cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Stallings proof of the loop theorem of Papakyriakopoulos

By a loop in a space X we mean a closed path without a distinguished base point, that is, a mapping L:S 1→X. If L is a homeomorphism, then L is nonsingular. By a singular 2-cell in X we mean a mapping D: Δ→X, where Δ is a polyhedral 2-cell. (In this section, all such mappings will be PL.) We define $$Bd D = \left( {D|Bd \Delta } \right):Bd \Delta \to X,$$ so that Bd D is a loop. If D is a homeomorphism, then D is nonsingular.
Posner on Economic Loss in Tort: EVRA Corp v. Swiss Bank

The economic loss rule bars recovery in tort when the plaintiff suffers a loss that is exclusively pecuniary, unaccompanied by property damage or a personal injury. The rule has long puzzled scholars and students for its seeming inconsistency with other tort principles that take a more expansive approach to liability, such as the eggshell skull rule or the adage that a defendant takes his victim as he finds him. 1 In EVRA Corp v Swiss Bank Corp, 2 Judge Richard A. Posner swept away much of the confusion surrounding the economic loss rule and reconciled it with other liability-expanding doctrines of tort law. The EVRA case is remarkable for the intellectual order it brought to the question of economic losses, a feat that some scholars thought impossible. 3
Derrida and Saussure on entrainment and contamination: Shifting the paradigm from the Course to the Nachlass

In this essay I address Derrida’s influential readings of the Course in General Linguistics attributed to Ferdinand de Saussure (but ghostwritten after his death) in Of Grammatology and Glas. I complicate Derrida’s charge of phonocentrism, that is, the charge that Saussure privileges the medium of sound and/or speech as a site of unmediated signifying presence, by re-examining the relevant sections from the Course in light of the materials related to Saussure’s linguistics from the Nachlass, some of them recently discovered. I document especially the extent of editorial involvement in the sections discussed by Derrida that deal with the purportedly ‘natural’ expressions like onomatopoeias and interjections, and with the relation between speech and writing. I make the case that ultimately Derrida’s charge that Saussure’s linguistics is burdened by an allegiance to the metaphysics of presence carries limited force, and that Derrida’s and Saussure’s understanding of signification turn out to be closer related than previously thought: they share the view that entrainment and contamination are inevitable.
Ex vivo generation of a functional and regenerative wound epithelium from axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) skin.

Urodele amphibians (salamanders) are unique among adult vertebrates in their ability to regenerate structurally complete and fully functional limbs. Regeneration is a stepwise process that requires interactions between keratinocytes, nerves and fibroblasts. The formation of a wound epithelium covering the amputation site is an early and necessary event in the process but the molecular mechanisms that underlie the role of the wound epithelium in regeneration remain unclear. We have developed an ex vivo model that recapitulates many features of in vivo wound healing. The model comprises a circular explant of axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) limb skin with a central circular, full thickness wound. Re-epithelialization of the wound area is rapid (typically <11 h) and is dependent on metalloproteinase activity. The ex vivo wound epithelium is viable, responds to neuronal signals and is able to participate in ectopic blastema formation and limb regeneration. This ex vivo model provides a reproducible and tractable system in which to study the cellular and molecular events that underlie wound healing and regeneration.
Effect of an annular sleeve of high permittivity material on resonant modes and homogeneity of a birdcage coil

We investigated how high permittivity materials affect the S-parameters and transmit efficiency of a head-sized birdcage coil. We also studied whether re-tuning and matching are necessary for improved performance. While adjusting the S-parameters is possible during coil development and for prototype coils, it is often unfeasible to re-tune and match commercially manufactured coils, and poses a challenge after adding dielectric material to such coils. Our work demonstrates the change in the S-parameters and the transmit efficiency after placing a dielectric sleeve within a head-sized birdcage coil, and reports that coil performance can be improved after re-tuning and matching the coil in the presence of the dielectric material.
Relationships among groundwater age, denitrification, and the coupled groundwater and nitrogen fluxes through a streambed

[1] The relationships among coupled groundwater and nitrogen (N) fluxes, groundwater age, and denitrification were examined for a section of West Bear Creek, an agricultural stream in the coastal plain of North Carolina, United States. Simultaneous streambed measurements of hydraulic conductivity (K) and hydraulic head gradient (J) and the concentrations of NO3− ([NO3−]), dissolved gases, and chlorofluorocarbons in groundwater were interpolated, mapped, and (for water flux v = KJ and nitrate flux fNO3 = v[NO3−]) integrated over the streambed area. Nitrate and dissolved organic N accounted for 92 and 8% of N flux through the streambed, respectively. Streambed maps show a band of greater groundwater age, and lower [NO3−] and fNO3, running through the center of most of the study reach. Nitrate flux (fNO3) exhibits this “center-low” pattern even though one of its controlling factors, groundwater flux (v), has on average the opposite “center-high” pattern. An inverse relationship between [NO3−] and age is indicative of fertilizer as the primary source of groundwater NO3−. Denitrification reduced mean fNO3 by ∼50%, from 370 mmol m−2 d−1 (what it would have been in the absence of denitrification) to 173 mmol m−2 d−1 (what it actually was). Measurement of both groundwater age and v made possible a new method for estimating flow-weighted mean groundwater age (τFWM), an important aquifer hydraulic characteristic related to groundwater storage and recharge rate. This method gives τFWM = 30 years, which, along with the overall distribution of groundwater ages, suggests the possibility of a significant time lag between changes in N fertilizer application rates and NO3− flux from groundwater to West Bear Creek. Differences in streambed groundwater chemistry between the left and right sides of the streambed suggest differences in agricultural practices on opposite sides of the stream.
A decision support system for inventory control using planning and distributed agents

