cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure losses in flexible ducts.

A brief study of pressure loss in flexible ducts was undertaken to provide a suitable basis for judging the adequacy of presently published data provided by the duct manufacturers, and to evaluate the need for further research on the subject. For the 2 1/2-, 4-, and 6-inch-diameter brand A ducts tested, losses measured in the laboratory in perfectly straight ducts were approximately 55%, 30%, and 45% higher, respectively, than those shown in the manufacturers’ friction chart. Losses in bends of various R/D ratios in the three duct sizes at a velocity of 3000 fpm were found to average approximately 60%, 380%, and 235% greater than those given by the manufacturer. For the 4- and 6-inch-diameter brand B ducts tested, losses given for straight duct by the manufacturer were approximately 50% and 25% higher, respectively, than those determined by test. The average losses in bends at an air velocity of 3000 fpm were found to be approximately 100% and 120% higher than those given by the manufacturer.
An inverse mapping capability for designing blast resistant composite panels through multi–scale modelling

This paper presents the development of a multi–scale simulation process for modelling the response of a composite panel to blast loads from an explosive threat. The new process can be used for improving the blast resistant capabilities of the composite panel by configuring its properties at the microlevel. A multi–scale simulation process using the coupled MAC/GMC and ABAQUS explicit codes for computing the response of a structure subjected to a load from an explosion has been established. The functionality of this multiscale simulation capability and the efforts in incorporating microconstitutive material behaviour at high strain rate loading in the simulation process are presented. Formulating an inverse mapping capability for linking desired material properties with the composition of their micro structure in MAC/GMC in a computationally efficient manner, and conducting an optimisation analysis for identifying the desirable material properties for increasing the blast resistant characteristics are presented.
Regulation of RIG-I-like receptor signaling by host and viral proteins

Vertebrate innate immunity is characterized by an effective immune surveillance apparatus, evolved to sense foreign structures, such as proteins or nucleic acids of invading microbes. RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) are key sensors of viral RNA species in the host cell cytoplasm. Activation of RLRs in response to viral RNA triggers an antiviral defense program through the production of hundreds of antiviral effector proteins including cytokines, chemokines, and host restriction factors that directly interfere with distinct steps in the virus life cycle. To avoid premature or abnormal antiviral and proinflammatory responses, which could have harmful consequences for the host, the signaling activities of RLRs and their common adaptor molecule, MAVS, are delicately controlled by cell-intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, viruses have evolved multiple strategies to modulate RLR-MAVS signal transduction to escape from immune surveillance. Here, we summarize recent progress in our understanding of the regulation of RLR signaling through host factors and viral antagonistic proteins.
Cellularity of liquid-based, thin-layer cervical cytology slides.

OBJECTIVE: To study the cellularity of liquid-based preparations (LBPs) for normal, abnormal and false negative cervical cytology cases. STUDY DESIGN: A series of 1,875 LBPs obtained by a split-sample protocol was examined. Slides had been examined by at least one cytotechnologist. All abnormals were reviewed by at least two cytopathologists. The cellular objects were counted using a fully automated microscope. Cellularity was evaluated for the entire population, normal (<LSIL) slides, abnormal (LSIL +) slides and false negative slides. False negatives were identified as those with an initial impression of < LSIL and (1) the reference pathologist's impression of the slide was LSIL +, (2) the simultaneous conventional smear was LSIL +, or (3) a cervical biopsy was LSIL +. Descriptive statistics and graphic comparisons were used. RESULTS: There were 192 confirmed abnormal cases and 1,683 normal cases, of which 53 were false negative. The frequency distributions of cellularity for the entire population and each category were skewed-right nonnormal. Median cell counts of the entire series, normals, abnormals and false negatives were 60,510, 59,822, 70,523 and 64,036 respectively. Cell counts at 2.5 percentiles were 8,677, 7,891, 11,864 and 6,009, respectively. The population of abnormal slides tended to have higher cellularity. The population of false negative slides could not be distinguished by their cellularity. CONCLUSION: Cellularity does not provide assurance of adequacy. Any cellularity criterion should be based on measurement of the prevalence of abnormal cells on abnormal slides.
Struggles of a Sugar Society: Surveying Plantation-Era Montserrat, 1650–1850

A major obstacle to understanding Montserrat’s sugar industry and the often-contentious social dynamics that accompanied it has been the absence of a comprehensive study of the small Caribbean island’s plantation-era cultural landscape. We employ a multi-scalar approach, combining archival research and archaeological survey data, to trace the island’s shifting socio-cultural composition and fluctuating sugar industry over the course of two centuries (ca. 1650–1850). Adopting an island-wide perspective on the interpretation of Montserrat’s plantation-era remains, we expand the breadth and depth of understandings about the island’s sugar society through comparative, multi-sited analyses. Our findings underscore the importance of extending Caribbean plantation studies beyond individual estates.
Long-wave infrared profile feature extractor (PFx) sensor

The Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) Profile Feature Extractor (PFx) sensor has evolved from the initial profiling sensor that was developed by the University of Memphis (Near IR) and the Army Research Laboratory (visible). This paper presents the initial signatures of the LWIR PFx for human with and without backpacks, human with animal (dog), and a number of other animals. The current version of the LWIR PFx sensor is a diverging optical tripwire sensor. The LWIR PFx signatures are compared to the signatures of the Profile Sensor in the visible and Near IR spectral regions. The LWIR PFx signatures were collected with two different un-cooled micro bolometer focal plane array cameras, where the individual pixels were used as stand alone detectors (a non imaging sensor). This approach results in a completely passive, much lower bandwidth, much longer battery life, low weight, small volume sensor that provides sufficient information to classify objects into human Vs non human categories with a 98.5% accuracy.
Each member of the poly-r(C)-binding protein 1 (PCBP) family exhibits iron chaperone activity toward ferritin

The mechanisms through which iron-dependent enzymes receive their metal cofactors are largely unknown. Poly r(C)-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) is an iron chaperone for ferritin; both PCBP1 and its paralog PCBP2 are required for iron delivery to the prolyl hydroxylase that regulates HIF1. Here we show that PCBP2 is also an iron chaperone for ferritin. Co-expression of PCBP2 and human ferritins in yeast activated the iron deficiency response and increased iron deposition into ferritin. Depletion of PCBP2 in Huh7 cells diminished iron incorporation into ferritin. Both PCBP1 and PCBP2 were co-immunoprecipitated with ferritin in HEK293 cells, and expression of both PCBPs was required for ferritin complex formation in cells. PCBP1 and -2 exhibited high affinity binding to ferritin in vitro. Mammalian genomes encode 4 PCBPs, including the minimally expressed PCBPs 3 and 4. Expression of PCBP3 and -4 in yeast activated the iron deficiency response, but only PCBP3 exhibited strong interactions with ferritin. Expression of PCBP1 and ferritin in an iron-sensitive, ccc1 yeast strain intensified the toxic effects of iron, whereas expression of PCBP4 protected the cells from iron toxicity. Thus, PCBP1 and -2 form a complex for iron delivery to ferritin, and all PCBPs may share iron chaperone activity.
Estimating Utility‐Consistent Poverty Lines with Applications to Egypt and Mozambique

Abstract A fundamental premise of absolute poverty lines is that they represent the same level of utility through time and space. Disturbingly, a series of recent studies in middle‐ and low‐income economies show that even carefully derived poverty lines rarely satisfy this premise. This article proposes an information‐theoretic approach to estimating cost‐of‐basic‐needs (CBN) poverty lines that are utility consistent. Applications to date illustrate that utility‐consistent poverty measurements derived from the proposed approach and those derived from current CBN best practices often differ substantially, with the current approach tending to systematically overestimate (underestimate) poverty in urban (rural) zones.
A correlation between juvenile hormone deficiency and vitellogenic oocyte degeneration inDrosophila melanogaster.

It is known from previous work that juvenile hormone (JH) is required to initiate vitellogenin uptake into maturing oocytes ofDrosophila melanogaster, but additional requirements for this hormone during oocyte maturation have not been fully understood. To determine if early vitellogenic oocytes (stages 8 and 9) require JH for continued development, these oocytes were transplanted toDrosophila female and male hosts which were rendered deficient in JH by three methods. Implanted stage 9 and usually stage 8 oocytes were found to degenerate in JH-deficient hosts unless ZR-515, a JH analogue, was applied to the host shortly after implantation. These results were confirmed during in situ ovary development. JH deficiency was produced in gravid females, and ovaries examined at subsequent time intervals were found to be deficient in stage 8–10 oocytes as early as 6 h after treatment. Degenerating oocytes corresponding to these stages were commonly found. ZR-515 prevented oocyte degeneration during at least the first 8 h and continued to support stage 8–10 oocyte development 24 h after application to these females. The results suggest that JH is required not only for initiation but also for continuation of vitellogenin uptake and oocyte development.
Thermal-neutron capture by 14 N

