cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The quantity and variety of households’ meat purchases: A censored demand system approach

This study investigates the demand for 10 disaggregated meat products by U.S. households. A censored demand system which imposes budget constraints in both observed and latent shares is estimated along with a detailed explanation of the estimation procedure. Additional details about the methodology not provided in previous studies should help researchers to empirically apply the model. An innovation of the study is to introduce the censored demand system model for studying the variety of a household's food purchases. Most households buy between seven and eight different products and hardly change the variety of their purchases with changes in meat expenditure.
Introducing the Legal Affairs Section

I am delighted to introduce the inaugural issue of the Legal Affairs Section of the Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice. Not only has law become important in the profession of engineers, but also it is becoming the profession itself in many a contract and business dealing. Liability issues, with which many engineers are fast becoming familiar, are just one part of a larger legal imbroglio, and we know how insidious just these liability issues can be. Engineers are generally uninformed of the intricacies of law and are frequently unacquainted with what is legally untenable or deciphering their contractual rights. Moreover, the disputes among engineers themselves—such as between designers and contractors—can reach mammoth proportions, where the blind run after the blind. The mission of the Legal Affairs Section is to bring articles pertaining to dispute resolution and engineering law to the engineering and legal readership. While there are about 150,000 members of ASCE to whom this Section is directed, about 6,000 attorneys are members of the American Bar Association ~ABA! Forum on the Construction Industry, who participate in legal affairs and cases pertaining to civil engineering, and who would benefit from the articles in this Journal. This new section provides a forum for publication of scholarly papers about legal issues in civil engineering. In the United States, an estimated $80 billion a year is spent on lawsuits, and much of this in the A/E/C industry. Let us face the truth—the civil engineering industry loses large sums of money in disputes and legal matters, even as it flashes media headlines with its huge investments and massive constructions. Even large change orders and claims make local headlines. Too much taxpayer money is at stake. Project after project is plagued by disputes ~in one fashion or another! which exhaust our personal, project, and national resources and adversely affect the productivity of the industry. Civil engineers have been famous in history, and have been well renowned for many legendary accomplishments. However, the skills of interpreting contracts, analyzing compensability, and calculating damages often escape the engineer and are not usually taught in engineering school. Claims are prepared where neither a contractor can rigorously defend the prepared claim, nor is the client’s representative capable of finding flaws in the claim submitted. It is imperative that we begin to address the issue of legal affairs in civil engineering in an organized manner. Hence, creation of this Legal Affairs Section that serves as a forum as well as conduit for scholarly articles in the relevant areas of law. The subject of alternate dispute resolution ~ADR! arose as a necessity from the gravestones of good civil engineers, in reaction to increases in litigation. William Blake and Jane Mouton, the famed management scientists, termed the development of law as one of the four achievements of humankind in countering differences. There is a profound purpose to the philosophy of law, since law fundamentally relates to morality and righteousness, and re-
Predicting the In Vitro Toxicity of Synthetic Beta-Amyloid (1-40)

Abstract The in vitro toxicity of synthetic beta-amyloid (βA4) is variable and unpredictable, limiting its use as a research tool. This study describes a method using Congo red (CR) to predict the in vitro toxicity of βA4 solutions. Histopathologically, CR is used to stain the neuritic, βA4-containing plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, synthetic βA4 solutions were incubated with CR at a molar ratio of 1.0:2.5. The solutions were centrifuged and the absorbance of the supernatants were measured. Predictions of nontoxicity correlated with absorbance readings near zero. Toxicity was evaluated relative to control cells (vehicle only), using a hemocytometer to count PC-12 cells that excluded trypan blue. The positive predictive value of the test was 78% and the negative predictive value was 100%. To use this test, the toxic concentration(s) of βA4 must first be established empirically. Then, the CR test can be used to evaluate the potential toxicity of βA4 solutions at similar concentrations. Thus, this test can be used under a variety of laboratory circumstances.
Implementing Small-Group Activities in Large Lecture Classes

This study examines student perceptions regarding the effectiveness of small-group work in a large lecture class. The article considers and illustrates from students' perspectives the ways in which small-group activities could enhance comprehension of course material, reduce anonymity associated with large lecture classes, and promote student accountability. In addition, strategies for incorporating these types of activities into the structure of a large lecture class are provided.
Uracil mustard revisited

BACKGROUND A patient with diffuse large cell lymphoma who had a complete response lasting 35 years following a 3-day course of uracil mustard stimulated a recall review of patients treated with this oral alkylating agent. METHODS Records of patients treated with uracil mustard between 1958 and 1970 were reviewed. A current histologic review according to the International Formulation was performed when possible. Total doses of uracil mustard were similar to those of mechlorethamine, although there were variations in the dose schedule. RESULTS Employing criteria used over 25 years ago to evaluate patients' responses, the overall regression rate for 94 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients was 69.2% (complete response [CR] 23.4%). Of 62 patients with Hodgkin disease, 69.4% responded (CR 9.7%). For 39 patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia, the combined complete and partial response rate was 74% (CR 7.7%). Thrombocytopenia was the primary toxicity. CONCLUSIONS Uracil mustard is an unmarketed, inexpensive oral alkylating agent that has been effective in the treatment of patients with lymphoma, chronic lymphatic leukemia, and thrombocythemia. Perhaps it should be reevaluated. Cancer 1999;85:2265–72. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Adsorption of gold on activated carbon in bromide solutions

