cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Power RF Energy Harvester Circuit Design for Wearable Medical Applications

Electromagnetic based energy harvesting systems are being widely researched with radio frequency (RF) as their energy source. RF energy is preferred due to its availability and characteristics of transferring energy remotely and in all directions. This paper presents a newly design low-power CMOS full-bridge rectifier which works as the receiver of the harvesting system. The proposed rectifier scheme includes two NMOS and two PMOS devices and they are realized in a standard 130nm CMOS process. The work is focused on RF signals of around 900 MHz. To achieve stable energy transmission between the antenna and the proposed AC-DC rectifier, an impedance matching network is designed with values of capacitor and inductor of 550fF and 45nH, respectively. A DC-DC converter with a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system is designed for storing energy from the RF signal with minimum current consumption. The peak efficiency of this design is about 5% at 10 dBm. The overall system is very light-weight and requires no external wiring and connection.
Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulators in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Window-of-Opportunity Trial Using Telapristone Acetate

Purpose: Selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) show preclinical activity against hormone-sensitive breast cancer, but have not been tested in patients with early, treatment-naive tumors. Patients and Methods: In a double-blind presurgical window trial of oral telapristone acetate (TPA) 12 mg daily versus placebo, 70 patients with early-stage breast cancer were randomized 1:1 (stratified by menopause) and treated for 2 to 10 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in Ki67 between diagnostic biopsy and surgical specimens. Gene expression pre- and posttherapy was assessed using RNA-sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis was performed to determine pathways enriched in response to TPA and placebo treatments. Results: Among 61 evaluable women (29 placebo and 32 telapristone acetate), 91% of tumors were ER/PR positive. The mean Ki67 declined by 5.5% in all women treated with telapristone acetate (P = 0.003), and by 4.2% in all women treated with placebo (P = 0.04). After menopausal stratification, the Ki67 decline remained significant in 22 telapristone acetate–treated premenopausal women (P = 0.03). Differential gene expression analysis showed no significant modulation overall. However, in a subset of tumors that demonstrated ≥30% relative reduction in Ki67 in the telapristone acetate group, genes related to cell-cycle progression, and those in the HER2 amplicon were significantly downregulated. In contrast, no significantly enriched pathways were identified in the placebo group. Conclusions: Patients treated with telapristone acetate whose Ki67 decreased by ≥30% demonstrated a selective antiproliferative signal, with a potentially important effect on HER2 amplicon genes. Evaluation of SPRMs in a neoadjuvant trial is merited, with attention to predictors of response to SPRM therapy, and inclusion of pre- and postmenopausal women.
Fluid lensing and machine learning for centimeter-resolution airborne assessment of coral reefs in American Samoa

Abstract A novel NASA remote sensing technique, airborne fluid lensing, has enabled cm-resolution multispectral 3D remote sensing of aquatic systems, without adverse refractive distortions from ocean waves. In 2013, a drone-based airborne fluid lensing campaign conducted over the coral reef of Ofu Island, American Samoa, revealed complex 3D morphological, ecological, and bathymetric diversity at the cm-scale over a regional area. In this paper, we develop and validate supervised machine learning algorithm products tailored for accurate automated segmentation of coral reefs using airborne fluid lensing multispectral 3D imagery. Results show that airborne fluid lensing can significantly improve the accuracy of coral habitat mapping using remote sensing. The machine learning algorithm is based on multidimensional naive-Bayes maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation. Provided a user-selected training subset of 3D multispectral images, comprising ~1% of the total dataset, the algorithm separates living structure from nonliving structure and segments the coral reef into four distinct morphological classes – branching coral, mounding coral, basalt rock, and sand. The user-selected training data and algorithm classification results are created and verified, respectively, with sub-cm-resolution ground-truth maps, manually generated from extensive in-situ mapping, underwater gigapixel photogrammetry, and visual inspection of the 3D dataset with subject matter experts. The algorithm generates 3D cm-resolution data products such as living structure and morphology distribution for the Ofu Island coral reef ecosystem with 95% and 92% accuracy, respectively. By comparison, classification of m-resolution remote sensing imagery, representative of the effective spatial resolution of commonly-used airborne and spaceborne aquatic remote sensing instruments subject to ocean wave distortion, typically produces data products with 68% accuracy. These results suggest existing methodologies may not resolve coral reef ecosystems in sufficient detail for accurate determination of percent cover of living structure and morphology breakdown. The methods presented here offer a new remote sensing approach enabling repeatable quantitative ecosystem assessment of aquatic systems, independent of ocean wave distortion and sea state. Aquatic remote sensing imagery, free from refractive distortion, appears necessary for accurate and quantitative health assessment capabilities for coral reef ecosystems at the cm-scale, over regional areas. The accurate and automated determination of percent cover and morphology distribution at cm-resolution may lead to a significantly improved understanding of reef ecosystem dynamics and responses in a rapidly-changing global climate.
Navigating a Career in Academia: Insights from Emeriti Engineering Faculty

