cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selected before selection: A case for inherent antigen bias in the T cell receptor repertoire.

Abstract T-cell receptor (TCR) recombination is frequently described as a random or semi-random process that belies the now well-established principle that recombination is extremely biased toward the generation of particular receptor chains. Here, we describe the experimental and theoretical work arising from new TCR repertoire sequencing approaches, including the recognition of high rates of public receptors across individuals, estimates of the size and distribution of receptors in the naive repertoire, and the roles of evolutionary, thymic, and peripheral selection in generating public, pathogen-specific responses. Molecular studies of recombination that have identified epigenetic, transcriptional, and topological contributions to variable segment usage are presented as examples of possible mechanisms shaped by natural selection to bias the TCR repertoire. Lastly, we suggest experimental approaches that might contribute to resolving some of the controversies in these areas.
Voice Characteristics of Female College Athletes: A Pilot Study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify changes in NCAA Division II female athletes' objective and subjective voice characteristics before, during, and after a regular volleyball season. ...
Associations of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medications with mammographic breast density and breast cancer risk.

We investigated the associations of aspirin and other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs with mammographic breast density (MBD) and their interactions in relation to breast cancer risk. This study included 3,675 cancer-free women within the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII) cohorts. Percent breast density (PD), absolute dense area (DA), and non-dense area (NDA) were measured from digitized film mammograms using a computer-assisted thresholding technique; all measures were square root-transformed. Information on medication use was collected in 1980 (NHS) and 1989 (NHSII) and updated biennially. Medication use was defined as none, past or current; average cumulative dose and frequency were calculated for all past or current users from all bi-annual questionnaires preceding the mammogram date. We used generalized linear regression to quantify associations of medications with MBD. Two-way interactions were examined in logistic regression models. In multivariate analysis, none of the anti-inflammatory medications were associated with PD, DA, and NDA. We found no interactions of any of the medications with PD with respect to breast cancer risk (all p-interactions > 0.05). However, some of the aspirin variables appeared to have positive associations with breast cancer risk limited only to women with PD 10–24% (past aspirin OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03–2.35; current aspirin with < 5 years of use OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.01–3.28; current aspirin with ≥ 5 years of use OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.26–2.82). Aspirin and NSAIDs are not associated with breast density measures. We found no interactions of aspirin with MBD in relation to breast cancer risk.
Using Circular Dichroism to Control Energy Transfer in Multiphoton Ionization.

Chirality causes symmetry breaks in a large variety of natural phenomena ranging from particle physics to biochemistry. We investigate one of the simplest conceivable chiral systems, a laser-excited, oriented, effective one-electron Li target. Prepared in a polarized $p$ state with $|m|=1$ in an optical trap, the atoms are exposed to co- and counterrotating circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulses. For a field frequency near the excitation energy of the oriented initial state, a strong circular dichroism is observed and the photoelectron energies are significantly affected by the helicity-dependent Autler-Townes splitting. Besides its fundamental relevance, this system is suited to create spin-polarized electron pulses with a reversible switch on a femtosecond timescale at an energy resolution of a few meV.
A Lifetime of Language, Literacy, Identity, and Solidarity:

In this personal reflection, Sonia Nieto recounts the lessons she learned about language and literacy from learning to speak Spanish and then English; to reading and writing; and the impact of thes...
Load Balanced Controller Association in Wireless Distributed SDNs

Wireless infrastructure is steadily evolving into wireless access for all humans and most devices, from 5G to Internet-of-Things. This widespread access creates the expectation of custom and adaptive services from the personal network to the backbone network. In addition, challenges of scale and interoperability exist across networks, applications and services, requiring an effective wireless network management infrastructure. For this reason Software-Defined Networks (SDN) have become an attractive research area for wireless and mobile systems. SDN can respond to sporadic topology issues such as dropped packets, message latency, and/or conflicting resource management, to improved collaboration between mobile access points, reduced interference and increased security options. Until recently, the main focus on wireless SDN has been a more centralized approach, which has issues with scalability, fault tolerance, and security. In this work, we propose a state of the art WAM-SDN system for large-scale network management. We discuss requirements for large scale wireless distributed WAM-SDN and provide preliminary benchmarking and performance analysis based on our hybrid distributed and decentralized architecture.
Facilitating the Transition to Model-Based Acquisition

