cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model for packet image communication in a centralized distribution system

The distribution of the compressed image data volume for a lossless image coder is derived from the distribution of the uncompressed images and that of the coder's compression ratio. This result is used to identify the parameters of an on-off statistical source model characterizing the still image source as seen by the network. The on-off source model gives rise to a batch arrival queueing model to represent image transmission over a network in the situation where there exists a mismatch in the speed of the different components of an imaging system. For a centralized distribution system in particular, the model arises when the transmission queueing delay is the bottleneck at the database and when the arrival rate at a network node is much faster than the transmission node. While the overall time delays can be kept very low, the average buffer sizes build up considerably prompting the need for flow control and for queueing the image requests rather than the image data at the database.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Conditioning, habituation and behavioral reorganization factors in chronic cocaine effects.

Rats were administered cocaine (50.0 mg/kg i.p.) daily for 7 days in a Pavlovian paradigm either immediately prior (paired group) or 30 min following (unpaired group) a 20-min placement in an open field test environment. After 7 days of drug withdrawal, the animals were retested 3 days apart, once with saline and once with cocaine (50 mg/kg). Measurement of locomotion as distance traversed (m) revealed a higher level of locomotion in the paired group on all test trials. Analysis of the paired vs. unpaired differences indicated an antihabituation effect of cocaine rather than a hyperlocomotion or a conditioned locomotor effect. Rotation pattern analysis for each animal showed a new frequency distribution of rotations across four categories of diameter size in the paired but not in the unpaired group by Day 5. This new pattern was characterized by a shift in skewness toward large greater than or equal to 55 cm diameter rotations. These qualitative changes in rotation pattern point to a context specific behavioral reorganization process in response to repeated cocaine drug treatment.
Nonspecific Double-Stranded DNA Binding Activity of Simian Virus 40 Large T Antigen Is Involved in Melting and Unwinding of the Origin

Helicase activity is required for T antigen to unwind the simian virus 40 origin. We previously mapped this activity to residues 131 and 616. In this study, we generated a series of mutants with single-point substitutions in the helicase domain to discover other potential activities required for helicase function. A number of DNA unwinding-defective mutants were generated. Four of these mutants (456RA, 460ED, 462GA, and 499DA) were normal in their ability to hydrolyze ATP and were capable of associating into double hexamers in the presence of origin DNA. Furthermore, they possessed normal ability to bind to single-stranded DNA. However, they were severely impaired in unwinding origin-containing DNA fragments and in carrying out a helicase reaction with an M13 partial duplex DNA substrate. Interestingly, these mutants retained some ability to perform a helicase reaction with artificial replication forks, indicating that their intrinsic helicase activity was functional. Intriguingly, these mutants had almost completely lost their ability to bind to double-stranded DNA nonspecifically. The mutants also failed to melt the early palindrome region of the origin. Taken together, these results indicate that the mutations have destroyed a novel activity required for unwinding of the origin. This activity depends on the ability to bind to DNA nonspecifically, and in its absence, T antigen is unable to structurally distort and subsequently unwind the origin.
CS student research experience applied to developing instructional technology

CS undergraduate research in a cooperative development effort is described. Significant experience in current technology was gained by creating an instructional unit. CS students directly applied research skills, and measured learning effectiveness in a controlled study. The work includes research, application, evaluation, model for future work, and presentation. It also provided a learning aid for general students, an interactive tutorial on elementary gate-level logic. JavaScript and HTML were used to rapidly develop this prototype. It was student-tested by student researchers, and served several objectives in a computer science course. Data on student performance was collected and analyzed. Positive results were obtained, indicating a model for further development.
Dispersion and attenuation of elastic waves due to multiple scattering from inclusions

Abstract The propagation of elastic waves in a medium containing many inclusions is considered. Under the assumption that the spatial distribution of inclusions is uniform, a general equation is derived for the determination of the velocity dispersion and attenuation coefficient of the effective waves. A simple example is presented where scatterers are infinitesimally thin cracks. The calculated results show that the attenuation coefficient Q −1 takes a peak value for the wavelength nearly equal to twice the crack length.
A Perfect Storm : A Case Study Analysis of the Defeat of Tom Daschle by John Thune in the 2004 South Dakota Senate Race

Not unlike the causes of a massive meteorological event, several factors played into the “perfect storm” that unseated Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in the 2002 South Dakota senatorial election. This multipronged case study analysis of the Daschle/Thune Senate race explores why John Thune won the state of South Dakota and thus became the first Senate candidate in 52 years to unseat a majority or minority leader. First, a content analysis of the political ads aired by each candidate is presented. Second, stories concerning Daschle and Thune from the state’s two largest newspapers are content analyzed to determine the framing or agenda-setting relationship of news stories. Finally, the study reports the effects of viewing the Thune/Daschle debate that took place on September 19, 2004. Results suggest that Thune may have captured the seat due to a culmination of factors, including campaign strategies, political ad strategies, and background electoral concerns.
Small angle x-ray scattering from the inner and outer membranes from Escherichia coli.

