cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of microlenses in compound semiconductors and monolithic integration with diode lasers

Large-numerical-aperture microlenses have been fabricated in compound semiconductors by chemical etching and mass transport (surface-energy minimization) and have been monolithically integrated with GaInAsP/InP surface-emitting lasers. The microlenses showed smooth surface, accurate profiles, and near diffraction-limited beam collimation. Techniques have been developed for accurate alignment between microlenses and buried-heterostructure waveguide gain regions fabricated on opposite sides of a substrate. The integrated devices showed room-temperature pulsed threshold currents of 70 mA, narrow beam divergence of 1.25 deg, and are potentially advantageous for fiber coupling, optical interconnects, laser-array applications, etc.
A two-state model for the multilamellar structure of a DNA/cationic lipid complex in the bulk.

Polyanionic DNA can bind electrostatically with cationic lipids to form a complex used for gene delivery and nanostructure construction. Here, we reveal two multilamellar phases, LI and LII, characterized by distinct states of lipid packing and DNA conformation in a DNA/cationic lipid complex in the bulk state. The LII phase, formed when the lipids are in excess of DNA in terms of overall ionic charge, is composed of B-DNA confined between the bilayers with the lipid tails aligning normal to the lamellar interface. When DNA becomes in excess of the lipids, the LI phase in which the DNA is bound with the tilted lipid chains adopting the A conformation is favored because this configuration offers more economical electrostatic binding between these two components.
Efficient Global Optimization Reliability Analysis (EGORA) for Time-Dependent Limit-State Functions

If a limit-state function involves time, the associated reliability is defined within a period of time. The extreme value of the limit-state function is needed to calculate the time-dependent reliability, and the extreme value is usually highly nonlinear with respect to random input variables and may follow a multimodal distribution. For this reason, a surrogate model of the extreme response along with Monte Carlo simulation is usually employed. The objective of this work is to develop a new method, called the Efficient Global Optimization Reliability Analysis (EGORA), to efficiently build the surrogate model. EGORA is based on the Efficient Global Optimization (EGO) method. Different from the current method that generates training points for random variables and time independently, EGORA draws training points for the two types of input variables simultaneously and therefore accounts for their interaction effects. The other improvement is that EGORA only focuses on high accuracy at or near the limit state. With the two improvements, the new method can effectively reduce the number of training points. Once the surrogate model of the extreme response is available, Monte Carlo simulation is applied to calculate the time-dependent reliability. Good accuracy and efficiency of EGORA are demonstrated by three examples.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Effects of normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia on ventilation and arterial blood gases in ducks

Abstract We measured ventilation (V I ) and arterial blood gases in awake Pekin ducks exposed to normoxia at sea level, normobaric hypoxia achieved by lowering F I O2 at normal barometric pressure (NORMO), and hypobaric hypoxia achieved with a low pressure chamber and 21% O2 (HYPO). Average normoxic values were: V I = 0.46 L ·( kg · min ) −1 , PaO2 = 99.7 Torr, PaCO2 = 30.1 Torr. At P I O 2 = 90 Torr , NORMO and HYPO measurements were not significantly different (P > 0.05). At P I O 2 = 46 Torr , NORMO V I was less than HYPO V I but blood gases were not significantly different: V I = 1.00 vs 1.45 L ·( kg · min ) − ; PaO2 = 31.3 vs 33.0 Torr; PaCO2 = 11.5 vs 10.6 Torr. Although both tidal volume (V T ) and respiratory frequency (f R ) were greater in HYPO, similar blood gases with NORMO and HYPO suggest similar parabronchial ventilation. The results suggest increased physiologic dead space, caused by reduced efficacy of aerodynamic valving, with reduced gas density in hupobaria.
Addressing broader impacts through K–12 outreach in materials education

Researchers worldwide recognize the importance of inspiring the next generation of scientists through outreach activities. U.S. researchers have additional motivation in that many funding agencies are now requiring kindergarten through twelfth grade (K–12) outreach as part of fundable research plans. Unfortunately, many of these same researchers know little about the precollege educational community or about the educational system that supports that community. This special issue acts as a reference and provides pointers to the many opportunities available for materials education outreach, along with suggestions and advice on how both the novice and experienced researcher may contribute.
Magnetic-dipole transitions observed in highly ionized Ga, Ge, As, and Kr

The Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT) was used to observe magnetic-dipole radiation arising from transitions within the $3{s}^{2}3{p}^{n}$ ground-state configurations of highly stripped ions heavier than Ni. This device generates a plasma of 3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{13}$${\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ electron density and \ensuremath{\sim}1.5-keV temperature, ideally suited for ionization of these atoms to the $n=3$ shell. Wavelength and transition-rate predictions were made with Scaled Hartree-Fock radial energy integrals.
Comparative study of lipophilicity versus topological molecular descriptors in biological correlations

