cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Social Life of Genes: Privacy, Property and the New Genetics

With the advent of the Human Genome Project and widespread fears over human cloning and medical privacy, a number of states have moved to protect genetic privacy. Oregon's unique Genetic Privacy Act of 1995, which declared that an individual had property rights to their DNA, has provoked national and international interest and controversy. This paper critically reviews the literature on genetic privacy and gene patenting from law, philosophy, science and anthropology. The debate in Oregon, from 1995 to 2001, illustrates many of the key issues in this emerging area. Both sides of the debate invoke the property metaphor, reinforcing deterministic assumptions and avoiding more fundamental questions about the integrity of the body and self-identity. The anthropological critique of the commodification of the body, and the concept of 'embodiment' are useful in analyzing the debate over DNA as property.
Divergent immune responses and disease outcomes in piglets immunized with inactivated and attenuated H3N2 swine influenza vaccines in the presence of maternally-derived antibodies

Live-attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) prime-boost vaccination previously conferred protection against heterologous H3N2 swine influenza challenge, including in piglets with maternally derived antibodies (MDA). Conversely, a whole-inactivated virus (WIV) vaccine was associated with enhanced disease. This study was aimed at identifying immune correlates of cross-protection. Piglets with and without MDA received intramuscular adjuvanted WIV or intranasal LAIV, and were challenged with heterologous H3N2. WIV induced cross-reactive IgG, inhibited by MDA, and a moderate T cell response. LAIV elicited mucosal antibodies and T cells cross-reactive to the heterologous challenge strain. The presence of MDA at LAIV vaccination blocked lung and nasal antibody production, but did not interfere with T cell priming. Even without mucosal antibodies, MDA-positive LAIV vaccinates were protected, indicating a likely role for T cells. Based on the data, one LAIV dose can induce cell-mediated immunity against antigenically divergent H3N2 influenza virus despite passive antibody interference with humoral immune responses.
c-Fos Degradation by the Proteasome AN EARLY, Bcl-2-REGULATED STEP IN APOPTOSIS

c-Fos is a transcription factor that promotes cell growth, differentiation, and transformation. We found that c-Fos was degraded when WEHI7.2 mouse lymphoma cells were induced to undergo apoptosis with the calcium ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, or the glucocorticoid hormone, dexamethasone. The degradation of c-Fos preceded caspase-3 activation and apoptotic nuclear chromatin condensation and was inhibited by the proteasome inhibitors MG132, N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal, and lactacystin. Stable transfection of WEHI7.2 cells with a mutant form of c-Fos that was not degraded by the proteasome inhibited apoptosis. Also, overexpression of Bcl-2 in WEHI7.2 cells blocked c-Fos degradation and inhibited apoptosis. The results indicate that proteasome-mediated degradation of c-Fos is an early, Bcl-2-regulated step in apoptosis induction by thapsigargin and dexamethasone. These findings suggest that c-Fos may have a protective action that is eliminated by proteasome-mediated degradation and preserved by Bcl-2.
Abstract 4207: DHA enhances genotoxic stress in prostate cancer cells through suppression of NF-κB

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Excess levels of omega-6 fatty acids, commonly consumed in Western diets, are heavily implicated in contributing to prostate cancer incidence and tumor cell proliferation. Omega-6 fatty acids may promote worse outcome through the chronic production of eicosanoids that promote inflammation and oxidative stress. As omega-3 fatty acids competitively interact with some of the same rate-limiting enzymes to diminish inflammation and oxidative stress, epidemiologic studies have sought to determine if diets high in omega-3 fatty acids may impart beneficial effects on prostate cancer rates and progression. Pre-clinical observations indicate that omega-3 fatty acids suppress prostate tumor cell growth and induce cancer cell death, supporting a beneficial role of omega-3 fatty acids in delaying time to PSA failure and reducing the aggressiveness of advanced prostate cancer. As omega-3 fatty acids possess known pro-oxidant and antioxidant properties, we investigated the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA-22:6n-3) in modulating oxidative DNA damage in normal and prostate cancer cells. Preliminary data demonstrates that prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) pretreated with DHA and pulsed with physiologic levels of H2O2 encounter a sustained G2 checkpoint arrest and exhibit decreased colony formation potential when compared to normal prostate epithelial cells (PrEC). LNCaP cells pulsed with 32 uM H2O2 exhibit DNA breaks associated with translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus, whereas pretreatment with DHA precluded NF-κB translocation, selectively sensitizing LNCaP cells, but not PrEC, to cell death. Further, DHA suppresses degradation of the NF-κB inhibitor, IκB, and attenuates NF-κB transcriptional activity as well as expression of the NF-κB downstream target, survivin. To conclusively demonstrate the critical role of NF-kB signaling in LNCaP cells after exposure to H2O2, we induced a 50% knockdown of p65 by siRNA and observe a complete ablation of colony formation relative to scrambled siRNA control vector. Here we describe one potential mechanism by which DHA may selectively increase genotoxicity in prostate cancer cells after exposure to oxidizing agents, ultimately setting the stage for Phase II clinical trials. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4207. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4207
A characterization of nonnegative-definite independence distribution-preserving covariance structures for the maximum squared-radii statistic

