cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of hindlimb locomotor behavior in the frog

Hindlimb motor behavior of the larval frog (tadpole) begins during midlarval life and occurs with increasing frequency until the tail degenerates during metamorphosis. The threshold for hindlimb withdrawal in response to tactile stimulation is low during premetamorphic stages and rises dramatically during metamorphosis. Testing tadpoles in different environments altered the stage of development at which different hindlimb behaviors were first observed but did not change the ontogenetic sequence of behavioral development. However, even under conditions most favorable to hindlimb locomotion, behavioral expression lagged behind electrophysiological expression. The rates of tail beating, hindlimb stepping, and frog kicks are similar to the rate of bursting of tail and hindlimb motoneurons of the isolated nervous system, but their coordination is variable, whereas that recorded from the isolated CNS is fixed. Because neural mechanisms of hindlimb locomotion are functional prior to their behavioral use, the basic hindlimb locomotor circuits must develop without benefit of practice or sensory feedback. However, sensory activity modulates coordination and alters the probability that particular behaviors will be expressed. Implications of these results for studies of early behavior in other species, and the problem of inferring neural maturity from behavioral observations, are discussed.
Implication of CD38 gene in podocyte epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and glomerular sclerosis

CD38 is a multifunctional protein involving in a number of signalling pathways. Given that the lack of CD38 is considered as a dedifferentiation marker of lymphocytes and other cells, we hypothesized that CD38 and its signalling pathway may participate in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of podocytes and thereby regulates the integrity of glomerular structure and function. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR demonstrated that renal tissue CD38 expression was lacking in CD38−/− mice or substantially reduced in renal CD38 shRNA-transfected WT (CD38-shRNA) mice compared to CD38+/+ littermates. Confocal fluorescent microscopy demonstrated the reduced expression of epithelial markers (P-Cadherin, ZO-1 and podocin) and increased expression of mesenchymal markers (FSP-1, α-SMA and desmin) in the glomeruli of CD38−/− and CD38-shRNA mice compared to CD38+/+ mice. Morphological examinations showed profound injury in the glomeruli of CD38−/− or CD38-shRNA mice compared to CD38+/+ mice. This enhanced glomerular injury in CD38−/− or CD38-shRNA mice was accompanied by increased albuminuria and proteinuria. DOCA/high salt treatment further decreased the expression of epithelial markers and increased the abundance of mesenchymal markers, which were accompanied by more increased glomerular damage index and mean arterial pressure in CD38−/− and CD38-shRNA mice than CD38+/+ mice. In vitro studies showed that inhibition of CD38 enhances the EMT in podocytes. In conclusion, our observations reveal that the normal expression of CD38 importantly contributes to the differentiation and function of podocytes and the defect of this gene expression may be a critical mechanism inducing EMT and consequently resulting in glomerular injury and sclerosis.
Transfusion-Associated Graft-Versus-Host Disease and the Irradiation of Blood Components

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare but lethal disorder caused when viable donor lymphocytes engraft and proliferate in a susceptible transfusion recipient. Patients with immune deficiency disorders, hematologic malignancies and bone marrow transplants are at risk to TA-GVHD, as are premature newborns and transfusion recipients who are HLA heterozygous for an HLA-haplotype that is shared with an HLA homozygous donor. Irradiation of blood components with 2500 cGy will inactivate donor lymphocytes and prevent TA-GVHD. Platelets and granulocytes are not functionally impaired by this radiation dose, but red cells sustain detectible damage. Red cell units irradiated and stored for 42 days have significantly higher supernatant recovery of chromium-51 labeled cells is sub-optimal. Based on these data, the maximum permissible storage time for irradiated red cells has been reduced to 28 days.
Differential laterally movable gate FETs (LMGFETs) as a position sensor

A new position sensor based on laterally movable gate FET (LMGFET) sensing element has been designed and fabricated. The position sensor is designed to operate in a differential mode, which increases device sensitivity and performance. The moving proof mass is supported on each end by a folded beam which is also employed as a spring to restrain motion. The simulated value of the folded beam spring constant designed in this work is 44.8 N/m. The LMGFET microstructure is fabricated by a four-mask LIGA-like post-IC process compatible with standard CMOS fabrication technology. p+ region is ion-implanted under the moving structure as a ground plane and also to decrease leakage currents. Plasma ashing is employed to avoid stiction. The design of the sensor along with fabrication steps is described. Preliminary results on the electrical behavior of the fabricated LMGFET are given.
Meiotic Chromosomes of Krizousacorixa femorata (Heteroptera: Corixidae)

