cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The value of posture, build and dynamics in gesture-based user authentication

User authentication based on biometrics such as fingerprint, iris, face, speech or gait has been around for many years. Recently, intentional user gestures have been shown to be a promising modality for user authentication. However, it is unclear how much of the performance can be attributed to pure biometric information that a user has no control over, such as individual limb lengths, and how much to the gesture dynamics, that a user can fully control. A related question is: How easy is it to copy these dynamics? In this paper, we propose a framework to decompose a gesture into three components: initial posture, limb proportions, and gesture dynamics. We then study the impact of each component and various component combinations on the performance of gesture-based user authentication using a dataset of 36 users performing 3 gestures of varying complexity. We also study spoof attacks using the same dataset and show, somewhat surprisingly, that amateurs are unable to copy gestures with sufficient accuracy so as to significantly degrade the overall authentication performance even when they are trained on users that they are closest to. While training certainly improves an attacker's ability to copy gesture dynamics, it seems that the unique limb proportions (which cannot be altered) and the initial posture (which amateurs attackers fail to pay attention to), more than make up for the loss due to compromised dynamics (which can always be renewed).
All Things New: American Communes and Utopian Movements, 1860-1914

Chapter 1 Foreword: All Together Now Chapter 2 "Enclaves of Difference": The Communal Pattern Chapter 3 "Behold a White Horse": Visions and Journeys Chapter 4 "Hard Times":Common Land And Common Labor Chapter 5 "New Movements": Missions or Retreats? Chapter 6 "The New Altruistic Leviathan": Conclusion
Morality in Religious Reformations

Religious reformations are normal historical occurrences. Some stress salvation by faith or through love of the deity. Others have stressed morality either as the primary obligation of the believer or as one of the primary obligations. An examination of a number of such reformations should further our understanding of the historic pattern of religions. A complete survey of the subject is not possible here, but a preliminary investigation is a necessary first step and does produce significant conclusions. The concern here is not with the mere presence in religions of morality, which all the historic religions exhibit. Rather the interest is in those movements that have laid a particular stress on morality and the absolute necessity of moral behavior.
Structure of silica gels.

The structure of silica hydrogels has been studied by elastic light scattering. Like colloidal silica gels and neutrally catalyzed aerogels, these gels show mass fractal behavior at length scales below a crossover length \ensuremath{\xi} and scatter like a spatially random distribution of fractal objects for length scales g\ensuremath{\xi}. Their fractal dimension D depends on \ensuremath{\xi} and, unlike the other gels for which \ensuremath{\xi}\ensuremath{\propto}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}^{1/(\mathit{D}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3)}$, \ensuremath{\xi} depends on both silica volume fraction \ensuremath{\varphi} and gelation conditions. However, all our data are consistent with the correlation function 〈\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\varphi}(0)\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\varphi}(r)〉=A${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}^{2}$${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{r}/\ensuremath{\xi}}$/(r/\ensuremath{\xi}${)}^{3\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{D}}$, with A=1.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.13.
Groundwater manganese and infant mortality rate by county in North Carolina: an ecological analysis.

Manganese is an element essential in trace quantities but toxic in high concentrations. As a naturally occurring element in groundwater and a chemical of increasing global significance due to its growing trend of replacing lead in gasoline, vigilant assessment of its detrimental effects is essential. In response to previous research that showed a potential link between manganese and well water, we performed a pilot ecological study using data obtained from the North Carolina Center for Health Statistics, the North Carolina Geological Survey, and the U.S. Census. Our pilot study investigated the relationship between logarithmically transformed county level groundwater manganese concentrations with county level infant mortality rates (reported as deaths/1,000) within the state of North Carolina (n = 100 counties; North Carolina 2000 population = 8,049,313) using stepwise, multiple regression. Our model accounted for such confounders as low birth weight, economic status, education, and ethnicity. Across North Carolina counties, for every log increase in groundwater manganese concentration, there was a 2.074 increase in county level infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This study is the first to show on a statewide basis adverse infant mortality effects of environmental manganese. These pilot data argue for further research into a broad range of developmental effects and also may be useful to regulatory agencies interested in protecting communities’ health.
In vitro fibroblast seeding of prosthetic anterior cruciate ligaments: A preliminary study

To evaluate the effect of in vitro seeding of fibroblasts on the connective tissue encapsulation of implanted ligament prostheses, canine skin fibroblasts were grown in tissue culture and seeded onto knitted Dacron prostheses. When the cells on the prostheses reached contact growth inhibition, as determined by growth curves, the prostheses were implanted into the dogs' knees as ACL replacements. Gross and histologic evaluation at 4 and 8 weeks revealed that the seeded prostheses consistently showed more uniform and abundant encapsulation with connective tissue than did the control (unseeded) prostheses. The giant cell response observed in the tissue surrounding the unseeded prostheses was not noted in the seeded prostheses. This may be because seeding a prosthesis with fibroblasts prior to implantation "walls off" the prosthesis from the environment of the joint, and therefore the prosthesis may not elicit as great a foreign body response as does an unseeded prosthesis. The results of this preliminary study suggest that the in vitro seeding of a ligament prosthesis with fibroblasts accelerates the connective tissue encapsulation of the implanted prosthesis.
Lower bounds for blow-up time in parabolic problems under Neumann conditions