Adsorption of gold on activated carbon from gold bromide solutions was examined as a function of pH, particle size, amount of carbon, initial gold bromide concentration, bromine concentration, temperature, and various cations and anions. The pH did not have any effect on gold adsorption below pH = 6. Above pH = 6, pH had a dramatically negative effect. The adsorption occurred according to a first-order reaction-rate model. The reaction-rate constant was proportional to the inverse of carbon particle radius, the amount of carbon, and independent of the initial gold concentration. Temperature had very little effect on the rate of gold adsorption. Cations (Cu2+, Fe3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+) and anions (SO 4 2 , Cl-, Br-) did not have any effect on gold adsorption. Free bromine had a very negative effect on gold uptake. Gold bromide is very stable and stays in this form on the carbon surface. Contrary to this, gold chloride is unstable, and elemental gold precipitates on the carbon surface. Loading capacity of carbon depended on the presence of free bromine. In the presence of free bromine, it was further dependent on temperature (increased with increasing temperature). AtT = 25 °C, gold loading was 27 to 64 kg Au/t carbon. In bromine-free solutions, gold loading was 174 to 315 kg Au/t carbon.
Imaging Michelson Spectrometer For Hubble Space Telescope

Hubble Imaging Michelson Spectrometer (HIMS), a proposed instrument currently completing its definition phase, is designed to provide background-limited imaging capability and to exploit the diffraction-limited imaging capability of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in the wavelength range extending from 1000 to 2500 nanometers. The HIMS instrument also provides spectral resolution with resolving power [λ/Δλ] from 1 to 10 4 . The basic opto-mechanical characteristics and design considerations for the instrument are described.
Inhibition of NF-kappa B signaling restores responsiveness of castrate-resistant prostate cancer cells to anti-androgen treatment by decreasing androgen receptor-variant expression

Androgen receptor splicing variants (ARVs) that lack the ligand-binding domain (LBD) are associated with the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), including resistance to the new generation of high-affinity anti-androgens. However, the mechanism by which ARV expression is regulated is not fully understood. In this study, we show that the activation of classical nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling increases the expression of ARVs in prostate cancer (PCa) cells and converts androgen-sensitive PCa cells to become androgen-insensitive, whereas downregulation of NF-κB signaling inhibits ARV expression and restores responsiveness of CRPC to anti-androgen therapy. In addition, we demonstrated that combination of anti-androgen with NF-κB-targeted therapy inhibits efficiently tumor growth of human CRPC xenografts. These results indicate that induction of ARVs by activated NF-κB signaling in PCa cells is a critical mechanism by which the PCa progresses to CRPC. This has important implications as it can prolong the survival of CRPC patients by restoring the tumors to once again respond to conventional androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT).
Thermodynamics-Based Object-Oriented Environmental Design of an Industrial Air Conditioner

Continued efforts to reduce the environmental impact of products and services are leading to the increased prevalence of life-cycle assessment (LCA) during the design phase. A key challenge in traditional process-based LCA is the validation of vast life-cycle inventory data, which easily numbers in the tens of thousands of data points. In this paper, we utilize an ‘object-based’ approach from software engineering to manage the large amount of data and combine this approach with simple thermodynamic principles, thus significantly reducing the chance of error in LCA inputs. The approach is demonstrated for the test case of a typical industrial air-conditioning unit. We find that implementation of the object-based approach identifies numerous potential errors in the life-cycle inventory data. Thus, the proposed approach enables the designer to perform a more robust environmental analysis of a given system. This facilitates a better identification and prioritization of opportunities for reducing the environmental footprint across the system life-cycle.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of secretory-granule, granule-membrane, and plasma-membrane proteins of rat parotid cells

Secretory granules and plasma membranes were isolated from rat parotid cells and characterized enzymatically and by electron microscopy. The proteins of the secretory granule membranes, the secretory granules and the plasma membranes were characterized by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by silver staining. The granule membrane contains 166 polypeptides of which only 26 are also present in the granule contents. The membrane proteins have isoelectric points between 4.75 and 6.45 and apparent molecular weights of 17000 to 190000 Daltons. The granule content proteins are surprisingly complex and contain 122 polypeptides with molecular weights of 11000 to 138000 and isoelectric points of 4.8 to 6.55. Thirteen of these peptides are present as major species. The plasma membrane contains 172 polypeptide species with molecular weights from 17000 to 200000 Daltons and isoelectric points of 5.0 to 6.8. Thirty-five of the plasma membrane proteins are also present in the secretory granule membranes indicating that the two membranes have some enzymatic or structural properties in common. Thus, secretory granule membranes and plasma membranes from parotid cells have a more complex polypeptide composition than has previously been shown for membranes of this type. The systems developed are suitable for the analysis of regulatory events such as protein phosphorylation, proteolytic processing, and other types of post-translational modifications that may be important to the secretory mechanism.
HOMEBOYS, DOPE FIENDS, LEGITS, AND NEW JACKS*

