cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Higher coated-platelet levels are associated with stroke recurrence following nonlacunar brain infarction

Coated-platelets are procoagulant platelets observed upon dual-agonist stimulation with collagen and thrombin. Coated-platelet levels are elevated in patients with nonlacunar (large-vessel) ischemic stroke and decreased in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage as compared with controls. The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between coated-platelet levels and stroke recurrence in patients with nonlacunar ischemic stroke. We assayed coated-platelet levels in 190 consecutive patients with nonlacunar stroke who were followed for up to 12 months; 20 subjects experienced recurrent stroke. Subjects were categorized into tertiles of coated-platelet levels. The distributions of time-to-recurrent stroke were estimated for each tertile using cumulative incidence curves and compared statistically using a log-rank test. The cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke at 12 months differed among the coated-platelet tertiles: 2% for the first tertile (lowest coated-platelet levels), 18% for the second tertile, and 17% for the third tertile (overall log-rank test, P=0.019). These data suggest that higher levels of coated-platelets, measured shortly after a nonlacunar stroke, are associated with an increased incidence of stroke recurrence. This observation offers an additional tool for identifying patients at highest risk for stroke recurrence following a nonlacunar (large-vessel) infarct.
Relation Between Flow and Temporal Variations of Nitrate and Pesticides in Two Karst Springs in Northern Alabama1

Abstract: Two karst springs in the Mississippian Carbonate Aquifer of northern Alabama were sampled between March 1999 and March 2001 to characterize the variability in concentration of nitrate, pesticides, selected pesticide degradates, water temperature, and inorganic constituents. Water temperature and inorganic ion data for McGeehee Spring indicate that this spring represents a shallow flow system with a relatively short average ground-water residence time. Water issuing from the larger of the two springs, Meridianville Spring, maintained a constant temperature, and inorganic ion data indicate that this water represents a deeper flow system having a longer average ground-water residence time than McGeehee Spring. Although water-quality data indicate differing short-term responses to rainfall at the two springs, the seasonal variation of nitrate and pesticide concentrations generally is similar for the two springs. With the exception of pesticides detected at low concentrations, the coefficient of variation for most constituent concentrations was less than that of flow at both springs, with greater variability in concentration at McGeehee Spring. Degradates of the herbicides atrazine and fluometuron were detected at concentrations comparable to or greater than the parent pesticides. Decreases in concentration of the principal degradate of fluometuron from about July to November indicate that the degradation rate may decrease as fluometuron (demethylfluometuron) moves deeper into the soil after application. Data collected during the study show that from about November to March when recharge rates increase, nitrate and residual pesticides in the soil, unsaturated zone, and storage within the aquifer are transported to the spring discharges. Because of the increase in recharge, fluometuron loads discharged from the springs during the winter were comparable to loads discharged at the springs during the growing season.
Don't let the shoemaker's children go barefoot!

Abstract After teaching for almost fifteen years in the information systems field, several important teaching tips and helpful hints can accumulate over this time. The purpose of this paper is to present and share some useful teaching ideas that might help others improve their teaching techniques and delivery. If we do not constantly evaluate and try innovative teaching methods, we (as educators) may end up as the shoemaker's children going barefoot!
Standardization of Second-Order Chromatographic/Spectroscopic Data for Optimum Chemical Analysis

Chemical analysis using second-order data collected on hyphenated instruments has proven advantages over first-order or zero-order techniques due to what is known as the second-order advantage. The primary second-order advantage is the ability to perform analysis in the presence of unknown interferences. This work demonstrates another key advantage of second-order chemical analysis, that is, the ability to standardize data sets of a second-order chromatographic analyzer under conditions which result in retention time variations along the chromatographic axis. An objective technique to standardize second-order chromatographic−spectral data is both theoretically and experimentally developed and tested. This method corrects for retention time shifts that occur between the analysis of the calibration sample and “unknown” samples. When this technique is combined with bilinear data analysis techniques like generalized rank annihilation method (GRAM), standardization and quantitation can be performed in the pres...
Identification and purification of the Holo-ELL complex. Evidence for the presence of ELL-associated proteins that suppress the transcriptional inhibitory activity of ELL.

