cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mr.MAPP: Mixed Reality for MAnaging Phantom Pain

Phantom Limb Pain or simply, Phantom Pain is a severe chronic pain that is experienced as a vivid sensation of the pain in missing body part. Epidemiological studies obtained from a large samples indicate that the short-term incidence rate of the phantom limb pain is 72% [13], while long-term incidence rate (6 months after amputation) is 67%, [5, 13]. A wide spectrum of treatments developed for alleviating phantom limb pain includes the traditional mirror box therapy as well as recently developed virtual reality-based methods. Most of the virtual reality-based methods rely on 3D CAD models of the virtual limb, animating them using the motion data acquired either from patient's existing anatomical limb or myoelectric activity at patient's stump (of the amputated limb). Since motion activity is typically captured using body sensors (Electromyography, EMG, or inertial sensors), these methods are considered as invasive approaches. Further, in the case of virtual reality-based methods, the dependency on the pre-built 3D models degrades the immersive experience due to a mismatch in the skin color, clothes, artificial and rigid look and misalignment of the phantom limb. In this work, we propose a novel Mixed Reality based system for MAnaging Phantom Pain (Mr.MAPP), utilizing off-the-shelf RGB-D cameras such as Microsoft Kinect V2 to capture and generate a 3D model of the patient in real-time. An illusion of the virtual limb is crafted in real-time by mirroring the patient's symmetric anatomical limb in the captured data with the help of various computer vision and graphics techniques. Along with that, a phantom limb skeleton is also generated in real-time to enable interaction with virtual objects. We conducted a multi-pronged user Quality of Experience (QoE) study of Mr.MAPP employing various rendering displays such as 3D Television, and Head mounted displays (Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR). The user study involved two classes of users: (a) a big pool of Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs) that includes Physical Medicine and Rehab (PMR (b) healthy non-expert users. SMEs, as well as the healthy non-expert users provided a very positive feedback of Mr. MAPP indicating the potential value of Mr.MAPP for the phantom pain management.
Human herpesvirus-8 positive iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma in the setting of refractory ulcerative colitis

Although Kaposi sarcoma (KS) has been more traditionally considered an AIDS-defining illness, it may also be seen in individuals on immunosuppresive therapy. We report a case of a patient who presented to the hospital in the setting of increasingly refractory ulcerative colitis. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen was consistent with sigmoid diverticulititis and blood cultures were positive for Klebsiella. After a course of antibiotics with resolution of infection, a colonoscopy was performed to evaluate his diverticulitis and incidentally revealed a new rectal tumor. Immunohistochemistry showed the tumor was consistent with KS, with cells staining strongly positive for human herpesvirus-8. This case not only illustrates a rare case of KS found in an HIV-negative individual, but it also highlights the importance of considering an alternative diagnosis in a patient refractory to medical treatment. We discuss the management and care of an ulcerative colitis patient diagnosed with KS on immunosuppressive therapy.
Whispering-gallery-mode resonators: from a novel sensing mechanism to a wireless sensing system (Conference Presentation)

Whispering-gallery-mode optical resonators have shown their potentials for sensing applications in recent years owing to significantly enhanced light-matter interactions in a strongly confined volume. Boosting the sensitivity of the sensor and miniaturing the sensing system are two of the most important directions of whispering-galley-mode sensors. In this talk, I will present our recent work on novel sensing mechanism to enhance the sensitivity of a whispering-gallery-mode sensor, and a portable, wireless sensing system which can be fully controlled by smart devices. By tuning two nanoscale scatterers within the mode volume, a whispering-gallery-mode resonator can be steered to non-Hermitian degeneracies, also known as exceptional points. Due to the complex-square-root topology at the vicinity of exceptional points, the frequency splitting induced by a target object (with sufficiently small perturbation) is proportional to the square-root of its perturbation strength, and is thus larger than the frequency splitting obtained in conventional sensing schemes which is proportional to the perturbation strength of the target object. We also demonstrated that, by integrating a packaged sensor, a microcontroller, a wireless transceiver and power supply, we could build a miniature whispering-gallery-mode sensing system with a wireless interface. A customized iOS app has been developed to monitor and adjust the system parameters, and collect and analyze the sensing signals. This wireless sensing system could be employed to measure temperature distribution in a selected area. Our studies help broaden the applications of the whispering-gallery-mode resonators as an innovative sensor platform.
CT-Based Diagnosis of Low Vertebral Bone Mineral Density Is Associated with Hypercalciuria and Hypocitraturia on Opportunistic Imaging.

