cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fungal Vaccine Development

This chapter reviews the existing information regarding the advances made in developing fungal vaccines. In general, infections with Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis occur in otherwise normal hosts. There are at least two principal reasons why a fungal vaccine should engage innate immunity. The first is that optimal activation of the innate system enhances the likelihood that a vigorous cellular immune response will develop. The second reason centers on the fact that many of the patients who develop serious fungal infections manifest some form of immune deficiency. The chapter also concentrates on fungal vaccine development for Candida albicans, which is the most common Candida species currently causing invasive disease. Important risk factors for candidal disease include impaired cellular immunity, intravenous catheters, exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, dysfunctional or absent phagocytes, total parenteral nutrition, and implantation of prosthetics. The chapter provides an overview of the accomplishments in the field of fungal vaccination. Clearly, there are numerous candidate vaccines and at least two have entered the early phases of clinical study. Although the usefulness of the monoclonal antibody (MAb) to Candida neoformans polysaccharide or the antibody to hsp90 of C. albicans is not known, the mere fact that these compounds made it into the clinical arena is a sufficient impetus for further development. The area is an exciting one, and one that requires an interdisciplinary approach utilizing expertise in fungal biology, pathogenesis, and immunology.
Literacy practices of linguistic minorities : Sociolinguistic issues and implications for literacy services

Literacy, as it applies to linguistic minorities, is examined as a discourse of power in this theoretical article. Literacy needs to be redefined in order for librarians to be able to provide people whose languages are not the dominant or official ones in society with appropriate literacy services. This redefinition recognizes the politics of language and literacy, challenges the mainstream (dominant culture) concept of literacy, and includes (1) expanding the definition of literacy that takes into account the language and cultural knowledge of linguistic minorities, (2) examining the nature of literacy and literacy practices of linguistic minorities from a social perspective, and (3) understanding how the literacy of linguistic minorities is measured. By understanding these critical issues of adult literacy in linguistic minority communities, librarians can implement the proposed strategic directions for delivering appropriate literacy services to linguistic minorities.
Automatic metadata extraction from museum specimen labels

This paper describes the information properties of museum specimen labels and machine learning tools to automatically extract Darwin Core (DwC) and other metadata from these labels processed through Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The DwC is a metadata profile describing the core set of access points for search and retrieval of natural history collections and observation databases. Using the HERBIS Learning System (HLS) we extract 74 independent elements from these labels. The automated text extraction tools are provided as a web service so that users can reference digital images of specimens and receive back an extended Darwin Core XML representation of the content of the label. This automated extraction task is made more difficult by the high variability of museum label formats, OCR errors and the open class nature of some elements. In this paper we introduce our overall system architecture, and variability robust solutions including, the application of Hidden Markov and Naive Bayes machine learning models, data cleaning, use of field element identifiers, and specialist learning models. The techniques developed here could be adapted to any metadata extraction situation with noisy text and weakly ordered elements.
Role of immunoglobulin G in platelet aggregation by viridans group streptococci

The aggregation of human platelets by the viridans group streptococci requires both direct platelet-bacterium binding and plasma components. Some of these extracellular constituents (e.g., fibrinogen) are cofactors for ADP, which mediates the terminal events in platelet activation by these organisms. In addition, other plasma components which are specific for viridans group streptococci are necessary. To better define these latter cofactors, we examined the role of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in platelet aggregation by two strains of viridans group streptococci. The addition of either strain to washed human platelets suspended in normal plasma resulted in a 5- to 12-min lag phase, followed by brisk and irreversible platelet aggregation. In contrast, neither strain aggregated platelets suspended in IgG-depleted plasma (IgG concentration, less than or equal to 6.7 micrograms/ml). The addition of IgG (1.0 mg/ml) to the platelet suspension restored normal aggregation. Absorption of the IgG with intact bacteria abolished its ability to support aggregation. Preincubation of washed platelets with a murine monoclonal antibody to the 40,000-Mr platelet Fc receptor blocked aggregation by both strains, but had no effect on aggregation by ADP (5 microM) or collagen (200 micrograms/ml). Neither strain aggregated gel-filtered platelets supplemented with fibrinogen (100 micrograms/ml), whereas ADP induced a maximal platelet response. When IgG (1.0 mg/ml) was added to the suspension of gel-filtered platelets, both strains produced normal aggregation. These results indicate that specific IgG is required for platelet aggregation by viridans group streptococci and that platelet activation is mediated through the 40,000-Mr Fc receptor on the platelet surface.
Thrombin‐bound conformation of a cyclic anticoagulant peptide using transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE), distance geometry, and NOE simulations

