cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PRICING REGULATIONS AND NETWORK TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION

This article evaluates the impact of the introduction of incentive regulation on technology deployment, as evaluated using two technology deployment metrics, among the population of local exchange carriers in the USA between 1988 and 2001. The regulatory schemes are disaggregated into five categories, permitting examination of heterogeneity among regulatory schemes. The results show that the rate of return method and the other intermediate incentive schemes implemented have had a negative impact on technology deployment. Conversely, the introduction of pure price caps schemes had a positive and significant impact on firms’ technology deployment. These results highlight the importance of appropriate incentive compatible mechanism design in motivating firms to adopt the new and important technologies that have been developed.
Privacy preserving performance enhancements for anonymous communication networks

An anonymous communication system hides the fact that two parties are communicating, and as a result, drastically improves the online privacy of those using it. Tor is the most popular anonymous communication system deployed, but its popularity has illuminated problems with its design that have made it unbearably slow for many users who would otherwise benefit from its protections. These performance problems have been recognized, but there has been little work on designing and properly evaluating practical solutions that improve performance while also preserving privacy. We initiate an exploration into Tor's system design and the quality of the communication it provides. First, we design and develop a simulation tool, called Shadow, that allows us to experiment with the Tor software in a safe but realistic and controllable manner. We then give a precise model of the Tor network, the backbone networks upon which it operates, and the user agents operating within it. We show that by combining our model with Shadow, our experimentation environment is capable of producing network interactions and performance qualities indicative of real systems. We then investigate performance enhancements in three major areas of Tor's design. We explore Tor's utilization of resources by evaluating both existing and new circuit scheduling techniques, and show the extent to which scheduling can be used to prioritize traffic in order to improve desirable quality metrics. We then design and evaluate algorithms focused on reducing network load by throttling agents that consume an unfair share of network resources. Finally, in an effort to supplement Tor's volunteered resources, we design and analyze two schemes that increase network capacity by providing incentives to those contributing resources to the system.
Turbo decoder architectures for low-density parity-check codes

Turbo decoding of low-density parity-check (LDPC) and generalized low-density (GLD) codes and the corresponding decoder architectures are considered. A regular (c, r)-LDPC code of length n is viewed as the intersection of c interleaved super-codes where each super-code is the direct sum of n/r independent single parity-check sub-codes. Extensions to GLD codes simply utilize more powerful sub-codes. The turbo decoding schedule is employed to decode LDPC and GLD codes using constituent soft-input soft-output (SISO) decoders that communicate through c interleavers. The proposed schedule exhibits a faster convergence behavior, and hence lower decoding latency, than the commonly employed two-phase schedule, and has a reduced memory requirement that is a function of the number of super-codes. The performance of the turbo decoding schedule is evaluated through simulations over an AWGN channel.
A new member of an old family

A newly discovered platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoform, PDGF-CC, is expressed in the mouse kidney during development, at a time and location distinct from those of the other two known PDGFs. These findings, as well as the biochemical characterization of PDGF-CC, indicate that it may represent a new ligand for the PDGF α-receptor.
Chpater 4 – Downhole Equipment

Publisher Summary Air and gas drilling operations require some special subsurface equipment and drilling methods. This chapter explores the downhole equipment used in such operations. Deep direct circulation operations use rotary drill strings. Larger diameter shallow- and intermediate-depth wells are usually drilled with reverse circulation techniques. Two general types of drill strings are used: the standard drill string (used exclusively for deep direct circulation operations) and the dual wall pipe drill string (used exclusively for intermediate and shallow depth reverse circulation operations). There are three basic types of rotary drill bits used in air and gas drilling operations: drag bits, roller cutter bits, and air hammer bits. An example of numerical classification chart for insert drill bits is given. The bottom hole assembly is the section of the drill string below the drill pipe. It is this section of the drill string that determines how much weight can be placed on the drill bit and how “straight” a vertical borehole will be drilled with the drill string. Downhole surveys are used to describe the deviation of a drilled borehole from the ideal vertical centerline of the intended well. There are four types of drill pipe used in air and gas drilling operations: standard API drill pipe, heavyweight drill pipe, drill rod, and dual wall pipe. Drill strings used in direct circulation drilling operations are fitted with several safety valves.
Athermal silicon ring resonators clad with titanium dioxide for 1.3µm wavelength operation

We investigate the athermal characteristics of silicon waveguides clad with TiO(2) designed for 1.3 µm wavelength operation. Using CMOS-compatible fabrication processes, we realize and experimentally demonstrate silicon photonic ring resonators with resonant wavelengths that vary by less than 6 pm/°C at 1.3 µm. The measured ring resonance wavelengths across the 20-50°C temperature range show nearly complete cancellation of the first-order thermo-optical effects and exhibit second-order thermo-optical effects expected from the combination of TiO(2) and Si.
Using pharmacokinetics in drug therapy III: Estimating dosage regimens and blood levels using the fraction-lost method