This holistic single-case study design grounded by Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence explores the perspectives of renowned emeriti engineering faculty on the future of the engineering professoriate and the factors that can lead to a successful professional trajectory for early-career, tenure-track engineering faculty. The emeriti faculty also share how they observed the ways in which race/ethnicity and gender, and the intersection of the two, influence the professional paths of early-career engineering faculty. Findings indicate the emeriti faculty believe the future of the engineering professoriate will be based on faculty continuing to develop useable technology that improves the human condition. Emeriti faculty note the appropriate balance of teaching, research, and service is dependent upon one’s individual circumstances and one’s creative, analytical, and practical abilities. They also share the balance can be complicated for underrepresented minority (URM) and female faculty. A thorough understanding of the factors emeriti faculty believe are critical for achieving promotion and tenure in the engineering professoriate may have the potential to positively impact the professional trajectories of early-career faculty.
Central Bank Policy Sets the Lower Bound on Bond Yields

This paper shows that the scope for bond yields to fall below zero is strictly limited by market expectations about how far below zero central banks are willing to set their short-term policy rates. If a central bank communicates a credible commitment to keeping its policy rate above a given level under all circumstances, then bond yields must be higher than that level. This result holds true even in a model in which central banks are able to depress the term premium in bond yields below zero via large-scale purchases of long-term bonds, also known as quantitative easing (QE). QE becomes less effective as bond yields approach their lower bound.
Constructing an interactionist framework for playfulness research: Adding psychological situations and playful states

Psychological studies of playfulness have been deeply shaped by the traditional trait approach that emphasizes assessment of a decontextualized trait. Integrating insights gained from broader socia...
Environmental Impact per Energy Yield for Bifacial Perovskite Solar Cells Outperforms Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Summary A promising technology for the future of solar energy is the highly efficient bifacial photovoltaic (PV) cell using perovskite as an absorbing layer. Here we report the environmental impact per energy generated from bifacial perovskite PV cells in single- and multi-junction configurations. To determine the environmental performance of the energy provided from bifacial perovskites and compare it with the analogous monofacial structures, we develop a realistic energy yield (EY) model. According to our model, the studied bifacial structures show between 9% and 26% EY increase compared with monofacial cells among all surfaces and locations studied. For the environmental impact analysis, we use normalized cradle-to-end-of-use impact from single-junction crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells as a reference point. Our results show that there are opportunities for all studied bifacial perovskite PV structures to become more environmentally friendly than c-Si cells.
Seeing the Global Forest for the Trees: How U.S. Federalism Can Coexist With Global Goverance of Forests

Abstract Both international forest and climate negotiations have failed to produce a legally binding treaty that addresses forest management activities—either comprehensively or more narrowly through carbon capture– due, in part, to lack of US leadership. Though US cooperation is crucial for facilitating both forest and climate negotiations, the role of federalism in constraining these trends has been given scant attention. We argue that, as embodied in the US Constitution, federalism complicates the US's role in creating any legally binding treaty that directly regulates land uses (e.g. forest management). Because federalism reserves primary land use regulatory authority for state governments, voluntary, market-based mechanisms, like REDD and forest certification, should be included within any binding treaty aimed at forest management, in order to facilitate US participation.
Recognition and Treatment of Ectopic Beats

Summary The recognition of ectopic beats is a necessary skill of the anesthesiologist. The significance of these beats during the perioperative period depends on the arrhythmia history of the patient, the presence or absence of organic heart disease, the operative setting with mechanical or extra-cardiac etiologies involved, and the frequency and repetitiveness of the ectopic beats. All these and other considerations are included in the decision to observe benign ectopic beats in a healthy patient or to aggressively treat more frequent ectopic beats in a patient with organic heart disease.
Structure and reaction pathways of octanoic acid on copper

Abstract The surface chemistry of octanoic acid was studied on a copper foil or a Cu(100) single crystal in ultrahigh vacuum using reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption, and supplemented by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Octanoic acid adsorbs molecularly at 90 K, converting from a flat-lying species at low coverages to a more upright species at saturation. Adsorption at 300 K results in the formation of an η2-octanoate species, which binds with the alkyl group parallel to the surface with a tilted carboxylate group, as evidence by both infrared data and calculations. The flat-lying structure facilitates octanoate decomposition, which reacts by desorbing carbon dioxide at ~550 K. Increasing the octanoate coverage induces the alkyl chains to be more perpendicular to the surface to form a self-assembled monolayer with significant intermolecular van der Waals’ interactions. This stabilizes the adsorbate, which now decomposes by desorbing carbon dioxide at ~640 K, where infrared spectroscopy confirms that this also occurs by the carboxylate tilting towards the surface. The resulting heptyl species can either decompose by desorbing hydrogen or can also polymerize on the surface.
The role of alcohol and other drugs on emergency department traumatic injury mortality in the United States.

