cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An abstract mode approach to the demand for travel

IN A RECENT PAPER, QUANDT AND BAUMOL HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE DEMAND FOR TRAVELLING BY AIR, BUS, AUTO AND RAILROAD MAY BE CONSIDERED AS DETERMINED BY THE SAME DEMAND FUNCTION IF SUCH A FUNCTION IS APPROPRIATELY FORMULATED. THE MODELS BASED ON THIS HYPOTHESIS IN GENERAL SPECIFY THAT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS MAY BE EXPLAINED BY MODAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES SUCH AS JOURNEY TIME, MONEY COST AND DEPARTURE FREQUENCY AS WELL AS SOME SOCIO- ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS AT THE ORIGIN AND THE DESTINATION SUCH AS POPULATION AND INCOME. THE MAJOR ADVANTAGE OF THESE MODELS, KNOWN AS "THE ABSTRACT MODE MODELS", IS THEIR POTENTIAL FORECASTING ABILITY FOR ANY NEW MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FACILITY. THE PRESENT PAPER PRESENTS A FORMAL DISCUSSION OF THE THEORETICAL FOUNDATION OF SUCH AN ABSTRACT MODE APPROACH. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT THE DEMAND FUNCTION AS SPECIFIED BY THE ABSTRACT MODE MODELS CAN BE DERIVED FROM THE UTILITY FUNCTION IF A CONSUMER IS SUPPOSED TO ACT AS IF HE WERE MAXIMIZING THE UTILITY FUNCTION SUBJECT TO THE USUAL BUDGET CONSTRAINT AND THE ADDITIONAL COMMODITY CONSTRAINTS WHICH DEFINE THE FEASIBLE COMBINATIONS OF MODAL CHARACTERISTICS. THE MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE PRESENT PAPER IS TO EXAMINE HOW THE ABSTRACT MODE MODELS OF THE DEMAND FOR TRAVEL CAN BE APPROPRIATELY FORMULATED. FOR EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS, A LOG-LINEAR FORMULATION AND A NON-LINEAR FORMULATION HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. SEVERAL VERSIONS OF EACH OF THESE TWO MODELS HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED BY UTILIZING THE CROSS- SECTION DATA COLLECTED FOR THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR OF THE UNITED STATES. THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ESTIMATION THROUGH AN APPLICATION OF THE GENERALIZED LEAST-SQUARES PROCEDURE IS ALSO EXAMINED BY CONSIDERING A MODEL WITH CORRELATED ERROR TERMS. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT, UNDER THIS MORE GENERAL MODEL, THE ORDINARY LEAST-SQUARES ESTIMATES ARE STILL ASYMPTOTICALLY EFFICIENT. THE EMPIRICAL RESULTS PRESENTED ARE BASED ON SUCH A RELATIVELY SIMPLE PROCEDURE. IN GENERAL, BOTH THE LOG-LINEAR MODEL AND THE NON-LINEAR MODEL FORMULATED PROVIDE VERY SATISFACTORY EMPIRICAL RESULTS. /TR/
A Shift in Scientific Literacy: Earthquakes Generate Tsunamis

Scientific literacy is a fundamentally important prerequisite for decision making in this global age, particularly when it comes to decisions that affect our health, environment, technological advancement, and community development. A scientifically literate populace should be proficient at reading and interpreting science news articles [National Research Council, 1996]. For this to occur, terminology in news reports needs to be scientifically accurate. As scientists, we often resign ourselves to the reality that scientific accuracy in mainstream news reports sometimes falls short of what we would hope. However, in at least one case, the use of appropriate terminology in news reports has clearly improved. Prior to the devastating 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, nearly one in four newspaper and wire service articles that discussed earthquakes and tsunamis exclusively used the term “tidal wave” in lieu of “tsunami.” That ratio has decreased to less than one in 35 since the 26 December 2004 event. The apparent permanence of this lexical shift is demonstrated by the nearly unanimous use of the term tsunami in media reports of the 12 January 2010 Haitian and 27 February 2010 Chilean tsunamis, and provides an example of the impact natural disasters can have on scientific discourse in the news media.
MDL 73005EF: partial agonist at the 5-HT1A receptor negatively linked to adenylate cyclase.

MDL 73005EF has been recently described as a potent, highly selective 5-HT1A ligand. Although proposed to act predominantly as an antagonist (M. Hibert, A.K. Mir, G. Maghioros, P. Moser, D.N. Middlemiss, M.D. Trickleband and J.R. Fozard, 1988, The pharmacological properties of MDL 73005EF: a potent and selective ligand at 5-HT1A receptors, Br. J. Pharmacol. 93, 2P), we have demonstrated that MDL 73005EF also acts as a highly efficacious partial agonist at the 5-HT1A receptor, based on its ability to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase in rat hippocampal membranes. Compared with two structurally related 5-HT1A partial agonists, the rank order of potency of MDL 73005EF in the FSC assay was comparable to affinity calculated by radioligand binding.
Identification of fibers at risk for degeneration by diffusion tractography in patients at high risk for MS after a clinically isolated syndrome.

