cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crossroads: Time-Sensitive Autonomous Intersection Management Technique

For autonomous vehicles, intelligent autonomous intersection management will be required for safe and efficient operation. In order to achieve safe operation despite uncertainties in vehicle trajectory, intersection management techniques must consider a safety buffer around the vehicles. For truly safe operation, an extra buffer space should be added to account for the network and computational delay caused by communication with the Intersection Manager (IM). However, modeling the worst-case computation and network delay as additional buffer around the vehicle degrades the throughput of the intersection. To avoid this problem, AIM[1], a popular state-of-the-art IM, adopts a query-based approach in which the vehicle requests to enter at a certain arrival time dictated by its current velocity and distance to the intersection, and the IM replies yes/no. Although this solution does not degrade the position uncertainty, it ultimately results in poor intersection throughput. We present Crossroads, a time-sensitive programming method to program the interface of a vehicle and the IM. Without requiring additional buffer to account for the effect of network and computational delay, Crossroads enables efficient intersection management. Test results on a 1/10 scale model of intersection using TRAXXAS RC cars demonstrates that our Crossroads approach obviates the need for large buffers to accommodate for the network and computation delay, and can reduce the average wait time for the vehicles at a single-lane intersection by 24%. To compare Crossroads with previous approaches, we perform extensive Matlab simulations, and find that Crossroads achieves on average 1.62X higher throughput than a simple VT-IM with extra safety buffer, and 1.36X better than AIM.
Sustained vigilance I—Signal detection during a 24-hour continuous watch

Two groups of 10 Ss each monitored brief interruptions of a continuous light source for 24 consecutive hours. The vigilance decrement was found to be similar to that usually noted in shorter watch sessions—a general decrease in detection with time on watch. Seven of the 20 Ss remained awake for the entire watch session, one detecting 81.3 per cent of the signals presented. An analysis of individual detection curves revealed periodic and partial recovery effects of short duration. The results also suggest that the extent of time on watch determines the efficiency of detection—this efficiency being lowest after 16 to 18 hours of continuous watch. It was also noted that the Ss did not suffer as rapid a decrement as might have been expected on the basis of previous research.
Use of a Mental Health Center Collaborative Care Team to Improve Diabetes Care and Outcomes for Patients With Psychosis.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness (compared with usual care) of a collaborative care model to treat community mental health center...
Border Brokers: Teachers and Undocumented Mexican Students in Search of "Acompañamiento".

ABSTRACTThis article examines the deployment of border conocimiento and the subsequent cultural production of third spaces for transnational Mexican youth by Chicano educators who I call “border br...
The Paradox of Extra-Legal Activism: Critical Legal Consciousness and Transformative Politics

The limits of law in bringing about social change have long preoccupied legal thinkers. A recent development, however, is that new schools of thought build upon the critical understanding of these limits to produce a body of literature that privileges in a variety of ways extra-legal activism. These writings present themselves as alternatives to the path of legal reform, avoiding the risks of cooptation and deradicalization which have been the fate of earlier legalistic activism. Three extra-legal focal points emerge in this literature: (1) a move away from professionalism to "lay lawyering"; (2) a move from the legal arena to an "autonomous sphere" of action; and (3) a departure from formal legal norms to softer, "informal" normativities. The article demonstrates how these recent developments are misdirected, as they draw erroneous conclusions from critical understandings about the cooptative risks of legal strategies. In particular, contemporary proposals of extra-legal reform strategies fail to recognize ways in which such alternatives are frequently subject to the same shortcomings they seek to evade by opting out of the legal arena. Linking historical examples of critical analysis of the labor and the civil rights movements to contemporary public interest literature, the article charts a more nuanced map of legal cooptation critiques, which include distinct claims about resources and energy, framing and fragmentation, lawyering and professionalism, crowding out effects, institutional limitations, and legitimation. The article argues that the contemporary manifestation of a critical legal consciousness has eclipsed the origins of critical theory, which situates various forms of social action on more equal grounds. The new extra-legal truism, which rejects law reform as a transformative path for social change, consequently risks reinforcing the very account that it sets out to resist - that the state is no longer able to ensure socially responsible practices in the 21st century economy.
Abstraction, Axiomatization and Rigor: Pasch and Hilbert

In the late nineteenth century, Pasch made a well known statement concerning the conditions of attaining rigor in geometrical proof. The criterion he offered called not only for the elimination of appeals to geometrical figures, but of appeals to meanings of geometrical terms more generally. Not long after Pasch, Hilbert (and others) proposed an alternative standard of rigor. My aim in this paper is to clarify the relationship between Pasch’s and Hilbert’s standards of rigor. There are, I believe, fundamental differences between them.
Too tough at the top: Using latent class growth analysis to assess cool status during middle school