Abstract Background Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) increase the risk of traumatic injury occurring, but data suggest a protective benefit in preventing trauma-related mortality. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiology of AOD-related traumatic injury in the US over a recent 7 year period and assess the interaction of traumatic injury and AOD on pre-admission fatality on both an additive scale using incidence contrasts and on a statistical multiplicative scale using survey-adjusted logistic regression. Methods Using the National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), we describe the epidemiology of alcohol and substance-related emergency department traumatic injury over a recent period. AOD-related injury was assessed using survey-adjusted counts and means. Ratio estimates and differences were calculated using simulations based on survey-adjusted counts and standard errors. Differences in trends over time were evaluated by comparing the slopes of linear regression equations with year as the predictor variable. Results Alcohol and substance-related emergency department injury discharges increased 9.8 % during the study period. There was a statistically significant interaction between traumatic injury death and AOD on both an additive scale and multiplicative scale. (Odds Ratio for interaction term = 1.76, 95 % CI = 1.53, 2.03). Conclusions AOD use does not provide a protective benefit in the setting of trauma, but rather is an important contributor to traumatic injury mortality.
Self-assembly of protein superstructures by physical interactions under cytoplasm-like conditions

Abstract The structure-driven assembly of multimeric protein complexes and the formation of intracellular phase-like protein condensates have been the subject of intense research. However, the assembly of larger superstructures comprising cellular components, such as protein nanoparticles driven by general physical rather than specific biochemical interactions, remains relatively uncharacterized. Here, we use gas vesicles (GVs)—genetically encoded protein nanoparticles that form ordered intracellular clusters—as a model system to study the forces driving multiparticle assembly under cytoplasm-like conditions. Our calculations and experimental results show that the ordered assembly of GVs can be achieved by screening their mutual electrostatic repulsion with electrolytes and creating a crowding force with dissolved macromolecules. The precise balance of these forces results in different packing configurations. Biomacromolecules such as polylysine and DNA are capable of driving GV clustering. These results provide basic insights into how physically driven interactions affect the formation of protein superstructures, offer guidance for manipulating nanoparticle assembly in cellular environments through synthetic biology methods, and inform research on the biotechnology applications of GVs.
Influenza A Virus Modulates ACE2 Expression and SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity in Human Cardiomyocytes

Rationale: Influenza A virus (IAV) and SARS-CoV-2 are both acute respiratory viruses currently circulating in the human population. Prior IAV infection enhances SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and lung pathogenesis in mice; however, underlying mechanisms and the extent that co-infection leads to involvement of other organs in disease severity remains unknown. Objective: Herein, we investigated the impact of prior IAV infection on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and cardiomyocyte function. Methods and Results: IAV infection in human primary lung epithelial cells, lung fibroblasts, macrophages, cardiac fibroblasts, and hiPSC-Cardiomyocytes enhances the expression of, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2. Also, we found that IAV infection enhances levels of ACE2 in the lungs of mice and humans. Interestingly, we detected poorly glycosylated ACE2 in A549 lung cells, primary lung epithelial cells, and cardiac fibroblasts. In contrast, expression of a heavily glycosylated form of ACE2 is induced by IAV infection in cardiomyocytes. In all cell types, IAV infection enhances SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding and viral entry. However, efficient SARS-CoV-2 replication was uniquely inhibited in cardiomyocytes. Glycosylation of ACE2 correlated with enzymatic conversion of its substrate Ang II, induction of eNOS and nitric oxide production, providing a mechanistic underpinning for restricted viral replication in cardiomyocytes. Conclusions: Our results indicate that IAV-mediated induction of ACE2 is double-edged, providing increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in human lung epithelial cells and cardiac fibroblasts , while limiting SARS-CoV-2 replication in cardiomyocytes. We conclude that differential glycosylation of ACE2 may be a molecular determinant- not of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but of replication. Funding: The work was supported by NIH grants AI 146252 and AI 146690. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: All procedures were approved by the OSU IACUC.We have obtained ethics approval from the Ohio State University, The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (#2016A00000100-R1), Institutional Biosafety Committee (#2020R00000135) for animal work and Institutional Review Board (#2020H0222) for human subjects.
A Test For An Intervening Stellar Population As The Origin of Microlensing Events Toward the LMC

Short version: Zaritsky and Lin (1997, ZL97) have recently presented observations which can be interpreted as evidence for an intervening stellar population along the line-of-sight to the LMC, at a distance of ~34 kpc. They suggest that it may belong to a low surface-brightness dwarf galaxy, or to the tidal debris of a disrupted galaxy, and derive an optical depth for gravitational lensing through the intervening system which is consistent with the observed value. Such interpretation of the microlensing events toward the LMC has major implications for the nature of the dark matter, and thus should be tested in every conceivable way. We suggest a method utilizing the microlensing data themselves to discriminate between the various hypotheses. We find that the first eight MACHO events toward the LMC are as consistent with a standard halo distribution of 0.5 solar-mass MACHOs (best fit), as they are with an intervening population having a transverse speed of ~240 km/s and a Miller-Scalo stellar IMF. Monte Carlo simulations show that in order to completely rule out either hypothesis, about 40 events will be required if the IMF is rising below the H-burning mass limit, and about 140 if it is falling. If the ZL97 intervening population hypothesis is correct then: (a) the currently observed range of event durations directly implies a lens mass range of ~0.06-0.8 solar-mass, which brackets the mass of ~0.2 solar mass where many investigations claim that the stellar IMF peaks, and (b) the event distribution provides valuable information on the low-mass end of the stellar IMF.
Subject Matter Matters