The energies and intensities of 58 \ensuremath{\gamma} rays emitted in thermal-neutron capture by nitrogen (99.63% ${}^{14}\mathrm{N}$) have been measured accurately. A major reason was to establish this reaction as a standard for similar measurements on other nuclides. These \ensuremath{\gamma} rays have been placed between 19 known levels (including the ground state and the capturing state) in ${}^{15}\mathrm{N}.$ The primary \ensuremath{\gamma} rays of both electric dipole $(E1)$ and magnetic dipole $(M1)$ types have been analyzed with existing theories of slow-neutron capture. Unlike many other light nuclides, the cross sections for $E1$ transitions in ${}^{15}\mathrm{N}$ differ drastically from the calculations of pure direct-capture theory. The role of the resonance-capture contribution from the proton-unbound, neutron-bound level at $29\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2\mathrm{keV}$ below the neutron separation energy was considered. Some of the properties of this level are quite well known from the ${}^{14}\mathrm{C}(p,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction, and others can be derived from an R-matrix analysis of the total cross section as a function of neutron energy. The thermal-neutron capture \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray spectrum is different from the proton-capture \ensuremath{\gamma}-ray spectrum, but if proper account is taken of the interference among the compound-nuclear processes, the valence-neutron mechanism, and potential capture, the data can be satisfactorily explained. In the thermal-neutron reaction, compound-nuclear $E1$ and direct-capture $E1$ contributions are of comparable magnitude. Valence-neutron capture forms a significant component of capture by the neutron-bound level at $\ensuremath{-}29\mathrm{keV}.$ Largely destructive interference between compound-nuclear and valence processes in a few transitions in thermal-neutron capture gives rise to a much smaller total cross section than would be obtained from the compound-nuclear process alone. The $M1$ transitions also show some evidence of a direct process but not a dominant one. The magnitudes of the compound-nuclear transitions, both $E1$ and $M1,$ are largely consistent with the values implied by giant resonance theories. The resonance parameters deduced for the $\ensuremath{-}29\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{keV}$ level are: total radiation $\mathrm{w}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}=565\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}24\mathrm{}\mathrm{meV},$ $\mathrm{reduced}\mathrm{}\mathrm{neutron}\mathrm{}\mathrm{w}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}=51.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3\mathrm{}\mathrm{keV}$ (for a channel radius of 3.5 fm), and proton $\mathrm{w}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}=160\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30\mathrm{}\mathrm{meV}.$
Design of Computer Measurement and Control System for Electro-Hydraulic Stepping Cylinder

To meet the requirements of measurement and control system for common servo-cylinder and considering the characteristics of electro-hydraulic stepping cylinder, a computer measurement and control system is designed. In this paper, the working principle of hydraulic system, the structure of electrical system, the process of measurements and the functions of testing software based on LabVIEW are introduced.
Isolation and characterization of the basic proline-rich proteins from rat parotid saliva

Abstract Five fractions of basic proline-rich proteins were isolated from rat parotid saliva, obtained by surgical cannulation of the ducts. The purification procedures employed DEAE-Sephadex to isolate a heterogeneous break-through fraction containing the basic proline-rich proteins, followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 to separate the high molecular weight glycoprotein, fraction A, from the other basic proline-rich proteins which were resolved into four additional fractions, SP-1 to SP-4, by ion exchange chromatography on SP-Sephadex. The proteins differed in their amino acid composition and content of neutral and amino sugars. All the proteins were characterized by a high proportion of proline (approx. 40 mol per cent) and glycine (11–23 mol per cent). Four of the fractions were also enriched in glutamic acid glutamine (19–26 mol per cent). The exception was fraction SP-4, which contained lower levels of glutamic acid glutamine and has no counterpart in human basic proline-rich proteins. Fraction A, the basic glycoprotein, was heavily glycosylated (59 mol per cent), whereas SP-2 and SP-4 were less glycosylated. Fractions SP-1 and SP-3 contained low levels of neutral and amino sugars. Basic proline-rich proteins constitute a smaller percentage of the total protein in rat parotid saliva than they do in human parotid saliva (10.5 versus 40 per cent). Rat basic glycoprotein fraction constitutes less than 1 per cent whereas the human glycoprotein fraction constitutes 17 per cent. Rat basic proline-rich proteins appear to be larger and less basic than most of the human basic proteins, and they resolve into fewer protein fractions (4 versus 9) with SP-Sephadex chromatography.
Street smarts of science for students.

A workshop organized by the Society for Leukocyte Biology offers advice to graduate students on how to navigate educational and professional waters to find success in academia.
Proof of a conjecture concerning the direct product of bipartite graphs

We prove that if the direct product of two connected bipartite graphs has isomorphic components, then one of the factors admits an automorphism that interchanges its partite sets. This proves a conjecture made by Jha, Klavzar and Zmazek in 1997 [P. Jha, S. Klavzar, B. Zmazek, Isomorphic components of Kronecker product of bipartite graphs, Discussiones Mathematicae Graph Theory 17 (1997) 302-308].
Recurrent pulmonary sarcoidosis in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

HIV infection and sarcoidosis occur in the same age group, but there areonly a few reports of the coexistence of the two disorders in the sameindividual. This infrequent occurrence has been attributed to thepaucity of functioning CD4+ lymphocytes required forgranuloma formation in patients with HIV infection. We report twopatients with a history of remote sarcoidosis who later in lifecontracted HIV infection and developed recurrent, progressive pulmonarysarcoidosis while receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART). Progressive pulmonary sarcoidosis should be added to thedifferential diagnosis in patients receiving HAART for HIV infectionwho develop diffuse lung disease with recovery of CD4+lymphocyte population.
Barley Semidwarf and Standard Isotype Yield and Malting Quality Response to Nitrogen

