cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of elastic frames subjected to earthquake excitations

Dynamic stability of elastic multistorey frame structures subjected to vertical earthquake ground accelerations is studied. Different stationary, non-stationary, white and non-white random models for earthquake strong motion are considered. The concepts of mean-square and almost-sure stability are reviewed and the corresponding stability theorems are presented. Several general criteria regarding the dynamic stability of the equilibrium state of multistorey frames subjected to random excitations are developed. A few examples concerning the stability of single and multi-degree-of-freedom structures under earthquake excitations are presented. The stability of motion of frames under combined horizontal–vertical acceleration is also briefly discussed.
Characterization and HIV-1 fusion inhibitory properties of monoclonal Fabs obtained from a human non-immune phage library selected against diverse epitopes of the ectodomain of HIV-1 gp41.

Using a human non-immune phage library comprising more than 10 9 functional human antibody specificities in Fab format, we have been able to select a set of eight monoclonal Fabs targeted against diverse epitopes of the ectodomain of gp41 from HIV-1. The antigens used for panning the antibodies comprised two soluble, disulfide-linked, trimeric polypeptides derived from gp41, N CCG -gp41 and N35 CCG -N13. The former comprises an exposed trimeric coiled-coil of the N-helices of gp41 fused in helical phase to the minimal thermostable ectodomain of gp41, while the latter comprises only the trimeric coiled-coil of N-helices. The selected Fabs were probed by Western blot analysis against four antigens: N CCG -gp41, N35 CCG -N13, N34 CCG (a smaller version of N35 CCG -N13), and the minimal thermostable ectodomain core of gp41 in its six-helix bundle conformation (6-HB). Three classes of Fabs were found: class A (two Fabs) interact predominantly with the 6-HB; class B (four Fabs) interact with both the 6-HB and the internal trimeric coiled-coil of N-helices; and class C (two Fabs) interact specifically with the internal trimeric coiled-coil of N-helices. The IC 50 values for the Fabs, expressed as bivalent mini-antibodies, ranged from 6 μg/ml to 60 μg/ml in a quantitative vaccinia virus-based reporter gene assay for HIV-1 envelope-mediated cell fusion using the envelope from the HIV-1 T tropic strain LAV. The two most potent fusion inhibitors belonged to class B. This panel of Fabs provides a set of useful probes for studying HIV-1 envelope-mediated cell fusion and may serve as a basis for developing Fab-based anti-HIV-1 therapeutics.
Fast wavelet based feature extraction of spatial and spectral information from hyperspectral datacubes

An ongoing problem for feature extraction in hyperspectral imagery is that such data consumes large amounts of memory and transmittance bandwidth. In many applications, especially on space based platforms, fast, low power feature extraction algorithms are necessary, but not feasible. To overcome many of the problems due to the large volume of hyperspectral data we have developed a fast, low complexity feature extraction algorithm that is a combination of a fast integer-valued hyperspectral discrete wavelet transform (HSDWT) using a specialized implementation of the Haar basis and an improved implementation of linear spectral unmixing. The Haar wavelet transform implementation involves a simple weighted sum and a weighted difference between pairs of numbers. Features are found by using a small subset of the transform coefficients. More refined spatial and/or spectral identifications can then be made by localized fast inverse Haar transforms using very small numbers of additional coefficients in the spatial or spectral directions. The computational overhead is reduced further since much of the information used for linear spectral unmixing is precomputed and can be stored using a very small amount of additional memory.
How good a bet is good form

‘Good form’ theories of perception leave some latitude concerning how casually or cautiously order is imposed on the stimulus. Exploring this issue, the present experiment introduced a series of figures admitting up to three alternative ‘good’ readings. Eight college students estimated two angles in each of fifty-six pictured spatial forms. Theory predicted that geometrical regularities of rectangularity and symmetry would dominate their estimates. But a regularity would rarely appear when inconsistent with projective geometry and the given figure. The accuracy of subjects' estimates was also assessed. The results confirmed the hypotheses at high significance levels, arguing that such figures are interpreted through an order-imposing process restrained by projective geometry, and that subjects could make roughly accurate estimates based on the imposed order. Parallels with computer scene analysis are discussed. It is concluded that perceptual presumption of certain ‘good forms’ runs little risk of misinte...
Amplification and sequencing of genomic DNA fragments encoding cysteine proteases from protozoan parasites

Cysteine protease gene fragments from three protozoan parasites Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Entamoeba histolytica were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from genomic DNA using degenerate oligonucleotide primers. The primers used for the amplification were designed based upon amino acid sequences flanking the active site cysteine and asparagine residues that are conserved in the eukaryotic cysteine proteases analyzed to date. The amplified DNA fragments, representing approximately 70% of the coding regions of the cysteine protease genes, were subcloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis and alignment showed significant sequence similarity to other members of the eukaryotic cysteine protease family (45% identical to chicken cathepsin L) and conservation of the cysteine, histidine, and asparagine residues which form the catalytic triad. These gene fragments provide molecular probes for further analysis of the structure and function of these important metabolic enzymes.
Sdc1 negatively modulates carcinoma cell motility and invasion

