cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manganese‐chromium systematics in sulfides of unequilibrated enstatite chondrites

— We measured with a secondary ion mass spectrometer Mn/Cr ratios and Cr isotopes in individual grains of Mn-bearing sulfides (i.e., sphalerites, ZnS; alabandites, MnS; and niningerites, MgS) in nine unequilibrated enstatite chondrites (UECs). The goals were to determine whether live 53Mn (half-life ∼3.7 Ma) was incorporated in these objects at the time of their isotopic closure and to establish whether Mn-Cr systematics in sulfides in UECs can be used as a high-resolution chronometer to constrain formation time differences between these meteorites. Sulfide grains analysed in four of these UECs, MAC 88136 (EL3), MAC 88184 (EL3), MAC 88180 (EL3), and Indarch (EH4), have clear 53Cr excesses. These 53Cr excesses can be very large (δ53Cr/52Cr ranges up to ∼18,400%, the largest 53Cr excess measured so far) and, in some grains, are well correlated with the Mn/Cr ratios. Thus, they were most likely produced by the in situ decay of 53Mn in the meteorite samples. In the remaining five meteorites, no detectable excesses of 53Cr were found, and only upper limits on the initial 53Mn/55Mn ratios could be established. The four meteorites with 53Cr excesses show variations in the inferred 53Mn/55Mn ratios in various sulfide grains of the same meteorite. The Mn-Cr systematics in these sulfides were disturbed (during and/or after the decay of 53Mn) by varying degrees of reequilibration. Provided 53Mn was homogeneously distributed in the region of the early solar system where these objects formed, the data suggest that the time of the last isotopic equilibration of sulfides in EL chondrites occurred at least 3 Ma after a similar episode in EH chondrites.
The Dance of the Perivascular and Endothelial Cells: Mechanisms of Brain Response to Immune Signaling

The mechanisms underlying the brain response to systemic inflammation remain unclear. In this issue of Neuron, Serrats and colleagues demonstrate that two cell types that produce prostaglandins that act on the brain, perivascular and endothelial cells, have an unexpectedly complex interaction in regulating the timing and types of brain responses that occur.
Latent hardening in single crystals. II. Analytical characterization and predictions

Constitutive equations are developed that characterize the multiple-slip behaviour of crystalline materials at low temperature. A matrix of instantaneous hardening moduli that relate the rate of hardening on each slip system to all slip-rates is proposed based upon well-known observations and the latent hardening experiments reported in Part I. In general, these moduli depend on the history of slips. Simulations of various behaviours are presented for FCC single crystals (copper) that are in good agreement with observations. These include, for example, stress-strain curves in a uniaxial loading test, hardening rate variations with respect to initial orientation, latent hardening, tensile overshoot and secondary slips. Numerical calculations are facilitated using an extremum principle and a modified quadratic programming algorithm.
Stability of fibronectin biological activity following chemical modification

Abstract Fibronectin isolated from human plasma functions in vitro as a mediator of adhesion and spreading of trypsinized fibroblasts on native or denatured collagen. As a means of elucidating structural characteristics which might contribute to fibronectin's biological activity, we have modified and digested the protein with several chemicals. Following various treatments, the protein was utilized to mediate cell adhesion and spreading on collagen to determine which alteration disrupted its activity. Fibronectin remained functionally intact after partial or complete reduction and alkylation, oxidation of 59% of the carbohydrates with sodium periodate, citraconylation, carbodiimide-catalyzed amide formation, and oxidation of 35.2 residues of tryptophan/molecule with N- bromosuccinimide . Dinitrofluorobenzene treatment, which phenylated ten residues/molecule of fibronectin, successfully inactivated fibronectin's in vitro biological function. Effective modification of the protein was determined by appropriate analytical procedures. Since fibronectin retained its biological function after several treatments that presumably affected its molecular conformation, we concluded that its secondary or tertiary structure appears not to be essential for its in vitro activity, or alternatively that the protein possesses a biologically active domain relatively resistant to chemical modification.
Governance, trade, and investment

Abstract Imperfections in the rule of law create new problems of contractibility, in addition to the familiar one of unverifiability of information. Alternative social institutions for governance of property and contract arise but are also imperfect, and can interact well or poorly with the formal state institutions. Security of property and contract is especially problematic for foreign traders and investors. This paper considers some theoretical analysis of such situations. The game-theoretic ideas and methods range from simple two-stage games with strategic moves to bilateral and multilateral repeated games with added issues of asymmetric information and imperfect communication.
Inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activity in oral tumor cells prevents depletion of NK cells and increases their functional activation

