cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An interactive visual testbed system for dimension reduction and clustering of large-scale high-dimensional data

Many of the modern data sets such as text and image data can be represented in high-dimensional vector spaces and have benefited from computational methods that utilize advanced computational methods. Visual analytics approaches have contributed greatly to data understanding and analysis due to their capability of leveraging humans’ ability for quick visual perception. However, visual analytics targeting large-scale data such as text and image data has been challenging due to the limited screen space in terms of both the numbers of data points and features to represent. Among various computational methods supporting visual analytics, dimension reduction and clustering have played essential roles by reducing these numbers in an intelligent way to visually manageable sizes. Given numerous dimension reduction and clustering methods available, however, the decision on the choice of algorithms and their parameters becomes difficult. In this paper, we present an interactive visual testbed system for dimension reduction and clustering in a large-scale high-dimensional data analysis. The testbed system enables users to apply various dimension reduction and clustering methods with different settings, visually compare the results from different algorithmic methods to obtain rich knowledge for the data and tasks at hand, and eventually choose the most appropriate path for a collection of algorithms and parameters. Using various data sets such as documents, images, and others that are already encoded in vectors, we demonstrate how the testbed system can support these tasks.
Improving the electric field uniformity in large hybrid focal plane detectors

Abstract The characteristics of a large volume hybrid counter consisting of an ionization chamber with a multi-element anode are described. Modifications to the cathode structure have been made in order to reduce the edge effects due to non-uniformities in the electric field distribution arising from the increased cathode-anode separation. Typical measurements obtained with this detector are presented and indicate that the values of the ΔE and E resolutions are similar to those for smaller volume counters.
Effects of concurrent physical and mental demands for a short duration static task

Abstract The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of concurrent physical and mental demands on the upper extremity muscle activity during static exertions. Seventeen healthy participants performed isometric upper extremity exertions at five levels of physical intensity (5%, 25%, 45%, 65%, and 85% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)) in the presence and absence of a mental task (Stroop color word test). Muscular responses were quantified using surface electromyography (EMG) and motor performance was measured through force fluctuations. Subjective assessments were obtained through the NASA-TLX tool and the Borg CR-10 Scale. In general, a decrease in mean anterior and posterior deltoid muscle activity and co-contraction index (CCI) of the shoulder was observed in the presence of the mental task. However, these changes were more prominent at higher physical exertion levels compared to the lower levels. Furthermore, the additional mental task resulted in decreased upper and lower arm muscle activity, specifically at the 45% MVC level. Motor performance improved at the middle exertion levels, but was adversely affected by the mental task at higher exertion levels. Decreased motor performance at higher loads may have been a result of decreased muscular effort to maintain the loads in a steady posture. Both mental and physical demand adversely affected the NASA-TLX ratings, however, ratings using the Borg CR-10 Scale were only sensitive to changes in physical demand. Relevance to industry Workplace tasks, such as jobs performed by healthcare workers, assembly line workers, and computer operators, have become more multidimensional in the recent years; with workers experiencing combined physical and mental demands in their daily jobs, yet their effect on muscular responses is not clearly understood. Results from this study suggest that certain physical exertion levels are more susceptible to interference by mental demands than others.
POLICY ARENA: The World Bank and social capital: contesting the concept in practice

World Bank loans influence the environment for social capital formation. They may have positive or negative effects. This paper reviews experience in rural Mexico, concluding that in many cases the Bank appears to be contributing to the dismantling of social capital rather than to its construction. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ribosyl Geometry in the Transition State of Streptococcus pneumoniae Methylthioadenosine Nucleosidase from the 3'-2H Kinetic Isotope Effect

Synthesis of [3′-2H]-labeled 5′-methylthioadenosine (MTA) derivatives permitted measurement of the [3′-2H] KIE of the reaction catalyzed by Streptococcus pneumoniae methylthioadenosine nucleosidase (spMTAN). The key [3′-2H] KIE revealed the partial 3′-OH polarization and H3′-endo→exo ribosyl configuration at the spMTAN transition state. A new understanding of the transition state stabilization of spMTAN-catalyzed hydrolysis is uncovered in structural features at the spMTAN transition state.
Generation of macrophage chemotactic activity in situ in Listeria-immune rats.