Humans, Nature, and Birds . Science Art from Cave Walls to Computer Screens. By Darryl Wheye and Donald Kennedy . Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2008. 229 pp. $37.50, £25. ISBN 9780300123883. A History of Paleontology Illustration . By Jane P. Davidson . Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 2008. 235 pp. $39.95. ISBN 9780253351753. These two books will fascinate readers interested in the arena in which art and science come together or in illustrations of birds or fossils.
The CMTrio-98 Sony-Legged Robot Team

Sony has provided a remarkable platform for research and development in robotic agents, namely fully autonomous legged robots. In this paper, we describe our work using Sony's legged robots to participate in the RoboCup'98 legged robot demonstration and competition. The robots are fully autonomous with on-board vision, control, and navigation. The challenges we addressed in this framework include the color calibration of the vision hardware, the landmark-based robot localization on the playing field, and the development of robot behaviors for the actual play of the game. The paper presents our approach and contributions to these issues. We apply machine learning techniques for automated color calibration and we develop effective vision-servoed navigation. We present our Bayesian localization algorithm. Team strategy is achieved through pre-defined behaviors. Our team of the Sony legged robots, CMTrio-98, won all of its games in the RoboCup-98 competition, and was awarded the first place in the championship.
Residential space heating: An analysis of energy conservation

Abstract The energy signature technique is used to analyse the marginal benefits of various types of energy conservation in residential space heating and certain systematic errors frequently committed by utility companies in estimating these benefits. The results indicate that the marginal price of energy and the change in the balance point temperature of a dwelling are the most significant factors in determining the value of energy saved each year. Utilities in the 27 cities studied do not consider the effects of changes in the balance point temperature of a structure when estimating energy savings. Regional differences are also examined.
Disseminated Mycobacterium avium­ intracellulare Infection in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Mimicking Whipple's Disease

We report a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome whose clinical presentation and histologic features resembled Whipple's disease. The unique feature of this case was the absence of Whipple's bacillus and the presence of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare within macrophages infiltrating the small intestinal lamina propria.
Application of immunohistochemistry to cytology.

Abstract Context.—The uses of monoclonal antibodies via immunochemistry have been reported frequently within the literature using various methodologies with applications to cytology specimens. The direct application of immunochemistry to cytology may have a variety of pitfalls that the general pathologist familiar with its application to histology may be unaware of when applying it prospectively to patient specimens. Objective.—To review common pitfalls when applying immunochemistry to cytology specimens and to suggest approaches to the more common differential dilemmas that apply to a variety of cytology specimens that could be seen in a general pathology practice. Data Sources.—The authors' own experiences of applying immunochemistry to cytopathology specimens within an academic setting along with supportive data from the literature. Conclusions.—Immunochemistry can be used to increase the predictability of a cytology diagnosis if care is taken with the cytology sample preparation methodology and there ...
Phase II clinical trial of bolus infusion anti-B4 blocked ricin immunoconjugate in patients with relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Immunotoxins, composed of a monoclonal antibody conjugated to a protein toxin, mediate cell death through novel cytotoxic mechanisms. Anti-B4-blocked ricin (anti-B4-bR) recognizes CD19-positive cells, which includes most B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Previous Phase I clinical studies of anti-B4-bR, using both bolus and continuous dosing regimens, demonstrated no safety or efficacy advantage to the continuous infusion regimen. This Phase II trial in 16 patients with relapsed CD19-positive NHL was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of anti-B4-bR when administered at the previously established maximum tolerated dose using a daily bolus for a 5 consecutive days schedule. Serum pharmacokinetics were measured in selected patients. Tissue samples of involved lymph nodes and bone marrow were also obtained from a portion of patients for determination of anti-B4-bR penetration into tissues. Toxicity was similar to what has been described previously for anti-B4-bR and consisted mainly of reversible elevations of hepatic transaminases and mild to moderate thrombocytopenia. No sustained clinical responses were documented. Pharmacokinetic measurements demonstrated that serum levels compatible with 3 logs of cell kill in vitro could be sustained for several hours in most patients. Immunohistochemical analysis of tissue samples provided some insight into the low efficacy. The immunotoxin could be detected in three of the four bone marrow aspirate samples but in only two of the seven lymph node specimens. Thus, anti-B4-bR, using a single daily bolus for a 5 consecutive day schedule, is not an active agent in relapsed NHL. Poor penetration into certain sites of disease may be one explanation for its lack of efficacy.
The Price of Corruption