During cancer progression, tumor cells eventually invade the surrounding collagen-rich extracellular matrix. Here we show that squamous cell carcinoma cells strongly adhere to Type I collagen substrates but display limited motility and invasion on collagen barriers. Further analysis revealed that in addition to the α2β1 integrin, a second collagen receptor was identified as Syndecan-1 (Sdc1), a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan. We demonstrate that siRNA-mediated depletion of Sdc1 reduced adhesion efficiency to collagen I, whereas knockdown of Sdc4 was without effect. Importantly, silencing Sdc1 expression caused reduced focal adhesion plaque formation and enhanced cell spreading and motility on collagen I substrates, but did not alter cell motility on other ECM substrates. Sdc1 depletion ablated adhesion-induced RhoA activation. In contrast, Rac1 was strongly activated following Sdc1 knockdown, suggesting that Sdc1 may mediate the link between integrin-induced actin remodeling and motility. Taken together, these data substantiate the existence of a co-adhesion receptor system in tumor cells, whereby Sdc1 functions as a key regulator of cell motility and cell invasion by modulating RhoA and Rac activity. Downregulation of Sdc1 expression during carcinoma progression may represent a mechanism by which tumor cells become more invasive and metastatic.
Linear quadratic regulators with eigenvalue placement in a horizontal strip

A method for optimally shifting the imaginary parts of the open-loop poles of a multivariable control system to the desirable closed-loop locations is presented. The optimal solution with respect to a quadratic performance index is obtained by solving a linear matrix Lyapunov equation.
Physico-chemical properties of the fertilizins of the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata and the sand dollar Echinarachnius parma.

Measurements have been made of the sedimentation rates, diffusion, viscosity and electrophoretic mobilities of the fertilizins of the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata and the sand dollar Echinarachnius parma. From the data for Arbacia a molecular weight of 280,000 is calculated, and a value of 300,000 considered more probable. The axial ratio is estimated to be 28 to 1, calculated for an unhydrated prolate ellipsoid and 20 to 1 if 0.4 gram of water is assumed to be bound per gram of fertilizin. The Echinarachnius fertilizin sedimented more slowly than that of Arbacia. The measurements of electrophoretic mobilities show these fertilizins to be highly acidic as had been found in other species. This data also permitted calculations of valence for Arbacia fertilizin as 14.25 effective negatively charged groups per molecule at pH 7 and 11.25 at pH 4.85. Measurements of the amount of fertilizin absorbed show that a single spermatozoon binds approximately 100,000 molecules, and therefore possesses at least that many receptor sites. The relation of this to certain features of fertilization is briefly discussed.
The hemostatic defect in glycogen storage disease, type 1.

Summary Because of the ill-defined bleeding tendency which has been reported in patients with Glycogen Storage Disease, Type 1, various aspects of hemostasis and coagulation were studied in 8 patients. Definite abnormalities in the bleeding time and platelet factor 3 availability were found in the older symptomatic individuals but all the patients, irrespective of age, exhibited significant reduction in platelet adhesiveness in spite of normal platelet aggregation after addition of ADP. Although an intracellular defect may account for the abnormal platelet function, environmental plasma factors appear to play a role in the development of the platelet lesion.
On Synge's covariant conservation laws for general relativity

Abstract Following Synge, the covariant formulas for the total four-momentum and angular momentum of an isolated physical system in general relativity are derived. These formulas are first obtained in the weak-field approximation, for which they are shown to be expressible in surface integral form, to be unique, and to represent covariantly conserved quantities. The covariant expressions for the general case are then shown to be identical to those for the weak-field case. The uniquely determined and covariantly conserved quantities so obtained are found to agree with the corresponding canonical, noncovariant surface integral expressions.
Optical FlowBroker: Load-Balancing in Software-Defined Multi-Domain Optical Networks

We present a new OpenFlow control architecture, referred to as Optical FlowBroker, for multi-domain software-defined optical networks. The hierarchical brokers improve scalability and inter-domain global coordination, while allowing domain controllers to manage intra-domain forwarding decisions.
Highly efficient and tumor-restricted gene transfer to malignant gliomas by replication-competent retroviral vectors.