Introduction of certain semidwarf genes into wheat (Triticum spp.) has improved N-use efficiency, particularly at high N supply. This study was conducted to determine whether yield and grain quality differ between standard height (STD) and mutant semidwarf (SD) malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) isotypes with varying levels of N supply. Isotype pairs (Morex, Hazen, Norbert, and Andre) and check cultivars (Steptoe, Klages) were grown with 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha -1 in 1987 and 1989 (.)
Longitudinal follow-up of families and young children with traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVES. To examine the stability of functional outcomes 2 years after injury among children who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) before 2 years of age and to examine the characteristics of the families caring for these children. METHODS. All North Carolina-resident children who were hospitalized between January 2000 and December 2001 in any of the state9s 9 PICUs and survived a TBI that occurred on or before their second birthday were eligible to participate in the prospective cohort study. Child health status, use of ancillary medical resources, and family characteristics were assessed through maternal caregiver interviews ∼2 years after injury. Comparisons were made among injury types (inflicted versus noninflicted). RESULTS. There were 112 children who survived a TBI during the 2-year study period. Fifty-seven (79%) of the 72 maternal caregivers who had completed an interview 1 year after the child9s injury participated in the year 2 interview. Most children (67%) had an outcome of mild disability or better at year 2, with 45% functioning at an age-appropriate level. Children9s outcomes did not differ significantly at year 2 according to the mechanism of injury. The majority (67%) of children retained their Pediatric Overall Performance Category scores from year 1 to year 2. Children who changed were as likely to show improvement as deterioration. Children differed very little across time, as measured with the Stein-Jessup Functional Status II (Revised) scale. Families tended to have multiple environmental factors that could put their children at risk for poor developmental outcomes, including living below the poverty level (22%) and low social capital (39%). CONCLUSIONS. The children in this cohort had relatively stable functional outcomes from year 1 to year 2 after injury. This population of children remains very vulnerable to poor developmental outcomes secondary to the effects of their TBI and environmental factors.
Paroxysmal choreoathetosis and seizures induced by movement (reflex epilepsy).

SUMMARY Two patients are described. The first presents paroxysmal motor attacks with choreic, athetoid and dystonic movements, and the EEG is normal during the ictal episode. She was diagnosed as paroxysmal choreoathetosis. The second patient has attacks with dystonic and athetoid components, and the EEG during the ictal episode shows a rhythmic discharge over the vertex and the right hemisphere. She was diagnosed as “seizures induced by movement”. The attacks in both cases are induced by movement or posture. On the basis of these two cases and a historical analysis of the literature, it is concluded that there is not, at present, evidence to justify the identification of paroxysmal choreoathetosis as a form of reflex epilepsy. The analogies and differences of these syndromes are discussed. RESUME Les observations de deux malades sont rapportees. La premiere presente des crises motrices paroxystiques avec mouvements choreiques, athetosiques et dystoniques; l'EEG demeure normal pendant les crises. Le diagnostic porte fut celui de choreo-athetose paroxystique. La deuxieme malade presente des crises motrices avec composantes dystoniques et athetosiques qui sont accompagnees d'une decharge rythmique sur l'EEG occupant le vertex et l'hemisphere droit. Le diagnostic porte fut celui de “crises epileptiques provoquees par des mouvements”. En se basant sur ces deux cas et sur une analyse historique de la litterature, les auteurs admettent qu'il n'existe pas actuellement de preuves suffisantespour considerer la choreoathetose paroxystique comme une variete d'epilepsie reflexe. Les analogies et les differences entre ces deux syndromes sont discutees.
Direct-to-Consumer and Physician Promotion of Tegaserod Correlated With Physician Visits, Diagnoses, and Prescriptions

Background & Aims Direct-to-consumer advertisement (DTCA) and physician promotion of drugs can influence patient and physician behaviors. We sought to determine the relationship between promotion of tegaserod and the number of office visits for abdominal pain, constipation, and bloating; diagnoses of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); and tegaserod prescriptions. Methods We used an Integrated Promotional Services database to estimate tegaserod DTCA and promotion expenditures; the National Ambulatory/Hospital Medical Care Surveys (1997–2005) to estimate the number of ambulatory care visits for abdominal pain, constipation, and bloating and diagnoses of IBS; and IMS Health's National Prescription Audit Plus (Fairfield, CT) to estimate the number of prescriptions. We constructed segmented and multivariate regression models to analyze the data. Results In the 3 months immediately following the start of tegaserod DTCA, there was a significant increase in physician visits (by 1 million; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5–1.6 million) and IBS diagnoses (by 397,025; 95% CI, 3909–790,141). Subsequently, the trend of visits and IBS diagnoses was reduced. In multivariate analyses that examined the overall relationship of promotion with visits, diagnoses, and prescriptions, only the relationship between physician promotion and tegaserod prescribing was significant; every $1 million spent on physician promotion resulted in an additional 4108 prescriptions (95% CI, 2526–5691). Conclusions The initial DTCA of tegaserod was associated with a significant, immediate increase in physician visits and IBS diagnoses. This trend reversed and, in multivariate models, neither DTCA nor physician promotion correlated with visits or diagnoses. Physician promotion (although not DTCA) correlated with tegaserod prescription volume.
Tackling Corruption in Political Party Financing: Lessons from Global Regulatory Practices

