cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Globally smooth solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic systems in diagonal form

Abstract We prove the existence of a large class of globally smooth solutions of the Cauchy problem for the system of n equations u t + Λ ( x , t , u ) u x = 0, where Λ is a diagonal matrix. We show that, under certain monotonicity conditions on both Λ and the initial data u 0 , the solution u will be locally Lipschitz continuous at positive times. Since u 0 is a function of locally bounded variation, our result thus provides both for the smoothing of discontinuities in u 0 as well as for the global preservation of smoothness. The global existence results from an a priori estimate of ∂u ∂x , which we obtain by a device which enables us to effectively uncouple the system of equations for ∂u ∂x . Finally, we prove a partial converse which demonstrates that our hypotheses are not overly restrictive.
A Similarity Analysis of the Structure of Airflow over Surface Waves

Abstract Previous field investigations of the wave-induced pressure field have focused on determination of the momentum input from wind to the surface waves. This is useful for the estimation of wave growth rate and, in particular, the wave growth parameter β. Due to the difficult nature of experimental study of airflow very close to the wave surface, it has been necessary to extrapolate elevated measurements of the wave-induced pressure field to the surface. This practice may be incorrect without adequate knowledge of the complex vertical structure of the pressure field. In addition, the wave-induced pressure and velocity fields are coupled to the near-surface turbulence. Hence, understanding the nature of the wave-induced flow fields is critical for modeling of the near-surface wind and wave fields. Utilizing a simple similarity hypothesis, detailed vertical structure of the wave-induced pressure and velocity components is examined. Results of this analysis are presented using data obtained in the sprin...
Changing Heterosexuals’ Attitudes Toward Homosexuals: A Systematic Review of the Empirical Literature:

Objective: This article systematically reviews evidence for interventions that change attitudes toward homosexuals. Method: In all, 17 empirical studies using college and/or university student samp...
Autoprogressive training of neural network constitutive models

A new method, termed autoprogressive training, for training neural networks to learn complex stress–strain behaviour of materials using global load–deflection response measured in a structural test is described. The richness of the constitutive information that is generally implicitly contained in the results of structural tests may in many cases make it possible to train a neural network material model from only a small number of such tests, thus overcoming one of the perceived limitations of a neural network approach to modelling of material behaviour; namely, that a voluminous amount of material test data is required. The method uses the partially-trained neural network in a central way in an iterative non-linear finite element analysis of the test specimen in order to extract approximate, but gradually improving, stress–strain information with which to train the neural network. An example is presented in which a simple neural network constitutive model of a T300/976 graphite/epoxy unidirectional lamina is trained, using the load–deflection response recorded during a destructive compressive test of a [(±45)6]S laminated structural plate containing an open hole. The results of a subsequent forward analysis are also presented, in which the trained material model is used to simulate the response of a compressively loaded [(±30)6]S structural laminate containing an open hole. Avenues for further improvement of the neural network model are also suggested. The proposed autoprogressive algorithm appears to have wide application in the general area of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and damage detection. Most NDE experiments can be viewed as structural tests and the proposed methodology can be used to determine certain damage indices, similar to the way in which constitutive models are determined. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GAPDH and the search for alternative energy

Permeabilization of the mitochondria usually leads to caspase activation and apoptosis. In the absence of caspase activation, these same mitochondrial changes can also lead to cell death. A recent study suggests that when good mitochondria go bad, the activation of both glycolysis and autophagy may permit cellular survival.
The Need to Educate Nursing Home Administrators about Variations in State Legislation Affecting Patients' Rights to Refuse Treatment

Nursing home patients in the United States have a constitutional right to refuse treatment. The federal Patient Self-Determination Act confirms that right. State laws address the obligations of health care providers and facilities to honor those rights. But state laws vary, and nursing home administrators may not know the laws of their states. In this article, areas of significant variation in state laws are identified so that educators of nursing home administrators and direct care providers can address providers' statutory obligations concerning end-of-life issues. The advance directives statutes of the fifty states and the District of Columbia were reviewed and analyzed to determine the principal areas of variation in state requirements. Three key areas with high levels of variation were identified. Recommendations for teaching about state requirements on advance directives were developed. Education of nursing home administrators is needed to alert them to their states' requirements, benefiting them an...
Locomotion versatility through self-reconfiguration

We discuss a robotic module called a Molecule. Molecules can be the basis for building self-reconfiguring robots. They support multiple modalities of locomotion and manipulation. We describe the design, functionality, and control of the Molecule. We show how a set of Molecules can aggregate as active three-dimensional structures that can move and change shape. Finally, we discuss global motion algorithms for Molecular structures.
Hemoglobin A1 and Diabetic Retinopathy

The levels of the minor hemoglobin A1 components were measured in a consecutive series of 102 diabetic patients who were extensively studied for signs of diabetic retinopathy. We found a statistically significant relationship between metabolic control, as reflected by the hemoglobin A1 level, and the severity of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes diagnosed before 30 years of age (P less than or equal to .001). We did not demonstrate a significant correlation between metabolic control and the severity of retinopathy in patients with diabetes diagnosed after the age of 30 years. We found significantly more severe retinopathy among patients with longer duration of the disease, in men, in whites, in diabetics diagnosted before 30 years of age who were treated with lower insulin doses, and in obses patients with the onset of diabetes after the age of 30 years.
Freeze casting of porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds. II. Sintering, microstructure, and mechanical behavior.