The first large randomized phase III trial in gene therapy demonstrated no improvement in the survival of patients injected with packaging cells that produced conventional replication-defective retroviral vectors carrying the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene, a disappointing result that was attributed to extremely poor levels of transduction efficiency. To circumvent this problem, we have developed a modified replication-competent retrovirus (RCR) that is capable of transducing human glioma cell lines A-172, U-87, T-98G, U-373, and U-138 and rat glioma cell lines C6 and 9L, over multiple infection cycles in vitro, resulting in a tremendous enhancement in transduction efficiency over conventional replication-defective retroviral vectors at the same dose. Whereas the transduction efficiency of conventional retroviral vectors injected into preestablished subcutaneous U-87 tumors at a dose of 1.0 × 105 transducing units (TU) was only 0.2% at 6 weeks postinjection, the same dose of RCR vector resulte...
Outcomes of Subsyndromal Depression in Older Primary Care Patients

Objectives Most older persons in primary care suffering clinically significant depressive symptoms do not meet criteria for major or minor depression. The authors tested the hypothesis that patients with subsyndromal depression (SSD) would have poorer psychiatric, medical, and functional outcomes at follow-up than nondepressed patients but not as poor as those with minor or major depression. The authors also explored the relative outcomes of three definitions of SSD to determine their relative prognostic value. Design Prospective observational cohort study. Setting Primary care practices in Monroe County, NY. Participants Four hundred eighty-one primary care patients aged 65 years and older who completed research assessments at intake and at least 1 year of follow-up evaluation. Measurements Depression diagnoses and three definitions of SSD were determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, and the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Other validated measures assessed anxiety, cognition, medical burden, and functional status. Results Patients with SSD had poorer 1-year lagged outcomes than nondepressed subjects in terms of psychiatric symptoms and functional status, often not significantly different than major or minor depression. Two of the SSD definitions identified subjects with poorer psychiatric and functional outcomes than the third SSD definition. Conclusions Clinicians should be vigilant in caring for patients with SSD, monitoring for persistent, or worsening depressive symptoms including suicidality, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and functional decline. Researchers may use particular SSD definitions to identify individuals at higher risk of poor outcomes, to better understand the relationships of SSD to functional disability, and to test innovative preventive and therapeutic interventions.
9-trans,11-trans-CLA: Antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on bovine endothelial cells

Endothelial cell function can be influenced by nutrition, especially dietary FA and antioxidants. One class of dietary FA that is found in meat and dairy products derived from ruminant animals is conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). We have examined the effects of several CLA isomers on endothelial cell proliferation. 9t,11t-CLA was the only isomer that inhibited bovine arotic endothelial cell (BAEC) [3H]methylthymidine incorporation (I50=35 μM), and this antiproliferative effect was time-dependent. A small decrease (20%) in cell number was observed only at the highest concentration (60 μM) tested. The 9c,11t-, 9c,11c-, 10t 12c-, and 11c,13t-CLA isomers did not exhibit any antiproliferative effects over a 5–60 μM concentration range. α-Tocopherol and BHT decreased BAEC proliferation, but pretreatment of cells with either of these antioxidants substantially attenuated the antiproliferative effect of 9t,11t-CLA. No difference in lipid peroxidation, as measured by the thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde, was observed on treatment of endothelial cells with either 9t,11t- or 9c,11t-CLA. However, a 43% increase in caspase-3 activity was observed after incubating BAEC with 9t,11t-CLA, suggesting that the antiproliferative effect of this isomer is partially due to an apoptotic pathway. In contrast to the above results with normal endothelial cells, these five CLA isomers all inhibited proliferation of the human leukemic cell line THP-1, with the 9t,11t isomer again being the most (I50=60 μM) effective. These results confirm that different CLA isomers have different inhibitory potencies on the proliferation of normal and leukemic cells.
Gaussian pulse decomposition : An intuitive model of electrocardiogram waveforms

This study presents a novel approach to modeling the electrocardiogram (ECG): the Gaussian pulse decomposition. Constituent waves of the ECG are decomposed into and represented by Gaussian pulses using an iterative algorithm: the chip away decomposition (ChAD) algorithm. At each iteration, a nonlinear minimization method is used to fit a portion of the ECG waveform with a single Gaussian pulse, which is then subtracted from the ECG waveform. The process iterates on the resulting residual waveform until the normalized mean square error is below an acceptable level. Three different minimization methods were compared for their applicability to the ChAD algorithm; the Nelder-Mead simplex method was found to be more noise-tolerant than the Newton-Raphson method or the steepest descent method. Using morphologically different ECG waveforms from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database, it was demonstrated that the ChAD algorithm is capable of modeling not only normal beats, but also abnormal beats, including those exhibiting a depressed ST segment, bundle branch block, and premature ventricular contraction. An analytical expression for the spectral contributions of the constituent waves was also derived to characterize the ECG waveform in the frequency domain. The Gaussian pulse model, providing an intuitive representation of the ECG constituent waves by use of a small set of meaningful parameters, should be useful for various purposes of ECG signal processing, including signal representation and pattern recognition.
Teaching security best practices by architecting and administering an IT security lab