One major benefit offered by MBSE is the ability to formalize interactions between subsystems in the design process. This formalization eases the transfer of information between parties. The process of government acquisition is likewise characterized by information transfer: diverse requirements must be altered and tracked between the requesting, responding, and evaluating parties. Thus, it is a natural extension of MBSE is to apply it to the acquisition process. This paper demonstrates a set of tools and patterns developed during a surrogate simulation of an MBSE-enabled Request for Proposal between NAVAIR and a responding contractor. In particular, the tools presented were developed from the NAVAIR Systems Model viewpoint. This paper covers four tools developed in this surrogate pilot. The first analyzes the problem of requirement generation. While standards such as the OMG SysML are being adopted by MBSE practitioners, the model literacy of all stakeholders is unlikely and may never be fully guaranteed. Document generation tools, such as OpenMBEE have been developed for SysML software, which enable presentation of descriptive information about the model. This paper demonstrates modeling patterns and a tool that translates information from native-model form into a text-based format. The second and third tools presented assist in the acquirer's source selection process. Making use of the patterns which generate the text requirements above, Evaluation and Estimation Models are presented, which can act directly on contractors' responses. The Evaluation Model assists the verification process by ensuring numerical requirements are satisfied. The Estimation Model compares the contractors' claimed values with historically expected values, to assist directing the source selection experts' focus of examination. The fourth tool presented offers a method of extracting historical traceability for model elements. This aids the acquisition process by enabling digital signoff at any stage of the acquisition process. These four tools were applied in the surrogate acquisition process for a notional UAV, and a description of this case study is presented.
Characterising and managing paediatric SARSCoV-2 infection: Learning about the virus in a global classroom.

Aim This study is a comprehensive review with the purpose of collecting the most relevant data in several sections including current treatment guidelines in the pediatric population. Methods literature was systematically searched in different databases. Results were limited to 2019+ and English, French and Spanish language. Results Children can exhibit mild and less severe COVID-19 disease than adults and also have asymptomatic carriage of SARS-CoV-2, while severe disease is more frequently noted during infancy ( Conclusion Further studies are urgently required to address prevention and treatment in at-risk and infected children, especially with underlying comorbidities. The chapter on the overall impact of COVID-19 in children has not yet been written. Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2 has now joined a long list of human pandemics, which may forever change the world's history.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of cold sprayed 7075 deposition during non-isothermal annealing

Abstract This study presents microstructure and mechanical property relationships of cold-sprayed 7075 aluminum during non-isothermal annealing. Microstructure evolution during non-isothermal annealing from room temperature to 450 °C was performed using in-situ heating via a hot-stage transmission electron microscope. Additional characterization was performed using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Grain size, dislocation density, microstrain, lattice parameter, and precipitation phenomena were evaluated as a function of annealing temperature. The results showed that cold spray processing accelerated the precipitation kinetics of strengthening phases in the microstructure, compared to the as-received cold spray powder, but did not affect the overall precipitation sequence. Also, pancaked grain structures, found at particle–particle interfaces within the deposition, were converted, due to recrystallization, to ultrafine-grained structures during annealing. The ultrafine-grained structures experienced limited grain growth during the annealing process. This was attributed to the nucleation of grain boundary precipitates in the as-sprayed material, primarily originating from grain boundary solute segregation present in the cold spray powder. Mechanical properties were evaluated using microhardness testing, after annealing, and correlated with microstructural analysis. When subjected to low temperature annealing (below 370 °C), the cold spray processed material had a lower microhardness than that found in conventional 7075 aluminum subjected to the same thermal treatment, due to the presence of inter-particle porosity in the cold spray microstructure. Annealing at temperatures above 370 °C, however, resulted in an increase in hardness, likely due to a reduction in inter-particle porosity and grain boundary strengthening associated with the retention of an ultrafine grain structure at high temperatures.
Molecular Mechanisms for Cuticular Sclerotization

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the biochemical mechanisms of sclerotization or tanning. It presents the components of sclerotized cuticle, dityrosine cross-links, and differential mechanism of tanning followed by quinone tanning hypothesis. The cuticle that is secreted by epidermis affords protection for the soft-bodied insects from their harsh environment; it is also a means for maintaining the body shape; it provides points of attachment and leverage for muscles; it restricts water loss from the body surface; and it serves several other important functions necessary for growth, development, and survival of insects. As cuticle is hard, it does not allow continuous growth; hence, insects often shed their old cuticle and replace it with new cuticle. Freshly synthesized cuticle is soft and flexible, but subsequently it becomes hard. Before it hardens, it is expanded to allow growth. The process of hardening is known as “sclerotization” or “tanning.” Sclerotization also aids the hardening of the pupal cuticle and protects the pupae after larval–pupal transformation. Similarly, tanning of egg capsules affords protection to the eggs of several insect species. Thus, the sclerotization process is an essential biological mechanism for the successful survival of insects.
Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutics

