cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Custom Real-Time-Kinematics Positioning System Testbed for Mobile Robot Localization

Global-Positioning-System Real-Time-Kinematics (GPS-RTK) is a highly accurate positioning technology which has become reasonably affordable in the recent past and which is very useful as a mobile robot localization method. However, much of the system-level inter-workings of a GPS-RTK system are likely not well understood by many roboticists and researchers. Our paper proposes a self-sufficient GPS-RTK system which is intended to be easily understood and readily deployable in a multitude of lab robotics scenarios. In order to further the understanding of GPS-RTK from a systems level, this paper first describes a Longe-Range Radio (LoRa®) GPS-RTK implementation from the ground up, as a synthesis of multiple open source technologies and independent projects, and then offers validation data of the system.
Elementary reaction-based kinetic model for the fate of N-nitrosodimethylamine under UV oxidation

UV photolysis is an effective process to remove nitrosamines from contaminated water resources. Nitrosamines represent a class of compounds with high potential for carcinogenicity and, therefore, there are serious concerns regarding their threat to human health and their environmental toxicity. Although the photochemical parameters of parent nitrosamines and their initial reaction pathways are well understood, the fate of nitrogen-containing species and reactive nitrogen species generated from nitrosamine degradation has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we develop an elementary reaction-based kinetic model for the photolysis of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and the photochemical transformation products. We use density functional theory quantum mechanical calculations to calculate the aqueous-phase free energies of activation and reaction to investigate the kinetics and thermodynamics properties of the elementary reactions. We generate ordinary differential equations for all species involved in the identified reactions and solve them to obtain the time-dependent concentration profiles of NDMA and the degradation products at pH 3 and pH 7. The profiles are compared to experimental results in the literature to validate our elementary reaction-based kinetic model. This is the first study to develop an elementary reaction-based kinetic model for the photochemical reaction of NDMA and reactive nitrogen species. The findings of this study have a significant impact on the active research area of nitrosative stress and advanced oxidation processes that utilize nitrogen-containing compounds such as UV/nitrate and UV/chloramine advanced oxidation processes.
Measuring economic impact in Korea, Japan, India, China, and ASEAN considering agricultural sectors: a dynamic CGE approach based on GAMS

Tariff removal has always a positive impact on increasing trade between countries. Trade liberalization always leads to an expansion in intraregional and interregional trade, which is also supposed to stimulate investment and economic growth in the long term. Considering the aforementioned, this paper employs a multi-region, multi-sector dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to investigates the economic impacts of tariff removal in Korea, Japan, India, China, and ASEAN. To conduct the investigation, this paper constructs general algebraic modeling system (GAMS) language to find an answer to how the simulated region's economy affects after the tariff removal. The simulation results show Korea, Japan and India ranked the top countries with an average growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of 0.13%, 0.01%, and 0.004%, respectively. Moreover, China and ASEAN followed with a decline in average gross domestic product (GDP) by − 0.02% and − 0.002%. A significant increase in consumption is observed in China, where, consumption declines in Japan, Korea, India, and ASEAN. The average export in China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN reduce by − 1.8%, − 0.43%, − 24%, and − 2.3%, where, export in India expands to 0.58%. The analysis of this study finds that Korea's economy will gain more by growing commodities output like rice, wheat, cereal grains, and textile-wearing apparel by 3.8%, 2.7%, 2.5%, and 8.5%, accordingly. In conclusion, this study is directed to policymakers looking at valuable information for decision-making.
'Threatening' Speech: The Thin Line Between Implicit Threats, Solicitation, and Advocacy of Crime

Advocacy of murder of identifiable individuals, which might be protected under the Brandenburg test, has too often been treated by courts (particularly in some recent federal appellate cases) as unprotected threats or solicitation, thus making First Amendment analysis confused and unpredictable. The appropriate solution, I argue, is to modify the Brandenburg test so as to deny First Amendment protection to advocacy of harm to identified targets, because (a) such speech has no value worthy of First Amendment protection and (b) the emotional consequences of such advocacy suffered by the object thereof is no different from that caused by true threats.
Modeling site‐based decision making: School practices in the age of accountability

Purpose – The primary purpose is to present empirical measures of variables relating to practices engaged in by site‐based teams, and then to use these variables to test a model predicting significant outcomes of site‐based decision making. The practice variables of site‐based management (SBM) teams are essential in promoting research within a distributed leadership framework.Design/methodology/approach – A path model is computed to test the relationships between factors relating to the support received by site‐based teams; site team communication and decision‐making practice, and perceived outcomes of SBM. Measures are based on survey data collected from 367 team members in 50 schools from fifteen school districts in a northeastern state in the US.Findings – Results show that different factors relating to the support provided to site‐based teams and practices employed by these teams emerge as statistically significant predictors of various outcomes. Results suggest that the resources provided to support ...
Clean restrooms: how important are they to restaurant consumers?