The aim of this study is to identify candidate factors which may be responsible for the functional inactivation and depletion of NK cells by tumor cells. Inhibition of NFkappaB activity by an IkappaB super-repressor in HEp2 cells, a cell line commonly used as an oral tumor model, blocked tumor-induced NK cell death, and increased the function of NK cells significantly. Increased expression of CD69 early activation antigen on NK cells as well as augmented proliferation and secretion of IFN-gamma by NK cells were observed when these cells were co-incubated with IkappaB super-repressor transfected HEp2 cells (HEp2-IkappaB((S32AS36A))). More importantly, the secretion of IL-6 was significantly inhibited when NK cells were co-cultured with HEp2-IkappaB((S32AS36A)) cells. In addition, the survival and function of cytotoxic effector cells remained significantly elevated in the presence of IFN-gamma-treated HEp2-IkappaB((S32AS36A)) cells when compared to either untreated or IFN-gamma-treated vector-alone transfected HEp2 cells. Similar findings to those obtained using purified peripheral blood NK cells were also observed when non-fractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used in the co-cultures of immune effectors with HEp2 cell transfectants. Addition of recombinant human IL-6 to the co-cultures of immune effectors with the NFkappaB knockdown HEp2 tumor cells substantially decreased the levels of secreted IFN-gamma. Thus, the results presented in this paper suggest that the inhibition of NFkappaB function in oral tumors may serve to activate and expand the function and numbers of NK cells. Moreover, NFkappaB-mediated increase in IL-6 secretion by oral tumors may in part be responsible for the observed inactivation and death of the immune effectors.
The mixed effects of precipitation on traffic crashes.

Abstract Purpose: This paper investigates the relationship between precipitation and traffic crashes in the US during the period 1975–2000. Traffic crashes represent the leading cause of death and injury for young adults in the US, and the ninth leading cause of death for the overall population. Prior studies have found that precipitation raises the risk of traffic crashes significantly. Methods: A negative binomial regression approach is employed. Two different units of analysis are examined: state–months and state–days. The sample includes all 48 contiguous states. Results: A surprising negative and significant relationship between monthly precipitation and monthly fatal crashes is found. However, in the daily level analysis, a strong positive relationship is estimated, as in prior studies. The source of the contrasting results appears to be a substantial negative lagged effect of precipitation across days within a state–month. In other words, if it rained a lot yesterday, then on average, today there are fewer crashes. Additional analysis shows that the risk imposed by precipitation increases dramatically as the time since last precipitation increases. For example, 1 cm of precipitation increases the fatal crash rate for a state–day by about 3% if exactly 2 days have passed since the last precipitation and by about 9% if more than 20 days have passed. This basic pattern holds for non-fatal crashes as well. Conclusions: The lagged effects of precipitation across days may be explained by the clearing of oil that accumulates on roads during dry periods or by the conditioning of people to drive more safely in wet conditions. Either way, policy interventions that prepare drivers more adequately for the risks of precipitation following dry periods are likely to be beneficial.
Geochemical evidence of a near-surface history for source rocks of the central Coast Mountains Batholith, British Columbia

Major and trace elemental concentrations as well as Sr and Pb isotopic data, obtained for 41 plutonic samples from the Coast Mountains Batholith ranging in age from ∼108 to ∼50 Ma, indicate that the source regions for these rocks were relatively uniform and typical of Cordilleran arcs. The studied rocks are mineralogically and chemically metaluminous to weakly peraluminous and are mainly calc-alkaline. Initial whole-rock 87Sr/86Sr ratios range from 0.7035 up to 0.7053, whereas lead isotopic data range from 18.586 to 19.078 for 206Pb/204Pb, 15.545 to 15.634 for 207Pb/204Pb, and 37.115 to 38.661 for 208Pb/204Pb. In contrast to these relatively primitive isotopic data, δ 18O values for quartz separates determined for 19 of the samples range from 6.8 up to 10.0‰. These δ 18O values preclude the possibility that these melts were exclusively generated from the Mesozoic mantle wedge of this continental arc, just as the Sr and Pb data preclude significant involvement of an old (Precambrian) crustal/mantle lithosp...
Substance use among women: associations with pregnancy, parenting, and race/ethnicity.

Objective To examine the association of pregnancy and parenting (0- to 2-year-old child) statuses with past 30-day use of alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana, psychotherapeutics and cocaine among American women aged 18–44, overall and by race/ethnicity. Methods Five years of data (2002–2006) from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were pooled. Binary logistic regression analyses stratified by race/ethnicity were performed to examine the relationships adjusting for age, marital status, education and family income. Results Overall, past 30-day alcohol, cigarette, marijuana, psychotherapeutic or cocaine use was substantially lower among pregnant women, particularly in their second or third trimesters, than among their parenting or non-pregnant counterparts. Logistic regression analysis suggested a strong negative association between pregnancy status and substance use, with no considerable variations in the magnitude of the relationship by race/ethnicity for most measures. The relationship between parenting status and substance use was in the same direction, but relatively weak, and not statistically significant for non-Hispanic (NH) blacks for any measures except for alcohol use. Regardless of pregnancy and parenting statuses, NH white women reported substance use at the highest rates, followed by Hispanics and NH blacks. Conclusions There is indirect evidence of postpregnancy resumption in substance use. Pregnant and parenting women, regardless of race/ethnicity, could benefit from prevention efforts focusing on cessation rather than temporary abstinence from substance use.
A double-blind randomized crossover study of oral thalidomide versus placebo for androgen dependent prostate cancer treated with intermittent androgen ablation