In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration released draft guidance on drug development for early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). This guidance builds on the understanding that AD is a progressive disease with symptoms appearing long after neurodegeneration has begun. Preclinical AD relies on the conceptual distinction made between the presence of AD pathological processes and clinically observable symptoms. With the advent of new biomarkers that allow for presymptomatic detection of AD pathology, there now exists an opportunity to design and conduct clinical trials of putative disease-modifying drugs in the earliest stages of the disease when they are thought to have the greatest chance of success. As such, there are four clinical trials planned or underway for the secondary prevention of AD.
Oat (Avena sativa L.) quality improvement for increased beta-glucan concentration

The level of population structure and the extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) can have large impacts on the power, resolution, and design of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in plants. Until recently, the topics of LD and population structure have not been explored in oat due to the lack of a high-throughput, high-density marker system. The objectives of this research were to survey the level of population structure and the extent of LD in oat germplasm and determine their implications for GWAS. In total, 1,205 lines and 402 diversity array technology (DArT) markers were used to explore population structure. Principal component analysis and model-based cluster analysis of these data indicated that, for the lines used in this study, relatively weak population structure exists. To explore LD decay, map distances of 2,225 linked DArT marker pairs were compared with LD (estimated as r2). Results showed that LD between linked markers decayed rapidly to r2 = 0.2 for marker pairs with a map Reprinted with permission of Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 2011, 122, 623-632 Primary researcher and author, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA Author for Correspondence, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, ECORC, 960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON K1A OC6, Canada Author for Correspondence, USDA-ARS, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Cornell University Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, 407 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Abstract P318: Frequency of Fried Food Consumption Outside of Home and Risk of Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction in Costa Rica

Background: Frequent consumption of fried food has been associated with risk of heart disease in some studies, but not others. One potential reason for the discrepant results is that most studies did not separate fried food consumed in and outside of home. Objective: To examine whether consumption of fried foods outside of home is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Design: We conducted a population-based MI case-control study matched by age, sex, and residence in Costa Rica (n= 2,155 cases, 2,155 controls). Consumption of fried foods outside of home and other dietary habits were assessed by using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Results: The crude odds ratio (OR) of MI was 1.09 (95% confident interval (CI): 0.94-1.25), 1.62 (95%CI: 1.11-2.37) and 2.20 (95%CI: 1.59-3.04) for consuming fried foods outside of home 1-3 times/week, 4-6 times/week and daily, respectively, as compared to 0.3 for all tests, Figure 1). No significant association was observed between frequency of eating fried at home and risk of MI after multivariate adjustment. We estimated that increased intake of total energy and saturated fat and lower intake of fiber explained 42% (95% CI: 23%-62%) of the association between daily consumption of fried foods outside of home and risk of MI. Conclusion: Daily consumption of fried foods outside of home was significantly associated with an increased risk of MI, independent of cardiovascular risk factors. This association was partly explained by higher intake of total energy and saturated fat and lower intake of fiber.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE TURBULENT MIXING OF SUBSONIC AXISYMMETRIC GAS STREAMS

Abstract : An experimental study of the turbelent mixing of subsonic axisymmetric gas streams was conducted. Hydrogen-air and air-air mixing systems were studied, and the velocity ratio (jet velocity/outer stream velocity) was varied from 2.4 to 6.3. Special emphasis is placed on (1) the centerline decay and radial profile shapes of composition, velocity, and total enthalpy and (2) the relationships between the turbulent transport of mass, momentum, and energy. The major conclusions drawn for this particular set of conditions are (1) for the hydrogen-air system the centerline decay decreases with increasing velocity ratio, (2) profile similarity of composition, velocity, and total enthalpy is a valid assumption, (3) there is a definite relationship between the transport of momentum and energy which is not compatible with a constant Prandtl number, and (4) unity Lewis number is a valid assumption. The experimental data obtained are tabulated for the benefit of other investigators.
An Effective Software Pipelining Algorithm for Clustered Embedded VLIW Processors

This paper proposes a software pipelining framework, CALiBeR (ClusterAware Load Balancing Retiming Algorithm), suitable for compilers targetingclustered embedded VLIW processors. CALiBeR can be used by embedded systemdesigners to explore different code optimization alternatives, that is, high-qualitycustomized retiming solutions for desired throughput and program memory sizerequirements, while minimizing register pressure. An extensive set of experimentalresults is presented, demonstrating that our algorithm compares favorablywith one of the best state-of-the-art algorithms, achieving up to 50% improvementin performance and up to 47% improvement in register requirements. In orderto empirically assess the effectiveness of clustering for high ILP applications,additional experiments are presented contrasting the performance achievedby software pipelined kernels executing on clustered and on centralized machines.
Concentrated vs. balanced sourcing: an examination of retailer purchasing decisions in closed markets