There are many choices to make in restaurant dining, and for experienced consumers, the expectation of safe, quality food has increased. The foodservice industry is in a challenging and competitive environment. Determining what factors of customer satisfaction are important to maintain or increase market share is critical to success. For consumers, there are few opportunities to evaluate food handling, safety and cleanliness practices of a restaurant. Research has shown that consumers are concerned with restroom cleanliness, with a functioning restroom having a positive influence on customers' perception of the restaurant; and has also been shown to impact the choice of where to eat or whether to return to a restaurant. This study tested these assumptions by using a data set from the southwestern US, finding that consumers are concerned with restaurant cleanliness and food safety, with restrooms an important factor to consumers when assessing the cleanliness of an eating establishment.
Terms of Choice: Uncertainty, Journalism, and Crisis

This article considers whether thinking about journalism's present set of challenges is best served by the notion of “crisis.” It argues that adopting such a notion to explain a diverse set of technological, political, economic, social, occupational, moral, and legal circumstances misses an opportunity to recognize how contingent and differentiated the futures of journalism might be. It also raises critical questions about how institutions deal with uncertainty at their core, obscuring a fuller understanding of the permutations that get eclipsed by perceiving crisis as a unitary phenomenon
A SaaS-Based Logistics Informatization Model for Specialized Farmers Cooperatives in China

The logistics informatization of Specialized Farmers Cooperatives (SFC) plays an important role in the development of agriculture, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is the development trend of information technology (IT). Firstly, the state-of-the-art of IT on SFC and the enlightenment SaaS to the IT application in logistic are introduced. Then, analyzing of the characteristics of logistics management system for SFC based on SaaS, we explore a SaaS-based logistics informatization model for SFC in China, and some key technologies to model application are also discussed, such as software architecture, system security and data modeling. Finally, some suggestions are put forward for a large-scale promotion of the model.
The Advanced Electric Power Grid: Complexity Reduction Techniques for Reliability Modeling

The power grid is a large system, and analyzing its reliability is computationally intensive, rendering conventional methods ineffective. This paper proposes techniques for reducing the complexity of representations of the grid, resulting in a mathematically tractable problem to which our previously developed reliability analysis techniques can be applied. The IEEE118 bus system is analyzed as an example, incorporating cascading failure scenarios reported in the literature.
The development of an integrated system design environment

A four stage system design environment is proposed which includes requirements specification, hardware software separation, module specification and system integration stages from a systems integration perspective. As part of realizing this paradigm, a system level specification language, DODAN, is introduced. Based on this specification language, a prototype, DAA, is implemented which addresses the systems level requirements specification stage. Another prototype, DARMS, was implemented to experiment with the module specification stage. This four stage model is described along with experiences in implementing and working with the requirements specification and module specification prototypes. >
Degradation of Uric Acid by Certain Aerobic Bacteria

We have isolated and identified nine cultures of aerobic bacteria capable of growing on an elective medium containing uric acid as the only source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Four of these cultures were identified as Aerobacter aerogenes, two as Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the remainder as Serratia killiensis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus species. Another culture identified as P. fluorescens required both glucose and uric acid for growth. When 23 laboratory stock cultures were inoculated into the uric acid medium, A. aerogenes, B. subtilis, Mycobacterium phlei, P. aeruginosa, and S. marcescens were able to grow. These five cultures also grew when the uric acid was replaced with adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, or allantoin, but growth was poor. In all of these media, including the uric acid medium, addition of glucose along with the nitrogenous compounds yielded good growth. Induction experiments demonstrated that the ability of A. aerogenes, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, S. kiliensis, S. marcescens, B. subtilis, and Bacillus sp. to degrade uric acid is an induced property. Of these organisms, only Bacillus sp. accumulated a small amount of intracellular uric acid.
Causal Assessment in Environmental Studies

Causal assessments bring together information to reach conclusions about how biological effects happened or can be produced. In environmental studies, a causal assessment may be prompted by observations of undesirable biological effects, concerns over a source or stressor, or questions about the efficacy of management actions. Observational studies are often the principal source of evidence available for causal assessments of environmental issues, but are problematic because causes are not manipulated, replicated, or randomly applied. Pragmatic strategies for interpreting observational study results for causal assessment include breaking up and analyzing causal pathways by mechanistic segment; comparing evidence for alternative causal explanations; using study design or statistical techniques to isolate the effects of individual variables; modeling the effects of multiple variables together; and supplementing observational results with evidence of sufficiency, exposure, and symptoms. Weight-of-evidence approaches are well suited to causal assessments because they can provide a common framework for synthesizing disparate types of information while retaining the evidence supporting or refuting conclusions. Keywords: causation; causal assessment; diagnosis; weight-of-evidence; observational studies; confounding factors
Customer delight: Foundations, findings, and managerial insight☆