The Supreme Court recently held that campaign contributions under $5200 do not create a “cognizable risk of corruption.” It was wrong. This Essay describes a nexus of timely contributions and special-interest legislation. In the most noteworthy case, a CEO made a first-time $1000 donation to a member of Congress. The next day that representative introduced a securities bill tailored to the interests of the CEO’s firm. Armed with this real-world account of how small-dollar campaign contributions coincided with favorable legislative action, the Essay reads McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission with a critical eye. In McCutcheon the Supreme Court assumed that small-dollar donations do not pose a risk of corruption, and accordingly struck down aggregate contribution limits on the theory that the base limit of $5200 provides enough of a bulwark against corruption. This Essay suggests otherwise. The fact that the price of corruption is lower than commonly understood has fundamental repercussions for campaign finance law.
Artists' Intent: Material Culture Studies and Conservation

Abstract The practice of ethnographic and archaeological conservation in the United States is in the midst of change. Some of the factors influencing these changes are discussed, and the expansion of the traditional conservation methodology, which is founded on a materials-based perspective, is suggested. Also explored are topics such as the inclusion of indigenous ideas and the context of an object in its culture or through its collection; the object's museum life; and its changes due to display, loan, photography, and treatment. All this is discussed within the context of an exhibit called Paths of Life, organized by the Arizona State Museum in 1987.
Integration Host Factor is Required for the Induction of Acid Resistance in Escherichia coli

Integration host factor (IHF) is a heterodimeric histone-like DNA-binding protein that participates in many cellular functions. Many systems and global regulators of acid resistance (AR) under strongly acidic conditions have been reported, but the role of IHF has not been examined. In the present study, we report that IHF is necessary for the induction of AR in Escherichia coli. At acidic pH, a ∆ihfA∆ifhB-mutant strain was found to have significantly depressed levels of transcription of the arginine decarboxylase gene (adiA) and of translation of the lysine/cadaverine antiporter gene (cadB), when compared with wild-type strain. Thus, IHF induces the arginine- and lysine-dependent AR. These results indicate that in E. coli, by combined transcriptional and translational controls of gene expression, IHF activates expression of a specific set of genes required for survival at extremely acidic pH.
Characterizing the process of cast molding microfluidic systems

Cast molding is a simple, low cost microfabrication method which offers the potential to fabricate microstructures in a large variety of polymer materials. We discuss some characterizations of a cast molding technique which exploits the use of polydimethylsiloxane as a mold material. The suitability of this process for microfluidic systems with five different polymers was studied by observing the mold sticking properties, pattern transfer resolution, and effects on surface roughness and surface wettability. The process yielded excellent results for all polymers, suggesting the suitability of cast molding as a general purpose microfabrication technique for polymers. Surface wettability was modified for some polymers.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Anomalous low energy Kα lines in Al and Si from high energy oxygen bombardments

Abstract Three prominant peaks are observed in Kα X-ray spectra of both Al and Si at energies below the characteristic Kα 1,2 lines. These emission lines were produced by 30 MeV oxygen bombardment and recorded with a crystal spectrometer. The exact origin of these lines is not understood.
Medial prefrontal D1 dopamine neurons control food intake

Although the prefrontal cortex influences motivated behavior, its role in food intake remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate a role for D1-type dopamine receptor-expressing neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the regulation of feeding. Food intake increases activity in D1 neurons of the mPFC in mice, and optogenetic photostimulation of D1 neurons increases feeding. Conversely, inhibition of D1 neurons decreases intake. Stimulation-based mapping of prefrontal D1 neuron projections implicates the medial basolateral amygdala (mBLA) as a downstream target of these afferents. mBLA neurons activated by prefrontal D1 stimulation are CaMKII positive and closely juxtaposed to prefrontal D1 axon terminals. Finally, photostimulating these axons in the mBLA is sufficient to increase feeding, recapitulating the effects of mPFC D1 stimulation. These data describe a new circuit for top-down control of food intake.
Optimum design of liquid crystal display parameters in projection and direct view applications

Two kinds of liquid crystals are selected with the aid of computer simulation for the fabrication of high-contrast liquid crystal displays (LCDs). One is suitable for the first minimum operation of a twisted nematic LCD and the other is suitable for the second minimum operation. The contrast ratios in the normally white mode of the first minimum operation and the contrast ratio in the normally black mode of the second minimum operation are both higher than 100:1 . These LCDs can be used in direct view and projection applications.
Ultrasonic Measurement of Lateral Pharyngeal Wall Motion at Two Levels in the Vocal Tract

Ultrasonic time-motion records of lateral pharyngeal wall motion have previously been derived from the level of the angle of the mandible. In the present study a comparison is made between lateral ...
The effect of arm crossing on persistence and performance