Abstract Macrophage chemotactic activity (MCA) is generated in situ in peritoneal inflammatory exudates induced by antigens of the intracellular parasite, Listeria monocytogenes. Chemotactic and chemokinetic activity is formed locally in response to an immunologically specific signal. In rats that have been immunized adoptively with thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) from specifically immunized donors, the production of MCA depends upon stimulation by LMA of exudate-seeking S-phase lymphocytes of their progeny. The sequential appearance, increase, and subsequent decline of MCA in the peritoneal cavity parallels the influx of lymphocytes and precedes maximal recruitment of labeled monocytes from the blood. The MCA response in peritoneal exudates induced in adoptively immunized rats correlates with the level of macrophage accumulation in the peritoneal cavity and at sites of LMA injection in the pinna of the ear. The results suggest that MCA is released locally by antigen-activated lymphocytes and imply that the factor(s) concerned has a purposeful role in the host's defense by promoting the rapid deployment and/or retention of monocyte-derived macrophages in centers of infection.
Degenerate gravitational fields with twisting rays.—II

Einstein equations for empty space applied to degenerate gravitational fields with twisting rays, admitting shear-free twisting congruence of null geodesics
EnGarde: protecting the mobile phone from malicious NFC interactions

Near Field Communication (NFC) on mobile phones presents new opportunities and threats. While NFC is radically changing how we pay for merchandise, it opens a pandora's box of ways in which it may be misused by unscrupulous individuals. This could include malicious NFC tags that seek to compromise a mobile phone, malicious readers that try to generate fake mobile payment transactions or steal valuable financial information, and others. In this work, we look at how to protect mobile phones from these threats while not being vulnerable to them. We design a small form-factor "patch", EnGarde, that can be stuck on the back of a phone to provide the capability to jam malicious interactions. EnGarde is entirely passive and harvests power through the same NFC source that it guards, which makes our hardware design minimalist, and facilitates eventual integration with a phone. We tackle key technical challenges in this design including operating across a range of NFC protocols, jamming at extremely low power, harvesting sufficient power for perpetual operation while having minimal impact on the phone's battery, designing an intelligent jammer that blocks only when specific blacklisted behavior is detected, and importantly, the ability to do all this without compromising user experience when the phone interacts with a legitimate external NFC device.
Hybrid vector designs to control the delivery, fate and expression of transgenes.

One of the greatest challenges to gene therapy is the targetting of gene delivery selectively to the sites of disease and regulation of transgene expression without adverse effects. Ultimately, the successful realization of these goals is dependent upon improvements in vector design. Over the years, viral vector design has progressed from various types of replication-defective viral mutants to replication-conditioned viruses and, more recently, to ‘gutted’ and hybrid vectors, which have, respectively, eliminated expression of non-relevant or toxic viral genes and incorporated desired elements of different viruses so as to increase the efficacy of gene delivery in vivo. This review will focus on the different viral and cellular elements which have been incorporated into virus vectors to: improve transduction efficiencies; alter the entry specificity of virions; control the fate of transgenes in the host cells; and regulate transgene expression. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High-temperature mechanical behavior/microstructure correlation of Cu/Nb nanoscale multilayers

Abstract Freestanding Cu/Nb multilayers with 60 nm layer thickness were tested in tension at temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 700 °C at strain rates on the order of 1 × 10−4 s−1. At room temperature, the composite exhibited high strength (1.2 GPa) and 5% plastic strain to failure, while at the upper temperature regions tested (700 °C); the composite underwent elongation to 0.3 true strain at a flow stress of 200 MPa. At all temperatures tested, tensile strength of the composite exceeded the rule-of-mixtures estimate by up to an order of magnitude. Additionally, post-mortem cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy analysis of samples taken from both the deformed gage and undeformed shoulder regions show retention of the initial layered morphology. Strengthening mechanisms are discussed in terms of the confined layer slip model, with the trend of decreased strength and increased ductility with increasing temperature attributed to enhanced cross slip and climb of dislocations across interlayer boundaries.
On the specificity of positive emotional dysfunction in psychopathology: Evidence from the mood and anxiety disorders and schizophrenia/schizotypy

We review recent research to establish that the associations between positive emotional experience and major forms of psychopathology show considerable specificity. Although indicators of low positive affect are consistently related to both social anxiety/social phobia and schizophrenia/schizotypy, they are more strongly linked to depression, thereby displaying relative specificity. Moreover, low positive affect actually shows greater specificity than the diagnostic criteria for depression and is most strongly related to those symptoms (anhedonia, dysphoria, lassitude, suicidality) that are specific to the disorder. With regard to social phobia, findings suggest that low positive affect is more strongly related to the generalized subtype than to the non-generalized performance subtype. Analyses of schizophrenia/schizotypy indicate that although low positive affect is consistently associated with the negative symptoms (e.g., constricted affect, social aloofness), it is only weakly related to positive symptoms (e.g., magical thinking, perceptual aberrations, suspiciousness). Other data suggest that schizophrenia is associated with an anticipatory pleasure deficit, such that individuals with the disorder engage in rewarding activities less frequently because they do not expect to derive pleasure from them. Finally, we summarize evidence indicating that elevated positive affect is both a risk factor for bipolar disorder and a concomitant of manic symptoms.
SimBA: simulation algorithm to fit extant-population distributions