Purpose Focal inflammatory/demyelinating lesions are thought to be the source of Wallerian degeneration or other injury to local, transiting fiber tracts in the brain or spinal cord in multiple sclerosis (MS). A methodology is established to isolate connections between focal demyelinating lesions and intersecting fibers to permit explicit analyses of the pathology of secondary fiber injury distant from the focal lesion. Materials and Methods A strategy is described and feasibility demonstrated in three patients with a clinically isolated syndrome and positive MRI (at high risk for MS). The strategy utilizes streamtube diffusion tractography to identify neuronal fibers that intersect a focal lesion and pass through a region of interest, in this case the corpus callosum, where distal (to focal lesion) interrogation can be accomplished. Results A sizeable fraction of the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in the early stages of disease can be defined in the corpus callosum, which is distinctive in that this tissue connects to distant demyelinating lesions. Conclusion The new class of tissue called fibers-at-risk for degeneration (FAR) can be identified and interrogated by a variety of quantitative MRI methodologies to better understand neuronal degeneration in MS. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of various inhibitors on readhesion of trypsinized cells in culture

Abstract The reattachment of freshly trypsinized cells in the presence of various inhibitors and inhibition procedures was studied under the phase contrast microscope. These inhibitors were thymidine, actinomycin, emetine, salicylate, colchicine, neuraminidase, X-irradiation, serum deprivation and reduced temperature. Of these inhibitors, only reduced temperature and colchicine altered the normal process of adhesion and spreading of the cells.
The Drosophila hsp70 message is rapidly degraded at normal temperatures and stabilized by heat shock

When heat-shocked Drosophila cells are returned to normal temperatures, heat-shock protein (HSP) synthesis is repressed and normal protein synthesis is restored. The repression of HSP70 synthesis is accompanied by the selective degradation of its mRNA. We have engineered cells to produce a modified hsp70 mRNA that behaves exactly as the wild-type message. That is, it is stable during heat shock but degraded during recovery when protein synthesis returns to normal. When this message, placed under the control of the metallothionein promoter, is induced at normal temperatures it is rapidly degraded, with a half life of 15-30 min. Apparently, the hsp70 message is inherently unstable. During heat-shock, degradation of the message is suspended; during recovery degradation is restored.
Transmission of low energy (< 10 eV) oxygen ions through ultrathin xenon films

In studies of desorption induced by electronic transitions (DIET) such as electron or photon stimulated desorption, it is important to know whether the desorbing species originate solely from the outermost surface layer, or also from layers beneath the surface. In order to gain better understanding of the charge transfer, elastic scattering, and other inelastic processes involved in this issue, we are currently performing a series of experimental studies of the transmission of low energy ions (∼ 7 eV) through ultrathin films (submonolayer to multilayer) of condensed gases. Here we report on the first quantitative measurements of the yield, angle, and energy of oxygen ions after transmission through ultrathin films of xenon. In our novel approach, a focused 300 eV electron beam bombards a target at 25 K consisting of an oxidized tungsten (100) crystal with adsorbed overlayers of xenon. In the absence of the xenon, O+ ions desorb in a sharp beam normal to the surface, as measured in a velocity and angle resolving ESDIAD apparatus (electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution). When Xe layers are present, some oxygen ions penetrate several monolayers of xenon without significant change in energy and angle while others seem to be scattered by large-angle elastic scattering or to be attenuated from the O+ beam. The work presented is the first experimental study of the depth of origin of desorbing ions in DIET processes.
Metallothionein and glutathione as determinants of cellular retention and extrusion of cadmium and mercury.

Abstract This work explored cellular trapping and extrusion of Cd and Hg in epithelial cells, with special emphasis on the jejunal mucosa. Important determinants of these processes are the concentration, diffusibility and relative metal affinities of a variety of cellular metal-binding compounds including metallothionein (MT). As predicted from the known properties of MT, this protein can compete with other sulfhydryl compounds for Cd but not for Hg; this is illustrated by the observation that glutathione (GSH) stimulates extrusion of only Hg. Similar factors can help explain why, in spite of its tighter binding by MT, Hg has a shorter biological halflife in renal cortex than does Cd. Metal extrusion from cells presumably involves movement of diffusible complexes such as HgGSH.
Knowledge Management Systems: An Architecture for Active and Passive Knowledge

Knowledge Management Systems KMS offer an environment for organizations to manage their information assets e.g., documents, databases, etc.. Existing KMS passively employ knowledge by querying a database, showing a document, displaying a Web page, etc. KMS can be extended to incorporate active components, such as expert systems and business rule systems. Currently, business rules reside in application code and database triggers. A KMS with an embedded expert system using business rules from the organization, combined with the connectivity of a server in a client/server architecture, provides an excellent environment for automating business activities at both local and enterprise levels. The segregation of business rules into the Knowledge Tier KT should lower the cost of development and maintenance, increase accuracy, and ensure corporation-wide consistency. In addition, knowledge verification tools are now being developed that will allow the computerization of less structured tasks, enabling another round of increased efficiency through computerization.
Communication with deaf and hard-of-hearing people: a guide for medical education.