The "fraction of drug lost during dosage interval" method, which yields rapid estimates for drug dosage regimens and blood levels, is described. Estimation of the fraction lost during a dosage interval allows further calculation of dosage regimens and steady-state blood levels. The estimates derived from this method are valid only when the pharmacokinetics of the drug are linear and elimination from the body occurs according to first-order kinetics. Other limitations of the method are discussed.
Ultrasonic cleaning of diamond knives

A new method of cleaning diamond knives used in ultramicrotomy is presented which utilizes ultrasonic rather than mechanical techniques. The probability of damaging the knife edge during the cleaning process is thereby greatly reduced. Also, diamond knives cleaned by ultrasonics seem to be far cleaner than those cleaned by other means.
A THEORY OF THE TEMPORAL AND LATITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION OF TEMPERATURE

Abstract An attempt is made to explain the observed distribution of mean temperature near the earth's surface over latitude and through the year in terms of insolation, radiative processes, and large-scale atmospheric eddy conduction of sensible heat. The results are close to the observations and indicate that these three factors explain most of the observed distribution. The larger discrepancies are all explainable in terms of physical factors which were not included in the theory.
LA CULTURA ANGLOFONA NELL'OPERA DI ITALO CALVINO:

Questo articolo rivela la passione profonda che Calvino nutriva per la letteratura anglofona, tanto inglese quanto americana. Riconoscendo l'influenza della cultura statunitense su quella europea e...
Positive and negative effective mass of classical particles in oscillatory and static fields.

A classical particle oscillating in an arbitrary high-frequency or static field effectively exhibits a modified rest mass ${m}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ derived from the particle averaged Lagrangian. Relativistic ponderomotive and diamagnetic forces, as well as magnetic drifts, are obtained from the ${m}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ dependence on the guiding center location and velocity. The effective mass is not necessarily positive and can result in backward acceleration when an additional perturbation force is applied. As an example, adiabatic dynamics with ${m}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}g0$ and ${m}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}l0$ is demonstrated for a wave-driven particle along a dc magnetic field, ${m}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ being the effective longitudinal mass derived from ${m}_{\mathrm{eff}}$. Multiple energy states are realized in this case, yielding up to three branches of ${m}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}$ for a given magnetic moment and parallel velocity.
A review and projection of semiconductor components for digital storage

Evolution of present integrated-circuit technology over the remainder of the decade should result in semiconductor memories which are competitive with moving-surface memories and other alternatives in many digital storage applications requiring 107-1010bits capacity. This paper considers MOS, MNOS, CCD, and bipolar component approaches to this objective. Cost, reliability, and power consumption, as affected by technological choices, receive attention. Alternative device technologies and circuit designs are examined. The one-transistor MOS RAM is seen to have potential for considerable growth. Packaging and interconnection methods for low cost and high reliability are considered; evolution of existing techniques is expected. Reliability and maintainability characteristics are seen to be controlled by device technology, component organization, and packaging characteristics. Testing, screening, and error-correction techniques are considered. Projections of component characteristics are extended to outline hypothetical designs for 4-million-bit and 256-million-bit storage systems which might be built by 1980. Features include 64K-bit MOS RAM components on die of area under 100 mm2, system selling price of 40 m¢/bit, power consumption well below 1 µW/bit, system MTBF greater than 105h, and physical density on the order of 16000 bits/ cm3. The basis for projected parameters is explained. The advantages and drawbacks of these hypothetical systems relative to moving-surface magnetic storage systems are outlined.
Optimization of Wind Turbine Blade Airfoils Using a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm

The FX, DU, and NACA 64 series airfoils are thick airfoils widely used for wind turbine blade applications. They have several advantages in meeting the intrinsic requirements for wind turbines in terms of design point, off-design capabilities, and structural properties. This study employs a multi-objective genetic algorithm for shape optimization of FX, DU, and NACA 64 series airfoils to achieve two objectives, namely, the generation of both maximum lift and maximum lift-to-drag ratio. A commercially available computational fluid dynamics software package is employed for calculation of the flowfield using the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations in conjunction with a turbulence model. It is shown that the multi-objective genetic algorithm can generate superior airfoils compared to the original airfoils.
Thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the Li-graphite system from first-principles calculations