Simulation of populations with specified characteristics such as allele frequencies, linkage disequilibrium etc., is an integral component of many studies, including in-silico breeding optimization. Since the accuracy and sensitivity of population simulation is critical to the quality of the output of the applications that use them, accurate algorithms are required to provide a strong foundation to the methods in these studies. In this paper we present SimBA (Simulation using Best-fit Algorithm) a non-generative approach, based on a combination of stochastic techniques and discrete methods. We optimize a hill climbing algorithm and extend the framework to include multiple subpopulation structures. Additionally, we show that SimBA is very sensitive to the input specifications, i.e., very similar but distinct input characteristics result in distinct outputs with high fidelity to the specified distributions. This property of the simulation is not explicitly modeled or studied by previous methods. We show that SimBA outperforms the existing population simulation methods, both in terms of accuracy as well as time-efficiency. Not only does it construct populations that meet the input specifications more stringently than other published methods, SimBA is also easy to use. It does not require explicit parameter adaptations or calibrations. Also, it can work with input specified as distributions, without an exemplar matrix or population as required by some methods. SimBA is available at http://researcher.ibm.com/project/5669 .
Stimulation of human cellular thymidine kinase activity during abortive infection with herpes simplex virus type 2.

Abstract Thymidine kinase (TK) activity from human embryo fibroblasts abortively infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) at 42° was analyzed by discontinuous polyarcylamide gel electrophoresis and serum neutralization. During the initial 24-hr infection a virus specific TK was synthesized. In contrast, HSV-2 stimulated TK of cellular “cytosol” origin between 48 and 72 hr after infection.
Factors influencing the adoption of web-based shopping: the impact of trust

Business-to-consumer electronic commerce (e-commerce), one form of which is Web-based shopping, is defined as electronic-based economic transactions conducted between individual consumers and organizations. While this form of e-commerce is forecast to grow rapidly for the foreseeable future, it still represents only a small fraction of total consumer spending. To better take advantage of and be prepared for this economic phenomenon, organizations need to identify and understand factors that may impact consumers' decisions to engage in Web-based e-commerce. Recently, the importance of trust has been discussed in both the academic and practitioner press. The impact of trust on the use of e-commerce has been established empirically. The research reported here builds on those findings by establishing that not only is trust in Web merchants significantly related to purchase intentions via the Web, but this significance holds even when other, more traditional perceptions are considered. A survey of consumers was conducted and results indicate that trust in Web merchants is positively related to intentions to make purchases from Web merchants, even when the impact of other perceived innovation characteristics are considered. The research also contributes to the literature on technology adoption by verifying the impact of perceived innovation characteristics on adoption intentions.
High-efficiency transduction of freshly isolated human tumor cells using adenoviral interleukin-2 vectors

ABSTRACT Tumor cells genetically modified to express immunostimulatory molecules can produce high levels of antitumor immunity in rodent models. Although a number of clinical trials are currently in progress to assess the value of the approach in human disease, almost all require ex vivo transduction of cultured tumor cells with retroviral vectors. This process is not feasible for many human malignancies, hampering clinical evaluation of the approach. We have used an E1a, 1b/E3 deletion mutant of adenovirus containing either the lacZ or the human interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene to transduce human neuroblastoma cells. This vector transduces fresh neuroblastoma cells and neuroblastoma cell lines with an efficiency of 80–90%, compared to an efficiency of 0–14% obtained with retroviral vectors. Cells transduced with the IL-2 adenovector produce up to 12,000 pg of IL-2/106 cells/24 hr. IL-2 adenovector-transduced neuroblasts are immunostimulatory; when they are cultured with patient lymphocytes, they increase the pr...
Special perturbations employing osculating reference states

The concept of employing osculating reference position and velocity vectors in the numerical integration of the equations of motion of a satellite is examined. The choice of the reference point is shown to have a significant effect upon numerical efficiency and the class of trajectories described by the differential equations of motion. For example, when the position and velocity vectors on the osculating orbit at a fixed reference time are chosen, a universal formulation is yielded. For elliptical orbits, however, this formulation is unattractive for numerical integration purposes due to Poisson terms (mixed secular) appearing in the equations of motion. Other choices for the reference point eliminate this problem but usually at the expense of universality. A number of these formulations, including a universal one, are considered here. Comparisons of the numerical characteristics of these techniques with those of the Encke method are presented.
Integrating Rural Livelihoods and Community Interaction into Migration and Environment Research: A Conceptual Framework of Rural Out-Migration and Environment in Developing Countries

This article presents a conceptual framework linking perspectives from migration and environment with rural livelihoods and interactional community research in the context of rural out-migration and environmental changes in developing countries. Household livelihoods and community interaction comprise two core mediating factors between rural out-migration and rural environmental outcomes. Developing an interdisciplinary conceptual framework is an important way to advance migration and environment research that is built on knowledge from a variety of disciplines. By building linkages across different research fields, our conceptual framework provides an overall picture of the relevant mechanisms through which out-migration affects the rural environment. The framework has implications for theory, methodology, and rural environment and development policy.
Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Strategy for Delineation of Contact Sites in Protein Complexes

We use NMR spectra to determine protein-protein contact sites by observing differences in amide proton hydrogen-deuterium exchange in the complex compared to the free protein in solution. Aprotic organic solvents are used to preserve H/D labeling patterns that would be scrambled in water solutions. The binding site between the mammalian cochaperone Aha1 with the middle domain of the chaperone Hsp90 obtained by our H/D exchange method corresponds well with that in the X-ray crystal structure of the homologous complex from yeast, even to the observation of a secondary binding site. This method can potentially provide data for complexes with unknown structure and for large or dynamic complexes inaccessible via NMR and X-ray methods.
Smoking bans in the home and car: Do those who really need them have them?