Agent Technology has become very popular in the last few years as a new approach to developing software systems. Multi Agent Systems (MAS), a term used to describe the incorporation of multiple types of agents into various systems, is a way of designing and implementing a system with the advantages of agent entities. We chose to use agents as a decision support tool for use in a Retail Inventory Management System. Since the management of inventory is crucial to the success of most companies, and since we see a potential major role for agents in the business process management MAS seems a likely choice for a decision support platform. This work stems from our prior work in simulating a MAS inventory system, then implementing the system for production use.
Relationships between field-aligned currents, electric fields and particle precipitation as observed by dynamics Explorer-2

The relationships between field-aligned currents, electric fields, and particle fluxes are determined using observations from the polar orbiting low-altitude satellite Dynamics Explorer-2. It is shown that the north-south electric field and the east-west magnetic field components are usually highly correlated in the field-aligned current regions. This proportionality observationally proves that the field-aligned current equals the divergence of the height-integrated ionospheric Pedersen current in the meridional plane to a high degree of approximation. As a general rule, in the evening sector the upward field-aligned currents flow in the boundary plasma sheet region and the downward currents flow in the central plasma sheet region. The current densities determined independently from the plasma and magnetic field measurements are compared. Although the current densities deduced from the two methods are in general agreement, the degree and extent of the agreement vary in individual cases.
The molecular basis of IFNγ action

Publisher Summary This chapter emphasizes the advances that have occurred over the past 10 years that have significantly enhanced understanding of IFNγ biology and biochemistry. This chapter delineates the recent findings that have led to a comprehensive understanding of the molecular events that underlie IFNγ's pleotropic effects cells. The rapid advances that have been made recently in defining IFNγ's actions at the molecular level have led to a new appreciation of the physiologic roles of this cytokine in vivo . It is likely that this enhanced understanding will promote the development of novel procedures to regulate host responses by regulating IFNγ's actions. The next few years may be an exciting time in which basic biologists and clinicians will work together to harness the insights made at the laboratory bench into novel therapeutic strategies.
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide Inhibit Antigen-Induced Apoptosis of Mature T Lymphocytes by Inhibiting Fas Ligand Expression

Apoptosis in T and B lymphocytes is a major element controlling the immune response. The Ag-induced cell death (AICD) in T cells is a main mechanism for maintaining peripheral tolerance and for limiting an ongoing immune response. AICD is initiated by Ag re-engagement of the TCR and is mediated through Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) interactions. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and the structurally related pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are two multifunctional neuropeptides present in the lymphoid microenvironment that act primarily as anti-inflammatory agents. In the present study we investigated whether VIP and PACAP affect AICD in mature peripheral T cells and T cell hybridomas. VIP and PACAP reduce in a dose-dependent manner anti-CD3-induced apoptosis in Con A/IL-2-preactivated peripheral T cells and the murine T hybridomas 2B4.11 and A1.1. A functional study demonstrates that the inhibition of AICD is achieved through the inhibition of activation-induced FasL expression at protein and mRNA levels. VIP/PACAP-mediated inhibition of both AICD and FasL expression is mediated through the specific receptors VPAC1 and VPAC2. Of obvious biological significance is the fact that VIP and PACAP prevent Ag-induced clonal deletion of CD4+ T cells, but not that of CD8+ T cells. By affecting FasL expression, VIP and PACAP may play a physiological role in both the generation of memory T cells and the inhibition of FasL-mediated T cell cytotoxicity.
Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of small nitroalkanes and their deprotonated anions.