The multivariate maximum squared-radii (MMSR) statistic is commonly used to detect multivariate outliers. We characterize the general form of the nonnegative-definite observation covariance structure for which the distribution of the MMSR statistic is the sameas the distribution resulting from the usual independence covariance structure. Thus, we extend the work of Young, Seaman, and Meaux (1992), who have characterized the general form of the positive-definite independence-distribution-preserving (IDP) dependency structure for the MMSR statistic. We also improve upon the results of Younget al (1992) in that we give a more complete and simple proof of the characterization of the general positive-definite IDP covariance structure for the MMSR statistic.
Using Portfolios for Individual Learning and Assessment

Portfolio assessment is a method of teacher evaluation that is consistent with a professional rather than a technical view of teaching and is particularly suited for graduate programs in behavior d...
Symmetries of Large N c Matrix Models for Closed Strings

We obtain the symmetry algebra of multimatrix models in the planar large ${N}_{c}$ limit. We use this algebra to associate these matrix models with quantum spin chains. In particular, certain multimatrix models are exactly solved by using known results of solvable spin chain systems.
Identifying off-topic student essays without topic-specific training data

Educational assessment applications, as well as other natural-language interfaces, need some mechanism for validating user responses. If the input provided to the system is infelicitous or uncooperative, the proper response may be to simply reject it, to route it to a bin for special processing, or to ask the user to modify the input. If problematic user input is instead handled as if it were the system's normal input, this may degrade users' confidence in the software, or suggest ways in which they might try to “game” the system. Our specific task in this domain is the identification of student essays which are “off-topic”, or not written to the test question topic. Identification of off-topic essays is of great importance for the commercial essay evaluation system CriterionSM. The previous methods used for this task required 200–300 human scored essays for training purposes. However, there are situations in which no essays are available for training, such as when users (teachers) wish to spontaneously write a new topic for their students. For these kinds of cases, we need a system that works reliably without training data. This paper describes an algorithm that detects when a student's essay is off-topic without requiring a set of topic-specific essays for training. This new system is comparable in performance to previous models which require topic-specific essays for training, and provides more detailed information about the way in which an essay diverges from the requested essay topic.
Influences of Childhood Abuse on Parenting Perspectives of Pregnant Cohabitors

Using thematic analysis, we examine the effects of childhood abuse regarding parenthood for pregnant cohabitors from qualitative interviews. Participants (N = 18; 10 women and 8 men) recalled childhood abuse during the Adult Attachment Interview. Three themes emerged: (1) “Learning what not to do,” whereby abuse is discussed as something not to continue, and harmful toward children; (2) “Use but modify parents’ discipline,” whereby individuals state that they will employ methods of their parents, but in ways different for their children; and (3) “Ambiguous,” whereby discussions are unclear and confused about how the abuse will affect their parenting. These results suggest that even when pregnant cohabitors want to parent differently than their own parents, they may not have relevant models or skills. For practitioners, we suggest interventions aimed at providing alternative models for how to parent, and effective and appropriate disciplining methods, as ways to deter intergenerational abuse.
The Dynamic Ubiquitin Ligase Duo: Cdh1-APC and Cdc20-APC Regulate Neuronal Morphogenesis and Connectivity

The proper development and patterning of axons, dendrites, and synapses is essential for the establishment of accurate neuronal circuits in the brain. A major goal in neurobiology is to identify the mechanisms and principles that govern these fundamental developmental events of neuronal circuit formation. In recent years, exciting new studies have suggested that ubiquitin signaling pathways may play crucial roles in the control of neuronal connectivity. Among E3 ubiquitin ligases, Cdh1-anaphase promoting complex (Cdh1-APC) and Cdc20-APC have emerged as key regulators of diverse aspects of neuronal connectivity, from axon and dendrite morphogenesis to synapse differentiation and remodeling.
Relationships Between Myocardial Bioenergetic and Left Ventricular Function in Hearts With Volume-Overload Hypertrophy

Background Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy secondary to volume overload can result in alterations in myocardial bioenergetics and LV dysfunction. This study examined whether bioenergetic abnormalities contribute to the pump dysfunction. Methods and Results Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) was produced in 10 dogs by disruption of the chordal apparatus. Hemodynamics and ventricular function were examined 11.7 months later under baseline conditions and during treadmill exercise. Myocardial high-energy phosphates were measured by using magnetic resonance spectroscopy at rest, during coronary vasodilation with adenosine, and during oxidative stress induced by rapid pacing and dobutamine. Chronic MR caused a 30% increase in LV mass and a 65% increase in LV volume. In MR animals, the hemodynamic and LV function were normal at rest, but abnormalities developed during β-blockade and exercise. Myocardial creatine phosphate–to-ATP ratios were significantly lower in each layer across the LV wall in MR hearts than n...
Strategic sales organizations: transformation challenges and facilitators within the sales–marketing interface

As business firms embrace the emerging strategic sales organizations, they need to be mindful of the intra-organizational factors that may facilitate or challenge this transformation and its related strategic imperatives. Using depth-interview data collected from 38 sales and marketing executives, this study highlights the similarities and differences in sales and marketing personnel's perceptions about the role they and their counterparts may play in the strategic process. Drawing on these insights, it then brings forth the ‘role-related’ and ‘process-related’ factors that may facilitate and challenge strategic imperatives associated with the new sales paradigm. This paper thus highlights the nuances of the role expectations within the sales–marketing interface, and its impact on strategic imperatives that may determine the firm's movement toward a strategic customer management philosophy.
Patients' willingness to allow residents to learn to practice medical procedures.