Background. This paper addresses the question of whether individuals who are most in need of household and car smoking bans, such as individuals with children living at home or who have many friends who smoke, are the ones who have them. Method. A representative sample of 6985 California adults ages 18 and older participated in telephone interviews. Results. Overall, 76% of adults report having home smoking bans and 66% have car smoking bans. Being a smoker or African American, not having children in the home, having more friends who smoke, and lower household income were associated with lower prevalence of both home and car smoking bans (P < 0.01). In multivariate analyses, nonsmokers were 7.9 (95% CI = 3.56, 17.31) times more likely to have a home smoking ban when none of their friends were smokers compared to when most of their friends were smokers. Among smokers, there was an interaction between having children at home and the proportion of friends who smoke. Only 27 to 55% of smokers had home smoking bans unless most of their friends were smokers, then the odds of having a ban were 6.1 (95% CI = 2.76, 13.68) times higher for smokers with children (67% with home bans) than for smokers without children at home (25% with home bans). Conclusions. Efforts to increase home and car smoking bans for nonsmokers who have friends who smoke and smokers with children living at home are needed.
The Synergistic Extraction of Sm(NO3)3 and Gd(NO3)3 by a Mixture of Tributyl Phosphate and Aliquat 336 in AMSCO and Ammonium Nitrate Medium

Abstract The synergic extraction of Sm and Gd using a mixture of tri-butyl phosphate and Aliquat 336 is presented. The influence of diluents, salting out agents and acidity on the synergic extractions have been investigated. The separation factor of Sm and Gd was found to be larger than 3. This is one of the best systems for the separation of Sm and Gd. NH4NO3 was found to be extracted by pure TBP or pure Aliquat 336, but cannot be extracted by a mixture of TBP and Aliquat 336.
Thermochemistry for Hydrocarbon Intermediates Chemisorbed on Metal Surfaces: CH_(n-m)(CH_3)_m with n = 1, 2, 3 and m ≤ n on Pt, Ir, Os, Pd, Rh, and Ru

To provide insight and understanding of the thermochemistry underlying hydrocarbon rearrangements on transition metal surfaces, we report systematic studies of hydrocarbon radicals chemisorbed on metal clusters representing the closest packed surfaces of the six second and third row group VIII transition metals. Using first principles quantum mechanics [nonlocal density functional theory with exact HF exchange (B3LYP)], we find that (i) CH_(3-m)(CH_3)_m forms one bond to the surface, preferring the on-top site (η^1), (ii) CH_(2-m)(CH_3)_m forms two bonds to the surface, preferring the bridge site (η^2), and (iii) CH_(1-m)(CH_3)_m forms three bonds to the surface, preferring the 3-fold site (η^3). For all six metals, the adiabatic bond energy is nearly proportional to the number of bonds to the surface, but there are dramatic decreases in the bond energy with successive methyl substitution. Thus from CH_3 to CH_2CH_3, CH(CH_3)_2, and C(CH_3)_3, the binding energy decreases by 6, 14, and 23 kcal/mol, respectively (out of ∼50). From CH_2 to CHCH_3 and C(CH_3)_2, the binding energy decreases by 8 and 22 kcal/mol, respectively (out of ∼100). These decreases due to methyl substitution can be understood in terms of steric repulsion with the electrons of the metal surface. For CH to C(CH_3), the bond energy decreases by 13 kcal/mol (out of ∼160), which is due to electronic promotion energies. These results are cast in terms of a thermochemical group additivity framework for hydrocarbons on metal surfaces similar to the Benson scheme so useful for gas-phase hydrocarbons. This is used to predict the chemisorption energies of more complex adsorbates.
Asymptotic theory for thrusting, spinning-up spacecraft maneuvers

Abstract We consider the problem of a spacecraft subjected to constant body-fixed forces and moments about all three axes during a spinning-up, thrusting maneuver. In applications, undesired forces and moments can arise due to thruster imbalances and misalignments and to center-of-mass offset. In previous works, approximate analytical solutions have been found for the attitude motion, and for the change in inertial velocity and inertial position. In this paper we find asymptotic and limiting-case expressions which we derive from the analytic solutions, in order to obtain simplified, practical formulas that lend insight into the motion. Specifically, we investigate how the motion evolves (1) as time grows without bound and (2) for geometric cases of the sphere, the thin rod, and the thin plate. Closed-forms or upper-bound limits are provided for angular velocities, Eulerian angles, angular momentum pointing error, transverse and axial velocities, and transverse and axial displacements. Summaries for the asymptotic limits (for zero initial conditions) are provided in tabular form. Results are verified by numerical simulations.
Fatty acid composition as a basis for identification of commercial fats and oils