A cyclic hirudin C-terminal fragment, even truncated to eight residues, retains higher activity in binding to thrombin compared with its linear analogue of the same peptide length. In this paper, we report the results of a conformational study of a cyclic hirudin peptide 55-62 ([sequence: see text]) bound to the exosite of thrombin. Based on transferred NOE data and molecular modeling, conformation of the 18-membered ring was well defined with little mobility in the loop region. The backbone conformations of residues Glu (58) to Lys (61) are very similar to those in a native 11-residue linear peptide in the thrombin-bound state [Ni et al. (1990) Biochemistry, vol. 29, pp. 4479-4489; Skrzypczak-Jankun et al. (1991) Journal of Molecular Biology, vol. 221, pp. 1379-1393]. The side chain of Ile (59), the most critical residue, assumes a gauche- conformation, as observed in linear hirudin peptides. The bound conformations of residues Phe(56) and Glu (57) are defined by an iterative procedure involving the matching of computed and experimental transferred NOE intensities. The exosite of thrombin appears to be very specific to both the backbone and the side-chain conformations of the hirudin C-terminal peptides, especially those of residues Phe(56) and Ile(59).
Isolation and karyological characteristics of seven hybrids between somatic mouse cells in vitro

In vitro hybridization of seven pairs of genetically different murine cell has been demonstrated by the use of karyological markers, and pure cultures of these hybrids have been isolated. All somatic hybrids showed a progressive loss of chromosomes during this proliferation in vitro.
Genetic control of antibody production to myelin basic protein in mice.

Abstract Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a disease produced by inoculation of myelin basic protein (BP) into susceptible animals. Data in this report link the production of anti-BP antibody to the murine H-2 histocompatibility background. H-2 k and H-2 a animals produce high levels of anti-BP antibodies as measuring during both primary and secondary immune responses. Strains with H-2 b,d,p,q,s haplotypes are poor responders after primary immunization; however some H-2 s and H-2 d animals showed an increase in antibody after boosting. The use of M. tuberculosis instead of M. butyricum resulted in greater antibody production in H-2 d strains. The response observed in 4 congenic pairs of mice support the association between antibody formation and the H-2 complex. Experiments with recombinant inbred strains indicate that responsible genes reside in the I-A region of the H-2 complex.
Optical Imaging of a Tactile Illusion in Area 3b of the Primary Somatosensory Cortex

In the tactile funneling illusion, the simultaneous presentation of brief stimuli at multiple points on the skin produces a single focal sensation at the center of the stimulus pattern even when no physical stimulus occurs at that site. Consistent with the funneling percept, we show with optical imaging in area 3b of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) that simultaneous stimulation of two fingertips produces a single focal cortical activation between the single fingertip activation regions. Thus, in contrast to traditional views of the body map, topographic representation in the SI reflects the perceived rather than the physical location of peripheral stimulation.
Power-Gating Schemes for Ultra-Thin SOI (UTSOI) Circuits in Hybrid SOI-Epitaxial CMOS Structures

Several novel schemes of implementing MTCMOS circuits in hybrid UTSOI-epitaxial CMOS structures are proposed and analyzed through comprehensive circuit simulations. The schemes offer intrinsic high circuit density and facilitate header/footer body biasing techniques for performance enhancement and leakage reduction. The effectiveness in improving active-mode performance, and reducing virtual supply bounce and standby leakage power is demonstrated.
Community influences on mental health program evaluation

Research in community psychology has demonstrated that community environments can play a key role in defining the operations of human service institutions. This study questioned whether significant community groups might indirectly influence the program evaluation record-keeping of mental health outpatient programs to reflect contact with problem areas considered important by those groups. An inventory of program evaluation materials was conducted in three types of mental health programs. The ranked frequencies of record completion for 10 designated problem areas were correlated with staff rankings of importance for agency work with problems identified by key community groups. Results indicate that the more important the community demand is to the staff, the more systematically complete will be data sources which document agency performance for that demand. Given the general lack of comprehensive development of program evaluation in many mental health programs, the results suggest that community interest groups may play a major role in determining what types of information on mental health problems are made available to the public. The resultant lack of balance and scope in these data inevitably limit the range of community responses for program improvement.
AN IMPROVED HI-Q BANDPASS FILTER FOR ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY.

Abstract This paper has dascribed an extremely stable low frequency bandpass filter which is very useful in electroencephalographic signal analysis. The use of filters in EEG signal analysis has been discussed in the literature so only bibliographic references have been mentioned in this paper. The frequency and selectivity dapend only on a few capacitors and resistors because of the use of high gain operational amplifiers. Thus, the stability and calibration dapend only on a few passive circuit elements which can be precision components, rather than on the characteristics of the tubes or transistors. For values of Q in the ordar of 100 or less, the dasign is rather straight forward. The filter characteristics are the same as those of a parallel resonant circuit with the same Q as that of the filter. In the dasign, the bandwidth is constant and the Q of the filter changes as the frequency is adjusted. Filters of this dasign have been satisfactorily used in EEG signal analysis at The University of Texas for about 2 years.
Four-segment composition model analyses of binary alkanol—water systems

