates the age of disease onset in α-synuclein mutant PD mice. Wild-type and PD mice treated with 0.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in their drinking water for 12 weeks beginning at 3 months of age exhibited histological and biochemical features of mild gut inflammation. The age of onset of motor dysfunction, evaluated using a rotarod test, gait analysis, and grip strength measurements, was significantly earlier in DSS-treated PD mice compared to control PD mice. Levels of the dopaminergic neuron marker tyrosine hydroxylase in the striatum and numbers of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra were reduced in PD mice with gut inflammation. Levels of total and phosphorylated α-synuclein were elevated in enteric and brain neurons in DSS-treated PD mice, suggesting that mild gut inflammation accelerates α-synuclein pathology. Markers of inflammation in the colon and brain, but not in the blood, were elevated in DSS-treated PD mice, consistent with retrograde transneuronal propagation of α-synuclein pathology and neuroinflammation from the gut to the brain. Our findings suggest that interventions that reduce gut inflammation may prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of PD.
Liberty, Paternalism, and the Status of Children

John Stuart Mill ranks among history’s most articulate defenders of civil liberties and individual freedom. In his numerous writings, he formulated powerful arguments for the value of freedom, and he warned of the dangers that interference, constraint, and paternalism would bring. He expresses his defense of freedom most prominently in On Liberty. In the introduction to his essay, Mill states his view of freedom straightforwardly.
Abstract WP280: A Potential Scoring System to Predict Infarct Progression During Inter Facility Transfer of Patients for Endovascular Thrombectomy Evaluation

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend CT ASPECTS≥6 as eligibility criteria for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), a proven therapy for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (ACLVO). Infarc...
The Relevance of Childhood Science Talk as a Proxy for College Students’ STEM Identity at a Hispanic Serving Institution

Youths of marginalized demographic groups frequently find themselves excluded from participatory discourses in school science. As a result, these students often decide early in their school careers that science is not “for them” and consequently infrequently pursue STEM careers. Efforts to increase diversity of STEM participation have included targeted informal learning experiences for young people from marginalized populations. However, these efforts are not always designed to explicitly support STEM identity formation—a construct closely associated with STEM career pursuit. In this study, we explore the connection between childhood informal STEM learning experiences of Hispanic/Latino students at a Hispanic Serving Institution, their identification with STEM, and the factors that contribute to their STEM identity (recognition as a STEM person and interest in STEM). Results show that talking about science with friends and family was the only informal learning experience associated with students’ STEM identity or the factors contributing to STEM identity development. Moreover, talking with close family about science was more relevant to their identity formation than talking with extended family or friends. Implications discussed include the need for bridging science learning experiences with home culture.
Development of an Enhanced Total Ion Current Chromatogram Algorithm to Improve Untargeted Peak Detection.

Accurate analyte peak detection from the background noise is a fundamental step in data analysis. Often this is initially performed on the total ion current chromatogram (TIC), which is the sum sig...
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia precursors influence risk of white matter injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants.

Cumulative supplemental oxygen (CSO) and cumulative mean airway pressure (CMAP) are associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants, but their relationships to white matter injury (WMI) and neurodevelopment have not been evaluated. Preterm infants <32 weeks’ gestation were prospectively imaged with 3 T MRI near term. CSO and CMAP were retrospectively summed over the first 14 and 28 days. Neurodevelopment was assessed at 30 months adjusted using the Bayley-III. ROC and linear regression were used to evaluate the relationship between CSO, CMAP, and BPD with WMI and neurodevelopmental performance, respectively. Of the 87 infants, 30 (34.5%) had moderate–severe BPD, which was associated with WMI (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.1–34.9, p = 0.012). CSO and CMAP predicted WMI as well as BPD (AUC 0.68–0.77). CSO was independently associated with decreased language and cognitive performance (mean difference at 14 days: −11.0, 95% CI −19.8 to −2.2, p = 0.015 and −9.8, 95% CI −18.9 to −0.7, p = 0.035, respectively) at 30 months adjusted. BPD precursors predict WMI as well as BPD. Cumulative supplemental oxygen over the first 14 days of life is independently associated with lower language and cognitive performances. These data suggest that early respiratory status influences the risk of adverse neurodevelopment in preterm infants.
Early Adverse Events Following Transcervical Hypopharyngeal Diverticulum Surgery.

Objective:To describe rates of short-term morbidity following transcervical surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal diverticulum (HD) and analyze predictors of adverse events.Methods:The 2005 to 2017 ...
Risk Factors for Delta Hepatitis in a North American Cohort: Who Should Be Screened?