Abstract Small angle X-ray data from purified forms of inner or cytoplasmic and outer membranes from Escherichia coli have been obtained and appear to be qualitatively similar. Transitory changes are apparent in the circularly averaged X-ray profiles from inner membrane. Such results could be due to the loss or denaturation of peripheral membrane proteins. Some partially dried forms of outer membrane are partly ordered and produce diffraction patterns which support an underlying bilayer structure. An extra light membrane fraction which results from membrane preparations utilizing a French pressure cell for spheroplast disruption has been characterized and shown to be similar to inner membrane. The purified membranes produce small angle X-ray diffraction patterns which are much different from those of lipid dispersions and the differences are attributable to the high protein content of the intact membranes. While the small angle X-ray region may be useful for characterizing the membrane preparations, the paucity of detail in the diffraction pattern suggest that it will be of little value in describing the complex underlying membrane structure.
Distinction of thioredoxin transnitrosylation and denitrosylation target proteins by the ICAT quantitative approach

S-Nitrosylation is a reversible PTM for regulating protein function. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) catalyzes either transnitrosylation or denitrosylation of specific proteins, depending on the redox status of the cysteines within its conserved oxidoreductase CXXC motif. With a disulfide bond formed between the two catalytic cysteines, Trx1 is not only inactive as a denitrosylase, but it may also be nitrosylated at Cys73 and serve as a transnitrosylating agent. Identification of Trx1-mediated transnitrosylation or denitrosylation targets will contribute to a better understanding of Trx1's function. Previous experimental approaches based on the attenuation of CXXC oxidoreductase activity cannot readily distinguish Trx1 transnitrosylation targets from denitrosylation targets. In this study, we used the ICAT method in conjunction with the biotin switch technique to differentiate Trx1 transnitrosylation targets from denitrosylation target proteins from neuroblastoma cells. We demonstrate that the ICAT approach is effective for quantitative identification of putative Trx1 transnitrosylation and denitrosylation target peptides. From these analyses, we confirmed reports that peroxiredoxin 1 is a Trx1 transnitrosylation, but not a denitrosylation target, and we found several other proteins, including cyclophilin A to be modulated in this manner. Unexpectedly, we found that many nitrosylation sites are reversibly regulated by Trx1, suggesting a more prominent role for Trx1 in regulating S-nitrosylation.
The Ocean Margins Program: an interdisciplinary study of carbon sources, transformations, and sinks in a temperate continental margin system

Abstract The cycling of carbon on the US east coast shelf and upper slope has been studied for 20 years in a variety of interdisciplinary programs focused on the Mid and South Atlantic Bights. The culmination of this research was a comprehensive field study conducted in 1996 to ascertain whether the Cape Hatteras shelf was a net source or sink for atmospheric CO2, and the associated transformations and pathways of inorganic and organic carbon. The rationale, objectives, design, and overview of the Ocean Margins Program are given here as a framework to interpret the results of the papers presented in this special issue.
Connections defining representations of zero curvature and their Lax and Bäcklund mappings

Abstract Systems of differential forms are considered which define representations of zero curvature on specified fiber bundles through a set of structure equations. The curvature term which appears in the structure equations generates the partial differential equation. Backlund and Lax connections on associated bundles can also be established. This allows a unified treatment of Backlund transformations and Lax systems for the cases in which the differential equation appears as the curvature term in the structure equations.
Women and Men Engineering Students: Anticipation of Family and Work Roles

The underrepresentation of women in engineering typically is explained by gender differences in occupational interests, attitudes, or abilities. This paper examines the gender differences hypothesis as well as anticipated role conflicts of women and men students. We explore the academic, career, and family attitudes and expectations of women and men majoring in engineering. Men and women are remarkably similar in their abilities, academic experiences, and career influences. Women, however, are more likely to anticipate that lack of confidence in their own abilities and conflicts between work and family responsibilities will be barriers to success in their careers. These differences, along with several differences in orientations toward family roles, suggest that a role conflict argument better accounts for the disparity in the career development of men and women engineers. Suggestions for addressing these role conflicts before women begin working as engineers are provided.
Diurnal variation in blood volume of man

Summary Isotope dilution with I 131 iodinated human serum albumin was used to measure the blood volume of 12 ambulatory, normally active, healthy young adults during the course of a day. Volumes increased and hematocrit decreased significantly on the average with changes most marked by evening.
Three-dimensional galaxy simulations

A three-dimensional fully self-consistent computer model was used to determine the evolution of galaxies consisting of 100,000 simulation stars with exponential radial density variation. Comparison with two-dimensional (infinitesimally thin disk) simulations showed only a very slight stabilizing effect due to the additional degree of freedom. The addition of a fully self-consistent, nonrotating, exponential core/halo component resulted in considerable stabilization. The most pronounced instabilities present were those due to the Jeans' instability in the outer regions of the disk, while at the same time a relatively slowly-growing bar instability appeared. The two-dimensional disk, plus core/halo simulation, showed the usual fast-growing instability leading to bar formation.
Copperplated molds for facial prostheses

