cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pyrolysis as a technique for separating heavy metals from hyperaccumulators. Part I: Preparation of synthetic hyperaccumulator biomass ☆

Abstract Phytoremediation involves removing metals from soil or water for environmental reasons and phytomining implies extraction of metals from soils rich in metal content, using hyperaccumulators for economic gain. “Synthetic hyperaccumulator biomass” (SHB) was prepared to mimic the metal concentration and/or chemistry found in actual hyperaccumulators. The purpose for developing a technique to produce SHB was to prepare sufficient quantities of samples for use in lab-scale and pilot-scale pyrolysis experiments. Bench scale experiments were conducted at 27°C to incorporate metals like Ni, Zn, Cu, Co, and Cr into 3 g of SHB (milled corn stover) using metal acetate and metal citrate salt solutions. Two parameters, namely concentration of metal salt and soaking time were studied. Suitable acetate and/or citrate feed concentrations and soaking times were then selected for preparing the SHB, containing a particular heavy metal, for lab-scale and pilot-scale pyrolysis experiments. For the lab-scale pyrolysis experiments, 160 g of the SHB was prepared using the five heavy metal acetate and citrate feeds. About 500 g of the SHB was prepared for the pilot-scale experiments using the Ni, Zn, and Cu acetate feeds. Except for lab-scale/Cu acetate feed (6% higher), lab-scale/Cr acetate feed (20% higher), lab-scale/Ni citrate feed (8% lower), and pilot-scale/Cu acetate feed which was 2.2 times higher than the literature value, concentration of metal in the other nine types of SHB prepared for the lab-scale and pilot-scale pyrolysis experiments was within the hyperaccumulator metal concentration ranges found in the literature. The final goal of this work, which is presented in a series of four parts, is to demonstrate the use of pyrolysis as a first step towards the recovery of heavy metals from hyperaccumulators used for phytoremediation or phytomining.
Irreversible Electroporation Using the Vasculature of an Organ as Fluid Electrodes

Electroporation is a non-linear biophysical process in which the application of pulsed electric fields leads to an increase in permeability of cells, presumably through the creation of nanoscale pores in the lipid bilayer [1]. At low pulsing energy, this permeability is reversible and cellular health and function is maintained. Once a critical electric field intensity threshold is surpassed the cell membrane is unable to recover and cell death is induced in a precise and controllable manner with sub-millimeter resolution [2]. This process is referred to as irreversible electroporation (IRE). IRE does not rely on thermal mechanisms and preserves the structure of the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as nerve conduits and bile ducts [3].Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Atmospheric CO2, soil nitrogen and turnover of fine roots

summary In most natural ecosystems a significant portion of carbon fixed through photosynthesis is allocated to the production and maintenance of fine roots, the ephemeral portion of the root system that absorbs growth-limiting moisture and nutrients. In turn, senescence of fine roots can be the greatest source of C input to forest soils. Consequently, important questions in ecology entail the extent to which increasing atmospheric CO2 may alter the allocation of carbon to, and demography of, fine roots. Using microvideo and image analysis technology, we demonstrate that elevated atmospheric CO2 increases the rates of both fine root production and mortality. Rates of root mortality also increased substantially as soil nitrogen availability increased, regardless of CO2 concentration. Nitrogen greatly influenced the proportional allocation of carbon to leaves vs. fine roots. The amount of available nitrogen in the soil appears to be the most important factor regulating fine root demography in Populus trees.
Post-Traumatic Therapy

Most victims of violence never seek professional therapy to deal with the emotional impact of traumatic events. If they did, they would be sorely disappointed. There are not enough therapists in the world to treat the millions of men, women, and children who have been assaulted, abused, and violated as a result of war, tyranny, crime, disaster, and family violence. When people do seek help, suffering with post-traumatic symptoms, they may find therapists who are ill-equipped to provide assistance. The credentialed clinicians in psychiatry, psychology, nursing, social work, and allied professions are only recently learning to catalogue, evaluate, and refine a therapeutic armamentarium to serve traumatized clients. There are, however, a cadre of clinicians who have shared insights and approaches, face-to-face and through written works, defining principles and techniques that address the worldwide problem of post-traumatic readjustment. A recent sampling of clinical insights (Ochberg, 1988) attempts to define the commonalities in assumptions and approaches to therapy. The common ground is the foundation of Post-Traumatic Therapy (PTT). The individual distinctions separating clinicians who share this common ground are the inevitable differences of creative minds.
Lexical acquisition in the Core Language Engine

The SRI Core Language Engine (CLE) is a general-purpose natural language front end for interactive systems. It translates English expressions into representations of their literal meanings. This paper presents the lexical acquisition component of the CLE, which allows the creation of lexicon entries by users with knowledge of the application domain but not of linguistics or of the detailed workings of the system. It is argued that the need to cater for a wide range of types of back end leads naturally to an approach based on eliciting grammaticality judgments from the user. This approach, which has been used to define a 1200-word core lexicon of English, is described and evaluated.
TU‐A‐9A‐07: X‐Ray Acoustic Computed Tomography (XACT): 100% Sensitivity to X‐Ray Absorption

