cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Non-Cooperative Multiple-Target Tracking with Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose an approach to track multiple non-cooperative targets with wireless sensor networks. Most existing tracking algorithms can not be directly applied to non-cooperative target tracking because they assume the access to signals from individual targets for tracking by assuming that: 1) there is only one target in a field; 2) signals from different co-operative targets can be differentiated; or 3) interference caused by signals from other targets is negligible because of attenuation. We propose a general approach for tracking non-cooperative targets. The tracking algorithm first separates the aggregate signals from multiple indistinguishable targets via the blind source separation (BSS) algorithms. Through the analysis on both the temporal and spatial correlation of the separated individual signals, the tracking algorithm determines the location of a target and its moving track. A voting scheme based on the spatial information is designed to better estimate the moving track. Furthermore, we analyze and discuss the influence of signal attenuation and the tracking resolution of the proposed tracking approach. Our experiments show that the proposed approach can both accurately and precisely track multiple indistinguishable moving targets.
Field Monitoring and Repair of a Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bridge Deck

This paper reports on the monitoring and repair of a pilot field deployment of a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) deck on a small steel girder bridge in the Washington State. Deck deflections were monitored periodically over a 10-month period and were found to increase significantly over that time. The GFRP deck is an adhesively bonded assembly of GFRP tubes and top and bottom plates. After 9 months of service, wearing surface cracking was observed, and upon closer inspection, the top GFRP plate was found to be delaminated from the tubes over a fairly large area. Deck deflections in the area of delamination were found to be considerably larger than those observed during previous monitoring in undamaged locations. A retrofit solution was employed where the top plate was reconnected to the tubes using screws coated with a two-part epoxy that mixed when they were driven. At the time of writing the retrofit was successful in reattaching the delaminated top plate.
Implementation of loudness in a digital instrument

Loudness is a psychological term used to describe the magnitude of an auditory sensation. The loudness of a sound depends not only on the intensity of the sound and its physical composition (the partials in the sound and their amplitudes and frequencies), but also on the subjective conditions of the listener. In this talk, we discuss the algorithms implemented in DISCO to compute the loudness of a synthesized sound. DISCO (Digital Instrument for Sonification and Composition) is an additive synthesis program that produces sound files from score files. Score files are generated by an editor, which implements the composer’s specifications of a piece. DISCO, written in C++, is being developed jointly by the authors at the University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign (Computer Music Project) and Argonne National Laboratory (Mathematics and Computer Science Division). The program can be used for music composition, as well as for the auditory display of complex data sets—for example, in scientific computing (scientific sonification). The loudness routines in DISCO enable the user to design complex sounds to specified loudness. Additional routines are designed to prevent overflow in the sound file, which would cause ‘‘clipping’’ upon playing, while preserving the relative loudness of all sounds.
PROGNOSTIC FACTORS FOR SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH PATHOLOGICAL GLEASON SCORE 7 PROSTATE CANCER: DIFFERENCES IN OUTCOME BETWEEN PRIMARY GLEASON GRADES 3 AND 4

Purpose: We evaluated differences in clinical and pathological outcomes between Gleason 3 + 4 and 4 + 3 prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: The radical prostatectomy whole mounted specimens from 263 men with pathological Gleason 7 tumors were identified. Gleason 3 + 4 and 4 + 3 tumors were compared in regard to pathological variables and outcome. Significance of clinical and pathological data on progression-free survival was analyzed.Results: Of the tumors 34% had a primary Gleason grade of 4, and were more likely than those with primary grade 3 to have seminal vesicle involvement (34% versus 18%, p = 0.006), a higher pathological stage (pT3 55% versus 42%, N+ 13% versus 3%, 0.001), extraprostatic extension (58% versus 38%, 0.001) and higher median preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) (13.5 versus 9.0 ng./ml., respectively <0.001). Mean followup plus or minus standard deviation was 6.8 ± 1.9 years. The overall 10-year crude, cancer specific and progression-free survival rates were 83%, 99% and ...
Sex and Cardiovascular Risk

There are more women than men living with cardiovascular disease, and the absolute annual number of cardiovascular deaths among women exceeds that in men.1 Although sex differences in cardiovascular risk are recognized in the risk stratification tools (eg, Framingham Risk Score, CHA2DS2-VASc score) and sex-specific risk management guidelines developed for clinical practice, it has to be recognized that women remain underrepresented in clinical trials. Approximately half of the individuals with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or coronary artery disease are women, yet women make up only 25% to 44% of patients enrolled in trials studying these disorders.2 Furthermore, fewer than a third of primary trial publications include sex-specific results.2 Article see p 934 The sex-specific analysis of the large Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination With Ramipril Global End Point Trial (ONTARGET) and Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE-Intolerant Subjects With Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) trials by Kappert et al3 adds new data from 9378 women and 22 168 men with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Despite the large number of women, they made up <30% of the study population. The analysis was performed to assess sex differences in outcomes regardless of treatment arm. Such an analysis, derived from large randomized, controlled trials, provides the advantage of systematic follow-up and adjudication of outcomes in a controlled setting but the potential disadvantage of selection bias. The baseline characteristics of the study population demonstrate important differences: Women were more likely to qualify for entry into the trials with diabetes mellitus and stroke, whereas men were more likely to have coronary artery disease. Women were also older and more likely to be hypertensive and obese than men. Lifestyle factors differed, with women being less active and less likely to consume tobacco or alcohol and having received less education than men. …
Dogmas of the Model Penal Code