Introduction The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends hepatitis D virus (HDV) screening in certain high-risk groups; however, the effectiveness is unknown. Methods A study of North American patients with hepatitis B (HBV) referred to the NIH was performed to identify risk factors associated with HDV infection. Active HDV was "confirmed" by serum HDV RNA or histologic HDV antigen staining. Results Six hundred fifty-two were studied, of which 91 were HDV "confirmed." Independent risk factors for HDV included: intravenous drug users, HBV-DNA 40 U/L, and HDV endemic country of origin. Disussion North American patients with HBV and significant risk factors should be screened for HDV.
Feminist city: Claiming space in a man-made world, by Leslie Kern: New York, Verso, 2020

In her latest book, Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-made World, feminist geographer Leslie Kern reveals common material barriers that women overwhelmingly and disproportionately face on a da...
Abstract PS19-09: Alternative splicing events from progesterone exposure differ based on BRCA1 mutation status

Background: Progesterone (P) and progestin are instrumental in the breast cancer risk associated with reproductive hormones. Progesterone receptor (PR) signaling has been shown to be inhibited by the wild-type BRCA1 protein and it is hypothesized that if this inhibition is lost, due to gene mutation, potentially tumorigenic consequences may result. Our efforts are focused on understanding the role PR and P play in BRCA1 mutation carriers. The purpose of this study was to determine if the presence of a BRCA1 mutation effects alternative splicing (AS) events. Methods: Mammary organoids from 12 patients, six with a BRCA1 mutation and six without (WT, control), were cultured in vitro. The organoids from each patient were divided into two groups and treated over the course of 28 days to mimic a normal menstrual cycle. One group was treated was estradiol and progesterone (EP) while the other was treated with EP and the PR antagonist telapristone acetate (TPA) to identify PR-mediated effects. After treatment, RNA was extracted from both groups and RNA-sequencing performed. A statistical model, “replicate Multivariate Analysis of Transcript Splicing” (rMATS) was employed to identify AS events. Output from rMATS was then entered into “RNA Map Analysis And Plotting Server” (rMAPS) to identify RNA-binding proteins (RBP) motifs in the region of the splices. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) from Bio-Rad was employed, with the use of Evagreen intercalating dye, to validate a subset of the AS events identified by the RNA-Seq data. RNA from eight of the EP treated samples was reverse transcribed and ddPCR performed. The data was analyzed using QuantaSoft Analysis Pro (Bio-Rad). The identified AS events were validated additionally using data generated from solid tissue normals (STN) from premenopausal, BRCA1mut and BRCA1WT patients, who developed breast cancer, which was available for download from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Results: Genes involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), progesterone metabolism, and cellular proliferation are significantly differentially spliced in the EP treated BRCA1mut tissue (p-value Conclusions: PR-mediated alternative splicing events differ in mammary organoids of BRCA1 carriers compared to non-carriers. We hypothesize that the skipping of Exon 4 of AKR1C2 in BRCA1mut results in a structural alteration that decreases protein activity, leading to increased concentrations of P4 and 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione. This may explain the previously reported high median luteal phase serum P levels (p=0.00034) in BRCA1mut/BRCA2mut (PMID: 24140203). Citation Format: Gannon Cottone, Batzaya Davaadelger, Shivangi Yadav, J Julie Kim, Seema A. Khan, Susan Clare. Alternative splicing events from progesterone exposure differ based on BRCA1 mutation status [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS19-09.
Applications of Common Information to Computing Functions.

We design a low complexity distributed compression scheme for computing arbitrary functions of sources with discrete alphabets. We use a helper-based method that extends the definition of the G{a}cs-K{o}rner-Witsenhausen (GKW) common information to functional common information. The helper relaxes the combinatorial structure of GKW by partitioning the joint source distribution into nests imposed by the function, which ensures hierarchical cooperation between the sources for effectively distributed computing. By contrasting our approach's performance with existing efficient techniques, we demonstrate the rate savings in recovering function and source data. Permutation invariant functions are prevalent in learning and combinatorial optimization fields and most recently applied to graph neural networks. We consider the efficient compression for computing permutation invariant functions in a network with two sources and one decoder. We use a bipartite graph representation, where two disjoint sets of vertices (parts) denote the individual source graphs and the edge weights capture the joint source distribution. We compress bipartite graphs by creating connected components determined by the function's distribution, accounting for the edge symmetries, and eliminating the low probability edges. We separately encode those edges and send them as refinements. Our approach can substitute high complexity joint decoding techniques and inform neural networks to reduce the computing time and reduce complexity.
Immersive Technology to Teach Social Skills to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Literature Review