The human ELL gene on chromosome 19 undergoes frequent translocation with the trithorax-likeMLL gene on chromosome 11 in acute myeloid leukemia. Recently, it was demonstrated that the product of the humanELL gene encodes an RNA polymerase II elongation factor (Shilatifard, A., Lane, W. S., Jackson, K. W., Conaway, R. C., and Conaway, J. W. (1996) Science 271, 1873–1876). In addition to its elongation regulatory activity, ELL contains a novel type of RNA polymerase II interaction domain that is capable of negatively regulating polymerase activity in promoter-specific transcription in vitro (Shilatifard, A., Haque, D., Conaway, R. C., and Conaway, J. W. (1997)J. Biol. Chem. 272, 22355–22363). Here, we report the identification and purification of a large ELL-containing complex that contains three proteins in addition to ELL and that we have named the Holo-ELL complex. The Holo-ELL complex can increase the catalytic rate of transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II. However, unlike the ELL polypeptide alone, the Holo-ELL complex is not capable of negatively regulating polymerase activity in promoter-specific transcription in vitro. The inability of the Holo-ELL complex to negatively regulate polymerase activity in promoter-specific transcription suggests that one or more of the ELL-associated proteins regulate this activity, possibly through an interaction with the N-terminal domain of the ELL protein, which was shown to be required for the transcriptional inhibitory activity of ELL. Characterization of these ELL interacting proteins should help define the regulation of the biochemical activities of ELL and how loss of this regulation leads to the development of acute myeloid leukemia.
Subpicosecond KrF* excimer-laser source.

A subpicosecond KrF* laser system capable of producing 20 ± 2-mJ pulses has been developed. The means of producing ultrashort seed pulses for the KrF* amplifier system and characteristics of the full system are described. It is shown that efficient subpicosecond energy extraction is possible.
Image Composition via Lookup Table Manipulation

The Image Composition Language provides a convenient way for programmers of interactive graphics application programs to define how the video lookup table of a raster display system is to be loaded. ICL allows one or several images stored in the frame buffer to be combined or modified in a variety of ways. ICL treats these images as variables, and provides arithmetic, relational, and conditional operators to combine the images, scalar variables, and constants in such image composition expressions as old_image*t+new_image*(1.0-t) and ifimager>0.5thenimage ? {0.5,0,0,} else image endif. Use of the Image Composition Language relieves programmers of the tedium usually associated with loading the video lookup table to do simple image composition and modification.
Organic sulphur in coal macerals

Abstract Measurement has been made of the organic sulphur concentration in coal macerals of several bituminous coals. Variation of organic sulphur content among the several maceral types is striking. In three coals, the highest concentration of organic sulphur occurs for those macerals with a density around 1.18 gm cc −1 . This density corresponds to the maceral type sporinite in these coals. This finding has been verified by direct examination of the organic sulphur content of sporinite macerals embedded in whole coal.
Lipocalin 2 Expression and Secretion Is Highly Regulated by Metabolic Stress, Cytokines, and Nutrients in Adipocytes

Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) has been recently characterized as a new adipokine having a role in innate immunity and energy metabolism. Nonetheless, the metabolic regulation of Lcn2 production in adipocytes has not been comprehensively studied. To better understand the Lcn2 biology, we investigated the regulation of Lcn2 expression in adipose tissue in response to metabolic stress in mice as well as the control of Lcn2 expression and secretion by cytokines and nutrients in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results showed that the mRNA expression of Lcn2 was upregulated in white and brown adipose tissues as well as liver during fasting and cold stress in mice. Among pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6, IL-1β showed most profound effect on Lcn2 expression and secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Insulin stimulated Lcn2 expression and secretion in a dose-dependent manner; this insulin effect was significantly abolished in the presence of low concentration of glucose. Moreover, insulin-stimulated Lcn2 expression and secretion was also attenuated when glucose was replaced by 3-O-methyl-d-glucose or by blocking NFκB pathway activation. Additionally, we showed that palmitate and oleate induced Lcn2 expression and secretion more significantly than EPA, while phytanic acid reduced Lcn2 production. Our results demonstrated that Lcn2 production in adipocytes is highly responsive to metabolic stress, cytokines, and nutrient signals, suggesting an important role of Lcn2 in adipocyte metabolism and inflammation.
Chaos and cometary clouds in the solar system

Abstract Chaotic motion of comets in nearly parabolic orbits is predicted. A physical implication of chaotic motion is interpreted as the existence of a cometary cloud surrounding the solar system. The formation of the cometary cloud is due to a strong resonance effect between the period of Jupiter and the motion of the comets. The dynamical structure of the cloud is described.
Theory of nonequilibrium segregation in an FeMnNi ternary alloy and a ductile-brittle-ductile transition

Abstract In an Fe 8Mn 7Ni ternary alloy, age-hardened by coherently formed face-centered tetragonal MnNi intermetallic compounds within the matrix, a modeling based on a regular solution model is performed to formulate the nonequilibrium grain boundary segregation behaviors of the alloying elements, followed by a ductile-brittle-ductile transition [1, 2] in the alloy. An equation is derived representing the segregation kinetics. It is confirmed from the calculations that the segregation behaviors of the elements are directly controlled by the precipitation reaction in the matrix. The nonequilibrium segregation behaviors are characterized by time-temperature diagrams, which show maximum segregation levels of the elements in an intermediate aging time and temperature range. The calculated results explain theoretically and semiquantitatively the relationship between the nonequilibrium segregation of the elements and the ductile-brittle-ductile transition.
Working Knowledge: What Anthropologies of Science and Technology Can Do for an Anthropology of Work

Nuclear Rites:. Weapons Laboratory at the End of the Cold War Hugh Gusterson. Berkeley: University of California Press,1996 Flexible Bodies: Tracking Immunity in American Culture-From the Days of Polio to the Age of AIDS Emily Martin. Boston: Beacon Press,1994 Beamtimes and Lifetimes: The World of High Energy Physicists Sharon Traweek. Cambridge: Harvard University Press,1988
Differential expression of proteins regulating cell cycle progression in growth vs. differentiation.