Gas-phase reactions of nitromethane (1), nitroethane (2), 2-nitropropane (3), 2-methyl-2-nitropropane (4) and nitrocyclopropane (5) were studied at 300 K using the flowing afterglow technique. These nitroalkanes react with gas-phase bases HO(-), CH(3)O(-) and HOO(-) very rapidly with rate coefficients of (2.5-4.3) x 10(-9) cm(3) s(-1) and reaction efficiencies of 60-100%, for example, k = 3.2 x 10(-9) cm(3) s(-1) (86%) for 5 reacting with hydroperoxide anion. Proton transfer (PT) is the only reaction observed for 1 while elimination (E2) is the exclusive pathway for 4 yielding isobutene and NO(2)(-). Both PT and E2 reactions are observed for 2, 3 and 5, the former being the major pathway. Deprotonated anions of 1, 2, 3 and 5 were subjected to reactivity studies with CH(3)I, CO(2), CS(2) and SO(2). Nucleophilic substitution (S(N)2) reaction occurs with CH(3)I while characteristic products CS(2)O(-) and SO(3)(-) are formed from CS(2) and SO(2), respectively, along with competing adduct formation. The SN(2) rate is greater, whereas the reactivities with the triatomic reagents are smaller for deprotonated nitrocyclopropane than for the other acyclic anions. These observations strongly suggest that the reactions of nitroalkane [M - H](-) anions occur through initial attack from the terminal oxygen; the nitrocyclopropane carbanion is more strained and, thus, less stabilized by resonance [R(2)C(-) - NO2 R(2)=NO(2)(-)] resulting in the greater basicity/nucleophilicy and the less negative charge on the oxygen site.
The Impact of Ethnic Heterogeneity on the Quantity and Quality of Public Spending

The paper investigates empirically the impact of ethnic heterogeneity on the amount of public spending on health and education and the quality, or technical efficiency of spending. While it finds partial evidence for the claim that more heterogeneous societies spend less on public goods, it suggests that heterogeneity significantly affects the efficiency of public expenditure outcomes in terms of social indicators. The results suggest that the impact of heterogeneity on public expenditure outcomes is not just a public choice problem, but also an issue of technical efficiency
A note on the asymptotic stress field of a non-uniformly propagating dynamic crack

Recent experimental evidence obtained by means of optical techniques, (e.q. the method of caustics [ 1,2] and the Coherent Gradient Sensor technique (CGS) [3]) have suggested that a truely transient high order expansion at the vicinity of dynamically moving crack tips is essential in the interpretation of experimental data in dynamic fracture. A higher order expansion for the first stress invarient, under plane stress conditions, is presented by Freund [4] (constant velocity transient growth) and by Freund and Rosakis [5] (non-uniform velocity growth). In this note, we present the basic steps for the derivation of the complete stress field at the vicinity of a mode I crack tip propagating with non-uniform velocity.
The Joint Genome Institute's synthetic biology internal review process

Serious concerns have been raised over the possible intentional use of synthetic biology approaches to engineer pathogenic organisms as well as the possible accidental environmental release of genetically engineered organisms. Scientists pursuing synthetic biology research must diligently consider issues such as these. As such, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI) has developed a Synthetic Biology Internal Review process to assess, beyond technical and scientific merit, certain broader aspects (e.g. environmental, biocontainment, biosafety, or biosecurity) of the research proposals associated with the JGI's DNA synthesis program.
Effects of intrabulbar injections of 6-hydroxydopamine on ethyl acetate odor detection in castrate and non-castrate male rats.

Abstract The function of norepinephrine-containing neurons which project to the olfactory bulb is poorly understood. Although there has been suggestion that norepinephrine (NE) may modulate general olfactory sensitivity by attenuating the inhibitory feedback of granule cells upon mitral and tufted cells, behavioral indices of olfactory sensitivity have not been measured in animals with depletions of bulbar NE. The present experiment used computerized olfactometry and signal detection methodology to assess the odor detection performance of castrate and non-castrate male rats to a range of perithreshold concentrations of ethyl acetate following 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) depletion of bulbar NE. Such depletion had no significant influence on odor detection performance at any of the odorant concentrations examined in either castrate or non-castrate animals, as indexed by the non-parametric sensitivity measure SI. This observation implies that general olfactory sensitivity is unaltered by major depletion of intrabulbar NE, but does not preculude the possibility that NE modulates sensitivity to select odorants or odorant mixtures, or alters detection ability under atypical states of arousal.
A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of free or bound tryptophan

Abstract 1. 1. A spectrophotometric method for the determination of tryptophan at 518 nm. is presented. 2. 2. The method is simple, fast (1 hour), sensitive (1.20 μg. tryptophan), and is not interferred with by compounds that form non-specific colour products in sulphuric acid. 3. 3. The recovery of free and bound tryptophan in proteins is within experimental error.
Muon hyperfine interactions in magnetic oxides

Muon spin rotation studies on magnetic oxides among whichα-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 have shown that at temperatures below approximately 500 K the muons form a muon-oxygen bond, analogous to a hydrogen bond. Generally, the muon hyperfine interactions in magnetic oxides can be explained in terms of supertransfer (hyperfine) and dipole fields. Supertransfer fields result from covalent bonding effects. For the rare earth (R) orthoferrite series (RFeO3) comparison is made with Mossbauer results on covalency effects in hyperfine interactions. Suggestions for next stages of experimentation in solid state research in oxides byμSR are mentioned.
A two-dimensional technique for chemical-shift resolution in one-dimensional NMR images