We consider an initial boundary value problem for the semilinear heat equation under homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions in which the solution may blow up in finite time. A lower bound for the blow-up time is determined by means of a differential inequality argument when blow up occurs. Under alternative conditions on the nonlinearity, some additional bounds for blow-up time are also determined.
A fracture criterion for gallium arsenide wafers

Abstract The fracture of single crystal gallium arsenide (GaAs) semi-conducting wafers was studied. Prismatic beam specimens, cut at different crystallographic orientations from thin wafers, were loaded to failure in four-point bending. Fracture in these crystals occurred predominantly on the {110} family of crystallographic planes. The critical normal and shear stresses on the primary {110} failure planes of the specimens at failure were calculated and a plane stress failure envelope was determined. A model to predict the likelihood of failure at any stress state was developed. Scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that failure in bending was initiated from surface defects that approximate semi-elliptical cracks on the tension side.
Adenoviral-mediated inhibition of connective tissue growth factor in Rat-2 cells.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a profibrotic factor shown to induce extracellular matrix production and angiogenesis, two processes involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). In this study we tested the effect of a recombinant adenovirus encoding for a CTGF antisense oligonucleotide (rAdASO) on the levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) induced expression of CTGF in Rat-2 fibroblasts. Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, there was a 2-fold increase in CTGF message induced by TGF-β. Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses revealed a significant increase in CTGF protein level. This upregulation of CTGF by TGF-β was inhibited by infection with rAdASO. These findings indicate that infection of the Rat-2 cells with rAdASO was effective in decreasing TGF-β-induced CTGF expression. These results indicate that this viral vector might have therapeutic potential to control elevated CTGF levels that occur in DR.
Hyperplastic polyposis syndrome: a call for broader diagnostic criteria

Background Hyperplastic Polyposis Syndrome (HPS) is a rare disease characterized by multiple or large hyperplastic polyps and carries an approximately 40% lifetime colorectal cancer risk. Although a genetic basis has not been established, HPS is believed to be a heritable syndrome and is diagnosed by clinical criteria as set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on clinical experience, we hypothesized that WHO criteria may be narrowly restrictive and misses some patients with an increased malignancy risk.
Moral Hazard and Background Risk in Competitive Insurance Markets

We examine the effect of background risk on competitive insurance markets with moral hazard. If policy-holders have non-negative prudence, then background risk does not decrease effort and, when effort increases, expands the set of feasible policies. However, the effect of background risk on equilibrium is indeterminate. We analyse the choice between stock and mutual insurance; mutual insurance is equivalent to a fair policy plus background risk. Our results imply that competitive insurance markets with moral hazard should be dominated by stock insurers.
A high-latitude observation of sporadic sodium and sporadic E-layer formation

High-resolution radar and lidar measurements of sporadic sodium (Na) and sporadic E (E) layers were made at the Sondrestrom incoherent-scatter radar facility on 11 December 1997. These measurements suggest a causal link between Es and Nas, supporting the proposed mechanism in which Na+ ions in the Es are neutralized to form the Nas. This Nas, by contrast, does not appear to have been formed by the presence of auroral precipitation or ionization, and, in fact, the sodium density is seen to decrease during an auroral event.
Solid-state laser wavelength identification using a reference absorber

Abstract : A Fabry-Perot etalon is used to identify the relative wavelengths of individual spikes in the long-pulse output of a homogeneously broadened, solid-state laser. This identification is accomplished by positioning one side of a low finesse etalon bandpass such that it is coincident with the laser output. Different wavelength spikes experience different attenuations on passing through the etalon, thus enabling a relative wavelength determination from the etalon transmission value. The etalon is incorporated into a real-time minicomputer controlled measuring system capable of storing, analyzing, and displaying various parameters encountered in laser interaction studies. By utilizing the narrow spectral width of individual laser spikes ( 0.0001 nm) and the large number of different wavelength spikes available in a single long pulse (tens to hundreds), many high-resolution spectral data points can be obtained within the period of one laser shot ( 4 ms). Experimental results of the transmission of erbium: YAG laser radiation in a methane-enriched atmosphere are shown to illustrate one use for the system. This technique provides an accurate means of studying the interaction and propagation nature of certain solid-state lasers used by the Army. The causes of degradation in Army laser systems may be studied with a higher degree of precision, thereby allowing possible minimization or elimination of any such effects. (Author)
Studies on naturally occurring proteinous inhibitor for transmethylation reactions