Though the chromosome number of more than 100 species of heteropteran insects (Makino 1951, Schrader and Hughes-Schrader 1958) and investigations of mitosis and meiosis in insect spermatogenesis (Kawamura 1957, Inoue 1953, Phillips 1970) have been reported, very few chromosome studies of the water boatman, or species of Corixidae, have been published. Examining the chromosomes of 11 species of corixids and comparing them to Corixa distincta (Fieber), Prokofieva (1933) concluded that the standard number of diploid chromosomes for Corixidae is 24. Slack (1938) reported an exception. He found that Cymatia bonsdorfii (Sahlberg) has a diploid number of 26 chromosomes. To the best of our knowledge, no other investigation of chromosome number or karyotype in other species of corixid, and certainly no study of chromosomes of Krizousacorixa femorata (Guerin-Meneville) has been published. This species of corixid is particularly interesting because it is polymorphic and has partially asymmetrical dextral and sinistral males in which the situs inversus is nicely mirror-imaged (Peters 1962). Our research was undertaken to determine the number and morphology of meiotic chromosomes and to compare the chromosomes of dextral and sinistral males.
A micro-model for eutectoid phase transformations in as-cast ductile iron

As ductile iron is cooled below the eutectoid temperature range, there are two branches available for decomposition of the eutectoid austenite: the stable eutectoid reaction (ferrite reaction) in which ferrite and graphite are the product phases and the metastable eutectoid reaction (pearlite reaction) leading to pearlite formation. The following sections describe mathematical formulation and calibration of a semi-empirical micro-model to simulate solid-state transformations in as-cast ductile iron. A comprehensive set of data and experimental results obtained from laboratory experiments in conjunction with an optimization methodology has been used to calibrate the micro-model. The experimental results consisted of cooling curve and microstructure characterization data obtained from a series of heats conducted as a part of industry sponsored research aimed at developing thermal analysis based methodologies for process control in foundries. Four different types of thermal analysis cups were poured. As the principal objective in this work is to develop a model to predict microstructure evolution, heat transfer in the thermal analysis cups is simulated using a simple lumped system volume element model in which the temperature is a function of time only.
Regulatory Response to Carbon Starvation in Caulobacter crescentus

Bacteria adapt to shifts from rapid to slow growth, and have developed strategies for long-term survival during prolonged starvation and stress conditions. We report the regulatory response of C. crescentus to carbon starvation, based on combined high-throughput proteome and transcriptome analyses. Our results identify cell cycle changes in gene expression in response to carbon starvation that involve the prominent role of the FixK FNR/CAP family transcription factor and the CtrA cell cycle regulator. Notably, the SigT ECF sigma factor mediates the carbon starvation-induced degradation of CtrA, while activating a core set of general starvation-stress genes that respond to carbon starvation, osmotic stress, and exposure to heavy metals. Comparison of the response of swarmer cells and stalked cells to carbon starvation revealed four groups of genes that exhibit different expression profiles. Also, cell pole morphogenesis and initiation of chromosome replication normally occurring at the swarmer-to-stalked cell transition are uncoupled in carbon-starved cells.
Understanding the Problem of Un-Prescribing the Curriculum

In Eleanor Duckworth's class T-440: Teaching and Learning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, students sometimes wonder how Duckworth's model of teaching and learning works in elementary classroom settings. In this article the author, a graduate of T-440 and a 6th grade teacher at the Smith College Laboratory School, chronicles her efforts to respond to the individual ideas of students while carrying out the prescribed curriculum supplied by the school. The author wonders how she will stay on schedule if she takes time to respond to students' individual ideas, what pressures she will experience, and what compromises will be made. Conversations with students about math, literature and geography illustrate the author's attempts to follow student thinking. In the end, the author realizes that prescribed curricula is not necessarily an obstacle to following student thinking, and new questions about teaching, learning, and curriculum development emerge.
Why do Red-winged Blackbrids accept eggs of Brown-headed Cowbirds?

Avian brood parasites usually severely depress the reproductive success of their hosts, yet many host species, including those presumably capable of ejecting parasitic eggs, accept them. Female, brood-parasitic, Brown-headed Cowbirds typically remove a host egg when they lay their own and damage some host eggs in the process of ejecting a host egg. Data from a field study of Red-winged Blackbirds show that these costs, which cannot be avoided by ejecting the parasitic egg, account for some of the reproductive losses attributable to parasitism, but part is due to the presence of the cowbird egg in the nest. To assess whether ejection would be favoured under current circumstances, the probable damage a female Redwing could cause to her own eggs by attempting to eject a cowbird egg needs to be determined.
Child care and influence among the mekranoti of central brazil

Various researchers have argued that women's influence may be limited by child-care requirements. This study uses quantified data from the Mekranoti-Kayapo of Central Brazil to examine some specific arguments. Among the Mekranoti, women who spend more time caring for children rate lower on influence. But the reasons for this correlation are less clear. Child care does not seem to hinder a woman's ability to contribute to subsistence. Nor does it seem to have much effect on the personality characteristics that might affect the leadership potential of child caretakers. Child care may, however, restrict a woman's ability to acquire the personal connections needed to exercise influence.
Histopathology of Restenosis After Stenting of Narrowed Coronary Arteries After Cardiac Transplantation During the Teenage Years