Two experiments investigated the hypothesis that arm crossing serves as a proprioceptive cue for perseverance within achievement settings. Experiment 1 found that inducing participants to cross their arms led to greater persistence on an unsolvable anagram. Experiment 2 revealed that arm crossing led to better performance on solvable anagrams, and that this effect was mediated by greater persistence. No differences in comfort, instruction adherence, or mood were observed between the arms crossed and control conditions, and participants appeared to be unaware of the effect of arm crossing on their behavior. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of the interplay between proprioceptive cues and contextual meaning. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specificity, Structure and Dynamics of Tiam1 PDZ Domain Ligand-Bound Complexes

PSD-95/DlgA/ZO-1 (PDZ) domains are among the most abundant protein-protein interaction domains in the human proteome and typically bind the 4-10 C-terminal residues of its interaction partner with exquisite specificity. We used two homologous PDZ domains from the Tiam-family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors to investigate PDZ specificity. The Tiam1 and Tiam2 PDZ domains have overlapping but distinct ligand binding specificity, and this is exemplified by their unique preferences for C-terminal peptides derived from the syndecan1, Caspr4 and neurexin1 adhesion proteins. The Tiam1 PDZ domain binds syndecan1 and Caspr4 but not neurexin1, while the Tiam2 PDZ domain binds Caspr4 and neurexin1 but not syndecan1. Amino acid sequence comparison of Tiam-family PDZ domains revealed that four residues critical for ligand specificity are not conserved. Remarkably, substitution of these four residues in the Tiam1 PDZ for those found in the Tiam2 PDZ domain switched ligand specificity. To understand the structural and dynamic basis for this change in specificity we used X-ray crystallography and solution NMR methods, respectively. We determined the crystal structures of wild type Tiam1 PDZ domain bound to syndecan1 and phosphorylated syndecan1 peptides and the Tiam1 PDZ quadruple mutant (QM) bound to Caspr4 and neurexin1 peptides. Comparison of the crystal structures of the Tiam1 PDZ-syndecan1 and PDZ-phosphorylated syndecan1 showed that a distinct specificity pocket is used to accommodate the phosphoryl group. The crystal structure of the Tiam1 QM PDZ domain showed a unique side chain stacking interaction between aromatic residues in the PDZ domain and the Caspr4 ligand. Side chain methyl relaxation experiments revealed distinct patterns of dynamics in the Tiam1 PDZ-syndecan1 and PDZ-Caspr4 complexes. Collectively, the structures and dynamics of physiologically-based PDZ domain complexes are contributing to understanding the origin of PDZ specificity and function of Tiam-family PDZ domains.
Direct structure analysis in protein electron crystallography: crystallographic phases for halorhodopsin to 6-A resolution.

Abstract The crystal structure of halorhodopsin was determined in (centrosymmetric) projection to 6-A resolution by direct methods that use only the amplitudes of the electron diffraction pattern. A multisolution technique was used to generate initial 15-A-resolution basis sets, and after selection of the best phase set (by the closest match of magnitude of Eobs and magnitude of Ecalc), annealing of individual reflections was used to improve its accuracy. The Sayre equation was then used to expand the phase terms to 10 A, followed again by phase annealing. A final expansion with the Sayre equation enlarged this corrected phase set to 6 A. When the condition of density flatness was used to locate the best phase solution after each extension, a final structure could be observed that was quite similar to the one found earlier by analysis of electron micrographs.
Female mate attraction in ornate tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus: a multivariate analysis

Recent reviews of mate choice have concluded that this phenomenon is rare or nonexistent in lizards. However, direct tests of lizard mate choice are few and generally limited in scope. We present results of a mate choice experiment with Urosaurus ornatus in which two male lizards differing in morphology, colour and behaviour were given the opportunity to attract a female lizard. Pairwise comparisons of selected and unselected males revealed that variation in individual traits failed to account for much of the variation in mate attraction success. However, a multivariate analysis revealed that mate attraction was related to multiple cues from a male's phenotype: body mass and head size as well as body and tail coloration all contributed to mate attraction. We argue that the additive and interactive effects of several traits combined may be more important than single traits in mate choice. We suggest that mate choice studies should account for multivariate effects of male traits, and also allow mate attraction to occur over variable spatial and temporal scales, paralleling mate choice under natural conditions.
Grain boundary character, and carbide size and spatial distribution in a ternary nickel alloy

Abstract A preliminary investigation of the grain boundary character and its relationship to carbide distribution in aNi-18Cr-18Fe ternary alloy was conducted. The results showed that there was a strong preference forthe formation of ∑3 (44.6 pct) and twin-related ∑9 and ∑27 CSL boundaries. If the coherent ∑3c twin and the twin-related boundaries are excluded, then the distribution would consist of nearly 80 pct random (high angle) boundaries and about 20 pct CSL (with ∑ ≤ 49) boundaries. The size and spacing of grain boundary carbides were influenced by grain boundary ∑; the carbides being smaller and more closely spaced on the ∑1, ∑9 and ∑27 boundaries, and none could be resolved on the coherent ∑3 twin boundaries. The results could be understood, in part, in terms of the influence of grain boundary energy, but the understanding is incomplete. Further studies are in progress and will be reported.
Antiepileptic drugs and their impact on balance