Information Assurance(IA) can be learned by actively being involved in the "doing" process. Students within a university setting have architected, installed and administered a security lab. The value and need for security best practices becomes self-evident, daily, as the security lab services the needs of information technology (IT) courses and research for both undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, a need exists to coordinate the administration of the security lab with the ongoing operation of general IT courses and labs. Stability in the infrastructure, lab and research areas can only be achieved by designing good security best practices. A best practice is defined as a process that has performed exceptionally well in industry or the everyday world. Learning to design and implement security best practices is a teaching opportunity for students preparing to be Network Engineers, Security System Engineers or Security Architects. The best practices of the security lab were patterned after IT industry policy concepts that effectively handled change while maintaining a secure and stable infrastructure. The security best practices were developed under the supervision of a student security team and faculty advisor. The use of the IT security lab by undergraduate and graduate students for security projects provided a test of the viability of the security best practices. With the security team and the security policies in place, a working security lab is a realistic learning model in training and educating IT undergraduates and graduates in proper security practices. Furthermore, the experience provides guidance in how to expand security best practices to include the entire educational enterprise of laboratories and IT infrastructure and teaching areas.
Substation component identification for infrared thermographers

Proper training and a full understanding of substation components are necessary to effectively perform IRT surveys and analysis of components in high voltage substations. Most thermographers cannot be expected to have extensive substation equipment and operations knowledge. Therefore, this paper and tutorial presentation are designed to aid the thermographic community with the identification and the expected thermal signatures from these components. Technologies complementary to IR are also included in this presentation. Equipment discussed in this paper includes transformers and their cooling systems, load tap changers, circuit breakers, potential transformers, current transformers, lightning arresters, bushings, and standoff insulators.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Genetics of Heat Tolerance in Japanese Quail

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to assess the genetics of heat stress survival time (HSST) and its relationship to body weight (BW) in Japanese quail. In Experiment 1, Japanese quail from the Athens Randombred population were used and estimations of heritability (h2) and genotypic correlation (rg) were based on half-sib relationships. Three lines of Japanese quail selected under different environments and the Athens Randombred line were studied in Experiment 2. Estimations of h2 and rg were based on full-sib relationships. Heritability for HSST was moderate (.28 to .53) in Experiment 1 and low in Experiment 2 (.13 to .24). Phenotypic correlations between HSST and BW ranged from −.33 to −.05, and a negative genotypic correlation between HSST and BW suggested that selection for longer HSST would result in reduced BW.
A three parameter equation of state for gases

Abstract This paper presents an equation of state having the following features. It holds for many gases for temperatures from near critical to about five times critical, and for densities from zero to a little above critical, with the exception of the immediate vicinity of the critical point. It also holds for mixtures. Its accuracy is excellent, in most cases within experimental error. Exceptions are H2O, CO2, H2 at high density. In the best cases the rms deviations in the compressibility factor are a few parts in ten thousand. In relatively poor cases the deviations are a few parts per thousand. The equation has a single reduced form for all gases, and requires only three characteristic parameters to identify each gas: a reducing parameter, TB; a reducing density, do; and a dimensionless parameter, kB. These three parameters are readily (though often not uniquely) evaluated from experimental data. Besides determining the PVT behaviour of a gas, including its virial coefficients, these three parameters are directly related to those in the common three-parameter intermolecular potentials.
Jan Van Eyck's Lost Mappamundi-a Token of Fifteenth-Century Power Politics

According to Bartholomco Fazio, humanist and secretary to King Alfonso I of Naples, Jan van Eyck painted a mappamundi for Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. The passage regarding this map appears in De viris illustribus, a eulogy of great men of the fifteenth century, and furnishes the only record of this work. The brevity and ambiguity of Fazio's description have prompted scholars to debate the appearance, location, function, and even the authorship of the elusive map. In this article I not only revisit these problems, refuting previous conjectures, but seek to go further in order to gain a wider view of this lost work by a renowned master at the nexus of cartography, diplomacy, commerce, religion, and learning that linked fifteenth-centuty Europe into a community of shared tastes, interests, and concerns-perspectives from which it has not been addressed.
The solar wind: from solar minimum to solar maximum

We describe the evolution of the heliosphere from solar minimum to solar maximum from a solar wind perspective. With the current fleet of spacecraft progress can be made in separating radial distance, heliolatitude, and solar cycle effects. The solar wind speed decreases with distance, but the changes from solar minimum to solar maximum produce a larger effect. The latitudinal gradients of density and speed reverse over the solar cycle; at solar maximum speeds are higher near the solar equator whereas at solar minimum speeds are least near the equator. Variations in speed and density result in dynamic pressure changes of a factor of two over the solar cycle at all solar latitudes. The MIR (merged interaction region) frequency increases during the ascending phase of the solar cycle and affects the cosmic ray intensities. Shock strength and particle injection at shocks both decrease with distance from the Sun.
BROADBAND ANALYSIS OF ASKARYAN PULSES

