cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Air Particle Separator for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Combustion Engines

Although a significant portion of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) rely entirely on batteries, there are larger UAVs that operate by utilizing internal combustion engines. These special aircrafts ingest vast quantities of air, directly feeding the supply into the engine for combustion. The goal is to design and build an engine air particle separator (EAPS) for UAVs that employ combustion engines, to remove sand, dust, dirt, or any fine particles from the air being supplied to the engine. Although there are many constraints and restrictions to be considered, it is desired for the EAPS to be a single component, have the ability to connect to a specified intake collar, and fit within a given volume. Among other elements considered, the efficiency, pressure drop, areas of failure, and the selection of a material to build the separator were factored. Three methods of particle filtering were selected: inertial, centrifugal, and hypothetical pressure-barrier separation. To accomplish these goals, the principles of inertia, centrifugal forces, and pressure changes were used along with additive manufacturing – to be able to design and build complex geometries. Results were based on the three prototypes that were built and tested in an enclosure simulating the harsh weather environment and the force applied by the internal combustion engine from the UAV. These results showed that a centrifugal design was best suited for the purpose of the experiment with an experimental efficiency of 87% of the particles being separated from the air.
Benchtop x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) imaging

X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) is a molecular imaging technique of x-ray photons, which can be used to sense different elements or nanoparticle (NP) agents inside deep samples or tissues. XFCT has been an active research topic for many years. However, XFCT has not been a popular molecular imaging tool because it has limited molecular sensitivity and spatial resolution. To further investigate XFCT imaging, we present a benchtop XFCT imaging system, in in which a unique pencil beam x-ray source and a ring of x-ray spectrometers were simulated using GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission) software. An accelerated majorization minimization (MM) algorithm with an L1 regularization scheme was used to reconstruct the XRF image of Molybdenum (Mo) NP targets from the numerical measurements of GATE simulations. With a low x-ray source output rate, good target localization was achieved with a DICE coefficient of 83.681%. The reconstructed signal intensity of the targets was found to be relatively proportional to the target concentrations if detector number and placement is optimized. The MM algorithm performance was compared with maximum likelihood expectation maximization (ML-EM) and filtered back projection (FBP) algorithms. In the future, the benchtop XFCT imaging system will be tested experimentally.
Predicting response of severe aplastic anemia to immunosuppression combined with eltrombopag

Pretreatment blood counts, particularly the absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) ≥25×109/L, correlate with response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in severe aplastic anemia (SAA). In recent trials, eltrombopag (EPAG) combined with standard IST yielded superior responses than did IST alone. Our single institution retrospective study aimed to elucidate whether historical response predictors associated with IST plus EPAG. We sought correlations of blood counts, thrombopoietin levels and the presence of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clones with both overall and complete responses in 416 patients with SAA, aged 2-82 years (median, 30 years), initially treated with IST plus EPAG between 2012 and 2019 (n=176) or with IST alone between 1999 and 2010 (n=240). Patients in the group of overall responders to IST plus EPAG, compared to non-responders, had significantly higher pretreatment ARC, higher neutrophil counts and reduced thrombopoietin levels, as also observed for IST alone group. Addition of EPAG markedly improved the overall response in subjects with ARC between 10-30×109/L from from 60% (54 of 90) to 91% (62 of 68). Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) correlated with complete response in both IST with and without EPAG, especially in adolescents and adults aged ≥10 years, but the correlation was reversed in younger children. Platelet count and the presence of a paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria-clone did not correlate with IST-responses. Blood counts remain the best predictors of response to nontransplant therapies in SAA. In comparison to IST alone, addition of EPAG, patients with lower ARC were now included in the better prognosis category.
The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase SRMS inhibits autophagy and promotes tumor growth by phosphorylating the scaffolding protein FKBP51

Nutrient-responsive protein kinases control the balance between anabolic growth and catabolic processes such as autophagy. Aberrant regulation of these kinases is a major cause of human disease. We report here that the vertebrate nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Src-related kinase lacking C-terminal regulatory tyrosine and N-terminal myristylation sites (SRMS) inhibits autophagy and promotes growth in a nutrient-responsive manner. Under nutrient-replete conditions, SRMS phosphorylates the PHLPP scaffold FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51), disrupts the FKBP51-PHLPP complex, and promotes FKBP51 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This prevents PHLPP-mediated dephosphorylation of AKT, causing sustained AKT activation that promotes growth and inhibits autophagy. SRMS is amplified and overexpressed in human cancers where it drives unrestrained AKT signaling in a kinase-dependent manner. SRMS kinase inhibition activates autophagy, inhibits cancer growth, and can be accomplished using the FDA-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib. This illuminates SRMS as a targetable vulnerability in human cancers and as a new target for pharmacological induction of autophagy in vertebrates.
Laparoscopic parastomal hernia repair: No different than a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair?

