cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Regulation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1 and 2 Activity during 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-Acetate-Induced Differentiation of HL-60 Cells☆☆☆

Abstract In this study we have analyzed short- and long-term changes in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 activity during 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Immunoprecipitation of HL-60 cellular extracts with an ERK antibody followed byin vitromyelin basic protein phosphorylation demonstrated a rapid reduction in total ERK activity by 70%. Mitogen-activated protein kinase substrate peptide phosphorylation also demonstrated that this reduction was sustained during differentiation. Immunoblot analysis revealed that ERK1 and ERK2 are the predominant ERK isoforms present in HL-60 cells and that over a 96-h period ERK1 protein was gradually reduced by 60% while ERK2 protein showed only a small, insignificant reduction. Therefore, the large, rapid decrease in total ERK activity could not be attributed to the gradual reductions in ERK1 or ERK2 amounts. Immunoblot analysis with two different phosphotyrosine antibodies revealed a rapid decrease in ERK1 phosphotyrosine and a concurrent transient increase in ERK2 phosphotyrosine. These contrasting changes in phosphorylated ERKs were paralleled by respective shifts in mobility during SDS–PAGE analysis. Together these results indicate that the rapid reduction in total ERK activity is due to rapid tyrosine and possible threonine dephosphorylation of ERK1 but not of ERK2. These results also indicate that ERK1 and ERK2 are regulated by distinct mechanisms during TPA-induced HL-60 differentiation, suggesting that their biological roles are nonredundant.
Topic-factorized ideal point estimation model for legislative voting network

Ideal point estimation that estimates legislators' ideological positions and understands their voting behavior has attracted studies from political science and computer science. Typically, a legislator is assigned a global ideal point based on her voting or other social behavior. However, it is quite normal that people may have different positions on different policy dimensions. For example, some people may be more liberal on economic issues while more conservative on cultural issues. In this paper, we propose a novel topic-factorized ideal point estimation model for a legislative voting network in a unified framework. First, we model the ideal points of legislators and bills for each topic instead of assigning them to a global one. Second, the generation of topics are guided by the voting matrix in addition to the text information contained in bills. A unified model that combines voting behavior modeling and topic modeling is presented, and an iterative learning algorithm is proposed to learn the topics of bills as well as the topic-factorized ideal points of legislators and bills. By comparing with the state-of-the-art ideal point estimation models, our method has a much better explanation power in terms of held-out log-likelihood and other measures. Besides, case studies show that the topic-factorized ideal points coincide with human intuition. Finally, we illustrate how to use these topic-factorized ideal points to predict voting results for unseen bills.
Characterization of microporous separators for lithium-ion batteries

Several properties including porosity, pore-size distribution, thickness value, electrochemical stability and mechanical properties have to be optimized before a membrane can qualify as a separator for a lithium-ion battery. In this paper we present results of characterization studies carried out on some commercially available lithium-ion battery separators. The relevance of these results to battery performance and safety are also discussed. Porosity values were measured using a simple liquid absorption test and gas permeabilities were measured using a novel pressure drop technique that is similar in principle to the Gurley test. For separators from one particular manufacturer, the trend observed in the pressure drop times was found to be in agreement with the Gurley numbers reported by the separator manufacturer. Shutdown characteristics of the separators were studied by measuring the impedance of batteries containing the separators as a function of temperature. Overcharge tests were also performed to confirm that separator shutdown is indeed a useful mechanism for preventing thermal runaway situations. Polyethylene containing separators, in particular trilayer laminates of polypropylene, polyethylene and polypropylene, appear to have the most attractive properties for preventing thermal runaway in lithium ion cells.
Scared safe? Abandoning the use of fear in urban violence prevention programmes

The American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Committee on Trauma recently released Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient 2014 .1 Now in its sixth edition, Resources enumerates the criteria that US trauma centres must satisfy to achieve ACS verification. Of particular relevance to the field of violence and injury research is Chapter 18, entitled ‘Prevention’. Among the many changes is the addition of criterion 18-5, which states: “Level I and II trauma centers must implement at least two programs that address one of the major causes of injury in the community” (p. 141). Violence is a major cause of injury in the communities served by urban trauma centres,2 ,3 and thus violence is likely to be the focus of many new programmes established to satisfy the criterion. This presents an opportunity to integrate violent injury research into practice as most trauma centres will adopt existing models of hospital-based violence prevention. Given that criterion 18-5 functions as an unfunded mandate, and that resources dedicated to prevention activities are limited in most trauma centres,4 preference will likely be given to injury prevention programmes with relatively low costs. Programmes that use fear appeal are not very …
The public's perceptions and misperceptions of arthritis.