This paper analyzes the relative efficacies of lipophilicity vis-a-vis topological indices in the correlation of the biological properties of four groups of bioactive molecules: alcohols, barbiturates, triazinones, and ketobemidones. Wiener number (W), information-theoretic topological parameters (IC, SIC, CIC, IWD, and IWD), and molecular connectivity indices (1χ, 1χv) were used as the molecular descriptors. Results show that theoretical indices are comparable or superior to log P in biological correlations.
A NUCLEAR EMULSION PLATE SHUFFLER

Details are given of a device in which selected emulsions in a stack of stripped emulsions may be moved on demand. In this device all the advantages of an emulsion stack are retained and yet a unique separation of particles arriving before or after a given time is also provided.
Effects of Rifaximin Treatment and Retreatment in Nonconstipated IBS Subjects

Recent evidence suggests a role for gut bacteria and antibiotics in the pathophysiology and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), respectively. While the benefits of the antibiotic rifaximin have demonstrated efficacy and durable improvement in symptoms over 3 months, the long-term need for retreatment using this approach is mostly unknown. In this retrospective study, subjects with nonconstipated IBS who were retreated with rifaximin were examined. Charts of patients who were seen at a tertiary care medical center between 2007 and 2011 were reviewed. After exclusion criteria were applied, subjects who had received rifaximin and were seen for retreatment were fully reviewed. During review, demographic information, duration of response, and success of treatment and retreatment were evaluated. A total of 522 charts were reviewed. Of these 522 charts, 71 subjects were nonconstipated IBS subjects who had received at least one retreatment. Of these, 48 had a second, 22 had a third, 7 had a fourth, and 4 had a fifth treatment. More than 75% of subjects who initially responded to rifaximin also responded to any further retreatment, with no significant reduction in benefit for successive retreatments. Furthermore, there was no change in the duration of benefit (median time between treatments) for successive retreatments. Retreatment with rifaximin for subjects with nonconstipated IBS in a real-world clinical practice was successful up to five times without decrease in duration or effect.
A compatible boundary element method for plane elasticity and fracture mechanics

Abstract A new compatible boundary element technique for solving biharmonic boundary value problems, based on Muskhelishvili's theory, is presented. The general solution of this kind of problem involves two independent analytic functions. These functions are represented by Vekua's integral formula where the path of the integral is taken around the external boundary of the solid. In this way, we derive a new type of boundary integral equation for plane elasticity problems as well as thin plate problems. In particular, the edge crack and central crack problems of plane elasticity have been investigated. The real density functions appearing in the boundary integral equations are determined by the boundary element method. The numerical results obtained show good agreement with the theoretical results.
A comprehensive evaluation of two MODIS evapotranspiration products over the conterminous United States: Using point and gridded FLUXNET and water balance ET

Abstract Remote sensing datasets are increasingly being used to provide spatially explicit large scale evapotranspiration (ET) estimates. Extensive evaluation of such large scale estimates is necessary before they can be used in various applications. In this study, two monthly MODIS 1 km ET products, MODIS global ET (MOD16) and Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) ET, are validated over the conterminous United States at both point and basin scales. Point scale validation was performed using eddy covariance FLUXNET ET (FLET) data (2001–2007) aggregated by year, land cover, elevation and climate zone. Basin scale validation was performed using annual gridded FLUXNET ET (GFET) and annual basin water balance ET (WBET) data aggregated by various hydrologic unit code (HUC) levels. Point scale validation using monthly data aggregated by years revealed that the MOD16 ET and SSEBop ET products showed overall comparable annual accuracies. For most land cover types, both ET products showed comparable results. However, SSEBop showed higher performance for Grassland and Forest classes; MOD16 showed improved performance in the Woody Savanna class. Accuracy of both the ET products was also found to be comparable over different climate zones. However, SSEBop data showed higher skill score across the climate zones covering the western United States. Validation results at different HUC levels over 2000–2011 using GFET as a reference indicate higher accuracies for MOD16 ET data. MOD16, SSEBop and GFET data were validated against WBET (2000–2009), and results indicate that both MOD16 and SSEBop ET matched the accuracies of the global GFET dataset at different HUC levels. Our results indicate that both MODIS ET products effectively reproduced basin scale ET response (up to 25% uncertainty) compared to CONUS-wide point-based ET response (up to 50–60% uncertainty) illustrating the reliability of MODIS ET products for basin-scale ET estimation. Results from this research would guide the additional parameter refinement required for the MOD16 and SSEBop algorithms in order to further improve their accuracy and performance for agro-hydrologic applications.
A Predictive Model for the Survival of Overwintering Bean Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract Survival of overwintering bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster), populations in woodland and soybean habitats was studied for three consecutive winters from 1996 through 1999. Four locations of soybean fields and three locations of woodlands were studied at Iowa State University farms near Ames, IA. In the winter of 1996–1997, woodlands and soybean fields were sampled monthly from mid-November through mid-April of the following year, whereas in the winters of 1997–1998 and 1998–1999, both habitats were sampled twice a month from mid-October through mid-April. On each sampling date, three sampling units (1 m2) of leaf litter or crop residue was randomly collected from soybean fields and woodlands at each location. The collected samples were bagged and returned to the laboratory for estimates of overwintering beetles. The beetles obtained from the samples were kept in individual sample bags at 24°C for 100 h to assess their survival. The beetles were then kept in a freezer at −15°C for in...
Visually guided, aimed movements can be unaffected by stimulus–response uncertainty