This study describes the detailed histopathologic appearance of human coronary arteries at 3 weeks, and 3 and 7 months after stent implantation in a cardiac transplant recipient. There was modest arterial injury associated with stent implantation, and immunocytochemistry staining provided evidence that a proliferative response from the adventitia contributes to neointimal hyperplasia.
From da Vinci to CAD and beyond

Here what I would like to accomplish is to set something of the stage from which the growing recognition of what I shall now term technoscience’s visualism—a term which can accommodate both sciences and engineering, and both imaging and design practices—takes its recognition. I shall very briefly look at the ‘godfathers and peers’ who help set this stage, and then proceed to an examination of a few moments in the development of visualism from da Vinci to computer assisted design (CAD) and beyond.
Millimeter-Wave Generation via Frequency Quadrupling in an Optically-Injected Optoelectronic Oscillator

We demonstrate cascaded electroabsorption-modulator-based optoelectronic oscillators (EAM-OEOs) for generating millimeter-wave signals. Low phase-noise frequency quadrupling is achieved by optically injecting 10-GHz-rate pulses from a master EAM-OEO to a 40 GHz slave EAM-OEO.
Effects of Brazing Time and Temperature on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Air Brazed Joints

High-purity aluminum foil was used to join alumina substrates directly in air at temperatures ranging from 800° to 1200°C and soak times of 1-100 h. It was found that the bend strengths of the resulting Al 2 O 3 /Al/Al 2 O 3 joints generally increase with increasing brazing temperature and time, with a maximum bend strength of 135 MPa on average achieved in samples joined at 1200°C for 100 h. Additionally it was determined that measurable ductility is retained in the joint even after exposure under extended high-temperature conditions. During joining, an Al 2 O 3 scale forms along the interface between the aluminum and adjacent substrates. An increase in brazing temperature and/or time leads to intergrowth and sintering between this thermally grown oxide layer and the substrate surface, which appears to be the primary source of improved joint strength. Fracture analysis indicates that the Al 2 O 3 /Al/ Al 2 O 3 joints generally fail via one of three mechanisms, (1) by de-bonding along the foil/substrate interface in specimens that were joined at low temperature or held at temperature for an insufficient period of time; (2) by ductile rupture in specimens that were joined at conditions that promoted sintering between the oxidized foil and adjacent alumina faying surfaces, but left behind a continuous residual aluminum layer within the joint; or (3) by mixed-mode fracture in specimens joined at high temperature and long exposure times, in which the thermally grown alumina that forms between the two substrates is interrupted by dispersed pockets of residual aluminum metal.
The politics and ethics of military intervention

(1995). The politics and ethics of military intervention. Survival: Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 29-51.
Nanopore Quantitation of Cancer BRAF Driver Mutation Facilitated by a DNA Interstrand Merculock

Driver mutations are a special type of genetic alterations that are causally correlated with oncogenesis. Accurate detection of the presence of driver mutations is extremely useful for early cancer diagnosis. BRAF Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-raf) has a predominant driver mutation V600E, which occurs with the highest incidence mainly in melanoma, colorectal and thyroid cancers, and in other cancers. Currently the BRAF pathway has become a drug arget for molecular therapy. Here we devise a novel nanopore single-molecule assay to accurately detect this driver mutation. The BRAF V600E gene involves a single-nucleotide transversion T1799A in the sense strand, and A1799T in the antisense strand. We selected the antisense strand as the target. Upon hybridization with an optimized probe that contains a thymine at the mutation site, the target•probe complex can form a T-T mismatch. The nanopore single-molecule sensor can be used to visually discriminate this T-T mismatch bound with a mercury ion (Hg2+). This is because the Hg2+ binding creates a reversible interstrand lock, called MercuLock, which enhances the hybridization strength by two orders of magnitude. Such MercuLock cannot be formed in A-T base pair between the normal BRAF gene and the same probe, suggesting that the MercuLock acts as a fingerprint of the mutant DNA. By counting the frequency of MercuLock blocking events in the nanopore, we can quantize trace amount of mutant DNA in the mixture. This approach can be adapted to the detection of any thymine-involved driver mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for cancer detection.
Relationships Among Parents’ Economic Stress, Parenting, and Young Children’s Behavior Problems

In a time of economic recession, identifying how economic stress may be related to parenting stress, to the parenting behaviors used by mothers and fathers, and to young children’s behavior problems may provide insight into interventions that may best assist families through their own economic crises. As part of this study, 124 culturally diverse parents with young children who ranged in age from 2- to 6-years rated their own economic, life, and parenting stress; their parenting behaviors; and their young children’s behavior problems. Hierarchical regression analyses suggested that negative economic events and parenting stress provide unique incremental variance in predicting young children’s internalizing problems, whereas life stress and parenting stress provide unique incremental variance in predicting young children’s externalizing problems. With closer examination, parenting stress fully mediated the relationship between parents’ financial cutbacks and young children’s internalizing problems and the relationship between parents’ negative economic events and young children’s externalizing problems. These findings suggested that these variables are important to examine collectively.
Platelet activation, aggregation, and life span in calves implanted with axial flow ventricular assist devices.