Gas liquid chromatographic analyses of 200 samples of commercial fats and oils were compared to the standard ranges specified by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Codex Alimentarius Committee on Fats and Oils at its seventh session, London, England, March 25, 1974. Only six samples fell notably outside the standard ranges. On the basis of this information, the U.S. delegation is offering for consideration by the Committee at its next meeting a method for using the fatty acid composition of a fat or oil to determine its authenticity.
Preparation and properties of electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol)/silver fiber web as wound dressings

A novel wound dressing material was prepared by electrospinning poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/AgNO3 aqueous solution into nonwoven webs and then treating the webs by heat or UV radiation. Through SEM, TEM, and XPS analyses, it was observed that the silver (Ag) nanoparticles were generated and existed in the near surface of the electrospun nanofibers. It was found that heat treatment as well as UV radiation reduced the Ag+++ ions in the electrospun PVA/AgNO3 fiber web into the Ag nanoparticles. Also the heat treatment improved the crystallinity of the electrospun PVA fiber web and so it made the web unsolved in moisture environment. Therefore, it was concluded that the only heat treated electrospun PVA/AgNO3 fiber web was a good material as wound dressings because it had structural stability in moisture environment as well as excellent antimicrobial ability and, quick and continuous release of the effectiveness. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:43–49, 2007. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers
Another Reason to Exercise

Modern medicine has demonstrated the virtues of healthy diet and routine exercise for cardiovascular health, preventing diabetes, and lowering cholesterol. But a role for exercise in combating neurodegenerative diseases is less well understood. On page 690 in this issue, Fryer et al. ( 1 ) present compelling evidence suggesting that exercise might have a long-lasting beneficial effect on slowing neurodegenerative disease progression.
The Influence of Athletic Success on the Self-Esteem of First-Year College Students

AbstractThis study examined how athletic success at a university, specifically in men’s basketball, impacted the self-esteem of first-year college students. A sample of students both before and after a period of athletic success completed surveys assessing their collective self-esteem as a member of the university (i.e., membership esteem, private esteem, public esteem, importance to identity) and their identification with the men’s basketball team. In support of the first hypothesis, those students with high-identification with the team showed more self-esteem (i.e., membership esteem, private esteem, public esteem, importance to identity) than those students with low-identification. Supporting the second hypothesis, students after the period of athletic success reported more membership self-esteem than those before the period of athletic success. This research demonstrates that a student’s psychological connection to a sports team has a greater impact on their collective self-esteem about the university...
Digital photographic imaging using MOEMS

In previous work, we proposed a method for imaging using micro optical electromechanical (MOEM) mirrors. Our solution was to introduce into the imaging sensor optics a 2-D micro-mirror array. This device provides high resolution images with a wide field of view. In this paper, we provide further simulations that validate the functionality of our system design. In addition, we present our first system prototype that can produce an image with higher resolution and support a wider field of view than the image sensor employed in the system.
A re-examination of practical performance limits of scaled n-channel and ϱ-channel MOS devices for VLSI

Abstract The device performance of scaled n -channel and p -channel MOS devices is theoretically examined in detail down to 0.2 μm gate length including all of the major effects such as source/drain series resistance, mobility degradation due to both parallel and perpendicular fields, and inversion layer capacitance under three different power supply scenarios. From the degradation factor of triode gain and drain saturation current, the relative contribution of each parasitic effect on device performance degradation has been examined. Based on these calculations, some modifications to straight-forward scaling are considered.
Vasopressin interactions with oxytocin in the control of female sexual behavior

Previous studies have found that central administration of arginine vasopressin and arginine vasopressin receptor V1a antagonists respectively inhibited and stimulated receptivity but did not examine effects on other aspects of female sexual behavior. Central oxytocin facilitates both proceptive and receptive components of sexual behavior and diminishes male-directed agonistic behavior. The present study examined i.c.v.-administered arginine vasopressin and V1a antagonist effects on proceptive, receptive and agonistic behaviors, and interactions with oxytocin. In experiment 1, rats were primed s.c. with 2 microg estradiol benzoate x 2 days and with 500 microg of progesterone on day 3. Arginine vasopressin (0.2, 0.4 microg) or normal saline vehicle was administered 5 h after progesterone treatment and sexual and agonistic behavior measured 30, 60 and 90 min later. Compared with saline, both doses of arginine vasopressin significantly decreased lordosis responses to mounting and hop-dart proceptive behavior and trended toward significantly increasing agonistic behaviors. In experiment 2, oxytocin (2 microg) infusion just after arginine vasopressin (0.4 microg) significantly increased lordoses and decreased agonistic behaviors but did not affect hopping and darting. In experiment 3, conducted in ovariectomized rats primed with estradiol benzoate (1 microg/day s.c. x 2 days), i.c.v. infusion of 0.5 and 1.0 microg of the selective V1a antagonist, d(CH2)5Tyr-(Me)arginine vasopressin on day 3 significantly increased lordoses and trended toward increasing hopping and darting 4 and 6 h after i.c.v. treatment. In experiment 4, 1 microg of the selective oxytocin antagonist, d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2, Thr4, Tyr-NH2(9)]OVT given 1 h before d(CH2)5Tyr-(Me)arginine vasopressin (1 microg) significantly decreased lordoses. Previous studies indicate that arginine vasopressin contributes to light phase inhibition of female sexual behavior. Our findings suggest that arginine vasopressin may exert this effect through interactions that decrease oxytocin stimulation of sexual behavior and raise the question whether sex steroid conditions that stimulate sexual behavior may suppress central arginine vasopressin and V1a receptor activity.
The catalytic mechanism of kynureninase from Pseudomonas fluorescens: insights from the effects of pH and isotopic substitution on steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics.