In Part I, the influence of processing parameters on the general microstructure of freeze-cast hydroxyapatite (HA) constructs was explored. This work is an extension of Part I to investigate the effect of sintering conditions on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of freeze-cast HA. For constructs prepared from aqueous suspensions (5-20 vol % HA), sintering for 3 h at temperatures from 1250 degrees C to 1375 degrees C produced a decrease in porosity of 20%), and high strain rate sensitivity. Manipulation of the freeze-cast microstructure, achieved by additions of glycerol and 1,4-dioxane to the aqueous suspensions, produced changes in the magnitude of the mechanical response, but little change in the general nature of the response. The favorable mechanical behavior of the porous constructs, coupled with the ability to modify their microstructure, indicates the potential of the present freeze-casting route for the production of porous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
Effects of cholecystokinin, caerulein and pentagastrin on electrical behavior of myenteric neurons.

Abstract Intracellular methods were used to record the electrical behavior of myenteric neurons from guinea-pig ileum in vitro. Cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) at 1 to 100 μM and caerulein at 1 to 10 μM in the ejection pipettes were applied to the neurons by pressure microejection. CCK-8 (0.01 to 1 μM) and caerulein (0.01 to 0.1 μM) were applied also in the superfusion solution. CCK-8, applied by either method, evoked a long-lasting depolarization of the cell membranes that was associated with an increase in the input resistance, suppression of hyperpolarizing afterpotentials and enhanced excitability. The enhanced excitability was reflected by increased probability of action potential discharge during membrane depolarization by intracellularly injected current. Caerulein evoked the same excitatory responses as CCK-8. The actions of both agents simulated slow synaptic excitation in the neurons. In another group of AH/type 2 neurons, CCK-8 evoked a long-lasting membrane hyperpolarization and decreased input resistance that mimicked stimulus-evoked slow inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Hyperpolarizing responses were never evoked by caerulein. About 25% of tested neurons failed to respond to CCK-8 and 70% did not respond to caerulein. Pentagastrin (1 μM in the superfusion solution) did not affect the electrical behavior of the neurons. The results are consistent with a neurotransmitter role for cholecystokinin that could be either excitatory of inhibitory in the enteric nervous system.
Use of item response theory and latent class analysis to link poly-substance use disorders with addiction severity, HIV risk, and quality of life among opioid-dependent patients in the Clinical Trials Network.

Background This study applied item response theory (IRT) and latent class analysis (LCA) procedures to examine the dimensionality and heterogeneity of comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) and explored their utility for standard clinical assessments, including the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), HIV Risk Behavior Scale (HRBS), and SF-36 quality-of-life measures.
Choices in redistricting and electoral outcomes: the case of Mobile, Alabama

Abstract Evidence that multi-member electoral, districts hinder the election of minorities and that contests in these districts with racial bloc-voting prevent black electoral success has led to numerous legal attempts to declare this electoral system unconstitutional in the United States. A gradual substitution of multi-member by single-member districts in Northern states has been accompanied by use of the Voting Rights Act to end multi-member districting in the South. Mobile's electoral system has been the major test case over the past seven years. A recent judicial decision declaring the system unconstitutional will probably result in the imposition of single-member districts. All possible feasible solutions to the districting problem are computed and black electoral success computed for each outcome. The modal choice is clearly one black majority out of three districts. A choice of compact districts would increase black electoral prospects. Simulation of the residential distribution of the black population confirms that more segregated spatial arrangements provide greater electoral prospects and safer black seats. The evaluation of the impact of a change in electoral structure on the election of blacks within the framework of all possible outcomes to the districting problem is supported.
Structural Analysis of Cryogenic Flexible Hose

Significant gas resources remain to be developed in remote offshore locations. These resources can be produced through the use of a floating liquefied natural gas plant (FLNG) and exported through liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. Cryogenic flexible hoses provide a structurally compliant solution for the transfer of LNG between the FLNG and LNG carrier in harsh offshore environments. One of several cryogenic flexible hoses currently being developed in the industry is a structure composed of several layers; a corrugated stainless steel pipe in pipe structure reinforced using two layers of armoring wires. Thermal insulation of the inner hose is obtained by creating a vacuum in the annulus of the pipe in pipe. To ensure sound structural performance and integrity of the flexible hose during offloading operations, a Failure Mode and Effects Criticality Analysis (FMECA) was performed. 3D finite element models of the fully assembled hose and selective individual components were generated to assess their structural response to different loading scenarios, resulting stress concentrations and layer interactions. A sensitivity study of the corrugation profile of the corrugated pipe was performed to minimize stress concentrations and allowable bending radius.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Alteration of the characteristics of learned taste aversion by manipulation of serotonin levels in the rat.