Abstract Should a retailer concentrate most of its stock purchases in one wholesale supplier (effectively single sourcing) or balance its purchases between two suppliers (balanced sourcing)? A concentrated purchasing strategy makes the retailer an important customer to its wholesaler, meriting preferential treatment, by creating a larger order volume. However, concentrated sourcing can also increase the retailer's dependence on the whole-saler. Reducing dependence, in turn, entails diversifying purchases, splitting them between at least two wholesalers, which, unfortunately, increases transaction costs and reduces the retailer's importance to either of its suppliers. The tradeoff is further complicated when retailers operate in a closed market (small, with few suppliers and high barriers to entry) because genuine options are limited. We examine this tradeoff by modeling the purchasing intentions of food retailers in a closed market which supports essentially two wholesalers, protected by high barriers to entry. We find that even given their limited options, retailers intend to split their purchases more evenly between the two wholesalers (balanced sourcing) as opposed to concentrating most of their purchases in a single wholesaler. This suggests that over the long term retailers prefer to move away from concentrated sourcing. It is proposed that this preference for balanced sourcing stems from a desire to avoid excessive dependence and opportunistic behavior on the part of wholesalers, among others. We also find that wholesaler's superior role performance has a strong positive association with retailer's purchasing intentions. The notion of dependence-offsetting actions, in addition to other rationales advanced for diversifying purchases are evoked to help explain balanced sourcing.
Cryptorchidism and Testicular Cancer

An analysis of 125 patients with a history or clinical evidence of cryptorchidism and testicular germinal tumor treated at our hospital from 1934 to 1975 is presented. Cryptorchidism was corrected ipsilaterally or contralaterally in 83 patients with intrascrotal testis cancer when they were from 4 to 42 years old, either spontaneously (21 patients), by orchiopexy (51 patients) or by hormonal therapy (11 patients). Forty-two cryptorchid patients (uncorrected cases) presented with either ipsilateral inguinal (24 patients), abdominal (14 patients) or contralateral intrascrotal tumors (4 patients). Tumor histologic types on orchiectomy were pure seminoma in 54 patients, embryonal carcinoma in 35, teratocarcinoma in 33 and pure choriocarcinoma in 3. The 5-year survival rates were 60 per cent for the corrected cases and 63 per cent for the uncorrected cases according to cryptorchid state, and they were 78 per cent in patients with pure seminoma and 48 per cent in patients with other germinomas according to histologic type. The majority (58 of 73) of 5-year survivors received regional lymphatic irradiation, in 39 patients with pure seminoma, and/or systemic chemotherapy, in 19 patients with germinal carcinomas, with or without regional lymphadenectomy.
Ribosomal protein L32 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae regulates both splicing and translation of its own transcript.

Ribosomal protein L32 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae regulates the splicing of its own transcript (1, 2) apparently by interacting with a structure composed largely of the 5' exon. However, even in strains overproducing L32 mRNA, e.g. from a cDNA copy of the gene, little accumulation of L32 is observed after a brief pulse label. When the 5' leader of the RPL32 mRNA is replaced by an exogenous leader, the amount of pulse-labeled L32 increases severalfold, suggesting that L32 regulates the translation of its own mRNA, acting through sequences in the 5' region. This conclusion was confirmed by the observation that in cells carrying a chimeric gene in which the L32 leader is fused to LacZ coding sequences, the presence of a second gene that overexpresses L32 itself reduces the level of beta-galactosidase by 50%, in spite of a doubling of L32-lacZ fusion mRNA, presumably due to stabilization of the message. Mutations within the 5' leader that abolish the regulation of splicing also abolish the regulation of translation, suggesting that the regulation of translation by L32 involves a structure similar to that proposed for the regulation of splicing. In cells overproducing L32-mRNA about half the excess mRNA was found in ribonucleoproteins of < 25 S, unassociated with ribosomal particles. Much of the rest was found in ribonucleoproteins of 80-120 S.
Orthogonality of oblique projections and lattice-form models

A recursive biorthogonalization procedure, which forms the basis for the derivation of lattice recursions for the instrumental variable algorithm is presented. We show that the basis for this procedure is an orthogonal decomposition of non-orthogonal (oblique) projections. Furthermore, we show that the orthogonality principle, which underlies the well-known Gram-Schmidt procedure also extends to the above-mentioned recusive biorthogonalization procedure. Applications to the construction of instrumental variable lattice recursions are briefly described.
Regulation of the orexigenic neuropeptide, enkephalin, by PPARδ and fatty acids in neurons of the hypothalamus and forebrain