Abstract Many business practitioners have addressed the importance of delighting the customer as an extension of providing basic satisfaction. Yet the concept of customer delight has not been given a clear behavioral foundation, and the antecedents and consequences of customer delight, when manifest in specific service contexts, have not been empirically explored. This paper attempts to provide a first step toward establishing a behavioral basis for customer delight, empirically testing its hypothesised antecedents and consequences, and exploring the resulting implications. Based on data from two service fields, structural equation results support the proposition that unexpected high levels of satisfaction or performance initiate an arousal ⇒ pleasure (positive affect) ⇒ delight sequence. Mixed support is found for the hypothesis that delight is a combined result of pleasure and arousal. Satisfaction, acting in parallel with delight, was strongly related to pleasure and disconfirmation and had a clear effect on behavioral intention; the effect of delight on intention, however, appears to be moderated by the service context. Managerial implications include the consideration of whether delight is a reasonable and meaningful consumer expression in particular service contexts, the necessity of focusing on surprising levels of satisfaction or performance when attempting to produce delighting consumption experiences, and potentially separate strategies for inducing satisfaction and delight.
The Methods and Problems of Cluster Analysis

Cluster analysis methods have a long history. The earliest known procedures were suggested by anthropologists (Czekanowski, 1911; Driver and Kroeber, 1932). Later, these ideas were picked up in psychology. For instance, Zubin (1938) proposed a rather simple method for sorting a correlation matrix which would yield clusters. About the same time, Stephenson (1936) suggested the use of inverted factor analysis to find clusters of people.
Aesthetic Factors in Planning and Design of Libby Dam

Details of the aesthetic and environmental planning and design of the Libby Dam project in Northwestern Montana are presented. Libby Dam is 3,000 ft long, 420 ft high, and contains 4,000,000 cu yd of concrete. It is a beautiful mountain valley and a major effort was and is being made in design and construction to minimize the impact of this massive structure on its environment. A comprehensive landscape plan for the dam and its immediate vicinity was developed by a prominent consulting architect. Considerable attention was given to accommodation and movement of the visiting public. Details of theses concepts are presented as in a design flow chart of the aesthetic and environmental planning process. The cost of project structures at the damsite is $139,000,000.
Bacterial Translocation and Obesity in Antiretroviral (ARV)-Naïve HIV+ Adults in Botswana

Background: Intestinal bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are a marker of microbial translocation which causes chronic immune activation associated with HIV disease progression. Ex...
Risks and adverse outcomes associated with emergency-release red blood cell transfusion

Background Group O red blood cell (RBC) units are used for emergency transfusions and are often uncrossmatched when transfused. We sought to determine the risk of alloimmunization and identify acute adverse outcomes of this practice. Study Design and Methods The transfusion medicine database was searched for emergency-release transfusion (ERT) episodes from January 2006 through December 2010. The data collected included age and sex of the recipient, blood bank history, survival after the ERT episode, antibody screen results, antibody identifications, and compatibility of released units. Results A total of 1444 ERT episodes took place involving 1407 patients. A total of 4144 RBC units were released. Of the 129 positive antibody screens, 34 had no antibody on further work-up, 14 had autoantibodies, 48 had a single antibody specificity, and 25 had multiple antibody specificities. Seven patients developed an antibody that could be attributed to the ERT episode, and 15 patients developed an antibody after ERT and additional RBC transfusions. There were 32 reported suspected transfusion reactions. No acute hemolytic transfusion reactions were reported. Seven patients were given a total of 10 incompatible RBC units. Of these patients, one developed a delayed serologic transfusion reaction. The rate of alloimmunization attributable to ERT was 3%. Overall, the rate of incompatible transfusion was less than 0.3% and the rate of a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction was approximately 0.02%. Conclusion There is minimal risk associated with the release of emergency uncrossmatched blood in the setting of an acutely bleeding patient. [Correction statement added after online publication 15-Oct-2012: the number of patients with autoantibodies, single antibody specificity and multiple antibody specificity has been update.]
A genomewide screen for suppressors of Alu-mediated rearrangements reveals a role for PIF1

Alu-mediated rearrangement of tumor suppressor genes occurs frequently during carcinogenesis. In breast cancer, this mechanism contributes to loss of the wild-type BRCA1 allele in inherited disease and to loss of heterozygosity in sporadic cancer. To identify genes required for suppression of Alu-mediated recombination we performed a genomewide screen of a collection of 4672 yeast gene deletion mutants using a direct repeat recombination assay. The primary screen and subsequent analysis identified 12 candidate genes including TSA, ELG1, and RRM3, which are known to play a significant role in maintaining genomic stability. Genetic analysis of the corresponding human homologs was performed in sporadic breast tumors and in inherited BRCA1-associated carcinomas. Sequencing of these genes in high risk breast cancer families revealed a potential role for the helicase PIF1 in cancer predisposition. PIF1 variant L319P was identified in three breast cancer families; importantly, this variant, which is predicted to be functionally damaging, was not identified in a large series of controls nor has it been reported in either dbSNP or the 1000 Genomes Project. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pfh1 is required to maintain both mitochondrial and nuclear genomic integrity. Functional studies in yeast of human PIF1 L319P revealed that this variant cannot complement the essential functions of Pfh1 in either the nucleus or mitochondria. Our results provide a global view of nonessential genes involved in suppressing Alu-mediated recombination and implicate variation in PIF1 in breast cancer predisposition.
Globin structural mutant alpha 125Leu leads to Pro is a novel cause of alpha-thalassaemia.