Parastomal hernia (PH) is a common complication when a stoma is used. The high incidence (35–50 %) and patient longevity have created a situation where patients are being referred for consideration of repair with more frequency. Due to the presence of an ostomy and the increased bacterial contamination of the area, the insertion of a prosthetic material is concerning for complications. Laparoscopic repair of parastomal hernias utilizing a modified Sugarbaker technique has been demonstrated to have excellent outcomes. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that laparoscopic PH repair has outcomes similar to laparoscopic ventral hernia (LVH) repair without the presence of a stoma. After obtaining institutional review board approval, patients with parastomal hernia who underwent laparoscopic repair using Sugarbaker technique between 2009 and 2012 were compared to patients with ventral hernias who underwent LVH repair in a retrospective review, with a match of 1:3. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, operative time, defect size, and mesh size. Outcomes and complications were compared between the two groups. Twenty patients underwent Sugarbaker repair, and these cases were compared to 60 patients with ventral hernia that received LVH repair. There was no statistically significant difference in age, BMI, smoking status, ASA score, defect size, or mesh size between groups. Operative time was significantly longer in the PH group: 172 ± 35 versus the LVH group: 94 ± 32 min (p < 0.1). Length of stay was longer, 3 days (3–5.5) for PH versus 1 day (1–2.8) for LVH, p < 0.1. The two groups did not differ in terms of wound complications or recurrence, with a median follow-up of 37 days (IQ range 27–518). The Sugarbaker technique is as safe as LVH repair with no more complications given the presence of a stoma.
Transient response of a vertical electric dipole (VED) on a two-layer medium

The transient electromagnetic radiation by a vertical electric dipole on a two-layer medium is analysed using the double deformation technique, which is a modal technique based on identification of singularities in the complex frequency and wavenumber planes. Previous application of the double deformation technique to the solution of this problem is incomplete in the early time response. In this paper we show that the existence of a pole locus on the negative imaginary frequency axis, which dominates the early time response, proves crucial in obtaining the solution for all times. A variety of combinations of parameters are used to illustrate the double deformation technique, and results will be compared with those obtained via explicit inversion, and a single deformation method.
Phenethyl Alcohol I. Effect on Macromolecular Synthesis of Escherichia coli

Abstract Rosenkranz, Herbert S. (Columbia University, New York, N.Y.), Howard S. Carr, and Harry M. Rose. Phenethyl alcohol. I. Effect on macromolecular synthesis of Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 89:1354–1369. 1965.—An investigation of the mode of action of phenethyl alcohol produced the following results. Phenethyl alcohol had no effect on the physicochemical properties of isolated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The DNA isolated from phenethyl alcohol-treated bacteria had physicochemical properties identical with those of DNA isolated from normal cells. The metabolic functions most sensitive to the inhibitory action of phenethyl alcohol appeared to be the process of enzyme induction and, possibly, the synthesis of messenger ribonucleic acid. Phenethyl alcohol did not affect the polyuridylic acid-mediated synthesis of polyphenylalanine in a cell-free amino acid-incorporating system.
Effect of estrogen and progesterone on the uptake of amino acids by the uterus of the nonpregnant ewe

Abstract Uterine uptake of alpha amino nitrogen was estimated in 12 intact and 5 oophorectomized nonpregnant Dorset ewes before and after treatment with estrogen and/or progesterone. In the intact animals, the administration of either hormone enhanced the uterine uptake of alpha amino nitrogen; however, the differences were not statistically significant. In the oophorectomized ewes estrogen alone failed to enhance the uptake of alpha amino nitrogen by the uterus and the administration of both hormones resulted in the highest uptakes. It appears that the effect of estrogen and progesterone on the uptake of amino acids by the nonpregnant uterus is independent of the changes in uterine blood flow that were seen.
Object-oriented programming: the CLOS perspective

To date, books on object-oriented programming have tended to focus either on the methodology of the object-oriented paradigm or on teaching the details of a particular programming language. This collection takes a different approach, examining one object-oriented programming language - the Common-Lisp Object System (CLOS) - as a modern programming tool. The 14 contributions examine CLOS from a variety of angles, revealing the thoughts behind the design of the language, its intended use, its impact on object-oriented design and programming and its place in the context of other object-oriented programming languages. Chapter 1 provides enough detail about the language for the remaining material to be understood by readers unfamiliar with CLOS, and it concentrates on the unusual aspects of the language. CLOS is placed into historical perspective in Chapter 2, which describes the sources and evolution of ideas embodied in the language. Further chapters discuss the metaobject protocol, compare CLOS with other object-oriented languages, and discuss applications of the language and aspects of its implementation.
HFR surface currents observing system in lower Chesapeake Bay and Virginia coast

Surface currents are measured using high frequency (25MHz and 5MHz) radar in the lower Chesapeake Bay and offshore in the Mid-Atlantic. The data have become quite reliable and of high quality over the past couple of years. This paper describes the existing system, the dataset, the quality of data and some examples of how it is being used. It also presents results of recent analysis of mean currents within the lower Bay.
The emergence of agbiogenerics

Although the first major agbiotech product patent has expired, regulatory requirements could continue to allot a significant degree of control to the original right holder.
Inner Asian Frontiers: Chinese and Russian Margins of Expansion