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are being used with increasing frequency, not only to manage epilepsy, but also in the treatment of other conditions including neuropathic pain, migraine headaches and psychiatric conditions requiring mood stabilization. Although AEDs as a class are commonly prescribed in older patients and those with a predisposition to imbalance, the effect these drugs exert on gait and equilibrium has received very little study. Data from controlled efficacy and safety trials suggests that some AEDs are more apt to affect balance than others, even at therapeutic doses. In particular, phenytoin, primidone and phenobarbital produce more dizziness than some of the newer AEDs such as lamotrigine, levetiracetam and oxcarbazepine. For some of the other new AEDs, the data are simply not sufficient to estimate their effect on balance. This article reviews the current evidence that may guide the clinician in choosing a medication likely to have a low impact on gait and balance. Considering the risks a...
Amyloid precursor protein mediated changes in intestinal epithelial phenotype in vitro.

Background Although APP and its proteolytic metabolites have been well examined in the central nervous system, there remains limited information of their functions outside of the brain. For example, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid beta (Aβ) immunoreactivity have both been demonstrated in intestinal epithelial cells. Based upon the critical role of these cells in absorption and secretion, we sought to determine whether APP or its metabolite amyloid β (Aβ), had a definable function in these cells.
Virtue Unrestrained: Herbert Butterfield and the Problem of American Power

In the late 1950s, the British historian Sir Herbert Butterfield observed that we should not welcome the prospect of even a virtuous hegemon but should seek, rather, a balance of power. He did so because his understanding of history suggested that aspirant hegemons succeed principally in precipitating costly wars against them, while his sense of Christian ethics suggested that even a successful virtuous hegemon would become self-righteous and, by imposing its values on others, would curtail the scope of human freedom. I argue that current United States (U.S.) policy and the world's response to it to date confirm Butterfield's position, but that this presents a new set of practical and moral questions centered on the problem of advocating a balance against a country that one regards as broadly virtuous, and certainly more virtuous than many of the other powers in the world, but that no longer wants to pursue its interests through the post-Cold War concert of putative great powers. The best answer to these problems, I conclude, lies not in a crude balance, but the re-institutionalization of the idea of the balance of power. This requires advocating restraint and self-restraint, the first practical manifestation of which being that the U.S. should not attack either of the surviving members of the “Axis of Evil.”
Xyala finneyae sp. n. (Nematoda: Xyalidae) from the intertidal region of the eastern Gulf of California, Mexico

Xyala finneyae sp. n. from the intertidal zone in the northern Gulf of California, Mexico, is described using light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species is characterised by the first ring of cuticular crests being at least twice as long as the crests on the remaining annules, vulva at 70-76% of body length from anterior end, sexual dimorphism in amphid fovea size with females having a smaller amphidial opening. Xyala finneyae sp. n. is most similar to the type species, X. striata , and to X. oxybiotica . It differs from the former in having the first ring of crests markedly longer than all subsequent ones, in having shorter outer labial and cephalic setae on the lip region (8-9 and 15-18 vs 12 and 22 μ m, respectively), in a more anterior position of vulva (V = 70-76 vs 79-81) and in shorter spicules (29-31 vs 44-47 μ m). From X. oxybiotica , it differs in the more spherical lip region with thinner cuticle on the lips ( vs lips more protruding anteriad and with thicker cuticle in optical section), shorter outer labial and cephalic setae on the lip region (8-9 and 15-18 vs 13 and 23 μ m, respectively), a more anterior vulva (V = 70-76 vs 81-89) and shorter spicules (29-31 vs 35 μ m).
Operando infrared spectroscopy of the fuel cell membrane electrode assembly Nafion–platinum interface

Abstract The Nafion–Pt interfaces in membrane electrode assemblies of operating fuel cells were studied by operando infrared spectroscopy. The potential dependence of atop adsorbed CO peak frequencies were measured over the potential range of 0–600 mV (vs. NHE) at 60 °C. Complex Stark tuning of peak frequencies arise from a combination of potential dependent coverage effects, and changes in the extent of back-donation from the metal d-band to the renormalized 2π∗ MO of COads. The Nafion–Pt interface was studied at higher potentials (initiating at open circuit) by examining platinum reflectivity as a function of electrode potential. The oxygen reduction onset-current is coincident with the observance of a 2% step-increase in Pt reflectivity and emergence of Nafion–Pt interface spectra.
Tumor initiating activities of 1-nitropyrene and its nitrated products in SENCAR mice.