The effects of pH and isotopic substitution of substrate and solvent on the reaction of kynureninase from Pseudomonas fluorescens have been determined. The pH dependence of kcat/Km for l-kynurenine is bell-shaped, with apparent pKa's of 6.25 ± 0.05 on the acidic limb and 8.9 ± 0.1 on the basic limb, and with a pH-dependent value of kcat/Km of 2 × 105 M-1 s-1. The pH dependence of kcat/Km for 3-hydroxykynurenine is also bell-shaped, with apparent pKa's of 6.49 ± 0.07 and 8.55 ± 0.09, and with a pH-dependent value of 2.5 × 103 M-1 s-1. The kcat for l-kynurenine decreases at acidic pH values, with an apparent pKa of 6.43 ± 0.06 and a pH-dependent value of 7 s-1. The solvent kinetic isotope effect on kcat for the reaction of kynurenine in [2H]H2O is 6.56 ± 0.59, whereas there is no normal kinetic isotope effect on kcat/Km, at pH 8.1. The proton inventory of kcat fits very well to the Gross−Butler equation, with x = 0.825 ± 0.08, suggesting that only a single proton is transferred in the rate-determining step....
Figure It In

Abstract Traditional beginning design studios take students outside the world of their experience by teaching representation strategies that rely on abstraction. In this article, I present an example of a first-year studio that sought to integrate hand techniques with digital image manipulation to extend and reinforce the lessons of spatially based conceptual design exercises. This pedagogical model encourages students to develop a digital sensibility at the inception of their design process.
Deployment of Fiber Optic Networks through Underground Sewers in North America

The demand for broadband communications is exploding in North America. Two decades of cable laying has resulted in a national backbone of high-speed data network. However, a gap remains; a gap between the metropolitan area network and the prospective customer or building area network. This gap—the last mile—drives much of the fiber optic construction activity today, as broadband providers rush to provide fiber connections to millions of businesses and homes. The traditional way of accomplishing fiber-to-the-home or fiber-to-the-premises is to cut trenches into and under streets to install conduits, splice vaults, and build entrance facilities. The aftermath of this unbridled trenching has left many streets in the urban areas a collage of patches, crumbling asphalt; ultimately affecting the taxpayers who are left footing the cost of rebuilding and resurfacing. Over the past five years, dozens of towns and cities in North America have participated in this experiment of deploying fiber optic cables through u...
Hematologic Features of Chronic Renal Failure Associated with Spinal Cord Injury

We examined the available hematologic data on 43 spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with hemodialysis since 1972. A control group consisting of 45 ESRD patients without SCI was included for comparison. Moderate to severe anemia was found in all patients. The observed anemia was generally normocytic, normochromic, and associated with a low reticulocyte response. Transfusion requirement in the SCI group was considerably more than in the control group. There was a high incidence of splenomegaly, splenic amyloidosis, and lymph node enlargement in the SCI group. Lymph node and bone marrow amyloid deposits were found in some SCI patients but not in the control subjects.
Novel wetting behavior of 4He on cesium.

We have measured $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ adsorption isotherms on a cesium substrate above and below ${\mathit{T}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ using a quartz-microbalance technique. The results show that the cesium surface remains dry until the pressure almost reaches the saturated vapor pressure. At liquid-vapor coexistence, however, the wetting film continuously thickens to more than 30 layers. Below ${\mathit{T}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$, the film at coexistence is superfluid. Above ${\mathit{T}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$, we resolve a feature in the isotherm just below saturated vapor pressure which is characteristic of a prewetting transition.
Memory for Childhood Events: How Suggestible Is It?