Milwaukee research finds that most young male adult gang members cannot be described accurately as “committed long-term participants” in the drug economy. Rather, most adult gang members are involved sporadically with drug sales, moving in and out of conventional labor markets at irregular intervals. Four types of male adult gang members are described; only one type has rejected conventional values. Despite relatively high average earnings from drug sales, most gang members would accept full-time jobs with modest wages. This suggests that severe and mandatory penalties for cocaine use and sales should be ended.
Largely enhanced single-molecule fluorescence in plasmonic nanogaps formed by hybrid silver nanostructures.

It has been suggested that narrow gaps between metallic nanostructures can be practical for producing large field enhancement. We design a hybrid silver nanostructure geometry in which fluorescent ...
Socially oriented engineering education

The increasing emphasis on the application of engineering principles to a wide range of social problems results from a number of social forces. To meet the challenge, "engineering" must be redefined broadly. This article discusses a set of possible goals and specific strategies for educating a new breed of socio-technological systems engineers and to facilitate the permeation of social orientation in engineering education. One of the most signigicant trends in the engineering profession today is the increasing emphasis on the application of engineering principles to help solve a wide range of important social problems in education, health, communications, transportation, public safety, environment, urban development, etc. The purpose of this article is to discuss the implications of this trend and a possible strategy for the corresponding reorientation in engineering education.
A model for the prediction of bubble size at a single orifice in two-phase gas—liquid systems

Abstract A new model for the prediction of volumes of bubbles generated from a single orifice in two-phase gas—liquid systems has been developed based on a rigorous bubble closure mechanism. The interaction between the primary bubble and subsequent bubbles formed at the orifice has been incorporated into the model at high gas flow rates. The distance traveled by the bubble from the orifice before it detaches is also calculated by the model. This has been validated by comparison with the available experimental data and it is found that this model represents an improvement over previous models.
Multiple Constraint Space-Time Adaptive Processing Using Direct Data Domain Least Squares (D3LS) Approach

In this paper, a new direct data domain least squares (D3LS) approach is developed for multiple target detection in space-time adaptive processing (STAP). The advantage of the D3LS technique is that it does not rely on any statistical information of the interference as opposed to conventional STAP algorithms. The modified version of D3LS when more than one target is in a radar scenario will be discussed. This is equivalent to forming multiple beams simultaneously while suppressing all other interference at the radar receiver. Numerical simulations show that multiple beams are directed towards target directions correctly and maintain their gain constraints along those directions such that the target signal intensities or complex amplitudes can be estimated.
Control of the Type 3 Secretion System in Vibrio harveyi by Quorum Sensing through Repression of ExsA

The type 3 secretion system (T3SS) genes of Vibrio harveyi are activated at low cell density and repressed at high cell density by quorum sensing (QS). Repression requires LuxR, the master transcriptional regulator of QS-controlled genes. Here, we determine the mechanism underlying the LuxR repression of the T3SS system. Using a fluorescence-based cell sorting approach, we isolated V. harveyi mutants that are unable to express T3SS genes at low cell density and identified two mutations in the V. harveyi exsBA operon. While LuxR directly represses the expression of exsBA, complementation and epistasis analyses reveal that it is the repression of exsA expression, but not exsB expression, that is responsible for the QS-mediated repression of T3SS genes at high cell density. The present work further defines the genes in the V. harveyi QS regulon and elucidates a mechanism demonstrating how multiple regulators can be linked in series to direct the expression of QS target genes specifically at low or high cell density.
Changes in histochemical staining of brain tumor blood vessels associated with increasing malignancy.

Evidence has been presented that alterations occur in brain tumor blood vessels involving the reduction or deletion of important energy-producing as well as energyconsuming processes within the endothelial cell. In the light of these findings the apparent breakdown of the “blood-brain barrier” and the localization in brain tumors of numerous substances which ordinarily do not enter the brain are not necessarily due to a physical break in the structures which compose the blood-brain barrier but may also be the result of the suppression or deletion of some of the more dynamic aspects of that barrier. It is also noted that these alterations in enzymes may occur prior to obvious morphological changes in vessels. These observations suggest that some of the morphology of a given glioma may be a trophic response to environmental changes resulting from functional alterations in local vessels.
Inevitability of shell crossing in the gravitational collapse of weakly charged dust spheres.

