cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Assessment in Early Software Design Based on the Software Function-Failure Design Method

Potential software failures present a sizable risk element in the design and development of many systems. In this paper, we augment the Software Function-Failure Design method, which is capable of predicting potential software failures in the very early stages of design, with the Risk in Early Design technique. This synergistic combination allows a risk assessment to be conducted at an early time in the software development process when traditional techniques are not applicable. The results are concise risk statements regarding the potential failure of functionalities with likelihood and consequence quantifications that can be used as part of a risk management program. The process is illustrated using a software failure database for the NASA Mars Exploratory Rover.
Structure of the lactam of guanidinoglutaric acid (N-amidinoglutamic acid)

Abstract Glutamic acid forms a lactam on boiling in water to form pyroglutamic acid (pGlu). This compound is a pyrrole derivative. N-Amidinoglutamic acid (guanidinoglutaric acid) also forms a lactone on boiling in aqueous solution (pyroamidinoglutamic acid, pAGlu). It was previously proposed that this reaction took the same pathway to form a pyrrole derivative (Formula I). It was observed that the chemical behavior of pAGlu was inconsistent with the proposed structure. For this reason, the 13C NMR spectrum of pAGlu was compared with that of pGlu. These spectra showed a significant difference in the environment of the carboxyl carbons of the two structures. This observation favored an alternative structure for the lactam of guanidinoglutaric acid, which was an imidazole with the carboxyl carbon at the end of propionic acid side chain (Formula II). The pAGlu was then studied by mass spectrometry. Conventionalmass spectrometry did not supply adequate data to distinguish between Formulas I and II for the lactam. However, when the mass analyzer ion kinetic energy spectrum of the lactam of guanidinoglutaric acid was obtained, four prominent fragments of masses which supported the imidazole structure (Formula II) were observed. These could not have been formed readily from Formula I. This imidazole structure is similar to that of creatinine. Like creatinine, the lactone forms a water-insoluble picrate, and gives an alkaline picrate color (Jaffe reaction), with an absorption spectrum similar to that of creatinine. Formula II is consistent with the observation that a strong alkali is required to acylate the lactone, forming a diacyl derivative. With Formula I, only a monoacyl derivative would be expected to form. It is concluded that the structure of the lactam of guanidinoglutaric acid is, 2-imido-4-oxo-5-(3′-propane acid) tetrahydroimidazole.
On the Impact of Reconfigurable Antenna Arrays in Cognitive Radio

Technological advances in radio-frequency (RF) front-ends, such as reconfigurable antenna arrays, afford a new "hardware" dimension for dynamic spectrum access in cognitive wireless networks. In this paper, we study the impact of reconfigurable antenna arrays on maximizing the spectral efficiency of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication links. Physical wireless channels exhibit spatial correlation and there is growing experimental evidence that sparse multipath is a key source of such correlation. We propose a model for sparse multipath channels and show that sparsity affords a new dimension over which MIMO capacity can be optimized: the distribution or configuration of the sparse statistically independent degrees of freedom (DoF) in the available spatial signal space dimensions. We provide an explicit characterization of the optimal capacity-maximizing channel configurations as a function of the operating SNR. We then develop a framework for realizing the optimal channel configuration at any SNR by systematically adapting the antenna spacings at the transmitter and the receiver. In contrast to a fixed-array MIMO system in which the multiplexing gain is lost at low SNRs, such adaptively reconfigurable MIMO systems deliver the maximum multiplexing gain at all SNRs. Surprisingly, three canonical array configurations are sufficient for near-optimum performance over the entire SNR range. Numerical results based on a realistic physical model are presented and implications of this work for cognitive radio and dynamic spectrum access are discussed
Proto-oncogene activation during chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rodents.

Abstract The liver is a frequent site for the development of chemically induced cancer in rodents. This is primarily owing to the capability of the liver to activate a large variety of exogenous chemicals metabolically to reactive electrophilic species that can covalently interact with cellular DNA and other macromolecules (Miller and Miller, 1966; Miller, 1978). It is the potential alteration of the hepatocellular genome by mutational events that forms the theoretical basis for the heritable nature of cancer as well as, at least in part, the altered phenotype of neoplastic cells; however, our understanding of the exact nature of these heritable genetic alterations remains fragmentary. Within the last decade the delineation of the molecular basis of viral oncogenesis, especially by retroviruses, has revealed potential targets in the cell genome for the reactive forms of chemical agents in relation to their carcinogenic action (Bishop, 1987). Primary among such potential targets are proto-oncogenes, homologous to the transforming genes of oncogenic retroviruses from which they have evolved (Temin, 1974). The objective of this brief review is to consider the evidence that induced alterations in the structure and/or regulation of expression of proto-oncogenes may play one or more roles in rodent hepatocarcinogenesis, especially in relation to the stages of initiation, protomotion, and progression (Pitot et al., 1988).
Boosting-Based Multimodal Speaker Detection for Distributed Meetings