Abstract Introduction Obtaining and maintaining high social status in one's peer group is often a critical developmental goal during adolescence. The present study investigated factors that predict trajectories of cool status for middle school adolescents as well as how different cool status trajectories affect depressive symptoms. Methods The participants were 5,991 adolescents (52% girls) from 26 urban middle schools in California. Using latent class growth analysis, baseline assessment occurred in the fall of sixth grade, and repeated assessments occurred in the spring of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Results Three cool status trajectories were identified: (1) a high ascending cool status group (5% of the sample); (2) a decreasing cool status group (25%); and (3) a maintaining low cool status group (70%). Differences in the three groups were explained by GPA and having a reputation as aggressive at the beginning of middle school and the level of depression at the end of middle school. Those in the high ascending cool status group experienced the most depressive symptoms at the end of 8th grade. Conclusions The findings suggest the need for a more nuanced perspective on maintaining cool status during adolescence that considers both its risks and benefits.
Immunotherapy and potential molecular targets for the treatment of pituitary adenomas resistant to standard therapy: a critical review of potential therapeutic targets and current developments.

Introduction Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, accounting for as much as 25% of intracranial neoplasms. Although existing remedies show success in treating most PAs, treatment of invasive and non-functioning PAs, in addition to functioning PAs unresponsive to standard therapy, remains challenging. With the continually increasing understanding of biochemical pathways involved in tumorigenesis, immunotherapy stands as a promising alternative therapy for pituitary tumors that are resistant to standard therapy. Evidence acquisition A literature search was conducted of the PubMed database for immunotherapies of PAs. The search yielded a total of 2621 articles, 26 of which were included in our discussion. Evidence synthesis Several pathologically expressed molecules could potentially serve as promising targets of current or future immunotherapies for PAs. Programmed death ligand-1, matrix metalloproteinases, EpCAM (Trop1) and Trop2, cancer-testis antigen MAGE-A3, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), folate receptor alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor, and galectin-3 have all been implicated as crucial factors involved with tumor survival and invasion. Inhibition of these pathways may prove efficacious in the management of invasive and treatment-resistant PAs. Conclusions Rapid advancements in tumor immunology may increase the probability of successful treatment of PAs by exploitation of the normal immune response or by targeting novel proteins. Current research on many of the targets reviewed in this article are successfully being utilized to manage various neoplastic disease including CNS tumors. These therapies may eventually play a key role in the treatment of PAs that do not respond to standard therapy.
Affine and Projective Geometries

In 0.1.6 we have defined the real linear spaces L n. If in this definition we replace the field ℝ of real numbers by the field ℂ of complex numbers or by the skew field ℍ of quaternions, we obtain the complex linear space ℂL n or quaternionic linear space ℍL n. We have mentioned the space ℂL n in 1.6.1. Since ℍ is noncommutative, in the products (0.7) of a vector a and a quaternionic scalar λ, the scalar must always be at the right of the vector.
Examining Factors Influencing Faculty Buy-in and Involvement in the Accreditation Process: a Cause Analysis Grounded in Systems Thinking

Accreditation is important for ensuring and sustaining the quality of an educational program, but the process can be challenging. Higher education institutions are open systems that rely on multiple entities, such as faculty members, to assist with the accreditation process. However, there is sometimes a lack of buy-in and involvement from faculty when assisting with accreditation-related tasks. This paper describes a cause-analysis study that was grounded in systems thinking and conducted at an engineering department at a large, diverse public university in the U.S. The study was aimed to reveal interrelated factors influencing the engineering faculty’s buy-in and involvement in conducting departmental accreditation tasks. Findings indicate a need to improve the environmental factors, such as provisions of clear communication and suitable resources, as a prioritized intervention to promote faculty’s buy-in and involvement. Recommended interventions, possible challenges of implementing them, and implications on managing changes are also discussed.
New social insect nests from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Utah

This paper reports a new assemblage of social insect ichnofossils from the Brushy Basin Member of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation near Green River, Utah. At least seven distinct nests are visible in the locality horizon, identifiable at the outcrop scale by loci of anastomosing, and orthogonally connected hor-izontal burrows and vertical shafts. A boulder-sized block from the in situ horizon has eroded and rolled downhill, revealing the ventral aspect of the nest, showing a view of the overall nest architecture. Burrow and shaft clusters are organized into mega-galleries which have branching arms and ovate, bulbous cham-bers. The organization of distinct trace morphologies is consistent with ethological complexity of the social insects. A small sample was collected and analyzed by serial sectioning and petrographic thin sectioning to observe small-scale morphological features. Centimeter-scale analysis shows chamber, gallery, and burrow walls have complex topography. Pebble-sized, hollow, ellipsoid features are distributed throughout the up-permost facies of the nest and have undergone complete silicification of their outer surfaces. The ellipsoids share similarity with pellet structures made of mud or carton produced by modern termites. This trace fossil assemblage suggests it is possible that termites had acquired subterranean nesting behavior, and mud or carton utilization in nest construction in seasonally arid habitats by the Late Jurassic.
A functional artificial neural network for noninvasive presurgical evaluation of glioblastoma multiforme prognosis and radiosensitivity profiling