Purpose: We determined whether thalidomide can prolong progression-free survival in men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer treated with limited androgen deprivation therapy.Materials and Methods: A total of 159 patients were enrolled in a double-blind randomized trial to determine if thalidomide can improve the efficacy of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in hormone responsive patients with an increasing prostate specific antigen after primary definitive therapy for prostate cancer. Patients were randomized to 6 months of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist followed by 200 mg per day oral thalidomide or placebo (oral phase A). At the time of prostate specific antigen progression gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist was restarted for 6 additional months. Patients were then crossed over to the opposite drug and were treated until prostate specific antigen progression (oral phase B). Testosterone and dihydroxytestosterone were likewise monitored throughout the study.Results: During ora...
Effect of Eumelanic Phenotypes on the Expression of Amelanosis in the Smyth Chicken

Abstract The Smyth line is characterized by an autoimmune loss of melanin in the feather and eye in association with a hypermelanizing melanocyte, which presumably triggers immune system intervention. Inheritance appears to be multigenic. The present study was designed to determine if eumelanin-enhancing modifiers influence the incidence and severity of the line-associated amelanosis. Smyth chicks with dark brown (eb) down had a higher incidence of amelanosis (P
Martian dust devils: Directions of movement inferred from their tracks

[1] Active dust devils (atmospheric vortices with entrained dust) seen on Mars leave surface tracks inferred to result from the injection of loose particles into the atmosphere, typically exposing a darker (or, in some cases brighter) substrate. Hundreds of similar appearing surface tracks are common in many areas, but in the absence of imaging the active dust devils responsible for their formation, it has not been possible to determine the direction of forward motion of the vortex. Laboratory experiments simulating dust devils show that overlapping scallops in some tracks enable the direction of forward motion to be determined.
FalconSAT-7: A Membrane Photon Sieve CubeSat Solar Telescope

We are currently constructing FalconSAT-7 for launch in mid-2014. The low-Earth, 3U CubeSat solar telescope incorporates a 0.2m deployable membrane photon sieve with over 2.5 billion holes. The aim of the experiment is to demonstrate diffraction limited imaging of a collapsible, diffractive primary over a narrow bandwidth. As well as being simpler to manufacture and deploy than curved, polished surfaces, the sheets do not have to be optically flat, greatly reducing many engineering issues. As such, the technology is particularly promising as a means to achieve extremely large optical primaries from compact, lightweight packages.
Public Choice and the Quality of Life: Research Processes and Problems in Nonpecuniary Economics

In examining the processes and problems of researching a public choice theme, it is well to begin by noting that the fundamental concept of all recent public choice theory is application of the Benthamite motivational model of utility-maximizing individuals to analysis of human choice in nonmarket settings (Buchanan pp. 16-18). It is assumed that if utility maximization is a valid premise upon which to analyze marketplace choices, it is an equally valid one for analysis of other kinds of choices. Fidelity to the Benthamite model deserves emphasis, for if public choice research cannot be rooted solidly in utility theory, the economist finds himself with little to offer beyond the scope of the simple financial analysis which might better be done by an accountant.
Impacts of polymer–polymer interactions and interfaces on the structure and conductivity of PEG-containing polyimides doped with ionic liquid

Abstract Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells can provide alternatively sourced energy, but current PEMs lose performance under certain conditions. The current work examines composition, structure and properties of poly (ethylene glycol)-aromatic polyimide-ionic liquid systems for PEM applications, as poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) is an ion conductor and polyimides are stable. To evaluate polymer interactions, different PEG concentrations (0–50% by weight) and different PEG molecular weights (990–6000 g/mole) were examined. Characterization techniques included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, small-angle x-ray scattering, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. By increasing the PEG amount, PEG domains and polymer flexibility are increased, which increases conductivity by two to three orders of magnitude. By increasing PEG molecular weight, PEG segmental motion and PEG-polyimide interface quality are decreased, which decreases conductivity by a factor of two. The maximum conductivity was 64 mS/cm at 80 °C and 70 %RH.
Stability of Beefy Meaty Peptide to Pasteurization and SterilizationTemperatures

Abstract Beefy meaty peptide (BMP) is an octapeptide found in meat with desirable sensory properties. The purpose of this study was to examine the stability of BMP after heating under pasteurization and sterilization conditions. BMP was heated to 71°C for 15 s and 121°C for 20 min; and then evaluated with high performance liquid chromatography and mass-spectrometry. Results indicated that BMP was relatively stable to these heat processes. Less than 10% of BMP was denatured under the sterilization condition. The results indicate BMP is a heat-resistant peptide and it may be used in heat-processed food.
Role of intestinal P‐glycoprotein (mdr1) in interpatient variation in the oral bioavailability of cyclosporine