The Model Penal Code has become the central document of American criminal justice. It has had some effect on law reform in over 35 states. More significantly, it provides the lingua franca of most people who teach criminal law in the United States. Most academics think that the precise definitions of culpability states in section 2.02(2) are really neat, and they applaud the liberal rules that restrict the use of strict liability to administrative fines. Indeed, all things considered, for a code drafted with almost total indifference to what might be learned from European models, the Model Penal Code is an impressive achievement. The Model Penal Code’s popularity is due probably to the lack of competition. Among the materials conventionally regarded as authoritative in common law jurisdictions, there is not much of a choice. Most teachers have contempt for the cases that appear in the case books. When I ask law professors to name a case that expounds the law in a way that they admire, they throw up their hands. In most other fields—torts, contracts, constitutional law, even civil procedure— there are many judicial opinions that command respect. Not so in the criminal law. Nor do the existing codes provide much solace. The adaptations of the Model Penal Code in states like New York and Illinois lack the conceptual integrity of the model statute. And surely, no one would take a 19th century state code, such as the California Criminal Code, as the model for proper analysis.
Self-assessed emotional factors contributing to increased weight gain in pre-surgical bariatric patients

Background: One important part of the pre-surgical mental health evaluation is to assess what, if any, emotional factors may be related to a patient's eating behavior. In this way, appropriate biopsychosocial interventions may be designed to facilitate their long-term maintenance of weight loss. The current investigation examined the role that negative emotional states might play in increased pre-surgical eating behavior in a sample of bariatric surgery patients. Methods: A sample of 122 female patients completed the Weight and Lifestyle Inventory as a component of a comprehensive psychological evaluation. This questionnaire contains 6 items that assess the degree of 6 negative emotional states. These data were examined to determine which negative emotional states were most frequently related to increased eating behavior. In addition, the frequency of reporting multiple emotional contributors to eating was also examined. Results: Eating when stressed received the highest scores, followed by eating when bored, eating when depressed, eating when anxious, eating when angry, and eating when tired. A large segment (38%) of the sample indicated that emotional factors did not contribute a large amount to their increased weight gain, while on the other hand, a large segment (40%) could be identified as "emotional eaters." Conclusion: To increase the likelihood of long-term maintenance of weight loss, a significant portion of this patient population would benefit from interventions targeting overcoming boredom, reducing stress, and managing depression. In the pre-surgical evaluation, it is important to identify those patients who are "emotional eaters" and to refer them for appropriate interventions.
Internal promoter elements of transfer RNA genes are preferentially exposed in chromatin

We have examined the chromatin organization of a cluster of transfer RNA genes at the cytogenic locus 90BC on the right arm of the third Drosophila melanogaster chromosome. We find that the internal promoter sequences are preferentially exposed to micrococcal nuclease and DNase I in chromatin. Moreover, these exposed sequences have an unusual single strand nuclease-sensitive conformation.
Effects of progressive changes in organoalkoxysilane structure on the gelation and pore structure of templated and non-templated sol–gel materials

Abstract We study how progressive changes in silane structure affect the synthesis and properties of organosilicas. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane (BTMSE), bis(trimethoxysilyl)hexane (BTMSH), and bis(trimethoxysilylpropyl)amine (BTMSPA) are used as precursors in non-templated base and acid-catalyzed sol–gel processes, and in templated processes with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether (C 12 E 10 ). The gel time of materials made without templates is mainly controlled by the structure of the silane rather than its reactivity. For instance, a dangling methyl group (MTMS) inhibits gelation, while a short bridging chain (BTMSE) promotes gelation. In basic conditions, mesoporous materials are obtained with TEOS and TMOS, while microporous materials are obtained with organically modified silanes without added amine. Dipropylamine, originally added as a catalyst, in fact templates mesopores in BTMSH-derived organosilica. In acidic conditions without pore templates, all products are microporous. In the presence of CTAB, mesopore templating occurs with TEOS, TMOS, BTMSE, and BTMSPA. With C 12 E 10 , mesopore templating occurs with TEOS, TMOS, and BTMSE. Surprisingly, the BTMSE-based material has the most uniform mesopores of all samples in the C 12 E 10 series. Mesopore templating fails when a dangling organic limits the formation of stable pore walls (MTMS) or a large hydrophobic chain disrupts the formation surfactant micelles (BTMSH).
Golden rule partitioning of vibronic energy: excitation transfer in collisions of metastable argon atoms with nitrogen

