cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reasoning in the personal and moral domains: Adolescent and young adult women's decision-making regarding abortion

Abstract The present investigation of adolescent and young adult women's reasoning, and decision-making about abortion was conducted to determine whether reasoning about abortion could be described by moral, social-conventional, and personal concepts and to examine relationships between domain of reasoning and action choices. Seventy single women, ranging in age from 13 to 31 and divided between 25 women having abortions, 23 women continuing their pregnancies, and 22 never-pregnant women, were administered a semi-structured clinical interview about abortion and two hypothetical moral judgement dilemmas. A classification task was developed to provide an additional measure of reasoning in different domains. Another 29 single, first-pregnant women provided a comparison of the effects of these procedures on decision-making. Content analysis of the protocols revealed that responses to the abortion interview could be reliably distinguished between concepts of morality and personal issues and their coordination or lack of coordination. Subjects treating abortion as a moral issue were more likely to continue their pregnancies while subjects treating abortion as a personal issue were more likely to obtain an abortion. Differences in reasoning between pregnant and nonpregnant subjects were not observed. Moral responses to the abortion interview were found to be highly related to hypothetical moral judgments.
A similarity measure for conceptual graphs

This article introduces a mechanism to compare two conceptual graphs and produce a similarity measure, reflecting incomplete, imprecise, or inconsistent information. It is then shown that conceptual graphs, in conjunction with the similarity measure, can be effectively used to define concepts by means of a series of examples. the descriptions of these examples provide the basis for a recognition system. Support logic programming is also introduced and it is demonstrated that conceptual graphs, together with the comparison metric, provide a natural knowledge representation framework. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A generalized diffusion frame for parsimonious representation of functions on data defined manifolds

One of the now standard techniques in semi-supervised learning is to think of a high dimensional data as a subset of a low dimensional manifold embedded in a high dimensional ambient space, and to use projections of the data on eigenspaces of a diffusion map. This paper is motivated by a recent work of Coifman and Maggioni on diffusion wavelets to accomplish such projections approximately using iterates of the heat kernel. In greater generality, we consider a quasi-metric measure space X (in place of the manifold), and a very general operator T defined on the class of integrable functions on X (in place of the diffusion map). We develop a representation of functions on X in terms of linear combinations of iterates of T. Our construction obviates the need to compute the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the operator. In addition, the local smoothness of a function f is characterized by the local norm behavior of the terms in our representation of f. This property is similar to that of the classical wavelet representations. Although the operator T utilizes the values of the target function on the entire space, this ability results in automatic ''feature detection'', leading to a parsimonious representation of the target function. In the case when X is a smooth compact manifold (without boundary), our theory allows T to be any operator that commutes with the heat operator, subject to certain conditions on its eigenvalues. In particular, T can be chosen to be the heat operator itself, or a Green's operator corresponding to a suitable pseudo-differential operator.
Recombinant polymeric IgG: an approach to engineering more potent antibodies.

IgM and IgG are the only classes of immunoglobulin capable of initiating the classical complement cascade. IgM, however, fixes complement much more effectively than IgG making it a more attractive Fc for some immunotherapeutic strategies. IgG, on the other hand, triggers additional effector functions mediated through γ specific Fc receptors. Using a generalizable technique we have produced IgM-like polymers of IgG that possess both the Fcγ receptor binding properties of IgG and the more potent complement activity of IgM.
Paleoecology of benthic community replacement

The literature of community paleoecology is filled with examples in which long-term environmentally-controlled faunal transitions are misidentified as forms of ecologic succession. This has obscured a fundamental community-level process - community replacement - involving gradual to abrupt substitution of one benthic community for another as a result of subtle to sharp changes in habitats over subevolutionary time. In gradually changing environments, replacement takes place through conformational reorganization of species-abundance distributions within established communities, yielding sequences of slightly different fossil associations. Environments that change very rapidly drastically feature a different type of community replacement involving species turnover, wherein environmental tolerance limits of community members are closely approached or exceeded. Paleoecologists should be alert to the strong likelihood that many temporal transitions involving autochthonous fossil associations are, in fact, community replacement sequences.
An Automated System for On-Wafer DC, S-Parameter, Power, and Harmonics Measurements of Broadband GaAs MMICs

An automated test system for broadband on-wafer measurements of small-signal and medium power GaAs MMICs has been developed. This system is capable of S-parameter measurements to 34 GHz, harmonics measurements to 40 GHz, and power measurements to 26.5 GHz. To maximize serviceability and phase stability, and to minimize drive signal loss the test set was constructed on the autoprober top plate. A 33 dB gain multistage 2 to 26.5 GHz GaAs MMIC amplifier with frequency selective padding develops 33 dBm midband and 30 dBm at 26.5 GHz. The system delivers 22 dBm across the measurement band at the input probe tip. The network analyzer is employed as a power meter and the power measurement dynamic range is determined by the phase lock range of the reference channel sampler. A switched filter bank provides source harmonic rejection for low level harmonic measurements. A switch at the output of the DUT allows the match presented to be varied. The system employs unique calibration and measurement algorithms which result an vector error corrected S-parameters and power. Harmonics are scalar error corrected. A number of test environment features were incorporated. A camera system was designed which gives superior imaging and working space near the probecard. A laminar flow system and air deionizer have been installed to reduce particulate and ESD respectively generated during wafer test sessions. A coolant system exercise 0 to 70 degree C control of the wafer chuck.
On Lebesgue-type decompositions for Banach algebras