This study presents the findings of a systematic review of empirical research on the use of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR) to present social skill instruction to school-age students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Forty-one articles met the inclusion criteria. Studies targeted relationship skills, emotion recognition, social awareness, cooperation, and executive functioning. The intervention caused statistical improvement in 15 of the 41 studies (37%). Practitioners, parents, and researchers reported significant improvement of social skills in 32 studies (83%). We suggest modifications to the technology and interventions within the technology which may increase statistical gains for students. We conclude with recommendations for researchers and practitioners implementing AR and VR delivered social skill interventions.
Effects of Venusia Max Lotion on skin hydration and skin barrier in patients with dry skin

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to evaluate skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), after the application of the test product (Venusia Max Lotion [Paraben, Alcohol, Mineral Oil, and Animal Origin (PAMA)] free). Material and Methods: The study was a single-center, non-randomized, observational study. Test product was compared to control sites after application on volar forearms of women with dry skin. Hydration and TEWL measurements at baseline, after 12 hours, 24 hours and 36 hours of product application were done under the occluded and unoccluded condition. Results: The study was completed with 30 female subjects. Increase in the mean MMSC values was significantly greater on test product site as compared to control site, at all-time points. For TEWL readings over 36 h, when kept occluded and unoccluded, respectively, there were no significant differences in TEWL readings between the test product site and control site at any time points. Conclusion: The test product, Venusia Max Lotion (PAMA free), can be useful in maintaining the skin barrier properties and significantly improving skin hydration in individuals with dry skin or dry skin-related conditions.
Nested LDPC Codes for Random Access Communication

This paper proposes a nested low-density parity-check (LDPC) code design. Combining this nested LDPC code with the random access coding strategy introduced by Yavas, Kostina, and Effros yields a random access LDPC (RA-LDPC) code for reliable communication in random access communication environments where neither the transmitters nor the receiver knows which or even how many transmitters wish to communicate at each moment. Coordination is achieved using sparse scheduled feedback. Bounds on the finite-blocklength performance of the RA-LDPC code under maximum likelihood (ML) decoding are derived using both error exponent and dispersion style analyses. Results include bounds on the penalty of the RA-LDPC code as a function of the LDPC code densities.
Considering the Reach of Phelps

As the Court in Quanta recently confirms, patent and copyright owners have limited rights following voluntary transfers of protected goods. Moreover, as discussed at length by the Second Circuit in Platt & Munk Co. v. Republic Graphics, Inc., patent owners' rights have long been similarly affected by involuntary transfers. Platt & Munk finds lack of equivalent copyright rulings remarkable but does not allow lack of direct precedent to stand in the way of finding that involuntary transferees of copyright-protected goods have the same rights as voluntary transferees. This comment considers the Fourth Circuit's opinions in Christopher Phelps & Assoc., LLC v. Galloway. Initiallly, that court went one step further, holding, "under the first sale doctrine, an infringer is entitled to sell, or otherwise dispose of any copy that the court does not order destroyed or otherwise disposed of, without further obligation, once he satisfies the judgment that remedied the infringement, even if the copy was originally pirated." Those remarks were undoubtaibly colored by the subject of the dispute, however, Defendant's million-dollar house had been constructed according to unauthorized copies of plans that initially sold for only $20,000. The initial opinion was withdrawn, along with most references to the first-sale doctrine, and more emphasis was placed on eBay's limitations on the availability of injunctions. It is unclear whether the eBay opinion, more than concern about encumbering real estate unrelated to the infringement motivated refusal to enjoin sale or lease of a house as a remedy for unauthorized use of plans used for its construction.
NMR probe of pseudogap characteristics in Fe 2 + x V 1 − x Al

We report the results of a ${}^{51}\mathrm{V}$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2+x}{\mathrm{V}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{Al},$ near the ordered composition with $x=0,$ at temperatures between 4 and 500 K. All compositions are found to be metallic or semimetallic, though electrical resistivity has indicated a metal-insulator transition at $x=0.$ The low-temperature NMR relaxation rates for stoichiometric $(x=0)$ and nonstoichiometric $(x=0.10$ and $\ensuremath{-}0.05)$ compounds follow a Korringa law, associated with a finite density of carriers at the Fermi level. High-temperature relaxation rates for $xl~0$ go over to a semiconductorlike activated form, providing information about the gap structure near the Fermi energy. The results are consistent with pseudogap features identified by recent band-structure calculations, although with smaller energy splittings. We analyze pseudogap changes vs composition, and compare the band-filling behavior to a recent coherent potential approximation calculation.
Turnstile barriers for protection of unguarded railroad crossings

