cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lack of early defibrillation capability and automated external defibrillators in nursing homes.

Objective To determine the availability of early defibrillation and automated external defibrillators in nursing homes in selected cities. Design A standardized telephone survey was conducted of all skilled nursing facilities to characterize early defibrillation capabilities. Setting The study involved nursing homes in Philadelphia, Omaha, Seattle, and Boston. Participants All skilled nursing facilities not physically attached to hospitals in the selected cities based on listings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as of January 2004. Measurements Each site was queried as to whether or not they had an automated external defibrillator (AED), if they were physically freestanding facilities, if a manual defibrillator was present, and if staff were present 24 hours a day to use the defibrillator. Early defibrillation was defined as the presence of either a manual defibrillator or AED in addition to 24-hour trained staff availability. Results There were 126 nursing homes identified from the Medicare listing and 81% (102) responded to our phone survey. After exclusion of nonfreestanding facilities, 90 nursing homes (71.4%) were available for analysis. Overall, 16.7% (95% CI 8.8–24.5) of nursing homes reported early defibrillation capabilities via manual defibrillator or AEDs; 6.7% (95% CI 1.4–11.9) of nursing homes reported AEDs; 10.0% (95% CI 3.7–16.3) of nursing homes reported manual defibrillators. Nursing homes in Seattle had a higher rate of early defibrillation capability than the other 3 cities. Conclusion Despite the fact that nursing homes have been identified as locations with multiple cardiac arrests, the early defibrillation capabilities and prevalence of AEDs in this setting remains low. AEDs may play a role in improving survival from cardiac arrest in nursing homes. The placement of AEDs in nursing homes needs further consideration and study.
Photoluminescence study of SiGe quantum well broadening by rapid thermal annealing

Abstract Photoluminescence was used to measure the broadening of thin ( t = 12–77 A ) SiGe quantum wells (QW) under typical RTA conditions. An anneal time of 300 s and temperatures ranging from 800 to 1000°C were used. “No phonon” SiGe transition energy shifts of up to 65 meV are measured. Results are analyzed taking into account the initial diffusion during growth, the increase in QW bandgap due to intermixing and the decrease in quantum confinement. Interdiffusivity values showing an Arrhenius behavior and an activation energy of 2.7 eV are obtained.
Tuna aerobic swimming performance: Physiological and environmental limits based on oxygen supply and demand

Abstract Sustainable (aerobic) swimming performance in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) is examined through a model estimating red muscle oxygen demand and the cardiovascular system's capacity for oxygen delivery. At maximum oxygen delivery (25°C), red muscle oxygen consumption (VO2RM) is estimated to be 0.197 ml O2/g/min, which is higher than previous estimates of maximum VO2RM. However, due to the high costs of swimming at high speeds, maximum sustained velocity at this rate would only be 3.7 fork lengths/s, which is lower than previous estimates for yellowfin. Hypoxia and reduced ambient temperature that may be encountered by yellowfin in the course of their natural movement patterns will decrease oxygen delivery capacity through effects on the cardiovascular system, limiting maximum VO2RM. Moderate swimming velocities could, however, be maintained at an oxygen tension of 75 mmHg, and at an ambient temperature of 15°C.
Firefly luminescence in the study of energy transfer mechanisms. I. Substrate and enzyme determination.

1. 1. Three types of light-measuring devices have been used to measure the effect of various chemical agents on firefly luminescence. They are the commercially available Farrand photofluorometer, a recording DC IP21 photomultiplier, and a liquid-nitrogen-temperature quantum counter whose ultimate sensitivity is of the order of 10−9 g. ATP/ml. 2. 2. It has been possible to use both the crude and partially purified water extracts of Photinus pyralis to measure light production in the presence of “potential” or actual ATP by using arsenate buffer. 3. 3. Differential-determination of ATP and ADP in the presence of each other is possible through the use of myokinase. 4. 4. Phosphocreatine may be determined by the use of the appropriate transphosphorylase and adenylic acid. 5. 5. Glucose may be determined by the use of hexokinase and ATP, measuring the depression in luminescence. 6. 6. Chloride ion has a strong inhibitory effect on luminescence which must be controlled rigorously. 7. 7. Myokinase, hexokinase, apyrase, and creatine adenylic transphosphorylase may be determined in small concentrations with this system. 8. 8. Preliminary examination of certain biological processes with this tool suggests its wide applicability for routine surveys of phosphorylative energetic mechanisms.
Box-Behnken Design: alternative multivariate design in broiler nutrition research

The focus of the review is to show how the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) could be applied in poultry nutrition research. BBD is a multivariate experimental design which uses less treatment combinations and allows researchers to estimate and optimise processes. Box-Behnken design was used in an experiment to estimate growing broiler requirements for total sulphur amino acids (TSAA), lysine (Lys) and threonine (Thr). In the experiment BBD has shown to be a useful tool in estimating and optimizing nutrient requirements in growing broilers.
Backward‐Scattering Instability of Cyclotron Harmonic Waves in Nonlinear Decay Processes