If the maximal ideal space of a commutative complex unitary Banach algebra, X , is equipped with a nonnegative, finite, regular Borel measure, m , then for each element, x , in X , a. complex regular Borel measure, m x , can be obtained by integrating the Gelfand transform of x with respect to m over the Borel sets. This paper considers the possibility of direct sum decompositions of the form X = A x ⊕ P x where A x = { z e X : m z ≪ m x } and P x = { z e X : m z ┴ m x }.
B74-9 Digital Computer Fundamentals

This is the third edition of a rather well known textbook and/or reference book dealing with the principles of operation of digital computers or digital data handling devices. It is primarily concerned with hardware and discusses programming to the extent necessary to illustrate the principles of computer operation. It is most useful as a text for students without significant knowledge of the internal structure of digital machines but with a moderate maturity and a little mathematical sophistication. This reviewer has used it with all levels of undergraduates, with beginning graduate students when supplemented, and in adult education courses. The material is not covered in great depth but it is not a superficial survey either. This text might serve adequately for an introductory Computer Science course or even with a proper group of high school students.
Inhibition of polyoma gene expression in transformed mouse cells by hypermethylation

Abstract The evolution of mouse cells transformed by a recombinant plasmid containing the genome of the tsA mutant of polyoma virus (Py) cloned at the BamHI site into the plasmid pML, whose sequences therefore interrupt the Py late region, has been studied. Clones of transformed cells were selected at 39° (nonpermissive temperature for large T antigen). Under these conditions viral DNA integration is stable and the cells display a uniformed transformed phenotype. Also studied in detail was the evolution of one of these cell lines (A4) upon shift to a temperature permissive for large T-Ag function (33°); immediately after shift, 90% of the population became intensely positive for T-Ag and a considerable amount of free-viral DNA was produced, accompanied by a clear cytopathic effect. Surviving cells proliferated actively after 4 weeks at 33° and showed a decreased expression of large T-Ag (only 2–3% of the population was T-Ag positive by immunofluorescence), a drastic reduction in the amount of free-viral DNA produced, but no apparent change in the pattern of integration of Py DNA in the host chromosomes. Analysis of the high-molecular-weight DNA with the restriction enzymes HpaII and MspI revealed that the cytosines in the recognition sequences of these enzymes were methylated. Accordingly, treating the cells with 5-Azacytidine, a methylation inhibitor, results in the expression of viral T-Ags in more than 80% of the cell population. Analysis of DNA transcription revealed a dramatic reduction of virus-specific poly(A)+ mRNA in the methylated cells; in addition, the phenotype of the 33° A4 populations was much less transformed than that of the original cultures. The block of Py expression by methylation is not complete; approximately 2% of the cells remain T-Ag positive and viral transcription is not completely suppressed. This could be explained by an incomplete methylation which randomly leaves unmethylated sequences essential for Py gene expression, or by the fact that methylation is not sufficient to block transcription completely. Possible mechanisms underlying this type of evolution are discussed.
Fluid phase equilibria in the system dimethyl ether/water from 50 to 220 C and pressures to 500 bar

Abstract A vapor-recirculating equilibrium system has been used to study the fluid phase behavior of the system dimethyl ether/water (DME/H2O). This system exhibits a liquid-liquid phase separation and a mixture critical line that consists of two branches. One branch originates at the critical point of DME (T = 126.6 C, P = 53.2 bar), and ends at a critical end point (T = 157 C, P = 67.2 bar, xDME = 0.79) where it intersects the three-phase region liquid-liquid-vapor. The second branch originates at the critical point of H2O; with decreasing temperature it passes through a minimum in pressure, and then rises sharply to higher pressures (PC = 509 bar at T = 100 C). The critical end point at 157 C is a limiting point at which the vapor and DME-rich liquid phases become identical in the presence of the H2O-rich liquid phase. These and other qualitative features of the phase behavior are illustrated by means of PTx phase diagrams.
Triggers and promoters of ischaemic preconditioning.