This paper proposes a mechanical system against car-bomb attack for the protection of unguarded railroad crossings. In 1982, a suicide car-bomb attack destroyed the Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 240 people. Similar suicide attacks continued in the following years and triggered the present research to counteract them. The result was the invention of the turnstile barrier described in this paper. The turnstile barrier was developed and thoroughly tested in 1987-1989, to protect important buildings and other installations against possible car-bomb attack by speeding vehicles carrying highly explosive materials. In 1995 the turnstile was certified by the US Department of State as a reliable barrier against such attacks and was placed on the DOS list of certified equipment, which is available for use by architects and planners. The turnstile barrier can easily be adapted to be used as an efficient and low cost device to prevent collisions between cars and trains at unguarded railroad crossings. The same basic system is used to deflect moving vehicles that fail to stop before a railroad crossing when trains approach.
Extended Palatini action for general relativity

In the Palatini action of general relativity, the connection and the metric are treated as independent dynamical variables. Instead of assuming a relation between these quantities, the desired relation between them is derived through the Euler-Lagrange equations of the Palatini action. In this manuscript we construct an extended Palatini action, where we do not assume any a priori relationship between the connection, the covariant metric tensor, and the contravariant metric tensor. Instead we treat these three quantities as independent dynamical variables. We show that this action reproduces the standard Einstein field equations depending on a single metric tensor. We further show that in vacuum and in the absence of cosmological constant this theory has an enhanced symmetry.
Hydrogen bonding and catalysis of solvolysis of 4-methoxybenzyl fluoride.

Values of ko = 8.0 × 10-3 s-1 and kH = 2.5 × 10-2 M-1 s-1, respectively, were determined for the spontaneous and the acid-catalyzed cleavage of 4-methoxybenzyl fluoride (1-F) to form the 4-methoxybenzyl carbocation (1+). Values of kF = 1.8 × 107 M-1 s-1 and kHF = 7.2 × 104 M-1 s-1 were determined for addition of F- and HF to 1+ for reaction in the microscopic reverse direction. Evidence is presented that the reversible addition of HF to 1+ to give 1-F + H+ proceeds by a concerted reaction mechanism. The relatively small 250-fold difference between the reactivities of fluoride ion and neutral HF toward 1+ is attributed to the tendency of the strong aqueous solvation of F- to decrease its nucleophilic reactivity and to the advantage for the concerted compared with the usual stepwise pathway for addition of HF. There is no significant stabilization of the transition state for cleavage of 1-F from general acid catalysis by 0.80 M cyanoacetate buffer at pH 1.7. The estimated 3 kcal/mol larger Marcus intrinsic ...
KRAS mutations are associated with solid growth pattern and tumor-infiltrating leukocytes in lung adenocarcinoma

KRAS mutations define a clinically distinct subgroup of lung adenocarcinoma patients, characterized by smoking history, resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies, and adverse prognosis. Whether KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinomas also have distinct histopathological features is not well established. We tested 180 resected lung adenocarcinomas for KRAS and EGFR mutations by high-sensitivity mass spectrometry-based genotyping (Sequenom) and PCR-based sizing assays. All tumors were assessed for the proportion of standard histological patterns (lepidic, acinar, papillary, micropapillary, solid, and mucinous), several other histological and clinical parameters, and TTF-1 expression by immunohistochemistry. Among 180 carcinomas, 63 (35%) had KRAS mutations (KRAS+), 35 (19%) had EGFR mutations (EGFR+), and 82 (46%) had neither mutation (KRAS-/EGFR-). Solid growth pattern was significantly over-represented in KRAS+ carcinomas: the mean±s.d. for the amount of solid pattern in KRAS+ carcinomas was 27±34% compared with 3±10% in EGFR+ (P<0.001) and 15±27% in KRAS-/EGFR- (P=0.033) tumors. Furthermore, at least focal (≥20%) solid component was more common in KRAS+ (28/63; 44%) compared with EGFR+ (2/35; 6%; P<0.001) and KRAS-/EGFR- (21/82; 26%; P=0.022) carcinomas. KRAS mutations were also over-represented in mucinous carcinomas and were significantly associated with the presence of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes and heavier smoking history. EGFR mutations were associated with non-mucinous non-solid patterns, particularly lepidic and papillary, lack of necrosis, lack of cytological atypia, hobnail cytology, TTF-1 expression, and never/light smoking history. In conclusion, extended molecular and clinicopathological analysis of lung adenocarcinomas reveals a novel association of KRAS mutations with solid histology and tumor-infiltrating inflammatory cells and expands on several previously recognized morphological and clinical associations of KRAS and EGFR mutations. Solid growth pattern was recently shown to be a strong predictor of aggressive behavior in lung adenocarcinomas, which may underlie the unfavorable prognosis associated with KRAS mutations in these tumors.
Estimation of surface temperature variations due to changes in sky and solar flux with elevation