Response times generally increase linearly with the logarithm of the number of potential stimulus–response alternatives (e.g., Hick’s law). The ubiquity and theoretical importance of this generalization make exceptions particularly interesting. Recently, Kveraga et al. (Exp Brain Res 146:307, 2002) added a third to the two previously known exceptions, demonstrating that saccade latencies were unaffected by stimulus–response uncertainty. They suggest that visually guided saccades are exceptional, because these movements can be automatically selected using a privileged pathway: the topographically organized regions in superior colliculus that convert spatially coded visual activity into spatially coded motor commands. We report that visually guided, aimed hand movements also are unaffected by both stimulus–response uncertainty and stimulus–response repetition. A second experiment demonstrated that this lack of an uncertainty effect persists for equiluminant stimuli. This result suggests that posterior parietal cortex is not the privileged pathway eliminating stimulus–response uncertainty for hand movements. Because hand movements are not guided by mechanisms in the superior colliculus, our results cast doubt on the privileged-pathway hypothesis, at least for hand movements. Instead, the absence of stimulus–response uncertainty may occur only in tasks that do not require the stimulus to be associated with a response effector and that have high stimulus–response compatibility.
Correlations for effective bubble rise velocity in three-phase ebullieted beds

Abstract A knowledge of phase holdups and linear phase velocities is important for designing and predicting the performance of three-phase ebullieted bed reactors. The generalized wake model is widely used to calculate the phase holdups, in three-phase ebullieted beds. However, the value of the gas holdup, predicted by the model, is very sensitive to the value of the bubble rise velocity, relative to the liquid in the surrounding liquid-solid fluidized region, which has to be estimated independently for the model. A means of predicting the effective bubble rise velocity, in a three-phase ebullieted bed, will therefore be very useful. The equations in the generalized wake model were manipulated to give the best value of the effective bubble rise velocity, which when substituted back into the model gave values of phase holdups close to the experimentally observed values. These values of the effective bubble rise velocity were then fitted in correlations, with the liquid superficial velocity, the gas superficial velocity, the liquid viscosity, the surface tension and the solid particle size as the variables. An attempt is made, to explain the forms of the correlations through various hydrodynamic phenomena for three-phase ebullieted beds such as flow regimes and their transitions, flow transition liquid velocity, solid wettability, behavior of bubbles, apparent bed viscosity and the effect of solid particles. The three-phase systems for which the correlations were developed consist of a wide variety of materials, such as glass beads or cylindrical catalyst particles as solid phases, water or kerosene as liquid phases and air, nitrogen or helium as gas phases. The flow regimes were of industrial significance. The solid particles ranged in size from 1.0–5.0 mm.
Low-bandwidth open-loop control of combustion instability

Abstract A new strategy for open-loop control of combustion oscillations using a high-momentum air jet modulated at low frequencies is described. The oscillations in the swirl-stabilized spray combustor of interest are dominated by a longitudinal acoustic mode (235 Hz) with a low-frequency (13 Hz) bulk mode (of the upstream cavity) superimposed. An effective strategy for control is demonstrated to be achieved through employment of a new concept that uses low-bandwidth, open-loop modulation of a high-momentum air jet that penetrates directly into the region of strong combustion dynamics. It is shown that with low-frequency modulation (1–7 Hz) of the high-momentum air jet, the pressure oscillations can be reduced significantly (by a factor of nearly 10). Square-wave modulation is demonstrated to be considerably more effective than sine-wave modulation. These results are extremely promising as high-bandwidth actuation is not required for effective control.
The Prebiotic Synthesis of Oligonucleotides

This paper is primarily a review of recent developments in the abiotic synthesis of nucleotides, short chain oligonucleotides, and their mode of replication in solution. It also presents preliminary results from this laboratory on the prebiotic synthesis of thymidine oligodeoxynucleotides. A discussion, based on the physicochemical properties of RNA and DNA oligomers, relevant to the molecular evolution of these compounds leads to the tentative hypothesis that oligodeoxyribonucleotides of about 12 units may have been of sufficient length to initiate a self replicating coding system. Two models are suggested to account for the synthesis of high molecular weight oligomers using short chain templates and primers.
Actuator Placement and Micro-Actuation Efficiency of Adaptive Paraboloidal Shells