The American tradition emphasizes the importance of sea power, especially the great age of sea power which began with Columbus and led first to the expansion of Spain and Portugal and then to the empire building of England, Holland, and France, and the development of North America. In America itself we are also familiar with the epic march across the continent to the Pacific, and the way in which the expanding frontier shaped, or at least strongly influenced, our society and our institutions, as expounded by Turner. Even our continental history, however, was initiated by the crossing of the Atlantic; and from then on even our period of most active continental expansion was never free of the influences and effects of sea power, sea-borne commerce, the investment of European capital, and acceleration of population growth by the immigration of Europeans.
Medicaid 1915(c) Home- and Community-Based Services waivers for children with autism spectrum disorder

This research aims to describe the characteristics of 1915(c) Home- and Community-Based Services waivers for children with autism spectrum disorder across states and over time. While increasingly popular, little is known about these Medicaid waivers. Understanding the characteristics of these programs is important to clinicians and policymakers in designing programs to meet the needs of this vulnerable population and to set the stage for evaluating changes that occur with the implementation of health-care reform. Home- and Community-Based Services waiver applications that included children with autism spectrum disorder as a target population were collected from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website, state websites, and state administrators. A data extraction tool was used to document waiver inclusions and restrictions, estimated service provision and institutional costs, and the inclusion of four core autism spectrum disorder services: respite, caregiver support and training, personal care, and evidence-based treatments. Investigators identified 50 current or former waivers across 29 states that explicitly included children with autism spectrum disorder in their target populations. Waivers differed substantially across states in the type and breadth of autism spectrum disorder coverage provided. Specifically, waivers varied in the populations they targeted, estimated cost of services, cost control methods employed, and services offered to children with autism spectrum disorder. Home- and Community-Based Services waivers for children with autism spectrum disorder are very complex and are not consistent across states or over time. Further efforts are needed to examine the characteristics of programs that are associated with improved access to care and clinical outcomes to maximize the benefits to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
The recognition and treatment of growth disorders - a 50-year retrospective.

The past 50 years have seen great progress in the understanding and treatment of classic growth disorders. Advances such as the recognition of hormone receptor defects, the development of recombinant growth hormone, and the expanding awareness of epigenetic phenomena affecting growth are among these great achievements. Yet growth failure remains a pervasive problem among children with complex health conditions, such as survivors of childhood cancers, premature infants, organ transplant recipients, and children with cystic fibrosis. The significant increases in life expectancy among these groups underscores the potential consequences of poor growth, whether due to the underlying conditions or medical treatments, as they may have long-lasting effects into adulthood. The ongoing contributions of human biologists to the study of human growth remain essential in the recognition and treatment of growth disorders, by defining normal patterns of growth and body composition, the interplay of growth and maturation,...
An Investigation of the Europium Valence in EuCu1.75P2by Eu Mössbauer and Eu LIII-Edge X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

The europium valence for EuCu{sub 1.75}P{sub 2} is examined by Eu Moessbauer spectroscopy and Eu L{sub III}-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. On the basis of previous measurements of related phases with the ThCr{sub 2}Si{sub 2} structure-type, the europium valence in EuCu{sub 1.75}P{sub 2} is expected to be intermediate valent or trivalent. In contrast, divalent europium is observed. This result is explained on the basis of a band argument in which the conduction band is filled, and thus, there is an extra electron in the Eu 4f{sup 7} state.
Cytospin-enhanced direct immunofluorescence assay versus cell culture for detection of herpes simplex virus in clinical specimens

The reliability of a cytospin-enhanced direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA), using Syva Micro Trak monoclonal antibodies, for detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) was evaluated by comparing results with those of conventional cell culture. Of 250 clinical specimens, 64 were positive for HSV by cell culture, and 22 were positive by cytospin-enhanced DFA, two of which were negative by culture. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for cytospin-enhanced DFA were 31.25, 98.9, 90.9, and 80.7%, respectively. Cytospin-enhanced DFA is not an acceptable alternative to cell culture for detection of HSV.
miR-222 contributes to sex-dimorphic cardiac eNOS expression via ets-1

It is well recognized that there is sex-dimorphic expression of mRNA and protein in the heart; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is an important regulator of cardiac function, and the expression levels of eNOS differ between male and female hearts. The aim of this study was to examine whether expression of specific microRNA (miRNA, miR) in males and females contributes to changes in the expression of eNOS. miRNA was extracted from the myocardium of male and female C57BL/6 mice and subjected to an Affymetrix miRNA array. Decreased expression of miR-222 was discovered in females and confirmed by qRT-PCR from whole heart or isolated cardiomyocytes. The transcription factor V-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog-1 (ets-1) was identified as a potential target of miR-222 using TargetScan, and fivefold increased ets-1 protein expression in females was confirmed by Western blot. Targeting of ets-1 by miR-222 was determined in HEK293 cells overexpressing luciferase under regulation of either the ets-1 3′-UTR, a null 3′-UTR control, or a scrambled ets-1 3′-UTR and treated with a small molecule miR-222 mimic or inhibitor. Additionally qRT-PCR confirmed that mRNA levels of the ets-1 transcriptional target, eNOS, were 25% higher in females. Compared with untreated myocyte controls, 50% inhibition of eNOS expression was achieved by treatment with a miR-222 mimic, compared with a 25% increase due to miR-222 inhibitor. Our findings indicate that sex-dependent miR-222 regulation alters the expression of the cardiac regulatory protein eNOS.
Conceptualization of Perceived Enactment of Autonomy in the Elderly