Recently, we described a technique for one-dimensional NMR microscopy that uses a single field gradient perpendicular to a layered structure ( 1) . By using selective saturation, we obtained images that showed different distributions of chloroplast and nonchloroplast water in a plant leaf. Advantages of ID imaging include rapid data acquisition and automatic averaging of information. This Note reports a two-dimensional technique that combines 1D imaging with chemical-shift resolution. The high-resolution ‘H NMR spectrum of a plant leaf consists almost entirely of signals from H20. In some species, the spectrum shows multiple peaks because portions of the water are located in different magnetic environments (2). Figure I A shows the NMR spectrum of a Norway maple shade leaf (Acer. platanoides, var “Emerald Queen”). The sample, a 4 mm disk of leaf tissue positioned with its surface perpendicular to the static magnetic field (the z axis), was imaged in a Bruker AM-400 spectrometer equipped with a Bruker microimaging probe. Our 2D pulse sequence, D,--~/2-t rn / 2D2r/2-acquisition ( t2 ), resembles a standard NOESY sequence except that a z gradient is applied during D2 and f2. The sequence starts with a relaxation delay, D, . The first r/2 pulse excites transverse magnetization, encoding chemical shifts in the absence of gradients during the variable t , evolution period. The second x/ 2 pulse stores chemical-shift-modulated transverse magnetization along the z axis. A stabilization delay, D2, provides time for the z gradient to rise to full intensity; an x gradient is applied during the first millisecond of D2, and a y gradient is used during the second D2 millisecond to reduce residual transverse magnetization. After the final 7r/2 pulse, a FID is collected while the imaging z gradient is on. A 2D Fourier transform of the raw data gives a plot on which the w, dimension contains pure chemical-shift information, but on which a2 contains a combination of
Copula models of joint last survivor analysis

Copula models are becoming increasingly popular for modelling dependencies between random variables. The range of their recent applications includes such fields as analysis of extremes in financial...
Thermodynamic anomalies near the critical point of steam

Abstract Ideas about the character of critical anomalies obtained from the lattice gas model are tested on the thermodynamic properties of steam, using methods developed for nonpolar gases. The critical anomalies in steam are shown to be nonclassical and very similar to those of simple gases. Specifically, the exponents obtained by power-law analysis of the coexistence curve, specific heat C v and compressibility K T are β = 0.347 ±0.005, α = 0.1 ±0.05, γ = 1.20 ±0.05, implying δ = 4.45. Since the critical point is thus a point of nonanalyticity in the thermodynamic behavior, the scaled equation of state may be an appropriate means to describe the critical region. Some results of such a scaled analysis of the PVT data are presented and shown to be consistent with independently measured vapor pressure and specific heat data and with the exponents quoted. The best value obtained for the critical temperature by scaling is 373.9° C ± 0.05°, values between 0.322 and 0.327 g/cm 3 are obtained for the critical density depending on the property analyzed.
Flood hazard identification and flood plain management on alluvial fans.

: Recognition of the flood hazard that exists on alluvial fans has seriously lagged behind the recognition of other more conventional flood hazards such as those associated with most rivers. This delay in recognition was due, until recently, to a general lack of economic investment and development in these areas and a concomitant lack of historical alluvial fan flood damage. Dramatic recent events, such as Tropical Storm Kathleen, emphasized to the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) the need for developing an appropriate methodology to identify flood hazard areas on alluvial fans. This paper presents the methodology now employed by FIA as well as flood plain management considerations that could reduce future flood related damage to communities developing in these areas.
Acousto-optic diffraction at liquid-solid interface with light incident at critical angle

Abstract A new acousto-optic diffraction configuration is described. At a liquid-solid interface, a light beam is incident from the solid side of higher refractive index. The maximum acousto-optic diffraction of the Raman-Nath type occurs in the liquid with light incident at the critical angle. The angular dependence of the diffraction efficiency indicates accurate optical alignment requirement. Application to acoustic imaging is briefly discussed.
Strategies for combination therapy in hypertension.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To achieve the target blood pressure (BP) mandated by current guidelines, a large majority of patients require simultaneous administration of multiple antihypertensive agents. The purpose of this review is to focus attention on the rational selection of effective drug combinations, and upon ways to use them efficiently to achieve therapeutic objectives. The topic is widely relevant given that more than 46 million ambulatory care visits are conducted in the United States annually for hypertension management. RECENT FINDINGS Recommended drug combinations exhibit complimentary pharmacology and additive BP reduction, are well tolerated, and include components with demonstrated endpoint reduction in long-term clinical trials. Recently, the choice of diuretics has emerged as a controversial issue with some evidence favoring the long-acting agent, chlorthalidone, in preference to hydrochlorothiazide. For resistant hypertension, mineralocorticoid antagonists are increasingly used as preferred add-on agents. Practical strategies for the optimal use of combination therapy continue to evolve from the older stepped-care approach to the use of low-dose combinations, and to initiation of combination therapy in a broader range of hypertensive patients. SUMMARY Thoughtful use of drug combinations is critical for achieving therapeutic objectives in hypertensive individuals and populations - more rapid BP control and more effective endpoint reduction. Practical strategies for the optimal use of combination therapy continue to evolve from the older stepped-care approach to more recent recommendations favoring the use of low-dose combinations, and initiation therapy of combination treatment, particularly in patients with Stage 2 hypertension.
Shoreline Energy and Sea Level Dynamics in Lower Chesapeake Bay: History and Patterns