Abstract Introduction and Objectives: Studies have demonstrated associations between nephrolithiasis and systemic conditions, including low bone mineral density (BMD), which may correlate with hype...
Heart Transplantation: Pathogenesis, Immunosuppression, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Rejection

Clinical heart transplantation involves donor/recipient combinations between two distinct individuals of the same species. This combination is referred to as allogeneic, the transplanted heart is an allograft, and alloantigens are the molecules recognized as foreign by the recipient’s immune system. Without immunosuppression, the recipient immune system mounts a response against the foreign antigen-bearing tissue and initiates responses that culminate in allograft destruction. The alloimmune responses between recipient and allograft can be divided into three overlapping phrases: allorecognition, T-cell activation, and effector mechanisms.1,2 These are discussed later in more detail in the context of heart transplantation.
The Other of Oneself: A Gadamerian Conversation with Gaudīya Vaisnavism

Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics has traditionally pointed the way towards a hermeneutical understanding of the concept of dialogue or conversation. The highlight of Gadamer’s concept of dialogue is encapsulated in the phrase—“a fusion of horizons”—which means that both persons involved in a dialogue occupy a different lifeworld but in order to communicate and understand each other each must participate in the other by withdrawing from their own individual preset horizons to form new horizons that genuinely include the other. This fusion is the key to meaningful dialogue and conversation. Dialogue for Gadamer thus is not about walking a mile in another’s shoes, a proverbial statement, but rather it is about walking “beside” or “along-side” the other. It is this which most relevantly characterizes Gadamer’s notion of dialogue. This chapter proposes to ask what it actually means to walk “beside” and “alongside” the other in conversation? I take it that if the real goal of all conversation and dialogical encounters is a deeper and fulfilling understanding of the other and ourselves, something that Gadamer contends is fundamentally true, then the question becomes where and how can we locate this place of mutual understanding? Under what conditions are we able to hear the voice of the other? What in the character and nature of the other makes possible the conditions under which understanding is made possible? While the answer to these questions are sufficiently explore in Gadamer’s hermeneutics, this chapter re-addresses these questions from a comparative cross-cultural perspective drawing Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics into discourse with Gaud. iya Vais.n. ava hermeneutics. The Gaud. iya Vais.n. ava school will serve two aims in this chapter. Firstly, The Vaishnava school will serve as Gadamer’s hermeneutical interlocutor. To that end, the Gaud. iya tradition is the “other”—with whom a comparative dialogue is being sought on the question of hermeneutics. To achieve this second aim, the Gaud. iya
Breaking Bad: An Assessment of Ophthalmologists' Interpersonal Skills and Training on Delivering Bad News

Purpose This article aims to assess ophthalmologists' practice patterns, experiences, and self-perceived skills when delivering bad news to patients and to compare this to patients' experience and preferences in receiving bad news from ophthalmologists. Design/Methods This is a prospective cross-sectional survey study of two populations: (1) Attending ophthalmologists and current ophthalmologists-in-training (N = 202) at accredited ophthalmology residency programs in the United States and Canada. (2) Patients (N = 151) 18 years of age and older at a single academic center who had received bad news from their ophthalmologist. An e-mail was sent to ophthalmology department chairs and resident program directors requesting that they distribute an online survey to their faculty, fellows, and residents. Patients were recruited from the clinics at an academic center and completed a self-administered survey before their scheduled appointments. Both populations were surveyed on their experience in breaking and receiving bad news, respectively. Questions were rated on a standard five-point Likert scale, and mean score was calculated for statistical comparison. The primary outcome variable was the quantitative rating (Likert scale 1–5) of physicians' communication skills when delivering bad news from physicians and patients' responses. Results Patients rated their physicians higher than physicians rated themselves with regard to ability to deliver bad news (mean score of 4.23 vs. 3.48, p Conclusion Physicians and patients agree that skills of delivering bad news can be learned. Patients are less critical of their physicians' ability to deliver bad news than physicians are themselves. Further study of best methods to deliver bad news is clearly indicated for the field of ophthalmology.
International and Internal Migration

Geographic mobility, or migration, is the third component of population change. Migration is the most dynamic and complex of the three population components. Moreover, it is the most difficult to measure. While death occurs only once and the average number of births per woman in the United States today is about two, the occurrences of migration are much more frequent. The average U.S. resident will move more than twenty times in his or her lifetime (Bailey and Sly 1985). About 17% of the population changes residence each year, and over a five-year period, more than 45% of the population moves.
A Scalable Spectral Clustering Algorithm Based on Landmark-Embedding and Cosine Similarity

We extend our recent work on scalable spectral clustering with cosine similarity (ICPR’18) to other kinds of similarity functions, in particular, the Gaussian RBF. In the previous work, we showed that for sparse or low-dimensional data, spectral clustering with the cosine similarity can be implemented directly through efficient operations on the data matrix such as elementwise manipulation, matrix-vector multiplication and low-rank SVD, thus completely avoiding the weight matrix. For other similarity functions, we present an embedding-based approach that uses a small set of landmark points to convert the given data into sparse feature vectors and then applies the scalable computing framework for the cosine similarity. Our algorithm is simple to implement, has clear interpretations, and naturally incorporates an outliers removal procedure. Preliminary results show that our proposed algorithm yields higher accuracy than existing scalable algorithms while running fast.
Blow-up dynamics in the mass super-critical NLS equations