See article by Wang et al. [10] (pages 33–42) in this issue. Ischaemia/reperfusion injury in coronary artery disease patients confers increased morbidity and mortality due to pump dysfunction and arrhythmia. In cardiac patients, ischaemic episodes still occur in an unpredictable manner despite multiple drug therapies and revascularization strategies. Therefore, unrelenting efforts in the way of ischaemic preconditioning have been underway to devise treatment modalities for preparing the heart to face ischaemia in a more benign (ischemia can never be benign) manner. Ischaemic preconditioning describes the process of increasing myocardial tolerance to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by providing sub lethal episodes of ischaemia/reperfusion. Murray et al. described the preconditioning process in 1986 [1]. They have shown that brief, intermittent bouts of ischaemia followed by reperfusion had a protective effect on canine myocardial tissue against a subsequent ischaemic insult of prolonged duration. When these preconditioned animals were subjected to a 40-min occlusion of left circumflex artery, the ensuing myocardial necrosis was only 25% of those hearts not previously subjected to preconditioning. The … * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-573-882-2640; fax: +1-573-884-7743.
Cytokine Response to Fetal Cardiac Bypass † 133

Cytokines (IL-1s, IL-6, and IL-8) have been associated with the systemic inflammatory response syndrome known to occur in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. We hypothesized that the placental dysfunction which has been found to complicate fetal cardiac bypass (FCB) may be in part a function of a cytokine mediated acute phase reaction. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a controlled study to characterize the effect of cardiac bypass on plasma levels of IL-1s, IL-6, and IL-8 in fetal sheep. 9 mixed-breed pregnant ewes at 118-122 days of gestation were assigned randomly to either of 2 groups: `fetal cardiac bypass group' (n=5) or `control group' (n=4). After surgical exposure and instrumentation, previously described techniques were used to perform 30 minutes of FCB in study group fetuses, while control group fetuses were exposed and instrumented identically, but did not undergo bypass. Placental and systemic hemodynamics were monitored in both groups. Pre- and post-FCB blood samples were analyzed for IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 using previously described ELISA protocols. Pre-FCB IL-6 levels were zero in all study and control fetuses. IL-6 levels consistently increased in all study animals (to an average post-FCB level of 53.0±24.2 pg/ml; p=.01), while they remained at zero in all control animals. FCB produced no significant changes in IL-1s and 8. The decrease in placental blood flow (PBF) from pre- to post-FCB in study group fetuses (33.3±6.4 ml/kg) was significantly greater than the decrease in control fetuses (9.3±2.3 ml/kg; p=.0002). Placental vascular resistance (PVR) increased significantly(from.43±.11 pre-FCB to.52±.14 post-FCB; p=.01) in study group fetuses, but was essentially unchanged (.388±.10 pre-FCB to.394±.10 post-FCB; p=.40) in control fetuses. The difference in PVR changes between the 2 groups was highly significant (p=.004). In conclusion, FCB produces significant and consistent increases in fetal plasma IL-6, which correspond with increased PVR and decreased PBF. It appears that IL-6 may have an important role in placental dysfunction during and after FCB. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate its specific role in the impairment of placental function or as a marker of placental injury.
Barriers and Facilitators to the Use of Computer-based Intensive Insulin Therapy

Abstract Purpose Computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) for intensive insulin therapy (IIT) are increasingly common. However, recent studies question IIT's safety and mortality benefit. Researchers have identified factors influencing IIT performance, but little is known about how workflow affects computer-based IIT. We used ethnographic methods to evaluate IIT CDSS with respect to other clinical information systems and care processes. Methods We conducted direct observation of and unstructured interviews with nurses using IIT CDSS in the surgical and trauma intensive care units at an academic medical center. We observed 49 h of intensive care unit workflow including 49 instances of nurses using IIT CDSS embedded in a provider order entry system. Observations focused on the interaction of people, process, and technology. By analyzing qualitative field note data through an inductive approach, we identified barriers and facilitators to IIT CDSS use. Results Barriers included (1) workload tradeoffs between computer system use and direct patient care, especially related to electronic nursing documentation, (2) lack of IIT CDSS protocol reminders, (3) inaccurate user interface design assumptions, and (4) potential for error in operating medical devices. Facilitators included (1) nurse trust in IIT CDSS combined with clinical judgment, (2) nurse resilience, and (3) paper serving as an intermediary between patient bedside and IIT CDSS. Conclusion This analysis revealed sociotechnical interactions affecting IIT CDSS that previous studies have not addressed. These issues may influence protocol performance at other institutions. Findings have implications for IIT CDSS user interface design and alerts, and may contribute to nascent general CDSS theory.
Chaotic Phenomena from Motion in Image Sequences

Recent research in neural signals have shown biological neural systems are highly responsive to chaotic signals. In this paper, we analyze image sequences using tools from chaos theory associated with the phase plot of time series signals. We demonstrate that the changes in pixel amplitudes due to the motion of objects in an image sequence result in interesting behavior, visible as fractal patterns in the phase space, reminiscent of chaotic strange attractors. Likewise we demonstrate that changes in image amplitude due to spatio-temporally varying illumination are non-chaotic and well structured in phase space. We use the Lambertian reflectance model to explain the source of the non-linearities responsible for this chaotic behavior.
Molecular “Compasses” and “Gyroscopes.” III. Dynamics of a Phenylene Rotor and Clathrated Benzene in a Slipping-Gear Crystal Lattice