It is shown here that shell crossing is inevitable in the gravitational collapse of weakly charged (\ensuremath{\Vert}charge density\ensuremath{\Vert}) dust spheres. That is, all the dust shells in the central part of the dust cloud are subject to shell crossing before they reach the stage of maximal contraction. This shell crossing, which is accompanied by a density singularity, indicates the breakdown of the dust model there. Most previous analyses of the gravitational collapse and gravitational bounce of charged dust spheres were based on the ``free-surface approach''---the assumption that the surface of the dust sphere moves like a test particle in Reissner-Nordstr\"om spacetime. Because of the occurrence of shell crossing, the free-surface approach cannot be applied to the late stages of evolution. This makes it difficult to analyze, in general, what will be the final stage in the gravitational collapse of charged dust. However, for idealized models, in which the dust interior is considered to be self-similar and the shells are considered to collide inelastically, the shell crossing is shown to have a very significant effect on the causal structure: It completely prevents the gravitational bounce. This result, the inevitability of shell crossing (and its potential to affect drastically the causal structure), is in remarkable contrast to common ideas about charged-dust collapse.
Reengineering the Nucleotide Cofactor Specificity of the RecA Protein by Mutation of Aspartic Acid 100

Abstract We have recently obtained evidence for a direct linkage between the S0.5 (S0.5 is the substrate concentration required for half-maximal velocity) value of a nucleoside triphosphate and the conformational state of the RecA-ssDNA complex, with an S0.5 value of 125 μM or less required for stabilization of the strand exchange-active conformation. For example, although ATP and ITP are hydrolyzed by the RecA protein with the same turnover number (18 min−1), ATP (S0.5 = 45 μM) functions as a cofactor for the strand exchange reaction, whereas ITP (S0.5 = 500 μM) is inactive as a strand exchange cofactor. The RecA protein crystal structure suggests that cofactor specificity is determined by Asp100, which likely forms a hydrogen bond with the exocyclic 6-amino group of ATP; the higher S0.5 value for ITP is presumably due to unfavorable interactions between Asp100 and the 6-carbonyl group of the inosine ring. To test this hypothesis, we prepared a mutant RecA protein in which Asp100 was replaced by an asparagine residue. The S0.5(ITP) for the [D100N]RecA protein is 125 μM, indicating favorable interactions between the Asn100 side chain and the 6-carbonyl group of ITP. Correspondingly, ITP functions as a cofactor for the strand exchange activity of the [D100N]RecA protein. This result demonstrates the importance of the residue at position 100 in determining nucleotide cofactor specificity and underscores the importance of the S0.5 value in the RecA protein-promoted strand exchange reaction.
Laminar, transition and turbulent natural convection adjacent to inclined and vertical surfaces

Abstract Experiments on natural convection mass transfer adjacent to vertical and upward-facing inclined plates were performed by employing an electrochemical technique. Local measurements were made, yielding both streamwise and spanwise mass transfer distributions. Time-dependent mass transfer rates were measured in the transition and turbulent regimes. The measured local laminar mass transfer coefficients agreed very well with analytical predictions, both for vertical and inclined surfaces. The Rayleigh number marking the onset of laminar-turbulent transition varied markedly with the angle of inclination, decreasing with increasing departures from the vertical. In the transition regime, for surfaces inclined at angles greater than 15 degrees to the vertical, significant spanwise variations in both the instantaneous and time-averaged mass transfer rates were in evidence. The timewise fluctuations of the turbulent mass transfer rates were of substantially greater amplitude and period for inclined surfaces than for the vertical plate. The time-averaged, local turbulent mass transfer coefficients were correlated with the one-third power of the Rayleigh number and, in addition, exhibited an appreciable dependence on the inclination angle.
Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary in a premenarchal female

Sclerosing stromal tumor (SST) is a rare benign ovarian neoplasm of stromal origin with less than 100 cases reported in the literature. Unlike the other stromal tumors, thecomas and fibromas, which tend to occur in the fifth and sixth decades, sclerosing stromal tumors predominantly affect females in the second and third decades. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound findings have been described, but have not been reported previously in the pediatric literature. We present a case of SST of the ovary in a 10-year-old premenarchal female, the youngest patient to our knowledge reported in the literature, and describe the ultrasound and CT findings with pathologic correlation.
Selective decrease in the DNA base excision repair pathway in squamous cell cancer of the esophagus

Objectives Oxidative damage can lead to a highly mutagenic 8-oxoguanine lesion, which mispairs with adenosine residues, leading to G:C→T:A transversions. In mammalian cells 8-oxoguanine glycosylase initiates the DNA base excision repair pathway to repair the 8-oxoguanine lesion. To date, there is no information regarding oxidative DNA damage and repair pathways in esophageal cancer. Therefore we designed the current study to demonstrate the DNA damage and repair pathways in esophageal cancer by expression of 8-oxoguanine glycosylase in reflux-induced and mutagen (methyl-n-amyl nitrosamine)-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in esophageal tumors. Methods Gastroduodenal reflux was surgically created in male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 120). Half of the animals received methyl-n-amyl nitrosamine. Animals not undergoing operations served as control animals (n = 10). The experiment concluded 30 weeks postoperatively. Immunohistochemistry for 8-oxoguanine and 8-oxoguanine glycosylase was assessed by 2 independent observers. Protein expression was assessed by using the Western blot method. Results There was significantly more DNA damage in both adenocarcinoma (n = 15) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 19), as exemplified by positive 8-oxoguanine expression compared with that seen in control animals ( P P P Conclusion These results demonstrate the selective decrease in the DNA base excision repair pathway in combined reflux and methyl-n-amyl nitrosamine–induced squamous cell cancer of the esophagus.
Brainstem neuromodulation and REM sleep