PurposeConsent for teaching procedures has been the focus of ethical discussion recently. Patients may consent to a procedure but be unaware that the procedure is to be performed by a resident, perhaps for the first time. In such cases, patients have not specifically consented to the practice of tea
I-J expression is not associated with murine chromosome 4

I-J originally mapped within the murine major histocompatibility complex (H-2) between the EB and Ea, loci using intra-H-2 recombinants. Cloning of this segment of H-2 shows no DNA that can be ascribed to I-J. Various hypotheses have attempted to explain this dilemma. One hypothesis attributes a chromosome 4 locus with I-Jk expression. This hypothesis requires the AKR/J and A/WySn mouse strains to be I-Jk negative. In the present report we show that AKR/J spleen cells express I-Jk surface molecules and that both the AKR/J and A/WySn mouse strains produce functional I-Jk-bearing suppressor factors to poly(Glu50Tyr50). Our data imply that mapping of I-J-determining genes to chromosome 4 may be premature.
New observations of ultraviolet radiation and column ozone from Socorro, New Mexico

Measurements of surface ultraviolet irradiances are presented for the period of June 1997 to December 1998 from Socorro, NM (34°N, 107°W). The observations are used with results of radiative transfer calculations to retrieve total column ozone. Mean differences between Socorro daily ozone measurements and Earth Probe TOMS satellite data are -1.8 DU and 0.6 DU for 1997 and 1998, respectively. Unusually low ozone was observed in late November and December of 1998, with levels near or below the lowest ozone in the 17-year Nimbus-7 and Earth Probe TOMS record for this location. The clear-sky correlation between the UV Index at 60° solar zenith angle and total ozone is well described by a power law, with an exponent (Radiation Amplification Factor) of 0.97±0.16. One exception occurred during a 10-day period in December 1997 and January 1998 in the aftermath of a heavy snow storm, when the UV Index exhibited clear-sky enhancements of up to 30%. Increases in downwelling ultraviolet radiation were related to a higher effective surface albedo with maximum estimated values between 0.7 to 0.9.
The distribution ofFusarium species in soils planted to millet and sorghum in Lesotho, Nigeria and Zimbabwe

Samples from soils planted to millet and sorghum from Lesotho, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe were processed and a total of 3,291Fusarium cultures were recovered. Of these 1,296 cultures were isolated from plant debris and 1,995 cultures were recovered from soil dilutions. The most prevalent species recovered wereF. oxysporum (37%),F. equiset (30%),F. solani (14%),F. moniliforme (6%),F. compactum (5%),F. nygamai (4%), andF. chlamydosporum (2%). OtherFusarium species isolated wereF. merismoides, F. polyphialidicum, F. graminearum, F. subglutinans, F. sambucinum, F. longipes, F. semitectum, F. dimerum, F. lateritium, and a group of cultures designated as population A which resembleF. camptoceras. Fusarium equiseti was the predominant species in soil samples from Nigeria and Zimbabwe, whileF. oxysporum was the predominant species recovered from soil from Lesotho.
A General Framework for Induction and a Study of Selective Induction

This paper has two major parts. The first is an extensive analysis of the problem of induction, and the second part is a detailed study of selective induction. Throughout the paper we integrate a number of notions, mainly from artificial intelligence, but also from pattern recognition and cognitive psychology. The result is a synthetic view which exploits uncertainty, task-guidance, and biases such as language restriction. Some of the main themes and contributions are as follows. (1) Practical induction is really a problem of efficacy and efficiency (power). (2) Search in a space of hypothetical concepts is governed by a credibility function which combines various knowledge sources in a single subjective probability or belief measure μ. (3) The amount of knowledge supplied by various sources can often be quantifieds these sources include various biases and the learning system itself. (4) Induction is equivalent to discovery of a utility function u, which captures the purpose or goal of induction. (5) The difficulty of induction may be characterized by the form of u. Smooth or coherent functions mean selective induction, which has had the most attention in machine learning. (6) Systems for selective induction are more similar than commonly understood. By juxtaposing them we can discover similarities and improvements. (7) Our analysis suggests a number of incipient principles for powerful induction.
Sizing up crystals and their melt inclusions: a new approach to crystallization studies