1 h e a rlca Ion of metal molds is essential in fb’ t’ processing various heat-cured biomaterials for extraoral prostheses. Polyvinylchloride (PVC), frequently favored because of its strength property, flexibility, and ease of coloration, requires the use of metal molds for proper heat curing.‘e3 The conventional molds for this purpose are made of linotype metal which presents the following disadvantages: 1. It is time consuming, in that a 6or 7-step laboratory procedure is required to make a mold. 2. When large molds are made, they are heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to manage. 3. Casting defects result often and effect accuraCY. 4. Hazardous working conditions are encountered in pouring the heavy molten metal (260” C) into the heated investment molds, and the laboratory environment is contaminated with lead fillings and grindings released when trimming the molds. 5. Removal of the high-heat investment from the metal mold is often a laborious procedure. Despite these disadvantages, metal is the best material for conducting heat evenly and quickly, and it yields a relatively indestructable surface to the mold. This report offers an alternative method of fabricating a metal-surface mold by utilizing copper plating and reinforcing this electroformed surface with a high-heat epoxy resin. The resulting molds are lighter, retain heat better, are more accurate, less
A TEST BATTERY TO ASSESS INTRASENSORY AND INTERSENSORY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN

The purpose of the study was to develop a battery of tests for use in evaluation of intra- and intersensory development of young children. A battery of 15 tests (4 visual, 4 auditory, 4 tactile-kinesthetic, and 3 intersensory) was administered to 109 normally developing 6- and 8-year-old and 32 slowly developing or learning disabled children. Interdependence of test items within each intrasensory and the intersensory category was determined; intercorrelations ranged from .00 to .78. Reliability estimates were also determined. Face validity was claimed for each item. The effects of age or developmental level on test performance were established. Based upon the interdependence of the tests, reliability estimates, and the capacity of the tests to discriminate among groups classified according to age or developmental level, a battery of 10 intra- and intersensory tests was proposed. The battery has 3 tests of visual perception-visual memory, dynamic depth perception, and size discrimination; 3 tests of auditory perception-auditory discrimination, auditory memory of related syllables, and auditory sequential memory of numbers; 2 tests of tactile-kinesthetic perception-tactile integration and movement awareness; and 2 tests of intersensory integration-auditory-tactile intergration and auditory-visual integration.
Self-Assembly Limits in Structural Proteins

A mechanics-based model is presented which predicts a “neutral annulus” for quasi-crystalline self-assembling nanostructure such as collagen fibrils, wherein transcript length, torsional and axial stiffness along with primary and quaternary protein structure limit the size to which these structures may aggregate. In the present treatment, a neutral annulus is predicted at 0.625 of the fibril radius, wherein portions of the fibril interior to the neutral annulus are in compression, balanced by portions exterior to the neutral annulus which are in tension.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Reproductive ecology of Caribbean reef corals

The last decade has seen a resurgence of interest in the processes of sexual reproduction by scleractinian reef corals. Earlier investigations had focused fortuitously on brooding (planulating) species, which resulted in the general misconception that brooding was the main form of larval development of reef corals. More recent work on Indo-Pacific species has shown broadcast spawning and short annual reproductive periods to predominate. This report presents the reproductive patterns of eleven Caribbean coral species and attempts to explain the adaptive features and selective pressures that have led to the evolution of the four reproductive patterns described to date: (a) hermaphroditic broadcasters; (b) gonochoric broadcasters; (c) hermaphroditic broadcasters; (b) gonochoric brooders. Both (a) and (b) correlate with large colony size and short annual spawning periods; and (c) and (d) correlate with small colony size, multiple planulating cycles per year, and occupation of unstable habitats. Selection for outcrossing between long-lived individuals is proposed as the reason for gonochorism and for synchronous spawning of hermaphroditic broadcasters, and also for the large amount of sperm produced by hermaphroditic brooders. Selection for high rates of local recruitment is proposed as the force behind the evolution of brooding by species inhabiting unstable habitats and suffering high rates of adult mortality.
MEMS Based True Time Delay Technology for Phased Antenna Array Systems

Phased antenna array (PAA) systems play an important role in modern radar and communication technologies. In order to satisfy the broadband requirement of future PAA systems, a true time delay approach is preferred over phase delay approaches. Several true time delay methods for PAA beam steering and beam shaping are compared at K-Band and Ka-Band frequencies. Fabrication details and test results for Ka- Band micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based true time delay lines are presented.
Design Analysis of Multiphase DC Chopper Motor Drive