Abstract The level of various G1 cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) present in the nuclei of synchronized ML-1 human myeloblastic leukemia cells was determined as a function of time after initiation of cell growth with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transferrin (Tf), and following induction of differentiation with transforming growth factor- β 1 (TGF- β 1). Cyclin E and cdk2 were expressed at relatively high levels in the nuclei of proliferation-stimulated cells, whereas cyclin D1 and cdk5 were expressed at comparably high levels in the nuclei of differentiation-induced cells. In the nuclear extracts from proliferation-stimulated cells, cyclin E complexed specifically with cdk2, whereas in nuclear extracts from differentiation-induced cells, cyclin D1 bound specifically to cdk5. Increased cyclin E/cdk2 expression was accompanied by increased DNA synthesis, whereas increased cyclin D1/cdk5 levels correlated with decreased DNA synthesis. In both growth- and differentiation-induced cells, cyclin D2 expression preceded the expression of cyclin D3, and a significantly larger amount of these cyclins was present in differentiation- as compared to proliferation-induced cells. In contrast, cdk4 and cdk6 were present at similar levels in the nuclear extracts from both growth- and differentiation-induced cells. These data show that, in ML-1 cells, the proliferation-associated progression from G1 to S, as well as the differentiation-associated transit from G1 to maturation is accompanied by the expression of specific cyclin/cdk pairs, comprising cdk2/cyclin E in growth and cdk5/cyclin D1 in differentiation.
Efficient Spectrum Searching and Monitoring in Cognitive Radio Network

Two objectives of sensing in cognitive radio (CR) are to detect the primary user (PU) accurately and quickly, which are contradicting objectives. Therefore, many papers try to optimize this tradeoff and find the minimum sensing time which protects the PU. The trends are classified in enhancing false alarm probability (Pf) and detection probability (Pd), optimizing inter-sensing time, in-band sensing (monitoring) time optimization, and out-of-band sensing (search) time optimization. The PU model used in most of these work was a simple two states model (busy/idle renewal process). In this work, we developed a model for the PU in its idle state. The model enables the CR node to benefit from its previous measurements. It assumes that there are multi-idle states, each with specific length and known probability of staying in it. We used this model to find the best sensing time, energy detection threshold, and false alarm probability of the channel being sensed in monitoring. Also, we developed an out-of-band optimization formulation. The formulation finds the best number of channels to sense, the threshold of each channel, the sensing time of each channel, and Pf of each channel such that the PU is protected, the sensing time is minimized, and the CR will find an available channel with very high probability.
In-source fragmentation technique for the production of thermalized ions

Our electrospray ionization-ion funnel-rf hexapole (ESI-IF-6P) source is designed to produce ions for threshold collision-induced dissociation (TCID) studies in a guided ion beam mass spectrometer. This ion source forms an initial distribution of Ca2+(H2O)x ions where x is 6–9. A new in-source fragmentation technique within the hexapole ion guide of the source is described, which is easy to implement and of modest machining and electrical costs, and is able to generate smaller Ca2+(H2O)x complexes, where x=2–5. Fragmentation is achieved by biasing an assembly of six 0.25 in. long electrodes that are inserted between the hexapole rods. The assembly is positioned in the high-pressure region of the source such that newly formed Ca2+(H2O)x ions undergo enough collisions to become thermalized, as verified by TCID studies. From the initial distribution of ions, fragmentation proceeds along the lowest energy pathway, which corresponds to sequential water loss for most complexes. However, the Ca2+(H2O) complex cannot be formed using this method because charge separation into CaOH+ and H3O+ becomes the lowest energy pathway from the Ca2+(H2O)2 complex. Therefore, this fragmentation technique can be used to identify the critical size complex for M2+(H2O)x systems, which we define as the complex size (x) at which charge separation becomes a lower energy pathway compared with simple ligand loss.
A simple nucleation/depletion model for the spherule size of particulate carbon