Since the end of the Cold War, while democracy has spread among many countries, the costs of funding political campaigns are also increasing rapidly, leading to growing reliance on funding from private sources. This increasing reliance on private money appears to be associated with greater vulnerability of political systems to corruption. Based on a sample of 50 old and young democracies, the paper explores whether high levels of perceived corruption in politics is associated with an absence of, or weaknesses in, key measures to regulate political party funding. The paper concludes that it is difficult to make any categorical statements about whether the absence of, or weaknesses in, such measures is a good predictor of higher levels of perceived corruption in political party funding systems. Political parties are rated poorly in countries with “light touch” regulatory regimes, but this is also true of countries where regulatory systems are stronger. Imperfections can be found even in countries that tick all the right boxes in terms of regulatory practice. However, it is not unreasonable to conclude that, as a general principle, effective and properly enforced regulations, focused on increasing transparency, capping donations and expenditure and judicious use of public subsidies, are better than no regulations.
Geochemistry and tectonic setting of lower Proterozoic supracrustal rocks of the Pinal Schist, southeastern Arizona

Two lithologic assemblages are identified in the early Proterozoic (∼1700 Ma) supracrustal rocks of the Pinal Schist in southeastern Arizona. A western assemblage is composed largely of quartz wacke turbidites, and an eastern assemblage includes bimodal volcanics and variable amounts of sediment, chiefly feldspathic quartzite and conglomerate. Basalts from the eastern assemblage have incompatible-element distributions similar to those found in basalts from continental-margin arcs or evolved oceanic arcs, whereas those from the western assemblage have distributions similar to within-plate or back-arc basin basalts. Felsic volcanics range in composition from rhyodacite to rhyolite and exhibit incompatible-element distributions similar to those found in felsic volcanics from continental rifts and back-arc basins near continents. Provenance studies of sediments from both assemblages indicate sources rich in granite and felsic volcanics. The quartz wackes are similar in composition to sediments from continental-margin arcs and associated back-arc basins. An increase in mafic components in these rocks from north to south in the Pinal basin may reflect compositional polarity in an arc system. The eastern assemblage may represent remnants of a major northeast-trending continental-margin arc system, and the western assemblage may have been deposited in an intra-arc basin or a northwest-trending aulacogen which opened on the southwest.
Subsurface microscopy of interconnect layers of an integrated circuit

We apply the NA-increasing lens technique to confocal and wide-field backside microscopy of integrated circuits. We demonstrate 325 nm (λ0/4) lateral spatial resolution while imaging metal structures located inside the interconnect layer of an integrated circuit. Vectorial field calculations are presented justifying our findings.
Acoustic projectors for AUV and UUV applications in shallow-water regions

For acoustic identification of objects in a littoral environment, there are generally three frequency bands of interest; 1 kHz to 10 kHz, 10 kHz to 100 kHz and 100 kHz to >= 1 MHz, where the selection of these bands is dependent upon the specific Navy mission. This paper will discuss the progress of the Naval Research Laboratory in developing acoustic projector prototypes to address the lower two frequency bands for unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) and/or autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) applications. The band of 1 kHz to 10 kHz is currently being addressed sing cymbal flextensional vibrator elements sandwiched in to thin panels. In-air data has shown that high levels of acoustic displacement at low frequencies are possible with these devices while more recent in-water data has verified these expectations. This success has led to modeling and prototyping of similar devices for shallow water regions. The frequency range of 10 kHz to 100 kHz has been investigated for several years where the acoustic projector was originally reported during AeroSense 1998. The result of integrating the NRL broadband projector into the NSWC/Coastal Systems Station synthetic aperture sonar UUV will be presented. This system integration considers the projector as a constant source level over the 10 kHz to 100 kHz band by driving the 100 kHz resonant transducer with an inversely shaped transformed. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the future development trends in shallow water transducers for AUV and UUV missions.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Foreign Settlement in Nagasaki, 1859–1869

(1994). The Foreign Settlement in Nagasaki, 1859–1869. The Historian: Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 483-500.
A V2G application using DC fast charging and its impact on the grid

This study is a part of the smart grid initiative providing electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It is a refueling structure, an energy generating photovoltaic system and charge point electric vehicle charging station. The system will utilize advanced design and technology allowing electricity to flow from the site's normal electric service to the charging stations or for the solar system to provide available electricity to fuel the cars reducing the cost of the driver's fuel bills. In case where the charging station do not need the electricity produced by the solar system, the excess electricity will be given back for use in the host facility or net metered back to the utility and credited to the meter owner's monthly electric bill. Therefore our proposed system is capable of providing frequency and regulation services, harnessing renewable source of energy, providing both AC and DC charging options to the electric vehicle owners, in addition to be able to function as a micro-grid.
A Support Theorem for the Geodesic Ray Transform on Functions

Let (M,g) be a simple Riemannian manifold. Under the assumption that the metric g is real-analytic, it is shown that if the geodesic ray transform of a function f∈L 2(M) vanishes on an appropriate open set of geodesics, then f=0 on the set of points lying on these geodesics. The approach is based on analytic microlocal analysis.
p53 Impairs Endothelial Function by Transcriptionally Repressing Kruppel-Like Factor 2