Samples of 1,4-bis(3,3,3-triphenylpropynyl)benzene 3 were prepared by Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling of 3,3,3-triphenylpropyne (1) and 1,4-diiodobenzene. The structure of compound 3 is such that the central phenylene can play the role of a gyroscope wheel, while the alkyne bond and trityl groups can act as an axle and shielding frameworks, respectively. Crystals grown from benzene and dichloromethane were characterized by X-ray diffraction, variable-temperature 13C CPMAS NMR, quadrupolar echo solid-state 2H NMR, and thermal analyses. The rotational dynamics of benzene molecules and phenylene groups were characterized in terms of 6-fold rotation and 2-fold flipping models, respectively. The possibility of a gearing mechanism between adjacent benzene molecules and phenylene groups suggested by the clathrate structure was investigated. However, it was found that 6-fold rotation of benzene molecules at 300 K occurs in the gigahertz regime (or higher) and 2-fold flipping of phenylene groups in the kilohertz range in...
Dark matter density and the Higgs mass in LVS string phenomenology

Abstract The Large Volume Scenario for getting a non-supersymmetric vacuum in type IIB string theory leads, through the Weyl anomaly and renormalization group running, to an interesting phenomenology. However, for gravitino masses below 500 TeV there are cosmological problems and the resulting Higgs mass is well below 124 GeV. Here we discuss the phenomenology and cosmology for gravitino masses which are ≳ 500 TeV . We find (under some plausible cosmological assumptions) that not only is the cosmological modulus problem alleviated and the right value for dark matter density obtained, but also the Higgs mass is in the 122–125 GeV range. However the spectrum of SUSY particles will be too heavy to be observed at the LHC.
Photochemical Chlorocarbonylation of HCTD by Oxalyl Chloride. Carbocation-Mediated Rearrangement of HCTD Derivatives to Novel, Substituted Heptacyclopentadecanes

Photochemical chlorocarbonylation of heptacyclo[6.6.0.0.2,60.3,130.4,1105,9.010,14]tetradecane (“HCTD”, 1), performed by irradiating a solution of oxalyl chloride and 1 in benzene, followed by reac...
The proximal N-terminal amino acid residues are required for the coupling activity of the bovine heart mitochondrial factor B

Abstract Treatment of the recombinant bovine factor B with trypsin yielded a fragment (amino acid residues 62–175) devoid of coupling activity. Removal of the N-terminal Trp2–Gly3–Trp4 peptide resulted in a significant loss of coupling activity in the FB ΔW 2 −W 4 deletion mutant. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation demonstrated co-sedimentation of recombinant factor B with the ADP/ATP carrier, which is present in preparations of H + -translocating F 0 F 1 -ATPase, but not in preparations of complex V. The N-terminally truncated factor B mutant FB ΔW 2 −W 4 did not co-sediment with the ADP/ATP carrier. Recombinant factor B co-sedimented with partially purified membrane sector F 0 , extracted from F 1 -stripped bovine submitochondrial particles with n -dodecyl-β- d -maltoside. Factor B inhibited the passive proton conductance catalyzed by F 0 reconstituted into asolectin liposomes. A factor B mutant, bearing a photoreactive unnatural amino acid p benzoyl- l -phenylalanine ( p Bpa) substituted for Trp2, cross-linked with F 0 subunits e and g as well as the ADP/ATP carrier. These results suggest that the N-terminal domain and, in particular, the proximal N-terminal amino acids are important for the coupling activity and protein–protein interactions of bovine factor B.
Clinicoradiological features of pulmonary infarctions mimicking lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE To describe presenting features of pulmonary infarction that may simulate those of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the medical records of 43 patients with pulmonary infarction diagnosed by surgical lung biopsy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2002. Of 16 patients presenting with an undiagnosed solitary pulmonary nodule or mass, 6 had features suggestive of lung cancer on additional imaging, including abnormalities on contrast-enhancement computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), or nonsurgical lung biopsy before surgical resection. We examined the presenting symptoms, epidemiological, clinical, and radiological features, and clinical course of these 6 patients. RESULTS All 6 patients, ranging in age from 41 to 85 years, had a history of smoking and underlying cardiopulmonary disease. In 5 of the 6 patients, CT showed a nodule in the subpleural region of the lung. Three patients had abnormalities on contrast-enhancement CT, 2 had abnormalities on PET, and 1 had abnormal cytologic findings on a transthoracic needle biopsy of the lung; all these studies showed abnormalities suggestive of lung cancer. Surgical resection of the nodule or mass revealed pulmonary infarction associated with organizing thrombi in all 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary infarctions can closely mimic the clinicoradiological characteristics of lung cancer, an association not reported previously. Furthermore, cytologic changes that occur in pulmonary infarctions may produce malignant-appearing cells on needle biopsy of the lung. The possibility of pulmonary infarction should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a solitary lung nodule or mass located in the subpleural region, even in the absence of clinically recognized venous thromboembolism.
Spectroscopic and Electronic Structural Studies of the Cu(III)2 Bis-μ-oxo Core and Its Relation to the Side-On Peroxo-Bridged Dimer