Experimental results are presented which demonstrate that a finite‐amplitude traveling cyclotron harmonic wave may decay into two similar waves by the process of resonant mode‐mode coupling. The results presented here are restricted to cases where the group velocity of one of the perturbed waves is in the opposite direction from that of the other perturbed wave. The important feature of this process is that considerable growth, both in time and space, can occur for the perturbed waves. The spatial growth of these waves is observed, and the wave amplitudes are in qualitative agreement with theory. Furthermore, the experiments provide a quantitative measure of the resonant mode‐mode coupling coefficient for waves that propagate perpendicularly to the magnetic field in a warm plasma.
Syncope and head CT scans in the emergency department.

Context Patients presenting with syncope to the emergency department (ED) of a community hospital were evaluated.
Long-term monitoring of psychosocial stress and symptomatology in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Eleven subjects with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) participated in a longterm self-monitoring investigation of the relationship between psychosocial stress and IBD symptomatology. Two measurement instruments, the IBD Symptom Diary and the Psychosocial Stress Diary, were completed by each subject for 7 consecutive days each month for one year. Pooled time-series analysis of the influence of daily stress on IBD activity revealed a significant effect. A positive concurrent relationship was found between both daily and monthly psychosocial stress and IBD activity. Investigations of temporal relationship among variables revealed a negative effect of previous month stress on IBD. Results suggest a monthly rebound effect whereby IBD symptom severity is negatively responsive to the severity of the previous month stress. The effects of stress upon IBD were not found to be modified by behavioral coping strategies. These results support the prevailing impression that psychosocial stress contributes to the clinical course of IBD, and specifically suggest an influential role of daily and monthly stress. A pattern matching IBD's characteristic waxing and waning clinical course emerges when the association between stress and IBD is examined from a monthly viewpoint. Refinement of our knowledge of the IBD-stress model calls for replication and explanation of the monthly rebound effect as well as investigations into type of Stressor and coping strategy that may influence IBD activity.
Histidine decarboxylase inhibition and gastric secretion.

In a series of rats whose histamine formation was blocked by either pyridoxine deficiency or decarboxylase inhibition with 4-bromo-3-hydroxybenzy-oxyamine dihydrogen phosphate (NSD-1055), we found that basal and gastrin-stimulated gastric secretion was markedly lowered. Histamine stimulation, however, was an effective stimulus in these inhibited rats. Vagal-induced acid secretion through insulin hypoglycemia and direct parasympathomimetic stimulation with bethanechol, the parasympathomimetic drug, were also not blocked in these animals. These results suggest that, at least in the rat: (1) histamine may be an important endogenous chemostimulator of gastric secretion; (2) gastrin stimulates the parietal cell directly through histamine release; and (3) vagal stimulation apparently utilizes, in part at least, a mechanism other than histamine release.
Free-standing, patternable nanoparticle/polymer monolayer arrays formed by evaporation induced self-assembly at a fluid interface.

We report a general and facile method to prepare free-standing, patternable nanoparticle/polymer monolayer arrays by interfacial NP assembly within a polymeric photoresist. The ultrathin monolayer nanoparticle/polymer arrays are sufficiently robust that they can be transferred to arbitrary substrates and suspended as free-standing membranes over cm-sized holeseven with free edges. More importantly, the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in the system serves as a photoresist enabling two modes of electron beam (e-beam) patterning. Lower e-beam doses direct differential nanoparticle solubility and result in nanoparticle patterns with somewhat diffuse interfaces. At higher e-beam doses the PMMA serves as a negative resist resulting in submicrometer patterns with edge roughness comparable to that of the nanoparticle diameter. These ultrathin films of monolayer nanoparticle arrays are of fundamental interest as 2D artificial solids for electronic, magnetic, and optical properties and are also of technological inter...
Enhanced Oxygen Delivery to Liver Tissue Equivalent by Perfluorocarbon

Bioartificial Liver Devices (BALs) have the potential to serve as a bridge strategy for patients awaiting liver transplants, and also show promise as drug testing platforms for the pharmaceutical industry [1]. Yet the limitations of O2 transport through the 3D tissue structures of current designs continue to present engineering challenges. In previous work our group successfully improved O2 availability for hepatocytes by introducing micropathways within the BAL’s cellular space [3–5]. The current study investigates the benefits of increasing O2 availability of the flow medium via perfluorocarbons (PFCs). PFCs were chosen since they have demonstrated effectiveness in increasing the overall oxygen solubility of their carrier liquids, e.g., artificial blood [2]. The study seeks to clarify the effects of PFCs on hepatocyte viability and functional performance under various culture conditions.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Ferritin Content in Human Cancerous and Noncancerous Colonic Tissue