Objective—To evaluate if p53 decreases Kruppel-Like Factor 2 (KLF2) expression and determine whether p53-mediated suppression of KLF2 plays a role in p53-induced endothelial dysfunction. Methods and Results—Endothelial KLF2 mediates endothelium-dependent vascular homeostasis by differentially regulating endothelial genes, leading to an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic endothelial surface with normal vasodilatory function. In contrast, the tumor suppressor p53 leads to inflammatory gene expression and impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, thus promoting endothelial dysfunction. The effect of p53 on KLF2 expression was determined. p53 inhibited KLF2 transcription in a histone deacetylase–dependent and a histone acetyltransferase–independent fashion. KLF2 expression was suppressed by p53 via a conserved p53-binding repressor sequence in its promoter. p53 bound to, and stimulated, deacetylation of Histone H3 at the KLF2 promoter. The effect of p53 on endothelial KLF2 target genes was examined. Dow...
Color-Binding Errors During Rivalrous Suppression of Form

How does a physical stimulus determine a conscious percept? Binocular rivalry provides useful insights into this question because constant physical stimulation during rivalry causes different visual experiences. For example, presentation of vertical stripes to one eye and horizontal stripes to the other eye results in a percept that alternates between horizontal and vertical stripes. Presentation of a different color to each eye (color rivalry) produces alternating percepts of the two colors or, in some cases, a color mixture. The experiments reported here reveal a novel and instructive resolution of rivalry for stimuli that differ in both form and color: perceptual alternation between the rivalrous forms (e.g., horizontal or vertical stripes), with both eyes' colors seen simultaneously in separate parts of the currently perceived form. Thus, the colors presented to the two eyes (a) maintain their distinct neural representations despite resolution of form rivalry and (b) can bind separately to distinct pa...
Buried-oxide isolation with etch-stop (BOXES)

A buried-oxide (BOX) isolation process which has greatly improved submicrometer MOS manufacturability has been developed. The process, BOXES (BOX with etch-stop) isolation, incorporates an etch-stop layer over active area down to which the field oxide is etched, rather than to the active-area surface as in BOX. Nonuniformities inherent to the BOX process do not then cause the field oxide to be recessed below the active area surface. Furthermore, by a brief overetch of etch-stop during its patterning, the field oxide is made to controllably encroach laterally over the active-area edges. Measurements of NMOS devices demonstrate that BOXES isolation with lateral encroachment has greatly reduced sidewall and edge parasitic conduction. >
The value of the per oral pneumocolon in the study of the distal ileal loops.

Aim To verify the diagnostic accuracy of per oral pneumocolon in the identification of both normal and pathological patterns in patients with suspected or proven small bowel disease. Materials and methods Per oral pneumocolon was performed after small bowel follow-through examinations in a series of 42 selected patients. The terminal ileum visibility, the loop location and possible pathological patterns were evaluated separately before and after insufflation. In post-insufflation images the presence/absence of reflux and grade of reflux were evaluated. Results The diagnostic quality of per oral pneumocolon as compared with per oral small bowel examination was superior in 23 of the 42 patients (54.8%; group 1), similar in nine of the 42 (21.4%; group 2), and inferior in 10 of the 42 (23.8%; group 3). Transvalvular reflux was present in 22 of 23 (95.6%) patients from group 1 and only in one of 10 patients (10%) from group 3 (p Conclusion In conclusion per oral pneumocolon should be performed after a small bowel follow-through examination in selected patients.
Physicochemical Properties of Ion Pairs of Biological Macromolecules

Ion pairs (also known as salt bridges) of electrostatically interacting cationic and anionic moieties are important for proteins and nucleic acids to perform their function. Although numerous three-dimensional structures show ion pairs at functionally important sites of biological macromolecules and their complexes, the physicochemical properties of the ion pairs are not well understood. Crystal structures typically show a single state for each ion pair. However, recent studies have revealed the dynamic nature of the ion pairs of the biological macromolecules. Biomolecular ion pairs undergo dynamic transitions between distinct states in which the charged moieties are either in direct contact or separated by water. This dynamic behavior is reasonable in light of the fundamental concepts that were established for small ions over the last century. In this review, we introduce the physicochemical concepts relevant to the ion pairs and provide an overview of the recent advancement in biophysical research on the ion pairs of biological macromolecules.
Fleas (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllomorpha) of Papua New Guinea and Papua Province (Indonesia). Part III. Traubia Smit, 1953 (Stivaliidae: Stivaliinae), Description of Eight New Species and Two New Subgenera