Purpose: To assess whether X-ray acoustic computed tomography (XACT) is more sensitive to X-ray absorption than that of the conventional X-ray imaging. Methods: First, a theoretical model was built to analyze the X-ray absorption sensitivity of XACT imaging and conventional X-ray imaging. Second, an XACT imaging system was developed to evaluate the X-ray induced acoustic signal generation as well as the sensitivity improvement over transmission x-ray imaging. Ultra-short x-ray pulses (60-nanosecond) were generated from an X-ray source operated at the energy of 150 kVp with a 10-Hz repetition rate. The X-ray pulse was synchronized with the acoustic detection via a x-ray scintillation triggering to acquire the X-ray induced acoustic signal. Results: Theoretical analysis shows that X-ray induced acoustic signal is sensitive only to the X-ray absorption, while completely insensitive to out the X-ray scattering and fluorescence. XACT has reduced background and increased contrast-to-noise ratio, and therefore has increased sensitivity compared to transmission x-ray imaging. For a 50-μm size, gadolinium insertion in tissue exposed to 40 keV X-rays; the sensitivity of XACT imaging is about 28.9 times higher than that of conventional X-ray imaging. Conclusion: X-ray acoustic computer tomography (XACT) as a new imaging modality combines X-ray absorption contrast and high ultrasonic resolution in a single modality. It is feasible to improve the imaging sensitivity with XACT imaging compared with conventional X-ray imaging. Taking advantage of the high ultrasonic resolution, it is possible to perform 3-D imaging with a single x-ray pulse with arrays of transducers without any mechanical motion of the imaging system. This single-shot capability offers the potential of reducing radiation dose by a factor of 1000, and imaging 100 times faster when compared to the conventional X-ray CT, and thus revolutionizing x-ray imaging applications in medicine and biology. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Programs W81XWH-13-1-0481 (LX), the National Institutes of Health 1R01 CA133474 and 1R21 A153587, and SRFDP (20124407120012) for funding.
O7 The treatment of oral malodor

Objective Because the increase in the bacterial load on the tongue is paramount in the etiology of malodor, we sought to reduce this load by debriding the tongue in combination with short-term usage of antimicrobial mouthrinses. Methods Subjects with oral malodor had an OR score >2, had whole mouth volatile sulfur (VSCs) levels ≥200 ppb (Halimeter®), and had a positive tongue BANA test. The subjects were given a tongue scraper and a 16 oz bottle of mouthrinse (Listerine® or Ther-a-sol®, single blind design). They were instructed to debride their dorsal tongue surface, to brush and floss the teeth, to rinse with 1 oz of the mouthrinse for 1 min, instructed not to eat or drink for 2–3 h thereafter, and to repeat the protocol in the morning and evening for 7 days. After 1 week all malodor measurements were repeated. The patients were then given a zinc containing tongue gel and instructed to debride the tongue surface, repeating this procedure twice a day. Results and discussion Thirty-two subjects entered this program, 31 returned 1 week later, and 20 returned for a follow-up examination (average of 37 weeks). The OR score decreased from 2.8 to 0.9 after 1 week of treatment, and to 0.6 for those who returned for the follow-up. The VSCs decreased from 339 ppb prior to treatment to 120 ppb after 1 week and to 53 ppb 37 weeks later. Eighty-one percent of the tongues were BANA positive prior to treatment, 16% after 1 week and 0% after 37 weeks. The microbial flora changed from one dominated by asaccharolytic species to one dominated by saccharolytic species such as S. salivarius. Conclusions This report describes a long-term beneficial effect of treatment on oral malodor.
Does Belimumab Reduce Disease Activity in Adults with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

In March 2011, the FDA approved belimumab (Benlysta) for the treatment of adult patients with active, autoantibody-positive, systemic lupus erythematosus who are receiving standard therapy. Belimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against BLyS (B lymphocyte stimulator). BLyS, a member of the TNF ligand super family, promotes the survival and maturation of B cells. For patients on standard of care therapy and without active severe renal or central nervous system lupus, belimumab has been shown to be effective and safe. Further information will be gathered in the open label extensions of the phase II and III trials and post-marketing experience.
Phase Separation and Liquid Crystal Self-Assembly in Surfactant−Inorganic−Solvent Systems

The behavior of surfactant−inorganic oxide−solvent systems is studied using lattice Monte Carlo simulations. Under no inorganic condensation conditions, these systems phase separate into a liquid crystal phase that contains mainly surfactant and inorganic oxide, in equilibrium with a solvent-rich phase. In the systems studied, the solvent and the inorganic oxide have favorable interactions with the surfactant head, but the inorganic oxide−surfactant interactions are stronger than the solvent−surfactant interactions, which leads to a phase separation, regardless of the oxide−solvent miscibility. The formation of ordered liquid crystal phases is observed in the phase containing a high surfactant concentration, and the structure of this phase depends on the system composition and strength of the interactions. The formation of hexagonal and lamellar structures at different conditions is in qualitative agreement with experimental evidence on the formation of surfactant−silica liquid crystals and the synthesis ...
Importance of Ligand Reorganization Free Energy in Protein-Ligand Binding-Affinity Prediction