Abstract Optical emission from N2* formed in electronic energy transfer collisions between metastable argon atoms and groundstate nitrogen molecules has been measured in the spectral range 300–870 nm using a beam plus scattering gas arrangement. A resonance decay model of energy transfer successfully predicts the dependence of product vibronic state distributions on the relative kinetic energy of collision.
AVAILABILITY OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE AND COMPUTING LONG-RUN MTBF AND RELIABILITY FOR MARKOV SYSTEMS

Steady-state availability has long been a popular descriptor of effectiveness for repairable systems because it captures both the operability and repairability aspects of the system. A related measure of effectiveness is the availability of continuous service, which is particularly relevant for safety critical applications. In this article, two different measures of this quantity are described for a repairable system whose state is described by an ergodic finite-state-space continuous-time Markov chain. Using these ideas, formulas for computing system long-run mean time between failures and the long-run system reliability function are derived.
Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and brain injury in the preterm infant: Dilemmas in diagnosis and management

Advances in neonatal critical care have reduced the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in the newborn. Paradoxically, however, the prevalence of the complications of IVH including posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHHC) has increased. By virtue of its association with long-term neurodevelopmental disability, posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus is an ominous diagnosis in the premature infant. Animal models have demonstrated that ventricular distention may cause direct cerebral parenchymal injury. Evidence for secondary parenchymal injury in the premature infant with PHHC is by necessity indirect. The precise impact of secondary parenchymal injury on the overall neurological outcome of premature infants with PHHC remains unclear in large part because of the vulnerability of the immature brain to other forms of injury (e.g., periventricular leukomalacia) that may be difficult to distinguish from injury due to distention. Furthermore, parenchymal injury due to PVL may cause ventricular enlargement that does not benefit from CSF diversion. Because these primary and secondary mechanisms of injury may operate concurrently, the precise or dominant cause of ventricular enlargement is often difficult to establish with certainty in the neonatal period. These diagnostic dilemmas have in turn impeded the development and evaluation of therapies specifically aimed at reversing ventricular distention and preventing secondary parenchymal injury. This article focuses on the current dilemmas in diagnosis and management of this potentially reversible form of injury as well as on potential future strategies for its prevention.
The Quadratic Zeeman Effect

The Zeeman effects of the principal series lines of sodium and potassium in the range $n=10 \mathrm{to} 35$ are observed in absorption, using the new 60-inch cyclotron magnet. With a field of 27,000 gauss, the lines having $n$ in the neighborhood of ten show a normal triplet representing the complete Paschen-Back effect of the narrow $^{2}P$ doublet. From about $n=12 \mathrm{to} 20$ all components show an increasing displacement toward short wave-lengths proportional to ${({n}^{*}),}^{4}$ the shift of the $\ensuremath{\pi}$ components being half that of the center of the two $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ components. This is the quadratic Zeeman effect, varying as ${H}^{2}$, and is here measured and compared quantitatively with theory for the first time. The agreement with the simple theory is excellent as far as $n=20$. Beyond this the lines show an additional displacement in the same direction, increasing as a higher power of $n$. At the same time the lines are broadened toward the red, with indications of an unresolved component whose intensity increases rapidly with $n$. The displacement is interpreted as a perturbation by the $F$ states, whose separation from the $P$ states in this region becomes comparable with the magnetic energy. The additional lines causing the broadening represent forbidden transitions $^{2}S\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{2}F$. Beyond $n=28$ the broadening increases suddenly and becomes symmetrical, until the lines are no longer distinguishable at $n=35$. All of these perturbation effects are compared with the theoretical results given in the accompanying paper by Schiff and Snyder. Some features are accounted for quantitatively, while the others are satisfactorily explained qualitatively.
G-CSF- and GM-CSF-induced upregulation of CD26 peptidase downregulates the functional chemotactic response of CD34+CD38− human cord blood hematopoietic cells

Objective Cytokine treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and stem cell factor (SCF) is a mainstay of current and future clinical and research protocols for peripheral blood stem cell mobilization, therapeutic care after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and ex vivo hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSC/HPC) expansion. We have previously shown that the peptidase CD26 (DPPIV/dipeptidylpeptidase IV) negatively regulates HSC/HPC and that inhibition of CD26 improves the chemotactic ability and trafficking of HSC/HPC. We set out to establish whether short-term in vitro G-CSF, GM-CSF, or SCF treatment upregulates CD26 and thereby has a detrimental effect on the chemotactic potential of HSC/HPC that could be reversed by CD26 inhibitor treatment. Materials and Methods CD34 + or CD34 + CD38 − cells, a population enriched in HSC, were isolated from human umbilical cord blood and subjected to G-CSF, GM-CSF, or SCF treatment. We then evaluated CD26 expression, CD26 activity, and CXCL12 (SDF-1)-induced migration in the presence or absence of a CD26 inhibitor, Diprotin A. Results Treatment with G-CSF and GM-CSF but not SCF upregulates CD26 expression and activity resulting in a CD26 inhibitor-reversible downregulation of CXCL12-induced chemotactic response. Conclusions Short-term in vitro G-CSF and GM-CSF treatment upregulates the peptidase CD26, resulting in downregulation of the functional ability of CD34 + CD38 − cells to respond to the chemokine CXCL12. This suggests that current and future clinical protocols utilizing G-CSF and GM-CSF may have unforeseen detrimental effects on the trafficking of HSC/HPC during HSCT that can be overcome through the use of CD26 inhibitors.
Identifying Sex from Handwriting