Abstract Background and Purpose Genetic profiling for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients with intracranial biopsy carries a significant risk of permanent morbidity. We previously demonstrated that the CUL2 gene, encoding the scaffold cullin2 protein in the cullin2-RING E3 ligase (CRL2), can predict GBM radiosensitivity and prognosis mainly due to the functional involvement of CRL2 in mediating hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) α and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) degradation. Because CUL2 expression levels are closely regulated with its copy number variations (CNVs), this study aims to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) that can predict GBM prognosis and help optimize personalized GBM treatment planning. Materials and Methods Datasets including Ivy-GAP, The Cancer Genome Atlas Glioblastoma Multiforme (TCGA-GBM), the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) were analyzed. T1 images from corresponding cases were studied using automated segmentation for features of heterogeneity and tumor edge contouring. Results We developed a 4-layer neural network that can consistently predict GBM prognosis with 80-85% accuracy with 3 inputs including CUL2 copy number, patient’s age at GBM diagnosis, and surface vs. volume (SvV) ratio. Conclusion A functional 4-layer neural network was constructed that can predict GBM prognosis and potential radiosensitivity.
Sensory neuroscience: Early value-based odor categorization

How the brain categorizes external stimuli in an experience-dependent, behaviorally relevant manner is a fundamental question. A new study reveals that mitral cells in the olfactory bulb of mice dynamically represent value- and category-related odor information in learned behavioral tasks.
Synthesis of Handcrafts and Digital Printing: Creative Sustainable Apparel Design.

Apparel manufacturing processes are one of the most prevalent sources of environmental problems at almost every stage (Gam & Banning, 2011). Some apparel designers/manufacturers are striving to incorporate sustainable and socially responsible processes to create non-toxic, healthy, biodegradable textiles and apparel products. This apparel design project combined handcraft techniques and digital printing to create an eco-friendly line entitled Life of Earth. The design process model used was created by LaBat and Sokoloskwi (1999) including: (a) problem definition and research, (b) creative exploration, and (c) implementation; and the designer included an evaluation step.
Profound hypothermia

Parmi les nombreuses techniques utilisees daos le traitement des anevnsmes des vaisseaux cerebraux, aucune n’est plus discutee que ľhypothermie. Le but principal de ľhypothermie est de proteger de ľhypoxie les tissus cerebraux durant la reparation de ľanevrisme. Le choix de la technique de ľhypotheimie doit s’appuyer sur ľhabilete du chirurgien On a associe ľusage de ľhypothermie (par refroidissement, par hypotension, ou pai les deux a la fois) aux troubles neurologiques qu’un ceitam nombre de malades ont presentes a la suite de ľoperation. La duree de la reparation de ľanevrisme a souvent depasse la periode de securite sans circulation produite par le refroidissement a 29–30 degres C.
Therapeutic Applications of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is commonly known as an idiopathic, incurable, and progressive neurodegenerative disorder whose patients exhibit three main symptoms: bradykinesia, rigidity, and rest tremor. Current research has shown that the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway plays a crucial role in the emergence of the three symptoms in PD patients. Even though the number of PD patients is becoming increasingly more prevalent, the mechanisms behind the disease are not well understood, which, in turn, makes clinical treatment increasingly difficult. In order to better elucidate the cause of PD, new methods and techniques are necessary to identify all various factors that contribute to the disorder. The emergence of stem cells, specifically induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), has provided a new avenue to analyze PD. Due to the difficulty in obtaining affected human dopaminergic neurons, the iPSC system gives researchers the opportunity to derive dopamine neurons and create a model in order to be able to directly study all factors contributing to the development of PD. Due to increased accessibility to human dopamine neurons, iPSC technology will hopefully enable researchers to study the intricacies surrounding PD and can eventually pave the way towards novel clinical treatments for PD.
p‐Toluenesulfonic Anhydride

p-Toluenesulfonic anhydride reactant: 190 g. (1.0 mole) of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate solvent: 400 ml. of ethylene chloride product: p-toluenesulfonic anhydride Keywords: elimination, dehydration; capillary, sealed
The infrared spectrum and vibrational assignment for Fe(CO)5: Bonding considerations

Abstract The infrared spectrum of Fe(CO) 5 has been obtained from 2 to 40 μ with special attention to sample purity and frequency measurement. The 2–18 μ region was examined with small gratings while KBr, CsBr, and CsI prisms were used for the longer wavelengths. In connection with the lack of coincidences between infrared and Raman data, the gas phase measurements were extended to path lengths up to 5 m at pressures as great as 25 mm Hg, and the frequencies of relevant bands were obtained for the liquid state. Frequency values were also obtained on low-temperature films between 300 and 700 cm − . The results are consistent with the trigonal bipyramid model ( D 3 h ) and frequencies are assigned to the fundamentals. The nature of the bonding is discussed.
Expression of rat microsomal epoxide hydrolase in Escherichia coli : identification of a histidyl residue essential for catalysis