An inhibitor for S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet)-dependent methyltransferases has been purified from rat liver particulate fraction to apparent homogeneity, as judged by high-performance liquid chromatography, two-dimensional paper electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing chromatography. This inhibitor molecule, which is composed of 27 amino acid residues with an additional fluorescent chromophore, is rich in glycine, contains no basic amino acid, and has an isoelectric point (pI) of 3.70. A single absorption peak was observed at 248 nm in acidic as well as in neutral media, while two peaks were detected in alkaline medium at 206 nm and 248 nm. The former peak was found to be quite labile. The fluorescent spectra with excitation peak at 285 nm and emission peak at 358 nm are greatly influenced by the pH, being the highest in alkaline medium. The purified inhibitor inhibits all the AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases examined.
Adaptive optical two-photon microscopy using autofluorescent guide stars

We demonstrate a fast, direct wavefront-sensing method for dynamic in vivo adaptive optical two-photon microscopy. By using a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor and open-loop control, the system provides high-speed wavefront measurement and correction. To measure the wavefront in the middle of a Drosophila embryo at early stages, autofluorescence from endogenous fluorophores in the yolk were used as reference guide stars. The method was tested through live imaging of a Drosophila embryo. The aberration in the middle of the embryo was measured directly for the first time. After correction, the contrast and signal intensity of the structure in the middle of the embryo was improved.
Step-scan near-infrared Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy with 100 picosecond laser pulses

Abstract Time-resolved Fourier-transform Raman scattering with picosecond excitation is reported for the first time. The resonance Raman spectrum of 9,10-diphenylanthracene in its excited single state was obtained by Raman excitation at 1064 nm with 100 ps pulses, following photoexcitation at 355 nm. The implementation and characterization of time-resolved FT-Raman spectroscopy with a step-scan interferometer is discussed. FT-Raman spectra generated with continuous and mode-locked beams in the continuous-scan mode of the interferometer are compared with step-scan FT-Raman spectra generated with 2 kHz pulses.
Evidence-based emergency medicine: updates, feedback, and links.

Abstract Editors' note: The goal of the Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine (EBEM) series is to teach the process of translating research into clinical practice. In this issue, we introduce a new component of the series titled "Updates, Feedback, and Links." Because biomedical research is constantly and rapidly changing, we will provide "Updates" to previously addressed clinical questions. And because there is more than one way to skin a cat (if you will forgive the expression), we hope to provide a forum for "Feedback" regarding evidence-based medicine (EBM) as applied to the specialty of emergency medicine. Our objective in the feedback segments is to engage you, the reader, in the issues and dilemmas that arise from a systematic attempt to integrate evidence into clinical decisionmaking. We welcome comments, suggestions, and criticisms by E-mail or post from readers and users of the EBEM series. These comments and questions may address specific EBEM installments, EBM in general, and the application of EBM skills in clinical practice. In responding to such queries, we will draw on the expanding range of individuals and expertise currently surrounding the EBEM feature, including a team of librarians who regularly review the search strategies of EBEM installments. Finally, in the section called "Links," we may recommend paper-based resources and Web sites that may be used to facilitate the translation of research into clinical practice. Peter C Wyer, MD William H Cordell, MD EBEM Series Editors Please send feedback—comments, questions, and recommen-dations to Peter C Wyer, MD, at the Annals Editorial Office or electronically to pwyer@worldnet.att.net.
A study of the three-dimensional spectral energy distribution in a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer

Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements performed in wall parallel planes at three wall normal locations, y^+ = 34, 108, and 278, in a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer at Re_τ = 470 are used to illuminate the distribution of streamwise velocity fluctuations in a three-dimensional energy spectrum (2D in space and 1D in time) over streamwise, spanwise, and temporal wavelengths. Two high-speed cameras placed side by side in the streamwise direction give a 10δ × 5δ streamwise by spanwise field of view with a vector spacing of Δx^+ = Δz^+ ≈ 37 and a time step of Δt^+ = 0.5. Although 3D wavenumber-frequency spectra have been calculated in acoustics studies, to the authors’ knowledge this is the first time they has been calculated and presented for a turbulent boundary layer. The calculation and normalization of this spectrum, its relation to 2D and 1D spectra, and the effects of the PIV algorithm on its shape are carefully analyzed and outlined.
Clinical pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and drug-interaction profile of the integrase inhibitor dolutegravir.