The eudaemonistic model of health is congruent with nursing's primary aim of practice and nursing's ethical imperative to support client autonomy. Although autonomy has been linked to holistic health, the definition of autonomy has been imprecise. This is especially problematic when working with the elderly. For clarification, a concept analysis of autonomy was completed. This led to further refinement and development of a new concept, perceived enactment of autonomy. This definition represents the subjective perceptions of the ability to act autonomously. Interventions derived from the nursing theory, Modeling and Role-Modeling (Erickson et al., 1983/1988), and supportive of perceived enactment of autonomy and environments conducive to healing within the eudaemonistic health paradigm are proposed.
Developmental changes in rat kidney 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptor

Abstract Kidney 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D receptor (VDR) was examined in both young and aged male Fischer 344 rats. Cytosols prepared by direct homogenization of the kidney indicated no significant difference in the amount of unoccupied VDR in young (149 ± 8 fmol/mg) and aged (155 ± 8 fmol/mg) rats. Binding of kidney VDR to DNA-cellulose, however, was significantly different for the two groups. The assay indicated that about 44% and 24% of the VDR prepared from young and aged rats, respectively, were bound to calf thymus DNA. Elution profiles from DNA-cellulose chromatography displayed the presence of two peaks from young kidneys, while a single broad peak was evident from aged rats. Immunoblot analysis confirmed the existence of two receptor bands at 52K and 50K. The presence of the 50K band was greatly diminished or absent in aged samples. The 50K receptor form was observed to elute from DNA-cellulose at a higher salt concentration than the 52K-form. Similarly, prepared receptor extracts from intestinal tissue produced only a single band at 52K. These results demonstrate for the first time that the rat kidney possesses two forms of the receptor which have different affinities for DNA.
2D wavelet-analysis-based calibration technique for flat-panel imaging detectors: application in cone beam volume CT

The application of the newly developed flat panel x-ray imaging detector in cone beam volume CT has attracted increasing interest recently. Due to an imperfect solid state array manufacturing process, however, defective elements, gain non-uniformity and offset image unavoidably exist in all kinds of flat panel x-ray imaging detectors, which will cause severe streak and ring artifacts in a cone beam reconstruction image and severely degrade image quality. A calibration technique, in which the artifacts resulting from the defective elements, gain non-uniformity and offset image can be reduced significantly, is presented in this paper. The detection of defective elements is distinctively based upon two-dimensional (2D) wavelet analysis. Because of its inherent localizability in recognizing singularities or discontinuities, wavelet analysis possesses the capability of detecting defective elements over a rather large x-ray exposure range, e.g., 20% to approximately 60% of the dynamic range of the detector used. Three-dimensional (3D) images of a low-contrast CT phantom have been reconstructed from projection images acquired by a flat panel x-ray imaging detector with and without calibration process applied. The artifacts caused individually by defective elements, gain non-uniformity and offset image have been separated and investigated in detail, and the correlation with each other have also been exposed explicitly. The investigation is enforced by quantitative analysis of the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the image uniformity of the cone beam reconstruction image. It has been demonstrated that the ring and streak artifacts resulting from the imperfect performance of a flat panel x-ray imaging detector can be reduced dramatically, and then the image qualities of a cone beam reconstruction image, such as contrast resolution and image uniformity are improved significantly. Furthermore, with little modification, the calibration technique presented here is also applicable to the flat panel x-ray imaging detector in digital radiography (DR), fluoroscopy (DF) and mammography.
Sunday: Marker of time, setting for memory

This historical essay seeks to frame Sunday as a marker of time and a setting for memory. Although the article's examples come from nineteenth-century United States, its larger argument – that spaces of time function as settings for memory – can be applied to other geographic regions and chronological eras. The article opens and closes with Sunday at sea; the body addresses Sunday as a site for religious, domestic, and national memories.
Implementation of carry look-ahead adder with spatial light modulators

Abstract An implementation of a carry look-ahead adder using commercial spatial light modulators (SLMs) is presented. The speed of these devices is compared with electronic devices. Based on the comparison, future requirements of such devices for digital optical computing are suggested.
Analysis of divisional profitability using the residual income profile

This paper describes the residual income profile which is a graphical method that summarizes the profitability characteristics of a division of a firm and illustrates the relationship between return on investment and residual income. In addition, the residual income profile shows the sensitivity of residual income to changes in interest rates.
Electronic states and potential energy curves of ZrH+ and NbH+