DC chopper propulsion speed control is attained by a solid-state switch whose variable on-off duty cycle transfers a proportional quantity of pulsed energy into a motor. The pulsed battery current is alternately stored and expended within the dc motor and its series connected dc choke during each period of conduction and succeeding freewheeling operating mode. Hence an energy transfer is maintained transforming a high voltage low dc supply into a lower voltage higher dc demanding load. The transformation ratio is considered a controlled variable by simply controlling the on-off conduction duty cycle of its solid-state switch. This simplistic approach, however, fails to recognize that the instantaneous battery current amplitude equals the motor current demand during the switch ``on'' period resulting in potentially very large peak power demands [1].
Assaults on the Fourth Estate: Explaining Media Harassment in Africa

A common threat to democratic politics in developing countries is state interference with the independent media. Despite the importance of this, we know very little about when and why governments attack the media. In this study we explain media harassment in Africa with a theory focusing on varying government incentives to control information over time. We propose that media harassment will increase when governments face threats to maintaining power or undertake extraordinary efforts to consolidate power. Leveraging an original dataset that covers 15 years and 23 countries, our findings offer support for this. Media harassment increases when governments are faced with major protests, coup plots, and conflict onsets and when they are seeking to amend constitutions in ways that increase or extend their power.
O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find

(2006). O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find. The Explicator: Vol. 64, No. 4, pp. 246-249.
Comparative study of various immunomodulators for macrophage and natural killer cell activation and antiviral efficacy against exotic RNA viruses.

Abstract Several immunomodulators were compared for immunomodulatory and antiviral activity in B6C3F1 female mice. Our results demonstrate that murine recombinant gamma interferon (rIFN-G), human recombinant alpha A/D interferon (rIFN-A), ampligen (a polyribonucleotide) and CL246,738 modulate nonspecific immunity and are effective antiviral agents in vivo . Administration of each of these agents 1 day before cell harvest induced high levels of splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity against YAC-1 target cells. rIFN-G was also a potent activator of peritoneal macrophages (Mφ), as evidenced by high levels of antitumor activity and changes in ectoenzyme phenotype that is characteristic of tumoricidal Mφ. rIFN-A, ampligen and CL246,738 induced moderate to low levels of Mφ activation by these criteria. In vivo protection experiments showed that repeated therapeutic treatment with rIFN-A protected mice againts i.p. infection with Venezuelan equine encephalitis (an alpha togavirus, VEE), Banzai (a flavivirus) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Similar treatment with rIFN-G was effective against VEE and HSV-2, but ineffective against Banzi virus. A single prophylactic i.p. dose of ampligen 1 day before virus challenge was very effective against Banzi virus, moderately effective against HSV-2, and ineffective against VEE and Caraparu (a bunyavirus) infection. A single prophylactic oral dose of CL246,738 provided almost complete protection of mice against VEE, Banzi, and HSV-2, and also increased the mean survival time for Caraparu infected mice. Collectively, these results indicate that rIFN-A, r-IFN-G, ampligen and CL246,738 may be useful in prophylactic or early therapeutic treatment of several serious virus infections. Since these agents stimulate NK cells and Mφ, their antiviral activity may result, in part, from the alterations they induce in the natural immune system.
Cytogenetics in pediatric low-grade astrocytomas.

Background Cytogenetic analysis in certain tumors is a vital part of classification and assignment of prognosis. Few studies have examined the value of cytogenetic analysis in pediatric brain tumors. This is especially true of low-grade astrocytomas (LGA) of childhood. This study examines the correlation between cytogenetic abnormalities and survival in children with low-grade astrocytomas. The literature on adults with LGA suggest better survival for those whose tumors have normal cytogenetics compared to those with abnormal. We hypothesized this would also be true of children with low-grade astrocytomas. Procedure A retrospective study was performed of children presenting between 1980 and 1998 to The Children's Hospital, Denver, who had LGA and on whose tumors informative cytogenetics had obtained. Results One hundred and forty-nine children were diagnosed with histologically proven LGA. Twenty-nine had successful cytogenetic analysis. One or more chromosomal abnormalities were observed in eight tumors while normal karyotypes were observed in 21 tumors. Actuarial progression-free survival at 5 years was 87.5% for the eight children with abnormal cytogenetics and 43% for those with normal (P = 0.56). Overall survival at 5 years was 83% for those with abnormal cytogenetics and 78% for those with normal (P = 0.8). The differences in progression-free survival and overall survival between these two groups were not significant. Those children with WHO Grade I tumors had significantly superior progression-free and overall survival than those with Grade II tumors. Conclusions It appears unlikely that, for children with LGA, those with normal cytogenetics have a better prognosis than those with abnormal. Histologic grade is a better predictor of outcome than cytogenetics. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002;38:173–177. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Evidence for Lifestyle Modification in Lowering Blood Pressure in the Elderly