Abstract Background . A variety of rotary blood pumps are under development worldwide to serve as chronic ventricular assist devices (VADs). Historically VADs have been associated with thrombotic and thromboembolic complications, yet the ability to evaluate the thrombotic process in preclinical device testing has been limited. Methods . We have developed and applied flow cytometric assays for activated platelets, platelet microaggregates, and platelet life span and consumption to calves implanted with an axial flow VAD and calves undergoing a sham surgical procedure. Results . Surgical sham calves had significant increases in circulating activated platelets ( p Conclusions . This study demonstrates the ability of flow cytometry-based platelet assays to differentiate VAD implant operations from VAD support, and suggests differences that exist between uneventful VAD support and support with complications. These techniques should have value in evaluating other cardiovascular devices undergoing preclinical testing and provide insight into the temporal impact of these devices on the hemostatic system.
Long‐term impact of an invertebrate predator, Heterocope septentrionalis, on an arctic pond zooplankton community

1. A long-term field experiment to determine what forces structure and maintain the large-bodied zooplankton assemblages in ponds which lack visual predators was undertaken at the Toolik Lake Research Station in arctic Alaska. Predatory copepods, Heterocope septentrionalis, were introduced to a pond that lacked both fish and invertebrate predators, but contained small- to medium-sized zooplankton, Bosmina longirostris, Daphnia pulex, and Diaptomus pribilofensis. A second pond, which also lacked any predators but had a population of B. longirostris, but no other abundant species, served as a reference population for B. longirostris. 2. The introduction of H. septentrionalis caused the extinction of D. pulex within 1 year and drove B. longirostris to extremely low densities within 4 years. The population of B. longirostris in the reference pond fluctuated throughout the study period, but remained above five individuals per litre. This experiment demonstrates that H. septentrionalis, under natural conditions, made a numerical response to abundant prey and had the capacity to eliminate or reduce vulnerable prey populations of small- to medium-sized zooplankton.
Better Than New! Ethics for Assistive Technologists

What are the fundamental values that should guide the practice of assistive technologists? This essay examines two sources that appear to inform current understandings of the ethics of assistive technology: medical ethics and engineering ethics. From medical ethics comes the notion that assistive technology should aim to restore its users to normal functioning, making them like new. Engineering ethics, on the other hand, recommends enhancing users’ functionality, even if functioning is not achieved in a species typical way. From this engineering perspective, it is permissible and even desirable for assistive technology to make its users function even better than new. Thus enhancing functionality is a central value in assistive technology. Professionals in the field have the ability, and the responsibility as well, to address and counter societal suspicion of artificially enhanced functioning achieved through technology. Consequently, assistive technology professionals should fight against discrimination that excludes people with disabilities, whose functioning depends on prostheses and other products of technology, from the mainstream of social life.
[18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computerized tomography and lung cancer: A significant referral bias exists

Objective: [ 18 F]Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (PET-CT) scan is a tool widely used in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Referral bias is present when the results of a diagnostic study affect the decision to proceed with definitive testing. This bias artificially increases the sensitivity and decreases the specificity, and may inappropriately alter the decision to undergo definitive testing. The accuracy of PET-CTscan in suspected lung cancer and the role of referral bias were investigated. Methods: From January 2005 through June 2007, 584 consecutive patients undergoing PET-CTscan for suspected lung cancer were studied. Endpoints measured included qualitative and quantitative results of PET-CT scans and pathologic results from patients, who underwent invasive procedures for diagnosis, staging and/or therapy. A positive PET scan was defined as one in which the standard uptake value (SUV) was greater than 2.5. A standard mathematical model, based on overall results of PET-CTscan in all patients, was used to create adjustments to account for the effect of referral bias. Results: A total of 414 (71%) of PET-CTscans were reported as positive, while 170 (29%) were negative. Attempt at tissue diagnosis occurred in 417 patients (71%); surgical intervention was performedin 246(42%). Whereas86% (355/414) of patientswith a positive PET-CTscan underwent tissue sampling, only 36% (62/170) with a negative PET-CTscan had an attempt ( p < .001). In patients with a positive study, a higher SUV was associated with an attempt at tissue diagnosis (p < .001). Before adjustment, the sensitivity and specificity of the PET-CTscan for any cancer were 87% and 43%. After adjustment, sensitivity fell to 75%, while specificity rose to 64%. The unadjusted sensitivity of PET-CTscan for detecting mediastinal disease was only 79%. Conclusions: The estimate of the accuracy of PET-CT scan is significantly influenced by referral bias, and a strong reliance is placed on its results. Furthermore, patients with a positive PET-CTscan are more likely to undergo tissue sampling as the SUV increases. Given the relatively low sensitivity of the PET-CTscan in detecting disease and its poor performance in the mediastinum, the PET-CT scan may have too high an impact on the decision to undergo further invasive diagnostic procedures. Patients should not be deferred from tissue sampling based solely on a negative PET-CT scan. # 2010 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Concrete browsing of a graphical toolkit library