Abstract Excess molar thermodynamic properties of the five completely miscible alkanol—water systems have been analyzed using the four-segment composition model. The results of these analyses have been interpreted in terms of significant aqueous structural enhancement at alkanol mole fractions (XA) > 0.1 and of a laminar microheterogeneous pattern of molecular aggregation in the composition segment 1 3 2 3 .
Contact inhibition revisited

Contact inhibition of cell movement was originally defined in the 1950s as a way of interpreting studies that were ethological and statistical in nature. Research done in succeeding decades provided a more detailed study of the initial contact and its consequences for the cell. The behavior called contact inhibition is characterized by the cessation of ruffling and forward movement in the lamellipodium of the cell making the contact. A new ruffling membrane then arises elsewhere on the cell perimeter. A comparison between the contact behavior described in the early literature and that of the nerve growth cone, described recently by Steketee and Tosney, suggests that filopodia mediate the sensing function in both cases. Since transformed cells have fewer filopodia than normal cells, the contact behavior may decline in direct response to the degraded function of filopodia. This new "filopodia focal signal transduction" hypothesis of contact inhibition elevates the filopodia sensing function and the cessation of lamellipodial advance to the highest importance as phenomena underlying the altered behavior of cancer cells.
Mental patients' rights: An empirical study of variation across the United States

Numerous theoretical accounts have emerged in recent years to explain the changes that have occurred in the provision of services in the area of welfare and human services. In discussions of the deinstitutionalization of mental patients, for example (Brown, 1985); and the “decriminalization of public drunkenness” (Fagan & Mauss, 1978), rival accounts differ sharply: some see the changes coming about as the result of humanitarian concerns, while others believe that the changes result from institutional concerns with reducing the costs of providing welfare services. This divergence of opinion is also evident in different accounts of the development of mental patients’ rights. Many professionals and administrators in the mental health system, as well as a number of social science, psychiatric, and legal researchers, have interpreted the concern for patients’ rights as a humanitarian concern (Ennis & Emery, 1978). On the other hand, political and economic analysts tend to interpret patients’ rights either as a response to the “fiscal crisis” of the state (Scull, 1977), or to a combination of social, political, institutional, and economic forces (Brown, 1981; C. Smith, 1983). It is plausible, for example, that the provision of patients’ rights is simply a part of the overall logic and process of deinstitutionalization (Smith & Hanham, 1981). An alternative explanation is that provisions made for patients’ rights are related to the prevalence of social problems and each state’s commitment to social reform and the provision of welfare services. The existing research in this area can only provide the most general clues about why variations in patients’ rights might occur. Much of the research has been in the form of general theoretical statements, with some policy studies conducted in either individual states (Bardach, 1972; Warren, 1984) or one specific hospital (Zeigenfuss, 1983). Nationwide data on mental patients’ rights is available (Beis, 1983; Lyon, Levine, & Zusman, 1982) but beyond the simple enumeration of each state’s progress in moving toward patients’ rights, no
The lorentz structure of the imaginary optical potential

Abstract The relativistic imaginary optical potential is calculated to lowest order in nuclear matter for the exchange of σ-, ω- and π-mesons. Analytic results are obtained which show that: (i) the imaginary scalar potential is positive (a probability source); (ii) both it and the imaginary vector potential are large (about five times the nonrelativistic net absorption); (iii) there is an important imaginary spatial three-vector potential. These results can explain, the sign, magnitude and energy dependence of the imaginary spin-orbit optical potential. For pions, orders of magnitude larger potentials are obtained for pseudoscalar rather than pseudovector πN coupling. The pseudovector results represent moderate corrections to σ- and ω-exchange.
The effects of set and reinforcement in verbal conditioning.

(1960). The Effects of Set and Reinforcement in Verbal Conditioning. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 239-248.
A numerical study on ground-based vibration response of a spinning cyclic symmetric rotor with cracks

This paper is to study how presence of cracks affects ground-based vibration response of a spinning cyclic symmetric rotor via a numerical simulation. A reference system used in this study is a spinning disk with four pairs of brackets, representing a 4-fold cyclic symmetric rotor. A crack with a variable depth is introduced at one of the eight disk-bracket interfaces. Both radial and circumferential cracks are simulated. The ground-based vibration response of the spinning disk-bracket system is simulated using an algorithm introduced by Shen and Kim [1]. Compared with a perfectly cyclic symmetric rotor, the crack introduces additional resonances when the crack size is large enough. Frequencies of these additional resonances can be predicted accurately and may be used as a way to detect presence of cracks. In addition, the additional resonances are more prominent for the circumferential crack than the radial crack.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A Characterization of Graphs Where the Independence Number Equals the Radius

In a classical 1986 paper by Erdos, Saks and Saos every graph of radius r has an induced path of order at least 2r − 1. This result implies that the independence number of such graphs is at least r. In this paper, we use a result of S. Fajtlowicz about radius-critical graphs to characterize graphs where the independence number is equal to the radius, for all possible values of the radius except 2, 3, and 4. We briefly discuss these remaining cases as well.
Basic Skills Tests and Academic Success of ESL College Students