Abstract Electrolytic lesions placed in the dorsal and median raphe nuclei of the rat brain deplete hypothalamic and telencephalic serotonin. These lesions also enhance the learned suppression of saccharin consumption which results from pairing the ingestion of a saccharin solution with the injection of a toxic drug. Pretreatment of rats with raphe lesions with the serotonin precursor DL-5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) immediately prior to the conditioning trial blocks the learning of the aversion to saccharin. In normal rats, 5HTP pretreatment also attenuates the suppressive effects of conditioning on saccharin drinking. These results differ from the findings of previous research using the flinch-jump technique. When sensitivity to shock is measured, 5HTP pretreatment in rats with forebrain serotonin depletion has been reported to restore both serotonin levels and behavior to normal. No behavioral effects are observed in normal animals. Possible explanations for the differential effects obtained in the two paradigms are discussed.
In vitro Inhibition of Erythrocyte Glucose Consumption by Human Growth Hormone

WE have found that human growth hormone in vitro markedly inhibits the glucose consumption of human erythrocytes. This effect could not be duplicated with growth hormone preparations from the pig, cow or monkey.
Impaired reactive oxygen metabolism of phagocytic leukocytes in NIDDM patients. A role for non-enzymatic glycosylation of collagen.

Non-enzymatic glycosylation (NEG) of collagen has been previously shown to significantly influence the reactive oxygen metabolism (ROM) of phagocytic cells in healthy subjects. Considering the role of NEG in the pathophysiology of diabetes, we have further analysed the oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and monocytes in 23 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in order to better elucidate a possible pathogenic role of NEG of the extracellular matrix in long-term complications of diabetes. Experiments were performed in triplicate on native-collagen and glycated-collagen coated vials, using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Results show that PMNs from diabetic patients display a significant increased basal and zymosan-induced CL activity with respect to controls that are not related to the glycation state of the substrate. Conversely, the CL activity of monocytes induced by zymosan shows a decrease in diabetic patients with respect to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Moreover, monocyte CL was reduced by the glycated matrix, both in healthy volunteers and in diabetic subjects (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). These data highlight a complex role of phagocytic leukocytes in the pathophysiology of extracellular matrix alterations secondary to NEG that are typically present in clinical conditions such as diabetes or ageing. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An exploratory analysis of the impact of budget deficits and other factors on the ex post real interest rate yield on tax-free municipal bonds in the United States

Using over a half century of data, this empirical study adopts a simple loanable funds to investigate the impact of the federal budget deficits and other factors, chiefly financial market factors, on the ex post real interest rate yield on high-grade municipal bonds in the United States. Two autoregressive two-stage least squares (AR/2SLS) estimates for the 1960 to 2011 study period and another for the 1971 to 2011 study period find that the ex post real interest rate yield on high-grade municipal bonds is an increasing function of the ex post real interest rate yield on Moody’s Baa-rated corporate bonds, the ex post real interest rate yield on 3-year US Treasury notes, the real value S&P 500 stock index and the federal budget deficit (relative to the GDP level). Based on these results, it is observed that factors elevating the federal budget deficit appear to raise the real cost of borrowing to the cities (of all sizes), counties and states across the United States. Given the time period studied, 1960 th...
Component-oriented design studies for efficient processing of hyperspectral infrared imager data

Future meteorological sounding instrumentation for aircraft and satellite platforms will include hyperspectral imaging infrared spectrometers with high time and space resolution, capable of providing terabytes of raw data per day. In tandem with the development of the instruments themselves, corresponding software must be architected to be capable of timely, efficient and accurate processing of the raw data produced. Design candidates for such a software architecture must respond to use cases including deployment in large-scale distributed production environments with stringent reliability specifications; phasing of research algorithms through testing and validation into production use; marshalling of data product views to metadata-aware analysis and archival systems; maintenance of software supporting multiple similar instrument systems over the course of decades; and most importantly, delivery of fully annotated datasets to end-users with real-time latencies. Consistent techniques in the specification and propagation of metadata for both algorithm software and data content are of paramount concern in manipulating large quantities of data over long stretches of time. Further, long-term maintainability and cost-effectiveness of the system can be assured by improving reusability of both systems software and science software, through defining well-specified interfaces for software components and implementing automated mechanisms for integration and testing. We illustrate current design work, avenues of research and lessons learned on a software component architecture and corresponding development practices addressing the aforementioned concerns.
Lamb's problem for solids of general anisotropy