The ability to infer the sex of the writer from cursive handwriting was examined under a range of conditions. In 5 experiments male and female college students were able to perform this task at the 75% accuracy level even with small amounts of material, sometimes only a single letter or a single geometric pattern. On the other hand, age of the writer was just barely discernible from handwriting. It was suggested that sex or gender is present in handwriting in much the same way as it is present in movement of the whole body.
Differences between steady-state and transient post-synaptic potentials elicited by stimulation of the sural nerve.

In cat medial gastrocnemius motoneurons, single stimuli to the cutaneous sural nerve evoke a post-synaptic potential with a mixture of depolarization and hyperpolarization, depolarization being dominant in type F cells and hyperpolarization in type S cells. This pattern is consistent with previous reports showing that activation of the sural nerve can sometimes reverse the normal order of motor unit recruitment by inhibiting S motor units while simultaneously exciting F motor units. However, during repetitive stimulation for 1–2 s, we found that the hyperpolarizing component of the sural input to medial gastrocnemius motoneurons was not persistent, but instead gave way to depolarization after the first 30 ms. The net steady-state response after 0.5–1.0 s of stimulation was depolarization in all cells, regardless of motor unit type. This suggests that tonic sural input may be incapable of producing prolonged recruitment reversals.
Reduction of nitric oxide by carbon monoxide on copper catalysts

Abstract An experimental study has been carried out of the kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of NO by reaction with CO on unsupported and supported copper catalysts. At low CO concentrations ( 3 CO NO ), the kinetics of this reaction exhibit an effective reaction order of unity with respect to NO; hence, the fractional conversion is independent of the reactant level. However, relatively high CO concentrations ( CO NO > 10 ) in the gas stream cause reaction inhibition. On the basis of the experimental results a reaction mechanism is proposed involving dissociative chemisorption of nitric oxide. The formation of an isocyanate (NCO) species on the copper surface is responsible for reaction inhibition. This species acts as the precursor for ammonia formation in the presence of water vapor. The dissociative chemisorption step of NO on a copper surface has an activation energy of 9.3 kcal/mole, a value unaffected by such supports as SiO 2 or CuAl 2 O 4 .
EUVL projection-camera alignment methods

Comparison of misalignment modes associated with metrology data nd projection-camera performance can be used to increase the sensitivity of metrology measurements to specific camera-performance specifications such as chief-ray distortion. Selection of measurable misalignment modes in the case of metrology and interesting misalignment modes in the case of camera performance is based on a determination of whether a mode can 'fit' into a projection camera given actuator-stroke and mirror tilt bounds. Measurement and interest subspaces are next compared using distance between subspaces. As an example of this type of analysis, we find that exit-pupil wavefront measurements can be made more sensitive to chief-ray distortion if these measurements are collected at field positions outside the ring field of view of an EUVL projection camera.
Short-run forecasting of highway gasoline consumption in the United States

Abstract Forecasting highway consumption of gasoline can be expected to gain greater attention in future years as problems related to energy uncertainties and growing fuel tax revenue shortfalls continue to mount. Although much of the energy forecasting conducted to date has involved fairly large-scale econometric modeling, the immediacy of energy concerns warrants closer attention to near-term time series analyses of gasoline consumption patterns. This paper presents an autoregressive-integrated-moving average (ARIMA) model for forecasting monthly highway energy consumption in the United States using data from the 1977–83 period. Distinct secular and seasonal factors, revolving around 1- and 6-month cycles, emerged from the time series analysis that offer a practical basis for short-term energy forecasting. Efforts to incorporate the interventing effects of the 1979 oil supply disruption on U.S. highway gasoline consumption found that its impacts on the underlying secular, seasonal and stochastic processes behind usage patterns were fairly inconsequential. Comparable short-range models should be integrated into state-level planning programs to closely track possible energy futures at more disaggregate levels.
The role of an epistemology of inclusivity on the pursuit of social justice: a case study

Social justice education emphasizes how schools can better serve traditionally marginalized students. This case study examines the pursuit of social justice education in an unlikely setting: a Catholic elementary school that both espouses inclusion of all children and effectively includes children with a wide range of disabilities. The article focuses on the way a school principal understands the concept of inclusivity and how this “epistemology of inclusivity” enacted by the leader impacts the pursuit of social justice in the school. The study illustrates that an epistemology of inclusivity can at once embolden and delimit the social justice practices.
Methodology in Climatology

(1999). Methodology in Climatology. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 89, No. 4, pp. 713-735.
Time's up