Abstract The cDNA containing the complete coding region for rat microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EC 3.3.2.3) was cloned into the expression/secretion vector pIN-III-OmpA3 and expressed in Escherichia coli strain TG1. Recombinant epoxide hydrolase was found to represent 4-9% of total bacterial protein and catalyzed the hydrolysis of styrene oxide and benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide with specific activities of 421 and 734 nmol min-1 mg of epoxide hydrolase-1, respectively. Previous work implicated a histidyl residue at or near the active site of the enzyme (DuBois, G. C., Appella, E., Levin, W., Lu, A. Y. H., and Jerina, D. M. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 2932-2939). Comparison of the amino acid sequences of rat, human, and rabbit epoxide hydrolases revealed the presence of 14 conserved histidyl residues. To investigate the role of these residues in epoxide hydrolysis, site-specific mutants were generated and expressed in E. coli. Mutants H64L, H82L, H115N, H126N, H129L, H148N, H170L, H176L, H242L, H247L, H301L, H385L, K386M-H387L, delta 385-391, and H407L catalyzed the hydrolysis of benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide with specific activities between 115 and 830 nmol min-1 mg-1. Mutants H431L, H431N, and H431R were all found to have activities of < 5 nmol min-1 mg-1, which is at least 150-fold less than the activity of the wild type enzyme. A Vm versus pH profile for the recombinant wild type epoxide hydrolase revealed a broad pH optimum of 6.5 to 8.5 and the presence of three ionizable groups with pKa values of 5.8 +/- 0.2, 9.2 +/- 0.1, and 9.7 +/- 0.4. The group with a pKa of 5.8 is preferentially unprotonated, while the other two groups are preferentially protonated for catalysis. We propose that histidine 431 corresponds to the group with a pKa of 5.8, while the others, with pKa values of 9.2 and 9.7 likely represent lysyl, cysteinyl, or tyrosyl residues. Thus, the data are consistent with a model where His-431 acts as a general base, abstracting a proton from water, while another residue(s), perhaps lysine, act as a general acid protonating the alkoxide anion that forms upon cleavage of the carbon-oxygen bond.
A travel time approach to exclusion on transport in porous media

[1] Transport of suspended colloidal particles in porous media often appears faster relative to molecular-scale tracers under the same flow field in both laboratory and field studies. A similar phenomenon appears in the transport of ionic molecules in like-charged fine-grained porous media and is known as anion exclusion. Here a simplified empirical model of the travel time density function for excluded tracer arrivals is developed in terms of the travel time density of an unexcluded tracer in the same flow field by equating the excluded particle trajectories with unexcluded particle trajectories modified with “detours.” The detours are defined generally without invoking assumptions about the detoured trajectory velocities or proximity to pore walls, although such may be introduced. This conceptual basis provides a representation of the effects of exclusion on the transport alone, exclusive of reactions terms, that is consistent with respect to mass balance as well as particle kinematics. The analysis involves a constitutive “speedup” function that tells how travel times of unexcluded particles map to those of excluded particles. A simple inverse operator that identifies the speedup function given experimentally observed cumulative arrival distributions (e.g., breakthrough curves) of excluded and unexcluded particles in the same flow field is derived. The inverse analysis requires breakthrough curve data for which the reactions and transport are separable, as in the case of irreversible kinetic reactions. The relations developed are exercised in calculating the breakthrough curve of excluded particles given the breakthrough curve of a neutral and inert molecular tracer. The method is then applied to recently published data to determine an empirical speedup function, which is found to be in this case invariant of solute flow rate.
Comparison of lesion enhancement on spin-echo and gradient-echo images

PURPOSE To compare lesion enhancement after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine on spin-echo and gradient-echo T1-weighted images. METHODS A total of 48 contrast-enhancing intracranial lesions were evaluated using a spin-echo and two gradient-echo T1-weighted pulse sequences. Percent contrast, contrast-to-noise, and signal-to-noise measurements were made on the spin-echo T1-weighted, three-dimensional gradient-echo, and multiplanar gradient-echo sequences. RESULTS The measurements were somewhat different for the following categories of lesions: extraaxial, intraaxial with edema, and intraaxial without edema. The latter group provided the greatest diagnostic challenge: three of 19 such lesions 1 cm in size or smaller could not be identified on three-dimensional gradient-echo images, and one could not be identified on multi-planar gradient-echo images. The spin-echo T1-weighted sequence demonstrated significantly higher percent contrast (P CONCLUSION The T1-weighted spin-echo sequence was preferred for detecting the full spectrum of contrast-enhancing lesions of the central nervous system.
Acute spinal cord injury: monitoring and anaesthetic implications

Patients with spinal cord injuries represent a complex problem and anaesthetic challenge, and optimal anaesthetic management depends on thorough understanding of the pathophysiology and pharmacology involved.
Characterization of the deletion and rearrangement in the BamHI C region of the X50-7 Epstein-Barr virus genome, a mutant viral strain which exhibits constitutive BamHI W promoter activity.