A coherent radio emission from particle shower in a dielectric medium, so-called Askaryan pulse, has been recorded in a laboratory setting. In this report the analysis of measurement made with a broadband (1-18 GHz) log periodic dipole antenna (LPDA) is described. The properties of the observed radio pulses are compared with the current theoretical model. The radiation intensity as a function of frequency was found to agree well with the expectation, while the phase characteristics of pulses disagree with the theoretical work.
Factors Related to Mortality of Black Bass Caught during Small Club Tournaments in Connecticut

Abstract Factors related to the initial and delayed mortality of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and smallmouth bass M. dolomieu were determined at small club tournaments held at two Connecticut lakes during April–October of 2001–2002. Organizational characteristics of tournaments, environmental conditions, and initial mortality data were collected from 58 tournaments at Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and 41 tournaments at Gardner Lake. Delayed mortality at 72 h was also determined for 29 tournaments at Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and 25 tournaments at Gardner Lake. In total, 3,290 largemouth bass and 1,035 smallmouth bass were observed for initial mortality; 1,784 largemouth bass and 647 smallmouth bass were observed for 72-h delayed mortality. Initial and delayed mortality rates were 2.2% and 1.0% for largemouth bass and 4.8% and 2.8% for smallmouth bass. Logistic regression indicated that initial mortality was significantly greater (P < 0.0001) for smallmouth bass than for largemouth bass, and that in...
The Microfoundations of Party System Stability in Legislatures

What sustains stability in legislative party systems between elections? This question commands attention given the potential for change highlighted in recent work on legislative party switching. In addressing the question, this article echoes a prominent theme in research on legislatures, parties, and party systems: the importance of the party label. The novelty here is the treatment of the individual legislator’s need for manifest loyalty to the status quo party label as the chief constraint that deters incumbents from switching and underpins stability in legislative party systems. Our theory focuses on the value of stable party affiliations to voters and thus to incumbents as well. We extract testable implications and assess hypotheses against an original cross-national dataset of over 4,300 monthly observations of MP behavior in 116 legislative terms. We find that the temporal proximity to elections deters MPs’ moves. This electoral deterrent acquires particular force under candidate-centered electoral...
4491 Use of a shorter wavelength autofluorescence band to separate adenomatous from hyperplastic polyps of the colon.

INTRODUCTION: The majority of work on autofluorescence has been at emission wavelengths greater than 450 nm. A short wavelentgh emission band was investigated to see if it could distinguish hyperplastic from adenomatous polyps of the colon. METHODS: Endoscopically obtained tissue samples were snap frozen in liquid Nitrogen and stored at -70 Celcius. For each specimen, a sample of normal colonic mucosa from the same patient served as control. Prior to spectroscopy, all samples were thawed over ice and moistened in PBS at pH of 7.4. A spectrofluorometer with a Xenon lamp and excitation and emission spectrometers (Shimatzu RF- 5301 PC Columbia, MD)was used, with a specially constructed tissue holder placed in its measuring chamber. Tissue samples were excited at wavelengts below 350 nm and the maximum intensity of an emission peak below 450 nm digitally recorded. Intensity in arbitrary units (y- axis) were plotted against wavelength (x- axis). All tissue samples were fixed in Formalin and submitted for histology. The emission intensities of hyperplastic polyps (n= 15) and adenomatous polyps (n= 22) were expressed as a ratio of the corresponding fluorescence intensity of normal colonic mucosa (n= 37) in each patient. RESULTS: The ratios of mean emission intensity ± SE were: 1.35 ± 0.07 (hyperplastic) and 2.22 ± 0.12 (adenomatous). The difference between groups (unpaired t test) was significant (p ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The intensity of this emission band increses with adenomatous change, with significant separation between histologic groups. The use of this autofluorescence band during screening flexible sigmoidoscopy may help to distinguish adenomatous polyps from hyperplastic ones in real time. The need to wait for biopsy results could be avoided. Patients with hyperplastic polyps could be advised not to have a colonoscopy at the end of screening flexible sigmoidoscopy, without the need to wait for biopsy results. Unlike chromoendoscopy, this technique will not require any dye or exogenous chemicals. Further work using a hand held, portable fiberoptic spectrometer is being planned.
Reading Medicine: Mind, Body, and Meditation in One Interpretive Community.