ABSTRACTSome physicians may be insufficiently prepared to work with the many patients who have hearing loss. People with hearing loss constitute approximately 9% of the U.S. population, and the prevalence is increasing. Patients with hearing loss and their physicians report communication difficultie
Combinational approach of intrabody with enhanced Hsp70 expression addresses multiple pathologies in a fly model of Huntington’s disease

Intracellular antibodies (intrabodies) and the chaperone, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), have each shown potential as therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases in vitro and in vivo. Investigating combinational therapy in an established Drosophila model of Huntington’s disease (HD), we show that Hsp70 and intrabody actually affect different aspects of the disease. Overexpression of human Hsp70 resulted in improved survival of HD flies to eclosion and prolonged adult life compared with intrabody treatment alone. An additive effect on adult survival was observed when the two therapies were combined. Intrabody was more successful at suppressing neurodegeneration in photoreceptors than was Hsp70. Furthermore, Hsp70 treatment alone did not block aggregation of mutant huntingtin, a process slowed by intrabody. Expression of each is restricted to the nervous system, which implies different neuronal populations respond distinctly to these treatments. Importantly, a role for endogenous Hsp70 in suppression of mut...
Optimal system reliability for a mixed series and parallel structure

Abstract The paper considers a generalization of the optimal redundancy problem. We consider any mixed series and parallel network consisting of N modules. The ith module has a reliability cost function of ri(di) where di is the investment in module i. The reliability investment functions are not required to be concave or continuous in the dynamic programming model. The objective is to maximize the system reliability subject to cost, weight, or volume constraints. The paper differs from others in that we permit modules in logical parallel to be of different designs, and investment in a module does not necessarily imply that redundant components will be used. Many previous models have been restricted to the parallel series situation which is a special case of this model. A dynamic programming model is presented for the problem. The application of the generalized decomposition operator is used to develop a set of recursive relations for any mixed series and parallel system of modules. An example and comments on generalizations are included.
Urban Christianities: place-making in late modernity

What do the words ‘urban Christianity’ conjure for you? Perhaps a fiery street-corner preacher exhorting passers-by to repent, voice near a scream, funereal Bible fixed in a white-knuckled clinch? ...
Three Strategies for Teaching Research Methods: A Case Study.

The authors provide a brief case study of a three-strategy approach for teaching undergraduate research methods that (1) incorporates active learning assignments and discussion-based learning, (2) integrates a cross-discipline and cross-method faculty guest discussion facilitators series, and (3) focuses on the challenges and rewards of conducting research. The authors propose that opportunities for faculty teaching and research collaborations may result from the implementation of these strategies in the context of dwindling institutional resources and increasing professional demands. Finally, the authors consider how involving students in active learning projects focusing on research, and encouraging more open and honest dialogue about the challenges, struggles, and failures faculty members experience when conducting their own research, generates a reciprocal learning environment that is enriching for both students and faculty members.
Scaling theory of localization and non-ohmic effects in two dimensions

A scaling argument for the conductance G of a disordered electronic system permits interpolation for the behavior of G between the localized and extended limits. For dimensionality d>2, there is a mobility edge at which the conductivity goes continuously to zero. At d=2, there is no true metallic conduction; the conductivity goes smoothly from logarithmic to exponential decrease with sample size L. A perturbation calculation confirms the ln L behavior for weak disorder. At finite temperature T and electric field E, effective length scales depending upon T and E are derived on the basis of relaxation and heating models for purposes of comparison with experiments on thin films. These show non-ohmic ln T and ln E contributions to the conductivity.
A management strategy to reduce bacterial pollution in shellfish areas: A case study

The problem of bacterial pollution in shellfishing areas is not uncommon in the coastal regions of the United States. Bacterial contamination from man's activities can effectively reduce our natural shellfish resource areas by forcing their closure because of high potential risk of diseases being spread by shellfish harvested in these areas. Tillamook Bay, a relatively small, enclosed drainage basin of nonurban character, presents an excellent study area for observing this problem. The high population density of animals, raised on a relatively small floodplain area, represents one of the major sources of pollution in the bay. This paper summarizes the history of the agencies involved with the problem and presents the current approach to alleviate bacterial pollution in the bay without unduly penalizing other industries in the Tillamook basin. The paper also presents some of the legal aspects of reducing water pollution in shellfish harvesting areas and the jurisdiction of federal agencies in these matters. Finally, recommendations are given to reduce bacterial output by the major source categories in the basin, and criteria for bay closure to shellfish harvest are developed to protect the public from bacterially contaminated shellfish.
Enhanced serotonin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in membranes from adult guinea pig hippocampus.