Abstract A method to construct solutions for elastic waves generated in a half-space has been developed, based on representing the wave field by a superposition of time-transient plane waves. By the use of this method, the classical Lamb's problem has been solved for a solid of general anisotropy. New expressions for the 2-D and 3-D solutions to Lamb's problem in both the time-domain and the frequency-domain have been obtained. These expressions, which have been given in terms of integrals defined in a finite domain, have a simple structure which is attractive for numerical applications. The usefulness and computability of the integral expressions have been demonstrated by numerical examples.
Marketing and production capacity strategy for non-differentiated products: Winning and losing at the capacity cycle game

Abstract Customer satisfaction and supplier loyalty in markets where products are mainly undifferentiated are heavily affected by assurance of supply. Marketers manage production capacity in such markets to assure supply, but the resulting capacity competition leads to cycles of over-capacity followed by capacity deletions, which lead to under-capacity. We investigate some of the possible causes of this form of industry behavior in two ways. First, we report on an exploratory empirical investigation, motivated by in-depth interviews with industry executives, and develop a set of structural principles. We formalize those principles in a set of statistical models. Next, we review some related theory and identify a number of possible reasons that may combine to cause this phenomenon. We develop some simple, game theoretic models that focus on the issues of strategic interaction with demand uncertainty and different values of capacity change. We use the theory results to illustrate how over- and under-capacity situations arise. We compare our theoretical and empirical results and find an encouraging degree of convergence. We discuss the implications of these findings for individual firm strategies.
Advances in the Detection and Analysis of Fog at Night Using GOES Multispectral Infrared Imagery

Abstract A technique is described for the detection of fog and low clouds at night using multispectral infrared (IR) imagery from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). The technique requires subtraction and enhancement of digital data from IR window channels at 3.9- and 10.7–11.2-µm wavelengths. Resulting images show stratiform clouds over any type of terrain for a wide range of surface temperature conditions. The bispectral difference images are a considerable improvement over the use of enhanced images for a single window IR channel. An image enhancement technique that displays the approximate depth of fog was developed based on the correlation of brightness differences in the two IR channels to cloud-top heights reported by aircraft. The improved resolution and greater frequency provided by the GOES I-M satellites will result in a substantial improvement in the ability to monitor areas of reduced ceilings and visibilities at night.
Basketball Performance as a Function of Scores on Profile of Mood States

The present study compared performance in basketball as measured by a variety of performance measures to 15 men and 13 women players' moods as measured by the Profile of Mood States. The results suggested that the basketball players' performance was disrupted by a negative mood.
The effect of age upon the perception of 3-D shape from motion

Two experiments evaluated the ability of 50 older, middle-aged, and younger adults to discriminate the 3-dimensional (3-D) shape of curved surfaces defined by optical motion. In Experiment 1, temporal correspondence was disrupted by limiting the lifetimes of the moving surface points. In order to discriminate 3-D surface shape reliably, the younger and middle-aged adults needed a surface point lifetime of approximately 4 views (in the apparent motion sequences). In contrast, the older adults needed a much longer surface point lifetime of approximately 9 views in order to reliably perform the same task. In Experiment 2, the negative effect of age upon 3-D shape discrimination from motion was replicated. In this experiment, however, the participants' abilities to discriminate grating orientation and speed were also assessed. Edden et al. (2009) have recently demonstrated that behavioral grating orientation discrimination correlates with GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) concentration in human visual cortex. Our results demonstrate that the negative effect of age upon 3-D shape perception from motion is not caused by impairments in the ability to perceive motion per se, but does correlate significantly with grating orientation discrimination. This result suggests that the age-related decline in 3-D shape discrimination from motion is related to decline in GABA concentration in visual cortex.
Catastrophic Focal Epilepsy

Focal epilepsy can present with a rapidly progressing course of intractable epilepsy in children. We present a typical example of such a patient with focal seizures due to a frontal lobe cortical lesion of developmental origin. MRI and SPECT revealed abnormalities in the right frontal lobe. Surgical resection resulted in excellent outcome.
Analysis of Two Measures of Child Behavior Problems by African American, Latino, and Non-Hispanic Caucasian Parents of Young Children: A Focus Group Study

This study examined how parents from different racial/ethnic, income, and language groups viewed two widely used parent-report measures of child behavior problems, the Child Behavior Checklist and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory. Seventy African American, Latino, and non-Latino Caucasian parents of preschoolers stratified by income met in 1 of 15 focus groups to discuss their perceptions of the instruments. Participants agreed that items on these instruments were relevant indicators of child behavior problems. Overall, parents found the items on both instruments useful, comprehensible, and acceptable. The findings support the use of these instruments in pediatric practice with ethnically diverse parents of young children.
The effect of EUV molecular glass architecture on the bulk dispersion of a photo-acid generator