We present an ab initio study of the thermodynamics and kinetics of ${\text{Li}}_{\text{x}}{\text{C}}_{6}$, relevant for anode Li intercalation in rechargeable Li batteries. In graphite, the interlayer interactions are dominated by Van der Waals forces, which are not captured with standard density-functional theory (DFT). By calculating the voltage profile for Li intercalation into graphite and comparing it to experimental results, we find that only by correcting for vdW interactions between the graphene planes is it possible to reproduce the experimentally observed sequence of phases, as a function of Li content. At higher Li content the interlayer binding forces are increasingly due to Li-C interactions, which are well characterized by DFT. Using the calculated energies, corrected for the vdW interactions, we derive an ab initio lattice model, based on the cluster-expansion formalism, that accounts for interactions among Li ions in ${\text{Li}}_{\text{x}}{\text{C}}_{6}$ having a stage I and stage II structure. We find that the resulting cluster expansions are dominated by Li-Li repulsive interactions. The phase diagram, obtained from Monte Carlo simulations, agrees well with experiments except at low Li concentrations as we exclude stage III and stage IV compounds. Furthermore, we calculate Li migration barriers for stage I and stage II compounds and identify limiting factors for Li mobility in the in-plane dilute as well as in the high Li concentration range. The Li diffusivity, obtained through kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, slowly decreases as a function of Li content, consistent with increasing Li-Li repulsions. However, overall we find very fast Li diffusion in bulk graphite, which may have important implications for Li battery anode optimizations.
Theory of melted flux liquids

Novel intermediate flux states should be accessible in high-${T}_{c}$ superconductors, where it appears that the conventional Abrikosov flux lattice is melted over a significant portion of the (H,T) plane. We discuss the Lindemann criterion, and argue that fluctuations in a flux crystal are highly anisotropic, so that an asymptotically two-dimensional melting transition is possible as the shear modulus drops toward zero for many sample geometries and field orientations. We then describe the ``entangled flux liquid'' which arises at high-flux densities or thick samples. The statistical mechanics of this liquid is closely related to the physics of two-dimensional superfluids. The decay of vortex line correlations along the field direction is controlled by the superfluid excitation spectrum. A renormalization-group analysis shows how line wandering changes the nature of the B(H) constitutive relation near ${H}_{c1}$. We suggest that a heavily entangled flux liquid could exhibit a shear modulus on experimental time scales, in analogy with viscoelastic behavior in dense polymer melts.
The Survival and Developmental Outcome of Extremely Low Birthweight Infants

Le but de cette etude retrospective est de comparer les facteurs affectant la survie et le developpement de nourrissons nes avec un poids de naissance extremement bas (abrege ELBW; <1001 mgs.). 140 sur 223 nouveau-nes ELBW (63%) de deux Unites de Soin Intensif Neonatal de niveau III nes entre 1986 et 1988 ont survecu jusqu'a leur sortie de l'hopital. Un poids de naissance plus faible, un Apgar de 5 minutes ≥ 3, et aucune administration de surfactant etaient les meilleurs facteurs de prevision de mortalite infantile, evalue par regression logistique (classification correcte = 78%). Le fonctionnement de 34 de ces nourrissons a ete evalue a approximativement 18 mois avec les Echelles Bayley de Developpement Infantile. La performance moyenne sur l'Index de Developpement Mental (abrege MDI) etait de 88,65 ± 21,75 avec 35,3 et 20,6 pourcent des nourrissons marquant, respectivement, une (< 85) et deux (< 70) erreurs types sous la moyenne. Suppose que l'enfant survive, l'hemorragie intraventiculaire (IVH, groupe III ou IV) etait le meilleur facteur de prediction de la performance MDI, evalue a travers une regression multiple des etapes (ajustee R 2 =,23). La paralysie cerebrale a affecte un cinquieme de l'echantillon et etait aussi la mieux predite par IVH. La discussion met l'accent sur les implications conceptuelles et pratiques de la decouverte que la survie infantile et le statut de developpement du nourrisson etaient associes des facteurs differents.
New developments in the use of cases for learning

The case method’s use has grown steadily since its inception in the 1920s. The number of cases available to instructors, and the number of case writers and the outlets for their cases, has increased to meet the demand. Recent developments in the use of cases for teaching purposes are related to the types of computer‐based case analysis software available, an expanding number of case sources, the advent of customized publishing, and the professionalization of case writing and of those who engage in the method.
On the issue of defuzzification and selection based on a fuzzy set

Abstract We are concerned with the problem of selecting a crisp element based on information provided by a fuzzy set, a problem which manifests itself in the defuzzification step in fuzzy logic controllers. We provide a unifying approach to this selection process. Among other characteristics this unification puts the defuzzification methods of mean of maxima and center of gravity in the same framework. We show that this selection can be viewed as a three step operation: transformation of the decision fuzzy set; normalization to probability distribution; selection based on the probability distribution. A number of different procedures for selection are discussed.
Management of a child with acute thyroxine ingestion.

We report a case of thyroxine overdose in a child. Despite extremely high thyroxine (T 4 RIA) levels on admission, the patient's only symptoms were mild hypertension and tachycardia. Both symptoms responded to propranolol, with a drop in pulse rate and a decrease in blood pressure to normal levels. After four days of cardiac monitoring, the patient was released and received propranolol for five additional days as an outpatient.
Connectedness of a variety generated by an order ideal on the punctured spectrum

We prove that the variety defined by the order ideal is connected on the punctured spectrum if the dimension of a ring is not less than the rank of a module + 2 .
Organization and expression of Drosophila tropomyosin genes.