Dolutegravir is a second-generation integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration for marketing approval. The in vitro, protein-adjusted 90 % inhibitory concentration (IC90) of dolutegravir for wild-type virus is 0.064 μg/ml, and it retains in vitro anti-HIV 1 activity across a broad range of viral phenotypes that are known to confer resistance to the currently marketed INSTIs, raltegravir and elvitegravir. Dolutegravir has a terminal elimination half-life of 13–14 h and maintains concentrations over the in vitro, protein-adjusted IC90 for more than 30 h following a single dose. Additionally, dolutegravir has low inter-subject variability compared with raltegravir and elvitegravir. A plasma exposure–response relationship has been well described, with antiviral activity strongly correlating with trough concentrations. Phase III trials have assessed the antiviral activity of dolutegravir compared with efavirenz and raltegravir in antiretroviral (ARV)-naive patients and found that dolutegravir achieved more rapid and sustained virologic suppression in both instances. Additionally, studies of dolutegravir activity in patients with known INSTI-resistant mutations have been favourable, indicating that dolutegravir retains activity in a variety of INSTI-resistant phenotypes. Much like currently marketed INSTIs, dolutegravir is very well tolerated. Because dolutegravir inhibits the renal transporter organic cation transporter 2, reduced tubular secretion of creatinine leads to non-progressive increases in serum creatinine. These serum creatinine increases have not been associated with a decreased glomerular filtration rate or progressive renal impairment. Dolutegravir’s major and minor metabolic pathways are uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 and cytochrome P450 (CYP)-3A4, respectively, and it neither induces nor inhibits CYP isoenzymes. Thus dolutegravir has a modest drug interaction profile. However, antacids significantly decrease dolutegravir plasma exposure and should be separated by 2 h before, or 6 h after, a dolutegravir dose. In summary, dolutegravir is the first of the second-generation INSTIs and exhibits a predictable pharmacokinetic profile and a well-defined exposure–response relationship. Dolutegravir retains activity despite the presence of some class-resistant mutations and achieves rapid and sustained virologic suppression in ARV-naive and ARV-experienced patients. Clinically, dolutegravir is poised to become a commonly used component of antiretroviral regimens.
SINGLET OXYGEN LUMINESCENCE SPECTRA: A COMPARISON OF INTERFEROMETER‐ AND GRATING‐BASED SPECTROMETERS

Abstract— The current trend in methodology for determining IR and near-IR absorption spectra is to employ interferometer-based instruments to replace the monochromator-based devices used heretofore. As a dispersion element, the interferometer offers major improvements in spectral resolution (Connes advantage), light throughput (Jacquinot advantage) and data acquisition through multiplexing (Felgett advantage). We have compared signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios of grating-based and interferometer-based instruments for making spectral determinations of near-IR luminescence. Our results show that under identical excitation and detector conditions the interferometer instrument easily outperforms the grating, giving a 10-fold improvement in S/N at high signal amplitude (A488nm= 0.97) and a 20-fold improvement when the signal amplitude is low (A488nm= 0.06). Although some spectral resolution is sacrificed when scan times on the Fourier transform (FT)IR are significantly shortened, the S/N ratio was found only to decrease by a factor of 2 for a 10-fold decrease in scan time. This adds to the advantages of the FT1R technique because the S/N will thus improve for the same total acquisition time.
Reliability exchange schemes for iterative packet combining in distributed arrays

We investigate reliability exchange schemes that allow a group of radios to act as a distributed antenna array in which radio links are used to exchange information between the various radios. We consider a scenario in which multiple nodes receive independent copies of the same message. Each node independently decodes its message and then participates in a process of "smart" information exchange with the other nodes. Each node transmits its estimates of the a posteriori probabilities of some set of bits, and these estimates are used as a priori information by other receivers. The a priori information is used to perform maximum a posteriori decoding on the received sequence. This process of decoding and information exchange can be repeated several times. Simulation results show that the performance can be significantly improved by careful selection of the bits for which information is exchanged.
Prion propagation can occur in a prokaryote and requires the ClpB chaperone

Prions are self-propagating protein aggregates that are characteristically transmissible. In mammals, the PrP protein can form a prion that causes the fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Prions have also been uncovered in fungi, where they act as heritable, protein- based genetic elements. We previously showed that the yeast prion protein Sup35 can access the prion conformation in Escherichia coli. Here, we demonstrate that E. coli can propagate the Sup35 prion under conditions that do not permit its de novo formation. Furthermore, we show that propagation requires the disaggregase activity of the ClpB chaperone. Prion propagation in yeast requires Hsp104 (a ClpB ortholog), and prior studies have come to conflicting conclusions about ClpB's ability to participate in this process. Our demonstration of ClpB-dependent prion propagation in E. coli suggests that the cytoplasmic milieu in general and a molecular machine in particular are poised to support protein-based heredity in the bacterial domain of life.
RVLSI applications and physical design

Improvements in circuits density and yield have permitted restructurable VLSI wafer-scale circuits to be designed with three million transistors. The integrated power supply decoupling capacitors and denser wafer-scale interconnect used in these designs are described. Improved testing methods are required for larger designs. >
Image and Video Segmentation by Anisotropic Kernel Mean Shift