Ingestion of a high-fat diet composed mainly of the saturated fatty acid, palmitic (PA), and the unsaturated fatty acid, oleic (OA), stimulates transcription in the brain of the opioid neuropeptide, enkephalin (ENK), which promotes intake of substances of abuse. To understand possible underlying mechanisms, this study examined the nuclear receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), and tested in hypothalamic and forebrain neurons from rat embryos whether PPARs regulate endogenous ENK and the fatty acids themselves affect these PPARs and ENK. The first set of experiments demonstrated that knocking down PPARδ, but not PPARα or PPARγ, increased ENK transcription, activation of PPARδ by an agonist decreased ENK levels, and PPARδ neurons coexpressed ENK, suggesting that PPARδ negatively regulates ENK. In the second set of experiments, PA treatment of hypothalamic and forebrain neurons had no effect on PPARδ protein while stimulating ENK mRNA and protein, whereas OA increased both mRNA and protein levels of PPARδ in forebrain neurons while having no effect on ENK mRNA and increasing ENK levels. These findings show that PA has a strong, stimulatory effect on ENK and weak effect on PPARδ protein, whereas OA has a strong stimulatory effect on PPARδ and weak effect on ENK, consistent with the inhibitory effect of PPARδ on ENK. They suggest a function for PPARδ, perhaps protective in nature, in embryonic neurons exposed to fatty acids from a fat-rich diet and provide evidence for a mechanism contributing to differential effects of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids on neurochemical systems involved in consummatory behavior. Our findings show that PPARδ in forebrain and hypothalamic neurons negatively regulates enkephalin (ENK), a peptide known to promote ingestive behavior. This inverse relationship is consistent with our additional findings, that a saturated (palmitic; PA) compared to a monounsaturated fatty acid (oleic; OA) has a strong stimulatory effect on ENK and weak effect on PPARδ. These results suggest that PPARδ protects against the neuronal effects of fatty acids, which differentially affect neurochemical systems involved in ingestive behavior.
Ubiquitous Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning: A Literature Review

The development of a methodology for collaborative and ubiquitous learning, not only combines the advantages of a collaborative learning environment with the benefits of ubiquitous computing and flexibility of new digital technological devices, but ubiquitous computer-supported collaborative learning (u-CSCL) as a methodology which takes renewed importance in education, making it a natural part of the training activities carried out by people throughout his life. This document presents a literature review and exposes the implications of the u-Learning in information systems for group learning in a collaborative way.
“Ms. B Changes Doctors”: Using a Comic and Patient Transition Packet to Engineer Patient-Oriented Clinic Handoffs (EPOCH)

BACKGROUND Few patient-centered interventions exist to improve year-end residency clinic handoffs.
Anxiolytic effects of progesterone are sexually dimorphic

We evaluated the effects of progesterone administration to estrogen-primed rats on licking behavior during a lick suppression test. This test assesses the behavior of water-deprived rats to lick a drinking tube for water reinforcement that is paired to electric shock. Chlordiazepoxide (a commonly used tranquilizer) is very effective in increasing licking during this test. Normal females and neonatally castrated males displayed an increase in shock-punished responses in tests conducted after hormone injections. Normal males and neonatally androgenized females were unaffected. Our results suggest that ovarian steroids, and particularly progesterone, can modulate anxiety in females and feminized males. In addition, the anxiolytic effect of progesterone appears to be mediated by a mechanism different from that of Chlordiazepoxide.
Regional brain blood flow and O2 delivery during severe exertion in the pony

Regional distribution of brain blood flow (radionuclide labelled 15 μm diameter microspheres) and O2 supply were studied in 11 healthy adult grade ponies at rest and during severe exercise (SE) performed on a treadmill (heart rate = 220 ± 4 beats·min−1; VdotO2 = 126 ± 9 ml·min−1·kg−1). During SE, the mean aortic pressure increased to 169±4 mm Hg and the pHa, PaCO2 and PaO2 were 7.213 ± 0.010, 30 ± 1 mm Hg and 85 ± 4 mm Hg, respectively. The hemoglobin concentration increased by 59.6% with SE. Whereas blood flow increased in the cerebellar gray matter (96%), pons (39.5%) and medulla (55.6%), in none of the other brain regions blood flow was different from rest. However, vascular resistance decreased only in the cerebellar cortex. Due to a 58% increment in arterial O2 content with SE, the O2 supply to all regions of the brain increased (P < 0.01). The latter may be suggestive of an overall increase in brain metabolism during heavy exertion in ponies.
All-optical anatomical co-registration for molecular imaging of small animals using dynamic contrast.