A correlation between melt inclusion composition and host crystal size has been discovered in a basaltic ash deposit from a volcanic arc setting. Least-evolved melt inclusions, featuring high H2O–CO2 saturation pressures, are found in large olivine crystals. Melt inclusion compositions become more evolved and volatile saturation pressures decrease as host crystal size decreases. This trend is interpreted as reflecting crystal nucleation and growth during decompression of a magma saturated with H2O and CO2. In general, melt inclusion compositions show large incompatible element enrichment and modest major element variation consistent with in situ crystallization. Crystal size is used to temporally constrain the formation age of melt inclusions and the decompression path of the magma. An estimated crystal growth rate of 10−8 cm s−1 yields an initial average magma ascent rate of ∼4.8 km yr−1 at mid-crustal depths. At shallower depths the ascent rate was roughly an order of magnitude greater.
Role of Haematological Parameters as an Indicator of Acute Malarial Infection in Uttarakhand State of India

Background Malaria may be associated with complications which may be avoided by early diagnosis and treatment. Microscopic diagnosis showing presence of malarial parasites is needed for confirmation which at times may be unreliable and requires technical expertise. The present study was conducted to statistically analyze the haematological parameters including platelet indices which can give initial hint for malarial infection and therefore prompt the laboratory physician for active search of the parasite microscopically. Methods A retrospective study was conducted which included 334 cases of acute malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax , falciparum and dual infection along with 100 cases of control. Routine haematological parameters along with platelet indices (MPV and PDW) which are easily available on automated cell counter were statistically analyzed to assess their role as indicators for malaria. Results Leukocyte count and platelet count were significantly lower in cases of acute malaria in comparison to controls (p value 8 fl had 71.9% and 61.5% sensitivity and 78.2% and 77.7% positive predictive value respectively for infection. Platelet count 8 fl was comparatively more sensitive indicator for vivax (88% and 70.8% respectively) than falciparum (84.8% and 50.4% respectively) and PDW 6-10 was more sensitive indicator for falciparum (82.6%) than vivax (69.5%) infection. Conclusion Thrombocytopenia ( 8 fl) and PDW of 6-10 also show considerable sensitivity for malarial infection. In addition, thrombocytopenia ( 8 fl) was more sensitive for vivax infection while PDW 6-10 was more sensitive for falciparum infection.
Religion and State: The View from Enlightenment

This article analyzes the relationship between religion and state from the viewpoint of Enlightenment philosophers who have shaped political modernity, along with their solutions to the religion-state relationship consonant with human freedom. In so doing, this article underlines the stakes of politicizing religion within modern democracies, highlighting particular approaches by contemporary religious thinkers and philosophical scholars that sketch out ways in which human freedom, both political and religious-theological, may be promoted.
Teach for America and Teacher Ed: Heads They Win, Tails We Lose.

Teach for America (TFA) is a marvel at marketing, offering elite college students a win-win option: by becoming corps members, they can do good and do well at the same time. Teacher education (TE) programs are in a hopeless position in trying to compete with TFA for prospective students. They cannot provide students with the opportunity to do well, because they can offer none of the exclusiveness and cachet that comes from being accepted as a TFA corps member. TE has always offered students the chance to do good, but this prospect is less entrancing when they realize that TFA’s escape clause allows graduates to do good without major personal sacrifice. More than that, it promises to be a great career booster that will pay off handsomely in future income and prestige. In short, the competition between TFA and TE is a case of “heads they win, tails we lose.”
Simulation on the effect of non-uniform strain from the passivation layer on AlGaN/GaN HEMT

Abstract High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) based on the III-nitride material system have attracted interest for high-frequency electronic components operating at high-power levels. Nitride based HEMTs can achieve power, bandwidth and efficiency levels that exceed the performance of Si, GaAs or SiC based devices. At present, a major limitation of nitride HEMTs is their failure to achieve reliability on par with Si-LDMOS or GaAs pHEMT devices. The development of SiN x passivation layers have largely mitigated the gate lag effect, however, this passivation layer introduces an additional strain that forms a non-uniform polarization induced charge. Furthermore, this excess strain can locally relax the film eliminating the piezoelectric induced charge in addition to forming defects that act as electron traps.
Bacterial reduction of hexavalent chromium

Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria are widespread and Cr(VI) reduction occurs under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Under aerobic conditions, both NADH and endogenous cell reserves may serve as the electron donor for Cr(VI) reduction. Under anaerobic conditions, electron transport systems containing cytochromes appear to be involved in Cr(VI) reduction. High cell densities are necessary to obtain a significant rate of Cr(VI) reduction. Cr(VI) reduction by bacteria may be inhibited by Cr(VI), oxygen, heavy metals, and phenolic compounds. The optimum pH and temperature observed for Cr(VI) reduction generally coincide with the optimal growth conditions of cells. The optimum redox potential for Cr(VI) reduction has not yet been established.
Statistical properties of English text produced by Korean and Chinese authors