The magnitude of elevation effects due to changes in solar and sky fluxes, on interpretation of single thermal images and composite products such as temperature difference and thermal inertia, are examined. Simple expressions are derived for the diurnal behavior of the two parameters, by fitting field observations in one tropic (Hawaii) and two semi-arid climates (Wyoming and Colorado) (Hummer-Miller, 1981). It is shown that flux variations with elevation can cause changes in the mean diurnal temperature gradient from -4 to -14 degrees C/km, evaluated at 2000 m. Changes in the temperature-difference gradient of 1 to 2 degrees C/km are also produced which is equivalent to an effective thermal-inertia gradient of 100 W s(exp 1/2)/sq m-K-km. An example is presented showing an elevation effect of 12 degrees C on the day and night thermal scenes of a test site in Arizona.
Comparative Rhetoric, Postcolonial Studies, and Transnational Feminisms: A Geopolitical Approach

This essay examines methodological practices in comparative rhetoric over the past three decades and suggests that the field conceive new perspectives to engage with transnational spaces, hybrid identities, and subjectivities grounded in differences related to gender, race, class, and culture. Drawing on insights from postcolonial and transnational feminist studies, the author explores the implications of contemporary theories for comparative work and develops an approach that links the cultural specificities of particular non-Western rhetorics with larger geopolitical forces and networks. Through an analysis of early-twentieth-century Chinese women's discourse on nuquanzhuyi, she argues that a geopolitical approach focusing on how rather than what we read would help practitioners rethink history, identity, and the nature of theoretical investigation in the field and set the stage for more nuanced and sophisticated studies of non-Western rhetorics in the twenty-first century.
Longitudinal employment decisions of daughters and daughters-in-law after assuming parent care.

ABSTRACT Employment decisions of full-time, part-time and not employed daughters and daughters-in-law (n = 157) are described over the first 18 months of parent care at two points in time: three months after assuming care and 15 months later. Employment decisions were also examined when care giving continued (n = 55), when it was discontinued (n = 55) and when a parent died (n = 47). Findings indicate that part-time employed daughters make more changes and adjustments in their employment than do full-time or not employed daughters. When a parent died, more changes in employment occurred prior to the death than when a parent remained in care.
Competitive binding of α-actinin and calmodulin to the NMDA receptor

The mechanisms by which neurotransmitter receptors are immobilized at postsynaptic sites in neurons are largely unknown. The activity of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors is mechanosensitive1 and dependent on the integrity of actin2, suggesting a functionally important interaction between NMDA receptors and the postsynaptic cytoskeleton. α-Actinin-2, a member of the spectrin/dystrophin family of actin-binding proteins, is identified here as a brain postsynaptic density protein that colocalizes in dendritic spines with NMDA receptors and the putative NMDA receptor-clustering molecule PSD-95. α-Actinin-2 binds by its central rod domain to the cytoplasmic tail of both NR1 and NR2B subunits of the NMDA receptor, and can be immunoprecipitated with NMDA receptors and PSD-95 from rat brain. Intriguingly, NR1-α-actinin binding is directly antagonized by Ca2+/calmodulin. Thus α-actinin may play a role in both the localization of NMDA receptors and their modulation by Ca2+.
SEASONAL METEOROLOGICAL EFFECTS UPON STREAMFLOW IN NORTHERN UTAH