“My psychiatrist says I need all my meds, but he doesn't know how I'm goin' to get them,” Maggie said. That was true. Eleven years after one of the most progressive managed care Medicaid programs i...
A pieced quilt : a critical discussion of Stephen Schiffer's Remnants of Meaning

Abstract Stephen Schiffer, in his recent book, Remnants of Meaning, argues against the possibility of any compositional theory of meaning for natural language. Because the argument depends on the premise that there is no possible naturalistic reduction of the intentional to the physical, Schiffer's attack on theories of meaning is of central importance for theorists of mind. I respond to Schiffer's argument by showing that there is at least one reductive account of the mental that he has neglected to consider—the computationalist account known as the Representational Theory of Mind. Not only is this view immune from the criticisms Schiffer mounts against other reductivist theories, but it solves problems that arise on Schiffer's own non‐reductive account of the relation between the intentional and the physical.
What is child care? Lessons from time-use surveys of major English-speaking countries

This paper examines the definition and measurement of time devoted to child care in the diary-based surveys administered by the United States, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. Detailed analysis of the relationship between measures of care activity and supervisory care in the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) illustrate the larger conceptual issues at stake.
High-performance affinity chromatography of DNA.

Abstract The octadecamer of thymidylic acid, (dT)18, was synthesized with a primary amino group on the 5'-terminal phosphate and this was covalently coupled to 300 » pore macroporous silica. Coupling was performed inside a prepacked column to an activated N-hydroxysucinimidyl ester silica. The (dT)18-silica column succesfully separates mixtures of adenine oligomers differing in length by one nucleotide. The dependence upon salt concentration, temperature and length for elution of oligonucleotides was determined. Methods were also developed to selectively elute such columns using either salt or temperature gradients.
Thyroidal enhancement of rat myocardial Na,K-ATPase: Preferential expression of α2 activity and mRNA abundance

In hypothyroid rat myocardium, the low-ouabain-sensitivity Na,K-ATPase activity had aK i =10−4 m and accounted for ∼95% of the enzyme activity, while the high-ouabain-sensitivity activity contributed ∼5% to the total activity, with aK i =3×107 m. mRNAα1 was 7.2- and 5.5-fold more abundant than mRNAα2 and mRNAβ, respectively, in hypothyroid ventricles while mRNAα3 was undetectable. Administration of T3 increased total Na,K-ATPase activity 1.6-fold; the low-ouabain-sensitivity activity increased 1.5-fold while high-ouabain-sensitivity activity was stimulated 3.2-fold. T3 increased the number of high-affinity ouabain-binding sites 2.9-fold with no change inK d (∼2×10−7 m). The abundances of mRNAα1, mRNAα2, and mRNAβ (per unit RNA) following T3 treatment increased 3.6-, 10.6-, and 12.7-fold, respectively. The larger increments in subunit mRNA abundances than in Na,K-ATPase activity suggests the involvement of translational and/or post-translational regulatory steps in Na,K-ATPase biogenesis in response to T3. It is concluded that T3 enhances myocardial Na,K-ATPase subunit mRNA abundances and Na,K-ATPase activity, and that the expression of the high- and low-ouabain-sensitivity activities are probably a reflection of the abundances of the α2 and α1 isoforms, respectively. The physiological role played by the β subunit remains uncertain.
THE USE OF PRECIPITIN ANALYSIS IN AGAR FOR THE STUDY OF HUMAN STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS II. OUCHTERLONY AND OAKLEY TECHNICS

It has been shown by agar precipitin tests (Ouchterlony and Oakley) that human sera may contain from 0 to 5 antibodies against antigens present in a partially purified streptolysin O preparation, and from 0 to 7 antibodies against antigens in a crude ammonium sulfate concentrate of the streptococcal culture supernate used. These antigens were prepared from a Group A hemolytic streptococcus (strain C203S). Strong evidence was presented suggesting that some of the bands seen with streptolysin O concentrate represented antibody reponses to streptococcal antigens heretofore undescribed. Tests were also carried out with other streptococcal antigens, including streptokinase-desoxyribonuclease mixture from Group C streptococci (varidase-Lederle), crystalline proteinase, proteinase precursor, C carbohydrate, and sonic vibrated streptococcal cell extracts (group A, C203S). Fewer bands were seen with these preparations, and with some they were quite uncommon. The observations indicated that the predominating antibody responses in human streptococcal infections were to extracellular products of the micro-organisms, and only very slightly and infrequently to intracellular antigens. The human sera studied included sera from patients with active or convalescent rheumatic fever, and non-rheumatic subjects suffering from a variety of illnesses. As was expected, the rheumatic subjects showed antibody responses to many more of the antigens present in these preparations than did the nonrheumatic group. Pooled normal human gamma globulin was found to contain many of the antibodies found in potent human sera. This finding confirmed the antigen-antibody nature of the bands seen with individual sera. The epidemiological significance of these findings with gamma, globulin was briefly discussed. It was found that rabbit, guinea pig, and human antibody precipitin bands join quite readily in the Ouchterlony tests. This finding adds another tool for the identification of the precipitin bands found with human sera. Evidence was obtained which indicated differing immunological specificities of two samples of streptococcal desoxyribonuclease, one from Group A, the other from a Group C streptococcus. The value of these technics as representing a new approach to the study of human infectious disease was discussed.
Light-absorption characteristics of tumor tissue at ruby and neodymium laser energy wavelengths.