Abstract Epstein-Barr virus infection of peripheral B lymphocytes predominantly results in a latent infection, with a concomitant growth transformation of the infected cells. These cells express six nuclear antigens (EBNAs) and three membrane antigens. Transcription of all the EBNA genes is driven by one of two promoters, Cp or Wp, located near the left end of the viral genome, and the activities of these promoters are mutually exclusive. We have previously shown that Wp is exclusively used during the initial stages of B-cell immortalization, followed by a switch to Cp usage. However, several cell lines which appear to have failed to switch from Wp to Cp usage and which exhibit constitutive Wp activity have been identified. In two cases, we have shown that this failure to switch is the result of a deletion of approximately 3.5 kb, spanning Cp. In this paper, we characterize the deletion in one of these cell lines, X50-7, and demonstrate not only that the viral genome in this cell line has sustained a deletion in the region of Cp, but also that there has been a rearrangement into the BamHI C region of viral sequences from the BamHI W and Y fragments.
Possible Mechanism of Augmented Exercise Hyperpnea in Congestive Heart Failure

To the Editor: Congestive heart failure (CHF) patients demonstrate a significant potentiation of the ventilatory response to muscular exercise under normal Pao2 and Paco2 and normal exercise tolerance, and this important trait has been variously proposed as a predictor of poor prognosis. The augmented exercise hyperpnea is in contrast to the decreased cardiac chaos and blunted baroreflex sensitivity in these patients. In a two-part editorial, Johnson 1 emphasizes the remarkable correlation between the increased ventilatory drive and increased pulmonary dead space (Vd/Vt) in CHF patients, which then leads to an important question: from whence might this increased drive (at normal Pao2 and Paco2) arise? The author argues that this cannot simply stem from an increased chemoreceptor gain, but more likely a decreased chemoreflex threshold (“set point”)—perhaps due to increased sympathetic stimulation or that of skeletal muscle “ergoreceptors”. Although the validity of these putative mechanisms remains controversial, there are unsettled questions regarding the observed correlation between the augmented exercise hyperpnea and increased V …
sup-9, sup-10, and unc-93 May Encode Components of a Two-Pore K+ Channel that Coordinates Muscle Contraction in Caenorhabditis elegans

Genetic studies of sup-9, unc-93, and sup-10 strongly suggest that these genes encode components of a multi-subunit protein complex that coordinates muscle contraction in Caenorhabditis elegans. We cloned sup-9 and sup-10 and found that they encode a two-pore K+ channel and a novel transmembrane protein, respectively. We also found that UNC-93 and SUP-10 colocalize with SUP-9 within muscle cells, and that UNC-93 is a member of a novel multigene family that is conserved among C. elegans, Drosophila, and humans. Our results indicate that SUP-9 and perhaps other two-pore K+ channels function as multiprotein complexes, and that UNC-93 and SUP-10 likely define new classes of ion channel regulatory proteins.
Optimizing the analysis of adherence interventions using logistic generalized estimating equations.

Interventions aimed at improving HIV medication adherence could be dismissed as ineffective due to statistical methods that are not sufficiently sensitive. Cross-sectional techniques such as t tests are common to the field, but potentially inaccurate due to increased risk of chance findings and invalid assumptions of normal distribution. In a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, two approaches using logistic generalized estimating equations (GEE)—planned contrasts and growth curves—were examined for evaluating percent adherence data. Results of the logistic GEE approaches were compared to classical analysis of variance (ANOVA). Robust and bootstrapped estimation was used to obtain empirical standard error estimates. Logistic GEE with either planned contrasts or growth curves in combination with robust standard error estimates was superior to classical ANOVA for detecting intervention effects. The choice of longitudinal model led to key differences in inference. Implications and recommendations for applied researchers are discussed.
Micromechanics as a Basis of Continuum Random Fields