Speaker detection is a very important task in distributed meeting applications. This paper discusses a number of challenges we met while designing a speaker detector for the Microsoft RoundTable distributed meeting device, and proposes a boosting-based multimodal speaker detection (BMSD) algorithm. Instead of performing sound source localization (SSL) and multi-person detection (MPD) separately and subsequently fusing their individual results, the proposed algorithm uses boosting to select features from a combined pool of both audio and visual features simultaneously. The result is a very accurate speaker detector with extremely high efficiency. The algorithm reduces the error rate of SSL-only approach by 47%, and the SSL and MPD fusion approach by 27%.
Mechanism of sound generation by low Mach number flow over a wall cavity

Abstract An analysis is made of the mechanism of sound production by nominally steady low Mach number flow over a rigid shallow wall cavity. At very low Mach numbers the dominant source of sound is the unsteady drag, and the aeroacoustic dipole source accompanying this force. A monopole source dependent on the compression of fluid within the cavity is smaller by a factor of the order of the flow Mach number M . The directivity of the dipole sound peaks in directions upstream and downstream of the cavity, and there is a radiation null in the direction normal to the plane of the wall. However, numerical simulations for M as small as 0.1 have predicted significant radiation in directions normal to the wall. This anomaly is investigated in this paper by means of an acoustic Green's function tailored to cavity geometry that accounts for possible aeroacoustic contributions from both the drag-dipole and from the lowest order cavity resonance. The Green's function is used to show that these sources are correlated and that their strengths are each proportional to the unsteady drag generated by vorticity interacting with the cavity trailing edge. When M ∼0.01, the case in most underwater applications, the monopole strength is always negligible (for a cavity with rigid walls). At low Mach numbers exceeding about 0.05 it is shown that the cavity monopole radiation is O ( M 2 )≪1 relative to the dipole at low frequencies. At higher frequencies, near the resonance frequency of the cavity, the monopole and dipole have similar orders of magnitude, and the combination produces a relatively uniform radiation directivity, with substantial energy radiated in directions normal to the wall. Illustrative numerical results are given for a wall cavity subject to ‘shear layer mode’ excitation by the Rossiter ‘feedback’ mechanism.
A global supply chain framework

The relationship between supply chain competencies and performance has been somewhat elusive. The 21st Century Logistics framework, developed at Michigan State University is currently assessed as to its global relevance, particularly relating to performance. A sample of U.S. firms is compared to a sample of Australian and New Zealand firms to assess the robustness of the framework across different business environments as well as to better understand the supply chain competencies/performance relationship. Results suggest that the framework is reasonably robust across environments, although some improvements in future versions of the framework are suggested. Additionally, results confirm that supply chain competencies do lead to improved performance. Interestingly, supply chain competencies appear to be employed in different ways to create different performance advantages across the various business environments.
Increased Numbers of Nonattached Osteoclasts After Long-Term Zoledronic Acid Therapy in Mice

Osteoclasts are key players in the maintenance of bone, which is an endocrine target and organ. Bisphosphonates, used for the management of metastatic bone diseases and osteoporosis, suppress osteoclasts. However, the impact of continuously suppressed osteoclasts is unknown. In this study, mice received zoledronic acid (ZA) for 13 months, nearly half the lifespan of mice, and the effects of continual osteoclast suppression on the bone environment and oral wound healing were determined. ZA therapy suppressed osteoclasts, resulting in significantly more bone mass compared with control. Despite continuous and intense suppression of bone loss in mice receiving ZA, serum calcium levels were maintained in the normal range. No differences were noted in serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) 5b levels between ZA-treated and control mice. Histomorphometric analyses of bones revealed that ZA therapy significantly decreased osteoclasts on the bone surface but, instead, substantially increased TRAP(+) mononuclear cells and osteoclasts that were not on the bone surface. When oral trauma was induced, such TRAP(+) mononuclear and nonattached osteoclasts increased considerably with increased inflammatory cell infiltration in the wounds. As a result, oral wound healing was hindered at the connective tissue level. Healing of the epithelium was unaffected. These findings indicate that the continual suppression of osteoclasts does not affect serum calcium levels and that long-term ZA therapy stimulates nonattached osteoclast and TRAP(+) mononuclear cell formation that are expanded rapidly in response to oral trauma. Caution should be exercised when using the serum TRAcP5b to estimate the efficacy of antiresorptive therapy.
Assessing the Role of Public Research and Extension Policies in Promoting Improved Performance of the Agro-Food Marketing System

The bulk of public research and extension activities directed toward the agro-food marketing system has been the product of the public USDA land grant system. Movements toward freer markets and trade combined with increasingly constrained public research and development expenditures are redefining the roles and capacities of the public land grant system in promoting improved agri-food marketing institutions. The Research and Marketing Act of 1946 (RMA of 1946) has been the primary instrument for providing organizational and funding structure for much of the applied and basic agricultural marketing research and extension programming over the past four decades. However, the capacity to deal with future marketing issues is challenged by several trends affecting the public's land grant institutions.
Riboflavin and growth of tubercle bacilli.