A long-term (1948–2010) shoreward energy history of upper tidal shorelines in lower Chesapeake Bay was developed using a simple calculation of kinetic energy from corresponding wind and tide data. These data were primarily used to determine the likelihood of shoreline energy increases coincident with local sea level rise. Total annual shoreward energy ranged from 620 kJ/m of shoreline in 1950 to 17,785 kJ/m of shoreline in 2009. No clear linear trends are apparent, but mean annual energy shows an increase from 2,732 kJ/m before 1982 to 6,414 kJ/m since then. This increase in mean energy was accompanied by more numerous spikes of comparatively higher annual energy. Shoreward energy delivered to lower Chesapeake Bay’s upper tidal shorelines was enabled by an increasing amount of time per year that tidal height exceeds mean high water, accompanied by increasing heights of tidal anomalies. An index termed the Hydrologic Burden was developed that incorporates the combination of time and tidal height that demonstrates this increasing trend. Although opportunities for greater shoreward energy increased as the Hydrologic Burden increased, and even though there is evidence that greater energy was delivered to the shorelines during the latter time series, energy per hour delivery was shown not to have increased, and may have decreased, due to a steady reduction in average wind speed in lower Chesapeake Bay since the mid-1980s. Energy delivery in lower Chesapeake Bay was primarily from the northeast, and energy delivery over the time series is shown to organize symmetrically around a point between the northeast and north–northeast directions. This is evidence of a self-organizational phenomenon that transcends changes in local wind and tide dynamics.
Metabolism of lipoprotein lipid in the isolated perfused rat heart

Abstract 1. 1. The disappearance from the perfusate, localization within heart lipids, and oxidation of 14C-labeled lipid from three ultracentrifugally separated lipoprotein fractions were studied in the isolated perfused rat heart. 2. 2. With d 3. 3. With d 1.006−1.070 lipoprotein, 14CO2 and 14C-label in the heart lipids accounted for all of the triglyceride fatty acid uptake. The final concentration of triglycerides in the perfusate was very low and no net increase in free fatty acid in the buffer was observed. The amount of triglyceride fatty acid recovered in CO2 was less than, and that in heart lipids equal to, that observed with d 4. 4. With d 1.070−1.210 lipoprotein, the lack of change in concentration or specific activity of phospholipid with perfusion suggested that phospholipids were not extracted, or metabolized by the perfused heart. The 14C-labeled lipid extracted was primarily free fatty acid; the major non-oxidative fate of this free fatty acid was incorporation into tissue phospholipids.
On the Development of Shallow Hydraulic Fractures as Viewed Through the Surface Deformation Field: Part 1-Principles

An overview of the surface tiltmeter method of mapping shallow hydraulic fractures is presented. The paper is intended to provide the analytical background to a companion paper in which a number of case histories are discussed from the viewpoint of fracture growth and consolidation characteristics. In this paper the authors discuss the nature of the observations, outline the theoretical framework within which the data typically are interpreted, and comment on the significance of the various fracture parameters resolved. A summary review of other fracture-mapping technologies is presented also.
Thermal conductivity measurements of copper-coated metal hydrides (LaNi5, Ca0.6Mm0.4Ni5, and LaNi4.75Al0.25) for use in metal hydride hydrogen compression systems

Abstract This study was performed to supplement the limited data on metal hydrides by experimentally determining the thermal conductivity of various metal hydride powder pellets that underwent a copper coating process. Three different metal hydride powders were tested (LaNi5, Ca0.6Mm0.4Ni5, and LaNi4.75Al0.25) for their thermal conductivity, with variations in testing parameters, and with copper coating processes that varied from 30 to 60 s A testing apparatus was specifically designed for this experiment, and the study reported thermal conductivity values of 3–6 W/m-K.
The Josephdon plasma mode in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 and quasi-particle mean-free-path in YBa2Cu3O7

Abstract The Josephson plasma mode has been observed directly in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 using microwave radiation in the 30 to 90 GHz range. Measurements in an oblique field provide firm evidence for the plasma oscillations, as well as a determination of the anisotropy parameter γ. In a second experiment, we discuss how the mean free path l0 of quasi-particles may be measured using asymmetric scattering off pinned vortices. In 90 K YBa2Cu3O7, we find that l0 increases rapidly from 90 A at 100 K to 2500 A at 15 K.
Superconducting bandpass delta-sigma modulator