The duplicated human α-globin structural loci lie on chromosome 16 and are arranged in the order 5′ α2−αl 3′. Although the most common molecular mechanism for α-thalassaemia is deletion of segments of DNA that contain one or both of these α-globin structural loci1, two molecular lesions that are not due to gross gene deletion have been defined. In one, a point mutation in the termination codon of the α2 gene results in the production of an elongated α-globin chain2,3. As only a small amount of the mutant globin chain is produced, α-thalassaemia results. The second lesion, which is caused by a 5-base pair (bp) deletion in the first intervening sequence of the α2 gene, results in abnormal mRNA processing and α-globin chain deficiency4. We now describe a novel mechanism for α-thalassaemia not involving deletion. A single nucleotide mutation in the coding region of the α2 gene results in the substitution of proline (Pro) for leucine (Leu) in a region of the H helix of the α-globin chain, which is critical for αl−βl contact. This probably impedes α1−β1 dimer formation, the initial step of haemoglobin tetramer assembly, and produces an α-thalassaemia phenotype.
EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE AND SAMPLE SIZE ON LIPID STABILITY OF MILLED FLAXSEED (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of sample size and particle size on lipid oxidation of milled flaxseed. An initial experiment showed that most of the lipid oxidation detected in milled flaxseed samples occurred on the surface that was exposed to the air during storage. In a subsequent experiment, milled flaxseed at 100, 200 and 300 g were stored in the dark in rectangular pans for 8, 24 and 48 days at 50C. Lipid oxidation, as determined by surface lipid content, peroxide value and α-linolenic acid content, was lower in the 300 g samples than in the 100 g samples of milled flaxseed. Large versus small samples had less apparent lipid oxidation because of their inherently lower surface to volume ratio. In a third experiment, oxidation was lower in lipid extracted from coarse (>600 µm) than fine particles (<600 µm), after 48 days of storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This research has practical applications to the flaxseed milling and food industries. These results show that assessment of lipid oxidation in milled flaxseed needs to consider sample size (collection). Milled flaxseed oxidized predominantly at the sample surface where a polymerized layer of flaxseed particles formed over time. Relatively little oxidation occurred in the interior of the sample. Thus, sampling from the surface or interior of a milled flaxseed sample will end in different results and conclusions. Similarly, results will vary with surface : interior ratio of milled flaxseed. Food manufacturers may want to discard the top layer of milled flaxseed that has been exposed to air. Lipid oxidation was less with coarse than fine particles. Thus it would be prudent not to use milled flaxseed with a finer particle size than is necessary for acceptable end-use quality.
Effects of modification of highly disperse silica with polyvinylpyrollidone on gelatin adsorption

The effects of surface modification of highly disperse silica with polyvinylpyrrolidone on its ability to adsorb gelatin were studied. This modification was found to produce a monotonic decrease in the proteopectic properties of silica resulting from changes in the nature of surface active centers. Changes in other pharmacologically important properties, i.e., rheological and hemolytic, resulting from modification of silica with polyvinylpyrrolidone, were extreme in nature. Thus modification produced strongly positive effects with minimal protein adsorption, indicating that PVP can be used as a modifier for creating new medicinal formulations based on highly disperse silica. The optimum level of modification of silica with polyvinylpyrrolidone was 20–30 mg/g, corresponding to about 15% of monolayer capacity.
Two-Dimensional Globalizing Index for Engineering and Construction Companies

AbstractIncreasing globalization is creating both challenges and opportunities for engineering and construction (E&C) companies. Many researchers have examined the drivers and key success factors that enable globalizing E&C firms to become truly global. However, although firms integrate recommended globalization tactics, they lack an approach to evaluate the effect of different tactics and strategies on their globalizing performance. This paper presents an index that enables firms to assess their globalizing performance in two dimensions: degree of global reach and degree of global integration. Data were collected from 15 E&C companies to internally validate the developed globalizing index. The globalizing scores of the 15 E&C companies with their international revenue ratios were then compared to externally validate that the international revenue ratio is positively correlated with the global reach score. This research fills an essential gap in the construction engineering and management literature by co...
Symptoms related to the menstrual cycle: diagnosis, prevalence, and treatment.