Lifestyle modifications are a safe, effective treatment option for hypertension, yet are widely underutilized by clinicians, particularly in the elderly population. This review outlines the nonpharmacologic approaches to the treatment and prevention of hypertension, and discusses their applicability to the elderly population. Accepted recommendations include weight loss, regular exercise, decreased alcohol consumption, and dietary modifications. Each of these changes has been shown to independently reduce blood pressure in elderly individuals, as well as reduce the incidence and severity of comorbid conditions which potentiate cardiovascular risk. The safety of these recommendations equals or exceeds that of pharmacologic therapy, and few contraindications to their implementation exist. A simple, safe, and effective plan appropriate and acceptable to the geriatric patient is described, offering primary care physicians a guideline to follow when prescribing lifestyle modifications to the elderly hypertensive patient. (c) 2000 by CVRR, Inc.
Berkeley reliability tools-BERT

Berkeley reliability tools (BERT) simulates the circuit degradation (drift) due to hot-electron degradation in MOSFETs and bipolar transistors and predicts circuit failure rates due to oxide breakdown and electromigration in CMOS, bipolar, and BiCMOS circuits. With the increasing importance of reliability in today's and future technology, a reliability simulator such as this is expected to serve as the engine of design-for-reliability in a building-in-reliability paradigm. BERT works in conjunction with a circuit simulator such as SPICE in order to simulate reliability for actual circuits, and, like SPICE, acts as an interactive tool for design. BERT is introduced and the current work being done is summarized. BERT is used to study the reliability of a BiCMOS inverter chain, and performance data are presented. >
Nonlinear finite element computation of the equilibrium, stability and motion of the extensional beam and ring

Abstract Discrete Gauss integration of the element total potential energy is applied to the formation of a cubic-cubic C1 extensible completely nonlinear curved beam finite element. The versatility, accuracy, effectiveness, and robustness of the element, and the Newton-Raphson technique used to solve the nonlinear algebraic stiffness equation set up with it is numerically demonstrated by computations of the nonlinear equilibrium stability and motion of beams and rings.
Effect of cooling and seminal plasma on the capacitation status of fresh boar sperm as determined using chlortetracycline assay.

Abstract Insemination of sows with frozen–thawed spermatozoa results in lower fertility, in part due to spermatozoa having undergone a capacitation-like reaction. The present study employed chlortetracycline (CTC) staining analysis to investigate the effect of adding 20% (v/v) boar seminal plasma (SP) to boar spermatozoa on the temporal progress of capacitation and the acrosome reaction in spermatozoa cooled to 5 °C or incubated at 39 °C. Based on CTC staining patterns, seminal plasma appeared to reverse capacitation in spermatozoa that had undergone capacitation while incubated at 39 °C in a capacitation-supporting medium from 59.7 to 36.6% capacitated (P
FDTD Techniques for Large Scale Simulations: A Review on Some Recent Advances

We review recent developments on finite-difference time-domain techniques, including: (1) Absorbing boundary conditions, (2) dispersion-relation-preserving schemes to reduce grid dispersion error, (3) subgridding techniques, and (4) unconditional stable schemes to overcome the Courant stability limit.
Results of tests for explosives in luggage from fast-neutron time-of-flight transmission measurements

Energy-dependent neutron attenuations measured by time-of- flight techniques are fitted with measured cross sections to determine projected number densities of H, C, N, and O in each 3 by 3-cm2 pixel of a suitcase. Attenuations due to other elements are lumped together as element X. Number densities are normalize by the total to reduce effects of variable thickness. Normalized number densities are constrained to lie in a 4D space. That space is finely binned. A fifth dimension contains six bins of N + O density, as deduced from average suitcase thickness and measured projected number densities. Each bin is labeled with the probability of encountering an explosive, as determined from distributions of elements from simulated explosive and nonexplosive situations. Probabilities for individual pixels are combined to produce an overall probability of an explosive suitcase. About 130 measurements involving 50 suitcases have been made. For about half of those measurements, an explosive was placed in the suitcase. Ten different plastic explosives were used in varying amounts and configurations. When suitcases are ordered by explosive probability, and a threshold is set to minimize errors, the false alarm rate is about 2 percent and the explosive detection rate is about 88 percent. Potential improvements are discussed.
Analysis of heat transfer characteristics of an unsaturated soil bed: a simplified numerical method

This paper is a continuation of a study reported in this Journal in February 1999. The paper presents a summary of the two-dimensional macroscopic continuity, momentum and energy equations in a cylindrical co-ordinate system that describe heat and mass transfer through unsaturated soil. The hydrodynamic laws governing flow of water through unsaturated soil are also presented. The explicit numerical procedure and the method to solve the equations are described. Characteristics of the corresponding computer program are also discussed. The results obtained with the current cylindrical governing equations are compared with the previously reported results based upon the Cartesian system of equations. It is observed that the results obtained with cylindrical formulations are in closer agreement with the experimental results. The effects of various heat transfer processes as well as the motion of fluids on heat transfer in a clay bed coupled to a heat pump are discussed. Heat diffusion into the soil by conduction is shown to be predominant through the early stage of heating, while the liquid water motion contributes to heat transfer during the intermediate times and the gas motion is shown to become significant during the last stages of drying. The contribution of the convective transport increases with the temperature and becomes equal to the contribution by conduction at moderately high temperatures. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The nucleotide sequence of the essential cell-division gene ftsZ of Escherichia coli