Abstract State-averaged complete active space MCSCF (CASSCF) followed by second-order configuration interaction (SOCI) calculations are carried out on several low-lying electronic states of ZrH+ and NbH+. The ground state of ZrH+ is found to be a 3Δ state ( r e = 1.825 A , ωe = 1752 cm−1) with a very low-lying excited state of 3Φ symmetry ( r e = 1.841 A , ωe = 1714 cm−1). The NbH+ ion has 4Δ state as the ground state ( r e = 1.746 A , ωe = 1841 cm−1) with a nearly degenerate state of the 4Π symmetry ( r e = 1.768 A , ωe = 1826 cm−1). The dissociation energies D0 (ZrH+) D0 (NbH+) are calculated to be 56.8 and 54 kcal/mol, compared to experimental values of 54 ± 3 and 53 ± 3 for ZrH+ and NbH+, respectively. The nature of low-lying states is analyzed.
Student Speech and the Internet: A Legal Analysis.

This article lays the foundation of American First Amendment jurisprudence in public schools and examines recent cases relating to student Internet speech. Particular emphasis is placed on the abil...
The hidden balance

Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The hidden whole 2. Religion: a balance of public and private, reason and the affections 3. Government: liberty balanced with deference 4. Society: a balance of statis and movement Conclusion: the hidden balance Appendix Notes Bibliography Index.
Health Care Is Different—That's Why Expenditures Matter

HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES IN THE UNITED STATES have been increasing much more rapidly than the rest of the economy over the past 30 years. The average gap, 2.8% per annum, results in health care’s share of the economy doubling every 26 years. Why does this matter? Would it matter if expenditures for personal computers were increasing 2.8% per annum more rapidly than the rest of the economy? The appropriate response would be, “So what?” Concern about health care expenditures is often attributed to the large role of these expenditures in the federal budget and the effect on the deficit. But that is not the whole story. A dollar spent on health care is not a priori more fiscally toxic than a dollar spent on transportation or education or any other item in the government budget. Moreover, health expenditures in the private sector have also been increasing rapidly. What matters most are the characteristics that distinguish health care from other goods and services: great uncertainty about an individual’s need for care, the essential nature of some care, and the ambiguous role of competition. These characteristics help explain the distinctive institutional features of health care and their consequences.
Self-organized bimetallic Ag-Co nanoparticles with tunable localized surface plasmons showing high environmental stability and sensitivity.

We demonstrate a promising synthesis route based on pulsed laser dewetting of bilayer films (Ag and Co) to make bimetallic nanoparticle arrays. By combining experiment and theory we establish a parameter space for the independent control of composition and diameter for the bimetallic nanoparticles. As a result, physical properties, such as the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), that depend on particle size and composition can be readily tuned over a wavelength range one order of magnitude greater than for pure Ag nanoparticles. The LSPR detection sensitivity of the bimetallic nanoparticles with narrow size distribution was found to be high—comparable with pure Ag (∼60 nm/RIU). Moreover, they showed significantly higher long-term environmental stability over pure Ag.
ANTILISTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM OR CALCIUM LACTATE IN PORK LIVER SAUSAGE

The antilisterial activity of sodium, potassium or calcium lactate was tested in pork liver sausage (55% moisture, 2% sodium chloride). Lactate levels of 2, 3 or 4% (w/w) were used and the sausage was sterilized and inoculated with 104–105 cells/g of Listeria monocytogenes strain Scott A. Enhanced inhibitory effects of the organism were observed with increasing concentrations of the salts at two storage temperatures. At 20C, cell numbers in the controls increased by 5 log cycles after 10 days. The change in log CFU/g in samples treated with 4% of the lactate salts was: sodium, 1.4; potassium, 1.35, and calcium, -1.33. At 5C, cell numbers after 50 days of storage increased by 4.5 log cycles in controls, and changes in log CFU/g in samples treated with 3% lactate were: sodium, 0.88; potassium, -0.67, and calcium, -1.49. Increasing the sodium chloride content in the product enhanced the inhibitory effects. While L. monocytogenes grew better in heat processed (water bath) than in heat sterilized sausage, cell growth was suppressed during refrigerated storage by 3% of each of the lactate salts, and the effect of the calcium salt was superior to that of either the sodium or the potassium salt. Although addition of lactates to the sausage lowered the water activity, the change was not sufficient to account for the antilisterial activity of these salts.
An Integrated Microfabricated Cell Sorter

We have developed an integrated microfabricated cell sorter using multilayer soft lithography. This integrated cell sorter is incorporated with various microfluidic functionalities, including peristaltic pumps, dampers, switch valves, and input and output wells, to perform cell sorting in a coordinated and automated fashion. The active volume of an actuated valve on this integrated cell sorter can be as small as 1 pL, and the volume of optical interrogation is ∼100 fL. Different algorithms of cell manipulation, including cell trapping, were implemented in these devices. We have also demonstrated sorting and recovery of Escherichia coli cells on the chip.
Tychonoff expansions in which a given set is open