Accurate prediction of the binding affinities of small-molecule ligands to their biological targets is fundamental for structure-based drug design but remains a very challenging task. In this paper, we have performed computational studies to predict the binding models of 31 small-molecule Smac (the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase) mimetics to their target, the XIAP (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis) protein, and their binding affinities. Our results showed that computational docking was able to reliably predict the binding models, as confirmed by experimentally determined crystal structures of some Smac mimetics complexed with XIAP. However, all the computational methods we have tested, including an empirical scoring function, two knowledge-based scoring functions, and MM-GBSA (molecular mechanics and generalized Born surface area), yield poor to modest prediction for binding affinities. The linear correlation coefficient (r(2)) value between the predicted affinities and the experimentally determined affinities was found to be between 0.21 and 0.36. Inclusion of ensemble protein-ligand conformations obtained from molecular dynamic simulations did not significantly improve the prediction. However, major improvement was achieved when the free-energy change for ligands between their free- and bound-states, or "ligand-reorganization free energy", was included in the MM-GBSA calculation, and the r(2) value increased from 0.36 to 0.66. The prediction was validated using 10 additional Smac mimetics designed and evaluated by an independent group. This study demonstrates that ligand reorganization free energy plays an important role in the overall binding free energy between Smac mimetics and XIAP. This term should be evaluated for other ligand-protein systems and included in the development of new scoring functions. To our best knowledge, this is the first computational study to demonstrate the importance of ligand reorganization free energy for the prediction of protein-ligand binding free energy.
The Development and Evaluation of a Computerized Adaptive Test of Tonal Memory

The purpose of this three-phase investigation was to develop and evaluate a computerized adaptive test of tonal memory. In the first phase, characteristics of commercially available tonal memory te...
A structural transformation of curium sesquioxide

Abstract An additional structure for Cm2O3 is reported. Cubic Cm2O3 was produced by hydrogen reduction of a higher curium oxide and found to transform spontaneously after several weeks to hexagonal Cm2O3, of La2O3 type structure. The hexagonal structure has lattice parameters of a = 3·80 ± 0·02 A , c = 6·00 ± 0·03 A and presumably results from radiation damage effects in the crystal lattice.
Sodium and Potassium Channels in Regenerating and Developing Mammalian Myelinated Nerves

A study has been made of how the normal complementary distribution of sodium and potassium channels in mammalian myelinated nerve fibres (all the sodium channels being in the node with all the potassium channels in the internode) is altered in regenerating and in developing rabbit sciatic nerves. In regenerating nerve fibres, where a marked increase in the number of nodes per unit length occurs, there is a corresponding increase in the sodium channel content (determined from the maximum saturable binding of labelled saxitoxin), consistent with the idea that the number of sodium channels per node remains roughly constant. The use of 4-aminopyridine, which by blocking potassium channels prolongs the action potential, has shown that both in regenerating nerve fibres and in developing nerve fibres potassium currents contribute to the mammalian action potential. In both cases, with the passage of time, the sensitivity to 4-aminopyridine progressively decreases.
Recovery from electroencephalographic slowing and reduced evoked potentials after somatosensory cortical damage in cats.

In order to search for possible evidence of active compensation during recovery from brain damage, EEG and evoked potential recordings were taken from cats prepared with chronically implanted electrodes in sensorimotor cortex, suprasylvian gyrus, and other cortical and deep areas, before and after various sensorimotor cortical lesions. The animals were tested concurrently on a battery of neurological tests. As in an earlier study limited to SI alone, lesions of SI or of SII, or larger ablations involving adjacent tissue, were followed by degenerative changes in potentials evoked by forelimb stimulation and then by partial recovery in some cases. Similarly, only degenerative changes were seen in responsiveness to brain stimulation, tested in some animals. Compensatory hyperresponsiveness was not seen. EEG results were consistent with the clinical literature in showing reduction in amplitudes, particularly of fast activity, sometimes accompanied by increased slow activity, greatest near the site of damage. Though SII might be thought of as partly redundant with SI, and therefore important in recovery, SII was not particularly responsive to damage to SI. Additional, suggestive changes following cortical damage were seen in some cases, e.g., 25–40 Hz spindles in orbital cortex, but these need further corroboration. Although more subtle measures might reveal additional positive findings, outside the range of spontenaous variability in the EEG, future investigations should also consider whether EEG slowing plays an active role in recovery or whether it is epiphenomenal.
Oscillatory morphological instabilities due to non-equilibrium segregation