This article presents findings from a comparison of the Zipf’s law and Heaps’ law properties of English texts produced by second language writers of English to similar texts produced by native writers. Zipf’s law is a famous statistical law capturing the distribution of words in texts, while Heaps’ law describes the rate at which new words are encountered as one reads a text. The analysis of the Zipf properties of texts by writers whose first language (L1) is Korean shows that the distribution of words and multiword sequences (n-grams) is different from that observed in native speakers’ texts. These differences imply that Korean writers do not fully exploit English pronominals. Analyses also indicate that the Heaps’ law properties of texts produced by the L1 and L2 writers show different rates of lexical innovation. A number of studies have estimated the Zipf’s and Heaps’ properties of native language texts in various contexts (e.g., Li, 1992; Cancho, 2005), while others have considered the consequences of Zipf’s law for second language acquisition (Laufer and Nation, 1995; Meara, 2005; Ellis, 2012). This study is the first attempt to estimate the parameters of these laws for texts produced by different populations of the second language writers.
Clarifying the causes of Crohn's

Human and animal research suggests Crohn's disease is a heterogeneous group of disorders and implicates commensal bacteria in genetically determined mucosal T-cell dysregulation.
Reasoning with empirical marketing knowledge

Abstract Expert system development typically requires that a researcher translate domain-specific knowledge into a set of abstract rules describing the relationships between knowledge elements. In marketing, this task has proven to be very difficult. Much of the marketing knowledge is in the form of empirical research rather than generally accepted theories or heuristics. The observed relationships often depend on the research context and these dependencies must be explicitly represented in the rule premises. An alternative approach, described in the present paper, is to represent empirical knowledge in its original context and dynamically abstract the knowledge to analogous new situations. This approach is illustrated with adduce , a frame-based system for reasoning about consumer response to advertising. The system infers how consumers will react to new ads by searching for relevant past advertising experiments and then generalizing research results across similar contexts.
Effects of reinforcement on retention and transfer

Three groups of Ss overlearned a list of nonsense syllables under three reinforcement conditions: consistent (CR), partial (PR), and nonreinforcement (NR). After seven days Ss were tested for recall and relearning. They then learned a new list of nonsense syllables. On all tasks, groups that received monetary rewards were superior to the NR group, suggesting that extrinsic reinforcement increases resistance to forgetting. On the transfer task, the PR group performed significantly better than did either the CR or the NR groups, and the CR group was superior to the NR group.
Measurement of Fukushima aerosol debris in Sequim and Richland, WA and Ketchikan, AK

Aerosol collections were initiated at several locations by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) shortly after the Great East Japan earthquake of May 2011. Aerosol samples were transferred to laboratory high-resolution gamma spectrometers for analysis. Similar to treaty monitoring stations operating across the Northern hemisphere, iodine and other isotopes which could be volatilized at high temperature were detected. Though these locations are not far apart, they have significant variations with respect to water, mountain-range placement, and local topography. Variation in computed source terms will be shown to bound the variability of this approach to source estimation.
The Amino-terminal Region of the Luteinizing Hormone/Choriogonadotropin Receptor Contacts Both Subunits of Human Choriogonadotropin I. MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS

Abstract The luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor is a seven-transmembrane receptor. Unlike most seven-transmembrane receptors, it is composed of two halves of equal size, the N-terminal extracellular exodomain and the C-terminal membrane-associated endodomain. The exodomain is exclusively responsible for high affinity hormone binding, whereas receptor activation occurs only in the endodomain. This mutually exclusive physical separation of the two functional domains sets the lutropin receptor and its subfamily of receptors apart from all other seven-transmembrane receptors. The mechanisms of hormone binding and receptor activation also appear to be different from those of other receptors in that binding occurs in at least two steps. However, the precise hormone contact sites in the exodomain are unknown. To determine the hormone/receptor contact sites, we have examined the receptor using progressive truncation from the C terminus, Ala scanning, immunofluorescence microscopy, and antibody binding. Progressive truncation from the C terminus of the receptor indicates several discrete regions that impact hormone binding. These regions are around the boundaries of exons 1–2, 4–5, 6–7, and 9–10. Ala scanning of the Asp17–Arg26 region near the exon 1–2 junction uncovered three alternating residues (Leu20, Cys22, and Gly24) crucial for hormone binding. Ala substitution for any one of these residues abolished hormone binding, although the resulting mutant receptors were successfully expressed on the cell surface. In contrast, Ala substitution for their flanking and intervening residues did not impair hormone binding. These results and the data in the accompanying article (Phang, T., Kundu, G., Hong, S., Ji, I., and Ji, T. (1998)J. Biol. Chem. 273, 13841–13847) indicate that this region directly contacts the hormone and suggest a novel mode of embracing the hormone.
Boiling nucleation and two-phase flow patterns in forced liquid flow in microchannels