Interpatient differences in the oral clearance of cyclosporine (INN, ciclosporin) have been partially attributed to variation in the activity of a single liver enzyme termed CYP3A4. Recently it has been shown that small bowel also contains CYP3A4, as well as P-glycoprotein, a protein able to transport cyclosporine. To assess the importance of these intestinal proteins, the oral pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine were measured in 25 kidney transplant recipients who each had their liver CYP3A4 activity quantitated by the intravenous [14C-N-methyl]-erythromycin breath test and who underwent small bowel biopsy for measurement of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein. Forward multiple regression revealed that 56% (i.e., r2 = 0.56) and 17% of the variability in apparent oral clearance [log (dose/area under the curve)] were accounted for by variation in liver CYP3A4 activity (p < 0.0001) and intestinal P-glycoprotein concentration (p = 0.0059), respectively. For peak blood concentration, liver CYP3A4 activity accounted for 32% (p = 0.0002) and P-glycoprotein accounted for an additional 30% (p = 0.0024) of the variability. Intestinal levels of CYP3A4, which varied tenfold, did not appear to influence any cyclosporine pharmacokinetic parameter examined. We conclude that intestinal P-glycoprotein plays a significant role in the first-pass elimination of cyclosporine, presumably by being a rate-limiting step in absorption. Drug interactions with cyclosporine previously ascribed to intestinal CYP3A4 may instead be mediated by interactions with intestinal P-glycoprotein.
Potential bloodborne pathogen exposure from occult mattress damage

A near-miss patient incident involving body fluid seeping from a mattress led to a visual inspection of 656 hospital bed mattresses of which 177 were contaminated because of occult damage to mattress covers.
The TRH-induced TSH response in psychiatric patients: a possible neuroendocrine marker

The finding of a diminished TSH response to exogenously administered TRH in a significant proportion of depressed patients has now been established as one of the most reproducible findings in biological psychiatry. More than 50 reports, in which more than 1000 patients have been studied, reveal that the TSH response is blunted in approximately 25% of patients with major depression. TSH blunting is clearly not specific for depression, because it also has been observed in mania, alcoholism, and borderline personality disorder. It is doubtful that TSH blunting represents a non-specific response to mental stress: it was found only rarely in schizophrenic patients, and the TSH response to in vivo flooding therapy in phobic patients was normal. In both depression and alcoholism, TSH blunting has been reported to be sometimes a state marker and sometimes a trait marker, i.e. the fault was found to persist into remission in more than half the patients. In both conditions, TSH blunting was unrelated to the patients' age, body weight, height, body surface, thyroid status, and serum cortisol concentrations. It also is unlikely that TSH blunting was due to increased dopaminergic inhibition of thyrotroph cells: serum prolactin concentrations in TSH blunters were found to be normal, and pretreatment with haloperidol had no effect on either basal TSH levels or TSH blunting. In depression, TSH blunting was not associated with previous drug intake, dexamethasone suppression test abnormalities, or variables of biogenic amine metabolism, nor did it usefully segregate between primary and secondary depression or between unipolar and bipolar subgroups. Preliminary evidence suggests that TSH blunting in depression may be related to duration of illness, history of violent suicide attempts, and a reduced 24 h TSH secretion. In alcoholism, TSH blunting was unrelated to family or personal history of depression and duration of abstinence. With reference to clinical utility, TSH blunting may aid in assessing the response to antidepressant treatment, predicting outcome to such treatment, assessing the risk for violent suicide attempts, and describing relationships between different psychiatric populations (e.g. depression and alcoholism).
The indigenous mathematics project: An overview

A multi-disciplinary team research project is described. The project is being undertaken in Papua New Guinea under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and UNESCO. The major goal is to document the relationship between environmental and cultural features, which vary widely in the country, and cognitive development. A second goal is the documentation of mathematics learning and instruction. The paper describes the various components of the project and some of the preliminary findings.
Development and Experimental Validation of A Handheld Noninvasive Sensor for the Measurement of Compartment Pressures

Compartment syndrome is a major concern in cases of extremity trauma, which occur in over 70% of military combat casualty. Without treatment, compartment syndrome can lead to paralysis, loss of limb, or death. This paper focuses on the development of a handheld sensor that can be used for the noninvasive diagnosis of compartment syndrome. Analytical development of the sensing principle is first presented in which a relation is obtained between the pressure in a fluid compartment and the stiffness experienced by a handheld probe pushing on the compartment. Then a handheld sensor that can measure stiffness of an object without requiring the use of any inertial reference is presented. The handheld sensor consists of an array of three miniature force-sensing spring loaded pistons placed together on a probe. The center spring is chosen to be significantly stiffer than the side springs. The ratio of forces between the stiff and soft springs is proportional to the stiffness of the soft object against which the probe is pushed. Small millimeter-sized magnets on the pistons and magnetic field measurement chips are used to measure the forces in the individual pistons. Experimental results are presented using both an in vitro pneumatic test rig and a compliant agarose gel chamber that replicates a fluid pressure compartment. The sensor is shown to measure pressure accurately with a resolution of 0.1 psi over the range 0.75–2.5 psi. The developed sensor has the potential to be useful for convenient handheld diagnosis of compartment syndrome in traumatic extremity injuries.
Measurements of the primary instabilities of film flows