Abstract Linear perturbation theory is used to study morphological instability for rapid directional solidification at constant velocity under conditions where there is significant departure from local equilibrium at an initially planar solid-liquid interface. Under conditions where the segregation coefficient k depends significantly on velocity v , the stability criterion depends explicitly on both k and ∂ k /∂ v and instabilities that are oscillatory in time can occur for solute concentrations that are much smaller than those that would be necessary to cause non-oscillatory instability for the same k if ∂ k /∂ v were simply neglected. Such oscillatory instabilities seem to b e related to a “solute pump” mechanism according to which local changes in k , due to periodic changes in local interface velocity v , can occur out of phase with local interface position, thus resulting in lateral inhomogeneity of concentration on a length scale large enough that the resulting instabilities will not be suppressed by capillarity. Such instabilities can, however, be suppressed by a sufficiently large dependence of interface undercooling on v . When present, oscillatory instabilities lead to a three-dimensional segregation pattern in which periodic solute variations in the two transverse directions are modulated by a periodic variation in the direction of growth.
The New Urban Underclass and its Consciousness: is it a class?

This paper investigates whether the 22 million or so urban recipients of the Minimum Livelihood Guarantee (the zuidi shenghuo baozhang), whose per capita family income falls below a locally set poverty line, can be called a ‘class’. It also explores if they experience ‘class consciousness’. It draws on theoretical writings on class and class consciousness, and on some seven dozen unstructured interviews in households of urban dibao recipients in Lanzhou, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and three smaller Hubei cities in 2007–2010, mainly using material from 2010. It finds that, unlike the former working class, while these people do not comprise a ‘class’ as such, their consciousness of their plight, stripped bare of all the illusions that clouded it in Maoist times—again as distinguished from the bygone working class—is more faithful to their actual circumstances than it is specious.
In vivo monitoring of function of autologous engineered pulmonary valve.

Objectives Clinical translation of tissue-engineered heart valves requires valve competency and lack of stenosis in the short and long term. Early studies of engineered valves showed promise, although lacked complete definition of valve function. Building on prior experiments, we sought to define the in vivo changes in structure and function of autologous engineered pulmonary valved conduits. Methods Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from neonatal sheep bone marrow and seeded onto a bioresorbable scaffold. After 4 weeks of culture, valved conduits were implanted. Valve function, cusp, and conduit dimensions were evaluated at implantation (echocardiography), at the experimental midpoint (magnetic resonance imaging), and at explant, at 1 day, and 1, 6, 12, or 20 weeks postoperatively (direct measurement, echocardiography). Histologic evaluation was performed. Results Nineteen animals underwent autologous tissue-engineered valved conduit replacement. At implantation, valved conduit function was excellent; maximum transvalvular pressure gradient by Doppler echocardiography was 17 mm Hg; most valved conduits showed trivial pulmonary regurgitation. At 6 postoperative weeks, valve cusps appeared less mobile; pulmonary regurgitation was mild to moderate. At 12 weeks or more, valved conduit cusps were increasingly attenuated and regurgitant. Valved conduit diameter remained unchanged over 20 weeks. Dimensional measurements by magnetic resonance imaging correlated with direct measurement at explant. Conclusions We demonstrate autologous engineered tissue valved conduits that function well at implantation, with subsequent monitoring of dimensions and function in real time by magnetic resonance imaging. In vivo valves undergo structural and functional remodeling without stenosis, but with worsening pulmonary regurgitation after 6 weeks. Insights into mechanisms of in vivo remodeling are valuable for future iterations of engineered heart valves.
Beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors' purported benefit on breast cancer survival may be explained by aspirin use.

Preclinical and epidemiologic evidence supports a possible role for beta-adrenergic blocking drugs (beta-blockers), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in promoting survival after breast cancer. However, these drugs are often used concurrently with aspirin, and there is a growing body of evidence indicating a survival benefit for aspirin. Therefore, we analyzed the use of beta-blockers and ACEIs after a breast cancer diagnosis and their association with breast cancer mortality, both individually, combined with each other, and in combination with aspirin use in the Nurses’ Health Study, using updated measures of medication use and Cox proportional hazards models. There were 4,661 women with stages I–III breast cancer included; 292 breast cancer deaths occurred during median follow-up time of 10.5 years. Modeled individually, the multivariable relative risk and 95 % confidence intervals (RR, 95 % CI) for breast cancer death were (0.76, 0.54–1.05) for beta blockers, (0.89, 0.60–1.32) for ACEIs, and (0.46, 0.35–0.60) for aspirin. Modeled simultaneously, the multivariable (RR, 95 % CI) for breast cancer death were (0.83, 0.60–1.16) for beta blockers, (1.00, 0.68–1.46) for ACEIs, and (0.46, 0.35–0.61) for aspirin. We did not see a significant association with beta blockers and survival, but there was a suggestion. Our study was limited in that we could not assess type of beta blocker and the number of events among users was still quite low. We found no evidence of a protective effect for ACEIs. The strong protective association with aspirin use confounds the associations with these other drugs and underscores the importance of considering aspirin use in analyses of breast cancer survival.
Optical and Structural Properties of InAs/GaSb Nanostructures