Abstract One of the interesting aspects of particulate carbon generated during combustion is the limited size range (radii ∼10–100 nm) of the fundamental spheroidal units (spherules) which agglomerate to form characteristic soot clusters. In this communication is described a simple physical model based on classical nucleation theory, invoking depletion of soot precursor species as the mechanism which limits spherule size. Calculations of spherule radius for particulate carbon and other matter are in reasonable agreement with experiment.
Gene transfer of p53 to arthritic joints stimulates synovial apoptosis and inhibits inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects joints. During the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial lining becomes dramatically thickened and hyperplastic. This highly aggressive tissue invades and destroys articular cartilage and bone. Several lines of evidence suggest that the proliferation of the synovial tissue may be due to disruption in the control of the cell cycle or apoptotic pathways. In particular, mutations in the tumor suppressor protein p53 have been found in synovial tissue from RA joints. We have examined the effects of overexpression of p53 by adenoviral infection in synovial cells in culture and in synovial tissue in vivo in a rabbit model of arthritis. Here we demonstrate that p53 overexpression resulted in significant apoptosis in human and rabbit synovial cells in culture. Furthermore, intraarticular injection of Ad-p53 resulted in extensive and rapid induction of synovial apoptosis in the rabbit knee without affecting cartilage metabolism. Interestingly, a significant reduction in the leukocytic infiltrate was observed within 24 h postinfection of Ad.p53. These results suggest that intraarticular gene transfer of p53 is able to induce synovial apoptosis as well as reduce inflammation and thus may be useful clinically for the treatment of RA.
Transcription of chromatin by an RNA polymerase of calf thymus which is sensitive to high concentrations of α-amanitin

Abstract RNA polymerase which is sensitive to high concentrations of α-amanitin has been obtained by low-salt extraction of whole calf thymus tissue. Some characteristics of this Form III-type polymerase have been compared with Form II. Both enzymes require a higher concentration of purine nucleoside triphosphates compared to pyrimidine nucleoside triphosphates. The Form III-type polymerase is larger than Form II. It transcribes native DNA better than denatured DNA and transcribes chromatin efficiently. Under various salt and metal conditions Form II transcribes native DNA and chromatin poorly relative to denatured DNA. These results suggest that Form III RNA polymerase is a useful enzyme with which to study the transcription of chromatin in vitro and may possess some factor (which Form II lacks) which is necessary for transcription of double-stranded templates.
The Spontaneous Refolding of Opacity-Associated Proteins into Lipid Membranes

The spontaneous folding of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) into lipid vesicles provides a means to study the determinants, kinetics, and thermodynamics of membrane protein folding in manipulatable systems modeling the native lipid environment. This information increases our ability to understand and utilize membrane proteins, but it remains sparse, with direct lipid refolding reported for fewer than a dozen unique OMPs. We present the spontaneous refolding of recombinant Opa proteins into lipid vesicles, with a systematic investigation of the impact protein and lipid bilayer variables have on the folding. Opa proteins are eight-stranded β-barreled monomeric integral outer membrane proteins found in the bacterial pathogens N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitides. There are at least 26 characterized Opa proteins, nearly identical in sequence, but varying in three extracellular loops. In vivo, these proteins interact with specific human host cell receptors to breach the plasma membrane and gain entry to targeted human cells. The basis for host-receptor specificity is not well understood but is determined by the variable extracellular loops. These loops also play a role in folding. The β-sheets of Opa variants OpaI and OpaA are nearly identical in sequence, but OpaI refolds in DMPC vesicles while OpaA does not. These variants therefore provide a natural system to probe protein folding determinants. The effects of lipid composition (in particular both head group and chain length), buffer pH, ionic strength, and temperature on refolding have been characterized for these Opa variants. Ultimately, reconstitution into lipid bilayers required the matching of hydrophobic thicknesses as well as optimization of parameters mediating electrostatic interactions between the protein and lipids used. The reconstituted systems provide a new model in the study of membrane protein folding, with an exploration of refolding parameters that may be applicable to additional OMP-lipid systems.
Dynamic model comparing the bionomics of two isolated Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) populations: sensitivity analysis

A simulation model described (Eisenberg et al. 1994a) was used to compare the population dynamics of Culex tarsalis Coquillett in the Coachella and southern portion of the San Joaquin Valleys of California. Model outputs were classified as a pass if they met criteria that defined typical seasonal abundance patterns established by CO2 and New Jersey light trap data. The sensitivity of this classification to the model parameters was assessed by running multiple simulations for each valley site. Parameter sets associated with a pass were first analyzed separately for each valley and then compared. The two study sites were distinguished by the distributional characteristics of two parameters associated with temperature dependency. One of these parameters described the temperature dependence of larval mortality and the other the temperature dependence of adult egg development. We hypothesize that these isolated Cx. tarsalis populations evolved separately to maximize survival in their respective temperature regimes by adapting to different optimal larval survival temperatures and egg-development rates.
Minimizing information overload: the ranking of electronic messages