We have developed an assay for serotonin (5-HT) stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in membranes from adult guinea pig hippocampus. The response to 5-HT is concentration-dependent, with an EC50 of 0.01 microM, a shallow slope, and mean maximal stimulation of 90% over basal activity. The response to 5-HT is GTP-dependent and additive to the maximal stimulation by histamine. Micromolar concentrations of the known 5-HT receptor agonists, tryptamine and 5-methoxytryptamine, also stimulate cAMP production in this system, and their effect is not additive to that elicited by a maximal concentration of 5-HT. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the response to 5-HT is elicited through a distinct receptor coupled to adenylate cyclase; the magnitude and the reproducibility of the 5-HT response in this system should make it useful for receptor classification. To examine the effect of prior exposure to endogenous 5-HT on the responsiveness of the system, we assayed 5-HT stimulation of enzyme activity in membranes prepared from animals 25-27 hrs after treatment with a single injection of reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). The mean maximal stimulation of adenylate cyclase by 5-HT was increased to 150% over basal activity with no effect on the EC50 or slope of the 5-HT concentration-response curve. Reserpine pretreatment did not affect basal activity or histamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. These results are discussed in the context of a hypothesis that endogenous 5-HT normally exerts a desensitizing effect on its receptors in situ.
Redundant manipulators for momentum compensation in a micro-gravity environment

This paper is concerned with the implementation and assessment of joint motion management strategies for kinematically redundant robotic manipulators operating in the micro-gravity environment of Space Station. These robots must be capable of conducting experiments and manufacturing processes without disturbing the micro-gravity environment through base reactions/motions. The redundant degrees of freedom of the manipulator permit the inverse kinematic problem to be solved simultaneously with the minimization of a cost function. The cost function in this case is the weighted sum of the squares of the base forces and moments and is minimized over discrete time segments. The Generalized Inverse Method and Rayleigh Ritz technique are used to solve the combined optimization/inverse kinematics problem. Numerical examples include various robotic configurations and degrees of manipulator redundancy.
The Predicament-Problem Continuum: Dealing With Stressors Outside Our Control

The author developed a practical, effective way of teaching people how to refocus their energy from predicaments to problems and thereby reduce their stress levels. Feedback about using the technique was positive. Benefits and limitations are discussed.
Automated Software Package for Icosahedral Virus Reconstruction

The three-dimensional reconstruction of icosahedral viruses from electron micrograph images has become an important tool for understanding virus structure, function, and pathogenesis. We have developed an integrated suite of software programs to automate most of the operations involved in producing these reconstructions from EM images. Our package combines the analytical capabilities of preexisting algorithms together with approaches we have developed to produce an interactive working environment which enhances the efficiency and usefulness of this approach to the structural analysis of icosahedral viruses.
Retinal ganglion cells projecting to the rabbit accessory optic system.

Recent evidence from extracellular recording studies indicates that the medial terminal nucleus (MTN) of the rabbit accessory optic system receives inputs from a particular functional class of retinal ganglion cells--specifically, the on-type direction-selective cells. These ganglion cells have been selectively labeled by the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injected into the MTN. The number of labeled cells, their distribution over the retina, and their soma areas were determined. In one animal in which the HRP injection completely filled the nucleus, two thousand ganglion cells were labeled. This number agrees with previous estimates of the number of retinal axons terminating in the MTN. Unlike results in avians, none of the ganglion cells was displaced--i.e., they were not Dogiel cells. The density of labeled cells was highest in the visual streak and, overall, the distribution of labeled cells corresponded to the physiologically determined distribution of on-type direction-selective cells. Cells labeled by the HRP injection were among the 20% largest cells in the retina. This result, in conjunction with conclusions from other studies, leads to the prediction that on-type direction-selective cells can be characterized morphologically as cells with large cell bodies and a very extensive dendritic spread in which the dendrites ramify in the vitreal sublamina of the inner plexiform layer.
The relation between the heats of mixing of the liquid and solid in metallic systems

Abstract The average heat of mixing for binary liquid metal alloys is 1.05 k J/mol more negative than that of the solid solution. This result applies for systems that have very negative heats of mixing to those with very positive values. Real systems show a standard deviation of 1.25 k J/mol from this model. It is clear that those factors which are responsible for the heats of mixing having a certain value in a given solid solution operate similarly in the liquid. In particular, size differences do not appear to be an important factor in determining the heats of mixing.
Biosynthesis of isoprenoids in Escherichia coli: stereochemistry of the reaction catalyzed by farnesyl diphosphate synthase.

Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) synthase from Escherichia coli catalyzes the condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and geranyl diphosphate (GPP) with selective removal of the pro-R hydrogen at C2 of IPP, the same stereochemistry observed for the pig liver, yeast, and avian enzymes.
The influence of role‐specific self‐concept and sex‐role identity on career choices in science

When I began conceiving this study there was little research in the science education literature about role-specific self-concept and sex-role identity as factors influencing career choices in science for women. Cognitive rather than sociological theories drove science education research. However, at the time of this study there was a great deal of evidence that women were not choosing science careers but instead selecting more traditional careers despite evidence that women had the capacity to do well in science careers.
A factored conditional random field model for articulatory feature forced transcription

We investigate joint models of articulatory features and apply these models to the problem of automatically generating articulatory transcriptions of spoken utterances given their word transcriptions. The task is motivated by the need for larger amounts of labeled articulatory data for both speech recognition and linguistics research, which is costly and difficult to obtain through manual transcription or physical measurement. Unlike phonetic transcription, in our task it is important to account for the fact that the articulatory features can desynchronize. We consider factored models of the articulatory state space with an explicit model of articulator asynchrony. We compare two types of graphical models: a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN), based on previously proposed models; and a conditional random field (CRF), which we develop here. We demonstrate how task-specific constraints can be leveraged to allow for efficient exact inference in the CRF. On the transcription task, the CRF outperforms the DBN, with relative improvements of 2.2% to 10.0%.
Evaluation of sperm quality: Identification of the subfertile male and courses of action

Abstract Use of semen analysis to predict fertility in animal agriculture has yielded a vast literature but no test yielding accurate predictions. Reasons for this disappointing conclusion are complex, but include: (a) unrealistic goals; (b) incomplete inclusion of emerging information on the steps in fertilization into design of an assay; (c) erratic assay technique; and (d) difficulty in explicitly defining success. Each topic is treated in this presentation. Three possible goals for an assay are to: (a) identify subfertile males (can be achieved); (b) estimate current fertility of a male of previously known fertility (may be possible) and (c) identify males who will have superior fertility (impossible). Steps in the fertilization process are analyzed in terms of identifying potential assay methods with maximum predictive power. Sources of assay error are considered, with their effects on assay conclusions listed. If assays are considered in terms of end application, established techniques for developing decision matrices can be used to optimize use of assay output information. Will the information be used as a basis for the culling of otherwise valuable animals or to identify all animals likely to benefit from therapeutic treatments to enhance probability of fertilization? Examples of the latter case are provided.
Stability of SnO2/n-Si solar cells☆

SnO2/Si Cells having ⩾ 10% AMI engineering efficiencies were subjected to a variety of weathering conditions. Cells were encapsulated in Sylgard and then placed in a weatherometer and exposed to a deionized water spray and light from a carbon arc. Wire leads were soldered to the grids on the cells before encapsulation. Other cells were left unencapsulated and placed in a nitrogen dry box and exposed to light from an ELH lamp. The cells were kept at 48°C and the light I–V curves were four point measurements with no wire leads soldered to the grids. Several cells were placed in quartz jars in a N2 atmosphere and then hermetically sealed. These cells were unencapsulated, had no wire leads, and the jars were placed in the weatherometer. Results indicated that the V initially decreased 3–5% of its initial value regardless of the cell's environment. The decrease then slowed and indicated a leveling behavior. The Isc remained constant under all conditions. The fill factor for cells in the N2 dry box decreased slightly (1–3%) and remained constant for cells in the quartz jars. Many of the cells with soldered wire leads indicated larger decreases in fill factor, associated with the cracking and pulling of the solder from the grids. The overall cell efficiency decreased ≈8% of the initial value for the encapsulated cells and decreased ≈3% or remained essentially unchanged for the cells in the N2 dry box and the quartz jars, respectively. The instability of the SnO2/Si device might prove to be a stabilizing of the SnO2 stoichiometry or configuration and the SnO2/silicon oxide interface. The surface states have been related to the Voc and fill factor [1] and might be altered after formation to cause the observed changes. Oxide growth might be a long term effect but there has been no indication of any Isc decrease for the measured time period.
Transfer of the flexor carpi ulnaris to the radial wrist extensors in cerebral palsy

Fourteen patients with cerebral palsy who had had transfer of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) to the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) and/or extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) were examined. Two questions were posed: (1) What was the postoperative arc of active wrist motion? and (2) Did the procedure improve the grasp and release mechanism in hand function? The procedure was successful in the majority of patients; wrist arc of motion was improved and grasp and release was enhanced after operation.
An instance theory of attention and memory

An instance theory of attention and memory (ITAM) is presented that integrates formal theories of attention and memory phenomena by exploiting commonalities in their formal structure. The core idea in each theory is that performance depends on a choice process that can be modeled as a race between competing alternatives. Attention and categorization are viewed as different perspectives on the same race. Attention selects objects by categorizing them; objects are categorized by attending to them. ITAM incorporates each of its ancestors as a special case, so it inherits their successes.
UAV sensor platforms utilizing pressurized structures technology