The REM phase of sleep has long been of interest because of its association with dreaming and its presence in almost all mammals. We are now beginning to understand the mechanisms of its rhythmic generation, and review current hypotheses in this article. A group of cholinergic neurons at the junction of the pons and midbrain, in the laterodorsal and pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei, begins to discharge before the onset of this phase of sleep. Projections to key brain stem reticular formation regions lead, primarily through actions of non-M1 muscarinic receptors, to heightened excitability and discharge activity in these effector regions for the phenomena of REM sleep. Cholinergic projections to the thalamus promote EEG activation. These mesopontine cholinergic neurons are, in turn, modulated by inhibitory and REM-suppressive projections: norepinephrinergic locus coeruleus projections act as α2and serotonergic dorsal raphe projections act as 5-HT1Areceptors. These mesopontine cholinergic neurons are self-modulating through recurrent collaterals and projections between different subgroups that act as muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. In addition, metabolically generated adenosine acts to inhibit these cholinergic neurons. All of the preceding inhibitory effects are mediated by inwardly rectifying potassium currents. Implications of this neural network for a model of REM sleep cycle generation are discussed.
Sirtuin 1 Functionally and Physically Interacts with Disruptor of Telomeric Silencing-1 to Regulate α-ENaC Transcription in Collecting Duct

Aldosterone increases renal tubular Na+ absorption in large part by increasing transcription of the epithelial Na+ channel α-subunit (α-ENaC) expressed in the apical membrane of collecting duct principal cells. We recently reported that a complex containing the histone H3K79 methyltransferase disruptor of telomeric silencing-1 (Dot1) associates with and represses the α-ENaC promoter in mouse inner medullary collecting duct mIMCD3 cells, and that aldosterone acts to disrupt this complex and its inhibitory effects (Zhang, W., Xia, X., Reisenauer, M. R., Rieg, T., Lang, F., Kuhl, D., Vallon, V., and Kone, B. C. (2007) J. Clin. Invest. 117, 773–783). Here we demonstrate that the NAD+-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) functionally and physically interacts with Dot1 to enhance the distributive activity of Dot1 on H3K79 methylation and thereby represses α-ENaC transcription in mIMCD3 cells. Sirt1 overexpression inhibited basal α-ENaC mRNA expression and α-ENaC promoter activity, surprisingly in a deacetylase-independent manner. The ability of Sirt1 to inhibit α-ENaC transcription was retained in a truncated Sirt1 construct expressing only its N-terminal domain. Conversely, Sirt1 knockdown enhanced α-ENaC mRNA levels and α-ENaC promoter activity, and inhibited global H3K79 methylation, particularly H3K79 trimethylation, in chromatin associated with the α-ENaC promoter. Sirt1 and Dot1 co-immunoprecipitated from mIMCD3 cells and colocalized in the nucleus. Sirt1 immunoprecipitated from chromatin associated with regions of the α-ENaC promoter known to associate with Dot1. Aldosterone inhibited Sirt1 association at two of these regions, as well as Sirt1 mRNA expression, in a coordinate manner with induction of α-ENaC transcription. Overexpressed Sirt1 inhibited aldosterone induction of α-ENaC transcription independent of effects on mineralocorticoid receptor trans-activation. These data identify Sirt1 as a novel modulator of α-ENaC, Dot1, and the aldosterone signaling pathway.
Iron status and periodic limb movements of sleep in children: a causal relationship?

All children had an overnight PSG with a standard pediatric montage. Individuals taking medications or having other conditions that would alter either iron metabolism or dopamine metabolism were excluded. Sleep architecture was measured in a standard fashion with an inter-reader reliability .90%. Iron status was primarily assessed by serum ferritin and serum iron. CBCs were obtained but the results were not reported. The children with ferritin ,50 mg/l were administered oral iron supplements (3 mg/kg) for 3 months. There was no apparent attempt to control diet during this period. After 3 months, children treated with oral iron returned to the sleep lab for a repeated PSG and blood sample.
Some point derivations for semicrossed products

Abstract We consider point derivations of semicrossed product algebras. In particular we focus on point derivations into the upper triangular n × n matrices and show that such point derivations are inner. Finally we consider point derivations corresponding to periodic points where the range is a standard semicrossed product considered in previous work on point derivations for graph algebras. Again we conclude that all such point derivations are inner.
Statistical Inferences Based on Extended Weighted Log-Rank Estimating Function for Censored Regression Model