Designing graphical user interfaces is difficult and time consuming. Every new design must be started from scratch using only the fixed set of primitive interface components provided by the chosen toolkit. To overcome this problem, the authors propose to encourage the reuse of past designs through a combination of improving browsing technology and of knowledge-based as well as case-based reasoning assistance. Hence the GUIDAR project, for graphical user interface design and reuse. The authors present a two-tiered foundation for an improved browsing technology. First, they introduce spreading computation as a new execution paradigm for search programs, thus enhancing the ability to query and explore a software library. Secondly, the authors propose to let the user browse live instances of graphical components. This they call concrete browsing.
Measurement of nonlinear index by a relay-imaged top-hat Z-scan technique

Measurements of the nonlinear index of a number of optical materials of interest for the National Ignition Facility have been performed at 1,064 nm and 355 nm by a modified version of the ``top-hat`` technique and the results compared with the more standard gaussian-beam Z-scan technique. The top-hat technique has the advantages of higher sensitivity and smaller uncertainties introduced by beam-quality considerations. The authors have made what they feel to be an additional improvement by placing the defining aperture for the top hat at the front focal plane of the lens that focuses the beam into the sample and then reimaging the input aperture with a second lens onto a ccd camera. Reimaging eliminates diffraction fringes and provides a stationary image even for a wedged sample; recording the entire image permits minimization of spurious effects such as varying interference fringes.
Late Presenting, Prolonged Hypocalcemia in an Infant of a Woman with Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) is a benign autosomal dominant disorder. Infants affected with FHH however, born to unaffected mothers may develop life-threatening autonomous hyperparathyroidism, the mechanism of which is not clearly understood. There is little information recorded in the literature regarding the opposite scenario, i.e., unaffected infants born to affected mothers. Because fetal parathyroid suppression presumably occurs secondary to high maternal calciums, neonatal hypocalcemia would be expected. The authors present a case of an infant with the latter circumstances who presents with late onset, life-threatening hypocalcemia secondary to relative hypoparathyroidism. The authors explored the possibility that vitamin D deficiency and/or acute environmental stress facilitated the decompensation. The patient required therapy for 2 months.
Molecular and Clinical Characterization of a Recurrent Cryptic Unbalanced t(4q;18q) Resulting in an 18q Deletion and 4q Duplication.

Recurrent constitutional non-Robertsonian translocations are very rare. We present the third instance of cryptic, unbalanced translocation between 4q and 18q. This individual had an apparently normal karyotype; however, after subtelomere fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), he was found to have a cryptic unbalanced translocation between 4q and 18q [ish der(18)t(4;18)(q35;q23)(4qtel+,18qtel−)]. Oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) refined the breakpoints in this child and in the previously reported child and indicated that the breakpoints were within 20 Kb of each other, suggesting that this translocation is, indeed, recurrent. A comparison of the clinical presentation of these individuals identified features that are characteristic of both 18q− and 4q+ as well as features that are not associated with either condition, such as a prominent metopic ridge, bitemporal narrowing, prominent, and thick eyebrows. Individuals with features suggestive of this 4q;18q translocation but a normal karyotype warrant aCGH or subtelomere studies.
Analysis of flexible multibody systems with spatial beams using mixed variational principles

A general nite element formulation is presented for dynamic analysis of spatial elastic beams, for small strains, in a multi-body conguration. The tangent maps associated to the nite rotation vector are used to compute the tangent matrices used to integrate implicitly the equations of motion in descriptor form. A corotational method and a mixed variational method are used to compute the tangent stiness matrix. The tangent constraint matrices are obtained using consistent linearization of the constraint equations. The tangent inertia matrices, including the gyroscopic and centrifugal terms, are also obtained by using the tangent maps of rotation. The numerical examples analyzed in this paper include: dynamic analysis of exible beam structures and multi-exible body systems with open and closed kinematic loops. A comparison with the previous results in the literature shows a very good performance in terms of time integration step and number of elements used. ? 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This paper deals with the modelling of the spatial dynamic behaviour of homogeneous, isotropic and linear elastic one-dimensional deformable bodies, such as beams or rods, undergoing arbitrarily large rotations and translations, and small strains. The beam may be connected to other beams by means of kinematic constraints to form an open or closed-loop multi-exible body mechanical system. A previous paper, 1 of which the present one is a sequel, has investigated two dierent methods to compute the tangent stiness of the elastic beam. In particular, the elastic tangent stiness matrix and residual vector for a space beam were derived with two dierent approaches: a primal, Total Lagrangean (TL), corotational approach, and a mixed, Updated Lagrangean (UL) approach. The idea of that derivation was to formally adopt a variational setting to derive the eld equations of motion of constrained exible bodies. Previously, a consistent variational approach for multi-exible body dynamics with beams has only been presented by Cardona and Geradin. 2 In their work, they used the Principle of Virtual Work and methods of non-linear structural
An extension of Kane's method for deriving equations of motion of flexible manipulators