The nanostructures self-organized via lateral composition modulation in 140 period (InAs)13/(GaSb)13 superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy have been studied by highresolution x-ray diffraction and infrared absorption. Three samples were analyzed in this study; two with lateral composition modulation and one without. X-ray reciprocal space map scans were taken to determine the average morphology of the modulated structures. Both vertical and lateral satellite peaks were observed for the samples with composition modulation, indicating the formation of two-dimensional nanowire arrays. The vertical wavelength measured for the two samples was twice the period intended by the growers. This is due to the face-centered cubic type stacking of the nanowires. Infrared absorption spectra of these two samples were compared to the spectra of the sample with no lateral composition modulation. Transitions involving the heavy- and light-hole bands in the GaSb hole quantum well and the electron subbands of the InAs electron quantum well were not evident for the samples with lateral composition modulation, indicating that the nanostructure of the lateral composition modulation affects the optical response of the sample, which is important for optoelectronic device applications.
Sequence of a prominent 16-residue self-peptide bound to HLA-B27 in a lymphoblastoid cell line.

Reverse-phase HPLC chromatography of endogenous peptides eluted from HLA-B27 molecules from a homozygous B lymphoblastoid cell line showed four peaks. One of these peaks, which included more than half of the total peptides, was sequenced and showed 16 amino acid residues corresponding to the N-terminus of the protein coded by the Drosophila Draf-1 protooncogene. The structure of this peptide suggests that residues 1-9 are in an extended conformation within the groove of the MHC molecule, whereas residues 10-16 extend out of the groove, which may correspond to incomplete processing. Self-peptides associated with HLA-B27 are of special interest because of the unusually high association of this MHC allele with ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases (for a review, see Ref. 1)
Avian Leukocytic Cytokines

Leukocytic cytokines are produced by cells of the immune system and are prominent regulators of the immune response and in some cases various systemic responses. Leukocytic cytokines are released during immune responses and may act in autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine manners. Although over a dozen avian leukocytic cytokines have been described based on functional activities, characterization at the molecular level is not well developed. Two exceptions are 1) myelomonocytic growth factor, a colony-stimulating factor-like cytokine required for the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells, particularly myelomonocytic cells; and 2) the avian transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family of cytokines, which modulate wound healing, bone metabolism, and cellular differentiation. Cytokines with bioactivities similar to mammalian interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6, and interferon-gamma have been at least partially purified. Cytokines with bioactivities similar to mammalian IL-8, colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha have been reported but are not well characterized at the molecular level. With a few exceptions, including TGF-beta and thymulin, highly purified leukocytic cytokines of mammalian origin have diminished or no specific activity in avian assay systems. The chicken IL-1 receptor has been cloned and the predicted amino acid sequence shares 60% homology with the human IL-1 receptor. A component of the chicken IL-2 receptor has been partially purified but little is known about other avian leukocytic cytokine receptors. Potential applications of leukocytic cytokines in poultry production originate from their regulation of a variety of functions such as disease resistance, would healing, bone accretion, nutrient partitioning, appetite, growth, and reproduction.
Atropine disrupts passive avoidance learning in young chicks.

Four-day-old Vantress × Arbor Acre chicks were first trained to key-peck for heat reinforcement and then tested for passive avoidance learning following an intraperitoneal injection of atropine sulfate or saline. Chicks injected with 1.0 mg/kg of atropine responded more quickly than saline-injected chicks when their key-peck responses were punished with aversive wing-shocks. These findings, therefore, are consistent with the view that cholinergic mechanisms are involved in inhibitory behavior in the young domestic chick.
Global and Local Policing - Common Principles for the Future of Policing

Police agencies throughout the world find themselves facing competing demands. On the one hand, the community policing movement emphasizes the need to focus at a neighborhood level and to increase ties with local citizens, businesses, and neighborhood groups. At the same time, processes of globalization and technological innovation generate new forms of crime, criminal organizations, and terrorism that span national borders. Rather than making a forced choice between a local or global focus, the thesis of this article is that police agencies will need to expand their mission to include both global and local dimensions. Examination of both community policing and transnational policing identifies a set of core principles that can guide a new model of global and local policing. These include partnerships, proactive and strategic problem solving, targeted deterrence, smart prosecution, outcome‐based accountability, ethics and leadership. Examples drawn from the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighb...
Reflections: What's Wrong with Business Schools and Why they Need to Change

AbstractBusiness schools, which are at the forefront of teaching organizational change management, need to change themselves substantially. The prime intent of this reflection is to contribute to the improvement of business schools so that society as a whole is better able to deal with the complexities of today's world. The central argument consists of three main parts: (1) the intellectual content of business schools, (2) the mindset that business schools inculcate in their students and faculty, and the kinds of psychology that are taught in them, and finally, (3) the philosophical underpinnings of business schools. In brief, we are concerned with the intellectual, emotional, and philosophical foundations of business schools. We view them not only as highly interactive, but also as fundamentally inseparable.
Diagnosing the Intercept Parameter for Exponential Raindrop Size Distribution Based on Video Disdrometer Observations: Model Development