A telephone survey of a random sample of 300 respondents indicated that the respondents relied mainly on the mass media for their information about arthritis. Almost half of the respondents believed arthritis could be caused by “poor diet” or “cold, wet climates.” Furthermore, quack or unproven “treatments” for arthritis, such as bee venom (83%), vitamins (76%), copper bracelets (74%), special diets (57%), and DMSO (54%) were all supported by more than half of the respondents. However, a followup to the random survey, using only diagnosed arthritis patients as respondents, did not reveal as high a level of actual use of unproven treatments. Numerous factors were found which imply that the lay public is not as well informed about arthritis as arthritis patients are, and that sustained, community-wide educational efforts about arthritis are greatly needed.
The “Self” in Work Organizations: A Conceptual Review

Currently popular models of employee behavior generally grant the individual a relatively passive role. It has recently been argued that a more comprehensive view would recognize three-way reciprocal interaction among employee behaviors, cognitions, and the environment. This paper contributes to this expanded viewpoint, focusing specifically on the role of the self and including characteristics and consequences of self-reinforcement systems, self-efficacy expectations, and an integrative model of the self in organizational research. This relatively broad viewpoint has potentially important implications for organizational behavior.
Isolation and characterization of a phenol-degrading, sulfate-reducing bacterium from swine manure

Abstract A sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from swine manure used phenol as its sole source of carbon and energy. Sulfate was used as the electron acceptor. The major end product of phenol metabolism was acetic acid. For every mole of phenol degraded, almost 2 moles of acetic acid were produced. Acetic acid was not degraded further to CO 2 , indicating that this sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB) is an incomplete oxidizer unable to carry-out the terminal oxidation of organic compounds. The SRB isolate also used p-chlorophenol as the sole source of carbon and energy. However, it did not use the chlorophenolic compounds containing two or more chlorine atoms, dichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol.
Edge-pixel-based stereo correspondence through ordering-oriented neural networks

This paper describes a fast and robust artificial neural network algorithm for solving the stereo correspondence problem in binocular vision. In this algorithm, the stereo correspondence problem is modelled as a cost minimization problem where the cost is the value of matching function between the edge pixels along the same epipolar line. A multiple-constraint energy minimization neural network is implemented for this matching process. This algorithm differs from previous works in that it integrates ordering, and geometry constraints in addition to uniqueness, continuity, and epipolar line constraint into a neural network implementation. The processing procedures are similar to that of human vision process. The edge pixels are divided into different clusters according to their orientation and contrast polarity. The matching is performed only between the edge pixels in the same clusters and at the same epipolar line. By following the epipolar line, the ordering constraint (the left-right relation between pixels) can be specified easily without building extra relational graph as in the earlier works. The algorithm thus assigns artificial neurons which follow the same order of the pixels along an epipolar line to represent the matching candidate pairs.
A modeling study of anaerobic biofilm systems: II. Reactor modeling

A rigorous steady-state model of anaerobic biofilm reactors taking into account acid-base and gas-phase equilibria in the reactor in conjunction with detailed chemical equilibria and mass transfer in acetate-utilizing methanogenic biofilms is presented. The performances of ideal completely stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) and plug-flow reactors, as well as reactors with nonideal hydraulic conditions, are simulated. Decreasing the surface loading rate increases the acetate removal efficiency, while decreasing the influent pH and increasing the buffering capacity improves the removal efficiency only if the bulk pH of the reactor shifts toward more optimal values between 6.8 to 7.0. The reactor can have negative or positive removal efficiencies depending on the start-up conditions. The respiration coefficient plays a critical role in determining the minimum influent pH required for reactor recovery after failure. Having multiple CSTRs-in-series generally increases the overall removal efficiency for the influent conditions investigated. Monitoring of the influent feed quality is critical for plug-flow reactors, becasue failure of the initial sections of the reactor may cause a cascading effect that may lead to a rapid reactor failure. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Mls-1 is encoded by the long terminal repeat open reading frame of the mouse mammary tumor provirus Mtv-7.

Abstract The murine Mls-1 antigen is the prototype of endogenous superantigens, molecules whose activities lead to deletion of T cells expressing certain T-cell receptor V beta genes from the mature repertoire. However, Mls-1 also stimulates T cells expressing these particular V beta genes (V beta 6, V beta 7, V beta 8.1, and V beta 9) in vitro, making it one of the strongest known T-cell activators. We have recently reported that the Mls-1 gene is closely linked to the endogenous mammary tumor virus Mtv-7. We now demonstrate that Mls-1 is encoded by the open reading frame in the U3 region of the long terminal repeat of Mtv-7. However, control of expression of this molecule seems complex, depending on the promoter used for the transfection experiments. The sequence of the Mtv-7 open reading frame differs from all other known mammary tumor virus open reading frame sequences in the 3' end, suggesting that the T-cell receptor V beta specificity is conferred by the C terminus of the molecule. The predicted structure of the protein encoded by the open reading frame is consistent with a type II transmembrane molecule where the C terminus is extracellular.
Cadmium toxicity in planktonic organisms of a freshwater food web