The decision to examine a message at a particular point in time should be made rationally and economically if the mes sage recipient is to operate efficiently. Electronic message distribution systems, electronic bulletin board systems, and telephone systems capable of leaving digitized voice messages can contribute to "information overload", defined as the eco nomic loss associated with the examination of a number of non- or less-relevant messages. Our model provides a formal method for minimizing expected information overload.The proposed adaptive model predicts the usefulness of a message based on the available message features and may be useful to rank messages by expected importance or economic worth. The assumptions of binary and two Poisson indepen dent probabilistic distributions of message feature frequencies are examined, and methods of incorporating these distributions into the ranking model are examined. Ways to incorporate user supplied relevance feedback are suggested. Analytic perfor mance m...
Detecting dentinal sclerosis in decalcified sections with the Pollak trichrome connective tissue stain

The supply of young human teeth for controlled human pulp studies is inadequate. Dentinal sclerosis in older teeth modifies the expected pulpal responses. Decalcification, necessary to interpret pulpal responses, destroys the primary evidence of sclerosis. At present we are unable to detect the degree of sclerosis and the pulp response in the same preparation. Valid interpretations on older teeth cannot be accomplished until this problem is resolved. Fifty-seven teeth, normal and carious, representing a wide age span were fixed, embedded in Bioplastic and sectioned with the Bronwill Model No. 77 through the middle of the M-D plane on the labio-lingual plane to obtain an undecalcified ground section for examination with reflected and transmitted light and Faxitron 805 microradiography. The remaining portions of the tooth were decalcified, processed in paraffin and subjected to a variety of histochemical reactions including the Pollak trichrome stain. The Pollak trichrome and the Pollak trichrome solution No. 6 modification stains provided the greatest correlations with the sclerotic areas in the radiographs of the ground sections. Areas of dentin indicative of sclerosis prior to decalcification stained orange-red with the Pollak trichrome stain and deep orange with the Pollak trichrome solution No. 6 modification.
Extrusion of Polyethylene Single Crystals

The solid (crystalline)-state extrusion of unoriented single-crystal aggregates and oriented single-crystal mats of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has been studied. Irrespective of the initial state of aggregation, uniform, transparent, highly oriented and high modulus fibers and films were produced. Single crystal aggregates extruded at a rate faster than melt-crystallized spherulitic morphology. Surface cracks were observed but shear fracture seldom occurred on single-crystal extrudates. The maximum attainable extrusion draw ratio (EDR) and hence the modulus was higher for the extrusion of single crystals than for spherulitic samples. Thus, the initial morphology had a marked effect on the extrusion of HDPE but no appreciable effect on the properties (birefringence, modulus, and transparency) of the resultant extrudates measured as a function of EDR. These results clearly show that intercrystalline networks and entanglements of the original sample have a remarkable effect on extrusion but are not important in achieving efficient draw as evaluated by the properties as a function of EDR. Moreover, the results indicate that interfacial friction-adhesion between crystalline lamellae is the primary deformation mechanism.
Photo-fries rearrangement of fluorene-based polyarylates

The fluorene-based polyarylates, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene isophthalate (BPF-I), 9,9-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene isophthalate (BDMPF-I), are synthesized. The formation of the o-hydroxybenzophenone moiety upon UV irradiation of BPF-I and BCF-I is observed in the UV and IR spectra. The degradation of the polymer structure of BDMPF-I is due to its inability to rearrange into the hydroxybenzophenone structure which functions as an internal UV stabilizer. A mechanism for this degradation is postulated based on the evidence from the IR spectra.
A device for applying plastic film antireflection coatings to optical elements

To simplify the process of thermally bonding thin plastic films to optical elements and to help eliminate the source of the flaws, a film-application device (FAD) is developed. Any plastic film may be used to make the coatings, but thin polyethylene is particularly useful for this application since it is readily available. If more than one layer of polyethylene is required, several layers may be applied, one layer at a time. The coatings may be used for protecting optical elements or to reduce surface reflection of radiation with wavelengths greater than 20 microns. When the FAD is used without the central plate it may be used to stretch single sheets of plastic material to make pellicles or beam-splitters for many applications.
Fabric-Selective Diagenesis in the Late Pleistocene Miami Limestone

ABSTRACT The Miami Limestone is a late Pleistocene ooid sand body which has undergone 130,000 years of meteoric diagenesis. The resultant limestone has a generally high, but variable (15-60%) porosity which is indirectly related to the amount of primary aragonite remaining in the limestone (0-45%). The predominant textural theme in porosity development is the role of the primary sediment fabric, which controls early cementation and porosity development on the scale of individual grains and sedimentary structures and is still influential during late development of channel and cavernous porosity. The porosity development within the Miami Limestone reflects a change from an early system wherein fabric-selective diagenesis occurred primarily as a function of the ability of the sediment to retain pore water to a system wherein the cemented sediments channelize water flow and effectively isolate portions of metastable (aragonitic) limestone from meteoric waters.
Camelot's Nuclear Conscience