Paraboloidal shells of revolution are commonly used in communication systems, precision opto-mechanical systems and aerospace structures. This study is to investigate the precision distributed control effectiveness of adaptive paraboloidal shells laminated with segmented actuator patches. Mathematical models of the paraboloidal shells laminated with distributed actuator layers subjected to mechanical, temperature, and control forces are presented first. Then, formulations of distributed actuating forces with their contributing micro-meridional/circumferential membrane and bending components are derived using an assumed mode shape function. Studies of actuator placements, actuator induced control forces, micro-contributing components, and normalized actuation authorities of paraboloidal shells are carried out. These forces and membrane/bending components basically exhibit distinct modal characteristics influenced by shell geometries and other design parameters. Analyses suggest that the membrane-contributed components dominate the overall control effect. Locations with larger normalized forces indicate the areas with high control efficiencies, i.e., larger induced actuation force per unit actuator area. With limited actuators, placing actuators at those locations would lead to the maximal control effects of paraboloidal shells.
A conjugate-point condition for a class of differential games

Differential games derived for conjugate-point necessary conditions and definitions for minimum and maximum problems
Abstract 2638: Genetic association analysis of the AMP dependent protein kinase complex and NHL risk

Introduction: AMPK regulates metabolic processes by sensing intracellular concentrations of ATP and AMP and has been implicated in at least two important tumor-related pathways: the mTOR pathway and the p53 axis. We utilize a population-based epidemiologic analysis to investigate the role of mutations in seven AMPK subunits and lymphomagenesis and analyze public microarray expression data to determine the expression of AMPK in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cells. Methods: Our analysis included incident and histologically confirmed cases of NHL (n=456) and age-matched matched controls (n=527) from female residents of Connecticut. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified using the Tagger algorithm in the Haploview interface in HapMap9s genome browser 22. A total of 19 SNPs (r2 ≤ 0.8 and MAF ≤ 0.2) were identified across the AMPK subunit genes. For each gene harboring more than one tagging SNP (PRKAA2, PRKAG2, and PRKAG3), haplotypes were estimated using the PHASE program. All statistical analyses were done in SAS 9.2. An unconditional multivariate logistic model was generated and the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were reported. Family history of cancer was found to be an effect modifier for some SNPs and haplotypes, and stratified analyses were performed for these associations. We extracted gene expression data from GEO (GDS3516) and compared median AMPK subunit levels in NHL cells to the levels in normal follicle B-cells and total peripheral blood B-cells using a Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: Individuals with no family history of cancer and heterozygous for rs293445 in the PRKAG1 subunit had a significantly increased risk of NHL (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.54, 5.07; p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2638. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2638
Increased incidence of cardiac anomalies in pregnancies complicated by gastroschisis

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of congenital heart defects (CHD) in infants with gastroschisis. Study design Infants with gastroschisis repair were identified from California hospital discharge data during the years 1992 to 1997. The frequency of concomitant diagnosis of CHD and other demographic, neonatal, and pregnancy outcomes were examined. Results Sixty-nine of the 621 infants had a diagnosis of CHD, with 16 having more than 1 lesion. Excluding cases possibly attributable to persistent fetal circulation, 25 infants with CHD remained, for an incidence rate of 4%. There was a significant (P = .014) increase in incidence of CHD in cases of gastroschisis complicated by bowel atresia. African American infants with gastroschisis had an increased risk of CHD (P = .009) compared with infants of other ethnicities. Conclusion Contrary to conventional teaching that gastroschisis is an isolated anomaly, we found an increased incidence of concomitant CHD. Our data would suggest that detailed antepartum and/or postnatal cardiac evaluations are indicated in fetuses identified with gastroschisis.
A comprehensive characterization of the T-cell antigen receptor complex composition by microcapillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

It has become apparent that many intracellular signaling processes involve the dynamic reorganization of cellular proteins into complex signaling assemblies that have a specific subunit composition, function, and subcellular location. Since the elements of such assemblies interact physically, multiprotein signaling complexes can be isolated and analyzed. Recent technical advances in highly sensitive protein identification by electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry have dramatically increased the sensitivity with which such analyses can be performed. The T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) is an oligomeric transmembrane protein complex that is essential to T-cell recognition and function. The extracellular protein domains are responsible for ligand binding while intracellular domains generate and transduce signals in response to specific receptor-ligand interactions. We used microbore capillary chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the composition of the TCR protein complex isolated from resting and activated cells of the murine T-cell line CD11.3. We identified all the previously known subunits of the TCR/CD3 complex as well as proteins previously not known to associate with the TCR. The catalytic activities of some of these proteins could potentially be used to interfere pharmacologically with TCR signaling.
Laser Raman scattering in uniaxially oriented atactic polystyrene

Raman polarization measurements of atactic polystyrene (APS) films were recorded after uniaxial stretching. Twelve different polarization directions were observed by varying the direction and polarization of the laser and scattered radiation. The polarization behavior of several vibration modes were shown clearly in the Raman spectra. On the basis of these polarization properties and previous vibrational studies of model compounds of polystyrene as well as of monosubstituted benzene derivatives, a reassignment of some of the vibrational modes of APS is made and discussed.
Isoflurane exposure in newborn rats induces long-term cognitive dysfunction in males but not females