Several areas of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) performance need to be improved for the next generation of UAVs to be used successfully in expanded future combat roles. This paper describes the initial research to improve the performance of UAVs through the use of pressurized structures-based (PSB) technologies. Basically, the UAV will be constructed in such a way that a considerable percentage of its weight will be supported by or composed of inflatable structures containing air or helium. PSB technology will reduce the amount of energy required to keep the UAV aloft thus allowing the use of smaller, slower, and quieter motors. Using PSB technology in tandem with improving technologies in electronics, energy storage, and materials should provide a substantial increase over current UAV performance in areas of need to the military.
Compositions and Characteristics of Strains of Streptococcus bovis

Streptococcus bovis strains JB1, 26, 581AXY2, 21096C, and 45S1 grew on glucose, maltose, starch, sucrose, cellobiose, and lactose. None of these strains grew on xylose or ribose, but arabinose was a suitable energy source for strains 2109C and K27FF4. All strains grew at 45 degrees C, but incubation at 50 degrees C prevented growth. Growth was permitted in 2% sodium chloride, but 6.5% sodium chloride was inhibitory. Doubling times ranged from 24 to 27 min, and final pH on glucose was approximately 4.6. None of the strains had a requirement for amino acids, and growth was rapid in media containing glucose salts and B vitamins. There was no ammonia production from arginine. All strains showed aminoendopeptidase activity, but there was considerable strain variation. Strain 7H4, reported as Streptococcus bovis, was noticeably different from the other six strains. It had a doubling time that was more than four times as long, and it grew poorly on starch or in the absence of an amino acid source. Six-and-a-half percent sodium chloride was not inhibitory, and it produced ammonia from arginine. Cell morphology was coccoid rather than ovoid. Based on these criteria, classification of strain 7H4 as Streptococcus bovis seemed doubtful. Other experiments with strain 7H4 indicated that Streptococcus bovis was devoid of diaminopimelic acid. In these experiments strain 7H4 contained significant diaminopimelic acid. The six Streptococcus bovis strains all contained diaminopimelic acid as well, but concentration varied.
Isolation and Identification of Morphine 3- and 6-Glucuronides, Morphine 3,6-Diglucuronide, Morphine 3-Ethereal Sulfate, Normorphine, and Normorphine 6-Glucuronide as Morphine Metabolites in Humans

Morphine metabolites were isolated with column chromatography on a resin and neutral aluminum oxide and TLC from the urine of morphine-dependent subjects maintained on morphine sulfate at a dose of 240 mg/day. These metabolites were characterized as morphine 3-glucuronide, morphine 6-glucuronide, morphine 3,6-diglucuronide, morphine 3-ethereal sulfate, normorphine, normorphine 6-glucuronide, and, possibly, normorphine 3-glucuronide by free phenol and glucuronide tests, enzymatic hydrolysis, GLC, TLC, UV spectroscopy, and GLC-mass spectrometry.
Hemicrania continua attacks may alternate sides

Hemicrania continua (HC) is characterized by a continuous unilateral headache of moderate severity, occurring in 2 patterns; a continuous form in which headaches persist continuously without remission for years, and a remitting form, consisting of headache phases separated by periods of pain-free remission. The remitting form of HC must be distinguished from other cyclical headache disorders such as episodic paroxysmal hemicrania and episodic cluster headache. Characteristically, the headache of HC is unilateral and without sideshift. We now report a case of HC in which headaches alternate sides.
Effect of motion on cardiac SPECT imaging: recognition and motion correction.

Cardiac motion is likely to occur during long single photon emission computed tomography acquisitions or if there is considerable patient discomfort. Motion causes data misregistration and may decrease the accuracy of interpretation of cardiac single photon emission computed tomography by introducing image artifacts, such as smearing of counts around the ventricle (“hurricane sign”), distortion and discontinuities of the ventricular walls, nonanatomic defects, and hot spots. Although motion should be avoided during data acquisition, motion correction techniques have been developed to allow for manual or semiautomated compensation of cardiac displacement and should be used when motion cannot be eliminated.
Development of PBPK Models for PFOA and PFOS for Human Pregnancy and Lactation Life Stages

Perfluoroalkyl acid carboxylates and sulfonates (PFAA) have many consumer and industrial applications. Developmental toxicity studies in animals have raised concern about potential reproductive/developmental effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); however, in humans conflicting results have been reported for associations between maternal PFAA levels and these outcomes. Risk assessments and interpretation of available human data during gestation and lactation are hindered due to lack of a framework for understanding and estimating maternal, fetal, and neonatal pharmacokinetics (PK). Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models were developed for PFOA and PFOS for the gestation and lactation life stages in humans to understand how the physiological changes associated with development affect pharmacokinetics of these compounds in the mother, fetus, and infant. These models were derived from PBPK models for PFOA/PFOS that were previously developed for adult humans and rats during gestation and lactation and from existing human pregnancy and lactation models developed for other chemicals. The models simulated PFOA and PFOS concentrations in fetal, infant, and maternal plasma and milk, were compared to available data in humans, and also were used to estimate maternal exposure. The models reported here identified several research needs, which include (1) the identification of transporters involved in renal resorption to explain the multiyear half-lives of these compounds in humans, (2) factors affecting clearance of PFOA/PFOS during gestation and lactation, and (3) data to estimate clearance of PFOA/PFOS in infants. These models may help address concerns regarding possible adverse health effects due to PFOA/PFOS exposure in the fetus and infant and may be useful in comparing pharmacokinetics across life stages.
Mixing things up