The nucleotide sequence of a 1.8-kb fragment of Escherichia coli DNA containing the essential cell division gene ftsZ is reported. The FtsZ protein has an Mr of 40294 and has 23% charged residues with a calculated isoelectric point of 4.9. The codon usage of the ftsZ gene reflects that of a highly expressed gene. Also located on this DNA fragment is the 3' end of the ftsA gene and the 5' end of the envA gene. These designations were confirmed by locating Tn5 insertions within the ends of these genes that inactivate each of these genes. A potential promoter for ftsZ overlapped the 3' end of the ftsA gene. A Tn5 insertion was located within the 3' end of the ftsA and within this potential promoter. No transcription terminators were evident between ftsA and ftsZ or between ftsZ and envA.
Psychological aspects of menu pricing

Abstract There are a number of ‘costless’ considerations that must be taken into account when pricing menu items. Pricing cannot be reduced to a purely quantitative exercise as one must consider the subjective and psychological aspects of the customers' purchase decision.
Responses of Littoraria irrorata say (Mollusca: Gastropoda) to water-borne chemicals: A comparison of chemical sources and orientation mechanisms

The salt marsh periwinkle, Littoraria irrorata, exhibits orientation behaviors in response to a number of chemical stimuli. In this study, we quantified the response of L. irrorata to chemical stimuli derived from three sources: Spartina alterniflora (a food source), the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (a predator), and crushed conspecifics. Animals consistently moved toward sources of S. alterniflora extract and crushed conspecifics relative to controls, but did not approach or avoid extracts from C. sapidus relative to controls. Animals had lower response rates to stimuli from S. alterniflora than to controls, but not to putatively aversive chemical stimuli (C. sapidus or crushed conspecifics). However, periwinkles that moved in experimental groups and control groups did not differ in how far they crawled. In addition, we measured turning angles of pathways of periwinkles to determine the orientation mechanism used. Littoraria irrorata displayed a taxis in response to crushed conspecifics, but a kinesis i...
The Accuracy of a Lower-Cost Breath Carbon Monoxide Meter in Distinguishing Smokers from Non-smokers

Breath carbon monoxide (CO) is a biochemical marker of recent cigarette smoking (see Bittoun, 2008; Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Subcommittee on Biochemical Verification, 2002). Breath CO correlates well with other established assays of cigarette smoking, such as COHb concentration in blood samples (Hald, Overgaard, & Grau, 2003; Jarvis, Belcher, Vesey, & Hutchison, 1986), and urinary cotinine levels (Marrone, Paulpillai, Evans, Singleton, & Heishman, 2010; Marrone et al., 2011), and has high levels of sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between cigarette smokers and non-smokers (Javors, Hatch, & Lamb, 2005; MacLaren et al., 2010; Perkins, Karelitz, & Jao, 2013; Raiff, Faix, Turturici, & Dallery, 2010). Further, as the collection of blood or urine samples is relatively invasive, breath CO provides a useful assay for researchers, clinicians, and physicians as a non-invasive, efficient method for assessing recent cigarette smoking. The clinical utility of breath CO has been established in a variety of contexts and across several populations of smokers. For example, adolescent (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2011) and pregnant (Cnattingius, 2004) smokers represent vital target populations for smoking prevention and cessation efforts. Given the often surreptitious nature of cigarette smoking in these populations, breath CO provides an accurate and reliable method for verifying self-report assessments, which may be unreliable under some conditions (Dolcini, Adler, Lee, & Bauman, 2003; Shipton et al., 2009). Breath CO has also been used as a sensitive measure for the verification of smoking abstinence in the context of behavioural interventions for smoking cessation (i.e., contingency man-
Formation and temperature of soot particles in laminar diffusion flames with elevated temperatures

The line-of-sight average soot volume fractions and soot particle temperatures were measured along the centerlines of overventilated axisymmetric laminar diffusion flames burning at their smoke point heights. The measurements were made at elevated temperatures of the reactants, propane and isooctane as fuels and air as the oxidant, to study the effect of flame temperature on soot formation. Soot volume fractions were measured by extinction, and soot particle temperatures were determined from the measurements of flame extinction and two wavelength brightness temperatures. Maximum soot volume fraction of a given fuel varies less with increased flame temperature than is observed when the flame temperature is controlled by adding an inert diluent to the fuel. This confirm the domnant role of the dilution effect on soot formation when the flame temeperature is decreased by addition of an inert gas to the fuel. Soot particle temperatures were found to approximate the gas temperatures in the lower half of the flame, whereas in the upper half soot particle temperatures higher due to particle oxidation.
Student preference for tutorial design: a usability study

Purpose – This article aims to report on a usability study to assess whether students performed better after working through a screencast library tutorial or a web‐based tutorial with screenshots.Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative study asked 21 students from diverse backgrounds and learning styles to take two learning style inventories prior to a usability study. The students then went through two short tutorials (a static web page tutorial with screenshots and a Camtasia screencast (video) tutorial, as well as a pre‐ and post‐test and debriefing for each. The “think aloud” protocol was used as their movements and voices were recorded using the Camtasia software.Findings – The results of this study indicate that across all learning preferences students performed much better in recreating tasks when they used a static web page with screen shots than they did after viewing a screencasting tutorial.Practical implications – Suggestions are offered for ways to create tutorials that are effective f...
Oxygen equilibria of half cyanomet hybrids of human and canine haemoglobins.