SummaryA slightly virulent strain of human tubercle bacillus was cultured in a vitamin free medium or in media to which riboflavin with or without other vitamins and biotin were added.It was found that the presence or absence of riboflavin made no difference in the growth of the tubercle bacillus. On the other hand during the growth of the organism there was found a slow but steady disappearance of riboflavin from the medium. The presence of lumichrome crystals in the media containing riboflavin after growth of the tubercle bacillus indicated that the loss of the vitamin was due to conversion to lumichrome.
Argument-Driven Inquiry as a Way to Help Undergraduate Students Write to Learn by Learning to Write in Chemistry

This exploratory study examined how undergraduate students’ ability to write in science changed over time as they completed a series of laboratory activities designed using a new instructional model called argument-driven inquiry. The study was conducted in a single section of an undergraduate general chemistry lab course offered at a large two-year community college located in the southeast USA. The intervention took place over a 15-week semester and consisted of six laboratory activities. During each laboratory activity, the undergraduates wrote investigation reports, participated in a double-blind group peer review of the reports, and revised their reports based on the reviews. The reports written during each laboratory activity were used to examine changes in the students’ writing skills over time and to identify aspects of scientific writing that were the most difficult for the undergraduates in this context. The reviews produced by the students during each report were used to evaluate how well under...
PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON ACQUISITION OF A DISCRIMINATED DEPTH-POSITION TASK BY GOLDFISH

The present report describes a new technique for the study of discriminated avoidance in the goldfish. Goldfish were trained in one of two conditions: to avoid electric shock by swimming to the top of the tank in the presence of a red light and to the bottom of the tank during a green light stimulus (Red up—Green down), or the reverse condition, to avoid shock by swimming up on green and down on red (Green up—Red down). Results indicated that learning occurred whether trials were spaced or massed and that the technique can be utilized for acquisition training of individual fish or fish trained in groups. In addition, differences in rate of learning between fish trained in the Red up—Green down condition and fish in the Green up—Red down condition were found. The superior performance of the Red up—Green down group is discussed in terms of the spectral characteristics of goldfish vision and the nature of the task.
The Basel Convention, US politics, and the emergence of non-state e-waste recycling certification

While many authors have argued that domestic regulatory gaps as well as a lack of international cooperation can at least partly explain the emergence of non-state regulation, this article will focus on an underexplored pathway of emergence linking international, domestic, and non-state regulation. I will argue that even in the presence of a widely supported international agreement, a non-ratifying country can provide the setting for the emergence of non-state certification programs. This will happen when significant domestic legislation on the topics covered by the agreement is absent, and non-state actors are able to act as institutional entrepreneurs with an interest in implementing key elements of this agreement. By tracing the development of certification programs for the electronic waste (e-waste) recycling industry, I will show why the US, more than other countries, provided an enabling environment for the emergence of non-state e-waste recycling certification. The US’s failure to ratify the Basel Convention on transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and an overall lack of domestic legislation on e-waste exports created regulatory gaps that non-state actors were able to fill. The main global watchdog of the Convention—the US-based Basel Action Network—used certification as a forum-shifting strategy to implement key parts of the Convention in the US. Finally, the article will also show that conflicting interests and divergent perspectives on the legitimacy of the Convention and its rules have led to the development of a competing industry-supported certification program.
Na+/H+ Exchangers and RhoA Regulate Acidic Extracellular pH-Induced Lysosome Trafficking in Prostate Cancer Cells

Acidic extracellular pH (pHe) is a common feature of the tumor microenvironment and has been implicated in tumor invasion through the induction of protease secretion.Since lysosomes constitute the major storehouse of cellular proteases, the trafficking of lysosomes to the cell periphery may be required in order to secrete proteases. We demonstrate that a pHe of 6.4-6.8 induced the trafficking of lysosomes to membrane protrusions in the cell periphery. This trafficking event depended upon the PI3K pathway, the GTPase RhoA and sodium-proton exchange activity, resulting in lysosomal exocytosis. Acidic pHe induced a cytoplasmic acidification (although cytoplasmic acidification was not sufficient for acidic pHe-induced lysosome trafficking and exocytosis) and inhibition of NHE activity with the amiloride derivative, EIPA or the anti-diabetic agent troglitazone prevented lysosome trafficking to the cell periphery. Interestingly, using the more specific NHE1 and NHE3 inhibitors, cariporide and s3226 respectively, we show that multiple NHE isoforms are involved in acidic pHe-induced lysosome trafficking and exocytosis. Moreover, in cells expressing NHE1 shRNA, although basal NHE activity was decreased, lysosomes still underwent acidic pHe-induced trafficking,suggesting compensation by other NHE family members.Together these data implicate proton exchangers, especially NHE1 and NHE3, in acidic pHe-induced lysosome trafficking and exocytosis.
Convulsant properties of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX): spontaneous audiogenic, and amygdaloid kindled seizure activity.