We've been experimenting with a new editorial model. Previously, issues of XRDS have been directed by one or two Feature Editors, who have a particular interest in a subject area. For example, James Stanier headed up the "Changing Face of Programming" issue; Michael Bernstein and Inbal Talgam put together the "Comp-YOU-ter" issue on Human Computation. Being an Issue Editor means lots of conversations with the XRDS team to figure out themes, tracking down and inviting experts to contribute articles, and reviewing articles submitted through our online portal.
Protein tyrosine phosphatases: Potential role in β-cell insulin signal transduction

Insulin receptor signal transduction plays a critical role in regulating pancreatic beta-cell function, notably the acute first-phase insulin release in response to glucose. The basis for insulin resistance in pancreatic beta-cells is not well understood but may be related to abnormal regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation events, which, in turn, may alter organization of insulin-signaling molecules in space and time. Members of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) family are both functionally and structurally diverse; and within the past few years data have emerged from many laboratories that suggest selectivity of the PTPase catalytic domains toward cellular substrates. Of significance, a subset of PTPases has been implicated in the regulation of insulin signaling in a number of insulin-sensitive tissues. Alteration in PTPase expression or activity has been associated with abnormal regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation events and is accompanied by modulation of insulin sensitivity in vivo. Manipulations aimed at reducing expression of physiologically relevant PTPases acting at a step proximal to the insulin receptor are accompanied by normalization of blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity in both normal and diabetic animals. Hence, the development of tissue-specific gene inactivation strategies should facilitate the study of the potential role of PTPases in beta-cell insulin signaling transduction.
Modified hierarchy basis for solving singular boundary value problems

Abstract In this paper, we develop an efficient preconditioning method on the basis of the modified hierarchy basis for solving the singular boundary value problem by the Galerkin method. After applying the preconditioning method, we show that the condition number of the linear system arising from the Galerkin method is uniformly bounded. In particular, the condition number of the preconditioned system will be bounded by 2 for the case q ( x ) = 0 (see Eq. (1) in the paper). Numerical results are presented to confirm our theoretical results.
Receptive Field Properties of the Macaque Second Somatosensory Cortex: Nonlinear Mechanisms Underlying the Representation of Orientation Within a Finger Pad

We investigate the position invariant receptive field properties of neurons in the macaque second somatosensory (SII) cortical region. Previously we reported that many SII region neurons show orientation tuning in the center of multiple finger pads of the hand and further that the tuning is similar on different pads, which can be interpreted as position invariance. Here we study the receptive field properties of a single finger pad for a subset (n = 61) of those 928 neurons, using a motorized oriented bar that we positioned at multiple locations across the pad. We calculate both vector fields and linear receptive fields of the finger pad to characterize the receptive field properties that give rise to the tuning, and we perform an additional regression analysis to quantify linearity, invariance, or both in individual neurons. We show that orientation tuning of SII region neurons is based on a variety of mechanisms. For some neurons, the tuning is explained by simple excitatory regions, simple inhibitory regions, or some combination of these structures. However, a large fraction of the neurons (n = 20 of 61, 33%) show position invariance that is not explained well by their linear receptive fields. Finding invariance within a finger pad, coupled with the previous result of similar tuning on different pads, indicates that some SII region neurons may exhibit similar tuning throughout large regions of the hand. We hypothesize that invariant neurons play an important role in tactile form recognition.
Identification of symptoms for spasmodic dysphonia and vocal tremor: a comparison of expert and nonexpert judges