AbstractTumor tissue samples from 25 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon, twelve related samples of normal colons as well as five serum specimens from the same patients were analyzed for ferritin. The average ferritin content of the tumor tissue was 788 ng/mcp1with a range of 47–1,745 ng/mcp. The average ferritin content of normal colon mucosa was 115 ng/mcp with a range of 32–230 ng/mcp. Two specimens of metastatic colon cancer taken from the retroperitoneal space and liver, respectively, contained 3,867and 2,827 ng/mcp of ferritin. The ferritin content of the tumor tissue was higher than that of the normal colon in 8 of 9 patients who had specimens obtained from both sites. me amount of ferritin found in tumor tissue was independent of sex, age, and the site of the original tumor. This study shows that the ferritin content of colon neoplasms is elevated and indicates that the tumor tissue may be the direct source of elevated serum levels of ferritin previously observed in cancer patients.
N/D calculation of the pomeranchuk and ρ-regge trajectories

A relativistieN/D treatment of the π π-system, using as input the force due to ρ-exchange, is presented. The shape of theI=0 and 1 Regge trajectories is shown to approximate within 30% the expected trajectories of the Pomeranchuk and ρ poles, respectively. The corresponding residuum functions turn out to be of the correct order of magnitude. A multichannel generalization of the calculation, aimed to improve the qualitative reliability of our model, is sketched.
Presence of insulinlike growth factor receptors and lack of insulin receptors on fetal bovine smooth muscle cells.

Previous investigations have demonstrated specific receptors and associated mitogenic actions for insulin and insulinlike growth factors I and II (IGF-I and II) in postnatal bovine aortic smooth muscle. Using fetal tissue we have observed different patterns of binding and action for these peptides.
Low-power portable laser spectroscopic sensor for atmospheric CO 2 monitoring

We demonstrate a wireless, portable CO 2 sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy. Allan variance for long run tests yielded Gaussian noise limited operation up to 100 seconds with ultimate minimum detection limit of 5.1×10−7.
A high-performance network intrusion detection system

In this paper we present a new approach for network intrusion detection based on concise specifications that characterize normal and abnormal network packet sequences. Our specification language is geared for a robust network intrusion detection by enforcing a strict type discipline via a combination of static and dynamic type checking. Unlike most previous approaches in network intrusion detection, our approach can easily support new network protocols as information relating to the protocols are not hard-coded into the system. Instead, we simply add suitable type definitions in the specifications and define intrusion patterns on these types. We compile these specifications into a high-performance network intrusion detection system. Important components of our approach include efficient algorithms for pattern-matching and information aggregation on sequences of network packets. In particular, our techniques ensure that the matching time is insensitive to the number of patterns characterizing different network intrusions, and that the aggregation operations typically take constant time per packet. Our system participated in an intrusion detection evaluation organized by MIT Lincoln Labs, where our system demonstrated its effectiveness (96% detection rate on low-level network attacks) and performance (real-time detection at 500Mbps), while producing very few false positives (0.05 to 0.1 per attack).
Arrays of high-aspect ratio microchannels for high-throughput isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs)

Microsystem-based technologies are providing new opportunities in the area of in vitro diagnostics due to their ability to provide process automation enabling point-of-care operation. As an example, microsystems used for the isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from complex, heterogeneous samples in an automated fashion with improved recoveries and selectivity are providing new opportunities for this important biomarker. Unfortunately, many of the existing microfluidic systems lack the throughput capabilities and/or are too expensive to manufacture to warrant their widespread use in clinical testing scenarios. Here, we describe a disposable, all-polymer, microfluidic system for the high-throughput (HT) isolation of CTCs directly from whole blood inputs. The device employs an array of high aspect ratio (HAR), parallel, sinusoidal microchannels (25 × 150 μm; W × D; AR = 6.0) with walls covalently decorated with anti-EpCAM antibodies to provide affinity-based isolation of CTCs. Channel width, which is similar to an average CTC diameter (10---20 μm), plays a critical role in maximizing the probability of cell/wall interactions and allows for achieving high CTC recovery. The extended channel depth allows for increased throughput at the optimized flow velocity (2 mm/s in a microchannel); maximizes cell recovery, and prevents clogging of the microfluidic channels during blood processing. Fluidic addressing of the microchannel array with a minimal device footprint is provided by large cross-sectional area feed and exit channels poised orthogonal to the network of the sinusoidal capillary channels (so-called Z-geometry). Computational modeling was used to confirm uniform addressing of the channels in the isolation bed. Devices with various numbers of parallel microchannels ranging from 50 to 320 have been successfully constructed. Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) was chosen as the substrate material due to its superior properties during UV-activation of the HAR microchannels surfaces prior to antibody attachment. Operation of the HT-CTC device has been validated by isolation of CTCs directly from blood secured from patients with metastatic prostate cancer. High CTC sample purities (low number of contaminating white blood cells) allowed for direct lysis and molecular profiling of isolated CTCs.
Optimal Filtering Applied to the Inversion of the Laplace Transform

The laser scattering measurement of the Brownian motion of particles suspended in a colloid may be modeled by the integral equation $$g(t)-\int_{o}^{\infty}G(\gamma)\;\exp(-\gamma t)d\gamma$$ which is the Laplace transform. In this equation g(t) is the autocorrelation of the electric field of scattered light, and G(γ) the linewidth distribution describing the particle size distribution of the colloid, with the property G(γ)≥0 for all γ.
Differences in information content of ribonucleic acids from malignant tissues and homologous organs as expressed by their biological activities.