We have examined four molecular glasses (MGs) which are candidates for EUV photoresist formulations. These derivatized glasses, and their unprotected precursors, were investigated by both proton and 13C solid state NMR techniques in the bulk state as pure materials and as mixtures with 5 or 10 % by mass of the photoacid generator (PAG), triphenyl sulfonium perfluorobutanesulfonate. The 13C techniques gave information about crystallinity, purity, and the presence of the PAG. This paper characterizes the intimacy of mixing of the PAG and the MGs using proton spin diffusion methods. Phase separation of the PAG into PAG-rich larger domains was never seen; the PAG was always finely distributed. A maximum diameter for any PAG clustered into spherical domains was estimated to be 3.8 nm, which is too small to reflect thermodynamic incompatibility as the driving force during relatively slow removal of solvent. Hence, PAG blended samples are deduced to be thermodynamically compatible, with differential solubility in the preparation solvent the most likely candidate for producing the significant inhomogeneities in PAG concentration observed in a few samples. For one of the unprotected crystalline calix[4]resorcinarenes precursor materials, the solvent, N-methyl 2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) was used. The resulting solid was crystalline with a segregation of isomers, one of which formed a solid adduct with a 1:1 molecular ratio with NMP. Qualitatively, the strong NMP affinity for the calix[4]resorcinarenes is also evident in a) the immobility of the NMP, b) the fact that the 14N quadrupolar interaction changes when NMP goes from the crystalline, unprotected host to a glassy, protected host, and c) that NMP tends to remain as a significant residue. Only the underivatized materials display crystallinity implying that the mixing of the PAG with any derivatized MG is not restricted by crystallization, at least not before the post-exposure bake step. As a final note, very strong hydrogen bonds exist in three underivatized materials which is reduced or eliminated with partial protection with t-BOC.
Identification of True Knee Flexion Axis Despite Marker Misplacement Using Principal Component Analysis

Gait analysis is useful for revealing pathologic tibial rotation in children with cerebral palsy (CP), thus guiding interventions of de-rotational osteotomy [1]. Surface marker misplacement may cause an inaccurate definition of the knee flexion axis, which generates downstream artifacts such as cross talk between knee rotation angles and internal rotation errors, misleading these patients’ assessments and surgical interventions [2,3]. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel method for defining the true knee flexion axis from existing marker trajectories during gait. We hypothesized that the devised method would accurately quantify the offset in the flexion axis due to a systematically misplaced marker and correct the downstream crosstalk and rotation errors of the knee joint angles associated with the marker misplacement.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Effect of Nitric Oxide on Neointimal Hyperplasia based on Sex and Hormone Status

Nitric oxide (NO)-based therapies decrease neointimal hyperplasia; however, studies have been performed only in male animal models. Thus, we sought to evaluate the effect of NO on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro and neointimal hyperplasia in vivo based on sex and hormone status. In hormone-replete medium, male VSMC proliferated at greater rates than female VSMC. In hormone-depleted medium, female VSMC proliferated at greater rates than male VSMC. However, in both hormone environments, NO inhibited proliferation and migration to a greater extent in male compared to female VSMC. These findings correlated with greater G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest and changes in cell cycle protein expression in male compared to female VSMC after exposure to NO. Next, the rat carotid artery injury model was used to assess the effect of NO on neointimal hyperplasia in vivo. Consistent with the in vitro data, NO was significantly more effective at inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia in hormonally intact males compared to females using weight-based dosing. An increased weight-based dose of NO in females was able to achieve efficacy equal to that in males. Surprisingly, NO was less effective at inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia in castrated animals of both sexes. In conclusion, these data suggest that NO inhibits neointimal hyperplasia more effectively in males compared to females and in hormonally intact compared to castrated rats, indicating that the effects of NO in the vasculature may be sex- and hormone-dependent.
Mariner 10 Mercury encounter

Mariner 10's closest approach to Mercury on Mar. 29, 1974 occurred on the dark side of the planet at a range of approximately 700 kilometers. The spacecraft trajectory passed through the shadows of both the sun and earth. Experiments conducted included magnetic fields, plasma and charged particle studies of the solar wind interaction region, television photography, extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy of the atmosphere, the detection of infrared thermal radiation from the surface, and a dual-frequency radio occultation in search of an ionosphere.
Ultrafast Ultraviolet Photodissociation at 193 nm and its Applicability to Proteomic Workflows

Ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) at 193 nm was implemented on a linear ion trap mass spectrometer for high-throughput proteomic workflows. Upon irradiation by a single 5 ns laser pulse, efficient photodissociation of tryptic peptides was achieved with production of a, b, c, x, y, and z sequence ions, in addition to immonium ions and v and w side-chain loss ions. The factors that influence the UVPD mass spectra and subsequent in silico database searching via SEQUEST were evaluated. Peptide sequence aromaticity and the precursor charge state were found to influence photodissociation efficiency more so than the number of amide chromophores, and the ion trap q-value and number of laser pulses significantly affected the number and abundances of diagnostic product ions (e.g., sequence and immonium ions). Also, photoionization background subtraction was shown to dramatically improve SEQUEST results, especially when peptide signals were low. A liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry (LC−MS)/UVPD strategy was ...
A mixed-dimension kinematic estuarine model

A kinematic model, developed for use during conditions of low salinity when the upper reaches of an estuary are vertically mixed, divides the estuary into one-and two-dimensional regimes. The model has been applied to the Potomac by assuming that the estuary is one-dimensional above Maryland Point and two-dimensional seaward of Morgantown.
Surface densities of states for normal photoemission from Mo(110) and W(111)

Abstract Tight-binding calculations of one-dimensional densities of states on Mo(110) and W(111) are presented. As reported earlier for W(001), hybridization gaps contain localized surface states or resonances, and band-edge singularities are modified near the surface. Prominent structures in directional photoemission spectra are discussed in the light of our results, and further experiments using polarized light are suggested to test our assignments.
Synthesis of diamond-like carbon coatings on aluminum 6061 T-91 substrates by laser sintering of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond powders

Abstract Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings have been prepared on aluminum 6061 T-91 substrates with the aid of electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond powders (2-8 nm) followed by direct laser sintering technique. A continuous-wave CO 2 laser was utilized, producing a dense, adherent DLC coating with a nominal thickness of 10 μm under optimal laser parameters that included laser power of 200 W, spot size of 1 mm by 0.1 mm and scanning speed of 254 mm/s. The evidence of DLC formation and its purity was obtained by characterizing the samples with Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy. Functional evaluation of DLC coatings was performed using scratch, micro-hardness, fracture toughness and surface roughness tests. Raman measurements showed the presence of a broader peak at around 1332 cm − 1 (characteristic of pure diamond) for electrostatically deposited samples and the presence of DLC with a broad asymmetric hump in the region of 1000 to 1600 cm − 1 for laser-sintered samples. X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy confirmed the presence of carbon phases in the coatings. Scanning electron microscopy examination showed a fairly uniform and dense coating with a nominal thickness of 10 μm and a heat affected zone of 60–80 μm. These coatings exhibited micro-hardness in the range of 2150 to 2350 kg/mm 2 when measured using a Vickers diamond pyramid indenter at a load of 0.5 N. In some localized regions, hardness of 9000 kg/mm 2 was obtained. Scratch tests revealed a fairly homogenous coating with strong adhesive nature having almost four times the average critical force when compared against the electrostatically deposited sample. Fracture toughness and surface roughness are well within the acceptable ranges of DLC coatings. The capability of laser sintering to produce thick DLC coatings with outstanding mechanical and tribological properties and excellent bonding with aluminum offers the possibility to tailor an extreme lightweight, strong and wear-resistant material.
Long-term outcome of preterm infants and the role of neuroimaging

Preterm birth has been defined as one of the major public health problems of this decade, preterm neonates being at high risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities. As preterm survival rates increase, the next great imperative for perinatal medicine is to understand and prevent the serious adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm birth. The challenge for neonatologists and neurologists alike is identifying early markers of outcome in the prematurely born. This article reviews current trends in prevalence, mortality, and morbidity, and the present status of outcome data for cognitive and neurosensory neurodevelopmental dysfunctions in preterm infants. New neuroimaging modalities and analysis tools are contributing to the understanding of neurologic sequelae of preterm birth by providing microstructural evidence of injury sustained by the preterm brain.
Effect of radar measurement error on the detection of transient inland water bodies

This paper studies the identification of inland transient water bodies using an L-band radar, especially the dependence of the identification accuracy on the radar measurement noise (noise-equivalent radar backscatter, σ NE 0). The different levels for the radar measurement noise are simulated using the images taken by the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). With the original UAVSAR σ NE 0 of −45 dB the detection error is 2%. When σ NE 0 is raised to −28.5 dB and -25.5 dB, the error increases to 7% and 15% respectively. The analyses of the UAVSAR images over two different locations report the consistent results. 15% error in the water detection error translates into approximately 2 kelvin error in brightness temperature, when 10% of a 36-km radiometer pixel of the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP)i mission is covered by water surfaces. Based on these considerations, it is recommended that σ NE 0 for the SMAP mission should be kept as low as the spacecraft and the instrument may support.
A Pilus-Deficient Mutant of Haemophilus ducreyi Is Virulent in the Human Model of Experimental Infection