Never-before published transcripts of a secret White House meeting reveal President John F. Kennedy struggling with the grim realities of the nuclear age.
Proton magnetization transfer of metabolites in human brain

Off-resonance or pulsed on-resonance saturation pulses were used together with localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in three brain regions of 20 healthy individuals. Statistically significant signal attenuations were observed for creatine-containing metabolites in posterior-parietal brain (12%), basal ganglia (18%), and cerebellum (15%). N-acetyl- and choline-containing metabolites were not significantly attenuated upon application of saturation pulses in either brain region. The findings are interpreted to reflect possible magnetization transfer between pools of creatine-containing metabolites with different molecular mobility. Magn Reson Med 42:417-420, 1999.
Folding, stowage, and deployment of viscoelastic tape springs

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of the folding, stowage, and deployment behavior of viscoelastic tape springs. Experiments show that during folding the relationship between load and displacement is nonlinear and varies with rate and temperature. In particular, the limit and propagation loads increase with the folding rate but decrease with temperature. During stowage, relaxation behavior leads to a reduction in internal forces that significantly impacts the subsequent deployment dynamics. The deployment behavior starts with a short, dynamic transient that is followed by a steady deployment and ends with a slow creep recovery. Unlike elastic tape springs, localized folds in viscoelastic tape springs do not move during deployment. Finite-element simulations based on a linear viscoelastic constitutive model with an experimentally determined relaxation modulus are shown to accurately reproduce the experimentally observed behavior, and to capture the effects of geometric nonlinearity, time and temperature dependence.
Achievement Levels, Outcomes, and Orientations of Black Students in Single- and Two-Parent Families.

The authors surveyed academically diverse (gifted, potentially gifted, and average) Black students (n = 140) in single-parent (mother only) and two-parent families regarding their perceptions of th...
Statistical analysis of the effect the initial order of an array has on the performance of a sorting algorithm

We consider, in this paper, various algorithms which are known to sort an array in O(n2) or O(n log n) time. Since the analysis of an algorithm may indicate its average performance, it is desirable to identify conditions which would indicate that a certain algorithm should be used even though its performance characteristics are worse, on average, than those of other algorithms. This paper investigates the effect that the initial order of an array has on the performance characteristics of algorithms used to sort the array.
The relationship of self-actualization to social support, life stress, and adjustment

The previously unexplored relationship of self-actualization to life stress and perceived social support from family and from friends was investigated. Measures of all variables were administered to 54 female and 52 male adult undergraduate students (age range of 18-81 years). The relationship of each variable to psychological adjustment (depression) also was assessed. As predicted, correlational results revealed self-actualization to be related positively to perceived social support and inversely to depression and life stress. Social support was inversely related to depression, and life stress was related positively to depression. Significant sex differences discovered in the relationship of self-actualization to perceived social support are discussed in terms of possible sex differences in the developmental process of self-actualization.
Effects of thermalization on Q-switched laser properties

The conventional rate equations for a Q-switched laser are augmented to explicitly include the effects of time- and level-dependent pumping, thermalization among the sublevels in the upper and lower multiplets, and multiplet relaxation in a homogeneously broadened four-level laser medium. To make the numerical computations more generally valid, we introduce a number of dimensionless variables. We show that the initial set of five coupled differential equations can be reduced to a simple set of two coupled equations for the inversion density and photon flux. Via numerical modeling, we have investigated the manner in which both thermalization and lower multiplet relaxation affect Nd:YAG laser characteristics such as output energy and temporal waveform. Our numerical results confirm earlier predictions that the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser output energy increases monotonically by a factor of 3.33 as one progresses from the assumption of slow to rapid thermalization and by an additional factor of 1.46 if one further assumes a terminal multiplet relaxation which is fast relative to the resonator photon decay time. We also find that the laser pulsewidth is substantially broadened when the resonator photon decay time is comparable to the thermalization, and to a lesser extent, the terminal multiplet relaxation times.
Jak2 Dampens the Induction by IL-1β of Prostaglandin Endoperoxide H Synthase 2 Expression in Human Orbital Fibroblasts: Evidence for Divergent Influence on the Prostaglandin E2 Biosynthetic Pathway