Department of Materials Science and Mechanics, Michigan State University, East Lansing MI 48824-1226 Many problems in solid and geomechanics require the concept of a meso-continuum, which allows a resolution of stress and other dependent fields over scales not infinitely larger than the typical microscale. Passage from the microstructure to such a meso-continuum is based on a scale depen­dent window playing the role of a Representative Volume Element (RVE). It turns out that the material properties at the mesoscale cannot be uniquely approximated by a random field of stiffness with continuous realizations, but, rather, two random continuum fields, corresponding to essential and natural boundary conditions on RVE, need to be introduced to bound the material response from above and from below. In this paper Monte Carlo simulations are used to obtain the first- and second-order one- and two-point characteristics of these two random fields for random chessboards and matrix-inclusion composites. Special focus is on the correlation functions describing the auto-covariances and crosscovariances of effective random meso-scale conductivity tensor Q; and its dual Sjj. Following issues are investigated: i) scale-dependence of noise-to-signal ratios of various components of Cy and Sjj, ii) spatial structure of the correlation function, iii) uniform strain versus exact calculations in determination of the correlation function, iv) correlation structure of compos­ites with inclusions without and with overlap. 1. INTRODUCTION One of the classical goals of micromechanics is the derivation of macroscopic properties on scales practically infinitely larger than the lengthscales at the microlevel. There are, how­ever, situations where description of material response at intermediate levels - so-called meso-level (or meso-scale) -is necessary. These are, for example, i) necessity to resolve local fields (of stress, say), ii) materials with spatially-depen­dent statistics, iii) solution of boundary value problems at macro-scales. Case i) is exemplified by almost any one of many problems in soil mechanics where a meso-scale has to be introduced to define a continuum over a granular mass in the first place (Ostoja-Starzewski, 1992). Case ii) is a situation where a pas­sage to an infinite scale would be beyond interest, such as for instance in a heterogenous interface problem (Ostoja-Starze­wski and Jasiuk, 1992; Jasiuk and Ostoja-Starzewski, 1994). A paradigm of case iii) is provided by so-called Stochastic Finite Elements (SFE) - a field of research developing over the past fifteen years, in which a micromechanical basis in set­ting up of a stochastic stiffness matrix is sorely needed (Ostoja-Starzewski, 1993a and 1993b). Most of the past research in SFE concerned linear elastic structural responses and relied on a straightforward generali­zation of Hooke's law (see e.g. Contreras, 1980; Liu, et al, 1986; Benaroya and Rehak, 1988; Shinozuka, 1988; Ghanem andSpanos, 1991), that is
Comparison of the MMPI‐PTSD subscale with PTSD and substance abuse patient populations

War-related PTSD frequently presents as a dual disorder. Questions have been raised about whether the MMPI-PTSD subscale developed by Keane, Malloy, and Fairbank (1984) is identifying a separate PTSD syndrome or is a measure of generalized distress common to various diagnostic categories, including substance abuse. In this study, veterans with PTSD with and without substance abuse were compared to veterans with substance abuse only on the MMPI-PTSD subscale (n = 22 in each of the four categories). Results support the ability of the test to distinguish between groups of veterans with PTSD and those with substance abuse only. The findings lend indirect support to the validity of a distinct PTSD symptom cluster.
Determination of mugram amounts of palladium in titanium alloys by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry after solvent extraction and collection on a filter paper

Abstract Palladium is separated from large amounts of titanium matrix and other elements by solvent extraction with diethyldithiocarbamate, and is collected into the small central area on a filter paper for subsequent x-ray fluorescence measurement. The palladium diethyldithiocarbamate chelate is extracted quantitatively into chloroform at pH 9.5 in the presence of large amounts of tartrate and EDTA. Palladium in the range 30–100 μg can be determined with coefficients of variation of 0-6–1.4%. The detection limit is 0.3 μg of palladium; up to 500 μg of copper does not interfere.
Contributions of the complementarity determining regions to the thermal stability of a single-domain antibody.

Single domain antibodies (sdAbs) are the recombinantly-expressed variable domain from camelid (or shark) heavy chain only antibodies and provide rugged recognition elements. Many sdAbs possess excellent affinity and specificity; most refold and are able to bind antigen after thermal denaturation. The sdAb A3, specific for the toxin Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), shows both sub-nanomolar affinity for its cognate antigen (0.14 nM) and an unusually high melting point of 85°C. Understanding the source of sdAb A3’s high melting temperature could provide a route for engineering improved melting temperatures into other sdAbs. The goal of this work was to determine how much of sdAb A3’s stability is derived from its complementarity determining regions (CDRs) versus its framework. Towards answering this question we constructed a series of CDR swap mutants in which the CDRs from unrelated sdAbs were integrated into A3’s framework and where A3’s CDRs were integrated into the framework of the other sdAbs. All three CDRs from A3 were moved to the frameworks of sdAb D1 (a ricin binder that melts at 50°C) and the anti-ricin sdAb C8 (melting point of 60°C). Similarly, the CDRs from sdAb D1 and sdAb C8 were moved to the sdAb A3 framework. In addition individual CDRs of sdAb A3 and sdAb D1 were swapped. Melting temperature and binding ability were assessed for each of the CDR-exchange mutants. This work showed that CDR2 plays a critical role in sdAb A3’s binding and stability. Overall, results from the CDR swaps indicate CDR interactions play a major role in the protein stability.
Impact of reclaimed water on select organic matter properties of a receiving stream-fluorescence and perylene sorption behavior.