We present novel measurements of the primary instabilities of thin liquid films flowing down an incline. A fluorescence imaging method allows accurate measurements of film thickness h(x, y, t) in real time with a sensitivity of several microns, and laser beam deflection yields local measurements with a sensitivity of less than one micron. We locate the instability with good accuracy despite the fact that it occurs (asymptotically) at zero wavenumber, and determine the critical Reynolds number R, for the onset of waves as a function of angle ,8. The measurements of R,(/3) are found to be in good agreement with calculations, as are the growth rates and wave velocities. We show experimentally that the initial instability is convective and that the waves are noisesustained. This means that the waveform and its amplitude are strongly affected by external noise at the source. We investigate the role of noise by varying the level of periodic external forcing. The nonlinear evolution of the waves depends strongly on the initial wavenumber (or the frequency f). A new phase boundary e(R) is measured, which separates the regimes of saturated finite amplitude waves (at high f) from multipeaked solitary waves (at low f). This boundary probably corresponds approximately to the sign reversal of the third Landau coefficient in weakly nonlinear theory. Finally, we show that periodic waves are unstable over a wide frequency band with respect to a convective subharmonic instability. This instability leads to disordered two-dimensional waves.
Positioning of vagal nerve stimulators: technical note

Abstract BACKGROUND Vagal nerve stimulation has become an important treatment for patients with intractable seizure disorders. Many of these patients will require magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) of the brain after the stimulator has been implanted to monitor underlying neurologic conditions. Functional MRI (fMRI) is also being used in the evaluation of epilepsy. With the current recommended implant techniques the magnetic field of the MRI will deactivate the pulse generator while the patient is in the supine position for the scan. A simple change in positioning of the pulse generator will help to avoid deactivating the device during an MRI. This will avoid exposing the patient to lengthy time periods with a deactivated stimulator and also allow for the performance of fMRIs and any other MRI scans needed to monitor underlying neurologic conditions. METHODS A working model of the NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis (NCP®) pulse generator was assessed with an oscilloscope and LED light connected to it that related activation of the generator while in the MRI. This simulation was performed with the device alone, in multiple positions. Then patients with implanted devices who could personally confirm the activation of their stimulators were also studied. RESULTS A pulse generator placed with the electrode inputs parallel to the long axis of the body was not deactivated by the magnetic field of the MRI when the patient was in the supine position. CONCLUSION Changing the implant position of a vagal nerve stimulator pulse generator will help to prevent deactivation of the device while in the MRI, allowing for the performance of fMRIs while not exposing the patient to lengthy time periods with a deactivated vagal nerve stimulator.
Tolerating late memory traps in ILP processors

ILP processors can execute a large number of instructions at the same time. Thus it becomes more and more difficult to support traps efficiently. On the other hand a current trend in architecture is to support various memory functions in software rather than hardware, usually by trapping the execution processor on a cache miss, TLB miss or a failed access to a local or remote memory. These late memory traps block the faulting instruction at the top of the active list, backing up the pipeline. Moreover the support for late memory traps may affect the performance of non-faulting memory instructions as well.In this paper we analyze the overhead caused by late memory traps in ILP processors and define several measures for this overhead. In order to tolerate late memory traps, we propose hardware prefetching of exception conditions and a tagged Store buffer to implement deferred traps on Stores. We show that, with these hardware optimizations, the overhead added by the lateness of traps is significantly reduced relative to the overhead of early traps. Because of caching effects the frequency of late memory traps usually decreases as they are taken deeper in the memory hierarchy and their overall impact on the execution time becomes negligible.
A programmable point-of-care device for external CSF drainage and monitoring

This paper presents a prototype of a programmable cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) external drainage system that can accurately measure the dispensed fluid volume. It is based on using a miniature spectrophotometer to collect color data to inform drain rate and pressure monitoring. The prototype was machined with 1 μm dimensional accuracy. The current device can reliably monitor the total accumulated fluid volume, the drain rate, the programmed pressure, and the pressure read from the sensor. Device requirements, fabrication processes, and preliminary results with an experimental set-up are also presented.
Development of an EtherCAT enabled digital servo controller for the Green Bank Telescope

EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology) is gaining wide spread popularity in the automation industry as a real time field bus based on low cost, Ethernet hardware. EtherCAT maximizes use of 100Mbps Ethernet hardware by using a collision free ring topology, efficient Ethernet frame utilization (> 95%), and data exchange "on the fly". These characteristics enable EtherCAT to achieve Master to Slave node data exchange rates of > 1000 Hz. The Green Bank Telescope, commissioned in 2000, utilizes an analog control system for motion control of 8 elevation and 16 azimuth motors. This architecture, while sufficient for observations at frequencies up to 50GHz, has significant limitations for the current scientific goals of observing at 115GHz. Accordingly, the Green Bank staff has embarked on a servo upgrade project to develop a digital servo system which accommodates development and implementation of advanced control algorithms. This paper describes how the new control system requirements, use of existing infrastructure and budget constraints led us to define a distributed motion control architecture where EtherCAT real-time Ethernet was selected as the communication bus. Finally, design details are provided that describe how NRAO developed a custom EtherCAT-enabled motor controller interface for the GBT's legacy motor drives in order to provide technical benefits and flexibility not available in commercial products.
Effector and predisposing genes in murine lupus

This Publication is No. 11789-IMM from the Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road/IMM3, La Jolla, CA 92037. The work of the author reported herein was supported, in part, by NIH grants AR39555, AR31203, and AG15061.
Peer Review Anew: Three Principles and a Case Study in Postpublication Quality Assurance

Over the last 15 years, the Internet has enabled new modes of authorship, new forms of open licensing and distribution, and new forms of collaboration and peer production to flourish. But in turn, new anxieties have arisen, especially concerning quality assurance, peer review, reuse, and modification. New innovations are appearing in peer review, endorsement, the measurement of trust, and the understanding of reputation, but without any systematic analysis of the general principles of quality assurance and peer review in this new era. In this paper, we propose a general set of principles for understanding what peer review was in the past and how it should be applied today to different kinds of content and in new platforms for managing quality. The principles stress an analysis not only on the content in materials but also on their context of use. Our focus is on open educational resources, and we present a case study of the open education project Connexions' lens system for quality assurance and review. However, the principles can be applied across multiple levels of knowledge production, including scholarship in engineering and science and reference materials in addition to educational publishing.
A Method of Complete Optical Characterization for Rare Earth Doped LiNbO3: Total Site Selective Spectroscopy

Recently integrated cw lasers and traveling wave amplifiers have been reported in rare earth doped LiNbO3, an electro-optically active guided wave medium.1,2,3 Efforts to optimize rare earth doped LiNbO3 devices have focused on waveguide and cavity fabrication. Materials engineering of the gain media itself has not been addressed. This is, in part, due to the fact that rare earth doped LiNbO3 is so inhomogeneously broadened that it is not possible to optically characterize the system using standard site-selective spectroscopy alone.4 Er:LiNbO3 lasers display upconversion and, when pumped at 1479 nm in the π polarization can have simultaneous lasing at 1563 and 1576 nm, in the σ and π polarizations, respectively.3 The upconverted light arises from two possible processes, excited state absorption and/or non-radiative energy transfer. Excited state absorption is a fundamental aspect of a given system and must be accepted. Conversely, upconversion due to non-radiative energy transfer between coupled Er ions is produced by Er cluster sites and can be enhanced or suppressed by changing the concentration of these sites. The simultaneous lasing at two wavelengths is not yet understood.3
Getting started with library digitization projects: funding your first (and subsequent) digital projects

The digitization of our unique resources, and digital projects that exhibit and display these resources, have taken on a new importance in the electronic environment. Finding funds and support for these endeavors, however, requires skills and talents that often have to be developed individually. Yet, there are many funding sources for digitization and digital projects, and the rewards and monies are there for those who enter this arena. This article will examine how to prepare for, apply for funds and grants, and begin your first digitization project, as well as how to approach continued funding of digital projects.
The serine hydroxymethyltransferase of Plasmodium lophurae.

SYNOPSIS. Plasmodium lophurae serine hydroxymethyltransferase (EC 2.1.2.1) was partially purified and characterized by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme, precipitated by 3.0–3.3 m (NH4)2SO4, had a molecular weight of 68,300 as estimated by exclusion chromatography on G-100. The pH optimum of the enzyme was 6.8–7.6 in sodium phosphate-citrate buffer. Citrate stabilized the enzyme during storage in phosphate buffer at 4 C. The Km was 4.3 × 10−3m for l-serine and 2.5 × 10−4m for tetrahydrofolate.
The effect of endothelial cell overexpression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 on smooth muscle cell migration