Kane's method, a powerful tool for deriving equations of motion of complex rigid-body systems, is extended to continuous flexible systems. Kane's equations are derived using energy concepts and without introducing the Passerello-Huston equations. The result is an energy method for deriving equations of motion of complex nonholonomic systems. Since the derivation does not require the introduction of coordinate transformations, equations are in a simple form. The powerful technique in Kane's method whereby generalized speeds are defined can also be applied. >
Anthropologies of the United States

This article reviews recent research in sociocultural anthropology that has been conducted in and about the United States. I show that anthropologists of the United States have been concerned to locate the anthropological field in three ways: spatial investigations of region, community, and territory; epistemological and methodological projects of cultural critique and defamiliarization; and reconsideration of the place of Native North America in the anthropology of the United States. Emergent inquiry into settler colonialism and the politics of indigeneity has the potential to strengthen the anthropology of the United States by accounting for the ways that being a settler society structures all American lives.
A- and Ā-Movement in Romanian Supine Constructions

Romanian supine sentences with tough-predicates, such as (la-b), are a classical example of a construction for which both A-movement (Grosu and Horvath 1987:183n3, Rubin 1995:56-61) and A-movement (Hill 2002) analyses have been proposed. This controversy has not arisen in other Romance languages, where tough-constructions are analyzed as instances of A-movement.1 In this squib, I demonstrate that both Aand A-movement exist in Romanian, but that the former correlates with the presence of agreement. In (la-b), the adjective is not marked for agreement, unlike predicate adjectives in most contexts in this language.
Emotional control of nociceptive reactions (ECON): Do affective valence and arousal play a role?

Prior research suggests emotional picture-viewing modulates motoric (nociceptive flexion reflex), autonomic (skin conductance response, heart rate acceleration), and subjective (pain rating) reactions to noxious electrodermal stimulation. The present study sought to determine whether emotional valence and arousal contribute to nociception modulation. To do so, pictures varying in emotional content (erotica, food, neutral, loss, attack) were chosen to manipulate emotional valence (pleasant = erotic and food; unpleasant = loss and attack) and arousal (low = food and loss; moderate = erotica and attack). Pictures were presented in pseudorandom order to elicit emotional processing while noxious electric stimulations were delivered to the sural nerve. Nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) magnitude, skin conductance response (SCR), heart rate (HR) acceleration, and subjective pain ratings to each stimulation were measured, standardized, averaged by picture content, and analyzed. Results suggested that picture-viewing explained 52% of the variance in the multivariate combination of the nociceptive reactions and modulated them in parallel. Pleasant pictures inhibited reactions, whereas unpleasant pictures enhanced them. However, only erotica and attack pictures elicited significant modulation relative to neutral pictures, suggesting arousal also contributed. An exploratory multilevel analysis also supported this conclusion. Together, these data suggest emotional control of nociceptive reactions (ECON) is associated with a valence-byarousal interaction. Implications of these findings for how emotional picture-viewing can be used to study supraspinal modulation are discussed. � 2007 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Transaction chains: achieving serializability with low latency in geo-distributed storage systems

Currently, users of geo-distributed storage systems face a hard choice between having serializable transactions with high latency, or limited or no transactions with low latency. We show that it is possible to obtain both serializable transactions and low latency, under two conditions. First, transactions are known ahead of time, permitting an a priori static analysis of conflicts. Second, transactions are structured as transaction chains consisting of a sequence of hops, each hop modifying data at one server. To demonstrate this idea, we built Lynx, a geo-distributed storage system that offers transaction chains, secondary indexes, materialized join views, and geo-replication. Lynx uses static analysis to determine if each hop can execute separately while preserving serializability---if so, a client needs wait only for the first hop to complete, which occurs quickly. To evaluate Lynx, we built three applications: an auction service, a Twitter-like microblogging site and a social networking site. These applications successfully use chains to achieve low latency operation and good throughput.
Parameter estimation for 2-parameter generalized pareto distribution by POME