Abstract The effects of cadmium chloride on population growth of two species of green algae were determined in 168-hour bioassays, and six additional freshwater species were studied using 96-hour LC 50 measurements. Intercomparisons of these two test series show that limits generated by a 100-fold reduction of the 96-hour LC 50 values would protect planktonic species from the observable effects on life span, growth, or reproduction. The limits generated by these laboratory studies are in the range of concentrations observed in a field study of a contaminated estuarine cove. However, field exposures vary with the tide, and the hardness of the laboratory water is considerably lower than that of the water in the cove. These factors probably account for the absence of observable effects on planktonic populations in the affected cove.
Ring‐and side‐chain‐substituted MIBG analogues

In our effort to develop an MIBG analogue with optimised targeting capabilites, we have synthesized a number of ring- and side-chain substituted analogues of MIBG and evaluated their lipophilicity, stability in vitro, uptake in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells and tissue distribution in normal mice. Previously, uptake similar to or higher than that for MIBG in canine adrenal medulla and pheochromocytoma patients has been reported for 4-amino-3-iodobenzylguanidine (pAIBG) and 4-hydroxy-3-iodobenzylguanidine (HIBG), which are polar substituent-containing MIBG derivatives (1, 2). However, these two compounds have not been evaluated with respect to their uptake in neuroblastoma cells in vitro. The novel compounds developed in this study were evaluated in comparison with HIBG and pAIBG.
Sexual Behavior in Blister Beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae): I. The Genus Pyrota

The sexual behavior of 11 species of Pyrota is described. Analysis of the functional significance of anatomical secondary sexual characters in these species and a survey of similar modifications in others indicates that the general pattern observed is characteristic of the genus. Adults exhibit little aggressive behavior, and courtship involves prolonged physical contact between the sexes. Male courtship activities follow a regular cyclic pattern, as he alternately mounts above the female to perform one series of acts (palpation, dorsal antennation, and rocking) and orients behind her to perform another (leg grasp, palpal insertion beneath her elytra, lifting of her body, posterior antennation, abdominal curvature and stroke, and genital hold). Copulation entails abdominal pumping by the male.As a prelude to comparative studies, a new classification of the Meloidae is proposed. Characters of sexual and related behavior at the subfamilial level and anatomical characters associated with them are discussed in an evolutionary context. Nemognathinae and, by inference, Eleticinae have simple courtship behavior, copulate dorso-ventrally for short periods of time, and do not prepare sites for oviposition. Meloinae have more elaborate courtship, copulate in a linear position for extended periods, and oviposit in specially prepared cavities in the ground.Compared with that in other Meloidae, courtship behavior in Pyrota is both complex and highly distinctive. Interspecific differences, considered in detail for six species, involve variation in the precise manner of performance of acts and their temporal relationships. Systematically the ethological data are in reasonable accord with those from other sources except that the courtship behavior of P. concinna is more divergent from that of its presumed relatives than would be expected on the basis of anatomical and ecological characters. An explanation of this discrepancy is proposed in terms of the evolutionary reinforcement of ethological differences functioning in interspecific reproductive isolation.
Performance Comparisons of Timing Techniques in a Non-Real-Time Environment

General-purpose computers are increasingly being used for serious control applications, due to their prevalence, low cost and high performance. Real-time operating systems are available for PCs that overcome the nondeterminism inherent in desktop operating systems. Depending on the timing requirements, however, many users can get by with a non-real-time operating system. This paper discusses timing techniques applicable to non-real-time operating systems, using Linux as an example, and compares them with the performance that can be obtained with true real-time OSes.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Convective lofting links Indian Ocean air pollution to paradoxical South Atlantic ozone maxima

We describe a broad resolution of the Atlantic Parado concerning the seasonal and geographic distribution, of tropical tropospheric ozone. We highlight periods of significant maximum tropospheric O3 for Jan.- April, 1999, exploiting satellite estimates and SHADOZ (Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes). Trajectory analyses connecting sondes and Total Tropospheric Ozone (TTO) maps suggest a complex influence from the Indian Ocean: beginning with mixed combustion sources, then low level transport, cumulonimbus venting, possible stratospheric input, and finally high-level transport to the west, with possible mixing over Africa. For the Jan.-March highest column-O3 periods in the Atlantic, distinct sounding peaks trace to specific NO sources, especially lightning, while in the same episodes, recurring every 20-50 days, more diffuse buildups of Indian-to-Atlantic pollution make important contributions.
Dynamic nonlinear modeling of interactions between neuronal ensembles using principal dynamic modes