Abstract Volatile anesthetics are used widely for achieving a state of unconsciousness, yet these agents are incompletely understood in their mechanisms of action and effects on neural development. There is mounting evidence that children exposed to anesthetic agents sustain lasting effects on learning and memory. The explanation for these behavioral changes remains elusive, although acute neuronal death after anesthesia is commonly believed to be a principal cause. Rodent models have shown that isoflurane exposure in newborns induces acute neuroapoptosis and long-term cognitive impairment. However, the assessment of predisposing factors is lacking. We investigated the role of sex by delivering isoflurane to postnatal day (P)7 male and female Sprague Dawley rats for 4 h. Brain cell death was assessed 12 h later using FluoroJade C staining in the thalamus, CA1–3 regions of hippocampus, and dentate gyrus. Behavior was assessed separately using a series of object recognition tasks and a test of social memory beginning at P38. We found that isoflurane exposure significantly increased neuronal death in each brain region with no difference between sexes. Behavioral outcome was also equivalent in simple novel object recognition. However, only males were impaired in the recognition of objects in different locations and contexts. Males also exhibited deficient social memory while females were intact. The profound behavioral impairment in males relative to females, in spite of comparable cell death, suggests that males are more susceptible to long-term cognitive effects and this outcome may not be exclusively attributed to neuronal death.
Peaked structure in a single-crystal film

Abstract A peaked structure, similar to that previously observed in the field effect mobility versus gate voltage experiments on silicon inversion layers, has been observed on single-crystal films. These films and contacts to them are the same continuous crystals; only the thicknesses are different. A double modulation circuit, which measures the field effect mobility and the conductivity simultaneously, is sensitive enough to measure field effect mobilities of less than 1 × 10 -5 m 2 V -1 s -1 . The fine structure is reproducible in great detail, and some regularity seems to appear at very low temperatures.
Predictive routing of contexts in an overlay network

While mobile nodes (MNs) undergo handovers across inter-wireless access networks, their contexts must be propagated for seamless re-establishment of on-going application sessions, including IP header compression, secure Mobile IP, authentication, authorization, and accounting services, to name a few. Routing contexts via an overlay network either on-demand or based on prediction of an MNs' mobility, introduces a new challenging requirement of context management. This paper proposes a context router (CXR) that manages contexts in an overlay network. A CXR is responsible for (1) monitoring of MNs' cross-handover, (2) analysis of MNs' movement patterns, and (3) context routing ahead of each MN's arrival at an AP or a network. The predictive routing of contexts is performed based on statistical learning of (dis)similarities between the patterns obtained from vector distance measurements. The proposed CXR has been evaluated on a prototypical implementation based on an MN mobility model in an emulated access network. Our evaluation results show that the prediction mechanisms applied on the CXR outperform a Kalman-filter-based method [34] with respect to both prediction accuracy and computation performance.
Service life of counter-current chromatography coils

A multilayer coil of PTFE tubing, which failed after being used each workday for about 3 years in a type J centrifuge, was examined. Two types of defects were found. One, called crazes, occurs throughout the coil and does not leak initially, but may eventually lead to a short, axially oriented slit. Another, called indentations, is seen primarily in the innermost and other nearby layers. They are elongated, about 5 mm, indentations, usually on the central side of the tubing. These eventually crack and leak. PTFE tubing is permeable to air and hexane and expands by more than 1% when immersed in hexane, heptane or chloroform for a few days. It is suggested that the crazes result from exposure of the somewhat flexible tubing to the undulating centripetal force field in the coil-planet centrifuge, especially when further softened by solvent absorption. The indentations may result from carriage of the excess tubing length, created by solvent absorption, from the coil periphery to the coil center by the centripetal force field, which continuously travels from the peripheral tail to the central head of the coil. A 1% increase in coil length creates 74 cm of excess tubing in the 160-ml coils examined in this study. It is suggested that fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) tubing, especially when etched on the outside, may provide more stable CCC coils, since its expansion when exposed to organic solvents is 0.1 or less than that of PTFE.
PEPT2-mediated transport of 5-aminolevulinic acid and carnosine in astrocytes.

Abstract 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and carnosine have important physiological and pathophysiological roles in the CNS. Both are substrates for the proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter PEPT2. The purpose of the current study was to determine the importance of PEPT2 in the uptake of ALA and carnosine in rat and mouse (PEPT2 +/+ and PEPT2 −/− ) cultured neonatal astrocytes. Although neonatal astrocytes are known to express PEPT2, its quantitative importance in the transport of these compounds is not known. [ 14 C]ALA uptake in neonatal rat astrocytes was inhibited by dipeptides, an α-amino containing cephalosporin (which is a PEPT2 substrate) but was not affected by a non-amino containing cephalosporin (which is not a PEPT2 substrate). Uptake was pH sensitive as expected from a proton-coupled transporter and was saturable ( V max = 715 ± 29 pmol/mg/min, K m = 606 ± 14 μM). [ 3 H]Carnosine uptake in neonatal rat astrocytes was inhibited by dipeptides but not by histidine (a substrate for the peptide/histidine transporters PHT1 and PHT2) and also showed saturable transport ( V max = 447 ± 23 pmol/mg/min, K m = 43 ± 5.5 μM). Neonatal astrocytes from PEPT2 −/− mice had a 62% reduction in [ 14 C]ALA uptake and a 92% reduction in [ 3 H]carnosine uptake compared to PEPT2 +/+ mice. These results demonstrate that PEPT2 is the primary transporter responsible for the astrocytic uptake of ALA and carnosine.
Atomic physics: a whiff of antimatter soup.