Abstract Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare voice disorder that is most successfully treated by injection of botulinum toxin (i.e., BOTOX) into the affected laryngeal muscles. BOTOX is currently available for use by professionals outside of metropolitan voice centers who may be unfamiliar with this rare disorder. Patients may seek assessment and treatment locally from clinicians who are unfamiliar with the speech symptoms for adductor-type (ADSD) or abductor-type (ABSD) spasmodic dysphonia. Although these disorders have been described in the literature, the symptoms have not been well defined and may appear similar to those of vocal tremor or muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Thus, patients with spasmodic dysphonia might not be easily identified by local clinicians for treatment. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether voice clinicians with infrequent exposure to patients with spasmodic dysphonia could learn to identify speech symptoms for ADSD and ABSD comparable to voice clinicians with extensive experience with these disorders. The ratings of five nonexpert judges were compared to the ratings obtained from three expert judges. The results of this study demonstrated that nonexpert judges could be trained to identify the speech symptoms associated with ADSD, ABSD, and vocal tremor. While the nonexpert judges tended towards false positive judgements for the speech symptoms of interest, the overall speech symptom profiles for each type of voice disorder appeared comparable to those obtained from the expert judges. The symptom identification scales used, therefore, have potential for use by clinicians unfamiliar with these disorders for correctly identifying persons with symptoms of ADSD and ABSD. Educational objectives: Readers will be able to (1) define the predominant speech symptoms reflective of the voice disorder categories of ABSD, ADSD, and vocal tremor; and (2) describe the methods utilized in a new perceptual training protocol for teaching clinicians how to identify predominant speech symptoms associated with the voice disorder categories of ABSD, ADSD, and vocal tremor.
Visual cortex activation to drug cues: a meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging papers in addiction and substance abuse literature.

Background Although the visual cortex does not typically receive much attention in addiction literature, neuroimaging studies often report significant activity in visual areas when drug users are exposed to drug cues. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the frequency with which occipital cortex activity is observed during drug cue exposure and to determine its spatial distribution.
Apoptotic signal transduction and T cell tolerance.

The healthy immune system makes use of a variety of surveillance mechanisms at different stages of lymphoid development to prevent the occurrence and expansion of potentially harmful autoreactive T cell clones. Disruption of these mechanisms may lead to inappropriate activation of T cells and the development of autoimmune and lymphoproliferative diseases [such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, diabetes and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS)]. Clonal deletion of T cells with high affinities for self-peptide-MHC via programmed cell death (apoptosis) is an essential mechanism leading to self-tolerance. Referred to as negative selection, central tolerance in the thymus serves as the first checkpoint for the developing T cell repertoire and involves the apoptotic elimination of potentially autoreactive T cells clones bearing high affinity T cell receptors (TCR) that recognize autoantigens presented by thymic epithelial cells. Autoreactive T cells that escape negative...
Decreased incidence of postoperative pericardial effusions after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease

Abstract This study documents a decrease in the incidence of postoperative pericardial effusions following open heart surgery in children from 53% to 85% in published reports to 13.6% in this study. The incidence of postpericardiotomy syndrome has also decreased from a reported 25% to 30% to 2.3% in this study. These findings may reflect improvement in surgical and myocardial protection techniques.
Vasopressin antagonists in heart failure.

The recrudescence of interest in manipulation of the arginine vasopressin system and especially of V2 vasopressin receptor blockade in heart failure stems from the limited efficacy and possible detrimental effects of loop diuretics. The ‘braking phenomenon,’ hypertrophy of the collecting duct cells, and altered pharmacodynamics contribute to loop diuretic resistance in heart failure. Selective (tolvaptan) and nonselective (conivaptan) V2 vasopressin receptor antagonists now known as ‘vaptans’ promote free-water excretion that is labeled aquaresis and correct hyponatremia in patients with severe heart failure. A large mortality study with tolvaptan in heart failure is presently ongoing.
The cyclomatic number and the normal number of programs

The cyclomatic number of a program = flow graph = flow diagram = program scheme is its number of tests, without any respect to the existence or non-existence of loops. The normal number of a program is the (minimal) number of loops in a normal form of the program. The running time of a program is one of the most important complexity measures which is reflected by the normal number but not by the cyclomatic number.
Approximation theory for stochastic variational and Ky Fan inequalities in finite dimensions

The ideas of approximation and continuity have been extensively investigated both for optimization problems and variational inequalities. In this paper, we study approximation issues for a class of VIs, called Stochastic Variational Inequalities (SVIs), that arise, for example, in stochastic programming and portfolio choice problems. SVI problems are special cases of a more general class of problems that we will study first, called Stochastic Ky Fan Inequalities (SKFIs). We also analyze the role of monotonicity in the analysis of both SVIs and SKFIs. Our interest in these problems is motivated by recent research in the theory of portfolio choice for investors who are not classical expected utility maximizers.
Educational Attainment and the Gender Wage Gap: A Comparison of Young Men and Women in 1984 and 2007

This study pools data from two sources to investigate the role of educational attainment in determining the gender wage gap. The empirical analysis reveals that the returns to education remained largely unchanged for young men but declined significantly for young women over the period 1984–2007. We find significant evidence of a decline in the returns to a Bachelor's degree for young women as well as evidence of increasing wage inequality over time among young men and women with a Bachelor's degree. Also, in 2007, the gender wage gap between young men and women was largest for those with a Bachelor's degree. Further, our analysis suggests that young women with a college education may confront more discrimination in the labor market than young women without a college education. We conclude that promoting educational attainment among young women may be a necessary but not sufficient condition for addressing the gender wage gap.