In a series of fascinating lectures concerning the relationship between practices of reading and healing, Brian Stock investigates meditative reading as a mind-body practice that developed in Western societies prior to the scientific revolution. He argues that although we are at the beginnings of scientific investigation of the health benefits of mind-body medicine, such as meditation, there has been insufficient attention to how meditative practices developed not only within non Western cultures, but within Western premodern societies as well. Stock begins his historical review by noting that the West as well as the East has had significant traditions of mind-body meditative reading practices. And, like Eastern practices, these were once linked with heal ing. But unlike the East, the West does not have a continuous tradition of these. Why? Stock tells us that the discontinuity occurred especially during the scientific revolution, so one might suppose it was a result of the rise of modern medicine and science's rejection of religion. Yet this was not the case. The main battle in modern medicine was against the more philosophical treatments of Galenistic medicine. So, if this was not what broke the chain with premodern meditative therapies, what did? It was, he contends, largely due to a change in reading practices them selves?especially the reading of sacred texts. The premodern reading practice was meditative, tied to correction and change of the self. This was gradually replaced with a new humanism. A divide emerged between "the meditative world of the monastic past and the philologically oriented
Insulin, growth hormone, and glucagon in prediabetes mellitus — A review

Abstract Insulin, growth hormone, and glucagon responses have been extensively studied in “prediabetic” man by a variety of perturbations. Insulin responses have been reported to be high, normal, or low. Growth hormone levels appear generally to be high. Glucagon levels have received only scant attention, but the available information suggests an enhanced response. It appears that a better definition of the prediabetic state is required in addition to techniques that can adequately quantify both secretion and clearance rates of these hormones.
Seromuscular Colocystoplasty Lined With Urothelium Protects Dogs from Acidosis During Ammonium Chloride Loading

AbstractPurpose: We compared the metabolism of intravesical ammonium chloride in dogs in which the bladder had been enlarged by seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium, dogs that had undergone conventional colocystoplasty and control dogs.Materials and Methods: Eight adult female mongrel dogs were divided into control (2), colocystoplasty (3) and seromuscular colocystoplasty (3) groups. Serum creatinine, bicarbonate, sodium, chloride, and potassium levels were measured every 2 weeks during the 6-week recovery period. Six weeks after augmentation the dogs were placed under general anesthesia, the bladder was instilled with a hyperosmolar solution of 400 mmol./l. ammonium chloride, the femoral artery and portal vein were cannulated to obtain blood samples and the ureters were divided with the proximal ends diverted to allow serial urine measurements. Blood and urine electrolyte analysis was performed at 0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes after the intravesical instillation of ammonium chloride.Resul...
Fabrication of Composite Materials from Fibrous Precursors Using Paper Making Procedures

Novel composite materials have been fabricated from fibrous precursors using paper making procedures. Small metal fibers (2 μm in diameter) and carbon fiber bundles (20 μm in diameter) were combined with cellulose (as the binding agent) into an interwoven paper preform. The composite paper preform was then sintered at high temperatures in a controlled atmosphere, subsequently removing the cellulose and forming a sinter-bonded composite structure. The sinter bonding of the metal locked the metal fibers and provided high mechanical flexibility and structural integrity to the resulting composite structure. The composite structures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical and kinetic measurements. The optimization of these structures for high energy density applications was demonstrated through these measurements.
Mating Disruption of Citrus Leafminer Mediated by a Noncompetitive Mechanism at a Remarkably Low Pheromone Release Rate

The citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), is a worldwide pest of citrus. A season-long investigation was conducted that evaluated mating disruption for this pest. Effective disruption of the male P. citrella orientation to pheromone traps (98%) and reduced flush infestation by larvae was achieved for 221 d with two deployments of a 3:1 blend of (Z,Z,E)-7,11,13-hexadecatrienal/(Z,Z)-7,11-hexadecadienal at a remarkably low rate of 1.5 g active ingredient (AI)/ha per deployment. To gain insight into the mechanism that mediates the disruption of P. citrella, male moth catch was quantified in replicated plots of citrus treated with varying densities of pheromone dispensers. The densities of septum dispensers compared were: 0 (0/ha, 0.0 g AI/ha), 0.2 (one every fifth tree or 35/ha, 0.05 g AI/ha), 1 (215/ha, 0.29 g AI/ha), and 5 per tree (1,100/ha, 1.5 g AI/ha). Profile analysis by previously published mathematical methods matched predictions of noncompetitive mating disruption. Behavioral observations of male P. citrella in the field revealed that males did not approach mating disruption dispensers in any of the dispenser density treatments. The current report presents the first set of profile analyses combined with direct behavioral observations consistent with previously published theoretical predictions for a noncompetitive mechanism of mating disruption. The results suggest that disruption of P. citrella should be effective even at high population densities given the density-independent nature of disruption for this species and the remarkably low rate of pheromone per hectare required for efficacy.
High-energy, few-cycle, kHz OPCPA at 2.1 μm pumped by a picosecond cryogenic Yb:YAG laser

We report on a kHz, mJ-level, ultrabroadband, phase-stable 2.1-μm OPCPA for high-flux water-window high-order harmonic generation. The final stage is pumped by a high-energy, 15-ps cryogenic Yb:YAG CPA laser optically synchronized to the signal.
Ondansetron and granisetron binding orientation in the 5-HT(3) receptor determined by unnatural amino acid mutagenesis.