A molecule consisting of two electrons and two anti-electrons is similar to, but different from, the familiar hydrogen molecule H2. Its creation heralds a new chapter in the formation of matter–antimatter states. A brief quiz: “Theoretically at least most observers admit that the adoption of the scientific method in the management of the affairs of State is a preliminary necessity if national efficiency is to be secured... but [politicians'] education generally has been of such a character as to leave them with a colossal ignorance of science and scientific methods.” The questions: (1) Where? (2) When? And (3), are there any incorrect answers?
Transcranial Motor Evoked Potentials during Basilar Artery Aneurysm Surgery: Technique Application for 30 Consecutive Patients

OBJECTIVE Microsurgical clipping of basilar artery aneurysms carries a risk of neurological compromise resulting from midbrain or thalamic ischemia. Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring and electroencephalography are the standard techniques for assessing the level of cerebroprotective anesthesia and monitoring ischemia during temporary occlusion or after permanent clipping. Transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP) monitoring was added to determine whether this modality improved intraoperative monitoring. METHODS Combined SSEP/electroencephalographic/TcMEP monitoring was used for 30 consecutive patients with basilar artery apex aneurysms in the past 1.5 years. Voltage thresholds were recorded before, during, and after aneurysm treatment for the last 10 patients. RESULTS All 30 patients underwent an orbitozygomatic craniotomy for clipping (28 patients), wrapping (1 patient), or superficial temporal artery-superior cerebellar artery bypass (1 patient). Electrophysiological changes occurred for 10 patients (33%), elicited by temporary clipping (6 patients), permanent clipping (3 patients), or retraction (1 patient). Isolated SSEP changes were observed for one patient, isolated TcMEP changes for five patients, and changes in both TcMEPs and SSEPs for four patients. Among patients with simultaneous changes, TcMEP abnormalities were more robust and occurred earlier than SSEP abnormalities. Impaired motor conduction was detected first with an increase in the voltage threshold (from 206 +/- 22 to 410 +/- 49 V, P < 0.05, n = 3) and then with loss of TcMEP responses. SSEP and TcMEP signals returned to baseline values for all patients after corrective measures were taken. CONCLUSION TcMEP monitoring can be safely and easily added to traditional neurophysiological monitoring during basilar artery aneurysm surgery. These results suggest that TcMEPs may be more sensitive than SSEPs to basilar artery and perforating artery ischemia. This additional intraoperative information might minimize the incidence of ischemic complications attributable to prolonged temporary occlusion or inadvertent perforator occlusion.
Anticipating Entry: Major Party Positioning and Third Party Threat

Observers of U.S. elections have reason to believe that third parties are not relevant political actors since they rarely win many votes or influence which major party wins an election. Researchers...
Damping of the cosmological constant by a classical scalar field

Abstract The dynamical damping of a cosmological constant Λ by a classical scalar field is investigated. The field is free, massless, and non-minimally coupled to gravity via a term ξRφ2. The cosmological constant is damped if ξ 0 and ξ> 1 2 , Λ , and the decay is stable against small spatially homogeneous perturbations. For other values of Λ and ξ, damping solutions either do not exist, are unstable, or lead to recollapse of the universe.
The effects of psychiatric and psychosocial interviews on children

To test child and parent reactions to direct interviewing, a survey was administered to parents and children who had been directly interviewed as part of two family alcoholism studies. Subjects had been asked about possible psychopathology in the children and about psychosocial stressors that the children may have experienced. For this study, parents and children were asked if the children had been upset by the experience or affected in any negative way. The results show a positive response from both parents and children to all aspects of the interview. There were no serious negative effects. Many parents and children enjoyed the interview, and none of the families indicated that they would not continue to participate in the study because of the questions asked of the children.
Submicron Thermal Imaging of High Power Slab Coupled Optical Waveguide Laser (SCOWL)

Nonradiative power dissipation within and near the active region of a high power single mode slab coupled optical waveguide laser is directly measured by CCD-based thermoreflectance, including its variation with device bias. By examining the high spatial resolution temperature profile at the optical output facets, we quantify heat spreading from the source in the active region both downward to the substrate and upward to the metal top contact.Copyright © 2006 by ASME and MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Maxillary sinusitis of dental origin