We present a novel methodology for modeling the interactions between neuronal ensembles that utilizes the concept of Principal Dynamic Modes (PDM) and their associated nonlinear functions (ANF). This new approach seeks to reduce the complexity of the multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) model of the interactions between neuronal ensembles — an issue of critical practical importance in scaling up the MIMO models to incorporate hundreds (or even thousands) of input-output neurons. Global PDMs were extracted from the data using estimated first-order and second-order kernels and singular value decomposition (SVD). These global PDMs represent an efficient “coordinate system” for the representation of the MIMO model. The ANFs of the PDMs are estimated from the histograms of the combinations of PDM output values that lead to output spikes. For initial testing and validation of this approach, we applied it to a set of data collected at the pre-frontal cortex of a non-human primate during a behavioral task (Delayed Match-to-Sample). Recorded spike trains from Layer-2 neurons were viewed as the “inputs” and from Layer-5 neurons as the outputs. Model prediction performance was evaluated by means of computed Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. The results indicate that this methodology may greatly reduce the complexity of the MIMO model without significant degradation of performance.
Output feedback pole assignment under system variation

The design of multivariable control systems using pole assignment has resulted in much research. Owing to system or parameter variation, the initial compensator design for constant conditions may lead to undesirable responses. Hence, it is important to design compensator structures which maintain desired pole locations under such changes. This paper presents a design methodology for output feedback pole assignment when there is system variation. A performance measure is formulated which represents a squared-error between desired pole locations and the actual pole locations generated via compensation under probabilistic variations. Optimization of this measure requires constructing gradient matrices necessary to obtain the compensator parameters. Both constant output feedback and dynamic compensation are discussed for pole placement, and the unstable Boeing-Vertol CH-46 helicopter system is considered to illustrate the design algorithms.
Effector analogues detect varied allosteric roles for conserved protein-effector interactions in pyruvate kinase isozymes.

The binding site for allosteric inhibitor (amino acid) is highly conserved between human liver pyruvate kinase (hL-PYK) and the rabbit muscle isozyme (rM1-PYK). To detail similarities/differences in the allosteric function of these two homologues, we quantified the binding of 45 amino acid analogues to hL-PYK and their allosteric impact on affinity for the substrate, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). This complements a similar study previously completed for rM1-PYK. In hL-PYK, the minimum chemical requirements for effector binding are the same as those identified for rM1-PYK (i.e., the l-2-aminopropanaldehyde substructure of the effector is primarily responsible for binding). However, different regions of the effector determine the magnitude of the allosteric response in hL-PYK vs rM1-PYK. This finding is inconsistent with the idea that allosteric pathways are conserved between homologues of a protein family.
Mechanistic characterization for c-jun-N-Terminal Kinase 1α1

c-jun-N-terminal kinase 1α1 (JNK1α1) is a serine/threonine kinase of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family that phosphorylates protein transcription factors after activation by a variety of environmental stressors. In this study, the kinetic mechanism for JNK1α1 phosphorylation of activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) was determined utilizing steady-state kinetics in the presence and absence of both ATF2 and ATP competitive inhibitors. Data from initial velocity studies were consistent with a sequential mechanism for JNK1α1. AMP-PCP exhibited competitive inhibition versus ATP and pure noncompetitive inhibition versus ATF2. JIP-1 peptide (RPKRPTTLNLF) was competitive versus ATF2 and mixed noncompetitive versus ATP. These data suggest that JNK1α1 proceeded via a random sequential kinetic mechanism with non-interacting ATF2 and ATP substrate sites.
China's Workers Movement & the End of the Rapid-Growth Era

China's rapid economic growth period was predicated on a development model that exploited the stark divide between its urban and rural citizens. As the workshop of the world, Chinese factories tapped the vast surplus labor of the countryside. Rural workers' expectations were low, but their desire for new employment opportunities was boundless and their numbers seemed limitless. Three decades later, these conditions have changed: workers' expectations are higher and their numbers are diminishing as the population ages. Labor disputes and strikes are endemic as the expectations and aspirations of workers outpace the nation's slowing growth rate. Compared to the anemic labor movements in the West, China's workers are emboldened, though they are still hampered by a repressive political environment and strict constraints on freedom of association. Conflict is spontaneous and settlement is ad-hoc. Like many authoritarian regimes, the Chinese Communist Party has difficulty committing to the institutionalization ...
Evolution, Emptiness and the Fantasy Self

Current psychoanalytic thinking emphasizes understanding the development of self in the infant and in therapy, while Eastern religions investigate the phenomenology of the self-especially its repre...
Quantified recess: design of an activity for elementary students involving analyses of their own movement data

Recess is often a time for children in school to engage recreationally in physically demanding and highly interactive activities with their peers. This paper describes a design effort to encourage fifth-grade students to examine sensitivities associated with different measures of center by having them analyze activities during recess using over the course of a week using Fitbit activity trackers and TinkerPlots data visualization software. We describe the activity structure some observed student behaviors during the activity. We also provide a descriptive account, based on video records and transcripts, of two students who engaged thoughtfully with their recess data and developed a more sophisticated understanding of when and how outliers affect means and medians.
Salubrinal reduces expression and activity of MMP13 in chondrocytes.