All-optical anatomical co-registration for molecular imaging of small animals using dynamic contrast
The effects of intrafamily threats on therapy

Family members often threaten one another during the course of therapy. Such intrafamily threats can cause anxiety for the therapist and disrupt treatment. Examples of commonly encountered threats are given and their management discussed.
A model for business combinations

A procedure is developed to predict the performance of combinations of two businesses for comparison with the performance of the businesses operating individually. Included are general relationships of combined performance, the definition of several types of combination and their simulation using previously developed business models. A large number of computational experiments are performed to show the effect of the different types of combination, environment, management strategy, business model inaccuracies and of uncertainties in knowing efficiency factors and learning-curve coefficients.
The branching reaction. III. Polymeric transfer constants of vinyl acetate with styrene and methyl methacrylate

A study has been carried out to determine the polymeric transfer constants of poly(vinyl acetate), polystyrene, and poly(methyl methacrylate) in the polymerization of vinyl acetate, as well as the similar transfer constants of poly(vinyl acetate) in the polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate. As before, this was accomplished by polymerizing each monomer in the presence of varying amounts of the desired oligomer and separating the resulting polymers. The effect of oligomer endgroups was checked by using oligomers of different molecular weight (1000–5000). As found previously for styrene and methyl methacrylate, there was no noticeable effect of polymeric endgroups on transfer activity, hence the transfer constants found refer to the interior units in the chain. The values of the various transfer constants are given. As expected, the vinyl acetate radical showed a reactivity in hydrogen abstraction which was several orders of magnitude greater than that of the styrene radical, and at least one order of magnitude greater than that of methyl methacrylate. The absolute values of the activation energy for the transfer step were remarkably similar, the difference in transfer activity being largely due to the difference in activation energy of the propagation reaction, and also to steric considerations.
Alcohol droplet vaporization in humid air

Abstract Experimental and theoretical investigations were conducted for the vaporization of a single alcohol droplet in air with various degrees of humidity. Experimental results show that the vaporization of a volatile alcohol, such as methanol and ethanol, is accompanied by the simultaneous condensation of water vapor on the droplet surface and its subsequent diffusion into the droplet interior such that the associated condensation heat release greatly facilitates the initial gasification rate of alcohol. However, for alcohols which are less volatile, or for liquids which are not miscible with water, atmospheric moisture has practically no effect on the droplet gasification rate. Theoretical results substantiate the above observation.
Buyers' Price Perception at a Flea Market—An Informal Look

Monroe ( 1973) cautions sellers against heavy reliance on the assumption of the existence of a srrong inverse price-demand function. Keiser and Krum (1976) display the misleading nature of two-priced retail advertising. Potter (1979) shows that in one particular situation, patronage selection of shopping centers, price is not the primary determinant of buying. To examine this grouping of related thoughts, one pattern of consumers' impulse buying, at a booth in a Metropolitan New York area flea market, was noted. Observations were made of the effectiveness of the seller's standard pricing practice used during periods of brisk demand for a standard novelty item. This routine called for a temporary quotation for quantity to be added to the regular per unit price whenever, (a) large numbers of potential customers clustered about the booth, (b) the buying became fast paced, and (c) the surroundings turned turbulent-$1.50 for one or three for $5.00, which is the reverse of what one would normally expect. All information on price was provided verbally in response to queries or in general announcements. Ten such periods were observed over approximately 3 mo. The intervals noted, a convenience sample, all lasted about 10 to 15 min. In each of the periods it was noticed that multiple-unit sales outnumbered single-unit sales by almost 4 to 1. However, in two staged replications of the arrangement for quantity pricing, comparable in every other way to the 10 spontaneous periods except for the absence of condirions (a), (b), and (c), all sales were single units. Recognizing the informality of this inquiry, the results tend to (a) support Monroe's warning against assuming the prevalence of a forceful inverse relationship of price and demand; (b) sustain Keiser and Krum's contention that a two-price format tends to distort consumers' judgments; and (c) bolster Potter's finding about the relative role of price in affecting buyers' decisions. Further, and perhaps of more importance, the significance of some of the characteristics of the environment which influence buyers' processing of price information is indicated.
Characterization of Carrot Cell Wall Protein II. IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDY OF CELL WALL PROTEIN

Antiserum was raised against a synthetic nona-peptide which was predicted to have considerable homology with the unhydroxylated, unglycosylated precursor of cell wall proteins from several plants. The antiserum is able to recognize the major cell wall protein of incubated carrot (Daucus carota) root discs which is produced when the discs are treated with a proline hydroxylase inhibitor and then labeled with radioactive proline. This technique has potential applications in studying cell wall biosynthesis and its regulatory control mechanisms.
Real time fuzzy controller for quadrotor stability control

In this paper, we develop an intelligent neuro-fuzzy controller by using adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) techniques. We begin by starting with a standard proportional-derivative (PD) controller and use the PD controller data to train the ANFIS system to develop a fuzzy controller. We then propose and validate a method to implement this control strategy on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. Using model based design techniques, the models are implemented on an embedded system. This enables the deployment of fuzzy controllers on enthusiast-grade controllers. We evaluate the feasibility of the proposed control strategy in a model-in-the-loop simulation. We then propose a rapid prototyping strategy, allowing us to deploy these control algorithms on a system consisting of a combination of an ARM-based microcontroller and two Arduino-based controllers.
The neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel, Scn8a, is essential for postnatal maturation of spinal, but not oculomotor, motor units.