Abstract Extraction of RNA from organs in native state requires strict observation of temperature, osmolarity of buffers and the presence of EDTA, whether by a phenol or a fluorocarbon method. In these conditions RNA from human leukemic tissues and solid tumors has a high plaque forming activity and is oncogenic. In cultures “infected” with “malignant” RNA a protein antigen can be separated by fluorocarbon which does not exist in organs homologous of the tumor. Thus a tumor antigen may be produced in a primary culture infected with malignant RNA. Since RNA from normal organs did not lead to the production of a similar antigen, it is concluded that the proteinopoietic information content of the two sources of RNA, from malignant tumors and homologous normal organs, is different.
Protein synthesis in the amygdala, but not the auditory thalamus, is required for consolidation of Pavlovian fear conditioning in rats.

The amygdala is an essential neural substrate for Pavlovian fear conditioning. Nevertheless, long-term synaptic plasticity in amygdaloid afferents, such as the auditory thalamus, may contribute to the formation of fear memories. We therefore compared the influence of protein synthesis inhibition in the amygdala and the auditory thalamus on the consolidation of Pavlovian fear conditioning in Long-Evans rats. Rats received three tone-footshock trials in a novel conditioning chamber. Immediately after fear conditioning, rats were infused intra-cranially with the protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin. Conditional fear to the tone and conditioning context was assessed by measuring freezing behaviour in separate retention tests conducted at least 24 h following conditioning. Post-training infusion of anisomycin into the amygdala impaired conditional freezing to both the auditory and contextual stimuli associated with footshock. In contrast, intra-thalamic infusions of anisomycin or a broad-spectrum protein kinase inhibitor [1-(5'-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, H7] did not affect conditional freezing during the retention tests. Pre-training intra-thalamic infusion of the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV), which blocks synaptic transmission in the auditory thalamus, produced a selective deficit in the acquisition of auditory fear conditioning. Autoradiographic assays of cerebral [ 1 4 C]-leucine incorporation revealed similar levels of protein synthesis inhibition in the amygdala and thalamus following intra-cranial anisomycin infusions. These results reveal that the establishment of long-term fear memories requires protein synthesis in the amygdala, but not the thalamus, after auditory fear conditioning. Forms of synaptic plasticity that depend on protein synthesis, such as long-term potentiation, are likely candidates for the encoding and long-term storage of fear memories in the amygdala.
Electronic Marketplaces for Transportation Services: Shipper Considerations

Electronic marketplaces for transportation services in the context of their usage by shippers are examined. Shippers, carriers, and logistics providers come together at these marketplaces to provide and receive information about each other's needs. The use of electronic marketplaces has promised to lower transaction costs, provide greater visibility of freight movement, and reduce inefficiencies in the current transportation and logistical processes. Although the efficiencies of these virtual hubs are promising, this promise will not materialize without the support of these interactive actors and agents of the transportation system. A study was performed of the adoption of this technology on the shipper side, primarily using a survey approach. The survey, designed for online administration, is aimed at studying the attitudes of shippers toward Internet technology and the subsequent development of electronic commerce. The results of this survey characterize the shippers' awareness level of these marketplaces and the extent to which the marketplaces will be used. Furthermore, this survey also captures the roles that marketplaces will play in meeting the current and future needs of shippers.
Incremental and Breakthrough Process Improvement: An Integrative Framework

The total quality management (TQM) revolution of the 1980s and recent emergence of business reengineering (RE) has shifted the focus of quality improvement efforts from individual products to processes which lead to the creation and supply of these products. The literature, however, lacks a comprehensive framework for process improvement. In this paper, we present a seven‐dimension framework of process quality. These dimensions are explained with illustrations of three important business processes: logistics, order fulfillment, and new product development. These dimensions are further used to develop a model for long‐term improvement in a business process. The model proposes a blend of breakthrough improvements (B‐I) achieved through RE and incremental improvements (I‐I) realized through TQM. Furthermore, it provides a framework for improving the quality of the process along the seven dimensions in the context of B‐I and I‐I. Finally, implications of this work for the theory and practice of business process improvements are discussed.
A coverage driven test generation methodology using consistency algorithm