Abstract Dose-effect and time course relationships were determined for the effects of the explosive cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) on seizure susceptibility. Male Long Evans rats treated with 0–60 mg/kg RDX po were monitored for spontaneous seizures during an 8-hr interval between dosing and audiogenic (AG) seizure testing. Blood samples for analyzing plasma RDX concentrations were obtained immediately thereafter. Spontaneous and AG seizures were observed at dosages as low as 10–12.5 mg/kg, with significant seizure incidence induced by dosages of 25.0 mg/kg (5.34 μg RDX/ml plasma) and 50.0 mg/kg (8.28 μg RDX/ml plasma), respectively. Spontaneous seizure incidence peaked at 2 hr for all RDX treatment groups, then decreased (12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg) or remained elevated (50.0 mg/kg) for the remaining 6 hr. In contrast, AG seizures (37.5 mg/kg) could be elicited only at 8 and 16 hr, despite significant elevation of plasma RDX concentrations at 2 and 4 hr. Because limbic system involvement was suggested by spontaneous seizure characteristics, the rate of amygdaloid kindling was measured following daily treatment with 6.0 mg/kg. This dosage significantly accelerated kindling development without inducing spontaneous seizures or producing an accumulation of RDX in plasma. These data provide preliminary evidence that limbic structures may participate in RDX-induced seizure susceptibility.
Identification of the major transport pathway for the parkinsonism-inducing neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium

Abstract 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium is a potent parkinsonism-inducing neurotoxin which has become a valuable tool for the examination of the mechanisms and therapeutic treatment strategies for Parkinson's syndrome. Recently, it has been found that physiological levels of extracellular ATP (0.1–1 mM) stimulate dopamine uptake into both rat and bovine brain synaptosomes and rat pheochromocytoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. In this study we report that physiological levels of extracellular ATP (0.1–2 mM) stimulate the transport of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium into the pheochromocytoma cell line by 270% over basal levels. Kinetically, the presence of ATP increases both the K m and V max of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium transport. In addition, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium is far more effective at inhibiting ATP-stimulated dopamine transport ( ic 50 = 11 μM) than basal dopamine transport ( ic 50 > 100 μM) into pheochromocytoma cells. These data show that the ATP-regulated 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium transport pathway is the major component (approximately 95%) of total 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium transport, and provide the first evidence for the involvement of extracellular ATP in the bulk transport of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium.
Information-seeking behavior of design, process, and manufacturing engineers

Abstract This article discusses the information sources used by design, process, and manufacturing engineers in an international microchip manufacturing company, and the characteristics that influence their information source selection and use. Findings differ from previous research in three ways. First, there was a significant difference in these engineers' information behavior. Second, the higher the engineers' level of education, the less likely they were to depend on their personal memories as sources of information, and the more likely they were to rely on libraries. Third, the higher the level of engineers' education, the less likely they were to consider “personal mastery” (information tool mastery) as a source influencer.
Generation, Classification and Analysis of Switched-Mode DC-to-DC Converters by the Use of Converter Cells

A method is presented which combines generation, classification and analysis of DC-to-DC PWM converters. Fundamental blocks known as converter cells can be used to generate a plethora of converters leading to a number of useful new converter topologies. A classification of basic converters is proposed in terms of converter-cell generated families. The converter cells considered may be seen as three-terminal devices for which terminal characteristics may be easily found. DC and AC small-signal models for each converter cell can be derived obviating the need to rederive these models for each of the converters of a particular family.
Interparticle interactions in glutathione mediated assembly of gold nanoparticles.