A genomic clone containing two tropomyosin-coding sequences has been isolated from a library of Drosophila melanogaster DNA and identified by a positive hybridization selection and an in vitro translation procedure. In vitro translation yielded two products that comigrated with chicken and Drosophila tropomyosins in sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels and underwent the mobility shift characteristic of vertebrate tropomyosins in sodium dodecyl sulfate/urea/polyacrylamide gels. The Drosophila polypeptides also shared several proteolytic fragments with chicken tropomyosins. The cloned DNA hybridized to a single site in region 88F 2–5 on the right arm of chromosome 3 of polytene chromosomes and to the set of restriction fragments in genomic DNA predicted from the cloned sequences, indicating that similar tropomyosin-coding sequences are not located at other sites in the genome. The 18 × 103 base-pair cloned segment contains three regions complementary to Drosophila embryo RNA separated by non-coding sequences. Two of these coding regions encode tropomyosin I and tropomyosin II; no protein product has been identified for the third coding region. The expression of the two tropomyosin genes is developmentally regulated during embryo development and in primary myogenic cultures, with abundant transcripts occurring at the onset of muscle cell fusion. The third coding region is homologous to abundant RNA transcripts found in earlier stages of embryo development, in primary myogenic cultures and in the Drosophila Kc cultured cell line.
Three-dimensional surface inspection using interferometric grating and 2-D FFT-based technique

A new method, based on a combination of interferometric grating projection and 2D digital FFT-based phase measurement, is presented for 3D shape measurement and surface inspection. This technique can generate a grating pattern focusing everywhere in its illumination space; thus, it has infinity focus depth. This capability makes it possible to improve measurement sensitivity by increasing the projection angle without losing the grating focus, making it more suitable for surface inspection of a large object. The sinusoidal intensity distribution of the grating, the monotonic phase nature of the fringe pattern coded on the object surface, and the phase information spectra clustered in the frequency domain make data deduction by this technique not only possible, but more accurate.
Use of quantum dots for live cell imaging

. Despite their considerable advantages in live cell imaging, organic fluorophores are subject to certain limitations. Fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) are inorganic fluorescent nanocrystals that overcome many of these limitations and provide a useful alternative for studies that require long-term and multicolor imaging of cellular and molecular interactions
Abilities Are Forms of Developing Expertise

The goal of this article is to provide a link between the literatures on human abilities and on expertise. The main argument of this article is that human abilities are forms of developing expertise. In a sense, then, tests of abilities are no different from conventional tests of achievement, teacher-made tests administered in school, or assessments of job performance. Although tests of abilities are used as predictors of these other kinds of performance, the temporal priority of their administration should not be confused with some kind of psychological priority. Abilities, as they are measured by these tests, are as much forms of developing expertise as are any other forms of developing expertise measured in whatever way. There is no qualitative distinction among the various kinds of measures. The article presents a model that implies a shift away from educational practice grounded in traditional ability-achievement relationships and toward practice grounded in the development of knowledge-based experti...
Remeasurement of γ-Ray reference lines

Abstract Over the last several years, we have established a new and significantly improved measurement chain connecting γ-ray lines with visible reference standards. This chain has three links: First, a Si lattice repeat distance is determined by combined X-ray and optical interferometry. Second, this crystal calibration is transferred to other specimens suited to γ-ray diffraction. Finally, these crystals are used in a transmission double-crystal instrument to determine γ-ray wavelengths via the Bragg-Laue equation. To obtain the required precision and accuracy, the spectrometer is fitted with angle interferometers of considerable sensitivity (∼0.05 marcsec) and these are calibrated by summing to closure the external interfacial angles of a 72-sided optical polygon. This report focuses on the apparatus and methodology of the third step but includes descriptions of the first two also. Results are presented from tests of closure using cascade-crossover relations and inter-order comparisons. Energies for γ-transitions in 198Au, 192Ir, 170Tm, 169Yb, together with the X-ray transition W Kα1 are included. γ-Ray wavelength accuracies are estimated to be near 0.5 ppm.
The anterolateral thigh flap is highly effective for reconstruction of complex lower extremity trauma.

BACKGROUND: Trauma patients with high-energy injuries often present with severe tissue damage that extends beyond the immediate zone of injury and requires recruitment of vascularized tissues from distant sites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap for reconstruction of the traumatically injured lower extremity. METHODS: Prospective data were collected on all patients who underwent lower extremity reconstruction with an ALT flap during a 3.5-year period at a primary adult resource center (PARC). Demographics captured included age, gender, Injury Severity Score, mechanism of injury, and size of defect and complications. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients underwent a total of 59 ALT flap harvests during the study period. The majority of patients were male (75%) and sustained blunt injury (95%). The mean age was 37 +/- 14 years with a mean Injury Severity Score of 17.9 +/- 8. The mean flap size was 20.7 x 8.4 cm, with 64% harvested from the injured limb. Total flap success rate was 91.5%, with four total (6.7%) and one partial flap failure (1.7%). CONCLUSION: The ALT flap is a useful tool for trauma reconstruction in lower extremity salvage. We have shown that the ALT flap can be performed successfully in the traumatically injured patient even when harvested from the ipsilateral lower extremity.
New Records and a New Species of the Dohrniphora longirostrata Group (Diptera: Phoridae)