The serotonin type 3 receptor (5-HT_3R) is a ligand-gated ion channel found in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The 5-HT_3R is a therapeutic target, and the clinically available drugs ondansetron and granisetron inhibit receptor activity. Their inhibitory action is through competitive binding to the native ligand binding site, although the binding orientation of the drugs at the receptor has been a matter of debate. Here we heterologously express mouse 5-HT_3A receptors in Xenopus oocytes and use unnatural amino acid mutagenesis to establish a cation-π interaction for both ondansetron and granisetron to tryptophan 183 in the ligand binding pocket. This cation-π interaction establishes a binding orientation for both ondansetron and granisetron within the binding pocket.
Medical information, communication, and archiving system (MICAS): Phase II integration and acceptance testing

The Medical Information, Communication and Archive System (MICAS) is a multi-modality integrated image management system that is seamlessly integrated with the Radiology Information System (RIS). This project was initiated in the summer of 1995 with the first phase being installed during the first half of 1997 and the second phase installed during the summer of 1998. Phase II enhancements include a permanent archive, automated workflow including modality worklist, study caches, NT diagnostic workstations with all components adhering to Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standards. This multi-vendor phased approach to PACS implementation is designed as an enterprise-wide PACS to provide images and reports throughout our healthcare (Strong Health) network. MICAS demonstrates that a multi-vendor open system phased approach to PACS is feasible, cost-effective, and has significant advantages over a single vendor implementation. These advantages include: ○ Validation of DICOM compliance of the system as each component is integrated with the system - the plug and play DICOM concept, ○ Keeping up with the technological and clinical functionality curve without being dependent on a primary PACS vendor, ○ Being able to select an open and scalable hardware platform rather than having to accept the platform used by the software vendor provides obsolescence protection and flexibility in system development, ○ Cost savings resulting from buying components as needed and being able to buy components in a competitive environment, and ○ Leveraging the core competencies of each vendor - no single vendor can provide the best of breed solutions for all components of PACS. Planning is underway for further enhancements to MICAS which include interfacing additional modalities, enlarging the archive, increasing system redundancy and implementing fault-tolerance.
Suppressor cell function defect in idiopathic systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract Six normals and 12 patients with idiopathic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who had received no therapy other than nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medication were studied for suppressor cell function. In vitro immunoglobulin synthesis by normal B cells was suppressed by concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated allogeneic normal lymphocytes, whereas Con A-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with SLE mediated significantly less suppression of normal lymphocytes. In addition, although B cells from patients with SLE synthesized less immunoglobulin in the presence of normal T cells than did normals, T cells from patients with SLE mediated significantly less allogeneic suppression of immunoglobulin synthesis by normal B lymphocytes than did T cells from normal individuals. SLE B cells are, nonetheless, sensitive to T-cell-mediated suppression. This suppressor cell defect might contribute to the pathogenesis of SLE. Several plausible causes for this defect are considered.
Principles in the spectrophotometric determination of propoxycaine in the presence of procaine

A Spectrophotometric method for the determination of propoxycaine in the presence of procaine has been developed. Aqueous mixtures of these two local anesthetics in the form of their hydrochloride salts, which are commercially marketed, may be assayed for propoxycaine by an extension of principles developed in a study of a series of simple model compounds. The use of 2 N hydrochloric acid as a solvent permits the direct determination of propoxycaine with only a minimum of interference from comparable concentrations of procaine which may be present.
The engine driving the ship: metabolic steering of cell proliferation and death.

Metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway communicate to cell cycle and apoptotic effectors, including D-type cyclins, CDKs, APC, p53, caspase 2 and BCL-2 proteins. The importance of this crosstalk is emphasized by the role of metabolic aberrations in the aetiology of disease. Metabolic activity is a crucial determinant of a cell's decision to proliferate or die. Although it is not fully understood how metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway communicate to cell cycle and apoptotic effectors, it is clear that a complex network of signalling molecules is required to integrate metabolic inputs. D-type cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, the anaphase-promoting complex, p53, caspase 2 and B cell lymphoma 2 proteins, among others, have been shown to be regulated by metabolic crosstalk. Elucidating these pathways is of great importance, as metabolic aberrations and their downstream effects are known to contribute to the aetiology of cancer and degenerative disorders.
The Degree Semantics Parameter and cross-linguistic variation

The standard degree analysis of gradability in English holds that the function of degree morphology, such as the comparative, measure phrases, and degree adverbs, is to bind a degree variable located in the lexical semantics of gradable predicates. In this paper, I investigate gradation structures in Washo (isolate/Hokan), and claim that this language systematically lacks degree morphology of this sort. I propose that this gap in the functional inventory of Washo stems from a parameter on whether languages are able to introduce degree variables into the logical form that can be bound by such operators, providing further cross-linguistic support for a similar proposal made by Beck et al. (2009) for Motu (Austronesian). Specifically, I argue that gradable predicates in Washo do not introduce a degree variable. Consequently, if we assume that gradable predicates in English are type ⟨d, ⟨e, t⟩⟩, then Washo and English must differ in their lexical semantics for gradable predicates. Alternatively, if we want to maintain lexical uniformity between the two languages (i.e., that gradable predicates in English don’t themselves introduce degrees), then we must place variation at the level of a grammatical mechanism that introduces degrees in English for degree operators to bind, but which is lacking in Washo. The results of this investigation thus inform questions about the nature of cross-linguistic variation, specifically the division of labor between variation in functional categories and the lexicon. http://dx.doi.org/10.3765/sp.8.6 BibTeX info
Chronological profiles of prolactin and growth hormone in lactating cows.