Bandpass delta-sigma modulators digitize narrowband signals with high dynamic range and linearity. The required sampling rate is only a few times higher than the centre frequency of the input. This paper presents a superconducting bandpass delta-sigma modulator for direct analogue-to-digital conversion of RF signals in the GHz range. The input signal is capacitively coupled to one end of a microstrip transmission line, and a single flux quantum balanced comparator quantizes the current flowing out of the other end. Quantization noise is suppressed at the quarter-wave resonance of the transmission line (about 2 GHz in our design). Circuit performance at a 20 GHz sampling rate has been studied with several long JSIM simulations. Full-scale (FS) input sensitivity is 20 mV (rms), and in-band noise is -53 dBFS and -57 dBFS over bandwidths of 39 MHz and 19.5 MHz, respectively. In-band intermodulation distortion is better than -69 dBFS.
Nonword repetition and phoneme elision in adults who do and do not stutter.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to explore the phonological working memory of adults who stutter through the use of a non-word repetition and a phoneme elision task. Participants were 14 adults who stutter ( M = 28 years) and 14 age/gender matched adults who do not stutter ( M = 28 years). For the non-word repetition task, the participants had to repeat a set of 12 non-words across four syllable lengths (2-, 3-, 4-, and 7-syllables) ( N = 48 total non-words). For the phoneme elision task, the participants repeated the same set of non-words at each syllable length, but with a designated target phoneme eliminated. Adults who stutter were significantly less accurate than adults who do not stutter in their initial attempts to produce the longest non-words (i.e., 7-syllable). Adults who stutter also required a significantly higher mean number of attempts to accurately produce 7-syllable non-words than adults who do not stutter. For the phoneme elision task, both groups demonstrated a significant reduction in accuracy as the non-words increased in length; however, there was no significant interaction between group and syllable length. Thus, although there appear to be advancements in the phonological working memory for adults who stutter relative to children who stutter, preliminary data from the present study suggest that the advancements may not be comparable to those demonstrated by adults who do not stutter. Educational objectives At the end of this activity the reader will be able to (a) summarize the nonword repetition data that have been published thus far with children and adults who stutter; (b) describe the subvocal rehearsal system, an aspect of the phonological working memory that is critical to nonword repetition accuracy; (c) employ an alternative means to explore the phonological working memory in adults who stutter, the phoneme elision task; and (d) discuss both phonological and motoric implications of deficits in the phonological working memory.
Differential cell-specific modulation of HOXA10 by estrogen and specificity protein 1 response elements

Context: HOX genes are highly evolutionarily conserved regulators of embryonic development. HOXA10 also regulates differentiation of the adult reproductive tract and mammary gland in response to sex steroids. Objective: We recently identified two HOXA10 estrogen response elements (EREs). Here we demonstrate that estrogen-responsive HOXA10 expression is cell type specific. Design and Setting: We conducted an in vitro study at an academic medical center. Main Outcome Measure: Reporter assay, gel shift assays (electrophoretic mobility shift assay), and immunohistochemistry were done. Results: The HOXA10 EREs and a specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding site differentially drive the cell-type-specific E2 response. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays, both estrogen receptor-α and -β bound both EREs but not the Sp1 site. In reporter assays, both EREs and the Sp1 site demonstrated estrogen responsiveness and tissue specificity; transiently transfected uterine Ishikawa cells or breast MCF-7 cells showed differe...
From the outgoing SPR President

The first edition of the SPR News seems to be an appropriate place to present the state of the section from the retiring president's viewpoint and to indulge in a little crystal ball gazing concerning the future problems of the AGU Solar-Planetary Relationships (SPR) Section and of the complex of disciplines that the section represents. My 4 years as president-elect and president have been most enjoyable, and my interactions with the other section officers, with members of the section, and with AGU staff have been remarkably free of friction. I can assure my immediate successors and anyone who is asked in the future to become a candidate for this office that there is a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from the job , not the least of which comes from the knowledge that one is representing the most active and productive section of the Union. With only about 10% of the membership of the Union, the SPR Section has consistently contributed 20%–25% of the papers at both the AGU Spring and Fall meetings and has initiated and organized many more Chapman Conferences than any other section. Having noted those facts, however, we should not allow ourselves to become too complacent. Hard times may be coming, a point to which I shall return a little later.
Guidelines for nomenclature assignment of Ger receptors