Abstract Introduction: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a known inhibitor of plasminogen activators, may regulate smooth muscle cell migration (SMC) through alteration in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Methods: To study the effect of endothelial cell (EC) PAI-1 overexpression on SMC migration, RT-PCR was used to clone the full length PAI-1 gene, which was ligated into the pCMV/myc/ER expression vector. With electroporation, bovine aortic ECs were transfected with either the PAI-1 construct or the empty vector as control. EC PAI-1 overexpression was shown with a specific PAI-1 activity assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of EC PAI-1 overexpression on SMC migration was measured with a modified Boyden-chamber assay. SMC MMP expression was measured with zymography. Results: Selected clones (EC9, EC21) had a three-fold to five-fold increase in PAI-1 activity compared with untransfected EC and empty vector EC (ECC). Similarly, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed a 3.5-fold to 5.5-fold increase in PAI-1 levels in EC9 and EC21 versus ECC. Untransfected EC and ECC had similar effects on SMC migratory patterns. Migration of SMC exposed to PAI-1 overexpressing EC was inhibited by 35% to 57% compared with ECC. This inhibitory effect was reversed with addition of exogenous urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Zymography showed downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in SMCs exposed to PAI-1 overexpressing EC. Conclusion: PAI-1 overexpression with transfected EC inhibits SMC migration. This effect may be mediated through decreased SMC MMP activity. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:164-71.)
Vaccinia virus expression vector: a new tool for immunologists.

Abstract Advances in genetic engineering have made it possible to use animal viruses as vectors for expression of unrelatedgenes 1 . Small DNA viruses, such as SV40 and adenovirus, provide powerful tools for molecular biologists interested in studying the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. The more recent development of large DNA viruses, such as vaccinia virus 2–4 and herpes simplex virus 5 , as vectors may prove equally valuablefor immunological studies. These large viruses can express one or many foreign genes while retaining infectivity for animals as well as cultured cells. Moreover, the proteins appear to undergo appropriate processing steps including glycosylation and membrane transport. Here Bernard Moss reviews initial studies indicating that both humoral 6,7 and cell-mediated 8 immune responses are made to the expressed protein and that the recombinant viruses have potential as live vaccines 9,10 .
Adhesion Mediated by Fibronectin's Alternatively Spliced EDb(EIIIB) and Its Neighboring Type III Repeats

Adhesion functions of cellular fibronectin's (FN) alternatively spliced EDb (EIIIB) domain, as well as its neighboring type III repeats III7 and III8, were investigated with several cultured murine and human cell types. Minigene constructs encoding various permutations of these repeats and expressed in bacteria were used as shown previously in function studies of EDa and its neighboring repeats (P.Xia and L. A. Culp Exp. Cell Res. 213, 253-265, 1994). When substrata of recombinant proteins were incubated with several fibroblastic or neuronal derivative cell lines, cell attachment responses varied widely in a cell-type-specific manner. Balb/c 3T3 cells were shown to adhere to recombinant protein substrata in dose-dependent and EDTA-sensitive manners. Responses also varied with which repeat combinations were being tested, from excellent (Balb/c 3T3, src-3T3), to intermediate (Platt cells), to poor (LZEJ, VA-13, and F11), with EDb plus-containing proteins generally giving better adhesion than EDb minus proteins. On select recombinant proteins, cells showed limited cytoplasmic spreading (3T3 and src-3T3) or neurite extension (Platt and F11), while other cell lines (VA-13 and LZEJ) did not show any morphological changes beyond attachment. Again, EDb plus-containing recombinants were more effective at inducing these morphological changes than the neighboring repeats. These results demonstrate that the EDb domain of cellular FNs and its neighboring type III homology repeats contain important adhesion-promoting sequences, which may be regulated by cells through alternative splicing of FN's primary transcript.
On the nature of constraints for continua undergoing dissipative processes

When dealing with mechanical constraints, it is usual in continuum mechanics to enforce ideas that stem from the seminal work of Bernoulli and D'Alembert and require that internal constraints do no...
Diabetic cardiomyopathy. A unique entity or a complication of coronary artery disease

The increased incidence of congestive heart failure and the increased mortality and morbidity in the diabetic patient following myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass graft can be explained by the presence of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Noninvasive studies in young diabetic patients show no cardiac abnormality, but in older diabetic patients mild cardiac diastolic dysfunction is detectable. This mild cardiomyopathy can become clinically detectable in the presence of hypertension and can be severe in the presence of myocardial ischemia. Microvascular disease is unlikely to cause diabetic cardiomyopathy. Cellular changes, including defects in calcium transport and fatty acid metabolism, may lead to myocellular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, initially causing diastolic dysfunction that may advance to systolic dysfunction. Glycemic control, energetic detection and treatment of hypertension with appropriate antihypertensive agents, and early detection and treatment of ischemic heart disease are essential in preventing and treating diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Addressing International Empirical Puzzles: the Liquidity of Bonds