Abstract A watershed's seasonal streamflow fluctuations are caused by meteorological conditions as they are modified by the watershed's inherent characteristics such as size, shape, aspect, geology, and plant cover. Records from Halfway Creek watershed, a perennial tributary to Farmington Creek located on the Wasatch Mountains in northern Utah, show that winter streamflow comprises only a small portion of the total annual yield. The winter contribution, which is low but constant, originates as drainage from deep aquifers. A much greater portion of the water yield comes in the spring as seepage flow derived from melting snow and spring rains, although the highest instantaneous spring peak so far recorded is only 24 csm (cubic feet per second per square mile). Initial recession of the flow of Halfway Creek from its spring peak is rapid, but in a short time its decrease becomes so gradual that in late summer the hydrograph becomes an almost flat line. The summer recession ends when climatic conditions in the...
A comparative evaluation of the mechanical strength of sealed and unsealed hard gelatin capsules

Abstract The purposes of banding and sealing of hard gelatin capsules are well known; however, the effects of these processes on shell fragility have not been documented. In this study the effect of banding and fluid sealing (both water and a 50:50 water/ethanol mixture) on shell mechanical strength was evaluated using a modified capsule plug hardness tester. Banded capsules were prepared using an Elanco laboratory model banding machine. Fluid sealed capsules were prepared by a manual sealing process. Failure force data were collected for natural and white opaque size 0 Elanco capsules and natural size 0 Capsugel capsules. Fluid sealed capsules were found to fail at lower applied crushing forces than banded capsules. The effect of banding on shell fragility was found to be slight and the forces of failure were comparable to those of unsealed capsules. In some cases, visual observations of fragility during the crushing event correlate well with low failure forces. Work of failure was also assessed and found less discriminating than the force of failure.
Function and X-ray crystal structure of Escherichia coli YfdE

Many food plants accumulate oxalate, which humans absorb but do not metabolize, leading to the formation of urinary stones. The commensal bacterium Oxalobacter formigenes consumes oxalate by converting it to oxalyl-CoA, which is decarboxylated by oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase (OXC). OXC and the class III CoA-transferase formyl-CoA:oxalate CoA-transferase (FCOCT) are widespread among bacteria, including many that have no apparent ability to degrade or to resist external oxalate. The EvgA acid response regulator activates transcription of the Escherichia coli yfdXWUVE operon encoding YfdW (FCOCT), YfdU (OXC), and YfdE, a class III CoA-transferase that is 30% identical to YfdW. YfdW and YfdU are necessary and sufficient for oxalate-induced protection against a subsequent acid challenge; neither of the other genes has a known function. We report the purification, in vitro characterization, 2.1-A crystal structure, and functional assignment of YfdE. YfdE and UctC, an orthologue from the obligate aerobe Acetobacter aceti, perform the reversible conversion of acetyl-CoA and oxalate to oxalyl-CoA and acetate. The annotation of YfdE as acetyl-CoA:oxalate CoA-transferase (ACOCT) expands the scope of metabolic pathways linked to oxalate catabolism and the oxalate-induced acid tolerance response. FCOCT and ACOCT active sites contain distinctive, conserved active site loops (the glycine-rich loop and the GNxH loop, respectively) that appear to encode substrate specificity.
Pole-placement with constant gain output feedback†

Given a linear time invariant multivariable system with m inputs and p outputs, it was shown that p closed loop poles of the system can be preassigned arbitrarily using constant gain output feedback provided (A circumflex, B circumflex) is controllable. These data show that if (A circumflex, B circumflex, C circumflex) is controllable and observable, and Rank B circumflex = m, Rank C circumflex = p, then max (m,p) poles of the system can be assigned arbitarily using constant gain output feedback. Further, it is shown that in some cases more than max (m,p) poles can be arbitrarily assigned. A least square design technique is outlined to approximate the desired pole locations when it is not possible to place all the poles.
Modulation of K+ channels by hydrogen peroxide

External application of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was found to inhibit the time-dependent fast inactivation process of three cloned voltage-gated K+ channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes: KShIIIC, KShIIID and HukII. As expected from kinetic models where some channels are still opening while a significant fraction of channels is already inactivated there was a large increase in current magnitude concomitant to inactivation block. The channels otherwise-functioned normally. The effects of H2O2 were specific (other cloned voltage-gated K+ channels were not affected), and reversibie, the currents returned to normal upon removal of the H2O2. H2O2 is produced during normal metabolism; it could act as a modulator of excitability through effects on K+ channels if effective local concentrations are reached in neuronal regions close to the channel. KShIIIC and KShIIID currents are very similar to an O2-sensitive K+ current present in type I cells of the carotid body which is believed to underlie the modulation of excitability of these cells by changes in arterial O2 pressure. H2O2 has been proposed as an intermediary between O2 and cellular response in the carotid body; our results provide support for this model.