Abstract On the basis of microscopic examination of sixteen specimens obtained at autopsy it appears that the roentgenographic picture is not always reliable enough to prove or disprove the dental origin of an involvement of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus. There is no difficulty in reconciling the changes of the antral mucosa with a periapical lesion that has perforated the bony floor of the maxillary sinus. However, the findings of my studies seem to indicate that the mucosa of the maxillary sinus is often affected by periapical lesions which are separated from the floor of the antrum by a bony wall of even great thickness. It is the network of blood vessels and lymphatics extending from the periodontal membrane into the antral mucosa that forms the path for the spread of the infection through the bone marrow. Perivascular infiltration with lymphocytes and plasma cells proceeds from the apical focus through the bone marrow, which is transformed into fibrous tissue containing thrombosed vessels, into the maxillary sinus, causing an inflammatory reaction of its mucous membrane. However, these alterations of the membrane which may derive also from a so-called profound “pyorrhea” and even from a chronic pulpitis are more or less limited to the part of the mucous membrane near the dental focus. The changes of the mucous membrane show all gradations of a chronic inflammation involving its periosteal layer, the mucous membrane proper, and the pseudostratified ciliated epithelium. The transformation of the antral mucosa into a dense fibrous tissue seemingly represents a process of repair. The present study does not allow the adoption of any conclusions as to the extension of these more or less localized lesions of dental origin but broadens remarkably our point of view on the relationship between teeth and inflammatory diseases of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus. From a clinical point of view it would be important to ascertain whether or not these more or less local lesions of dental origin of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus provoke clinical symptoms and whether or not they disappear with the removal of the tooth from which they originate. A solution of this problem can only be achieved by the cooperation of dentists and rhinologists. Despite the fact that I am a firm believer in the possibility of a successful conservative treatment of infected teeth, and appreciate the advantages of root resections following properly treated pulp canals, I consider extraction of teeth such as described in this paper the only treatment of choice.
Multi-spatial analysis of aeolian dune-field patterns

Abstract Aeolian dune-fields are composed of different spatial scales of bedform patterns that respond to changes in environmental boundary conditions over a wide range of time scales. This study examines how variations in spatial scales of dune and ripple patterns found within dune fields are used in environmental reconstructions on Earth, Mars and Titan. Within a single bedform type, different spatial scales of bedforms emerge as a pattern evolves from an initial state into a well-organized pattern, such as with the transition from protodunes to dunes. Additionally, different types of bedforms, such as ripples, coarse-grained ripples and dunes, coexist at different spatial scales within a dune-field. Analysis of dune-field patterns at the intersection of different scales and types of bedforms at different stages of development provides a more comprehensive record of sediment supply and wind regime than analysis of a single scale and type of bedform. Interpretations of environmental conditions from any scale of bedform, however, are limited to environmental signals associated with the response time of that bedform. Large-scale dune-field patterns integrate signals over long-term climate cycles and reveal little about short-term variations in wind or sediment supply. Wind ripples respond instantly to changing conditions, but reveal little about longer-term variations in wind or sediment supply. Recognizing the response time scales across different spatial scales of bedforms maximizes environmental interpretations from dune-field patterns.
Sympathectomy alters acetylcholinesterase expression in adult rat heart.

Study objective – The aim of the study was to determine the significance of adrenergic nerve associated acetylcholinesterase for the pool of total acetylcholinesterase molecules. Design – Acetylcholinesterase was analysed after destruction of adrenergic nerves by 6-hydroxy-dopamine or bilateral stellate sympathectomy. Effectiveness of treatment was verified by determining noradrenaline concentrations in right ventricle. Acetylcholinesterase activity was assayed in homogenates of atria and portions of left ventricular free wall. Subjects – Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used, weight 225-260 g, n = 5 per experimental group. Main results – Sympathectomy caused a small decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity, due to a decrease in the activity of the tetrameric globular form of the enzyme. Choline acetylcholinesterase activity was not altered by sympathectomy, which is an indication that cholinergic nerves were not affected. Conclusions – The contribution of adrenergic neurones to the cardiac pool of acetylcholinesterase is measurable and consists primarily of the tetrameric globular form of the enzyme.
InGaN/GaN quantum dot blue and green lasers

Blue- and green-emitting laser heterostructures, incorporating InGaN/GaN quantum dots as the active medium have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The quantum dot growth parameters have been optimized to obtain the highest photoluminescence intensity and radiative efficiency in the blue (λ=420 nm) and green (λ=545 nm). The blue and green lasers are characterized by threshold current densities of 930 A/cm 2 and 1.65 kA/cm 2 , respectively, under quasi-continuous wave bias. To further reduce the threshold current density in the green-emitting devices, a tunnel injection scheme is used to inject cold holes into the quantum dot lasing states. These devices are characterized by a reduced threshold current density of 945 A/cm 2 . The measured differential gain in the blue-emitting lasers is 2 x 10 -16 cm 2 . Slope efficiencies of 0.41 W/A and 0.25 W/A have been measured, corresponding to differential quantum efficiencies of 13.9% and 11.3%, in the blue and green lasers, respectively.
Counterinsurgency by Other Names: Complicating Humanitarian Applied Anthropology in Current, Former, and Future War Zones