Abstract Using microfabrication techniques, a microscale platinum heater was fabricated on a Pyrex glass wafer and located in a shallow, but nearly trapezoidal microchannel with a hydraulic diameter of D h = 56 microns fabricated on another glass wafer. Using a high-speed digital CCD video camera and microscope, the boiling nucleation temperature and two-phase flow patterns were observed and examined at different mass flow rates. The nucleation temperature was found to be reasonably close to the theoretical values as predicted by a 3D numerical heat transfer simulation with the measured bulk temperature of the microheater. The stability of the developed flow indicated three clearly distinguishable two-phase flow regimes: bubbly, wavy and annular. To avoid problems observed in the past, care was taken to ensure that the results were not influenced by the entrance and/or exit regions of the test section. The observed variations in the two-phase flow patterns were compared with the results of a model developed using a stability analysis of the liquid film.
Patch clamp studies of single intact secretory granules

The membrane of secretory granules is involved in the molecular events that cause exocytotic fusion. Several of the proteins that have been purified from the membrane of secretory granules form ion channels when they are reconstituted in lipid bilayers and, therefore, have been thought to form part of the molecular structure of the exocytotic fusion pore. We have used the patch clamp technique to study ion conductances in single isolated secretory granules from beige mouse mast cells. We found that the membrane of the intact granule had a conductance of
Room‐Temperature Electrochemical Assembly of Copper/Cuprous Oxide Nanocomposites

Nanocomposite films of copper metal and cuprous oxide, Cu2O, are electrodeposited at room temperature from alkaline solutions of copper(II) lactate. The electrode potential oscillates spontaneously if the films are deposited galvanostatically. The oscillation period is a function of pH, varying from 69 seconds at pH 8.7 to 11 seconds at pH 9.7. No oscillations are observed if the pH is below 8.5 or above 10. The phase composition of films deposited at 0.5 mA/cm2 is a function of pH. The composition varies from nearly pure copper (93 mole%) at pH 8, to 42 mole% copper at pH 9.5, to pure cuprous oxide when the pH exceeds 10. The observation of quasi-periodic potential oscillations suggests that the nanocomposites are layered. The calculated faradaic thickness of cuprous oxide is 5–8 nm, and the thickness of the copper layer is 1–11 nm. The thickness of each of the layers increases as the pH is lowered.
Reconstruction from Recollection and the Refutation of Idealism: A Kantian Theme in the Aufbau

We know from Carnap's autobiography that he was strongly influenced in his early writings by Kant's transcendental idealism of space and time, especially in the former's dissertation on space. By the time he wrote the Au?au, however, Carnap tells us that his use of "the neutral language of symbolic logic" had helped him realize that various sides of traditional philosophical controversies, such as realism and idealism, "were merely modes of speech, not formulations of positions".1 Upon reformulation of a symbolic definition of a philosophical idea as a rule of operation for a constructive procedure, says Carnap, it became "applicable by anybody, be it Kant's transcendental subject or a com puting machine".2 This does not mean, however, that Kant's problems no longer had a place in the Au?au, or even that Kant's own solutions to them cannot be fruitfully compared with his more constructive ap proach to them. On the contrary, Carnap himself provided interesting leads for such a comparison, most notably in Section 83 on interpreting "the basic relations as categories", though he says it may be omitted. But the bulk of the literature on the Kantian background of Carnap's early work up through the Au?au has focused rather on the neo Kantian influence exerted on him by his own contemporaries.3 The purpose of this paper is to lay out a direct comparison of the respective approaches and solutions of the Critique and the Au?au to problems centered on what Kant called the refutation of idealism, which involve in both cases underlying problems about time.4 My claim is that one cannot only recognize a treatment of these problems in the Au?au, but one can also see in it clear signs of philosophical progress when measured against Kant's treatment. I also argue that the significance of some of the Au?au's claims for Kant's problem was obscured by the fact that Carnap had not yet clearly distinguished implicit from explicit definitions.
MRI of the knee: value of short echo time fast spin-echo using high performance gradients versus conventional spin-echo imaging for the detection of meniscal tears.

Objective. Fast spin-echo (FSE) sequences reduce imaging time compared with conventional spin-echo (CSE) sequences, but may result in blurring. High-performance gradients permit shorter interecho spacing and use of the second echo as the effective TE (20 ms); both improvements reduce blurring. This randomized observer study compared a short TE, second-echo FSE sequence obtained using high-performance gradients and a CSE sequence with similar TR/TE for the detection of meniscal tears in the knee. Design and patients. One hundred consecutive MR examinations of the knee using FSE and CSE sequences at 1.5 T were evaluated. The FSE sequence used an effective TE of 20 ms (centered on the second echo at 2 times minimal interecho spacing) and an echo train length of 4. FSE and CSE parameters were otherwise similar. Four independent, masked readers reviewed randomized sagittal FSE and CSE sequences. Results. Cases were assessed for the presence or absence of meniscal tears and, if present, whether tears were medial or lateral and anterior or posterior. Sequence concordance was 93.5% (1496 of 1600 meniscal segments); the intermethod kappa value was 0.78. Sequence quality was graded from 1 to 5. Average quality of CSE images was slightly but statistically significantly preferred by three of the four readers. Conclusion. There was no statistically significant difference between CSE imaging and FSE imaging centered on the second echo (20 ms) using high-performance gradients for the detection of meniscal tears in the knee. There was a small preference for the quality of CSE images.
Resistance of droplets sliding by EWOD actuation