Abstract The environmental mutagens, 1-nitropyrene, 1,3-dinitropyrene, 1,6-dinitropyrene and 1,8-dinitropyrene were evaluated for their ability to initiate skin tumors in male and female SENCAR mice. 1-Nitropyrene (>99.5% purity) did not induce papilloma formation over a dose range of 0–3.0 mg/mouse after 30 weeks of promotion with 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Systemic administration of 1-nitropyrene by i.p. injection over a dose range of 0–8.0 mg/mouse followed by topical treatment with TPA also did not induce papilloma formation. A mixture of dinitropyrenes (1,3-dinitropyrene, 1,6-dinitropyrene and 1,8-dinitropyrene (1:1.94:1.95)) (99% purity) was dermally applied to SENCAR mice over a dose range of 0–2.0 mg/mouse and the mice subsequently promoted with TPA. A significant induction of papillomas was observed at 30 weeks (0.37-0.39 papillomas/mouse, 26–29% of the mice bearing tumors) at 2.0 mg/mouse. Comparison of this data with that obtained from the same mouse strain using diesel exhaust particulate extracts containing 1-nitropyrene and its nitrated products indicate that these nitrated polynuclear aromatics do not significantly contribute to the mouse skin tumorigenic activity of diesel exhaust particulate extracts.
Evaluations of child transgressions, disciplinary choices, and expected child compliance in a no-cry and a crying infant condition in physically abusive and comparison mothers

Abstract Objective: Several components of a social information processing model of child physical abuse were tested. Abusive and comparison mothers’ evaluations of children’s transgressions, choices of disciplinary techniques, expectations for children’s compliance following discipline, and appraisals of the appropriateness of disciplinary choice were examined in a no-cry and a crying-infant condition. Method: Thirty physically abusive and 30 matched comparison mothers were individually matched on ethnic background, age, education, marital status, number of children, and cognitive ability. Mothers were asked to respond to questions related to vignettes describing children engaging in moral, conventional, and personal transgressions. Results: As predicted, abusive, relative to comparison, mothers evaluated conventional and personal, but not moral, transgressions as more wrong, used more power assertion (physical and verbal force), expected less compliance from their own children, and appraised their own disciplinary responses as less appropriate. In contrast to expectations, there were no group by cry condition interaction effects on any of the study measures. Conclusions: The findings provide additional support for the view that abusive, relative to comparison, mothers are different in their evaluations and expectations of their own children’s behaviors and that they more frequently select aversive disciplinary techniques. However, given the lack of an expected differential impact of a stressful condition on the cognitions and disciplinary choices in abusive mothers, additional research is needed.
Introduction: patch clamp and single-cell voltage clamp techniques and selected data

I was asked to organize two symposia and a workshop for the Fall meeting of the American Physiological Society in San Diego, October 11-16, 1987. The two symposia that I organized were on propagation mechanisms in cardiac muscle and on selected ionic currents in the heart. For the workshop, I decided to select a topic that would integrate with and complement the second symposium, namely state-of-the-art techniques for measuring ionic currents in isolated single cells. However, I wanted the workshop to include studies on smooth muscle cells and neurons, as well as on myocardial cells. Some of the speakers selected for the workshop were formerly associated with me, as graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or visiting scientists. Some of them suggested that the proceedings of the workshop be published. Therefore, the articles pubfished in this special volume of the Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry consist essentially of the proceedings of this workshop. However, a few additional articles were solicited from experts for inclusion with the proceedings, although these papers were not presented at the workshop because of time constraints. A lising of the articles contained herewith, with title and authors, is given in q~able 1. I chose speakers, not only to give balance to different cell types, but also to illustrate measurements of microscopic currents from single channels as well as macroscopic currents from the entire cell. Another important factor in selecting speakers was to invite younger individuals who were doing exciting work using the patch pipette technique. In my opinion, patch-clamp analysis of single ion channels represents one of the most important technological advances and breakTable 1. Patch clamp and single-cell voltage clamp techniques and selected data.
Structural interpretation of the nucleation and growth of deformation twins in Zr and Ti—I. Application of the coincidence site lattice (CSL) theory to twinning problems in h.c.p. structures

A step-wise nucleation and growth mechanism based on the coincidence site lattice (CSL) theory is proposed for deformation twinning in h.c.p. structures. Lattice transformation during twinning is accomplished by a coordinated movement of a large number of atoms between two lattice match planes from the matrix to twin positions rather than a layer by layer movement through twinning dislocations as proposed for twinning dislocation theories. The sidewise propagation and thickening of a twin lamella proceeds in a step-wise manner with lattice match planes being the coherent boundaries between the matrix and twins. This model predicts that twinning in h.c.p. lattices can occur at a high velocity close to the sound speed, which is impossible according to twinning dislocation theories. The proposed mechanism is also consistent with other observations such as lack of critical-resolved-shear-stress for twinning, emissary dislocations, and insensitivity to temperature. Dislocation reactions may be involved in twinning although they are, at high stresses, not required.