Models that assume bonds denominated in different currencies are perfect substitutes can not explain certain empirical puzzles: the exchange rate volatility puzzle is that these models can not explain the observed volatility in real and nominal exchange rates; the Backus-Smith puzzle is that these models can not explain the observed low correlation between real exchange rates and the ratio of home to foreign consumption; the Backus-Kehoe-Kydland puzzle is that these models can not explain the observed low correlation between home and foreign consumption; and finally, the uncovered interest parity puzzle is that these models can not explain the observed deviations from that parity. These long standing puzzles make the models harder to defend. In this paper, we present a symmetric two country portfolio balance model in which home and foreign bonds are imperfect substitutes for money in each country’s transactions technology; this of course makes home and foreign bonds imperfect substitutes for each other. Our calibrated model is capable of addressing the Backus-Smith puzzle and the Backus-Kehoe-Kydland puzzle. It does not fully resolve the exchange rate volatility puzzle, but it makes some headway. And finally it generates deviations from uncovered interest parity, though by some estimates these deviations are not large enough to be consistent with the data.
Parallel and distributed comments

Abstract I was asked to write a commentary to the paper ‘Hierarchical discourse therapy :a method for the mild patient’ by Claire Penn, Dilys Jones, and Victoria Joffe, to appear in the Clinical Forum of this journal. There is a continued need for new treatment programmes and for efficacy data on aphasia therapy, and I was pleased to prepare a commentary. The need for treatment programmes relative to discourse abilities is certainly well stated in the paper. Moreover, such a need extends not only to the mild patient but to all neurologically impaired persons who have linguistically or cognitively based communication disorders.
A Fluorescence Assay for Leucine Zipper Dimerization: Avoiding Unintended Consequences of Fluorophore Attachment

Formation of α-helical coiled-coil dimers represents one of the simplest examples of a specific protein−protein interaction. This dimerization mode is commonly observed among transcription regulato...
Identification of cardiovascular risk factors in homeless adults.

ABSTRACT Background Cardiovascular disease is an important health problem among homeless adults; however, the common cardiac risk factors present in this population are unknown. This study was undertaken to identify the reversible cardiovascular risks present in the homeless. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed randomly on 100 patients who were seen at a homeless clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana. These patients were compared with 200 matched nonhomeless patients who attended an inner-city primary care clinic. Each chart from the 2 groups was reviewed for the presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, cigarette smoking, and hypercholesterolemia. Statistical comparisons were made between the homeless and the control subjects. Results Hypertension was present in 65% of the homeless but only 52% of the nonhomeless [ P P Conclusions Smoking and hypertension are significantly more prevalent in the homeless population than in a matched cohort. Educational and preventive programs are needed to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and reduce the overutilization of expensive healthcare resources.
Auxiliary Motive Power for TerminatorBot: An Actuator Toolbox

A motive toolbox of reconfigurable modules is described to extend capabilities of the TerminatorBot. The robot can be statically reconfigured with both sensors and actuators for particular applications by way of the morphing bus. The morphing bus is a parallel bus that adapts to the modules connected. A software tool is provided to aid the user in static configuration. This paper focuses on three modules, still in the prototyping stage, for adding bulk motive force to the robot in a hybrid fashion. Methods of channeling the motive force are also discussed.
Replication and dissemination of La Crosse virus in the competent vector Aedes triseriatus and the incompetent vector Aedes hendersoni and evidence for transovarial transmission by Aedes hendersoni (Diptera: Culicidae).

The time course and pattern of the replication and dissemination of La Crosse virus was studied in orally infected Aedes triseriatus (Say) and Ae. hendersoni Cockerell. Development of La Crosse virus was approximately the same in both species when plaque assay titers of intact mosquitoes or dissected tissues were compared. The mosquitoes were equally susceptible to infection; all Ae. hendersoni and 99% of the Ae. triseriatus tested showed detectable midgut infections. Virus was first detected in hemolymph, salivary glands, and ovaries 10–13 d after infection in both species. The pattern of infection suggests virus dissemination beyond the midgut to be via the hemolymph. By 21 d after infection, 100% (10 of 10) of Ae. triseriatus and 70% (7 of 10) of Ae. hendersoni had infected salivary glands, and the geometric mean titer of Ae. hendersoni salivary glands was 10 times higher than the geometric mean titer of those of Ae. triseriatus. However, when tested for transmission 22 d after infection by refeeding on suckling mice, only 9% (2 of 22) of the Ae. hendersoni with disseminated infections transmitted virus versus 71% (12 of 17) of the Ae. triseriatus. A salivary gland escape barrier was shown to be primarily responsible for the failure of Ae. hendersoni to orally transmit La Crosse virus. However, eight parenterally infected Ae. hendersoni females transovarially transmitted the virus to 25% (5 of 20) of their progeny.
A new group of neurons in hypothalamus containing phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) but not tyrosine hydroxylase

Intraventricular injection of colchicine in rat results in the appearance within hypothalamus of numerous neurons containing the adrenaline-synthesizing enzyme, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase, but not the other catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes. Increased PNMT staining in hypothalamus was paralleled by an increase in PNMT activity measured in micropunch preparations. Immunotitration demonstrated that this increase was due to accumulation of specific enzyme protein. The finding that hypothalamic neurons express PNMT without tyrosine hydroxylase suggests that such neurons may produce methylated amines other than adrenaline.