Abstract New country records are given for three species of the Neotropical Dohrniphora longirostrata group: D. bicostula Kung and Brown is recorded from Brazil and Peru, D. oricilla Kung and Brown from Mexico, and D. perpendicularis Kung and Brown from Brazil. A further new species in this group, D. protensa n. sp., is described from Brazil, and is compared to the similar D. longirostrata (Enderlein).
The role of marine aggregates in the ingestion of picoplankton-size particles by suspension-feeding molluscs

Suspension-feeding molluscs are important members of coastal communities and a large body of literature focuses on their feeding processes, including the efficiency of particle capture. Some molluscs, such as bivalves, capture individual picoplankton cells (0.2–2.0 μm) with a retention efficiency of less than 50%, leading to the assumption that such particles are not an important food resource. Picoplankton, however, are often concentrated in particle aggregates of much larger size. This study investigates the ability of suspension feeders to ingest picoplankton-size particles (0.2–2.0 μm) bound in marine aggregates. We fed clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), mussels (Mytilus edulis), oysters (Crassostrea virginica), scallops (Argopecten irradians) and slipper snails (Crepidula fornicata) 1.0- and 0.5-μm fluorescent particles (either polystyrene beads or bacteria) that were (1) dispersed in seawater, or (2) embedded within laboratory-made aggregates. Dispersed 10-μm beads were also delivered so that feeding activity could be determined. Ingested fluorescent particles were recovered in feces or isolated digestive glands and quantified. Results indicate that aggregates significantly enhance the ingestion of 1.0- and 0.5-μm beads by all species of bivalves, and enhance the ingestion of bacteria (greatest cell dimension ca. 0.6 μm) by all suspension feeders examined. Differences among species in their ability to ingest aggregates and picoplankton-size particles, however, were evident. Compared to mussels and clams, scallops and oysters ingested fewer aggregates with 1.0-μm beads or bacteria, and slipper snails ingested the most dispersed beads and bacteria. These differences may be a consequence of variations in gill structure and mechanisms of particle processing. Our data demonstrate that suspension feeders can ingest picoplankton-size particles that are embedded within aggregates, and suggest that such constituent particles may be an important food resource.
Effect of Pressure on the e- + Pyrimidine ⇌ Pyrimidine- Equilibrium in Nonpolar Solvents

The thermodynamics of the equilibrium reaction e- + pyrimidine ⇌ pyrimidine- was studied in tetramethylsilane (TMS) and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (TMP) as solvents. In hexane, only the forward attachment reaction could be observed. The attachment rate constants (ka) increase with temperature in all solvents. The equilibrium shifts to the right with increasing pressure because of the large, negative reaction volumes (−200 to −330 cm3/mol). The volume changes are consistent with electrostriction by the pyrimidine anion when a glass shell of solvent molecules is included. The free energy of reaction at 298 K is −0.43 eV in tetramethylsilane at 1 bar and −0.70 eV in 2,2,4-trimethylpentane at 150 bar. The solution free energies indicate the gas-phase (adiabatic) electron affinity of pyrimidine is −0.24 eV.
Mouse mammary gland dna synthesis during pregnancy.

Mammary explants from virgin and pregnant Balb/c mice were incubated with 3H-thymidine, and its incorporation into TCA-precipitable material was determined. In addition, the labeling index of alveolar and ductal epithelial cells was determined by autoradiography. Incorporation of precursor into mammary tissue from pregnant animals was elevated above that of virgin animals on each day of pregnancy. During pregnancy, there were three periods of peak incorporation (on days 3, 7, and 11-15). The labeling index of epithelial cells also increased during this period. Ductal cells had a peak labeling index on day 3 (30%), which dropped thereafter to comparatively low levels (3-6%) for the rest of pregnancy. With the exception of days 1 and 3, the labeling index of ductal cells showed no difference between midnight and noon. Alveolar structures were first observed in histological preparations on day 5 of pregnancy. The labeling index of alveolar cells was higher than that of ductal cells during the rest of pregnancy, and on most days showed a diurnal fluctuation, being greater at midnight than at noon. The labeling index of alveolar cells had peak values at midnight on days 7 (23%) and 11-13 (20%). This daily fluctuation in DNA synthesis by alveolar cells is a circadian rhythm; pregnant animals continued to show this rhythm after 13 days in constant darkness, and animals maintained on a reversed light schedule had a reversed rhythm. Mammary tissue shows a complex pattern of DNA synthesis during pregnancy, reflecting the different characteristics of ductal and alveolar epithelial cells.
The Human T Cell Receptor Repertoire Utilized in Response to HBsAg