Abstract Mice with a nontargeted transgene insertion at the motor endplate disease (med) locus (medtg) contain a deletion of a novel gene encoding a neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel, designated Scn8a (4). We characterized severe skeletal muscle atrophy beginning by Postnatal Day 10 (P10) and death by P20 in themedtgmouse. Denervation was functional, rather than structural, since the Scn8a mutation was not accompanied by retraction of neuromuscular contacts, motoneuron death, or decreased motoneuron soma diameter. Although pathology consistent with denervation was seen in both hindlimb and forelimb musculature, the postnatal maturation of the extraocular muscles was not altered. The onset of paralysis is likely coincident with the time that the Scn8a sodium channel normally assumes a critical role in the initiation and/or propagation of action potentials in spinal motoneurons. By contrast, the lack of consequences for extraocular muscle suggests that the Scn8a voltage-gated sodium channel may be of relatively minor importance for oculomotor motoneurons.
INTRACELLULAR SITE OF NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS NUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS.

SummaryUnder conditions in which cellular RNA synthesis was inhibited by actinomycin D, incorporation of C14-uridine took place into RNA of NDV-infected cells and was measured by scintillation counting. In autoradiograph experiments employing H3-uridine, synthesis of NDV-RNA was demonstrated to take place in the cytoplasm of infected cells.
A new guise for hyper-IgM syndrome.

The hyper-IgM syndromes (HIGMs) are immunodeficiencies that have taught us much about the details of humoral immunity. In this issue of Blood , Lanzi et al characterize a rare subset of HIGM patients and demonstrate that these disorders may also teach us about endoplasmic reticulum (ER) storage
Implanted Dosimeters Identify Radiation Overdoses During IMRT for Prostate Cancer

Purpose Image-guided dose-escalated radiotherapy is the standard of care for the treatment of prostate cancer. Although many published methods are available that account for prostate motion during delivery, evidence demonstrating that the planned dose is actually delivered on a daily basis is lacking. We report our initial clinical experience using implantable dosimeters to quantify and adjust the dose received during intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods and Materials A total of 20 patients undergoing IMRT with cone-beam computed tomography (CT) image guidance for prostate cancer had the dose verification system with radiopaque metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor dosimeters implanted before treatment planning. All patients underwent planning with CT simulation in the supine position with custom immobilization, and the implanted dosimeters were located in the IMRT plans. The predicted dose for each dosimeter was defined and compared with the wireless readings before and after each treatment session. Investigations by physicians and medical physicists were initiated for two or more discrepancies >6% for any five consecutive fractions or for any discrepancy ≥10%. Results Using implanted in vivo dosimeters, dose measurements consistently >6% greater than the predicted values were observed during treatment for 3 of 20 prostate cancer patients who received IMRT with daily image guidance. A review of the daily cone-beam CT images revealed acceptable alignment of the prostate target volumes and implanted dosimeters but identified significant anatomic changes within the treated region. Repeat CT simulation and RT planning was performed, with resolution of the dose discrepancies in all 3 cases with the adoption of a new IMRT plan. Conclusions Our report illustrates the potential effect of implanted in vivo dosimetry for prostate IMRT and emphasizes the importance of careful planning and delivery with attention to systematic shifts or anatomic changes that could alter the dose distributions.
Sports Fans, Athletes' Salaries, and Economic Rent

Many fans in the United States are increasingly distressed by the fact that spectator sports, one of their favorite recreational activities, are just another commercial enterprise. They attribute this state of affairs to the greed of professional athletes, a charge they often make without any understanding of the concept of economic rent, a major component of the salaries received by those who play professional sports. This note demonstrates the relevance of the principle of economic rent to the salaries paid professional athletes. The paper places the remuneration of professional athletes within the wider context of the entertainment industry and explains athletes' salaries from the standpoint of labor supply and demand and investment in human capital. It addresses the issues of monopoly and monopsony and the existence of quasi-rents in the short run and pure economic rent in the long run. The paper ends by noting the key role derived demand plays in determining the salaries of professional athletes. Iro...
Examination of optimal upgrade timing and best value: DoD acquisition of commercial vs. military custom flat panel displays