Summary The wavelength-absorption characteristics of homogenates from a variety of primary and metastatic tumor implants, as well as certain experimental animal tumors, were evaluated by a standardized technique. These investigations indicate that the absorption capacity of each primary tumor is independent of the site or organ of orgin or of the histological type. Metastasis from a given primary may have absorption capacities markedly different from that of the primary tumor. On the basis of the studies reported here, it appears that the conclusive generalizations relating to light-absorption capacities cannot be made concerning types of tumors when exposed to laser energy, but only concerning individual tumors and tumor implants.
CPAF: a Chlamydial protease in search of an authentic substrate

Bacteria in the genus Chlamydia are major human pathogens that cause an intracellular infection. A chlamydial protease, CPAF, has been proposed as an important virulence factor that cleaves or degrades at least 16 host proteins, thereby altering multiple cellular processes. We examined 11 published CPAF substrates and found that there was no detectable proteolysis when CPAF activity was inhibited during cell processing. We show that the reported proteolysis of these putative CPAF substrates was due to enzymatic activity in cell lysates rather than in intact cells. Nevertheless, Chlamydia-infected cells displayed Chlamydia-host interactions, such as Golgi reorganization, apoptosis resistance, and host cytoskeletal remodeling, that have been attributed to CPAF-dependent proteolysis of host proteins. Our findings suggest that other mechanisms may be responsible for these Chlamydia-host interactions, and raise concerns about all published CPAF substrates and the proposed roles of CPAF in chlamydial pathogenesis.
Primary care physicians' perceptions of barriers to genetic testing and their willingness to participate in research.

Our objective was to explore the barriers and motivations to: 1) appropriate diffusion of genetic services into primary care practice; and 2) primary care physicians' (PCPs) willingness to participate in clinical studies to assess the safety and effectiveness of emerging genetic technologies. A random sample (n = 994) of PCPs was invited to be interviewed. Of the 80 who agreed, 60 were interviewed, 52 by telephone. A semi-structured guide was used. A questionnaire mailed to 752 of the PCPs was used to elicit information from physicians who did not want to be interviewed. Among interviewees, uncertainty as to the clinical utility and clinical validity of predictive genetic testing were the leading barriers to incorporation of this technology into practice, being mentioned by 60 and 43% of subjects, respectively. Of the 100 (13.3%) physicians returning the questionnaire who declined to be interviewed, 30% said they would be willing to participate in research on the safety and effectiveness of predictive genetic tests. Of those who were interviewed, 92% were willing to participate in such research. Most physicians do not see genetics as important in their practice today; many anticipate greater importance in the future. The proportion of physicians interested in participating in research to assess the safety and effectiveness of genetic tests is sufficient to make large scale, collaborative, practice-based evaluation feasible. Additionally, participation in research may serve as an effective medium for physician education in genetics. Am. J. Med. Genet. 94:409–416, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An e.s.r. and spin-trapping study of the reactions of the SO4- radical with protein and nucleic acid constituents.

Reactions of the SO4- radical, generated by U.V. photolysis of Na2S2O8, were studied in aqueous solutions of amino acids, dipeptides, nucleic acid bases, nucleosides and nucleotides. The transient free radicals so formed were spin-trapped by t-nitrosobutane and identified by e.s.r. spectroscopy. The amino acids primarily undergo oxidative decarboxylation. The pKs of the ammonium groups of the spin-trapped decarboxylated radicals of glycine and alanine in D2O were determined to be 8.3 +/- 0.2. An oxidation product, which is the precursor of the decarboxylated radical, is tentatively identified for alanine, valine and isoleucine. Radicals formed by hydrogen abstraction by SO-4 are identified for leucine, serine, phenylalanine and 4-hydroxyproline. In dipeptides, SO-4 produces decarboxylation of the amino acid located at the carboxylate terminal residue. For gly-ala and ala-ala, radicals generated by hydrogen abstraction from the carboxylate terminal residue alanine were also characterized. Radicals centered on the C(5) carbon were observed for uracil, cytosine and thymine. For nucleosides and nucleotides, radicals situated on the base and/or the sugar moiety were assigned.
Letter to the Editor: Comment on “Stereo‐Imaging Made Easy”

We believe that the paper in question (JEMT 11, 174, 1989) is presented in a way that is misleading.
Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile: an instrument for clinical and laboratory research