We report an experimental investigation of the resistive forces imparted on droplets actuated by electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD). While the advancing contact angle is always larger than the receding of a droplet moving on a solid surface under conventional actuation means, EWOD actuation is unique because the advancing angle is smaller than the receding. We recorded high-speed videos of sliding droplets under electrowetting to elucidate this seemingly paradoxical contact angle hysteresis. The results indicate a transition point at Ca≈ 10−3, after which the dominant resistance force becomes strongly speed-and voltage-dependent.
A review of out-of-autoclave prepregs – Material properties, process phenomena, and manufacturing considerations

Abstract Out-of-autoclave (OoA) prepreg materials and methods have gained acceptance over the past decade because of the ability to produce autoclave-quality components under vacuum-bag-only (VBO) cure. To achieve low porosity and tight dimensional tolerances, VBO prepregs rely on specific microstructural features and processing techniques. Furthermore, successful cure is contingent upon appropriate material property and process parameter selection. In this article, we review the existing literature on VBO prepreg processing to summarize and synthesize knowledge on these issues. First, the context, development, and defining properties of VBO prepregs are presented. The key processing phenomena and the influence on quality are subsequently described. Finally, cost and environmental performance are considered. Throughout, we highlight key considerations for VBO prepreg processing and identify areas where further study is required.
Pulsed ESR Dipolar Spectroscopy for Distance Measurements in Immobilized Spin Labeled Proteins in Liquid Solution

Pulsed electron spin resonance (ESR) dipolar spectroscopy (PDS) in combination with site-directed spin labeling is unique in providing nanometer-range distances and distributions in biological systems. To date, most of the pulsed ESR techniques require frozen solutions at cryogenic temperatures to reduce the rapid electron spin relaxation rate and to prevent averaging of electron-electron dipolar interaction due to the rapid molecular tumbling. To enable measurements in liquid solution, we are exploring a triarylmethyl (TAM)-based spin label with a relatively long relaxation time where the protein is immobilized by attachment to a solid support. In this preliminary study, TAM radicals were attached via disulfide linkages to substituted cysteine residues at positions 65 and 80 or 65 and 76 in T4 lysozyme immobilized on Sepharose. Interspin distances determined using double quantum coherence (DQC) in solution are close to those expected from models, and the narrow distance distribution in each case indicates that the TAM-based spin label is relatively localized.
Use of monoclonal antibody 1H1, anticortactin, to distinguish normal and neoplastic smooth muscle cells: Comparison with anti-α-smooth muscle actin and antimuscle-specific actin

In preliminary experiments, we found that 1H1, a monoclonal antibody directed against the v-src substrate cortactin, reacts with smooth muscle, myoepithelium, myofibroblasts, and macrophages in formaldehyde-fixed human tissues. To evaluate the use of this antibody as a diagnostic reagent, we tested the immunohistochemical distribution of cortactin in 61 mesenchymal neoplasms, 11 neuroectodermal neoplasms, and eight embryonal epithelial neoplasms. The results were compared with those obtained using antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin on a similar set of tissues. With the exception of positive staining in rhabdomyosarcoma, in this series only tumors with smooth muscle differentiation appeared to contain cortactin (16 of 19 leiomyosarcomas, one infantile fibrosarcoma, one malignant fibrous histiocytoma). Immunoelectron microscopy localized cortactin to the actin-associated dense bodies of the microfilament network. We conclude that cortactin may be a useful adjunct to alpha-smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin as a marker for the study and diagnosis of smooth muscle neoplasms and related lesions.
Impact of Data Assimilation on ECCO2 Equatorial Undercurrent and North Equatorial Countercurrent in the Pacific Ocean

AbstractThe impact of data assimilation on the transports of eastward-flowing Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) and North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) in the Pacific Ocean from 145°E to 95°W during 2004–05 and 2009–11 was assessed. Two Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II (ECCO2), solutions were analyzed: one with data assimilation and one without. Assimilated data included satellite observations of sea surface temperature and ocean surface topography, in which the sampling patterns were approximately uniform over the 5 years, and in situ measurements of subsurface salinity and temperature profiles, in which the sampling patterns varied considerably in space and time throughout the 5 years. Velocity measurements were not assimilated. The impact of data assimilation was considered significant when the difference between the transports computed with and without data assimilation was greater than 5.5 × 106 m3 s−1 (or 5.5 Sv; 1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) for the EUC and greater than 5.0 Sv for ...
Synaptic interactions involving acetylcholine, glutamate, and GABA in rat auditory cortex