Summary Objective Stress to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and inflammatory cytokines induce expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13). Since a synthetic agent, salubrinal, is known to alleviate ER stress and attenuate nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) signaling, we addressed a question whether upregulation of MMP13 by ER stress and cytokines is suppressed by administration of salubrinal. Methods Using C28/I2 human chondrocytes, we applied ER stress with tunicamycin and inflammatory distress with tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin 1β (IL1β). RNA interference with siRNA specific to NFκB p65 (RelA) was employed to examine a potential involvement of NFκB signaling in salubrinal's action in regulation of MMP13. We also employed primary human chondrocytes and evaluated MMP13 activity. Results The result showed that tunicamycin activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), while inflammatory cytokines activated p38 MAPK and NFκB. In both cases, salubrinal significantly reduced expression and activity of MMP13. Silencing NFκB reduced inflammatory cytokine-driven upregulation of MMP13 activity. Conclusions The results demonstrate that salubrinal downregulates expression and activity MMP13 through p38 and NFκB signaling, suggesting its potential usage to treat degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Survival outcomes of giant cell glioblastoma: Institutional experience in the management of 20 patients

Giant cell glioblastoma (GCG) is a rare subtype of glioblastoma (GBM) that is believed to carry an improved prognosis. However, given the rarity of this tumor, best management practices for GCG have yet to be ascertained. Here, we present our experience in managing GCG tumors at the University of California, San Francisco. Patients were retrospectively identified through chart review, and data pertaining to patient demographics, treatment plans, and follow-up were extracted from existing medical records. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. In sum, we identified 22 patients who were managed or followed for GCG. Most patients (78%) initially underwent subtotal resection as primary treatment for their tumor, and most also received post-operative adjuvant therapy (90%), with radiation being the most frequently administered modality (85%). Within this institutional cohort, median OS and PFS were 15.4 months and 5.7 months, respectively. On multivariate survival analysis, age (p=0.84), sex (p=0.05), and adjuvant radiation plus temozolomide (p=0.12) were not associated with prolonged OS. However, adjuvant radiation plus temozolomide was associated with longer PFS (p=0.01), and patients receiving this therapy demonstrated a median PFS of 32.9 months versus 13.1 months. These findings confirm the comparatively improved prognosis of GCG over GBM. Moreover, they suggest that extent of resection may not significantly delay recurrence or extend survival, and that combination radiation with temozolomide may represent the optimum adjuvant paradigm to delay tumor progression.
Integrating Extrinsic and Intrinsic Cues into a Minimal Model of Lineage Commitment for Hematopoietic Progenitors

Autoregulation of transcription factors and cross-antagonism between lineage-specific transcription factors are a recurrent theme in cell differentiation. An equally prevalent event that is frequently overlooked in lineage commitment models is the upregulation of lineage-specific receptors, often through lineage-specific transcription factors. Here, we use a minimal model that combines cell-extrinsic and cell-intrinsic elements of regulation in order to understand how both instructive and stochastic events can inform cell commitment decisions in hematopoiesis. Our results suggest that cytokine-mediated positive receptor feedback can induce a “switch-like” response to external stimuli during multilineage differentiation by providing robustness to both bipotent and committed states while protecting progenitors from noise-induced differentiation or decommitment. Our model provides support to both the instructive and stochastic theories of commitment: cell fates are ultimately driven by lineage-specific transcription factors, but cytokine signaling can strongly bias lineage commitment by regulating these inherently noisy cell-fate decisions with complex, pertinent behaviors such as ligand-mediated ultrasensitivity and robust multistability. The simulations further suggest that the kinetics of differentiation to a mature cell state can depend on the starting progenitor state as well as on the route of commitment that is chosen. Lastly, our model shows good agreement with lineage-specific receptor expression kinetics from microarray experiments and provides a computational framework that can integrate both classical and alternative commitment paths in hematopoiesis that have been observed experimentally.
The Fool's Errand for a Perfect Deal with Iran

After months of optimistic statements from negotiators, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and Iran still have not achieved a comprehensive agreement to r...
Cargo transfer and return vehicle and personnel launch system launch processing model

Simulation software was designed to model a cargo transfer and return vehicle (CTRV) and personnel launch system (PLS) mixed fleet launch processing system. The purpose of the CTRV and the PLS is to provide all transportation services, separating cargo and crew, to International Space Station Alpha after a Space Shuttle program phase out period. The results presented in this report provide an expected bracket for important CTRV and PLS launch processing statistics during a steady-state period. Simulation experiments indicate that modifying current Space Shuttle facilities and resources will be sufficient to support the CTRV and PLS concept. The simulation experiments show that mobile launch tower (MLT) utilization is expected to be very high, which could lead to a launch processing choke point should an MLT become unavailable for some reason. NASA may want to consider building another MLT to provide CTRV and PLS launch processing margin. Additionally the simulation experiment results indicate that Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) utilization is expected to be high. NASA may want to consider providing capability for a third CTRV/PLS launch vehicle integration cell. Further study and analysis of MLT and VAB utilization are recommended. This is needed to determine whether or not three MLTs and two VAB launch vehicle integration cells are sufficient to support the CTRV and PLS launch processing concept.
Will gun buyback programs increase the quantity of guns