Abstract Prolactin and growth hormone were measured in blood plasma at 30-min intervals for three consecutive 24-h periods in 6 cows during midlactation. Concentrations of prolactin in milk and yields of milk also were quantified. Prolactin in blood plasma appeared to have a 24-h rhythm as well as a 6-h rhythm by time series spectral analysis. Lowest prolactin occurred between 0600 and 0900h each day, whereas maximums occurred between 1030 and 1600h. Neither milk prolactin concentration nor yield of milk differed between milkings at 0530 and 1730h. Concentration of prolactin in milk was not significantly correlated with prolactin concentration of plasma. However, prolactin of plasma averaged over the 12-h prior to milking was associated significantly with yield of milk and with total quantity of milk prolactin removed at that milking.
Bandwidth allocation for multiservice access on EPONs

Ethernet passive optical networks are a low-cost high-speed solution to the bottleneck problem of the broadband access network. A major characteristic of EPONs is the shared upstream channel among end users, mandating efficient medium access control to facilitate statistical multiplexing and provision multiple services for different types of traffic. This article addresses and provides an overview of the upstream bandwidth allocation issue for multiservice access provisioning over EPONs, and proposes an algorithm for dynamic bandwidth allocation with service differentiation. Based on the multipoint control protocol (MPCP) and bursty traffic prediction, our algorithm enhances QoS metrics such as average frame delay, average queue length, and frame loss probability over other existing protocols
Development of visual species identification in ducklings: What is the role of imprinting?

The phenomenon of imprinting (a rapid form of exposure learning) is widely presumed to underlie the formation of normal, species-typical social preferences in precocial birds. To determine whether this is in fact the case, 24-h-old domestic and semi-wild mallard ducklings ( Anas platyrhynchos ) were allowed to follow a stuffed hen of one of three sympatric waterfowl species for 20 min. The models used were mallard, redhead ( Aythya americana ), and pintail ( Anas acuta ) hens. When later tested for their preference for the familiar hen in simultaneous choice tests with one of the other two stuffed models, only those birds trained with the Mallard and tested with the Mallard and Pintail models (designated the Mallard versus Pintail group) showed a preference for the familiar model. (That preference was shown by both domestic and semi-wild ducklings.) In none of the other three groups (Mallard versus Redhead, Redhead versus Mallard, and Pintail versus Mallard) was the imprinting procedure effective in producing a preference for the familiar model. When other ducklings were similarly trained with either the Mallard model, a red-and-white-striped box, or a green styrofoam ball, a preference for the familiar model was found in all four groups (.Mallard versus Red Box, Red Box versus Mallard, Red Box versus Green Ball, and Green Ball versus Red Box). Increasing the length of the training period from 20 min to 2 h and to 24 h did not produce a preference for the familiar Mallard over the unfamiliar Redhead. These results raise some doubt that imprinting as currently conceived is the behavioural mechanism of visual species identification as it occurs in nature.
Leakage power reduction for deeply-scaled FinFET circuits operating in multiple voltage regimes using fine-grained gate-length biasing technique

With the aggressive downscaling of the process technologies and importance of battery-powered systems, reducing leakage power consumption has become one of the most crucial design challenges for IC designers. This paper presents a device-circuit cross-layer framework to utilize fine-grained gate-length biased FinFETs for circuit leakage power reduction in the near- and super-threshold operation regimes. The impacts of Gate-Length Biasing (GLB) on circuit speed and leakage power are first studied using one of the most advanced technology nodes — a 7nm FinFET technology. Then multiple standard cell libraries using different leakage reduction techniques, such as GLB and Dual-Fj-, are built in multiple operating regimes at this technology node. It is demonstrated that, compared to Dual-Fj-, GLB is a more suitable technique for the advanced 7nm FinFET technology due to its capability of delivering a finer-grained trade-off between the leakage power and circuit speed, not to mention the lower manufacturing cost. The circuit synthesis results of a variety of ISCAS benchmark circuits using the presented GLB 7nm FinFET cell libraries show up to 70% leakage improvement with zero degradation in circuit speed in the near- and super-threshold regimes, respectively, compared to the standard 7nm FinFET cell library.