Abstract We study stable blow-up dynamics in the L 2 -supercritical nonlinear Schrodinger equation with radial symmetry in various dimensions. We first investigate the profile equation and extend the result of Wang (1990) and Budd et al. (1999) on the existence and local uniqueness of solutions of the cubic profile equation to other L 2 -supercritical nonlinearities and dimensions d ≥ 2 . We then numerically observe the multi-bump structure of such solutions, and in particular, exhibit the Q 1 , 0 solution, a candidate for the stable blow-up profile. Next, using the dynamic rescaling method, we investigate stable blow-up solutions in the L 2 -supercritical NLS and confirm the square root rate of the blow-up as well as the convergence of blow-up profiles to the Q 1 , 0 profile.
Lumps in Antitrust Law

This paper uses the framework of aggregation and separation that Lee Fennell develops in Slices and Lumps to discuss two fundamental questions of antitrust policy. First, how far does the lumpiness of trading partners dictate the limits of antitrust policy? Second, what does antitrust miss under the common practice of lumping price, consumer welfare, and allocative efficiency together? Discussion of these questions is clarified and sharpened by the vocabulary of Fennell’s framework.
Enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma with Reed-Sternberg-like cells of B cell phenotype and genotype associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection

EBV-positive B cell proliferations have been recognized in the setting of some T cell lymphomas. These B cell proliferations often differ to varying degrees in morphology and immunophenotype with a great proportion being Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive with Reed-Sternberg (RS)-like morphology. We describe a case of a 76-year-old Caucasian male who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with weight loss, abdominal pain, and multiple episodes of vomiting and diarrhea. He underwent a laparotomy with an intraluminal mass seen in the cecum. Histology showed atypical intermediate- to large-sized cells involving the full thickness of the bowel wall with numerous mitotic figures and apoptotic bodies. The adjacent uninvolved mucosa demonstrated villous blunting, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, crypt elongation, and lamina propria plasmacytosis, consistent with the celiac enteropathy. Rare large transformed cells morphologically consistent with Reed-Sternberg cells (RS cells) were also identified in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Immunophenotyping showed the intermediate- to large-sized cells to be of T cell origin with strongly CD3, CD45, and TIA-1 positive; moderately positive for CD5; and variably positive for CD2, CD25, CD57, perforin, and granzyme B, with an aberrant loss of CD7. The large cells were moderately positive for PAX-5, CD79a, CD20, CD30, and MUM1. They also were positive for EBV latent membrane protein (EBV-LMP) and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA (EBER). Based on morphology and immunoprofile, a diagnosis of enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma (EATL) with Reed-Sternberg-like cells associated with EBV virus infection was made. This is a rare phenomenon; the presence of large B cell proliferations in EATL, to our knowledge, is yet to be reported.
Early Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates with Down Syndrome.

Objective To compare total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels, phototherapy usage, and hospital readmission for jaundice among neonates with Down syndrome vs controls. Study design A retrospective cohort study using 15 years of multihospital data. We created control reference intervals (5th, median, and 95th percentiles) for initial TSB values hourly during the first days after birth, and determined the proportion of neonates with Down syndrome whose TSB exceeded the 95th percentile control interval. We determined the proportion with an initial TSB exceeding the upper control reference interval, the highest TSB recorded, the percentage of neonates receiving phototherapy, and the rate of hospital readmission for jaundice treatment. Results We compared 357 neonates with Down syndrome with 377 368 controls. Compared with controls, those with Down syndrome had 4.7 times the risk (95% CI, 3.9-5.7; P Conclusions Neonates with Down syndrome have a substantial risk of early hyperbilirubinemia. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently advises obtaining an early screening complete blood count from neonates with Down syndrome. We submit that assessing their TSB is also advisable.
Aluminum metallization of III–V semiconductors for the study of proximity superconductivity

Managing the interaction of materials with insertion layers and nonconventional molecular beam epitaxy growth conditions allows for interfaces that are more precise but requires judicious examination of the multiple possible design variables. Here, we show a comparison between As- and Sb-containing insertion layers between Al and two binaries with different group V elements and demonstrate that antimonide layers greatly improve the interface. In addition to depositing Al at extremely slow growth rates onto cold (below 0 °C) substrates, the reactivity is particularly minimized with AlSb insertion layers, which improves interface abruptness, preserves the underlying semiconductor layer’s crystalline properties, and produces flatter superconductor surfaces.
Aging Effects on Time-Dependent Nuclear Plant Component Unavailability: An Investigation of Variations from Static Calculations