Surface water samples obtained from the Bull Run tributary upstream and downstream of the Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority (UOSA) advanced wastewater reclamation facility (WRF) were characterized by fluorescence excitation−emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy, and sorption coefficients (Kmoc) of macromolecular organic carbon isolates were quantified by fluorescence quenching. The EEM data revealed a signature fluorescence distribution in the downstream samples that was attributed to the presence of proteinlike material. The Kmoc values for upstream samples were consistently and significantly higher than those of corresponding downstream samples. There was a moderate correlation (R 2 = 0.67) between log Kmoc and the molar extinction coefficient at 280 nm (e280) and a strong correlation (R 2 = 0.96) between Kmoc and the proteinlike fluorescence region for macromolecular isolates with negligible quantum yields. This study demonstrates that organic matter downstream of the UOSA-WRF has unique fluorescence and pe...
A Simplified Cascade Synthesis of RC Transfer Functions

This paper presents a new cascade synthesis of RC transfer functions with an unspecified multiplying constant. The method is based on a topological identity for cascaded RLC twoports and a theorem on the realization of RC voltage transfer functions with a prescribed termination. Proofs of the topological identity and the realizability theorem are given. The minimal realization of a class of biquadratic transfer functions is investigated, and some sufficient conditions for a fiveelement realization are found. The use of these results in the present synthesis procedure yields a relatively simple realization of RC transfer functions having one pair of complex zeros and any number of real zeros in the left half-plane. Several numerical examples are given, and comparisons are made with the results obtained by other well-known methods.
Increased plasma levels of leukotriene B4 and prostaglandin E2 in cats experimentally inoculated with feline infectious peritonitis virus.

Specific-pathogen-free kittens experimentally infected with feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) subsequently demonstrated increased plasma levels of the arachidonic acid metabolites, leukotriene (LT) B4 and prostaglandin (PG) E2. Significant increases (P<0.025) in LTB4 plasma levels occurred in all (5/5) FIPV-inoculated kittens on postchallenge-exposure days (PCD) 7 and 14 vs PCD 0. Significant increases (P<0.05) in PGE2 plasma levels occurred in 80% (4/5) of FIPV-infected kittens on PCD 7 and 14. Maximal mean plasma levels of LTB4 and PGE2 occurred on PCD 7 (502.5±45.6 pg/ml and 1108.0±247.9 pg/ml, respectively). A positive correlation was found between LTB4 plasma levels and body temperature (r=0.609, P<0.01). Mean survival time in FIPV-inoculated kittens was 19.4±3.2 days. Gross lesions, including peritoneal or pleural effusions (or both) and connective tissue edema, indicated an increased vascular permeability in the FIPV-infected kittens. Histologically, lesions were characterized by pyogranulomatous inflammation. Immunofluorescent studies of tissues from FIPV-infected kittens demonstrated foci of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and FIPV-positive macrophages oriented around dilated blood vessels. Seemingly, arachidonic acid metabolites, including LTB4 or PGE2 released from macrophages, neutrophils or other cells, may be involved in the pathogenesis of FIP vascular and inflammatory lesions and in some of the clinical disease manifestations.
Understanding on-screen reading behaviors in academic contexts: a case study of five graduate English-as-a-second-language students

Undoubtedly, new areas of functionality for electronic texts will come to the fore and create new reading habits and expectations for dealing and interacting with text as electronic texts become dominant in the academic world. These new forms of reading will gradually become as natural as the different activities readers now take for granted, such as searching an online catalog or browsing the web. However, little research has concerned what and how graduate students actually read on a computer screen. This study, therefore, investigated the on-screen reading behaviors of five English-as-a-second-language graduate students in different academic disciplines. The results showed that students had low preference and tendency toward reading texts that required careful reading on a computer screen because they believed that reading screen-based texts limited their use of strategies. However, most students chose online articles when searching for references. In addition, students' on-screen reading behaviors wer...
Glenohumeral contact pressure in a simulated active compression test using cadaveric shoulders.

Background The active compression test has been described to detect superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions. Some have speculated that contact between the lesser tuberosity and the superior glenoid in the testing position causes a positive test. This study evaluated the location of peak glenohumeral contact pressures during a simulated active compression test in a cadaveric model with and without SLAP lesions. Materials and methods Six specimens were tested. A pressure sensor was used to record glenohumeral contact, and a motion analysis system was used to measure humeral head translation. Contact pressures and translations were measured during serial deltoid and biceps loads. These were repeated for small and large SLAP lesions. Results There was a notable shift in the location of peak contact pressure from the anterior-inferior glenoid to the anterior-superior glenoid with increasing deltoid load. Deltoid loading translated the humeral head posteriorly relative to the glenoid. Conversely, biceps loads countered the pull of the deltoid only when the biceps load was greater than the deltoid load. The SLAP tears did not significantly alter the degree of humeral head translation or location of the contact pressures. Conclusions In the active compression test, the posterior capsule is taut and the anterior capsule is lax, which permits the deltoid to translate the humeral head posteriorly. This shift in the peak contact pressure to the superior glenoid may elicit a positive active compression test.
Mental imagery increases self-determined motivation to exercise with university enrolled women: A randomized controlled trial using a peer-based intervention