Menstrual cycle-related symptoms are associated with the intrinsic hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle. These symptoms can be physical, behavioral, or emotional and include problems such as dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Because of the
Repeatability of Asphalt Strain Measurements Under Full-Scale Dynamic Loading

Embedded instrumentation has become an important tool at accelerated load facilities as states begin implementing mechanistic-empirical pavement design and analysis methodologies. Instrumentation can provide valuable information to help validate mechanistic models and develop a deeper understanding of pavement response under a wide range of conditions. Before such investigations are conducted, however, it is critical to determine whether the response measurements are accurate and precise. Although both accuracy and precision are important, this investigation centers on establishing the practical level of between-gauge precision for asphalt strain measurements made at the National Center for Asphalt Technology Pavement Test Track. Eleven test sections, each containing six paired gauges, were included in this study. Absolute differences between paired strain readings were computed on a per-truck and peraxle basis during 8 months of testing that included approximately 80,000 strain readings. It was found tha...
Polyaniline sol-gels and their third-order nonlinear optical effects

Abstract Sol-gel matrices can provide an inert host for optically active organic compounds. Here we describe the room temperature synthesis of high quality silica glasses containing the conjugated polymers polyaniline and 2-ethyl-polyaniline. Phase conjugate reflectivity (Rpc) values for both solutions and sol-gels containing the polymers were obtained via degenerate four-wave mixing experiments (DFWM). The third-order resonance enhanced molecular susceptibility value for emeraldine base in solution was calculated to be 1.6 × 10−11 esu, which is greater than that of a carbon disulfide reference (1.7 × 10−12 esu). Sol-gel films containing 5 mg/mL of the ring substituted 2-Et-PANi were synthesized and found to have third-order susceptibilities of 4.8 × 10−13 esu.
Golgi and sarcolemmal neuronal NOS differentially regulate contraction-induced fatigue and vasoconstriction in exercising mouse skeletal muscle

Signaling via the neuronal NOS (nNOS) splice variant nNOSmu is essential for skeletal muscle health and is commonly reduced in neuromuscular disease. nNOSmu is thought to be the predominant source of NO in skeletal muscle. Here we demonstrate the existence of what we believe to be a novel signaling pathway, mediated by the nNOS splice variant nNOSbeta, localized at the Golgi complex in mouse skeletal muscle cells. In contrast to muscles lacking nNOSmu alone, muscles missing both nNOSmu and nNOSbeta were severely myopathic, exhibiting structural defects in the microtubule cytoskeleton, Golgi complex, and mitochondria. Skeletal muscles lacking both nNOSmu and nNOSbeta were smaller in mass, intrinsically weak, highly susceptible to fatigue, and exhibited marked postexercise weakness. Our data indicate that nNOSbeta is a critical regulator of the structural and functional integrity of skeletal muscle and demonstrate the existence of 2 functionally distinct nNOS microdomains in skeletal muscle, created by the differential targeting of nNOSmu to the sarcolemma and nNOSbeta to the Golgi. We have previously shown that sarcolemmal nNOSmu matches the blood supply to the metabolic demands of active muscle. We now demonstrate that nNOSbeta simultaneously modulates the ability of skeletal muscle to maintain force production during and after exercise. We conclude therefore that nNOS splice variants are critical regulators of skeletal muscle exercise performance.
Sizing up the retailer brand implementation gap and its effects on brand-building outcomes

Brand marketers initiate brand strategies in an effort to positively influence customer-based brand outcomes. However, in today's environment, success is largely dependent upon retailer coordination and support of manufacturers’ brand-building efforts, including execution of in-store promotions and other merchandising activities. Building on brand and marketing channel theory, and based on a qualitative study of brand managers and executives, we introduce the concept of the retailer brand implementation gap (RBIG), the disparity between the manufacturer's brand-building strategies and brand-building outcomes (for example, brand equity) due to a lack of retailer support, and offer propositions regarding RBIG. Additionally, we present a conceptual model that illustrates the possible factors affecting RBIG. When RBIG is large, manufacturer return on brand investments will be suboptimal. In contrast, cooperative efforts between manufacturers and retailers are likely to maximize investment returns and decrease RBIG. The results of the qualitative study suggest that efforts to collaborate with retail partners, support their brand-building initiatives, and focus on creating value for end-consumers can reduce the size of RBIG.
Deformation within the Cannibal Creek Pluton and its aureole, Queensland, Australia: a re-evaluation of ballooning as an emplacement mechanism

Abstract Structures within the foliated Cannibal Creek granite and its deformed aureole indicate that the pluton appears to have been emplaced after a minimum of two strong regional deformation events (D1,D2), that contact metamorphic porphyroblast growth began during the early stages of a third aureole-centred event (Da) and that a fourth weak deformation overprints all earlier structures, at least within the strain-softened aureole. The aureole deformation (Da) is most strongly developed at the pluton contact, decreasing in intensity both inwards to the core, and outwards into the wall rock. Earlier interpretations linking (Da) strain to expansion (ballooning) of the pluton during emplacement are no longer favoured. Previously discussed diagnostic criteria of ballooning, such as closed elliptical trend lines for the aureole foliation, and new field evidence, such as radial magmatic lineations and moderate to high-temperature solid-state deformation of external sheath dykes, are either ambiguous or point strongly toward syn- to pre-tectonic emplacement of a piercement diapir. Less than 30% of the pluton volume appears to have been accommodated by wall rock shortening as the result of ballooning or diapiric ascent. The rest was likely accommodated by a combination of broad wavelength regional doming (1–5 mm year−1) above the pluton, far field redistribution of mass into the source area plus or minus some component of diapiric backflow, stoping, assimilation and dilation in fault bends or fold hinges.
Seismic structure of the Endeavour Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge: Correlations with seismicity and hydrothermal activity