In the nuclear industry, aging effects have been traditionally incorporated into probabilistic risk assessment studies by using a constant (static) unavailability (q s ) averaged over time. However, recent work shows that because of aging, substantial deviations may occur in time-dependent nuclear plant component unavailability from that predicted by static models well within the plant lifetime. A methodology based on the standard extension of the classic renewal equation when repair is explicitly considered is used to investigate (a) the trends in the effects of aging on time-dependent component unavailability as a function of changing first failure density (FFD) and test parameters and (b) the circumstances for which static approximations may be inadequate to describe these effects. The investigation uses several point- and time-averaged unavailability measures based on time-dependent unavailability, such as before-test unavailability (BTU), average-interval unavailability (AIU) and year-average unavailability (YA U), and is restricted to periodically tested components whose FFDs satisfy the Weibull distribution with aging threshold. The results show that while point measures (e.g., BTU) can substantially differ from static unavailability and while all measures are sensitive to changes in the Weibull shape parameter b, aging threshold time τ, and time between tests T, the differences between the time-averaged measures used (e.g., AIU, YA U) and the static unavailability were only found to be relatively significant for one case among more than 100 combinations of b, τ, and T that were investigated. The differences area factor of 18 months) and may describe the late effects ofaging on component unavailability irrespective of b and T (i. e., beyond 25 yr of component age for the data under consideration).
You Have the Right to Exclaim Your Pain: Honoring Black Familial Voices Impacted by Police Induced Trauma in the United States

The impetus of this Black Action Research was to explore the lived experiences of Black families exposed to physical assault, emotional abuse, murder, and racial profiling by law enforcement (i.e. police induced trauma). Narrative qualitative methods were selected to conduct this body of research. The study utilized a Critical Race Theoretical orientation as a framework to honor counter-storytelling in understanding these experiences that often go untold, unheard and unnoticed. A total of 10 narratives were shared of which all resided in Los Angeles County and identified as Black/African American. The results that were found after analyzing the narratives revealed the following emergent themes: (a) aggressive racial profiling that goes unchecked, (b) fear for Black men and boys (c) surviving police encounters via avoidance, and (d) predominant conversation of race throughout one’s lifetime. The goal of this article is to speak truth through Black action research methodology in order to bring about recognition, validation and healing.
Phase transition, self-stabilization, and negative torque in optically bound nanoparticles

Optically bound matter offers a route to study mesoscale electrodynamics interactions among nanoparticles. Here we report our recent work on light-driven self-organization of plasmonic nanoparticles. We observed new phenomena, such as phase transition, self-stabilization and negative torque, in optical matter systems ranging from 2 to 100 optically bound silver or gold nanoparticles. In particular, optical torque reversal can happen in stable dimers of two optically bound nanoparticles. These phenomena can be understood by electrodynamic simulations. Our results demonstrate the rich dynamics in optically bound matter.
Structural Conservation and Adaptation of the Bacterial Flagella Motor

Many bacteria require flagella for the ability to move, survive, and cause infection. The flagellum is a complex nanomachine that has evolved to increase the fitness of each bacterium to diverse environments. Over several decades, molecular, biochemical, and structural insights into the flagella have led to a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of this fascinating nanomachine. Notably, X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) have elucidated the flagella and their components to unprecedented resolution, gleaning insights into their structural conservation and adaptation. In this review, we focus on recent structural studies that have led to a mechanistic understanding of flagellar assembly, function, and evolution.
Thermochromic Tissue Phantoms for Evaluating Temperature Distribution in Simulated Clinical Applications of Pulsed Electric Field Therapies.

Background: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) induces cell death through nonthermal mechanisms, however, in extreme cases, the treatments can induce deleterious thermal transients. This study util...
Umami taste in edible seaweeds: The current comprehension and perception

Abstract The fifth basic taste - umami, described as the essence of deliciousness, was discovered more than a century ago in Japan, after extraction of free glutamate from dashi, the Japanese broth prepared with brown seaweed Saccharina japonica (konbu). Although umami was accepted as a basic taste in the Eastern world a long time ago, umami gained recognition in the Western world very slowly. However, as the consumer's longing for delicious food is constantly growing, umami taste can be an important choice criterion. Moreover, in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for vegetarian and vegan products and edible seaweeds are a resource that has been used in the development of new food products. Consumption of edible seaweeds is becoming popular worldwide, not only due to their abundance and unique flavors but also because of their nutritional benefits and umami taste. In this review, the basic concepts of umami in seaweeds are described. The traditional consumption of seaweeds in the Eastern world, but also the more innovative approach in Western countries, are referred. The quantification of compounds responsible for the umami taste in aqueous extracts (broths) based on edible seaweeds was reviewed. Also, the influence of seaweed conservation techniques (drying techniques applied) and extraction conditions on umami potentials have been discussed, as well as the latest studies on metabolic pathways, including the biochemical reactions between glutamate and umami receptors.
The art, science and engineering of software development skills in an embedded system

After many years since software design first started, it is still not matured like other disciplines such as electrical or mechanical engineering design in such a way that they are repeatable with defined methods, processes, artifacts, and so forth. For example, electronics systems are based on the fundamental of physics and chemistry. Software does not work based on these fundamentals, and many are still questioning the necessity of software engineering. We show one of the ways to do software design, particularly on telecommunication systems, that demonstrate a practical software engineering practice. We show that software development is very much like art, science and engineering. We show how do we design and specify a software feature systematically with disciplines, and further suggest the skills required for software professional.
The Pathophysiology of Psoriasis