Mean shift is a nonparametric estimator of density which has been applied to image and video segmentation. Traditional mean shift based segmentation uses a radially symmetric kernel to estimate local density, which is not optimal in view of the often structured nature of image and more particularly video data. In this paper we present an anisotropic kernel mean shift in which the shape, scale, and orientation of the kernels adapt to the local structure of the image or video. We decompose the anisotropic kernel to provide handles for modifying the segmentation based on simple heuristics. Experimental results show that the anisotropic kernel mean shift outperforms the original mean shift on image and video segmentation in the following aspects: 1) it gets better results on general images and video in a smoothness sense; 2) the segmented results are more consistent with human visual saliency; 3) the algorithm is robust to initial parameters.
Exponential Tracking Control of a Hydraulic Proportional Directional Valve and Cylinder via Integrator Backstepping

Hydraulic systems are widely used in manufacturing processes and transportation systems where energy intensive operations are performed and “machine” control is vital. A variety of flow control products exist including manual directional control valves, proportional directional control valves, and servovalves. The selection of a control valve actuation strategy is dependent on the system response requirements, permissible pressure drop, and hardware cost. Although high bandwidth servovalves offer fast response times, the higher expense, susceptibility to debris, and pressure drop may be prohibitive. Thus, the question exists whether the economical proportional directional control valve’s performance can be sufficiently enhanced using nonlinear control strategies to begin approaching that of servovalves. In this paper, exponential tracking control of a hydraulic cylinder and proportional directional control valve, with spool position feedback, is achieved for precise positioning of a mechanical load. An analytical and empirical mathematical model is developed which describes the transient behavior of the integrated components. A nonlinear backstepping control algorithm is designed to accommodate inherent system nonlinearities.
Sexual Victimization and Health-Risk Behaviors: A Prospective Analysis of College Women

The present study utilizes the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey to examine the relationship between health-risk behaviors and sexual victimization among a sample of college women. A prospective design is utilized to examine the relationship between health-risk behaviors as measured at baseline and sexual victimization during a 3-month follow-up period. After controlling for age and parents' education, a history of adolescent sexual victimization was associated with the following health-risk behaviors as measured at pretest: increased likelihood of cigarette smoking, marijuana use, suicidal ideation, experience of physical violence within a dating relationship, use of diet pills and vomiting or laxatives to lose weight, multiple sexual partners, and early sexual intercourse. Prospectively, women's history of adolescent sexual victimization was the strongest predictor of sexual victimization during the 3-month follow-up. Implications of univariate associations between early sexual intercourse, suicidal ideation, and problematic weight loss behaviors and subsequent experience of sexual victimization are discussed.
Dynamics of the North Sea pole tide reconsidered

The anomalous tide in the North Sea, driven by the Chandler wobble, is here re-examined. A previously published solution in which these 'pole tide' observations were explained as a forced co-oscillation from the deep water tide is shown to be untenable, because it is very unlikely that the deep ocean tide is anything but equilibrium. Using the same physics as in the previous solution (viscous, linear, quasi-geostrophic dynamics), it is now suggested that the only plausible explanation is that there is a coincidental resonance between the long-wavelength branch topographic Rossby wave of the North Sea and the direct driving by the pole tide potential. This resonance is not a basin-resonance, but that of a free wave driven by a travelling forcing function. Simplified models reproduce the observations in qualitative fashion. If this explanation is the correct one, then the Arctic seas north of Asia and North America appear to be likely candidates as other regions where there may be a large pole tide response and, hence, a locus of wobble dissipation. Given the difficulties of observation, the long times required, and the general instability of the dissipation calculation with the simplified analytical model, probably a numerical model will be required for further progress.
Organizational Psychology1 and the Tipping Point of Professional Identity

Using concepts from the literature on individual and collective identity, we argue that organizational psychologists are at a tipping point with regard to identity. Assertions regarding a lack of distinctiveness from other fields, ambiguity in individual identification with the field among new entrants, hyperadaptation to external forces, and a failure to manage within-identity dynamics associated with science and practice are presented. These assertions are supported with descriptions of the nature of growth in the field, challenges in academic psychology departments, and calls for changing research agendas. With the aim of engaging others in collective sensemaking, alternative future scenarios for organizational psychology are presented.
MID-IR Photodetectors Based on InAs/InGaSb Type-II Quantum Wells