Gun buyback programs have become widespread in the United States. This paper offers a model of gun demand in which people make decisions about gun ownership as they would any other durable consumer good. Two insights are generated. First, if the buyback program is unanticipated and never-to-be-repeated, then the buyback program will reduce gun holdings only temporarily, by affecting the timing of consumption. Second, a repeated buyback program, formally analyzed as a permanent buyback program, will actually raise gun holdings, since it permanently lowers ownership costs. Current, repeated buybacks will therefore have the opposite effect of what buyback proponents intend.JEL classification: H30; L68
James 2 in Light of Greco-Roman Schemes of Argumentation

J. H. Ropes has written of James: ‘As in the diatribes, there is a general controlling motive in the discussion, but no firm and logically disposed structure giving a strict unity to the whole, and no trace of the conventional arrangement recommended by the elegant rhetoricians’. Challenging Rope's assessment, the thesis of this study is that James 2 is constructed according to a standard elaboration pattern for argumentation discussed by the Greco-Roman rhetoricians.
Packaging and interconnect technologies for the development of GaN nanowire-based light emitting diodes

c-axis oriented GaN nanowires (NWs) grown on Si(111) using nitrogen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) offer promising new approaches for realizing efficient LED technology. The nanowires grow remarkably free of defects, suggesting that eventual LED structures may operate with high quantum efficiencies. Furthermore, the dense NW morphology offers LED configurations with high light extraction efficiency compared to conventional planar LED structures. Interconnecting these vertically aligned nanowires is challenging because of their small diameters, extremely high aspect ratios, and random distributions on the substrate. We have developed novel packaging and interconnection methods by atomic layer deposition (ALD) multilayer encapsulation of the nanowires with 50 nm thick alumina layers and 40 nm thick tungsten layers. This nano-scaled multilayer also provides efficient thermal connections that are mechanically reliable. These encapsulated NWs were used as thermal test structures and the temperature dependence of the photoluminescence peak position as recorded from the portions of the nanowire protruding from the encapsulation was used to monitor the sample temperature. In principle, the internal junction-to-substrate thermal resistance of eventual NW LED structures could be reduced by 400 times by electroplating copper into the interstitial regions between the NWs. These novel packaging and interconnect technologies developed for GaN nanowire-based LEDs can be applied to many other nanowire-based microsystems.
Riboflavin to treat nucleoside analogue-induced lactic acidosis

Fetal blood was obtained by transabdominal cardiac puncture. In each case, a detailed transvaginal ultrasound was done to confirm gestational age and to assess spontaneous and reflex fetal movements. Written consent was obtained from each woman after receiving complete information on the procedure. This study was approved by the University College London Hospitals Committee on the Ethics of Human Research. The fetal samples were collected between 5 and 20 min following intravenous (IV) administration of a bolus of 3 mg/kg of propofol (Diprivan 1%, Zeneca, Macclesfield, UK) to the mother. Peripheral maternal venous blood was collected simultaneously. Anaesthesia was maintained by spontaneous breathing of 70% nitrous oxide with 0·5–1% isoflurane in oxygen via a laryngeal mask. The propofol concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence. The method has a lower limit of sensitivity of 0·1 g/mL and the intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation were both 5%. No spontaneous fetal movements or reflux responses were observed in any case during the time interval between induction of anaesthesia and the surgical procedure or during the sampling procedure. Propofol was detected in all maternal and fetal serum samples. No propofol was found in coelomic or amniotic fluid samples at any stage of gestation. Propofol concentration decreased exponentially with time in both maternal (r=0·73, p<0·0001) and fetal (r=0·58, p<0·0001) serum. Maternal serum concentration of propofol was always higher than fetal serum concentration. In 14 matched samples, the mean propofol concentration was 1·96 g/mL (95% CI 1·49–2·42) in maternal serum and 0·90 g/mL (95% CI 0·68–1·11) in fetal serum. Over the 20 min interval between injection and sampling, little change was observed in the fetal/maternal propofol concentration ratio. This finding can be explained by the fact that propofol binds 97–98% to albumin, which is in much lower concentration in fetal serum during the first half of pregnancy. Overall, the pharmacodynamics of propofol found in pregnant women at 12–18 weeks of gestation are similar to those described at term 1–3 indicating that our data can be extrapolated to the period of gestation between 24 and 37 weeks and that our model can be used to study the placental transfer of other analgesic drugs in early pregnancy. Propofol has no known teratogenic effect in humans and our results also indicate that, during short maternal general
The effect of risk-based capital requirements on profit efficiency in banking