The principle of maximum entropy (POME) was employed to derive a new method of parameter estimation for the 2-parameter generalized Pareto (GP2) distribution. Monte Carlo simulated data were used to evaluate this method and compare it with the methods of moments (MOM), probability weighted moments (PWM), and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). The parameter estimates yielded by POME were comparable or better within certain ranges of sample size and coefficient of variation.
Survey of data-selection methods in statistical machine translation

Statistical machine translation has seen significant improvements in quality over the past several years. The single biggest factor in this improvement has been the accumulation of ever larger stores of data. We now find ourselves, however, the victims of our own success, in that it has become increasingly difficult to train on such large sets of data, due to limitations in memory, processing power, and ultimately, speed (i.e. data-to-models takes an inordinate amount of time). Moreover, the training data has a wide quality spectrum. A variety of methods for data cleaning and data selection have been developed to address these issues. Each of these methods employs a search or filtering algorithm to select a subset of the data, given a defined set of feature functions. In this paper we provide a comparative overview of research in this area based on application scenario, feature functions and search method.
Optimal Resource Allocation for Reducing Software Defects

Software patch management has now assumed tremendous significance and it directly affects the customer opinion about the quality and security of the released product. Hence, software vendors are forced to put in substantial amount of effort for servicing released products, and maintain a fairly regular patch release cycle. The right amount of effort becomes critical to balance the need of developing new products versus fixing old ones. In this paper, we use a control theoretic approach to study the problem of dynamically determining the optimal effort needed for software maintenance by evaluating the cost of finding and fixing bugs versus the cost associated with not releasing the patch. Since these costs are usually non-linear in practice, finding the optimal effort dynamically is non-trivial. Our results show that the initial quality of the released product is an important factor in formulating the optimal strategy. Based on our results, we provide several managerial insights that can be used by software vendors to efficiently allocate resources for software development and maintenance after the product is released.
Design of Energy- and Cost-Efficient Massive MIMO Arrays

Large arrays of radios have been exploited for beamforming and null steering in both radar and communication applications, but cost and form factor limitations have precluded their use in commercial systems. This paper discusses how to build arrays that enable multiuser massive multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) and aggressive spatial multiplexing with many users sharing the same spectrum. The focus of the paper is the energy- and cost-efficient realization of these arrays in order to enable new applications. Distributed algorithms for beamforming are proposed, and the optimum array size is considered as a function of the performance of the receiver, transmitter, frequency synthesizer, and signal distribution within the array. The effects of errors such as phase noise and synchronization skew across the array are analyzed. The paper discusses both RF frequencies below 10 GHz, where fully digital techniques are preferred, and operation at millimeter (mm)-wave bands where a combination of digital and analog techniques are needed to keep cost and power low.
What's Up?: Exploring Upper and Lower Visual Field Advertising Effects

ABSTRACT This research examines the effect of the vertical positioning and format of online advertising on attention, aided recall, and brand attitude. Prior research (Previc, 1990) suggests greater attention for stimuli in the lower visual field (LVF) than in the upper visual field (UVF). The results of this online study indicate that (1) lower page placement significantly increases ad attention, supporting prior LVF/UVF research; (2) there is an inverse relationship between ad attention and brand attitude (in this study9s online environment), supporting mere exposure theory; and (3) online ad format (rectangle ad or leaderboard) has a significant direct effect on attention, aided recall, and brand attitude, attributed to object salience/familiarity. Management implications are discussed.
REARM: Re-entry Hopper Space-Craft System on Mars

We propose a novel planetary exploratory architecture, REARM, to expedite the exploration of Mars while making it more cost-effective and easier to be repeat, compared to state-of-the-art. REARM exploits the assets already existing on Mars and integrates various technologies that have been tested and used. The architecture consists of a REARM-spacecraft, capable of travel between Martian orbiters and the surface, which can transfer assets (rovers, Moballs, Martian samples, etc.) between the two. It also consists of a REARM-dock, an orbiting docking station which, among other assets, houses an scalable sophisticated scientific laboratory for sample testing, and which facilitates communications with Earth as well as the transfer of samples, fuel, assets and materials from Earth and back.
Habitat Relationships and Coexistence of Four Sympatric Species of Peromyscus in Northwestern New Mexico

The habitat relationships of four sympatric species of Peromyscus ( P. maniculatus, P. boylii, P. truei, P. difficilis ) in northwestern New Mexico were studied. Analyses of data obtained by snap-trapping, live-trapping on grids, and vegetational surveys delineated the microhabitat distributions and the response of species to vegetational structure. Subdivision of the habitat by vegetational type is an important mechanism of coexistence of these species. The three-dimensional structure of the habitat was not a major factor in individual species distributions, but measures of it were correlated with the total number of species which occurred in microsympatry. Mechanisms related to foraging activities which might enhance the microsympatric coexistence of these species are discussed. These include spatial and temporal differences in foraging and the selection of varying sizes and types of food items.
Emerging Role of Sensory Perception in Aging and Metabolism