Coverage is a metric used to obtain information about execution of hardware description language (HDL) statements. Coverage helps to determine how well the input stimulus verifies the design under verification. Coverage directed test generation (CDTG) techniques analyze coverage results and adapt the input stimuli (for verification) generation process to improve the coverage. One of the important components of CDTG technique is the constraint solver. The CDTG constraint solvers require large amount of memory and time to generate solution. To overcome these limitations we propose a methodology based on consistency algorithm to attain faster coverage. In order to demonstrate the practical effectiveness of the methodology, we used it to test some benchmark constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) and Xbar switch. The results show an increase in coverage along with a reduction in time required to generate the test cases.
Power: Windmills stage a comeback: ‘Born again’ amid the search for fossil-fuel alternatives, wind-generated electricity now makes technical and economic sense

Compares the following concepts involving vertical-axis wind machines with regard to their suitability for commercial power generation: constant-speed constant-frequency systems (synchronous and induction); and variable-speed constant-frequency systems (field modulated system; double-output induction generator system; a system using an AC commutator generator; and a system employing a synchronous inverter).
Ventilatory sensitivity to carbon dioxide before and after episodic hypoxia in women treated with testosterone.

We hypothesized that the ventilatory threshold and sensitivity to carbon dioxide in the presence of hypoxia and hyperoxia during wakefulness would be increased following testosterone administration...
CARTILAGE CELL CLUSTERS

The formation of new cell clusters is a histological hallmark of arthritic cartilage but the biology of clusters and their role in disease are poorly understood. This is the first comprehensive review of clinical and experimental conditions associated with cluster formation. Genes and proteins that are expressed in cluster cells, the cellular origin of the clusters, mechanisms that lead to cluster formation and the role of cluster cells in pathogenesis are discussed.
Portraying the Cause Instead of the Brand in Cause-Related Marketing ADS: Does it Really Matter?

The intention of a cause-related marketing campaign is to encourage the purchase of a brand so donations can be made to the partnering cause. This study compared two ads, one that portrayed the cause as the visual element and one that portrayed the brand, to determine which executional technique produced a greater effect on advertising outcome variables. By comparing two models using 495 nonstudent consumers, the study shows the brand photo had a greater effect on purchase intentions than the cause photo. The study also shows that attitude toward the cause-brand alliance is influenced by the familiarity of the brand supporting other research on brand familiarity's influence on attitude formation.
Metal-induced DNA translocation leads to DNA polymerase conformational activation

Binding of the catalytic divalent ion to the ternary DNA polymerase β/gapped DNA/dNTP complex is thought to represent the final step in the assembly of the catalytic complex and is consequently a critical determinant of replicative fidelity. We have analyzed the effects of Mg(2+) and Zn(2+) on the conformational activation process based on NMR measurements of [methyl-(13)C]methionine DNA polymerase β. Unexpectedly, both divalent metals were able to produce a template base-dependent conformational activation of the polymerase/1-nt gapped DNA complex in the absence of a complementary incoming nucleotide, albeit with different temperature thresholds. This conformational activation is abolished by substituting Glu295 with lysine, thereby interrupting key hydrogen bonds necessary to stabilize the closed conformation. These and other results indicate that metal-binding can promote: translocation of the primer terminus base pair into the active site; expulsion of an unpaired pyrimidine, but not purine, base from the template-binding pocket; and motions of polymerase subdomains that close the active site. We also have performed pyrophosphorolysis studies that are consistent with predictions based on these results. These findings provide new insight into the relationships between conformational activation, enzyme activity and polymerase fidelity.
Oil-Filled Terminals for High-Voltage Cables

Underground cables for transmission of power at 33,000 ft. and above have only recently come into use in America, or received much attention here. In connection with such cables suitable terminals are necessary and present an important problem in high-voltage design. A marked tendency is noted toward the oil-filling of cable joints; terminal conditions make this procedure both logical and desirable. Dielectric strength must first be specified, and should exceed that of the cable; flashover should occur without puncture; lightning voltages should be guarded against in the design. Proper d-c. tests are still undetermined for various combinations of solid and liquid dielectrics, and a rigid practise can not yet be established with assurance. At present, high-voltage cable lines are intended for a-c. operation, and safety factors should be determined for that kind of service. High-voltage d-c. operation may come into practise later, and research in d-c. testing should be pushed. Standard ratings of terminals are proposed, corresponding to the accepted standard ratings for other high voltage apparatus. Consistency with other terminal insulation, such as apparatus bushings and line insulators, is desirable. Cable insulation may eventually experience similar standardization. The method of rating single-conductor and three-conductor cables should be harmonized, and both based on operating-line voltage. Four typical designs of high-voltage cable terminals are, described representing a carefully worked out and effective solution of the problem. These are (a) 37,000-volt three-conductor; (b) 50,000-volt single-conductor; (c) 73,000-volt, single-conductor; and (d) 110,000-volt single-conductor.
Human Facial Expressions Are Organized Functionally Across the Upper-Lower Facial Axis