U Institutions of higher education throughout the United States widely employ scores obtained on various tests of English language proficiency to make admission and placement decisions for minority language students. A fundamental rationale for such tests is that they predict "readiness" for college-level academic work; yet, the predictive value of these tests for ESL students has rarely been investigated and what research has been carried out has failed to produce consistently high correlations (Graham, 1987). Indeed, there is a growing concern that access to higher education for minority language students may be unduly restricted (Otheguy, 1990) because such students are repeatedly placed and kept in developmental or ESL courses while being denied access to other college courses. The purpose of this paper, then, is to examine the relation between the academic success of ESL students at a large, public, urban college, and their scores at the time of admission on basic skills tests in reading and writing (as well as math); while recognizing that such a descriptive case study can only provide fragmentary evidence gathered at one particular campus, it is nevertheless felt that this evidence is relevant to the issues discussed above-issues which are being faced by an increasing number of ethnolinguistically diverse institutions nationwide.
Mortality from malignant diseases—update of the Baltimore union poultry cohort

We previously studied mortality up to 1989 in 2,639 members of a local union who had ever worked in poultry slaughtering and processing plants, because they were exposed to oncogenic viruses present in poultry. In this report, cancer mortality was updated to the year 2003 for 2,580 of the 2,639 subjects who worked exclusively in poultry plants. Mortality in poultry workers was compared with that in the US general population through the estimation of proportional mortality and standardized mortality ratios separately for each race/sex group and for the whole cohort. Compared to the US general population, an excess of cancers of the buccal and nasal cavities and pharynx (base of the tongue, palate and other unspecified mouth, tonsil and oropharynx, nasal cavity/middle ear/accessory sinus), esophagus, recto-sigmoid/rectum/anus, liver and intrabiliary system, myelofibrosis, lymphoid leukemia and multiple myeloma was observed in particular subgroups or in the entire poultry cohort. We hypothesize that oncogenic viruses present in poultry, and exposure to fumes, are candidates for an etiologic role to explain the excess occurrence of at least some of these cancers in the poultry workers. Larger studies which can control for confounding factors are urgently needed to determine the significance of these findings.
Design of a 20-mb/s 256-state Viterbi decoder

The design of high-throughput large-state Viterbi decoders relies on the use of multiple arithmetic units. The global communication channels among these parallel processors often consist of long interconnect wires, resulting in large area and high power consumption. In this paper, we propose a data transfer oriented design methodology to implement a low-power 256-state rate-1/3 Viterbi decoder. Our architectural level scheme uses operation partitioning, packing, and scheduling to analyze and optimize interconnect effects in early design stages. In comparison with other published Viterbi decoders, our approach reduces the global data transfers by up to 75% and decreases the amount of global buses by up to 48%, while enabling the use of deeply pipelined datapaths with no data forwarding. In the register-transfer level (RTL) implementation, we apply precomputation in conjunction with saturation arithmetic to further reduce power dissipation with provably no coding performance degradation. Designed using a 0.25 /spl mu/m standard cell library, our decoder achieves a throughput of 20 Mb/s in simulation and dissipates only 0.45 W.
Genetic control of fungal differentiation: the three sporulation pathways of Neurospora crassa.

Sporulation in the mold Neurospora crussa can proceed along three very different pathways, leading to the production of three types of spores. Two asexual sporulation pathways that lead to the formation of macroconidia and microconidia involve budding from hyphae by two different mechanisms. A much more complex sexual reproductive pathway involves the formation of a fruiting body called a perithecium, in which meiosis takes place and ascospores are formed in sac-like cells called asci. Numerous mutations exist that affect these developmental pathways, and genes have been isolated that are expressed preferentially during sporulation. The Neurospora sporulation pathways offer a simple system with which to study mechanisms and regulation of development that are usually obscured by complex cell-cell interactions involved in animal and plant development.
Ab Initio Molecular Orbital Study of the Acidity of Hydrated Lithium Hydroxide

The proton and water affinities of the Li+ cation are predicted from ab initio molecular orbital theory using Gaussian 90 and Gaussian 92. These calculations were undertaken in order to understand the role that the hydrated Li+ cation has in controlling acidity within the clay interlayers. Proton affinities for hydrated Li(OH) complexes increase with increasing degree of hydration but level off above two waters. This results in the highest acidity for the Li+ complex with fewer than two waters of hydration. Acidity is controlled by the effective charge on the Li+ cation. Stabilization of the charge by associated water molecules contributes to the reduced acidity at higher hydration numbers. Implication of a tight, inner sphere coordination complex is suggested from the calculations. The calculations imply that acidity in Li+ clays is relatively independent of the degree of hydration. Comparison with experimentally-derived hydration data for smectite clays reveals that sufficient water exists within the cl...
Restructuring the introductory accounting courses: The Kansas State University experience