In the regression model with censored data, it is not straightforward to estimate the covariances of the regression estimators, since their asymptotic covariances may involve the unknown error density function and its derivative. In this article, a resampling method for making inferences on the parameter, based on some estimating functions, is discussed for the censored regression model. The inference procedures are associated with a weight function. To find the best weight functions for the proposed procedures, extensive simulations are performed. The validity of the approximation to the distribution of the estimator by a resampling technique is also examined visually. Implementation of the procedures is discussed and illustrated in a real data example.
Analyses of Patois group bunyaviruses: evidence for naturally occurring recombinant bunyaviruses and existence of immune precipitable and nonprecipitable nonvirion proteins induced in bunyavirus-infected cells.

Abstract Shark River (SR) and Pahayokee (PAH) bunyaviruses (Patois serogroup, Bunyavirus genus, family Bunyaviridae) have almost identical L and S RNA oligonucleotide fingerprints, but M RNA fingerprints that are different, suggesting that the two viruses may represent naturally occurring reassortant viruses. These observations are in agreement with serological studies ( B. N. Fields, B. E. Henderson, P. H. Coleman, and T. H. Work, 1969, Amer. J. Epidemiol. , 89 , 222–226 ) which have distinguished these two viruses by neutralization of infectivity tests (presumably reflecting differences in M RNA gene products, J. R. Gentsch, E. J. Rozhon, R. A. Klimas, L. H. El Said, R. E. Shope, and D. H. L. Bishop, 1980, Virology 102 , 190–204 ), but not by complement fixation tests (which probably relate to the viral N polypeptide coded by the S RNA, J. Gentsch, L. R. Wynne, J. P. Clewley, R. E. Shope, and D. H. L. Bishop, 1977b, J. Virol. 24,893–902 ). The 3′ terminal 11 nucleotides of PAH S RNA (3′ HO OUCAUCAAAUGA … 5′) are identical in sequence to those of the S RNA species of snowshoe hare (SSH) and La Crosse (LAC) viruses, except for a position 7A residue which is a C residue in the SSH and LAC sequences. The major virion polypeptides of SR and PAH viruses include a nucleocapsid polypeptide (N, 22 × 10 3 ) and two glycoproteins (PAH: G1 118 × 10 3 , G2, 35 × 10 3 ; SR: G1 113 × 10 3 , G2, 35 × 10 3 ). In SR-infected cells several immune precipitable polypeptides have been detected. These include 11-, 54-, 64-, 93-, and 104 × 10 3 -dalton polypeptides. In addition, both SR and PAH viruses induce a 74 × 10 3 -dalton polypeptide (p74) that has not been detected in actinomycin D-treated infected cells, and is not immune precipitated from infected cell extracts.
Nonlinear Control of an Unmanned Amphibious Vehicle

The development and implementation of an experimental sliding mode control law for a 2.5 meter long unmanned amphibious vehicle (the DUKW-Ling) when waterborne is presented. A first-order sliding control surface is used for surge tracking error when a P controller is used to minimize the heading error in the system. The state of the vehicle is measured using onboard sensors with the ability to record surge, sway, yaw and position of the vehicle in real-time. Experimental data collected show the ability of the vessel to maintain a desired heading and speed. This article emphasizes the ability of sliding mode controller to respond to the unpredictable and random water and wind currents acting on the vehicle.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Disassociation of lysosomal enzyme secretion and macrophage-mediated bone resorption.

Abstract We studied secretion of three lysosomal enzymes, acid phosphatase, β-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, by macrophages after 96 hours of culture in the presence or absence of 10−6 M cortisol. The steroid enhances (P
Rubel's universal differential equation

Abstract Fourth-order differential equations such as 16y′my′2 - 32ymyny′ + 17y03 = 0 are developed. It is shown that the equation is “universal” in the sense that any continuous function can be approximated with arbitrary accuracy over the whole x axis by a solution y(x) of the equation. This solution is a piecewise polynomial of degree 9 and of class C4.
Macrophage uptake of core-shell nanoparticles surface modified with poly(ethylene glycol).

The in vitro uptake of core−shell nanoparticles encapsulated in a bio-macromolecular nanoshell assembled from multilayered polyelectrolytes was studied. Sulfate modified fluorescent polystyrene nan...
Translational Control of Protein Synthesis in a Cell-Free System Directed by a Polycistronic Viral RNA

Observations with RNA isolated from the RNA virus indicate that regulation of protein synthesis occurs during translation. At least three electrophoretically separable proteins, one of which lacks histidine, appear as a result of adding purified viral RNA to a cell-free extract of Escherichia coli. This establishes that the RNA contains at least three cistrons. Comparison of the kinetics of appearance of the proteins that do and do not contain histidine reveals a control mechanism which determines the temporal order and the frequency of translation of each cistron. Such translational controls at the stage of message use provide additional devices for regulating protein synthesis which can supplement those functioning at the transcription step where genetic messages are produced.
Being a man in long term care