Most clinical research has focused on intensity differences of facial expressions between the right and left hemiface to explore lateralization of emotions in the brain. Observations by social psychologists, however, suggest that control of facial expression is organized predominantly across the upper-lower facial axis because of the phenomena of facial blends: simultaneous display of different emotions on the upper and lower face. Facial blends are related to social emotions and development of display rules that allow individuals to sculpt facial expressions for social and manipulative purposes. We have demonstrated that facial blends of emotion are more easily and accurately posed on the upper-lower than right-left hemiface, and that upper facial emotions are processed preferentially by the right hemisphere whereas lower facial emotions are processed preferentially by the left hemisphere. Based on these results, recent anatomical studies showing separate cortical areas for motor control of upper and lower face and the neurology of posed and spontaneous expressions of emotion, a functional-anatomic model of how the forebrain modulates facial expressions, is presented. The unique human ability to produce facial blends of emotion is, most likely, an adaptive modification linked to the evolution of speech and language.
Conserved and differential gene interactions in dynamical biological systems

Motivation: While biological systems operated from a common genome can be conserved in various ways, they can also manifest highly diverse dynamics and functions. This is because the same set of genes can interact differentially across specific molecular contexts. For example, differential gene interactions give rise to various stages of morphogenesis during cerebellar development. However, after over a decade of efforts toward reverse engineering biological networks from high-throughput omic data, gene networks of most organisms remain sketchy. This hindrance has motivated us to develop comparative modeling to highlight conserved and differential gene interactions across experimental conditions, without reconstructing complete gene networks first. Results: We established a comparative dynamical system modeling (CDSM) approach to identify conserved and differential interactions across molecular contexts. In CDSM, interactions are represented by ordinary differential equations and compared across conditions through statistical heterogeneity and homogeneity tests. CDSM demonstrated a consistent superiority over differential correlation and reconstruct-then-compare in simulation studies. We exploited CDSM to elucidate gene interactions important for cellular processes poorly understood during mouse cerebellar development. We generated hypotheses on 66 differential genetic interactions involved in expansion of the external granule layer. These interactions are implicated in cell cycle, differentiation, apoptosis and morphogenesis. Additional 1639 differential interactions among gene clusters were also identified when we compared gene interactions during the presence of Rhombic lip versus the presence of distinct internal granule layer. Moreover, compared with differential correlation and reconstruct-then-compare, CDSM makes fewer assumptions on data and thus is applicable to a wider range of biological assays. Availability: Source code in C++ and R is available for non-commercial organizations upon request from the corresponding author. The cerebellum gene expression dataset used in this article is available upon request from the Goldowitz lab (dang@cmmt.ubc.ca, http://grits.dglab.org/). Contact: joemsong@cs.nmsu.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
VP ellipsis and contextual interpretation

A computational account of VP ellipsis is described, in which VP's are represented in the discourse model as contextually dependent semantic objects. It is argued that this approach can handle examples that are not allowed by alternative accounts. An implementation is defined in terms of extensions to the Incremental Interpretation System. The treatment of VP ellipsis is analogous to that of pronominal anaphora. It is suggested that the recency and salience constraints commonly thought to apply to pronominal anaphora might apply in a similar way to VP ellipsis.
Platinum monolayer fuel cell electrocatalysts

We describe a new class of electrocatalysts for the O2 reduction, and H2 and methanol oxidation reactions, consisting of a monolayer of Pt deposited on a metal or alloy carbon-supported nanoparticles. These electrocatalysts show up to a 20-fold increase in Pt mass activity compared with conventional all-Pt electrocatalysts. The origin of their increased activity was identified through a combination of experimental methods, employing electrochemical and surface science techniques, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. The long-term tests in fuel cells demonstrated excellent stability of the anode and good stability of the cathode electrocatalysts. We also describe the stabilization of Pt electrocatalysts against dissolution under potential cycling regimes effected by a submonolayer of Au clusters deposited on Pt surfaces. These new electrocatalysts promise to alleviate some of the major problems of existing fuel cell technology.
Characterization of organolead polymers in trace amounts by element-specific size-exclusion chromatography

Analyse d'un copolymere (vinyl-4 phenyl) triphenylplomb-methacrylate d'octadecyle par chromatographie sur gel a detection UV couplee a une spectrometrie d'absorption atomique a four graphite
Free-space, broadband measurements of high-temperature, complex dielectric properties at microwave frequencies

A free-space microwave measurement system that is used for the high-temperature measurement of dielectric constants and loss tangents of homogeneous materials and that is applicable to composite materials as well is discussed. The system is capable of operating in the 5.85-40-GHz frequency range and ambient to 850 degrees C temperature range. A computer is used to control and coordinate furnace temperature, network analyzer functions, and data storage. Dielectric constants and loss tangents of the materials are calculated from the measured values of S/sub 21/. The measurement system, including the high-temperature furnace and the calibration technique, is described. Dielectric constants and loss tangents are presented for fused quartz and boron nitride grade HP in the frequency range 13.0-17.4 GHz and the temperature range from ambient to 850 degrees C. >
Exploiting Parallelism in Real-Time Music and Audio Applications