Haemophilus ducreyi expresses fine tangled pili, which are composed predominantly of a major subunit (FtpA). Confocal microscopy showed that an FtpA-specific monoclonal antibody bound to bacteria in biopsy samples obtained from infected human volunteers. To test the role of pili in pathogenesis, an isogenic mutant (35000HP-SMS1) was constructed by insertionally inactivating ftpA. 35000HP-SMS1 did not express FtpA and was nonpiliated but was otherwise identical to its parent, 35000HP. Seven healthy adults were challenged on the upper arm with the isogenic isolates in a double-blinded, escalating dose-response study. Sites inoculated with the mutant produced papules and pustules at rates similar to the rates observed at sites inoculated with the parent. The recovery rate of H. ducreyi from cultures and the histopathology of biopsy samples obtained from pustules inoculated with 35000HP or 35000HP-SMS1 were similar. Although pili are expressed in vivo, FtpA is not required for pustule formation in the human challenge model.
Further characterization of picloram-tolerant mutants of Nicotiana tabacum

A genetic and preliminary biochemical analysis has been performed on four picloram-tolerant mutants of Nicotiana tabacum that were isolated from cell cultures. The four mutations define three distinct linkage groups. Mutant seedlings incorporate radioactively labeled picloram normally and do not modify or degrade the herbicide in a manner that alters its solubility characteristics.
Paleomagnetism of the Lower Devonian Traveler Felsite and the Acadian orogeny in the New England Appalachians

A suite of felsic extrusive rocks from the Lower Devonian Traveler Felsite, north-central Maine (46.1°N lat., 68.9°W long.) was collected for paleomagnetic study: 28 samples from 5 sites in the (lower) Pogy member, 56 samples from 10 sites in the (upper) Black Cat member, and 13 samples from 10 cobbles in the basal conglomerate of the overlying Trout Valley Formation. Characteristic magnetizations based on AF demagnetization analyses and supported by thermal studies give a formation mean direction, after simple correction for bedding tilt, of D = 25.2°, I = − 20.2°, α 95 = 10.6° for 13 sites in the Traveler Felsite. The occurrence of normal and reversed magnetozones under stratigraphic control and the antiparallel directions of the polarity units following the tilt correction indicate an acquisition of remanence near the time of formation of the rock units. The mean direction corresponds to a (south) paleopole position of 29°S lat., 262°E long. (δ p , δm = 6°, 11°) for the Traveler Felsite. This pole position is in close agreement with poles from two other rock units of similar age from the same lithostratigraphic belt in the northern Appalachians. The mean of these three poles is distinct from Late Silurian and Middle Devonian poles from cratonic North America (Laurentia) and from Early Devonian results from the Acadia displaced terrane, suggesting that this area constituted a separate tectonic unit during the Early Devonian. We propose a tectonic model in which a “Traveler terrane” is rotated 20° to 30° while converging with Laurentia and undergoing deformation during the Early to Middle Devonian Acadian orogeny.
The isolated trout rectum bioassay for urotensin II: assessment for specificity and precision.

Abstract The trout rectum bioassay of Zelnik and Lederis for urotensin II has been assessed for reliability and specificity. A modified bioassay procedure is presented and the precision is determined. Acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine contracted the isolated trout rectum. Among a range of cholinergic and serotoninergic blockers tested, only scopolamine and methysergide are found to inhibit the response to acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, respectively, without affecting the response to urotensin II. Catecholamines inhibit the muscle at high doses and must be removed from the test sample prior to assay by extraction with dry acetone. Arginine vasotocin (AVT) stimulated the trout rectum but the slope of the dose-response curve differs from that of urotensin II. AVT is stable to carboxypeptidase A, whereas urotensin II is destroyed by this enzyme. Although other common vasoactive peptides also contract the trout rectum, tachyphylaxis develops rapidly. In the latter condition, the preparation still respondes to urotensin II with no change in sensitivity. The pharmacological data suggest that urotensin II acts on its receptor in the trout rectum and that this receptor bears close resemblance to those for acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine.
Tubulin transport in neurons.