Abstract Every topology is Tychonoff and crowded (i.e., without isolated points). For a space 〈X, T 〉 , let I ( A ) denote the set of isolated points of the subspace X ⧹ A and define J(A)= I(A) ∩A . We prove that: (1) There exists a T ′⊇ T such that A∈ T ′ if and only if A admits an expansion family (Definition 3.4); (2) There exists T ′⊇ T such that A∈ T ′ and T ′| A = T | A if and only if J ( A )=∅; and (3) Every T ′⊇ T satisfies int T ′ A= int T A if and only if A= int T A∪J(A) and A admits no nonempty partial expansion families.
Public Recreation Administration An Examination of the Perceived Roles of Local Recreation Administrators

Public recreation agencies are challenged to provide a broad range of programs and activities. The administrator plays a key role in decision making within the park and recreation agency. The purpo...
Chronoamperometry to determine differential reductions in uptake in brain synaptosomes from serotonin transporter knockout mice.

The serotonin transporter (SERT) is a neuronal plasma membrane protein whose primary function is to take up the neurotransmitter serotonin from the extracellular space, thereby controlling the spatial and temporal aspects of serotonergic signaling in the brain. In humans, a commonly expressed genetic variant of the serotonin transporter gene results in 40% reductions in SERT expression that have been linked to increases in anxiety-related personality traits and susceptibility to stress-associated depression. Mice have been engineered to express similar reductions in SERT expression to investigate transporter-mediated control of serotonin neurotransmission and behavior. We employed carbon fiber microelectrode voltammetry (chronoamperometry) to examine serotonin clearance rates in brain liposomes (synaptosomes) prepared from mice with 50% (SERT+/-) or complete (SERT-/-) loss of SERT expression. Initial characterization of uptake showed that transport of serotonin was enhanced in the presence of oxygen and a...
Learning to develop GUIs in Java using closed labs

This paper reviews an experiment in which a closed lab was used to deliver instruction on developing graphic user interfaces, GUIs, within a CS 1 course using Java
Enhancing quality control in transportation construction through nondestructive testing

This paper addresses the growing need for modern nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for quality control during the construction/fabrication stages of transportation infrastructure. While the use of NDE techniques for in-service monitoring of infrastructure is increasing, very little effort is currently being made to use NDE for construction quality control. This paper proposes the use of modern NDE techniques for inspection of materials and quality control during construction of transportation infrastructure. The paper also discuses the use of conventional nondestructive and mildly destructive techniques. Examples of potential NDE applications for quality control in transportation construction have been presented. A short discussion on current impediments to NDE field use and possible solutions has been included.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Natural Product Betulinic Acid Rapidly Promotes Amyloid-β Fibril Formation at the Expense of Soluble Oligomers

The biochemical hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are the aggregates of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide that deposit in brains of AD patients as senile plaques. The monomeric Aβ undergoes aggregation in a nucleation-dependent manner to form insoluble fibrils. Emerging evidence suggests that the low-molecular-weight aggregates called “soluble oligomers” are the primary neurotoxic agents as opposed to the fibrils. Needless to say, developing Aβ aggregation inhibitors is imperative for a meaningful progress toward AD therapy. In this report, we have explored the in vitro interactions between a natural product called betulinic acid (BA) and Aβ42 peptide. BA has found its therapeutic use in several human pathologies including cancer, HIV-related AIDS, and nervous system disorders. The results from this study indicate that BA rapidly promotes the formation of Aβ42 fibrils and, in doing so, partly circumvents the formation of potentially neurotoxic soluble oligomers. Furthermore, the promotion of fibrils by BA seems to be specific for the fibril formation “on-pathway”, and it fails to interact with aggregates that are formed outside this obligatory pathway. The unique ability of BA to promote fibrils at the expense of oligomers along with its well-known pharmacological properties make BA a potential therapeutic agent for AD.
Phorbol ester modulation of active ion transport across the rabbit conjunctival epithelium.