Some members of the orders Bacillales and Clostridiales form dormant spores when subjected to environmental stress. These resistant spores return to normal vegetative growth upon encountering nutrients. A family of membrane-bound proteins called germination (Ger) receptors is tasked with detecting metabolites that serve as germination signals. During the characterization of tripartite Ger receptor proteins from the genera Bacillus and Clostridium, we found numerous nomenclature inconsistencies. In this work, we issued guidelines to remediate this problem. We generated a sample of sequenced Bacillus, Clostridium and related endospore-forming genera. Ger receptor proteins were recovered from these genomes by PSI-BLAST. The resulting Ger receptor protein sequences were then clustered by neighbor-joining based on sequence alignment. Inconsistencies in Ger receptor labeling were noted and new names proposed. Finally, a systematic approach for naming of new Ger receptors was designed.
Expression of leukemia/lymphoma-related factor (LRF/POKEMON) in human breast carcinoma and other cancers

The POK family of proteins plays an important role in not only embryonic development and cell differentiation, but also in oncogenesis. Leukemia/lymphoma-related factor (LRF) belongs to the POK family of transcriptional repressors and is also known as POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor (POKEMON), which binds to short transcripts of HIV-1 (FBI-1) and TTF-1 interacting peptide (TIP21). Its oncogenic role is known only in lymphoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, and malignant gliomas. The functional expression of LRF in human breast carcinoma has not yet been confirmed. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the expression of LRF in human breast cancer tissues and other human tumors. The expression of LRF mRNA transcripts and protein was observed in twenty human benign and malignant breast biopsy tissues. Expression of LRF was observed in several formalin-fixed tissues by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. All malignant breast tissues expressed mRNA transcripts and protein for LRF. However, 40% and 15% benign breast biopsy tissues expressed LRF mRNA transcripts and protein, respectively. The overall expression of LRF mRNA transcripts and total protein was significantly more in malignant breast tissues than the benign breast tissues. LRF expression was also observed in the nuclei of human colon, renal, lung, hepatocellular carcinomas and thymoma tumor cells. In general, a significantly higher expression of LRF was seen in malignant tissues than in the corresponding benign or normal tissue. Further studies are warranted to determine the malignant role of LRF in human breast carcinoma.
Structure of Dihydrofolate When Bound to Dihydrofolate Reductase

The Raman spectrum of dihydrofolate (H2folate) complexed with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and NADP+, believed to be an accurate mimic of the productive DHFR/NADPH/H2folate complex involved in the reaction catalyzed by DHFR, contains bands associated with stretch motions of N5C6 of bound substrate. However, the assignments of these bands, which are of considerable importance to understanding enzymic mechanism and substrate binding, are in doubt. The vibrational spectra of dihydrofolate, alone and complexed with water and with acetate, have been calculated using quantum mechanical ab initio procedures in order to assign the observed bands. Several structural conclusions follow from these calculations. N5 of H2folate when bound to DHFR/NADP+ has a pKa of 6.5. From an examination of deuteration shifts, the immediate environment of N5 of substrate is quite hydrophobic; there does not appears to be an immediate water molecule near enough to form a hydrogen bond with a protonated N5−H. It is suggested that th...
Prevalence of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder in the general population.

Background: Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are two sleep disorders characterized by abnormal leg movements and are responsible for deterioration in sleep quality. However, the prevalence of these disorders is not well known in the general population. This study aims to document the prevalence of RLS and PLMD in the general population and to identify factors associated with these conditions. Methods: Cross-sectional studies were performed in the UK, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Overall, 18,980 subjects aged 15 to 100 years old representative of the general population of these five European countries underwent telephone interviews with the Sleep-EVAL system. A section of the questionnaire assessed leg symptoms during sleep. The diagnoses of PLMD and RLS were based on the minimal criteria provided by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Results: The prevalence of PLMD was 3.9% and RLS was 5.5%. RLS and PLMD were higher in women than in men. The prevalence of RLS significantly increased with age. In multivariate models, being a woman, the presence of musculoskeletal disease, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, cataplexy, doing physical activities close to bedtime and the presence of a mental disorder were significantly associated with both disorders. Factors specific to PLMD were: being a shift or night worker, snoring, daily coffee intake, use of hypnotics and stress. Factors solely associated with RLS were: advanced age, obesity, hypertension, loud snoring, drinking at least three alcoholic beverages per day, smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day and use of SSRI. Conclusions: PLMD and RLS are prevalent in the general population. Both conditions are associated with several physical and mental disorders and may negatively impact sleep. Greater recognition of these sleep disorders is needed.
Correlation between estrus and reduced light avoidance in mice.