Abstract By use of acid hybridization techniques, special hybrid molecules were produced between human adult and canine haemoglobins, in which either one of the species of the constituent subunits was fixed specifically in cyanomet form and consequently deprived of its oxygenation function. These molecules were characterized by increased affinity toward oxygen and complete absence of haemhaem interaction (Hill's exponent = 1.0). The latter finding is clearly in contrast with the higher n -value (1.9 or so) of human haemoglobin randomly oxidized by 50%. The bulk of the oxygen Bohr effect on the alkaline side was well preserved although its extent was more or less reduced. The molecules of comparable subunit composition, irrespective of which species of subunit was inactivated, were found to have comparable behaviour in their general oxygenation properties. Similar results were also obtained in the oxidation kinetics of the hybrids with ferricyanide at pH 5.9. Determination of the reactive SH groups of the hybrid haemoglobins suggested that both α- and β-subunits in canine haemoglobin might have one reactive and one unreactive SH group per chain.
ELEVATED PLASMA RENIN ACTIVITY AND “BIG RENIN” IN MESOBLASTIC NEPHROMA

Elevation of plasma renin activity (PRA) has been reported with several kidney tumors, but not with mesoblastic nephroma (MN), a common renal tumor of early infancy. We have studied a 3 month old infant with a large intrarenal mass, histologically characterized as MN. Prior to removal of the tumor, the infant exhibited severe hypertension, and moderate hypokalemia. PRA from peripheral veins, aorta, and inferior vena cava, below the renal vein were markedly elevated to greater than 300 ng/ml/hour. Massive amounts of “Big Renin”, greater than 1000 ng/ml/3 hour were also demonstrated. Normalization of blood pressure and serum potassium occurred shortly after removal of the renal mass, and PRA and “Big Renin” returned to basal levels. There is no evidence of tumor recurrence and serial measurements of PRA over a 12 month period shows levels below 5 ng/ml/hour and “Big Renin” remains undetectable. Also, in repeated studies, expansion of plasma volume resulted in suppression of PRA, demonstrating normal regulation of renin release. These observations suggest: (1) Mesoblastic nephroma may be associated with autonomous production of PRA, producing hypertension and hypokalemia; and (2) Serial measurements of PRA may be a useful biologic marker for detection of early recurrence of the tumor.
Auditory association cortex lesions impair auditory short-term memory in monkeys

Monkeys that were trained to perform auditory and visual short-term memory tasks (delayed matching-to-sample) received lesions of the auditory association cortex in the superior temporal gyrus. Although visual memory was completely unaffected by the lesions, auditory memory was severely impaired. Despite this impairment, all monkeys could discriminate sounds closer in frequency than those used in the auditory memory task. This result suggests that the superior temporal cortex plays a role in auditory processing and retention similar to the role the inferior temporal cortex plays in visual processing and retention.
Extra-anatomic bypass: A closer view

The results of 60 femorofemoral, 27 axillobifemoral, and 15 axillounifemoral bypasses were analyzed. Considered in this order, the operative mortality rate was zero, 11%, and 13%, respectively; initial hemodynamic failure was 7%, 13%, and 9%, respectively; 5-year overall primary patency rate was 67%, 62%, and 19%, respectively; and the secondary patency rate was 74%, 82%, and 37%, respectively. However, axillobifemoral patency was made to seem better by including six cases (12 graft limbs) performed because of nonocclusive disease (aneurysm or failure of graft performed for aneurysm). Excluding these, axillobifemoral primary and secondary patency decreased to 47% and 69%, respectively. Femorofemoral bypass results were made worse by cases performed because of unilateral failure of an aortic bifurcation graft. Exclusion of these bypasses increased primary and secondary patency rates to 74% and 82%, respectively. Occlusion of the major outflow artery (superficial femoral) markedly affected long-term patency of all three bypasses. Thus, "good" and "poor" runoff primary patencies were, respectively, for femorofemoral bypass 79% and 53%, for axillobifemoral bypass 92% and 41%, respectively (occlusive disease only), and for axillounifemoral bypass 54% and zero, respectively. This detailed breakdown of results explains the wide variances in the reported results for these extra-anatomic bypasses and provides a better perspective for their application in different clinical settings.
Photochemical transformation of pyrene vapor deposited on eleven subfractions of a high-carbon coal stack ash