The complexity of the T cell receptor beta (TCRB) chain repertoire utilized in the recognition of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was investigated. T cell lines were derived from two individuals vaccinated with Recombivax-HB and the TCRB repertoire was characterized by spectratype analysis, a molecular technology based on the differential size display of the complementarily determining region 3 (CDR3) of the TCRB chain. In contrast to the Gaussian distribution of CDR3 lengths observed for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), highly restricted patterns of CDR3 lengths were observed for most TCRB variable gene families in HBsAg-specific T cell lines (TCL). Although similarities in the repertoire of TCL derived from the two donors were noted, each TCL presented an unique profile of CDR3 length diversity. Among the TCR used by the two donors, no CDR3 sequence identity within or between TCRBV families was observed. Additionally, conservation of specific amino acids at homologous positions of the CDR3s was not evident. The T cell repertoire in response to HBsAg is oligoclonal, involves multiple TCRBV families and is individually specific.
Neutral sterol metabolism in insects

Since they are unable to biosynthesize sterols, many phytophagous and omnivorous insects satisfy their cholesterol requirement by side chain dealkylation of the C-24 alkyl group of dietary C28 and C29 phytosterols. However, not all insects that can dealkylate the phytosterol side chain produce cholesterol. In addition, certain insects,e.g., some Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, and Diptera, are unable to dealkylate the sterol side chain. Although C27 ecdysteroids (molting hormones), which are biosynthesized from cholesterol, are the major ecdysteroids in most insects, many of those species that are unable to dealkylate phytosterols utilize campesterol as a precursor for the C28 ecdysteroid makisterone A. The considerable diversity of steroid utilization between certain insect species makes it difficult to generalize about insect steroid biochemistry. The ability to disrupt certain unique aspects of steroid utilization and metabolism in insects might be exploited for developing new insect control technology.
A specialized finite element for the study of woven composites

A specialized finite element is developed for the study of woven composites. The element utilizes an asymptotic displacement expansion comprised of the homogenized displacements and the local micro-displacements associated with the woven unit-cell elasto-statics. Basic trigonometric functions first developed in [1], are employed as solutions to the local woven unit-cell problem under a general state of in-plane loading. The formulation also incorporates robust unit-cell geometry models for both polymer and ceramic matrix woven systems. As a result, the element can be used to predict not only the macroscopic homogeneous elastic response but also the microscopic elastic response of a finite geometry of a woven composite subjected to a general in-plane as well as transverse bending loading. The element performance is demonstrated by solving the finite geometry uni-axial tension problem and via near-tip studies for a crack under mode-I, mode-II, and mixed mode fracture conditions. In each case, the specialized element predictions are compared to known solutions for a corresponding cracked orthotropic material subjected to the same macroscopic loading conditions as well as the approximate solutions obtained using the well established 4-noded isoparametric plane elasticity element.
Roles for bone-marrow-derived cells in β-cell maintenance

With more than 177 million people suffering from diabetes worldwide, and the number expected to double by 2030, finding new ways to treat this disease is a high priority. Intensive effort is being directed towards developing mechanisms for increasing β-cell expansion as a diabetic therapeutic. Recent studies, in which adult bone marrow has been used to induce β-cell expansion in mice, have shown both exciting and controversial results. In these reports, marrow-derived cells can contribute towards β-cell maintenance both by promoting endogenous β-cell expansion and possibly by transdifferentiation into β-cells. These studies reveal mechanisms for potential therapeutic intervention.
The FupA/B protein uniquely facilitates transport of ferrous iron and siderophore-associated ferric iron across the outer membrane of Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain.

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious Gram-negative pathogen that replicates intracellularly within the mammalian host. One of the factors associated with virulence of F. tularensis is the protein FupA that mediates high-affinity transport of ferrous iron across the outer membrane. Together with its paralogue FslE, a siderophore–ferric iron transporter, FupA supports survival of the pathogen in the host by providing access to the essential nutrient iron. The FupA orthologue in the attenuated live vaccine strain (LVS) is encoded by the hybrid gene fupA/B, the product of an intergenic recombination event that significantly contributes to attenuation of the strain. We used 55Fe transport assays with mutant strains complemented with the different paralogues to show that the FupA/B protein of LVS retains the capacity for high-affinity transport of ferrous iron, albeit less efficiently than FupA of virulent strain Schu S4. 55Fe transport assays using purified siderophore and siderophore-dependent growth assays on iron-limiting agar confirmed previous findings that FupA/B also contributes to siderophore-mediated ferric iron uptake. These assays further demonstrated that the LVS FslE protein is a weaker siderophore–ferric iron transporter than the orthologue from Schu S4, and may be a result of the sequence variation between the two proteins. Our results indicate that iron-uptake mechanisms in LVS differ from those in Schu S4 and that functional differences in the outer membrane iron transporters have distinct effects on growth under iron limitation.
Pore scale modeling of immiscible and miscible fluid flows using smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Abstract A numerical model based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) was developed and used to simulate immiscible and miscible fluid flows in porous media and to study effects of pore scale heterogeneity and anisotropy on such flows. Models for heterogeneous porous media were generated by using randomly located non-intersecting circular grains of different sizes, and pore scale anisotropy was introduced by randomly inserting non-overlapping particles on either side of the gap between two self-affine fractal curves to create a microfracture. Different fluid wetting behaviors and surface tensions were modeled using pair-wise particle–particle interactions. In simulations of miscible fluid flow, particles with variable, composition dependent, masses and viscosities were used. Artificial surface tension effects were avoided by basing the SPH equations on the particle number density.
Recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated correction of lysosomal storage within the central nervous system of the adult mucopolysaccharidosis type VII mouse.