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase 2 (PGHS-2) catalyzes the rate-limiting steps in the synthesis of PGE(2). It is substantially but transiently induced in human orbital fibroblasts treated with IL-1beta. In this study, we report that the induction of PGHS-2 by IL-1beta is dramatically enhanced and prolonged when Jak2 signaling is abrogated, either with the specific inhibitor AG490 or by transiently transfecting fibroblasts with a dominant negative mutant Jak2. Attenuating Jak2 increases PGHS-2 steady-state mRNA levels, a consequence of increased gene transcription and mRNA survival in IL-1beta-treated cultures. Surprisingly, interrupting Jak2 function also blocked the expected increase in PGE(2) synthesis usually provoked by IL-1beta. This resulted from the rapid loss of IL-1beta-dependent arachidonate release and by attenuation of group IIA secreted PLA(2) (sPLA(2)) gene induction. Supplying Jak2-compromised cultures with exogenous arachidonate failed to increase PGE(2) production in response to IL-1beta until cells were mechanically disrupted. However, transiently transfecting them with wild-type sPLA(2) fully restored prostanoid production to anticipated levels. sPLA(2) expression following transfection resulted in increased IL-1beta-dependent PGHS-2 and microsomal PGE(2) synthase levels. Thus, sPLA(2) plays important roles in PGE(2) synthesis in addition to its release of arachidonate. Our findings suggest that Jak2 ordinarily dampens and limits the duration of the PGHS-2 induction by IL-1beta. Moreover, it is required for IL-1beta-dependent signaling to sPLA(2), the expression and activity of which are necessary for up-regulating PGE(2) synthesis in orbital fibroblasts.
Motion planning of human-like robots using constrained coordination

We present a whole-body motion planning algorithm for human-like robots. The planning problem is decomposed into a sequence of low-dimensional sub-problems. Our formulation is based on the fact that a human-like model is a tightly coupled system and we use a constrained coordination scheme to solve the sub-problems in an incremental manner. We also present a local path refinement algorithm to compute collision-free paths in tight spaces and satisfy the statically stable constraint on CoM. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithm on an articulated human-like model and generate efficient motion strategies in complex CAD models.
Ferredoxin and Formyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase: Comparative Studies with Clostridium acidiurici, Clostridium cylindrosporum, and Newly Isolated Anaerobic Uric Acid-Fermenting Strains

Six strains of Clostridium acidiurici and three strains of C. cylindrosporum were isolated from soil samples by enrichment culture with uric acid as the source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. The newly isolated strains were characterized by their spore morphology and the amounts of glycine and formate formed by the fermentation of uric acid. The strains were easily identified as belonging to one species or the other on the basis of spore morphology and formate production. The crystal properties and spectra of the native ferredoxins of all the strains isolated and the amino acid composition and partial carboxy-terminal sequence of all their apoferredoxins were determined. All the ferredoxins were tested for cross-reactivity with antiserum to C. acidiurici ferredoxin by microcomplement fixation. Five of the six C. acidiurici strains, which had ferredoxins with amino acid compositions identical to that from C. acidiurici, also showed immunological identity (immunological distance = 0.0). These results suggest sequence identity. The one strain with a different amino acid composition failed to show complete cross-reactivity. Two of the three C. cylindrosporum strains have ferredoxin amino acid compositions identical to that from C. cylindrosporum. The third strain had a minimum of five differences in sequence. All C. cylindrosporum strains had ferredoxins that differed considerably from C. acidiurici strains (minimum of eight to nine differences), and none of these ferredoxins cross-reacted with antisera to C. acidiurici ferredoxin. Antisera were prepared to formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase from C. acidiurici and C. cylindrosporum, and all possible comparisons were made by using immunodiffusion and microcomplement fixation. There is more intraspecies variation in the synthetases than in the ferredoxins; however, the results suggest considerable interspecies differences in both proteins. These results suggest a low degree of genomic relatedness between the two species, which contrasts sharply with their apparent high degree of phenotypic similarity.
Ultrafast pulse characterization by cross-phase modulation in silicon waveguide

Based on the high nonlinearity of silicon waveguides, a compact frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) system has been demonstrated using cross-phase modulation for ultrafast pulse characterization. Amplitude and phase of a 700 fs pulse have been measured.
Sexual Dimorphism of Prairie Dogs

Abstract Body mass is sexually dimorphic and varies seasonally for all 5 species of prairie dogs (Sciuridae: Cynomys), as shown by data from live individuals over a period of 28 years (1974–2001; n = 16,447 body masses). Sexual dimorphism (i.e., body mass of males as percentage of body mass of females) during the breeding season is 105% for black-tailed prairie dogs, 127% for Utah prairie dogs, 131% for Gunnison's prairie dogs, and 136% for white-tailed prairie dogs. Sexual dimorphism is minimal at the end of the breeding season, when exhausted males are thin and early-breeding females are heavy with pregnancy. Sexual dimorphism is maximal at weaning, when rested, well-fed males are heavy and females are emaciated from lactation. The most likely ultimate causation for sexual dimorphism among prairie dogs is sexual selection.
A Computationally Efficient Algorithm for Training Recurrent Connectionist Networks

The primary goal of this paper is to investigate the training of recurrent networks for control and signal processing applications. This paper first a characterizes a class of network architectures that are well suited for the incremental learning of nonlinear multivariable dynamic mappings, and then presents a general, computationally efficient algorithm for training this class of recurrent networks. The learning algorithm is a local modification of the Extended Kalman Filter that views the network as a parametric model of a nonlinear dynamic system. Computational efficiency of the learning scheme is achieved by exploiting local properties of the network architectures. The ability of this algorithm to train recurrent networks successfully is demonstrated by way of two examples.
Assessment of medicare part d communications to beneficiaries.