Abstract The veracity of children′s memory is frequently doubted because it is assumed that first, children′s memory is generally not very good, and second, children and their memories are too vulnerable to suggestibility to be credible. In this article these two assumptions are evaluated and three experiments are presented that address constraints on the construct of suggestibility. In the first experiment, it is reported that memory for a more frequently occurring event is more resistant to suggestibility than is memory for an event experienced only once. This finding is especially relevant to memory for child abuse as it is common for perpetrators to frequently abuse the same child. In two additional experiments it is reported that it is relatively difficult to suggest to a child that something occurred when it did not. These results suggest that although memories for childhood events may be imperfect, they are not likely to be confabulated.
Contracts vs. preferences over colleagues in matching

I introduce a general many-to-one matching framework which includes the matching with contracts model as well as models of matching with preferences over colleagues as special cases. I show that this general model can be embedded into the model with contracts, and the model with contracts can be embedded in the model with preferences over colleagues, thus the models are equivalent, and all results from the many-to-one matching with preferences over colleagues literature and the model with contracts literature can be applied to each other.
Note on a model of Chinese national income determination

Abstract A macroeconomic model of Chow (1985) explaining aggregate consumption by the permanent income hypothesis of Robert Hall and aggregate investment by the accelerations principle was found to fit Chinese annual data from 1952 to 1982 well. This note shows that the same model can successfully explain Chinese annual data from 1978 to 2006.
A study on H2S permeability of CsHSO4 membranes

Abstract The gas permeability of H2S gas at 150 °C through ultra-thin cesium hydrogen sulfate (CsHSO4) membranes has been investigated. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses indicate that CsHSO4 membrane is impermeable to H2S gas under test conditions. The apparent micropore diameter of the membrane averaged between 9.5 and 11.5 A with a maximum permeance of 0.09 Barrer (6.75 × 10−19 m2 s−1 Pa−1). Atomic force microscope and X-ray diffraction analyses show respectively that the surface morphology and crystal structure of the membranes are preserved, with no adverse effect from prolonged exposure to H2S gas. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis confirm over a 30% decrease in membrane resistance via an 80% reduction in membrane thickness.
Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute hydrocephalus in a patient with a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

Abstract Background Intracranial hemorrhages associated with new generation left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly reported as the use of these life saving devices is becoming more common, but few data are currently available to guide the acute management of these critically ill patients. Methods This is a case presentation of a 33-year-old woman status post LVAD implantation on therapeutic anticoagulation who developed acute headache followed by rapidly progressive impairment of consciousness secondary to spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. Results After discontinuation of heparin infusion, the patient underwent external ventricular drain placement(EVD)and her mental status fully recovered. Her work-up was negative for aneurysmal sources of bleeding. She received daily aspirin for 7 days for antiplatelet effect during which she did not experience any thromboembolic events related to the LVAD. At day 6 the EVD was clamped for 24 hours and her neurological exam remained intact. The EVD was removed and she was restarted on heparin infusion without further complications. Conclusions Our experience suggests that in case of subarachnoid hemorrhage in patients with LVADs, temporary suspension of anticoagulation and EVD placement is safe and can lead to good neurological outcome.
C2P2: a peer-to-peer network for on-demand automobile information services

This short work outlines challenges of delivering continuous media and traffic information to mobile car-to-car peer-to-peer (C2P2) network of devices. We analyze network connectivity of a C2P2 cloud as a function of radio range of each device. A novel concept introduced by C2P2 is on-demand delivery of continuous media, audio and video clips to moving vehicles.
Reward Magnitude and a Pronounced Frustration Effect in Rats

Summary Three groups of male albino rats (10-4C, 4-4, and 0-4C) were given 80 acquisition trials in a double runway (total N = 60). Subsequent to acquisition training, Ss in Group 4-4 were subdivided into four groups (10-4E, 4-4E, 10-4S, and 4-4C) and all six groups were given 20 additional test trials. For each group, the first number corresponds to the number of Noyes food pellets received in the first goalbox, while the second number corresponds to the number of pellets received in the second goalbox. The letters, C, E, and S refer to the Control, Experimental, and Shifted reward groups, respectively. During test trials, the E groups received rewarded (nonfrustration) and nonrewarded (frustration) trials on a random basis, whereas the S group was shifted to a larger magnitude of continuous reward in the first goalbox. The C groups continued as in acquisition training. During frustration trials, run speeds in Alley 2 were faster for Group 10-4E than for Group 4-4E. Group 4-4E was in turn superior to Gro...
Ventral and dorsal horn acetylcholinesterase neurons are maintained in organotypic cultures of postnatal rat spinal cord explants