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to show how to measure profit efficiency in banking using a newly developed technique, and to use that technique to determine the effect of risk-based capital requirements on the profit performance of US banks. The measure of profit efficiency used captures deviations from profit maximization arising from technical inefficiency, caused by a lack of managerial oversight and allocative inefficiency, which is caused by managers choosing a nonoptimal mix of inputs and outputs. A leverage ratio constraint and a risk-weighted capital ratio constraint are explicitly included in the model, which allows identification of the effect on profits of those constraints. The techniques are applied to random samples of US banks for 1990, 1992, and 1994. The results indicate that allocative inefficiency is a larger source of profit loss than technical inefficiency and that the risk-based capital standards have a significant effect on bank allocative efficiency.
Molecular imprinting of proteins and other macromolecules resulting in new adsorbents

When the model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) was dissolved in a concentrated aqueous solution of the multifunctional ligand L-malic acid, the solution was lyophilized, and the solid residue thoroughly washed with tetrahydrofuran to extract malic acid, then the resultant ("imprinted") protein was capable of binding 26.4 +/-0.9 mol equivalents of the ligand in anhydrous ethyl acetate. The nonimprinted BSA (i.e., that prepared in the same manner apart from the absence of malic acid) bound less then one-tenth of that amount under identical conditions. Furthermore, both imprinted and nonimprinted BSA exhibited little binding of L-malic acid in water. The imprinted BSA retained its "memory" for the ligand in ethyl acetate even after a prolonged incubation under vacuum; dissolution in water, however, eliminated the imprinted protein's binding capacity. The BSA imprinted with L-malic acid displayed affinity for this ligand not only in ethyl acetate but also in many other anhydrous solvents. It was found that the higher the solvent's propensity to form hydrogen bonds, the lower the protein-ligand binding in it, thus pointing to hydrogen bonds as the driving force of this binding. Studies with completely or partially cleaved BSA, with other globular proteins, glutathione, and poly(L-aspartic acid) revealed that the critical requirement for the imprintability is the presence of a sufficiently long polymeric chain. Moreover, many hydrogen-bond-forming macromolecules other than proteins, such as dextrans and their derivatives, partially hydrolyzed starch, and poly(methacrylic acid), also could be imprinted for subsequent binding in ethyl acetate. The mechanism of imprinting and binding inferred from these experiments involves a multipoint hydrogen bonding in water of each ligand molecule with two or more sites on the polymeric chain, thereby folding a segment of the latter into a cavity around the ligand; following lyophilization and extraction of the ligand, the cavities remain in organic solvents (but not in water) and give rise to ligand binding. This conclusion is supported by the results of binding of numerous malic acid analogs and related ligands to BSA imprinted with L-malic acid. Finally, BSA imprinted with malic acid was used as a selective adsorbent for a chromatographic separation of an equimolar mixture of maleic and acrylic acids in ethyl acetate.
A robust hybrid tracking system for outdoor augmented reality

We present a real-time hybrid tracking system that integrates gyroscopes and line-based vision tracking technology. Gyroscope measurements are used to predict orientation and image line positions. Gyroscope drift is corrected by vision tracking. System robustness is achieved by using a heuristic control system to evaluate measurement quality and select measurements accordingly. Experiments show that the system achieves robust, accurate, and real-time performance for outdoor augmented reality.
Effect of Tylosin on the Reproductive Performance of Turkeys and the Growth Rate of Their Offspring

Abstract GARD and Means (1958) studied the effects of penicillin and tylosin on chick growth and layer performance. These workers used 50 White Rock cockerels and 50 White Rock pullets per treatment and reported that penicillin improved growth and feed efficiency when compared to the control. Tylosin, at a level of 4 grams per ton of feed, improved growth and feed efficiency over that produced by penicillin. When added to the ration of laying birds, at a level of 20 grams per ton, tylosin improved egg production and feed efficiency slightly. Barnes et al. (1958) found the antibiotic to be highly effective in the treatment of experimentally induced Mycoplasma gallisepticum (PPLO) infection when injected intramuscularly or intraperitoneally at 5 mgs./lb. body weight or when added to water at a level of 3 gms./gal. These same workers found in later studies (1960) that tylosin effectively controlled experimental Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections of young …
Advancements in accuracy of the alanine dosimetry system. Part 1. The effects of environmental humidity

A one-year study of the EPR signal of g-irradiated ( 60 Co) L-a-alanine with simultaneous monitoring of the cavity Q-factor was undertaken. The widespread opinion that the EPR signal remains absolutely stable under normal laboratory storage conditions is inaccurate. At 0% humidity, the signal can be regarded as stable within 21% of its initial value for 6 months for 1 and 10 kGy doses, but for only 3 months for 100 kGy. When stored at the same relative humidity values up to 60%, the fading rates for dosimeters irradiated to 1 and 10 kGy are similar, whereas signals of dosimeters irradiated to 100 kGy fade considerably faster for all humidities. The rates of fading increase with the relative humidity, especially above 60% R. H. Environmental humidity also deteriorates the accuracy of alanine dosimetry by changing the resonant cavity Q-factor. This is particularly important when irradiated alanine dosimeters are used as instrument calibration standards. Short-term changes in alanine EPR signal amplitudes were recorded upon removal of the irradiated dosimeters from their storage environments. The importance of an in situ standard to correct for measurement errors due to environmental eAects is demonstrated. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Acute granulomatous hepatitis due to histoplasmosis.