Recently a Cu(III)2 bis-μ-oxo dimer ligated by peralkylated amines has been found to interconvert with the side-on peroxo-bridged, μ-η2:η2 isomer. The Cu(III)2(μ-O)2 dimer exhibits two intense charge transfer (CT) features in the near-UV region of the electronic absorption spectrum. Laser excitation into the lower-energy CT absorption band at 25 000 cm-1 results in intense resonance enhancement of the Raman peaks at 609 and 118 cm-1 which profile this band and give overtone and combination progressions. The combined application of a normal coordinate analysis of the Raman features and a time-dependent Heller theory analysis of the electronic absorption spectrum and resonance Raman profiles provide the excited-state geometry. As this transition corresponds to an oxo-to-Cu(III) CT, this excited state is formally an oxyl−Cu(II) species. Density functional calculations correlated to these data (including the excited-state geometry and the relative CT intensities) allow for an unambiguous assignment of the obs...
Desire as Belief II

Hume wrote that "we speak not strictly and philosophically when we talk of the combat of passion and of reason. Reason is, and ought only to be, the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them" (Treatise, Bk. II, Pt. III, Sect. III). What did he mean? In the first place, Hume's "passions" are sometimes none too passionate. He speaks of some passions as "calm". We would do best to speak of all "passion", calm and otherwise, as "desire". In the second place, we call someone "reasonable" in part because his desires are moderate and fair-minded. But when we do, I suppose we speak not strictly and philosophically. Strictly speaking, I take it that reason is the faculty in charge of regulating belief. And so I read Hume as if he had said that belief is the slave of desire. Our actions do, or they ought to, serve our desires according to our beliefs. More precisely, taking account of the fact that both belief and desire admit of degree, and not begrudging the usual idealizations that make the topic tractable, our ,actions serve our subjective expected values according to our subjective degrees of belief. For short: they serve our values according to our credences. Values and credences belong to propositions: classes of maximally specific possibilities (perhaps egocentric and tensed). The value of a proposition A, written V(A), is a real number; the credence of A, C(A), is a nonnegative real number; and the credence of the necessary proposition, C(l), is 1. (We would do well to let these values and credences be nonstandard real numbers so that, for instance, the propositions corresponding to the maximally specific possibilities-call these point-propositions-might all get infinitesimal credence. For there well might be infinitely many point-propositions.) We assume the usual rules of finite (or *-finite) additivity for value and credence: when A1,... are a partition of A,
Short-Term Numerical Precipitation Forecasts Initialized Using a Diagnosed Divergent-Wind Component

Use of the diagnosed-divergence initialization procedure of Tarbell et al. (1979) to predict the hourly rainfall data used in short-term precipitation forecasts is examined experimentally. Data simulations using a mesoscale model and balanced and internally consistent data were conducted; the physical and numerical characteristics of the mesoscale model are described. The real experiment used rainfall data from April 25-26, 1979 to investigate the capabilities of the initialization procedure to improve short-term precipitation forecasts. The derivation of the diagnosed-divergent wind using a mesoscale omega equation which includes the effects of latent heating is discussed. The diagnosed-divergence initialization forecasts are compared to nondivergence or observed-divergence initializations. It is observed that the diagnosed-divergence initializations provide better rainfall data than the other initializations.
The cow as a geomorphic agent — A critical review

Cows are important agents of geomorphological change. On the uplands, heavy grazing compacts the soil, reduces infiltration, increases runoff, and increases erosion and sediment yield. However, light and moderate grazing have effects that are much less significant. In riparian zones, grazing decreases erosional resistance by reducing vegetation and exposing more vulnerable substrate. Trampling directly erodes banks, thus increasing turbulence and consequent erosion. Future studies should be framed within the hydroclimatological, edaphic and geomorphological dimensions of the areas being studied so that controlling variables may be more readily isolated. We believe that both empirical studies and deterministic modeling can provide insights as to the effects of grazing on geomorphology.
Finding order in David’s disorder

This paper describes how I came to know a younger, mentally ill resident during fieldwork in an urban nursing home. I describe my efforts to establish a connection with this man, revealing the manner in which the academic and personal become fused in ethnographic research. In his discourse David conveys an unsettling universe filled with extreme power asymmetries, where he continually gravitates between the roles of victim and victimizer. His various identities are in a state of constant flux, at times blurring the boundaries of culturally recognized categories. While fragmentation and multiplicity are often glorified within postmodernism, I suggest that persons with psychosis may find them imprisoning rather than liberating.
Design of circular apertures for narrow beamwidth and asymmetric low sidelobes

Taylor's earlier work on circular apertures is enlarged to include a class of radiation patterns consisting of a narrow central beam and asymmetric sidelobes. A synthesis technique applicable to such problems, and using Taylor patterns as building blocks, is formulated. One special case is treated in detail: a sidelobe topography which is 25 dB down in the \phi = 0 half-plane, smoothly rising to 15 dB down in the \phi= \pi/2 half-plane, remaining at that level until the \phi = 3\pi/2 half-plane is reached, and then smoothly subsiding to 25 dB again as \phi increases from 3\pi/2 to 2\pi . The complex aperture distribution is derived generally, and exhibited specifically for this case.
Influence of the chemical environment on α-decay