ABSTRACT The flea genus Traubia Smit, 1953, endemic to Papua New Guinea and Papua Province (Indonesia), is reviewed as a continuation of the study of fleas (Siphonaptera) in the Robert Traub Collection deposited in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This paper (Part III) is an extension of previous studies by Hastriter (2012), Hastriter and Easton (2013, Part I, Striopsylla), and Hastriter (2014, Part II, Nestivalius, Orthopsylloides, and Parastivalius). Two new subgenera are delimited within the genus Traubia (nominotypical subgenus Traubia and Kuruopsylla, new subgenus). The genus Traubia contains four valid species (Mardon 1981): T. egregia Smit, 1953; T. kuru Holland, 1969; T. peristigma Holland, 1969; and T. vandeuseni Holland, 1969. The male of T. peristigma is described for the first time and the species is placed in the new subgenus Traubia along with T. (T.) egregia, T. (T.) vandeuseni, and four newly described taxa: T. (T.) durdeni, T. (T.) pilgrimi, T. (T.) traubi...
The Challenges of the New Electronic Technologies in Banking: Private Strategies and Public Policies

The revolution in electronic technologies that has swept through the U.S. economy in the past decade has posed special challenges for the financial services sector. This special impact should come as no surprise: Information, after all, lies at the heart of the successful provision of financial services and information -- its generation, manipulation, storage, and transmission -- has been at the heart of the electronic revolution. Rapid changes in their environment would naturally have substantial consequences for the actor in that environment. Commercial banks have been especially prominent in the discussion of the consequences of the revolution. Again, this should come as no surprise: Banks are numerous: As of year end 1995 there were almost 10,000 separately chartered commercial banks in the U.S., with over 70,000 banking offices (i.e., home offices plus branches). Despite the continuing decline of banks' share of financial assets in the U.S. economy theyare still collectively the plurality group in the financial services sector. Virtually all enterprises and most individuals have some financial connection to a bank. And banks continue to be at the center of the money creation and payment mechanisms of the economy. Federal and state regulation of banks - a rough indicator of the public's special focus on and concern about banks - remains extensive, even in an era of deregulation. In short, banks continue to be prominent in the public consciousness of the financial services sector. Accordingly, a discussion of technology's impact on banking can and should maintain a broader perspective - on the industry and on the public policies that surround the industry - than would be applicable to many other industries. This paper will follow that course.
Relative Antithrombotic Effects of Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Different Platelet Glycoprotein-Adhesive Molecule Interactions in Nonhuman Primates

The relative antithrombotic effectiveness of targeting glycoprotein (GP) Ib-dependent versus GPIIb-IIIa-dependent platelet interactions has been determined in baboons by measuring thrombus formation after infusing comparable antihemostatic doses of anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) monoclonal antibody (MoAb) BB3-BD5, anti-GPIb MoAb AP1, and anti- GPIIb-IIIa MoAb LJ-CP8 under conditions of arterial and venous flow (shear rates of 750 to 1,000 seconds-1 and 100 seconds-1, respectively). Thrombus formation was quantified as 111In-platelet deposition and 125I-fibrin accumulation on segments of collagen-coated tubing interposed in chronic exteriorized arteriovenous (AV) shunts for 40 minutes. In vitro, anti-vWF MoAb BB3 BD5 (IgG) and anti-GPIb MoAb AP1 [IgG or F(ab)2 fragments] inhibited ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (IC50 50 nmol/L and 1 mumol/L, respectively), but neither of these MoAbs blocked platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (P > .5). Conversely, anti-GPIIb-IIIa MoAb LJ-CP8 inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP (IC50 1 mumol/L, but failed to block ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (P > .5). In vivo, the intravenous infusion of anti-vWF MoAb BB3 BD5 or anti-GPIIb- IIIa MoAb LJ-CP8 into baboons at doses that abolished corresponding agonist-induced aggregation ex vivo (bolus injections of 0.5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively) prolonged template bleeding times from baseline values of 4.0 +/- 0.3 minutes to > 27 +/- 4 minutes, and to > 26 +/- 4 minutes, respectively (P 3 .001 in both cases), without affecting the peripheral platelet count (P > .5). However, injection of anti-GPIb MoAb AP1 [10 mg/kg as IgG or 1 mg/kg as F(ab)2 fragments] produced immediate irreversible thrombocytopenia (
Lessons Learned from the 2004 Presidential Election: Testimony of Gilda R. Daniels before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, July 24, 2008

Since the 2000 Presidential election the voting rights vocabulary has expanded to include terms such as, "voting irregularities" and "election protection" and created a new debate regarding voter access versus voter integrity. Despite the debates and new legislation in the form of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the continued enforcement of other voting statutes such as the Voting Rights Act, and the National Voter Registration Act, (NVRA), problems persist in the operation of our participatory democracy. What we have witnessed since 2000, particularly during the 2004 election, gave us some reason to hope but also reason for concern. Although outdated voting machines were not the primary problem in 2004, the use of electronic voting machines birthed new concerns about accuracy and reliability, along with questions regarding poll workers' ability to master the technology. This election enjoyed its share of election administration problems such as the misuse of provisional ballots, overzealous poll watchers, and ill-advised voter purges. Many of the calls received or infractions observed on Election Day do not rise to a legally actionable level. After any election, however, no immediate remedy exists for the mistakenly purged voter or an uncounted provisional ballot. Disenfranchisement, however, occurs one voter at a time and can create a pattern for a jurisdiction or a political party that should be addressed and thwarted well before Election Day. In light of the problems and issues with the last two Presidential elections, it is vitally important that the Department use the full breadth of its statutory authority to act proactively to ensure that our democratic process provides every eligible citizen the opportunity to access the ballot and ensure that the ballot will be counted. After the 2000 election and certainly by 2002, the Civil Rights Division, Voting Section shifted its focus from enforcing the voting rights of minorities under Section 2 of the VRA, as evidenced in the lack of cases brought on behalf of African-Americans, to enforcement of Section 203 for language minorities, the protection of overseas and military voters under UOCAVA, HAVA compliance and voter integrity (fraud) issues. In fact, this administration brought the first case pursuant to Section 2 on behalf of white voters in Noxubee, MS. This lack of enforcement of the Voting Rights Act would indicate a well documented shift away from enforcement of statutes that require free and full access to a new emphasis on restricting the ballot in the name of integrity. This must be corrected.
Kinematics of Rupture Propagation During Hydraulic Fracturing