The understanding of the detailed molecular interactions between (GSH) glutathione molecules in the assembly of metal nanoparticles is important for the exploitation of the biological reactivity. We report herein results of an investigation of the assembly of gold nanoparticles mediated by glutathione and the disassembly under controlled conditions. The interparticle interactions and reactivities were characterized by monitoring the evolution of the surface plasmon resonance band using the spectrophotometric method and the hydrodynamic sizes of the nanoparticle assemblies using the dynamic light scattering technique. The interparticle reactivity of glutathiones adsorbed on gold nanoparticles depends on the particle sizes and the ionic strength of the solution. Larger-sized particles were found to exhibit a higher degree of interparticle assembly than smaller-sized particles. The assembly−disassembly reversibility is shown to be highly dependent on pH and additives in the solution. The interactions of the ...
Mesoscale kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of molecular resists: the effect of PAG homogeneity on resolution, LER, and sensitivity

A two-dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo mesoscale model of molecular resists was developed to probe the effects of photoacid (PAG) homogeneity, specifically PAG aggregation behavior, on the resolution, sensitivity, and line edge roughness performance of resists. The model reproduces many pattern defects that are commonly found experimentally simply by increasing the amount of PAG aggregation. The sensitivity of resists was found to change with increasing PAG aggregation in resists with low photoacid diffusivity, but remain near constant for resists with high photoacid diffusivity. Likewise, LER was found to increase with increasing PAG aggregation in resists with low photoacid diffusivity, but appears to be weakly dependent on PAG aggregation when the resist has photoacids with high diffusivity. Increasing PAG aggregation limits the absolute resolution of a resist because there exists a trade-off between the ability of photoacid diffusion to smooth out the inhomogeneity due to PAG aggregation and the blurring of the patterned feature that reduces resolution. Even very low levels of PAG aggregation appear to greatly limit the potential of a resist for sub-30 nm resolution patterning, but increased PAG loading appears to provide a way to mitigate this problem and allow for improved absolute resolution even in the presence of aggregation.
Oxyphilic Granular Cell Adenoma (Oncocytoma) of the Esophagus

An oncocytoma of the esophagus is presented. The patient's chief complaint was dysphagia, and barium swallow suggested cricopharyngeus muscle hypertrophy. Exploration revealed an intramural mass in the cervical esophagus. Enucleation resulted in relief of symptoms. Pathological and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated an oncocytoma of thyroid origin.
The effect of nonreinforced stimulus exposure on the strength of a conditioned taste aversion as a function of retention interval: Do latent inhibition and extinction involve a shared process?

Two experiments examined the effects of nonreinforced flavor exposure on the strength of a conditioned taste aversion. Rats were conditioned by pairing maple flavor with LiC1. Prior to or subsequent to this pairing, some animals received nonreinforced exposure to either maple or saccharin. In separate subjects, preference for maple was tested 1 or 21 days after the last training episode. In the first experiment, the nonreinforced stimulus exposure occurred before conditioning (latent inhibition, or LI, procedure); in the second experiment, the nonreinforced exposure occurred after conditioning (extinction, or EXT, training). In both experiments, nonreinforced exposure to maple or saccharin reduced the magnitude of a conditioned maple aversion when testing occurred soon after conditioning. When testing was delayed, however, the attenuation due to nonreinforced saccharin exposure dissipated, both with the LI procedure and with EXT. In contrast, the nonreinforced exposure to maple was found to attenuate conditioned reactions at both short and long retention intervals. The release from generalized LI and spontaneous recovery following generalized EXT training are discussed in terms of retrieval processing. The possibility that the same mechanism may underlie LI and EXT is considered.
A magnetic polaron model for the enhanced Curie temperature of EuO(1-x).

The investigation of a series of oxygen-deficient EuO thin films provided strong evidence that the doped electrons form magnetic polarons with the nearby Eu2+ 4f spins; this is responsible for the enhanced Curie temperature observed near 140 K. Unlike in the previous magnetic polaron models proposed for the metal-to-insulator transition in EuO, the exchange coupling J between the doped electron and its neighboring 4f spins is antiferromagnetic. The model explains satisfactorily the fact that the ordering temperature of the magnetic polarons occurs at ∼140 K, independently of the oxygen vacancy concentration, and the contradiction that electron doping increases Tc and yet reduces the red shift in the optical absorption. The magnetic polarons are coupled antiferromagnetically to the Eu2+ local moments that are ordered in the Heisenberg ferromagnet below 69 K. This coupling was observable in the vicinity of 69 K. We discuss how, with increasing concentration of the oxygen vacancies, their behaviors evolve from those of isolated superparamagnetic polarons to those of percolating magnetic polarons with a finite coercivity.
Planning and Sense of Place in a ‘Dying’ Downtown: Articulating Memories and Visions in Middletown, Ohio

Integrating place perceptions in context-sensitive development remains a challenge for planners and designers, particularly in de-industrialized cities desperate for downtown revitalization. Writings abound on sense of place and participatory planning, but often underestimate the challenges of linking them in practice. This study explores methods of gauging downtown sense of place by gathering ‘downtown stories’ and conducting semi-structured interviews in the post-industrial city of Middletown Ohio, which a national magazine named as one of ‘America's Fastest Dying Towns’. Through public forums it also begins articulating ‘downtown visions’—place perceptions and hopes for revitalization—in the language of planning and design. While the study suggests gauging such perceptions is essential for any meaningful framework for community participation, doing so is fraught with difficulties that urban designers must confront.
Mfsd2a encodes a novel major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein highly induced in brown adipose tissue during fasting and adaptive thermogenesis.