This paper draws on three information sources to critically evaluate how new United States counterinsurgency strategies are transforming the delivery of humanitarian aid in war zones. Emerging critiques from within the NGO humanitarian assistance community find growing concern over, and resistance to, the military's use of conflict zone humanitarian assistance to further military goals. Anthropological contributions to past war-related counterinsurgency operations are considered, and patterns of past problems with divergent goals from anthropologists and military sponsors are identified. Newly available military manuals and governmental cables disclosed by WikiLeaks further document how military and civilian governmental agencies use humanitarian aid as a form of counterinsurgency. The paper concludes by reviewing some of the options available to anthropologists working on humanitarian aid projects in conflict zones.
Developing GIS relationships

Abstract GIS technology, while offering libraries a valuable new resource, will require the assistance of experienced practitioners. These persons may be from other libraries or academic departments and this article suggests sources for this expertise and encourages libraries to seek them out.
Efficient catalytic cycloalkane oxidation employing a “helmet” phthalocyaninato iron(III) complex

We have examined the catalytic activity of an iron(III) complex bearing the 14,28-[1,3-diiminoisoindolinato]phthalocyaninato (diiPc) ligand in oxidation reactions with three substrates (cyclohexane, cyclooctane, and indan). This modified metallophthalocyaninato complex serves as an efficient and selective catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexane and cyclooctane, and to a far lesser extent indan. In the oxidations of cyclohexane and cyclooctane, in which hydrogen peroxide is employed as the oxidant under inert atmosphere, we have observed turnover numbers of 100.9 and 122.2 for cyclohexanol and cyclooctanol, respectively. The catalyst shows strong selectivity for alcohol (vs.ketone) formation, with alcohol to ketone (A/K) ratios of 6.7 and 21.0 for the cyclohexane and cyclooctane oxidations, respectively. Overall yields (alcohol + ketone) were 73% for cyclohexane and 92% for cyclooctane, based upon the total hydrogen peroxide added. In the catalytic oxidation of indan under similar conditions, the TON for 1-indanol was 10.1, with a yield of 12% based upon hydrogen peroxide. No 1-indanone was observed in the product mixture.
[POSTER] 2D-3D Co-segmentation for AR-based Remote Collaboration

In Augmented Reality (AR) based remote collaboration, a remote user can draw a 2D annotation that emphasizes an object of interest to guide a local user accomplishing a task. This annotation is typically performed only once and then sticks to the selected object in the local user's view, independent of his or her camera movement. In this paper, we present an algorithm to segment the selected object, including its occluded surfaces, such that the 2D selection can be appropriately interpreted in 3D and rendered as a useful AR annotation even when the local user moves and significantly changes the viewpoint.
A Caveat to the Performance of Pericardial Ultrasound in Patients With Penetrating Cardiac Wounds

Background:The pericardial window in a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination is highly accurate for detecting hemopericardium and, therefore, associated cardiac injury. A series of patients with false-negative pericardial ultrasound examinations, who were subsequently diag
Boole's abandoned propositional logic

The approach used by Boole in Mathematical analysis of logic to develop propositional logic was based on the idea of ‘cases’ or ‘conjunctures of circumstances’. But this was dropped in Laws of thought in favor of one which Boole considered to be more satisfactory, that of using the notion of ‘time for which a proposition is true’. We show that, when suitable clarifications and corrections are made, the earlier approach— which accords with modern logic in eschewing the extraneous notion of time—is indeed a viable one.
ROLE OF THE PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR (PR) IN THE REGULATION OF INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE PATHWAYS AND AROMATASE IN THE BREAST

Abstract There is convincing evidence to suggest that estrogen and inflammatory mediators play important roles in growth and progression of breast cancer. Moreover, local conversion of androgens to estrogens by aromatase (product of CYP19 gene) occurs in 70% of all breast cancers. The actions of aromatase in both the breast tumor and in surrounding adipose stromal and endothelial cells can result in high local levels of estrogen production that stimulate tumor growth. The efficacy of current endocrine therapies is predicted only if the tumor contains significant amounts of ER. Presence of PR in the tumor also is an important predictor of tumor aggressiveness and responsiveness to endocrine therapy. Immunoreactivity for aromatase in human breast tumors is highly correlated with that for cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), the rate-determining enzyme in prostanoid biosynthesis. COX-2 expression also is correlated with expression of HER-2/neu, an oncogene expressed in >30% of breast tumors. In this manuscript, we will review findings to suggest that induction of COX-2 by inflammatory cytokines acting through NF-κB contributes to the increase in CYP19 expression and breast cancer progression, and that PR plays a dominant protective role in breast cancer cells by antagonizing NF-κB activation of COX-2.