Abstract Protein kinase C (PKC) activation elicits diverse cell-type specific effects on key epithelial transporters. The present work examined the influence of phorbol esters, which are known activators of PKC isoenzymes, on the short-circuit current (I sc ), a direct measure of net transcellular electrolyte transport, of the rabbit conjunctiva. In this preparation, the I sc measures a Na + -dependent, bumetanide-inhibitable Cl - transport in the basolateral-to-apical direction plus an amiloride-resistant Na + absorptive process in the opposite direction. Additions of phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) to the basolateral bathing media did not affect the transepithelial electrical parameters; but its introduction to the apical bath at 1 and 10 μ m elicited a transient (≈2 min duration) I sc spike followed by a sustained reduction relative to the control level. Such PMA-elicited I sc reductions were from 14.0±2.0 to 3.1±0.8 μA cm -2 (± s.e.m. 's, n =3) at 1 μ m and from 16.5±1.9 to 4.6±0.7 μA cm -2 ( n =22) at 10 μ m . The former concentration failed to produce extensive I sc reductions in 3 other experiments. Similar results were obtained with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). Its apical administration at 0.1 μ m reduced the I sc from 18.5±4.1 to 7.8±2.0 ( n =3), and from 16.5±2.9 to 6.9±1.2 ( n =7) when introduced at 1 μ m . The phorbol-evoked I sc reductions occurred without a simultaneous change in transepithelial resistance (R t ). However, after about 15–20 min, R t gradually declined by about 25%. In contrast to these results, treatment with a phorbol ester known not to activate PKC (4-α-PMA) did not affect the electrical parameters when added at 10 μ m . PMA- and PDBu-evoked I sc reductions could be obtained with conjunctiva that were (1) pretreated with bumetanide, (2) bathed in Cl − -free media, and (3) pretreated with amphotericin B, changes consistent with a likely inhibition of the basolateral Na + /K + pump. Such I sc inhibitions were attenuated with conjunctiva pre-exposed to 1 μ m staurosporine, a nonselective kinase inhibitor known to suppress PKC activity. Staurosporine, in itself, produced a rapid 26% I sc inhibition ( n =15) along with a 17% R t increase upon its apical introduction. These electrical responses were less extensive in Cl − -free media and absent in amphotericin B-treated conjunctiva, suggesting the presence of a kinase-mediated regulation of apical channels for both Na + and Cl − . Overall, these results imply that in addition to previously demonstrated epinephrine-elicited, up-regulation of Cl − secretion, mechanisms may also exist, via PKC activation, to suppress Na + /K + pumping and consequently reduce transepithelial transport rates.
Effects of prolonged antitubulin culture on annulate lamellae in mouse alpha L929 fibroblasts.

The fine structure of α L929 fibroblasts cultured in colchicine or vinblastine sulfate for periods as long as 48 hr was compared to control cells not exposed to antitubulins. In response to prolonged antitubulin culture, several changes in cell ultrastructure were noted: (1) Control fibroblasts contain cytoplasmic annulate lamellae (AL), but (2) prolonged exposure to either vinblastine sulfate or colchicine results in enhanced development of AL. (3) Single pore complexes are present in the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (rER) in both control and antitubulin-treated cells, but stacked porous cytomembranes also occur under both conditions. (4) Polyribosomes often are closely associated or continuous with the pore complexes. (5) Many antitubulin-treated cells become multinucleate. Some nuclei in both control and antitubulin-treated cells contain large and multiple nucleoli. (6) The large and multiple nucleoli are either attached directly to the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope or to infoldings of the nuclear envelope. (7) Antitubulin-treated cells, after 48-hr exposure, appear also to contain enhanced quantities of smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (sER) and cytoplasmic filaments (and in some cells, lysosomes and rER as well) when compared to untreated cells. (8) In both control and colchicine-treated cells, AL can exhibit continuity with either rER or sER. Further, (9) all three membrane systems may at times be continuous, but the quantity of these membranes appears to be greater in colchicine-treated cells than in control cells. The results are discussed with respect to possible functional significance.
The β-adrenergic receptor in mammalian placenta: Species differences and ontogeny

Summary β-Adrenergic receptors were demonstrated in placental membrane fractions of five mammalian species (rat, rabbit, guinea pig, sheep and human) with the radiolabelled antagonist (−)-[3H]-dihydroalprenolol ((−)-[3H]DHA). Identical membrane preparations showed a variable maximum binding capacity in different species, ranging from 70±6.7 in the term rat to 315 ±28.2 in the term rabbit. Binding affinity did not change with species and (−)-[3H]DHA binding was associated with a catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in each. In the rabbit placenta, β-adrenergic receptor subtypes were partially characterized and the ontogeny of the placental β-receptor demonstrated. Agonist competition for the (−)-[3H]DHA binding site showed the order of potency (−)-isoproterenol≫ (−)-epinephrine≫ (−)-norepinephrine characteristics of a β2 subtype. Guanine nucleotides (Gpp(NH)p) significantly reduced agonist affinity for the binding site and increased the Hill coefficient from 0.6 to approximately 1.0, as expected in a ‘coupled’ β-adrenergic receptor. Competition between (−)-[3]DHA and β-adrenergic receptor subtype selective agents was performed to define the β-receptor subtype populations. In contrast to the linear Hofstee plots obtained with classical agonists, curvilinear Hofstee plots were obtained with both metoprolol (β1 selective) and zinterol (β2 selective), indicating the presence of two distinct receptor subtype populations. A predominance of the β2 subtype was demonstrated with both agents in the term rabbit placenta (35 per cent β1, 65 per cent β2). β-Adrenergic receptor density in rabbit placentae from 16 to 30 days' gestation was determined. Protein and DNA content were also determined in these placentae. A period of growth by cellular hyperplasia from day 16 to day 25, during which DNA increased threefold and protein per DNA remained constant, was followed by a period of growth by cellular hypertrophy from day 25 to day 30, during which DNA remained constant and protein per DNA increased twofold. The β-adrenergic receptor density increased markedly with gestation (181±29 to 330±37 fmol/mg). There was no change in binding affinity with gestation. β-Receptor density per DNA remained constant during the period of cellular hyperplasia, increased twofold during early cellular hypertrophy (day 25 to day 27) and then remained constant to term (day 30). An adenylate cyclase coupled β-adrenergic receptor is present in the placentae of several mammalian species and changes in density in parallel with maturational events in one species, suggesting a role for catecholamines in placental function.
Electron transfers in chemistry and biology