There is growing awareness that dyspnoea, like pain, is a multidimensional experience, but measurement instruments have not kept pace. The Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile (MDP) assesses overall breathing discomfort, sensory qualities, and emotional responses in laboratory and clinical settings. Here we provide the MDP, review published evidence regarding its measurement properties and discuss its use and interpretation. The MDP assesses dyspnoea during a specific time or a particular activity (focus period) and is designed to examine individual items that are theoretically aligned with separate mechanisms. In contrast, other multidimensional dyspnoea scales assess recalled recent dyspnoea over a period of days using aggregate scores. Previous psychophysical and psychometric studies using the MDP show that: 1) subjects exposed to different laboratory stimuli could discriminate between air hunger and work/effort sensation, and found air hunger more unpleasant; 2) the MDP immediate unpleasantness scale (A1) was convergent with common dyspnoea scales; 3) in emergency department patients, two domains were distinguished (immediate perception, emotional response); 4) test-retest reliability over hours was high; 5) the instrument responded to opioid treatment of experimental dyspnoea and to clinical improvement; 6) convergent validity with common instruments was good; and 7) items responded differently from one another as predicted for multiple dimensions.
An improved dispersion method of multi-wall carbon nanotube for inhalation toxicity studies of experimental animals

A multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) product Mitsui MWNT-7 is a mixture of dispersed single fibers and their agglomerates/aggregates. In rodents, installation of such mixture induces inflammatory lesions triggered predominantly by the aggregates/agglomerates at the level of terminal bronchiole of the lungs. In human, however, pulmonary toxicity induced by dispersed single fibers that reached the lung alveoli is most important to assess. Therefore, a method to generate aerosol predominantly consisting of dispersed single fibers without changing their length and width is needed for inhalation studies. Here, we report a method (designated as Taquann method) to effectively remove the aggregate/agglomerates and enrich the well-dispersed singler fibers in dry state without dispersant and without changing the length and width distribution of the single fibers. This method is base on two major concept; liquid-phase fine filtration and critical point drying to avoid re-aggregation by surface tension. MWNT-7 was suspended in Tert-butyl alcohol, freeze-and-thawed, filtered by a vibrating 25 µm mesh Metallic Sieve, snap-frozen by liquid nitrogen, and vacuum-sublimated (an alternative method to carbon dioxide critical point drying). A newly designed direct injection system generated well-dispersed aerosol in an inhalation chamber. The lung of mice exposed to the aerosol contained single fibers with a length distribution similar to the original and the Taquann-treated sample. Taquann method utilizes inexpensive materials and equipments mostly found in common biological laboratories, and prepares dry powder ready to make well-dispersed aerosol. This method and the chamber with direct injection system would facilitate the inhalation toxicity studies more relevant to human exposure.
The interaction of steroids with Rana pipiens Oocytes in the induction of maturation.

A variety of steroid hormones are taken up from the incubation medium by isolated Rana pipiens oocytes, and of those tried, eight were capable of inducing maturation in vitro. Uptake of progesterone from the medium was linear with time and proportional to the concentration of hormone in the medium. Once bound, about 50% or more of the hormone remained permanently associated with the oocyte. However, the amount of uptake varied greatly among the hormones tested, as did effectiveness in inducing maturation, and there was no clear correlation between amount of uptake and induction effectiveness. Primary interaction of the hormone with the oocyte must occur at the oocyte surface, as injection of the hormone into the oocyte does not effect the maturation response. However, injection of cytoplasm from maturing eggs will effect maturation in oocytes not treated with hormone. We suggest that the steroid acts at or near the surface to cause the production of a second effector which, when accumulated to a sufficient level in the oocyte, induces the observable events associated with maturation.
Double-prodrugs of L-cysteine: differential protection against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

A series of double-prodrugs of L-cysteine, designed to release L-cysteine in vivo and stimu- late the biosynthesis of glutathione (GSH), were synthesized. To evaluate the hepatoprotective ef- fectiveness of these double-prodrugs, male Swiss- Webster mice were administered acetaminophen (ACP) (2.45 mmol/kg (360 mg/kg), intraperitoneally (i.p.)). Prodrug (2.50 mmol/kg, i.p. or 1.25 mmol/kg, i.p., de- pending on the protocol) was administered 1 h be- fore ACP as a priming dose. A supplementary dose of prodrug (2.5 mmol/kg, i.p. or 1.25 mmol/kg, i.p. depending on the protocol) was administered 0.5 h after ACP. The plasma alanine amino transferase (ALT) val- ues, 24 h after ACP administration were transformed to logs and the 95% and 99% confidence intervals of the log values were plotted and compared for each group. Hep- atoprotection was assessed by the degree of attenuation of plasma ALT levels. With these multiple dose sched- ules, the use of 2% carboxymethylcellulose as vehicle for the prodrugs was found to be detrimental; therefore, the prodrugs were dissolved in dilute aqueous base and the pH adjusted for administration. When a prim- ing dose was given 1 h before ACP followed by a sup- plementary dose 0.5 h after ACP, only N,S-bis-acetyl-L- cysteine, where both the sulfhydryl and amino groups of L-cysteine were functionalized with the acetyl group, was found to be effective in protecting mice against the hepatotoxic effects of ACP. This suggests that these acetyl groups were rapidly hydrolyzed in vivo to lib- erate L-cysteine. In contrast, N-acetylation of 2(R,S)- methylthiazolidine-4(R)-carboxylic acid (MTCA) and its 2-n-propyl analog (PTCA), or N-acetylation of 2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (OTCA), reduced the hepatoprotective effects relative to the parent MTCA, PTCA, and OTCA, indicating that the re- lease of L-cysteine in vivo from these N-acetylated thiazolidine prodrugs was metabolically unfavorable. The carbethoxy group, whether functionalized on the
Some Reflections on Currency Boards