Abstract The effect of a change in the chemical environment of an α-emitter on its decay constant λ, computed on the model of a spatially constant electron density in the region of the Coulomb barrier, is δλ / λ ≈ 10 −8 . It is pointed out that on the model used by Alder et al. δλ is necessarily zero, so their result δλ / λ ≈ 10 −3 is wrong.
Gene Therapy and Endothelial Cell Targeting for Cancer

The endothelium represents a potentially critical target for gene therapy because of its anatomical location and its importance in the viability in both normal and malignant tissues. Protecting the endothelium of normal tissues, such as the lungs, from the toxic effects of current antineoplastic agents and the destruction of the tumor vasculature are reasonable goals. As a target, however, the endothelium continues to represent a significant challenge. While gene delivery to cultured endothelial cells is possible, improved delivery systems are required, as well as cell-specific promoters, before in vivo gene therapy to important endothelial populations can be accomplished.
Inflammatory Stimuli Regulate Caspase Substrate Profiles

The inflammatory caspases, human caspases-1, -4, and -5, proteolytically modulate diverse physiological outcomes in response to proinflammatory signals. Surprisingly, only a few substrates are known for these enzymes, including other caspases and the interleukin-1 family of cytokines. To more comprehensively characterize inflammatory caspase substrates, we combined an enzymatic N-terminal enrichment method with mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify newly cleaved proteins. Analysis of THP-1 monocytic cell lysates treated with recombinant purified caspases identified 82 putative caspase-1 substrates, three putative caspase-4 substrates, and no substrates for caspase-5. By contrast, inflammatory caspases activated in THP-1 cells by mimics of gout (monosodium urate), bacterial infection (lipopolysaccharide and ATP), or viral infection (poly(dA·dT)) were found to cleave only 27, 16, and 22 substrates, respectively. Quantitative stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) comparison of these three inflammatory stimuli showed that they induced largely overlapping substrate profiles but different extents of proteolysis. Interestingly, only half of the cleavages found in response to proinflammatory stimuli were contained within our set of 82 in vitro cleavage sites. These data provide the most comprehensive set of caspase-1-cleaved products reported to date and indicate that caspases-4 and -5 have far fewer substrates. Comparisons between the in vitro and in vivo data highlight the importance of localization in regulating inflammatory caspase activity. Finally, our data suggest that inducers of inflammation may subtly alter caspase-1 substrate profiles.
Comment on "Issues and challenges in the performance analysis of real disk arrays"

We address an analysis of the SCAN disk scheduling, which approximates the mean seek distance as the ratio of maximum distance and disk/spl I.bar/queue+1. We also comment on using the mean seek distance to estimate the mean disk response time.
Flow visualization methods for separated three-dimensional shock wave/turbulent boundary-layer interactions

A collection of techniques is presented for the visualization of separated turbulent flows at high speeds. Some of these techniques—including a method of generating a localized vapor visualization—have not been available previously. Others, such as the conical shadowgraph and stereoscopic schlieren methods, have been used before in other contexts. Here, all the available techniques are applied to the study of three-dimensi onal supersonic flows generated by swept compression corners. The paper discusses the techniques and some of the fluid mechanical insights revealed by the visualizations, including the structure of the observed three-dimensional flow separations and associated shock wave systems.
A comparison of the two traditions of metadata development

Metadata has taken on a more significant role than ever before in the emerging digital library context because the effective organization of networked information clearly depends on the effective management and organization of metadata. The issue of metadata has been approached variously by different intellectual communities. The two main approaches may be characterized as: (1) the bibliographic control approach (origins and major proponents in library science); and (2) data management approach (origins and major proponents in computer science). This article examines the different conceptual foundations and orientations of the two major approaches contributing to the metadata discussion. An examination of the on-going efforts to establish metadata standards, and comparison of different metadata formats, supports a proposal for an integrated concept of metadata to facilitate the merging of the two approaches.
THE EFFECTS OF RADICAL DISCONNEXION OF OCCIPITAL AND TEMPORAL CORTEX ON VISUAL BEHAVIOUR OF MONKEYS