Abstract The exponential distribution N(D) = N0 exp(−ΛD) with a fixed intercept parameter N0 is most commonly used to represent raindrop size distribution (DSD) in rainfall estimation and in single-moment bulk microphysics parameterization schemes. Disdrometer observations show that the intercept parameter is far from constant and systematically depends on the rain type and intensity. In this study, a diagnostic relation of N0 as a function of rainwater content W is derived based on two-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) measurements. The data reveal a clear correlation between N0 and W in which N0 increases as W increases. To minimize the effects of sampling error, a relation between two middle moments is used to derive the N0–W relation. This diagnostic relation has the potential to improve rainfall estimation and bulk microphysics parameterizations. A parameterization scheme for warm rain processes based on the diagnostic N0 DSD model is formulated and presented. The diagnostic N0-based parameterizat...
High-resolution soft lithography of thin film resists enabling nanoscopic pattern transfer

Soft UV-imprint lithography at sub-micron dimensions was achieved in thin films of photopolymer resist. The imprinting was enabled by overcoming resist absorption by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through surface treatment with a layer of (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)dimethylchlorosilane. Characterization of the composite molds was done by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nanoindentation, and contact angle measurements. PDMS molds treated with fluoroalkylsilane layer were used to imprint into thin films (70–630 nm) of UV curable resins consisting of either polyurethanes or acrylates, replicating with high fidelity features over the surface of wafer substrates. The use of these highly conformal PDMS molds allowed the patterning of functional materials including gold and aluminium by a simple imprint lithographic technique. This is the first report of the use of modified PDMS surfaces in an imprint process that enables the transfer of sub-micron patterns to underlying layers for device structure fabrication. The patterned features were studied with atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy.
Metabolic Stress Produces Rapid Immunosuppression in Humans

To the Editor.— A growing number of preclinical and clinical studies 1-4 have shown that exposure to stress results in suppression of immune function. In humans, reductions in cell-mediated immunity have been associated with depression and bereavement 3,4 ; however, the mechanisms involved in stress-induced immunosuppression are not fully understood. An experimental stress paradigm that reliably produces alterations in immune function in humans could be an important tool in helping to assess the mechanism(s) underlying stress-related immunosuppression. Our laboratory is involved in a series of studies examining the behavioral and neurobiologic effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a metabolic stressor, on normal volunteers and psychiatric patients. 2-DG is a glucose analogue that competitively inhibits glucose-6phosphate, resulting in disruption of intracellular glucose utilization. The behavioral and physiological effects of 2-DG administration include fatigue, hypothermia, increased hunger, diaphoresis, tachycardia, increased sympathetic nervous system activity, and increased cortisol secretion. 5 We now report that 2-DG administration
Effects of Combustor Rig Exposure on a Porous-Matrix Oxide Composite

The present study explores the effects of exposure in a laboratory combustor on microstructural stability and property retention of an all-oxide fiber-reinforced ceramic composite. The material consists of a porous mullite–alumina matrix and Nextel 720 fibers in an eight-harness satin weave. To assess the effects of matrix strength, two matrix conditions are used, distinguished from one another by the amount of alumina added through precursor impregnation and pyrolysis (1.8% and 4.8%). In both cases, the dominant damage mode upon exposure involves interply delamination along the panel midplane. However, significant reductions in the rate and extent of cracking are obtained in the material with higher alumina content: a result of the higher delamination resistance. Mechanical tests performed on exposed specimens reveal a slight (10–20%) reduction in tensile strength along the fiber direction and a comparable increase in shear strength. These trends suggest some sintering of the matrix upon exposure. Examinations of fracture surfaces provide additional supporting evidence. Implications for long-term performance and strategies for imparting improvement in microstructural stability and delamination resistance are discussed.
Liposomes in double-emulsion globules.

Tubular liposomes containing a hydrophilic model compound (fluorescein sodium salt, FSS) were entrapped inside the internal aqueous phase (W1) of water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double-emulsion globules. Our hypothesis was that the oil membrane of double emulsions can function as a layer of protection to liposomes and their contents and thus better control their release. Liposomes were prepared in bulk, and their release was observed microscopically from individual double-emulsion globules. The liposomes containing FSS were released through external coalescence, and the behavior of this system was monitored visually by capillary video microscopy. Double-emulsion globules were stabilized with Tween 80 as the water-soluble surfactant, with Span 80 as the oil-soluble surfactant, while the oil phase (O) was n-hexadecane. The lipids in the tubular liposomes consist of l-α-phosphatidylcholine and Ceramide-VI. Variations of Tween 80 concentration in the external aqueous phase (W2) and Span 80 concentration in th...
Partial characterization of a 52 kDa CsA/FK506/rapamycin binding protein