[1] Multichannel seismic reflection data collected in July 2002 at the Endeavour Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge, show a midcrustal reflector underlying all of the known high-temperature hydrothermal vent fields in this area. On the basis of the character and geometry of this reflection, its similarity to events at other spreading centers, and its polarity, we identify this as a reflection from one or more crustal magma bodies rather than from a hydrothermal cracking front interface. The Endeavour magma chamber reflector is found under the central, topographically shallow section of the segment at two-way traveltime (TWTT) values of 0.9–1.4 s (∼2.1–3.3 km) below the seafloor. It extends approximately 24 km along axis and is shallowest beneath the center of the segment and deepens toward the segment ends. On cross-axis lines the axial magma chamber (AMC) reflector is only 0.4–1.2 km wide and appears to dip 8–36° to the east. While a magma chamber underlies all known Endeavour high-temperature hydrothermal vent fields, AMC depth is not a dominant factor in determining vent fluid properties. The stacked and migrated seismic lines also show a strong layer 2a event at TWTT values of 0.30 ± 0.09 s (380 ± 120 m) below the seafloor on the along-axis line and 0.38 ± 0.09 s (500 ± 110 m) on the cross-axis lines. A weak Moho reflection is observed in a few locations at TWTT values of 1.9–2.4 s below the seafloor. By projecting hypocenters of well-located microseismicity in this region onto the seismic sections, we find that most axial earthquakes are concentrated just above the magma chamber and distributed diffusely within this zone, indicating thermal-related cracking. The presence of a partially molten crustal magma chamber argues against prior hypotheses that hydrothermal heat extraction at this intermediate spreading ridge is primarily driven by propagation of a cracking front down into a frozen magma chamber and indicates that magmatic heat plays a significant role in the hydrothermal system. Morphological and hydrothermal differences between the intermediate spreading Endeavour and fast spreading ridges are attributable to the greater depth of the Endeavour AMC and the corresponding possibility of axial faulting.
Premature translational termination triggers mRNA decapping

THE degradation of messenger RNA in eukaryotic cells is initiated by endonucleolytic cleavage1,2 or by shortening of the poly(A) tail3–6, which for some mRNAs activates a deadenylation-depen-dent decapping reaction7. One type of rapid mRNA degradation in eukaryotes is caused by premature termination of translation8,9. This turnover process prevents the translation of aberrant mRNAs10,11, may affect the abundance and splicing pattern of nuclear transcripts12,13, and may be involved in the aetiology of human genetic disease14. Here we show that premature translational termination in yeast triggers decapping, independent of deadenylation, thereby exposing the transcript to 5′-to-3′ degradation. Inactivation of the 5′-to-3′ exonuclease reveals an additional 3′-to-5′ pathway of mRNA turnover. These observations provide in vivo evidence for two new mechanisms of mRNA decay.
Speed That Kills: The Role of Technology in Kate Chopin's THE STORY OF AN HOUR

Kate Chopin's “The Story of an Hour” has been taught and analyzed almost exclusively from a feminist perspective. As Lawrence Berkove writes, “There has been …virtual critical agreement on what the...
A new analytical method for particulate composites

Abstract A new semi-analytical approach to predict the mechanical behavior of heterogeneous (composite) media is presented. The eigenfunctions for the governing partial differential equation that the composite is subject to are derived in series form. The permissible functions that satisfy the continuity condition across the interface as well as the homogeneous boundary condition are obtained with the help of a computer algebra system. The Green’s function for the composite is then constructed from the eigenfunctions. Using the Green’s function, the physical/mechanical field in the composite is expressed. Numerical examples are shown.
Methadone for refractory restless legs syndrome

Most cases of restless legs syndrome (RLS) initially respond well to dopaminergic agonists. However, an unknown percentage of patients is intolerant of dopaminergic adverse events, initially or subsequently refractory, or develops limiting augmentation. We administered methadone 5 to 40 mg/day (final dose, 15.6 +/- 7.7) to 29 RLS patients who failed dopaminergics. They were currently taking or had previously tried 5.9 +/- 1.7 (range, 3-9) different medications for RLS and 2.9 +/- 0.8 (range, 2-4) different dopaminergics. Of the 27 patients who met inclusion criteria, 17 have remained on methadone for 23 +/- 12 months (range, 4-44 months) at a dose of 15.5 +/- 7.7 mg/day; 2 dialysis RLS patients died while on methadone, and 8 stopped the treatment (5 for adverse events, 2 for lack of efficacy, and 1 for logistical reasons). All patients who remain on methadone report at least a 75% reduction in symptoms, and none have developed augmentation. Methadone should be considered in RLS patients with an unsatisfactory dopaminergic response.
Next generation, high relaxivity gadolinium MRI agents.

Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1460 . Received July 27, 2004Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has evolved intoone of the most powerful techniques in diagnostic clinicalmedicine and biomedical research by enabling the ac-quisition of high resolution, three-dimensional images ofthe distribution of water in vivo (
Proline-rich Gla protein 2 is a cell-surface vitamin K-dependent protein that binds to the transcriptional coactivator Yes-associated protein.

Proline-rich Gla protein 2 (PRGP2) is one of four known vertebrate transmembrane γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) proteins. Members of this protein family are broadly expressed in fetal and adult human tissues and share a common architecture consisting of a predicted propeptide and Gla domain, a single-pass transmembrane segment, and tandem Pro/Leu-Pro-Xaa-Tyr (PY) motifs near their C termini. Using a methodology developed for the regulated expression of enzymatically biotinylated proteins in mammalian cells, we demonstrate that PRGP2 undergoes γ-glutamyl carboxylation in a manner that is both dependent upon the presence of a proteolytically cleavable propeptide and sensitive to warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist that is widely used as an antithrombotic agent. When expressed at physiologically relevant levels, the majority of PRGP2 is present in the γ-glutamyl carboxylated, propeptide-cleaved (mature) form. We additionally demonstrate, by Western blotting and flow cytometry, that mature PRGP2 is predominantly located on the cell surface with the Gla domain exposed extracellularly. In a yeast two-hybrid screen that used the C-terminal cytoplasmic region of PRGP2 as bait, we identified the WW domain-containing transcriptional coactivator Yes-associated protein (YAP) as a binding partner for PRGP2. In GST pull-down experiments, both PRGP2 PY motifs and both YAP WW domains were essential for complex formation, as were residues proximal to the core sequence of the first PY motif. These findings suggest that PRGP2 may be involved in a signal transduction pathway, the impairment of which may be an unintended consequence of warfarin therapy.
Preparation of orthogonally protected (2S, 3R)-2-amino-3-methyl-4-phosphonobutyric acid (Pmab) as a phosphatase–stable phosphothreonine mimetic and its use in the synthesis of Polo–box domain–binding peptides

Abstract Reported herein is the first stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)-4-[bis-(tert-butyloxy)phosphinyl]-2-[(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy)carbonyl]amino-3-methylbutanoic acid [(N-Fmoc, O,O-(bis-(tert-butyl))-Pmab), 4] as a hydrolytically-stable phosphothreonine mimetic bearing orthogonal protection compatible with standard solid-phase protocols. The synthetic approach used employs Evans' oxazolidinone for chiral induction. Also presented is the application of 4 in the solid-phase synthesis of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) polo box domain (PBD)-binding peptides. These Pmab-containing peptides retain PBD binding efficacy similar to a parent pThr containing peptide. Reagent 4 should be a highly useful reagent for the preparation of signal transduction-directed peptides.
Sample stability and variability of B-cell subsets in blood from healthy subjects and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Characterization of peripheral leukocytes is an important aspect of monitoring the effect of immunotherapeutic interventions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We analyzed cell surface markers commonly used to assess patients with SLE, focusing on the effect of holding blood prior to processing/analysis and the relative reliability of the measurements that were conducted. Methods: Healthy volunteers (HV; n = 20) and patients with SLE (n = 42) were studied. Whole blood was collected for flow cytometric analysis on days 1, 8, 15, 105, 195, 285, and 375 and held overnight for analysis. A subset of samples was additionally analyzed on the day of collection. Results: Variability arising from overnight storage of whole blood was found to be within 20% for most lymphocyte subsets. There was greater between rather than within subject variability over a 1-year period. As anticipated, the data showed higher CD38 and lower CD19 densities on B cells from patients with SLE compared to HV. Although a higher percentage of cells with markers of plasmablasts/cells were observed in the blood of patients with SLE relative to HV, these measurements were found to be among the least reliable (i.e., most variable). Conclusions: This study provides technical perspectives for those conducting immunophenotypic analyses of B-cells in patients with SLE. We envision that our data, which addresses sample stability issues and presents a method to describe the relative reliability of one measure over another, holds value for clinical assessments of B-cells in SLE and the evaluation of investigational agents designed to modify the B-cell compartment. © 2009 Clinical Cytometry Society
Computational strategies for three-dimensional flow simulations on distributed computer systems