The central nervous system (CNS) is a predominant site of involvement in several lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs); and for many patients, these diseases are diagnosed only after the onset of symptoms related to the progressive accumulation of macromolecules within lysosomes. The mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII) mice are deficient for the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucuronidase and, by early adulthood, develop a significant degree of glycosaminoglycan storage within neuronal, glial, and leptomeningeal cells. Using this animal model, we investigated whether gene transfer mediated by a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector is capable of reversing the progression of storage lesions within the CNS. Adult MPS VII mice received intracerebral injections of 4 X 107 infectious units of a rAAV vector carrying the murine beta-glucuronidase (gus-sa) cDNA under the transcriptional direction of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter and enhancer. By 1 month after vector administration, transgene-de...
Mush-chimney convection

Mush-chimney convection occurs in a system consisting of a layer of mixed solid and liquid bounded by liquid above and solid below. The solid phase of the mush is composed of the denser constituent of the alloy, making the residual liquid compositionally buoyant as solidification proceeds. The liquid is in steady, nonlinear convection, consisting of a downward flow in the mush and an upward flow in a chimney, free of solid, which formed spontaneously in the mush as a result of the interaction between flow and structure. A well-posed continuum mathematical model of this system is developed. A novel feature of this analysis is the development of an equation that determines the chimney radius. Material diffusion is an essential ingredient in this equation, but is negligible elsewhere. In the parameter range considered, the problem is well posed without the necessity of specifying the condition of marginal phase equilibrium. A remarkably simple analytic solution is obtained for the convective flow in the chimney.
β-Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase: Lack in Ruminant Liver Mitochondria

The enizyme D(-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase has been reported to occur in all mitochondria isolated from mammalian tissues and is especially high in liver. By contrast only very low concentration of the enzyme is detectable in mitachondria from bovine and sheep liver. The amount of the enzyme in mitochondria from other ruminant tissues such as kidney and heart are comparable with those from mammalian sources. The verv low activity of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is not referable to the iniability of substrates to penetrate milochondria or to decreased electron transfer activity but rather to a lack of the enzyne in ruminant liver mitochondria.
Mössbauer effect in some complex borosilicate glasses

Abstract Mossbauer spectra were obtained for three samples of a complex borosilicate glass which contained varying amounts of iron. Ferric and ferrous ions were present with isomet shifts of 0.07 mm/sec and 0.80 mm/sec, respectively, relative to a Co in Cu source. The quadrupole splittings were 0.69 mm/sec for Fe 3+ and 2.08 mm/sec for Fe 2+ . The results indicate that Fe 3+ is present as a glass former in surroundings with tetrahedral symmetry, and that the Fe 2+ ions are exposed to widely varying electric field gradients.
Automated Tool for Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) Synthesis in Mixed Signal Applications

In spite of the fact that electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structures have become very important part for switching noise management in mixed-signal systems, antenna applications, and filter applications, there has been no design tool for EBG structures. Consequently, electromagnetic (EM) simulation has been iterated to design an EBG structure for a given design specification. As a result, designing EBG structures has been computationally expensive as well as time consuming. This paper presents a design tool for EBG structures in mixed signal applications where digital is combined with RF. The suggested design tool has been fully automated by combining genetic algorithm (GA), multilayer finite-difference method (M-FDM), and dispersion diagram analysis method together.
Intention-based scoring: an approach to measuring success at solving the composition problem

Traditional methods of evaluating student programs are not always appropriate for assessment of different instructional interventions. They tend to focus on the final product rather than on the process that led to it. This paper presents intention-based scoring (IBS), an approach to measuring programming ability that looks at intermediate programs produced over the course of an implementation rather than just the one at the end. The intent is to assess a student's ability to produce algorithmically correct code on the first attempt at achieving each program goal. In other words, the goal is to answer question "How close was the student to being initially correct?" but not to speak to a student's debugging skills or ability to ultimately produce a working program. To produce an IBS, it is necessary to inspect a student's online protocol, which is simply the collection of all programs submitted to a compiler. IBS involves a three-phase process of (1) identification of the subset of all programs in a protocol that represent the initial attempts at achieving programming goals, (2) bug identification, and (3) rubric-based scoring. We conclude with an example application of IBS in the evaluation of a tutoring system for beginning programmers and also show how an IBS can be broken down by the underlying bug categories to reveal more subtle differences.
Bio-Orthogonal Polymer Coatings for Co-Presentation of Biomolecules