Identification and characterization of the cellular proteins that specifically bind to the immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporine (CsA), FK506, and rapamycin is necessary to understand their mechanism of action. We have isolated and partially characterized a 52 kDa binding protein (BP) from calf thymus. Using 12 peptide substrates we observed very low or no cis-trans peptidyl prolyl isomerase activity. We further tested the protein for catalytic activity including kinase activity, phosphatase activity, protein kinase C regulation, and LCK tyrosine kinase regulation. The 52 kDa BP was capable of blocking the cyclic AMP dependent, protein kinase mediated, phosphorylation of histones and casein. The protein did not demonstrate kinase activity, nor did it affect the activity of protein kinase C or LCK tyrosine kinase. Microsequencing of the 52 kDa BP was performed. A comparison of known sequences indicated that the protein is unique and has not been previously characterized.
Spatial Regulation of Developmental Signaling by a Serpin

An extracellular serine protease cascade generates the ligand that activates the Toll signaling pathway to establish dorsoventral polarity in the Drosophila embryo. We show here that this cascade is regulated by a serpin-type serine protease inhibitor, which plays an essential role in confining Toll signaling to the ventral side of the embryo. This role is strikingly analogous to the function of the mammalian serpin antithrombin in localizing the blood-clotting cascade, suggesting that serpin inhibition of protease activity may be a general mechanism for achieving spatial control in diverse biological processes.
Progress in updatable photorefractive polymer-based holographic displays via direct optical writing of computer-generated fringe patterns

We have previously introduced an architecture for updatable photorefractive holographic display based around direct fringe writing of computer-generated holographic fringe patterns. In contrast to interference-based stereogram techniques for hologram exposure in photorefractive polymer (PRP) materials, the direct fringe writing architecture simplifies system design, reduces system footprint and cost, and offers greater affordances over the types of holographic images that can be recorded. In this paper, motivations and goals for employing a direct fringe writing architecture for photorefractive holographic imagers are reviewed, new methods for PRP exposure by micro-optical fields generated via spatial light modulation and telecentric optics are described, and resulting holographic images are presented and discussed. Experimental results are reviewed in the context of theoretical indicators for system performance.
Reliability of frozen section diagnosis in head and neck neoplasms

To evaluate the reliability of frozen section diagnosis we reviewed a series of 1146 consecutive frozen sections performed during a 5-year period. The frozen section diagnosis was then compared to that found on paraffin section and the results categorized into 12 regions in the head and neck. We found an overall reliability of 96%. The total percentage of false positive and false negative results were 0.35% and 3% respectively. Frozen section diagnosis was most accurate on the submandibular gland (no errors), nose and paranasal sinuses (no error), followed by the thyroid gland (0.8% error). Areas in which frozen section diagnoses were least accurate included the nasopharynx (12.5% error) and the oropharynx (8.7% error). We conclude that frozen section diagnosis is highly accurate in most regions of the head and neck.
Using Technology in Reggio Emilia-Inspired Programs

Abstract All young children need to interact with their environments to achieve maximum development and learning. Technology has great potential for supporting the learning needs of all young children in early childhood programs supported by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. This article discusses possible uses of technologies that are appropriate for young children, including assistive technology devices (from low to high tech) for children with special needs. Additional uses of technology for educators and family members are included, such as for documentation, assessment, communication, and training.
Impact of a revised convective triggering mechanism on Community Atmosphere Model, Version 2, simulations: Results from short‐range weather forecasts

[1] This study implements a revised convective triggering condition in the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model, Version 2 (CAM2), model to reduce its excessive warm season daytime precipitation over land. The new triggering mechanism introduces a simple dynamic constraint on the initiation of convection that emulates the collective effects of lower level moistening and upward motion of the large-scale circulation. It requires a positive contribution from the large-scale advection of temperature and moisture to the existing positive convective available potential energy (CAPE) for model convection to start. In contrast, the original convection triggering function in CAM2 assumes that convection is triggered whenever there is positive CAPE, which results in too frequent warm season convection over land arising from strong diurnal variation of solar radiation. We examine the impact of the new trigger on CAM2 simulations by running the climate model in numerical weather prediction (NWP) mode so that more available observations and high-frequency NWP analysis data can be used to evaluate model performance. We show that the modified triggering mechanism has led to considerable improvements in the simulation of precipitation, temperature, moisture, clouds, radiations, surface temperature, and surface sensible and latent heat fluxes when compared to the data collected from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program at its Southern Great Plains (SGP) site. Similar improvements are also seen over other parts of the globe. In particular, the surface precipitation simulation has been significantly improved over both the continental United States and around the globe; the overestimation of high clouds in the equatorial tropics has been substantially reduced; and the temperature, moisture, and zonal wind are more realistically simulated. Results from this study also show that some systematic errors in the CAM2 climate simulations can be detected in the early stage of model integration. Examples are the extremely overestimated high clouds in the tropics in the vicinity of Intertropical Convergence Zone and the spurious precipitation maximum to the east of the Rockies. This has important implications in studies of these model errors since running the climate model in NWP mode allows us to perform a more in-depth analysis during a short time period where more observations are available and different model errors from various processes have not compensated for the systematic errors.
STEATITE SOURCE CHARACTERIZATION IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA: NEW RESULTS USING INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS*