Abstract The changes in the introductory accounting courses at Kansas State University were undertaken in light of the recommendations of the “Bedford Committee Report,” the “Perspectives” paper, and the AECC position statements. The objectives of the new introductory sequence include ordering content in a logical and coherent manner, encouraging the development of professional skills such as oral, written, and interpersonal communication, and teaching and assessing students to obtain specific cognitive objectives as outlined in Bloom's taxonomy. The new introductory accounting sequence is a two-semester progression which examines the operating, investing, and financing events of businesses.
Studies toward the synthesis of pinnatoxins: the spiroimine fragment

Abstract An enantioselective approach to the spiroimine fragment of pinnatoxins is described. The strategy is based on a recently developed diastereoselective Ireland–Claisen rearrangement to establish the challenging congested quaternary and tertiary stereocenters within the cyclohexene ring.
Effect of processed grain sorghum and expeller soybean meal on performance of lactating cows.

Forty-four Holstein cows were used to measure milk production responses to dry-rolled versus pelleted grain sorghum and expeller versus solvent soybean meal in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Pelleted grain sorghum was processed by grinding, increasing moisture to 31%, extruding, and drying to an exit temperature of 93°C. Grain sorghum was included in the diets at 27% of dry matter, and soybean meal was the primary source of supplemental protein. Few interactions were observed between the methods of processing grain sorghum and sources of soybean meal. Pelleting of grain sorghum decreased dry matter intake 5%, but increased milk production 3%, protein yield 4%, and efficiency 7%; fat yield was unaffected. Replacement of solvent soybean meal with expeller soybean meal had little effect on intake, but increased milk production 3%, fat yield 5%, and efficiency 4%; protein yield was unaffected. Plasma concentrations of amino acids (AA) were increased by pelleted grain sorghum and by expeller soybean meal at 5 and 10 wk after initiation of treatment, indicating that both of these treatments increased the supply of AA to the intestine. Pelleting improved the nutritive value of grain sorghum for lactating cows. Although total milk production and fat yield increased in response to expeller soybean meal, the lack of response in protein yield to this increased supply of RUP indicated that the effect was not solely due to an increased supply of AA to the intestine.
Non-blocking distributed transaction processing system

Abstract The prolific development of the wide variety of Internet applications forces a need for a software solution to enable access to multiple data sources while ensuring data integrity and consistency. Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) Services specified by the Object Management Group (OMG) includes a Transaction Service Specification. The Object Transaction Server (OTS) developed in this project is based on this specification. It acts as a robust system level tool to enable distributed applications to coordinate their operations into transactions. The OTS incorporates a three phase commit protocol to ensure atomicity of the transactions. This is a non-blocking protocol that ensures that operational sites participating in a transaction come to a common outcome based on the local data even in the event of (non-catastrophic) site failures.
System for the exposure of cell suspensions to power-frequency electric fields.

A system is described that uses an oscillating magnetic field to produce power-frequency electric fields with strengths in excess of those produced in an animal or human standing under a high-voltage electric-power transmission line. In contrast to other types of exposure systems capable of generating fields of this size, no electrodes are placed in the conducting growth media: the possibility of electrode contamination of the exposed suspension is thereby eliminated. Electric fields in the range 0.02-3.5 V/m can be produced in a cell culture with total harmonic distortions less than 1.5%. The magnetic field used to produce electric fields for exposure is largely confined within a closed ferromagnetic circuit, and experimental and control cells are exposed to leakage magnetic flux densities less than 5 ..mu..T. The temperatures of the experimental and control cell suspensions are held fixed within +/-0.1 /sup 0/C by a water bath. Special chambers were developed to hold cell cultures during exposure and sham exposure. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells incubated in these chambers grew for at least 48 h and had population doubling times of 16-17 h, approximately the same as for CHO cells grown under standard cell-culture conditions. 17 references, 6 figures, 2 tables.
Improved temporal correspondences in stereo-vision by RANSAC

Determining the image correspondences of scene points in two or more views remain elusive especially for large baselines and (or) rotations. Assuming a calibrated stereo rig, we propose two novel RANSAC-based algorithms to establish temporal correspondences of triplet and quadruplet matches in two stereo pairs robustly. We devise an efficient technique for the absolute orientation problem with minimum three matches [B. Horn et al., 1987]. This drastically reduces the number of random samplings, for a given probability of selecting no outlier in at least one set, compared to the application of the 7-/8-point algorithms [Z. Zhang et al., 1995, P. Torr and D. Murray, 1997]. Within the general RANSAC paradigm, a low-cost selective random sampling scheme is incorporated to further enhance the robustness of the algorithm that utilizes quadruplet matches.
On the Classification of the Electric Field Spectroscopies: Application to Raman Scattering