Abstract Female CD-1 mice showed reduced light avoidance at estrus compared to nonestrus in two experiments designed to control for possible effects of changes in general activity. Estrous mice were quicker to enter a light chamber from a dark chamber and slower to enter a dark chamber from a light chamber, than nonestrous mice. Also, estrous mice reared up on their hind legs more frequently than nonestrous mice in the light chamber, and there was no difference between estrous and nonestrous mice in motor activity in the dark chamber. These findings, along with previous findings of reduced shock avoidance at estrus, suggest a general decrement in avoidance motivation which may be adaptive to the process of mating and which does not appear to be secondary to a change in activity level.
Endocytosis and Recycling of Immune Complexes by Follicular Dendritic Cells Enhances B Cell Antigen Binding and Activation

Stromal-derived follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are a major reservoir for antigen that are essential for formation of germinal centers, the site where memory and effector B cells differentiate. A long-standing question is how FDCs retain antigen in its native form for extended periods and how they display it to specific B cells. Here we found that FDCs acquired complement-coated immune complexes (ICs) from noncognate B cells via complement receptors 1 and 2 (CD35 and CD21, respectively) and rapidly internalized them by an actin-dependent pathway. ICs were retained intact within a nondegradative cycling compartment and were displayed periodically on the cell surface where they were accessible to antigen-specific B cells. This would explain how antigens are protected from damage and retained over long periods of time, while remaining accessible for B cells.
Coadsorption of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate with Hydrophobically Modified Nonionic Cellulose Polymers. 2. Role of Surface Selectivity in Adsorption Hysteresis

We studied the reversibility of coadsorption from mixtures of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate with either hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) or hydrophobically modified hydroxyethyl cellulose (hmHEC) using optical reflectometry. The coadsorption to nonselective hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces was compared with coadsorption to negatively charged silica surfaces that were selective for polymer adsorption. The surface selectivity determines the reversibility of coadsorption with respect to changes in the solution sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration. On the selective silica surface, an adsorbed layer becomes kinetically trapped in path-dependent states because SDS is electrostatically repelled from the negatively charged surface and is therefore unable to solubilize the polymer/surface contacts. On the nonselective PDMS surface, coadsorption in the HPC/SDS system is reversible, and although some irreversibility persists in the hmHEC/SDS system, the severity of the kinetic tr...
Biology, biogeography and man.

Abstract Biogeographical thinking in archaeology and anthropology permits social scientists to consider questions about the size, distribution, ecology and population structure of human groups without succumbing to the fallacies of biological determinism or the similarly naive and deterministic presumption that man is unique and beyond scientific scrutiny. A biogeographer's approach to ancient and modern man furthers investigation of the events and environmental circumstances, natural and man‐made, that play a role in the evolution of similarities and differences among human populations and among their cultures.
Classroom interaction, negotiation, and comprehension: Redefining relationships

Abstract The following study was undertaken to address theoretical claims regarding the importance of negotiated interaction to the comprehension of second-language (L2) input through a comparison of three different interactional behaviors of L2 learners in a classroom context. Three groups of L2 learners were asked to carry out their teacher's directions to a comprehension task: eight Negotiators, who were encouraged to negotiate by requesting clarification, repetition, and confirmation of the directions; eight Observers, who were not permitted to interact with the teacher, but could watch and listen as the Negotiators did this; and eight Listeners, who carried out teh task away from the other two groups by listening to a text of the directions which had been generated through negotiation. Results of the study revealed comparable comprehension scores for each of the three subject groups. Moreover, follow-up analyses suggested that individual subjects whose level of comprehension development was at or above the level of their classmates could comprehend the direction input whether they engaged in negotiation, observed negotiation, or listened to the text of negotiated input. However, for subjects at lower developmental levels of comprehension, direct participation in negotiation was the most effective means to facilitate comprehension of the direction input.
The relation between the surgery-radiotherapy interval and treatment outcome in patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy without systemic therapy.

Abstract Purpose: This analysis was performed to clarify the relationship between the surgery-radiotherapy interval and the risk of recurrence in patients treated with breast-conserving therapy for early stage invasive cancers. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively analyzed data from 653 patients with American Joint Commission on Cancer Stage I or 1I, pathologically node-negative breast cancer treated by breast-conserving therapy without adjuvant systemic therapy between 1968 and 1985. All patients received a dose of at least 60 Gy to the tumor bed. Two hundred and eighty-three patients started radiotherapy within 4 weeks of surgery, 308 started 5–8 weeks after surgery, and 54 started 9–12 weeks after surgery. Median follow-up in the 531 survivors was 100 months. Results: Pathologic features and treatment characteristics were well balanced between the groups with surgery-radiotherapy intervals of 0–4 weeks and 5–8 weeks. There was no statistically significant difference in the risk of overall recurrence among patients starting radiotherapy 5–8 weeks after surgery compared with those treated within 4 weeks. Analysis of the 5-year crude rates of failure further demonstrated no difference in the distribution of sites of failure in the 5–8 week group compared with the 0–4 week group. A multivariate model controlling for known risk factors, as well as potential treatment-related confounders, also failed to demonstrate an increased risk of recurrence with the longer surgery-radiotherapy interval (risk ratio=0.89, p = 0.44). Conclusion: This retrospective analysis suggests that a delay of up to 8 weeks in the interval between the last breast surgery and the start of radiotherapy is not associated with an increased risk of recurrence in patients with early stage breast cancer treated with breast irradiation to at least 60 Gy without systemic therapy.