THE behavioural analysis of primates prepared with experimental brain lesions has flourished during the past twenty years. These studies were initially designed to develop animal "models" of clinical neurological syndromes. The usefulness of such models has been that precise neurobehavioural analysis could be performed, an advantage over the ordinary indefiniteness of clinical material. As a result a good deal is known about the functions in monkey of the part of the cerebral mantle which is usually referred to as "association cortex." One of the major findings has been that the posterior association cortex can be subdivided into areas each of which serves one or another specific sensory modality. Thus cortical loci for taste (Bagshaw and Pribram, 1953), somesthesis (Pribram and Barry, 1956; Wilson, 1957), audition (Weiskrantz and Mishkin, 1958; Dewson et al., in preparation), and for vision (Blum et al., 1951; Chow, 1951; Mishkin and Pribram, 1954) have been delineated. Interestingly, however, these loci are not where one would expect them to be, i.e. immediately adjacent to the primary sensory areas of the modality served. Rather, the sensory specific association areas proved to be some distance from the "parent" primary cortex. Further, a tantalizing result was obtained when the primary sensory systems were circumsected by removals of the cortex intervening between the projection and the sensory specific association areas: little deficit in discrimination behaviour of any sort could be demonstrated. Other forms of disconnexion such as crosshatching the cortex (Pribram et al., 1966) also failed to affect discrimination. Much of the extensive analysis of the problem has been effected by experiments performed in the visual modality. These experiments provide excellent examples of the issues involved. Visual discriminations are seriously disrupted by removals of the inferior temporal convolution. A similar syndrome is not seen after removals of the prestriate cortex. The question therefore arises as to how the inferotemporal
Electric LAMP: Virtual Loop-Mediated Isothermal AMPlification

We present eLAMP, a PERL script, with Tk graphical interface, that electronically simulates Loop-mediated AMPlification (LAMP) allowing users to efficiently test putative LAMP primers on a set of target sequences. eLAMP can match primers to templates using either exact (via builtin PERL regular expressions) or approximate matching (via the tre-agrep library). Performance was tested on 40 whole genome sequences of Staphylococcus. eLAMP correctly predicted that the two tested primer sets would amplify from S. aureus genomes and not amplify from other Staphylococcus species. Open source (GNU Public License) PERL scripts are available for download from the New York Botanical Garden's website.
Building an Adaptive Framework for Human Space Colonization

We have seen, now, that our species is one of many. We have had a successful, two-million year run so far. But to persist as a species we cannot rest on our laurels. We must continue to use humanity's unique capacity for proactive adaptation- so precious in comparison with the reactive nature of adaptation in every other life form we know of - to survive. This includes, we argue, the colonization of space. Inspired by our past successes, such as the glories of Pacific and Arctic colonization, and the human space program to date, we now consider how humanity will orchestrate the fourth major adaptation, which we call the Extraterrestrial Adaptation. A project as vast as the expansion of our species' geographical range to include off-Earth environments will require more creative proaction than anything yet attempted. Because this will be an adaptive endeavor, we must shape it with everything we know about evolution, the author of adaptation.
Magnesium is required for specific DNA binding of the CREB B-ZIP domain

We have examined binding of the CREB B-ZIP protein domain to double-stranded DNA containing a consensus CRE sequence (5'-TGACGTCA-3'), the related PAR, C/EBP and AP-1 sequences and the unrelated SP1 sequence. DNA binding was assayed in the presence or absence of MgCl2 and/or KCl using two methods: circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The CD assay allows us to measure equilibrium binding in solution. Thermal denaturation in 150 mM KCl indicates that the CREB B-ZIP domain binds all the DNA sequences, with highest affinity for the CRE site, followed by the PAR (5'-TAACGTTA-3'), C/EBP (5'-TTGCGCAA-3') and AP-1 (5'-TGAGTCA-3') sites. The addition of 10 mM MgCl2 diminished DNA binding to the CRE and PAR DNA sequences and abolished binding to the C/EBP and AP-1 DNA sequences, resulting in more sequence-specific DNA binding. Using 'standard' EMSA conditions (0.25x TBE), CREB bound all the DNA sequences examined. The CREB-CRE complex had an apparent Kd of approximately 300 pM, PAR of approximately 1 nM, C/EBP and AP-1 of approximately 3 nM and SP1 of approximately 30 nM. The addition of 10 mM MgCl2 to the polyacrylamide gel dramatically altered sequence-specific DNA binding. CREB binding affinity for CRE DNA decreased 3-fold, but binding to the other DNA sequences decreased >1000-fold. In the EMSA, addition of 150 mM KCl to the gels had an effect similar to MgCl2. The magnesium concentration needed to prevent non-specific electrostatic interactions between CREB and DNA in solution is in the physiological range and thus changes in magnesium concentration may be a cellular signal that regulates gene expression.
A Statistical Framework for the Sensitivity Analysis of Radiative Transfer Models

Process models are widely used tools, both for studying fundamental processes themselves and as elements of larger system studies. A radiative transfer model (RTM) simulates the interaction of light with a medium. We are interested in RTMs that model light reflected from a vegetated region. Such an RTM takes as input various biospheric and illumination parameters and computes the upwelling radiation at the top of the canopy. The question we address is as follows: Which of the inputs to the RTM has the greatest impact on the computed observation? We study the leaf canopy model (LCM) RTM, which was designed to study the feasibility of observing leaf chemistry remotely. Its inputs are leaf chemistry variables (chlorophyll, water, lignin, and cellulose) and canopy structural parameters (leaf area index, leaf angle distribution, soil reflectance, and sun angle). We present a statistical approach to the sensitivity analysis of RTMs to answer the question previously posed. The focus is on global sensitivity analysis, studying how the RTM output changes as the inputs vary continuously according to a probability distribution over the input space. The influence of each input variable is captured through the ldquomain effectsrdquo and ldquosensitivity indices.rdquo Direct computation requires extensive computationally expensive runs of the RTM. We develop a Gaussian process approximation to the RTM output to enable efficient computation. We illustrate how the approach can effectively determine the inputs that are vital for accurate prediction. The methods are applied to the LCM with seven inputs and output obtained at eight wavelengths associated with Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer bands that are sensitive to vegetation.
Tactical Asset Allocation to Gold