This paper proposes a framework for quantitatively balancing the costs, benefits, and risks of alternate upgrade strategies, with Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition of flat panel display as an example. A key issue in DoD Acquisition Reform is the rapid product turnover in commercial markets and the difficulties DoD has traditionally faced in adopting these advances in a timely manner. This paper aims to clarify when commercial technology represents 'best value' to DoD.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ab initio energies and tunneling lifetimes of the doubly charged AH2+ (A = Mg—Ar) diatomics

Potential energy curves for the ground and low-lying excited states of the AH{sup 2+} (A = Mg-Ar) dications have been calculated using high-level ab initio methods with large atomic orbital basis sets. Quasi-bound potential energy curves with local minima and deprotonation barriers have been found for most of the dications studied. The energies, tunneling lifetimes, and widths of the quasi-bound states have been calculated by numerical solution of the radial Schroedinger equation using the Numeov method. All these dications except ArH{sup 2+} have low-lying states which support quasi-bound vibrational states. The ArH{sup 2+} dication has a {sup 2}{Pi}{sub i} potential energy curve with a minimum so shallow that it does not support any quasi-bound vibrational states. Results of our calculations are compared with previous ab initio calculations and available experimental data. 24 refs., 8 figs., 12 tabs.
Synthesis, cloning and expression of a synthetic gene for high potential iron protein from chromatium vinosum

Abstract A synthetic gene encoding the peptide sequence for the low molecular weight (Mr ∼ 9600 Da) high-potential iron protein (HiPIP) from the photosynthetic bacterium Chromatium vinosum has been constructed by shotgun ligation of twelve complimentary oligonudeotides varying in size from 42-mers to 48-mers. After cloning the gene into a pET-21d(+) vector, expression of holoprotein in yields of 35 mg/liter of culture was obtained following induction with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). The recombinant protein was characterized by electronic absorption, 1H NMR, electrochemistry, N-terminal sequencing and amino acid analysis. This is the first example of the expression of a high potential ferredoxin containing a fully constituted [Fe4S4] cluster.
A globally stable adaptive controller for multivariable systems

Abstract : Hermite normal forms of nonsingular transfer matrices play a central role in determining the class of model transfer matrices which the plant can follow. However, due to inherent complexity in specifying the Hermite form in general, it has been argued that adaptive control is practically feasible only for those plants which have diagonal Hermite forms, i.e., which can be decoupled by using state feedback only. The sign definiteness of the high frequency gain matrix KP has been found to be sufficient to generate stable adaptive laws. For 2x2 systems, the knowledge of relative degree of each scalar transfer function has been used in determining the Hermite form. A globally stable adaptive controller has been developed and it has been shown that all 2x2 stably invertible systems can be generically adaptively controlled subject to the definiteness condition on the gain matrix.
Regulation of selenocysteine incorporation into the selenium transport protein, selenoprotein P.

Selenoproteins are unique as they contain selenium in their active site in the form of the 21st amino acid selenocysteine (Sec), which is encoded by an in-frame UGA stop codon. Sec incorporation requires both cis- and trans-acting factors, which are known to be sufficient for Sec incorporation in vitro, albeit with low efficiency. However, the abundance of the naturally occurring selenoprotein that contains 10 Sec residues (SEPP1) suggests that processive and efficient Sec incorporation occurs in vivo. Here, we set out to study native SEPP1 synthesis in vitro to identify factors that regulate processivity and efficiency. Deletion analysis of the long and conserved 3′-UTR has revealed that the incorporation of multiple Sec residues is inherently processive requiring only the SECIS elements but surprisingly responsive to the selenium concentration. We provide evidence that processive Sec incorporation is linked to selenium utilization and that reconstitution of known Sec incorporation factors in a wheat germ lysate does not permit multiple Sec incorporation events, thus suggesting a role for yet unidentified mammalian-specific processes or factors. The relationship between our findings and the channeling theory of translational efficiency is discussed.
Antismoking Threat and Efficacy Appeals: Effects on Smoking Cessation Intentions for Smokers with Low and High Readiness to Quit

This study examined the effects of sequencing different types of antismoking threat and efficacy appeals on smoking cessation intentions for smokers with low and high levels of readiness to quit. An experiment was done to test predictions based on Witte's (1992) Extended Parallel Process Model and research by Cho and Salmon (2006). A national probability sample of 555 adult smokers was recruited to take part in this study. Results found a positive two-way interaction effect between message threat and perceived level of message efficacy on intentions to seek help for quitting. A three-way interaction effect was found between message threat, perceived level of message efficacy, and readiness to quit on quitting intentions. Both threat and efficacy were important for smokers with low readiness to quit, whereas efficacy was most important among smokers with high readiness to quit. Implications of the results for antismoking campaigns are discussed along with limitations and future directions.