Abstract Purpose Men tend to represent a distinct minority in long term care (LTC) facilities. Here we explore men's seldom examined experience in LTC. Design and methods As part of a major study of Bereavement in Long Term Care, we focus on 21 men who live in five LTC facilities (assisted living facilities and nursing homes). Transcribed qualitative, in-person interviews are examined using standard qualitative analytic methods. Results Through multiple rounds of coding three inter-related themes emerged as salient. (1) Men's work experience as central to their sense of identity. (2) The presence of a wife often is associated with men's sense of couplehood and of feeling protective. (3) Men often regulate their relationships with other LTC residents. Implications Discussion examines how these three themes are related to men's maintenance of a masculine role in LTC.
The tissue micro-array as a translational research tool for biomarker profiling and validation

High-throughput molecular technologies have provided a wealth of putative biomarkers representing potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets. Target validation commonly requires abundant and well-characterized tissue resources, as well as linked clinicopathologic data-sets. The tissue micro-array (TMA) is a validation and discovery platform of increasing popularity and necessity. TMAs provide a rapid means of examining in situ gene expression in a wide spectrum and large number of tissue samples. This paper describes the uses of TMAs as a translational research tool in biomarker profiling. The laboratory has performed numerous biomarker studies on several types of epithelial cancers. As an example, Epithelial Protein Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM), a panepithelial antigen used to target tumours with immunotherapy, was examined in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). EpCAM was an independent prognosticator for improved disease-specific survival in 318 clear cell RCCs examined, with a Cox proportional hazards multivariate hazard ratio of 0.63 (p=0.017; 95% confidence interval 0.43-0.92). Interestingly, despite a typically widespread epithelial expression, EpCAM is instead infrequently expressed in clear cell RCC, the most common type of renal cancer, making it a poor target for immunotherapy. In this capacity the TMA provided strong support for halting lengthy and costly clinical trials for this application.
Adaptation, high-level vision, and the phenomenology of perception

To what extent do we have shared or unique visual experiences? This paper examines how the answer to this question is constrained by known processes of visual adaptation. Adaptation constantly recalibrates visual sensitivity so that our vision is matched to the stimuli that we are currently exposed to. These processes normalize perception not only to low-level features in the image, but to high-level, biologically relevant properties of the visual world. They can therefore strongly impact many natural perceptual judgments. To the extent that observers are exposed to and thus adapted by a different environment, their vision will be normalized in different ways and their subjective visual experience will differ. These differences are illustrated by considering how adaptation can influence human face perception. To the extent that observers are exposed and adapted to common properties in the environment, their vision will be adjusted toward common states, and in this respect they will have a common visual experience. This is illustrated by reviewing the effects of adaptation on the perception of image blur. In either case, it is the similarities or differences in the stimuli - and not the intrinsic similarities or differences in the observers - which determine the relative states of adaptation. Thus at least some aspects of our private internal experience are controlled by external factors that are accessible to objective measurement.
Swift: results from the first year of the mission

The Swift gamma-ray burst explorer was launched on Nov. 20,2004 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first instrument onboard became fully operational less than a month later. Since that time the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on Swift has detected more than one hundred gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), most of which have also been observed within two minutes by the Swift narrow-field instruments: the X-Ray Telescope (XRT) and the Ultra-Violet and Optical Telescope (UVOT). Swift trigger notices are distributed worldwide within seconds of the trigger through the Gamma-ray burst Coordinates Network (GCN) and a substantial fraction of GRBs have been followed up by ground and space-based telescopes, ranging in wavelength from radio to TeV. Results have included the first rapid localization of a short GRB and further validation of the theory that short and long bursts have different origins; detailed observations of the short-term power-law decay of burst afterglows leading to an improved understanding of the fireball model; and detection of the most distant GRB ever found. Swift is also a sensitive X-ray observatory with capabilities to monitor galactic and extragalactic transients on a daily basis, carry out the first all-sky hard X-ray survey since HEAO-1, and study in detail the spectra of X-ray transients. significant results, both in GRB science and in the search for and study of hard X-ray sources. In this talk I will provide a broad overview of the Swift mission and its most significant results, both in GRB science and in the search for and study of hard X-ray sources.
THE EXTENDED ECONOMETRIC INPUT-OUTPUT MODEL WITH HETEROGENEOUS HOUSEHOLD DEMAND SYSTEM