We report on the growth and characterization of InAs/InxGal1-xSb strained-layer superlattices (SLS) designed with a photoresponse cut-off wavelength of 10/fum. The structural parameters, layer thicknesses and compositions, were chosen to optimize the infrared absorption for a superlattice with an energy band gap of 120 meV. The energy band structure and optimized absorption coefficient were determined with an 8x8 envelope function approximation model. The superlattices were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and were comprised of 100 periods of 43.6A InAs and 17.2A In.23Ga.77Sb lattice-matched to the GaSb substrates. In order to reduce the background carrier concentrations in this material, superlattices grown with different substrate temperatures were compared before and after annealing. This set of superlattice materials was characterized using x-ray diffraction, photoresponse and Hall measurements. The measured photoresponse cut-off energies of 116 ± 6 meV is in good agreement with the predicted energy band gap for the superlattice as designed. The intensity of the measured mid-infrared photoresponse was found to improve by an order of magnitude for the superlattice grown at the lower substrate temperature and then annealed at 520 °C for 10 minutes. However, the x-ray diffraction spectra were very similar before and after annealing. The temperature dependent Hall measurements at low temperatures (<25K) were dominated by holes with quasi two-dimensional behavior. An admirably low background carrier concentration of 1×1012 cm-2 was measured at low temperature.
The Sac1 Phosphoinositide Phosphatase Regulates Golgi Membrane Morphology and Mitotic Spindle Organization in Mammals

Phosphoinositides (PIPs) are ubiquitous regulators of signal transduction events in eukaryotic cells. PIPs are degraded by various enzymes, including PIP phosphatases. The integral membrane Sac1 ph...
Angiotensin II Receptor–Induced Cardiac Remodeling in Mice Without Angiotensin II

See related article, pp 627–633 Cell surface receptors and their ligands cooperatively regulate physiological processes. The receptor activity is regulated positively when agonists bind and negatively when antagonists displace the agonists. Complete absence of a hormone should abrogate physiological and pathogenic functions regulated by the cognate receptor. However, awareness of the constitutive activity, the ability of native receptors to become functionally active in absence of hormone, is changing our view of the robustness of ligand-regulated receptor mechanisms. Paradigms of constitutive activity of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) and inverse agonist activity of GPCR-targeted drugs are firmly established. The GPCR, angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AT1R), can be spontaneously active.1 Ways such as membrane environment, interacting proteins, receptor autoantibodies, and single nucleotide polymorphisms that increase expression can increase G-protein signaling in the absence of Ang II using the potential energy of the receptor.2 Inverse agonists can suppress the constitutive activity of a receptor; however, classic antagonists cannot perform this action1,2 (Figure). Figure. Mechanism of the constitutively active angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) signaling is shown in blue. The classic agonist-activated AT1R signaling is shown in black and white. GRK indicates G protein–coupled receptor kinase; P, phosphorylation. Constitutive activity is an inherent property of a GPCR in all, including human and animal, species.1–3 Wild-type AT1R stimulates significant G protein signaling in the absence of Ang II, when 1 to 10 pmol/mg of receptor is expressed in cell lines. The constitutively active pool of wild-type AT1R is <5%, which is the reason why it is difficult to detect it with the …
Angiopeptin enhances acetylcholine-induced relaxation and inhibits intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury

The effects of the somatostatin analogue, angiopeptin (BIM-23014), on neoendothelial function, as evidenced by formation of prostaglandin (PG) I2 and by acetylcholine-induced relaxation (formation of endothelial-derived relaxing factor), were investigated in the rabbit aorta. A balloon catheter injury of the thoracic and abdominal aorta was induced in New Zealand White rabbits. Animals treated with angiopeptin for 2 or 4 wk were compared with untreated rabbits at 2 or 4 wk after the induction of injury, as well as to sham-operated controls. When the rabbits were killed, vascular rings were assessed for arachidonic acid-stimulated PGI2 formation, acetylcholine-induced relaxation, and the degree of intimal hyperplasia. Vascular rings from animals treated with angiopeptin exhibited enhanced acetylcholine-induced relaxation; however, angiopeptin treatment had no effect on arachidonic acid-stimulated PGI2 formation. Intimal hyperplasia in treated animals was reduced by 36%. Treatment with another somatostatin analogue, BIM-23030, did not enhance relaxation or inhibit intimal hyperplasia. These data suggest that treatment with angiopeptin may inhibit intimal hyperplasia in part by its beneficial effect on neoendothelial function.
Thermodynamics and Heating Processes

This chapter reviews the transformation of solution-derived ferroelectric thin films from the as-deposited to the crystalline state that occurs during heat treatment. Reaction chemistry and pathways associated with the elimination of organic constituents from the film are discussed, as are the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the nucleation and growth processes that lead to crystallization. Related topics discussed in this chapter include structural evolution during pyrolysis, thin film densification processes, the role of interfacial layers on film orientation, and control of thin film crystallization behavior and microstructure. A focus of the chapter is the consideration of solution chemistry effects on pyrolysis, densification and crystallization behavior and illustration of the magnitude of such effects on thin film microstructure.
Coagulase production by Staphylococcus aureus. II. Growth and coagulase production in complex and chemically defined mediums--comparison of chemically defined mediums.