This study describes the identification of a novel mammalian major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein, referred to as Mfsd2a, and an additional closely related protein, designated Mfsd2b. Most intron/exon junctions are conserved between the two genes suggesting that they are derived from a common ancestor. Mfsd2a/b share a 12 transmembrane α-helical domain structure that shows greatest similarity to that of the bacterial Na+/melibiose symporters. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Mfsd2a localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Mfsd2a is expressed in many tissues and is highly induced in liver and brown adipose tissue (BAT) during fasting. Mfsd2a displays an oscillatory expression profile in BAT and liver consistent with a circadian rhythm. While the basal level of Mfsd2a expression is relatively low in BAT in mice, it is greatly induced during cold-induced thermogenesis and after treatment with β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) agonists. This induction is totally abolished in βAR-deficient (β-less) mice. These findings indicate that Mfsd2a is greatly up-regulated in BAT during thermogenesis and that its induction is controlled by the βAR signaling pathway. The observed induction of Mfsd2a expression in cultured BAT cells by dibutyryl-cAMP is in agreement with this conclusion. Our study suggests that Mfsd2a has a role in adaptive thermogenesis.
Neutrino masses in the left–right supersymmetric model

Abstract We show that in a left–right supersymmetric model with a Higgs structure that supports the see-saw mechanism, the neutrinos get additional contributions to their masses at one loop level. The mechanism responsible is analogous to the Grossman–Haber see-saw mechanism, but the additional mass terms are proportional to the mass difference of the right-handed sneutrinos. We show that the data on both the solar and the atmospheric neutrinos can be accommodated by either two almost degenerate right-handed sneutrinos, or two heavy sneutrino with different, but still relatively small, mass splittings. We discuss the implications of this result for the masses and mixings of the heavy sneutrinos, and the soft-breaking parameters of the left–right supersymmetric model.
On the relation between insolation and climatological variables—III. The relation between normal incidence solar intensity, total insolation, and weather at Fort Hood, Texas

Abstract An examination of normal incidence solar intensity (NISI) data taken at Fort Hood, Texas, from September 1974 through November 1975 has shown repetitive patterns for intensities in clear weather. A correlation is developed which predicts the NISI at any hour of any day of the year in clear weather with a high degree of accuracy. A study of NISI during cloudy weather has yielded a correlation for fN, the fraction of clear day NISI, as a function of cloud cover and visibility. The result is a semi-empirical model which provides a unique prediction of the NISI at all times for all weather conditions. Using this model, it should be possible to convert long-term data on cloud cover and visibility to long-term NISI patterns.
47 ANXIETY LEVELS OF PARENTS OF INTENSIVE CARE NURSERY (ICN) PATIENTS

Parents of ICN neonates were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983) following admission to ICN and approximately 7 days pre-discharge. Parents of well neonates two to three days of age were also studied. From the data obtained mean state anxiety (SA) was greater than trait anxiety (TA) for both mothers and fathers although statistically significant only for mothers (p <.05). SA levels for ICN mothers were higher than those of ICN fathers (p <.05), “well” nursery mothers (p <.001), and published norms for an age-matched female population (x=36.17) (p <.001). A significant decrease in mothers' state anxiety (p <.025) occurred over time such that their pre-discharge levels approached normal. No correlation between a Neonatal Morbidity Scale (Minde et al, 1983) and maternal anxiety was found. Ongoing analyses of demographic variables and characteristics of the ICN are being carried out to identify factors which influence parental anxiety.
Design and development of 3-bit polymer MEMS phase shifters

This paper presents the design and development of 3-bit polymer MEMS phase shifters for wireless communication applications. Polymer membrane and ferroelectric (barium strontium titanate) thin film on silicon substrates are employed for device fabrication. BI-CPW design and fabrication processes of ferroelectric and polymer materials compatible with current silicon technology are investigated. Mechanical operation with low DC bias voltage and scattering parameters of a polymer MEMS switch and phase delay lines are measured. The small size and low pull down voltage demonstrated in this research are promising characteristics for commercial applications of 3-bit polymer MEMS phase shifters with low cost.
4.1 Monosaccharides: Occurrence, Significance, and Properties

This chapter is exclusively devoted to the occurrence, significance, and physical and randomly selected chemical properties of various groups of sugars and their implications in synthetic applications of these specified classes of monosaccharides.
Comparing patterns of nucleotide substitution rates among chloroplast loci using the relative ratio test.