This paper proposes an extension to the regional econometric input–output model (REIM) [Conway, R.S. (1990) The Washington Projection and Simulation Model: A Regional Interindustry Econometric Model. International Regional Science Review, 13, 141–165; Israilevich, P.R., G.J.D. Hewings, M. Sonis and G.R. Schindler (1997) Forecasting Structural Change with a Regional Econometric Input–Output Model. Journal of Regional Science, 37, 565–590]. We integrate a demand system with age and income parameters into the REIM. The extended model thus addresses concerns about the effects of household heterogeneity. The initial testing is conducted with a model for the Chicago metropolitan area. First, using aggregate expenditure data by income and age groups, the almost ideal demand system with group fixed effects is constructed. Next, the estimated demand system is linked to the REIM to reflect long-term changes in the age and income distribution of households. The long-range simulation from the extended model takes int...
Calculations of thickness dependencies in the properties of ultra‐thin films

The linear combinations of Gaussian type orbitals-fitting function (LCGTO-FF) technique has been used over the past eight years, to study a number of ultra-thin film (UTF) systems. Unlike most first principles work in this field, this ongoing investigation focussed on the ground-state properties of UTFs at their equilibrium geometries, as opposed to simply using the UTFs to model some macroscopic system. A summary of the status of LCGTO-FF UTF work is presented with emphasis on the variation of properties as a function of film thickness. One of the more important findings is that the interplanar separation and binding of Li has not converged for a 5-layer UTF. This result calls into question all surface relaxation calculations in which only the outer one or two layers are allowed to relax. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) L1 and L1-L2 Virus-Like Particle-Based Multiplex Assays for Measurement of HPV Virion Antibodies

Humoral immunity to human papillomavirus (HPV) has not been fully characterized, and there is currently no standard serologic test for the measurement of HPV antibodies. Most HPV serologic assays developed to date are based on virus-like particles (VLPs) of the major HPV capsid protein, L1. We sought to compare the performance of a multiplex HPV L1 VLP-based serologic assay to that of an assay based on VLPs comprised of both L1 and the minor capsid, L2. We developed HPV L1 VLP and L1-L2 VLP-based multiplex seroassays for the detection of HPV type 16 (HPV16) and HPV18 virion binding antibodies using Luminex fluorescent bead technology. We compared the performance of these assays to that of established pseudovirion-based neutralization and L1 VLP-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). A total of 391 serum specimens from unvaccinated adult males and females were tested. The L1 and L1-L2 VLP multiplex seroassays each demonstrated substantial agreement with both the neutralization assays and the ELISAs for the detection of HPV16 antibodies (κ = 0.60 to 0.64). However, the L1-L2 VLP seroassay demonstrated better agreement with neutralization assays for the detection of HPV18 antibodies than the L1 VLP seroassay (κ = 0.74 and 0.43, respectively). L1 and L1-L2 VLP seroassays showed excellent agreement with one another for the detection of HPV16 antibodies (κ = 0.86) but only moderate agreement for HPV18 antibodies (κ = 0.44). The HPV L1-L2 VLP seroassay performs well for the concurrent measurement of HPV16 and -18 antibodies in large numbers of samples and may be extended to include other HPV types.
First assessment of GPS-based reduced dynamic orbit determination on TOPEX/Poseidon

The reduced dynamic Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking technique has been applied for the first time as part of the GPS experiment on TOPEX/Poseidon. This technique employs local geometric position corrections to reduce orbit errors caused by the mismodeling of satellite forces. Results for a 29-day interval in early 1993 are evaluated through postfit residuals and formal errors, comparison with GPS and laser/DORIS dynamic solutions, comparisons on 6-hr overlaps of adjacent 30-hr data arcs, altimetry closure and crossover analysis. Reduced dynamic orbits yield slightly better crossover agreement than other techniques and appear to be accurate in altitude to about 3 cm RMS.
Nonmyeloablative Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Strategies and the Role of Mixed Chimerism

Experimental and clinical experiences have demonstrated successsful donor engraftment following nonmyeloablative preparative regimens. These less toxic conditioning strategies may be better tolerated with diminished transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Importantly, the intentional induction of mixed chimerism can be established following nonmyeloablative conditioning. This approach has the potential advantages of inhibiting graft-versus-host disease, presumably secondary to the persistence of host immunoregulatory cells, and providing a platform for the delivery of adoptive cellular immunotherapy with donor leukocyte infusions for patients with an underlying malignancy. This review will describe the preclinical evolution of nonmyeloablative transplant strategies, the rationale for considering these approaches, and the preliminary clinical experience with this novel allogeneic stem cell therapy. The Oncologist 2000;5:215-223
Processing of polyolefin blends

The morphology of binary and ternary polyolefin blends of polypropylene (PP), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) and polyethylene (PE) following processing by injection and compression molding has been examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Internal surfaces were generated by low temperature fracture and etching with cyclohexane. In binary blends, droplets of EPDM are elongated in the flow direction within 400μm of the mold surface in injection molding, yielding a skin region which is distinct from an isotropic core containing spherical EPDM inclusions. Spherical droplets of EPDM or PE in binary blends with PP increase in size with increasing compression molding time. In ternary blends, spherical inclusions containing both EPDM and PE are dispersed in PP. With increasing compression molding time, EPDM separates from PE and concentrates at the outer edges of the PE inclusion, effectively isolating PE from the PP matrix.