Doubts have recently been cast on the ability to characterize steatite sources using rare earth elements (REEs). By increasing the number of samples and elements examined using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and multivariate statistics, this study shows that, with unhomogenized samples, transition metals, not REEs, make the greatest contribution in characterizing steatite sources in the Middle Atlantic region of eastern North America. Preliminary results suggest that INAA has the potential to assign provenance to steatite artefacts, at least at a regional level.
A Carrier Based PWM Algorithm for Indirect Matrix Converters

In this paper, the indirect matrix converter is systematically studied with the single-pole-multiple-pole representation. A carrier based PWM algorithm is developed in two steps. First, the continuous modulation functions for all the throws are derived based on the desired sinusoidal input currents. Then the switching functions are derived from the modulation functions with focus on the zero current commutation. The proposed PWM algorithm is verified by numerical simulation and hardware experimentation on a laboratory prototype matrix converter.
Control of Aromatic Amino Acid Biosynthesis in Cultured Plant Tissues: Effect of Intermediates and Aromatic Amino Acids on Free Levels

Shikimate, anthranilate, indole, l-tryptophan, phenylpyruvate, l-p henylalanine, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate or l-tyrosine were added to suspension-cultured Nicotiana tabacum (tabacco) and Daucus carota (carrot) tissues and incubated for 24 hours. Uptake of each compound was substantial as measured by its decrease in the medium. The levels of free tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine were determined in the tissues after the 24 hours incubation. Shikimate did not change the aromatic animo acid levels in carrot tissue, but did increase all three in tobacco (3-fold or more), indicating a less stringent feedback control in tobacco. Anthranilate and indole increased the tissue tryptophan levels in both species by at least 17-fold, showing that the flow from anthranilate and indole to tryptophan was apparently unhindered by enzymatic control mechanisms. When tryptophan levels were elevated in both carrot and tobaccotissues by anthranilate, indole or tryptophan addition, there was also an increase in free phyenylalanine and tyrosine. This might be due to the reversal of phenylalanine and tyrosine feedback inhibition of chorismate mutase by the high tryptophan in the tissue. Chorismate mutase activity in tobacco crude extracts could be inhibited by 66–90% by 1 mM phenylalanine and /or tyrosine. Tryptophan at 1 mM stimulated the enzyme activity by 1/3 and completely reversed the phenylalanine and/or tyrosine inhibition of enzyme activity. Chorsimate mutase activity amino acids under a variety of conditions. Phenylpyruvate increased the phenylalanine levels and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate increased the tyrosine levels in carrot and tobacco tissues indicating that there was no feedback control of the last step in phenylalanine and tyrosine biosynthesis.
Improved Peanut Flour for a Reduced‐Fat Peanut Butter Product

A commercial peanut flour (12% fat) was mixed with water (30% w/w), homogenized and drum-dried in a double drum dryer. The drum clearance was adjusted to result in thin dried sheets which on milling resulted in a very fine, single banded particle size flour. The flour was no longer gritty and was used to dilute fat by mixing with full fat (52.5%) paste to obtain a 30% fat reduction in the peanut butter product. Response surface methodology, RSM, was used to optimize drum temperature (T), speed (S), and clearance (C) in order to minimize stickiness and hardness, maximizing oil separation and particle size. Based on surface responses and contour plots, optimum conditions were: T = 135 °C, S = 1 rpm and C = 0.33 mm. Optimum values predicted by RSM for peanut flour particle size, peanut butter stickiness, hardness, and oil separation were: 49.65 μm, 12347 N, 311.4 N and 6.87% respectively. Close agreement between experimental and predicted values was obtained.
Seven ways to plagiarize: Handling real allegations of research misconduct

As the research integrity officer at my university for two years, I handled eight allegations of plagiarism. These eight cases show that initial appearances can be mistaken, that policies for handling allegations of research misconduct cannot cover every contingency, and that many cases can be resolved collegially without resort to formal procedures.
The Possible Role of the Mylohyoid Nerve in Mandibular Posterior Tooth Sensation

Clinical problems in obtaining complete anesthesia after inferior alveolar nerve block have prompted this study of mylohyoid nerves in humans as a possible source of secondary innervation of the mandibular posterior teeth. Nerve fiber analysis showed a loss of fibers between proximal and distal segments of the nerve, with the heaviest losses in the smallest caliber fiber sizes. These unmyelinated and finely myelinated fibers are largely responsible for mediation of pain sensation, and their presence in the mandibular posterior tooth region could help to explain alternative pathways for pain after inferior alveolar nerve block has failed to give complete anesthesia.