Controlled presentation of biomolecules on synthetic substrates is an important aspect for biomaterials development. If the immobilization of multiple biomolecules is required, highly efficient orthogonal surface chemistries are needed to ensure the precision of the immobilization. In this communication, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) copolymerization is used to fabricate polymer coatings with controlled ratio of alkyne and pentafluorophenyl ester (Pfp-ester) groups. Cyclic argine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) adhesion peptide and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are immobilized through alkyne-azide cycloaddtion ("click" chemistry) and active ester-amine reaction, respectively. Cell studies with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and A431 cell lines demonstrate the biological activity of the coimmobilized biomolecules.
Covalency in f-element bonds

Abstract The actinide concept proposed by Seaborg in 1945 involves a close relationship between the trivalent 4f (Ln) and the 5f (An) elements. The trivalent ions of these two families have very similar properties due to strong ionic bonding and similar ionic radii. Their similarity led to the successful formation of element 95–103 over the next 30 years by accurate prediction of the chemistry of the undiscovered elements. In the early 1950s, a small degree of covalency was proposed in the bonding of the lanthanide elements. However, controversy continues today on the degree of covalency in the bonds of the 4f and 5f elements. The interpretation of data in terms of covalency in the M–L bonds is reviewed with emphasis on which orbitals are involved.
Relationship of Impaired Olfactory Function in ESRD to Malnutrition and Retained Uremic Molecules

Background Olfactory function is impaired in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and may contribute to uremic anorexia. Only limited correlations of olfactory function and nutritional status were reported. This study examines the relationship of impaired olfactory function to malnutrition and levels of the retained uremic solutes monomethylamine, ethylamine, indoxyl sulfate, and P-cresol sulfate. Study Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting & Participants 31 stable maintenance hemodialysis patients from an urban outpatient dialysis unit and 18 people with normal renal function participated. Predictor Nutritional status assigned by using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) score; SGA score of 7 indicates normal nutritional status; SGA score of 5 to 6, mild malnutrition; and SGA score of 3 to 4, moderate malnutrition. Outcomes & Measurements The primary outcome is olfactory function, assessed using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. Levels of retained uremic solutes were measured from a predialysis serum sample. Demographic data and laboratory values for nutritional status, adequacy of dialysis, and inflammation were collected. Results Mean smell scores were 34.9 ± 1.4 for controls, 33.5 ± 3.3 for patients with SGA score of 7, 28.3 ± 5.8 for patients with SGA score of 5 to 6, and 27.9 ± 4.4 for patients with SGA score of 3 to 4 ( P P = 0.02) and higher C-reactive protein levels ( P = 0.02). Neither smell score nor nutritional status was associated with levels of retained uremic solutes. Limitations Small sample size, only cross-sectional associations can be described. Conclusions Our results suggest an association between poor nutritional status and impaired olfactory function in patients with ESRD. Additional research is needed to discover the uremic toxins mediating these processes.
4‐Methoxy‐4a‐nitro‐9‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐4,4a,9,9a‐tetrahydro‐1H‐carbazol‐2(3H)‐one

The crystal structure of the title mol­ecule, C19H18N2O6S, confirms the structure of this novel Diels–Alder adduct formed from the reaction of 3-nitro-1-(phenyl­sulfon­yl)indole and 1-meth­oxy-3-(trimethyl­siloxy)-1,3-butadiene (Danishefsky's diene). The angle between the planes of the indoline ring system and the phenyl­sulfonyl ring is 69.9 (4)°.
On the rate of convergence in the central limit theorem and the type of the Banach space

Abstract Let E be a Banach space. Let ξ be a sequence of which goes to zero. Let X be a centered E-valued random variable, which is bounded. Let Sn be the sum of n independent copies of X. Assume that whenever X satisfies the CLT, we have. Sup t ϵR |P( ‖S n √n | ⩽ t ) − μ ({x;‖x‖ ⩽})| ⩽ ξ n where μ is the (Gaussian) limit of the laws of Sn. Then E is type 2.
The Role of Personal Meaning in Charismatic Leadership

Executive Summary Numerous theoretical explanations of charismatic leadership highlight the importance of providing meaning to followers. However, these explanations do not provide clear descriptions of how and why charismatic leaders construct meaning for followers based on their personal meaning. This article focuses on such theoretical issues with the hope of stimulating more systematic research efforts and practitioner interest on this topic. Emphasis is placed on influences of sources of personal meaning and purpose-in-life on the development of charismatic behaviors and attributions.