The past 25 years of research and clinical practice have revolutionized our understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis as the dysregulation of immunity triggered by environmental and genetic stimuli. Psoriasis was originally regarded as a primary disorder of epidermal hyperproliferation. However, experimental models and clinical results from immunomodulating therapies have refined this perspective in conceptualizing psoriasis as a genetically programmed pathologic interaction between resident skin cells, infiltrating immunocytes and a host of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors produced by these immunocytes. Two populations of immunocytes and their respective signaling molecules collaborate in the pathogenesis: innate immunocytes, mediated by antigen presenting cells (including natural killer T lymphocytes, Langerhans cells and neutrophils) and acquired or adaptive immunocytes, mediated by mature CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the skin. Such dysregulation of immunity and subsequent inflammation is responsible for the development and perpetuation of the clinical plaques and histological inflammatory infiltrate characteristic of psoriasis.
The Australian High Court and Attitudes Toward Aborigines: A Test of Court Influence on Australian Public Opinion

Studies of the relationship between American public opinion and decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court have provided support for the theory that salient court decisions can and do have an impact on public opinion (Franklin and Kosaki 1989; Hoekstra Segal 1996; Johnson and Martin 1998; Stoutenborough et al 2006). However, these theories have not been widely tested in other societal, political or legal contexts. We propose to export and test these theoretical expectations to Australia drawing on several Australian Election Studies. We suggest that the Mabo decision, but not the Wik decision, handed down by the Australian High Court, affected attitudes toward land rights benefiting Aboriginal Australians, which confirm Johnson and Robert’s (1998) conditional response hypothesis. The results have implications for the Australian High Court and its relationship with the Australian public, but also may be an indication that court influence of the public may be a general characteristic of courts and not just an example of the uniqueness of the American system. “Whether the Justice should teach the public is not and cannot be in question since teaching is inseparable from judging in a democratic regime” (Lerner 1967, 180). “The High Court’s native title decisions reveal a profound engagement with the major themes of civilization and culture, race and identity, justice and history....In this regime the Court becomes the locus for public ethical deliberation and assumes the heavy burden of moral guardian and wise counselor to guide the nation” (Patapan 2000, 144).
Disaster Law and Inequality

Earthquakes and hurricanes are not, of course, the products of inequality. Yet their impacts can fall very unevenly on different segments of society. This was brought vividly home to anyone who watched the news during Hurricane Katrina. Consider the Dome, which offered shelter of last resort: “The Dome was a brewing public health disaster. [T]he number of people inside had doubled in twenty-four hours, becoming a virtual city of twenty-thousand, overwhelmingly poor and African American.” .” For days, it was “clear to anyone watching television that the majority of people trapped in New Orleans were African Americans, most from the low end of the income spectrum.” For “much of New Orlean’s white population had departed before the storm hit, while the remainder lived in areas closer to dry land and found it easier to escape.” Ultimately, the Congressional Research Service found that “an estimated 272,000 black people were displaced by flooding or damage, accounting for 73% of the population affected by the storm in the parish.
A new partial order reduction algorithm for concurrent system verification

This paper presents a new partial order reduction algorithm called Two phase that is implemented in a verification tool, PV (Protocol Verifier). Two phase significantly reduces space and time requirements on many practically important protocols on which the partial order reduction algorithms implemented in previous tools (Godefroid 1995, Holzmann et al. 1994, Peled 1996) yield very little savings. This is primarily attributable to their use of a run-time proviso deciding which processes to run in a given state. Two phase avoids this proviso and follows a much simpler execution strategy that dramatically reduces the number of executions examined on a significant number of examples. We describe the Two phase algorithm, prove its correctness, and provide evidence of its superior performance on a number of examples including the directory based protocols of a multiprocessor under development.
Introduction to a Paper of M.Z. Shapiro: Homotopy Theory in Control

A curve is called regular if its derivative is never zero. We associate to any regular curve x(t) on the unit two-dimensional sphere a moving frame f(t) = [x(t), T(t), N(t)] t whose row vectors are x(t), its unit tangent vector \({\rm T}(t)=\dot{\rm x}(t)/|\dot{\rm x}(t)|\) and its righthanded normal N(t) = x(t) × T(t). Thus f(t) is a curve in the three-dimensional rotation group S0(3). It satisfies the Frenet-Serret equations
Herpes simplex virus induces the replication of foreign DNA.