Modern electric field-based spectroscopies, both linear and nonlinear, are assigned to two classes having strongly differentiating properties. In one, Class I, the language of photons absorbed and emitted appears naturally. In Class II, the basic physics is sorted out at the field level itself and the language of wave-mixing is used. So, among other things, the phase of the material response function becomes an issue for Class II spectroscopies. Field “generators” together with density matrix evolution diagrams are found to be useful tools for isolating any given spectroscopy from the great many that may appear at any given order in the light−matter interaction. By way of example, it is shown how the generators and diagrams allow one to extract all of the Raman scattering processes as a distinct subgroup of a much larger set of spectroscopies that occur at various orders. Each is assigned either to Class I or II and identified with key evolution diagrams.
Order characteristics and stock price evolution An application to program trading

Abstract This paper is an econometric analysis of the information content of automated orders arriving at the NYSE. The model captures the joint behavior of automated orders and also the return on the stock index future and the futures-spot basis. The results indicate that orders contain information useful in predicting stock returns beyond the information contained in the reported trades. Furthermore, program and index-arbitrage orders contain information beyond that available from the futures return and basis, suggesting that these orders are not merely passive conveyors of common-factor information. Nonprogram, program, and index-arbitrage orders have roughly similar price impacts.
Novel deformable mirror design for possible wavefront correction in CO 2 laser fusion system

Analysis at Los Alamos and elsewhere has resulted in the conclusion that deformable mirrors can substantially improve the optical performance of laser fusion systems, as the errors are mostly static or quasi-static with mainly low spatial frequencies across the aperture resulting in low order Seidel aberrations in the beam. A novel deformable mirror assembly (Fig. 1) has been fabricated with 19 actuators capable of surface deflection of ±20 microns. The mirror surface deflections are produced by a unique differential ball screw that acts as both a force and position actuator. The screw is driven by a stepper motor giving a surface positioning resolution of 0.025 micron. No holding voltage potential is required, and a piezoceramic element in series with each ball screw provides a ±1 micron amplitude high-frequency surface dither to aid the correction process. Mirror performance in terms of individual actuator influence function, cross-coupling, figure attainment, long-term surface stability as well as optical performance characteristics will be discussed.
Involvement of the mu-opiate receptor in peripheral analgesia

The intradermal injection of mu (morphine, Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-NMe-Phe-Gly-ol and morphiceptin), kappa (trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) cyclohexyl]benzeneactemide) and delta ([D-Pen2.5]-enkephalin and [D-Ser2]-[Leu]enkephalin-Thr) selective opioid-agonists, by themselves, did not significantly affect the mechanical nociceptive threshold in the hindpaw of the rat. Intradermal injection of mu, but not delta or kappa opioid-agonists, however, produced dose-dependent inhibition of prostaglandin E2-induced hyperalgesia. The analgesic effect of the mu-agonist morphine was dose-dependently antagonized by naloxone and prevented by co-injection of pertussis toxin. Morphine did not, however, alter the hyperalgesia induced by 8-bromo cyclic adenosine monophosphate. We conclude that the analgesic action of opioids on the peripheral terminals of primary afferents is via a binding site with characteristics of the mu-opioid receptor and that this action is mediated by inhibition of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate second messenger system.
Organization of glycosaminoglycan chains in a chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate proteoglycan from bovine aorta.

Abstract A chondroitin sulfate - dermatan sulfate proteoglycan was isolated from bovine aorta intima by extraction of the tissue by 4 M guanidine hydrochloride. The proteoglycan was purified by CsCl isopycnic centrifugation followed by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The proteoglycan had 21.9% protein, 22.1% uronate, 21.4% hexosamine and 10.8% sulfate. Glycosaminoglycan chains obtained from the proteoglycan by β-elimination were resolved by gel filtration into two fractions, one containing chondroitin 6-sulfate with an approximate molecular weight of 49 000 and the other containing chondroitin 4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate in a proportion of 2:1 with an approximate molecular weight of 37 000. Digestion of the proteoglycan by chondroitinase ABC or AC yielded a protein core with similar composition and behavior in gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An approximate molecular weight of 180 000 was estimated for the core protein. Dermatan sulfate chains with an approximate molecular weight of 10 000 were observed only in the digest of chondroitinase AC. Limited trypsin hydrolysis of the proteoglycan yielded three peptide fragments containing chondroitin 6-sulfate, chondroitin 4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate in varied proportions. A tentative structure for the proteoglycan was suggested.
A recombinant rat regenerating protein is mitogenic to pancreatic derived cells.