This paper finds a strong correlation between deviations in the once widely popular Fed model to the price of gold. A simple tactical asset allocation strategy can be implemented. Empirical test of the model show the implicit timing signals to be statistically significant. The degree of accuracy, including the month gold peaked in 1980, can be an extremely valuable asset for portfolio managers looking for positive alphas. Of course, building an investment theory based on one component (Fed model) can be perilous; this paper will also look at the DJIA to gold ratio as a relative value assessment.
The psychometrics of mental workload: multiple measures are sensitive but divergent.

Objective:A study was run to test the sensitivity of multiple workload indices to the differing cognitive demands of four military monitoring task scenarios and to investigate relationships between indices.Background:Various psychophysiological indices of mental workload exhibit sensitivity to task factors. However, the psychometric properties of multiple indices, including the extent to which they intercorrelate, have not been adequately investigated.Method:One hundred fifty participants performed in four task scenarios based on a simulation of unmanned ground vehicle operation. Scenarios required threat detection and/or change detection. Both single- and dual-task scenarios were used. Workload metrics for each scenario were derived from the electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram, transcranial Doppler sonography, functional near infrared, and eye tracking. Subjective workload was also assessed.Results:Several metrics showed sensitivity to the differing demands of the four scenarios. Eye fixation d...
Impact of SOD in eNOS uncoupling: a two-edged sword between hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite.

In endothelial cell dysfunction, the uncoupling of eNOS results in higher superoxide (O 2 ) and lower NO production and a reduction in NO availability. Superoxide reacts with NO to form a potent oxidizing agent peroxynitrite (ONOO  ) resulting in nitrosative and nitroxidative stresses and dismutates to form hydrogen peroxide. Studies have shown superoxide dismutase (SOD) plays an important role in reduction of O 2 and ONOO  during eNOS uncoupling. However, the administration or over-expression of SOD was ineffective or displayed deleterious effects in some cases. An understanding of interactions of the two enzyme systems eNOS and SOD is important in determining endothelial cell function. We analyzed complex biochemical interactions involving eNOS and SOD in eNOS uncoupling. A computational model of biochemical pathway of the eNOS-related NO and O 2 production and downstream reactions involving NO, O 2 , ONOO  , H 2 O 2 and SOD was developed. The effects of SOD concentration on the concentration profiles of NO, O 2 , ONOO  and H 2 O 2 in eNOS coupling/ uncoupling were investigated. The results include (i) SOD moderately improves NO production and concentration during eNOS uncoupling, (ii) O 2 production rate is independent of SOD concentration, (iii) Increase in SOD concentration from 0.1 to 100 mM reduces O 2 concentration by 90% at all [BH 4 ]/[TBP] ratios, (iv) SOD reduces ONOO  concentration and increases H 2 O 2 concentration during eNOS uncoupling, (v) Catalase can reduce H 2 O 2 concentration and (vi) Dismutation rate by SOD is the most sensitive parameter during eNOS uncoupling. Thus, SOD plays a dual role in eNOS uncoupling as an attenuator of nitrosative/nitroxidative stress and an augmenter of oxidative stress.
Melatonin Attenuates I/R-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Skeletal Muscle

Background Our recent studies have shown that ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) produces significant necrosis and apoptosis in the cells of skeletal muscle. Our previous studies also demonstrated that melatonin provides significant protection against superoxide generation, endothelial dysfunction, and cell death in the skeletal muscle after I/R. Mitochondria are essential for cell survival, because of their roles as ATP producers as well as regulators of cell death. However, the efficacy of melatonin on I/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the skeletal muscle in vivo has not been demonstrated in the literature. Materials and Methods Vascular pedicle isolated rat gracilis muscle model was used. After 4 h of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion, gracilis muscle was harvested, and mitochondrial as well as cytosolic fractions were isolated. Mitochondrial dysfunction was determined by the alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of the proapoptotic protein, cytochrome c . Three groups were designed; sham I/R, I/R-V (I/R with vehicle), and I/R-Mel (I/R with melatonin). Melatonin or vehicle was given intravenously 10 min prior to reperfusion and 10 min after reperfusion. Results We found that the capability of uptake of fluorescent JC-1 dye in skeletal muscle cells was substantially improved in I/R-Mel group compared with I/R-V group. Melatonin significantly inhibited the outflow of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm, which was demonstrated in the I/R-V group. Conclusions Melatonin significantly attenuates I/R-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, such as the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of the proapoptotic protein, cytochrome c , from the mitochondria.