Abstract Plasmids containing the simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication origin and the large T gene are replicated efficiently in Vero monkey cells but not in rabbit skin cells. Efficient replication of the plasmids was observed in rabbit skin cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2. The HSV-induced replication required the large T antigen and the SV40 replication origin. However, it produced concatemeric molecules resembling replicative intermediates of HSV DNA and was sensitive to phosphonoacetate at concentrations known to inhibit the HSV DNA polymerase. Therefore, it involved the HSV DNA polymerase itself or a viral gene product(s) which was expressed following the replication of HSV DNA. Analyses of test plasmids lacking SV40 or HSV DNA sequences showed that, under some conditions, HSV also induced low-level replication of test plasmids containing no known eucaryotic replication origins. Together, these results show that HSV induces a DNA replicative activity which amplifies foreign DNA. The relevance of these findings to the putative transforming potential of HSV is discussed.
A dual-purpose positioner-fixture for precision six-axis positioning and precision fixturing: Part II. Characterization and calibration

Abstract The kinematics, stiffness, and repeatability of a moving groove, dual-purpose positioner-fixture were determined experimentally. A dual-purpose positioner-fixture is an alignment device that may be operated in a fixture mode or a six-axis nanopositioning mode. When operated in fixture mode, experiments show standard deviation in repeatability of 11, 11, and 38 nm in x , y , and z ; and 0.7, 0.3, and 0.3 μrad in θ x , θ y , and θ z . The stiffness characteristics were shown to match predictions within 5%. When operated in nanopositioner mode, the device demonstrated 4 nm resolution and a range, of 40 μm × 40 μm × 80 μm in translation and 800 μrad × 800 μrad × 400 μrad in rotation. The fixture possesses a load capacity of 450 N and a natural frequency of 200 Hz when the fixture is preloaded to 225 N.
Political choice and the multiple “logics” of capital

The issue of whether one sees the constraints on domestic freedom of action as economic or political has important practical consequences. If one accepts the position that reforms such as the expansion of social welfare actually interfere with the fundamental logic of a capitalist order, it becomes very difficult to defend those reforms from conservative attack. One can argue that over the long term the only way to protect those reforms is through a break with the capitalist system, but this does not provide much strategic guidance in the short term. On the contrary, since the left is agreeing that these reforms contribute to the problems of the economy - inflation, slow growth, unemployment - it follows that the citizenry is acting rationally when it supports the right-wing attacks on the reforms. In a context in which the immediate transition to socialism is not possible, it follows that the best way to enhance the collective welfare is by trading off the reforms for the promise of faster economic growth.
Acceptability and use of Frozen Poultry — A Review *

As the broiler industry changes from the present fresh market to the frozen market a major concern will be maintenance of quality to insure acceptability. Rapid freezing helps maintain aroma, textu...
A Kalman filter based synchronization scheme for telescope array receivers in deep-space optical communication links

In this paper, the impact of random synchronization errors on the performance of ground-based telescope array receivers for an inter-planetary optical deep-space communication (ODSC) link is investigated. An adaptive method based on Kalman filters is developed for the synchronization and combination of different telescope signals in the array. An end-to-end simulation platform for ODSC link between Earth and planet Mars is implemented that incorporates pulse-position modulation (PPM), direct-detection array receivers, and photon-counting detectors. The effects of atmospheric turbulence and background noise are also modeled. The performance of array receivers is evaluated in terms of probability of symbol error and achievable data rates. The simulation results show that the Kalman filter-based synchronization scheme keeps the synchronization induced power losses to less than 1 dB. The analysis also shows that in the worst-case operational scenario and presence of random synchronization errors, an array consisting of hundred, 1 m telescopes performs almost similar to a single 10 m telescope. Hence, the degradation in the combined signal due to synchronization errors places a minor limitation on the number of telescopes in a telescope array receiver consisting of up to 100 telescope elements.
An investigation of fiber splitting of bicomponent meltblown/microfiber nonwovens by water treatment

Meltblowing is a most versatile and cost-effective process commercially available worldwide to produce microfiber nonwovens directly from thermoplastic resins. The new bicomponent (bico) meltblown technology opens a great possibility to make even finer microfibers by subsequently fiber splitting. Water-dispersive Eastman AQ polymers were initially introduced to the meltblown process to make the mono- and bicomponent meltblown webs at Textiles and Nonwovens Development Center (TANDEC), University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The postwater treatment was performed on the fabrics, which resulted in the dispersive part (AQ polymer) being dispersed in water and only the other part remaining in the bico web. A process–structure–property study is provided toward the research reported in this article. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1218–1226, 2004
Radiation oncology, resident research, and the American Board of Radiology Holman Pathway