Abstract Pancreatic regenerating protein (reg I) is expressed in acinar cells and is mitogenic to β- and ductal cells. Isolation of large amounts of endogenous reg I for in vivo and in vitro experiments has been difficult. The aim of this study was to develop a recombinant protein and determine its bioactivity on rat pancreatic derived cells. cDNA of the rat reg I coding region was created with unique BamHI flanking sequences using reverse transcriptase PCR. The coding region was then cloned into a bacterial expression vector in which expression is controlled by a T7 promoter. After transformation into the Escherichia coli strain B21(DE3) and induction by isopropyl-β- d -thiogalactopyranoside, a fusion protein of 24 kDa in size, named reg-PET, was noted in the bacterial lysate. This protein contained a polyhistidine and S-peptide sequence to facilitate isolation and identification, respectively. This protein was purified using affinity chromatography, and identity was confirmed with gel electrophoresis and Western analysis. The reg-PET protein was mitogenic to both ARIP and RIN cells, rat pancreatic ductal and β-cell lines, respectively. Antibodies raised to the protein reacted against rat reg I in pancreas. The purified recombinant reg I fusion protein, like endogenous reg I, is mitogenic to pancreatic derived cells. It is more potent than reg I isolated from pancreatic tissue. This protein can be isolated rapidly, easily, and with a high amount of purity.
PIAS1 SUMO ligase regulates the self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells

The selective and temporal DNA methylation plays an important role in the self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but the molecular mechanism that controls the dynamics of DNA methylation is not understood. Here, we report that the PIAS1 epigenetic pathway plays an important role in regulating HSC self-renewal and differentiation. PIAS1 is required for maintaining the quiescence of dormant HSCs and the long-term repopulating capacity of HSC. Pias1 disruption caused the abnormal expression of lineage-associated genes. Bisulfite sequencing analysis revealed the premature promoter demethylation of Gata1, a key myeloerythroid transcription factor and a PIAS1-target gene, in Pias1−/− HSCs. As a result, Pias1 disruption caused the inappropriate induction of Gata1 in HSCs and common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs). The expression of other myeloerythroid genes was also enhanced in CLPs and lineage-negative progenitors, with a concurrent repression of B cell-specific genes. Consistently, Pias1 disruption caused enhanced myeloerythroid, but reduced B lymphoid lineage differentiation. These results identify a novel role of PIAS1 in maintaining the quiescence of dormant HSCs and in the epigenetic repression of the myeloerythroid program.
Low back pain: Review of diagnosis and therapy

Low back pain is a patient complaint frequently encountered in the emergency department setting. The disease entity is often a diagnostic challenge with a subtle presentation, but can be accompanied by significant neurovascular complications. Current topics of controversy include the utility of radiologic evaluation, pharmacologic and holistic treatment strategies, as well as guidelines for urgent referral of patients with lumbar pain.
Dynamical regimes in neural network models of matching behavior

The matching law constitutes a quantitative description of choice behavior that is often observed in foraging tasks. According to the matching law, organisms distribute their behavior across available response alternatives in the same proportion that reinforcers are distributed across those alternatives. Recently a few biophysically plausible neural network models have been proposed to explain the matching behavior observed in the experiments. Here we study systematically the learning dynamics of these networks while performing a matching task on the concurrent variable interval VI schedule. We found that the model neural network can operate in one of three qualitatively different regimes depending on the parameters that characterize the synaptic dynamics and the reward schedule: 1 a matching behavior regime, in which the probability of choosing an option is roughly proportional to the baiting fractional probability of that option; 2 a perseverative regime, in which the network tends to make always the same decision; and 3 a tristable regime, in which the network can either perseverate or choose the two targets randomly approximately with the same probability. Different parameters of the synaptic dynamics lead to different types of deviations from the matching law, some of which have been observed experimentally. We show that the performance of the network depends on the number of stable states of each synapse and that bistable synapses perform close to optimal when the proper learning rate is chosen. Because our model provides a link between synaptic dynamics and qualitatively different behaviors, this work provides us with insight into the effects of neuromodulators on adaptive behaviors and psychiatric disorders.
Super-deep penetration

Abstract The experimental discovery of the super-deep penetration of microparticles into strong materials by hypervelocity impact documented the reality of earlier predictions of fracture mechanics concerning the anomalously low drag of a body moving like a wedge in a brittle medium. In the present paper, some wedge-embedded penetration regimen models, taking into account arbitrary friction and plastic deformations near contact areas, shaving effects, and a complex or even fractal geometry of a cracking front, are advanced. The equation for drag is derived using the author's invariant Γ-integral equivalent to the energy conservation law. The thrust of a motor necessary to propel a projectile or vehicle in hard rock is evaluated. It is shown that the thrust of the NASA space shuttle's rocket booster suffices to provide the penetration of a small projectile or vehicle in strong granite for the distance of a mile during a short span of time. Super-deep penetration of microparticles is examined using results from fracture quantum mechanics. The hypothesis is advanced that the super-deep penetration of microparticles represents the self-propagation of a specific internal solitary wave forming a cavity with a projectile moving inside the cavity without drag. This solitary wave is named the rayleighon, because it propagates with the Rayleigh speed. It is suggested that this paper would provide a possible stimulus for conversion of some Department of Defense rocket motor industries towards civil exploration of the Earth, which is studied much less than the cosmos.
Linguistic Conflict in Catalonia