In theUnited States, healthcare consumers are expect-ed to read and act on communications from varioussources, including federal and state governments, theSocial Security Administration, private insuranceplans, managed care organizations, and voluntaryhealth agencies. Written materials are not the onlymeans of acquiring health information, but they are themost widely used tool for disseminating crucial infor-mation. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the qual-ity of such communications for accuracy and to reduceredundancy and errors.According to a 1992 national survey, most Americanelderly beneficiaries read at the 5th-grade level.
Determine two-port S-parameters from one-port measurements using calibration substrate standards

A technique for determining two port S-parameters from one port measurements using calibration substrate standards is described in this paper. Closed form formulas are derived to facilitate conversion from one port reflection measurements to two-port S-parameters. Comparisons are made to previously reported techniques. It is observed that the two-port S-parameters generated using SOL method is free of artificial ripples typically observed in two port S-parameters generated by the SO and the cascade methods.
A comparison of suggested dreams occurring in hypnosis and sleep.

Abstract A number of investigators have concluded that dreams occurring in the hypnotic state and dreams occurring in natural sleep are essentially the same phenomenon. The purpose of the present study was to carry out an objective comparison of the extent to which dreams in the 2 states were affected by (post) hypnotic suggestions to dream about a specified topic, in order to partially test the validity of the above conclusion.
Asymmetric Memory Fences: Optimizing Both Performance and Implementability

There have been several recent efforts to improve the performance of fences. The most aggressive designs allow post-fence accesses to retire and complete before the fence completes. Unfortunately, such designs present implementation difficulties due to their reliance on global state and structures. This paper's goal is to optimize both the performance and the implementability of fences. We start-off with a design like the most aggressive ones but without the global state. We call it Weak Fence or wF. Since the concurrent execution of multiple wFs can deadlock, we combine wFs with a conventional fence (i.e., Strong Fence or sF) for the less performance-critical thread(s). We call the result an Asymmetric fence group. We also propose a taxonomy of Asymmetric fence groups under TSO. Compared to past aggressive fences, Asymmetric fence groups both are substantially easier to implement and have higher average performance. The two main designs presented (WS+ and W+) speed-up workloads under TSO by an average of 13% and 21%, respectively, over conventional fences.
Microbiological Quality of Frozen Fried Chicken Products Obtained From A Retail Store

Abstract Two brands of frozen fried chicken products were purchased monthly from a local supermarket for six months. Microbiological qualities of these samples were studied. The log number of mesophilic counts ranged from 2.90/g. to 4.78/g.; log psychrophilic counts varied from 2.74/g. to 4.66/g.; and log Staphylococcus-110 medium counts ranged from 2.84/g. to 4.54/g. Mean log microbial counts were higher in brand A samples than in brand B samples. No yeast or mold was detected and all samples were Salmonella negative. Most samples were negative in coliform test, except five samples had coliform MPN ranging from 0.5/g. to 0.8/g. A total of 144 isolates of psychrophiles from 12 samples was tentatively identified to be members of Staphylococcus species. About 82.2% of the isolates belong to the Subgroup VI Staphylococcus according to Baird-Parker's classification. Another 17.8% of the isolates resembled Subgroup VI Staphylococcus except in phosphatase test.
FACTORS INFLUENCING ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. VI. A SURVEY OF AIRCRAFT WORKERS

Summary This is the sixth in a series of validation studies designed to provide some information concerning the variables related to organizational effectiveness (1, 2, 3, 5, 6).2 Questionnaires composed of groups of relatively homogeneous objective items were given to 213 workers, 244 supervisors, and 29 foremen at the California Division of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, California. The homogeneous item groups, or dimensions, were designed to measure different characteristics of the organization and its personnel, e.g., supervisory practices, and attitudes toward each other, the work, and the company. The personnel surveyed were located in 29 distinct departments, each headed by a foreman. Criterion data relating to organizational effectiveness were obtained for each of the 29 departments. These data consisted of two quality control measures, production measures based on standard hours, and ratings by one of the company's staff executives. Responses to the questionnaires in the form of dimension scores were correlated with these four criteria. The present report is concerned with the analysis of questionnaires at the worker level. The other phases of this research will be reported at a later date. The results from the worker questionnaire may be summarized as follows: 1. Ail correlations between questionnaire dimensions and the rating criterion were zero. 2. Many substantial correlations were obtained between questionnaire dimensions and quality control measures, but the relationships were usually curvilinear or negative and hence difficult to interpret. 3. The production criterion correlated in the expected manner with dimensions Communication Downward, Good Judgment, Lack of Arbitrariness and Safety Enforcement. Several other dimensions gave correlations of interest, though short of significance.