Summary The problem of hydraulic fracture propagation is of great interest for unconventional gas development because of wide use of fracturing treatment. In this paper, we analyzed a microseismic dataset from hydraulic fracture stimulation of a tight gas reservoir at Dowdy Ranch field, USA in order to determine the kinematics of fracture propagation. Evaluation of the spatial-temporal distribution of microseismic events reveals an asymmetric hydrofracture growth on two sides of the injection well; the east wing was almost three times longer than the west wing. The asymmetry was also reflected in the speed of growth and the number of microseismic events, with almost four times greater speed and ten times more events to the east than to the west. The east and west wings propagate at an average rate of 0.49 and 0.13 m/minute separately in a three-hour period. The average rupture size per event is around 0.58 m and 1.87 m for the east and west wings, respectively. Full waveform based complete moment tensor inversion indicates a dominant shearing mechanism of hydrofracture events. The derived source radius is similar to the average rupture size.
Co-culture of embryonic chick heart cells and ciliary ganglia induces parasympathetic responsiveness in embryonic chick heart cells

We have developed a system for the co-culture of embryonic chick heart cells obtained from embryos at 3.5 days in ovo with ciliary ganglia from chick embryos at 7 days in vivo. After 3 days of co-culture, removal of the ciliary ganglia resulted in complete degeneration of axons within 6-8 h, leaving the post-innervated heart cell culture devoid of neurons. Embryonic chick heart cells at 3.5 days in ovo are unresponsive to muscarinic stimulation. However, following 3 days of co-culture with ciliary ganglia, the heart cells developed a negative chronotropic response to muscarinic stimulation (paired t test, P < 0.02) which persisted for at least 24 h after removal of the ciliary ganglion. The development of muscarinic responsiveness was associated with an increase in the levels of specific alpha-subunits of the guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins), with a 3-fold increase in the level of alpha 39 (39 kDa subunit) and a 2.5-fold increase in the level of alpha 41. The level of the G-protein subunit alpha s remained unchanged. Culture of embryonic chick heart cells at 3.5 days in ovo with medium conditioned by the growth of embryonic chick heart cells and ciliary ganglia had an effect on the chronotropic response to muscarinic stimulation and on alpha 39 and alpha 41 levels identical to that of co-culture. These data suggest that a soluble factor released during the co-culture of embryonic chick heart cells and ciliary ganglia is capable of inducing muscarinic responsiveness. These studies suggest that innervation of the heart may induce parasympathetic responsiveness by increasing the availability of G-proteins which couple the muscarinic receptor to a physiological response.
Occupational stress and influence factors among locomotive drivers

Objective To explore the state and influence factors of occupational stress among locomotive drivers.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted by unified questionnaires in 1077 locomotive drivers by cluster sampling from Fuzhou,Shaowu,Yong'an with the criteria that the drivers had more than 1 years experience and their education were above junior middle school without mental illness.The occupational stress,depressive symptom,type A behavior were evaluated by OSI-R,SDS,Type A Behavior scales,and the other risk factors of occupational stress was also investigated.Results(1) The scores of locomotive drivers evaluated by OSI-R was 252.19±38.16.After adjusting the confounding factors,compared with attendants,the scores of occupational stress were not different.The scores of career missions of drivers were higher than attendants,and the scores of individual nervous reaction were lower than attendants(P0.05).(2) Different groups of individual character/behavior or mental character/reply resource and manner had different degrees of occupational stress.Depressive symptom,live sense,individual adaptive capacity,drink,education were in the equation of stepping linear regression.The standardized coefficient of depressive symptom was the most.(3) Friendship and individual adaptive capacity were negative correlation with the nervous reaction.The positive correlation factors of nervous reaction were depressive symptom,mission discomfort,mission ambit,mission blur,responsibility and job circumstance.Conclusions(1)Locomotive drivers are in a higher nervous state.The regulate measures can control the nervous reaction.(2) The major influence factors of occupational stress are depressive symptom,live sense,individual adaptive capacity,drink,and education.Depressive symptom is the most important factor.(3) Occupational stress factors are important risk factors of nervous reaction,while individual response and manner are important protect factors.