Sensory perception comprises gustatory (taste) and olfactory (smell) modalities as well as somatosensory (pain, heat, and tactile mechanosensory) inputs, which are detected by a multitude of sensory receptors. These sensory receptors are contained in specialized ciliated neurons where they detect changes in environmental conditions and participate in behavioral decisions ranging from food choice to avoiding harmful conditions, thus insuring basic survival in metazoans. Recent genetic studies, however, indicate that sensory perception plays additional physiological functions, notably influencing energy homeostatic processes and longevity through neuronal circuits originating from sensory tissues. Here we review how these findings are redefining metabolic signaling and establish a prominent role of sensory neuroendocrine processes in controlling health span and lifespan, with a goal of translating this knowledge towards managing age-associated diseases.
Serum α1, antitrypsin deficiency: a family study

Twenty members of a family, in which α1, antitrypsin deficiency is associated with both liver and lung disease, have been studied. Three individuals were shown to be Pi-type ZZ. One of these, the propositus, is a 7-yr-old girl who has had evidence of liver damage from 9 days of age. Her α1, antitrypsin value is 80 mg/100 ml (normal: 200–400). The remaining two ZZ members are both adults, with emphysema and normal liver function tests. Their α1, antitrypsin values are 40 and 55 mg/100 ml. Good correlation (r = 0.901) is obtained between the serum α1 antitrypsin levels determined by immunochemical and by enzyme inhibition methods. Either result was equally useful for differentiating the homozygous ab-normals from both the heterozygous (carrier) and the normal population. Three other, unrelated cases of slow-to-resolve childhood jaundice have been shown to be α1 antitrypsin deficient of the ZZ type.
Lipolysis of lipomas in patients with familial multiple lipomatosis: an ultrasonography-controlled trial.

Background:Surgery of multiple lipomas, as in patients with familial multiple lipomatosis, is often limited by poor aesthetic outcome owing to extensive scarring.For this reason, phosphatidylcholin...
Spiritual Directors and Clinical Psychologists: A Comparison of Mental Health and Spiritual Values:

We surveyed a total of 315 spiritual directors, psychologist members of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS), and psychologist members of the American Psychological Association (APA) to determine their respective values on ten mental health themes derived from Jensen and Bergin (1988), and three spirituality scales drawn from the writings of John of the Cross. All three groups endorsed the value of expressing feelings, personal autonomy and maturity, and integrating work and leisure. CAPS psychologists and spiritual directors endorsed more than APA psychologists the values of spirituality, forgiveness, and the three John of the Cross scales. Spiritual directors reported greater endorsement of the self-awareness and growth theme than did psychodynamic psychologists who, in turn, reported greater endorsement than cognitive-behavioral psychologists. The results are examined in light of the pre-Enlightenment paradigm and value system in which spiritual direction and Christian theology ar...
Medical Readiness Training Exercise in El Salvador, Central America, 1996

Medical Readiness Training Exercises (MEDRETEs) can be a valuable training tool for U.S. Army personnel in remote areas of deployment. We report our experience of the MEDRETE in El Salvador in 1996. Working with foreign physicians of the host country was a positive experience in which we learned local customs and mutual cooperation. Evaluation and treatment of nearly 6,000 patients increased goodwill in the community and provided an opportunity for teamwork for Army Reserve medical units, including increased discussions of public health issues. We also report on the field applicability of the advanced laboratory and pharmacy equipment we included in our training.
Phosphorylation of 5 halogenated deoxycytidine analogues by deoxycytidine kinase

The phosphorylation of 5-substituted deoxycytidine analogues by deoxycytidine kinase was studied in extracts of mouse and human lymphoid cells. The apparent Km for the phosphorylation of 5-bromodeoxycytidine in extracts of mouse lymphoma cells was 2.0 mM, in contrast to a Km of 10 µM for deoxycytidine phosphorylation. The apparent Km for the phosphorylation of 5-methyldeoxycytidine by the mouse enzyme was 80 µM. The affinity of mouse deoxycytidine kinase for 5-iododeoxycytidine was lower than for 5-bromodeoxycytidine, whereas its affinity for 5-fluorodeoxycytidine was similar to that for deoxycytidine. With human deoxycytidine kinase the apparent Km was 0.4 mM for 5-bromodeoxycytidine, as compared to 2.0 µM for deoxycytidine. These results suggest that the activity of deoxycytidine kinase is affected by the size of substitutions in position 5 of its substrate. This restricted substrate specificity of deoxycytidine kinase could limit the utilization of 5-bromodeoxycytidine for DNA synthesis. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We are grateful to Ira Schildkraut for helpful discussions and suggestions and critical reading of the manuscript.