The dramatic events in Asia and Russia, and the contagion they have spread, have generated a torrent of commentary about exchange rates, hot money, and exchange controls. As someone who was deeply involved in Indonesia (Monetary Mischief, 1998) and who predicted that the ruble would collapse by midyear (Hanke, 1998b), I offer my views as to why most of the commentary has been either half-baked or simply wrong. Indeed, in most instances the international chattering classes have misdiagnosed the patient and, in consequence, prescribed the wrong medicine. A correct diagnosis requires an understanding of alternative exchange-rate regimes.
Nociceptor and age specific effects of REM sleep deprivation induced hyperalgesia

REM sleep deprivation (REMSD) has been shown to increase rates of negatively reinforced operant behavior, but not operant responding maintained by positive reinforcement. The reason for this differential effect is currently unknown. We hypothesize that REMSD can increase sensitivity to noxious stimuli. In the present study, we sought to determine if REMSD was associated with a change in response to noxious heat (i.e., altered nociceptive sensitivity). Two groups of rats, aged 6 and 22 months, were subjected to hotplate algesia testing at two different temperatures (44 and 52 °C). Initially, baseline numbers of responses and total response time were obtained at 44 °C. Animals then were exposed to 48 h of REMSD or control conditions. The frequency and duration of hindpaw responses (licking and guarding) increased for young animals only after REMSD and none of the control conditions. Old rats showed increased duration of nocifensive responding after REMSD and tank control conditions without a change in the number of responses at 44 °C. Latency to first nocifensive response was significantly longer in the 44 °C hotplate tests, but decreased to levels observed throughout the 52 °C hotplate tests following REMSD and TC conditions. These findings suggest that REMSD increases nociceptive sensitivity under conditions of sustained, selective C nociceptor activation (42 °C), but not under conditions of phasic A-delta activation (52 °C). The findings also indicate that age can be a significant variable in REMSD studies.
Astrological Indicators of Personality

Summary Subjects indicated how aggressive, ambitious, creative, intuitive, and extroverted they thought they were on nine point rating scales and completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Each subject also designated a friend who described the subject on the same set of rating scales. As exact birth times were available for subjects, it was possible to determine their sun, moon, and ascending signs. The results showed that the astrological indicators of personality were not related to either self or friends' descriptions of the subjects' personalities.
Adaptive flow control for TCP on mobile phones

The focus of this work is to study the efficacy of TCP's flow control algorithm on mobile phones. Specifically, we identify the design limitations of the algorithm when operating in environments, such as mobile phones, where flow control assumes greater importance because of device resource limitations. We then propose an adaptive flow control (AFC) algorithm for TCP that relies not just on the available buffer space but also on the application read-rate at the receiver. We show, using NS2 simulations, that AFC can provide considerable performance benefits over classical TCP flow control.
Does tibolone exacerbate atherosclerosis

This editorial refers to ‘The effect of tibolone and continuous combined conjugated equine oestrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate on progression of carotid intima–media thickness: the Osteoporosis Prevention and Arterial effects of tiboLone (OPAL) study’ † by M.L. Bots et al., on page 746 Tibolone is widely used in many countries (though not in the USA) for the treatment of post-menopausal symptoms and to inhibit post-menopausal bone loss. Tibolone’s popularity likely reflects the observation that it equals traditional hormone therapy in the relief of hot flushes, vaginal dryness, and the prevention of bone loss and, in addition, appears to increase libido. The post-menopausal benefits of tibolone relate to the uniqueness of the metabolism of the parent molecule. In human and non-human primates, tibolone is converted to three metabolites. Two are weak estrogen agonists (the 3-alpha and 3-beta hydroxy metabolites). The third metabolite, the delta-4 isomer, is a molecule that binds both to the progesterone receptor and to the androgen receptor with progestogenic and androgenic effects. Although tibolone has numerous benefits for postmenopausal women, it markedly lowers plasma concentrations of the HDL with consistent reductions of HDL cholesterol (HDLC) and ApoA1. The magnitude of the reductions is generally 20–30%. Because there is a strong inverse relationship between both HDLC and ApoA1 and the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD) among women not taking hormones, there has been concern that tibolone-induced reductions in HDLC and ApoA1 might increase risk for CHD. However, recent studies have shown