F ecuring a residency position in radiation oncology has ecome intensely competitive, and the profile of the typical pplicant has changed dramatically (1–3). In this competiive environment, applicants are better prepared in research han prior candidates, and this reflects the many exciting pportunities for advancement of the radiation therapy disipline in the biologic, technical, translational, and clinical rials arenas. The proportion of candidates with research rojects either coming to fruition or completed and pubished is impressive compared with the applicant pool from ust several years ago. This likely represents a sign that a reater proportion of prospective trainees has an interest in ursuing academically oriented careers after completion of raining and will make significant contributions to the field. his is very good news for our specialty. Arguably, the itality of a specialty is most directly related to the vigor of ts research agenda. Radiation oncologists both in academic edicine and in community-based practices will benefit rom this exciting research agenda and the increased vitality f our specialty. For those residents who have developed a clear desire for ore intensive, basic research during residency training, the merican Board of Radiology Holman Research Pathway resents an excellent opportunity. In this Pathway, residents an be Board certified after a 4-year program, which inludes 21 months of research (80% effort toward research nd 20% clinical activity during the 21-month period) and 7 months of clinical training, instead of the usual 3–12 onths of research and minimum of 36 months of clinical raining. The Pathway is primarily designed for residents ith an M.D./Ph.D. who have strong clinical skills, such hat clinical competence can be achieved during this abbreiated clinical training period. Prospective candidates for he Holman Pathway should have a documented history of esearch and a specific research plan with a suitable research entor and environment. The Pathway was initiated in 999, and the preliminary results are promising. This past ear, seven highly qualified applicants applied for the Hol-
Triple Point of Argon

The triple point of pure Argon has been measured and the value obtained is t* = -189.3331 °C where t* refers to a temperature scale obtained by extrapolating the Callendarvan Dusen equation. Several samples from two suppliers were used and all the results obtained were within a spread of ½ mK The experiments indicated that large thermal gradients may easily be set up within the melting Argon sample and that rather careful heat leak control and experimental procedure is necessary for precise melting point determination.
Spatial Differentiation and Vertical Contracts in Retail Markets for Gasoline

This paper studies an empirical model of spatial competition and evaluates the impact of vertical relations on prices and consumer welfare. The main feature of my approach is to specify commuting paths as the "locations" of consumers in a Hotelling-style model. As a result spatial diﬀerentation depends in an intuitive way on the structure of the road network and the direction of traﬃc ﬂows. The model is estimated using panel data on the Quebec City gasoline market, and used to quantify markups and simulate two important counter-factual policies: elimination of vertical integration, and wholesale price discrimination ban.
Transition-Metal Strings Templated on Boron-Doped Carbon Nanotubes: A DFT Investigation

The binding nature, magnetic, and electronic properties of transition-metal (TM) monatomic chains anchored on boron-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (B-SWCNTs) are studied using density-functional theory. The TM systems studied here include Au, Pt, Ru, Pd, Ag, Co, Ni, Cu, W, and Ti, which are well-known for their technical importance. In conjunction, prototype semiconducting SWCNT(8,0) and metallic SWCNT(6,6) were chosen to model the general features of B-doped SWCNTs. It is found that the TM-strings exhibit well-defined covalent bonds with the boron-doped SWCNTs, in contrast to the pristine SWCNTs. The TM-string/B-SWCNT composites exhibit high stability and unexpected electronic properties, which are relevant to applications in nanoelectronics, spintronics, nanocatalysis, and sensor devices.
Rapid kinetic method for detection of complement-mediated damage to nucleated cells.

Abstract A kinetic assay for complement-mediated damage (CMD) to nucleated cells, based on measurement of the turbidity of cell suspensions, has been developed. The sensitivity and kinetic response of this assay are equivalent to those of currently used assays, and several parameters can be assessed that are unavailable with current methods for measuring CMD. The assay is technically simple, rapid, and requires no radioactive materials.
Ecological Barriers and Social Forces in Childhood Asthma Management: Examining Routines of African American Families Living in the Inner City

Objective. Asthma affects African American children at unprecedented rates. Researchers have examined the context in which African American families live and experience illness, and suggest that ecological barriers contribute to poor health. In this paper, the authors examine the social forces underlying these ecological barriers and what African American parents living in the inner city do to manage their children's asthma amidst these challenges. Methods. African American parents of children aged 5 to 12 years diagnosed with persistent asthma living in the inner city were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. Grounded theory analysis identified recurrent themes in the interview data. Findings. Parents identified four adaptive routines they use to manage their children's asthma: () give young children with asthma responsibility for medication use; () monitor the availability of the school nurse; () manage air quality; and () frequently clean the home. These routines are described as adaptiv...
Charge states and energy-dependent composition of solar-flare particles.