Even when several genetic loci are used in molecular evolutionary studies, each locus is typically analyzed independently of the others. This type of approach makes it difficult to study mechanisms and processes that affect multiple genes. In this work we develop a statistical approach for the joint analysis of two or more loci. The tests we propose examine whether or not nucleotide substitution rates across evolutionary lineages have the same relative proportions at two loci. Theses procedures are applied to 33 genes from the chloroplast genomes of rice, tobacco, pine, and liverwort. With the exception of five clearly distinct loci, we find that synonymous substitution rates tend to change proportionally across genes. We interpret these results to be consistent with a ``lineage effect'' acting on the entire chloroplast genome. In contrast, nonsynonymous rates do not change proportionally across genes, suggesting that locus-specific evolutionary effects dominate patterns of nonsynonymous substitution.
MULTIPLE-LOCUS DEPARTURES FROM PANMICTIC EQUILIBRIUM WITHIN AND BETWEEN VILLAGE GENE POOLS OF AMERINDIAN TRIBES AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF AGGLOMERATION

A comparative analysis of departures from multiple-locus Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is presented for a set of four tribal Indian groups (the Yanomama, Makiritare, Wapishana and Ticuna) from the lowlands of South America. These tribes span a range of agglomeration and acculturation from the most traditional, swidden horticulturalists to frontier townspeople. The small-group social organization typical of traditional horticulturalists leads to substantial departures from tribal panmixia, as manifested by the distribution of multiple-locus genotypes both within and between villages. Within villages, the departures from single-locus Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are small and nonsignificant, but the departures from gametic equilibrium (independence of loci) are substantial, even for the unlinked loci we have used to characterize these populations. The departures from single-locus homogeneity across villages are also substantial. One of the normal concomitants of increasing acculturation in this setting is an increase in agglomeration. As agglomeration increases, the departures from multiple-locus panmixia decrease, a process that can be very rapid. We discuss both the shifting balance theory of evolution and punctuated evolutionary rates in light of the small group social organization that must have obtained throughout most of human evolution.
Leukemia and myelopathy: the persistent mystery of pathogenesis by HTLV-I/II.

The review by Poeisz and colleagues neatly summarizes two decades of research into the biology and pathogenesis of HTLV-I/II. The review is written by an investigator who has been active in the fie...
Autonomous intelligent cruise control

Vehicle following and its effects on traffic flow has been an active area of research. Human driving involves reaction times, delays, and human errors that affect traffic flow adversely. One way to eliminate human errors and delays in vehicle following is to replace the human driver with a computer control system and sensors. The purpose of this paper is to develop an autonomous intelligent cruise control (AICC) system for automatic vehicle following, examine its effect on traffic flow, and compare its performance with that of the human driver models. The AICC system developed is not cooperative; i.e., it does not exchange information with other vehicles and yet is not susceptible to oscillations and "slinky" effects. The elimination of the "slinky" effect is achieved by using a safety distance separation rule that is proportional to the vehicle velocity (constant time headway) and by designing the control system appropriately. The performance of the AICC system is found to be superior to that of the human driver models considered. It has a faster and better transient response that leads to a much smoother and faster traffic flow. Computer simulations are used to study the performance of the proposed AICC system and analyze vehicle following in a single lane, without passing, under manual and automatic control. In addition, several emergency situations that include emergency stopping and cut-in cases were simulated. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the AICC system and its potentially beneficial effects on traffic flow. >
Role of dopamine D1-family receptors in dorsolateral striatum in context-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking in rats

Rationale In humans, exposure to environmental contexts previously associated with heroin intake can provoke relapse to drug use. In rats, exposure to heroin-associated contexts after extinction of drug-reinforced responding in different contexts reinstates heroin seeking. This effect is attenuated by blockade of D1-family receptors in lateral or medial accumbens shell, but not accumbens core.
Exercise test mode dependency for ventilatory efficiency in women but not men