A question of broad importance in cellular neurobiology has been, how is microtubule cytoskeleton of the axon organized? It is of particular interest because of the history of conflicting results concerning the form in which tubulin is transported in the axon. While many studies indicate a stationary nature of axonal microtubules, a recent series of experiments reports that microtubules are recruited into axons of neurons grown in the presence of a microtubule-inhibitor, vinblastine (Baas, P.W., and F.J. Ahmad. 1993.J. Cell Biol. 120:1427-1437: Ahmad F.J., and P.W. Baas. 1995. J. Cell Sci, 108:2761-2769; Sharp, D.J., W. Yu, and P.W. Baas. 1995. J. Cell Biol, 130:93-103; Yu, W., and P.W. Baas. 1995. J. Neurosci. 15:6827-6833.). Since vinblastine stabilizes bulk microtubule-dynamics in vitro, it was concluded that preformed microtubules moved into newly grown axons. By visualizing the polymerization of injected fluorescent tubulin, we show that substantial microtubule polymerization occurs in neurons grown at reported vinblastine concentrations. Vinblastine inhibits, in a concentration-dependent manner, both neurite outgrowth and microtubule assembly. More importantly, the neuron growth conditions of low vinblastine concentration allowed us to visualize the footprints of the tubulin wave as it polymerized and depolymerized during its slow axonal transport. In contrast, depolymerization resistant fluorescent microtubules did not move when injected in neurons. We show that tubulin subunits, not microtubules, are the primary form of tubulin transport in neurons.
Parts Traceability for Manufacturers

Recalls and defective parts are a major problem for manufacturers and a major challenge in information management. Increasingly complex supply chains have created a situation where parts' data is distributed across a volatile network of suppliers' databases. The challenge of parts tracking in this environment requires maintaining data views across constantly-restructuring networks of information systems as new suppliers are contracted and subassemblies are outsourced. In this paper we present a method for manufacturers to efficiently and automatically index all component parts in their products, allowing for complex changes to the supply chain, and enabling highly efficient reverse-lookups for recalls. Our method improves parts lookup and search time by subdividing all component part indexes into a distributed, versioned matrix of tables which models the structure of the supply chain. We introduce a method of reverse-indexing component parts using manufacturing time to pinpoint products for selective recalls, running in a fraction of the time of a traditional database search. We evaluate our method for applicability to the automotive industry using statistically re-generated data from a major automobile manufacturer to simulate a supply chain 7 layers deep, comprising 1000 individual component parts, indexing a distributed dataset totaling approximately 1TB in size.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Nonneoplastic Lesions in Toxicology Studies

A pathology report is written to convey information concerning the pathologic findings in a study. This type of report must be complete, accurate and communicate the relative importance of various findings in a study. The overall quality of the report is determined by three Quality Indicators: thoroughness, accuracy, and consistency. Thoroughness is the identification of every lesion present in a particular organ or tissue, including spontaneous background lesions. Experienced pathologists familiar with background lesions may disregard certain types of lesions or establish a threshold or a severity above which background lesions are diagnosed. Accuracy is the ability to make, and precisely communicate, correct diagnoses. Nomenclature of lesions is a matter of definition and experienced pathologists generally agree as to what terms are to be used. Consistency is the uniform use of a specific term to record a defined lesion and implies that the same diagnostic criteria are being followed for each type of diagnosis. The relative severity of nonneoplastic lesions can be recorded either semiquantitatively or quantitatively. Semiquantitative analysis involves the application of defined severity grades or ranges for specific lesions. Quantitative analysis (counts and measurements) can be performed manually or electronically, utilizing image analysis and stereological techniques to provide numerical values. When both qualitative and quantitative parameters are applied in preparation of a pathology report, the recorded pathology findings can be interpreted and put into perspective. The use of this approach assures a reader that the pathology report meets the highest standards.
The relationship of the transmural extent of T2-edema compared with the transmural extent of infarction: implications for the assessment of the area-at-risk

Background It has been reported that hyperintensity on T2W-CMR represents the area-at-risk. This conclusion is based upon the observation that the region of T2-hyperintensity is always larger than region of infarction. However, differences in measured size may be due to many factors, including the choice of different image intensity thresholds (Nat Rev Cardiol. 2010 Oct;7(10):547-9.). Additionally, basic physiology studies have established that the area-at-risk is not simply larger than the region of infarction, but is nearly always transmural regardless of the transmurality of infarct size. The relationship between the transmural extent of T2-hyperintensity and the transmural extent of infarction is unknown.
Local Base Station Cooperation Via Finite-Capacity Links for the Uplink of Linear Cellular Networks

Cooperative decoding at the base stations (or access points) of an infrastructure wireless network is currently well recognized as a promising approach for intercell interference mitigation, thus enabling high frequency reuse. Deployment of cooperative multicell decoding depends critically on the tolopology and quality of the available backhaul links connecting the base stations. This work studies a scenario where base stations are connected only if in adjacent cells, and via finite-capacity links. Relying on a linear Wyner-type cellular model with no fading, achievable rates are derived for the two scenarios where base stations are endowed only with the codebooks of local (in-cell) mobile stations, or also with the codebooks used in adjacent cells. Moreover, both uni- and bidirectional backhaul links are considered. The analysis sheds light on the impact of codebook information, decoding delay, and network planning (frequency reuse) on the performance of multicell decoding as enabled by local and finite-capacity backhaul links. Analysis in the high-signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime and numerical results validate the main conclusions.