Using electrophysiological techniques in the in vitro rat auditory cortex, we have examined how spontaneous acetylcholine (ACh) release modifies synaptic potentials mediated by glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Single stimulus pulses to lower layer VI elicited in layer III a four-component (A-D) extracellular field response involving synaptic potentials mediated by glutamate and GABA. The cholinesterases inhibitor eserine (10-20 microM) or the cholinergic agonist carbachol (25-50 microM) depressed by 10-50% the glutamatergic components A and C, and the GABAergic components B and D. Atropine reversed the depressive effects of eserine and carbachol. A novel finding was that the degree of depression of component A varied inversely with stimulus intensity. However, during partial pharmacological antagonism of GABAA receptors, depression of A varied directly, not inversely, with stimulus intensity. Normally, then, depression of A is offset by reduced GABAergic inhibition of A. We also tested for differential depression of responses mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) versus non-NMDA glutamate receptors. Following physiological and pharmacological isolation of the responses, eserine depressed the non-NMDA, but not the NMDA, receptor-mediated potential. Since the isolated NMDA potential still could be depressed by carbachol, the data suggested that activation of NMDA receptors may reduce spontaneous ACh release. In support of this, preincubation of slices in NMDA (10-20 microM) largely prevented eserine's, but not carbachol's, depression of components A and B. These results permit three conclusions of relevance to cortical information processing: (1) spontaneous ACh release tonically depresses synaptic potentials mediated by glutamate and GABA; (2) ACh depresses responses to weak inputs to a greater degree than responses to strong inputs: (3) activation of NMDA receptors may "feedback" to reduce ACh release, a mechanism that could place regulation of local ACh release under glutamatergic afferent control.
Signal domain based reachability analysis in RTL circuits

Register-transfer level (RTL) verification is a challenging problem for today's complex circuits. A sub-problem of verification is reachability of basic blocks or branches in the code. This paper proposes a novel analysis based on the domain of signal values in the RTL code to reason about the reachability of all branches without explicit circuit unrolling. This analysis takes into account all assignments, activating and preceding conditions in the code, to derive an assignment table that lists all the possible sequences of branches required to reach a target branch. In the process, it proves unreachable branches as well as provides guidance for reachable branches. This analysis resolves branches more efficiently compared to other methods for the ITC99 [1] benchmarks, especially for larger benchmarks containing previously unresolved branches.
Thermodynamics of liquid Mg-Bi alloys

Abstract Thermodynamic studies on liquid Mg-Bi alloys have been carried out using the e.m.f. method. A cell is described, suitable for measuring Mg activities in this system. Values of the excess partial molar free energy, the relative partial molar free energy, entropy, and enthalpy are listed along with the corresponding integral quantities. The results are compared with previous vapor pressure and calorimetric measurements as well as investigations of the phase diagram. Wagner's interpretation in terms of electronic constitution is consistent with the present data.
Detectability of auditory signals presented without defined observation intervals

Ability to detect tones in noise was measured without defined observation intervals. Latency density functions were estimated for the first response following a signal and, separately, for the first response following randomly distributed instances of background noise. Detection performance was measured by the maximum separation between the cumulative latency density functions for signal-plus-noise and for noise alone. Values of the index of detectability, estimated by this procedure, were approximately those obtained with a 2-dB weaker signal and defined observation intervals. Simulation of defined- and non-defined-interval tasks with an energy detector showed that this device performs very similarly to the human listener in both cases.
Surgical evaluation of parathyroid arteriography

Summary Preoperative parathyroid arteriography was carried out in a group of fourteen patients, each of whom underwent subsequent neck exploration. Preoperative angiographic demonstration of mediastinal adenomas was possible in two patients previously subjected to neck explorations, which proved to be nondiagnostic. Correct diagnosis and localization of hyperparathyroidism by arteriography were possible in only 43 per cent of patients despite the use of ancillary technics to differentiate thyroid from parathyroid staining. As a diagnostic procedure, parathyroid arteriography lacks the accuracy of the simple demonstration of persistent unexplained hypercalcemia. As a technic for localization of hyperparathyroidism, accuracy is limited by the frequent inability to differentiate thyroid from parathyroid staining. Considerations of uncertainty, risk, and expense of routine parathyroid arteriography seem likely to relegate the use of this procedure to patients with persistent postoperative hypercalcemia who are being considered for re-exploration.
BIASED REFEREES?: RECONCILING RESULTS WITH THE NBA'S ANALYSIS

In a recent study, we used National Basketball Association (NBA) box-score data over a 13-year period including nearly 600,000 foul calls to show that NBA referees call relatively more fouls on players of another race. The NBA commissioned its own study using internal data with information on calls made by individual referees and claimed the results show there is no bias among the referees in the NBA. This paper is an attempt to reconcile these competing claims. (JEL J15, J71)
Argon matrix Raman and infrared spectra of SF5Cl, SF5Br, and S2F10

Abstract Infrared and laser-excited Raman spectra of SF 5 Cl, SF 5 Br, and S 2 F 10 have been observed in dilute argon matrices and in the solid phase at 8 K. The first vibrational assignment of the SF 5 Br molecule and assignments for the ν(SCl), ν(SBr), and ν(SS) modes in SF 5 Cl, SF 5 Br, and S 2 F 10 are presented. The chlorine isotopic components of the SCl stretch in SF 5 Cl have been resolved. The Raman spectrum of SF 5 Br, which has not been reported previously, is discussed.