RESUMOLingva konflikto en KatalunioLa kataluna lingvo en Hispanio en la periodo post la epoko de Franco atingis ofi-cialan juran rekonon, kaj preskaǔ ciuj politikaj fortoj en la aǔtonoma regiono Katalunio favoras la kreskantan oficialan kaj ciutagan uzadon de la kataluna—projekto, kiun la katalunoj nomas "lingva normaligo." La demando plej perpleksiga al socilingvistoj estas tio, ĉu la normaliga projekto sukcesos? Plej multaj esploristoj, fronte al tiu demando, koncentriĝas je la "sintenoj" de la homoj al la lingvo aǔ je la sociaj "normoj," kiuj indikas kiun lingvon uzi en kiuj cirkonstancoj. Tiu ĉi artikolo uzas alian aliron. Ĝi esploras "normaligon" el ludteoria perspektivo, en kiu strategia interago estas la ĉefa determinanto de lingvotransiro, pli ol simplaj normoj aǔ sintenoj. El tiu perspektivo, oni trovas, ke la lingva asimiliĝo de enmigrintoj, kiuj ne parolas la katalunan, estas malpli problema ol oni nuntempe opinias, kaj ke la interesokonflikto inter la indiĝenaj katalunoj estas pli severa ol oni nuntempe kredas. Interesokonfliktoj inter Madrido kaj Katalunio estas ankaǔ analizitaj, kiel ankaǔ tiuj inter la Generalitat (la aǔtonoma registaro de Katalunio) kaj la komunumoj de enmigrintoj al Katalunio.RESUMConflicte Llingiiistic a CatalunyaA l'Espanya post franquista, la llengua catalana ha aconseguit un status legal official, i practicament totes les forces politiques de la regio autonomica catalana afovoreixen el seu us creixent, tant oficialment com en la vida diaria—un projecte que els catalans anomenen "normalitzacio linguistica." La questio que mes ha preocupat als sociolin-guistes es fins a quin punt el projecte de normalitzacio sera un exit. A fi de contestar aquesta questio, la majoria d'investigadors, es centren be en les "normes" socials que fan referencia a quina llengua s'ha de fer servir en cada contexte determinat. Aquest article pren un enfoc diferent. Examina la "normalitzacio" desde una perspectiva de teoria de jocs, en la qual la interaccio estrategica es la que determina el canvi d'una llengua a l'altre, mes que no pas les normes senzilles o les actituds. Desde aquesta perspectiva, es troba que la assimilacio llinguistica dels immigrants que no parlen catala es un problema menys important del que normalment es pensa i que el conflicte d'in-teres entre els catalans autoctons es mes fort del que es creu normalment. L'article tambe analitza els conflictes entre Madrid i Catalunya, i els que existeixen entre la Generalitat (el govern autonom de Catalunya) i les comunitats d'immigrants a Catalunya.
Strategies to Retain Rural Breast Cancer Survivors in Longitudinal Research

Aims To describe the retention of rural women in the Rural Breast Cancer Survivors (RBCS) Intervention.
How can a social debugging game effectively teach computer programming concepts

The dramatically changing availability and sharing of information online has created new opportunities for informal, discretionary learning. This, along with the rise in online gaming across all ages and genders, gives rise to questions about how these resources can be used effectively for teaching. In my work, I examine the efficacy of an online debugging game designed to teach computer programming. More specifically, in addition to developing the game and its learning objectives, I investigate how the inclusion of new features and the manipulation of specific elements within the game affects people's motivation and learning of computer programming and debugging concepts.
Metabolic evidence of myocardial stunning in takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a positron emission tomography study.

my viab Several case studies of acute transient left ventricr apical ballooning without significant coronary ry disease (takotsubo cardiomyopathy) have been orted. The pathophysiologic mechanism of this drome is believed to be related to catecholamineuced stunning of the apical myocardium. Definitive of, however, is lacking. Here we report a case of transient apical ballooning which metabolic imaging with positron emission ography (PET) revealed profoundly reduced fluo-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the balned apical wall with relatively normal perfusion, a ern consistent with myocardial stunning. This perfu-metabolism pattern normalized, as did contractility. Case report. A 52-year-old white woman preted to the emergency department 8 hours after the te onset of chest pain and shortness of breath. ptoms started and then waxed and waned after an tional argument with her husband. She denied toco, alcohol, or drug use. Her past medical history was y significant for hyperlipidemia, for which she had n taking atorvastatin. On arrival, her blood pressure 77/50 mm Hg and her heart rate was 88 beats/min. ular venous distension was appreciated in the sitting ition, and respiratory crackles were heard bilaterally. murmurs, rubs, or gallops were appreciated. The trocardiogram revealed mild ST elevation in leads II, and aVF with diffuse T-wave inversion and QT longation (Figure 1). A chest radiograph was consiswith bilateral pulmonary parenchymal congestion. ergent coronary angiography revealed normal coroy arteries. Left ventriculography showed distal ante, apical, and distal inferior akinesis with hyperkinesis the remaining walls (Figure 2). The level of serum