A high-carbon coal stack ash has been separated by particle size and then by composition, into strongly magnetic, weakly magnetic, “nonmagnetic” mineral, heavy carbon and light carbon fractions. Eleven of these fractions have been characterized by bulk iron and carbon analyses and BET surface area determinations. The photochemical transformation of pyrene, deposited from the vapor phase onto these eleven ash fractions, has been studied. Appreciable phototransformation of adsorbed pyrene was observed for only three fractions; in those fractions, the bulk percentage of carbon (0.4–0.7%) and the specific surface area (0.50–0.68 m2/g) were both very low. For all fractions having bulk carbon percentages ≥ 4% and specific surface areas ≥ 2.85 m2/g, no detectable phototransformation of adsorbed pyrene was observed. There was no discernible correlation of photochemical reactivity of adsorbed pyrene with the iron content of the ash fractions. In general, the specific surface area of the fractions increased with increased carbon content; two different forms of carbon having different surface areas were observed.
Development of bollworms, Helicoverpa zea, on two commercial Bollgard cultivars that differ in overall Cry1Ac levels.

Research was conducted to quantify the development of the corn earworm (= bollworm), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), on two different transgenic cotton cultivars (DP 50B and NuCOTN 33B) that contained different levels of the Cry1Ac endotoxin from the soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner. Using a field cage, an inverse relationship between the amount of Cry1Ac among cultivars versus the weight of bollworm larvae was observed. Larvae that were recovered from the DP 50B cultivar expressing lower Cry1Ac weighed significantly more than larvae collected from the higher expressing NuCOTN 33B cultivar. Cotton plants from NuCOTN 33B were measured as expressing 300% more Cry1Ac than DP 50B plants. The distribution of larval weights indicates that more late-instars (> 200 mg) were collected from the lower expressing DP50B cultivar than the higher expressing NuCOTN 33B cultivar. Within a single population, bollworm larvae were highly variable in their development when feeding on Bollgard® cotton. Possible reasons and consequences for this variation are discussed.
Crystalline β-cyclodextrin hydrate is non-stoichiometric with 10.5–12 waters per cyclodextrin molecule

Abstract Solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy was used to follow the dehydration of β-cyclodextrin hydrate from 12 to 10.5 waters per cyclodextrin. The process takes place without loss of crystalline order, or the presence of a phase transition. The water molecules involved can best be described as space-filling guests enclathrated in the cyclodextrin cavity. Hence the hydrate is non-stoichiometric within the limits of 10.5–12 waters per cyclodextrin molecule. On the other hand, dehydration of crystalline α-cyclodextrin hexahydrate involves a phase transition.
Mechanism of gain modulation at single neuron and network levels.

Gain modulation, in which the sensitivity of a neural response to one input is modified by a second input, is studied at single-neuron and network levels. At the single neuron level, gain modulation can arise if the two inputs are subject to a direct multiplicative interaction. Alternatively, these inputs can be summed in a linear manner by the neuron and gain modulation can arise, instead, from a nonlinear input–output relationship. We derive a mathematical constraint that can distinguish these two mechanisms even though they can look very similar, provided sufficient data of the appropriate type are available. Previously, it has been shown in coordinate transformation studies that artificial neurons with sigmoid transfer functions can acquire a nonlinear additive form of gain modulation through learning-driven adjustment of synaptic weights. We use the constraint derived for single-neuron studies to compare responses in this network with those of another network model based on a biologically inspired transfer function that can support approximately multiplicative interactions.
New three-dimensional plastic potentials for porous solids with a von Mises matrix

Abstract In this paper, new 3-D plastic potentials for a porous solid with a von Mises matrix are obtained. First, a strain rate based potential is derived, the noteworthy result being its centro-symmetry. Moreover, it is revealed that the couplings between invariants are very specific, the most important influence of the third invariant being for axisymmetric states. It is demonstrated that the exact stress-based potential of the porous material should have the same key properties. Furthermore, it is deduced a new analytic 3-D stress-based potential that satisfies these properties. Compared to the existing criteria for porous solids with a von Mises matrix, this model is the only one that captures the specific couplings between all stress invariants and is exact for axisymmetric states.
Using a computer to communicate: Effect of executive function impairments in people with severe aphasia

Background : Some individuals with severe non-fluent aphasia do not respond in a functional way to any form of communication therapy. Others show improved ability to communicate with treatment focused on alternative communication modalities such as drawing, gesturing, or using a computer. An important difference between these two patient groups may lie in their nonverbal executive function abilities. Executive functions refer to a range of cognitive abilities including goal formulation, planning, carrying out goal-directed plans, and monitoring the effects of actions. Aims : We aimed to determine whether individuals with severely restricted verbal output due to aphasia could significantly improve their functional communication skills by using an alternative communication computer program called C-Speak Aphasia. We examined several factors to determine how they related to individual patients' ability to communicate expressively using C-Speak Aphasia, including linguistic factors related to semantic process...