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a peer-based mental imagery intervention on the self-determined motivation and cardio-respiratory fitness of university enrolled women. Design Randomized controlled trial. Method 43 University enrolled women were randomized to peer-mentored or peer-mentored plus mental imagery conditions while 32 completed three meetings with peer-mentors and post-testing ( M age = 19.91; SD = 1.70). Results Significant improvements in cardio-respiratory endurance, ratings of perceived endurance, and self-determined motivation to exercise were observed across both study conditions. Participants assigned to the peer mentored plus mental imagery condition reported significantly greater increases in self-determined motivation to exercise at post-test compared to those in the peer-mentored condition. Conclusions Peer-based interventions are a viable way to improve fitness and health outcomes while mental imagery appears to be associated with increases in autonomous forms of exercise motivation.
Electrophysiology of human selective attention

Abstract Recordings of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) from human subjects demonstrate several distinctive types of selective attention mechanisms that differ according to stimulus modality. The selection of attended from unattended inputs first makes a significant impact on sensory processing at 50–80 msec after stimulus onset, with larger ERP amplitudes being triggered by attended stimuli. There is little evidence that inhibition or gating of unattended inputs in the peripheral sensory relay nuclei plays a significant role in the rejection of irrelevant stimuli. The timing of successive ERP components indicates that human selective attention has a hierarchical structure, with an early selection of input channel being a prerequisite for the stimulus analysis of detailed features. Separate ERP components demarcate processes of stimulus selection, evaluation, and classification, thus providing a window into the timing of complex mental operations.
Modeling imager deterministic and statistical modulation transfer functions

A unified two-step approach for evaluation of deterministic and statistical modulation transfer functions (MTF's) is applied to a time-delay-and-integration charge-coupled imager. The deterministic MTF's include the well-known spatial and temporal aperture MTF's, as well as the charge-coupled imager interpixel and intrapixel synchronism MTF's, which are derived here. These latter MTF's originate from nonsynchronous motion (velocity mismatch) between the image on the focal plane and the charge packets. The statistical evaluation results in phase and jitter MTF's.
A note on families of Dirac operators

Abstract The index theorem for Dirac families is applied to deduce a result concerning isomorphisms of homotopy groups of certain spaces.
Free fatty acid patterns of human maternal plasma, perfused placenta and umbilical cord plasma.

CHEN et al.1 have shown that there is a variation in the amount of individual free fatty acids in maternal and cord plasma, suggesting that the foetal free fatty acids do not arise solely from the maternal circulation. The placenta is known to synthesize fatty acids2 and to use free fatty acids in the formation of phospholipids3 and cholesterol esters (unpublished work of A. Robertson, H. Sprecher and C. Dobbs). To investigate the inter-relationships of maternal, placental and newborn free fatty acids, we have analysed the free fatty acids from these sources in normal pregnancies.
Sex Role Perception, Portrayal, and Preference in the Fantasy Play of Young Children.

The naturalistic observation of role-taking behavior in 90 spontaneously occurring (i.e., unelicited) fantasy play episodes of 16 4-year-old children in same-sex paired interaction revealed (1) a differential perception of male, female, parental, and conjugal roles, particularly in terms of competence; (2) the accuracy, depth, and breadth of their sex-role portrayals; and (3) a preference for same-sex role-play. The assimilative and accommodative functions of roleplay in the early acquisition of sex role are discussed, as well as the degree of decentration required for the roleplay activities to occur.
Temptations In Cyberspace: New Battlefields In Childhood Obesity

Proposed regulations targeting food marketing to children typically focus on traditional media, such as television, radio, and print ads. However, the widespread use of the Internet has promulgated novel food marketing strategies such as “advergaming,” or the use of online games incorporating advertisements. In addition, the advent of so-called neuromarketing research is also allowing advertisers to appeal to the subconscious and emotional effects of food and beverage products, to which children may be particularly vulnerable. Current and future regulatory efforts should address the ubiquitous but often subtle marketing to which children are exposed and should measure success in terms of children’s consumption of these products.
Histological evidence for direct connections between the optic lobes of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae

Summary Heretofore, descriptions of direct interconnections between insect optic lobes have been based on histological examinations of normal brains or on inference from electrophysiological or behavioral data. We present here what we believe to be the first demonstration of such monosynaptic connections by techniques of experimental neuroanatomy. Twenty-four to 39 h after extirpation of the left optic lobe, degenerating axons and axon terminals, as silvered by a modified Nauta technique, were abundant in the central portion of the medulla of the right optic lobe. The periphery of the medulla was free of argyrophilic debris as were the lobula and lamina. The distribution of neuronal somata with processes terminating in the left optic lobe was established by retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase injected into the left lobe and by the development of distinctive perinuclear rings of RNA (a ‘chromatolytic’ reaction) by some cells within 1–2 weeks following amputation of the left lobe. Both techniques revealed distinct clusters of cells in the anteroventral and posterior regions of the right optic lobe, and in the medial portion of the right protocerebrum. The cells which interconnect the two optic lobes may be involved not only in the bilateral representation of visual information, but also in the coordination of optic lobe pacemakers which control a circadian rhythm of locomotory activity.