While the exact nature of coagulase and its mode of action remain enigmatic, experimental studies over the past twenty years have contributed somewhat to our knowledge of this substance produced by the staphylococci. The particulate nature of coagulase has been reported (Smith and Hale, 1944) and it is regarded as a protein with enzymatic activity (Duthie and Lorenz, 1952; Miale, 1949). Tager (1956) has also reported studies which have established coagulase as a protein. The ability of coagulase to bring about clotting of human plasma involves a reacting factor in the plasma (Tager, 1947, 1948) which has been characterized as a globulin and distinct from prothrombin. The majority of the reported studies on coagulase production by Staphylococcus aureus have utilized a complex infusion medium or some modification
Cloning and characterization of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) from crayfish axial muscle. Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase.

The discontinuous pattern of muscle growth during the moulting cycle of a freshwater crustacean (the crayfish Procambarus clarkii) was used as a model system to examine the regulation of the expression of Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA). We describe the cloning, sequencing and characterization of a novel SERCA cDNA (3856 bp) obtained from crayfish axial abdominal muscle by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). This complete sequence contains a 145 base pair (bp) noncoding region at the 5′ end, a 3006 bp open reading frame coding for 1002 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 110 kDa and 705 bp of untranslated region at the 3′ end. This enzyme contains all the conserved domains found in ‘P’-type ATPases, and the hydropathy profile suggests a transmembrane organization typical of other SERCAs. It exhibits 80% amino acid identity with Drosophila melanogaster SERCA, 79% identity with Artemia franciscana SERCA, 72% identity with rabbit fast-twitch muscle neonatal isoform SERCA1b, 71% identity with slow-twitch muscle isoform SERCA2 and 67% identity with SERCA3. Sequence alignment revealed that regions anchoring the cytoplasmic domain in the membrane were highly conserved and that most differences were in the NH(2) terminus, the central loop region and the COOH terminus. Northern analysis of total RNA from crayfish tissues probed with the 460 bp fragment initially isolated showed four bands (7.6, 7.0, 5.8 and 4.5 kilobases) displaying tissue-specific expression. SERCA was most abundant in muscle (axial abdominal, cardiac and stomach), where it is involved in Ca(2+) resequestration during relaxation, and in eggs, where it may be implicated in early embryogenesis. The level of SERCA mRNA expression in axial abdominal muscle varied during the moulting cycle as determined by slot-blot analysis. SERCA expression was greatest during intermoult and decreased to approximately 50% of this level during pre- and postmoult. Patterns of gene expression for SERCA and other sarcomeric proteins during the crustacean moulting cycle may be regulated by ecdysteroids and/or mechanical stimulation.
Legal Discrimination? Alternatives to the Traditional Linear Equity Partnership Track and Flexible Employment for Female Attorneys in U.S. Law Firms

As the legal profession gradually reaches equality in numbers among male and female practitioners, the percentage of female law firm partners remains at relatively low levels. Equity partnership in a law firm remains the last bastion of male dominance, shutting the door on sharing the wealth within the profession. As stated by Reichman and Sterling, compensation disparity is clearly the foundation of gender disparity. However, the increase in female attorneys during the post-feminist era has also brought about a critical mass of women who do not want to participate in the years of long hours and high billable hours that many firms require on the partnership track. In an attempt to keep institutional knowledge, many law firms have designed retention programs for young female lawyers that include part-time work that allows time for raising small children, and non-equity partnership tracks that do not require the arduous hours required for an equity partnership. But does this solve the problem of low levels of female partnerships? This article looks at historical basis and current trends of law firm partnerships, the use of two-tier partnership structures, and gives suggestions on how to increase levels of female partnerships.
Leveraging Federal Law to Support Decision Making in Homeland Defense Operations

In June 2005, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) issued the “Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support.” The Strategy uses the word “law” in two contexts. One recurring use of the word “law” is in the context of “law enforcement”, as in DoD supporting law enforcement authorities. The other recurring use of the word “law” is in the context of ensuring DoD takes any actions in compliance with the law – with phrases such as “in accordance with applicable laws,” “consistent with applicable law,” “consistent with U.S. law,” and “as provided in U.S. law.” The conclusion of the Strategy states, “Whether in a leading, supporting, or enabling role, the Department of Defense, guided by this strategy and consistent with U.S. law, will work with an intense focus to protect the U.S. homeland and the American people.” Therefore, the critical question for civilian and military leaders to consider at the strategic level: what, exactly, is that applicable law that they must act “in accordance with” or “consistent with” while engaged in homeland security or homeland defense. Much of the applicable law can be found in Titles 10, 14, and 32 of the U.S. Code.The U.S. Code is not organized to address a specific problem or issue (such as homeland defense), but rather to create, empower, and restrict institutions within the federal government or individuals and organizations within the citizenry. Moreover, unless one is a lawyer, the U.S. Code is not something that one would need to examine on a daily basis anyway. Therefore, this article will take a slightly different approach to the question at hand – that is, a more metaphorical examination of these titles of the Code. While many readers will navigate through statutes on a daily basis, many navigate through a different maze on a daily basis – that is, commuter traffic. Therefore, this article will examine the role of these three titles of the U.S. Code as if they were a structured system of traffic management. Thus, this article will speak in terms of highways, HOV lanes, on-ramps, merge points, safety gates, and rules of the road. In the end, this method of examination will be more useful and understandable for a reader who is either a non-lawyer, a non-military, or a combination.
The Cultural Turn in Geography: A New Link in the Commodity Chain