A 54-year-old man presenting with fever, hepatomegaly, and weight loss was found to have acute histoplasmosis, apparently involving only the liver. The diagnosis was established by culture of liver biopsy material and elevated complement fixation titers which declined in the convalescent phase of the patient's illness. Histological examination showed only granulomatous hepatitis. The patient recovered uneventfully without the use of systemic antifungal drugs. He did receive corticosteroids for a brief period. The patient now has been followed for 3 years and remains well. A recent liver biopsy showed only minimal periportal lymphocytic infiltration. A review of the literature fails to reveal a similar case. An analogy is drawn between this case and the acute self-limited pulmonary form of histoplasmosis. Culture of liver biopsy material showing granulomatous hepatitis is recommended in all cases where the etiology is not clear from other evidence.
Shock-planar curtain interactions: Strong secondary baroclinic deposition and emergence of vortex projectiles and late-time inhomogeneous turbulence

We continue our previous investigations (Yang, Zabusky, & Chern, 1990; Zabusky & Zhang, 2002) of the interaction of a shock with a planar, inclined curtain (slow/fast/slow) to a wider Mach number range (M = 1.5, 2.0, and 5.0) and longer times. In all cases, the generic features may be explained in terms of the opposite-signed vortex layers (deposited by the shock wave), which approach and collide to form a complex vortex bilayer (VBL). At M ≤ 2.0, the VBL traverses the shock tube and eventually collides with the opposite horizontal boundary and evolves into upstream and downstream moving inhomogeneous vortex projectiles (VPs) (Zabusky & Zeng, 1998). This is manifested as early-time “breakthrough” (Yang, Zabusky, & Chern, 1990). During the traversal, we observe and scale a strong secondary baroclinic circulation enhancement. We track and quantify the VPs and show that their velocities compare well to that from a simple vortex model. We also display turbulent domains and a new rapid early time turbulization at M = 5, when the VBL is narrower.
Robust geometric-based localization in indoor environments using sonar range sensors

In this paper, we describe a method for navigation and localization of a mobile robot using sonar sensors in an indoor environment. This is an enhanced version of our previous method (2001) which assumed a perfectly known environment and perfect sensor data. We remove these assumptions by computing a roadmap and selecting geometric features of the environment for localization that are robust in terms of known sensor limitations and uncertainty. In particular, our roadmap-based navigator and localizer have been redesigned to work cooperatively. To identify geometric features, a simple sensor data filter is designed. We present simulation and hardware experiments for a robot equipped with inexpensive sonar sensors in a real environment.
Geodetic constraints on the shallow magma system at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat

[1] Ground surface tilts recorded proximal to a growing lava dome, and sustained through repeated dome collapses, provide unique geodetic constraints on the depth, size, and overpressures of the shallow magmatic system at Soufriere Hills Volcano. Tilt records identify a single pressure-source inflating with periods ∼3–30 h. Sustained tilt amplitude ratios for paired stations identify the pressure-source at a centroid depth between ∼740 and 970 m. This pressure-source and its robust oscillatory response survived a dome collapse that removed the upper ∼200 m of the magmatic system. Shallow overpressures of 1–4 MPa are confirmed over a radius of 200–340 m; this size suggests pressurization of a fluid-saturated fractured rock mass annulus surrounding a narrow magma conduit.
Beamforming codebook design for temporally correlated fading channels

In this paper, we consider the problem of transmit beamforming codebook design for temporally correlated fading channels based on limited feedback from the receiver to the transmitter. We propose a low-complexity algorithm to design the beamforming codebook of time n + 1 by rotating a root codebook by a unitary matrix that is determined by the selected beamforming codeword at time n. We investigate the design of root codebook according to different optimization criteria, aiming to either maximize the average received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), maximize the capacity, or to minimize the bit-error-rate (BER). Performance evaluations for uncoded systems reveal that the SNR based design does not perform as well as the codebook designed for the identical and independently distributed (i.i.d.) channel (i.e. a high SNR problem). We show that the BER based design alleviates the high SNR problem effectively and leads to good performance in both coded and uncoded systems. Compared to systems that do not take channel temporal correlation into account, the proposed design achieves about 2 dB performance gain at a low feedback rate of only 3 bits per channel use.