Ventilatory efficiency is commonly defined as the level of ventilation V(E) at a given carbon dioxide output (V(CO(2) )). The slope of the V(E) versus V(CO(2) ) relationship and the lowest V(E)/V(CO(2) ) are two ventilatory efficiency indices that can be measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). A possible CPET mode dependency for these indices was evaluated in healthy men and women. Also evaluated was the relationship between these two indices as, in theory, V(E)/V(CO(2) ) falls hyperbolically towards an asymptote that numerically equals the V(E) versus V(CO(2) ) slope at exercise levels below the ones that cause respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis. Twenty-eight healthy subjects (14 men) underwent treadmill and cycle ergometer CPET on different days. Ventilation and the gas fractions for oxygen and CO(2) were measured with a vacumed metabolic cart. In men, paired t-test analysis failed to find a mode difference for either ventilatory efficiency index but the opposite was true in the women as each woman had higher values for both indices on the treadmill. For men, the lowest V(E)/V(CO(2) ) was larger than the V(E) versus V(CO(2) ) slope by 1.3 on the treadmill and 0.8 on the cycle ergometer. The corresponding values for women were 1.7 and 1.4. We conclude that in healthy subjects, women, but not men, demonstrate a mode dependency for the two ventilatory efficiency indices investigated in this study. Furthermore, our results are consistent with the theoretical expectation that the lowest V(E)/V(CO(2) ) has a numerical value just above the asymptote of the V(E)/V(CO(2) ) versus V(CO(2) ) relationship.
Maximum likelihood parameter estimation of a spiking silicon neuron

Spiking neuron models are used in a multitude of tasks ranging from understanding neural behavior at its most basic level to neuroprosthetics. The desired neural output is achieved through the use of complex neural models with multiple parameters which need to be tuned - a time consuming and difficult task. Silicon provides an attractive medium in which to implement these models. However due to fabrication imperfections the task of parameter configuration becomes even more complex. We show how a Maximum Likelihood method can be applied to a leaky integrate and fire silicon neuron with spike induced currents to fit the neurons output to desired spike times. On average the interspike intervals of the predicted spike times match the desired interspike intervals to within 4% of the desired interspike interval.
Indicator Transit Time Considered as a Gamma Variate

• Several theoretical formulations have recently been proposed to explain the shape of peripheral indicator dilution curves." One such mathematical approach utilizes convolution integrals,' '*• "*• °~ in which concentration of the indicator is handled as an unknown and unspecified function of time, C(t). The widespread use of this method, however, will be limited because the required mathematical manipulations, when applied to curves obtained in vivo, involve intricate and lengthy calculations. This type of analysis would be facilitated if the indicator concentration could be conveniently expressed as a specific functon of time.' If such a suitable function were available, it would also be possible to characterize more accurately normal and abnormal indicator dilution curves and perhaps to gain insight into some of the factors determining the shape of the curves. In addition, the availability of such a function would allow more efficient processing of experimental curves by high-speed computers. A number of theoretical and empirical mathematical expressions for C(t) have been suggested.' "•' These have found limited application and have not been subjected to extensive experimental verification using a large number of normal and abnormal curves. One expression for C(t), proposed by Evans in
Sovereignty, Virtue, and Disaster Management: Chief Minister Yao Chong's Proactive Handling of the Locust Plague of 715–16

Abstract In Tang dynasty (618–907) China, early in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–56), a severe locust infestation undermined the young sovereign's political legitimacy. When anomalous insec...
An Examination of the Lost-letter Technique1

The results of three investigations of the validity and economics of the lost-letter technique are reported. Although the return rate of the lost-letter technique was higher than in the case of more obtrusive survey techniques involving hand-distributed postcard questionnaires and mail surveys, the more obtrusive survey techniques were more economical to carry out, were more accurate in their predictions of election outcomes, and gave results more highly consistent among themselves than with the results obtained by the lost-letter technique. Furthermore, the results indicated that the act of returning a lost letter may not be strongly affected by the identity of the sender or addressee indicated on the letter.
Nanoparticle Scattering in Thermoelectric Transport

We calculate the scattering cross section of the electron-nanoparticle collision using the Born approximation and partial-waves technique. The Born approximation leads to incorrect transport properties for electron energies comparable to the nanoparticle barrier height.
ALLOCATION OF ELECTRICAL RESPONSES FROM THE COMPOUND EYE OF GRASSHOPPERS

1. The effect of extirpation of the optic ganglion on the ERG and on electrical oscillations recorded from the compound eye was determined. 2. Extirpation of the optic ganglion prevents the occurrence of oscillations, and it is concluded that they originate in the ganglion. 3. Extirpation of the optic ganglion changes the wave form of the ERG. The sharpness of the b-wave is decreased, the relative magnitude of the c-wave is increased, and the d-wave is obliterated. These changes can be explained by assuming that the ERG is the algebraic sum of two potential changes, one in the compound eye, and another, of opposite sign in the ganglion. This assumption is supported by data from a number of experiments in which the electrode positions were varied. 4. The explanation of the present data (which indicates two sites of origin of the ERG) is similar to the three-component theory which accounts for the complex wave form of the vertebrate ERG.
Impact of operative duration on postoperative pulmonary complications in laparoscopic versus open colectomy

Background Prolonged operative duration is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although laparoscopic colectomy (LC) is associated with longer operative duration compared with open colectomy (OC), research shows paradoxically decreased morbidity following LC versus OC. The direct impact of operative duration on postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) following LC versus OC has not been analyzed.