We introduce a scalable, extensible object-oriented system developed primarily for signal processing and synthesis for musical and multimedia applications. The main performance issue with these applications concerns functions of discrete-time. Novel techniques exploit fine-grain parallelism in the calculation of these functions to allow users to express them at a high-level in C++. New scheduling strategies are used to exploit symmetric multiprocessors with emphasis on special hard real-time constraints.
A limit theorem for subadditive collections of sequences

Abstract : Information is presented about the asymptotic behavior of collections of sequences related by a certain inequality. These results generalize a well-known theorem on the asymptotic behavior of a subadditive sequence. The results have applications to dynamic programming, where sequences satisfying our inequality arise in a natural way. (Author)
Theory of Pre-Martensitic Effects in Alloys with ω- Transformation

It is shown that the phonon dip in the longitudinal phonon branch L[111] in the metals Zr, Hf, Ti, Nb results in an oscillating component in static displacement field around a point defect. The oscillations have the wave vector 2/3(111) and occur in four rod-like shape regions along directions. The value of the oscillations is much smaller then whole atomic displacements. Anomalies of the elastic diffuse scattering intensity from β-phase alloys based on the metals are explained as caused by the scattering on these distorted regions around solutes.
Religious Participation, Religious Affiliation, and Engagement With Children Among Fathers Experiencing the Birth of a New Child

Using data on 3,124 fathers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study examines whether the birth of a child leads men to increase their religious participation and whether this increase in participation is associated with father engagement. Results indicate that religious participation is positively related to paternal engagement and that first-time fathers with high levels of religious participation report the highest engagement with children. In addition, many fathers report an increase in religious participation in the year following their child's birth, but this increase is not associated with paternal engagement. However, a decrease in religious participation is negatively related to father engagement. Finally, religious affiliation is not related to paternal engagement. Overall, this study suggests that religiously active fathers are more likely to be engaged with their children at early ages and that religious participation may be especially important for new fathers who are t...
Interaction of Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV) Spike Glycoprotein with Receptor Glycoprotein MHVR Is Required for Infection with an MHV Strain That Expresses the Hemagglutinin-Esterase Glycoprotein

In addition to the spike (S) glycoprotein that binds to carcinoembryonic antigen-related receptors on the host cell membrane, some strains of mouse coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) express a hemagglutinin esterase (HE) glycoprotein with hemagglutinating and acetylesterase activity. Virions of strains that do not express HE, such as MHV-A59, can infect mouse fibroblasts in vitro, showing that the HE glycoprotein is not required for infection of these cells. The present work was done to study whether interaction of the HE glycoprotein with carbohydrate moieties could lead to virus entry and infection in the absence of interaction of the S glycoprotein with its receptor glycoprotein, MHVR. The DVIM strain of MHV expresses large amounts of HE glycoprotein, as shown by hemadsorption, acetylesterase activity, and immunoreactivity with antibodies directed against the HE glycoprotein of bovine coronavirus. A monoclonal anti-MHVR antibody, MAb-CC1, blocks binding of virus S glycoprotein to MHVR and blocks infection of MHV strains that do not express HE. MAb-CC1 also prevented MHV-DVIM infection of mouse DBT cells and primary mouse glial cell cultures. Although MDCK-I cells express O-acetylated sialic acid residues on their plasma membranes, these canine cells were resistant to infection with MHV-A59 and MHV-DVIM. Transfection of MDCK-I cells with MHVR cDNA made them susceptible to infection with MHV-A59 and MHV-DVIM. Thus, the HE glycoprotein of an MHV strain did not lead to infection of cultured murine neural cells or of nonmurine cells that express the carbohydrate ligand of the HE glycoprotein. Therefore, interaction of the spike glycoprotein of MHV with its carcinoembryonic antigen-related receptor glycoprotein is required for infectivity of MHV strains whether or not they express the HE glycoprotein.
Occurrence and transmission of facultative endosymbionts in aphids.

The occurrence of a secondary bacterial symbiont (PASS) of pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific nucleotide primers based on PASS 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences from over 80% (50/57) of clones of pea aphid collected from widely separated locations in California. PASS was also detected by PCR in both red and green phenotypes of rose aphid, Macrosiphum rosae (L.), but not in six other species of aphids examined, including blue alfalfa aphid (A. kondoi Shinji). The nucleotide sequences of the PCR-amplified, partial 16S rDNAs (1060 bp) from pea aphid and rose aphid were identical and 99.9% similar to the published 16S rDNA of PASS. PASS and a recently described new rickettsia of pea aphid (PAR) were transmitted by needle injection of hemolymph from positive pea aphid clones into negative clones and into blue alfalfa aphids. Both PASS and PAR were maintained in the offspring of some of the injected mother aphids via high rate of maternal transmission.
Patent Office Practice after the America Invents Act