Electron-transfer reactions between ions and molecules in solution have been the subject of considerable experimental study during the past three decades. Experimental results have also been obtained on related phenomena, such as reactions between ions or molecules and electrodes, charge-transfer spectra, photoelectric emission spectra of ionic solutions, chemiluminescent electron transfers, electron transfer through frozen media, and electron transfer through thin hydrocarbon-like films on electrodes.
Independence principles in the equations of state of a deformable material

We consider the principles of coordinate, rotational, and initial independence of the equations of state for a deformable material and the theorem on the existence of elasticity potential connected with them. We show that the well-known axiomatic substantiation and mathematical representation of these principles in “rational continuum mechanics” as well as the proof of the theorem are erroneous. A correct proof of the principles and theorem is presented for the most general case (a stressed anisotropic body under the action of an arbitrary tensor field) without applying any axioms. On this basis, we eliminated the dependence on an arbitrary initial state and the corresponding accumulated strain from the system of equations of state of a deformable material. The obtained forms of equations are convenient for constructing and analyzing the equations of local influence of initial stresses on physical fields of different nature. Finally, these equations represent governing equations for the problems of nondestructive testing of inhomogeneous three-dimensional stress fields and for theoretical-and-experimental investigation of the nonlinear equations of state.
The volcano effect in bacterial chemotaxis

A population-level model of bacterial chemotaxis is derived from a simple bacterial-level model of behavior. This model, to be contrasted with the Keller-Segel equations, exhibits behavior we refer to as the ''volcano effect'': steady-state bacterial aggregation forming a ring of higher density some distance away from an optimal environment. The model is derived, as in Erban and Othmer (2004) [1], from a transport equation in a state space including the internal biochemical variables of the bacteria and then simplified with a truncation at low moments with respect to these variables. We compare the solutions of the model to stochastic simulations of many bacteria, as well as the classic Keller-Segel model. This model captures behavior that the Keller-Segel model is unable to resolve, and sheds light on two different mechanisms that can cause a volcano effect.
Stochastic and worst case system identification are not necessarily incompatible

Abstract Stochastic and worst case approaches to system identification are different and are usually treated separately. In this communique we investigate the effect that a projection operator has on the worst case behavior of estimates derived by stochastic identification algorithms. We show that under certain assumptions the projections of the stochastic estimates are convergent in the worst case setting. We illustrate this result by applying it to least squares and maximum likelihood algorithms.
A bifilar helical multiware proportional chamber for position sensitive detection of minimum ionizing particles

Abstract A new type of multiware proportional chamber with a helical cathode for delay line readout has been developed and studied in detail. It gives cathode delay line pulses nearly as large as the anode pulses, and hence is well-suited for minimum ionizing particles. Measurements on such a chamber yielded spatial resolution better than 0.33 mm fwhm for 90Sr β particles, a resolving time less than 30 ns, and maximum counting rate greater than 2 MHz. The most probable pulse height induced on the delay line by minimum ionizing particles in this chamber is approximately 8 mV.
Deep-ultraviolet lithography for 500-nm devices

Each DRAM design generation has required higher reoiution imaging and overlay capability. The 500-nm lithographic ground rules of a 16-Mb chip make deep-UV (DUV) an attractive alternative to,thc more stanth,rd mid-UV (MUV) photolithography presently practiced for less demanding technologies. The shorter wavelength permits an unproved depth of focus by allowing the same resolution at smaller numerical apertures. This approach retains the simplicity of single-layer-resist processing rather th a ii forcing conversion to m ultilayer imaging.
Preemptive Scheduling with Release Times, Deadlines, and Due Times

Given n jobs, each of which has a release time, a deadline, and a processing requirement, the problem of determining whether there exists a preemptive schedule on m uniform machines which completes each job in the time interval between its release time and its deadline is examined. An o(m/sup 2/n/sup 4/+n/sup 5/) algorithm is presented which uses a generalisation of network flow techniques to construct such a schedule whenever one exists. This algorithm is then used with search techniques to find a schedule which minimises maximum lateness. 10 references.
Primitive lattice points in planar domains

(Zhai [21]). The smoothness assumptions on C vary in these papers. Indeed, Zhai’s curves C are only piecewise smooth, and D is not necessarily convex; but Zhai imposes Diophantine approximation conditions on the tangent slopes on either side of the ‘corners’ of C (if any). In the present paper, I improve Zhai’s constant θZ . For simplicity I assume that the tangent slopes on either side of the ‘corners’ of C are rational. I shall make the following hypotheses about D, somewhat similar to those in Nowak [15].