Consumption is an activity where the notion of freedom prevails. The consumer has to feel that she or he can do what they want in the market place – buy this or that, apparently at will. For the culture of consumptive freedom to prevail, the commodity has to appear out of no-where, as total appearance stripped of background. So culture has a function: masking the material reality of the production of commodities. Masking the material particularly means eliminating the labor component from consumptive consciousness. This is especially because labor is most contradictory to consumptive happiness. Critical social theory wants to disturb this dream state, and the analysis of commodity chains is its political-theoretical agent. So commodity chain analysis, linking the act of consumption with the process of production, constitutes a materialist deconstruction of consumption culture. And further, as industrial capitalism is over-taken by financial capitalism, a new link needs to be added to the commodity chain, as finance, speculation and debt further distance both producers and consumers from economic reality – this is particularly the case for the speculative trading of commodities in the futures markets. This chapter explores such issues in terms of new actors and new cultural, political, economic power flows in the global financial capitalist economy. Exploring commodities in this way blurs the sub-disciplinary lines between economic and cultural geography.
Regulation of beta 3-adrenergic receptor mRNA by sympathetic nerves and glucocorticoids in BAT of Zucker obese rats

Impaired brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in the genetically obese Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rat is restored to normal by adrenalectomy. We investigated the role of the sympathetic nervous system in modulating the effects of adrenalectomy by studying beta3-adrenergic receptor (AR) and uncoupling protein (UCP) mRNA levels in unilaterally sympathectomized interscapular BAT of lean and obese rats. UCP mRNA levels were increased by adrenalectomy. Sympathetic denervation prevented this adrenalectomy-induced increase in lean rats but not in obese rats. beta 3-AR mRNA was decreased in BAT of obese rats. Adrenalectomy decreased and denervation increased beta 3-AR mRNA in lean rats but the opposite response was observed to both of these manipulations in obese rats. beta 3-AR mRNA and UCP mRNA were negatively correlated in lean rats but positively correlated in obese rats. Norepinephrine increased UCP mRNA levels in denervated BAT of both lean and obese rats and decreased beta 3-AR mRNA in lean rats but not obese rats. These data suggest that the regulation of the beta 3-AR gene in response to sympathetic stimuli and glucocorticoids is abnormal in the obese rat.
Composites for Electronic Substrate Applications

The need for low dielectric constant, high thermal conductivity, matched thermal expansion and co-processability in electronic substrates is reviewed. Since no single phase material is able to satisfy all the requirements, a microscopic composite approach is proposed. Recent experimental evidence supporting the concept is also presented.
Reduction of Dehydroascorbic Acid in the Stomach and Small Intestine.

In view of the fact that a portion of the Vitamin C intake of animals and man may be in the form of dehydroascorbic acid,1-4 it is of interest to know whether the unstable reversibly oxidized form can be utilized efficiently, and whether there is a significant degree of reduction to ascorbic acid in the intestinal tract. It is clearly recognized that dehydroascorbic acid is effective as an antiscorbutic agent,5-8 but there has been wide variation in the results from different laboratories regarding (a) the protective dosage required and (b) the relative utilization when administered by ingestion and injection.The tendency toward irreversible decomposition of dehydroascorbic acid9-10 is such that utilization from the intestinal tract would be greatly influenced by (a) the low pH range of the stomach contents, (b) a rapid reduction to ascorbic acid by the contents of the intestinal tract, and (c) the rate of assimilation from the intestinal tract, followed by, or coincident with, reduction to the stable for...
Validation of Interstitial Iron and Consequences of Nonstoichiometry in Mackinawite (Fe1+xS)

A theoretical investigation of the relationship between chemical composition and electronic structure was performed on the nonstoichiometric iron sulfide, mackinawite (Fe1+xS), which is isostructural and isoelectronic with the superconducting Fe1+xSe and Fe1+x(Te1–ySey) phases. Even though Fe1+xS has not been measured for superconductivity, the effects of stoichiometry on transport properties and electronic structure in all of these iron-excess chalcogenide compounds has been largely overlooked. In mackinawite, the amount of Fe that has been reported ranges from a large excess, Fe1.15S, to nearly stoichiometric, Fe1.00(7)S. Here, we analyze, for the first time, the electronic structure of Fe1+xS to justify these nonstoichiometric phases. First principles electronic structure calculations using supercells of Fe1+xS yield a wide range of energetically favorable compositions (0 < x < 0.30). The incorporation of interstitial Fe atoms originates from a delicate balance between the Madelung energy and the occup...