Currently, the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) requires all lawyers practicing before it in patent matters to possess a hard science or engineering undergraduate degree. The relative obscurity of PTO practice has allowed this requirement to remain, mostly unnoticed, even though it bars most lawyers from practicing before the PTO. Like all administrative agencies, however, the PTO is subject to the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). Although the PTO’s technical degree requirement may have once passed muster under the APA, this may no longer be the case. Congress recently made major changes to US patent law by passing the America Invents Act (AIA). The AIA at once makes PTO practice far more important and brings into question whether the PTO can continue to exclude the vast majority of lawyers from practicing before it. This article suggests that the increased importance of PTO practice after the AIA creates a strong incentive for attorneys to challenge the PTO’s admissions requirements under the APA and argues that such a challenge, when brought, will likely succeed.
Adrenergic facilitation by angiotensin: does it serve a physiological function?

A number of hormonal and pharmacological substances modulate adrenergic transmitter release by a presynaptic action (for reviews see Starke, 1977; Westfall, 1977). Prostaglandin E, acetylcholine, adenosine, dopamine and noradrenaline itself inhibit, whereas angiotensin II (ANG II), prostaglandin F 2d and isoproterenol enhance noradrenaline release. Thus stimulation of specific receptors by these substances can, through alteration in transmitter release, result in depression or augmentation, respectively, of adrenergic responses. Modulation is not limited to the adrenergic nerve terminal since with some of these agents an action on the postsynaptic site is also manifested (Malik, 1978; Verhaeghe, Lorenz, McGrath, Shepherd & Vanhoutte, 1978; Zimmerman, 1978). The purpose of this editorial review is to consider both peripheral and central adrenergic-modulating effects of angiotensin with respect to both the mechanism and the possible physiological importance. I shall not include discussion of adrenal medullary or ganglionic actions of ANG II. Early investigations demonstrated both central and peripheral adrenergic interactions of ANG II. When administered via the dog's carotid or vertebral arterial blood supply, ANG II elicited a pressor response which was found to be mediated over the sympathetic nerves (Bickerton & Buckley, 1961; Dickinson, 1965; Ferrario, Dickinson & McCubbin, 1970). It is not certain whether the pressor response is due to direct stimulation of vasomotor neurons or to facilitation of tonic excitatory activity. The influence of ANG II on peripheral adrenergic nerves is one of facilitation of evoked nerve activity and is not caused by a direct release of catecholamines (tyramine-like
The Biological Role and Clinical Implications of IgA

The total body pool of human IgA (3,600–9,100 mg) is larger than that for all other isotypes combined. Most IgA resides in the small and large intestines in the form of polymeric or secretory IgA (slgA). Serum IgA is primarily monomeric and comprises the second highest concentration of any immunoglobulin in the circulation. IgA is composed of two subclasses: IgAl and IgA2. Secretory IgA consists of approximately equal amounts of IgAl and IgAl. Serum IgA is predominantly IgAl (90%). Secretory IgA functions to neutralize toxins, enzymes, and viruses; agglutinate pathogens; inhibit penetration of foreign antigen into the mucosa and attachment; activate the alternate complement pathway; and possibly opsonize pathogens. Secretory IgA is the first line of defense against most infectious agents, and the integrity of the slgA system is important to the health of the individual. The biological role and clinical implications of IgA are discussed.
Design of a N20/HTPB Hybrid Rocket Motor utilizing a Toroidal Aerospike Nozzle

Current efforts by the student members of the sole student rocket group at Arizona State University, Daedalus Astronautics, have been focused on development of both a hybrid rocket motor and an aerospike nozzle. Hybrid rocket propulsion has combined properties of both solid and liquid rockets giving it advantages over the individual systems. This is a concept which has gained a more substantial footing with the success of Scaled Composites and SpaceShipOne. Daedalus Astronautics has designed and developed a simple hybrid rocket motor for the use in their high-powered sounding rocket program. The designed motor utilizes nitrous oxide and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) for oxidizer and fuel respectively. The key components of the hybrid design and analysis include the oxidizer solenoid valve, injector, pre-combustion chamber, fuel grain, post combustion chamber and nozzle. Initial testing of the hybrid rocket motor have been conducted utilizing a standard “bell” nozzle in order to allow for direct comparison to a more advanced nozzle design. A toroidal aerospike nozzle with an isentropic contour was designed and implemented for use with the hybrid due to its advantages over the standard and widely used “bell” shaped nozzle. An aerospike nozzle has the ability to perfectly expand the exhaust gas at all altitudes increasing the performance of the system. This design includes the use of graphite inserts at the nozzle throat to deter erosion and expansion which has been problems in previous designs. By integrating this nozzle with the hybrid rocket motor a high performance launch system can be achieved.