During a weak solar flare, energy spectra of He, O, and Fe from 0.2 to \ensuremath{\sim} 30 MeV per nucleon were measured with glass and plastic detectors exposed on the Apollo 16 spacecraft. The spectra were very steep and the abundance ratios Fe/O and O/He decreased rapidly with energy, approaching solar atmospheric ratios at energies above \ensuremath{\sim} 5 MeV per nucleon. The shapes of the rigidity spectra suggest that the ions were completely stripped while being accelerated.
Overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 in smooth muscle cells reduces neointimal hyperplasia

The activation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in neointimal hyperplasia involves signaling through receptor tyrosine kinases as well as G protein-coupled receptors. Overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK2) in SMCs can attenuate mitogenic signaling and proliferation in response to not only several G protein-coupled receptor agonists, but also platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). To test whether overexpression of GRK2 could inhibit other SMC responses implicated in neointimal hyperplasia, we assessed SMC chemotaxis and mitogenic signaling evoked by PDGF and G(q)-coupled receptor agonists. To test the effects of GRK2 overexpression on neointimal hyperplasia in vivo, we employed a rabbit autologous vein graft model system. GRK2 overexpression reduced PDGF-promoted SMC chemotaxis by 85% (P<0.01), but had no effect on chemotaxis promoted by epidermal growth factor (EGF). Congruently, GRK2 overexpression reduced by approximately 50% (P<0.05) the [(3)H]thymidine incorporation induced by combinations of PDGF and Gq-coupled receptor agonists, but had no effect on that induced by PDGF plus EGF. PDGF-, but not EGF-promoted phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity in SMCs was also inhibited by GRK2 overexpression. In rabbit vein grafts, we achieved GRK2 overexpression in medial SMCs, reduced cell proliferation during the first week after graft implantation, and reduced steady state neointimal thickness by 29% (P<0.01), without affecting medial thickness or potentiating SMC apoptosis. Because of its ability to dampen chemotactic and mitogenic signaling through PDGF and Gq-coupled receptors, GRK2 overexpression in SMCs may be a useful therapeutic approach for neointimal hyperplasia.
Effects of Interacting Colloids on Transport Rates

A theoretical analysis along with the resulting equations pertinent to the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the dissolution and deposition of solid materials in colloidal solutions and transport of solutes across diffusional barriers is presented.
Discussion of “the early stages of the decomposition of alloys”

In his 1985 IMD Lecture, Professor Haasen discusses atom probe (AP) studies on homogeneous nucleation kinetics in Cu-Co 16 and other alloys systems. He concludes that "For an absolute check of nucleation theory it is necessary to include Ostwald ripening from the very beg inn ing . . . " and notes that LeGoues and Aaronson 18 did not do so in their recent TEM study of homogeneous nucleation in Cu-Co alloys. The purposes of this Discussion are: (i) to call attention to differences in the requirements of the AP and the TEM techniques which led Wendt and Haasen 16 to employ more concentrated alloys than did LeGoues and Aaronson, (ii) to note problems which the use of such alloys can cause in the Cu-Co system when attempting to measure transformation kinetics at a particular temperature, and (iii) to recall the conclusion of Langer and Schwartz 19 about the usefulness of experimental data affected by Ostwald ripening as a test vehicle for nucleation theory. The much smaller area of specimen surface typically encompassed by the AP requires "at least N~ = 1017 c m -3 to see enough particles in a tip". TEM, on the other hand, can comfortably accommodate particle number densities (Nv) as low as 101~ to 1011 cm -3. The former density range evidently results in a mean interparticle spacing small enough to produce significant overlap of diffusion fields associated with adjacent Co-rich precipitates during the initial stages of growth. The latter range of particle number densities, on the other hand, permitted completion of the Nv vs time measurements without encountering important overlap of diffusion fields. Hence it was unnecessary to take Ostwald ripening into consideration in analyzing the nucleation kinetics data collected by means of the TEM studies. 18 Wendt and Haasen 16 used a Cu-2.7 pct Co alloy, presumably in order to achieve readily the high particle number densities required. However, LeGoues and Aaronson TM calculated "ITDcurves for the formation of 1011 Co-rich particles/cm 3 as a function of pct Co. They found that even when the vacancy concentration present is that characteristic of the isothermal reaction temperature, the reaction kinetics at the "nose" of the TTT-curve may be sufficiently rapid to permit anisothermal transformation to occur during the isothermal reaction procedure employed by LeGoues and Aaronson or the quench-and-age cycle utilized by Wendt and Haasen. In the more dilute alloys (0.5 to 1 pct Co) used by LeGoues and Aaronson, however, there was no danger that such a perturbation would arise during normal heat treatment procedures. Langer and S c h w a r t z 19 compared .the variation of the "half-completion time" for transformation, incorporating nucleation, growth, and Ostwald ripening as a function of the initial relative supersaturation of an "alloy system", with
The mechanical strength of femurs of rats and mice fed a calcium-deficient diet--a differential species response.

Abstract 1. Breaking strength of femurs from rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) and mice ( Mus musculus ) fed calcium-sufficient (+Ca, 0·5%) or calcium-poor (−Ca, 0·02%) diets for 3 weeks was monitored. 2. In −Ca animals, decreases in femur weight, ash, size, and breaking strength, unaccompanied by changes in ash chemical content, were consistent with osteoporotic changes. 3. For both species, breaking strengths were proportional to the femur ash content, but mechanical strength fell more quickly than the ash. 4. A differential species response was observed. There was a greater decrease, relative to the +Ca femurs, in the breaking strength of −Ca mice femur than found for −Ca rat femur.