Abstract Transverse sections of postnatal rat spinal cord have been cultured using the organotypic roller tube method. These explant cultures retain identifiable anatomical landmarks, allow identification of individual neurons, can be maintained for up to 8 weeks, and undergo maturational changes in vitro. Putative ventral horn motoneurons were identified in these cultures by localization to ventral horn regions analogous to those of motoneurons in vivo and by staining for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Morphometric studies of the photomicrographic areas of cell bodies of these ventralhorn neurons in intact cultures show a range of sizes up to 1635 μm2 with the average size being245 ± 7 μm2 (n = 724) (average ± S.E.M.). The size ranges are roughly comparable to cross-sectional areas determined previously for ventral horn motoneurons in vivo. Dorsal horn regions of these cultures also development AChE activity that was absent at explantation. Biochemical analysis of ChAT and AChE activity in pooled samples of whole cultures showed ChAT activity to be0.48 ± 0.08 (n = 7) μmol/min/g protein and AChE activity to be2.2 ± 2.0 (n = 7) μmol/min/g protein at 37°C (averages ± S.E.M.). These values are comparable to previously reported values for neonatal rat spinal cord in situ. Organotypic roller tube cultures of postnatal rat spinal cord provide an attractive system for studies of survival, morphology, growth and differentiation of mammalian ventral horn neurons in vitro.
Conscientious Objection to an Opt-in System

David Steinberg (2004) makes a strong case for an “opt-in” system to increase the supply of transplantable organs. The incentive to receive preference in organ allocation by agreeing to be a donor ...
Induction of NADPH:Quinone Reductase by Dietary Phytoestrogens in Colonic Colo205 Cells

Phytoestrogens are a group of naturally occurring diphenolic compounds present in legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. High consumption of phytoestrogen-rich foods has been linked to a reduced incidence of cancers at many sites. A potential mechanism of dietary anticarcinogenesis involves the induction of detoxifying phase II enzymes such as NADPH:quinone reductase (QR). This study, therefore, examined the ability of six prominent phytoestrogens to affect cellular expression of QR in colonic cells. Colo205 cells were cocultured with various concentrations (0.001 to 10.0 μM) of each phytoestrogen, and then were assessed for cytosolic QR activity, cell growth, and QR mRNA expression. A maximum of 6- to 8-fold induction of QR activity was observed for both enterolactone and genistein, although at high concentrations they showed an adverse effect upon cell growth. The concentrations required to double the specific activity of QR for enterolactone and genistein were about 0.04 and 0.14 μM, respectively. A 2- to 3-fold increase of QR specific activity was found with either biochanin A (1.1 μM) or coumestrol (12.0 μM) treatments. No significant effects were found for daidzein or formononetin treatments. QR induction was further confirmed by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques to measure mRNA expression. A significant correlation between the expression of QR mRNA and the corresponding QR activity was observed (r = 0.76, P < 0.001). The results demonstrated that certain dietary phytoestrogens are capable of QR induction in Colo205 cells by promoting QR mRNA expression, and suggest a novel mechanism by which dietary phytoestrogens may be implicated in colorectal cancer chemoprevention.
A portable low noise low frequency three-axis search coil magnetometer

The design of a three-axis search coil magnetometer is described which has noise characteristics that are close to or better than comparable superconductor magnetometers over the 20Hz to 2000Hz range. The sensor coils and electronic conditioning equipment weighs less than 14Kg and can be transported by one person in a 46cm × 46cm × 15cm instrumentation case. The sensing elements consist of three concentric circular coils. The coil signals are processed to provide two outputs: one proportional to frequency, one independent of frequency. Laboratory tests verified that predicted and actual performance agreed quite closely.
Persistence of Gains From Instruction in Classification, Seriation, and Conservation

Abstract Children who received learning-set instruction on unidimensional classification, unidimensional seriation, and number conservation in the middle of kindergarten were retested at the end of 1st grade. The follow-up tests showed that a 17-percentile-point advantage conveyed by this instruction on the O-LSAT measure of school-related reasoning was essentially intact. It also appeared that a 10-percentile-point gain in mathematics, presumably an indirect effect of the increased competence in reasoning, was also intact. On the other hand, there was no longer any difference between experimental and control children in verbal comprehension. These results are discussed in terms of temporary, permanent, and self-propagating gains.
On the introduction of a trifluoromethyl substituent in the epothilone setting: chemical issues related to ring forming olefin metathesis and earliest biological findings.

The disclosure herein describes the synthesis of 10,11-dehydro-13,14-desoxy-27-trifluoro-[17]epothilone B via a stereoselective ring-closing metathesis and provides early biological evaluation data pertinent to this compound.
Childhood's Imperial Imagination: Edward Stratemeyer's Fiction Factory and the Valorization of American Empire

Numerous studies have appeared in recent years that deal with the reasons and rationalizations that accompanied America's overseas acquisitions in 1898. This article uses juvenile series fiction to examine how the nation's youth—boys in particular—became targets of imperial boosterism. In the pages of adventure novels set against the backdrop of American interventions in the Caribbean and the Philippines, Edward Stratemeyer, the most successful author and publisher of youth series fiction, and other less well-known juvenile fiction producers offered sensationalistic dramas that advocated a racialist, expansionistic foreign policy. Stratemeyer and others offered American boys an imaginative space as participants in and future stewards of national triumph. Young readers, the article argues further, became active participants in their own politicization. An examination of the voluminous fan mail sent to series fiction authors by their juvenile admirers reveals boys' willingness, even eagerness, to participate in the ascendancy of the United States.