This research effort is directed towards an examination of issues involved in porting large computational fluid dynamics codes in use within the industry to a distributed computing environment. This effort addresses strategies for implementing the distributed computing in a device independent fashion and load balancing. A flow solver called TEAM presently in use at Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company was acquired to start this effort. The following tasks were completed: (1) The TEAM code was ported to a number of distributed computing platforms including a cluster of HP workstations located in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech; a cluster of DEC Alpha Workstations in the Graphics visualization lab located at Georgia Tech; a cluster of SGI workstations located at NASA Ames Research Center; and an IBM SP-2 system located at NASA ARC. (2) A number of communication strategies were implemented. Specifically, the manager-worker strategy and the worker-worker strategy were tested. (3) A variety of load balancing strategies were investigated. Specifically, the static load balancing, task queue balancing and the Crutchfield algorithm were coded and evaluated. (4) The classical explicit Runge-Kutta scheme in the TEAM solver was replaced with an LU implicit scheme. And (5) the implicit TEAM-PVM solver was extensively validated through studies of unsteady transonic flow over an F-5 wing, undergoing combined bending and torsional motion. These investigations are documented in extensive detail in the dissertation, 'Computational Strategies for Three-Dimensional Flow Simulations on Distributed Computing Systems', enclosed as an appendix.
Fulminant myocarditis as a late sequela of DRESS: two cases.

Greg P. Bourgeois, MD1, Jennifer A. Cafardi, MD1, Vlada Groysman, MD1, Salpy V. Pamboukian, MD MSPH3, James K. Kirklin, MD4, Aleodor A. Andea, MD2, and Lauren C. Hughey, MD1 1Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, EFH 414, 1530 3rd Ave S., Birmingham, AL 35294, USA 2Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, PD6A 149, 619 19th St S., Birmingham, AL35294 USA 3Department of Cardiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 321, 1530 3rd Ave S., Birmingham, AL 35294, USA 4Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, THT 760, 1530 3rd Ave S., Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
Development of a high average power extreme ultraviolet Electric Capillary Discharge Source

Progress continues on the development of the EUV Electric Capillary Discharge Source. Over the past year we have studied the high average power operational characteristics, used interferometry to measure the in-capillary electron density, and further reduced the debris deposition rate on plasma facing optics. A pulser capable of driving the source at up to 1 kHz was acquired and preliminary testing is in progress. EUV flux and spectral emission measurements were made for pure xenon and xenon-helium mixtures using a new electrode designed to prevent debris from depositing on multilayer optics. Finally, through improvements in capillary and electrode design and material properties coupled with the assistance of mitigation approaches, we have been able to significantly reduce the amount of debris generated by the source thereby increasing the reflectance lifetime of plasma-facing optics.
MRI plaque imaging and its role in population-based studies

Noninvasive direct vessel wall (plaque) imaging may provide a good opportunity to study unique aspects of atherosclerotic lesions in different populations. The article published by Esposito et al. provides new insights into our understanding of diabetic atherosclerotic vascular disease by using direct plaque imaging techniques. The findings from this article call for attention to more in vivo imaging to understand the nature of high-risk atherosclerosis, especially in prospective studies in diabetic patients.
Bragg scattering of sound by surface waves in shallow water

Abstract We present a theory of Bragg scattering of sound by surface gravity waves which are nearly periodic with a slowly varying envelope. Through several examples we illustrate how the resonant scattering of sound from a CW source in shallow water can reveal the characteristics of weak surface waves. Only plane sound waves of a guided mode are studied in this paper. Specific examples include the scattering by surface waves which are modulated in amplitude and/or phase. The incident sound waves are sinusoidal but detuned. Applications to short surface waves riding on long surface waves are examined.
Superior augmented reality registration by integrating landmark tracking and magnetic tracking

Accurate registration between real and virtual objects is crucial for augmented reality applications. Existing tracking methods are individually inadequate: magnetic trackers are inaccurate, mechanical trackers are cumbersome, and vision-based trackers are computationally problematic. We present a hybrid tracking method that combines the accuracy of vision-based tracking with the robustness of magnetic tracking without compromising real-time performance or usability. We demonstrate excellent registration in three sample applications. CR
Models of Post-Incorporation Judicial Review: 1985 Survey of State Constitutional Individual Rights Decisions

In 1985 state supreme courts issued the largest number of decisions to date in which protections of individual rights were based upon provisions of state constitutions. With increasing frequency, state high courts have held that certain constitutional minimums of rights protection set by U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the U.S. Constitution do not satisfy more demanding precepts of state constitutional law. Although much of this activity remains reactive rather than systematic, there has been a slight move toward greater systematic analysis. Furthermore, state court decisionmaking can be understood in terms of five models that reflect judicial perceptions of varying degrees of equivalence or nonequivalence between rights provisions in the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions. At the same time, however, the U.S. Supreme Court has clearly indicated an interest in monitoring the individual rights decisions of state high courts, while lower federal courts have begun to place greater reliance on state constitutional law to preclude U.S. Supreme Court review.